Original subtitles

- You okay?

- I'm just great.

Looking at the sky.

- Here, let me help you up.

- I don't want to get up.

- I thought you fell.

- No, just laying here.

- Okay.

- What are you wearing?

- My clogs.

- Haven't seen that before.

You a chef?

- No.

- Then why are you wearing them?

- I don't know, I like them.

I got 'em in art school.

- Far out.

My name's Liz.

- Will.

- Hi, Will.

- Hi.

- You gonna come lay here next to me

and look at the sky or are you moving on?

- I was actually going to sit on that bench over there,

before I saw you laying here.

- Oh, cool.

- Okay.

- Okay, Will.

Whatcha doing?

- I...

- What are you drawing?

- I was actually gonna draw this building over here.

- Nice view.

Show me how.

- Okay.

I work at this art gallery on Thirds Street Promenade.

It's unimportant really.

- So you haven't had a gallery showing yet?

- No, nothing like that.

I just like to draw and I paint sometimes.

- Like a cartoonist.

- Yeah, I guess you could say that.

- You're not a cartoonist.

- No.

I just like to sketch and I draw sometimes.

- Yeah?

- How about you?

What's your story?

- I got here a month ago.

From Oregon.

Staying in a house with three other girls.

Got a job as a server, start tomorrow.

Thought I'd spend today looking up at the sky

if I'm gonna be indoors for awhile.

- Yeah.

So where is it, where do you work?

- Station 39, over in Culver.

- Oh.

I think I've been there like once.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

- But I figure I'll do this for a while,

figure out what to do next.

Keep my options open.

- That's a good idea.

- You're from around here, right?

- Yeah, born and raised here.

- So what's it like to grow up here?

- I don't know, you know, it's LA.

Things never really stay the same for long.

And I got this tech company that just moved in,

they're buying up all these buildings.

Ruining the community.

But gentrification, I guess.

But I mean, it's LA.

- Okay.

So what have you got planned the rest of the day?

- I don't know.

I don't work till tomorrow either.

I was at home doing some sketches earlier

and I figured why not get out and enjoy some fresh air too?

- Yeah.

I bet you can do a great tap dance in those shoes.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

So good.

- Need a little work.

- Maybe some tap lessons.

- Throw that in with some drawing classes, we're good.

- You'll be good to go.

- Yeah, I could draw with my...

- Oh, oh, look at you, an artist with your feet.

- There you go.

- You could start a new thing right here in Venice.

- Right here on the boardwalk in the sand.

- I'd come.

- I'll draw pictures.

- Okay.

You hungry?

- Let's have a drink, yes.

- Okay, good. - Let's go.

- Well, it was nice spending the day with you, Will.

- You too, Liz.

- You on social media?

- No, I'm not.

- I should've guessed,

with you looking like a folk singer in those strange clogs,

and that hat and beard.

I just wanna download your latest album,

but of course, you're not on social media.

- You think my clogs are strange?

What about that shirt, Janice Joplin?

- Strange is good sometimes.

- Okay, I'll take that.

- Text me sometime?

- I will.

- Oh, by the way, I don't drive,

so if you ever want to ask me out on a date,

I hope you can take us.

- I don't drive either.

The mass transit system here is good enough for me.

- Bye, Will.

- Bye, Liz.

- Shit, I'm so lost.

- Hey, Liz.

It's Will.

I really enjoyed spending the day with you.

Are you free tomorrow evening?

Care to go on an adventure?

Do you like art?

- That's a random question.

I don't know.

I guess.

I suppose it's what you would consider to be art.

- We're going to an art crawl downtown.

That's the reason why I was asking you.

- Do I like that mural?

Sure, I'd say that's cool.

But I don't know if it's art.

- Oh that's art.

LA is filled with that.

- Okay.

Well, what's art to you?

- Edward Hopper.

I was fascinated by his work when I was a kid.

- I think I know who that is.

- That's Edward Hopper.

