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Len and Company (2015)
[projector whirring]
[Ian Dury and the Blackheads' "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick"] [upbeat rock music] II - I In the deserts of Sudan I I And the gardens of Japan I I From Milan I I To Yucatan I I Every woman, every man I I Hit me with your rhythm stick I I HR me, m me I I Je t'adore, ich liebe dich I I HR me, m me, m me I I Hit me with your rhythm stick I I Hit me slowly, hit me quick I I HR me, m me, m me I II I In the wilds I I Of Borneo I I And the vineyards I I Of Bordeaux I I Eskimo, Arapaho I I Move their body to and fro I II I Hit me with your rhythm stick I I HR me, m me I I Das ist gut, c'est fantastique I I HR me, m me, m me I I Hit me with your rhythm stick I I It's nice to be I I A lunatic I I HR me, m me, m me I [lively saxophone solo] II I HR me, m me, m I II I In the dock of Tiger Bay I I On the road to Mandalay I I From Bombay to Santa Fe I I Over hills I [door slams] - Hey, man, can I borrow a tie? - For what'? - Mine has shit on it. I got a job interview. - Okay, you just, uh, clean yours? - No. I'm too pressed for time. Today's soccer, plus I'm captain this week, so I'm in charge of bringing all the goals, and fuckin' Agro Mike's got a UTI. - Uh, well, they're in the top drawer. - Thanks, man. - Yeah. - Wait, hey, when are you coming back? - I don't know. I was thinking a couple days. - All right. Let me know how it goes. - Yeah. - All right, see you, man. - All right. - I never knew it was possible to be so bored and stressed at the same time. [rock music playing on radio] II - Yeah, no, I'm halfway there now. I'll just look it up on my phone if/ get lost. Don't Worry. Yeah, no. Well, then, I'll pull over. Yeah, no. It'll be fine. Yeah, listen, I don't want to get a ticket. I don't want to get pulled over, so I'll-I'll, uh- I'll give you a call when I get there. Okay. Yeah, no, Mom, I know what he's like, okay? You don't have to coach me. All right, yeah. No, I'm hanging up now. AH right, bye. [ethereal music] II [water flowing] [crows calling] Hey. Dad. Len. [sputtering] Hello, Max. - Uh, what are you doing? - Fucking swimming. What's it look like? - The water's disgusting. - No, it's not. It's nature. It's like swimming in a pond with steps. It's what man was meant to swim in. Besides, I think the pool guy's quit. - He quit? Why? - I don't know. He just doesn't come round anymore. - Have you tried calling him? - Yeah, well, that's part of the problem. Never been properly introduced. Tessa used to take care of all that shit. He was a pissant, anyway, always rushing around. - I bet I could find him. - Don't bother. He's fired. Cheeky fucking cunt bastard. - [chuckles] [clears throat] - So, uh... To what do I owe the honor of this visit? - I just thought I'd check up on you, see if you're okay. I tried calling. - I see you brought a bag. - Yeah, I, uh-l thought I'd stay for a couple of days. Yeah, no one's heard from you in a while, you know? You must be cold. - No, I'm not. - I mean, you really got the whole "Grey Gardens" thing going. I like it. - Yeah, well, I wasn't expecting any visitors. [cell phone vibrates, beeps] - Yeah. - No phones up here. - Are you serious? - Don't want to see it. . Okay" - I want to hear myself think for a change. I mean it. - So, uh, uh, when did you break up with Tess? - Awhile ago. - What happened? - She was an underfed coyote, poor thing. Time came for her to go foraging. - Man, I'm-l'm sorry to hear that. - It's all right, Max. I know the game. So while we're on the subject, what can I do for you? - Um, nothing, l just- - Do you need money? - I was just planning on hang-hanging out- - There's got to be some expense I'm not covering. - It's nothing like that. - Want me to make a call for you? Get you a label? - No. It's not... - I'm a very successful man, Max. High up on the totem pole. - I'm well aware. - What do you need, then? - I don't need anything. I'm just visiting. [muffled television] [television stops] - Your hair's longer. - Yeah. It's been, uh- it's been like this for a while. - All right. Stay. Don't distract me. I need to focus. . Okay" [muffled television] What are-what are you doing, exactly? - Thinking. - Yeah, what are you thinking about? - Everything. The whole Charade. "S h a-rad e." - All right, well, I'm gonna go to my room. - Right, you've got 30 seconds, or on top of motor theft, ifs resisting arrest and assault with a deadly weapon. - And forgery. [soft acoustic guitar music] II - Uh, shall we start? - Yeah, go for H. - Um, do you feel like you've matured? - What do you mean? - There's a rawness to the new album that feels like a departure and an evolution. - Thank you. Yeah. Yeah, I'd say those things. - Do you feel like this is an accurate snapshot of Zoe? - [chuckles] Maybe. - Okay. Sorry, let me come at this a different way. You've basically, you know, grown up in public. Famous since you were 16 years old. Every mistake you make, your fashion choices, your romantic choices, all get catalogued very publicly. I mean, what's that been like for you? - Uh, I don't... know really what you're asking. - Well, it's not exactly how everyone spends their teenage years, but you seem to have come through it, maybe with a- a hard-won wisdom. - I don't know. L'm-l mean, it's the only experience I've ever had, you know. [laughing] So that's it. [acoustic guitar music] II [muffled television] II - Think you're talking to, Regan? - Do you Want me to answer that? - Hey, Len. - Hey. - I figured out the ground shield situation. It was connected at the source, causing a ground loop, and the links were stuffed inside an old Burger King container. - Right. - I replaced the links, and I threw out the Burger King container. I hope that's okay. I didn't know if you were saving it for any reason. - No. That sounds like the right decision. - Hi. - Hey, I'm Max. Len's son. - Oh, Max, this is William. He lives down the road. He comes in once in a while, checks I'm not dead. He's in charge of general maintenance, house morale, that sort of thing. Got an office in the barn. - Mm. - L, uh, stacked the cables