Vide Noir (2022) - full transcript

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]

[vomits]

[music playing in background]

[grunts]

[pants]

[♪♪♪]

[crickets chirping
in background]

[owl hooting in distance]

[♪♪♪]

[Buck] Ah, good evening,
ladies and gentlemen.



Welcome back to the program.

This is your host Buck Vernon.

[chuckles]

And joining us this evening,
is the lovely Lee Green.

[Lee chuckles]

How the hell are you, Lee?

I am fine, thank you very much.

Well,
I'm very glad to hear that.

Folks, uh, this young lady
has a voice like no other,

as you'll soon hear.

But I just wish
you could see her.

[crickets chirping
in background]

[♪♪♪]

[indistinct chatter in distance]



[♪♪♪]

Hello?

[Lady Moonbeam]
Welcome traveler.

You have entered the realm
of Lady Moonbeam.

You have journeyed far.

From out beyond the sunrise.

You have come
in search of someone.

I see a woman.

Can you see what she is?

[Lee] When are we gonna get
out of here?

[sighs]

Under what sign was she born?

Her birthday is in May.

[Lady Moonbeam] Hmm.

It is difficult to see.

Yes, you can still find her.

You must follow
the emerald star.

[Lee] When are we gonna get
out of here?

[Buck] Soon, I'm working on it.

[Lee] But when?

[Buck]
You just gotta be patient.

And once we've saved up a bit,
we can go wherever you like.

Promise me.

I promise.

[♪♪♪]

[electricity zapping]

[♪♪♪]

Um, whiskey and soda, please.

Coming right up, sir.

Thanks.

Listen, um,
I'm looking for someone.

Yeah, she's a.
She was a singer.

Moved out from Detroit
a few months back.

- I think she works...
- No, I'm afraid I can't help you

with that one, sir.

Alright, thanks, buddy.

[Frankie]
In the silence of the dark

In the silence of the new

When the ocean meets the shore

Till we open up the doors

I'll be waiting there for you

So, who's this singer?
She's great.

Singer?
I don't know what you mean.

The singer.
The woman with the band.

The band is playing
instrumentals tonight, sir.

This band used to have
a great singer.

Frankie Lou.

Beautiful voice.

Incredible.

She passed away last year.

Murdered, along with her lover.

They called it a double suicide.

But they got it wrong.

Somebody black-brained 'em.

They said she was a princess
back in China.

So tragic.

So, you looking to do some
drifting tonight, young man?

Excuse me?

You looking for some Vide Noir?

- What's...
- [audience applauding]

[indistinct chatter
in background]

[woman vocalizing]

Oh, ah.

[chuckles]

Excuse me.

[Frankie] I'm sure it's nothing
you haven't seen before.

[sighs] Since you're here
would you mind

handing me that dress?

The gold one.

Uh, sure.

This one?

Thank you.

Ah, you sounded great out there.

[Frankie] Thanks.

My name is Buck.

[Frankie] Thanks, Buck.

I'm Frankie.

Nice to meet you.

So um, someone told me
you're a Chinese princess.

[Frankie chuckles]

I'm not even Chinese.

I'm Cambodian.

Oh.

Um.

Um.

Someone also told me
that you're um. dead.

Does that bother you?

Ah, maybe you can help me.

I'm looking for someone.

- She's a singer, too.
- Yeah.

I know who you're looking for.

But I wouldn't go around
asking about her.

Why is that?

She's Z'Oiseau's new girl.

Who? Who is uh, Z'Oiseau?

[Frankie chuckles]

Z'Oiseau owns this place.

He's not really someone
you wanna mess around with.

That's all the more reason
to find her.

Listen to me, Buck.

I suggest you turn around
right now

and go back to
wherever you came from.

I'm afraid I can't do that.

Must be true love then.

You have any idea
where she might be?

Maybe try the farthest reaches
of the cosmos.

- What?
- [Frankie] She's a skygazer.

Z'Oiseau's got her hooked
on Vide Noir.

What is that stuff?
What does it do?

That's not really an easy thing
to explain.

Look, can you give it a try.

Z'Oiseau always said it helped
obliterate the self

and the boundaries
of space and time.

I guess it helps you.
Experience things.

What, like LSD?

