Original subtitles

(MAN PERFORMS VOCAL EXERCISES)

(MAN SINGS) ♪ End...

♪ Endless

♪ Endless

♪ Endless

♪ Endless

♪ Rolling

♪ Waves

♪ What do you carry to me?

♪ Where will you carry me to? ♪

(CHILDREN'S VOICES)

♪ Children building castles in the sand in my town

♪ Children

♪ A band's playing

♪ A band's playing tomorrow night in my town

♪ They're called the... the Soron...

♪ Ladies have babies

♪ That's how it works

♪ Lady in the red coat, what are you doing with that bag?

♪ Lady in the blue coat, do you know the lady in the red coat? ♪

(MUSIC PLAYING QUIETLY)

(WOMAN) Slowly!

♪ Little boxes

♪ Take me away

♪ From these little boxes ♪

- (WOMAN) Hi, sweetheart. - Oh. Hi.

(MAN) Just in time. I made a casserole.

No, thanks. I've got an idea for a song.

How was work?

It was good. I've just... before I forget it.

OK, idea for a song in A minor. Possible title, "Suburbia".

♪ I dream of an angel

Down to E in the bass.

♪ To take me away

To G.

♪ Take me away

C.

♪ From these little boxes

Back to A.

♪ I dream of an angel

Up there.

♪ To take me away ♪

Oh, fuck!

(PLAYS CHORDS) That's Madness.

Fucking Madness song.

Er... But not Johnston or Harman.

(RADIO) 'So how would you describe the... how would you describe your music?'

(MAN) 'Thank you for your enquiry, Anthony.'

(WOMAN) 'That's a fucking boring question.

'I would describe our sound as fucking happy.'

- (MAN) Let him speak! - (WOMAN) Fuck you!

Cheese and ham panini. There you go.

'Cheese and ham panini.

'Hashtag livin' the dream.'

(SIREN)

(MAN) 'Yeah, that's him.'

'Hello, sir.

'Talk to you over here, sir.'

(MAN) 'Look what you've made me become!'

I'm gonna do it! I mean it! This is your fault! This is all on you!

Get out of the water.

We were at this radio station. He and Clara had a disagreement.

Or... I don't know, I guess a physical fight.

You're the S... You're playing tonight.

How? Our keyboardist is trying to drown himself.

I play keyboards.

(MAN) She's wanted this from the start!

No, no. I wasn't... that wasn't a...

Red hair. OK.

You play C, F and G?

- Yeah. - You're in.

Really?

So what shall we do now? Shall we run through the songs?

Stage door, 9:00pm tonight.

OK. Let me give you my number.

- Is he gonna be OK? - He'll be fine.

He'll still need to spend the night in hospital, though?

He's swallowed a lot of sea water. He'll have to have his stomach pumped.

Hello?

(BANGING)

(DISCORDANT INSTRUMENTAL NOISES)

(INSTRUMENTAL NOISES GROW LOUDER)

(GONG)

♪ In the soup

♪ Ginger crouton

♪ Cover him in grease

♪ Raw limby sausage

♪ Bobbing poulet

♪ Salted joints

♪ Tuna in brine

♪ Deep dark swell anoints

♪ Undertow the broken Ford Back to garage help him, Lord

♪ Eels are jellied, bloated belly Scallops seared, wrinkled skin

♪ Comb the cockles from his beard Notify the next of kin

♪ Push the baby, cut the cord

♪ Spread the feast upon the board

(SCREAMS)

♪ Coming out, emerging ♪

What happened? You just stopped playing.

What the fuck is wrong with you? You stopped playing?

- (SPEAKS FRENCH) - Bullshit!

This is just bullshit! Fucking bullshit!

(CYMBAL CRASHES)

(CLARA) It's OK, come on.

(DON) Start up the car.

Hello?

(DON) 'Lucas has been sectioned and we need a new keyboard player.

'Frank said, "Remember that grateful-looking boy

who jumped on stage last week uninvited?"'

I wasn't uninvited.

'Frank said he thought you brought something cherishable that night.

'But he can sound really muffled under the head,

'so I thought he said you brought something perishable.

'You know, like food that decays easily. Like fish or fruit.'

(DON LAUGHING)

'So I said, "Come on, man, anybody can do that."

'So anyways, we're doing this really major thing over in Ireland. You in?'

Yes.

'Clacket Lane Services, M25, 5:00pm today.'

(JON) 'You would not believe what's happening to me right now.

'Hashtag through the looking glass.'

Hello.

I wasn't sure where to wait. Clacket Lane's pretty labyrinthine, isn't it?

I was gonna stand by the Bank of Scotland Cashline.

Next to the RAC membership stall there.

But, er, I thought I'd be more visible on the approach.

So I just decided to come straight... Hello. Oh.

- Frank, scoot over. - Hi, everybody.

I was just saying to Don that I didn't know where to stand,

cos I thought that you might not see me, so, erm...

(SHIP'S HORN)

- I have a certificate. - This way.

(FRANK) It's an official medical document. Certificate.

You'll note the official stamp.

It's all legal and above board.

(DON) So, what do you think of Frank?

(FRANK) Light me.

- Erm... - (DON) Fucking amazing, isn't he?

