(honking)
Hi, this is
Ashley and Vincent Harris,
we can't come to the phone,
leave us a message.
Ash, it's me. Are you there?
Pick up the phone!
Ash?
Ashley?
Ash?
(whimpering)
A Crime (2006)
(mixed conversations)
Come on, Vicky, come on!
Come on!
(engine revving)
(foreign language)
Come on baby, come on!
Come on, come on!
(foreign language)
(shouting)
Come on!
(cheering and applauding)
(foreign language)
(dog barking)
It's 50 more!
(foreign language)
Come on!
(foreign language)
Why do you always come in third, huh?
Just try a little bit harder!
It's like you're afraid of winning
or something.
(phone ringing and dog barking)
(phone ringing)
(phone ringing)
Hello?
- Mr. Harris?
- Yeah?
Your girlfriend has had
a minor auto accident.
- Who's this?
- My name is officer Tynet.
I'm sorry, I... I work
at the Lexington Street Precinct.
Don't worry, it's nothing important.
She'll soon be fine. I'll put her on.
I'm sorry. I didn't say "girlfriend".
He was extrapolating.
- You're drunk. What did you do?
- I crashed into a perfume store.
That's how I got drunk.
- Perfume is worse than scotch, ha...
- There's nothing I can do for you.
You're the only one
who can bail me out. You know that.
(door opening)
Alice?
Alice!
Thanks.
Your shoes...
- How did Vicky do yesterday?
- Did he win?
- He came in third.
Third place? Whoa!
Let's celebrate. That's still a win.
- You pull this shit again
I'm going to move out...
- Come on!
You really should get some help!
- Ah, you think?
- Yes, I think.
Your past is destroying you
and everything around you!
- That's funny!
- I'm sorry, okay?
We're made for each other.
Even though you don't know it,
we are.
I'm gonna rent the apartment
next to yours.
It's available.
Then...
We'll put a door in your kitchen
that'll lead to my living room.
And... after that, the door in your head
will open all by itself.
(Vincent): Come on boy, get up,
carrots, meat, it's good for you!
I don't know why I spoil you so much!
(barking)
What's the matter, boy?
Soon, we're going to be able to win!
You'll see, we'll be rich.
(dog barking)
- Hello, Mr. Fred.
Sorry for the late night...
(dog barking)
Did you sleep well?
(dog whimpering)
I'm gonna go and have a coffee.
- Come on!
- Hey!
- Hey!
- You're just getting in?
- Yeah.
I went out for a coffee.
- We're going to the circle.
- Okay. Well... would you like me
to watch Vicky?
- Yeah, all right.
- Okay!
- Here's the keys. All right, baby,
you gonna go with Alice.
I got her lunch, it's in the fridge.
It's balanced
for a race on Sunday so...
so make sure she rests,
all right?
- Yeah.
(dog whimpering)
Come on, come on.
Detective...
(dog barking)
I'm coming, Vicky!
(dog whimpering)
- Hello? Fifteen. Officer Jones,
can I help you?
- Yeah, hello. I'm looking for
Detective Bill Weiner, Midtown South?
Okay, Vicky!
Oh fuck, which one is yours?
That one?
Okay, great!
I'll go and get my bag.
- Hi! Hello, I... I'm Alice.
And here's Vicky, huh?
Hi, puppy! Oh, oh!
I knew him when he was this big.
The murder was such a shock...
He pissed on all the suspects.
For a while, I took him home with me.
You know, I would like to follow up
on a couple of things.
Kind of pick up the case where...
where you left off.
Well, Vincent remembered the cabby
with a bright red jacket
and a... a crystal or stone ring
on his left hand
and a dent on the taxi's
left front door.
- Did he see the killer?
- Yeah, they passed each other.
He had just killed Ashley.
Vincent was coming back
from work on Route 1 and...
The rest is all in his head.
And, ever since,
he's been obsessed by it...
Vincent needs to get this behind him.
He can't stay like this
for the rest of his life.
Vicky grew up.
Vincent should do the same.
(voice of commentator on TV)
You know who won at Miami?
First, Monty. Second, Thunder.
I saw you out at Riis Beach.
You know, it wouldn't take much
for Vicky to make it to the top
and be in the winning picture.
My miles are shorter.
If you're interested, give me a call.
