American Gigolo (2022) s01e05 Episode Script

The Escape Wheel

Staring at that photo
won't make him magically appear.
I want a hamburger
and fries and a milkshake.
Well, I can get that.
Wait, maybe I should go.
No, I got it.
Thank you.
Tell me where he is.
Why the fuck would you touch
anything in the room?
Richard,
we have to call the police.
Absolutely not.
A dead woman in a motel,
and your son was
the last person with her.
He didn't do it.
Richard,
if you contact the authorities,
Colin becomes
the primary suspect.
Did anyone see you there?
The manager
gave me the room number.
Some high school teacher
was fucking young boys
in the room you provided her?
This photograph
was found in a motel room
in Panorama City, a crime scene.
Do you recognize
the man in this photograph?
- He's a prostitute.
- Is that so?
I'll set up
an interview with you
and the detectives
on the Shannonhouse case.
You'll explain the photograph
and identify Julian Kaye.
You have an ETA
on your client?
Change of plan, fellas.
Unfortunately,
Mrs. Stratton can't make it.
But she's authorized me to
tell you everything she knows.
Why does
all the trouble in the world
land at the feet of Julian Kaye?
"Call Me" by Blondie
Color me your color, baby
Color me your car
Color me your color, darling
I know who you are
Come up off your color chart
I know where
you're coming from
- Call me
- Call me
On the line, call me
Call me any, anytime
- Call me
- Call me
I'll arrive,
you can call me any
Day or night, call me
Cover me with kisses, baby
Cover me with love
Roll me in designer sheets
I'll never get enough
Emotions come
I don't know why
Cover up love's alibi
- Call me
- Call me
My love, call me
Call me any, anytime
- Call me
- Call me
I'll arrive, call me
Call me for some overtime
- Call me
- Call me
My love, call me
Call me in a sweet design
- Call me
- Call me
Call me
For your lover's
lover's alibi
Call me
Want something to drink?
Uh, no, I'm okay.
- You sure?
- Yeah, I'm okay.
You okay?
Do you remember
you remember
that day on the pier
when, uh, we went into
that-that booth
and we took all those pictures?
Yeah.
Yeah, Michelle, I remember.
Well, I
I had saved those pictures,
and, um
I-I gave them to my son.
Why would you do that?
Uh, I
I wanted him to know
who his father is.
Wait, what are you?
He's your son, John.
Come on, Michelle.
You sure?
Yeah, I'm sure.
Why didn't you tell me?
I did try.
I tried a long time ago.
Are you okay?
Yeah.
Yeah, why wouldn't I be okay?
Because I understand
if you're angry.
I'm not angry.
I didn't have a father.
Neither did I.
I know.
So for me, you know,
he didn't-didn't exist, right?
I mean, he wasn't in my life,
so he didn't
He didn't exist.
He didn't
Didn't exist, period.
As for this kid, I mean,
he's out there. I don't
You know, I don't,
I don't, I don't exist.
I think it's different.
How's it different?
I mean, he has a father, right?
- He does.
- Yeah.
So
So now, how
how could I ever be anything
but a bad thing in his life?
So, what are you doing?
Why are you here?
Why are you telling me this?
I need your help.
You need my help with what?
Colin's in a lot of trouble.
He, um
he ran away with a woman,
and she was
she was murdered
in a motel room.
And he was there,
and now he's missing.
And I need your help.
Hi, it's Michelle.
Please leave a message.
- Is it for me?
- No.
That's not for you.
This is for you.
That's your watch.
You want to get started?
We're going to make one?
Yeah.
That's what we do.
With what?
With all that.
That's, like, junk.
No.
I call it chaos.
This is all that chaos
put into harmony.
There's no way all of this
fits into that.
Let's find out.
Shit. Oh, shit.
Look at you, man.
You a free man still out here
working on jail time.
Don't be coming
walking up in my shit,
looking like you just been
discoing all night.
What's up with you, man?
How that shit working with you
and Luther over there, man?
Real good, bro.
It's real good.
Staying professional,
wearing your hairnet and shit?
Yes, yes,
I do wear a hairnet.
I got a question for you.
I mean, shit. You know,
the first one always free.
Yeah.
Found out I got a kid, man.
- Goddamn. You just got out.
- Yeah.
Damn, you work fast.
He's in trouble.
And now he's missing,
and, uh, he needs me.