(CLARA) Frank, you're on fire.

(DON) He lives all the way out there, man. In the furthest corners.

Fuck, I wanna be Frank.

- Don. - Yeah?

- (JON) The head. - (FRANK) Smells like sausages.

(DON) He never takes it off.

- Never? - No, never.

- He sleeps in it? - Yep.

What about eating?

He sucks liquid food through a straw that he funnels up under the neckline.

Occasionally solids, but it's not encouraged.

- What kind of liquid food? - Grownut. It's like a supplement.

- He must have a very bushy beard. - Not necessarily.

How does he clean his teeth?

Look, Jon, you're just gonna have to go with this.

OK.

Sorry, it's just... it's pretty crazy, isn't it?

I know, I know. I understand.

But let me tell you something.

Frank, with all his issues, is without a doubt

the most 100-percent sanest cat I've ever met.

- OK. - Me, on the other hand...

(WHISTLES)

- You seem pretty sane to me. - Yeah.

(LAUGHS)

But, no, no, I spent a lot of time in a psychiatric hospital.

I was labelled as severely mentally ill.

I used to fuck mannequins.

- Right. - It's a condition.

(SHIP'S HORN)

Here we go.

(TANNOY) 'Welcome to Ireland. Remember to drive on the left.'

(DON) Wakey-wakey, eggs and bakey.

(DON) And everybody out.

(LAUGHS) Welcome to Vetno.

Our new home.

Don?

- Don! - Alright.

(SPEAKS FRENCH)

- You like? - (FRANK) Impulse response.

- (DON) OK, people. - Excuse me.

How long will we be staying here for?

Rhythm section shall be housed in here. Ah, bunks.

- (SPEAKS FRENCH) - It is.

Frank. The master bedroom for you.

Had it customised for all your requirements.

(SPEAKS FRENCH)

These are the bathing accommodations.

We'll have productive seasons here.

- And, Clara, your living quarters. - (JON) Don!

Nice panoramic view of the lake here.

And, Jon, you and I are just through here.

- Don. - Yeah, buddy?

Don. Sorry. I actually told work that I'd be back on Monday.

- So I was just wondering... - Why the fuck would you do that?

I thought it was just a gig,

so I've only brought one pair of pants and a T-shirt.

I'll be staying right here in the green trailer.

So if you need anything at night, you know, sugar, milk,

if you freak out,

you just come a-knocking.

Well, come on, chop chop.

(WHISTLES)

- That's alpine cedar. Nice. - Don.

- Yeah? - How long are we staying here?

Just as long as it takes to record the album, Jon.

(SWISHING)

(SPLASHING)

(JON) 'Vetno, Ireland.

'After several days of what Frank calls fieldwork,

'rehearsals proper have begun.'

(MUMBLES)

(GUITAR PLAYS)

'I'm settling into my new life

'and gradually getting to know my fellow band members.'

Wow, this is beautiful. What do you call it?

(ELECTRONIC WHINE)

Stay away from my fucking Theremin.

'A few teething problems, as you would expect,

'but beginning to feel like one of the gang.'

(IN FRENCH) So... I do not know why Frank asked you to join the group...

but I'm not at all convinced.

You disgust me.

(REPEATS FRENCH)

'At Vetno, there's already a palpable sense of free expression

'and I can't wait to dive into the creative maelstrom.'

OK, everybody. Next time round go to G minor. OK?

One, two, three, four.

(CLARA) Fucking major. Major!

'But of course, I shall have to earn my place in the band.

'At the heart of it all is Frank.

'How to describe Frank?

'Mostly he seems friendly. Though sometimes a little intense.'

- It'll be worth it! - Stop, Frank!

It'll be worth it!

'He can hide himself away for days at a time.

'What goes on inside that head... inside that head?'

(TWEETING)

Yes, it's like an aviary.

You're birds. Baraque.

You're a cormorant.

Nana, moorhen.

Clara, the owl. Night hunter. Silent killer.

What have we got here?

Lay an egg for me, little ginger bird. Lay an egg.

'Frank says he must push us to our furthest corners

'and unlock the great music that hides there.'

Squat.

Go on, lay an egg. Get that egg out. Squeeze that egg out.

'It can feel a little overwhelming at times.'

(SQUAWKS)

'But all in all, I am happy to be a part of this.'

(SHRIEKS)

'Just happy.'

(DISTANT SHOUTING)

- (DON) I don't wanna be me! - (FRANK) Go back inside! Please.

I don't wanna be me! Frank, just let me go! I don't wanna live!

(FRANK) Don't let him get to the lake! Don't let him get to the lake!

(DON) I'm free!

- I'm free! - Wait, Don.

- Oh. - (FRANK) Don, don't get up.

(DON SOBS)

(FRANK) Did he tell you about the mannequins?

(JON) Yeah.

(FRANK) I met one once.

Caroline Cuntley.

- I'm Frank. - I'm Jon.

- (WHISPERS) Does he still...? - No.

He has relationships with real women now. But it's hard, you know.

He has to convince them to lie completely still, so, you know.

Hey, don't tell Don I said anything.

- No. - He might think it a shameful secret.

I say tell everyone everything. Why cover anything up? Right?

- Can I ask you something? - Sure.

Why do you wear that?

