I can see clearly now The rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
- Itīs gonna be a bright - Bright
- Bright - Sunshiny day
- Itīs gonna be a bright - Bright
- Bright - Sunshiny day
- I think I can make it now the pain is gone - One thousand rounds, .357 Magnum, steel core.
One thousand rounds, .380, soft points.
- All of the bad feelings have disappeared - Good. Account #65934752.
Please transfer to account...
- Here is the rainbow Iīve been praying for - six-one-niner-seven- one-eight-five-seven-five-three.
- Itīs gonna be a bright - Bright - You got it. - Thank you.
- Sir? - What? - I wanna read you something.
- Iīm working, Marcella. - I think you should hear this.
- All right. - "Dear Pointes High Alumnae...
Can you believe itīs been ten years since you left Grosse Pointe?
Where are you now? Are you in an Outward Bound canoe trip like Brook Stinson...
or perhaps in charge of public appearances for the NFL like Leslie Gunther?
Sandy Glasser owns a cheese shop.
Looking at yearbooks and pictures evokes so many memories...
some good, some bad, but all interesting.
Whenever news of you filters back...
the school is excited and proud of your accomplishments".
Hold on a sec.
I can see clearly now The rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
"As a graduate of the class of 1986...
you are someone special.
Remember: thereīs nowhere you can go...
that you havenīt learned how to go in time".
- Whatever the hell that means. - Shred it.
I thought it might be good for you. Open some new accounts. Network.
- You know. - Donīt tease me. You know what I do for a living.
Here is that rainbow Iīve been praying for
- Itīs gonna be a bright - Bright
- Bright - Sunshiny day
- Itīs gonna be a bright - Bright
- Bright - Sunshiny day
- Itīs gonna be a bright - Bright
- Bright - Sunshiny day
- Itīs gonna be a bright - Bright
- Bright - Sunshiny day
I just got off the phone with a very unsatisfied customer.
Well, ask them how that could possibly be my problem.
I was paid for one job... the cyclist... not two.
And, uh, you know, why donīt you find out what the hell Grocer was doing there and maybe we can talk.
- I have Mr. Grocer for you. Ask him. - Uh, patch him through.
- Martin! Where are you? - Budapest.
Ah, city of cathedrals. Yeah, I see you right there on the bridge of the Danube, kid.
- I'd kind of like to talk to you, you know. - Well, all right, why donīt you e-mail me?
Nah, kind of like a, you know, one-on-one, kind of a face-to-face type of thing, you know.
- Like do it personally? - Yeah. I'd love to see you. You know what I mean, kid? - All right, letīs do it.
- How you doinī, kid? - How are ya?
- Good. - Good. Good.
Hey. Mental telepathy, astral projection, you know.
Here... Here you are. Right. What do you want?
Kid, Iīm putting together a little concern which would enable those of us in our rarefied profession...
to avoid, uh, embarrassing overlaps.
-What? Like a union? -More like a club. Work less, make more.
Thatīs a great idea, but, uh, thank you. No.
"No". Remember Burma?
- Yeah, I do. - That nut, General Kwang.
- You were like a colonel in that army or something, right? - Yeah. Yeah.
- And he sold you all those tanks and you shipped them to Alabama. - T-34s. I took a bath on that.
- Yeah. That was fun. - Thatīs what Iīm talkinī about, kid. We could be workinī together again, for Godīs sake.
You know, makinī big money, killinī important people.
I want to structure an arrangement where you get, like, you know, shares... original shares on the ground floor.
And you would be the president of this organization, or maybe just a father figure to me.
- Hey, if you want a father, Iīll give you a spanking. - Yeah. Forget about it.
- Look, the employers are gettinī us a lot cheaper īcause thereīs so many of us. - Yeah.
- Well, after the Berlin thing, what can you do? - The Soviet bloc collapsed.
- And the marketīs flooded. - Okay. Thatīs what Iīm lookinī at. Iīm lookinī at consolidated bargaining, okay?
- Mm-hmm. - Look, I donīt wanna play against you. This thing is real.
- How real? - Morango brothers, uh, them, uh, East German ex-Stasi guys.
- Oh, I donīt like those guys. - Them, uh, butch Filipino ladies.
- The little... uh, the dwarf, uh, maid... - The stabbers.
- Queens of the hotel hit, you know. - You got a great crew. - Everybodyīs in.
Yeah, well, not me, so donīt paw at me with your dirty little guild.
All right. Well, you know, lifeīs full of second chances, and, uh, hereīs chance two for you.
You think about cominī in with me. You ponder, okay?
- Iīll think about it. - Because either way, Iīm gonna get you, kid!
Yeah? Get what? Get back.
Hey. Bing-bing-bing-bing-bang. Popcorn!
Yeah, whatever.
- Nice to see you again. - Yeah. Good to see you, too, buddy.
You like that Pacific Northwest country? All the mist and that up there?
I havenīt been there in years.
- Catch you. - Yeah. You look great. Nice to see you again.
Drive safe.
- Yeah. - "So come on back to the old oak tree, acorn".
- Signed, "Pointes High School Reunion Committee". - Youīre fired! Donīt ever read that to me again, ever!
- Donīt hang up. Wait! Did you read yesterdayīs offer? - Hold on a minute.
Itīs in French.
- Itīs a Greenpeace boat. Itīd be so easy. - No way.
I have scruples.
Listen, uh, is everything set uh, for my arrival in Miami?
- Itīs covered, sir. - Good. Good. Good.
Sir, are you all right?
You donīt seem like, well, your old self lately.
If you donīt mind my asking, sir: Is it the job?
Is it getting to you?
You know, when you start getting invited to your ten-year high school reunion...
time is catching up.
Are you talkinī about a sense of my own mortality or a fear of death?
Well, I havenīt really thought about it quite like that.
- Did you go to yours? - Yes, I did.
- It was just as if everyone had swelled. - Why are you so interested in me goinī to my reunion?
I just find it amusing that you came from somewhere.
Bye.
Fuck!
Whatever it is Iīm doing that you donīt like, Iīll stop doing it.
Itīs not me.
- Morning. - Hi.
- Sir, may I come in? - Uh, gimme a second.
- Sir, theyīre very unhappy. - Iīm very unhappy.
- It was supposed to look like a heart attack. He was supposed to die in his sleep. - Well, he moved.
His sleep research pattern suggested deep sleep at that hour. Thereīs nothing to be done about it.
Sir, this is a very valuable firm.
- Come in here. - Weīve done a lot of business with them over the years...
and they blame you for the snafu.
- They say youīve got to make amends. - When?
A canary decided to sing.
They scheduled his deposition for early Monday morning. Youīve gotta do it this weekend.
This weekend? No. lmpossible. Tell them I need my normal lead time.
Where?
Iīm getting a black cat, Friday-the-13th kinda feeling about this one.
Itīs in Detroit. You can take care of business and stop by Grosse Pointe for your reunion.
Hey, look, Sergeant Pepper. I really need you to shut up about that.
Sir, itīs outta my hands.
The gods want you to go back home, and they want you to delete someone while youīre there.
Would you describe their position on this matter as inflexible?
Intractable, sir. I booked you on an early flight tomorrow morning.
Dossier.
All right... All right, listen. Iīm gonna call you from Detroit.
And just make sure that you pick up the dry cleaning and feed the cat.
- Okay? - Donīt forget your identity.
All right. Thank you.
- Could you, um, tell Dr. Oatman that Iīm on my way? - Oh, yes. Of course.
- All right? - Mm-hmm. - Bye-bye. - Bye.
So I got invited to my ten-year high school reunion.
Iīm conflicted. I mean, I donīt know if I really want to go.
Itīs in Detroit, you know, and I grew up there, but I just honestly donīt know...
what I have in common with those people anymore.
I mean, or with anyone, really. I mean, theyīll all have husbands and wives...
and children and houses and dogs, and, you know, theyīll have made themselves...
a part of something, and they can talk about what they do, and what am I gonna say?
"I killed the president of Paraguay with a fork.
How have you been?"
Iīm just thinkinī itīll be depressing. Itīll be depressing.
Shouldnīt you be taking notes or something?
Iīm not taking notes, Martin, because Iīm not your doctor.
- Please donīt start with that stuff again. - Martin, Iīm emotionally involved with you.
- How are you emotionally involved with me? - Iīm afraid of you.
- Youīre afraid of me. - And that constitutes an emotional involvement...
and it would be unethical for me to work with you under those circumstances.
Donīt you think maybe youīre just upset because I told you what I do for a living...
and you got upset and youīre letting it interfere with our dynamic?
Whoa! Martin, you didnīt tell me what you did for a living...
- Yes, I did. - You didnīt tell me what you did for a living for four sessions.
Then you told me, and I said, "I donīt wanna work with you".
And yet you come back every week at the same time. Thatīs a difficulty for me.
On top of that, if youīve committed a crime...
or if youīre thinking about committing a crime, I have to tell the authorities.
I know the law, okay?
But I donīt want to be withholding. Iīm very serious about this process.
- And I know where you live. - Oh, now. See.
