Hey, man. Can I get, uh, $4...
23 on pump 6, please?
Huh.
I'd like to add that to my purchase.
Found something.
- Salvation? - Better.
And I'd like to trade it...
... for the watch.
- You found this at the beach? - Yep.
That's a Lynx ring.
You have to be a Lynx to get one.
Wow. How about that? What's a Lynx?
They're a fraternal order, like the Masons or the Elks.
The Masons and the Elks. All right.
All right, so what's it worth?
Nothing. It's not real gold.
What? Really?
Someday you'll know the difference.
Well, there's a... there's an inscription on it here.
Um... do you speak Latin, Burt?
I'm fluent.
Oh. "Superus sicet Inferus."
I've never heard of the Lynx.
They have a lodge, over by the, uh...
Orbis plant.
The Orbis plant?
I drive by there every day. I've never seen it.
I'm taking a break.
All right, Hermie! Hermie Dermie!
Um...
All right, well, can you give me anything for it, man?
If you need cash,
I can open up another line of credit for ya.
Never again.
89.9%. How do you sleep at night?
The Dollar Center's at 126.6.
You're a parasite, Burt.
My dad always said that you were the saddest,
most pathetic piece of shit that he ever met.
And you know what? He was right.
All right, what'll you give me for this?
- Hello. - Hey.
Your sister called here, looking for you.
What did she want?
She wants to know when you're getting a new cell phone.
Well, I don't live in phone land any more, so...
Where are you living right now?
In the past, Alice. In the past.
Uh, give me three sprinkles, three twisties...
and a bear claw.
Wow. Look at you.
Yeah, well, I just saw my financial advisor, so...
Mm.
Oh, yeah. Uh-huh. Knight, uh, king to, uh, bishop's pawn,
and then a... then a double queen zigzag.
Do it.
- Uh, so you going out later? - I'm working all day.
Oh, that's too bad. The swell's picking up.
How would you know?
Well, because my eyes still work, Alice.
Then stop being a pussy and come out with me.
You gotta get back in the water.
Well, you know what? I got better things to do.
Okay?
Hey, bud. This isn't junk.
It's a classic.
I see you!
Yeah, you!
You better move!
- Yeah! - Yeah, why don't you come back, eh?!
Come back!
Here you go... all the glories of creation.
You take Bitcoin?
No cryptocurrencies. Cash only.
That's 50.
Great. And my name is Dr. Blaise St. John...
... and I would like to thank you
for making me your apothecary of choice.
- Okay. - You must love it
when the rich kids come down from Palos Verdes.
They're second only to the angels themselves.
I have your earth, wind, and fire kit ready to go.
Now everything you need is right in there,
- including instructions. - Mm-hmm.
Once it's mixed together, just rub it into his fur.
or wherever there's irritation.
Thank you. And Fernando thanks you.
- See you at the tavern tonight? - No.
After work, I'm playing nine with Larry and, um...
- I've got other stuff. - Hot date?
What? No.
Are you okay?
- You look stressed. - I'm not sleeping.
It's the crows in my neighborhood.
They wake me up every morning. They're everywhere.
Signs and symbols, Ernie.
The... the augury of birds, man!
- Mnh. - Come on.
Paracelsus says this sort of thing
usually foretells doom.
Fantastic.
I mean... that's just an FYI.
- Ernie, my friend! - I'm not your friend today.
This is a search and destroy mission.
You can count our brass.
Pete says we need stops and connectors.
- Nickel and dime. - It's a golden age.
Captain's doing that infill in Torrance. 50 units.
Half the plumbers bidding that job buy from you.
It's on hold. I heard Captain's getting sued.
Captain's always getting sued. He's a rapacious son of a bitch.
- Mm-hmm. - But when that suit goes away,
and it will,
you're gonna need stock on your shelves.
Or do you want to hang your plumbers out to dry
with Captain? Not a good idea.
With Orbis about to shut his door for good...
What are you actually hearing about all that?
Just rumors. But with all that acreage,
all those hangars and factories and office buildings,
Orbis is the last big redevelopment project in Long Beach,
and I guarantee Captain will be in the middle of it.
Orbis... Well, that bums me out.
