The Rum Diary (2011) - full transcript

♪ Volare

♪ Oh, oh

♪ Cantare

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh

♪ Let's fly way up
to the clouds

♪ Away from
the maddening crowds

♪ We can sing in the glow
of a star that I know of

♪ Where lovers enjoy
peace of mind

♪ Let us leave the confusion

♪ And all disillusion behind

♪ Just like
birds of a feather



♪ A rainbow together
we'll find

♪ Volare

♪ Oh, oh

♪ E cantare

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh

♪ No wonder
my happy heart sings

♪ Your love
has given me wings ♪

(AlRPLANE SOARlNG OVER)

(GRUNTS)

(SlGHS)

(AlRPLANE APPROACHlNG)

(KNOCKlNG ON DOOR)

Who is it?
MAN: Room service.

ls it eggs?



l don't know, sir.
l didn't order it.

You want some
water with that?

No, no.
No, l don't.

Looks like you
had a night.

They look perfect.

Get out.

l intended to bring that
to the attention
of a member of staff.

l had some difficulty
getting it to open.

lt's the little key
on the door key, sir.

Right.

l was looking for
some nuts.

l tend to avoid alcohol.

When l can.

(SPEAKlNG SPANlSH)

l don't speak Spanish.

Cuatro cincuenta.
No change.

(MUTTERlNG)

(CROWD CLAMORlNG)

(SPEAKlNG SPANlSH)

(FEEDBACK SCREECHES)

(SPEAKlNG SPANlSH)

(SHOUTlNG lN SPANlSH)

No, no, no, no,
you're not listening.

l said the Pirates,
not the Yankees.

lt's going to be
Roberto's year,
l'm telling you.

Looking for Mr. Lotterman.

End of the room.

No, no, the Pirates.

You guys are going
to be all over.

lt's Roberto
Clemente, man.

And by the way, l
want to talk about. . .

LOTTERMAN: Not now!

He's having
the Friday crisis.

You Kemp?
Yeah.

He was expecting you
yesterday.

We had some weather.

Yeah, l heard.

Big snow in New York.

He's still on a call.
You want some coffee?

No, thanks.

What's all the fuss
out front?

You came
in the front?

We don't use that door.

Not when los jibaros
pitch up.

What do they want?

l don't know.

Some fucked idea
of a living wage.

They've been out there
on and off for months.

By the way,
my name's Sala.

Bob Sala,
staff photographer.

Pleased to meet you, Bob.

Yeah.

He's off.

You might want to try
another subservient knock.

Yeah.

Kemp.

Don't notice the wig.

LOTTERMAN:
Yeah. What?

lf you're
who l think you are,
you better sit down.

You find it
a little bright in here?

l'd take them off,
but l have
a medical condition.

What do you mean,
you're blind?

Conjunctivitis, sir.

The old red eye, huh?

(CHUCKLES)

You arrive at a very,
very trying time, Mr. Kemp.

One of those days
stacking up.

So, uh, why don't we cut
through the niceties

and just get
right to it, huh?

That's how
l like to proceed.

Okay.
Your resume here.

(SPlTS)

Very impressive CV.

Yeah.

You worked your way up
some interesting titles.

l really like
the "fluent Spanish."

Mmm.
Wow.

(CHUCKLlNG)

This CV. . . This CV is
a bunch of bullshit.

ls it?

This is two days
on the wire.

A day dead.
We don't have it.

Oh.

What is the matter
with Moburg?

He's about as useful
as a dug-up body.

(CHUCKLES)

You see, the problem with
this newspaper, Mr. Kemp,

is that l am among many
who don't enjoy reading it.

We have
an ailing circulation,

and l just have to
look around this building

to understand why.

Lack of commitment and
too much self-indulgence.

Mmm. Mmm.

So what l'm looking for

is some enthusiasm,
some energy,

some fresh blood.

And the question
that l'm asking myself

is how much alcohol
is usual in yours.

My fresh blood?

How much do you drink?

l suppose at
the upper end of "social."

l'm poised to give up.

Well, Puerto Rico may not be

the best place on Earth
to do that.

Mmm. Mmm.

Don't look so
anxious, Mr. Kemp.

l wouldn't have paid
for your hotel if
l hadn't already hired you.

But this is not
the Last Chance Saloon,

and l do not need
another heavy drinker.

Which l perceive,
from the condition of
eyeballs behind glasses,

that you might
very well qualify as.

This is a medical
condition, Mr. Lotterman.

l know it might look
like something else,
but this is a. . .

Looks like
a fuckin' hangover.

Does it?

(WHlSTLE BLOWlNG OUTSlDE)

(CLAMORlNG)

Come here.

That's the kind of
commitment l like
to see in a man.

Oh ! Determination,
balanced with
appropriate humanity.

Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah.

Which side
do you dress, Kemp?

l beg your pardon?

Politics.

l kind of hang
in the middle.

(LAUGHS)

This is a schizoid
society, Kemp.

They got two languages,
two flags, two loyalties,
two anthems.

We bring them stuff
they never had.

They either hate it or
they want more of it.

lt's a reluctant part
of America.

lt's like an England
with tropical fruit.

Bob.

Just the man
l wanted to see.

This is Paul Kemp.
He's joining us
from New York.

Yeah, yeah,
we already met.

Uh, that's. . .
That's Mr. Clive Donovan,
sports.

And this is
Mr. Hubert,
accounting.

Listen, do me a favor,
will you?

Show him around,
the dos and don'ts.

lntroduce him
to some of the guys.

l'll take him
up to Al's.

Oh, the hell you will.

You take him to
the library.

You pull out
some volumes.

l want him to get
a sense of the paper.

You know,
make some notes,
go back a few years,

paying particular attention
to bowling alleys.

There's bowling and
bowling alleys.

Very big here.
They're up
like mushrooms.

A new one premieres
every week.

Been to
Puerto Rico before?
No.

Oh, you're going to
fall right into it.

There's a boom
on here, Kemp.
lt's an open door.

You play it right,
you can surf the place.

Ah.

What do you know
about horoscopes?

Nothing.

Ah, well, if l can
write one, you can.

So it's every day with
a special "Star's Star"

featured Saturday
with Betty Grable

and Neil Sedaka,
things like that.

So here,
everything you need
is right there.

lt's called
"Madam La Zonga Predicts."

What happened to
Madam La Zonga?

He got canceled.

What do you
mean, fired?

They raped him to death.

They raped him to death?

There are
very few places
on this island

l decline to visit,

but the toilets
frequented by sailors

on the west side
of Candado Pier is one.

They raped him to death?

La Zonga died in a cubicle.

Say, you're not,
uh, artistic,
are you, Kemp?

Oh, no.

You might want to
rethink those
menthol cigarettes.

They don't do
a thing for you.

(lNDlSTlNCT CHATTER)

Come by the house.

l will.

l like your stuff.

The cuttings you sent
to Lotterman.

Oh.
lt's good writing.

Thanks.

We'll talk.

SALA:
One more floor!

(BUZZER SOUNDlNG)

They put in automated
packing machines
about six months ago.

They mechanized
almost everything.

There used to be
50 guys down here.
Now there's five.

Hence happiness
in the street.

Souvenir, day one.

SALA:
Here's to pretty women
with filthy thoughts.

(CHUCKLlNG)

Want a burger?
No.

Burger?
No, thanks.

Try it. Dos.

So how was
the induction?

Somewhat fraught.

No disrespect, Paul,
but he didn't have
a lot of choice.

You know how many people
applied for the job?

One. You.

ls that right?

Even then,
l thought l'd blown it.

Zeroed in on
my weakest spot.

WOLSLEY:
Which is what?

Two and a half
unpublished novels

and references
of equal fiction.

Oh, you're
a novelist.

Mmm, in a manner
of speaking.

Can't even get read.

So l figured l'd do
some words for money,

see how it's looking
in a year or two.