at the studio door. - All right. You have fun. - Yeah. See you tomorrow. It was nice to meet you, Max. - Good to meet you. - Cheers, William. [door closes] - Where'd you find him? - Tessa. [muffled television] - A little bit awkward. - He is, a little bit. Or "real" is a better way of putting it. - I have to ask you about Len Black, your longtime collaborator and producer. Were you as caught off guard as everyone else by what he did at the award show last month? - Yeah. I was, for sure. - What do you think prompted that? - Can I use your pen? - Yeah. - Thanks, man. [murmuring] Ask Len... Why he didn't want award. [clicks tongue] Awesome. It was good talking to you. Um, I have to go. I'm gonna use the little girls' room. - Evenings I work in a pub. H's just off the Rye. One of our regulars is a man named Presser. - Alec Presser? - That's him. - Alec Prosser is a bent lawyer. He was struck off years ago. He's a sort of first edition Bernard Driscoll without the humor. - About three weeks ago, who Walks in with Presser but Frank Kemble. He didn't recognize me. - Have you ever thought about getting Apple TV? - What's that? - It's like this little box, and you just hook it up to your TV, and you can stream pretty much anything. It's, like, so you don't have to keep getting these DVDs. - Scout's honor. - Sounds complicated. - Oh, it's not. I think you'd like it. - What's that? - Fruit cocktail. - Hmm. - Do you remember those parties that you and Mom used to have at the apartment on Varick Street? [chuckles] When I was, like, six? - Party's a nice word for it. - Yeah, like, I remember I was the bartender, and everyone thought it was so funny. Like, I wore my blazer, and... God, everyone was so wasted. - You're too sensitive. That's your problem. - What are you talking about? I'm saying it was fun. - You've always been too sensitive. That's why you're terrible at sports. - What are you ta- I'm fine at sports. - No, you're not. - I'm good at soccer. - Terrible. . Rm Okay)'- - Don't sugarcoat, Max. That way, you'll know when you're truly good at something. [police siren blaring] Hmm. Nice, son. [fires squealing] [glass shattering] [faint singing in background] II [door creaks open] [Romeo Void's Never Say Never playing] - That's never Never say never I [rock music] - Hi, guys. F. [indistinct conversation] F. . HEY- That-that was a fantastic show. - Aw, thanks, man. - Fantastic. - I appreciate that. What's your name again? We've met before, right? - Yeah, Robert. - Hi, Robert. Yeah, that's right. - I'm the sub bass tech. - I don't know what that means. - It's all right. It's a sub bass technician. I'm subbing for Niles. - Well, nice seeing you. Thanks for helping out with the tour and stuff. - Hey, listen, I'm-l'm gonna be a part of the crew full-time now. Yeah, I mean, I did a stint- - Don't leave right now, Robert. - Hey, sweetheart, how you doing? - I'm good. - You good? - Yeah. - That was a great show. - Thanks. - You look good. Yeah. You all right? - Yeah, I'm good. - Okay, so the guy I was talking to over there- this is so weird. He was in that Dre video I shot, like, in Moscow, like a year ago, right? He used to weigh 400 pounds. It's so weird. I'm sorry, man, I'm, uh, Paul. - This is Robert. - Nice to meet you, Robert. You okay? - Yeah. - Cool. Um, you want to meet him? He's a good guy. You should meet him. He knows Lulu. - I'm tired, babe. I'm tired. - Come on. It'll take two seconds. Really quick, I promise. - I don't want to right now. - Okay, look. Some people are starting to think you're antisocial. Let's just go. Come on. Nice meeting you, man. Cheers. - Bye, Robert. II - The man Walked until his feet told him no more. Then he found a shaded piece of ground under a stand of pinons. He slid his pack from his wet shoulder to the ground, unhitched his gun belt, and he sat. The high desert stretched in front of him to the east, and to the West, he could see the foothills of the Sierra Adula, patches of glistening snow and thirsty spruces preening in the midday sun. It had been six days since he left (Shaves County, and he should have made it through the pass by now. - Hey, Dad. - Reaching for his canteen and shook it. - Dad. - Then he put it back Without- - Hey, I'm sorry to interrupt. I'm going to the store to grab a few things for the house. Do you need anything? - No. Whatever you get is fine. Thanks. - Cool. Can I take your car? - It's dead. - Oh. Uh, I could jump it for you. - No, I want to keep it like that. - Why? - So I don't leave. . Okay" Um, what are you listening to? - Some book on tape. Some Western I found in the house. - [chuckles] - What? - Just you listening to a book on tape. - It's well-written. - So what, like Cormac McCarthy? - I don't know what his name is, but it's good. It's-their life was simple and just ponced around on your horse and bossed cows around and looked out for snakes. - [laughing] - It was easy. What are you laughing at? - I'm just admiring your glasses. - Listen, Max, I can wear what I want and read what I like. Okay? I've earned it. - I was just saying. - Not like your dilettante hipster mates with their skinny jeans and their skinny ties, and- - You don't know my friends. - That whole scene. - I don't really have a scene. - It's like an anti-scene scene thing. - Fine, whatever. I have a scene. Whatever, man. I'm gonna go to the store. Just text me if you need anything. - Yeah, I'll text you. - Canteen and shook it, then he put it back without unscrewing it. He stared out over the mesa and saw a three-day walk, maybe more. [ethereal music] II - Hey, dude. - Hey. Hey, if you know the Liverpool score, don't say anything, okay? I'm watching the game right now. - I don't. I was gonna Watch it later with my dad. - Nice. So how's it going? - Yeah, it's-it's good. What are you up to? Did you end up getting that job? - There was a lot of stiff competition. It's politics, you know. Have you asked him yet? - No, not yet, dude. Like, you know, he's so crazy busy with work, and he's-you know, so he's all stressed out. - Oh, tell him I get it. It's a fucking epidemic in this country. - Yeah, so I mean, there hasn't really been