And it's not that you don't like kids.
Roberto's maybe the best thing that ever happened in your life. But he's 15 now.
He's pretty much done with you. He'll be moving out.
You thought you'd get back to the freedom you had back when you were first married.
Fact is, you feel you're getting old way too fast.
The last thing you had in mind was a new family...
...with all the whining and the diapers and the attendant baby baggage.
Why start all that shit again when you wonder if you did the right thing the first time?
Davis! You're awful!
This is so much more time-efficient than a regular conversation.
Since you're obsessed with what's going down and why you're going with it...
...what shape are you in to take on some new baby who came from God knows where...
...and has God knows what kind of health and emotional problems?
And never asked to be taken in anyway.
On the other hand...
Hey, baby, what's the matter?
While we got a moment, maybe you can explain something to me I never understood.
What is the theory on this handkerchief thing?
You blow your nose in it, you put it back in your pocket...
...and then you see someone distressed and you give them this gift from your pocket?
And they're supposed to be grateful as they wipe it all over their face?
If I tell you, you're gonna think it's about you.
But it's not about you at all, but you won't believe it and you'll get all defensive.
Hey, if you don't wanna talk about it, don't force yourself.
It's just that I wanna have children.
And I don't care how rotten the world is. But I'm so far from being able to have them.
I'm involved with you. You're not gonna have kids with me.
We're not even gonna get married. So I can't even start to try to have 'em.
I gotta break up with you and find someone I can stand to be with.
Even then, I don't know how easy it's gonna be.
I might have trouble getting pregnant, after everything I've done to my body.
Maybe I should just hop out up here. I can call a cab.
Why, Mack? You're my friend too, aren't you?
Hey, hey.
Who says we're never gonna get married and have kids?
Uh-uh. Come on, baby.
Hey.
Hey, how you doin'?
I don't know if you remember me.
Oh. Hey, man, sure.
- Mack, right? - Right.
I didn't recognize you at first. Yeah.
I called and they said you'd be getting in about now.
I wanted to thank you again for the other night.
You did already.
Look, can I buy you breakfast somewhere or something?
Sure. Just a minute.
- (Simon) You play basketball? - I played in high school. I was sixth man.
Me too. Sixth man until my senior year, and then I started.
- No kidding? Center or forward? - Forward. I wasn't big enough for center.
- Must have been some team. - We had Oscar Benson on that team.
No shit. You must be pretty good.
I wasn't playin' the same game that Oscar was playing.
The other night... I don't know if you were in danger, except for maybe losing your wallet.
I didn't save your life, so you shouldn't be thinking you have to say something to me.
One morning, about three years ago, I was on my way to a meeting...
...at the Mutual Benefit building on Wilshire, in the Miracle Mile.
I love that name - the Miracle Mile.
It's the building across the street from the county art museum.
I was thinking about the meeting I was going to. I was worried about it, actually.
I started to step off the kerb.
A stranger grabbed me and yanked me back as a city bus went flying by my nose.
I mean, it just filled up the world six inches from my nose.
I would have been like a wet bug stain on the bus.
I wouldn't have even felt it, it would have been over so fast.
I thanked this stranger, this woman in a baseball cap...
... but I was pretty much in a daze.
When I thanked her, she said "My pleasure."
I didn't notice till the last moment that the cap was from the Pittsburgh Pirates...
... my favorite team since I was a kid. - Roberto Clemente, huh?
Right. I never got over the idea that I should have thanked that woman more...
...talked to her a while, something.
She reached out and yanked me back from the edge, literally.
Changed everything for me, and for my wife and my son...
...and then she just wandered off down the Miracle Mile.
How come she was wearing a Pirates cap?
It's not usual at 9am on Wilshire Boulevard, a woman in a Pittsburgh Pirates cap.
- It's a little suspicious. - You lost me.
I just wondered, later on...
...was she for real, you know?
Was that a real person or was that something else, you know, sent from somewhere else...
...to grab me back from that kerb?
Is that what you're wondering about me?
I just... couldn't let it happen again.
I didn't wanna just let you drift away like she did and never talk to you. It just...
...didn't seem right to let it happen twice. So that's why I'm bothering you.
You're not bothering me. You're buying me breakfast.
Good.
You got a right to try to figure out what confuses you...
...but seems like you're making more of this than it is.
The world's a hard place, but sometimes you just get lucky.
- I believe in luck. - And, of course, sometimes you don't.