That wasnīt a nice thing to say. That wasnīt designed to make me feel good.
Thatīs a kind of a not-too-subtle intimidation...
and l, uh... I get filled with anxiety when you talk about something like that.
- Come on. Come on. - I mean, thatīs... - I was just kidding, all right. The thought never crossed my mind.
You did think of it, Martin. You thought of it and then you said it.
And now Iīm left with, uh... with the aftermath of that...
thinking I gotta... I gotta be creative in a really interesting way now or Martinīs gonna blow my brains out.
Youīre holding me hostage here. Thatīs not right.
I just wanna work, okay? There are some issues that I need to work on in my life.
Iīve read your books. Your best sellers, on the top 20.
- They were both ghost written, Martin. - What? The Annihilation of Death?
- Yeah. - Kill Who? A Warriorīs Dilemma.
I read it. The New York Times top 20.
- Well, l... I donīt know what to say. - Well, what do you say to other patients, you know?
- I donīt know. How does it work? Ask me how Iīm feeling. - How do you feel?
Iīm feelinī uneasy, man. Um, Iīm just dispassionate.
Iīm bored. Iīm... Itīs hard to stay in a good mood. Iīve had problems at work.
You know, concept/execution stuff. And Iīm just ill at ease.
Well, look, Martin, I donīt want to suggest anything that might be uncomfortable for you...
but you might consider... just consider the possibility that part of your problem...
part of the thing thatīs making you so miserable is the angst over killing a lot of people.
- Maybe... Just put it in the background there. - Come on.
I show up at your door, chances are you did something to bring me there.
Okay? I donīt care about that stuff.
- You donīt care about what stuff? - You know, morality.
- Hmm. - I donīt want to talk about work...
because I donīt think necessarily what a person does for a living reflects who he is.
So what do we do? We talk about dreams? Or whatīs next? Whatīs next? Whatīs the score here?
Weīll talk about dreams. We can talk about dreams. Itīs your nickel.
Sure. Uh, I had another one about Debi.
- That girl youīre obsessed with? - Donīt you think "obsessed" is a strong word?
Uh, recurring dreams of loss and pain for ten years featuring the same person.
Yeah, maybe thatīs a bit excessive.
Um, I had one where I was, uh, that television mechanical rabbit. You know, with the-the-the...
- The battery bunny. - Yeah. I was the bunny. - That sounds like a very, very depressed dream.
- Really? - Yes. - Why?
Martin, itīs a terrible dream! Itīs a depressing dream to dream about that rabbit.
Itīs got no brain. Itīs got no blood. Itīs got no anima.
It just keeps banging on those meaningless cymbals endlessly...
and going and going and going.
- Time is up. - Timeīs up already? You really wanna do half a session?
Could we just pretend like we have a normal doctor/patient relationship?
Iīll ask you a piece of advice and you give me an answer?
You know... advice. Should I go to the reunion?
Yes, yes. Get out of town.
- Thank you. - Go see some old friends. Have some punch. Visit with whatīs-her-name.
- Debi. - Debi.
- Donīt kill anybody for a few days. See what it feels like. - All right, Iīll give it a shot.
No, no. Donīt give it a shot. Donīt shoot anything.
"Services for Detroit contract terminated.
Contract being serviced by alternate vendor for original quote".
What fucking alternate vendor?
No, no, no.
Preparations have begun in good faith.
Fuckinī Martin Blank.
Snaked the Detroit job from under me.
- Agent Farrell. - Yes. Extension 1715, please.
- Yeah? - Lardner? - Yeah. - Iīve got your pigeon for ya.
Arriving Detroit airport today. Heīs supposed to hit a star federal witness.
Now, my advice is you wait till he gets the witness and then you guys do him.
When Iīm a-walking I strut my stuff Then Iīm so strung out
Iīm high as a kite I just might stop to check you out
Let me go on
Like I blister in the sun
Let me go on
Big hands I know youīre the one
Remember to kick it over
No one will guide you Oh...
-Youīve never met Martin Blank. -You know, Grocer pointed him out to me.
Iīm tellinī you that you never met Martin Blank, okay?
No. Seventeen months ago, I was postinī a walk in Lisbon and he was there.
He hasnīt been in Lisbon since 1990.
You know how I know that? I read the file.
- Read the file. - You know, as a matter of fact, I actually talked to him in Bonn.
You always... You always have to know everybody. I tell you what.
- Why donīt I take the weekend off and you kill him, since you two are so close? - All right. Iīll do that.
The battle is getting harder
In this racial armageddon time
Hi. Iīm Debi Newberry. This is WGPM-FM, Grosse Pointe.
Window on the Pointes.
You heard from Massive Attack, Public Enemy.
Morphine. Itīs my personal favorite.
And Duane Eddyīs twangy guitar.
Good to hear Toots & The Maytals, huh?
And as you know, this weekend is Pointes High Class of ī86 reunion.
So in honor of this momentous event, Iīm making this an all-ī80s, all-vinyl weekend.
Stay tuned to Window on the Pointes and Iīll keep you posted on all this reunion-related nonsense.
Hey, I know everybodyīs cominī back to take stock of their lives. You know what I say?
Leave your livestock alone.
Kick back and relax and ponder this:
Where are all the good men dead?
In the heart or in the head?
So hereīs another cold cup of coffee from The Clash.
Oh, sing, Michael Sing
On the route of the 19 bus
Welcome back, Pointers.
We hear them sayinī
How you get a-rude and a-reckless
Donīt ya be so crude and a-feckless
You been drinkinī brew for breakfast
Rudie canīt fail Okay
I went to the market to realize my soul
- What I need I just donīt have - Oh, no
First, they curse Then they press me till I hurt
They say Rudie canīt fail
Mrs. K. Miss Kinetta. Itīs Martin.
Martin. My God.
- Itīs you. - Hey.
Oh, God. Youīve been Detroitīs most famous disappearing act since white flight.
You look exactly the same, Mrs. K. Well, l... You look great is what I mean.
- You look great. - Oh, thank you. Thank you very much, Martin.
You have always been very good at saying that and not sounding like a kiss-ass.
So, what happened?
I mean, we... we thought Princeton, Harvard.
You fooled us all in the teacherīs pool and went nowhere.
I guess you could say I went west, you know, the way of Horatio Alger and Davy Crockett.
- The Donner party... - Thank you. Thank you. Thatīs a, a barrage of imagery.
Are you still, uh, you know, inflicting all that horrible Ethan Frome damage? Is that off the curriculum?
- Itīs off the curriculum now. - Oh, that was a horrible book. - Thatīs a very nice tie you have on.
- Oh, thanks. - You look like a mortician. I mean...
- You like it? - Yeah. Thanks. So, I gotta... - You still got that whole Mary Tyler Moore thing.
- Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thatīs enough. Uh-huh. - Right. Good to see you again.
- Yeah. Good to see you. Where... Where are you off to? - Iīm, uh... Iīm goinī home.
- Are you? Gosh. Well... - All right. Well...
Theyīre playing my song. Take care, Martin.
- It was nice to see you again. - Okay.
- Mrs. K. - When you were young
And your heart was an open book
You used to say Live and let live
You know you did, You know you did You know you did
But if this ever-changing world in which we live in
Makes you give in and cry
Say live and let die
Live and let die
- Hereīs your receipt. - Thanks. - Have a nice day. - You too.
What are you doing here?
Iīm doinī a double shift. Whatīs it look like?
- How long have you worked here? - A couple months.
- Yeah? Is the manager here? Do you have a supervisor? - No. They...
- How long have they worked here? - Iīm not tellinī you.
- Yeah? Where do you live? - Iīm not tellinī you that, either.
Whereīs your manager live? Who... I used to...
- What are you doing here? What are... - I work here.
- What are you doing here? - I work here.
- And how long have you worked here? - Only a couple months.
All right, all right. Whatīs done is done. Just forget about the whole thing.
- You all right, man? - Sure.
Sure.
Hello, this is Dr. Oatman. If youīd like to leave a message I will get back to you shortly.
Dr. Oatman, please pick up. Pick up. Itīs Martin Blank.
Iīm, Iīm standing where my, uh, living room was...
and itīs not here because my house is gone and itīs an Ultimart.
You can never go home again, Oatman, but I guess you can shop there.
Pick up! I know youīre there, Oatman!
You got any ideas how you want to wax this guy?
Canīt you just say "kill"? You always got to romanticize it. Go. Go, go, go.
Marcella... Never mind that.
Find out where my mother is. I want my mom.
- Pardon me. Do you know where I might find Mary Blank? - Sheīs over there.
- Thank you. - Youīre welcome.
There he is. Martin.
Mom.
Why donīt you have a seat over here.
Itīs not very nice, but sit down. Sit down.
Theyīre fun.
Why are you wearing black?
Itīs so like a gangster.
So, I spoke to your father the other day.
- I imagine thatīd be rather difficult. - No, no. It wasnīt. It wasnīt.
- No? - No.
They told me you have been taking lithium.
Yes. Oh, those blabbermouths.
- Weīve had some laughs, havenīt we, Martin? - Mm-hmm.
