High Desert (2023) s01e05 Episode Script

[DENNY] Holy shit. Do you know
what we could do with this?
[PEGGY] Yeah. [CHUCKLES]
I'm gonna get my house.
Hey, this soul-retrieval
shit is fun. Admit it.
Yeah. [LAUGHS] You wanna see fun?
- It's Stewart. Leave a message.
- [BEEPS]
Hi, Stewart. It's your big sister.
The one who taught you
how to tie your shoes,
- ride your bike and gave you everything.
- Ride your bike. Yeah.
[SIGHS] I just want you to know
that you're gonna be getting the
next two months' rent up-front.
So don't worry about it, okay?
Okay. [SIGHS]
Peg, are you feeling it?
I'm getting a lot of memories here.
Like the time you gave my phone
number to the Colombian cartel,
and I had to hide out in the bathroom of
the gas station down the street? Yeah.
You know, Peg, I choose to focus
on the good times, not the bad.
- It's just a choice.
- Okay.
- [GARAGE DOOR OPENS]
- Garage.
- All right. Let's go.
- [PEGGY] Oh, fuck.
- Denny, help me. This is heavy. Here.
- Come on.
Oh, fuck, Denny!
[HOMEOWNER 1] It was your
last night, and I get that.
[HOMEOWNER 2] I'm just not
gonna listen to you anymore,
because I get [SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
[HOMEOWNER 1] All right. All
right. Whatever. I'll start
[GRUNTS]
[BARKS]
- [DENNY GRUNTS] Okay.
- [PEGGY GROANS]
- [COINS CLINKING]
- Fuck.
Okay, come on.
[GROANS]
- Thattagirl.
- [PANTING]
We still got it, babe.
There's no "we."
- What a douche.
- Don't.
The guy cheated us.
I tried signaling you.
No way the nickel content can
be as high as he said it was.
- He tested it right in front of us.
- The test was bullshit.
Why would I imagine this
would go any other way?
Only outta your mouth does
25,000 mean five grand.
Yeah, well, I could've gotten more,
but you didn't work with me in there.
- Oh.
- And you dropped half of it at the house.
Okay?
Get in the fucking car!
["TALKIN' TO MYSELF" PLAYING]
[MOUSE CLICKING]
All right, I'm just dragging
these drives over here.
H-Have you ever backed any of these up?
- A-As in?
- [DOOR OPENS]
[GASPS, SIGHS]
- It's like the fucking NSA in here.
- Don't talk to him.
[SIGHS]
Ooh, he is in the zone!
Where'd you find that kid?
The supermarket.
[SIGHS] He said you're
both friends of Bill.
Bill's the manager.
Okay. This is for you.
It's not much, but
it'll buy us some time.
And by the way, it brings
me no joy doing this.
It's actually physically painful.
My mortgage is gonna be a heavy
lift, but I can deal with that.
What I can't deal with is
having no future. I need a life.
We gotta keep the lights on here.
[SUCKS TEETH, STRAINS] Ow.
Ah! I feel like my organs
are actually rejecting this.
Oh, God. [GRUNTS] I want you to take it.
Does a part of me wish you would say no?
Well, yes. [SIGHS] Every part.
I mean, there's no part of me that
wants you to take it, but you must.
You must.
[WHINING]
- The fuck is happening?
- [CRIES]
- I'm sorry. [SNIFFLING]
- It's upsetting.
It's so goddamn touching!
Just think of it as a loan,
okay? Ten percent interest.
- Ten percent?
- Um, eight. I'll give you an introductory rate.
[PEGGY GRUNTS]
I gotta handle my situation.
This is just a drop in the bucket.
That was touching.
- [SIGHS]
- Thank you for having my back.
Going, going, gone.
Okay. Hey, don't forget about that
meeting in Pioneertown tonight.
That's a real piece of business.
Wait, you were serious about that?
Yes, it's all coming together.
I am this close to this
Dona Scarborough reward.
