Steel City (2006) - full transcript

- I talked to your dad,
asked him a few questions.

Been arrested before?

- Yeah.

- For what?

- Assault, but it
wasn't my fault.

- Where at?

- Moline, my dad lived up
there for about nine years.

- What do you do up there?

- Drove a supply truck

Five ton.

- Trucker.



Hold up your hands,
let me see your palms.

Eight minutes after the first
officer arrived on the scene,

she died of internal bleeding.

Her sternum was crushed.

She was 54 years old.

Lt. Macnamara's
gonna drive you home.

I have to go do
the notifications,

talk to the victims'
families, all that stuff.

You okay?

- Sorry.

♪ Ooh

♪ Ooh

♪ Ooh

♪ Ooh



♪ Ooh

♪ Ooh

- PJ, let's go!

- Lee, I need you to clear
18, 19, 20, make room for 12.

And I need 25 balloons,
red and yellow only.

- Hey.

- Hey.

- What is couple-annos?

- Birthday.

♪ Sure don't need a room

♪ Your memory
- I'm done.

♪ Remember the time

- Hey you.

What do you want?

- You steal my lighter?

- Excuse me?

- Did you steal my lighter?

- Why would I
steal your lighter?

- Borrowed it for a smoke--
- What do you want?

- A beer.

Hey.

- Yes.

- And uh, what time
do you get off.

- You should not be touchin'
me this close at this bar.

- Mm-hm.

- You're gonna start rumors.

- Well ma'am, would you
please get me a beer?

You work tomorrow?

- Yep, I'm closing.

Do you wanna come by?

- Where's my lighter?

- Stay away from me.

- Where's my lighter?
- Come on.

- Where's my lighter?

- Five more minutes.
- Where's my lighter?

- Please?

- No, I gotta go.

- Stay with me.

- Just, I gotta go.

- You can stay out
late, you're the boss.

- I'll bite your lip off.

I'll do it, I'll do it!

Oh, oh, oh, huh?

Huh, huh, huh?

- You're an idiot.

- I gotta go.

- Get outta here already.

- Kevin,
what do ya got?

- Hey.

- I like the beard.

- Oh yeah well, no choice.

They only give us razors
once a week in here,

and guys, they take 'em apart,

and they try to kill each other.

Kill themselves.

The whole jail's
on suicide watch.

- Anybody do it?

- Well yeah, actually,
a big fat guy.

He didn't use a razor.

He made a noose out of a sheet,
hung himself in his cell.

I don't know how it
was strong enough.

Did you get the truck?

- Yeah.

The heat was broke.

Was a headlight out,

but I got at new one
at the yard for free.

- Did you change the belts?

- No, I just washed it.

- No, no, you gotta
change the belts.

Change the belts, or
the engine'll blow.

- Okay.
- You'll use it.

- I found this in the glove box.

You and mom got this for me.

- You did?

Oh, is this when you
were in the choir?

- No, it was from my communion.

- Yeah.

St. Joseph.

Joseph, that's your middle name.

- I wanna talk to Mom about
the money for the bail.

- No, no, no, no, don't do that.

Don't talk to Mom.

I don't want Mom
and Randall's money.

- They moved into a new house.

Down south, they have the money.

- Leave Mom out of it.

The house nice?

- I haven't seen it.

- Yeah, you know,
don't bother Mom.

Just take care of the truck,

you wanna do something for
me, take care of the truck.

Oh, and go to the bank.

Take those bank books

and see if there's
anything in those accounts.

Talk to that guy Stan
Miller down at the bank,

he'll help you out.

- Okay.

Is there anything else I can do?

- For me, no, no.

I'm okay.

What about you?

- Fine.

- PJ, you okay?

- Yeah, good.

- Can't eat with that mask on.

Take that mask off before
you spill everywhere.

Look, I'm tellin' you, if
you don't behave yourself,

take the mask off, you're goin'
to bed without your cereal.

Okay?

Hold on.

Come here, you.

Come here.

Hey, PJ.

- Hey, Randall.

- Oh, he thinks he's a monster.

Say hi to PJ.

- Hi.

- All right, go on
to bed, monster man.

Don't forget to
brush your teeth.

Come on in, PJ.

This is it, it's not too big.

Built in 1980.

You like it?

- Yeah.

Smells like paint.

- Not paint, carpet.

Cigarettes from the
god damned carpenters.

Basement was never finished.

Come on, I'll show you around.

- Is this a Beretta?

- Glock, Beretta, same thing.

That's standard issue.

That's a beautiful weapon.

10-shot clip, five-inch barrel.

Some departments are issuing
these yellow stun guns now,

but that's what most every
cop in the state carries.

- My dad has this old
Remington, an old Kirby rifle.

The Kirby doesn't
work anymore, though.

- Yeah, well if you wanna
go into the academy,

that's what you have
to learn to fire.

- I'm thinkin' about it.

- Why do you wanna be a cop?

- So I can have one of these.

- You'll be a skinny cop.

I was a skinny cop, too.

Six months in the academy,
you'll have one of those.

Right?
- What?

- Don't you
think he'd be a skinny cop?

- Too skinny.

Why you talkin' about guns?

- Always, always butt first.

Got that?
- Yeah.

Sorry.

- How much is it gonna cost?

- $300.

- Oh, why so much?

- The heater.

The main engine belt's busted,
I have to fix the belts.

- I don't know.

- Mom, it's just $300.

- If you want the money
for something practical,

then that's different.

- What about Randall?

He said he can get
me into the academy,

is he serious or what?

