Beach House (2017) Movie Script
1
[SAXOPHONE MUSIC]
[LIGHT MUSIC]
[PIANO MUSIC]
Is that a net?
Mm.
Be glad it's not a dead animal.
We had a whale a few years ago.
I've seen sharks too.
- I would like a shark.
- No, it was pretty gross.
It's just a rotting,
stinking carcass.
I would still like to see it.
We should think
about going to the store.
Any requests for dinner, Emma?
No.
She likes that
puttanesca you make.
Sound good?
Yeah, whatever.
I like your enthusiasm.
I should get going.
What's the rush?
We're running out
of everything.
That's actually your last beer.
Well, you'd better
make it quick then.
What's the rush, right?
- But beer.
- [CHUCKLES]
[LIGHT PIANO MUSIC]
Mm, did you hear
about finals yet?
Yeah, grades have been up
for a week.
And you didn't
even mention it?
Well, you know me.
Too cool for school.
Yeah, we noticed.
Mom, you don't have to worry.
I totally killed it.
So... so then what's this thing
about living with
Simone anyway?
I mean,
I'm sure you'd have fun,
but why take the time off
when you're doing so well?
Well, I'm not doing
that well.
I mean, I haven't written
anything decent all year.
Oh, I hear they have
classes to help you with that.
Mom, classes don't
teach you how to write.
You just have to do it.
Well, do you have
to do it in Berlin?
I mean, it's not like you
haven't written a story before.
Yeah, that was high school,
and I can't even
read those without cringing.
No, you're
too harsh a critic.
Those stories were good.
No, they're not.
They're boring,
and the next
one's gonna be boring, too,
unless something happens.
Yeah, like what?
I don't know.
Something that's not just
one more year of the same.
So what happens
if inspiration doesn't come?
You just get to hang out
with Simone all year?
At least she knows
interesting people.
Hm.
What about the kids
at school?
You don't find them
too impressive?
Mm, I don't think she gives
them a chance.
Okay.
Are you just saying no?
No. No, of course not.
If... if you're dead set on it,
- then no one's gonna stop you.
- We might.
We... we just need to come
to an understanding,
and you'd have to figure out
what it is you want
to accomplish
when you're over there.
- I can do that.
- Wait, aren't we getting
a little ahead
of ourselves here?
I mean, hasn't Simone
extended her gap year already?
I mean, when is she finally
gonna go back to school?
Well, I think she's probably
gonna take off less time
than you did.
- [CLEARS THROAT]
- I think I'm done.
- Already?
- Yeah.
She's not the only one
who's done.
[SIGHS]
[LIGHT, SOMBER MUSIC]
[TEA KETTLE WHISTLING]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Hello?
Hey, Paul.
How are you?
Yeah, I'm good.
[LAUGHS]
Yeah, we're here.
That'd be great.
Hm.
Well, look who's up early.
Come on. Really?
Most people have their first
cup of coffee before noon.
Mm-hmm. Most old people.
[SIGHS]
Well, this old person
could use some more.
How about we make another pot?
- Thank you.
- She can make it.
You need to take a shower
before Paul gets here.
- Who's Paul?
- Uh, an old friend.
I bumped into him
at an event last week.
How come I've never
heard of him?
I hadn't seen him in ages.
He does conceptual photographs.
Apparently
they're quite edgy.
He's gonna stay for
a night or two.
In the bedroom next to mine?
Uh, where else?
And he's gonna use
my bathroom?
You will not last that long
in a Berlin squat
with that attitude.
Does that mean
she's letting me go?
I'm working on her.
[PIANO MUSIC]
Oh, it's so great
to see you.
- Nice to see you, too.
- Wow. I'm so glad you came.
- Well, hello.
- This is my husband, Henry.
- Hi, Henry.
- This is Paul.
- Hi, Paul. Nice to meet you.
- The famous Paul.
- You're welcome.
- Thanks.
- You're a rower, are you?
- Yeah.
- Did you find it okay?
- Yeah, yeah. It was a pretty...
- it's kind of a straight shot.
- It is a straight shot.
Yeah, and traffic shouldn't
have been bad, right?
- No, it was brilliant.
- Oh, good.
- Well, let's show you around.
- Okay, awesome.
I apologize
for inviting myself.
[LAUGHTER]
When I saw Cathy last week,
and she told me
you were out here,
I couldn't help myself,
and I finally figured out,
after 20 years in the city,
that you should never miss
an opportunity
to get the hell out.
[LAUGHS] Well, you should've
taken the train.
The station is so close.
- No, I like driving.
- No, I'm with you.
I always drive out here.
Anyway, I'm happy to cook
and clean to earn my keep.
[LAUGHTER]
I can help you cook dinner
tonight if you like.
Oh, that'd be lovely.
Be nice to have an extra
hand in the kitchen,
seeing as my original helper
seems to have retired.
I can't be at your beck
and call all the time.
Emma has it really hard.
She's thinking of
hightailing it to Berlin.
Yes. I have a friend
in Kreuzberg.
Yeah, Berlin's cool.
It's a bit subdued
compared to New York.
See? Not going there
to party.
Well, we think it would be
a better idea to finish school,
but, you know, it might be nice
to learn something useful
in the meantime.
Mom, I'm a literature major.
It's not trade school.
I can't say
my undergrad education
was particularly useful.
Paul's job is spending the
day lighting beautiful women,
so I think maybe his definition
of useful is a little unusual.
[LAUGHS]
Harsh but not wrong.
[LAUGHTER]
Speaking of beautiful
women,
what happened to that woman
at the gallery?
I thought you'd
bring her along.
Um...
Hanna and I actually
just broke up.
- Ohh.
- Oh, sorry to hear that.
Oh, it's all right.
It was...
going badly,
and I just had to end it.
Well, I'm glad
you came out here.
It's the perfect place to relax
and clear your head.
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Hey, why don't we take a look
at that new series.
You said it was online, right?
- Yeah.
- I think you'd like
to see this too, Emma.
Cool.
Yeah, yeah, here we go.
This is...
this is the latest
work I'm exhibiting.
- Wow.
- [CLEARS THROAT]
- That's Hanna.
- Mm-hmm. That's her.
Oh, we don't have to look
at these if...
No, it's fine.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
So this series is
inspired by the death
of Jean-Paul Marat,
and the story goes
that Charlotte Corday
showed up at his house,
talked her way inside,
and killed him in the bath,
and I was interested
in the intimacy of the killing,
how someone he didn't know
got close enough to do the job.
It helps to be
young and gorgeous.
- [LAUGHTER]
- Well, yeah.
What do you think, Emma?
- Uh... it's not boring.
- [LAUGHS]
I'm glad you like it.
Are you a mescal guy, Paul?
- I drink everything.
- I think I can work with that.
- [LAUGHS]
- Careful, if you drink
his concoctions,
he'll never have you leave.
Well, I suppose I'll just
have to move in then.
[LAUGHS]
[SIGHS]
It's beautiful.
Yeah, we love it.
Catherine insists we
make regular use of the place.
That's funny. I always think
of her as a downtown girl.
Oh, she still is, in her way.
I mean, she had
already changed a lot
even before we'd lost touch.
Well, a kid'll
do that to you,
especially if the idiot dad
disappears on you.
Is that what happened?
I always thought that
Catherine severed ties.
Though Andy was never
really dad material.
[CHUCKLES]
Well, no one's really dad
material till he has to be.
I guess I'm lucky.
I never had to be.
I wouldn't call that lucky.
I think so.
Well, watch out.
She might still be out there.
Who?
- The girl who does you in.
- [LAUGHS]
Emma?
Would you mind making up
Paul's bed for me?
Okay.
[LIGHT MUSIC]
[DOOR OPENS]
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Thanks.
- Do you think that's overkill?
Ah, I don't know.
It gets a little
chilly at night.
I guess.
What's up with Mom?
Since when does she invite
strangers to come stay with us?
It's good for her
to have friends.
They're harder to come by
when you're older.
Paul doesn't seem old.
He's still living
the same life
he lived when your mom
knew him in her 20s.
That'll keep you young.
[LAUGHTER]
[SIGHS]
That washed up the other day.
