All language subtitles for Nola.2003.1080p.WEBRip.x264-RARBG

You leave her alone, Freddy!

Aah! Aah!

That's not
a fair fight, now, is it?

Aah!

My god!

♪ And I,
I know a place ♪

♪ where fear cannot find you ♪

♪ and I, I know a place ♪

♪ where sorrow and rage
cannot follow you ♪

♪ ever since I've known you ♪

♪ you've been searching ♪

♪ for the right and wrong ♪

♪ the truth in life ♪

♪ ever since I've known you,
you've been reaching ♪

♪ for something that was
just out of sight ♪

♪ will you meet me there
on the street of dreams? ♪

♪ Will you meet me there ♪
someday?

♪ Will you meet me there
on the street of dreams? ♪

♪ Will you meet me there
someday? ♪

♪ And I, I know a place ♪

♪ where faith is your reality ♪

♪ and I, I know a place ♪

♪ where the voices of love
are a symphony ♪

♪ the streets that
you've been walking ♪

♪ all these years ♪

♪ so unyielding, so desolated ♪

♪ all the faces you have worn
to hide your tears ♪

♪ did they wear you out,
leave you tired and jaded? ♪

♪ Will you meet me there
on the street of dreams? ♪

♪ Will you meet me there
someday? ♪

♪ Will you meet me there
on the street of dreams? ♪

♪ Will you meet me there
someday? ♪

♪ Wandering so,
a wandering soul ♪

♪ when will you find a place
called home? ♪

♪ Wandering so ♪

♪ when will you find a home? ♪

♪ Will you meet me there
on the street of dreams? ♪

♪ Will you meet me there
someday? ♪

♪ Will you meet me there
on the street of dreams? ♪

♪ Will you meet me there
someday? ♪

Horrible place.
It really is.

Nothing for you, miss.

You, got something
to do out there?

Place to stay?

Someone to look after you?

Hell, no, you don't.

Get the... Out of my way.

Ooh.

Yes?

Hey. Um, I'm looking
for a job as a waitress.

Sorry.
No openings here.

I'm really good at this.

I've had 4 years of
food service experience.

I could do the first day
even as a kind of tryout.

Try McDonald's.
They're always hiring.

You're not getting this.

I'm probably 10 times smarter than
anyone you've got working here.

Then you're overqualified
for the job.

Apply to one of
the universities.

There are several
free ones in the city.

Back it up, man.

Back it up.

Hey.

Yes?

A dollar and a half
for a cup of coffee?

You got to be kidding me.

Next.

Wait a second.
I need a job.

Move along, sweetheart.

I'll help you work the stand,

just for breakfast.

No room, no need,
no interest. Next.

Excuse me.
Yes.

Coffee, light, one sugar.

They're hiring
in the east village,

near astor place.

Coffee shops.
Check the ads.

Um...
Downtown.

So why don't you go for it?

Me?
I'm an entrepreneur.

Ok.

So...
Which way is down?

You go take the 6 train

and go straight down
to astor place.

Scrambled here.
Right.

I'm Nola.
I'm here for the job.

I'm Gus. Where the hell
were you two hours ago?

Give me that.

Who hasn't ordered yet?

Over here, please.
Yes, we haven't.

Who ordered the scrambled
eggs and bacon combo?

♪ Hot dog ♪

There's no pay, no benefits.

You work for tips,
and tips are lousy.

You work for me.

I'm the manager.

I'm a son of a...,
a real hard-...

Very bad guy to work for.

I'm Ben.

It's true.
He's a real...

And the tips do suck,
but the food's good.

Not that you care, necessarily.

Suits me.

You have a place to stay?

I have a room upstairs.

You can crash there for a few
days until you find something.

I really don't think so.

It's your call, sweetheart.

All right, if you
want to pee, this is the time.

Lunch crowd are gonna
be here in 5 minutes,

and then we work our little
tushes off for two hours.

I live in queens... a wife,
5 kids, mother-in-law.

I don't even have a spare couch.

It's ok.

There are flophouses
around here.

You can always share a cot
with their wildlife.

For that privilege, they'll be happy
to take what you made on a day.

I'll find something.
Don't worry.

What do you think this is,
some enchanted little village?

These are cruel streets.

That's Ben's place there.

He'll be home in a couple of
hours if you want to wait.

It'll be nice not to have to find your
torso in a dumpster tomorrow morning.

I mean, I hate to have to
put that sign out again.

What? You... you think
I'm yanking your chain here?

Look. He's not gonna
try to grope you,

if that's what
you're worried about.

I believe the man
to be a gentleman.

Really?

I've met plenty of those,

and I can tell you, Gus,

your experiences
have probably been

a little different from mine.

Suit yourself.

I'll see you at 6:30.
Ha ha ha!

It's top floor.

Sorry it's a schlep.

It's cool?

Better than a park Boulder.

Which is where
you slept last night?

Part of it.

Unbelievable.

You arrive here
from where, Kansas?

How'd you know?

Figures.

What do you people
think this is...

A theme park?

Ben, please.

I got the "torso in the
dumpster" speech from Gus.

Point is, you don't come to a city
like this without knowing anybody.

I do know somebody.

Really?

You know somebody
here in the city,

because you prefer
to sleep in the park.

It's a little more
complicated than that.

I'll bet.

Look. I'm sorry.

It's not my business.

Here.
This kind of fits.

This person and I
haven't actually met.

I said it was complicated.

You're right. You're right.
It's too late for this.

Um... privileges
of being a guest...

You get to use
the bathroom first,

but no baths.

You're gonna have to wait
till tomorrow morning

to take a bath,

and I open the place
around 6:00.

You get to hang
around here till 6:30.

Great.

Hey, advertising
department, please?

Hi. Yeah. I want to place a...

No, I don't know how many words.
I mean...

I know what I want it to say,
but I hadn't counted...