- You're not gonna
go into the academy.

- Why not?

He shouldn't keep that
gun loaded in the garage.

- It's not loaded.

- Yes it was.

And he says I'm gonna
be a skinny cop.

I'm not that skinny.

- Can you be nice?

What about your girlfriend?

- I don't have a girlfriend.

- That girl, Lauren.

- Aw, Lauren broke up with me.

There is this
other girl at work.

- What's her name?

- It's no big deal
Ma, it's just work.

She's kinda fat, too.

- She got big birth hips?

- They're twins, triplets.

- Oh.

- Can't you just ask
him for the money?

- For what?

- For the truck, Mom.
- No.

- The truck is
severely fucked up.

- Don't yell.
- I'm not yelling.

Just ask him.

- No, I'm not gonna ask Randall.

That truck oughta be demolished

after what your
father did to it.

- Well, it's mine now,
and I have to fix it.

So can you ask him?

He doesn't like me that
much, you could ask him.

- I'm going to bed.

Monster fell asleep.

- Okay, good night, I love you.

- Want a kiss, too?

- I'm fine.

- Okay, okay.

- See, he likes you.

- Wait, what are you doing,
what are you doing back here?

PJ, where's your tie?

- I lost it.

My shirt's too small.

- Okay, you're gonna get fired.

- You're gonna get fired.

- No, I'm not gonna get
fired, 'cause Ralph likes me.

- Ralph likes you.

- Yeah, so you really need
to start wearing your tie.

- You having a good day?

- I'm fine, PJ, will you please
now clear four and seven,

please, thank you.

- Are you gonna come over later?

- I can't do this right now.

I really have to--
- I'll clear four and seven.

You gonna come over later?

- What are you doing?

- Your bra.

- I'm not wearing a bra.
- Oh.

Sorry.

- Your kitchen is filthy.

It's disgusting, you should
really do something about this.

- You wanna be my maid?

- What, you think all
Hispanic girls wanna be maids?

No, I don't wanna be your maid.

- All Hispanic girls are maids.

- I don't wanna be a maid.

- What do you wanna be?

- I don't know.

Maybe a teacher, I know
some sign language.

- I know sign language.

- Yeah, what do you know?

Not the bad stuff.

- That's all I know,
that's the good stuff.

- Were you arrested?

- What?

- I don't know, Ralph said
that you were arrested.

- Yeah, I spent
one night in jail.

So what?

- Nothing.

- Ralph talks shit.

He talks shit about
me all the time.

I still want you
to clean my house.

Naked.

Bank called.

I got 10 days to
leave the house.

Now all this legal shit.

- Legal shit?

- Court order for eviction.

- Ah shit.

That son of a bitch, Mel,

he told me he wasn't
gonna dump this on me

when I was in here.

- It's not workin' with me,
Dad, I don't have any money.

- Are you gonna call Ben?

You call up Ben, you
tell him you need a car,

go to work at the mill.

- I don't wanna
work at the mill.

- Oh PJ, why.

Washin' dishes
ain't gonna cut it.

It's not gonna happen that way.

I'd call Ben, but he doesn't
wanna talk to me, he just.

Hangs up on me.

- If Ben doesn't wanna
help me, where do I go?

- You go to Mom.

- I can't.

Randall's got a kid,
there's no place to sleep.

- Uncle Vic.

You remember Uncle
Vic, my brother?

Meetin' him at Ben's wedding?

- Yeah, with all the
tattoos and the mustache?

- Yeah, I've been
thinkin' about him.

He used to wear all
that camouflage shit,

and he had that little dog.

- And he smokes a lot.

- He knows everybody
in this town.

He knows everybody.

I mean, he's a son of a bitch,

but I mean if there's one
guy who can find you a job,

it's Uncle Vic.

- What kind of job?

- I don't know, PJ,

the kind of job that
pays money, you know?

What's the matter with you?

Change the belts on the truck?

- Yeah I changed everything.

All the plugs and shit.

What's going on?

- It's company policy,
and you're not in uniform.

Plus you were late again.

- You need to hire
another guy back there.

I'm doing the work
of two people.

- Look, she's in uniform.

Should she take off her
tie and give it to you

because everyone is
sick of our attitude.

- You're lookin' for
something to complain about.

Maybe if you shut
your fuckin' mouth

and let me do my god damned job

you wouldn't have a problem.

- Ralph, no.

- What's going on,
what'd you say?

No, no, no, don't you
fuckin' put your hand on her.

- Stop this

- Who do you think you are?

- You're fired!

- PJ!

Will you talk to me?
- No, I'm good.

♪ My father left us

♪ He left us too soon

♪ I thought he'd say somethin'

♪ Before he waltzed
from my room ♪

♪ All I remember was
my hands at my side ♪

♪ A face of a woman who
once was his bride ♪

♪ And all I got left
with was tears ♪

♪ Seven lonely volunteers

♪ We looked for Sister Mary

♪ Sister Mary your pale

♪ She holds her head sometimes

♪ She walks close to the rail

♪ She sings on a Sunday

♪ And stands on your stairs

♪ She haunts me at nighttime

♪ And I've forgotten
my prayers ♪

♪ And we don't see
much of her here ♪

♪ A winter weary volunteer

- So what do you want?

- Can you get me a job?

- What are you gonna
work in the mill room?

It's like 150 degrees down
there, you can't handle that.

- What about the office?

- What about the
office, you a bitch?

That's bitch work.

And besides, you're
not in the union.

- I know.

I thought you can talk
to somebody, help me out.