You feeling up
for a dip, Paul?
How's the water?
Oh, I'm sure
you can handle it.
[CHUCKLES]
What are you reading, anyway?
Not much of a beach book.
It's not much of a beach.
Not like those glam beaches
in Germany, that's for sure.
You know, I'm a little bit
surprised about our guest.
I thought that you closed
the door
on your starving artist days.
I don't know about that.
So that, uh...
the girl in the photos,
that was Hanna, right, the ex?
Yup. Yeah, she's in all
my recent work.
Oh, she's
a good-looking girl.
It's too bad things
didn't work out.
Well, I imagine it can be
really difficult
- dating a model.
- [LAUGHS]
The problem is when
they start
- wanting to be more than models.
- Oh.
What Hanna didn't get is that
a muse isn't a life partner.
You know, a muse
is just a phase.
Oh, I see. I see.
Muse 'em or lose 'em, huh?
Ooh. That's rough.
Oh, sheesh. Artists.
Oh, yeah, we're all
screwed up.
At least we know
what we're getting into.
You know, women always want
the kind of man
who's gonna use them
and discard them,
and then they get
all clingy and childish
when you finally do it.
I've never felt that way.
Oh, I'm sure you've had
to toss out your fair share.
You know what it's like.
[LAUGHS]
Ehh, maybe there's been
a few... moments.
Yeah, there you go.
- [BOTH LAUGH]
- Moments.
That's what
I'm talking about.
Yeah.
That's what you get for
living in an amazing loft,
years of years
and years in court,
but after all the changed locks
and the legal battles,
I'm still living there.
[LAUGHTER]
And the lesson, Emma, is that
it's virtually impossible
to evict someone in New York.
All right, I'll keep
that in mind.
[LAUGHTER]
It's also one of the reasons
that the rent keeps going up.
All the more reason
to hang on to a cheap place
- if you have one.
- Well, I hear
things have picked up
for you since then.
- Monetarily speaking?
- Mm.
- Yeah, a little.
- Oh, come on, more than that.
Catherine tells me
the new show is huge.
For whatever reason,
the art-buying public
has taken a liking to me.
Well, working as an artist
for years now,
you've been growing
your reputation
and honing your craft.
- Well, it makes sense.
- I don't know.
Maybe I've just been lucky.
I wouldn't be surprised
if the whole scene
turned on me tomorrow.
So you don't see this
as an opportunity?
For what?
Well, to continue
at a higher level.
To sell more at higher prices.
[LAUGHS] I mean,
I'll certainly take the money,
but I don't think
there is a higher level.
I loved taking those pictures,
and I loved...
the performance
I got out of Hanna.
I loved the whole experience.
And if the philistines who buy
art like it, that's nice,
but I... [STAMMERS]
I mean, I don't kid myself
that it means much of anything.
Wow, I'm surprised
how dismissive
you are of your audience.
Oh, I don't know.
If you spent a little more time
with rich art collectors,
I think you might feel
differently.
Yeah? I think actually
I'd be happy that I was
reaching somebody.
No, no, no, I hear you.
It's just...
I don't know. Maybe it's
strange for an artist.
But... [SIGHS]
to be honest,
there's only been
a handful of people in my life
that I've really
wanted to reach.
Fair enough.
[LAUGHS]
[SOMBER PIANO MUSIC]
[DOOR OPENING, CREAKING]
[FOOTSTEPS]
Emma.
- Fuck.
- Shit.
- You okay?
- Uh, yeah.
Not where it should be.
Looks heavy.
What are you doing out here?
[CHUCKLES]
I was thinking
of having a swim.
Right now?
Yeah.
Never been night swimming?
No.
Where's your bathing suit?
[LAUGHS]
Oh, you really haven't
- been night swimming, have you?
- [CHUCKLES]
Coming in?
I thought you just said
you were going swimming.
It's actually a bit cold.
I wouldn't mind a drink though.
You want one?
- I'm okay.
- You going to bed?
No.
So have a drink with me.
Okay.
God, what is all this shit?
- Catherine.
- Mm.
[ICE CLANKING]
Bourbon?
No.
Red wine?
Yes.
You don't like
the hard stuff.
Not really.
You're missing out.
- Shall we?
- Where are you going?
Well, I don't want
to wake everyone up.
Okay.
I'm surprised
you're up this late.
I like being the only one up.
It's a good time to write.
[CLICKS TONGUE] Ohh.
I'm getting in your way, then.
[LAUGHS] I'll survive.
So your idea to live
in Germany next year,
the idea is to write?
Yeah. I mean,
I'm gonna get a job.
I'm not gonna just sit in cafes
all day with my laptop.
Why? I mean, I'm sure Henry
would subsidize you.
I'm sure that he would,
but then I'd just
be another
parasite playing an artist.
- It does run in the family.
- [CHUCKLES]
Are you talking about Andy?
Did you know him?
A little.
Hmm.
Whatever happened to him?
Uh, he's in Portland,
and he's painting.
Not that anyone
has ever taken any notice.
It's settled then.
You'll spend all day
in cafes as a barista
instead of a customer.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Seriously, if you're gonna be
an artist, you need to learn
to take other people's money.
You have to have it
before you know
if you can do
anything good with it.
- [LAUGHS]
- What?
Nothing.
No, it's just,
you've really
got this whole "I'm an artist,
and I don't give a fuck
what anyone thinks" thing down.
It's... it's impressive.
Oh, thanks, I think.
You know, the truth is,
I don't know if I have
anything to write about.
I mean, whatever happened
in my parents' life,
my life ended up being very
privileged and very boring.
Oh, is privilege boring?
I don't know, it seems like
most 19th-century novels
are about the landed gentry.
Well, yeah.
Those novels are great
because they're set
in the 19th century.
- How do you mean?
- I mean back then,
privilege came
with actual rules.
I mean, a girl falls
in love with, has an affair,
or even flirts
with the wrong guy,
and that's what people
fought duels over.
Yeah, but we still have rules
about what sorts
of relationships are acceptable
and which ones are off-limits.
Well, yes. I mean, of course
we have rules, but...
- [CHUCKLES]
- Maybe you just don't know
what it's like to break them.
[LAUGHS]
- What? What's funny?
- Mm.
Nothing, nothing.
I guess I almost did something
off-limits last semester.
- Yeah?
- Mm-hmm.
[CHUCKLES]
Lit 150, the medieval
and 19th-century literature.
Ooh. A professor?
No. No, the TA.
He was 33.
- So what was the problem?
- Oh.
I don't know.
I chickened out.
By the time he finally got
the guts to ask me to hang out,
I was nervous and...
and I don't know.
He got scared.
He thought I was gonna
accuse him
of something, maybe.
Which offends me, actually.
So not exactly "Anna Karenina."
[CHUCKLES]
Do you have anything
good in there?
A bit nosy, aren't you?
Do you mind?
Well, if I did,
I think it's a bit late.
It's my take on a genre
of Italian horror films.
[TENSE, FOREBODING MUSIC]
The killer always
wears black gloves.
- This is Hanna.
- Mm-hmm.
Our last project together.
Will you exhibit them?
I haven't made up
my mind yet.
It's different
from your other work.
Yeah. This time the man
kills the woman.
No, I mean it doesn't
feel staged. It feels real.
Oh, it is real.
What I mean is...
[SIGHS] if you're gonna
show something,
you have to really put yourself
in the situation,
imagine what it would be like
to actually do it.
Who knows?
You might enjoy it.
Did Hanna enjoy it?
I never got a chance
to ask her.
That was our last night
together.
I... I should go.
Okay.
Hope I haven't
given you nightmares.
Isn't that the point?
[ETHEREAL SYNTH TONES]
[DARK SYNTH MUSIC]
[MUFFLED STRUGGLING EFFORTS]
[MUFFLED YELP]
I mean, no pressure.
Really? Says the chef.
- I'm happy to make it.
- Says the chef.
- You're not making anything.
- I made that last night.
You're not gonna work hard
here, you are going to relax.
- Huh?
- You are going to relax.
All right, then.
[LIGHT MUSIC]
You gonna be okay here
tomorrow night by yourself?
