Tiger Within (2020) Movie Script
1
(marker scratching)
(air humming)
(dog barking)
(air whistling)
Picking up the pieces
It's all gone
spinning round again
Feels like the dust
will never settle
And I'm too old to
forget it all now
It's like I'm treading water
In an open ocean
Never know what
it felt so far
To fight when it means
something special
Turns into nothing
And it burns up in
a cloud of smoke
Like dirt slippin'
through your hands
Love, it's let go
Love, it's never
what it seems
Take me in your arm
Hold me by the hand
Tell me I'm the
one that you want
Tell me I'm the one you want
Tell me I'm the
one that you want
Tell me I'm the one you want
- Okay, settle down.
Time to get started.
I'm the one you want
All right, can anybody tell me,
what are the zeros
of each function?
Come on, we've been learning
this for like a week.
Somebody?
Clair?
- The zeros of a given
function F are the solutions
to the equation F x equals zero.
- [Teacher] Now let's
look at problems
with two pairs of brackets.
We can simplify by
regrouping the brackets
and then grouping over here.
(students laughing)
- Fuckin' asshole!
- Oh!
- [Teacher] Principal, now!
- This is quite a record.
Your very first day in my
school, and here we are.
(trash clattering)
Tell me I'm the
one that you want
Transfers from seven
different schools.
And you have no frustrations?
Maybe I lack conviction
Maybe you're no
more than addiction
Maybe I don't want to change
All day
- Here, yes, yes.
(Samuel speaks in
foreign language)
That your lovin'
is the real thing
- [Chess player] I think
you can do this now.
- I got this.
That goes there.
- You sure about this?
- Yeah, just do it.
- You want small
letters or caps?
- Uh, caps.
Tell me I'm the one you want
Tell me I'm the
one that you want
Tell me I'm the one you want
(Samuel sighs)
(needle buzzing)
- You're home?
- Hi, Mom.
- How was your
first day at school?
- Good.
- It's a farther bus ride
than your other school,
but maybe at this one,
you'll start fresh, hmm,
make some new friends.
- Sure, don't see why not.
Might even try out
for cheerleading.
- Really?
- Sure, and next, I'll go
out for homecoming queen.
- Don't you want to fit in?
- Mom, I fit in.
I just haven't found the
people I fit in with yet.
- Well, honey, maybe if
you didn't look like that,
it would be easier for
you to make friends, huh?
- I don't want these
kids as friends.
- What's wrong with them?
- Nothing.
Ma, okay, nothing.
- Don't take that.
- Why?
- It's Bill's.
- Really?
I don't see his name anywhere.
- He likes a Coke, first
think in the morning.
- Well, how 'bout I like a
Coke, last thing at night?
- Just put it back, okay?
- Why should I?
- 'Cause I said so.
- How come you always
stick up for him, huh?
Why never me?
- Good night.
- What?
You're afraid if he doesn't
have his Coke in the morning,
he'll hit you again?
- Casey, who I choose as my
boyfriends is my business.
My business alone!
- Fine, we'll have a big blast
when this one splits.
That is, unless you
have enough money
to keep him fed enough to stay.
Let's just hope we don't
run out of money first!
(hand slaps)
(car horn honks)
- Casey.
- [Bill] Marge!
- I know where
you got that from!
- I want this bitch gone, now.
Her or me, Marge, you
fuckin' choose it,
but I'm not puttin' up
with her shit anymore.
I treat you good.
I don't give a fuck
what that tramp says.
- Bill!
Bill.
(crickets chirping)
(water babbling)
(people chattering)
(solemn music)
Tell me
I'm not that dumb
(Nazi yelling in German)
(solemn rock music)
Flesh-bound wrath
and hungry hands
Enough to deconstruct a man
Dragged across the pavement
Where he'd scream
Lovers enter
threshold, so kindly
But they've been
unkind, inside me
Saint Anthony would
bear the blows
Semen in the wounds
that would not close
In boiling pits
Of carrion pitch
I am alone, I am
alone, I am alone
Six months later in
that barren, black room
He showed us what a
lover scorned could do
They'd catch the bits of
blood they could not stamp out
And run our fingers
over every bruise
- What the fuck!
- It means you're cool!
- Yeah!
- Only dead is cool!
Semen in the wounds
that would not close
In boiling pits, pits
I am alone, I am
alone, I am alone
I am alone, I am alone
(solemn music)
(phone ringing)
- Whatever it is, tell her no.
- Hello.
- Mom, I'm leaving.
I'm not coming home.
- I see.
- Ma, I just can't stand
it, Bill or whatever.
I just don't want to come back.
- Well, maybe that's right.
(somber music)
You always said you
wanted to see California.
Honey, I'm sorry.
I, I didn't mean it like that.
It's just things
are so hard here.
(phone clicks)
So I've called your father,
and he'll be at the
station to pick you up.
He says he's excited to see you.
- (scoffs) If he's
so excited to see me,
how come I never came to visit?
He never called.
Never nothing.
- Maybe he did in the beginning.
Who remembers?
(elevator beeps)
I mean, he moved on.
He got his own life,
new family, new
everything, so...
- How many kids again?
- Three daughters.
(solemn music)
(train bell dinging)
- I love you, Mom.
- Love you, too.
(train horn bellows)
(train bell dinging)
Bye!
(solemn music)
(buzzer buzzes)
(Samuel gasping)
(somber music)
(helicopter whirring)
(intercom muttering)
- [Eddie] Let's go.
- Dad, I'm hungry.
- Heather, quiet.
I told you we'd be late.
See? And the train
already got here.
- We wouldn't have been late
if you took the 5
like I told you.
You, no, but you
had to take the 101,
when any idiot knows that
the 101 takes forever.
- What a dork!
You know she could've
waited for us, at least.
- Now what am I supposed to do?
- Yeah, maybe she
changed her mind.
She decided not to come.
- Dad, I want a cheeseburger!
- I'm so hungry, please.
- 500,000 more calories.
Okay, we're leaving.
This place sucks.
- After Marge called me and
all, she's not gonna show?
- Look, they probably
got into a fight.
- [Zoe] Can I go to Eva's
house after, as well?
- She probably threatened
to come see you,
and then they patched things
up, and she's still in Ohio.
- You think? Well, I should
at least call, right?
- Eddie, would you
just call from home?
- Okay, you're
right. You're right.
She probably didn't come.
- You know, you have
three kids of your own.
Since when did we become a motel
for other women's children?
Eddie, come on, let's go.
You wanted to watch
the game, right?
Come on.
(energetic dance music)
(intercom muttering)
(siren wails)
(helicopter whirring)
(singer chanting)
(festive music)
(siren wailing)
(ominous music)
- Oh yeah, her dad
called this morning.
It's on the machine. I forgot.
- Oh, did he say what he wanted?
- I forget.
Probably just to
say she got there.
But you spoke to her,
so you know that, right?
- Right.
- [Sportscaster]
He's blocked well
and tries to cut
through the middle, oh!
(solemn music)
(gentle music)
(birds cooing)
(lips smacking)
(somber music)
(insects buzzing)
(tense music)
(Casey gasping)
- Who are you?
- Nobody much.
My name is Samuel.
- Were you watching me?
- I suppose I was.
- Why?
- Well, I said to
myself, look who's here,
a little girl sleeping.
I wonder if she's lost.
Should I awaken her before I go?
No, I don't think so.
Sit your old bones
down and wait.
- Wait for what?
- To learn your name.
- That's all you want?
- I haven't much interest
in anything else.
- Yeah, I've heard
that shit before.
- Please, please, I don't like
to hear language like that.
So tell me, we were
discussing your name.
- Come on, cut the crap!
If you're looking for
money, I haven't got any.
- Money is not as
interesting as people think.
- It is when you don't have any.
- You don't have any?
But you have a name, no?
(birds cooing)
- Casey.
- [Samuel] Ah, and
your last name?
- I don't have a last name.
- Interesting.
I've never met anyone
who had no last name.
- Well, then I guess you've
never met anyone before
who hates their parents, huh?
- Would you like another?
- You mean fries?
- Anything.
- I don't want to be greedy.
- When you are hungry,
there's no such word as greedy.
- Um, then can I have
another cheeseburger?
- Lena!
A repeat, if you wouldn't mind.
- Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.
What a fat ass.
- It is generally considered
rude to be insulting
to the hand that
brings you your food.
- So? She didn't hear me.
- A thought is as
powerful as a word.
It can affect
longer and stronger.
- Well, if you don't
care what I have to say,
then don't listen to me.
- What do you care about?
- Shit.
- I interpret that to mean
all you care about is feces?
- Don't be an idiot.
- But then I don't understand.
- It means I don't
care about anything.
- Well, that's too bad.
- What's so bad about it?
- Well, if one has so
little purpose in life,
there's no reason to live.
- What do you care about?
- Possibly less than you.
- So why don't you
just kill yourself?
- I never leave a party early.
- You call this crap a party?
- Unfortunately, it's
the only party I have.
Thank you.
So, where are you off to?
- I don't know.
- You're just going to
go off like that, poof?
- You know, it's not like
I'm following your or shit.
I'm just hanging.
- No, no, no, I'm
not judging you.
- Why you gotta talk like that?
- Like what?
- You talk phony-like.
- Oh, I beg your pardon.
- Are you a foreigner?
An illegal immigrant thing?
- I'm a naturalized
American citizen,
just like you.
Some people are just
very fortunate, eh?
Huh?
- I guess. I don't know.
(Samuel chuckles)
You monster!
(man yelling in
foreign language)
- What's their problem?
- You be careful.
You be careful what you-
- What the fuck's
their problem?
- Stop your pointing at her!
- Why you go here?
- You want something?
You talk to me.
- Go away, you stupid!
- Hey, you talk to
me, you hear me!
- What the fuck's their problem?
- They were unhappy
about the swastika.
- My what?
- The swastika on your back.
- What about it?
- It's something they
associate with Adolf Hitler.
- That sign on my back,
that just means fuck off.
- Yeah, there are a lot
of people who disagree
with that interpretation.
- And why do they
wear those beanies?
- As a reminder.
- [Casey] A reminder of what?
- That God is above all.
- Is this where you live?
- You'll grow accustomed to it.
The offer still stands.
- You mean I can just take
a bath here, and that's it?
- What else would there be?
- No monkey stuff?
(Samuel laughs)
- First, you flatter an old man.
Second, I invite you as a
guest, not a prostitute.
Let me go get my mail.
Where are you?
(Samuel gasping)
(locks clicking)
This is home.
Come!
(Samuel gasping)
- Wow, it's nice in here.
How long have you lived here?
- A long time.
Here.
Let me show you the bedroom.
There, you can get
yourself cleaned up.
(solemn music)
(siren wailing)
(clock chimes)
(knuckles rap)
(Samuel groans)
(solemn music)
Ah.
- Hey.
- You drink coffee, huh?
There's a drawer under the sink.
It's got a new toothbrush.
I'll keep your coffee warm.
(Samuel sighs)
(water patters)
Get a chair, in the closet there
Come on, come on.
The food is getting cold.
(Samuel sighs)
- Was that you in the
picture over the sink?
- It is.
- Who's the lady?
- That was Rhea.
- Who's that?
- My wife.
- Oh yeah, what happened?
You divorce her?
- (laughs) Never.
She's dead.
- Oh, um, shit, sorry.
- Coffee?
- [Casey] Yeah.
(gentle music)
She, she looked pretty.
- Rhea?
Nah, pretty?
She was beautiful.
- How'd she die?
- Step by step.
- Oh.
(solemn music)
- How did you meet her?
- In Germany.
- Oh, really, you lived there?
- Well, it's not
easy to live there,
not as possible
as you may think.
