A Thousand Faces (2024) Movie Script
Do you hear me
Right or wrong
I never walked away
You do it every time
We are not the same
Love ain't easy
Your make it much harder
Fighting your demons
Still can't fuck with my soul
Take this, take this
Watch your breath
Watch this
Do you feel it
Take this
Watch this
Do you feel me now
Wait, one second.
Okay.
Okay.
All right, ready?
Mm-hm.
Oh, wait, wait, wait, not, not
there.
Oh, oh, okay.
I'm sorry. - Yeah.
Yeah. - Yeah.
How's that? - That's it.
Okay. - Okay.
Okay, good. - Yeah.
Now, uh, grab me here. - What?
My, my breasts, grab
them, please.
Oh, yeah, um, like,
like that. - Wait, not, not so
fast.
Oh, okay, okay.
Uh, is that better?
Uh, yeah, I guess.
Okay, okay. - Yeah, okay.
What is it?
Are, are you, are you, are you
ready?
Uh, yeah, yeah, I'm
just, um.
There's, there's just
something up with the condom.
Oh, it's the condom?
Yeah, I'm, I'm
not familiar with this brand.
Mm, well, do you wanna take a
moment?
'Cause we, we can take a moment.
No, I'm, I'm okay,
just, you know.
It doesn't seem like
you're okay.
Just
gimme a second, okay?
You're kind
of losing me right now.
If you just, just calm
down.
All this talking is a bit
excessive.
Mm.
Okay, yeah, enough.
I'm fairly certain we're done
here.
You're a real piece of
work.
You can go now.
You are easily one of the
nastiest people I've ever met.
That can't be true.
And completely ungrateful.
Ungrateful?
Are you serious? - Yeah.
Yeah, with like, no manners.
Well, thank you, sir,
for the drinks and the
random bar food earlier.
How's that?
A quinoa salad is not random
bar food.
You offered.
Yeah, well, you said
that you don't eat wings.
Do you have Venmo?
'Cause I can pay you back.
Forever will be too soon.
Yeah, nice to meet you too.
Don't slam my door.
Whoa, what, what was that?
It's car backfire, maybe.
It's probably nothing.
Nope, no, no, no, that
was definitely gunshots.
Oh, shit.
It's a lot of police.
Maybe you should leave while you
still can.
Wait, you sure?
Yeah.
Where'd you park?
You drove.
Right, right.
Okay, well, how are you getting
home?
I don't know.
Uber to my bike or, or catch the
bar.
Yeah, you should be good.
Uh, back inside, please.
Okay, uh, excuse me, officer.
I actually don't live
here, I'm just visiting,
so all I would like to do is
just-
Get back inside now.
This neighborhood's on lockdown.
I need you back inside until
it's safe.
This sucks.
Yeah, it does.
No, you don't understand.
I have important meetings in the
morning.
Uh, I do too.
I mean, I got stuff to do.
Residents stay in your homes.
Fuck.
You okay?
Yeah.
Perfect.
A book right now.
Really?
Wait here.
Where you going?
I gotta use the
bathroom.
Well, how long you gonna be?
Just stay put.
Can I get some water?
Just stay put.
"Stay put."
What the fuck?
Oh.
Uh.
Why are you in my room?
What's up with all the
balloons?
Are you on drugs?
No.
You stealing shit?
What, no, I promise.
Um.
God, you're pretty.
Oh, um, yeah, no, I was
just looking at the artwork.
I swear.
I, I saw the two paintings
in the living room and,
and then the one in the hallway,
and then I just kept walking
and, and walk in and walk in,
and then I-
Stay in one place.
Absolutely.
Get out.
Go.
Oh, right now.
Okay, yep, yep, yep.
Did you make this?
Sorry, um, I saw your
art supplies in your room.
Nope.
We're not doing this.
Doing what?
This, this thing you're
doing, the whole biography bit.
You ask me a question
and I tell you my life story,
and then you do the same.
No.
We're in extended
periods, you know, overtime.
This should have been over.
Well, will you at least
tell me your name?
No.
No, no.
Seriously?
No name.
I told you at the bar,
if it was important, you
would've remembered.
Yeah, but I, I was hammered.
I'm still hammered.
Okay, and?
So am I.
I bet you don't remember my
name.
Look, I'm exhausted
and I gotta get some rest.
So, until this is all over,
you can lay right here,
or sleep in the chair.
Nah, I'm good.
I'm not too tired.
I'm just gonna grab my backpack.
But you have to lay down.
Why do I have to lay down?
Well, I can't go to sleep and
have you up roaming around.
What are you reading?
"Wretched."
Have you read it?
Mm-hm.
Yeah, do you like it?
Yeah, it's cool.
Did you study Franz at
Berkeley.
Oh, yo, sorry, um, I didn't mean
to pry.
I just saw your CAL sweater
at, you know, in your room.
Berkeley, that's, that's really
impressive.
I first read 'em in high
school.
Geez, what
high school did you go to?
What about you?
When did you first read 'em?
Uh, you know, I took a
couple Afro studies courses
at Chico State.
Yeah.
And my,
you know, my professor gave
me this copy before he died.
That's too bad.
Nah, it's okay.
This is actually has been with
me
across five different countries.
That's a lot of traveling for
a book.
Well, he was my favorite
professor,
and it is a really good book.
What about you?
Do you have anything
valuable that you keep with you?
Nope.
Really?
What about all this, like,
furniture
and the, you know, the mass
and, and the art and stuff.
It's just stuff.
Hey, I'm, I'm sorry for
yelling at you.
No problem.
And for calling you ghetto.
Mm, I don't remember
you calling me ghetto.
Well, I did, you know,
just under my breath.
And I'm sorry.
Okay.
Okay?
Is that it?
What do you want me to say?
I don't know, how about,
"I'm sorry, or "I apologize," or.
For what? - Seriously?
Uh, okay.
Well, I'm sorry for being mean.
Yeah, no, forget
it, it's not that serious.
Okay.
Lucas.
I'm sorry, really.
Okay.
Uh, thank you.
Thank you, what?
Um, look, I'm, I'm
trying, I, I really am.
Okay.
And yes, I made them.
Wow.
That is something.
Thanks.
No, seriously, you
have such a strong voice.
And I just finished this one.
Oh, wow, beautiful.
Do you mind if I.
This is so, so melancholy,
and, and, uh, morose, right?
It's whatever you say, it's
subjective.
Mm.
I'm getting it framed next
week.
So, why do you paint?
I don't know.
Makes me happy, I guess.
Art has no judgment or
expectation.
The work is the work, you know?
Well, shit, I mean, you hella
good.
Like, like really, really,
really good.
Thanks.
I mean, I just feel
privileged to be here.
Now, you're being funny.
Oh, no, no, I'm being serious.
You're smarter and you're,
you're creative,
and, and know, you're just
really pretty.
Mm, really pretty.
Yeah. - Mm.
Mm, with one of the, um,
nicest necks I've ever seen.
Yes, I remember the
compliment.
Oh, yeah.
A neck, like a gazelle.
Mm-hmm.
Funny, you can remember that,
but you can't remember my name.
Um.
Um, I'm not sure if we can, uh.
What are you doing?
Nothing.
Okay.
Well, it looks like something.
Are you ready?
Uh, are you ready?
Oh, no, I'm, I'm, I'm
definitely ready.
You sure? - Oh, am I sure?
Yes, I am sure.
Very clearly.
Very clearly sure.
Wait, wait, wait.
Tell me your name.
I can't.
Why not?
You should have remembered.
Come on on, now.
No.
Pretty, please.
Pretty, pretty,
pretty, pretty, pretty, please.
Pretty, please.
Pretty, please, pretty, please.
Asha.
Asha. - Mm-hm.
Asha, that's it. - Yes.
Yeah.
You happy now? - I'm very
happy.
Well, just to be clear though,
you, you don't have like a
boyfriend or nothing, do you?
What?
No.
No, come on. - Okay,
okay.
Ouch.
Shh, quiet.
Okay.
Okay, so, remember earlier
when you asked me if I
had a boyfriend and I said no.
Yeah, like five minutes ago?
Yeah.
You lied? - I lied.
Except he's not my
boyfriend, he's my fiance,
so technically I didn't lie.
A fiance, shit.
And he's at the door.
What?
I know.
You're gonna hide over there.
Okay? - Okay, but I.
But he's big and he hates
white people.
Well, you talking about
that dude in the picture?
So, you were looking through
my stuff?
Yeah, I was just a little bit.
Why'd you lie?
What do you mean why did I
lie?
Okay, look, and I'm also not
white.
Okay, white looking,
white acting, whatever.
Anyway, he's at the door.
No, that guy is fucking big.
Yeah, he played pro ball.
Oh, really, where?
Linebacker for the Saints.
You mean the New York Saints?
Listen, just, just go over
there, okay?
And pray.
I'm agnostic.
It's never too late to start,
okay?
Hello?
One second.
Hi.
Can I help you? - Evening,
ma'am.
Mind if I come in and take a
look around?
What's going on out
there?
This your place?
When can we leave?
There's an escape felon on the
loose.
We're suspecting that he's
hiding around
in one of these houses.
So you locked down
the whole neighborhood?
Yeah.
He's carjacked some people.
Shotted officers, kidnapped the
dog.
Um, this is serious.
Anyone else in here with you?
