Myth (2019) - full transcript

The night was cold and dark.

Hmm.

Mm.

The night was dark and windy.

Cut to a single of...

Jamie?

Jordan?

Jimmy.

No.

Jason?

Ah...



John.

That's it, John.

We see the look of desperation
and longing on John's face

as he thinks about

Sarah, wondering where she is.

He goes to the window and
breathes in the night air,

hoping to clear his head.

It doesn't help.

He knew there was another
world, a greater one.

One with girls.

He just needed one thing,

the keys to his father's car,

which were surprisingly
easy to acquire.

He drives all night,
scanning the empty streets



that extend in every direction.

Searching for
something, anything,

that would take
him out of himself.

Waiting for the world to
open up and invite him in.

Until finally...

It did.

He crosses the threshold now.

Going back is no
longer an option.

He tries to play it cool.

Which would of course
be a challenge.

Despite the party and
the music and the beer,

nothing could stop him
from thinking about her.

And then, when he
least expected it,

and then he...

What, then he what?

♪ Let's go to the movies ♪

♪ Pretend like we're moving ♪

♪ Up on the screen, yeah,
look at us now ♪

♪ Let's skip to the ending ♪

♪ I won't make you ask me how ♪

♪ My day went ♪

♪ Please don't leave ♪

♪ I'm just a boy ♪

♪ Who can say that you want me ♪

♪ I can say that you want me ♪

♪ So please be mean ♪

Nice place.

♪ I love you in ♪

♪ Dreams I don't leave ♪

♪ When I sleep but I won't eat ♪

Do you wanna do some coke?

Yeah, of course.

Why am I not surprised?

Oh, fuck.

I'm sorry, it's...
It's fine, it's fine.

Whatever.

You're supposed to
be in Poughkeepsie.

God, you look like shit.

Did you really have to
add that last part in?

What happened to a
finished script in six weeks?

I'm still finding the story.

You're supposed to do that
before you raise the budget.

I have thirty four
thousand dollars,

of other people's money
in my bank account.

Nora, you gotta relax.

I'm close.

- Are you?
- I'm really close.

Then why didn't
you make contact?

'Cause I got a beer
bottle thrown at me.

Well, it looks like
everything is a go, then.

You know, it's really
hard to make a movie

when you don't have
any actors or crew,

or anything, really.

Maybe it's about me doing it.

Maybe it's interesting.

No, it's not.

We did it before.

One week.

You have one week to get your
shit together, or I walk.

Think you need to do a
little bit of this.

A little bit?

Heyo, heyo!

Come on, big guy.

Damn.

A little extra virgin olive
oil on the right over here,

it'll grind like a beast.

I swear to god, it
enhances it like crazy.

That's the stupidest
shit I've ever heard.

Virgin olive oil, you
can get it anywhere.

- You're a fucking idiot.
- Try it.

I'm not gonna put olive
oil on my fucking board

Why don't you try it
first and then tell me?

Hey!

Yeah, yeah, green shirt!

Come here.

I actually think I'm all set.

Thanks anyway, guys.

You board?

Um...

Yeah, a little bit,
from time to time.

Just kinda skate around
and uh, cruise.

Looks like a sick
board, come here.

Come here for a second.

Stop, stop, stop, stop

Fucking Christ.

Hey, hey, you want some?

What is it?

I don't know, my stepdad
made it, come here.

It's all good.

- We don't bite.
- Yeah.

He made it?

Shit yeah, just can't
buy this shit at the store.

This bottle's 150 proof.

Is that a lot?

God, just looking.

Ah, it's not that much.

- You can find out.
- Yeah.

It's good.

- All right.
- It's like water.

Go for it.

- Take a sip.
- Okay.

- Okay.
- Yeah.

Word.

You got it, you got it.

Yeah, you got this, man.

- Yeah, mm.
- Yeah.

- You got it, you got it?
- Smooth.

- Come on.
- Down the hatch.

Yeah, that's it.

Yeah, actually, you
hold onto that.

It burns.

- No, no, no.
- Yeah, it should.

- Just keep it down.
- It's a good burn.

Yeah.

All right, I gotta go home.

