Preparation for the Next Life (2025) Movie Script
1
[rain pattering]
[thunder rumbling]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[thunder rumbles]
[train horn bellows distantly]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[man panting]
[girl panting]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[person coughs]
[conversing in Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking]
[man speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe grunts]
[people conversing in Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking]
[Aishe speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Min speaking]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[man speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[people conversing in Mandarin]
[TV playing indistinctly]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[people conversing
indistinctly]
-[car horns honking]
-[indistinct chatter]
[indistinct conversation]
[in English] Hey.
You can't sleep here.
[indistinct chatter continues]
[indistinct chatter]
Oh, shit. Fucking wow!
Thank you.
[chuckles] You're welcome.
You're really goin' above
and beyond.
You ordered it.
[chuckles]
[man speaking indistinctly
in Mandarin]
[indistinct chatter]
[wistful instrumental music
playing]
[Skinner] Hey!
Wait.
You live here?
Why?
I just got here. I...
I've never been to New York.
So, you like it?
Maybe.
This is supposed to be
a good place to party.
"Party"?
Yeah. Party. Like, uh...
[Aishe chuckles]
Where you going? Do you mind
if I walk with you?
You already are.
-You smoke?
-No.
-No?
-No.
[Skinner] That's good.
-[man grunts]
-Sorry, bro. Sorry.
Wait.
You're fast.
[Aishe] I am fast.
Yeah. I am too.
I used to be.
Used to be a lot of shit
when I was in the army.
I know about army.
Yeah?
Is that why you're strong?
You look strong.
I am strong.
What do you do?
-I run.
-Word. Me, too.
-And pushing up.
-Oh, yeah?
Well, most girls,
they can't do them.
[Aishe] I can do.
[Skinner] I don't know.
I gotta see it.
-[Aishe] I can do.
-I gotta see this to know it.
But can you?
Me?
That's the question.
Fuck yeah, I can.
I don't know. I have to see it.
[people conversing
indistinctly in Mandarin]
[boxes thud on floor]
How many you want?
Twenty?
One. Two.
Three. Four.
Five. Six.
Seven. Eight.
-Nine...
-One hundred.
One hundred twenty, then.
Ten. Eleven.
Twelve. Thirteen.
Fourteen. Fifteen.
Sixteen. Seventeen.
Eighteen. Nineteen...
It's good.
What about yours?
Yeah, mine's fine.
Can I see?
Yeah.
[wistful music plays]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[in English] So, I have
no idea where we are.
Like, I don't actually know
where we're going.
[in English]
You wanna turn back?
[Mandarin song playing
through speakers]
Fuck it.
Let's just force-march
this way, hard as we can.
Whether we get to a bridge
or a hole in the ground.
We'll do shit the army way.
Fuck it.
But this way.
Yes, ma'am.
[people speaking indistinctly
in Spanish]
[upbeat music
playing indistinctly]
[upbeat music playing
on speakers]
[indistinct chatter in Spanish]
[people conversing in Spanish]
-[in English] Two Coors.
-[responds in Spanish]
[in English] Two Coors.
[in English] Coronas.
Yeah. Sure.
Yeah, whatever it is. Two.
[bartender] Hey, hey!
[speaks Spanish]
Oh.
[exhales]
Go again with me?
If you keep up.
[bag thuds on floor]
[chuckles]
[exhales]
[Spanish song playing
on speakers]
[both grunt]
[Aishe exclaims]
[both panting]
[in English] Okay. Phew!
I'm sober now.
I tested.
Yeah?
And what?
I pass?
You have to work harder.
So, if I don't pass, then what?
More push-ups?
One thousand.
This way.
-No way.
-[Aishe] No, I...
Get that shit outta here.
-I pay.
-No!
-I got you.
-I have...
Are you guys gonna order?
[both speaking Uyghur]
[in English] How do you say
"hello" in your language?
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] Very good.
How do you say, uh...
"Be my girlfriend"...
in your language?
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] So,
if a guy likes a girl,
he goes like... [speaks Uyghur]
[in English]
and then she knows?
[in English]
Maybe he'll get her
some gifts.
If he's rich,
then TV and refrigerator.
Boys will give small animals.
Small animals?
Yeah.
Like this?
Does this count?
Baby goat.
When they get fat...
we'll eat them all
and cut their heads.
That's fucked.
That's life of a goat.
What does a man do here?
If he wants a girlfriend.
Whatever she wants.
How do you know what she wants?
Fuck. I don't know.
Trick question?
No.
I guess, uh...
He...
tries to show her...
how she makes him feel.
What she does to him.
What she does to him?
She makes him believe.
In what?
[chuckles softly]
-Hm.
-So we remember tonight.
Get in close.
You get in close.
Next to me.
[phone camera shutter clicks]
[both chuckles]
[keys jingling]
[door unlocks, opens]
[indistinct chatter]
[somber music playing]
[Aishe chuckles]
[Aishe exclaims]
[Aishe] Hey!
[Aishe laughs]
[Aishe panting]
Oh, don't! Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[Aishe grunts]
[both grunting]
[both panting]
[vendor speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] You. Money.
[in English] Wait.
No. I said I'd treat you.
I got this. I got this.
[speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] Guess something.
About what?
About me. Guess.
Give me something to go on.
I'm Muslim.
Are you surprise?
No.
I knew there was something
different about you.
Maybe now you don't want to
play games anymore.
Not true.
Too hard.
No. I do.
[indistinct chatter]
Taxi!
[car approaches]
Hey, we need to go to a hotel.
-Um, like, now.
-Yeah.
Whatever hotel.
-Close?
-Yeah, man.
Whatever's close. Let's go.
Now. One sec.
[exhales]
Almost left my whole
fucking life in there.
-Okay. You ready?
-Yeah. Let's go.
Yeah.
Are you okay?
-Yeah.
-Yeah?
How far is Pittsburgh?
[Skinner] I don't know.