Ok. Ok.

Nola keynes, 18, from Kansas,

has come to New York
looking for her dad.

No, not "women seeking men."

I want it on the back page.

♪ Will you meet me there
on the street of dreams? ♪

♪ Will you meet me there
someday? ♪

♪ And I, I know a place ♪

♪ where your reality in life ♪

Who are you?

Just a chalk Mark
in a rainstorm.

What can I get you?

Ben's got me.
Where'd you hear that song?

I grew up with it.

My mom sang it incessantly.

Get the lady some coffee.

Now.

Your taste is picking up, Gus.

She just walked in here.
We had a sign.

A sign.

Jesus...

You just laid eyes on her.

I can't be putting out
a new sign every day.

Careful there.
That's your employer.

That woman owns the place?

And the building.

So she's also your landlady?

Part of my compensation.

She doesn't look like
the kind of person

who'd eat in a place like this,

much less own it.

Yeah? What does she
look like, you think?

Someone who doesn't react
well to an overcooked omelet.

Here you go.

So how did she get this place?

Probably a gift
from a grateful John.

She's a prostitute?

She runs an escort service.

You mean she's
a high-class pimp?

That's a rather pejorative way

of describing
what she does, but...

Yes, in an exotic sort of
way, that's what she does,

and that's probably how she
herself would describe it.

Margaret wants to talk
to you for a minute.

Be nice.
She's the boss.

So I gather.

I don't... Men for money.

Women, either, for that matter.

Neither do I, honey.

At least not anymore.

But apart from that,
tell me about yourself.

What brought you here?

You don't spill, either?

At least not in coffee shops.

We'll give it some time.

It's ok.

I'm not sleeping.

Why the hell not?

Sirens. Car alarms.

So... noisy!

And I can't imagine
where you got this couch,

or rather,

I can imagine.
I just don't want to think about it.

Not comfortable, all right.

I'll take the couch.

What's put you
in such a... mood?

What do you do,

work for Margaret at night, too?

Some old woman wore you out?

Or maybe it was some old geezer.

That's funny?

Not really.

It's just pretty close to
the job originally offered.

Which you turned down?

What do you think?

Well, it's a lot more
prosaic than selling my bod.

Yeah? What?

Law school.

I go to law school at night.

It's worse, then, isn't it?

Body and soul.

You don't like lawyers, either?

Jesus, nobody likes lawyers.

Not even other lawyers.

You're all of what, 18?

You already know everything.

So how'd you get to
be such a smart-...?

It wasn't easy.

I can imagine.

So that's your dream, then?

To become a lawyer?

At this stage,
I don't know what to call it.

It's hardly a dream.

You might not
want to watch this.

I sleep in my skivvies.

Ew!

Tighty whities?

You don't like my jockey
shorts, either?

I like them so long as you
keep them and your stuff

in your own bed.

No offense,
but the way I feel right now,

you could lie
all over me buck naked

and it's not gonna do you
the slightest bit of good.

I don't think we'll be
putting that one to the test.

Nola, lighten up, will you?

It's a joke.

Give me an Adam and Eve
on a raft

and a blonde and sweet.

Ben's working
on Margaret's omelet.

Guess who's gonna deliver it.

We don't deliver.

With Margaret,
we make exception.

Is this a good address?

Lower fifth Avenue?

No! It's the projects.

You ever get to see it...
Her apartment?

Nope.

Ben?

Nope.

What makes me so lucky?

Woman's hungry.

Have a seat.

Keep me company while I eat.

Easy.

Right.
Takeout, only.

It's an escort service.

That's not quite
what I'm running here,

not in the normal
sense of that term.

Really?

As in a traditional mode,

we have the customer
and the service provider,

but in my service,

both have the freedom to choose.

Sounds like a tricky way of
not calling it "prostitution."

It is in fact a system I arrived
at out of deepconvictioncpnviction.

Do you know
how to operate that thing?

And this actually happens?

Girls tell tricks to get lost?

Absolutely.

Well, I guess you're making
a buck around here, so...

Maybe it isn't totally nuts.

Perhaps you'd like
to see your room.

My what?

It goes with the job.

What job?

It's not what you think.

My assistant, my secretary.

Majordomo.

Whatever I can't get to and
you've learned how to do

because I've taught you.

Except for the damn computer,

which you'll teach me.

You want me to help you
run this service?

Yes, plus everything else.

I own two buildings and
the coffee shop now.

I expect to own more soon.

You just met me.

And something
in my resume just...

Jumped out at you?

As it turns out,

we have a lot in common.

So... maybe this
was a bad idea.

Nola, it's really you.

Get over here,
you little spitfire, you.

I'll be waiting
in the Liberty motel.

To erase, press...

Ninth voice message.

So your ad says you're 18.

I love them that young.

Tenth voice message.

If it's a daddy
you're looking for,

I have something better.

Why don't you call me at 555-5...

End of messages.
To erase, press...

So how's it going there?

Law school?

You mean grades?

They figure out
a better way to measure it?

I'm doing reasonably well

given my basic unfamiliarity
with the course material.

Winging it?

You might say.

What about you?

She wants me
to come work for her

and live in her apartment.

Congratulations.

And to what do you owe
the speedy promotion?

What are you thinking?

I'm about to become a hooker?

Why would I think that?

The proprietress of one
of the most successful

floating whorehouses in the city

offers you a job after
seeing you only once.

Where's the connection?

Well, you're wrong.

The job is to be her assistant.

The job you previously
described as being a pimp.

Well... it's not as if I have
so many options right now.

It's illegal.

It shouldn't be.

You run for office and
change the law, right?

You know, you're
a big... Help.

How else am I supposed
to find a place to live

in this... City?

Easy. Stay with me.

Right.

If I start putting out.

Jesus... girl.

Have I so much as tried
to lay a hand on you?