Night Hawks.

He was a master of capturing what it feels like

to be all alone in this world.

- Okay.

I know who you're talking about.

Yes, that's art.

Or The Mona Lisa, I guess.

- The Mona Lisa?

- What?

- Hey.

The Mona Lisa.

- What about it?

- You've just given me an idea, actually.

- Please stand clear.

The doors are closing.

- So what kind of artist did you want to be

when you were starting out?

Like what we just saw or Edward Hopper?

- No, I really liked a couple local artists.

Ed Moses and Craig Kauffman.

Their styles really appealed to me.

Then I started experimenting with different concepts,

meshing different styles and movements together.

But then they said

that my paintings weren't original enough,

that my sources of inspiration were too obvious.

- Who kept saying?

- The others at art school.

- Oh.

- So I took a different turn.

More abstract, I guess you could say.

I try to paint things within my reach,

and try to make discoveries.

The challenge is to work against simply "succeeding".

The more the painting eludes control

and loses its calculated options,

the closer I feel to a formulation that feels "right".

- Wow, that's very thought out.

- I've had a lot of time to think about it.

- No, but seriously.

You've got all that shit worked out,

and these are just your thoughts on painting.

I don't have anything in my life figured out at all.

I'm just walking through life blindly,

hoping it'll all make sense to me.

- Well, you gotta have some ambitions or goals

or something, right?

Everybody has them.

- I suppose I always wanted to open up an organic farm,

and hook up with some environmentalists

and go completely off the grid.

- That's interesting.

Environmentalism.

We sure do need it.

- Yeah, but instead I chose to move

to the biggest city on the West Coast

filled with overpopulation and pollution and traffic

and loud flashing lights.

- That's what we pay for in exchange

for all the sunshine, the beaches, and weed.

- Yeah, I've done nothing to save the environment.

So go figure that out.

- You still got time.

Don't be so hard on yourself, Liz.

- So where'd you go to Art School?

Here in LA?

- No, I got outta here as soon as I could.

Right after high school, I ran and I studied abroad.

I lived in Germany for five years.

- Wow.

I've never been to Europe.

You totally went after every fancy European girl

you laid your eyes on, huh?

It's okay, don't deny it.

- No, not every one.

No, but to just go there

and to just be left to my own devices

and to just be there.

It was amazing.

Europe's nice.

Like, very nice.

That's where my clogs came from.

Everybody in art school wore them.

Just can't get rid of them.

I used to take the train from Frankfurt,

to Munich, to Berlin.

Sometimes I'd head over to Paris.

London a few times too.

Take the bullet train underneath the English Channel.

Good old days.

- So can you speak any German?

What did you say?

What does that mean?

- It means I think you're very pretty.

- Shit, I always wanted to go to Europe.

Never had the money though.

There and New York.

Instead I moved here.

It was closer to home.

Why did you come back?

- I thought I could make it work.

Get my own studio, get showcased at a couple galleries,

and then I got a job to live.

And that's all I've been really doing.

- But you said you draw?

- Yeah, I mean, in my sketchbooks,

but that doesn't really count now, does it?

That's not what I came back here to do.

- So who is stopping you from doing what you want?

Paint, damn it!

- Has anybody ever painted your portrait?

- Jimmy Russo in the 11th grade said he was going

to have my face tattooed on his leg

so every day he could look down and see me.

I don't think that counts though.

- Did he ever get the tattoo?

- No, thank god.

That would have been horrible,

to have my face permanently inked onto someone's leg.

Not even on his chest, like a pirate, but on his leg?

Oh god, what a weird story.

- I wonder where he is now.

- Oh, lord knows.

- Probably Texas.

- Texas?

What's up in Texas?

- That's where all the big boys are.

- I guess he is a big boy, with a big calf.

- The train to Port Hollywood is arriving.

Please stand back from the edge of the platform.

- Hey!

- Hey there.

- You didn't answer my earlier calls.