Where you gotta be right now?

Home.

Why?

Because I, um...

Why don't you take
another sip?

Yeah, take another sip.

It's gonna be smoother
than the first one.

Yeah, it's like easier.

That's always how it is.

- Smoother, you know?
- Yeah, it's better.

- It goes down better.
- You know what to expect.

- All right.
- Yeah, yeah,

There it is, you got it.

There you go,
there you go, ooh.

I know that face.

It's a good burn.

Know what's best? Take another,
take another right now.

- What?
- Take another,

Take another shot.

I just did two.

No, no, no, this
is how it works.

It's either shot or trick, bro.

Shot or trick.

I don't know what
any of that means.

Either do a trick or
you take a shot,

and if you do the trick
and you mess the trick up,

then you have to take the shot.

Uh...

All right.

Trick?

- Yeah.
- All right.

- See what you got.
- What you got?

- Magic.
- Let's see it, monster truck.

With a tonka wheel.

All right, good
start, good start.

Okay, ooh.

There it is.

Hey, I'm sorry, you know
what that means, though, right?

That's another shot.

No, guys, I can't.

Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

- Come on.
- I think I'm,

I think I'm gonna throw up now.

- Oh, no.
- No, no, no, no, no.

Come on, just a tiny
sip, all right?

Head back, head back, head
back, okay, head back.

Just a tiny sip.

How's that, how's that?

- Delicious.
- How is it, huh?

Delicious.

You got it, can you stand up?

Can you stand up?

- What you got there, man?
- What is that?

What is it?

Interior. A desolate pizza
shop on a Friday night.

- Ooh.
- Hey, man.

What the fuck is it?

- Hey, hey, hey, ease up.
- Is it about us?

- No.
- Read it.

Three rough-looking kids
walk into the quiet shop

where John and Sarah
are trying to eat.

Who the fuck is John and Sarah?

Who the fuck is
John and Sarah?

These kids are drunk, idiotic.

- He was talking about you.
- No, no, fuck outta here.

All right, and screaming
about beer and garlic knots.

- Screaming?
- You talking about us?

Are you fucking serious
with this shit?

You serious, man?

Seriously, what the
fuck is this shit?

John and Sarah are
trying to eat,

these kids are drunk,
that was you.

- No, no.
- Idiotic, that was you, yeah.

- You fucking moron.
- What is this shit?

Hey, get in man.

What kinda shit you take
tonight?

Bottle.

Bottle?

Bottle of what, rum, vodka,
nitrous, what?

Just bottle.

You do that a lot?

No.

Really?

First time?

I guess so.

Let me ask you a question.

Do two adults live in your house

who are in fact your parents?

Yes.

Well you can't go back there.

Why?

What's going on?

Listen, right now,
you're fucked up.

You know what, that's okay.

We as human beings
should be given

multiple forms of
reality, like as options.

Alcohol is just one
of those options.

There are many others.

Anyway, I've been through this.

And you know what I learned?

None of us know
what we're doing.

We don't.

Especially you, you definitely
don't know what you're doing.

So like, if you want
me to drop you off

back at your parents'
house, that's cool.

But know this.

If you try to like, sneak
back in drunk,

you will fuck it up

without a doubt.

What do I do?

I got a place you can
crash for the night.

Morning.

You want some water?

I have the same shirt.

Oh yeah?

Why do you have one?

Are you... Are you, a fan too?

I made that.

You made the shirt?

No, I made the film.

What do you mean?

That film, it's mine.

Like it's my film.

You're J.P. Smith.

Yep.

Wanna get some food?

Yeah.

Your parents go away a lot?

Uh...

Yeah.

But I mean um, it's not like
I have a curfew or anything

when they are around.

And I actually think they would
prefer if I did more stuff.

Like um, go outside or whatever.

But yeah, they're not
really around that much.

That's interesting.

Why is that interesting?

Okay, how long did it
take you to write "Myth"?

Listen, if you wanna
hang out, follow me around,

there's something you
gotta understand.

Mm-hm?

I can't talk to
you about "Myth".

I'm not gonna answer
any questions.