I am 98.6% sure that she's dead.
She left behind her balding
bird, who is also her soulmate.
Never mind. Look, I know
what I'm doing, okay?
Okay, listen, I have
an assignment for you.
It's an actual case.
Cheating spouse, potentially.
We're still fishing, so no rough stuff.
Follow her. Take pictures
if you see anything.
Yeah. [SMACKS LIPS]
Actually, I don't know
how I feel about, uh,
interfering with another
woman's pursuit of love.
- Plus, I'm busy.
- I hope you're fucking kidding.
I mean, who are we to know
that this woman who wears mock
turtlenecks hasn't finally found love?
I mean, who am I to
Is she wearing suspenders?
Okay, fine. I'm a professional.
That's her work address.
I'm on it. [SIGHS]
No rough stuff.
Okay, sometimes it sticks going
into third. Just keep grinding it.
- It'll go to fourth.
- Okay, great.
Except if you hear a high, wheezing
sound, drop it back to second.
- Got it.
- Hey, thanks for the car.
I'll be careful. Unless
I'm being followed.
Totally.
Listen, I don't like that
you're doing this with Denny.
Oh.
Next thing you know,
you'll be sleeping together.
[SIGHS]
[GROANS] No. You already did?
- I'm a woman, Carol. I have needs.
- [GROANS]
But never again. I hate him.
So what's this assignment
you have for me?
Oh, just a little surveillance.
Somebody's wife. Probable
cheater. Just fish around.
- No rough stuff.
- Why would I rough her up?
Well, you never know
how things will turn.
Keep your knees bent.
What's up with her?
[SUCKS TEETH] Grounded
and 15, and her drone.
And standing in a lame
fake Western town with you.
Hey, you know what my
stepmother was like?
Mussolini with a bad
perm and a nose job.
She told me I was fat and threw
my birthday cake in the disposal.
Carol's sweet.
Look, she's not your mom,
but she's not trying to be.
[SIGHS] She's not a bitch either.
So just pay her some respect.
[SIGHS] I'm so bored right now.
Welcome to Earth. It's boring.
You're the one that can't be
boring. You need to be a comet, okay?
Yeah, whatever.
Okay. Kick some ass, comet style.
["IT FEELS ALRIGHT" PLAYING]
[KNOCKING]
Oh, you gotta cover the tattoos.
Don't worry about it. Even
grandmas get tattoos now.
Not spiders. Not on their
necks. Tighten it up.
- Okay.
- [SIGHS]
Are you wearing spy glasses?
You only know they're fake
'cause I don't wear glasses.
You look like a
beautiful Henry Kissinger.
- [JUDY WHINES]
- [SIGHS, STAMMERS] Judy can't come.
She's coming. Take 'em off.
I need 'em. They got a
They got a mic in 'em.
[INHALES SHARPLY]
I gotta prove what he did.
- These fucking things.
- [SCOFFS]
They look ridiculous. Come on.
Denny! Why do you destroy everything?
Why is that your first instinct?
- There we go.
- I have no words.
- [SIGHS]
- This is smarter.
Nobody bugs dogs.
Come here, Judy.
[STRAINING] There you go.
Look at this.
Judy's gonna record
everything, starting now,
and he'll have no idea.
[PEGGY LAUGHS] All right,
all right, all right.
Just don't let the dog distract
you. You'll miss my cue.
- You're cuing me?
- Yeah.
- Hey, I invented Miami Shock and Awe.
- Ah.
- Come here.
- I don't wanna talk about this now.
- We're gonna be late. [SIGHS]
- There you go. Good girl.
- Come on, Judy. There you go.
- Come on, Judy. Watch your mic. Here.
Yeah, hi. [KISSES] Get in.
["IT FEELS ALRIGHT" CONTINUES PLAYING]
Just remember, Miami
Shock and Awe was all me.
Where do you think the name came from?
And who got the money
from Alfredo in Miami? Me!