Itīs good to see you again.
Mom, what happened to the house and alI the money I sent?
They stole. I donīt do money.
You know, time allows miracles. Time.
And you need time. Thatīs all.
Sir? Excuse me. Itīs time for her medication.
- Oh, nurse Scott. My best friend. - We met.
- Okay. - Okay. Here we go.
Oh, God. I do so much here.
You gonna be okay, honey. Okay?
Okay. Oh. Martin?
Whatīs happening? Uh...
- Mom? - Yes, dear?
Oh, you are a handsome devil. Whatīs your name?
- Martin. - Martin. Right.
So, the Colonelīs lady, like Judy OīGrady...
are twins under the skin.
Silly. Bye, Martin.
I say thereīs somebody
WhoīlI find a way outta here
Hereīs hopinī somebody
Can find a way outta here
Martinīs back.
Hey, Iīm Debi Newberry and stand by your phones...
because any time now Iīll be giving away tickets to see Palace this Saturday night in concert at Cobo Hall.
You can call in for tickets or just show up at Cobo Hall and say my name. No, Iīm just kidding.
Hi.
Uh... And hereīs The Specials...
doing one of their songs.
- Itīs Martin. - I know who you are.
Youīre not dead.
- Hi. - Hi. Shake my hand.
How are ya?
Wow.
It is you
Oh, yeah-yea-yea
It is you Oh, yeah-yea-yea
How are... How are you? Itīs good to see you. You look great.
How long has it been, ten years? How long has it been?
Since you stood me up on prom night and vanished without a word?
Yeah. Ten years, I think.
- Yeah. - Mm-hmm.
- You tell me about yourself. - Iīm in California.
- Travel a lot around on business. - Thatīs it?
- Yeah. - Thatīs ten years?
- Yeah. - I would hope for a great abduction story or something.
Well, Iīve had a few thrilling moments here and there, but, you know, it just flew by.
So whatīs your business?
Professional killer.
- Do you get dental with that? - No.
I gotta go. So, youīre working. Itīs a great... I mean, itīs a great show.
Iīve been listening. I mean, since I got back into town. But Iīll come back.
- What are the odds? - Very funny. Iīll... See you.
Pressure, pressure pressure
Pressureīs gonna drop on you
I say pressure, pressure pressure, pressure
Pressureīs gonna drop on you
Someone has come to me out of the past...
reviving a feeling long since forgotten.
I know I should be mad, and I am.
- Whatīs he doinī? - I have no clue.
He says cryptic things and is gone abruptly again.
Oh, boy. What... What is this Iīm feeling here?
What... Is this pain? Is this panic? Is it pleasure?
- Am I hungry? Whoīs hungry? - 79.5.
Okay, first five callers will receive a sentimental breakfast from Cuppa Joeīs...
courtesy of the long-lost love of my life.
The man who vanished.
The man who is walking right back into the station...
and into my booth.
Sit.
Okay, letīs take a random day. Uh, spring of ī86.
Two young lovers with frightening natural chemistry.
A girl sits...
in a $700 prom dress...
on the front steps of her house waiting for the most romantic night of her young life.
The boy never shows up.
Not until now.
- So, whatīs the question? - Where have I been?
- More like "What happened, Mr. Blank?" - I donīt know.
I mean, I could... I could venture a guess, but I think it would sound like a rationalization.
You know, some sort of a cop-out. I thought coming home, seeing some friends...
and I thought maybe, you know, seeing you, of course, would be the most important part of that equation.
That didnīt... That didnīt come out right. Uh, thereīs... This is not my idea.
This whole... This whole thing is my therapistīs idea, really.
Is this bothering you?
Okay. So, youīre back...
a decade late, and youīre on some sort of therapeutic assignment...
and you wanna sort things out with me.
So the question now becomes: Do I allow you access to me, or do I call security?
- I donīt think thatīd be a good idea. - Grosse Pointe, I need your help. 555-WGPM.
Do you think maybe we could go get a cup of coffee and I could try to explain and apologize?
Come on, Marty. This segues so nicely into my ī80s weekend.
Should a once brokenhearted girl give a guy a second chance?
Letīs go to the phones.
- Youīre on the air. - Hi, Debi. Itīs Gail.
- Oh, hi, Gail. - You know, I wouldnīt take him back yet.
I'd make him jump through some hoops for a while, walk over hot coals.
- Make him beg for it. - Harsh. Thatīs very harsh, Gail.
Maybe we could discuss this in a more discrete setting?
Make like a beggar. You know. Come on...
- Next caller. Youīre on the air. - Debi, man, itīs Nathaniel.
I donīt hear any real remorse, dude. I mean, like, I donīt think I'd let this guy back in your life.
And, dude, I'd make him wear that prom dress.
Does anybody else have a question for Marty? I do, but heīs a shifty one.
- Put that down. - I have a question for Marty. - Uh-uh.
- Iīve a question for Martin. - Next caller. Youīre on the air.
Yeah, Debi. Hi. Longtime listener, first-time caller.
I love the show. Uh, so, Martin, what? No yellow ribbons?
Didnīt anybody miss you? Donīt you think you should tell her why youīre really in town, tough guy?
Huh? You know what we love? We love tough guys like you.
Thanks. That was our own Michigan Militia with their latest chart-topper.
Come on, people. Do I give this guy the time of day?
Marty, do you have any deeply personal responses...
you want to share with our listeners?
No? Okay. Heīs shaking his head "no". In radio, that usually signals the end of the interview.
Grosse Pointe, Michigan, I hear you loud and clear.
If you love something, set it free.
If it comes back to you, itīs, well...
broken.
Damn it! Never trust my instincts.
Marty!
Paul. Donīt leave me hanginī, baby.
- Hey, man. - How the hell you doinī?
- Walk with me, man. - Sure. - I got my car parked around the corner.
- Okay. - Yeah. Goddamn. I was worried you joined a cult or something, man.
I half expected you to come back into town in a fennel wreath and paper pants.
- No money in it. - Says you.
- Look at you. Youīve gone respectable. - Well, you know, I stopped pouting on the sidelines.
I got in the game. You know, joined the working week.
So why donīt you valet park your high horse, slick, and take it easy on your old buddy Paul?
- Fair enough. Fair enough. It was a cheap shot. - Yeah, it was.
- Man! L-Letīs catch up, huh? - Yeah! Letīs catch up.
- I got a real estate deal. Iīm takinī īem through a final walk-through, you know. - Okay.
- This your Beemer? - Yeah. - In Detroit? Thatīs sacrilege.
- Well, you know, guess who I got it from? - I have no idea.
- Bob Destepello. - Bob Destepello sold you a car?
- Yeah, he did. - Didnīt he, uh, break your collarbone and steal, uh, your woman?
- Yeah. - So youīre in real estate, huh?
Yeah. I got a couple newlyweds with a decision-making disorder.
Iīll just hold their hands and reinforce their clarity.
- Isnīt there some sort of Frank Lloyd Wright connection with this? - You know what? There is indeed.
- For the life of me, I canīt believe I forgot. - Blank!
Hey, Blank. Hey, I was drivinī by, saw you on the lawn.
I thought there was gonna be a problem at first, you know, before I recognized you.
- Terry Rostand. How you doinī? P.H.S. - Terry Rostand. Oh, yeah, from... You were always the guy who was...
- Yeah. - Yeah, I remember you. - Yeah, ī86. - Yeah, cool.
How you doinī, man? You look good. Youīve become a cop. Nice badge.
Oh, no, no. Iīm not a peace officer. No, no, no. This badge isnīt a meaningful symbol or anything.
Itīs just a badge of my company, you know. We donīt... We donīt enforce the law.
- We just execute company policy for homeowners. - Oh, I get it. Cool.
- Well, you mind talkinī a little shop? - Sure.
When are you authorized to use deadly force?
Well, you know, of course... you know, taxes provide your basic service, police and whatnot.
But our customers need a little bit more than that, you know.
So if we find you on the property, you know, we do what we have to do.
So, if I just look suspicious on your customerīs property under those, you know, "heightened" circumstances...
- you have the authority to shoot me? - Correct.
Wow, all right. All right. Howīd you get the gig?
Oh, you know, they were hiring. It was only a two-week course.
- Yeah, thatīs good. Well, that made it easy. You look good. - Yeah. Thanks.
Itīs a beauty. What more can I say? You know, youīll be raising your family in a work of art.
- A work of art in a work of art. - Oh, yeah.
- Well, I... - Iīve always felt very temporary about myself.
And looking at the two of you and this house...
when my time comes... if it ever does... I want a house like this; I want a wife like you.
- Uh-huh. - And youīll be safe here.
- We really gotta go. - Okay, so, uh, gimme a call, you guys.
- Gimme a call. Youīre not gonna go through another broker, are you? - Oh, definitely not.
- Okay. - Cute couple. I donīt think theyīre real buyers, though.
- I donīt know if youīre qualified to make that statement, Terry. - No, Iīm just saying they look like...
From 11:00 to 3:00 I show the house, Terry.