I'm not gonna explain
myself or the ending.

I'm not gonna tell you any
secrets or any anecdotes

about something funny that
happened on set one day.

I'm not gonna tell you
where I got my ideas

or who inspired me.

Nothing.

Also you can't talk
about me to anyone.

That means none of your
friends know who I am,

and if you think they
might know me,

it's your job to convince
them I'm someone else.

That's okay.

I don't have any friends.

Good.

Yeah.

♪ Sunday would you
meet me at the mall ♪

♪ We're dancing, take a
picture, show it off ♪

♪ But I don't have to love ♪

♪ Anyone at all ♪

♪ I'll just stay inside ♪

♪ 'Cause I don't really care ♪

♪ This time ♪

All right, what
are you looking for?

Sadness.

Well, that's not
gonna be hard to find.

Why, though?

Everyone has a sad reality,

and that's what makes
them compelling to watch.

Real people, you mean?

Not like actors?

Something like that.

Is this for a new movie?

What?

Okay, why here, though?

This place, this place
kinda sucks.

That's exactly why.

What, what are you looking at?

Oh, nevermind.

I got you.

Hey.

Isn't that the girl you
were checking out before?

No, I don't think so.

Yeah, I think it was.

Hey.

Why, why you walking so fast?

Okay, whoa, whoa, hey.

I, I don't think this
is a good idea, man.

You don't even know
what the idea is yet.

- I think I have a clue.
- You drive.

What?

But I don't actually drive,
I sorta stole my dad's car

- at that party, you know?
- I know,

but girls like guys who drive.

You went to high
school, didn't you?

Shut the trunk.

Do they really?

Shut the trunk.

Okay.

All right, you're doing good,
remember 10-2 on the wheel.

And you might wanna
turn your headlights on.

Actually, you know
what, keep them off.

You sure?

Definitely.

This is a really...
It's a weird night.

Damn it.

What, what is it?

It's too dark, not gonna
be able to establish this.

We're just gonna have
to go straight in there.

What, no.

No, no way, are you kidding?

No.

Alex, this is the movie.

It starts right now.

You and your friends,
with us going in there.

Wait, you want me
to be in your movie?

Yeah, I do.

Dude, I don't know
anyone in there.

They're not my friends.

Make some friends.

All right.

What?

J.P., J.P!

♪ I was in a coffin in Houston ♪

♪ I was in a coffin in pain ♪

♪ Since you can't get
enough out of my head ♪

♪ I was in a coffin in Houston ♪

♪ You are dead ♪

♪ You are dead ♪

♪ I could be loving you
I could be loving you ♪

Hey.

What's with the camera?

Oh, we're making a
movie, I'm the director.

Can I be in it?

Fuck yeah.

Yo, what's up, this is Donnie.

We're here...
No.

Just talk to your
friend like normal,

don't look into the camera.

Everybody just do what
you would normally do,

just don't look into the lens.

Try to talk over each other,
like talk at the same time.

I love you texting,
that's great.

♪ Shelly wants her money ♪

♪ At the party downtown ♪

Didn't I see you
at the mall before?

Yeah.

That's uh, that's really weird.

Yeah, are you stalking me?

No.

No, definitely not.

Okay.

What uh, what are you
guys filming?

Um...

It's uh, it's complicated.

Why is it complicated?

I don't know.

Right.

Rube...

Oh, hey, do you guys like,
wanna smoke some pot?

So...

- Alex.
- Alex.

Yeah.

How come I've never seen
you at parties before?

Uh...

I'm, I don't know, kinda
new to the whole party thing.

How old are you?

Nineteen.

Okay.

Well how's it going?

How's it going so far?

What, being nineteen?

No.

How's the party?

Uh, it's going okay.

It's fun.

Just like hanging out with
people and drinking and stuff.

It's pretty cool.

He's cute.

So how long have you
been taking pictures?

I don't know, for a while.

I also, I draw,

and I paint,

and write, and DJ, and act.

I just like to create
things, you know?

Yeah.

Yeah, totally.

Cool.

Here.

Thanks.

What do I do once I smoke?

I don't know,
just go inside and chill.

Yeah, man, just chill.