I came straight from Virginia.
Hitchhiked.
From Fort Pickett.
You didn't wanna go home?
Nope.
I figured got enough in
the bank for a few months.
So, I came to New York.
You think you wanna stay?
Are you?
Gonna stay in New York?
I think maybe
I will buy a cart, sell food.
Maybe I need
to borrow money first, to loan.
But this way,
I can make my own money.
My hands. Mine.
I like carts.
Yeah?
Yeah.
I dig food.
[somber instrumental
music plays]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
Like I said, the paint's green.
My daughter's idea.
Neighborhood used to be Irish.
Now it's take your pick.
You wanna see more of the room?
That's all right.
See more of the room.
It's got four walls.
That's all I need.
Bathroom too.
That's all I need.
[Yu] Hey!
[speaking Mandarin]
-[Skinner] Oh, that's Jake.
-[Aishe] Hm.
We were supposed to come here
together after we got out.
I decided to come anyway.
[Jake] This thing
ain't fuckin' working.
Ready.
[upbeat song playing
over speaker]
Yeah, it's mornin', huh?
You gotta get up.
Right here. Yeah.
Come on. On the floor.
You know what time it is.
What are we doing, huh?
Get the fuck down!
-Let's go.
-All right.
Up. Come on.
-[Skinner] Yeah, that's me.
-Come on.
[Jake] Yeah. You feel that
in here, huh?
I know I don't look
so good now.
[Jake] That's work.
That's fucking work.
But I'll get there.
You get to it. All right?
That's the life we live.
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
[Skinner] What's my name, huh?
-[Jake] Motherfucker.
-What's my name, motherfucker?
-[Jake] Fuck. Motherfucker.
-What's my name?
We ain't never done.
-Do you have pics?
-[Jake] Yep.
-Of, like, yourself?
-[Jake] Yep! Yep.
Come on. Come on.
No.
[Jake] We ain't never done.
The baseboard's on.
I don't think we're done.
But we can make some.
-Put me the fuck back down.
-[Skinner] All right.
When you look good again.
[Jake] Ah-one, two...
Good job. You're getting better
at working out now.
[Jake] 'Cause that's what
we want, huh?
Are we getting worse right now?
[Skinner]
I'm not getting worse.
We're getting better.
[Jake] We're getting better,
right?
[Skinner] That's the shit
I'm doing now.
-How much the weight?
-Well, not exactly like...
He's got, like, 650 on the bar.
At least.
I gotta remember to get this.
You'll look like him?
Probably not.
[poignant music plays]
[man grunting heavily]
[breathing heavily]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[car horns honking]
-[indistinct chatter]
-[telephone ringing]
[receptionist
speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
Psst, psst.
[speaking Mandarin]
[in English] Sorry.
[speaking Mandarin]
[door opens]
[woman sniffling]
[lawyer speaking Mandarin]
[woman crying]
[woman speaks indistinctly]
[Skinner groans softly]
[water running]
[Aishe in English] Skinner?
Skinner?
[water stops]
Skinner?
You okay?
[Skinner sniffles, cries]
-[inhales sharply]
-[grunts]
What's happening?
I'm... I'm...
Fuck this whole...
I don't know.
I don't know. I don't know.
Sertraline.
Ambien.
Seroquel.
Valium.
Risperidone.
What's for?
[Skinner] Nothin', apparently.
I still feel
like something's, like...
Like, everything's coming
for me. Something bad.
You ever seen
how my eye shakes?
How it's like...
I can't stop lookin' off?
Like there's something there?
Like you look
over shoulder all time?
Yeah.
[Aishe] I understand this.
I went in jail.
You?
What for?
[Aishe] Because of how
I come into the US.
So, the police lock me up.
They trap me in there
for I don't know how long.
But they don't know
what to do with me,
so they let me go.
I don't know what will happen
if they lock me up again.
That's the most fucked up thing
you can do to someone.
Like...
Me, too.
Same shit happened to me.
I was done.
I did my service,
but they sent me back.
Three times.
I got trapped, too.
How did you get out?
I started making mistakes.
Like, I didn't mean to.
I just...
I didn't mean to.
I made mistakes,
so they let me go.
But now fuckin'
all my benefits,
my health insurance...
I'll be out of med soon.
I mean,
they don't do shit, but...
I don't know.
Maybe it'd be even worse
without 'em.
Worse how?
I can't let you get...
taken away.
Maybe we can help each other.
Somehow.
[rain pattering]
[thunder rumbling]
-[woman] Just give me a break.
-[officer] Ma'am, I'm sorry.
[woman] Every week,
you do this.
[woman sighs in exasperation]
I got her numbers right here.
[man speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[man speaking]
[man 2 speaks Mandarin]
[woman speaking Mandarin]
[woman speaking indistinctly]
[man speaking]
[man speaking]
[indistinct chatter]
[rain pattering]
[indistinct shouting]
[muffled gunshot]
[sighs]
[breathing heavily]
[breathing heavily]
[sighs]
[pan sizzling]
[man in English] Number 15!
[woman 1] Order number 48!
[man speaking indistinctly]
[woman 2] Number 21 is ready!
Kung Pao chicken
with a spring roll, right?
-[woman 3] The combo!
-[children chattering]
-[man] I have order number 42!
-[woman 4] Sesame chicken.
-No.
-[Aishe startles]
Only the orange ones are ours.
-Uh-huh. [groans]
-[woman 5
speaking indistinctly]
[customers speaking
indistinctly]
[woman 4] Shrimp broccoli!
Chicken fried rice, please!
[indistinct chatter]
[man clears throat]
[both speaking Uyghur]
[in English] Um,
you can't be here.
-[in English] I do something?
-No.
Uh, can you come back later?
When?
Six o'clock?
-When I finish?
-Yeah.
-Okay?
-[Skinner] Sure. Yeah.
[line ringing]
[Skinner] If you're
hearing this, go for Skinner.