- Well, they donīt look like people whoīd use the... you know, live in this neighborhood... - Did you get a call, Terry?
Oh, no. l, um... I was just driving by and, um, you know, I saw some people milling around the, the lawn here.
- No, there was just me. It was just one guy. I was right there. - Oh. Okay.
- Terry. - Well, thatīs what I thought. I just came by. - Look, l-I show people houses here...
and I'd appreciate it if you donīt show up, okay? - Well, I know you do.
- But you think... Youīre coming around here in the neighborhood unannounced, you know. - Listen. Did you get a call, Terry?
- No, but sometimes... - Did you get a call? - You donīt know the alarm codes. - Did you get a call, Terry?
- No. They go off and this... How am I supposed to know? - Okay, this is the part where you go. Youīre gonna have to go.
- Listen. Thing is, you know, Iīm more a part of this neighborhood than you are. - Okay. Weīll see you later, Terry.
Besides that, you know, a lot of times you donīt know the alarm codes when youīre checking the house and, uh, the alarm goes off.
- Wow! - Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
- You know, what can you do? Iīm sorry about the "temporary" thing. I was just... - No, donīt even worry about it.
I donīt... I donīt even care. Listen, I donīt usually pimp my friends...
but I got an excellent piece of property I think you might wanna look at.
- I got a few minutes. - Listen, I gotta get something off my chest.
- Have you been home to see the old house? - Yeah.
- Torn down in the name of convenience. - Yeah, I brokered the deal.
- I tried to get... I tried to get a family in there, but Ultimart made the best offer. - Wow. Wow.
- Well, thank you for profiting on my childhood. - Stop your fooling around
Time to straighten right out
Take a look at this, uh, new listing.
- Debiīs house. - Yeah. Kinda crept up on you, didnīt it?
No, you drove us here.
Yep.
So, uh... So, howīs the family, man?
- Oh, you didnīt know? Of course you donīt know. You donīt know anything. - No, I mean I didnīt...
- Parents are divorced. - They got divorced?
Yeah, my dadīs... Heīs shacking up with his woman. Sheīs like 20 years younger than him.
Sheīs like a biscuit older than me. Itīs ugly. My momīs making ceramic night-lights.
- Takes, like, the plain shells and, you know, paints īem. - Howīs your sister? Did she ever... Did she ever marry that guy Kenny?
- Kenny? - Yeah. Did that ever work out?
Come on, man. He did three years at Joliet.
They put one of those bracelets on him, like a LoJack, you know. They know where he is at all times.
- I think heīs at Pizza Hut right now. - So letīs not go there. - No.
Yeah, yeah. So, you look good. You seem good.
Thank you. You may have, uh...
Ten years, man! Ten!
Where have you been for ten years?
I freaked out...
joined the army, went into business for myself.
Iīm a professional killer.
Oh, does that... Do you have to do postgraduate work for that, or can you... or can you jump right in?
- Iīm curious about that. - No, itīs an open market.
- Open market. Thatīs good. Wow. - Yeah.
Ten years, man!
Ten year... Ten years!
Ten years! Ten!
Ten years! Ten years.
I freaked out! I joined the army!
I worked for the government! I went into business with myself!
Iīm a professional killer. Thatīs what I did!
- Okay. Well, can I join up? - Yes!
Come on.
- Well, howīs your mom, man? Is she still... Is she a little loopy? - Sheīs... She is uncorked, man.
All right, Iīll see you at the l-peaked-and-Iīm-kidding-myself party.
- Pacific Trident Global. - I need some data.
Hey, there. Howīd the assignment go?
- Iīll do it tomorrow. - Whatīs it look like?
Looks fine. Looks like it always does. Nothing remarkable about it. Nothing remarkable at all.
Youīre taking your time? Just being professional?
Something like that. Look, I got a job to do. Iīm gonna do it, right?
Um... Oh, the reason I called. Could you find out who else is in town and why?
Iīve made two spooks and a ghoul so far.
So, if they double booked the job, and/or theyīre gonna kill me, you know, I'd like to know about it.
- Thatīd be great if you could find that out. - Okay, got it.
- Bye, bye. - Amelia? Wait. Hold on a second. Pacific Trident Global.
Janice?
Yeah, no, where the fuck is it? I ordered it three days ago.
No, that doesnīt work. Thatīs... Thatīs not right. Let me go over it again, all right?
Letīs see, 3,000 rounds of nine millimeter subsonic. You had that.
I gave that to you on the fuckinī list!
Well, I donīt give a goddamn where it is! You get it here now!
Amelia? Iīm sorry.
Yeah, no. No, Iīm... Itīs not gonna be a boring soup. Itīs just... Thatīs just the base. You put the chicken in.
Youīve gotta add other flavors. Carrots and celery are just a base of the soup!
What the fuck, man?
- Cool. - Whatīd you do that for?
Itīs not me. You all right?
- No, Iīm not all right! - Take it easy.
Iīm hurt. Iīm pissed. I gotta find a new job.
- WGPM-FM. - Debra, itīs Martin.
- Hi, Martin. - Listen, that thing didnīt go as I planned.
Uh, seeing you, it didnīt really go as I planned. l...
- Oh, it was just as I planned. - Well, Iīm wondering how you are.
And I would like to catch up with you if thatīs possible. I donīt know if itīs possible.
- Well, okay, letīs catch up. - Well, I thought maybe we could go someplace and talk...
- Well, I talk all day. - Well, then just listen. Maybe, uh...
- Maybe we could go to, you know, the Hippo Club, say, in 30 minutes? - Yeah, okay.
By the way, is this, uh, live, or, you know, are we being broadcast again?
Not right now, but I tend to record everything, īcause you never know.
- Right, right, right. Thatīs a good point. Iīll see you there and... - Okay.
And I'd like to explain some things to you and have a good...
Martin Blank.
- You seem very nervous. - No, no, Iīm not. Itīs just...
Why do you keep looking over your shoulder?
No, I just donīt like having my back... You know, itīs a habit. But letīs not talk about that.
- I come here, I wanna talk to you. - Okay.
- Put the spotlight on you. - Sure.
You got married. Thatīs hard to imagine. Itīs just un... Itīs unbelievable.
No, itīs, itīs pretty normal, Martin. It happens all the time.
- Itīs not like you went away for the weekend. - Can I ask you a question?
I mean, if itīs too personal, you donīt have to answer. But what happened?
I think... I think I married him to get away.
- Didnīt like where I ended up. - What was the guy like?
- Well, he... - It doesnīt matter. Forget about that question.
But, I... Same thing happened to me, you know, when I joined the army; itīs a marriage of sorts.
Oh, on prom night. Thatīs psychotic.
How could you possibly join the army?
I just... Itīs something I felt like I had to do. Itīs hard to explain. I mean, I know it doesnīt make sense.
No, it doesnīt make any sense. Do you know how much time I spent on, on this masochistic cycle...
just trying to figure out what I'd done to drive you away? - Nothing.
Yeah, well, you tell me that now. Itīs a little late.
And I thought youīd been murdered or brainwashed or... At least, I'd hoped thatīs what had happened.
Well, Iīm sorry to disappoint you.
So, you know. Come on, spill. What have you been doing the last ten years?
- Well, you mustīve had worthwhile experiences you wanna tell me about. - Bad experiences.
- You met people? - Bad people.
- Youīre pathetic. You know what you need? - What?
- Shockabuku. - You wanna tell me what that means?
Itīs a swift, spiritual kick to the head that alters your reality forever.
Ooh, thatīd be good. I think.
So, listen, I was thinking I could pick you up for the reunion around 7:00? We go...
Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. You are asking me to go as your date to the reunion?
- Yes. - Itīs unbelievable.
Well, you know, what the hell.
- You know, Iīm not even planning on going. - Really?
Really. Iīm... I was just gonna be mean about them on the radio.
- You know. - Yeah, yeah. - Besides, Marty, itīs... itīs just gonna be depressing.
Maybe. But listen, if you wanna go, I canīt think of any reason why we wouldnīt go together.
- I can. - I think if you can open up, forget, forgive a little.
- And I think itīd be good for you, and Iīll be on time. - Showing up would be a big step.
- Well, Iīll think about it. - Really?
- Yeah. - Oh, my God! Itīs Marvin and Debi.
Itīs me, Amy.
- Amy! - Yes! Youīre still together?
Oh, God, you were the coolest couple!
- Whoa, whoa. - Still are. Oh, Iīm so sorry.
- Here, you want my drink? - Thatīs okay. No, no, God. - No, no, donīt worry about a thing.
Debi, I love your show. Itīs so timeless.
- Yeah, it does run a little long sometimes. - Marvy, are you here for the reunion?
- Sure. - Where you been these last ten years?
- Yeah, Marv, where ya been? - You look great.
Thanks. I work at Kentucky Fried Chicken.
- You do not. - I do. I sell biscuits and gravy all over the southland.
- No. - Mm-hmm. - Youīre so funny. Heīs a funny guy.
- You know, Tim, my husband... - Listen, why donīt I get you two another drink and you guys can just catch up.
