Columbus Day (2008) Movie Script
Leonard!
Leonard!
Leonard!
Leonard!
It hurts!
- Leonard.
Leonard, I'm gonna have
to kill you, Leonard.
I won't say anything.
No, you'll talk, Leonard.
There are rules, Leonard.
Stop moving, Leonard!
You have a choice.
Look at me, Leonard.
Look at me.
Robbie...
Robbie.
Where's Robbie?
I'm going to visit my son.
Aw, come on.
Oi.
What the fuck are you doing?
Come on, Manny.
Come on, Manny.
I wasn't with her.
I lost it!
- Let's go back.
# Premonition of ecstasy #
# Who would believe
it could be such a miracle #
Hello.
Where the hell are ya?
- What do you mean, Johnny?
I'm at my apartment,
like we said.
I don't think splittin' up
was a good idea.
Well, we're alive,
aren't we?
They follow you?
- I don't know yet.
W-why didn't you
answer the phone?
I guess I didn't hear it
over the music.
You know I don't like
the fucking cell phone.
What?
Get the fuck off the cell phone.
Jesus, Johnny, okay.
You're the one who called me on it.
You know, it could be any prick
sittin' outside your house on the C.B.
pickin' up the airwaves,
you know?
Did Joey La Torre call yet?
No, but it-- it's early.
Okay, listen, uh...
turn the music down.
Turn the music off.
Get off the cell phone.
Just use a hard line.
Do you remember what that guy
in South Pas used to say?
He said, "Hard line for businazz..."
Yeah, "Cell phone for piece-of-ass."
All right, Johnny, hold on a sec.
Let me just, uh, turn the music off.
# Illusions of rapture #
Here you go.
All right, I'm back.
Okay. I'll call you at 9:15.
A'ight. Hey, Johnny?
We're going to Florida,
you motherfucker!
I know, Manny,
we're going to Florida.
Hey, but we did it, man.
We blasted into space.
Our fathers never had
anything like this.
We made up for it, right?
Yeah, Manny.
We--we did it.
I'll call you at 9:15.
A'ight, a'ight.
Hey, Johnny, really, I love you.
Thanks, man. O-okay.
Hang up the phone, Manny.
A'ight, man.
Flor-i-da! Flor-i-da!
Heh. You feelin' it?
Yeah, yeah.
Okay.
Hello?
Hey, it's me.
I did it.
Come get me.
Let's go to Florida.
Can't you get a little excited?
I am excited.
- Cheryl, I just pulled off
the biggest job in the
history of... history.
This is where we jump up and down
and scream and yell, right?
I'm sorry, baby, you woke me up.
I'm dying to go to Florida.
I mean excited-- excited
for me, for what I did.
Johnny, you're
the best. Really.
Now there's no more shit.
It's smooth sailing all the way...
so when are you
gonna come get me?
No more shit?
Johnny... I love you.
Yeah, me too.
T.G.& R., how may I
direct your call?
It's me,
your ex-husband.
How are ya?
Is that why you called?
No, but I thought
we could be cordial.
You have Alana's new number?
It's the same number--
the area code was changed
You could've called
information.
Well, then I would've missed
your charming conversational skills.
That's true. Hold, please.
Anderson wanted you to call him.
Okay, I'm back.
Did you change any more
while I was gone?
The area code is 941.
Bye, John.
Aren't you gonna ask me how I am?
How are you, John?
I'm great.
Really good.
You know,
smooth sailing.
Great. Call again next decade.
Good-bye.
You've reached
David, Alana, and Eddie.
We're not here.
Leave a message.
Hey, Alana, it's your dad.
I just thought I'd call and, uh...
see if you wanted to
catch up, you know.
I'm gonna be in Florida,
so, um, um...
Doesn't have to be right away--
I know you're busy,
so think about it.
...and I love you.
Fuck!
You've reached
David, Alana, and Eddie.
We're not here.
Leave a message.
Yeah, and, uh...
and I love you.
Okay. Okay, bye.
You know, you shouldn't smoke.
It's unhealthy.
I know, that's why I like it.
Hate the taste, love the cancer.
I'm pretty sure there's
better-tasting ways to get cancer.
You a drug dealer?
Do I look like a drug dealer?
No.
But are you?
Are you looking to buy some drugs?
Of course not.
Then it shouldn't make any
difference how I look, should it?
Shouldn't use drugs.
It can make you irrational.
You don't know the half of it.
I heard you cuss.
Shouldn't you be in school?
Nope. Holiday.
Uh, no.
No, it's not a holiday.
See, that's your problem
right there--skipping school.
That leads straight to drugs.
Is that how you started usin'?
What?
Usin'.
It's slang for drugs.
I know what it is.
- 'Course you do.
Must know all
the slang, near, huh?
What's your name, slick?
My name--
my name is for my friends.
Heh, me too.
I'm Antoine, but most
of my homies call me A.T.
It is a holiday, though.
No, it's not.
It's the fucking middle of October.
I don't see any floats, I don't see
any flags, I don't see any Santas.
Don't see any of those.
You think I'm stupid?
Are you stupid?
Shouldn't tell kids they're stupid.
They do grow up to believe it.
Did your mom tell you that?
No. I figured it out.
Well, you're probably right.
Is that what happened to you?
I don't have time for you, kid.
You don't have time?
You're sitting on a bench, man.
I'm thinking.
- About what?
What a miracle my life's
gonna be when you vanish.
That hurts my feelings.
Really?
Does it? I'm sorry.
I really am...
but I just need
some time alone, okay?
Maybe he just works here.
He doesn't work here.
They go inside, they make the
transaction, then we move in.
They're never gonna
believe we're real cops,
'cause this is not a real cop car.
Listen, we're down the street.
It's gonna happen so fast
they won't notice.
I need a doughnut. If I had a
doughnut, I'd feel like a real cop.
Oh, this does not look like
a business transaction.
What the hell is that?
Hey, hey!
Hey!
Oh, no. Oh, no.
Oh, fuck!
Hey! Hold it right there.
Don't shoot me.
I'm a civilian, see?
You know why this door's ajar?
Um, kidneys.
Uh, you know,
you drink beer, you gotta piss.
Why?
Goddamn kidneys.
How many drinks
have you had tonight, sir?
Well, uh,
John got smashed.
I'm designated,
Officer, don't worry--
I'm dry as a bone.
So, I'm drivin'
John home, and, uh...
You know, he's gotta--
Leonard. Leonard!
So, pissing wakes his wife up
but coming into the house doesn't?
Um...
Well, the bathroom
is right by the bed.
What if he don't flush?
Um...
Eh, she's gonna see
it in the morning.
Put down the gun!
Put the gun down!
Step away slowly,
put your hands
behind your head,
and face the window.
Oh, God!
The battery's dead.
Go away.
Hello.
- It's John.
Look, La Torre and
his guys just called.
They want to change
the meeting place.
I choose the place.
I know, that's what I told 'em.
Manny, tell me what they said.
Tell me exactly what they said.
They said there was some
heat at the original place.
Wait, wait, wait, they said--
They suggested that you pick me up?
- Yeah.
Listen, here's what's gonna happen.
I'm gonna call you back
on your cell phone.
John, the cell phone--
- It's gonna be fine.
I'm gonna tell you exactly
where I'm located, okay?
We're gonna have
this same conversation.
You're gonna say exactly
the same thing on the cell phone.
Understand?
- Yeah.
Manny, you're gonna
be fine, okay?
I'm calling you right back.
Hello?
- Yeah, Manny, it's John.
Did they call yet?
Yeah, they called.
They--they-- they want to...
They want to change the place,
the, uh, the meeting place.
What?
Yeah, that's what they said,
and then they said
there was some heat,
you know, like,
at the place.
They want to change it
to Poppy's on the east side.
That's... all they said.
No, no, no, fuck that.
I got the case,
I choose the place.
Should I call them back
and tell them to fuck off,
tell those little shits
to kiss my ass?
Tell those motherfuck--
- Manny, Manny.
Do you have a car?
- Yeah, yeah.
Should I, uh, should
I come and get you?
Yeah, come get me.
I'm at
the Mexican market
across the street from Echo Park.
You got that? West side
of Echo Park, Mexican market.
Hey, Manny, let's-- let's give 'em
about 10 minutes to sweat it.
I want to finish my taco.
It's really good.
Fine, yeah, finish your taco.
Not so close to the water!
Joey La Torre, you son of a--
Hey, hey, what are you doing?
What is this?
What--hey!
Hey-lo?
Manny, get out of there.
But I'm just
a couple minutes away.
Wherever you're at,
turn around, okay?
What about Florida?
We're going to Florida.
Just get out of there.
Oh!
They got me, Johnny!
Not so close to the water!
Come on, Nicholas,
not so close to the water.
Time out, okay?
No.
- Hey, just a--
What?
It's John.
Don't hang up.
Hell, no.
Motherfucker, what time is it?
Morning or night?
- Morning.
Don't hang up, don't
hang up, don't hang up.
Ugh. John, can't this shit wait?
No, it's too hot.
I gotta do it today.
What, did you do a job
without a fence?
No, I had one--
Joey La Torre.
He turned on me,
killed Manny.
Why would he do that?
Doesn't sound like Joey.
Yeah, tell that to Manny.
All right, well,
how much do you need?
It's priceless.
What'd you get,
a Faberg egg
It's better than that.
How much do you need
to be willing to let go of it?
- 4
- What, am I high?
You're gonna be.
We can turn this into $10 million
in the street by tonight.
Then why didn't you ask for 10?
- 'Cause I'm up in it.
Why do you think I called
your stupid ass?
Hey, hey, show some respect.
It's gonna take some time.
I don't have time.
Well, make time, John.
Know your customer.
I mean, these motherfuckers
at 9:00 in the morning
haven't come down
from their coke yet.
Listen, they see this shit,
they're gonna sober right up.
All right, give me 2 hours.
I'm gonna call you back in one.
Hey, I can't drop a deuce
in an hour!
I'm gonna call you back in one hour.
Tell me what you got.
I can't do that.
John, you gotta tell me what you got.
I'm gonna call you back in one hour!
Hey, John.
Hey. How ya doin'?
Good.
- Whiskey go with that beer?
You know it does.
You look rode hard
and put away wet.
My son called.
There you go.
Well, that's a good thing.
First thing
he says to me--
"I know you're
not coming."
I once told the kid
that if I ever made enough,
I'd move out there.
Phoenix.
What you gonna do?
I'm gonna go next week,
after I finish this job up.
Job? What job?
All I see of you,
you're like Tequila Tex
on your stool,
your trusty steed.
Yeehaw!
Uh, what kind of job?
What is it, anyway?
You could call it quality control.