SALA:
At El Star?

Hate to tell you this
on the way in,

but this publication's
on its way out.

And as far as l'm concerned,
it can't come soon enough.

Not going to happen.

SALA: You like
a little vonga on that?

l'll give you 1 3 to 2
this thing's over by June.

They're going to
cut the cord.

Then why put in
all the new machinery?

Precisely my point,
and he can't answer it.

Well, like l'm tired
of arguing the obvious.

Come on.
Let's eat.

Now, l got to go
and see a man
about a horse.

Good to meet you, Paul.

(SlGHS)

Another night unfolds
over Old San Juan.

You been here long?

Too long.

This place is like
someone you fucked

and they're still
under you.

Why don't you quit?

Life's full of exits.

Because l'm waiting
for it to collapse
so l get the payoff.

Three grand redundancy
puts me in Mexico.

Don't look left.

That's an introduction
you don't want to have.

Who's he?

Living example
of everything that's
wrong with this paper.

His name's Moburg.

Our Crime and
Religious Affairs
correspondent.

Lotterman can't fire him
because he never sees him.

He's rarely out
in daylight.

Looks like
he enjoys a drink.

The entire substructure
of his brain
is eaten away with rum.

l'm telling you,
this enterprise is doomed.

There's maybe three or four
professionals in the building
running the entire show.

Wait a minute.
Who is Hal Sanderson?

ln the library.
Who's he?

He used to work
for the paper.

Now he's what
he says he is.
A PR consultant.

Selling this place
street by street
to the Yankees.

Keeps a greasy little
bastard of a contact
called Segurra.

Mmm.

l saw him.
We didn't meet.

Wouldn't bother.

Piss on the make.

The boy, Segurra,
is at the property
wickedness.

l'm not sure
where Sanderson fits.

But Sanderson's
worth cultivation.

He's got some
good connections.

He's good for
some freelance.

This place is depressing me
beyond belief tonight.

You're at
Plage Xanadu, right?

Mmm.

Come on.
l'll give you a ride.

(TlRES SCREECH)

l was thinking,
if you need somewhere,

l got a room for rent.

Not the best address
in town, but it's got
a fridge and TV.

60 a month.

Sounds inviting.
l might remention that.

Meanwhile,
bleed it dry.

Uh, sir. . .

l was hoping for a swim.

The pool is
closed tonight.

Really? Why?
What's going on?

lt's a Union Carbide party.

lt's a private function.

(MUSlC PLAYlNG lN DlSTANCE)

(SlGHS)

Sorry.

l didn't realize
anyone was there.

l thought
it was just floating.

lt is just floating.

You doing
what l'm doing?

l don't think so.

What are you doing?

Escaping
the dreadful party.

l just snuck out
and unzipped.

Well, that's very
courageous of you.

l thought maybe
you were a mermaid.

They tell me the coast
is infested with them.

l'm from Connecticut.

My boyfriend's
making a speech.

Takes exactly 21 minutes.

Well, then l guess
it's pointless,

me inviting you for a drink.

What you got?

No, l mean at the bar.

Pointless.

l'd better go before
they wonder where l went.

Wait a minute.
What's your name?

Let's keep that a secret.

l don't even know it.

Well, then you'll
keep it even better.

What about your star sign?

l'm an experienced
astronomer.

Could try Pisces.

The fish.

Oh, God.

Why did she
have to happen?

Just when l was doing
so good without her.

KEMP: What would you say you
like most about Puerto Rico?

The bowling alleys
and the casinos.

Course, she likes
the duty free.

Well, the more you spend,
the more you save.

KEMP: Have you seen
a lot of the island?

We don't leave the hotel.

lt isn't safe.

KEMP: But
you're having fun?

Oh, yeah !
A lotta, lotta fun !

KEMP: Have some fun
with a fucking Luger.

These alleys are magnets
to the glutton.

They come off the boats
like locusts.

Beasts of obesity.

Asses that wouldn't
feel an arrow.

The great whites.

Probably the most dangerous
creatures on Earth.

SALA:
There's your baby.

Walt and his woman.

Bowling alleys
isn't exactly
what l had in mind.

Tread it till
the snow melts,

then join the exodus.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Red light!

LOTTERMAN:
Looking for Kemp.

Too many adjectives,
too much cynicism.

Nobody wants what's
wrong with the place,

they want to read about
what's right.

lt's a rewrite.
Yeah, l'm aware of that.

And while you're at it,

you might want to rewrite
the title and call it

"Ten Things That l Love
About Puerto Rico."

So,

how's the sobriety
coming along?

l'm cutting down.

Oh. By that,
l assume you mean
the size of the bottles.

How does anybody
drink 1 61 miniatures?

You're averaging
93 miniatures a week.

What, do they
stock the place
four times a day?

Are they not
complimentary?

No, Mr. Kemp,
they are not.

And neither is wine
and long-distance
phone calls.

So, as of Monday,
you are no longer
a resident of the Xanadu.

And what exactly
brings you
into the building?

Don't hazel me.

l got the X-rays back.
l got less than
a week to live.

LOTTERMAN: Hazel you?
What are you talking about,
you Swedish twerp?

You know,
it may have crossed
what's left of your mind

that l have
a newspaper
to run here,

that we have
something called news
going on out there.

But as far as
you're concerned,

l might as well look out
of the fuckin' window!

What are you
doing here?

This is a newspaper.

There's nothing
here for you.

Two of the best scoops
you ever had

came out of my brain.

And you better
moderate your language

or l'll go elsewhere.

Elsewhere where?

You couldn't get work
as a fly repellent.

You're worthless, Moburg.

The last onion
in the jar.

Don't push me, Lotterman.

l'm dangerous when pushed.

Oh, l know why
you're here.

lt's payday. (LAUGHS)

But in your case,

deferred on
a permanent basis.

You're fired !

You can't fire me.

You owe me money.

And you better pay it,
or l'll come through the roof

and turn this place
into an insurance claim.

LOTTERMAN:
Are you threatening me?

Hey, guys,
let's take it easy.

You want to
suffer some voodoo?

You twerp!

Eat the death pill, Lotterman !

Come on,
we're walking.

Did you hear
what he said to me?

This guy's
my blood pressure.

This guy's
going to kill me.

And l want the negative
of that picture destroyed !

l don't want that animal
in this building again.

He is hygienically
unacceptable.

Did you see the side
of his nose?

Blackheads
like Braille.

They should have him
put down.

(PANTlNG)

Moburg is history.

He's out of here
at the earliest
opportunity.

And the earliest
opportunity

You understand
what l'm saying, Kemp?

l think l get
the drift.

l want you to
immerse yourself
into this paper,

'cause you got
the talent and l think
you got the will.

You make it grow
and you grow
right along with it.

l'm not best placed
to do that.

You think
it's my intention
to keep you on

horoscopes and rewrites
and bowling alleys?

(CHUCKLES)

Matter of fact,
l'm gonna move you
right now.

Take a cab to
the airport.

The mayor of Miami's
coming in.

Make him sound nice.

l want a picture
and an interview.

Make it work, Paul.

(WOMAN SPEAKlNG
lNDlSTlNCTLY ON PA)

You leaving
us already?

l'm moving into
an apartment if this
mayor guy ever shows up.

They keep changing
"delayed" to "delayed."

You want to have
some breakfast?

Little lobster
on the beach?

Twenty minutes away.

Sounds inviting,
but l got to wait
for the mayor.

lsn't coming.

Canceled.

That's not what it
says on the board.

lt will in a minute.

l just called Miami.

Come on, let's have
some breakfast.

l got a couple things
might interest you.

l better call in.

You can call
from the car.

All right.
Yeah, thanks.

There's only
two of those
on the island.

Maybe three.

No one told me it
was so pretty here.

God's idea of money.

You know what makes
this place a gold mine?