(honking)
- The New Land,
corner of Broadway and 14th, please.
- The city's gonna be colder
than a horse's tit tonight. Brrrr!
- Hey, taxi!
- Get lost, you bum!
Beige coat and a fuckin' hideous
pair of pants, knocked out in Midtown!
(laughing)
The New Land's not exactly
the hottest place around.
Not for a lovely lady like yourself.
I'd suggest Double Happiness.
My shift's over.
Sorry, no smoking.
They just want to get in my cab
to keep warm.
And what I am going to do when they
tell me they have no money to pay?
- Is it okay for you?
- Sorry?
- The heat.
- Yeah, it's fine.
- In the harsh light, you've got
sadness written all over you.
No lover at home, no kiddies.
Nothing but time running out.
- So, this place of yours,
the Double Happiness,
what time does it close?
- You asked for a cocktail.
They said this one
would knock your socks off.
For me, it's without alcohol.
- I like mixing things up.
- Yeah? Well...
You and me,
that's mixing things up alright.
(applauding)
You don't scare easy, that's good.
Me neither.
How far do you reckon you'd go?
- With you?
- Man!
You're fast!
Ha! Ha!
Tell me the truth.
You're not a hooker, are you?
- You won't have to pay me.
- Phew!
- Mmm... How much does it cost
to go 400 miles?
- In dollars or in trade?
- Dollars.
- I guess 1200, 1300 dollars.
That's a first-class fare.
-And in trade?
How much is first class?
-A princess's ass.
- Hum... wouldn't you rather
have a queen?
- You're making fun of me?
- No.
Have you often done this?
- Taking girls for a ride?
Like you, never.
(applauding)
- No, the taxi.
- Oh, driving a cab?
Ten years.
- So you were driving a cab
three years ago?
- Yeah, I've never stopped,
never took sick leave,
never had an accident either.
Let's... Let's change the subject.
Are you a cab freak or what?
If trash is what you're after,
I can provide that.
But on a first date, it's better to be
a little romantic, don't you think?
- Well, no.
I think it's better to be trashy
right away.
- You are a very strange girl.
Look, it's Sparrow.
I name them.
And now I'm gonna take you
to some place special.
Come closer.
Do you think that I can touch
Manhattan from here?
- What? Wi... With that?
- Yeah.
(twirling sound)
- What was that?
Hey?
- It's the only thing that I know
that'll always come back again.
- Shit, you scared me.
I have to go home.
- I'll take you.
- Not tonight.
- Give me your address.
- I'll be working tomorrow,
Central Park, next to the zoo.
Come by at 6 o'clock if you want.
Do I owe you something for the ride?
- Sure, I don't know you
that well yet.
And I don't want to get stiffed.
(dog barking)
What's the matter?
You can't sleep?
(whimpering)
Shhh, Alice is sleeping.
You're gonna wake her up.
(barking)
(whimpering)
- Yeah?
- Yeah, it's me.
- Yeah, what is it?
- What did you feed Vicky?
Well, I don't know, what you told me.
He's got a race on Sunday
and he's freaking out.
I went to Nina's,
he was fine when I left him.
Goddammit, can't I ever count
on you for anything?
- Excuse me.
- Yes!
- Sorry, I'm... I'm Alice Parker.
- Alice! How are you?
- The judge sent me.
- Oh.
Okay, all right!
Well, welcome.
Uh... Wait here, I'll get you a uniform.
- I don't need a uniform, thanks.
- Uh... It's not an option.
Here we go.
Okay... it's one bowl per person.
No more, even if they insist.
And um...
Sometimes, they try to come back,
you kind of gotta police
the line yourself.
Other than that,
the vibe here is pretty friendly.
-Are you the one
who will be checking my hours?
- Hum... yes, that would be me
and um....
Oh, 120 hours!
So I guess we'll have plenty of time
for you to fill me in on what you did.
Okay, everybody, this is Alice.
- Yeah, I think... I should...
- Say hello to Alice, everybody!
- Hello, Alice!
- Sorry. Hello!
Where can I put my bag?
- Just put it underneath.
Okay, here we go.
Have a good night.
- Everybody, guys, there's plenty
of food here, plenty of food.
Okay, have a good night now,
stay warm!
And that apron looks very good
on you, by the way.
(honking)
- Sorry, I'll be right back..
