Lodge 49 (2018) s01e01 Episode Script
As Above, So Below
1 [SEA BIRDS CALLING.]
[SHIP HORN BLOWING IN DISTANCE.]
[METAL DETECTOR WHIRS, PLASTIC BAG CRINKLES.]
[DETECTOR BUZZING.]
[WHIRRING, BUZZING CONTINUES.]
[BLOWS AIR.]
[THE SOUNDCARRIERS' "THERE ONLY ONCE" PLAYING.]
[CROWS CAWING.]
[CAWING CONTINUES.]
[GUNSHOT.]
[CROWS SQUAWKING, DOG BARKING.]
[DOOR BELL JINGLES.]
Hey, man.
Can I get, uh, $4 23 on pump 6, please? Huh.
I'd like to add that to my purchase.
I was there only once When the morning comes I was there only once [SIGHS.]
Found something.
- Salvation? - Better.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- And I'd like to trade it [TAPS CASE.]
for the watch.
- You found this at the beach? - Yep.
That's a Lynx ring.
You have to be a Lynx to get one.
Wow.
How about that? What's a Lynx? They're a fraternal order, like the Masons or the Elks.
The Masons and the Elks.
All right.
All right, so what's it worth? Nothing.
It's not real gold.
What? Really? Someday you'll know the difference.
Well, there's a there's an inscription on it here.
Um do you speak Latin, Burt? I'm fluent.
Oh.
"Superus sicet Inferus.
" I've never heard of the Lynx.
They have a lodge, over by the, uh Orbis plant.
The Orbis plant? I drive by there every day.
I've never seen it.
- [BUZZER SOUNDS.]
- I'm taking a break.
All right, Hermie! Hermie Dermie! [CHUCKLES.]
Um All right, well, can you give me anything for it, man? - [RING THUDS.]
- If you need cash, I can open up another line of credit for ya.
Never again.
89.
9%.
How do you sleep at night? The Dollar Center's at 126.
6.
You're a parasite, Burt.
My dad always said that you were the saddest, most pathetic piece of shit that he ever met.
And you know what? He was right.
[DOOR OPENS, BUZZER SOUNDS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[BUZZER SOUNDS.]
All right, what'll you give me for this? [UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYING.]
[CHIME SOUNDS.]
- Hello.
- Hey.
Your sister called here, looking for you.
[GROANS.]
What did she want? She wants to know when you're getting a new cell phone.
Well, I don't live in phone land any more, so Where are you living right now? In the past, Alice.
In the past.
Uh, give me three sprinkles, three twisties and a bear claw.
Wow.
Look at you.
Yeah, well, I just saw my financial advisor, so Mm.
Oh, yeah.
Uh-huh.
Knight, uh, king to, uh, bishop's pawn, and then a then a double queen zigzag.
- Do it.
- [PAPER BAG RUSTLES.]
- Uh, so you going out later? - I'm working all day.
Oh, that's too bad.
The swell's picking up.
How would you know? Well, because my eyes still work, Alice.
Then stop being a pussy and come out with me.
You gotta get back in the water.
Well, you know what? I got better things to do.
Okay? [DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE.]
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING.]
Hey, bud.
This isn't junk.
It's a classic.
MAN: I see you! Yeah, you! [ENGINE STALLING.]
You better move! - [ENGINE TURNS OVER, REVS.]
- [MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY.]
- Yeah! - Yeah, why don't you come back, eh?! Come back! Here you go all the glories of creation.
You take Bitcoin? No cryptocurrencies.
Cash only.
- That's 50.
- [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
[BUZZER SOUNDS.]
Great.
And my name is Dr.
Blaise St.
John - [DOOR CLOSES.]
- and I would like to thank you for making me your apothecary of choice.
- Okay.
- You must love it when the rich kids come down from Palos Verdes.
They're second only to the angels themselves.
I have your earth, wind, and fire kit ready to go.
Now everything you need is right in there, - including instructions.
- Mm-hmm.
Once it's mixed together, just rub it into his fur.
or wherever there's irritation.
Thank you.
And Fernando thanks you.
- See you at the tavern tonight? - No.
After work, I'm playing nine with Larry and, um - I've got other stuff.
- Hot date? What? No.
Are you okay? - You look stressed.
- I'm not sleeping.
It's the crows in my neighborhood.
They wake me up every morning.
They're everywhere.
Signs and symbols, Ernie.
The the augury of birds, man! - Mnh.
- Come on.
Paracelsus says this sort of thing usually foretells doom.
Fantastic.
I mean that's just an FYI.
- Ernie, my friend! - I'm not your friend today.
This is a search and destroy mission.
You can count our brass.
Pete says we need stops and connectors.
- Nickel and dime.
- It's a golden age.
Captain's doing that infill in Torrance.
50 units.
Half the plumbers bidding that job buy from you.
It's on hold.
I heard Captain's getting sued.
Captain's always getting sued.
He's a rapacious son of a bitch.
- Mm-hmm.
- But when that suit goes away, and it will, you're gonna need stock on your shelves.
Or do you want to hang your plumbers out to dry with Captain? Not a good idea.
With Orbis about to shut his door for good What are you actually hearing about all that? Just rumors.
But with all that acreage, all those hangars and factories and office buildings, Orbis is the last big redevelopment project in Long Beach, and I guarantee Captain will be in the middle of it.
Orbis Well, that bums me out.
My dad was a mechanic there a million years ago.
My father was a janitor there.
Graveyard shift.
[TRUCK BEEPING IN DISTANCE.]
Okay, Ernie.
Write it up.
- Already did.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Give me the P.
O.
[LAUGHS.]
[CLEARS THROAT.]
You know what? Let me ask you something.
Hmm? You ever actually met Captain? Of course.
I know everybody.
- [WINDOW WHIRRING.]
- [EXHALES DEEPLY.]
Hmm.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
Hey, hey.
Listen, good news.
I can get square by the end of the month.
I've got a nice commission coming.
[CHUCKLES.]
What? No.
Come on, man.
I just need a couple of weeks.
Hello? Hello? [FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
- Damn.
- [FLIER RUSTLES.]
Hey! Nice try! This is a Cadillac! [LEE HAZELWOOD'S "COLD HARD TIMES" PLAYING.]
[WINDOW OPENS.]
In the waking hours of some not too distant morning [GRUNTS.]
You'll come walking barefoot through this cowboy mind [SIGHS.]
Selling yesterday's dreams wrapped in tomorrow's paper Whistling for a dog named Kindness That you'll never find It's a cold Hard World, love These are cold, hard times [ICE RATTLING.]
Standing in some narrow space You'll hear your mother crying For the thoughts she had and didn't use 'em Now they're gone And your father's still out back He's selling and he's buying There's nothing he can give you 'Cause he's never once been wrong It's a cold Hard World, love These are cold, hard times These are cold hard times [DOOR CREAKS.]
Hello? [DOOR CREAKING.]
Hello? [INHALES SHARPLY.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[GASPS, MUTTERS.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[DOG BARKING.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION.]
[BARKING CONTINUES.]
[HANGERS RATTLE.]
- MAN: You're looking at 600 square feet.
- [BEDROOM DOOR CLOSES.]
WOMAN: Really? Man: Well, give or take.
- MAN: Um - WOMAN: Hmm.
And all-new fixtures in the kitchen, more or less.
[CHUCKLES.]
Does that bottle of Jim Beam come with the apartment? Christ.
Sean, are you here? Sean! [BAR RATTLES.]
[DOG YIPS.]
[DOOR CREAKING.]
- [ICE RATTLES.]
- Hey, Mr.
Lang.
Hi, Sean.
Could you please get the hell out? Yeah, I'm sorry.
Yeah.
Going.
Leaving now.
- Get my stuff.
- But wait, but, wait.
Dud? - Beth? - Yeah.
Oh.
Well, long time.
Yeah.
Tim, this is Sean Dudley.
He was my date to, uh, homecoming senior year.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Ah.
Yeah, don't worry about it.