You are absolutely
obsessed with sex.

Isn't everyone?

Yeah, probably.

When'd you say
you'd let her know by?

After the weekend.

Ok.

Look. We're both off
tonight,

and I don't have any classes.

I'll take you to a
restaurant I know

here in the east village.

Good food, good prices...

We can talk about it.

You want to take me on a date?

No, certainly not.

Business meal.

Talk about other
job opportunities.

I'm not sleeping with you.

Damn it, Nola.

You're a broken record.
You're too young for me.

You're 18, maybe.

How'd you get to be this way?

Why do I keep
getting asked that?

Because you're a pain in the...

So you're not
asking me on a date?

No.

Business meal...
That's the offer.

Take it or leave it.

I accept.

So...
Why'd you leave Kansas?

Dorothy.

What?

The quote is,

"why did you leave
Kansas, Dorothy?"

Ok.

Well...

First, your stepfather
gets you to make friends

with all the old people
in the trailer park.

And then he makes you
write down the names

of all their
prescription painkillers.

And you do it...

Because you're stupid.

And then he goes in there

and he steals the one
called oxycodone,

which he crushes up so the time
releases won't give him away.

Then he and your mother fight
over the powder like dogs

until it's all up their noses,

and bingo, what do you know?

Strong as heroin.

She used to sing,

but she threw that away..

With everything else.

Got out when you could.

I left her.

What I need to do now
is make it here.

Like the saying goes,

make it here,
make it anywhere, right?

So that's your dream?

You're a singer, too.
I've heard you in the shower.

Jesus, no, I have no voice.

I just write 'em.

Why is everybody
being so nice to me?

Margaret, Gus, even you, Ben.

Probably some signs
to a conspiracy.

Right.

You're all gonna
put me in some snuff film.

I can see it now.

Torso in the dumpster.
Mwah!

Ha ha ha!

I knew it was
too good to be true.

What?

Nothing.

You have one new message

and 7 old messages.

Hey, I don't know who you are,

but you got to stop
calling me, ok?

Just stop dialing my number.
Bye.

Monday, 7:23 A.M.
end of messages.

I cross them off when I
get a definitive answer.

Is that from my phone book?

Who do you need to look up
in Hurley through hutner?

A person you know here
but you've never met.

My dad.

A guy...

From New York...

Named hutch.

That's what I've got.

Seems he was just
passing through...

The state of Kansas and my mom.

Can't even be sure he gave her
the right name or nickname.

So you're calling every
Hutchins and hutchinson

in the book.

Hi there. I was wondering if I
might have a moment of your time

for a poll I'm taking.

Did you ever... A woman in
Kansas, say, about 19 years ago?

There are other approaches.

And I'm trying them,

but they're all pretty painful.

Look. I don't really
know the facts,

but this may not be
the type of guy

you necessarily want to find.

But I'm never gonna know, am I?

Unless I find him.

All yours.

So...

It's good night, then?

It sure has been.

See?

What's that, Ben?

Just friends, no problem.

It's easy, right?

Sure as hell is.

A month, Mr. Mancuso.
I've been here a month.

Yes, it seems longer to me,
too, sir.

Yes, but it's just
the one policy

that Margaret simply
will not change.

Just like you, the girls
are free to choose.

Yes. But when they do decide
to stay with you,

then you know
they really like you.

You can refer to them
as... If you like, sir,

but they are in fact
actual people.

And you think that's misogyny.

Wendy, what's up?

You haven't seen the papers?

No.

Where's Margaret?

Jogging.
What's going on?

He's yours?

The foot freak.

This billionaire
is the foot freak?

He just sucks away,
honey, like any other trick,

just not on my winky.

I thought half your tricks

didn't even know
you had a... Winky.

Well, this one knows,

although the charm for him
is to pretend

he's surprised to find out,
you know,

as if in the throes of passion,

as if he's too far gone on my
toes to care what lies northward.

We do a lot of
"as if" ing in Wendy's school.

And you did this?
You clocked him?

With what?

A lock in a sock.

You're lucky you didn't
kill the son of a...

What's a poor girl to do?

Must be, what,
10 or 12 kids born every year

in the world

harboring this combination
of brilliance and indifference?

You think I'm indifferent
to law school?

Attending half of your classes

might give rise
to that inference.

Why are you here, Benjamin?

Just to get a diploma so you
can go out and make money?

I... i assume your preference

would run towards
an honest answer.

Decidedly.

I'm here because I couldn't
think of a better thing to do.

Some advice?

I'm open to advice.

Good.

Try taking it seriously.

Do something... a pro bono case,

something that is serious.

Don't drift.

Discover yourself, now.

Ok?

I'll look around for it.

You do that.

And, Ben, how's Margaret?

She's good.

Formidable woman, Margaret.

Yes. Have you ever
told me how you two met?

At a debutante cotillion.

♪ My bad ♪

♪ I didn't mean
to hit it ♪

♪ my bad ♪

♪ I hit it,
then I fled it ♪

♪ my bad ♪

♪ I didn't mean
to do it... ♪

♪ And just ran
right through it ♪

♪ my bad ♪

♪ I was sprinting... ♪

I can't allow an injury
like this to go unpunished.

I hold you responsible.

I rely on you to provide
me with safe people.

It's what I pay you for.

I can only assume that
Wendy felt in mortal peril.

Nonsense. A game.

It's what we do, right?

Heh heh! Games.

What do you want me
to do, Mr. Sternlicht?

Have her hurt.

What?

I think you heard me.

I know the people
protecting you.

They'll know what to do.

Incapacitate Wendy,

she'll have no place
to go but the press...

The part you don't own.

So what? People
already hate me...

So much, it's almost
turned to admiration.

Heh heh heh!

And if I don't do this?

It's going to get done,
Margaret,

whether you do it or you
put me to the trouble

of doing it myself.

