Original subtitles

(Nate) Hey, Billy.

It's Thursday. Come back tomorrow.

No, it's actually Friday, ya cheap prick.

Hey!

Junkie putz.

[Billy, muttering]

You gonna kill me out here?

[gun cocks]

[bird cries]

[gunshot]

Hey!

Hey!

[carnival sounds]

And that so lamely and unfashionable

that dogs bark at me as I go by them.

Discounts on my known deformities.

Milagros.

I give you heaven--

[hawking]

[spits]

and I give you hell.

Hey, mister.

I had some car trouble out in the desert.

I need to use the telephone.

One American dollar.

Sure.

[sighing]

It's inside.

[loudly] It's all inside.

It's all inside.

All your dreams come true inside this tent.

Hombres, juanitas

open your knees and feel the breeze.

Hey, brother, you have a phone around here?

[murmuring]

Excuse me.

You girls seen this chick with--?

Yeah, she's over there.

Thank you.

What?

Hey.

What do you want?

Sorry, I didn't mean to be staring.

Yeah you did. You paid to stare. Show's over.

Are you deaf?

[exhales]

Are you real?

What do you think?

Well, I think no.

All right then. Get lost.

Hey, hey. Sweetheart. Please, I am lost.

Look, I scream and five guys with tire irons

come and beat you into pudding.

Please don't do that.

My name's Nate.

Nate Poole.

I play trumpet back in the city.

Look, I've been up all night long walking through the desert.

All I want is a drink...

and just a place to sit down for a while.

I ain't gonna cause you no trouble.

I just want a place to sit down and think about

what I'm gonna do.

What kind of music?

Mm. Oh, what difference does that make?

Hey. Really nice music.

One drink.

I'm drinking gin.

A girl after my own heart.

[slurps]

[sighs]

Goddamn, life is good.

Hour ago, I was a dead man.

Now I'm drinking warm gin with an angel.

So--mm--carny life, huh?

Yeah, Chiapas, Durango

yeah, the full circuit.

You ever been to the States?

No, I've never been there before.

Well, goddamn, your English is pretty good.

That's because of Sam. He, um, he's from London, and so--

and because of the movies, they, um, the small-town theaters

they hang sheets on the walls

and they show old movies on Saturdays at night.

Huh. How long you been an angel?

[scoffs] I'm not an angel.

I'm a bird woman.

I don't know, I, um--

couldn't get fat enough or grow a beard and I hate snakes, so--

just nothing else left.

Well, hey, it suits you.

Thanks.

I'm tired of them, though.

What's that? The wings?

Yeah, they're heavy.

They hurt my shoulders and my back

and I'm just, I'm tired of them.

Well, why don't you just take them off?

Why walk around in pain?

I'll give you a hand.

It's not-- I can do it, it's--

I feel like you should leave now.

You know?

Okay, listen, uh

hey, thank you very kindly for the drink.

Are you going back to the States?

Yep.

Listen, uh--

if you'd like to get away from all this, you know--

you're welcome to go back with me.

No, I can't.

You take care.

Mm.

[groan]

[shout of pain]

[shout]

Women.

Uh-huh.

You got a girl?

They're creatures, I mean it, freaks.

I found her in the garbage.

An infant, wet and crying in the garbage.

And I plucked her away from all that and I--

I gave her a home.

Hey there. Uh--

her wings--

they're real?

Hm.

You know, man, I've been around the block but I ain't never been around--

a neighborhood like this.

Thank you.

[grunt]

Are you trying to steal my Lily?

Is that why you're here?

It is, isn't it? Well, so be it!

Hey, man, I don't know what you're talking about.

I ain't trying to steal nobody, man, I just--

listen, I don't want your girl

I just wanna get the fuck outta this nut house.

Jesus.

Where's my Lily gonna go?

What is there for a girl like that? I'm her family.

I protect her from the real world.

Listen, Sam-- may I call you Sam?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

You know things now, sir.

[deep sigh]

What if word got out the girl's for real.

Wings. For real.

Listen, mister, you ain't got nothing to worry about with me.

I just wanna go on my way.

