Still Breathing (1997) - full transcript

(zapping sounds)

(classical music)

(jazz music)

(classical music)

- Much better.

I know you're in
there somewhere.

- [Rosalyn] There are
two things I always tried

to believe but couldn't.

One was that there's
a perfect man

waiting out there
for every woman.

The other was that true love



gives you happiness.

In real life, I spent so
many years dodging men

who were so much
less than perfect.

And when I did fall in love,

happiness never came.

So, I grew up and put
away those childish things

and finally stopped holding
my breath for a man.

(sirens)

(dogs barking)

(heavy breathing)

(man groans)

(mugger yells)

(gun fires)

- No!



(mugger yells)

(mugger groans)

(rock music)

- What can I get
for you tonight?

- Tequila. For everyone.

(phone ringing)

- [Operator] 911 Operator Six.

Is this an emergency?

- Yeah.
- Has there been an injury?

- There's a guy
hurt in the street.

- [Operator] A serious injury?

- Yeah, bad.

- [Operator] Is he conscious?

Is he still breathing?

- I don't know.
He's still alive.

- [Operator] Okay,
what is your location?

- Santa Monica and Formosa.

- [Operator] And were you
involved in the accident?

- No.
- Did you witness anything?

- Nothing.

[Operator] Your name, please?

- I got her.

(train horn)

(opera music)

- [Woman] God, American
men are so boring,

and Latin men have a certain

mystique, a sensuality, a...

How do you say "Je ne
sais crois" in Portuguese?

- Latin Americans
enjoy their life.

About that, there
can be no doubt.

- Ole!

- Ah, look, everybody,

I gotta get going.

- We should really
get going too.

- Oh, yes, we're going dancing.

Would the two of
you like to come?

- Well, I don't know.

- I really have to go home,

but could you walk
me to my truck?

I had to park down the street,

and it's a bad neighborhood.

- It's my pleasure.

- We'll drive you.

I gotta go potty first.

- [Woman] I'll go with you.

- Let me help you.

- [Brigitte] Mmm,
gracias, señor, por favor.

- [Tomas] Of course.

- Don't bother.

- No, it is my
pleasure to help you.

You're ill.

You know, uh, you're
very attractive to me.

- Not tonight, Tomas.

Bad timing.

- Another night?

- What about Brigitte?

- I think she wants
me for my money.

- I'm listed. R. Willoughby.

The R for Rosalyn.

On Sycamore.

(jazz music)

(radio/car turns off)

(flute music)

- [Voice] Formosa...

- [Fletcher] Map of the world...

Asia?

China? Taiwan?

Formosa. Formosa.

I'm in love with
a Chinese chick.

(flute music)

- [Girl/Woman] I have
something to tell you.

(phone rings)

- Yeah?

- [Tomas] Buenos dias, Rosalyn.

- Who is this?

Could this be Tomas?

(trumpet music)

- What?

- Something's changed.

You sound different.

- How?
- It's your tone.

What's her name?

- I don't know.

- You've pictured her, finally!

- And you know I don't
believe any of that stuff about

Dad's vision and
goin' off to find Mom.

- Your own grandfather picked
me out of a crowded streetcar.

Knew I had a mole on my back,

even though I was
wearin' a coat.

- Yeah, but you know,
maybe it was easier

to believe back then.

- Ohh, why don't we
play the Verdi now?

That oughta shake
somethin' loose.

(tuba blows)

(trumpet blows)

- Here's the wine list.
- Grazie.

- You know I have rules.

I insist we go dutch.

- It makes me very happy
to be generous to a woman.

And it makes you
very happy to have

a woman feel obligated later.

- No, no, this is not true.

You are a feminist, yes?

- I've just had some men take
advantage of me in the past.

- So, what does make you happy?

Well, my passion is...

abstract art.

- Wonderful! A collector.

- Oh, I wish.

It just means a lot to me.

- You must be very sensitive.

- I am.

- Oh, my! That's wonderful.

What's it say?

It says, "Welcome, great love."

But then again, it might say
somethin' about acupressure.

I'm not quite sure.

- Try one of these tamales.

you might be eatin'
one on that Great Wall

they got out there.

- I'm going to
Formosa, remember?

It's an island. There's no wall.

- Shut up and taste it.

Oh, your daddy would
love to see you today.

You know, he saw your
mother in a vision...

and drove all the way
to El Paso to find her.

- So I have been told...

About 5,294 times now.

- Let me see her again.

- Well, I filled the
hair in on that one.

And this one, she's
thinkin' up somethin'

really fantastic in her head.

I didn't really know how
to express it aside from

blowin' stuff out of her head.

Easily, this is the
closest approximation of--

- This one's got a
lot of character,

but she doesn't look Chinese.

- Tomas, I didn't know
you were so funny.

(Tomas laughs)

- You seem so...
- Yes?

- Sophisticated.

- Really?

Well, yes.

- So, Rosalyn, I want
you to be watch me play.

- Polo.

- Sure, polo. This Sunday.

I play the polo in Palm Springs.

- Well, I'd love
to see you ride,

but, right now, I have
car problems to deal with.

Can you believe what
new brakes cost?

It's all the driving
we do in L.A.

- I think I must take
you to pick up your car.

- Tomas, you're
such a gentleman.

- Hey.

- You know what?

The shop is right near
my favorite art gallery.

I will take you to see
a wonderful painting.