- Oh, could I have a Stoli with three olives and an onion? - Yeah.
- Oh, Iīll have what sheīs having. - Sure.
Oh, hi.
That girl down there, she doesnīt trust me anymore.
I donīt know why. Iīm trying to earn back her trust.
Iīm gonna go downstairs, finish my drink, walk her to the car, and Iīll be back at the hotel in about a half-hour.
Iīll see you there?
- Thatīs him! - Yeah, we know. Thank you. Weīve been following him around.
Well, whatīs the problem here? You guys on an hourly rate?
If we observe the subject in an illegal act...
only then can we intervene and terminate.
- Yeah. - Why donīt you just go and shoot the fucker, huh?
Because weīre not assassins, Mr. Grocer. We work for the American government.
Hey, heīs coming back.
Ah, fuck you, guys!
Hey, I donīt appreciate being hosed.
- Youīre exactly the same. - So are you. - I am?
- Mm-hmm. - How so? - Just like I remembered you.
Oh, yeah? Troubled?
- Iīm troubled? Yeah. Well, I got... I got a few problems. Donīt you? - Sure.
- Yeah? Whatīd you do about it? - Well, I tried everything, you know.
I went to the nutritionist, the herbalist, the psychiatrist.
Really? Thatīs quite a list. Any of it work?
Canīt tell yet, but you gotta try. You know what Iīm saying? Itīs your duty.
Ah, yeah, patriot. Sure, sure. So, tell me more about your problems.
And Iīll tell you about mine. And then weīll solve them tonight.
Not so fast. Youīre still in the penalty box.
Oh, right, right, right.
Well, thanks for coming to see me.
Hmm. So, is there a Mrs. Mysterio?
- No, but I have a very nice cat. - Not the same.
Well, you donīt know my cat. Itīs very demanding.
- It? You donīt know if itīs a boy or a girl? - I respect its privacy.
- You happy? - Kind of.
- Really? - Sort of.
- Weīll talk soon? - Okay.
Itīs a nice ride. Nobody buys American anymore, huh?
- Hello? - Marcella, what do you got? - Hey, that town is hot!
I got the stink from an assistant over at Rothchildīs. We prepped together.
- I downloaded everything, so just call it up. - Iīm on-line.
Weīve got Steven Lardner, a.k.a. Steve.
And Kenneth McCullers. No pseudonym.
Steve was a redshirt tailback from Ohio State.
McCullers, All-American wrestler from Northwestern. M.B.A. from the same.
- What are they doing here? - Well, theyīre domestic covert operatives for the N.S.A...
up there as part of a new "Get Tough on Terror" campaign.
Theyīre looking for an Oswald; a patsy to take the fall.
- Grocer fed them you. - Grocer set me up. - Surprised? - No.
Well, they were supposed to catch you in the act, but I guess they werenīt quick enough, right?
- Whoīs the ghoul? - Whoa.
This guy is a badass. Felix LaPoubelle.
An accomplished amateur with the Basque Nationalists.
Few odds jobs with the Algerian Separatists.
Went pro with a stunning debut aboard an elite Caribbean cruise liner.
Oh, thatīs where I know him from. Heīs an asshole.
Did loan-outs for Likkenbakken. Enjoys, uh, Native American art...
- ballroom dancing, pornography... - Yeah, yeah, yeah. What is he here for?
Itīs part of that Oregon snafu with that dog, Budro.
So, youīre gonna get out of there, right? I mean, thatīs not right, right? You gotta get out of there, right?
- Youīre on a flight tonight, right? - It isnīt done.
- This is not good. - Iīll do it tomorrow. Itīs fine.
- Sir, Iīm beginning to worry about your safety. - Look, I have to go.
Yeah, we all have to go sometime, sir, but we can choose when.
No one chooses when.
Ya canīt come in.
Well, I was in the neighborhood, so I just stopped by.
Wanted to say hi. Can I come in?
Ya can come in, but only for a second.
Unbelievable.
Itīs exactly the same.
Itīs a shrine. Itīs only temporary.
My apartment burned down on Devilīs Night.
Really? So you never gave me an answer.
- I said weīd talk later. - Well, this is later.
See, I figure if we go together we have a much better chance of gettinī out of there alive.
You know, we can partner up, watch for traps, you know. Go tandem.
I think itīd be a lot safer than if we lone-wolfed it.
- I have to say Iīm curious as to what ten years has done to you. - You too.
Is, uh... Is that the same bed?
- Uh-huh. - The magic bed.
The magic carpet. Wow. Hmm.
Iīll tell you what. Iīll give you an answer if you give me an "airplane".
- Okay. - Cool!
- Ready? - Okay.
- Keep your feet low there. - I remember. - Oh, itīs been ten years.
- Oh! - Fly! Be free. - Iīm flying! - Be free.
- Emancipation! - Are you free?
- Of course. Okay. - What if your Dad comes in?
You can give him one too. Okay.
You can pick me up at 7:00.
Put me down. You can pick me up.
Okay, you can go now.
You want me to leave right now? You donīt wanna, you know, maybe watch CNN, Crossfire, something romantic?
- No, "airplane" was quite enough. - Okay. Iīll go. Thatīs fine. Iīll go.
But this, this night... tomorrow night... the reunion...
is gonna be an im... important step...
in our, you know, burgeoning relationship.
Youīre a fucking psycho.
Donīt rush to judgment on something like that until all the facts are in.
- Iīll just let myself out. - Go.
And, um, you can, you know, lock the door behind me because, you know, thereīs a lot of undesirables around.
Iīll call you or... Iīll... Iīll go.
Oh, shit, there he is.
Man, why donīt we just do his job so we can do our job and get the fuck out of here?
What do you mean, "do his job"? What am I, a cold-blooded killer? Iīm not a cold-blooded killer.
- Now, wait a minute. - No, you wait a minute.
You wanna kill the good guy, but not be the bad guy. Doesnīt work like that.
You gotta wait until the bad guy kills the good guy.
Then when you kill the bad guy, youīre the good guy.
So... just to clarify... if we do his job, weīre the bad guys.
- And if we do our job, weīre the good guys. - Yes.
Thatīs great.
Hey, hey.
Hi, Mr. Grocer.
Oh, heīs brown-bagging it today.
Oh, my God.
Easy there, chief.
I donīt see hollow point wound care on the menu.
Up, up, up.
What are you in Detroit for? The Red Wings need a new goon?
Hi, my name is Melanie. Let me tell you about some of our specials.
Today, thereīs the Alfalfa On My Mind. Thatīs our featured omelette.
Or thereīs Gatsbyīs West Egg omelette.
And if youīre in the mood for something different, thereīs the I Left My Heart In San Francheezy.
- Whatīll you have? - Two poached eggs. Scrape off the milky white stuff.
Hash browns, well done. English muffin for the bread and a coffee.
Whole-grain pancakes and an egg-white omelette, please.
- What would you like in your omelette? - Nothing in the omelette. Nothing at all.
- Well, thatīs not technically an omelette. - Well, I donīt want to get into a semantic argument over it.
I just want the protein, all right?
Come on there, ice man, live a little. Let Chef Raoul put in a little cilantro for your liver.
- I donīt want that. - A little onions for the blood.
- What are those? - Nutrients.
Hereīs the new stuff, kid. Durazac-15.
Makes Prozac feel like a decaf latte.
- You want a couple? I got jars. - I donīt do that stuff anymore.
No wonder you got the shakes. And donīt say "do it".
Because I donīt "do it". I ingest it on orders from my neurophysiologist.
Itīs legal. In five years, weīll be puttinī it in the water for the citizens like fluoride.
Thatīs fascinating. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about? Because I was gonna have breakfast.
I heard about that little blowup at the Ultimart. It was a wicked, rippinī shame.
- One of yours? One of your fraternal brothers? - No!
Hey, listen, I wanna work with you.
That was some indie frog. Some Basque whacker from the Pyrenees.
You sure Oregon doesnīt ring a bell?
Pacific Northwest, a couple of months ago?
Something about you doinī some wonder dog named Cujo?
- Ohh. Budro. Yes, Budro. Jesus Christ. - He knows the dog.
- Yeah, I was out there trying to whack these three junk bond fuckos... - Yeah?
and these idiots were flushing game with sticks of dynamite.
And the dog that they borrowed, little Budro, was a retriever. Get it?
Budro was never a target. Budro was acting on instinct. I would never hurt an animal. And Iīm offended at the acc...
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Chatty Kathy. Clip your string. l donīt need to know.
But just for the record, hereīs what I heard. The marks borrowed your clientīs prized hunting pup.
So bad luck for Budro and bad luck for Blank.
Poodle pumper. Hound hitter. Pooch puncher.
Letīs not talk about Budro, huh?
What about those two guys in the Caprice Classic outside?
- The word is you turned two governments on me, you turncoat. - Me?
- You. - Go "G"? - Yes. - On you?
- Yes. - Never.
Listen, why donīt we get our relationship straight for a minute, all right?
I didnīt get into this business to have any relationships!
And I donīt wanna join your goddamned union, all right?