We, uh, we didn't get very far.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh.
I blew him.
I've got another showing in 10 minutes.
- TIM: Oh.
- So how are you? Uh I'm great! Yeah? Do you live here? - He did.
- Yeah, yeah.
No, I thought since no one took my apartment, you know, I'd kind of just sort of hang out.
Kind of be like a caretaker for the property.
Yeah, last I heard, you had moved to Mexico and you were surfing.
Oh, no, no.
I took a trip to Nicaragua.
Um, I I didn't stay for very long, though.
- It was - Oh, yeah.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
Somebody told me that you got attacked by a shark.
A shark? I wish! [LAUGHS.]
No, it was a, uh - It was, um - [DOG LICKING.]
- Like a - You know, like a uh You know, it doesn't matter.
It's a long story.
So, uh, what's new with you? Oh, you know, nothing.
We got engaged last weekend.
Um Oh, right! Of course.
Oh, God, I'm sorry.
I'm the worst.
Yes.
Uh, look! - [ICE RATTLES.]
- We should celebrate! Let's celebrate! What are you guys doing after this? Oh, we both have to get back to work, so, uh Oh, right.
Right, right, yeah.
But, I mean, like, you know, later on in the evening.
- Okay.
- Really? - DUD: Yeah? - [TIM CLEARS THROAT.]
R really? Great! Ha, cool.
That's great.
All right.
Should I get your number? Uh, no.
No, don't worry about it.
I'll be at Donuts.
You can just, uh you just stop on by.
You guys can meet me there.
And then we'll, uh you know, we'll figure out a plan from there.
Does that sound sound good? Yeah, Donuts.
Good.
- DUD: Good.
Great.
- BETH: Great.
Okay.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Mr.
Lang, see you later? - Yeah, you, too, Sean.
- Okay.
- If you come back here, I'll call the police.
DUD: Yeah, you got it.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
Behold the maestro.
Oh, shut the hell up.
- [GROANS.]
- [ERNIE LAUGHS.]
Yeah! Ah.
Beautiful.
[UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYING.]
- [SMACK.]
- MAN: Aah! Uh, you sliced it a little.
- [LARRY LAUGHING.]
- MAN: What the hell, dude? Fore! Damn hack! Look around you, son.
This ain't Pebble Beach.
[LAUGHS.]
[SETS DOWN CAN.]
[SIGHS DEEPLY.]
Oh.
- [WHEELS RATTLING.]
- Remember, I'm 5 strokes up.
[MUFFLED.]
3 strokes, you lying bastard.
I don't need this crap.
I'm fine.
Listen, that kid I told you about, he's coming tomorrow morning.
- Okay.
- You need to be there, You need to let him inside and show him what to do.
No problem, Larry.
Don't sweat it.
[COUGHING.]
Right here, Alice.
Right here.
- [LIQUOR POURING.]
- The Tongva Indians lived right where I'm standing.
For 3,000 years.
- [BOTTLE THUDS.]
- For 3,000 years, they had the whole coastline to themselves, from from from Palos Verdes all the way all the way down to Rancho Crapola or whatever.
Anyway, pretty much all they did was, like, fish and then hang out on the beach.
For 3,000 years, Alice.
- I don't think that's true.
- Yeah, well, you know what? According to my research, it pretty much pretty much is.
No.
Then the Spanish had to come along and ruin everything.
[CHIME SOUNDS.]
[MUZAK PLAYING.]
- You waiting for somebody? - [DOOR CLOSES.]
Yeah.
Yeah.
[ICE RATTLING.]
Yeah, they should be here soon.
[SPOON CLINKS.]
[FERNANDO PURRING.]
[CHUCKLES.]
I can't believe I'm doing this shit.
Ah.
So are you coming right here after, or are you filing from the office? - [FERNANDO MEOWS.]
- What? No.
No, no, I've been keeping him off the bed.
- [FERNANDO GRUMBLES.]
- [WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY.]
Take a Claritin.
Come on, come on, it's our anniversary! You're damn right I'm calling it that.
I bought a romantic candle.
Bay Leaf Irish Moss or some shit.
[SNIFFS.]
Fine.
We'll go to the Conquistador.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Can I help you? [SIGHS HEAVILY.]
Oh, shit.
I'll find you next week for the rest.
2 grand, okay? I can get it.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
The English language is dead.
I'm serious! All the good copy editors are gone.
It's it's chaos! Look! They they mangled half my sentences and cut, like, five graphs from the middle.
None of this makes sense! Bunch of sober 25-year-olds.
- Hey! - [SNAPS FINGERS.]
Am I boring you? [CHUCKLES.]
You you you usually find my rants enthralling.
I do.
More than anything.
Is somethin' wrong? You've been a little far away.
No.
I just don't have any vowels.
Last month, I made a few dumb bets.
- Ernie! You said - I know.
I know.
Stupid.
Work was slow.
I was just trying to pick up the slack.
- It'll be fine.
- [TILES CLINK.]
And then there's Larry.
Are you worried? You said he was fine.
He is.
Hell, the dude's immortal.
He's been promising to step down for a decade now.
"Get ready, Ernie, I'm sending you on the grand tour next year.
" - Next year never comes.
- Stop whining.
It's unattractive in a man.
[CHUCKLES.]
Place is falling apart.
I heard he's getting the carpets cleaned.
I'm 59, still living check to check.
I've got nothing to show for the last 10 years.
- No security, no - What do you want? - You want a pep talk? - Just once in my life, I want to be in charge of something.
- I want to leave my mark.
- Hubris.
Hell, yeah! I want my goddamn portrait on the wall! [LAUGHS.]
[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE.]
A year ago, you came back into my life.
I never thought I'd see you again.
Oh, God! Is that the time?! Oh! Jeez! Sorry.
Scott's on a new schedule.
No, no, no, no.
I get it.
[SIGHS.]
Hey - Aah! - [LAUGHS.]
Did you ever call your sister back? - No.
- How much do you owe her? A few grand.
She paid off the loan that I took off Burt.
- I'm gonna pay her back.
- How? 3,000 years, Alice.
3,000 years.
We don't have to live like this.
You know gotta be another way.
[SURF ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
[TIRES SCREECH, ENGINE TURNS OFF.]
Carlos, he's back.
Get out of here, now! - BOY: Mom? - Go back inside.
DUD: This is our house.
You guys are vultures.
We paid for this house! Yeah in a foreclosure sale.
WOMAN: No.
No! [SERENE MUSIC PLAYING.]
- [LAUGHS.]
Here we come! - Here we come! - Lizzy! - Coming to get you! [WATCH CLATTERS.]
- [MAN LAUGHS.]
- LIZ: Come on, Dad! - You ready? - Yeah.
- One, two, three! [MUFFLED SHOUT.]
- [DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE.]
- [GURGLES.]
Hey! Hey! Sorry! Ow! [THE SOUNDCARRIERS' "HIDEAWAY" PLAYING.]
[SEA BIRDS CALLING.]
[CROW CAWING.]
[CROW CAWING.]
[METALLIC CLICK.]
[METALLIC CLICK.]
[ENGINE SPUTTERING, CLICKING.]
No! - [RATTLING.]
- [GROANS.]
Goddamn it.
[MUTTERS, SIGHS.]
[SIGHS HEAVILY.]
[CAR RATTLING.]
[JET ENGINE ROARING.]
Ohh! Whoa! Oh! Oh! [SIGHS DEEPLY.]
[HOPEFUL MUSIC PLAYING.]
Hello? [CLEARS THROAT.]
Hel Hello, is there anybody in there? Hello! Is there anybody is there anybody in there? Been waiting for you.
What? Are you here to do the carpets? - No.
- Oh, sorry.
There's supposed to be a guy coming to do the carpets.
I found this on the beach.
Okay.
Cool.
I'll ask around, see who this belongs to.
Thank you.
Are you okay? Um What's inside? Come inside, see for yourself.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
You have your own tavern? Full bar.
Domestic and imported beers on tap.