a good moment, but I don't know. I'll let you know, like, as soon as I do it. - Sounds good, man. [rhythmic tapping] . HEY- What is that? - Raccoon trap. - That's for a raccoon? - Yep. It's for the predators, Max. - The raccoons are out of control. We set up eight traps in different locations, and then as we catch them, I'll deport them across the Hudson. I made maps for Len and I of where they're placed. I could make you one, too, if you want. - Oh, yeah. No, um... l-l'll share with my dad. Thanks, yeah. Hey, what happened to your eye? - Nothing. Wrestling in gym class. Are you coming to Len's speech tomorrow? - I didn't know he was giving one. - It's not a speech. - Once a week, we have somebody come into our class at my school to talk about something, like a-a guest speaker, and my dad's in Afghanistan, so Len's gonna fill in instead, which is way better. - So what is it, like, Bring Your Parent to School Day or something? - Sort of, but it doesn't have to be your parent. It just has to be someone old who has a job. - Flattery will get you everywhere, William. - Hey, Dad, I taped the Man City-Liverpool game. I was gonna put it on if you want to watch it. - Fuck Liverpool. We've got a raccoon invasion to deal with here. [cage clatters] Fucking Liverpool. - Yeah, right. All right, I'll leave you guys to it, then. Yeah. [cage clatters] - Let me see that before you get hurt. - Yeah, catch a fucking... [cage clatters] Catch a fucking horse in it. [dark pop music playing on radio] II - Oh, yeah. I Champ Burger I - Welcome to Champ Burger. - Thank you. - You had a combo number two with a large Pepsi. That comes to $9.17. - Cool. ' [gasps] ' Zoe? - Here you go. Oh, hi. - Hi. - Holy shit. - Hi. - This is crazy. It's you. - Yeah, it is. - I am totally obsessed with you. - Cool. - What are you doing out here in this dump for? - Yeah, what- what are you doing here? - I'm going to see Len. - Are you, uh-are you okay? - No, not really. [chuckles] - Hey, there's some extra napkins and shit in the bag. - Cool, man. Thank you so much. [phone camera clicks] - Percy, you see how the king picks me out for special greeting'? - No, my lord. - I saw H, my lord. - Ah, and What is your name, little fellow? - My name is Baldrick, my lord. - Ah, then I shall call you... Baldrick. - And I shall call you "my lord," my lord. - I like the out of your job, young fellow m'lad. - Hey, can I ask you something? - Mm-hmm. - Do you ever miss being in a band? - There's bits about it I miss. It was a fucked-up time. People like to romanticize that sort of thing, you know? - Yeah. Man, I just- it just must have been like... you know, just playing whatever you wanted to play and not having, I don't know, just- it must have been a great time to be an artist. - Have you lost your conkers? - So you Won? - Yeah, there were bits about it that were fantastic. [people cheering] - Yeah, you know, things are actually pretty- going pretty okay for my band right now. - Right. - Yeah, I mean, Zach- like, he's such a stoner, but- but he's, like, so talented. You know, I-and I have to be the one that- to kind of, like, bring everybody together. It's... Yeah. I don't know, even- like, we even- we wrote some new songs and have some pretty decent recordings now. And, uh, like... I don't know, we've been playing shows too in Brooklyn. Like, nothing big, but we've had a pretty good responses- - Yeah, that's, that's great. Good. - Yeah. - Great. - I mean, it's going, yeah. - Before they don armor tomorrow. - Yeah, I mean, we've- we-we even planned out, like, our goals for the year. - Goals? - Yeah. Like, I mean, the same- they're the same goals as last year, but we just have a different date on it. - Huh. - 'Cause, yeah. What? [people shouting] - I want to show you something. - What are you... [people cheering] Should I come- should I follow you? - Yes, you should. - All right. - There's going to have to be a certain amount of violence. - Do you know what this is? - It's your favorite guitar. . Yep- My first Telecaster. [scoffs] Hold it. - It's light. - Yeah. - It's like- - Feel the ash grain through the finish, can't you? - Yeah. - Don't look at your hands. [guitar strums] Only girl guitarists look at their hands. . Okay" [guitar strumming] Oh, man. - You feel all right? - Sure, yeah. - You feel cool, yeah? - I feel all right. - Feel the velocity? - I feel something. - Right. Go on, smash it. - What? - Hold it high above your head and bring it crashing down to the ground. - You're joking, right? - No. - It's gonna break. - Yeah, it'll probably snap in half, and all these little bits will go flying round the room. - This is so stupid. - It's fucking mental, so do it. - No. - Don't think about it. Don't think about the consequences, Max. Just fucking do something. - This is- - Fucking break it. - No. No. - [sighs] - [sighs] - Your mum... She ever ask about me? - What? Who's that? - Fucking hell. - What? - [sighs] - Who is it? - Fuck. I don't know, do I? Oh, fuck me sideways. - What? - Shh. - [whispering] Who is it? - Shh, get away from the fucking window! . Okay" - Fuck. - Who is it? - Get down! Don't-just don't fucking move a muscle. - Who is it? - Down. Just fucking ignore her. She might go away. - Ignore who? - Fucking mother- a box of fucking frogs, man. - Is that Zoe? - Yes, it is fucking Zoe. - Why are you- what are you doing? - Go fuck yourself, Len. loan hear you. - Oh. [knocking at door] Holy Mary, mother of Christ. - Come on, Len, let me in! - Help me now in my hour of need. [knocking at door] - I'm in the back, Len. ' Lem' - Okay, let her in. [knocking at door] Let her in. - Len, open the door. [knocking at door] - Hey, Max. - Oh, hi. Hi. - Wow. How are you? - I'm doing okay. - Good to see you. Surprise. I was just in the neighborhood. I thought I'd drop by and find out what the fuck was going with you. - What're you doing here? - I've been trying to get a hold of you. I called you, like, a million times. - I'm trying to be alone. - Well, you can't. - I can't? - No. - Why not? - Because that's not fair. - My God... this is a fucking ambush. My sanctuary's been invaded by needy little piglets. I've got to