What's with this? Who
are you trying to impress?
Ah, simmer down and
wait for my fucking cue.
Ah, Bob! This is Mr.
Dennis. He works for Kachel.
Uh, d-do you mind
if if I pat you down?
- [SCOFFS]
- [SCOFFS, INHALES DEEPLY]
Uh, I don't know what you've
been told about me, my friend,
but I'm an art consultant.
Why would I carry a gun?
Let's just keep it classy, okay?
Listen, I'm sorry, uh, but
that's what we're doing here.
- [PEGGY SCOFFS]
- [JUDY WHINES]
You know, I'm authorized to spend
a great deal of money here today, sir.
[PEGGY] Mmm.
Oh, now me?
[SCOFFS, SIGHS]
Okay, I'll tell you what.
I'm gonna pat you down, okay?
Mmm. Okay, right here.
- I wasn't I wasn't done.
- [PEGGY] Oh. You shave your legs.
All right, all right. Okay, enou
[STAMMERS] That That's enough.
- All right, okay.
- Okay.
Okay.
Well, while we're at it, why
don't we pat the dog down too?
[JUDY WHINES]
- Be my guest.
- [WHINES]
[CHUCKLES] Pat the dog down.
[LAUGHS]
- Good one.
- Come on in.
- [CHUCKLES] Okay.
- Hey.
What the hell? Is something
going on with you two?
[BOB CLEARS THROAT]
He's got a great eye.
He does all of Kachel's
buying for North America.
Mmm. Mm-hmm.
Hmm. The colors.
[GASPS] It's the
brushstrokes that get me.
[DENNY] Yeah, that's fairly
typical for impressionism.
Actually, it's not typical.
He uses constructive strokes,
which is more representative
of post-impressionism,
which is what this is.
Really? We're doing this?
Uh, I have a call,
so if we could just
Um, okay. [CLEARS THROAT]
To be clear, this work,
this is a fake.
No. No.
No. I mean, no.
Just relax. Hey, he
doesn't care. [CHUCKLES]
Do you know how many fakes there
are in the Metropolitan Museum?
- Uh
- Exactly. Neither do they.
No, I mean, it is stolen.
- But it is now on my wall and it's
- Bob, it's a fake.
It's okay. We know.
But it's some of the most
incredible work I've ever seen.
I mean, half of the art world is fakes.
[JUDY GROWLS]
You wanna tell me who did this?
- Do you mind if the dog waits outside?
- [PEGGY] No, she's house-trained.
Look, we're on a roll
here. Who's the artist?
You know, I have another buyer.
You know, I think Kachel's gonna
fucking love this, even if it is a fake.
I could let it go for a
million in cash by Friday.
Okay. Done.
[PEGGY] Hey.
Now, tell me who the forger is.
[JUDY WHINING]
Uh, could you take the dog out?
Yeah, could you take the dog out?
We're talking here. Can you?
- Come. Judy, come.
- [JUDY BARKS]
[DENNY] You know, Peggy,
she's real cute and everything,
but she's a handful.
She's got her issues, but
she's got a good heart.
- We used to date in New York
- [SIGHS]
back when she was dealing
massive amounts of pot
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
This isn't a talk show.
Yeah. Right, I'll call Kachel tonight.
Uh, what time is it in Florence?
I'm gonna need to take a picture.
Oh, no, no, no. No pictures.
I'll send you a catalog.
Why do you need to call?
I thought you were authorized.
I need the money by Friday.
I heard you the first
time, champ. Friday it is.
- Great. You want a beer?
- [PEGGY] Yes.
Make yourselves at home.
[BARKING]
Thank you. [CHUCKLES]
I'd I'd like to know
more about the artist.
[SIGHS] She was my wife.
- So she's dead?
- No, she left me.
- By dying?
- No.
- 'Cause you're using past tense.
- No.
Look, Kachel's buying,
but he does his research.
[JUDY BARKING]
Your wife's family put up a reward.