I think we've roped Paul
into joining us
for the "New American
Nightmares" opening.
Yeah, it's fine.
You can come if
you want, of course.
I think I'm a little bit
over the Whitney.
[DOOR SLIDES OPEN]
Has anyone
seen my kettlebell?
Your what?
The weight with the loop
at the top.
Did someone move it?
I don't know
why anyone would.
Emma, could you tell Paul
that his breakfast is ready?
I think I just saw him
go up front.
Okay.
Is that too much to ask?
I'm doing it.
[LIGHT MUSIC]
Paul?
Mom says
your breakfast is ready.
Wonderful.
Coming?
Can I join you?
Go ahead.
[SIGHS]
Any literary breakthroughs
since last night?
Hm. I wish.
What are you stuck on?
I have an idea. I'm just
not sure which way to take it.
That sounds like a good
problem to have.
- You think?
- Yeah.
Just pick a direction
and go with it.
If it doesn't work,
try another.
Yeah, I... I want to.
I just don't know what ideas
are real-life
and which are bullshit.
Oh, don't worry
about real life.
Just find something
that excites you.
So I guess that it's sex
and violence that excites you.
Not only me.
And is that drawn
from real life?
It is my life.
What does that mean?
[LAUGHS]
I'm gonna go to the beach.
I'll see you down there.
[DARK SYNTH MUSIC]
[MUSIC BUILDS]
[PHONE LINE TRILLING]
The number
you have dialed
cannot be reached
at this time.
If you feel you have reached
this recording in error,
please try your call again.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
Hey, we're gonna head over
to the fish market.
- Both of you?
- Your mom doesn't trust me
to shop unsupervised.
You can take over once
we get back home.
I need help with something.
Can you remind me
when we get back?
Can we just do it
really quick?
Sure, okay.
- Could you give us a minute?
- Yeah.
Okay, this is
gonna sound stupid,
but how well do you
actually know Paul?
I know that you guys
were friends a long time ago.
It's just, don't you think
it's weird that he
calls you up
out of nowhere
and wants to stay with us?
Oh, no. No, Paul's always
been like that.
I mean, he'd be talking
to somebody at a party,
and before you know it,
he'd be on
some week-long
adventure somewhere.
We wouldn't even know
what had happened.
I guess you knew him
pretty well.
[CHUCKLES] Yeah.
I did.
It's just, I've been looking
at his photos, and I know
that they're supposed
to be edgy and everything,
but I can't help feeling
that he enjoys violence,
especially against women.
Let me share something
with you.
Back in the '90s,
Paul did a series inspired
by Wedekind's "Lulu,"
where a prostitute from London
picks up Jack the Ripper.
He kills her, and then
he cuts out her womb.
In trademark Paul style,
it was pretty gruesome.
- Were people offended?
- Mm,
not anyone that mattered.
Everyone loved it.
In fact, it was
a really fun shoot.
And Paul was perfectly
gentle the whole time.
It only looked violent.
You were there.
I was the girl
who got murdered.
[SIGHS]
Wow. You must think
I am really uptight.
[CHUCKLES] No.
I just think I have
a bit more experience
with these kind of people,
that's all.
Yeah, I guess that is true.
So you okay with Paul
hanging around?
Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's fine.
Maybe I can see if he can
drudge up some of those photos.
- [CHUCKLES]
- He might have
- digital copies or something.
- Sure.
[LAUGHS SOFTLY]
- Okay, I'll be back in a bit.
- Okay.
[SOMBER POP MUSIC PLAYING
ON STEREO]
Please don't leave me
Please don't go
Please don't leave me
Down below
If you drop me
like a stone
- Hey.
- Hey.
I will never leave
the bottle
What do you think?
- Who is it?
- It's my buddy Jay's band.
- It's nice.
- I will always be alone
Yeah.
I'm kind of warming
up to it, too.
Give me your email, I'll send
you the download link.
Yeah, thanks.
How cruel a fate
It was doomed
from the start
I'll fade away
Into the dark
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
[SHUTTER CLICKS]
[LIGHT, JAZZY MUSIC]
So how did the photo
of me turn out?
- [SHUTTER CLICKS]
- Well, I have to develop it
before I answer that.
- Guess I'm one of those.
- [LAUGHS]
Right. You're one of those
who hasn't figured out yet
that you have to ask
a girl's permission
before you take her photo.
[CLICK]
If I want a picture,
I just take it.
What if I don't want
my picture taken?
Umm...
- You could smash my camera.
- [LAUGHS]
It's happened before.
Well, I'll keep that in mind.
[CLICK]
What about your stories?
Do you ask permission
before you write those?
No. No, I don't actually,
because that is
totally different.
- Oh, is it?
- Yes.
Oh, right.
[BOTH LAUGH]
You just... you're using people
regardless.
It's not like you're asking
for their consent.
And it would just, you know,
get in the way if you did.
Oh.
I'm glad that you're
so liberated
from social norms.
[LAUGHS]
Oh, again?
[CLICK]
[LAUGHS]
So I have to smash your camera?
That's the only way
to stop this?
Do what you have to do.
[SIGHS]
[CLICK]
You're embarrassing me.
[CHUCKLES]
Wow.
What's wrong with my glasses?
- Nothing.
- [CHUCKLES]
[CLICK]
Um...
Can I... can I get those back,
please?
Just one more.
[CLICK]
I need them to see.
- Really?
- Yes.
I mean, you've been
walking fine.
It's not like you tripped over.
All right.
One more.
[CLICK]
[WHISPERING] I feel like
we're being watched.
[CLICK]
I better go...
see if I can help Catherine
with the groceries.
- [LAUGHS]
- I guess.
Mmm, this is delicious.
Great idea.
Well, I figured
that you should have the
full beach house experience.
- [LAUGHTER]
- I appreciate that.
So are you finding any
inspiration around here?
Paul finds inspiration
everywhere.
Really?
[LAUGHTER]
Taken any photos?
One or two.
Oh, you'll have to
show us those.
Would you get me
some more wine, Paul?
Sure.
Thank you.
Pleasure.
What about me?
Can I get some more?
[LAUGHTER]
Oh, thank you, Henry.
Mom, have you ever gone
swimming at night?
Yeah, when I was your age.
Probably because
it was dangerous.
The water's a little cold
for my liking, anyway.
I'll say it again.
[LAUGHS]
You can say it again.
You can pour me another glass.
- All right.
- Thank you very much.
- Are you sure?
- Mm, yes.
- Are you really sure?
- I'm very sure.
You have to say stop 'cause
otherwise it just keeps going.
And you keep going.
[BOTH LAUGH]
You can stop.
You realize that's
your daughter sitting there
with your old flame.
Okay.
- We'll start making out.
- Yeah.
- Just a, like, a little bit.
- I'm just sayin'...
Time for bed.
[LAUGHS] Really?
- Mom, it's so early.
- Yeah, really.
Yeah, I think you're right.
- [SIGHS]
- [LAUGHS] Come on.
What can I say? I've...
tragically aged
into an early bedtime.
- Good night.
- Good night, Paul.
Oh.
Let's put the wine away.
[DREAMY SYNTH MUSIC]
[KNOCKING]
I thought that you said
that you were going to sleep.
- I am going to sleep.
- [LAUGHS]
- Really?
- Really.
Oh.
[LAUGHS]
- No glasses tonight?
- No.
I only need them for distance.
Oh, so you really just
wear them to look smart.
Well yeah, and to ward
off douchey guys.
Oh, how is that
working for you?
[LAUGHS]
Hmm.
[HANGAR RATTLING]
Hm, let me guess.
You're gonna use this
in a photo shoot?
[LAUGHS]
Imprison some
naked model, perhaps?
I was thinking about it.
I just have to
find the right model.
[CLEARS THROAT]
I wanna pose for something.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
But you're gonna have to
come up with something
better than that.
Yeah, you're probably right.
What shall I do?
Hm.
Well, with you it's got to be
something gruesome,
so that, you know,
it gets attention.
But it also has to have
some high cultural motifs,
so that everyone will think
that it is very serious.
Exactly. I mean,
it's the oldest trick in art.