My dad was a mechanic there a million years ago.
My father was a janitor there.
Graveyard shift.
Okay, Ernie. Write it up.
Already did.
Give me the P.O.
You know what? Let me ask you something.
Hmm?
You ever actually met Captain?
Of course. I know everybody.
Hmm.
Hey, hey. Listen, good news.
I can get square by the end of the month.
I've got a nice commission coming.
What? No.
Come on, man. I just need a couple of weeks.
Hello? Hello?
Damn.
Hey!
Nice try!
This is a Cadillac!
Hello?
You're looking at 600 square feet.
Really? Well, give or take.
- Um... - Hmm.
And all-new fixtures in the kitchen, more or less.
Does that bottle of Jim Beam
come with the apartment?
Christ.
Sean, are you here?
Sean!
Hey, Mr. Lang.
Hi, Sean. Could you please get the hell out?
Yeah, I'm sorry. Yeah. Going. Leaving now.
- Get my stuff. - But wait, but, wait.
Dud?
- Beth? - Yeah.
Oh. Well, long time.
Yeah. Tim, this is Sean Dudley.
He was my date to, uh, homecoming senior year.
Ah. Yeah, don't worry about it.
We, uh, we didn't get very far.
Oh. I blew him.
I've got another showing in 10 minutes.
- Oh. - So how are you?
Uh... I'm great!
Yeah? Do you live here?
- He did. - Yeah, yeah.
No, I thought since no one took my apartment,
you know, I'd kind of just sort of hang out.
Kind of be like a... caretaker for the property.
Yeah, last I heard, you had moved to Mexico
and you were surfing.
Oh, no, no. I took a trip to Nicaragua.
Um, I... I didn't stay for very long, though.
- It was... - Oh, yeah.
Somebody told me that you got attacked by a shark.
A shark? I wish! No, it was a, uh...
It was, um...
- Like a... - You know, like a... uh...
You know, it doesn't matter. It's a long story.
So, uh, what's new with you?
Oh, you know, nothing.
We got engaged last weekend. Um...
Oh, right! Of course.
Oh, God, I'm sorry. I'm the worst.
Yes. Uh, look!
We should celebrate!
Let's celebrate! What are you guys doing after this?
Oh, we both have to get back to work, so, uh...
Oh, right. Right, right, yeah.
But, I mean, like, you know, later on in the evening.
- Okay. - Really?
Yeah?
R... really? Great!
Ha, cool. That's great. All right.
Should I get your number?
Uh, no. No, don't worry about it. I'll be at Donuts.
You can just, uh...
you just stop on by. You guys can meet me there.
And then we'll, uh... you know,
we'll figure out a plan from there.
Does that sound ... sound good?
Yeah, Donuts. Good.
- Good. Great. - Great.
Okay.
- Mr. Lang, see you later? - Yeah, you, too, Sean.
- Okay. - If you come back here, I'll call the police.
Yeah, you got it.
Behold the maestro.
Oh, shut the hell up.
Yeah!
Ah. Beautiful.
Aah!
Uh, you sliced it a little.
What the hell, dude?
Fore!
Damn hack!
Look around you, son. This ain't Pebble Beach.
Oh.
Remember, I'm 5 strokes up.
3 strokes, you lying bastard.
I don't need this crap. I'm fine.
Listen, that kid I told you about,
he's coming tomorrow morning.
- Okay. - You need to be there,
You need to let him inside and show him what to do.
No problem, Larry. Don't sweat it.
Right here, Alice. Right here.
The Tongva Indians
lived right where I'm standing.
For 3,000 years.
For 3,000 years,
they had the whole coastline to themselves,
from... from... from Palos Verdes all the way...
all the way down to Rancho Crapola or whatever.
Anyway, pretty much all they did was, like, fish
and then hang out on the beach.
For 3,000 years, Alice.
- I don't think that's true. - Yeah, well, you know what?
According to my research, it pretty much... pretty much is.
No. Then the Spanish had to come along and ruin everything.
You waiting for somebody?
Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, they should be here soon.
I can't believe I'm doing this shit.
Ah.
So are you coming right here after,
or are you filing from the office?
What?