- You want me to talk to Casey?

Casey's head of the union.

- You know Mom and Randall
moved to a place in Carbondale.

- Yeah, I talked to Mom.

- Dad called.

- Have you gone to see him?

- Yeah.

Wants to know how
big the baby is.

- She's just a fat
little pork chop.

She keeps me up
all night crying.

I thought you had job.

- I did, I quit.

I got fired.

I got into a fight
with the manager.

- Like a fight, fight?

- Yeah.

- Did you win?

- No.

- I was sacred of
him a little bit.

- Little page, little scrapper.

- They turned off the
water and the power.

So I got all this stuff
packed in my truck.

- What about my stuff?

- It's at the house.

- What the fuck you
mean it's at the house,

is Dad's stuff, is Dad's tools
an everything still there?

- Yeah.

- Peej, that's expensive shit,
you gotta get that stuff.

- I'll get it.

- Listen, there's
a tiger saw that I want.

- Lee, let's go.

- I'm talkin' to my brother!

Listen, there's a tiger
saw that I want, all right?

And a generator, okay?

- I'll get it.
- Look at me.

- I'm gonna get it.

What is the steel
hurtin' your ears?

How many times I tell
ya, I'm gonna get it.

- Keep screwin' around, I'll
give your job to your brother.

- Hello?

- Paul Joseph.

You don't remember me, do you?

- Uncle Vic.

How'd you get in here?

- It's a bad habit,
not lockin' doors.

Lights don't work,
water's shut off.

Nothin' works except
the telephone.

Who pays that bill?

Some girl called two times.

That your girlfriend?

- No.

- Well, I'm not
giving you my money.

- Okay.

- Need a job?

- I just came to get the saws.

- I already got your tiger saw.

You need a job?

- Yeah.

- The only guy I know who
does a lot of insurance work,

fire job, the sloppy shit.

Contractor I know gets work
from the insurance companies.

They have these
homes that burn down

because the electrical's
so damn old,

and all the wiring is corroded.

That sound like
good work to you?

You know, I didn't find
out your dad was arrested

until I read about
it in the paper.

You believe that?

My own brother.

Had that terrible photo of that
little smashed up Plymouth.

Then the truck just loses a
little paneling and a headlight.

Your dad put a lot of
money into that truck.

He loved it.

- What'd my dad
tell you about it?

- Nothin'.

First time he called
me, it was about you.

So what about you?

- When my dad got arrested,

my mom ran off with a cop.

So what the fuck am
I supposed to do?

- You wanna be smart ass, we
can forget the whole deal.

Drop the attitude, okay?

We're here to figure things out.

- Right.

Listen, you didn't tell
me about the job yet.

What does it pay, 'cause
I don't work for anything

under $10 an hour.

- Have you ever
heard the expression,

don't look a gift
horse in the mouth?

- Okay.

- I'm offering you
an opportunity,

I'm not some bar slut you
fuck and forget, okay?

You can't run me over,
I guarantee you that.

I don't have to help you.

You're in a tough spot, I'd
be a little pissed, too,

but you have to know
when to shut up.

So, what do you
wanna know about me?

- Why do you have
all those tattoos?

- I was young.

Almost as cocky as you.

That's my joke.

I know you're smart, kid.

Joined the corps in '68.

- You fought in Vietnam?

- The jungle, yep.

- What about that arm?

Whose initials, MB?

- Old girlfriend.

When I was young, that
was the cool thing to do,

deface your body when
you got a piece of ass.

- Who was she?

- Marianne.

Bishop.

Marianne Bishop.

- My mom was your
old girlfriend?

She was your piece of ass.

- Not girlfriend, just a friend.

I introduced her to Carl.

- When?

- Long time ago, I met her
when she was in nursing school.

I was a teacher's assistant
at a junior college.

- You were a teacher?

- Let me finish, I was
a teacher's assistant

at a junior college,
right down the street.

She drove a yellow VW Bug.

I'd see her around,
and we dated.

I introduced her to Carl,
he was only 20 years old.

He told me I was
too old for her.

They were the same
age, I was too old.

He was a kid, they were kids.

I went to Vietnam,
and they got married,

and Corporal Peterson, my
best friend at my platoon

gave me this tattoo.

I was jealous.

But it doesn't
matter now, does it?

Your dad had a family,
and he threw it away.

- I never heard that before.

- He wouldn't tell you that.

And your mom sure as
hell won't tell you that.

- How do I know you're
not full of shit?

- I'm too fuckin' old to lie
about something like that.

You don't have to
believe a word I say.

- How come you
never got married?

- When I came back from
the war, I was untouchable.

Everybody else was in
a wheelchair or crazy,

walkin' around in circles
talkin' to themselves,

but I was fine.

Did a lot of drinkin',
did a lot of drugs.

After after a few years,
joined the carpenter's union.

28 years there, now I'm
retired with two pensions.

I had girlfriends, just.

Didn't get married.

- That's how you know all
those construction guys.

- That's right.

If you're honest with me,
like I'm honest with you,

maybe we can work somethin' out.

- Okay.

- So who's this girl
who called your house

when I was over there?

- Just a girl from work.

She has a cute
face, good values.

She's got a big ass though.

- A big ass won't
hurt you, PJ.

It's an honest answer.

That's what I mean.

You need a place to stay?

You got everything you need?

- Yeah.

- In the morning after you
shower and shit and all that,

keep all your stuff, your
toothbrush and everything,

in one spot,

'cause I like to keep the
bathroom super fuckin' clean.

