American Horror Story s10e02 Episode Script
Pale
1
Got everything?
I think so.
Ready?
Yeah.
Honey you okay?
Honey?
Daddy?
Harry.
Harry.
Holy shit.
What?
- Where's my computer?
- I don't know.
I don't it's in the back, I think.
What the hell are you doing?
I need to find my computer.
I need to write.
- Right now?
- I can see it.
I see it all.
The whole thing is
finally clear in my head.
Harry.
Harry!
Mom?
It's okay.
It's okay, sweetie. It's okay.
It's too hard.
No, you'll get it if you keep
practicing, sweetheart.
You always do.
What if I don't?
What if I never get it?
When are we leaving here?
I don't know. Daddy seems inspired.
So we have to support him.
I saw him take something.
What do you mean?
Daddy. I saw him take a pill.
Maybe it's Adderall.
I hear some kids take it to focus.
Maybe I can take one.
No. No.
No, you just keep practicing.
Harry.
Hm?
Honey.
One second, I'm almost done.
With what?
The pilot. The whole thing.
Well, that's not possible.
You've been writing for,
what, like, four hours?
I know.
Harry, Alma said that
she saw you take something.
Are you on speed?
What? No, of course not.
- I'm not on speed.
- Well, then what did you take?
Because you must have taken something.
Why, because I couldn't possibly
be talented enough to finish this
- Shh!
- Unless I was on drugs?
- Is that what you think of me?
- That is not what I think of you,
but this is very extreme, Harry.
I saw you take something, Daddy.
Don't be jealous because
I found inspiration
and you can't play fucking Paganini!
Honey, I'm sorry.
Honey, honey, I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean that.
That
What the fuck, Harry?
I'm sorry. That was crazy.
I I'm not myself.
I mean
These pages they
just exploded out of me.
And they are fucking
so good!
I'm happy for you.
- Can we leave now?
- Not yet.
I have this other idea for episode two
and I just wanna outline it tonight.
You killed a man in our sunroom!
And the sheriff said it was
the first violent crime
that's happened in this town in years.
- I eliminated the danger.
- What?
I didn't wanna say this
because emotions were high,
but you know, if you
walk out on this job,
it's gonna be very difficult
for you to get another one.
Not after bailing on
the last one you had.
Come on, I couldn't get inspired.
They were pushy clients
with terrible taste.
They didn't understand minimalism
at all!
Or a monochromatic blush color scheme
thank you very much
which is very now, by the way.
And I think I have a very good excuse
for not finishing this one!
Honey, please just give
me another day or two.
Or two? Or two?
For fuck's sake, Doris,
why can't you just support me?
Hey.
I'm sorry about before.
You are
much, much more talented than I am.
- Come eat your sandwiches.
- Oh, I'm not hungry, thanks.
You need to eat.
You too, Missy.
You okay?
What happened?
Ugh.
Oh.
- What was that, turkey? Ohh
- Yeah.
Something about the taste made me sick.
Ugh.
It smells fine to me.
Can I have the room,
please? I'm not finished.
Come on, I'll take it upstairs.
Let's go.
This is really good.
Thanks, I know.
Can I see more?
Yeah, sure. I'm almost done.
- With all of it?
- Mm-hmm.
Hey, what is happening?
This isn't normal.
Um
I don't know. It's this
place. It's my muse.
I thought I was.
Always.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I've been a jerk.
Uh, the lead character is kind of a
antihero, and I think I'm just
channeling him a little too much.
Will you at least eat something?
- You are gonna collapse.
- I'm not hungry.
You're a liar.
You're a liar.
You did take some kind of speed.
I
Writing like this.
Acting like an asshole. No appetite.
Okay, you want me to eat,
I will I will go grab
some stuff from the market.
Okay?
My fingers are exhausted anyway.
Want anything?
Get away from me!
Get away from me!
Thought you were gettin' out of town.
Oh, yeah.
Looks like you had a change of plans.
Going keto?
Nah, just feeling a craving.
Right.
Writing going well all of a sudden?
Yeah, actually.
How'd you know?
You took it!
Bet your softie dick
feels nice and hard now
getting some of that sweet blood flow.
Why'd you do that?
You shouldn't have done
that, motherfucker!
What, were you thirsty?
You never knew thirsty before now!
You fuckface!
Mmm.
Mmm
Ahh
Oh, it's so good.
Ohh
it's so good.
- Are we staying here now?
- I don't know.
Daddy and I need to
talk about it tomorrow.
Do you want to leave?
- Yes.
- Yeah, I want to too.
The thing is, I have known your dad
for a long time, and
he's a really good writer.
Much better than he gets credit for.
And I've never seen him
inspired like he is right now.
He usually agonizes over five pages
for two or three days.
I don't want to be here, but I also
I don't want to get in the way
of whatever has gotten into him.
He's never mean to me.
I know he feels terrible about that.
Let's just give him some space
to be an asshole artist
for a couple of days,
and I am sure this
fever of his will break.
- Mom?
- Yeah?
Do you think if I took one
of the pills that Daddy took,
I could play Paganini
better than everyone?
There's no magic pill
for greatness, sweetheart.
Come here.
Okay, what do you think
of a couch in one of these,
and the wall in this?
Looks like the same color.
What? No.
They are slightly different.
It's called "tone on tone".
A lot of the Instagram design accounts
are featuring it right now.
This one feels like a cactus.
And this one feels like you
would slide right off of it.
Okay, thank you.
Okay, bed.
Okay.
I love you.
Love you too.
Night night.
Nothing feels better
than those first few nights on the Muse.
That's what we should
call it, by the way
the Muse.
He's going to have to upgrade his diet
if he wants to keep feeling that way.
Speaking of which, Belle o' the ball,
I'm hungies.
Let's go up the Cape and find a snack.
