[♪♪♪]
[TRAFFIC NOISES]
REESE: There are certain hours of the night
when I wake to the sound of a train.
It roars right through my apartment.
At times, it feels as if it will lift me out of bed.
All that earsplitting thunder and then silence.
I'm alone, Exley.
I'm gonna stop you.
Would you mind singing?
Like a song? Yeah, like a song.
But I... I didn't prepare that.
That's okay. Just go for it.
Like any song?
Anything you like.
Whenever you're ready.
♪ My bonnie Lies over the ocean ♪
♪ My bonnie Lies over the sea ♪
♪ My bonnie Lies over the ocean ♪
♪ Oh bring back My bonnie to me ♪
♪ Bring back bring back ♪
♪ Oh bring back my bonnie To me to me ♪
♪ Bring back bring back ♪
♪ Oh bring back My bonnie to me ♪
I don't know the rest. I'm sorry.
That's okay. That was great.
Thanks.
Take care.
You too.
Thank you.
Methinks there is an air comes from her.
What fine chisel could ever yet cut breath?
Let no man mock me.
For I will kiss her.
Oh! Oh, she's warm!
If this be magic,
let it be an art lawful as eating.
[♪♪♪]
No, we just got done. Just now.
I'm in the dressing room.
No, my stomach has been fucked up all day.
[indistinct background chatter]
See you tomorrow.
Hold on. Ruthie, I know we're winding down,
but the snow was bumpy again tonight.
I'm sorry.
It's not your fault. I'll get it fixed.
[WATER RUNNING]
Are you going out?
Maybe for one. You?
Hmm, I think I'm going to head home. I'm tired.
RUTH: Sorry these are late, everyone.
Payroll had a computer glitch.
Reese, there is a woman out there asking for you.
She said she'd wait by the stage door.
Very classy.
Thanks, Ruthie.
Thanks, Ruth.
Reese? Yeah.
Hi. Lori Lansky. It was a great show.
Thanks.
The ending is so moving
and that thief, he was just mesmerizing.
Glad you liked it.
Hey. Hey.
Hey, Ray, this is Lori.
Hey, Lori. Hey, Ray.
That was a great show. Thank you.
Thanks. You going to Niagara tonight?
Mm-hmm. Cool. See you there.
Later.
Bye, Ray.
There goes our thief.
So, can I buy you a drink?
Um, who are you?
I'm a book editor.
I, um, have to go meet our thief.
Well, can I join you?
It's this way.
Is this about my Dad?
Sort of, yes.
So, what's up?
Not much.
Staying out of trouble?
Trying to. I'll get this.
That's okay. It's on the house.
Oh, thanks.
Cheers.
So, about your father.
You want to know about the, um, hidden manuscripts,
what he puts in his Cherry Coke,
if he finger-fucks his pen pals?
All the deep, dark, spooky shit?
Oh, I can see the wolves have already gotten to you.
You people are relentless.
Well, he hasn't shared his work
in almost two decades.
Trust me, you're not missing out on much.
Apparently there's a novel.
I doubt it.
The first two chapters were sent to his publisher.
Yes, seven fucking years ago. It was 37 pages of crap.
There were so many spelling errors
his editor thought he was trying to capture
the voice of an illiterate.
Well, I like to think that he's working on his masterpiece.
Anyway, I'm not here about the novel.
Early in your parents' relationship,
there was a three-year letter-writing correspondence.
Apparently...
I'm sure that you know this...
your father fancied himself
as a rather angry American expatriate,
and for most of their courtship,
he was living in the south of France.
Now, if I have my chronology correct,
your father was writing the early chapters of People's Park,
and your mother was completing her degree here in the States.
At some point before your mother's death,
your father returned her letters to her.
Your mother arranged them in a box.
And?
And left the whole collection to you.
And this is one of the letters?
It's a Xerox of one of the early ones, yes.
There are approximately 150 pairs.
How'd you get the Xerox?
Your mother's brother. Uncle Dick?
Well, Richard was the executor of your mother's will.
How'd you find him?
I attended the funeral. I was hoping to meet you there.
I was opening a show.
Of course.
Hey. The spice is in the turtle shed.
What?
Excuse me for a second.
[SNORTING COCAINE]
[GRUNTS]
[SIGHS]
[CHUCKLES]
[GRUNTS]
[CHUCKLES]
[MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND]
So, you want the letters.
I'd like to buy them from you, yes.
What's your offer?
$100,000.
Half on delivery of the letters...
and uh, half on publication.
I would be very happy
to recommend a literary agent to you.
How gracious.
Reese, do you and your father speak?
