Valley of the Gods (2019) - full transcript

Will you kill me
As you're leaving?

Erase my name, erase my face

Take your sins and dreams
Somewhere else

And bury our love
In a secret place

Will you burn down your life

To start all over again?

Throw away my favorite dress

The one that's hidden
In your suitcase

You turn red wine
Into sweet blood

You put me under your spell

Under the moonlight
Life was so intoxicating



This is the death of a love
To foretell

You watched our love
Shyly, slowly

You turn red wine
Into sweet blood

Whoo!

Ah!

Hey!

Ah!

What are you doing?

Are you all right, sir?

Welcome to another edition
of Navajo Nation News.

Today we will be talking
with Chief Tall Bitter Water

about uranium crisis
regarding our people.

Also in studio, joining us,

Chief Engineer from
Wes Tauros Engineering Company,



in charge of mineral
extraction, Mr. John Previs.

Chief?

We call this yellow dirt,

leetso.

It's a monstrous layer...

that poisons men's lungs
and women's wombs.

It's only harvest

of a thousand
abandoned uranium mines.

Uh, your concerns, uh, Chief,
are in the past.

Uh, there are no tunnels
involved now in our process.

This is a completely safe
and effective process

and I can assure you
that it risks no ones' life.

Anything that man makes
is not completely safe.

Anything.

Navajo men are dying
of radiation-related diseases.

Many sick ones are denied
compensation.

The United States
Department of Justice

delays and quibbles

while the widows are married
to their dead men.

I can't speak

for the United States
Department of Justice,

I can only speak
for our company.

Uh, and in speaking so,

I can tell you
that there is no statistic

or scientific evidence
to support your position.

All you're doing
with this protest

is blocking your people
from their ability to prosper.

Without our company,

where else
is your economic growth

going to come from?

You... Your company
will be making money from...

And so will you,
and that's the whole point.

But that's not,

that's not the point
I'm trying to make.

The point I'm trying to make
is that we've lived here

for many years.

How have you lived?
How? And how do you live?

That's the question.

- Yeah. Yeah.
- And that is the way

- that we know how to live.
- Hey, get it?

- Joining us via live
- Shut up.

is John Kazubowski.

- Shut the fuck up!
- John, you've heard

what's happening here
in the studio.

What are your comments?

What I could gather here
from BLM people,

the sale of Valley of The Gods
to Wes Tauros is completed.

And Tauros Engineering
has a green light

to move their equipment in.

Wes Tauros
will not get our land.

Our gods will never allow it.

Bring us the dough, man.

Bird Face must know.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

The Valley of The Gods
is the foot of our mountains.

What are we gonna do

if we turn the Valley
over to them?

Hey! Oh.

If somebody takes everything out
from your legs,

how can you stand up?

Grandpa,
these are just fairytales.

Shut the fuck up!

Hey!

- What are you doing?
- You're so beautiful.

Sweetgrass.

And you can't even give me
my son.

Hi.

It's been a long time

You're just as lovely

Can I get something to drink?

As you used to be

How's your new life?

How much is it?

Means so much to me

What's that, darlin'?

How am I doin'?

I'm doin' all right

Except I can't sleep

And I cry all night
Till dawn

What I'm trying...

You...

You want to fuck us good, huh?

And if you should ever
Find it in your heart

To forgive me

Come back, darlin'

I'll be waiting for you

You'll be okay.

Grab me on both sides
and we step back.

Whoo!

Whoo!

Whoo!

You, you fantasize
about your life

and in the meantime,
we don't even have a child.

Every week,
it's the same thing with you.

I, I, I need to concentrate.

I'm a writer. I am an artist.

You don't even use a cellphone,
you don't use a computer.

You...

You live in a fantasy world
and I live in the real one.

And last week, I really,
I really felt...

I felt free.

Like I could see myself

in the world
from a different perspective.

I could fly.

Ah.

It was a dream birthday gift.

Yes, I know. Uh...

And thank you for that.

Who is that?

Hi.

- Can you help me?
- Ah.

Stop.

I see, okay fine.

Well, then,
maybe don't come back.

All right?

That's all.

Bye, John.

We should emphasize that

Tauros Engineering's
technologies

supplies carbon-free power.

Over the last century,
we have been enslaved by oil

and other fossil fuels.

In our campaign, we have
to stress that oil is the past.