- [Casey] What's that mean?
- Nazis make bad company.
- Did you fight with them?
- They fought with me.
(Casey laughs)
What is funny, eh?
- The whole six
million dead Jew shit.
- [Samuel] What?
- [Casey] That's not true.
- Oh, really?
- They just made it up,
'cause Jews are liars.
- How do you know that?
- My mom told me.
- Oh, your mom told you.
- Mm-hmm.
- Hmm, boy.
- When I first heard about it,
I was like how gross, you know?
- [Samuel] Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
- Like burning people.
- Yeah?
- Making lampshades
out of their skin.
- Oh yes, yes!
- So then, I thought how gross.
- Mm-hmm.
- Right, so I told my mom
what the teacher said.
- Mm-hmm.
- And she set me straight.
- How'd she do that?
- She was like, yeah, some
Jews died, like any war,
but six mil, no way.
- Yeah.
Well, I'll tell you
a little something.
Your mom is wrong.
I was almost one
of the six million.
- You're a Jew?
- [Samuel] You're so shocked?
- Uh, I've never, I've
never spoken to one before.
- So this is a red letter
day for you, isn't it, huh?
Whoop-de-doo!
- Do you want me to clean up?
- No, no, no, no, you are guest.
I'll do the cleaning up.
- Yeah, well, when
people say that,
they don't usually mean it.
- Well, when I say it,
you could be sure I mean it.
- Uh, so I guess I'll split.
- Why?
- Thanks, you know, for the
bath and the food and stuff.
- Hey, anytime you want
a bath, you're welcome.
- Were those two babies
in the picture your kids?
- [Samuel] They are.
- Where do they live?
- They don't.
(somber music)
- You mean they died?
- [Samuel] Yes.
- An accident or something?
- Ah, I suppose Jewish twins
could be called an accident,
especially if it's during a war.
- [Casey] Well, well,
take it easy, okay.
- What?
- Take it light.
- [Samuel] What does that mean?
- Don't let the bedbugs bite.
- Yeah, understood.
(groans) Bedbugs bite.
(door clacks)
(solemn music)
(siren wails)
(birds cooing)
(speaks in foreign language)
(lips smacking)
(lively rock music)
My mind is not good
- [Man] Hey!
- Hey.
- Uh, how much?
- Uh, 50.
- [Customer] 40?
- 45 now, or forget it.
- Okay, Jesus.
I'm not the one
And turn that shit off.
He's trash
(switch clicks)
Oh, of course.
And I'll let you
finish this part.
(lively rock music)
My man
He's got
Let's get this party
started, right now.
My mind
Okay.
(customer sighs)
Na, na, na
(customer moaning)
Na, na, na
(customer moaning)
(baby crying)
(woman gasping erotically)
(solemn music)
(bright music)
(people chattering)
(suspenseful music)
- Hey!
Hey!
(suspenseful music)
- [Taller Boy] Oh shit!
- Give that back,
you bastards! Hey!
(dramatic music)
- Casey!
Casey!
- [Shorter Boy] Come on!
- Fuck you little fuckers.
I mean, it's not like
I like it or anything,
the massage stuff
and everything.
It's just that,
'cause of my age,
I can't get working papers
without my parents signing off,
and like, since I,
obviously, I can't do that,
what else was I supposed to do?
I mean, the only jobs they
had are some immigrant crap,
but the guys wanted me
to fuck 'em anyways,
so I figured, hey,
like this is better,
and I only have to use my hand.
And the way I look at it,
Arabs wipe their ass with
their left hand anyways.
Oh, shit.
I know that hurt.
- Well, it certainly
didn't feel good.
- I guess we do have
something in common.
- Oh?
- [Casey] Hm.
- What is the significance
of that slogan?
- I always know that
I said it first,
even if they think
they said it first.
I know I did.
- Hmm.
So how does Christmas in
Los Angeles feel to you?
- Um, it sucks.
- Hmm.
- Just like every
other Christmas.
- Uh-huh.
- But I guess it's better here,
'cause I don't have
stupid cornball gifts.
- Well, who gives you
these cornball gifts?
- My mom.
- [Samuel] Ah.
- And whatever stupid ass
boyfriend she has at the time.
Like, one year, I remember,
I heard my mom tell her
boyfriend to get me a gift.
She gave him 20 bucks,
and he ended up blowing
the money on himself.
- [Samuel] Oh.
- I opened the
present, next morning,
and it was bubble bath
from her bathroom.
- [Samuel] Oh my God.
- You have any cool family
traditions you do for Christmas?
- No, it's, uh, a
normal day to me.
I have no family.
- None?
- [Samuel] None.
- [Casey] They all died on you?
- Yeah, yeah.
- Left you to carry
this shit alone?
- I thought that was
rather rude of them myself.
(Casey chuckles)
Mm-hmm.
The way you looked
into the cross
As you looked
into the mirror
- Any kids?
Your face keeps on changing
- [Customer] Two.
- How old?
- [Customer] Pamela's
your age. She's 21.
David's 15.
- Why aren't you with
them on Christmas?
- Hey, is this a massage
or a therapy session?
- I just thought you
might've wanted to talk,
for a while, first.
- We're not dating.
This is a one-off, right?
- I know.
It's just, um, kind of hard
for some guys to say
that they want to talk,
so then they come here,
but, you know, then-
- I'm not very good
at conversation,
especially not with my kids.
- Have you tried?
- I try.
I try at home. I
try with my wife.
I try with my kids.
I try all the time.
I'm sick of trying.
But here I am. I have to try.
Merry Christmas.
- Uh, yeah, uh, merry Christmas.
(gentle music)
- [Operator] SOCO operator.
- Collect from Casey.
Unless a guy answers,
then hang up.
(phone ringing)
- Hello?
- [Operator] Collect
call from Casey.
Do you accept?
- Yes, yes, yes, I will.
Casey?
- Mom.
- [Marge] Honey, I was
hoping you'd call today.
You know, today's the first
Christmas we ever spent
apart from each other.
- Yeah, I know, oh,
merry Christmas.
- You haven't called
in three weeks.
Is everything okay?
- Yeah, everything is great.
Um, Dad, he took me
shopping, to, to The Grove.
He said I could get anything.
- What'd you get?
- I got, uh, two pairs
of designer jeans,
one with rips in 'em,
you know, the cool kind,
and one super
skinny and stretchy.
- Isn't that great?
And school?
- There's no school,
right now, Mom.
It's Christmas break.
- Right.
Did you have midterms?
- Yeah, aced them all.
- Casey!
You know, I was, I was worried
that maybe this wasn't the right
thing for you, but I think,
I think sending you to Los
Angeles was the right move.
- Yeah, uh, sure. (sniffs)
Well, um, (sniffs) listen, um,
I, I know this is
a lot of money,
long distance and
everything, so, um, I just,
and I'm really sorry
about breaking the phone,
so I just wanted to
say merry Christmas,
and I'll call you later, okay.
- Okay, honey, just,
um, just one more thing.
Did you make those, uh,
those apple pies like I
taught you to, for dinner?
- Yes, I made all three of them,
apple, strawberry, and pumpkin.
- [Marge] Well,
that'll go over big.
- (sniffs) Yeah,
um, I love you, Mom.
- Love you too.
- Bye.
(Casey sobs)
(gentle music)
- I thought it would be
nice if you had some company
on your first
Christmas Eve in L.A.
- [Casey] Thank you.
- All right.
- I didn't get you anything.
- Well, if you'll have
dinner with me, tonight,
that will be present enough.
- You're cooking?
- (laughs) I don't think the
experts would call it cooking.
But I can guarantee
you plenty of food.
I hope you like it.
- Yeah.
But, um, why'd you
get me something
when you knew I didn't
get you anything?
- [Samuel] What does one
thing have to do with another?
- You think it's just okay
to get someone
something, like a gift,
and not expect anything from it?
- Yes, and that's the
way it should be, always.
- It's cool.
- [Samuel] Yeah.
- But, um, what is it?
- It's a necklace, of course,
but it's a heart.
- Yeah, but why is it a heart?
- Well, you have one, don't you?
- [Casey] Doesn't everybody?
- No.
Aren't you going to put it on?
- Uh, I think I'm just gonna
hold it for a while, okay?
- It certainly is.
So you didn't hear
from your father
after you saw him at
the train station?
- Nah.
- [Samuel] Hmm.
And your mother still believes
that you are living
with your father?
- She pretends she does,
so she doesn't have to deal,
so she can pretend
everything's hunky-dorky groovy
and just stick to her lame shit.
- You know where he lives?
- Yeah, some shit
end of The Valley.
- [Samuel] You have the address?
- Yeah, so?
- Maybe you should
be his Christmas
present, tomorrow, huh?
Are you afraid of going?
- I'm not afraid of shit?
- Everybody's
afraid of something.
- [Casey] Yeah, well, not me.
- Ah, my goodness.
- Okay, so what if I
was scared of going?
- [Samuel] Uh-huh.
- Like, scared of how he
would act or something?
- Then I would
embrace the tiger.
- [Casey] Huh?
- It's a Chinese
saying for learning
to love our fears, our demons.
- What for?
- Taking the tiger within us
and becoming its master
so that you are in
control of them,
and they, not you.
- What bullshit!
- Perhaps, but it works.
- So you're saying you're
scared of something,
and then after this
tiger thing, you're not?
- Somewhat like that, yes.
- Of what?
What could you
possibly be scared of?
- Of you.
- Me?
- Of your ignorance.
And not just your ignorance,
but the ignorance all
over in the world.
(solemn music)
(people chattering)
Cries out your eyes
I offer my shoulder
I feel like a separate faces
(family laughing)
(ominous music)
I offer my
Offer my best to
get out your pain
That being your faith in me
I won't fear this
All in my hands
(knuckles rap)
(knuckles rap loudly)
- [Stephie] I got it!
- Is this Eddie Miller's house?
- Yeah.
- Can you tell him Casey's here?
- Who?
- Casey.
- Dad!
Dad!
- [Eddie] What?
- Dad, she's here!
- [Eddie] Who's here.
- [Stephie] That girl.
- Hi, can I help you?
- I, I would've
brought something.
I didn't know I was coming
until I actually got here.
- You sure you're
at the right place?
Who are you looking for?
- I'm Casey.
- [Linda] Eddie!
Come on, it's getting cold.
- Ah, come on in.
Um...
(gentle classical music)
Okay.
Everyone, this is Casey,
my, uh, my daughter.
Casey, this, this
is my wife, Linda.
My daughters Zoe, Heather,
and Stephie, who you met before.
Are you hungry, Casey?
I'll get you a chair.
We could, uh, all
just maybe move down.
- Hi.
Okay.
Hi.
Thanks.
- So how ya been?
- Good.
- Uh-huh.
- What grade are you in?
- Ninth, maybe.
Mm, the food's real good.
- Hmm, thank you.
- And, and your mom,
how's she doing?
Is she good, too?
- Yeah.
She's good.
- Do you always dress like that?
- Like what?
- Do I have to share
a room with her?
- Dad, I just got a new room.
I'm not sharing it, and
I'm not giving it up.
- I will.
Do you like hide and seek?
- Mom.
- Girls, it'll
get handled, okay?
So, Casey, this is quite a
surprise, after all this time.
What made you change
your mind about coming?
- Um,
something about a tiger.
(knocks at door)
- Hey, looks like we're
having a little slumber party.
- I still get to keep
the top, don't I?
- Uh, no prob.
- Uh, so do you want to borrow
a pair of Zoe's pajamas?
- Nah, I'm good, thanks.
- Okay, well, then I will
leave you girls to it.
Good night, princess.
(lips smack)
Good night, Casey.
