Exotica (1994) - full transcript
This psychological thriller is true to its subjects as well as being complex, dynamic, and overly dramatic. How something so long ago, seemingly trivial, years later with more significant trauma, turns repressed emotions into a dysfunctional life and distorted thinking. This is all merged into a psychological menagerie that unfolds piece by piece to perfection.
(eerie music)
(man): You have to ask yourself
what brought the person to this point,
what was seen in his face,
his manner, that...
channeled him here.
You have to convince yourself
that this person has something hidden
that you have to find.
Check his bags.
But it's his face,
his gestures
that you're really watching.
- Thank you.
(indistinct PA announcement)
(unzipping a bag)
- He's starting straight at you.
Look at him, carefully.
What do you see?
(PA): Security for unclaimed bag
at gate 17.
(alarm blaring)
(unzipping)
(indistinct PA announcement)
(rumbling noise)
- Where are you headed?
- Uh... downtown.
- Do you want to split it?
- S... sure.
- What? Not tonight.
Are you sure?...
Well, can't you cancel?
- Oh, uh...
Wh-wh... what are these?
- Ballet tickets for tonight.
- Oh...
- You don't like ballet?
- Well... some ballets.
- That's exactly what this is,
some ballet.
Look, you can always scalp the tickets
at the door.
- Oh, you mean, uh... take these in exchange
for you paying your part of the fare.
- What do you think?
(police siren blaring)
(honking)
- See you, Jack.
(indistinct chatter)
(Asian music)
(indistinct chatter)
Excited
- Oh, Christina! Here you are!
Better get dressed.
People are asking for you.
(woman laughing)
She's right there...
(indistinct chatter)
(man): Hi.
(woman): Hello.
(laughter)
(host): Yeah!
Let's bring those big,
hairy palms together, gentlemen,
and have a nice big
round of applause...
for Kali!
Kali...
Yes indeed, Kali.
And you too... you too can have Kali
come over to your table for only 5$.
She could show you the mysteries
of her world.
(clicking tongue)
Trust me, gentlemen, trust me.
(Gregorian chant)
(grunting)
(exhaling)
Ooh! Baby, baby, baby! Ooh!
Do it for me, baby!
Oh...
My God, it's incredible!
It's incredible!
Let me ask you something,
gentlemen.
What is it that gives a schoolgirl
her special innocence?
Her sweet fragrance? Fresh flowers?
Light as a spring rain?
Oh, my God, my God...
Or is it her firm young flesh
inviting your every caress,
enticing you to...
explore her deepest
and most private secrets.
Well gentlemen, I'm gonna let you
decide that one for yourselves.
Please join me in welcoming a sassy...
bit of jailbait...
to our stage. Yes, indeed.
(blowing a kiss)
Come out, sweet Chrissy!
Wherever you are, baby,
come on out.
(applause)
(lively music)
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
You think you're bad, eh, baby?
You're bad.
Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
- It'll be 5,50.
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people
you just had to meet
Thank you.
Without your clothes
And everybody knows
(opera music)
(dance music)
(no dialogue)
(foreign-language lyrics)
- Eric...
- What?
- Linda finished her dance.
- Let's bring those big,
hairy palms together, gentlemen.
Give it up!
Yeah, gentlemen, yes!
Have a nice big round of applause for Linda.
(applause)
Yeah!
Yes, indeed.
Linda!
And just a reminder,
there's nothing Linda would love more
than to slink over to your table
and give you your own private show
for only 5$.
That's right, 5$ is all it takes
to have one of our beautiful foxes...
hmm... come over to your table
and get you all hot and bothered.
Oh!
But hey, why be bothered
when you're being treated like a king?
Huh... you had a rough day?
Don't you think
you owe it to yourselves to...
do something that'll make you feel
like you're someone special?
You are someone special.
5$ is all it takes to prove it.
Ah!
(hypnotic music)
Yeah! Let's have a nice
big round of applause for Michelle!
My God, that was beautiful.
Ooh... baby, you come out.
And just to remind you that uh,
there's nothing Michelle would love more
than to come over to your table
and give you your own private dance.
Hello...
gentlemen!
Anybody out there?
Anybody alive?
Anybody with 5$, you can have Kali.
Kali at your own private table.
(sighing)
Let me ask you something, gentlemen.
What is it... about a schoolgirl that...
gives her that special innocence?
(indistinct chatter)
So, the way that they can gaze at you,
waiting for you to say something
with so much...
expectation and hope that you just...
paralyze into...
...into silence.
(soft music)
(birds chirping)
(sighing)
- Uh, look...
I want to give this back to you.
- Why?
- Well... those tickets
were given to me, and...
I-I just feel... uncomfortable
about having sold them.
- That's okay.
- No, no. No, really, I...
(clearing throat)
We never really introduced ourselves.
I'm Thomas.
- David.
Can I use this to take you out
for a drink?
- Oh, that's...
very... kind of you but, uh...
- But what?
- But... I really...
have to get home.
(rap music)
- Thanks.
- Are you available next Thursday?
- Uh... I think so, yeah.
- Good, good.
- Tracey...
- Yeah?
- I'm not that boring, am I?
(Tracey chuckling)
- What do you mean?
- Well... the earphones.
I mean...
We used to listen to the radio
and you used to ask me
all sorts of questions.
- So you want me to ask more questions?
- Sure... Yeah.
I mean, if there's something
you want to know.
- Okay, I'll see what I can think up.
- Say hi to your dad.
- I will. Good night.
- Good night.
(rap music)
(Eric): Did someone say something?
(woman): No.
- So, what's the point?
- I've just noticed
a change in your attitude.
Look, I would understand if you would prefer
not to introduce Christina.
I... I could do it myself.
Actually, I've been thinking
that perhaps I should be
getting more involved
in the introductions overall.
I could have my own microphone
like my mother used to do.
- No, I... I actually
enjoy introducing Christina,
I mean, I find it very therapeutic,
you know?
- That's not what you're getting paid for.
- It seems to me that I'm being paid to make
every girl seem like she's something special.
Right? So...
- Yeah.
- In order to do that, I have to...
let my imagination run wild.
So, I mean, when it comes to Christina,
you know... my imagination
is bound to run a little wilder.
There's nothing that I can do
to control that, Zoe.
- Makes the clients uncomfortable.
- And you think your state
puts them at ease?
Hey...
Is he kicking?
- All the time.
Do you feel like touching it?
(inhaling)
How are you feeling about this?
- Fine.
- Fine?
Are you happy?
- For you.
- What about you, Eric?
What about you?
- Well, I guess I gotta be pretty careful
about my feelings, right?
I mean, uh...
That's why we have a contract,
isn't it?
- There's plaster dust
all over the apartment...
No, I'm not exaggerating...
No, I was coughing in my sleep
last night.
You told me that it was going to
be comfortable for me to live there
and... it is not comfortable.
There's plastic on the furniture.
That is not comfortable living.
(bird chirping)
Yeah... Oh, come on, look...
You told me you were gonna strip
the wallpaper,
not strip the walls down...
Well... No, if you... if you'd told me
in the first place,
if you'd told me what kind of job it was,
then I would've considered it
although...
it makes me seem like you've maybe
made a mistake.
That's what it makes me suspect...
What... No, it's too late now.
It's inaccessible.
I'm not gonna pay you. Pay you for what?
You didn't do the job.
Well, you did a job. It... it's not the job
that I asked you to do.
It's not the job we agreed on...
Well, I can get anyone, any number of people,
to do this.
Yeah, that's just fine with me.
Yeah, can I help you?
- Mr. Pinto?
- Uh... yes.
- I'm Francis Brown.
We spoke... on the phone
a couple of weeks ago.
Revenue Canada.
- Oh, uh... of course. Uh...
- How was your trip?
- Uh... it was fine.
- And when did you get back?
- Just yesterday.
(phone ringing)
- Good weather?
- Yes, yes, lovely, yeah.
(phone ringing)
- Is this a good time, Mr. Pinto?
(phone ringing)
- Sure.
- It's just, you seem a little, uh...
(phone ringing)
- A little what?
- Flustered.
(phone ringing)
- Oh, no, no, no, no.
I'm... I'm fine. Fine.
(phone ringing)
- Good.
(phone ringing)
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Listen, I can't talk to you right now.
Later.
Okay, uh...
- So this is where I'd find
all the bank statements?
- Uh... that's... that's right.
And... those there.
(man sighing)
- Okay, well, if I have any questions,
I'll let you know.
- Is it a little hot for you back here?
- It's... yeah.
You could turn it down a tad.
(clearing throat)
I suppose you have to be...
pretty careful with the temperature,
with the animals.
- Oh, well, they're a lot hardier
than you'd think.
(sighing)
- I wouldn't think they're not hardy.
I mean... just because they're exotic
doesn't mean they can't endure extremes.
It is, after all, a jungle out there,
isn't it?
- Um... so how long will this take?
- An audit?
- Yes.
- Well, that depends
on how prepared you are.
Have you got an accountant?
- Uh, well, um...
Well, no, not really, no.
- Not really...
- So this will take... a while.
- I could be done by the end of the day,
or it might take a week.
It's difficult to say.
- Oh... okay.
Uh, well, if you have any questions, um...
- I'll let you know.
(sighing)
- Did you know her?
- Sort of.
- She was your neighbour?
I, uh... I babysat her
a couple of times.
- Oh, so you knew her pretty well, eh?
- Yeah, I did.
What about you?
- Oh, I just, uh...
I heard this thing was being organized, so...
It seems so... surreal, doesn't it?
- What?
- That we'd find anything. I mean...
There's so... many places where you could
hide something in this country.
My name's Eric.
- I'm Christina.
- Hey, nice to meet you, Christina.
- Well?
- Well what?
- Don't you want to touch it?
You don't have to.
It's one of those things
people normally like to do.
Ah...
(laughing)
What is this thing about Eric
calling you a sassy piece of jailbait?
- What's this thing?