If you're alive, some terrible shit's gonna happen to you...
...and maybe some good things too, but you can always count on the terrible.
If it doesn't kill you, you're gonna be around to see it come down some other way.
Thank you, honey.
No. No, thanks.
My... father died last year.
81 years old.
It's a long time for a black man to live in this town.
He outlived everyone he ever knew. He saw two wives die and three of his children.
He had a great ugly old face that looked like a suitcase gone a million miles...
...all beat up and dented and scuffed and stained.
Man, he looked like he walked 80 years on that face.
When I used to look at that face and see all the pain there...
...all the things he'd lost, all the hurt he had...
...I wondered why he wanted to go on, why he just didn't lay down and give it up.
- Did you figure it out? - No. Never figured out much about that guy.
- I asked him, though. - What'd he say?
Habit.
- Does your sister have a job? - She's a cashier at Jon's.
Lets her work her hours around her little girl's school.
- Would they let her transfer to another store? - I don't know. Why?
- I was just wondering about something. - What's that?
It just seems like an impossible situation.
You can't live your life thinking someone's gonna shoot up your house at any moment.
A lot of people do.
You know, I know this guy who's got an apartment house in Canoga Park.
I might be able to get her something out there at a very reasonable price.
Hey, listen, Mack, thanks, but I'm not so sure it's a good idea.
OK. I'm not gonna push it if you're not comfortable.
Maybe you wanna think about it. You don't have to decide now.
- Yeah, maybe. - OK.
- You got my number. - Yeah.
Simon?
Yeah?
What is it, exactly? I wanna know for two reasons.
I wanna know if it's what I think it is...
...and I wanna make sure I haven't offended you, cos that's the last thing I wanted to do.
Man, you are a piece of work.
I know. It's just... sometimes I let stuff go and then I wonder about it later on.
OK, here it is. I guess I think it's hard...
...maybe even dangerous, reaching in and mucking around with other people's lives.
Sometimes there's a reason they're doin' what they're doin'.
That's a tough one. You don't wanna fuck with things you shouldn't...
...but you don't always wanna turn away, either.
Is that what you thought it was?
Yeah, that and... you know...
...the white guy...
You white?
How 'bout Canoga Park? That's pretty white, ain't it?
No, not really. Think about it. I'll see you.
...to try and understand just what exactly had been delivered unto me...
...at the cost of flesh and bone and precious blood...
...what message was being delivered to me...
...in a.38-caliber envelope for me to open and read and understand.
And this problem, this difficulty I was having in understanding...
...it grew on me like a fever.
It buzzed around my brain till I could no longer sleep...
...or eat or think about anything else.
It was as painful and real...
...as the physical wound I could see in my thigh.
- What? - Nothing. Go on. I want to hear this.
I had a feeling that you, more than anyone, would have a problem taking me seriously.
Please, go on. I am taking you seriously. I'm sorry for whatever you think you saw.
I will go on, but first tell me what made you smile.
- "Unto." - What?
You said "delivered unto" you. I'm sorry.
That is purposeful, my sweet. We're talking about a religious experience.
I might say "doth" or "thou" or a lot of things.
Please, Davis, go on. The suspense is killing me.
At the end of this long, torturous night...
...my head pounding in syncopation to my throbbing wound...
...there came a glorious, delicate dawn.
And I knew... I knew I can't make those movies any more.
I can't make another piece of art that glorifies violence and bloodshed and brutality.
I can't contribute another stone...
...to this landslide of dehumanizing rage...
...that has swept across this country like a pestilence.
That's a mixed metaphor, isn't it? Anyway...
I'm done, kaput, fini.
No more exploding bodies, exploding buildings, exploding anything.
No more shit.
Davis, that's wonderful. You know how I feel about it.
- I think I've always been frank with you. - To say the least.
- You'll never have to say another word. - I applaud you.
- Have you told the studio yet? - Fuck the studio.
- Have you told your business manager yet? - Fuck 'em.
You said all along there's a fortune to be made in stories about life.
The life force, the creation of life, the very instinct for living.
Besides, I don't give a shit about money.
I made more money this year than my father made in his entire life.
At the rate I'm going, I'm not gonna run out of money for...
...well, 18 months, anyway.
I'm gonna make the world a better place for your new bambina.
What's happening?
What's happening? Well, let's see.
We're filling out forms, we're being evaluated...
...we're becoming official foster parents, which would be the first step.
We're...
We're arguing, we're talking, we're...