No. No, no, I've been keeping him off the bed.
Take a Claritin.
Come on, come on, it's our anniversary!
You're damn right I'm calling it that.
I bought a romantic candle.
Bay Leaf Irish Moss or some shit.
Fine. We'll go to the Conquistador.
Can I help you?
Oh, shit.
I'll find you next week for the rest.
2 grand, okay?
I can get it.
The English language is dead.
I'm serious! All the good copy editors are gone.
It's... it's chaos! Look!
They... they mangled half my sentences
and cut, like, five graphs from the middle.
None of this makes sense!
Bunch of sober 25-year-olds.
Hey!
Am I boring you? You... you...
you usually find my rants enthralling.
I do. More than anything.
Is somethin' wrong? You've been a little far away.
No. I...
just don't have any vowels.
Last month, I made a few dumb bets.
- Ernie! You said... - I know. I know. Stupid.
Work was slow. I was just trying to pick up the slack.
It'll be fine.
And... then there's Larry.
Are you worried? You said he was fine.
He is. Hell, the dude's immortal.
He's been promising to step down for a decade now.
"Get ready, Ernie,
I'm sending you on the grand tour next year."
- Next year never comes. - Stop whining.
It's unattractive in a man.
Place is falling apart.
I heard he's getting the carpets cleaned.
I'm 59,
still living check to check.
I've got nothing to show for the last 10 years.
- No security, no... - What do you want?
- You want a pep talk? - Just once in my life,
I want to be in charge of something.
- I want to leave my mark. - Hubris.
Hell, yeah! I want my goddamn portrait on the wall!
A year ago, you came back into my life.
I never thought I'd see you again.
Oh, God! Is that the time?!
Oh! Jeez!
Sorry. Scott's on a new schedule.
No, no, no, no. I get it.
Hey...
Aah!
Did you ever call your sister back?
- No. - How much do you owe her?
A few grand.
She paid off the loan that I took off Burt.
- I'm gonna pay her back. - How?
3,000 years, Alice.
3,000 years.
We don't have to live like this.
You know...
gotta be another way.
Carlos, he's back.
Get out of here, now!
- Mom? - Go back inside.
This is our house.
You guys are vultures.
We paid for this house!
Yeah...
in a foreclosure sale.
No. No!
- Here we come! - Here we come!
- Lizzy! - Coming to get you!
- Come on, Dad! - You ready?
- Yeah. - One, two, three!
Hey!
Hey! Sorry!
Ow!
_
No!
Goddamn it.
Ohh!
Whoa!
Oh!
Hello?
Hel...
Hello, is there anybody in there?
Hello! Is there anybody... is there anybody in there?
Been waiting for you.
What?
Are you here to do the carpets?
- No. - Oh, sorry.
There's supposed to be a guy coming to do the carpets.
I found this on the beach.
Okay. Cool.
I'll ask around, see who this belongs to.
Thank you.
Are you okay?
Um...
What's inside?
Come inside, see for yourself.
You have your own tavern?
Full bar.
Domestic and imported beers on tap.
Nice!
- What's wrong? - Nothing.
I just feel like I've been here before.
I remember the Throne Room.
Yeah, well,
we rent that out for various functions.
Maybe you were here for a wedding reception or a funeral.
How do I join?
I'm sorry. I'm... I'm...
I'm probably doing this all wrong.
It's... it's a big secret thing, isn't it?
Actually, no, it's not.
All you have to do to join is ask.
We are obligated by tradition
to give anyone who's serious a chance.
Can I join?
Okay, well, um, what's your name?
- Dud. - Is that your Christian name?
Sean. It's Sean Dudley.
- Oh. - Yeah.
- Ernie Fontaine. - Mr. Fontaine.
It's very nice to meet you.
And... Oh!
Women can join, too.
Yeah, Negroes, too.
I... I... It's not, uh...
I'm just giving you a hard time, man.
Come on. Let's go into the office.
Okay.
I hate to admit it,
but someone asking to join is a rare event these days.
Really?
Our membership's been declining for years.
Maybe this is a good sign we need to get younger.
I'll just need your contact info.
Oh, yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Okay.
So, um...
like, what is it that y... you guys do here?