- You think it's weird? - Kinda.

Well, normal faces are weird too, you know.

The way they're... smooth, smooth, smooth.

And then, blah, you know... all bumpy and holes.

And what are eyes like? Like a science-fiction movie.

Don't get me started on lips. Like the edges of a very serious wound.

That's true. But your head is still sort of intimidating.

Well, underneath I'm giving you a welcoming smile.

Would it help if I said my facial expressions out loud?

- Well, maybe. - Welcoming smile.

(CLARA) Frank.

You've been up all night talking to the keyboard player?

I'm not just a keyboard player. I write songs, too.

- (FRANK) You write your own songs? - Hm-hmm.

I'd love to play some for you sometime.

I'd really like that. Big non-threatening grin.

Delighted look.

You're funny.

- (CLARA) Play one now. - (FRANK) Excellent.

- Not right now. I'm OK. - No, no.

- I'd love to hear one of your songs. - I would, too. Go on.

- I don't think so. - (FRANK) Please.

(FRANK) Hey, guys. Jon, he writes his own music.

- He's gonna play some for us. - I...

- Come on. - Clara.

(FRANK) Share your music with us, Jon.

- Erm... - (CLARA) Play something!

OK.

(PLAYS KEYBOARD)

I haven't warmed up my hands.

Erm... OK. Erm... er...

(PLAYS OPENING OF "FÜR ELISE")

That's just... That's a warm-up. Erm...

I've got one. I've got one that's like...

♪ I was walking down the street one day

♪ Thinking about the lady I love

♪ When a guy comes down and says, "What do you do?" ♪

That's... I haven't finished..

(IN FRENCH) That's shit.

I've got a kind of a rocky one.

♪ La... La...

♪ Lady in the red coat, what are you doing with that bag? ♪

I've only...

Fuck. You know when you've got so many songs

and none of them will come out?

Oh, no, I've got one. I've got one. There's one which is like...

(PLAYS SONG FROM GIG)

That's yours.

- (DOOR CREAKS) - (FRANK) Don.

- (GROANS) - (FRANK) Hey, buddy.

(DON) Oh, man.

- (FRANK) How are you feeling? - (DON) Better.

(FRANK) He's gonna need a chiropractor.

(GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC)

(FRANK) You bummed out?

- (JON) A little bit. - (FRANK) Why?

I don't think I've ever been able to find my...

core song-writing themes. You know?

(FRANK) You can write a song about anything.

- (JON) Yeah? - Yeah.

Hey! Like your socks here.

They're pretty original.

Hey, look at this.

This little tuft in the carpet.

I wonder how old he is in carpet years.

Is it spring and he's the first to wake, or...

is he old... but still strong enough...

to keep what winter wants to take?

♪ Lone standing tuft

♪ Defies the foot

♪ Is it luck that you're still standing?

♪ You've not been flattened too

♪ Do you tremble beneath the gentle breeze

♪ That's displaced by my shoe?

♪ Lone standing tuft ♪

- Silly. - Frank, that's amazing.

Flattered grin, followed by a bashful half-smile.

No. People should know about you. You should be famous.

You understand.

I understand what?

(FRANK) Understand there are people out there that might like our music.

Sometimes I think Clara doesn't care if people like us or not.

- Really? - It's weird.

(JON) It's really weird.

- What is this? - Potato.

And what is this?

Stew.

You should go home.

Frank picked me. OK? So it's not up to you.

- Excuse me? - He said I was cherishable.

And he picked me to join the band.

You are fingers being told which keys to push.

- I push my own keys. - Ten little bits of bone and skin.

I'm perfectly capable of going to my furthest corners and composing.

- Your furthest corners? - My furthest corners.

Someone needs to punch you in the face.

(FRANK) Lips pursed together as if to say, "Enough frivolity."

Today we begin work on the album in earnest.

(JON) 'Frank wants us to start everything from scratch.'

(FRANK) Note the colour-coding.

(JON) 'He's created an entirely new musical notation system.'

(FRANK) '...like creamy little galaxies.'

(JON) 'We've designed our own instruments.'

(WHINING, PINGING, CLANGING)

(SPEAKS FRENCH)

(JON) 'He has initiated a strict regime of physical exercise.'

Oh, for fuck's sake!

'Fortunately, we have a safe word for when things get too intense.'

Chinchilla!

'Chinchilla.'

Chinchilla! Chinchilla!

'It's incredible. Frank finds inspiration in everything.'

(FRANK) I find this inspiring.

'How does he do this?

'If I'm to grow as an artist, I must see as he sees.'

(FRANK) We could make an album out of this one sound.

(JON) 'I dedicate myself to learning his secret

'and I will not let anybody get in my way, however desperately they may try.'

(FRANK) Somebody's thinking in the key of C.

(JON) Oh, it's me! It's me!

Oh, fuck! Chinchilla!

(FRANK) Keep going! Keep going!

(JON) 'I am more convinced than ever that this band,

'whether they realise it or not, could achieve greatness.

'And I will work to take my place at its very heart.

'I will show them what I am capable of.

'I will show them.'

(PIANO MUSIC)

- Hey. - Psst. Hey, man, what are you doing?

- I'm composing a song. - Right.