No.
Seen anything strange?
I thought I heard cops.
Oh, is, uh, is everything okay?
I thought you
said you were here alone.
Uh, who are you?
This is, um.
Lucas, Lucas Christian.
Seriously?
Your last name is Christian.
Sir, I'm gonna need you
to put on a shirt, please.
Officer, Ma'am, um, I have
places to be,
so when can we leave?
You have somewhere
to be?
Where?
That's in your business, lady.
Just do your job.
Have a nice night.
Fuck.
You okay?
I knew I shouldn't have done
this.
Oh, God.
Asha, what the fuck.
Where you going?
To the back porch.
You coming?
Yeah, yeah.
No, no, definitely, I'm coming.
I never walked away
You do it every time
We are not the same
Love ain't easy
Come on.
Oh, I'm coming.
Fighting your demon
Still can't fuck with my soul
Take this, take this
Watch your breath
Watch this
Get down, sit down
Do you feel it
Take this
Watch this
You know, sometimes,
you like really listen, the
freeway sounds like the ocean.
First of all, one, no, I
don't sound like a freeway.
And second, don't change the
subject.
Having a fiance is a big ass
omission.
Hold the judgment, bro.
You're the one going home
with random people from Dragon
Gate.
Let that sink in.
Dragon Gate, I could've been a
murderer.
Yeah, facts.
Besides, we're pretty much
broken up now.
How are y'all
broken up if y'all engaged?
He's engaged.
I don't understand.
I broke up with him,
and then he proposed.
Wow.
Yeah, fuck move, right?
No, I think it's pretty
clever.
I mean, if you try to break
up with me, I'll propose too.
Okay.
Anyway, I didn't accept,
so it's just a unilateral offer.
Well, did he give you
a ring and everything?
Yep, but I'm giving it back.
Yeah, sure, you are.
No, seriously,
I tried to reject it but
he forced it on my finger.
How did he
force you to take a ring?
In front of our family and
friends.
If you say so.
Okay, his grandmother was
there.
It was a lot of pressure.
How long you two been
together?
Long enough.
Now, you don't seem
like you're from Oakland.
I'm from Bakersville. - Yikes.
Have you even been?
God, no.
I passed through a few times.
That was enough.
Yeah, yeah,
you're probably right.
So tell me how someone
with a last name like
Christian becomes agnostic?
Probably reading too many
books.
You know, start questioning
everything and everyone.
Your parents fanatics?
Yeah, extremely.
You?
I believe in God,
uh, I'm more faithful
than religious, I guess.
I started studying
the history of the Bible,
and there are a lot of holes in
that story.
Exactly.
But still you
can't deny a higher power.
Well, I can make a pretty good
argument.
Dude, something or someone
has to be controlling the shit
down here.
Trust me, it's not.
So I guess, God didn't, uh,
order your steps to Oakland?
Nope, that was Josh.
Josh is your Jesus.
Nah, he was my
roommate at Chico State.
He hooked me up with
a dispensary gig.
You ever see, um,
anything crazy working at the
weed shops?
Nah.
I mean, I saw a lady pass
out from hitting a Dab too hard.
That's it, like
no robberies or nothing?
Nah, it was pretty chill.
What about you?
What's the craziest
thing you've seen in a job?
There was this like one job
that I had right after law
school.
Years ago, I used to clerk for
a criminal judge in Maryland.
Clerk?
Is that like a secretary?
No, I was a law clerk.
So, what does a law clerk do?
Legal stuff, like I
would, uh, write briefs
and do research for the judge.
So, there was this one case,
and I think about it sometimes,
a guy was killed two
o'clock in the afternoon
in downtown Baltimore,
some type of gang stuff.
Uh, the streets were crowded,
but only one eyewitness came
forward,
a little boy, like, eight years
old.
A little boy said he
saw a guy in a ski mask,
shoot the victim, and then
after, pull the mask up and run.
He said he, uh, recognized the
defendant
from the neighborhood.
And you believed this boy?
Yeah.
Okay.
But, uh, how close was he?
The boy? - Yeah.
Uh, he was in an apartment
building,
right above the shooting,
like three stories up.
That's pretty far up.
Yeah, but the little boy was
sure,
like he knew this guy for sure.
Plus, I could just tell he did
it.
How?
I know this is wrong,
but he just looked guilty.
Like, he was the most sinister
person I'd ever seen, ever.
He would sneer at the
prosecutor and mock the judge.
When the 911 call was played,
the victim's family got really
emotional.
But when he saw them
crying, he started laughing.
He ever messed with you?
Yeah.
When he was being cross
examined by the prosecution,
they had him put on this
ski mask and then take it off,
put it on and take it
off over and over again.
It was really stressful.
Yeah, I can imagine.
But every
time he pulled the mask up,
he grimaced at me.
What, why you?
I don't know.
But, uh, it was my job to take
the mask
and put it back into the
evidence room.
One day I went to reach
for it and he wouldn't let it go.
Shit.
And I went and reached for it
again,
and then he yanked me toward
him.
The bailiff ran over
and he finally let it go.
Well, what happened, were you
scared?
No, I mean, I knew
he couldn't do anything.
What happened to the case?
He got off.
Serious?
How?
The jury didn't think
that the boy could recognize the
defendant
with the mask partially covering
his face.
So the mask did its job.
Literally.
But that's not the craziest
part.
So, a bunch of months later, I'm
at work,
um, and I rushed down
to put money in my meter.
And you know how you can just
see
and, like, feel someone,
like, looking at you?
Well, I look up and who do I
see?
Him? - Him.
Whoa.
Did he say anything?
What'd you do?
He smiled.
Walked by.
But then.
But then?
Well.
He lunged at me. - Oh, oh God.
No, I'm kidding, no, he
didn't.
He didn't lunge at me, he
just smiled and walked by.
But you said, God.
No, I didn't.
Yep, yep, yep, nope,
you literally called out for
God.
No, I didn't, you're being
ridiculous.
You can't hear me over that
freeway.
Come on, dude, let's go
in, I'm fucking cold.
Gotta be scared
Gotta be scared
Gotta be scared
Gotta be scared
Gotta be scared
Gotta be scared
Hey, can I use the bathroom?
Mm-hm, go ahead.
Okay.
Like a new
chair or some shit.
Lucas.
Lucas, can you hear me?
Where are you?
Is everything okay?
I'm getting worried.
Lucas.
Lucas, can you hear me, where
are you?
Lucas?
Yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm sorry
about that.
Mm-hm.
You okay?
There's no meat in this place,
but you smoke from a vape.
I think you're a good writer.
Why'd you go through my stuff?
Curious.
Mm, happy now?
Can I read some more?
No.
Come on.
I showed you my work and I,
I never show anyone my work.
Please?
Okay.
Sure.
Thank you. - Mm, you're
welcome.
"Every morning I'm here."
Okay, you don't have to read
it out loud.
"At the corner of Turner
Lane and Signpost Road,
behind the woods.
It is not really near my home,
nor is it on the way to work.
It is not even easy to get to,
but it is the only place
I can find her regularly.
God.
If peace could be a thing, a
single thing,
then it would be this place.
It seems that everything you
wanted to do,
everything you wanted to be,
the hope that makes you
think that horrible things
will soon pass are all in
fruitful abundance here.
The sense of calm is contagious.
She used to hang out across
town, but it got too rough.
A place where feelings don't
matter and tears go unnoticed.
The type of place where they
will continue
to strike your hands until they
tire,
then they will go for your face.
Unless you drop to the
ground, then the feet come out.
Your only option is to run
and maybe come back with a group
that is larger and tougher than
theirs,
but it is unlikely, impossible
even.
They are from here
incarnated from the rubble
that covers most of the open
land.
You should see it.
Kids playing atop mountains of
rocks
and boulders almost as tall
as the few remaining buildings
that sprout from the pavement,
like gigantic brown weeds.
But more noticeable than the
rubble
are the ghosts, the
worst being the little ones.
You cannot tell their
age, only their height.
They walk around aimless,
moaning, looking for their mothers
who have likely passed on or
moved on,
fed up and frustrated with
the people here and their ways.
These people, they walk around
overtaken
"by pain." - Okay, okay, okay.
"Their heads and-" - That's
enough.
What are you doing with that?
What do you mean?
I mean, it's good.
Have you sent it to any agents?
No.
Does your girlfriend like it?
That was her, right, on the
phone?
Your girlfriend?
I could tell she was important.
You cannot tell that.
Dude, you fucking turned
into a ninja to end that call.
So, yes, she is important.
Really, I hope I didn't
mess something up for you.
I don't know.
I'll just say that maybe my
phone got stolen or something.
So she is your
girlfriend?
Ex.
Ah.
Does she know it? - Does she
know what?
That you
two are no longer together?
Our relationship is in
the transitional phase.
Wow, that's original.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah, you're one to talk.
No, I'm serious.
I, I mean, I've literally
never heard that line before.
So, what's the deal?
I told you, there's no deal.
Hold up.
I spill the beans about my
situation,
but you're all quiet on yours?
What do you wanna know?
That we've been together since
college,
and I've wanted to break up
since college?
That's a long time.
Should just do it.
Oh, yeah?
Wow, this coming from you.
I'm serious.
Like, why haven't you done it?
I mean, you're a guy.
Mm-hm, well, I just
haven't found the right time.