- Come on. Let's go.

Chop, chop.
- Yes.

(trumpet music)

- Whoa, dig it!

Clap the hands!

Hello, children. Love it.

- Boys, there's somethin'
I gotta tell you.

I'm going to China.

- Oh.
- Right.

- Rumor has it that
somebody that I'm gonna know

for a very, very long time
lives in Taiwan, China.

Have a look.

Now I know what
you're gonna say:

She doesn't look Chinese.

- You realize she's supposed
to have two matching eyebrows.

- That's right, this is
just an approximation.

Actual size and shape may vary.

- Oh, man, she's diverse.

Somethin' tells me this
chick likes a bowl, man.

I guarantee you.

- Now please, she's a bit odd,

but if this is the woman you're
supposed to be with, then...

You're just gonna have
to get used to her.

- Yeah, buddy.

She's the one.

- [Tomas] You can
feel what the artist

is feeling, can't you?

It's dark and tortured.

You can feel the assisted rage
that invokes that signature,

textual statement.

I'm learning great
art at her hand.

This is fascinating to me.

You, on first meeting, seemed
such a very tough woman.

Now with these paintings,
you are as any of them.

I think I must buy
this painting for you.

- Absolutely not, Tomas!

I could never accept that.

- I must insist.

- Tomas, I don't know you.

You don't know me.

- This is something
I want to do.

- This painting is $14,000.

- This is for you.

- [Usher] Thank you.

- And this is for...

- God, you never stop, do you?

- Well, unlike you
girls, I do have

other uses for the
opposite sex than cash.

We're good together, huh?
- Mm-hmm.

- Did you see the nail-down?

It was a thing of
wonder and beauty.

When you gave me that one look,

like I could have a shot at you?

Oh, that was a moment.

The testosterone was flowing!

He had to kick my ass.

He had to buy the painting.

He felt good about it.

- God bless testosterone.

- Fourteen grand.
Fourteen grand.

Hey, I almost peed in my pants.

I thought it was
supposed to be seven.

- I smelled fourteen.

- Good nose.

Hey, listen.

You're really, really somethin'.

I mean, I...
- Oh-ho-ho, forget it.

You're a breath
away from blowing

a fine professional
relationship.

- Oh, come on.

Hey, you break my heart,

I gotta find a
substitute, you know?

- So go fetch.

- [Phillip] Excuse me.

- You're just worrying about
closing that Tomas kid.

Forget it, you'll breeze him.

- Mmm, oh, I keep
having these dreams.

Keep thinking about green...

Ivy.

I'm lying in some ivy,

and I feel like a little girl...

And then I don't
know what happens.

- It's probably nothing.

- Oh, I keep waking
up with this like,

warm, peaceful feeling,

and then I realize who
I am and where I am

and it all runs away.

- Before I met
Raouf, I had a dream

about a Persian in a Mercedes.

- Now there's every
girl's fantasy.

- Now, Roz, don't knock it.

He became my second husband
for eight glorious months

before we split under
very lucrative terms.

- Marrying them for their money

seems so old-fashioned.

- Sometimes old-fashioned works.

That's why it was in
fashion for so long.

- Do you ever think
you could, like,

meet someone and fall in love

and marry them for love?

- Oh, God, Roz, really.

- It does happen.

- Have you ever known
anyone to actually

be in love for
longer than 90 days?

- You? Your mother?

Aunts?

Girls you grew up with? Anyone?

- It's impossible, and perfectly

good women attach themselves
to pigs for an eternity

on the basis of 90 days
of hormonal imbalance.

- It's not that dark.

- Money, connections,

real estate, gene pool,
short life expectancy.

Those might be reasons.

Not love.

- Yeah, I guess...

- What's wrong with you?

- Oh, I have to do that
close tomorrow, and...

All for seven lousy bills
that doesn't last me

a couple of months.

- You'll do fine.

Are you sure you're
feeling okay?

- Mmm, still breathing.

- That's all that matters.

Now do good, and remember:

They always deserve it.

(phone hangs up)

(piano music)

(doorbell rings)

- Hello, my dear.

- Oh, Tomas, what nice roses.

- You're welcome.

- Thank you.

And you look so nice.

- But you are not ready.

- I tried to tell
you on the phone

I feel just horrible tonight,

but I still want to see you.

I thought maybe we could
stay here and order in?

Watch cable?

- Well, of course.

I will take care of you.

- Thank you.

- Ah, there is your
beautiful painting.

- I love it so.

- Yes, it looks
so fantastic here.

- Thank you again
for buying it for me.

It was so extravagant.

- It was my pleasure to spend

a great deal of money on you.

- Yeah, what do you want to eat?

And this time, you
must let me pay.

- I have no preference.

- How about Japanese?

Japanese food builds
your natural antibodies.

I've been reading that.

- [Man] Tokyo Garden.

- Hello? Hi.

I'd like to place an order.

- [Man] Yes, ma'am.

- A number seven,

a number 14.

A California roll.

- [Man] Address, please?

- 247 South Sycamore.

- Sycamore?
- That's right.

- Right away.
- Thanks.

- [Man] Thank you.

- Tomas, I'm sorry.

I told you I don't feel well.

- Forgive me, I am carried away.

You're ill.

- Yes, I am.

- Let me help you.

- You know, I'm achy all over.

I just want to sit on the couch.

- Can I get you something?

