The Secret Art of Human Flight (2023) Movie Script
1
(SINGLE VIOLIN STRING)
(SINGLE VIOLIN STRING, REPEATS)
(PRIEST FAINTLY SPEAKING)
()
PRIEST:
But in our darkness,
we must honor Sarah's spirit
and remember to light
the way for each other
one candle, one room,
one day at a time. Amen.
CONGREGATION:
Amen.
()
(INDISTINCT CHATTER
IN BACKGROUND)
-Hi.
-Hi.
Thank you so much for coming.
MAN 1:
All you need is evidence
beyond a reasonable doubt.
I'm gonna explain...
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERS)
WOMAN 1:
Stop watching me while I eat,
watch the video.
(CELL PHONE RINGS)
Oh. I've got it.
OLD WOMAN:
You're a saint, Gloria.
Oh, excuse me, Ben.
()
WOMAN 2:
She was always so talented.
MAN 2:
She really was.
-Are you filming me, stop.
-BEN: You're so cutie.
SARAH:
Please don't put this
on Facebook.
BEN:
I won't, just Instagram.
SARAH:
Stop, get me a coffee
BEN:
Okay, okay, okay.
(MECHANICAL ERASER BUZZES)
BEN:
Yeah, erase that, start over.
(SARAH LAUGHS) Stupid.
Hi, everyone, it's been a while
since the last update,
but Ben and I are so excited
to announce
that we are working on
a new children's book.
Think of it as a songbook
with pictures!
How many songs about flight
do we need
(CHUCKLES) Stop!
Today, we got our first
shipment of "The Storm."
SARAH:
"The Storm,"
we got our first shipment of
"The Storm!"
SARAH:
See, I told you guys
not to worry.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
Who was worried?
SARAH:
No one.
BEN:
Have you been making videos
without me?
So that's about it
for all of our updates.
Thank you so much for all
the continued support,
and keep your eyes peeled
for some exciting stuff.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER
IN BACKGROUND)
TOM:
Listen, Ben,
I know it's been a long day.
I know it's been a long week
for you,
okay, and I'm really sorry.
We're here for you.
I want you to be able
to stand up
on your own two feet.
Leave that to us.
(TOM'S VOICE FADES)
How many songs about flight
do we need
Ben!
Go outside.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
GLORIA:
Jesus, this is such bad timing.
...but, plane tickets
are nonrefundable.
Work already hired a temp,
and you know that Tom
and I need this.
I need this to work
between me and Tom.
Am I being a terrible sister?
I'm being terrible, aren't I?
(GLORIA SIGHS)
I love you, "Beej".
I'll be in touch
with the neighbors.
I don't want to hear you
didn't get any sunlight, okay?
()
Great.
Be safe, please?
()
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
(CAR ENGINE RUMBLES)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Oh, you've gotta be--
THERAPIST:
First, let me assure you
that this is a safe place
for you to share what
you're thinking and feeling
without judgment.
But I do need to hear from you.
Tell me what you're feeling.
Bad.
You feel bad?
I feel...
bad.
THERAPIST:
That's good,
it's good that you feel bad.
I'm hungry.
Of course you're hungry,
you haven't eaten
for three days.
THERAPIST:
Gloria, find your patience.
GLORIA:
Sorry.
THERAPIST:
Let's start
with some mindfulness.
I want to do some deep
breathing with you, breathe in.
(GLORIA INHALES)
(DVD SPINNING UP)
Okay.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Hi, Sarah, it's me,
Ben, your husband.
Stupid.
So, yeah, again,
the point of this project is
that we record private video
for each other every day
so that when
the inevitable day comes
that one of us is alive
without the other,
we have lots of these
to remember each other by.
So, you know,
when you're a little old lady
and you're sad and alone,
you just put on one of these,
not that you're gonna
be sad and alone.
I'm sure you'd move on
with somebody taller.
And I know you're thinking
right now,
you're probably going,
"This is so dark,"
and yeah, it is dark,
but it's also,
I mean, it's kind
of romantic, right?
It is, trust me.
Sometimes I wake up
in the middle of the night
and I turn to look
at you, and...
just check your blanket
to make sure that it's...
...rising and falling, just...
just need to know
you're still breathing.
And, and then
I go back to sleep.
(BEN SIGHS)
I don't understand
what's happening
in the world anymore.
And there are nights...
a lot of nights...
after you go to sleep,
and I'll just stay awake
all night...
just reading and scrolling,
just horrible headline
after horrible headline,
and I just get so worried
about you out there.
I'm always so afraid.
Are you afraid?
()
And other times I feel so alone,
but then you come up to me
and you put your arms around me,
and I think...
this is all that matters.
Until the next video,
I love you.
Forever.
(DETECTIVE REYES SIGHS)
First of all,
I want to say thank you
for speaking with me.
I know this isn't easy,
and some of the questions
I ask may be difficult
to answer,
but I assure you
they're necessary.
Why don't we start
with your last conversation
before you left the house
on the night of the sixth?
We were talking about
a story we wrote.
She misinterpreted the message.
Did you often argue
about your work?
We didn't use to.
And that's why you left
the house that night?
BEN:
I left to buy dinner.
She was sick
and asked me to go.
DETECTIVE REYES:
Where did you go?
Shop Smart on Main Street.
Thank you, I'll make a note
to check the security footage.
What time was that?
Eightish.
I bought some mac
and cheese and came right home.
(ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC)
Couldn't have been gone
more than 30 minutes.
When I came back, I found her.
She wasn't breathing.
Asphyxiation is what
the coroner's report said,
I think, asphyxiation.
How would you describe
your marriage, Mr. Grady?
Fine, we were happy, I think.
Your neighbors said
you'd been arguing
for a few months.
Did they?
Mmhmm.
You and your wife
took out term life policies
on each other, yes?
BEN:
When we got married, yeah.
Any tensions around finances?
BEN:
No more than usual.
'Cause I have here
that your books
had seen declining sales
in the last three years
and that you'd fallen behind
on your mortgage payments.
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
It was your idea to selfpublish,
was it not?
Even though Sarah was offered
more stable opportunities
with several reputable
publishing houses.
I wanted her to have
creative freedom.
So you weren't jealous
of her success?
Are you aware that
if homicide is listed
on a death certificate,
payment is withheld
until any suspicion of
the beneficiary's involvement
with the insured's death
is cleared?
I don't care about the money.
You don't care about $750,000?
I don't care about
the sales or the house.
You don't think
I did this, do you?
Let me shut this down.
Ben would never.
Ever since we were small,
he's been so afraid
of breaking the law,
he won't even jaywalk.
You'll have to stay local
for a while.
I suggest you make yourself
as accessible as possible.
Can I still use you
as a main contact?
Yes, of course.
Anybody would be a...
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
FAYE: (ON VIDEO)
I know no one's ever
going to believe this.
I don't care,
I have to capture this
for the sake of humankind.
Look, look, at first I thought
he was trying to kill himself,
but this is his third
or fourth jump at least,
and he just, oh my God.
(EXPLOSION RUMBLES)
FAYE: (ON VIDEO)
Tell me you saw that.
Oh my God, oh my God,
oh my God, he flew!
Oh my God, tell me you saw that,
did you see that?
I swear to God, I don't even
know what I just saw.
Remember to like
and subscribe, okay?
(SLOW HARP MUSIC)
()
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES)
(COMPUTER FAN SHUTS DOWN)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
MEALWORM: (ON VIDEO)
Are you ready to leave
this world behind?
Are you tired of life
as you know it?
Welcome. Bienvenidos,
bienvenue,
benvenuto and youkoso.
I...
am Mealworm.
Congratulations,
you've taken the first step,
you brave, beautiful being.
What you're about to do,
what I've already done,
defies everything
we've been conditioned
to believe is possible,
but once upon a time,
the Earth was flat,
the sun orbited around us,
and CPR was done
with a tobacco enema.
Conventions exist to be defied.
What's your name?
Ben.
MEALWORM: (ON VIDEO)
This is a recording,
I can't hear you,
so I'm just gonna call you
Taylor, as it's unisex.
Taylor, I won't lie to you,
this process will not be easy.
It comes at great professional,
personal,
and existential sacrifice.
But the reward...
is too immense
to put into English.
The Inuit might call it
"guuti."
Guuti.
(ON VIDEO)
This journey is
a physical one,
so our first task
is to establish a baseline.
Do you exercise?
A little.
MEALWORM: (ON VIDEO)
I didn't think so.
I've included some,
let's just call them tests,
in the description
of this video.
While the flight handbook
is on its way,
I'd like you to take
some of those tests.
Can you do that for me, Taylor?
Of course you can.
Life begins again today.
(FAN SPINS BACK UP)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
BEN:
"In just five chapters,
the secret can be yours
for $5,400? Huh?
Yeah, right.
(KEYS CLATTERS)
(ELECTRIC ERASER WHIRS)
(SARAH LAUGHING ON VIDEO)
Stupid.
Wait, you gotta turn
the camera around.
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Oh, right, yep,
yep, yep, yep, yep.
Action.
"Action", okay.
Hi, everyone, it's been a
while since the last update,
Ben and I are excited
to announce that we are working
on a new children's book
called "Phoebe the Phobia."
We're working
with the Erickson Institute
on this children's book
about the most common fears
that plague us--
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Cut.
What?
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
You said
"children's book" twice.
Okay.
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
It's just,
it sounded repetitive.
Action.
Hi, everyone,
it's been a minute
since the last update--
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Oh, no, no, you can just pick up
right where you left off.
See, I was almost--
-BEN: (ON VIDEO) And...
-So don't think of it
- as a novel, per say...
-BEN:(ON VIDEO) Action.
Think of it as a songbook
with pictures, which
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
What?
We didn't talk about this
being a songbook with pictures.
Ben, no.
How many songs about flight
do we need
I'll bet there aren't enough
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Um...
We talked about it.
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
That was for this?
I sang it, yes.
(BEN LAUGHS)
-Yes, that's...
-BEN:(ON VIDEO) Oh.
This is obviously, what did
you think I was talking about?
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
No, I just,
I thought you were joking, or.
You thought I was joking?
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Uh.
()
TOM:
Ah, I see Ben's...uh...
what's he doing?
Whatever it is, he's been
doing it all morning.
TOM:
Well, that's good.
Movement is the best
cure for depression.
He's getting himself
out of a funk.
GLORIA:
I got here at 7:00 am.
He was already
drenched in sweat.
I haven't seen him take a drink
or a break once.
Oh, Ben, this whole thing's only
made you weirder, hasn't it?
(SHOWER STARTS)
GLORIA:
What are you up to, Ben?
(DOORBELL RINGS)
Thanks.
(KNOCKS)
GLORIA:
You got a package.
Just leave it anywhere, thanks.
GLORIA:
You all set for lunch?
Yeah.
Okay, 'cause you have to eat.
I know.
Okay.
See you at dinner?
Sounds good.
()
He spelled "foreign" wrong.
()
MEALWORM:
It may be easy to scoff
at the notions I espouse
in this manuscript,
but I assure you that
letting go is crucial in
your journey toward flight.
You can start by wholeheartedly
embracing a persona.
Think of the woman
who makes contact
with the earth
with her bare feet,
or the man breaking free
from socialized toxicity
with the flour in his hair.
If you must wash your clothing,
you will do it
by the strength of your hand
and the light of the sun.
BEN:
Okay!
MEALWORM:
Forget the obscene luxuries
of the West.
(GRUNTING)
(ROPE CREAKS)
MEALWORM:
You will no longer sleep
in a six-sided box.
(BEN GRUNTS)
(BEN GRUNTS)
(ROPE CREAKS)
(ROPE BREAKS)
MEALWORM:
Remember your persona,
the barefoot goddess...
or the man with the flour
in his hair.
You misspelled "flower,"
too, okay?
MEALWORM:
Your ceiling will be the stars.
Your floor
will be the mountains.
If you don't have access
to a mountain,
a roof will suffice.
The chair was invented
by the Egyptians
during the Dynastic Period
and has proven to be detrimental
to the life expectancy
of a human being.
We all make mistakes,
even the Egyptians.
()
MEALWORM:
Clear your space,
clear your mind.
Abandon this foreign home.
()
MEALWORM:
Forget the unnatural control
we have come
to possess over light.
Rise and fall with the sun.
Cover your floor with earth
or clean it thoroughly.
Half and half is not an option.
Live in the clouds and feel
the weightlessness of elevation.
If you don't have access
to clouds
(DOOR KNOCKS)
Tom, a little early
for dinner, no?