...flirting with marital disaster.
Mack and I are both being...
...passionately, unshakably devoted to our own position.
Claire, may I be very, very frank with you?
Is it possible this has come up because Roberto's about to move on...
...and you are coincidentally approaching a certain age?
As opposed to what? As opposed to being wildly in love with this particular baby...
...which I had in my house for nine hours?
Of course that's why this has come up, Davis.
It's not that simple... but yes.
But is that rational?
- Rational? - Reasonable, feasible, for you and Mack?
Well...
I guess I'd have to say...
...I don't really care.
And it's in Canoga Park, you know.
A nice little apartment complex, he says. He owns it, his associate.
- It'd be real reasonable with the rent. - Canoga Park?
Simon, that's where the white people live, isn't it?
Yeah, right.
- Hi. - Hi.
- Do you know Jane? - No.
- This is Mack. - Hi, Mack.
- Hi, Jane. - (Dee) You wanna sit down?
Thanks, I... got something I should do upstairs.
- I'm having one of those days. - (Jane) Which kind?
I keep drifting. I can't seem to carry through on anything.
Like I'll say I have to go upstairs, but I don't really want to, so... I don't go.
- Have a seat. - Thanks.
At the same time I'm feeling very... free, like I've got a little buzz on or something.
Does that happen to you?
- It doesn't happen to me as much as I'd like. - It's very pleasant.
What brought it on? Maybe I'll try it.
I got up really early this morning. Sometimes it helps to be a little sleepy.
I got that part down.
I went to see this guy that helped me when my car broke down. He drives a tow truck.
I really like him. His daughter goes to this deaf college in Washington, DC.
His wife left him. He's kinda lonely. But he seems peaceful about it.
- That would be nice. - Yeah, it would be great...
...if you could sort of be down about things, but still be all right with it...
...like finally accept the fact that you're gonna feel bad most of the time and not fight it.
Of course, it would also be nice not to feel bad most of the time.
Yeah, but that's how you get in trouble, by thinking how nice it'd be to be happy more.
- Jane, are you married? - No.
- Boyfriend? - No.
Would you like to meet this guy?
- I don't know. What does he look like? - How important is that?
- Somewhat important. - I was just curious.
He happens to be a very handsome black guy.
I don't even know if he's interested. I don't know much about him.
How are you gonna describe Jane?
Same way.
A very handsome black guy.
Yeah.
(Kelley) Mama, there's a man here.
- Yes? - Hello, Mrs. Dotson.
- You have got a very polite little lady there. - What is it?
My name is Harvey Charles. I represent Ohio Continental Insurance. Here's my card.
You're selling insurance? We don't want life insurance.
That's the first thing most people say. The policies we're selling only cost $10 a month.
I am too young and too strapped to be gettin' life insurance.
We're not just talking about you here. Think about your children.
I ask you only one thing, Mrs. Dotson, and that is this.
Just glance at these news clippings which I hold here in my hand.
- What about 'em? - They show, in frightening detail...
...the high rate of violent death caused by gangs and crime...
...in yours and surrounding neighborhoods. Can I hand these to you to take a look at?
Look, Mrs. Dotson, I'm not gonna kid you.
These policies are inexpensive because the benefits aren't that big.
But what they will do is if harm should come to one of your children...
- ...this policy will cover funeral expenses... - Kelley, go wait in the kitchen.
- What? - Go.
You tryin' to sell me life-insurance policies on my kids?
They're the ones on the front line. They're the ones in danger.
You get the fuck off my porch!
I said go on! Get away from my house, dammit!
(man muttering)
Bottom of the list... Who needs it?
South Carolina... Why bother trying?
Keep the baby. You need her as much as she needs you.
It's big for the money.
It's not beautiful, but they keep it up good.
They have their share of gangs out here, too.
But they don't run the place. Not yet, anyway.
I guess Kelley would eventually adjust.
Deborah's really confused.
It's a big move. And I don't know what to tell her, either.
Either way, thank you, man.
(# "Searching for a Heart" by Warren Zevon)
# Darkness in the morning
# Shadows on the land
# Certain individuals
# Aren't sticking to the plan
# And I'm searching for a heart
# Searching everyone
# They say love conquers all
# You can't start it like a car
# You can't stop it with a gun
Excuse me.
- Are you Roberto's mother? - Yes.
- We're Amanda's parents. - I'm Steve Fox. This is my wife Cathy.