But if you do it,

I won't close you down
or send you to prison.

Leave the rest of
your people alone.

I could offer you
other compensation.

I don't think so.

You had to be there, Margaret.

We didn't need this, not now!

My god.
Her frozen face syndrome.

The thing is,
he likes to be abused

because he knows he's a...

But then, when you make him see

how ugly of a...
He really is,

he goes ballistic.

Why, then,
did you give him such a clear view?

The man, by choice,

is in a profession of
pure sublimated violence.

He's an investment banker!

In an earlier age,
he might have been genghis Khan.

If only you had felt
your species endangered

by a less powerful man.

Thank you, dear.
You read my mind.

Look at you.

Yeah? What?

Pretty fine.

You think?

You'll do.

What's going on in here?

Damage control.

You read about this guy
sternlicht?

"Mogul mugged"?

Yeah. Only,
he wasn't mugged.

He was laid out by one of ours.

Sternlicht uses
an escort service?

I'll be damned.

That guy's had 5 trophy wives.

Yeah? Well, I'll bet
none like this one.

Nola, you ought
to get out of here.

And do what?

Whatever.

Sing music. Sell it.

I don't sing.

Ok.

So soon?

Don't ask.

What we need is a
really dirty back-alley

kind of location for the shoot.

I was thinking the coffee shop.

What do you think?

You're what?
Thinking pictures?

Jesus.

Sternlicht wants Wendy to pay.

If Margaret doesn't
get it done first,

he's gonna shut her down.

And take care of me himself.

What does Margaret
think of this plan?

She'll be happy
when we pull it off.

You know what sternlicht's
middle initials are?

"V.v." his closest
friends say

it stands for "violent"
and "vindictive."

If you get caught...

Which we won't.

He'll go after Margaret

and anybody close to her.

I've already booked a little
cabana in the Yucatan.

Margaret found it online.

What about you?

What about me?

Anyway, where was I?

Right, bukowski.

When I first got here,

I was, like,
in this deep bukowski phase,

and now I'm like,
"ew, so predictable."

I mean, plus
hideously straight."

I'm bisexual.
I know, yawn.

It's just that I wish I
could move out of the dorm

away from all of
those other people

who are going through
the same phase

that I just went through.

I mean, I would love to
move out to williamsburg.

It is totally
industrial out there.

Yeah, that guy.

Yeah, I totally
checked him out before.

He's in law school.

I mean,
he's pretty hot for an older guy.

Like 24, what do you think?
At least?

Hey, you want my number?

Dating service.

Nola keynes from Topeka, Kansas,

do you recognize my voice?

How'd you get my...

Who do you think you're dealing
with, child?

Do you think I've got a
problem having you investigated

or having you watched
and photographed

putting your friend Wendy
in a cab to the airport?

And I must say, it looks like

she's made a remarkable
recovery, that Wendy.

Yeah. Foundation
hides bruises well.

She was more than bruised in those
artsy little pictures of yours.

In any case, rather than following
Wendy all the way down to Cancun,

I've decided to zero in
on a much easier target.

Are you as beautiful in person

as you are in a photo,
Nola keynes, Topeka, Kansas?

Yes, there's the doorbell.

Better get that.

Hi. Do you
live here?

Who's asking?

You live here.
Have a nice day.

A grand jury subpoena.

In a more civilized world,

that man sternlicht
would be kept in a cage!

It's a... Open house party.

"I hate liars.
This is just the beginning."

Wh...

Leo.

Leo, can I have
your damn attention?

We want to do a piece
onescortexcort services.

Yeah, what's stopping you?

We want you, the great Lionel
tremblanc, to do that piece.

We? Who is "we", Max?

Are you going royal on us?

This we is me
and somebody very high up

in our particular
scheme of things.

God?

So far as
you're concerned, yeah.

You are going royal.

Only royals speak
directly to god.

You can start with her.

Now, the line we want
is basically derisive.

Moral outrage, of course.

Critical of the
city authorities.

Right under their noses...
You know the kind of stuff.

It's right up your alley.

No. I'm gonna pass on this one, Max.
Thanks a lot.

Why don't you do it yourself?

You haven't gotten
service in a while.

The owner of this newspaper
specifically asked for you.

Inexplicably,
he likes your tone.

Well, there's
no accounting for taste.

I'm not giving you
a choice about this.

Yes, you are, Max.

Do this piece
or accept the offer

I get every other week from
the "news" or the "post."

Actually, their offer's
a little richer.

You know, there is
a story here, Max.

Have you considered
why niles sternlicht,

the third-most powerful
man in the free world

wants to piss on an insignificant
little escort service?

We don't do stories
like that here.

It's a pity.
Why is that?

Because we don't have offers
from the "news" or the "post."

Nor do you.
I'd know about it.

And you want to do hard-hitting,
investigative reporting?

Pbbbbb!

You should have thought of that

when you sold your soul
for a syndicated column.

On the subject of selling
your soul, Max...

You don't see me complaining about
it, do you?

Hello?

You aren't Margaret.

Right. And you aren't Albert Einstein.
Who's calling, please?

Lionel tremblanc.

I know that name.

Very unlikely,

especially if you randomly
associate to Einstein.

The guy who writes
the column in the "express."

What a range.

And you want Margaret?

I always want Margaret.

She, however, rarely wants me.

You...

Hi, babe.

Returning your call.

2 years late.

I've been a bit withdrawn.

Sorry.
What's going on?

Grand jury subpoena.
Federal court.

Look, I'll be over later.

We'll sort this out, ok?

Ok.

It'll also give me
a chance to meet

whoever that young lovely was
who answered your telephone.

Fyi, Leo, once you hit 45,
you're no longer a tomcat.

You're a letch.

Hi. You must be...

Not Albert Einstein.

Right. Ha ha!
Come on in.

Margaret's just getting ready.

And you are?