Is that okay?
- Sure.
- I'm sorry.
- Hey, how are you doing?
Here we go.
It's a cold night,
so make sure everybody...
- How's it going?
- Fine, thank you.
But I'm not done, yet.
We can meet me after seven,
if you want.
- I'll come and get you.
- Thank you.
- I never imagined you
doing charity work...
Just a big-hearted girl, huh?
- I'm glad you came to see me.
- See you later.
Brrrrrrr...
- I'm frozen.
(laughing)
Take off your shoes,
I turned the heat all the way up.
- It's way below zero.
- How long have you been doing
that job?
- I can't remember anymore.
It's about three years...
I don't know, it's a long time.
-You should multiply by seven,
like for dogs.
Twenty-one years serving soup!
Hurray... for Alice!
I have frostbite.
Let's take a look.
You should wear better gear.
It's not a religious thing, is it?
They have shoes now
that really keep your feet warm.
Show me.
Every day, I carve a new path.
- You're really passionate about it,
huh?
- It's more than that,
it changed my life.
And beside that piece of wood,
are you interested in anything else?
You mean, like in human suffering,
like you? No. Not just that, anything.
- I like what gives and gives back.
That's what the boomerang is about.
What's your name?
Alice.
Alice.
Alice, you're gonna make me
fall off the wagon.
And does Alice have a nickname?
I'll give you a bird's nickname.
Okay?
The aborigines use these
to bring down birds,
that are caught in their nets.
-And you've set your nets
up in New York,
at the Double Happiness?
- The birds of Brooklyn
have all gone to Manhattan.
The buildings and the tarmac trap
the heat to make bubbles of warm air
that climb and twirl
around the buildings.
It's become like the Coney Island
Cyclone for the birds of Brooklyn.
And with this,
we can bring them back to us.
- To kill them?
- No!
To make love to them.
- Huh... No, I like you better
as a criminal.
(laughing)
- It's the first time
somebody loves me for my flaws
and not my good qualities.
Why don't we check out
this spot on South Street.
You'll see, you'll like it.
- Sounds intriguing.
So are you.
- Take off your coat.
(train passing)
(train passing)
(train passing)
(honking)
- One taxi in fifteen thousand,
was a real long shot, Alice.
When we knew the car was damaged,
I put one of my men in here
just in case the guy came in
to get it repaired.
- What happened?
He never showed up?
- No. I guess he preferred
to leave the dent.
Well, it was a gash about a half
an inch deep, maybe two feet long.
It looked like the kind of thing
that might have happened
if you scraped up
against a fire hydrant.
- You know I called Vincent.
Are you really his new girlfriend?
- I will be.
The day he finds the killer.
- I don't have much for you this week.
Look at his face.
He's from 11th Avenue.
He wears a ring, a big one,
kind of like what you described.
- What's his name?
- His name is James Clark.
From 11th Avenue cabs.
They're the toughest,
they work the docks.
He'll never get his hand
on my ass, that's for sure.
So, where are you headed?
- Crosby Street.
- Will will probably give you a lift,
if you need.
- Here, a gift for you.
You're not going to put it on?
It's designer stuff.
- After you.
- I'm not allowed.
- Why?
- No.
- Been out of rehab eight years.
I used to drink like a fish.
Then one day I just stopped,
like that, cold turkey.
I can't even put a single drop
of alcohol on me.
I'm not even allowed
to use deodorant.
One drink and I'm...
good for the ER.
- It's a knockoff.
- Mm?
- It's a fake.
Not even a good one.
- What?
- I'm an expert in perfumes.
- I have no taste.
- What do you mean?
- I mean in general.
I have no taste.
I can't tell what is beautiful
or what is ugly.
In anything.
I just can't tell.
- I don't believe you.
- How do you go from one end
of Manhattan to the other
looking for a bedside lamp
with a nice shape?
What does that mean, a nice shape?
A nice ass, that I get.
And even with asses,
I've had lousy ones,
really bottom of the barrel,
and even, let's say,
with serious design flaws.
(honking)
And sometimes,
I found something beautiful there.
You have taste
and you sleep with a total loser.
I, on the other hand,
don't even know what taste is.
And I get to fuck the most beautiful
woman on the planet.
What do you call it
when that happens?
I'll be right back.
- I got something for you.