♪ Ooh, ah-ooh ♪

- Yeah, man. I know. - What?

I know what it feels like to try and write a song and it just comes out shit.

Here, let me hop in the saddle.

Here's a little love song I wrote a long, long, long time ago.

♪ The stillness of the winter night

♪ The frozen water's icy skin

♪ Is broken by the boatman's oar

♪ Be still and let me in

♪ Oh, let me in

♪ But stay still ♪

There, see? Shit, too.

But look, Jon, sooner or later you're gonna get the feeling,

"Why can't I be Frank?"

Or "Maybe I can be Frank."

Jon, there can only be one Frank. One.

Actually, Don, I think both our songs were excellent.

Yeah. Right? Come on, let's go for a walk.

(DON) Yeah, I've known Frank was special

since the moment I first saw him.

This nurse was trying to wrestle his head off.

I mean, the guy must have weighed 300 pounds.

Frank was freaking out so hard he just backed off.

- A mental hospital? - Hmm.

Have you ever seen him without the head?

God, no.

Maybe he's facially disfigured.

Forced to wear a mask like the Elephant Man.

(DON) Hmm. All I know is that he told me once he was from Kansas.

- Bluff, Kansas. - Bluff, Kansas. Sounds dark.

Jacuzzi?

No. Get back to work.

Miserable childhood. Mental illness.

Where do I find that kind of inspiration?

(MAN) 'Congratulations. You've made the first step

'towards releasing your creativity

'in a way that will change every aspect of your life.

'Take everyday activities like shaving.

'As Edward de Bono once said,

'how often does someone, using a traditional wet razor,

'stop to consider whether instead of moving the razor,

'it might be easier to keep the razor still and simply move the face?'

(SHRIEKING)

(DISTORTED SHRIEKING)

(FRANK) What is that?

I think it's called The Idiot Shriek.

(BARAQUE, IN FRENCH) It's beautiful.

- (FRANK) Such pain. - Hey.

- Such emptiness. - (SHOUTING) Hey!

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

(GASPS)

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

(IN FRENCH) Someone's at the door.

What?

- (WHEEZES) - (FRANK) Easy, Don.

Start again. From the beginning.

Patient smile.

Stop saying your facial expressions. It's extremely annoying.

- Sorry. - We've run out of time.

We've spent all of our rent money

and the landlord gave us 30 days' notice to leave.

And we didn't leave.

So now they've rented Vetno to a family of holidaymakers...

who are right over there.

- Why didn't you tell us? - I didn't wanna disappoint you.

(IN FRENCH) We haven't recorded a note.

- I know. - I can pay.

(DON) What?

When my grandfather died, I inherited money.

He said it was my nest egg.

He said I should only ever spend my nest egg on something really important.

I want you guys to have my nest egg.

- Oh, Jon. - (FRANK) Thank you.

Oh, ginger bird.

It'll buy us enough time to make the album.

(WOMAN IN GERMAN) What are you doing in our holiday home?

What are you saying to each other?

Shit. What do we do about them?

(FRANK IN GERMAN) I'm terribly sorry to inconvenience you.

Come. Let us walk together outside.

(WOMAN LAUGHS)

(IN GERMAN) Bye. Thank you.

Thank you for this new truth in my soul.

(SPEAKS GERMAN)

(DON) Fucking crazy lady.

(JON) 'It's been a long time since I've written anything.

'We've been working on the new music for 14 hours a day for...

'...11 months now.

'It has not been easy.'

(FRANK) Again.

'None of us has left Vetno since we got here.'

Again.

'Frank refuses to record the album

'until we have perfected each and every detail.

- 'He can be pitiless.' - (FRANK) Again!

(FRANK) Merge!

'My nest egg has been depleted a lot more than I anticipated.

'We've had to start rationing the food.'

Fuck off.

'And on top of all this, Clara's hatred of me...'

(CLARA) Thief!

'...remains as strong and as baffling as ever.'

- I want it back. - Those are my keyboard-playing fingers.

'I'll admit there have been times when I've considered leaving Vetno.

'But I'm still here.

'And I am glad when I see how many of you

'continue to join me on this journey.

'You know, despite all the hardships I've suffered here...'

(DON) Just took a shit.

'...something inside me is beginning to stir.

'I've come to realise that this is my Bluff, Kansas.

'That here in Vetno I have found my abusive childhood.

'My mental hospital.

'That which pushes me...'

Oh, God.

'...to my furthest corners.'

This is really good.

Frank. Frank, I've...

(RUNNING WATER)

(FRANK) Get right in there.

Dog-leg left, 527 yards to the centre of the green.

Nobody hits a ball like that.

Get in the hole!

You're the man.

Oh! Oh.

I've written a song.

(JON SINGS AND PLAYS PIANO)

And goes up.

Yeah. (SINGS)

- (FRANK) Amazing. - Really?

- (FRANK) Yeah. - You really think so?

That means the world to me. Thank you so much.

- Do you mind? - Please.

OK, so...

(PLAYS SAME NOTES) Pare that down.

Now go up a half.

(PITCH CHANGES)

Go up a whole.

(PITCH CHANGES)

- (JON) Hmm. - Now go back down.

(JON) Oh, I see, yeah.

That's fantastic.

