1
Hey, Rusty James.
Biff Wilcox is looking for you,
Rusty James.
I'm not hiding.
He says he's gonna kill you,
Rusty James.
Sayin' ain't doin'.
Shit!
Shit, that's tough.
These things happen, Rusty James.
Maybe we should go
double or nothing sometime.
Sit down!
You cats are constantly fighting
and arguing amongst yourselves
like typical fucking Yahoos.
Watch the language. Come on.
Hey, Benny, get me a chocolate milk.
So what's he doing about this, this Biff?
What's he doing about killing me?
The deal is, man, you're supposed
to meet him tonight
under the arches behind
the pet store at about 10 o'clock.
- Put a little hair on your chest.
- He's coming alone then, huh?
I wouldn't count on it, man.
Well, if he's bringing friends,
then I'm bringing friends.
Yeah, but you know how
that's gonna turn out, Rusty James.
Everybody will end up getting into it.
You bring people, he brings people.
You're gonna have to...
If you think I'm going by myself,
you're fucking crazy.
Watch your language over there.
Watch it! Bring it down. Cool it off.
Butt out! What the hell
do you think you're doing?
Fuck you, Smokey.
Steve goes wherever I go.
Steve, come here, sit down.
Sit down and be quiet.
Damn it, Rusty James, it's been a long time
since we've had that kind of trouble.
Chicken, Smoke?
Oh, Smoke's a chicken.
Bawk, bawk, bawk!
- Smoke doesn't want to come.
- Smokey, we understand chickens.
- Hey, Rusty James.
- BJ!
Smoke's a chicken!
What? You don't wanna come? Fine.
Hey, Rusty James,
you know I'm gonna be there, man.
But you know what the Motorcycle Boy
said about gang fights...
The Motorcycle Boy hasn't been around
for two months.
So don't go telling me about that.
What if the Motorcycle Boy
came back and found out?
What?
What if your brother came back
and found out?
My brother ain't back, man!
I'm sick of hearing this shit!
I don't know when he's coming back,
if he's coming back!
So if you assholes want to wait around for
the rest of your life to see what he says,
fine, fine, man.
Get down off there!
I'm gonna stomp that shitass tonight.
And I should have a few fucking friends.
Are you listening to me?
We're gonna be there, man. All right?
We are going to be there.
- But let's keep it between you two.
- BJ!
- I'm right behind you.
- Get down off there!
I'm sorry, Benny. Sorry, man.
Man, I love fights!
This reminds me of the old days
when we used to have rumbles.
Heroin ruined the gangs, man.
Junk, you know?
I wouldn't know.
Ask my brother, he'll tell you.
A gang really meant something then.
That gang shit was out of style
when you was 10 years old.
Bullshit, man, I was fucking 11.
I can remember.
I was in the Swamp Babies. That was
the pee-wee branch of the Packers.
A gang really meant something back then.
Yeah, like getting sent to the hospital
once a week.
You have no loyalty, man!
No organisation!
Well, look it, I'm going, ain't I?
If you think it'll be a rumble,
you're crazy.
Cos you and Biff are gonna go at it,
and the rest of us is gonna watch and...
I doubt too many people are gonna
show up for that much anyway.
Yeah, listen.
You guys, I'll be right with you.
I gotta go talk to someone. Right?
Patty! Patty, hey.
Who are you, stranger?
- Rusty James, the man of your dreams!
- You mean my nightmares?
What are you doin'?
- Rusty James!
- Listen, babe, I'm coming over tonight.
Rusty James...
- I'm not allowed to have boyfriends over.
- Since when?
- Since I started having boyfriends.
- When was this?
- When I was 9.
- Get back in there, Donna!
- First time I ever heard about it.
- I haven't seen you in a long time.
- I've been busy, man.
- So I've heard.
Hey, listen, I'm coming over tonight.
So, you'd better roll out the red carpet!
Yeah, well, we'll see.
Hey, you're crazy about me,
you know that?
I am?
You know, you set up a fight,
and you recruit half the neighbourhood.
And now I guess you've got
plans of your own, huh?
Yup, take a walk, Smoke.
If Biff's there and you don't show up,
you know what happens to the rest of us?
You think he's gonna believe
we went there to watch?
Hey, listen, man...
Split up, meet there at 9:30.
I won't let you down, all right?
Let's go, Steve.
What's the matter with you?
You got a cigarette?