- Oh yeah?
Yeah!
- What does it mean?
- It means that you're beautiful...
(honking)
- What's wrong?
- I don't like it when you go away.
- I walked out with this.
I've never stole anything
before in my life.
For you, my queen.
Have you known Sophie for a long time?
About two or three years.
- Think she puts up?
- What?
- I don't know... She looks at me
with doe-like eyes and then she splits.
I heard you love dogs.
- Slow down.
Give me something.
- Like what?
- Stop!
Hey, what are you doing?
What are you doing, hey!
Hey!
Hey!
- Wow! What's the problem?
Hey, put that thing down!
Get out of here!
Don't touch my cab!
Back off!
Don't touch it!
Get out of my car!
Fuck you, asshole!
Get out of here!
(honking)
- I left my bag in the car.
Can I have the keys, please?
Thanks.
I'll be right back.
- What happened?
- I don't know.
I don't know what happened. I...
- What happened?
- I don't know.
Fuck!
- Were you leaving?
- No, I wasn't leaving!
I... I just wanted to get
a pack of cigarettes, that's all!
And then... I'll pay
for the damage, I... I promise.
Fuck!
- Have the key?
- You mad at me?
- Yeah.
- What!?
- Wait upstairs.
- I have my bag in the car.
I'll pay for the damage, I'll pay.
-Yeah, you'll pay.
- Hey!
- Wait!
- What?
Whoa! Great!
Will you teach me?
Here. To say I'm sorry.
- You're nuts!
You didn't have to do that.
- Well, I wanted to. Open it.
And the day after tomorrow,
I'll get the car fixed.
Don't worry, I didn't forget.
Give me that.
You don't like it.
- No, very nice.
- Well, try it on, it's your size.
- It's... very red.
- Yeah, I know. But I love red!
Well, I don't know how to do...
- Why did you buy me this?
Why this?
- I... I don't know.
-Are you messing with me?
- No, what makes you say that?
Why would I?
I... I love red.
See, and you look beautiful.
- Well, what do you think of the place?
- I like it better when it's messy.
- I can try to improve myself, right?
I mean, there's plenty of room
for improvement.
And it's like the boomerang,
I learn fast.
- What do you learn?
- To be a good person.
Or at least, not too bad.
- You might lose the things
I like about you.
- Such as?
I'm serious.
What can I lose?
Look at me.
- You're scaring me.
- I've never looked at a girl
that way...
... before.
It's the first time.
If we keep this up, I'm afraid
I won't find my way back.
We'll go too far.
- It can never go too far
between a man and a woman.
- Yeah...
This is... weird.
- Here...
This is the most important thing.
(train passing)
(rumbling)
(mixed conversations)
(honking)
Roger!
Roger!
Hey!
Roger!
You're okay?
- What?
Oh, what the fuck...
What time is it?
- I have to go back to my apartment.
Get changed.
- We had too much to drink.
- No, not that much.
- How did I get here?
I don't remember anything.
You drove?
- Yeah.
(honking)
- Where are you going?
- Can you go place a bet for me?
There's only men in there,
I don't like it.
I want you to put everything on him.
Today is my lucky day.
(voice of commentator on TV)
- In there...
- Okay...
How much?
Vicky... 60?
- Come on!
- Can I get in?
- Where are you going?
-Astoria.
- Okay, get in. I don't take Chinks.
- Where to, in Astoria?
- Steinway Street and Broadway.
- Better they eat their dogs
before the race! Ha! Ha!
Than us after.
Do I know you?
- No, you don't.
- How do you know I was a cabbie?
- I saw you come in.
- I bet on a dog.
I'd do anything for my girl.
- Can you turn around,
take me back to Mott Street?
- What?
Hey, what do you take me for?
A coolie?
- I'll be back in five minutes.
Don't worry, I'll be right back.
(phone ringing)
(phone ringing)
- Hello?
(Roger): It's me.
Pack enough warm clothes.
It's gonna be below zero
up there this weekend.
This guy is really pissing me off.
- What? Why?
- My last fare of the week,
it has to be... an asshole.
- What did he do?
- Nothing... yet.
But he's not kosher, I can tell.
Where is he, for chrissake?
- Roger...
I want you to drop everything.
You hear me?
Just forget about it.
I mean, leave this guy
and come and get me, please.
