Grand Canyon (1991) - full transcript

( crowd cheering )

Yeah!

You know what your problem is?

You're always talking about x,
but you're thinking about Y.

You've gotta learn to talk
about Y.

Forget about x.
x is gonna take care of itself.

- What are you talking about?
- Just asking you to hear yourself.

Listen to what you're really saying,
under what you think you're saying--

control, control, control.

When are you gonna realize
nothing can be controlled?

- We live in chaos.
- ( car alarm chirps )



lt's the central issue
in everyone's life.

Mack, look around you.

Everyone in this parking lot
is struggling for control.

And you know what it is
they're trying to control,

each and every one of 'em?

Fear.

They're trying to control their fear.

- Thanks for the game, Davis.
- Mack, you're my best friend.

This is important.
Let's talk tomorrow.

- Good night, Mack.
- Good night, Vanessa.

l have more to say about this.

Vanessa, why is it,

when someone's successful
in one field,

they think they know
about everything?



Drive carefully.

( helicopter whirring )

( horns honking )

- ( turns radio on )
- ( rock music playing )

♪ l went home
with the waitress ♪

♪ The way l always do ♪

- ( Mack sings along )
- ♪ How was l to know ♪

♪ She was with
the Russians, too? ♪

♪ l was gambling in Havana ♪

♪ l took a little risk ♪

♪ Send lawyers, guns and money ♪

♪ Dad, get me out of this, ha! ♪

♪ l'm the innocent bystander... ♪

( turns radio off )

Man on TV:
...to be heard on this subject.

Man #2: Missiles can accomplish
at a cheaper price,

and with greater accuracy
and fewer casualties

the mission that a pilot

was supposed to carry out
and did in previous wars.

And the Air Force is very resistant
to change...

Dad should be home soon.
The game just ended.

l thought you were studying
for your English exam.

l was.
l had the game on the radio.

Oh.

Oh, can you pick me up
tomorrow at 4:30?

4:30 behind the school?

l thought you were gonna
get a ride occasionally.

l try. lt's just really hard
to arrange to leave

at exactly the same time
as someone.

lt's just really hard for me
to arrange my whole afternoon

around picking you up.

l'm working
at the senior center tomorrow.

lf you can't do it,
l can try to find a ride.

lt's kind of late, but--

Thanks. Mom, l think
you need to get organized.

( hip hop music playing )

♪ There's plenty of that
and much more ♪

♪ So at the party,
Brandon's controlling the floor ♪

♪ Let you step
and do your dance routine ♪

♪ lt ain't a dream, my man, yeah,
the gangsta scene ♪

♪ What l'm feeling,
doing damage on the 20-foot track ♪

♪ With your fusion
l finish my conclusion ♪

♪ A rhythm addict rhymes
from a radio cat... ♪

( Mack sings )
♪ And l'm hidin' in Honduras... ♪

( hip hop music fades )

♪ A desperate man... ♪

( car alarm blaring )

♪ Send lawyers,
guns and money... ♪

( hums )
Fuck!

- ♪ The shit has hit the fan-- ♪
- ( engine sputters )

- God. What the--
- ( horn honks )

All right, all right!

- ( engine clicks )
- Oh, sh-- God.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

( sighs )

( dogs barking )

( beeps )

- ( rings )
- Operator 349. What city, please?

Yeah.
l need road service for--

l don't know,
let's say lnglewood.

- ( static crackles )
- Hello.

God.

Damn!

Mack:
Yeah, Buckingham.

But remember,
it's about a half a mile west,

l guess, of there.

Woman: Stay close to your vehicle, sir.
lt should be about a 25-minute wait.

Uh-huh, l understand, but see,

if it takes that long,
l might be, like, dead.

Should l call the police?
Will that help?

The police.

Oh, shit, no,
nothing's happened.

Just get the truck here
as fast as you can.

Will do, sir.

( hip hop music playing )

♪ lt keeps you all staring
and wondering ♪

♪ Why l'm invincible,
but when you hear my rhyme ♪

- ♪ lt's convincible... ♪
- ( music fades )

- ( sighs )
- ( hip hop music playing )

♪ Fuck the police, coming
straight from the underground ♪

♪ A young nigga got it bad
'cause l'm brown... ♪

( engine sputters )

♪ They have the authority to kill
a minority... ♪

( tires squeal )

Mayday, Mayday.
We're going down.

♪ We could go toe to toe
in the middle of a cell ♪

♪ Fuckin' with me
'cause l'm a teenager ♪

- ♪ With a little bit of gold-- ♪
- ( turns music off )

- Hey, man, you need some help here?
- This is a nice car, mister.

- This one of them new Jap cars?
- Yeah.

Yeah, you need some help
or yeah, this is a Jap car?

Thanks, no.

l've already called
for the tow truck and the police.

You called the police?
What?

On that phone there
you called all those people?

- Who else you call, your mama?
- ( laughing )

- He been busy, man.
- l see.

You know, this is
a nice car, mister.

l could use me a car
with a phone in it.

Maybe you want us to give you
a ride somewhere or something.

You want
a jumpstart or something?

Yeah, man.
How about a jumpstart?

- ( thuds )
- He nervous, y'all.

What you so
nervous about, man?

Maybe he carryin', Jim.

Maybe he's scared
we gonna bust him.

Bust his ass.

Leave that man alone!

Okay, Grandma.
Whatever, baby.

( sighs )

Why don't you get
outta the car, mister?

You want me to have Jimmy
take you outta there?

Or how about this?

Do you ever wanna get
outta that car again?

Look, what do you want?
You want my wallet?

You want my watch?
lt's a shitty watch.

- You're welcome to it.
- What l want is you get outta the car.

Come on!
Let's get this shit over with!

Now, motherfucker.

Which one of you called
for the truck?

Me. That was me.
This is it.

lt just sort of died on me here.
l'm the one that called.

Well, l guess
it was you, huh?

- Yeah.
- Hey, man, we was doin' fine here.

- ls it the battery?
- Huh?

Were you stopped
and it wouldn't start again?

No, no.
lt just died on me.

Driver:
We're gonna have to take it in.

- You dissin' me, man?
- You bet he is.

You're seein' it now, man.

Man, that's right.
That's what he's doin'.

ls that right?
You dissin' me?

No, l'm not.
Nothing like it.

l'm doing a job here, fella.
This is how l make my living.

l just ride out there and do the job.

l want it to go as smooth
as it can be.

l don't like it to be any harder
than it already is.

You wanna make sure you're in neutral
and the parking brake is off?

That's bullshit, man.
He talkin' bullshit.

Yeah, man, what's goin' down?
This is fucked up.

( hydraulics hissing )

( thuds )

Get in the truck.
You'll ride up with me.

Are you the one l'm talkin' to?

Hey, we all decide what goes down.
So don't fly that shit.

Yeah, man, fuck you!

Am l talking to the right man?

That's what l thought.

Look, l gotta ask you a favor.

l gotta ask you
to let me go my way here.

Now, this truck
is my responsibility.

Now that the car's hooked up to it,
l'm responsible for that, too.

Any shit comes down now,
it's my ass. You follow me?

Do you think l'm stupid?

Just answer me that first
and then we can talk.

Look, l don't know nothing about you,
you don't know nothing about me.

l don't know if you're stupid
or some kind of genius.

But l do know this--

l gotta get out of here
and you got the gun.

So l'm asking you a favor
for the second time.

Let me go my way here.

l'm gonna grant you that favor.

And l'm gonna expect you to
remember this if we ever meet again.

Yeah.

But first,

you gotta answer one more thing
for me, and you gotta tell me the truth.

Are you asking me a favor
as a sign of respect,

or are you asking me a favor
'cause l got the gun?

Man, the world ain't supposed
to work like this.

Maybe you don't know that,

but this ain't the way
it's supposed to be.

l'm supposed to be able to do my job
without asking you if l can.

That dude is supposed to be able
to wait with his car

without you ripping him off.

Everything's supposed to be
different than what it is.

So what's your answer?

You don't have the gun,
we ain't having this conversation.

That's what l thought.

No gun, no respect.

