(theme music playing)
NARRATOR: Man lives in the sunlit world
of what he believes to be reality.
But... there is,
unseen by most, an underworld.
A place that is just as real
but not as brightly lit.
A dark side.
(country music playing)
Super driving, Gus, really.
That was a lot of fun,
just you and me on the whole bus.
And you being a Virgo and me an Aries.
(chuckles)
Let me know when you get all fueled up.
I'll be ready.
(musical bus horn honking)
You devil, you.
(giggles)
Hello!
Hello?
Cleaning, huh?
(chuckles)
Well, I can see you got a dust problem.
Whoops.
I almost stepped on a crack.
You should put up a poster that says "cracks."
Step on a crack, you break your mother's back.
You know? Hello?
(turns off vacuum) Next bus, 15 minutes!
I know that.
I've been on that bus.
I'm a 12-hour veteran of that bus,
all the way from Sasawatche, Iowa to Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
(vacuum whirring)
My advisor advised me to head south.
Sure is deserted in here.
My ticket says Lubbock.
In parenthesis, "Girl meets guy."
You know what I mean?
(giggles)
It's been approximately 12 hours and 13 minutes
since I consulted my advisor, the prophet Madame X.
She said, "Make no delay.
"Get on the first bus headed to Texas, and there
you will meet your Sagittarian."
So, here I am.
A stop on the way to romance.
You married?
Me and my husband just bought this place.
Oh.
I got the night shift.
(both laugh)
Got anything to eat, like maybe an all-beef dog?
I used to like a guy who loved all-beef dogs,
but he married my cousin.
They served all-beef dogs at the wedding.
"A," "B," "C..."
(sighs)
It's so exciting when your stars are lined up for romance.
"D," "E," "F,"
"G,"
"H!"
What do you think?
Harry?
Henry?
(giggles)
Oh, thank you.
I guess a dollar ought to cover that, right?
Hope you don't mind if I pay you in quarters.
I carry my cash in quarters.
That way I'm prepared if I pass an astrological machine.
I like to keep in close contact with my destiny.
Did you say machine?
Yes.
Astrological machines.
They're fabulous.
Voice-activated and-and very intelligent.
We have one in my salon in Sasawatche--
the prophet Madame X.
She takes into account
your birth date and the electromagnetic field
under which you were born.
You must be a Taurus.
You pay attention to business.
My husband bought this.
Oh, he did?
He must be a Leo-- a gambling man.
Maybe this thing will just pay for itself.
I really wouldn't bother with that if I were you.
It's probably just a video game.
I'm taking about the prophet Madame X.
Did you say your machine's called Madame X?
The prophet Madame X.
This one's called Horace X.
I don't believe it.
Horace X is the son and heir of Madame X.
He's everything she is, only more.
And so handsome.
(mechanical whirring)
MALE VOICE: Hi, I'm Horace X.
Hiya.
It's your fan, Cassie Pines.
Born April l8, l9...
Aries cusp.
Hello, Cassie.
That's right.
Aries cusp.
Sasawatche, Iowa.
Ascendant Gemini, Virgo moon.
You can put your hands on my screen, Cassie.
Press harder, huh.
(sighs softly)
You really are spiffy, Horace.
(laughs): Oh, my gosh.
Isn't this top drawer?
Uh, you have reached your destination, Cassie.
What?
Didn't you hear me?
You have reached your destination.
I'm supposed to go to Texas.
Danger awaits the traveler.
Danger? But...
Danger. Do not travel.
But...
I am Horace X.
Wh...
Over and out.
Oh.
No, wait a minute.
There's some mistake.
Oh, shoot.
(mechanical whirring)
All stars pointed to travel.
I am Horace X.
It's me, Cassie Pines.
Born April l8, 19...
Aries cusp.
I remember, Cassie.
Yes, well, I was just talking to you a few minutes ago.
I'm destined to go to Texas to meet a tall Sagittarian,
just as soon as the bus gets to Lubbock.
It was foretold to me only this morning by Madame X.
You can put you hands on my screen.
(giggles)
That's good.
That's nice.
That tickles.
Press harder, Cassie.
There.
You will take a journey.
That's right.
I'm on one.
When the time is right.
And the time is right now, right?
Cassie, what did I tell you?
I don't know.
I thought maybe you were mixed up.
(electrical crackle) Ouch!