Okay, yeah.

Just chill.

It's not going to
work, Jonathan.

Yes it will, it already is.

Have you even gotten
any releases signed?

Nora, we talked about this.

I told you I can't
do releases yet,

it'll ruin the whole film.

What film?

All you have is a bunch of
bullshit, random scenes.

You realize that you
can't edit any of this,

- right?
- I will

once I get more
footage in the can.

- Yeah, right, okay.
- Until then,

look at me, no releases.

Can't do that in here,
gotta go out on the porch.

Really?

It's not my rules, I'm
just renting the place.

Oh fuck.

What about the kid?

Who, Alex, what about him?

Mm-hm, what does he know?

Oh god, really?

Really, Jonathan?

You have to tell him.

I can't do that.

Nora, if I could, I would
get rid of every camera,

every light, so that
nobody knew anything.

But this isn't a play.

Obviously that's not gonna work.

See, not knowing
what the movie is

is the movie.

Jonathan, you can't
manipulate people

into doing what
you want them to do.

That's what directing is.

Good morning.

Nora Walker, nice to meet you.

Alex.

Why don't you have a seat?

Are you sure?

Yes.

Did you have fun last night?

Yeah, it was fun.

You want a bagel?

Yeah, okay.

- Thanks.
- Did you like that girl

that you met?

Sure, yeah, she seemed nice.

Would you like to
see her again?

J.P.

What's going on?

We need you to hang
out with her again.

For the film.

Ruby?

Hey.

Hey.

What you up to?

Um...

Just chilling.

What are you up to?

Nothing, just hanging.

I wanted to go out tonight,
but I don't have a car.

Ah, I don't, either.

Oh, really?

- No, no.
- Oh, I thought you did.

Oh, my cousin does,
my cousin has a car.

Oh.

That weird one who was at the
party with you last night?

Yeah.

Um cool, okay.

Cool. Um...

Hey, would it be okay

if he filmed us?

Like while we're hanging out?

That's kinda weird.

Um...

But I guess if you can
pick me up, it's fine.

Awesome, awesome.

Uh...

We promise we won't do
anything weird to you.

That's...

- Okay, cool, bye.
- Okay.

Mm, have um,

have you seen the one
where the guy

tries to blow himself
up with dynamite?

Yeah, that's an old one.

A lot of those videos ended
up being fake, though.

- Really?
- Mm-hm.

Oh, too bad.

Have, have you um, have you
ever seen the one with the guy

who parachutes into the ocean,

then a shark pops up
and eats him?

Oh yeah, yeah.

That really sucked
for that dude.

Good for the shark, though.

♪ They just don't matter now ♪

♪ Other girls, they
aren't as pretty ♪

♪ They just don't
matter now ♪

Can't do that.

What, why?

'Cause I can't afford
to pay for the licensing.

Oh wait, here, though.

You can listen to this
CD of royalty-free music

I got from a friend of mine.

Yeah, you might have to
skip around a bit.

I feel like I'm in one
of those drug commercials

where they're like, this
is what it feels like

to be on weed.

That's really good.

You should be on, like TV.

Cut.

Stay here, I'll see
what's going on.

Should we follow him?

No.

All right, we need
to get out of here now.

You're still filming?

What am I supposed to
do? I'm not gonna waste it.

Let's get a move on, though,

'cause there's a cop
right over there.

What, are you
serious right now?

I'm very serious, so
this is what I want.

A nice long tracking shot

of you two going through
the woods, okay?

I'll follow behind.

Stay low, don't get
too far ahead of me.

Ready?

- No.
- Ready?

And action.

Go, go!

Okay.

We both know that you
two are smoking reefer.

You look like it,
you smell like it.

You act like it.

I don't need a toxicology
report to figure that one out.

So this is what I'm gonna ask.

You two do four hours
of community service.

You can report right back to
me, and there'll be no need

to put this on your
permanent record, right?

- No, sir.
- No.

Okay, great.

There's a group that
meets on Saturday mornings

right down Colden Hill Road
across from Jimmy's Pizza.

8 a.m. sharp, make a left
on 9W coming from Cretskill

and you're right there.