- It bothers me.
- Why?
- Makes you out like a child
or something.
- Unlike the tartan skirt
and my socks,
or the blouse, or the way I act, right?
- Do you find it strange
that he would still want to work here?
- Zoe, not all of us have the luxury
of deciding what to do with our lives.
It's a job and he's getting paid alright.
- I just find it cruel.
- So fire him.
As a favour.
- How can you be so detached?
(calculating machine)
(water sloshing)
- Well, I'm finished for the day.
- Uh... for the day?
Uh, you mean you have to come back?
- Yeah, I'm afraid so.
When is a good time?
- But... but I thought you said
it was only... gonna take one day.
- Well, it can only take a day.
But you have to understand, you don't keep
very well-organized books.
That's why you should really think
about getting someone in to help you,
just somebody to come in
once or twice a week,
depending on the amount of activity
and... the type... of activity.
- Uh... what do you mean by that?
- Well, some... types of activity
are more complicated, aren't they?
It might take more effort
to account for.
- Oh...
- I found a gun in one of the drawers.
- Uh... well that... belonged to my dad.
- Your dad?
- Yeah. I guess he...
just kept it, uh...
just in case.
- In case of what?
- Well... in case of trouble.
- With the animals?
(chuckling)
Would Monday be a good time
for me to come back,
Mr. Pinto?
- Uh...
Yeah...
Well, how about tomorrow?
- Uh, I have appointments for tomorrow.
Actually, um...
I'm pretty busy till the end of the week.
Monday's not good?
- No... Monday's fine.
- Around 10?
- Yeah, sure.
- Well, good.
Have a nice weekend.
(rap music)
(bird chirping)
Strange to think that bird
is probably gonna outlive us.
- Strange?
- Did you ever teach it
to say anything?
- Yes.
- What does it say, Harold?
- Well, it doesn't really say it anymore.
- It forgot?
- I don't think so.
They're not supposed to forget.
Must've just... lost interest.
- I'm sorry, I'm late.
- It's okay.
We're just talking about Felix.
- What about him?
Dad?
- I had the piano tuned.
It sounds beautiful.
(footsteps)
(soft piano music)
So, how does it sound?
- It's good.
- Yeah? Good, good.
Okay, well,
I shouldn't be too late.
- What's too late?
- Around 11 or so?
- Okay.
(soft piano music)
- You looking for tickets?
- Uh... yeah. How much?
(lively music)
(foreign-language lyrics)
(woman moaning)
(Eric): He comes in here
every other night.
He has his favourite drink...
at his favourite table
with his favourite dancer.
Sometimes he has to wait for her
and sometimes she's waiting for him.
She'll protect him.
She's his angel.
Alright, ladies and gentlemen,
it's show time at the Exotica.
And just to remind you that 5$
is all it takes
to have one of our lovely ladies...
come over to your table
and show you the mysteries of their world.
(soft music)
Now if that didn't turn you on, gentlemen,
nothing will.
Oh! Let's have a nice big warm
round of applause for Christina, gentlemen.
(applause)
Yes, Christina!
(hypnotic music)
- What are you thinking?
- I was just thinking, what would happen
if someone hurt you?
- How... how could anyone hurt me?
- If I'm not there to protect you.
- You'll always be there to protect me.
(woman laughing)
- Oh...
(sighing)
- An angel.
- Shh...
- Why would somebody
want to do something like that?
How could somebody even think
of doing something like that?
- You mustn't worry.
(Christina moaning)
- Eric!
Eric!
- Oh... Hmm...
Oh, oh! All hot and bothered!
Yes, indeed!
Let's have a nice big round of applause
for Melinda.
(sighing)
(sniffling)
(sighing)
(soft music)
(laughter)
- Uh, listen...
I fell bad about, uh,
taking your money.
- Why?
- The tickets...
were given to me, and...
I should've... given them away
for free.
- Well, that would've been stupid.
- Why?
- Because no one gives anything away.
Are you sure?
- Yeah, positive.
- Do you consider my dad a friend?
- Why?
- Just asking.
- Does he consider me a friend?
- I don't know.
- Why not?
- 'Cause he always seems different
when you're around.
- Different? In what way?
- J... Tense.
- Is that bad?
- Well, I don't really like to feel tense
around my friends.
- Well, sure, yeah.
I didn't like to feel tense around my friends
when I was your age either.
- But you do now?
- No, it's not a question of...
liking it or not. It's...
just something that happens.
- Why?
- Um...
Well...
As you get older,
you become aware that the people you meet
and the person you are...
um... is carrying
a certain amount of baggage.
And... and that baggage creates tension.
- So what do you do about it?
- Well, you can pretend it's not there,
or you can choose not to have friends,
or you can acknowledge that it's there
and have friends anyway.
- Like my dad?
- Right.
- I don't think that I like my dad
when he's around you.
- Hmm...
Well, that's... because your dad
doesn't like himself
when he's around me.
But that's okay. That's...
part of what friends do to each other.
- Good night.
- Good night.
(soft music)
- I, uh... I just graduated.
- Really? So did I.
- Oh, yeah? In what?
- Radio communications.
- So... so is that what you do?
- That's what I'd like to do. Uh...
I do a little freelance deejay stuff,
but... you know, right now,
I'm just driving a cab.
- I thought you might do
something like that.
- Drive a cab?
- No, do something
where you use your voice.
- Why?
- I don't know why.
Because... you're easy to listen to.
- Because of my voice, eh?
I just need to find a structure.
You know?
- What do you mean?
- Listen, I...
I waste so much time, you know?
It's just... my days just slip by,
you know?
- Isn't that what days
are supposed to do?
- You know, yeah...
Not if you want to make something
with yourself, you know?
(Eric chuckling)
- And what do you want to make of yourself?
- I don't know.
I-I-I just... feel that I was meant
to do something with my time.
I mean... otherwise, I...
I wouldn't be thinking
of... this... this way.
I'd... I'd be able to just continue
what I was doing, you know?
- Do you have a lot of friends?
- Not really.
Do you?
- No.
- Yeah...
- Do you ever feel like...
you need a friend?
- Yeah, sometimes.
- When?
- Like right now.
- Why?
- Because I just met you and...
I just feel like telling someone, you know?
(Eric laughing)
(siren blaring)
(distant chatter)
- No way, no way, no way...
(sighing)
(door squeaking)
Hi.
- Hi.
- Jesus...
- What's the matter?
- What's the matter...
Her wigs, her clothes...
Sometimes, I just feel like throwing them
all away, you know?
- What are you looking for, Zoe?
I mean, is this where you see your future?
- My future?
The club?
When Mom died,
my immediate idea was to get rid
of this place, just sell it.
I never thought it would have
any interest for me.
- So why did it?
- I used to be very shy
as a child.
I used to watch my mother for hours,
just admiring her sense of freedom.
So when the opportunity came up,
I thought I would take on the challenge.
- So you feel better
about adopting her options
rather than creating your own?
- I have created my own options, too.
- Oh, I know.
It's your contract
for the baby with Eric.
I found it.
- Does he know?
- I would hope so.
Otherwise, he might just think I'm disgusted
with him for no particular reason.
- Look, I really...
desperately needed this child
and it just worked out with Eric.
I didn't mean to hurt you.
- You know, I remember when your mother
built this hallway.
She, uh...
she built it for this very rich man
who used to come here.
He used to get off watching us dance
for other guys,
so he actually paid her
to construct this very special place
that he could watch us from.
Your mother never told us that.
She said it was to protect us,
so she could patrol things.
And I believed her.
Until Eric told me the truth.
- Why did you believe him?
- I made a choice.
And Eric promised me
he'd never lie to me.
(opera music)
(hypnotic music)
- How could anyone...
hurt you?
Take you away from me?
How could anyone?
(opera music)
- What's this machine?
- Uh... uh... it's an incubator.
- Wh-what's it for?
- Well, what do you think it's for?
- Eggs.
- That's right.
- Are they yours?
- Wh-what do you mean?
- I mean, um... shouldn't you be
sitting on them or something?
- Oh, yeah, well,
I guess I've... abandoned the nest.
- What's inside of them?
- Uh, the eggs?
- Yes.
(clearing throat)
- Well, uh, Hyacinth Macaws,
if you want to know the absolute truth.
- Where'd you get them?
- From... very far away.
(thunder rumbling)
(with a strong accent):
Eh, check her out, eh?
I said check her out.
Yeah...
- You're talking to me?
- Yes, I'm talking to you.
- What? Check who out?
- The babe that's dancing for you, man.
You're giving her quite a run
for your money, man.
- What do you mean by that?
- She's been dancing for you all night.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, and not just tonight.
I mean, I've noticed you with her
other nights, too.
- You... come in here all the time, or...?
- Uh...
- Yeah... all the time.
It's just...
visuals, you know?
It's good.
But, uh...
She seems to have
a bit of a thing for you, doesn't she?
- We... get along.
- I'm sure you do, my friend.
What do you two talk about, huh?
- Oh, just, uh...
The usual, I guess.
- The usual?
I don't think you're talking
about what I would call "usual."
- Why not?
- Because I can tell.
You get pretty intense, my friend.
- Well, I guess that's just...
the way I am.
- So, uh...
Hey, why don't you give her
a little touch, huh?
- You're not supposed to touch.
- Oh, but she is into it, believe me.
Yeah...
- How do you know?
- Everybody knows, man.
(Eric chuckling)
Trust me, my friend.
Trust me, just a little touch.
Nothing too drastic.
Then you will get the full experience,
my friend.
And you will love it.
You will love it.
Okay?
- And what happens when I touch her?
What happens?
(laughter)
(upbeat hypnotic music)
You're out of here, man!
Get out!
Come on!
Get down there!
Come on! Come on!
(thunder rumbling)
(grunting)
(groaning)
(tires screeching)
(honking)
(man): Hey, what the hell are you doing?
Get off the road!
(groaning)
(honking)
Move!