- Okay.

- All right.

- Hey, Vic.

Thank you.

- Okay.

Charlie, it's Victor Lee.

I'm fine, thanks, how's work?

I see you're doing the
new bank over off Milton.

Well, my nephew's lookin'
for a little work,

and thought if you
needed a runner

or someone to clean
up some job sites.

Okay.

It's my brother's son,
I don't have any kids.

He's as strong as an ox, I
personally vouch for him.

He's a good kid.

- You have boots?

- Well boys, in a few
minutes that badass inspector

will be here with
that stinkin' cigar.

- Ain't he that prick
that was on that job

where Marty got stabbed by
that crazy nigger for $11?

- Yep, same guy,
right up the street

from that other fire job we did.

- PJ, you know who
Marty is we're talkin' about?

- No.

- You don't wanna get on
the wrong side of him.

You'll get all this
drywall and shit cleaned up

before he gets here,

'cause he's a stickler
for that safety shit.

- All right.

- You gotta chop those thinner.

And you don't have to
swing the ax so hard.

- Is this the area
where you hunt?

- I shot seven deer out here.

I used to hunt with Ben.

- Did he kill one?

- Ben can't shoot worth a shit.

I took him out here four
days before he got married

and tried to teach
him a few things.

Couldn't hold the rifle steady.

I think he was more interested
in drinkin' my scotch

than he was learnin'
how to shoot.

He's not very agile.

Was too slow.

- So when you sell all this
wood, how much do you make?

- Right now, 25, $30 a bundle.

I sell to gas stations
and grocery stores.

Keeps me busy.

- So what about you and Ben?

- I give Ben a lot of
credit, he works his ass off.

Ben's a lot like me.

- Ben's wife had a Cesarian
section for the baby.

And after that, Ben
kinda get all fucked up.

- How's that?

- He cheats on Maria.

Lies to everybody.

He's fuckin' this bartender.

- That's his business.

What about you?

What about your girl,
what about your career?

- I don't have a girl.

Not yet.

- You can waste a lot of time

and a lot of money
chasin' women.

You chase girls,
they run away, right?

- Yeah, so?

- You don't chase,
that's the key.

You say you don't have
a girl, but you do.

And this girl with a big
ass likes you, right?

- She's Mexican, though.

- So what?

Just don't be a pussy chaser
because it's a waste of time.

Be smart about the people
you invite into your life.

- So I can end up like you?

Alone?

- I'm all I need.

Nobody can put up with me,
so I can chase all I want.

You got that?

- Hey.
- Hey.

- I ordered you an apple pie.

- I don't really like
apple, I like chocolate.

- I know.

They checked, they
don't have it.

- I called your house
about two weeks ago.

And some old guy
picked up the phone.

- Vic.

- Who is that?

- It's my uncle.

I got kicked out of my house,
now I live with my uncle.

I was gonna call you, but with
my new job and everything.

You look different.

- Yeah, I just curled my hair,
but I don't really like it.

- I like it.

- I know why you got kicked
out of your house, PJ.

- I was gonna--

- Don't say anything, because
you had a chance to say it,

and you didn't.

I know about your dad, and
I know about everything.

- Who said that?

- People at work.

Look.

I think about you a lot.

And I just really
hope that sometimes,

you think about me, too.

- I do think about you.

- They got some
lawyer for you, about 35,

he's a pain in the ass, 'cause
he's promising me the moon.

I missed you last Tuesday.

- Yeah, Uncle
Vic got me a job.

Hey, you remember a guy
named Charlie Haskill?

- Charlie Haskill,
same Charlie Haskill

I played baseball
with in high school?

- He's my boss.

- Well, tell
him Merry Christmas.

You know I was thinking all
morning about Christmas,

you guys growin' up.

One morning, you got up early,

and you went downstairs, and
you opened all the presents.

Mom was upset because she
didn't get any pictures.

But I got you this bike,
and you were riding the bike

outside in the snow in
your pajamas.

It was 10 degrees outside,

but you were so
god damn excited.

You remember that?

- Yeah, the training wheels
kept getting stuck in the snow.

- Yeah.

Well, this thing's
gonna cut out on me, PJ,

so I'm gonna say Merry
Christmas, you know,

Merry Christmas,
and Happy New Year.

To you and to everybody.

- Yeah.

- Hello, Carl?

- That you, Vic?

- Hang in there.

- You keep my
boy straight, okay?

- Straight as an
arrow, bye Carl.

- Dear Lord, we thank
you for this food,

and for this opportunity to
share it with one another.

We ask that you look over
those who are no longer with us

and others who cannot
be here with us tonight.

All these things,
we ask in your name.

Amen.

- Amen.
- Amen.

- Let's eat.

- What are you doing?

- Open it.

- I didn't get you anything.

- Just open it.

- Is this, uh.

Is this your way of
telling me I'm sorry

that I'm a lighter-stealing.

- I didn't steal your lighter.

You lost it.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

- Yeah, well I'll take you
down to the station house,

you'll sign some paperwork,
meet Chief Kessner,

and I'll take you
down to junkie town.

- Saturday or Sunday?

- Whatever day you want.

- So I'm gonna be in
the car the whole shift?

- Yep, 10 hours.

We'll ride all over town, I'll
walk you through everything.

You serious, right?

- Serious about what?

- I'm takin' PJ on a
ride along this weekend.

Where's the soap
for the dishwasher?

- I'm serious.

- Is that the girl from work?

- Yeah.

- She's really
cute, really nice.

- Is she okay?