That's why l always got the gun.

( spits )

- ( engine starts )
- ( hip hop music playing )

( engine starts )

Thanks.

You saved my ass.

We both got lucky.
lt could have gone different.

What's going on in the world?

This neighborhood
has gone to shit.

This country has gone to shit.

My sister
and her kids live near here.

( helicopter whirring )

( TV playing )

Woman on TV:
That was a joke, Frasier.

Man on TV:
Oh, l forgot l married a madcap.

Man #2: Hey, listen, folks,
nobody's really interested

about your little motor trip. We're
talking about my upcoming surgery.

So now where was l?

So you gonna see
the Grand Canyon?

Yeah, don't miss Yosemite.

lf you go to the alligator farm
outside Tallahassee,

tell lvar, Woody says hey hey.

Hey, Ma.

Hey, baby.
How you doing?

Boy:
l'm all right.

- Woman: What time is it?
- 11 :30.

- What's up?
- What's up--

Kelley's gonna be
in the Girl Scouts next year.

- Yeah?
- Mm-hmm.

l have to get her a uniform.

( yawns )

Ooh. l'm going to bed.

- Sleep tight, baby.
- Good night, Ma.

Woman on TV:
The sooner the better.

How do you think l'll do?

Man: l've never had a woman
in a car that didn't do great.

( switches channel )

Man on TV: There was more slow time
than show time early in the season.

The Lakers were
simply out of sync,

but a stifling defense and the return
of that patented running game

has catapulted LA back into
serious contention now in the West.

They're now just a game and a half
back of the Blazers

after ending Orlando's magical
road run as the Magic came out hot,

as they were putting up everything,
and then Dennis Scott hit six straight.

There's a three-pointer.
Dunleavy wanted a time out.

His team was down by 10.

Here's Earvin Johnson
missing the lay up.

Divac can't jam it back.
Magic breaking out of there.

This is Sam Vincent of Orlando.
Three on one.

The lceman.
Jerry Reynolds stuffing over Teagle.

Matt Guokas has done a great job
lately for Orlando.

- ( telephone rings )
- Hello.

- Hello.
- Mack: Hi, guys.

- Mack, what's wrong?
- Nothing, l'm fine.

- The car died on me.
- Boy: Where?

- Down near the Forum.
- Boy: Oh, shit.

- Roberto.
- Roberto: On Manchester?

No, no.
Like an idiot, l took a shortcut

and got all turned around.
You've never been where l broke down.

Roberto: Shit!
Are you out of there now?

- Yeah, l'm at a gas station.
- Woman: Good.

You're lucky you got out with your life.
lt could have been curtains, Dad.

Roberto, could l talk?

- See you tomorrow, Dad.
- Good night, pal.

Do you want me
to come and get you?

No, no. lf they're not gonna
finish it, l'll just take a cab.

You go to sleep. l'll tell you all
about my adventure in the morning.

Adventure?
Mack, what happened?

- Are you all right?
- l'm fine.

Go to bed, honey.
l love you.

- Love you, too.
- Bye.

( sighs )

You can go swimming
in the ocean every day

and be perfectly cool,
you know?

Then one day,
just one particular day,

you bump into the big shark.

Now, the big shark don't hate you.
He's got no feeling for you at all.

You look like food to him.

You don't hate a hamburger,
do you, huh?

Yeah.

Those boys back there,
they got nothing to lose.

lf you just happen
to be swimming along

and bump into 'em, well--

lt might not be worth
worrying about.

lt's like being in a plane crash.

That's comforting.
l'm glad you brought that up.

There just seems to be
so many ways to buy it.

Particularly in this city.

l'm amazed at the end of each day
that anybody's alive.

Then other days l think
maybe people aren't so fragile.

Things have always
been kind of brutal,

and people just keep on going.

You ever been
to the Grand Canyon?

- l always meant to go.
- l was there.

Only takes about
nine hours from here.

l know.
We were planning to take my boy.

- How old is he?
- 15.

15. Probably won't wanna go
with you now.

Probably go with his friends
and his chick now.

You've missed that boat.

- What's his name?
- Roberto.

- Roberto.
- After Roberto Clemente.

No shit.

Man, get yourself
to the Grand Canyon.

- Beautiful, huh?
- lt's pretty, all right.

But that's not the thing of it.

You can sit right on the edge
of it, you know? l did that.

l did everything. l went down in it.
l stayed overnight there.

But the thing that got me was sitting
on the edge of that big old thing.

Those rocks.

Man, those cliffs and rocks,
they're so old.

lt took so long for that thing
to get to look like that.

And it ain't done, either.

lt happens right while
you're sitting there watching it.

lt's happening right now while
we're sitting here

in this ugly town, yeah.

When you sit on the edge
of that thing,

you just realize
what a joke we people are.

What big heads we got,
thinking that what we do

is gonna matter all that much.

Thinking our time here
means diddly to those rocks.

lt's a split second we've been here,
the whole lot of us.

And one of us?

That's a piece of time
too small to get a name.

- You trying to cheer me up?
- Yeah.

Those rocks were laughing at me.
l could tell.

Me and my worries.

lt was real humorous
to that Grand Canyon.

You know what l felt like?

l felt like a gnat that lands
on the ass of a cow

that's chewing its cud
next to the road

that you ride by on
at 70 miles an hour.

- That's small.
- Yeah, it's small.

My name is Mack.

Simon.

( people clamoring )

l said left!

l told you left!

You scum-sucking pig!

l'm sorry, mister.
l must've heard you wrong.

Get out of there,
you piece of shit!

( screaming )

( tires screeching )

l told you not to move!

( screams )

- Where's the shot?
- Man: What shot?

- You took out the shot.
- Which shot is that?

The money shot.
The bus driver's head.

The brains-on-the-window shot.
The viscera-on-the-visor shot.

Davis, we thought we'd show it
to you like this, without all that--

Put it back.
Don't show me anything.

You don't need it.
You're not even giving it a chance.

How's the rearview mirror gag
supposed to work without it?

Am l the only one here
who respects the writing?

l gotta help these kids
on the bus.

Right, the counselor in training.

When l get back from camp,
l'm gonna practice driving

every time we get in the car.

That gives me a month to relax.

- Have a great time, pal.
- You, too.

Okay.

- l'll write a lot.
- Yeah.

All right, you have 15 seconds

to tell me all the mother stuff
one more time.

Sunscreen, hat, allergy pills,
summer reading, floss.

Watch out for poison oak,
Lyme ticks,

bears, dragons, pestilence.

Just be careful, okay?
Write if you need anything.

Mom, l'm going to camp,
not the army.

l love you, sweetheart.

Me, too.

Be happy.

♪ He's leaving home,
bye-bye. ♪

- l gotta go. You okay?
- Mm-hmm.

- Okay. Call you later.
- Okay.

- l don't wanna go!
- Come on, son.

Come on, son.
You're gonna have fun. Really.

Man:
Bye-bye!

Okay, Robby.
You ready for an adventure?

- Mm-hmm.
- We're gonna figure this town out,

you and me.
Here we go.

- You ride shotgun.
- Okay, Mommy.

- Okay?
- Okay.

( engine starts )

( car alarm chirps )

- Hey.
- Fuck.

You scared the shit out of me.

- The Rolex.
- W-w-hat? The car, you want it?

- You got it.
- ( car alarm blaring )

Asshole.
l told you l wanted the watch.

( gasping )

( spits )

( machine beeping )

Woman: The bleeding's under
control just barely.

Man:
He was dead.

Man #2:
What have we got here?

Man: Yes, sir.
Gunshot wound to the thigh.

Bone, muscle and arterial damage.

- Man #2: ls he conscious?
- Woman: ln and out.

Looks like he's coming out
right now.

Man:
Severed the sartorius muscle,

the anterior gracilis
and partial trauma to the rectus.

- Man #2: Femoral artery?
- Woman: Sponge.

Man #2: Jesus, what a mess.
Did the femurjust shatter?

See if it's even possible
to save the leg here.

Save the leg.

( baby crying )

( crying continues )

- ( gasps )
- ( crying )

Okay, okay.