[Frankie]
Comparing Vide Noir to LSD

is like comparing a spaceship
to a Greyhound bus.

They both take you
to strange places.

But the question is,
how far out do you wanna go?

Have you tried it?

Well, have you?

Get out of here.
Can't you see I'm busy.

I'm sorry.

Um, I'm sorry for whatever
happened to you.

I just wanna find her. [sighs]

So where did you learn to sing
like that, anyway?

I always loved to sing.

I'm no princess,

but I come
from a prominent family.

And when it became clear
that war was on its way,

they sent me here.

It was like a whole new life
for me.

And one night,
Z'Oiseau comes in.

He was so handsome.

After my set,
came back to my dressing room

and spoke to me in Khmer.

It was a pretty lame pick-up,
but I was impressed.

He could be a charming bastard.

He told me about the club
he was going to open

and hired me on the spot.

And I started singing here.

And It wasn't until much later
I realized.

He was just using me.

Using you for what?

[Frankie] Years back,
before the war really started,

he was in Vietnam
doing reconnaissance

for the army.

His unit was ambushed
by guerillas.

And Z'Oiseau disappeared.

All they found was his hand.

Two years later,
he appears at a US base

in Cambodia.

He claims he was imprisoned
and that one day

his captors just let him go.

No one really knows

What happened to him
in those two years.

He found something
in that jungle.

Something dark.

Something old.

[Buck] Vide Noir.

[Frankie] He gave it that name.

Where I come from,
it's known by other,

more ancient names.

I wish I never helped him.

I wish I never met him.

But. it's too late now.

[crowd cheering, applauding
in background]

I gotta get back out there.

Uh, wait.

Where can I find her?

[indistinct chatter]

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]

[indistinct chatter]

Uh, hey, hi.

Um, I heard this singer's
really great.

Do you know
when she's playing here next?

Oh, she won't be here all week.

They got her stuck at the studio
every night cutting a record.

They say she's gonna be
the next big thing.

Uh, sorry.

You wouldn't happen to know
what studio?

[chuckles]

Well, lover boy.

[indistinct chatter]

Oh, that can't be good.

If they're here,
then somebody's making trouble

for the boss man.

[indistinct chatter
in background]

[taking deep breaths]

- [grunts]
- [dog barking]

[man #1]
Why did you run away from us?

[♪♪♪]

[indistinct chatter
in background]

[banging on door]

[Big Guy] Can I help you?

This is a closed session.

Uh, yeah,
I'm here for the session.

You're not Davy?

Uh, no.

Davy's sick.

Yeah, he's got the flu.

Puking his brains out.

So he sent me to cover for him.

Where's your guitar?

I... I left in the car actually.

Well, geez, man.
You lucky we're desperate.

Go on, hurry up and get it.

Hurry up! Shit.

What's that?

It's my guitar.

Well, damn, you better hope
that's enchanted or some shit.

Get your ass up in there.

[♪♪♪]

[winds howling]

Hey, fellas.

Davy's sick.

I'm Buck.

This mic just for me?

For the solo.

Great.

Alright, now that
we have a band,

we ready to get a take yet?

Good.

Hey, man, uh,

I didn't get a chance to look
at the tune.

Chart's right there, man.

Yeah, maybe you could show me
the changes real quick.

Are you fucking kidding me?

[chuckles] Yeah, man, just.
Just messing around.

Say, where's Fleur?

Who?

The singer.

How the hell should I know, man?

Never laid eyes on her.

I just show up and play.

[saxophone player] She doesn't
show for sessions, man.

I mean the one time she did,
she was messed up.

High out of her mind.

Look, she's a looker,
don't get me wrong, okay,

but she's a junkie.

Just another piece
of runaway trash.

Listen here, you little twerp,
you better watch what you say.

Hey, are you fellows
done talking?

You ready to roll?

Good.

Amateurs.

And we are rolling.

[♪♪♪]

Cut, cut.

Guitar player,
what the hell are you doing?

We need you from the top.

Uh, yup.

It's my fault.
Uh, I got it now. Sorry.

Oh Jesus, who is this clown?

[♪♪♪]

[bass player] Isn't that Davy?

Well, I'll be damned.
Back on his feet.

That's a speedy recovery.