lie down. Piglets with their teeth in my neck... Sucking my blood. - He's in a good mood. - Yeah. - Do you have a toothbrush i could borrow? [soft instrumental music] II - We are in for a treat today. Our speakers are Len Black, William's employer, and Mr. Frank Coulter, Derek's dad. Now, Mr. Black is gonna share with us his experience of working in the music industry, and Mr. Coulter will talk to us about what it feels like to own your own business. Mr. Black, would you like to start us off? - [clears throat] Hello, children. Right. So, uh, my experience, right. So, uh, yeah, well, my family- there was me, me mum, me dad. Grew up in a shitty little town in the UK. We were poor, like everyone else who lived near us, which I hated. My dad had a shit job at a factory. He was drunk most of the time, so he had no interest in having a relationship with me or anything. He was a miserable old cunt, really. Probably still is. My mum taught piano lessons to most of the neighbors' kids, so that's how I got interested in music, but then, uh, I left school when I was about 16, ran away from home- about your age, actually- so, uh, well done for not doing that. Yeah, next portion of my life l spent drinking, getting into trouble, fighting, taking drugs, nicking cars, that sort of thing, you know. You know what I mean. And then, um, eventually, me and a couple of mates started a band. I had one T-shirt, which I wore every day, and we all lived in this tiny little fucking size of a janitor's closet. We were angry. We were pissed off. We were skint- poor, that means. But we managed somehow to make a single, a record, which to everyone's surprise was a bit of a success, but then the drugs and the drink and all that fucking bollocks got a hold of us, so that went tits up. So the next few years of my life, I did fuck all, really. Then my girlfriend got pregnant by me, apparently. Wave hello, Max. Yeah, and then I got into producing music, which is a bit more lucrative. You know, support the family, but then I couldn't kick the drugs and the drink, couldn't get clean, so Max's mum left, which, I don't know. Yeah, so I made a lot of money really quickly, you know? Met loads of birds with really big, nice, juicy milkers. All that, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Living the high life. [chuckles] Yeah, and I moved to New York, set up my own company, my own label. That's doing really well, so, uh, yeah. I'm just a rich old bastard with loads of fucking T-shirts now. That's it, darling. - Thank you so much, Mr. Black, for sharing that with us. Um, Mr. Coulter, why don't you- why don't you share your story for the students today? - Right. Hi. I'm Mr. Coulter, Derek's dad. I brought an ATV. It's parked right out there by the track. Anybody want to see it? All our side-by-sides have a safety belt, of course, but they also have a cab net, and this will keep you snug in your seat in the event that you, you know, hit a bump or take a really sharp turn. Yes, you? - Are we allowed to drive it? - I'm afraid I'd need your parent's signature. Sorry, though. Yeah? - Can Mrs. Pickett drive it? - That's entirely up to her. What do you think? - No, thank you. I'll leave it to the professionals. - I'll do it. I'll have a go. [engine rumbling] - Okay, all you need to know: gas, brake. - Gas, brake. - And emergency brake. - All right. - Right? I'd just-l'd start nice and easy at first, you know, just... - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - Till you get the hang of it. - Sensible. - Okay, why don't you ease off the brake, and-oh! Okay- Okay- [engine roaring] Definitely going faster than I would suggest. [Les Olivensteins' "Euthanasie" playing] - I Vite vite vite I I 'We encore une fuite I I Que {e mdecin oofmate I [engine roaring] I J'vous Prais sombrer coups cfsavates I I Dans {e Ht maoufe' I [punk music] I Vite vite vite Vtat empire vite I I 'We longiemps dj I I Que je vofs venfr {e trpas I I Euthanasie pour eux aussi I I Euthanasia o'est bfen fin,' I I Euthanasie plus de soucis I I Euthanasie pour vous aussi I II - So what's going on with you? I haven't seen you since you were, like, 17 or something. - Uh... I just finished a semester at NYU. - That's cool. - Yeah. Then I quit, so... - Oh, why? - I don't know; I just wanted to focus on music for a while, like, kind of give that a year and see what happened. - Right. - Yeah, I don't know. I'm still with that same band, though, Terrific Liars. - Oh, yeah. - Yeah. - That's been a while, cool. - Yeah, yeah. - How's it going? - It's good, man. We, uh-we finally finished our demo. - That's rad. - Mm-hmm. That's actually one of the reasons why I came up here, was so I could show my dad. See what he thought. - Yeah, what did he say? - Oh, nothing yet. - Why not? - Well, I haven't showed it to him. - Why? - Because he's Len. - So? - So I just know he's gonna get all weird on me for asking. What, you think that's dumb? - No, I don't think it's dumb. He's a grown man. I'm sure he can handle his son asking him to listen to a demo. - Maybe. - Plus, Max, he's, like, your dad. He has to. [siren wailing] - [clears throat] Hello. - This your vehicle? - Yep, yeah. - 'Cause we just got a call reporting a missing ATV. Same make and model as this one. - Right, I'll- I'll keep me eyes peeled. - Last seen driven by a guy wearing an orange helmet. Should we just take it back to the shop, then call it a day? I have got crimes to fight. - All right. I've stolen shit, you know. - I believe you. - You know what, I actually wrote some stuff down, like, on how I was gonna do it? - Like notes? - Yeah, kind of-l mean, just so I don't forget anything. - That is so professional. [laughing] - Yeah, I guess. - So what do your notes actually say? - Well... - [exclaims] Dude, we should rehearse. Are you down? - Yeah. - Yeah? Okay. I'll be Len, and you be you. - Okay. - God, this is totally gonna- oh, okay, wait. [soft music playing] I'm Len. Say it to me. - Are we doing this? All right. - Mm-hmm. - Um, so, Dad, I've been making- - Bollocks. [both laughing] - Um, so, Dad- - Bugger off. - No, no, stop. [both laughing] - Here, um... Dad, I've been