We'll give you gloves,
some garbage bags,

and you and about
five other people

are gonna pick trash off
the side of the road.

I and Officer Burke will
be there the entire time.

If you do not attend, or
if you're one minute late,

strike on your permanent record.

Deal?

Yeah.

Deal?

Yeah.

Good.

See, not so bad.

Hey, this one might've
been yours.

I don't litter.

Look, are you mad at me?

No, Alex, I love spending
my Saturdays picking up trash.

So what, you think
this is my fault?

No, I think it's
your freaky cousin

who's been following you
around with a camera's fault.

Does that camera even work?
It's like a billion years old.

Psst, Alex.

You've gotta be kidding me.

One sec.

Dude, hurry up.

Hey, J.P., I don't
think this is a good time.

What do you mean? It's fine,
I've been here for hours.

Okay, that is also a concern,

but um Ruby's like
really upset right now.

Really?

That's great, let's use that.

No, I don't think
you understand, she's like...

Hey!

You're a fucking asshole.

I had to forge my
parents' signature

to come down here today.

Do you have any idea how
much trouble I'll be in

if they find out?

Nobody's parents are
going to find out.

You're filming everything.

Look, nobody ever gets
mad when something works.

When this film is complete and
it's edited and it's finished

and it becomes a
huge festival hit,

you two both become famous
and I get further recognized

as a respected filmmaker,
your parents aren't gonna care

that you smoked some
pot in the woods.

Actually, one could
make the argument

that the only way out of this
is to let me keep filming you

so we get the whole story

and not just a bunch
of random scenes

of you two flirting
and getting high.

Whatever.

I'll take that as a yes.

Hey.

Sorry, could I bum
one off of you?

It's the last one,

but you can kill it if
you don't mind sharing.

I don't mind.

What's this, some kinda
reality TV sorta thing?

Definitely not.

It's best just to ignore it.

All right, well uh maybe
we should just go over there.

Yeah.

Anger issues?

- Hey.
- Hey.

Who's this?

Oh, this is Josh, he's...

He's in the movie now.

Pretty good?

Mm-hm.

It's interesting how
okay you are with all this.

Oh yeah.

Why is that so interesting?

Guys, guys, please refrain
from breaking the fourth wall.

Got it, sorry about that.

Oh, so you know what
that means, huh?

Yeah, anyone who's
taken intro to acting

knows what breaking
the fourth wall means.

What?

Josh is a theater major.

And he spends his
weekends picking up garbage.

That's pretty cool.

It was a misunderstanding.

Yeah.

I was throwing out beer bottles.

Instead of putting them
in the dumpster,

I was throwing them in the road.

How is that a
misunderstanding?

Okay, don't be
jealous Alex, all right?

We can all hang out together.

♪ Our love ♪

♪ My fantasy ♪

♪ I was only feeling young ♪

Hi.

Hey.

Just scooch over a little bit.

Sure.

Okay, more than that, scooch.

Where are your parents?

Out.

Cool.

You want some?

Damn.

What was that?

Grapefruit juice.

Oh.

- Strong.
- Mm-hm.

So what'd you wanna talk about?

Um...

I don't know.

Well you asked
me to hang out, so...

Yeah, I did.

Or did you not wanna
talk or something?

Tell me where to find it.

You won't find it here.

Tell me where to find it.

Look up at the sky.

What does that mean?

Drifting towards the sun.

Look up.

At the sky.

What the fuck?

What the fuck?!

Do something with your
hair, like you're not sure

if it looks perfect or
what, I don't know.

There it is.

Oh yeah.

You don't give a fuck
about nothing, do you?

Can you do a French inhale?

Try it out.

No, don't talk to me.

There it is.

Glorious.

Now Ruby, frame up on him.

But then the beauty

that you're seeing
in the viewfinder

is so astounding that you
have to check for real

to make sure you're
actually seeing it,

and it's not just some
phantasm of shadow and light.

Now maybe you wanna sit
on that hood next to him,

but you're not sure if, not
sure if that's the right move.

No, just do what you feel.

Nice, guys.

Wait, I think I've
heard of this place.

