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Sparrows Dance (2012)
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Bye, Martha. Toni, are you still up? Toni? Yes. It's me. It's Sam. Can I come in? Yes, Sam. - Mind if I put your light on? - Yes. I knew you were out. I was sound asleep, I've got a headache. Okay. I've got something to tell you, Toni. Yes, Sam. It's my house. You fucked her in my bed? Did you fuck her on my fucking bed? Did you fuck on my bed? You're not going home. There's two teenagers on the street. One of them is trying to steal something. The guy is trying to steal something from the girl, but the girl's screaming for help. Somebody help me! Stop it! On Clinton between Houston and Stanton. Help me! Do something. What's wrong with you fucking people? Jesus! Help me! Fuck you. Go back to her. Fuck. Fucking do something. Fuck you. No, I ain't gonna give you shit. Get help! Please, I fucking beg. Fucking help me! Somebody help me! Somebody! Summer may seem far away... ...but now is the time to plan. Check out the Fresh Box Summer Camp... Right smack in the depth of your soul You'll find a core The purity of which is begging To start you from the front Bang, the gun goes off The run is weak and you barely left your seat Meanwhile these iniquities are... Hi. Yes. For delivery, please. My number is 347-989-3792. Yeah. That's the address. Uh-huh. Yes, 5F. Right. Um... I'd like the scallion pancakes, broccoli and garlic sauce. Um... Large. And, um, yeah, hold on. What do you want, Jim? Uh, yeah, I'll have a vegetable fried rice and... Oh, and a ginger ale. Did you hear him? Oh, good. Okay. Um, cash. Yeah. Okay, thank you. Oh, wait. Oh, fuck. Hello? Yeah. Hi. Could you tell me how much that is? Yeah, hello? Oh, hi. Delivery. Yeah. No. Hold on a second, Charles. Yeah, yeah. Do you see the money? Yeah, I see it. Could you please just leave the bag of food on the floor there and take the money, okay? Yeah, yeah. No, I know. Yeah, it's here. Yeah. Okay? Okay. Thank you. What? Do you want me to leave it here? Yeah. Yeah, right. Okay. Thanks so much. Have a good night. Okay, you too. Personally, I like to jump off rocks and bridges and things into water. I know some people like to go shopping and some people like to shoot guns. Recycling feels pretty good. But if you found something that makes you feel truly alive and it doesn't hurt anybody else while you do it, well done, you won the game of life. There's a secret to life Remind me to tell you When you grow up How brave you are... How brave you are To come and join... What the fuck? What the fuck? Water! Water? Now? What the fuck? Water! What the fuck about? It's draining down all over my fucking soccer jersey! Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck. You got water flooding all over the fucking hallway and down into the stairwell. Fuck. I see it. Thank you. It's the toilet. Shit. I'm sorry! Thank you so much. I'm so sorry. I'm on it. Thank you. Fuck. Can I just speak to one of your plumbers by phone? You could look it up by phone. No, I understand that it would cost money. I'm saying maybe one of your plumbers could walk me through it by phone and we could figure it out on the phone. That's not how you do things? Does that mean you won't do it like that? Fine. So my options are what? Yes. I want to fix the toilet. No, I'm not a fucking plumber. I think you fucking know that. Yeah, excuse my French. Okay. Fine. Send the plumber over. Wait, it's really not possible that we could do this by phone? Hello? Plumber. Hello? A lot of locks, huh? This ain't a bad part of town, is it? Not particularly, no. You got a great ramen noodle shop downstairs. You must visit it frequently. Not really. No? You're missing out. It's very authentic. Not that I've ever been to Japan. Have you? Yes. A long time ago. Cool. May I come in? Yes. Sorry. Let's see what we got here. This the culprit? Hey, can we move this footstool over and put this on it? Oh, yeah. Let's see what we got. Well, not out of nowhere, it was making noises the past few weeks. Gee, what kind of noises? It would start running and then it would stop and make a sort of a... Well, like that, but quiet. I don't know what that is. Could you do it again? No, I'm not. That was good. That was a good faulty toilet imitation. I'm gonna get out of the way. You're not in the way. Is it okay if I walk around your apartment in my boots? Nothing hidden under the floorboards? What? No. and my boot went right through the floorboard, like... Boom, boom, boom. Just