You know, when Moreau
painted Salome,
he was giving us a naked woman
and a severed head,
but it's also a Bible story.
I know what we should do.
Judith and Holofernes.
Wow.
Hmm?
A girl walks
into a man's tent,
plies him with liquor,
and cuts off his head.
Yeah, I... I'm surprised I
haven't used that already.
I mean, you're probably gonna
want to sex it up, of course,
the part
before the decapitation.
- Yeah, probably. Yeah.
- Yeah.
[LAUGHS]
I have to warn you, though.
My fees are exceptionally high.
They should be.
[LAUGHS] Really?
Yeah, no matter how high,
someone will be willing
to pay them.
[LAUGHS]
[LAUGHS]
[CLEARS THROAT]
Well, Judith...
shall we start with a drink?
Sure.
Maybe a real drink this time.
Okay. I can handle liquor,
thank you.
I'll be right back.
[DREAMY SYNTH MUSIC]
You gonna get in a workout?
What are you doing with this?
Uh, not much. It's harder
to swing than I imagined.
You know that Henry is
looking for this, correct?
I did not know that.
I'm gonna have
to confiscate it.
[LAUGHS]
- Well, don't hurt yourself.
- [LAUGHS]
Where are you going?
All right. [LAUGHS]
- And what is this?
- It's just bourbon.
[GROANS]
Cheers.
Hm.
Mmm.
- It's really nice.
- Right?
- [LAUGHS]
- A little heat.
A little heat in the throat.
- Mm.
- Ahh.
- So.
- So.
Tell me about Hanna.
What do you want to know?
Why did it go wrong?
Why does anything go wrong?
You know, she inspired me for a
while, and then I got bored.
- Hm.
- And the more she clung
- to me, the more I loathed her.
- [LAUGHS] Wow,
- that's not harsh at all.
- Relationships end.
You know what it's like.
- Do I?
- Yeah.
We've already established
that you're a heartbreaker.
When did we establish that?
I told you
that my life is... is boring.
[BOTH LAUGH]
You're not a very good liar.
- [LAUGHS]
- If you're gonna write
fictions, you have to
make them a bit
more convincing than that.
Okay.
Okay.
I lied to you
the other night.
I said that, um, that
nothing happened with the TA.
- But it did.
- Mm-hmm.
So the whole thing about
turning him down, that was...
Oh, no, that happened. Um...
But then a couple days later,
I decided that I wanted
to turn it around.
And so I showed up
at his office,
and I told him exactly
what I wanted,
and you can imagine the rest.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
- Right there in the office?
- [LAUGHS]
Maybe.
And after?
It was fun while it lasted.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Ah, so you got bored
with someone too.
Yes, I guess that is
one way of saying it.
That was good.
I believe that story.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Should I?
Wait. Wait. Wait, I don't...
- Are you okay?
- I don't... I don't feel good.
You got to be careful
with whisky.
Yeah.
Will you just...
will you just wake me up in,
like... like, two minutes?
[PANTING]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[RUSTLING]
[DARK TONE]
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
[WATER SPLASHES]
[WATER RUNNING]
[SOMBER PIANO MUSIC]
- Hey.
- [SIGHS] Hey, um...
Uh, how you doing?
[CLEARS THROAT]
Uh... what happened
last night?
I don't remember anything.
Ohh, um,
well, I tried to wake you,
but you weren't having it,
so I just carried you down
the hallway to your bed,
and then I went
and crashed out, so...
A little anticlimactic, but...
[BOTH LAUGH]
So you're...
Yeah, heading that way.
- Yeah, I can...
- So, after you...
- Bye.
- Okay. Hm.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Come on, Paul.
[CLEARS THROAT]
You know, it's funny.
I still can't find
that kettlebell.
You know, I think
Paul actually stole it.
I will go get it from his room.
Paul's leaving soon.
He was just telling us.
What?
Yeah, uh...
I got to get back
to the city.
I thought all of you guys
were going to an event tonight.
Henry and I are still going.
All right, well,
I'm gonna take a swim,
and I'll grab my stuff
when I get back.
Sure.
[SOMBER PIANO MUSIC]
[DOOR SLIDES OPEN]
[EXHALES]
We thought it would be better
if just us three
had some time together.
- I thought it was Paul's idea.
- It's mutual.
I feel sick.
Uh, listen.
I understand that a girl
like you is gonna be drawn
to a more sophisticated crowd,
but Paul's not
the right kind of company.
Know what he said
to me the other day?
He said... [CHUCKLES]
"Women really want
a man who will use them up
and then throw them out."
- He says stuff like that.
- No, he meant it.
He was talking very
specifically about his ex.
There's something...
there's something wrong there.
[SINK RUNNING]
[VOMITING]
[PANTING]
[DARK TONE]
[PHONE LINE TRILLING]
The number you have dialed
cannot be reached
at this time.
If you feel...
[EERIE SYNTH MUSIC]
I was just looking
for Henry's weight.
Yeah, I returned it.
- I should let you pack.
- Emma.
You can be difficult
to figure out.
I could say the same
thing about you.
But you've figured
me out, haven't you?
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC]
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Can I talk to you a minute?
I just wanted to say sorry.
For what?
Yesterday you mentioned
concerns
about Paul staying here.
You were right.
It was a bad idea.
Why?
Because despite our past,
he's still a stranger.
It's just been too long.
I shouldn't have let him stay.
Well, he's gone now.
But you don't seem happy
about it.
No, I'm glad.
Really?
Okay.
[SIGHS] Good.
Ohh, I gotta get ready to go.
Cool.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
We're gonna stay
in the city overnight.
There's no sense
in driving back late.
You sure you don't wanna
come with us?
I'm good.
Between you and me,
you're not missing much.
There's some swordfish left
if you get hungry.
- She will manage.
- Okay.
[DARK TONE]
[EERIE MUSIC]
[DOOR SLIDES OPEN, SQUEAKS]
[EERIE TONE]
Hello?
[TENSE, EERIE TONE]
Emma.
I didn't see your car
outside.
I walked from
the train station.
- Why?
- So no one would see me.
I was just going
to the beach.
Now?
Night swimming.
- Emma.
- Yeah?
Are you afraid of me?
I just keep thinking
about last night.
- Me too.
- No, not like that.
What then?
What happened after you
knocked me out with that drink?
I think you did a pretty good
job of knocking yourself out.
I think I had some help.
It was a strong pour.
That's not what I mean.
[TENSE, DARK TONE]
I don't really
understand you. [LAUGHS]
But I'll bet you're starting
to be more creative.
Mm, mm, no, no.
[BOTH GRUNT]
Let go of me!
[BOTH LAUGH]
What's going on here?
- We both know.
- We both know what?
- She's out there.
- Who?
Hanna...
Wrapped in the net...
held down by the weight
that you took.
[LAUGHS]
You've got it all figured
out, haven't you?
That's why you came out here,
isn't it?
Now I've come back to silence
the girl who knows too much.
You don't have to.
It excites you,
doesn't it? Huh?
Will you let me go?
- You want me to let you go?
- Mm-hmm.
[PANTING HEAVILY]
It's gonna ruin your story.
[PANTING]
Ah...
[CHOKING]
- [BLADE SLICING]
- [GRUNTS]
[BOTH GRUNT]
[TENSE MUSIC]
Okay.
[DIALING]
[INTENSE MUSIC]
[INHALES SHARPLY]
Oh.
[GASPS]
[CRYING]
[DARK SYNTH MUSIC]
[INHALING SHARPLY]
[CRYING]
Oh, God.
Oh.
[PANTING]
[INTENSE MUSIC]
[GRUNTS]
[GRUNTS]
[STRAINING EFFORTS]
[SOMBER SYNTH MUSIC]
[SIGHS]
Have you been in the water
yet today? It's nice.
Uh, I'm a little busy.
You're gonna kill
those classes in school...
whenever you decide to go back.
- I'm going back next semester.
- Really?
When was this decision made?
This morning.
Well, I think
that's a very smart choice.
From the looks of things,
you won't have to go far
for inspiration.
Yeah, you're right.
