Original subtitles

Hello.

No!

No!

Hello.

Oh, god.

Shit.

1, 1,000; 2, 1,000; 3, 1,000; 4, 1,000; 5, 1,000; 6, 1,000; 7,

1,000; 8, 1,000, 9, 1,000, 10, 1,000.

- Hey.

- Hi.

- Yeah, I just checked into the motel.

- Oh, where is it?

- Yeah, it's a Budget Inn out in Yucca Valley.

- Yeah, the drive is fine.

It was productive, I guess.

Not sure if any of it will be worth printing, but--

- M-hm.

Yeah, I know.

I did see this abandoned housing development.

I think it might actually be like an old military base.

- Oh, really?

- Yeah, it was--

it was really creepy.

Uh-huh.

- Get lost there?

- No, I didn't get lost.

Not yet.

- That's OK.

- Yeah.

Yeah, not having the cell or GPS, it's like it used to be.

It's like how it was when I first started Yeah,

this is going to sound kind of corny,

but I already have this feeling of freedom.

- Good?

- M-hm.

Yeah.

It is.

That's what I'm looking for.

That's what I needed.

Yeah, it just feels good to be away from the studio

and out on the road again.

- Well, remember, the mortgage is due.

The credit card is due.

Can't be late on that again, or there's going to be penalties.

- Yeah.

Oh, I know.

Yeah, I'll pay it when I get back OK.

- Well, I should have a check from the gallery.

Walter said it'll be a good one.

- He always tells you that.

- No, he doesn't always say that.

- Yeah, I know.

I know.

- Sorry.

I love you.

- I know you do.

I love you too.

Yep. OK.

Good night.

Fuck.

- Where are you.

Tell me where you are!

- I don't know.

- Tell me where?

- You would fix your car just like you intended.

- Young man, you have no right to take the car.

- Yeah.

What if I don't fix it?

- You'll fix it all right, mister.

You better not take too long either.

- Supposing I get a fix.

What happens then?

Me and my girl go away.

We won't bother you.

How do we know you'll keep your word?

Looks like you're just going to have to take it,

ain't you, mister?

- Bang.

- Hey, I'm just checking in to see if that check showed up.

So today, I went out to this pet cemetery,

and I stopped by this junkyard on the way,

and I actually took a portrait of this old man that

lived there.

And it got me thinking about shooting more people.

And I'm always--

I'm so focused on the landscape and the buildings.

Everything but people.

Oh, I went and watched the sunset out by the sand dunes.

It was amazing.

I didn't even photograph it.

I just wanted to experience it.

The light was this pure, extraordinary light.

And with the absolute silence, it just was transcendent.

Got me-- I don't got me thinking about this trip.

It's like beginning again.

Actually, it made me kind of excited about the future.

Yeah, anyway, enough rambling.

I will try you tomorrow.

Yeah, OK.

I love you.

- How could you be that fucking stupid!

- Don't call me that!

- I'll call you whatever I want.

- Oh, shit.

- Look what you fucking did to yourself.

- Yeah.

- Yeah, hey.

I want to report a disturbance.

Yeah, but, look, I don't want to get mixed up in it, OK?

Room 6.

No, I'm in room 6.

The fight, the disturbances next door to my room.

Yeah.

- Yeah.

OK, I'll take a look.

- Keep it down.

- Oh, shit.

- The guy next door, what are you guys doing here?

- Don't worry about it, man.

- Oh, fuck.

- Yes.

- Yeah.

I just wanted to be a good neighbor and apologize,

for earlier.

All that damn noise.

- Yeah, it's no problem.

- No, no, no, it's a problem.

It's a problem.

She is a problem.

You know how they can get, man.

You have a sister?

- No.

Is she OK, your sister?

- OK?

Yeah.

Yeah, she's OK.

She would like you.

You want me to get her?

I mean, she'd probably want to apologize, too,

for all that noise.

- Yeah.

No, it's a bit late, so--

- What is that back there?

- It's a camera.

- That's a funny-looking camera, man

- Yeah, it's an 8 by 10.

- How about you, ah, take our picture?

- No, it's getting late.

- You're not going to make me beg, are you?

Come on, man, real quick.

She'd just love it.

- Yeah.

OK, sure.

All right.

- Hot dog.

- Fuck.

- I can't believe I forgot my manners earlier.

I'm Renny.

This is my sister, Suzy Q.

- I'm Alex.

- Hi.

- Come on in.

Make yourselves at home.

Well, I figure maybe just--

yeah, just sit on the edge of the bed.

