Nola (2003) Movie Script
YOU LEAVE HER ALONE,
FREDDY!
AAH! AAH!
OH, THAT'S NO A FAIR FIGHT, NOW, IS IT?
[WOMAN SCREAMS]
[GRUNTING]
OW! AAH!
OH, MY GOD!
Woman: AND I,
I KNOW A PLACE
WHERE FEAR CANNOT FIND YOU
AND I, I KNOW A PLACE
WHERE SORROW AND RAGE
CANNOT FOLLOW YOU
EVER SINCE I'VE KNOWN YOU
YOU'VE BEEN SEARCHING
FOR THE RIGHT AND WRONG
THE TRUTH IN LIFE
EVER SINCE I'VE KNOWN YOU,
YOU'VE BEEN REACHING
FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS
JUST OUT OF SIGHT
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
AND I, I KNOW A PLACE
WHERE FAITH IS YOUR REALITY
AND I, I KNOW A PLACE
WHERE THE VOICES OF LOVE
ARE A SYMPHONY
THE STREETS THA YOU'VE BEEN WALKING
ALL THESE YEARS
SO UNYIELDING, SO DESOLATED
ALL THE FACES YOU HAVE WORN
TO HIDE YOUR TEARS
DID THEY WEAR YOU OUT,
LEAVE YOU TIRED AND JADED?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
WANDERING SO,
A WANDERING SOUL
WHEN WILL YOU FIND A PLACE
CALLED HOME?
WANDERING SO
WHEN WILL YOU FIND A HOME?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
[SIRENS]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
HORRIBLE PLACE.
IT REALLY IS.
NOTHING FOR YOU,
MISS.
YOU, UH, GOT SOMETHING
TO DO OUT THERE?
PLACE TO STAY?
SOMEONE TO LOOK
AFTER YOU?
HUH?
HELL, NO, YOU DON'T.
GET THE...OUT OF MY WAY.
OOH.
YES?
HEY. UM, I'M LOOKING
FOR A JOB AS A WAITRESS.
SORRY.
NO OPENINGS HERE.
I'M REALLY GOOD AT THIS.
I'VE HAD 4 YEARS OF
FOOD SERVICE EXPERIENCE.
I COULD DO THE FIRST DAY
EVEN AS A KIND OF TRYOUT.
TRY McDONALD'S.
THEY'RE ALWAYS HIRING.
YOU'RE NOT GETTING THIS.
I'M PROBABLY 10 TIMES
SMARTER THAN ANYONE
YOU'VE GOT WORKING HERE.
THEN YOU'RE
OVERQUALIFIED
FOR THE JOB.
APPLY TO ONE OF
THE UNIVERSITIES.
THERE ARE SEVERAL
FREE ONES
IN THE CITY.
[SIGH]
[HORNS HONKING]
BACK IT UP, MAN.
BACK IT UP.
[WOMAN SPEAKING ON POLICE RADIO]
HEY.
YES?
A DOLLAR AND A HALF
FOR A CUP OF COFFEE?
YOU GOT TO BE
KIDDING ME.
NEXT.
WAIT A SECOND.
I NEED A JOB.
MOVE ALONG,
SWEETHEART.
I'LL HELP YOU
WORK THE STAND,
JUST FOR BREAKFAST.
NO ROOM, NO NEED,
NO INTEREST. NEXT.
EXCUSE ME.
YES.
UH, COFFEE,
LIGHT, ONE SUGAR.
THEY'RE HIRING
IN THE EAST VILLAGE,
NEAR ASTOR PLACE.
COFFEE SHOPS.
CHECK THE ADS.
UM...
DOWNTOWN.
SO WHY DON'T YOU
GO FOR IT?
ME?
I'M AN ENTREPRENEUR.
OK.
SO...
WHICH WAY IS DOWN?
YOU GO
TAKE THE 6 TRAIN
AND GO STRAIGHT DOWN
TO ASTOR PLACE.
SCRAMBLED HERE.
RIGHT.
I'M NOLA.
I'M HERE FOR THE JOB.
I'M GUS. WHERE THE HELL
WERE YOU TWO HOURS AGO?
GIVE ME THAT.
WHO HASN'T ORDERED YET?
OVER HERE, PLEASE.
YES, WE HAVEN'T.
Gus: WHO ORDERED
THE SCRAMBLED EGGS
AND BACON COMBO?
[OVERLAPPING VOICES]
Man: HOT DOG
THERE'S NO PAY,
NO BENEFITS.
YOU WORK FOR TIPS,
AND TIPS ARE LOUSY.
YOU WORK FOR ME.
I'M THE MANAGER.
I'M A SON OF A...,
A REAL HARD-...
VERY BAD GUY
TO WORK FOR.
I'M BEN.
IT'S TRUE.
HE'S A REAL...
AND THE TIPS DO SUCK,
BUT THE FOOD'S GOOD.
NOT THAT YOU CARE,
NECESSARILY.
SUITS ME.
YOU HAVE A PLACE TO STAY?
I HAVE A ROOM UPSTAIRS.
YOU CAN CRASH THERE
FOR A FEW DAYS
UNTIL YOU FIND SOMETHING.
I REALLY DON'T THINK SO.
IT'S YOUR CALL,
SWEETHEART.
ALL RIGHT, IF YOU
WANT TO PEE, THIS IS THE TIME.
LUNCH CROWD
ARE GONNA BE HERE
IN 5 MINUTES,
AND THEN WE WORK
OUR LITTLE TUSHES OFF
FOR TWO HOURS.
I LIVE IN QUEENS--
A WIFE, 5 KIDS,
MOTHER-IN-LAW.
I DON'T EVEN HAVE
A SPARE COUCH.
IT'S OK.
THERE ARE FLOPHOUSES
AROUND HERE.
YOU CAN ALWAYS SHARE A CO WITH THEIR WILDLIFE.
FOR THAT PRIVILEGE,
THEY'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE
WHAT YOU MADE ON A DAY.
I'LL FIND SOMETHING.
DON'T WORRY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS,
SOME ENCHANTED LITTLE VILLAGE?
THESE ARE CRUEL STREETS.
THAT'S BEN'S PLACE
THERE.
HE'LL BE HOME
IN A COUPLE OF HOURS
IF YOU WANT TO WAIT.
IT'LL BE NICE NOT TO
HAVE TO FIND YOUR TORSO
IN A DUMPSTER TOMORROW MORNING.
I MEAN, I HATE TO HAVE TO
PUT THAT SIGN OUT AGAIN.
WHAT? YOU--YOU THINK
I'M YANKING YOUR CHAIN HERE?
LOOK. HE'S NOT GONNA
TRY TO GROPE YOU,
IF THAT'S WHA YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT.
I BELIEVE THE MAN
TO BE A GENTLEMAN.
REALLY?
I'VE ME PLENTY OF THOSE,
AND I CAN
TELL YOU, GUS,
YOUR EXPERIENCES
HAVE PROBABLY BEEN
A LITTLE DIFFEREN FROM MINE.
SUIT YOURSELF.
I'LL SEE YOU AT 6:30.
HA HA HA!
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
IT'S TOP FLOOR.
SORRY IT'S A SCHLEP.
IT'S COOL?
BETTER THAN
A PARK BOULDER.
WHICH IS WHERE
YOU SLEPT LAST NIGHT?
PART OF IT.
UNBELIEVABLE.
YOU ARRIVE HERE
FROM WHERE, KANSAS?
HOW'D YOU KNOW?
FIGURES.
WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE
THINK THIS IS--
A THEME PARK?
BEN, PLEASE.
I GOT THE "TORSO
IN THE DUMPSTER" SPEECH
FROM GUS.
POINT IS, YOU DON' COME TO A CITY LIKE THIS
WITHOUT KNOWING ANYBODY.
I DO KNOW SOMEBODY.
REALLY?
YOU KNOW SOMEBODY
HERE IN THE CITY,
BECAUSE YOU PREFER
TO SLEEP IN THE PARK.
IT'S A LITTLE MORE
COMPLICATED THAN THAT.
I'LL BET.
LOOK. I'M SORRY.
IT'S NO MY BUSINESS.
HERE.
THIS KIND OF FITS.
THIS PERSON AND I
HAVEN'T ACTUALLY MET.
I SAID IT WAS COMPLICATED.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S TOO LATE FOR THIS.
UM...PRIVILEGES
OF BEING A GUEST--
YOU GET TO USE
THE BATHROOM FIRST,
BUT NO BATHS.
YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO WAIT TILL
TOMORROW MORNING
TO TAKE A BATH,
AND I OPEN THE PLACE
AROUND 6:00.
YOU GET TO HANG
AROUND HERE TILL 6:30.
[SIGH]
GREAT.
HEY, UH, ADVERTISING
DEPARTMENT, PLEASE?
HI. YEAH. I WANT TO PLACE A--
NO, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WORDS.
I MEAN--
I KNOW WHAT I WANT IT TO SAY,
BUT I HADN'T COUNTED--
OK. OK.
UH, NOLA KEYNES, 18,
FROM KANSAS,
HAS COME TO NEW YORK
LOOKING FOR HER DAD.
NO, NOT "WOMEN SEEKING MEN."
I WANT IT ON THE BACK PAGE.
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
AND I, I KNOW A PLACE
WHERE YOUR REALITY IN LIFE
WHO ARE YOU?
JUST A CHALK MARK
IN A RAINSTORM.
WHAT CAN I GET YOU?
BEN'S GOT ME.
WHERE'D YOU HEAR THAT SONG?
I GREW UP WITH IT.
MY MOM SANG I INCESSANTLY.
GET THE LADY
SOME COFFEE.
NOW.
AHH.
YOUR TASTE IS
PICKING UP, GUS.
SHE JUST WALKED IN HERE.
WE HAD A SIGN.
A SIGN.
OH, JESUS...
YOU JUST LAID EYES
ON HER.
I CAN'T BE PUTTING OU A NEW SIGN EVERY DAY.
CAREFUL THERE.
THAT'S YOUR EMPLOYER.
THAT WOMAN
OWNS THE PLACE?
AND THE BUILDING.
SO SHE'S ALSO
YOUR LANDLADY?
PART OF MY COMPENSATION.
SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
THE KIND OF PERSON
WHO'D EA IN A PLACE LIKE THIS,
MUCH LESS OWN IT.
YEAH? WHAT DOES SHE
LOOK LIKE, YOU THINK?
SOMEONE WHO DOESN' REACT WELL TO
AN OVERCOOKED OMELET.
HERE YOU GO.
SO HOW DID SHE
GET THIS PLACE?
PROBABLY A GIF FROM A GRATEFUL JOHN.
SHE'S A PROSTITUTE?
SHE RUNS AN ESCOR SERVICE.
YOU MEAN SHE'S
A HIGH-CLASS PIMP?
THAT'S A RATHER
PEJORATIVE WAY
OF DESCRIBING
WHAT SHE DOES, BUT...
YES, IN AN EXOTIC
SORT OF WAY,
THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES,
AND THAT'S PROBABLY
HOW SHE HERSELF
WOULD DESCRIBE IT.
MARGARET WANTS
TO TALK TO YOU
FOR A MINUTE.
BE NICE.
SHE'S THE BOSS.
SO I GATHER.
I DON'T...MEN FOR MONEY.
WOMEN, EITHER,
FOR THAT MATTER.
NEITHER DO I, HONEY.
AT LEAST NOT ANYMORE.
MM-HMM.
BUT APART FROM THAT,
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE?
YOU DON'T SPILL,
EITHER, HUH?
AT LEAST NO IN COFFEE SHOPS.
WE'LL GIVE IT SOME TIME.
[SIRENS]
IT'S OK.
I'M NOT SLEEPING.
WHY THE HELL NOT?
SIRENS. CAR ALARMS.
SO...NOISY!
AND I CAN'T IMAGINE
WHERE YOU GOT THIS COUCH,
OR RATHER,
I CAN IMAGINE.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO
THINK ABOUT IT.
NOT COMFORTABLE,
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL TAKE THE COUCH.
WHAT'S PUT YOU
IN SUCH A ... MOOD?
WHAT DO YOU DO,
WORK FOR MARGARE AT NIGHT, TOO?
SOME OLD WOMAN
WORE YOU OUT?
OR MAYBE IT WAS
SOME OLD GEEZER.
THAT'S FUNNY?
NOT REALLY.
IT'S JUST PRETTY CLOSE
TO THE JOB ORIGINALLY
OFFERED.
WHICH YOU TURNED DOWN?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WELL, IT'S A LO MORE PROSAIC THAN
SELLING MY BOD.
YEAH? WHAT?
LAW SCHOOL.
I GO TO LAW SCHOOL
AT NIGHT.
OH, IT'S WORSE, THEN,
ISN'T IT?
BODY AND SOUL.
YOU DON'T LIKE
LAWYERS, EITHER?
JESUS,
NOBODY LIKES LAWYERS.
NOT EVEN OTHER LAWYERS.
YOU'RE ALL OF WHAT,
18?
YOU ALREADY
KNOW EVERYTHING.
SO HOW'D YOU GET TO
BE SUCH A SMART-...?
IT WASN'T EASY.
I CAN IMAGINE.
[SIGH]
SO THAT'S YOUR DREAM,
THEN?
TO BECOME A LAWYER?
AT THIS STAGE,
I DON'T KNOW WHA TO CALL IT.
IT'S HARDLY A DREAM.
AH. YOU MIGHT NO WANT TO WATCH THIS.
I SLEEP
IN MY SKIVVIES.
EW!
TIGHTY WHITIES?
YOU DON'T LIKE
MY JOCKEY SHORTS,
EITHER?
I LIKE THEM SO LONG
AS YOU KEEP THEM
AND YOUR STUFF
IN YOUR OWN BED.
NO OFFENSE,
BUT THE WAY I FEEL
RIGHT NOW,
YOU COULD LIE
ALL OVER ME BUCK NAKED
AND IT'S NOT GONNA
DO YOU THE SLIGHTES BIT OF GOOD.
I DON'T THINK
WE'LL BE PUTTING
THAT ONE TO THE TEST.
NOLA, LIGHTEN UP,
WILL YOU?
IT'S A JOKE.
GIVE ME AN ADAM AND EVE
ON A RAF AND A BLONDE AND SWEET.
BEN'S WORKING
ON MARGARET'S OMELET.
GUESS WHO'S GONNA
DELIVER IT.
WE DON'T DELIVER.
OH, WITH MARGARET,
WE MAKE EXCEPTION.
IS THIS
A GOOD ADDRESS?
LOWER FIFTH AVENUE?
NO! IT'S THE PROJECTS.
YOU EVER GET TO SEE IT--
HER APARTMENT?
NOPE.
BEN?
NOPE.
WHAT MAKES ME
SO LUCKY?
WOMAN'S HUNGRY.
HAVE A SEAT.
KEEP ME COMPANY
WHILE I EAT.
EASY.
OH, RIGHT.
TAKEOUT, ONLY.
IT'S AN ESCOR SERVICE.
THAT'S NOT QUITE
WHAT I'M RUNNING HERE,
NOT IN THE NORMAL
SENSE OF THAT TERM.
REALLY?
AS IN A TRADITIONAL MODE,
WE HAVE THE CUSTOMER
AND THE SERVICE PROVIDER,
BUT IN MY SERVICE,
BOTH HAVE THE FREEDOM
TO CHOOSE.
SOUNDS LIKE A TRICKY WAY
OF NOT CALLING I "PROSTITUTION."
IT IS IN FAC A SYSTEM I ARRIVED A OUT OF DEEPCONVICTIONCPNVICTION.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
DO YOU KNOW
HOW TO OPERATE THAT THING?
AND THIS ACTUALLY
HAPPENS?
GIRLS TELL TRICKS
TO GET LOST?
ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, I GUESS
YOU'RE MAKING A BUCK
AROUND HERE, SO...
MAYBE IT ISN' TOTALLY NUTS.
PERHAPS YOU'D LIKE
TO SEE YOUR ROOM.
MY WHAT?
IT GOES WITH THE JOB.
WHAT JOB?
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK.
MY ASSISTANT,
MY SECRETARY.
MAJORDOMO.
WHATEVER I CAN'T GET TO
AND YOU'VE LEARNED
HOW TO DO
BECAUSE I'VE TAUGHT YOU.
EXCEPT FOR
THE DAMN COMPUTER,
WHICH YOU'LL TEACH ME.
YOU WANT ME TO HELP YOU
RUN THIS SERVICE?
YES, PLUS
EVERYTHING ELSE.
I OWN TWO BUILDINGS
AND THE COFFEE SHOP
NOW.
I EXPECT TO OWN
MORE SOON.
YOU JUST MET ME.
AND SOMETHING
IN MY RESUME JUST...
JUMPED OUT AT YOU?
AS IT TURNS OUT,
WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.
SO...MAYBE THIS
WAS A BAD IDEA.
Man on machine:
NOLA, IT'S REALLY YOU.
GET OVER HERE,
YOU LITTLE SPITFIRE, YOU.
I'LL BE WAITING
IN THE LIBERTY MOTEL.
Woman: TO ERASE, PRESS--
[BEEP]
NINTH VOICE MESSAGE.
Different man:
SO YOUR AD SAYS YOU'RE 18.
I LOVE THEM THAT YOUNG.
[BEEP]
Woman: TENTH VOICE MESSAGE.
Different woman: IF IT'S A DADDY
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,
I HAVE SOMETHING BETTER.
WHY DON'T YOU CALL ME AT 555-5--
[BEEP]
Woman: END OF MESSAGES.
TO ERASE, PRESS--
SO HOW'S IT GOING
THERE?
LAW SCHOOL?
YOU MEAN GRADES?
THEY FIGURE OU A BETTER WAY TO MEASURE IT?
I'M DOING
REASONABLY WELL
GIVEN MY BASIC
UNFAMILIARITY WITH
THE COURSE MATERIAL.
WINGING IT, HUH?
YOU MIGHT SAY.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
SHE WANTS ME
TO COME WORK FOR HER
AND LIVE IN
HER APARTMENT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
AND TO WHAT DO YOU OWE
THE SPEEDY PROMOTION?
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
I'M ABOUT TO BECOME
A HOOKER?
WHY WOULD I THINK THAT?
THE PROPRIETRESS OF
ONE OF THE MOS SUCCESSFUL
FLOATING WHOREHOUSES
IN THE CITY
OFFERS YOU A JOB
AFTER SEEING YOU
ONLY ONCE.
WHERE'S THE CONNECTION?
WELL, YOU'RE WRONG.
THE JOB IS TO BE
HER ASSISTANT.
THE JOB YOU PREVIOUSLY
DESCRIBED AS BEING
A PIMP.
WELL...IT'S NOT AS IF
I HAVE SO MANY OPTIONS
RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ILLEGAL.
IT SHOULDN'T BE.
YOU RUN FOR OFFICE
AND CHANGE THE LAW,
RIGHT?
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE
A BIG...HELP.
HOW ELSE AM I
SUPPOSED TO FIND
A PLACE TO LIVE
IN THIS...CITY?
EASY. STAY WITH ME.
OH. RIGHT.
IF I START PUTTING OUT.
JESUS...GIRL.
HAVE I SO MUCH AS TRIED
TO LAY A HAND ON YOU?
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY
OBSESSED WITH SEX.
ISN'T EVERYONE?
YEAH, PROBABLY.
WHEN'D YOU SAY
YOU'D LET HER KNOW BY?
AFTER THE WEEKEND.
OK.
LOOK. WE'RE BOTH OFF
TONIGHT,
AND I DON'T HAVE
ANY CLASSES.
I'LL TAKE YOU
TO A RESTAURAN I KNOW
HERE
IN THE EAST VILLAGE.
GOOD FOOD,
GOOD PRICES...
WE CAN TALK
ABOUT IT.
YOU WANT TO TAKE ME
ON A DATE?
NO, CERTAINLY NOT.
BUSINESS MEAL.
TALK ABOUT OTHER
JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
I'M NOT SLEEPING
WITH YOU.
DAMN IT, NOLA.
YOU'RE A BROKEN RECORD.
YOU'RE TOO YOUNG FOR ME.
YOU'RE 18, MAYBE.