Doesn't matter.
Why not?
'Cause I'm not gonna do it.
Wait a minute!
Just... just think about it, would you?
If you change your mind, call me.
My home number is on the back of the card.
Just think about it.
Please leave.
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
[WHIMPERING]
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
ROB: Reese.
Rob!
Hey. Hey.
So what's up?
Not much. Same old shit...
auditioning, working,
watching my laundry multiply.
What are you doing downtown?
I'm, uh, housesitting over at this loft on Bond Street.
Sort of semi-permanent couch-surfing.
I heard you were in a show?
Yeah. "Winter's Tale." Over at La Mama.
We close this weekend. You working on anything?
Uh, I was doing this weird Molière workshop
set in a boxing ring.
That ended a few weeks ago.
I was actually thinking about moving to Colorado.
Working on a ranch or something.
Real people, cows and shit.
Hey, I heard about your mom. I'm really sorry about that.
Oh, thanks.
Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
If you ever feel like talking me out of
moving to Colorado...
give me a call.
I still got this stupid thing. Minutes galore.
See you around.
Fifteen years ago, I thought he was the funniest, sexiest,
smartest person I had ever met,
and now the idea of even being in the same room with him
makes me physically ill.
What time does to people.
I'm just glad we never had kids.
Are you okay?
Yeah, why?
I don't know. You just seem so far away.
You've hardly touched your salad.
I think I'm just a little rundown.
Show closing, what's next and all that.
You can tell me stuff, you know.
I would hate to have our little mutual admiration society
disband just because the play is closing.
What about your family?
Will you see them for the holidays?
No.
Where are your parents anyway?
I've never heard you talk about them.
Not much to talk about.
It's like that, huh?
Well, if you'd like to spend Thanksgiving with me,
you're more than welcome.
I'm having some friends over for dinner.
We're doing a turkey
and pumpkin pie and homemade stuffing,
and I've got my grandma's stuffing recipe with apples.
Thanks, Didi.
What happened to your hand?
Oh, I banged it while I was feeding Spike.
It's just a bruise.
How is Spike anyway?
Is she still keeping you up at night?
She's good.
So sweet, you saving that kitten.
I couldn't do it. Not in this city.
What?
Hmmpf. There's no pay phone.
You can use my cell.
Are you sure? Of course.
Here.
Thanks, Didi.
No problem.
[DIDI GASPS]
Hey, kiddo.
Hmmm.
[PIANO NOTES]
That was nice.
Thanks.
I didn't know you could play.
Where you going?
I have to feed my cat.
Stay.
I can't.
Feed her in the morning.
She's sick.
Reese...
what are you so afraid of?
I don't know.
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
[♪♪♪]
[OVER PHONE] Hi, Reese, this is Dr. Barrett
from St. Mark's Veterinary.
I'm sorry to have to tell you that Spike's test results
yielded positive for feline leukemia.
Please give me a call at your earliest convenience
so that we can discuss her options.
[MOANING]
So I got your message.
I'll need money to get home.
We'll be glad to arrange a flight for you.
Oh, I don't fly.
Okay.
And I'll, uh, need cash.
Um, I don't know if I'm going to be able to arrange cash
because I'd have to talk to my boss,
put through a check request.
You know, it could take a couple of weeks.
Then fuck it!
Well, wait a minute! I...
Will you be renting a car?
I'll take the bus.
And I'll need money for cigarettes.
And food.
A girl's gotta eat, right?
Well, that's that.
Can you tell me when you plan on heading to Michigan?
I'll leave in a few days.
So, uh, how can I get in touch with you?
You won't. I'll call you.
I'll look forward to it.
Yeah. Thanks for the drink.
Good luck, Reese.
[CAT MEOWS]
["RISE" BY AZURE RAY]
♪ Today I'll crawl out of bed ♪
♪ I can't stand your shadow Is to heavy to lift ♪
♪ Maybe we'll go for a ride ♪
♪ You said you'd Take me nowhere ♪
♪ I said that suits me Just fine ♪
♪ I know you've Always been near ♪
♪ Whispering secrets I know I'm not supposed to hear ♪
♪ Hold your heart With two hands ♪
♪ Give it to me Only to disappear ♪
♪ And look how low I've sunk Don't ask me to rise ♪
♪ I'll lose you When I'm high ♪
♪ Hey look how low I've sunk Don't ask me to rise ♪
♪ I'll only lose you When I'm... ♪
♪ High... ♪
What happened?
Smoking break.
Are you all right?
Oh, I'm fine. Do you know where we are?
We just passed Traverse City.
[♪♪♪]
[LOUD ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]
Hi.