And she was forging
art. This is deep, Bobby.
Bob or Robert.
Yeah, right.
This has nothing to do
with the art, though.
They just wanted to find her.
[STAMMERS] How does
this concern the sale?
Should we get the dog back in
here? [EXHALES SHARPLY] Judy!
- [WHISTLES]
- [GROANS]
Come, girl. Come. Come!
Look, I'm just saying And
by the way, I wish her well.
But if she's dead, the
work's gonna be more valuable.
I don't think that forgeries
appreciate that way.
Well, that's how
stupid the art world is.
We just need a little
knowledge for marketing, really.
There was this incident
at a taco truck.
A guy I worked with was
having personal problems.
And in my hectic nose-to-the-grindstone
haze, I missed it.
Hey, bubbles. How's
things in, uh, clipboard?
You know, would it kill you
to smile every once in a while?
You know what I mean?
[GRUNTS]
[BOB] Now, in my defense,
I hadn't eaten all day.
- [SCOFFS] Is this the line?
- [BOB HUMMING]
You're Bob Scarborough.
Do you mind if I cut in front of you?
I'm pregnant, and I have got to eat.
[SIGHING]
You're not that pregnant.
- I'm sorry?
- Okay.
Um, no, you cannot cut in front of me.
- I'm sorry.
- I am pregnant, and I have to eat.
We all got to eat.
- I'm having a child.
- I know what pregnant means.
Look, he's right up there.
- [BYSTANDER 1] Oh, my God!
- [BYSTANDER 2] No, don't do it!
[SCREAMING]
[BYSTANDERS CLAMORING, SCREAMING]
[BOB] Maybe if you've been in combat,
you're prepared for this kind of trauma,
but I had no defenses.
[BYSTANDERS CRYING]
- [SECURITY GUARD] Scarborough, you okay?
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
Scarborough?
[BOB] I spiraled into a kind
of existential tailspin.
I needed some time off.
Honestly, I couldn't function.
[CHIRPS] Hello.
[BOB] And Dona didn't
help. She really didn't.
But a leave of absence
doesn't mean you become a hobo.
[PARROT CHIRPING]
It's sad what happened.
It's unfortunate.
I think when his glasses
Oh, my God. Yes. Maybe
you could have been nicer.
- Maybe you could have said hello.
- [PARROT] Hello.
- I said hello.
- Whatever.
I called him "bubbles."
Okay. Well, then you were friendly.
- I was snide.
- [PARROT CHIRPS]
Well, you live, you learn, babe.
[SIGHS] Who is the sweetest bird?
- And then he was dead.
- [PARROT SQUAWKS]
- And then he was dead.
- Okay, you know what, Bob?
You probably said hello to a
lot of people who are dead. Okay?
[PARROT] Hello.
This has been going on too long.
Either you go back to
work, or you get a shrink.
I can't even paint with this shit.
[CRYING]
[BOB] So, I sought help
from a psychiatrist
who helps trauma victims
by guiding them through
hallucinogenic sessions.
[BIRD CAWS]
It changed my life. It
changed my whole perspective.
Like, radically.
- Bob.
- Mmm?
They need you at the studio.
[BARB] Welcome back. We are
following breaking news right now.
Let's take you to downtown Palm Springs.
That is where a massive
sinkhole has collapsed,
swallowing a tourist.
Alicia Hererra is on the ground.
She has all of the
late-breaking details.
Alicia, what can you tell
us about this tragedy?
Ho-Ho-Ho-Ho-Hold on a second.
Is this a tragedy? Does it even matter?
I mean, it's just death.
That's where we're all headed.
- What's he doing?
- What the hell's he doing?
'Cause everything else,
all of this, is stupid.
Dona [SIGHS]
didn't really get it.
So, I got fired.
Yeah, I saw.
Let's open the champagne. I
can do something meaningful now.
And what's that, Bob? You
gonna trip balls professionally?
It gives me perspective.