What does she do?
She runs a karate
studio.
Do you do karate too?
Absolutely, not.
She ever put them hands on
you?
What are you talking about?
Like, has she ever like
hit you with a karate hand?
I don't know.
Maybe, once.
Really?
Why, how?
Wait, this isn't funny.
I'm not saying that it
is.
Then, why are you laughing?
I'm not.
What happened?
I tried to break up
with her and she hit me.
Like a punch or a slap?
No, more like a, like a jab.
Where?
In the throat.
How did you respond to
that?
Like, what did you do?
Nothing.
Are you serious?
I maintain pacifist views.
Yeah, me too, until someone
hits me.
Have you been hit in a
relationship?
Yeah.
By your fiance?
He's not my fiance.
And no, not him.
He doesn't care that much.
Yeah, but for one minute,
you thought he was
coming in here to fuck me up.
And I was wrong.
How did you and Chuck Norris
meet anyway?
She doesn't seem like your type,
with your, you know,
nonviolent peacefulness.
Okay, okay.
Um.
I was DJing a set at
homecoming, that's where we met.
And then she demanded a song for
me,
and then she asked me out.
Which song?
"Holding My Hand."
Hootie & the Blowfish.
I cannot imagine you as a DJ.
Well, I was one for like
six years, and I was a dancer.
A dancer? - Mm-hm.
Really?
No, mm-mm.
So a B-boy who likes Hootie &
the Blowfish.
No, who said I liked them?
Well, you knew who they
were when she requested it.
Yeah, because everybody knows
them,
and everybody knows that song.
Nah, I can't see it.
You have a name?
A DJ name? - Mm-hm.
Yeah.
Prof B.
Like, Professor B?
No, like, Profound Bastard.
Like, did you,
that was the, that was
the best you could do?
That is a horrible name.
How did you even come up with
that?
That's so whack.
Like.
Wait, Wu-Tang Name Generator.
Oh, my God, oh, my God.
I can totally see you walking
around campus
with like, your headphones on
your neck.
Bastard is kind of harsh,
so did you try any other
variations of your name?
Yeah, it was either that or
Lucky Genius.
Oh, yeah, no.
Lucky Genius is not very B-boy.
But taken literally,
you are more of a lucky
genius than a profound bastard.
I mean, you seem super smart.
Oh, okay, but I'm not very
lucky.
Did your parents get married?
Yeah.
Well, see, it's hard
to see the bastard part.
And you don't seem like
someone who's unprincipled
or, like, a scoundrel or
something.
Well, what about this?
Really?
So I guess, I'm an
unprincipled scoundrel too.
Look, I didn't meet you at
church.
Oh, okay.
You got jokes.
I got it, okay.
Mm-hm, yeah.
All right.
All right, so how did you and,
and Mr. Michael Jordan meet?
He's a football player.
So?
You don't know any
football players for reference?
Um, Joe Montana.
He needed a tutor for Spanish.
And?
And that's it.
He couldn't resist me.
Yeah, okay. - Mm-hmm.
That's right.
No, he was just really sweet.
And that's all I really need,
like, be nice and be about me.
Well then, what happened?
He stopped being nice, and
he stopped being about me.
I guess I thought that
it would be different
when he got to the league,
or at least, like, stay the same.
First year of law school,
we were supposed to
go to the Barrister's Ball.
And I got a dress and shoes.
Wait, uh, Barrister's?
Oh, it's like a, a winter
formal, but for law students.
Anyway, the NFL season was over,
and he promised that we would
go.
So like a, like a, a
prom but for lawyers?
Yeah, yeah.
So, so how's it different?
You know, I really don't know,
because I've never been to a
prom.
So look, we confirm a
pickup time and I rent a limo.
And what does this fool do?
He doesn't show up? - Exactly.
I actually waited on him for two
hours.
Well, did you go by yourself?
By myself?
Of course, not.
So lemme get this straight.
You've never been to a prom.
Mm-mm.
Really, why not?
No one ever asked me.
Oh, I find that hard to
believe.
It's true.
Okay.
So, but never like, you know,
like a homecoming dance,
or like, you know, like
a winter formal or like.
No, nothing.
Oh, that's
probably why you can't dance.
I can too dance.
No, no, no, you can't dance.
Well, you can't slow dance.
You don't know that.
I mean, if you've never
been to a formal dance,
then it's impossible to
know how to slow dance.
Oh, stop, stop it.
Come on.
Come on, what?
Well, you, we were gonna
be slick here for a while.
I mean, you did me a solid
by not sending me out into,
you know, the police stand off,
so I'm gonna teach you how to
slow dance.
No.
Asha, may I have this dance?
You are so silly.
My gosh.
We don't even have any music.
Come on, DJ. - I'm coming.
Boom.
No, hell, no.
Music, cool, got it.
I mean, I have been to a dance,
but I know we can't dance today.
I mean, they be this song be
killing it.
Okay, yeah. - I'm telling you.
Wow. - See?
It's okay. - That's better.
It's okay. - No, it's better.
Yeah, it'll work.
No. - It'll work.
Oh, wait minute, I have
something.
Come on.
I've made a bad habit
Now, prepared to be amazed.
Oh, okay, wait.
Whoa.
Was that it?
No.
You turn off those lights
amazingly.
That's it, right? - All right.
It's good. - Yeah.
I'm not gonna ask why you have a
strobe.
Yeah, don't.
All right, you ready? - Mm-
hmm.
Okay.
Mm-hm, nope.
There. - Okay.
I think there's like a
scientist reason
why your hands have to be that
way.
Okay.
Oh, okay.
Mm-hmm.
I think I got it. - You got
it?
Mm-hmm.
So we're gonna do this.
One hand goes there. - Mm-hm.
One hand goes there.
Or should I go and give this
up
Tonight
Close the tab call a cab
And head right
I'm tryna to see if your
words match your actions
And give satisfaction
Put it in action
Make me feel you in the worse
way
I wanna practice all that word
play
You sent me texting on
Wednesday night
Ooh, baby
Is it easier
For me to go and give it up
Or should I go and give this
up
Tonight
It's easier
For me to go and give it up
Or should I go and give this
up
Tonight
Your arm?
What?
Your arm?
What happened to it?
Oh, uh, nothing, I hurt it
while hiking.
Hiking?
Yeah, up Mount Diablo.
Where's that?
You're kidding, right?
Wait, no, no, no, you're from
here
and you never noticed a
huge mountain behind the hills.
I'm not into hiking.
I don't understand it.
What don't you understand? -
The purpose.
Well, it is nice to get
away for a few hours.
So, are you burning yourself
cooking overnight oats?
Ha, nah, I just, um,
I had a little slip and fall
accident.
Ouch.
What happened?
Well, it was supposed
to be a short three-mile
hike up the main summit, but.
But what?
Well, I never
go off the main trail,
but I really wanted to find
the source of this water.
Wait, water?
Yeah, yeah, no, every time I
walk past
this one spot near
Devil's Pulpit, I hear water.
But you can't see any from the
trail,
so, you know, I figure it
must be in the valley below.
So you go off the trail?
Mm-hm, I figured I would
investigate.
Go off the trail just once.
And the first few feet are
pretty level,
and it's pretty easy to find
your foot in,
so first few yards down are
pretty chill.
And because of spring,
I'm, I'm walking through
all this thick, lush foliage,
pine trees, elderberry bushes,
and all these colorful
wildflowers.
Like, way more than
you would see on the trail.
Sounds pretty. - Yeah.
Yeah.
And the more I walk,
the more relaxed I get.
Like, the air is cooler and I
can,
I can really hear the water now,
but as I walk a few more feet,
I notice that the terrain
changes a little.
I can see the water,
but the hillside is gone with
like a,
a 90% grade going down.
So, I turned back to the
trail
and everything in my gut
is telling me to go back.
I mean, it was as clear as day,
it was as if someone
was saying, "Don't go."
So as I'm sitting there
contemplating
whether or not I can
make it the rest of the way,
like a dumb ass, I, uh,
I see something crazy.
A pack of wild
turkeys jump out
of a nearby tree, one by one.
Yo, and as these turkeys
are jumping outta the tree,
they walk up to the edge
and run down the ravine toward
the water.
So now I'm thinking, "Well,
that's it, I'm doing this too."
So, I started scaling
down the hillside, carefully,
and immediately, I'm nervous.
The ground is slippery
and it, it feels almost vertical.
With every step, tiny and medium
rocks
tumble hundreds of feet
down toward the water.
And as I'm watching these rocks
jumping,
skip their way to the bottom,
I, I see the last of the
turkeys jumping into the water.
I mean, it was weird.
But then right at the moment, I
slip,
and I slide down that hill so
fast,
it feels like I'm being pulled,
and I'm hitting all sorts of
plants,
and, and bushes on the way down.
I'd try to grab something
to hold onto anything,
but I'm falling too fast
and it feels like I'm
falling for, like, an hour.
But then just like that,
I hit the bottom.
And for a while I didn't move.
I was a few inches from the
water
and I couldn't even turn to see
it.
But I could feel it though and
smell it,
the coolness and the,
and the moisture, and,
and for a while I just, that was
it,
the sound of the water,
the, the blue sky above me,
and the, the dirt beneath my
hands.
And I felt, like, I was a part
of it,
the dirt and the earth.