[snake rattling]

Hey, listen, lady, I don't take kindly to snakes.

I'd appreciate it if you'd just--

[groan]

Fuck! Goddamn it!

What the fuck?

For a few seconds before you die

you'll see the future with great clarity.

[female voice screams]

[shout]

(Lily) Hey, get in!

(Harriet, over phone) So after Happy kills you

can I get your record collection?

(Nate) Jesus Christ, come on, Harriet

you think I'd make this shit up?

No. Hey. You know, some wandering Indians

shoot Happy's guy seconds before he's gonna shoot you

you walk all night through the desert on foot

get captured by some carny freaks

almost bit by a ten foot long rattlesnake--

and then a beautiful and mysterious girl

rescues you in her father's truck.

You're enjoying this, huh?

Jesus, Nate. You fucked his wife. Everybody knows.

Nate... are you there?

Are you--are you listening to me?

[laughter]

[groan]

Oh, Jesus Christ, listen--hold--

Hey, listen. You tell Happy--

set up a meeting tomorrow.

A meeting?

At the Little New Yorker. Lunchtime.

You want me to just call Happy Shannon.

Yeah, you call that prick and you tell him...

Jesus Christ. You tell him, bring a million dollars.

Nate? Nate?

Hey, kid, can I borrow that camera for a second?

You're a dead man.

[groaning]

Wow! Goddamn!

Did you see? Did you see? I flew, I did, I flew.

Man, I didn't think you could.

I can't. I'm too big.

I'm too heavy for these to carry me

but sometimes when the wind is, is strong enough--

Wait, I gotta get a picture of this.

Okay, but if I don't like these

you're gonna throw them away, okay?

I swear to God.

Just stand right over there by the way.

You promise?

I swear!

Oh, just like that.

Oh.

[click]

I don't believe it.

[click]

[passing horn honking]

So what happened to you out in the desert?

Oh. Son of a bitch tried to kill me.

Over a woman?

What else?

Did you love her?

Absolutely not.

Hm. That's kind of sad.

How about you?

Fast carny life.

Beautiful gal.

You must have your share of men.

How come you ran away?

It was time to leave the nest.

Time to leave the nest.

How about a bite of that apple?

You steer?

You are a pretty little thing. Hm?

Thank you.

Thank your mother and father.

I got it.

(Lily) Can I have my apple back?

[truck door creaks open]

[truck door closes]

(hotel employee) Full bath. Twin beds.

And I can get you pizza delivered till eleven p.m.

Oh, that would be heavenly.

[sighing]

She's a knockout, Nate. A knockout.

Listen. I appreciate it.

Sure. You know, even with the hump.

Know what I mean?

[locks turning]

[deep sighing]

You ever smell the ocean?

Sure. Yeah, I used to work at this joint.

A funky little place right on the beach.

Have you ever seen the ocean?

Never?

Uh-uh.

You ain't never seen the ocean?

No.

Well, I'll tell you what, I'm gonna take you to this place...

way up close you can see the dolphins swimming all day long.

Would you like to do that?

Yeah, I'd like to see that.

It's really beautiful.

You okay?

[weeping] Yeah.

It's the wind.

[sniffs]

I'm sorry. I must look awful.

Sweetheart, you could never look really bad.

Hoo.

My back hurts.

[sigh]

You, um--

you think it'd be okay if I took my coat off?

'Cause that would really help.

Sure. Come here.

[rustling of feathers]

Mm.

Holy shit.

I'm telling you, I'm never gonna get used to this.

Wow.

Nobody asked you to.

Hey, I didn't mean it like that.

It's fine.

[sigh]

Hey, I, uh--

I said something wrong to you.

I'm--I'm sorry.

[sighing]

I know what I am, Nate.

[weeps]

[sniff]

Ah, fuck.

Oh, fuck.

She split, man.

She what?

Your honey, she left a few hours ago.

Fuck.

Oh, man, what do you mean she split?

I mean she went into the office

she made a couple of phone calls and then she, uh

she hit the road.

I n that old truck you came in.

Fuck.

(Nate) Anybody else use this phone after her?

(woman) Are you a police officer?