Nice! Nice! - What's wrong? - Nothing.
I just feel like I've been here before.
I remember the Throne Room.
- [MUSIC STOPS.]
- ERNIE: Yeah, well, we rent that out for various functions.
Maybe you were here for a wedding reception or a funeral.
How do I join? I'm sorry.
I'm I'm I'm probably doing this all wrong.
It's it's a big secret thing, isn't it? Actually, no, it's not.
All you have to do to join is ask.
We are obligated by tradition to give anyone who's serious a chance.
Can I join? Okay, well, um, what's your name? - Dud.
- Is that your Christian name? Sean.
It's Sean Dudley.
- Oh.
- Yeah.
- Ernie Fontaine.
- Mr.
Fontaine.
It's very nice to meet you.
And Oh! Women can join, too.
Yeah, Negroes, too.
I I It's not, uh I'm just giving you a hard time, man.
Come on.
Let's go into the office.
Okay.
I hate to admit it, but someone asking to join is a rare event these days.
Really? Our membership's been declining for years.
Maybe this is a good sign we need to get younger.
I'll just need your contact info.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, absolutely.
Okay.
So, um like, what is it that y you guys do here? Community services, recreational activities.
Plus, there's a whole philosophical component alchemical or whatever you want to call it.
- Oh.
- But, mainly, we just get together.
- Tonight's Bunco night.
- Well, that sounds great! You do understand we may not take you.
For all I know, you could be some kind of deadbeat or psycho.
Definitely not a psycho, so [CHUCKLES.]
This will give you the basics.
We're having a meeting Saturday at 8:00.
You can come and join us before at the tavern.
- Come by around 7:00.
- Yeah.
Okay.
Do I need to do anything or No, no, you'll just hang out with the other Knights.
And hopefully, our Sovereign Protector, Larry Loomis, if he's out of the hospital.
Oh.
Okay, um Well, I I guess, um I just need to know, like, how much does it cost to join? Oh.
Yeah.
Two $2,000.
- Okay.
Yeah.
- Really? You can get your hands on 2 grand? When do you need it by? [CHUCKLES.]
Forget it.
If you come by Saturday, we can figure out all that stuff.
- Great.
Well, I'm definitely gonna come, so - [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
That must be the carpet guy.
Okay! See you Saturday! - Yeah.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Good to meet you.
- DUD: Yeah.
Did you see the order I brought in from Boyle Pipe? I did.
It's about time.
I was in a slump.
Now I'm not.
[CHUCKLES.]
My butter and egg man is back! - Can you front me the commission? - [LAUGHS.]
I need it, Bob.
Pow, like now! Not happening.
The well is dry.
We're waiting on payment from about 10 different wholesalers.
- Come on.
- It's deadbeat city out there.
No commissions until we get paid.
End of story.
[TELEPHONE RINGS IN DISTANCE.]
Hey have you ever met Captain? Me? Never.
Guys like you and me, we don't meet Captain.
We're too far down the food chain.
Mnh-mnh.
The lynx has powerful vision.
So powerful, it can see through walls.
- Yeah, right.
- Well, no, what I meant is that that's what people thought in the Middle Ages.
You know, things were a little different back then.
- What do they even do there? - What do they do? Well right here, it says that "The Ancient and Benevolent Order of the Lynx seeks to perfect amongst its members the virtues of wisdom, fortitude, watchfulness, - temperance, charity, and love.
- [BRAKES SQUEAL, THUD.]
- Fun.
- Yeah.
And they got a full bar, so And then when, uh, you join, they they assign you this knight, and he kind of mentors you as you move up through the grades.
- [CHIME SOUNDS.]
- It's pretty cool.
- Lizard! - What is wrong with you? A guy from the sheriff's office came by to serve you papers.
That family is taking out a restraining order.
Why? They attacked me! I told you to stay away from the house.
I know.
Okay, I know.
I just Ow! [INHALES SHARPLY, GROANS.]
I had a bad night.
Okay? Just Listen, hear me out, okay? When I opened the door and saw the uniform, I thought he was gonna tell me you were dead.
What? Like, the way you've been acting, lately, I don't know.
I thought I thought maybe something happened to you.
Like maybe you jumped off a bridge.
Jeez.
Jesus, Lizzy.
I would never I mean, it looks like a bunch of weirdos.
No.
No, no, not at all.
The guy I talked to, he's really cool.
So this is your plan? Instead of, like, getting a job? Um, well I mean, this is gonna open doors for me.
You know, like, secret handshakes.
That's a big deal.
Mmm.
I mean, Lizzy the housing situation right now is a little, um You can have the couch.
Really? Thank you.
- Don't worry, it'll just be for a few - Years? Mm.
Well, at least I don't make money off my tits.
You owe my tits 3 grand.
Yeah.
I know.
But, you know, it's just money.
Dud, do you know how much I owe the bank? Yeah.
But that's kind of, like, you know - It's kind of your fault.
- My fault?! It's Dad's fault.
- It's it's nobody's fault, okay? - [EXHALES SLOWLY.]
I owe you.
You owe the bank.
The bank probably owes another bank, you know.
I don't know.
It's the circle of life.
You also owe me for the nachos.
MAN: Not many people can say that.
- These aren't on the house? - MAN: Sorry bastards! - [GLASSES CLINK.]
- MEN: Hey! - Mm! - [GLASSES THUD.]
Orbis plant officially closed.
Last Jupiter flew out of Long Beach this morning.
Yeah, I know.
I saw it.
[MEN CHEERING.]
Lizzy I'm gonna get it back.
What? All of it.
The shop.
The house.
Dad's watch.
Everything.
It's all gone, Dud.
Why can't you see that? ERNIE: I've got a good feeling about this kid.
- I think he's special.
- ANITA: He just showed up? - Larry hired him to do the carpets.
- Mm-hmm.
We got to talking.
His name's Arturo.
He's 25, and he's running his own business Just what we need.
What about the other dude? You know, the one that found the ring? He won't show up.
He's a bullshitter.
I called the home number he left.
It's for a donut shop.
That sounds like a psycho.
[LAUGHS.]
All hail the king! - He's alive! - You're damn right! WOMAN: Hey! Hey! - Now let's roll some dice.
- [LAUGHTER.]
- [INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
- [BLUESY ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
Wish me luck.
- ANITA: Just roll.
- MAN: Yes! Ohh! Hell, yeah! Way to go, baby! - BLAISE: Ernie, you playing? - [PINBALL BELLS DINGING.]
[LAUGHS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS, LAUGHTER.]
LARRY: Ernie It's time for succession.
I know, I know, you've heard this before.
But I mean it.
In the hospital, I just thought what a bummer it would be if I checked out before you got your chance.
It's time to put your ugly mug on the wall.
- Oh, man.
- This is a big step.
You don't even realize how big.
Next couple weeks, we got a lot to talk about.
Did you talk to London? Is it official? London.
Yeah, yeah.
Sure.
- [LAUGHING.]
- Don't worry.
[LAUGHS.]
- LIZ: Hey.
- DUD: Hey.
- [KEYS THUD.]
- DUD: Why don't you sit down? Dinner's almost ready.
You know, you're not an indentured servant.
Yeah, well, you had all these avocados, so I figured I'd make my famous seven layer dip except it's a three-layer version.
- Mm.
- How as your day? My day? Oh, well, today was great.
- Yeah, I really feel like the work I'm doing - [OPENS DRAWER.]
is having a positive impact on the community.
[FLAMES WHOOSH.]
Hey, well, uh, I'll cut some limes for for vodka tonics.
Fantastic! [BLOWS AIR.]
The enguacification of the avocado - is one of mankind's great leaps.
- [TV PLAYING INDISTINCTLY.]
I swear to God, if this guy says "man cave" one more time They're gonna take the one with the finished basement.
- Mnh-mnh.
- Yeah, they are.
- No.
- Yeah.
No, they're not.
She hated the appliances in that place.
Yeah, well, she had ever right to.
She wanted stainless steel, and they weren't stainless steel.