And maybe, just maybe I,
I wouldn't make it back up.
But like, maybe, maybe I
didn't wanna make it back up,
you know, like, maybe,
I mean, it's the weight,
the, the sheer weight of it.
It's a lot, you know?
I mean, would anyone
know that, or, or care,
you know, like the, the burden
and, and, and the weight.
The weight, the weight,
the weight, the weight.
The weight is, it's, it's, it's
a lot.
It, it, it's heavy and it's,
it's like.
Would anyone care about, about
what?
Hey, are you okay?
No, yeah, no, I'm, I'm okay.
I'm, I'm, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
It's, it's, the weed, is all in
the,
and then I'm, I got a little
involved in the story, um.
And you know, I, I got a little
caught up with myself, um.
So that whole experience on
the mountain
didn't make you believe in God a
little?
Uh.
No.
You're telling me you didn't
say a prayer
when you were on that ground?
I mean, I did.
I'd admit that, but it
was a force of habit.
So?
So, I knew it wouldn't
work and it didn't.
What do you mean?
You're alive.
Okay, but you do believe in
fate, right?
Sure.
I mean, there's an order to the
universe,
and because of that,
things move accordingly,
but not in everything's
possible in Jesus, sort of way.
Why?
I don't know.
I've been praying for change
recently,
like something, anything, you
know.
And tonight's been interesting.
That's all.
Well, I don't know if I
can be a part of something
that answers a prayer.
Tell me something then,
why me?
You go to the club with your
boys,
and you can have an
adulterous one night stand
with anyone in the club, but you
choose me.
That, or this
here was not part of my plan.
I mean, I, I didn't really
wanna go out in the first place.
But when I saw you,
I don't know, this is
gonna sound a little corny,
but it felt like there was an
energy drawing me towards you.
That does sound corny.
No, I'm serious.
I mean, I, I just wanted to say
hi to you,
like maybe that could make my
week better,
and your smile looked
like you could do that.
And when we started
talking, it just felt right.
Like I've always known you.
Why'd you respond?
Didn't seem like you
were trying to pick me up.
'Cause I wasn't.
You seemed
really eager to listen to me,
which I haven't had in a while.
When you asked me to come back
with you,
it didn't feel bad.
I didn't feel bad when I
asked.
Even though
it was maybe a little bit,
I mean, figuring that we just
met.
I felt like I had known you
for a while.
Yeah, me too.
Uh, it was probably
just the alcohol though.
Although, you're completely
not my type,
I'd date you in another life.
Oh, okay.
Well, here I was thinking I
had a shot at this lifetime,
but, oh, well.
Yeah, oh, well.
Well, you know what, you
are a really sweet person.
Thank you.
And a really great painter.
You're just saying that.
No, no, I'm serious.
I mean, I don't know how
you can work a lawyer job,
and complete so many pieces.
My art is what I really enjoy.
Plus, I'm, I'm not
really working right now.
Really?
Well, how can you afford
such a beautiful spot?
Your, your mom and
your pops helping you out?
I'm studying for the bar
again, and once I pass,
I'll have a few different
job opportunities.
Well, did one of
these jobs give you in advance?
Because I'm looking for
places to, you know, move out,
but everything is hella
expensive.
What's the rent like in the
spot?
He pays for it.
Hassan.
He pays for the spot.
Your boyfriend, really?
Yo, where does he
live?
In the city.
Really?
He pays for a spot in San
Francisco,
but then also pays your rent in
Oakland.
Your point?
No, I mean, it's just
fascinating.
You know, y'all been
together for some years,
why don't you just live
together?
He says it's because
of his training schedule.
Training?
Yeah, what does that
have to do with anything?
You know, I, I really think
you should leave this guy now.
At first I felt bad for you,
but now I'm thinking
you're stringing him along.
Fuck off.
He clearly wants to
marry you.
First, fuck you,
really.
Secondly, he doesn't wanna marry
me.
He wants to control me
and protect his little image.
You sit there all judgy
in your flannel shirt
like, you know shit.
You said yourself,
you and your girlfriend
have a housing arrangement.
- It must be nice.
- I am looking for a place.
I said that things are
just expensive right now.
Mm, sounds real convenient for
you.
At least, I'm paying
something.
So that's the threshold, pay
something?
Trust me, she's just a crutch.
It may be financial or emotional
or both,
but she is just a crutch.
You said you don't love him,
right?
Well, just don't stay for the
money.
You're super sweet and
you don't deserve that.
You deserve better.
I deserve better?
You can't tell me what I
deserve.
You don't know me and
you don't know my life.
Hey, I'm sorry, I'm, I'm
overstepping my boundaries.
My boyfriend, ex-boyfriend,
whatever, pays for my place,
so fucking what?
You sit there so afraid of your
own shadow,
that you're living a shell of a
life.
Your girlfriend whoops
your ass and you just take it.
I'm content with my life.
Are you, really?
Because I've listened to you all
night
and I can't identify one
fucking decision you've made.
You wrote a book, but
you're too afraid to send it out.
You plan to enroll in grad
school, but nothing yet.
And you've been planning
to leave your girlfriend
for five years, but just
haven't found the right time.
Lemme tell you something,
it has nothing to do with timing
and everything to do with fear.
I'm fighting to figure out
my situation and I will,
while you, you just judge.
I said I'm sorry.
No, you are just like everyone
else.
You got it all figured out,
but you're all fucked up at the
same time.
You know, I don't always say
what I feel,
but you're right about
everything.
I mean, I wanna do all of those
things,
but I guess, like you
said, I'm just a coward.
But you are super sweet and
honest,
but you are with a messed
up guy and that is not fair.
I feel like someone who is as
kind as you
deserves to be full on all the
way happy.
Now, me.
That's it, this is my lot in
life.
I mean, I'm not complaining
or nothing, you know,
all my needs are met and, and
I'm happy,
Dude, kill that, "I'm happy
bit."
It's okay to want more.
We all gotta grow, right?
You're right.
I guess I'm not sure how to
grow.
In fact, I didn't even
know I needed to until now.
Just fucking do it.
Like, make a decision and
then act on the shit.
Like, who cares if you're wrong,
you know?
Insightful.
Thank you for your, your kind
words.
I'm good at giving advice,
but pretty bad at taking it.
You know, earlier, you said,
uh,
you were praying for change.
You know, I'm not praying or
nothing,
but I am reciting my
affirmations about changing my life
and, and bringing in new energy.
So in other words, you've been
praying?
No, no, not praying,
just saying affirmations
to no one in particular.
So leave and do what?
Hmm?
You said I should leave,
right?
What do you suggest?
You don't like being alone,
right?
Well, neither do I.
I don't like to be alone, but
I am.
And so are you.
What are you saying?
I'm saying maybe
you should leave this guy
and maybe we should.
So, how do you know
if leaving is the right
thing or a selfish act?
Do you care about
her, like, about her future?
No, not really.
Exactly.
Hassan and I have known
each other for a very long time,
and if he got a new girlfriend,
which he's had several
since we've been together,
I wouldn't even care.
Like, if he got married to
someone else, even better.
Good for him.
But at one point, you
thought he was the one, right?
Look, there's nothing here for
him.
I mean, even like with this
place, I mean, he pays for it,
but there's nothing
from him or for him here.
When we first got together,
I just wanted his time.
Like, I would go to his dorm
room and leave random stuff
just to make sure I would see
him again.
But now I don't, I don't care.
Like, like clothes?
Clothes, socks, Bible,
whatever.
That's, that's too funny.
I mean, that's what
you're supposed to do.
Like, you leave pieces of
yourself with people that you love
or people you wanna love.
Hmm.
Yeah, I, I guess.
Just think about it.
I'm sure your girl left
hella stuff at your place
when you first met.
I mean, even with your teacher,
like he did that exact thing
when he gave you his
copy of the "Wretched."
You guys were close, right?
Uh, yeah, but that was
different.
He gave me this book as a gift.
Wait, you really have
never left something
at someone's place before?
I mean, maybe trash,
but only an accident,
never on purpose.
Strange.
Wait, stop.
Freeze. - What was that?
No, I don't know.
Well, go look.
No, you go look.
Well, what should I do?
I don't know.
You want me to go out
there and open up the door?
Yes, yes.
Go, go. - Okay, okay, okay.
You want me to open it?
Open it and see what's
going on?
I am, okay, fine.
Oh, my God.
You're free to go now.
That's it?
Yeah, yeah, that's it.
Everyone's gone.
Everyone?
Wow.
That is so weird.
Yeah, yeah, it is.
We made it.
Yeah.
We most certainly did.
Weird.
So, uh.
Yeah, no, I, I, I was thinking,
you know, when,
when we were dancing, um.
Yeah.
That. - One second.
Oh, sure.
You okay? - Yeah.
Uh, yeah, I, I was thinking too,
um.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It seemed like, um.
Yeah, we. - Uh.
I think it might be.
Yeah, I get it, I get it.
Okay.
Okay.
You know. - I think you should
leave.
Yeah, definitely.
No, I got it, got it, don't
worry about it.
What took you so long?
It's a big ass hell.
Okay.
I think you left something.
Thank you. - Mm-hm.
You look good. - Thank you.
So do you.
So you gonna show me the spot.
Come on. - Okay.
Come on.
Okay. - You okay?
You know I just gotta...
You gonna make it?
Stretch it out.