Who are you?
Corbit.
Is... my... dad around?
Who's your dad?
Don Holdin.
Got any ID?
ID?
Yeah, preferably passport or driver's license.
Seriously?
Seriously.
What's your date of birth?
April 6, 1980.
Zodiac sign?
Aries.
Are you like his Secret Service guy or something?
Sort of. He's in the garage.
What's he doing in there?
That's where he lives now.
Who lives in the house?
Me. Me and Shelly.
Who's Shelly?
She's a girl.
Just this girl. You don't know her.
You look different than your pictures.
Yeah, well, people change, right?
Well, I gotta go rock.
Okay.
If you see Mr. Holdin, tell him his balls are clean.
[ROCK MUSIC STARTS AGAIN]
[SOFT MUSIC]
What? Who's there?
Corbit!
Shelly?
Reese!
Hey, Daddy.
Come in, come in.
Come on, sit.
Oh, I've been sitting all day, but thanks.
What a surprise.
You want a drink? Sure.
[GLASSES CLINK]
What are those pills for?
Those were your mother's.
They... they help you sleep. I hardly use them.
So, what brings you home?
Oh, I don't know. I just thought it was time.
If you need me to write you a check or something,
all you gotta do is ask.
[SIGHS]
How was the funeral?
Pretty low-key.
Fair amount of her fans showed up.
No pin-the-tale-on-the-donkey or anything like that.
Where is she buried, anyway?
They cremated her.
Your Uncle Dick took her ashes back to Louisville.
So that guy in the house said you're living in here now.
Yeah. Pretty easy here.
I've got my books and my bed, and my work table.
Got this... got a new stove here.
Are you writing?
A little, here and there.
[DOOR CREAKS OPEN]
Shelly!
This is my daughter, Reese.
Reese... Shelly.
Hello. Hey.
Reese just arrived from New York.
Well, such a surprise.
Here you are.
The car is making strange noises again.
It's probably the transmission.
Have Corbit take a look at it.
Well, I should go put this stuff in the fridge.
Nice to finally meet you, Reese.
Bye. Bye.
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
Wow! Where's she from, Wimbledon?
She's one of my former students.
She needed a place to get away from things for awhile.
She's been a big help.
You still teaching?
I stepped down a few semesters ago.
Why?
I got tired.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Corbit. Come in.
Corbit, I understand you've already met my daughter.
She'll be staying with us for an undisclosed period of time.
In the house?
In her old bedroom.
Yeah.
What about Shelly?
She'll be okay on the sofa for awhile.
The upstairs study is open.
I don't want anybody in there.
I'm sure Shelly won't mind.
Right on.
Uh, Shelly told me to tell you
that dinner will be served promptly at 6:30,
and if Reese doesn't like chicken,
there's meatloaf and twice-baked potatoes left over from Monday.
Tell Shelly, Reese is fine with chicken.
Okay.
Tee time is in 55 minutes.
I'll be ready.
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
Tee time? Golf game.
Since when did you start golfing?
Oh, I mess around with it a little.
Is Corbit a former student, too?
No.
When I was still living in the house, I came downstairs.
He was sleeping on the sofa.
Well, it sounds like you got yourself a little utopia here.
Works pretty well.
I'm sure Mom would be intrigued.
Mary would probably get a kick out of it.
I guess I'll see you at dinner.
Okay.
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
[♪♪♪]
Hey.
Wow.
Um, the hot water isn't working.
Just, uh, just flush the toilet a couple times.
That'll help with the hot water.
Okay.
Yeah, it's pretty cool. Plumbing.
Well, enjoy your shower.
REESE: Thanks.
[TOILET FLUSHES]
CORBIT: Just relax.
[HITTING GOLF BALL]
CORBIT: Watch the ball, right? DON: Yes. Nice and easy.
[HITTING GOLF BALL]
CORBIT: That's it. That was beautiful.
Yeah, that was pretty good.
You should be happy with that one.
Sorry.
Ouch! Shit!
Run cold water over it.
If you've come down to help, I'm grateful,
but I think I have everything under control.
Actually I was wondering if you could, um,
fill me in on the little golf game
that's going on upstairs.
Don hits a bucket of golf balls
every night before dinner.
What happened to all the furniture?
Don had the movers put it in the backyard.
Corbit, would you like to say grace?
Sure.
REESE: Grace?
Yes, grace.
Since when does anyone in this house say grace?
I thought you were an atheist.
Grace is okay.
REESE: Wow!
Wow what?