[TENSE MUSIC]
[PIANO MUSIC]
[SAXOPHONE MUSIC]
[LIGHT MUSIC]
[PIANO MUSIC]
Is that a net?
Mm.
Be glad it's not a dead animal.
We had a whale a few years ago.
I've seen sharks too.
- I would like a shark.
- No, it was pretty gross.
It's just a rotting,
stinking carcass.
I would still like to see it.
We should think
about going to the store.
Any requests for dinner, Emma?
No.
She likes that
puttanesca you make.
Sound good?
Yeah, whatever.
I like your enthusiasm.
I should get going.
What's the rush?
We're running out
of everything.
That's actually your last beer.
Well, you'd better
make it quick then.
What's the rush, right?
- But beer.
- [CHUCKLES]
[LIGHT PIANO MUSIC]
Mm, did you hear
about finals yet?
Yeah, grades have been up
for a week.
And you didn't
even mention it?
Well, you know me.
Too cool for school.
Yeah, we noticed.
Mom, you don't have to worry.
I totally killed it.
So... so then what's this thing
about living with
Simone anyway?
I mean,
I'm sure you'd have fun,
but why take the time off
when you're doing so well?
Well, I'm not doing
that well.
I mean, I haven't written
anything decent all year.
Oh, I hear they have
classes to help you with that.
Mom, classes don't
teach you how to write.
You just have to do it.
Well, do you have
to do it in Berlin?
I mean, it's not like you
haven't written a story before.
Yeah, that was high school,
and I can't even
read those without cringing.
No, you're
too harsh a critic.
Those stories were good.
No, they're not.
They're boring,
and the next
one's gonna be boring, too,
unless something happens.
Yeah, like what?
I don't know.
Something that's not just
one more year of the same.
So what happens
if inspiration doesn't come?
You just get to hang out
with Simone all year?
At least she knows
interesting people.
Hm.
What about the kids
at school?
You don't find them
too impressive?
Mm, I don't think she gives
them a chance.
Okay.
Are you just saying no?
No. No, of course not.
If... if you're dead set on it,
- then no one's gonna stop you.
- We might.
We... we just need to come
to an understanding,
and you'd have to figure out
what it is you want
to accomplish
when you're over there.
- I can do that.
- Wait, aren't we getting
a little ahead
of ourselves here?
I mean, hasn't Simone
extended her gap year already?
I mean, when is she finally
gonna go back to school?
Well, I think she's probably
gonna take off less time
than you did.
- [CLEARS THROAT]
- I think I'm done.
- Already?
- Yeah.
She's not the only one
who's done.
[SIGHS]
[LIGHT, SOMBER MUSIC]
[TEA KETTLE WHISTLING]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Hello?
Hey, Paul.
How are you?
Yeah, I'm good.
[LAUGHS]
Yeah, we're here.
That'd be great.
Hm.
Well, look who's up early.
Come on. Really?
Most people have their first
cup of coffee before noon.
Mm-hmm. Most old people.
[SIGHS]
Well, this old person
could use some more.
How about we make another pot?
- Thank you.
- She can make it.
You need to take a shower
before Paul gets here.
- Who's Paul?
- Uh, an old friend.
I bumped into him
at an event last week.
How come I've never
heard of him?
I hadn't seen him in ages.
He does conceptual photographs.
Apparently
they're quite edgy.
He's gonna stay for
a night or two.
In the bedroom next to mine?
Uh, where else?
And he's gonna use
my bathroom?
You will not last that long
in a Berlin squat
with that attitude.
Does that mean
she's letting me go?
I'm working on her.
[PIANO MUSIC]
Oh, it's so great
to see you.
- Nice to see you, too.
- Wow. I'm so glad you came.
- Well, hello.
- This is my husband, Henry.
- Hi, Henry.
- This is Paul.
- Hi, Paul. Nice to meet you.
- The famous Paul.
- You're welcome.
- Thanks.
- You're a rower, are you?
- Yeah.
- Did you find it okay?
- Yeah, yeah. It was a pretty...
- it's kind of a straight shot.
- It is a straight shot.
Yeah, and traffic shouldn't
have been bad, right?
- No, it was brilliant.
- Oh, good.
- Well, let's show you around.
- Okay, awesome.
I apologize
for inviting myself.
[LAUGHTER]
When I saw Cathy last week,
and she told me
you were out here,
I couldn't help myself,
and I finally figured out,
after 20 years in the city,
that you should never miss
an opportunity
to get the hell out.
[LAUGHS] Well, you should've
taken the train.
The station is so close.
- No, I like driving.
- No, I'm with you.
I always drive out here.
Anyway, I'm happy to cook
and clean to earn my keep.
[LAUGHTER]
I can help you cook dinner
tonight if you like.
Oh, that'd be lovely.
Be nice to have an extra
hand in the kitchen,
seeing as my original helper
seems to have retired.
I can't be at your beck
and call all the time.
Emma has it really hard.
She's thinking of
hightailing it to Berlin.
Yes. I have a friend
in Kreuzberg.
Yeah, Berlin's cool.
It's a bit subdued
compared to New York.
See? Not going there
to party.
Well, we think it would be
a better idea to finish school,
but, you know, it might be nice
to learn something useful
in the meantime.
Mom, I'm a literature major.
It's not trade school.
I can't say
my undergrad education
was particularly useful.
Paul's job is spending the
day lighting beautiful women,
so I think maybe his definition
of useful is a little unusual.
[LAUGHS]
Harsh but not wrong.
[LAUGHTER]
Speaking of beautiful
women,
what happened to that woman
at the gallery?
I thought you'd
bring her along.
Um...
Hanna and I actually
just broke up.
- Ohh.
- Oh, sorry to hear that.
Oh, it's all right.
It was...
going badly,
and I just had to end it.
Well, I'm glad
you came out here.
It's the perfect place to relax
and clear your head.
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Hey, why don't we take a look
at that new series.
You said it was online, right?
- Yeah.
- I think you'd like
to see this too, Emma.
Cool.
Yeah, yeah, here we go.
This is...
this is the latest
work I'm exhibiting.
- Wow.
- [CLEARS THROAT]
- That's Hanna.
- Mm-hmm. That's her.
Oh, we don't have to look
at these if...
No, it's fine.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
So this series is
inspired by the death
of Jean-Paul Marat,
and the story goes
that Charlotte Corday
showed up at his house,
talked her way inside,
and killed him in the bath,
and I was interested
in the intimacy of the killing,
how someone he didn't know
got close enough to do the job.
It helps to be
young and gorgeous.
- [LAUGHTER]
- Well, yeah.
What do you think, Emma?
- Uh... it's not boring.
- [LAUGHS]
I'm glad you like it.
Are you a mescal guy, Paul?
- I drink everything.
- I think I can work with that.
- [LAUGHS]
- Careful, if you drink
his concoctions,
he'll never have you leave.
Well, I suppose I'll just
have to move in then.
[LAUGHS]
[SIGHS]
It's beautiful.
Yeah, we love it.
Catherine insists we
make regular use of the place.
That's funny. I always think
of her as a downtown girl.
Oh, she still is, in her way.
I mean, she had
already changed a lot
even before we'd lost touch.
Well, a kid'll
do that to you,
especially if the idiot dad
disappears on you.
Is that what happened?
I always thought that
Catherine severed ties.
Though Andy was never
really dad material.
[CHUCKLES]
Well, no one's really dad
material till he has to be.
I guess I'm lucky.
I never had to be.
I wouldn't call that lucky.
I think so.
Well, watch out.
She might still be out there.
Who?
- The girl who does you in.
- [LAUGHS]
Emma?
Would you mind making up
Paul's bed for me?
Okay.
[LIGHT MUSIC]
[DOOR OPENS]
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Thanks.
- Do you think that's overkill?
Ah, I don't know.
It gets a little
chilly at night.
I guess.
What's up with Mom?
Since when does she invite
strangers to come stay with us?
It's good for her
to have friends.
They're harder to come by
when you're older.
Paul doesn't seem old.
He's still living
the same life
he lived when your mom
knew him in her 20s.
That'll keep you young.
[LAUGHTER]
[SIGHS]
That washed up the other day.