'Cause if there's some sort of problem

I should call the manager.

(female voice) Dr. Rosenblum's office.

Uh, yeah, hey, listen, I'm looking for, uh, for my wife.

I believe she may be a patient there.

Uh, the name's, uh, Luster.

Luster...

She's in consultation with the doctor right now.

Uh, what kind of doctor?

Doctor Rosenblum is a plastic surgeon.

[gasping]

Get away from her.

Why are you doing this?

Please don't do this.

What, do you think that I like being a freak?

Amazing as she is, it's not a normal--

Fuck normal.

Since when does normal win a goddamn prize, huh?

Lily. You're different.

Please don't do this. Please.

But I could be like all the other girls.

Never.

I'm sorry, I think I'm wasting your time.

[sniff] Sorry.

I don't ever want to hear

a goddamn word about this ever.

Or I'll get your address and I swear to God, Doc

I'll burn your house down.

Thank you.

[phone rings]

(Nate, on phone) Hey, baby, you still there?

(Harriet) I'm here.

Listen to me.

This ain't no pact with the devil.

'Course it is.

It's your life for hers.

Oh, come on, that's bullshit.

So, uh, being managed by a notorious killer pimp

is gonna help this girl.

Hey, listen, sweetheart, he can make her rich.

He can make her dead.

Come on, he ain't gonna hurt her.

Why not?

'Cause I'm gonna be there.

Please. You can't protect yourself--

Hey, listen, just cool it, okay?

Nothing's gonna happen to this girl.

Happy'll never even meet her, okay?

All I'm doing is

I'm giving Happy a piece of Lily's future.

All right? That's it.

He'll make a fortune on this thing.

Okay.

I'm gonna do everything.

He's not even gonna meet her.

Hey, listen, he's just gonna get his cut.

She know about this?

Hey, she trusts me.

Okay. She doesn't get hurt.

What makes you so sure she can make that kind of money?

I mean, this town's lousy with beautiful women.

Nate? What makes her so special?

What? What makes her so special?

Her wings. She's got wings.

Uh-huh.

And I suppose you have another picture of a jackalope

that could be available for the right price too, huh?

Are you frightened, Mr. Poole?

God, you should be.

Listen to me.

I swear to God, if I would've known that that was your wife

I'd never woulda touched her.

I don't have a wife, Mr. Poole.

I'm a widower.

Yeah. Very sudden.

[sigh]

Listen, hey man, I know you want me dead, okay?

I don't wanna die.

I swear to God this girl is for real.

I mean, I don't get it, I don't understand it

it's something freaky, she's some kind of goddamn freak of nature.

But she has wings.

So I get the angel...

and you get your life.

Sounds--religious.

No, it's--it's a little different.

I was thinking more you get a percent

you get like 65, 75 %.

You get your piece and then I get, I get my end, which is 20, 25 %.

And I get my life.

And the angel?

Listen, she's not an angel.

She's just--

Theology aside.

What's--what's to keep me from just--

blowing your head off right now

and taking the girl?

Hey, man, you don't know where she is.

True.

Until I get Roland here

to peel off all your skin with a needle-nose pliers

and then you tell me where she is

and the fastest route to her.

I don't know where she is, okay?

A friend of mine is driving her around in circles, okay?

And if I'm not at the goddamn phone booth

saying all the right things in 23 minutes

he's gonna call his cousin

who's a homicide detective and report my murder, okay?

She's gonna disappear, and they're gonna investigate your ass, all right?

Happy, I mean, you know, look at this like--

making a whole bunch of money

and doing very little, you know what I'm saying?

Any idiot can fake a picture.

I would need to see her.

Oh, man, no way, you're gonna--

I'm no fucking idiot.

You're gonna snatch her and kill me. Come on.

You have my word.

Hm. I have your word as a gangster.

As a gangster, and as a partner.

Okay then, then we have a deal?

You meet me at the opera house, the new opera house

six o'clock in the mezzanine.

It's a date.

[sighing]

Can I leave?

Please.

You should kill that fucker.

Why the fuck did you make a deal with that piece of shit?

Wings.

What a wonderful dream.

