Flag Day (2021) Movie Script
[Helicopter whirring]
[Police sirens wailing]
[Urgent chattering]
[Woman] Your father,
he was released on bail,
pending trial.
His arraignment hearing
had been set for Monday.
He didn't show up.
The troopers made every effort.
[Papers rustling]
Do you know what this is?
This is very high quality.
The ink color is perfect.
The paper is good.
The weight,
watermark, plate work,
it's all meticulous.
There's even
a metal strip embedded.
In six months, he had
passed almost $50,000.
- He printed $50,000?
- No, Ms. Vogel.
He passed $50,000.
He printed $22 million.
He was facing
a maximum of 75 years.
Um, may I hold it?
[Paper rustling]
[Sighs softly]
It's beautiful.
My father...
He died a hundred times
poking holes in his veins,
like so many rehearsals
for our ultimate rejection.
We get pretty good
at it, don't we?
- [Sign creaking] - [Kid
chattering in distance]
[Girl] It says,
"happy highway Harry."
It says, "only three miles
to make a meal outta life."
[Gentle guitar music playing]
[Indistinct chatter]
[Jennifer] My father came
and went from our lives.
Showing up only when
he hungered for affirmation.
I adored his attention,
and he accommodated that.
As wholeheartedly
as he abandoned it.
Memory reckons itself
in blurs and flashes.
The special moments of
childhood are like fairy tales.
And in mine, my
father was the prince.
J I had a dream of you j
j was calling out your name j
j I had a dream of you j
j I was begging you to stay j
j I had a dream of you j
j I had a dream j
j that I caught you
before we fell j
j I had a dream j
j dancing 'round
a wishing well j
J I had a dream j
j before the house
burned down j
j I had a dream j
j the gun never made a sound j
j I had a dream j
j you were calling out
my name j
j I had a dream j
j I was begging you to stay j
j I had a dream j
jofyouj
j we were laughing
at everything j
jihadj
j a dream of you j
[Jennifer] There are
plenty of ways to kill oneself.
Theideaisthat given
the range of options,
each suicide reflects
the life that preceded it.
If this was true,
then dad's end would
be violent and spectacular.
[Folk rock music
playing on radio]
[Man] Everybody asleep
around here?
I'm awake.
- You wanna come up here?
- Yeah.
[Music continues
playing on radio]
Move right here. That's right.
That's the gas,
that's the brake,
that's the shift.
Those are the basics.
I'll just be here
if you need anything.
- No!
- What's up, honey?
Icant.lcant reach the pedals!
Sure you can. [Chuckles]
Look at how long those legs are.
Thatsit justkeepit ughtthere.
No, daddy, please
don't leave me!
[Chuckles] Snicklefritz,
you gotta learn how to drive.
It's the only way you're
gonna see the world.
Just take care because
there's a bend up here
in about an hour.
An hour?
["Nocturne op. 9,
no. 2" playing]
[Jennifer] My mother
sometimes called dad Peter Pan,
for the kind of silly charm
that allowed him to make
reckless, impulsive decisions
look like perfect
plans of action.
In those times,
he always wanted to
make things perfect for us.
Replace the humdrum
of everyday life
with new places
and unexpected moments.
He purchased the farm on a
payment plan he couldn't afford.
It was a dilapidated old place,
but he filled it
with classical music
and always kept things
fun for Nick and me
while he and mom fixed it up
like a permanent family home.
[Shrieking]
But as more delivery trucks
arrived, brimming with materials
purchased on lous
that would never be met,
the light fluttering
music of dad
seemed to fade into a darkness.
["Nocturne op. 9, no. 2"
continues playing]
And with each layer of darkness,
a new reason to disappear.
[Birds squawking]
- [John] Give me my record!
- [Patty] No!
[John] Give me
my goddamn chopin...
[Patty] I will fucking break it!
[John] I'll punch your whore
face, you goddamn witch!
[Pafiy]Fuck you! You're
a shitty-ass husband!
[Door creaks, shuts]
["Nocturne op. 9, no. 2"
continues playing]
[Breathes heavily]
[Jennfiefl dad
explained his absences
by claiming to be working
on some mysterious
business endeavor,
and left mom to
pick up the pieces.
She tried to find regular work,
but spent most of her time
staring at walls and
worrying about unpaid bills.
[Somber guitar music playing]
[Kids chattering]
[Kids laughing and screaming]
[Man on TV] First pioneers would
be in the blue Ridge mountains
and the bluegrass
region of Kentucky.
[Singing] J oh, Daniel
knew the forest j
j he knew the forest well j
to the emptiness.
[Somber guitar music continues]
[Phone ringing]
[Jennifer] Dad always
seemed to call Nick and me
when mom was sleeping.
His voice made me feel
like part of a bigger world.
A bigger world I
could only dream of.
[Adventurous music playing]
- [Door creaks]
- [Groans] Fuck.
[Sniffles] Ugh.
[Grunting]
[Sighs] What?
We're gonna go live with dad.
[Laughs]
- Okay. [Laughs]
- [Drink pours]
You kids are like
his hunting dogs.
He only runs you
when he feels like it.
It'll be better
than living with you.
Nick?
You, too?
There are things about your
father that you don't know.
[Jennfiefl like what?
- When you're older...
- I am older!
Nick, we're leaving.
[Patty] Fine, fine, fine!
Go! Get outta here!
[Serene music playing]
[John and Jennifer
screaming joyfully]
Oh, there's gotta be
some kind of mistake, Beck!
My kids are much
smaller than these two.
Look at that little button nose.
Look at you two.
Now go and get your bags
from uncle Beck's truck.
[Nick] I got it.
I really appreciate
you bringing them down.
How's their mama?
How do you think
she is, you bastard?
You left her with
two kids and no dough.
That was bust,
I had to make a move.
I see your moves, John.
Man, you had a good girl
and you steel-toe kicked
her heart all over the street.
You know what?
She'll get back on her feet.
In the meantime, you just take
good care of her babies, okay?
It's not like that. I mean,
they are my babies, too.
- Yeah, yeah.
- See ya.
I'd do anything for those kids.
Yeah. Prove it.
[Indistinct chattering]
["Nocturne no. 20"
playing on record player]
[Jennfiefl dad! Oh, my god!
[Nick] Oh, no! [Exclaims]
[Jennifer] Oh, my god. Dad,
way too much lighter fluid!
He might light the tree on fire!
[Nick] Boom!
- Oh, my...
- [Music continues]
- Good lord!
- Anybody?
- [Kids] The "nocturnes"!
- What number?
- [Kids] "Number 20"!
- [Debbie laughing]
See, how many kids you
know know their chopin?
When can we eat?
I told you ten times,
it's gotta marinate.
You asked for
pepper steak, right?
If it doesn't marinate,
it's not pepper steak,
it's just steak.
I'll take just steak.
Stoolate, itsrnannafing.
{Knockatdoofl
hold the thought.
- It's all right.
- [Music continues]
[Debbie] Do you like
music, Jennifer?
Um, yeah. I like elo.
[{debme] Enghshrock,
huh? {Door opens]
Have you heard Bob seger?
[Jennfiefl I don't think so, no.
[Debbie] What? You
have to hear Bob seger!
[John] Okay, fellas, I'll
see you in a couple weeks.
[Door closes]
Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey!
What are you doing?
- I'm changing the mood!
- [John] The mood?
We're in a classics mood.
We're listening to the classics.
[Debbie] But you can't
dance to chopin.
- [Rock music playing]
- Oh, come on, old bones!
I wanna play Jennifer
some rock 'n' roll.
[John] Are you
seriously suggesting
that Bob seger beats out
Frederic chopin, seriously?
[Debbie] I'm just
changing the tempo.
Your music is for funerals.
You know what? Okay.
But they ain't gonna like it.
These kids got class.
Yeah. You wanna dance, baby?
Come on, honey. Let's
have a little groove.
[Rock music continues playing]
[Debbie] Ooh. [Laughing]
[Lip-synching]
Nick?
J out in the back seat
of my '60 Chevy j
you... you seriously
like this stuff?
[Nick] Mm-hmm.
[Rock music continues playing]
[Confinues lip-synching]
J workin' on our night moves j
j trying' to make some
front page drive-in news j
j workin' on our night moves j
j and it was summertime j
[shrieking and laughing]
Yeah.
J sweet summertime
summertime j
[Both gasp]
- [Indistinct talking]
- [Nick cheers]
J the wonderj
j felt the lightning, yeah j
j and we waited
on the thunder j
j waited on the thunder! J
[Jennfiefl when I was young,
I thought all
the exciting things
he made happen,
he made happen for me.
- [Crowd screaming
excitedly] - [Soft music playing]
- [Crowd cheering] -
[Debbie] Hey, wait for me!
[Debbie screaming and laughing]
[People screaming joyfully]
[Soft music continues]
[Gasping]
Hello! Dad!
- Dad?
- [Men speaking indistinctly]
[Man] Not enough time.
Don't fuck around.
I don't wanna hear that shit.
- John, look at...
- [Man 2] Hey.
Hey, honey.
Uh... [sputters] This
is my daughter jennfier
um, Jennifer, these
are just some friends,
some business colleagues
from brainerd. Everything's okay.
Go on inside,
I'll meet you inside.
Honey, go inside.
[Seagulls calling]
[Debbie and Nick chafienng]
Oh, my god!
Dad.Dad! Are you okay?
[John] I'm okay, honey.
Daddyjust bumped
his face into the canoe.
- [Debbie] Oh. Nick!
- [Jennifer] Nick!
[Country music playing on radio]
Hands up, who had
a great summer?
We don't want to go home.
Yeah, well, something
came up, Nick, you know.
Well, anyway, you
and I both had accidents
on the same day,
that's a Karma thing.
The next ones are always worse.
Besides, you guys both
got school coming up,
and from what I understand,
your mom is doing much better.
[Birds chirping]
[John] I love you, baby.
Don't you ever forget it.
You and me, we got
the same heart.
Two peas in a pod. Come here.
[John grunts affectionately]
Hey. Hey.
Would you look at that?
-What is that? {Jennfiefl
you don't remember?
I got a feeling
I know what this is.
[Chuckles]
- "Happy highway Harry."
- [Jennifer chuckles]
You still have that,
you didn't lose it.
- No, of course not.
- [Bus driver] All aboard!
All right!
All right, take this.
- [Bus driver] Come on.
- [Engine starting]
They're coming, they're coming.
- All right.
- [Jennifer] Thank you.
- [Nick] Well, this is it.
- All right, Nick.
You take care of
your little sister.
Big sister. I keep forgetting.
Oh! Look at the moon.
- Oh!
- All right, go. Okay, go on.
[Slow guitar music playing]
[Slow guitar music continues]
[Jennifer] By the time that
summer had come and gone,
the bank had
foreclosed on the farm.
Like so many times before,
all of our earthly belongings
filled the old station wagon
in pursuit of a fresh start.
- [Nick] Hi, uncle Beck.
- Hey there, guys.
Come on in. [Grunts]
[Dog barking outside]
Ugh! Oh, the couch stinks!
You can lay on me if you want.
[Uncle Beck] I'm gonna
leave the keys right there.
Just come over here, gimme
a hug goodbye. I gotta go.
Give your uncle Beck
a hug goodbye, come on!
- There we go.
- [Nick] Goodbye.
- I love you guys.
- [Jennifer] I love you.
- Thank you, uncle Beck.
- [Uncle Beck] Mm-hmm.
[Nick] Thanks, uncle Beck.
Yep. Go lay down
on the poop couch.
[Uncle Beck clears throat]
I don't know between John
and I who had the shittier father,
but I do hope...
That you pick better than my
mother did on your next try.
[Uncle Beck chuckles]
You hang in there, kid.
I'll track him down, all right?
And at the very least,
I'll get him to
mail back those...
Plates for your car.
[Sighs deeply]
[Women laughing]
[Patty] He hadn't paid
a single bill in months.
[Grandma Margaret] My
boy Johnny is a bad penny.
You never trust a
bastard born on flag day.
Because they think
all immigrants are
putting them out ofjobs.
Yeah, hejust thinks
that way sometimes.
[Cacang]
He thinks that way sometimes?
[Patty] What's so funny?
You're lucky he left.
When he comes crawling
back to you...
I come to you to borrow
a few hundred bucks.
Not to judge my husband.
The year you got hitched,
John bought the cabin
at browns lake.
You spent all summer
doing it up.
The day he left, it
burns to the ground.
Then bought the burgerjoint.
Spent weeks making
pretty, pretty tablecloths.
It was pretty.
But spent nothing
on the kitchen.