I Shit,
I don't know what to do.
The fuck you mean
you don't know what to do?
Uh
Come on, Julian.
If it's the same Julian I know,
man,
the motherfucker
I walked the yard with,
the motherfucker that
held it down with me up there
You know that
your kid is out there,
and you talking about
you don't know.
You know, Bo,
I didn't have no daddy, man.
I-I I-I don't
Well, then you should be doing
something better than
what your daddy did.
Strap up, man.
Your kid needs you, man.
Go get him.
I'd walk through Hell
with gasoline drawers on
to save mine.
Appreciate you, man.
See you around, fellas.
He was last seen
at the Costello Motel, room 206.
Hey.
Did you put up a sign
saying he was missing?
No. No.
There's a number
on this flyer, Michelle.
- It's not your number.
- No, no, I didn't.
John, how do you know it's him?
- I'm looking at him.
- John
Michelle, I'm looking at
his face. I just
- How do you know it
- 'Cause I know it's him.
What do you got me doing?
He's 15 years old.
Michelle, 15 years old.
When did you know?
You don't remember that night,
do you?
In Big Bear, when we pretended
we didn't know each other.
Yeah, Betty and,
uh, Teddy and Freddy.
And then, uh, Jasmine.
Um, so, what do
what do you do for a living?
- I'm a scientist.
- Scientist?
Uh, a rocket scientist.
- Wow.
- Yeah.
- That's impressive.
- Yeah.
- Cheers to that.
- Appreciate it.
Ah, you know, I had
a big presentation today, and
- you know.
- Oh, wow.
- Yeah.
- But it looks like
the ship didn't quite reach
escape velocity.
It-it did not reach
escape velocity.
You, uh you know baseball?
- Mm-hmm.
- Sometimes you're
you know, you're on the mound,
you feel like
you're throwing that heat,
that curveball's dropping,
the slider's sliding,
but then you realize, fuck, man,
you're actually playing tennis.
- You ever feel like that? Yeah?
- Yeah.
I feel like that every day.
So, uh, you got a name,
little lady?
Veronica.
- Veronica?
- Yeah. What's your name?
I'm, uh I'm Huck.
- Huck?
- Yeah.
- Huck, huh?
- That's right.
- That's a good name, Huck.
- Yeah.
- Strong.
- I think so.
- You know, Huck
- Huh?
I have a, um
Yeah? What do you have?
- I have a motel room.
- A motel room?
- Wow.
- Across the street.
Holy shit. Across the street?
- Uh-oh.
- Yeah.
- What?
- Yeah.
It's got a pool and everything.
Is the pool heated?
- We could find out.
- Yeah.
Across the street is
pretty fucking far, Veronica.
- Hell fucking no.
- I swear to God.
Girl, I don't like needles.
I barely like needle dicks.
So I don't want no needle
in my pussy.
- You don't want pleasure?
- I don't
- She swore I swear to God.
- What the fuck?
The girl does Botox,
but she does that, too.
- Like, she
- Botox in my
No, it's not Botox.
It's, like, PRP.
I don't even know
what you're saying.
Excuse me, ma'am.
Ma'am?
I, uh I'm just wondering
if you guys, uh,
- could help me out.
- Julian?
- Julian. Julian fucking K.!
- Penelope?
- Penelope.
- Julian fucking K.!
- Goddamn. What?
- Oh, my God.
Oh. Oh, my big brother.
It's so good to see you.
Oh, man.
Haven't seen you since
- What the fuck?
- Uh, no, I can't even figure out
- when the last time was.
- Beachwood Canyon.
- That bitch Carla.
- Oh, shit. Oh, fucking Carla.
The heiress
who could never decide
between dicks, dildos and dykes.
What, what, what?
Damn, it's good to see you,
girl.
Oh, and I no longer go
by my government name.
- Okay.
- No more P.
Okay. Okay, what do we call you?
- I am now Diamond.
- Diamond's lovely.
- Diamond, darling.
- Okay, Ms. Diamond.
- It suits you.
- And this
is one of my girls.
This is Kerry.
- Kerry, this is Julian K.
- Hello, Kerry. Nice to meet you.
- What's the "K" standing for?
- Cock, baby!
Oh.
Big-ass cock. Yes.
Don't do that.
We couldn't spell too good
when we were kids.
- And we were some badass kids.
- We were.
- We were. Yeah.