Uranium is the future.

The buzzwords to stick to are
"safe and reliable energy”

as well as
"promoting jobs and security

in a struggling
Navajo community."

Excuse me, John.

This is your job.
You were supposed to do it.

You're the copywriter.

Do you think there could be

a positive side to this?

Hm?

You're now free
to do all the things

that you ever wanted to do.

Perhaps you could
write that novel.

You remember that
wonderful story you told me

about the richest man
on the planet?

And those crazy Navajo legends.

You remember that?

But I can't do anything
right now.

Don't you understand?

Anything.

Well, you must do something.

Go back to your paying job

or take a cruise
around the Caribbean?

You must find something
to occupy your mind.

Maybe do a PhD
in baseball statistics.

Whatever it takes.

But you must not sit at home
and do nothing.

Why not?

It feels good,

waiting for the final quake

to wipe this
goddamned place out.

You must overcome this fear
of being outside.

Walk through your fears
to conquer fear.

That's what the, uh,
the mystics say.

Try doing something
that you're afraid of doing

and then...

you will lose your fear of it.

Bullshit.

I'm afraid to jump
from the tenth floor,

so I'm supposed to jump
to beat that fear?

Do not exaggerate
what I'm saying

to an absurd proportion.

But everything's absurd.

This city,

politics, entertainment,
sports...

Have you noticed the black sun
that's shining over LA?

It's not white, yellow, or gold,
it's blindingly black.

And you know why?

Because it shines over
the land of the dead,

who roam it entombed
in their cars.

And when they get
a moment to themselves,

they line up to watch a movie

with a guy flying about
in the air.

Every Bond or Cruise in it jumps
from the tenth floor

every couple of minutes
and somehow lands safely.

Doesn't even bust his tendon.

And people buy that.

John, let me ask you a question.

Why is it that you cannot live
with the absurdity of this?

Like the rest of mankind.

Or is it that you want
to conduct a war

against the absurd?

In which case, try to outdo it.

If you want to destroy
the sense of absurdity,

use the absurd.

Meaning?

Well...

do something
that makes no sense to you.

Take all your pots and pans
for a hike.

Walk backwards,

go out into the deserts
and talk to the rocks.

Do whatever you need to do,
but...

John,

do it.

In your world of admirers
Lovers, and hangers on

Bathroom mirrors, ghosts
And fleeting friends

Your SOSs
Your emotional messes

And your dramas without end

Your victories, wardrobe full
of clothes you never wear

A vase of daffodils
in your window

It's here I met graveyard
Of my dreams

The ones I didn't wanna know

Buried in the darkness
Sitting naked in your chair

Ah!

Oh.

So what's life like
just sitting here?

I've seen you here before.

Is this your favorite spot?

This is the worst spot.

The worst spot?

Why?

I lost my women there.

This is everything I got.

Get some food.

Thank you.

My baby.

My baby... will get you all.

Don't be afraid.

Come closer.

Lower your head.

We need to scan your eye.

We know everything about you.

...believe that the future

belongs to young people,

and the imagination
to create a better world.

Whoo!

Don't worry, sir.

They won't harm you.

Mr. Tauros is very pleased

that you have honored him
with your presence, sir.

I hope that sir
shall like it here.

We have a modest room
reserved for sir,

sheets of paper
arranged the way sir likes them,

and a fountain pen.

We know how sir hates
writing on computers.

How do you know so much
about me?

Oh, before we admit anyone
into Mr. Tauros's residence,

we take
every possible precaution.

I'm sure you are aware

of how many pitfalls await
the world's richest man.

And Mr. Tauros does not like
armies of security guards.

That would drive him to suicide
like his idol, Elvis.

Can you imagine that, sir?

Poor Elvis sitting day and night
in Graceland with his henchmen,

and what was there to do?

He just ate, got fat,

and wasted his voice
on mundane conversations

about the narrow horizons
of his protectors...

Mr. Tauros loves art

and had statues
made of all the people

who were or are dear to him.

If he likes you, sir,

perhaps your likeness
shall find a place here.

Who's that
singing so beautifully?

Ah, that is Madame Norman.

She's preparing a concert
for Mr. Tauros.

And that, sir, is Madame Sara.

Mr. Tauros's beloved wife.

She is with Leelee,
Mr. Tauros's daughter.