Loner. Lone gunman. Get it? Thatīs the whole point.
I like the lifestyle, the image. Look at the way I dress.
Why donīt you become a cop or something? You can have coffee in the morning with friends.
Look, this is a one-on-one business. The minute you start relationships, bad things start happening.
If itīll make you feel any better, l think this is my last job.
- Oh, I believe that. - So what do you say... What do you say we put away our guns...
and forget the whole goddamn thing and have some breakfast, all right?
No scabs. From now on, all arrangements, all contracts, all engagements are regulated. You got it?
- Ooh, meet the new boss. - Yes. - No deal.
Okay. But weīre not gonna let you do your little job here.
- No? - No, because weīre gonna do it for you.
- Is that right? - And after we do your job, weīre gonna do another little job.
- Tell me about it. - Like, Iīm gonna put a bullet hole in your fuckinī forehead...
- and Iīm gonna fuck the brain hole! - Nice talk, sugar mouth.
- Hi. - You had the nada omelet?
Hey!
- Pacific Trident Global. - Marcella, Oatmanīs not returning my calls.
I need you to find him right now.
Try his office, try the car, try his club, but I need you to find him.
- Iīm already late for the reunion. Okay? - Okay, okay.
- Patch him through on the land line. This thingīs running low on batteries. - All right.
Hi. How are you? Yeah. I, uh, Iīm a pet psychiatrist. Yeah. Yeah.
I sell couch insurance. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
And I, and I, and I, and I test-market positive thinking.
And I lead a weekend menīs group. We specialize in ritual killings. Mm-hmm.
Yeah, you look... you look great! God, yeah. Yeah.
Hi. Hi. How are you? Yeah. How are you? How are you? Yeah, hi.
Hi, Iīm Martin Blank. You remember me?
Iīm not married, l donīt have any kids...
and I'd blow your head off if someone paid me enough.
Oatman, listen, donīt hang up. All right, I didnīt kill anyone.
Uh, except some guy tried to kill me, so if I see that guy again Iīm definitely gonna kill him.
But Iīm not gonna kill anyone else, you know, except maybe the guy I was sent here to kill. I donīt know.
But anyway, I saw Debi. Iīm on my way to the reunion with Debi.
- But Iīm just feeling a little anxious, so I wanna do a phoner. - Okay. Repeat after me.
I am at home with the "me". I am rooted in the "me" who is on this adventure.
- I am at home with the "me". I am rooted in the "me" who is on this adventure. - Good.
Now take a deep breath and realize that this is "me" breathing.
Uh, Iīm sorr... Iīm sorry. Iīm confused here. I don... I donīt understand.
Do you want me to say it, or do you want me to realize it?
- What? - That Iīm breathing. - Say it.
- This is "me" breathing. - Good. Now go do that for about 20 minutes.
- All right. I gotta go. - Okay. Keep it up. Donīt kill anybody.
Right.
This is "me" breathing.
Yeah.
Youīre a handsome devil. Whatīs your name?
This is not happening again.
Flowers.
- Thatīs funny. - As long as I get the laugh.
- Debi, you look beautiful. - Yeah?
- Mm-hmm. - Thanks. Okay.
Hold on.
- So, my dadīs down the hall. Heīs dying to say "hi" to you. - Okay. Sure.
- Iīll go put these in some rubbing alcohol. - Great.
Mr. Newberry, itīs, uh, Martin Blank.
- Good evening. - Oh.
- How are you? - Good evening, Mr. Blank.
- Sir. - Youīve beaten the millennia. l lose my bet.
Yeah, well, it was completely unavoidable, sir, so...
Just wanted to say hello and, you know, ask you how you are...
- Martin. - howīs business, tricks.
I donīt know where youīve been since you abandoned my daughter 10 years ago, and I donīt care.
Itīs good that you left. Iīm glad that you did.
Youīve grown up a bit. Did I have you figured wrong?
I donīt know. l mean, I hope so.
I visualized you in a haze, as one of those slackster, flannel-wearing...
coffee house misanthropes Iīve been seeing in Newsweek.
No, no, no. I went the other road. Uh, six figures.
Doing business with lead pipe cruelty. Mercenary sensibility, you know.
Sports, sex, no real relationships with anybody. How about you? How have the years been treating you?
Well, you know me, Martin. The same old sellout. Exploiting the oppressed.
- Sure. - "Ah, what a piece of work is man. How noble..."
Ah, fuck it. Letīs have a drink and forget the whole damn thing.
I'd love to, but, um, weīre a little bit late. So I just wanted to say hello and, you know, wish you the best.
- What have you been doing with your life? - Uh, professional killer.
Oh. Good for you. Itīs a growth industry.
Okay. Good seeing you again.
Mmm.
We care a lot
- Neutralize. Did I say neutralize? - Iīll give you 20 bucks for that.
Okay, heīs definitely fallinī for her.
- Look at him. - Her hair looks really nice.
- Yeah, it does, doesnīt it? - You know, this is not...
- No, no. Heīs using her. - No, listen, come on.
What a cruel bastard. Iīm gonna enjoy killinī that son of a bitch.
Mmm. Mm-hmm. Me too.
- I shouldīve worn a skirt. - I shouldīve brought my gun.
- What? - Should be fun.
Oh, itīs a dirty job but someoneīs got to do it
Welcome back, Pointers. Itīs Arlene Oslott-Joseph.
- Hi! - Hi. - Hi! - How are you?
- Iīm good. - Martin.
- Blank. - Oh, Martin Blank. Yes.
Why, you havenīt changed a bit.
- Donīt say that! - Hi, Debi.
- Just love your show. - Oh, thanks. Well, youīre our demographic.
- I thought... - Youīve gone and got married, Arlene.
Yes, I did. And three children.
- Itīs really neat. - Yeah.
I had the yearbook pictures put on so everybody knows who everybody was.
A special torture.
- Hi! Itīs Arlene Oslott-Joseph! - Oh, well!
Bye-bye now, kids. Hi. Oh, now, letīs see.
- Who needs hard liquor? - Me. How are you holding up?
- A little shaky. - Okay, straight to the bar for us.
- Ah, Iīm starting to remember some of these faces. - What can I get ya?
- Vodka rocks, double, two. - You bet.
- When do we actually have to start relating to anybody? - I would say, you know, any, any moment now.
- Ah. Ken Alderosh. - Hey!
- Hello, Martin. - Hi, Ken.
- Yeah, super. Hi, Debi. How are you? - Hi. - Hey, Ken. How are you?
- Isnīt this great? - Yeah! Whatīs happ... Whatīs been happening?
Uh, Moss, Brice and Fromeyer. Yeah. Iīm in divorce, mainly.
Some property, some personal injury, you know.
- Those all seem kinda related. - Hey!
- Hey, Iīm gonna use that. Iīll take that line. - Sure!
Hey, hey, let me give you a card here. Oh, wait a second.
Actually, Iīve got a special one here for top shelf clients.
- Donīt forget to read the cap. - Sure. Thank you. Thanks a lot. - Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Great. Sure. Sure. - Martin Blank...
- Sorry. You slipped. Sorry. - Take it easy, man.
- Sorry. Sorry. - Whoa. Hey, Martin, whatīs happening, man?
- Hi. Hi. Yeah. Sure. - Itīs Nathaniel. Remember me? Howīs it goinī, man?
- Hi, Debi. How you doing? Yeah. - Debi. - Still very Newberry, I see.
- Oldberry, I think. - Howīs it goinī, man? - Good. Good.
- Hey, you gotta say hey to Eckhart, man. Come on. Heīs right over here. - Okay.
- Hey, thanks for the pen. - Yeah, sure.
- Do you remember Jimbo and Peanut? - Bye-bye, Debi. - Yeah, sure. Yeah.
- Hey! - Hey. - Hey, man.
- Howīs it goinī? - Good. - Theyīre good, man.
Theyīre big. Theyīre real big. Iīm supervisinī their training, man.
- Theyīre goinī pro. Strictly Greco-Roman, man. All torso. - Cool!
Iīm takinī īem on the wrestling circuit, man. Yeah.
Hey, hey, hey, I got somethinī for you guys.
"I donīt hear any real remorse here. I donīt think you should get back together with this guy".
- Oh! A real man! Youīre a real man! - Oh, right! Youīre the guy! Right. - Yeah.
- That was cold, man. - Donīt mean any offense by it. I was just speakinī from the heart.
- All right, well... - You know how it is. Hey, hey, what are you doinī later?
Weīre gonna go outside with Paul and blow a fat one, man. Get so charred and toasted.
- Just like in high school. - No, w-we gotta go, um... We gotta go see somebody over there.
- Youīre gonna see some... - But weīll come back and weīll get toasted.
- Yeah, man, come back around and have a drink. Later, man! - Okay, man. Weīll see you guys.
- Hi. - How are you? - Great.
- What happened? - Oh, I was just telling him...
it was like I was sucked up into the cosmos...
- all the while surrounded by these yowling... - "Cosmos".
nebulous forms. - Pardon me?
And then I got to the threshold.
Mozart, music, flowers and poetry.