A pill?

- Aspirin.

It's in the cabinet
in the bathroom.

- Right away.

- You will feel better.

I do not see it!

- I must have left
it in the bedroom.

I'll get it.

- No! No.

(sniffs)

(clank)

Que?

- You found it.

My bedroom is such a mess.

- I did not think
so, you are sick.

- It's so wonderful that
you're here tonight.

I need someone
here, I really do.

- I'm so sorry you are sick.

- I've been praying that someone

like you would come into
my life, and then I met you

and no matter what I said,

you insisted on
buying that painting.

I can't believe somebody
could care about me that much.

You must need someone too.

- I'm sorry.

I forgot, uh, I need
to make a phone call.

- It's on the desk.

- Hello, Eduardo?

I received a message from you
that there is something wrong?

What is wrong?

There has been a
break-in at the house?

This is outrageous!

I must go back to
Buenos Aires tomorrow.

I must leave now, I guess,

and talk to the police
about my belongings.

Yes.

Yes, I will leave now.

- What's wrong?

("Old Man Mose" by
Louis Armstrong)

- You speak English?

You're very beautiful.

Will you come to
America with me?

(upbeat horn music)

- What I know is sketchy.

I know he's not too old,

and the family money comes

from the gas and oil business.

- Texas.

- I know that he owns
several shopping malls,

and, um, he's getting
into high-tech,

interactive something or other.

Oh, yeah.

He's eccentric and odd in a
thoroughly uninteresting way.

- Does he save his toenail
clippings like the last one?

- I'm sure it's
something like that.

I tried to get out of
this court date, I can't.

- We'll give you the next one,

and this way, you get your cut

and don't have to get
within groping distance.

- Ooh.

No, right?

Or maybe.

- Oh, that's fabulous.

- [Rosalyn] So what's the play?

- It's like this.

Texas boys like
their girls purty.

Big hair, lots of makeup.

Oh, honey, they
just love makeup.

They're my specialty,
after Persians.

- Can't be that hard.

He's a man; I'm a woman.

You act like they bore
you; they chase you.

You seem to like
'em; they leave.

- It's not that it's hard.

It's just the better the
play, the better the back end

and the more money
for you and moi.

- Well, what's his name?

- It's the one
thing I don't know.

- Elaine!

I'm renegotiating.

(thunder)

* You lie to me

* And think about the girls

* And never, ever think

* Of counting sheep

* When your lonely heart

* Has learned its lesson

* You'd be his

* If only he would call

* In the wee

* Small hours of the morning

* That's the time

* You miss him most

* All along

(thunder)

(piano music)

- [Boy] Your knee,
it's bleeding.

- [PA] Attention please.

China Airways Flight
955 from Los Angeles

to Taipei has been delayed.

- Excuse me, ma'am, can I
borrow this for a moment?

- I got her.

- Yeah. I'm right outside.

Yes, will you stop worrying?

Well how many rich, young,
eccentric, pathetic Texans

can be in the Formosa
on a Tuesday afternoon?

- Hey, bud?

Where's your phone at?

- That way, around corner.

- Thanks.
- You a Texan?

How you doin'?

- Oh, can't complain.

Hopin' my date shows up.

- Same here.
- Where you from?

- San Antonio.

- Ah, good deal, San Angelo.

Trav Maltzberger.
- How you doin'?

Fletcher McBracken.

- Pleased to meet you, Fletcher.

- Likewise.
- See you around.

- All right, good one.

Have a good day.

- Damn.

Excuse me, sir.

- I was wondering if you
have seen this woman.

- No.

- No?

- How 'bout this woman?

- Nope.

- It's actually the same woman,

but does this look familiar?

- No, huh?

It could be this one.

It could be any one of these.

- No.

Are you related to this woman?

- Uh, actually, well, not quite

yet exactly, but I was hoping...

- Sorry.

- Cuervo?

- No, iced coffee
with a straw, please.

- Hi.

Do I know you?

- I think so.

Maybe?

- Are you here to meet someone?

- Yes, ma'am.

- {Rosalyn] So am I.

- I'm thinking it could be you.

- Yeah?

- Are you from Texas?

- Sure.

- Well, here I am.

- This...

I'm sorry, this is
a little odd for me.

- Oh, listen. It's okay.

Don't read anything into it.

- I, I was just on my way
over from the west side,

and I thought you might
need a welcome-to-LA drink.

- Thank you very much.

That's very, very
friendly of you to...

- Um, My God, you're
so familiar to me.

- I'm Roz.

- I'm Fletcher.

- Well, It's great to meet you.

I'm just on my
way to the marina.

- You're leaving?

- I just had time
to pop in, I just...

- It's so nice to
meet a man from Texas.

- What if I'm full of surprises?

If you leave, you
might miss 'em.

- I'm not surprised by much.

- You can't go.

We have a lot to talk about.

- Well, I guess I
could make a call.

- Yeah?
- Elaine.

- Roz!
- Hi.

I'm hung up here.

- You got him?

- I think so.

Well listen, I'll
catch up to you later.

I really want you to see this
new painting I'm working on.

- Okay. Bye.

- Bye.

- I'm all yours.

- Anyway, this is
Sycamore Avenue.

- Uh-huh.

- I live just back there.

- Beautiful trees.

- Mmm, pretty.

They lose their leaves.

That's how we know it's winter.

I wonder what kind they are.