Uh, guess you won't be
needing me after all.

It was lovely meeting you all.
You sound great.

Except you, you're an asshole.

If I see you again,
I'm gonna punch your lights out.

What the hell is going on?

Davy, my man.
Good to see you feeling better.

- I'll just be on my way.
- I don't know this guy.

- I've never seen him before.
- Oh, Davy!

- You old kidder, you!
- Now hold on just a...

- Hey! Hey!
- A goddamn minute, man!

Hey pal.
Why'd you run away from us?

Why don't you slide over
and let old Hontanx drive?

Found your little pea shooter
in the trunk.

It's cute.

What you need this thing for,
huh?

Um, my cousin Fritz gave it
to me.

- Hmm.
- Shooting squirrels.

[laughing] Squirrels.

Hey, you're a really funny guy.

You should be a talk show host.

[sighs] Listen, fellas,
I don't know what you think.

Hey, just stop it right there,
okay, pal.

We don't really care
what you have to say.

So just save your breath.

I'm just trying to find...

[gasps]

Buck?

Lee? [pants]

Go back to bed, hmm?

Let's sleep.

[Lee] Buck.

[♪♪♪]

[Jasper] You sure you don't want
a girl for yourself?

Oh, you'd rather get
some shuteye.

Alright, well,
I'll be ten minutes tops,

alright?

[♪♪♪]

Dammit.

[woman #1]
Would you just knock it off?

[indistinct speech]

[indistinct argument
in distance]

[♪♪♪]

[indistinct TV chatter
in distance]

[TV show host]
Don't forget to catch.

- [indistinct speech]
- [snoring]

One of my all-time
favorite films.

[indistinct speech]

Starring one and only Roy Casey.

It's a tragic tale of love
and redemption

set against
the dramatic backdrop

of the American southwest.

Full to the brim with romance,
adventure,

and great teams to boot,
a hell of a fine motion picture.

Now don't you miss it.

Now Roy Casey, now
he was a good friend of yours,

as I recall.

Of course, he was a good friend
of mine, too.

But you guys were
in the army together

or something, ain't that right?

I imagine that's a...
A special kind of bond, eh?

When you've been through.

[♪♪♪]

[engine starts]

[♪♪♪]

Jesus,
I'm so sick of this weather!

I'm so sick
of that goddamn dive!

Buck, are we going home?

Yeah.

We gotta get out of this place.

Buck. are we just gonna stay
here all our lives?

Doing nothing?

Oh no, of course not.
Told you we just got to...

Yeah, you've been saying a lot,
but here we are.

I am... I...
I am working on things,

- but Lee...
- Oh.

[crying]

See that's what I should be
doing Buck,

singing not serving beers
to plant workers

in that shithole.

- I know, Lee, I really do.
- Do you?

Do you, Buck?
Then why are we still here?

What are you so afraid of?
We could just pack up and go.

It doesn't work like that.

[sobs]

Lee.

[sighs, sniffles]

Hey, Lee?

[♪♪♪]

Fuck!

[♪♪♪]

[Johnnie]
Alright, hands off, bub.

[grunts]

You got a smoke?

Yeah.

So, who the hell are you?

Another one of Zazo's boys?

What more can you guys do to me?

No, I... I just got away
from them myself.

Alright, I think,
maybe they were bringing me

out here to do whatever it is
they did to you.

[Johnnie] Oh yeah?

You should feel damn lucky
they didn't.

[Buck] Yeah, I guess so.

What did they do to you?

[Johnnie]
Those fuckers black-brained me!

Poured enough Vide Noir
down my throat

to shoot me to the edge
of the universe and back!

- An overdose?
- Yeah.

It's how they like to do people.

Why?

Because they're
psychotic assholes!

But why you?

[♪♪♪]

I fucked up.

I thought I could get the Enders
in on the Vide Noir game.

[Buck] The Enders?

The World Enders?

What, you haven't heard of us?

I'm from out of town.

[Johnnie] Shit, man,

we're only some of the baddest
sons of bitches in this city.

- Yeah, I don't doubt it.
- Yeah, damn right.

You know my brother Alex,
sort of runs the show.

He's not so hot on the idea.