- Yeah, the man with the camera, whatever you say.

- That's true.

- Oh, shit, man, this is for you.

It's a peace offering of sorts, you know, for earlier.

- Oof. Jesus!

Smells like turpentine.

- Ha, ha!

It'll take paint off just like it.

- Has some.

It's real good.

- Yeah. Nah, I don't know.

- Oh, come on.

You're going to like it.

- Come on.

- All right.

Fuck it.

Ooh!

Ooh!

Damn, what is that?

- That's what you call my secret recipe.

- It tastes like maple syrup.

Ooh!

Oh, god.

- Have some more.

- You sure this isn't going to make me go blind?

- Not if you watch yourself, man.

Just fucking watch it.

- Oh, fuck.

Yeah.

All right.

Woof!

I gotta take this photograph while I can still see straight.

- All right.

Ah!

Where are you from, Alex?

- Los Angeles

- Oh, fuck, I knew it, city boy.

City boy.

- Don't hold it against me.

- I like the city.

- Yeah, of course you do.

You love the city.

- All right.

Do me a favor, just hold real still.

- OK.

Cheese.

Nice.

- Mind if I take a couple more?

- Sure.

So-- So what do you do in the city, Alex?

- I'm a photographer.

- That's a real job?

- Yeah, my old man said the same thing.

- You make any money doing that?

- Yeah, these days, barely.

Just enough to get by.

- You like it?

- Yeah, I do.

It means everything to me or almost everything.

Hold still.

- Alex, you ever shoot pussy?

Shoot pussy pics? 'Cause if you want, Suzy here,

she will let you shoot pretty pink pussy.

- Fuck you.

- Yeah.

You will, right?

Come on, man, I'm just jerking your chain, that's all.

It's a fucking joke. Have a drink.

- Yeah.

No, I think I'm good.

- We're sitting here on your bed.

You're taking our picture, and you

don't want to-- you don't want to have a drink with us?

Come on.

- Your sister?

- Yeah.

- Nice to have met you.

Fuck!

Bottoms up.

- Tip that baby up.

There you go, big guy.

- God.

Oh, yeah.

- Just a little bit more.

- Little more.

- Come on.

- All I want to do

All I want to do is taste your love

Taste your love

Now, it's going to be

Time for you and me

We will fly away

Learn to play

And taste your love

Taste your love

Taste your love

Taste your love

- Fuck!

Oh, god.

Oh, fuck.

Hello.

- Hey, can I help you, man?

- I thought this was fucking you.

Wow, you look like fucking warm shit or something.

- Yeah.

- You have fun last night?

- I can't even remember last night.

- You were really something else, man.

- What do you mean?

- Just your moves.

You know, those sexy fucking dance moves.

She was so sweet on you.

She was so fucking sweet.

- Nothing happened, did it?

- Come again?

- Nothing happened with Suzy, right?

Me and Suzy, nothing happened?

You know, I'm married.

- You're married.

I mean, you're asking me if you fucked my sister?

You fucked my sister?

You're too easy to rile up.

Look at you.

Nothing happened, man.

I'm just fucking with you.

Don't worry.

- You fucking got me, man.

- M-hm.

What are you doing now?

- I was going to hit the road.

- I got just the thing for you.

You gotta see it. - Yeah.

No thanks.

I'm thinking I'm going to go towards Nevada.

So. - Oh, no, no, no.

This is 15, 20 minutes.

20 minutes down the road, tops.

Ain't no photographer has seen this shit before.

- Yeah. Yeah, fine.

Fuck it.

Let's go.

- You mind if I burn in here? - Yeah.

No, no, no, please. - No?

- No.

Don't smoke.

Do you like jazz?

- Fuck, no.

Where is this?

You take these?

- Yeah, that was my first book.

Kind of put me on the map.

- Dude, it looks like you just take a bunch of pictures

of poor, old, busted-up places.

- Yeah, I guess, on the surface, you can look at it that way.

Or you could look at it as a moment capture

where nature or the unforgiving power of nature

is gradually reclaiming its topography from the--

what man is built on it.

- Yeah, it's just a bunch of old buildings.

You like being a tourist?

- A tourist?

Maybe I do.

- It's right up here.

Right up here.

- My granddad lived under those rocks, man.

Slept under them years ago.

- Really?

- Yeah, man, he had it all dug out.

Set up nice.

He had a little place to sleep, and then

he even had a little kitchen with propane.

Over here, was a military base.

They heard he was making dynamite.

Thought he was a fucking Nazi or some shit.

And they stormed the rock, guns blazing, shot him all up.

