Border Radio (1987) - full transcript
Two musicians and a roadie take money that is owed to them from a job. One flees to Mexico, and everyone has questions.
- It's locked.
Break the window, you -
- Shh! Knock it off. Knock it off.
- So you're the boss?
- Hey. Skelley made me the boss, okay?
Hey. Go check the hallway.
There's bound to be something here.
Shit, man. This guy's wife's always
kissing ass on those cowpunk bands.
- Hey, hey. That's gonna be my agent.
Wait. Hold on. All right?
This is Dean Jeff.
Pick up the phone.
- Are you there? Pick up the phone!
Shit!
Listen, man.
We're in deep shit with this Skelley thing.
Uh, we got to haul ass out of here, man,
'cause this is gettin' serious.
Now, you remember that old drive-in
off Highway 14?
Now, look. Meet me there,
and I'll be there as soon as I can. Okay?
And...
I don't know how long
we're gonna have to be gone...
so you better bring a lot of beer.
Be there, Jeff.
You better be there for me, man.
- Let's go get Deaner.
- All right.
Denny, we're moving out.
[Man] No, man. I'm not even
talking to you about the Pistols.
But look at the Clash, man.
The Clash are the cornerstone...
of social significance
in rock-and-roll music.
[ Man #2 ]
Fuck the Clash, man. All those bands-
They just ripped off everything
from Iggy and the Stooges.
It's just like dumb heavy metal, man.
It's ridiculous.
We're not talking about heavy metal at all.
We're talking about
punk rock music, man.
It's social significance, man.
No, man. lt's just, like,
music to get fucked up, you know.
- Go and get drunk.
- Oh, rubbish.
Talk- Get drunk for shit.
Of course you get drunk...
but you get drunk and break all that shit
set up by capitalist bastards like you and -
and that asshole driving over there.
Would you get your mind on what we're doin'?
Get the map out or something.
- Where are we?
- Ah, fuck.
- You don't even know what we're doing, Jesus.
- Fuckin'-A.
- Yeah. Fuckin'-A. Right.
- Fuckin'-A.
- Hey, Mr. Hollywood.
Where you been, Dean? Huh?
You just -
The very first time I saw Jeff's band play
was at the Whisky.
That was the very first time
they played.
Must have been about... '78.
They sounded really rough,
but in those days you gave a band a chance.
These days all they want
is professionalism.
They'll boo you offstage
if you aren't slick enough.
But that was the first time
I saw his band.
But I'd seen him before.
You know, I'd seen him around.
We were friends.
I had a crush on him at one time.
And, uh, I was always, you know,
trying to get in his pants.
I was one of the first punks in L.A.
I was on the guest list for the Sex Pistols
when they played in San Francisco.
I never paid to get into a gig.
I was always on the guest list.
But, see, I didn't need to be in a band,
because I had this very popular fanzine.
[ Woman]
Where do you think Jeff is?
I have no idea.
I don't really know him.
[Woman] Hi. This is Luanna.
Jeff and I aren't home right now.
- Please leave a message at the beep. Bye.
[ Man]
Hello, Jeff. This is Paul Marcus from D.D.T. Records.
I hope you got everything straightened out
with the art department...
and that there are no hard feelings.
The record's doing great.
That's what we all want.
We'd like to schedule some interviews.
So get back to me A.S.A.P...
and let's set something up.
Bye-bye.
- [ Paul] Hi, Jeff. Paul Marcus here.
Really need to get a hold of you.
We must be missing each other.
Craig Lee's been calling me for a week.
He says he wants to write something
for the boys. So, please call me.
- [ Paul] It's Paul Marcus.
Look, Jeff. If you're still pissed
about the remix...
then I really think
we should get it out in the open.
But you're really screwing yourself over
by missing out on all this potential press...
and you're making me look like an idiot.
Hello.
No. He's not here.
This is his wife.
- Yeah,yeah. I'm comin'.
Yeah. County morgue. Uh-huh.
- Yeah. Uh-huh.
Uh, let's see.
I don't know. I'm kind of busy.
Yeah. Yeah.
I got some important things to do.
Hmm? Besides, I don't know
too much about babysittin'.
Come on, Chris. Please.
I really need your help.
It'll only be for a couple of days.
Look. When I get back, maybe we can
go out together or somethin'.
Yeah? All right. Possible sex.
Well, I guess I ain't that busy. No.
No. It'll be fun.
Shit. I'll take her to the dump,
and we'll play in refrigerators. It'll be fun.
Besides, the poor kid could
probably use some real manly influence...
now that her old man's run off.
Yeah, well, Jeff's the reason why
I'm leaving town.
I'm, uh, goin' down to Mexico.
I know that he's there.
Well, I don't know that he's there, but I'm sure
that he's there, if you know what I mean.
I -l had a kid with the guy.
I guess I should know that much.
Uh-huh.
He's probably stayin' at the trailer.
You know. The trailer.
You -You've been there.
We went there with the whole band.
You know.
The place that he owns with that slut.
Yeah. That bitch.
Right. His ex-wife. Anyway...
I've got to go down there to figure out
what his problem is this time.
I guess he'sjust still pissed
about the record.
Nah. It's got to be bigger than that.
Shit. Jeff ain't no crybaby.
You got to understand. It's tough being
a seminal L.A. rock artist. You know?
It's a big responsibility. He's probably off
pondering his next career move.
Well, he's just gonna have to plan it up here,
because the record company's calling me...
telling me they're not gonna give me his first
royalty check unless he does press on this record.
So, uh, why don't you just come by
around 1:00, okay?
- Where's Devon?
I don't know.
I think she's out playing with her wagon.
Shit, Chris.
She doesn't even have a wagon.
Hey. What are you doin' here?
You're supposed to be in Mexico.
I didn't get that far.
I think you're right.
- About what?
- About this thing with Jeff bein' something bigger.
- Oh, yeah? - I mean, I got as far as Orange
County, and my car started to overheat...
sol had to get off every three or four miles
to put water in it, you know.
And then I noticed that this fuckin'
jeep is following me...
- and every time I get off, they get off.
- A Jeep. You're being followed by a Jeep?
- Yeah. One of those -
- It was a nicejeep.
- You know, Lu...
I think your imagination's
running rampant.
You don't believe me?
Come here and look at this.
Look. Come here.
You see 'em?
They're still out there.
[Chris]
Whoa, Nelly.
Um-
Listen, um -
I'm really glad I could help you out,
but I got to get goin'.
I have a pressing engagement.
Um, I'll get the, uh, back door.
Wait a minute, Chris.
You're just gonna leave me here?
No, no, no, no.
I'm gonna give you a call.
Besides, we're still goin' out, right?
No. Forget it.
The deal's off.
[Man] I lie down on the shore
and take out the jewelry I bought you.
A little sapphire necklace
slipping out to sea, washing sand...
across gleaming stone till it disappears
in the light of the sun, sinking to the depths.
You scared the shit out of me, Chris.
It's just a kitty. Don't cut my balls off.
- How'd you get in here?
- I brought you a present.
- Do you want it?
- How'd you get in here?
Well, I made myself a key
when I was babysittin'.
- Well, give it to me.
- Okay. Here.
Look out. He's wild.
Nice though.
- You like kitties?
- No. I want the key.
Come on.
Let me stay here a couple days.
Just be a couple days.
- Two days at the most.
- That's what you tell everybody.
Well, this time it's true.
- Where's Devon at?
- She's asleep.
- She can't be asleep.
It's 9:00 Tuesday night.
She's still smokin' dope with the caballeros.
Well, we better go, kitty.
It's okay. We'll just sleep on the street
out here if it's all - Ouch.
It's, uh, nice and cozy tonight.
Warm night.
It's all right. We don't mind. Uh -
Sure would be a waste though.
I mean-
Gettin' all...
dressed up and everything.
Me spending my last cent on that cat.
Five-dollar kitty.
You don't want me to go, do you?
What are you thinkin' about?
Oh, a lot of things.
- I was thinkin' about that boat out there.
- Oh, the big gamblin' ship.
- Oh, is that what it is?
- Yeah.
- It's a gamblin'ship. - [Jeff] What kind of
games do they play out there on that ship?
[ Man]
Any kind of gamblin' you want.
They come in every day.
Come in at 3:00, leave at 6:00.
Yeah. If you want to gamble,
that's where it is.
You can get back and forth.
No problem.
Ah. Back and forth to where?
If you want a ticket home to San Diego,
I can get you back on that.
If that's where you want to go.
Yeah. I'm not too sure about that.
Why would you want to leave
a place like this?
Oh, I don't know.
At the moment I don't want to.
It's pretty nice down here.
You got the right idea.
- Gotta live a little in your life, you know.
- That's right.
Sit back, kick back,
have a little drink.
Eat food.
Go to the beach once in a while.
Got a nice life.
You're out of the mainstream.
But who wants the mainstream anyway?
[Jeff]
That's right.
[ Man] If you need a ticket on that boat,
I can get you a ticket on that boat.
No big problem.
If that's what you want to do.
- Of course, I'd love to see you stay down here.
[Man] lt'd be neat. It'd be nice.
This is not a bad life here.
[Jeff] Yeah, it'd be nice
if I didn't have some loose ends...
up north.