[CRUNCHING.]
Now she's complaining about the ceilings? This bitch can burn in hell.
So do you actually think these guys are gonna help you? Yeah.
I hope I hope so.
It's it's not even that.
It's What? [SIGHS.]
I remember this one garage sale that Dad took us to.
The people, they were selling this full-length mirror, and they had it laid out on the lawn.
And I remember standing over the mirror and it was like I was looking down into the sky.
It was the weirdest feeling.
It was like there was this whole other world just right below us.
And I wanted to jump through.
That's how I felt when I walked into the lodge.
So I have to go back.
- Good night.
- Good night.
BURT: Uh, signature loan 3 grand, minus $50 for a phone.
Do you want me to go over the terms and the conditions for you? No, thank you.
I know them by heart.
[PEN CLICKS.]
Isn't this bad business for you, loaning money to a guy like me? Doesn't worry me.
Your sister will just bail you out, like last time.
- [PEN CLATTERS.]
- You know what? Forget it.
I feel sorry for you, Burt, because no one in this world cares about you, and you're a dickhead, and you're gonna die alone.
[DOOR OPENS, BUZZER SOUNDS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[DOOR OPENS, BUZZER SOUNDS.]
[MELANCHOLY SONG PLAYING.]
[PEN CLICKS, PAPER RUSTLES.]
Thank you.
Come again.
[BLUESY ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
- Hi.
- BLAISE: Hello.
Uh, Ernie told me to come by.
Oh.
You must be Arturo.
N no, I'm I'm Dud.
Oh.
Okay.
Great.
Welcome.
I'm Blaise.
Uh, Ernie'll be here in a couple minutes.
May I offer you a domestic lager? It's on the house.
That would be great.
Wow, thank you.
That's You know, it's funny.
I, uh, I lived here my whole life and I've never noticed this place.
Yeah, well, sometimes you can't see something until you're looking for it.
Eh.
Guess so.
Seen and unseen, man.
The kingdom is right in front of us.
You made it.
Yeah.
Hey! Man, dig your gear! [CHUCKLES.]
Wow.
- BEN: So this is the guy.
- Yeah.
Yeah, well, great job on the carpets.
Thanks.
W what? No, this isn't Arturo.
Is he here? Arturo? No.
Okay.
Well, that's fine.
This is uh the other guy.
- I'm Dud.
- Ben.
- Hi, nice to meet you.
- BEN: All right.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Hi.
Anita.
- Hi.
Thank you for inviting me.
- Nice to meet you.
- Hi.
Where's Larry? Uh, he said he needed some time in the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- ANITA: Let's drink.
- All right.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Hey, um [LOWERED VOICE.]
- What's the Sanctum Sanctorum? It's a room where Larry goes to hang out.
Mm.
Well, what kinda room? I don't know.
Only the Sovereign Protector is allowed inside.
Oh.
Cool.
What's the Sovereign Protector? Okay.
So if you come back, you'll be a postulant, which is a probationary phase.
And then if that goes well, we'll make you a Squire, and then you can attend meetings and run a tab at the bar.
Oh, yeah.
So so, like, how do I become a a Knight? - Slow down.
[LAUGHS.]
- Okay.
No, through, uh, valiant deeds and glittering scholarship.
- Oh.
[LAUGHS.]
- [CHUCKLES.]
Or you can just ask Larry when he's had a few, and he'll sign off.
That's what most people do.
Okay.
And people don't think less of you if you do that? - I do.
- Okay, well, I don't want to do it that way.
This is Gil Sandoval.
He's a legend at Orbis.
The last 20 years, he's probably inspected over a million holes.
Holes? Riveted skin lap joints on the Jupiter fuselage.
So what are you gonna do now? Who cares? [LAUGHS.]
As long as I don't have to look at another skin lap joint.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Oh! And this is my band.
We're playing the Throne Room next month.
Whoa! Awesome.
So you're Don Fab.
Uh, no.
I I just play drums.
They're really good.
So, uh, Dud I feel like I should tell ya I'm with Long Beach Harbor Patrol, and I've got the authority to do background checks on anyone who wants to join the lodge.
Oh.
Really? [SCOTT AND CONNIE LAUGHING.]
Oh, my God! I think he might be hidin' somethin'.
Oh, no.
I've never never been arrested before, but I think the sheriff's office - might currently be looking for me.
- [ALL LAUGHING.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Ohh.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Ohh.
[SIGHS DEEPLY.]
[SIGHS DEEPLY.]
[CONTINUES URINATING.]
- [BATHROOM DOOR CLOSES.]
- [GIL SOBBING.]
It's all right.
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY.]
- [CONTINUES SOBBING.]
- ANITA: You're gonna be okay.
You're gonna be okay.
- Oh, here he comes.
- Oh.
- ERNIE: Hey.
- BLAISE: Hey.
Larry, I want you to meet Sean Dudley.
- Hi.
- Welcome! Nice to meet you.
[CHUCKLES.]
Tell us about yourself.
Um Well, I'm My name's Dud.
- Uh-huh.
- I grew up around here.
Mm-hmm.
- Um - [CONVERSATIONS AND MUSIC STOP.]
Now I'm just sort of kinda doing my thing, I guess.
So So Okay.
Well, uh [CHUCKLES.]
Glad you're here.
Ring the bells in 10, and we'll My my dad, uh, owned a a pool shop.
I I worked there my whole life.
I used to do maintenance all over town.
It was it was pretty great.
[LYNX MURMUR.]
And then last year, I took a surf trip to Nicaragua, and I got bit by a snake and I almost died.
And the the wound, it never really healed right, so I can't really surf anymore, or really do any of the things that I used to do.
And then about a month after I got back from my trip, uh, my dad went body surfing, - and he drowned.
- [LYNX MURMUR.]
And they never found his body.
So now it's just me and my sister.
She's my twin.
Later on, we found out that my dad he was going broke, so the bank foreclosed on the house, and we had to liquidate the shop.
So we lost we lost everything.
I guess you could say this year's been kind of a bum ride.
[CHUCKLES.]
But then a couple days ago, I was walking on the beach, and I found a a Lynx ring.
And I I didn't know what it was, obviously.
But then later in the day, my car ran out of gas right in front of the lodge.
So it was it was fate.
And then when Ernie invited me inside, I was standing in the lobby, and I don't know, I I just just felt like I was meant to be here.
I feel like this place can help me.
[SIGHS.]
So, that's So, um I don't know how else to explain it.
You don't have to.
I think anyone who's here has felt, uh, - a little something like that.
- [LYNX MURMUR.]
- Mm-hmm.
- It's good to be reminded.
Yeah.
To Dud.
- ALL: To Dud.
- WOMAN: Yeah.
MAN: I'll drink to it.
- DUD: Uhh! - Larry.
ERNIE: What the hell?! What the hell?! Aah! Aah! [GASPING.]
[ALL SHOUTING OVER EACH OTHER.]
- MAN: Call 9-1-1! - Larry! [GASPING.]
- Breathe! - Hold on.
Hold on, Larry.
- Hold on! - Breathe! Breathe! Larry, why'd you hit him? Hit who? It's all a forgery.
We are not the true lodge.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING.]
- Oh, God.
- What's going on? MAN: Unbelievable [SIREN WAILING.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Is Larry gonna be okay? He survived the Tet Offensive, he'll get through this.
I'm sorry about tonight.
I don't know what got into Larry.
I think he just got confused.
Hey it happens.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh.
Um I almost forgot to give you my dues.
- Actually, the membership is - Please, please.
Just give me a chance.
[GRUNTS.]
Hey.
- You wanna have a drink before I lock up? - [BOTTLE CLINKS.]
- [CHUCKLES.]
Yeah.
- [BOTTLE THUDS.]
Yeah.
[GLASS THUDS.]
[BROADCAST'S "COME ON LET'S GO" PLAYING.]