And then a
hardworking black fella
opens up a better
burgerjoint across the street,
and lo and behold,
John's place burns
to the ground.
He'd burn down the world
if he thought itwould put
him in white mansions.
[Slow guitar music playing]
J I woke last night to
the sound of thunder j
j how far off
I sat and wondered j
j started humming
a song from 1962 j
j ain't it funny
how the night moves j
j when you just don't seem
to have as much to lose j
[liquid pouring]
J strange how
the night moves j
[match strikes]
J with Autumn closing in j
[music tempo increasing]
J mmmj
j night moves j
joohj
-j night moves j
-j night moves j
-j night moves -j yeah j
j night moves j
j night moves j
j oh, I sure remember
the night moves j
j night moves j
j ain't it funny
how you remember? J
-j night moves j -j
funny how you remember j
j night moves j
j I remember, I remember j
-j I remember I remember
j -j night moves j
j oh! Oh! Oh! J
[honking horn]
-J workin' and practicin'
j -j night moves j
j workin' and practicin' j
j oh, when the night moves j
-j night moves j
-j night moves j
-j oh! I remember j
-j night moves j
j yeah, yeah yeah, lrememberj
-j ooh! I remember j
-j night moves j
j lord, I rememberj
- [lighter clicks]
- [Flame roars]
J lord, I remember oh! Oh! J
j ooh! Ooh j
j oh, yeah yeah, yeah j
j uh-huh, uh-huh j
j I remember I remember j
["I am a map" playing]
J I am older j
j I am older j
j now I am olderj
j and I remember j
- [alarm ringing]
- [Siren wailing]
-J how I'm made... j
-j fuck y'all j
-j... to live by the
rules j -j fuck y'all j
-j you taught me well j
-j fuck y'all j
-j everything you
knew j -j fuck y'all j
[chucang]
J I am older j
-j and I'm like a map j
-j taught me well j
j can't play by your rules j
j I've emptied my bag j
j with everything I knew j
j fuck y'all j
j now I am olderj
j fuck y'all j
j now I am olderj
j fuck y'all j
j now I am olderj
j fuck y'all j
j I am older j
[snorts]
J fuck y'all j
[music stops]
- {jennfiefl good morning.
- Morning.
[Patty] You sleep well?
Like a baby.
Did you do your homework, honey?
Of course.
- [Doc] Good girl.
- Why don't you show him?
[Doc] Oh, I don't
need to see it.
I trust my little
girl, don't I? Huh?
Wanna tell him I trust you?
We trust each other, yeah?
- Mm-hmm?
- [Jennifer] Mm-hmm.
[Doc] Mwah.
Patty.
- [Door closes] - That
guy's so fucking stupid.
My name is Cheryl,
and I'm an alcoholic.
- [All] Hi, Cheryl.
- I came here and I had...
Lost everything.
I lost my home and my career,
and my darling husband.
I say that now.
A year ago, I thought
he was a piece of shit
who dropped me by the curb,
but you know something,
I was so angry, and I
needed someone to blame,
and I could not see
that it was on me.
[Playing soft music on organ]
[Stops playing]
[Jennifer whimpering]
[Doc shushing]
[Muffled screaming]
- [Fihud]
- [Doc groans]
[Jennifer whimpering]
What's going on?
[Sobbing]
Come on, doc, you're
in the wrong room.
[Doc] Oh.
[Grunts] Come on there.
Tipsy fool! Let's get
you to the right one.
[Jennifer gasping]
Mom...
- [Sobbing]
- [Switch clicks]
[Door slams]
[Continues sobbing]
Good morning, ladies.
Now, that is the way
you make coffee.
All right, I'm out of here.
If I'm not back for dinner,
you guys start without me.
[Door opens and closes]
What are you doing?
What is that?
It's resin. You want some?
It's not bad.
Don't push me, little lady.
What are you trying
to prove, Jennifer?
Nothing. Hell, it's
8:55 in the morning,
I'm just trying to
take the edge off.
You show some respect!
- Why?
- I'm still your mother.
[Laughing]
How long you been
smoking that stuff?
- Oh, please!
- [Patty] Answer me!
[Jennifer] Fuck you,
you hypocrite!
Answer me, you little slut!
You big slut.
Oh. You don't get
to fucking hit me.
Ever!
[Breath trembling]
[Sobbing softly]
I'm gonna miss you.
[Nick] I love you so much.
[Sighs]
Honey, we need to talk.
I'm leaving.
- Jennifer!
- What?
Don't think
you're taking the car.
Doc paid for that car.
I don't want his fucking car.
I never wanna see
that sick fuck again.
How dare you? After
all he's done for you!
[Sobs]
And where are you
gonna go, Jennifer?
-You don't have
anywhere -yes, I do!
Yes, I do, mom.
Oh, Jen.
Jen, I may be dumb,
but you're a smart girl.
Don't kid yourself.
Like I'm passing up
a great gig here?
There are things about your
father that you don't know.
Oh, god, here we go again,
are you kidding me?
Are you kidding?
[Patty] It's not
that he's a con man
- or a swindler.
- Monlthsis your shit!
It's nothing to do with
my relationship with him!
- He believes msownfiey -[Gasps]
Okay, let's talk about
believing your own lies,
shall we?
Letstahabout
protecting your children!
It's your one fucking
job to protect me!
Listen to me,
your father is a liar.
- He's a liar.
- Shut up! Please, shut up!
Look, I know what
I am, he doesn't.
And ifyou're gonna go with him,
pretty soon, you won't either.
- You won't.
- I'm done. I'm done.
I'm done! I'm done! [Crying]
Your father...
Your father is a liar.
[Jennifer] Get off me!
I can't do this anymore!
Stop! Stop!
- Donttouchrne!
- Listen to me, Jennifer!
He looks you square in the eyes
and he shows you his heart,
- and it is a lie!
- Get out of my way!
- Get the fuck out of my way!
- [Door slams shut]
[Patty] Jennifer!
[Sniffling]
["I will follow" playing]
J there's no way j
j you're alive j
j living now j
J ooooh-hoooo j
j ooooh-hoooo j
joohj
joohj
joohj
j don't come back j
j I will follow j
j my own path j
[thunder rumbling]
J ooooooh j
j ooooooh j
-j don't come back j
-j ooooooh j
j I will follow j
j my own path j
j aaaaah j
j'ohj'
[sighs]
J aaaaah j
-j aaaaah j
-j see your spark j
-j ooooooh j
-j in your heart j
[Birds singing]
[Knocking]
[John] Who's there?
Dad, it's Jennifer.
[John] Jennifer?
Yeah. Can you... can
you open the door?
[John] Jennifer?
[Footsteps approaching]
[Door creaking]
[Exhales deeply]
[John] So...
- How's school?
- It's okay.
[Train horn blaring]
Any thoughts aboutcohege?
I guess you got time.
Actually, I want
to studyjournalism.
Journalism? What
kind of journalism?
Investigative, maybe.
[John chuckles] I like that.
I can see my snicklefritz
taking on the titans
of industries,
a fast-food chain,
motherfuckers.
Just a bunch of crumbs
bound together by dough, right?
[Chuckles]
Dad, what do you do?
What do you mean, what do I do?
I mean, for a living. What
do you do for a living?
You know what I do for living.
I'm an entrepreneur.
My skill is opportunities.
Like what?
For instance,
right now, I got a
whole raft of businesses.
I'm working a very
broad portfolio.
And when you work it that way,
you're not depending
on one business
to be your bread
and butter, you know?
Yield goes down on one,
pops up on another.
And the good news is,
that I'm doing really
great with that.
[Sobs]
What's that?
[Jennifer shudders and sniffles]
[Tearfully] I'm
moving out of mom's.
I can't stand it there anymore.
Sorry.
[John] It's okay,
babe. It's okay.
[Exhales]
What's the problem, Jennifer?
Are you mixed up in drugs?
So, what's the problem?
I just gotta get out.
I thought maybe I
could come live with you.
[Clears throat]
That kind of comes
out of the blue.
Some things in life
are about timing.
Timing, you see.
See, uh, right now,
I'm growing the
business. Businesses.
And it takes all
the time god sends.
I've just got a lot of...
Yeah, I understand. It's...
But I gotta keep
the plates spinning.
I gotta keep the
balls in the air.
It's okay, dad.
It's really... it's fine.
I just want a fresh
start, you know?
Dad, I lied.
In sheboygan,
I did a lot of drugs.
I smoked weed,
I did a lot of speed.
Coke. [Sighs]
I just did stupid
things, you know?
I'm angry at you.
You're smarter than that.
Don't think I couldn't tell.
It's not my first rodeo.
Have you done drugs?
Never! Oh.
Uh, in some medical circles,
alcohol is classed a drug,
soistobacco.
So, I'm not gonna sit here
and tell you that I've never
enjoyed a vodka gimlet
on a Sunday afternoon.
And, oh, what's this?
Exhibit a, methinks.
- [Chuckles lightly]
- So, yes.
But no, I've never done drugs.
Narcotics... are you kidding me?
At the cabin, you had
those plants in the cupboard.
I used to sit up 8at night
and see you and
Debbie roll joint after joint.
And I also saw you doing lines.
I found coke in your drawer.
Don't change the subject.
I'm not changing
the subject, I saw you.
And how old were you? How
could you possibly remember?
I remember. I saw it, dad.
- You didn't.
- Yes, I did.
- You didn't.
- I did.
- You didn't. You didn't.
- Yes, I did. I did.
You didn't. You done?
- Am I done?
- With your food?
- Yeah.
- All right, let's go.
Can I drive?
Since when do you
know how to drive?
Since I was 11. Someone
told me it was the only way
to see the world. Remember?
Must have been
a pretty smart someone.
Here.
God damn it!
[John farts, mutters]
[Engine starting]
Can we finish our conversation?
Jennifer, whatever it was
that you think you saw,
or you saw, or you
think you're alleging...
Dad, I just think we should
be straight with each other.
We should tell
each other the truth.
I told you the truth.
[John] Okay.
I've got some problems.
Not drug problems. Not drugs.
Um, business.
And I owe some people
some money,
some big mistakes I made.
Thank you for telling me.
I don't want to be a burden.
[John sighs]
It's not a burden.
Like I've been saying,
it's a fresh start.
Let's get you
whipped into shape.
No more darkness!
- Whoa! Whoa, Jen!
- No more hiding
- from beautiful things.
- Whoa, whoa!
You know, dad, these
people you owe money to, dad,
you can just tell them
you're getting a new job.
A fresh start.
[Papers rustling]
[John] "Age 39.
Administration. Advertising."
- [Clipper whirring]
- "Appraising.
Apartment building. Architect.
Artist. Art supply salesman.
Antique trader. Applicator."
Those are just the as.
You're not 39, dad.
Vveh, lshaved
a couple years off.
I thought we were being honest.
Also, you're listing way
too many areas of expertise.
It's a resume, Jennifer.
They expect you
to lie on a resume.
Everybody lies on a
resume, they factor it in.
Oh, don't go too short
on the top,
it makes me look beak-ish.
[Instrumental music playing]
All right now, the pay
is okay slash not great.
It's $2.50 an hour,
raise up to $3.50 after
the first six months.
That's great. It works for me.
Sir, hi. Can I have a
moment of your time? Okay.
Hello. Hi. My name's
Jennifer. Okay.
- Great.
- Yeah, absolutely.
Thank you for supporting such
a great cause, that's awesome.
[Indistinct chatter]
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
[Sirens wailing in the distance]
[John] I got a job.
- [Jennifer] You did?
- Yeah.
You're looking at the
new executive manager
for sailfeather floatplanes.
- Dad, that's fantastic.
- Yeah.
Well, it's a long way
out of town.
A managerial position, sure.
And they made me lay out
for a fancy new briefcase.
But it's a job.
We should celebrate.
Yeah.
There's a sensitive
topic I've got to raise.
I come home from work
and I have a little stress.
And I wind down...
We've covered this.
I keep a little Thai stick
in that carved canoe
on my dresser.
And I went to my
little carved canoe...
Jennifer, have you
touched my stash?
I'm sorry, I didn't
think you would notice.
Okay, calling a house meeting.
Rule number one, you stay
away from my stash. Agreed?
- Agreed.
- Rule number two,
you can smoke, but
do it behind my back.
Or we could smoke together?
Don't you understand
the concept ofboundafles?
Look, Jennifer,
don't disappoint me.
I'm off having to be
the boss of many men
in the bureaucratic
world all day.
I get home, I wanna
know I've got my weed.
Agreed?
Agreed.