You know I don't have any cigarettes.
That's right. I forgot.
What's wrong?
Nothing. I'm just a little tired.
That's all.
Is it because
the Motorcycle Boy's been gone?
Steve, I don't want to talk about him,
right?
Don't start up on me, OK?
What's with this?
- Huh?
- It's a habit I got into it.
Yeah, well, break it.
- Hey, Rusty James.
- Hey, Donna, your sister home?
Yeah, but I thought
you were coming to see me.
Is your mother home?
No, my sister's home.
How about seeing me after?
Patty! Rusty James is here.
Hi, sweetheart.
I thought I told you I wasn't
supposed to have company tonight.
What? What? What?
What have you been so busy with?
- What have I been so busy with?
- Yes.
Nothing. I just been... hanging around
basically. Just messing around.
- Yeah, with girls?
- Girls? What are you talking about?
Girls? You know I'd never do that.
You're always with girls.
- Get back inside, squirt.
- I wanna listen to your conversation.
- OK.
- Wise guy.
- Traitor!
- I'm not a traitor.
So, how've you been?
Donna!
I get the picture.
All right, get outta here, Donna.
- Yuck!
- Ha, ha!
You guys aren't supposed
to do that in front of me.
- Donna, go to your room now!
- Bedtime.
I should do my 10-page report on you,
including illustrations!
- You're gonna get it.
- Have fun!
You know, I really missed you,
you know that.
Babe...
Rusty James.
Rusty James, wake up!
What the fuck are you doing?
Jesus, what time is it?
- Is it morning or night?
- Night. You're great company.
A quarter to 10.
I gotta... Oh, shit,
I gotta fight Biff Wilcox at 10:00.
Thanks.
Now mum will think I drank it.
Oh!
Finish it.
What's the matter, babe?
Come on, cheer up.
You told me you wouldn't
be fighting all the time.
Well, this isn't all the time.
This is just this once, all right?
You always say that.
You always try so hard to be
like your brother, Rusty James.
Hey, my brother's the coolest.
Well, you're better than cool.
You're warm.
Yeah, but...
He's smart.
You're smart!
Just not word smart.
Yeah?
Listen.
I love you.
But I gotta run, OK?
- All right. See you later.
- Yeah.
Be careful!
I love you.
Hey, Rusty James!
We just about gave up on you!
Watch out.
I'll take you on for warm-up.
Hey, man. You ready? Let's go.
Who's here, man? Huh?
I gotta have as many guys as Biff.
This is bullshit!
I thought we were supposed to watch,
Rusty James.
What's up, fellas?
Rusty James, where you been?
Where were you?
I was at Patty's.
What's it to you, huh?
Nothing, Rusty James. Nothing.
You're not expecting to find
Steve here, are you?
- Why do you put up with that wimp?
- I've known him since kindergarten.
You've got a bad habit of getting
attached to people, man.
Yep. Let's go.
Where's Steve?
Maybe he's late.
Yeah, it looks like we're gonna
have to fight ourselves, huh?
Rusty James.
Ha! Fucking Steve, man.
We want Rusty James!
I'm here!
Not for long, punk.
- Careful, he's been popping pills.
- I hate fighting hopped-up people.
Scum. I hear you are looking for me.
Come on, ducky.
Take a fucking swing at me, man,
so I can just... Come here...
- Take a swing at you?
- Come on!
Come on, man! Take a swing at me!
Gonna fucking cut you to pieces!
Let's go.
Go for the knife, man!
Come on, Rusty!
Beat the fuck out of him!
Scumbag!
What is this?
Another glorious battle for the kingdom?
Hey, man.
I thought you were gone for good.
I thought we had a treaty.
Look out, Rusty James!
You're one dead cat, Rusty James!
- You gotta keep still.
- You're gonna be OK. Just stay still.
Don't move. Shh!
You pissed off at me, man?
No, don't talk. You'll be all right.
I'll take care of you.
It's a little bit late for you,
isn't it, Steve?
- Better get on home, boy.
- Yes, sir.
You know, I'd watch the company I kept
if I were you.
I really thought
he'd left town for good.
Yeah, maybe he missed you
too much, man.
Maybe he'd to come back
just to see you.
You know, we'd all be better off
if you'd stayed gone.
I got him!
- I got him!
- Lay him right down.
- OK. Easy, easy.
- Put him down easy.
Oh, my God, he's bleeding!