You won't find it by yourself You're gonna need some help And you won't fail with me around Come on, let's go I will tell you if you change And who's been saying things It's hard to tell Who is real in here Come on, let's go
[SHIP HORN BLOWING IN DISTANCE.]
[METAL DETECTOR WHIRS, PLASTIC BAG CRINKLES.]
[DETECTOR BUZZING.]
[WHIRRING, BUZZING CONTINUES.]
[BLOWS AIR.]
[THE SOUNDCARRIERS' "THERE ONLY ONCE" PLAYING.]
[CROWS CAWING.]
[CAWING CONTINUES.]
[GUNSHOT.]
[CROWS SQUAWKING, DOG BARKING.]
[DOOR BELL JINGLES.]
Hey, man.
Can I get, uh, $4 23 on pump 6, please? Huh.
I'd like to add that to my purchase.
I was there only once When the morning comes I was there only once [SIGHS.]
Found something.
- Salvation? - Better.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- And I'd like to trade it [TAPS CASE.]
for the watch.
- You found this at the beach? - Yep.
That's a Lynx ring.
You have to be a Lynx to get one.
Wow.
How about that? What's a Lynx? They're a fraternal order, like the Masons or the Elks.
The Masons and the Elks.
All right.
All right, so what's it worth? Nothing.
It's not real gold.
What? Really? Someday you'll know the difference.
Well, there's a there's an inscription on it here.
Um do you speak Latin, Burt? I'm fluent.
Oh.
"Superus sicet Inferus.
" I've never heard of the Lynx.
They have a lodge, over by the, uh Orbis plant.
The Orbis plant? I drive by there every day.
I've never seen it.
- [BUZZER SOUNDS.]
- I'm taking a break.
All right, Hermie! Hermie Dermie! [CHUCKLES.]
Um All right, well, can you give me anything for it, man? - [RING THUDS.]
- If you need cash, I can open up another line of credit for ya.
Never again.
89.
9%.
How do you sleep at night? The Dollar Center's at 126.
6.
You're a parasite, Burt.
My dad always said that you were the saddest, most pathetic piece of shit that he ever met.
And you know what? He was right.
[DOOR OPENS, BUZZER SOUNDS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[BUZZER SOUNDS.]
All right, what'll you give me for this? [UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYING.]
[CHIME SOUNDS.]
- Hello.
- Hey.
Your sister called here, looking for you.
[GROANS.]
What did she want? She wants to know when you're getting a new cell phone.
Well, I don't live in phone land any more, so Where are you living right now? In the past, Alice.
In the past.
Uh, give me three sprinkles, three twisties and a bear claw.
Wow.
Look at you.
Yeah, well, I just saw my financial advisor, so Mm.
Oh, yeah.
Uh-huh.
Knight, uh, king to, uh, bishop's pawn, and then a then a double queen zigzag.
- Do it.
- [PAPER BAG RUSTLES.]
- Uh, so you going out later? - I'm working all day.
Oh, that's too bad.
The swell's picking up.
How would you know? Well, because my eyes still work, Alice.
Then stop being a pussy and come out with me.
You gotta get back in the water.
Well, you know what? I got better things to do.
Okay? [DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE.]
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING.]
Hey, bud.
This isn't junk.
It's a classic.
MAN: I see you! Yeah, you! [ENGINE STALLING.]
You better move! - [ENGINE TURNS OVER, REVS.]
- [MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY.]
- Yeah! - Yeah, why don't you come back, eh?! Come back! Here you go all the glories of creation.
You take Bitcoin? No cryptocurrencies.
Cash only.
- That's 50.
- [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
[BUZZER SOUNDS.]
Great.
And my name is Dr.
Blaise St.
John - [DOOR CLOSES.]
- and I would like to thank you for making me your apothecary of choice.
- Okay.
- You must love it when the rich kids come down from Palos Verdes.
They're second only to the angels themselves.
I have your earth, wind, and fire kit ready to go.
Now everything you need is right in there, - including instructions.
- Mm-hmm.
Once it's mixed together, just rub it into his fur.
or wherever there's irritation.
Thank you.
And Fernando thanks you.
- See you at the tavern tonight? - No.
After work, I'm playing nine with Larry and, um - I've got other stuff.
- Hot date? What? No.
Are you okay? - You look stressed.
- I'm not sleeping.
It's the crows in my neighborhood.
They wake me up every morning.
They're everywhere.
Signs and symbols, Ernie.
The the augury of birds, man! - Mnh.
- Come on.
Paracelsus says this sort of thing usually foretells doom.
Fantastic.
I mean that's just an FYI.
- Ernie, my friend! - I'm not your friend today.
This is a search and destroy mission.
You can count our brass.
Pete says we need stops and connectors.
- Nickel and dime.
- It's a golden age.
Captain's doing that infill in Torrance.
50 units.
Half the plumbers bidding that job buy from you.
It's on hold.
I heard Captain's getting sued.
Captain's always getting sued.
He's a rapacious son of a bitch.
- Mm-hmm.
- But when that suit goes away, and it will, you're gonna need stock on your shelves.
Or do you want to hang your plumbers out to dry with Captain? Not a good idea.
With Orbis about to shut his door for good What are you actually hearing about all that? Just rumors.
But with all that acreage, all those hangars and factories and office buildings, Orbis is the last big redevelopment project in Long Beach, and I guarantee Captain will be in the middle of it.
Orbis Well, that bums me out.
My dad was a mechanic there a million years ago.
My father was a janitor there.
Graveyard shift.
[TRUCK BEEPING IN DISTANCE.]
Okay, Ernie.
Write it up.
- Already did.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Give me the P.
O.
[LAUGHS.]
[CLEARS THROAT.]
You know what? Let me ask you something.
Hmm? You ever actually met Captain? Of course.
I know everybody.
- [WINDOW WHIRRING.]
- [EXHALES DEEPLY.]
Hmm.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
Hey, hey.
Listen, good news.
I can get square by the end of the month.
I've got a nice commission coming.
[CHUCKLES.]
What? No.
Come on, man.
I just need a couple of weeks.
Hello? Hello? [FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
- Damn.
- [FLIER RUSTLES.]
Hey! Nice try! This is a Cadillac! [LEE HAZELWOOD'S "COLD HARD TIMES" PLAYING.]
[WINDOW OPENS.]
In the waking hours of some not too distant morning [GRUNTS.]
You'll come walking barefoot through this cowboy mind [SIGHS.]
Selling yesterday's dreams wrapped in tomorrow's paper Whistling for a dog named Kindness That you'll never find It's a cold Hard World, love These are cold, hard times [ICE RATTLING.]
Standing in some narrow space You'll hear your mother crying For the thoughts she had and didn't use 'em Now they're gone And your father's still out back He's selling and he's buying There's nothing he can give you 'Cause he's never once been wrong It's a cold Hard World, love These are cold, hard times These are cold hard times [DOOR CREAKS.]
Hello? [DOOR CREAKING.]
Hello? [INHALES SHARPLY.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[GASPS, MUTTERS.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[DOG BARKING.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION.]
[BARKING CONTINUES.]
[HANGERS RATTLE.]
- MAN: You're looking at 600 square feet.
- [BEDROOM DOOR CLOSES.]
WOMAN: Really? Man: Well, give or take.
- MAN: Um - WOMAN: Hmm.
And all-new fixtures in the kitchen, more or less.
[CHUCKLES.]
Does that bottle of Jim Beam come with the apartment? Christ.
Sean, are you here? Sean! [BAR RATTLES.]
[DOG YIPS.]
[DOOR CREAKING.]
- [ICE RATTLES.]
- Hey, Mr.
Lang.
Hi, Sean.
Could you please get the hell out? Yeah, I'm sorry.
Yeah.
Going.
Leaving now.
- Get my stuff.
- But wait, but, wait.
Dud? - Beth? - Yeah.
Oh.
Well, long time.
Yeah.
Tim, this is Sean Dudley.
He was my date to, uh, homecoming senior year.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Ah.
Yeah, don't worry about it.
We, uh, we didn't get very far.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh.
I blew him.