Purely administrative.

I meant your name.

Nola.

So, those aren't Margaret's.

No, they're mine.
I was just...

Just some stuff
I was working on before.

So you're not just
purely administrative.

I kind of write
songs on the side.

I used to kind of
write songs on the side.

Well, I guess that makes
80 million of us, then.

♪ The night we said good-bye,
the truth was sinkin' in ♪

♪ I was wishin' that
I hadn't said ♪

♪ the last thing
that I said to you ♪

♪ I wish that I could change
the way things went back then ♪

♪ after all these years,
I find myself ♪

♪ still asking when ♪

♪ are you out there somewhere? ♪

♪ Do you think I'll ever get
the chance to see your face? ♪

♪ Maybe tomorrow ♪

You still play piano
in that dive of yours?

Nope. Sold it.

The dive?

The piano.

Nola... this is Leo.

We met.

All right.

Let's get down to business.

You offered to help.

I brought rugelach.

Do...

Right? Business.

Help. Here's the thing.

You need a lawyer,
a criminal lawyer,

and a good one.

Not some big-name, strutting
narcissist who's publicizing himself.

You know such a person?

Of course not.
No such person exists.

Great. Well,
let me tell you what just happened

before you came over.

I, too, realized
I needed a lawyer.

So, I called two I know.
Both said they'd do it.

Then each called the
U.S. attorney's office

to say they were on the case.

A half-hour later,
they both called me back to withdraw.

Sternlicht.

Of course.
It's all of a piece.

I've had very bad
experience with lawyers.

I don't trust any of them.

I have an idea.

No, darling.
You've already given us one idea,

and look where it's gotten us.

Ok, but this is a better one.

Ben.

Naturally.

Who's Ben?

Nola's boy...

The cook in the coffee shop.

Margaret's tenant.

A lawyer who works
in a coffee shop?

Must be good.

He's still in law school.

But there is this.

He is a ...Of a lot
sharper

than any lawyer I
have ever dealt with.

One of the professors
there is a friend of mine.

He sent Ben over to me.

And that kid, before I knew it,

he'd negotiated me into free
rent for a ...Nice apartment,

plus food, plus pocket money.

So, you want Nola's boyfriend,
a law student, to represent you?

That's just crazy enough
to be consistent

with this lunatic
business you run.

Friend.

Nola's friend.

You have 6 messages.

Hey, it's Nola,

your friend Nola.

I was calling you because...

I haven't seen you in a
while and I need a favor.

Hey, it's Nola,
your friend Nola.

How do you work
for a guy like that?

He'd like an answer.

Excellent.
Do you see this?

You know what you can
tell him to do with this?

Yes, I do.

And then I lose my job.

And then my wife
and my mother-in-law,

who I am supporting
in outer Mongolia,

they come here,
make my life a living hell.

What's your name?

Sam.
My name is Sam.

There's no outer Mongolia, Sam.

Inner, yes;
Outer, no.

So maybe he just
shoots the messenger.

Stay of execution.

Says any restaurant
of my choice.

Fine. Make a reservation
at the San domenico

and pick me up here
at 1:30.

Mr. Sternlicht.

You honor us, sir.
Right this way.

Remember me?

I have not previously
had the pleasure, madam.

Are you sure?

Of course.
Who could forget

such classic and
impeccable breeding?

In 36 days, one forgets plenty.

36 days ago.
Let me think.

A young woman of
approximately your age

applied for a job.

I thought her vastly
overqualified.

Since then, I have
learned, gratifyingly so,

that my judgment
has been confirmed.

Talk about overqualifications.

You ought to be the mayor.

Are you satisfied?

I assume that's why
you picked this restaurant.

I'm not satisfied.

I want to see some
serious ...-Kissing here,

not just exhibitions
of diplomacy.

I expect you to have them
jumping through hoops.

Go on. Snap your fingers
and make them jump.

It doesn't work that way.

No?
How does it work?

How do you turn them
into slippery worms?

By negotiation...

Expressed or implied.

It's the way to do
anything successfully...

With other people.

The '88, please.

And into what slithery state
do you wish to negotiate me?

The opposite, actually.

I like your audacity.

I'm intrigued by what
I've learned about you.

And despite the circumstances
bringing us together,

I sense something
responsive to me in you.

Could you expand
on that, please?

Ha ha ha!

You wish to trivialize?

You think I'd want to look
such a trade in the face

without trivializing
it beforehand?

Everyone has such traits,

desires, impulses...

Dark impulses...

Matters few people wish to
acknowledge to themselves,

much less talk about.

I'm in a position
to indulge them, properly.

When people think
about such a process,

they do want to trivialize it.

They call it role playing.

It's the stuff of comedy.

But I tell you, done right...

And I mean really right,

there's nothing
comedic about it.

It's the source of
immense gratification

and Serenity.

And you sense in me the need,
also, to engage in such a...

Process?

Let's drink to it.

I'll at least try the wine.

It's a headier vintage.

You know, I'm not
at all into feet.

And I am considerably
more versatile.

Niles, could we
discuss the subpoena?

I thought we had been.

Nothing happened.

That's what you think.

Something always happens
with niles sternlicht.

He invited me to his room
for one of his little games.

And in exchange,
all of this... the subpoena,

the inquiry... it would
just all go away.

And you believe that?

Did I say I did?

What kind of little game?

I don't know.
Put on something slinky,

whack him with a ruler...
nothing too difficult.

And you're considering it!

What have I done?

You haven't done anything,

and I'm not considering it.

So, why did you go?

Because it was all
I could think to do.

Because first,
my one big idea backfired.

And then my second
big idea... you...

Never called back.

I did. What do you suppose I'm doing here?
I just had to think.

I wanted your professional help.

What's there to
think about with that?

Your message said...

My message said call,
which you didn't, ok?

Just call.

All right.
All right, then.