Nothing. I just can't believe that this is the same man
who told his 6-year-old daughter
that Christmas was a Republican capitalistic conspiracy
created by the Hallmark Corporation,
and that if Jesus were alive today,
he'd be down in Nicaragua rallying the Sandinistas.
Grace away.
Corbit?
Dear God, thank you for the food and the company.
Reese seems pretty cool.
It's nice to have her here, and thank you for a nice home.
Amen. Amen.
Want some?
SHELLY: Want some salad?
CORBIT: Please. Thank you.
Hmm.
Shelly, your breasts are delicious.
Glad you like it, Corbit.
So, how were the links?
Hmm, he was really whacking them today.
We need to get a new driver though.
Also would like to get a 4 wood.
It's just a nice club to have.
Is that something you can sort out?
You just order one through the catalog.
Great.
Don, you've hardly touched your plate.
Corbit, did you get a chance to look at the car?
The filter's old. I'll replace it tomorrow.
Corbit here is quite the mechanic.
He used to repair speedboats, right, Corbit?
Mmm. Evinrude. Outboard motors actually.
Yeah. And he's a musician, too.
What are you working on now, Corbit?
Just some new stuff.
He used to be in a Christian rock band down in Flint.
What did you call yourselves?
Punching Pilot. I... I had to leave the band though
because they were trying to get all ska.
So I left them.
Reese, would you mind passing the potatoes?
Thank you.
[SPOON FALLS ON PLATE]
There you go.
You need to eat, Don.
I need to borrow the car.
Did you hear me? I said I need the car.
Do you have a license? Of course I have a license.
Where are the keys, please? She has one.
Where are you going? Nowhere.
I just need to clear my head.
Please, can I have the keys, please, Shelly.
Thank you. Yes.
They're in the ignition. Thank you.
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
[♪♪ "DIDN'T MEAN A THING" - GOLDCARD]
♪ Don't wanna go, oh ♪
♪ I guess I better Get it done, though ♪
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
[TRAIN WHISTLES IN DISTANCE]
[SOFT GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING]
What'll you have?
Jameson's on the rocks.
That'll be 3 bucks.
[CASH REGISTER RINGS]
Where you from?
Well, uh, here, originally.
Born and bred?
Born and bred.
Where do you live now?
New York City...
where a pint of domestic beer costs 5 bucks
and you get tipped at least a dollar,
unless they're European,
in which case they don't tip at all.
Ouch! Yeah.
And they wear such nice clothes.
You're obviously a bartender, too.
Mm-hmm.
I am.
Well, this is the place to come
if you want some cheap whiskey
or you're lookin' for a decent open mic.
Wednesday nights, 9:00.
What's your name?
Reese.
Nice to meet you, Reese. I'm Brian.
Nice to meet you.
So, uh, Brian...
Yes, ma'am.
Do you, um, know where I could score something around here?
I assume you're not talking about Packers tickets?
Not even remotely.
I'm sorry.
I can't help you out there, Reese.
Crack cocaine, huh? I've seen that stuff on Cops.
Crack cocaine'll fry your brain.
Now there's a rhyme.
You should get in the habit of knocking.
Sorry.
You want to listen to some music?
I've got a pretty sweet sound system
set up in the basement.
I don't think I can right now. I'm pretty tired, Corbit.
Okay.
Maybe some other time.
No, that's cool. You don't have to.
You've probably got more important things to do.
No, I'd really like to hear your stuff. I just...
not, you know, not right now.
Hey, are you wearing eyeliner?
What?
Right on. Um, so I'll catch you later?
Yeah, okay. Good night, Corbit.
Good night, Reese.
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
[WATER RUNNING]
[♪♪♪]
[APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS]
SHELLY: Hi.
I put some fresh linens on your bed,
and there's a wool blanket at the bottom of that trunk.
It gets very cold at night,
and Don's not a big fan of turning the heat up.
Yes, thank you, I know. I lived here for 18 years.
By the way, what happened to my comforter?
I'm washing it.
You're quite the reader.
Yeah, well, when you grow up in a house full of neo-Marxist,
anti-TV, ex-hippie workaholics,
Nancy Drew can become your best friend
pretty fucking quickly.
Can I ask a question?
Ask away.
Were they competitive?
Not really. Their work was so different.
You think so?
He writes literary nightmares about Berkeley undergrads
pulling out Uzis at People's Park.
She wrote about upper-middle class American executive types
stranded in post-IBM Poughkeepsie.
I would say your mom wrote
her fair share of literary nightmares.
I actually think she wrote pseudo-literary love stories
disguised as social satire.
Well, obviously you would know better than I do.
I mean, I've read everything by both of them,
but I wasn't around when it was happening.