What the hell do you call loose ends?
Oh...
a gal who's my wife and a...
little baby girl.
Those are loose ends.
Roadie, hell.
I'm his best friend.
Yeah. Me and Jeff-
We go back way back.
Like, you know, at least 1O years.
Before the band was started. Everything.
- [Man] You like Jeff's band?
- Fuck, yeah.
Bets band in the world.
You kick ass.
Well, yeah. I'm the roadie, but I -
I do a lot more than that.
I, -I mean, I do a lot more
than just set up equipment and stuff.
I'm like a -Well, I'm more what you call
a hands-on roadie.
I'm basically Jeff's right-hand man.
And when he needs advice or somethin',
he comes to me. And -
You know, like when he has trouble
with Dean or something like that.
Yeah, when Jeff's up there onstage,
it's like a -
It's like a part of me
is up there with him.
[Man]
- You get paid?
Nah, I do it for rock.
Rock's much more important
than money.
It's like a statement.
A statement of what?
Well, it's-
Uh - I don't know. It's - It's, uh -
Well, it's like when guys
are rockin' out onstage, you know...
and they're - they're doin'
what they want and bein' cool.
That's a statement.
Well, how do you support yourself?
Well, that's extraneous information.
I mean -
But if you want to talk about Jeff,
you come to the right place...
because I'm his best pal.
And, uh, I'm even a good friend
of his wife's.
You know what I mean?
- [ Woman] How old are you, Devon?
- Seven.
- What's your dad do?
- He writes music.
- 0h, yeah? Do you like it?
- Yeah.
- Do you listen to your dad's records?
- Yeah.
Yeah? And how about his new one?
- I like it.
- You like it?
What kind of music is it?
Um-
Um-
- Where is your dad, Devon?
- At Mexico.
Oh, he's in Mexico.
Would you like to be a musician
when you grow up?
- How come?
- Because I want to be a bus driver.
Back.
[ Man]
How did Jeff seem to you?
He was really pissed.
They remixed his record.
And... they changed
the artwork on the cover too.
So, what'd you think of the record?
Well, his last three albums were great...
but, uh, this one...
the way it is now -
- You used to right for Slash in the
early days, did you? - Mm-hmm.
And you're still writing, right?
Yeah.
And you've written several
glowing reviews of JefF's new album.
Yeah. I have.
I mean, I like his album.
You know, I play it. I like it.
But you said you had
some problem with it.
- Well -
- You implied that you hadsome problem with it.
Yeah. I think there are
problems with it, you know.
- What kind of problems?
- Well, the problems that I just mentioned.
I mean, it was kind of
out of his control, but -
I mean, his - his work's still there.
I really like that.
I don't think it's as strong
as his last three, but...
I think it's good.
[ Woman]
Does the fact that Jeff's roadie...
uh, is living with you...
have anything to do with the reason
that, uh, Jeff has mysteriously disappeared?
First of all,
Chris does not live with me.
He hangs around here a lot 'cause his parents
threw him out of his house, but he doesn't live here.
[ Woman] He gave us the impression
that he did live here, and -
He doesn't live here.
We can stop this right now too.
I think it'd be... good.
[ Man] What - Is there some -
Did we say something wrong, or-
No. I just don't -
He doesn't live here. Okay?
I don't want that in there.
He doesn't live here.
So we should stop this right here.
I think you've got your story.
You know. Got your interview.
[ Woman]
When's Jeff coming back?
I don't know.
[ Woman]
Where is he?
You got your story, right?
[ Man ] Are you saying you don't know
where - have any idea where he's at?
Yeah. I know where he is. I know -
I don't know when he's comin' back.
[ Woman]
Is he in Mexico?
Yeah. He's in Mexico.
I don't know when he's comin' back.
You've got your story, so turn it off.
[ Man]
Do you have any idea why he's down there?
No.
[Man]
Do you have any-
any theories on why he's down there?
No.
In the beginning there was only a handful of
people going to clubs and dressing outrageous.
It was like surfers and hippies
were the enemy...
and everyone stared at you
for having short hair- everyone.
So we tried to look as ugly as possible,
because it was rebellious.
You know what I mean?
So then...
in about '79...
there were so many clubs that you could
go to three or four shows in a night...
and a couple of parties too.
So, Luanna, what brings you back
to the old Hong Kong?
I haven't seen you in -
I don't know -
a couple of months -
ever since Jeff left.
Actually, I came to talk to you
about Jeff if you got a couple minutes.
I thought you came down here
to give me one of those great reviews...
like you always give Jeff
and you never gave me.
But, uh - So I'm not gonna say one word about
Jeff till you promise to stay and see the show.
- Deal?
- No. Come on. I mean...
I'm in a lot of trouble,
and I think Jeff's in-
You know, I think he's in
more trouble than I'm in. So -
Oh, come on. You and Jeff are always in trouble.
That's been your whole relationship. Come on.
I just want to ask you
a couple of questions.
Shoot.
Well, okay. Uh, I mean...
when Jeff left, you know...
um, did he act weird or strange
or anything?
Not any more than normal. We did that
recording session for that demo that he wrote.
And, uh, he was kind of drunk
and acting kind of all arty...
and all, Oh, I'm so obsessed with death.
Life is so horrible.
Nothin' out of the usual.
- You know Jeff.
- Well -Yeah. Did he -
- Dave.
- I really like your new band.
- Oh, thanks.
Come on, Dave. Get serious, you know.
I mean, he's in a lot of trouble.
Yeah, well, he's always in trouble,
and he's always serious.
You know how Jeff is.
- Look, Dave. Did he say anything at all to
you? Before he left. - I don't talk to him.
I don't talk to him.
We used to be close,
but not anymore.
But I'll tell you what.
I heard a little rumor.
It's - I'll let you in on it.
It's just between you and me...
and everybody else in town.
That's not a bad -You know, that's not a bad
name for a country song, do you think?
That some books were stolen
from Skelley's nightclub...
and old Jeff's name just happens to be involved
in the disappearance of these books.
- Books.
- Books.
What kind of books?
Do you know?
Like with people's names in 'em.
People - You know.
- Skelley's kind of people.
- Hmm.
Wh-
What - What would Jeff
have to do with that?
Why don't you ask
your old buddy Dean?
Dean's in on it too.
- Hey, Julie.
- There's three - Hi, Dean. How you doin'?
- Think l can get in tonight?
- Well, let me see here.
- Aw, hell. You're always on the
list. You know that. - What a gal.
- Go on in.
- You can't go in, man.
- Didn't you just hear her?
- You can't go in.
- But she said I could get in.
- I don't care. You can't get in.
It's crowded up there.
Well...
- I just got to go think about it, I guess.
- Okay.
- I don't know.
- Come see the band sometime.
- I will. Thanks a lot, Dave.
- Hope your little problem gets solved.
- Yeah.
- Give me a kiss. Just for old time's sake.
- Take care. - All right. Tell Jeff.
If he ever needs a guitar player...
I'll do it if he pays me.
- I'll tell him. I'll tell him you said that, Dave.
- Tell him I'm real scared.
I'm goin' in, man.
She said I'm goin' in.
Hey, man. Take a walk, buddy.
- What is your problem? These guys are making
a monkey out of you. - Just can't get in.
- Dean. - I've played here more
times than you've been here.
- Why don't you leave him alone?
- Take him with you.
- Yeah. I will take him with me.
- Take him for a walk.
Look, Dean. I just - I just thought maybe you could
help me find out what happened to him.
Because...
if I could find out why he left,
then maybe I could get him back here.
- That's all.
- I don't know why he left.
Oh, that's - that's dumb.
What's dumb?
What you said is dumb.
If I find out why he left, I could get him.
Is he gone, or is he back?
That's dumb. It's the dumbest fuckin' thing
l ever heard in my whole dumb fuckin' life.
So you're drunk.
Big deal. Come on.
I'm drunk.
Why don't we continue on this -
on this idea of me being drunk...
and you and I can just go over there...
and just have a drink?
And I'll be-I'll still be drunk.
But, uh, let's go over there
and have a drink.
- You want me to have a drink with you?
- Come on.
- Come on. Come on. Let's out. - You just called me
a slut, and you want me to have a drink with you?
- I called you a slut?
- Yeah. You called me a slut.
I did that?
I don't want to have
a drink with you. Okay?
You don't want to have a drink with -
Did you hear that, Ray?
Did you - She doesn't wanna
have one drink with me.
It's just charity.
And no. I don't want to
have a drink with you.
I don't want to have anything with you. I don't want to
have a drink with you. I don't even want to talk to you.
- Come on. Let's talk about Jeff.
- I'm really sorry.
- I'm trying to get him out of here.
- Let's talk about Jeff.
If Jeff was here,
I wouldn't be fucked up like this.
And -And you wouldn't be sad.
You wouldn't be talking with Dave. And -
- Step around -
- Just leave the fuck alone.
Leave me the fuck alone.
I'm fine.
I don't care about this fuckin' stool.
I don't care about you. Just go. I'm fine.
- I'm gonna leave you alone, okay?
- Leave me alone. I'll just go to sleep on the pool table.
Okay? I'm playin' pool.
Playing pool now.
Is that okay with you?
Just play pool.
No. No.
Bueno.