- Speaking of which
Don't take this the wrong way,
but shouldn't you be in jail?
- Uh, you know, I-I got out.
- That's how you do it.
Ah, you know,
something like that.
Congratulations, baby.
Good for you.
- How have you been?
- Well, after you got arrested,
shit went down, Olga got fucked.
- Okay.
- I didn't get fucked,
'cause, you know,
I couldn't stand the bitch.
- I mean, I know you loved her.
- That's all right.
So, you know,
may she rest in pieces.
Then the bitch Isabelle
took over and shit changed.
- How so?
- I don't know. Weird fetish.
- Yeah? Ah.
- Race role-playing.
Slave-master shit, and, honey,
I got too old for all that.
Less and less
hotel rooms with dimmers.
That's why I keep
this motherfucker dark as fuck.
Like anybody's
looking at your face, anyway.
Oh, that's my baby.
- So, this is your place?
- Hell yeah.
Hey, girl.
- If Olga taught me anything
- Yeah.
it was always seize
the means of production.
I hear you.
What brings you down here,
Julian K.?
I'm looking for a kid.
A kid?
Yeah, runaway. He's, uh
He's mine, P.
Oh, my God.
It's gonna be all right.
Come on. We'll find him.
I got you.
Been gone awhile,
but we will find him.
McGregor,
where the fuck are you?
Fuck.
Oh, my God. I'm shaking.
- That was, like That was
- Yeah. Mm.
I've never, ever, ever, ever.
- Yeah?
- That was
Well, you know
- Huck can fuck.
- Oh, stop.
Jesus. Fuck off.
I don't want to hear about
Come on. Stop.
I'm just fucking with you.
No, I don't want to
hear about that anymore.
Aw, come on, girl.
I'm a rocket scientist.
I just want to be here
with you for a minute, please.
Mm-hmm.
I do got to get home to
my kids, though.
- I mean What?
- Stop it.
Oh, for fuck's sake. What?
You're not getting it.
I'm not getting what?
What are you
- What are you doing? Why are
- Like, just be with me.
What are you?
I don't want to be joking around
all the time, like
Who's joking around?
I'm just, like,
trying to make you laugh,
Michelle. Why are you?
Like, I'm just saying,
I want to be with you.
I'm trying to make you laugh.
You're with me.
You have so many
different personas, like
Ah, don't do Are we
really gonna fucking do that?
Yeah. Let's do it.
All these personas?
Who the fuck are you, Michelle?
- Hang on. Who the fuck are you?
- Because I want to know, like,
- who are you?
- Who are you with your husband,
Michelle? Are you the same
fucking person with me as you
- I mean, that's not really fair.
- Why is that not fair?
What does he think
you're doing right now?
I don't know. Where does your
pimp think you are right now?
Oh, get the fuck out.
- Don't do that.
- Are you on call?
- Get the fuck out.
- Like, are you gonna get a call,
and you have to go off
and be some other person
- with someone else?
- How fucking dare you, Michelle.
How do you fucking get money?
You're fucking married.
Do I hold that Do I judge you?
- It's not about fucking money.
- Do I fucking judge you?
I think it's
a little bit different.
W-Why is it not about money?
I get paid in cash.
You get paid in fucking horses
a-and fucking handbags
Okay. Okay.
and fucking bullshit,
and I never judge you!
I never judge you!
Fuck!
Number 45 always got
some dumb shit going down in it.
I think it's
'cause it's the number nine.
Number nine is
the devil's number, you know?
I'm into numerology now, honey.
Room service.
What up, Crackhead G?
- The fuck do you want?
- We're looking for a kid.
Kid? Well, sure,
if you got 50 for some head.
Or 150 if you
Yo, what you think you doing?
- Colin. Colin.
- Hey.
Yo, what are you doing?
Let's try it again.
Have you seen this kid?
No, we haven't seen him.
We don't even know
who that kid is, a'ight?
Anybody?
So y'all just get
the fuck out of here.
What a beautiful day
today
Mrs. Stratton,
could you open up, please?
It's Detective Sunday.
I know you're in there.
I saw you by the plant.
Mrs. Stratton,
it's Detective Sunday
from the LAPD.
I'd like to talk to you
for a minute.
I was looking for Julian,
but here you are.
Could you open the door, please?
- Hi.
- Hi.
What are you doing here?
I'm here
on official police business.