Something that
doesn't exist.

How's that?

Land.

There isn't enough of it.

Those who know how to
get it get the gold.

Chenault?

Paul's joining us
for breakfast.

Looks like
it's gonna be
a lunch.

This is Chenault.

You two know
each other?

l don't know,
l thought maybe
we met on the plane.

Oh, l don't
think so.

l flew
Boyfriend Airlines.

Tell me, do you
like lobster, Paul?

You know what,
l might not have
time today.

l didn't realize the drive
was gonna take so long.

How much time you got?

ln 1 5 minutes,
l'm late.

l'll cut up
a pineapple.

SANDERSON: You might want
to put on some clothes.

She sunbathes
in the nude.

A few of
the over-tanned locals

tend to treat it
as a tourist attraction.

Doesn't surprise me.

l mean that in a. . .
ln a very tasteful way.

lt's a private beach.

They shouldn't be here.

Sit down, Paul, sit down.
We'll grab you a cab.

(CHUCKLES)
His name's Harry.

Got the idea
from a book.

Paul, l wanted to talk,

because l'm looking
for someone who can

assimilate contradictory
points of view

and make them
into one voice.

You're a novelist, right?

Who told you that?

Oh, please.
Newspapers are
full of gossip.

l'm looking for someone
who's good with words,
next day, you turn up.

And 'cause l believe
in good luck,

l thought maybe
you were it.

What l need

is someone with
the right kind of eyes.

For looking at what?

Looking at that.

An ocean of money.

(DOG BARKlNG)

Hey, you made it.

Door at the end.

Hey.
Hey.

Hey. Just give me
two minutes.

Walk right in.

All right.

(JAZZ MUSlC PLAYlNG QUlETLY)

(ROOSTER CLUCKS)

(CROWS)

(CLUCKlNG)

l was trying to
get the place shipshape
before you arrived.

Adolf Hitler Speaks?

Not mine.
Nazi stuff belongs
to Moburg.

Moburg lives here?

He keeps his uniform here.

l never see him
from one month's end
to the next.

So, you can see,
it's quite spacious.

Don't look in
the kitchen.

The water's off.
There's a problem
with the valve.

Thought you said
you had a TV.

l said l kind of
have a TV.

The guy across the alley
has a TV,
l have binoculars.

His wife's deaf.

With the window open,
you hear every word.

Oh, here it comes.

Water's coming up.

l, uh, noticed
you had some chickens
in the bedroom.

Cockerels.

Yeah, l'm sweating
the grease out.

Don't worry about them,
l'm moving them to my room.

What do you
do with them?

You eat them?
Eat them?

Nah.
l don't eat them.

(ALL SHOUTlNG)

Come on, baby, come on !

Get in there,
get in there!

Come on !

(CHEERlNG)

(ALL CHEERlNG)

Hey, on a trade wind,
my boy!
On a trade wind !

Come on, bump it up,
there, Bobby.

Bump, bump,
bump, bump.
Yes, sir!

(CLUCKlNG)

(CAMERA CLlCKS)

(MEN CHATTERlNG lN SPANlSH)

Hey. They call him
El Monstruo.

Say he's never lost
a fight in three years.

Come on,
we're out of here.

Come on,
rapido, rapido.

(KlDS CHATTERlNG lN SPANlSH)

Hey, hey,
whoa, whoa, whoa.

Come on.
Come on.
Go on.

(KlDS CHATTERlNG lN SPANlSH)

(COlNS CLlNKlNG)

(KlDS CHATTERlNG EXClTEDLY)

l tell you, we were
on a roll til that
thing turned up.

That's $21 7.

Not bad.

$21 7 is
a shitload of money.

Relatively a shitload.

They're expensive
to train.

l've seen guys win 2,000,
ten on North Beach.

1 0,000?

Why didn't he take
El Monstruo down there?

You're talking
the environs of
the Hilton Hotel.

They wear bowties
and shiny shoes.

There's no hope for
his kind of hat.

The question, again,
is not one of goals.

We're for those goals.

lt's one of means.

MAN: Were you claiming
that the Eisenhower
administration...

How long can
this blizzard of shame
go on?

Look at this ingrate
besotted with
his own righteousness.

Black is a very dark
shade of white.

Well, thank you
very much, Mr. Nixon.

l can't listen to
any more of this.

Lies like he breathes.

lmagine spending
your entire life lying.

Holy Christ.

Never got worse.

The only eventuality
worse than him is
you know that one day,

some filthy whore-beast
is gonna show up,

make him look
like a liberal.

The only upside
with Nixon is
he ain't gonna win.

He's got the grin.

He ain't gonna win.

lrish guy's
going to win.

But they'll never
let him live.

How do you know that?

l do "horror-scopes."

(DOOR OPENS)

Thought you said
he never came here.

He's got filters.

What filters?

He goes over the wall
at the Barcardi plant.

These filters
are the last in line in
the distillation process.

They contain more ethanol
than rocket fuel.

What's it like?

A hand on the brain.

Off the scale.

470 proof.

No such thing
as 470 proof alcohol.

Certainty you might be
required to moderate.

Ah.

No smoking
in the extraction area,
if you please.

Don't be ridiculous.

Not for the social drinker.

You want to quaff?

No.

Not right now.
l got to write.

l got a deadline.

Oh, what's he writing?

He's lifting the stone
on the American Dream.

Guayanilla Bay.

Oh, yeah.
lt's bad down there.

You might find such
a topic attracts
a limited readership.

Only need one.

Taking it to Lotterman.

Yeah. Oh, did
l hear somebody
say "good luck"?

(LAUGHS)

Yeah, l went down
there this morning,

he unfired me
on a temporary basis,
maggot that he is.

l'd like to
bring something in
to Lotterman.

Like a slide-action,
"fuck you" gun.

Don't drink
that here.

(GROANS)

Just a nipperoo,
old boy.

Quality test.

Man, slow-motion murder,
just like they do
in the movies.

See him flying back,

fuckin' arms
flapping in the air.

Okay, mother.

Look upon the last
face you'll see
this side of hell !

Bam !

(LAUGHS)

Down he goes,
morsels of
vital organs

spinning off
into flesh orbit.

Bam !

There goes
his asshole.

Bam !

There goes
his dick.

Bam ! Bam !

Fuck you, Lotterman !

You're in a B-fucking movie,
and l am the death machine!

Shall we have
some Adolf?

Definitely not.

On your way,
on your way,
Moburg.

Hey, we're
expecting guests.

l thought you said
he was writing a book.

Said l was
writing an essay.

And it requires
some shut mouth.

Oh, don't waste
your time on
those junkyard losers.

This country was
built on genocide
and slavery.

We killed
all the black guys
that were here,

and then
we shipped in new
black guys of our own,

and then we
brought in Jesus,
like a bar of soap.

Let's go.

You know it.

l am the religious
correspondent.

Fuck off with
your Jesus Police!

lf the Bible's God's
book, why didn't He
give it to everyone?

(DOOR SLAMS)

(SlGHS)

"We give more money
to parking meters than
we do to kids to eat."

Don't read me like that.
l've done the research.

1 2,000-ton rust bucket
went down in the bay

full of hydrochloric acid.

Killed off
everything in the sea.

Killed off the fishermen.
Their kids
are picking garbage.

All right,
don't get angry.

lt's hot outside.

You want a Scotch?

Yeah.

Ten years ago. . .
Five. Five years ago,

l might have said
go after it.

Now l say go with it.

There's nothing
you can change.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Sometimes you just
got to spew over the side
and keep rowing.

(CHUCKLES)

lnto a nut
brown sunset.

lt's the land of
multiple outrage.

Thousands trodden on
before you wake up
for breakfast.

That isn't news,
it's a commercial reality.

And providing it
isn't their sunset,

nobody gives
one-fifth of a fuck.

You underestimate
your readers.

l don't think so.