HOW'D YOU GE TO BE THIS WAY?
WHY DO I KEEP
GETTING ASKED THAT?
BECAUSE YOU'RE
A PAIN IN THE ...
SO YOU'RE NO ASKING ME ON A DATE?
NO.
BUSINESS MEAL--
THAT'S THE OFFER.
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.
I ACCEPT.
SO...
WHY'D YOU LEAVE KANSAS?
DOROTHY.
WHAT?
THE QUOTE IS,
"WHY DID YOU LEAVE
KANSAS, DOROTHY?"
OK.
WELL...
FIRST, YOUR STEPFATHER
GETS YOU TO MAKE
FRIENDS
WITH ALL
THE OLD PEOPLE
IN THE TRAILER PARK.
AND THEN HE MAKES YOU
WRITE DOWN THE NAMES
OF ALL THEIR
PRESCRIPTION
PAINKILLERS.
AND YOU DO IT...
BECAUSE YOU'RE STUPID.
AND THEN HE GOES
IN THERE
AND HE STEALS THE ONE
CALLED OXYCODONE,
WHICH HE CRUSHES UP
SO THE TIME RELEASES
WON'T GIVE HIM AWAY.
THEN HE AND YOUR MOTHER
FIGHT OVER THE POWDER
LIKE DOGS
UNTIL IT'S ALL
UP THEIR NOSES,
AND BINGO,
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
STRONG AS HEROIN.
SHE USED TO SING,
BUT SHE THREW THA AWAY..
WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.
GOT OUT WHEN YOU COULD.
I LEFT HER.
WHAT I NEED TO DO NOW
IS MAKE IT HERE.
LIKE THE SAYING GOES,
MAKE IT HERE,
MAKE IT ANYWHERE, RIGHT?
SO THAT'S YOUR DREAM?
YOU'RE A SINGER, TOO.
I'VE HEARD YOU
IN THE SHOWER.
OH, JESUS, NO,
I HAVE NO VOICE.
I JUST WRITE 'EM.
WHY IS EVERYBODY
BEING SO NICE TO ME?
MARGARET, GUS,
EVEN YOU, BEN.
PROBABLY SOME SIGNS
TO A CONSPIRACY.
OH, RIGHT.
YOU'RE ALL GONNA
PUT ME IN SOME SNUFF FILM.
I CAN SEE IT NOW.
TORSO IN THE DUMPSTER.
MWAH!
HA HA HA!
I KNEW IT WAS
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
[CHUCKLES]
WHAT?
NOTHING.
Woman on machine:
YOU HAVE ONE NEW MESSAGE
AND 7 OLD MESSAGES.
Man: HEY, I DON'T KNOW
WHO YOU ARE,
BUT YOU GOT TO STOP
CALLING ME, OK?
JUST STOP DIALING MY NUMBER.
BYE.
Woman: MONDAY, 7:23 A.M.
END OF MESSAGES.
[BEEP]
I CROSS THEM OFF
WHEN I GE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER.
IS THAT FROM
MY PHONE BOOK?
WHO DO YOU NEED
TO LOOK UP IN HURLEY
THROUGH HUTNER?
A PERSON YOU KNOW HERE
BUT YOU'VE NEVER MET.
MY DAD.
A GUY...
FROM NEW YORK...
NAMED HUTCH.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT.
SEEMS HE WAS JUS PASSING THROUGH--
THE STATE OF KANSAS
AND MY MOM.
CAN'T EVEN BE SURE
HE GAVE HER THE RIGHT NAME
OR NICKNAME.
SO YOU'RE CALLING
EVERY HUTCHINS
AND HUTCHINSON
IN THE BOOK.
HI THERE. I WAS WONDERING
IF I MIGHT HAVE A MOMEN OF YOUR TIME
FOR A POLL I'M TAKING.
DID YOU EVER...A WOMAN
IN KANSAS, SAY,
ABOUT 19 YEARS AGO?
THERE ARE OTHER
APPROACHES.
AND I'M TRYING THEM,
BUT THEY'RE ALL
PRETTY PAINFUL.
LOOK. I DON'T REALLY
KNOW THE FACTS,
BUT THIS MAY NOT BE
THE TYPE OF GUY
YOU NECESSARILY
WANT TO FIND.
BUT I'M NEVER
GONNA KNOW, AM I?
UNLESS I FIND HIM.
ALL YOURS.
[TOILET FLUSHING]
SO, UH...
IT'S GOOD NIGHT,
THEN?
IT SURE HAS BEEN.
SEE?
WHAT'S THAT, BEN?
JUST FRIENDS,
NO PROBLEM.
IT'S EASY, RIGHT?
SURE AS HELL IS.
A MONTH, MR. MANCUSO.
I'VE BEEN HERE A MONTH.
YES, IT SEEMS LONGER TO ME,
TOO, SIR.
YES, BUT IT'S JUS THE ONE POLICY
THAT MARGARET SIMPLY
WILL NOT CHANGE.
JUST LIKE YOU, THE GIRLS
ARE FREE TO CHOOSE.
[DING]
YES. BUT WHEN THEY DO DECIDE
TO STAY WITH YOU,
THEN YOU KNOW
THEY REALLY LIKE YOU.
YOU CAN REFER TO THEM
AS...IF YOU LIKE, SIR,
BUT THEY ARE IN FAC ACTUAL PEOPLE.
AND YOU THINK
THAT'S MISOGYNY.
WENDY, WHAT'S UP?
YOU HAVEN' SEEN THE PAPERS?
NO.
WHERE'S MARGARET?
JOGGING.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
HE'S YOURS?
THE FOOT FREAK.
THIS BILLIONAIRE
IS THE FOOT FREAK?
HE JUST SUCKS AWAY,
HONEY, LIKE ANY OTHER TRICK,
JUST NOT ON MY WINKY.
I THOUGH HALF YOUR TRICKS
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
YOU HAD A...WINKY.
WELL, THIS ONE KNOWS,
ALTHOUGH THE CHARM FOR HIM
IS TO PRETEND
HE'S SURPRISED TO FIND OUT,
YOU KNOW,
AS IF IN THE THROES
OF PASSION,
AS IF HE'S TOO FAR GONE
ON MY TOES TO CARE
WHAT LIES NORTHWARD.
WE DO A LOT OF
"AS IF"ing IN WENDY'S SCHOOL.
AND YOU DID THIS?
YOU CLOCKED HIM?
WITH WHAT?
A LOCK IN A SOCK.
YOU'RE LUCKY YOU DIDN' KILL THE SON OF A...
WHAT'S A POOR GIRL TO DO?
MUST BE, WHAT,
10 OR 12 KIDS BORN EVERY YEAR
IN THE WORLD
HARBORING THIS COMBINATION
OF BRILLIANCE AND INDIFFERENCE?
YOU THINK
I'M INDIFFEREN TO LAW SCHOOL?
ATTENDING HALF OF
YOUR CLASSES
MIGHT GIVE RISE
TO THAT INFERENCE.
WHY ARE YOU HERE,
BENJAMIN?
JUST TO GET A DIPLOMA
SO YOU CAN GO OU AND MAKE MONEY?
I--I ASSUME
YOUR PREFERENCE
WOULD RUN TOWARDS
AN HONEST ANSWER.
DECIDEDLY.
I'M HERE BECAUSE
I COULDN'T THINK OF
A BETTER THING TO DO.
SOME ADVICE?
I'M OPEN TO ADVICE.
GOOD.
TRY TAKING I SERIOUSLY.
DO SOMETHING--
A PRO BONO CASE,
SOMETHING
THAT IS SERIOUS.
DON'T DRIFT.
DISCOVER YOURSELF,
NOW.
OK?
I'LL LOOK AROUND
FOR IT.
YOU DO THAT.
OH, AND, BEN,
HOW'S MARGARET?
SHE'S GOOD.
FORMIDABLE WOMAN,
MARGARET.
YES. HAVE YOU EVER
TOLD ME HOW YOU TWO MET?
AT A DEBUTANTE
COTILLION.
MY BAD
I DIDN'T MEAN
TO HIT IT
MY BAD
I HIT IT,
THEN I FLED IT
MY BAD
I DIDN'T MEAN
TO DO IT...
[SIGH]
AND JUST RAN
RIGHT THROUGH IT
MY BAD
I WAS SPRINTING...
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
I CAN'T ALLOW
AN INJURY LIKE THIS
TO GO UNPUNISHED.
I HOLD YOU
RESPONSIBLE.
I RELY ON YOU
TO PROVIDE ME
WITH SAFE PEOPLE.
IT'S WHA I PAY YOU FOR.
I CAN ONLY ASSUME
THAT WENDY FEL IN MORTAL PERIL.
NONSENSE. A GAME.
IT'S WHAT WE DO,
RIGHT?
HEH HEH! GAMES.
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME
TO DO, MR. STERNLICHT?
HAVE HER HURT.
WHAT?
I THINK YOU HEARD ME.
I KNOW THE PEOPLE
PROTECTING YOU.
THEY'LL KNOW
WHAT TO DO.
INCAPACITATE WENDY,
SHE'LL HAVE NO PLACE
TO GO BUT THE PRESS--
THE PART YOU DON'T OWN.
SO WHAT? PEOPLE
ALREADY HATE ME--
SO MUCH, IT'S ALMOS TURNED TO ADMIRATION.
HEH HEH HEH!
AND IF I DON'T DO THIS?
IT'S GOING TO GET DONE,
MARGARET,
WHETHER YOU DO I OR YOU PUT ME
TO THE TROUBLE
OF DOING IT MYSELF.
BUT IF YOU DO IT,
I WON'T CLOSE YOU DOWN
OR SEND YOU TO PRISON.
LEAVE THE REST OF
YOUR PEOPLE ALONE.
I COULD OFFER YOU
OTHER COMPENSATION.
[CHUCKLES]
I DON'T THINK SO.
YOU HAD TO BE THERE,
MARGARET.
WE DIDN'T NEED THIS,
NOT NOW!
OH, MY GOD.
HER FROZEN FACE
SYNDROME.
THE THING IS,
HE LIKES TO BE ABUSED
BECAUSE HE KNOWS
HE'S A...
BUT THEN,
WHEN YOU MAKE HIM SEE
HOW UGLY OF A...
HE REALLY IS,
HE GOES BALLISTIC.
WHY, THEN,
DID YOU GIVE HIM
SUCH A CLEAR VIEW?
THE MAN, BY CHOICE,
IS IN A PROFESSION
OF PURE SUBLIMATED
VIOLENCE.
HE'S AN INVESTMEN BANKER!
IN AN EARLIER AGE,
HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
GENGHIS KHAN.
IF ONLY YOU HAD
FELT YOUR SPECIES
ENDANGERED
BY A LESS POWERFUL
MAN.
OH. THANK YOU, DEAR.
YOU READ MY MIND.
LOOK AT YOU.
YEAH? WHAT?
PRETTY FINE.
YOU THINK?
YOU'LL DO.
WHAT'S GOING ON
IN HERE?
DAMAGE CONTROL.
YOU READ ABOUT THIS GUY
STERNLICHT?
"MOGUL MUGGED"?
YEAH. ONLY,
HE WASN'T MUGGED.
HE WAS LAID OU BY ONE OF OURS.
STERNLICHT USES
AN ESCORT SERVICE?
I'LL BE DAMNED.
THAT GUY'S HAD
5 TROPHY WIVES.
YEAH? WELL, I'LL BE NONE LIKE THIS ONE.
NOLA, YOU OUGH TO GET OUT OF HERE.
AND DO WHAT?
WHATEVER.
SING MUSIC. SELL IT.
I DON'T SING.
OK.
[INDISTINCT]
SO SOON?
DON'T ASK.
WHAT WE NEED IS
A REALLY DIRTY
BACK-ALLEY
KIND OF LOCATION
FOR THE SHOOT.
I WAS THINKING
THE COFFEE SHOP.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
YOU'RE WHAT?
THINKING PICTURES?
JESUS.
STERNLICHT WANTS WENDY
TO PAY.
IF MARGARET DOESN' GET IT DONE FIRST,
HE'S GONNA SHUT HER DOWN.
AND TAKE CARE
OF ME HIMSELF.
WHAT DOES MARGARE THINK OF THIS PLAN?
SHE'LL BE HAPPY
WHEN WE PULL IT OFF.
YOU KNOW WHA STERNLICHT'S MIDDLE
INITIALS ARE?
"V.V." HIS CLOSES FRIENDS SAY
IT STANDS FOR "VIOLENT"
AND "VINDICTIVE."
IF YOU GET CAUGHT--
WHICH WE WON'T.
HE'LL GO AFTER
MARGARE AND ANYBODY
CLOSE TO HER.
I'VE ALREADY BOOKED
A LITTLE CABANA
IN THE YUCATAN.
MARGARET FOUND I ONLINE.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
WHAT ABOUT ME?
ANYWAY,
WHERE WAS I?
OH, RIGHT,
BUKOWSKI.
WHEN I FIRS GOT HERE,
I WAS, LIKE,
IN THIS DEEP
BUKOWSKI PHASE,
AND NOW I'M LIKE,
"EW, SO
PREDICTABLE."
I MEAN, PLUS
HIDEOUSLY STRAIGHT."
I'M BISEXUAL.
I KNOW, YAWN.
IT'S JUST THAT I
WISH I COULD MOVE
OUT OF THE DORM
AWAY FROM ALL OF
THOSE OTHER PEOPLE
WHO ARE GOING
THROUGH THE SAME
PHASE
THAT I JUS WENT THROUGH.
I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE
TO MOVE OUT TO
WILLIAMSBURG.
IT IS TOTALLY
INDUSTRIAL
OUT THERE.
OH, YEAH, THAT GUY.
YEAH, I TOTALLY
CHECKED HIM OU BEFORE.
HE'S IN LAW SCHOOL.
I MEAN, HE'S PRETTY
HOT FOR AN OLDER
GUY.
LIKE 24,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
AT LEAST?
[CLICK]
HEY, YOU WANT MY NUMBER?
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
DATING SERVICE.
Sternlicht:
NOLA KEYNES
FROM TOPEKA, KANSAS,
DO YOU RECOGNIZE
MY VOICE?
HOW'D YOU GET MY--
WHO DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE DEALING WITH,
CHILD?
DO YOU THINK
I'VE GOT A PROBLEM
HAVING YOU INVESTIGATED
OR HAVING YOU WATCHED
AND PHOTOGRAPHED
PUTTING YOUR FRIEND WENDY
IN A CAB TO THE AIRPORT?
AND I MUST SAY,
IT LOOKS LIKE
SHE'S MADE A REMARKABLE
RECOVERY, THAT WENDY.
YEAH. FOUNDATION
HIDES BRUISES WELL.
SHE WAS MORE THAN BRUISED
IN THOSE ARTSY LITTLE
PICTURES OF YOURS.
IN ANY CASE,
RATHER THAN FOLLOWING WENDY
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CANCUN,
I'VE DECIDED TO ZERO IN
ON A MUCH EASIER TARGET.
ARE YOU AS BEAUTIFUL
IN PERSON
AS YOU ARE IN A PHOTO,
NOLA KEYNES, TOPEKA, KANSAS?
[DING DING]
AH, YES,
THERE'S THE DOORBELL.
BETTER GET THAT.
HI. DO YOU
LIVE HERE?
WHO'S ASKING?
YOU LIVE HERE.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
A GRAND JURY SUBPOENA.
IN A MORE CIVILIZED
WORLD,
THAT MAN STERNLICH WOULD BE KEPT IN A CAGE!
OHH.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
IT'S A...OPEN HOUSE PARTY.
"I HATE LIARS.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING."
WH...
LEO.
LEO, CAN I HAVE
YOUR DAMN ATTENTION?
AHEM.
WE WANT TO DO A PIECE
ONESCORTEXCORT SERVICES.
YEAH, WHAT'S
STOPPING YOU?
WE WANT YOU,
THE GREAT LIONEL TREMBLANC,
TO DO THAT PIECE.
WE? WHO IS "WE", MAX?
ARE YOU GOING ROYAL
ON US?
THIS WE IS ME
AND SOMEBODY VERY HIGH UP
IN OUR PARTICULAR
SCHEME OF THINGS.
GOD?
SO FAR AS
YOU'RE CONCERNED, YEAH.
YOU ARE GOING ROYAL.
ONLY ROYALS SPEAK
DIRECTLY TO GOD.
YOU CAN START WITH HER.
NOW, THE LINE WE WAN IS BASICALLY DERISIVE.
MORAL OUTRAGE,
OF COURSE.
CRITICAL OF THE
CITY AUTHORITIES.
RIGHT UNDER THEIR NOSES--
YOU KNOW THE KIND OF STUFF.
IT'S RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY.
NO. I'M GONNA PASS
ON THIS ONE, MAX.
THANKS A LOT.
WHY DON'T YOU
DO IT YOURSELF?
YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN
SERVICE IN A WHILE.
THE OWNER OF THIS
NEWSPAPER SPECIFICALLY
ASKED FOR YOU.
INEXPLICABLY,
HE LIKES YOUR TONE.
WELL, THERE'S
NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTE.
I'M NOT GIVING YOU
A CHOICE ABOUT THIS.
YES, YOU ARE, MAX.
DO THIS PIECE
OR ACCEPT THE OFFER
I GET EVERY OTHER
WEEK FROM THE "NEWS"
OR THE "POST."
ACTUALLY, THEIR OFFER'S
A LITTLE RICHER.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS
A STORY HERE, MAX.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED
WHY NILES STERNLICHT,
THE THIRD-MOS POWERFUL MAN IN
THE FREE WORLD
WANTS TO PISS ON AN
INSIGNIFICANT LITTLE
ESCORT SERVICE? HMM?
WE DON'T DO STORIES
LIKE THAT HERE.
IT'S A PITY.
WHY IS THAT?
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
OFFERS FROM THE "NEWS"
OR THE "POST."
NOR DO YOU.
I'D KNOW ABOUT IT.
AND YOU WANT TO DO
HARD-HITTING,
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING?
HUH! PBBBBB!
YOU SHOULD HAVE
THOUGHT OF THA WHEN YOU SOLD YOUR SOUL
FOR A SYNDICATED COLUMN.
ON THE SUBJECT OF SELLING
YOUR SOUL, MAX...
YOU DON'T SEE ME
COMPLAINING ABOUT IT,
DO YOU?
[RING]
HELLO?
Man: YOU AREN'T MARGARET.
RIGHT. AND YOU AREN' ALBERT EINSTEIN.
WHO'S CALLING, PLEASE?
LIONEL TREMBLANC.
I KNOW THAT NAME.
VERY UNLIKELY,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU
RANDOMLY ASSOCIATE
TO EINSTEIN.
THE GUY WHO WRITES
THE COLUMN IN THE "EXPRESS."
Man: WHAT A RANGE.
AND YOU WANT MARGARET?
I ALWAYS WANT MARGARET.
SHE, HOWEVER,
RARELY WANTS ME.
YOU ...
HI, BABE.
RETURNING YOUR CALL.
2 YEARS LATE.
I'VE BEEN A BI WITHDRAWN.
SORRY.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
GRAND JURY SUBPOENA.
FEDERAL COURT.
Man: ... LOOK,
I'LL BE OVER LATER.
WE'LL SORT THIS OUT, OK?
OK.
IT'LL ALSO GIVE ME
A CHANCE TO MEE WHOEVER THAT YOUNG
LOVELY WAS WHO ANSWERED
YOUR TELEPHONE.
FYI, LEO, ONCE
YOU HIT 45, YOU'RE
NO LONGER A TOMCAT.
YOU'RE A LETCH.
[BEEP]
HI. YOU MUST BE--
NOT ALBERT EINSTEIN.
RIGHT. HA HA!
COME ON IN.
MARGARET'S JUS GETTING READY.
AND YOU ARE?
PURELY ADMINISTRATIVE.
I MEANT YOUR NAME.
NOLA.
SO, THOSE AREN'T MARGARET'S.
NO, THEY'RE MINE.
I WAS JUST--
JUST SOME STUFF
I WAS WORKING ON BEFORE.