Hi.
Luanna, this is Dean.
Yeah. Look, I'd say I'm sorry
about last night, but I'm not.
Uh-huh.
Well, look. I think you're kind of confused
about a few things.
Why don't you come out here,
and I'll try to clue you in.
Yeah. You know where I am?
I'm in Antelope Valley.
- So what?
Well, I- I thought
you wanted to talk to me.
- Not really.
- Well, what am I doing here?
- Why are you here?
Why am I here?
I'm a goddamn musician, Luanna.
I can't use my hands.
I can't play in any club in Los Angeles.
I'm 86'ed.
- Nobody will let me play in a band.
It's just absurd.
I've got bullets in my pocket.
I've got a gun
that I'm carrying around...
hiding out in the goddamn mountains.
This is a -This is a western.
This is so fuckin' screwed.
Yeah. It is screwed.
You're screwed. You're a mess.
Chris is screwed. Jeff's screwed.
You know, I'm up here raising his kid
by myself while he's in Mexico.
And I don't know why he's there.
Nobody's talking to me.
Nobody's telling me why he's there.
You know, I need him here.
I need him up here.
Can I have this?
- Hmm. No. But you can play with it.
- What are you gonna name it?
- Elephant.
Elephant, huh?
- That's pretty good.
You stinker.
Don't get drunked?
Okay.
I won't get drunk, and you go play.
Stinker.
Wait a minute.
Come here.
Get out of here.
Look, uh, you gonna tell me
what happened or not?
Or am I just wasting my time here?
You know where Devon went off to?
There.
Luann...
we were playing
out at the Fleetwood.
They didn't give us nothin'.
No fair cut, no money, no nothin'.
So we-
Jeff and me...
and Chris-
- [Luanna] Chris?
- [Dean ] Yeah.
We decided we were gonna take it.
We got the combination.
We got the money.
About a thousand bucks
and a handful of quaaludes.
Pathetic.
Okay.
- All right.
All right!
Wait, wait, wait.
[ Chris]
Shut up. Shut up!
- Let's split out of here, man.
- Let go.
Next thing I know,
Jeff's down in Mexico.
He's probably scared you and Devon
are gonna get mixed up in this.
Three guys come over to my place...
beat the crap out of me...
and I'm pissin' blood for three days.
Some books are missing.
What do those mean?
I know there's books missing.
I don't know
what the hell they mean.
They're treating 'em
like the goddamn Bible.
I still don't understand
what Chris's part is in all this.
Chris.
Chris is a lyin' sack of shit,
first off.
And second, it was his idea.
He got the combination.
All him. What a guy.
Lu! Sorry I'm late.
Don't you wanna know
why I'm late? Huh?
Well, if you must know,
I was at my grandmother's 90th birthday.
Ninety years old.
You oughta be happier for her.
Ninety's still pretty old to be kickin'.
She's got a great sense of humor too.
Look what she gave me.
Pretty racy, huh?
Are you mad at me or somethin'?
Well, you seem to be harboring
some kind of latent hostility.
Like - Well, it's bad for ya, you know.
It builds up in your brain
and causes brain cancer.
Come on, Lu, just let it out.
Just let it pour out.
Express your feminine space.
That's what we have this open relationship for.
- That's the first funny thing you've said.
- What?
- That we have a relationship.
- Oh, come on. What did I do?
Think about it, Chris.
Think about it real hard.
I don't know. What?
I saw Dean today.
Look, don't listen to Dean,
whatever you do.
Dean hates everybody,
and especially me.
I can't believe that all those times
that I've slept with you...
you knew that you'd set Jeff up.
Is that what Dean told you?
Well, that's a bald-faced lie.
We were all in that together.
And none of us took those books,
whatever they are.
Look, Lu, you got to believe me.
I don't even care. All that matters
is that you lied to me. You know?
All the times that we were together -
I can't even believe I slept with you, period.
I mean, I've been thinking,
what the fuck's happened to my self-respect?
Well,you think
it's been easy for me?
I mean, getting seduced
by my best friend's wife - it's not easy.
- What does that mean? Huh?
- Well, basically that's what happened, isn't it?
Oh. Great. Great.
- Listen, you son of a bitch.
- Ow!
- You're gonna fuckin' straighten this out!
- What do you want me to do?
I want you to go down to Mexico
and get your story straight with Jeff.
That's the first thing I want you to do!
Then the second thing I want you to do -
talk to whoever you have to to get him cleared.
- Do you understand?
- Yeah.
- Are you sure you understand?
- Okay, I understand.
- Are you sure?
- I said okay, Jesus! Calm down.
Jerk
Ow.
[Jeff] Okay, King,
I got you down here for one reason.
I wanna play you a new song.
I want your honest opinion of it.
And if you don't tell me the truth,
it's gonna be the devil to pay.
That's why I got that little bugger
sittin' next to you there.
So, you ready?
I can't play guitar so good anymore, King.
That was just the first verse.
Hope you don't -
weren't too offended by that one.
You know what I heard?
- [Chris] What is that?
- I heard...
that you were
babysitting for Luanna.
You were taking care of Devon.
I can't imagine you with a kid.
Are you kiddin'?
How do you think I feel?
The idea of you,
my rock idol, with a kid.
Jesus!
Luanna's got these pictures
she keeps bringing out...
of you holding Devon
as a little baby.
She thinks it's real cute,
but it gives me the fuckin' creeps.
It's weird, you know.
I never wanna see it again.
So, how is Luanna anyway?
She's good.
She's real good.
You know, sometimes
when I'm with Luanna now, I -
I feel like-
I don't know. I -
I get a-I get-
- You get a-
- I get a -
- A boner.
You get a boner.
You're funny, Chris. You're real funny.
- That's real funny.
That was a good one.
No, is - is there anybody else?
Are other guys coming around the place?
Nah.
When I've been over there,
there hasn't been anyone else there except me.
Just me.
That's all.
- Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-bam!
- I'm thinkin' of starting a new band.
You what?
You idiot. You don't know
anything about startin' a band.
What are you gonna do?
Who are you gonna get to play in your band?
I don't know.
I'm looking around.
I got some people together.
- I got -
- Hey, don't ask Dean.
- 'Cause he hates your fuckin' guts.
- Okay, well, I -
And don't ask Dave,
'cause he's got a new band.
Luanna thinks I got
a pretty good chance.
Why?
She thinks I can sing
just as good as you.
You know, Chris -
You know, Chris,
you might have a good voice...
but you can't write songs worth shit.
Well, that's a petty detail.
That's extraneous information.
I don'! have to concern myself with that.
As a matter of fact -
Luanna was tell me I can do
just about everything as good as you.
Know what I mean?
No, I -I don't know
what you mean.
What do you mean?
With your woman like Luanna,
she's got certain needs, you know.
- Hey Chris. Hey Chris!
- Certain womanly- uh, womanly needs.
How long have I known you?
Well, let's see.
- And them -
- Hey, came on'!
- Know what I mean.
- What do you mean, know what I mean?
Ten years.
Ten years.
Nam
Try three or four years.
Okay, uh, four.
- Okay.
- Four.
Wait, I know how long I known you.
I've known you long enough
to know your pet name for your dick.
In fact - In fact, that's what I think
I'll name my new band.
Dick.
Chris's Dick.
What do you think?
Shit.
[ Luanna ] No, 8003 not enough.
I've got to have a thousand.
No way is it worth $1,000.
You know, it may be worth $1,000
five years ago, but -
- No. I got to have a thousand.
- I'll give you 825, and that's a gift.
No. I got to have a thousand.
Look, if you had $800 in the trunk
it'd be worth $1,000.
Hellooh!
Bueno Io visto.
Monsieur senor es home-o.
Hey. Lu!
I brought a little friend.
Little surprise for ya.
Got any bread?
- Dean.
- Look what the cat drug in.
What are you doing here?
- Have a nice time in Mex -
- You been par-oh 'my ol' lady? Hmm?
- No. Have a nice time in Mexico?
- Yeah great.
Look, I brought a little Jeff back
to keep Luann happy.
- Nice hat too.
- Yeah. Cool hat, huh?
- Matching, huh?
- Yeah. Me and him -
- What the hell -What the hell did I do?
- What did you -
What the fuck is wrong with you, man?
What did I do, you -
Get your hands off of me!
- Assholes!
Fuck!
Come on. You stupid ass -
Get out!
- Let's go!
- I ain't goin' with him!
He's a fuckin' lunatic!
He just tried to kill me!
[ Luanna]
Come on!
Lunatic!
[Chris] I don't even know
where the hell we're goin'!
[ Luanna ] just keep driving.
I'll tell you where we're going.
[Chris] Tell me now /don't like to drive
when I don't know where I'm goin'.
[ Luanna] We're going to Ska-Hays
so that we can straighten out this whole mess.
[Chris] He doesn't even have
a club anymore.
[ Luanna ] He's got a rehearsal studio,
and that's where we're goin'.
[Chris] They're not gonna let me in.
Those guys beat me up.
Yes, you can. Why don't you
just act like a man for once?
I'm not a man.
I'm a kid.
You both gonna let me
go in here by myself?
Yeah.
We'll be right here, all right?
We'll be standing guard back here.
You won't get hurt.