You feeling up
for a dip, Paul?
How's the water?
Oh, I'm sure
you can handle it.
[CHUCKLES]
What are you reading, anyway?
Not much of a beach book.
It's not much of a beach.
Not like those glam beaches
in Germany, that's for sure.
You know, I'm a little bit
surprised about our guest.
I thought that you closed
the door
on your starving artist days.
I don't know about that.
So that, uh...
the girl in the photos,
that was Hanna, right, the ex?
Yup. Yeah, she's in all
my recent work.
Oh, she's
a good-looking girl.
It's too bad things
didn't work out.
Well, I imagine it can be
really difficult
- dating a model.
- [LAUGHS]
The problem is when
they start
- wanting to be more than models.
- Oh.
What Hanna didn't get is that
a muse isn't a life partner.
You know, a muse
is just a phase.
Oh, I see. I see.
Muse 'em or lose 'em, huh?
Ooh. That's rough.
Oh, sheesh. Artists.
Oh, yeah, we're all
screwed up.
At least we know
what we're getting into.
You know, women always want
the kind of man
who's gonna use them
and discard them,
and then they get
all clingy and childish
when you finally do it.
I've never felt that way.
Oh, I'm sure you've had
to toss out your fair share.
You know what it's like.
[LAUGHS]
Ehh, maybe there's been
a few... moments.
Yeah, there you go.
- [BOTH LAUGH]
- Moments.
That's what
I'm talking about.
Yeah.
That's what you get for
living in an amazing loft,
years of years
and years in court,
but after all the changed locks
and the legal battles,
I'm still living there.
[LAUGHTER]
And the lesson, Emma, is that
it's virtually impossible
to evict someone in New York.
All right, I'll keep
that in mind.
[LAUGHTER]
It's also one of the reasons
that the rent keeps going up.
All the more reason
to hang on to a cheap place
- if you have one.
- Well, I hear
things have picked up
for you since then.
- Monetarily speaking?
- Mm.
- Yeah, a little.
- Oh, come on, more than that.
Catherine tells me
the new show is huge.
For whatever reason,
the art-buying public
has taken a liking to me.
Well, working as an artist
for years now,
you've been growing
your reputation
and honing your craft.
- Well, it makes sense.
- I don't know.
Maybe I've just been lucky.
I wouldn't be surprised
if the whole scene
turned on me tomorrow.
So you don't see this
as an opportunity?
For what?
Well, to continue
at a higher level.
To sell more at higher prices.
[LAUGHS] I mean,
I'll certainly take the money,
but I don't think
there is a higher level.
I loved taking those pictures,
and I loved...
the performance
I got out of Hanna.
I loved the whole experience.
And if the philistines who buy
art like it, that's nice,
but I... [STAMMERS]
I mean, I don't kid myself
that it means much of anything.
Wow, I'm surprised
how dismissive
you are of your audience.
Oh, I don't know.
If you spent a little more time
with rich art collectors,
I think you might feel
differently.
Yeah? I think actually
I'd be happy that I was
reaching somebody.
No, no, no, I hear you.
It's just...
I don't know. Maybe it's
strange for an artist.
But... [SIGHS]
to be honest,
there's only been
a handful of people in my life
that I've really
wanted to reach.
Fair enough.
[LAUGHS]
[SOMBER PIANO MUSIC]
[DOOR OPENING, CREAKING]
[FOOTSTEPS]
Emma.
- Fuck.
- Shit.
- You okay?
- Uh, yeah.
Not where it should be.
Looks heavy.
What are you doing out here?
[CHUCKLES]
I was thinking
of having a swim.
Right now?
Yeah.
Never been night swimming?
No.
Where's your bathing suit?
[LAUGHS]
Oh, you really haven't
- been night swimming, have you?
- [CHUCKLES]
Coming in?
I thought you just said
you were going swimming.
It's actually a bit cold.
I wouldn't mind a drink though.
You want one?
- I'm okay.
- You going to bed?
No.
So have a drink with me.
Okay.
God, what is all this shit?
- Catherine.
- Mm.
[ICE CLANKING]
Bourbon?
No.
Red wine?
Yes.
You don't like
the hard stuff.
Not really.
You're missing out.
- Shall we?
- Where are you going?
Well, I don't want
to wake everyone up.
Okay.
I'm surprised
you're up this late.
I like being the only one up.
It's a good time to write.
[CLICKS TONGUE] Ohh.
I'm getting in your way, then.
[LAUGHS] I'll survive.
So your idea to live
in Germany next year,
the idea is to write?
Yeah. I mean,
I'm gonna get a job.
I'm not gonna just sit in cafes
all day with my laptop.
Why? I mean, I'm sure Henry
would subsidize you.
I'm sure that he would,
but then I'd just
be another
parasite playing an artist.
- It does run in the family.
- [CHUCKLES]
Are you talking about Andy?
Did you know him?
A little.
Hmm.
Whatever happened to him?
Uh, he's in Portland,
and he's painting.
Not that anyone
has ever taken any notice.
It's settled then.
You'll spend all day
in cafes as a barista
instead of a customer.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Seriously, if you're gonna be
an artist, you need to learn
to take other people's money.
You have to have it
before you know
if you can do
anything good with it.
- [LAUGHS]
- What?
Nothing.
No, it's just,
you've really
got this whole "I'm an artist,
and I don't give a fuck
what anyone thinks" thing down.
It's... it's impressive.
Oh, thanks, I think.
You know, the truth is,
I don't know if I have
anything to write about.
I mean, whatever happened
in my parents' life,
my life ended up being very
privileged and very boring.
Oh, is privilege boring?
I don't know, it seems like
most 19th-century novels
are about the landed gentry.
Well, yeah.
Those novels are great
because they're set
in the 19th century.
- How do you mean?
- I mean back then,
privilege came
with actual rules.
I mean, a girl falls
in love with, has an affair,
or even flirts
with the wrong guy,
and that's what people
fought duels over.
Yeah, but we still have rules
about what sorts
of relationships are acceptable
and which ones are off-limits.
Well, yes. I mean, of course
we have rules, but...
- [CHUCKLES]
- Maybe you just don't know
what it's like to break them.
[LAUGHS]
- What? What's funny?
- Mm.
Nothing, nothing.
I guess I almost did something
off-limits last semester.
- Yeah?
- Mm-hmm.
[CHUCKLES]
Lit 150, the medieval
and 19th-century literature.
Ooh. A professor?
No. No, the TA.
He was 33.
- So what was the problem?
- Oh.
I don't know.
I chickened out.
By the time he finally got
the guts to ask me to hang out,
I was nervous and...
and I don't know.
He got scared.
He thought I was gonna
accuse him
of something, maybe.
Which offends me, actually.
So not exactly "Anna Karenina."
[CHUCKLES]
Do you have anything
good in there?
A bit nosy, aren't you?
Do you mind?
Well, if I did,
I think it's a bit late.
It's my take on a genre
of Italian horror films.
[TENSE, FOREBODING MUSIC]
The killer always
wears black gloves.
- This is Hanna.
- Mm-hmm.
Our last project together.
Will you exhibit them?
I haven't made up
my mind yet.
It's different
from your other work.
Yeah. This time the man
kills the woman.
No, I mean it doesn't
feel staged. It feels real.
Oh, it is real.
What I mean is...
[SIGHS] if you're gonna
show something,
you have to really put yourself
in the situation,
imagine what it would be like
to actually do it.
Who knows?
You might enjoy it.
Did Hanna enjoy it?
I never got a chance
to ask her.
That was our last night
together.
I... I should go.
Okay.
Hope I haven't
given you nightmares.
Isn't that the point?
[ETHEREAL SYNTH TONES]
[DARK SYNTH MUSIC]
[MUFFLED STRUGGLING EFFORTS]
[MUFFLED YELP]
I mean, no pressure.
Really? Says the chef.
- I'm happy to make it.
- Says the chef.
- You're not making anything.
- I made that last night.
You're not gonna work hard
here, you are going to relax.
- Huh?
- You are going to relax.
All right, then.
[LIGHT MUSIC]
You gonna be okay here
tomorrow night by yourself?