You told me that you
love hiking.
Right or wrong
I never walked away
You do it every time
We are not the same
Love ain't easy
Your make it much harder
Fighting your demons
Still can't fuck with my soul
Take this, take this
Watch your breath
Watch this
Do you feel it
Take this
Watch this
Do you feel me now
Wait, one second.
Okay.
Okay.
All right, ready?
Mm-hm.
Oh, wait, wait, wait, not, not
there.
Oh, oh, okay.
I'm sorry. - Yeah.
Yeah. - Yeah.
How's that? - That's it.
Okay. - Okay.
Okay, good. - Yeah.
Now, uh, grab me here. - What?
My, my breasts, grab
them, please.
Oh, yeah, um, like,
like that. - Wait, not, not so
fast.
Oh, okay, okay.
Uh, is that better?
Uh, yeah, I guess.
Okay, okay. - Yeah, okay.
What is it?
Are, are you, are you, are you
ready?
Uh, yeah, yeah, I'm
just, um.
There's, there's just
something up with the condom.
Oh, it's the condom?
Yeah, I'm, I'm
not familiar with this brand.
Mm, well, do you wanna take a
moment?
'Cause we, we can take a moment.
No, I'm, I'm okay,
just, you know.
It doesn't seem like
you're okay.
Just
gimme a second, okay?
You're kind
of losing me right now.
If you just, just calm
down.
All this talking is a bit
excessive.
Mm.
Okay, yeah, enough.
I'm fairly certain we're done
here.
You're a real piece of
work.
You can go now.
You are easily one of the
nastiest people I've ever met.
That can't be true.
And completely ungrateful.
Ungrateful?
Are you serious? - Yeah.
Yeah, with like, no manners.
Well, thank you, sir,
for the drinks and the
random bar food earlier.
How's that?
A quinoa salad is not random
bar food.
You offered.
Yeah, well, you said
that you don't eat wings.
Do you have Venmo?
'Cause I can pay you back.
Forever will be too soon.
Yeah, nice to meet you too.
Don't slam my door.
Whoa, what, what was that?
It's car backfire, maybe.
It's probably nothing.
Nope, no, no, no, that
was definitely gunshots.
Oh, shit.
It's a lot of police.
Maybe you should leave while you
still can.
Wait, you sure?
Yeah.
Where'd you park?
You drove.
Right, right.
Okay, well, how are you getting
home?
I don't know.
Uber to my bike or, or catch the
bar.
Yeah, you should be good.
Uh, back inside, please.
Okay, uh, excuse me, officer.
I actually don't live
here, I'm just visiting,
so all I would like to do is
just-
Get back inside now.
This neighborhood's on lockdown.
I need you back inside until
it's safe.
This sucks.
Yeah, it does.
No, you don't understand.
I have important meetings in the
morning.
Uh, I do too.
I mean, I got stuff to do.
Residents stay in your homes.
Fuck.
You okay?
Yeah.
Perfect.
A book right now.
Really?
Wait here.
Where you going?
I gotta use the
bathroom.
Well, how long you gonna be?
Just stay put.
Can I get some water?
Just stay put.
"Stay put."
What the fuck?
Oh.
Uh.
Why are you in my room?
What's up with all the
balloons?
Are you on drugs?
No.
You stealing shit?
What, no, I promise.
Um.
God, you're pretty.
Oh, um, yeah, no, I was
just looking at the artwork.
I swear.
I, I saw the two paintings
in the living room and,
and then the one in the hallway,
and then I just kept walking
and, and walk in and walk in,
and then I-
Stay in one place.
Absolutely.
Get out.
Go.
Oh, right now.
Okay, yep, yep, yep.
Did you make this?
Sorry, um, I saw your
art supplies in your room.
Nope.
We're not doing this.
Doing what?
This, this thing you're
doing, the whole biography bit.
You ask me a question
and I tell you my life story,
and then you do the same.
No.
We're in extended
periods, you know, overtime.
This should have been over.
Well, will you at least
tell me your name?
No.
No, no.
Seriously?
No name.
I told you at the bar,
if it was important, you
would've remembered.
Yeah, but I, I was hammered.
I'm still hammered.
Okay, and?
So am I.
I bet you don't remember my
name.
Look, I'm exhausted
and I gotta get some rest.
So, until this is all over,
you can lay right here,
or sleep in the chair.
Nah, I'm good.
I'm not too tired.
I'm just gonna grab my backpack.
But you have to lay down.
Why do I have to lay down?
Well, I can't go to sleep and
have you up roaming around.
What are you reading?
"Wretched."
Have you read it?
Mm-hm.
Yeah, do you like it?
Yeah, it's cool.
Did you study Franz at
Berkeley.
Oh, yo, sorry, um, I didn't mean
to pry.
I just saw your CAL sweater
at, you know, in your room.
Berkeley, that's, that's really
impressive.
I first read 'em in high
school.
Geez, what
high school did you go to?
What about you?
When did you first read 'em?
Uh, you know, I took a
couple Afro studies courses
at Chico State.
Yeah.
And my,
you know, my professor gave
me this copy before he died.
That's too bad.
Nah, it's okay.
This is actually has been with
me
across five different countries.
That's a lot of traveling for
a book.
Well, he was my favorite
professor,
and it is a really good book.
What about you?
Do you have anything
valuable that you keep with you?
Nope.
Really?
What about all this, like,
furniture
and the, you know, the mass
and, and the art and stuff.
It's just stuff.
Hey, I'm, I'm sorry for
yelling at you.
No problem.
And for calling you ghetto.
Mm, I don't remember
you calling me ghetto.
Well, I did, you know,
just under my breath.
And I'm sorry.
Okay.
Okay?
Is that it?
What do you want me to say?
I don't know, how about,
"I'm sorry, or "I apologize," or.
For what? - Seriously?
Uh, okay.
Well, I'm sorry for being mean.
Yeah, no, forget
it, it's not that serious.
Okay.
Lucas.
I'm sorry, really.
Okay.
Uh, thank you.
Thank you, what?
Um, look, I'm, I'm
trying, I, I really am.
Okay.
And yes, I made them.
Wow.
That is something.
Thanks.
No, seriously, you
have such a strong voice.
And I just finished this one.
Oh, wow, beautiful.
Do you mind if I.
This is so, so melancholy,
and, and, uh, morose, right?
It's whatever you say, it's
subjective.
Mm.
I'm getting it framed next
week.
So, why do you paint?
I don't know.
Makes me happy, I guess.
Art has no judgment or
expectation.
The work is the work, you know?
Well, shit, I mean, you hella
good.
Like, like really, really,
really good.
Thanks.
I mean, I just feel
privileged to be here.
Now, you're being funny.
Oh, no, no, I'm being serious.
You're smarter and you're,
you're creative,
and, and know, you're just
really pretty.
Mm, really pretty.
Yeah. - Mm.
Mm, with one of the, um,
nicest necks I've ever seen.
Yes, I remember the
compliment.
Oh, yeah.
A neck, like a gazelle.
Mm-hmm.
Funny, you can remember that,
but you can't remember my name.
Um.
Um, I'm not sure if we can, uh.
What are you doing?
Nothing.
Okay.
Well, it looks like something.
Are you ready?
Uh, are you ready?
Oh, no, I'm, I'm, I'm
definitely ready.
You sure? - Oh, am I sure?
Yes, I am sure.
Very clearly.
Very clearly sure.
Wait, wait, wait.
Tell me your name.
I can't.
Why not?
You should have remembered.
Come on on, now.
No.
Pretty, please.
Pretty, pretty,
pretty, pretty, pretty, please.
Pretty, please.
Pretty, please, pretty, please.
Asha.
Asha. - Mm-hm.
Asha, that's it. - Yes.
Yeah.
You happy now? - I'm very
happy.
Well, just to be clear though,
you, you don't have like a
boyfriend or nothing, do you?
What?
No.
No, come on. - Okay,
okay.
Ouch.
Shh, quiet.
Okay.
Okay, so, remember earlier
when you asked me if I
had a boyfriend and I said no.
Yeah, like five minutes ago?
Yeah.
You lied? - I lied.
Except he's not my
boyfriend, he's my fiance,
so technically I didn't lie.
A fiance, shit.
And he's at the door.
What?
I know.
You're gonna hide over there.
Okay? - Okay, but I.
But he's big and he hates
white people.
Well, you talking about
that dude in the picture?
So, you were looking through
my stuff?
Yeah, I was just a little bit.
Why'd you lie?
What do you mean why did I
lie?
Okay, look, and I'm also not
white.
Okay, white looking,
white acting, whatever.
Anyway, he's at the door.
No, that guy is fucking big.
Yeah, he played pro ball.
Oh, really, where?
Linebacker for the Saints.
You mean the New York Saints?
Listen, just, just go over
there, okay?
And pray.
I'm agnostic.
It's never too late to start,
okay?
Hello?
One second.
Hi.
Can I help you? - Evening,
ma'am.
Mind if I come in and take a
look around?
What's going on out
there?
This your place?
When can we leave?
There's an escape felon on the
loose.
We're suspecting that he's
hiding around
in one of these houses.
So you locked down
the whole neighborhood?
Yeah.
He's carjacked some people.
Shotted officers, kidnapped the
dog.
Um, this is serious.
Anyone else in here with you?
No.
Seen anything strange?