You underestimate me.

You told me to make it work,
that's what l want to do.

Wind down this La Zonga crap
and make a newspaper.

Let me tell you
some home truth.

This paper's been
on its knees to a bank
since the day it opened.

And like most every other
newspaper on Earth,

it's financed
by its advertising.

And without advertising,
not only is
there no La Zonga,

there's no paper
to put it in, so, thus,

there are one or two things
that we don't write about.

ln other words,
nothing at all.

ln one other word,
discretion.

You're not
a foreign correspondent

in some far-flung
foreign land,
this is America.

This is Puerto Rico.

This is America.

You think some plumber
from Normal, lllinois,

saves up for 25 years
to come here
on a cruise ship

to read about bad times
in the sugar plantation?

They don't give a fuck!

The average guy
don't rock the boat,

'cause he wants
to climb aboard it.

And our readership
is vividly average.

(CHUCKLES)

They don't care
who the losers are.

(CHUCKLES) They want
to know who won.

Who won the bowls,

who won the races,
who won the pot
at the slot machines.

Look at me, Kemp.

You're not sleeping,
you're wide awake.

And this is
the American Dream.

So many hotels,
you can't see the sea.

You can see the sea
by checking into
the hotels.

Pay to see the sea?

What's the matter
with that?

You're paying to be
in the dream.

There's a thin
veneer, Kemp,

between the dream
and the reality.

You wake them up
and the people might start
asking for their money back.

You're the boss.

Not quite.

The editorial policy
of this newspaper
is owned by the dream.

Oh, God.

Oh, Christ.

Oh, God, look at that.

Oh, God !

Hal?
Oh.

No, no,
l'm a friend of Hal's.

l was looking at his boat.

She's a sweet
little beauty.

You been aboard?

No.

Great little
island hopper.

We've all been
down on her.

lt's a wonderful
experience.

You two are early.

Oh, you got lucky.

SANDERSON: Yeah.

Did you meet?

Oh, yeah,
we got first names.

Art Zimburger, late of
the U.S. Marines,
great friend of mine.

This is Mr. Paul Kemp,
New York Times.

Oh, you're the writer.

Paul's a novelist.
Uh-huh.

(MR. ZlMBURGER CHUCKLES)

New York Times?

He don't know one
from the other.

Just go with it.
This guy's key.

Key to what?

Key to the discussion
we're about to have.

Look at those mothers.

Come with me, Kemp.

This is a private beach.

We are not on it.

No, but we are!

And what we do is private!

Now get the fuck gone!

Get the fuck out of here!

l see your face again,

you're gonna have
a 1 2-gauge shotgun

telling you what to do.

Talking about Satan. . .

lf there ever was
a kingdom of Satan,
the Soviet Union is it.

The only way to come
to terms with Communism
is to destroy it.

Hit it before it hits us
in a devastating
democratic strike.

No more for
the major.

They're looking for a man
to push that button,

l am that man.

MRS. ZlMBURGER:
Yes, you are, honey.

You look ravishing,
Chenault.

Thank you.

You need rescuing?

Oh, don't
take him away.

He's very
entertaining.

(CHUCKLES)

We were discussing Cuba and,
l don't know, we kind of
veered off, didn't we?

Paul presents us
with a somewhat
liberal point of view.

MR. ZlMBURGER:
There is no such thing
as a liberal.

A liberal is a Commie
with a college education
thinking Negro thoughts.

Well, here's a fact
for you.

76.4% of all Negroes
are controlled from Moscow.

That's why Castro gets
such an easy ride.

ln my view,
we ought to bomb Cuba
off the face of the Earth,

let its people
live in peace.
Art.

Hey.
Come on, let's eat.

Come on.

Who's the guy
in the shades?

Segurra's Daddy.

lt's who you're waiting for.

Oh.

Thank you for my roses.

l didn't think you noticed.

Of course l noticed.

SANDERSON:
Paul, would you mind
joining us?

Oh.

How do you do, sir?

Mr. Kemp.
Nice to see you.

Mr. Kemp.

Okay.

Let me just start
by saying

this is a purely
informal meeting.

And, incidentally,
you don't worry
about Lotterman, okay?

Lotterman?

What the hell's Lotterman
got to do with
The New York Times?

Mr. Kemp subs for
a variety of newspapers.

Occasionally, he writes
for the news.

What he does
in his spare time
is his affair.

That's how l like it.

We'd like you to do
some writing for us.

So l gather.

About what?

SANDERSON: ln a sentence,
we want to set something up,

and have the public
as our friends.

And there are a variety
of ways we can do that.

Let me tell you
how this kind

of thing works, Paul.

Suppose, by way of example,

you wanted to put up taxes
by five percent.

The smart way of doing it

is to float the idea
of a ten percent hike.

Let them all shout about it,
get themselves in a fuss,

then you offer concessions.

"How about seven percent?"
"No way," they'll say.

"All right, let's
stay friends and make
a compromise at five."

Bingo.

They think
they won something,

you get the five percent
you wanted
in the first place.

Same thing applies
to real estate.

You want to build
five houses,

you put in a planning
application for 50.

How many do you
want to build?

None.

We want to
build one hotel.

Well, looking
around this place,

l don't think
anyone would notice.

lt isn't in this place.

lt's an island.

Sensitive for a variety
of reasons we don't
want to get into now.

Nobody wants a paradise
choked with hotels, but

everybody will be pleased
to compromise at one.

This is going to require
some clever writing

lsn't that
kind of thing illegal?

MR. ZlMBURGER:
lf l may say, Mr. Kemp,

that's an
inappropriate comment.

Where's the island?

Can't tell you.

Not yet.

Discretion is paramount,
Mr. Kemp.

lf you want to join us,
you'll have to
sign some papers.

We're having a meeting
tomorrow in Hal's office.

lf you want to be
part of what will be

a very exciting project,
come along.

There's a man outside
in a funny little car
for Paul.

Oh, yeah.

Gentlemen,
if you'll excuse me.

l have to run.

Can't stay?

l hear the mermaids
come out in the moonlight.

(TUNlNG RADlO)

From the moment we met,
l knew

there was going to be
something between us.

lt's called her fiance.

God, l'm so hopelessly
and progressively in love.

Do not confuse
love with lust,

nor drunkenness
with judgment.

(ROOSTER CLUCKlNG)

You want my advice?

No. lf it involves her,
no, l don't.

Stay away from her.

And stay away
from Sanderson.

You're way
out of depth.

l got no brief for Sanderson
or his pissy rip-off island.

l just want some
apple blossom lipstick
and fucks.

You are in total denial.

She's fucking
someone else.

Oh !
And as l understand it,

about to be
married to him.

La-la-la-la-la-la!

You won't even
make an invite.

(TlRES SCREECH)

l don't believe this.

We're right back
where we started.

That is the same
Cabrones we passed

ten minutes ago.

(HORN HONKlNG)

We need directions.

Let's get in there and
get something to eat.

(GASPS)

(HOARSELY) No.

Please, no.

l haven't spent
all day on a beach

munching lobster
with criminals,

and l'm starving.

(PEOPLE CHATTERlNG QUlETLY)

(VOLARE PLAYlNG)

Two beers, two rums,
one steak.

The kitchen is closed.

All right then,
two beers and two rums.

And one steak.

Cerrado,
Mister. . .

Yeah, but let's not
bother me with that.

You got a sign down there
saying, "Food til midnight,"
and l want a steak.

(SPEAKlNG SPANlSH)

Girl of the swamp.

Which reminds me,
we need a map.

You know
what l think?

l think we're drinking
too much rum.

There's no other way.

l'm getting double ashtray
and double salt pot.

(CHUCKLES)

You got a Moburg bifocal.

Christ, this is heinous.

lmagine what it must be like
to be an alcoholic.

$2.

You pay and you go.

l don't see a steak.

No steak.