- You died. - And came back.
- See, thatīs the beautiful part. - How did you die?
Oh. I lost it on some ice and ended up in Lake St. Clair.
- Ah. - Yeah.
- Wanna go somewhere else? - Sure.
- Maybe we can dance later. - Okay. Good. Good.
Okay. Bye.
Hey, you know, Iīm gonna go say hello to Amy over there.
- Okay. - Okay?
- Governor. How you holdinī up, baby? - Hey. I donīt know. How are you?
- Canīt believe you havenīt cracked open like a piņata by now. - Iīm close.
- You look good. You look Tony Robbins good, man. - Yeah. So do you, man.
- How is that possible? I wanna be a part of it, you know what Iīm saying? - I know, I know. How could you...
- Listen, here... - Excuse me.
- Martin Blank. - Hi!
You look great. Itīs Jenny Slater.
- Jenny Slater, yeah! How are you? - How are you? - Good!
- Ten years has been really good for you. -Hey, Jenny Slater. Hey, Jenny Slater. - Good for you too. You look great.
- Thanks. - Hey, Jenny Slater. - You look really good.
Hey, Jenny Slater. Paul. Paul Spericki.
- Paul. - Yeah.
- Uh... - Had 11... Had 11 classes with you.
- Did the precious metals paper for you. - Oh.
Okay. Well, I was looking for some validation in my life, but apparently I came up short!
- Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. - I thought that went quite well. - Yeah, it was good for you. Yeah. Yeah. - I thought that went quite well. This...
- Howīs the... Howīs the rest of the night been going? - Oh, itīs been going great. You know, itīs a festival of pain.
- The idea that-that they think that you canīt evolve. Right? - Right, right, right.
- And Iīm saying that l... - Excuse me.
- Hey, Jenny. - Yeah, yeah.
- Jenny. - Blank, Blank, Blank. - Yeah? Yeah?
I donīt know. All these people are drivinī me crazy, talking like it was all great memories, you know.
- People in the National Honor Society? - Yeah?
Blue stars on their name tags, like it fuckinī matters now that they were in the honor club ten years ago?
- Right, right. - I donīt wanna talk about the old days. What did we have together? Drafting?
- Archery. - Oh, yeah, archery. Couldnīt stand that class.
You know, but I appreciate you helping me out, man. You know? Taught me to hit my targets.
- Sure. - Check this out. - Thatīs the...
- I gotta go. I gotta go, man. - Thatīs not right for this place.
Marty.
- Tracy. How you doinī? - Yeah. Good. How are you?
- Iīm all right. - Sit, sit.
- So, how you been? - Great. Iīm, Iīm married.
- And... - Robbie.
- Wow. - Yeah. Yeah.
And how... how... how is it all? Itīs not like it was supposed to be, right?
- No, no, thatīs not true. - No?
- Itīs great. - Really? - I am so great.
People think that when you get married you lose your freedom.
- Not true? - No. It gets better and better.
So, how are you? Howīs your life?
- In progress. - Yeah?
- Wh... Will you hold Robbie for a sec? - No, I...
Iīm gonna get his bottle. Itīs okay. Go ahead.
You wonīt break him.
You spend the first year just trying to keep these little guys alive.
- Yeah, I imagine theyīd be, uh, very vulnerable to the elements. - Yeah.
īCause loveīs such an old-fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the light
And love dares you to change our way
Of caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
- Hey. Last time I saw him he was in here. - I know. Look at him.
- Hey, whatīs your name? - Robbie.
- Hey, will it... will it disturb him if I hold him? - No, no. Heīd love it.
- Such a good little munchkin. - Hey, bunny.
- Are you tired? Are you tired, little one? - Here, wait a minute.
- No. No food. - Let me get a picture. Let me get a picture.
Look. Look up.
- Hey! - How you doing?
- Nice to see... - Good. - Hey, Martin. - How you doing?
I saw you earlier, but I didnīt get a chance to talk to you.
- Did you get a pen from Ken? - Yes, I did.
Great. You all look very nice today.
- Well, Iīm having a good night. - Hey. Computer guy.
Right, Bob. How you doing? Dan Koretzky.
- I saw you over at your dadīs dealership. - Congratulations. - Yeah, I sell BMWs.
- You guys remember Bob Destepello. - Oh, sure. - Sure. Sure.
- Debi Radio. - Bobby Beemer.
- Go out and do some blow? - What an incredibly sweet gesture.
- But I think Iīll pass. - Hi, Bob.
Itīs me, Martin. From high school.
Iīm drawing a complete blank.
- Hate to see it. - I hate that.
Bobby, get away from me.
Do you know I have recurring dreams about you? Did I tell you that?
Like, five nights a week for, like, six years. Did I tell you that?
You know, yesterday on the radio...
- When you publicly humiliated me? - Yeah, well, you know, no less than you deserve.
I think... I think I was overly harsh when I said that you were broken.
H... Really? How so?
- I donīt think youīre broken. - No?
I think youīre mildly sprained.
- Nothing that canīt be mended. - Wow.
Think... I think thatīs a compliment.
Yeah.
What was I gonna say?
That youīre glad you came back and youīre real happy to see me.
Yeah. I am. I definitely am.
Sorry if I fucked up your life.
Itīs not over yet.
- Do you have a wife in Arkansas? - No.
- Do you want to dance? - Sure.
Okay.
When people keep repeating
That youīll never fall in love
When everybody keeps retreating
But you canīt seem to get enough
Let my love open the door
To your heart
- Oh. The nurseīs office. - Health station.
I donīt feel well, and neither do you.
You know, thereīs this big black cloud thatīs following you around...
that youīre gonna have to come out from under before it even can...
Thatīs just like you. A little rain follows me to town, and you just fall to pieces.
God, itīs been so long, Iīve forgotten who gets tied up.
- Wait. - What? - No, stop.
Stop? Whatīs wrong? Too fast?
- Iīm sorry. - Too fast? - No, i... Yeah.
Something... Something is missing.
- Something... - What?
Oh, I know.
Welcome home.
I missed you.
Oh. Welcome back, Pointer. Itīs Arlene Oslott-Joseph.
- And who might you be? - It is I, Sidney Feldman.
Oh. Been overseas?
My. You have changed.
Save a dance for me, now.
I think the best thing for both of us would be to go away someplace quiet for a few weeks...
and work this whole thing out.
Fine.
- Where are you going? - Well, you know, thereīs a few people I should say good-bye to.
Iīm gonna go cruise by my old locker, and then Iīll meet you in front.
Iīll find you.
- Hi, Bob. - Debi Newberry, huh?
- You gonna hit that shit again? - Fine, Bob. How are you?
Real smart. Come on.
Letīs see how smart you are with my foot up your ass!
Do you really believe that thereīs some stored-up conflict...
that exists between us?
There is no "us". "We" donīt exist.
So, who do you want to hit, man? Itīs not me.
Now, what do you want to do here, man?
- I donīt know what that is. - These are my words.
Itīs a poem? See, thatīs the prob...
Express yourself, Bob. Go for it.
"When I feel quiet...
when I feel blue..."
You know, I think that is terrific, what you have right there.
Really. I liked it a lot. I wouldnīt sell the... I wouldnīt sell the dealership or anything...
but Iīm telling you, itīs intense.
- Thereīs more. - Okay. W-W-Why donīt you just skip to the end.
To the... the very end.
"For a while".
Thatīs good, man.
- "For a while". - Thatīs excellent.
- You wanna do some blow? - No, I donīt.
- There you go. - I missed you.
Okay, I missed you too.
Okay.
Mirror in the bathroom please talk free
The door is locked Just you and me
Can I take you to a restaurant thatīs got glass tables
You can watch yourself while you are eating
Mirror in the bathroom I just canīt stop it
Every Saturday you see me window shopping
Find no interest in the rags and shelves
Just ten thousand reflections of my own sweet self, self, self, self
Mirror in the bathroom
Youīre my mirror in the bathroom
Mirror in the bathroom Recompense
For all my crimes are self-defense
Cures you whisper make no sense
Drift gently into mental illness
Mirror in the bathroom
Itīs not me.
It wasnīt me.
- Oh! Oh, no! - Hey, whatīs going on? Whatīs going on?
- Whatīs going on? Whereīs our boy? Whereīs our boy? - No! No!
Hey. Is that... Is that his... that guyīs blood?
Yeah. A thousand innocent people get killed every day.
Is this guy dead?
But a millionaireīs pet gets detonated and youīre marked for life.
- Help me out here. - Okay.
Pull that down.
- Howīd he die? - Heīs a notorious terrorist.
Thereīs a contract out on my life.
- Heīs dead? - Heīs dead. - This guyīs dead? - Yeah.
Look, are his feet covered?
Here we go.
Come on. Grab his feet.
- All right, you ready? - Yeah.
Put him there. Put him there.
One...
two...
three.
- Get in there. - Get that fuckinī thing in there.
Motherfuck!
Thanks. Nobodyīs gonna come looking for this guy. Come on. Come on.