But you are now.
I am.
And I've never seen someone agonize over each sentence
the way he does.
And it's funny, as a teacher,
he was always preaching compositional velocity
and boring your fingers into the keyboard
as though fiction is some kind of sport,
and now getting a paragraph out of him is like...
pulling a piano out of a pond.
Did he ever show you his stuff?
I've had to buy every book he's written.
Must have been an interesting childhood.
Yeah.
Competing for attention with twin #3 Underwood typewriters
won't do much for your self-esteem.
And now you're an actress.
What's that supposed to mean?
Nothing. It's just interesting...
the attention thing.
Shelly...
Yeah?
How old are you anyway?
23. Why?
Just wanted to do the math
in case you're fucking my father.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Can I help you?
Um, yeah, I hope so.
My name is Dean Gerald.
I've been camping over near White Fish Point.
I was told this is where the novelist Don Holdin lives.
Are you like one of his former students or something?
I am currently in the MFA writing program at Iowa.
Mr. Holdin was a visiting lecturer there a few years ago.
I wasn't there yet, but I like heard about it.
So you've never actually met him?
I'm basically just a fan.
[GRUNTS AND GROANS]
What the fuck, dude?
[GRUNTS AND GROANS]
That's a $500 camera, man.
No cameras on the premises, mister.
Photographs are not allowed.
Okay.
Mr. Holdin has... has recently expired.
Expired? That's right. Expired.
He died?
He's... he's officially concluded
all of his Earthly business.
And he's no longer around to talk about it,
so please remove yourself from the premises
or I'll be forced to seize your person.
Is that understood? Totally understood.
And I know karate. I've amassed several belts.
Okay. I'm removing myself.
But hey, if Mr. Holdin ever decides to revive himself
and officially resume his earthly business,
would you give this to him?
It's a harmless fan letter.
Well, if there is... ever an official revival,
I'll make sure Mr. Holdin gets this letter.
[♪♪♪]
Looking for something in particular?
Jesus, Shelly, you scared the shit out of me.
- That box is full of Don's old interview transcripts.
Could you please stop calling him "Don" in front of me?
For some reason, it makes me imagine him
at some weird swingers' beach wearing a Speedo.
Don insists that his students call him by his first name.
How egalitarian!
All you're going to find in that one
are royalty statements and tax documents.
Why does the idea of you being his little attaché
make my skin crawl?
I'm not the one lurking around.
I'm not lurking, Shelly. This is my house.
I know, Reese. You grew up here.
You suffered all the calamities of being the daughter
of two self-indulgent, brilliant artists
and then you ran away and never looked back.
Oh, is that what he told you?
That I ran away and that I never looked back?
He didn't tell me anything.
Don't you have your own family to psychoanalyze?
For some reason, I imagine you
as an only child growing up in some vast,
impenetrable mansion with turrets.
Daddy modeling perpetual tennis wear
and Mum playing badminton and having biscuits and tea
on the front lawn.
Why don't you go back to Narnia or wherever the fuck you're from
and leave my dad alone?
As it turns out, Reese, I am an only child,
and my Daddy did play a bit of tennis,
and my Mum rather fancied her biscuits and tea
at 4 PM every day
after a rather bracing game of croquet.
But if you must know, I grew up in a two-bedroom council flat
in Shepherd's Bush,
and although it's really none of your fucking business,
my parents are dead.
When you work out whatever it is you're looking for,
let me know.
I might be able to help you.
[HAMMERING]
What you doing?
Workin'.
What's this thing for anyway?
So Mr. Holdin can get in the house
without having to walk outside.
Did something happen, Corbit?
What do you mean?
I mean, this whole hiding in the garage thing?
Did one of his stalkers freak him out or something?
Not that I know of.
He just likes it better inside.
Hey.
Do you know anything about these?
Oh, those are Shelly's.
Is she sick?
I think she was,
but she doesn't really talk about it.
Hey, so do you wanna hang out after dinner?
Sure.
Right on.
Hey, Reese...
I'm not really an officer of the law or anything,
but I'm pretty sure it's illegal
to take someone else's prescription medication.
["A GUIDING LIGHT" BY SMOG]
♪ The sun Peaked at noon ♪
♪ I watched it Hoping it would rise ♪
♪ Just a little higher ♪
♪ And give me A guiding light ♪
♪ A guiding light ♪
[TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK]
Hey.
Hi, Reese.
What you doing?
Just waking up.
Oh, geez.
Are you okay?
[SIGHS] Yeah, I'm fine. It's just a dizzy spell.
Would you hand me my bourbon, please?
Yeah.