He's bleeding everywhere.
Keep him still.
All right, just hold him now.
What are you gonna do?
Do something!
- Where's the old man?
- He ain't home.
Why don't you help him?
I'm just gonna take a look.
Here, take a swig of this.
That's a lot of blood.
Oh, fuck!
Ah! Fuck!
- Ah!
- What are you doin'? That must hurt!
He oughta go to a doctor!
- He's been hurt worse than this.
- That could get infected! Don't touch it.
Relax. All right?
They'd have to cut my side off.
- Where'd you go, man?
- I went to California.
Stay down, all right?
Fuck. California's nice, huh?
What do you think California's like?
Like all that shit you see
in the movies, man.
Blondes walking around.
The Beach Boys.
Palm trees...
The ocean, man.
How was the ocean? Huh?
- Yeah, I didn't get to the ocean.
- No?
No, I didn't get to the ocean.
California got in the way.
Yeah?
California got in the way?
Thought California was on the coast.
Don't talk so much.
Come on, Steve! Cut the shit!
It's not bleeding as bad.
He looks different.
I think it's the tan.
Yeah, I guess
you get a tan in California, huh?
What's wrong with him?
He goes deaf sometimes.
He's colour blind, too.
A lot of people are colour blind.
It's no big deal.
He looks so old.
I forget he's just 21.
Yeah, that's pretty old.
No, he looks really old.
Like... 25 or something.
Steve, you know what,
I've been thinking.
I think that when I get older
I'm gonna look a lot like him.
No way.
What? Tell me what's different.
For one thing...
The Motorcycle Boy?
I never know what he's thinking.
But you, ha...
I always know what you're thinking.
Russell James?
I really missed you, man.
I thought you were gone for good.
Not me, man.
I got homesick.
'You'll notice that the students
are working on the machines.
'I want you to learn
how they are dressed.
'One of the most important aspects
of safety is eye protection.
'State law requires us
to furnish you with eye protection.
'It's probably one of the most important
requirements that we teach all year.
'After all, safety is the number one thing
we try to get over in shop.
'Regarding eye protection,
we have three devices that we use -
'your face shield, your eye goggles... '
...talking and she made us copy it
like a million times.
- What?
- I was explaining to this girl...
What are you doing here?
Those are my mother's cigarettes.
What are you doing?
You know, when I was a girl,
my boyfriend took me places.
- Mother!
- Hurry up!
Listen, listen,
I'll take you somewhere, babe.
- Don't worry. It never mattered.
- We'll go to that Matoaka concert tonight.
Then maybe afterwards...
Maybe afterwards we'll...
you know, go somewhere private.
You can't afford the tickets.
It doesn't matter.
No, no! I'll get some money.
Then, you know, just get dolled up
and don't worry about that.
I'll come by and pick you up
around seven or eight.
OK.
Patty!
Get in the house!
See you tonight.
- Hi.
- Move it!
Just fucking move it.
What are you?
Charming.
What is this, huh?
What is this?
He just gets back, you're already
hanging around bugging with him. Why?
Why do you dislike me so much?
I mean, I've always tried
to be your friend.
I didn't say I dislike you.
I just don't like
substitute teachers
living in my building.
What is this?
Just cos you read the same books
as him? It doesn't mean shit!
It means nothing!
You don't know him.
You don't know him.
You know nothing, man!
I know.
You're just another one of his chicks.
He don't like you
any more than the rest of 'em.
He doesn't like me now.
Period. Oh!
What's the matter?
You shooting up?
Fucking heroin, man!
Me and him, we never did dope.
It ruined the gangs,
it ruined everything.
If I ever caught my girlfriend doing
that shit, I'd break her fucking arm!
Only her arm?
I wish he would show me
that much mercy.
I'm not hooked, though.
You see, I just thought
it might help me a little bit.
I thought he was gone for good.
And I was wrong.
But I was right.
No, no, no, no! You were wrong.
You're wrong.
You're fucking wrong, man! He's back!
Always talking crazy!
Poor kid!
Looks like you're messed up
all the time now, one way or the other.
I'm OK.
- Let's go get a bite to eat.
- Hey.
- What?
- Hey.
- Hey!
- What?
- Hey.
- I'm all right.
Hey... Why?
- About what?
- Why?
- Oh, fuck!
- Hey.
Hey! Why? Why?
No, no. Don't tell me "fuck". Why?