He doesn't think in the gang
into that sort of shit,

it's the best idea
but I keep telling him, man,

it's the future!

We can't get by stealing cars
no more.

So I figured I'd take matters
into my own hands, right.

But I fucked it up.

So that's when they brought me
out here and.

This Zazo guy.

.He's different.

[♪♪♪]

He's got a real evil inside him
or something.

Yeah. So I've heard.

- I'm trying to find him.
- [Johnnie] Oh yeah?

I wouldn't recommend it.

You ever... you ever meet his...

His girlfriend?

Oh, you mean that
blonde biscuit?

I seen her around
a couple of times.

She looks like a movie star.

Barely looked at me,
but I got a good look at her.

[laughs]

What, you know her or something?

She's my fiancé.

[laughs]

Oh shit, man.

That's rough.

Fiancé, oh.

[♪♪♪]

Maybe I should head out of here.

[Johnnie]
Oh, what come on, man.

You know, a couple
of brainless dudes

drag you out into the desert
and you're gonna what?

Just up and quit?

You just told me
I should stay away.

Yeah, man,

that was before I knew
about the girl.

Look, I'd give anything to be
in your shoes right now.

[chuckles] To be alive!

In love!

All revved up
with nothing to lose!

[chuckles] Hot damn, man!

Ah.

Sure beats being a ghost.

You know, the whole crew's
probably wondering

what the hell happened to me.

Hey. why don't you find them?

My brother, you could tell him
what happened.

He'll fucking start a war
against that asshole

if he found out
what happened to me.

And he'll help you out
for sure, man.

He'll help you
get your girl back.

- I don't know.
- Come on, man.

She's probably
just sitting there

waiting for you to come
and save her from that psycho.

You know, she's in some
real danger right now.

You gotta be a man!

- Don't be a fucking coward!
- I'm not afraid of him.

- Oh yeah?
- I'm not.

Well, prove it.

Yeah!
That's what I'm talking about.

Some passion, lightning, fire!

[screams]

Where would I find your brother?

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

Alright, we...
We've got a clubhouse

down in the warehouse district.

It's... it's east of the river
on Grove Street, alright.

- Uh, what... what day is that?
- Why?

Today, today,
what day of the week is it?

- Friday.
- Oh perfect.

He'll be there tonight for sure.

The Phantom Riders are playing.
[chuckles]

Here, you give him this.

He'll know what it means.

- How will I know him?
- He's tall.

He's got a big scar
on his cheek,

you can't miss him.

And you're sure he'll help me?

You show him that.
He'll help you.

Say uh, you think
I can get another smoke?

[♪♪♪]

[chuckles]

Thanks.

I hope you get your girl back.

And don't get black-brained,
that's just the fucking worst.

So long, bub.

Yeah.

So long.

[train horn blaring]

[♪♪♪]

[music playing in distance]

[indistinct shouting, cheering]

♪ Gone are the days of laughter
And love ♪

♪ Gone, baby, gone
We've all had enough ♪

♪ Carry on
And spend all your dough ♪

♪ Take it down to the ground
And sink me below ♪

♪ I scream and shout like this ♪

♪ Just to prove to the world
That I still exist ♪

♪ I don't really believe
In life ♪

♪ And I won't believe in death
'Til I die ♪

[♪♪♪]

♪ Gone are the days of laughter
And love ♪

♪ Gone, baby, gone
We've all had enough ♪

♪ Carry on
And spend all your dough ♪

♪ Take it down to the ground
And sink me below ♪

♪ I live my life like this ♪

♪ Just to prove to the world
That I still exist ♪

♪ I don't really believe
In life ♪

♪ And I won't believe in death
'Til I die ♪

[♪♪♪]

Hey, hey, hey, hey,
what you doing back here, bub?

[World Ender #1]
Yeah, whatcha looking for?

- You a cop or something?
- I was just looking for Alex.

What makes you think
Alex wants to see you, huh?

[Lady Moonbeam]
Hey, I know him, alright?

So, just, back off.

Oh, yeah?

Well, whether you know him
or not

I don't like him nosing around
back here.

[man in club] Cops!

[people shouting]

[♪♪♪]

[Lady Moonbeam] What the hell
are you doing here?

You remember me?

[Lady Moonbeam] [chuckles]
How can I forget?