make- - Shit! - Stop it. Dad. All right, Dad- - Asshole. - All right. - [laughing] I'm fucking with you. You got to harden up. Go again. - All right. Dad, I was- I've been doing- - Fuck off. I fucking miss England. - Yeah, yeah, all right. - No one here understands me. [men vocalizing] II - Yeah I [crow cawing] - Fuck off. II [indistinct conversation] - So I gave you one, and then I gave you another one. - I have it, and I have this one. [door closes] - Yeah. - Oh, shit, actually- - Enjoying your spoils? - Yeah. He's back! Both: Where have you been? - What an absolute shit show. - What? - You two, this. - Dude, calm down. We made you a plate if you want some. - Yeah, I'm a really good cook. - Yeah. - Hey, man, you should know that about me. I used to cook all the meals when I was a kid at home. - Yeah, well, I hope you haven't been getting none of that shit on my records. - Give me a break-the ones that you don't even listen to? - Yeah, those ones. Are you wearing my clothes? - I'm still mad at you. - I know. Shocking. - Yeah, on national television. That was so fucked up. - Yeah, well. - And the award goes to... Whoo-hoo. Everyone's fucking clapping. Yeah. And then I walk up on stage, and Len's following me, and, oh, where's he going? Is he fucking leaving? What's he got to do? Oops, he forgot his shiny little statue. No big- - I didn't want it. - You didn't want it? - No. - The award for my album? - No. - I worked really fucking hard on that album, Len. - So did I. - So why didn't you want it? - Can't explain it. - Oh, I think you can fucking try. - Look, I don't want to get into this. - I drove three fucking hours to be here, Len, so, yeah, give it to me. - It's not something I want to put out there in the world, all right? - Do you mean me? - Hey, here you go. Hey- Len? - Look, can we have this conversation tomorrow? - Do you mean me? - Please? Thank you. - Oh, of course. Mm-hmm. - Thank you. - You know, I only gave up my adolescence and my privacy. Fucking God knows what else, so you could turn me into some little singing ATM machine. [laughing] I mean, who gives a shit that no one takes me seriously and fucking everyone thinks I'm a joke, right? - Yeah, and that's 'cause you get loaded all the time and take your clothes off, innit? - Fuck you. Whatever, man. You know, l wouldn't tell him about your fucking demo either, Max. Bullshit. I mean, are you kidding me? I've always assumed that underneath all the selfish Len shit, there's actually a decent human being in there pulling at the little strings. There just isn't. There's not. You're just full of shit from head to toe. Nothing but shit. - What demo? - Oh, just the one your son pretty much quit school to make. - God. - You quit school? - I'm just taking time off. I was gonna tell you. But Mom knows. - Oh, come on. All he wants is for you to listen to his demo for, like, 5 seconds and actually give your honest opinion on it, and he's too scared to ask you, 'cause he knows you're just gonna be an asshole about it. Fucking asshole- - Okay, I did not- I didn't say asshole. That's not- - Why are you apologizing to him? He's the one that owes you an apology. This is bullshit. You should be- - Put a fucking sock in it, Zoe. Jesus Christ, girl. Fucking hell. Fucking pain in the ass. - Yeah, of course I am. You want to make a cheers? - Oh, God. - Cheers to deadbeat dads. And you are an asshole. He might not tell you, but I am. Fuckin' sweet dreams, Len. Whoo. Fucking dick. You suck. - She can fucking cook, I'll give her that. [birds calling] [light instrumental music] II [inquisitive music] II - William, are you following me? I can see you. You're hiding behind that little shit of a tree. You've got a green jacket. I can smell your Pop-Tart. - I just came by to see if you needed anything. I don't have class till later. What are you doing? - Burying some cables. - Why? - So I don't record anything. Care to assist me? - Sure. II We only have the one shovel, but we could take turns digging. - Good idea. - Yeah. I'll go first, since, uh, you carried that, and you're probably tired. - Smart. II People are hungry animals, William. They want things. And they'll chew through you to get them. . HEY- I behaved like a ginormous asshole last night. - It's no big deal. - I really like it. - Really? - Yeah. It's awesome. Now you should totally let the asshole listen to it. [both chuckling] - Yeah, yeah. - Oh, come on. Be a little braver. - He would not get it at all. - Come on, Max. He might. - Hm. - Don't be scared of him. You're the artist. He's just a fucking producer. [both laughing] [inquisitive music] II [knocking at door] . HEY- . HEY- - Where'd you get that? - Oh, I've had it. - Full of dead bastards, I'd imagine. - You're in it. - Just bastards, then. What're you working on? - Just some writing. - What sort? - Kind of private. - What, as in "Dear Diary, Max here. I'm sick as a parrot." - No. - Not really- - Let's have a look. - Hey, wait. Hey. - Oh, ho-ho. Let's have a look. Right. "Notes for demo conversation." - Give it back. - "Number one, targeting and approaching labels. Number two, Facebook, Twitter, dedicated url." What the fuck is "url"? - It's URL. It's our fucking website. - Right, very savvy. "Number 3, word of mouth-" - Look, did you come in here for a reason? Or are you just bored and looking for somebody to fuck with? - I'm... I'm a very successful producer, Max. I know that. - Yeah, yeah. You're the amazing Len Black. Everybody agrees. - I'm not talking about me. I'm trying to talk about you. - Clearly. - You know you've led a very privileged life. It's not your fault, but you have. Good schools, teachers telling you you can be what you want to be: a doctor, an astronaut, an artist. You know, and you're a good kid. You are. You always have been. Your whole... temperament, your composition is balanced. It's-it's careful. You're like a diet drink. The danger's been taken out of your formula, Max. You're like a... Diet Dr Pepper. - Mmm, that's Diet Dr Pepper- - That's what you're like, Max. - What? - But real rock, real... rock and roll music isn't a diet drink, mate. It's a cocktail of... blood and bourbon