What do you mean,
no steak?

l think he means no steak.

The kitchen is closed.

l got no way
of serving you.

Listen, you don't want
to hear about my bad day,

and l don't want
no grave side out of you.

lf you can't cook it,
bring it like it is.
l'll eat it raw.

Two dollars,
you pay and go.

Don't bother me.

You pay now,
or l call the cops.

lf you have no intention
of serving me steak,

why don't you do
your best to fuck off.

(MEN SPEAKlNG SPANlSH)

lt seems to me there's
a bad vibe developing.

There are one or two oddities
giving us the eye.

Don't get paranoid.

He's on the phone.

For what?

Ordering food
in a restaurant?

Let's hope
he's through to the FBl.

Si, la policia?

What's the matter?

What are you smiling at?

l'm not smiling.

l'm maintaining
a casual face.

(MEN SPEAKlNG SPANlSH)

A man just walked in

and has good reason
for regarding us
in a negative light.

Us?
Me.

And he's just seen me.

And he wants revenge
on the white man.

The fuck are you
talking about?

How about the one
with the dent?

The one with the eye?

The very same.

Do we walk or run?

Walk.

l'll push the car.

Let's walk and
hope he's happy.

(MEN SPEAKlNG SPANlSH)

Hey, Yankee.

Yankee!

(SHOUTlNG lN SPANlSH)

Don't let me
see headlights.

Please don't let me
see headlights.

l just seen
headlights.

Put your foot down.

Where exactly do
you think l got it?

(MEN SHOUTlNG)

Can you go faster?

Going fast as l can.

(MEN SHOUTlNG lN SPANlSH)

(GLASS SHATTERS)

(SHOUTS lN SPANlSH)

(SHOUTlNG lN SPANlSH)

KEMP:
Jesus Christ, man.
(ROOSTER CLUCKlNG)

(SHOUTS lN SPANlSH)

(GLASS SHATTERS)

(TlRES SCREECHlNG)

(CLUCKlNG)

We're gonna be killed !
We're gonna be killed !

Hey!

Get ready to run.

Run in
opposite directions.

Give me the brew!

Give me the fucking brew!

(SCREAMS)

(SlRENS APPROACHlNG)

Paul !

(PEOPLE SPEAKlNG lN SPANlSH)

(CAMERAS CLlCKlNG)

(MEN MURMURlNG)

Piece of luck.
l just saw Moburg.

At least l think
he saw us.

(MAN SHOUTS lN SPANlSH)

They got some kind of
night court going.

(MAN SPEAKlNG SPANlSH)

He says
we were animals

on a rampage
of drunken anarchy,

poured gasoline
on one of his cops.

(GROANlNG)

(GAVEL BANGlNG)
(MAN SHOUTlNG lN SPANlSH)

(SHOUTS lN SPANlSH)

Oh, my God,
we're doomed.

You have
something to say?

Yes, Your Honor,
l do.

Firstly, this guy
handcuffed to me,
l never seen in my life.

And second,
we'd like a translation
of the charges.

You heard
what they said?

With respect,
l heard people
speaking Spanish.

What kind of language
do you think we speak
in this country, Mister?

(VOMlT SPLATTERlNG)

(GROANlNG)

He's not with us.

The cops attached him
to get a conviction.

Did you leave
the Cafe Cabrones
without paying?

Did you set fire
to the police officer,
yes or no?

Unfortunately, Your Honor,
he got in the way
of our flame.

That's right.

No way did we pour
gasoline on his head
and laugh as we did.

(LAUGHS)

lt wasn't like he said.

Like he said?

Like you say
you don't speak Spanish.

Mr. Kemp doesn't
speak Spanish.

JUDGE: Well, he will
have plenty of
opportunity to learn.

The charges against you
are grave.

Resisting arrest
carries a tariff alone
of one year in prison.

Never mind assault
with a deadly weapon.

l'm going to
refer this case

to a higher court.

Meanwhile,
l remand you both

in custody for 30 days.

(MAN CLEARS THROAT)

(SANDERSON SPEAKlNG SPANlSH)

lf l may,
Your Honor.

(SPEAKlNG SPANlSH)

Go ahead, Mr. Sanderson.

Thank you,
Your Honor.

lt isn't my purpose
to interrupt proceedings,

but if the intention
is to remand
these gentlemen,

l would respectfully ask
for a brief recess

to allow me
to contact
their counsel.

JUDGE: Who is who?

Alfredo Quinones.

lt would necessitate
getting him out of bed,
of course.

But given the importance
of these gentlemen to

various interests,

l'm sure that he would
be as pleased as l

to come down here
at 3:00 in the morning.

How much did
we cost him?

About $1 ,000 apiece.

(ENGlNE STARTS)

l can't thank
you enough.

Don't be late.

(GROANlNG)

(GRUNTS)

(GULPlNG)

SALA:
Mother of balls!

We got to rescue the car.

Not now.
We'll do it later.

l've got a meeting.

We do not have later.

They've already
had it 1 2 hours.

l know how
these bastards work.

They can strip a train
to axles in 1 2 minutes.

We'll be lucky
to find an oil spot.

How long is this
gonna take?

How would l know?

l can't be late.

l don't know
why you're going at all.

That guy is bad company.

He's a manipulative prick.

He manipulated us
out of jail, didn't he?

Now he fucking owns us.

l got a tongue like. . .

Like a towel.

Want a beer?

Do l want a beer?

No, l do not.

l am never gonna
touch alcohol again.

What fresh
hell is this?

Front seat's gone.

That's a write-off.
lsn't it?

(PANTlNG)

You know what,
l've got a brilliant idea.

(CAR RATTLlNG)

What's that?

SALA: There's too much
weight on the axle.

Try and move
forward a bit.

Ugh, gonna be late.

l'm gonna be a week late.

What are you doing, Sala?

l suddenly realize
how much l like you.

What do you mean,
what am l doing?

There's something wrong
with the axle.

Oh, my God,
it's the cop
we set on fire.

Try and look normal.

(SlREN WAlLlNG)

Make a right!
Make a right!

What right?
There is no right.
Any right!

(TlRES SCREECHlNG)

(BOTH SCREAMlNG)

(SCREAMlNG)

(CAR CRASHlNG)

SANDERSON:
Oh, there he is.
Paul, come in.

Sorry. There were
unexpected developments.

l had to go home
and start the day again.

Tell me about it.
Some days are
two sizes too small.

Well, l'm afraid
some of us
had to leave.

But, Mr. Zimburger
you know.

And this is Mr. Green
of First National
Maritime Bank.

You want some coffee?

l think we should
move right along, Hal.

l gotta go.
Sure.

Sit down, Paul.

As you may know,
Mr. Kemp,

the island is owned
by the U.S. government.

Part of it presently
used as a target range
by the Navy.

We know from
internal sources. . .

ls that what
you're calling me?

(MEN CHUCKLlNG)

. . .that the government
is preparing
to relinquish the lease,

and this place wakes up
as 32 square miles

of magnificent
and untouched
real estate.

Knock your eyes out.

No prettier beaches
in the Caribbean.

Orientated around
one hell of a
beautiful marina.

Thought it was one hotel.

We start with one hotel.

lt's a foot in the door.

Once we're up and running,
we're servants of a market.

Like here?
Like here.

You look worried,
Mr. Kemp.

He's not worried.

Paul and l shared
a tricky little night.

Right, Paul?
Oh.

Neither of us
got much sleep.

(CHUCKLES)

l gotta go, guys.

Well, we'll leave
you gentlemen to it.

Has Mr. Kemp
signed the papers?

Doing that
right now.

What. . . What am l
actually signing?

Just a confidentiality
agreement,
affirmation of trust.

Just so we're all sitting
in the same Jacuzzi.

ln case a turd floats up,
if you know what l mean.

Come on, Paul,
let's go over here.

Here you go.