- Oh, they're sycamore trees.

- I get it. Sycamores.

Sycamore Avenue.

I'm learning things
from you already.

- I must be the man
you're waitin' for.

I know all these
useful things about

the names of trees and the like.

- Hey, look up.

No, keep walkin'.

Take my arm.

It's kind of scary,
sort of like jumpin'

with your eyes closed.

So did I hear you say
somethin' about a painting?

- Yes. I paint.

I'm one of those starving
artists you hear about.

- Really?

I-I'd love to see your work.

- You like art?

- Oh, yeah! Um...

- I, uh, I'm an artist.

I stack rocks.

- Really?

- Yeah. They're
these, um, cairns...

These monument kind of things.

- What you do is, you
get a bunch of rocks,

- and you stack 'em up...

- and you cram stuff
in the cracks...

and it's like a work of art.

Do you want to see?

- Sure.
- Come here.

Sit down.

Well, first things first.

First I'm gonna
have to get my Elvis

rock-stackin' swamp
mojo lined up here.

We-ell.

And I'm gonna need your hand.

(classical music)

Ta-da.

- It's beautiful.

- See, I made it,

but I didn't make it.

I mean I didn't make
the rocks, but...

I arranged them
according to this moment.

And... And the
shape of your hand

informed the way that it grew.

Look at it.

- I see it.

- I mean really.

Look at it.

See, it's got kind
of a shape in there

that goes down and then around,

and if you look at it
with one eye maybe,

you can see a face.

Maybe some lips or some eyes.

Well, say good-bye.

Couldn't last forever.

- No.

Well, uh...

Why don't you tell me
about San, whatever?

- San Antonio.
- San Antonio.

Is it nice?

- Is it nice?

Yeah, it's nice.

It's, uh...

Well, it's its
own world, really.

Every time I leave
there and I come back,

I get the feeling that I'm
comin' back to somethin' that

I haven't really
discovered anywhere else.

It's, um, it's kind of hard
to explain in words, really.

It's like an old
woman who's lived

long enough to know who she is.

There's ghosts there.

I mean really, there
are, and if you listen,

you can hear them
at night partying,

havin' a great old time.

- Sounds amazing.

- Well, most people who go
there would probably just see

the mini-malls, the
potholes in the streets

and a lot of lawns
that need waterin',

but the really cool
stuff's hidin' out.

I mean, you really have to
know where to look for it.

- Well, I like it here.

- It fits you.

- Is that like an insult?

- Uh, no, it isn't.

I'm just...

- I don't think L.A. fits me.

I just said I like it.

- Well, I like it too.

- So, I guess you're
here on business.

- Well, actually, I was, uh,

I was goin' to China,

but I decided to
stay here instead.

- That makes no sense to me.

- Well, let's just
say that there

really wasn't any
reason for me to go.

- I guess you're really
worried about your

business, being out of
the country and all.

- Oh, not really, my
grandmother's left
in charge of that.

It'll be all right.

- That's unusual.

- Well, no, she's not
senile or anything,

but she's quit
playin' jazz lately--

(dog barks)

- No!

Are you okay?

- Now I know why I
don't walk in L.A.

- Your knee.

- I'm fine. I'm fine.

- It's bleeding.

- Oh, my God.

- What? I...

- It's so weird
that you did that.

- What? I just...

Is your knee okay?

- Why did you do that?

- I don't know. I just did it.

- Why did you do that?

- I just, I did it.

Is there somethin' wrong?

- Nothing.

- I'm not in China.

I'm in Los Angeles.

- [Ida] Los Angeles?
What happened?

- Well, I found her!

She's here.

- You found her!?

Is she a California girl?

- Yes, ma'am.

- [Ida] Does she like you?

- Well, I...

It's kind of hard to figure.

The way she talks,
I get the feelin'

that she knows me or somethin'.

- [Operator] Operator,
may I help you?

Hello?

May I help you?

- Oh, no, there's...

We're...

Nothing. Thanks.

- [Operator] Operator.
City of listing?

- Hollywood.

The Roosevelt Hotel.

- [Operator] Please
hold for the number.

Area code 21355--

(phone beeps)

- Hello.

- Uh, hi.

Roz?

- [Rosalyn] Who's this?

- Fletcher.

- Oh. Hi.

How are you?

- [Fletcher] I'm
good, h-how are you?

- How did you get my number?

- [Fletcher] I dialed 411,
and I said across the street,

Sycamore and Willoughby.

They gave me the number.

They were really helpful.

- Um, look, Fletcher,

I'm just on my way out the door.

- [Fletcher] I was
wondering if maybe

I could persuade you--

- I'm-I'm going to meet

a friend at the Formosa.

- Just a minute.

Now listen, there's somethin'
we need to talk about,

about you fallin' down
and hurtin' your knee.

We should get together and...

and talk about this.

It's important.
- You could meet me there.

- Oh.yeah, good.

- Shit.

- I'll do that.

- So, Roz says that
you're from Texas.

- San Antonio.

- I drove through
Texas once, fast.

It took forever.

- Oh, it's a drive.

- Yeah, just out
there on the 10 East,

you know what I mean?

You just drive, and then you run

into all that weird shit.

They're all out there
in their mobile homes.

- Fletcher's on
his way to China.

He just thought he'd hang
out in LA for a few days.

- Oh, China? Cool.

- Actually, my
travel plans changed.