Did you follow me or something?

No. No, I just followed
your advice.

- "Follow the Emerald Star".
- [chuckles]

You know, that that's just
all a bunch of bullshit, right?

[chuckles]
I'm not a real psychic.

There are no real psychics.

Well, it brought me here.

[Lady Moonbeam] [chuckles]
Whatever you say.

Maybe you can do it again,
tell my fortune.

Did you just hear what I said?

Look, I don't know
what else to do.

And I just need to find her.

I'm sorry, but I can't help you.

Do you know Alex?
Can you get a message to him?

Yeah, but why?
What message?

- It's about his brother.
- Johnnie?

What about him? Where is he?

He's dead.

Murdered by a guy
named Z'Oiseau.

Jesus, Johnnie, you idiot.

You know him? Z'Oiseau?

I've heard of him.

Johnnie. was on about

some arcade where he's selling
that new stuff.

- [sighs]
- You know where I can find him?

Find him? You crazy?

I think if I find him,
then I'll find the girl

I'm looking for.

But she left you.

What? No, she just left town.

She had come out here to sing.

- She...
- Just leave it alone.

Just... just let it go.

Doesn't take a fortune teller
to see where you're headed

- with all of this.
- You just don't understand.

And you don't know what we had.

- Had.
- No!

No.

Please, there's gotta be
some way you can help me.

I think you might need
a different sort of help.

You mentioned an arcade before?

- Oh my God!
- Where is it?

Just let it go!

Look what happened to Johnnie
messing around with those guys.

Don't be an idiot.

I'm not turning back, alright.

I won't.

I'm gonna keep going,
whether you help me or not.

She's in trouble.

She's in trouble
and I need to help her.

If I can just see her again.

If I could just talk to her.

Fine.

Your funeral.

There's this lowlife, Tobey.

I guess he's Z'Oiseau's nephew
or something.

He's selling that stuff
out of some pinball joint on

Virginia Avenue.

Trying to get some teenagers
to do it.

And?

That's it.

Dammit, Johnnie.

Is he really dead?

Yeah, he is.

I'll get the word out to Alex.

After this shit tonight
with the cops,

it's gonna be a little while
until I can find him.

Looks like the coast is clear.

There's a ladder up there,
up in the river.

Thanks for your help.

[Lady Moonbeam]
I think you ought to reconsider.

[Buck]
"Follow the Emerald Star."

How'd you come up with that?

Like I said,
it's just a bunch of bullshit.

[chuckles]

Emerald is her birthstone.

Throw in something cosmic.

I don't know,
it just popped into my head.

Or maybe you really are psychic.

[chuckles]

Yeah. maybe.

I'll see you around.

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]

[indistinct chatter & laughter]

Tobey?

[Tobey] Who wants to know?

I'm looking to do some drifting.

Oh yeah?

[Buck]
I hear you're the guy to see.

Yeah, I might be able
to help you out with that.

But first, why don't you tell me

how you heard about me?

It's from your uncle, of course.

My uncle?

I work for him.

I ain't never seen you
around the club.

I'll level with you, Tobey.

Your uncle hired me
to come down here

and check out
your little operation.

What?

Oh shit.

Look, I...
I didn't think he knew.

Listen, if this is about me
selling Vide Noir, I'll stop.

Relax, Tobey relax.

He's not mad.

In fact, he respects
that you took some initiative.

- Really?
- Oh yeah.

You know he speaks very highly
of you.

He's starting to think about
who's gonna take over one day.

- He said that?
- Sure, he did.

Why do you think he sent me
out here to check things out?

So what are you gonna tell him?

You know, Tobey, I'll be honest.

I'm impressed.
I'm very impressed.

But the tickets and all that?

Very clever.

You know, he... he asked me
to poke around here on the sly,

but when I saw
what you got going on,

I said, "I gotta meet this
kid."

And you're gonna tell him
all that?

Shit, yeah.

Yeah, of c...

You know, I was supposed
to meet with him tomorrow

at the club,
but do you know what?

I think I'm so excited
I'm gonna go down there

- right now and tell him.
- Yeah?

He's gonna be so damn proud.

You think he's up at the house
tonight?

- Maybe I'll swing by.
- I guess so.