- Hi. Claire. - We can't wait to meet Roberto.
We feel like we already know him, just from Amanda's letters.
I'm sorry. I'm afraid that Roberto doesn't write as much as he should.
- We're very pleased about Thanksgiving. - Thanksgiving?
It is so good of you to let Roberto come to San Diego.
Gosh. I'm sorry. I guess you may not have heard everything about this summer.
I'm beginning to get the picture.
- There's my parents. - Which ones?
See the man in the beard?
Oh, God. They're talking to my mother.
They were relieved I wasn't Puerto Rican.
Amanda didn't explain that in all the many, many letters that she wrote to her parents?
God, I hope they're not bigots or something.
- Did you wanna tell me about it? - What?
What happened this summer.
At camp? Oh, camp was OK.
- I really missed you. I'm glad you're back. - Yeah, me too.
- I'm sorry about Thanksgiving. - We'll talk to your father about it.
- It's OK with you? - Didn't say that.
- But your mind's open? - Roberto.
Remain calm.
Let me ask you something. How open is your mind?
- Is this gonna be about my hair? - No. This is something pretty big.
- About me? - Only partly. It involves you.
Are you and Dad splitting?
- Why do you say that? - Is that it?
No. Absolutely no. Why would you say a thing like that?
Do we look like people who are about to split?
I don't know. People do it all the time and they look like they're fine.
I am crazy for your father.
Have we given you any sign that we're having trouble?
- So what were you gonna tell me? - Wait a minute. Answer me.
Sometimes it just looks like you're both kind of unhappy, OK?
Maybe I misunderstood. It just looked like that a lot before I went away.
- Really? - Yeah but, look, I'm glad I'm wrong.
I mean, God, that'd be horrible. I hope you guys never split.
I'm sorry I said it.
Now, what were you gonna tell me? What do I have to have an open mind about?
- Maybe we should talk about it later. - Oh, Mom. You can't do that to me.
Just pretend I never said anything and tell me.
Your father and I are discussing whether to adopt a little girl.
What?
To, you know, the evening.
Some playboy, huh?
- Nice car. - Thank you. It's yellow.
Of course it's yellow.
All right.
(mutters)
OK.
I thought you'd changed your mind.
Oh.
No way. It's just... been a while since I did this.
- You haven't been going out? - I go out a little.
I just can't remember the last time I was... set up.
- Fixed up. - Yeah.
Yeah.
So, what do you think so far?
So far it's all right.
I like it.
I'm just... just a little surprised.
- Why? What did you expect? - No, it's not you.
I'm just surprised at how nervous I am.
- Me, too. - Yeah?
Yeah.
That's all right. At least now we know that much about each other.
Yeah.
Mack must have had some reason to think this would work.
- I guess you've known him a while, huh? - I don't know him at all.
Really? Wow.
I don't know him much, either.
That's funny.
Maybe we're the only two black people he ever met.
I think you're being too hard on yourself. You're trying to help.
Is moving to Canoga Park gonna save that family?
Who said you have to save anybody?
Maybe the kids'll be less likely to get hurt. Who knows? I don't and you don't.
They're not gonna go if they don't want to, and you're not responsible for them anyhow.
You happen to know a guy who owns an apartment house.
What am I doing fixing Simon up with some girl I don't even know?
I do this shit and the next morning I'm astounded.
Has it occurred to you that it doesn't really matter all that much?
Why should you be the one person on earth who always acts rationally?
Forget rational. I'm completely out of control.
- Stop me before I kill. - Well, so, good for you.
Aren't you sick of trying to be in control all the time?
I am.
Mack... you think that I want that baby because I've got some hole in my life...
...or I think I'm gonna have some hole in my life, but that's not it.
Or if it is it, it's just a part of it.
That baby needs someone to love it and take care of it.
- Does it have to be you? - I believe that there's a reason I found her.
You can dismiss it all you want, but I'll always believe that. And you probably do too.
You told me you thought there was a reason this guy Simon showed up and saved you.
- I did? - How do you think I feel about this baby?
What if I hadn't heard it? What if no one had heard her?
We would have read about it in the Times. "Oh, my God."
"They found a dead baby under the bushes on Carmelina."
"Oh, Mack. I must have run right by it the other morning."
But that didn't happen. I found her.
And maybe I saved her life just the way maybe Simon saved yours.
- What are you saying? - Something has happened.
You can't go back and have it not happen. Some kind of connection has been made.