- ( crying )
- ( shushing )

- Yeah, yes.
- ( water sloshes )

You have soapy head.
You do.

What's that?

Yes, l know.
l know.

Okay.

Here we go.

Right here
where you can see everything.

Yum, yum, yum, yum.

( humming )

Where's that toe?
Here it is.

Look at this.

This is gonna look very
good on you. l can tell.

- ( coos )
- l know. Come here.

Upsy-daisy-doo. Okay.

- ( telephone rings )
- ( typing )

Who's up?

Mrs. Flores and her three sons.

Hmm. Then what?

At 4:30, Mr. Duk.

- Mr. Duck?
- Mr. Duk.

Mr. Daffy Duk?

You're awful.

That's why l can't stand you.

( humming )

- ( telephone rings )
- ( sniffles )

- ( whispering ) Hello.
- Mack: Honey.

- Hi, Mack.
- How you doing?

Good.
l'm having a good day.

- Why are you whispering?
- Am l whispering?

l guess l'm feeling quiet.
l'm sitting out back.

l talked to Davis.

- How is he doing?
- Terrible.

Apparently the bullet
just tore the shit out of everything.

lt's gonna take a long time to recover,
and then he may have a limp,

- but they're not sure.
- That's awful.

- l can barely hear you, honey.
- l said that's awful.

Yeah. Listen, do you still
wanna go out tonight?

No, we can't.
l don't feel like it.

- l'll make something here.
- l like the sound of that.

- l gotta go.
- Mack.

- Yeah?
- Don't work late.

l won't. Bye, baby.

Surprise, surprise.

Yes, yes.

lt's okay.

Sweetie.

Shit!

( whistles )

- ( dialing )
- ( rings )

( electronic beeping )

( laughs )

"How's my girl doing today?"

"Why aren't you

out on a date,

beauty?"

( laughs )

"What's with school?"

- So?
- Hmm?

Come on,
don't give me a hard time.

Dee, nobody knows
less about men than me.

- You do all right.
- ( scoffs )

Okay, let me ask you
one question first.

- Do you like yourjob?
- l know what you're gonna say.

Because you can kiss it goodbye.
lt never fails.

l absolutely guarantee you the thing
ends with you losing yourjob.

And not because you're the missus
now, living in the big house.

- Don't think that's gonna happen.
- l don't think that.

l wouldn't even want that.
Give me a little credit, will you?

One of the things l think is so great
about him is how devoted he is

to his wife and kid.

You are so full of shit.
You know that?

You may not even know,
but you really are.

You're saying
what they all say at first.

l've seen it many times, honey.

lf he is so devoted to his wife,

what's he doing messing
around with you?

He hasn't done anything.

You told me you were holding hands
and getting all soulful today.

Big deal.
l shouldn't even have told you.

You gotta tell
somebody that shit.

That's how you know
it's really happening.

Otherwise it's too
goddamn lonely.

We must be going about
this whole thing wrong

or something.

What thing?

The love thing.

The touch thing.

Where there's somebody
to touch you,

real nice and gentle.

lt doesn't have to be that gentle.

Whatever.

Jane, do you ever feel

like you're just this far

from being completely hysterical

24 hours a day?

Half the people
l know feel that way.

The lucky ones feel that way.

The rest of the people
are hysterical 24 hours a day.

- Claire, l'm here.
- Hi, Mack.

You forgot to bring in the mail.

There's something here
from Carol.

Mack, come on up here.
l wanna show you something.

- ls something wrong?
- Mnh-mnh.

Whose is it?

Claire:
She's beautiful, isn't she?

ls it the Wilson kid?

Huh-uh.

- Who?
- l don't know.

- What do you mean?
- l don't know who the parents are.

Come on, Claire.
Don't make me guess.

- Where did it come from?
- ( shushes )

So what's the story?

l found her.

l was jogging,
and l heard this crying,

- and l looked under these bushes--
- Wait, wait. Where was this?

On Carmelina,
just around the corner.

So l looked under the bushes
and there she was.

- When was this?
- This morning.

This morning?
What time?

Around 9:30, l guess.

What did the police say?

Hmm?

My guess is the police
did not say "hmm."

So l guess my next guess is

you haven't called the police.

Claire, you know it's possible
this baby was kidnapped

and someone's been frantically
looking for it all day.

l don't think so.
l could tell,

but l listened to the news three times.
There wasn't a thing about it.

That doesn't mean a thing.
They may not have announced it yet,

or maybe they're waiting to hear
from the kidnappers.

This baby wasn't kidnapped,
l can tell you that, Mack.

This baby was deserted by its mother
and it's going to need a new one.

Claire.

- Are you okay?
- l'm fine.

You do know that we're gonna
have to call the police right now?

Of course, Mack. l haven't
taken leave of my senses.

l just wanted you to see her, so
l waited till you got home, that's all.

She's so beautiful.

l just wanted you to see her.

l told you
that baby wasn't kidnapped.

( laughs )
l told him, l said, "Mister,

there's no way this vehicle

is worth as much as you're
gonna pay to tow it."

But he didn't care. He tells me,
"lt got sentimental value!"

Woman: What's so funny about that?
Maybe it did.

Yeah, and maybe he got his
first piece in there.

Otis, watch your mouth.

What did he say, Mama?

Nothing, baby.
Just bring me that meatloaf.

Also, this was the car he was sitting
in the first time he was ever shot.

Man! He had some
good times in there.

Are we gonna play roundy-roundy,
Uncle Simon?

Unh-unh.
Time for bed, little girl.

One game.
Come on, Mommy.

You said we could
play one game.

Simon:
One game, Mommy, please.

ln your pajamas,
teeth brushed.

Go on.

Get ready to get whipped,
homes.

Ooooh!

l know l started something.

Baby, don't you wanna stay home
and be with your uncle?

l gotta go out.
l gotta meet some people.

- Take it slow, Simon.
- All righty.

Whoa! Ooh!

From the shoulders, old man,
you still got it!

- l ain't over yet, baby.
- l'll be back soon, Ma.

Okay.

- ( growls )
- ( laughing )

Hit me! Hey! Don't anybody come
from the shoulders anymore, huh?

Anybody got the hands, huh?

Man, l wish.

Seem like
every time you turn around,

some sucker's coming
from the pocket,

and he's strapped.

You know, l never laid any shit
on you, did l?

l love you, Otis,
and l love my sister.

l don't want her to have any more
pain than she's already had.

You know, she's suffering here
every night till you come home.

We don't even get
into that no more.

When we're together
we're trying to have it be good.

That's why l got to--

lf we ain't talkin' about it,
why you gotta talk about it?

lt ain't gonna change nothin'.

You sure?

Maybe we can figure
out something together.

What, what?
What, man?

You gonna figure out something

that nobody else
around here thought of?

- Later, Simon.
- Hey. Hey.

Plenty have gotten out, Otis.

- l don't want out.
- Bullshit.

Without my set, l'm nothing.
They care about me, man.

Hey, you wanna be
gangbanging when you're 25?

Shit.

l'll never live to be 25.

l gotta roll.

l'll call you Friday.

- Drive safely.
- All right.

( dog barking )

( gunfire )

Kelley!
( screams )

Kelley!

Kelley!
Kelley, get down!

Mama! Mama!

- ( tires screeching )
- ( crying )

( wailing )

Well, look who's up and at 'em.

Somebody leave
your curtains open last night?

l asked them to.
l wanted to see this.

City of the angels.

l have seen the light.

Mazel tov.

Watch your hands.

Right there.
Right there.

- Close.
- Lift your end.

- Right there.
- Be careful.

( glass tinkling )

( gasps )

( chattering )

l'll be right back.

Hi, Jackson.

Let me see that elbow.
Come on, just one look.

l wanna see if it's as good
as my knee.

Aww.
This is just a scrape, man.

Shit, my knee was a real mess.
This thing is just half-bad.

Did Adam push you?

Should we talk to him?

- How come?
- He's an asshole.

Maybe, but we could discuss it.

You having a bad day?

Did you get a letter
from your mom today?

Did she say she missed you?