(classical music)
(laughing)
- What's so funny?
- It's like petting a gorilla.
- Well...
- Was your father this hairy?
- No, I... I got it from my mother.
I mean, I mean,
from my mother's side of the family.
That's where you, um...
inherit hair patterns.
- My uncle's bald.
- On your mother's side?
- Mm-hmm.
- Well, um... I guess I'm talking
about usual patterns.
- Hmm...
- There's always exceptions.
It's...
(man moaning)
It's the... way these things... work.
- Shouldn't you go to the hospital?
- No, I'm fine.
- You don't look fine.
- You worry about me, don't you.
- You think this is normal?
- What?
- What we do?
- What do we do?
- That's just it.
We don't speak about it.
- You know that feeling
you get sometimes, Tracey,
that you didn't ask
to be brought into the world?
- Yeah.
- Well then, who did?
- What?
- If you think that you didn't ask
to be brought into the world,
then who did?
(sighing)
All I'm saying is nobody asked you
if you wanted to be brought into the world.
You just ended up getting here.
(sighing)
So the question is,
now that you're here,
who's asking you to stay?
(sighing)
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
- Look, are you sure
you're gonna be okay?
- Yes.
Good night.
- Good night.
- He touched you?
- He didn't want to.
- What do you mean?
- I know him.
- We all know him.
He's crazy about you.
- Not like that.
- Why didn't you get one of the boys
to handle this, Eric?
- Because I didn't think of it.
I just saw him touch her, and...
- Why didn't you ask him to leave?
- Because he wouldn't have listened.
- How do you know that?
- Because he's in his own world,
the asswipe.
- I don't know
where you're both coming from.
You're telling me that he touched you,
but he really didn't.
And you're saying that you overreacted,
but you didn't have a choice?
- I didn't.
- Why not?
- Why not?
Because he touched you.
- Okay, all I'm concerned about
is if he makes a case.
I have to know what happened.
- We told you what happened, Zoe.
- And that is what happened?
- Yeah.
- Okay.
Is that it?
(phone ringing)
(distant barking)
- Hi, this is Thomas. I'm not in
at the present time, but I am in town.
Please leave a message
following the beep.
(beep! )
- Good morning.
You're probably not up yet,
so you haven't seen what I've done.
I'm a customs officer at the airport.
Actually, I saw you the other day
when you were having your bags inspected.
I know... I know how you probably
smuggled those eggs in.
There's a special unit at work.
I-I think they gave them to the zoo
or something.
They asked me where I got them.
I had to lie.
- Where are they?
- I took them.
- Where?
- I'd like to see you again.
(Thomas mumbling)
(Thomas): Uh, no.
They're in the country now,
definitely in the country.
It's just... I don't have them...
uh, with me, presently,
but it doesn't mean I can't get them.
And if you could give me like,
just, uh... um... a couple--
- Good morning.
- Hi.
Uh, and... I'm here, okay?
So, I'll... I'll talk to you later.
Bye.
- You look like you're
in worse shape than I am.
- What happened to you?
- Oh, I fell down some stairs, and...
- You okay?
- Do I look okay?
- Uh... no, not really.
- Well, I'm... I'm better than I look.
Here, I got you a coffee.
I didn't, uh...
didn't know how you took it.
- Oh, black's fine.
- Oh... Uh, I added cream.
- Well, that's okay.
- No, here, have mine.
- No, really--
- I insist.
(animal cries)
- Huh...
- What is it?
- Oh, it's...
just that his has cream in it, too.
- It's milk.
- Oh... Oh, good.
- Okay, well, I'll...
I'll get to work.
(birds chirping)
(Eric): Ooh!
What... what is it...
what is it that gives a schoolgirl
her special innocence?
Is it the way they smell?
The sweet smell of their perfume
or their hair?
The aroma of fresh flowers...
and all that other stuff
that has been fucked up
by late nights
and a lot of bad food?
(microphone echoing)
Is it their gestures?
And the way they move?
The way...
The way their body still holds on
to some semblance of self-respect and...
and dignity?
When they wrap their beautiful legs
around you,
tight, holding on,
looking at you,
you looking at them. It's just...
Or is it whatever comes out
of their cute little mouths,
all those questions,
all that wondering?
It's just, you know, they got
their whole lives ahead of them, you know?
And you've wasted half of yours away.
Damn!
What is it?
There's this feeling I get sometimes,
you know?
- What sort of feeling?
- That I wasn't ever meant
to be satisfied.
- Satisfied with what?
- A lot of things.
I mean, it seems to me that every time
I'm about to, you know,
get a hold of something or someone,
it's just bound to slip away.
- Maybe you want it to slip away.
- Maybe I want what to slip away?
- The things that you think
you're about to have.
- What would you think about that?
- As a general philosophy,
or how it pertains to you?
- You think you could talk
about how it pertains to me?
- What do you mean?
- Well, I feel like I want you.
Do you think that means
you'll slip away?
(thunder rumbling)
(bird chirping)
- Dad...
I'm not going to babysit
for uncle Francis anymore.
- Babysit?
You go there to practice.
- That's absurd.
- Why?
- Dad, he pretends
I'm still babysitting for him.
- Why would you think that?
- Because he's paying me.
- To housesit.
(squeaking)
- Huh... 20$ an hour?
- When did it go up?
- He wants to believe
that Lisa's still there.
I make it easier for him
to convince himself.
- Francis always had strange ways
to convince himself of many things.
Things that never happened,
things that might happen.
People who did things for reasons,
but they didn't.
- What has any of this
got to do with me, Dad?
- Nothing.
Nothing at all.
- So why do I have to keep going there?
- You don't.
- And you'll tell him?
(Thomas): I was in here the other night
when that guy was thrown out.
Why did that happen?
Has he ever been thrown out before?
Why do you think he would touch you?
- Why do you... why do you think
he would touch you?
- Why do you think he would touch you?
Uh, what do you think
was going through his mind when--
- Or-or... what was he thinking?
(chuckling)
- Um...
- What... what's so funny?
- This is a joke, right?
- Not at all.
If you do this favour for me,
I'll do that favour for you.
- But... I'm not hiding anything.
- Thomas, you're hiding
a smuggling operation
that brings in over $200,000 a year,
probably a lot more.
We've suspected you for a long time.
I was just brought in
to confirm what was already known.
So how do you want me to report back?
(sighing)
All I'm asking for is a bit of help.
That's all.
It's very important for me
to know these things.
Just ask her these questions.
Do this for me
and you have a clean slate.
- Uh... This...
really hasn't been my day.
- So change things.
Make it your day.
(hypnotic music)
(Eric): And all you men sitting
near that stage,
I can see you.
I know what you're thinking.
You're thinking that because I'm sitting
next to that stage,
I'm getting the same feeling
as all those guys
shoveling out all that cash
for their own private dancer.
Well, you know...
You guys wanna watch?
Go to the movies.
We're in the live-action business here,
gents.
And okay, granted, granted,
that beautiful creature
writhing before you on stage,
she, maybe, you know...
smiles at you,
she winks her eyes at you occasionally
and you may feel like the man.
Is that all you guys are looking for?
Is that all you want?
Come on, come on!
Invite one of our lovely ladies
over to your table,
where the real action is.
Ow! Yeah!
- Hi! I'm really sorry
that took so long,
or I took so long.
It's such a busy night.
Hi. I'm Chrissy.
- Hi. I'm Thomas.
- It's nice to meet you, Thomas.
I like the name Thomas a lot.
- Oh, thanks.
- Are you from out of town?
- Yes.
- Where are you from?
- Um... San Francisco.
- Oh, you're kidding?
I love San Francisco.
- Oh, you... you've been there.
- Yeah, I was there a couple of years ago
with my debating team.
- Debating team?
- Mm-hmm.
- That's... I admire someone
who can debate well.
I mean, who can debate
instead of just argue.
Well... anyone can argue,
but... It's a good skill...
uh, discipline to be able to debate
and stand back.
Um... and that's something you can apply
in your life, outside of school.
- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm...
- And when you're meeting someone,
or... negotiating.
- Negotiating?
- Well, I mean, if you have...
if you have to, uh...
It's a good skill to learn
as opposed to... cheerleading, or...
- That's what I say.
Don't be nervous about this, Thomas.
We're gonna have some fun, okay?
- Sure... Sure.
(Asian music)
Um... um...
I was... here the other night, um...
- What night was that?
- The night that-that guy
was thrown out.
You were dancing for him.
- His name is Francis.
Yeah... Um,
what happened?
(Christina sighing)
- He was a bad boy.
- Wh... what do you mean by that?
- What do I mean?
- I mean, have you danced for him
before a lot?
- Mm-hmm.
- And has he ever been thrown out before?
- No.
- So what do you think happened?
- He touched me.
And when you're dancing
for the customer,
they can't... touch.
- Yes, but why do you think
he touched you last night?
Has he ever touched you before?
- Is this what you really want to talk about
for five bucks a dance, Thomas?
- Well, I just want to know
what you think was going on
in his mind.
- Are you here for some kind
of psychology conference?
- Huh... Uh, well, uh... yes.
Uh, I am, actually.
- He's a...
He's a very particular case.
- Well, particular in what way?
- Um... you want the full story?
- Sure.
- His daughter was murdered
a couple of years ago.
And then he was implicated.
- For... for the murder?
- Yeah.
- But why?
- I... I don't know...
I don't really remember the details.
I mean, he was cleared
and then they caught the guy who did it.
But...
it obviously had, like,
this... incredible effect on him.
I mean... he's...
he's just so fucked up about it.
You know...
Thomas...
Francis and I have a very special type
of relationship.
And... I've never...
I've never minded.
But then he chose to violate it.
- S... special?
In what way?
- Well, we've... we've always had
this understanding.
I mean, I need... him
for certain things
and... he needs me
for certain things.
I mean, that's the way it's been.
- And how did he violate that?
- He... he violated that... in his-his...
in his role and what he was
supposed to do for me.