(FRANK) Uh-huh.

- (JON) That's excellent. - (CLARA) Here.

(ELECTRONIC SOUNDS)

(FRANK) Uh-huh.

- (CLARA) Right? - (FRANK) Right.

- (CLARA) What were you playing before? - (JON) That was like an F.

(CLARA) You play F there, that'd be shit.

(FRANK) Yeah. Let's make that stomp a bit more.

(GUITAR BEGINS)

(FRANK) ♪ Through the portals ♪

Vetno tapes. Take one.

♪ Comet tails

♪ Screeching frequencies of pulsing infinities

♪ Awake in the hive

♪ Where the sap is collected The process perfected

♪ The galactic siren sounds

♪ Down the dimensions of curled-up strings inside the point

♪ Get out of the path of the king, Mr Laurel

♪ Get out of the path of the king, Mr Hardy

♪ Regret, get off out the path of the king

♪ They will not be able to attend tonight's dinner

♪ The supernova outshone!

♪ Get out of the path of the king

Yeah!

♪ Saddle up

♪ Secure the galactic perimeters

♪ Weak and strong, nuclear bombs

Stab it. Stab it. Stab it.

♪ Now what's together will soon come apart

♪ When it's all over

♪ No back to the start ♪

(FRANK) Don?

We're done.

(SIGHS)

(ALL SHOUT)

(JON) Frank.

- Get the rope off! - (IN FRENCH) I don't know how!

(FRANK) Bye, Don.

You were the best keyboard player we ever had.

The best man I ever knew.

Don used to be the keyboard player?

First it was Don, then it was Lucas.

Now it's you.

(CLARA) Jon, what the fuck are you doing?

(JON) 'It's what Don would want.'

So you've been posting videos of us online?

That's not the point.

Because of those clips, we've been offered a really fucking important gig.

You've been spying on us.

South by Southwest.

In Texas. It's very prestigious. They've got a New Discoveries strand.

That's ridiculous. Come on, Frank. Let's get you cleaned up.

(FRANK) Why does it say 2-3-7-5-1 at the bottom?

That's the number of people who've watched the clip.

2-3-7-5-1 people are interested in us?

(CLARA) Come on, Frank.

- It's like magic. - I told you we could be big.

(CLARA) Can't see anything in this fucking... fucking place.

What game are you playing?

Filling Frank's head with these bullshit ideas.

I can't hear you over the sound of the bubbles.

Fuck! How the fuck...

You pressed full-bubble-strength.

They're on a timer. You've just restarted.

Leave Frank alone.

I know you want me to end up like Don or Lucas,

but that's not gonna be my role...

You are a mediocre child.

- Excuse me? - An infection.

- You keep him locked up like... - Bindweed, chickweed...

- You're like Josef... - Absence. Absence.

What's his fucking name? Josef Fritzl!

- Middle management! - Cunt!

- Oh, fucking hell! Oh, fucking hell! - (MOANS)

Oh, God! Ow! Ow!

Ow! Oh, fuck!

I'm fucking dying...

This is gonna be awkward.

What is?

Us. You know... together.

We will never be together.

- Oh. - I find you...

disgusting.

Hmm.

- Disgusting. - Yeah, OK. I get the point.

Clara...

What does he look like?

I don't know.

Was it awful in the mental hospital, Clara?

- How should I know? - I assumed you were mentally ill.

- You did? - Hm-hmm.

Oh.

So why are you so against us finding an audience

if it's not because you're mentally ill?

You're in love with Frank.

You love him and you're scared that if other people love him, you'll lose him.

And one day I'll take off my glasses and he'll really see me...

and we'll do big kisses. That's really how you think?

Don't presume to tell me how I think.

(LAUGHS)

If you fuck everything up in America, I'll stab you.

It's just like Paris, Texas, isn't it?

(FRANK) It's definitely...

- What are you looking for? - (FRANK) Don.

(FRANK) Hey, Don.

Hey, partner.

I remember you saying that the desert here

was your favourite place in the whole world.

After Sea World, San Diego.

I know you were homesick, Don.

And I know there were times when you wanted to come back here,

but you didn't because of me.

Well, you're home now, Don.

I promise those sacrifices you made won't be in vain.

Jon has foretold of a night, some nights from now,

when, thanks to his secret camera,

legions and multitudes of already adoring fans

shall gather and they shall receive our music in rapture.

(CLARA) It's Grownut.

Frank, it's Grownut.

(BARAQUE IN FRENCH) Shit, shit...

- (IN FRENCH) I took the wrong box. - (CLARA) Alright, Don.

- Let's feed the desert with you anyway. - (FRANK) Oh, Don.

(CLARA) Fucking Grownut!

- Looking good. - Don't touch me.

- (WOMAN) Awesome costumes, guys. - Thank you. Thank you.

We're playing the Sunshine. Day after tomorrow.

Frank.

Hello.

Something tells me that you guys are the Soronprfbs.

- That's us. - You're Jon?

Yes. Hi.

So, here are the festival passes and an information pack.

And did Simone pronounce your name right?

- Jon. - No, the band's name.

Oh, actually, I don't know.

Clara, how do we pronounce the band's name?

- Ask him. - Listen, are you guys hungry?

Er, yeah.