- Sorry about that, I was at work.

- Oh, I should have thought of that.

- What's up?

- We're having a party over at my house,

my roommates are doing Taco Tuesday El Grande!

- What's that?

- I don't know!

Come over!

- Alright.

Okay, yeah, give me an hour.

Let me change and shower, I'll be right over.

- Okay.

Ladies, this is Will.

- Hi, Will. - Hi, Will.

- Hello.

- That's Denise, that's Shelly.

Ellie who owns the place isn't here,

she had her period and ran to her boyfriend's, I think.

- Okay.

- Sit.

There you go. - There you go.

- Oh, he's a drinker as well!

- He kind of interrupted my peace that I was having

on the ground.

- You interrupted her peace?

- Yeah, before I started work--

- I thought she fell.

- You thought, okay, hold on.

- I was clearly lying down.

- Liz, you're such a klutz.

- Well, your bike was turned upside down.

I was walking through the park,

I was gonna go sketch, and your bike was upside down

and she was laying there under the tree

and I thought she was hurt.

- Her bike was upside down.

- Well...

- How did you configure that?

You were just like...

- I used it as a pillow!

It made total sense to me.

- Well, I guess it wasn't upside down,

it was like on the side.

- A pillow?

That's the most uncomfortable pillow in the world.

Of course he thought you fell down!

- Okay, it was really sweet, I know.

- Thank you, ladies.

- You're welcome.

- Okay, so then he just came up and was like?

- Then we had a...

- I'm sorry, what?

- Then we had a date.

- And then you had a date.

- We had a day together.

- You had that little eyebrow thing.

- Showed her Venice.

- His pieces...

- Hey, Will, get me a beer?

- Sure.

- Does it have any left in it?

- I think so.

- Okay.

- Come with me.

I need you.

- Yes!

We only have this one paintbrush...

- Kiss me a little.

- Jesus.

Are you okay?

- No.

It's...

- Wait, did I?

Oh.

Liz?

I'm coming in.

You okay?

- Hey, thank you.

- No problem.

Well, I guess I should get going.

- Stay.

Stay with me.

- I can't.

I have to work in the morning.

- So do I.

In the evening.

- I can't.

I wish I could.

- It's okay.

- Good night.

- Good night, Will.

Hey, thanks again for taking care of me last night.

I didn't plan to be such a lush.

See you soon?

Nice place.

- Thanks.

Been here a while.

- Is this me?

- Yep.

- Wow.

- It wasn't supposed to be,

but I couldn't get you out of my head the other day,

so I put you down on paper.

- I like it.

- Thanks.

I'd like to paint your portrait.

- Okay.

- Tell me more about yourself.

- I've already told you everything about me.

- Tell me more.

- I don't know what else to say.

I'm exactly as you see.

I don't care, I don't bullshit.

I'm an open book.

- You're fun.

- That's all?

- No.

- How many other girls have you been with?

- Like relationship wise?

- Yeah, anything.

- I've had my fair share of experiences, I guess.

- Come on.

Tell me.

I've told you everything about me already.

- I dated this one girl for a little bit.

Thought it was love.

But...

You know, what does it matter?

This is what matters.

None of them have been like you, in any way.

- What am I?

- Memorable.

- This is the first time it feels like I'm back home.

So many trees.

- It's nice to get out of the big city.

- It's crazy to believe we're still there.

I used to have this recurring dream.

It hasn't happened lately,

but I'm wandering through the woods back home

and it's like a weird kind of twilight.

I don't know if I've been wandering for hours,

or if I've just got there,

and there's a split in the path.

And I don't know which way to go, it's left or right,

and I just end up standing there, trying to decide.

- Well, which way do you take?

- I don't know, I wake up before I make up my mind.

Do you have any dreams you remember?

- Yeah, I have this one.

I can't really give you the specifics,

but it's like I'm in this like quicksand and I can't move

and I'm just like stuck there.