Oh, man. My mom used
to do that. Made me nuts.

They love you so much,

they don't even know it's gonna
make you feel terrible.

l missed my mom so much
the first year l came here.

And then when she wrote me and said
she missed me, l felt so lonely.

ls that how you feel?

Well, you got me.

Mack: Just don't tell him.
So Harlan told him anyway.

What else would Harlan do?

The only way he wouldn't have told
him is if l had told him to tell him.

Honey, l just don't think l can talk
about Harlan again tonight.

l've been begging you to get away
from him for the past eight years.

What, so l can go start a new
immigration practice on my own?

That night when l thought those
boys were gonna kill me,

l realized l hate
fucking immigration law.

No, you don't. You like it
and you're good at it.

What you hate is being partners
with an asshole like Harlan.

We don't have to talk about this.

Maybe you hate some other part of
your life and you don't wanna admit it.

What?
What did you say?

When a person thinks
that they're about to die,

nothing they did that day is gonna
look like it was worth their time.

That's not what you
were gonna say.

lf you're so sure you know
what l'm gonna say,

l guess l don't have
to say anything.

Look, Mack, l don't even know
what l'm gonna say

from one second to the next.

The world doesn't make any sense
to me anymore.

l mean, what's going on?

There are babies lying around
in the streets.

There are people living in boxes.

There are people ready to shoot
you if you look at them.

And we're getting used to it.

The world is so nuts,

it makes me wonder about
all the choices that we've made.

- Jesus Christ.
- What?

Oh, shit!

Let's see what you-- wow.

Damn, that smarts!

- Hold it up. Apply pressure.
- Pressure, pressure.

l'm gonna take you to the hospital.

l think they're gonna
have to sew that up.

No. Really?
l don't think it's that bad.

- Here. Let's see. Take it off.
- ( winces )

Oh, God.

- Look at this.
- Under the water.

See what happens
when you yell at me?

Never again, baby.

Maybe next time you'll be
a little more understanding

when l start
to bitch about my life.

- Here. Okay.
- Ow! Ow. Here, let me.

l'm gonna get my purse.
l'm gonna take you to St. John's.

Maybe you'd better
sit down for a second.

l really don't think l need
to get this sewn up.

Mack, are you afraid
of a few stitches?

l'm not afraid of anything.

l just think we oughta
take a moment to discuss this.

You're kidding, right?

- ( laughs )
- What, are you going into shock?

l just hate seeing my blood
spill out of me like that.

- Does everybody--
- ( rumbling )

Earthquake!

- Big one. Let's get outta here. Run!
- Where are we going?

Claire: Aren't we supposed to--
Aren't we supposed to--

- l don't care!
- ( car alarms blaring )

l'm sorry.
l'm never complaining again.

- Bullshit.
- No, no, l swear.

You'll forget
about all this tomorrow.

No, no, no.

Did you feel that? l think
there's an aftershock coming.

Sally, did your chandelier
fall down again?

- No.
- Oh, good!

Woman:
Claire! Claire!

- Louise, what's the matter?
- Claire!

- What?
- lt's Byron.

l don't know
what's wrong with him.

l dialed 911 .
The line's busy.

- Claire, l don't know what's happening.
- Louise, calm down.

Everything's gonna be okay.
We'll be right there.

( exhales )

- He's bleeding!
- No, he's not. That's Mack.

Claire:
Come on, come on, come on.

Yes, l need an ambulance
right away. 222 Avondale.

What?

Yes. Yes.

Male.
79, l think.

Heart attack maybe.
Maybe, l don't know.

( siren wailing )

( helicopter whirring )

( gasps, screaming )

( sighs )

Simon:
Hey, Mack!

Mack!

Over here!
Come on!

Give me a flyby!

Yeah!
( laughing )

( baby crying )

Roberto: Mom, l think
you need to get organized.

( baby crying )

( siren wailing )

( wind gusting )

( indistinct conversations )

( man shouting )

( train whistle blowing )

( glass squeaks )

( baby cries )

( baby crying )

( insects buzzing )

( gasps )

Mack.

Mack, wake up.

So now tell me that again.

You have the baby
at home now?

- Mack, that's wonderful.
- No, that's not what l said.

l said Claire
wants to adopt the baby.

Claire is so great.

So you don't have the baby at home.
So what's the problem?

You're not allowed to just keep
every baby you find, are you?

Aren't there laws and shit
about that kind of thing?

Yeah, there are laws, but there is
a process you can go through,

and Claire has already
started collecting the forms.

She is the most self-actualized
person l ever met.

She is this week.

- Home sweet home.
- Mr. Davis.

Hiya, Leonard. Good to see you.
All right, just toss me in.

Just roll me back
and just flip me in.

l'm gonna go check the car,
okay, sweetie?

l'm wearing a cast.
What can happen?

See you back
at the house, okay, Tony?

You got it.

Mabel, l am never gonna
forget the times we had.

As you know perfectly well,
my name is Esther.

My mother's name was Esther,
and since you have been

so much kinder to me
than my mother ever was,

l have given you a better name,

and when l think of the experience
that changed my life,

l will think appreciatively of you.

You are very kind.

Remember, if you start
to feel some pressure in there,

that means
it's time to get the pus drained.

l love it when you talk that way
about the pus and everything.

Don't you have a favorite charity
you can give this to?

A favorite child?
A favorite horse?

This is very unusual for me.
l'm notoriously cheap.

- Ask anyone.
- lt's true.

Goodbye, Davis.

Okay, a hug.
Come on, a hug, a hug.

- Okay.
- There we go. Okay.

- So long. Bye.
- Take it easy.

Leonard, get me out of here.

So tell me about this life change.

lt's not a life change.
l had some kind of vision,

some insight,
but l don't wanna talk about it.

Tell him, Davis.
He's your best friend.

Hey, we're talking about Mack
and his new baby.

Besides, l think if you
talk about stuff,

then maybe that takes
the place of doing it.

That's never been one
of your big problems.

No kidding.

So Claire wants this baby,
but you're not too high on the idea.

And it's not that
you don't like kids.

ln fact, Roberto's maybe the best
thing that ever happened in your life,

but he's 15 now.

He's pretty much done with you.
Pretty soon he'll be moving out,

and you thought you and Claire
could get back to the kind of freedom

you had back
when you were first married.

Fact is, you feel
you're getting old way too fast.

The last thing you had
in mind was start a new family,

with all the whining and the diapers
and the attendant baby baggage.

l mean, what do you wanna
start with all that shit again for

when you already wake up wondering if
you did the right thing the first time?

Davis, you're awful!

This is so much more time-efficient
than a regular conversation.

So, since you're currently obsessed
with the question of what's going down

and why are you going with it,

what kind of shape are you in
to take on some new baby

who came from God knows where

and has God knows what kind
of health and emotional problems?

And never asked to be taken
in anyway.

- On the other hand...
- ( laughing )

Hey, baby, what's the matter?

( sniffling )

While we got a moment here,

maybe you can explain something
to me l never understood.

What is the theory
on this handkerchief thing?

After you blow your nose in it,
you put it back in your pocket,

and then you
see someone distressed

and you, like, give them this gift
from your pocket?

And they're supposed to be grateful
as they wipe it all over their face?

lf l tell you,
you're gonna think it's about you.

But it's not about you at all,

but you won't believe it
and you'll get all defensive.

Hey, if you don't wanna talk
about it, don't force yourself.

lt's just that l wanna have children.
l really wanna have them,

and l don't care
how rotten the world is.

l wanna have them anyway,

but l'm so far from being able
to have them.

l'm all involved with you, and you're
not gonna have kids with me.

We're not even gonna get married,
so l'm so far from a situation

where l can even even start
to try to have 'em.

l gotta break up with you

and find someone else
who l can stand to be with.

Even then, l don't know
how easy it's gonna be.

l might have trouble
getting pregnant

or something after everything
l've done to my body.

Maybe l should just hop out up here.
l can call a cab or something.

Why, Mack?
You're my friend, too, aren't you?

Hey, hey.

Who says we're never gonna
get married and have kids?

No you didn't.

Well, doesn't it?