It has to be played out. That is why you can't stay out of Simon's business.
It's like this itch you've gotta scratch.
Claire, you're talking about a lifelong commitment.
I won't be dealing with Simon the rest of my life.
How do you know that this man isn't gonna be your friend until the day that you die?
What if these are miracles, Mack?
Maybe we don't have any experience with miracles, so we're slow to recognize them.
- I'm getting a terrific headache. - No, you're not.
- I'm not? - I'll tell you why I reject your headache.
- Please. - Because it's inappropriate.
If I am right and these events are miracles...
...then it is an inappropriate response to get a headache in the presence of a miracle.
- Wow. - Yeah.
I don't know about you, but I'm thinking this Mack must be some kind of genius.
- Do you believe in fate? - I believe in luck.
- Do you think you should come up? - Do I think I should come up?
What do you think?
Well, I think this night has gone about as well as it possibly could.
I don't wanna push our luck.
Is it OK to call you at work?
I look forward to it. This is a feeling I'd like to have at work.
What is it?
- Bye, Simon. - Say that again.
Simon.
You OK?
Whoa.
You sure?
Why don't you just pull right over there?
- Didn't see him comin', did you? - I still don't know what happened.
I guess you were lucky. Even though it might not seem that way right now.
- Pretty scary stuff. - I was crying before it happened.
Really?
I don't cry this easily normally.
- Sorry. - Don't apologize.
You wanna get outta there? Walk around and catch your breath? You'll feel better.
You OK?
Then I guess I'd better hang on.
I don't imagine you wanna talk about it with a complete stranger.
I'm in love with a married man.
We haven't been having an affair. He wouldn't do it.
We just had one night together. One really amazing night.
Uh-huh.
Do you think that's awful?
- Which part? - All of it.
I think it happens.
- Did he treat you bad? - It hurts.
When you love someone and... they don't choose you...
...it's bad.
That's the way he's been bad to me.
Married men suck.
By definition.
Are you married?
Tell the truth.
No, I'm not married.
I haven't found the right girl.
You can't quit now, babe. It's the last mile.
I'm catchin' my second wind.
Oh, man.
That's all there is. We did it, man.
Just put it anywhere.
- That's the end of it, baby. - Good.
I don't know if he's even gonna stay here tonight.
Let's get a beer.
(# rap music)
This is fucked.
What you doin', man?
No talkin', huh? That's cool.
That's cool. I guess you don't want no company.
I thought you was talkin' to me. I thought you said I was fucked up.
- I wasn't talkin' to your sorry ass. - Who the fuck were you talkin' to?
Were you talkin' to yourself?
Hola, Carlos? Qué pasa?
- What was that, man? - That chamante was quick.
Must've come here from Beirut.
You! Stop running and put your hands behind your head.
Stop running and put your hands behind your head.
Here we go.
Halt! Halt!
Turn around and get down on your stomach.
- What? - Down, asshole, and I mean now.
Put your right hand behind your back.
Bring the other one around.
Don't you know what "stop" means?
Where you goin' in such a hurry, pal?
- Nowhere. I'm just runnin'. - Runnin' from what?
- Nothin'. I live around here. - Where?
- I don't know. - You don't know.
What's that supposed to mean?
- Back there, across from the park. - What park?
I don't know.
They almost smoked me. See a nigger run around here...
...they smoke you, ask questions later.
I ain't stayin' here, I tell you that! I ain't fuckin' stayin' here!
What's next?
Nothing. I'm quitting.
Tell me.
This isn't tolerable. I can't do this any more. It's sick.
I need to go on.
Don't act like you're not relieved. I know you are.
I don't want you to go.
You know what your trouble is? You just never wanna be the bad guy.
You want everything you do to be OK.
But it isn't. If you really didn't want this to happen, then you shouldn't have fucked me.
- I'm sorry. I think I've said that before. - But you didn't mean it.
You aren't really sorry it happened, are you?
Are you?
You've denied me in every way you can. Everything I've wanted, you've denied me.
- I've been honest all along. Even that night. - Who gives a shit?
Don't you see what you do? Even now, you wanna deny me what's rightfully mine.
- Which is? - To resent the hell outta you.
To feel totally rejected and hated.
To hate you for doing it to me.
There are good men out there who are gonna treat me like I'm the very thing they want.
And then you do that thing with Jane.
What?
You know, with that guy, that tow-truck guy.
What about it? What's that got to do with anything?