Community services, recreational activities.
Plus, there's a whole philosophical component...
alchemical or whatever you want to call it.
- Oh. - But, mainly, we just get together.
- Tonight's Bunco night. - Well, that sounds great!
You do understand we may not take you.
For all I know, you could be some kind of deadbeat or psycho.
Definitely not a psycho, so...
This will give you the basics.
We're having a meeting Saturday at 8:00.
You can come and join us before at the tavern.
- Come by around 7:00. - Yeah.
Okay. Do I need to do anything or...
No, no, you'll just hang out with the other Knights.
And hopefully, our Sovereign Protector, Larry Loomis,
if he's out of the hospital.
Oh. Okay, um...
Well, I... I guess, um...
I just need to know, like, how much does it cost to join?
Oh. Yeah. Two...
$2,000.
- Okay. Yeah. - Really?
You can get your hands on 2 grand?
When do you need it by?
Forget it.
If you come by Saturday, we can figure out all that stuff.
Great. Well, I'm definitely gonna come, so...
That must be the carpet guy.
Okay! See you Saturday!
Yeah.
- Good to meet you. - Yeah.
Did you see the order I brought in from Boyle Pipe?
I did. It's about time.
I was in a slump. Now I'm not.
My butter and egg man is back!
Can you front me the commission?
I need it, Bob. Pow, like now!
Not happening. The well is dry.
We're waiting on payment from about 10 different wholesalers.
- Come on. - It's deadbeat city out there.
No commissions until we get paid. End of story.
Hey...
have you ever met Captain?
Me? Never.
Guys like you and me, we don't meet Captain.
We're too far down the food chain.
Mnh-mnh.
The lynx has powerful vision.
So powerful, it can see through walls.
- Yeah, right. - Well, no, what I meant is that
that's what people thought in the Middle Ages.
You know, things were a little different back then.
- What do they even do there? - What do they do?
Well... right here, it says
that "The Ancient and Benevolent Order of the Lynx
seeks to perfect amongst its members
the virtues of wisdom,
fortitude, watchfulness,
temperance, charity, and love.
- Fun. - Yeah.
And they got a full bar, so...
And then when, uh, you join,
they... they assign you this knight,
and he kind of mentors you as you move up through the grades.
It's pretty cool.
- Lizard! - What is wrong with you?
A guy from the sheriff's office came by to serve you papers.
That family is taking out a restraining order.
Why? They attacked me!
I told you to stay away from the house.
I know.
Okay, I know. I just... Ow!
I had a bad night.
Okay? Just... Listen, hear me out, okay?
When I opened the door and saw the uniform,
I thought he was gonna tell me you were dead.
What?
Like, the way you've been acting, lately, I don't know.
I thought...
I thought maybe something happened to you.
Like... maybe you jumped off a bridge.
Jeez.
Jesus, Lizzy.
I would never...
I mean, it looks like a bunch of weirdos.
No. No, no, not at all.
The guy I talked to, he's really cool.
So this is your plan? Instead of, like, getting a job?
Um, well...
I mean, this is gonna open doors for me.
You know, like, secret handshakes.
That's a big deal.
Mmm. I mean, Lizzy...
the housing situation right now is a little, um...
You can have the couch.
Really? Thank you.
- Don't worry, it'll just be for a few... - Years?
Mm. Well, at least I don't make money off my tits.
You owe my tits 3 grand.
Yeah.
I know. But, you know, it's just money.
Dud, do you know how much I owe the bank?
Yeah.
But that's kind of, like, you know...
- It's kind of your fault. - My fault?!
It's Dad's fault.
It's... it's nobody's fault, okay?
I owe you. You owe the bank.
The bank probably owes another bank, you know.
I don't know. It's the circle of life.
You also owe me for the nachos.
Not many people can say that.
- These aren't on the house? - Sorry bastards!
Hey!
Mm!
Orbis plant officially closed.
Last Jupiter flew out of Long Beach this morning.
Yeah, I know. I saw it.
Lizzy...
I'm gonna get it back.
What?
All of it.
The shop. The house.
Dad's watch. Everything.
It's all gone, Dud.
Why can't you see that?
I've got a good feeling about this kid.