- So why
didn't you tell me

you got fired from work?

- I didn't get fired, I quit.

Plus I got job with Uncle Vic.

- PJ.

Dress warm this weekend.

- So you did
have a good time?

- I did.
- Was I okay?

- I wouldn't lie.

- The chocolate
cake was good?

- The chocolate
cake was good.

- You weren't just making a face

to make it look
like it was good?

It was actually tasty?

- I'm not a good actress.

- 'Cause she did
make it just for you.

- That's very nice of her.

Your family's really cool,
I had such a good time.

- Thank you for coming.

What did I tell you about
speaking Spanish in here?

This is an
English-speaking truck.

- Oh gosh.

- You see eight Mexicans in
the back with a snowblower?

- No, if they were there, they
wouldn't have a snowblower

because it doesn't
snow in Mexico.

- Oh.

- Bad joke, bad joke.

You really need to
learn some Spanish.

- I know, I don't have
anyone to each me.

- Ugh!

I can teach you.

- Okay.
- Okay.

- Teach me some Spanish.

Don't make fun of me.

What does that mean?

- Si or yes?

- Si.
- Si.

- What does that mean?

- I asked if I was
your girlfriend.

- You tricked me.

- I did, and you can't
take it back, so there.

- I don't wanna take it back.

- Yeah?

Good.

I gotta go.
- No you don't.

- Yeah, I gotta go.

- You can stay here and sleep.

- No.

- You can sleep with
me and Uncle Vic.

- I'd love to.

- I don't want you to go.

- I don't wanna go.

- Ben?

- Jenny's sleeping?

- Yes.

Where were you, Ben?

- I, uh, was at my mom's.

She says hi.

- I talked to your mom, Ben.

Do you know a girl
named Lucy Jones?

From high school?

- No.

No, who's that?

- Ben, don't lie to me.

- Forget it.

Go to bed.

- No, I'm not
gonna go back to bed.

- Shh!

- I've been laying in bed
all night waiting for you.

So what happened?

Is something going on?

- Who did you talk to?

- I've been so patient with you.

Are you fucking her?

- No.

No.

- We are barely making it, here.

Look at us.

Look at where we live.

It's Christmas.

Do you realize that?

You think I'm stupid, don't you?

- No.

- But you--

- Shh, I don't
think you're stupid.

I don't think you're stupid.

- You have lied to me over
and over and over again.

Keep your hands off me.

- Just stop, come on.

- I fuckin' hate you.

Fuckin' hate you.
- Shh, stop.

- Can you page him, please?

Ben Lee, I'm his wife.

I'm leaving and I'm
taking Jenny to my mom's.

- Do you want anything
else outta the kitchen?

- Yeah, just get the baby stuff.

- Sure.

- The chair's mine.

I just need to know where the
key to the deposit box is.

Yes, the key!

For the bank.

- Mom got these
gifts for the baby.

- You know what, I
don't want these.

I don't, this is
not what I want.

- Can you just take 'em?

I can't take' em back.

- Let's go, the truck's full.

- Well, I wanna put
the TV in there.

- Well, the truck's
full, I mean,

you're gonna have to
sit up front with it.

- It's Ben's TV.

- I wasn't talkin' to you.

Listen, what do you
want that TV for?

It's note even 13 inches.

Why don't you just go
out and buy me a new one?

- Ben gave me that
TV for my birthday.

- Okay, then we'll take the TV.

Geez.

Thanks for helpin'
me move, brother.

- Look, I'm sorry,
okay, but it's true.

- Hi.

- Where's Ben?

- Met a girl.

- Where is he?

- I have no idea.

Ben doesn't talk to me anymore.

Maybe you should ask
his new girlfriend.

- I thought that was you.

- What?

- I thought you
were his girlfriend.

- No, I'm not.

I'm not anybody's girlfriend.

Come here, follow me.

Come around the bar.

I love getting
high in the winter.

Can I ask you a question?

- Mm-hm.

- Is it true
about what your dad did?

- What did my dad do?

- Ben said he's in jail
'cause he killed somebody.

- An accident.

- Yeah, but she's dead, dude.

I'm sorry.

Just a little high.

I am.

I am sorry about Ben and
his wife and all that.

- It's not your fault.

It's his.

- You remind me of Ben.

When he was nice.

- I'm not nice.

- Yeah, you are.

And you're so fuckin'
cute.

Do you think I'm cute?

- No.

- Can I kiss your cheek?

Yeah?

Mm.

- You know, sometimes
you can ride around

the whole fuckin' day
and nothin' happens.

I gotta be honest with you.

Sometimes it's hard
to feel like a cop.

Yeah, you wanna be
involved and everything,

makin' things right
and helping people,

but half the time, what do I do?

Chase some broke
down station wagon

that was stolen two months ago?

Spend the whole
day runnin' plates.

Tryin' to referee
people's problems,

can't take care of their self?

Nobody tells the truth.

Everybody lies.

For what?

So you can call yourself
a police officer.

Put on a uniform every day?

When my first wife died,
I was bad news, boy.

Bad news.

Two kids, couldn't even sleep
in my own bed after that.

I had to move, get out.

Drama.

Your mama was so nice to her
when she was in the hospital.

So nice.

So you learnin' anything today?

- How old do you have to
be to be in the academy?

- I told you, you're old enough.

Just need a sponsor.

Get a department to
sponsor you, you in.

Your head on straight?

You clean?

No felonies?

- I'm clean.

All right, then.

- Unit 12?

- Go for Unit 12.

