[ Tires Screeching, Horn Honking ]
[ Man ] Hey, what the hell you doin'? Get off the road!
- [ Thunder Continues ] - [ Horn Honking ]
[ Honking Continues ] Move!
[ Laughing ]
What's so funny?
It's like pettin' a gorilla.
Well--
Was your father this hairy?
No, l, uh, I got it from my mother.
I mean, I mean, from my mother's side of the family.
That's where you, um, inherit hair patterns.
- My uncle's bald. - On your mother's side?
Mm-hmm.
Well, um, I guess I'm talking about usual patterns.
- Hmm. - There's always exceptions.
- That's-- - [ Sighs ]
- That's the way these things... work. - [ Sighing ]
Shouldn't you go to the hospital?
No, I'm fine.
You don't look fine.
You worry about me, don't you?
You think this is normal?
- What? - What we do.
What do we do?
[ Sighs ]
That's just it. We don't speak about it.
You know that feeling you get sometimes, Tracey...
that you didn't ask to be brought into the world?
Yeah.
Well, then who did?
What?
If you think that you didn't ask...
to be brought into the world...
then who did?
[ Sighs ]
[ Men Talking, Thunder Rumbling ]
All I'm saying is nobody asked you if you wanted to be brought into the world.
You just ended up getting here.
[ Sighs ]
So the question is, now that you're here...
who's asking you to stay?
[ Sighs ]
- Thanks. - Thank you.
Look, are you sure you're gonna be okay?
Yes.
Good night.
[ Footsteps Departing ]
- He touched you? - He didn't want to.
- What do you mean? - I know him.
- We all know him. He's crazy about you. - Not like that.
Why didn't you get one of the boys to handle this, Eric?
Because I didn't think of it.
I just saw him touch her, and--
Why didn't you ask him to leave?
- Because he wouldn't have listened. - How do you know that?
Because he's in his own world, the ass-wipe.
[ Zoe ] I don't know where you're both coming from.
You are telling me that he touched you, but he really didn't.
And you're saying that you overreacted, but you didn't have a choice?
- I didn't. - Why not?
Why not? Because he touched you.
[ Sighs ] Okay.
All I'm concerned about is if he makes a case...
I have to know what happened.
We told you what happened, Zoe.
And that is what happened?
- Yeah. - Okay.
Is that it?
[ Phone Rings ]
[ Answering Machine ] Hi. This is Thomas.
I am not in at the present time, but I am in town.
Please leave a message following the beep. [ Machine Beeps ]
[ Opera Date ] Good morning.
You're probably not up yet, so you haven't seen what I've done.
I'm a customs officer at the airport.
Actually, I-I saw you the other day when you were having your bags inspected.
I know-- I know how you probably smuggled those eggs in.
There's a special unit at work. I-I think they give them to the zoo or something.
They asked me where I got them. I had to lie.
Where are they?
- I took them. - Where?
- I'd like to see you again. - Oh, no.
[ Thomas ] Uh, no, they're in the country now. Uh, they're definitely in the country.
It's just I don't have them, uh, with me presently, but it doesn't mean I can't get them.
- And if you can give me, like, uh, just, uh, um, a couple-- - [ Bird Squawking ]
- Good morning. - Hi. Uh, and, uh, I'm here. Okay.
So I'll call-- I'll talk to you later. Bye.
You look like you're in worse shape than I am.
- [ Bird Squawks ] - Uh... what happened to you?
Oh, I fell down some stairs and--
- Are you okay? - Well, do I look okay?
- Uh, no, not really. - Well, I'm-I'm better than I look. Here, I got you a coffee.
I didn't, uh-- I didn't know how you took it.
- Oh, black's fine. - Oh.
- Uh, I added cream. - Oh, that's okay.
- No, here, have mine. No, I insist. - No, really--
[ Bird Squawking ]
- [ Laughs ] - What is it?
Well, it's just that this has cream in it too.
It's milk.
Oh. Oh, good.
[ Sighs ] Okay, well, I'll, uh--
- I'll get to work. - [ Bird Squawks ]
[ Birds Chirping ]
[ Eric ] Mmm, what?
What is it?
What is it that gives a schoolgirl her special innocence?
Is it the way they smell?
The sweet smell of their perfume, of their hair?
The aroma of fresh flowers...
and all that other stuff that hasn't been fucked up...
by late nights and a lot of bad food.
[ Microphone Feedback ]
Is it their gestures... and the way they move?