Well, what the hell does that mean,
like, seeing if the teddy bear's
got both eyes?
Somebody wants
to buy something;
I tell 'em whether
it's a fake or not.
And... somebody pays you?
Leonard, you're a piece of work.
He almost fell into the lake!
Hello.
It's me.
If anyone calls, don't answer it.
Are you okay?
I'm okay, just don't
answer the phone.
Go make sure
your door's locked,
and if anyone knocks,
don't answer it,
not even if it's the police.
The police?
Yeah, something
happened to Manny.
Does this mean we're
not gonna go to Florida?
You're going to Florida.
Just do like I say.
Hello?
Hey, Alana, it's your dad.
How you doin'?
I don't think
I want to talk to you.
Well, uh, I'm just callin'
to see how you're doin',
and, uh...
see if you wanted
to catch up,
if you--you and him
doin' all right?
You guys need
any money?
Dad, I can't do this.
This has nothing
to do with me.
Um, okay, let me
talk to Edward.
C-can he talk now?
Do you want
to undermine me?
Undermine?
I just wanna talk
to my grandson.
I mean, how often do I call?
I mean, how of--
We've been here every day
for the past 3 years.
Yeah, well, it's different now.
Why?
- I...
Well, it's... I got some money.
Money?
- Yeah.
I got some money,
and I'm coming to Florida.
You have got a lot of nerve
asking me to be here for you.
I'm not asking-- just--just--
let me talk to you, okay?
Dad, I'm going now.
No, no! Listen...
Dad, you can't boss me around.
You never listen.
I'm not--I'm--
I'm list--I'll listen.
How can you act like
you care about someone?
I'll listen.
You're not even interested in--
- What?
I'm gonna go.
Listen, listen... I'm listening, okay?
I didn't call for--
No, no, no,
I didn't call for any--
I'm just-- I'm listening, okay?
Listen. Hear that?
That pause right there?
That static, that right
there was me listening.
I can't do this.
Oh, not too bad.
Come here to meet someone?
You here to skip school?
I'm not skipping school.
It's where I always
come for the holidays.
I just think you're here to
meet someone, just sitting here.
You're just sittin' here.
No, I'm not,
I'm people-watching.
Oh, you're casing people.
You casing me now,
is that what you're doing?
Nah.
The pigeon man, though.
The pigeon man?
What you got on him?
He's a widow.
A widow?
Yeah. His wife died.
Oh, a widower.
Yeah, that's--
that's what I said.
Boy, he's dying, too.
How you know that?
Because the scar
on his hand from Dallas.
Dallas?
Yeah, where they pump
out your kidneys.
You mean dialysis.
That's what I said.
Yeah, well, people can
live forever on dialysis.
Yeah, but sometimes people
decide to stop going,
and that's it.
How do you know
he stopped going?
'Cause the scar on his hand?
It's healing.
I'll tell you about
the pigeon man.
First of all, he's not a bum.
He's what you call
a soft mark.
Sure, he's lonely--
he's feedin' pigeons
in a dumb-ass park,
but he's not a bum.
You see that?
See that watch,
see that shine?
He's got a Rolex.
That means he's got money.
He's got it socked away,
doesn't want to let on.
That's why he's dresses
in the ratty clothes.
And he's lonely,
sure, he's lonely.
What do
lonely people want?
Friends.
- That's right.
So I become
his best friend.
"Hey, let's have lunch
every Thursday.
How 'bout a little
business deal?"
He's writing
a cashier's check
faster than he can
change his wet diaper.
I just think he's lonely
and his wife died.
So will we.
Yeah, well, I see
dollars, you see death.
Take your pick, kid.
So, who is he?
- Who what?
The person
that you're meeting.
Can I have the hotdog?
Yeah, eat the hotdog.
Hello.
Who've you got for me?
No one. See, John, these people
are way smarter than me.
They got people
answering their phones
so when assholes call
early in the morning
they don't get woken up.
Isn't that crazy?
I'm gonna get an assistant, too.
That way they can
tell you to fuck off!
Well, then you'll miss out on
the pleasure of doing it yourself.
When will you
know something?
I said 2 hours, man.
That gives me an hour and a quarter.
Now, chill out
and let me work my magic.
Your magic?
- Yeah, man.
A little cereal,
a little Price is Right--
it's a beautiful day, man.
Oh, you feeling it?
Oh, I'm in
the zone, baby.
I'm gonna call you
in an hour and 14 minutes.
Cheeri-o.
Cheerio.
Go get something
to eat?
Sure, what
do you want?
Oh, your dog is so cute!
What's his name?
Pancho.
Hello?
I'm running late.
I'm horny. I put my nightie on for you.
When are you coming?
Cheryl, I've got business.
I'm not wearing anything.
I'm naked.
Jesus, Cheryl,
I can't do that out here.
Well, I can do it in here, baby.
I want your dick.
Ohh... I'm on my tiptoes.
I can feel you behind me.
I'm right here.
I'm all in you.
Yeah...
The double taco.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, the delivery man.
What?
He's up in my room.
In my bed. What would you do if
you came home right now? Tell me.
Why do you always have to bring
somebody else into it?
What?
- It's always "some guy this, some guy that..."
It's like you
don't even need me.
You don't have
to get upset, baby.
You know what,
you're cheap.
How come I never
knew that till now?
Fuck you! You're a fucking
asshole, you know that?
Oh, yeah.
Came to talk?
Only empty bench.
Huh--tuh-- you have something
in your ear right here.
What are you talking about?
- No, it's, like, in your ear.
It's red.
You got it.
Leonard!
Leonard!
Leonard!
Do you have "gaydar"?
What?
Radar for gay people.
Well, I know a few things,
if that's what you mean.
Coo'. We're gonna do
a gaydar test.
We'll scan the park
and see who shows up.
Cool?
Boop! Negative.
Boop!
Boop, boop.
Boop!
Boop!
What's
your final count?
None.
- Heh, I found one.
What, you gonna count
the ice cream guy?
No...
Me.
You.
I'm gay.
- You're gay.
I'm gay
as a day in May.
My mama's gay, too.
That's where
I got gaydar.
From Evelyn,
her girlfriend.
She told you you were gay?
No, but she told me
what it was like.
I don't like girls.
I don't feel like I fit in.
What's wrong
with girls?
Well, number one,
they like dumb stuff,
and they don't know
how to play.
Okay, let's keep
people-watching.
Or park-watching.
Like, that car there--
does that car
come every day?
Never seen it.
What about that guy?
Yeah. He gets high here
before work.
And those 2 guys there?
Never seen them before.
Oh, shit.
Give me your backpack.
- No!
Give me your goddamn backpack.
- No!
Be quiet.
No!
Quit crying and listen
to me. Come here.
Listen to me.
We're gonna take a walk together.
I've got a gun.
I'm gonna use it.
I'm calling the cops.
- You call the cops, we're both done,
but you're gonna be first,
you understand me?
Look.
Can I hold it?
- No!
All right, after we're done.
We're just gonna take
a walk now, all right?
Slow down, slow down.
We'll walk right toward him.
We're not afraid of anything.
Just gonna be 2 guys out walkin'.
We're gonna go get
some ice cream. Smile.
And a... student and his teacher.
Okay, that's it.
Come on, let's go this way.
Ice cream!
Change of plan.
Nope. I want my ice cream.
I want chocolate,
and for him, I guess, too.
I'll take your backpack now.
Okay.
Listen, if that guy
comes any closer,
just say hi, okay?
Uh, why?
It's a surprise.
Hi, there.
I think we should go now.
What was that?
Good luck.
What's in the bag?
Give me the bag.
We wanna see what's in there.
Are you in trouble?
Yeah.
Sort of.
Follow me.
There's a secret passage.
Come on. Ehh!
Come on!
This is it.
This is where...
Civil War or something,
um, like a magic act.
Um, where
the naked lady
disappears
through the trap door.
Something like that.
This is like a locker.
I don't think
she was naked.
Well, bathing suit.
You know.
That's the door out back
to the Dumpsters.
Whatcha think?
Incredible.
This...
is my racquetball.
This is Shaq.
Everybody at school
tries to collect it.
I really don't like him,
to be honest.
Want it?
I'm serious.
Well... thanks, but, uh...
That's okay.
How can you not like Shaq?
Everyone likes Shaq.
I guess I'm just not like everyone.
These are some of the letters
that my grandma sent me.
Um, yeah.
She's dead now, but...
You know.
This is my mom's hair
when it was long...
'for it got cut off.
Wanna try?
T.G.& R., how may I direct your call?
It's John, Alice.
Did you forget Alana's number?
Listen, you know
how to talk to her.
I thought
you could help me.
John, you just talk.
I don't do that.
I make a plan.
That's your problem.
That's what I do.
That's how I got where I am today.
Exactly.
- Hey, don't fuck with me.
Oh, I'm serious.
- I wanna see the gun.
You said!
Uh, hang on.
Are you kidding me?
- You said I could.
All right, all right.
Hang on.
What are you--?
All right. Here.
Now go play.
You're dead.
You have no idea.
Over there.
Okay, I'm back.
The man with the plan.
You didn't seem to mind all
those years I had you set up.
I was a girl, John.
Girls like things.
But things don't last.
Oh, don't come off
like I was some phony,
throwing dresses at you.
I mean...
You fell for me, I fell for you.
You know that.
First day of college,
sitting on those steps,
thousand girls walk by,
and I pick you.
You picked my ass.
Well, it was
attached to you.
I didn't think that you
could still hurt my feelings.
You can never underestimate
the man of action.
Wait. Listen.
- I'd better go.
Um... I asked
about you, okay?
I asked all your friends
everything about you,
what you liked to read,
what your favorite movie was,
what your music was,
what your favorite song was.
I stayed up late
when you got up early,
was a morning person,
you're not.
Everything. Food.
Your favorite place,
Pantini's Famous.
Yeah, I paid off
the manager there
to clear the place out,
make your favorite--
tiramisu, old man with the violin...
Viola.
Viola, whatever.
Anyway...
I didn't have
much money back then.
It was a fortune to me.
I blew every dime I had.
Almost sold my goat.
I didn't care.
I got the mos beautiful girl
in school, and I got her angle.
But we went for burgers.
She gets in the car,
going on about this burger,
she's got her heart set on it...
You were
such a wild horse.
And I just realized, just right
then in that moment,
just making you happy was...
all that mattered, so...
I mean, I knew.
That's when I fell for you.
You rented the whole place
out and never told me.
I gotta go.
If this is so hard for you,
why do you even start?
You're just kidding around, right?
Shut up.
Or what, you're
gonna shoot me?
You don't want
to do that.
You're mean.
I'm sorry.
No, you're not!
