Original subtitles

Last summer, I worked there. I got pink rot all over my arms.

No way Uncle Joe is going to talk me into cutting celery again.

If one has committed the unpardonable sin,

he must realise that he has.

The opposite, Willem. That is the error of the Pelagians.

The unpardonable sin is the rejection of the Holy Spirit.

Talk theology, John. I go back to the Bible.

Just look at Hebrews 10:28 and 29, or Romans 3:23 to 25.

I'm sick of watching this television stuff.

- Oh, come on. - What are you doing?

You know who makes it? Kids who couldn't get along here.

They go to California to make television.

I didn't like them here and I don't like them out there.

Television. If you don't buy one, the kids go someplace else and watch.

Give the kids a break. It's Christmas.

He hasn't changed in years.

He never will.

Aunt Ruth?

Can we use Timmy for the Nativity play? We need a baby Jesus.

Timmy is only six months old.

Stand still.

Your dad and I aren't sure you and Kristen should go on the convention.

But I was a good turkey this year.

Please, don't eat me. Don't eat me.

Uncle Casey and Aunt Sue are here. Let's eat.

Now we'll say grace.

Heavenly Father,

we thank thee for bringing this family together here on this occasion.

Thou knowest our every need.

We ask thee to watch over us in the coming year.

Keep us safe from harm and danger, if it be thy will.

Bless all our missionaries throughout the length and breadth of this earth.

Amen.

Harold Jay, please don't touch that.

Sister, would you see if Kristen has everything packed?

Of course.

Want to go for coffee after we send the girls off?

No, thanks anyway. I've got to get right over to the office.

Anne wants to make sure you come by for dinner Sunday.

With Kristen gone, you'll be all alone.

You ready?

Don't forget your gloves.

- Alvin. - OK. Bye.

I wish I was going to Disneyland.

Daverman.

DeBeer.

Deboer. DeJong.

- Have a nice time. - De Vries.

Get a shot of her, will you? Wave.

Come on, Marsha, get going there. De Vries.

Vanderkeen.

Vanderlon.

VanDorn.

- Take care of yourself. I love you. - I love you, too.

If you need anything, just call.

There they go.

Safely away.

A new shipment came in? Good.

This look all right to you?

- Those the right specs? - I think so.

- That's fine. - OK. Thank you.

- This all the space you could get? - I tried to get more but this is the limit.

The De Vries line has the same area.

- What do you think of that blue? - I like it, Mr VanDorn.

- Don't think it's a little bright? - Not really. You want to tone it down?

No.

I wouldn't hire a display designer if I didn't trust her taste.

Maybe we could bring more of that shade in. Perhaps a panel?

No, that would be much too overpowering.

Overpowering. That's the word I was looking for.

Mr VanDorn, I've worked on this colour scheme for weeks.

I think it's just right.

- What do you call that shade? - Pavonine.

It's the same shade as the fabric.

Still going with that fellow that teaches at Grand Valley?

- Sam? - Yeah.

Nice guy. You don't want to lose him.

Maybe we could take it down a little bit. It's just a little-

- Overpowering? - Yeah.

OK, I think we could knock that pavonine blue a bit.

- Are you sure it's all right? - Yes. I think it'll look better.

If you say so.

This is so boring. I can't wait till tomorrow.

You going to the farm with him?

He asked me. Are you going with anybody?

I don't know.

- Do you know how to play chicken? - What's that?

You don't know how to play?

Well, you see, a boy goes like this.

What does it do?

Each time he comes in closer, and closer, and closer,

until you say chicken and then he stops.

Does Jerry do that?

Everybody, time for your discussion group.

Marsha, put your nametag back on. Come on.

Question. What is your only comfort in life and death?

Answer. That I, body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own,

but belong unto my faithful saviour, Jesus Christ.

Soon as the service begins, the ushers go to Big Boy's for coffee.

I'll get it.

So when someone like old Mrs Van Dyke in a wheelchair needs help,

there's no one there to help her.

You never find those guys when you need them.

Aren't you glad you came for Sunday dinner now?

- It's for you, Jake. - Thank you.

I hope I never get old and have to be in a wheelchair

and have to depend on the ushers to help me out of church.

You'd never let that happen to your mother, would you, Harold Jay?

When?

Yes, all right. Thank you.

What is it, Jake?

That was Mrs Steensma, calling from California.

Kristen's disappeared.

- What happened? - They don't know.

They were on some sort of recreation deal at Knott's Berry farm.

They came back to the bus. Kristen was gone. They couldn't find her.

- They called the police? - Yeah.

- Is Marsha there? - Yeah, she's all right. She's upset.

I've got to fly out there today. They want me to bring some pictures.

I'll go with you. I'll check the airline schedules.

Just let me pack some things.

There's a ride called the Great White Knuckler.

The last time I saw Kristen, she was standing there.

Why was she alone?

Was she alone?

- I told the policeman. - They had met an older boy earlier.