- What's he...
What's he supposed to do for you?
I mean, he comes to this club,
he pays you.
- Because I was doing things for him.
And he's done things for me.
(Christina crying)
- What's he done for you?
(sirens blaring)
- Uh...
I'm sorry...
Okay, this is really stupid.
And then I'm getting... so emotional
over the fact that... he touched me.
Because...
I mean, he was... he was always paying me
to do him this favour, and...
(sighing)
- What favour?
- I don't know, Thomas!
Why do you want to know all this?
- Well, I'm... sorry, but I-I...
- What is it about a schoolgirl that...
gives her that special innocence, gentlemen?
Such a thing that...
you have absolutely no control over...
You never have...
and you never will?
Well after this break,
we'll be right back--
- He's... he's not supposed to do that.
- Do what?
- He's not supposed to... He's not suppo...
He can obviously see from his booth
that I'm sitting here,
talking with a client.
He's not supposed to call me
when I'm talking with a client.
- Why? Do you have to go now?
(sighing)
- Uh, yeah.
But I-I-I want to come back
and I want to... you know, talk,
but I...
I want to move downstairs.
I don't... like it here.
- Sure, sure... Sure.
- Okay. I'll see you soon.
(sighing)
- Uh, I'm... going to move
to the washroom.
(distant chatter)
(peeing)
(footsteps approaching)
(sighing)
- Hey, I've noticed you've been spending
a lot of time with that lady.
- Are you... are you talking to me?
- Yeah.
You seem, uh, to...
to both hit it off together.
- Well, I guess.
I, um... I guess that can happen.
- So what do you guys talk about?
- Um... just things.
- What sort of things?
- Oh, this and that.
- This and that, eh?
You know, it's amazing how...
you can hit it off with someone like that,
isn't it?
Have you ever noticed that some people
just drift into your life
like you've known them forever?
I mean, there are some people
that you can remember
the moment that you've met them
really clearly.
And other people that...
It seems like you've known them forever...
even though you haven't.
And they all become part
of this continuous memory
you have of yourself?
This ongoing...
Are you with me?
- Uh... y-yeah, I think so.
- I mean here you are, you know,
you're having this beautiful conversation
with her.
You're getting to know each other...
I mean, there's other guys
that come in here...
(chuckling)
There's this one guy who comes in here
every other night or something
and he... spends a few hours with her.
But he never really gets to know her,
you know, not the way you have.
Not the way you two...
She really seems to be herself with you.
- Well, how do you know?
- What?
That she's being herself?
- Yeah.
- I used to be her lover.
- I'm, uh... sorry, sir.
I can't let you in.
- Why not?
(indistinct radio chatter)
Look, can I... can I at least
just talk to the manager?
- You want to talk to the manager?
- Yeah.
- You have to understand
that we have very strict rules
regarding this sort of behaviour.
- And I have always respected them.
- And this one time, you didn't.
Now, the problem, Mr. Brown,
is that this one time happened
in a room full of other men
who were watching.
Now if I let you back into the club,
what's to stop them from trying
to do the same thing?
- I told you... Someone told me to do it.
I was set up.
- And you believed that someone?
(indistinct radio chatter)
Please sit down.
- Thank you.
- Why did you touch her?
- Well, I needed to make sure.
- Why?
What if she let you?
What would you have done?
- I'd have been disappointed.
- I'm not sure... I understand you.
- That's not the way she was raised.
- You know her? Personally?
There is another club
I can recommend.
- I need to come here.
- I understand that very well, but--
- No, I... I don't think
you understand.
- Exotica is a special place.
My mother was dedicated
to creating
a very particular type of atmosphere
and I would like to maintain that.
(sighing)
- You don't understand.
- Mr. Brown...
we're all aware
of what you've gone through.
You've suffered a lot.
But you have to understand
that the Exotica
is here for your amusement.
We're here to entertain,
not to heal.
There are other places for that.
- Other places?
- I can give you a list.
Mr. Brown?
Are you listening to me, Mr. Brown?
(Asian music)
- Um...
Um... I... I just...
met this man in the washroom.
- What man?
- Well, I'm not sure.
I... I was in a booth.
I didn't really have a chance to see him.
- So how did you meet him?
- He just started talking to me.
- And what did he say?
- Well, um...
he said he used to be your lover.
- Well, it's always a sad moment,
gentlemen, when the...
clock strikes that magic hour...
(sad music)
...and we have to send you out
into the long and dark and lonely night.
But just remember...
we're only ever just a dream away...
wherever that is.
(song): You said that you don't love him
But he's right there
By your side
(whispering)
- I have to go.
- Oh... okay.
Um... wait a minute.
- Oh, no, Thomas, don't.
- No, no, no.
- Thomas, please don't.
- No, no, I insist.
Please.
Thank you.
- Your dad told me about, uh...
you not wanting to babysit anymore.
- There's no baby to sit.
- Well, I just want you to know
I understand.
- Understand what?
- That this... might all seem
a little weird.
- A little?
- I just want to thank you, Tracey.
- For what?
- You've been very patient.
And...
if you think the time has come
for this to end, then I understand.
Thank you.
- Good night, Francis.
- He-he-he calls me from a table to dance.
Of course I expect you to do something.
- Christina...
- And then... and then
he follows this guy to the washroom
and he tells this guy that...
that he was my lover.
- Well, he was.
- It's going too far, Zoe.
- Actually, baby, you have no idea
how far it's gone.
You know,
I told him to touch you.
I said you were into it.
Yeah.
It used to be wonderful
watching you dance for him,
seeing how you could soothe him.
I mean, it soothed me.
You know?
You soothed me.
Do you understand that?
Hey, hey...
- Don't, don't, don't!
Don't fucking touch me, you fucker!
(Zoe): Stop!
- Just fuck off, Zoe!
(Zoe): Stop it, for God's sake! Eric!
(Christina): Stop it!
(Eric): Chill out! Chill out!
Chill out! Relax!
(Christina screaming)
(Zoe): Eric, come here!
(Eric): Come on!
(Christina): No, I don't want you...
- Stop!
Get out! What's the matter?
- Fuck off, Zoe!
No!
(water sloshing)
(sighing)
- 'Morning, Thomas.
- What happened?
- I had to leave.
- Did you... hear everything?
- Yeah.
- Did you know?
- Did I know what?
- That she knew...
about your daughter.
- You know, when...
when the police came to question me,
they told me a lot of things.
They told me that my wife
was having an affair with my brother.
Had been for years.
They told me that
I thought Lisa wasn't my daughter.
They told me I thought
she was Harold's.
- Why would they say that?
- Because they thought
I could harm her.
That I would harm her.
And then they found the man that...
that did it...
Let me go.
And I went home.
And then my wife was killed in a car accident
a couple of months later.
And Harold was in the car.
He lived.
(Francis sighing)
What do you think it would've taken
for your father to kill someone?
I'm... I'm asking because...
there's someone that I want to kill now.
I felt it last night as I...
listened to him in the washroom.
- I don't understand...
- He set me up...
to touch her.
- Why would he do that?
- He took something...
very special from me.
I've had too many special things
taken away.
That's why we have to go back, tonight.
- To kill him?
- What would you do, Thomas?
- Oh...
- What would you do?
- Well, I'd... talk to him.
- I can't even get in there.
What would you do?
No. You go back tonight...
and you have her dance for you.
And then you touch her.
And he'll throw you out
just like he threw me out.
But I'll be waiting outside
with the gun.
- I'm not gonna help you
kill somebody.
- Not even to save
a few years in prison?
- No.
- Well, to help me, then?
- And that was Mirella, gentlemen.
Mirella.
You can have her at your own table
for only 5$.
Thank you, Mirella!
And now, it's always a pleasure
to announce to you our next dancer.
Gentlemen, please, let's give
a big round of applause for Christina!
(applause, whistling)
(man): Ow!
(lively music)
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor the rich get rich
It's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long stem rose
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people
you just had to meet
Without your clothes
And everybody knows
Everybody knows
Everybody knows
(door opening)
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
(metal rumbling)
(ominous music)
- Don't be afraid.
I know everything about you.
- What do you know about me?
- I found her.
- You found who?
- Your little girl.
- Oh!
(music intensifying)
I found her, man.
I found her.
(laughter)
(Francis): Yeah, play something happy.
Play something happy.
Yeah!
Hello!
(laughing)
(knocking on door)
Okay, I'll get it, I'll get it, I'll get it.
(piano music)
Hi, Christina.
- Hi.
I'm a little bit early.
- Yeah, that's okay.
Come on in.
Yeah, I mean, it's difficult for me to tell,
'cause I never had
much of a musical education myself,
but her teacher...
thinks she's really talented.
And, um... Actually, we were thinking
of buying her a better piano.
And, uh... an exotic baby grand,
you know?
When I mentioned baby grand,
you know what she said to me?
She said, "Dad, isn't that
a contradiction in terms?"
I mean, she just never ceases
to amaze me.
I mean, she's eight years old,
can you imagine?
She can already identify...
What... what do you call that, when...
It's two words,
kind of cancel each other out.
She just amazes me.
Where's your mind?
- I was just thinking.
- About what?
- About the way you talk about Lisa.
You get so excited.
It's nice.
- Well, I'm sure your parents
talk about you that way, too.
- I don't think so.
- Oh, I do.
- Why?
- Because you're a very responsible
young woman.
- Responsible to what?
- Well, to whatever it is
you believe you have to do.
- Like what?
- Well...
Lisa loves it when you come over
to babysit, for example.
She says you really listen to her.
- That's nice.
She really listens to me, too.
(Christina sighing)
- She thinks you're not very happy.
Listen, Christina,
if there's... if there's ever anything
you want to talk about,
about what might be going on at home
or whatever,
you know that I'm here, okay?
(sniffling)
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Okay.
(sniffling)
Oh, no, it's okay.
Thank you.
You know, I really enjoy
these drives home, Mr. Brown.