Do you know
your boyfriend's former pimp
- had her head blown off?
- Jesus Christ.
Yeah. That's why I'm here.
You know he didn't do it.
So why do you keep coming
after him?
I'm not coming after him.
I'm trying to help him.
I'm trying to help him,
and I'm trying to help you.
Can you do me a favor?
Can you come down
to the precinct with me?
What, you're arresting me now?
No. No, I'm not.
If I was arresting you,
you'd know it.
I want you to walk
into my office with me,
sit down
and take a look at my board.
You'll figure out
everything that I know.
You'll be able to see
what I see.
Come on.
Let me get my stuff.
Yeah?
Let me just change my clothes.
Okay. It's just
the precinct, though.
You don't have to change
if you don't want to.
Wow, it smells good in here.
What is that, um
I smell an In-N-Out burger
with onions.
Definitely fries.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, listen, my name is Joan.
Do you mind
if I call you Michelle?
Here's my office.
You can have a seat right there.
Just throw those on the floor.
They're my gym clothes.
Let-let me get 'em for you.
Don't worry.
I hardly ever sweat.
Here, have a seat.
Have a seat. Get comfortable.
You can see it better.
Okay. Here we go.
Take a look.
Do you see
anything interesting on that?
Why is my name up there?
Seriously?
Okay. Let me explain it to you
a little better.
We got Julian here,
and we got you.
You hired him, remember?
Said it was a client thing.
So that's why you're here,
next to him.
We're gonna put your husband
right up next to you
and connect him to Julian,
maybe with a heart,
for a little bit of jealousy,
right?
Right down to this woman.
Maybe your husband set him up.
Dead. Dead.
Make any sense now?
- No.
- No?
Okay. You hungry?
Want something to eat or drink?
How old is that coffee?
I wouldn't risk it.
You want something
from the vending machine?
Sure.
- Yeah? Snack, too? Yes?
- Please.
All right.
- Two-seventy-five.
- Two-seventy-five?
- What kind is it?
- What do you mean "kind"?
Brand. It's got no brand.
It's not a brand.
I made this myself
with the finest components
in the world.
The finest components, huh?
But it ain't got a brand.
Look at this, okay?
At every single pivot point,
every one, there is a ruby.
Look at the escape wheel.
You see that?
It's platinum, solid platinum.
Rubies and platinum, huh?
- Yes.
- Hmm.
Three-fifty.
The spring is too small.
It's going to break.
I don't think so.
That's the beauty of it.
Its fragility.
The fragility of the mechanism.
Look,
time is like a force.
Races around us and through us.
It's like a wild animal.
But at the moment
that the gear clicks,
the hand moves,
you've got control.
Every time you look away
from your watch,
it's loose again.
But
one look back at the dial,
you've got the tiger
by the tail.
So a watch is like a machine
that tames time.
Well, you-you
you can't
you can't tame it.
Time has got us
between its teeth.
But being able to measure
how fast those teeth
are closing in on us
that's what makes us
different from all other beings.
Animals.
Flowers.
Even the stars.
Try again.
Hey. You like Bugles?
You do?
Huh, that's good. It's kind of
hit-or-miss with a Bugle.
Got you a Fanta.
Okay.
If this was a Venn diagram,
Julian would be
in every damn circle up there.
So
your husband know about Julian?
Not that I know of.
Not that you know of?
About Bugles, you're definitive.
But your husband, not so much?
Hmm.
Were you with him the night
that Janet Holmes was murdered?
This was 15 years ago.
- Mm-hmm.
- I'm sure that I saw him
at some point that evening.
Really?
You think your husband
would corroborate that?
Yes.
Really? Okay.
Write down his number on one
of my Post-it Notes over there.
His direct line, please.
Is that it?
Okay.
All right.
Let's give him a call.
What do you say?
He's not gonna know anything
about any of this.
No?
We'll see.
Hang up the phone.
You're protecting someone.
My son Colin is
missing.
He ran away and
h-he was at the motel
where that woman was murdered.
Whoa. You're telling me
your son was the one
who left the photo of you
and Julian at the murder scene?
Not intentionally.
He had it on him.
The woman? The murdered woman?
The teacher?
That was your son's teacher?
Yes.
You have a picture of your son?
How long's he been missing?
Six days.
So maybe
try to help me with that,
please,
instead of whatever all this is.
Does Julian know?
Go.
What's the word, boss?