-What?
-What?
I'm not here for dinner.
Why's your shit all
over the lawn?
It's a purge.
What are you doing in there?
Purging.
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
Careful, I have wet paint
everywhere.
Oh, so, what, you don't
like chairs anymore?
BEN:
It's a Jewish tradition
to sit on the ground
when you're in mourning.
Hmm, I was unaware that
you guys were that religious.
Oh, you know, Jewish.
()
(TOM SIGHS)
Did you access the dark web
yesterday?
What?
Stop saying "What."
That's all anybody at
the station can talk about.
You're on Reyes's radar.
Hold up a second, is she
monitoring my internet activity?
Do you know how dangerous
it is to access the dark web?
It's really dangerous.
Come on.
-And illegal.
-Illegal?
Yeah.
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES)
And I hear things,
some really gruesome shit
that'll keep you up at night.
Tom, (LAUGHS) I have no idea
what you're talking about, okay?
Am I in danger?
I don't know.
But I need you to keep yourself
out of harm's way,
not to cause more suspicion.
More suspicion?
Yeah, Reyes has it out for you.
I'm driving it from the police,
but pretty please,
don't do anything...
crazy.
You feel me?
I feel you.
Well, we're good then.
Unless you were to do
something dumb,
like buy something online
with a traceable credit card
from a private seller
and have it delivered here.
(BEN LAUGHS)
That, that would be dumb.
I mean, most of these products
are really just a front
for something else,
you know, like a...
$10,000 mop called Wetwork
is probably a hitman.
Or a $5,000 self help book
for people who want to leave
the world behind
Is probably someone trying to
help you kill yourself, exactly.
-I'll see you at dinner.
-Okay.
(BEN WHIMPERS)
(PHONE POPS)
(PHONE HISSES)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(LAPTOP CRUNCHES)
(TRASHCAN RATTLES)
()
Hey, hey!
(RV ENGINE REVS)
(BELL RINGS)
(DOGS BARKING)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
()
So how's your exercising?
BEN:
Fine, I can jump seven feet.
Tom used to pole vault.
Yep, my record was 17 feet.
Thought about adding a pole
to the equation?
I haven't.
Well, you should.
GLORIA:
I'm gonna heat this up,
do you want me to heat yours up?
-TOM: Nope.
-GLORIA: Are you sure?
-TOM: Yep.
-GLORIA: Okay.
I'm just trying to finish
all of this.
GLORIA:
Copy that.
The only way out is through.
GLORIA:
I'll just...
Never mind.
Are you sure you don't want
to come stay at ours?
Thanks, guys,
I'm good here, really.
I was thinking about
doing some writing
in the morning anyway.
GLORIA:
That's great.
Let us know
if you need anything.
I will.
TOM:
All right,
well, see you, Ben.
Good night.
Good night, Geej.
GLORIA:
Good night, Beej.
Thanks for the pizza.
GLORIA:
Yeah.
(DOOR CREAKS)
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
(CRIES)
(SOBS, MUFFLED)
()
(BEN SIGHS)
Babe, why is all our stuff
on the lawn?
(GASPS)
()
Jesus!
(BEN TREMBLES)
MEALWORM:
Ben Grady?
I, I don't need help
committing suicide, I...
I have a gun.
MEALWORM:
Okay, my hands are up,
don't shoot.
()
BEN:
What do you want,
why are you here?
To guide you.
(DOOR CLICKS)
You don't have a gun.
No.
You shouldn't say
you have a gun
if you don't have a gun
because if your opponent
has a gun but you don't,
you've now introduced guns
into a scenario
you're entirely unprepared
for, a scenario that
in all likelihood could have
been resolved without guns.
May I come in?
Yeah.
(DOOR CLICKS)
BEN:
"Daily routine, spend one hour
in deep meditation,
one hour immersed in water,
exercise,
sleep no more than
three hours at a time,
spend one hour naked"?
What is this,
the book wasn't enough?
Think of the book as a recipe,
complete with ingredients.
These tasks are your pots
and pans, your oven
Yeah, I get it.
Couldn't you just exercise
naked to save time?
Oh, I don't see why not.
Very good.
Oh.
BEN:
Look, Mealworm,
I'm really sorry.
I actually don't want
to do this anymore.
I'm being watched by the police
pretty closely, and--
And yet, you finished painting,
and you hung...
BEN:
Clouds.
They're clouds.
I should probably
take these down.
Listen, I'm going through
a lot personally,
and I just don't think
this is the time
for whatever this is.
Okay.
Great, great.
(BEN LAUGHS)
That's, that's all of it?
Well, minus a few hundred
for gas and expenses.
I can send you an itemized
receipt if you like.
If you can't take this leap,
you won't take the big one.
Oh.
Oh, keep it,
I'll write another.
What?
(DOOR SLAMS IN BACKGROUND)
(RV ENGINE CHUGGING)
It's the best--
It's the best tune.
-Yes, look what we've got...
-What are you doing?
TOM:
Oh, dance.
-Hello.
-I don't...
TOM:
Dance!
You want me to, yeah.
SARAH:
No, no, no, Ben,
Ben doesn't dance.
Wait, so explain to me,
back in the day,
"remove" sounded the same
as "love"?
SARAH:
Yeah, well, "remove"
and "love", they rhymed.
GLORIA:
Wait, so in Shakespeare times,
"love" sounded like "looove"?
No.... (LAUGHS) No.
SARAH:
Yeah, remove sounded
like "reMUV", yeah.
Remove sounded like "reMUV".
Which is also weird.
GLORIA:
Yeah, what, what changed?
Yeah, culture, you know,
times, people,
you know, everything.
GLORIA:
You guys are smart.
Oh, you know.
No, I mean, we once
had these sonnets
that were regarded for being
perfect iambic pentameter,
with precise rhymes, they were
perfect couplets, you know?
And over time
they just no longer rhymed.
Once upon a time,
there was a...
there once...
was a.
(PEN CLATTERS)
(BEN SIGHS)
Hey, kids,
who wants to read the...
the misty potato?
Misty potato.
Nobody, nobody wants
to read "The Misty Potato."
Okay, hey, kids,
who wants to read the
discreet jogger?
(BEN SIGHS)
(WENDY HUMS)
Hi, Ben.
BEN:
Hi.
Wendy, I was in Sarah's
writing group.
I know who you are.
You're actually the only one
of Sarah's friends
to come visit me.
Is that a pie?
Bramble berry,
it's my specialty.
Bramble berry.
I know you want
to be alone, so.
BEN:
Wendy?
Yep?
Will you eat this with me?
WENDY:
You can't sleep,
'cause if you do,
you dream of them,
and then you're even
more exhausted?
BEN:
Check.
You feel like you're
starting back at square one,
even though it took you 20
years to get where you are?
Double check.
You hate that everyone treats
you like a wounded hummingbird,
and you found something insane
to keep you occupied?
But you can't tell anybody
'cause it's insane.
How'd you get out of bed
after your husband died?
One foot at a time.
It's rough.
You need to find a thing,
something, anything.
It can be mundane
or
it can be insane, but...
you just need to find a thing...
and see it through, okay?
Find a thing
and see it through?
Find a thing
and see it through.
(PLATE RATTLES)
(BOOK RUSTLES)
MEALWORM:
Chapter two,
"Preparing the body."
(TRIMMER WHIRRING)
MEALWORM:
No body hair from the neck down.
Hair from the neck up
is not to be touched.
Eat only vegetables
for one week.
Then only meat for one week.
Eat nothing two days prior
to your first flight.
Lose 18 pounds,
no more, no less.
Strictly no orgasms whatsoever.
You may feel low
and tired during this phase,
but this is merely
your body preparing you
for the highs to come.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
LISA:
Ben!
Ben!
Ben!
BEN:
Morning, Lisa.
You all right?
I'm fine,
you don't have to treat me
like a wounded hummingbird
just because my wife died.
Do you really mean that?
BEN:
I really mean it.
Then get off your roof
and put on some goddamn clothes.
My kids are asking me
if they can sleep naked
on our roof because of you!
Sorry.
-My wife just died.
-LISA: Just put on some pants.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(PIGEON COOS)
(SLOW PIANO MUSIC)
()
(DOOR CREAKS)
()
Okay, I'll give this a shot.
Okay.
Me too.
How'd you know to come back?
I didn't.
I had hope.
(REFRIGERATOR HUMS)
(SNIFFLES)
(MUNCHES)
Hello, Ben.
So did I do okay?
The house?
Hmm.
Lovely house.
I mean, will it work
for our purposes?
Aren't you supposed
to be testing
to make sure
I've prepared the home?
(MUNCHES)
Actually.
This won't do, it has to go.
BEN:
I can't,
this is my wife's desk.
MEALWORM:
Chapter one,
"Preparing The Home."
She died.
We, we worked together
in this room.
That's a vintage
mechanical eraser.
It was her grandfather's
from Kyoto.
(SINGLE VIOLIN STRING)
Back in high school,
she pulled out this eraser
and she started buzzing away
at her drawing.
I thought
she was erasing her work,
but it was her technique.
She wasn't erasing her mistakes.
She was, she was turning her
errors into art.
That was her superpower.
()
Sorry, I don't know how--
You don't have to do anything.
()
(BEN PANTS)
(WORKOUT MUSIC)
()
(BELL RINGS)
(GROANS)
(WATER FLOWING)
(GASPS)
(BELL RINGS)
"The Secret Art
of Human Flight"?
What the hell is this?
You hate heights.
You get vertigo
at the top floor of the mall.
And who is this guy
and why is he smiling?
I told you, this is Mealworm.
I don't know why he's,
why are you smiling?
Wait a second, you're the guy
that delivered the package.
Gloria, I can explain.
Okay, explain.
Now?
Okay,
I don't have an explanation,
but you know what?
I don't need one,
if you love me,
know that this is important
to me, end of story.
No, not end of story!
Oh my God, why are you always
so scary and weird?
I'm not scary and weird.
Really, where'd you find this?
-Amazon.
-No.
-eBay?
-No.
You deleted
your search history,
and Tom came home the other
day talking about the dark web.
Jesus Christ,
are you out of your mind?
How'd you know I deleted
my search history?
I didn't until right now.
No, you snooped.
When I was in the shower,
you forgot to close the laptop.
Ha, we're all lying.
I'm not lying.
Okay, you impersonated
a delivery worker.
I never claimed to be
a delivery worker.
-You assumed that I was--
-You stay out of this.
Hey, hey, don't blame him.
Well, who am I supposed
to blame then, you?
I can't blame you,
I'm not allowed to blame you
or get mad at you because
you're going through a tragedy.
So what, this is you
holding back?
GLORIA:
This guy is clearly
exploiting you.
I beg your pardon,
I'll have you know
that I gave him his money back.
-Oh, Jesus.
-You gave this guy money?
Ben, listen to me,
you could be in danger.
I don't care!
I have one thing in my life
that matters to me right now,
and it might be a sham
and it might be psychotic,
but I don't care.
I need this.
(SIGHS)
We're gonna get through this.
Don't tell Tom.
"Geej", promise me
you won't tell Tom.
(GLORIA SIGHS)
(FOOTSTEPS PATTERING)
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR SLAMS)
There is something
you need to see.
()
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
()
Tomorrow your real
training begins.
So that's about it
for all of our updates.
Thank you so much for all
the continued support,
and keep your eyes peeled
for some exciting stuff.
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Wait, that's not it.
Yeah, it is, that's it.
-BEN: (ON VIDEO) No!
-I said everything.
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
No, you didn't mention
my new book.
Our new book
is just an outline,
so I'm not gonna--
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
"Outline"? you said you liked
it, so I thought and we--
Yeah, yeah, I said I--
BEN: (OVERLAPPING SPEECH)
--talked about talking about it.
yes I told you that I love it,
but it doesn't matter.
I mean it's just a story.
I mean, it's not even a story.
-It's not a full idea yet.
- BEN: Well, well, no.
Of course not, I don't, I just,
it will be, I just don't know
how it ends yet.
No, you don't know how it ends.
(LAUGHS)
You are always so focused on
figuring out how something ends
but you don't even start it,
yet.
Like, when did you
stop starting?
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(DOG BARKS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
MEALSTORM:
Chapter three,
"Preparing The Mind."
(upbeat music)
MEALSTORM:
The bird did not create flight,
but was the first
to harness it.
Draw the bird.
(WINGS BEATING)
MEALSTORM:
Catch the bird.