SO YOU'RE NOT JUS PURELY ADMINISTRATIVE.
I KIND OF WRITE
SONGS ON THE SIDE.
OH, I USED TO KIND OF
WRITE SONGS ON THE SIDE.
WELL, I GUESS THAT MAKES
80 MILLION OF US, THEN.
[CHUCKLES]
[PLAYING SLOW TUNE]
THE NIGHT WE SAID GOOD-BYE,
THE TRUTH WAS SINKIN' IN
I WAS WISHIN' THA I HADN'T SAID
THE LAST THING
THAT I SAID TO YOU
I WISH THAT I COULD CHANGE
THE WAY THINGS WENT BACK THEN
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,
I FIND MYSELF
STILL ASKING WHEN
ARE YOU OUT THERE SOMEWHERE?
DO YOU THINK I'LL
EVER GET THE CHANCE
TO SEE YOUR FACE?
MAYBE TOMORROW
MMM
YOU STILL PLAY PIANO
IN THAT DIVE OF YOURS?
NOPE. SOLD IT.
THE DIVE?
THE PIANO.
NOLA--AHEM--
THIS IS LEO.
WE MET.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET DOWN
TO BUSINESS.
YOU OFFERED TO HELP.
I BROUGHT RUGELACH.
DO--
RIGHT? BUSINESS.
HELP. HERE'S THE THING.
YOU NEED A LAWYER,
A CRIMINAL LAWYER,
AND A GOOD ONE.
NOT SOME BIG-NAME,
STRUTTING NARCISSIS WHO'S PUBLICIZING HIMSELF.
YOU KNOW
SUCH A PERSON?
OF COURSE NOT.
NO SUCH PERSON EXISTS.
GREAT. WELL, LET ME
TELL YOU WHA JUST HAPPENED
BEFORE YOU CAME OVER.
I, TOO, REALIZED
I NEEDED A LAWYER.
SO, I CALLED TWO I KNOW.
BOTH SAID THEY'D DO IT.
THEN EACH CALLED THE
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
TO SAY THEY WERE
ON THE CASE.
A HALF-HOUR LATER,
THEY BOTH CALLED ME
BACK TO WITHDRAW.
STERNLICHT.
OF COURSE.
IT'S ALL OF A PIECE.
I'VE HAD VERY BAD
EXPERIENCE WITH LAWYERS.
I DON'T TRUS ANY OF THEM.
I HAVE AN IDEA.
NO, DARLING. YOU'VE
ALREADY GIVEN US
ONE IDEA,
AND LOOK WHERE IT'S
GOTTEN US.
OK, BUT THIS IS
A BETTER ONE.
BEN.
NATURALLY.
WHO'S BEN?
NOLA'S BOY--
THE COOK
IN THE COFFEE SHOP.
MARGARET'S TENANT.
A LAWYER WHO WORKS
IN A COFFEE SHOP?
MUST BE GOOD.
HE'S STILL
IN LAW SCHOOL.
BUT THERE IS THIS.
HE IS A ...OF A LO SHARPER
THAN ANY LAWYER I
HAVE EVER DEALT WITH.
ONE OF THE PROFESSORS
THERE IS A FRIEND OF MINE.
HE SENT BEN OVER TO ME.
AND THAT KID,
BEFORE I KNEW IT,
HE'D NEGOTIATED ME
INTO FREE RENT FOR A
...NICE APARTMENT,
PLUS FOOD,
PLUS POCKET MONEY.
SO, YOU WANT NOLA'S BOYFRIEND,
A LAW STUDENT, TO REPRESENT YOU?
MM-HMM.
THAT'S JUST CRAZY ENOUGH
TO BE CONSISTEN WITH THIS LUNATIC
BUSINESS YOU RUN.
FRIEND.
NOLA'S FRIEND.
Woman on recording:
YOU HAVE 6 MESSAGES.
Nola: HEY, IT'S NOLA,
YOUR FRIEND NOLA.
I WAS CALLING YOU
BECAUSE...
I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU
IN A WHILE AND I
NEED A FAVOR.
[BEEP]
HEY, IT'S NOLA,
YOUR FRIEND NOLA.
HOW DO YOU WORK
FOR A GUY LIKE THAT?
HE'D LIKE AN ANSWER.
EXCELLENT.
DO YOU SEE THIS?
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN
TELL HIM TO DO WITH THIS?
YES, I DO.
AND THEN I LOSE MY JOB.
AND THEN MY WIFE
AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW,
WHO I AM SUPPORTING
IN OUTER MONGOLIA,
THEY COME HERE,
MAKE MY LIFE A LIVING HELL.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
SAM.
MY NAME IS SAM.
THERE'S NO
OUTER MONGOLIA, SAM.
INNER, YES;
OUTER, NO.
SO MAYBE HE JUS SHOOTS THE MESSENGER.
STAY OF EXECUTION.
SAYS ANY RESTAURAN OF MY CHOICE.
FINE. MAKE A RESERVATION
AT THE SAN DOMENICO
AND PICK ME UP HERE
AT 1:30.
Man:
MR. STERNLICHT.
YOU HONOR US, SIR.
RIGHT THIS WAY.
REMEMBER ME?
I HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY
HAD THE PLEASURE, MADAM.
ARE YOU SURE?
OH, OF COURSE.
WHO COULD FORGE SUCH CLASSIC AND
IMPECCABLE BREEDING?
IN 36 DAYS,
ONE FORGETS PLENTY.
36 DAYS AGO.
LET ME THINK.
AH, A YOUNG WOMAN
OF APPROXIMATELY
YOUR AGE
APPLIED FOR A JOB.
I THOUGHT HER VASTLY
OVERQUALIFIED.
SINCE THEN,
I HAVE LEARNED,
GRATIFYINGLY SO,
THAT MY JUDGMEN HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.
HMM. TALK ABOU OVERQUALIFICATIONS.
YOU OUGHT TO BE THE
... MAYOR.
MMM.
[CHUCKLING]
ARE YOU SATISFIED?
I ASSUME THAT'S WHY
YOU PICKED THIS RESTAURANT.
I'M NOT SATISFIED.
I WANT TO SEE SOME
SERIOUS ...-KISSING HERE,
NOT JUST EXHIBITIONS
OF DIPLOMACY.
I EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THEM
JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS.
GO ON. SNAP YOUR FINGERS
AND MAKE THEM JUMP.
IT DOESN' WORK THAT WAY.
NO?
HOW DOES IT WORK?
HOW DO YOU TURN THEM
INTO SLIPPERY WORMS?
BY NEGOTIATION...
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.
IT'S THE WAY TO DO
ANYTHING SUCCESSFULLY...
WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
THE '88, PLEASE.
AND INTO WHAT SLITHERY
STATE DO YOU WISH
TO NEGOTIATE ME?
THE OPPOSITE,
ACTUALLY.
I LIKE YOUR AUDACITY.
I'M INTRIGUED BY
WHAT I'VE LEARNED
ABOUT YOU.
AND DESPITE
THE CIRCUMSTANCES
BRINGING US TOGETHER,
I SENSE SOMETHING
RESPONSIVE TO ME IN YOU.
COULD YOU EXPAND
ON THAT, PLEASE?
HA HA HA!
YOU WISH TO TRIVIALIZE?
YOU THINK I'D WAN TO LOOK SUCH
A TRADE IN THE FACE
WITHOUT TRIVIALIZING
IT BEFOREHAND?
EVERYONE HAS SUCH TRAITS,
DESIRES, IMPULSES--
DARK IMPULSES--
MATTERS FEW PEOPLE
WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE
TO THEMSELVES,
MUCH LESS TALK ABOUT.
I'M IN A POSITION
TO INDULGE THEM, PROPERLY.
WHEN PEOPLE THINK
ABOUT SUCH A PROCESS,
THEY DO WANT TO
TRIVIALIZE IT.
THEY CALL I ROLE PLAYING.
IT'S THE STUFF
OF COMEDY.
BUT I TELL YOU,
DONE RIGHT...
AND I MEAN
REALLY RIGHT,
THERE'S NOTHING
COMEDIC ABOUT IT.
IT'S THE SOURCE OF
IMMENSE GRATIFICATION
AND SERENITY.
[CORK POPS]
AND YOU SENSE IN ME
THE NEED, ALSO, TO
ENGAGE IN SUCH A...
PROCESS?
LET'S DRINK TO IT.
I'LL AT LEAS TRY THE WINE.
IT'S A HEADIER VINTAGE.
YOU KNOW, I'M NO AT ALL INTO FEET.
AND I AM CONSIDERABLY
MORE VERSATILE.
NILES, COULD WE
DISCUSS THE SUBPOENA?
I THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN.
NOTHING HAPPENED.
THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK.
SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS
WITH NILES STERNLICHT.
HE INVITED ME TO
HIS ROOM FOR ONE
OF HIS LITTLE GAMES.
AND IN EXCHANGE,
ALL OF THIS--
THE SUBPOENA,
THE INQUIRY--IT WOULD
JUST ALL GO AWAY.
AND YOU BELIEVE THAT?
DID I SAY I DID?
WHAT KIND OF LITTLE GAME?
I DON'T KNOW.
PUT ON SOMETHING
SLINKY,
WHACK HIM
WITH A RULER--
NOTHING TOO DIFFICULT.
AND YOU'RE
CONSIDERING IT!
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
YOU HAVEN'T DONE
ANYTHING,
AND I'M NO CONSIDERING IT.
[DOOR CLOSES]
SO, WHY DID YOU GO?
BECAUSE IT WAS ALL
I COULD THINK TO DO.
BECAUSE FIRST,
MY ONE BIG
IDEA BACKFIRED.
AND THEN MY SECOND
BIG IDEA--YOU--
NEVER CALLED BACK.
I DID. WHAT DO YOU
SUPPOSE I'M DOING HERE?
I JUST HAD TO THINK.
I WANTED YOUR
PROFESSIONAL HELP.
WHAT'S THERE TO
THINK ABOUT WITH THAT?
YOUR MESSAGE SAID--
MY MESSAGE SAID CALL,
WHICH YOU DIDN'T, OK?
JUST CALL.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, THEN.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S SO ILLEGAL ABOU WHAT MARGARET'S DOING.
I'VE BEEN READING
THE PERSONALS IN
"THE VILLAGE VOICE"
EVER SINCE I PU THAT AD IN.
LONELY PEOPLE ADVERTISE
THEIR AVAILABILITY
ALL THE TIME.
THEY WANT TO BE LOVED.
THEY WANT TO GET ...
THE "VOICE" KNOWS THAT.
SO WHAT?
IS THERE SOME BIG
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
WHAT THEY'RE DOING,
PUTTING THOSE PEOPLE
TOGETHER, AND WHA MARGARET'S DOING?
THAT'S A TOUGH ARGUMENT.
COURTS HEAR THAT KIND OF
PITCH ALL THE TIME IN
DEALING WITH THESE CASES.
SO YOU'RE THE GREA LAWYER. BE INVENTIVE.
HA HA HA!
YOU'RE THE ONE WHO
WON'T STAND UP IN
FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE,
BUT YOU'VE NO PROBLEM
TELLING ME TO DO I AND RISK MAKING
A FOOL OF MYSELF.
AND WHY WOULD YOU HAVE
ANY PARTICULAR PROBLEM
WITH THAT?
DO YOU LIVE WITH
REJECTION EVERY DAY?
IS THAT A PAR OF YOUR DAILY LIFE, THE
AIR THAT YOU BREATHE?
I'M SORRY.
FORGET IT.
I'M NOT REJECTING YOU.
OH, FORGET THAT, TOO.
DESPITE THE OBVIOUS?
BECAUSE OF IT.
I DON'T TRUST IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I TRUST?
I TRUST SOMETHING
THAT I DON'T HAVE
RIGHT NOW,
AND I'M NOT SURE
YOU DO, EITHER.
I TRUST BEING ...
GOOD AT SOMETHING
I LOVE DOING
AND MAYBE BEING
WITH A GUY WHO'S
THE SAME WAY.
YOU THINK I DON'T--
I DON'T KNOW, BEN.
IT SEEMS TO ME THA YOU'RE JUST KIND OF
CONNING YOUR WAY
THROUGH LAW SCHOOL,
LIKE IT'S SOME BIG JOKE
YOU'RE PLAYING ON THE
FACULTY THERE.
[SLAMS HAND]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
MIND IF I COME IN?
IT'S YOUR HOUSE, BOSS.
I WAS IN THE HALLWAY
EARLIER
WHEN YOU WERE
TALKING WITH BEN.
I'M AFRAID I OVERHEARD
MUCH OF IT.
I ... ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING,
I'D LIKE TO
TELL YOU SOMETHING.
OK.
ALL MY LIFE,
I'VE GYRATED BETWEEN
FEAR OF INTIMACY
AND FEAR OF ABANDONMENT.
MY COMFORT ZONE
WITH PEOPLE?
THEY'RE ORBITING ME
AT A RESPECTFUL,
PREFERABLY
WORSHIPFUL DISTANCE.
ME AND LEO?
NOT ALL HIS FAULT.
OK?
I KNOW WHAT IT'S
LIKE AS A CHILD
TO HAVE NONE OF
YOUR NEEDS MET--
EMOTIONAL NEEDS,
AND SOMETIMES EVEN
PHYSICAL ONES.
Man: BETTER NOW
I KNOW YOU BETTER NOW
I'LL CHALK IT UP SOMEHOW
DON'T EXPLAIN
PLEASE, DARLIN',
DON'T EXPLAIN
ALL THIS IS CELLOPHANE
YOU JUST NEED
SOME TIME AWAY
I'M ON TO YOU
HAVE YOUR RENDEZVOUS
AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE
WITH ALL YOUR RUNNING
YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN
Bailiff: HEAR YE, HEAR YE,
ALL RISE!
NOW IN SESSION IN THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COUR THE SOUTHERN DISTRIC OF NEW YORK.
THE HONORABLE SUSIE BELFRAY
PRESIDING.
DRAW NEAR.
YOU SHALL BE HEARD.
TWO MOTIONS TONIGHT:
ONE TO QUASH
A GRAND JURY SUBPOENA,
THE OTHER FOR THE ...
TO BE REPRESENTED
ON THAT MOTION
BY A LAW STUDENT.
WILL THE LAW STUDENT RISE?
DID YOU DRAFT THESE PAPERS?
I DID, YOUR HONOR.
YES.
AND THIS IS TRUE THAT IF I DENY
YOU THE RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED
BY THIS YOUNG MAN
THAT YOU WILL
HAVE NO LAWYER,
THAT YOU'LL
REPRESENT YOURSELF?
YES.
THAT'S HOW I FEEL
ABOUT IT.
AND DO YOU WAIVE
ANY CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTION
YOU MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE
AS TO THE ADEQUACY OF
YOUR REPRESENTATION?
I WAIVE.
GOOD. YOU MAY SIT DOWN.
THAT MOTION IS GRANTED.
AND I ASSUME YOU HAVE NO
POSITION ON THIS, MR. FLANDERS?
CORRECT, YOUR HONOR.
GOOD. YOU MAY PROCEED,
COUNSELOR.
THANK YOU,
YOUR HONOR.
I'D LIKE TO CALL
THE MOVING PARTY
TO THE STAND.
PLEASE RAISE
YOUR RIGHT HAND.
DO YOU SWEAR
TO TELL THE TRUTH,
THE WHOLE TRUTH,
AND NOTHING BU THE TRUTH SO HELP YOU GOD?
OF COURSE.
WE HAVE A PREFERENCE HERE
FOR A SIMPLE "I DO."
[COURTROOM CHUCKLING]
YES. I'M SORRY.
I DO.
OF COURSE I DO.
[GAVEL BANGS]
PLEASE STATE YOUR
FULL NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MARGARET LANGWORTHY.
AND WHAT BUSINESS
ARE YOU IN, MISS LANGWORTHY?
I RUN A DATING SERVICE.
NOW IS THAT ALSO
SOMETIMES REFERRED TO
AS AN ESCORT SERVICE?
PERHAPS,
BUT SUCH A REFERENCE
WOULD BE INACCURATE.
THERE'S A VERY IMPORTAN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHA I DO AND AN ESCORT SERVICE.
AND WHAT IS
THAT DIFFERENCE?
IN A DATING SERVICE,
AT LEAST MINE,
IF THE CUSTOMER
DOESN'T LIKE THE
PERSON I'VE SENT HIM,
HE CAN EXCUSE HIMSELF
WITHOUT OWING ME
ANY FEE.
HE'S FREE TO WALK OU AND SO IS THE PERSON,
IN WHICH CASE,
OF COURSE,
THE CUSTOMER ALSO
DOESN'T OWE ANY FEE.
AND THE PERSONS YOU SEND
ARE BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.
YES, AND A FEW
IN-BETWEEN.
RIGHT. AND ARE THEY
EMPLOYEES OF YOURS,
OR ARE THEY
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS?
INDEPENDENT.
EXTREMELY INDEPENDENT.
[GAVEL BANGS]
WHEN THE INDEPENDEN WALKS OUT ON THE CUSTOMER,
DON'T YOU LOSE
THAT CUSTOMER?
ABSOLUTELY. NEVER
SEE HIM AGAIN,
WITH RARE EXCEPTIONS.
AND DOES THAT HAPPEN OFTEN,
THE INDEPENDENT WALKING
OUT ON THE CUSTOMER?
UM, I'D SAY ABOU 20% OF THE TIME.
SO, HOW DO YOU
STAY IN BUSINESS?
WHY AREN'T YOU
FRIGHTENING PEOPLE OFF?
GOOD QUESTION.
THAT WAS THE CONVENTIONAL
WISDOM, THAT WE WOULD.
I ADAPTED THE RULE I DID
FOR MY OWN SERVICE,
INITIALLY, AS A MATTER
OF PERSONAL DIGNITY.
CONTRARY TO EVERYONE'S
EXPECTATION, IT WORKED,
I THINK, BECAUSE
HAVING THE ELEMEN OF CHOICE
MAKES THE EXPERIENCE
SO MUCH SWEETER.
AND THOSE WHO HAVE
APPRECIATED MY SERVICE
GIVE US GOOD
WORD OF MOUTH.
[COURTROOM CHUCKLES]
WHAT FEE DO YOU CHARGE?
$600 FLAT,
PAID BY THE CUSTOMER.
IT USED TO BE $500.
NOW, IS THAT FEE INCREASED
IF THE CUSTOMER HAS SEX
WITH THE INDEPENDEN CONTRACTOR?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
DO YOU REPORT YOUR
EARNINGS TO THE IRS?
AND YOU PAY YOUR TAXES,
AND THE GOVERNMEN HAPPILY ACCEPTS.
THEY HAVEN'T SEN MY CHECKS BACK YET.
[COURTROOM CHUCKLES]
THANK YOU,
MISS LANGWORTHY.
I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS
OF THIS WITNESS, YOUR HONOR.
MR. FLANDERS, DO YOU HAVE
ANY CROSS-EXAMINATION?
NO, YOUR HONOR.
I HAVE A MOTION TO STRIKE.
THIS WHOLE LINE OF TESTIMONY
IS COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT.
WE HAVE SERVED THE SUBPOENA
IN QUESTION AS PART OF OUR
INVESTIGATION INTO PROSTITUTION.
WE ARE NOT OBLIGED TO
ACCEPT THE WITNESS' OWN
DESCRIPTION OF HER BUSINESS.
AND EVEN IF WE DID,
IT WOULD ADD CAUSE TO
OUR NEED TO INVESTIGATE,
NOT SUBTRACT FROM IT.
MAY I BE HEARD ON THAT?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
THIS IS A COURT.
PEOPLE GET HEARD.
YOU MAY STEP DOWN.
OH, THANK YOU.
THERE ARE 6 NEWSPAPERS
AND 7 MAGAZINES THAT RUN
PERSONAL COLUMNS IN THIS CITY.
FOR THAT SERVICE,
THEY CHARGE A FEE.
A FEW DOLLARS.
SO NOW WE'RE
TALKING PRICE,
NOT PRINCIPLE.
[COURTROOM CHUCKLES]
WHEN PEOPLE MEET THROUGH
THE MEANS OF THESE COLUMNS,
SOMETIMES THEY
LIKE EACH OTHER
AND THEY HAVE SEX.