Huh?
- Let's get something to eat.
- Talk to me. Why?
- Why?
- Why what?
Why are you fucked up all the time,
one way or another?
Huh?
I don't know.
Hey, sweetie. Hey!
Ah!
Both of you are home?
Hey, Dad,
you got any money I can borrow?
Haven't seen you for quite some time.
I was home last night, Dad.
I didn't notice.
I need some money, Pops.
Are you ill, Russell James?
I got cut in a knife fight.
- Yeah, really?
- Yeah.
Really?
Strange lives you two lead.
Yeah, right.
Strange? At least I ain't
a lawyer on welfare. Right?
Thanks.
Lawyer on welfare.
Hey, how are you?
How was your trip?
I went to California.
- How was California?
- Huh...
- It was one laugh after another.
- California?
Even better than here.
- I don't know.
- Oh, boy. Oh really?
No, Dad. I was there.
You wanna compare notes, Dad?
- Huh?
- Nah...
- OK. That's it! That's it!
- No, no, no, no.
Hey, come on, guys.
Cut the shit, will you? Cut it out.
- Cut it out!
- That's it! That's it!
You're not gonna have it, no!
Come on, Dad.
Hey! No more!
No more.
You're exactly like your mother.
Russell James...
I want you to please be more careful.
You know that chick, Cassandra,
I saw her, she said she wasn't hooked.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
Well, I believe her.
- You do?
- Sure.
You know what happened to people
who didn't believe Cassandra?
Yeah. The Greeks got 'em.
Know what I mean?
- What?
- The Greeks got 'em.
Man, what the fuck did the Greeks
have to do with anything, huh?
You think I care what the Greeks?
No, I don't care.
- I don't give a shit what the Greeks...
- Rusty James? Will you do me a favour?
- What?
- Come over here.
Let's have a little more respect
around here from now on, huh?
Fuck you.
No, I'm only kidding.
I'm glad you're back.
- Really.
- Come here, come here!
- Come on!
- I hold on your pants!
'Time is a funny thing.'
Time is a very peculiar item.
You see, when you're young,
you're a kid, you got time.
You've got nothing but time.
Throw away a couple of years here,
a couple of years there...
It doesn't matter. You know?
The older you get you say,
"Jesus, how much I got?"
I got thirty-five summers left,
think about it. Thirty-five summers.
Smokey, man, you sure come up
with some good ideas, bro.
Man, that is what I'm here for.
- Ooh, let's get fucked up!
- Where's the guys?
- Hey!
- Hung over again?
No, I'm sick. Really. Feel.
Wanna write me out a late pass?
Mr Harrigan wants to see you
in his office.
Oh, yeah?
Great. What does he want?
He'll tell you.
Rusty, you've been in here
to see me before.
Is this your daughter, Mr Harrigan?
- She's kinda cute.
- You start at Cleveland next Monday.
You're suspended till then.
Fine! Suspend the hell outta me!
You think I care?
The only reason I'm going to this fucking
school is cos my friends are here, man.
Think I give a shit? I don't give a shit!
I don't give a shit, man!
You suspend me?
I fucking quit!
Bye! Call me!
Hi, Rusty James!
Boy, is she mad at you.
Hey!
What's up, Patty?
Hey, what's the matter, babe? Huh?
What's the matter?
Please, don't touch me, Rusty James.
What's the matter?
What are you so upset about?
All right.
I heard all about your little party.
- What?
- Up at the lake.
So what?
Marsha Kirk was there.
She told me all about it.
What's a little party have to do
with you and me, babe? Come on!
Oh, yes! Please!
- What's the matter?
- How's your girlfriend doing?
- What are you talking about?
- The black-haired tramp!
What's she have to do
with anything, Patty?
Come on, babe.
You treat me like shit!
You do! You fuck other girls
and all you do is shit on me!
Come on. Your little sister's right here.
I don't fuck other girls.
- You're the girl I love.
- Don't! Don't!
Come on, babe.
Look.
Just go fuck yourself. All right?
You are an asshole!
All right, fuck you, too!
Fuck you!
What the fuck did I do?
I didn't do nothing!
Bullshit!
I don't ever wanna see
your face again.
Good! You won't have to,
you little bitch!
Fuck you!
Hey, bro.
What's going on?
- Got a cigarette?
- Here.
Hey, let's do something tonight.
Let's just get the fuck outta here.