I thought I heard cops.
Oh, is, uh, is everything okay?
I thought you
said you were here alone.
Uh, who are you?
This is, um.
Lucas, Lucas Christian.
Seriously?
Your last name is Christian.
Sir, I'm gonna need you
to put on a shirt, please.
Officer, Ma'am, um, I have
places to be,
so when can we leave?
You have somewhere
to be?
Where?
That's in your business, lady.
Just do your job.
Have a nice night.
Fuck.
You okay?
I knew I shouldn't have done
this.
Oh, God.
Asha, what the fuck.
Where you going?
To the back porch.
You coming?
Yeah, yeah.
No, no, definitely, I'm coming.
I never walked away
You do it every time
We are not the same
Love ain't easy
Come on.
Oh, I'm coming.
Fighting your demon
Still can't fuck with my soul
Take this, take this
Watch your breath
Watch this
Get down, sit down
Do you feel it
Take this
Watch this
You know, sometimes,
you like really listen, the
freeway sounds like the ocean.
First of all, one, no, I
don't sound like a freeway.
And second, don't change the
subject.
Having a fiance is a big ass
omission.
Hold the judgment, bro.
You're the one going home
with random people from Dragon
Gate.
Let that sink in.
Dragon Gate, I could've been a
murderer.
Yeah, facts.
Besides, we're pretty much
broken up now.
How are y'all
broken up if y'all engaged?
He's engaged.
I don't understand.
I broke up with him,
and then he proposed.
Wow.
Yeah, fuck move, right?
No, I think it's pretty
clever.
I mean, if you try to break
up with me, I'll propose too.
Okay.
Anyway, I didn't accept,
so it's just a unilateral offer.
Well, did he give you
a ring and everything?
Yep, but I'm giving it back.
Yeah, sure, you are.
No, seriously,
I tried to reject it but
he forced it on my finger.
How did he
force you to take a ring?
In front of our family and
friends.
If you say so.
Okay, his grandmother was
there.
It was a lot of pressure.
How long you two been
together?
Long enough.
Now, you don't seem
like you're from Oakland.
I'm from Bakersville. - Yikes.
Have you even been?
God, no.
I passed through a few times.
That was enough.
Yeah, yeah,
you're probably right.
So tell me how someone
with a last name like
Christian becomes agnostic?
Probably reading too many
books.
You know, start questioning
everything and everyone.
Your parents fanatics?
Yeah, extremely.
You?
I believe in God,
uh, I'm more faithful
than religious, I guess.
I started studying
the history of the Bible,
and there are a lot of holes in
that story.
Exactly.
But still you
can't deny a higher power.
Well, I can make a pretty good
argument.
Dude, something or someone
has to be controlling the shit
down here.
Trust me, it's not.
So I guess, God didn't, uh,
order your steps to Oakland?
Nope, that was Josh.
Josh is your Jesus.
Nah, he was my
roommate at Chico State.
He hooked me up with
a dispensary gig.
You ever see, um,
anything crazy working at the
weed shops?
Nah.
I mean, I saw a lady pass
out from hitting a Dab too hard.
That's it, like
no robberies or nothing?
Nah, it was pretty chill.
What about you?
What's the craziest
thing you've seen in a job?
There was this like one job
that I had right after law
school.
Years ago, I used to clerk for
a criminal judge in Maryland.
Clerk?
Is that like a secretary?
No, I was a law clerk.
So, what does a law clerk do?
Legal stuff, like I
would, uh, write briefs
and do research for the judge.
So, there was this one case,
and I think about it sometimes,
a guy was killed two
o'clock in the afternoon
in downtown Baltimore,
some type of gang stuff.
Uh, the streets were crowded,
but only one eyewitness came
forward,
a little boy, like, eight years
old.
A little boy said he
saw a guy in a ski mask,
shoot the victim, and then
after, pull the mask up and run.
He said he, uh, recognized the
defendant
from the neighborhood.
And you believed this boy?
Yeah.
Okay.
But, uh, how close was he?
The boy? - Yeah.
Uh, he was in an apartment
building,
right above the shooting,
like three stories up.
That's pretty far up.
Yeah, but the little boy was
sure,
like he knew this guy for sure.
Plus, I could just tell he did
it.
How?
I know this is wrong,
but he just looked guilty.
Like, he was the most sinister
person I'd ever seen, ever.
He would sneer at the
prosecutor and mock the judge.
When the 911 call was played,
the victim's family got really
emotional.
But when he saw them
crying, he started laughing.
He ever messed with you?
Yeah.
When he was being cross
examined by the prosecution,
they had him put on this
ski mask and then take it off,
put it on and take it
off over and over again.
It was really stressful.
Yeah, I can imagine.
But every
time he pulled the mask up,
he grimaced at me.
What, why you?
I don't know.
But, uh, it was my job to take
the mask
and put it back into the
evidence room.
One day I went to reach
for it and he wouldn't let it go.
Shit.
And I went and reached for it
again,
and then he yanked me toward
him.
The bailiff ran over
and he finally let it go.
Well, what happened, were you
scared?
No, I mean, I knew
he couldn't do anything.
What happened to the case?
He got off.
Serious?
How?
The jury didn't think
that the boy could recognize the
defendant
with the mask partially covering
his face.
So the mask did its job.
Literally.
But that's not the craziest
part.
So, a bunch of months later, I'm
at work,
um, and I rushed down
to put money in my meter.
And you know how you can just
see
and, like, feel someone,
like, looking at you?
Well, I look up and who do I
see?
Him? - Him.
Whoa.
Did he say anything?
What'd you do?
He smiled.
Walked by.
But then.
But then?
Well.
He lunged at me. - Oh, oh God.
No, I'm kidding, no, he
didn't.
He didn't lunge at me, he
just smiled and walked by.
But you said, God.
No, I didn't.
Yep, yep, yep, nope,
you literally called out for
God.
No, I didn't, you're being
ridiculous.
You can't hear me over that
freeway.
Come on, dude, let's go
in, I'm fucking cold.
Gotta be scared
Gotta be scared
Gotta be scared
Gotta be scared
Gotta be scared
Gotta be scared
Hey, can I use the bathroom?
Mm-hm, go ahead.
Okay.
Like a new
chair or some shit.
Lucas.
Lucas, can you hear me?
Where are you?
Is everything okay?
I'm getting worried.
Lucas.
Lucas, can you hear me, where
are you?
Lucas?
Yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm sorry
about that.
Mm-hm.
You okay?
There's no meat in this place,
but you smoke from a vape.
I think you're a good writer.
Why'd you go through my stuff?
Curious.
Mm, happy now?
Can I read some more?
No.
Come on.
I showed you my work and I,
I never show anyone my work.
Please?
Okay.
Sure.
Thank you. - Mm, you're
welcome.
"Every morning I'm here."
Okay, you don't have to read
it out loud.
"At the corner of Turner
Lane and Signpost Road,
behind the woods.
It is not really near my home,
nor is it on the way to work.
It is not even easy to get to,
but it is the only place
I can find her regularly.
God.
If peace could be a thing, a
single thing,
then it would be this place.
It seems that everything you
wanted to do,
everything you wanted to be,
the hope that makes you
think that horrible things
will soon pass are all in
fruitful abundance here.
The sense of calm is contagious.
She used to hang out across
town, but it got too rough.
A place where feelings don't
matter and tears go unnoticed.
The type of place where they
will continue
to strike your hands until they
tire,
then they will go for your face.
Unless you drop to the
ground, then the feet come out.
Your only option is to run
and maybe come back with a group
that is larger and tougher than
theirs,
but it is unlikely, impossible
even.
They are from here
incarnated from the rubble
that covers most of the open
land.
You should see it.
Kids playing atop mountains of
rocks
and boulders almost as tall
as the few remaining buildings
that sprout from the pavement,
like gigantic brown weeds.
But more noticeable than the
rubble
are the ghosts, the
worst being the little ones.
You cannot tell their
age, only their height.
They walk around aimless,
moaning, looking for their mothers
who have likely passed on or
moved on,
fed up and frustrated with
the people here and their ways.
These people, they walk around
overtaken
"by pain." - Okay, okay, okay.
"Their heads and-" - That's
enough.
What are you doing with that?
What do you mean?
I mean, it's good.
Have you sent it to any agents?
No.
Does your girlfriend like it?
That was her, right, on the
phone?
Your girlfriend?
I could tell she was important.
You cannot tell that.
Dude, you fucking turned
into a ninja to end that call.
So, yes, she is important.
Really, I hope I didn't
mess something up for you.
I don't know.
I'll just say that maybe my
phone got stolen or something.
So she is your
girlfriend?
Ex.
Ah.
Does she know it? - Does she
know what?
That you
two are no longer together?
Our relationship is in
the transitional phase.
Wow, that's original.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah, you're one to talk.
No, I'm serious.
I, I mean, I've literally
never heard that line before.
So, what's the deal?
I told you, there's no deal.
Hold up.
I spill the beans about my
situation,
but you're all quiet on yours?
What do you wanna know?
That we've been together since
college,
and I've wanted to break up
since college?
That's a long time.
Should just do it.
Oh, yeah?
Wow, this coming from you.
I'm serious.
Like, why haven't you done it?
I mean, you're a guy.
Mm-hm, well, I just
haven't found the right time.
What does she do?