And just stop everything, okay?
- Stop what? Don't worry.
I've taken on worse than him in my life.
- That's not what I meant.
I mean...
There's...
there's something
I have to tell you whi... which...
- What?
I'll call you back.
(mixed conversations)
(Chinese pop music)
- I should give you Vicky
for three months. Six months!
- I have to... get your money.
-And change.
I can't take a bill this big.
Camels.
-A carton?
-A pack.
- Seven bucks.
- What is this place?
A zoo?
- Don't kill him.
(dispatcher): Roger, this is Mad Dog
Mike. Do you read me?
Roger, come on! Pick up!
Everybody's looking for you!
This is Mad Dog Mike.
(dispatcher being shut off)
(moaning)
(radio being tumed on)
(rap music)
(engine starting)
(moaning)
(banging on car)
(whimpering)
- Yeah, Huang Huang.
It's Vincent. Yeah, it's done.
Yeah, you still keep Vicky.
All right.
(phone ringing)
- Hello?
- Want to come over and have a drink?
- Yes.
- Something happened to me today.
Things are gonna change.
Everything's gonna change now.
We could start
by knocking down that wall.
I can't just get this asshole
out of my head.
Alice? You hear me?
- Yes...
- Tomorrow,
we're tearing out the wall.
Tear it down!
- Good night!
- Good night.
- What happened to you?
-Ah, nothing.
A wino, he was totally drunk.
Tried to grab my necklace.
(dog barking)
- Yeah!
I lived across from you
for three years.
I don't even know anything about you.
- How old are you?
- Older than you.
- Huh...
What did you do before you came here?
- Well, nothing much.
My life was a mess and I...
I got a job, I ended up in New York.
And then you showed up.
Do you like your new life, uh?
-Ashley wanted to surprise me.
She took a train into the city
in the late afternoon.
She bought Vicky in a place
in Chinatown.
She missed her return train,
caught a cab in Grand Central.
That was the last time anybody
ever saw her alive.
For months, I wondered
whose baby dog it was,
why it was in my house.
I wondered if it belonged....
Later, I found out
it was a present for me.
I always dreamed
of having a dog like that.
(thunder rumbling)
I'll show you a photo of Ashley
if you want me to.
You waited for me.
That was a beautiful thing to do.
(thunder rumbling)
(foghorn)
- Hey! It's ready!
(birds squawking)
- How do you know I like crab?
- I've been watching you.
You're really....
No, no! Don't kiss me now!
No!
Kiss me.
No, don't kiss me.
- What was that?
- Let's go home.
I don't like this place.
I'm sorry.
I don't know
what's the matter with me.
I'm not feeling so well.
Did you lock it?
- What?
- The front door.
Did you lock it?
- Yeah, of course.
(radio transmission)
Where's my friend
from the Forensics Department?
(whistling)
Show him that.
That's the first piece of good news.
And here's the second.
About a half inch deep,
a foot and a half wide.
It is just the right height.
What do you think
about investigations?
They're like old volcanoes, you never
know when they're gonna blow.
Roger Culkin.
Dead.
Or not.
Disappeared anyway.
About five days ago. Around 6 p.m.
according to the cab company.
He drove a cab for 20 years
and he doesn't use his seat belt.
Don't you find that odd?
If he had, he'd still be with us.
- Hey Jo, how are you?
- How is it going?
- Fine.
- What kind is it?
- Onion soup.
- Nice to see you again.
On the look on your face, you're
not that... pleased to see me again.
- Yeah, I am but just... I'm busy.
- I was afraid that...
now that I'm nothing...
Or rather... now that I don't have
anything. No home,
no ID, no job...
I was afraid that I'd also lose
my best friend.
- I don't know
what you're talking about.
- How about we get together later?
I reckon we have some things
to talk about, don't you?
- Hey, where she going?
- Hey, lady! Come back.
- Vincent! Vincent!
- Come here.
- What do you want?
You want me to knock?
Knock!
Vincent! Vincent! Vincent!
What's the problem?
Where's the key?
Get the key!
Where's the key?
- I don't have it.
- You want Vincent?!
Vincent!
What are you upset about?
I'm not gonna hurt you.
- Are you afraid of being hurt?
- Yes.
- You are?
- Yes, I am.
-You are? You are?