- I think he's special. - He just showed up?
- Larry hired him to do the carpets. - Mm-hmm.
We got to talking. His name's Arturo.
He's 25, and he's running his own business...
Just what we need.
What about the other dude?
You know, the one that found the ring?
He won't show up. He's a bullshitter.
I called the home number he left. It's for a donut shop.
That sounds like a psycho.
All hail the king!
- He's alive! - You're damn right!
Hey! Hey!
Now let's roll some dice.
Wish me luck.
- Just roll. - Yes!
Ohh! Hell, yeah!
Way to go, baby!
Ernie, you playing?
Ernie...
It's time for succession.
I know, I know, you've heard this before.
But I mean it.
In the hospital, I just thought what a bummer it would be
if I checked out before you got your chance.
It's time to put your ugly mug on the wall.
- Oh, man. - This is a big step.
You don't even realize how big.
Next couple weeks, we got a lot to talk about.
Did you talk to London? Is it official?
London. Yeah, yeah. Sure.
Don't worry.
- Hey. - Hey.
Why don't you sit down?
Dinner's almost ready.
You know, you're not an indentured servant.
Yeah, well, you had all these avocados,
so I figured I'd make my famous seven layer dip...
except it's a three-layer version.
- Mm. - How as your day?
My day?
Oh, well, today was great.
Yeah, I really feel like the work I'm doing...
... is having a positive impact on the community.
Hey, well, uh, I'll cut some limes for... for vodka tonics.
Fantastic!
The enguacification of the avocado
is one of mankind's great leaps.
I swear to God, if this guy says "man cave" one more time...
They're gonna take the one with the finished basement.
- Mnh-mnh. - Yeah, they are.
- No. - Yeah.
No, they're not. She hated the appliances in that place.
Yeah, well, she had ever right to.
She wanted stainless steel, and they weren't stainless steel.
Now she's complaining about the ceilings?
This bitch can burn in hell.
So do you actually think these guys are gonna help you?
Yeah.
I hope... I hope so.
It's... it's not even that.
It's...
What?
I remember...
this one garage sale that Dad took us to.
The people, they were selling this full-length mirror,
and they had it laid out on the lawn.
And I remember standing over the mirror...
and it was like I was looking down into the sky.
It was the weirdest feeling.
It was like there was this whole other world
just right below us.
And I wanted to jump through.
That's how I felt when I walked into the lodge.
So I have to go back.
- Good night. - Good night.
Uh, signature loan...
3 grand, minus $50 for a phone.
Do you want me to go over
the terms and the conditions for you?
No, thank you. I know them by heart.
Isn't this bad business for you, loaning money to a guy like me?
Doesn't worry me.
Your sister will just bail you out, like last time.
You know what? Forget it.
I feel sorry for you, Burt,
because no one in this world cares about you,
and you're a dickhead, and you're gonna die alone.
Thank you. Come again.
- Hi. - Hello.
Uh, Ernie told me to come by.
Oh. You must be Arturo.
N... no, I'm... I'm Dud.
Oh. Okay.
Great. Welcome. I'm Blaise.
Uh, Ernie'll be here in a couple minutes.
May I offer you a domestic lager?
It's on the house.
That would be great. Wow, thank you. That's...
You know, it's funny.
I, uh, I lived here my whole life
and I've never noticed this place.
Yeah, well, sometimes...
you can't see something until you're looking for it.
Eh. Guess so.
Seen and unseen, man.
The kingdom is right in front of us.
You made it.
Yeah. Hey!
Man, dig your gear! Wow.
- So this is the guy. - Yeah.
Yeah, well, great job on the carpets.
Thanks. W... what?
No, this isn't Arturo.
Is he here? Arturo?
No. Okay. Well, that's fine.
This is uh... the other guy.
- I'm Dud. - Ben.
- Hi, nice to meet you. - All right.
- Hi. Anita. - Hi. Thank you for inviting me.
- Nice to meet you. - Hi.
Where's Larry?
Uh, he said he needed some time in the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Let's drink. - All right.
Hey, um...
What's the Sanctum Sanctorum?
It's a room where Larry goes to hang out.
Mm.
Well, what kinda room?