Mm.
Did you sleep?
No.
Oh, my God, it's brilliant.
I've never heard you so cocky.
I always wondered
when I saw or read great writing,
"Where did that come from?"
You know, how can Tarantino or Sorkin
say the same things
that other writers say,
just in a way that's so much
better?
Now you know?
Agh, something opened up in my mind
like finding a secret door in your house
that leads to a
a palace of words and ideas
and imagination.
I was living in a two-bedroom apartment,
and now I'm in Versailles.
I just sent everything off to Ursula.
Great. So we can leave now?
Maybe in a day or two.
Definitely by the end of the week.
Jesus.
Harry.
Alma is terrified here.
And frankly, so am I.
I want to I want
to support you in this.
But a week?
It's asking too much of us.
Doris, it was just drug addicts
looking for electronics, okay?
No one's bothered us for a week.
Do I want to stay? No, but I
But, but, but, what?
- You guys go. I'll stay.
- No. No.
You will write yourself
to death if you stay here.
Fuck!
Shit!
Ow.
Harry, stop it.
Stop!
What are you doing?
Get off me! You're hurting me!
Harry!
Jesus!
Harry!
Just in time!
I'm hunting duck.
Or, uh, quail.
I don't know, I just kind of like
the feel of a shotgun when
it goes off in my hands.
What did you give me?
What's in those pills?
No one knows except the chemist.
Who's the chemist?
I need a drink.
Gin martini, to be specific.
You want one? Come on!
10 or 15 years ago,
this area got hit on the head and ass
by an addiction stick the likes
of which you've never seen.
After the big crash,
a lot of folks out of work
with nothing to do
but get hungy and high.
Heroin at first, then crystal meth,
then opioids, which made
the heroin obsolete.
But people still needed
that crystal rush.
And cooking meth is easy out here
if you have the right ingredients
and don't blow yourself up.
Anyway, this one person
no one really knows who
they are, by the way
starts experimenting
with different recipes.
So it was created by accident?
Well, that's the story.
But you want to know the best part?
It only works if you have talent.
So those things you see
haunting around town?
They took the pill,
but they're just hacks.
Wannabes.
Dreamers ♪
See, if you take the pill, and you don't
have a creative seed
in your brain already,
the pill destroys you turns
you into a flesh phantom.
Always thirsty, never
satisfied or employed.
And who knows where
talent comes from? No one!
But now I'm draining
packages of raw steak
to drink the juices, and
and sucking the blood
out of my wife's finger.
- Mm.
- Why?
Metaphorically
I don't know.
Maybe something about, uh,
artists stealing other
people's lifeblood
to inspire our work.
Scientifically, the drug
severely depletes
the four major minerals in our blood.
See, Harry,
you can't survive on the pill
without replacing those minerals
in heroic doses.
And cartons of cow meat
ain't gonna cut it, champ.
You're gonna need that fresh, warm stuff
from something that
has opposable thumbs.
Fuck that. I'm not doing that.
Hey, no problem.
Just, uh, stop taking the pill.
But good luck ever writing
anything ever again.
It's like trying to screw
with a dick full of Novocain.
Once you take the pill, you
can't get hard without it.
I don't care. This is all insanity!
Oh, name one successful person
that isn't a little fucking insane.
- Fuck you!
- Fuck you!
I hope they like your script
back in Hollyweirdland.
I bet they will.
And then you'll be running back
for those little darlings.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
We can leave tomorrow morning, okay?
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Okay.
I have a few more pages
to write this afternoon,
and then
Let's go out and have that dinner date
that we missed out on.
I was thinking I can just take
pictures of all the rooms
and finish my design plan virtually.
Sure, yeah. Whatever you want.
What?
You know, my job is important too.
That Instagram contest I
won it was a real thing.
There were almost 100
accounts in the running.
I know that. We're we're
a two-income family.
I worry sometimes that you
don't think I'm good enough.
That this is just a hobby or something.
Sorry, hold on.
It's Ursula.
- Hello?
- Bubelah, I hate you.
Why have you been holding
out on me all these years?
What, do you have little writer elves
that live in your cabinets
and come out at night
- and type gold?
- Uh, I told you,
It's just it's been inspiring here.
Ha! Fuck yeah, it has been.
Because you just got a
green light, motherfucker!
As soon as the execs saw it,
they sent it to Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix.
Shh! Um, that's very cool.
Uh, did he like it?
He said yes right on the spot.
He said he would shoot it for free.
That's amazing!
I mean, I-I would never
ask him to do that,
but it's nice that
he that he offered.
Also, maybe start looking for
some real estate out there
because I just got an offer
from Netflix for an overall.
Love to Doris. Talk soon. Mwah.
Netflix offered me a deal.
We're gonna be rich!
We're gonna be rich!
Ooh, baby!
Oh, sorry baby, baby, baby.
Oh!
We're gonna be rich.
We're gonna be rich.
Oh.
Oh.
Go on.
- Oh, uh
- Oh, go.
I just, uh just a quick
just a little idea.
I will go and let you finish your
very lucrative writing.
Okay.
Joaquin fucking Phoenix!
I love him!
Love love is a verb ♪
Love is a doing word ♪
Feathers on my breath ♪
Gentle impulsion ♪
Shakes me makes me lighter ♪
Feathers on my breath ♪
Teardrop on the fire ♪
Feathers on my breath ♪
Harry.
How ya doin'?
Lookin' good.
No.
It's legal now in Massachusetts, babe.
He's not here for the grass.
He's here for the Muse.
- He's going through withdrawals.
- I just need one more
to finish the series I'm working on.
Well, that's what they all say.
Just one more book, one more movie,
one more hit play, and then
I'll just stop for good.
It doesn't work that way, pretty.
There's nothing more
addictive than success.
You've tasted it now,
and you're never going to
be able to live without it.