And they shot him dead.

And they fill in the hole.

It's like he never even existed, man.

- Got a hell of a headstone, though.

- You ever seen a UFO?

- Well, I thought I did once, but then it

turned out to be just a satellite being shot into space.

- I see them all the timeout here, man.

UFOs.

- Oh, yeah?

- What do they look like?

Diamond shaped.

Bright lights.

And they're zigging and they're fucking

zagging all across the place.

I think they're hunting for their next victim.

Now, get this. Get this.

Get this. True story.

No bullshit.

June 28, 1992, right as my mother

is fucking forcing me into this shit world, earthquake

shakes the Mojave, 7.4 on the Richter.

7.4.

That is big.

That's powerful, man.

That's what shook up all these rocks.

24 seconds.

24, that's what it took.

Listen, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 9, 10, 11.

12, 13.

14, 15, 16, 17 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

That is how long it took to break five fucking faults,

rip a 53-mile gash across Mojave, man.

You want to see it?

Place where it happened?

I mean, the house I was born in?

- Yeah, I don't know.

It's getting kind of late, Renny.

- Come on, man.

You're going to like it.

It is just like one of your pictures from the book.

It's just like it.

- You were born here.

- Yeah, right in there, on the fucking floor.

- Your family lived in there?

- Yeah, you could say that.

- Uh-huh.

It just looks like nobody has lived there

since the fucking Dust Bowl.

- What are you saying, Alex?

- Nothing, it's just, I--

- Just you're calling me a fucking liar?

- No, that's not what I--

I believe you.

Look, if you say you were born in there,

man, you're born in there.

- You think I'm just telling you some story?

- Oh, now I get it.

You're fucking with me again.

OK.

Yeah, I'm not falling for that again.

- I let you fuck my sister.

You call me a liar.

- What?

- What?

- You fucking tourist!

She's not really my sister.

Ah!

Ah!

Ah!

- Hey, I'm just checking in.

Wanted to see if that check showed up.

I went out to this pet cemetery, and I stopped by this junkyard

on the way, and I actually took a portrait of this old man that

lived there, and it got me thinking

about shooting more people.

And I'm always I'm so focused on the landscape and the buildings

and everything, but the people.

I went and watched the sunset out by the sand dune.

- That's the last you've heard from him?

- Yeah.

- Can I get a copy of that?

- Sure.

- Now, do you know what he was going

to be taking photographs of?

- Just random things.

He comes across, landscapes and old buildings mostly.

Here.

- Death of the New West.

- So on this trip, he was saying that he

wanted to recapture what he felt when he made that book.

- When was that?

- About 20 years ago.

- Did he say how he was going to do that?

- Yeah, no cell phone, no GPS.

Just driving around to purposely get lost, I guess.

- Purposely get lost?

- Yeah, that's what he calls it.

- What I need to ask you may be difficult, but it's important.

- M-hm.

- Was there any indication, any sign

that maybe Alex was having an affair?

- No, he would never.

Yeah, I'm positive.

- Even those closest to us can have

another side that we don't see, that we don't want to see.

- Not Alex.

- I had a case in Nevada.

There was another missing persons case,

a man about Alex's age.

And this guy was a real family man, a pretty wife, three kids,

and a cute little doggy.

The whole bit.

One night, he doesn't come home from work.

The next day is Sunday, and he would never

miss church with the family.

Never.

A week or so goes by, and he is still missing.

It's like he just vanished into thin air.

And the cops aren't doing anything.

And so the wife calls me.

I take the case and start digging into things--

bank records and credit card statements, phone bills.

And I notice all these calls to this same number.

Now, this number is not his wife.

It's not his work.

It's definitely not the church.

It's a strip joint just outside of town called The Lusty Lady.

So I go there asking around.

It turns out he's actually a regular.

He's real sweet on the girls--

Diamond.

Bouncer tells me that Diamond has been known

to earn extra cash on the side.

- Alex is not out fucking some hooker.

- I'm not saying he is.

I'm just saying people have secrets.

I'm sorry if I upset you earlier.

Sometimes the job can be a little unsavory.

- People can have secrets, just not Alex.

Not anymore.

I know him.

- What do you mean, not anymore?

- It was such a long time ago, but he

used to go on benders, blackout, and he'd try to hide it from me.

That was the old Alex.

That person doesn't exist.

- I see.

- Do you really think you can find him?

- Yes, I do.

Oh, my god.

- Looks like some kind of project in here.

- Yeah.

Single or double?

- Actually, I'm looking for someone

who would have stayed here about a week back

for a couple of nights.