We were gonna go get something to eat. It's the best pancake house in town.

There's open mike. It's gonna be awesome.

Awesome. Awesome.

♪ I sit in Tracy's bedroom

♪ In my knee-socks and Chelsea's beanie

♪ Talking boyfriends, tongues and weenies ♪

(SPEAKS IN FRENCH)

You guys have been in the forest, so long

all this craziness has to be kind of overwhelming.

(FRANK) No, we're cool with that.

(LAUGHS)

I'm delighted to be launching our album here. Delighted look.

This is a most unique and exciting opportunity you've given us

to finally play in front of people who actually know and love us.

You know? Until now, our audiences tend to be people who chance upon us

and realise after a few minutes they don't like us.

Frank!

I gotta tell you, we know who you are.

We found you, but the audience won't have heard of you.

(FRANK) They do not know and love us.

But more than 23,700 people watched us on YouTube.

23,000 hits on YouTube is nothing.

- They do not know us. - (SIMONE) Yeah, those kind of views...

Maybe one or two people in the room will know you. Maybe nobody.

Half a million is when you're onto something big.

- (FRANK) We fucked it up. - But they're cool, right?

- I mean, they'll like us. - They'll love you.

(FRANK) Jon? Jon?

(JON) 'Recent revelations have raised serious questions in the band

'about the reception we can look forward to at New Discoveries.'

(CLARA) Lick my ass!

'A hastily arranged warm-up gig earlier this evening...'

(IN FRENCH) That was shit.

'...did nothing to steady the ship.

'Luckily, I am no longer the man I was a year ago.

'Now, in crisis, I see creative possibility.

'Turns out I may be closer to the Zeitgeist

'than certain people gave me credit for.

'I'm ready to make my mark on this band.'

(CLARA) So you want us to change our sound?

(JON) We've always demanded

the audience stretch their corners all the way out to meet ours.

But what if, Frank...

What if we pull our corners back a little bit?

No, just a tiny, tiny bit. And then everyone's corners can meet,

you know, in a place that's still a really long way off.

But it's just a bit less...

(WARBLES) You know? And a bit more likable.

- But not in a bad way. - I'm not playing the fucking ukulele.

Frank.

(FRANK) I'm writing my most likable song ever.

I've always dreamed

that one day I'd have a band member who shared my vision

of creating extremely likable music.

So thank you, Jon. You gave me the little push I needed.

OK, enough chatter. Here it is.

My most likable song ever.

(BEEPING)

♪ Coca Cola lipstick Ringo Dance all night, dance all night

♪ I've got dancing legs I've got dancing legs

♪ They won't stop me dancing, no They won't stop me dancing

♪ Kiss me, just kiss me

♪ Kiss me, Nefertiti Just the way you like it

♪ Just the way you like it Kiss me, kiss me

♪ Lipstick kiss me, lipstick Ringo That's the way you like it ♪

- This is your most likable song ever? - Yeah.

- People will love it. - Actually, actually, Frank,...

I think that we could push the likability even further.

(FRANK) No way.

You're shitting me. How?

Can I just...?

Erm... Where did you start?

(PLAYS NOTES)

But what if, I don't know, we regulate it a bit more?

(FRANK) I love it. I love it.

And then if you played an F down here, that would be good, wouldn't it?

(FRANK) You should be famous. That's so likable.

Jon fixed it.

(FRANK) I'm officially here. Check me.

Hello. Sorry.

(FRANK) We're igniting the light and letting it shine.

Hi. Can I get a quick word with you?

(FRANK) We were in the forest like secret squirrels. Now we're likable.

We're so...

It's gonna be huge. Jon fixed everything.

You've gotta see us tomorrow night. I promise nothing bad will happen to you.

- Let's go take a walk. - I'm incredibly happy to be here.

I'm fine. I'm relaxed.

Forgive me for my problems formerly. People were liking it. The weight.

I'm fine, I'm fine. I'm totally relaxed. I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine.

- (CLARA) Frank's not OK. - (JON) What are you talking about?

I need your help to get him out of here.

He said he's perfectly fine and relaxed.

I need your help to get him out of here.

He looks happy to me.

- Whereas you seem... - I seem what?

Not in control.

(KNOCKS)

Frank?

Have you seen a man wearing a fake head? No?

Sorry, have you seen a man wearing a fake head?

A very big head? He and a lady went around the corner.

Frank. Frank! Frank!

(BOTTLE ROLLS)

Frank?

- (CLARA) Can you feel my breath? - Frank.

What the fuck are you doing?

- (FRANK HUMS) - (CLARA) Breathe, breathe. It's OK.

Do you want to come back to the hotel, Frank?

- (FRANK HUMS) - (JON) It's warm there.

Don't listen to her. She's the one who's nuts. Not you.

Tomorrow night is everything we've worked for.

- They're ready to love us. - (CLARA) Can you feel my breath?

They're ready to love you, Frank.

Don't throw that away.

(CLARA) Frank, stay with me.

(JON) Thank God.

Come on.

I'm sorry.

Are you a little sad?

Yes, Jon, I'm a little bit sad.

Oh, no. Chinchilla! Chin...

- (SCREAMS) Fuck! - (CLARA) Frank, he's fucking crazy.