I got some bad information.

Had to cancel my trip.

I figured rather than headin'
back to my double-wide,

I'd see what the big
city could teach me.

- Cool.

- I'm missin' somethin'
I think I can find here.

- So, what do you want to drink?

- [Fletcher] A beer
would be great, thanks.

- Philip? Another?
- Hey.

- You boys stay put.

It's my treat.

- So how long have
you known Rosalyn?

- Oh, God, since, uh...

We went to Parsons
together, an art school.

But she's the artist.

I manage a gallery,
do some consulting.

East Coast.

- Yeah, yeah she mentioned
that she painted.

- Yeah, she's killer.

Very, very private.

- Totally...

Primal.

- Kind of Klee meets
Rousseau, in a femme,

West Coast vein, you
know what I mean?

Yeah, Well, she's about
to happen, major happen.

She just needs a break.

- She's somethin' special.

- We've known each other
for a long time now.

More than lovers, really.

Partners.

- Well, drink up, boys.

There might be a giant, fiery
meteor headed right for us.

You don't want to leave any
in your glass.

- A meteor?

Hell, if there was a
meteor comin', I'd get me

a reclinin' chair and make
sure I had one of them

drinks with a little
umbrella in it.

(laughing) Right.
Good to go.

Come on, baby, bring it on.

- You ready to end it all?

- Well, if you're
goin', I'm goin'.

- Oh, Fletcher.

You are positively gloomy.

It must come from hangin' out
with all those prairie dogs.

(Phil howls)

- May I ask you
a question, Phil?

And you don't have to answer
it if you don't want to.

Do you think that every last
thread of intelligent life

is chosen to huddle in
either New York or LA?

Or do you really believe that

that this soulless
sinkhole has anything to do

with real-life humanity,
namely, integrity,

compassion, dignity?

You know what?

Don't answer that, Phil.

Let me just give
you some advice.

Next time you're
drivin' through Texas,

you better stay clear of
all the trailer parks,

and if you are
drivin' through Texas,

why don't you do it fast?

Real, real fast.

Well, I've had fun.

- Fletcher.

Would you take me home?

- Whoa! Great place.

- Thanks.

- Yeah.

Are these yours?

- Just some prints I'm studying.

- Yeah?

- I don't keep my own
work lying around.

I'm in kind of a down
period right now.

- Uh-huh, uh-huh.

You must be pretty
serious about this.

- My next project is a sort of
performance-art touring piece

I've been working on.

I've been trying to get a grant,

but it's impossible.

I've got the spaces lined up
and the curators are chomping

at the bit, but
there's no money.

- Well, um...

Maybe, uh...

Maybe I could help you, somehow.

- Really?
- Sure.

Que eso?

- Hostility relief.

You live in this town,
you got to have something

or you go out of your mind.

- Are you going to make
me stand with my back

against the wall,
blindfolded with a cigarette

in my mouth?

- Only if you beg.

- Will you please make
me stand against the wall

with my back to the wall
with the blindfold on

and the cigarette
right in my mouth?

- You want a drink?

So I don't know a lot
about what you do.

Is business good in Texas?

- Uh, can't complain. It's...

It's, uh, seasonal.

- [Rosalyn] And your grandmother
is running your office?

- My gran...

Uh, no, actually.

You know, I don't really have...

Cool...

An office, I'm, uh, I'm working
out of my house right now.

- It's really a gorgeous place.

You should see it,
it's very special.

- Wave of the future: Phone,
fax, net, work at home,

leave to play.

- Thanks.

You seem to know a great
deal about business.

A lot of the sort of
creative types that

I know are, well,
generally unaware.

- Well, I like to keep up
with the way the world runs.

My work is kind of
about money and greed

and ambition and success.

- The basic human desires.

- The bare necessities.

- Rosalyn, I think you
need to get out of LA

for a little while.

- Too late.

- It's funny, 'cause...

I have this terribly
archaic notion that

art should be about beauty,

and passion and...

Well, redefining an imperfect
world in a perfect way.

- Oh God, we did away
with that years ago.

We seem to have gotten away
from our earlier theme.

- Which was?

- Flirting.

- Didn't we do away
with that years ago too?

- There's been a revival.

(sensual music)

You wanna look at pictures?

- Sure, yeah.

I seem to be gaining a whole
new perspective on the rococo.

- Did, uh, did we, uh,

just blow right past the
flirting portion of the evening?

-Uh huh.

You're trembling.

- Sweetie.

This isn't how I imagined it.

- What?

- I don't want to rush it.

- Isn't that my line?

- Why don't I just
come back tomorrow?

Maybe we could start again.

We could get some lunch, or...

- You don't want me.

- No, I really...

I do want you.
- No, you don't.

- No, I do, This is just too
important for me to screw up.

Do you, um...

Do you like chocolate?

I do.

(classical music)

Imagine if you
could have the most

perfect piece of
chocolate in the world.

Say you went to
Switzerland and you got

it there, where
they invented it.

What would you do?

Would you just gobble it
down right there and then,

or would you maybe wait
a little bit, you know?

Find a perfect place,
light a candle,

put on some music.

I don't know, maybe
some Bessie Smith...

or the soundtrack
to "Viva Las Vegas"

and then, when
everything was perfect,

then you would savor it as
if it was the last thing

you would ever eat.

- You are so...

Weird.

- This is really not easy
for me to talk about.