Okay, this one's not a rule,
but just consider changing
your hair color back.
Goodnight, darling,
I'm going to bed.
[Chuckles]
[Door closes]
Nick wrote me.
You're drawing?
You bought yourself a car?
Something like that,
I dropped 400 bucks
to see how long it'll last.
How was work?
You're home kinda early.
You know, iwanna
show you something.
Sit yourself down.
What's that?
It's a Jean stretcher.
It makes jeanslonger
- really?
- Yeah.
Well, you know how
myjeans are always too short,
but they're fine
when I buy them.
Hsjustwhenlput them
in the wash, they shrink,
and millions of people
have that problem.
Observe.
See how that works?
See? $12.95 for one
and $25 for two.
- That sound fair to you?
- Sure.
Let me show you
the art. It's for the ad.
I've already paid for it to
run in the paper next week,
but I've gotta check
my pennies in the piggy.
[Jennifer] It's great.
It's a great thing to have
alongside the dayjob.
Exactly, snicklefritz.
It just, it goes along
with the whole big raft.
Now, don't go anywhere,
there's a lot more
I wanna tell ya.
I had a couple of
other opportunities.
I got offered
a couple otherjobs,
even better money,
but they're all labor.
I could never do that.
In the workplace,
I'm strictly a suit-and-tie man.
[Soft music playing]
[Jennfiefl my father's
misguided sense of pride
seemed so endlessly wed
to his own shame
and disappointment.
[People whooping]
For dad, flag day
was all of america
celebrating his birthday.
He believed he was
owed that much,
that it was the least his
country should do for him.
[John] We've done our
cost benefit analysis.
We've decided to cancel the ad.
What?
No, that's bullshit!
Are you trying to bilk me
out of 16 fucking dollars?
I'm gonna have the
president of Vogel products
call you right back!
[Exhales heavily]
You dog-fuckers.
May you all die screaming
in fucking cancer!
You motherfucking bastards!
[Objects thud, clattering]
[Soft sobbing]
["Nocturne op. 9, no. 2"
playing on record player]
[John sniffles]
"Through the years,
long and wearing,
with you my dreams
I will be sharing.
I understand your pain
and know in my heart
that we're the same.
In whatever you
choose to endeavor,
I will support you
forever and ever.
- Love, Jennifer."
- [Sniffles]
Where are my goddamn cigarettes?
Oh, there. [Sniffling]
God. Look what
you've done to me.
[Chuckles]
[Jennifer] You gonna
make a wish?
[Jennifer chuckling]
Don't move. I'll be right back.
I drove by your work today, dad.
- [John sighs]
- You should be proud.
You're doing honest work.
Open it.
Oh, god. Damn it.
[Chucang] You idiot.
- Do you remember that?
- [Voice quivers] Yeah.
[Sniffles]
[Jennifer] You told me
to describe the cowboy
while you sketched
with your back to him.
You said that
if you describe
something well enough,
anyone can see it.
Sorry about...
- It's okay, dad.
- No, it's not okay.
[Sniffles] It's not
okay. It's not okay.
I appreciate...
So much.
What you did, I mean,
all of this that you did for me.
It's...
[Sighs]
And I just so want
you to know...
[Sniffles]
For you, baby, I'd
climb any mountain.
And no matter what
happens, I'm gonna be there.
No matter.
The whole fucking
world could explode
and I will be here for you.
- I know.
- [Choking up]
[John sniffles]
Do ya?
Yes, dad.
[John] Thank god.
Oh, my darling baby girl.
[Mellow music playing]
[Jennfiefl things are
really good here, Nick.
Dad seems to actually
be changing.
He's been more honest with me
and is finally even
willing to work
a regular boring
job for a living.
Please, please, write me back.
Love, Jen.
[Tires screeching]
[Imperceptible]
[Sirens wailing]
[Door shuts]
[John] You...
You colored your hair.
I colored my hair?
I haven't changed my
clothes in three fucking days
because the cops wouldn't
let me back in the house.
Can I... can I get
a cigarette, man?
[Guard] Here you go.
Thank you.
I was reading recently
in reader's digest...
About the power of
the subconscious mind
and how our actions
are not consciously willed,
but are what our inner
beings secretly divine for us.
Some people think it's the gods.
I think you make yourbed,
or your mind makes your bed.
What's that on your forehead?
- What is that?
- Nothing. Nothing.
What do you mean it's nothing?
I see it, it's right there.
Well, I cut myself.
What are you talking about?
- It's not even a cut.
- [John] Yeah.
What is it?
- [John sputters]
- What happened?
- Jennifer...
- It's red raw,
it's a huge welt!
Dad, this is important.
When did you decide to do this?
Jen, I... [sputters]
Listen. I've been asked
a lot of questions
lately and I'm a little...
- Shut up!
- I've been getting asked
a lot of questions lately, Jen!
Then answer mine!
- [Guard] Hey, cool it!
- [John] It's okay.
[Sniffles] I'm a little tired.
You're tired?
[Yelling] You're tired? Are
you fucking kidding me?
Okay, okay. Come on.
It's okay, it's okay!
- Are you fucking kidding me?
- No, no, no, no!
- Come on, baby!
- [Guard] That's it.
Just one more second, I promise.
Answer the fucking quesflon,
just tell me the truth!
You're only interested
in what the cops' story is.
You don't even wanna hear mine.
- Dad... - I'm guilty
until proven innocent.
I don't have any rights, do I?
Do I? Do I? I've got a
cop standing right here.
- I've been in a fucking...
- [Jennifer] They caught you
- with the money in the car.
- Huh?
You had a gun, you
have a fucking huge welt
-where you glued on a wig!
Look, you know,
I'm at a disadvantage.
I can't see what
you're talking about.
[Softly] My god.
[John sighs, sniffles]
I need to know when
you decided to do this.
[Sobbing] I'm not
lying to you, Jennifer.
It... ltjust is more complicated
- than that, come on.
- So, you're innocent?
You don't... [sputters]
You don't get it yet,
you're gonna get it when
you walk a mile in my shoes.
You're gonna
understand, trust me.
You're gonna understand
one day when you walk a mile...
You
hinever
fucking change! [Sobs]
- Jen! Jen!
- Come on, thatsenough.
- Up. Come on, let's go.
- Okay, wait, okay. Fuck, man!
- [Door shuts]
- God, fuck, man.
[Thunder rumbles]
- [Engine sputters]
- Come on!
Fuck.
Come on, come on, come on.
- [Engine sputters]
- God fucking damn it!
Fuck.fuck.fuck!
- [Imperceptible]
- [Slow music playing]
[Thunder rumbles]
[Indistinct conversations]
[Jennfiefl dad was originally
sentenced to 15 years.
He wrote letters
I didn't receive.
I was never in one
place long enough,
and left no
forwarding addresses.
He wanted so badly
to make his Mark,
and in his way, he did.
He left a trail
of failed schemes,
squandered money,
and broken hearts.
Now, my abiding concern
was who I would become
and whether I myself
wanted to matter at all.
J your arms mean more
to me than flowers j
j don't leave them at my doorj
j come spend some hours j
j I'll spread a blanket
on the floor j
j you have me
driven half-crazy j
j you don't see me anymore j
j throw down these walls
and veils and greet me j
j as you did before j
j when you were here before j
j before you went out
rovin' and a-ramblin' j
j now I sing no more j
j bells will ring no more j
j do that song and dance
that old romance j
j that took you
'round the world j
J I'm disoriented j
j I've been
traveling so long j
j were you just
here beside me j
j in this room now
or are you gone? J
j this confusion j
j covers everything now j
j / used to live
for the illusion j
j now the illusion's
breaking down j
j as it did before j
j when you were here before j
j before you bit off more
than you could handle j
j now / speak no more j
j turn the cheek no more j
j do that song and dance
that old romance j
j that took you
'round the world j
[Crying]
J you're no good to me
when you're broken j
j hard to look at when
you're all messed up j
[snorting]
J and your heart ls
pouring out in all directions j
[groans]
J there's no shame in losing j
j being the bearer
of the beaten hand j
j and the truth came out j
j when the cards went
down on the table j
j as they did before j
j when you were here before j
j before you told me
that / ought to be grateful j
j now / sing no more j
j wear your ring no more j
j do that song and dance
that old romance j
j that took you
'round the world j
j and I'll speak no more j
j turn the cheek no more j
[Song ends]
[Knock at door]
[Grunts]
[Sighs]
[Sighs in relief]
[Patty] I used to tell myself,
"Patty,
you never saw a
three-story building
before you met John Vogel.
You were young and
he was a tidal wave."
But the truth is...
I wasn't that young.
And there is no
justifying any of it.
You and Nick deserved
more from me.
- Mom.
- [Patty] Don't.
[Sniffles]
How are you for money?
It's kind of tight,
but I'm gonna look
forsomeflflng
inthneapohs [dooropens]
[Nick] Mom?
- I got yourjuice.
- [Door closes]
Mom?
[Chucang] Hey, baby brother.
You got me my favorite cookies.
Yes!
[Jennifer chuckling]
God, I can't believe you.
Oh! Wsso beauthh look at that!
Oh, babe, I gotta get
off the phone, though,
'cause my sister's cab
is about to be here.
Okay.
All right, I love you, too.
[Patty] Just...
Just take it, baby.
It's what I can afford.
It should help get you started.
[Jennifer] Mom,
this is too much.
It's... take it.
[Sighs] Thank you.
Really, thank you so much.
[Pensive music playing]
[Panflng]
[Man] Why do you want
to be a journalist?
[Jennifer] Well, I think this
country has a fine tradition
in journalism,
and / truly believe
I have something
to offer in the field.
[Typing]
Personally, I think
this country has a need
for a deeper understanding
on a wide variety of issues,
both on a local
and global scale.
[Dean] You submitted three
excellent sample articles.
- [Jennifer] Thank you.
- You're welcome.
So, why did you lie
on your application?
I'm sorry, I don't understand.
Your references don't pan out.
We contacted your high
school in sheboygan.
You dropped out with fs and ds.
Sorry, there's...
There's been a mistake.
Miss Vogel, there is no one
by the name of John Vogel
working for jk lowe
insurance in Seattle.
- I'm not lying!
- You can't bs your way
into the university
of Minnesota.
Who's that?
You're right.
My dad's a bank robber.
He's spending 15 years
in an Arizona
federal penitentiary,
andlflunked outofschool
sorry for wasting your time.
Hold it, Jennifer.
Your sample articles,
you did write those.
[Sighs]
Seems to me that a person
who really wants
to be a journalist
has to have an awfully
strong motivation
to find the truth in things.
Why do you want
to be a journalist?
I want to matter.
[Gentle music playing]
[John] Dear Jennifer, wow!
Nick tells me you really
impressed somebody
over there at the
university of Minnesota.
Hmm. My snicklefritz.
I always knew
you were gonna be
something very special.
[Speaks indistinctly]
J' ohhh, oh, oh j'
[alarm ringing]
[John] Hi, Jen.
In places like this,
the world seems to
forget we ever existed.
It's as if we're all just ghosts
evaporating from the earth.
[Professor speaking
indistinctly]
J' ohhh, oh oh j'
j' ohhh, oh oh j'
- [indistinct conversation]
- [John] Hi, me again.
I'm told congrauflafions
are in order.
Seems your temp job
has led your editor
to give you a shot at writing.
Well, I'm super proud
of you, my little girl.
{Gendernuflc conflnues]
[John] Hi, number one.
I guess you're either
not receiving
or just not reading my letters.
I sure wish you'd write me back.
Excuse me. What's the time?
[John] Between
writing you letters
and working in
the prison print shop,
I keep myself busy.
I think because I sketch
pretty well, I'm good at it.
Maybe / can add graphic
designer to my resume. Ha-ha.
[Indistinct chatter]
[John] It's cold here,
so it must be freezing
where you are.
Boy, once / get out,
I'm never ever coming
back to prison again.
- [John] Jennifer Vogel.
- [Applause]
University graduate.
I'm sure sorry
lmissed it, honey.
If/ could have
broken out of here,
I'd have been there.
I wanna thank all of
you for being here today,
all of you who spoke,
all of you who have
been friends of mine
- for so many years.
- [Indistinct chatter]
All of you who have
given me your support...
[Phones ringing]
[Knocks on glass]
Wow! Do me a favor.
Wanna read back
that last part for me?
"It's risky and sensationalist,
- it's also true."
- [Whistles]
"We back up the court files
with interviews from lawyers,
investigators, and scientists.
More importantly, they're
poisoning the water."
"Poisoning the water." Yes. Yes.