(lips smack)
I'll see you in
the morning then.
(door clacks)
- You know, my mom told me.
- Told you what?
- All about your mom,
how she's drunk and a weirdo,
also how she got
arrested for DPI.
- [Casey] DUI.
- Whatever.
She also once went
to welfare and-
- How old are you?
- 13.
- Oh, too bad, you won't
know until you're 14.
- [Zoe] Know what?
- How to shut the fuck up.
(Eddie sighs)
- You saw the girl.
She's trash.
Do you have any idea what kind
of influence she's
gonna have on our girls?
- She's a kid.
- Yes, she's a bad kid.
You can see it
all over her face.
- Oh, come on, you
can't see shit.
- [Linda] Eddie,
there is no way that
that girl will fit in
here with our lives,
no way, no how.
Besides, you've
never even been sure
that she's yours anyway, right?
- Her mother wasn't sure.
- Yeah, well,
she doesn't look like you.
- But I think she's mine.
- She doesn't look like you.
- I think she does.
(Linda laughs)
- She's not even cute.
- Oh!
- [Linda] Wait, wait, wait.
Are you gonna tell me
that you think she's cute?
- She's my daughter.
What am I supposed to think?
(Linda laughs)
- If you saw her on the street,
would you think she's cute?
- (sighs) My God.
Maybe, I mean if she cleaned up.
- Just like that
mother was a tramp,
she's got tramp
written all over her.
I want you to tell her tomorrow
that she can't live with us.
She's trash.
(solemn music)
- [Casey] You think
it's just okay
to get someone
something, like a gift,
and not expect anything?
- [Samuel] Yes, and that's
the way it should be.
- Yeah, but why is it a heart?
(solemn music)
(fist banging)
Open up!
Open up!
Open!
- I'm coming!
I'm getting dressed.
Wait.
Hold your horses.
Don't be silly.
- [Casey] Open up!
- I'm opening up.
What's wrong with you?
- [Casey] I hate you!
- What? What did I do?
- I hate you! I hate you!
I hate you for
making me fucking go!
- I didn't make you.
- I hate you!
I hate you!
- No, no.
- Fuck you, fuck you!
- No, no, no.
- Fuck you!
Fuck you, fuck you
for making me go!
Fuck you!
(Samuel groans)
(Samuel gasping)
- What's wrong with you?
Why are you doing this?
Come here.
Come here.
What's wrong?
Come here.
Come here.
My poor baby.
- He still doesn't want me.
- Poor little girl.
- She said I was ugly.
- Oh, stop it. You're beautiful.
You're the pleasure
in my life, right now.
Don't you know that?
The world will see
your beauty, too.
(solemn music)
(knocks at door)
You're up?
- Uh-huh.
- [Samuel] How are you feeling?
- [Casey] Okay.
- Some nourishment for you.
- [Casey] Thank you.
- Casey,
(gasps) I learned
little from the Nazis,
but this I did learn.
Sometimes, we get taken
away from our families,
as we both are cases,
but then we get opportunities
to pick a new family.
- What's that mean?
- We could be family
to each other.
- What for?
- What for?
So, so what happened?
You got something better to do?
- No, but you can't
just make a family.
- No?
- You're born with
one, like it or not.
- And I believe that
if you don't like
what the cards tell you,
you can ask for new cards.
- Me?
Out of all the cards
in the world, why me?
- I choose you, and
I hope you choose me.
- You're nuts.
What for?
- 'Cause I never had a
chance to teach either
of my daughters
how to be a lady.
- Oh, I get it.
You want me to stop
getting piercings
and stop saying fuck and wear
stupid, little white dresses?
- Wrong.
Even if you did
all those things,
there'd be no guarantee
that you'd be a lady.
- If you think you're
gonna change me,
you can forget about it,
because this is it.
Okay, plenty has
tried before you,
and look where it's gotten them.
- Oh, oh.
- Shit.
- Are your bags all packed?
(groans) Huh?
How many bags you got?
- None.
- [Samuel] None, huh?
Okay.
- Hold on.
If I move in,
what's the strings?
- Only two.
- I knew it.
Handjobs and blowjobs.
- Don't you ever
talk like that again.
Don't you even think it.
Do you hear me?
- Yeah.
So what are the two things?
- You take the swastika
off your jacket.
You go back to school.
Think of this as your room.
- You're just gonna
give me your bed?
- I'll give you time
to think about it.
Think it over.
(solemn music)
(spray can rattling)
(spray can hissing)
(knocks at door)
- Yeah?
- Better?
(Samuel laughs)
- Yeah. Thank you.
- You okay?
- Yeah.
- Come on.
You the lady we're
supposed to talk to?
- Full name, please.
- Casey.
- Last name.
- I never use it.
- [Woman] Nonetheless,
it's necessary.
- Casey Miller.
- And you're her legal guardian?
- Casey is in my care.
- [Woman] So who's
her legal guardian?
- Her mother.
- I'm afraid she'll have to
sign you legal guardianship.
- Why the fuck should it matter
what that bitch says or thinks?
- Casey!
Shh!
What if she doesn't
sign anything?
- Well, Casey is
considered a minor,
and she'll be assigned over
to juvenile authorities.
- I see.
- And I fucking don't.
- Casey.
Yes, thank you. Yes, thank you.
Casey!
- Fine, I won't
fucking go to school.
Fine by me!
- That's now what
our agreement was.
- Okay, you heard her.
I'm not the one
saying I can't go.
It's her.
Fuck her!
- We heard what the
school's terms were.
We can meet them.
- Oh, okay, yeah, like how?
- We'll go get permission
from your mother.
- That old man gets it up?
- Bill, would you shut up?
- Look, she's your daughter.
What do I care?
Do what you want.
- I'm asking your opinion.
- A Jew?
Sure, if she can't find any
niggers to shack up with,
she'll be fine.
- Hey, I'm sorry.
- For what?
- For the crap they're saying.
(Samuel laughs)
- Well, it's a pleasure
to meet both of you.
- So, Ma, um, Samuel
wants me to live with him,
and the school just needs
your signature for me to go.
- What? (laughs)
You get paid or
something for this?
Some kind of foster shit thing?
- I, I, I, I am not paid.
- Then what's the deal?
- Well, I,
I enjoy Casey's company.
And I believe that
she enjoys mine.
- (laughs) Yeah.
What's the real deal?
- Okay, Bill, I'll
handle this, okay?
As you can imagine,
I was very upset
to hear that Casey has not been
with her father.
- Bullshit!
You'd have to be
dead in the water
to know I wasn't living there.
- I trusted you.
- Fuck, you trusted me.
You only trust me when it's
what you want to believe,
just like always.
As long as I said I
was going to school,
you didn't fucking
care what I did,
as long as I said I was going.
So you could just relax
with it and be all fine.
- Shut that fuckin'
trap of yours,
before I come over there
and fuckin' shut it for you.
- Okay, be quiet.
- You gonna hit me?
You think I'll stand
for it, like my mom?
Well, dream on, you fuck!
And when you go to sleep,
I'll goddamn kill you.
- Walk out of this. Stop that.
- You get 'em out of this house!
- Casey!
You want to live with this man?
- You got something
better to offer?
(solemn music)
(train horn bellows)
What a raw deal.
- [Samuel] There are worse.
- What's the real reason you
want me to live with you?
- A promise I made.
- To who?
- [Samuel] My wife.
- What'd you promise?
- To stop hating.
- Hating who?
- Everyone but her.
And when she was dead, there
was no one left not to hate.
- How come you didn't hate me?
- [Samuel] I did.
- You did?
- Mm.
Believe me, you're not as
easy to like as you may think.
- Oh.
Well, then what happened?
- God presented me
with a challenge,
that day at the graveyard.
If I could learn to forgive you,
a child with a swastika,
then perhaps I could
learn to forgive all,
before I died.
- Wow, heavy shit, man.
- Yeah, (chuckles) heavy shit.
(Casey laughs)
- You think your wife
would've liked me?
- What's not to like?
(upbeat music)
(students chattering)
(bodies thump)
- I'm sorry.
- Oh, no, no, that's my fault.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- Uh-
- My fault.
- Uh, thanks.
(bright music)
Look through the backdoor
I'm hoping something
(sirens wailing)
- Make any friends at school?
- No.
- Ah, okay.
- But I didn't make
any enemies, either.
- Oh, that's good.
What'd you learn
at school, today?
- Uh, algebra.
- Ah.
- I hate it.
All these stupid a's and
b's and c's and d's crap,
like where am I gonna use that?
Plus, isn't that what
calculators are for?
- Hmm, algebra doesn't teach
you how to add and subtract.
It teaches you how to think.
- So in discussing Diane
Arbus' photographs,
what can one understand
about her suicide?
I expect more hands
to go up here.
Anybody?
Casey.
- Um, I think Diane
killed herself,
'cause God could only
understand her if she was dead.
- Hm, can you expand on that?
- Well, you take a person
like her, like Diane,
and she only likes
people that were ugly,
you know, ugly in comparison
to pretty people and stuff.
And because she thought
that the ugly people
were really beautiful,
she thought that inside
she was also ugly.
So, you know, since
everyone thinks midgets
and stuff are ugly,
except for God,
Diane wanted to be beautiful,
and only God would think so.
- [Teacher] I see.
- Can I ask you something?
- Of course.
- Do you think these people,
these photographers,
are born different?
- What do you mean
by born different?
- I don't know.
Like, do you think God gave
them an extra gift or something,
so they can show people
what stuff look like?
- No.
I think God gives
everybody the same gifts.
Most people just
don't unwrap the gift.
(Samuel singing in
foreign language)
- You headin' to church?
- Yes, to temple.
- Oh yeah, I keep forgetting
the difference. (laughs)
- Yeah, so should everybody.
I left some dollars
on the counter
for you to go to the market.
- These?
- Yeah.
- Okay, thanks.
(mellow music)
- Hey.
- Hey.
I saw you go in, so I, uh-
- Came in?
- Yeah, but, you know, I,
I also like books
too, so. (laughs)
- I like books.
- Do you, do you
need me to take that?
I can.
- Uh, no, I got it.
- Well, probably, but, you know,
I can do it easier, so let me.
- Okay.
Thank you.
- Um,
do you, do you like pizza?
- I don't know.
- You don't know
if you like pizza?
- I, I don't know. (laughs)
- Oh.
- I like pizza.
I am no more
Now I'm alone
looking for my soul
I have gone
I am no more
Now I'm alone
looking for my soul
- Who was that?
- [Casey] Nobody.
- He's a good-looking nobody.
- I can't.
- [Samuel] Can't what?
- You know, with, with,
with him, I can't.
- You can't what? Go out?
- (sighs) I've never
been on a date before.
- [Samuel] What about the...
- You mean the massage thing?
- [Samuel] Yeah.
- That wasn't a date date.
That was a job.
- Oh, well then, it
looks like you're about
to go out on your first date.
- No.
- Yeah, why not?
- No way.
No, that is not happening.
- Why not?
- What if I vomit?
- [Samuel] Why would you vomit?
- Nerves.
- What's there to
be nervous about?
- 'Cause of everything.
- Name one thing.
- I'm ugly.
(Samuel laughs)
- Yeah? Who says you're ugly?
- Everyone.
- Well, everyone is wrong.
- That's stupid.
Everyone can't be wrong.
- Oh, I can remember
a time in the world
when everyone was wrong.
(gentle music)
How does it look?
- I don't know.
- Can I see?
- Not yet.
- Will your granddaughter
be taking the dress?
- She is not my granddaughter.
What are you doing?
- Hmm?
- What are you doing?
- Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm just, I'm just
lookin' around.
- [Samuel] Ah.
What's your name?
- Tony.
- Tony, huh?