They'll hurt us.
Yeah, you'll be all right.
[ Luanna]
Thanks a lot.
[ Chris]
Be right here.
- Hi.
- [Luanna] Hi. ls Mr. Skelly in?
- Who are you? How did you get in here?
- I just came to see Mr. Skelley for a few minutes.
- If you could tell him I was here-
- Mr. Skelley's a busy man.
- How did you get - Did you knock?
- No, I just came-
- Hey, wake up.
- It'll only take him a few minutes.
If you could call him and tell him
that somebody's here to see him -
- I know that he's busy.
- Yeah, he is a busy man.
I know. It'll only take
a few minutes, believe me.
And I don't thinkyou'd understand
whyl was here. So -
Try me. Try me.
Okay, well, Jeff Bailey's wife...
and he and some other guys
that are waiting for me outside -
That's why I've got to talk to him
kinda quick.
Um, they took some money
out of the safe of Skelley's a long time ago.
I went and sold my car to get the money
so I could pay Mr. Skelley back.
If I can do that - if I can square it with him,
then maybe Jeff can come back, but I -
- He's the only one that would understand.
- Okay, wait, wait. Let me see that.
There's $1,000 in there,
and that's how much they took, so -
- This is $1,000?
- Yeah, there's $1,000 in there.
- I know there's a thousand in there.
- You sold your car for this?
Yeah, so that I could get Jeff back.
That's - That's -
- I know that you don't understand, so -
- I understand. I understand. Believe me.
- Why don't you just wait here.
- Okay.
You look ridiculous.
What are you gonna do with that?
Knock 'em on the head with it.
That's a good idea.
You oughta get yourself one, man.
Those guys are gonna come out there with Lu.
What the hell's she doin' in there
for so long?
I don't know.
I'm gettin' hungry too.
Well, that's not surprising.
- Human garbage pail.
- Hey, I got a healthy appetite.
Yeah, that's one way of saying it.
I'm tellin' you, man. You better get a stick,
'cause those goons are gonna come out here.
I'm gonna be ready for 'em, man.
Barn! Barn! Barn!
You cut a fine figure with that stick,
I tell you what.
Strike fear in their hearts.
You look like the minuteman
with his rifle...
just ready for fuckin' action.
- Ready for head-bustin'.
Boom! Boom!
Stick 'em in the ass!
- You'd better get yourself a stick, man.
- All right, I'll go find a stick.
Well, here's a little stick.
Look, Miss Bailey,
Mr. Skelley appreciates the gesture...
but we know you're hard up for money
and you've got a kid and all...
so why don't you just take the money.
No, I really- I really want him to take it
so that I know that everything's okay...
and Jeff's not in any danger.
Look, you don't understand.
Jeff cleared everything up with us. Uh -
We thought that he had something of ours,
and, um, now we know he doesn't.
Mr. Skelley talked to him already.
How could he have talked to him?
Jeff called us
from Mexico, collect.
- Do you know when that was?
- A couple of days after he left.
Oh.
Thanks.
- Jeff, what are you doing here?
What are you doing here?
I live here.
Babysittin'.
- Where's Luanna?
- I don't know.
Well, when's she coming back?
I don't know. She said
it might be a couple days.
How about Devon?
Do you know where Devon is?
I don't know.
Probably makin' mud pies or somethin'.
Mud pies?
Kids don't even do that anymore.
So you don't even know
where Devon is, huh?
Mmm. Hell you got to
give kids a little freedom.
You call yourself a babysitter?
- Don't go nuts, man! Calm down!
- I'm not going nuts.
- You're not goin' in.
- Come on! Stop it!
Don't let him go in first!
He's gonna go crazy like he usually does!
Come on, Chris!
Shut up!
- Jeff!
-Jeff, open the door!
- Just...
- Jeff!
- [Chris] Go in! Go in!
- All right! All right!
God, you guys!
Come on!
- [Luanna] Jeff! Where is he?
- [Dean] Jeef!
[Chris]
Hey Jeff!
I can't believe this.
I risked my fuckin' life to come back here,
and she's gone.
She's not even here.
I can understand if she needed
to be with somebody while I was gone...
but that son of a bitch Chris -
He steals my wife,
he steals my kid -
He steals my whole life.
He steals my fuckin' tattoo!
Chris has got a tattoo?
Yeah. Same tattoo.
I guess he just thinks I'm bitchin'.
Goddamn it, Luanna. You blew it again.
You blew it again.
Dragged us all the way
fuckin' down here.
- I dragged you down here?
- I told you he wasn't gonna be here.
What an asshole!
You guys dragged me out here!
- [Chris] Get in the car!
- Fuck you!
Shut up! We're leavin'!
[Dean] I was gonna march right out.
You guys got me - Shit.
If you boys hadn't ripped off Skelley's safe, we
wouldn't be in this mess. We wouldn't be here!
- I could be home with my kid!
- [Chris] That's history!
[Jeff]
You know, I could understand...
Chris kissing my ass
and fucking with my head...
but Luanna -
Luanna writes a great review
of that record, and she hates it.
I don't even like it.
Get in the car!
Come on!
I'm not going anywhere with you!
Go home by yourself.
I mean, the songs -
I was just going through the motions
on that record.
I'm going to Europe.
- [Luanna] What?
- I'm going to Europe!
My parents gave me $5,000
to go to Europe!
Your parents gave you $5,000 to go to Europe,
and I just sold my car to pay off your debts?
Well, that wasn't my idea!
Well, whose idea was it
to rip off the safe?
You! You! And Jeff!
[ Chris]
That's history!
You know, you think it's easy...
because I'm not rich and famous...
that I can just take chances?
You know, with a cult audience,
you change your style, you just disappear.
Hey. Hey!
- You're not even listening to me, are you?
- Yeah, I was. The - The record.
Hey, you know what Jeff?
I like that song on the record,
you know, where the drums go -
And then you have these saxophones -
And the guitars -
That killed me.
I got to hand it to you. I really do.
Hey, you know what? And the record's
doing so good, they took a single off it.
Really?
They took a single off it?
- Yeah.
- When?
Shit, I don't know.
See ya in L.A.! Bye!
- Come on. Come on.
Wait.
[Dean]
You are a fucking lunatic.
[Chris] Don't fucking bitch
all the way up there!
Hey-
How's it goin'?
- Haven't seen you guys in a while.
- [Man] How was Europe?
Cool. Real cool.
You can buy hash in the streets.
They play Jeff's music over there?
Yeah, he's real popular in Europe.
Especially in France.
Him and Jerry Lewis, you know.
Plastic Bertrand.
So what are you doing now?
My new car. Cool, huh?
Whew!
My dad bought it for me.
- Is that your dad?
- Yeah, that's my dad.
Doin' a number on it.
Have you seen Luanna lately?
Uh, not so much lately.
Uh, uh, every once in a while.
We're not real tight though.
It's not a -
It's not a big deal.
Have you gotten
your band together yet?
Well, we've been having
some technical difficulties, but...
you'll be hearing from us soon.
You bet your ass.
Wanna meet my dad?
- Sure.
- Hey, Dad, come on over.
Washin' my car.
- Hello.
- [ Woman ] Hi there.
How are you?
I don't know. Maybe I'll do
something with Jeff again.
- What the heck?
- [ Man] Have you been rehearsing with him?
just -Yeah.
just, you know, working on songs.
Not really much though.
He's still got a lot of problems.
What do you think about
all the clubs closing down?
Is that, uh, curtailing
your performance any, or-
A little bit.
But it happens all the time, you know.
It's - But that's the way clubs are.
You never can count on the management
to - to make 'em work right.
It's just the way they are.
It hurts a little.
But you're gonna keep playing?
Well, that's really all I got
going for me, you know.
That's the only thing that sets me apart
from being just another drunk.
I'm researching my book
that I'm writing.
It's, um - It's about Indian myths
from a lot of different tribes.
A lot of the things
I learned from my grandmother.
But I've been learning a lot of really
interesting things about different tribes too.
So, when I finish the book
you better buy it.
You better all buy it.
[ Woman]
So you and Jeff have split up then?
Yeah.
When he came back, we just -
So much had happened, you know,
that we just couldn't really...
stay together.
So l moved out.
I don't know. When, uh...
I started thinking about it, you know...
I realized that
a lot of the time I had spent...
being a, uh -l don't know -
man-chaser or something,
you know.
And I had realized I had spent
a lot of time mothering these guys...
and I hadn't really spent a lot of time
being a parent to Devon.
So I'm spending a lot of time
doing that right now - and writing.
But being a parent's really fun.
It's neat.
Yeah, you know, when, uh, local bands
started getting signed to big labels...
doing European tours and TV shows...
it was like you knew something big
was gonna happen.
Not just for the bands,
but for us too. Right?
I don't know.
It was weird.
I was like, the music was still good...
but we were just left
sitting around.
It was like all the mystery
that was there in the beginning was gone.
It just wasn't the same.
I guess it's my fault.
I must have...
just expected too much,
invested too much in musicians.
But, um, yeah, you can't -
you can't expect other people
to create drama for your life.
They're too busy
creating it for themselves.
They're just people, I guess.
I suppose in about another
five to eight years...
there'll be something new
and it'll have that same excitement.