That our guy?
Hundred percent?
You're sure?
Yeah.
Hello.
I'm about to get the kid.
Where are you?
Woodman Motel.
Room 109.
Okay. Stay where you are.
I'll be there as soon as I can.
Ah, my bunion.
You owe me a foot rub.
Mm.
You know, that'd be a pleasure.
You good?
Man, I don't even know
what the fuck we doing.
What?
I don't even know this kid.
Nigga, please.
Most motherfuckers
run away from responsibility.
You've always run
What the fuck?
Yo, J.
You seeing this shit?
Colin.
- Yes.
- Mr. Stratton,
this is Joan Sunday
from the LAPD.
How did you get this number?
I have some sensitive issues
I need
- to discuss with you.
- How did you get this number?
Your wife gave it to me.
Why am I here?
Why are you talking to my wife?
Didn't she tell you?
Tell me what?
About the photograph
of her found
in a murdered woman's
motel room.
I don't follow.
There's a picture of her
and a man named Julian Kaye.
Does that name ring any bells?
I think
maybe you should ask your wife.
I'm asking you.
Julian Kaye was a prostitute.
He and your wife had a
relationship some 15 years ago.
What business is that of yours?
I'm the cop who put him away.
And now he's out.
Yes.
Who murdered the woman
in the motel room?
We don't know yet.
Is my son a suspect?
One of many.
Do you know where my son is?
I don't.
Can you help me find him?
Yes, I can.
McGregor?
Oh, shit.
Motherfucker!
Motherfucker!
Yeah?
Meet me at the house. Now.
Well, I'm not sure
You got 20 minutes.
What do we do now?
I give this knob
a little turn.
Energy from my body
has entered your watch.
Now
Every time you look at it,
see the time
we'll be connected
through that.
Listen to me.
This is important.
Time may speed up or slow down
for other people,
but you and I
will always be in sync.
We will move through time,
together,
at exactly the same speed.
Doesn't everyone move
through time at the same speed?
No.
Richard.
Who's Julian Kaye?
- What?
- Do you know?
Who's Julian Kaye?
I-I don't
And where's my son?
You said you had this handled.
- Where is my son?
- Richard, I do have it handled.
Colin is no longer a suspect
in this investigation.
My wife had an affair.
With a prostitute.
Did you know that?
Who told you that?
That's insane.
Where-where is my son?
My son had a photograph
of this guy with my wife.
Did you know that?
What are you doing to me?!
What am I paying you for?!
Richard, listen to me
Get out.
Go.
Get out!
Get the fuck out of my house!
Sunday.
Eh,
just wanted to let you know
Seems like fucking
bored housewife is
not your boy Julian's
only hobby.
Eyewitness puts him
at the scene.
He's getting picked up
for the Shannonhouse murder.
- Today.
- Are you fucking kidding me?
Shit.
- Did you see anything?
- I don't know.
I thought I saw him.
I thought I-I
- You did?
- I-I-I saw a kid.
He was in the back of a BMW.
- A red BMW with an old man.
- I know that car.
- You know that car, Michelle?
- Yeah, I know that
- I think I know who that is.
- You know who that was?
- Yeah. Yeah.
- Well, what does that mean?
- I don't know. What did you see?
- Does that mean he's okay?
- Is he okay?
- Well, who is that?
- Who is that, Michelle?
- I don't know.
That could be bad.
What do you mean
it could be bad, Mich
Julian Kaye!
Show me your hands!
Now! Show me your hands!
- Go on.
- Don't you fucking move!
Turn around. Turn around!
Hands on your head! Don't move!
"Thrill" by Future Islands
Blue water
Black Bible
John.
Old river
Come quietly
Let's go inside. Julian Kaye,
- you're under arrest.
- Just asking
You have the right to remain
silent. Anything you say
A glass of water
If you cannot afford one,
one will be appointed to you.
They don't know me
Do you understand the rights
that I have read
- to you?
- Don't try me
Nobody gonna pick me up
I'm falling down
And I'm Fifth Street-bound
Now nobody
want to fill me up
I've fallen down
None of my friends around
Seen it on the news
Looked like me and you
Did they hear me calling?
Blue water
Black rider
Keep on rolling
Keep on riding
Old silver
Old Tar River
Keep running
Black water
Old river
That old Tar River
Just keeps rising
Inside me
Nobody gonna pick me up
I'm falling down
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