like that. You wanna hear it again? Boom, boom, boom. It was cool, though. He was a nice old guy. He had a kerosene stove. And a sap. A blackjack, a sap is a blackjack. He was a nice guy. Over on 16th Street on 7th Avenue. I'm gonna go over there to the kitchen, okay? Great. You got no flow. What? You got no flow in here, in my opinion. Oh. Don't worry. I'll fix it. Is there anything I can do? Nah, just sit loose. You mean "hang tight"? Okay. Yeah. Hang tight. You got somewhere you gotta be? I can keep working, but it's gonna be a while longer. Okay. Okay. Yeah? You can stay? I can work longer? Yes. Hey. Hmm? So, I'll have to come back tomorrow, okay? What? Why? You have, like, a work schedule issue? Because I can schedule it for later in the week. I just figure you wanna get it fixed as soon as possible. I do wanna get it fixed as soon as possible. So, tomorrow is okay then? You couldn't fix it now? What happened? It's your plumbing. It's ancient. It's actually very rare. Meaning I'm gonna have to come back tomorrow with the right parts. but it's still gonna probably make those noises unless I come back. Most people have more updated plumbing. But in this place, basically, like, your toilet plumbing is from the '40s. It's filled with sediment, delta mud, potato bag oil. Really? No. But it might as well be. So I'm gonna have to go and find those parts. Those are basically like antique Sandy Koufax parts. But then, I'll be able to fix your toilet, I'm pretty sure. Let me get my purse. Oh, no, you don't have to pay me until tomorrow and I'm not gonna charge you any extra. It's not your fault the building hasn't updated its plumbing in 50 years. I appreciate that. No sweat. You like The Three Stooges? They're okay, I guess. Why? No reason. It just popped in my mind. If you have any problems with that toilet, you just give me a call. You have your own website? Don't you work for Harry's Plumbing Company? I do, yes. But I like to give my clients my direct phone line and my direct website. Yeah, the social networks are full of predators and perverts So if you know anybody that's doing, like, a wedding or a bar mitzvah, let me know 'cause I play for next to nothing. I mean, jazz is my thing, but I can play any kind of music. Um, Polish music, even polka music. I don't know anyone getting married or having a bar mitzvah. No? Oh, that's okay. I was just saying if you did, let me know. I play the sax, and not in a casual way either. There's a clip of me playing at Smalls on that website. Would you like some water? Oh, no, I got to get to another job. I'm running a little late, running my... Running my mouth. Missing various plumbing rituals and whatnot. But... Save me a glass. I'll enjoy it tomorrow. Oh, fuck. Just a minute. Hi. Hi. No work today? I decided to take the day off. That all? Yeah. How'd you get up here? Oh, door was open downstairs. I think somebody's moving something. It's probably closed now. I hope so. May I come in? Do you need anything? I'll take that glass of water. Shouldn't be too long today. No? I found those parts. Took me a while to find the parts, but it shouldn't be too long. I'll be in the kitchen. Okay, have some bologna. It's done. Just give me a call if anything starts acting up with that toilet. I don't think it will though, it should be fine. You see this? This is what goes into your wall from the toilet. You see how rusty that is? Yeah. All those rusty parts, it adds up, you know. Rusty water intake assembly, rusty metered fill valve. Rusty ballcock, rusty flush valve, rusty refill mechanism, rusty bowl siphon. Eventually, you got no flow at all. It's like an Italian prison. My saxophone, I'm always cleaning it with all kinds of oils. You got to be anal about it almost. I went to your website. You're very good. You went on my website? Isn't that why you gave me the card? Sure, I just never figured that anyone was gonna actually go to the site. I mean, especially once they see me in this monkey suit. I guess I just... I never think anyone's gonna actually check it out. I mean, I don't know if I, myself, would check it out if some plumber told me that he was a saxophone player and that there was a link on the internet to go and hear it. You're very good. That's very good of you to say. Thank you. Most people don't like the way I play. My phasing is too raw. I always like to think that it's like... It's like new, you know, it just takes a while to like, catch on. You know, I spent so many years, like, slowly learning how to play every