- Yeah.
- Sit down!
- Oh.
- What are you
walkin' around for?
- Just lookin', sorry.
- Yeah.
- So, um, have you
lived here long?
- Long.
- Yeah, yeah, it
seems like that.
So, um, you know, do you
think she'll be out soon?
- I don't see why not.
Yeah.
- Okay, good.
- She's nervous, you know.
- About what?
- You.
- Well, why is that?
- Well, she's not up on all
the so-called social skills.
- Well, I never thought about
her as socially anything.
I, I mean, I didn't
think about that.
- So why you interested in her?
- I mean, she's weird.
- [Samuel] That's all?
- She's weird, and she's cute.
- That's nice.
- I mean, I think that's as good
as a reason as any, don't you?
- Well, I've heard
better reasons.
I've certainly heard worse.
- And I've done worse, too.
- What?
- Um, I mean, I've
done worse, too,
but you don't gotta worry.
- I better not worry.
- [Tony] Yeah,
not, not this time.
- Why don't I go see
what's keeping her?
What do you think? Help me up.
- Oh, okay, yes.
- Take this first.
- You want me to grab
the cane, okay.
- Yeah, then help me up.
- [Tony] Here, let me put that,
right here.
- Both hands.
- Okay.
One, two, three.
(both grunting)
You good?
- Not bad.
- Okay.
- Casey, you must come out.
(knuckles rapping)
- [Casey] I can't.
- [Samuel] Why not?
- [Casey] I look like a freak.
(Samuel laughs)
- You look beautiful.
- [Casey] You're lying.
- I'd never lie.
- [Casey] Okay, just, just,
just give me a few minutes.
- She's just freshening up.
- Okay.
(door clacks)
Wow.
(Tony laughs)
You look, um,
(gentle music)
you look beautiful.
You look great.
(gentle music)
So the bottom line is,
I've been seeing you
around at school,
and I know that you're new,
and I see that you don't
have much friends in the way,
so I figured that makes
my odds pretty good.
- What do you mean by odds?
- You know, the chance that
you'll be able to talk to me.
The less people that
you have to talk to,
the greater my chances
are of you talking to me.
- You must have
a lot of friends.
- I've got, uh,
I got plenty.
But at the same time,
I kinda got squat.
- Yeah, friends are
a kinda hard thing.
- You?
Do you have a best friend?
- Yeah.
Samuel.
- Samuel?
The old guy?
- Come on, he's not that old.
He's not.
- (laughs) Okay.
(Tony sighs)
(Samuel coughing)
- Good night.
- He seems like a nice boy.
- Yeah, he's nice.
- Well, I think we have
to talk about something.
- Talk about what?
- We'll talk about it
tomorrow, all right?
Good night.
- Good night.
(lips smack)
(Samuel gasping)
- [Samuel] Casey
has some questions.
- No, I don't.
- Yes, you do.
Ask the lady.
- No.
(Samuel stammers)
- Hey, she better get
her ass back in here,
before they shut us down.
- What was that about?
- Nothing.
What makes you think
you know everything?
- Listen, are you capable
of taking care of a child?
I am not. I am too old
to raise an infant.
- What makes you think
I'm gonna have a kid?
- I saw the way you
looked at that young man,
and I saw the way
he looked at you.
- So?
- So, either you
protect yourself,
or you'll get pregnant.
- Okay, what if I
just don't do any of,
you know, those things?
- Then that would be very good.
- Good.
- Good, very good.
- And don't say you're too old.
I hate that shit.
- Ah, come on.
- Do you miss it?
- What?
- Sex.
- Oh, only when I
think of my wife.
- How often is that?
- Not often.
Just every minute of every hour
of every day, not often.
(gentle music)
My, my, my.
I've got another smooch here.
You hear the birds?
(birds twittering)
(laughs) It's spring, and
they're singing my song to you.
It says I love you.
I love you so much.
God love you. I love you.
(lips smacking)
- How many wars do you
think there have been?
- What, in history, or
whatever we know of history?
I don't know.
10,000, maybe
250,000, lots of them.
- That's stupid.
- [Samuel] Of course.
- Why don't they
just talk about it
or like flip a
coin or something?
- You don't understand
mankind, do you?
- Man is generated by greed.
He makes wars on what
he thinks he needs,
but actually, it's
what he wants.
And if he wants them, then
he manufactures the need.
It's stupid. It's selfish.
It's wrong.
And no matter what kind
of flowery justification
they may give it,
it's evil, wars,
holocausts, you name it.
Not like the animals.
Now the elephant,
he sees a banana grove he
wants, okay, he takes it.
Yeah, but he doesn't
know anything
about lines of mark
or demarcation,
ownership, property.
And if I was
creating a new world,
I would say to
hell with this one,
except for the fact that,
if there's a new world out
there beyond the stars,
what if there's no elephants?
That would be tragic.
(gentle music)
- Wait.
Hey, did I embarrass you?
I'm a jerk.
- No, you're not.
(actress speaking
in foreign language)
- [Actor] I wish
I understood you.
(actress laughs)
(actors speaking in
foreign language)
(gentle music)
(lively music)
- So you've never
been to the beach?
- Never.
- No beach?
- No.
- Not even a little bit?
- They don't have
beaches in Ohio.
- What do they have?
- Nothing, really,
I mean, nothing for me, anyway.
If you had to die, which
way would you choose?
Drop out of a plane,
drown in the ocean,
or shot in the head?
- Why are you so morbid?
- [Casey] Beats me.
So which way would
you rather die?
- If I had to?
- Yup.
- None of those ways.
- (scoffs) Then how?
- By kissing you for so long
that I run out of
breath, and I die.
- I, I, I, I've never,
never been kissed before.
- Can I kiss you
on the forehead?
- Sure, yeah.
- Ready?
- Yeah.
(Casey laughs)
(gentle music)
(solemn music)
- Why?
No, don't, it's fine. It's fine.
- It's ugly.
- Well, maybe it was,
but it's not anymore.
- Okay, and why is that?
- Because it's you.
Where'd you go?
- Thinking.
- Yeah, about what?
- How long you're
gonna like me for?
- Well, who says I'm gonna stop?
- You will.
- [Tony] Well, why is that?
- Once you find out.
- Find out what?
- Who I am?
- Casey, you think
you're the only one
that has shit stuck inside?
- Maybe.
- Well, maybe
nothin', all right?
Most of the people I
know, they're all shit.
But if you're only half shit,
then you're doing
aces, in my book.
- You don't think
I'm mostly shit?
- On the shit scale,
you're less than half.
(Casey laughs)
- Hey!
What are you doing down there?
Has security seen you?
Oh my God.
My God, how dare you!
- What's the matter, Jew?
You scared?
- No, no, I've seen your
kind all over the world.
I'm, I'm not scared of you
or you or you.
You're like children.
You're like mad,
little children.
How dare you do
this to our school!
How dare you!
I'm gonna report you,
and I hope to hell they
throw your asses in jail.
- Aw!
- I'll see that you'll
never do this again,
I'll tell you.
- That's right.
You walk away.
- You'll never do this again.
- You have a great day.
Walk away, old man.
- Yeah, go to hell.
Security!
Security!
There are gorillas running
around loose in the streets.
America, where is your freedom?
Where is your lack
of prejudice, intolerance?
(ominous music)
America, I'm speaking to you.
Security!
(strikes thudding)
(Nazi yelling in German)
(Samuel groans)
(Nazi yelling in German)
(strikes thudding)
(Samuel groans)
(Nazi yelling in German)
(strikes thudding)
- This is payback!
Fuck you!
Get this, baby, get this!
See, see how it goes,
you goddamned Jew
Fuck you!
That's right!
Fuck with us!
Piece of shit!
(solemn music)
(footsteps racing)
(somber music)
(marker scratching rapidly)
- Fuck you, whoever did this.
Just fuck you!
(solemn music)
(sirens wailing)
Go away!
- Casey.
- Go away!
- Casey, come on, it's me.
- [Casey] Go away, I said.
Just get the fuck away!
I don't want you here.
- Please, don't shut me out.
- Get the fuck out! Just go!
- Casey, I'm not your enemy.
(knuckles rap)
I'm on your side.
- Get the fuck
out! Just go, okay?
- Look, Casey, you need me,
and I need you.
So just please open up.
- [Casey] Get the
fuck out! Just go!
(somber music)
(birds cooing)
- Well, he's regained
consciousness,
but with a ruptured spleen,
a fractured fourth vertebrae,
I don't really hold much hope.
- What's that mean?
- Sorry, are you a relative?
- He's my only family.
- Well, he comes in and out,
but he can still hear you.
- I brought her flowers.
I figured she might know you
were sick and everything,
so I took the
flowers to her grave.
That way, she'd
think it was you.
- Casey.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- [Casey] You hungry?
I know the food here must suck.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, the food does suck.
- Make any friends?
- (groans) I, I, uh,
I met a couple of cute nurses.
- Should've been me.
- [Samuel] What?
- Those punks who banged you,
it should've been me,
once doing the banging
for no fucking reason
other than to bang.
- Maybe, but not now.
- You're going to
die, aren't you?
- [Samuel] With any luck, I do.
- But you can't,
okay? You can't.
- Well, it's time already.
I want to.
- And what about me?
- You've been dead
too many years.
Just start to live.
- [Casey] I can't do it alone.
- [Samuel] You can.
- How?
(Samuel chuckles)
- By embracing the tiger.
(gentle music)
(siren wailing)
(solemn music)
(clock chimes)
(somber music)
(people chattering)
(thunder cracking)
(children crying)
(people chattering)
(children screaming)
(water dripping)
- All right, so, uh,
what are you guys planning
on doing after school?
- Probably...
- Can I, can I talk
to you guys later?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, you go ahead.
- All right.
Casey!
Casey, where the
fuck have you been?
- Around.
- What kind of answer is that?
- Samuel's dead.
- I know.
Okay, and I am so sorry.
- Easy come, easy go, huh?
- Why don't you answer
your door when I come by,
or, or, or the phone?
- Why bother?
- You know, Casey, Samuel
may be dead, but you're not.
- Yeah, see ya.
- You know, watch out
that the shit part
don't take you over.
It's got a habit of doing that.
(knocks at door)
- [Landlady] Look, if you
want to stay, pay the rent!
(knocks at door)
- He said, you know,
when he talked about,
but, you know, he didn't
talk about it all the time,
just here and there and stuff,
but you know what he
said that surprised me,
really surprised me?
He said that I wasn't
the only one getting hurt
by this stuff, you know?
It was also the guy that-
(container clacks)
- Hey, watch it.
Don't get any oil on my shoes.
- Sorry.
He would say that it was as
bad for me as it was for you,
and sometimes, even
worse than you.
- How 'bout a little
bit less with the mouth
and a little bit
more with the hand?
- And he said that
for you to cum,
you could get over me, but
I could just wash my hands,
and you would still be there.
You would be full of shame.
Shame would be on
your mind forever.
(solemn music)
- [Customer] Man!
- Samuel's watching.
Samuel's watching me.
He's always watching.
(Casey gasps)
- Oh man.
(solemn music)
(tiger roaring)
(pen scratching)
(tiger roars)
(tiger growling)
(tiger roars)
(solemn music)
- [Samuel] Be brave.
Embracing the tiger.
(gentle music)
(tiger roars)
- Through wars, through
famine, through holocaust even,
art continues, always.
Art will grow and
always continue.
Why is this?
Class?
Because as human beings,
we have a powerful
need, don't we?
A powerful need to create
what we feel, what we touch,
what we see, what
we hear, what we...
Casey!
Hey, won't you come join us?
(gentle music)
- Roar!
(class laughs)
Tiger for yes.