Didn't someone get
murdered here?

Yeah.

Rad.

Always wanted to come here.

Oh my god.

It's even better than I thought.

I just know I heard something

and you're not taking me
seriously, and I don't think...

Is everything okay?

Yeah, I think I
heard something

and he's not taking
me seriously.

This place is old as fuck,

- but it's so rad.
- Josh.

I think I heard something, okay?

What?

I don't know.

It's old, there's
probably rats in here, dude.

Doesn't matter,
I know what I heard

It's not a big deal.

Okay?

What are you afraid of?

Come on, seriously?

- Josh.
- What?

- What?
- Josh.

You wanna know
why all come here?

Why they all come
to the old steel mill?

They take pictures with
their little computers,

as if it all means nothing.

They don't know the importance.

They don't understand
the mystery.

The mystery!

Billy Johnson was murdered
here in cold blood,

and only I know who did it.

I've seen the blood.

I know where the body lies.

For a hundred dollars...

I could tell you.

For two hundred...

I'll show you.

I'll show you!

Come on!

He's back here.

Come on, come.

All right, guys, I think
that's enough filming for today.

How about dinner?

God, let it not
be pizza again.

I think I'm gonna walk
back by myself, actually.

I mean, no.

You ride with us,
I'll give you a ride.

No, it's okay.

You gonna walk home
alone in the dark?

I'll see you guys later.

Alex.

Pretty nice place, huh?

I like it.

My house is right
around the block.

The food here is really good.

Maybe a little pricey
for someone who lives

in an abandoned mill in
the middle of the woods.

Listen, I don't
want any trouble, man.

No trouble

Just tell me who sent you.

Listen, I'm...
I'm just an actor, dude.

I got paid three hundred dollars
to drive up here from Mohonk

and hang around the
old abandoned uh...

- Place.
- Mill.

Yeah, mill.

I have kids to
feed, you understand?

Was it a man who hired you?

No, it was um...

it was a lady. Uh...

Nora, that was her name, Nora.

What, what about
that monologue?

What?

The monologue.

All that shit you said about
Billy Johnson getting murdered.

Did you just make it up?

No.

I read it in the script, man.

There's a script?

Yeah.

I got it right here.

I didn't really get it. I mean

it sounded more
like an improv thing.

But me and a couple other
people had some dialogue, so

I missed a few lines.

I figured it was more important

to get the essence
of the character.

Hey, we good or what?

Beautiful.

This is really nice, guys.

Nice.

Ruby, shift your body
a little closer to him.

Just catch it.

That's it.

Not too happy, though.

Keep a sense of melancholy.

Cut.

What?

We need Alex.

Hey, bud.

We need you for the next scene.

Wanna come inside?

We met once, a few years ago.

Really?

In Brooklyn.

You were doing some retro
screening and a Q&A.

Right, okay.

I didn't know who you were,

and I definitely didn't
know anything about "Myth".

I just picked it because
the poster looked cool.

I'd never seen anything
like that before.

Do you remember?

No.

Come on, man, Ruby's
waiting for you.

What are we doing tomorrow?

What?

Well this is the last
weekend of filming, right?

I figured we'd work
all the way through.

Right, tomorrow uh...

Tomorrow's an off day.

Then Sunday we just got
some little pickup stuff

back at the mall.

Just you walking around,
nothing big.

Sounds great.

All right.

You're starting to feel
bad about this, aren't you?

Know me pretty good, huh?

Yes I do.

You know, at the top of this,

I really thought he'd be fine.

I thought no matter what I do,

there was no way I
could really hurt him.

I don't know.

Maybe I went too far.

No.

You have to go far.

You have to go further than
any director is willing to go

to make this work.

Yeah.

Just one more night,
one more day,

and this is all over.

Did he take the bait?

Oh yeah.

I talked to Dan yesterday.

He gave him the script.

It wasn't obvious?

Well, it was a little
unexpected when Alex decided

to walk home by himself,
but I got Dan on the phone.

Followed him in his pickup,
then he got ahead of him.

Hopped into Vinny's and got
a seat right by the window.

Whew

Good.

- That was lucky.
- Damn right.