Go across the bridge over to the strip
or something, you know.
You wanna do that?
What are you reading?
There's a picture of me
in this magazine.
Oh, nice.
Is there an article in here about you?
No. Some photographer took my picture
when I was out in California.
That's a good picture, man.
Wait until those guys
hear about this shit, man.
No, don't. Rusty James,
I'd rather you didn't tell anyone.
I mean, God knows
it's gonna get around soon enough.
All right.
I'm tired of this "Robin Hood"
and "Pied Piper" bullshit.
I'd just as soon stay a neighbourhood
novelty, if it's all the same to you.
- Hmm.
- You know?
I know what you mean
when you say the "Pied Piper".
Those fucking guys
would've followed you anywhere.
They probably still would.
- Think about it.
- "Pied Piper".
What do you mean, the "Pied Piper"?
Well, you said it not me, but...
...but I get what you mean, man.
I mean, fuck...
Like the guy with the flute, man.
They would've followed you anywhere.
I have a flute?
- Like in the movie, man.
- Yeah.
They'd all follow me...
to the river, huh, and jump in.
I don't know.
Yeah, they probably would, man.
If you're gonna lead people,
you have to have somewhere to go.
Hey, what are you gonna do?
Work me over with your night stick?
Why'd he come back?
He lives here, man. You live somewhere,
he lives somewhere.
He knew better
than to come back.
Hey, this is his home, man.
Know what I mean?
Motorcycle Boy.
The Motorcycle Boy.
You think you know about him, huh?
Yeah.
I don't understand why
you hate him so much. Huh?
I hate him so much, because you kids
think he's something he's not.
He's no hero.
Like you are?
Like you're a hero, huh?
You're a hero, right?
Come on, let's go.
Let's go, man.
You really like this river, huh?
- It's a cool river.
- It goes all the way to the ocean.
Yeah.
- Here.
- I don't want any.
Steve, take a drink.
- This stuff tastes awful.
- It'll get you where you wanna go.
Remind me to chew gum
before I go home, OK?
Yeah, sure.
Why do you drink so much?
You can't stand your father drinking.
I don't drink so much, man!
You're full of it!
If my father finds out I've been drinking,
I'm gonna get killed.
Looking good.
Looking good.
Kid, give me that balloon.
In the middle of a dream
I heard somebody call my name
I was afraid I'd make you cry...
I don't suppose
I could come with you, huh?
No, not this time.
He doesn't like her.
We had some nice trips though.
Yeah, we had some nice trips.
She's a junkie. I don't know
what the fuck he sees in her.
- She's beautiful.
- She's a lost cause, man.
Let's go, huh?
- She is a knockout.
- Come on, let's get outta here!
Yo, bro, let's blow!
Let's go. Come on.
- Watch it, guy!
- Out of my way!
Wow, it's so cool over here.
I hate our neighbourhood.
There's no colour.
You don't see colours, do you?
You're deaf too,
Rusty James told me that.
What does it all look like to you?
Black and white TV
with the sound turned low.
I thought colour-blind people
couldn't see red, green or brown.
It seems to me like
I can remember seeing colours.
It was a long time ago.
Yeah?
I stopped being a kid when I was 5.
Yeah. I wonder when
I'm gonna stop being a little kid.
Not ever.
I saw Mother
when I was out in California.
You mean she's alive?
Huh?
In California, huh?
You know, I saw her on television.
I was sitting in a comfortable bar,
minding my own business.
They had one of those award shows
on the TV.
When the camera went over
the audience, I saw her.
Yeah?
And I knew if I went
out to California, I'd find her.
I thought she was dead, man.
Now I know
why the old man always said,
"You look exactly like your mother."
Yeah?
I must look like her, too, huh?
She's living
with a fucking movie producer!
She was then... I don't know.
Was she?
Was she glad to see you?
Oh, yeah, she was. She said it was
the funniest thing she ever heard of.
She wanted me to move in with her.
California is a...
It's very funny.
It's even... even better than here.
California's nice, huh?
Nice place?
California's like a...
California's like a beautiful,
wild girl on heroin...
who's high as a kite,
thinking she's on top of the world,
not knowing she's dying
even if you show her the marks.
Hey, man. It's so cool over here.
I really dig it over here.
The lights! All these people, man!
I love crowds.
Ah, you know, I don't know why.
Maybe it's because...
I can't stand being left alone.