Jasper is coming by again soon.
He'll know.

Listen, I don't wanna bug Jasper
with this.

You know, you probably
shouldn't even mention it.

I think he's hoping
to wear the crown someday,

you know what I'm saying?

I'll just go up there
and see if he's there.

[chuckles] Damn.

You know, I always forget
where that house is.

What's the best way
to get up there from here?

It's easy,
you just head right up.

Wait a second.

Jasper said somebody might be
coming around asking questions

about my uncle.

You're him, ain't ya?

Hey easy, now.

[laughs]

- Okay, take it easy.
- I don't know.

I mean,
what you want from him anyway?

Uh, it's not him.

It's his girlfriend.

[laughs]

What's so funny?

Oh man.

I mean Jasper said
that you were pathetic, but wow.

You really think that you can
compete with my uncle?

He makes you look a little turd.

You know, my uncle's probably
banging that sweet girl of yours

right now.

Showing her what a real man
is like,

not some poor piece of trash
like you.

[screams]

You got a big mouth, Tobey.

So why don't you tell me
Where your uncle's house is?

Fuck you, shithead!
You're so dead!

[screams]

Where is it?
Where is it!

It's up at the top
of Mt. Monroe!

It's the only house up there.

[grunting]

[♪♪♪]

[sighs]

[taking deep breaths]

[♪♪♪]

[sighs]

[taking deep breaths]

[♪♪♪]

[indistinct chatter
in background]

- Hey.
- Hi.

That's gonna be you someday.

Wanna come with me?

- Outside?
- Yeah.

Where are we going?

Well, I...

I know that you've been wanting
to get into a recording studio

and I figured until we can
get you the real thing,

you could have a go in here.

[chuckles]

Gonna back you up.

Sweet, Buck,
it's really sweet um...

[Buck] Yeah.

So come on, come on.
Let's go.

[both clear throat]

Okay.

Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen.

I'm your host Buck Vernon.

Joining us tonight
on the program

is the lovely Lee Green.

How the hell are you, Lee?

I am fine, thank you very much.

Alright.

Well, I'm...
I'm very glad to hear that.

Uh, folks, as you'll-
as you'll soon hear

this lovely lady
has a wonderful voice,

uh, but I just wish
you could see her,

because she's quite
the knockout.

Yeah, and if I'm being honest,

I'm having trouble keeping
my hands to myself, you know...

- Keep 'em to yourself.
- Okay, alright.

- [chuckles]
- Enough with the chitchat,

let's... let's hear that voice
of yours, huh?

[clears throat]

You ready? [Buck clears throat]

Okay.

[Lee vocalizing]

Let's go.

[indistinct speech]

[indistinct speech]

[Lee chuckles]

Yeah.

Oh, it's beautiful.

[grunting]

You ain't going anywhere
this time, punk.

[Hontanx laughs]

[clock ticking]

[♪♪♪]

[coughs, retches]

[pants]

[♪♪♪]

[grunting]

[♪♪♪]

[taking deep breaths]

[♪♪♪]

[taking deep breaths]

[hooting & chirping
in background]

[♪♪♪]

Hey.

Hey, honey, it's me Buck.

Lee, can you hear me?

Lee?

[Z'Oiseau] Good evening.

[Buck] Don't come any closer.

To whom do I owe the pleasure?

Name's Buck.

I'm here for Lee.

If you say so.

I'm taking her home with me.

You must be the one
that's been causing

all the trouble this evening.

You've really upset my boys.

Yeah, well,
they really upset me.

I'm gonna be honest with you,
Buck.

She never mentioned you.
Not once.

Oh, I wouldn't be surprised

if there were 10 others
like you.

She has a certain power.

Are you the one that gave her
the emerald ring?

That's right.

It was my mother's.

It's beautiful.

I suppose
that's what led you here.

It called you, like the Tartalo.

That's a old legend
from where my family came from.

I'm fond of legends.

There can be a lot of truth
found in them,

don't you think?

Never really thought about it.

Hmm.

[Buck] I'm taking Lee with me.

- Who?
- Lee!

Oh.

I call her, "Fleur".

[Buck] So, I've heard.

Do you know why, huh?

That too is an old tale.