But all these things are true,
and it's ourjob
to write about it.
So, take "yes" for an answer.
You're not worried about
backlash from brentax?
No! Lfthere's backlash, I'll
blame the whole thing on who?
- {jennfiefl fucking Vogel.
- Fucking Vogel.
I survived this business
pretty well playing good cop.
Well, I'll be twirling
my moustache.
[John] Hi.
Isthatyou, number one?
You're... you're all grown up.
You look terrific.
You look just terrific.
When did you get out?
I was just wondering if...
Maybe you could
pull away for an hour,
come have lunch with me?
I mean, not if it's bad timing.
No, it's fine, I can
get an early lunch.
Let me just grab my purse.
Oh, I've got money.
I'm okay, I'm okay.
- I mean, I just...
- Okay. Oh, sure.
Sure, I'll wait here.
- I'll be right back.
- Okay.
[Jennifer] Dad...
I didn't know
you were getting out.
Did you tell anyone?
Did anybody pick you up?
The truth is, I've actually
been out for a while.
How long?
A year and a bit.
A year and a bit? What the hell?
You don't call or write
and you've been out
a year and a bit?
I wrote you a hundred times
from prison. I didn't
hear anything back.
No response, nothing.
Why would I think
anything would change
when I got out here?
Did you even read
any of my letters?
I was kind of on
the road for a while.
I got 'em when I got back,
and I read some
of them. I just...
What have you been
doing for over a year?
Well, I got a...
I got a business.
A little, uh,
print and copy business
down at center city.
It's called center city
print & copy. Catchy, huh?
- A print shop?
- Yep.
How did you afford that?
I wouldn't go too far there.
I mean, it was only a
couple thousand down.
Previous owner had bad
business sense and terminal cancer.
It's a tiny business,
but I do have one account.
One client that's, you
known a pretty big deal,
that covers me all right.
In fact, I was able, recently,
to do something I've
been dreaming about for...
A long time.
[Jennifer] What?
I took a one-month rental...
Of a cabin
up at the lake where
we spent that summer.
[Jennifer] Mm-hmm.
And matter of fact,
I was thinking
of going out there
this weekend, just for a day.
I don't have a lot of time,
parole and all that,
so I'd like to make
the time special
if I'm gonna spend time there.
Ithoughtrnaybe you
and I'd go open her up.
Barbecue,
take the boat out onthelake.
Um, I don't think I can.
Well, hey, let's see...
How about this following
weekend, what's that, uh...
[Paper rustling]
- That's the, uh...
- I have to work next weekend.
Hey, how about the
weekend after that?
That'd be the 30th.
I don't know, I have to check.
[John] Okay, well,
why don't you check,
and if you can't make it,
we can do it the weekend
after that. I'm pretty flexible.
[John] Here.
This is it. Chez moi.
It's not that bad.
I'll be getting out
in a few weeks.
[Jennifer sighs]
I just don't know if I'm
ready for any of this, dad.
It's a lot.
[John sighs softly]
So, you have my number.
[Pats pocket] I do. I do.
So, you'll let me know
if you change your mind.
Come by.
- Yeah.
- And I'm flexible.
You know, I could do pretty
much any time you want.
Well, I, uh...
I'm just so proud of you,
it felt... it was so
great to see you.
I mean, all that
you've achieved.
I guess what remains to be said,
and I hope you believe this...
Is that... people do change.
[Melancholy music playing]
[Sighs]
[Muffled voice of
young Jennifer echoing]
[Young Jennifer]
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
south Dakota, tennessee.
[Voice stops]
[Phone rotary dialing]
[Cawing]
[Phone beeps]
[John] Jennifer, call me
when you get a chance,
will you, please, honey?
- [Dialing]
- [Line ringing]
[Phone beeps]
Hi, it's me. Please call.
[Phone beeps]
Jen, please call.
- [Phone beeps]
- Jennifer, it's dad.
Please pick up.
[Phone ringing]
[Phone beeps]
Hi, kid, it's dad. Can
you please pick up?
[Phone ringing, beeps]
Hey, Jen. I know you're busy.
Just wanted to remind you that
there's a beautiful lake
one phone call away.
[Young Jennifer] Texas, Utah,
Vermont, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia,
Wisconsin, Wyoming.
[John] Look at that.
You've got a, a
delicate kind of beauty.
You got delicate features,
like I did when I was your age.
Your nose, your eyes,
and I see that little gap closed
- twixt your teeth.
- [Chuckles]
When you're older,
you'll have a more
unusual beauty.
People gotta look real
hard to see it, but if they look,
they'll see it,
'cause it's there.
I think the greatest
hope a man can have
is to leave something
beautiful behind.
Something that he made.
[Sighs]
[Dial pad beeping]
- -[sighs]
- [Ilne ringing]
[Birds chirping]
[Knocking]
[John] I am so damn
happy you came out here.
[Geese honking]
Jennfier
I want to apologize.
I had a long time to...
To reflect on my mistakes.
I've mulled it...
And weighed my responsibilities,
and I want to apologize...
For what happened.
You know, all of it.
The other day,
when you dropped me
at the halfway house,
I was watching you drive away
and I thought to myself,
"what can I do to help?
What can you do, John,
to give her something real,
something practical?"
So, last Tuesday,
right after we met,
I called a dealer I know
and I put a $5,000 deposit down
on a 1989 xjs Jaguar,
flamenco red,
biscuit leather
interior and top.
I mean, it's a stunner
and drives like new.
What are you talking about, dad?
You've had all this time
and this is how you're talking?
- It's a fantasy.
- Oh, is that so?
- Says who?
- Ldontwant a Jaguar.
- You don't want a Jaguar?
- It's a fantasy.
It's a fucked-up fantasy.
Does a $5,000 deposit
sound like a fantasy to you?
- Uustwanna go back in.
- Jen.
-Justtakerne backin. 4.Ineed.
- Ineedyouto beheveinrne.
- Dad!
We got so far to go, Jen!
[Jennifer] I just wanna
go back. I'm cold.
What did I say? What happened?
I'm cold, just take me back in.
Here. Here. Take my jacket.
- I don't want yourjacket.
- Just take my jacket.
[Jennifer] I just
wanna go back in.
- I don't want it.
- Take my jacket.
I don't want
your fucking jacket!
[John] Ah, Mr. Sullivan.
Yes. This is John Vogel.
I'm the one that
put down the deposit
on the flamenco red
1989 Jaguar xjs,
biscuit leather
interior and top.
Exactly.
Due to some unforeseen
circumstances,
we're not gonna
be able to proceed.
Uh-huh. No, I'm aware.
See, the thing is, it's that
the car was for my daughter,
and, uh, she changed her mind.
She doesn't like the car.
Yeah.
Anyway, yeah, well,
it's a long story,
but I think we need to talk
about the $5,000 deposit.
I understand your policy, sir,
but you gotta have
some flexibility here.
Well, for instance,
how about, um,
you know, 50% back
on the deposit.
[Jennifer] Dad.
Okay, how about 40%?
40%. You keep $3,000.
Dad! Fuck!
I have to put you on
hold for a second.
[Mouthing]
- I'll call you straight back.
- Oh, my god.
[John] Jennifer!
Jennifer!
[Indistinct newscast]
[Phone ringing, beeps]
[John] Hi, Jen, it's dad.
Can you please pick up?
Jen, I gotta catch up on
a load of work at the shop,
and then I gotta leave
town for a little bit,
so please call me.
["Drive" playing]
J smack, crack, bushwhacked j
j tie another one
to the racks, baby j
[sirens wailing]
J hey, kids, rock and roll j
j nobody tells you
where to go, baby j
I what if/ ride?
What if you walk? I
j what if you rock
around the clock? J
j tick-took j
j tick-took j
j what if you did?
What if you walk? J
j what if you tried
to get off, baby? J
J hey, kids, where are you? J
j nobody tells you
what to do, baby j
J hey, kids, shake a leg j
j maybe you're crazy
in the head, baby j
J maybe you did
maybe you walked j
j maybe you rocked
around the clock j
j tick-took j
j tick-took j
j maybe I ride
maybe you walk j
j maybe I drive
to get off, baby j
[crowd cheering]
J babyj
[indistinct commentary on TV]
[Crowd cheering]
Two years ago,
a group of school kids
from Minnesota country
school went on a field trip
to study pond life on a
farm in le sueur county,
a farm that backs on
to the Lyle-hasco plant.
This is what theyfound.
[Button clicks]
Miss Vogel,
howrnuch doyouknow
aboutpesfiddes?
How much study have
you devoted to the field?
One, two nights up
drinking coffee?
Perhaps you even
went to a library.
The building iwork in,
Lyle-hasco hq,
is a two-story,
big, flat building.
And on one of those
floors is guys in white coats,
and the other is lawyers.
Can you guess which one I'm on?
A school field trip?
And you let me be clear,
if hippie papers prints one more
of this unsubstantiated garbage,
we will sue you all the
way back to haight-ashbury.
I'm not a lawyer,
and I'm not a scientist,
but Dr. Lee nobles from
Minnesota state university is,
and is the leading proponent
of amphibian research
in the United States.
He's also a part of the
team investigating brentax.
It's a two-year study,
and he's publishing
his findings this week.
If brentax is in the water,
then that's the water
minnesotans drink,
give to their children,
take baths in,
make coffee with.
I just wondered if
you cared to comment.
[Recorder clicks]
[Crowd cheering in the distance]
Excuse me.
[Bagpipes playing
patriotic music]
[News anchor] We
interrupt the broadcast
with breaking news.
We join now in progress
team three's
eye-in-the-sky reporter,
Margaret deneb,
who is above a
high-speed police pursuit
in the corrigan lake community.
We go to you, Margaret.
[Margaret] This morning,
the u. S. Marshals
executed a warrant
at a print and copy
business in center city
just outside of Minneapolis.
Convicted felon, John Vogel,
is alleged to have
been using the storefront
for a major
counterfeiting operation...
[Softly] Dad.
[Gasps softly]
[Helicopter whirring]
[Muffled whirring of helicopter]
[Muffled bagpipe
music continues]
[Softly] Dad.
[Muffled whirring of helicopter]
[Somber music playing]
[Wind whistling]
[Music continues]
[Helicopter continues whirring]
[Gunshofl
[Music continues]
I am sorry for your loss.
["I think of angels" playing]
J when I think of angels j
j I think of you j
j and your rusty brown hair j
j and the things that you do j
j I heard you'd left j
j no, couldn't be true j
j when I think of angels j
j I think of you j
J godspeed, you angel j
j wherever you go j
j although you have left j
j I want you to know j
j my heart's full of sorrow j
j I won't let it show j
j I'll see you again j
j when it's my time to go j
[jennfiefl the death of a father
drags you to a secret place.
It trivializes everyday matters.
Displaces.
You feel abandoned
by the living.
And a kinship with the dead.
Dad had been so skilled
at sounding those finely
tuned notes of sorrow
and releasing them
at the perfect moment
to achieve impact.
My father lusted after freedom.
The kind of freedom most
free people never experience.
In the end, he got that freedom
and gave me mine in return.
J when I think of angels j
j I think of you j
["My father's daughter" playing]
J out beyond the reaches j
j rare as a blood moon you
show, then cover up your tracks j
j and through
the thinning branches j
j I watched
your tail lights turn j
j and wonder if you're
ever coming back j
j I am my father's daughter j
j come hell or high waterj
j trouble came to find you j
j shadowed into
every word and deed j
j 'til it got you
in its spell j
j they asked if
I had seen you j
j but I've got no truck with men
like them they can go to hell j
j I am my father's daughterj
j come hell or high water j
j never gonna leave him j
j despite the rights
or wrongs j
j I've got you and I
hope that you know j
j and I'm right behind you j
j there's a light
there's a light j
j that shines
wherever you go j
j I am my father's daughter j
j come hell or high water j
["there's a girl" playing]
J there's a boat j
j out on the big
wide rollers j
j oh, there's a boat j
j out on the big
wide rollers j
j oh, there's a boat j
j out on the deep
wide rollers j
j take them safely home j
j take them home j
j take them home j
j where they can be
with the ones they love j
j take them home j
j home j
j where they can be
with the ones they love j
j there's a girl j
j out in the big wide world j
j oh, there's a girl j
j out in the big wide world j
j oh, there's a girl j
j lost in a big wide world j
j take her safely home j
j take her home j
j take her home j
j where she can be
with the ones she loves j
j take her home j
j take her home j
j where she can be
with the ones she loves j
J blinking stars j
j burning bright
in the night j
j lead them safely home j
j blinking stars j
j burning bright
in the night j
j lead them safely home j
[Police sirens wailing]
[Urgent chattering]
[Woman] Your father,
he was released on bail,
pending trial.