- Code 3215,
Seventh and Naldy.

- 1076, I'm on the way.

Here we go.
- Ready code black.

- Hold on to him, hold on!

Get him up.

What happened?

- I took the domestic call
and he came out with a gun.

- I didn't do shit.

- You shut up.

She says he threatened him.

- All right, you talk to her.

- The fuck are
you talkin' about?

- Shut up!

- You fuckin'
piece of shit!

- I didn't do shit to you!

Fuck, fuck!

You a fucking cop?

- No, I'm not a cop.

- Who is it?
- It's me.

- Me, who?

- Ben, it's me, PJ.

- You got my TV?

- This is from Mom.

Where you been, Ben?

- It's a canary.

Jenny saw it in the pet
store, so I got it for her.

His name's Sebastian.

- It's a parakeet.

- You owe me a TV.

- No I don't.

- Yes, you do.

You were here when she took it,

you didn't do
anything to stop her.

You owe me a TV.

Besides, you're workin'.

- Yeah, Uncle Vic got me a
job working construction.

- So you're workin' now,
good job, steady income.

You still dating that
fat Spanish girl?

- Amy.

- The fat one.

- She's not that fat, man.

- But she's got like
15 pounds on you.

Does she have big
tits or small tits?

- They're good.

- Yeah, it's kinda
like the trade off.

If you're gonna fuck a fat girl,

she's gotta have these big
bombs, you know what I'm saying?

I've fucked some fat
girls in my time, man.

Fat white girls, fat black
girls, fat Asian girls.

I've never fucked a fat
Spanish girl, though.

What's the matter?

- 50 bucks.

- Randall.

Mom and Dad never
did shit like this.

Only fuckin' thing I
can remember Dad doing

is when he used to get us
up early in the morning

to go shovel the
driveway after it snowed.

Remember that?
- Yeah.

- You and I'd sit there fighting

over the one pair of
boots that we had.

Sat there fighting in the snow.

I used to kick your little ass.

- You were a lot bigger than me.

A lot stronger, too.

- Who do you think
would win now?

- You.

- I don't now.

I don't know.

You're a tough little shit.

You know, you and
I are a lot alike.

- No, not really?

- No?

What about Lucy?

She's hot, right?

See, there's something
we have in common.

We like the same pussy.

You fuck her?

- No.

- Did you tell Maria
about her and I?

- No.

- Either you fucked Lucy,

or you told Maria that
I did, so which is it?

- You're being paranoid.

- No, I'm not being paranoid.

You're a little liar.

- All I know is I
was at Ma's party,

Maria called, and
you weren't there.

I got the card and the
gift, I came over here,

and that's it.

- So you fucked Lucy.

Right?

You were at the bar the
other night, weren't you?

- Yeah.

- Peej, I don't care.

Why do you feel you
have to lie to me?

You tell Dad your lies
when you go see him?

- What does Dad have
to do with this?

- Does he ask about me?

- Yeah, he says Merry Christmas.

- He says what?

- He told me to tell
you Merry Christmas.

- The only fuckin'
thing I remember

about Christmas with Dad,

is when Mom tried
to leave with us,

and she's screamin' and cryin'.

He trapped Mom in the bathroom.

- He never did that.

- Yes, he did.

You were too young to remember.

He did it then and a
lot of other times,

but don't you remember
Mom in the bathroom

screamin' and cryin'?

He's fuckin' nuts.

- You know how long Dad's
gonna get if he's found guilty?

- He is guilty.

- Seven years.

- Well, that's seven
years of collect calls

I'm not gonna accept.

I got fuckin' child
support and alimony,

whatever the fuck it is.

I gotta hire my own
god damn attorney now.

- Well it's your fault, Ben.

That's why you're so fucked up.

'Cause you blame
everyone but yourself.

- Well at least I'm not
a fuckin' little liar.

So which is it?

Because it wouldn't surprise
me if you fucked Lucy

and told Maria, so which is it?

- Neither, you paranoid fuck.

- What do you want me to do?

Do you want me to kick your ass?

- Yeah, that's why I
came over here, Ben.

I want you to kick my ass.

- This little shit.

- That's a nice bird over there.

And it sucks that there's no
one here to appreciate it.

Where's your kid, Ben?

- What are you gonna
fuckin' leave now?

- Yeah, just like you, remember?

So fuck you!

Fuck Lucy, fuck your
fat fuckin' wife!

And her scar on her
fuckin' stomach.

- Oh really, huh?

You fuckin' liar!

Say it, say it!

- Seat right here.

- You think I could be
alone with my son this time?

- Sure, just for a minute.

- Thanks.

What the hell happened to you?

- It's from Ben.

We got into a fight.

- He cracked you pretty
good, did you fight back?

- Yeah.

He got into a fight with Maria,

and he thought it
was because of me.

And he went crazy.

- What happened then?

- Nothin'.

I don't tell him anything, Dad.

- What?

What do you mean, what
didn't you tell him?

- I'm gonna turn myself in.

I'm gonna tell 'em
it was an accident.

- Wait a minute PJ, what
are you talkin' about?

- I should've turned myself
in, all this shit's happened.

I got no where to go,
I got nothin' to do.

I got no one to talk to.

- Listen to me, PJ, okay,
just listen to me, all righT?

Don't talk to
anybody, just listen.

All right?

I mean, it doesn't
make any difference

if it was an accident or not.

I mean, it wasn't an accident,

but that doesn't mean anything.

I mean, this woman, she's
dead, and we're sorry,

and someone has to
take responsibility.