Well, it turns out that the boy your daughter was talking to

didn't work at the park.

- We've interviewed everybody there. - But if she has-

At the present, there's no indication of any violence.

- Let's hope she's just a runaway. - There's something very wrong here.

Kristen isn't the type of person to leave.

I said, let's hope she's a runaway.

If she's a runaway, she knows where she is. That's better than a lot of kids.

Some won't show up for years, some won't show up at all.

- These are the realities. - What are you doing?

I've got two officers on the case. They're gonna follow up every lead.

- We'll give it our best shot. - What can we do?

There are people who specialise in this kind of thing.

I suppose you could hire yourselves the best private detective in town.

He might be able to put all his energies into it.

Mr Mast, I'm Jake VanDorn. This is my brother-in-law, Wesley.

- Coffee? - Black.

Let me ask you a personal question.

Was your daughter the kind of girl to run around?

Play practical jokes, maybe?

No, I didn't think she was.

Let me get the picture here, let me guess.

Let me visualise your daughter.

She's an absolutely clean girl, a model daughter.

She never had a rebellious or impure thought. She didn't fuck around.

If I were you, I'd watch my language.

I'm a private detective, VanDorn.

You want to hire a choir boy, you can go back to Grand Rapids.

I've been to that scumbag town. It's full of them.

- Who's paying you? - You are.

That's right.

Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend your personal beliefs.

Believe me, I'm a practitioner of Mind Science myself.

Look, I'm good at this. I do it a lot. Don't worry, I'll find her. No problem.

It may take a week or two, maybe a month, at most.

I get $750 a week, minimum.

It may seem like a lot to you, but it ain't. You could hire cheaper.

- And better? - I suppose.

But I got an instinct.

If your daughter's here, I'll track her down.

There's not much you can do here. Maybe it'd be better if you go home.

You could look through Kristen's personal stuff. Ask around.

Maybe find out if she knew somebody out here.

A friend, a relative. Maybe somebody she knew knew somebody out here.

Jake.

Where's Marsha?

- How about some cake and coffee? - Just coffee.

- Hello, Uncle Jake. - Sorry I didn't make it yesterday.

Here's your present, a day late. I hope you like it.

- Thank you. - Happy birthday.

- What is it? - You'll see.

- I'll just go out on the porch. - OK, Jake.

What is it, honey?

- Here. Sit here. - No, thanks. I'll sit over there.

Spring's gonna be early.

A cold spring means a hot summer.

It's gonna be a good year.

How's your business, Jake?

Not too bad.

You know, you should come around more often.

We haven't seen you for weeks.

Anne complains she doesn't see you at all any more.

You can't dwell on Kristen all the time.

Sometimes it's hard for us to understand the Lord's ways.

He's testing you. You have to have faith.

Would you?

Could you?

- Hello. - Mr VanDorn.

- Mast? - Yeah.

Where are you? The connection's good.

- I'm back in Grand Rapids. - GR? Why?

Can you meet me in about an hour? At the Pantlind Hotel.

- I have a meeting. - What are you paying me for?

I'll be there.

Have you ever seen any pornographic movies?

- No. - Know what a hardcore movie is?

- Yes, it's like a stag film, huh? - Yeah.

- Have you ever seen one of those? - No.

- They're legal now, all over. - So I gather.

Even here in Grand Rapids.

There's a little stall theatre up here. It's closed now.

But I got the use of it for an hour. There's something you ought to see.

It can't be.

Oh, my God.

Turn it off.

Turn it off, please.

- Where is she? - I don't know.

- Where'd you get that film? - A store in LA. I gotta keep it.

- Who made it? - I don't know.

- What do you mean? - Wait a minute. Slow down.

A film like this, 8mm film, it costs $200 or $300 to make.

Sold outright in a store. Shown in peep machines.

It's impossible to track down.

Nobody makes it. Nobody shows it. Nobody sees it.

It's like it doesn't even exist.

What's it called?

Slave of Love when I bought it.

Next time it's sold, something else.

- But the police. - The police?

You know more than the police do.

- You think she's all right? - Yeah, probably.

You like this, don't you? Showing me this.

I hate it. But you got to know, buddy,

there's a lot of strange things happening.

Things you don't know about.

Things you don't want to know about. Doors that shouldn't be opened.

I'll find her. But I can't make any promises.

I don't know what she'll be like.

And when I find her, you may not even want her back.

Actors, to your positions, please.

Come on, Niki, put your wig back on.

- Let's get it on. - Yeah, get it together, kids.

Can't you get this bed any warmer? My ass is freezing.

- He's got it up. - It's about time.

- He's got a big schlong. - Great talent.

- Action. Move it, let's go. - The wallpaper, it's peeling.

- Never mind. Keep shooting. - We're rolling.

Come on. Keep it going.

All right. Niki, throw your legs around his shoulders.

Bennie, swing around this way and lick her belly.