(Lily) Do you come up here a lot?

(Nate) I come up here if someone's playing that I like or--

with someone that I like.

You know, I knew who you were.

What?

At Sam's.

I'd seen you before.

Your pictures. Your albums.

Oh.

You were famous.

Yeah, I was.

Handsome.

Now you're just being mean.

What happened?

Man, I just couldn't handle it, you know

I just couldn't handle the small talk.

You know, the bullshit, all the politics, that crap.

No, I just had my music

and my dope, and in the end it was all about the dope.

And now?

You can talk to me.

Yeah, I can talk to you.

You're different.

Yeah.

A couple of freaks.

Let's just say we're different.

Hm?

[jazz music playing]

It's five til.

Fifty bucks the asshole don't show.

[man singing jazz music]

? Been rocking in the morning ?

? Been rocking all night long ?

? Oh, rocking in the morning ?

(Solomon Burke) Hold on. Hold on.

This stage has got to move.

We got to rock this theater.

Mitch is going to be here tonight

with all them dances and everything.

We got to pick this tempo up, change the key

and let's hear it one time. Come on.

Put your soul in it.

All right, where is he, huh?

What'd I tell you?

We shoulda broken his goddamn face when we had the chance.

Now what?

(girl) Excuse me. This is for you.

"Let the girl do her job.

Use the binoculars."

Here.

Thank you.

No, whoa, whoa, whoa. Where are you going?

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

Where did you get the note from?

Some guy gave me 20 bucks, I don't know.

Let go.

Let her go.

Beat it.

Go do your job, sweetheart, thank you.

This goofy guy is getting interesting.

What do you see?

Do you wanna see my wings?

No.

Just ask.

You want to see them, just ask me.

Okay. I wanna see your wings.

Oh, my.

What?

Put your coat on, we're leaving.

Go down there.

They're parked in lover's lane.

Kill him and bring her back here.

Okay.

Oh, no, don't go yet.

And now it is an angel's song

that makes the heavens be mute.

[distant laughter]

Hey, I'll tell you what.

Why don't you put on your prettiest dress.

Why?

I wanna take you out.

To where?

Trust me.

(Nate) Sit down, look straight ahead.

I have a little surprise for you.

(Lily) Okay.

I'll be right back. You just wait right here.

Keep your eyes closed.

Okay.

What, what are you doing?

I'm right here.

[click]

[tuning radio]

[slow jazz music]

Okay, now?

Okay. Now.

Your first ocean.

It's beautiful.

You know, you're really good at this.

Mm. You ever been married?

Long time ago.

What happened?

Did you love her?

I loved her to death.

Hey, I'm sorry, listen...

listen, little lady...

what can I do for you?

Play.

[laughing]

You can play for me.

No. Come on.

You brought your trumpet.

Well that's just to keep the bottle in.

Oh, come on now, don't take advantage of me.

All right. I'll play you one song.

Okay.

This here--

this here is Hazel.

Mm.

[slow jazz music]

[sighing]

This is silly.

Huh?

[sighing]

It's perfect, isn't it?

It's like a movie.

This night like this.

I don't care if the ocean's not real.

If you are.

I don't care.

Huh.

[sighing]

Hey, Lily.

Would you dance with me?

I'd love to.

Kiss me.

Come on, Nate, I mean a real kiss.

Her name was, uh, Annie.

Annie Poole.

She was really special.

She didn't drink, she didn't--

she didn't get high.

She'd get high so she could be with me.

I didn't do anything.

I didn't do anything, I just--

I just watched her--

I just watched her fade away.

So how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

Nate! Nate!

Lily, Lily, stay-- Lily, stay there.

Nate, calm the lady down.

I ntroduce us.

Fuck you.

Happy Shannon.

It's a pleasure.

You didn't tell the lady?

Ah, it was probably an oversight--

or a surprise.

Our Nate and his surprises.

Yes.

You see, yesterday, over lunch

Nate proposed that we manage you, he and I.

Your career.

At first I didn't believe him.

A woman with wings...

I'm sure you understand.

But after Nate set up the viewing at the opera yesterday...

Hey, I got eyes, right?