- What are you talking about?

- This.

It's true.

(classical music)

- I have a dream.

- Come on Roz, don't
worry about it.

Everybody slips.

- I couldn't believe it.

I was like an amateur.

He made me so mad.

I'm gonna get him.

- That's sad.

You used to enjoy your work.

- Well, I'm gonna enjoy this.

No one plays with
my head like that.

("Sittin' Up at Night"
by Augie Meyers)

- I'm takin' you home.

- I'll take you home.

- No, I mean back to Texas.

There's an airplane that
leaves in an hour and a half.

We're gonna be on it.

- What about lunch?

- We can eat at my house.

I got some tamales
in the fridge.

- I'm not going to Texas.

(mellow music)

- Come on in.

This is it.

This is where I grew up.

- You live here alone?

- Uh-huh. Yeah.

- Chinese?

- Oh, uh, that.

That's left over from a
Chinese New Year's party we had

in the Year of the Rooster,

I think it was.

I'll take that down later.

I like girls.

- How old-fashioned of you.

- Who's this?

- Oh, that. Um...

That's an art project
I'm workin' on.

- Collage.

- I think you have some
very deep-seated problems.

- I saw this face in a dream.

- A dream?

- Mm-hmm.

Does that...

Does that sound peculiar to you?

- Yes.

- Well, it's just sort
of what she looks like.

- Hmmmm....

- This is the Ida room,

after my grandma, Ida.

This is my favorite part.

- An air conditioner?

- To the casual observer,

but, to an enlightened few,
a personal serenity device.

(device clicks on)

Just smell that musty, cold air.

Spins a cocoon, magically,

and makes everything seem as
if the world doesn't matter.

- Did it ever?

- Well...

So, well, where would you
like to sleep tonight?

- Where are you sleeping?

- Well, that would depend
on what kind of mood I'm in.

Lately I've been

favoring the piano.

I'm kind of in a firm phase.

- Really?

- [Fletcher] Yeah.

It gives you the best dreams.

- So what kind of mood do you
think you'll be in tonight?

- Oh, that would all depend.

- Well,

you've got me where you want me.

Now what?

- You must be tired
from the trip.

I should tell you, I
have a devious plan.

- Are you gonna
try to seduce me?

- In an ultimate kind of way.

- Oh, my.

- Are you shocked?

- No.

I kinda made some
plans about you too.

- Are you being tender?

- Don't be mean.

- No, I mean, don't
misunderstand me.

I mean, I like you, tender.

(classical music)

- Must be the personal
serenity device.

- Close your eyes.

Be still.

Breathe.

Again.

This part, right here,

is especially wonderful.

You're so nice.

- I'm really not.

- Yes, you are.

I can see everything.

- [Cameron] No way!
- It's true.

- You brought her back here?

Oh, you are the king, man.

Oh, I can't even process that!

- I mean, all I did
was turn around,

and there she was,
smilin' at me.

- Did you give her
the John Wayne?

- This is reality, man.

This is not the movies.

- Oh, yeah, well, th-that's
exactly what's wrong

with the world today
is, is way too much

reality happening.

Oh, speakin' of that,
Ramon called today.

- Oh.

- Yeah, he said
that girl down in

South Flores isn't
gettin' any better,

and he wanted to know if we'd
come by and give her a show.

(knocking)
- Roz?

- Yeah.

- Hi. You're awake.

Well, you are now.

Um, listen, something
just came up that

I need to go do.

Do you wanna come?

- Oh, sure.

Um, I think I'll just
change my clothes.

- Okay. All right.

- Well, hello.

- Roz, I would like you
to meet my friend Cameron.

- Well.

- Hello.

- Hey. Hi.

- Hi.
- How are, ueah.

So you're here.

- Oh, you just...

Well, you're just visitin'.

This is a good place to live.

My grandma came here...

She's a pistol, this one.

Nude half the day...

- Cameron, Cameron?
- She wasn't from here.

The other half she's clothed.

I mean, she's not a nude granny.

- Cameron, we should
probably get goin'.

- You gonna...

You drivin'?

- No, you're gonna
take a bike, right?

Right?

- Oh! Yo!

I'm bikin', right!

That's why I got the
bike, is to bike.

- And we'll see you there.

- Occasionally, I
will ride my bike,

and this is...

This is one of the occasions.

- We'll see ya there.

- All right. Okay.

I'll see you there.
- Right this way.

- Nice to meet you.

- That's crazy, man.

(jazz music)

(Cameron pretending to bark)

(crowd applauds)

(woman speaks foreign language)

- Uh, I'm sorry.

I don't speak...

- She wanted to thank
you for what you did.

- Oh, I didn't do anything.

(woman speaks foreign language)

- She says your boyfriend
is very wonderful.

(Spanish music)

- That was nice, what you did.

- I get more out
of it than they do.

- You fit here.

(Fletcher chuckles)

How long have you been
doing those puppets?

- Oh...

a while.

- You have some talent.

- Thank you.

My father used to do it.

I'd always figured it'd give
me something to fall back on

if that career in
nuclear physics

didn't exactly work out.

- There you go, being sensible.

So, show me your town.

Where do you hang out?

What's your favorite spot?

- My favorite spot.
- Yeah.

All right.

(bells ringing)

- This is it.

- It's a window.

- It's got a story.

- Okay. Tell me.