His arraignment hearing
had been set for Monday.
He didn't show up.
The troopers made every effort.
[Papers rustling]
Do you know what this is?
This is very high quality.
The ink color is perfect.
The paper is good.
The weight,
watermark, plate work,
it's all meticulous.
There's even
a metal strip embedded.
In six months, he had
passed almost $50,000.
- He printed $50,000?
- No, Ms. Vogel.
He passed $50,000.
He printed $22 million.
He was facing
a maximum of 75 years.
Um, may I hold it?
[Paper rustling]
[Sighs softly]
It's beautiful.
My father...
He died a hundred times
poking holes in his veins,
like so many rehearsals
for our ultimate rejection.
We get pretty good
at it, don't we?
- [Sign creaking] - [Kid
chattering in distance]
[Girl] It says,
"happy highway Harry."
It says, "only three miles
to make a meal outta life."
[Gentle guitar music playing]
[Indistinct chatter]
[Jennifer] My father came
and went from our lives.
Showing up only when
he hungered for affirmation.
I adored his attention,
and he accommodated that.
As wholeheartedly
as he abandoned it.
Memory reckons itself
in blurs and flashes.
The special moments of
childhood are like fairy tales.
And in mine, my
father was the prince.
J I had a dream of you j
j was calling out your name j
j I had a dream of you j
j I was begging you to stay j
j I had a dream of you j
j I had a dream j
j that I caught you
before we fell j
j I had a dream j
j dancing 'round
a wishing well j
J I had a dream j
j before the house
burned down j
j I had a dream j
j the gun never made a sound j
j I had a dream j
j you were calling out
my name j
j I had a dream j
j I was begging you to stay j
j I had a dream j
jofyouj
j we were laughing
at everything j
jihadj
j a dream of you j
[Jennifer] There are
plenty of ways to kill oneself.
Theideaisthat given
the range of options,
each suicide reflects
the life that preceded it.
If this was true,
then dad's end would
be violent and spectacular.
[Folk rock music
playing on radio]
[Man] Everybody asleep
around here?
I'm awake.
- You wanna come up here?
- Yeah.
[Music continues
playing on radio]
Move right here. That's right.
That's the gas,
that's the brake,
that's the shift.
Those are the basics.
I'll just be here
if you need anything.
- No!
- What's up, honey?
Icant.lcant reach the pedals!
Sure you can. [Chuckles]
Look at how long those legs are.
Thatsit justkeepit ughtthere.
No, daddy, please
don't leave me!
[Chuckles] Snicklefritz,
you gotta learn how to drive.
It's the only way you're
gonna see the world.
Just take care because
there's a bend up here
in about an hour.
An hour?
["Nocturne op. 9,
no. 2" playing]
[Jennifer] My mother
sometimes called dad Peter Pan,
for the kind of silly charm
that allowed him to make
reckless, impulsive decisions
look like perfect
plans of action.
In those times,
he always wanted to
make things perfect for us.
Replace the humdrum
of everyday life
with new places
and unexpected moments.
He purchased the farm on a
payment plan he couldn't afford.
It was a dilapidated old place,
but he filled it
with classical music
and always kept things
fun for Nick and me
while he and mom fixed it up
like a permanent family home.
[Shrieking]
But as more delivery trucks
arrived, brimming with materials
purchased on lous
that would never be met,
the light fluttering
music of dad
seemed to fade into a darkness.
["Nocturne op. 9, no. 2"
continues playing]
And with each layer of darkness,
a new reason to disappear.
[Birds squawking]
- [John] Give me my record!
- [Patty] No!
[John] Give me
my goddamn chopin...
[Patty] I will fucking break it!
[John] I'll punch your whore
face, you goddamn witch!
[Pafiy]Fuck you! You're
a shitty-ass husband!
[Door creaks, shuts]
["Nocturne op. 9, no. 2"
continues playing]
[Breathes heavily]
[Jennfiefl dad
explained his absences
by claiming to be working
on some mysterious
business endeavor,
and left mom to
pick up the pieces.
She tried to find regular work,
but spent most of her time
staring at walls and
worrying about unpaid bills.
[Somber guitar music playing]
[Kids chattering]
[Kids laughing and screaming]
[Man on TV] First pioneers would
be in the blue Ridge mountains
and the bluegrass
region of Kentucky.
[Singing] J oh, Daniel
knew the forest j
j he knew the forest well j
to the emptiness.
[Somber guitar music continues]
[Phone ringing]
[Jennifer] Dad always
seemed to call Nick and me
when mom was sleeping.
His voice made me feel
like part of a bigger world.
A bigger world I
could only dream of.
[Adventurous music playing]
- [Door creaks]
- [Groans] Fuck.
[Sniffles] Ugh.
[Grunting]
[Sighs] What?
We're gonna go live with dad.
[Laughs]
- Okay. [Laughs]
- [Drink pours]
You kids are like
his hunting dogs.
He only runs you
when he feels like it.
It'll be better
than living with you.
Nick?
You, too?
There are things about your
father that you don't know.
[Jennfiefl like what?
- When you're older...
- I am older!
Nick, we're leaving.
[Patty] Fine, fine, fine!
Go! Get outta here!
[Serene music playing]
[John and Jennifer
screaming joyfully]
Oh, there's gotta be
some kind of mistake, Beck!
My kids are much
smaller than these two.
Look at that little button nose.
Look at you two.
Now go and get your bags
from uncle Beck's truck.
[Nick] I got it.
I really appreciate
you bringing them down.
How's their mama?
How do you think
she is, you bastard?
You left her with
two kids and no dough.
That was bust,
I had to make a move.
I see your moves, John.
Man, you had a good girl
and you steel-toe kicked
her heart all over the street.
You know what?
She'll get back on her feet.
In the meantime, you just take
good care of her babies, okay?
It's not like that. I mean,
they are my babies, too.
- Yeah, yeah.
- See ya.
I'd do anything for those kids.
Yeah. Prove it.
[Indistinct chattering]
["Nocturne no. 20"
playing on record player]
[Jennfiefl dad! Oh, my god!
[Nick] Oh, no! [Exclaims]
[Jennifer] Oh, my god. Dad,
way too much lighter fluid!
He might light the tree on fire!
[Nick] Boom!
- Oh, my...
- [Music continues]
- Good lord!
- Anybody?
- [Kids] The "nocturnes"!
- What number?
- [Kids] "Number 20"!
- [Debbie laughing]
See, how many kids you
know know their chopin?
When can we eat?
I told you ten times,
it's gotta marinate.
You asked for
pepper steak, right?
If it doesn't marinate,
it's not pepper steak,
it's just steak.
I'll take just steak.
Stoolate, itsrnannafing.
{Knockatdoofl
hold the thought.
- It's all right.
- [Music continues]
[Debbie] Do you like
music, Jennifer?
Um, yeah. I like elo.
[{debme] Enghshrock,
huh? {Door opens]
Have you heard Bob seger?
[Jennfiefl I don't think so, no.
[Debbie] What? You
have to hear Bob seger!
[John] Okay, fellas, I'll
see you in a couple weeks.
[Door closes]
Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey!
What are you doing?
- I'm changing the mood!
- [John] The mood?
We're in a classics mood.
We're listening to the classics.
[Debbie] But you can't
dance to chopin.
- [Rock music playing]
- Oh, come on, old bones!
I wanna play Jennifer
some rock 'n' roll.
[John] Are you
seriously suggesting
that Bob seger beats out
Frederic chopin, seriously?
[Debbie] I'm just
changing the tempo.
Your music is for funerals.
You know what? Okay.
But they ain't gonna like it.
These kids got class.
Yeah. You wanna dance, baby?
Come on, honey. Let's
have a little groove.
[Rock music continues playing]
[Debbie] Ooh. [Laughing]
[Lip-synching]
Nick?
J out in the back seat
of my '60 Chevy j
you... you seriously
like this stuff?
[Nick] Mm-hmm.
[Rock music continues playing]
[Confinues lip-synching]
J workin' on our night moves j
j trying' to make some
front page drive-in news j
j workin' on our night moves j
j and it was summertime j
[shrieking and laughing]
Yeah.
J sweet summertime
summertime j
[Both gasp]
- [Indistinct talking]
- [Nick cheers]
J the wonderj
j felt the lightning, yeah j
j and we waited
on the thunder j
j waited on the thunder! J
[Jennfiefl when I was young,
I thought all
the exciting things
he made happen,
he made happen for me.
- [Crowd screaming
excitedly] - [Soft music playing]
- [Crowd cheering] -
[Debbie] Hey, wait for me!
[Debbie screaming and laughing]
[People screaming joyfully]
[Soft music continues]
[Gasping]
Hello! Dad!
- Dad?
- [Men speaking indistinctly]
[Man] Not enough time.
Don't fuck around.
I don't wanna hear that shit.
- John, look at...
- [Man 2] Hey.
Hey, honey.
Uh... [sputters] This
is my daughter jennfier
um, Jennifer, these
are just some friends,
some business colleagues
from brainerd. Everything's okay.
Go on inside,
I'll meet you inside.
Honey, go inside.
[Seagulls calling]
[Debbie and Nick chafienng]
Oh, my god!
Dad.Dad! Are you okay?
[John] I'm okay, honey.
Daddyjust bumped
his face into the canoe.
- [Debbie] Oh. Nick!
- [Jennifer] Nick!
[Country music playing on radio]
Hands up, who had
a great summer?
We don't want to go home.
Yeah, well, something
came up, Nick, you know.
Well, anyway, you
and I both had accidents
on the same day,
that's a Karma thing.
The next ones are always worse.
Besides, you guys both
got school coming up,
and from what I understand,
your mom is doing much better.
[Birds chirping]
[John] I love you, baby.
Don't you ever forget it.
You and me, we got
the same heart.
Two peas in a pod. Come here.
[John grunts affectionately]
Hey. Hey.
Would you look at that?
-What is that? {Jennfiefl
you don't remember?
I got a feeling
I know what this is.
[Chuckles]
- "Happy highway Harry."
- [Jennifer chuckles]
You still have that,
you didn't lose it.
- No, of course not.
- [Bus driver] All aboard!
All right!
All right, take this.
- [Bus driver] Come on.
- [Engine starting]
They're coming, they're coming.
- All right.
- [Jennifer] Thank you.
- [Nick] Well, this is it.
- All right, Nick.
You take care of
your little sister.
Big sister. I keep forgetting.
Oh! Look at the moon.
- Oh!
- All right, go. Okay, go on.
[Slow guitar music playing]
[Slow guitar music continues]
[Jennifer] By the time that
summer had come and gone,
the bank had
foreclosed on the farm.
Like so many times before,
all of our earthly belongings
filled the old station wagon
in pursuit of a fresh start.
- [Nick] Hi, uncle Beck.
- Hey there, guys.
Come on in. [Grunts]
[Dog barking outside]
Ugh! Oh, the couch stinks!
You can lay on me if you want.
[Uncle Beck] I'm gonna
leave the keys right there.
Just come over here, gimme
a hug goodbye. I gotta go.
Give your uncle Beck
a hug goodbye, come on!
- There we go.
- [Nick] Goodbye.
- I love you guys.
- [Jennifer] I love you.
- Thank you, uncle Beck.
- [Uncle Beck] Mm-hmm.
[Nick] Thanks, uncle Beck.
Yep. Go lay down
on the poop couch.
[Uncle Beck clears throat]
I don't know between John
and I who had the shittier father,
but I do hope...
That you pick better than my
mother did on your next try.
[Uncle Beck chuckles]
You hang in there, kid.
I'll track him down, all right?
And at the very least,
I'll get him to
mail back those...
Plates for your car.
[Sighs deeply]
[Women laughing]
[Patty] He hadn't paid
a single bill in months.
[Grandma Margaret] My
boy Johnny is a bad penny.
You never trust a
bastard born on flag day.
Because they think
all immigrants are
putting them out ofjobs.
Yeah, hejust thinks
that way sometimes.
[Cacang]
He thinks that way sometimes?
[Patty] What's so funny?
You're lucky he left.
When he comes crawling
back to you...
I come to you to borrow
a few hundred bucks.
Not to judge my husband.
The year you got hitched,
John bought the cabin
at browns lake.
You spent all summer
doing it up.
The day he left, it
burns to the ground.
Then bought the burgerjoint.
Spent weeks making
pretty, pretty tablecloths.
It was pretty.
But spent nothing
on the kitchen.