[voicemail beeps]
[doorknob rattles]
[man on radio]
Many of these issues
are getting worse because of
the unchecked migrant issues.
Queens has become
a landing zone
for thousands
of new arrivals...
and while we are a nation
of immigrants, we are also...
[soft rock song playing
on speakers]
[bottle clangs]
Where'd he go?
[bartender] There's nobody
named Jake here. I told you.
[thuds]
[line ringing]
Hello?
[Skinner] Aishe...
[sighs] Where were you?
[Skinner] I was just waiting
for you.
I thought...
I thought something happened.
[Skinner chuckles]
I was just waiting.
Where?
[Skinner] I was waitin'.
I've just been waitin'
all day long.
[song continues playing]
-[Jake] Give me
this fucking shit.
-Stop, bro. Stop!
[Jake] What are you doing, huh?
Get the fuck--
- [Skinner] No.
-Get down!
-What the fuck--
-Get down.
-Do you know what time it is?
-[man laughing]
Do I gotta get him up myself?
Get the fuck up!
-[crowd exclaiming]
-[Skinner grunts]
I can still, I can still,
I can still.
Yeah! Yeah!
All right. All right.
All right, man.
Whoo!
I got you. I got you, bro!
I got you! Whoo!
-Put me down!
-I got you!
-I got you!
-[man straining]
I got you.
-I got you.
-[man] I'm good.
-I got you, man. I got you.
-I'm good.
[chuckles] Hey!
-[man 1] Come on, man.
-No.
-[man 2] Come on.
-[man 1] No, no. No, no, no.
What the--
[crowd exclaims]
-[man 1]
Go back home, man. Stay down.
-[man 2] Stay down.
It's over now.
[horn honking]
[indistinct shouting]
[song continues]
[Skinner coughs]
[intercom buzzing]
[Skinner over intercom] Aishe!
[banging on door]
Aishe! I'm here!
[intercom buzzing]
Let's go! Come on!
[shutters opening]
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[in English] Aishe!
I've been ready to go
since fuckin' noon!
You're the one that told me
to fuckin' go!
You're always fuckin' working,
so what am I gonna do?
Come on!
Aishe!
I'm sorry, okay?
[woman speaking indistinctly]
[Skinner] I'm sorry.
[speaking Cantonese]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Mandarin]
[woman in English]
Number 15, sushi combo.
[man] Number 35, arugula salad
with roasted chicken.
[cell phone vibrating]
What do you want?
[Skinner] I don't know if
y'all have enough protein.
[cashier chuckles]
Hey.
-How much?
-I got you.
[cashier] Five.
-You want help?
-I know what to do.
Are you okay, though?
You okay?
You made me pay
five dollars for this.
I could go
to the park for free.
[Skinner chuckles]
What's so funny?
[Skinner] You're gonna get
your workout.
I know you can on your own.
I'm just...
I'm here, just in case.
-Let's go.
-[Aishe exhales]
[Skinner] One.
-Great.
-[Aishe straining]
Slow.
Three.
Too close.
Last one.
-[Aishe strains]
-Boom.
[Skinner] Wait, wait, wait.
You can't handle these.
[scoffs] I can.
-[Skinner] Yeah?
-Yeah.
[both breathing heavily]
[upbeat music playing]
[Aishe straining]
-Plank. Plank. Plank. Plank.
-[Aishe groans]
Too close.
Hey.
[Aishe grunting]
[Aishe panting]
[Skinner] Let's go.
Keep going.
Here.
You like it?
No.
I liked today, though.
Today was how a day should be.
I want it to be.
We're gonna do this every day
from now on.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Every single day.
Every single day.
[cash register beeping]
-[man 1] Thank you, bud.
-[man 2] Appreciate you, boss.
-I'm sorry.
-Don't worry about it.
[man 1] How are you?
Can you do me a favor?
Could you step over to the car?
I just want to talk to you
for a minute.
Ma'am, can you step over
to the car?
[man 2] Stop running.
Come on.
Hands behind your back.
-Relax. Stop moving.
-[man 1] Relax. Relax.
[man 2] Breathe for me, okay?
[man 1] You got any weapons
on you? Any sharp objects?
Why are you running? Huh?
Speak English?
[man 1] You got ID?
What's your name?
-You don't have a name?
-[man 2 speaking Spanish]
[man 1 in English] Okay.
[sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
[phone clangs]
So, she calls me.
"Is this John McIntyre?
This such-and-such
and so forth?"
You never tell 'em
your real name.
Number one rule with women.
You hear him? Listen to that.
My girlfriend's
from over there.
Oh, yeah?
[McIntyre] You best tell her
your last name's Kim.
Or you're screwed.
[man chuckling]
-Yeah.
-[McIntyre] Yeah.
I haven't felt this good
in a while.
[McIntyre] All right, buddy.
You gotta at least
buy me dinner first.
[phone vibrating]
Where you wanna go?
[automated voice] The person
you're trying to reach
does not accept
this collect call.
Goodbye.
[sighs]
[sniffles]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[somber music playing]
[grunting]
[breathing heavily]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[exhales]
[sniffing]
[sobbing]
[somber music continues]
[man in English] Stand up.
Stand up.
[judge] You're getting an ROR
and a date
for your new hearing.
If you don't show up,
you'll get removal orders
issued in absentia.
Understood?
This way.
[door buzzing]
[door closes]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe sighs]
[phone vibrating]
[Skinner] Are you mad at me
or somethin'?
I've been calling you.
[Aishe] No.
They lock me up again.
Shit. Just come over tonight.
I wanna help you.
You can't keep
living like this.
Come over tonight.
And we'll go straight
to City Hall tomorrow...
first fucking thing.
We'll get married.
I'll pay for it.
I'll pay
for everything. Just...
Come over.
Look, I know I got
a lotta shit wrong
with me, but...
it's just the pills.
They make me do stupid shit.
And I don't mean it.
It's the pills.
I know.