Okay, you're right.
Um...
What do you want me to do?
Show me what's in there.
Show me what's in the case.
Okay. Um...
I'll show you, and...
If you give me the gun first.
No. Show me, and
I'll give you the gun.
Okay.
Be careful. You know
that's real, right?
I'll show you the case, okay?
Yeah.
I'll show you, all right?
You're mean.
You're mean.
You're mean.
John!
Stop, John!
Hey, what are you doin'?
- Get out!
Hey! Ehh, hey!
Let's go!
Stop!
This is Max.
- What have you got?
Nothing.
- What do you mean?
Well, no buyers, chum.
The banks are closed.
It's a holiday.
What the fuck is with the holidays?
What holiday?
It's Columbus Day.
Well, that's not a real holiday.
Exactly, right?
What the fuck is Columbus, anyway?
Well, he did discover America.
Yeah, and I discovered my ass
but then realized it was
already there, Johnny.
Then the Indians should've sailed
to Spain and told them about it.
And told them
to stay the fuck out.
Max, can I ask you
a personal question--
are you having some Bob Marley-rasta-ganja-
vision quest on my ass?
John, I don't know
if you realize this,
but I'm South American,
which means that I'm
at least half Indian, okay?
Don't you white people
read anymore?
You guys are busy with
your Klan barbeques and shit.
Uh, hang on a second, Malcolm X.
We're talking history, right?
I mean, Columbus did know
the world was round;
he did know America was there.
Bullshit.
He was sailing for Asia
because he thought the walls
were made out of gold, okay?
He ran into America
and called us Indians
because he thought
he was in India.
Hombre was just lost.
Well, that's how you find
new and interesting stuff.
At least the Spaniard was brave.
Shit, yeah, he was brave.
I ain't getting
in no motherfucking boat.
By the way, he was
Italian, you dumb-dumb.
Wait, so you're saying discovering
half the known world
is sort of
a personal realization?
Exactly, personal realization.
Like saying rock'n'roll didn't
exist before I heard my first record?
Right. You see, Columbus
wants to sit back,
mix Cheerios with Cocoa Puffs,
maybe put a little bit
of sugar on it.
That's fine with me.
I'll even have a beer with it.
But don't let
the kids out of school
thinking that he
discovered some shit.
You know, you're right.
Fuck Columbus.
Exactly.
Fuck Columbus.
Max, I want to hear about my deal now,
if that's okay with you.
Well, uh...
No banks, no money, no deal.
Who have you tried?
I've tried everybody,
all the big guns.
What about
Jimmy Espinosa?
I don't fuck with
Jimmy Espinosa.
He has the cash.
How do you know?
'Cause he was usin' it
to buy this case last night.
You knocked over
Jimmy Espinosa?
Well, that's how I know he'll
be real glad to buy it back.
That's why La Torre
turned on you.
La Torre hates Espinosa.
Apparently he likes
being alive more.
You're a marked man, John.
I'll give you 25%.
You know, that's
very generous of you.
Thank you so much. Aw!
The problem is that
Jimmy Espinosa is Hitler!
Hitler had money.
Dude, he killed his mother!
That's just a rumor.
Nah, man. Nah, my boys
were in on that one.
She was skimming off
his operations,
so he had to set a precedent.
So he put his mother down.
And then at the funeral,
he fills it with flowers,
beautiful, all colors.
You would've thought
that it was Princess Diana.
Sounds like just
the guy I need.
Dude, Jimmy Espinosa
killed his mother,
and I know he ain't
popping out of your pussy,
so I know he's not gonna
care about killing you.
And you took his briefcase?
Can you get me Jimmy Espinosa?
First Manny, now Jimmy Espinosa.
Do you have a way out?
Not yet.
Well, then you have nothing.
I got the case.
- Besides that.
I got you, and you
could do anything.
Do it. Max?
Max, do it.
Let's go find the New World.
Is this kid with you?
What?
Well, he said
you were his dad.
Adopted.
Antoine, what are you lying
to the officers for?
I married his mom.
Paddleboat guy caught him trying
to take one out without paying.
Lying and now you're stealing?
What's wrong with you?
I told you I'd be
a minute on the phone.
Dude...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
You are this
kid's father?
Stepfather.
Seeing a cop's kind of--
kind of scary, huh?
Your dad's not around?
Can I ride the paddleboat?
Ack. Whoo!
This is fun.
Unh.
Eh.
Ah. What's inside?
Can't you just describe it?
Fountain of youth.
Like El Dorado,
the lost city of gold?
How the hell do you
know about El Dorado?
We're studying the conquistadors.
Well, I'm the king of the conquistadors.
But they never found El Dorado.
Well, they never had
this briefcase.
Hmm.
Well, we have
to memorize that poem,
"Eldorado," by Edgar Allan Pow.
Poe.
- That's what I said.
Want to hear it?
Sure. It'll be my theme song.
"Gaily bedight, A gallant knight,
"In sunshine and in shadow,
"Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
"In search of Eldorado.
"But he grew old--
"This knight oh so bold--
"And o'er his heart a shadow
"Fell as he found
"No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado."
That's good.
But it's not over.
You didn't even
let me finish.
Okay.
- Sorry.
Yeah...
"As he found
No spot of ground..."
He found...
no spot of ground...
You want me to quiz you?
You gotta do it for school, right?
You might as well
get it right.
I guess.
- Okay.
"As he found..."
"No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado."
"And as his strength..."
"Failed him at length..."
"He met a pilgrim shadow."
"'Shadow,' said he,
'Where can it be--
This land of Eldorado?'"
"'Over the Mountains
of the Moon,
"'Down the Valley
of the Shadow,
"'Ride, boldly ride,'
The shade replied--
'If you seek for Eldorado.'"
So, El Dorado--
to find it, you have to be dead.
That's what
the workbook said.
You keep looking for it,
but it kills you
because you can't find it.
Well, that's your poem.
But you said El Dorado.
Yeah, well, I found it.
I don't believe you.
Besides, if El Dorado
was in there,
you'd be a lot happier.
Hello?
- Hello?
H-hello?
You talk to him,
you can talk to me
about your green card.
Hello?
- Cheryl, it's me.
Baby, I'm worried
about you.
Why don't you
come home?
When I'm finished
with my business.
Where are you, honey?
I'm staying safe.
Where?
I'll pick you up, sweetie.
No, I got a meeting first
with Jimmy Espinosa.
Uh, I'll pick you up
when it's over.
I miss you.
I miss you, too.
So there's that.
Whew.
He's working off a tower
in Silver Lake.
He's definitely outside.
If he's outside,
he can be seen.
I got Jimmy Espinosa.
- Yes!
He's offering 1.5.
But, see, John,
I think the real deal
here is that he wants
to show up and kill you.
Yeah, I'm working that part out.
I'm serious, John.
I'm worried about you, man.
He don't feel good.
Max, I'm at Echo Park.
Gonna meet at the bandstand.
Bandstand?
- Yeah, it's the gazebo thing covered in ivy.
Listen, tell Espinosa
to get the money,
come downtown
to Grand and First.
You're gonna call him in half
an hour and tell him where to go.
He's got 10 minutes to get there.
Tell him I got 3 shooters
on the roof surrounding him,
so he's gotta come
unarmed and alone.
He won't come alone.
At least he'll
have to hide his guys.
John, tell me you know
what you're doing.
I know what I'm doing.
If I don't see you,
I'm gonna have a beer for you.
I'll call you back.
I gotta handle some business.
Gotta go soon.
Won't come back.
You keep that for a while.
Does your daughter like you?
I don't think so.
If I was your kid...
I would like you.
Thanks.
I don't think
my mom likes me.
Oh, sure she does.
I'm sure she loves ya.
Mm, that's what people say.
But...
when she's watching
Wheel of Fortune,
I'll ask her,
"Why can Ariel talk
when she's a mermaid,
but not when she's a person?"
And she'll say,
"Shut up, Antoine."
Well, I'm--I'm sure
that's 'cause
she's got stuff on her mind.
That doesn't mean
she doesn't love you.
How do you know?
Well, because I'm a parent.
Parents know these things.
There's a parent-child,
uh, bond.
It doesn't matter
what they do,
you just love 'em.
It's instinct, ya know?
That's the bitch
of it all--
it doesn't matter
what you did or didn't do,
and nothing...
nothing changes that,
nothing.
I need a bahoo!
There.
I need this one.
- All right.
Hello?
Alana, hey, it's your dad.
I'm kind of busy right now.
Well, but--hang on.
- Come here, let's get out.
There's some things
that I want to tell you,
just some things that
I want to ask you.
Is this a speech?
No, but I... but I know
what I want to say.
I know that every time I call...
there are, uh...
things that I--
I want to ask you
that I don't know
about you,
and I, uh, just thought
maybe you've got
the same list.
And I thought,
"What if I just call
and let you ask?"
I ask you and then what?
Nothing.
You just--you just, uh...
listen.
Anything.
Yeah, that's what I'm--
Why'd you leave?
Guess that shows
how much you care.
I want to go.
No, no, no--
When you were, like,7--
um, me and your mom
had a really bad fight.
I threw something,
or she did--I don't remember.
It was really loud,
and, uh, she left.
Sh-she slammed the door,
and I sure don't blame her,
but... well, you--
you came out.
You were crying
really, really bad.
Like--like someone cut you,
you know,
just screaming and...
Do you remember you had--
it was--still--
I still remember the pink,
uh... pajamas,
you know, with the rabbits
on your feet.
You were crying,
and you were asking me
to help you, and I...
couldn't do anything.
So you just left.
You know,
you keep thinking
it'd have been better
if I'd... stayed,
but, uh, unhappy
and together's pretty ugly.
I had unhappy anyway.
I know, I--
- No!
There's
no going back.
No, no, no, not back.
No, just, um...
That's all I'm saying, right--
just right now.
Are you asking me
to have hope?
Yeah.
Listen, don't cry.
I'll do whatever
you want, okay?
I want you
to take care of me.
I want to be 9 years old,
and I want you
to take care of me.
I'm sorry. I'm...
I'm very, very sorry.
Hey.
Hey, listen,
I'm gonna come visit.
I'm gonna--
I'm comin'!
Well, I'm not gonna
cook a pot roast.
You don't have
to do anything.
Um...
I'll just come there
and, uh...
I'll stay in a hotel,
and we'll...
you know, I'll buy you dinner.
We'll make dumb jokes, you know, like I do.
- Well--
We'll try one day and we'll see.
Just because you're
swooping out of the darkness
doesn't mean that everything
is getting better.
No, no, yeah.
Yeah.
And Dad?
- Uh-huh?
If you don't show...
that's it.
Okay.
I mean...
that's it.