- Good, good. So do I.
- Bye, Mr. Brown.
- Goodbye.
(soft music)
Blu-ray Subtitling: CNST, Montreal
(man): You have to ask yourself
what brought the person to this point,
what was seen in his face,
his manner, that...
channeled him here.
You have to convince yourself
that this person has something hidden
that you have to find.
Check his bags.
But it's his face,
his gestures
that you're really watching.
- Thank you.
(indistinct PA announcement)
(unzipping a bag)
- He's starting straight at you.
Look at him, carefully.
What do you see?
(PA): Security for unclaimed bag
at gate 17.
(alarm blaring)
(unzipping)
(indistinct PA announcement)
(rumbling noise)
- Where are you headed?
- Uh... downtown.
- Do you want to split it?
- S... sure.
- What? Not tonight.
Are you sure?...
Well, can't you cancel?
- Oh, uh...
Wh-wh... what are these?
- Ballet tickets for tonight.
- Oh...
- You don't like ballet?
- Well... some ballets.
- That's exactly what this is,
some ballet.
Look, you can always scalp the tickets
at the door.
- Oh, you mean, uh... take these in exchange
for you paying your part of the fare.
- What do you think?
(police siren blaring)
(honking)
- See you, Jack.
(indistinct chatter)
(Asian music)
(indistinct chatter)
Excited
- Oh, Christina! Here you are!
Better get dressed.
People are asking for you.
(woman laughing)
She's right there...
(indistinct chatter)
(man): Hi.
(woman): Hello.
(laughter)
(host): Yeah!
Let's bring those big,
hairy palms together, gentlemen,
and have a nice big
round of applause...
for Kali!
Kali...
Yes indeed, Kali.
And you too... you too can have Kali
come over to your table for only 5$.
She could show you the mysteries
of her world.
(clicking tongue)
Trust me, gentlemen, trust me.
(Gregorian chant)
(grunting)
(exhaling)
Ooh! Baby, baby, baby! Ooh!
Do it for me, baby!
Oh...
My God, it's incredible!
It's incredible!
Let me ask you something,
gentlemen.
What is it that gives a schoolgirl
her special innocence?
Her sweet fragrance? Fresh flowers?
Light as a spring rain?
Oh, my God, my God...
Or is it her firm young flesh
inviting your every caress,
enticing you to...
explore her deepest
and most private secrets.
Well gentlemen, I'm gonna let you
decide that one for yourselves.
Please join me in welcoming a sassy...
bit of jailbait...
to our stage. Yes, indeed.
(blowing a kiss)
Come out, sweet Chrissy!
Wherever you are, baby,
come on out.
(applause)
(lively music)
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
You think you're bad, eh, baby?
You're bad.
Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
- It'll be 5,50.
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people
you just had to meet
Thank you.
Without your clothes
And everybody knows
(opera music)
(dance music)
(no dialogue)
(foreign-language lyrics)
- Eric...
- What?
- Linda finished her dance.
- Let's bring those big,
hairy palms together, gentlemen.
Give it up!
Yeah, gentlemen, yes!
Have a nice big round of applause for Linda.
(applause)
Yeah!
Yes, indeed.
Linda!
And just a reminder,
there's nothing Linda would love more
than to slink over to your table
and give you your own private show
for only 5$.
That's right, 5$ is all it takes
to have one of our beautiful foxes...
hmm... come over to your table
and get you all hot and bothered.
Oh!
But hey, why be bothered
when you're being treated like a king?
Huh... you had a rough day?
Don't you think
you owe it to yourselves to...
do something that'll make you feel
like you're someone special?
You are someone special.
5$ is all it takes to prove it.
Ah!
(hypnotic music)
Yeah! Let's have a nice
big round of applause for Michelle!
My God, that was beautiful.
Ooh... baby, you come out.
And just to remind you that uh,
there's nothing Michelle would love more
than to come over to your table
and give you your own private dance.
Hello...
gentlemen!
Anybody out there?
Anybody alive?
Anybody with 5$, you can have Kali.
Kali at your own private table.
(sighing)
Let me ask you something, gentlemen.
What is it... about a schoolgirl that...
gives her that special innocence?
(indistinct chatter)
So, the way that they can gaze at you,
waiting for you to say something
with so much...
expectation and hope that you just...
paralyze into...
...into silence.
(soft music)
(birds chirping)
(sighing)
- Uh, look...
I want to give this back to you.
- Why?
- Well... those tickets
were given to me, and...
I-I just feel... uncomfortable
about having sold them.
- That's okay.
- No, no. No, really, I...
(clearing throat)
We never really introduced ourselves.
I'm Thomas.
- David.
Can I use this to take you out
for a drink?
- Oh, that's...
very... kind of you but, uh...
- But what?
- But... I really...
have to get home.
(rap music)
- Thanks.
- Are you available next Thursday?
- Uh... I think so, yeah.
- Good, good.
- Tracey...
- Yeah?
- I'm not that boring, am I?
(Tracey chuckling)
- What do you mean?
- Well... the earphones.
I mean...
We used to listen to the radio
and you used to ask me
all sorts of questions.
- So you want me to ask more questions?
- Sure... Yeah.
I mean, if there's something
you want to know.
- Okay, I'll see what I can think up.
- Say hi to your dad.
- I will. Good night.
- Good night.
(rap music)
(Eric): Did someone say something?
(woman): No.
- So, what's the point?
- I've just noticed
a change in your attitude.
Look, I would understand if you would prefer
not to introduce Christina.
I... I could do it myself.
Actually, I've been thinking
that perhaps I should be
getting more involved
in the introductions overall.
I could have my own microphone
like my mother used to do.
- No, I... I actually
enjoy introducing Christina,
I mean, I find it very therapeutic,
you know?
- That's not what you're getting paid for.
- It seems to me that I'm being paid to make
every girl seem like she's something special.
Right? So...
- Yeah.
- In order to do that, I have to...
let my imagination run wild.
So, I mean, when it comes to Christina,
you know... my imagination
is bound to run a little wilder.
There's nothing that I can do
to control that, Zoe.
- Makes the clients uncomfortable.
- And you think your state
puts them at ease?
Hey...
Is he kicking?
- All the time.
Do you feel like touching it?
(inhaling)
How are you feeling about this?
- Fine.
- Fine?
Are you happy?
- For you.
- What about you, Eric?
What about you?
- Well, I guess I gotta be pretty careful
about my feelings, right?
I mean, uh...
That's why we have a contract,
isn't it?
- There's plaster dust
all over the apartment...
No, I'm not exaggerating...
No, I was coughing in my sleep
last night.
You told me that it was going to
be comfortable for me to live there
and... it is not comfortable.
There's plastic on the furniture.
That is not comfortable living.
(bird chirping)
Yeah... Oh, come on, look...
You told me you were gonna strip
the wallpaper,
not strip the walls down...
Well... No, if you... if you'd told me
in the first place,
if you'd told me what kind of job it was,
then I would've considered it
although...
it makes me seem like you've maybe
made a mistake.
That's what it makes me suspect...
What... No, it's too late now.
It's inaccessible.
I'm not gonna pay you. Pay you for what?
You didn't do the job.
Well, you did a job. It... it's not the job
that I asked you to do.
It's not the job we agreed on...
Well, I can get anyone, any number of people,
to do this.
Yeah, that's just fine with me.
Yeah, can I help you?
- Mr. Pinto?
- Uh... yes.
- I'm Francis Brown.
We spoke... on the phone
a couple of weeks ago.
Revenue Canada.
- Oh, uh... of course. Uh...
- How was your trip?
- Uh... it was fine.
- And when did you get back?
- Just yesterday.
(phone ringing)
- Good weather?
- Yes, yes, lovely, yeah.
(phone ringing)
- Is this a good time, Mr. Pinto?
(phone ringing)
- Sure.
- It's just, you seem a little, uh...
(phone ringing)
- A little what?
- Flustered.
(phone ringing)
- Oh, no, no, no, no.
I'm... I'm fine. Fine.
(phone ringing)
- Good.
(phone ringing)
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Listen, I can't talk to you right now.
Later.
Okay, uh...
- So this is where I'd find
all the bank statements?
- Uh... that's... that's right.
And... those there.
(man sighing)
- Okay, well, if I have any questions,
I'll let you know.
- Is it a little hot for you back here?
- It's... yeah.
You could turn it down a tad.
(clearing throat)
I suppose you have to be...
pretty careful with the temperature,
with the animals.
- Oh, well, they're a lot hardier
than you'd think.
(sighing)
- I wouldn't think they're not hardy.
I mean... just because they're exotic
doesn't mean they can't endure extremes.
It is, after all, a jungle out there,
isn't it?
- Um... so how long will this take?
- An audit?
- Yes.
- Well, that depends
on how prepared you are.
Have you got an accountant?
- Uh, well, um...
Well, no, not really, no.
- Not really...
- So this will take... a while.
- I could be done by the end of the day,
or it might take a week.
It's difficult to say.
- Oh... okay.
Uh, well, if you have any questions, um...
- I'll let you know.
(sighing)
- Did you know her?
- Sort of.
- She was your neighbour?
I, uh... I babysat her
a couple of times.
- Oh, so you knew her pretty well, eh?
- Yeah, I did.
What about you?
- Oh, I just, uh...
I heard this thing was being organized, so...
It seems so... surreal, doesn't it?
- What?
- That we'd find anything. I mean...
There's so... many places where you could
hide something in this country.
My name's Eric.
- I'm Christina.
- Hey, nice to meet you, Christina.
- Well?
- Well what?
- Don't you want to touch it?
You don't have to.
It's one of those things
people normally like to do.
Ah...
(laughing)
What is this thing about Eric
calling you a sassy piece of jailbait?
- What's this thing?
- It bothers me.
- Why?
- Makes you out like a child
or something.
- Unlike the tartan skirt
and my socks,
or the blouse, or the way I act, right?