( laughs )

( scrubbing )

Unh-unh.
Come on, baby.

Hey.

Hey, how you doing?

l don't know
if you remember me.

Oh, hey, man, sure.

- Mack, right?
- Right.

Yeah, l didn't recognize you
at first. Yeah.

l called and they said
you'd be getting in about now.

Oh, okay.

l wanted to thank you again
for the other night.

You did already.

Look, can l buy you breakfast

somewhere or something?

Sure.
Just a minute.

- You play basketball?
- Mack: l played in high school.

l was sixth man
for a year and a half.

Me, too. Sixth man until my
senior year, and then l started.

No kidding.
Center or forward?

Forward.
l wasn't big enough for center.

Must have been some team.

We had Oscar Benson
on that team.

No shit.
You must be pretty good.

l wasn't playing the same game
that Oscar was playing.

Look, the other night,

l don't know if you were
in so much danger,

except for maybe
losing your wallet.

l didn't save your life,
so you shouldn't be thinking

you have to say something
to me or anything.

One morning, about three years ago,
l was on my way to a meeting

at the Mutual Benefit building
on Wilshire, in the Miracle Mile.

l love that name--
the Miracle Mile.

lt's the building across the street
from the county art museum.

l was thinking about the meeting
l was going to.

l was worried about it, actually.

l started to step off the curb,

and a stranger grabbed me
and yanked me back

as a city bus
went flying by my nose.

l mean, it just filled up the world
six inches from my nose.

l would have been like a wet bug stain
on the front of the bus.

l wouldn't have even felt it,
it would have been over so fast.

l thanked this stranger,
this woman in a baseball cap,

but l was pretty much in a daze.

When l thanked her, she said,
"My pleasure."

l didn't notice till the last moment

that the cap she was wearing
was from the Pittsburgh Pirates,

my favorite team since l was a kid.

Simon:
Roberto Clemente, huh?

Right.
l never got over the idea

that l should have thanked
that woman more,

talked to her a little while,
something.

She reached out and yanked me
back from the edge, literally.

Changed everything for me
and for my wife and my son,

and then she just wandered off
down the Miracle Mile.

How come she was wearing
a Pirates cap?

lt's not your usual thing at 9:00 a.m.
on Wilshire Boulevard,

a woman in a Pittsburgh
Pirates baseball cap.

- lt's a little suspicious.
- You lost me.

l just wondered, later on,

was she for real, you know?

Was that a real person
or was that something else,

you know,
sent from somewhere else,

to grab me back
from that curb?

ls that what you're wondering
about me?

l just couldn't
let it happen again.

l didn't wanna
just let you drift away

like she did
and never talk to you.

lt didn't seem right
to let it happen twice.

So that's why l'm bothering you.

You're not bothering me.
You're just buying me breakfast.

Good.

You got a right to try to figure out
what confuses you,

but seems like you're making
more of this than it is.

The world's a hard place,
but sometimes you just get lucky.

l believe in luck.

And, of course,
sometimes you don't.

One thing is for sure,
if you're alive,

some terrible shit's
gonna happen to you,

and maybe
some good things, too,

but you can always
count on the terrible.

lf it doesn't kill you,

you're gonna be around to see it
come down some other way.

Thank you, honey.

No. No, thanks.

My father died last year.

81 years old.

lt's a long time for a black man
to live in this town.

He outlived everyone
he ever knew.

He saw two wives die
and three of his children.

He had a great ugly old face

that looked like a suitcase
gone a million miles,

all beat up and dented
and scuffed and stained.

Man, he looked like
he walked 80 years on that face.

When l used to look at that face
and see all the pain there,

all the things he'd lost,
all the hurt he had,

l wondered why he wanted to go on,
why he just didn't lay down

and give it up.

Did you figure it out?

No. Never figured out much
about that guy.

- l asked him, though.
- What'd he say?

Habit.

Does your sister have a job?

Yeah, she's a cashier at Jon's.

Lets her work her hours
around her little girl's school.

Would they let her transfer
to another store, do you think?

l don't know. Why?

l was just wondering
about something.

What's that?

lt just seems
like an impossible situation.

You can't live your life like that,

thinking someone's gonna
shoot up your house at any moment.

A lot of people do.

You know, l know this guy

who's got an apartment house
in Canoga Park.

l might be able to get her something
out there at a very reasonable price.

Listen, Mack, thanks,
but l'm not so sure it's a good idea.

Okay, l'm not gonna push it
if you're not comfortable.

Maybe you wanna think about it.
You don't have to decide now.

- Yeah, maybe.
- Okay.

- You got my number.
- Yeah.

Simon.

Yeah?

What is it, exactly?
l wanna know for two reasons.

l wanna know
if it's what l think it is,

and l wanna make sure l haven't
done something to offend you

'cause that's the last thing
l wanted to do.

Man, you are a piece of work.

l know.
lt's just sometimes l let stuff go

and then l wonder
about it later on.

Okay, here it is.
l guess l think it's hard,

maybe even dangerous,

reaching in and mucking around
with other people's lives.

Sometimes there's a reason
they're doing what they're doing.

That's a tough one.

You don't wanna
fuck with things you shouldn't,

but you don't always
wanna turn away, either.

ls that what
you thought it was?

Yeah, that and...

you know...

the white guy.

You white?

( laughs )

Hey, how about Canoga Park?
That's pretty white, ain't it?

No, not really.

Think about it.
l'll see you.

To try and understand just what
exactly had been delivered unto me

at the cost of flesh and bone
and precious blood,

what message was
being delivered to me

in a .38-caliber envelope for me

to open and read and understand.

And this problem,
this difficulty

l was having in understanding,

it grew on me like a fever.

lt buzzed around my brain
till l could no longer sleep

or eat or think
about anything else.

lt was as painful and real

as the physical wound
l could see in my thigh.

- What?
- Nothing.

Go on. l want to hear this.

You know, Claire, l had a feeling
that you, more than anyone else

would have a problem
taking me seriously.

Please, go on, Davis.
l am taking you seriously.

l'm sorry
for whatever you think you saw.

l will go on, but first you have to
tell me what made you smile.

- "Unto."
- What?

You said "delivered unto" you.
l'm sorry.

That is purposeful, my sweet.

We're talking about
a religious experience here.

l might say "doth" or "thou"
or a lot of things.

Please, Davis, go on.
The suspense is killing me.

At the end of this long,
torturous night,

my head pounding in syncopation
to my throbbing wound,

there came a glorious,
delicate dawn.

And l knew l can't
make those movies anymore.

l can't make
another piece of art

that glorifies violence
and bloodshed and brutality.

l can't contribute another stone

to this landslide
of dehumanizing rage

that has swept across
this country like a pestilence.

That's a mixed metaphor, isn't it?
Anyway...

l'm done, kaput, fini.

No more exploding bodies,

exploding buildings,
exploding anything.

No more shit.

Davis, that's wonderful.
You know how l feel about it.

l think l've always been
frank with you.

To say the least.

But you'll never
have to say another word.

Excellent. l applaud you.
Have you told the studio yet?

Fuck the studio.

Have you told your
business manager yet?

Fuck 'em, Claire.
You're the one who said it all along--

there's a fortune to be made
in stories about life.

The life force,
the creation of life,

the very instinct for living.

Besides,
l don't give a shit about money.

l made more money this year

than my father made
in his entire life.

At the rate l'm going,
l'm not gonna run out of money for--

well, 18 months, anyway.

l'm gonna make the world a better
place for your new bambina.

What's happening?

What's happening?
Well, let's see.

We're filling out forms.

We're being evaluated.

We're becoming
official foster parents,

which would be the first step.

We're--

we're arguing, we're talking,

we're flirting with marital disaster.

( sighs )

Mack and l are both being

passionately, unshakably
devoted to our own position.

Claire, may l be very,
very frank with you?

ls it possible this has come up
because Roberto's about to move on

and you are coincidentally
approaching a certain age?

As opposed to what?

l mean say as opposed to being wildly
in love with this particular baby

which l had in my house
for nine hours?

Of course that's
why this has come up, Davis.

lt's not that simple, but yes.