and napalm. It's heat and emotion and intensity. It's-it's channeling the beast from within. It's not sitting around with your mates, making some form of fucking ironic commentary, Max. It's religious. It's more than religion. [stammering] It's-it's biological. So there's no point in you shoehorning yourself into something if in the long run, that's all it is. Not in your nature. Or-or... contrived might be a better way of putting it. - Contrived? - Unnatural. - Is-is that it? Is that your whole- - Apparently, you wanted my opinion. - Well, did you listen to my demo? - No. - Yeah, so, that's really not your opinion, then, at all. That's just you ranting. - I'm trying to be helpful, Max. - Diet Dr Pepper? - Jesus Christ, that's a metaphor. - I just-l wanted you to do one thing, and that's listen to my 20-minute demo and give me your opinion on it, but you couldn't do that. You call me spoiled, and you compare me to some drink. Do you want to know something funny, though? It's that my-my friends always ask me, like, "ls your dad really that much of an asshole?" And I always tell them, like, "No, it's just exaggeration, but he's pretty harmless." Well, guess what. I've got a new answer now. That he really is that much of an asshole. [guitar strings clang] [thud] Man singing f. [acoustic guitar music] II - Hey, Max. . HEY- What are you doing? - It's a monarch butterfly way station. They're going extinct from lack of milkweed, so we planted a patch. Hopefully, they'll come through in May or June. - Len's saving butterflies? - I guess. - Awesome. II II [bright guitar strumming] II - Sounds great. You should keep playing. - I can't remember the rest of it. - You do realize you've got, like, 50 pounds of mud on you, fight'? - Yeah, my associate, William, and I decided to bury some enemies in the wood. - Uh-oh. Is that a warning of some kind? - Yeah, sort of. - [laughing] Oh, should Max and I be nervous? - The piglets. - [laughing] You know what, you're lucky that we're here. [snorting] - Why are you here, Zoe? - L-l just- I wanted to know what was going on. - You can't depend on me, Zoe. I'm not your dad. I'm not your mentor or your shrink or your... boyfriend, whatever. I can't take care of you. I don't want to. It's not my job. Look at me. I'm ill-equipped. I'm sorry the way things have turned out. I'm sorry for making you what you are, if that's what's making you unhappy. I am, but I can't help you, Zoe. I'm not that person. Do you understand that? - I was not asking you to be. But thanks for not showering me in sunshine and snuggles, 'cause that would have been fucking awkward. [soft rock music playing on radio] II [knocking at door] - Hey, Zoe? [knocking at door] [door creaks open] Shit, no. Zoe. Zoe, come on. Dad! Zoe. - Mm. - What did you take? Zoe. Dad! Dad! - What? I'm in- - It's Zo- Dad, come here. - All right. - Zoe. Dad, I just found her like this. - Get out of the way. - All right. ' Zoe? Zoe? - Mm. - Zoe? Right, call an ambulance. Come on, baby. Come on, baby. - [groans] - Right, come on. Come on, baby. All right. Don't go to sleep. Don't go to sleep on me now. Come on. - I feel sick. - Stay awake. [dramatic music] [groaning] - Stay with me. - [groans] - Stay awake. Stay awake. Stay awake. Come on, love. Come on. Come on. Don't go to sleep. Don't go to sleep. - [speaking indistinctly] - That's it. - [crying] - Stay awake, Zoe. - [speaking indistinctly] II - Stay awake. That's it. Good girl. Good girl. - [vomiting] - That's it. [ambulance siren wailing] Go on, get it out, come on. Come on. Stay awake. Stay awake. That's it. Look at me, girl. Zoe, Zoe, Zoe! [exclaims] Stay with me, Zoe! Stay with me. Good girl, good girl. Good girl. That's it. I know, I know. I know, baby. I know. [ambulance siren wailing] II [birds chirping] [animals chattering] - Those are my sunglasses. - Hi, Bella. - I tried calling you back, but there was no answer on your phone or Max's. - Strange. I can't say I'm sorry you came all this way. - How's she doing? - She's okay. Her version of okay. - And Max? - Yeah, no, he's fine. He's at the hospital with her now. . Okay" What the hell is going on up here? - Tell me about it. First of all, he shows up with his puppy-dog eyes and his bag, and then the fucking glitter monster rolls into town, digging her claws into my back. - The "he" in your story, that's Max? Your son? - I came up here to be alone, Bella, you know? I need to know what I'm doing with me life. I can't have them here. - You're joking, right? - I miss you, Bella. - Oh, fuck off. - How's Russell? - He's great. - Spineless troll. - I'll send him your love. So that's it? You're being inconvenienced? That's what that dire message was all about? Not enough time to think about yourself as you'd like? - What's more important in life than two people who were meant to be together? - Max. [soft music] - I hear he quit school. - Yeah, he wanted to tell you. I tried to convince him to at least finish out the year, but he was adamant. He sounded like you, actually. - Doubt it. - Why? - Dropping out of university and living off your parents so you can finger-paint with your trust fund mates wasn't exactly my circumstance. - Oh, barf. - It's true. - What did you think of it, by the way? - Think of what? - His demo. - I haven't listened to it. - Why not? - I don't know. I just haven't. - Why haven't you listened to it? - I'm taking time out, Bella. - From what? From being a decent human being? - What if it's bad'? - Then it's bad. - I don't want to be the one to tell him that. - Well, then don't. Make something up. That's what you do. - It's-it's different. It's hipster music. - [scoffs] - I fucking hate hipster music. - Who gives a rat's ass what you hate? Are you kidding me? You haven't listened to it? - No. - Oh, you are crazy. Do you know that? I can't believe we're even having this conversation. How do you do that? How do you just tune out everything else around you? - I miss you, Bella. - Yeah, I heard you the first time. - Leave the troll. Let's get a place in Norway, you know? Live off the land, like the old West with fjords. II I just don't know what to do, Bella. [door