We start paying overages
for every day he's out here,

plus fucking 15, fucking agents.

Well let's just hope we
get lucky again, right?

Hello?

Ruby?

Whatcha doing in my house?

Ruby.

I know what's going on.

You do?

He's upstairs
right now, isn't he?

Look, your cousin is
an amazing filmmaker.

I mean, I know at first I
thought he was a total weirdo

with a camera just
messing around,

but honestly, I really
see his vision now, and...

He's not my cousin.

What?

He's J.P. Smith.

What?

J.P. Smith.

Okay, he's a filmmaker
from New York City.

He's been using us because
he knows that I like you,

and he wants you to be with Josh

in order to make me jealous,

and just to complete
our narrative arcs,

and Josh is just another
pawn in all this, too.

Who knows if he's
even real or not?

The cops who busted us,
the guy at the mill,

the kids who were
picking up trash,

they're all actors,
it's all fake.

That can't be true.

Come on, don't play dumb.

I know you know
all this already.

Excuse me?

Come on, tell me you
haven't already read the script.

What script?

Okay, very good,
excellent job.

No, Alex, I really don't
know what you're talking about.

The script!

The one with you and Josh

together on almost every page.

The one he's trying
to cut me out of.

Okay, I know we lied
to you about some things,

but like that's how it works.

You apparently lied to me

about J.P. being your
cousin, right?

You knew you saw me at the mall,

you followed me the whole time.

I mean we all lied to each
other about some things,

but that doesn't matter anymore.

What matters is that we
finish this whole thing,

and I mean, no matter
what happens tonight.

No matter what happens?

Yeah.

Just come upstairs
with me, okay?

Come on, there's something
to show you, all right?

Alex is here.

Yeah, I can see that.

So this is where
it takes place.

This is my studio, Alex,
it's where I do my work.

Your work.

Yeah, Josh and I were in
the middle of something.

Oh, am I interrupting?

Yeah, actually you were.

Josh.

No, it's okay.

What was I interrupting?

Alex, don't make this
any more difficult

than it needs to be.

What scene were you doing?

Scene?

Nevermind.

I think I know the one.

Hm.

Interior. Ruby's Bedroom.

Night. Ruby and Josh hang
out on her floor talking.

Josh gets up and walks
across the room,

having a seat on a stool
over by the backdrop.

He asks Ruby if she'll
take his picture.

Ruby smiles.

The scene plays out
slowly, intimately,

as a connection builds
between the two of them.

Something like that?

Alex.

Alex.

Could you not?

It's empty.

Just stay here.

All right, we're
not there yet.

They showed you how to
hold this thing, right?

It's not this, this doesn't
do anything for you.

It's this right here.

That winds it, and then that's,

so it's more, it's not
quite ergonomic,

but it's something.

Right, so business as
usual, this kind of thing.

We'll wait for a din,

wait for the herd to
thin out a little bit.

So you walk in, or you
don't walk in, he walks in.

First time you see him, you
don't say anything to him,

you just take a picture.

So now I'm doing it, right,
I'm not quite, right?

And this beautiful girl
talks a picture of me.

What am I gonna think, right?

But again, we don't
wanna lean too heavy on it.

Jonathan, can you move in
a little bit closer to her,

be a little bit more
touchy with her?

Yeah, I don't want
her to spend this on me,

I want her to keep it, you know?

When she sees this kid,
it's gonna make sense,

in terms of the differing
kind of levels here

that we're working with, right?

Yeah, I got that, yeah.

Well let's develop
this relationship, yeah?

So we're not quite...

Yeah, I know that,
but it's, yeah.

Let, it's ultimately gonna
be incumbent on her

to make him believe it,
because I have to act

as if I know nothing
about, you know,

it's just sort of like, oh,
I see what you're after.

So let's say now I
have this bowl, right?

And I don't know what
the fuck to do with it,

so I'm fumbling around,
trying to get it lit.

So how do you do it,
right, so how do you do it?

So you light my fire,
right, exactly.

So show me you're gonna do that.

Just mime this
part of it, right?

Uh, what do I...

I guess your hand's up here

- just like this.
- Right.