Maybe we should use a strobe light.

So it looks like they're doing more than they are.

For what we're paying, they'll do what we want.

Quick, get some spun glass.

Niki, come on, sweetheart. You're lying back. You're feeling real good.

Setting your mind free, thinking about your dad. Your mind is open.

- The kid's a good director. - UCLA.

Bennie, come on, now. Niki, move a bit more to your right. That's good.

To your left.

They can go all night.

Hey, what do you know, what do you hear, what do you say?

Don't get uppity. I remember when you was running a car wash.

You couldn't make a go of that.

What was the other thing? A Dairy Queen? That went bust too, didn't it?

Always in action though, always made a dollar. Right?

Right. Always in action.

This girl, she's been doing some porn stuff.

- Do you recognise her? - No.

Look again, this is jailbait. It could get you in trouble.

That's no twice.

All right. I may have to go to the authorities.

You want to listen to me, Andy?

You play with yourself? You must play with yourself.

Am I gonna bother with that? Look at my girls. They're beautiful.

I'm a father to these girls. Do I have to bother with that shit?

You know who's in there now? Terry. The beauty.

- Right. The fire dancer. - Very hot.

She'll grow hair on your head.

Do you want to hang around? But you gotta be quiet.

- Don't make a sound. - That's really Terry?

Back up a little bit and wrap yourself around him.

OK, cut.

I'm going out of town for a while.

No, I don't know when I'll be back.

No, there's nothing wrong. Think you can keep things running?

Don't ask.

- There's a vibe. - Definitely.

- It's really there. - There's a real vibe.

Feels like I could share things with you.

- And I try to be giving. - I like your carpet.

I did it myself, you know.

Shit, it's the cops.

- Who the fuck is that? - What are you doing? Son of a bitch.

I've been paying you every week for four months-

- I'm splitting. - I ain't cheated you, Pilgrim.

This is research, damn it. That girl could have told us something.

Research? I suppose these are the extra expenses I've been paying you.

Why don't you stay where you belong, in yo-yo land?

Get out of here.

I'm only human, you know. I'm not perfect.

- Get out. - This is my own apartment.

- Get out. - All right, you rat prick.

Go find your own daughter.

I'm not smart enough to lock my own fucking door.

50-cent admission.

It's a 50-cents admission. It's applicable to a purchase.

Have you got a film called Slave of Love?

- What we got is what you see. - It's a short film.

They're all about the same. Would you like something?

- This is the movie I'm talking about. - What are you talking about?

I wondered if you'd ever seen this film of this woman right here.

That girl? No, I never seen her. I don't know anybody.

I'm trying to find...

- Who owns this store? - I don't know.

If you're looking for somebody, you ought to check the yellow pages.

- Wait a minute. - I don't know nothing, man.

You don't want anything for your 50 cents?

- Take your 50 cents. - That's all right.

No, take it. I don't want your goddamn 50 cents.

Companionship? Want some friendship? Free information.

Right in here, sir. They'll treat you well.

Hello. Welcome to Wild Mary's. I'm Beatrice.

- Have you been here before? - No.

What we offer is nude body-to-body contact on a bed in a private room.

It's $20 a half-hour, $30 an hour.

Anything else you may desire may be discussed in the privacy of your room.

Tipping's allowed.

We accept BankAmericard, MasterCharge, American Express.

I don't think I want body-to-body contact.

You can discuss that in your private room with the lady of your choice.

- Hi. - I'm looking for a girl.

Have you ever been in a porno film?

Why don't you come back with me? I'm sure you'll find what you like.

- You want a session? - No, I don't think so.

You sure? We have regular sessions, too. It's only $20.

Want to see what we got?

See you later, Felice.

- You ever been here before? - No.

We offer female wrestling.

Nude body-to-body contact with the girl of your choice in a private room.

$20 a half-hour, $30 an hour.

Other arrangements can be discussed in your room.

Tips are permitted.

We accept BankAmericard, MasterCharge, American Express.

Do you want to take a session?

I just wanted to ask some questions.

Yeah, you can do that in the privacy of your room.

OK, I'll take a half-hour.

- Any particular choice of girl? - You'll do fine.

Just follow me.

Why don't you just wait in here? I gotta get a sheet.

- You're still dressed? - Yeah, I want to...

Why don't you just relax?

Make yourself comfortable. Have a seat.

My name's Felice.

There's this girl that I wanted to ask you about.

You're not a Vice? Do you work for Los Angeles PD

or have any affiliation with law enforcement agencies?

No, I don't.

I have to ask you that. If you were Vice, you couldn't deny it.

You shouldn't dress so straight. You wouldn't get hassled so much.

Let me help you get this tie off.

I want to talk to you about this girl. I have her picture right here.

- Pull out your cock. - What?

Cops aren't allowed to do that, either. A judge ruled that was entrapment.

No, I'm not a cop. As a matter of fact,

I have less respect for the police than you do.