I just hope I'm not too old by then.
[ Woman]
How old are you?
Twenty.
Break the window, you -
- Shh! Knock it off. Knock it off.
- So you're the boss?
- Hey. Skelley made me the boss, okay?
Hey. Go check the hallway.
There's bound to be something here.
Shit, man. This guy's wife's always
kissing ass on those cowpunk bands.
- Hey, hey. That's gonna be my agent.
Wait. Hold on. All right?
This is Dean Jeff.
Pick up the phone.
- Are you there? Pick up the phone!
Shit!
Listen, man.
We're in deep shit with this Skelley thing.
Uh, we got to haul ass out of here, man,
'cause this is gettin' serious.
Now, you remember that old drive-in
off Highway 14?
Now, look. Meet me there,
and I'll be there as soon as I can. Okay?
And...
I don't know how long
we're gonna have to be gone...
so you better bring a lot of beer.
Be there, Jeff.
You better be there for me, man.
- Let's go get Deaner.
- All right.
Denny, we're moving out.
[Man] No, man. I'm not even
talking to you about the Pistols.
But look at the Clash, man.
The Clash are the cornerstone...
of social significance
in rock-and-roll music.
[ Man #2 ]
Fuck the Clash, man. All those bands-
They just ripped off everything
from Iggy and the Stooges.
It's just like dumb heavy metal, man.
It's ridiculous.
We're not talking about heavy metal at all.
We're talking about
punk rock music, man.
It's social significance, man.
No, man. lt's just, like,
music to get fucked up, you know.
- Go and get drunk.
- Oh, rubbish.
Talk- Get drunk for shit.
Of course you get drunk...
but you get drunk and break all that shit
set up by capitalist bastards like you and -
and that asshole driving over there.
Would you get your mind on what we're doin'?
Get the map out or something.
- Where are we?
- Ah, fuck.
- You don't even know what we're doing, Jesus.
- Fuckin'-A.
- Yeah. Fuckin'-A. Right.
- Fuckin'-A.
- Hey, Mr. Hollywood.
Where you been, Dean? Huh?
You just -
The very first time I saw Jeff's band play
was at the Whisky.
That was the very first time
they played.
Must have been about... '78.
They sounded really rough,
but in those days you gave a band a chance.
These days all they want
is professionalism.
They'll boo you offstage
if you aren't slick enough.
But that was the first time
I saw his band.
But I'd seen him before.
You know, I'd seen him around.
We were friends.
I had a crush on him at one time.
And, uh, I was always, you know,
trying to get in his pants.
I was one of the first punks in L.A.
I was on the guest list for the Sex Pistols
when they played in San Francisco.
I never paid to get into a gig.
I was always on the guest list.
But, see, I didn't need to be in a band,
because I had this very popular fanzine.
[ Woman]
Where do you think Jeff is?
I have no idea.
I don't really know him.
[Woman] Hi. This is Luanna.
Jeff and I aren't home right now.
- Please leave a message at the beep. Bye.
[ Man]
Hello, Jeff. This is Paul Marcus from D.D.T. Records.
I hope you got everything straightened out
with the art department...
and that there are no hard feelings.
The record's doing great.
That's what we all want.
We'd like to schedule some interviews.
So get back to me A.S.A.P...
and let's set something up.
Bye-bye.
- [ Paul] Hi, Jeff. Paul Marcus here.
Really need to get a hold of you.
We must be missing each other.
Craig Lee's been calling me for a week.
He says he wants to write something
for the boys. So, please call me.
- [ Paul] It's Paul Marcus.
Look, Jeff. If you're still pissed
about the remix...
then I really think
we should get it out in the open.
But you're really screwing yourself over
by missing out on all this potential press...
and you're making me look like an idiot.
Hello.
No. He's not here.
This is his wife.
- Yeah,yeah. I'm comin'.
Yeah. County morgue. Uh-huh.
- Yeah. Uh-huh.
Uh, let's see.
I don't know. I'm kind of busy.
Yeah. Yeah.
I got some important things to do.
Hmm? Besides, I don't know
too much about babysittin'.
Come on, Chris. Please.
I really need your help.
It'll only be for a couple of days.
Look. When I get back, maybe we can
go out together or somethin'.
Yeah? All right. Possible sex.
Well, I guess I ain't that busy. No.
No. It'll be fun.
Shit. I'll take her to the dump,
and we'll play in refrigerators. It'll be fun.
Besides, the poor kid could
probably use some real manly influence...
now that her old man's run off.
Yeah, well, Jeff's the reason why
I'm leaving town.
I'm, uh, goin' down to Mexico.
I know that he's there.
Well, I don't know that he's there, but I'm sure
that he's there, if you know what I mean.
I -l had a kid with the guy.
I guess I should know that much.
Uh-huh.
He's probably stayin' at the trailer.
You know. The trailer.
You -You've been there.
We went there with the whole band.
You know.
The place that he owns with that slut.
Yeah. That bitch.
Right. His ex-wife. Anyway...
I've got to go down there to figure out
what his problem is this time.
I guess he'sjust still pissed
about the record.
Nah. It's got to be bigger than that.
Shit. Jeff ain't no crybaby.
You got to understand. It's tough being
a seminal L.A. rock artist. You know?
It's a big responsibility. He's probably off
pondering his next career move.
Well, he's just gonna have to plan it up here,
because the record company's calling me...
telling me they're not gonna give me his first
royalty check unless he does press on this record.
So, uh, why don't you just come by
around 1:00, okay?
- Where's Devon?
I don't know.
I think she's out playing with her wagon.
Shit, Chris.
She doesn't even have a wagon.
Hey. What are you doin' here?
You're supposed to be in Mexico.
I didn't get that far.
I think you're right.
- About what?
- About this thing with Jeff bein' something bigger.
- Oh, yeah? - I mean, I got as far as Orange
County, and my car started to overheat...
sol had to get off every three or four miles
to put water in it, you know.
And then I noticed that this fuckin'
jeep is following me...
- and every time I get off, they get off.
- A Jeep. You're being followed by a Jeep?
- Yeah. One of those -
- It was a nicejeep.
- You know, Lu...
I think your imagination's
running rampant.
You don't believe me?
Come here and look at this.
Look. Come here.
You see 'em?
They're still out there.
[Chris]
Whoa, Nelly.
Um-
Listen, um -
I'm really glad I could help you out,
but I got to get goin'.
I have a pressing engagement.
Um, I'll get the, uh, back door.
Wait a minute, Chris.
You're just gonna leave me here?
No, no, no, no.
I'm gonna give you a call.
Besides, we're still goin' out, right?
No. Forget it.
The deal's off.
[Man] I lie down on the shore
and take out the jewelry I bought you.
A little sapphire necklace
slipping out to sea, washing sand...
across gleaming stone till it disappears
in the light of the sun, sinking to the depths.
You scared the shit out of me, Chris.
It's just a kitty. Don't cut my balls off.
- How'd you get in here?
- I brought you a present.
- Do you want it?
- How'd you get in here?
Well, I made myself a key
when I was babysittin'.
- Well, give it to me.
- Okay. Here.
Look out. He's wild.
Nice though.
- You like kitties?
- No. I want the key.
Come on.
Let me stay here a couple days.
Just be a couple days.
- Two days at the most.
- That's what you tell everybody.
Well, this time it's true.
- Where's Devon at?
- She's asleep.
- She can't be asleep.
It's 9:00 Tuesday night.
She's still smokin' dope with the caballeros.
Well, we better go, kitty.
It's okay. We'll just sleep on the street
out here if it's all - Ouch.
It's, uh, nice and cozy tonight.
Warm night.
It's all right. We don't mind. Uh -
Sure would be a waste though.
I mean-
Gettin' all...
dressed up and everything.
Me spending my last cent on that cat.
Five-dollar kitty.
You don't want me to go, do you?
What are you thinkin' about?
Oh, a lot of things.
- I was thinkin' about that boat out there.
- Oh, the big gamblin' ship.
- Oh, is that what it is?
- Yeah.
- It's a gamblin'ship. - [Jeff] What kind of
games do they play out there on that ship?
[ Man]
Any kind of gamblin' you want.
They come in every day.
Come in at 3:00, leave at 6:00.
Yeah. If you want to gamble,
that's where it is.
You can get back and forth.
No problem.
Ah. Back and forth to where?
If you want a ticket home to San Diego,
I can get you back on that.
If that's where you want to go.
Yeah. I'm not too sure about that.
Why would you want to leave
a place like this?
Oh, I don't know.
At the moment I don't want to.
It's pretty nice down here.
You got the right idea.
- Gotta live a little in your life, you know.
- That's right.
Sit back, kick back,
have a little drink.
Eat food.
Go to the beach once in a while.
Got a nice life.
You're out of the mainstream.
But who wants the mainstream anyway?
[Jeff]
That's right.
[ Man] If you need a ticket on that boat,
I can get you a ticket on that boat.
No big problem.
If that's what you want to do.
- Of course, I'd love to see you stay down here.
[Man] lt'd be neat. It'd be nice.
This is not a bad life here.
[Jeff] Yeah, it'd be nice
if I didn't have some loose ends...
up north.
What the hell do you call loose ends?
Oh...
a gal who's my wife and a...
little baby girl.