I really can't. It fucking...
I feel like I'm getting choked,
you know what I mean?
I feel like I'm being choked.
I can't deal with it.
See, when you were two years old
and I was six,
our mother decided to leave.
She took me with her. When the old man
found out, he went on a 3-day drunk.
He told me
it was the first time...
He told me it was the first time
he ever got drunk.
Come on, get off me.
Go ahead. What were you saying?
Hey, sweetie. Like a date?
What were you saying?
I said he told me it was the first time
he ever got drunk.
Anyway, he left you alone
in the house for those 3 days.
We didn't live where we do now.
It was a very large house.
And...
Anyway, what happened was
eventually she dumped me.
They took me back to the old man.
He sobered up enough
to go home. And I supposed...
That's how you developed
your fear of being alone.
You never told me that before.
No?
I didn't think it'd do you any good.
Look it!
Get outta my way!
- Hey ugly, get the fuck outta my way.
- What are you doin'? Don't do that.
- Steve, don't bug me!
- Just don't go pounding on people!
- I'm not in the mood for you, man.
- Why are you pounding on people?
I'm not in the mood, all right?
You think it would've crossed
his mind to tell me
that he saw our mother
when he went to California?
- Who?
- If it was me, I would've told him.
- I'm his brother. I've a right to know.
- What are you talking about?
How you doin', my man?
I'm sick and tired of... Help!
He's a deep motherfucker.
I'm gonna be just like him, too.
I'm gonna look like him.
You ain't gonna never be like that.
How do you know?
What the fuck do you know?
I might look like him.
You ain't gonna be like that, man.
He's a prince.
That's right.
Give it time, buddy boy. Give it time.
Know what he's like? Royalty in exile.
You know what I mean?
Isn't there anything he can't do?
Shh!
Officer, I salute you!
I'm fucked up.
Rusty, let's get outta here.
Come on, let's go.
Wake up!
- Wake up!
- Fuck!
Don't go to sleep.
Where'd he go?
Come on! Where'd he go?
Where's the living legend?
He probably swiped a cycle
and took off.
I thought we were sticking
to the middle of the streets.
I'm in a hurry!
- If you're scared, I should be terrified.
- I ain't scared, man!
This place just gives me the creeps.
I just don't like dark, empty alleys.
All right?
It's the same thing.
- Why are you whispering?
- I'm not whispering. Slow down.
Oh, God, we're dead.
You got any bread?
What? He's not gonna bash us
even if we've got bread?
- Sure, that's it.
- Progressive country, integrated mugging.
I ain't got no fucking money, man!
We don't want any trouble.
Really, man.
We really don't want any trouble.
Fuck off, man!
Rusty James!
Rusty James!
Rusty James!
- Six dollars.
- What's he got?
Rusty James!
Something for cigarettes.
That's all he's got.
Son of a bitch!
Patty...
You were the only one,
I swear, baby.
A toast to Rusty James,
a very cool dude.
To Rusty James!
Rusty James, please!
Steve!
Come on, motherfucker!
- Rusty James?
- What?
Rusty James, you still alive?
No. I don't know.
My stomach!
What happened to those guys
that creamed us, man?
He bashed 'em. Clobbered 'em.
He nailed one of 'em really good.
- The other took off.
- Way to go, man.
Way to go.
You're going to the hospital
this time, I mean it.
- When the rumbles were going on...
- Would you shut up about that?
- Somebody was always getting mangled.
- I said shut up!
You and your gangs!
It was bullshit, Rusty James!
It wasn't anything you think it was!
- A bunch of punks killing each other!
- You don't know nothing.
Don't tell me I don't know nothing.
You, tell him!
You, tell him!
It wasn't anything.
You see?
- What?
- You see? Did you hear him?
Man, you must've thought
it was something.
You were the fucking president, man.
Yeah, well, you know,
it was fun at first.
Then it got to be a big bore.
You know, I managed to get credit
for ending the rumbles,
simply because everyone knew
that I knew they were a big bore.
They were gonna end anyway.
- There was too many people...
- Don't say it was fun!
It wasn't fun!
I was speaking
from personal experience.
I mean, most of them didn't think
it was fun when we had a fight.
Most of them were scared stiff.
Blind terror in a fight
can easily pass for courage.
There was something about it,
I remember.
You're just stupid enough
to have enjoyed it!
- Fuck you!
- You remember something, Stevie.