(WINGS BEATING)
MEALSTORM:
Make only the sounds
of a bird for seven days.
(PIGEON COOS)
MEALSTORM:
No speaking.
(PIGEON WINGS BEATING)
(GROANS)
Having a good time?
(BEN CHIRPS)
He's working through his grief.
Who are you supposed to be?
I am Mealworm, his life coach.
Are you aware that Ben
is going through a tragedy?
I'm up to speed.
I spoke to your neighbors.
They said you
were meditating naked
in your backyard this morning,
sleeping mostly
naked on the roof,
and there are enough complaints
about your friend's RV
disturbing the ambiance
of the neighborhood.
Technically it's a Winnebago.
As for the nudity,
what Ben chooses
to do within the confines of
his property is his business,
along with where and how
he chooses to sleep,
to wit, you pointed out
that he was mostly naked,
which doesn't constitute
public indecency.
Are you a lawyer?
Not in this state.
How about you move
your Winnebago, Mealworm?
Sure thing.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(MEALWORM INHALES)
"The ambiance".
(GATE CREAKS)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
Your sister called me,
she's worried sick about you.
She thinks you've gone off the
deep end, or you're about to.
and she begged me to turn
my investigation elsewhere.
(RV ENGINE WHIRRING)
Look, Ben, if this is a ruse
to scare up an insanity plea,
I've seen this before,
and I promise you
it will ruin you.
But if this is genuine,
you need to accept help.
Whoever this guy is,
you need to get him out.
Juries don't necessarily
convict based on proof.
They convict based on evidence
beyond reasonable doubt,
and looking around here...
I don't see enough
reasonable doubt.
Shape up, or they're
gonna put you away
whether I have something
to do with it or not.
(RV ENGINE CHUGGING)
(RV DOOR OPENS)
(RV DOOR SLAMS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
What? I moved it.
(GATE CREAKS)
I can move it again.
Do they think you had something
to do with your wife's death?
(BEN CHIRPS)
You've gotta be shitting me.
(GATE CREAKS)
()
(BELL RINGS)
(BELL RINGS)
(PIGEON COOS)
(BEN CHIRPS)
(PIGEON COOS)
(SIGHS)
(BEN CHIRPS)
(WINGS BEATING)
You can speak now.
I realize what you meant
by catch the bird.
You meant "catch"
in the archaic sense.
400 years ago, to catch
meant to understand,
and now I understand.
(GLASS SHATTERS)
(GLASS RATTLES)
()
Jump.
I've never made it
more than nine feet.
The process is beginning
to take effect.
You can do this.
Can I take a practice jump?
MEALWORM:
It'll make it harder.
I'll take my chances.
(SIGHS)
Okay.
Okay.
(CLAPS)
(EXHALES)
Okay.
You're jumping with your legs.
You won't fly with your legs.
Does it have to be over glass?
The first time I flew,
I fell off a mountain.
After that, it was easier,
but for the first
flight, the fear helps.
How do you fall off a--
(LAUGHS)
Never mind.
"Fear helps."
(EXHALES)
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(LEAVES RUSTLING)
(EXHALES)
Oh.
(GRUNTS)
I felt it, right before
I tripped, I felt it.
We should complete the final
week of training in nature,
somewhere with mountains.
Tomorrow you'll run
through the mountains
and find the place to be reborn.
I know a good spot.
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Thank God vegetable
week is over.
(MEALWORM LAUGHS)
Oh.
Before I forget, I want
you to make a list
of all your deepest fears.
What?
Don't worry, it's for later.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(SCRIBBLES)
BEN:
How'd you figure this out?
MEALWORM:
Family recipe,
I added the barbecue sauce.
I mean how'd you figure out
how to fly?
(SCRIBBLES)
I wasn't trying to fly.
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(RAIN PATTERS)
You lost someone
too, didn't you?
(SIGHS)
I stepped off the ledge
four times,
but something kept putting me
back at the top.
By the fourth attempt,
I chose life.
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Are you, are you leaving?
Mealworm.
If you'd like to sleep inside
tonight, I have a spare bed.
That's very kind of you,
but my place is with Sally.
(MELANCHOLY ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
()
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(RAIN PATTERS)
()
(TAPPING)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Huh.
(WORKOUT MUSIC)
()
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
Well, that would
probably kill you.
Oh, for sure.
And if not, there's always
blood loss, hemorrhaging,
my sister mercy killing me
with a pillow upon request.
Oh, I see we've reached
the dark humor phase.
Good, grasshopper.
(BEN LAUGHS)
(WENDY SIGHS)
(BEN SIGHS)
I used to take Sarah
up here all the time.
This was her place.
She'd always try
and get me to come with her,
but... (LAUGHS) I hate hiking.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
I hate it.
You know, my, my kids,
they, they loved
seeing her read.
That was her favorite.
She may not have wanted kid,
but when she was around them.
Did you want kids?
Sorry, that is not my business
No, no, no, no, no, it's fine.
Sorry.
It's fine, really.
Gloria and I,
we lost our parents
when we were really young,
and so did Sarah.
It's kind of what brought us
together at the beginning,
actually.
You think a lot about
what happens to them
if anything happens
to you, you know?
That I do.
You should come over,
come to dinner.
Roger and I would love
to have you, really.
I don't think I'm
ready for that.
Okay, well,
when you are, just come by.
People need people, Ben.
Race you down the mountain?
(SIGHS)
I don't know,
the way up killed me.
NARRATOR:
Chapter four,
"Conquering irrational fear."
(SLOW SITAR MUSIC)
NARRATOR:
Step one, embark
on a spirit quest.
Are those mushrooms?
Psilocybin mushrooms.
Aren't those illegal?
You mustn't concern yourself
with the laws of man
when it comes to embarking
on a spiritual journey.
(SNIFFS)
I've smoked weed
a couple times.
Will that help me handle this?
Would riding a bike help you
learn how to fly a spaceship?
I mean, if the spaceship
had pedals.
I'm brewing a tea.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
Hmm.
I'm starting to feel it.
This isn't so bad.
(CRINGES)
(LAUGHS)
This is...
this is.
(WIND WHISTLES)
What?
This is so high.
MEALWORM:
Mm.
I'm so
high.
Ben.
I can see...
everything.
Ben?
(BEN HYPERVENTILATES)
I should let go.
That's probably a good idea.
(MEALWORM GROANS)
(MEALWORM HUMS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(MEALWORM CONTINUES HUMMING)
Om shanti, om shanti
(CRIES)
Om shanti
Shanti om
(CRIES)
Om shanti
(BEN LAUGHS)
Om shanti
Om shanti
Shanti om
- Om shanti, om shanti
-(HEART BEATS)
Om shanti, shanti om
Om shanti, om shanti
Om shanti, shanti om
()
(HEART BEATS CONTINUES)
Can I watch the sunset
from the roof?
(DOORBELL RINGS)
And who are you?
That's an expansive question.
He's a friend of Ben's,
where's Ben?
We need to speak to him, Ben?
Ben is on a spirit quest.
A spirit quest?
Now, that would
require psychedelics
to go on that spirit quest,
and--
What did you give him?
MEALWORM:
Ben needs this.
You don't know what Ben needs.
He's in a very complicated
emotional state
-right now
-Gloria, tone it down.
-Watch it, Tom.
-Shutting it down.
He does not need
to be on drugs.
He needs help, real help
from people who love him.
Whatever message
you have for Ben,
I can deliver it
when he returns.
I don't trust you.
(MEALWORM CLEARS THROAT)
(PEN SCRAWLS)
(FOLDER RUSTLES)
(BOX RATTLES)
BEN:
Oh, how much longer?
It's irrational,
it's irrational.
MEALWORM:
Until
you're no longer afraid.
BEN:
Ooh, okay.
(TREMBLES)
MEALWORM:
Tell me about
the fear, when did it begin?
BEN:
Oh, I don't know.
I don't remember,
I don't remember.
MEALWORM:
Clear your mind.
I was a boy, I saw a movie.
MEALWORM:
Which movie?
"Arachnophobia."
Noiseless guitar.
There once
was a noiseless guitar.
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
(DRAWER RATTLES)
(DRAWER SLAMS)
(PAPER RUSTLING)
I want to show you something.
Mealworm, I think I'm back.
Tell me if you think
this is good.
"There once
was a noiseless guitar
who daydreamed of being a star,
but his strings weren't right
and the stage gave him fright.
He was sure
he would never go far.
The guitar met
a tasteless spaghetti
who thought
she was finally ready
to be served in a dish
with some meatballs and fish,
but she smelled like
and tastes like a yeti."
Do you think kids will know
what a yeti is?
Come on, I want to show you
something.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
And then the feeble old man
collects all the broken things
and they're happy together.
Huh.
(DOOR CREAKS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
It smells like sawdust in here.
Have you been woodworking?
MEALWORM:
Climb the ladder.
()
(TREMBLES)
You don't put a claustrophobe
in a coffin ever.
There weren't even air holes
in that thing.
Air holes allow light
to enter in.
Yeah, light,
and I don't know... AIR?
Jesus, this is not the same
thing as facing commitment.
I also entered into a bear's
den in the dead of night.
Bullshit.
You're insane, you are insane.
(SLOW ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
(DOOR OPENS, CREAKS)
Jesus.
"Air holes allow light
to enter," yeah, no oxygen
to breathe, lunatic.
(DOORBELL RINGS)
WENDY:
Ben.
Um,
I know it's short notice, but--
You're exactly where you're
supposed to be, come on.
Go, do all of it.
WENDY:
Do all of the things.
-Yeah.
-(GROUP LAUGHS)
I think it was around
our third date?
WENDY:
Yep.
Yeah, that I decided to show
I was serious,
and we were walking back
to her car, and I asked her,
"Do you believe in life
after love?"
She turned around
and she walked back to me
and she said...
-"Are you quoting Cher?"
-"Are you quoting Cher?"
-Ugh, nerd.
-(ROGER LAUGHS)
Are you kidding me with that?
The point being that we
were only three dates in
and I was willing
to say the L word.
That's a bold move, saying
"I love you" that quick.
I don't think
I've ever been that brave.
Not "love"... "Life".
(CEILING RATTLES)
CHILD 1:
We're fine,
don't come up here.
-(ROGER SIGHS)
-Yours.
CHILD 2:
It's okay, it's okay,
we're completely okay.
I'm gonna go check on the kids.
(WENDY LAUGHS)
It was nice to finally meet you,
Ben.
BEN:
You too, Roger.
-Thank you for dinner.
-ROGER: Of course. Of course.
All right,
I'm coming, I'm coming.
They just let anybody be
parents, can you believe it?
You told me before
to find something,
anything, and see it through.
What was yours?
-Watch your head.
-BEN: Oh.
After I tucked the kids
into bed at my sister's,
I mixed together every
liquid I had in my kitchen,
vodka, tequila, scotch,
lemon juice, hot sauce,
chocolate syrup, and Red Bull.
BEN:
Jesus.
Then went on a run,
woke up eight hours
and seven miles later
in a Rite Aid bathroom.
And I realized that every
time I made this magic potion,
I would wake up somewhere crazy
with no recollection
of how I got there.
So I made it again.
(LAUGHS)
I made it every night
for a month.
-(LAUGHS)
-(BLOWS AIR)
-Wendy, what the hell?
-Yeah?
(BOTH LAUGHING)
I woke up in a lot of bathrooms.
(LAUGHS)
And also a couple of forests
and a boat... (LAUGHS)
and a couple of very
polite strangers' beds,
and I have never told anyone.
(BOTTLE RATTLES)
I...
I'm teaching myself how to fly.
That's it?
I gave up my magic potion
for that?
Let me clarify.
There's no plane involved.
I'm learning how to... fly.
That's why I'm sleeping
on my roof.
(LAUGHS) Wait.
-BEN: Like...
-Like?
Yeah, like, and I,
I hired a trainer.
(LAUGHS)
Ah.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
All right, you win...
(LAUGHS) you win.
(SIGHS)
BEN:
I've been in a rut.
Of course you're in a rut,
your wife died.
-No.
-You're allowed.
No, no, no, I've, I've been
in a rut for a long time.
(SLOW MUSIC)
You asked me before about kids.
The truth is that
Sarah and I tried...
and we just couldn't.
We could have moved on,
but we didn't.
We couldn't write,
we couldn't do anything,
and I just stopped trying.
()
I thought I could get her back.
I thought I had more time.
And I can't imagine myself
ever being as happy as I was.