The way their body still holds on to some semblance of self-respect and...
- and dignity? - [ Bird Chirping ]
When they wrap their beautiful legs around you...
tight and holding on, looking at you...
you looking at them.
It's just-- [ Sighs ]
Or is it whatever comes out of their cute little mouths?
All those questions, all that wondering that--
[ Sighs ]
It's just, you know, you-- They got their whole lives ahead of them, you know?
And you've wasted half of yours away.
Damn.
What is it?
[ Birds Chirping ]
There's this feeling I get sometimes, you know?
What sort of feeling?
That I wasn't ever meant to be satisfied.
Satisfied with what?
A lot of things.
I mean, it seems to me that every time I'm about to...
you know, get a hold of something or someone...
it's just bound to slip away.
Maybe you want it to slip away.
Maybe I want what to slip away?
The things that you think you're about to have.
What would you think about that?
As a general philosophy...
or how it pertains to you?
You think you could talk about how it pertains to me?
What do you mean?
Well, I feel like I want you.
Do you think that means you'll slip away?
[ Sighs ]
[ Bird Squawks ]
[ Tracey ] Dad?
I'm not going to baby-sit for Uncle Francis anymore.
Baby-sit? You go there to practice.
That's absurd.
Why?
Dad, he pretends I'm still baby-sitting for him.
Why would you think that?
Because he's paying me.
To house-sit.
[ Sighs ] Twenty dollars an hour?
When did it go up?
He wants to believe that Lisa's still there.
I make it easier for him to convince himself.
Francis always had strange ways to convince himself...
of many things.
Things that never happened, things that might happen.
People who did things for reasons, but they didn't.
What has any of this got to do with me, Dad?
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
So why do I have to keep going there?
You don't.
And you'll tell him?
[ Thomas ] I was in here the other night when that guy was thrown out.
Why did that happen? Has he ever been thrown out before?
- Why do you think he would touch you? - Why do you think he would touch you?
Why do you think he would touch you?
Well, what do you think was going through his mind when he--
- Or-Or what was he thinking? - [ Laughs ]
- Well-- - What's so funny?
Well, this is a joke, right?
Not at all.
If you do this favor for me, I'll do that favor for you.
But I'm not hiding anything.
Thomas, you're hiding a smuggling operation...
that brings in over $200,000 a year, probably a lot more.
We've suspected you for a long time.
I was just brought in to confirm what was already known.
So how do you want me to report back?
[ Sighs ]
All I'm asking for is a bit of help.
That's all.
It's very important for me to know these things. Just ask her these questions.
Do this for me, and you have a clean slate.
[ Groans ] This really hasn't been my day.
So change things. Make it your day.
* Exotica **
[ Eric ] And all you men sitting near that stage, I can see you.
I know what you're thinking.
You're thinking that "because I'm sitting next to that stage...
I'm getting the same feeling as all those guys...
shoveling out that cash for their own private dancer."
Well, you know, you guys want to watch, go to the movies.
We're in the live-action business here, gents.
And, okay, granted-- Granted, that beautiful creature writhing before you on stage...
she maybe, you know, smiles at you.
She winks her eyes at you occasionally...
and you may feel like the man.
Is that all you guys are looking for?
Is that all you want? Come on, come on.
Invite one of our lovely ladies over to your table where the real action is.
- [ Eric Growls ] Yeah! - Hi.
I'm really sorry that took so long, or I took so long.
- Hi. - It's such a busy night.
Hi. I'm Chrissy.
Hi. I'm Thomas.
It's nice to meet you, Thomas. I like the name Thomas a lot.
Oh, thanks.
Are you from out of town?
Yes.
Where are you from?
Um... San Francisco.
Oh, you're kidding. I love San Francisco.
Oh, you've-- You've been there?
Yeah, I was there a couple of years ago with my debating team.
- Debating team? - Mm-hmm.
[ Thomas Over Speaker ] Um, that's-- I admire someone who can debate well.
I mean, who can debate i-instead of just argue.
Well, anyone can argue, but i-it's a good skill, uh, discipline...
to be able to debate and stand back.
Um, and that's something you can apply in your life...
- outside of school. - [ Christina ] Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
And, and when you're meeting someone or negotiating.
- Negotiating? - Well, I mean, if you have-- If you have to--
Um, it's a good skill to learn, as opposed to cheerleading or--
Well, that's what I say.
Don't be nervous about this, Thomas.