But is that rational?

- Rational?
- Reasonable,

feasible, for you and Mack?

Well...

l guess l'd have to say

l don't really care.

And it's in Canoga Park,
you know.

A nice little apartment
complex, he says.

He owns it, his associate.

- lt'd be real reasonable with the rent.
- Canoga Park?

Yeah, yeah.

Simon, that's a bunch of
white people, isn't it?

Uh-huh.

- l got it round trip.
- ( laughing )

Yeah, right.

Jane:
l can go to the hotel, though.

Do you even want to go
to Cabo San Lucas?

- ( mumbles )
- Hmm?

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Do you know Jane?
- No.

- This is Mack.
- Hi, Mack.

- Hi, Jane.
- You wanna sit down?

Thanks, l got something
l should do upstairs.

( laughs )

- l'm having one of those days.
- Jane: Which kind?

l keep drifting. l can't seem
to carry through on anything.

Like l'll say l have to go upstairs,
but l don't really want to,

so l don't go.

- Have a seat.
- Thanks.

At the same time l'm feeling
very free,

like l've got a little buzz on
or something.

Does that happen to you?

lt doesn't happen to me
as much as l'd like.

lt's very pleasant.

What brought it on?
Maybe l'll try it.

l don't know.
l got up really early this morning.

Sometimes it helps
to be a little sleepy.

l got that part down.

l went to see this guy that helped
me when my car broke down.

He drives a tow truck.
l really like him.

His daughter goes to this
deaf college in Washington, DC.

His wife left him.
He's kinda lonely,

but he seems peaceful about it.

That would be nice.

Yeah, it would be great
if you could sort of

be down about things,
but still be all right with it,

like finally accept the fact that you're
gonna feel bad most of the time

and not fight it.

Of course, it would also be nice
not to feel bad most of the time.

Yeah, but that's
how you get in trouble,

by thinking how nice it'd be
to be happy more.

- Jane, are you married?
- No.

- Have a boyfriend?
- No.

Would you like to meet this guy?

l don't know.
What does he look like?

How important is that?

- Somewhat important.
- l was just curious.

l mean, he happens
to be a very handsome black guy.

l don't even know if he's interested.
l don't know that much about him.

How are you
gonna describe Jane?

Same way.

A very handsome black guy?

Yeah.

- ( doorbell buzzes )
- Mama, there's a man here.

- Yes.
- Hello, Mrs. Dotson.

You have got
a very polite little lady there.

- What is it?
- My name is Harvey Charles.

l represent the Ohio Continental
lnsurance Company.

- Here's my card.
- You're selling insurance?

- Yes, ma'am.
- We don't want any life insurance.

That's the first thing
most people say.

You see, the policies we're selling
only cost $10 per month.

Mister, l am too young and too
strapped to be getting life insurance.

We're not just talking
about you here, Mrs. Dotson.

Think about your children.

l ask you only one thing,
Mrs. Dotson, and that is this.

Just glance at these news clippings,
which l hold here in my hand.

What about 'em?

What they show,
in frightening detail,

is the high rate of violent death
caused by gangs and crime

in yours and surrounding
neighborhoods.

Can l hand these to you
to take a look at?

Look, Mrs. Dotson,
l'm not gonna kid you.

These policies are inexpensive

because the benefits aren't that big
when they pay off.

But what they will do is,

if harm should come to one
of your children,

this policy will cover all funeral
expenses and arrangements.

Kelley, go wait in the kitchen.

- What?
- Go.

You tryin' to sell me
life insurance policies on my kids?

Ma'am, they're the ones
on the front line.

They're the ones in danger.

You get the fuck off my porch!

l said go on!
Get away from my house, damn it!

( man mumbling )

Bottom of the list.
Who needs it?

Beaufort, South Carolina.
Why bother trying?

Keep the baby. You need her
as much as she needs you.

lt's big for the money.

lt's not beautiful,
but they keep it up pretty good.

They have their share
of gangs out here, too.

But they don't run the place.
Not yet, anyway.

l guess Kelley would
eventually adjust.

Deborah's really confused.

lt's a big move. And l don't know
what to tell her, either.

Either way, thank you, man.

♪ Darkness in the morning ♪

♪ Shadows on the land ♪

♪ Certain individuals ♪

♪ Aren't sticking to the plan ♪

♪ And l'm searching for a heart ♪

♪ Searching everyone ♪

♪ They say love conquers all ♪

♪ You can't start it like a car ♪

♪ You can't stop it with a gun. ♪

Woman:
Excuse me.

- Are you Roberto's mother?
- Yes.

We're Amanda's parents.

l'm Steve Fox.
This is my wife Cathy.

- Hi. Claire.
- We can't wait to meet Roberto.

We feel like we already know him,
just from Amanda's letters.

l'm sorry. l'm afraid that Roberto
doesn't write as much as he should.

We're very pleased
about Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving?

lt is so good of you
to let Roberto come to San Diego.

Gosh. l'm sorry.

l guess you may not have heard
everything about this summer.

l'm beginning to get the picture.

- There's my parents.
- Which ones?

See the man in the beard?

Oh, God.
They're talking to my mother.

They were so relieved
l wasn't Puerto Rican.

You mean Amanda didn't explain
that in all the many, many letters

that she wrote to her parents?

God, l hope they're not bigots
or something.

- Did you wanna tell me about it?
- What?

What happened this summer.

At camp?
Camp was okay.

l really missed you, kid.
l'm glad you're back.

Yeah, me, too.

l'm sorry about
that Thanksgiving thing.

- We'll talk to your father about it.
- lt's okay with you?

Didn't say that.
Let's talk to Dad about it.

- But your mind's open?
- Roberto.

Okay, remain calm.

Let me ask you something.
How open is your mind?

ls this gonna be about my hair?

No. This is something
pretty big.

- About me?
- Only partly it involves you.

Are you and Dad splitting?

- Why do you say that?
- ls that it?

No. Absolutely no.
Why would you say a thing like that?

Do we look like people
who are about to split?

l don't know.

People do it all the time
and they look like they're fine.

l am crazy for your father.

Have we given you any sign
that we're having trouble?

So what were you gonna tell me?

Wait a minute.
Answer me.

Sometimes it just looks like
you're both kind of unhappy, okay?

Maybe l misunderstood.

lt just looked like that a lot
before l went away.

- Really?
- Yeah, but look, l'm glad l'm wrong.

l mean, God, that'd be horrible.
l hope you guys never split.

l'm sorry l said it.

Now what were you
gonna tell me?

What do l have to have
an open mind about?

Maybe we should talk about it later.

Mom, you can't do that to me.

Just pretend l never said
anything and tell me.

Your father and l are discussing

whether to adopt a little girl.

What?

To, you know, the evening.

Some playboy, huh?

- Nice car.
- Thank you. lt's yellow.

Of course it's yellow.

What am l talking about?

All right.

Okay.

l thought you'd
changed your mind.

No way. lt's just been
a while since l did this.

You haven't been going out?

l go out a little.

l just can't remember
the last time l was set up.

- Fixed up.
- Yeah.

Yeah.

So what do you think so far?

So far it's all right.

l like it.

l'm just a little surprised.

- Why? What did you expect?
- No, it's not you.

l'm just surprised
at how nervous l am.

- Me, too.
- Yeah?

Yeah.

That's all right. At least now
we know that much about each other.

( laughs )

Yeah.

Mack must have had some reason
to think this would work.

l guess you've known
him a while, huh?

l don't know him at all.

Really? Wow.

l don't know him much, either.

That's funny.

Maybe we're the only two
black people he ever met.

( laughing )

l think you're being
too hard on yourself.

You're trying to help.

You think moving to Canoga Park
is gonna save that family?

Who said you have
to save anybody?

Maybe out there the kids'll be
a little less likely to get hurt.

Who knows?
l don't and you don't.

Besides, they're not gonna go
if they don't want to,

and you're not responsible
for them anyhow.

You just happen to know a guy
who owns an apartment house.

What am l doing fixing Simon up
with some girl l don't even know?

l do this shit,
and the next morning l'm astounded.