note perfectly. But it got to where the notes, like, had no feeling. Feeling, that's what I like about art. You know, and not craftiness, like, the hiding of feelings. Oh, you really liked it? Yes, I mean it. Slow Boat To China, excellent rendition. Phew! That's a tough tune, you know. It's tough to be original with that one. I mean, I don't think I was too dishonest with it. I mean, even though Coleman Hawkins played it. So I was like... "Why bother? You know, Hawk played it better." But I always loved that tune. And you can't let someone else's genius scare you off your own genius. I've always loved that song too. Are you a jazz fan? I like all kinds of music. Jazz, I'm not, like, a crazy follower. You... And I like Kind of Blue. You got some Billie Holiday part... I know a little more than that. I know some Bud Powell records and Don Cherry and some Fats Navarro. Fats Nav... Oh, you are a jazz fan. Fats Navarro, that's like... That's like Genet. Something like that. How do you mean? I don't know, it's just... It's tragic. And beautiful. Anyway, I don't want to be too morbid. Would you like to go and see some jazz or hear some jazz with me some time? I can't. You can't? How come? What, you got a jealous fella? No. I just can't. Uh... Okay. No, I get it. Um... Right. Sorry you feel like that. That was inappropriate for me to ask. I'm just here to fix your toilet. It's, er... Yeah. Um, you like, go for the Handsome Dans or something. I'll see myself out, get my saddle. Thanks for the water. Oh, I hope I didn't make you too uncomfortable just now. Sorry. We could have dinner. We could? If you don't mind coming here for it. Sure. Are you sure? How about tomorrow night? Tomorrow night? Uh, what time? 8:00. because I won't have time to change. Is that okay? Sure. Informal. You like pasta? Yeah. I'm a vegetarian, so, no meat. But you're not a vegan? No, I'm not that annoying. Vegetarian pasta. I'm on it. Good. Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow night then. Tomorrow night. Fats Navarro. Why don't you come? Why don't you come? Why don't you come? Let me Take you out to the village Of love And let me Hold you tight Let me Treat you right Oh, come on Come on Hey, hey, to the village Of love I'll tell your ma I'll tell your ma I'll tell your ma You're going back to Arkansas Oh, come on Come on Hey, hey, out to the village Of love You don't have it? Pepe Rosso. Yes. Hi, I'd like to order for delivery. For two. Um... Can I get some of this bread? Go for it. You must work hard. Yeah. I was working down by the river, over on Wall Street. There was an elephant. On Wall Street? Yeah, some circus promotion nonsense. But back to you, where do you work? What do you do? I'm an executive. Yeah? You work on Wall Street? I work, um, in advertising. I work all over, gun-for-hire-type stuff. And what does that job entail? Is that like thinking up commercials of cream? Exactly. Probably, but it's too embarrassing for our first date. Is that what this is? Yes, isn't it? It's fine with me. It's splendid with me. Would you like some more wine? Hmm, yeah. You got a lot of books. Have you read them? All of them. Yup. I see Melville... Hmm, Challenger, Twain. Tresor. Not to be adolescent, but who's the tops to you? Maybe Saroyan. The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze. Hmm. Well, flying kids are always great, right? Actually, my favorite writer is this obscure person that no one knows. Who? You wouldn't know him. He went by different aliases. Mostly he wrote sci-fi, lives in Oklahoma. Oklahoma sci-fi, huh? Interesting. Can I get one of those squares, s'il vous plait? Most people hear that I'm in jazz... And they have these visions of booze and heroin in their heads. But in fact, these days... Thank you. ...most of the good jazz musicians run marathons and teach yoga. The scene changes. Oh, you know who my favorite poet is? Cold Mountain. He was a hermit and he lived in a cave. On a cold mountain? Oh... You're kind of a smart ass, aren't you? The Fischer's defense to the King's Gambit. Mmm-hmm, see? That's your poetry defense system. You watch too much Fox News. Now, you get your poetry defense system up. I'm going to have to be very careful 'cause I am trespassing. Mallarme said that poetry is the language of a state of crisis. Are you in crisis? Yeah. What's the poem? I'll tell you the last two lines. "If someone would poke out the eyes of hawks, "us sparrows could dance wherever we please!" That not so irrational, that's quite nice. "If someone would poke