[BIRD CAWS]
[BOB] The next six months
had a pretty deep effect.
My perspective sharpened.
My televised epiphany seemed
to send people to my door.
- [SEEKERS CHANTING]
- [BOB] I gave them hope, I think.
[SEEKER 1] Everything is stupid.
Guru Bob, is psychic pain stupid?
[SEEKER 2 CRYING]
Mmm. Everything's stupid.
I need some coffee.
- [SEEKER 1] Everything is stupid.
- [SIGHS] Thank you.
[MACHINE WHIRRING]
[BOB] I had changed.
And she hadn't.
[SIGHS]
It's sad, isn't it?
You hear it all the
time. Couples grow apart.
Ultimately, my wife was a prisoner
- of a two-dimensional perspective.
- Yeah.
One time, she was screaming
at me like a banshee
[DENNY] Hey, man.
Hey, if you ever need to talk,
I'm opening a qigong studio.
Safe space. Men only.
He's talking now, Denny.
Okay, go on. One time what?
The journey of the self,
through the self, to the self?
I could use some investors, you know.
- [SCOFFS] I don't see the dog anymore.
- [BOB] Hmm.
Are you thinking, like,
Guru Bob's Qigong, or
- We got to find the dog.
- Silent partner.
I have a following.
[WHISPERS] I'll give you a call.
Judy! Judy.
Judy!
- Come on, girl. Judy!
- [CLAPS]
[JUDY WHINING]
- Judy! Come here, girl. Come on, girl.
- Hey, hey, hey! Good girl. Come on.
- [DENNY] Come on, Judy.
- Come on, girl. Good girl. [LAUGHS]
- [CLAPPING]
- Come on, sweetie.
- Aw, come here, girl.
- Hey, what's she got in her mouth?
- Drop it. Judy, drop it. Drop it.
- [JUDY GROWLING]
Whatever it is, she
swallowed it. Let's go.
[PEGGY] Are you working
for the other side?
- It's insane what you just did in there.
- [JUDY GRUNTS]
I was at the crest. It's go time.
And you decide this
is the moment for you
to chisel out seed money for
your pretend qigong studio.
Peg, it was an opportunity. [CHUCKLES]
[SCOFFS] Is this another
one of your choices, Denny?
- [JUDY WHIMPERING]
- Don't ever talk to me again. Ever.
Ever, ever.
Really? We're gonna do this?
[JUDY COUGHS, WHIMPERS]
You okay, girl? Look at you. You okay?
[PEGGY] I had one shot.
I had him on the hook,
you took him right off.
- That's not Okay. All right.
- No, do not talk. Okay?
Now I got to find
another way to nail him
and to neutralize this
father-daughter fucking hit team
long enough to get a reward.
'Cause there's no way that
Dona left a bald fucking bird.
[JUDY WHIMPERING]
I don't know how you're
gonna pull this off.
Oh, so this is your new move?
- Oh. First, you just crash the whole plan.
- Okay.
And now you're trying to
wear down my confidence.
Why don't you call Kachel?
Maybe he can help you.
I thought you don't say his name.
- I don't say his name.
- Well, you just said his name.
- I can't stand the fucking guy. Come on.
- Oh, 'cause he's everything you wanna be.
Really? I wanna be a douchebag
who treats you like shit?
Okay, no. I'm trying
to build a life here.
I don't need you to fuck it all up.
- [DENNY] Yeah.
- [JUDY WHIMPERS, COUGHS]
I know for a fact that
you're upsetting her.
- [CHOKES]
- I got to get her to a vet.
You can't afford a vet.
Come here. Come here, Judy.
[JUDY GROANS]
- Oh, God.
- [DENNY GROANS]
- Oh, that feels better. Right, girl?
- [JUDY WHIMPERING]
Hey, what the fuck is that?
[DENNY GROANS]
It's a finger. Oh, God!
[DENNY GROANS]
Good girl. [CHUCKLES]