I mean, believe me,
they don't care who.

They don't care who
takes the blame,

they just wanna have
somebody to pay.

And you come in here now,
this would destroy you--

- Well, they're
gonna find out, Dad,

they're gonna find
out what I did.

- No they're not,

they're not gonna
find anything out

as long as you keep
your mouth shut.

You don't say anything.

That's all you gotta
do is live your life,

forget about this,
stay outta trouble,

you promised me that
you'd stay outta trouble.

That's it.

- But you're not guilty.

- Yeah, well.

You and I both know that
things were never good.

I left, I left my
family, I left my kids,

turned my back on you guys.

You grew up, I don't
know how, I wasn't there.

Right, I missed all those
years of you playin' soccer,

Ben playin' football.

I left you guys.

So, and then when I wanted to
come back, it was too late.

Maybe I owe you
a little bit, eh?

Maybe I got a
little bit of guilt.

I don't know what
else to tell you, PJ,

except that I don't
want you to be like me.

Don't be like me.

Don't do what I did.

Don't do it.

You let me do this, okay?

I owe you.

You just promise me, you're
gonna stay outta trouble,

and you're gonna let
me do these years.

'Cause I can do this PJ,
I mean it's seven years,

that's all it is.

All you gotta do is believe
this the right way to go,

and then forget about it.

Believe it in your heart
that this is right.

Let me do it, and
then forget it.

I'm your father.

Let me do this for you.

- How come you're here?

How come you're not at work?

- I quit.

- Turn around.

That's why my
bathroom's all bloody.

You got blood all
over my towels, too.

- I'll clean it.

- Too late, I already did.

What happened to your eye?

Who'd you get into it with?

- Ben.

- Speak up.

- Ben!

- Go put the juice back
into the refrigerator.

- It's empty.

- Remember when we
were talking about

you being honest with me, that
was part of our agreement.

- What agreement?

You only helped me because
my dad asked you to.

- You're exactly right, but
it's a two-way street here.

Charlie Haskill did me a favor

and you shit all over it,
we're family, you and me.

And I'm sick of your inability

to take some
responsibility for things.

- I hated that job.

- There's something in
life called respect,

and you earn it, but you
don't seem to know that.

- Sorry about the job, Vic.

What do you want me to say?

- You're not sorry.

You didn't come to me
and tell me anything.

I've fed you, I've
done your laundry,

I've let you save every
god damn penny you earn,

and I'm tired of it.

I'm tired of taking
all your calls

from that god damned girl.

I don't even know her name.

- It's none of your
fuckin' business.

- Why, you expect me
to do everything else,

you can't tell me about that?

She was fine a month ago.

What's your excuse now, PJ,

because you don't
make any sense.

And you like this
girl, I can tell,

but you won't bring
her around me.

- You think you know
something about me

because we have
the same last name?

You don't know shit about me.

- I see a scared kid

who's become the person
he doesn't wanna be.

Stop looking down on people, PJ.

- I don't look down on people.

- Your brother, yes you do!

Me!

I don't know.

- Ben cheated on his
wife and she left him.

- Okay, so that's
why you're so mad?

- I'm not mad.

- Yes you are.

You're mad that your
dad's in jail, so what?

You're mad that your big
brother beat you up, so what?

And you're mad that
you know I'm right.

- What do you want me to do?

- I want you to put everything
on the god damn line

with me right now.

Things are fucked up.

Pick one to fix, 'cause you
can't have it all, trust me.

I've had people come
and go in my life too.

My father was killed in Korea
when I was 11 years old.

They didn't even send
the god damn body back!

Just the god damn dog tags!

My brother died
six months later.

I fucked a lot of things
up in my life after that.

Now you pick one.

- I'm gonna leave.

- Bullshit.

I'm gonna drive into town

and put money on the
table for your dad.

- My dad says he's guilty.

- I don't care.

- What if I say no?

- It's not your
decision anymore.

- What do you want
me to do, Vic?

- I don't know.

I don't know.

I just.

I just want things to work
out a little bit better

between you and me, that's all.

- Come on, piece of shit!

Shit!

♪ All night long I've
been ridin' ridin' ♪

♪ I should've been
there by now ♪

♪ These old county roads

♪ Got a lotta deep holes

♪ And the rain
keeps pourin' down ♪

♪ The bridge is washed
out in the risin' risin' ♪

♪ Waters of the
river rushed by ♪

♪ I'm up to my fenders in mud

♪ And to my witness above

♪ I'm really stuck this time

♪ Gotta gold heart locket
on a silver chain ♪

♪ Clenched tight in my
fist in the pourin' rain ♪

♪ And the only road
back home again ♪

♪ Is all but washed away

♪ Well I'm gonna cross
that river tonight ♪

♪ No matter what it takes

♪ Although I might die tryin'

♪ My true love will remain

♪ In a gold heart locket
on a silver chain ♪

♪ Open it up and
she's lovely, lovely ♪

♪ Eyes of hazel green

♪ But I close it up fast
'cause the rain gets passed ♪

♪ And there's a tear
down on her cheek ♪

- Hey, Victor.

- Hey Carl.

- How are you?

- You owe me a tank of gas
drivin' all the way out here.

- Yeah well,

I owe you a hell of a lot
more than that, thanks.

- Hey.

Are you awake?

I love you.

- Dad.

- Hey.

Just wanted to come by.

See my granddaughter.

- She's um, she's with Maria.

They'll be back.

- I can come by later, then.

- Did you get out,
what's going on?

- No Vic posted bail.