Listen, listen, it was my only chance.

I thought I could--figure it all out and protect you--

Nate traded his life for yours.

It's as simple as that.

Not true.

Well, I'm glad I could help.

No, Lily. Lily, Lily, Lily.

[sighs]

Hey, let her put some fucking clothes on, you fucking animal.

[sighing]

Do I have to stand in a lit booth?

You will have an audience

of one.

Me.

Now that I've actually seen you

you're a miracle

too rare and precious.

You need to be, like Nate said, protected.

You should live with me.

I will see to your every need.

Please, Lily, please, just don't go.

(Happy) I want you to come to this eyes open

willingly, I don't want a prisoner.

That's a goddamn lie.

It doesn't matter to me.

Lily, please, you don't have to do this.

You don't have to do anything you don't want to.

I don't want him touched.

I don't want him touched, that was part of his deal, right?

Truthfully, that could be a problem.

We don't want him loose in the world.

He's a talker.

It was part of his deal, right?

Yes, sweetheart, but think about--

He isn't going to say anything.

You and me and women.

[spitting]

[shout]

Get up!

Why?

- Why? - Why?

'Cause I fucking said so! Get up!

Get the fuck up!

[loud groaning]

[continued hitting and groaning]

[phone ringing]

Dream Lounge.

What?

It's Campbell's. Drink it. Come on.

Oh, God. Jesus.

[slurp]

[groan]

I'm gonna get her back, Harriet.

I will. I'm gonna get her back.

[sighing]

Sure you will.

(Harriet) It's not exactly my problem.

I roll up here in the middle of the goddamn night

to deliver 20 cases of champagne.

Oh, God, um--

I--I'm sorry, you're right

I'm such a fuzz brain, I just--um, it's next week.

Could I--could I just pull up and turn around?

Right.

I'm sorry.

Thanks.

[indistinct voices from TV]

(man on screen) I love you.

Care to join us?

You get dressed, and get the fuck outta here.

Hey, man, she's coming with me.

Okay. I mean, sure.

Angel, do you want Roland to pack your things or--

[clacking]

(Lily) I'm staying here.

I want you to go. Just go.

Hey. Hey, we're meant to be together.

Oh, dear.

Now you're talking in song titles.

(Happy) Nate, you're a man of the world.

Not my world.

But you look as if--you've lived a life.

So you understand that everything changes.

Everything ends.

Not this.

Don't help me.

Don't do anything.

I don't want to be with you, Nate.

Please don't do this.

I want you to leave.

Stay for the movie, I don't care.

As long as I'm with you

nothing happens to him.

And that's our deal.

I promise.

[whispering] You break it, I'm gone.

You can't bus tables.

You can't clean toilets.

You can't even buy a drink in here.

Not here, nor anywheres else.

My man. Hey.

Mad Malcolm. Goddamn.

I'm liking the look.

Well, you know. Well, you know me.

Footloose. Ow.

And fancy free. Like seeing a ghost, son.

Word on the street is, uh

Happy ain't too happy with you these days.

Yeah, well, uh-- I'm still breathing.

Amen to that, brother.

I bet you could use a gig, though.

Oh, man, I could use a lot of things.

I'm playing with some fellas at this thing.

It's a party, you dig?

Over at the museum.

You show up-- play a couple of tunes

they pay you like a rock star.

Oh, museum? Come on, man, that ain't my thing.

Yeah? A hundred dollars a night sound like your thing?

Hey. Get some socks, don't get your feet cold.

All right, baby, let me know.

Yeah, about--

Hm. I'm gonna be a little short to the gig...

Think you could, uh, let me hold twenty?

That is, you owe the pawn shop twenty, right?

Yeah.

That's a pretty fat roll you got there.

You think maybe, uh

you know, give a little to the hat?

Huh?

Now don't let me see you on the street.

You've always been there for me.

Skate!

Beautiful.

Thank you.

Mind if I stay?

You can do whatever you want.

I'll stay.

Okay.

My real name isn't Happy.

Michael.

My real name is Michael.

Mike.

When I was a kid, apparently I walked around with a big frown

I was a very pissed-off little guy.