- Do you find it strange
that he would still want to work here?
- Zoe, not all of us have the luxury
of deciding what to do with our lives.
It's a job and he's getting paid alright.
- I just find it cruel.
- So fire him.
As a favour.
- How can you be so detached?
(calculating machine)
(water sloshing)
- Well, I'm finished for the day.
- Uh... for the day?
Uh, you mean you have to come back?
- Yeah, I'm afraid so.
When is a good time?
- But... but I thought you said
it was only... gonna take one day.
- Well, it can only take a day.
But you have to understand, you don't keep
very well-organized books.
That's why you should really think
about getting someone in to help you,
just somebody to come in
once or twice a week,
depending on the amount of activity
and... the type... of activity.
- Uh... what do you mean by that?
- Well, some... types of activity
are more complicated, aren't they?
It might take more effort
to account for.
- Oh...
- I found a gun in one of the drawers.
- Uh... well that... belonged to my dad.
- Your dad?
- Yeah. I guess he...
just kept it, uh...
just in case.
- In case of what?
- Well... in case of trouble.
- With the animals?
(chuckling)
Would Monday be a good time
for me to come back,
Mr. Pinto?
- Uh...
Yeah...
Well, how about tomorrow?
- Uh, I have appointments for tomorrow.
Actually, um...
I'm pretty busy till the end of the week.
Monday's not good?
- No... Monday's fine.
- Around 10?
- Yeah, sure.
- Well, good.
Have a nice weekend.
(rap music)
(bird chirping)
Strange to think that bird
is probably gonna outlive us.
- Strange?
- Did you ever teach it
to say anything?
- Yes.
- What does it say, Harold?
- Well, it doesn't really say it anymore.
- It forgot?
- I don't think so.
They're not supposed to forget.
Must've just... lost interest.
- I'm sorry, I'm late.
- It's okay.
We're just talking about Felix.
- What about him?
Dad?
- I had the piano tuned.
It sounds beautiful.
(footsteps)
(soft piano music)
So, how does it sound?
- It's good.
- Yeah? Good, good.
Okay, well,
I shouldn't be too late.
- What's too late?
- Around 11 or so?
- Okay.
(soft piano music)
- You looking for tickets?
- Uh... yeah. How much?
(lively music)
(foreign-language lyrics)
(woman moaning)
(Eric): He comes in here
every other night.
He has his favourite drink...
at his favourite table
with his favourite dancer.
Sometimes he has to wait for her
and sometimes she's waiting for him.
She'll protect him.
She's his angel.
Alright, ladies and gentlemen,
it's show time at the Exotica.
And just to remind you that 5$
is all it takes
to have one of our lovely ladies...
come over to your table
and show you the mysteries of their world.
(soft music)
Now if that didn't turn you on, gentlemen,
nothing will.
Oh! Let's have a nice big warm
round of applause for Christina, gentlemen.
(applause)
Yes, Christina!
(hypnotic music)
- What are you thinking?
- I was just thinking, what would happen
if someone hurt you?
- How... how could anyone hurt me?
- If I'm not there to protect you.
- You'll always be there to protect me.
(woman laughing)
- Oh...
(sighing)
- An angel.
- Shh...
- Why would somebody
want to do something like that?
How could somebody even think
of doing something like that?
- You mustn't worry.
(Christina moaning)
- Eric!
Eric!
- Oh... Hmm...
Oh, oh! All hot and bothered!
Yes, indeed!
Let's have a nice big round of applause
for Melinda.
(sighing)
(sniffling)
(sighing)
(soft music)
(laughter)
- Uh, listen...
I fell bad about, uh,
taking your money.
- Why?
- The tickets...
were given to me, and...
I should've... given them away
for free.
- Well, that would've been stupid.
- Why?
- Because no one gives anything away.
Are you sure?
- Yeah, positive.
- Do you consider my dad a friend?
- Why?
- Just asking.
- Does he consider me a friend?
- I don't know.
- Why not?
- 'Cause he always seems different
when you're around.
- Different? In what way?
- J... Tense.
- Is that bad?
- Well, I don't really like to feel tense
around my friends.
- Well, sure, yeah.
I didn't like to feel tense around my friends
when I was your age either.
- But you do now?
- No, it's not a question of...
liking it or not. It's...
just something that happens.
- Why?
- Um...
Well...
As you get older,
you become aware that the people you meet
and the person you are...
um... is carrying
a certain amount of baggage.
And... and that baggage creates tension.
- So what do you do about it?
- Well, you can pretend it's not there,
or you can choose not to have friends,
or you can acknowledge that it's there
and have friends anyway.
- Like my dad?
- Right.
- I don't think that I like my dad
when he's around you.
- Hmm...
Well, that's... because your dad
doesn't like himself
when he's around me.
But that's okay. That's...
part of what friends do to each other.
- Good night.
- Good night.
(soft music)
- I, uh... I just graduated.
- Really? So did I.
- Oh, yeah? In what?
- Radio communications.
- So... so is that what you do?
- That's what I'd like to do. Uh...
I do a little freelance deejay stuff,
but... you know, right now,
I'm just driving a cab.
- I thought you might do
something like that.
- Drive a cab?
- No, do something
where you use your voice.
- Why?
- I don't know why.
Because... you're easy to listen to.
- Because of my voice, eh?
I just need to find a structure.
You know?
- What do you mean?
- Listen, I...
I waste so much time, you know?
It's just... my days just slip by,
you know?
- Isn't that what days
are supposed to do?
- You know, yeah...
Not if you want to make something
with yourself, you know?
(Eric chuckling)
- And what do you want to make of yourself?
- I don't know.
I-I-I just... feel that I was meant
to do something with my time.
I mean... otherwise, I...
I wouldn't be thinking
of... this... this way.
I'd... I'd be able to just continue
what I was doing, you know?
- Do you have a lot of friends?
- Not really.
Do you?
- No.
- Yeah...
- Do you ever feel like...
you need a friend?
- Yeah, sometimes.
- When?
- Like right now.
- Why?
- Because I just met you and...
I just feel like telling someone, you know?
(Eric laughing)
(siren blaring)
(distant chatter)
- No way, no way, no way...
(sighing)
(door squeaking)
Hi.
- Hi.
- Jesus...
- What's the matter?
- What's the matter...
Her wigs, her clothes...
Sometimes, I just feel like throwing them
all away, you know?
- What are you looking for, Zoe?
I mean, is this where you see your future?
- My future?
The club?
When Mom died,
my immediate idea was to get rid
of this place, just sell it.
I never thought it would have
any interest for me.
- So why did it?
- I used to be very shy
as a child.
I used to watch my mother for hours,
just admiring her sense of freedom.
So when the opportunity came up,
I thought I would take on the challenge.
- So you feel better
about adopting her options
rather than creating your own?
- I have created my own options, too.
- Oh, I know.
It's your contract
for the baby with Eric.
I found it.
- Does he know?
- I would hope so.
Otherwise, he might just think I'm disgusted
with him for no particular reason.
- Look, I really...
desperately needed this child
and it just worked out with Eric.
I didn't mean to hurt you.
- You know, I remember when your mother
built this hallway.
She, uh...
she built it for this very rich man
who used to come here.
He used to get off watching us dance
for other guys,
so he actually paid her
to construct this very special place
that he could watch us from.
Your mother never told us that.
She said it was to protect us,
so she could patrol things.
And I believed her.
Until Eric told me the truth.
- Why did you believe him?
- I made a choice.
And Eric promised me
he'd never lie to me.
(opera music)
(hypnotic music)
- How could anyone...
hurt you?
Take you away from me?
How could anyone?
(opera music)
- What's this machine?
- Uh... uh... it's an incubator.
- Wh-what's it for?
- Well, what do you think it's for?
- Eggs.
- That's right.
- Are they yours?
- Wh-what do you mean?
- I mean, um... shouldn't you be
sitting on them or something?
- Oh, yeah, well,
I guess I've... abandoned the nest.
- What's inside of them?
- Uh, the eggs?
- Yes.
(clearing throat)
- Well, uh, Hyacinth Macaws,
if you want to know the absolute truth.
- Where'd you get them?
- From... very far away.
(thunder rumbling)
(with a strong accent):
Eh, check her out, eh?
I said check her out.
Yeah...
- You're talking to me?
- Yes, I'm talking to you.
- What? Check who out?
- The babe that's dancing for you, man.
You're giving her quite a run
for your money, man.
- What do you mean by that?
- She's been dancing for you all night.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, and not just tonight.
I mean, I've noticed you with her
other nights, too.
- You... come in here all the time, or...?
- Uh...
- Yeah... all the time.
It's just...
visuals, you know?
It's good.
But, uh...
She seems to have
a bit of a thing for you, doesn't she?
- We... get along.
- I'm sure you do, my friend.
What do you two talk about, huh?
- Oh, just, uh...
The usual, I guess.
- The usual?
I don't think you're talking
about what I would call "usual."
- Why not?
- Because I can tell.
You get pretty intense, my friend.
- Well, I guess that's just...
the way I am.
- So, uh...
Hey, why don't you give her
a little touch, huh?
- You're not supposed to touch.
- Oh, but she is into it, believe me.
Yeah...
- How do you know?
- Everybody knows, man.
(Eric chuckling)
Trust me, my friend.
Trust me, just a little touch.
Nothing too drastic.
Then you will get the full experience,
my friend.
And you will love it.
You will love it.
Okay?
- And what happens when I touch her?
What happens?
(laughter)
(upbeat hypnotic music)
You're out of here, man!
Get out!
Come on!
Get down there!
Come on! Come on!
(thunder rumbling)
(grunting)
(groaning)
(tires screeching)
(honking)
(man): Hey, what the hell are you doing?
Get off the road!
(groaning)
(honking)
Move!
(classical music)
(laughing)
- What's so funny?
- It's like petting a gorilla.
- Well...
- Was your father this hairy?
- No, I... I got it from my mother.