He's the one with all
the money in the family.

Not gonna be out
for long, though.

- Maria, she.

She, uh.

She left me.

It's been hard.

- I'm sorry that happened, son.

- So am I.

- Yeah, it's terrible.

You know, Ben, I know
that you don't like me.

That's okay.

Would've done the
same thing for you.

- What?

What would you have done for me?

- I would've, I would've
done whatever I could.

That's it, just.

I just wish that.

I wanted to be a better dad.

- Yeah, me too.

- Well.

Take care of yourself.

- You, too.

- I mean it.

You take care of
yourself, all right, Ben?

Okay?

- You, too.

You, too.

- Marianne Karns
is here tonight, right?

- Yes.

- Okay, thanks.

- Dr. Trevor,
code four nine nine.

- Dr. Norris, dial
one eight two, please.

Dr. Forrest, please
dial one, one, eight.

- Hey.

Hey.

- Hi.

You see Ben?

- Ben yeah, I saw Ben.

I can't believe Ben is
almost 30 years old.

- Yeah, and Jenny
turns one in two weeks.

- You always wanted
a girl, right?

- Yeah, but two boys
was more than enough.

- I gotta go back soon.

Trial's not over, but
it will be over quick.

- PJ asked me for money a
while back to get you out,

I told him no.

Think it's worth it?

- I know Vic's never gonna
let me off the hook for it.

Never has.

But you know, I told
PJ not to ask you.

But yeah, I do, I do think
it's worth it, I mean now.

I haven't seen you in a year.

Now I've seen you and now
it's just me, I'm lonely.

- Oh, it's not just
you, it's everybody.

Things like this don't
just go away, Carl.

- I understand that, Marianne.

I mean, I know they
don't just go away.

- Dr. Travis.

- Good.

- All right, I gotta go.

- You're not even
gonna finish your food?

- Nah, I'm full.

Ben, it's me, PJ.

- What's up, buddy?

- Just wanted to tell you

that they're gonna read
the verdict on Thursday.

In case you wanna go.

- Okay.

I saw Dad.

- I know.

- He looks a lot older
with a beard, huh?

- Yeah.

I'm thinking about going
into the Police Academy.

- Hey, um.

I'll see you Thursday, okay?

- Okay.

- You okay?

- Yeah.

Things are okay.

- Okay.

- Hey.
- Hey.

- You think the river's
gonna freeze this winter?

- Freezes every winter.

- Temperature change
and everything, it
might be different.

- Maybe.

- You've been on time?

- Yeah.

You wanna tell me
something, Carl?

♪ You look like you
love somethin' ♪

♪ As if startin' all again

♪ They look like you
could start somethin' ♪

♪ If you'd only say where

♪ You should rest some

♪ Before you lie

♪ Just let me some rest some

♪ And then we'll drive

♪ The holy water

♪ It's turnin' blue

♪ Just like I need this

♪ If I need you

♪ A mile I'm hopin'

♪ Here I stand

♪ It's fine, we're hopin'

♪ And you take my hand

- Look at this guy.

Looks like he's makin' a muscle.

- You got that picture.

- Yeah, yep.

- Ben says
it's an ugly baby.

- Ben.

All babies are ugly,
they're born ugly.

Then you look okay
for about 40 years,

and then you start
to get ugly again,

that's just the way it goes.

- You sayin' I was ugly?

- You, well you're still ugly.

I gotta give you some shit.

- I get shit from
you, from Uncle Vic,

from Ben or from Amy.

I get shit from everybody.

- Yeah, well it's workin'.

See your head's still
screwed on tight.

- I graduate from the
academy next week.

- Congratulations.
- Thanks.

- Way to go.

Damn.

Where are they gonna put you?

- South City.

It's dangerous down there.

- Yeah, you better
watch your ass.

- I will.

Moving into an apartment.

Amy got a job
teaching at a school.

- Gonna get married?

- I don't know.

People tell me not to, you know.

- Yeah well, I guess
you wait and see,

wait and see how it goes.

Keep me posted.

- I will.

- Well, I mean,

this thing's gonna cut out
pretty soon, I hate that, so.

Keep writin' letters, all right?

Keep sending pictures,
the pictures are great.

- Okay.

- Oh, watch out for
that second one.

- Second what?

- Second kid.

It's always a bigger pain
in the ass than the first.

I swear, it's the truth.

- How do you know?

- All right.

I love you.

Be good.

♪ You feel the
lights of town fade ♪

♪ I traded out the retrograde

♪ I don't have much
but for what I saved ♪

♪ Now I'm headed home

♪ The wind is whistlin'
through the wing ♪

♪ No radio so I sing

♪ Yesterday feels like a dream

♪ Now I'm headed home

♪ I'm rollin' through
the dark of night ♪

♪ No one in sight

♪ This time I am flying

♪ The wheels above the ground

♪ The only sound is me
living now not dying ♪

♪ I love a girl who
brings good news ♪

♪ The color of her eyes
are changing blues ♪

♪ One true kiss I can't refuse

♪ Now I'm on my way

♪ Sending out my signal flare

♪ God thank you for
my answered prayer ♪

♪ Keep us safe
till I get there ♪

♪ Now I'm headed home

♪ Rollin' through
the dark of night ♪

♪ No one in sight

♪ This time I am flying

♪ Wheels above the ground
the only sound is me ♪

♪ Living now not dying

♪ Feel the lights of town fade

♪ Traded out the retrograde

♪ I don't have much
but what I saved ♪

♪ But now I'm headed home