REALISTICALLY,
THAT IS THE PURPOSE
OF THESE COLUMNS.
LET ME TELL YOU, COUNSEL,
I'M NOT THAT IMPRESSED
WITH YOUR ANALOGY.
A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHING
A PERSONAL AD
HAS NO EXPECTATION
THAT THAT PERSON IS
GOING TO CHARGE FOR SEX.
I THINK YOUR CLIENT DOES.
MAYBE, YOUR HONOR,
BUT THAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THESE PEOPLE BEING
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
MY CLIENT HAS ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY
SUCH NEGOTIATIONS.
SHE DOESN'T SET THE TERMS.
SHE ISN'T COMPENSATED
BY THEM IN WAY.
SHE HAS NO INTERES IN THEM WHATSOEVER.
YOUR HONOR, THERE IS
ANOTHER DIMENSION
TO THIS CASE.
MAY WE APPROACH
THE BENCH?
YOUR HONOR,
NOT WISHING TO BE
ACCUSED OF GRANDSTANDING,
MAY I RESPECTFULLY
SUGGEST THAT THE COUR HEAR MY NEXT REQUES IN THE ROBING ROOM?
YOU WANT TO EXAMINE ONE
OF THESE INDEPENDEN CONTRACTORS?
I WANT TO SUBPOENA
THE U.S. ATTORNEY.
Bailiff:
ALL RISE!
BASIC POINT,
YOUR HONOR.
NOT ONLY WAS THERE
NO CAUSE FOR THE SUBPOENA,
IT WASN'T MOTIVATED
BY CAUSE.
NOT GOOD CAUSE ANYWAY.
IT WAS MOTIVATED
BY A VENDETTA.
WHOA! A LITTLE
MELODRAMATIC, FELLA.
YOU WANT ME TO BELIEVE
THAT THE U.S. ATTORNEY
IS INVOLVED IN A VENDETTA
AGAINST YOUR CLIENT?
NO, BUT THE PERSON
WHO GOT HER APPOINTED IS.
AND HE HAS ENOUGH POWER
OVER HER TO GET HER
TO HARASS ANYONE HE WANTS.
OH, YES?
AND THAT PERSON
YOU BELIEVE TO BE...
NILES STERNLICHT,
YOUR HONOR.
AND THIS IS WHY
YOU WANT YOUR SUBPOENA?
I DON'T EXPECT YOUR HONOR
TO ALLOW ME THE SUBPOENA
SIMPLY ON MY SAY-SO.
I HAVE 3 WITNESSES
OUT THERE WHO WILL EXPLAIN
WHY STERNLICH IS ON THIS RAMPAGE
AND TESTIFY TO
HEARING HIS THREATS
AND HOW THE GOVERNMEN SUBPOENA WAS SERVED
WITHIN HOURS AFTER
STERNLICHT'S THREATENING
TO HAVE PRECISELY
THAT SUBPOENA ISSUED.
MIKE, HERE'S MY PROBLEM.
WHO'S WILLING TO THROW
HIMSELF ON THE SWORD FOR
A CAUSE HE BELIEVES IN.
I'VE GOT NO IDEA
WHAT I'M GOING TO
ALLOW IN THE SUBPOENA,
BUT I'M SURE GOING TO ALLOW HIM
TO PUT ON HIS WITNESSES,
AND THAT'S GOING TO CREATE
A PROBLEM FOR YOUR CLIENT--
A BIG PROBLEM IF THERE'S
ANY TRUTH TO THIS, YOU SEE?
SO, HERE'S MY SUGGESTION.
Bailiff: ALL RISE!
DURING THE RECESS,
I RECEIVED A CALL
FROM THE U.S. ATTORNEY.
SINCE THERE WAS
AN OFFER OF COMPROMISE,
I THOUGHT IT NOT INAPPROPRIATE
TO TAKE THE CALL.
I TRUST YOU HAVE
NO PROBLEM WITH THAT?
NONE WHATEVER,
YOUR HONOR.
WISE BEYOND YOUR YEARS.
THE U.S. ATTORNEY HAS
OFFERED TO LIMIT THE
SUBPOENA TO MS. LANGWORTHY
TO COVER ONLY HER TAX RECORDS
AND TAX REPORTS.
SHE HAS ALSO AUTHORIZED
ME TO STATE THAT MS. LANGWORTHY
IS NOT A TARGE OF THIS INVESTIGATION,
ONLY A WITNESS,
AND WILL BE GIVEN FULL IMMUNITY
FOR HER COOPERATION.
IS THAT ACCEPTABLE, COUNSEL?
MAY I CONSULT?
LOOKS LIKE TOTAL
CAPITULATION
WITH A TRIVIAL ...
I AGREE.
WE ACCEPT THE OFFER,
YOUR HONOR.
NOW, WHY DOESN' THAT SURPRISE ME?
Bailiff: ALL RISE!
Woman: MS. LANGWORTHY,
JUST A MOMENT OF YOUR
TIME, PLEASE.
Man: WHY DID THE
U.S. ATTORNEY CAVE?
Man: COMMEN FOR THE RECORD.
A COMMENT, MS. LANGWORTHY.
NO COMMENT.
Man: PUBLIC HAS
A RIGHT TO KNOW.
Man: MS. LANGWORTHY,
PLEASE.
THE JUDGE WOULD LIKE
TO SEE YOU FOR A MOMEN IN THE ROBING ROOM.
ALONE.
Woman: COUNSEL,
DO YOU HAVE ANY...
I FEEL DIRTY EVEN
GIVING THIS TO YOU.
IT'S GONNA RING
IN A FEW SECONDS.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO
TAKE THE CALL OUTSIDE.
[RING]
WHOA, WHOA.
I WOULD ADVISE AGAINST.
[RING]
YOU'VE LEARNED
A NEW PHONE GAME, NILES.
I HEAR THINGS DIDN' GO MY WAY DOWN A THE COURTHOUSE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SPEAK TO YOUR MOTHER?
I FOUND HER--
AT LEAST MY PEOPLE
DID--THIS MORNING,
AND I'VE HAD HER
FLOWN TO NEW YORK.
ISN'T THAT GOOD NEWS?
I THOUGHT IT MIGH BE USEFUL, NO MATTER THE
OUTCOME OF THIS EVENING.
AND SHE IS IN HEAVEN,
ALMOST LITERALLY,
WITH AN ENDLESS STASH
OF A SUBSTANCE THAT MORE
THAN SIMPLY RESEMBLES ...
[CLICK]
I'M JUST THE DRIVER.
PLEASE.
SO, YOU GOT A CLERKSHIP
FOR NEXT YEAR?
WOW. NOT YET.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY
THINGS ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE HAPPENING.
WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?
I DON'T KNOW.
SOME BRAVE KNIGH AROUND, YOU KNOW,
SHINING ARMOR?
THAT'S IN A
COMMERCIAL, SAM.
IT'S PASSE.
LOOK AT YOU. YOU KNOW
WHERE MY MOTHER IS.
NO, I DON'T.
I'M JUST A PAGE.
PLEASE.
YOU COULD FIND OUT.
LIKE I SAID,
I'M JUST--
TALK TO ME WHEN YOU
HAVE SOMETHING REAL TO SAY.
YOU'VE HEARD NOLA'S
TRYING TO FIND HER
FATHER.
YEAH.
MARGARET TOLD ME.
ONE OR TWO LINES
IN YOUR COLUMN
MIGHT DO SOME GOOD,
IF HE'S STILL
IN NEW YORK.
LET'S TALK ABOUT I UPSTAIRS.
SO, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?
FACTS.
SHE WAS CONCEIVED
IN KANSAS.
SO IT HAD TO BE SOMEONE
WHO WAS ONCE THERE.
CLEAR THINKING.
THAT SHOULD CUT I DOWN TO WHAT, ABOUT,
LIKE 400,000?
WE HAVE A NAME...
AT LEAST PART OF ONE.
WELL,
NOW YOU'RE TALKING.
HUTCH.
Leo: MARGARET, FOR ... SAKE,
PICK UP.
I HAVE TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.
YOU'RE NO THE ONLY ONE.
NOLA'S IN TROUBLE.
WHERE'S THE CAR?
DOWN THE BLOCK.
WHY NOT OUT FRONT?
AND TRIP ...?
... AS AN ART FORM.
BEFORE PUTTING ON
YOUR COSTUME,
YOU MUST REMOVE
EVERY BIT OF YOUR
OWN CLOTHING.
THE MEREST SCRAP
OF YOUR OWN CLOTHING
WOULD COMPLETELY
RUIN THE EFFECT.
SO, DO I HAVE YOUR
AGREEMENT ON IT?
THIS COSTUME...
IT WILL OTHERWISE
COVER ME?
OH, COMPLETELY.
WHERE IS MY MOM?
THERE ARE MORE THAN
180 ROOMS IN THIS HOTEL.
SHE'S IN ONE OF THEM.
AND WHEN YOU PERFORM
TO MY SATISFACTION,
YOU MAY HAVE HER.
OK.
TAXI! HEY!
I NEVER SEND HIM WOMEN.
WHY?
NEVER MIND.
PUT LEO ON.
MARGARET, WHY?
HE HURTS THEM, BEN.
I'M SORRY.
GO! GO!
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Sternlicht: WHO IS IT
YOUR MOTHER.
YOU NASTY LITTLE BOY.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
WHY HAVE WE STOPPED?
IT'S A WATER MAIN BREAK.
SORRY.
SUITE 406!
YOU ARE AN EVIL CHILD.
YOUR THOUGHTS ARE EVIL.
YOUR BODY IS EVIL.
EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU
IS EVIL.
IF I HAVE TO CHANGE
YOU AGAIN,
I WILL SPANK YOU AGAIN.
OHHH!
I THINK MAYBE NOW
BABY SHOULD SPANK MOMMY.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
OH, MOMMY HAS SEEN
BABY NAKED.
BABY WANTS TO SEE
MOMMY NAKED.
THAT'S NOT IN THE
... SCRIPT, NILES!
IT'S IMPLICIT.
NILES!
DON'T STEP OU OF CHARACTER! YOU--
GET YOUR SLIMY
HANDS OFF, YOU
... WORM!
OH! OH, LOOK AT YOU.
YOU SPOILED IT!
NOW, STRIP YOURSELF.
DO IT!
... YOU!
OHH!
SUITE 406.
YOU GUYS GO.
I'LL CATCH UP.
[INDISTINCT]
OOH!
[SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
NILES STERNLICHT.
YOU EXCEED ANYTHING
I REFER TO AS HUMAN.
I SHALL SEE YOU
IN PRISON,
AND YOU'RE FIRED.
HA HA HA!
YOU'RE BEHIND
THE TIMES, NILES.
I ALREADY QUIT.
JUST TRY TO
GET ANOTHER JOB.
A DESCRIPTION
OF THIS SCENE SHOULD HELP.
OH, MERE WORDS.
YOU THINK YOU HAVE
SOMETHING TO TRADE?
Sternlicht: YOU ACCUSE,
I DENY. I'M NOT AFRAID.
IT'S OK. REALLY.
IT'S NOT OK.
MY MOM.
BRING IT ON, LIONEL!
[PHOTOGRAPHERS ALL
TALKING AT ONCE]
Margaret: SMILE!
Man: YEAH, THAT'S IT.
Leo: DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER
STATEMENT YOU'D CARE TO MAKE?
TAKE IT OFF,
WILL YOU?
OHH...
I'M GONNA CALL.
NO. MY SWEET BABY.
Ben: YES, WE NEED AN
AMBULANCE RIGHT AWAY.
SUITE 408. YES, SIR.
WHO ARE THOSE
PEOPLE OUT THERE?
THEY'RE MY FRIENDS,
MAMA.
YOU'LL MEET THEM.
DID YOU FIND HIM?
HMM?
NO. NOT YET.
I'M THINKING OF THE REPUTATION
OF BOTH YOU AND YOUR FACILITY.
I HELD MY TONGUE,
DID I NOT?
WELL, I THINK YOU OWE ME.
AFTER ALL,
WE'RE FRIENDS, HUH?
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
I NEVER THOUGHT
YOU WERE JUST A STRANGER
NOW I FIND YOU
HERE BY MY SIDE
I ASKED LEO,
RIGHT BEFORE THE
THING IN THE HOTEL--
I ASKED HIM
IF HE'D HELP OUT,
PUT SOMETHING
IN HIS COLUMN.
I GUESS HE FIGURED
SINCE HE DIDN'T HAVE
HIS COLUMN ANYMORE
HE'D FIND SOME OTHER WAY.
SO THEN, WHAT? HOW
DID HE DO IT SO FAST?
I DON'T KNOW, NOLA.
HE'S A JOURNALIST.
THEY TRACK DOWN LEADS.
THEY GET TIPS.
IT'S WHAT THEY DO.
AH. HMM?
CAPTURES THE MAN,
DON'T YOU THINK?
I LIKE THE STORY, LEO...
BY THE NEW "TIME"
MAGAZINE COLUMNIST.
WELL, WE HAVE A LO TO CELEBRATE TONIGHT.
I PROPOSE A TOAST.
TO A COURAGEOUS WOMAN
WHO'S FIGHTING THE
BATTLE OF HER LIFE,
RIGHT NOW IN A REHAB.
FROM WHAT I HEAR...
DOING ... WELL.
TO TWO BEAUTIFUL WOMEN
WHO TRIUMPHED OVERCOMING
SOME DICEY INDICTMENTS.
HO HO!
AND TO THEIR
MOUTHPIECE
AND FUTURE
FORMIDABLE HIRED GUN.
All: HEAR HEAR!
LEO.
YES, SIR.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD
STRING THIS OUT.
IS HE HERE TONIGHT?
YEAH.
CAN WE SEE HIM FROM HERE?
YES, YOU CAN.
WHERE IS HE?
HE'S AT THIS TABLE.
THE NAME HUTCH?
A RABBIT LIVES
IN A HUTCH...
AND HAS SOME
WELL-KNOWN
PROCLIVITIES.
I WAS IN KANSAS CITY,
TRYING TO INTERES A LOCAL RECORD COMPANY
IN MY SONGS.
YOUR MOTHER WAS
SINGING IN A CLUB
JUST SOUTH OF THE CITY.
SHE WAS THE BES ... CLUB SINGER I'D
EVER SEEN OR HEARD.
SHE AGREED TO SING
SOME OF MY SONGS,
AND I...I FELL,
REALLY FELL.
WE HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE
TWO WEEKS,
AND THEN I LEFT,
WHICH WAS ME
AT THAT TIME.
I'M SORRY TO SAY.
I NEVER KNEW.
YOUR MOTHER
NEVER TOLD ME.
I WAS PRETTY
DAMN SURE
FROM THE MOMEN I HEARD YOU
SING THAT SONG.
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS
LIFE CAN PLAY A REAL
WILD CARD LIKE THIS.
NOT OFTEN.
PAY ATTENTION
WHEN IT HAPPENS.
I CAN'T EXPRESS
HOW SORRY I AM
NOT TO HAVE
KNOWN BEFORE.
BUT IT IS WONDERFUL
NOW KNOWING.
[PLAYS NOTE]
[PLAYS SONG INTRO]
I'VE BEEN SEARCHING
MY PLACE
FINDING MY WAY HOME
NOW I'M LOOKING TO FACE
AND I DON'T FEEL
SO ALONE
NEVER BLUE
I FOUND YOU
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
DON'T GO AWAY
DON'T LEAVE ME LONELY
RUNNING IN PLACE
WAITED SO LONG
TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW
SOMETIMES THINGS WORK OUT,
DON'T ASK ME HOW
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
I WATCH THE SHADOWS
WALK THE STREET
NOTHING WAS ENOUGH
BUT NOW I'M CLOSER
TO COMPLETE
I'M TRYING TO BE TOUGH
EVER NEW
I FIND YOU
DON'T BREAK MY HEART,
DON'T WALK AWAY
DON'T LEAVE ME LONELY
RUNNING IN PLACE
WAITED SO LONG
TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW
SOMETIMES THINGS WORK OUT,
DON'T ASK ME HOW
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
DON'T WALK AWAY
DON'T LEAVE ME LONELY
RUNNING IN PLACE
WAITED SO LONG
TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW
SOMETIMES THINGS WORK OUT,
DON'T ASK ME HOW
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
Woman: BEAUTIFUL VOICE!
THAT WAS FOR YOU.
IF I HAD KNOWN THAT--
YOU DIDN' WANT TO KNOW.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
I'M SORRY.
THERE'S A LOT OF
TIME TO MAKE UP FOR.
I KNOW.
ARE YOU UP TO THAT?
YEAH.
THERE IT IS.
HISTORIC SITE,
WHERE I SPENT MY
FIRST NIGHT IN NEW YORK.
THERE OUGHT TO
BE A PLAQUE.
SOME DAY THERE WILL BE.
I DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW YOU BACK THEN.
NONE OF THIS
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
LET'S SEE,
TWO MONTHS AGO,
I WAS A FRY COOK.
NOW I'M ABOUT TO CLERK
FOR A FEDERAL JUDGE,
IF I DON'T SCREW UP
IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
YOU WON'T, BEN.
TWO MONTHS AGO,
YOU WERE THIS REALLY
HARD-... KID,
WHO WOULDN'T LE ANYBODY GET CLOSE TO YOU.
IS THAT CLOSE ENOUGH?
OH, GOD.
DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
WHY NOT?
IT'S GONNA GET CORNY.
I HATE CORNY.
I'LL RESTRAIN
THE IMPULSE.
YOU KNOW,
YOU OUGHT TO BE A SPY
OR A PROFESSIONAL
POKER PLAYER.
ANYTHING YOU LIKE.
BABY GONE,
MY BABY GONE
YOU'RE JUST FINE
THE WAY YOU ARE
SO, WHAT'S THE MATTER?
WHERE'S THE PROBLEM?
THEY DON'T LOVE YOU
'CAUSE THEY DON' KNOW YOU LIKE I DO
CAN'T YOU SEE?
IT'S AMAZING
WHAT YOU DO TO ME
TOOK MY HEAR AND MADE ME FEEL THINGS
I NEVER FELT BEFORE
THIS CHANGE IN ME
NEW DIRECTION
SO SUDDENLY
TOOK ME OUT THERE
AND THREW ME AROUND
HELPED ME LEARN TO BREATHE
IN A ...
TIGER LILY
MY TIGER LILY
YOU'RE JUST WILD
YOU'RE AS WILD
AS THEY COME
SO, WHAT'S THE TROUBLE?
WHERE'S THE PROBLEM?
YOU'RE JUST A BLOOMING,
BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE
CAN'T YOU SEE?
IT'S AMAZING
WHAT YOU DO TO ME
TOOK MY HEAR AND MADE ME FEEL THINGS
I NEVER FELT BEFORE
THIS CHANGE IN ME
NEW DIRECTION
SO SUDDENLY
TOOK ME OUT THERE
AND THREW ME AROUND
HELPED ME LEARN TO BREATHE
IN A ...
WHEN I WAS AFRAID
TO REACH OUT
OH, AND I WAS
THE ONE TO RUN
YOU CAME ALONG WITH
A NEW LEASE ON LIFE
TO SHOW ME
HOW IT'S DONE
CAN YOU SEE?
IT'S AMAZING WHA YOU DO TO ME
TOOK MY HEAR AND MADE ME FEEL THINGS
I NEVER FELT BEFORE
THIS CHANGE IN ME
NEW DIRECTION
SO SUDDENLY
TOOK ME OUT THERE
AND THREW ME AROUND
HELPED ME LEARN
TO BREATHE
CAN'T YOU SEE?
IT'S AMAZING
WHAT YOU DO TO ME
TOOK MY HEAR AND MADE ME FEEL THINGS
I NEVER FELT BEFORE
THIS CHANGE IN ME
NEW DIRECTION
SO SUDDENLY
TOOK ME OUT THERE
AND THREW ME AROUND
HELPED ME LEARN
TO BREATHE
HELPED ME LEARN
TO BREATHE ALONE
FREDDY!
AAH! AAH!