I think we've roped Paul
into joining us
for the "New American
Nightmares" opening.
Yeah, it's fine.
You can come if
you want, of course.
I think I'm a little bit
over the Whitney.
[DOOR SLIDES OPEN]
Has anyone
seen my kettlebell?
Your what?
The weight with the loop
at the top.
Did someone move it?
I don't know
why anyone would.
Emma, could you tell Paul
that his breakfast is ready?
I think I just saw him
go up front.
Okay.
Is that too much to ask?
I'm doing it.
[LIGHT MUSIC]
Paul?
Mom says
your breakfast is ready.
Wonderful.
Coming?
Can I join you?
Go ahead.
[SIGHS]
Any literary breakthroughs
since last night?
Hm. I wish.
What are you stuck on?
I have an idea. I'm just
not sure which way to take it.
That sounds like a good
problem to have.
- You think?
- Yeah.
Just pick a direction
and go with it.
If it doesn't work,
try another.
Yeah, I... I want to.
I just don't know what ideas
are real-life
and which are bullshit.
Oh, don't worry
about real life.
Just find something
that excites you.
So I guess that it's sex
and violence that excites you.
Not only me.
And is that drawn
from real life?
It is my life.
What does that mean?
[LAUGHS]
I'm gonna go to the beach.
I'll see you down there.
[DARK SYNTH MUSIC]
[MUSIC BUILDS]
[PHONE LINE TRILLING]
The number
you have dialed
cannot be reached
at this time.
If you feel you have reached
this recording in error,
please try your call again.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
Hey, we're gonna head over
to the fish market.
- Both of you?
- Your mom doesn't trust me
to shop unsupervised.
You can take over once
we get back home.
I need help with something.
Can you remind me
when we get back?
Can we just do it
really quick?
Sure, okay.
- Could you give us a minute?
- Yeah.
Okay, this is
gonna sound stupid,
but how well do you
actually know Paul?
I know that you guys
were friends a long time ago.
It's just, don't you think
it's weird that he
calls you up
out of nowhere
and wants to stay with us?
Oh, no. No, Paul's always
been like that.
I mean, he'd be talking
to somebody at a party,
and before you know it,
he'd be on
some week-long
adventure somewhere.
We wouldn't even know
what had happened.
I guess you knew him
pretty well.
[CHUCKLES] Yeah.
I did.
It's just, I've been looking
at his photos, and I know
that they're supposed
to be edgy and everything,
but I can't help feeling
that he enjoys violence,
especially against women.
Let me share something
with you.
Back in the '90s,
Paul did a series inspired
by Wedekind's "Lulu,"
where a prostitute from London
picks up Jack the Ripper.
He kills her, and then
he cuts out her womb.
In trademark Paul style,
it was pretty gruesome.
- Were people offended?
- Mm,
not anyone that mattered.
Everyone loved it.
In fact, it was
a really fun shoot.
And Paul was perfectly
gentle the whole time.
It only looked violent.
You were there.
I was the girl
who got murdered.
[SIGHS]
Wow. You must think
I am really uptight.
[CHUCKLES] No.
I just think I have
a bit more experience
with these kind of people,
that's all.
Yeah, I guess that is true.
So you okay with Paul
hanging around?
Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's fine.
Maybe I can see if he can
drudge up some of those photos.
- [CHUCKLES]
- He might have
- digital copies or something.
- Sure.
[LAUGHS SOFTLY]
- Okay, I'll be back in a bit.
- Okay.
[SOMBER POP MUSIC PLAYING
ON STEREO]
Please don't leave me
Please don't go
Please don't leave me
Down below
If you drop me
like a stone
- Hey.
- Hey.
I will never leave
the bottle
What do you think?
- Who is it?
- It's my buddy Jay's band.
- It's nice.
- I will always be alone
Yeah.
I'm kind of warming
up to it, too.
Give me your email, I'll send
you the download link.
Yeah, thanks.
How cruel a fate
It was doomed
from the start
I'll fade away
Into the dark
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
[SHUTTER CLICKS]
[LIGHT, JAZZY MUSIC]
So how did the photo
of me turn out?
- [SHUTTER CLICKS]
- Well, I have to develop it
before I answer that.
- Guess I'm one of those.
- [LAUGHS]
Right. You're one of those
who hasn't figured out yet
that you have to ask
a girl's permission
before you take her photo.
[CLICK]
If I want a picture,
I just take it.
What if I don't want
my picture taken?
Umm...
- You could smash my camera.
- [LAUGHS]
It's happened before.
Well, I'll keep that in mind.
[CLICK]
What about your stories?
Do you ask permission
before you write those?
No. No, I don't actually,
because that is
totally different.
- Oh, is it?
- Yes.
Oh, right.
[BOTH LAUGH]
You just... you're using people
regardless.
It's not like you're asking
for their consent.
And it would just, you know,
get in the way if you did.
Oh.
I'm glad that you're
so liberated
from social norms.
[LAUGHS]
Oh, again?
[CLICK]
[LAUGHS]
So I have to smash your camera?
That's the only way
to stop this?
Do what you have to do.
[SIGHS]
[CLICK]
You're embarrassing me.
[CHUCKLES]
Wow.
What's wrong with my glasses?
- Nothing.
- [CHUCKLES]
[CLICK]
Um...
Can I... can I get those back,
please?
Just one more.
[CLICK]
I need them to see.
- Really?
- Yes.
I mean, you've been
walking fine.
It's not like you tripped over.
All right.
One more.
[CLICK]
[WHISPERING] I feel like
we're being watched.
[CLICK]
I better go...
see if I can help Catherine
with the groceries.
- [LAUGHS]
- I guess.
Mmm, this is delicious.
Great idea.
Well, I figured
that you should have the
full beach house experience.
- [LAUGHTER]
- I appreciate that.
So are you finding any
inspiration around here?
Paul finds inspiration
everywhere.
Really?
[LAUGHTER]
Taken any photos?
One or two.
Oh, you'll have to
show us those.
Would you get me
some more wine, Paul?
Sure.
Thank you.
Pleasure.
What about me?
Can I get some more?
[LAUGHTER]
Oh, thank you, Henry.
Mom, have you ever gone
swimming at night?
Yeah, when I was your age.
Probably because
it was dangerous.
The water's a little cold
for my liking, anyway.
I'll say it again.
[LAUGHS]
You can say it again.
You can pour me another glass.
- All right.
- Thank you very much.
- Are you sure?
- Mm, yes.
- Are you really sure?
- I'm very sure.
You have to say stop 'cause
otherwise it just keeps going.
And you keep going.
[BOTH LAUGH]
You can stop.
You realize that's
your daughter sitting there
with your old flame.
Okay.
- We'll start making out.
- Yeah.
- Just a, like, a little bit.
- I'm just sayin'...
Time for bed.
[LAUGHS] Really?
- Mom, it's so early.
- Yeah, really.
Yeah, I think you're right.
- [SIGHS]
- [LAUGHS] Come on.
What can I say? I've...
tragically aged
into an early bedtime.
- Good night.
- Good night, Paul.
Oh.
Let's put the wine away.
[DREAMY SYNTH MUSIC]
[KNOCKING]
I thought that you said
that you were going to sleep.
- I am going to sleep.
- [LAUGHS]
- Really?
- Really.
Oh.
[LAUGHS]
- No glasses tonight?
- No.
I only need them for distance.
Oh, so you really just
wear them to look smart.
Well yeah, and to ward
off douchey guys.
Oh, how is that
working for you?
[LAUGHS]
Hmm.
[HANGAR RATTLING]
Hm, let me guess.
You're gonna use this
in a photo shoot?
[LAUGHS]
Imprison some
naked model, perhaps?
I was thinking about it.
I just have to
find the right model.
[CLEARS THROAT]
I wanna pose for something.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
But you're gonna have to
come up with something
better than that.
Yeah, you're probably right.
What shall I do?
Hm.
Well, with you it's got to be
something gruesome,
so that, you know,
it gets attention.
But it also has to have
some high cultural motifs,
so that everyone will think
that it is very serious.
Exactly. I mean,
it's the oldest trick in art.