I know.
I know.
So tell me what I have to do.
First, enough with the pity party.
Second, take this.
Good.
Keep your coat on.
We're going out to eat.
I know, honey. I'm so sorry.
I'll make it up to you soon.
It's just
being invited to a writer's group
with with Belle Noir
and Austin Summers
when will I ever get a chance like that?
I love you.
She's pissed.
She's gonna leave me.
Things'll settle down, Harry.
She'll be plenty forgiving
once you thank her in your Oscar speech.
How many of us are there?
How many people have taken these pills?
A few. More lately.
- Why the increase?
- Streamers.
Just so you know, we
don't do them all year.
Just for these few months in the winter.
We come up here where it's quiet.
pop some pills and crank
out some brilliance,
then take the summers off.
How often do we have to
Eat? Oh once a week,
if you get a good feed.
I like to snack between meals.
But, uh, I've got regulars
who are happy to oblige
for a couple of shekels.
And what constitutes a good feed?
There are 9 to 12 pints of
blood in the human body,
and Belle and I usually split that.
Oh, my God.
I know, honey.
It sounds awful.
Murdering human beings
to drink their blood?
Yes, it sounds fucking terrible!
We're not dining on doctors
or eating up engineers
or snacking on scientists.
We find the ones who won't be missed.
The ones who are a drain on society.
It's basically a community service.
Used to be harder to
find the right types,
but since the opioid
epidemic hit the Cape,
it's a breeze.
Craigslist.
Gotta know what to look for.
A guy who's selling
lots of random items
a bicycle, and a stereo,
and a guitar, and some watches.
You ask yourself, "What
kind of person sells
that combination of items?"
One that just broke into
a house and stole them.
Addicts and losers and criminals.
Kind of people who cops
feel were offed by a dealer
or another fucknut addict.
Just remember, there are only two rules.
Don't ever feed off anyone in P-Town.
The old sheriff used
to look the other way,
but this new gal is a nosy bitch
who has no appreciation
for the artists' struggle.
And
never take your gloves off.
The pipes froze last week,
so the toilet doesn't work.
Um there's, uh, TP by the door.
You can pee in the sand,
but, uh, need to go number two,
use the bucket and, uh, bury it.
You're sweet.
No one will let me crash
when the cold snaps come
but you.
They think I'm contagious.
- Are you?
- No!
I mean, unless we, uh,
make out or fuck or something.
I think the cough's just bad allergies.
Wanna get high?
So what I'm trying to say
is that what if the shark is actually
the good guy of the story?
Quint's been, uh,
hunting sharks for, like, years, right?
And so, like, maybe he killed, like,
Jaws', like, brother
or, like, best friend
or something like that.
You know? And so that's why, like,
Jaws ate that lady and that kid.
So he could get Quint
back out on the water
so he can hunt him down and kill him.
Wait, is the shark's
name actually "Jaws"?
I met a guy who was an extra
in one of the beach scenes.
Maybe it was "Jaws 2".
Fuck "Jaws 2".
They shot that shit in Florida.
- Pfffft.
- Wow.
You are so fucking smart.
How do you know so much about movies?
I love movies.
They're my whole life.
You know, I started writing,
like, five screenplays.
I didn't know that.
Can I read one?
Oh, well, I've started five.
But I've finished zero.
You know, I have follow-through issues.
But I, uh, just know
if I finished them,
they'd be really great.
You know, we should
take some of those pills.
Look, I, uh,
stole them from Belle.
If I get her off hard enough,
she passes out like a dude right after.
No.
You know what these do to people.
Yeah, makes them rich and famous.
They make you bloodsuckers.
Murderers.
Look, if you want real success,
you've got to compromise a little bit.
Everyone's gotta go Darth Vader
to get ahead in life, right?
Wait, you think I'd turn into
one of those pale zombies.
Y-y-you don't think I have
any talent at all, do you?
I didn't say that.
I sleep on the street.
I eat out of dumpsters.
I haven't been touched
by a man in 15 years,
so shitting in your bucket is a
a fucking upgrade for me.
But it's better than being like Belle.
The things she does.
The things she makes me do for her.
Look at this.
That's my painting.
That's my painting!
Where did you get that?
I bought them at the thrift shop.
I bought a whole bunch of 'em.
They were like 5 bucks each.
I didn't know they sold.
I took a free painting class
at the Fine Art Center.
I thought they just tossed, uh,
all of them away when
the class was over.
Well, they did.
But not these, 'cause
they're actually good.
You an art expert?
Well, I've seen some, uh,
TV shows about art.
You know, like, uh,
PBS and shit like that.
They all say
art's about making you, uh, feel.
So like this one when I
look at it, I basically can
smell the ocean.
You're talented.
Imagine what you could be
if you took those pills.
You'd be like a
well, like Picasso.
Hm?
I want that. I want that so much.
You see, maybe um
Oh, I could make all those assholes
at the market and and at all the bars
and and and make
them kiss my ass instead.
- Motherfuckers!
- Mm-hmm.
I'd buy the supermarket,
and then I'd burn it
right to the ground.
Asshole motherfucking fuck faces!
Yes! I'd buy the biggest
house on Commercial.
I'd have fancy cocktail parties.
And I'd invite all the celebrities
except for Belle Noir.
Ha.
I can't. I can't do that.
I don't wanna be like them.
Well, I do.
But what if you're not talented?
What if you end up like
one of the bad ones?
Look around. Anything's
better than this.
Hey.
We called about the mountain bike
- and locked iPad.
- Hey, yeah.
Y'all got cash?
My, uh my Venmo's suspended.
Wow, this place is terrible.
Yeah, thanks.
I've been I've been
thinking about, you know,
getting it all fixed up, but
cash flow.
This is the, uh, locked iPad.
What's up with the gloves?