I don't know.
Only the Sovereign Protector is allowed inside.
Oh. Cool.
What's the Sovereign Protector?
Okay.
So if you come back, you'll be a postulant,
which is a probationary phase.
And then if that goes well, we'll make you a Squire,
and then you can attend meetings and run a tab at the bar.
Oh, yeah. So... so, like, how do I become a... a Knight?
- Slow down. - Okay.
No, through, uh, valiant deeds and glittering scholarship.
Oh.
Or you can just ask Larry when he's had a few,
and he'll sign off. That's what most people do.
Okay. And people don't think less of you if you do that?
- I do. - Okay, well, I don't want to do it that way.
This is Gil Sandoval. He's a legend at Orbis.
The last 20 years, he's probably inspected over a million holes.
Holes?
Riveted skin lap joints on the Jupiter fuselage.
So what are you gonna do now?
Who cares?
As long as I don't have to look at another skin lap joint.
Oh! And this is my band.
We're playing the Throne Room next month.
Whoa! Awesome. So you're Don Fab.
Uh, no. I... I just play drums.
They're really good.
So, uh, Dud...
I feel like I should tell ya...
I'm with Long Beach Harbor Patrol,
and I've got the authority to do background checks
on anyone who wants to join the lodge.
Oh. Really?
Oh, my God! I think he might be hidin' somethin'.
Oh, no. I've never... never been arrested before,
but I think the sheriff's office
might currently be looking for me.
Ohh. Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Ohh.
It's all right.
You're gonna be okay.
- Oh, here he comes. - Oh.
- Hey. - Hey.
Larry, I want you to meet Sean Dudley.
- Hi. - Welcome!
Nice to meet you.
Tell us about yourself.
Um...
Well, I'm... My name's Dud.
- Uh-huh. - I grew up around here.
Mm-hmm.
Um...
Now I'm...
just sort of kinda doing my thing, I guess.
So...
Okay. Well, uh...
Glad you're here.
Ring the bells in 10, and we'll...
My... my dad, uh, owned a... a pool shop.
I... I worked there my whole life.
I used to do maintenance all over town.
It was... it was pretty great.
And then last year, I took a surf trip to Nicaragua,
and I got bit by a snake
and I almost died.
And the... the wound, it never really healed right, so...
I can't really surf anymore,
or really do any of the things that I used to do.
And then about a month after I got back from my trip,
uh, my dad went body surfing,
and he drowned.
And they never found his body.
So now it's just me and my sister.
She's my twin.
Later on, we found out that my dad...
he was going broke,
so the bank foreclosed on the house,
and we had to liquidate the shop.
So we lost... we lost everything.
I guess you could say this year's been kind of a bum ride.
But then a couple days ago,
I was walking on the beach,
and I found a... a Lynx ring.
And I... I didn't know what it was, obviously.
But then later in the day,
my car ran out of gas
right in front of the lodge.
So it was... it was fate.
And then when Ernie invited me inside,
I was standing in the lobby, and... I don't know, I... I just...
just felt like I was meant to be here.
I feel like this place can help me.
So, that's... So, um...
I don't know how else to explain it.
You don't have to.
I think anyone who's here has felt, uh,
a little something like that.
- Mm-hmm. - It's good to be reminded.
Yeah.
To Dud.
- To Dud. - Yeah.
I'll drink to it.
- Uhh! - Larry.
What the hell?! What the hell?!
Aah! Aah!
- Call 9-1-1! - Larry!
- Breathe! - Hold on. Hold on, Larry.
- Hold on! - Breathe! Breathe!
Larry, why'd you hit him?
Hit who?
It's all a forgery.
We are not the true lodge.
- Oh, God. - What's going on?
Unbelievable.
Is Larry gonna be okay?
He survived the Tet Offensive, he'll get through this.
I'm sorry about tonight.
I don't know what got into Larry.
I think he just got confused.
Hey... it happens.
Oh. Um...
I almost forgot...
to give you my dues.
- Actually, the membership is... - Please, please.
Just give me a chance.
Hey.
You wanna have a drink before I lock up?
Yeah.
- Synced and corrected by chamallow - - www.addic7ed.com -