(gentle music)
(marker scratching)
(air humming)
(dog barking)
(air whistling)
Picking up the pieces
It's all gone
spinning round again
Feels like the dust
will never settle
And I'm too old to
forget it all now
It's like I'm treading water
In an open ocean
Never know what
it felt so far
To fight when it means
something special
Turns into nothing
And it burns up in
a cloud of smoke
Like dirt slippin'
through your hands
Love, it's let go
Love, it's never
what it seems
Take me in your arm
Hold me by the hand
Tell me I'm the
one that you want
Tell me I'm the one you want
Tell me I'm the
one that you want
Tell me I'm the one you want
- Okay, settle down.
Time to get started.
I'm the one you want
All right, can anybody tell me,
what are the zeros
of each function?
Come on, we've been learning
this for like a week.
Somebody?
Clair?
- The zeros of a given
function F are the solutions
to the equation F x equals zero.
- [Teacher] Now let's
look at problems
with two pairs of brackets.
We can simplify by
regrouping the brackets
and then grouping over here.
(students laughing)
- Fuckin' asshole!
- Oh!
- [Teacher] Principal, now!
- This is quite a record.
Your very first day in my
school, and here we are.
(trash clattering)
Tell me I'm the
one that you want
Transfers from seven
different schools.
And you have no frustrations?
Maybe I lack conviction
Maybe you're no
more than addiction
Maybe I don't want to change
All day
- Here, yes, yes.
(Samuel speaks in
foreign language)
That your lovin'
is the real thing
- [Chess player] I think
you can do this now.
- I got this.
That goes there.
- You sure about this?
- Yeah, just do it.
- You want small
letters or caps?
- Uh, caps.
Tell me I'm the one you want
Tell me I'm the
one that you want
Tell me I'm the one you want
(Samuel sighs)
(needle buzzing)
- You're home?
- Hi, Mom.
- How was your
first day at school?
- Good.
- It's a farther bus ride
than your other school,
but maybe at this one,
you'll start fresh, hmm,
make some new friends.
- Sure, don't see why not.
Might even try out
for cheerleading.
- Really?
- Sure, and next, I'll go
out for homecoming queen.
- Don't you want to fit in?
- Mom, I fit in.
I just haven't found the
people I fit in with yet.
- Well, honey, maybe if
you didn't look like that,
it would be easier for
you to make friends, huh?
- I don't want these
kids as friends.
- What's wrong with them?
- Nothing.
Ma, okay, nothing.
- Don't take that.
- Why?
- It's Bill's.
- Really?
I don't see his name anywhere.
- He likes a Coke, first
think in the morning.
- Well, how 'bout I like a
Coke, last thing at night?
- Just put it back, okay?
- Why should I?
- 'Cause I said so.
- How come you always
stick up for him, huh?
Why never me?
- Good night.
- What?
You're afraid if he doesn't
have his Coke in the morning,
he'll hit you again?
- Casey, who I choose as my
boyfriends is my business.
My business alone!
- Fine, we'll have a big blast
when this one splits.
That is, unless you
have enough money
to keep him fed enough to stay.
Let's just hope we don't
run out of money first!
(hand slaps)
(car horn honks)
- Casey.
- [Bill] Marge!
- I know where
you got that from!
- I want this bitch gone, now.
Her or me, Marge, you
fuckin' choose it,
but I'm not puttin' up
with her shit anymore.
I treat you good.
I don't give a fuck
what that tramp says.
- Bill!
Bill.
(crickets chirping)
(water babbling)
(people chattering)
(solemn music)
Tell me
I'm not that dumb
(Nazi yelling in German)
(solemn rock music)
Flesh-bound wrath
and hungry hands
Enough to deconstruct a man
Dragged across the pavement
Where he'd scream
Lovers enter
threshold, so kindly
But they've been
unkind, inside me
Saint Anthony would
bear the blows
Semen in the wounds
that would not close
In boiling pits
Of carrion pitch
I am alone, I am
alone, I am alone
Six months later in
that barren, black room
He showed us what a
lover scorned could do
They'd catch the bits of
blood they could not stamp out
And run our fingers
over every bruise
- What the fuck!
- It means you're cool!
- Yeah!
- Only dead is cool!
Semen in the wounds
that would not close
In boiling pits, pits
I am alone, I am
alone, I am alone
I am alone, I am alone
(solemn music)
(phone ringing)
- Whatever it is, tell her no.
- Hello.
- Mom, I'm leaving.
I'm not coming home.
- I see.
- Ma, I just can't stand
it, Bill or whatever.
I just don't want to come back.
- Well, maybe that's right.
(somber music)
You always said you
wanted to see California.
Honey, I'm sorry.
I, I didn't mean it like that.
It's just things
are so hard here.
(phone clicks)
So I've called your father,
and he'll be at the
station to pick you up.
He says he's excited to see you.
- (scoffs) If he's
so excited to see me,
how come I never came to visit?
He never called.
Never nothing.
- Maybe he did in the beginning.
Who remembers?
(elevator beeps)
I mean, he moved on.
He got his own life,
new family, new
everything, so...
- How many kids again?
- Three daughters.
(solemn music)
(train bell dinging)
- I love you, Mom.
- Love you, too.
(train horn bellows)
(train bell dinging)
Bye!
(solemn music)
(buzzer buzzes)
(Samuel gasping)
(somber music)
(helicopter whirring)
(intercom muttering)
- [Eddie] Let's go.
- Dad, I'm hungry.
- Heather, quiet.
I told you we'd be late.
See? And the train
already got here.
- We wouldn't have been late
if you took the 5
like I told you.
You, no, but you
had to take the 101,
when any idiot knows that
the 101 takes forever.
- What a dork!
You know she could've
waited for us, at least.
- Now what am I supposed to do?
- Yeah, maybe she
changed her mind.
She decided not to come.
- Dad, I want a cheeseburger!
- I'm so hungry, please.
- 500,000 more calories.
Okay, we're leaving.
This place sucks.
- After Marge called me and
all, she's not gonna show?
- Look, they probably
got into a fight.
- [Zoe] Can I go to Eva's
house after, as well?
- She probably threatened
to come see you,
and then they patched things
up, and she's still in Ohio.
- You think? Well, I should
at least call, right?
- Eddie, would you
just call from home?
- Okay, you're
right. You're right.
She probably didn't come.
- You know, you have
three kids of your own.
Since when did we become a motel
for other women's children?
Eddie, come on, let's go.
You wanted to watch
the game, right?
Come on.
(energetic dance music)
(intercom muttering)
(siren wails)
(helicopter whirring)
(singer chanting)
(festive music)
(siren wailing)
(ominous music)
- Oh yeah, her dad
called this morning.
It's on the machine. I forgot.
- Oh, did he say what he wanted?
- I forget.
Probably just to
say she got there.
But you spoke to her,
so you know that, right?
- Right.
- [Sportscaster]
He's blocked well
and tries to cut
through the middle, oh!
(solemn music)
(gentle music)
(birds cooing)
(lips smacking)
(somber music)
(insects buzzing)
(tense music)
(Casey gasping)
- Who are you?
- Nobody much.
My name is Samuel.
- Were you watching me?
- I suppose I was.
- Why?
- Well, I said to
myself, look who's here,
a little girl sleeping.
I wonder if she's lost.
Should I awaken her before I go?
No, I don't think so.
Sit your old bones
down and wait.
- Wait for what?
- To learn your name.
- That's all you want?
- I haven't much interest
in anything else.
- Yeah, I've heard
that shit before.
- Please, please, I don't like
to hear language like that.
So tell me, we were
discussing your name.
- Come on, cut the crap!
If you're looking for
money, I haven't got any.
- Money is not as
interesting as people think.
- It is when you don't have any.
- You don't have any?
But you have a name, no?
(birds cooing)
- Casey.
- [Samuel] Ah, and
your last name?
- I don't have a last name.
- Interesting.
I've never met anyone
who had no last name.
- Well, then I guess you've
never met anyone before
who hates their parents, huh?
- Would you like another?
- You mean fries?
- Anything.
- I don't want to be greedy.
- When you are hungry,
there's no such word as greedy.
- Um, then can I have
another cheeseburger?
- Lena!
A repeat, if you wouldn't mind.
- Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.
What a fat ass.
- It is generally considered
rude to be insulting
to the hand that
brings you your food.
- So? She didn't hear me.
- A thought is as
powerful as a word.
It can affect
longer and stronger.
- Well, if you don't
care what I have to say,
then don't listen to me.
- What do you care about?
- Shit.
- I interpret that to mean
all you care about is feces?
- Don't be an idiot.
- But then I don't understand.
- It means I don't
care about anything.
- Well, that's too bad.
- What's so bad about it?
- Well, if one has so
little purpose in life,
there's no reason to live.
- What do you care about?
- Possibly less than you.
- So why don't you
just kill yourself?
- I never leave a party early.
- You call this crap a party?
- Unfortunately, it's
the only party I have.
Thank you.
So, where are you off to?
- I don't know.
- You're just going to
go off like that, poof?
- You know, it's not like
I'm following your or shit.
I'm just hanging.
- No, no, no, I'm
not judging you.
- Why you gotta talk like that?
- Like what?
- You talk phony-like.
- Oh, I beg your pardon.
- Are you a foreigner?
An illegal immigrant thing?
- I'm a naturalized
American citizen,
just like you.
Some people are just
very fortunate, eh?
Huh?
- I guess. I don't know.
(Samuel chuckles)
You monster!
(man yelling in
foreign language)
- What's their problem?
- You be careful.
You be careful what you-
- What the fuck's
their problem?
- Stop your pointing at her!
- Why you go here?
- You want something?
You talk to me.
- Go away, you stupid!
- Hey, you talk to
me, you hear me!
- What the fuck's their problem?
- They were unhappy
about the swastika.
- My what?
- The swastika on your back.
- What about it?
- It's something they
associate with Adolf Hitler.
- That sign on my back,
that just means fuck off.
- Yeah, there are a lot
of people who disagree
with that interpretation.
- And why do they
wear those beanies?
- As a reminder.
- [Casey] A reminder of what?
- That God is above all.
- Is this where you live?
- You'll grow accustomed to it.
The offer still stands.
- You mean I can just take
a bath here, and that's it?
- What else would there be?
- No monkey stuff?
(Samuel laughs)
- First, you flatter an old man.
Second, I invite you as a
guest, not a prostitute.
Let me go get my mail.
Where are you?
(Samuel gasping)
(locks clicking)
This is home.
Come!
(Samuel gasping)
- Wow, it's nice in here.
How long have you lived here?
- A long time.
Here.
Let me show you the bedroom.
There, you can get
yourself cleaned up.
(solemn music)
(siren wailing)
(clock chimes)
(knuckles rap)
(Samuel groans)
(solemn music)
Ah.
- Hey.
- You drink coffee, huh?
There's a drawer under the sink.
It's got a new toothbrush.
I'll keep your coffee warm.
(Samuel sighs)
(water patters)
Get a chair, in the closet there
Come on, come on.
The food is getting cold.
(Samuel sighs)
- Was that you in the
picture over the sink?
- It is.
- Who's the lady?
- That was Rhea.
- Who's that?
- My wife.
- Oh yeah, what happened?
You divorce her?
- (laughs) Never.
She's dead.
- Oh, um, shit, sorry.
- Coffee?
- [Casey] Yeah.
(gentle music)
She, she looked pretty.
- Rhea?
Nah, pretty?
She was beautiful.
- How'd she die?
- Step by step.
- Oh.
(solemn music)
- How did you meet her?
- In Germany.
- Oh, really, you lived there?
- Well, it's not
easy to live there,
not as possible
as you may think.