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[indistinct chatter]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[in English] I have
to get better work.
I have to do it myself.
I got you.
[Aishe] But you have
your whole life ahead.
I don't want to take advantage.
I don't see
why it can't work out.
[Aishe] Because you have
your own problems.
What if I just put mine
to yours?
Do you not want this?
[scoffs]
[Aishe] No.
But maybe we should wait.
[Skinner] Maybe we shouldn't.
If there's somethin'
that you wanna do...
you better do it today.
You have no idea
what's gonna happen tomorrow.
Just think about it.
I will think about it.
[woman] I could get you
a job here easy.
[man] Oh, you'd like that, huh?
[woman] Over the summer,
over the weekends.
[chuckles] I mean,
that could be really fun.
[woman]
We could see each other.
[woman 2 speaking Cantonese]
[woman] Can you learn Chinese?
[man speaking Mandarin]
[in English] But maybe
you could teach me more.
[woman] You wanna know
how to say "fried rice"?
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe] Mmm.
[in English]
Can I put the light?
-[smacks lips]
-[Skinner chuckles]
Hey.
[gasps]
What has happened to you?
Hmm.
What?
[lighter clatters]
I have a headache.
Sun is still there.
Come walk with me.
Skinner.
What?
You're turning this color.
Did you take your medicine?
Yes.
I even took
the Chinese shit you bought.
Two fuckin' cups.
Didn't do shit.
Nothin' fuckin' does.
What if you just force-march
through this? Army way?
Really. Like...
Like there
is nothing happen to you.
Maybe you can go to a gym.
Maybe you can go get a job.
Maybe you can clean the room.
Maybe you can
just walk with me.
-Maybe you can just--
-Maybe just...
[Aishe] Maybe what?
Fuckin' talk?
[Aishe] Yeah.
What?
Maybe you can just do anything?
Do something for yourself.
All right.
Maybe you can shut the fuck up.
[scoffs]
Aishe...
I don't owe you shit.
[breathing heavily]
[speaking Uyghur]
[sighs]
[water splashing]
[melancholy music playing]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[melancholy music continues]
[liquid glugging]
[Mullah in English] So,
you want to learn about
our faith?
[in English]
My family was Muslim.
I know about God, but...
too many rules.
No. No, no, no, no.
Let me tell you something
about God.
He's like
the shade of a tree...
on a hot day.
[water splashing]
[Mullah] You're burning
in the sun...
in the fire.
He opens the door...
There's water.
[melancholy music playing]
But you can't have
all these beautiful things
if you live the bad life.
If you don't obey the law.
[Aishe speaking Mandarin]
[woman speaking indistinctly]
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Mullah in English]
You may suffer in this life.
You struggle,
you have pain.
But if you obey...
you will earn
the goodness of God.
You will have peace...
In the next life.
[in English] It's beautiful.
Beautiful to think.
It is.
But I'm living
in this life now.
What do I do about that?
[Mullah] Come on.
Please. Come.
I have a long way home.
Of course. Of course.
You must go.
Don't be late for your family.
Take it easy.
-Hey.
-[Skinner] I'm good.
I'll wait one... soon.
Whoa! That's a change of pace.
[Skinner laughs]
Give him a break.
[both chuckle]
Well, I know
what we're used to.
[Skinner] I'll catch up,
I'll catch up.
Don't you worry.
[door opens]
[door closes]
That's McIntyre.
-Aishe.
-How you doin'?
Aishe, Johnny.
Here, have a drink.
No, thank you.
Why not?
I don't need to.
I need to talk.
[scoffs]
We drink and talk.
Just have one.
I ask to meet you because...
I need to tell you something.
Why you wanna come to a bar
if you don't wanna have
a drink?
I'm here...
because I need
to make decision.
I'm living this life now.
This is my life.
And the reality of my life--
Just have a drink.
What do you fuckin' want?
-Where are you goin'?
-[door opens]
[Aishe] I decided.
[door closes]
-[Johnny] You two okay?
-Yeah.
I'm sorry.
-Fuckin'...
-[Johnny] You sure?
Yeah, I'm sorry.
I'll be back in a sec.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[Skinner] No, no.
You're gonna fucking
talk to me.
After what I've done for you,
what have you done for me?
What did you do exactly?
You snuck over the border!
[Aishe] What?
So I fucking owe you. There.
Take all my money.
Take my money.
I love you. You used me.
Take my money.
Will that help?
You done?
I treated you
like a human being.
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] I don't understand
what you're saying.
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] Okay.
I don't understand
what you're saying--
[in English]
Of course you don't.
I know you don't.
We're done.
-[Skinner] Wait.
-Don't.
[Skinner] No, wait.
Just...
[Aishe sobbing]
[Skinner] It's okay.
It's okay. I got you.
I got you.
[objects clattering]
[Skinner] Don't go.
I'll give you whatever
you need.
Just...
What do you need?
Marriage? We'll go
to a lawyer first thing.
I swear to God.
I got a few hundred dollars,
I think.
I wish I had more.
Aishe.
Aishe.
There's a lot I can't do,
so just, like...
let me do what I... what I can.
I don't hate you...
Skinner.
I just need to make my life.
[door opens]
I don't hate you.
I just want you to know.
[door closes]
[objects clattering]
[Skinner groans]
[Skinner groaning]
-[Skinner groans]
-[objects clattering]
[Skinner sobbing]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[men singing in Spanish]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[men laughing, exclaiming]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[indistinct chatter]
[man speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[Spanish pop song
playing over speakers]
[phone beeps]
[line ringing]
[line ringing]
[line clicks]
[Skinner]
If you're hearing this,
go for Skinner.