You don't even know, do you? You don't even know why that hurts me so much.
Jane's in love. She thinks this could be the one.
- Is that bad? I thought she was your friend. - She is my friend.
I'm very happy for her, but it makes me feel like shit...
...that you're out there finding her the love of her life and I'm here like what?
I'm here like shit.
How do you think that's gonna make me feel?
Dee, I understand you're angry with me, but why would?
Forget it.
It doesn't have to make sense.
I'll stay for two weeks, but you better find somebody else.
Is Otis comin' home tonight, Mama?
No, baby, I told you.
When will we see him again?
I don't know, honey.
Yeah.
I just feel like I'd really like to work for a woman lawyer this time.
I never have, and... I think it might be a good thing.
I'm not sure you'd find it much different...
...but with your qualifications and experience, I have no desire to discourage you.
I am curious, though. Your former employer has written you a glorious recommendation.
Why did you decide to leave him?
(helicopter)
Hey, Otis.
- What's the matter? You OK? - Yeah, I'm all right.
Hey.
You're hurt, boy.
It ain't my blood.
What happened? What happened?
I seen some bad shit, Simon.
OK.
We have a three-car collision on the Santa Monica Freeway east of National Boulevard.
Only one lane is open and the surface streets are no picnic right now, either.
It is a jungle down there.
I realized it wasn't both you and Mom saying how glad you were you didn't have little kids.
It was really just you. When I really thought about it, Mom never really said that.
- Which way are you gonna turn up here? - Right.
- OK. So what do you wanna do now? - Get in the right lane.
(car horn)
No! Whoa!
Roberto! You can’t just go because you want to!
- You've gotta make sure it's clear. - I messed up.
Better to go ten blocks outta your way than to try to get over when it's impossible.
OK, watch this guy getting out of his car here. Slow down. Slow, slow, slow!
- When I tell you to stop, you've gotta stop! - You told me to slow down.
It won't matter if you hit a car, but you can't hit a person. That's the most important thing.
People are assholes. You gotta watch out for the dumbest stuff.
(car horn)
Just watch... just watch the road.
So why should I tell Mom she's crazy to want this baby?
I don't want her telling me my stuff is crazy, right?
Maybe it's not so crazy for her. It's her life.
- And mine. - And yours, too, I guess.
Although she is gonna be the one most involved.
Believe me, it affects us both a lot. Why don't we concentrate on what we're doing here?
- What are you gonna do up here? - I'm gonna take a left.
Really?
It's kinda busy here, isn't it?
- Dad, I've gotta learn how to do it. - No, no, you're right.
- Left-turn signal, left-turn signal. - It's on.
(Mack) OK. This is good right here.
Perfect.
Think of it this way. If you only had one life to live... which you do...
...and you really wanted to do something and Mom said "No, you can't do that"...
- ...how would that make you feel? - Let's not talk. Let's think about this turn.
- Right. - What are you watching for?
- The light. - And? What's the most important thing?
- Don't hit a person. - No, I mean here.
- Come on, don't fuck around. This is no joke. - Sorry.
The most important thing is that... is that those cars have really stopped.
Right. Because?
Because some idiot is always liable to run a red light.
- Good. What else are you lookin' for? - Those cars in the cross streets.
Good.
Ready? The light's gonna change here.
This is good.
Wait.
Not yet.
- OK, they're stopping. - (car horn)
- Go ahead. - (car horn)
Stop!
- You idiot! - Fuck you!
(Mack) Whoa!
OK, this guy's letting us in. Go, go, go!
OK, when I tell you, you're gonna be able to get over. We'll pull over up here.
OK, you can go now.
Just pull in right here.
Shit.
That guy was a cretin.
The thing is, it's so crazy out there, you gotta react really fast.
If you're going, you've got a split second, otherwise the cross traffic'll whack you.
- I'm sorry, Dad. - Hey, this is difficult stuff.
Making a left turn in LA is one of the harder things you're gonna learn in life.
That guy was almost in your lap.
This town stinks.
- Do you wanna drive? - Hell, no. I'm too shook up.
Let's get outta here.
(screeching from ignition)
So I guess we're gonna get this baby, huh?
(rings)
Hello.
What?
We've got no Firooz here.
No, you've got the wrong number.
Oh, really? Well, fuck you also.
- Who? - Firooz.
You know him?
My heart's pounding.
Come here.
It's OK.
Everything seems so close together.
Hm?
All the good and bad things in the world. Everything.