out the eyes of hawks, "us sparrows could dance wherever we please!" I feel that way sometimes. Like, I wanna say to that part of me that's sitting there judging, "Hey, man, fuck off. Give me a break. "I'm trying to be a boy scout, I'm trying to do my best here." So, now, I got my first gig at the Village Vanguard coming up next month. I'm trying to convince myself that I'm up to it. I get... I get bad stage fright sometimes. I used to take beta blockers, but I didn't like the way they made me feel. Do you like to dance? I do, but I... I don't really know how. You don't know how to dance? I don't know. You don't know? Maybe, I don't know. I... I love you I need you Your love is oh, so heavenly My darling, can't you see? My heart skips a crazy beat When you're with me Such warmth when your lips are touching mine They're sweeter Much sweeter than wine I love you I really do Your love means oh, so much to me My darling, can't you see? My heart pounds just for you, my dear Whenever, whenever you're near Sweet lover, oh, always will be mine Forever all the time I love you I need you Thanks for a lovely evening. Thank you. Maybe next time we can go out somewhere. Yeah, okay. There's the ramen shop downstairs or I know some good places around here. Or we could go wherever. Fine. Yeah? So I'm gonna see you again? That's how this is gonna go down? I'd like that. I'll just see myself out of the bunker. Mmm-hmm. I like to get you on a slow boat to China All to myself alone Out on the briny With the moon big and shiny Melting your heart of stone Oh, honey I'd love to get you On a slow boat to China All to myself alone Boom, boom shero Boom, boom, shero, shero Shero boom, boom, boom Hello? Oh, fuck. Yeah? It's Wes. Are you there? Yeah, I'm here. Can I come up? Well... What's the problem? No problem. Am I interrupting something? No. Sure. Hello? I'm in the kitchen. Smoking again, I see. You come up here to lecture me? What's your problem? Do you not want me to come over? Well... I called first, you didn't answer. I was, like, working five blocks away and I thought I'd stop by. You can call in advance instead of a second before buzzing. Well, I guess I should go then. Gee? Fine. See you. This wasn't a good idea. What's that? This... You and me, this whole thing. Oh, why is that? Because I'm not ready for it. You seemed ready for it the other night. Did I presume too much by coming over unannounced? I've been thinking about you all week. I just wanted to see you and say hi. No, you don't understand. I've been... I've been thinking and I just don't think we should see each other again. Why? Because I've been thinking of you all week, too. That's good. We've both been thinking of each other. And then I got mad at you I don't have a life so I was just waiting for you to call. This is all horrible and I don't wanna hate you. Man, I wanted to call you, but between work and practice and rehearsal... Plus, I figured you didn't want me to crowd you, I figured you were busy with your own job, too. See, that's the thing. I don't have a job. It was all bullshit. I was trying not to scare you away. You don't have a job? What do I care? I'm not your parole officer. I don't care if you have a job or not. I just wanted to see you. No, no. Listen, I... I... I haven't left this apartment in over a year. What do you mean? So you should go, please. Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait. You mean you haven't left this apartment in over a year literally? Yeah, literally. Not everything's a fucking poem. Even to go outside for a walk? No, not anymore, not in a long time. How about just around the neighborhood? Yeah! Fuck, you want me to say it again? I'm just trying to get it straight. Probably wanna leave now, right? No. Why? Why would I wanna leave? Now that you know I'm nutty. You're not nutty. You're just having a little trouble leaving your apartment. I have trouble with the full moon and the number six. I don't care if you didn't have any arms, I just wanna be around you. Bullshit, I saw your face putting it on me. Forget my face... Wait, so... This is like a... It's like a medical condition, right? So what? How do you get food? I just order in, like the other night, or the supermarket delivers. I didn't know that. Supermarket delivery? Oh... Oh. Wait... How do you have money for your apartment? And where's that money come from? Residuals. Residuals? Listen... Oh, like for advertising, that was true? Mmm-hmm. Sort of. I did a lot of stuff as an actress. An actress? What? This