[voicemail beeps]
[phone snaps shut, beeps]
[somber music playing]
[breathing heavily]
[breathing heavily]
[somber music continues]
[somber music continues]
[upbeat music playing]
[upbeat music playing]
[wistful music playing]
[wistful music playing]
[rain pattering]
[thunder rumbling]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[thunder rumbles]
[train horn bellows distantly]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[man panting]
[girl panting]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[person coughs]
[conversing in Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking]
[man speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe grunts]
[people conversing in Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking]
[Aishe speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Min speaking]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[man speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[people conversing in Mandarin]
[TV playing indistinctly]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[people conversing
indistinctly]
-[car horns honking]
-[indistinct chatter]
[indistinct conversation]
[in English] Hey.
You can't sleep here.
[indistinct chatter continues]
[indistinct chatter]
Oh, shit. Fucking wow!
Thank you.
[chuckles] You're welcome.
You're really goin' above
and beyond.
You ordered it.
[chuckles]
[man speaking indistinctly
in Mandarin]
[indistinct chatter]
[wistful instrumental music
playing]
[Skinner] Hey!
Wait.
You live here?
Why?
I just got here. I...
I've never been to New York.
So, you like it?
Maybe.
This is supposed to be
a good place to party.
"Party"?
Yeah. Party. Like, uh...
[Aishe chuckles]
Where you going? Do you mind
if I walk with you?
You already are.
-You smoke?
-No.
-No?
-No.
[Skinner] That's good.
-[man grunts]
-Sorry, bro. Sorry.
Wait.
You're fast.
[Aishe] I am fast.
Yeah. I am too.
I used to be.
Used to be a lot of shit
when I was in the army.
I know about army.
Yeah?
Is that why you're strong?
You look strong.
I am strong.
What do you do?
-I run.
-Word. Me, too.
-And pushing up.
-Oh, yeah?
Well, most girls,
they can't do them.
[Aishe] I can do.
[Skinner] I don't know.
I gotta see it.
-[Aishe] I can do.
-I gotta see this to know it.
But can you?
Me?
That's the question.
Fuck yeah, I can.
I don't know. I have to see it.
[people conversing
indistinctly in Mandarin]
[boxes thud on floor]
How many you want?
Twenty?
One. Two.
Three. Four.
Five. Six.
Seven. Eight.
-Nine...
-One hundred.
One hundred twenty, then.
Ten. Eleven.
Twelve. Thirteen.
Fourteen. Fifteen.
Sixteen. Seventeen.
Eighteen. Nineteen...
It's good.
What about yours?
Yeah, mine's fine.
Can I see?
Yeah.
[wistful music plays]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[in English] So, I have
no idea where we are.
Like, I don't actually know
where we're going.
[in English]
You wanna turn back?
[Mandarin song playing
through speakers]
Fuck it.
Let's just force-march
this way, hard as we can.
Whether we get to a bridge
or a hole in the ground.
We'll do shit the army way.
Fuck it.
But this way.
Yes, ma'am.
[people speaking indistinctly
in Spanish]
[upbeat music
playing indistinctly]
[upbeat music playing
on speakers]
[indistinct chatter in Spanish]
[people conversing in Spanish]
-[in English] Two Coors.
-[responds in Spanish]
[in English] Two Coors.
[in English] Coronas.
Yeah. Sure.
Yeah, whatever it is. Two.
[bartender] Hey, hey!
[speaks Spanish]
Oh.
[exhales]
Go again with me?
If you keep up.
[bag thuds on floor]
[chuckles]
[exhales]
[Spanish song playing
on speakers]
[both grunt]
[Aishe exclaims]
[both panting]
[in English] Okay. Phew!
I'm sober now.
I tested.
Yeah?
And what?
I pass?
You have to work harder.
So, if I don't pass, then what?
More push-ups?
One thousand.
This way.
-No way.
-[Aishe] No, I...
Get that shit outta here.
-I pay.
-No!
-I got you.
-I have...
Are you guys gonna order?
[both speaking Uyghur]
[in English] How do you say
"hello" in your language?
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] Very good.
How do you say, uh...
"Be my girlfriend"...
in your language?
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] So,
if a guy likes a girl,
he goes like... [speaks Uyghur]
[in English]
and then she knows?
[in English]
Maybe he'll get her
some gifts.
If he's rich,
then TV and refrigerator.
Boys will give small animals.
Small animals?
Yeah.
Like this?
Does this count?
Baby goat.
When they get fat...
we'll eat them all
and cut their heads.
That's fucked.
That's life of a goat.
What does a man do here?
If he wants a girlfriend.
Whatever she wants.
How do you know what she wants?
Fuck. I don't know.
Trick question?
No.
I guess, uh...
He...
tries to show her...
how she makes him feel.
What she does to him.
What she does to him?
She makes him believe.
In what?
[chuckles softly]
-Hm.
-So we remember tonight.
Get in close.
You get in close.
Next to me.
[phone camera shutter clicks]
[both chuckles]
[keys jingling]
[door unlocks, opens]
[indistinct chatter]
[somber music playing]
[Aishe chuckles]
[Aishe exclaims]
[Aishe] Hey!
[Aishe laughs]
[Aishe panting]
Oh, don't! Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[Aishe grunts]
[both grunting]
[both panting]
[vendor speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] You. Money.
[in English] Wait.
No. I said I'd treat you.
I got this. I got this.
[speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] Guess something.
About what?
About me. Guess.
Give me something to go on.
I'm Muslim.
Are you surprise?
No.
I knew there was something
different about you.
Maybe now you don't want to
play games anymore.
Not true.
Too hard.
No. I do.
[indistinct chatter]
Taxi!
[car approaches]
Hey, we need to go to a hotel.
-Um, like, now.
-Yeah.
Whatever hotel.
-Close?
-Yeah, man.
Whatever's close. Let's go.
Now. One sec.
[exhales]
Almost left my whole
fucking life in there.
-Okay. You ready?
-Yeah. Let's go.
Yeah.
Are you okay?
-Yeah.
-Yeah?
How far is Pittsburgh?
[Skinner] I don't know.
I came straight from Virginia.
Hitchhiked.
From Fort Pickett.
You didn't wanna go home?