Those are loose ends.
Roadie, hell.
I'm his best friend.
Yeah. Me and Jeff-
We go back way back.
Like, you know, at least 1O years.
Before the band was started. Everything.
- [Man] You like Jeff's band?
- Fuck, yeah.
Bets band in the world.
You kick ass.
Well, yeah. I'm the roadie, but I -
I do a lot more than that.
I, -I mean, I do a lot more
than just set up equipment and stuff.
I'm like a -Well, I'm more what you call
a hands-on roadie.
I'm basically Jeff's right-hand man.
And when he needs advice or somethin',
he comes to me. And -
You know, like when he has trouble
with Dean or something like that.
Yeah, when Jeff's up there onstage,
it's like a -
It's like a part of me
is up there with him.
[Man]
- You get paid?
Nah, I do it for rock.
Rock's much more important
than money.
It's like a statement.
A statement of what?
Well, it's-
Uh - I don't know. It's - It's, uh -
Well, it's like when guys
are rockin' out onstage, you know...
and they're - they're doin'
what they want and bein' cool.
That's a statement.
Well, how do you support yourself?
Well, that's extraneous information.
I mean -
But if you want to talk about Jeff,
you come to the right place...
because I'm his best pal.
And, uh, I'm even a good friend
of his wife's.
You know what I mean?
- [ Woman] How old are you, Devon?
- Seven.
- What's your dad do?
- He writes music.
- 0h, yeah? Do you like it?
- Yeah.
- Do you listen to your dad's records?
- Yeah.
Yeah? And how about his new one?
- I like it.
- You like it?
What kind of music is it?
Um-
Um-
- Where is your dad, Devon?
- At Mexico.
Oh, he's in Mexico.
Would you like to be a musician
when you grow up?
- How come?
- Because I want to be a bus driver.
Back.
[ Man]
How did Jeff seem to you?
He was really pissed.
They remixed his record.
And... they changed
the artwork on the cover too.
So, what'd you think of the record?
Well, his last three albums were great...
but, uh, this one...
the way it is now -
- You used to right for Slash in the
early days, did you? - Mm-hmm.
And you're still writing, right?
Yeah.
And you've written several
glowing reviews of JefF's new album.
Yeah. I have.
I mean, I like his album.
You know, I play it. I like it.
But you said you had
some problem with it.
- Well -
- You implied that you hadsome problem with it.
Yeah. I think there are
problems with it, you know.
- What kind of problems?
- Well, the problems that I just mentioned.
I mean, it was kind of
out of his control, but -
I mean, his - his work's still there.
I really like that.
I don't think it's as strong
as his last three, but...
I think it's good.
[ Woman]
Does the fact that Jeff's roadie...
uh, is living with you...
have anything to do with the reason
that, uh, Jeff has mysteriously disappeared?
First of all,
Chris does not live with me.
He hangs around here a lot 'cause his parents
threw him out of his house, but he doesn't live here.
[ Woman] He gave us the impression
that he did live here, and -
He doesn't live here.
We can stop this right now too.
I think it'd be... good.
[ Man] What - Is there some -
Did we say something wrong, or-
No. I just don't -
He doesn't live here. Okay?
I don't want that in there.
He doesn't live here.
So we should stop this right here.
I think you've got your story.
You know. Got your interview.
[ Woman]
When's Jeff coming back?
I don't know.
[ Woman]
Where is he?
You got your story, right?
[ Man ] Are you saying you don't know
where - have any idea where he's at?
Yeah. I know where he is. I know -
I don't know when he's comin' back.
[ Woman]
Is he in Mexico?
Yeah. He's in Mexico.
I don't know when he's comin' back.
You've got your story, so turn it off.
[ Man]
Do you have any idea why he's down there?
No.
[Man]
Do you have any-
any theories on why he's down there?
No.
In the beginning there was only a handful of
people going to clubs and dressing outrageous.
It was like surfers and hippies
were the enemy...
and everyone stared at you
for having short hair- everyone.
So we tried to look as ugly as possible,
because it was rebellious.
You know what I mean?
So then...
in about '79...
there were so many clubs that you could
go to three or four shows in a night...
and a couple of parties too.
So, Luanna, what brings you back
to the old Hong Kong?
I haven't seen you in -
I don't know -
a couple of months -
ever since Jeff left.
Actually, I came to talk to you
about Jeff if you got a couple minutes.
I thought you came down here
to give me one of those great reviews...
like you always give Jeff
and you never gave me.
But, uh - So I'm not gonna say one word about
Jeff till you promise to stay and see the show.
- Deal?
- No. Come on. I mean...
I'm in a lot of trouble,
and I think Jeff's in-
You know, I think he's in
more trouble than I'm in. So -
Oh, come on. You and Jeff are always in trouble.
That's been your whole relationship. Come on.
I just want to ask you
a couple of questions.
Shoot.
Well, okay. Uh, I mean...
when Jeff left, you know...
um, did he act weird or strange
or anything?
Not any more than normal. We did that
recording session for that demo that he wrote.
And, uh, he was kind of drunk
and acting kind of all arty...
and all, Oh, I'm so obsessed with death.
Life is so horrible.
Nothin' out of the usual.
- You know Jeff.
- Well -Yeah. Did he -
- Dave.
- I really like your new band.
- Oh, thanks.
Come on, Dave. Get serious, you know.
I mean, he's in a lot of trouble.
Yeah, well, he's always in trouble,
and he's always serious.
You know how Jeff is.
- Look, Dave. Did he say anything at all to
you? Before he left. - I don't talk to him.
I don't talk to him.
We used to be close,
but not anymore.
But I'll tell you what.
I heard a little rumor.
It's - I'll let you in on it.
It's just between you and me...
and everybody else in town.
That's not a bad -You know, that's not a bad
name for a country song, do you think?
That some books were stolen
from Skelley's nightclub...
and old Jeff's name just happens to be involved
in the disappearance of these books.
- Books.
- Books.
What kind of books?
Do you know?
Like with people's names in 'em.
People - You know.
- Skelley's kind of people.
- Hmm.
Wh-
What - What would Jeff
have to do with that?
Why don't you ask
your old buddy Dean?
Dean's in on it too.
- Hey, Julie.
- There's three - Hi, Dean. How you doin'?
- Think l can get in tonight?
- Well, let me see here.
- Aw, hell. You're always on the
list. You know that. - What a gal.
- Go on in.
- You can't go in, man.
- Didn't you just hear her?
- You can't go in.
- But she said I could get in.
- I don't care. You can't get in.
It's crowded up there.
Well...
- I just got to go think about it, I guess.
- Okay.
- I don't know.
- Come see the band sometime.
- I will. Thanks a lot, Dave.
- Hope your little problem gets solved.
- Yeah.
- Give me a kiss. Just for old time's sake.
- Take care. - All right. Tell Jeff.
If he ever needs a guitar player...
I'll do it if he pays me.
- I'll tell him. I'll tell him you said that, Dave.
- Tell him I'm real scared.
I'm goin' in, man.
She said I'm goin' in.
Hey, man. Take a walk, buddy.
- What is your problem? These guys are making
a monkey out of you. - Just can't get in.
- Dean. - I've played here more
times than you've been here.
- Why don't you leave him alone?
- Take him with you.
- Yeah. I will take him with me.
- Take him for a walk.
Look, Dean. I just - I just thought maybe you could
help me find out what happened to him.
Because...
if I could find out why he left,
then maybe I could get him back here.
- That's all.
- I don't know why he left.
Oh, that's - that's dumb.
What's dumb?
What you said is dumb.
If I find out why he left, I could get him.
Is he gone, or is he back?
That's dumb. It's the dumbest fuckin' thing
l ever heard in my whole dumb fuckin' life.
So you're drunk.
Big deal. Come on.
I'm drunk.
Why don't we continue on this -
on this idea of me being drunk...
and you and I can just go over there...
and just have a drink?
And I'll be-I'll still be drunk.
But, uh, let's go over there
and have a drink.
- You want me to have a drink with you?
- Come on.
- Come on. Come on. Let's out. - You just called me
a slut, and you want me to have a drink with you?
- I called you a slut?
- Yeah. You called me a slut.
I did that?
I don't want to have
a drink with you. Okay?
You don't want to have a drink with -
Did you hear that, Ray?
Did you - She doesn't wanna
have one drink with me.
It's just charity.
And no. I don't want to
have a drink with you.
I don't want to have anything with you. I don't want to
have a drink with you. I don't even want to talk to you.
- Come on. Let's talk about Jeff.
- I'm really sorry.
- I'm trying to get him out of here.
- Let's talk about Jeff.
If Jeff was here,
I wouldn't be fucked up like this.
And -And you wouldn't be sad.
You wouldn't be talking with Dave. And -
- Step around -
- Just leave the fuck alone.
Leave me the fuck alone.
I'm fine.
I don't care about this fuckin' stool.
I don't care about you. Just go. I'm fine.
- I'm gonna leave you alone, okay?
- Leave me alone. I'll just go to sleep on the pool table.
Okay? I'm playin' pool.
Playing pool now.
Is that okay with you?
Just play pool.
No. No.
Bueno.
Hi.
Luanna, this is Dean.