is terrible. Wow. This is terrible, I'm sorry, you... No, no, no. I've been so selfish. Oh, shit. What's the matter? This is... I owe you an apology. This is great. It takes a lot of time to get your cards out on the table. Yeah, it's very romantic, very seductive. Oh, I don't wanna be seduced. I wouldn't blame you if you didn't wanna come around anymore. I'll be coming around as much as you'll have me. But you got to do me a favor. Two favors. What? First, can I use your shower right now and clean off? Yeah. Yes. And? And that gig at the Vanguard is coming up. You got to make your best effort to be there on the first night. It would mean a lot to me, just you out there in the dark. I just... I just... I just told you. I know what you said and I get it. But when people believe in boundaries, they become a part of them. Just got to promise me your best effort. Best effort to come to the gig. Fine, but I seriously doubt... I know. It's okay. We'll see. Who knows? Maybe you just need a special occasion to leave the apartment for. Yeah, right. Special occasion, sure. You're about to burn your fingers there, madam. I'm relieved right now. For a minute there, I thought that you didn't desire to see me. Oh, I do. That's the problem. That's a decent problem to have. You have dinner? No, I haven't. You like Chinese food? Yeah. There's a menu by the couch. No, wait. I just wanna hold you for a second longer. Hey. You ever go to sleepaway camp? I was just laying here, I was thinking about sleepaway camp. And talking excitedly in the dark. And bunks, and counselors telling you, "Shut up." I figure it was troublemaking, it had to be. We'd sleep, and on the last day, we'd put underwear on our heads and climb out of the bathroom window and then make a prison breakout for the girls' cabins, you know. Did you ever go? Yeah, I went. Where? What camp? Camp Robin Hood in Maine. I hated my parents for making me go. But I ended up having the time of my life. Camp Robin Hood. That's where I had my first bad crush. Hmm. Well... What was his name? Eddie. Eddie Radley. Eddie Boo Radley. What was his deal? He was from East Orange, New Jersey. He had really long eyelashes, nice hands. I took pictures of him on the basketball court and by the time I developed the pictures, we were pretty serious. I went out with him for two summers. We were the youngest lovers. He was really sweet. He only listened to the Beach Boys, Pet Sounds. And on rainy days, he used to offer me his jacket and we'd go walking. Big deal. I used to just kiss right away. Just stick my tongue in right away. I'd open my mouth, hands deep in my pockets. I'd close my eyes and kind of go to sleep, like I was in a cave. Back then, I hated to be alone. Room tone, frequency, that's all I used to hear when I was alone. And I got used to it, it wasn't so bad. No surprises, pretty much all I wanted then is forgotten now. Whatever happened to Eddie? After college I saw him once at a random party. He was strange, and I was obsessed with a plan. What kind of plan? Ambition... I don't remember the details. Some kind of slow panic about proving myself. Walking down the street was always difficult for me, it's a sensory overload. But somehow I thought I could transcend it all through sheer force of will. And it worked for a little while. How is he strange? Who? Eddie. Well... You know, I gotta say, I don't like this Eddie kid. You're jealous of Eddie Radley? Yeah. You should be. Oh, shit. No, you didn't. No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no. Oh, you're ticklish. No, no. God, stop. Don't do that. No. Fucker. Hey. Hmm? It's 9:00, do you have to get up? Not ready to get up. When's your first job? 11:00, in South Harlem. Do you want some breakfast? Yes. Eggs? Yes. Scrambled? Yes, ma'am. Would you like some orange juice with that? Yes. Look what I got. Serving it up. I'll call. All right, so how many cards do you want? Mmm. Come on, come on. One. One? Only one. Oh, she's going for a straight. Oh, God. I'll take... You will take two. Uno, dos. Now. You bet again based on how good you did. And if you got... You got that straight that you were going for, then you would bet a lot or if you want to bluff me, you can bet a lot, it's totally up to you. But if you lose, you're gonna really have to pay me. I started getting stage fright, that's how it started. I'd go out on stage and I wasn't quite right. There was people out there in the seats. They had actually paid money to watch me in the play and I couldn't give them what I knew