I'm trying to find this girl, a runaway. I can't get anybody to help me.

- Are you going to stiff me? - What do you mean?

Look, that 20 bucks you just paid to get in here? I don't get any of that.

That goes to the guys that own this place.

I get two bucks an hour, plus ten per cent of that goes to a bail fund.

- I make all my money on tips. - You want a tip?

Sure I want a tip. What do you want?

Tips can be what? Anywhere from, like, $30 to $70.

- What do you mean? - What do you want to tip me for?

Got to spell it out, man. Just tell me what you want. Just relax.

Here, I'll give you a tip. Here's $40.

Now, what do you want?

- I want to talk to you. - Yeah, that's cool.

About this woman. I'm looking for her. I want to know if you know her.

Man, I told you, I don't know nobody. I never seen her before.

- I'm getting angry. - Wait a minute, man.

That's gonna cost more than $40.

- I'm gonna find some answers. - Wait a minute.

Who runs this place?

Is it that blond guy out there? Is that who?

I'm gonna talk to somebody. Where's the bastard that runs this shithole?

- What's the problem? - He's causing trouble.

Help me find this woman.

I've been asking everybody. Nobody knows anything.

- We don't want the cops here. - I suppose you haven't seen her.

Her name is Kristen. I suppose you've never seen her, right?

Shut up.

That's it, man. Cool it.

Knock it off.

The numbers on Bang the Nun Slowly?

- No, Proud Pussy. - Right, read.

- They're very good. - Just read.

- Houston is $74,000. - Yeah, go ahead.

Dallas is $160,000.

- Dallas is what? - $160,000.

That's nice.

Better than the Leeway Brothers. They only pulled 30.

Who the fuck told you to mention them?

They made Love Muscle.

With Suzie Stretchmark in a delivery room.

I make pictures of quality.

I make custard. You understand? I use custard.

Little chicks off the surfboard. Take them and dunk them.

You can pull them in and out. Quality is the answer.

- What'd we do in St. Louis? - St. Louis, $38,000.

St. Louis can bang this slowly. Who booked St. Louis?

Hi, I'm Jake De Vries. I'm here to see Mr Ramada.

- Where's my accountant? - He's got a bad stomach.

- Hello. What is it, Georgia? - There's a Mr De Vries here.

A Mr De Vries. I don't know a... You know a De Vries?

- I never heard of him. - You ask where he's from.

- Detroit. What'd we do in Detroit? - Detroit? Big. $200,000.

Send him in, Georgia.

You never can tell. Who knows? Detroit. $200,000.

- He may own drive-ins. - Right.

- You feeling OK? - I told you never to ask me how I feel.

All you do is say " right".

- Right. - That's all you're supposed to say.

Mr De Vries. Hello, how are you? I'm Bill Ramada, and this is Kurt.

- Kurt. - How do you do?

Sit down, Detroit. I love Detroit.

Had an all-time box office smash there, Little Oral Annie.

I'm afraid I missed that.

You missed a good one. The girl's gonna be a big star, right?

That's my " right" man.

- What can I do for you, Mr De Vries? - Call me Jake.

Jake, what can I do for you?

I'm interested in financing an adult feature film

and I was told you were the man to see.

You came to the right man. Continue. Go ahead.

I have $50,000 that I'm prepared to invest in a suitable project.

Of course, I may want to get involved in the process of making the film.

Meet people who make this kind of film, learn how it's done.

- What business are you in? - I have my own business.

We make rivets for the auto industry.

Rivets? That sounds like a good, solid American business. Right, Kurt?

Sit down, will you?

Why does a solid businessman like you want to get into pornography?

Well, Bill... Is it all right if I call you Bill?

Yeah, you can call me Bill. Go ahead.

I'll be frank with you, Bill. I've made a lot of money.

Well, even rivets can get a little boring after a while.

My business manager suggested I tax-shelter some income.

I thought I'd give this a try.

- What, the rivet hit you in the eye? - Detroit's a tough town.

It's cool, you don't have to bullshit me. You're looking to lay some pipe.

- Get fucked? Humped? Banged? - Not exactly.

You know, $50,000 buys you a lot of pussy.

You can get yourself pussy-whipped for that.

What do you want to fuck with movies for?

- It's an investment. - It's an investment?

A couple of years ago, I would've jumped at 50 big ones.

But listen to this. What did we do on High-School Honeys last year?

- Five-three. - That's $5,300,000.

Does that sound like I need a partner? I don't take partners. Right?

But I'll give you some advice. You look like a nice guy.

Start small, start with the kiddie porno.

Then work yourself up. And come around the set.

I'll see if somebody wants your 50 and you can get in.

- I appreciate that, Bill. - You appreciate it?

But right now, I gotta go.

I'm a hypoglycaemic, my sugar runs low. So I got to eat something.

Listen, don't forget my door is always open to artistic people.

I want you to get me a hamburger, lean, and some dry toast.