(blows)

- Long time ago,
there was a craftsman

who worked with stone,
and he was commissioned

by the church to build a window.

He fell in love with a
girl who sang in the choir.

Her name was Rosa.

But before they could be
married, she became ill,

and she died.

And all he was left with

was this window.

And he must have spent
every waking hour for years

carving it for her.

And that's why it's
called the Rose window.

- I'm sorry for them.

- Well, at least he found her.

You know, most people never
do find that person, I think,

that makes them feel whole.

(guitar music)

So, here we are, all
these years later,

talking about them.

- I think he'd be glad
you told his story today.

- You know, I guess he would.

- That little girl we saw...

what was wrong with her?

- I think they said it was
some kind of heart condition.

- Is she going to be okay?

- I don't think so.

- The mother and the father,

they were holding hands
I was watching them...

and that kiss was so sweet.

I didn't know what...

- Roz, if you were going,

who would you want
to kiss you good-bye?

- What do you mean?

If I were dying?

- Uh huh.

Whose eyes would you
want to look into last?

- Who says I would want to?

- You'd want to be alone?

- Yeah, maybe I would.

No.

I know who I'd want
to kiss good-bye.

- Who?

- That little girl.

I'd tell her a few things
about surviving in the world.

I'd kiss her good-bye
and get on with it.

(slow jazz music)

(bells ringing)

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- Coffee?

- You're still here.

- So, you like to
sleep on the table.

- Yeah.

- With a nice, soft,
comfortable, air-conditioned

personal serenity
device upstairs?

- You make it sound like heaven.

- It could be.

- Okay. Ah...

Um, hmm...

It's time I told you.

- What?

- Um, it's about the thing.

There's something you gotta
understand before, um,

we can proceed.

- Okay.

- Do you dream?

- No, never.

It's bad for you.

- I do.

My whole family does.

It's a family trait.

The men especially.

We dream about women,

or, to be more specific,
we dream about...

Our true love.

Dad dreamt about Mom right
after he wrecked his motorcycle

somewhere down on
Southwest Military.

Cracked his head pretty hard,

but he was always
wreckin' things.

- Were they dating?

- No. You see, that's the thing.

He'd never even met her.

She was in El Paso somewhere,
and she was engaged

to this guy who owned
an auto body shop,

Well...

He went and he found her.

It was the same
thing with Granddaddy

and with his father too.

I mean, not the
part about wrecking

things and smacking
your head up,

but the vision.

- What are you saying?

You had a dream?

- But I didn't hit my head.

(knocking)

- It's open.

Hi.

- Hey, is this where
I deliver the beer?

- Uh-huh.
- What beer?

- The beer for the party.

- What party?

(Dixieland band music)

- So the guys are
fightin' in the Alamo.

The Duke's in the Alamo.

What are they eatin'?

They're showin' 'em
eatin' chicken, sausages,

some kinda pastrami.

They never show
'em with a tamale.

The tamale has
never seriously ever

been represented
in American cinema.

- Oh, he is so right.

- Excuse us. Pardon me.

I want you to meet someone.

Hey, Tree! Over here.

- This is the Tree Man.

He's a friend of ours, but
no one knows his real name.

He takes his tree with
him everywhere he goes.

- Hey, Tree, come
here, what's up?

- What's up babe, hey.

- This is Roz.

She's my friend from California.

- Hi.

- Tree's a musician,

plays the saxophone.

- Where do you play?

- Um, inside myself.

- Really?

- That's where the
notes lay, see.

- When you get all
them colors together,

music comes out really
sweet, you know?

Yeah, buddy.

- So, what is it that
you do in California?

- I'm a fine art consultant.

- Oh, isn't that interestin'?

- Yes, it is.

- Would you excuse us?

- Uh, I'll be over
here if you need me.

- All your friends
are staring at me

like I'm some kind of a freak.

What did you tell them?

- Nothing.

- It's bugging me.

- Did you see her face?

- She's a lovely Chinese girl.

- Her English is good.

- Ida, hey!

- Oh, thank you.
- Oh sure.

- Hi, Ida.
- Oh, hi!

My favorite lawyer. Thank you.

My word!

You're beautiful.

- Uh, thank you.

- You're welcome.
What's your name?

- Rosalyn, or Roz.

- I'm Ida.

- Well, I know you and
Fletcher are friends,

but you watch out
for my grandson.

His imagination is enlarged.

- And where do you
think I got that?

She think's she's hard-boiled,

but she has a real soft center.

- Folks, Ida has a little number

she's gonna do with the band,

something she's arranged.

- Thank you, Jim.

This is a little something

from Chopin for my grandson.

Just for you, Fletcher.

(slow band music)

(crowd applauds)

- Yeah, that was
Ida's arrangement of
some longhair music.

It's nice to hear you
play jazz again, Ida.

Okay, now somethin' special.

All you kids, come on up.

All the kids.

- Well, that would be my cue.

(drum roll)

(jazz music)

- He's so good.

- Everyone knows him
down on the plaza.

- What do you mean?

- Well, just ask any tourist

who's ever been to San Antonio--

- They all say, "That guy with
the puppets on Alamo Plaza,

he is the best I've ever seen."

- He's a street performer.

- Hi.

You all right?

- Oh, yeah, I'm fine.

- Can we just visit, you and I?

- Sure.

- You're quite the
excitement around here.

See, everybody's just
clamoring to meet you.