I got a shock.
Oh!
I am Horace X.
I know that.
I wasn't questioning you!
(electrical crackling) What's going on?!
I-I'm son, s...
son to heir... (crackling)
I am, I am the son and I'm the heir of Madame X!
I didn't mean anything by it.
(electrical crackling)
(grunts)
(crackling stops)
Wow, Horace.
You really are something.
I mean, I know you just got out of your box, but...
It's my birthday.
Well...
I have to ask you a question.
I don't want you to be offended though.
Cassie, how are you?
This is something real specific.
My mother told me about you.
Well, that's nice.
This is a question about etiquette.
It's nice to be polite.
May I please consult another source?
Wanda Sue, do you have any tea back there?
Cassie!
Now you're angry with me.
I wonder where the bus driver is.
Gus?
Well,
I think you're gonna like it here.
Going home to get some shut-eye.
Oh. Now, don't bother
about locking the door. Thank you.
(chuckles): I never do.
Okay.
Don't forget to turn out the light.
Gus is just about gassed up.
Should be rolling any minute.
Oh.
Thank you.
Bye. Bye.
Bye-bye.
Men and me...
we never clicked.
Madame X led me to believe that when I met my Sagittarian,
we would fall in love immediately.
It would be love at first sight.
So you can see why it's so important that I get to Texas.
Oh, I hope I get there.
Horace, I see an airplane.
That means travel.
And...
(sighs)
right next to it is a hatchet.
That's no good.
Oh, these are terrible tea leaves.
I need the good kind, loose.
(sighs): Oh.
It must be about time for Gus to leave.
Where are my cards?
Oh.
(gasps softly)
Tails.
And a three.
Tails and three.
Think thrice.
Obey caution in this life.
(bus horn honking)
Horace, this is my last chance.
(bus engine starting)
Can I get on the bus?
I am Horace X.
Who's calling?
Cassie Pines.
Aries cusp.
Horace, the bus is leaving.
Can I get on it?
(bus horn honking)
You want me to lie to you?
You better go on without me, Gus!
I just got a message to wait here.
Yeah.
Maybe I'll take the next bus.
Yeah.
Maybe I'll be able to do that.
(bus pulling away)
You drive careful now!
Now that's better, Cassie.
(mechanical whirring)
Can I take the next bus?
Maybe I can still make it by midnight.
(distant thundering)
What was that?
Was that the bus?
What did I tell you?
Oh, God!
Put your hands on my screen, Cassie.
Ouch.
You're burning me.
Someone's coming, Cassie.
But, Horace, the bus...
Important, Cassie.
Beware of false prophets.
Horace, you saved my life, didn't you?
Cassie, listen to me. (vehicle approaching)
Beware of false prophets.
What do you mean, false prophets?
(door opens then closes)
(footfalls approaching)
Well, hi there, pretty lady.
Hi there, sweet pea.
Dark outside, ain't it?
But then there's always dark before the dawn.
You remember that, I mean, literally speaking...
dark turns into light,
night to day, sinners to repenters.
Dark before the dawn.
If you came here to take the bus, it's already left.
I was driving along, moment to moment,
and all of a sudden I felt a tingling in my toes,
and my heart started beating, and I felt an incredible desire
to drive into this depot.
I walk in here, and there you are.
Whoo-ee, I mean, you sure are a looker, sweet pea.
Heat Jones.
Founder and preacher of the Moment to Moment Church.
The word is present, the time is here.
Live, breathe and believe
in the now, the everlasting now.
I guess you didn't hear what I said.
The bus left.
You missed it.
Do you know how big a moment is?
The ticket lady went home.
I don't even work here.
Would you like me to tell you how a big a moment is?
You sure are pretty, you know that?
Now, you see, see, now you see, that was a moment.
There was a moment right there.
We shared it.
The Moment to Moment Church is based upon sharing.
The next bus leaves at 8:00 a.m.
Oh, I don't think about the future.
Living is now.
Would you like to share another moment?
No.
This is a moment.
You got eyes like pools frogs could swim in.
Please let me up.
Don't do that again, okay?
Another moment.
Great, we've just shared
three wonderful, memorable moments.
We're getting to know each other, darling.
Ah, that's what my church is all about.
Gut feelings, I mean instantaneous
gut feelings that spring right up
from the bottom of your soul...