WIM. 35, 175.

Fastest tongue in West.

Will demonstrate proficiency in all dialects...

to females under 50.

Looks not imp. I-M-P, that's in caps.

George Harper. PO Box 77, Alhambra, California.

That's on next week? I need it out by Thursday.

No problem.

I'd like to place an ad in the Personals.

- How many weeks will that be for? - Just one.

" Film producer." That should be in caps, bold face.

"Seeks young men, 18 to 25, for hardcore film.

" Prior film experience a must. Call Jake at the Cinema Motel.

"555-5671."

I like it red.

- How far you girls going? - Far as you want. We're stranded.

Stranded? I guess I'm going first class.

- Cut. - Is that OK?

What kind of army has a soldier like that?

- He brought his own uniform. - Let's move in for the close-up.

Come on.

What are you doing, making a career out of this?

- Too much angel dust- - Do you think you are Antonioni?

- Mr... - De Vries.

- De Vries. - Kurt.

Are you the star of this picture?

Are you kidding? Three days' work. I finish tonight.

- The other girl's the star? - She thinks so.

What do you do?

I'm with Ramada, we're doing some things together.

Next time you talk to him, tell him to pay his actresses more.

- Paint the grass red- - For what you pay, I don't paint-

Don't talk that way to me, you cock-eyed bastard.

Niki, we're ready. Put your wig back on and take your position.

Nice meeting you.

All right. Come on, get back in the car. Let's go.

All right. Come on. Action.

How far are you girls going?

Next time, maybe we'll get to be the soldier.

Boy, us military get special treatment.

This is where we come in for the close-up.

What's happening here, Jake?

How did you find me?

I called every LA hotel.

Holiday Inn gave this as a referral number.

Your office said you had no business in New York.

So I figured you'd come out here.

- Wesley, do me a favour, will you? - What?

Leave me alone. Go home. Go away.

- Jake, I can't- - Do what I say, please.

What is going on, Jake?

I have an idea of how to find Kristen. I have a plan, but I have to be alone.

What'll I tell the others, then?

We care about you.

Tell them anything you want. Tell them I'm on vacation.

Tell them I'm on a business trip.

Just don't tell them about this, that's all.

Go home. Go away.

Yes, it's open, come in.

- Jake? Mr Holcum? - Pete?

- Peter Long, that's the name I use. - Right.

Well, Pete.

We're casting male roles for an explicit sex-action feature.

It pays $100 a day.

Up to two weeks' work. You've had experience?

I was in the film Sodom and Gomorrah. I don't know if you saw it.

I played the slave of the Queen of Gomorrah. I got some pictures here.

Excuse me a second.

Yeah. This is Jake.

We're casting right now. Have you had hardcore-film experience?

All right, supposing I try to squeeze you in today between...

4.00, 4.15, is that all right?

Yeah, the Cinema Motel, Van Nuys, room seven.

Very good, we'll see you then. Bye.

OK, I have your answering-service number.

If we decide to use you, I'll give you a call.

I'm Dick Blaque. You're doing a porno movie, right?

- Right. - Then I'm the man for you.

Glad to meet you. You're not the type we're looking for.

You mean because I'm black?

- No, you're just not the type. - What do you mean, not the type?

Man, don't you know who I am? I'm Big Dick Blaque.

I've done more movies than you ever saw.

I've worked with Harry Reems, Johnny Wadd. Not the type?

I can come 10 times a day.

I can keep it hard for two hours. I'm a woman's dream.

I got a dick hung on me nine inches long.

I'm sorry, Mr Blaque, I'm sure you're very good.

I just don't have anything for you. If something comes up-

Shit. You don't want to hire any niggers, that's all.

I knew this was a scam. This is bullshit.

I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you're not exactly the type.

We had something a little different in mind.

- Don't you want to see my stuff, man? - What stuff?

You know, my stuff.

Yeah, sure.

All right, thank you very much.

Yes, come in.

Hey, man, what's happening?

We're casting an explicit sex-action feature.

I know. Word's out on the street.

Word's also out that you ain't really hiring anybody.

- That's not true, Mr...? - Jim Sloan.

Sometimes they call me Jism Jim.

That's not true, Jim. As a matter of fact,

I think you're close to the type we're looking for.

Yeah?

Well, I've done a lot of good work, you know.

Shorts, features. No major roles yet, but it's all been really good stuff.

That's what I want to talk to you about.

I like your looks. I particularly liked you in this film.

I remember that. It was made by some college kids.

It was called Slave of Love.

God, I don't know what it was called. I only got $25 for the whole thing.

Well, I liked you in it.

I also liked the girl. I really thought she was good.

- I was wondering, is she still around? - Just wait a minute.

I need the work, and I want to be in your picture,

but that is one bitch that I will not work with again.

That was one freaky bitch, man.

I don't know what she was into or on.

I just don't want anything to do with her again.