[GRUNTS]
So, what are your plans today?
I don't know. Thought I might go to the lake.
Well, be sure to layer.
[TYPING AGAIN]
Hmm. Daddy?
Did Mom leave anything for me?
Regarding any money from her estate,
I'm sure a lawyer will be in touch.
No, I mean, besides money. Was there anything else?
Uncle Dick mailed that box a couple of months ago.
Haven't gone through it, but feel free.
[TYPING AGAIN]
What's in there?
REESE: Just some old junk.
So, Corbit said that Shelly's had some medical problems.
Yes, she was in pretty rough shape there for awhile.
What was wrong with her?
She had endometriosis.
And the doctors tried a lot of things,
nothing really worked.
So she had to have a hysterectomy.
Jesus!
Yeah, I was all she had there for awhile.
She's a good kid, Reese. You ought to give her a chance.
[♪♪♪]
There's a plate for you in the oven.
Reese, we still on for later?
Is something wrong?
What room did she do it in?
I don't think this is the time or place
for this conversation, Reese.
What room?
SHELLY: Reese. Shut up, Shelly!
What room was it? The basement?
The bathroom? Tell me!
The study upstairs. In the middle of the night,
I found her hanging on a coat hook
on the back of the door.
She used a necktie.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[PHONE RINGS]
Hey, this is Rob. Leave a message.
[LOW NOTES ON PIANO]
REESE: Hey.
Hey.
Mom used to play that.
DON: Yeah.
I think she played it in a different key.
It sounded nice.
I'm going to go do some work.
Daddy?
Are you like mad at me or something?
I guess I'm just a little disappointed.
Why?
I don't know, Reese.
I think it would've been nice
if you'd made it back for the funeral.
She wasn't perfect, but she was your mother.
Is that who she was? My mother?
The woman who treated me like a mild curiosity all my life?
She suffered, Reese.
She suffered? We all fucking suffered.
This house was one big silent museum of suffering.
We did our best.
Yeah, well, don't fault me
for being just a little disappointed.
Do you know how many times you guys saw me act?
Once!
One fucking time in 7th grade
when I played Wendy in Peter Pan ,
and you had to nudge Mom awake during the curtain call.
So I missed her funeral! Her fucking loss.
Please don't swear.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!
[YELLING] Stop it!
[PLAYING GUITAR]
[MUSIC STOPS]
Hey, Reese.
Hey!
Are you a faggot?
Are you a fucking faggot, Corbit?
God is my co-pilot.
God is your fucking co-pilot? Yeah.
Jesus loves me and he loves you, too.
SHELLY: Corbit... Don was just asking for you.
[RUNNING FOOTSTEPS]
[TYPING]
In your mother's third letter, she talks about killing herself.
How drowning would be too terrifying...
and a bullet to the head would be too messy.
She was in St. Louie at the time working on her second novel.
Your father replied...
that he would do anything she wished
to make that not happen.
He said he would get on a plane if he had to.
In her next letter, she said that she felt better
and that her thoughts of suicide had subsided...
and that she had a new idea for a novel.
Can I borrow a cigarette?
Thank you.
It's St. Louis.
St. Louis.
The later letters...
particularly 77 through to 123...
are less passionate...
and almost approach bitterness,
perhaps even jealousy.
And then by 130, they dissolve down to two or three
very uninformative half sentences.
And then they end.
Are you going to publish them?
I honestly don't know, Shelly.
Well, I hope it's worth it.
Thanks for the cigarette.
Shelly... I found these under my bed.
Oh, thank you.
You know, Reese, if it wasn't for your dad,
I don't know if I would have made it.
In his own quiet way,
he cares a great deal about other people.
I think he really wants to get to know you.
It's probably going to take some time.
Thanks for these.
Daddy, are you okay?
Leave me alone.
I thought maybe we could talk.
[SIGHS] Please go away.
[SOBS]
[HISSES THROUGH TEETH]
[GROANING]
CORBIT: You okay?
REESE: Yeah.
[SIGHS]
Can you... Can you make a fist?
Yeah, like that. [REESE GROANS]
Does that hurt?
A little bit.
Hey, Corbit... I'm...
I'm really sorry about what happened last night.
Yeah, that was pretty weird.
Hey, what happened to your eyeliner?
It was too Adam Ant.
I thought it looked...cool.
Really?
It looked really good on you.
Made you look kinda like a wolverine.
Wolverine? Mm-hmm.
Wow! Yeah, wolverines rock.
Wolverines do rock.
Hey, you know, there's this bar in town
that has open mics on Wednesday nights...