She's stabbed me in the fucking leg!

Get off me!

Frank! Who are you?

(JON) 'Clara Wagner, our very own Syd Barrett,

'was arrested today and charged with assault after stabbing me in the leg.

'See link.

'We will all miss Clara

'and sincerely hope

'our own crazy diamond

'will also shine on.'

- (KNOCKING AT DOOR) - (JON) Nana, open up. Baraque!

Is he here?

How is he?

(IN FRENCH) He's sleeping.

He's dead?

(SIGHS) Asleep.

(NANA) He's sick.

(JON) No, no, he's...

He's just tired. He'll be alright for tonight.

Not Frank. You.

Sorry?

I've known this since the first time I saw him on that beach.

He would have drowned Lucas to take his place in the band.

No, I wouldn't have.

Because when he looks inside himself, he can't find anything there.

Yes, I can.

So his only hope is to live off your talent like a tick.

- Sorry? - Which is why he got rid of Clara.

- Clara chose to stab me. - We're not playing without Clara.

What? We've got the biggest gig of our lives in three hours.

The stabbing could not have come at a better time, Frank.

Everyone at South by Southwest...

Baraque and I have packed. We're leaving.

No, you can't leave. We've had 767, 328 hits.

- (PHONE VIBRATES) - Frank, say something.

- 767,918. They're all watching. - Frank.

- (FRANK) So many people. - See?

- So many people. - Don't...

Good luck playing tonight without a band.

I've got one word for you.

Unplugged! Me on guitar, you on vocals.

Delegates really like it when bands go unplugged. Special thing.

(HEAVY BREATHING)

- (ALICE) How's your leg? - It'll be OK.

We set everything up. Sure you wanna go ahead?

(JON) Absolutely.

(FRANK) Igniting the light and letting it shine.

- Frank, are you OK? - Uh-huh.

- If I was you guys I'd be so nervous. - Oh, goes with the territory.

Yeah, but, I mean, playing without your band after what just happened...

Shit, man, I would be nervous.

It's not like we don't know the songs or anything.

With that many people, I would be shitting myself.

- Would you please shut your mouth? - I'm just saying...

(DISTANT MUFFLED MUSIC)

- Where are you going? - Do my ablutions.

That's not the toilet.

Just be as quick as you can.

- 30 seconds. - Frank?

- Frank? - Let's fuck!

Just wait here for a few seconds, OK?

(CHEERING)

(JON) Hello.

Prepare for rapture!

(CHEERING)

(WHOOPS) Yeah!

Hello, South by Southwest!

(CHEERING)

(FRANK WHOOPS)

It's been a crazy 24 hours, but we're still here,

and we're still the Soronprfbs!

Unplugged.

(AUDIENCE SHOUTS) Chinchilla!

Chinchilla!

- Yeah! - OK. Here's a little song I wrote.

I hope you like it. This is the best day of my life.

(CHEERING)

♪ La la la-la la

Come on, Frank!

- ♪ La la la-la la ♪ - (FRANK WAILS)

(SCREAMS)

Fuck! Fuck!

- (BOOING) - Frank. Frank.

Frank!

What is it, Frank? Frank, come on. What is it?

The music's shit.

- The music is shit. - (BOOING)

(CLICKS BETWEEN CHANNELS)

'...Cleveland, Ohio band, The Gentile Youth,

'had all of Austin talking last night

'when they played a barnstorming set at South by Southwest.'

(TURNS TV OFF)

Aren't we supposed to be playing at South by Southwest?

Frank...

I know you weren't happy with the music.

So let's work on it together.

Why not?

You're not Clara.

(SLURPS)

The motel owner says if we haven't paid in full by the end of the week,

they're throwing us out.

- Fuck's sake! - (FRANK) Oh, jeepers.

- Fuck. - It's alright. I'm sorry.

Just leave it. Oh, you stink!

I made it. Now, will you use it?

Take it off.

The head.

Maybe you should take it off.

In cognitive behavioural therapy, they say... face your fears.

They say, take the head off. So let's do it.

- Let's take the fucking head off. - I have a certificate.

I know you have a certificate.

I know you've got a motherfucking certificate!

- (FRANK SHRIEKS) - Just take it off!

Take it off! Fucking hell!

- (FRANK SHRIEKS) - Frank, I'm sorry! I...

Frank! Frank! No!

Frank! I'm sorry. Come back!

- Where did he go? - That way.

- Is he injured? - He was limping.

Did you see his face?

(PHONE RINGING)

(MAN) 'Yeah, hello. You wanna report a missing person?'

- Yes. - 'Name?'

- Frank. - 'Frank what?'

Just Frank.

'Age?'

Somewhere between 30 and...

50.

'And what does this person look like?'

Driving me crazy, but I know who you are.

- Hmm? - You're the Chinchilla guy, right?

- Hm-hmm. - Awesome.

And there's the dude with the big head and the crazy chick. Clara, right?

Dude, you guys are, like, total myths.

I mean, there's fucking footage of you everywhere online.

(SHOUTS IN CHINESE) Chinchilla guy!

- Chinchilla guy. - Chinchilla guy!

See? I mean, all the footage.

You're all totally erratic and shit, nervous breakdowns.