And like the quicksand keeps coming up

and I can feel it coming,

but I'm all alone and I have this feeling

of just like a black void.

I don't know, it's weird,

and usually by the time the quicksand gets up to my waist,

I usually end up waking up anyways.

- Interesting.

- It's weird, I know.

- Dreams, they're weird.

- Give me like two minutes.

Stay normal.

Normal for two minutes.

- That's my best face.

- That's?

Geez.

- How much longer?

- A while.

- Can I get a drink?

- There it is.

- Hey!

- Hey yourself.

Happy longest day of the year.

- Happy longest day of the year to you too.

- I always felt one should do something special

on the longest day of the year,

something fun and celebratory.

- Like what did you have in mind?

- I don't know.

But I'm with you,

so that's pretty much as good as it can get.

- We could make love, that would make it even better.

- That would.

- Hey, Will.

- Yeah?

- I'm not wearing any underwear.

- Liz!

Do you ever want kids?

- No.

Your life's over when you have kids.

You're stuck.

Besides, look at this world.

Do we really want to bring more people into it?

It's all crashing down.

- You could always bring some good ones into it.

- I always loved wandering the streets really late at night.

I did it all the time.

I loved looking into the quietness

and stillness of the streets.

And sometimes I'd get in the middle of one and lay down,

pretending I'm all alone.

It's a strange feeling.

- You're crazy.

- No I'm not, I'm impulsive.

Yep.

- Come on, what are you doing?

- Come on, come here.

It feels so good.

- It does feel pretty good.

- It's great.

Do you think you could be a hippie?

I mean, you already dress and look like one, but just go.

Just up and leave, and live on the road,

make your way, paint as you go and join a commune,

a community that lives off the earth and is free?

- My parents were hippies,

real ones back in the day.

I don't think it turns out as well as you imagine.

- Where are they now?

- They live in Palm Desert.

- I don't know where that is, that sounds far.

- It's a bit of a drive.

Just a couple hours outside of LA.

- I see.

- But yeah, much as I think living off the road

and everything sounds really good,

I just don't think it's for me.

I think I'd rather go back to Germany instead.

Besides, how are we gonna live off the road?

Neither of us drive.

- You have a much nicer bed than I do.

I could lay in it all day.

- You can.

- I can't.

I have to work at four.

I start bartending tonight, no more serving wench!

- Really?

Congrats.

You never told me earlier.

- I didn't want to think about it earlier.

I'll make a few more tips

and it'll be easier to get off a few days

so I can go back to the big OR and see my folks

for a few days.

- I can come.

I'd love to meet your folks.

- No, my family is crazy.

I don't want you meeting them.

I don't want them meeting you, yet.

I'll only be gone for a few days.

We'll talk all the time.

- I love you.

- Hey Will, I'm on the flight to Eugene.

I'll see you in a couple of days.

Don't miss me too much.

See you soon!

Love, Liz.

- Hey, Liz, it's Will again.

Just wanted to call to see if you made it.

I haven't got a text or haven't heard from you at all.

I'm a little worried.

I just want to know that you made it.

Can you just call me back please when you get this?

Bye.

You didn't even call!

How could you not even call me?

- Well I was going to.

I got busy.

I'm sorry.

- You didn't even text me.

I didn't even know if you even made it or not.

- Made it or not?

Really, Will?

- I had to check the flights online

just to make sure that you were okay.

- I wasn't even gone that long.

I didn't know it was that big a deal to you.

- Big deal?

We've been together for six months.

I texted you multiple times.

I don't even know how you couldn't have even noticed.

- I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, babe.

I'm glad to be back.

- Call next time, please?

- I will.

We should totally do it in a mall next time.

- It's like a little, like, egg.

You know, and it cracks open, the little chick comes out.

And if you just draw like a little face to the chicken.

The little chick, he's super cute.

- See you tomorrow?

- You're working tomorrow, right?

- Yeah, I work the day shift, I'll be off at six.