Enough talking. Mama's hungry.
Ah-ooh, ah-ooh ♪
Here I go ♪
Falling down down down ♪
My mind is a blank ♪
My head is spinning
around and around ♪
As I go deep into the funnel of love ♪
Ah-ooh ♪
It's such a crazy crazy feeling ♪
I get weak in the knees ♪
My poor old head is a reelin' ♪
How you feeling back there, handsome?
Better. Like I want to kill myself
from guilt and shame, but
better.
The art you're going
to put into the world
is going to inspire.
You just gave that knucklehead
a chance to be a small part of that,
which is more than he was
ever going to give to humanity
- if he didn't meet us tonight.
- Ugh, is that my future?
A life of rationalization?
A life of consequence.
- Oh, I feel slightly
- Buzzy?
That is the crystal meth in his blood.
You'll laser back in by morning,
but I fuckin' love it
right after a feed with
one of these dopeheads.
Me too.
But you're no good with a sloppy feed.
We're gonna have to
get you to Dr. Feldman
to take care of those teeth.
You just can't run ♪
From the funnel of love ♪
It's bound to get you someday ♪
Ah-ooh ♪
I watched you change ♪
Into a fly ♪
I looked away ♪
Hey.
Can I help you?
Um, I was given this address
for a Dr. Feldman.
That's right.
Is he here?
Wow.
Sexist much?
You're Dr. Feldman?
I changed my name to Lark.
Not legally or anything
that's a real pain in the ass.
But it's kind of hard
to be taken seriously
in the tat community when
your name's Leslie Feldman.
I worked my way through
dental school selling vintage
and doing tats.
That's my real gift.
Dental school was to
make my parents happy,
tattoos were my passion, you know?
Well, once I took the
little black pills,
I got so good at slinging ink
that I bailed on being a tooth jockey.
Come on back. Belle told
me you were coming.
I thought the pill
only works for writers.
No.
Anyone with artistic talent.
Have a seat.
People come from all over the world
to get one of my artworks
painted on them.
If you want, I'll throw in a freebie
- once we're done back here.
- Oh, no thanks.
My wife and I agreed
never to get tattoos.
It's it's in our wedding vows.
Did you agree to never murder people
and drink their blood too?
Shit happens.
You do know what you're
doing though, right?
With your teeth?
I invented this shit.
I realized it was impossible
to get a good, clean, satisfying feed
with regular chompers.
Look at animals who have to tear meat
from an uncooked, fresh kill.
Predatory cats, bears, sharks
they've all got major fang action.
Look at it this way
doing this will make it so
you have to eat less people.
Okay.
Talk me through the process.
First, we take a mold of
your teeth for the caps.
Then the filing.
You're gonna want gas for that.
Yeah, it's a big deal for me.
I know, you don't understand.
They want me to do the entire house.
Yeah, all of it.
Oh.
Alma, Alma.
Sweetheart, sweetheart.
Alma.
You have been playing nonstop for hours.
I have a terrible headache.
I don't know if it's the pregnancy
or spending all day staring at
different shades of "greige".
Sweetheart, please take a break.
No, I need to practice this.
I'm not liking this sass, miss.
You don't understand greatness.
Sounds fine to you because
fine is good enough for you.
For people like Daddy and I,
fine is failure.
Hey, hey, hey.
Why are you being so
cruel? That isn't like you.
Look, I know that this
has been hard on you.
All sorts of feelings
about the new baby
normal feelings.
And the experience out here
has been pretty traumatic.
I am sorry that Daddy
and I haven't taken time
to help you process everything.
I promise you, as soon as we are home
I don't want to leave.
I love it out here.
In fact, I've never felt happier
or more at home anywhere.
You want us to leave
because you're jealous.
I told you, you don't understand art.
You don't understand inspiration.
You don't understand how
hard it is to be great.
Daddy and I have found
something special out here
that helps us be great,
and we don't want to leave.
You don't think I'm a great mother?
I am who I am.
What part of me would not be me
if I was raised by some other
perfectly ordinary woman?
You are grounded. Go to your room.
You are punished. Go to your room.
Go to your room! Go to your room!
Pack your things! Go!
Go to your room!
We are leaving tomorrow.
No discussions!
Welcome to the dick dock.
Dick dock?
In July, this place is like
a gay hometown buffet.
Big ones, little ones.
Looking to top or bottom?
Neither.
- Harry.
- One second.
Is that blood on your chin?
Oh. Must have cut myself shaving.
Have you seen Alma?
Um, yeah, she went out for a walk.
- What?
- She said she wanted some fresh air.
You let our daughter go out there alone?
She's fine.
We let her go grab the
newspaper from the deli
all the time in New York City.
There are none of those fucking things
that have been chasing
us in New York City.
Have you lost your fucking mind?
Ugh, God, you know, ever
since we've been here,
you have been hysterical
about everything.
I refuse to be a helicopter parent.
You killed a man!
All you care about anymore
is your fucking work!
I am killing myself for this family!
You are being so irrational!
This happens every time
you get pregnant.
You are being insane.
It is not irrational
to worry about our
daughter out there alone
when we both have been
attacked in the last few days!
I'm going to find Alma,
and she and I are leaving without you.
Without you!
Alma?
Alma?
Alma!
Alma.
Alma?
Alma?
Alma!
Alma!
Alma, baby.
We have to go.
We don't really live in this world.
We feed off of it.
I could really use some inspiration.
Once you sell your soul,
it's gone.
What the hell is that?
Wherever you come from, listen to me.
Stop the killing.
Mr. President,
it is you who will listen to us.
- Aliens.
- Bloodsuckers.
Mother of God.
Boom! It's breaking all the rules.
And I'm here for that.
Our world is fragile.
I just want to go back
to my normal life.
Time is running out
for both our people.