[speaks French]

The Beautiful Wildflower.

My mother used to tell it to me.

Like all legends,
there's a lot of variations.

It's about a flower.

As you probably could imagine,

that grows way,
way up in the mountains.

The most beautiful flower
in all the world.

And it's old, ancient,
as old as the mountain itself.

Brave men would quest
for the flower,

but none could possess it.

Those that would seek it
find only.

Death. and despair.

There's more to it,
but you get the idea.

Don't you touch her!

She is the flower.
And we are the seekers.

And we can never possess her.

And even if we could,
everything in our garden

would wilt from shame.

And die. [chuckles]

Lee.

Lee, come on, honey,
we need to get out of here.

What about your name?

Buck?

Sounds like the stuff legends
are made of.

What does it mean?

Doesn't mean anything.

It's just what my mother
decided to call me.

My mother named me as well.

Zozo.

It's Euskara,
it means black bird

because of my hair.

It was a nickname, but it stuck.

Also, meant fool,
which was the version

that my brothers preferred,
so I changed it

to the French, Z'Oiseau.

Lee, Lee, come on,
we need to get out of here.

They're all dead now,
my brothers.

What's wrong with her?

Wrong?

I wouldn't say that
there's anything wrong with her.

She's just off
somewhere very distant.

Learning secret truths.

She takes it strong.

Like you, I suppose.

- And not by choice.
- No.

Apologies.

I'm amazed that
you're even standing here.

Yeah.

I met a few more people
you black-brained along the way.

A singer named Frankie Lou,
a kid named Johnnie,

is that how you solve
all your problems?

I hope you found it interesting,
at least.

Maybe enjoy it a little.

I still don't understand
what it does.

Yeah, it does whatever
you need it to.

It shows you
what you need to see.

What did you see, Buck?

Tell me what you saw.

At first, it seemed to make me
forget everything.

I didn't know who I was.

[Z'Oiseau] Did you know before?

Do you know now?

It removes the barriers
between time, and space,

and death.

Sometimes forgetting
is part of that.

One must destroy
psychological continuity

if one is going to obliterate
the illusion of self.

I don't know anything
about that.

But you can keep it.

I'm taking Lee with me.

Don't try and stop me.

[gunshot]

[taking deep breaths]

Oh.

Buck?

What are you doing here?

I came for you.

I came to take you out of here.
To take you back with me.

What?

I can't believe
I finally found you.

You look beautiful, Lee.

Um. how did you find me?

Jesus, are you bleeding?

That's a long story.

So you came all the way
from Detroit?

I drove out in the Impala.

It's parked right out there
in the woods,

ready to take us out of here.

Out of here?

[Buck] Yeah, back to Detroit.

But I'm not going back
to Detroit, Buck.

I live here now.

Come on, Lee.

This place, this life,
it isn't you.

Buck.

Alright.

Okay, we don't...
We don't have to go back

to Detroit.

We... we could stay here a while
if you want.

We'll find a nice little place
to live

and I'll get a job
working roads.

Lord knows they got plenty
of 'em out here.

I must've seen just about
all of 'em looking for you.

I could have come, you know?

If you had just asked me.
I would have come, Lee.

- I love you.
- No.

I left you, Buck.

Don't you get that?

I didn't want you to know
where I was going.

I didn't want you
to come after me.

I didn't want you to find me.

But you're still wearing
your ring?

Doesn't that mean something?

Doesn't that mean
there's still a chance?

A chance for what?

For us.

You know, getting married
and all that.

Married?

Buck, are you crazy?

There's absolutely no chance
we're getting married.

Okay. We don't have
to get married right way.

No, Buck!

Never!

I don't wanna be with you, Buck.

I don't love you.

[cries]

But I. I came all this way.

For you.

I'm sorry, Buck,

but you shouldn't have
done that.

You really shouldn't have
done that.

[Lee crying]

What's he got that I don't got?

Huh?

Tell me!

Ambition.

Money.

He's helping me get
my singing career going.

He's got me
in a real recording studio.

He's just about everything
you're not, Buck.

[sniffles]

But the ring.

It's a pretty ring.

I do like it.

I think you should have it back.

You shouldn't have come here,
Buck.

[winds howling]

[taking deep breaths]

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]