I feel it in myself even.
And in us. Our marriage.
I love you, Claire.
I like living my life with you.
Do you?
Cos I love you so much, Mack.
- Drive me to the stage. - My car's by your office.
Take the cart back. I'll have someone pick me up.
- I really gotta get back downtown. - Relax.
No one's gonna get deported while you drive me over to stage 20.
We spent lunch talking about your marriage.
I forgot to congratulate you on the new direction your career has taken.
Claire told me about the violence in your movies. She was so pleased.
Claire told you? Oh, that. Oh, fuck that.
- What? - That's over.
I must have been delirious for a few weeks there.
- Hi, Tim. How are you? - Oh, man. This is bad.
I don't wanna tell Claire you changed your mind.
I've regained my senses. I was talking like a moron.
Go down here and go left.
- What happened? - Nothing happened. It never happened.
Look, Mack, I'm an artist. Now go ahead and laugh, because everybody does.
Nobody in this town will admit that a producer is an artist.
But I know how many lame-o directors I've had to carry on my back every step...
...and then watch as they take the glory and reviews and awards.
- Which awards were those? - I don't mind working in modest anonymity.
That's the way Thalberg did it, too.
- If they're so lame-o, why do you hire them? - I haven't got time to do it.
Hanging around the set all day, doing that boring lighting and shit. Let them do that.
That's beside the point. The point is...
Turn around. Turn around and go back down there.
- Where was I? - The point is...
There's a gulf in this country, an ever-widening abyss...
...between people who have stuff and those who have shit.
It's like this big hole has opened up in the ground, as big as the fucking Grand Canyon.
And what's come pouring out... Hi. My name's Davis. Building 78.
The whole building. Stop by. I think I have something for you.
This is the greatest town on earth. Go left here.
- Where was I? - Grand Canyon?
Yeah. And what's come outta this big hole is an eruption of rage...
...and the rage creates violence and the violence is real.
And it won't go away until someone changes something.
Which is not gonna happen. And you may not like it. Even I may not like it.
But I can't pretend it isn't there, because that is a lie.
And when art lies, it becomes worthless, so I gotta keep telling the truth...
...even if it scares the shit outta me, like it scares the shit outta you.
Even if it means some motherfucker can blow a big old hole in my leg for a watch...
...and I'm gonna walk with a fucking limp for the rest of my life and count myself lucky.
That's what's amazing, what we count as lucky today.
Our criteria for lucky has changed a bit.
Davis, we're not talking about great art here.
Says you, Mr. Snob, Mr. Arbiter of Taste, Mr. Immigration Lawyer to the Arts.
But there's so much rage going around...
...we're damn lucky we have the movies to help us vent a little of it.
That line is so tired. I'm shocked you'd use it.
You think just anyone can do what I do? You think anyone can make the crap I make?
Wasn't there something about "life force"? That's what Claire told me.
This is life. I'm trying to get that through your thick skull.
There's always been violence. There will always be violence, evil, and men with guns.
My movies reflect what's going on. They don't make what's going on.
And if I make 'em better than anyone, then I've got a bigger responsibility to serve it up.
Mack, you ever seen a movie called Sullivan's Travels?
- No. - You haven't seen enough movies.
All of life's riddles are answered in the movies.
It's a story about a man who loses his way.
He's a filmmaker, like me, and he forgets for a moment just what he was set on earth to do.
Fortunately he finds his way back.
That can happen, Mack.
Check it out.
- You're kinda big, aren't you? - You look like you about ready to play.
Maybe. I wanna see you shoot from the outside.
Mack, what made you get me together with Jane?
Dumbness, I guess. Compulsion to stick my nose where it doesn't belong.
- Has it ended badly? - It hasn't ended at all.
She's the best thing that's happened to me in a long time.
Really? No shit?
Yeah, so there you go, my friend. Sometimes things work.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
OK, then. To 20. Take it out from back there. Winner takes it out.
You sure? You might not get a chance to shoot.
You're goin' down.
That is so cool about you and Jane.
Yeah, it's cool. That's why I came out here. I thought of a way to thank you.
- You don't have to thank me. - I have an idea.
- I thought of something I could do for you. - You don't have to do anything. Play ball.
That's why I came out here. Cos I thought of a way just to let you know I appreciate you...
...for introducing me to Jane.
End of the line, folks.
So what do you think?
I think... it's not all bad.
Visiontext Subtitles: Sally Lewis