- We're gonna have some fun, okay? - Sure.
Sure.
Um... um...
I was here the other night, um--
What night was that?
The night th-that guy was thrown out.
You were dancing for him.
His name is Francis.
Um... what happened?
[ Sighing ]
He was a bad boy.
- Wh-What do you mean by that? - What do I mean?
I mean, have you danced for him before a lot?
Mm-hmm.
-And has he ever been thrown out before? -No.
So what do you think happened?
He touched me.
And when you're dancing for the customer...
they can't touch.
Yes, but why do you think he touched you last night?
Has he ever touched you before?
Is this what you really want to talk about for five bucks a dance, Thomas?
Well, I just want to know what you think was going on in his mind.
Are you here for some kind of psychology conference?
[ Laughs ] Uh, well, uh, yes.
Uh, I am, actually.
He's, uh--
He's a very particular case.
Particular in what way?
Um... you want the full story?
Sure.
His daughter was murdered a couple of years ago...
and then he was implicated.
- [ Thomas ] For th-the murder? - Yeah.
- But why? - I-I don't know. I don't really remember the details.
I mean, he was cleared, and then they caught the guy who did it.
But... it obviously had, like, this...
- this incredible effect on him. - [ Sniffles ]
I mean, he is--
He's just so fucked up about it.
Oh.
You know...
Thomas...
Francis and I have a very special type of relationship.
And I-I've never-- I've never minded.
But then he chose to violate it.
S-Special in what way?
Well, we've, we've always had this understanding.
I mean, I need him for certain things...
and... he needs me for certain things.
I mean, that's the way it's been.
Uh, and how did he violate that?
He-He violated that in his-his, in his role and what he was supposed to do for me.
Wh-What's he su-- Why?
What's he supposed to do for you? I mean, he comes to this club. He pays you.
Because I was doing things for him...
and he's done things for me.
[ Static, Christina Crying Over Speaker ]
[ Thomas ] What has he done for you?
- [ Siren Wailing ] - [ Christina Sniffling ] I'm--
[ Crying ] I'm sorry.
[ Continues Crying ] Okay, this is really stupid.
And then I'm getting so emotional over the fact that he touched me...
because, I mean, he was, he was always paying me...
to do him this favor and-- [ Sighs ]
- What favor? - I don't know, Thomas.
- Why do you want to know all this? - Well, I'm sorry, but l, uh--
What is it about a schoolgirl that gives her that special innocence, gentlemen?
Such a thing that you have absolutely no control over.
You never have.
And you never will.
- After this break, we'll be right back with sweet Chrissy... - He-He's not supposed to do that.
- who'll help us answer that question. - Do what?
He's not supposed to-- He's not suppose--
He can obviously see from his booth that I'm sitting here talking with a client.
He's not supposed to call me when I'm talking with a client.
- Why? Do you have to go now? - [ Sighing ]
Uh, yeah.
But I-I-I want to come back, and I want to, you know, talk.
But I want to move downstairs. I don't like it here.
Sure, sure, sure.
Okay. I'll see you soon.
Uh, I'm going to move to the washroom.
[ Woman Murmuring ]
[ Woman Laughing, Murmuring ]
[ Urinating ]
Hey, I've noticed you've been spending a lot of time with that lady.
[ Thomas ] Are you-- Are you talking to me?
Yeah.
You seem, uh, to, to both hit it off together.
- Well, I guess. - Yeah.
Um, I guess that can happen.
[ Eric Over Speaker ] So what do you guys talk about?
[ Thomas ] Oh, just things.
What sort of things?
Oh, this and that.
"This and that," eh?
You know, it's amazing how...
you can hit it off with someone like that, isn't it?
[ Eric ] Have you ever noticed that some people just drift into your life...
like you've known them forever?
I mean, there are some people that you can remember...
the moment that you met them really clearly.
And other people that...
it seems like you've known them forever, even though you haven't.
And they all become part of this continuous memory you have of yourself.
This ongoing--
Are you with me?
[ Thomas ] Uh, yeah, I-I think so.
I mean, here you are, y-you know...
you're having this beautiful conversation with her.
You're getting to know each other, and--
I mean, there's other guys that come in here. [ Laughs ]
There's this one guy who comes in here every other night or something...
and he spends a few hours with her.
But he never really gets to know her, you know?
Not the way you have. Not the way you two--
She really seems to be herself with you.
Well, how do you know?
What? That she's being herself?
Yeah.