OH, THAT'S NO A FAIR FIGHT, NOW, IS IT?
[WOMAN SCREAMS]
[GRUNTING]
OW! AAH!
OH, MY GOD!
Woman: AND I,
I KNOW A PLACE
WHERE FEAR CANNOT FIND YOU
AND I, I KNOW A PLACE
WHERE SORROW AND RAGE
CANNOT FOLLOW YOU
EVER SINCE I'VE KNOWN YOU
YOU'VE BEEN SEARCHING
FOR THE RIGHT AND WRONG
THE TRUTH IN LIFE
EVER SINCE I'VE KNOWN YOU,
YOU'VE BEEN REACHING
FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS
JUST OUT OF SIGHT
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
AND I, I KNOW A PLACE
WHERE FAITH IS YOUR REALITY
AND I, I KNOW A PLACE
WHERE THE VOICES OF LOVE
ARE A SYMPHONY
THE STREETS THA YOU'VE BEEN WALKING
ALL THESE YEARS
SO UNYIELDING, SO DESOLATED
ALL THE FACES YOU HAVE WORN
TO HIDE YOUR TEARS
DID THEY WEAR YOU OUT,
LEAVE YOU TIRED AND JADED?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
WANDERING SO,
A WANDERING SOUL
WHEN WILL YOU FIND A PLACE
CALLED HOME?
WANDERING SO
WHEN WILL YOU FIND A HOME?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
[SIRENS]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
HORRIBLE PLACE.
IT REALLY IS.
NOTHING FOR YOU,
MISS.
YOU, UH, GOT SOMETHING
TO DO OUT THERE?
PLACE TO STAY?
SOMEONE TO LOOK
AFTER YOU?
HUH?
HELL, NO, YOU DON'T.
GET THE...OUT OF MY WAY.
OOH.
YES?
HEY. UM, I'M LOOKING
FOR A JOB AS A WAITRESS.
SORRY.
NO OPENINGS HERE.
I'M REALLY GOOD AT THIS.
I'VE HAD 4 YEARS OF
FOOD SERVICE EXPERIENCE.
I COULD DO THE FIRST DAY
EVEN AS A KIND OF TRYOUT.
TRY McDONALD'S.
THEY'RE ALWAYS HIRING.
YOU'RE NOT GETTING THIS.
I'M PROBABLY 10 TIMES
SMARTER THAN ANYONE
YOU'VE GOT WORKING HERE.
THEN YOU'RE
OVERQUALIFIED
FOR THE JOB.
APPLY TO ONE OF
THE UNIVERSITIES.
THERE ARE SEVERAL
FREE ONES
IN THE CITY.
[SIGH]
[HORNS HONKING]
BACK IT UP, MAN.
BACK IT UP.
[WOMAN SPEAKING ON POLICE RADIO]
HEY.
YES?
A DOLLAR AND A HALF
FOR A CUP OF COFFEE?
YOU GOT TO BE
KIDDING ME.
NEXT.
WAIT A SECOND.
I NEED A JOB.
MOVE ALONG,
SWEETHEART.
I'LL HELP YOU
WORK THE STAND,
JUST FOR BREAKFAST.
NO ROOM, NO NEED,
NO INTEREST. NEXT.
EXCUSE ME.
YES.
UH, COFFEE,
LIGHT, ONE SUGAR.
THEY'RE HIRING
IN THE EAST VILLAGE,
NEAR ASTOR PLACE.
COFFEE SHOPS.
CHECK THE ADS.
UM...
DOWNTOWN.
SO WHY DON'T YOU
GO FOR IT?
ME?
I'M AN ENTREPRENEUR.
OK.
SO...
WHICH WAY IS DOWN?
YOU GO
TAKE THE 6 TRAIN
AND GO STRAIGHT DOWN
TO ASTOR PLACE.
SCRAMBLED HERE.
RIGHT.
I'M NOLA.
I'M HERE FOR THE JOB.
I'M GUS. WHERE THE HELL
WERE YOU TWO HOURS AGO?
GIVE ME THAT.
WHO HASN'T ORDERED YET?
OVER HERE, PLEASE.
YES, WE HAVEN'T.
Gus: WHO ORDERED
THE SCRAMBLED EGGS
AND BACON COMBO?
[OVERLAPPING VOICES]
Man: HOT DOG
THERE'S NO PAY,
NO BENEFITS.
YOU WORK FOR TIPS,
AND TIPS ARE LOUSY.
YOU WORK FOR ME.
I'M THE MANAGER.
I'M A SON OF A...,
A REAL HARD-...
VERY BAD GUY
TO WORK FOR.
I'M BEN.
IT'S TRUE.
HE'S A REAL...
AND THE TIPS DO SUCK,
BUT THE FOOD'S GOOD.
NOT THAT YOU CARE,
NECESSARILY.
SUITS ME.
YOU HAVE A PLACE TO STAY?
I HAVE A ROOM UPSTAIRS.
YOU CAN CRASH THERE
FOR A FEW DAYS
UNTIL YOU FIND SOMETHING.
I REALLY DON'T THINK SO.
IT'S YOUR CALL,
SWEETHEART.
ALL RIGHT, IF YOU
WANT TO PEE, THIS IS THE TIME.
LUNCH CROWD
ARE GONNA BE HERE
IN 5 MINUTES,
AND THEN WE WORK
OUR LITTLE TUSHES OFF
FOR TWO HOURS.
I LIVE IN QUEENS--
A WIFE, 5 KIDS,
MOTHER-IN-LAW.
I DON'T EVEN HAVE
A SPARE COUCH.
IT'S OK.
THERE ARE FLOPHOUSES
AROUND HERE.
YOU CAN ALWAYS SHARE A CO WITH THEIR WILDLIFE.
FOR THAT PRIVILEGE,
THEY'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE
WHAT YOU MADE ON A DAY.
I'LL FIND SOMETHING.
DON'T WORRY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS,
SOME ENCHANTED LITTLE VILLAGE?
THESE ARE CRUEL STREETS.
THAT'S BEN'S PLACE
THERE.
HE'LL BE HOME
IN A COUPLE OF HOURS
IF YOU WANT TO WAIT.
IT'LL BE NICE NOT TO
HAVE TO FIND YOUR TORSO
IN A DUMPSTER TOMORROW MORNING.
I MEAN, I HATE TO HAVE TO
PUT THAT SIGN OUT AGAIN.
WHAT? YOU--YOU THINK
I'M YANKING YOUR CHAIN HERE?
LOOK. HE'S NOT GONNA
TRY TO GROPE YOU,
IF THAT'S WHA YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT.
I BELIEVE THE MAN
TO BE A GENTLEMAN.
REALLY?
I'VE ME PLENTY OF THOSE,
AND I CAN
TELL YOU, GUS,
YOUR EXPERIENCES
HAVE PROBABLY BEEN
A LITTLE DIFFEREN FROM MINE.
SUIT YOURSELF.
I'LL SEE YOU AT 6:30.
HA HA HA!
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
IT'S TOP FLOOR.
SORRY IT'S A SCHLEP.
IT'S COOL?
BETTER THAN
A PARK BOULDER.
WHICH IS WHERE
YOU SLEPT LAST NIGHT?
PART OF IT.
UNBELIEVABLE.
YOU ARRIVE HERE
FROM WHERE, KANSAS?
HOW'D YOU KNOW?
FIGURES.
WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE
THINK THIS IS--
A THEME PARK?
BEN, PLEASE.
I GOT THE "TORSO
IN THE DUMPSTER" SPEECH
FROM GUS.
POINT IS, YOU DON' COME TO A CITY LIKE THIS
WITHOUT KNOWING ANYBODY.
I DO KNOW SOMEBODY.
REALLY?
YOU KNOW SOMEBODY
HERE IN THE CITY,
BECAUSE YOU PREFER
TO SLEEP IN THE PARK.
IT'S A LITTLE MORE
COMPLICATED THAN THAT.
I'LL BET.
LOOK. I'M SORRY.
IT'S NO MY BUSINESS.
HERE.
THIS KIND OF FITS.
THIS PERSON AND I
HAVEN'T ACTUALLY MET.
I SAID IT WAS COMPLICATED.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S TOO LATE FOR THIS.
UM...PRIVILEGES
OF BEING A GUEST--
YOU GET TO USE
THE BATHROOM FIRST,
BUT NO BATHS.
YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO WAIT TILL
TOMORROW MORNING
TO TAKE A BATH,
AND I OPEN THE PLACE
AROUND 6:00.
YOU GET TO HANG
AROUND HERE TILL 6:30.
[SIGH]
GREAT.
HEY, UH, ADVERTISING
DEPARTMENT, PLEASE?
HI. YEAH. I WANT TO PLACE A--
NO, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WORDS.
I MEAN--
I KNOW WHAT I WANT IT TO SAY,
BUT I HADN'T COUNTED--
OK. OK.
UH, NOLA KEYNES, 18,
FROM KANSAS,
HAS COME TO NEW YORK
LOOKING FOR HER DAD.
NO, NOT "WOMEN SEEKING MEN."
I WANT IT ON THE BACK PAGE.
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
ON THE STREET OF DREAMS?
WILL YOU MEET ME THERE
SOMEDAY?
AND I, I KNOW A PLACE
WHERE YOUR REALITY IN LIFE
WHO ARE YOU?
JUST A CHALK MARK
IN A RAINSTORM.
WHAT CAN I GET YOU?
BEN'S GOT ME.
WHERE'D YOU HEAR THAT SONG?
I GREW UP WITH IT.
MY MOM SANG I INCESSANTLY.
GET THE LADY
SOME COFFEE.
NOW.
AHH.
YOUR TASTE IS
PICKING UP, GUS.
SHE JUST WALKED IN HERE.
WE HAD A SIGN.
A SIGN.
OH, JESUS...
YOU JUST LAID EYES
ON HER.
I CAN'T BE PUTTING OU A NEW SIGN EVERY DAY.
CAREFUL THERE.
THAT'S YOUR EMPLOYER.
THAT WOMAN
OWNS THE PLACE?
AND THE BUILDING.
SO SHE'S ALSO
YOUR LANDLADY?
PART OF MY COMPENSATION.
SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
THE KIND OF PERSON
WHO'D EA IN A PLACE LIKE THIS,
MUCH LESS OWN IT.
YEAH? WHAT DOES SHE
LOOK LIKE, YOU THINK?
SOMEONE WHO DOESN' REACT WELL TO
AN OVERCOOKED OMELET.
HERE YOU GO.
SO HOW DID SHE
GET THIS PLACE?
PROBABLY A GIF FROM A GRATEFUL JOHN.
SHE'S A PROSTITUTE?
SHE RUNS AN ESCOR SERVICE.
YOU MEAN SHE'S
A HIGH-CLASS PIMP?
THAT'S A RATHER
PEJORATIVE WAY
OF DESCRIBING
WHAT SHE DOES, BUT...
YES, IN AN EXOTIC
SORT OF WAY,
THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES,
AND THAT'S PROBABLY
HOW SHE HERSELF
WOULD DESCRIBE IT.
MARGARET WANTS
TO TALK TO YOU
FOR A MINUTE.
BE NICE.
SHE'S THE BOSS.
SO I GATHER.
I DON'T...MEN FOR MONEY.
WOMEN, EITHER,
FOR THAT MATTER.
NEITHER DO I, HONEY.
AT LEAST NOT ANYMORE.
MM-HMM.
BUT APART FROM THAT,
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE?
YOU DON'T SPILL,
EITHER, HUH?
AT LEAST NO IN COFFEE SHOPS.
WE'LL GIVE IT SOME TIME.
[SIRENS]
IT'S OK.
I'M NOT SLEEPING.
WHY THE HELL NOT?
SIRENS. CAR ALARMS.
SO...NOISY!
AND I CAN'T IMAGINE
WHERE YOU GOT THIS COUCH,
OR RATHER,
I CAN IMAGINE.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO
THINK ABOUT IT.
NOT COMFORTABLE,
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL TAKE THE COUCH.
WHAT'S PUT YOU
IN SUCH A ... MOOD?
WHAT DO YOU DO,
WORK FOR MARGARE AT NIGHT, TOO?
SOME OLD WOMAN
WORE YOU OUT?
OR MAYBE IT WAS
SOME OLD GEEZER.
THAT'S FUNNY?
NOT REALLY.
IT'S JUST PRETTY CLOSE
TO THE JOB ORIGINALLY
OFFERED.
WHICH YOU TURNED DOWN?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WELL, IT'S A LO MORE PROSAIC THAN
SELLING MY BOD.
YEAH? WHAT?
LAW SCHOOL.
I GO TO LAW SCHOOL
AT NIGHT.
OH, IT'S WORSE, THEN,
ISN'T IT?
BODY AND SOUL.
YOU DON'T LIKE
LAWYERS, EITHER?
JESUS,
NOBODY LIKES LAWYERS.
NOT EVEN OTHER LAWYERS.
YOU'RE ALL OF WHAT,
18?
YOU ALREADY
KNOW EVERYTHING.
SO HOW'D YOU GET TO
BE SUCH A SMART-...?
IT WASN'T EASY.
I CAN IMAGINE.
[SIGH]
SO THAT'S YOUR DREAM,
THEN?
TO BECOME A LAWYER?
AT THIS STAGE,
I DON'T KNOW WHA TO CALL IT.
IT'S HARDLY A DREAM.
AH. YOU MIGHT NO WANT TO WATCH THIS.
I SLEEP
IN MY SKIVVIES.
EW!
TIGHTY WHITIES?
YOU DON'T LIKE
MY JOCKEY SHORTS,
EITHER?
I LIKE THEM SO LONG
AS YOU KEEP THEM
AND YOUR STUFF
IN YOUR OWN BED.
NO OFFENSE,
BUT THE WAY I FEEL
RIGHT NOW,
YOU COULD LIE
ALL OVER ME BUCK NAKED
AND IT'S NOT GONNA
DO YOU THE SLIGHTES BIT OF GOOD.
I DON'T THINK
WE'LL BE PUTTING
THAT ONE TO THE TEST.
NOLA, LIGHTEN UP,
WILL YOU?
IT'S A JOKE.
GIVE ME AN ADAM AND EVE
ON A RAF AND A BLONDE AND SWEET.
BEN'S WORKING
ON MARGARET'S OMELET.
GUESS WHO'S GONNA
DELIVER IT.
WE DON'T DELIVER.
OH, WITH MARGARET,
WE MAKE EXCEPTION.
IS THIS
A GOOD ADDRESS?
LOWER FIFTH AVENUE?
NO! IT'S THE PROJECTS.
YOU EVER GET TO SEE IT--
HER APARTMENT?
NOPE.
BEN?
NOPE.
WHAT MAKES ME
SO LUCKY?
WOMAN'S HUNGRY.
HAVE A SEAT.
KEEP ME COMPANY
WHILE I EAT.
EASY.
OH, RIGHT.
TAKEOUT, ONLY.
IT'S AN ESCOR SERVICE.
THAT'S NOT QUITE
WHAT I'M RUNNING HERE,
NOT IN THE NORMAL
SENSE OF THAT TERM.
REALLY?
AS IN A TRADITIONAL MODE,
WE HAVE THE CUSTOMER
AND THE SERVICE PROVIDER,
BUT IN MY SERVICE,
BOTH HAVE THE FREEDOM
TO CHOOSE.
SOUNDS LIKE A TRICKY WAY
OF NOT CALLING I "PROSTITUTION."
IT IS IN FAC A SYSTEM I ARRIVED A OUT OF DEEPCONVICTIONCPNVICTION.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
DO YOU KNOW
HOW TO OPERATE THAT THING?
AND THIS ACTUALLY
HAPPENS?
GIRLS TELL TRICKS
TO GET LOST?
ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, I GUESS
YOU'RE MAKING A BUCK
AROUND HERE, SO...
MAYBE IT ISN' TOTALLY NUTS.
PERHAPS YOU'D LIKE
TO SEE YOUR ROOM.
MY WHAT?
IT GOES WITH THE JOB.
WHAT JOB?
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK.
MY ASSISTANT,
MY SECRETARY.
MAJORDOMO.
WHATEVER I CAN'T GET TO
AND YOU'VE LEARNED
HOW TO DO
BECAUSE I'VE TAUGHT YOU.
EXCEPT FOR
THE DAMN COMPUTER,
WHICH YOU'LL TEACH ME.
YOU WANT ME TO HELP YOU
RUN THIS SERVICE?
YES, PLUS
EVERYTHING ELSE.
I OWN TWO BUILDINGS
AND THE COFFEE SHOP
NOW.
I EXPECT TO OWN
MORE SOON.
YOU JUST MET ME.
AND SOMETHING
IN MY RESUME JUST...
JUMPED OUT AT YOU?
AS IT TURNS OUT,
WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.
SO...MAYBE THIS
WAS A BAD IDEA.
Man on machine:
NOLA, IT'S REALLY YOU.
GET OVER HERE,
YOU LITTLE SPITFIRE, YOU.
I'LL BE WAITING
IN THE LIBERTY MOTEL.
Woman: TO ERASE, PRESS--
[BEEP]
NINTH VOICE MESSAGE.
Different man:
SO YOUR AD SAYS YOU'RE 18.
I LOVE THEM THAT YOUNG.
[BEEP]
Woman: TENTH VOICE MESSAGE.
Different woman: IF IT'S A DADDY
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,
I HAVE SOMETHING BETTER.
WHY DON'T YOU CALL ME AT 555-5--
[BEEP]
Woman: END OF MESSAGES.
TO ERASE, PRESS--
SO HOW'S IT GOING
THERE?
LAW SCHOOL?
YOU MEAN GRADES?
THEY FIGURE OU A BETTER WAY TO MEASURE IT?
I'M DOING
REASONABLY WELL
GIVEN MY BASIC
UNFAMILIARITY WITH
THE COURSE MATERIAL.
WINGING IT, HUH?
YOU MIGHT SAY.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
SHE WANTS ME
TO COME WORK FOR HER
AND LIVE IN
HER APARTMENT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
AND TO WHAT DO YOU OWE
THE SPEEDY PROMOTION?
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
I'M ABOUT TO BECOME
A HOOKER?
WHY WOULD I THINK THAT?
THE PROPRIETRESS OF
ONE OF THE MOS SUCCESSFUL
FLOATING WHOREHOUSES
IN THE CITY
OFFERS YOU A JOB
AFTER SEEING YOU
ONLY ONCE.
WHERE'S THE CONNECTION?
WELL, YOU'RE WRONG.
THE JOB IS TO BE
HER ASSISTANT.
THE JOB YOU PREVIOUSLY
DESCRIBED AS BEING
A PIMP.
WELL...IT'S NOT AS IF
I HAVE SO MANY OPTIONS
RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ILLEGAL.
IT SHOULDN'T BE.
YOU RUN FOR OFFICE
AND CHANGE THE LAW,
RIGHT?
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE
A BIG...HELP.
HOW ELSE AM I
SUPPOSED TO FIND
A PLACE TO LIVE
IN THIS...CITY?
EASY. STAY WITH ME.
OH. RIGHT.
IF I START PUTTING OUT.
JESUS...GIRL.
HAVE I SO MUCH AS TRIED
TO LAY A HAND ON YOU?
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY
OBSESSED WITH SEX.
ISN'T EVERYONE?
YEAH, PROBABLY.
WHEN'D YOU SAY
YOU'D LET HER KNOW BY?
AFTER THE WEEKEND.
OK.
LOOK. WE'RE BOTH OFF
TONIGHT,
AND I DON'T HAVE
ANY CLASSES.
I'LL TAKE YOU
TO A RESTAURAN I KNOW
HERE
IN THE EAST VILLAGE.
GOOD FOOD,
GOOD PRICES...
WE CAN TALK
ABOUT IT.
YOU WANT TO TAKE ME
ON A DATE?
NO, CERTAINLY NOT.
BUSINESS MEAL.
TALK ABOUT OTHER
JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
I'M NOT SLEEPING
WITH YOU.
DAMN IT, NOLA.
YOU'RE A BROKEN RECORD.
YOU'RE TOO YOUNG FOR ME.
YOU'RE 18, MAYBE.