My prick was so red and sore, I couldn't walk for a goddamn week-

Cheer up, you're not dead.

Come on, sit up, trash, we're going to take a little shower together.

OK, that's it.

- Don't hit me any more, all right? - Where's the girl? Where is she?

This guy worked her. His name is Tod.

- Where does he hang out? - I don't know, man.

- Where? - Look, I know this chick named Niki.

She works at Les Girls. She would know. She knows where he lives.

- You have a girl here named Niki? - In the booths. Any of the first three.

That'll be $5 for two minutes.

It's $5 a token.

I'll take two.

- Hello. - Are you Niki?

Sure, like in Mick ey and Nicky? Did you see that picture?

No.

Too bad. I wasn't in it.

Well, it's your money. You talk.

I'm making a film. Jim Sloan is in it.

He thought you might know where Tod is.

Don't I know you?

Weren't you on the set the other night with Ramada?

- You making a feature? - Live sound.

You got any parts? I'm free. I don't really do this.

Jim and I are trying to run down this girl.

Do you know her?

I can't see shit without my glasses. Joanne?

- You know her? - No. I seen her with Tod.

Do you know where she lives?

Do you know where she might be found?

Where is she?

- Well, Tod might know. - Where is he?

The last I heard, he went to San Diego.

If we went down there, do you think you'd be able to find him?

You're not a film producer, are you?

How much do you make a week, Niki?

You a private detective?

Something like that. How much?

Here? What a joke. There was some other detective asking about that girl.

$300?

This is just temporary. I once made $900 in outcall.

I'll give you $700 a week, cash, if you'll help me find this girl.

- Up front? - Half now, half later.

Make it $900. That was my best week.

OK. My client pays for it anyway.

- Well, when do we start? - Tonight. When you get out of here.

Mr Mast?

I'm Wes DeJong, Jake VanDorn's brother-in-law.

We met a couple of months ago when he hired you.

Your agency said you might be here.

I'm on a stake-out.

I'm staking out this beer bottle.

- I'm worried about Jake. - I'm off that case. He fired me.

I want to rehire you.

I also want you to protect my brother-in-law.

He's an angry, unhappy man.

Yeah, unhappy. You can see that. I'm very sensitive to people's psychology.

$750 a week, plus travel expenses.

You actually paid for both these rooms?

I thought you'd just get a receipt for two and kickback the deskman.

You going somewhere? I thought you were going to bed.

I am.

You have any pills? Any Valium or Librium?

Do you know pimps sell Valium for 50 cents? Can you believe that?

I think I'm really fucked up.

I'm a Venusian.

The Venusian Church. You know, Venus, goddess of love.

Venus, goddess of love...

Take it easy, Niki. Calm down.

We're gonna have a little talk.

You'll go to your room and we'll both get a good night's sleep.

You got anything to drink? You want to go out?

I don't drink, but you can go out if you want to.

- You don't drink? - Ulcers.

You're not a private detective, either, are you?

I didn't think so. I've fucked detectives.

Who are you?

- A friend. - Joanne's?

I'm her father.

Jesus.

Her name's Kristen. She disappeared a couple of months ago.

- Where's your wife? - She's dead.

Look, don't worry about it.

Your daughter's around. We'll find her in a couple of days.

You know what your problem is?

You think negatively. You're a very negative person.

I mean, you got to believe in something.

What do they believe in the... What church?

Dutch Reformation. It's a Calvinist denomination.

Do they believe in reincarnation? I believe in reincarnation.

They believe in the TULIP.

What the crap?

It's an acronym. It comes from the Canons of Dort.

Every letter stands for a different belief, like...

Are you sure you want to hear this?

Please go on. I'm a Venusian myself.

T stands for Total Depravity.

All men, through original sin, are totally evil and incapable of good.

"All my works are as filthy rags in the sight of the Lord."

That's what the Venusians call negative moral attitudes.

Well, be that as it may.

U stands for Unconditional Election.

God has chosen a certain number of people to be saved, the Elect.

And he's chosen them from the beginning of time.

I is for Limited Atonement.

Only a number of people will be atoned and go to heaven.

I is for Irresistible Grace.

God's grace cannot be resisted or denied.

P is for the Perseverance of the Saints.

Once you're in grace, you cannot fall from the numbers of the Elect.

Before you can become saved, God already knows who you are?

Yes, he'd have to. That's predestination.

I mean, if God is omniscient, if he knows everything,

and he wouldn't be God if he didn't,

then he must have known, before the creation of the world,

the names of those who would be saved.

Well, then it's all worked out. It's fixed.

More or less.

I thought I was fucked up.

I'll admit it's confusing from the outside.

You have to try to look at it from the inside.

If you look at anything from the inside it makes sense.

You should hear perverts talk.

A guy once almost convinced me to let his German shepherd screw me.

It's not quite the same thing.

- It doesn't make any sense to me. - Flight to San Diego now boarding.