You know what happened to me?
You know what happened to me?
I know you care.
Don't you want to hear this,
what happened to me?
In that river?
You know what it was like?
Under that water?
You know what it was like,
in the back of that trunk?
Moaning?
As that cold water rushing on me?
You know what
I was thinking about?
Do you know what I was thinking about?
Would you like to know?
It wasn't about freezing to death.
It wasn't about dying from drowning.
I was thinking about...
How I could say goodbye to you.
For once, God was on my side,
you fucking bitch.
The trunk burst open...
against a pylon on the bridge.
And I held my breath,
for four minutes
in that icy stinking,
smelling, sucking... water.
And I made it.
What is this game
you and him are playing?
- It wasn't him.
I did it.
I made him believe that...
you were the cab driver
who killed his wife three years ago.
They never found the killer.
I set you up.
I... did it.
- You picked me out of the blue?
Because I was a cab driver?
- I'm so sorry.
- You're sorry?
What are you sorry about?
That I didn't die?
Does he live here?
With you?
All the time you were making love
to me, you were faking it?
(sniffling)
I don't believe it.
- He's gonna come soon.
- Meet me tonight, at 8.
- Yeah...
-At the Eaglet bar in the Bronx,
at 8.
The Eaglet bar in the Bronx.
- Yeah.
(slow tempo music)
(cat calling)
(cheering)
(slow tempo music)
- Here.
It's rum and tequila.
I know more than you do
about mixing things up.
I've been refraining from pleasures
for too long.
I dig you...
Buy me a drink, will you?
- Yeah.
- It's incredible, knowing
that everybody thinks you're dead...
And... you can start over,
start everything, all over again.
A new life.
It's exciting, isn't it?
Come on, let's sit down.
I've been thinking a lot
about all that's happened to us.
It's not very simple, all this...
I don't like it when things
get complicated.
Ever since I was a kid,
I... hated that.
So... I've come up with this idea.
And I think it's the only way.
Live with me.
No.
Why?
I don't love you.
(applauding)
- Ladies and gentlemen...
- I don't think you have a choice.
- I could give myself up to the police.
- For murder?
For a guy who's gonna go to jail
any-fucking-way?
And who'll find out that you fucked him
over just like you did me?
I'm staying in a motel in Queens,
under an alias.
I need you to bring me some money.
Then, we're leaving.
I need some time to...
to work things out.
You've had your time.
- I'll bring the money for the motel.
- Where the fuck you been?
(dog barking)
It's fucking great!
Come on.
Come on, Vicky.
(moaning)
Ah, this is great.
Really fucking nice.
Come on,
put your arm around me.
- No, I don't wanna go...
- Let's go...
(grunting)
Come...
Come on.
- Vincent...
- We're not gonna be able to stay
in New York, it's too risky.
We've got to get out of here.
- It's impossible.
- You know, you're no fun anymore.
- I can't quit my job.
It's community service.
- So it wasn't out of the goodness
of your heart?
Don't worry about it.
We'll be in another state.
It's a big country.
- That's for the next two nights.
Thanks.
- What do you want from me?
- I just want us to continue...
what we started.
I know what's really there.
I saw love in your eyes.
And even though it's a love
from hell...
I want more.
I love you.
Madly.
(whimpering)
(sighing)
Yeah, come here, come here.
Come here, my love.
Okay... Jason will take you
to the race.
Vincent works tonight.
But he'll be waiting for you tomorrow
at Riis Beach, okay?
(dog whimpering)
I know you know, okay? I know.
Promise me you'll take care
of Vincent.
(dog whimpering)
(bell tolling)
- Where are we going?
- Sandusky, Ohio.
Then, we'll see.
Get some sleep, it's a long drive.
- I can't. I get scared in cars.
- Get undressed.
(moaning)
(groaning)
- Vicky! You won!
Don't be mad at me.
Please.
You're happy?
- You wouldn't have recognized him.
Hey, Vicky!
He's pulling like crazy today.
Come on!
(barking)
- He's a champion.
He doesn't have to listen anymore.
- Hey, I know him. It's John.
Wait for me.
John?
- I got a fine spot here on the grate.
Are you okay?
-Yeah, I'm fine.
-Alice?
- Okay. I'll come and see you again.
I have to go.
- I'll be right here.
- Bye, John!