I've got another showing in 10 minutes.
- TIM: Oh.
- So how are you? Uh I'm great! Yeah? Do you live here? - He did.
- Yeah, yeah.
No, I thought since no one took my apartment, you know, I'd kind of just sort of hang out.
Kind of be like a caretaker for the property.
Yeah, last I heard, you had moved to Mexico and you were surfing.
Oh, no, no.
I took a trip to Nicaragua.
Um, I I didn't stay for very long, though.
- It was - Oh, yeah.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
Somebody told me that you got attacked by a shark.
A shark? I wish! [LAUGHS.]
No, it was a, uh - It was, um - [DOG LICKING.]
- Like a - You know, like a uh You know, it doesn't matter.
It's a long story.
So, uh, what's new with you? Oh, you know, nothing.
We got engaged last weekend.
Um Oh, right! Of course.
Oh, God, I'm sorry.
I'm the worst.
Yes.
Uh, look! - [ICE RATTLES.]
- We should celebrate! Let's celebrate! What are you guys doing after this? Oh, we both have to get back to work, so, uh Oh, right.
Right, right, yeah.
But, I mean, like, you know, later on in the evening.
- Okay.
- Really? - DUD: Yeah? - [TIM CLEARS THROAT.]
R really? Great! Ha, cool.
That's great.
All right.
Should I get your number? Uh, no.
No, don't worry about it.
I'll be at Donuts.
You can just, uh you just stop on by.
You guys can meet me there.
And then we'll, uh you know, we'll figure out a plan from there.
Does that sound sound good? Yeah, Donuts.
Good.
- DUD: Good.
Great.
- BETH: Great.
Okay.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Mr.
Lang, see you later? - Yeah, you, too, Sean.
- Okay.
- If you come back here, I'll call the police.
DUD: Yeah, you got it.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
Behold the maestro.
Oh, shut the hell up.
- [GROANS.]
- [ERNIE LAUGHS.]
Yeah! Ah.
Beautiful.
[UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYING.]
- [SMACK.]
- MAN: Aah! Uh, you sliced it a little.
- [LARRY LAUGHING.]
- MAN: What the hell, dude? Fore! Damn hack! Look around you, son.
This ain't Pebble Beach.
[LAUGHS.]
[SETS DOWN CAN.]
[SIGHS DEEPLY.]
Oh.
- [WHEELS RATTLING.]
- Remember, I'm 5 strokes up.
[MUFFLED.]
3 strokes, you lying bastard.
I don't need this crap.
I'm fine.
Listen, that kid I told you about, he's coming tomorrow morning.
- Okay.
- You need to be there, You need to let him inside and show him what to do.
No problem, Larry.
Don't sweat it.
[COUGHING.]
Right here, Alice.
Right here.
- [LIQUOR POURING.]
- The Tongva Indians lived right where I'm standing.
For 3,000 years.
- [BOTTLE THUDS.]
- For 3,000 years, they had the whole coastline to themselves, from from from Palos Verdes all the way all the way down to Rancho Crapola or whatever.
Anyway, pretty much all they did was, like, fish and then hang out on the beach.
For 3,000 years, Alice.
- I don't think that's true.
- Yeah, well, you know what? According to my research, it pretty much pretty much is.
No.
Then the Spanish had to come along and ruin everything.
[CHIME SOUNDS.]
[MUZAK PLAYING.]
- You waiting for somebody? - [DOOR CLOSES.]
Yeah.
Yeah.
[ICE RATTLING.]
Yeah, they should be here soon.
[SPOON CLINKS.]
[FERNANDO PURRING.]
[CHUCKLES.]
I can't believe I'm doing this shit.
Ah.
So are you coming right here after, or are you filing from the office? - [FERNANDO MEOWS.]
- What? No.
No, no, I've been keeping him off the bed.
- [FERNANDO GRUMBLES.]
- [WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY.]
Take a Claritin.
Come on, come on, it's our anniversary! You're damn right I'm calling it that.
I bought a romantic candle.
Bay Leaf Irish Moss or some shit.
[SNIFFS.]
Fine.
We'll go to the Conquistador.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Can I help you? [SIGHS HEAVILY.]
Oh, shit.
I'll find you next week for the rest.
2 grand, okay? I can get it.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
The English language is dead.
I'm serious! All the good copy editors are gone.
It's it's chaos! Look! They they mangled half my sentences and cut, like, five graphs from the middle.
None of this makes sense! Bunch of sober 25-year-olds.
- Hey! - [SNAPS FINGERS.]
Am I boring you? [CHUCKLES.]
You you you usually find my rants enthralling.
I do.
More than anything.
Is somethin' wrong? You've been a little far away.
No.
I just don't have any vowels.
Last month, I made a few dumb bets.
- Ernie! You said - I know.
I know.
Stupid.
Work was slow.
I was just trying to pick up the slack.
- It'll be fine.
- [TILES CLINK.]
And then there's Larry.
Are you worried? You said he was fine.
He is.
Hell, the dude's immortal.
He's been promising to step down for a decade now.
"Get ready, Ernie, I'm sending you on the grand tour next year.
" - Next year never comes.
- Stop whining.
It's unattractive in a man.
[CHUCKLES.]
Place is falling apart.
I heard he's getting the carpets cleaned.
I'm 59, still living check to check.
I've got nothing to show for the last 10 years.
- No security, no - What do you want? - You want a pep talk? - Just once in my life, I want to be in charge of something.
- I want to leave my mark.
- Hubris.
Hell, yeah! I want my goddamn portrait on the wall! [LAUGHS.]
[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE.]
A year ago, you came back into my life.
I never thought I'd see you again.
Oh, God! Is that the time?! Oh! Jeez! Sorry.
Scott's on a new schedule.
No, no, no, no.
I get it.
[SIGHS.]
Hey - Aah! - [LAUGHS.]
Did you ever call your sister back? - No.
- How much do you owe her? A few grand.
She paid off the loan that I took off Burt.
- I'm gonna pay her back.
- How? 3,000 years, Alice.
3,000 years.
We don't have to live like this.
You know gotta be another way.
[SURF ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
[TIRES SCREECH, ENGINE TURNS OFF.]
Carlos, he's back.
Get out of here, now! - BOY: Mom? - Go back inside.
DUD: This is our house.
You guys are vultures.
We paid for this house! Yeah in a foreclosure sale.
WOMAN: No.
No! [SERENE MUSIC PLAYING.]
- [LAUGHS.]
Here we come! - Here we come! - Lizzy! - Coming to get you! [WATCH CLATTERS.]
- [MAN LAUGHS.]
- LIZ: Come on, Dad! - You ready? - Yeah.
- One, two, three! [MUFFLED SHOUT.]
- [DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE.]
- [GURGLES.]
Hey! Hey! Sorry! Ow! [THE SOUNDCARRIERS' "HIDEAWAY" PLAYING.]
[SEA BIRDS CALLING.]
[CROW CAWING.]
[CROW CAWING.]
[METALLIC CLICK.]
[METALLIC CLICK.]
[ENGINE SPUTTERING, CLICKING.]
No! - [RATTLING.]
- [GROANS.]
Goddamn it.
[MUTTERS, SIGHS.]
[SIGHS HEAVILY.]
[CAR RATTLING.]
[JET ENGINE ROARING.]
Ohh! Whoa! Oh! Oh! [SIGHS DEEPLY.]
[HOPEFUL MUSIC PLAYING.]
Hello? [CLEARS THROAT.]
Hel Hello, is there anybody in there? Hello! Is there anybody is there anybody in there? Been waiting for you.
What? Are you here to do the carpets? - No.
- Oh, sorry.
There's supposed to be a guy coming to do the carpets.
I found this on the beach.
Okay.
Cool.
I'll ask around, see who this belongs to.
Thank you.
Are you okay? Um What's inside? Come inside, see for yourself.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
You have your own tavern? Full bar.
Domestic and imported beers on tap.
Nice! Nice! - What's wrong? - Nothing.