I'm coming.
Okay.
They're pretty, aren't they?
Yeah, they got names?
Nah.
That wouldn't be fair.
Fair?
Yeah, can't name 'em all.
What's your name?
Pigeon man.
Everybody just calls me--
"Hey, pigeon man."
"What's up, pigeon man?"
No, no, your real name.
I'm John.
Paul.
You ever have kids, Paul?
Yeah, 2 boys.
They were both killed in Vietnam.
Thinking about taking
a trip over there
and find out what that
was all about.
You know Antoine?
I see him here occasionally.
I wouldn't say I know him.
Antoine's father,
he's not around,
and the mother
works all the time,
so he needs someone
to, uh, look out for him,
someone to talk to.
You know, he's a good kid,
but he's gonna go crazy
in this p-park if he's all alone.
Look, I don't know. I--
- Just someone to talk to.
That'd be nice,
wouldn't it?
Yeah, it might be.
Paul, I'm gonna give you
a thousand dollars.
No, no, it's for the kid.
It's, uh, it's
just for the boy.
Um... ice cream, comic books,
maybe you take him to the
movies sometime, you know.
What kind of ice cream
does he like?
He likes, uh, chocolate.
Probably likes everything.
He likes the sprinkles on.
Hey, thanks.
Well, this is it.
You want to, um...
take, uh, the ride
on the paddleboats?
Okay? Okay.
Hello?
It's over.
I'm breaking up with you.
You're breaking up
with me?
Yeah, I just did.
Johnny, don't you want
to think this over?
I'm not sure, you know,
bein' mean's really
the right thing to do,
but feels kind of good.
Well, fuck you!
You know, you don't
know how to love.
You live in a prison.
I'm not listening.
You tell it to the warden.
I'm over the fence
and heading for the trees.
Fuck you, asshole!
What was that?
- And fuck you, too!
We've got something.
Water.
Lots of it.
We've got MacArthur Park,
Echo Park...
T.G.& R., how may I
direct your call?
Hi, Alice, it's me.
I was wondering, um...
what you thought if,
um, we got back together.
Did Cheryl get herpes?
I hope not from you.
Listen, I'm serious.
I'm changing.
John,
you're a criminal.
Well, I'm not anymore.
When was the last time
you stole something?
I, um, I-I-I--
Listen, listen.
I have an opportunity.
Think about this, uh--
quit that job,
get on the airplane with me.
We'll go visit our daughter.
We can get back
together again, start over.
John... I haven't been
in a long-term relationship
in 6 years,
and for a dollar
above minimum wage
I am answering phones
and bringing coffee
to people with real lives.
There is no such thing
as a new start.
It is not that easy.
I'm not sayin'
it's easy.
I'm just--just saying
think about it.
Don't worry, John.
I'm not the only
lonely woman in town.
You'll find someone
to starch your boxers.
Good-bye.
Wanna go back now?
Yeah, but I'm tired
of pedaling, so...
enjoy yourself, all right?
I don't like you.
- I'm gonna have a sea nap.
You don't like me?
- No.
Well, like, how come
you paid, huh? Huh?
You must like me.
Come on, what's not to like?
You think I do,
but I honestly don't.
You don't have to like me,
'cause I just spent your money.
You send him on--
I'm ready.
Have you told
anybody I'm on this?
What? What are you
talking about?
Hey, I've been
on the horn, John.
I know what's cooking out there,
and what's for dinner is you.
What are you talking about?
How Jimmy
got to Manny.
They intercepted his cell phone
and gunned him down, man.
Somebody's talking to Jimmy,
which means that
somebody is on to you.
How the fuck else
would they know
how to get to Manny's place?
My question for you is
how does Jimmy Espinosa know
that you took his case?
I don't know.
Ohhh, John, you'd better
start talking, brother.
You'd better start talking, or that's
the end of our romantic relationship.
Listen, man, I'm doing
this thing anonymous,
but if they know who you are,
then they can find me.
And I'm so fucking sorry
about Manny, man,
but I'll be more sorry if I'm dead!
So my question for you is,
for the last time,
what's the motherfucking
loose end?
Leonard!
Leonard!
Leonard!
Leonard.
Leonard, I'm gonna
have to kill you.
I won't say anything.
I promise not to talk.
I'll make you talk.
There are rules, Leonard.
I'm going
to visit my son!
Here's Robbie.
Please, please.
Okay, so Jimmy's got Leonard--
we know that,
which means that he's getting
his nuts squeezed right now,
which means he's
probably gonna talk,
so why don't you
break it for me...
How much does he know?
Nothin', just me.
Ohh, man, Jimmy's gonna be
mad when he finds you...
but you're confident.
What you have up your sleeve?
I brought my costume to the party.
Right, well,
last time I checked,
the costume don't stop
no motherfucking bullets.
And even if you get
away with the money,
he's going to kill you.
- He's not gonna go that far.
He'll find you.
Florida isn't that far away, John.
I'll handle it.
Hey, John, do me a favor.
Um, when they kill you,
don't say my name,
please. Thanks.
What name? Who?
That's my boy.
Good luck.
Good luck.
T.G.& R., how may I
direct your call?
Alice, I love you.
Uh, Alice is on break.
Hello?
Alice...
I want us to get married again.
John... I'm flattered.
Listen, I'm putting
my life on the line.
I want you to be
straight with me, okay?
Just--just tell me the truth.
I don't think that I've got the
patience to do it with you.
Uh--are you still
doing those personal ads?
I knew it!
Did you find somebody else?
That's none
of your business.
Well, whoever it is,
I bet you I'm better than him.
'Cause you know me.
You know what you're gettin'.
But with, uh, you know,
Computer Jim, who knows?
His name is Ralph.
- Oh, even better. Ralph.
So Ralph is exciting, Ralph is new.
Ooh, sex with Ralph!
We've barely kissed.
- Yeah, you see?
That's exactly my point.
So you cling
to these little fantasies
about what he might be
and who he might be
and how he might do it,
and then--
and then new love
drives you to find
those little
idiosyncrasies,
those little broken edges
that only you can fix,
but after a year or 2
the newness wears off,
and there's still
so many broken pieces,
so much to figure out,
and then what've you got?
What?
You got me.
You got me!
Huh? But now it's 2 years later.
You're two years older,
else's broken edges,
then 2 more years with Dave
and 2 more years with Wayne.
And maybe--
what at the end?
Who's to say
you want to go on?
Maybe Ralph's edges
will be easier.
Yeah, maybe
they'll be worse.
Well, maybe I'll just find out.
Maybe... Ralph won't wanna play.
Maybe.
Or...
or you can have me, right now.
I'm standin' here.
I'm--I'm tellin' you
you got everything.
Is someone sayin'
that to you right now,
anywhere else--
you got everything?
You can't convince me.
A relationship, John,
is not a decision--
it's a process.
Listen, listen,
those little statements,
they sound nice,
but what about
your feelings, okay?
We're talking about
a middle-aged woman
who's got a computer date
named Ralph
that she doesn't
even wanna kiss.
Now, I know
you're unhappy.
Okay, I can make--
- That's--
I know you're lonely.
- That's not very nice.
I can take care of you.
Let me take care of you.
No.
Do you love me?
When you...
after I talk to you,
I feel good.
What? What is it?
I'm just so happy
you didn't say you love me,
'cause you didn't lie.
No, no, I--
I do love you
when I hear you laughing.
No, just save it--
save it--save it for later.
Later.
So--so you wanna...
wanna try?
Yeah. Yeah.
Uh, let's talk
more tonight.
I'm gonna
go home now.
No, don't--
don't go home. Come here.
Um, we'll go to
the airport together.
We'll go to Florida and
go visit our daughter.
But my job...
Nah, you don't need
that job.
Just come get me.
I'm in Echo Park.
There's a--a temple
across the street.
You know it?
Right now?
- Yeah.
You're serious.
- Yeah.
Meet me in the back.
Okay.
I'll be there.
I'll be there, too.
Mommy, no!
Do you want to put your
case on the bench?
I'll examine it for 15 seconds.
If I approve, I'll put
my bag on the bench,
and you'll have 15 seconds
to look at the money.
After that, I take
your case and go.
But if you deviate from
the plan, the deal is off,
and any kind of protection
my presence may
have afforded you
will evaporate.
You got one minute
to start.
No?
Are you Jimmy Espinosa?
You have 30 seconds.
How do I know you're
not a trigger man?
You're not dead.
It'll be my ass when I put
my case on the bench--
you look at it,
you like what you see,
and then shoot me.
Do I look like
a trigger man?
I don't know,
you look like a...
Well, pretty mean.
How many men
you got in the park?
I'll be going.
The hell you will.
Well, why won't I?
I got what you want.
Could take it.
Maybe, maybe not.
Gotta be worried
about a guy like this,
a guy who could
pull off a job
that you wouldn't even
think about attempting.
You gotta be careful.
Maybe he's got friends
you don't know about.
Maybe he's just lucky.
His partner--
gunned down today.
All is not pleasure in paradise.
Your time's up.
Jimmy, how's your mother?
Resting in peace.
Bet she is.
Give me my money.
You seem disappointed.
All there.
But you don't
feel changed.
You thought maybe, what,
a weight would be lifted,
sky would be brighter,
something?
You thought paper
would do that for you.
Maybe it will.
Or not.
He's got a gun!
Get down! He's got a gun.
Ow! Aah.
Hey! Hey, freeze!
Get out of the car.
Get out of the car!
John! You all right?
Come on.
You okay? No.
- I gotta go.
No.
- Hey.
Cover these guys.
No, no, no, no.
You wanna get shot?
Go. Go.
- It's okay.
Kid?
Kid, move.
Go. Go!
Hey, there's money
on the ground!
Oh, my God.
Let me go!
Let me go!
Easy! John is
gonna be fine.
He's gonna be fine.
Get in the car!
Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm okay.
Just drive.
Oh, um...
Oh, my God.
Do I need to get
you anywhere?
Oh, I don't know--
I think we just go
to the airport, don't you?
You sure?
- Yeah, that's okay.
That's okay.
- Airport it is.
Florida.
What are you laughing about?
The easy part was
getting to the car.
Yeah?
What's the hard part?
Whatever happens next.
# I don't believe in fate #
# I don't believe in magic #
# But I believe I #
# Will wait for you #
# Till the road
beneath my feet #
# Takes me to your door #
# And I will not retreat #
# Till we are we once more #
# Like some conquistador #
# I sought new worlds
to plunder #
# Standing upon
a far-off shore #
# I long for distant lands #
# That I left long ago #
# But my riches are the sand #
# Till we are we once more #
# Till the road
beneath my feet #
# Takes me to your door #
# I will not retreat #
# Till we are we once more #
Leonard!