HOW'D YOU GE TO BE THIS WAY?
WHY DO I KEEP
GETTING ASKED THAT?
BECAUSE YOU'RE
A PAIN IN THE ...
SO YOU'RE NO ASKING ME ON A DATE?
NO.
BUSINESS MEAL--
THAT'S THE OFFER.
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.
I ACCEPT.
SO...
WHY'D YOU LEAVE KANSAS?
DOROTHY.
WHAT?
THE QUOTE IS,
"WHY DID YOU LEAVE
KANSAS, DOROTHY?"
OK.
WELL...
FIRST, YOUR STEPFATHER
GETS YOU TO MAKE
FRIENDS
WITH ALL
THE OLD PEOPLE
IN THE TRAILER PARK.
AND THEN HE MAKES YOU
WRITE DOWN THE NAMES
OF ALL THEIR
PRESCRIPTION
PAINKILLERS.
AND YOU DO IT...
BECAUSE YOU'RE STUPID.
AND THEN HE GOES
IN THERE
AND HE STEALS THE ONE
CALLED OXYCODONE,
WHICH HE CRUSHES UP
SO THE TIME RELEASES
WON'T GIVE HIM AWAY.
THEN HE AND YOUR MOTHER
FIGHT OVER THE POWDER
LIKE DOGS
UNTIL IT'S ALL
UP THEIR NOSES,
AND BINGO,
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
STRONG AS HEROIN.
SHE USED TO SING,
BUT SHE THREW THA AWAY..
WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.
GOT OUT WHEN YOU COULD.
I LEFT HER.
WHAT I NEED TO DO NOW
IS MAKE IT HERE.
LIKE THE SAYING GOES,
MAKE IT HERE,
MAKE IT ANYWHERE, RIGHT?
SO THAT'S YOUR DREAM?
YOU'RE A SINGER, TOO.
I'VE HEARD YOU
IN THE SHOWER.
OH, JESUS, NO,
I HAVE NO VOICE.
I JUST WRITE 'EM.
WHY IS EVERYBODY
BEING SO NICE TO ME?
MARGARET, GUS,
EVEN YOU, BEN.
PROBABLY SOME SIGNS
TO A CONSPIRACY.
OH, RIGHT.
YOU'RE ALL GONNA
PUT ME IN SOME SNUFF FILM.
I CAN SEE IT NOW.
TORSO IN THE DUMPSTER.
MWAH!
HA HA HA!
I KNEW IT WAS
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
[CHUCKLES]
WHAT?
NOTHING.
Woman on machine:
YOU HAVE ONE NEW MESSAGE
AND 7 OLD MESSAGES.
Man: HEY, I DON'T KNOW
WHO YOU ARE,
BUT YOU GOT TO STOP
CALLING ME, OK?
JUST STOP DIALING MY NUMBER.
BYE.
Woman: MONDAY, 7:23 A.M.
END OF MESSAGES.
[BEEP]
I CROSS THEM OFF
WHEN I GE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER.
IS THAT FROM
MY PHONE BOOK?
WHO DO YOU NEED
TO LOOK UP IN HURLEY
THROUGH HUTNER?
A PERSON YOU KNOW HERE
BUT YOU'VE NEVER MET.
MY DAD.
A GUY...
FROM NEW YORK...
NAMED HUTCH.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT.
SEEMS HE WAS JUS PASSING THROUGH--
THE STATE OF KANSAS
AND MY MOM.
CAN'T EVEN BE SURE
HE GAVE HER THE RIGHT NAME
OR NICKNAME.
SO YOU'RE CALLING
EVERY HUTCHINS
AND HUTCHINSON
IN THE BOOK.
HI THERE. I WAS WONDERING
IF I MIGHT HAVE A MOMEN OF YOUR TIME
FOR A POLL I'M TAKING.
DID YOU EVER...A WOMAN
IN KANSAS, SAY,
ABOUT 19 YEARS AGO?
THERE ARE OTHER
APPROACHES.
AND I'M TRYING THEM,
BUT THEY'RE ALL
PRETTY PAINFUL.
LOOK. I DON'T REALLY
KNOW THE FACTS,
BUT THIS MAY NOT BE
THE TYPE OF GUY
YOU NECESSARILY
WANT TO FIND.
BUT I'M NEVER
GONNA KNOW, AM I?
UNLESS I FIND HIM.
ALL YOURS.
[TOILET FLUSHING]
SO, UH...
IT'S GOOD NIGHT,
THEN?
IT SURE HAS BEEN.
SEE?
WHAT'S THAT, BEN?
JUST FRIENDS,
NO PROBLEM.
IT'S EASY, RIGHT?
SURE AS HELL IS.
A MONTH, MR. MANCUSO.
I'VE BEEN HERE A MONTH.
YES, IT SEEMS LONGER TO ME,
TOO, SIR.
YES, BUT IT'S JUS THE ONE POLICY
THAT MARGARET SIMPLY
WILL NOT CHANGE.
JUST LIKE YOU, THE GIRLS
ARE FREE TO CHOOSE.
[DING]
YES. BUT WHEN THEY DO DECIDE
TO STAY WITH YOU,
THEN YOU KNOW
THEY REALLY LIKE YOU.
YOU CAN REFER TO THEM
AS...IF YOU LIKE, SIR,
BUT THEY ARE IN FAC ACTUAL PEOPLE.
AND YOU THINK
THAT'S MISOGYNY.
WENDY, WHAT'S UP?
YOU HAVEN' SEEN THE PAPERS?
NO.
WHERE'S MARGARET?
JOGGING.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
HE'S YOURS?
THE FOOT FREAK.
THIS BILLIONAIRE
IS THE FOOT FREAK?
HE JUST SUCKS AWAY,
HONEY, LIKE ANY OTHER TRICK,
JUST NOT ON MY WINKY.
I THOUGH HALF YOUR TRICKS
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
YOU HAD A...WINKY.
WELL, THIS ONE KNOWS,
ALTHOUGH THE CHARM FOR HIM
IS TO PRETEND
HE'S SURPRISED TO FIND OUT,
YOU KNOW,
AS IF IN THE THROES
OF PASSION,
AS IF HE'S TOO FAR GONE
ON MY TOES TO CARE
WHAT LIES NORTHWARD.
WE DO A LOT OF
"AS IF"ing IN WENDY'S SCHOOL.
AND YOU DID THIS?
YOU CLOCKED HIM?
WITH WHAT?
A LOCK IN A SOCK.
YOU'RE LUCKY YOU DIDN' KILL THE SON OF A...
WHAT'S A POOR GIRL TO DO?
MUST BE, WHAT,
10 OR 12 KIDS BORN EVERY YEAR
IN THE WORLD
HARBORING THIS COMBINATION
OF BRILLIANCE AND INDIFFERENCE?
YOU THINK
I'M INDIFFEREN TO LAW SCHOOL?
ATTENDING HALF OF
YOUR CLASSES
MIGHT GIVE RISE
TO THAT INFERENCE.
WHY ARE YOU HERE,
BENJAMIN?
JUST TO GET A DIPLOMA
SO YOU CAN GO OU AND MAKE MONEY?
I--I ASSUME
YOUR PREFERENCE
WOULD RUN TOWARDS
AN HONEST ANSWER.
DECIDEDLY.
I'M HERE BECAUSE
I COULDN'T THINK OF
A BETTER THING TO DO.
SOME ADVICE?
I'M OPEN TO ADVICE.
GOOD.
TRY TAKING I SERIOUSLY.
DO SOMETHING--
A PRO BONO CASE,
SOMETHING
THAT IS SERIOUS.
DON'T DRIFT.
DISCOVER YOURSELF,
NOW.
OK?
I'LL LOOK AROUND
FOR IT.
YOU DO THAT.
OH, AND, BEN,
HOW'S MARGARET?
SHE'S GOOD.
FORMIDABLE WOMAN,
MARGARET.
YES. HAVE YOU EVER
TOLD ME HOW YOU TWO MET?
AT A DEBUTANTE
COTILLION.
MY BAD
I DIDN'T MEAN
TO HIT IT
MY BAD
I HIT IT,
THEN I FLED IT
MY BAD
I DIDN'T MEAN
TO DO IT...
[SIGH]
AND JUST RAN
RIGHT THROUGH IT
MY BAD
I WAS SPRINTING...
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
I CAN'T ALLOW
AN INJURY LIKE THIS
TO GO UNPUNISHED.
I HOLD YOU
RESPONSIBLE.
I RELY ON YOU
TO PROVIDE ME
WITH SAFE PEOPLE.
IT'S WHA I PAY YOU FOR.
I CAN ONLY ASSUME
THAT WENDY FEL IN MORTAL PERIL.
NONSENSE. A GAME.
IT'S WHAT WE DO,
RIGHT?
HEH HEH! GAMES.
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME
TO DO, MR. STERNLICHT?
HAVE HER HURT.
WHAT?
I THINK YOU HEARD ME.
I KNOW THE PEOPLE
PROTECTING YOU.
THEY'LL KNOW
WHAT TO DO.
INCAPACITATE WENDY,
SHE'LL HAVE NO PLACE
TO GO BUT THE PRESS--
THE PART YOU DON'T OWN.
SO WHAT? PEOPLE
ALREADY HATE ME--
SO MUCH, IT'S ALMOS TURNED TO ADMIRATION.
HEH HEH HEH!
AND IF I DON'T DO THIS?
IT'S GOING TO GET DONE,
MARGARET,
WHETHER YOU DO I OR YOU PUT ME
TO THE TROUBLE
OF DOING IT MYSELF.
BUT IF YOU DO IT,
I WON'T CLOSE YOU DOWN
OR SEND YOU TO PRISON.
LEAVE THE REST OF
YOUR PEOPLE ALONE.
I COULD OFFER YOU
OTHER COMPENSATION.
[CHUCKLES]
I DON'T THINK SO.
YOU HAD TO BE THERE,
MARGARET.
WE DIDN'T NEED THIS,
NOT NOW!
OH, MY GOD.
HER FROZEN FACE
SYNDROME.
THE THING IS,
HE LIKES TO BE ABUSED
BECAUSE HE KNOWS
HE'S A...
BUT THEN,
WHEN YOU MAKE HIM SEE
HOW UGLY OF A...
HE REALLY IS,
HE GOES BALLISTIC.
WHY, THEN,
DID YOU GIVE HIM
SUCH A CLEAR VIEW?
THE MAN, BY CHOICE,
IS IN A PROFESSION
OF PURE SUBLIMATED
VIOLENCE.
HE'S AN INVESTMEN BANKER!
IN AN EARLIER AGE,
HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
GENGHIS KHAN.
IF ONLY YOU HAD
FELT YOUR SPECIES
ENDANGERED
BY A LESS POWERFUL
MAN.
OH. THANK YOU, DEAR.
YOU READ MY MIND.
LOOK AT YOU.
YEAH? WHAT?
PRETTY FINE.
YOU THINK?
YOU'LL DO.
WHAT'S GOING ON
IN HERE?
DAMAGE CONTROL.
YOU READ ABOUT THIS GUY
STERNLICHT?
"MOGUL MUGGED"?
YEAH. ONLY,
HE WASN'T MUGGED.
HE WAS LAID OU BY ONE OF OURS.
STERNLICHT USES
AN ESCORT SERVICE?
I'LL BE DAMNED.
THAT GUY'S HAD
5 TROPHY WIVES.
YEAH? WELL, I'LL BE NONE LIKE THIS ONE.
NOLA, YOU OUGH TO GET OUT OF HERE.
AND DO WHAT?
WHATEVER.
SING MUSIC. SELL IT.
I DON'T SING.
OK.
[INDISTINCT]
SO SOON?
DON'T ASK.
WHAT WE NEED IS
A REALLY DIRTY
BACK-ALLEY
KIND OF LOCATION
FOR THE SHOOT.
I WAS THINKING
THE COFFEE SHOP.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
YOU'RE WHAT?
THINKING PICTURES?
JESUS.
STERNLICHT WANTS WENDY
TO PAY.
IF MARGARET DOESN' GET IT DONE FIRST,
HE'S GONNA SHUT HER DOWN.
AND TAKE CARE
OF ME HIMSELF.
WHAT DOES MARGARE THINK OF THIS PLAN?
SHE'LL BE HAPPY
WHEN WE PULL IT OFF.
YOU KNOW WHA STERNLICHT'S MIDDLE
INITIALS ARE?
"V.V." HIS CLOSES FRIENDS SAY
IT STANDS FOR "VIOLENT"
AND "VINDICTIVE."
IF YOU GET CAUGHT--
WHICH WE WON'T.
HE'LL GO AFTER
MARGARE AND ANYBODY
CLOSE TO HER.
I'VE ALREADY BOOKED
A LITTLE CABANA
IN THE YUCATAN.
MARGARET FOUND I ONLINE.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
WHAT ABOUT ME?
ANYWAY,
WHERE WAS I?
OH, RIGHT,
BUKOWSKI.
WHEN I FIRS GOT HERE,
I WAS, LIKE,
IN THIS DEEP
BUKOWSKI PHASE,
AND NOW I'M LIKE,
"EW, SO
PREDICTABLE."
I MEAN, PLUS
HIDEOUSLY STRAIGHT."
I'M BISEXUAL.
I KNOW, YAWN.
IT'S JUST THAT I
WISH I COULD MOVE
OUT OF THE DORM
AWAY FROM ALL OF
THOSE OTHER PEOPLE
WHO ARE GOING
THROUGH THE SAME
PHASE
THAT I JUS WENT THROUGH.
I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE
TO MOVE OUT TO
WILLIAMSBURG.
IT IS TOTALLY
INDUSTRIAL
OUT THERE.
OH, YEAH, THAT GUY.
YEAH, I TOTALLY
CHECKED HIM OU BEFORE.
HE'S IN LAW SCHOOL.
I MEAN, HE'S PRETTY
HOT FOR AN OLDER
GUY.
LIKE 24,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
AT LEAST?
[CLICK]
HEY, YOU WANT MY NUMBER?
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
DATING SERVICE.
Sternlicht:
NOLA KEYNES
FROM TOPEKA, KANSAS,
DO YOU RECOGNIZE
MY VOICE?
HOW'D YOU GET MY--
WHO DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE DEALING WITH,
CHILD?
DO YOU THINK
I'VE GOT A PROBLEM
HAVING YOU INVESTIGATED
OR HAVING YOU WATCHED
AND PHOTOGRAPHED
PUTTING YOUR FRIEND WENDY
IN A CAB TO THE AIRPORT?
AND I MUST SAY,
IT LOOKS LIKE
SHE'S MADE A REMARKABLE
RECOVERY, THAT WENDY.
YEAH. FOUNDATION
HIDES BRUISES WELL.
SHE WAS MORE THAN BRUISED
IN THOSE ARTSY LITTLE
PICTURES OF YOURS.
IN ANY CASE,
RATHER THAN FOLLOWING WENDY
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CANCUN,
I'VE DECIDED TO ZERO IN
ON A MUCH EASIER TARGET.
ARE YOU AS BEAUTIFUL
IN PERSON
AS YOU ARE IN A PHOTO,
NOLA KEYNES, TOPEKA, KANSAS?
[DING DING]
AH, YES,
THERE'S THE DOORBELL.
BETTER GET THAT.
HI. DO YOU
LIVE HERE?
WHO'S ASKING?
YOU LIVE HERE.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
A GRAND JURY SUBPOENA.
IN A MORE CIVILIZED
WORLD,
THAT MAN STERNLICH WOULD BE KEPT IN A CAGE!
OHH.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
IT'S A...OPEN HOUSE PARTY.
"I HATE LIARS.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING."
WH...
LEO.
LEO, CAN I HAVE
YOUR DAMN ATTENTION?
AHEM.
WE WANT TO DO A PIECE
ONESCORTEXCORT SERVICES.
YEAH, WHAT'S
STOPPING YOU?
WE WANT YOU,
THE GREAT LIONEL TREMBLANC,
TO DO THAT PIECE.
WE? WHO IS "WE", MAX?
ARE YOU GOING ROYAL
ON US?
THIS WE IS ME
AND SOMEBODY VERY HIGH UP
IN OUR PARTICULAR
SCHEME OF THINGS.
GOD?
SO FAR AS
YOU'RE CONCERNED, YEAH.
YOU ARE GOING ROYAL.
ONLY ROYALS SPEAK
DIRECTLY TO GOD.
YOU CAN START WITH HER.
NOW, THE LINE WE WAN IS BASICALLY DERISIVE.
MORAL OUTRAGE,
OF COURSE.
CRITICAL OF THE
CITY AUTHORITIES.
RIGHT UNDER THEIR NOSES--
YOU KNOW THE KIND OF STUFF.
IT'S RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY.
NO. I'M GONNA PASS
ON THIS ONE, MAX.
THANKS A LOT.
WHY DON'T YOU
DO IT YOURSELF?
YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN
SERVICE IN A WHILE.
THE OWNER OF THIS
NEWSPAPER SPECIFICALLY
ASKED FOR YOU.
INEXPLICABLY,
HE LIKES YOUR TONE.
WELL, THERE'S
NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTE.
I'M NOT GIVING YOU
A CHOICE ABOUT THIS.
YES, YOU ARE, MAX.
DO THIS PIECE
OR ACCEPT THE OFFER
I GET EVERY OTHER
WEEK FROM THE "NEWS"
OR THE "POST."
ACTUALLY, THEIR OFFER'S
A LITTLE RICHER.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS
A STORY HERE, MAX.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED
WHY NILES STERNLICHT,
THE THIRD-MOS POWERFUL MAN IN
THE FREE WORLD
WANTS TO PISS ON AN
INSIGNIFICANT LITTLE
ESCORT SERVICE? HMM?
WE DON'T DO STORIES
LIKE THAT HERE.
IT'S A PITY.
WHY IS THAT?
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
OFFERS FROM THE "NEWS"
OR THE "POST."
NOR DO YOU.
I'D KNOW ABOUT IT.
AND YOU WANT TO DO
HARD-HITTING,
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING?
HUH! PBBBBB!
YOU SHOULD HAVE
THOUGHT OF THA WHEN YOU SOLD YOUR SOUL
FOR A SYNDICATED COLUMN.
ON THE SUBJECT OF SELLING
YOUR SOUL, MAX...
YOU DON'T SEE ME
COMPLAINING ABOUT IT,
DO YOU?
[RING]
HELLO?
Man: YOU AREN'T MARGARET.
RIGHT. AND YOU AREN' ALBERT EINSTEIN.
WHO'S CALLING, PLEASE?
LIONEL TREMBLANC.
I KNOW THAT NAME.
VERY UNLIKELY,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU
RANDOMLY ASSOCIATE
TO EINSTEIN.
THE GUY WHO WRITES
THE COLUMN IN THE "EXPRESS."
Man: WHAT A RANGE.
AND YOU WANT MARGARET?
I ALWAYS WANT MARGARET.
SHE, HOWEVER,
RARELY WANTS ME.
YOU ...
HI, BABE.
RETURNING YOUR CALL.
2 YEARS LATE.
I'VE BEEN A BI WITHDRAWN.
SORRY.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
GRAND JURY SUBPOENA.
FEDERAL COURT.
Man: ... LOOK,
I'LL BE OVER LATER.
WE'LL SORT THIS OUT, OK?
OK.
IT'LL ALSO GIVE ME
A CHANCE TO MEE WHOEVER THAT YOUNG
LOVELY WAS WHO ANSWERED
YOUR TELEPHONE.
FYI, LEO, ONCE
YOU HIT 45, YOU'RE
NO LONGER A TOMCAT.
YOU'RE A LETCH.
[BEEP]
HI. YOU MUST BE--
NOT ALBERT EINSTEIN.
RIGHT. HA HA!
COME ON IN.
MARGARET'S JUS GETTING READY.
AND YOU ARE?
PURELY ADMINISTRATIVE.
I MEANT YOUR NAME.
NOLA.
SO, THOSE AREN'T MARGARET'S.
NO, THEY'RE MINE.
I WAS JUST--
JUST SOME STUFF
I WAS WORKING ON BEFORE.