We need to create something better.
Part human, part us.
Got everything?
I think so.
Ready?
Yeah.
Honey you okay?
Honey?
Daddy?
Harry.
Harry.
Holy shit.
What?
- Where's my computer?
- I don't know.
I don't it's in the back, I think.
What the hell are you doing?
I need to find my computer.
I need to write.
- Right now?
- I can see it.
I see it all.
The whole thing is
finally clear in my head.
Harry.
Harry!
Mom?
It's okay.
It's okay, sweetie. It's okay.
It's too hard.
No, you'll get it if you keep
practicing, sweetheart.
You always do.
What if I don't?
What if I never get it?
When are we leaving here?
I don't know. Daddy seems inspired.
So we have to support him.
I saw him take something.
What do you mean?
Daddy. I saw him take a pill.
Maybe it's Adderall.
I hear some kids take it to focus.
Maybe I can take one.
No. No.
No, you just keep practicing.
Harry.
Hm?
Honey.
One second, I'm almost done.
With what?
The pilot. The whole thing.
Well, that's not possible.
You've been writing for,
what, like, four hours?
I know.
Harry, Alma said that
she saw you take something.
Are you on speed?
What? No, of course not.
- I'm not on speed.
- Well, then what did you take?
Because you must have taken something.
Why, because I couldn't possibly
be talented enough to finish this
- Shh!
- Unless I was on drugs?
- Is that what you think of me?
- That is not what I think of you,
but this is very extreme, Harry.
I saw you take something, Daddy.
Don't be jealous because
I found inspiration
and you can't play fucking Paganini!
Honey, I'm sorry.
Honey, honey, I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean that.
That
What the fuck, Harry?
I'm sorry. That was crazy.
I I'm not myself.
I mean
These pages they
just exploded out of me.
And they are fucking
so good!
I'm happy for you.
- Can we leave now?
- Not yet.
I have this other idea for episode two
and I just wanna outline it tonight.
You killed a man in our sunroom!
And the sheriff said it was
the first violent crime
that's happened in this town in years.
- I eliminated the danger.
- What?
I didn't wanna say this
because emotions were high,
but you know, if you
walk out on this job,
it's gonna be very difficult
for you to get another one.
Not after bailing on
the last one you had.
Come on, I couldn't get inspired.
They were pushy clients
with terrible taste.
They didn't understand minimalism
at all!
Or a monochromatic blush color scheme
thank you very much
which is very now, by the way.
And I think I have a very good excuse
for not finishing this one!
Honey, please just give
me another day or two.
Or two? Or two?
For fuck's sake, Doris,
why can't you just support me?
Hey.
I'm sorry about before.
You are
much, much more talented than I am.
- Come eat your sandwiches.
- Oh, I'm not hungry, thanks.
You need to eat.
You too, Missy.
You okay?
What happened?
Ugh.
Oh.
- What was that, turkey? Ohh
- Yeah.
Something about the taste made me sick.
Ugh.
It smells fine to me.
Can I have the room,
please? I'm not finished.
Come on, I'll take it upstairs.
Let's go.
This is really good.
Thanks, I know.
Can I see more?
Yeah, sure. I'm almost done.
- With all of it?
- Mm-hmm.
Hey, what is happening?
This isn't normal.
Um
I don't know. It's this
place. It's my muse.
I thought I was.
Always.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I've been a jerk.
Uh, the lead character is kind of a
antihero, and I think I'm just
channeling him a little too much.
Will you at least eat something?
- You are gonna collapse.
- I'm not hungry.
You're a liar.
You're a liar.
You did take some kind of speed.
I
Writing like this.
Acting like an asshole. No appetite.
Okay, you want me to eat,
I will I will go grab
some stuff from the market.
Okay?
My fingers are exhausted anyway.
Want anything?
Get away from me!
Get away from me!
Thought you were gettin' out of town.
Oh, yeah.
Looks like you had a change of plans.
Going keto?
Nah, just feeling a craving.
Right.
Writing going well all of a sudden?
Yeah, actually.
How'd you know?
You took it!
Bet your softie dick
feels nice and hard now
getting some of that sweet blood flow.
Why'd you do that?
You shouldn't have done
that, motherfucker!
What, were you thirsty?
You never knew thirsty before now!
You fuckface!
Mmm.
Mmm
Ahh
Oh, it's so good.
Ohh
it's so good.
- Are we staying here now?
- I don't know.
Daddy and I need to
talk about it tomorrow.
Do you want to leave?
- Yes.
- Yeah, I want to too.
The thing is, I have known your dad
for a long time, and
he's a really good writer.
Much better than he gets credit for.
And I've never seen him
inspired like he is right now.
He usually agonizes over five pages
for two or three days.
I don't want to be here, but I also
I don't want to get in the way
of whatever has gotten into him.
He's never mean to me.
I know he feels terrible about that.
Let's just give him some space
to be an asshole artist
for a couple of days,
and I am sure this
fever of his will break.
- Mom?
- Yeah?
Do you think if I took one
of the pills that Daddy took,
I could play Paganini
better than everyone?
There's no magic pill
for greatness, sweetheart.
Come here.
Okay, what do you think
of a couch in one of these,
and the wall in this?
Looks like the same color.
What? No.
They are slightly different.
It's called "tone on tone".
A lot of the Instagram design accounts
are featuring it right now.
This one feels like a cactus.
And this one feels like you
would slide right off of it.
Okay, thank you.
Okay, bed.
Okay.
I love you.
Love you too.
Night night.
Nothing feels better
than those first few nights on the Muse.
That's what we should
call it, by the way
the Muse.
He's going to have to upgrade his diet
if he wants to keep feeling that way.
Speaking of which, Belle o' the ball,
I'm hungies.
Let's go up the Cape and find a snack.
Mm.
Did you sleep?