Leonard!
Leonard!
It hurts!
- Leonard.
Leonard, I'm gonna have
to kill you, Leonard.
I won't say anything.
No, you'll talk, Leonard.
There are rules, Leonard.
Stop moving, Leonard!
You have a choice.
Look at me, Leonard.
Look at me.
Robbie...
Robbie.
Where's Robbie?
I'm going to visit my son.
Aw, come on.
Oi.
What the fuck are you doing?
Come on, Manny.
Come on, Manny.
I wasn't with her.
I lost it!
- Let's go back.
# Premonition of ecstasy #
# Who would believe
it could be such a miracle #
Hello.
Where the hell are ya?
- What do you mean, Johnny?
I'm at my apartment,
like we said.
I don't think splittin' up
was a good idea.
Well, we're alive,
aren't we?
They follow you?
- I don't know yet.
W-why didn't you
answer the phone?
I guess I didn't hear it
over the music.
You know I don't like
the fucking cell phone.
What?
Get the fuck off the cell phone.
Jesus, Johnny, okay.
You're the one who called me on it.
You know, it could be any prick
sittin' outside your house on the C.B.
pickin' up the airwaves,
you know?
Did Joey La Torre call yet?
No, but it-- it's early.
Okay, listen, uh...
turn the music down.
Turn the music off.
Get off the cell phone.
Just use a hard line.
Do you remember what that guy
in South Pas used to say?
He said, "Hard line for businazz..."
Yeah, "Cell phone for piece-of-ass."
All right, Johnny, hold on a sec.
Let me just, uh, turn the music off.
# Illusions of rapture #
Here you go.
All right, I'm back.
Okay. I'll call you at 9:15.
A'ight. Hey, Johnny?
We're going to Florida,
you motherfucker!
I know, Manny,
we're going to Florida.
Hey, but we did it, man.
We blasted into space.
Our fathers never had
anything like this.
We made up for it, right?
Yeah, Manny.
We--we did it.
I'll call you at 9:15.
A'ight, a'ight.
Hey, Johnny, really, I love you.
Thanks, man. O-okay.
Hang up the phone, Manny.
A'ight, man.
Flor-i-da! Flor-i-da!
Heh. You feelin' it?
Yeah, yeah.
Okay.
Hello?
Hey, it's me.
I did it.
Come get me.
Let's go to Florida.
Can't you get a little excited?
I am excited.
- Cheryl, I just pulled off
the biggest job in the
history of... history.
This is where we jump up and down
and scream and yell, right?
I'm sorry, baby, you woke me up.
I'm dying to go to Florida.
I mean excited-- excited
for me, for what I did.
Johnny, you're
the best. Really.
Now there's no more shit.
It's smooth sailing all the way...
so when are you
gonna come get me?
No more shit?
Johnny... I love you.
Yeah, me too.
T.G.& R., how may I
direct your call?
It's me,
your ex-husband.
How are ya?
Is that why you called?
No, but I thought
we could be cordial.
You have Alana's new number?
It's the same number--
the area code was changed
You could've called
information.
Well, then I would've missed
your charming conversational skills.
That's true. Hold, please.
Anderson wanted you to call him.
Okay, I'm back.
Did you change any more
while I was gone?
The area code is 941.
Bye, John.
Aren't you gonna ask me how I am?
How are you, John?
I'm great.
Really good.
You know,
smooth sailing.
Great. Call again next decade.
Good-bye.
You've reached
David, Alana, and Eddie.
We're not here.
Leave a message.
Hey, Alana, it's your dad.
I just thought I'd call and, uh...
see if you wanted to
catch up, you know.
I'm gonna be in Florida,
so, um, um...
Doesn't have to be right away--
I know you're busy,
so think about it.
...and I love you.
Fuck!
You've reached
David, Alana, and Eddie.
We're not here.
Leave a message.
Yeah, and, uh...
and I love you.
Okay. Okay, bye.
You know, you shouldn't smoke.
It's unhealthy.
I know, that's why I like it.
Hate the taste, love the cancer.
I'm pretty sure there's
better-tasting ways to get cancer.
You a drug dealer?
Do I look like a drug dealer?
No.
But are you?
Are you looking to buy some drugs?
Of course not.
Then it shouldn't make any
difference how I look, should it?
Shouldn't use drugs.
It can make you irrational.
You don't know the half of it.
I heard you cuss.
Shouldn't you be in school?
Nope. Holiday.
Uh, no.
No, it's not a holiday.
See, that's your problem
right there--skipping school.
That leads straight to drugs.
Is that how you started usin'?
What?
Usin'.
It's slang for drugs.
I know what it is.
- 'Course you do.
Must know all
the slang, near, huh?
What's your name, slick?
My name--
my name is for my friends.
Heh, me too.
I'm Antoine, but most
of my homies call me A.T.
It is a holiday, though.
No, it's not.
It's the fucking middle of October.
I don't see any floats, I don't see
any flags, I don't see any Santas.
Don't see any of those.
You think I'm stupid?
Are you stupid?
Shouldn't tell kids they're stupid.
They do grow up to believe it.
Did your mom tell you that?
No. I figured it out.
Well, you're probably right.
Is that what happened to you?
I don't have time for you, kid.
You don't have time?
You're sitting on a bench, man.
I'm thinking.
- About what?
What a miracle my life's
gonna be when you vanish.
That hurts my feelings.
Really?
Does it? I'm sorry.
I really am...
but I just need
some time alone, okay?
Maybe he just works here.
He doesn't work here.
They go inside, they make the
transaction, then we move in.
They're never gonna
believe we're real cops,
'cause this is not a real cop car.
Listen, we're down the street.
It's gonna happen so fast
they won't notice.
I need a doughnut. If I had a
doughnut, I'd feel like a real cop.
Oh, this does not look like
a business transaction.
What the hell is that?
Hey, hey!
Hey!
Oh, no. Oh, no.
Oh, fuck!
Hey! Hold it right there.
Don't shoot me.
I'm a civilian, see?
You know why this door's ajar?
Um, kidneys.
Uh, you know,
you drink beer, you gotta piss.
Why?
Goddamn kidneys.
How many drinks
have you had tonight, sir?
Well, uh,
John got smashed.
I'm designated,
Officer, don't worry--
I'm dry as a bone.
So, I'm drivin'
John home, and, uh...
You know, he's gotta--
Leonard. Leonard!
So, pissing wakes his wife up
but coming into the house doesn't?
Um...
Well, the bathroom
is right by the bed.
What if he don't flush?
Um...
Eh, she's gonna see
it in the morning.
Put down the gun!
Put the gun down!
Step away slowly,
put your hands
behind your head,
and face the window.
Oh, God!
The battery's dead.
Go away.
Hello.
- It's John.
Look, La Torre and
his guys just called.
They want to change
the meeting place.
I choose the place.
I know, that's what I told 'em.
Manny, tell me what they said.
Tell me exactly what they said.
They said there was some
heat at the original place.
Wait, wait, wait, they said--
They suggested that you pick me up?
- Yeah.
Listen, here's what's gonna happen.
I'm gonna call you back
on your cell phone.
John, the cell phone--
- It's gonna be fine.
I'm gonna tell you exactly
where I'm located, okay?
We're gonna have
this same conversation.
You're gonna say exactly
the same thing on the cell phone.
Understand?
- Yeah.
Manny, you're gonna
be fine, okay?
I'm calling you right back.
Hello?
- Yeah, Manny, it's John.
Did they call yet?
Yeah, they called.
They--they-- they want to...
They want to change the place,
the, uh, the meeting place.
What?
Yeah, that's what they said,
and then they said
there was some heat,
you know, like,
at the place.
They want to change it
to Poppy's on the east side.
That's... all they said.
No, no, no, fuck that.
I got the case,
I choose the place.
Should I call them back
and tell them to fuck off,
tell those little shits
to kiss my ass?
Tell those motherfuck--
- Manny, Manny.
Do you have a car?
- Yeah, yeah.
Should I, uh, should
I come and get you?
Yeah, come get me.
I'm at
the Mexican market
across the street from Echo Park.
You got that? West side
of Echo Park, Mexican market.
Hey, Manny, let's-- let's give 'em
about 10 minutes to sweat it.
I want to finish my taco.
It's really good.
Fine, yeah, finish your taco.
Not so close to the water!
Joey La Torre, you son of a--
Hey, hey, what are you doing?
What is this?
What--hey!
Hey-lo?
Manny, get out of there.
But I'm just
a couple minutes away.
Wherever you're at,
turn around, okay?
What about Florida?
We're going to Florida.
Just get out of there.
Oh!
They got me, Johnny!
Not so close to the water!
Come on, Nicholas,
not so close to the water.
Time out, okay?
No.
- Hey, just a--
What?
It's John.
Don't hang up.
Hell, no.
Motherfucker, what time is it?
Morning or night?
- Morning.
Don't hang up, don't
hang up, don't hang up.
Ugh. John, can't this shit wait?
No, it's too hot.
I gotta do it today.
What, did you do a job
without a fence?
No, I had one--
Joey La Torre.
He turned on me,
killed Manny.
Why would he do that?
Doesn't sound like Joey.
Yeah, tell that to Manny.
All right, well,
how much do you need?
It's priceless.
What'd you get,
a Faberg egg
It's better than that.
How much do you need
to be willing to let go of it?
- 4
- What, am I high?
You're gonna be.
We can turn this into $10 million
in the street by tonight.
Then why didn't you ask for 10?
- 'Cause I'm up in it.
Why do you think I called
your stupid ass?
Hey, hey, show some respect.
It's gonna take some time.
I don't have time.
Well, make time, John.
Know your customer.
I mean, these motherfuckers
at 9:00 in the morning
haven't come down
from their coke yet.
Listen, they see this shit,
they're gonna sober right up.
All right, give me 2 hours.
I'm gonna call you back in one.
Hey, I can't drop a deuce
in an hour!
I'm gonna call you back in one hour.
Tell me what you got.
I can't do that.
John, you gotta tell me what you got.
I'm gonna call you back in one hour!
Hey, John.
Hey. How ya doin'?
Good.
- Whiskey go with that beer?
You know it does.
You look rode hard
and put away wet.
My son called.
There you go.
Well, that's a good thing.
First thing
he says to me--
"I know you're
not coming."
I once told the kid
that if I ever made enough,
I'd move out there.
Phoenix.
What you gonna do?
I'm gonna go next week,
after I finish this job up.
Job? What job?
All I see of you,
you're like Tequila Tex
on your stool,
your trusty steed.
Yeehaw!
Uh, what kind of job?
What is it, anyway?
You could call it quality control.