they wanted. So I'd go out there onstage and I'd just go through the motions. And then I started to think, "Well, they must hate me, Then one night, I couldn't bring myself to go out there at all. I was shaking so bad, and the stage manager was grabbing my arm. So I slapped her in the face and ran out. And the next day I fired my agent and quit the business. What about before? Before all that. Don't you miss that? Just acting? I miss some things but I don't miss a lot of it. No, seriously, you are better than that. Yeah! That was a good song. Mmm-hmm. Yeah! That was the reed's fault, that wasn't yours. Yeah. Mmm-hmm. Oh, brother. Yeah? The Vanguard gig starts tomorrow night. I know. I'm nervous as hell, to tell you the truth. But, like... Not like the last time. I think it's weird. Well, you got the gig, so, someone likes how you sound. You're gonna do fine. Go to sleep, get some rest. What's the name of that play you got such bad stage fright? Is it the one about the morgues in the north? What difference does it make? Mmm-hmm. Can I just ask you one more question? What were you doing in Japan? My acting teacher took me there to study Noh theater. I don't understand. Noh theater? Yeah. N-O-H. It's all about masks. I'm sorry you're nervous about tomorrow night. I really do think if you get some rest you'll feel better. And I'm not just saying that selfishly. I'll try. I'm not tired at all, but I'll try. I trust your advises. Are you nervous at all? About what? Tomorrow night? Why would I be nervous? Best effort. Come with me to the gig. You're gonna make your best effort, remember? Yeah, I remember. Go to sleep. You take promises seriously, don't you? You're not flip about that, aren't you? Yeah. I take them seriously but... It's not gonna be that way. I'm not gonna make it, you know that, right? Hot and cold person. You got something to say? Forget it. I'll try. You'll try. This night won't be that way, right? You know. Okay. Okay. Right smack in the depth of your soul You'll find a core The purity of which is begging To start you from the front Bang, the gun goes off The run is weak and you barely left your seat Meanwhile these iniquities are... Hi. What are you up to? Getting ready to take a bath. Come to your window for a sec. What for? I'm grooving high. Ta-da! Do you recognize me? I'm like a new man. There's only one thing missing from my ensemble. Can you tell? Um... I don't know. A corsage? What? I mean you. Come on, Wes, don't do this. We already went over this, it's not gonna be that way. I know we did already go over it, but... That was all theoretical. I was hoping you would put all kidding aside and come down and let's go over to the Vanguard. Come with me to the gig, my dear. Why are you pressuring me? I can't let you stay up there, locked away in your room. I wish you would leave me alone. You don't need me with you. But I love you. I think you're amazing. I walk around this city all day and I just can't believe my luck. Well, that's very nice. Oh, I found them Oklahoma sci-fi books. He was writing under the name Johnny Stranger. It's called The Alien In The Corner, you know that one? Yeah, yes. So you know him. Don't get stuck in a corner, it's a trick. You think you can see everything coming. That you got the whole game all figured out but while you're watching everyone else, there's something strange inside you, sneaking up, that you didn't even see at all. I'm gonna go now, Wes. I'm gonna stand in front of your apartment... For the next 30 minutes. If you don't come down... Then I'll just go, I won't bug you anymore. I have to be at my gig in an hour, so that's all the time I got. Break a leg. You too. Somebody's in love with somebody Somebody's in love with somebody Somebody's in love with somebody I know Somebody's in love with somebody Somebody's in love with somebody Somebody's in love with somebody I know John's in love Joan's in love Jim's in love I don't care You're the only girl She's the one I loved She's the girl I'm thinking of Joan and I had a quarrel She said, "This is the end." I said, "Just a minute, baby," "Won't you take me back again?" John's in love Joan's in love Jim's in love I don't care You're the only girl She's the one I love She's the girl I'm thinking of Somebody's in love with somebody Somebody's in love with somebody Somebody's in love with somebody I know I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so But why I love you I never know Whoo, I love you so |
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