slides open] - Hey, Mom. - Hi. - Hey. - How's the patient? - She's all right, yeah. - Okay. - She's just-she'll be released this afternoon. - Mm. - Yeah, it's just... Can you believe someone at- someone at the hospital called TMZ or something? - TMZ. Jesus Christ. - It's a big part of your demographic. - Yeah. Hey, do you want to get some lunch? - Sure, what about- do you think that diner's still open on Franklin? - No, yeah. It's exactly the same, yeah. - Should we invite your father? - Don't know. You decide. - It's up to you. - Nah, you pick. - Well, we just had a walk, so I'm good. - All right. - Yeah, l-l've got to see to that raccoon anyway. - So am I riding with you? - No, I have to take my car, pick up Zoe after. . Okay" - Right, okay. Well, I'll-l'll see you both later, then, yes, right? - Well, I got to get back to the city. . Okay" - Yeah, and I think I'm gonna go home after too. - Right. - Yeah. - Yeah, l-l've got to sort that raccoon out or, you know... - Yeah. - Thanks for the walk. Okay. What are you gonna get? - I don't know. - Let me guess. You're gonna get a Cobb salad. - [laughing] - With some blue cheese. [machine beeping] [somber acoustic guitar music] II - What are you doing? - I'm cleaning the pool. - What happened to all the vegetation? - Vegetation? - What's that? - Chemicals. - You-you've killed it? - You mean the algae? - Yes. Everything. Whatever was making it natural. The dead leaves, the... dead mosquitoes. All of it. Jesus Christ, William, I didn't ask you to do this. - I was just taking the initiative. - Well, it's a terrible idea. rm sorry- I mean, I could put some of this back in if you want. - No, look-look- look, why don't you just go home for the day? . Okay" You know, I could do some research and find out how to make it green again. - No, it's all right. It's fine, okay? Just... Maybe you should take a break from all this. You know, not come round as often. Find some friends your own age. Better off. [sighs] Oh, fuck. [spoon clinking in cup] [instrumental music] II [cage rattles] II [rain falling] II - Start it up. [engine grinding] [engine revving] - Yeah. Thank you. [engine rumbling] II [doorbell rings] II - Hi, can I help you? - Hello. Yeah, I'm looking for William. Am I at the wrong place? - No, this is the right place. You are, um... - Len, Len Black. I'm a mate of William's. - Ah, the Len Black, yes. I'm August. I'm William's dad. - Oh, right. - Yeah. He's not here right now, but, um, you know what, he's due back any minute. Would you like to come in and wait? - Um... Yeah, yeah, why not? Thanks. - There we go. - Thank you. . Okay" Cheers. - Cheers, cheers. [clears throat] What sort of painting? - Oil, mostly. You wouldn't recognize these from anywhere... unless you were in my garage. [chuckles] - 3O years ago, I might have been. That's nice. - Oh, thanks. I just enjoy the process, really. And I've kept my day job, as the saying goes. I'm a teacher. - A teacher? - Lucky for William, I teach in Sullivan County. I did sub at his school once. It was a bad idea. - Why is that? - Well, would you want your dad to be the sub at your school? [both chuckle] - No, my old man was in prison by then, thank God. Probably would have killed me otherwise. - Yeah, we can't pick our parents, can we? - No. No, you can't. [soft instrumental music] II - Oy, that's my horse. [laughter] - You ever watched this before? - Of course. - Do you actually understand it? I'm pretty lost. - Kind of, yeah. So how are you feeling? - Had better mornings. - It's, like, 4:00. I picked you up around 2:00, so... - It is? - Yeah. - Wow, that's weird. [muffled television] You didn't have to call the ambulance, by the way. I would have been fine. - No of fence, but you really didn't seem fine. - Well, I've been like that, like, a million times, so it's not a big deal. - Well, maybe you should be more careful. - You're good, Max. - Oh, God. Please don't say that. - Why? - Because- - What's wrong with that? It's, like, a nice thing to say. Good's good. It's a compliment. - This is gonna make me seem even more good or naive or whatever, but, like, I just- I like you a whole lot better when you're not all, like, high and messed up. And, like, I know it's a part of your whole thing, and I get that, but... I don't know; I just wanted to tell you, because I'm guessing a lot of people around you don't tell you the truth. - It's not naive. [engine rumbling] - All right, William. . HEY- What are you doing here? - Looking for you. Your dad... said you'd be back soon. So I sat inside with him for a bit. - Your car's still running. - The battery will die if I switch it off. - Oh. - I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it. I was a shit. None of what happened was your fault. That's why I'm here. Your contribution is crucial to the daily functioning of Black Enterprises. And whilst I do think you're wasting your life hanging out with the likes of me, I need your help. - Can we make business cards? - [chuckles] Definitely. - Can I be vice president? - His Honor, the Right Reverend Vice President William Prenger. How's that? - All right. - Your shiner's getting better. - It was that kid, Derek. He's the one that hit me. I don't really get along with him or his friends. - I remember him. He seemed like a bit of a cunt. - [laughs] Everyone in school's a cunt. - Tell me about it. Imagine having to teach them calculus. - You must have been a very bad man in a former life, Mr. Prenger. - I think that thought every day. - Right, well, I'd better shoo off before me car blows up. See you, William. Thanks for the tea, Mr. Prenger. - See you tomorrow, Len. - See ya. [engine rumbling] [soft instrumental music] II [door opens] [door closes] . HEY- [muffled television] - You look rank. You all right? - Why does everyone keep asking me that? - Well, people don't want to see you dead. They like you better alive. Not everyone. Most people. - [exhales deeply] - So you Won? - Yes, of course! We won. We won! Victory! - I'd have thought you'd have shot off by now. - I'm kind of tired. It cool if I stay the night? - You can stay as long as you like. - All right. - Three cheers... - All