- Or at least some
idea of who I am.

- I know just how you feel.

Well, you resent it at first,

and then it'll all come clear.

- I prefer things
a little blurry.

These things wouldn't
make it through

the first earthquake in LA.

- Oh. They're cairns, you know.

- What is their function?

- Remembering.

Remembering things you
never want to forget.

I built that one.

Oh, it's been there
a long time now.

- What's it for?

- In 1946, I lost my...

my baby girl.

I slept out here on the porch

all that summer and that fall.

I just had to be alone.

And finally, I built the cairn.

- I'm sorry.

- It's all right.

There's pain and joy
in all our lives.

Nobody ever told
us any different.

Next year, Fletcher's
father was born.

He wouldn't let go of my hair!

Come on.

Let me show you my old house.

- Why don't you still live here?

- Oh, well, this is
Fletcher's time now.

I have a lovely jacalita
down on the river.

That's a little Mexican house.

Here are Fletcher's
little books.

We made them together.

You know, they mark the
special times and places.

For instance, here's his first
trip to the coast, and...

Oh, he loved the HemisFair!

That was the World's
Fair here in San Antonio.

I think my favorite is
this little zoo book.

Find the polar bears
and the elephant.

(soothing music)

He thought they were hot.

I guess they were.

It's wonderful, isn't it?

- Yes.

- I know it's more of a curse

than a blessing.

- What?

- Being smart and what
people call "beautiful."

I'm not bragging, but in my day,

I was considered quite a catch.

I don't think I ever met a man

I felt could outsmart
me or out think me.

Those silly creatures
did bore me.

Oh, it does cause quite
a fuss, that combination.

Smart and beautiful...

But it's mostly in your own gut.

See, the problem is

you stop believing...

That he could be out
there waiting for you.

- Who?

- Your true love.

Don't you know?

My dear.

- This is a mistake.

I'm not...

- [Ida] Not what?

- Right.

I'm sorry.

- Roz?

- What?
- It's me.

Hey, is somethin' wrong?

- Nothing's wrong,
I don't feel well.

- Well, come on, open the door.

There's somethin'
wrong, I know you.

- You don't know me.

You don't know
anything about me,

and just because you think
you dreamed me up or saw me

in some kind of vision--

- I did.

- Well, it isn't me, okay?

You don't know me or
what makes me happy.

You actually think I'm gonna

fall in love with you
and your musty old house,

and your corny music and
your oddball cracker friends?

- Yeah.

What about last Friday?

Where were you last
Friday, midnight...

10 o'clock, LA?

Ring a bell?

That's when I saw you.

- What did you see?

- What did I see?

I saw a man,

a gun, and you,

and I became very frightened

and I cried out, and then
things got very peaceful.

and this face stuck
right in my head

and it was yours.

Next morning, I get
this word: Formosa.

You tel me, Roz.

- I don't know who you
are or what your game is,

but it's over.

- Look, Roz, I know you.

We belong to each other.

- You have an idea of
who you think I am.

Y-You're wrong,
you're just wrong.

You don't know.

- You know, I can see the
person who you really are,

not this person who
you are pretending

to be because
something went wrong.

- I just can't be
the person you want.

It's too late.

- I don't want to change you.

I like you just the way you are.

- How can you like
me the way I am?

How can you possibly
like me the way I am!?

- I believe in you.

- Well, believing
doesn't make it true,

and believing in me doesn't
make me worth believing in.

- How can you be that dead
inside that you can't see it

and you can't feel it?

Roslyn, you know I'm him.

Look at me!

(dramatic music)

- Look, my coming
here and pretending

to be nice to you,
it was an act.

- I thought you
were someone else;

I thought you had money.

Give me your keys.

(Conrad whistles)

- [Rosalyn] Hi, this is
Rosalyn, and, whatever.

You know what to do.
(phone beeps)

- [Elaine] Roz, it's Elaine.

Um, you know,

you're gonna wanna kill me,

but, uh, my setup
guy called today.

and he said, "Why didn't
your friend meet my friend

at the Formosa
Cafe the other day?"

I said, "What are
you talking about?

"She's, like, in
Texas with him now,"

and he said, "No, she's not.

I saw him this morning,
and he never met anyone."

and I said, "Why wouldn't you

give me his name, you moron?"

Well, I don't know who this
Fletcher guy is, but, um,

at least, you know,
from what you said,

he seemed nice.

Hello?

(cars honking)

- Yeah, I'll take two
weeks off every year,

go to Havaii, no matter
what's happening.

I don't own three companies

to be a slave to
'em, you get me?

I live it up.

I don't care who knows it.

You know those courses on Maui?

Gotta love 'em.

I think there are some
people who really, really

want to work themselves
to freakin' death.

Not me.

So, you, uh, you
ever been to Havaii?

- Hmm? Sure.

- I'll tell ya what,

If you wanna have the
time of your life,

I'll take you with me next week,

first class all the way.

- Gee, it's nice
of you to offer.

There are two things I
always wanted to believe in

but didn't dare.

One is that there is

one man, somewhere,

who was made just for me.

The other is that I just...

might...

deserve him.

("Still Breathing"
by Rita Springer)

- Oh, man, that's crazy.

That is not the way it works

in any love film I've ever seen.

I mean, the clouds part,
the birds are singin',

the toes are curlin'
up on these people.

- Cameron, what do movies
have to do with real life?