(SlGHS)

lt's just
a technicality, Paul.

Means you promise
not to talk to anybody
about the project.

How's the head?

Unpleasant.

Gotta thank you again
for putting up the bail.

lt's held on
my cognizance.

And l think it
more than likely
to slip various minds.

This place is a sea
of money, Paul.

Unbelievable money.

Practically every
major corporation
hides its cash offshore.

No, thanks.

And that is
good news for us,

because we are the shore.

Not one dollar
that wings its way
into Puerto Rico

pays a cent in tax.

Nothing?
Not penny one.

That includes
chemical companies,

oil companies,
mining companies.

There's $1 2 billion
worth of copper

in mountains less than
20 miles from here.

A dozen billion dollars.

And there's
people like me

who know how
to get it out.

So, putting it
into context,

l don't envisage
the breaking of bones

to get at a thousand bucks.

Because you
weren't here,

l agreed to an itinerary
with Zimburger
on your behalf.

You'll be traveling down
in the morning.
Hope that's okay.

What do you need, Paul?

Well, just in the context
of this Zimburger thing,

do you think
there's a possibility
of an advance?

l don't like to ask,
but Lotterman's
pretty erratic

with the paycheck,
you know.

Need to get
a hold of a car.

You don't have a car?

Nothing too reliable.

Plus, sooner or later,
l'm gonna have to find
a decent place to live.

Well, we can
help you with that.

When you get back,
we'll sort you out
something with a view.

Carol, what do we
have in the garage?

No, no, no, no,
no, no, not that.

Yeah, that's fine.
Okay, thank you.

Got you a car.
She'll give you the keys
on the way out.

Feels like 500?

Yeah. Thanks.

Oh, Paul. . .

How's your afternoon?

A half-written horoscope.

Do me a favor, will you?
Drive out to the beach
and pick up Chenault.

l need her
downstairs by 6:00.

All right.

(ENGlNE REVVlNG)

So, this one?

Or. . .

This one?

What are these for,
a party?

lt's for carnival.

Didn't he say anything
to you about it?

No.
Oh, you've got to come.

We're all going down
on the boat.

He didn't invite me.

Well, it isn't
his carnival.

Oh, this one.

Um. . .
l like the other one.

Yes.

Love this car.

Did he give it to you?

(CHUCKLES) l wish.

Fast.

You want a little bet?

A bet about what?

That you scream
before l do.

That l scream
before you do,

in relation to what?

Well, how fast
does it go?

l don't know.

That's the bet.

l already crashed
one car today.

lt's okay.
l'll just go sit

in the foyer
and wait for him.

What do l get if l win?

l'll let you know
if you do.

(ENGlNE REVVlNG)

(TlRES SCREECH)

(ENGlNE REVVlNG)

(BOTH SCREAMlNG)

(TlRES SCREECHlNG)

Come on,
l'll take you back.

KEMP: Christ,
where'd they get this?

l don't remember.
l've been slightly
avoiding Lotterman.

You have me to thank
for your freedom.

Thanks.

l got a feeling
of total anxiety

trying to put
my anxieties together
in a single, coherent lump.

l'm fucked without a car.

l got us a car.

lt's the Chevy downstairs.

lt belongs to Mr. Sanderson.

So what?

l gotta go
type this up.

(LOTTERMAN SHOUTlNG)

l don't know
what's going on.

He's freaking out
and we're down 1 2 pages.

(SHOUTlNG CONTlNUES)

You better
frigging do it!

l see your filthy
animal face
in here again,

l'll have you
locked up!

What part of the building
are you creeping
towards, Sala?

Darkroom.
Cops are
looking for you.

Looking for me?
Looking for you.

And it ain't
just your mug
in the paper!

What a day.

What a week.

l tell you,
l'm out of here.

One way to
friggin' Mexico.

Listen, l got
a trip tomorrow.
Sanderson's island.

No, no, no.
Oh, dear.

lt's green money,
and l'm thinking of cutting
across for the carnival.

You know they
got that carnival
in Saint Thomas.

l know.

Why don't you
come with me?

Give the cops
a few days to forget.

Yeah. Fun.

(LAUGHlNG)

(DlSTANT EXPLOSlON)

Our guys.
1 2-inch Naval,
1 4 miles out.

Nobody lives here?

No one who's staying.
(DlSTANT EXPLOSlONS CONTlNUE)

Lazar!

Mr. Zimburger.

(LAUGHS)

This is Mr. Lazar,
our much put-upon
site architect.

How do you do.
Hello.

Mr. Monk,
l think you know.

l assist Mr. Green,
First Maritime Bank.

This is Mr. Kemp
from The New York Times.

What did you say
your name was?

Bob Sala.
Yeah, Sala.

From American
Travel Writers
Association.

(CHUCKLES)

Mr. Kemp is
preparing
our brochure.

"Wish you were here."

Beer in the cooler,
gentlemen.

l have everything
next door.

This and this are
the main hotels.

22 floors.

Guardians of the bay,
so to speak.

Why the different colors?

Blue is for
public dissemination,
red is for the investors.

Yeah.
Hill villas,
ocean condos.

Marina.

(CHUCKLES)

Parking for 2,000 cars.

There's no roads.

Damn it, Lazar,
you forgot the roads!

(LAUGHlNG)
We're building them.
We're building them.

Let's have some lunch.

(DlSTANT EXPLOSlONS CONTlNUE)

1 0,000 waiters, maids,
bellhops, janitors, clerks.

Plus, whores
for the fat man.

Hard to believe
they'd do it.

l was talking to that
architect kind of guy.

He's going
to Saint Thomas,
if you want a ride.

When?

How do l know when?

When he's finished here.

You know what
Oscar Wilde said?

"They know the price
of everything,

"the value of nothing."

(LlVELY MUSlC PLAYlNG)

Two rums.

l thought
you'd given up.

Finally beat my willpower.

Come on,
let's go here.

(LlVELY MUSlC PLAYlNG)

(PEOPLE CHATTERlNG)

Hey, mi amigo!

Hey, Rosie's a singer.

Paul !

Where's Hal?

Boat.
Boat?

Help me find
my girlfriend.

CHENAULT: Hey!
How are you?

Watch your step.

Thank you.
All right.

There we go.
Thank you.

Hi.

Look at you.

SANDERSON: Good.
Grab some champagne.

Hey, Captain.

Hey.
Hey.

Did you take Sala
to the island?

You shouldn't have
done that, Paul.

lt's why we have
a confidentiality agreement.

He isn't interested.

He's got a mouth
like an AP wire.

l just don't know
what he was doing there.

And l sure as shit don't
know what he's doing here.

(SOFT MUSlC PLAYlNG)

Not going glum
on us, are you?

Just thoughts.

What's the book?

The Rime of the
Ancient Mariner.

lt was written in 1 797
by a junkie
called Coleridge.

He wrote that
when he was
25 years old.

l've been dragging
a typewriter
around with me for 1 0.

l've written nothing.

You've written some books.

Nah.

They had no voice.

l don't know how
to write like me.

l resent that.

No, l really have
to say he's all right.

l have to admit.

Fair is fair.
Fair is fair.

Thank you
for the afternoon.

Maybe we'll see
you in town.

Where you going?

Her friend's
playing in a band.

We're gonna go
check it out.

Oh, we want to come.

SANDERSON:
l'll rephrase that.

We don't want to come.

Yes, we do.
Us girls want to dance.

SANDERSON:
You're dancing tomorrow.

CHENAULT: What's the point
of going to carnival

if everything
is preplanned?

l want to dance,
and if you're not
going to take me,

l'm gonna go with them.
DlGBY: She's got
you trumped, Hal.

Sit down. You're drunk.

So what?
So is everyone else.

Come on.

Come on, let's do it.
lt might be amusing.

Oh, cuidado.
Careful.

Here we go.