You know, I don't understand what's so
illegal about what Margaret's doing.

I've been reading the personals
in "the village voice"

ever since I put that ad in.

Lonely people advertise their
availability all the time.

They want to be loved.

They want to get...

The "voice" knows that.
So what?

Is there some big difference
between what they're doing,

putting those people together,
and what Margaret's doing?

That's a tough argument.

Courts hear that kind of pitch all
the time in dealing with these cases.

So you're the great
lawyer. Be inventive.

Ha ha ha!

You're the one who won't stand
up in front of an audience,

but you've no problem
telling me to do it

and risk making
a fool of myself.

And why would you have any
particular problem with that?

Do you live with
rejection every day?

Is that a part of your daily
life, the air that you breathe?

I'm sorry.

Forget it.

I'm not rejecting you.

Forget that, too.

Despite the obvious?

Because of it.

I don't trust it.

You know what I trust?

I trust something that
I don't have right now,

and I'm not sure you do, either.

I trust being...
Good at something I love doing

and maybe being with a
guy who's the same way.

You think I don't...
I don't know, Ben.

It seems to me that
you're just kind of

conning your way
through law school,

like it's some big joke you're
playing on the faculty there.

Mind if I come in?

It's your house, boss.

I was in the hallway earlier

when you were talking with Ben.

I'm afraid I overheard
much of it.

I... absolutely
nothing,

I'd like to tell you something.

Ok.

All my life,
I've gyrated between

fear of intimacy
and fear of abandonment.

My comfort zone with people?

They're orbiting me
at a respectful,

preferably worshipful distance.

Me and Leo?

Not all his fault.
Ok?

I know what it's like as a child

to have none of your needs met...

Emotional needs,
and sometimes even physical ones.

♪ Better now ♪

♪ I know you better now ♪

♪ I'll chalk it up somehow ♪

♪ don't explain ♪

♪ please, darlin',
don't explain ♪

♪ all this is cellophane ♪

♪ you just need
some time away ♪

♪ I'm on to you ♪

♪ have your rendezvous ♪

♪ and when you're done
with all your running ♪

♪ you can be forgiven ♪

Hear ye, hear ye, all rise!

Now in session in the
United States district court

the Southern district
of New York.

The honorable susie belfray
presiding.

Draw near.
You shall be heard.

Two motions tonight:

One to quash
a grand jury subpoena,

the other for the...

To be represented on that
motion by a law student.

Will the law student rise?

Did you draft these papers?

I did, your honor.
Yes.

And this is true that if I deny you the
right to be represented by this young man

that you will have no lawyer,

that you'll represent yourself?

Yes.

That's how I feel about it.

And do you waive
any constitutional objection

you might otherwise have as to the
adequacy of your representation?

I waive.

Good. You may sit down.

That motion is granted.

And I assume you have no
position on this, Mr. Flanders?

Correct, your honor.

Good. You may proceed,
counselor.

Thank you, your honor.

I'd like to call the
moving party to the stand.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the
truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but
the truth so help you god?

Of course.

We have a preference here
for a simple "I do."

Yes. I'm sorry.
I do.

Of course I do.

Please state your
full name for the record.

Margaret langworthy.

And what business
are you in, miss langworthy?

I run a dating service.

Now is that also sometimes
referred to as an escort service?

Perhaps,

but such a reference
would be inaccurate.

There's a very important difference
between what I do and an escort service.

And what is that difference?

In a dating service,
at least mine,

if the customer doesn't like
the person I've sent him,

he can excuse himself
without owing me any fee.

He's free to walk out
and so is the person,

in which case, of course,

the customer also
doesn't owe any fee.

And the persons you send
are both men and women.

Yes, and a few in-between.

Right. And are they
employees of yours,

or are they
independent contractors?

Independent.
Extremely independent.

When the independent
walks out on the customer,

don't you lose that customer?

Absolutely. Never see him
again, with rare exceptions.

And does that happen often, the
independent walking out on the customer?

Um, I'd say about
20% of the time.

So, how do you stay in business?

Why aren't you
frightening people off?

Good question.

That was the conventional
wisdom, that we would.

I adapted the rule I did
for my own service,

initially, as a matter
of personal dignity.

Contrary to everyone's
expectation, it worked,

I think, because having
the element of choice

makes the experience
so much sweeter.

And those who have
appreciated my service

give us good word of mouth.

What fee do you charge?

$600 flat, paid by the customer.
It used to be $500.

Now, is that fee increased
if the customer has sex

with the independent contractor?

Absolutely not.

Do you report your
earnings to the IRS?

And you pay your taxes,
and the government happily accepts.

They haven't sent
my checks back yet.

Thank you, miss langworthy.

I have no further questions
of this witness, your honor.

Mr. Flanders, do you have
any cross-examination?

No, your honor.
I have a motion to strike.

This whole line of testimony
is completely irrelevant.

We have served the subpoena in question as
part of our investigation into prostitution.

We are not obliged to accept the
witness' own description of her business.

And even if we did, it would add
cause to our need to investigate,

not subtract from it.

May I be heard on that?

What do you think?

This is a court.
People get heard.

You may step down.

Thank you.

There are 6 newspapers and 7 magazines
that run personal columns in this city.

For that service,
they charge a fee.

A few dollars.

So now we're talking
price, not principle.

When people meet through
the means of these columns,

sometimes they like each
other and they have sex.

Realistically,
that is the purpose of these columns.

Let me tell you, counsel,

I'm not that impressed
with your analogy.

A newspaper publishing
a personal ad

has no expectation that that
person is going to charge for sex.

I think your client does.

Maybe, your honor,

but that is the significance of these
people being independent contractors.

My client has absolutely nothing
to do with any such negotiations.

She doesn't set the terms.
She isn't compensated by them in way.

She has no interest
in them whatsoever.

Your honor, there is another
dimension to this case.