Just keep your moments to yourself.
You know, I'm good at guessing names.
Let me see now, uh...
Lassie?
No, no, that's a dog.
Um...
Patsy?
Nope.
Cassie?
What?
Is that your name?
Yeah.
Yes, sirree, I'm getting good at this.
Like I said, I'm Heat Jones.
You like my name, huh?
Stay away from me.
Don't come near me.
You see here-- this is a moment.
This moment here is like a magnet
between you and me.
I know who you are.
You do?
Am I that famous already?
Listen, you know, I've been trying
to get a TV show of my own.
You're a false prophet.
Oh, I am not a prophet.
I don't deal in the future.
The word is now.
Yes, you are.
You're a false prophet
and you can't pretend that you're not.
How do we know that?
Horace told me.
Who's Horace?
You've got to be kidding.
This is Horace?
He'll never need a haircut, now will he?
(loud clank)
It just so happens that I'm here
because Horace told me not to take the last bus.
Why?
Because he knew it was going to blow up.
Blow up?
Yes, I saw the whole thing. It happened right here.
No, it didn't blow up.
Sure didn't.
I mean, I passed it ten miles down the road.
But you know, if... if you had of been on that bus,
we never would've met.
But it did blow up.
It was as bright as daylight in here.
Little darling,
ain't you never ever heard of heat lightning?
It follows me wherever I go.
But Horace said...
Did you hear any sirens?
Ambulances? Police?
If a bus had blown up,
somebody would be here.
It was just my natural animal magnetism
mixing with the cool of the night, creating heat.
Heat lightning.
(distant thunder rumbling) That's what it was, darling.
Why should I believe you?
'Cause you got eyes I'd never lie to.
Don't look at me like that.
Special moments for special days.
Today's my birthday.
And I think I've got myself a jewel for a birthday present.
I'm going to Texas to meet somebody
on his birthday.
Who has to go to Texas?
You got your birthday boy right here.
HORACE X: Hey, I saw her first.
Did somebody say something?
Come here.
Come here, Cassie.
Watch out.
I can't.
I have to talk to Horace.
Horace, Cassie here.
Aries...
I know it's you, Cassie.
Yes, it's me.
Touch me, Cassie.
Wait, what are you doing with that machine?
I have to find out what I should do next.
There is no next!
Haven't you been listening to me?!
There's only now!
Well, if there is no next, then what do I care about now?
Let me down.
Don't listen to lies. What?
I will protect you.
What is that machine doing talking anyway?
Don't listen to him. What?!
Watch out. Lies, falsehoods, lies, false prophets.
Stop talking about me.
You better go somewhere else and preach.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute, you're talking to a machine.
You're listening to that machine.
Is there something wrong with you?
Horace is a voice-activated genius.
No... He's not just a machine.
Horace is a machine.
He is wires and sparks and doodads.
Horace is a machine.
Leave us alone.
Leave you alone?
With a machine?
There is something wrong with you, darling.
We don't need your moments.
Everybody needs moments.
You just want to spend yours with a machine rather than me.
I want to know why.
Because with Horace, I know what's going to happen next.
Well, why do you want to know that?
It's nice to know.
Well, what about me?
Aren't I nice to know?
False prophet.
Horace says you're a false prophet.
He's a machine!
You know something.
I don't think I like Horace.
When I see something I want, I go for it.
Our moments are too good, darling,
to let that machine get in our way.
Please leave us alone.
No.
(electrical crackling)
(electrical snap)
Stay away from me.
(electrical snap)
(electrical buzzing)
You can put your hands on my screen.
(Horace X laughing) (screaming)
Horace!
Horace, no!
No!
How do you like that, huh, curly?
(laughing)
He sure is handsome for a Sagittarian.
Cassie.
Yes, Horace?
Cassie. Cassie...
What, Horace?
It's my birthday, too.
Today is my birthday.
I'm the Sagittarian.
Happy birthday, Horace.
Is he really a false prophet?
Touch me, Cassie.
I told my mother
you didn't have to go all the way to Texas.
(wind whistling)
Where am I?
I seemed to have lost a few moments here.
Cassie.
Where are you, darling?
Cassie?
CASSIE (mechanical voice): Help.
Someone help me!
NARRATOR: The dark side is always there.
Waiting for us to enter.
Waiting to enter us.
Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.