Well, what the hell does that mean,
like, seeing if the teddy bear's
got both eyes?
Somebody wants
to buy something;
I tell 'em whether
it's a fake or not.
And... somebody pays you?
Leonard, you're a piece of work.
He almost fell into the lake!
Hello.
It's me.
If anyone calls, don't answer it.
Are you okay?
I'm okay, just don't
answer the phone.
Go make sure
your door's locked,
and if anyone knocks,
don't answer it,
not even if it's the police.
The police?
Yeah, something
happened to Manny.
Does this mean we're
not gonna go to Florida?
You're going to Florida.
Just do like I say.
Hello?
Hey, Alana, it's your dad.
How you doin'?
I don't think
I want to talk to you.
Well, uh, I'm just callin'
to see how you're doin',
and, uh...
see if you wanted
to catch up,
if you--you and him
doin' all right?
You guys need
any money?
Dad, I can't do this.
This has nothing
to do with me.
Um, okay, let me
talk to Edward.
C-can he talk now?
Do you want
to undermine me?
Undermine?
I just wanna talk
to my grandson.
I mean, how often do I call?
I mean, how of--
We've been here every day
for the past 3 years.
Yeah, well, it's different now.
Why?
- I...
Well, it's... I got some money.
Money?
- Yeah.
I got some money,
and I'm coming to Florida.
You have got a lot of nerve
asking me to be here for you.
I'm not asking-- just--just--
let me talk to you, okay?
Dad, I'm going now.
No, no! Listen...
Dad, you can't boss me around.
You never listen.
I'm not--I'm--
I'm list--I'll listen.
How can you act like
you care about someone?
I'll listen.
You're not even interested in--
- What?
I'm gonna go.
Listen, listen... I'm listening, okay?
I didn't call for--
No, no, no,
I didn't call for any--
I'm just-- I'm listening, okay?
Listen. Hear that?
That pause right there?
That static, that right
there was me listening.
I can't do this.
Oh, not too bad.
Come here to meet someone?
You here to skip school?
I'm not skipping school.
It's where I always
come for the holidays.
I just think you're here to
meet someone, just sitting here.
You're just sittin' here.
No, I'm not,
I'm people-watching.
Oh, you're casing people.
You casing me now,
is that what you're doing?
Nah.
The pigeon man, though.
The pigeon man?
What you got on him?
He's a widow.
A widow?
Yeah. His wife died.
Oh, a widower.
Yeah, that's--
that's what I said.
Boy, he's dying, too.
How you know that?
Because the scar
on his hand from Dallas.
Dallas?
Yeah, where they pump
out your kidneys.
You mean dialysis.
That's what I said.
Yeah, well, people can
live forever on dialysis.
Yeah, but sometimes people
decide to stop going,
and that's it.
How do you know
he stopped going?
'Cause the scar on his hand?
It's healing.
I'll tell you about
the pigeon man.
First of all, he's not a bum.
He's what you call
a soft mark.
Sure, he's lonely--
he's feedin' pigeons
in a dumb-ass park,
but he's not a bum.
You see that?
See that watch,
see that shine?
He's got a Rolex.
That means he's got money.
He's got it socked away,
doesn't want to let on.
That's why he's dresses
in the ratty clothes.
And he's lonely,
sure, he's lonely.
What do
lonely people want?
Friends.
- That's right.
So I become
his best friend.
"Hey, let's have lunch
every Thursday.
How 'bout a little
business deal?"
He's writing
a cashier's check
faster than he can
change his wet diaper.
I just think he's lonely
and his wife died.
So will we.
Yeah, well, I see
dollars, you see death.
Take your pick, kid.
So, who is he?
- Who what?
The person
that you're meeting.
Can I have the hotdog?
Yeah, eat the hotdog.
Hello.
Who've you got for me?
No one. See, John, these people
are way smarter than me.
They got people
answering their phones
so when assholes call
early in the morning
they don't get woken up.
Isn't that crazy?
I'm gonna get an assistant, too.
That way they can
tell you to fuck off!
Well, then you'll miss out on
the pleasure of doing it yourself.
When will you
know something?
I said 2 hours, man.
That gives me an hour and a quarter.
Now, chill out
and let me work my magic.
Your magic?
- Yeah, man.
A little cereal,
a little Price is Right--
it's a beautiful day, man.
Oh, you feeling it?
Oh, I'm in
the zone, baby.
I'm gonna call you
in an hour and 14 minutes.
Cheeri-o.
Cheerio.
Go get something
to eat?
Sure, what
do you want?
Oh, your dog is so cute!
What's his name?
Pancho.
Hello?
I'm running late.
I'm horny. I put my nightie on for you.
When are you coming?
Cheryl, I've got business.
I'm not wearing anything.
I'm naked.
Jesus, Cheryl,
I can't do that out here.
Well, I can do it in here, baby.
I want your dick.
Ohh... I'm on my tiptoes.
I can feel you behind me.
I'm right here.
I'm all in you.
Yeah...
The double taco.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, the delivery man.
What?
He's up in my room.
In my bed. What would you do if
you came home right now? Tell me.
Why do you always have to bring
somebody else into it?
What?
- It's always "some guy this, some guy that..."
It's like you
don't even need me.
You don't have
to get upset, baby.
You know what,
you're cheap.
How come I never
knew that till now?
Fuck you! You're a fucking
asshole, you know that?
Oh, yeah.
Came to talk?
Only empty bench.
Huh--tuh-- you have something
in your ear right here.
What are you talking about?
- No, it's, like, in your ear.
It's red.
You got it.
Leonard!
Leonard!
Leonard!
Do you have "gaydar"?
What?
Radar for gay people.
Well, I know a few things,
if that's what you mean.
Coo'. We're gonna do
a gaydar test.
We'll scan the park
and see who shows up.
Cool?
Boop! Negative.
Boop!
Boop, boop.
Boop!
Boop!
What's
your final count?
None.
- Heh, I found one.
What, you gonna count
the ice cream guy?
No...
Me.
You.
I'm gay.
- You're gay.
I'm gay
as a day in May.
My mama's gay, too.
That's where
I got gaydar.
From Evelyn,
her girlfriend.
She told you you were gay?
No, but she told me
what it was like.
I don't like girls.
I don't feel like I fit in.
What's wrong
with girls?
Well, number one,
they like dumb stuff,
and they don't know
how to play.
Okay, let's keep
people-watching.
Or park-watching.
Like, that car there--
does that car
come every day?
Never seen it.
What about that guy?
Yeah. He gets high here
before work.
And those 2 guys there?
Never seen them before.
Oh, shit.
Give me your backpack.
- No!
Give me your goddamn backpack.
- No!
Be quiet.
No!
Quit crying and listen
to me. Come here.
Listen to me.
We're gonna take a walk together.
I've got a gun.
I'm gonna use it.
I'm calling the cops.
- You call the cops, we're both done,
but you're gonna be first,
you understand me?
Look.
Can I hold it?
- No!
All right, after we're done.
We're just gonna take
a walk now, all right?
Slow down, slow down.
We'll walk right toward him.
We're not afraid of anything.
Just gonna be 2 guys out walkin'.
We're gonna go get
some ice cream. Smile.
And a... student and his teacher.
Okay, that's it.
Come on, let's go this way.
Ice cream!
Change of plan.
Nope. I want my ice cream.
I want chocolate,
and for him, I guess, too.
I'll take your backpack now.
Okay.
Listen, if that guy
comes any closer,
just say hi, okay?
Uh, why?
It's a surprise.
Hi, there.
I think we should go now.
What was that?
Good luck.
What's in the bag?
Give me the bag.
We wanna see what's in there.
Are you in trouble?
Yeah.
Sort of.
Follow me.
There's a secret passage.
Come on. Ehh!
Come on!
This is it.
This is where...
Civil War or something,
um, like a magic act.
Um, where
the naked lady
disappears
through the trap door.
Something like that.
This is like a locker.
I don't think
she was naked.
Well, bathing suit.
You know.
That's the door out back
to the Dumpsters.
Whatcha think?
Incredible.
This...
is my racquetball.
This is Shaq.
Everybody at school
tries to collect it.
I really don't like him,
to be honest.
Want it?
I'm serious.
Well... thanks, but, uh...
That's okay.
How can you not like Shaq?
Everyone likes Shaq.
I guess I'm just not like everyone.
These are some of the letters
that my grandma sent me.
Um, yeah.
She's dead now, but...
You know.
This is my mom's hair
when it was long...
'for it got cut off.
Wanna try?
T.G.& R., how may I direct your call?
It's John, Alice.
Did you forget Alana's number?
Listen, you know
how to talk to her.
I thought
you could help me.
John, you just talk.
I don't do that.
I make a plan.
That's your problem.
That's what I do.
That's how I got where I am today.
Exactly.
- Hey, don't fuck with me.
Oh, I'm serious.
- I wanna see the gun.
You said!
Uh, hang on.
Are you kidding me?
- You said I could.
All right, all right.
Hang on.
What are you--?
All right. Here.
Now go play.
You're dead.
You have no idea.
Over there.
Okay, I'm back.
The man with the plan.
You didn't seem to mind all
those years I had you set up.
I was a girl, John.
Girls like things.
But things don't last.
Oh, don't come off
like I was some phony,
throwing dresses at you.
I mean...
You fell for me, I fell for you.
You know that.
First day of college,
sitting on those steps,
thousand girls walk by,
and I pick you.
You picked my ass.
Well, it was
attached to you.
I didn't think that you
could still hurt my feelings.
You can never underestimate
the man of action.
Wait. Listen.
- I'd better go.
Um... I asked
about you, okay?
I asked all your friends
everything about you,
what you liked to read,
what your favorite movie was,
what your music was,
what your favorite song was.
I stayed up late
when you got up early,
was a morning person,
you're not.
Everything. Food.
Your favorite place,
Pantini's Famous.
Yeah, I paid off
the manager there
to clear the place out,
make your favorite--
tiramisu, old man with the violin...
Viola.
Viola, whatever.
Anyway...
I didn't have
much money back then.
It was a fortune to me.
I blew every dime I had.
Almost sold my goat.
I didn't care.
I got the mos beautiful girl
in school, and I got her angle.
But we went for burgers.
She gets in the car,
going on about this burger,
she's got her heart set on it...
You were
such a wild horse.
And I just realized, just right
then in that moment,
just making you happy was...
all that mattered, so...
I mean, I knew.
That's when I fell for you.
You rented the whole place
out and never told me.
I gotta go.
If this is so hard for you,
why do you even start?
You're just kidding around, right?
Shut up.
Or what, you're
gonna shoot me?
You don't want
to do that.
You're mean.
I'm sorry.
No, you're not!
Okay, you're right.
Um...