Chinchilla! People rolling around on the floor.

I mean, just wayward stuff, man.

And now it's all like, "What happened to Frank? It's like he just vanished."

- I mean, fucking hilarious. - I don't think it's hilarious.

Really? I thought it was supposed to be hilarious.

It's...

But, I mean, Clara and Frank, man. Come on, they're, like... total freaks.

♪ On top of

♪ Old Smoky

♪ All covered

♪ With snow

♪ I lost my poor lover

♪ By courting too slow ♪

(BARAQUE) How did you find us?

(JON) I saw...

Everything you said was true, Nana.

I ruined everything.

I'm sorry.

So sorry.

Frank ran away.

I don't know if...

I was hoping you might know where he is.

Ain't nobody here wears no fake head.

(SPITS)

OK.

Bluff, Kansas.

(WOMAN) Be careful.

Hi.

Frank?

Frank, I'm so ashamed.

I should never have tried to pull your head off. I don't know...

I'm the tree surgeon. I'm just... I'm just here to look at the tree.

(WOMAN) Can I help you?

(RADIO INTERFERENCE)

(JON) I've been very worried about you.

I just wanted to find you to...

make sure you're OK.

How are things without the head?

(TURNS RADIO OFF)

He had such a beautiful face. Lovely skin.

The head was my fault. I made him his first one.

He was 14, said it was for a costume party.

I did it even though I knew there wasn't any costume party.

Turns out the worst thing to do with something like that is to pander to it.

Who knew?

(JON) What happened to Frank?

Something must have happened to him to make him like that.

Nothing happened to him. He's got a mental illness.

The torment he went through... to make the great music.

The torment didn't make the music. He was always musical.

If anything, it slowed him down.

It was a good home.

It's just like my home.

(PLAYS PIANO HESITANTLY)

(JON) I have to go now, Frank.

- You alright? - Yeah.

I know I ruined everything.

I'm sorry.

- It's good you're still playing. - I'm not.

I tried, but...

it doesn't come out good.

♪ I want to marry a lighthouse keeper

♪ And keep him company

♪ I want to marry a lighthouse keeper

♪ And live by the side of the sea

♪ We'll have parties on a moonlit isle

♪ And clam bakes

♪ On a coral reef

♪ We'll invite everybody in

♪ And seagulls by the score

♪ I wanna marry a lighthouse keeper

♪ I'll polish his lamps by the light of the day

♪ I want to marry a lighthouse keeper ♪

It's really nice... nice to see you.

It's nice to be here.

El Madrid.

I love your wall.

The washrooms smell. They could be cleaner.

Put your arms around me.

Fiddly digits.

Itchy britches.

♪ Stale beer, fat fucked, smoked out, cowpoked

♪ Sequinned mountain ladies

♪ I love your wall

♪ Put your arms around me

♪ Fiddly digits, itchy britches

♪ I love you all

♪ I love

♪ You all

♪ Washrooms smell, they could be cleaner

♪ Stench of cigarettes and stale urea

♪ I love you all

♪ Prodigal son wants to return to where the dogs play pool

♪ I love you all

♪ I love

♪ You all

♪ Stale beer, fat fucked, cowpoked, smoked out

♪ Sequinned mountain ladies

♪ I love you all

♪ Put your arms around me

♪ Fiddly digits, itchy britches

♪ I love you all

♪ I love

♪ You all

(SONG CONTINUES)

♪ El Madrid, it's nice to see ya

♪ It's really nice to be here

♪ I love you all

♪ Stale beer, fat fucked

♪ Smoked out, cowpoked

♪ Sequinned mountain ladies

♪ I love you all

♪ Put your arms around me

♪ Fiddly digits, itchy britches

♪ I love you all

♪ I love

♪ You all

♪ Washrooms smell, they could be cleaner

♪ Stench of cigarettes and stale urea

♪ I love you all

♪ Prodigal son waits to return

♪ To where the dogs play pool

♪ I love you all

♪ I love

♪ You all ♪

♪ Banjaxed and broken

♪ Smashed up in bits

♪ That is the only way

♪ Everything fits

♪ All held together

♪ Spitballs and string

♪ Splinters of wood

♪ On a bird's broken wing

♪ Now what's together

♪ Will soon come apart

♪ When it's all over

♪ No back to the start

♪ Now what's together

♪ Will soon come apart

♪ When it's all over

♪ No back to the start ♪

♪ Lonely little carpet tuft

♪ A twisted woolly Joshua tree

♪ Surrounded by its fallen friends

♪ Alone in a threadbare woven field

♪ Lone standing tuft

♪ Defy the foot

♪ What age are you in carpet years?

♪ Is it spring and you're the first to wake?

♪ Or are you old but still strong enough

♪ To keep what winter wants to take?

♪ Lone standing tuft

♪ Defy the foot

♪ Is it luck that you're still standing

♪ And you've not been flattened too?

♪ Do you tremble in the little wind

♪ That's squeezed out by my shoe?

♪ Lone standing tuft

♪ Defy the foot

♪ Has your tuftiness mutated so

♪ Your strands are made of steel?

♪ Is it sheer determination

♪ You'll never bend beneath the heel?

♪ Lone standing tuft

♪ Defy the foot ♪