I promise you...
someday you will stop
trying to fly.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
(DOOR RATTLES)
()
Hey.
I apologize for earlier,
I realize
I crossed a line there.
Okay, thank you.
(GLASS CLINKS)
(GLASSES CLINKING)
Jesus, that's strong stuff.
It's Japanese, I spent some
time there in the early '70s.
Sorry, I ran out on you tonight.
I just needed some time.
MEALWORM:
Perfectly understandable.
You'd like Wendy,
she lost someone, too.
MEALWORM:
Oh?
Yeah, her husband.
MEALWORM:
Hmm.
-Yeah, I guess she--
-(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
Wait a minute.
Is that yours?
(SLOW MUSIC)
MEALWORM:
Ben, don't.
Ben.
(PHONE CONTINUES VIBRATING)
What is this?
When did my sister come by?
The other day when you were
on your spirit quest.
This is about
my wife's investigation.
How could you not tell me
about this?
At this stage, distractions
are the-- don't answer that.
It's my sister,
I'm answering it!
-MEALWORM: Ben!
-Hello?
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Go somewhere private.
What's wrong?
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Can he hear me?
No.
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Your friend's
real name is Mark Sisko.
What are you talking about?
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Detective Reyes ran
the plates on his Winnebago.
He spent seven years in
prison, is he still there?
Yeah, yeah, he's,
he's still here.
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Did he even tell you
that we came by the other day
looking for you?
No, no, he didn't.
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Ben, he's a con artist.
Ben, Ben?
BEN:
I have to go.
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
No, Ben, wait!
(GRUNTS)
(SHRIEKING MACHINERY)
BEN:
Okay.
(GRUNTS)
()
(PANTS)
(GROANS)
(BELL RINGS)
(PANTING)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
(GROANS)
()
MEALWORM:
Hello, Ben.
BEN:
You had no right
to take these things.
MEALWORM:
I was trying to help you.
BEN:
You've been stealing
things from my house.
This time is crucial
to your process.
I couldn't let you
veer off course.
These belonged to my wife!
And nothing will
ever bring her back.
She's gone
and you can't change that.
Why am I...
why am I so tired?
(WATER SPLASHES)
I love the way
you see the world.
You're more thoughtful
than I am.
A better writer than I am.
-What?
-BEN: I'm serious.
No, I'm not.
We're just different, you know?
BEN:
Yeah, because you tend to know
how things end,
and I have trouble with endings.
But your stories do end, right?
When you get an idea, even if
it doesn't have a conclusion,
necessarily,
it's still a whole thing.
You may not know
how it ends, but it does end.
And if you can't accept that,
then it ceases to exist,
you know?
Like, if you want something
to start...
if you want it to exist...
you have to be okay with it
having an ending, you know?
(LOW RUMBLE)
(BEN WHIMPERS)
No, no, Mealworm!
Mealworm?
Mealworm, what?
(CRIES)
No, no, no, no, oh my,
please no!
Please, oh my God,
Mealworm, Mealworm!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Mealworm, no, please,
please, get me out of here!
Please, Mealworm,
please, please!
Oh my God, please get, (SHRIEKS)
please get me out, Mealworm!
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(BEN FAINTLY SPEAKING)
()
It's irrational,
it's irrational.
It's irrational,
it's irrational.
It's irrational,
it's irrational.
It's irrational,
it's irrational.
It's, it's irrational.
(MOANS)
(SCREAMS)
Please let me out of here!
Get me out!
(SCREAMS)
Oh, oh, oh, oh my God, please,
let me, let me out of here!
(SCREAMS)
()
How are you?
Jesus, what are they giving him?
Ben!
Ben, how do you f--
How do you feel?
I'm not feeling much.
Was last night any better?
I warned you about
the dark web.
GLORIA:
Tom.
I wasn't trying
to commit suicide.
Do you even know
why your friend,
Mark Sisko, was in prison?
Life insurance fraud.
That's conspiracy, Ben.
Evidence beyond
reasonable doubt.
Just tell me
you still believe me.
()
Gloria?
You still believe me, right?
GUARD:
Time's up.
BEN:
Gloria.
GUARD:
Mr. Brady, it's time to go.
INTERCOM:
Paging Doctor Wiessner.
Doctor Wiessner,
your presence is requested
- at patient intake
-SARAH: Time to fly.
Sarah?
Ben, you with me?
We gotta split.
What the hell
are you doing here?
Well, your guard dog's
on a coffee run,
so if we're gonna go,
we gotta go now.
I'm not going anywhere with you.
You left me in a coffin to die.
That was supposed to be
a 90 minute exercise.
I was out getting ice
for your decompression bath
and by the time I got back,
the place was swarmed.
But you did it, Ben!
One more test
and you've got your wings!
Did you know about my wife
before you met me?
Unbelievable.
No, I looked you up
when you bought my book.
Yes, I admit it,
and I saw about her, but--
You knew about the insurance
money, you piece of shit?
Shh, I didn't know anything
about that, I swear!
Ben.
I've lived a life
that I am not proud of,
but I never lied to you.
It's all just talk now, Mark,
with your faux mysticism
and your Orientalism,
talking about the luxuries
of the West.
You're a scumbag and a fake.
How the hell did you even
come up with this shit, huh?
How are you so sure
this is gonna work?
I'm not.
()
Security, he's here, he's here!
I never lied to you, Ben, never.
That's him,
he's here, that's him!
That's him, that's him!
Hold him down.
He's here!
(GASPS)
INTERCOM:
Doctor Wiessner,
your presence is requested...
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
Paging Doctor Wiessner.
(BEEPING)
(BEN SIGHS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER
IN BACKGROUND)
(BLANKET RUSTLES)
(BUTTON CLICKS)
(SARAH SIGHS)
Hi, Ben.
God, it's so weird
to call you "Ben".
I never call you "Ben"
unless I'm, like,
mad or trying to prove a point
or something.
This is so dark, but I agreed
to do it, so here we go.
Number one,
what did you do today?
I, I listened to you talk
about how it's inevitable
that one of us will one day
be without the other
'cause you're just so much fun.
(LAUGHS)
Number two, what did
you learn today?
I learned...
babe, I don't know.
Not every moment has to be
a learning moment,
and if you don't learn
something that day,
that doesn't make it useless.
Maybe you're watching this now
and it's your learning moment.
And number three, what do you
want to say to your spouse?
I love how you put "spouse"
so you don't have to
print this twice.
(LAUGHS)
I, I can't do this.
I-- (LAUGHS)
I'm just answering questions
to a camera
for you to watch
after I'm dead.
Just the thought of you
spending the rest
of your life watching videos
of me, it's...
it creeps me the hell out.
(LAUGHS)
SARAH:
And you're doing
the same thing for me?
(LAUGHS)
SARAH:
Oh my God, I really hope not.
You know, this is the last video
I'm doing for you
because if you are
watching this,
then it means that I'm dead
and you spend enough time
in front of screens anyway,
so-- so go out, you
know, get some sun.
But,
okay, if I really am gone,
you're watching this.
Please don't let the world
harden you.
You have the biggest...
most beautiful heart...
and if you do one thing for me,
it would be to keep
that part of you alive,
that part of you that, you know,
writes about big
houses and clouds
and talking balloons.
-(SARAH LAUGHS)
-(CRIES)
The part of you
that believes in the impossible.
Speaking of, okay--
(CLEARS THROAT)
there once was a writer
named Ben
who made people smile
with his pen...
until his poor wife
had to give up her life...
and now he wonders
how this story ends.
(LAUGHS)
That's the first verse.
But, yeah, I gotta go 'cause
you're whining downstairs
about how there's no food
in the house, so.
(SLOW PIANO MUSIC)
I love you.
Forever.
Don't go.
(CRIES)
()
(BEN WHIMPERS)
MAN:
Down!
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
MAN:
Bring them up.
Very good. Up, up, up.
Bring them back down.
Down, down...
And up.
Reach the sky. Very good.
Bring them back down.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
MAN:
Push, push, push.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
MAN:
Bring it in.
Good.
Turn around.
Put 'em up to the sky.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
MAN:
Face me and push.
Bring it in.
Turn around, yeah.
Breath in, reach out.
Breath in, breath that out.
-(BREATHES DEEPLY)
-MAN: Breath in, breath out.
Reach up.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
()
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
()
(BELL RINGS)
()
(SINGLE PIANO KEY)
INTERCOM:
Paging Doctor Wiessner.
(GRUNTS)
INTERCOM:
Doctor Wiessner,
your presence is requested
at patient intake,
paging Doctor Wiessner.
(GROANS)
(PANTS)
(GRUNTS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(GLASS CLINKS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(PANICKED ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(TENSE, THREATENING MUSIC)
(SIREN WAILING)
()
(ON SPEAKER)
Stop.
We've got you surrounded.
Stop or we will open fire.
(TIRES SCREECHES)
Oh, shit, oh, shit,
oh, no, you don't.
(TIRES SCREECHES)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
(SIREN WAILING)
()
()
Get out of the RV!
Technically it's a Winnebago.
DETECTIVE REYES:
Shut up,
hands behind your back.
()
(BEN GRUNTS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
GLORIA:
Don't do it!
You shouldn't have come here.
Ben, I know you want to escape
the world right now,
but you don't have to.
Ben.
Ben, you've gotta come back
with us.
I'm doing this.
No, it won't work!
It will,
don't come any closer, Tom!
Ben, Sarah would want you
to keep living.
Sarah wanted me
to believe in things,
and I believe in this.
Why?
I'll show you.
And if it doesn't work...
at least
I'll get to be with her.
Wait, let me say goodbye
to you, at least.
That's the oldest trick
in the book, Geej.
-You'll pull me away.
-I won't, I swear.
I just want to hug my brother
one last time.
Benjamin Grady!
Come here or I will shove you
off this cliff myself.
Okay, geez.
You almost scared me off
the cliff right there.
(MELANCHOLY VIOLIN TUNE)
()
I love you.
No!
Seven 17 to dispatch,
I'm bringing this one in.
(EXPLOSION RUMBLES)
(CAR ALARM BLARES)
Seven 17 to dispatch,
I just heard an explosion.
-(POLICE RADIO MUMBLES)
-(MEALWORM CRIES)
()
Ben.
(WIND RUSTLES)
(BEN CRIES OUT)
(BEN SCREAMS)
Help! Help me, help!
This is...
what?
(EXPLOSION CRACKS)
What? (LAUGHS)
This is so high.
(WIND RUSTLES)
I'm so high.
MEALWORM:
Ben.
()
BEN:
I can see everything.
MEALWORM:
Ben.
I can see everything.
MEALWORM:
Ben.
(BEN TREMBLES)
()
BEN:
I should let go.
MEALWORM:
That's
probably a good idea.
(SLOW DREAMY MUSIC)
()
Fly away
Life begins again
Today
Are you ready to leave
this world behind
All you need is to prepare
your mind
Take this leap with me
You brave, beautiful
being on the other side
Waiting for a sign
from above
As we defy every convention
that exists
And you're gonna realize
there's more than this
You brave, beautiful being
Over there in the dark room
Sitting
with the 1,000 yard stare
It won't be easy,
I won't lie
But trust in me and you
and I can fly away
Life begins again
Today
Are you ready to leave
this world behind
All you need
is to prepare your mind
Take this leap with me
You brave, beautiful being
On the other side waiting
for a sign from above
As we defy every
convention that exists
And you're gonna realize
there's more than this
You brave, beautiful being
Over there
in the dark room sitting
With the 1,000 yard stare
It won't be easy,
I won't lie
But trust in me
and you and I can
Let go
Fly away
life begins again
Today
Are you ready to leave
this world behind
All you need
is to prepare your mind
Take this leap with me
You brave, beautiful
being on the other side
Waiting for a sign
from above
As we defy every convention
that exists
And you're gonna realize
there's more than this
You brave, beautiful
being over there
In a dark room sitting
with a 1,000 yard stare
It won't be easy,
I won't lie
But trust in me and you
and I can fly away
Fly away
Life begins again
Today
Are you ready to leave
this world behind
All you need
is to prepare your mind
Take this leap with me
You brave, beautiful
being on the other side
Waiting for a sign
from above
As we defy every convention
that exists
And you're gonna realize
there's more than this
You brave, beautiful
being over there
In the dark room sitting
with a 1,000 yard stare
It won't be easy,
I won't lie
But trust in me and you
and I can fly
Fly away
Like begins again
Today
Are you ready to leave
this world behind
All you need
is to prepare your mind
(SINGLE VIOLIN STRING)
(SINGLE VIOLIN STRING, REPEATS)
(PRIEST FAINTLY SPEAKING)
()
PRIEST:
But in our darkness,
we must honor Sarah's spirit
and remember to light
the way for each other
one candle, one room,
one day at a time. Amen.