She runs a karate
studio.
Do you do karate too?
Absolutely, not.
She ever put them hands on
you?
What are you talking about?
Like, has she ever like
hit you with a karate hand?
I don't know.
Maybe, once.
Really?
Why, how?
Wait, this isn't funny.
I'm not saying that it
is.
Then, why are you laughing?
I'm not.
What happened?
I tried to break up
with her and she hit me.
Like a punch or a slap?
No, more like a, like a jab.
Where?
In the throat.
How did you respond to
that?
Like, what did you do?
Nothing.
Are you serious?
I maintain pacifist views.
Yeah, me too, until someone
hits me.
Have you been hit in a
relationship?
Yeah.
By your fiance?
He's not my fiance.
And no, not him.
He doesn't care that much.
Yeah, but for one minute,
you thought he was
coming in here to fuck me up.
And I was wrong.
How did you and Chuck Norris
meet anyway?
She doesn't seem like your type,
with your, you know,
nonviolent peacefulness.
Okay, okay.
Um.
I was DJing a set at
homecoming, that's where we met.
And then she demanded a song for
me,
and then she asked me out.
Which song?
"Holding My Hand."
Hootie & the Blowfish.
I cannot imagine you as a DJ.
Well, I was one for like
six years, and I was a dancer.
A dancer? - Mm-hm.
Really?
No, mm-mm.
So a B-boy who likes Hootie &
the Blowfish.
No, who said I liked them?
Well, you knew who they
were when she requested it.
Yeah, because everybody knows
them,
and everybody knows that song.
Nah, I can't see it.
You have a name?
A DJ name? - Mm-hm.
Yeah.
Prof B.
Like, Professor B?
No, like, Profound Bastard.
Like, did you,
that was the, that was
the best you could do?
That is a horrible name.
How did you even come up with
that?
That's so whack.
Like.
Wait, Wu-Tang Name Generator.
Oh, my God, oh, my God.
I can totally see you walking
around campus
with like, your headphones on
your neck.
Bastard is kind of harsh,
so did you try any other
variations of your name?
Yeah, it was either that or
Lucky Genius.
Oh, yeah, no.
Lucky Genius is not very B-boy.
But taken literally,
you are more of a lucky
genius than a profound bastard.
I mean, you seem super smart.
Oh, okay, but I'm not very
lucky.
Did your parents get married?
Yeah.
Well, see, it's hard
to see the bastard part.
And you don't seem like
someone who's unprincipled
or, like, a scoundrel or
something.
Well, what about this?
Really?
So I guess, I'm an
unprincipled scoundrel too.
Look, I didn't meet you at
church.
Oh, okay.
You got jokes.
I got it, okay.
Mm-hm, yeah.
All right.
All right, so how did you and,
and Mr. Michael Jordan meet?
He's a football player.
So?
You don't know any
football players for reference?
Um, Joe Montana.
He needed a tutor for Spanish.
And?
And that's it.
He couldn't resist me.
Yeah, okay. - Mm-hmm.
That's right.
No, he was just really sweet.
And that's all I really need,
like, be nice and be about me.
Well then, what happened?
He stopped being nice, and
he stopped being about me.
I guess I thought that
it would be different
when he got to the league,
or at least, like, stay the same.
First year of law school,
we were supposed to
go to the Barrister's Ball.
And I got a dress and shoes.
Wait, uh, Barrister's?
Oh, it's like a, a winter
formal, but for law students.
Anyway, the NFL season was over,
and he promised that we would
go.
So like a, like a, a
prom but for lawyers?
Yeah, yeah.
So, so how's it different?
You know, I really don't know,
because I've never been to a
prom.
So look, we confirm a
pickup time and I rent a limo.
And what does this fool do?
He doesn't show up? - Exactly.
I actually waited on him for two
hours.
Well, did you go by yourself?
By myself?
Of course, not.
So lemme get this straight.
You've never been to a prom.
Mm-mm.
Really, why not?
No one ever asked me.
Oh, I find that hard to
believe.
It's true.
Okay.
So, but never like, you know,
like a homecoming dance,
or like, you know, like
a winter formal or like.
No, nothing.
Oh, that's
probably why you can't dance.
I can too dance.
No, no, no, you can't dance.
Well, you can't slow dance.
You don't know that.
I mean, if you've never
been to a formal dance,
then it's impossible to
know how to slow dance.
Oh, stop, stop it.
Come on.
Come on, what?
Well, you, we were gonna
be slick here for a while.
I mean, you did me a solid
by not sending me out into,
you know, the police stand off,
so I'm gonna teach you how to
slow dance.
No.
Asha, may I have this dance?
You are so silly.
My gosh.
We don't even have any music.
Come on, DJ. - I'm coming.
Boom.
No, hell, no.
Music, cool, got it.
I mean, I have been to a dance,
but I know we can't dance today.
I mean, they be this song be
killing it.
Okay, yeah. - I'm telling you.
Wow. - See?
It's okay. - That's better.
It's okay. - No, it's better.
Yeah, it'll work.
No. - It'll work.
Oh, wait minute, I have
something.
Come on.
I've made a bad habit
Now, prepared to be amazed.
Oh, okay, wait.
Whoa.
Was that it?
No.
You turn off those lights
amazingly.
That's it, right? - All right.
It's good. - Yeah.
I'm not gonna ask why you have a
strobe.
Yeah, don't.
All right, you ready? - Mm-
hmm.
Okay.
Mm-hm, nope.
There. - Okay.
I think there's like a
scientist reason
why your hands have to be that
way.
Okay.
Oh, okay.
Mm-hmm.
I think I got it. - You got
it?
Mm-hmm.
So we're gonna do this.
One hand goes there. - Mm-hm.
One hand goes there.
Or should I go and give this
up
Tonight
Close the tab call a cab
And head right
I'm tryna to see if your
words match your actions
And give satisfaction
Put it in action
Make me feel you in the worse
way
I wanna practice all that word
play
You sent me texting on
Wednesday night
Ooh, baby
Is it easier
For me to go and give it up
Or should I go and give this
up
Tonight
It's easier
For me to go and give it up
Or should I go and give this
up
Tonight
Your arm?
What?
Your arm?
What happened to it?
Oh, uh, nothing, I hurt it
while hiking.
Hiking?
Yeah, up Mount Diablo.
Where's that?
You're kidding, right?
Wait, no, no, no, you're from
here
and you never noticed a
huge mountain behind the hills.
I'm not into hiking.
I don't understand it.
What don't you understand? -
The purpose.
Well, it is nice to get
away for a few hours.
So, are you burning yourself
cooking overnight oats?
Ha, nah, I just, um,
I had a little slip and fall
accident.
Ouch.
What happened?
Well, it was supposed
to be a short three-mile
hike up the main summit, but.
But what?
Well, I never
go off the main trail,
but I really wanted to find
the source of this water.
Wait, water?
Yeah, yeah, no, every time I
walk past
this one spot near
Devil's Pulpit, I hear water.
But you can't see any from the
trail,
so, you know, I figure it
must be in the valley below.
So you go off the trail?
Mm-hm, I figured I would
investigate.
Go off the trail just once.
And the first few feet are
pretty level,
and it's pretty easy to find
your foot in,
so first few yards down are
pretty chill.
And because of spring,
I'm, I'm walking through
all this thick, lush foliage,
pine trees, elderberry bushes,
and all these colorful
wildflowers.
Like, way more than
you would see on the trail.
Sounds pretty. - Yeah.
Yeah.
And the more I walk,
the more relaxed I get.
Like, the air is cooler and I
can,
I can really hear the water now,
but as I walk a few more feet,
I notice that the terrain
changes a little.
I can see the water,
but the hillside is gone with
like a,
a 90% grade going down.
So, I turned back to the
trail
and everything in my gut
is telling me to go back.
I mean, it was as clear as day,
it was as if someone
was saying, "Don't go."
So as I'm sitting there
contemplating
whether or not I can
make it the rest of the way,
like a dumb ass, I, uh,
I see something crazy.
A pack of wild
turkeys jump out
of a nearby tree, one by one.
Yo, and as these turkeys
are jumping outta the tree,
they walk up to the edge
and run down the ravine toward
the water.
So now I'm thinking, "Well,
that's it, I'm doing this too."
So, I started scaling
down the hillside, carefully,
and immediately, I'm nervous.
The ground is slippery
and it, it feels almost vertical.
With every step, tiny and medium
rocks
tumble hundreds of feet
down toward the water.
And as I'm watching these rocks
jumping,
skip their way to the bottom,
I, I see the last of the
turkeys jumping into the water.
I mean, it was weird.
But then right at the moment, I
slip,
and I slide down that hill so
fast,
it feels like I'm being pulled,
and I'm hitting all sorts of
plants,
and, and bushes on the way down.
I'd try to grab something
to hold onto anything,
but I'm falling too fast
and it feels like I'm
falling for, like, an hour.
But then just like that,
I hit the bottom.
And for a while I didn't move.
I was a few inches from the
water
and I couldn't even turn to see
it.
But I could feel it though and
smell it,
the coolness and the,
and the moisture, and,
and for a while I just, that was
it,
the sound of the water,
the, the blue sky above me,
and the, the dirt beneath my
hands.
And I felt, like, I was a part
of it,
the dirt and the earth.
And maybe, just maybe I,
I wouldn't make it back up.