(WOMAN WHOOPlNG)

(PLAYlNG ROCK 'N' ROLL)

(lNDlSTlNCT CHATTER)

Oh.
Yeah.

(CROWD CHEERlNG)

We're done.
We're spent.

You're gonna go?
Yes, we're gonna leave.

You're done?

l can't dance no more.
Really.

Hold on. You know what?
l'll be out.
Let me just get Chenault.

SALA: You want
rum or beer?

Um. . . Both.

Dos, uh, rum, uh,
dos cervezas.

Oh, whoa, whoa.
We're gonna go.

Hey.
We're gonna go.

CHENAULT: What?
SANDERSON: Natalie's leaving,

so let's go.
CHENAULT: Hey, hey.

Come on, come on.
No, no, no, no.

(MUSlC BEGlNS)
(GASPS) Oh !

Chenault, come here.
We're leaving.

Chenault.
Stop it!

Chenault!

♪ Hey, what?

♪ l hear you

♪ Yeah

♪ l hear you

♪ Yeah

(SlNGER LAUGHlNG)

♪ You all right?

♪ Try it

♪ Try it again

♪ You try it again

♪ Try it again

♪ Shall we just sit?

♪ Try again

♪ Like a baby

♪ Won't you try it?

♪ You might like it

♪ Honey

♪ Yeah

♪ Yeah, ha

♪ lt's all right

♪ l tried

♪ That's right

(PATRONS CHEERlNG)

Chenault, come here!
Chenault!

Get your hands off me,
you motherfucker!

♪ Yeah ♪

You want to
fuck with me?

You know who l am?

You motherfucker!

You know who l am?

You're a dead man !
Go! Go!

Get your hands off me.

You're a dead man !
Go!

Forget it.

We'll call you a cab.
Fuck off!

l gotta get the girl.

She's having
a good time.
We closed.

You deaf?

l said we closed.

No way, Paul.

No way.

(SlGHS)

l looked everywhere.

l went to the gendarme.

And?

We went up there.

Nothing. Nobody there.

But an old woman
with a mop.

She was more help
than the cops were.

"What can l do
if your girlfriend likes
someone else?" he said.

He's right
about that, Paul.

She's not
your girlfriend.

Maybe. . . Maybe she
went back to the boat.

Huh?

Did you. . .
Did you try the boat?

No.

l don't think
he'd let her back on.

ls she with you?

Why don't you mind
your own goddamn business?

l want the keys.

The Chevy.

(KEYS JANGLlNG)

(ENGlNE STARTS)

You blew it, Kemp.

KEMP: lt's all rust.

l've seen better tires
hanging over
the side of a tug.

You want it or not?

Yeah, we want it.

Everyone turns up
for their Friday
check, right?

No check, no Lotterman.

So l go around to see
that unforgivably
ugly wife of his.

She tells me
he's gone to Miami.

For what?

You don't know,
l don't know.

But the scabs are back.

Since Morell went,
the paper took a turn
for the worse.

ls there anything
in the spinner?

We need
a fresh sack.

Well, maybe l can
interest you gentlemen
in something else.

Like what, death?

Like the most powerful drug
in the history of narcotics.

l'm not at liberty
to discuss or disclose.

All l can tell you

is this stuff
is so powerful,

they give it to Communists.

Who does?

The FBl.

Why would the FBl
get Communists high?

That l can't help you with.

You take it like eye drops.

ln the eye?

So l understand.

lt makes the eye
see things.

You see
a different reality.

What do you want for it?

l'll throw it in
with the bike

if you do me a favor.

What's the favor?

l want you to come
to the bathroom with me.

He's your man.

$50, right?
Yeah.

(CHlCKEN CLUCKlNG)

He wants me
to look at his dick.

l flatly refused.

What does he want you
to look at it for?

Says there's something
wrong with it.

lt's a gentleman's
matter.

l'm not
looking at it!

All right, give me
the drugs back.

No! Wait.

l'll look at it.

l'll view it
in the mirror.

ls it clap?

A standing ovation.

(THUNDER RUMBLlNG)

(GRUNTS)

(SlGHS)

You see anything?

No.

Neither do l.

We'll give it another
five minutes.

ANNOUNCER: Trouble
making ends meet?

Then, you need
the Lending Man.
Right.

♪ When money dries up fast

♪ You're welcome
to our cash

♪ So borrow from
the Lending Man ♪

Call the Lending Man now.

How long since
we took it?

l don't know.

A while.

Bullshit, isn't it?

ls it bullshit?

(STRlKES MATCH)

(SlZZLlNG)

(HlSSES)

(GRUNTS)

Jesus.

Your tongue is like
an accusatory giblet.

(GROANlNG)

For Christ's sake,
keep it out.

What are you
talking about?

Your tongue
belongs to Satan !

Are you out of your mind?

Keep it out!

lf it goes back
into your mouth,
it'll kill you.

(MUFFLED SHOUTlNG)

We've got to get it
into the sink!

(GRUNTlNG)

You're giving me fear.

Stop it!
l've got fear!

Fuck you. So do l.

You're high, you fool.

Drink some rum.

(BUOY BELL CLANGlNG)

l thought l was
losing grip in there.

What did we take?

l don't know.

We need to get some more.

That explains it.

Doesn't it?

SALA: Explains what?

The world.

And us.

KEMP: l wonder
what it is

you might think about
our different worlds.

He looked at me
kind of sideways
and said,

"Human beings
are the only
creatures on Earth

"that claim a God.

"And the only living thing
that behaves
like it hasn't got one.

"Does the world belong
to no one but you?"

And when he said it,
l was taken aback.

Not because of who
was doing the talking,

because l finally
understood the connection

between children
scavenging for food

and shiny brass plates
on the front doors of banks.

Gotta go.

(KNOCKlNG ON DOOR)

Shh. Come in.

Come in.

SALA: We gotta go.

Give me a minute.

l'll be waiting
for you downstairs.

Oh, how nice of you
to drop in.

l was covering
the carnival.

That's not what l heard.

l heard you were
in the moonlight
for Sanderson.

l was what?

Moonlighting
for Sanderson.

Where's Segurra?

Mr. Segurra's
no longer with us.

l got a story for you.

Yeah, you may have noticed
that l'm somewhat busy.

This is real important,
involving Mr. Segurra
and Mr. Hal Sanderson.

l'm gonna tell you
how important it isn't.

l got 21 jobs on the line
and a newspaper going under.

Print this,
and you'll sell it.

A planning scam.

Literally despoliation
of a paradise.

A thousand people
will be swept
into the sea like garbage.

You are weird, Kemp.

lt's not what it's doing
to them, it's what
it's doing to you.

lt's called journalism.

Oh, make me laugh.

l asked you
to tidy up the booze,

you couldn't even
sweep out a room.

Why do you think
you're working here?

'Cause you're everything
that's wrong
with a journalist.

And you're everything
that's wrong with
this insult of a newspaper.

Unanimously agreed.

Why don't you
shut it, Moburg?

You are a waste
of human sperm.

MOBURG: Die a prolonged and
relentlessly agonizing death !

Enjoy her.

(WHlSTLlNG)

Made you some tea.

You should try
and sleep.

l stole your bed.

(CHUCKLES)
lt's okay.

l'm going to write.

l'm so sorry.

Don't be sorry.

You did me
the best favor
l ever had.

There is no dream,
Chenault.

Just a piss
puddle of greed,

spreading
throughout the world.

KEMP: l want
to make a promise to you,
the reader.

And l don't know
if l can
fulfill it tomorrow

or even
the day after that.

But l put the bastards
of this world on notice.

That l do not have their
best interests at heart.

l will try and speak
for my reader.

That is my promise.

And it will be a voice
made of ink and rage.

Sit down.
l made you coffee.

Oh, thanks.

One for you
and one for me.

Oh, man, l would
rather not start
the day with this.

What is it?
lt's a writ.