- How about I come in and hang out the last 15 minutes

and afterwards we can go out?

- Okay, I like it.

What?

- Why don't you move in with me?

- Will...

- I wouldn't charge you rent.

- Will.

I don't know.

You know I like my space.

I love escaping over to you, it's more fun.

I look forward to coming over and spending days and nights

with you but you know I need my own hole to crawl back into.

Besides, you do not want to look at this face

24 hours of every day.

- I could.

- Good night, Will.

- I'm going to think about you all the way home.

- I bet you do.

Careful, careful!

I'm gonna have to get you some sneakers like a normal guy.

- You don't want a normal guy.

Just let me be

I'm an artist.

I'm a unique and different kind of personality.

I don't long to belong

but I want to belong to you.

- Good night, Will.

- Good night.

- Happy Birthday, babe.

- Thanks.

- Make a wish.

I made it all by myself.

And it's got a raw crust, so I hope you like it.

- What's a raw crust?

- There's no flour or dough.

And it's got a bunch of unprocessed raw nuts, seeds,

and dried fruit.

- Oh.

- Let's get that out.

- Okay.

- Okay.

- Alright.

There we go.

- Well?

- It's good.

- Really?

You're not bullshitting me?

- No, it's good.

I wouldn't have known any different had you not told me.

- Really really?

- Really.

Thank you, babe.

- Cool.

Cuz I've been practicing at my place,

making all kinds of vegan food.

I was hoping to make you some food too, if you want.

You've been making me so many dinners, so...

- Yeah.

Yeah, that'd be nice.

Thanks, Liz.

- Like it.

- It's good.

- I'm not so good.

- It's good.

- I need water.

Oh god, it's bad.

- No, it's not.

I'm eating it.

- Happy birthday.

Almost.

- Think I'm.

- Yeah,.

- Am I supposed to go through or something?

This is like...

Okay, let's go.

- Oh.

- Okay, I don't know.

- Okay, no, like this.

Hey I'm sorry.

- It's been like an hour.

- I know, I'm sorry.

Hey.

- Hey.

Come on, let's go.

Merry Christmas.

- I don't know how you do it.

Merry Christmas!

When you were a kid, did you wake up

before everyone else and race through the halls

and try to tear open all the presents you got?

- Mm-hm.

- I couldn't wait.

It drove me crazy.

I never got any sleep the night before, not till I was 14.

I stopped believing pretty late.

- Merry Christmas, babe.

- When'd you stop believing?

- When I was eight.

My buddy at school told me that Santa wasn't real anymore.

So I went home that night, I was in the bathtub,

and I was asking my mom if he was real,

and she finally broke down and told me.

- Oh, that's so sad!

It's beautiful out.

The sun is shining.

Means it's perfect for a beach day!

Come on, please.

Come on.

- Okay.

- Okay, come on.

- Okay, let's go.

- I've been waiting all morning for you to wake up.

It's my favorite day, don't ruin it.

- Your favorite day, let's go.

Oh, man.

- Good morning.

- I'm up.

- You okay?

Just like he actually rolled out.

It's a nice day for Christmas.

- These California winters.

- Do you ever miss being a kid sometimes?

- I don't think so.

I like it better now.

Yeah, there are things that I do miss.

It just feels easier now.

Plus I don't think I'd like to relive my childhood.

You know, you get so excited for Christmas,

but you don't even want to have kids?

- No.

- I think I'd make an interesting dad.

You know?

This is one of the best Christmases I think I've ever had.

Actually, it is the best.

- The thing that always makes me so sad is

there's so much build up to Christmas.

Now it's over, and then it's New Years,

and two weeks later everyone's miserable, you know?

Time goes so fast.

- Well, what do you want to do for New Years?

You want to go to a bar or a party or?

- You were never the one to mention a bar or party

when we first met.

- You've changed me!

- No, let's stay in.

My housemates are all going out with their friends

and I'm enjoying this.