CONGREGATION:
Amen.
()
(INDISTINCT CHATTER
IN BACKGROUND)
-Hi.
-Hi.
Thank you so much for coming.
MAN 1:
All you need is evidence
beyond a reasonable doubt.
I'm gonna explain...
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERS)
WOMAN 1:
Stop watching me while I eat,
watch the video.
(CELL PHONE RINGS)
Oh. I've got it.
OLD WOMAN:
You're a saint, Gloria.
Oh, excuse me, Ben.
()
WOMAN 2:
She was always so talented.
MAN 2:
She really was.
-Are you filming me, stop.
-BEN: You're so cutie.
SARAH:
Please don't put this
on Facebook.
BEN:
I won't, just Instagram.
SARAH:
Stop, get me a coffee
BEN:
Okay, okay, okay.
(MECHANICAL ERASER BUZZES)
BEN:
Yeah, erase that, start over.
(SARAH LAUGHS) Stupid.
Hi, everyone, it's been a while
since the last update,
but Ben and I are so excited
to announce
that we are working on
a new children's book.
Think of it as a songbook
with pictures!
How many songs about flight
do we need
(CHUCKLES) Stop!
Today, we got our first
shipment of "The Storm."
SARAH:
"The Storm,"
we got our first shipment of
"The Storm!"
SARAH:
See, I told you guys
not to worry.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
Who was worried?
SARAH:
No one.
BEN:
Have you been making videos
without me?
So that's about it
for all of our updates.
Thank you so much for all
the continued support,
and keep your eyes peeled
for some exciting stuff.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER
IN BACKGROUND)
TOM:
Listen, Ben,
I know it's been a long day.
I know it's been a long week
for you,
okay, and I'm really sorry.
We're here for you.
I want you to be able
to stand up
on your own two feet.
Leave that to us.
(TOM'S VOICE FADES)
How many songs about flight
do we need
Ben!
Go outside.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
GLORIA:
Jesus, this is such bad timing.
...but, plane tickets
are nonrefundable.
Work already hired a temp,
and you know that Tom
and I need this.
I need this to work
between me and Tom.
Am I being a terrible sister?
I'm being terrible, aren't I?
(GLORIA SIGHS)
I love you, "Beej".
I'll be in touch
with the neighbors.
I don't want to hear you
didn't get any sunlight, okay?
()
Great.
Be safe, please?
()
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
(CAR ENGINE RUMBLES)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Oh, you've gotta be--
THERAPIST:
First, let me assure you
that this is a safe place
for you to share what
you're thinking and feeling
without judgment.
But I do need to hear from you.
Tell me what you're feeling.
Bad.
You feel bad?
I feel...
bad.
THERAPIST:
That's good,
it's good that you feel bad.
I'm hungry.
Of course you're hungry,
you haven't eaten
for three days.
THERAPIST:
Gloria, find your patience.
GLORIA:
Sorry.
THERAPIST:
Let's start
with some mindfulness.
I want to do some deep
breathing with you, breathe in.
(GLORIA INHALES)
(DVD SPINNING UP)
Okay.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Hi, Sarah, it's me,
Ben, your husband.
Stupid.
So, yeah, again,
the point of this project is
that we record private video
for each other every day
so that when
the inevitable day comes
that one of us is alive
without the other,
we have lots of these
to remember each other by.
So, you know,
when you're a little old lady
and you're sad and alone,
you just put on one of these,
not that you're gonna
be sad and alone.
I'm sure you'd move on
with somebody taller.
And I know you're thinking
right now,
you're probably going,
"This is so dark,"
and yeah, it is dark,
but it's also,
I mean, it's kind
of romantic, right?
It is, trust me.
Sometimes I wake up
in the middle of the night
and I turn to look
at you, and...
just check your blanket
to make sure that it's...
...rising and falling, just...
just need to know
you're still breathing.
And, and then
I go back to sleep.
(BEN SIGHS)
I don't understand
what's happening
in the world anymore.
And there are nights...
a lot of nights...
after you go to sleep,
and I'll just stay awake
all night...
just reading and scrolling,
just horrible headline
after horrible headline,
and I just get so worried
about you out there.
I'm always so afraid.
Are you afraid?
()
And other times I feel so alone,
but then you come up to me
and you put your arms around me,
and I think...
this is all that matters.
Until the next video,
I love you.
Forever.
(DETECTIVE REYES SIGHS)
First of all,
I want to say thank you
for speaking with me.
I know this isn't easy,
and some of the questions
I ask may be difficult
to answer,
but I assure you
they're necessary.
Why don't we start
with your last conversation
before you left the house
on the night of the sixth?
We were talking about
a story we wrote.
She misinterpreted the message.
Did you often argue
about your work?
We didn't use to.
And that's why you left
the house that night?
BEN:
I left to buy dinner.
She was sick
and asked me to go.
DETECTIVE REYES:
Where did you go?
Shop Smart on Main Street.
Thank you, I'll make a note
to check the security footage.
What time was that?
Eightish.
I bought some mac
and cheese and came right home.
(ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC)
Couldn't have been gone
more than 30 minutes.
When I came back, I found her.
She wasn't breathing.
Asphyxiation is what
the coroner's report said,
I think, asphyxiation.
How would you describe
your marriage, Mr. Grady?
Fine, we were happy, I think.
Your neighbors said
you'd been arguing
for a few months.
Did they?
Mmhmm.
You and your wife
took out term life policies
on each other, yes?
BEN:
When we got married, yeah.
Any tensions around finances?
BEN:
No more than usual.
'Cause I have here
that your books
had seen declining sales
in the last three years
and that you'd fallen behind
on your mortgage payments.
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
It was your idea to selfpublish,
was it not?
Even though Sarah was offered
more stable opportunities
with several reputable
publishing houses.
I wanted her to have
creative freedom.
So you weren't jealous
of her success?
Are you aware that
if homicide is listed
on a death certificate,
payment is withheld
until any suspicion of
the beneficiary's involvement
with the insured's death
is cleared?
I don't care about the money.
You don't care about $750,000?
I don't care about
the sales or the house.
You don't think
I did this, do you?
Let me shut this down.
Ben would never.
Ever since we were small,
he's been so afraid
of breaking the law,
he won't even jaywalk.
You'll have to stay local
for a while.
I suggest you make yourself
as accessible as possible.
Can I still use you
as a main contact?
Yes, of course.
Anybody would be a...
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
FAYE: (ON VIDEO)
I know no one's ever
going to believe this.
I don't care,
I have to capture this
for the sake of humankind.
Look, look, at first I thought
he was trying to kill himself,
but this is his third
or fourth jump at least,
and he just, oh my God.
(EXPLOSION RUMBLES)
FAYE: (ON VIDEO)
Tell me you saw that.
Oh my God, oh my God,
oh my God, he flew!
Oh my God, tell me you saw that,
did you see that?
I swear to God, I don't even
know what I just saw.
Remember to like
and subscribe, okay?
(SLOW HARP MUSIC)
()
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES)
(COMPUTER FAN SHUTS DOWN)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
MEALWORM: (ON VIDEO)
Are you ready to leave
this world behind?
Are you tired of life
as you know it?
Welcome. Bienvenidos,
bienvenue,
benvenuto and youkoso.
I...
am Mealworm.
Congratulations,
you've taken the first step,
you brave, beautiful being.
What you're about to do,
what I've already done,
defies everything
we've been conditioned
to believe is possible,
but once upon a time,
the Earth was flat,
the sun orbited around us,
and CPR was done
with a tobacco enema.
Conventions exist to be defied.
What's your name?
Ben.
MEALWORM: (ON VIDEO)
This is a recording,
I can't hear you,
so I'm just gonna call you
Taylor, as it's unisex.
Taylor, I won't lie to you,
this process will not be easy.
It comes at great professional,
personal,
and existential sacrifice.
But the reward...
is too immense
to put into English.
The Inuit might call it
"guuti."
Guuti.
(ON VIDEO)
This journey is
a physical one,
so our first task
is to establish a baseline.
Do you exercise?
A little.
MEALWORM: (ON VIDEO)
I didn't think so.
I've included some,
let's just call them tests,
in the description
of this video.
While the flight handbook
is on its way,
I'd like you to take
some of those tests.
Can you do that for me, Taylor?
Of course you can.
Life begins again today.
(FAN SPINS BACK UP)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
BEN:
"In just five chapters,
the secret can be yours
for $5,400? Huh?
Yeah, right.
(KEYS CLATTERS)
(ELECTRIC ERASER WHIRS)
(SARAH LAUGHING ON VIDEO)
Stupid.
Wait, you gotta turn
the camera around.
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Oh, right, yep,
yep, yep, yep, yep.
Action.
"Action", okay.
Hi, everyone, it's been a
while since the last update,
Ben and I are excited
to announce that we are working
on a new children's book
called "Phoebe the Phobia."
We're working
with the Erickson Institute
on this children's book
about the most common fears
that plague us--
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Cut.
What?
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
You said
"children's book" twice.
Okay.
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
It's just,
it sounded repetitive.
Action.
Hi, everyone,
it's been a minute
since the last update--
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Oh, no, no, you can just pick up
right where you left off.
See, I was almost--
-BEN: (ON VIDEO) And...
-So don't think of it
- as a novel, per say...
-BEN:(ON VIDEO) Action.
Think of it as a songbook
with pictures, which
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
What?
We didn't talk about this
being a songbook with pictures.
Ben, no.
How many songs about flight
do we need
I'll bet there aren't enough
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Um...
We talked about it.
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
That was for this?
I sang it, yes.
(BEN LAUGHS)
-Yes, that's...
-BEN:(ON VIDEO) Oh.
This is obviously, what did
you think I was talking about?
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
No, I just,
I thought you were joking, or.
You thought I was joking?
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Uh.
()
TOM:
Ah, I see Ben's...uh...
what's he doing?
Whatever it is, he's been
doing it all morning.
TOM:
Well, that's good.
Movement is the best
cure for depression.
He's getting himself
out of a funk.
GLORIA:
I got here at 7:00 am.
He was already
drenched in sweat.
I haven't seen him take a drink
or a break once.
Oh, Ben, this whole thing's only
made you weirder, hasn't it?
(SHOWER STARTS)
GLORIA:
What are you up to, Ben?
(DOORBELL RINGS)
Thanks.
(KNOCKS)
GLORIA:
You got a package.
Just leave it anywhere, thanks.
GLORIA:
You all set for lunch?
Yeah.
Okay, 'cause you have to eat.
I know.
Okay.
See you at dinner?
Sounds good.
()
He spelled "foreign" wrong.
()
MEALWORM:
It may be easy to scoff
at the notions I espouse
in this manuscript,
but I assure you that
letting go is crucial in
your journey toward flight.
You can start by wholeheartedly
embracing a persona.
Think of the woman
who makes contact
with the earth
with her bare feet,
or the man breaking free
from socialized toxicity
with the flour in his hair.
If you must wash your clothing,
you will do it
by the strength of your hand
and the light of the sun.
BEN:
Okay!
MEALWORM:
Forget the obscene luxuries
of the West.
(GRUNTING)
(ROPE CREAKS)
MEALWORM:
You will no longer sleep
in a six-sided box.
(BEN GRUNTS)
(BEN GRUNTS)
(ROPE CREAKS)
(ROPE BREAKS)
MEALWORM:
Remember your persona,
the barefoot goddess...
or the man with the flour
in his hair.
You misspelled "flower,"
too, okay?
MEALWORM:
Your ceiling will be the stars.
Your floor
will be the mountains.
If you don't have access
to a mountain,
a roof will suffice.
The chair was invented
by the Egyptians
during the Dynastic Period
and has proven to be detrimental
to the life expectancy
of a human being.
We all make mistakes,
even the Egyptians.
()
MEALWORM:
Clear your space,
clear your mind.
Abandon this foreign home.
()
MEALWORM:
Forget the unnatural control
we have come
to possess over light.
Rise and fall with the sun.
Cover your floor with earth
or clean it thoroughly.
Half and half is not an option.
Live in the clouds and feel
the weightlessness of elevation.
If you don't have access
to clouds
(DOOR KNOCKS)
Tom, a little early
for dinner, no?
-What?
-What?