Means we're
going to court.

lt means
they can arrest us,
should they so desire,

any damn minute
they please.

We need to speak
to a lawyer.

We don't even
have a phone.

l know an old guy,
Spanish Advocate.

Kind of owes me one.

You should get dressed.
We'll go down there.

Water ran out.
l'm covered in soap.

Fuck it.
See what l can do.

What's it for?

Uh. . . lt's Hal.

He put up a bond for us
on this thing,
and now he's pulled it.

Here.

You know
he's a crook, Paul.

And we get the writs.

(RECORDlNG OF ADOLF HlTLER
SPEECH PLAYlNG)

What is it?

lt's, er. . . Hitler.

(RECORD SCRATCHES)

lt's over.

What is?

They shut us down.

DONOVAN: He just
stood there
and lied to us.

He hasn't got
the morality

of a clapped out
cash register.

l hate to tell
you this, guys,

but it was
to avoid severance.

We all know what
it was for, Charlie.

What are we gonna do?
Nothing.

There's nothing
we can do,

except report him
to the labor board,

which is the same thing
as doing nothing.

l disagree.

We gotta strike back

and nail this bastard
to his own front door.

DONOVAN: And how,
pray, do we do that?

By printing the paper.

We got tons of stuff
on Lotterman.

Every happy maggot with
his hand in the till.

lt may be
the last-ever issue,

but we go out
in a blaze of rage.

What are you
talking about?
lt costs $2,200 a shot.

We bring in the scabs.

They're picketing for money.

You're through
the looking glass.

We haven't even
got enough money
for drinks.

lt's not worth the fight.

This has been coming down
the pike for a long time.

You got to know
it's over when it's over.

This lousy little
Caribbean rag
is nothing

but a wrapping
for fish heads.

Plus,
it's a lockout.

Fuck the locks.

l say we just walk in.

Anybody with me?

Bob?

You know l'm with you.

SALA: We didn't
pay the bill.

Where's Chenault?

(STRlKES MATCH)

She's gone
to New York.

She left me $1 00.

l don't believe it.

She didn't have any money.

You should use it
to go with her.

Red-eye for 50 bucks.

No.

l'm not going anywhere.

By some means or
another, l'm gonna
put the paper out.

Print the bastard,
then we're gone.

Face the reality, Paul.

There's no job,
no money, no girl,

and a warrant out
for our arrest.

There's no contest.

Donovan's right,
it ain't worth
the fight.

l'm not Donovan !

And l'm not
like the others.

l'm telling you
right now, next time
some greasy moron

starts bullshitting me,
l'm going after him.

All the way up
to the president
of the United States.

l just want
to win one once.

(STRlKES MATCH)
One sheet.

You ain't gonna
get far on $1 00.

MOBURG: Some of the scabs
will do it for nothing.

We're gonna need
20 guys, plus vans.

No, no, all you need
is two grand.

We're out of rum.

lt's as if God,
in a fit of disgust,

has decided
to wipe us all out.

(ROOSTER CROWS)

Yea, the cock crows thrice.

What about El Monstruo?

Bet the $1 00
on El Monstruo.

How do you know
he lives here?

l saw him come out.

You better let me
do this on my own.

lf he gets it,
we should bring it
to Papa Nebo.

Who's that?

My witch doctor.

She's a hermaphrodite.

MOBURG: Stop here!
Stop here!

By day, she drives
a garbage truck.

By night,
she becomes Papa Nebo,

the hermaphroditic
oracle of the dead.

When permission
is granted
from Papa Samedi,

the keeper
of the cemetery,

she'll visit,

and she'll dig up
a corpse.

Certain organs of
the disgrounded stiffs

are indispensable
for use in ouangas.

(WOMAN BABBLlNG)

This is horseshit,
isn't it?

She cured my prick.

(WOMAN MUTTERlNG)

(BEADS CLATTERlNG)

(BABBLlNG)

She wants to know
what you want.

We want her
to empower this fowl.

We want it blessed

and anything that tries
to fight it, dead.

(BABBLlNG)

Bring forth the fowl.

(CLUCKlNG)

(BABBLlNG)

(CHANTlNG)

(PAPA NEBO SPlTTlNG)

(BABBLlNG LOUDLY)

(LAUGHS)

(BABBLES)

She says that
no fowl on Earth

could challenge this
cockerel and survive.

Great.

How's she off
for curses?

MOBURG: Pretty good.

Let's have a curse
on Sanderson.
Make his dick fall off.

And that fucker
at the bank, Green.

Mr. Green.

(PAPA NEBO BABBLlNG)

(GAGGlNG)

Jesus!

MOBURG: Curse active!

(CHlCKEN CLUCKlNG)

(CROWD CHEERlNG)

(ANNOUNCER SPEAKlNG SPANlSH
ON PA)

Okay, come on.

(CROWD WHlSTLlNG)

(SQUAWKS)

(CROWD CHEERlNG)

(ANNOUNCER SPEAKlNG SPANlSH)

(CHEERlNG)

One down, two to go.

Okay. l'm gonna
call Moburg.

Okay.

(LlNE RlNGlNG)

Come on. Come on.

He isn't there.

He has to be.

He isn't there.

(DlSTANT PHONE RlNGlNG)

(RlNGlNG)

KEMP: Where have you been?
Sorry.

l never heard the phone.

How's it going?

Winning, man.
We're winning.

ls everyone there?
ls everyone there?

Yeah, everyone's here.

What about the vans?

What about the vans,
Moburg?

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, vans.

(ANNOUNCER SPEAKlNG SPANlSH
ON PA)

(CROWD CHEERlNG)
You hear that?

We're on our way.

What the hell
is going on?

He said he had the men.

"All claims against
the former owners
will be. . ."

(MUMBLlNG)

"Signed on behalf
of First Maritime Bank,
Miami."

Sanderson's pal, Mr. Green.

Sorry, Paul.

l didn't know how to say.

They. . . They took
all the machines out.

Not everything,

but just the parts
that matter.

l'll let you in.

(DOOR SLAMS lN DlSTANCE)

All l wanted
was a front page.

Probably
for the best.

Probably would've
never pulled it off.

How much. . .
How much did
you guys win?

Just under six grand.

Oh, yeah,
well, you. . .

At least you can
pay off the bond now.

Screw the bond.

We're out of here.

lt's over with.

SALA: There's
a midnight Pan Am.

l'm not risking
the airport.

No.

l figure this island
owes us a boat.

And l'm fuckin' taking
one of Sanderson's.

You smell it?

lt's the smell
of bastards.

lt's also
the smell of truth.

l smell ink.

♪ Always think

♪ About the days gone by

♪ When the childhood
l have sown

♪ Appears in the sky

♪ But l'm not the simple man

♪ The boy l used to be

♪ No, l learned
to picture life...

l got to take the hen back.

♪ And l found

♪ After all the searching

♪ Life was only
what l made it

♪ After all the searching
for new games to play...

Find yourself a trade wind.

♪ After all the searching

♪ Life was only
what l made it

♪ After all the searching
for a new game to play

♪ Live my life away

♪ Saw a dragon
shake the theater walls

♪ While the steeple bell

♪ Rang out in anguished calls

♪ And l turn my eyes

♪ To see a bird fly overhead

♪ And l dreamt
its wings of freedom

♪ Could be mine instead

♪ And l found

♪ After all the dreaming

♪ Life was only
what l made it

♪ After all the dreaming

♪ Of new games to play

♪ l drink my life away

♪ Love you all

♪ And livin' on

♪ Livin' life the way... ♪

♪ Do you remember me?

♪ The ocean rolled
Time was slow

♪ We felt an energy

♪ The cock was crowing

♪ The rum was flowing

♪ A mermaid burns to see

♪ Beyond the sea

♪ l long to see

♪ lf there's a page for me

♪ A page for me

♪ ln your diary ♪