Has it occurred to you that
it doesn't really matter all that much?

Why should you be the one person
on earth who always acts rationally?

Forget rational.
l'm completely out of control.

- Stop me before l kill.
- Well, so, good for you.

Aren't you sick of trying
to be in control all the time?

l am.

Mack, you think
that l want that baby

because l've got
some hole in my life

or l think l'm gonna have some hole
in my life, but that's not it.

Or if it is it, it's just a part of it.

That baby needs someone
to love it and take care of it.

Does it have to be you?

l believe that
there's a reason l found her.

- Claire.
- l do.

You can dismiss it all you want,
but l'll always believe that.

And you probably do, too.

You told me you thought there was
a reason this guy,

this Simon showed up
and saved you.

l did?

How do you think
l feel about this baby?

What if l hadn't heard it?
What if no one had heard her?

We would have read about it
in the "Times." "Oh, my God.

They found a dead baby
under the bushes on Carmelina.

Oh, Mack. l must have run
right by it the other morning."

But that didn't happen.
l found her.

And maybe l saved her life

just the way
maybe Simon saved yours.

- What are you saying?
- Something has happened.

You can't go back
and have it not happen.

Some kind of connection
has been made.

lt has to be played out.

That is why you can't stay
out of Simon's business.

lt's like this itch
you've gotta scratch.

Claire, you're talking about
a lifelong commitment

just because you happened
to be running by those bushes.

l'm not gonna be dealing with
this Simon guy the rest of my life.

How do you know that?
How do you know that this man

isn't gonna be your friend
until the day that you die?

What if these are miracles, Mack?

Maybe we don't have any
experience with miracles,

so we're slow to recognize them.

- l'm getting a terrific headache.
- No, you're not.

l'm not?

l'll tell you why
l reject your headache.

- Please.
- Because it's inappropriate.

lnappropriate?

lf l am right and these
events are truly miracles,

then it is an inappropriate response

to get a headache
in the presence of a miracle.

Ahhh.

- Wow.
- Yeah.

l don't know about you,

but l'm thinking this Mack
must be some kind of genius.

- Do you believe in fate?
- l believe in luck.

- Do you think you should come up?
- Do l think l should come up?

What do you think?

Well, l think this night has gone
about as well as it possibly could.

l don't wanna push our luck.

ls it okay to call you at work?

l look forward to it.

This is a feeling
l'd like to have at work.

What is it?

( laughs )

- Bye, Simon.
- Say that again.

Simon.

( sighs )

( blows )

( lock rattles )

( screams )

( tires screech )

- ( gasps )
- ( siren wailing )

You okay?

Whoa.

You sure?

Why don't you
just pull right over there?

- Didn't see him coming, did you?
- l still don't know what happened.

l guess you were lucky.

Even though it might not
seem that way right now.

- Pretty scary stuff.
- l was crying before it happened.

Really?

l don't cry this easily normally.

- Sorry.
- Don't apologize.

You wanna get outta there a second?
Walk around and catch your breath?

Come on, you'll feel better.

You okay?

Then l guess l'd better hang on.

l don't imagine you wanna talk
about it with a complete stranger.

l'm in love with a married man.

We haven't been having an affair.
He wouldn't do it.

We just had one night together.
One really amazing night.

Uh-huh.

Do you think that's awful?

- Which part?
- All of it.

l think it happens.

- Did he treat you bad?
- lt hurts.

When you love someone
and they don't choose you...

it's bad.

That's the way
he's been bad to me.

Married men suck.

By definition.

Are you married?

Tell the truth.

No, l'm not married.

l haven't found the right girl.

- ( grunts )
- You can't quit now, babe.

lt's the last mile.

l'm catching my second wind
and it's huge.

Oh, man.

That's all there is.
We did it, man.

Just put it anywhere.

- That's the end of it, baby.
- Good.

l don't know if he's even
gonna stay here tonight.

Let's get a beer.

( hip hop music playing )

♪ Do l quit and leave it all behind?
Will l survive? ♪

♪ Will l live a long time? Too much
to think about in such a short time. ♪

Boy:
Get out of the way, man.

This is fucked.

What you doin', man?

No talkin', huh?
That's cool.

That's cool. l guess
you don't want no company.

l thought you was talkin' to me.
l thought you said l was fucked up.

l wasn't talkin' to your sorry ass.

Who the fuck were you talkin' to?

Were you talkin' to yourself?

( speaking Spanish )

What's up, homes?

- Who was that, man?
- That chamante was quick.

Must've come here from Beirut.

You! Stop running and put
your hands behind your head.

Stop running and put
your hands behind your head.

- Here we go.
- ( siren wailing )

Halt! Halt!

Turn around and get down
on your stomach.

- What?
- Down, asshole, and l mean now.

Put your right hand
behind your back.

Bring the other one around.

Don't you know
what "stop" means?

Where you going
in such a hurry, pal?

- Nowhere. l'm just running.
- Running from what?

- Nothing. l live around here.
- Where?

- l don't know.
- You don't know.

What's that supposed to mean?

- Back there, across from the park.
- What park?

l don't know.

They almost smoked me.
See a nigga run around here,

they smoke you,
ask questions later.

l ain't stayin' here, l tell you that!
l ain't fuckin' stayin' here!

What's next?

Nothing. l'm quitting.

( sighs )

Tell me.

This isn't tolerable.

l can't do this anymore.
lt's sick.

l need to go on.

Don't act like you're not relieved.
l know you are.

l don't want you to go.

You know what your trouble is?

You just never
wanna be the bad guy.

You want everything
you do to be okay.

But it isn't.

lf you really didn't want
this to happen,

then you shouldn't have fucked me.

l'm sorry.
l think l've said that before.

But you didn't mean it.

You aren't really sorry
it happened, are you?

Are you?

You've denied me
in every way you can.

Everything l've wanted,
you've denied me.

l've been honest with you all along.
Even that night.

Who gives a shit?

Don't you see what you do?

Even now, you wanna deny me
what's rightfully mine.

- Which is?
- To resent the hell outta you.

To feel totally rejected and hate it.

To hate you for doing it to me.

There are a lot of good men out
there who are gonna treat me

like l'm the very
thing they want.

And then you do
that thing with Jane.

What?

You know, with that guy,
that tow truck guy.

What about it? What's that
got to do with anything?

You don't even know, do you?

You don't even know why
that hurts me so much.

Jane's in love.
She thinks this could be the one.

ls that bad?
l thought she was your friend.

She is my friend.

l'm very happy for her,
but it makes me feel like shit

that you're out there finding her
the love of her life

and l'm here like what?

l'm here like shit.

How do you think that's
gonna make me feel?

Dee, look, l understand you're angry
with me, but why would--

Forget it.

lt doesn't have to make sense.

l'll stay for two weeks,
but you'd better find somebody else.

ls Otis coming home
tonight, Mama?

No, baby, l told you.

When will we see him again?

l don't know, honey.

( laughing )

Yeah.

l just feel like l'd really like
to work for a woman lawyer this time.

l never have, and l think
it might be a good thing.

Well, l'm not sure you'd
find it much different, Dee,

but with your qualifications
and experience,

l have no desire
to discourage you.

l am curious, though.

Your former employer
has written you

the most glorious
recommendation.

Why did you decide to leave him?

( helicopter whirring )

Hey, Otis.

- What's the matter? You okay?
- Yeah, l'm all right.

You're hurt, boy.

lt ain't my blood.

What happened?
What happened?

l seen some bad shit, Simon.

( crying )

Man: We have a three-car collision
to report on the Santa Monica Freeway

east of National Boulevard.
Only one lane is open,

and, Ted, l've got to tell you

the surface streets
are no picnic right now, either.

lt is a jungle down there.

l realized it wasn't really
both you and Mom

who were saying how glad you were
you didn't have any little kids anymore.

lt was really just you.

When l really thought about it,
Mom never really said that.

Which way are you
gonna turn up here?

Right.

Okay, so what do you
wanna do now?

Get in the right lane.

( horn honks )

No! Whoa!

Roberto! You can't just go
because you want to!