And then a
hardworking black fella
opens up a better
burgerjoint across the street,
and lo and behold,
John's place burns
to the ground.
He'd burn down the world
if he thought itwould put
him in white mansions.
[Slow guitar music playing]
J I woke last night to
the sound of thunder j
j how far off
I sat and wondered j
j started humming
a song from 1962 j
j ain't it funny
how the night moves j
j when you just don't seem
to have as much to lose j
[liquid pouring]
J strange how
the night moves j
[match strikes]
J with Autumn closing in j
[music tempo increasing]
J mmmj
j night moves j
joohj
-j night moves j
-j night moves j
-j night moves -j yeah j
j night moves j
j night moves j
j oh, I sure remember
the night moves j
j night moves j
j ain't it funny
how you remember? J
-j night moves j -j
funny how you remember j
j night moves j
j I remember, I remember j
-j I remember I remember
j -j night moves j
j oh! Oh! Oh! J
[honking horn]
-J workin' and practicin'
j -j night moves j
j workin' and practicin' j
j oh, when the night moves j
-j night moves j
-j night moves j
-j oh! I remember j
-j night moves j
j yeah, yeah yeah, lrememberj
-j ooh! I remember j
-j night moves j
j lord, I rememberj
- [lighter clicks]
- [Flame roars]
J lord, I remember oh! Oh! J
j ooh! Ooh j
j oh, yeah yeah, yeah j
j uh-huh, uh-huh j
j I remember I remember j
["I am a map" playing]
J I am older j
j I am older j
j now I am olderj
j and I remember j
- [alarm ringing]
- [Siren wailing]
-J how I'm made... j
-j fuck y'all j
-j... to live by the
rules j -j fuck y'all j
-j you taught me well j
-j fuck y'all j
-j everything you
knew j -j fuck y'all j
[chucang]
J I am older j
-j and I'm like a map j
-j taught me well j
j can't play by your rules j
j I've emptied my bag j
j with everything I knew j
j fuck y'all j
j now I am olderj
j fuck y'all j
j now I am olderj
j fuck y'all j
j now I am olderj
j fuck y'all j
j I am older j
[snorts]
J fuck y'all j
[music stops]
- {jennfiefl good morning.
- Morning.
[Patty] You sleep well?
Like a baby.
Did you do your homework, honey?
Of course.
- [Doc] Good girl.
- Why don't you show him?
[Doc] Oh, I don't
need to see it.
I trust my little
girl, don't I? Huh?
Wanna tell him I trust you?
We trust each other, yeah?
- Mm-hmm?
- [Jennifer] Mm-hmm.
[Doc] Mwah.
Patty.
- [Door closes] - That
guy's so fucking stupid.
My name is Cheryl,
and I'm an alcoholic.
- [All] Hi, Cheryl.
- I came here and I had...
Lost everything.
I lost my home and my career,
and my darling husband.
I say that now.
A year ago, I thought
he was a piece of shit
who dropped me by the curb,
but you know something,
I was so angry, and I
needed someone to blame,
and I could not see
that it was on me.
[Playing soft music on organ]
[Stops playing]
[Jennifer whimpering]
[Doc shushing]
[Muffled screaming]
- [Fihud]
- [Doc groans]
[Jennifer whimpering]
What's going on?
[Sobbing]
Come on, doc, you're
in the wrong room.
[Doc] Oh.
[Grunts] Come on there.
Tipsy fool! Let's get
you to the right one.
[Jennifer gasping]
Mom...
- [Sobbing]
- [Switch clicks]
[Door slams]
[Continues sobbing]
Good morning, ladies.
Now, that is the way
you make coffee.
All right, I'm out of here.
If I'm not back for dinner,
you guys start without me.
[Door opens and closes]
What are you doing?
What is that?
It's resin. You want some?
It's not bad.
Don't push me, little lady.
What are you trying
to prove, Jennifer?
Nothing. Hell, it's
8:55 in the morning,
I'm just trying to
take the edge off.
You show some respect!
- Why?
- I'm still your mother.
[Laughing]
How long you been
smoking that stuff?
- Oh, please!
- [Patty] Answer me!
[Jennifer] Fuck you,
you hypocrite!
Answer me, you little slut!
You big slut.
Oh. You don't get
to fucking hit me.
Ever!
[Breath trembling]
[Sobbing softly]
I'm gonna miss you.
[Nick] I love you so much.
[Sighs]
Honey, we need to talk.
I'm leaving.
- Jennifer!
- What?
Don't think
you're taking the car.
Doc paid for that car.
I don't want his fucking car.
I never wanna see
that sick fuck again.
How dare you? After
all he's done for you!
[Sobs]
And where are you
gonna go, Jennifer?
-You don't have
anywhere -yes, I do!
Yes, I do, mom.
Oh, Jen.
Jen, I may be dumb,
but you're a smart girl.
Don't kid yourself.
Like I'm passing up
a great gig here?
There are things about your
father that you don't know.
Oh, god, here we go again,
are you kidding me?
Are you kidding?
[Patty] It's not
that he's a con man
- or a swindler.
- Monlthsis your shit!
It's nothing to do with
my relationship with him!
- He believes msownfiey -[Gasps]
Okay, let's talk about
believing your own lies,
shall we?
Letstahabout
protecting your children!
It's your one fucking
job to protect me!
Listen to me,
your father is a liar.
- He's a liar.
- Shut up! Please, shut up!
Look, I know what
I am, he doesn't.
And ifyou're gonna go with him,
pretty soon, you won't either.
- You won't.
- I'm done. I'm done.
I'm done! I'm done! [Crying]
Your father...
Your father is a liar.
[Jennifer] Get off me!
I can't do this anymore!
Stop! Stop!
- Donttouchrne!
- Listen to me, Jennifer!
He looks you square in the eyes
and he shows you his heart,
- and it is a lie!
- Get out of my way!
- Get the fuck out of my way!
- [Door slams shut]
[Patty] Jennifer!
[Sniffling]
["I will follow" playing]
J there's no way j
j you're alive j
j living now j
J ooooh-hoooo j
j ooooh-hoooo j
joohj
joohj
joohj
j don't come back j
j I will follow j
j my own path j
[thunder rumbling]
J ooooooh j
j ooooooh j
-j don't come back j
-j ooooooh j
j I will follow j
j my own path j
j aaaaah j
j'ohj'
[sighs]
J aaaaah j
-j aaaaah j
-j see your spark j
-j ooooooh j
-j in your heart j
[Birds singing]
[Knocking]
[John] Who's there?
Dad, it's Jennifer.
[John] Jennifer?
Yeah. Can you... can
you open the door?
[John] Jennifer?
[Footsteps approaching]
[Door creaking]
[Exhales deeply]
[John] So...
- How's school?
- It's okay.
[Train horn blaring]
Any thoughts aboutcohege?
I guess you got time.
Actually, I want
to studyjournalism.
Journalism? What
kind of journalism?
Investigative, maybe.
[John chuckles] I like that.
I can see my snicklefritz
taking on the titans
of industries,
a fast-food chain,
motherfuckers.
Just a bunch of crumbs
bound together by dough, right?
[Chuckles]
Dad, what do you do?
What do you mean, what do I do?
I mean, for a living. What
do you do for a living?
You know what I do for living.
I'm an entrepreneur.
My skill is opportunities.
Like what?
For instance,
right now, I got a
whole raft of businesses.
I'm working a very
broad portfolio.
And when you work it that way,
you're not depending
on one business
to be your bread
and butter, you know?
Yield goes down on one,
pops up on another.
And the good news is,
that I'm doing really
great with that.
[Sobs]
What's that?
[Jennifer shudders and sniffles]
[Tearfully] I'm
moving out of mom's.
I can't stand it there anymore.
Sorry.
[John] It's okay,
babe. It's okay.
[Exhales]
What's the problem, Jennifer?
Are you mixed up in drugs?
So, what's the problem?
I just gotta get out.
I thought maybe I
could come live with you.
[Clears throat]
That kind of comes
out of the blue.
Some things in life
are about timing.
Timing, you see.
See, uh, right now,
I'm growing the
business. Businesses.
And it takes all
the time god sends.
I've just got a lot of...
Yeah, I understand. It's...
But I gotta keep
the plates spinning.
I gotta keep the
balls in the air.
It's okay, dad.
It's really... it's fine.
I just want a fresh
start, you know?
Dad, I lied.
In sheboygan,
I did a lot of drugs.
I smoked weed,
I did a lot of speed.
Coke. [Sighs]
I just did stupid
things, you know?
I'm angry at you.
You're smarter than that.
Don't think I couldn't tell.
It's not my first rodeo.
Have you done drugs?
Never! Oh.
Uh, in some medical circles,
alcohol is classed a drug,
soistobacco.
So, I'm not gonna sit here
and tell you that I've never
enjoyed a vodka gimlet
on a Sunday afternoon.
And, oh, what's this?
Exhibit a, methinks.
- [Chuckles lightly]
- So, yes.
But no, I've never done drugs.
Narcotics... are you kidding me?
At the cabin, you had
those plants in the cupboard.
I used to sit up 8at night
and see you and
Debbie roll joint after joint.
And I also saw you doing lines.
I found coke in your drawer.
Don't change the subject.
I'm not changing
the subject, I saw you.
And how old were you? How
could you possibly remember?
I remember. I saw it, dad.
- You didn't.
- Yes, I did.
- You didn't.
- I did.
- You didn't. You didn't.
- Yes, I did. I did.
You didn't. You done?
- Am I done?
- With your food?
- Yeah.
- All right, let's go.
Can I drive?
Since when do you
know how to drive?
Since I was 11. Someone
told me it was the only way
to see the world. Remember?
Must have been
a pretty smart someone.
Here.
God damn it!
[John farts, mutters]
[Engine starting]
Can we finish our conversation?
Jennifer, whatever it was
that you think you saw,
or you saw, or you
think you're alleging...
Dad, I just think we should
be straight with each other.
We should tell
each other the truth.
I told you the truth.
[John] Okay.
I've got some problems.
Not drug problems. Not drugs.
Um, business.
And I owe some people
some money,
some big mistakes I made.
Thank you for telling me.
I don't want to be a burden.
[John sighs]
It's not a burden.
Like I've been saying,
it's a fresh start.
Let's get you
whipped into shape.
No more darkness!
- Whoa! Whoa, Jen!
- No more hiding
- from beautiful things.
- Whoa, whoa!
You know, dad, these
people you owe money to, dad,
you can just tell them
you're getting a new job.
A fresh start.
[Papers rustling]
[John] "Age 39.
Administration. Advertising."
- [Clipper whirring]
- "Appraising.
Apartment building. Architect.
Artist. Art supply salesman.
Antique trader. Applicator."
Those are just the as.
You're not 39, dad.
Vveh, lshaved
a couple years off.
I thought we were being honest.
Also, you're listing way
too many areas of expertise.
It's a resume, Jennifer.
They expect you
to lie on a resume.
Everybody lies on a
resume, they factor it in.
Oh, don't go too short
on the top,
it makes me look beak-ish.
[Instrumental music playing]
All right now, the pay
is okay slash not great.
It's $2.50 an hour,
raise up to $3.50 after
the first six months.
That's great. It works for me.
Sir, hi. Can I have a
moment of your time? Okay.
Hello. Hi. My name's
Jennifer. Okay.
- Great.
- Yeah, absolutely.
Thank you for supporting such
a great cause, that's awesome.
[Indistinct chatter]
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
[Sirens wailing in the distance]
[John] I got a job.
- [Jennifer] You did?
- Yeah.
You're looking at the
new executive manager
for sailfeather floatplanes.
- Dad, that's fantastic.
- Yeah.
Well, it's a long way
out of town.
A managerial position, sure.
And they made me lay out
for a fancy new briefcase.
But it's a job.
We should celebrate.
Yeah.
There's a sensitive
topic I've got to raise.
I come home from work
and I have a little stress.
And I wind down...
We've covered this.
I keep a little Thai stick
in that carved canoe
on my dresser.
And I went to my
little carved canoe...
Jennifer, have you
touched my stash?
I'm sorry, I didn't
think you would notice.
Okay, calling a house meeting.
Rule number one, you stay
away from my stash. Agreed?
- Agreed.
- Rule number two,
you can smoke, but
do it behind my back.
Or we could smoke together?
Don't you understand
the concept ofboundafles?
Look, Jennifer,
don't disappoint me.
I'm off having to be
the boss of many men
in the bureaucratic
world all day.
I get home, I wanna
know I've got my weed.
Agreed?
Agreed.
Okay, this one's not a rule,
but just consider changing
your hair color back.