I think that's our plane.

Want me to help you with that?

Jim Rucker runs this place. He knows where everybody is.

It's a nice place. He hires a lot of girls.

Is Rucker here?

He'll be back in a couple of hours.

Tell him Louise was here. I'll come back.

You want anything?

You shouldn't eat all that junk.

At least I'm a growing person.

You won't keep growing long at this rate.

Don't start coming down on me.

You know, what I do is important.

A lot of guys can't talk to their wives or girlfriends.

They talk to me. I make them feel better.

I'm just like a therapist.

You know, there's a professor at UCLA writing a book about me.

What do you think I do, just suck off guys all day?

You think I'm just a fuck face?

You can't even say it, can you?

Say what?

Sucking off.

All right. Sucking off.

Now, does that make me as good as you?

You don't understand shit.

When I was 15, I was turning tricks in Vegas.

I was taking all the older girls' regular customers.

It wasn't my fault.

They put out a contract on me. I didn't know it was illegal.

Niki, don't go on, please.

You and I, we just have very different ideas about sex, that's all.

Why? Are you a sex fiend?

- Neither am I. - That's all you do.

It's not all... How important do you think sex is?

- Not very. - Well, then we're just alike.

I mean, you think it's so unimportant that you don't even do it.

I think it's so unimportant that I don't care who I do it with.

We're not alike. You could never understand a person like me.

I'm a mystery to you. A middle-class person. A Midwesterner.

Goes to church. Believes in God.

Who believes that at the end of his life, he'll be redeemed.

It doesn't make any sense to you.

I don't know why I should justify myself to you.

I don't care about things you care about.

I don't care what's happening in Los Angeles or New York.

I don't care about the movies or TV. I don't care who's on Johnny Carson.

What do you care about?

I care about my daughter.

Hey, Rucker.

Remember me? Louise. Rhymes with squeeze.

You working in San Diego now?

No, I'm still up in LA. I was looking for Tod. I heard he was around.

Was. He and that shitheel Ratan went down to TJ.

Maybe I shouldn't say that. Anyway, I hear he's back in Frisco now.

- Was he with a girl? - No.

Keep in touch, baby.

- What's TJ? - Tijuana.

- Were they here? - Tod was.

- He was with Ratan. - What does that mean?

- What does he do? - He deals in pain.

Is Kristen safe?

Let's get a plane to San Francisco.

Apparently your friend slipped down into San Diego.

Now he's headed up to San Francisco.

How's it feel to have the LAPD doing your police work for you?

You're going to thank me for this. The media loves this kind of shit.

Real family drama. Runaway daughter, enraged father.

They eat it up. It helps their ratings.

Now, if this guy goes off half-cocked and gets himself hurt...

you're gonna get such bad publicity, you won't believe it.

You think this guy will get in trouble?

He's a religious type. You figure it.

Tod'll meet you at that bookstore down there at 4.00 tomorrow.

I told him you were a specialty customer.

Why can't I meet him now?

- He's busy now. - Where does he live?

I'm risking my ass. We'll do it my way, OK?

I've been in more motel rooms this week than I have in the rest of my life.

Yeah, I know what you mean. After a while they all look the same.

They are the same.

Do you live in a house, back in wherever?

Grand Rapids? Of course.

On your own land? Just you and your daughter?

I don't know your daughter.

But...

But what?

I wouldn't expect too much about her coming back.

What makes you so sure?

- Your wife isn't dead, is she? - Why do you say that?

It's just a guess. She isn't dead though, is she?

Where is she now?

Back East somewhere. It doesn't matter.

- Does your daughter know? - Of course.

Your wife left you, right?

Her name was Joanne too. How'd you know?

Just a guess. What was the problem?

Sex? Always is.

I really don't blame you for saying that, really.

It's this culture. Everything's based on sex. Sold on sex.

Magazines, music, TV.

Buy this because of sex. Use that because of sex.

Kids, they think it's normal.

They think they're supposed to talk dirty, wear scanty clothes.

Hey, don't get upset. I lied, too.

I don't make no $500.

I don't make anything. Everything I make goes to Granville.

- Where? - Granville.

My old man. Pimp to you.

I split 'cause he didn't treat me for shit.

He thinks he's so cool.

You know, once I tried to take my clothes-

This really isn't any of my business. I don't want to know about it.

So I guess we're both fucked?

At least you get to go to heaven. I don't get shit.

Pilgrim.

This is just how you found me once.

What are you doing here?

I felt like such a shit after what I did to you.

Not that I did anything wrong.

But I kept investigating, poking around.

There's some poor SOB in LA,

with his face bent out of shape where you damaged his movie career.

It's lucky for him no one looks at his face.

- The police want to arrest me? - Nah.

They don't care about some faggot hustler.

They're more interested in your daughter's health and yours.

- Like I am. - Yeah, sure.

You're way out on a limb. You don't know what you're into.