Sadly, they both died
in a car accident.

This is your room, sir.

I do hope you like it.

And here are some loose leaves,
as you like them.

And a fountain pen.

Mont Blanc, like yours.

Yes, pen is good.

Has blood.

Blue blood.

Is there anything else
you would like, sir?

No.

Should hit the sack.

In that case, sir,
I shall turn up your bed.

Good night, sir.

Good night.

Laura!

No!

No!

Ooh...

The first man brought soil
from the hole in the sky,

and he planted our mountains.

And he covered them
with a sheet of daylight.

And he covered them
with some grey clouds.

And all the mountains,

he nailed down with
the sharpest of the rainbow.

For when the mountains walk,
earth trembles.

Give me back my son.

Take him.

See if you can.

It's based on the
J. Paul Getty's release form.

Sign here, please.

You must be feeling very lucky.

Why?

After all, you've been selected
from among 273 applicants.

You have very similar features.

The same neckline,
breasts, hands.

Sign here, please.

I'm doing it just for my son.

- How old is he?
- Eight.

I have to get him back.

You will, you will.

What kind of stone is this?

That's the stone of my son.

Of your son?

Yes.

From his kidney.

She's ready, sir.

What's this?

A museum.

A museum of poverty.

In his teens,
Mr. Tauros wandered aimlessly

across the country.

He was so hungry, he ate reeds.

Yes.

He got to Las Vegas,

lived in a hovel.

Somewhere on the Strip,

he found a paper bag
full of dollar bills.

I guess he had luck with it.

Wes Tauros?

Wes Tauros indeed.

These pieces of junk
are more precious to him

than the finest Venetian china.

The famous...

Wes Tauros.

What would you like me to do?

Madame,
you should lay face down.

You're staying?

Yes, Madame.

For a threesome?

Please, Madame, don't be vulgar.

Lie face down.

What would she do?

Fucking hey, man!

What are you doing?

You're violating our holy place!

Do you know what this is?

This is our fathers'
holy resting place.

And you just woke them up.

Do you know what that means?

- Hey, Grey Horse, come on.
- Huh?

Grey Horse.

"Our fathers"?

Since when did you care
about this stuff, huh, man?

In a few days, this won't be
a resting place anymore.

Get it?

Fuck you, Bird Face.

- Yeah, fuck you too.
- Who are you?

Reservation Police.

Are you okay?

Never been better.

Show me your driving license.

Well, it's... It's burned.

Maybe, I don't know.

God! Goddamn it, fuck!

You're under arrest then.

Frisk him.

Get up.

Let's see what we got here.

Credit cards.

Four hundred bucks.

A lot.

Keep the cash,

keep the car.

Keep whatever you want,
just leave me alone, please.

Are you trying to bribe
the law enforcement officers?

Hey, book him.

Feel like he just stunk up
the whole freaking valley.

Fucking great.

Got Laura Ecas, attorney at law.

Is she your lawyer?

'Cause you're gonna need one.

She's my wife.

Tauros loves to hear singing.

He's been silent all his life.

No.

I heard it was
since his wife and kid's death.

When will Tauros finally arrive?

You never know if he's going
to show up to anything.

He's buying Navajo Country
for their uranium ore.

He may no longer be
the world's richest man.

Sound like he's been overtaken,
I've heard.

You're supposed to be dead.

I saw your sculpture
in the garden.

Really?

Apparently, you died
in a car accident,

along with your daughter.

I don't have a daughter,
just a son.

And he's fine.

A few people have
already mistaken me

for Tauros's wife.

But you look exactly like her.

Madame, I'd like to invite you
to the garden

for the catapult display.

You were supposed
to introduce me to Mr. Tauros.

That is why I'm here, sir.

May I offer you my arm, Madame?

Thank you, I'll stay here.

But I insist, Madame.

I'm not in the mood.

Madame, do you know
what mood spelled backward is?

And now if you will excuse me,
we have a surprise for you.

Honored guests,
ladies and gentlemen.

Mr. Tauros welcomes you all
most cordially

and is delighted
that so many of you have come.

For the requirements
of this evening,

a team of engineers
led by Mr. Tauros himself

have built a catapult.

What are you doing here?

...in 500 years of...

Same as you. I was invited.

...of Leonardo da Vinci.