I mean, I mean,
from my mother's side of the family.
That's where you, um...
inherit hair patterns.
- My uncle's bald.
- On your mother's side?
- Mm-hmm.
- Well, um... I guess I'm talking
about usual patterns.
- Hmm...
- There's always exceptions.
It's...
(man moaning)
It's the... way these things... work.
- Shouldn't you go to the hospital?
- No, I'm fine.
- You don't look fine.
- You worry about me, don't you.
- You think this is normal?
- What?
- What we do?
- What do we do?
- That's just it.
We don't speak about it.
- You know that feeling
you get sometimes, Tracey,
that you didn't ask
to be brought into the world?
- Yeah.
- Well then, who did?
- What?
- If you think that you didn't ask
to be brought into the world,
then who did?
(sighing)
All I'm saying is nobody asked you
if you wanted to be brought into the world.
You just ended up getting here.
(sighing)
So the question is,
now that you're here,
who's asking you to stay?
(sighing)
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
- Look, are you sure
you're gonna be okay?
- Yes.
Good night.
- Good night.
- He touched you?
- He didn't want to.
- What do you mean?
- I know him.
- We all know him.
He's crazy about you.
- Not like that.
- Why didn't you get one of the boys
to handle this, Eric?
- Because I didn't think of it.
I just saw him touch her, and...
- Why didn't you ask him to leave?
- Because he wouldn't have listened.
- How do you know that?
- Because he's in his own world,
the asswipe.
- I don't know
where you're both coming from.
You're telling me that he touched you,
but he really didn't.
And you're saying that you overreacted,
but you didn't have a choice?
- I didn't.
- Why not?
- Why not?
Because he touched you.
- Okay, all I'm concerned about
is if he makes a case.
I have to know what happened.
- We told you what happened, Zoe.
- And that is what happened?
- Yeah.
- Okay.
Is that it?
(phone ringing)
(distant barking)
- Hi, this is Thomas. I'm not in
at the present time, but I am in town.
Please leave a message
following the beep.
(beep! )
- Good morning.
You're probably not up yet,
so you haven't seen what I've done.
I'm a customs officer at the airport.
Actually, I saw you the other day
when you were having your bags inspected.
I know... I know how you probably
smuggled those eggs in.
There's a special unit at work.
I-I think they gave them to the zoo
or something.
They asked me where I got them.
I had to lie.
- Where are they?
- I took them.
- Where?
- I'd like to see you again.
(Thomas mumbling)
(Thomas): Uh, no.
They're in the country now,
definitely in the country.
It's just... I don't have them...
uh, with me, presently,
but it doesn't mean I can't get them.
And if you could give me like,
just, uh... um... a couple--
- Good morning.
- Hi.
Uh, and... I'm here, okay?
So, I'll... I'll talk to you later.
Bye.
- You look like you're
in worse shape than I am.
- What happened to you?
- Oh, I fell down some stairs, and...
- You okay?
- Do I look okay?
- Uh... no, not really.
- Well, I'm... I'm better than I look.
Here, I got you a coffee.
I didn't, uh...
didn't know how you took it.
- Oh, black's fine.
- Oh... Uh, I added cream.
- Well, that's okay.
- No, here, have mine.
- No, really--
- I insist.
(animal cries)
- Huh...
- What is it?
- Oh, it's...
just that his has cream in it, too.
- It's milk.
- Oh... Oh, good.
- Okay, well, I'll...
I'll get to work.
(birds chirping)
(Eric): Ooh!
What... what is it...
what is it that gives a schoolgirl
her special innocence?
Is it the way they smell?
The sweet smell of their perfume
or their hair?
The aroma of fresh flowers...
and all that other stuff
that has been fucked up
by late nights
and a lot of bad food?
(microphone echoing)
Is it their gestures?
And the way they move?
The way...
The way their body still holds on
to some semblance of self-respect and...
and dignity?
When they wrap their beautiful legs
around you,
tight, holding on,
looking at you,
you looking at them. It's just...
Or is it whatever comes out
of their cute little mouths,
all those questions,
all that wondering?
It's just, you know, they got
their whole lives ahead of them, you know?
And you've wasted half of yours away.
Damn!
What is it?
There's this feeling I get sometimes,
you know?
- What sort of feeling?
- That I wasn't ever meant
to be satisfied.
- Satisfied with what?
- A lot of things.
I mean, it seems to me that every time
I'm about to, you know,
get a hold of something or someone,
it's just bound to slip away.
- Maybe you want it to slip away.
- Maybe I want what to slip away?
- The things that you think
you're about to have.
- What would you think about that?
- As a general philosophy,
or how it pertains to you?
- You think you could talk
about how it pertains to me?
- What do you mean?
- Well, I feel like I want you.
Do you think that means
you'll slip away?
(thunder rumbling)
(bird chirping)
- Dad...
I'm not going to babysit
for uncle Francis anymore.
- Babysit?
You go there to practice.
- That's absurd.
- Why?
- Dad, he pretends
I'm still babysitting for him.
- Why would you think that?
- Because he's paying me.
- To housesit.
(squeaking)
- Huh... 20$ an hour?
- When did it go up?
- He wants to believe
that Lisa's still there.
I make it easier for him
to convince himself.
- Francis always had strange ways
to convince himself of many things.
Things that never happened,
things that might happen.
People who did things for reasons,
but they didn't.
- What has any of this
got to do with me, Dad?
- Nothing.
Nothing at all.
- So why do I have to keep going there?
- You don't.
- And you'll tell him?
(Thomas): I was in here the other night
when that guy was thrown out.
Why did that happen?
Has he ever been thrown out before?
Why do you think he would touch you?
- Why do you... why do you think
he would touch you?
- Why do you think he would touch you?
Uh, what do you think
was going through his mind when--
- Or-or... what was he thinking?
(chuckling)
- Um...
- What... what's so funny?
- This is a joke, right?
- Not at all.
If you do this favour for me,
I'll do that favour for you.
- But... I'm not hiding anything.
- Thomas, you're hiding
a smuggling operation
that brings in over $200,000 a year,
probably a lot more.
We've suspected you for a long time.
I was just brought in
to confirm what was already known.
So how do you want me to report back?
(sighing)
All I'm asking for is a bit of help.
That's all.
It's very important for me
to know these things.
Just ask her these questions.
Do this for me
and you have a clean slate.
- Uh... This...
really hasn't been my day.
- So change things.
Make it your day.
(hypnotic music)
(Eric): And all you men sitting
near that stage,
I can see you.
I know what you're thinking.
You're thinking that because I'm sitting
next to that stage,
I'm getting the same feeling
as all those guys
shoveling out all that cash
for their own private dancer.
Well, you know...
You guys wanna watch?
Go to the movies.
We're in the live-action business here,
gents.
And okay, granted, granted,
that beautiful creature
writhing before you on stage,
she, maybe, you know...
smiles at you,
she winks her eyes at you occasionally
and you may feel like the man.
Is that all you guys are looking for?
Is that all you want?
Come on, come on!
Invite one of our lovely ladies
over to your table,
where the real action is.
Ow! Yeah!
- Hi! I'm really sorry
that took so long,
or I took so long.
It's such a busy night.
Hi. I'm Chrissy.
- Hi. I'm Thomas.
- It's nice to meet you, Thomas.
I like the name Thomas a lot.
- Oh, thanks.
- Are you from out of town?
- Yes.
- Where are you from?
- Um... San Francisco.
- Oh, you're kidding?
I love San Francisco.
- Oh, you... you've been there.
- Yeah, I was there a couple of years ago
with my debating team.
- Debating team?
- Mm-hmm.
- That's... I admire someone
who can debate well.
I mean, who can debate
instead of just argue.
Well... anyone can argue,
but... It's a good skill...
uh, discipline to be able to debate
and stand back.
Um... and that's something you can apply
in your life, outside of school.
- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm...
- And when you're meeting someone,
or... negotiating.
- Negotiating?
- Well, I mean, if you have...
if you have to, uh...
It's a good skill to learn
as opposed to... cheerleading, or...
- That's what I say.
Don't be nervous about this, Thomas.
We're gonna have some fun, okay?
- Sure... Sure.
(Asian music)
Um... um...
I was... here the other night, um...
- What night was that?
- The night that-that guy
was thrown out.
You were dancing for him.
- His name is Francis.
Yeah... Um,
what happened?
(Christina sighing)
- He was a bad boy.
- Wh... what do you mean by that?
- What do I mean?
- I mean, have you danced for him
before a lot?
- Mm-hmm.
- And has he ever been thrown out before?
- No.
- So what do you think happened?
- He touched me.
And when you're dancing
for the customer,
they can't... touch.
- Yes, but why do you think
he touched you last night?
Has he ever touched you before?
- Is this what you really want to talk about
for five bucks a dance, Thomas?
- Well, I just want to know
what you think was going on
in his mind.
- Are you here for some kind
of psychology conference?
- Huh... Uh, well, uh... yes.
Uh, I am, actually.
- He's a...
He's a very particular case.
- Well, particular in what way?
- Um... you want the full story?
- Sure.
- His daughter was murdered
a couple of years ago.
And then he was implicated.
- For... for the murder?
- Yeah.
- But why?
- I... I don't know...
I don't really remember the details.
I mean, he was cleared
and then they caught the guy who did it.
But...
it obviously had, like,
this... incredible effect on him.
I mean... he's...
he's just so fucked up about it.
You know...
Thomas...
Francis and I have a very special type
of relationship.
And... I've never...
I've never minded.
But then he chose to violate it.
- S... special?
In what way?
- Well, we've... we've always had
this understanding.
I mean, I need... him
for certain things
and... he needs me
for certain things.
I mean, that's the way it's been.
- And how did he violate that?
- He... he violated that... in his-his...
in his role and what he was
supposed to do for me.
- What's he...
What's he supposed to do for you?
I mean, he comes to this club,
he pays you.
- Because I was doing things for him.
And he's done things for me.