SO YOU'RE NOT JUS PURELY ADMINISTRATIVE.
I KIND OF WRITE
SONGS ON THE SIDE.
OH, I USED TO KIND OF
WRITE SONGS ON THE SIDE.
WELL, I GUESS THAT MAKES
80 MILLION OF US, THEN.
[CHUCKLES]
[PLAYING SLOW TUNE]
THE NIGHT WE SAID GOOD-BYE,
THE TRUTH WAS SINKIN' IN
I WAS WISHIN' THA I HADN'T SAID
THE LAST THING
THAT I SAID TO YOU
I WISH THAT I COULD CHANGE
THE WAY THINGS WENT BACK THEN
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,
I FIND MYSELF
STILL ASKING WHEN
ARE YOU OUT THERE SOMEWHERE?
DO YOU THINK I'LL
EVER GET THE CHANCE
TO SEE YOUR FACE?
MAYBE TOMORROW
MMM
YOU STILL PLAY PIANO
IN THAT DIVE OF YOURS?
NOPE. SOLD IT.
THE DIVE?
THE PIANO.
NOLA--AHEM--
THIS IS LEO.
WE MET.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET DOWN
TO BUSINESS.
YOU OFFERED TO HELP.
I BROUGHT RUGELACH.
DO--
RIGHT? BUSINESS.
HELP. HERE'S THE THING.
YOU NEED A LAWYER,
A CRIMINAL LAWYER,
AND A GOOD ONE.
NOT SOME BIG-NAME,
STRUTTING NARCISSIS WHO'S PUBLICIZING HIMSELF.
YOU KNOW
SUCH A PERSON?
OF COURSE NOT.
NO SUCH PERSON EXISTS.
GREAT. WELL, LET ME
TELL YOU WHA JUST HAPPENED
BEFORE YOU CAME OVER.
I, TOO, REALIZED
I NEEDED A LAWYER.
SO, I CALLED TWO I KNOW.
BOTH SAID THEY'D DO IT.
THEN EACH CALLED THE
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
TO SAY THEY WERE
ON THE CASE.
A HALF-HOUR LATER,
THEY BOTH CALLED ME
BACK TO WITHDRAW.
STERNLICHT.
OF COURSE.
IT'S ALL OF A PIECE.
I'VE HAD VERY BAD
EXPERIENCE WITH LAWYERS.
I DON'T TRUS ANY OF THEM.
I HAVE AN IDEA.
NO, DARLING. YOU'VE
ALREADY GIVEN US
ONE IDEA,
AND LOOK WHERE IT'S
GOTTEN US.
OK, BUT THIS IS
A BETTER ONE.
BEN.
NATURALLY.
WHO'S BEN?
NOLA'S BOY--
THE COOK
IN THE COFFEE SHOP.
MARGARET'S TENANT.
A LAWYER WHO WORKS
IN A COFFEE SHOP?
MUST BE GOOD.
HE'S STILL
IN LAW SCHOOL.
BUT THERE IS THIS.
HE IS A ...OF A LO SHARPER
THAN ANY LAWYER I
HAVE EVER DEALT WITH.
ONE OF THE PROFESSORS
THERE IS A FRIEND OF MINE.
HE SENT BEN OVER TO ME.
AND THAT KID,
BEFORE I KNEW IT,
HE'D NEGOTIATED ME
INTO FREE RENT FOR A
...NICE APARTMENT,
PLUS FOOD,
PLUS POCKET MONEY.
SO, YOU WANT NOLA'S BOYFRIEND,
A LAW STUDENT, TO REPRESENT YOU?
MM-HMM.
THAT'S JUST CRAZY ENOUGH
TO BE CONSISTEN WITH THIS LUNATIC
BUSINESS YOU RUN.
FRIEND.
NOLA'S FRIEND.
Woman on recording:
YOU HAVE 6 MESSAGES.
Nola: HEY, IT'S NOLA,
YOUR FRIEND NOLA.
I WAS CALLING YOU
BECAUSE...
I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU
IN A WHILE AND I
NEED A FAVOR.
[BEEP]
HEY, IT'S NOLA,
YOUR FRIEND NOLA.
HOW DO YOU WORK
FOR A GUY LIKE THAT?
HE'D LIKE AN ANSWER.
EXCELLENT.
DO YOU SEE THIS?
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN
TELL HIM TO DO WITH THIS?
YES, I DO.
AND THEN I LOSE MY JOB.
AND THEN MY WIFE
AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW,
WHO I AM SUPPORTING
IN OUTER MONGOLIA,
THEY COME HERE,
MAKE MY LIFE A LIVING HELL.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
SAM.
MY NAME IS SAM.
THERE'S NO
OUTER MONGOLIA, SAM.
INNER, YES;
OUTER, NO.
SO MAYBE HE JUS SHOOTS THE MESSENGER.
STAY OF EXECUTION.
SAYS ANY RESTAURAN OF MY CHOICE.
FINE. MAKE A RESERVATION
AT THE SAN DOMENICO
AND PICK ME UP HERE
AT 1:30.
Man:
MR. STERNLICHT.
YOU HONOR US, SIR.
RIGHT THIS WAY.
REMEMBER ME?
I HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY
HAD THE PLEASURE, MADAM.
ARE YOU SURE?
OH, OF COURSE.
WHO COULD FORGE SUCH CLASSIC AND
IMPECCABLE BREEDING?
IN 36 DAYS,
ONE FORGETS PLENTY.
36 DAYS AGO.
LET ME THINK.
AH, A YOUNG WOMAN
OF APPROXIMATELY
YOUR AGE
APPLIED FOR A JOB.
I THOUGHT HER VASTLY
OVERQUALIFIED.
SINCE THEN,
I HAVE LEARNED,
GRATIFYINGLY SO,
THAT MY JUDGMEN HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.
HMM. TALK ABOU OVERQUALIFICATIONS.
YOU OUGHT TO BE THE
... MAYOR.
MMM.
[CHUCKLING]
ARE YOU SATISFIED?
I ASSUME THAT'S WHY
YOU PICKED THIS RESTAURANT.
I'M NOT SATISFIED.
I WANT TO SEE SOME
SERIOUS ...-KISSING HERE,
NOT JUST EXHIBITIONS
OF DIPLOMACY.
I EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THEM
JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS.
GO ON. SNAP YOUR FINGERS
AND MAKE THEM JUMP.
IT DOESN' WORK THAT WAY.
NO?
HOW DOES IT WORK?
HOW DO YOU TURN THEM
INTO SLIPPERY WORMS?
BY NEGOTIATION...
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.
IT'S THE WAY TO DO
ANYTHING SUCCESSFULLY...
WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
THE '88, PLEASE.
AND INTO WHAT SLITHERY
STATE DO YOU WISH
TO NEGOTIATE ME?
THE OPPOSITE,
ACTUALLY.
I LIKE YOUR AUDACITY.
I'M INTRIGUED BY
WHAT I'VE LEARNED
ABOUT YOU.
AND DESPITE
THE CIRCUMSTANCES
BRINGING US TOGETHER,
I SENSE SOMETHING
RESPONSIVE TO ME IN YOU.
COULD YOU EXPAND
ON THAT, PLEASE?
HA HA HA!
YOU WISH TO TRIVIALIZE?
YOU THINK I'D WAN TO LOOK SUCH
A TRADE IN THE FACE
WITHOUT TRIVIALIZING
IT BEFOREHAND?
EVERYONE HAS SUCH TRAITS,
DESIRES, IMPULSES--
DARK IMPULSES--
MATTERS FEW PEOPLE
WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE
TO THEMSELVES,
MUCH LESS TALK ABOUT.
I'M IN A POSITION
TO INDULGE THEM, PROPERLY.
WHEN PEOPLE THINK
ABOUT SUCH A PROCESS,
THEY DO WANT TO
TRIVIALIZE IT.
THEY CALL I ROLE PLAYING.
IT'S THE STUFF
OF COMEDY.
BUT I TELL YOU,
DONE RIGHT...
AND I MEAN
REALLY RIGHT,
THERE'S NOTHING
COMEDIC ABOUT IT.
IT'S THE SOURCE OF
IMMENSE GRATIFICATION
AND SERENITY.
[CORK POPS]
AND YOU SENSE IN ME
THE NEED, ALSO, TO
ENGAGE IN SUCH A...
PROCESS?
LET'S DRINK TO IT.
I'LL AT LEAS TRY THE WINE.
IT'S A HEADIER VINTAGE.
YOU KNOW, I'M NO AT ALL INTO FEET.
AND I AM CONSIDERABLY
MORE VERSATILE.
NILES, COULD WE
DISCUSS THE SUBPOENA?
I THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN.
NOTHING HAPPENED.
THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK.
SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS
WITH NILES STERNLICHT.
HE INVITED ME TO
HIS ROOM FOR ONE
OF HIS LITTLE GAMES.
AND IN EXCHANGE,
ALL OF THIS--
THE SUBPOENA,
THE INQUIRY--IT WOULD
JUST ALL GO AWAY.
AND YOU BELIEVE THAT?
DID I SAY I DID?
WHAT KIND OF LITTLE GAME?
I DON'T KNOW.
PUT ON SOMETHING
SLINKY,
WHACK HIM
WITH A RULER--
NOTHING TOO DIFFICULT.
AND YOU'RE
CONSIDERING IT!
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
YOU HAVEN'T DONE
ANYTHING,
AND I'M NO CONSIDERING IT.
[DOOR CLOSES]
SO, WHY DID YOU GO?
BECAUSE IT WAS ALL
I COULD THINK TO DO.
BECAUSE FIRST,
MY ONE BIG
IDEA BACKFIRED.
AND THEN MY SECOND
BIG IDEA--YOU--
NEVER CALLED BACK.
I DID. WHAT DO YOU
SUPPOSE I'M DOING HERE?
I JUST HAD TO THINK.
I WANTED YOUR
PROFESSIONAL HELP.
WHAT'S THERE TO
THINK ABOUT WITH THAT?
YOUR MESSAGE SAID--
MY MESSAGE SAID CALL,
WHICH YOU DIDN'T, OK?
JUST CALL.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, THEN.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S SO ILLEGAL ABOU WHAT MARGARET'S DOING.
I'VE BEEN READING
THE PERSONALS IN
"THE VILLAGE VOICE"
EVER SINCE I PU THAT AD IN.
LONELY PEOPLE ADVERTISE
THEIR AVAILABILITY
ALL THE TIME.
THEY WANT TO BE LOVED.
THEY WANT TO GET ...
THE "VOICE" KNOWS THAT.
SO WHAT?
IS THERE SOME BIG
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
WHAT THEY'RE DOING,
PUTTING THOSE PEOPLE
TOGETHER, AND WHA MARGARET'S DOING?
THAT'S A TOUGH ARGUMENT.
COURTS HEAR THAT KIND OF
PITCH ALL THE TIME IN
DEALING WITH THESE CASES.
SO YOU'RE THE GREA LAWYER. BE INVENTIVE.
HA HA HA!
YOU'RE THE ONE WHO
WON'T STAND UP IN
FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE,
BUT YOU'VE NO PROBLEM
TELLING ME TO DO I AND RISK MAKING
A FOOL OF MYSELF.
AND WHY WOULD YOU HAVE
ANY PARTICULAR PROBLEM
WITH THAT?
DO YOU LIVE WITH
REJECTION EVERY DAY?
IS THAT A PAR OF YOUR DAILY LIFE, THE
AIR THAT YOU BREATHE?
I'M SORRY.
FORGET IT.
I'M NOT REJECTING YOU.
OH, FORGET THAT, TOO.
DESPITE THE OBVIOUS?
BECAUSE OF IT.
I DON'T TRUST IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I TRUST?
I TRUST SOMETHING
THAT I DON'T HAVE
RIGHT NOW,
AND I'M NOT SURE
YOU DO, EITHER.
I TRUST BEING ...
GOOD AT SOMETHING
I LOVE DOING
AND MAYBE BEING
WITH A GUY WHO'S
THE SAME WAY.
YOU THINK I DON'T--
I DON'T KNOW, BEN.
IT SEEMS TO ME THA YOU'RE JUST KIND OF
CONNING YOUR WAY
THROUGH LAW SCHOOL,
LIKE IT'S SOME BIG JOKE
YOU'RE PLAYING ON THE
FACULTY THERE.
[SLAMS HAND]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
MIND IF I COME IN?
IT'S YOUR HOUSE, BOSS.
I WAS IN THE HALLWAY
EARLIER
WHEN YOU WERE
TALKING WITH BEN.
I'M AFRAID I OVERHEARD
MUCH OF IT.
I ... ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING,
I'D LIKE TO
TELL YOU SOMETHING.
OK.
ALL MY LIFE,
I'VE GYRATED BETWEEN
FEAR OF INTIMACY
AND FEAR OF ABANDONMENT.
MY COMFORT ZONE
WITH PEOPLE?
THEY'RE ORBITING ME
AT A RESPECTFUL,
PREFERABLY
WORSHIPFUL DISTANCE.
ME AND LEO?
NOT ALL HIS FAULT.
OK?
I KNOW WHAT IT'S
LIKE AS A CHILD
TO HAVE NONE OF
YOUR NEEDS MET--
EMOTIONAL NEEDS,
AND SOMETIMES EVEN
PHYSICAL ONES.
Man: BETTER NOW
I KNOW YOU BETTER NOW
I'LL CHALK IT UP SOMEHOW
DON'T EXPLAIN
PLEASE, DARLIN',
DON'T EXPLAIN
ALL THIS IS CELLOPHANE
YOU JUST NEED
SOME TIME AWAY
I'M ON TO YOU
HAVE YOUR RENDEZVOUS
AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE
WITH ALL YOUR RUNNING
YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN
Bailiff: HEAR YE, HEAR YE,
ALL RISE!
NOW IN SESSION IN THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COUR THE SOUTHERN DISTRIC OF NEW YORK.
THE HONORABLE SUSIE BELFRAY
PRESIDING.
DRAW NEAR.
YOU SHALL BE HEARD.
TWO MOTIONS TONIGHT:
ONE TO QUASH
A GRAND JURY SUBPOENA,
THE OTHER FOR THE ...
TO BE REPRESENTED
ON THAT MOTION
BY A LAW STUDENT.
WILL THE LAW STUDENT RISE?
DID YOU DRAFT THESE PAPERS?
I DID, YOUR HONOR.
YES.
AND THIS IS TRUE THAT IF I DENY
YOU THE RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED
BY THIS YOUNG MAN
THAT YOU WILL
HAVE NO LAWYER,
THAT YOU'LL
REPRESENT YOURSELF?
YES.
THAT'S HOW I FEEL
ABOUT IT.
AND DO YOU WAIVE
ANY CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTION
YOU MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE
AS TO THE ADEQUACY OF
YOUR REPRESENTATION?
I WAIVE.
GOOD. YOU MAY SIT DOWN.
THAT MOTION IS GRANTED.
AND I ASSUME YOU HAVE NO
POSITION ON THIS, MR. FLANDERS?
CORRECT, YOUR HONOR.
GOOD. YOU MAY PROCEED,
COUNSELOR.
THANK YOU,
YOUR HONOR.
I'D LIKE TO CALL
THE MOVING PARTY
TO THE STAND.
PLEASE RAISE
YOUR RIGHT HAND.
DO YOU SWEAR
TO TELL THE TRUTH,
THE WHOLE TRUTH,
AND NOTHING BU THE TRUTH SO HELP YOU GOD?
OF COURSE.
WE HAVE A PREFERENCE HERE
FOR A SIMPLE "I DO."
[COURTROOM CHUCKLING]
YES. I'M SORRY.
I DO.
OF COURSE I DO.
[GAVEL BANGS]
PLEASE STATE YOUR
FULL NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MARGARET LANGWORTHY.
AND WHAT BUSINESS
ARE YOU IN, MISS LANGWORTHY?
I RUN A DATING SERVICE.
NOW IS THAT ALSO
SOMETIMES REFERRED TO
AS AN ESCORT SERVICE?
PERHAPS,
BUT SUCH A REFERENCE
WOULD BE INACCURATE.
THERE'S A VERY IMPORTAN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHA I DO AND AN ESCORT SERVICE.
AND WHAT IS
THAT DIFFERENCE?
IN A DATING SERVICE,
AT LEAST MINE,
IF THE CUSTOMER
DOESN'T LIKE THE
PERSON I'VE SENT HIM,
HE CAN EXCUSE HIMSELF
WITHOUT OWING ME
ANY FEE.
HE'S FREE TO WALK OU AND SO IS THE PERSON,
IN WHICH CASE,
OF COURSE,
THE CUSTOMER ALSO
DOESN'T OWE ANY FEE.
AND THE PERSONS YOU SEND
ARE BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.
YES, AND A FEW
IN-BETWEEN.
RIGHT. AND ARE THEY
EMPLOYEES OF YOURS,
OR ARE THEY
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS?
INDEPENDENT.
EXTREMELY INDEPENDENT.
[GAVEL BANGS]
WHEN THE INDEPENDEN WALKS OUT ON THE CUSTOMER,
DON'T YOU LOSE
THAT CUSTOMER?
ABSOLUTELY. NEVER
SEE HIM AGAIN,
WITH RARE EXCEPTIONS.
AND DOES THAT HAPPEN OFTEN,
THE INDEPENDENT WALKING
OUT ON THE CUSTOMER?
UM, I'D SAY ABOU 20% OF THE TIME.
SO, HOW DO YOU
STAY IN BUSINESS?
WHY AREN'T YOU
FRIGHTENING PEOPLE OFF?
GOOD QUESTION.
THAT WAS THE CONVENTIONAL
WISDOM, THAT WE WOULD.
I ADAPTED THE RULE I DID
FOR MY OWN SERVICE,
INITIALLY, AS A MATTER
OF PERSONAL DIGNITY.
CONTRARY TO EVERYONE'S
EXPECTATION, IT WORKED,
I THINK, BECAUSE
HAVING THE ELEMEN OF CHOICE
MAKES THE EXPERIENCE
SO MUCH SWEETER.
AND THOSE WHO HAVE
APPRECIATED MY SERVICE
GIVE US GOOD
WORD OF MOUTH.
[COURTROOM CHUCKLES]
WHAT FEE DO YOU CHARGE?
$600 FLAT,
PAID BY THE CUSTOMER.
IT USED TO BE $500.
NOW, IS THAT FEE INCREASED
IF THE CUSTOMER HAS SEX
WITH THE INDEPENDEN CONTRACTOR?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
DO YOU REPORT YOUR
EARNINGS TO THE IRS?
AND YOU PAY YOUR TAXES,
AND THE GOVERNMEN HAPPILY ACCEPTS.
THEY HAVEN'T SEN MY CHECKS BACK YET.
[COURTROOM CHUCKLES]
THANK YOU,
MISS LANGWORTHY.
I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS
OF THIS WITNESS, YOUR HONOR.
MR. FLANDERS, DO YOU HAVE
ANY CROSS-EXAMINATION?
NO, YOUR HONOR.
I HAVE A MOTION TO STRIKE.
THIS WHOLE LINE OF TESTIMONY
IS COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT.
WE HAVE SERVED THE SUBPOENA
IN QUESTION AS PART OF OUR
INVESTIGATION INTO PROSTITUTION.
WE ARE NOT OBLIGED TO
ACCEPT THE WITNESS' OWN
DESCRIPTION OF HER BUSINESS.
AND EVEN IF WE DID,
IT WOULD ADD CAUSE TO
OUR NEED TO INVESTIGATE,
NOT SUBTRACT FROM IT.
MAY I BE HEARD ON THAT?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
THIS IS A COURT.
PEOPLE GET HEARD.
YOU MAY STEP DOWN.
OH, THANK YOU.
THERE ARE 6 NEWSPAPERS
AND 7 MAGAZINES THAT RUN
PERSONAL COLUMNS IN THIS CITY.
FOR THAT SERVICE,
THEY CHARGE A FEE.
A FEW DOLLARS.
SO NOW WE'RE
TALKING PRICE,
NOT PRINCIPLE.
[COURTROOM CHUCKLES]
WHEN PEOPLE MEET THROUGH
THE MEANS OF THESE COLUMNS,
SOMETIMES THEY
LIKE EACH OTHER
AND THEY HAVE SEX.