Every story has to be about something, I suppose
This one says I lose my head
As the feeling starts to grow you know
- What can I get you? - Whiskey. - Club soda.
Feel love thump as it tears you apart
Feel love thump as the worrying starts
Feel love thumping
At the doors of my heart again
- Eckhart, have you seen Debi? - No, man.
- Ken, you havenīt seen Debi, have you? - Nope.
Okay.
Every time it happens Seem to act a little touched
Paul Spericki. Iīm in real estate. What do you do, Martin?
Why canīt we just feel love thumpinī at the doors of our hearts
What now? Chase the girl?
If you see Debi, tell her Iīm sorry.
I can feel love thumpinī
At the doors of my heart again
- At the doors of my heart again - How you doinī?
I can feel those doors go thump
Thump, thump
I can feel those doors go thump
- Take care of yourself, Ken. Thank you for the pen. - Oh. Yeah. Sure.
...latest series of threats... on the WNA... I am confident...
- I didnīt touch no one! - Chihuahua city!
Look, boy...
Roger, South... Baby... Somebody political...
Plus, weīll have more information... And Iīm working... Burning building...
Right decision... Are exploding...
Hello, This is Dr. Oatman. I am not available right now.
But if youīd like to leave a message I will get back to you shortly.
Dr. Oatman, itīs Martin Blank.
Listen, I just wanted to tell you that I donīt wanna work with you anymore. Things are going really well here.
Theyīre going a lot better than expected and I just donīt really feel like youīre helpful in any way...
and I donīt think youīre serious about the therapy and...
So, I want you to take a deep breath and realize...
that this is "me" firing "you".
- He was gonna kill you, right? - Yes.
- It wasnīt the other way around? - No. No.
- That wasnīt my intention. - Is it something youīve done?
Itīs something I do. Professionally.
For about five years now.
You were joking. People joke about the horrible things that they donīt do.
They donīt do them. Itīs absurd.
When I left I joined the army, and when I took the service exam...
my psych profile fit a certain... moral flexibility would be the only way to describe it.
I was loaned out to a ClA-sponsored program and we sort of found each other. Thatīs the way it works.
- So you... youīre a government spook? - Yes. I mean, no.
I was before, but Iīm not now. Uh, but thatīs all irrelevant now.
The idea of governments, nations is public relations theory at this point.
Donīt. I donīt wanna hear about the theories. I wanna hear about the dead people.
Explain the dead people. Who do you kill?
Well, thatīs very complicated, but...
-Why do you kill people? -in the beginning, you know, it matters, of course, that you have something...
to hang on to, you know, a specific ideology to defend.
Right? I mean, "taming unchecked aggression," that was my personal favorite.
Other guys like "Live free or die," but, you know, you get the idea.
But thatīs all bullshit, and I know that now. Thatīs all bullshit.
You do it because you were trained to do it, you were encouraged to do it...
and ultimately, you know, you...
get to like it.
I know that sounds bad.
- Youīre a psychopath. - No, no, no. A psychopath kills for no reason.
I kill for money. Itīs a job... That didnīt sound right.
Uh, let me see if I can put it another way.
If I show up at your door, chances are you did something to bring me there.
I mean, everybodyīs doing it. Itīs like the natural order.
I mean, the states do it. Sometimes thereīs due process, and sometimes pilots carpet-bomb cities, you know.
Riot cops shoot demonstrators. Thatīs indiscriminate. I donīt do that.
You should read the files on some of these fuckers.
I mean, it reads like a demonīs resumé.
Look, I bottomed out here.
Iīve lost my taste for it completely.
Thatīs why I came back. I wanted to see you, you know. I wanted to start over, leave that behind.
Oh, so Iīm part of... Iīm part of your romantic new beginning.
Right?
How come you never learned that it was wrong...
that there are certain things you do not do... you do not do in a civilized society.
- What civilizations are we talking about? - Oh, shut up.
- I mean, history... - Shut up!
Everything about you is a lie.
Everything.
Stay away from me.
Debi, donīt go!
You donīt get to have me. Donīt you get it?
- Youīre overreacting. - Yeah! Yeah!
Whoo!
- Hello. - Are we out of business yet?
- Iīm taking down the office now. - Good.
- Iīll put things right, and then Iīll find you. - Why?
Itīs not like that, Marcella.
Look under your desk. I left a little something for you.
All the way under.
- You shouldnīt have. - Thatīs profit sharing. You deserve it.
All right!
Youīre a handsome devil. Whatīs your name?
Dumb fuckinī luck.
lgnacio
Lay dyinī in the sand
- A single red rose - Okay, good, good, good, good, good.
Clutched in her dyinī hand
- Here he comes. - And I donīt wanna watch
To see them all die
And the big black birds gathered in the sky
- What the hell is the matter with you? - Get in the car now. Keep your head down.
Shit. Blank.
Go! Go, Chano, go!
You must have done some naughty shit there, Bart, īcause thereīs a contract out on your life.
Believe me. I was hired to kill you, but Iīm not gonna do it.
Itīs either because Iīm in love with your daughter, or I have a newfound respect for life.
That punk is either in love with that guyīs daughter, or he has a newfound respect for life.
- My whole life! - Hopefully not.
Durazac?
Design division wants me dead over a leaky sunroof? You wanna kill me because of that?
Itīs not me! Why does everybody think itīs personal? Get in here.
Dad? Whatīs going on? What is he doing here?
Theyīre... Theyīre... Theyīre trying... Theyīre trying to kill me. My... My testimony. Martin saved my life.
I was sitting there alone on prom night in that goddamned rented tuxedo...
and the whole night flashed before my eyes, and I realized finally...
and for the first time that I wanted to kill somebody.
So I figured since I loved you so much itīd be a good idea if I didnīt see you any more.
Theyīre right behind us. So, I was in the Gulf last year. I was doing this thing.
Anyway, I came up over this dune and I saw the ocean, and it was on fire.
I mean, the whole thing. It was beautiful. And I just sat down and I watched it burn.
And I got the sneaking, dark suspicion that maybe there was meaning to life.
You know, a point, like an organic connection between all living things.
I donīt know, God, Yahweh, a higher power, whatever you want to call it.
Donīt move.
Debi, Iīm in love with you...
and I know we can make this relationship work.
Come on, come on, come on, come on. Wait, wait!
- I was always afraid to commit to a relationship. - What?
But now Iīm ready to make it happen. We need to go upstairs now.
Itīs not easy for me. I always control my emotions, my feelings, you know, and I just need time to change.
Go in there. Lock the door.
Yeah, I wasnīt exactly raised in a loving environment.
Itīs not an excuse, itīs a reason. You know, my soul is empty.
- Iīll be cominī around the mountain when I come - Itīs up to me to fill it.
Iīll be cominī around the mountain when I come
Iīll be blowinī your fuckinī head off Iīll be blowinī your fuckinī head off
Iīll be whackinī your fuckinī mind out when I come
Popcorn!
"See, and I saw a beast rise up out of the sea...
having seven heads and ten horns.
And they worshipped the beast saying, īWho is like the beast?
Who is able to make war with him?"
- Itīs okay. Itīs Martin. - Not you, Pinky!
I know what I do isnīt, you know, moral, per se...
- Make this gun work. - Sure.
But I think if you could just look past that, you can find a man worth loving.
- I mean, Iīm working on the redemption thing, but... - Hey, now, girl.
Donīt you listen to him. Heīs a professional.
Hold on a minute.
Smells like a wedding. Youīre breakinī my heart down here, Blank.
I canīt aim through the tears. Budroīs cominī for ya!
- Comrade! Hey, Comrade! - What?
Why donīt you just join the union, weīll go upstairs together and cap Daddy.
- This union, is there gonna be meetings? - Of course.
No meetings.
National Security, Blank!
Workers of the world, unite!
Look at that. Empty.
Solidarity, baby. You out?
Yeah.
- So, what are you gonna do? You gonna throw that gun at me? - No!
- How about this? How about I sell you a piece for 100 Gs? - Okay. Front me?
Deal.
Popcorn...
Ow. Ow.
Ow.
I want you to think about this, and you donīt have to answer it now...
but, Debi, will you marry me?
You got my blessing.
This is WGPM-FM, Radio Free Newberry, Grosse Pointe, Michigan...
winding down our all-vinyl reunion weekend...
Pointes High class of ī86.
Some people say forgive and forget.
Nah, I donīt know. I say forget about forgive and just accept.
And get the hell out of town.
When Iīm a-walkinī I strut my stuff
Then Iīm so strung out
Iīm high as a kite I just might
Stop to check you out
Let me go on
Like I blister in the sun
Let me go on
Big hands, I know youīre the one
When Iīm a-walkinī I strut my stuff
Then Iīm so strung out
Iīm high as a kite I just might
Stop to check you out
Body and feet I stained my sheets
I donīt even know why
My girlfriend Sheīs at the end
She is starting to cry
When Iīm a-walkinī I strut my stuff
Then Iīm so strung out
Iīm high as a kite and I just might
Stop to check you out
Let me go on
Like I blister in the sun
Let me go on
Big hands, I know youīre the one
Hey, hey