Do you recognize the gentleman in this photograph?

- It's hard to say.

Doesn't look familiar.

- Do you keep like, a guest book or registration log?

- Yeah, that's confidential.

- I'm a private detective hired by the family.

And I get it, you know.

I understand that you have to protect your guests' privacy,

but I'm looking for someone whose missing.

Might be hurt.

This woman here, that's his wife.

She's very worried about him.

Come on, give me a hand.

- What did you say, last week?

- Yeah.

Name is Alex Clark.

- Alex Clark, Room 6.

- What does this red mark mean?

- Well, that means he left without returning the room key.

- That seem odd?

- No, it happens all the time.

People pay in advance and forget to bring the key back.

- You changed the locks on the doors when that happens?

- No.

No, it's all electronic now.

Key cards.

You gotta change with the times.

- Did he leave any luggage, like, maybe

some photographic equipment behind?

- It's hard to say.

Cleaning ladies didn't bring me anything.

- Can I take a look at Room 6?

- Sure.

It's $50 a night.

Pay in advance.

- I can't just take a quick peek?

- Peek all you want for $50 a night.

- Sam.

- Yes.

- Hi.

- Any news?

- Not much to report that we didn't already know.

Alex was in Yucca Valley at the Budget End Motel.

I confirmed that he registered here on Wednesday the 10th.

Checked into Room 6, and I'm staying here.

I'm actually In the same room.

- Was it he slept there?

Bags?

- No, I haven't found anything of his.

- This doesn't make any sense.

- Clark said that Alex left without checking out.

There was an elderly gentleman, Jessup, Gus Jessup.

I talked to him at his junkyard.

He says that Alex took his photograph,

but he only saw him briefly.

- Yes, I've been to the abandoned military base.

I found a packet of lens tissues there.

Nothing else.

I'm going back out there tomorrow.

- Well, I can't really say as of yet.

Something's not quite right.

- What do you mean?

- I don't know.

It's just a feeling.

Hey, one other thing, does this phone number mean anything

to you--

760-129-7639?

- I don't think so.

- Nothing.

I figured it was a long shot.

OK, I'll give you a ring tomorrow, sooner

if anything substantial pops up

- OK.

- OK, talk then.

"The wild beasts of the desert shall also

meet with the jackals, and the wild goats

shall bleat to its companion.

Also, the night creatures shall rest there and find for herself

a place of rest."

- Did he turn up yet?

- No.

I think something bad has actually happened.

I've hired a private investigator.

- You hired someone to find him?

Sam, I mean this in the best possible way, but, Alex,

I mean, he's always been unreliable.

- He wouldn't just disappear like this.

- All I'm saying is, you've been paying

the mortgage for the past two years,

and now you're paying someone to track him down?

He's going to turn up.

I promise you.

And when he does, I just think that should

reconsider this toxic cycle he's gotten in.

It shouldn't be about him anymore.

- And that's when you decided to hire Mr. Palladino?

- Yeah.

Like I said, I hired him after multiple attempts

with the police to try to get someone to look

into my missing husband.

- Listen, I'm here now.

Your husband is a priority.

All the information you gave me, more than I usually get.

This morning, I put a call out to the sheriff

in Antelope Valley.

Valdez.

He's good.

He's put a BOLO out for your husband.

My number is on the card.

If you hear anything.

I'll call with any news.

- How much do you know about Harold Palladino?

- What do you mean?

- What do you really know about Harold Palladino?

- I feel like there's something you should be telling me.

- Harold used to be on the force.

Did good work.

But he had a reputation.

- A reputation.

- Yes.

Like unsavory?

- One way to put it.

There were allegations.

- What exactly did he do?

- I'm not sure of the details, but it cost him his badge.

- Hey.

- Hi.

- You a cop?

- No.

- Well, you driving a cops car.

You look like a cop.

- Not a cop.

Positive.

- You know, if you really are one,

you gotta say so, or else that's entrapment, and that's illegal,

- Miss, like I said, I'm not a policeman.

- Can I get in?

- Sure.

- Hi.

I'm Suzy.

What's your name?

- Harold.

- You wanna have some fun, Harold?

$40 for a suck, $100 for a fuck.

What's wrong.

Harold?

It's not sexy enough for you, or do you like little boys?

Fuck you.

- Hey, hang on a second.

This-- this is for you if I can ask you some questions.

Ah, not so hasty.

- Fuck!

- Don't be greedy.

Answer the questions first, OK?

Have you ever seen the gentleman in this photograph?