Maybe Mr. Tauros wanted to meet
someone who writes about him.

Mm.

And you need some spice?

In a moment, we shall see
whether it works

as we attempt to fire from it
a certain superfluous item

from the famed
Tauros collection.

This is the Phantom V,

in which Queen Elizabeth rode
during her royal visit

to Bermuda.

And here is our host himself,
Mr. Wes Tauros.

I'm scared.

Don't be. This catapult's solid.

It's not the catapult, stupid.
It's this Bluebeard's castle.

He locks his guests in cages
and turns them into stone.

Let's go.

I'm sorry, I can't.

My wife will be here soon.

You won't get out of here
on your own either.

Idiot.

Who's there?

Laura.

What are you doing here?

Because you're still my husband.

I don't want you
doing anything stupid.

Did you bring your desk
out here?

Our desk.

John, stop.

- I love you so much.
- No, stop.

I miss you.

I missed you.

No...

The rock grew as tall as a tower

and it reached
the temples of the gods.

Dusk covered the windows.

Darkness covered the houses.

And the gods lacked breath,
as did the sheep in the fold.

The sleeping rock has taken

all the rain clouds
and put them in his head.

For when the black storm comes,

the sleeping rock will awaken
to avenge his people.

Here in the center,
your spirit lives.

The green spots
are sacred mountains.

The yellow,
cities that eat our land.

Do you hear?

It's the wind
that gives us life.

The very wind
that comes out of our mouths

when we breathe and speak.

When it ceases
to blow inside us,

it can make us speechless,

so that we die.

All the stones hold the breaths
of those who lie underneath.

No!

What did you tell them?

Huh?

How am I gonna see my child now?

It's your fault.

My fault?

They accused me
of telling you the details.

Details of what?

How am I meant to communicate
with him if he's mute?

There are many ways
of communicating, sir.

As a writer,
you should know that well.

I'm sure you've heard
of the Taj Mahal.

On the other side of the river

was to stand a twin Taj Mahal,
but a black one.

That didn't happen
350 years ago,

so now maybe I'll put it there.

I'm awaiting permission
from the Indian government.

You speak.

Well, you should know,
you write about me.

You've kept it
absolutely secret.

Not at all.

We spoke before, remember?

- That was you?
- Yes.

- At the crossroads?
- Yes. Yes.

I exist as two people.
At least two.

A public and a private.

Some people create their avatars
in a virtual world,

I created mine in a real one.

And I use my double
for public functions,

just like Howard Hughes.

Howard Hughes
didn't have a double.

Oh, yes, he did.

This guy who
wandered around two floors

of a hotel in Las Vegas
wearing Kleenex boxes.

Didn't particularly
look like him.

Meanwhile, the real Hughes
was tending his garden

on Martinique.

I suspect you live
a double life as well.

Now most of us do.

We are the masters of fiction
in our lives.

Hughes thought up
the idea of a double,

so he could live in peace,

but I can only feel peaceful
when I'm reduced to nothing

and lying in my grave.

What mattered most to Hughes
was his garden.

To me, it's my own debt.

And buying Navajo land.

Valley of the Gods,
to be precise.

And not to buy,

but to open it up
for mineral exploitation.

Uranium.

Toxic stuff.

Mm.

Mm-hm.

Why do you keep your guests
imprisoned?

I am trying
to help these lost souls

get back to themselves.

But tell me, why are you here?

What exactly
do you hope to find out?

Simply?

What does it mean to be
the world's richest man?

What is it
to have all that power?

To be able to do... anything.

Do anything?

Despite what you may think,
very little.

Money only complicates things.

Regardless
of how much money I have,

I can't bring back my wife...

or my daughter.

Rather it's you
who has the power,

and with a stroke of a pen,
you can...

disarm, or maim, or Kill...

or open all the cages.

Do you want to?

Whoo-hoo-hoo!

May your fertility
flow onto the soil,

and your strength
let us make new soil.

Holy soil, mountain soil.

Mother Snake twists
around the mountain bed.

People howl through the night
like coyotes in cages.

May the sickness of your head
turn to cloud and go to heaven.

May the sickness from your hand
the black earth take.

Whatever sickness she has,

take away, grandpa.

Now the sun is risen,

and ll am woman.

I wear my heart
where my people can see it.

I had bled for centuries
of love.

None of it wasted,

none of it lost.