I'm not here for dinner.
Why's your shit all
over the lawn?
It's a purge.
What are you doing in there?
Purging.
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
Careful, I have wet paint
everywhere.
Oh, so, what, you don't
like chairs anymore?
BEN:
It's a Jewish tradition
to sit on the ground
when you're in mourning.
Hmm, I was unaware that
you guys were that religious.
Oh, you know, Jewish.
()
(TOM SIGHS)
Did you access the dark web
yesterday?
What?
Stop saying "What."
That's all anybody at
the station can talk about.
You're on Reyes's radar.
Hold up a second, is she
monitoring my internet activity?
Do you know how dangerous
it is to access the dark web?
It's really dangerous.
Come on.
-And illegal.
-Illegal?
Yeah.
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES)
And I hear things,
some really gruesome shit
that'll keep you up at night.
Tom, (LAUGHS) I have no idea
what you're talking about, okay?
Am I in danger?
I don't know.
But I need you to keep yourself
out of harm's way,
not to cause more suspicion.
More suspicion?
Yeah, Reyes has it out for you.
I'm driving it from the police,
but pretty please,
don't do anything...
crazy.
You feel me?
I feel you.
Well, we're good then.
Unless you were to do
something dumb,
like buy something online
with a traceable credit card
from a private seller
and have it delivered here.
(BEN LAUGHS)
That, that would be dumb.
I mean, most of these products
are really just a front
for something else,
you know, like a...
$10,000 mop called Wetwork
is probably a hitman.
Or a $5,000 self help book
for people who want to leave
the world behind
Is probably someone trying to
help you kill yourself, exactly.
-I'll see you at dinner.
-Okay.
(BEN WHIMPERS)
(PHONE POPS)
(PHONE HISSES)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(LAPTOP CRUNCHES)
(TRASHCAN RATTLES)
()
Hey, hey!
(RV ENGINE REVS)
(BELL RINGS)
(DOGS BARKING)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
()
So how's your exercising?
BEN:
Fine, I can jump seven feet.
Tom used to pole vault.
Yep, my record was 17 feet.
Thought about adding a pole
to the equation?
I haven't.
Well, you should.
GLORIA:
I'm gonna heat this up,
do you want me to heat yours up?
-TOM: Nope.
-GLORIA: Are you sure?
-TOM: Yep.
-GLORIA: Okay.
I'm just trying to finish
all of this.
GLORIA:
Copy that.
The only way out is through.
GLORIA:
I'll just...
Never mind.
Are you sure you don't want
to come stay at ours?
Thanks, guys,
I'm good here, really.
I was thinking about
doing some writing
in the morning anyway.
GLORIA:
That's great.
Let us know
if you need anything.
I will.
TOM:
All right,
well, see you, Ben.
Good night.
Good night, Geej.
GLORIA:
Good night, Beej.
Thanks for the pizza.
GLORIA:
Yeah.
(DOOR CREAKS)
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
(CRIES)
(SOBS, MUFFLED)
()
(BEN SIGHS)
Babe, why is all our stuff
on the lawn?
(GASPS)
()
Jesus!
(BEN TREMBLES)
MEALWORM:
Ben Grady?
I, I don't need help
committing suicide, I...
I have a gun.
MEALWORM:
Okay, my hands are up,
don't shoot.
()
BEN:
What do you want,
why are you here?
To guide you.
(DOOR CLICKS)
You don't have a gun.
No.
You shouldn't say
you have a gun
if you don't have a gun
because if your opponent
has a gun but you don't,
you've now introduced guns
into a scenario
you're entirely unprepared
for, a scenario that
in all likelihood could have
been resolved without guns.
May I come in?
Yeah.
(DOOR CLICKS)
BEN:
"Daily routine, spend one hour
in deep meditation,
one hour immersed in water,
exercise,
sleep no more than
three hours at a time,
spend one hour naked"?
What is this,
the book wasn't enough?
Think of the book as a recipe,
complete with ingredients.
These tasks are your pots
and pans, your oven
Yeah, I get it.
Couldn't you just exercise
naked to save time?
Oh, I don't see why not.
Very good.
Oh.
BEN:
Look, Mealworm,
I'm really sorry.
I actually don't want
to do this anymore.
I'm being watched by the police
pretty closely, and--
And yet, you finished painting,
and you hung...
BEN:
Clouds.
They're clouds.
I should probably
take these down.
Listen, I'm going through
a lot personally,
and I just don't think
this is the time
for whatever this is.
Okay.
Great, great.
(BEN LAUGHS)
That's, that's all of it?
Well, minus a few hundred
for gas and expenses.
I can send you an itemized
receipt if you like.
If you can't take this leap,
you won't take the big one.
Oh.
Oh, keep it,
I'll write another.
What?
(DOOR SLAMS IN BACKGROUND)
(RV ENGINE CHUGGING)
It's the best--
It's the best tune.
-Yes, look what we've got...
-What are you doing?
TOM:
Oh, dance.
-Hello.
-I don't...
TOM:
Dance!
You want me to, yeah.
SARAH:
No, no, no, Ben,
Ben doesn't dance.
Wait, so explain to me,
back in the day,
"remove" sounded the same
as "love"?
SARAH:
Yeah, well, "remove"
and "love", they rhymed.
GLORIA:
Wait, so in Shakespeare times,
"love" sounded like "looove"?
No.... (LAUGHS) No.
SARAH:
Yeah, remove sounded
like "reMUV", yeah.
Remove sounded like "reMUV".
Which is also weird.
GLORIA:
Yeah, what, what changed?
Yeah, culture, you know,
times, people,
you know, everything.
GLORIA:
You guys are smart.
Oh, you know.
No, I mean, we once
had these sonnets
that were regarded for being
perfect iambic pentameter,
with precise rhymes, they were
perfect couplets, you know?
And over time
they just no longer rhymed.
Once upon a time,
there was a...
there once...
was a.
(PEN CLATTERS)
(BEN SIGHS)
Hey, kids,
who wants to read the...
the misty potato?
Misty potato.
Nobody, nobody wants
to read "The Misty Potato."
Okay, hey, kids,
who wants to read the
discreet jogger?
(BEN SIGHS)
(WENDY HUMS)
Hi, Ben.
BEN:
Hi.
Wendy, I was in Sarah's
writing group.
I know who you are.
You're actually the only one
of Sarah's friends
to come visit me.
Is that a pie?
Bramble berry,
it's my specialty.
Bramble berry.
I know you want
to be alone, so.
BEN:
Wendy?
Yep?
Will you eat this with me?
WENDY:
You can't sleep,
'cause if you do,
you dream of them,
and then you're even
more exhausted?
BEN:
Check.
You feel like you're
starting back at square one,
even though it took you 20
years to get where you are?
Double check.
You hate that everyone treats
you like a wounded hummingbird,
and you found something insane
to keep you occupied?
But you can't tell anybody
'cause it's insane.
How'd you get out of bed
after your husband died?
One foot at a time.
It's rough.
You need to find a thing,
something, anything.
It can be mundane
or
it can be insane, but...
you just need to find a thing...
and see it through, okay?
Find a thing
and see it through?
Find a thing
and see it through.
(PLATE RATTLES)
(BOOK RUSTLES)
MEALWORM:
Chapter two,
"Preparing the body."
(TRIMMER WHIRRING)
MEALWORM:
No body hair from the neck down.
Hair from the neck up
is not to be touched.
Eat only vegetables
for one week.
Then only meat for one week.
Eat nothing two days prior
to your first flight.
Lose 18 pounds,
no more, no less.
Strictly no orgasms whatsoever.
You may feel low
and tired during this phase,
but this is merely
your body preparing you
for the highs to come.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
LISA:
Ben!
Ben!
Ben!
BEN:
Morning, Lisa.
You all right?
I'm fine,
you don't have to treat me
like a wounded hummingbird
just because my wife died.
Do you really mean that?
BEN:
I really mean it.
Then get off your roof
and put on some goddamn clothes.
My kids are asking me
if they can sleep naked
on our roof because of you!
Sorry.
-My wife just died.
-LISA: Just put on some pants.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(PIGEON COOS)
(SLOW PIANO MUSIC)
()
(DOOR CREAKS)
()
Okay, I'll give this a shot.
Okay.
Me too.
How'd you know to come back?
I didn't.
I had hope.
(REFRIGERATOR HUMS)
(SNIFFLES)
(MUNCHES)
Hello, Ben.
So did I do okay?
The house?
Hmm.
Lovely house.
I mean, will it work
for our purposes?
Aren't you supposed
to be testing
to make sure
I've prepared the home?
(MUNCHES)
Actually.
This won't do, it has to go.
BEN:
I can't,
this is my wife's desk.
MEALWORM:
Chapter one,
"Preparing The Home."
She died.
We, we worked together
in this room.
That's a vintage
mechanical eraser.
It was her grandfather's
from Kyoto.
(SINGLE VIOLIN STRING)
Back in high school,
she pulled out this eraser
and she started buzzing away
at her drawing.
I thought
she was erasing her work,
but it was her technique.
She wasn't erasing her mistakes.
She was, she was turning her
errors into art.
That was her superpower.
()
Sorry, I don't know how--
You don't have to do anything.
()
(BEN PANTS)
(WORKOUT MUSIC)
()
(BELL RINGS)
(GROANS)
(WATER FLOWING)
(GASPS)
(BELL RINGS)
"The Secret Art
of Human Flight"?
What the hell is this?
You hate heights.
You get vertigo
at the top floor of the mall.
And who is this guy
and why is he smiling?
I told you, this is Mealworm.
I don't know why he's,
why are you smiling?
Wait a second, you're the guy
that delivered the package.
Gloria, I can explain.
Okay, explain.
Now?
Okay,
I don't have an explanation,
but you know what?
I don't need one,
if you love me,
know that this is important
to me, end of story.
No, not end of story!
Oh my God, why are you always
so scary and weird?
I'm not scary and weird.
Really, where'd you find this?
-Amazon.
-No.
-eBay?
-No.
You deleted
your search history,
and Tom came home the other
day talking about the dark web.
Jesus Christ,
are you out of your mind?
How'd you know I deleted
my search history?
I didn't until right now.
No, you snooped.
When I was in the shower,
you forgot to close the laptop.
Ha, we're all lying.
I'm not lying.
Okay, you impersonated
a delivery worker.
I never claimed to be
a delivery worker.
-You assumed that I was--
-You stay out of this.
Hey, hey, don't blame him.
Well, who am I supposed
to blame then, you?
I can't blame you,
I'm not allowed to blame you
or get mad at you because
you're going through a tragedy.
So what, this is you
holding back?
GLORIA:
This guy is clearly
exploiting you.
I beg your pardon,
I'll have you know
that I gave him his money back.
-Oh, Jesus.
-You gave this guy money?
Ben, listen to me,
you could be in danger.
I don't care!
I have one thing in my life
that matters to me right now,
and it might be a sham
and it might be psychotic,
but I don't care.
I need this.
(SIGHS)
We're gonna get through this.
Don't tell Tom.
"Geej", promise me
you won't tell Tom.
(GLORIA SIGHS)
(FOOTSTEPS PATTERING)
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR SLAMS)
There is something
you need to see.
()
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
()
Tomorrow your real
training begins.
So that's about it
for all of our updates.
Thank you so much for all
the continued support,
and keep your eyes peeled
for some exciting stuff.
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
Wait, that's not it.
Yeah, it is, that's it.
-BEN: (ON VIDEO) No!
-I said everything.
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
No, you didn't mention
my new book.
Our new book
is just an outline,
so I'm not gonna--
BEN: (ON VIDEO)
"Outline"? you said you liked
it, so I thought and we--
Yeah, yeah, I said I--
BEN: (OVERLAPPING SPEECH)
--talked about talking about it.
yes I told you that I love it,
but it doesn't matter.
I mean it's just a story.
I mean, it's not even a story.
-It's not a full idea yet.
- BEN: Well, well, no.
Of course not, I don't, I just,
it will be, I just don't know
how it ends yet.
No, you don't know how it ends.
(LAUGHS)
You are always so focused on
figuring out how something ends
but you don't even start it,
yet.
Like, when did you
stop starting?
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(DOG BARKS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
MEALSTORM:
Chapter three,
"Preparing The Mind."
(upbeat music)
MEALSTORM:
The bird did not create flight,
but was the first
to harness it.
Draw the bird.
(WINGS BEATING)
MEALSTORM:
Catch the bird.