May we approach the bench?

Your honor, not wishing to
be accused of grandstanding,

may I respectfully suggest that
the court hear my next request

in the robing room?

You want to examine one of
these independent contractors?

I want to subpoena
the U.S. attorney.

All rise!

Basic point, your honor.

Not only was there
no cause for the subpoena,

it wasn't motivated by cause.

Not good cause anyway.

It was motivated by a vendetta.

Whoa! A little
melodramatic, fella.

You want me to believe
that the U.S. attorney

is involved in a vendetta
against your client?

No, but the person
who got her appointed is.

And he has enough power
over her to get her

to harass anyone he wants.

Yes?

And that person
you believe to be...

Niles sternlicht, your honor.

And this is why
you want your subpoena?

I don't expect your honor to allow
me the subpoena simply on my say-so.

I have 3 witnesses
out there who will explain

why sternlicht
is on this rampage

and testify to
hearing his threats

and how the government
subpoena was served

within hours after
sternlicht's threatening

to have precisely
that subpoena issued.

Mike, here's my problem.

Who's willing to throw himself on
the sword for a cause he believes in.

I've got no idea what I'm
going to allow in the subpoena,

but I'm sure going to allow him
to put on his witnesses,

and that's going to create
a problem for your client...

A big problem if there's
any truth to this, you see?

So, here's my suggestion.

All rise!

During the recess,
I received a call from the U.S. attorney.

Since there was
an offer of compromise,

I thought it not inappropriate
to take the call.

I trust you have
no problem with that?

None whatever, your honor.

Wise beyond your years.

The U.S. attorney has offered to
limit the subpoena to Ms. Langworthy

to cover only her tax records
and tax reports.

She has also authorized
me to state that Ms. Langworthy

is not a target
of this investigation,

only a witness,

and will be given full immunity
for her cooperation.

Is that acceptable, counsel?

May I consult?

Looks like total capitulation

with a trivial...

I agree.

We accept the offer, your honor.

Now, why doesn't
that surprise me?

All rise!

Ms. Langworthy,
just a moment of your time, please.

Why did the
U.S. attorney cave?

Comment for the record.
A comment, Ms. Langworthy.

No comment.

Public has a right to know.

Ms. Langworthy,
please.

The judge would like to see you
for a moment in the robing room.

Alone.

Counsel, do you have any...

I feel dirty even
giving this to you.

It's gonna ring
in a few seconds.

You might want to
take the call outside.

Whoa, whoa.
I would advise against.

You've learned
a new phone game, niles.

I hear things didn't go my
way down at the courthouse.

Would you like to
speak to your mother?

I found her... at least my
people did... this morning,

and I've had her
flown to New York.

Isn't that good news?

I thought it might be useful,
no matter the outcome of this evening.

And she is in heaven,
almost literally,

with an endless stash of a substance
that more than simply resembles...

I'm just the driver.

Please.

So, you got a clerkship
for next year?

Wow. Not yet.

This is not the way things
are supposed to be happening.

What do you suggest?

I don't know.

Some brave knight around,
you know, shining armor?

That's in a commercial, Sam.

It's passe.

Look at you. You know
where my mother is.

No, I don't.
I'm just a page.

Please.
You could find out.

Like I said, I'm just...

Talk to me when you
have something real to say.

You've heard Nola's
trying to find her father.

Yeah.
Margaret told me.

One or two lines in your
column might do some good,

if he's still in New York.

Let's talk about it upstairs.

So, what have you got?

Facts.

She was conceived in Kansas.

So it had to be someone
who was once there.

Clear thinking.

That should cut it down to
what, about, like 400,000?

We have a name...

At least part of one.

Well, now you're talking.

Hutch.

Margaret, for... sake,
pick up.

I have to talk to you
about something very important.

You're not the only one.

Nola's in trouble.

Where's the car?

Down the block.
Why not out front?

And trip ...?

As an art form.

Before putting on your costume,

you must remove every
bit of your own clothing.

The merest scrap
of your own clothing

would completely
ruin the effect.

So, do I have your
agreement on it?

This costume...

It will otherwise cover me?

Completely.

Where is my mom?

There are more than
180 rooms in this hotel.

She's in one of them.

And when you perform
to my satisfaction,

you may have her.

Ok.

Taxi! Hey!

I never send him women.

Why?

Never mind.

Put Leo on.

Margaret, why?

He hurts them, Ben.

I'm sorry.

Go! Go!

♪ Who is it ♪

Your mother.

You nasty little boy.

What's the problem?
Why have we stopped?

It's a water main break.

Sorry.

Suite 406!

You are an evil child.

Your thoughts are evil.

Your body is evil.

Everything about you is evil.

If I have to change you again,

I will spank you again.

I think maybe now
baby should spank mommy.

Absolutely not.

Mommy has seen baby naked.

Baby wants to see mommy naked.

That's not in the script, niles!

It's implicit.

Niles!

Don't step out
of character! You...

Get your slimy hands
off, you ...worm!

Look at you.
You spoiled it!

Now, strip yourself.

Do it!

You!

Suite 406.

You guys go.
I'll catch up.

Ooh!

Niles sternlicht.

You exceed anything
I refer to as human.

I shall see you in prison,

and you're fired.

Ha ha ha!
You're behind the times, niles.

I already quit.

Just try to get another job.

A description
of this scene should help.

Mere words.

You think you have
something to trade?

You accuse,
I deny. I'm not afraid.

It's ok. Really.

It's not ok.
My mom.

Bring it on, Lionel!

Smile!

Yeah, that's it.

Do you have another
statement you'd care to make?

Take it off, will you?

408.

911.
I'm gonna call.

No. My sweet baby.

Yes, we need an
ambulance right away.

Suite 408. Yes, sir.

Who are those people out there?

They're my friends, mama.

You'll meet them.