Not that there was much to smile about.

My dad named me Happy.

That was his joke.

I hated it.

I hated him.

But it stuck.

You know, you can't keep a good nickname down.

I always hated it.

Until now.

Why is that?

Because it fits finally.

I am happy.

Happy, no.

Diamonds, the angel's stone.

Well, if it's not, it should be.

I can't take this.

Keep it.

Some day you're gonna be happy.

[reporters talking all at once]

Happy, where are we?

Heaven.

[lively chatter of a crowd]

[slow live jazz music]

Happy Shannon!

Man of the hour.

Thank you, Anne.

Nice of you to say, but I really think it's the city's hour

don't you?

But it was your generosity that made this heavenly show possible.

Well, it's for the young people

and, uh, I had inspiration.

Is this a new Happy Shannon?

Angels, heaven?

Yes, it is. Yes, it is, um--

(Happy) [indistinct speaking]

Is there ever been a moment

where you felt that you weren't getting a--a--

Let me ask you about your two federal indictments.

Conspiracy, tampering with evidence.

[bar chatter]

No, no.

Come on Sweetie.

Let's warm you up.

[indistinct]

Now, wait, baby, no, no.

Shh. Shh.

Shh.

[indistinct]

[sigh]

[groan]

Yeah.

Last thing on earth you'll ever see.

Wings.

I'll send Lily your regards.

[distorted] Good to see you, Nate.

I'll send Lily your regards.

My Lily.

The last thing on earth you'll ever see...

(female voice) Wake up, Nate! Wake up, Nate!

Get up!

[echoing, distorted] Wake up!

Wake up, Nate!

[grunt] Get up, goddamn it!

Get up!

[groan]

Good. Cold, isn't it?

Stupid motherfucker.

Lily.

[door rattles]

Nate.

Nate!

Close.

Come on, get your things

we're going home.

Don't touch me.

We're what?

I found her.

I raised her.

[screech]

Happy!

"We're leaving."

[slap]

[gasp]

I think that's what he was trying to say.

He's right. Come on, come on.

Why?

Why? Because--

[shout]

you're not happy anymore.

[knocking]

(Nate) It's open.

It's a fucking hurricane out there.

Yeah. Whatever.

Yeah.

You look like shit.

Got a smoke?

You remember my cousin Marvin, the cop?

Yeah.

The one who works down in Newport Division.

Told me that there's gonna be a raid in a couple hours.

Around five. Busting a black and tan joint down on Adams.

So?

Well, I'll tell you so

a lot of stars, hookers, dope, you know, whatever

Marvin says that there's a private club upstairs.

Guess whose club it is.

Come on, Ricky.

Happy's club.

Oh.

You know what they do in there?

Dope?

Nope.

Cards?

Nope.

Pussy. What the fuck, I don't know.

They watch some freak in a glass box.

Can you believe that shit?

These stiffs are paying Happy a fortune

to watch some naked humpback bitch.

I'm not kidding you.

I mean, fuck! I'm in the wrong line of work.

[door opens and closes]

[high-heel footsteps approaching]

Caught you, you bad boy.

What are you doing here?

Oh, I'm a party gal looking for a good time.

Ricky filled me in.

Mm-hm.

Nate, why are you doing this?

[blowing softly]

I have got to meet this girl.

[chatter]

(Nate) Don't you all worry about this bubbly shit

I got the good stuff right here.

Oh, hello.

Have a drink, sweetheart.

Here we go!

We're gonna go inside and have a good night tonight, huh?

Oh, yeah, yeah. Here you go, brother.

- Hey, Dan. - Thank you, Dan.

Please come in. Please come in.

(man) Check your coat?

(Harriet) Uh--

Thank you.

Beautiful, isn't she?

Nate, what are we gonna do?

You're gonna fly.

What?

You can do it.

I can't fly, Nate. Nate, I can't fly!

The wind is blowing just right, you can fly.

You can do this, come on.

[thudding]

Nate, it's not gonna work, it's not gonna work.

Oh, baby.

What?

I love you.

Get over here. You'll fall like a brick.

I love you.

Nate!

No!