Original subtitles

- Mommy, mommy, come here.

- Yes, Jenny.

- I think Mark's talking in his sleep.

He's having a nightmare.

- No, I'm not.

I'm wide awake.

- Gosh, I'm sorry.

Can you wait?

- There are three things in this world that cannot wait.

Debt, taxes, and an erection.

- Mark, stop it.

- Okay, what's going on?

- Mark's pounding on the bed and --

- Get in bed.

Get in, get under.

I don't wanna hear another word out of you.

I want you to be quiet.

Do you understand?

You have to wake up early, okay?

All right.

- Goodnight. - Be quiet, shh.

Half a buck for your thoughts.

- Two hundred a month? Wow.

Hi, I called earlier...about the room.

- Come in. - Hi.

- After you.

There's no kitchen.

- Oh, that's all right.

I don't intend to cook.

I just want to know one thing up front.

Are there any restrictions?

- Restrictions?

No, none.

This isn't the YMCA.

- Wow.

This place is really something else.

So many candles.

It's like something out of a dream.

Mm, mm, mm.

- The stereo has a good selection, mostly classical.

I just love the Vivaldi, don't you?

- Mm.

- What the former tenants usually did was phone first.

I'm always working in my studio.

If you like, I can just pop in,

light the candles, pour the wine.

The rest is up to you.

- Wine, candles, music.

That's really nice of you.

- So you really like it, huh?

- I love it.

I'll take it.

I've gotta get back on the road.

I've got some clients to see.

There you go.

- Uh, come into my studio.

I'll give you a receipt.

- Oh, the keys will be in my receipt.

- Plain key fits the outside door,

the brass, windows.

- Plain out, brass in.

- Tell me about your black room.

- What? What about it?

- Is it for real?

- No.

- Honest? - Mm-hm.

- Mm.

Tell me about it anyway.

We share everything, don't we?

- Mm-hm.

- Please?

- Haven't done much of anything to it yet.

- What are you gonna do?

- I don't know.

- There's something going on inside your head,

isn't there, Pumpkin?

- Maybe I should get all my frustrations out.

Find a fantasy partner and make a believer out of her.

Foxy. - Oh, yeah?

- Yeah.

- I catch you with any foxy lady,

I'm gonna punch your lights out.

- Bet you won't.

- No. - 'Cause I can be sneaky.

- No!

Are you gonna be kinky with this fox?

- If she wants.

- Why aren't you ever with me?

- Because...I love you.

- Why, you're a drag.

- Adrag? - Oh, yes.

When I was about 16 years old,

I used to go to my uncle's farm in summertimes

for summer vacation. - Mm-hm.

- And sometimes, I'd sleep in the barn with the horses.

The smell of leather used to really turn me on.

- Mm. - Mm-hm.

I remember I used to take the harness

and I used to rub it against my breasts,

and I'd rub it in between my legs,

and that's how I had my first orgasm.

Really?

- Mm.

Larry? - Mm-hm?

- Make love to me, sweetheart.

- Mommy, Mark wet the bed

and it really, really stinks.

- It's okay, baby.

Daddy will tell you another fairy tale later.

- Well, Laura and David, that was for you

and I hope the sun always shines

for the two of you out there in sunny Van Nuys, California.

Well, thanks for listening to KLES,

here in sunny southern California.

In a minute, we're gonna run down

the top 15 hits for this week.

Stay tuned to KLES for the weather and sports.

This is Uncle Arty,

I'll be back at five.

- Hi. - Hi.

- How far are you going?

- How far you wanna go?

- It's too early in the morning for mind games.

- Who's playing games?

- Okay, get in.

I'll go as far as you want.

- How about Beverly Hills?

You know the place?

- Like the back of my hand.

Comes with the territory.

You live there?

- No, I live in Santa Monica with my old man.

- What's your old man do for a living?

- He's a succophite.

- What's that?

- Something that lives off a parasite. Me.

- You work?

-I1 go to school.

- Why are you being so nice to me?

- Well, there's three reasons.

One, I don't have any class today.

Two, my boyfriend fucked me at breakfast.

And three, you are a cutie pie.

- A cutie pie, huh? - Mm-hm.

- What's your name? - It's Lisa.

What's yours?

- Fred. - Fred?

You're full of it.

You're no Fred.

- Would you believe Larry?

Look, I can't take you home.

My um...my kids would love you,

but my wife really wouldn't appreciate it.

But I do have this...well,

this nice little place we can go to.

How's that sound?

- Sounds great.

You wanna get wrecked?

- Yeah, for sure.

- Will you tell your wife about us?

- Mm-hm, I tell my wife everything I do.

- Does she believe you?

- No, that's why I tell her.

- I hate parsley, mommy.

- I hate it, too.

- So do I.

Mommy puts parley on everything she makes.

Don't ask me why.

- It's because it's good for you.

Larry, will you do me a favor

and don't bug me about the parsley?

- Look, I'll make the steak and eggs on Sunday,

and you leave off the parsley, and everyone will be happy.

Right? - Mm-hm.

- It tastes bitter.

- Mommy says it's full of vitamins.

- That's right. - And it looks pretty, right?

- Okay, okay. I'll tell you what, darling.

You can stay at home all day long

and take care of Mark and Jenny,

and you can clean and cook, and do the laundry,

and I will go out and stock stationary supplies,

and then I'll come home

and nag you about a little sprig of parsley.