- [Casey] What's that mean?
- Nazis make bad company.
- Did you fight with them?
- They fought with me.
(Casey laughs)
What is funny, eh?
- The whole six
million dead Jew shit.
- [Samuel] What?
- [Casey] That's not true.
- Oh, really?
- They just made it up,
'cause Jews are liars.
- How do you know that?
- My mom told me.
- Oh, your mom told you.
- Mm-hmm.
- Hmm, boy.
- When I first heard about it,
I was like how gross, you know?
- [Samuel] Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
- Like burning people.
- Yeah?
- Making lampshades
out of their skin.
- Oh yes, yes!
- So then, I thought how gross.
- Mm-hmm.
- Right, so I told my mom
what the teacher said.
- Mm-hmm.
- And she set me straight.
- How'd she do that?
- She was like, yeah, some
Jews died, like any war,
but six mil, no way.
- Yeah.
Well, I'll tell you
a little something.
Your mom is wrong.
I was almost one
of the six million.
- You're a Jew?
- [Samuel] You're so shocked?
- Uh, I've never, I've
never spoken to one before.
- So this is a red letter
day for you, isn't it, huh?
Whoop-de-doo!
- Do you want me to clean up?
- No, no, no, no, you are guest.
I'll do the cleaning up.
- Yeah, well, when
people say that,
they don't usually mean it.
- Well, when I say it,
you could be sure I mean it.
- Uh, so I guess I'll split.
- Why?
- Thanks, you know, for the
bath and the food and stuff.
- Hey, anytime you want
a bath, you're welcome.
- Were those two babies
in the picture your kids?
- [Samuel] They are.
- Where do they live?
- They don't.
(somber music)
- You mean they died?
- [Samuel] Yes.
- An accident or something?
- Ah, I suppose Jewish twins
could be called an accident,
especially if it's during a war.
- [Casey] Well, well,
take it easy, okay.
- What?
- Take it light.
- [Samuel] What does that mean?
- Don't let the bedbugs bite.
- Yeah, understood.
(groans) Bedbugs bite.
(door clacks)
(solemn music)
(siren wails)
(birds cooing)
(speaks in foreign language)
(lips smacking)
(lively rock music)
My mind is not good
- [Man] Hey!
- Hey.
- Uh, how much?
- Uh, 50.
- [Customer] 40?
- 45 now, or forget it.
- Okay, Jesus.
I'm not the one
And turn that shit off.
He's trash
(switch clicks)
Oh, of course.
And I'll let you
finish this part.
(lively rock music)
My man
He's got
Let's get this party
started, right now.
My mind
Okay.
(customer sighs)
Na, na, na
(customer moaning)
Na, na, na
(customer moaning)
(baby crying)
(woman gasping erotically)
(solemn music)
(bright music)
(people chattering)
(suspenseful music)
- Hey!
Hey!
(suspenseful music)
- [Taller Boy] Oh shit!
- Give that back,
you bastards! Hey!
(dramatic music)
- Casey!
Casey!
- [Shorter Boy] Come on!
- Fuck you little fuckers.
I mean, it's not like
I like it or anything,
the massage stuff
and everything.
It's just that,
'cause of my age,
I can't get working papers
without my parents signing off,
and like, since I,
obviously, I can't do that,
what else was I supposed to do?
I mean, the only jobs they
had are some immigrant crap,
but the guys wanted me
to fuck 'em anyways,
so I figured, hey,
like this is better,
and I only have to use my hand.
And the way I look at it,
Arabs wipe their ass with
their left hand anyways.
Oh, shit.
I know that hurt.
- Well, it certainly
didn't feel good.
- I guess we do have
something in common.
- Oh?
- [Casey] Hm.
- What is the significance
of that slogan?
- I always know that
I said it first,
even if they think
they said it first.
I know I did.
- Hmm.
So how does Christmas in
Los Angeles feel to you?
- Um, it sucks.
- Hmm.
- Just like every
other Christmas.
- Uh-huh.
- But I guess it's better here,
'cause I don't have
stupid cornball gifts.
- Well, who gives you
these cornball gifts?
- My mom.
- [Samuel] Ah.
- And whatever stupid ass
boyfriend she has at the time.
Like, one year, I remember,
I heard my mom tell her
boyfriend to get me a gift.
She gave him 20 bucks,
and he ended up blowing
the money on himself.
- [Samuel] Oh.
- I opened the
present, next morning,
and it was bubble bath
from her bathroom.
- [Samuel] Oh my God.
- You have any cool family
traditions you do for Christmas?
- No, it's, uh, a
normal day to me.
I have no family.
- None?
- [Samuel] None.
- [Casey] They all died on you?
- Yeah, yeah.
- Left you to carry
this shit alone?
- I thought that was
rather rude of them myself.
(Casey chuckles)
Mm-hmm.
The way you looked
into the cross
As you looked
into the mirror
- Any kids?
Your face keeps on changing
- [Customer] Two.
- How old?
- [Customer] Pamela's
your age. She's 21.
David's 15.
- Why aren't you with
them on Christmas?
- Hey, is this a massage
or a therapy session?
- I just thought you
might've wanted to talk,
for a while, first.
- We're not dating.
This is a one-off, right?
- I know.
It's just, um, kind of hard
for some guys to say
that they want to talk,
so then they come here,
but, you know, then-
- I'm not very good
at conversation,
especially not with my kids.
- Have you tried?
- I try.
I try at home. I
try with my wife.
I try with my kids.
I try all the time.
I'm sick of trying.
But here I am. I have to try.
Merry Christmas.
- Uh, yeah, uh, merry Christmas.
(gentle music)
- [Operator] SOCO operator.
- Collect from Casey.
Unless a guy answers,
then hang up.
(phone ringing)
- Hello?
- [Operator] Collect
call from Casey.
Do you accept?
- Yes, yes, yes, I will.
Casey?
- Mom.
- [Marge] Honey, I was
hoping you'd call today.
You know, today's the first
Christmas we ever spent
apart from each other.
- Yeah, I know, oh,
merry Christmas.
- You haven't called
in three weeks.
Is everything okay?
- Yeah, everything is great.
Um, Dad, he took me
shopping, to, to The Grove.
He said I could get anything.
- What'd you get?
- I got, uh, two pairs
of designer jeans,
one with rips in 'em,
you know, the cool kind,
and one super
skinny and stretchy.
- Isn't that great?
And school?
- There's no school,
right now, Mom.
It's Christmas break.
- Right.
Did you have midterms?
- Yeah, aced them all.
- Casey!
You know, I was, I was worried
that maybe this wasn't the right
thing for you, but I think,
I think sending you to Los
Angeles was the right move.
- Yeah, uh, sure. (sniffs)
Well, um, (sniffs) listen, um,
I, I know this is
a lot of money,
long distance and
everything, so, um, I just,
and I'm really sorry
about breaking the phone,
so I just wanted to
say merry Christmas,
and I'll call you later, okay.
- Okay, honey, just,
um, just one more thing.
Did you make those, uh,
those apple pies like I
taught you to, for dinner?
- Yes, I made all three of them,
apple, strawberry, and pumpkin.
- [Marge] Well,
that'll go over big.
- (sniffs) Yeah,
um, I love you, Mom.
- Love you too.
- Bye.
(Casey sobs)
(gentle music)
- I thought it would be
nice if you had some company
on your first
Christmas Eve in L.A.
- [Casey] Thank you.
- All right.
- I didn't get you anything.
- Well, if you'll have
dinner with me, tonight,
that will be present enough.
- You're cooking?
- (laughs) I don't think the
experts would call it cooking.
But I can guarantee
you plenty of food.
I hope you like it.
- Yeah.
But, um, why'd you
get me something
when you knew I didn't
get you anything?
- [Samuel] What does one
thing have to do with another?
- You think it's just okay
to get someone
something, like a gift,
and not expect anything from it?
- Yes, and that's the
way it should be, always.
- It's cool.
- [Samuel] Yeah.
- But, um, what is it?
- It's a necklace, of course,
but it's a heart.
- Yeah, but why is it a heart?
- Well, you have one, don't you?
- [Casey] Doesn't everybody?
- No.
Aren't you going to put it on?
- Uh, I think I'm just gonna
hold it for a while, okay?
- It certainly is.
So you didn't hear
from your father
after you saw him at
the train station?
- Nah.
- [Samuel] Hmm.
And your mother still believes
that you are living
with your father?
- She pretends she does,
so she doesn't have to deal,
so she can pretend
everything's hunky-dorky groovy
and just stick to her lame shit.
- You know where he lives?
- Yeah, some shit
end of The Valley.
- [Samuel] You have the address?
- Yeah, so?
- Maybe you should
be his Christmas
present, tomorrow, huh?
Are you afraid of going?
- I'm not afraid of shit?
- Everybody's
afraid of something.
- [Casey] Yeah, well, not me.
- Ah, my goodness.
- Okay, so what if I
was scared of going?
- [Samuel] Uh-huh.
- Like, scared of how he
would act or something?
- Then I would
embrace the tiger.
- [Casey] Huh?
- It's a Chinese
saying for learning
to love our fears, our demons.
- What for?
- Taking the tiger within us
and becoming its master
so that you are in
control of them,
and they, not you.
- What bullshit!
- Perhaps, but it works.
- So you're saying you're
scared of something,
and then after this
tiger thing, you're not?
- Somewhat like that, yes.
- Of what?
What could you
possibly be scared of?
- Of you.
- Me?
- Of your ignorance.
And not just your ignorance,
but the ignorance all
over in the world.
(solemn music)
(people chattering)
Cries out your eyes
I offer my shoulder
I feel like a separate faces
(family laughing)
(ominous music)
I offer my
Offer my best to
get out your pain
That being your faith in me
I won't fear this
All in my hands
(knuckles rap)
(knuckles rap loudly)
- [Stephie] I got it!
- Is this Eddie Miller's house?
- Yeah.
- Can you tell him Casey's here?
- Who?
- Casey.
- Dad!
Dad!
- [Eddie] What?
- Dad, she's here!
- [Eddie] Who's here.
- [Stephie] That girl.
- Hi, can I help you?
- I, I would've
brought something.
I didn't know I was coming
until I actually got here.
- You sure you're
at the right place?
Who are you looking for?
- I'm Casey.
- [Linda] Eddie!
Come on, it's getting cold.
- Ah, come on in.
Um...
(gentle classical music)
Okay.
Everyone, this is Casey,
my, uh, my daughter.
Casey, this, this
is my wife, Linda.
My daughters Zoe, Heather,
and Stephie, who you met before.
Are you hungry, Casey?
I'll get you a chair.
We could, uh, all
just maybe move down.
- Hi.
Okay.
Hi.
Thanks.
- So how ya been?
- Good.
- Uh-huh.
- What grade are you in?
- Ninth, maybe.
Mm, the food's real good.
- Hmm, thank you.
- And, and your mom,
how's she doing?
Is she good, too?
- Yeah.
She's good.
- Do you always dress like that?
- Like what?
- Do I have to share
a room with her?
- Dad, I just got a new room.
I'm not sharing it, and
I'm not giving it up.
- I will.
Do you like hide and seek?
- Mom.
- Girls, it'll
get handled, okay?
So, Casey, this is quite a
surprise, after all this time.
What made you change
your mind about coming?
- Um,
something about a tiger.
(knocks at door)
- Hey, looks like we're
having a little slumber party.
- I still get to keep
the top, don't I?
- Uh, no prob.
- Uh, so do you want to borrow
a pair of Zoe's pajamas?
- Nah, I'm good, thanks.
- Okay, well, then I will
leave you girls to it.
Good night, princess.
(lips smack)
Good night, Casey.
(lips smack)
I'll see you in
the morning then.