No.
Oh, my God, it's brilliant.
I've never heard you so cocky.
I always wondered
when I saw or read great writing,
"Where did that come from?"
You know, how can Tarantino or Sorkin
say the same things
that other writers say,
just in a way that's so much
better?
Now you know?
Agh, something opened up in my mind
like finding a secret door in your house
that leads to a
a palace of words and ideas
and imagination.
I was living in a two-bedroom apartment,
and now I'm in Versailles.
I just sent everything off to Ursula.
Great. So we can leave now?
Maybe in a day or two.
Definitely by the end of the week.
Jesus.
Harry.
Alma is terrified here.
And frankly, so am I.
I want to I want
to support you in this.
But a week?
It's asking too much of us.
Doris, it was just drug addicts
looking for electronics, okay?
No one's bothered us for a week.
Do I want to stay? No, but I
But, but, but, what?
- You guys go. I'll stay.
- No. No.
You will write yourself
to death if you stay here.
Fuck!
Shit!
Ow.
Harry, stop it.
Stop!
What are you doing?
Get off me! You're hurting me!
Harry!
Jesus!
Harry!
Just in time!
I'm hunting duck.
Or, uh, quail.
I don't know, I just kind of like
the feel of a shotgun when
it goes off in my hands.
What did you give me?
What's in those pills?
No one knows except the chemist.
Who's the chemist?
I need a drink.
Gin martini, to be specific.
You want one? Come on!
10 or 15 years ago,
this area got hit on the head and ass
by an addiction stick the likes
of which you've never seen.
After the big crash,
a lot of folks out of work
with nothing to do
but get hungy and high.
Heroin at first, then crystal meth,
then opioids, which made
the heroin obsolete.
But people still needed
that crystal rush.
And cooking meth is easy out here
if you have the right ingredients
and don't blow yourself up.
Anyway, this one person
no one really knows who
they are, by the way
starts experimenting
with different recipes.
So it was created by accident?
Well, that's the story.
But you want to know the best part?
It only works if you have talent.
So those things you see
haunting around town?
They took the pill,
but they're just hacks.
Wannabes.
Dreamers ♪
See, if you take the pill, and you don't
have a creative seed
in your brain already,
the pill destroys you turns
you into a flesh phantom.
Always thirsty, never
satisfied or employed.
And who knows where
talent comes from? No one!
But now I'm draining
packages of raw steak
to drink the juices, and
and sucking the blood
out of my wife's finger.
- Mm.
- Why?
Metaphorically
I don't know.
Maybe something about, uh,
artists stealing other
people's lifeblood
to inspire our work.
Scientifically, the drug
severely depletes
the four major minerals in our blood.
See, Harry,
you can't survive on the pill
without replacing those minerals
in heroic doses.
And cartons of cow meat
ain't gonna cut it, champ.
You're gonna need that fresh, warm stuff
from something that
has opposable thumbs.
Fuck that. I'm not doing that.
Hey, no problem.
Just, uh, stop taking the pill.
But good luck ever writing
anything ever again.
It's like trying to screw
with a dick full of Novocain.
Once you take the pill, you
can't get hard without it.
I don't care. This is all insanity!
Oh, name one successful person
that isn't a little fucking insane.
- Fuck you!
- Fuck you!
I hope they like your script
back in Hollyweirdland.
I bet they will.
And then you'll be running back
for those little darlings.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
We can leave tomorrow morning, okay?
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Okay.
I have a few more pages
to write this afternoon,
and then
Let's go out and have that dinner date
that we missed out on.
I was thinking I can just take
pictures of all the rooms
and finish my design plan virtually.
Sure, yeah. Whatever you want.
What?
You know, my job is important too.
That Instagram contest I
won it was a real thing.
There were almost 100
accounts in the running.
I know that. We're we're
a two-income family.
I worry sometimes that you
don't think I'm good enough.
That this is just a hobby or something.
Sorry, hold on.
It's Ursula.
- Hello?
- Bubelah, I hate you.
Why have you been holding
out on me all these years?
What, do you have little writer elves
that live in your cabinets
and come out at night
- and type gold?
- Uh, I told you,
It's just it's been inspiring here.
Ha! Fuck yeah, it has been.
Because you just got a
green light, motherfucker!
As soon as the execs saw it,
they sent it to Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix.
Shh! Um, that's very cool.
Uh, did he like it?
He said yes right on the spot.
He said he would shoot it for free.
That's amazing!
I mean, I-I would never
ask him to do that,
but it's nice that
he that he offered.
Also, maybe start looking for
some real estate out there
because I just got an offer
from Netflix for an overall.
Love to Doris. Talk soon. Mwah.
Netflix offered me a deal.
We're gonna be rich!
We're gonna be rich!
Ooh, baby!
Oh, sorry baby, baby, baby.
Oh!
We're gonna be rich.
We're gonna be rich.
Oh.
Oh.
Go on.
- Oh, uh
- Oh, go.
I just, uh just a quick
just a little idea.
I will go and let you finish your
very lucrative writing.
Okay.
Joaquin fucking Phoenix!
I love him!
Love love is a verb ♪
Love is a doing word ♪
Feathers on my breath ♪
Gentle impulsion ♪
Shakes me makes me lighter ♪
Feathers on my breath ♪
Teardrop on the fire ♪
Feathers on my breath ♪
Harry.
How ya doin'?
Lookin' good.
No.
It's legal now in Massachusetts, babe.
He's not here for the grass.
He's here for the Muse.
- He's going through withdrawals.
- I just need one more
to finish the series I'm working on.
Well, that's what they all say.
Just one more book, one more movie,
one more hit play, and then
I'll just stop for good.
It doesn't work that way, pretty.
There's nothing more
addictive than success.
You've tasted it now,
and you're never going to
be able to live without it.
I know.