(WINGS BEATING)
MEALSTORM:
Make only the sounds
of a bird for seven days.
(PIGEON COOS)
MEALSTORM:
No speaking.
(PIGEON WINGS BEATING)
(GROANS)
Having a good time?
(BEN CHIRPS)
He's working through his grief.
Who are you supposed to be?
I am Mealworm, his life coach.
Are you aware that Ben
is going through a tragedy?
I'm up to speed.
I spoke to your neighbors.
They said you
were meditating naked
in your backyard this morning,
sleeping mostly
naked on the roof,
and there are enough complaints
about your friend's RV
disturbing the ambiance
of the neighborhood.
Technically it's a Winnebago.
As for the nudity,
what Ben chooses
to do within the confines of
his property is his business,
along with where and how
he chooses to sleep,
to wit, you pointed out
that he was mostly naked,
which doesn't constitute
public indecency.
Are you a lawyer?
Not in this state.
How about you move
your Winnebago, Mealworm?
Sure thing.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(MEALWORM INHALES)
"The ambiance".
(GATE CREAKS)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
Your sister called me,
she's worried sick about you.
She thinks you've gone off the
deep end, or you're about to.
and she begged me to turn
my investigation elsewhere.
(RV ENGINE WHIRRING)
Look, Ben, if this is a ruse
to scare up an insanity plea,
I've seen this before,
and I promise you
it will ruin you.
But if this is genuine,
you need to accept help.
Whoever this guy is,
you need to get him out.
Juries don't necessarily
convict based on proof.
They convict based on evidence
beyond reasonable doubt,
and looking around here...
I don't see enough
reasonable doubt.
Shape up, or they're
gonna put you away
whether I have something
to do with it or not.
(RV ENGINE CHUGGING)
(RV DOOR OPENS)
(RV DOOR SLAMS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
What? I moved it.
(GATE CREAKS)
I can move it again.
Do they think you had something
to do with your wife's death?
(BEN CHIRPS)
You've gotta be shitting me.
(GATE CREAKS)
()
(BELL RINGS)
(BELL RINGS)
(PIGEON COOS)
(BEN CHIRPS)
(PIGEON COOS)
(SIGHS)
(BEN CHIRPS)
(WINGS BEATING)
You can speak now.
I realize what you meant
by catch the bird.
You meant "catch"
in the archaic sense.
400 years ago, to catch
meant to understand,
and now I understand.
(GLASS SHATTERS)
(GLASS RATTLES)
()
Jump.
I've never made it
more than nine feet.
The process is beginning
to take effect.
You can do this.
Can I take a practice jump?
MEALWORM:
It'll make it harder.
I'll take my chances.
(SIGHS)
Okay.
Okay.
(CLAPS)
(EXHALES)
Okay.
You're jumping with your legs.
You won't fly with your legs.
Does it have to be over glass?
The first time I flew,
I fell off a mountain.
After that, it was easier,
but for the first
flight, the fear helps.
How do you fall off a--
(LAUGHS)
Never mind.
"Fear helps."
(EXHALES)
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(LEAVES RUSTLING)
(EXHALES)
Oh.
(GRUNTS)
I felt it, right before
I tripped, I felt it.
We should complete the final
week of training in nature,
somewhere with mountains.
Tomorrow you'll run
through the mountains
and find the place to be reborn.
I know a good spot.
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Thank God vegetable
week is over.
(MEALWORM LAUGHS)
Oh.
Before I forget, I want
you to make a list
of all your deepest fears.
What?
Don't worry, it's for later.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(SCRIBBLES)
BEN:
How'd you figure this out?
MEALWORM:
Family recipe,
I added the barbecue sauce.
I mean how'd you figure out
how to fly?
(SCRIBBLES)
I wasn't trying to fly.
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(RAIN PATTERS)
You lost someone
too, didn't you?
(SIGHS)
I stepped off the ledge
four times,
but something kept putting me
back at the top.
By the fourth attempt,
I chose life.
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Are you, are you leaving?
Mealworm.
If you'd like to sleep inside
tonight, I have a spare bed.
That's very kind of you,
but my place is with Sally.
(MELANCHOLY ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
()
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(RAIN PATTERS)
()
(TAPPING)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Huh.
(WORKOUT MUSIC)
()
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
Well, that would
probably kill you.
Oh, for sure.
And if not, there's always
blood loss, hemorrhaging,
my sister mercy killing me
with a pillow upon request.
Oh, I see we've reached
the dark humor phase.
Good, grasshopper.
(BEN LAUGHS)
(WENDY SIGHS)
(BEN SIGHS)
I used to take Sarah
up here all the time.
This was her place.
She'd always try
and get me to come with her,
but... (LAUGHS) I hate hiking.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
I hate it.
You know, my, my kids,
they, they loved
seeing her read.
That was her favorite.
She may not have wanted kid,
but when she was around them.
Did you want kids?
Sorry, that is not my business
No, no, no, no, no, it's fine.
Sorry.
It's fine, really.
Gloria and I,
we lost our parents
when we were really young,
and so did Sarah.
It's kind of what brought us
together at the beginning,
actually.
You think a lot about
what happens to them
if anything happens
to you, you know?
That I do.
You should come over,
come to dinner.
Roger and I would love
to have you, really.
I don't think I'm
ready for that.
Okay, well,
when you are, just come by.
People need people, Ben.
Race you down the mountain?
(SIGHS)
I don't know,
the way up killed me.
NARRATOR:
Chapter four,
"Conquering irrational fear."
(SLOW SITAR MUSIC)
NARRATOR:
Step one, embark
on a spirit quest.
Are those mushrooms?
Psilocybin mushrooms.
Aren't those illegal?
You mustn't concern yourself
with the laws of man
when it comes to embarking
on a spiritual journey.
(SNIFFS)
I've smoked weed
a couple times.
Will that help me handle this?
Would riding a bike help you
learn how to fly a spaceship?
I mean, if the spaceship
had pedals.
I'm brewing a tea.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
Hmm.
I'm starting to feel it.
This isn't so bad.
(CRINGES)
(LAUGHS)
This is...
this is.
(WIND WHISTLES)
What?
This is so high.
MEALWORM:
Mm.
I'm so
high.
Ben.
I can see...
everything.
Ben?
(BEN HYPERVENTILATES)
I should let go.
That's probably a good idea.
(MEALWORM GROANS)
(MEALWORM HUMS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(MEALWORM CONTINUES HUMMING)
Om shanti, om shanti
(CRIES)
Om shanti
Shanti om
(CRIES)
Om shanti
(BEN LAUGHS)
Om shanti
Om shanti
Shanti om
- Om shanti, om shanti
-(HEART BEATS)
Om shanti, shanti om
Om shanti, om shanti
Om shanti, shanti om
()
(HEART BEATS CONTINUES)
Can I watch the sunset
from the roof?
(DOORBELL RINGS)
And who are you?
That's an expansive question.
He's a friend of Ben's,
where's Ben?
We need to speak to him, Ben?
Ben is on a spirit quest.
A spirit quest?
Now, that would
require psychedelics
to go on that spirit quest,
and--
What did you give him?
MEALWORM:
Ben needs this.
You don't know what Ben needs.
He's in a very complicated
emotional state
-right now
-Gloria, tone it down.
-Watch it, Tom.
-Shutting it down.
He does not need
to be on drugs.
He needs help, real help
from people who love him.
Whatever message
you have for Ben,
I can deliver it
when he returns.
I don't trust you.
(MEALWORM CLEARS THROAT)
(PEN SCRAWLS)
(FOLDER RUSTLES)
(BOX RATTLES)
BEN:
Oh, how much longer?
It's irrational,
it's irrational.
MEALWORM:
Until
you're no longer afraid.
BEN:
Ooh, okay.
(TREMBLES)
MEALWORM:
Tell me about
the fear, when did it begin?
BEN:
Oh, I don't know.
I don't remember,
I don't remember.
MEALWORM:
Clear your mind.
I was a boy, I saw a movie.
MEALWORM:
Which movie?
"Arachnophobia."
Noiseless guitar.
There once
was a noiseless guitar.
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
(DRAWER RATTLES)
(DRAWER SLAMS)
(PAPER RUSTLING)
I want to show you something.
Mealworm, I think I'm back.
Tell me if you think
this is good.
"There once
was a noiseless guitar
who daydreamed of being a star,
but his strings weren't right
and the stage gave him fright.
He was sure
he would never go far.
The guitar met
a tasteless spaghetti
who thought
she was finally ready
to be served in a dish
with some meatballs and fish,
but she smelled like
and tastes like a yeti."
Do you think kids will know
what a yeti is?
Come on, I want to show you
something.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
And then the feeble old man
collects all the broken things
and they're happy together.
Huh.
(DOOR CREAKS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
It smells like sawdust in here.
Have you been woodworking?
MEALWORM:
Climb the ladder.
()
(TREMBLES)
You don't put a claustrophobe
in a coffin ever.
There weren't even air holes
in that thing.
Air holes allow light
to enter in.
Yeah, light,
and I don't know... AIR?
Jesus, this is not the same
thing as facing commitment.
I also entered into a bear's
den in the dead of night.
Bullshit.
You're insane, you are insane.
(SLOW ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
(DOOR OPENS, CREAKS)
Jesus.
"Air holes allow light
to enter," yeah, no oxygen
to breathe, lunatic.
(DOORBELL RINGS)
WENDY:
Ben.
Um,
I know it's short notice, but--
You're exactly where you're
supposed to be, come on.
Go, do all of it.
WENDY:
Do all of the things.
-Yeah.
-(GROUP LAUGHS)
I think it was around
our third date?
WENDY:
Yep.
Yeah, that I decided to show
I was serious,
and we were walking back
to her car, and I asked her,
"Do you believe in life
after love?"
She turned around
and she walked back to me
and she said...
-"Are you quoting Cher?"
-"Are you quoting Cher?"
-Ugh, nerd.
-(ROGER LAUGHS)
Are you kidding me with that?
The point being that we
were only three dates in
and I was willing
to say the L word.
That's a bold move, saying
"I love you" that quick.
I don't think
I've ever been that brave.
Not "love"... "Life".
(CEILING RATTLES)
CHILD 1:
We're fine,
don't come up here.
-(ROGER SIGHS)
-Yours.
CHILD 2:
It's okay, it's okay,
we're completely okay.
I'm gonna go check on the kids.
(WENDY LAUGHS)
It was nice to finally meet you,
Ben.
BEN:
You too, Roger.
-Thank you for dinner.
-ROGER: Of course. Of course.
All right,
I'm coming, I'm coming.
They just let anybody be
parents, can you believe it?
You told me before
to find something,
anything, and see it through.
What was yours?
-Watch your head.
-BEN: Oh.
After I tucked the kids
into bed at my sister's,
I mixed together every
liquid I had in my kitchen,
vodka, tequila, scotch,
lemon juice, hot sauce,
chocolate syrup, and Red Bull.
BEN:
Jesus.
Then went on a run,
woke up eight hours
and seven miles later
in a Rite Aid bathroom.
And I realized that every
time I made this magic potion,
I would wake up somewhere crazy
with no recollection
of how I got there.
So I made it again.
(LAUGHS)
I made it every night
for a month.
-(LAUGHS)
-(BLOWS AIR)
-Wendy, what the hell?
-Yeah?
(BOTH LAUGHING)
I woke up in a lot of bathrooms.
(LAUGHS)
And also a couple of forests
and a boat... (LAUGHS)
and a couple of very
polite strangers' beds,
and I have never told anyone.
(BOTTLE RATTLES)
I...
I'm teaching myself how to fly.
That's it?
I gave up my magic potion
for that?
Let me clarify.
There's no plane involved.
I'm learning how to... fly.
That's why I'm sleeping
on my roof.
(LAUGHS) Wait.
-BEN: Like...
-Like?
Yeah, like, and I,
I hired a trainer.
(LAUGHS)
Ah.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
All right, you win...
(LAUGHS) you win.
(SIGHS)
BEN:
I've been in a rut.
Of course you're in a rut,
your wife died.
-No.
-You're allowed.
No, no, no, I've, I've been
in a rut for a long time.
(SLOW MUSIC)
You asked me before about kids.
The truth is that
Sarah and I tried...
and we just couldn't.
We could have moved on,
but we didn't.
We couldn't write,
we couldn't do anything,
and I just stopped trying.
()
I thought I could get her back.
I thought I had more time.
And I can't imagine myself
ever being as happy as I was.
I promise you...
someday you will stop
trying to fly.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
(DOOR RATTLES)
()
Hey.