Goodnight, darling,
I'm going to bed.
[Chuckles]
[Door closes]
Nick wrote me.
You're drawing?
You bought yourself a car?
Something like that,
I dropped 400 bucks
to see how long it'll last.
How was work?
You're home kinda early.
You know, iwanna
show you something.
Sit yourself down.
What's that?
It's a Jean stretcher.
It makes jeanslonger
- really?
- Yeah.
Well, you know how
myjeans are always too short,
but they're fine
when I buy them.
Hsjustwhenlput them
in the wash, they shrink,
and millions of people
have that problem.
Observe.
See how that works?
See? $12.95 for one
and $25 for two.
- That sound fair to you?
- Sure.
Let me show you
the art. It's for the ad.
I've already paid for it to
run in the paper next week,
but I've gotta check
my pennies in the piggy.
[Jennifer] It's great.
It's a great thing to have
alongside the dayjob.
Exactly, snicklefritz.
It just, it goes along
with the whole big raft.
Now, don't go anywhere,
there's a lot more
I wanna tell ya.
I had a couple of
other opportunities.
I got offered
a couple otherjobs,
even better money,
but they're all labor.
I could never do that.
In the workplace,
I'm strictly a suit-and-tie man.
[Soft music playing]
[Jennfiefl my father's
misguided sense of pride
seemed so endlessly wed
to his own shame
and disappointment.
[People whooping]
For dad, flag day
was all of america
celebrating his birthday.
He believed he was
owed that much,
that it was the least his
country should do for him.
[John] We've done our
cost benefit analysis.
We've decided to cancel the ad.
What?
No, that's bullshit!
Are you trying to bilk me
out of 16 fucking dollars?
I'm gonna have the
president of Vogel products
call you right back!
[Exhales heavily]
You dog-fuckers.
May you all die screaming
in fucking cancer!
You motherfucking bastards!
[Objects thud, clattering]
[Soft sobbing]
["Nocturne op. 9, no. 2"
playing on record player]
[John sniffles]
"Through the years,
long and wearing,
with you my dreams
I will be sharing.
I understand your pain
and know in my heart
that we're the same.
In whatever you
choose to endeavor,
I will support you
forever and ever.
- Love, Jennifer."
- [Sniffles]
Where are my goddamn cigarettes?
Oh, there. [Sniffling]
God. Look what
you've done to me.
[Chuckles]
[Jennifer] You gonna
make a wish?
[Jennifer chuckling]
Don't move. I'll be right back.
I drove by your work today, dad.
- [John sighs]
- You should be proud.
You're doing honest work.
Open it.
Oh, god. Damn it.
[Chucang] You idiot.
- Do you remember that?
- [Voice quivers] Yeah.
[Sniffles]
[Jennifer] You told me
to describe the cowboy
while you sketched
with your back to him.
You said that
if you describe
something well enough,
anyone can see it.
Sorry about...
- It's okay, dad.
- No, it's not okay.
[Sniffles] It's not
okay. It's not okay.
I appreciate...
So much.
What you did, I mean,
all of this that you did for me.
It's...
[Sighs]
And I just so want
you to know...
[Sniffles]
For you, baby, I'd
climb any mountain.
And no matter what
happens, I'm gonna be there.
No matter.
The whole fucking
world could explode
and I will be here for you.
- I know.
- [Choking up]
[John sniffles]
Do ya?
Yes, dad.
[John] Thank god.
Oh, my darling baby girl.
[Mellow music playing]
[Jennfiefl things are
really good here, Nick.
Dad seems to actually
be changing.
He's been more honest with me
and is finally even
willing to work
a regular boring
job for a living.
Please, please, write me back.
Love, Jen.
[Tires screeching]
[Imperceptible]
[Sirens wailing]
[Door shuts]
[John] You...
You colored your hair.
I colored my hair?
I haven't changed my
clothes in three fucking days
because the cops wouldn't
let me back in the house.
Can I... can I get
a cigarette, man?
[Guard] Here you go.
Thank you.
I was reading recently
in reader's digest...
About the power of
the subconscious mind
and how our actions
are not consciously willed,
but are what our inner
beings secretly divine for us.
Some people think it's the gods.
I think you make yourbed,
or your mind makes your bed.
What's that on your forehead?
- What is that?
- Nothing. Nothing.
What do you mean it's nothing?
I see it, it's right there.
Well, I cut myself.
What are you talking about?
- It's not even a cut.
- [John] Yeah.
What is it?
- [John sputters]
- What happened?
- Jennifer...
- It's red raw,
it's a huge welt!
Dad, this is important.
When did you decide to do this?
Jen, I... [sputters]
Listen. I've been asked
a lot of questions
lately and I'm a little...
- Shut up!
- I've been getting asked
a lot of questions lately, Jen!
Then answer mine!
- [Guard] Hey, cool it!
- [John] It's okay.
[Sniffles] I'm a little tired.
You're tired?
[Yelling] You're tired? Are
you fucking kidding me?
Okay, okay. Come on.
It's okay, it's okay!
- Are you fucking kidding me?
- No, no, no, no!
- Come on, baby!
- [Guard] That's it.
Just one more second, I promise.
Answer the fucking quesflon,
just tell me the truth!
You're only interested
in what the cops' story is.
You don't even wanna hear mine.
- Dad... - I'm guilty
until proven innocent.
I don't have any rights, do I?
Do I? Do I? I've got a
cop standing right here.
- I've been in a fucking...
- [Jennifer] They caught you
- with the money in the car.
- Huh?
You had a gun, you
have a fucking huge welt
-where you glued on a wig!
Look, you know,
I'm at a disadvantage.
I can't see what
you're talking about.
[Softly] My god.
[John sighs, sniffles]
I need to know when
you decided to do this.
[Sobbing] I'm not
lying to you, Jennifer.
It... ltjust is more complicated
- than that, come on.
- So, you're innocent?
You don't... [sputters]
You don't get it yet,
you're gonna get it when
you walk a mile in my shoes.
You're gonna
understand, trust me.
You're gonna understand
one day when you walk a mile...
You
hinever
fucking change! [Sobs]
- Jen! Jen!
- Come on, thatsenough.
- Up. Come on, let's go.
- Okay, wait, okay. Fuck, man!
- [Door shuts]
- God, fuck, man.
[Thunder rumbles]
- [Engine sputters]
- Come on!
Fuck.
Come on, come on, come on.
- [Engine sputters]
- God fucking damn it!
Fuck.fuck.fuck!
- [Imperceptible]
- [Slow music playing]
[Thunder rumbles]
[Indistinct conversations]
[Jennfiefl dad was originally
sentenced to 15 years.
He wrote letters
I didn't receive.
I was never in one
place long enough,
and left no
forwarding addresses.
He wanted so badly
to make his Mark,
and in his way, he did.
He left a trail
of failed schemes,
squandered money,
and broken hearts.
Now, my abiding concern
was who I would become
and whether I myself
wanted to matter at all.
J your arms mean more
to me than flowers j
j don't leave them at my doorj
j come spend some hours j
j I'll spread a blanket
on the floor j
j you have me
driven half-crazy j
j you don't see me anymore j
j throw down these walls
and veils and greet me j
j as you did before j
j when you were here before j
j before you went out
rovin' and a-ramblin' j
j now I sing no more j
j bells will ring no more j
j do that song and dance
that old romance j
j that took you
'round the world j
J I'm disoriented j
j I've been
traveling so long j
j were you just
here beside me j
j in this room now
or are you gone? J
j this confusion j
j covers everything now j
j / used to live
for the illusion j
j now the illusion's
breaking down j
j as it did before j
j when you were here before j
j before you bit off more
than you could handle j
j now / speak no more j
j turn the cheek no more j
j do that song and dance
that old romance j
j that took you
'round the world j
[Crying]
J you're no good to me
when you're broken j
j hard to look at when
you're all messed up j
[snorting]
J and your heart ls
pouring out in all directions j
[groans]
J there's no shame in losing j
j being the bearer
of the beaten hand j
j and the truth came out j
j when the cards went
down on the table j
j as they did before j
j when you were here before j
j before you told me
that / ought to be grateful j
j now / sing no more j
j wear your ring no more j
j do that song and dance
that old romance j
j that took you
'round the world j
j and I'll speak no more j
j turn the cheek no more j
[Song ends]
[Knock at door]
[Grunts]
[Sighs]
[Sighs in relief]
[Patty] I used to tell myself,
"Patty,
you never saw a
three-story building
before you met John Vogel.
You were young and
he was a tidal wave."
But the truth is...
I wasn't that young.
And there is no
justifying any of it.
You and Nick deserved
more from me.
- Mom.
- [Patty] Don't.
[Sniffles]
How are you for money?
It's kind of tight,
but I'm gonna look
forsomeflflng
inthneapohs [dooropens]
[Nick] Mom?
- I got yourjuice.
- [Door closes]
Mom?
[Chucang] Hey, baby brother.
You got me my favorite cookies.
Yes!
[Jennifer chuckling]
God, I can't believe you.
Oh! Wsso beauthh look at that!
Oh, babe, I gotta get
off the phone, though,
'cause my sister's cab
is about to be here.
Okay.
All right, I love you, too.
[Patty] Just...
Just take it, baby.
It's what I can afford.
It should help get you started.
[Jennifer] Mom,
this is too much.
It's... take it.
[Sighs] Thank you.
Really, thank you so much.
[Pensive music playing]
[Panflng]
[Man] Why do you want
to be a journalist?
[Jennifer] Well, I think this
country has a fine tradition
in journalism,
and / truly believe
I have something
to offer in the field.
[Typing]
Personally, I think
this country has a need
for a deeper understanding
on a wide variety of issues,
both on a local
and global scale.
[Dean] You submitted three
excellent sample articles.
- [Jennifer] Thank you.
- You're welcome.
So, why did you lie
on your application?
I'm sorry, I don't understand.
Your references don't pan out.
We contacted your high
school in sheboygan.
You dropped out with fs and ds.
Sorry, there's...
There's been a mistake.
Miss Vogel, there is no one
by the name of John Vogel
working for jk lowe
insurance in Seattle.
- I'm not lying!
- You can't bs your way
into the university
of Minnesota.
Who's that?
You're right.
My dad's a bank robber.
He's spending 15 years
in an Arizona
federal penitentiary,
andlflunked outofschool
sorry for wasting your time.
Hold it, Jennifer.
Your sample articles,
you did write those.
[Sighs]
Seems to me that a person
who really wants
to be a journalist
has to have an awfully
strong motivation
to find the truth in things.
Why do you want
to be a journalist?
I want to matter.
[Gentle music playing]
[John] Dear Jennifer, wow!
Nick tells me you really
impressed somebody
over there at the
university of Minnesota.
Hmm. My snicklefritz.
I always knew
you were gonna be
something very special.
[Speaks indistinctly]
J' ohhh, oh, oh j'
[alarm ringing]
[John] Hi, Jen.
In places like this,
the world seems to
forget we ever existed.
It's as if we're all just ghosts
evaporating from the earth.
[Professor speaking
indistinctly]
J' ohhh, oh oh j'
j' ohhh, oh oh j'
- [indistinct conversation]
- [John] Hi, me again.
I'm told congrauflafions
are in order.
Seems your temp job
has led your editor
to give you a shot at writing.
Well, I'm super proud
of you, my little girl.
{Gendernuflc conflnues]
[John] Hi, number one.
I guess you're either
not receiving
or just not reading my letters.
I sure wish you'd write me back.
Excuse me. What's the time?
[John] Between
writing you letters
and working in
the prison print shop,
I keep myself busy.
I think because I sketch
pretty well, I'm good at it.
Maybe / can add graphic
designer to my resume. Ha-ha.
[Indistinct chatter]
[John] It's cold here,
so it must be freezing
where you are.
Boy, once / get out,
I'm never ever coming
back to prison again.
- [John] Jennifer Vogel.
- [Applause]
University graduate.
I'm sure sorry
lmissed it, honey.
If/ could have
broken out of here,
I'd have been there.
I wanna thank all of
you for being here today,
all of you who spoke,
all of you who have
been friends of mine
- for so many years.
- [Indistinct chatter]
All of you who have
given me your support...
[Phones ringing]
[Knocks on glass]
Wow! Do me a favor.
Wanna read back
that last part for me?
"It's risky and sensationalist,
- it's also true."
- [Whistles]
"We back up the court files
with interviews from lawyers,
investigators, and scientists.
More importantly, they're
poisoning the water."
"Poisoning the water." Yes. Yes.
But all these things are true,
and it's ourjob
to write about it.