What do you want me to do?
Show me what's in there.
Show me what's in the case.
Okay. Um...
I'll show you, and...
If you give me the gun first.
No. Show me, and
I'll give you the gun.
Okay.
Be careful. You know
that's real, right?
I'll show you the case, okay?
Yeah.
I'll show you, all right?
You're mean.
You're mean.
You're mean.
John!
Stop, John!
Hey, what are you doin'?
- Get out!
Hey! Ehh, hey!
Let's go!
Stop!
This is Max.
- What have you got?
Nothing.
- What do you mean?
Well, no buyers, chum.
The banks are closed.
It's a holiday.
What the fuck is with the holidays?
What holiday?
It's Columbus Day.
Well, that's not a real holiday.
Exactly, right?
What the fuck is Columbus, anyway?
Well, he did discover America.
Yeah, and I discovered my ass
but then realized it was
already there, Johnny.
Then the Indians should've sailed
to Spain and told them about it.
And told them
to stay the fuck out.
Max, can I ask you
a personal question--
are you having some Bob Marley-rasta-ganja-
vision quest on my ass?
John, I don't know
if you realize this,
but I'm South American,
which means that I'm
at least half Indian, okay?
Don't you white people
read anymore?
You guys are busy with
your Klan barbeques and shit.
Uh, hang on a second, Malcolm X.
We're talking history, right?
I mean, Columbus did know
the world was round;
he did know America was there.
Bullshit.
He was sailing for Asia
because he thought the walls
were made out of gold, okay?
He ran into America
and called us Indians
because he thought
he was in India.
Hombre was just lost.
Well, that's how you find
new and interesting stuff.
At least the Spaniard was brave.
Shit, yeah, he was brave.
I ain't getting
in no motherfucking boat.
By the way, he was
Italian, you dumb-dumb.
Wait, so you're saying discovering
half the known world
is sort of
a personal realization?
Exactly, personal realization.
Like saying rock'n'roll didn't
exist before I heard my first record?
Right. You see, Columbus
wants to sit back,
mix Cheerios with Cocoa Puffs,
maybe put a little bit
of sugar on it.
That's fine with me.
I'll even have a beer with it.
But don't let
the kids out of school
thinking that he
discovered some shit.
You know, you're right.
Fuck Columbus.
Exactly.
Fuck Columbus.
Max, I want to hear about my deal now,
if that's okay with you.
Well, uh...
No banks, no money, no deal.
Who have you tried?
I've tried everybody,
all the big guns.
What about
Jimmy Espinosa?
I don't fuck with
Jimmy Espinosa.
He has the cash.
How do you know?
'Cause he was usin' it
to buy this case last night.
You knocked over
Jimmy Espinosa?
Well, that's how I know he'll
be real glad to buy it back.
That's why La Torre
turned on you.
La Torre hates Espinosa.
Apparently he likes
being alive more.
You're a marked man, John.
I'll give you 25%.
You know, that's
very generous of you.
Thank you so much. Aw!
The problem is that
Jimmy Espinosa is Hitler!
Hitler had money.
Dude, he killed his mother!
That's just a rumor.
Nah, man. Nah, my boys
were in on that one.
She was skimming off
his operations,
so he had to set a precedent.
So he put his mother down.
And then at the funeral,
he fills it with flowers,
beautiful, all colors.
You would've thought
that it was Princess Diana.
Sounds like just
the guy I need.
Dude, Jimmy Espinosa
killed his mother,
and I know he ain't
popping out of your pussy,
so I know he's not gonna
care about killing you.
And you took his briefcase?
Can you get me Jimmy Espinosa?
First Manny, now Jimmy Espinosa.
Do you have a way out?
Not yet.
Well, then you have nothing.
I got the case.
- Besides that.
I got you, and you
could do anything.
Do it. Max?
Max, do it.
Let's go find the New World.
Is this kid with you?
What?
Well, he said
you were his dad.
Adopted.
Antoine, what are you lying
to the officers for?
I married his mom.
Paddleboat guy caught him trying
to take one out without paying.
Lying and now you're stealing?
What's wrong with you?
I told you I'd be
a minute on the phone.
Dude...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
You are this
kid's father?
Stepfather.
Seeing a cop's kind of--
kind of scary, huh?
Your dad's not around?
Can I ride the paddleboat?
Ack. Whoo!
This is fun.
Unh.
Eh.
Ah. What's inside?
Can't you just describe it?
Fountain of youth.
Like El Dorado,
the lost city of gold?
How the hell do you
know about El Dorado?
We're studying the conquistadors.
Well, I'm the king of the conquistadors.
But they never found El Dorado.
Well, they never had
this briefcase.
Hmm.
Well, we have
to memorize that poem,
"Eldorado," by Edgar Allan Pow.
Poe.
- That's what I said.
Want to hear it?
Sure. It'll be my theme song.
"Gaily bedight, A gallant knight,
"In sunshine and in shadow,
"Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
"In search of Eldorado.
"But he grew old--
"This knight oh so bold--
"And o'er his heart a shadow
"Fell as he found
"No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado."
That's good.
But it's not over.
You didn't even
let me finish.
Okay.
- Sorry.
Yeah...
"As he found
No spot of ground..."
He found...
no spot of ground...
You want me to quiz you?
You gotta do it for school, right?
You might as well
get it right.
I guess.
- Okay.
"As he found..."
"No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado."
"And as his strength..."
"Failed him at length..."
"He met a pilgrim shadow."
"'Shadow,' said he,
'Where can it be--
This land of Eldorado?'"
"'Over the Mountains
of the Moon,
"'Down the Valley
of the Shadow,
"'Ride, boldly ride,'
The shade replied--
'If you seek for Eldorado.'"
So, El Dorado--
to find it, you have to be dead.
That's what
the workbook said.
You keep looking for it,
but it kills you
because you can't find it.
Well, that's your poem.
But you said El Dorado.
Yeah, well, I found it.
I don't believe you.
Besides, if El Dorado
was in there,
you'd be a lot happier.
Hello?
- Hello?
H-hello?
You talk to him,
you can talk to me
about your green card.
Hello?
- Cheryl, it's me.
Baby, I'm worried
about you.
Why don't you
come home?
When I'm finished
with my business.
Where are you, honey?
I'm staying safe.
Where?
I'll pick you up, sweetie.
No, I got a meeting first
with Jimmy Espinosa.
Uh, I'll pick you up
when it's over.
I miss you.
I miss you, too.
So there's that.
Whew.
He's working off a tower
in Silver Lake.
He's definitely outside.
If he's outside,
he can be seen.
I got Jimmy Espinosa.
- Yes!
He's offering 1.5.
But, see, John,
I think the real deal
here is that he wants
to show up and kill you.
Yeah, I'm working that part out.
I'm serious, John.
I'm worried about you, man.
He don't feel good.
Max, I'm at Echo Park.
Gonna meet at the bandstand.
Bandstand?
- Yeah, it's the gazebo thing covered in ivy.
Listen, tell Espinosa
to get the money,
come downtown
to Grand and First.
You're gonna call him in half
an hour and tell him where to go.
He's got 10 minutes to get there.
Tell him I got 3 shooters
on the roof surrounding him,
so he's gotta come
unarmed and alone.
He won't come alone.
At least he'll
have to hide his guys.
John, tell me you know
what you're doing.
I know what I'm doing.
If I don't see you,
I'm gonna have a beer for you.
I'll call you back.
I gotta handle some business.
Gotta go soon.
Won't come back.
You keep that for a while.
Does your daughter like you?
I don't think so.
If I was your kid...
I would like you.
Thanks.
I don't think
my mom likes me.
Oh, sure she does.
I'm sure she loves ya.
Mm, that's what people say.
But...
when she's watching
Wheel of Fortune,
I'll ask her,
"Why can Ariel talk
when she's a mermaid,
but not when she's a person?"
And she'll say,
"Shut up, Antoine."
Well, I'm--I'm sure
that's 'cause
she's got stuff on her mind.
That doesn't mean
she doesn't love you.
How do you know?
Well, because I'm a parent.
Parents know these things.
There's a parent-child,
uh, bond.
It doesn't matter
what they do,
you just love 'em.
It's instinct, ya know?
That's the bitch
of it all--
it doesn't matter
what you did or didn't do,
and nothing...
nothing changes that,
nothing.
I need a bahoo!
There.
I need this one.
- All right.
Hello?
Alana, hey, it's your dad.
I'm kind of busy right now.
Well, but--hang on.
- Come here, let's get out.
There's some things
that I want to tell you,
just some things that
I want to ask you.
Is this a speech?
No, but I... but I know
what I want to say.
I know that every time I call...
there are, uh...
things that I--
I want to ask you
that I don't know
about you,
and I, uh, just thought
maybe you've got
the same list.
And I thought,
"What if I just call
and let you ask?"
I ask you and then what?
Nothing.
You just--you just, uh...
listen.
Anything.
Yeah, that's what I'm--
Why'd you leave?
Guess that shows
how much you care.
I want to go.
No, no, no--
When you were, like,7--
um, me and your mom
had a really bad fight.
I threw something,
or she did--I don't remember.
It was really loud,
and, uh, she left.
Sh-she slammed the door,
and I sure don't blame her,
but... well, you--
you came out.
You were crying
really, really bad.
Like--like someone cut you,
you know,
just screaming and...
Do you remember you had--
it was--still--
I still remember the pink,
uh... pajamas,
you know, with the rabbits
on your feet.
You were crying,
and you were asking me
to help you, and I...
couldn't do anything.
So you just left.
You know,
you keep thinking
it'd have been better
if I'd... stayed,
but, uh, unhappy
and together's pretty ugly.
I had unhappy anyway.
I know, I--
- No!
There's
no going back.
No, no, no, not back.
No, just, um...
That's all I'm saying, right--
just right now.
Are you asking me
to have hope?
Yeah.
Listen, don't cry.
I'll do whatever
you want, okay?
I want you
to take care of me.
I want to be 9 years old,
and I want you
to take care of me.
I'm sorry. I'm...
I'm very, very sorry.
Hey.
Hey, listen,
I'm gonna come visit.
I'm gonna--
I'm comin'!
Well, I'm not gonna
cook a pot roast.
You don't have
to do anything.
Um...
I'll just come there
and, uh...
I'll stay in a hotel,
and we'll...
you know, I'll buy you dinner.
We'll make dumb jokes, you know, like I do.
- Well--
We'll try one day and we'll see.
Just because you're
swooping out of the darkness
doesn't mean that everything
is getting better.
No, no, yeah.
Yeah.
And Dad?
- Uh-huh?
If you don't show...
that's it.
Okay.
I mean...
that's it.
I'm coming.