So that little bit
of touch, right?

- A little more.
Yeah, but...

More sort of,
that's it, yeah, yeah.

And get your, but a little, too.

It's your face, it's your
lips, and that's what's,

- right, right.
- Yeah, yeah, cool.

So that's it, yeah,
that little, that's it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

All right, where are we now?

Okay, now we're in the woods.

So where's my heart
throb? Here he is.

Come in here.

So like, where you want me?

Right, so it's gonna be
loose marks, more or less.

So I'll worry about
getting you in the shot, right?

But I don't want you to
be a bully, I just want...

Right, yeah, Josh is
not like a uh...

- I'm just charmed...
- No, he's just a nice guy

who's like a little bit better
looking and a little bit cooler

and a little older, and
he's in college or whatever.

It's the classic struggle
here that...

So he's not like a
douchebag, but yeah.

Right, so okay, right.

- Charm me.
- And so then eventually,

whatever you young rapscallions
use as derogations,

soft, though, you know
what I mean?

Not, don't lean
too hard into it.

And then eventually, Ruby is
gonna start to defend him,

but not in a way that
negates the sparks

- that are flying.
- Defend this kid, Alex?

- Yes, yeah.
- Why?

Because you like him.

Right.

Well you're the one who
asked me to hang out, so.

Yeah, I did.

Did you not wanna
talk or something?

I can see you probably
have a lot of questions.

You were chosen, Alex.

For what?

Remember that tee-shirt you
bought a few years back?

The one that says "Myth" on it?

Never seen anybody else
wear it, have you?

That's because there were
only twenty seven of them sold.

When we first started
this project,

we didn't realize what we had.

Names of fans,
addresses, phone numbers,

and we built a profile.

That's how we got
to know you, Alex.

You were following us

and we were following you.

You need anything else?

The film will speak
for itself, Alex.

Alex, Alex, just wait.

What, what is it?

- More bullshit?
- No.

You got another monologue

you'd like to do for me?

My real name is
Stephanie, okay?

And I'm twenty four,

and I studied acting in college.

I have a sublet in Brooklyn
and I work part time

at a diner in Chelsea, and I
have a cat named Phoebe, okay?

That's... that's me.

And I think you're a really
great kid, Alex, I do.

You're like really, really nice.

It's weird, because
not many people are,

and that's what made me
realize how messed up this was,

but J.P. just...

I should've stopped it sooner.

That's real.

That wasn't from
his stupid script.

I really liked you.

No, you liked Ruby.

And I guess who wouldn't, right?

She's like confident
and charming and cool,

and J.P. completely made her up.

I'm not her.

She's not real.

Find someone who is.

Would you like any
coffee or water?

No, I'm fine.

Thanks, Nicki.

Take a seat, Alex.

How's school going?

Um...

Good, yeah, it's good.

Just finished my first semester.

Had to write a
screenplay for class.

Oh yeah?

How'd it come out,
you happy with it?

Yeah.

But I'll probably hate it

the next time I read
it or whatever.

You gonna make it?

With what?

I don't have any
money or anything.

Would you like some?

We have a cut assembled.

It's not done, still needs a
lot of sound, some color work,

but we've shown it around

and there's a lot of
interest out there right now.

Even some of the smaller
studios are asking about it.

They're not throwing a whole
lot of money at us just yet,

but we might be
able to go straight

into a limited theatrical
release this summer.

We've been talking about

maybe doing a road
show before that.

And then streaming,
video on demand, Blu-ray.

It's all there.

Now look it.

You didn't sign anything.

So technically you're not
really entitled to anything.

I wanna do the right
thing here, Alex.

I wanna do right by you.

So if you sign on, I'll
give you significant help

in getting your movie made.

Financing, contacts, resources,

anything I can do to help.

You'd be a multi-hyphenate

if you sign on.

I'm sorry, sign on to what?

We never got
your photo release.

So unless you sign this,

I don't have a film.

I know I lied to you.

You know I did.

But I did it for this.

I did it for the work, and the
work is what it's all about.

And I can't say I'm sorry.

'Cause I'm not.

What do you say?