Oh, yeah? Yeah. The Great Notch Inn.
You should go in and play a song.
Oh, man, I don't... I don't know, Reese.
Why not?
Um, in front of anyone,
I have this thing that happens to me
when I have to play and sing at the same time.
What happens?
I sort of freeze up.
Hmm.
If I'm alone, it's cool,
and if I'm just playing or just singing, it's okay, too,
but when I have to do both, it's bad.
Well, what did you do when you were in Punching Pilot?
I was pretty much the designated rhythm guitarist.
Hmm.
They had me go up to the front once,
but that was... that was a disaster.
Well, what happened?
Let's just say I lost my shit.
Excuse my French. I just froze up.
They stopped the show and then for some reason I...
I kicked the drummer.
He was this total Black Sabbath wannabe
and we got in this big fist fight
and I broke his collarbone.
So, they kicked me out of the band.
It was a pretty big mess.
I've never done an open mic before, Reese.
It'd be pretty scary.
I think you should just do it.
I mean, you only live once, right?
I'm sure Shelly would come.
You think?
I totally think. And I'll be there.
Right on.
Karate.
Ka-ra-tay.
Helps me relax.
Wow!
Yeah, you need not worry. I'm a total pacifist.
[♪♪♪]
Can I join you?
Sure.
How far do you usually go?
Uh, about two miles, if I'm lucky.
I think my jock days are pretty much behind me.
Do you want to sprint some telephone poles?
Are you sure?
Yeah, I feel okay.
Okay.
If I have a heart attack, it's your fault.
[SONG ON STAGE]
[APPLAUSE]
HOST: All right. Next up we have Corbit.
Come on out, Corbit.
[APPLAUSE]
All right. So where you from, Corbit?
Uh, Pontiac originally,
but I've been in UP about seven months now.
All right, well, welcome to The Great Notch Inn...
where luck and love come from the same hairy family.
Right, guys?
What song are you going to do for us tonight, Corbit?
I Can't Tell You Why by the Beatle...
by the Eagles.
All right. That sounds great.
Let's give it up for Corbit.
[APPLAUSE]
Testing. Testing one, two.
Testing one, two, three.
Seventeen, eighteen.
Uh, I'm kidding.
Before I start, I just want to, uh...
I wanna dedicate this song to Reese.
[ELECTRIC GUITAR STRINGS]
Sorry.
[SIGHS] Plan B, hold on.
♪♪ Look at us baby Up all night ♪
♪ Tearing our love apart ♪
♪ Aren't we the same Two people who lived ♪
♪ Through years in the dark? Oh ♪
♪ Every time I try to walk away ♪
♪ Something makes me Turn around and stay ♪
♪ And I can't tell you why ♪
♪ When we get crazy It just ain't right ♪
♪ Girl I get lonely too ♪
♪ You don't have to worry ♪
♪ Don't get caught In your little world ♪
♪ 'Cause I love you ♪
♪ Nothin's wrong As far as I can see ♪
♪ We make it harder Than it has to be ♪
♪ And I can't tell you why ♪
♪ No baby I can't Tell you why ♪
♪ I can't tell you why... ♪
That was great, Corbit. I'm really proud of you.
Thanks, Shelly.
Yeah, and your Plan B was genius.
Right on.
Oh, thanks, Reese.
That was an awesome show.
Thank you.
I'm going to say good night to my Dad.
CORBIT: Good night. REESE: Good night.
[DOOR OPENS]
Daddy?
Daddy!
Wake up, Dad.
[SOBS] Why would you do that?
Wake up!
[SOBS] Come on! Dad!
Miss Holdin? I'm Dr. Staley.
Hi. Pete Staley.
Corbit. Hi.
Shelly.
Maybe you and I could have a word.
Wanna step down the hall with me for a moment?
Sure.
DR. STALEY: His heart never actually stopped.
Fortunately, the sleeping medication he took
is designed to time-release in such a way
that he never got a potent-enough dose
to execute the desired effect.
Is he gonna be okay?
I don't anticipate any cognitive deficits.
His vital signs are all back to normal.
He has a strong heart.
We're rehydrating his system intravenously.
We'll give you a call
if there are any further complications tonight.
[♪♪♪]
[DULL THUD]
He was up earlier.
He mumbled something and fell back asleep.
His vitals are good.
Just hit the call button if you need anything.
Thanks.
How long you been here?
Awhile.
Do you need anything?
I'm thirsty.
Okay.
[GRUNTS] Thanks.
Do you want some more?
No. I'd love a cigarette.
Yeah, me too, but we'll set off the alarms.
What's that?
That is... uh, your novel.