Loyalty is his only vice.
The Motorcycle Boy!
I wonder why somebody hasn't taken
a rifle and blown your head off.
Even the most primitive society has
an innate respect for the insane.
I wanna go home.
Cheer up.
The gangs are gonna come back.
And once they get
the dope off the streets...
...people will persist in joining things.
You'll see the gangs come back.
If you live that long.
What's the matter with you?
I ain't never seen you
sit still so long.
How do you know
when someone's crazy?
Well, you don't always.
Depends on how many people
think they're crazy.
Yeah!
Woo!
It's so fucking hot in here, man.
Here comes your old lady,
Rusty James.
- What?
- Patty.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Hey, she means business.
- Coke, Benny.
Shit.
Thanks.
- You looking for me?
- No.
Hey, doll.
Ah, shit.
You really look nice.
You look really beautiful.
- How you doin'?
- Fine.
- Did you know I've got a gift for you?
- For me?
That was me
on my 5-year-old birthday party.
I was good-looking even back then.
Thank you.
- You want something, Rusty James?
- What?
Can I help you?
Nah, I think we should step outside.
I'm not gonna fight you, man.
I just said...
Just go outside and talk.
Look at you, man.
Look at you.
It wouldn't be fair now.
You're not in any condition to fight.
I told you, I didn't say nothing
about fighting. I don't wanna fight you.
Did I say I wanted to fight you?
I said, we'll go outside...
And talk, communicate.
Get it, man?
All right.
Smokey, the other night when we were
out at the lake house with your cousin,
and those chicks were there...
Did you plan
for it to get back to Patty?
Maybe she'd break up with me
and you could take over
while I was still fucked up
from the fight?
Look at me, goddammit!
Did you?
Well, I guess I did.
I kinda thought about it.
I would've never been able
to think of something like that.
I know.
Rusty James...
If there were still gangs around,
I'd be president and not you.
You'd be second lieutenant.
You might've made it a while
on the Motorcycle Boy's rep,
but you ain't got
your brother's brains.
You gotta be smart to run things.
It's nothing personal, Rusty James,
but nobody would follow you
into a gang fight.
Because you get people killed.
Nobody wants to be killed.
I guess you're right.
Nobody wants to get killed.
So you really like Patty, huh?
- Huh? You like her?
- Yeah.
Even if she wasn't your chick,
I'd still like her.
- It's all yours, man.
- Don't flatter yourself.
Hey, boys.
Hey, man, you better be careful,
you know.
That cop, Patterson, is looking
for just one excuse to get him, man.
Yeah?
I remember he beat me up once.
Got me locked up in juvenile hall
for the weekend.
He's been after both of us for years.
He's a good cop, man.
The Motorcycle Boy seems to be
his only bad point.
He'll never get the Motorcycle Boy.
- Never.
- Envy, man.
It gotta be envy.
- You seen him?
- Yeah, over at the pet store.
What was he doing there?
Looking at the fish
as far as I could tell.
Those fucking fish!
What is it
with those fucking fish, man?
Hey, what's up?
Hey!
Hey, what's the matter, man?
Really. You feeling all right?
How come the tank is separated?
These are rumble fish.
They'd kill each other if they could.
- Yeah?
- You boys gonna buy a fish?
No.
That's right, Rusty James.
These are Siamese fighting fish.
Watch this. If you lean a mirror...
...up against the glass...
...they try to kill themselves
fighting their own reflection.
- That's pretty cool.
- Yeah?
Try it.
Right there.
In the middle.
Over that way. See that one?
Yeah.
I wonder if they'd act that way
in the river.
I should close up now, boys.
I don't carry much cash. Really, I don't.
Hey, we're looking.
- I really dig the colours.
- The colours...
- The colours are cool.
- Mm-hmm.
Makes me sorry
I can't see the colours.
I never thought you were sorry
about anything.
What's the big interest
in the pet store all of a sudden?
They've been hanging around here.
Take a look at the fish.
You're crazy.
You're really crazy.
And you know I've known about it
all along.
But they belong in the river.
I don't think they'd fight if they were
in the river, if they had room to live.
Someone ought to get you
off the streets.
Somebody ought to put the fish
in the river.
- Why are you following me?
- I'm worried, bro.
- Of what?
- I'm worried about you.
Why have you been acting like this?
Hey...
You think the old man's in there?
Hey, Dad?