- I thought you said you weren't a cop.

- Just look at the photograph.

- I ain't never seen that man.

- Look again.

- I said, I ain't never seen that man.

- You sure?

- Yeah, man, I'm fucking sure.

- OK.

- Are we done?

- No.

How long have you been working this area, this motel?

- I don't know.

Two, three months.

- Business good?

- All right.

- Where are you living?

- None of your fucking business.

- Hey.

Language.

Do you want the money or not?

Where do you live?

- Here and there.

- Here and there.

- M-hm.

Sometimes here at the motel and sometimes other places.

- Other places?

- Places you don't ever want to go.

- Is that right?

- M-hm.

Real dangerous.

- There's $80 more for you waiting up in my room.

- Harold Palladino here.

This is--

- Fuck.

- I'm not sure how I feel about that in here.

- Hm?

What do you mean?

- The photo is weird.

- Weird because you took it?

- Yeah.

Now, it's hanging in our bedroom.

- What, are you embarrassed someone is going to see it?

- Yeah, I guess.

- Oh, that's interesting.

Who are you planning on inviting into the bedroom

that you don't want to see it?

- Ha, ha.

Very funny.

I just-- doesn't it seem sort of egotistical

to have something of mine up in the house?

- No.

- I think so.

- Well, too bad.

I like it.

- Why?

What do you like about it?

- Formally, the composition is pleasing.

It's balanced, it's exposed.

- The proper exposure is good.

- It fills up the empty space on the wall nicely.

- Yeah, I'm glad that's--

seriously, though, what do you like about it?

- Seriously.

I like looking at it right before I go to sleep

and imagining what's projected on the screen.

Sometimes it's a black and white thriller, a cheap slasher,

or like a sci-fi monster movie.

- What about porno?

- Porno.

At a drive in?

Come on.

- Yeah, bring the whole family.

OK.

So what's playing tonight?

- I don't know.

Maybe it is porno.

- Really?

- Maybe.

- Hey. Hey.

Hey. Hey.

Hey. Hey.

Don't you fucking wake him.

What do you think?

- Gross.

- Oh, I think it fucking suits me.

Fuck you.

- Hey, this is Alex.

Leave a message.

- It's so stupid.

I keep expecting you to pick up.

I keep expecting you to walk through the front door.

I think I can hear you outside.

Oh.

I wish you'd never left, Alex.

I wish you'd never gone on this trip.

I wish you were here.

- Make sure those lips--

- Yeah, things go well.

- Oh, fuck me, man.

Fucking bitch.

Hey.

Where are they?

- Where are who?

Jesus.

What the fuck is going on?

- I think I got a pretty good lead on what

might have happened to--

- Alex.

- What happened to Alex.

- Are you serious right now?

- Yes, I am.

What are you doing here?

- What am I doing here?

- What are you doing here?

You're clearly not out looking for my husband.

- Actually, that's all I've been doing.

- What does this have to do with Alex?

- I got doped, plain and simple.

- Bullshit.

Fucking bullshit!

Just like the story you told me.

Fucking family man and a stripper.

That was you.

That's how you lost your badge, isn't it?

Fucking strippers, or fucking witnesses?

What else did you do?

- Who told you that?

- What the fuck does it matter?

- It doesn't matter.

Never mind.

But look, I've got a lead.

I got a hunch.

- A hunch.

- Yeah.

Listen, Sam.

I got drugged.

This fucking hooker--

- Fuck you.

You are fired!

- Sam!

Wait!

- Fuck!

- What a fucking world.

- OK.

Thank you.

Help me.

Help me.

Please, help me.

Please, help me.

- Hey.

Hey.

- Please. Please.

Please. Please.

Please.

Please.

Please. Please.

- Please. Please.

Please.

Please. Good.

Go.

- I don't know.

Oh, my god.

Oh, my god.

Oh, my god.

Oh, my god.

Oh, my god!

- Let's see what you've got now.

- Watch it, bitch!

Oh, please.

- Brother?

No.

- Sam.

Sam.

Sam.

Sam, I'm sorry.

- What are we doing here?

- Well, this whole thing just sometimes steers itself.

Ah.

I don't even really know who you are.

And now, I'm dying.

- No, you're not.

You're just hurt.

- No, you can tell when you're dying.

I didn't know that until just now.

I used to come here as a kid.

Well, not exactly here, but once.

Just like it.

And it was double features and triple features.

And then as a teenager, you know, the awkward fumblings

of young men.

- Hey, easy.

- Time.

It's slow.

And then it's not, right?

- Harold.

Harold.