I just feel like I've been here before.
I remember the Throne Room.
- [MUSIC STOPS.]
- ERNIE: Yeah, well, we rent that out for various functions.
Maybe you were here for a wedding reception or a funeral.
How do I join? I'm sorry.
I'm I'm I'm probably doing this all wrong.
It's it's a big secret thing, isn't it? Actually, no, it's not.
All you have to do to join is ask.
We are obligated by tradition to give anyone who's serious a chance.
Can I join? Okay, well, um, what's your name? - Dud.
- Is that your Christian name? Sean.
It's Sean Dudley.
- Oh.
- Yeah.
- Ernie Fontaine.
- Mr.
Fontaine.
It's very nice to meet you.
And Oh! Women can join, too.
Yeah, Negroes, too.
I I It's not, uh I'm just giving you a hard time, man.
Come on.
Let's go into the office.
Okay.
I hate to admit it, but someone asking to join is a rare event these days.
Really? Our membership's been declining for years.
Maybe this is a good sign we need to get younger.
I'll just need your contact info.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, absolutely.
Okay.
So, um like, what is it that y you guys do here? Community services, recreational activities.
Plus, there's a whole philosophical component alchemical or whatever you want to call it.
- Oh.
- But, mainly, we just get together.
- Tonight's Bunco night.
- Well, that sounds great! You do understand we may not take you.
For all I know, you could be some kind of deadbeat or psycho.
Definitely not a psycho, so [CHUCKLES.]
This will give you the basics.
We're having a meeting Saturday at 8:00.
You can come and join us before at the tavern.
- Come by around 7:00.
- Yeah.
Okay.
Do I need to do anything or No, no, you'll just hang out with the other Knights.
And hopefully, our Sovereign Protector, Larry Loomis, if he's out of the hospital.
Oh.
Okay, um Well, I I guess, um I just need to know, like, how much does it cost to join? Oh.
Yeah.
Two $2,000.
- Okay.
Yeah.
- Really? You can get your hands on 2 grand? When do you need it by? [CHUCKLES.]
Forget it.
If you come by Saturday, we can figure out all that stuff.
- Great.
Well, I'm definitely gonna come, so - [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
That must be the carpet guy.
Okay! See you Saturday! - Yeah.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Good to meet you.
- DUD: Yeah.
Did you see the order I brought in from Boyle Pipe? I did.
It's about time.
I was in a slump.
Now I'm not.
[CHUCKLES.]
My butter and egg man is back! - Can you front me the commission? - [LAUGHS.]
I need it, Bob.
Pow, like now! Not happening.
The well is dry.
We're waiting on payment from about 10 different wholesalers.
- Come on.
- It's deadbeat city out there.
No commissions until we get paid.
End of story.
[TELEPHONE RINGS IN DISTANCE.]
Hey have you ever met Captain? Me? Never.
Guys like you and me, we don't meet Captain.
We're too far down the food chain.
Mnh-mnh.
The lynx has powerful vision.
So powerful, it can see through walls.
- Yeah, right.
- Well, no, what I meant is that that's what people thought in the Middle Ages.
You know, things were a little different back then.
- What do they even do there? - What do they do? Well right here, it says that "The Ancient and Benevolent Order of the Lynx seeks to perfect amongst its members the virtues of wisdom, fortitude, watchfulness, - temperance, charity, and love.
- [BRAKES SQUEAL, THUD.]
- Fun.
- Yeah.
And they got a full bar, so And then when, uh, you join, they they assign you this knight, and he kind of mentors you as you move up through the grades.
- [CHIME SOUNDS.]
- It's pretty cool.
- Lizard! - What is wrong with you? A guy from the sheriff's office came by to serve you papers.
That family is taking out a restraining order.
Why? They attacked me! I told you to stay away from the house.
I know.
Okay, I know.
I just Ow! [INHALES SHARPLY, GROANS.]
I had a bad night.
Okay? Just Listen, hear me out, okay? When I opened the door and saw the uniform, I thought he was gonna tell me you were dead.
What? Like, the way you've been acting, lately, I don't know.
I thought I thought maybe something happened to you.
Like maybe you jumped off a bridge.
Jeez.
Jesus, Lizzy.
I would never I mean, it looks like a bunch of weirdos.
No.
No, no, not at all.
The guy I talked to, he's really cool.
So this is your plan? Instead of, like, getting a job? Um, well I mean, this is gonna open doors for me.
You know, like, secret handshakes.
That's a big deal.
Mmm.
I mean, Lizzy the housing situation right now is a little, um You can have the couch.
Really? Thank you.
- Don't worry, it'll just be for a few - Years? Mm.
Well, at least I don't make money off my tits.
You owe my tits 3 grand.
Yeah.
I know.
But, you know, it's just money.
Dud, do you know how much I owe the bank? Yeah.
But that's kind of, like, you know - It's kind of your fault.
- My fault?! It's Dad's fault.
- It's it's nobody's fault, okay? - [EXHALES SLOWLY.]
I owe you.
You owe the bank.
The bank probably owes another bank, you know.
I don't know.
It's the circle of life.
You also owe me for the nachos.
MAN: Not many people can say that.
- These aren't on the house? - MAN: Sorry bastards! - [GLASSES CLINK.]
- MEN: Hey! - Mm! - [GLASSES THUD.]
Orbis plant officially closed.
Last Jupiter flew out of Long Beach this morning.
Yeah, I know.
I saw it.
[MEN CHEERING.]
Lizzy I'm gonna get it back.
What? All of it.
The shop.
The house.
Dad's watch.
Everything.
It's all gone, Dud.
Why can't you see that? ERNIE: I've got a good feeling about this kid.
- I think he's special.
- ANITA: He just showed up? - Larry hired him to do the carpets.
- Mm-hmm.
We got to talking.
His name's Arturo.
He's 25, and he's running his own business Just what we need.
What about the other dude? You know, the one that found the ring? He won't show up.
He's a bullshitter.
I called the home number he left.
It's for a donut shop.
That sounds like a psycho.
[LAUGHS.]
All hail the king! - He's alive! - You're damn right! WOMAN: Hey! Hey! - Now let's roll some dice.
- [LAUGHTER.]
- [INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
- [BLUESY ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
Wish me luck.
- ANITA: Just roll.
- MAN: Yes! Ohh! Hell, yeah! Way to go, baby! - BLAISE: Ernie, you playing? - [PINBALL BELLS DINGING.]
[LAUGHS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS, LAUGHTER.]
LARRY: Ernie It's time for succession.
I know, I know, you've heard this before.
But I mean it.
In the hospital, I just thought what a bummer it would be if I checked out before you got your chance.
It's time to put your ugly mug on the wall.
- Oh, man.
- This is a big step.
You don't even realize how big.
Next couple weeks, we got a lot to talk about.
Did you talk to London? Is it official? London.
Yeah, yeah.
Sure.
- [LAUGHING.]
- Don't worry.
[LAUGHS.]
- LIZ: Hey.
- DUD: Hey.
- [KEYS THUD.]
- DUD: Why don't you sit down? Dinner's almost ready.
You know, you're not an indentured servant.
Yeah, well, you had all these avocados, so I figured I'd make my famous seven layer dip except it's a three-layer version.
- Mm.
- How as your day? My day? Oh, well, today was great.
- Yeah, I really feel like the work I'm doing - [OPENS DRAWER.]
is having a positive impact on the community.
[FLAMES WHOOSH.]
Hey, well, uh, I'll cut some limes for for vodka tonics.
Fantastic! [BLOWS AIR.]
The enguacification of the avocado - is one of mankind's great leaps.
- [TV PLAYING INDISTINCTLY.]
I swear to God, if this guy says "man cave" one more time They're gonna take the one with the finished basement.
- Mnh-mnh.
- Yeah, they are.
- No.
- Yeah.
No, they're not.
She hated the appliances in that place.
Yeah, well, she had ever right to.
She wanted stainless steel, and they weren't stainless steel.
[CRUNCHING.]