So, take "yes" for an answer.
You're not worried about
backlash from brentax?
No! Lfthere's backlash, I'll
blame the whole thing on who?
- {jennfiefl fucking Vogel.
- Fucking Vogel.
I survived this business
pretty well playing good cop.
Well, I'll be twirling
my moustache.
[John] Hi.
Isthatyou, number one?
You're... you're all grown up.
You look terrific.
You look just terrific.
When did you get out?
I was just wondering if...
Maybe you could
pull away for an hour,
come have lunch with me?
I mean, not if it's bad timing.
No, it's fine, I can
get an early lunch.
Let me just grab my purse.
Oh, I've got money.
I'm okay, I'm okay.
- I mean, I just...
- Okay. Oh, sure.
Sure, I'll wait here.
- I'll be right back.
- Okay.
[Jennifer] Dad...
I didn't know
you were getting out.
Did you tell anyone?
Did anybody pick you up?
The truth is, I've actually
been out for a while.
How long?
A year and a bit.
A year and a bit? What the hell?
You don't call or write
and you've been out
a year and a bit?
I wrote you a hundred times
from prison. I didn't
hear anything back.
No response, nothing.
Why would I think
anything would change
when I got out here?
Did you even read
any of my letters?
I was kind of on
the road for a while.
I got 'em when I got back,
and I read some
of them. I just...
What have you been
doing for over a year?
Well, I got a...
I got a business.
A little, uh,
print and copy business
down at center city.
It's called center city
print & copy. Catchy, huh?
- A print shop?
- Yep.
How did you afford that?
I wouldn't go too far there.
I mean, it was only a
couple thousand down.
Previous owner had bad
business sense and terminal cancer.
It's a tiny business,
but I do have one account.
One client that's, you
known a pretty big deal,
that covers me all right.
In fact, I was able, recently,
to do something I've
been dreaming about for...
A long time.
[Jennifer] What?
I took a one-month rental...
Of a cabin
up at the lake where
we spent that summer.
[Jennifer] Mm-hmm.
And matter of fact,
I was thinking
of going out there
this weekend, just for a day.
I don't have a lot of time,
parole and all that,
so I'd like to make
the time special
if I'm gonna spend time there.
Ithoughtrnaybe you
and I'd go open her up.
Barbecue,
take the boat out onthelake.
Um, I don't think I can.
Well, hey, let's see...
How about this following
weekend, what's that, uh...
[Paper rustling]
- That's the, uh...
- I have to work next weekend.
Hey, how about the
weekend after that?
That'd be the 30th.
I don't know, I have to check.
[John] Okay, well,
why don't you check,
and if you can't make it,
we can do it the weekend
after that. I'm pretty flexible.
[John] Here.
This is it. Chez moi.
It's not that bad.
I'll be getting out
in a few weeks.
[Jennifer sighs]
I just don't know if I'm
ready for any of this, dad.
It's a lot.
[John sighs softly]
So, you have my number.
[Pats pocket] I do. I do.
So, you'll let me know
if you change your mind.
Come by.
- Yeah.
- And I'm flexible.
You know, I could do pretty
much any time you want.
Well, I, uh...
I'm just so proud of you,
it felt... it was so
great to see you.
I mean, all that
you've achieved.
I guess what remains to be said,
and I hope you believe this...
Is that... people do change.
[Melancholy music playing]
[Sighs]
[Muffled voice of
young Jennifer echoing]
[Young Jennifer]
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
south Dakota, tennessee.
[Voice stops]
[Phone rotary dialing]
[Cawing]
[Phone beeps]
[John] Jennifer, call me
when you get a chance,
will you, please, honey?
- [Dialing]
- [Line ringing]
[Phone beeps]
Hi, it's me. Please call.
[Phone beeps]
Jen, please call.
- [Phone beeps]
- Jennifer, it's dad.
Please pick up.
[Phone ringing]
[Phone beeps]
Hi, kid, it's dad. Can
you please pick up?
[Phone ringing, beeps]
Hey, Jen. I know you're busy.
Just wanted to remind you that
there's a beautiful lake
one phone call away.
[Young Jennifer] Texas, Utah,
Vermont, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia,
Wisconsin, Wyoming.
[John] Look at that.
You've got a, a
delicate kind of beauty.
You got delicate features,
like I did when I was your age.
Your nose, your eyes,
and I see that little gap closed
- twixt your teeth.
- [Chuckles]
When you're older,
you'll have a more
unusual beauty.
People gotta look real
hard to see it, but if they look,
they'll see it,
'cause it's there.
I think the greatest
hope a man can have
is to leave something
beautiful behind.
Something that he made.
[Sighs]
[Dial pad beeping]
- -[sighs]
- [Ilne ringing]
[Birds chirping]
[Knocking]
[John] I am so damn
happy you came out here.
[Geese honking]
Jennfier
I want to apologize.
I had a long time to...
To reflect on my mistakes.
I've mulled it...
And weighed my responsibilities,
and I want to apologize...
For what happened.
You know, all of it.
The other day,
when you dropped me
at the halfway house,
I was watching you drive away
and I thought to myself,
"what can I do to help?
What can you do, John,
to give her something real,
something practical?"
So, last Tuesday,
right after we met,
I called a dealer I know
and I put a $5,000 deposit down
on a 1989 xjs Jaguar,
flamenco red,
biscuit leather
interior and top.
I mean, it's a stunner
and drives like new.
What are you talking about, dad?
You've had all this time
and this is how you're talking?
- It's a fantasy.
- Oh, is that so?
- Says who?
- Ldontwant a Jaguar.
- You don't want a Jaguar?
- It's a fantasy.
It's a fucked-up fantasy.
Does a $5,000 deposit
sound like a fantasy to you?
- Uustwanna go back in.
- Jen.
-Justtakerne backin. 4.Ineed.
- Ineedyouto beheveinrne.
- Dad!
We got so far to go, Jen!
[Jennifer] I just wanna
go back. I'm cold.
What did I say? What happened?
I'm cold, just take me back in.
Here. Here. Take my jacket.
- I don't want yourjacket.
- Just take my jacket.
[Jennifer] I just
wanna go back in.
- I don't want it.
- Take my jacket.
I don't want
your fucking jacket!
[John] Ah, Mr. Sullivan.
Yes. This is John Vogel.
I'm the one that
put down the deposit
on the flamenco red
1989 Jaguar xjs,
biscuit leather
interior and top.
Exactly.
Due to some unforeseen
circumstances,
we're not gonna
be able to proceed.
Uh-huh. No, I'm aware.
See, the thing is, it's that
the car was for my daughter,
and, uh, she changed her mind.
She doesn't like the car.
Yeah.
Anyway, yeah, well,
it's a long story,
but I think we need to talk
about the $5,000 deposit.
I understand your policy, sir,
but you gotta have
some flexibility here.
Well, for instance,
how about, um,
you know, 50% back
on the deposit.
[Jennifer] Dad.
Okay, how about 40%?
40%. You keep $3,000.
Dad! Fuck!
I have to put you on
hold for a second.
[Mouthing]
- I'll call you straight back.
- Oh, my god.
[John] Jennifer!
Jennifer!
[Indistinct newscast]
[Phone ringing, beeps]
[John] Hi, Jen, it's dad.
Can you please pick up?
Jen, I gotta catch up on
a load of work at the shop,
and then I gotta leave
town for a little bit,
so please call me.
["Drive" playing]
J smack, crack, bushwhacked j
j tie another one
to the racks, baby j
[sirens wailing]
J hey, kids, rock and roll j
j nobody tells you
where to go, baby j
I what if/ ride?
What if you walk? I
j what if you rock
around the clock? J
j tick-took j
j tick-took j
j what if you did?
What if you walk? J
j what if you tried
to get off, baby? J
J hey, kids, where are you? J
j nobody tells you
what to do, baby j
J hey, kids, shake a leg j
j maybe you're crazy
in the head, baby j
J maybe you did
maybe you walked j
j maybe you rocked
around the clock j
j tick-took j
j tick-took j
j maybe I ride
maybe you walk j
j maybe I drive
to get off, baby j
[crowd cheering]
J babyj
[indistinct commentary on TV]
[Crowd cheering]
Two years ago,
a group of school kids
from Minnesota country
school went on a field trip
to study pond life on a
farm in le sueur county,
a farm that backs on
to the Lyle-hasco plant.
This is what theyfound.
[Button clicks]
Miss Vogel,
howrnuch doyouknow
aboutpesfiddes?
How much study have
you devoted to the field?
One, two nights up
drinking coffee?
Perhaps you even
went to a library.
The building iwork in,
Lyle-hasco hq,
is a two-story,
big, flat building.
And on one of those
floors is guys in white coats,
and the other is lawyers.
Can you guess which one I'm on?
A school field trip?
And you let me be clear,
if hippie papers prints one more
of this unsubstantiated garbage,
we will sue you all the
way back to haight-ashbury.
I'm not a lawyer,
and I'm not a scientist,
but Dr. Lee nobles from
Minnesota state university is,
and is the leading proponent
of amphibian research
in the United States.
He's also a part of the
team investigating brentax.
It's a two-year study,
and he's publishing
his findings this week.
If brentax is in the water,
then that's the water
minnesotans drink,
give to their children,
take baths in,
make coffee with.
I just wondered if
you cared to comment.
[Recorder clicks]
[Crowd cheering in the distance]
Excuse me.
[Bagpipes playing
patriotic music]
[News anchor] We
interrupt the broadcast
with breaking news.
We join now in progress
team three's
eye-in-the-sky reporter,
Margaret deneb,
who is above a
high-speed police pursuit
in the corrigan lake community.
We go to you, Margaret.
[Margaret] This morning,
the u. S. Marshals
executed a warrant
at a print and copy
business in center city
just outside of Minneapolis.
Convicted felon, John Vogel,
is alleged to have
been using the storefront
for a major
counterfeiting operation...
[Softly] Dad.
[Gasps softly]
[Helicopter whirring]
[Muffled whirring of helicopter]
[Muffled bagpipe
music continues]
[Softly] Dad.
[Muffled whirring of helicopter]
[Somber music playing]
[Wind whistling]
[Music continues]
[Helicopter continues whirring]
[Gunshofl
[Music continues]
I am sorry for your loss.
["I think of angels" playing]
J when I think of angels j
j I think of you j
j and your rusty brown hair j
j and the things that you do j
j I heard you'd left j
j no, couldn't be true j
j when I think of angels j
j I think of you j
J godspeed, you angel j
j wherever you go j
j although you have left j
j I want you to know j
j my heart's full of sorrow j
j I won't let it show j
j I'll see you again j
j when it's my time to go j
[jennfiefl the death of a father
drags you to a secret place.
It trivializes everyday matters.
Displaces.
You feel abandoned
by the living.
And a kinship with the dead.
Dad had been so skilled
at sounding those finely
tuned notes of sorrow
and releasing them
at the perfect moment
to achieve impact.
My father lusted after freedom.
The kind of freedom most
free people never experience.
In the end, he got that freedom
and gave me mine in return.
J when I think of angels j
j I think of you j
["My father's daughter" playing]
J out beyond the reaches j
j rare as a blood moon you
show, then cover up your tracks j
j and through
the thinning branches j
j I watched
your tail lights turn j
j and wonder if you're
ever coming back j
j I am my father's daughter j
j come hell or high waterj
j trouble came to find you j
j shadowed into
every word and deed j
j 'til it got you
in its spell j
j they asked if
I had seen you j
j but I've got no truck with men
like them they can go to hell j
j I am my father's daughterj
j come hell or high water j
j never gonna leave him j
j despite the rights
or wrongs j
j I've got you and I
hope that you know j
j and I'm right behind you j
j there's a light
there's a light j
j that shines
wherever you go j
j I am my father's daughter j
j come hell or high water j
["there's a girl" playing]
J there's a boat j
j out on the big
wide rollers j
j oh, there's a boat j
j out on the big
wide rollers j
j oh, there's a boat j
j out on the deep
wide rollers j
j take them safely home j
j take them home j
j take them home j
j where they can be
with the ones they love j
j take them home j
j home j
j where they can be
with the ones they love j
j there's a girl j
j out in the big wide world j
j oh, there's a girl j
j out in the big wide world j
j oh, there's a girl j
j lost in a big wide world j
j take her safely home j
j take her home j
j take her home j
j where she can be
with the ones she loves j
j take her home j
j take her home j
j where she can be
with the ones she loves j
J blinking stars j
j burning bright
in the night j
j lead them safely home j
j blinking stars j
j burning bright
in the night j
j lead them safely home j