(door clacks)
- You know, my mom told me.
- Told you what?
- All about your mom,
how she's drunk and a weirdo,
also how she got
arrested for DPI.
- [Casey] DUI.
- Whatever.
She also once went
to welfare and-
- How old are you?
- 13.
- Oh, too bad, you won't
know until you're 14.
- [Zoe] Know what?
- How to shut the fuck up.
(Eddie sighs)
- You saw the girl.
She's trash.
Do you have any idea what kind
of influence she's
gonna have on our girls?
- She's a kid.
- Yes, she's a bad kid.
You can see it
all over her face.
- Oh, come on, you
can't see shit.
- [Linda] Eddie,
there is no way that
that girl will fit in
here with our lives,
no way, no how.
Besides, you've
never even been sure
that she's yours anyway, right?
- Her mother wasn't sure.
- Yeah, well,
she doesn't look like you.
- But I think she's mine.
- She doesn't look like you.
- I think she does.
(Linda laughs)
- She's not even cute.
- Oh!
- [Linda] Wait, wait, wait.
Are you gonna tell me
that you think she's cute?
- She's my daughter.
What am I supposed to think?
(Linda laughs)
- If you saw her on the street,
would you think she's cute?
- (sighs) My God.
Maybe, I mean if she cleaned up.
- Just like that
mother was a tramp,
she's got tramp
written all over her.
I want you to tell her tomorrow
that she can't live with us.
She's trash.
(solemn music)
- [Casey] You think
it's just okay
to get someone
something, like a gift,
and not expect anything?
- [Samuel] Yes, and that's
the way it should be.
- Yeah, but why is it a heart?
(solemn music)
(fist banging)
Open up!
Open up!
Open!
- I'm coming!
I'm getting dressed.
Wait.
Hold your horses.
Don't be silly.
- [Casey] Open up!
- I'm opening up.
What's wrong with you?
- [Casey] I hate you!
- What? What did I do?
- I hate you! I hate you!
I hate you for
making me fucking go!
- I didn't make you.
- I hate you!
I hate you!
- No, no.
- Fuck you, fuck you!
- No, no, no.
- Fuck you!
Fuck you, fuck you
for making me go!
Fuck you!
(Samuel groans)
(Samuel gasping)
- What's wrong with you?
Why are you doing this?
Come here.
Come here.
What's wrong?
Come here.
Come here.
My poor baby.
- He still doesn't want me.
- Poor little girl.
- She said I was ugly.
- Oh, stop it. You're beautiful.
You're the pleasure
in my life, right now.
Don't you know that?
The world will see
your beauty, too.
(solemn music)
(knocks at door)
You're up?
- Uh-huh.
- [Samuel] How are you feeling?
- [Casey] Okay.
- Some nourishment for you.
- [Casey] Thank you.
- Casey,
(gasps) I learned
little from the Nazis,
but this I did learn.
Sometimes, we get taken
away from our families,
as we both are cases,
but then we get opportunities
to pick a new family.
- What's that mean?
- We could be family
to each other.
- What for?
- What for?
So, so what happened?
You got something better to do?
- No, but you can't
just make a family.
- No?
- You're born with
one, like it or not.
- And I believe that
if you don't like
what the cards tell you,
you can ask for new cards.
- Me?
Out of all the cards
in the world, why me?
- I choose you, and
I hope you choose me.
- You're nuts.
What for?
- 'Cause I never had a
chance to teach either
of my daughters
how to be a lady.
- Oh, I get it.
You want me to stop
getting piercings
and stop saying fuck and wear
stupid, little white dresses?
- Wrong.
Even if you did
all those things,
there'd be no guarantee
that you'd be a lady.
- If you think you're
gonna change me,
you can forget about it,
because this is it.
Okay, plenty has
tried before you,
and look where it's gotten them.
- Oh, oh.
- Shit.
- Are your bags all packed?
(groans) Huh?
How many bags you got?
- None.
- [Samuel] None, huh?
Okay.
- Hold on.
If I move in,
what's the strings?
- Only two.
- I knew it.
Handjobs and blowjobs.
- Don't you ever
talk like that again.
Don't you even think it.
Do you hear me?
- Yeah.
So what are the two things?
- You take the swastika
off your jacket.
You go back to school.
Think of this as your room.
- You're just gonna
give me your bed?
- I'll give you time
to think about it.
Think it over.
(solemn music)
(spray can rattling)
(spray can hissing)
(knocks at door)
- Yeah?
- Better?
(Samuel laughs)
- Yeah. Thank you.
- You okay?
- Yeah.
- Come on.
You the lady we're
supposed to talk to?
- Full name, please.
- Casey.
- Last name.
- I never use it.
- [Woman] Nonetheless,
it's necessary.
- Casey Miller.
- And you're her legal guardian?
- Casey is in my care.
- [Woman] So who's
her legal guardian?
- Her mother.
- I'm afraid she'll have to
sign you legal guardianship.
- Why the fuck should it matter
what that bitch says or thinks?
- Casey!
Shh!
What if she doesn't
sign anything?
- Well, Casey is
considered a minor,
and she'll be assigned over
to juvenile authorities.
- I see.
- And I fucking don't.
- Casey.
Yes, thank you. Yes, thank you.
Casey!
- Fine, I won't
fucking go to school.
Fine by me!
- That's now what
our agreement was.
- Okay, you heard her.
I'm not the one
saying I can't go.
It's her.
Fuck her!
- We heard what the
school's terms were.
We can meet them.
- Oh, okay, yeah, like how?
- We'll go get permission
from your mother.
- That old man gets it up?
- Bill, would you shut up?
- Look, she's your daughter.
What do I care?
Do what you want.
- I'm asking your opinion.
- A Jew?
Sure, if she can't find any
niggers to shack up with,
she'll be fine.
- Hey, I'm sorry.
- For what?
- For the crap they're saying.
(Samuel laughs)
- Well, it's a pleasure
to meet both of you.
- So, Ma, um, Samuel
wants me to live with him,
and the school just needs
your signature for me to go.
- What? (laughs)
You get paid or
something for this?
Some kind of foster shit thing?
- I, I, I, I am not paid.
- Then what's the deal?
- Well, I,
I enjoy Casey's company.
And I believe that
she enjoys mine.
- (laughs) Yeah.
What's the real deal?
- Okay, Bill, I'll
handle this, okay?
As you can imagine,
I was very upset
to hear that Casey has not been
with her father.
- Bullshit!
You'd have to be
dead in the water
to know I wasn't living there.
- I trusted you.
- Fuck, you trusted me.
You only trust me when it's
what you want to believe,
just like always.
As long as I said I
was going to school,
you didn't fucking
care what I did,
as long as I said I was going.
So you could just relax
with it and be all fine.
- Shut that fuckin'
trap of yours,
before I come over there
and fuckin' shut it for you.
- Okay, be quiet.
- You gonna hit me?
You think I'll stand
for it, like my mom?
Well, dream on, you fuck!
And when you go to sleep,
I'll goddamn kill you.
- Walk out of this. Stop that.
- You get 'em out of this house!
- Casey!
You want to live with this man?
- You got something
better to offer?
(solemn music)
(train horn bellows)
What a raw deal.
- [Samuel] There are worse.
- What's the real reason you
want me to live with you?
- A promise I made.
- To who?
- [Samuel] My wife.
- What'd you promise?
- To stop hating.
- Hating who?
- Everyone but her.
And when she was dead, there
was no one left not to hate.
- How come you didn't hate me?
- [Samuel] I did.
- You did?
- Mm.
Believe me, you're not as
easy to like as you may think.
- Oh.
Well, then what happened?
- God presented me
with a challenge,
that day at the graveyard.
If I could learn to forgive you,
a child with a swastika,
then perhaps I could
learn to forgive all,
before I died.
- Wow, heavy shit, man.
- Yeah, (chuckles) heavy shit.
(Casey laughs)
- You think your wife
would've liked me?
- What's not to like?
(upbeat music)
(students chattering)
(bodies thump)
- I'm sorry.
- Oh, no, no, that's my fault.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- Uh-
- My fault.
- Uh, thanks.
(bright music)
Look through the backdoor
I'm hoping something
(sirens wailing)
- Make any friends at school?
- No.
- Ah, okay.
- But I didn't make
any enemies, either.
- Oh, that's good.
What'd you learn
at school, today?
- Uh, algebra.
- Ah.
- I hate it.
All these stupid a's and
b's and c's and d's crap,
like where am I gonna use that?
Plus, isn't that what
calculators are for?
- Hmm, algebra doesn't teach
you how to add and subtract.
It teaches you how to think.
- So in discussing Diane
Arbus' photographs,
what can one understand
about her suicide?
I expect more hands
to go up here.
Anybody?
Casey.
- Um, I think Diane
killed herself,
'cause God could only
understand her if she was dead.
- Hm, can you expand on that?
- Well, you take a person
like her, like Diane,
and she only likes
people that were ugly,
you know, ugly in comparison
to pretty people and stuff.
And because she thought
that the ugly people
were really beautiful,
she thought that inside
she was also ugly.
So, you know, since
everyone thinks midgets
and stuff are ugly,
except for God,
Diane wanted to be beautiful,
and only God would think so.
- [Teacher] I see.
- Can I ask you something?
- Of course.
- Do you think these people,
these photographers,
are born different?
- What do you mean
by born different?
- I don't know.
Like, do you think God gave
them an extra gift or something,
so they can show people
what stuff look like?
- No.
I think God gives
everybody the same gifts.
Most people just
don't unwrap the gift.
(Samuel singing in
foreign language)
- You headin' to church?
- Yes, to temple.
- Oh yeah, I keep forgetting
the difference. (laughs)
- Yeah, so should everybody.
I left some dollars
on the counter
for you to go to the market.
- These?
- Yeah.
- Okay, thanks.
(mellow music)
- Hey.
- Hey.
I saw you go in, so I, uh-
- Came in?
- Yeah, but, you know, I,
I also like books
too, so. (laughs)
- I like books.
- Do you, do you
need me to take that?
I can.
- Uh, no, I got it.
- Well, probably, but, you know,
I can do it easier, so let me.
- Okay.
Thank you.
- Um,
do you, do you like pizza?
- I don't know.
- You don't know
if you like pizza?
- I, I don't know. (laughs)
- Oh.
- I like pizza.
I am no more
Now I'm alone
looking for my soul
I have gone
I am no more
Now I'm alone
looking for my soul
- Who was that?
- [Casey] Nobody.
- He's a good-looking nobody.
- I can't.
- [Samuel] Can't what?
- You know, with, with,
with him, I can't.
- You can't what? Go out?
- (sighs) I've never
been on a date before.
- [Samuel] What about the...
- You mean the massage thing?
- [Samuel] Yeah.
- That wasn't a date date.
That was a job.
- Oh, well then, it
looks like you're about
to go out on your first date.
- No.
- Yeah, why not?
- No way.
No, that is not happening.
- Why not?
- What if I vomit?
- [Samuel] Why would you vomit?
- Nerves.
- What's there to
be nervous about?
- 'Cause of everything.
- Name one thing.
- I'm ugly.
(Samuel laughs)
- Yeah? Who says you're ugly?
- Everyone.
- Well, everyone is wrong.
- That's stupid.
Everyone can't be wrong.
- Oh, I can remember
a time in the world
when everyone was wrong.
(gentle music)
How does it look?
- I don't know.
- Can I see?
- Not yet.
- Will your granddaughter
be taking the dress?
- She is not my granddaughter.
What are you doing?
- Hmm?
- What are you doing?
- Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm just, I'm just
lookin' around.
- [Samuel] Ah.
What's your name?
- Tony.
- Tony, huh?
- Yeah.