Now she's complaining about the ceilings? This bitch can burn in hell.
So do you actually think these guys are gonna help you? Yeah.
I hope I hope so.
It's it's not even that.
It's What? [SIGHS.]
I remember this one garage sale that Dad took us to.
The people, they were selling this full-length mirror, and they had it laid out on the lawn.
And I remember standing over the mirror and it was like I was looking down into the sky.
It was the weirdest feeling.
It was like there was this whole other world just right below us.
And I wanted to jump through.
That's how I felt when I walked into the lodge.
So I have to go back.
- Good night.
- Good night.
BURT: Uh, signature loan 3 grand, minus $50 for a phone.
Do you want me to go over the terms and the conditions for you? No, thank you.
I know them by heart.
[PEN CLICKS.]
Isn't this bad business for you, loaning money to a guy like me? Doesn't worry me.
Your sister will just bail you out, like last time.
- [PEN CLATTERS.]
- You know what? Forget it.
I feel sorry for you, Burt, because no one in this world cares about you, and you're a dickhead, and you're gonna die alone.
[DOOR OPENS, BUZZER SOUNDS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[DOOR OPENS, BUZZER SOUNDS.]
[MELANCHOLY SONG PLAYING.]
[PEN CLICKS, PAPER RUSTLES.]
Thank you.
Come again.
[BLUESY ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
- Hi.
- BLAISE: Hello.
Uh, Ernie told me to come by.
Oh.
You must be Arturo.
N no, I'm I'm Dud.
Oh.
Okay.
Great.
Welcome.
I'm Blaise.
Uh, Ernie'll be here in a couple minutes.
May I offer you a domestic lager? It's on the house.
That would be great.
Wow, thank you.
That's You know, it's funny.
I, uh, I lived here my whole life and I've never noticed this place.
Yeah, well, sometimes you can't see something until you're looking for it.
Eh.
Guess so.
Seen and unseen, man.
The kingdom is right in front of us.
You made it.
Yeah.
Hey! Man, dig your gear! [CHUCKLES.]
Wow.
- BEN: So this is the guy.
- Yeah.
Yeah, well, great job on the carpets.
Thanks.
W what? No, this isn't Arturo.
Is he here? Arturo? No.
Okay.
Well, that's fine.
This is uh the other guy.
- I'm Dud.
- Ben.
- Hi, nice to meet you.
- BEN: All right.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Hi.
Anita.
- Hi.
Thank you for inviting me.
- Nice to meet you.
- Hi.
Where's Larry? Uh, he said he needed some time in the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- ANITA: Let's drink.
- All right.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Hey, um [LOWERED VOICE.]
- What's the Sanctum Sanctorum? It's a room where Larry goes to hang out.
Mm.
Well, what kinda room? I don't know.
Only the Sovereign Protector is allowed inside.
Oh.
Cool.
What's the Sovereign Protector? Okay.
So if you come back, you'll be a postulant, which is a probationary phase.
And then if that goes well, we'll make you a Squire, and then you can attend meetings and run a tab at the bar.
Oh, yeah.
So so, like, how do I become a a Knight? - Slow down.
[LAUGHS.]
- Okay.
No, through, uh, valiant deeds and glittering scholarship.
- Oh.
[LAUGHS.]
- [CHUCKLES.]
Or you can just ask Larry when he's had a few, and he'll sign off.
That's what most people do.
Okay.
And people don't think less of you if you do that? - I do.
- Okay, well, I don't want to do it that way.
This is Gil Sandoval.
He's a legend at Orbis.
The last 20 years, he's probably inspected over a million holes.
Holes? Riveted skin lap joints on the Jupiter fuselage.
So what are you gonna do now? Who cares? [LAUGHS.]
As long as I don't have to look at another skin lap joint.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Oh! And this is my band.
We're playing the Throne Room next month.
Whoa! Awesome.
So you're Don Fab.
Uh, no.
I I just play drums.
They're really good.
So, uh, Dud I feel like I should tell ya I'm with Long Beach Harbor Patrol, and I've got the authority to do background checks on anyone who wants to join the lodge.
Oh.
Really? [SCOTT AND CONNIE LAUGHING.]
Oh, my God! I think he might be hidin' somethin'.
Oh, no.
I've never never been arrested before, but I think the sheriff's office - might currently be looking for me.
- [ALL LAUGHING.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Ohh.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Ohh.
[SIGHS DEEPLY.]
[SIGHS DEEPLY.]
[CONTINUES URINATING.]
- [BATHROOM DOOR CLOSES.]
- [GIL SOBBING.]
It's all right.
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY.]
- [CONTINUES SOBBING.]
- ANITA: You're gonna be okay.
You're gonna be okay.
- Oh, here he comes.
- Oh.
- ERNIE: Hey.
- BLAISE: Hey.
Larry, I want you to meet Sean Dudley.
- Hi.
- Welcome! Nice to meet you.
[CHUCKLES.]
Tell us about yourself.
Um Well, I'm My name's Dud.
- Uh-huh.
- I grew up around here.
Mm-hmm.
- Um - [CONVERSATIONS AND MUSIC STOP.]
Now I'm just sort of kinda doing my thing, I guess.
So So Okay.
Well, uh [CHUCKLES.]
Glad you're here.
Ring the bells in 10, and we'll My my dad, uh, owned a a pool shop.
I I worked there my whole life.
I used to do maintenance all over town.
It was it was pretty great.
[LYNX MURMUR.]
And then last year, I took a surf trip to Nicaragua, and I got bit by a snake and I almost died.
And the the wound, it never really healed right, so I can't really surf anymore, or really do any of the things that I used to do.
And then about a month after I got back from my trip, uh, my dad went body surfing, - and he drowned.
- [LYNX MURMUR.]
And they never found his body.
So now it's just me and my sister.
She's my twin.
Later on, we found out that my dad he was going broke, so the bank foreclosed on the house, and we had to liquidate the shop.
So we lost we lost everything.
I guess you could say this year's been kind of a bum ride.
[CHUCKLES.]
But then a couple days ago, I was walking on the beach, and I found a a Lynx ring.
And I I didn't know what it was, obviously.
But then later in the day, my car ran out of gas right in front of the lodge.
So it was it was fate.
And then when Ernie invited me inside, I was standing in the lobby, and I don't know, I I just just felt like I was meant to be here.
I feel like this place can help me.
[SIGHS.]
So, that's So, um I don't know how else to explain it.
You don't have to.
I think anyone who's here has felt, uh, - a little something like that.
- [LYNX MURMUR.]
- Mm-hmm.
- It's good to be reminded.
Yeah.
To Dud.
- ALL: To Dud.
- WOMAN: Yeah.
MAN: I'll drink to it.
- DUD: Uhh! - Larry.
ERNIE: What the hell?! What the hell?! Aah! Aah! [GASPING.]
[ALL SHOUTING OVER EACH OTHER.]
- MAN: Call 9-1-1! - Larry! [GASPING.]
- Breathe! - Hold on.
Hold on, Larry.
- Hold on! - Breathe! Breathe! Larry, why'd you hit him? Hit who? It's all a forgery.
We are not the true lodge.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING.]
- Oh, God.
- What's going on? MAN: Unbelievable [SIREN WAILING.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Is Larry gonna be okay? He survived the Tet Offensive, he'll get through this.
I'm sorry about tonight.
I don't know what got into Larry.
I think he just got confused.
Hey it happens.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh.
Um I almost forgot to give you my dues.
- Actually, the membership is - Please, please.
Just give me a chance.
[GRUNTS.]
Hey.
- You wanna have a drink before I lock up? - [BOTTLE CLINKS.]
- [CHUCKLES.]
Yeah.
- [BOTTLE THUDS.]
Yeah.
[GLASS THUDS.]
[BROADCAST'S "COME ON LET'S GO" PLAYING.]
You won't find it by yourself You're gonna need some help And you won't fail with me around Come on, let's go I will tell you if you change And who's been saying things It's hard to tell Who is real in here Come on, let's go