But like, maybe, maybe I
didn't wanna make it back up,
you know, like, maybe,
I mean, it's the weight,
the, the sheer weight of it.
It's a lot, you know?
I mean, would anyone
know that, or, or care,
you know, like the, the burden
and, and, and the weight.
The weight, the weight,
the weight, the weight.
The weight is, it's, it's, it's
a lot.
It, it, it's heavy and it's,
it's like.
Would anyone care about, about
what?
Hey, are you okay?
No, yeah, no, I'm, I'm okay.
I'm, I'm, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
It's, it's, the weed, is all in
the,
and then I'm, I got a little
involved in the story, um.
And you know, I, I got a little
caught up with myself, um.
So that whole experience on
the mountain
didn't make you believe in God a
little?
Uh.
No.
You're telling me you didn't
say a prayer
when you were on that ground?
I mean, I did.
I'd admit that, but it
was a force of habit.
So?
So, I knew it wouldn't
work and it didn't.
What do you mean?
You're alive.
Okay, but you do believe in
fate, right?
Sure.
I mean, there's an order to the
universe,
and because of that,
things move accordingly,
but not in everything's
possible in Jesus, sort of way.
Why?
I don't know.
I've been praying for change
recently,
like something, anything, you
know.
And tonight's been interesting.
That's all.
Well, I don't know if I
can be a part of something
that answers a prayer.
Tell me something then,
why me?
You go to the club with your
boys,
and you can have an
adulterous one night stand
with anyone in the club, but you
choose me.
That, or this
here was not part of my plan.
I mean, I, I didn't really
wanna go out in the first place.
But when I saw you,
I don't know, this is
gonna sound a little corny,
but it felt like there was an
energy drawing me towards you.
That does sound corny.
No, I'm serious.
I mean, I, I just wanted to say
hi to you,
like maybe that could make my
week better,
and your smile looked
like you could do that.
And when we started
talking, it just felt right.
Like I've always known you.
Why'd you respond?
Didn't seem like you
were trying to pick me up.
'Cause I wasn't.
You seemed
really eager to listen to me,
which I haven't had in a while.
When you asked me to come back
with you,
it didn't feel bad.
I didn't feel bad when I
asked.
Even though
it was maybe a little bit,
I mean, figuring that we just
met.
I felt like I had known you
for a while.
Yeah, me too.
Uh, it was probably
just the alcohol though.
Although, you're completely
not my type,
I'd date you in another life.
Oh, okay.
Well, here I was thinking I
had a shot at this lifetime,
but, oh, well.
Yeah, oh, well.
Well, you know what, you
are a really sweet person.
Thank you.
And a really great painter.
You're just saying that.
No, no, I'm serious.
I mean, I don't know how
you can work a lawyer job,
and complete so many pieces.
My art is what I really enjoy.
Plus, I'm, I'm not
really working right now.
Really?
Well, how can you afford
such a beautiful spot?
Your, your mom and
your pops helping you out?
I'm studying for the bar
again, and once I pass,
I'll have a few different
job opportunities.
Well, did one of
these jobs give you in advance?
Because I'm looking for
places to, you know, move out,
but everything is hella
expensive.
What's the rent like in the
spot?
He pays for it.
Hassan.
He pays for the spot.
Your boyfriend, really?
Yo, where does he
live?
In the city.
Really?
He pays for a spot in San
Francisco,
but then also pays your rent in
Oakland.
Your point?
No, I mean, it's just
fascinating.
You know, y'all been
together for some years,
why don't you just live
together?
He says it's because
of his training schedule.
Training?
Yeah, what does that
have to do with anything?
You know, I, I really think
you should leave this guy now.
At first I felt bad for you,
but now I'm thinking
you're stringing him along.
Fuck off.
He clearly wants to
marry you.
First, fuck you,
really.
Secondly, he doesn't wanna marry
me.
He wants to control me
and protect his little image.
You sit there all judgy
in your flannel shirt
like, you know shit.
You said yourself,
you and your girlfriend
have a housing arrangement.
- It must be nice.
- I am looking for a place.
I said that things are
just expensive right now.
Mm, sounds real convenient for
you.
At least, I'm paying
something.
So that's the threshold, pay
something?
Trust me, she's just a crutch.
It may be financial or emotional
or both,
but she is just a crutch.
You said you don't love him,
right?
Well, just don't stay for the
money.
You're super sweet and
you don't deserve that.
You deserve better.
I deserve better?
You can't tell me what I
deserve.
You don't know me and
you don't know my life.
Hey, I'm sorry, I'm, I'm
overstepping my boundaries.
My boyfriend, ex-boyfriend,
whatever, pays for my place,
so fucking what?
You sit there so afraid of your
own shadow,
that you're living a shell of a
life.
Your girlfriend whoops
your ass and you just take it.
I'm content with my life.
Are you, really?
Because I've listened to you all
night
and I can't identify one
fucking decision you've made.
You wrote a book, but
you're too afraid to send it out.
You plan to enroll in grad
school, but nothing yet.
And you've been planning
to leave your girlfriend
for five years, but just
haven't found the right time.
Lemme tell you something,
it has nothing to do with timing
and everything to do with fear.
I'm fighting to figure out
my situation and I will,
while you, you just judge.
I said I'm sorry.
No, you are just like everyone
else.
You got it all figured out,
but you're all fucked up at the
same time.
You know, I don't always say
what I feel,
but you're right about
everything.
I mean, I wanna do all of those
things,
but I guess, like you
said, I'm just a coward.
But you are super sweet and
honest,
but you are with a messed
up guy and that is not fair.
I feel like someone who is as
kind as you
deserves to be full on all the
way happy.
Now, me.
That's it, this is my lot in
life.
I mean, I'm not complaining
or nothing, you know,
all my needs are met and, and
I'm happy,
Dude, kill that, "I'm happy
bit."
It's okay to want more.
We all gotta grow, right?
You're right.
I guess I'm not sure how to
grow.
In fact, I didn't even
know I needed to until now.
Just fucking do it.
Like, make a decision and
then act on the shit.
Like, who cares if you're wrong,
you know?
Insightful.
Thank you for your, your kind
words.
I'm good at giving advice,
but pretty bad at taking it.
You know, earlier, you said,
uh,
you were praying for change.
You know, I'm not praying or
nothing,
but I am reciting my
affirmations about changing my life
and, and bringing in new energy.
So in other words, you've been
praying?
No, no, not praying,
just saying affirmations
to no one in particular.
So leave and do what?
Hmm?
You said I should leave,
right?
What do you suggest?
You don't like being alone,
right?
Well, neither do I.
I don't like to be alone, but
I am.
And so are you.
What are you saying?
I'm saying maybe
you should leave this guy
and maybe we should.
So, how do you know
if leaving is the right
thing or a selfish act?
Do you care about
her, like, about her future?
No, not really.
Exactly.
Hassan and I have known
each other for a very long time,
and if he got a new girlfriend,
which he's had several
since we've been together,
I wouldn't even care.
Like, if he got married to
someone else, even better.
Good for him.
But at one point, you
thought he was the one, right?
Look, there's nothing here for
him.
I mean, even like with this
place, I mean, he pays for it,
but there's nothing
from him or for him here.
When we first got together,
I just wanted his time.
Like, I would go to his dorm
room and leave random stuff
just to make sure I would see
him again.
But now I don't, I don't care.
Like, like clothes?
Clothes, socks, Bible,
whatever.
That's, that's too funny.
I mean, that's what
you're supposed to do.
Like, you leave pieces of
yourself with people that you love
or people you wanna love.
Hmm.
Yeah, I, I guess.
Just think about it.
I'm sure your girl left
hella stuff at your place
when you first met.
I mean, even with your teacher,
like he did that exact thing
when he gave you his
copy of the "Wretched."
You guys were close, right?
Uh, yeah, but that was
different.
He gave me this book as a gift.
Wait, you really have
never left something
at someone's place before?
I mean, maybe trash,
but only an accident,
never on purpose.
Strange.
Wait, stop.
Freeze. - What was that?
No, I don't know.
Well, go look.
No, you go look.
Well, what should I do?
I don't know.
You want me to go out
there and open up the door?
Yes, yes.
Go, go. - Okay, okay, okay.
You want me to open it?
Open it and see what's
going on?
I am, okay, fine.
Oh, my God.
You're free to go now.
That's it?
Yeah, yeah, that's it.
Everyone's gone.
Everyone?
Wow.
That is so weird.
Yeah, yeah, it is.
We made it.
Yeah.
We most certainly did.
Weird.
So, uh.
Yeah, no, I, I, I was thinking,
you know, when,
when we were dancing, um.
Yeah.
That. - One second.
Oh, sure.
You okay? - Yeah.
Uh, yeah, I, I was thinking too,
um.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It seemed like, um.
Yeah, we. - Uh.
I think it might be.
Yeah, I get it, I get it.
Okay.
Okay.
You know. - I think you should
leave.
Yeah, definitely.
No, I got it, got it, don't
worry about it.
What took you so long?
It's a big ass hell.
Okay.
I think you left something.
Thank you. - Mm-hm.
You look good. - Thank you.
So do you.
So you gonna show me the spot.
Come on. - Okay.
Come on.
Okay. - You okay?
You know I just gotta...
You gonna make it?
Stretch it out.
You told me that you
love hiking.