I know.
So tell me what I have to do.
First, enough with the pity party.
Second, take this.
Good.
Keep your coat on.
We're going out to eat.
I know, honey. I'm so sorry.
I'll make it up to you soon.
It's just
being invited to a writer's group
with with Belle Noir
and Austin Summers
when will I ever get a chance like that?
I love you.
She's pissed.
She's gonna leave me.
Things'll settle down, Harry.
She'll be plenty forgiving
once you thank her in your Oscar speech.
How many of us are there?
How many people have taken these pills?
A few. More lately.
- Why the increase?
- Streamers.
Just so you know, we
don't do them all year.
Just for these few months in the winter.
We come up here where it's quiet.
pop some pills and crank
out some brilliance,
then take the summers off.
How often do we have to
Eat? Oh once a week,
if you get a good feed.
I like to snack between meals.
But, uh, I've got regulars
who are happy to oblige
for a couple of shekels.
And what constitutes a good feed?
There are 9 to 12 pints of
blood in the human body,
and Belle and I usually split that.
Oh, my God.
I know, honey.
It sounds awful.
Murdering human beings
to drink their blood?
Yes, it sounds fucking terrible!
We're not dining on doctors
or eating up engineers
or snacking on scientists.
We find the ones who won't be missed.
The ones who are a drain on society.
It's basically a community service.
Used to be harder to
find the right types,
but since the opioid
epidemic hit the Cape,
it's a breeze.
Craigslist.
Gotta know what to look for.
A guy who's selling
lots of random items
a bicycle, and a stereo,
and a guitar, and some watches.
You ask yourself, "What
kind of person sells
that combination of items?"
One that just broke into
a house and stole them.
Addicts and losers and criminals.
Kind of people who cops
feel were offed by a dealer
or another fucknut addict.
Just remember, there are only two rules.
Don't ever feed off anyone in P-Town.
The old sheriff used
to look the other way,
but this new gal is a nosy bitch
who has no appreciation
for the artists' struggle.
And
never take your gloves off.
The pipes froze last week,
so the toilet doesn't work.
Um there's, uh, TP by the door.
You can pee in the sand,
but, uh, need to go number two,
use the bucket and, uh, bury it.
You're sweet.
No one will let me crash
when the cold snaps come
but you.
They think I'm contagious.
- Are you?
- No!
I mean, unless we, uh,
make out or fuck or something.
I think the cough's just bad allergies.
Wanna get high?
So what I'm trying to say
is that what if the shark is actually
the good guy of the story?
Quint's been, uh,
hunting sharks for, like, years, right?
And so, like, maybe he killed, like,
Jaws', like, brother
or, like, best friend
or something like that.
You know? And so that's why, like,
Jaws ate that lady and that kid.
So he could get Quint
back out on the water
so he can hunt him down and kill him.
Wait, is the shark's
name actually "Jaws"?
I met a guy who was an extra
in one of the beach scenes.
Maybe it was "Jaws 2".
Fuck "Jaws 2".
They shot that shit in Florida.
- Pfffft.
- Wow.
You are so fucking smart.
How do you know so much about movies?
I love movies.
They're my whole life.
You know, I started writing,
like, five screenplays.
I didn't know that.
Can I read one?
Oh, well, I've started five.
But I've finished zero.
You know, I have follow-through issues.
But I, uh, just know
if I finished them,
they'd be really great.
You know, we should
take some of those pills.
Look, I, uh,
stole them from Belle.
If I get her off hard enough,
she passes out like a dude right after.
No.
You know what these do to people.
Yeah, makes them rich and famous.
They make you bloodsuckers.
Murderers.
Look, if you want real success,
you've got to compromise a little bit.
Everyone's gotta go Darth Vader
to get ahead in life, right?
Wait, you think I'd turn into
one of those pale zombies.
Y-y-you don't think I have
any talent at all, do you?
I didn't say that.
I sleep on the street.
I eat out of dumpsters.
I haven't been touched
by a man in 15 years,
so shitting in your bucket is a
a fucking upgrade for me.
But it's better than being like Belle.
The things she does.
The things she makes me do for her.
Look at this.
That's my painting.
That's my painting!
Where did you get that?
I bought them at the thrift shop.
I bought a whole bunch of 'em.
They were like 5 bucks each.
I didn't know they sold.
I took a free painting class
at the Fine Art Center.
I thought they just tossed, uh,
all of them away when
the class was over.
Well, they did.
But not these, 'cause
they're actually good.
You an art expert?
Well, I've seen some, uh,
TV shows about art.
You know, like, uh,
PBS and shit like that.
They all say
art's about making you, uh, feel.
So like this one when I
look at it, I basically can
smell the ocean.
You're talented.
Imagine what you could be
if you took those pills.
You'd be like a
well, like Picasso.
Hm?
I want that. I want that so much.
You see, maybe um
Oh, I could make all those assholes
at the market and and at all the bars
and and and make
them kiss my ass instead.
- Motherfuckers!
- Mm-hmm.
I'd buy the supermarket,
and then I'd burn it
right to the ground.
Asshole motherfucking fuck faces!
Yes! I'd buy the biggest
house on Commercial.
I'd have fancy cocktail parties.
And I'd invite all the celebrities
except for Belle Noir.
Ha.
I can't. I can't do that.
I don't wanna be like them.
Well, I do.
But what if you're not talented?
What if you end up like
one of the bad ones?
Look around. Anything's
better than this.
Hey.
We called about the mountain bike
- and locked iPad.
- Hey, yeah.
Y'all got cash?
My, uh my Venmo's suspended.
Wow, this place is terrible.
Yeah, thanks.
I've been I've been
thinking about, you know,
getting it all fixed up, but
cash flow.
This is the, uh, locked iPad.
What's up with the gloves?
Enough talking. Mama's hungry.