- You've gotta make sure it's clear.
- l messed up. l messed up.

Better to go 10 blocks
out of your way

than to try to get over
when it's impossible.

Okay, watch this guy
getting out of his car here.

Slow down.
Slow, slow, slow!

When l tell you to stop,
you've gotta stop!

You didn't tell me to stop.
You told me to slow down.

lt won't matter if you hit another car,
but you can't hit a person.

That's the most important thing.
People are such assholes.

You gotta watch out
for the dumbest stuff.

( horn honks )

Just watch the road.

So l was thinking why should l tell
Mom she's crazy to want this baby?

l don't want her telling me
my stuff is crazy, right?

Maybe it's not so crazy for her.
lt's her life.

- And mine.
- And yours, too, l guess.

Although she is gonna be
the one most involved.

Believe me,
it affects us both a lot.

Look, why don't we concentrate
on what we're doing here?

- What are you gonna do up here?
- l'm gonna take a left.

Really?

lt's kind of busy here, isn't it?

Dad, l've gotta
learn how to do it.

No, no, you're right.

- Left-turn signal, left-turn signal.
- lt's on.

Mack:
Okay. This is good right here.

Perfect.

Think of it this way.

lf you only had one life to live,
which you do,

and you really wanted
to do something

and Mom said,
"No, you can't do that,"

how would that make you feel?

Let's not talk.
Let's think about this turn.

- Right.
- What are you watching for?

- The light.
- What else?

What's the most important thing?

- Don't hit a person.
- No, l mean here.

Come on, don't fuck around.
This is no joke.

l'm sorry.

The most important thing is that
those cars have really stopped.

Right. Because?

Because some idiot is always
liable to run a red light.

Good.
What else are you lookin' for?

Those cars in the cross streets.

Good.

Get ready.
The light's gonna change here.

This is good.

Wait.

Not yet.

- Okay, they're stopping.
- ( horn honks )

Go ahead.

- Stop!
- ( horns honk )

- You idiot!
- Fuck you!

- Whoa!
- Woman: Learn to drive, asshole!

This guy's letting us in.
Go, go, go!

Okay, when l tell you, you're
gonna be able to get over.

We'll pull over up here.

Okay, you can go now.

Just pull in right here.

Shit.

That guy was a cretin.

The thing is, it's so crazy out there,
you gotta react really fast.

lf you're going, you've only got
a split second to do it,

otherwise the cross traffic
will whack you.

- l'm sorry, Dad.
- Hey, this is difficult stuff.

Making a left turn in LA is one of
the harder things

you're gonna learn in life.

That guy was
almost in your lap.

This town stinks.

- Do you wanna drive?
- Hell, no. l'm too shook up.

Let's get outta here.

( gears grind )

So l guess we're gonna
get this baby, huh?

( telephone rings )

Hello.

What?

We've got no Firooz here.

No, you've got
the wrong number.

Oh, really?
Well, fuck you, also.

( laughs )

- Who?
- Firooz.

You know him?

My heart's pounding.

Come here.

lt's okay.

Everything seems
so close together.

All the good and bad things
in the world. Everything.

l feel it in myself even.

And in us.
Our marriage.

l love you, Claire.

l like living my life with you.

Do you?

'Cause l love you
so much, Mack.

- Drive me over to the stage.
- My car's over by your office.

You can take the cart back.
l'll have someone pick me up.

- l really gotta get back downtown.
- Relax.

No one's gonna get deported
while you drive me over to stage 20.

We spent the whole lunch
talking about Vanessa

and your impending marriage.
l forgot to congratulate you

on the new direction
your career has taken.

- On the what?
- Claire told me.

You know, about the violence in
your movies. She was so pleased.

- Claire told you?
- Yeah.

Oh, that.
Oh, fuck that.

- What?
- That's over.

l must have been delirious
for a few weeks there.

- Hi, Tim. How are you?
- Oh, man. This is bad.

l don't wanna be the one to tell
Claire you changed your mind.

Changed nothing.
l've regained my senses.

l was talking like a moron.
Go down here and go left.

What happened?

Nothing happened.
lt never happened.

Look, Mack, l'm an artist.

Now go ahead and laugh,
because everybody does.

Nobody in this town will admit
that a producer is an artist.

Hey, how you doing?
But l know what l do.

l know how many lame-o directors
l've had to carry on my back every step

of the way and then watch as they
take the glory and reviews and awards.

Which awards were those?

That's okay. l don't mind working
in modest anonymity.

That's the way
Thalberg did it, too.

lf they're so lame-o,
why do you hire them?

'Cause l haven't got
time to do it myself.

Hanging around the set all day,

doing that boring lighting and shit.
Let them do that.

That's beside the point.
The point is--

Turn around. Turn around
and go back down there.

- Where was l?
- The point is...

The point is there's a gulf in this
country, an ever-widening abyss

between the people who have stuff
and the people who don't have shit.

lt's like this big hole
has opened up in the ground

as big as the fucking
Grand Canyon.

And what's come pouring out--
Hi.

- Hi.
- My name's Davis. Building 78.

The whole building.
You should stop by.

l think l have
something for you.

This is the greatest town on earth.
Go left here.

- Where was l?
- Grand Canyon.

Yeah. And what's come outta
this big hole is an eruption of rage,

and the rage creates violence,
and the violence is real, Mack.

And nothing's gonna make it go away
until someone changes something.

Which is not gonna happen.
And you may not like it.

Even l may not like it.

But l can't pretend it isn't there,
because that is a lie.

And when art lies,
it becomes worthless,

so l gotta keep telling the truth,

even if it scares the shit outta me,
like it scares the shit outta you.

Even if it means some motherfucker
can blow a big old hole in my leg

for a watch and l'm gonna walk
with a fucking limp

for the rest of my life
and count myself lucky.

That's what's amazing,
what we count as lucky today.

l mean our criteria for lucky
has changed a bit.

Davis, we're not talking
about great art here.

Says you, Mr. Snob,
Mr. Arbiter of Taste,

Mr. lmmigration Lawyer
to the Arts.

l'll tell you this, though.
There's so much rage going around,

we're damn lucky we have the movies
to help us vent a little of it.

Oh, that line is so tired.
l'm shocked you'd use it.

You think just anyone
can do what l do?

You think anyone can make
the crap l make?

Wasn't there something
about "life force"?

Or "life affirming"?
Something like that.

- That's what Claire told me.
- This is life, pal.

That's what l'm trying to get that
through your thick, sanctimonious skull.

There's always been violence.
There will always be violence,

violence and evil
and men with big guns.

My movies reflect what's going on.
They don't make what's going on.

And if l happen to make 'em
better than anyone,

then l've got a bigger responsibility
than anyone to serve it up.

Mack, you ever seen a movie
called "Sullivan's Travels"?

- No.
- That's part of your problem.

You haven't seen enough movies.

All of life's riddles
are answered in the movies.

lt's a story about a man
who loses his way.

He's a filmmaker, like me,

and he forgets for a moment
just what he was set on earth to do.

Fortunately,
he finds his way back.

That can happen, Mack.

Check it out.

( laughs )

You're kinda big, aren't you?

You look like
you about ready to play.

Yeah. Maybe. l wanna see you
shoot from the outside.

Mack, what made you
get me together with Jane?

Dumbness, l guess.

Compulsion to stick my nose
where it doesn't belong.

- Why, has it ended badly?
- No, it hasn't ended at all.

She's the best thing that's happened
to me in a long time.

Really? No shit?

Yeah, so there you go, my friend.
Sometimes things work.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Okay, then. To 20.

Take it out from back there.
Winner takes it out.

You sure? You might not
get a chance to shoot.

You're going down.

That is so cool
about you and Jane.

Yeah, it's cool.
That's why l came out here tonight.

l thought of a way to thank you.

- You don't have to thank me.
- l have an idea.

lf you're up for it, l thought of
something l could do for you.

You don't have to do anything
for me, just play ball.

That's why l came out here.

l thought of a way just to let you
know l appreciate you for--

For introducing me to Jane.

End of the line, folks.

Oh.

So what do you think?

l think it's not all bad.

( bird squawking )