Because I used to be her lover.
I'm, uh, sorry, sir. I can't let you in.
Look, why not?
Look, can I-- Can I at least just talk to the manager?
- You want to talk to the manager? - Yeah.
You have to understand that we have very strict rules...
regarding this sort of behavior here.
- And I have always respected them. - And this one time you didn't.
Now, the problem, Mr. Brown, is that this one time...
happened in a room full of other men who were watching.
Now, if I let you back into the club...
- what's to stop them from trying to do the same thing? - I told you.
Someone told me to do it. I was set up.
And you believed that someone?
- [ Radio Transmission ] This is, uh, Security. - Please, sit down.
Thank you.
[ Zoe ] Why did you touch her?
- Well, I needed to make sure. - Why?
What if she let you? What would you have done?
I'd have been disappointed.
I'm not sure... I understand you.
That's not the way she was raised.
You know her? Personally?
There is another club I can recommend.
I need to come here.
- I understand that very well. - No, I-I d-don't think you understand.
Exotica is a special place.
My mother was dedicated to creating a very particular type of atmosphere...
and I would like to maintain that.
You don't understand.
[ Inhales Deeply ]
Mr. Brown, we're all aware of what you've gone through.
You've suffered a lot.
But you have to understand that Exotica is here for your amusement.
We're here to entertain, not to heal.
There are other places for that.
[ Francis ] Other places?
[ Zoe ] I can give you a list.
Mr. Brown?
Are you listening to me, Mr. Brown?
Um...
um, I-I just met this man in the washroom.
What man?
Well, I'm not sure. I-I was in a booth.
I didn't really have a chance to see him.
- So how did you meet him? - He just started talking to me.
And what did he say?
Well, um, he said he used to be your lover.
Well, it's always a sad moment, gentlemen...
when that clock strikes that magic hour...
and we have to send you out into the long and dark and lonely night.
[ Sighs ]
But just remember...
we're only ever just a dream away...
wherever that is.
* You say that you don't love him *
* But he's right there by your side *
* He's just there you say *
* To take away the loneliness you feel inside *
- I guess-- - I have to go.
- Oh, o-okay. - ** [ Music Continues ]
Um, wait a minute.
- Oh, no. Thomas, don't. - No, no, no.
- Thomas, please, don't. - Uh... no, no. Uh, I insist.
Please.
Thank you.
[ Thomas Clears Throat ]
Your dad told me about, um...
you not wanting to baby-sit anymore.
There's no baby to sit.
Well, I just want you to know, I understand.
Understand what?
That this might all seem a little weird.
A little?
- I just want to thank you, Tracey. - For what?
You've been very patient.
And, uh...
if you think the time has come for this to end, then I understand.
[ Unfolding Money ]
Thank you.
Good night, Francis.
[ Unlatching Seat Belt ]
[ Opening, Closing Door ]
[ Footsteps Departing ]
He-He-He calls me from a table to dance. Of course I expect you to do something.
- Christina-- - And then-- And then he follows this guy to the washroom...
- and he tells this guy that, that he was my lover. - Well, he was.
- [ Door Closing ] - It's going too far, Zoe.
Actually, baby, you have no idea how far it's gone.
You know, I told him to touch you.
I said you were into it. Yeah.
It used to be wonderful watching you dance for him, seeing how you could soothe him.
I mean, it soothed me.
You know, you soothed me.
Do you understand that?
- Hey, hey. - Don't, don't, don't!
- Stop. Stop that! - Don't fucking touch me, you fucker!
- Stop! - Just fuck off, Zoe!
- Stop it when I say! Eric! - Stop it! Ow!
- Chill out! Chill out! - [ Screaming ]
- Chill out! Relax! - [ Hysterical Crying ]
- All right? Relax! - Eric, come here!
- John! Get out. What's the matter? - [ Crying ] No!
Fuck off, Zoe! No!
[ Water Sloshing ]
[ Footsteps Approaching ]
[ Sighs ] Morning, Thomas.
- What happened? - I had to leave.
Did you, uh, hear everything?
Yeah.
Did you know?
Did I know what?
That she knew... about your daughter.
[ Sighs ]
You know, when the, when the police came to question me...
they told me a lot of things.
They told me that my wife was having an affair with my brother;
had been for years.
They told me that I thought Lisa wasn't my daughter.
They told me I thought she was Harold's.
Wh-Why would they say that?
Because they thought I could harm her...
that I would harm her.