Nope.
I figured got enough in
the bank for a few months.
So, I came to New York.
You think you wanna stay?
Are you?
Gonna stay in New York?
I think maybe
I will buy a cart, sell food.
Maybe I need
to borrow money first, to loan.
But this way,
I can make my own money.
My hands. Mine.
I like carts.
Yeah?
Yeah.
I dig food.
[somber instrumental
music plays]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
Like I said, the paint's green.
My daughter's idea.
Neighborhood used to be Irish.
Now it's take your pick.
You wanna see more of the room?
That's all right.
See more of the room.
It's got four walls.
That's all I need.
Bathroom too.
That's all I need.
[Yu] Hey!
[speaking Mandarin]
-[Skinner] Oh, that's Jake.
-[Aishe] Hm.
We were supposed to come here
together after we got out.
I decided to come anyway.
[Jake] This thing
ain't fuckin' working.
Ready.
[upbeat song playing
over speaker]
Yeah, it's mornin', huh?
You gotta get up.
Right here. Yeah.
Come on. On the floor.
You know what time it is.
What are we doing, huh?
Get the fuck down!
-Let's go.
-All right.
Up. Come on.
-[Skinner] Yeah, that's me.
-Come on.
[Jake] Yeah. You feel that
in here, huh?
I know I don't look
so good now.
[Jake] That's work.
That's fucking work.
But I'll get there.
You get to it. All right?
That's the life we live.
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
[Skinner] What's my name, huh?
-[Jake] Motherfucker.
-What's my name, motherfucker?
-[Jake] Fuck. Motherfucker.
-What's my name?
We ain't never done.
-Do you have pics?
-[Jake] Yep.
-Of, like, yourself?
-[Jake] Yep! Yep.
Come on. Come on.
No.
[Jake] We ain't never done.
The baseboard's on.
I don't think we're done.
But we can make some.
-Put me the fuck back down.
-[Skinner] All right.
When you look good again.
[Jake] Ah-one, two...
Good job. You're getting better
at working out now.
[Jake] 'Cause that's what
we want, huh?
Are we getting worse right now?
[Skinner]
I'm not getting worse.
We're getting better.
[Jake] We're getting better,
right?
[Skinner] That's the shit
I'm doing now.
-How much the weight?
-Well, not exactly like...
He's got, like, 650 on the bar.
At least.
I gotta remember to get this.
You'll look like him?
Probably not.
[poignant music plays]
[man grunting heavily]
[breathing heavily]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[car horns honking]
-[indistinct chatter]
-[telephone ringing]
[receptionist
speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
Psst, psst.
[speaking Mandarin]
[in English] Sorry.
[speaking Mandarin]
[door opens]
[woman sniffling]
[lawyer speaking Mandarin]
[woman crying]
[woman speaks indistinctly]
[Skinner groans softly]
[water running]
[Aishe in English] Skinner?
Skinner?
[water stops]
Skinner?
You okay?
[Skinner sniffles, cries]
-[inhales sharply]
-[grunts]
What's happening?
I'm... I'm...
Fuck this whole...
I don't know.
I don't know. I don't know.
Sertraline.
Ambien.
Seroquel.
Valium.
Risperidone.
What's for?
[Skinner] Nothin', apparently.
I still feel
like something's, like...
Like, everything's coming
for me. Something bad.
You ever seen
how my eye shakes?
How it's like...
I can't stop lookin' off?
Like there's something there?
Like you look
over shoulder all time?
Yeah.
[Aishe] I understand this.
I went in jail.
You?
What for?
[Aishe] Because of how
I come into the US.
So, the police lock me up.
They trap me in there
for I don't know how long.
But they don't know
what to do with me,
so they let me go.
I don't know what will happen
if they lock me up again.
That's the most fucked up thing
you can do to someone.
Like...
Me, too.
Same shit happened to me.
I was done.
I did my service,
but they sent me back.
Three times.
I got trapped, too.
How did you get out?
I started making mistakes.
Like, I didn't mean to.
I just...
I didn't mean to.
I made mistakes,
so they let me go.
But now fuckin'
all my benefits,
my health insurance...
I'll be out of med soon.
I mean,
they don't do shit, but...
I don't know.
Maybe it'd be even worse
without 'em.
Worse how?
I can't let you get...
taken away.
Maybe we can help each other.
Somehow.
[rain pattering]
[thunder rumbling]
-[woman] Just give me a break.
-[officer] Ma'am, I'm sorry.
[woman] Every week,
you do this.
[woman sighs in exasperation]
I got her numbers right here.
[man speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[man speaking]
[man 2 speaks Mandarin]
[woman speaking Mandarin]
[woman speaking indistinctly]
[man speaking]
[man speaking]
[indistinct chatter]
[rain pattering]
[indistinct shouting]
[muffled gunshot]
[sighs]
[breathing heavily]
[breathing heavily]
[sighs]
[pan sizzling]
[man in English] Number 15!
[woman 1] Order number 48!
[man speaking indistinctly]
[woman 2] Number 21 is ready!
Kung Pao chicken
with a spring roll, right?
-[woman 3] The combo!
-[children chattering]
-[man] I have order number 42!
-[woman 4] Sesame chicken.
-No.
-[Aishe startles]
Only the orange ones are ours.
-Uh-huh. [groans]
-[woman 5
speaking indistinctly]
[customers speaking
indistinctly]
[woman 4] Shrimp broccoli!
Chicken fried rice, please!
[indistinct chatter]
[man clears throat]
[both speaking Uyghur]
[in English] Um,
you can't be here.
-[in English] I do something?
-No.
Uh, can you come back later?
When?
Six o'clock?
-When I finish?
-Yeah.
-Okay?
-[Skinner] Sure. Yeah.
[line ringing]
[Skinner] If you're
hearing this, go for Skinner.
[voicemail beeps]
[doorknob rattles]
[man on radio]
Many of these issues
are getting worse because of
the unchecked migrant issues.