REALISTICALLY,
THAT IS THE PURPOSE
OF THESE COLUMNS.
LET ME TELL YOU, COUNSEL,
I'M NOT THAT IMPRESSED
WITH YOUR ANALOGY.
A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHING
A PERSONAL AD
HAS NO EXPECTATION
THAT THAT PERSON IS
GOING TO CHARGE FOR SEX.
I THINK YOUR CLIENT DOES.
MAYBE, YOUR HONOR,
BUT THAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THESE PEOPLE BEING
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
MY CLIENT HAS ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY
SUCH NEGOTIATIONS.
SHE DOESN'T SET THE TERMS.
SHE ISN'T COMPENSATED
BY THEM IN WAY.
SHE HAS NO INTERES IN THEM WHATSOEVER.
YOUR HONOR, THERE IS
ANOTHER DIMENSION
TO THIS CASE.
MAY WE APPROACH
THE BENCH?
YOUR HONOR,
NOT WISHING TO BE
ACCUSED OF GRANDSTANDING,
MAY I RESPECTFULLY
SUGGEST THAT THE COUR HEAR MY NEXT REQUES IN THE ROBING ROOM?
YOU WANT TO EXAMINE ONE
OF THESE INDEPENDEN CONTRACTORS?
I WANT TO SUBPOENA
THE U.S. ATTORNEY.
Bailiff:
ALL RISE!
BASIC POINT,
YOUR HONOR.
NOT ONLY WAS THERE
NO CAUSE FOR THE SUBPOENA,
IT WASN'T MOTIVATED
BY CAUSE.
NOT GOOD CAUSE ANYWAY.
IT WAS MOTIVATED
BY A VENDETTA.
WHOA! A LITTLE
MELODRAMATIC, FELLA.
YOU WANT ME TO BELIEVE
THAT THE U.S. ATTORNEY
IS INVOLVED IN A VENDETTA
AGAINST YOUR CLIENT?
NO, BUT THE PERSON
WHO GOT HER APPOINTED IS.
AND HE HAS ENOUGH POWER
OVER HER TO GET HER
TO HARASS ANYONE HE WANTS.
OH, YES?
AND THAT PERSON
YOU BELIEVE TO BE...
NILES STERNLICHT,
YOUR HONOR.
AND THIS IS WHY
YOU WANT YOUR SUBPOENA?
I DON'T EXPECT YOUR HONOR
TO ALLOW ME THE SUBPOENA
SIMPLY ON MY SAY-SO.
I HAVE 3 WITNESSES
OUT THERE WHO WILL EXPLAIN
WHY STERNLICH IS ON THIS RAMPAGE
AND TESTIFY TO
HEARING HIS THREATS
AND HOW THE GOVERNMEN SUBPOENA WAS SERVED
WITHIN HOURS AFTER
STERNLICHT'S THREATENING
TO HAVE PRECISELY
THAT SUBPOENA ISSUED.
MIKE, HERE'S MY PROBLEM.
WHO'S WILLING TO THROW
HIMSELF ON THE SWORD FOR
A CAUSE HE BELIEVES IN.
I'VE GOT NO IDEA
WHAT I'M GOING TO
ALLOW IN THE SUBPOENA,
BUT I'M SURE GOING TO ALLOW HIM
TO PUT ON HIS WITNESSES,
AND THAT'S GOING TO CREATE
A PROBLEM FOR YOUR CLIENT--
A BIG PROBLEM IF THERE'S
ANY TRUTH TO THIS, YOU SEE?
SO, HERE'S MY SUGGESTION.
Bailiff: ALL RISE!
DURING THE RECESS,
I RECEIVED A CALL
FROM THE U.S. ATTORNEY.
SINCE THERE WAS
AN OFFER OF COMPROMISE,
I THOUGHT IT NOT INAPPROPRIATE
TO TAKE THE CALL.
I TRUST YOU HAVE
NO PROBLEM WITH THAT?
NONE WHATEVER,
YOUR HONOR.
WISE BEYOND YOUR YEARS.
THE U.S. ATTORNEY HAS
OFFERED TO LIMIT THE
SUBPOENA TO MS. LANGWORTHY
TO COVER ONLY HER TAX RECORDS
AND TAX REPORTS.
SHE HAS ALSO AUTHORIZED
ME TO STATE THAT MS. LANGWORTHY
IS NOT A TARGE OF THIS INVESTIGATION,
ONLY A WITNESS,
AND WILL BE GIVEN FULL IMMUNITY
FOR HER COOPERATION.
IS THAT ACCEPTABLE, COUNSEL?
MAY I CONSULT?
LOOKS LIKE TOTAL
CAPITULATION
WITH A TRIVIAL ...
I AGREE.
WE ACCEPT THE OFFER,
YOUR HONOR.
NOW, WHY DOESN' THAT SURPRISE ME?
Bailiff: ALL RISE!
Woman: MS. LANGWORTHY,
JUST A MOMENT OF YOUR
TIME, PLEASE.
Man: WHY DID THE
U.S. ATTORNEY CAVE?
Man: COMMEN FOR THE RECORD.
A COMMENT, MS. LANGWORTHY.
NO COMMENT.
Man: PUBLIC HAS
A RIGHT TO KNOW.
Man: MS. LANGWORTHY,
PLEASE.
THE JUDGE WOULD LIKE
TO SEE YOU FOR A MOMEN IN THE ROBING ROOM.
ALONE.
Woman: COUNSEL,
DO YOU HAVE ANY...
I FEEL DIRTY EVEN
GIVING THIS TO YOU.
IT'S GONNA RING
IN A FEW SECONDS.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO
TAKE THE CALL OUTSIDE.
[RING]
WHOA, WHOA.
I WOULD ADVISE AGAINST.
[RING]
YOU'VE LEARNED
A NEW PHONE GAME, NILES.
I HEAR THINGS DIDN' GO MY WAY DOWN A THE COURTHOUSE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SPEAK TO YOUR MOTHER?
I FOUND HER--
AT LEAST MY PEOPLE
DID--THIS MORNING,
AND I'VE HAD HER
FLOWN TO NEW YORK.
ISN'T THAT GOOD NEWS?
I THOUGHT IT MIGH BE USEFUL, NO MATTER THE
OUTCOME OF THIS EVENING.
AND SHE IS IN HEAVEN,
ALMOST LITERALLY,
WITH AN ENDLESS STASH
OF A SUBSTANCE THAT MORE
THAN SIMPLY RESEMBLES ...
[CLICK]
I'M JUST THE DRIVER.
PLEASE.
SO, YOU GOT A CLERKSHIP
FOR NEXT YEAR?
WOW. NOT YET.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY
THINGS ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE HAPPENING.
WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?
I DON'T KNOW.
SOME BRAVE KNIGH AROUND, YOU KNOW,
SHINING ARMOR?
THAT'S IN A
COMMERCIAL, SAM.
IT'S PASSE.
LOOK AT YOU. YOU KNOW
WHERE MY MOTHER IS.
NO, I DON'T.
I'M JUST A PAGE.
PLEASE.
YOU COULD FIND OUT.
LIKE I SAID,
I'M JUST--
TALK TO ME WHEN YOU
HAVE SOMETHING REAL TO SAY.
YOU'VE HEARD NOLA'S
TRYING TO FIND HER
FATHER.
YEAH.
MARGARET TOLD ME.
ONE OR TWO LINES
IN YOUR COLUMN
MIGHT DO SOME GOOD,
IF HE'S STILL
IN NEW YORK.
LET'S TALK ABOUT I UPSTAIRS.
SO, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?
FACTS.
SHE WAS CONCEIVED
IN KANSAS.
SO IT HAD TO BE SOMEONE
WHO WAS ONCE THERE.
CLEAR THINKING.
THAT SHOULD CUT I DOWN TO WHAT, ABOUT,
LIKE 400,000?
WE HAVE A NAME...
AT LEAST PART OF ONE.
WELL,
NOW YOU'RE TALKING.
HUTCH.
Leo: MARGARET, FOR ... SAKE,
PICK UP.
I HAVE TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.
YOU'RE NO THE ONLY ONE.
NOLA'S IN TROUBLE.
WHERE'S THE CAR?
DOWN THE BLOCK.
WHY NOT OUT FRONT?
AND TRIP ...?
... AS AN ART FORM.
BEFORE PUTTING ON
YOUR COSTUME,
YOU MUST REMOVE
EVERY BIT OF YOUR
OWN CLOTHING.
THE MEREST SCRAP
OF YOUR OWN CLOTHING
WOULD COMPLETELY
RUIN THE EFFECT.
SO, DO I HAVE YOUR
AGREEMENT ON IT?
THIS COSTUME...
IT WILL OTHERWISE
COVER ME?
OH, COMPLETELY.
WHERE IS MY MOM?
THERE ARE MORE THAN
180 ROOMS IN THIS HOTEL.
SHE'S IN ONE OF THEM.
AND WHEN YOU PERFORM
TO MY SATISFACTION,
YOU MAY HAVE HER.
OK.
TAXI! HEY!
I NEVER SEND HIM WOMEN.
WHY?
NEVER MIND.
PUT LEO ON.
MARGARET, WHY?
HE HURTS THEM, BEN.
I'M SORRY.
GO! GO!
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Sternlicht: WHO IS IT
YOUR MOTHER.
YOU NASTY LITTLE BOY.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
WHY HAVE WE STOPPED?
IT'S A WATER MAIN BREAK.
SORRY.
SUITE 406!
YOU ARE AN EVIL CHILD.
YOUR THOUGHTS ARE EVIL.
YOUR BODY IS EVIL.
EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU
IS EVIL.
IF I HAVE TO CHANGE
YOU AGAIN,
I WILL SPANK YOU AGAIN.
OHHH!
I THINK MAYBE NOW
BABY SHOULD SPANK MOMMY.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
OH, MOMMY HAS SEEN
BABY NAKED.
BABY WANTS TO SEE
MOMMY NAKED.
THAT'S NOT IN THE
... SCRIPT, NILES!
IT'S IMPLICIT.
NILES!
DON'T STEP OU OF CHARACTER! YOU--
GET YOUR SLIMY
HANDS OFF, YOU
... WORM!
OH! OH, LOOK AT YOU.
YOU SPOILED IT!
NOW, STRIP YOURSELF.
DO IT!
... YOU!
OHH!
SUITE 406.
YOU GUYS GO.
I'LL CATCH UP.
[INDISTINCT]
OOH!
[SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
NILES STERNLICHT.
YOU EXCEED ANYTHING
I REFER TO AS HUMAN.
I SHALL SEE YOU
IN PRISON,
AND YOU'RE FIRED.
HA HA HA!
YOU'RE BEHIND
THE TIMES, NILES.
I ALREADY QUIT.
JUST TRY TO
GET ANOTHER JOB.
A DESCRIPTION
OF THIS SCENE SHOULD HELP.
OH, MERE WORDS.
YOU THINK YOU HAVE
SOMETHING TO TRADE?
Sternlicht: YOU ACCUSE,
I DENY. I'M NOT AFRAID.
IT'S OK. REALLY.
IT'S NOT OK.
MY MOM.
BRING IT ON, LIONEL!
[PHOTOGRAPHERS ALL
TALKING AT ONCE]
Margaret: SMILE!
Man: YEAH, THAT'S IT.
Leo: DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER
STATEMENT YOU'D CARE TO MAKE?
TAKE IT OFF,
WILL YOU?
OHH...
I'M GONNA CALL.
NO. MY SWEET BABY.
Ben: YES, WE NEED AN
AMBULANCE RIGHT AWAY.
SUITE 408. YES, SIR.
WHO ARE THOSE
PEOPLE OUT THERE?
THEY'RE MY FRIENDS,
MAMA.
YOU'LL MEET THEM.
DID YOU FIND HIM?
HMM?
NO. NOT YET.
I'M THINKING OF THE REPUTATION
OF BOTH YOU AND YOUR FACILITY.
I HELD MY TONGUE,
DID I NOT?
WELL, I THINK YOU OWE ME.
AFTER ALL,
WE'RE FRIENDS, HUH?
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
I NEVER THOUGHT
YOU WERE JUST A STRANGER
NOW I FIND YOU
HERE BY MY SIDE
I ASKED LEO,
RIGHT BEFORE THE
THING IN THE HOTEL--
I ASKED HIM
IF HE'D HELP OUT,
PUT SOMETHING
IN HIS COLUMN.
I GUESS HE FIGURED
SINCE HE DIDN'T HAVE
HIS COLUMN ANYMORE
HE'D FIND SOME OTHER WAY.
SO THEN, WHAT? HOW
DID HE DO IT SO FAST?
I DON'T KNOW, NOLA.
HE'S A JOURNALIST.
THEY TRACK DOWN LEADS.
THEY GET TIPS.
IT'S WHAT THEY DO.
AH. HMM?
CAPTURES THE MAN,
DON'T YOU THINK?
I LIKE THE STORY, LEO...
BY THE NEW "TIME"
MAGAZINE COLUMNIST.
WELL, WE HAVE A LO TO CELEBRATE TONIGHT.
I PROPOSE A TOAST.
TO A COURAGEOUS WOMAN
WHO'S FIGHTING THE
BATTLE OF HER LIFE,
RIGHT NOW IN A REHAB.
FROM WHAT I HEAR...
DOING ... WELL.
TO TWO BEAUTIFUL WOMEN
WHO TRIUMPHED OVERCOMING
SOME DICEY INDICTMENTS.
HO HO!
AND TO THEIR
MOUTHPIECE
AND FUTURE
FORMIDABLE HIRED GUN.
All: HEAR HEAR!
LEO.
YES, SIR.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD
STRING THIS OUT.
IS HE HERE TONIGHT?
YEAH.
CAN WE SEE HIM FROM HERE?
YES, YOU CAN.
WHERE IS HE?
HE'S AT THIS TABLE.
THE NAME HUTCH?
A RABBIT LIVES
IN A HUTCH...
AND HAS SOME
WELL-KNOWN
PROCLIVITIES.
I WAS IN KANSAS CITY,
TRYING TO INTERES A LOCAL RECORD COMPANY
IN MY SONGS.
YOUR MOTHER WAS
SINGING IN A CLUB
JUST SOUTH OF THE CITY.
SHE WAS THE BES ... CLUB SINGER I'D
EVER SEEN OR HEARD.
SHE AGREED TO SING
SOME OF MY SONGS,
AND I...I FELL,
REALLY FELL.
WE HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE
TWO WEEKS,
AND THEN I LEFT,
WHICH WAS ME
AT THAT TIME.
I'M SORRY TO SAY.
I NEVER KNEW.
YOUR MOTHER
NEVER TOLD ME.
I WAS PRETTY
DAMN SURE
FROM THE MOMEN I HEARD YOU
SING THAT SONG.
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS
LIFE CAN PLAY A REAL
WILD CARD LIKE THIS.
NOT OFTEN.
PAY ATTENTION
WHEN IT HAPPENS.
I CAN'T EXPRESS
HOW SORRY I AM
NOT TO HAVE
KNOWN BEFORE.
BUT IT IS WONDERFUL
NOW KNOWING.
[PLAYS NOTE]
[PLAYS SONG INTRO]
I'VE BEEN SEARCHING
MY PLACE
FINDING MY WAY HOME
NOW I'M LOOKING TO FACE
AND I DON'T FEEL
SO ALONE
NEVER BLUE
I FOUND YOU
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
DON'T GO AWAY
DON'T LEAVE ME LONELY
RUNNING IN PLACE
WAITED SO LONG
TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW
SOMETIMES THINGS WORK OUT,
DON'T ASK ME HOW
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
I WATCH THE SHADOWS
WALK THE STREET
NOTHING WAS ENOUGH
BUT NOW I'M CLOSER
TO COMPLETE
I'M TRYING TO BE TOUGH
EVER NEW
I FIND YOU
DON'T BREAK MY HEART,
DON'T WALK AWAY
DON'T LEAVE ME LONELY
RUNNING IN PLACE
WAITED SO LONG
TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW
SOMETIMES THINGS WORK OUT,
DON'T ASK ME HOW
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
DON'T WALK AWAY
DON'T LEAVE ME LONELY
RUNNING IN PLACE
WAITED SO LONG
TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW
SOMETIMES THINGS WORK OUT,
DON'T ASK ME HOW
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
DON'T BREAK MY HEART
Woman: BEAUTIFUL VOICE!
THAT WAS FOR YOU.
IF I HAD KNOWN THAT--
YOU DIDN' WANT TO KNOW.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
I'M SORRY.
THERE'S A LOT OF
TIME TO MAKE UP FOR.
I KNOW.
ARE YOU UP TO THAT?
YEAH.
THERE IT IS.
HISTORIC SITE,
WHERE I SPENT MY
FIRST NIGHT IN NEW YORK.
THERE OUGHT TO
BE A PLAQUE.
SOME DAY THERE WILL BE.
I DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW YOU BACK THEN.
NONE OF THIS
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
LET'S SEE,
TWO MONTHS AGO,
I WAS A FRY COOK.
NOW I'M ABOUT TO CLERK
FOR A FEDERAL JUDGE,
IF I DON'T SCREW UP
IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
YOU WON'T, BEN.
TWO MONTHS AGO,
YOU WERE THIS REALLY
HARD-... KID,
WHO WOULDN'T LE ANYBODY GET CLOSE TO YOU.
IS THAT CLOSE ENOUGH?
OH, GOD.
DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
WHY NOT?
IT'S GONNA GET CORNY.
I HATE CORNY.
I'LL RESTRAIN
THE IMPULSE.
YOU KNOW,
YOU OUGHT TO BE A SPY
OR A PROFESSIONAL
POKER PLAYER.
ANYTHING YOU LIKE.
BABY GONE,
MY BABY GONE
YOU'RE JUST FINE
THE WAY YOU ARE
SO, WHAT'S THE MATTER?
WHERE'S THE PROBLEM?
THEY DON'T LOVE YOU
'CAUSE THEY DON' KNOW YOU LIKE I DO
CAN'T YOU SEE?
IT'S AMAZING
WHAT YOU DO TO ME
TOOK MY HEAR AND MADE ME FEEL THINGS
I NEVER FELT BEFORE
THIS CHANGE IN ME
NEW DIRECTION
SO SUDDENLY
TOOK ME OUT THERE
AND THREW ME AROUND
HELPED ME LEARN TO BREATHE
IN A ...
TIGER LILY
MY TIGER LILY
YOU'RE JUST WILD
YOU'RE AS WILD
AS THEY COME
SO, WHAT'S THE TROUBLE?
WHERE'S THE PROBLEM?
YOU'RE JUST A BLOOMING,
BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE
CAN'T YOU SEE?
IT'S AMAZING
WHAT YOU DO TO ME
TOOK MY HEAR AND MADE ME FEEL THINGS
I NEVER FELT BEFORE
THIS CHANGE IN ME
NEW DIRECTION
SO SUDDENLY
TOOK ME OUT THERE
AND THREW ME AROUND
HELPED ME LEARN TO BREATHE
IN A ...
WHEN I WAS AFRAID
TO REACH OUT
OH, AND I WAS
THE ONE TO RUN
YOU CAME ALONG WITH
A NEW LEASE ON LIFE
TO SHOW ME
HOW IT'S DONE
CAN YOU SEE?
IT'S AMAZING WHA YOU DO TO ME
TOOK MY HEAR AND MADE ME FEEL THINGS
I NEVER FELT BEFORE
THIS CHANGE IN ME
NEW DIRECTION
SO SUDDENLY
TOOK ME OUT THERE
AND THREW ME AROUND
HELPED ME LEARN
TO BREATHE
CAN'T YOU SEE?
IT'S AMAZING
WHAT YOU DO TO ME
TOOK MY HEAR AND MADE ME FEEL THINGS
I NEVER FELT BEFORE
THIS CHANGE IN ME
NEW DIRECTION
SO SUDDENLY
TOOK ME OUT THERE
AND THREW ME AROUND
HELPED ME LEARN
TO BREATHE
HELPED ME LEARN
TO BREATHE ALONE