Okay.
They're pretty, aren't they?
Yeah, they got names?
Nah.
That wouldn't be fair.
Fair?
Yeah, can't name 'em all.
What's your name?
Pigeon man.
Everybody just calls me--
"Hey, pigeon man."
"What's up, pigeon man?"
No, no, your real name.
I'm John.
Paul.
You ever have kids, Paul?
Yeah, 2 boys.
They were both killed in Vietnam.
Thinking about taking
a trip over there
and find out what that
was all about.
You know Antoine?
I see him here occasionally.
I wouldn't say I know him.
Antoine's father,
he's not around,
and the mother
works all the time,
so he needs someone
to, uh, look out for him,
someone to talk to.
You know, he's a good kid,
but he's gonna go crazy
in this p-park if he's all alone.
Look, I don't know. I--
- Just someone to talk to.
That'd be nice,
wouldn't it?
Yeah, it might be.
Paul, I'm gonna give you
a thousand dollars.
No, no, it's for the kid.
It's, uh, it's
just for the boy.
Um... ice cream, comic books,
maybe you take him to the
movies sometime, you know.
What kind of ice cream
does he like?
He likes, uh, chocolate.
Probably likes everything.
He likes the sprinkles on.
Hey, thanks.
Well, this is it.
You want to, um...
take, uh, the ride
on the paddleboats?
Okay? Okay.
Hello?
It's over.
I'm breaking up with you.
You're breaking up
with me?
Yeah, I just did.
Johnny, don't you want
to think this over?
I'm not sure, you know,
bein' mean's really
the right thing to do,
but feels kind of good.
Well, fuck you!
You know, you don't
know how to love.
You live in a prison.
I'm not listening.
You tell it to the warden.
I'm over the fence
and heading for the trees.
Fuck you, asshole!
What was that?
- And fuck you, too!
We've got something.
Water.
Lots of it.
We've got MacArthur Park,
Echo Park...
T.G.& R., how may I
direct your call?
Hi, Alice, it's me.
I was wondering, um...
what you thought if,
um, we got back together.
Did Cheryl get herpes?
I hope not from you.
Listen, I'm serious.
I'm changing.
John,
you're a criminal.
Well, I'm not anymore.
When was the last time
you stole something?
I, um, I-I-I--
Listen, listen.
I have an opportunity.
Think about this, uh--
quit that job,
get on the airplane with me.
We'll go visit our daughter.
We can get back
together again, start over.
John... I haven't been
in a long-term relationship
in 6 years,
and for a dollar
above minimum wage
I am answering phones
and bringing coffee
to people with real lives.
There is no such thing
as a new start.
It is not that easy.
I'm not sayin'
it's easy.
I'm just--just saying
think about it.
Don't worry, John.
I'm not the only
lonely woman in town.
You'll find someone
to starch your boxers.
Good-bye.
Wanna go back now?
Yeah, but I'm tired
of pedaling, so...
enjoy yourself, all right?
I don't like you.
- I'm gonna have a sea nap.
You don't like me?
- No.
Well, like, how come
you paid, huh? Huh?
You must like me.
Come on, what's not to like?
You think I do,
but I honestly don't.
You don't have to like me,
'cause I just spent your money.
You send him on--
I'm ready.
Have you told
anybody I'm on this?
What? What are you
talking about?
Hey, I've been
on the horn, John.
I know what's cooking out there,
and what's for dinner is you.
What are you talking about?
How Jimmy
got to Manny.
They intercepted his cell phone
and gunned him down, man.
Somebody's talking to Jimmy,
which means that
somebody is on to you.
How the fuck else
would they know
how to get to Manny's place?
My question for you is
how does Jimmy Espinosa know
that you took his case?
I don't know.
Ohhh, John, you'd better
start talking, brother.
You'd better start talking, or that's
the end of our romantic relationship.
Listen, man, I'm doing
this thing anonymous,
but if they know who you are,
then they can find me.
And I'm so fucking sorry
about Manny, man,
but I'll be more sorry if I'm dead!
So my question for you is,
for the last time,
what's the motherfucking
loose end?
Leonard!
Leonard!
Leonard!
Leonard.
Leonard, I'm gonna
have to kill you.
I won't say anything.
I promise not to talk.
I'll make you talk.
There are rules, Leonard.
I'm going
to visit my son!
Here's Robbie.
Please, please.
Okay, so Jimmy's got Leonard--
we know that,
which means that he's getting
his nuts squeezed right now,
which means he's
probably gonna talk,
so why don't you
break it for me...
How much does he know?
Nothin', just me.
Ohh, man, Jimmy's gonna be
mad when he finds you...
but you're confident.
What you have up your sleeve?
I brought my costume to the party.
Right, well,
last time I checked,
the costume don't stop
no motherfucking bullets.
And even if you get
away with the money,
he's going to kill you.
- He's not gonna go that far.
He'll find you.
Florida isn't that far away, John.
I'll handle it.
Hey, John, do me a favor.
Um, when they kill you,
don't say my name,
please. Thanks.
What name? Who?
That's my boy.
Good luck.
Good luck.
T.G.& R., how may I
direct your call?
Alice, I love you.
Uh, Alice is on break.
Hello?
Alice...
I want us to get married again.
John... I'm flattered.
Listen, I'm putting
my life on the line.
I want you to be
straight with me, okay?
Just--just tell me the truth.
I don't think that I've got the
patience to do it with you.
Uh--are you still
doing those personal ads?
I knew it!
Did you find somebody else?
That's none
of your business.
Well, whoever it is,
I bet you I'm better than him.
'Cause you know me.
You know what you're gettin'.
But with, uh, you know,
Computer Jim, who knows?
His name is Ralph.
- Oh, even better. Ralph.
So Ralph is exciting, Ralph is new.
Ooh, sex with Ralph!
We've barely kissed.
- Yeah, you see?
That's exactly my point.
So you cling
to these little fantasies
about what he might be
and who he might be
and how he might do it,
and then--
and then new love
drives you to find
those little
idiosyncrasies,
those little broken edges
that only you can fix,
but after a year or 2
the newness wears off,
and there's still
so many broken pieces,
so much to figure out,
and then what've you got?
What?
You got me.
You got me!
Huh? But now it's 2 years later.
You're two years older,
else's broken edges,
then 2 more years with Dave
and 2 more years with Wayne.
And maybe--
what at the end?
Who's to say
you want to go on?
Maybe Ralph's edges
will be easier.
Yeah, maybe
they'll be worse.
Well, maybe I'll just find out.
Maybe... Ralph won't wanna play.
Maybe.
Or...
or you can have me, right now.
I'm standin' here.
I'm--I'm tellin' you
you got everything.
Is someone sayin'
that to you right now,
anywhere else--
you got everything?
You can't convince me.
A relationship, John,
is not a decision--
it's a process.
Listen, listen,
those little statements,
they sound nice,
but what about
your feelings, okay?
We're talking about
a middle-aged woman
who's got a computer date
named Ralph
that she doesn't
even wanna kiss.
Now, I know
you're unhappy.
Okay, I can make--
- That's--
I know you're lonely.
- That's not very nice.
I can take care of you.
Let me take care of you.
No.
Do you love me?
When you...
after I talk to you,
I feel good.
What? What is it?
I'm just so happy
you didn't say you love me,
'cause you didn't lie.
No, no, I--
I do love you
when I hear you laughing.
No, just save it--
save it--save it for later.
Later.
So--so you wanna...
wanna try?
Yeah. Yeah.
Uh, let's talk
more tonight.
I'm gonna
go home now.
No, don't--
don't go home. Come here.
Um, we'll go to
the airport together.
We'll go to Florida and
go visit our daughter.
But my job...
Nah, you don't need
that job.
Just come get me.
I'm in Echo Park.
There's a--a temple
across the street.
You know it?
Right now?
- Yeah.
You're serious.
- Yeah.
Meet me in the back.
Okay.
I'll be there.
I'll be there, too.
Mommy, no!
Do you want to put your
case on the bench?
I'll examine it for 15 seconds.
If I approve, I'll put
my bag on the bench,
and you'll have 15 seconds
to look at the money.
After that, I take
your case and go.
But if you deviate from
the plan, the deal is off,
and any kind of protection
my presence may
have afforded you
will evaporate.
You got one minute
to start.
No?
Are you Jimmy Espinosa?
You have 30 seconds.
How do I know you're
not a trigger man?
You're not dead.
It'll be my ass when I put
my case on the bench--
you look at it,
you like what you see,
and then shoot me.
Do I look like
a trigger man?
I don't know,
you look like a...
Well, pretty mean.
How many men
you got in the park?
I'll be going.
The hell you will.
Well, why won't I?
I got what you want.
Could take it.
Maybe, maybe not.
Gotta be worried
about a guy like this,
a guy who could
pull off a job
that you wouldn't even
think about attempting.
You gotta be careful.
Maybe he's got friends
you don't know about.
Maybe he's just lucky.
His partner--
gunned down today.
All is not pleasure in paradise.
Your time's up.
Jimmy, how's your mother?
Resting in peace.
Bet she is.
Give me my money.
You seem disappointed.
All there.
But you don't
feel changed.
You thought maybe, what,
a weight would be lifted,
sky would be brighter,
something?
You thought paper
would do that for you.
Maybe it will.
Or not.
He's got a gun!
Get down! He's got a gun.
Ow! Aah.
Hey! Hey, freeze!
Get out of the car.
Get out of the car!
John! You all right?
Come on.
You okay? No.
- I gotta go.
No.
- Hey.
Cover these guys.
No, no, no, no.
You wanna get shot?
Go. Go.
- It's okay.
Kid?
Kid, move.
Go. Go!
Hey, there's money
on the ground!
Oh, my God.
Let me go!
Let me go!
Easy! John is
gonna be fine.
He's gonna be fine.
Get in the car!
Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm okay.
Just drive.
Oh, um...
Oh, my God.
Do I need to get
you anywhere?
Oh, I don't know--
I think we just go
to the airport, don't you?
You sure?
- Yeah, that's okay.
That's okay.
- Airport it is.
Florida.
What are you laughing about?
The easy part was
getting to the car.
Yeah?
What's the hard part?
Whatever happens next.
# I don't believe in fate #
# I don't believe in magic #
# But I believe I #
# Will wait for you #
# Till the road
beneath my feet #
# Takes me to your door #
# And I will not retreat #
# Till we are we once more #
# Like some conquistador #
# I sought new worlds
to plunder #
# Standing upon
a far-off shore #
# I long for distant lands #
# That I left long ago #
# But my riches are the sand #
# Till we are we once more #
# Till the road
beneath my feet #
# Takes me to your door #
# I will not retreat #
# Till we are we once more #