Did you find him?

No. Not yet.

I'm thinking of the reputation
of both you and your facility.

I held my tongue, did I not?

Well, I think you owe me.

After all, we're friends?

Thank you, thank you.

♪ I never thought ♪

♪ you were just a stranger ♪

♪ now I find you
here by my side ♪

I asked Leo,
right before the thing in the hotel...

I asked him if he'd help out,

put something in his column.

I guess he figured since he
didn't have his column anymore

he'd find some other way.

So then, what? How
did he do it so fast?

I don't know, Nola.
He's a journalist.

They track down leads.
They get tips.

It's what they do.

Captures the man,
don't you think?

I like the story, Leo...

By the new "time"
magazine columnist.

Well, we have a lot
to celebrate tonight.

I propose a toast.

To a courageous woman who's
fighting the battle of her life,

right now in a rehab.

From what I hear...
Doing... well.

To two beautiful women who triumphed
overcoming some dicey indictments.

Ho ho!

And to their mouthpiece

and future formidable hired gun.

Hear hear!

Leo.

Yes, sir.

I don't think we should
string this out.

Is he here tonight?

Yeah.

Can we see him from here?

Yes, you can.

Where is he?

He's at this table.

The name hutch?

A rabbit lives in a hutch...

And has some well-known
proclivities.

I was in Kansas City,

trying to interest a local
record company in my songs.

Your mother was singing in a
club just south of the city.

She was the best ...club
singer i'd ever seen or heard.

She agreed to sing
some of my songs,

and I... I fell,

really fell.

We had an unbelievable
two weeks,

and then I left,

which was me at that time.

I'm sorry to say.

I never knew.

Your mother never told me.

I was pretty damn sure

from the moment I heard
you sing that song.

What I thought was life can
play a real wild card like this.

Not often.

Pay attention when it happens.

I can't express how sorry I am

not to have known before.

But it is wonderful now knowing.

♪ I've been searching
my place ♪

♪ finding my way home ♪

♪ now I'm looking to face ♪

♪ and I don't feel
so alone ♪

♪ never blue ♪

♪ I found you ♪

♪ don't break my heart ♪

♪ don't go away ♪

♪ don't leave me lonely
running in place ♪

♪ waited so long
to be here right now ♪

♪ sometimes things work out,
don't ask me how ♪

♪ don't break my heart ♪

♪ I watch the shadows
walk the street ♪

♪ nothing was enough ♪

♪ but now I'm closer
to complete ♪

♪ I'm trying to be tough ♪

♪ ever new ♪

♪ I find you ♪

♪ don't break my heart,
don't walk away ♪

♪ don't leave me lonely
running in place ♪

♪ waited so long
to be here right now ♪

♪ sometimes things work out,
don't ask me how ♪

♪ don't break my heart ♪

♪ Don't break my heart ♪

♪ don't walk away ♪

♪ don't leave me lonely
running in place ♪

♪ waited so long
to be here right now ♪

♪ sometimes things work out,
don't ask me how ♪

♪ don't break my heart ♪

♪ don't break my heart ♪

♪ don't break my heart ♪

Beautiful voice!

That was for you.

If I had known that...

You didn't want to know.

You're right.
I'm sorry.

There's a lot of
time to make up for.

I know.

Are you up to that?

Yeah.

There it is.

Historic site,

where I spent my
first night in New York.

There ought to be a plaque.

Some day there will be.

I didn't even
know you back then.

None of this
would have happened.

Let's see, two months
ago, I was a fry cook.

Now I'm about to clerk
for a federal judge,

if I don't screw up
in the next two weeks.

You won't, Ben.

Two months ago,
you were this really hard-... kid,

who wouldn't let
anybody get close to you.

Is that close enough?

God.
Don't say anything.

Why not?

It's gonna get corny.

I hate corny.

I'll restrain the impulse.

You know, you ought to be a spy

or a professional poker player.

Anything you like.

♪ Baby gone,
my baby gone ♪

♪ you're just fine
the way you are ♪

♪ so, what's the matter? ♪

♪ Where's the problem? ♪

♪ They don't love you ♪

♪ 'cause they don't
know you like I do ♪

♪ can't you see? ♪

♪ It's amazing
what you do to me ♪

♪ took my heart
and made me feel things ♪

♪ I never felt before ♪

♪ this change in me ♪

♪ new direction
so suddenly ♪

♪ took me out there
and threw me around ♪

♪ helped me learn to breathe
in a... ♪

♪ Tiger Lily ♪

♪ my tiger Lily ♪

♪ you're just wild ♪

♪ you're as wild
as they come ♪

♪ so, what's the trouble? ♪

♪ Where's the problem? ♪

♪ You're just a blooming,
beautiful sunrise ♪

♪ can't you see? ♪

♪ It's amazing
what you do to me ♪

♪ took my heart
and made me feel things ♪

♪ I never felt before ♪

♪ this change in me ♪

♪ new direction
so suddenly ♪

♪ took me out there
and threw me around ♪

♪ helped me learn to breathe
in a... ♪

♪ When I was afraid
to reach out ♪

♪ and I was
the one to run ♪

♪ you came along with
a new lease on life ♪

♪ to show me
how it's done ♪

♪ can you see? ♪

♪ It's amazing what
you do to me ♪

♪ took my heart
and made me feel things ♪

♪ I never felt before ♪

♪ this change in me ♪

♪ new direction
so suddenly ♪

♪ took me out there
and threw me around ♪

♪ helped me learn
to breathe ♪

♪ can't you see? ♪

♪ It's amazing
what you do to me ♪

♪ took my heart
and made me feel things ♪

♪ I never felt before ♪

♪ this change in me ♪

♪ new direction
so suddenly ♪

♪ took me out there
and threw me around ♪

♪ helped me learn
to breathe ♪

♪ helped me learn
to breathe alone ♪