- You sure haven't been any help. - I'm sorry about that.

What have you found out? Tell me.

Why don't you tell me something for a change?

Like what?

Who's Ratan?

- Where did you hear that name? - I just heard. Who is he?

You know, you can buy anything on this earth. Child whores, slaves.

Have people raped and killed.

One of the men who supposedly arranges such things is called Ratan.

- How did you hear about him? - Just a name.

Don't do anything more. I'll find out what I can.

- She know anything about this? - Who, the whore?

No, she's the victim. A dime a dozen.

What's happening?

I hear you've got some money to spend.

I hear you're interested in... interesting things.

Come on.

Do you work for San Francisco PD

or do you have any other affiliation with any law enforcement agency?

What you got in mind?

I want to meet...

Ratan.

What is that? Some kind of chair? I never heard of no Ratan.

I'm told that there are certain things that only Ratan can provide.

Are you talking about real excitement?

I heard that you and him just come back from Mexico

and you got a picture where a girl gets... You know.

Who told you this?

Rucker.

I don't know no Ratan, but I may be able to help you out.

It's not me, you understand. It's just helping out a friend.

It'll cost you 100 bucks for a single screening.

The one with the girl named Kristen in it?

You got the money?

Take it or leave it.

OK.

Meet me here today at 8 o'clock. With the money.

Then we'll go see the film.

Good.

You ain't never going to have no thrill like this.

What's the matter with your room?

- TV's broke. - Yeah?

Well, this one's broke, too.

How about the bed? Is that working?

- Granville's looking for you, Niki. - My name ain't Niki.

It's Pattica, you know, like in Attica.

Real nice.

Granville's looking for you anyway.

- Who's that? - You know.

The dude with the big white car. The guy who bought you that ring.

I know that boy. He can make life real tough on a working girl.

He can get you strung out again.

He'll get you sniffing and then snorting and shooting.

You both can fuck off.

You're taking a big chance.

I don't plan on seeing him again, anyway.

Oh, no? What are you gonna do, get a job?

Office temporaries? Computer programmer?

Cosmetologist?

- Jake will take care of me. - Who? VanDorn?

You gotta be kidding yourself, honey.

You think once he finds his daughter he's gonna think about you?

No way, kid. You'll be strictly yesterday's papers.

- What did you find out? - Leave me alone.

I'm here to help you.

All right.

Did you find out where she is?

Tod disappeared. I've got to find him. Where does he live?

- What happened? - Where is he?

- I can't tell you that. - Listen to me, young lady.

My daughter's been missing for five months.

I've gone through a lot to find out what's happened.

I saw Ratan kill a girl.

Now, I am not gonna let this Tod slip through my hands. Where is he?

But then you'll forget about me.

Some bondage house. A black storefront off Kearney and Broadway.

He works there.

I won't forget you.

What are you doing, Pilgrim? Look, where are you going?

Let me take care of this. I don't want you to get hurt.

Look, don't do anything till the police get there.

Look, you got to tell me where he's gone.

Hello, Police? My name's Mast. Get me Joe Klein in Vice.

Hello, come on in.

Have a seat.

- Now, you need some information? - Yeah.

We offer...

What are you interested in? We offer verbal humiliation, bondage-

- I'm looking for Tod. Is he in? - Tod?

- I don't know anyone named Tod. - What girls do you have here?

- Well, I'm Hope. This is Faith, Charity. - All you have is three girls?

I think you've made a mistake. Check down the street.

- I know he's here. - Wait a minute.

What do you want?

You didn't like the movie? Listen, I got another one.

I want my daughter. Her name is Kristen. Or Joanne.

- She was with you. - I don't know what you're on about.

The police know about Ratan.

They know he's here with you. They know everything.

Well, goody for them. Get the fuck out of here.

- Where's Ratan? Where is he? - Let go-

- Where is he? - The El Matador. He goes there.

Don't move, Ratan.

Freeze, asshole.

Don't hurt me.

I know it's been terrible for you, but it's over now, honey.

You can come home now.

It doesn't matter what they made you do.

They didn't make me do anything.

I wanted to leave.

That's not true, baby.

You didn't want to leave. They took you away.

I love you.

Don't touch me, you cocksucker.

You never gave a fuck about me before.

You didn't.

So don't touch me now.

I didn't fit into your goddamned world.

I wasn't pretty or good enough for you.

You never approved of any of my friends. You drove them all away.

I'm with people who love me now.

You robbed my life.

God, baby.

I do love you.

I just never knew how to show you.

It's very difficult for me. Nobody ever taught me.

I tried.

It's just my damnable pride.

Just get away.

Please.

You really want me to go?

No.

Then you take me home.

Clear a way, now.

Guys, come on. Let's break it up. There's nothing to see. It's all over.

Niki, maybe I've... Maybe there's some way I can...

Think you could do something for her? Maybe money?

Go home, Pilgrim.

There's nothing you can do. You don't belong here.