Yeah. Look, I'd say I'm sorry
about last night, but I'm not.
Uh-huh.
Well, look. I think you're kind of confused
about a few things.
Why don't you come out here,
and I'll try to clue you in.
Yeah. You know where I am?
I'm in Antelope Valley.
- So what?
Well, I- I thought
you wanted to talk to me.
- Not really.
- Well, what am I doing here?
- Why are you here?
Why am I here?
I'm a goddamn musician, Luanna.
I can't use my hands.
I can't play in any club in Los Angeles.
I'm 86'ed.
- Nobody will let me play in a band.
It's just absurd.
I've got bullets in my pocket.
I've got a gun
that I'm carrying around...
hiding out in the goddamn mountains.
This is a -This is a western.
This is so fuckin' screwed.
Yeah. It is screwed.
You're screwed. You're a mess.
Chris is screwed. Jeff's screwed.
You know, I'm up here raising his kid
by myself while he's in Mexico.
And I don't know why he's there.
Nobody's talking to me.
Nobody's telling me why he's there.
You know, I need him here.
I need him up here.
Can I have this?
- Hmm. No. But you can play with it.
- What are you gonna name it?
- Elephant.
Elephant, huh?
- That's pretty good.
You stinker.
Don't get drunked?
Okay.
I won't get drunk, and you go play.
Stinker.
Wait a minute.
Come here.
Get out of here.
Look, uh, you gonna tell me
what happened or not?
Or am I just wasting my time here?
You know where Devon went off to?
There.
Luann...
we were playing
out at the Fleetwood.
They didn't give us nothin'.
No fair cut, no money, no nothin'.
So we-
Jeff and me...
and Chris-
- [Luanna] Chris?
- [Dean ] Yeah.
We decided we were gonna take it.
We got the combination.
We got the money.
About a thousand bucks
and a handful of quaaludes.
Pathetic.
Okay.
- All right.
All right!
Wait, wait, wait.
[ Chris]
Shut up. Shut up!
- Let's split out of here, man.
- Let go.
Next thing I know,
Jeff's down in Mexico.
He's probably scared you and Devon
are gonna get mixed up in this.
Three guys come over to my place...
beat the crap out of me...
and I'm pissin' blood for three days.
Some books are missing.
What do those mean?
I know there's books missing.
I don't know
what the hell they mean.
They're treating 'em
like the goddamn Bible.
I still don't understand
what Chris's part is in all this.
Chris.
Chris is a lyin' sack of shit,
first off.
And second, it was his idea.
He got the combination.
All him. What a guy.
Lu! Sorry I'm late.
Don't you wanna know
why I'm late? Huh?
Well, if you must know,
I was at my grandmother's 90th birthday.
Ninety years old.
You oughta be happier for her.
Ninety's still pretty old to be kickin'.
She's got a great sense of humor too.
Look what she gave me.
Pretty racy, huh?
Are you mad at me or somethin'?
Well, you seem to be harboring
some kind of latent hostility.
Like - Well, it's bad for ya, you know.
It builds up in your brain
and causes brain cancer.
Come on, Lu, just let it out.
Just let it pour out.
Express your feminine space.
That's what we have this open relationship for.
- That's the first funny thing you've said.
- What?
- That we have a relationship.
- Oh, come on. What did I do?
Think about it, Chris.
Think about it real hard.
I don't know. What?
I saw Dean today.
Look, don't listen to Dean,
whatever you do.
Dean hates everybody,
and especially me.
I can't believe that all those times
that I've slept with you...
you knew that you'd set Jeff up.
Is that what Dean told you?
Well, that's a bald-faced lie.
We were all in that together.
And none of us took those books,
whatever they are.
Look, Lu, you got to believe me.
I don't even care. All that matters
is that you lied to me. You know?
All the times that we were together -
I can't even believe I slept with you, period.
I mean, I've been thinking,
what the fuck's happened to my self-respect?
Well,you think
it's been easy for me?
I mean, getting seduced
by my best friend's wife - it's not easy.
- What does that mean? Huh?
- Well, basically that's what happened, isn't it?
Oh. Great. Great.
- Listen, you son of a bitch.
- Ow!
- You're gonna fuckin' straighten this out!
- What do you want me to do?
I want you to go down to Mexico
and get your story straight with Jeff.
That's the first thing I want you to do!
Then the second thing I want you to do -
talk to whoever you have to to get him cleared.
- Do you understand?
- Yeah.
- Are you sure you understand?
- Okay, I understand.
- Are you sure?
- I said okay, Jesus! Calm down.
Jerk
Ow.
[Jeff] Okay, King,
I got you down here for one reason.
I wanna play you a new song.
I want your honest opinion of it.
And if you don't tell me the truth,
it's gonna be the devil to pay.
That's why I got that little bugger
sittin' next to you there.
So, you ready?
I can't play guitar so good anymore, King.
That was just the first verse.
Hope you don't -
weren't too offended by that one.
You know what I heard?
- [Chris] What is that?
- I heard...
that you were
babysitting for Luanna.
You were taking care of Devon.
I can't imagine you with a kid.
Are you kiddin'?
How do you think I feel?
The idea of you,
my rock idol, with a kid.
Jesus!
Luanna's got these pictures
she keeps bringing out...
of you holding Devon
as a little baby.
She thinks it's real cute,
but it gives me the fuckin' creeps.
It's weird, you know.
I never wanna see it again.
So, how is Luanna anyway?
She's good.
She's real good.
You know, sometimes
when I'm with Luanna now, I -
I feel like-
I don't know. I -
I get a-I get-
- You get a-
- I get a -
- A boner.
You get a boner.
You're funny, Chris. You're real funny.
- That's real funny.
That was a good one.
No, is - is there anybody else?
Are other guys coming around the place?
Nah.
When I've been over there,
there hasn't been anyone else there except me.
Just me.
That's all.
- Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-bam!
- I'm thinkin' of starting a new band.
You what?
You idiot. You don't know
anything about startin' a band.
What are you gonna do?
Who are you gonna get to play in your band?
I don't know.
I'm looking around.
I got some people together.
- I got -
- Hey, don't ask Dean.
- 'Cause he hates your fuckin' guts.
- Okay, well, I -
And don't ask Dave,
'cause he's got a new band.
Luanna thinks I got
a pretty good chance.
Why?
She thinks I can sing
just as good as you.
You know, Chris -
You know, Chris,
you might have a good voice...
but you can't write songs worth shit.
Well, that's a petty detail.
That's extraneous information.
I don'! have to concern myself with that.
As a matter of fact -
Luanna was tell me I can do
just about everything as good as you.
Know what I mean?
No, I -I don't know
what you mean.
What do you mean?
With your woman like Luanna,
she's got certain needs, you know.
- Hey Chris. Hey Chris!
- Certain womanly- uh, womanly needs.
How long have I known you?
Well, let's see.
- And them -
- Hey, came on'!
- Know what I mean.
- What do you mean, know what I mean?
Ten years.
Ten years.
Nam
Try three or four years.
Okay, uh, four.
- Okay.
- Four.
Wait, I know how long I known you.
I've known you long enough
to know your pet name for your dick.
In fact - In fact, that's what I think
I'll name my new band.
Dick.
Chris's Dick.
What do you think?
Shit.
[ Luanna ] No, 8003 not enough.
I've got to have a thousand.
No way is it worth $1,000.
You know, it may be worth $1,000
five years ago, but -
- No. I got to have a thousand.
- I'll give you 825, and that's a gift.
No. I got to have a thousand.
Look, if you had $800 in the trunk
it'd be worth $1,000.
Hellooh!
Bueno Io visto.
Monsieur senor es home-o.
Hey. Lu!
I brought a little friend.
Little surprise for ya.
Got any bread?
- Dean.
- Look what the cat drug in.
What are you doing here?
- Have a nice time in Mex -
- You been par-oh 'my ol' lady? Hmm?
- No. Have a nice time in Mexico?
- Yeah great.
Look, I brought a little Jeff back
to keep Luann happy.
- Nice hat too.
- Yeah. Cool hat, huh?
- Matching, huh?
- Yeah. Me and him -
- What the hell -What the hell did I do?
- What did you -
What the fuck is wrong with you, man?
What did I do, you -
Get your hands off of me!
- Assholes!
Fuck!
Come on. You stupid ass -
Get out!
- Let's go!
- I ain't goin' with him!
He's a fuckin' lunatic!
He just tried to kill me!
[ Luanna]
Come on!
Lunatic!
[Chris] I don't even know
where the hell we're goin'!
[ Luanna ] just keep driving.
I'll tell you where we're going.
[Chris] Tell me now /don't like to drive
when I don't know where I'm goin'.
[ Luanna] We're going to Ska-Hays
so that we can straighten out this whole mess.
[Chris] He doesn't even have
a club anymore.
[ Luanna ] He's got a rehearsal studio,
and that's where we're goin'.
[Chris] They're not gonna let me in.
Those guys beat me up.
Yes, you can. Why don't you
just act like a man for once?
I'm not a man.
I'm a kid.
You both gonna let me
go in here by myself?
Yeah.
We'll be right here, all right?
We'll be standing guard back here.
You won't get hurt.
They'll hurt us.
Yeah, you'll be all right.
[ Luanna]
Thanks a lot.