- Okay.

- Thanks for dinner.

I'm gonna go check my phone.

Tony's always saying there's nothing here in LA

that's free entertainment

and I'm just saying "go watch the ocean,

"that's never uninteresting."

- Who's Tony?

- He's just the new bartender at work.

We have a couple shifts together.

It's been weirdly busy, like I told you,

everyone gets depressed and goes out drinking.

They all try to start the new year off right,

but nobody can ever follow through.

- We can do something else, I mean--

- I wasn't bullshitting when I said I like to go

to the ocean.

It's become my favorite thing to do.

Helps me think and straighten out my mind.

Hey.

- Hey.

- What are you doing here?

- Nothing.

Work was slow, so they decided to close early.

Figured I'd swing by and surprise you.

See what you were up to.

- Want a drink?

- Sure.

So, your friend Tony working today?

- It's slow.

They called Tony off.

Don't forget to tip your bartender.

- Cheers.

- Hey, glad you could make it!

What's up?

- Who was that?

- No one.

Just Shelly's friend from work.

- Liz.

Who was that?

- God, Will, lighten up.

Everything's fine.

Here, have a drink.

- Liz?

What's going on?

We're not the same anymore.

- Nothing's going on.

I don't know.

You're the one all tensed up lately.

- Hi.

- I know I'm late.

- Yeah, you're really late.

- I was stuck at work.

- I went by your work today.

They said that you had the day off.

Liz.

- Will.

Are you still hungry?

Do you want to go to dinner?

- Why, you don't want to?

- Did I say that?

I didn't say that.

I said do you still want to?

- Where were you?

- I have my own life, Will.

I don't have to report to you for everything

just because you think your life revolves around me.

- Where were you?

Liz, stop lying to me.

- I was getting dressed

and I was trying to look my best for you

and I took too long.

There.

- I'm sure they've given our table away by now anyway--

- Really, Will?

On a Tuesday night?

- Yeah!

Yeah, how would you know?

- I work at a bar.

- Yeah?

Been hanging out with your friend Tony

a lot there lately too?

- God, what is up with you?

I'm sorry I'm late.

I'm here now, let's go to dinner.

- Fine.

Let's go.

Great.

Hey, I was thinking of going to this galley opening tonight

in downtown.

Would you like to come with?

I'll buy you dinner.

7:00 p.m.?

- Hey, no, sorry, I have too much to do tonight.

- What's happening?

How about Friday night?

- No, Will, back off!

No, I work.

Maybe another time.

Hey.

- Hey.

- Thanks for meeting up with me.

It's warm today for a change.

- Global warming.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- I'm moving on.

I'm thinking of going back to Oregon.

I don't think LA is right for me.

Maybe it's not the right time.

I don't know.

I hate bartending.

I don't know what the hell I'm doing at all, Will.

I just--

- You're going home?

To Eugene?

- No, I don't think so.

Might go to Portland.

- Yeah.

Okay.

- But we'll totally see each other around.

I'll definitely come back to visit for sure.

- We will.

- It was good fun while it lasted.

But you know me.

I don't like tying myself down.

Always on the go.

Always impulsive.

You're a really cool guy, Will.

I'm really going to miss you.

- You too, Liz.

- Hey, Will!

I'm back in town.

I met up with a few agriculturalists

who are gonna start a farm here in Topanga.

I've missed you.

We should hang out sometime.

Come on, play it.

- Can't believe you're making me do this.

- I'm not gonna judge.

- Alright.

I only have two chords,

because I can't find the third one yet.

So I'll play you what I got.

- Perfect.

- Alright.

I always thought I had a little.

Alright.

♪ If I could lead the way ♪

♪ Imagine what I'd learn ♪

♪ I ask her where she's been ♪

♪ If I can go with her ♪

♪ Does she know where she is going? ♪

♪ Can she show me how to be free like the wind blowing? ♪

♪ To be free like she is now? ♪