Queens has become
a landing zone
for thousands
of new arrivals...
and while we are a nation
of immigrants, we are also...
[soft rock song playing
on speakers]
[bottle clangs]
Where'd he go?
[bartender] There's nobody
named Jake here. I told you.
[thuds]
[line ringing]
Hello?
[Skinner] Aishe...
[sighs] Where were you?
[Skinner] I was just waiting
for you.
I thought...
I thought something happened.
[Skinner chuckles]
I was just waiting.
Where?
[Skinner] I was waitin'.
I've just been waitin'
all day long.
[song continues playing]
-[Jake] Give me
this fucking shit.
-Stop, bro. Stop!
[Jake] What are you doing, huh?
Get the fuck--
- [Skinner] No.
-Get down!
-What the fuck--
-Get down.
-Do you know what time it is?
-[man laughing]
Do I gotta get him up myself?
Get the fuck up!
-[crowd exclaiming]
-[Skinner grunts]
I can still, I can still,
I can still.
Yeah! Yeah!
All right. All right.
All right, man.
Whoo!
I got you. I got you, bro!
I got you! Whoo!
-Put me down!
-I got you!
-I got you!
-[man straining]
I got you.
-I got you.
-[man] I'm good.
-I got you, man. I got you.
-I'm good.
[chuckles] Hey!
-[man 1] Come on, man.
-No.
-[man 2] Come on.
-[man 1] No, no. No, no, no.
What the--
[crowd exclaims]
-[man 1]
Go back home, man. Stay down.
-[man 2] Stay down.
It's over now.
[horn honking]
[indistinct shouting]
[song continues]
[Skinner coughs]
[intercom buzzing]
[Skinner over intercom] Aishe!
[banging on door]
Aishe! I'm here!
[intercom buzzing]
Let's go! Come on!
[shutters opening]
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[in English] Aishe!
I've been ready to go
since fuckin' noon!
You're the one that told me
to fuckin' go!
You're always fuckin' working,
so what am I gonna do?
Come on!
Aishe!
I'm sorry, okay?
[woman speaking indistinctly]
[Skinner] I'm sorry.
[speaking Cantonese]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Mandarin]
[woman in English]
Number 15, sushi combo.
[man] Number 35, arugula salad
with roasted chicken.
[cell phone vibrating]
What do you want?
[Skinner] I don't know if
y'all have enough protein.
[cashier chuckles]
Hey.
-How much?
-I got you.
[cashier] Five.
-You want help?
-I know what to do.
Are you okay, though?
You okay?
You made me pay
five dollars for this.
I could go
to the park for free.
[Skinner chuckles]
What's so funny?
[Skinner] You're gonna get
your workout.
I know you can on your own.
I'm just...
I'm here, just in case.
-Let's go.
-[Aishe exhales]
[Skinner] One.
-Great.
-[Aishe straining]
Slow.
Three.
Too close.
Last one.
-[Aishe strains]
-Boom.
[Skinner] Wait, wait, wait.
You can't handle these.
[scoffs] I can.
-[Skinner] Yeah?
-Yeah.
[both breathing heavily]
[upbeat music playing]
[Aishe straining]
-Plank. Plank. Plank. Plank.
-[Aishe groans]
Too close.
Hey.
[Aishe grunting]
[Aishe panting]
[Skinner] Let's go.
Keep going.
Here.
You like it?
No.
I liked today, though.
Today was how a day should be.
I want it to be.
We're gonna do this every day
from now on.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Every single day.
Every single day.
[cash register beeping]
-[man 1] Thank you, bud.
-[man 2] Appreciate you, boss.
-I'm sorry.
-Don't worry about it.
[man 1] How are you?
Can you do me a favor?
Could you step over to the car?
I just want to talk to you
for a minute.
Ma'am, can you step over
to the car?
[man 2] Stop running.
Come on.
Hands behind your back.
-Relax. Stop moving.
-[man 1] Relax. Relax.
[man 2] Breathe for me, okay?
[man 1] You got any weapons
on you? Any sharp objects?
Why are you running? Huh?
Speak English?
[man 1] You got ID?
What's your name?
-You don't have a name?
-[man 2 speaking Spanish]
[man 1 in English] Okay.
[sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
[phone clangs]
So, she calls me.
"Is this John McIntyre?
This such-and-such
and so forth?"
You never tell 'em
your real name.
Number one rule with women.
You hear him? Listen to that.
My girlfriend's
from over there.
Oh, yeah?
[McIntyre] You best tell her
your last name's Kim.
Or you're screwed.
[man chuckling]
-Yeah.
-[McIntyre] Yeah.
I haven't felt this good
in a while.
[McIntyre] All right, buddy.
You gotta at least
buy me dinner first.
[phone vibrating]
Where you wanna go?
[automated voice] The person
you're trying to reach
does not accept
this collect call.
Goodbye.
[sighs]
[sniffles]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[somber music playing]
[grunting]
[breathing heavily]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[exhales]
[sniffing]
[sobbing]
[somber music continues]
[man in English] Stand up.
Stand up.
[judge] You're getting an ROR
and a date
for your new hearing.
If you don't show up,
you'll get removal orders
issued in absentia.
Understood?
This way.
[door buzzing]
[door closes]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe sighs]
[phone vibrating]
[Skinner] Are you mad at me
or somethin'?
I've been calling you.
[Aishe] No.
They lock me up again.
Shit. Just come over tonight.
I wanna help you.
You can't keep
living like this.
Come over tonight.
And we'll go straight
to City Hall tomorrow...
first fucking thing.
We'll get married.
I'll pay for it.
I'll pay
for everything. Just...
Come over.
Look, I know I got
a lotta shit wrong
with me, but...
it's just the pills.
They make me do stupid shit.
And I don't mean it.
It's the pills.
I know.
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[indistinct chatter]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[in English] I have
to get better work.
I have to do it myself.
I got you.