right, well, uh... don't-don't go without saying anything. - Oh, I won't. - All We need now is for King Richard to be here, and the day shall be complete. [crickets chirping] - The dry creek bed made for better footing, but it left the man exposed. He moved as quickly as he could, not bothering to cover his tracks. Low clouds were moving in behind the peaks, and he knew the snow would come soon. It was another hour to the pass, maybe more. The pain in his leg was gone now, but he still walked with his hand against the crusted wound. Ahead of him, the creek widened as it came into flatter ground. [crickets chirping] - So, farewell, Edna. You'll be seeing me later. [shimmering chimes] - Have-have, uh- have you got transport'? - Are you okay? - Yeah. - Borrow my horse again, or at all. I mean, not that you've borrowed it before. - Coming. - Do you want to kiss me right now? - Mm-hmm. - Are you all right? - Yeah. - The prospector hung from a tree about 20 paces from the horse. His boots stood side by side at the foot of his bedroll, and his pack leaned against the saddle. They'd come upon him in his sheep. The untethered horse watched as the man kicked the ashes of the fire, embers still glowing. [muffled television] - Hold! You dare sit there, boy'? Thai was King Richards seat. - He stood below the prospector, Whose stiff body twisted slowly in the cold Wind. The prospector's dead, staring eyes gave the impression that he was scanning the horizon, looking for something. The man walked towards the saddle, moving slowly, not Wanting the horse to bolt. He felt the blow to his neck before he heard the gunshot. The ground rose quickly to his face, and then he saw nothing. He could feel the warm blood pooling under his chest. A kick to his ribs, but with H, no pain. His last breaths feed a familiar vision." a White Wooden house surrounded by green fields. A woman on the porch, shaking a dusty rug. In front of the house, a boy chases a dog. The Woman snaps the rug. The rug coughs obediently. The dog turns and barks. The boy and the dog run toward the man. These are the things that have kept him moving forward these ten months. The woman and the rug, the boy and the dog. [birds chirping] [soft acoustic guitar music] II [water splashing] II [knocking at door] II . HEY- . HEY- Is that mine? - Yeah, I found it in the kitchen. - Oh. You don't have to say anything. But how far did you get? - Just finished me second listen. There's a lot of static on it. - Yeah, well, we recorded it on this old, like, Sony tape recorder. And we had to transfer it to MP3 with this, like, really old music software that we found, so... - That plucking, is that Gravikord? - No, it's-it's an actual real kora. Yeah. Zach brought it back from his, like, trip to West Africa. - Well, that's a beautiful instrument. - Yeah. - Built in bass, you know, good for syncopation. - Yeah, you-you really don't have to pretend to like it. - Well, me liking it's irrelevant. You know, I've never been much of a talker... or a hugger. I've probably never told you the things... a dad should tell you. - It's okay. - No, it's not. Here. - So you coming to the city anytime soon? - Don't know. I haven't made any real plans. - Yeah, I haven't really made any plans either. - Being a dropout and all. - Yeah. II - Well, that's okay. You're young. You're not supposed to. - Well, if you're around, let me know. We'll go to, like, a-a show or, I don't know, watch a Liverpool game or something. - Will do. - All right. [soft music] II [acoustic guitar music] II Goods good. II [laughing] II [water splashing] II I We met when we were at school I I Never took I I No shit from no one I I We weren't fools I I The teacher says were dumb I I We're only having fun I I You know we piss on everyone I I In the classroom I I When we got thrown out I I I left without much fuss I I And weekends we'd go dancing I I Down Streatham on the bus I I You always made me laugh I I Got me in bad fights I I Play me pool all night I both: I Smoking menthol I [guitar music] II - I I practiced daily I I In my room I II both: I You were down the Crown, planning I I '(our next move I I Go on a nicking spree I I HR the wrong guy I I Each of you get three I I Years in Brixton I II - I I did my very best to write II I How was Buthns'? I I Were the screws too fight'? I I When you lot get out I both: I We're gonna hit the town I I We'll burn it fuckin' down I - I To a Under I II - [laughing] II - I 'Cause years have passed I both: I And times have changed I I And I'll go anywhere I want to go I I And I'll never forget the feeling I had I I When I knew that you were home I - I And I'll never forget the smile on my face I I 'Cause I knew where you would be I I And if you're down the Crown tonight I I Have a drink on me I I But go easy I II both: I Step lightly I II - I Stay free I II - [laughing] The (Nash's "Stay Free" playing] [rock music] II - I We met when we were at school I II I Never took no shit from no one I I We weren't fools I I The teacher says were dumb I I We're only having fun I I You know we piss on everyone I I In the classroom I II I When we got thrown out, I left without much fuss I II I And weekends we'd go dancing I I Down Streatham on the bus I I You always made me laugh I I Got me in bad fights I I Play me pool all night I I Smoking menthol I II I I practiced daily in my room I II I You were down the Crown I I Planning your next move I I Go on a nicking spree I I HR the wrong guy I I Each of you get three I I Years in Brixton I II I I did my very best to write I II I How was Buthns'? I I Were the screws too fight'? I I When you lot get out I I We're gonna hit the town I I We'll burn it fuckin' down I I To a Under I II I 'Cause years have passed and things have changed I I I'll move any way I want to go I I And I'll never forget the feeling I got I I When I heard that you'd got home I I And I'll never forget the smile on my face I I 'Cause I knew where you would be I I And if you're in the Crown tonight I I Have a drink on me I I But go easy I II I Step lightly I II I Stay free I II |
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