- Sit down!
- Oh.
- What are you
walkin' around for?
- Just lookin', sorry.
- Yeah.
- So, um, have you
lived here long?
- Long.
- Yeah, yeah, it
seems like that.
So, um, you know, do you
think she'll be out soon?
- I don't see why not.
Yeah.
- Okay, good.
- She's nervous, you know.
- About what?
- You.
- Well, why is that?
- Well, she's not up on all
the so-called social skills.
- Well, I never thought about
her as socially anything.
I, I mean, I didn't
think about that.
- So why you interested in her?
- I mean, she's weird.
- [Samuel] That's all?
- She's weird, and she's cute.
- That's nice.
- I mean, I think that's as good
as a reason as any, don't you?
- Well, I've heard
better reasons.
I've certainly heard worse.
- And I've done worse, too.
- What?
- Um, I mean, I've
done worse, too,
but you don't gotta worry.
- I better not worry.
- [Tony] Yeah,
not, not this time.
- Why don't I go see
what's keeping her?
What do you think? Help me up.
- Oh, okay, yes.
- Take this first.
- You want me to grab
the cane, okay.
- Yeah, then help me up.
- [Tony] Here, let me put that,
right here.
- Both hands.
- Okay.
One, two, three.
(both grunting)
You good?
- Not bad.
- Okay.
- Casey, you must come out.
(knuckles rapping)
- [Casey] I can't.
- [Samuel] Why not?
- [Casey] I look like a freak.
(Samuel laughs)
- You look beautiful.
- [Casey] You're lying.
- I'd never lie.
- [Casey] Okay, just, just,
just give me a few minutes.
- She's just freshening up.
- Okay.
(door clacks)
Wow.
(Tony laughs)
You look, um,
(gentle music)
you look beautiful.
You look great.
(gentle music)
So the bottom line is,
I've been seeing you
around at school,
and I know that you're new,
and I see that you don't
have much friends in the way,
so I figured that makes
my odds pretty good.
- What do you mean by odds?
- You know, the chance that
you'll be able to talk to me.
The less people that
you have to talk to,
the greater my chances
are of you talking to me.
- You must have
a lot of friends.
- I've got, uh,
I got plenty.
But at the same time,
I kinda got squat.
- Yeah, friends are
a kinda hard thing.
- You?
Do you have a best friend?
- Yeah.
Samuel.
- Samuel?
The old guy?
- Come on, he's not that old.
He's not.
- (laughs) Okay.
(Tony sighs)
(Samuel coughing)
- Good night.
- He seems like a nice boy.
- Yeah, he's nice.
- Well, I think we have
to talk about something.
- Talk about what?
- We'll talk about it
tomorrow, all right?
Good night.
- Good night.
(lips smack)
(Samuel gasping)
- [Samuel] Casey
has some questions.
- No, I don't.
- Yes, you do.
Ask the lady.
- No.
(Samuel stammers)
- Hey, she better get
her ass back in here,
before they shut us down.
- What was that about?
- Nothing.
What makes you think
you know everything?
- Listen, are you capable
of taking care of a child?
I am not. I am too old
to raise an infant.
- What makes you think
I'm gonna have a kid?
- I saw the way you
looked at that young man,
and I saw the way
he looked at you.
- So?
- So, either you
protect yourself,
or you'll get pregnant.
- Okay, what if I
just don't do any of,
you know, those things?
- Then that would be very good.
- Good.
- Good, very good.
- And don't say you're too old.
I hate that shit.
- Ah, come on.
- Do you miss it?
- What?
- Sex.
- Oh, only when I
think of my wife.
- How often is that?
- Not often.
Just every minute of every hour
of every day, not often.
(gentle music)
My, my, my.
I've got another smooch here.
You hear the birds?
(birds twittering)
(laughs) It's spring, and
they're singing my song to you.
It says I love you.
I love you so much.
God love you. I love you.
(lips smacking)
- How many wars do you
think there have been?
- What, in history, or
whatever we know of history?
I don't know.
10,000, maybe
250,000, lots of them.
- That's stupid.
- [Samuel] Of course.
- Why don't they
just talk about it
or like flip a
coin or something?
- You don't understand
mankind, do you?
- Man is generated by greed.
He makes wars on what
he thinks he needs,
but actually, it's
what he wants.
And if he wants them, then
he manufactures the need.
It's stupid. It's selfish.
It's wrong.
And no matter what kind
of flowery justification
they may give it,
it's evil, wars,
holocausts, you name it.
Not like the animals.
Now the elephant,
he sees a banana grove he
wants, okay, he takes it.
Yeah, but he doesn't
know anything
about lines of mark
or demarcation,
ownership, property.
And if I was
creating a new world,
I would say to
hell with this one,
except for the fact that,
if there's a new world out
there beyond the stars,
what if there's no elephants?
That would be tragic.
(gentle music)
- Wait.
Hey, did I embarrass you?
I'm a jerk.
- No, you're not.
(actress speaking
in foreign language)
- [Actor] I wish
I understood you.
(actress laughs)
(actors speaking in
foreign language)
(gentle music)
(lively music)
- So you've never
been to the beach?
- Never.
- No beach?
- No.
- Not even a little bit?
- They don't have
beaches in Ohio.
- What do they have?
- Nothing, really,
I mean, nothing for me, anyway.
If you had to die, which
way would you choose?
Drop out of a plane,
drown in the ocean,
or shot in the head?
- Why are you so morbid?
- [Casey] Beats me.
So which way would
you rather die?
- If I had to?
- Yup.
- None of those ways.
- (scoffs) Then how?
- By kissing you for so long
that I run out of
breath, and I die.
- I, I, I, I've never,
never been kissed before.
- Can I kiss you
on the forehead?
- Sure, yeah.
- Ready?
- Yeah.
(Casey laughs)
(gentle music)
(solemn music)
- Why?
No, don't, it's fine. It's fine.
- It's ugly.
- Well, maybe it was,
but it's not anymore.
- Okay, and why is that?
- Because it's you.
Where'd you go?
- Thinking.
- Yeah, about what?
- How long you're
gonna like me for?
- Well, who says I'm gonna stop?
- You will.
- [Tony] Well, why is that?
- Once you find out.
- Find out what?
- Who I am?
- Casey, you think
you're the only one
that has shit stuck inside?
- Maybe.
- Well, maybe
nothin', all right?
Most of the people I
know, they're all shit.
But if you're only half shit,
then you're doing
aces, in my book.
- You don't think
I'm mostly shit?
- On the shit scale,
you're less than half.
(Casey laughs)
- Hey!
What are you doing down there?
Has security seen you?
Oh my God.
My God, how dare you!
- What's the matter, Jew?
You scared?
- No, no, I've seen your
kind all over the world.
I'm, I'm not scared of you
or you or you.
You're like children.
You're like mad,
little children.
How dare you do
this to our school!
How dare you!
I'm gonna report you,
and I hope to hell they
throw your asses in jail.
- Aw!
- I'll see that you'll
never do this again,
I'll tell you.
- That's right.
You walk away.
- You'll never do this again.
- You have a great day.
Walk away, old man.
- Yeah, go to hell.
Security!
Security!
There are gorillas running
around loose in the streets.
America, where is your freedom?
Where is your lack
of prejudice, intolerance?
(ominous music)
America, I'm speaking to you.
Security!
(strikes thudding)
(Nazi yelling in German)
(Samuel groans)
(Nazi yelling in German)
(strikes thudding)
(Samuel groans)
(Nazi yelling in German)
(strikes thudding)
- This is payback!
Fuck you!
Get this, baby, get this!
See, see how it goes,
you goddamned Jew
Fuck you!
That's right!
Fuck with us!
Piece of shit!
(solemn music)
(footsteps racing)
(somber music)
(marker scratching rapidly)
- Fuck you, whoever did this.
Just fuck you!
(solemn music)
(sirens wailing)
Go away!
- Casey.
- Go away!
- Casey, come on, it's me.
- [Casey] Go away, I said.
Just get the fuck away!
I don't want you here.
- Please, don't shut me out.
- Get the fuck out! Just go!
- Casey, I'm not your enemy.
(knuckles rap)
I'm on your side.
- Get the fuck
out! Just go, okay?
- Look, Casey, you need me,
and I need you.
So just please open up.
- [Casey] Get the
fuck out! Just go!
(somber music)
(birds cooing)
- Well, he's regained
consciousness,
but with a ruptured spleen,
a fractured fourth vertebrae,
I don't really hold much hope.
- What's that mean?
- Sorry, are you a relative?
- He's my only family.
- Well, he comes in and out,
but he can still hear you.
- I brought her flowers.
I figured she might know you
were sick and everything,
so I took the
flowers to her grave.
That way, she'd
think it was you.
- Casey.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- [Casey] You hungry?
I know the food here must suck.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, the food does suck.
- Make any friends?
- (groans) I, I, uh,
I met a couple of cute nurses.
- Should've been me.
- [Samuel] What?
- Those punks who banged you,
it should've been me,
once doing the banging
for no fucking reason
other than to bang.
- Maybe, but not now.
- You're going to
die, aren't you?
- [Samuel] With any luck, I do.
- But you can't,
okay? You can't.
- Well, it's time already.
I want to.
- And what about me?
- You've been dead
too many years.
Just start to live.
- [Casey] I can't do it alone.
- [Samuel] You can.
- How?
(Samuel chuckles)
- By embracing the tiger.
(gentle music)
(siren wailing)
(solemn music)
(clock chimes)
(somber music)
(people chattering)
(thunder cracking)
(children crying)
(people chattering)
(children screaming)
(water dripping)
- All right, so, uh,
what are you guys planning
on doing after school?
- Probably...
- Can I, can I talk
to you guys later?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, you go ahead.
- All right.
Casey!
Casey, where the
fuck have you been?
- Around.
- What kind of answer is that?
- Samuel's dead.
- I know.
Okay, and I am so sorry.
- Easy come, easy go, huh?
- Why don't you answer
your door when I come by,
or, or, or the phone?
- Why bother?
- You know, Casey, Samuel
may be dead, but you're not.
- Yeah, see ya.
- You know, watch out
that the shit part
don't take you over.
It's got a habit of doing that.
(knocks at door)
- [Landlady] Look, if you
want to stay, pay the rent!
(knocks at door)
- He said, you know,
when he talked about,
but, you know, he didn't
talk about it all the time,
just here and there and stuff,
but you know what he
said that surprised me,
really surprised me?
He said that I wasn't
the only one getting hurt
by this stuff, you know?
It was also the guy that-
(container clacks)
- Hey, watch it.
Don't get any oil on my shoes.
- Sorry.
He would say that it was as
bad for me as it was for you,
and sometimes, even
worse than you.
- How 'bout a little
bit less with the mouth
and a little bit
more with the hand?
- And he said that
for you to cum,
you could get over me, but
I could just wash my hands,
and you would still be there.
You would be full of shame.
Shame would be on
your mind forever.
(solemn music)
- [Customer] Man!
- Samuel's watching.
Samuel's watching me.
He's always watching.
(Casey gasps)
- Oh man.
(solemn music)
(tiger roaring)
(pen scratching)
(tiger roars)
(tiger growling)
(tiger roars)
(solemn music)
- [Samuel] Be brave.
Embracing the tiger.
(gentle music)
(tiger roars)
- Through wars, through
famine, through holocaust even,
art continues, always.
Art will grow and
always continue.
Why is this?
Class?
Because as human beings,
we have a powerful
need, don't we?
A powerful need to create
what we feel, what we touch,
what we see, what
we hear, what we...
Casey!
Hey, won't you come join us?
(gentle music)
- Roar!
(class laughs)
Tiger for yes.
(gentle music)