[ Chris]
Be right here.
- Hi.
- [Luanna] Hi. ls Mr. Skelly in?
- Who are you? How did you get in here?
- I just came to see Mr. Skelley for a few minutes.
- If you could tell him I was here-
- Mr. Skelley's a busy man.
- How did you get - Did you knock?
- No, I just came-
- Hey, wake up.
- It'll only take him a few minutes.
If you could call him and tell him
that somebody's here to see him -
- I know that he's busy.
- Yeah, he is a busy man.
I know. It'll only take
a few minutes, believe me.
And I don't thinkyou'd understand
whyl was here. So -
Try me. Try me.
Okay, well, Jeff Bailey's wife...
and he and some other guys
that are waiting for me outside -
That's why I've got to talk to him
kinda quick.
Um, they took some money
out of the safe of Skelley's a long time ago.
I went and sold my car to get the money
so I could pay Mr. Skelley back.
If I can do that - if I can square it with him,
then maybe Jeff can come back, but I -
- He's the only one that would understand.
- Okay, wait, wait. Let me see that.
There's $1,000 in there,
and that's how much they took, so -
- This is $1,000?
- Yeah, there's $1,000 in there.
- I know there's a thousand in there.
- You sold your car for this?
Yeah, so that I could get Jeff back.
That's - That's -
- I know that you don't understand, so -
- I understand. I understand. Believe me.
- Why don't you just wait here.
- Okay.
You look ridiculous.
What are you gonna do with that?
Knock 'em on the head with it.
That's a good idea.
You oughta get yourself one, man.
Those guys are gonna come out there with Lu.
What the hell's she doin' in there
for so long?
I don't know.
I'm gettin' hungry too.
Well, that's not surprising.
- Human garbage pail.
- Hey, I got a healthy appetite.
Yeah, that's one way of saying it.
I'm tellin' you, man. You better get a stick,
'cause those goons are gonna come out here.
I'm gonna be ready for 'em, man.
Barn! Barn! Barn!
You cut a fine figure with that stick,
I tell you what.
Strike fear in their hearts.
You look like the minuteman
with his rifle...
just ready for fuckin' action.
- Ready for head-bustin'.
Boom! Boom!
Stick 'em in the ass!
- You'd better get yourself a stick, man.
- All right, I'll go find a stick.
Well, here's a little stick.
Look, Miss Bailey,
Mr. Skelley appreciates the gesture...
but we know you're hard up for money
and you've got a kid and all...
so why don't you just take the money.
No, I really- I really want him to take it
so that I know that everything's okay...
and Jeff's not in any danger.
Look, you don't understand.
Jeff cleared everything up with us. Uh -
We thought that he had something of ours,
and, um, now we know he doesn't.
Mr. Skelley talked to him already.
How could he have talked to him?
Jeff called us
from Mexico, collect.
- Do you know when that was?
- A couple of days after he left.
Oh.
Thanks.
- Jeff, what are you doing here?
What are you doing here?
I live here.
Babysittin'.
- Where's Luanna?
- I don't know.
Well, when's she coming back?
I don't know. She said
it might be a couple days.
How about Devon?
Do you know where Devon is?
I don't know.
Probably makin' mud pies or somethin'.
Mud pies?
Kids don't even do that anymore.
So you don't even know
where Devon is, huh?
Mmm. Hell you got to
give kids a little freedom.
You call yourself a babysitter?
- Don't go nuts, man! Calm down!
- I'm not going nuts.
- You're not goin' in.
- Come on! Stop it!
Don't let him go in first!
He's gonna go crazy like he usually does!
Come on, Chris!
Shut up!
- Jeff!
-Jeff, open the door!
- Just...
- Jeff!
- [Chris] Go in! Go in!
- All right! All right!
God, you guys!
Come on!
- [Luanna] Jeff! Where is he?
- [Dean] Jeef!
[Chris]
Hey Jeff!
I can't believe this.
I risked my fuckin' life to come back here,
and she's gone.
She's not even here.
I can understand if she needed
to be with somebody while I was gone...
but that son of a bitch Chris -
He steals my wife,
he steals my kid -
He steals my whole life.
He steals my fuckin' tattoo!
Chris has got a tattoo?
Yeah. Same tattoo.
I guess he just thinks I'm bitchin'.
Goddamn it, Luanna. You blew it again.
You blew it again.
Dragged us all the way
fuckin' down here.
- I dragged you down here?
- I told you he wasn't gonna be here.
What an asshole!
You guys dragged me out here!
- [Chris] Get in the car!
- Fuck you!
Shut up! We're leavin'!
[Dean] I was gonna march right out.
You guys got me - Shit.
If you boys hadn't ripped off Skelley's safe, we
wouldn't be in this mess. We wouldn't be here!
- I could be home with my kid!
- [Chris] That's history!
[Jeff]
You know, I could understand...
Chris kissing my ass
and fucking with my head...
but Luanna -
Luanna writes a great review
of that record, and she hates it.
I don't even like it.
Get in the car!
Come on!
I'm not going anywhere with you!
Go home by yourself.
I mean, the songs -
I was just going through the motions
on that record.
I'm going to Europe.
- [Luanna] What?
- I'm going to Europe!
My parents gave me $5,000
to go to Europe!
Your parents gave you $5,000 to go to Europe,
and I just sold my car to pay off your debts?
Well, that wasn't my idea!
Well, whose idea was it
to rip off the safe?
You! You! And Jeff!
[ Chris]
That's history!
You know, you think it's easy...
because I'm not rich and famous...
that I can just take chances?
You know, with a cult audience,
you change your style, you just disappear.
Hey. Hey!
- You're not even listening to me, are you?
- Yeah, I was. The - The record.
Hey, you know what Jeff?
I like that song on the record,
you know, where the drums go -
And then you have these saxophones -
And the guitars -
That killed me.
I got to hand it to you. I really do.
Hey, you know what? And the record's
doing so good, they took a single off it.
Really?
They took a single off it?
- Yeah.
- When?
Shit, I don't know.
See ya in L.A.! Bye!
- Come on. Come on.
Wait.
[Dean]
You are a fucking lunatic.
[Chris] Don't fucking bitch
all the way up there!
Hey-
How's it goin'?
- Haven't seen you guys in a while.
- [Man] How was Europe?
Cool. Real cool.
You can buy hash in the streets.
They play Jeff's music over there?
Yeah, he's real popular in Europe.
Especially in France.
Him and Jerry Lewis, you know.
Plastic Bertrand.
So what are you doing now?
My new car. Cool, huh?
Whew!
My dad bought it for me.
- Is that your dad?
- Yeah, that's my dad.
Doin' a number on it.
Have you seen Luanna lately?
Uh, not so much lately.
Uh, uh, every once in a while.
We're not real tight though.
It's not a -
It's not a big deal.
Have you gotten
your band together yet?
Well, we've been having
some technical difficulties, but...
you'll be hearing from us soon.
You bet your ass.
Wanna meet my dad?
- Sure.
- Hey, Dad, come on over.
Washin' my car.
- Hello.
- [ Woman ] Hi there.
How are you?
I don't know. Maybe I'll do
something with Jeff again.
- What the heck?
- [ Man] Have you been rehearsing with him?
just -Yeah.
just, you know, working on songs.
Not really much though.
He's still got a lot of problems.
What do you think about
all the clubs closing down?
Is that, uh, curtailing
your performance any, or-
A little bit.
But it happens all the time, you know.
It's - But that's the way clubs are.
You never can count on the management
to - to make 'em work right.
It's just the way they are.
It hurts a little.
But you're gonna keep playing?
Well, that's really all I got
going for me, you know.
That's the only thing that sets me apart
from being just another drunk.
I'm researching my book
that I'm writing.
It's, um - It's about Indian myths
from a lot of different tribes.
A lot of the things
I learned from my grandmother.
But I've been learning a lot of really
interesting things about different tribes too.
So, when I finish the book
you better buy it.
You better all buy it.
[ Woman]
So you and Jeff have split up then?
Yeah.
When he came back, we just -
So much had happened, you know,
that we just couldn't really...
stay together.
So l moved out.
I don't know. When, uh...
I started thinking about it, you know...
I realized that
a lot of the time I had spent...
being a, uh -l don't know -
man-chaser or something,
you know.
And I had realized I had spent
a lot of time mothering these guys...
and I hadn't really spent a lot of time
being a parent to Devon.
So I'm spending a lot of time
doing that right now - and writing.
But being a parent's really fun.
It's neat.
Yeah, you know, when, uh, local bands
started getting signed to big labels...
doing European tours and TV shows...
it was like you knew something big
was gonna happen.
Not just for the bands,
but for us too. Right?
I don't know.
It was weird.
I was like, the music was still good...
but we were just left
sitting around.
It was like all the mystery
that was there in the beginning was gone.
It just wasn't the same.
I guess it's my fault.
I must have...
just expected too much,
invested too much in musicians.
But, um, yeah, you can't -
you can't expect other people
to create drama for your life.
They're too busy
creating it for themselves.
They're just people, I guess.
I suppose in about another
five to eight years...
there'll be something new
and it'll have that same excitement.
I just hope I'm not too old by then.
[ Woman]
How old are you?
Twenty.