You know, when Moreau
painted Salome,
he was giving us a naked woman
and a severed head,
but it's also a Bible story.
I know what we should do.
Judith and Holofernes.
Wow.
Hmm?
A girl walks
into a man's tent,
plies him with liquor,
and cuts off his head.
Yeah, I... I'm surprised I
haven't used that already.
I mean, you're probably gonna
want to sex it up, of course,
the part
before the decapitation.
- Yeah, probably. Yeah.
- Yeah.
[LAUGHS]
I have to warn you, though.
My fees are exceptionally high.
They should be.
[LAUGHS] Really?
Yeah, no matter how high,
someone will be willing
to pay them.
[LAUGHS]
[LAUGHS]
[CLEARS THROAT]
Well, Judith...
shall we start with a drink?
Sure.
Maybe a real drink this time.
Okay. I can handle liquor,
thank you.
I'll be right back.
[DREAMY SYNTH MUSIC]
You gonna get in a workout?
What are you doing with this?
Uh, not much. It's harder
to swing than I imagined.
You know that Henry is
looking for this, correct?
I did not know that.
I'm gonna have
to confiscate it.
[LAUGHS]
- Well, don't hurt yourself.
- [LAUGHS]
Where are you going?
All right. [LAUGHS]
- And what is this?
- It's just bourbon.
[GROANS]
Cheers.
Hm.
Mmm.
- It's really nice.
- Right?
- [LAUGHS]
- A little heat.
A little heat in the throat.
- Mm.
- Ahh.
- So.
- So.
Tell me about Hanna.
What do you want to know?
Why did it go wrong?
Why does anything go wrong?
You know, she inspired me for a
while, and then I got bored.
- Hm.
- And the more she clung
- to me, the more I loathed her.
- [LAUGHS] Wow,
- that's not harsh at all.
- Relationships end.
You know what it's like.
- Do I?
- Yeah.
We've already established
that you're a heartbreaker.
When did we establish that?
I told you
that my life is... is boring.
[BOTH LAUGH]
You're not a very good liar.
- [LAUGHS]
- If you're gonna write
fictions, you have to
make them a bit
more convincing than that.
Okay.
Okay.
I lied to you
the other night.
I said that, um, that
nothing happened with the TA.
- But it did.
- Mm-hmm.
So the whole thing about
turning him down, that was...
Oh, no, that happened. Um...
But then a couple days later,
I decided that I wanted
to turn it around.
And so I showed up
at his office,
and I told him exactly
what I wanted,
and you can imagine the rest.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
- Right there in the office?
- [LAUGHS]
Maybe.
And after?
It was fun while it lasted.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Ah, so you got bored
with someone too.
Yes, I guess that is
one way of saying it.
That was good.
I believe that story.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Should I?
Wait. Wait. Wait, I don't...
- Are you okay?
- I don't... I don't feel good.
You got to be careful
with whisky.
Yeah.
Will you just...
will you just wake me up in,
like... like, two minutes?
[PANTING]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[RUSTLING]
[DARK TONE]
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
[WATER SPLASHES]
[WATER RUNNING]
[SOMBER PIANO MUSIC]
- Hey.
- [SIGHS] Hey, um...
Uh, how you doing?
[CLEARS THROAT]
Uh... what happened
last night?
I don't remember anything.
Ohh, um,
well, I tried to wake you,
but you weren't having it,
so I just carried you down
the hallway to your bed,
and then I went
and crashed out, so...
A little anticlimactic, but...
[BOTH LAUGH]
So you're...
Yeah, heading that way.
- Yeah, I can...
- So, after you...
- Bye.
- Okay. Hm.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Come on, Paul.
[CLEARS THROAT]
You know, it's funny.
I still can't find
that kettlebell.
You know, I think
Paul actually stole it.
I will go get it from his room.
Paul's leaving soon.
He was just telling us.
What?
Yeah, uh...
I got to get back
to the city.
I thought all of you guys
were going to an event tonight.
Henry and I are still going.
All right, well,
I'm gonna take a swim,
and I'll grab my stuff
when I get back.
Sure.
[SOMBER PIANO MUSIC]
[DOOR SLIDES OPEN]
[EXHALES]
We thought it would be better
if just us three
had some time together.
- I thought it was Paul's idea.
- It's mutual.
I feel sick.
Uh, listen.
I understand that a girl
like you is gonna be drawn
to a more sophisticated crowd,
but Paul's not
the right kind of company.
Know what he said
to me the other day?
He said... [CHUCKLES]
"Women really want
a man who will use them up
and then throw them out."
- He says stuff like that.
- No, he meant it.
He was talking very
specifically about his ex.
There's something...
there's something wrong there.
[SINK RUNNING]
[VOMITING]
[PANTING]
[DARK TONE]
[PHONE LINE TRILLING]
The number you have dialed
cannot be reached
at this time.
If you feel...
[EERIE SYNTH MUSIC]
I was just looking
for Henry's weight.
Yeah, I returned it.
- I should let you pack.
- Emma.
You can be difficult
to figure out.
I could say the same
thing about you.
But you've figured
me out, haven't you?
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC]
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Can I talk to you a minute?
I just wanted to say sorry.
For what?
Yesterday you mentioned
concerns
about Paul staying here.
You were right.
It was a bad idea.
Why?
Because despite our past,
he's still a stranger.
It's just been too long.
I shouldn't have let him stay.
Well, he's gone now.
But you don't seem happy
about it.
No, I'm glad.
Really?
Okay.
[SIGHS] Good.
Ohh, I gotta get ready to go.
Cool.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
We're gonna stay
in the city overnight.
There's no sense
in driving back late.
You sure you don't wanna
come with us?
I'm good.
Between you and me,
you're not missing much.
There's some swordfish left
if you get hungry.
- She will manage.
- Okay.
[DARK TONE]
[EERIE MUSIC]
[DOOR SLIDES OPEN, SQUEAKS]
[EERIE TONE]
Hello?
[TENSE, EERIE TONE]
Emma.
I didn't see your car
outside.
I walked from
the train station.
- Why?
- So no one would see me.
I was just going
to the beach.
Now?
Night swimming.
- Emma.
- Yeah?
Are you afraid of me?
I just keep thinking
about last night.
- Me too.
- No, not like that.
What then?
What happened after you
knocked me out with that drink?
I think you did a pretty good
job of knocking yourself out.
I think I had some help.
It was a strong pour.
That's not what I mean.
[TENSE, DARK TONE]
I don't really
understand you. [LAUGHS]
But I'll bet you're starting
to be more creative.
Mm, mm, no, no.
[BOTH GRUNT]
Let go of me!
[BOTH LAUGH]
What's going on here?
- We both know.
- We both know what?
- She's out there.
- Who?
Hanna...
Wrapped in the net...
held down by the weight
that you took.
[LAUGHS]
You've got it all figured
out, haven't you?
That's why you came out here,
isn't it?
Now I've come back to silence
the girl who knows too much.
You don't have to.
It excites you,
doesn't it? Huh?
Will you let me go?
- You want me to let you go?
- Mm-hmm.
[PANTING HEAVILY]
It's gonna ruin your story.
[PANTING]
Ah...
[CHOKING]
- [BLADE SLICING]
- [GRUNTS]
[BOTH GRUNT]
[TENSE MUSIC]
Okay.
[DIALING]
[INTENSE MUSIC]
[INHALES SHARPLY]
Oh.
[GASPS]
[CRYING]
[DARK SYNTH MUSIC]
[INHALING SHARPLY]
[CRYING]
Oh, God.
Oh.
[PANTING]
[INTENSE MUSIC]
[GRUNTS]
[GRUNTS]
[STRAINING EFFORTS]
[SOMBER SYNTH MUSIC]
[SIGHS]
Have you been in the water
yet today? It's nice.
Uh, I'm a little busy.
You're gonna kill
those classes in school...
whenever you decide to go back.
- I'm going back next semester.
- Really?
When was this decision made?
This morning.
Well, I think
that's a very smart choice.
From the looks of things,
you won't have to go far
for inspiration.
Yeah, you're right.
[TENSE MUSIC]
[PIANO MUSIC]