And then they found the man that, uh, that did it.
Let me go.
And I went home.
And then my wife was killed in a car accident a couple months later.
[ Sighs ] And, uh, Harold was in the car.
He lived.
[ Sighs ]
What do you think it would have taken...
for your father to kill someone?
I'm-I'm asking because there's someone that I want to kill now.
I felt it last night as I listened to him in the washroom.
I don't understand.
He set me up... to touch her.
Why would he do that?
He took something very special from me.
I've had too many special things taken away.
- That's why we have to go back tonight. - To kill him?
- What would you do, Thomas? What would you do? - Well--
- Well, I would talk to him. - I can't even get in there.
What would you do?
You go back tonight...
and you have her dance for you...
and then you touch her.
And he'll throw you out just like he threw me out.
But I'll be waiting outside with the gun.
I'm not gonna help you kill somebody.
Not even to save a few years in prison?
No.
Well, to help me then?
And that was Mirella, gentlemen. Mirella.
You can have her at your own table for only five dollars.
Thank you, Mirella.
And now, it's always a pleasure to announce to you our next dancer.
Gentlemen, please, let's give a big round of applause...
- for Christina. - [ Man Hooting, Applause ]
[ Applause Continues ]
[ Man Chuckling ]
* Everybody knows that the dice are loaded *
* Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed *
* Everybody knows the war is over *
* Everybody knows the good guys lost *
* Everybody knows the fight was fixed *
* The poor stay poor The rich get rich *
* That's how it goes *
* Everybody knows *
* Everybody knows that the boat is leaking *
* Everybody knows the captain lied *
* Everybody got this broken feeling *
* Like their father or their dog just died *
* Everybody talking to their pockets *
* Everybody wants a box of chocolates *
* And a long-stemmed rose *
* Everybody knows *
* Everybody knows that you love me, baby *
* Everybody knows that you really do *
* Everybody knows that you've been faithful *
* Ah, give or take a night or two *
* Everybody knows you'd been discreet *
* But there were so many people you just had to meet *
* Without your clothes *
* And everybody knows *
* Everybody knows *
* That's how it goes *
* Everybody knows **
[ Clattering ]
Don't be afraid.
I know everything about you.
What do you know about me?
- [ Siren Wailing ] - I found her.
You found who?
Your little girl.
Oh. Oh.
[ Eric ] I found her, man.
I found her.
[ Echoing Laughter ]
[ Francis ] Yeah, play something happy. Play something happy.
Yeah. Hello.
- [ Laughing ] - [ Knocking ]
Okay, I'll get it, I'll get it, I'll get it.
** [ Piano ]
- Hi, Christina. - Hi.
- I'm a little bit early. - Yeah, th-that's okay. Come on in.
** [ Piano Continues ]
[ Francis ] Yeah, I mean, it's difficult for me to tell...
'cause I never had much of a musical education myself...
but her teacher thinks she's really talented.
And, um, actually, we were thinking of buying her a better piano.
An exotic baby grand, you know?
And when I mentioned "baby grand," do you know what she said to me?
[ Laughing ] She said, "Dad, isn't that a contradiction in terms?"
I mean, she just never ceases to amaze me.
I mean, she's eight years old. Can you imagine?
She can already identify-- Wh-What do you call that when...
it's two words, kind of cancel each other out?
Oh, she just amazes me.
[ Turns Off Engine ]
- [ Sighs ] - Where's your mind?
I was just thinking.
About what?
About the way you talk about Lisa.
You get so excited.
It's nice.
Well, I'm sure your parents talk about you that way too.
I don't think so.
Oh, I do.
Why?
Because you're a very responsible young woman.
[ Sighs ] Responsible to what?
Well, to whatever it is you believe you have to do.
Like what?
Well, Lisa loves it when you come over to baby-sit, for example.
[ Laughs ]
She says you really listen to her.
That's nice.
She really listens to me too.
- [ Sniffs ] - She thinks you're not very happy.
- Listen, Christina, - [ Sighs ]
if there's, if there's ever anything you want to talk about...
about what might be going on at home or whatever...
- you know that I'm here, okay? - [ Sniffles ]
- Okay. - Okay?
Okay.
[ Sniffs ]
Oh, no. I-It's okay.
Thank you.
You know, I really enjoy these drives home, Mr. Brown.
Good, good. So do I.
- Bye, Mr. Brown. - Good-bye.
[ Door Closes ]
[ Sighs ]