I dug it up out of the backyard.
Corbit was supposed to keep that under his hat.
How far are you into it?
I'm about halfway through.
[SNIFFLES] I think it's the first time
I've seen anything of yours in manuscript form.
The imperfections are really charming.
I spell like a gorilla.
[REESE CHUCKLES]
You hate it?
No, I like it actually.
It's really different from your other stuff.
You're not bullshitting me?
No.
Shelly thinks it's borderline sentimental.
Do you think it's sentimental?
A little, but it's a love story, right?
I guess. You think I'm getting soft?
Absolutely!
Daddy...
Hmm...
About the stuff I said the other night...
I'm really sorry. It wasn't fair.
Well, we messed up pretty bad, Reese.
[SOBS] No, you guys did the best you could,
like you said. [SNIFFLES]
What was she doing at home anyway?
I think she was lonely.
We were both lonely.
I just can't stop thinking about her.
Come here. Come here.
Okay. Stop it.
[SNIFFLES] Okay.
How's Corbit? He and Shelly okay?
Yeah, they're fine.
[SNIFFLES] They're fine.
They're out in the waiting room. You want me to go get them?
You stay.
I feel like I'm hogging you.
Please stay.
Okay.
When you finish reading that, you let me know what you think.
I will.
Promise? I promise.
Hey, Corbit.
Hey, Mr. Holdin.
SHELLY: Hi.
DON: Hi.
How are you feeling?
Okay. I'm a little tired.
Well, we won't keep you. We just wanted to say hi.
Hey, Mr. Holdin.
Hey, Corbit.
[♪♪♪]
["YOU ALONE" BY DAWN LANDES]
♪ You alone are holy ♪
♪ And you alone are beauty ♪
♪ You alone are lonely now ♪
♪ When we're alone You told me ♪
♪ You tell me The whole sad story ♪
♪ We're never 'lone now ♪
♪ Looks like you let it out ♪
♪ For just a moment And I could see how ♪
♪ You'd only lay me down ♪
♪ On sheets that tore And gave out ♪
♪ I'd never known anyone 'Till now ♪
REESE: There are certain hours of the night
when I wake to the sound of the train.
It roars right through my apartment.
At times, it feels as if it will lift me out of bed.
All that earsplitting thunder and then silence.
I'm alone, Exley.
I'm very much alone in a city
that at times makes people feel old and used.
But I am somehow lucky.
Even during the darkest hour, I always manage to pull through.
[APPLAUSE]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Great show, ladies.
Thanks, Ben, you too.
Thanks for the Zippo.
Oh, no problem. Thanks for the flowers.
Fan mail. Oh.
["THOSE TO COME" BY THE SHINS]
♪ Eyeless in the morning sun You were ♪
♪ Pale and mild A modern girl ♪
♪ Taken with thought Still prone to care ♪
♪ Makin' tea in your underwear ♪
♪ You went out in the yard To find ♪
♪ Something to eat And clear your mind ♪
♪ Something bad inside me Went away ♪
Hey. Hey.
I thought you left.
Oh, thank you.
Congratulations!
Thank you.
They comped you, right?
Yeah, they were cool about it.
You were great.
Thanks.
You want to walk?
Let's walk.
[♪♪♪]
♪ They are cold ♪
♪ Still ♪
♪ Waiting in the ether ♪
♪ To form ♪
♪ Feel ♪
♪ Kill ♪
♪ Propagate ♪
♪ Only to die ♪
♪ They are cold ♪
♪ Still ♪
♪ Waiting in the ether ♪
♪ To form ♪
♪ Feel ♪
♪ Kill ♪
♪ Propagate ♪
♪ Only to die ♪
♪ Dissolve ♪
♪ Magically ♪
♪ Absurdly ♪
♪ They'll end ♪
♪ Leave ♪
♪ Dissipate ♪
♪ Coldly ♪
♪ And strangely ♪
♪ Return ♪
["KISSING SONG" BY DAWN LANDES]
♪ The phone's ringing It's been ringing all morning ♪
♪ And the knocking ♪
♪ It's not starting It's stopping ♪
♪ And the screaming In the streets ♪
♪ It's like barking ♪
♪ It's nothing They are kissing ♪
♪ Someone's choking Someone's praying so hard ♪
♪ They are listening to The stained glass for answers ♪
♪ They don't come in From the walls ♪
♪ Which are taking a beating From the wind on the outside ♪
♪ And it's beating All its way to the break ♪
♪ And it's meeting That will make them love sick ♪
♪ The wall's crumbling They don't feel anything ♪
♪ They feel nothing But the kissing ♪