(Christina crying)
- What's he done for you?
(sirens blaring)
- Uh...
I'm sorry...
Okay, this is really stupid.
And then I'm getting... so emotional
over the fact that... he touched me.
Because...
I mean, he was... he was always paying me
to do him this favour, and...
(sighing)
- What favour?
- I don't know, Thomas!
Why do you want to know all this?
- Well, I'm... sorry, but I-I...
- What is it about a schoolgirl that...
gives her that special innocence, gentlemen?
Such a thing that...
you have absolutely no control over...
You never have...
and you never will?
Well after this break,
we'll be right back--
- He's... he's not supposed to do that.
- Do what?
- He's not supposed to... He's not suppo...
He can obviously see from his booth
that I'm sitting here,
talking with a client.
He's not supposed to call me
when I'm talking with a client.
- Why? Do you have to go now?
(sighing)
- Uh, yeah.
But I-I-I want to come back
and I want to... you know, talk,
but I...
I want to move downstairs.
I don't... like it here.
- Sure, sure... Sure.
- Okay. I'll see you soon.
(sighing)
- Uh, I'm... going to move
to the washroom.
(distant chatter)
(peeing)
(footsteps approaching)
(sighing)
- Hey, I've noticed you've been spending
a lot of time with that lady.
- Are you... are you talking to me?
- Yeah.
You seem, uh, to...
to both hit it off together.
- Well, I guess.
I, um... I guess that can happen.
- So what do you guys talk about?
- Um... just things.
- What sort of things?
- Oh, this and that.
- This and that, eh?
You know, it's amazing how...
you can hit it off with someone like that,
isn't it?
Have you ever noticed that some people
just drift into your life
like you've known them forever?
I mean, there are some people
that you can remember
the moment that you've met them
really clearly.
And other people that...
It seems like you've known them forever...
even though you haven't.
And they all become part
of this continuous memory
you have of yourself?
This ongoing...
Are you with me?
- Uh... y-yeah, I think so.
- I mean here you are, you know,
you're having this beautiful conversation
with her.
You're getting to know each other...
I mean, there's other guys
that come in here...
(chuckling)
There's this one guy who comes in here
every other night or something
and he... spends a few hours with her.
But he never really gets to know her,
you know, not the way you have.
Not the way you two...
She really seems to be herself with you.
- Well, how do you know?
- What?
That she's being herself?
- Yeah.
- I used to be her lover.
- I'm, uh... sorry, sir.
I can't let you in.
- Why not?
(indistinct radio chatter)
Look, can I... can I at least
just talk to the manager?
- You want to talk to the manager?
- Yeah.
- You have to understand
that we have very strict rules
regarding this sort of behaviour.
- And I have always respected them.
- And this one time, you didn't.
Now, the problem, Mr. Brown,
is that this one time happened
in a room full of other men
who were watching.
Now if I let you back into the club,
what's to stop them from trying
to do the same thing?
- I told you... Someone told me to do it.
I was set up.
- And you believed that someone?
(indistinct radio chatter)
Please sit down.
- Thank you.
- Why did you touch her?
- Well, I needed to make sure.
- Why?
What if she let you?
What would you have done?
- I'd have been disappointed.
- I'm not sure... I understand you.
- That's not the way she was raised.
- You know her? Personally?
There is another club
I can recommend.
- I need to come here.
- I understand that very well, but--
- No, I... I don't think
you understand.
- Exotica is a special place.
My mother was dedicated
to creating
a very particular type of atmosphere
and I would like to maintain that.
(sighing)
- You don't understand.
- Mr. Brown...
we're all aware
of what you've gone through.
You've suffered a lot.
But you have to understand
that the Exotica
is here for your amusement.
We're here to entertain,
not to heal.
There are other places for that.
- Other places?
- I can give you a list.
Mr. Brown?
Are you listening to me, Mr. Brown?
(Asian music)
- Um...
Um... I... I just...
met this man in the washroom.
- What man?
- Well, I'm not sure.
I... I was in a booth.
I didn't really have a chance to see him.
- So how did you meet him?
- He just started talking to me.
- And what did he say?
- Well, um...
he said he used to be your lover.
- Well, it's always a sad moment,
gentlemen, when the...
clock strikes that magic hour...
(sad music)
...and we have to send you out
into the long and dark and lonely night.
But just remember...
we're only ever just a dream away...
wherever that is.
(song): You said that you don't love him
But he's right there
By your side
(whispering)
- I have to go.
- Oh... okay.
Um... wait a minute.
- Oh, no, Thomas, don't.
- No, no, no.
- Thomas, please don't.
- No, no, I insist.
Please.
Thank you.
- Your dad told me about, uh...
you not wanting to babysit anymore.
- There's no baby to sit.
- Well, I just want you to know
I understand.
- Understand what?
- That this... might all seem
a little weird.
- A little?
- I just want to thank you, Tracey.
- For what?
- You've been very patient.
And...
if you think the time has come
for this to end, then I understand.
Thank you.
- Good night, Francis.
- He-he-he calls me from a table to dance.
Of course I expect you to do something.
- Christina...
- And then... and then
he follows this guy to the washroom
and he tells this guy that...
that he was my lover.
- Well, he was.
- It's going too far, Zoe.
- Actually, baby, you have no idea
how far it's gone.
You know,
I told him to touch you.
I said you were into it.
Yeah.
It used to be wonderful
watching you dance for him,
seeing how you could soothe him.
I mean, it soothed me.
You know?
You soothed me.
Do you understand that?
Hey, hey...
- Don't, don't, don't!
Don't fucking touch me, you fucker!
(Zoe): Stop!
- Just fuck off, Zoe!
(Zoe): Stop it, for God's sake! Eric!
(Christina): Stop it!
(Eric): Chill out! Chill out!
Chill out! Relax!
(Christina screaming)
(Zoe): Eric, come here!
(Eric): Come on!
(Christina): No, I don't want you...
- Stop!
Get out! What's the matter?
- Fuck off, Zoe!
No!
(water sloshing)
(sighing)
- 'Morning, Thomas.
- What happened?
- I had to leave.
- Did you... hear everything?
- Yeah.
- Did you know?
- Did I know what?
- That she knew...
about your daughter.
- You know, when...
when the police came to question me,
they told me a lot of things.
They told me that my wife
was having an affair with my brother.
Had been for years.
They told me that
I thought Lisa wasn't my daughter.
They told me I thought
she was Harold's.
- Why would they say that?
- Because they thought
I could harm her.
That I would harm her.
And then they found the man that...
that did it...
Let me go.
And I went home.
And then my wife was killed in a car accident
a couple of months later.
And Harold was in the car.
He lived.
(Francis sighing)
What do you think it would've taken
for your father to kill someone?
I'm... I'm asking because...
there's someone that I want to kill now.
I felt it last night as I...
listened to him in the washroom.
- I don't understand...
- He set me up...
to touch her.
- Why would he do that?
- He took something...
very special from me.
I've had too many special things
taken away.
That's why we have to go back, tonight.
- To kill him?
- What would you do, Thomas?
- Oh...
- What would you do?
- Well, I'd... talk to him.
- I can't even get in there.
What would you do?
No. You go back tonight...
and you have her dance for you.
And then you touch her.
And he'll throw you out
just like he threw me out.
But I'll be waiting outside
with the gun.
- I'm not gonna help you
kill somebody.
- Not even to save
a few years in prison?
- No.
- Well, to help me, then?
- And that was Mirella, gentlemen.
Mirella.
You can have her at your own table
for only 5$.
Thank you, Mirella!
And now, it's always a pleasure
to announce to you our next dancer.
Gentlemen, please, let's give
a big round of applause for Christina!
(applause, whistling)
(man): Ow!
(lively music)
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor the rich get rich
It's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long stem rose
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people
you just had to meet
Without your clothes
And everybody knows
Everybody knows
Everybody knows
(door opening)
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
(metal rumbling)
(ominous music)
- Don't be afraid.
I know everything about you.
- What do you know about me?
- I found her.
- You found who?
- Your little girl.
- Oh!
(music intensifying)
I found her, man.
I found her.
(laughter)
(Francis): Yeah, play something happy.
Play something happy.
Yeah!
Hello!
(laughing)
(knocking on door)
Okay, I'll get it, I'll get it, I'll get it.
(piano music)
Hi, Christina.
- Hi.
I'm a little bit early.
- Yeah, that's okay.
Come on in.
Yeah, I mean, it's difficult for me to tell,
'cause I never had
much of a musical education myself,
but her teacher...
thinks she's really talented.
And, um... Actually, we were thinking
of buying her a better piano.
And, uh... an exotic baby grand,
you know?
When I mentioned baby grand,
you know what she said to me?
She said, "Dad, isn't that
a contradiction in terms?"
I mean, she just never ceases
to amaze me.
I mean, she's eight years old,
can you imagine?
She can already identify...
What... what do you call that, when...
It's two words,
kind of cancel each other out.
She just amazes me.
Where's your mind?
- I was just thinking.
- About what?
- About the way you talk about Lisa.
You get so excited.
It's nice.
- Well, I'm sure your parents
talk about you that way, too.
- I don't think so.
- Oh, I do.
- Why?
- Because you're a very responsible
young woman.
- Responsible to what?
- Well, to whatever it is
you believe you have to do.
- Like what?
- Well...
Lisa loves it when you come over
to babysit, for example.
She says you really listen to her.
- That's nice.
She really listens to me, too.
(Christina sighing)
- She thinks you're not very happy.
Listen, Christina,
if there's... if there's ever anything
you want to talk about,
about what might be going on at home
or whatever,
you know that I'm here, okay?
(sniffling)
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Okay.
(sniffling)
Oh, no, it's okay.
Thank you.
You know, I really enjoy
these drives home, Mr. Brown.
- Good, good. So do I.
- Bye, Mr. Brown.
- Goodbye.
(soft music)
Blu-ray Subtitling: CNST, Montreal