I apologize for earlier,
I realize
I crossed a line there.
Okay, thank you.
(GLASS CLINKS)
(GLASSES CLINKING)
Jesus, that's strong stuff.
It's Japanese, I spent some
time there in the early '70s.
Sorry, I ran out on you tonight.
I just needed some time.
MEALWORM:
Perfectly understandable.
You'd like Wendy,
she lost someone, too.
MEALWORM:
Oh?
Yeah, her husband.
MEALWORM:
Hmm.
-Yeah, I guess she--
-(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
Wait a minute.
Is that yours?
(SLOW MUSIC)
MEALWORM:
Ben, don't.
Ben.
(PHONE CONTINUES VIBRATING)
What is this?
When did my sister come by?
The other day when you were
on your spirit quest.
This is about
my wife's investigation.
How could you not tell me
about this?
At this stage, distractions
are the-- don't answer that.
It's my sister,
I'm answering it!
-MEALWORM: Ben!
-Hello?
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Go somewhere private.
What's wrong?
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Can he hear me?
No.
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Your friend's
real name is Mark Sisko.
What are you talking about?
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Detective Reyes ran
the plates on his Winnebago.
He spent seven years in
prison, is he still there?
Yeah, yeah, he's,
he's still here.
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Did he even tell you
that we came by the other day
looking for you?
No, no, he didn't.
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
Ben, he's a con artist.
Ben, Ben?
BEN:
I have to go.
GLORIA: (ON PHONE)
No, Ben, wait!
(GRUNTS)
(SHRIEKING MACHINERY)
BEN:
Okay.
(GRUNTS)
()
(PANTS)
(GROANS)
(BELL RINGS)
(PANTING)
(SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC)
(GROANS)
()
MEALWORM:
Hello, Ben.
BEN:
You had no right
to take these things.
MEALWORM:
I was trying to help you.
BEN:
You've been stealing
things from my house.
This time is crucial
to your process.
I couldn't let you
veer off course.
These belonged to my wife!
And nothing will
ever bring her back.
She's gone
and you can't change that.
Why am I...
why am I so tired?
(WATER SPLASHES)
I love the way
you see the world.
You're more thoughtful
than I am.
A better writer than I am.
-What?
-BEN: I'm serious.
No, I'm not.
We're just different, you know?
BEN:
Yeah, because you tend to know
how things end,
and I have trouble with endings.
But your stories do end, right?
When you get an idea, even if
it doesn't have a conclusion,
necessarily,
it's still a whole thing.
You may not know
how it ends, but it does end.
And if you can't accept that,
then it ceases to exist,
you know?
Like, if you want something
to start...
if you want it to exist...
you have to be okay with it
having an ending, you know?
(LOW RUMBLE)
(BEN WHIMPERS)
No, no, Mealworm!
Mealworm?
Mealworm, what?
(CRIES)
No, no, no, no, oh my,
please no!
Please, oh my God,
Mealworm, Mealworm!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Mealworm, no, please,
please, get me out of here!
Please, Mealworm,
please, please!
Oh my God, please get, (SHRIEKS)
please get me out, Mealworm!
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(BEN FAINTLY SPEAKING)
()
It's irrational,
it's irrational.
It's irrational,
it's irrational.
It's irrational,
it's irrational.
It's irrational,
it's irrational.
It's, it's irrational.
(MOANS)
(SCREAMS)
Please let me out of here!
Get me out!
(SCREAMS)
Oh, oh, oh, oh my God, please,
let me, let me out of here!
(SCREAMS)
()
How are you?
Jesus, what are they giving him?
Ben!
Ben, how do you f--
How do you feel?
I'm not feeling much.
Was last night any better?
I warned you about
the dark web.
GLORIA:
Tom.
I wasn't trying
to commit suicide.
Do you even know
why your friend,
Mark Sisko, was in prison?
Life insurance fraud.
That's conspiracy, Ben.
Evidence beyond
reasonable doubt.
Just tell me
you still believe me.
()
Gloria?
You still believe me, right?
GUARD:
Time's up.
BEN:
Gloria.
GUARD:
Mr. Brady, it's time to go.
INTERCOM:
Paging Doctor Wiessner.
Doctor Wiessner,
your presence is requested
- at patient intake
-SARAH: Time to fly.
Sarah?
Ben, you with me?
We gotta split.
What the hell
are you doing here?
Well, your guard dog's
on a coffee run,
so if we're gonna go,
we gotta go now.
I'm not going anywhere with you.
You left me in a coffin to die.
That was supposed to be
a 90 minute exercise.
I was out getting ice
for your decompression bath
and by the time I got back,
the place was swarmed.
But you did it, Ben!
One more test
and you've got your wings!
Did you know about my wife
before you met me?
Unbelievable.
No, I looked you up
when you bought my book.
Yes, I admit it,
and I saw about her, but--
You knew about the insurance
money, you piece of shit?
Shh, I didn't know anything
about that, I swear!
Ben.
I've lived a life
that I am not proud of,
but I never lied to you.
It's all just talk now, Mark,
with your faux mysticism
and your Orientalism,
talking about the luxuries
of the West.
You're a scumbag and a fake.
How the hell did you even
come up with this shit, huh?
How are you so sure
this is gonna work?
I'm not.
()
Security, he's here, he's here!
I never lied to you, Ben, never.
That's him,
he's here, that's him!
That's him, that's him!
Hold him down.
He's here!
(GASPS)
INTERCOM:
Doctor Wiessner,
your presence is requested...
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
Paging Doctor Wiessner.
(BEEPING)
(BEN SIGHS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER
IN BACKGROUND)
(BLANKET RUSTLES)
(BUTTON CLICKS)
(SARAH SIGHS)
Hi, Ben.
God, it's so weird
to call you "Ben".
I never call you "Ben"
unless I'm, like,
mad or trying to prove a point
or something.
This is so dark, but I agreed
to do it, so here we go.
Number one,
what did you do today?
I, I listened to you talk
about how it's inevitable
that one of us will one day
be without the other
'cause you're just so much fun.
(LAUGHS)
Number two, what did
you learn today?
I learned...
babe, I don't know.
Not every moment has to be
a learning moment,
and if you don't learn
something that day,
that doesn't make it useless.
Maybe you're watching this now
and it's your learning moment.
And number three, what do you
want to say to your spouse?
I love how you put "spouse"
so you don't have to
print this twice.
(LAUGHS)
I, I can't do this.
I-- (LAUGHS)
I'm just answering questions
to a camera
for you to watch
after I'm dead.
Just the thought of you
spending the rest
of your life watching videos
of me, it's...
it creeps me the hell out.
(LAUGHS)
SARAH:
And you're doing
the same thing for me?
(LAUGHS)
SARAH:
Oh my God, I really hope not.
You know, this is the last video
I'm doing for you
because if you are
watching this,
then it means that I'm dead
and you spend enough time
in front of screens anyway,
so-- so go out, you
know, get some sun.
But,
okay, if I really am gone,
you're watching this.
Please don't let the world
harden you.
You have the biggest...
most beautiful heart...
and if you do one thing for me,
it would be to keep
that part of you alive,
that part of you that, you know,
writes about big
houses and clouds
and talking balloons.
-(SARAH LAUGHS)
-(CRIES)
The part of you
that believes in the impossible.
Speaking of, okay--
(CLEARS THROAT)
there once was a writer
named Ben
who made people smile
with his pen...
until his poor wife
had to give up her life...
and now he wonders
how this story ends.
(LAUGHS)
That's the first verse.
But, yeah, I gotta go 'cause
you're whining downstairs
about how there's no food
in the house, so.
(SLOW PIANO MUSIC)
I love you.
Forever.
Don't go.
(CRIES)
()
(BEN WHIMPERS)
MAN:
Down!
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
MAN:
Bring them up.
Very good. Up, up, up.
Bring them back down.
Down, down...
And up.
Reach the sky. Very good.
Bring them back down.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
MAN:
Push, push, push.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
MAN:
Bring it in.
Good.
Turn around.
Put 'em up to the sky.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
MAN:
Face me and push.
Bring it in.
Turn around, yeah.
Breath in, reach out.
Breath in, breath that out.
-(BREATHES DEEPLY)
-MAN: Breath in, breath out.
Reach up.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
()
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
()
(BELL RINGS)
()
(SINGLE PIANO KEY)
INTERCOM:
Paging Doctor Wiessner.
(GRUNTS)
INTERCOM:
Doctor Wiessner,
your presence is requested
at patient intake,
paging Doctor Wiessner.
(GROANS)
(PANTS)
(GRUNTS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(GLASS CLINKS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(PANICKED ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(TENSE, THREATENING MUSIC)
(SIREN WAILING)
()
(ON SPEAKER)
Stop.
We've got you surrounded.
Stop or we will open fire.
(TIRES SCREECHES)
Oh, shit, oh, shit,
oh, no, you don't.
(TIRES SCREECHES)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
(SIREN WAILING)
()
()
Get out of the RV!
Technically it's a Winnebago.
DETECTIVE REYES:
Shut up,
hands behind your back.
()
(BEN GRUNTS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
GLORIA:
Don't do it!
You shouldn't have come here.
Ben, I know you want to escape
the world right now,
but you don't have to.
Ben.
Ben, you've gotta come back
with us.
I'm doing this.
No, it won't work!
It will,
don't come any closer, Tom!
Ben, Sarah would want you
to keep living.
Sarah wanted me
to believe in things,
and I believe in this.
Why?
I'll show you.
And if it doesn't work...
at least
I'll get to be with her.
Wait, let me say goodbye
to you, at least.
That's the oldest trick
in the book, Geej.
-You'll pull me away.
-I won't, I swear.
I just want to hug my brother
one last time.
Benjamin Grady!
Come here or I will shove you
off this cliff myself.
Okay, geez.
You almost scared me off
the cliff right there.
(MELANCHOLY VIOLIN TUNE)
()
I love you.
No!
Seven 17 to dispatch,
I'm bringing this one in.
(EXPLOSION RUMBLES)
(CAR ALARM BLARES)
Seven 17 to dispatch,
I just heard an explosion.
-(POLICE RADIO MUMBLES)
-(MEALWORM CRIES)
()
Ben.
(WIND RUSTLES)
(BEN CRIES OUT)
(BEN SCREAMS)
Help! Help me, help!
This is...
what?
(EXPLOSION CRACKS)
What? (LAUGHS)
This is so high.
(WIND RUSTLES)
I'm so high.
MEALWORM:
Ben.
()
BEN:
I can see everything.
MEALWORM:
Ben.
I can see everything.
MEALWORM:
Ben.
(BEN TREMBLES)
()
BEN:
I should let go.
MEALWORM:
That's
probably a good idea.
(SLOW DREAMY MUSIC)
()
Fly away
Life begins again
Today
Are you ready to leave
this world behind
All you need is to prepare
your mind
Take this leap with me
You brave, beautiful
being on the other side
Waiting for a sign
from above
As we defy every convention
that exists
And you're gonna realize
there's more than this
You brave, beautiful being
Over there in the dark room
Sitting
with the 1,000 yard stare
It won't be easy,
I won't lie
But trust in me and you
and I can fly away
Life begins again
Today
Are you ready to leave
this world behind
All you need
is to prepare your mind
Take this leap with me
You brave, beautiful being
On the other side waiting
for a sign from above
As we defy every
convention that exists
And you're gonna realize
there's more than this
You brave, beautiful being
Over there
in the dark room sitting
With the 1,000 yard stare
It won't be easy,
I won't lie
But trust in me
and you and I can
Let go
Fly away
life begins again
Today
Are you ready to leave
this world behind
All you need
is to prepare your mind
Take this leap with me
You brave, beautiful
being on the other side
Waiting for a sign
from above
As we defy every convention
that exists
And you're gonna realize
there's more than this
You brave, beautiful
being over there
In a dark room sitting
with a 1,000 yard stare
It won't be easy,
I won't lie
But trust in me and you
and I can fly away
Fly away
Life begins again
Today
Are you ready to leave
this world behind
All you need
is to prepare your mind
Take this leap with me
You brave, beautiful
being on the other side
Waiting for a sign
from above
As we defy every convention
that exists
And you're gonna realize
there's more than this
You brave, beautiful
being over there
In the dark room sitting
with a 1,000 yard stare
It won't be easy,
I won't lie
But trust in me and you
and I can fly
Fly away
Like begins again
Today
Are you ready to leave
this world behind
All you need
is to prepare your mind