Hey. Hey!
It's great to see both of you again.
Huh? Yeah.
Hey.
I've been meaning
to ask you something.
Yes?
Our mother, is she crazy,
is she nuts?
She's OK.
I mean...
What makes you ask
a question like that?
Well, she just picked up and left, man.
Yeah, well...
- Rusty James...
- Mm-hm.
Every now and then, a person comes along
with a different view of the world
than does a usual person.
It doesn't make 'em crazy.
I mean...
An acute perception,
I mean, that doesn't make you crazy.
- Could you talk normal?
- However sometimes...
...it can drive you crazy,
an acute perception.
I wish you'd talk normal cos...
I don't understand
half the garbage you're saying.
You know? Know what I mean?
No, your mother...
...was not crazy.
And neither, contrary to popular belief,
is your brother crazy.
He's merely miscast in a play.
He was born in the wrong era,
on the wrong side of the river,
with the ability to be able to do
anything that he wants to do and, uh...
and finding nothing
that he wants to do.
- I mean nothing.
- OK.
You don't understand me anymore,
do you? That's for sure, for sure.
That's the difference.
You never lost your mother.
I lost your mother.
I think... that...
...I'm gonna be a lot like him
when I get older.
You should pray to God not.
You poor baby.
- What?
- You poor child.
Tab!
Let's do something tonight, huh?
Get some wine, chicks, party...
You down?
I feel like I'm wasting my life,
waiting for something.
Waiting for what?
I wish I had a reason to leave.
- Come on.
- What are you doin'?
Come on.
- What are you doin'?
- Gonna go for a ride. Sh!
Do you think I'm crazy?
Hey, you don't wanna stop here,
really, man.
Don't worry about
those fucking fish, bro. Come on!
The fish are all right, really.
Where you going?
Look, man. You need money?
I'll get you some money, man.
Hey, look.
Everybody saw you hanging around here
like you were casing the place.
A million people must've seen you.
Will you listen to me?
You want the whole neighbourhood
to know?
What are you doing, man?
What are you doing,
following me around like a lost puppy?
What do you want outta me, anyway?
What do you want? You want money?
I can get you some money.
Let's just get outta here.
I don't need any money, man.
What do you want? Tell me.
I want you to see me
when you look at me.
I want you to talk to me without you
dragging on about the Greeks and shit.
You and the old man
think I'm dumb, right?
You think I'm a dummy
cos I don't know the big words, right?
Always leaving me out.
Well, I ain't that dumb.
We could've run this whole side
of town, if you just gave me a chance.
- Come on.
- No, no, no!
If you just gave me a fucking chance!
Look at me!
I just want you to see me, man.
I'm right here. I just want you to see me.
I do see you, Rusty James.
- Let's get outta here! Me and you...
- Me and you, we can't!
Man, come on!
Come on! Don't do that, man!
You know...
I wish I were the big brother
you always wanted.
But I can't be what I want
any more than you can.
Listen.
I'm gonna put the fish in the river.
After I do, I want you
to do something for me, OK?
What?
- This is important, so pay attention.
- OK, I'm paying attention.
I want you to take the cycle
and I want you to leave.
I want you to go clear to the ocean.
I want you to follow
the river to the ocean.
OK?
Are you coming with me?
No.
Hey. Don't do that, man.
Huh? Don't. No!
No!
OK, squirt, spread 'em!
- OK, buddy. You're going downtown!
- Let him go!
It's the guy's younger brother.
He's a little upset.
I took care of the main problem.
Rusty James!
Get your fucking cameras
outta here, man!
What's the matter?
Get away from him!
Don't touch him!
You didn't have to shoot him, man!
- Who's that? Who's the guy?
- It's the Motorcycle Boy.
He's been shot.
- What's going on?
- The kid got shot.
If they can get the Motorcycle Boy,
they can get anyone.
You guys treat him nice.
He's the Motorcycle Boy.
- What happened to the kid?
- They killed the Motorcycle Boy.
- Was anybody else hurt?
- No, not in the vicinity.
- I'm not allowed to say anything...
- But he knows him.
I'm sorry. It doesn't matter.
We need it all cleared off.
- Maybe Rusty James is hurt, Smokey.
- I had nothing to do with this.
- It's really a shame.
- Where did he go?
He had a future, that boy.
It's too bad.
The kid was shot.
Nobody's gonna forget
that Motorcycle Boy.