[Aishe] But you have
your whole life ahead.
I don't want to take advantage.
I don't see
why it can't work out.
[Aishe] Because you have
your own problems.
What if I just put mine
to yours?
Do you not want this?
[scoffs]
[Aishe] No.
But maybe we should wait.
[Skinner] Maybe we shouldn't.
If there's somethin'
that you wanna do...
you better do it today.
You have no idea
what's gonna happen tomorrow.
Just think about it.
I will think about it.
[woman] I could get you
a job here easy.
[man] Oh, you'd like that, huh?
[woman] Over the summer,
over the weekends.
[chuckles] I mean,
that could be really fun.
[woman]
We could see each other.
[woman 2 speaking Cantonese]
[woman] Can you learn Chinese?
[man speaking Mandarin]
[in English] But maybe
you could teach me more.
[woman] You wanna know
how to say "fried rice"?
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Aishe] Mmm.
[in English]
Can I put the light?
-[smacks lips]
-[Skinner chuckles]
Hey.
[gasps]
What has happened to you?
Hmm.
What?
[lighter clatters]
I have a headache.
Sun is still there.
Come walk with me.
Skinner.
What?
You're turning this color.
Did you take your medicine?
Yes.
I even took
the Chinese shit you bought.
Two fuckin' cups.
Didn't do shit.
Nothin' fuckin' does.
What if you just force-march
through this? Army way?
Really. Like...
Like there
is nothing happen to you.
Maybe you can go to a gym.
Maybe you can go get a job.
Maybe you can clean the room.
Maybe you can
just walk with me.
-Maybe you can just--
-Maybe just...
[Aishe] Maybe what?
Fuckin' talk?
[Aishe] Yeah.
What?
Maybe you can just do anything?
Do something for yourself.
All right.
Maybe you can shut the fuck up.
[scoffs]
Aishe...
I don't owe you shit.
[breathing heavily]
[speaking Uyghur]
[sighs]
[water splashing]
[melancholy music playing]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[melancholy music continues]
[liquid glugging]
[Mullah in English] So,
you want to learn about
our faith?
[in English]
My family was Muslim.
I know about God, but...
too many rules.
No. No, no, no, no.
Let me tell you something
about God.
He's like
the shade of a tree...
on a hot day.
[water splashing]
[Mullah] You're burning
in the sun...
in the fire.
He opens the door...
There's water.
[melancholy music playing]
But you can't have
all these beautiful things
if you live the bad life.
If you don't obey the law.
[Aishe speaking Mandarin]
[woman speaking indistinctly]
[speaking Mandarin]
[speaking Mandarin]
[Mullah in English]
You may suffer in this life.
You struggle,
you have pain.
But if you obey...
you will earn
the goodness of God.
You will have peace...
In the next life.
[in English] It's beautiful.
Beautiful to think.
It is.
But I'm living
in this life now.
What do I do about that?
[Mullah] Come on.
Please. Come.
I have a long way home.
Of course. Of course.
You must go.
Don't be late for your family.
Take it easy.
-Hey.
-[Skinner] I'm good.
I'll wait one... soon.
Whoa! That's a change of pace.
[Skinner laughs]
Give him a break.
[both chuckle]
Well, I know
what we're used to.
[Skinner] I'll catch up,
I'll catch up.
Don't you worry.
[door opens]
[door closes]
That's McIntyre.
-Aishe.
-How you doin'?
Aishe, Johnny.
Here, have a drink.
No, thank you.
Why not?
I don't need to.
I need to talk.
[scoffs]
We drink and talk.
Just have one.
I ask to meet you because...
I need to tell you something.
Why you wanna come to a bar
if you don't wanna have
a drink?
I'm here...
because I need
to make decision.
I'm living this life now.
This is my life.
And the reality of my life--
Just have a drink.
What do you fuckin' want?
-Where are you goin'?
-[door opens]
[Aishe] I decided.
[door closes]
-[Johnny] You two okay?
-Yeah.
I'm sorry.
-Fuckin'...
-[Johnny] You sure?
Yeah, I'm sorry.
I'll be back in a sec.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[Skinner] No, no.
You're gonna fucking
talk to me.
After what I've done for you,
what have you done for me?
What did you do exactly?
You snuck over the border!
[Aishe] What?
So I fucking owe you. There.
Take all my money.
Take my money.
I love you. You used me.
Take my money.
Will that help?
You done?
I treated you
like a human being.
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] I don't understand
what you're saying.
[speaking Uyghur]
[in English] Okay.
I don't understand
what you're saying--
[in English]
Of course you don't.
I know you don't.
We're done.
-[Skinner] Wait.
-Don't.
[Skinner] No, wait.
Just...
[Aishe sobbing]
[Skinner] It's okay.
It's okay. I got you.
I got you.
[objects clattering]
[Skinner] Don't go.
I'll give you whatever
you need.
Just...
What do you need?
Marriage? We'll go
to a lawyer first thing.
I swear to God.
I got a few hundred dollars,
I think.
I wish I had more.
Aishe.
Aishe.
There's a lot I can't do,
so just, like...
let me do what I... what I can.
I don't hate you...
Skinner.
I just need to make my life.
[door opens]
I don't hate you.
I just want you to know.
[door closes]
[objects clattering]
[Skinner groans]
[Skinner groaning]
-[Skinner groans]
-[objects clattering]
[Skinner sobbing]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[men singing in Spanish]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[men laughing, exclaiming]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[indistinct chatter]
[man speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[Aishe speaking Uyghur]
[Spanish pop song
playing over speakers]
[phone beeps]
[line ringing]
[line ringing]
[line clicks]
[Skinner]
If you're hearing this,
go for Skinner.
[voicemail beeps]
[phone snaps shut, beeps]
[somber music playing]
[breathing heavily]
[breathing heavily]
[somber music continues]
[somber music continues]
[upbeat music playing]
[upbeat music playing]
[wistful music playing]
[wistful music playing]