Ah-ooh, ah-ooh ♪
Here I go ♪
Falling down down down ♪
My mind is a blank ♪
My head is spinning
around and around ♪
As I go deep into the funnel of love ♪
Ah-ooh ♪
It's such a crazy crazy feeling ♪
I get weak in the knees ♪
My poor old head is a reelin' ♪
How you feeling back there, handsome?
Better. Like I want to kill myself
from guilt and shame, but
better.
The art you're going
to put into the world
is going to inspire.
You just gave that knucklehead
a chance to be a small part of that,
which is more than he was
ever going to give to humanity
- if he didn't meet us tonight.
- Ugh, is that my future?
A life of rationalization?
A life of consequence.
- Oh, I feel slightly
- Buzzy?
That is the crystal meth in his blood.
You'll laser back in by morning,
but I fuckin' love it
right after a feed with
one of these dopeheads.
Me too.
But you're no good with a sloppy feed.
We're gonna have to
get you to Dr. Feldman
to take care of those teeth.
You just can't run ♪
From the funnel of love ♪
It's bound to get you someday ♪
Ah-ooh ♪
I watched you change ♪
Into a fly ♪
I looked away ♪
Hey.
Can I help you?
Um, I was given this address
for a Dr. Feldman.
That's right.
Is he here?
Wow.
Sexist much?
You're Dr. Feldman?
I changed my name to Lark.
Not legally or anything
that's a real pain in the ass.
But it's kind of hard
to be taken seriously
in the tat community when
your name's Leslie Feldman.
I worked my way through
dental school selling vintage
and doing tats.
That's my real gift.
Dental school was to
make my parents happy,
tattoos were my passion, you know?
Well, once I took the
little black pills,
I got so good at slinging ink
that I bailed on being a tooth jockey.
Come on back. Belle told
me you were coming.
I thought the pill
only works for writers.
No.
Anyone with artistic talent.
Have a seat.
People come from all over the world
to get one of my artworks
painted on them.
If you want, I'll throw in a freebie
- once we're done back here.
- Oh, no thanks.
My wife and I agreed
never to get tattoos.
It's it's in our wedding vows.
Did you agree to never murder people
and drink their blood too?
Shit happens.
You do know what you're
doing though, right?
With your teeth?
I invented this shit.
I realized it was impossible
to get a good, clean, satisfying feed
with regular chompers.
Look at animals who have to tear meat
from an uncooked, fresh kill.
Predatory cats, bears, sharks
they've all got major fang action.
Look at it this way
doing this will make it so
you have to eat less people.
Okay.
Talk me through the process.
First, we take a mold of
your teeth for the caps.
Then the filing.
You're gonna want gas for that.
Yeah, it's a big deal for me.
I know, you don't understand.
They want me to do the entire house.
Yeah, all of it.
Oh.
Alma, Alma.
Sweetheart, sweetheart.
Alma.
You have been playing nonstop for hours.
I have a terrible headache.
I don't know if it's the pregnancy
or spending all day staring at
different shades of "greige".
Sweetheart, please take a break.
No, I need to practice this.
I'm not liking this sass, miss.
You don't understand greatness.
Sounds fine to you because
fine is good enough for you.
For people like Daddy and I,
fine is failure.
Hey, hey, hey.
Why are you being so
cruel? That isn't like you.
Look, I know that this
has been hard on you.
All sorts of feelings
about the new baby
normal feelings.
And the experience out here
has been pretty traumatic.
I am sorry that Daddy
and I haven't taken time
to help you process everything.
I promise you, as soon as we are home
I don't want to leave.
I love it out here.
In fact, I've never felt happier
or more at home anywhere.
You want us to leave
because you're jealous.
I told you, you don't understand art.
You don't understand inspiration.
You don't understand how
hard it is to be great.
Daddy and I have found
something special out here
that helps us be great,
and we don't want to leave.
You don't think I'm a great mother?
I am who I am.
What part of me would not be me
if I was raised by some other
perfectly ordinary woman?
You are grounded. Go to your room.
You are punished. Go to your room.
Go to your room! Go to your room!
Pack your things! Go!
Go to your room!
We are leaving tomorrow.
No discussions!
Welcome to the dick dock.
Dick dock?
In July, this place is like
a gay hometown buffet.
Big ones, little ones.
Looking to top or bottom?
Neither.
- Harry.
- One second.
Is that blood on your chin?
Oh. Must have cut myself shaving.
Have you seen Alma?
Um, yeah, she went out for a walk.
- What?
- She said she wanted some fresh air.
You let our daughter go out there alone?
She's fine.
We let her go grab the
newspaper from the deli
all the time in New York City.
There are none of those fucking things
that have been chasing
us in New York City.
Have you lost your fucking mind?
Ugh, God, you know, ever
since we've been here,
you have been hysterical
about everything.
I refuse to be a helicopter parent.
You killed a man!
All you care about anymore
is your fucking work!
I am killing myself for this family!
You are being so irrational!
This happens every time
you get pregnant.
You are being insane.
It is not irrational
to worry about our
daughter out there alone
when we both have been
attacked in the last few days!
I'm going to find Alma,
and she and I are leaving without you.
Without you!
Alma?
Alma?
Alma!
Alma.
Alma?
Alma?
Alma!
Alma!
Alma, baby.
We have to go.
We don't really live in this world.
We feed off of it.
I could really use some inspiration.
Once you sell your soul,
it's gone.
What the hell is that?
Wherever you come from, listen to me.
Stop the killing.
Mr. President,
it is you who will listen to us.
- Aliens.
- Bloodsuckers.
Mother of God.
Boom! It's breaking all the rules.
And I'm here for that.
Our world is fragile.
I just want to go back
to my normal life.
Time is running out
for both our people.
We need to create something better.
Part human, part us.