- Hey, come here.

- What? What now?

- Now, now. I'll have to consider the possibility

of putting you into sedation.

- Oh, God.

Can't keep my back on you two for a minute.

- Hate milk.

- Don't you wanna grow up and be pretty like your mommy?

- Ha ha ha. - Ha ha.

You little brat.

- Ah!

Whoa!

- How'd you do that?

- Come in.

- Hi, Jason here?

- He's out.

- Oh, I just came up to pay next month's rent.

Do you know who I am?

- Sure.

I've seen you many times.

- Really?

Anyway, here's the money.

I've gotta get downstairs, I'm expecting somebody.

- I left a note for you on the room door.

A girl called. She, uh,

she's still at school and can't make it today.

- I went to a lot of trouble to get a couple free hours.

- Well. - Damn.

- You can help me pick some flowers.

They're for your room.

You do like your room, don't you?

- It's fine.

- Jason's been sick all his life, ever since he was a child.

- What does he have?

- Oh, it's a very rare blood disease. Cooley's Anemia.

The medical term is thalassemia.

It affects mostly Mediterranean types.

Your red blood cells are different,

so he has to constantly replenish his blood every 60 days.

Then once a month.

- Wow.

- Now, it's twice weekly.

- How long have you lived with Jason?

- Most of my life.

- Are you married?

- Married?

I thought he told you.

- What?

- We're brother and sister.

Let's go back inside the house.

This is your moment of truth, Larry.

Only this time, you are the bull...

and I'm the matador.

- But the matador kills the bull.

- Yeah, but with love.

You see, the most...

most beautiful thing in the world

is to be killed by someone that you love.

- Can't you do it twice in one night anymore?

Move for Papa.

Did you strain yourself in a bull fight, or something?

Move for the landlord.

You moved okay for the tenants.

Great, baby.

- Half up front and half later.

- Half up front, half later?

What am I, Sears?

- Will you sit?

Drink.

- You sure there ain't nothin' in it?

- Like what?

Oh, Spanish fly, angel dust, PCP?

- You wanna switch glasses?

- Yeah. - Take it.

- It's French wine.

- You noticed.

- You wanna know why I was so zapped out?

- Tell me, Sandy, why was your tiny lavender mind zapped?

- Well, when we got here, the candles was lit,

the wine's poured, the music's on.

How come?

- I'm a magician.

- Yeah, no kidding.

What else are ya, married?

I can tell a mile off.

You got a wife and, uh, two kids, right?

- It shows that much, huh?

- Eh.

The world is full of married men, baby.

Without 'em, I'd be starving.

Tell me, what's going on in your tiny lavender mind?

Oh, you can tell me.

That's what I get paid for.

And for a little extra, we can get kinky.

- Like what?

- Oh, whatever you like.

What's your pleasure?

What's your fantasy, huh?

Would you like to tie me up?

- Mm, terrific.

- You could even blindfold me if you wanted.

- Sandy, you are one in a million.

- Well, this is extra.

- Extra?

Well, put it on the bill.

Oh, listen, I don't know how to tell you this,

but I'm gonna have to leave you. Just for half an hour.

- Leave? - Yeah, I'm sorry.

Really sorry, but I've got a business appointment

in Santa Monica.

I'm selling the company a lot of supplies

so I can see you more often, capisce?

- What you talking about?

- Well, I...

I was on my way there when I picked you up hitchhiking.

It's my two hours.

Just keep the clock running.

You know, sit on it, baby.

Keep it warm for me.

- Hey, what am I supposed to do while you're gone?

- Just relax, dig the mellow sounds.

I'll be back.

Don't worry about it.

- Hey!

- Bye.

- Come Back here, you joker!

Where's the rest of my bread?

Ow.

Ooh!

Who's there?

Who's in this room?

Larry?

That was no 30 minutes.

You're back early.

Come on, I got things to do.

Larry?

Quit screwing around.

Cut it out.

Larry?

That is you, isn't it?

Say something. Please?

Larry!

Please, please quit screwing around with my head.

Who the hell is here?

Sandy, where are you?

Damn.

Shit.

You got ripped off.

- Why didn't you like the art show?

- Oh, the paintings weren't real.

- Oh, that's why I liked it.

I thought you sometimes like things that weren't real.

- Like what?

- Your room.

- Oh, well that's different.

That's my little fantasy turn on.

- Oh, it's mine, too.

Ever since you started talking about it,

our love life has gotten much better.

Really exciting again. - Mm-hm.

You better take it easy, or in a minute,

I'll be making love to you on the sand.

- Well, why not?

We haven't done it on the beach since our honeymoon.

- I love you. - I love you, too.

- Dad, why do I have to finish everything?

- Ask mommy when she gets back.

Why can't we send what we don't eat

to the poor little starving children in Las Vegas?

- Las Vegas? - Yeah.

- Jen, the children are not starving in Las Vegas.

They're starving in India.

- Where's mommy?

- For the third time, Mark,

mommy has gone shopping and she's using daddy's car

because hers is in the garage.

And as soon as you two finish up,

you can watch TV for a while and then it's beddie-byes.

- That son of a bitch.

- How do you catch a rabbit?

- How?

- Stand behind a tree and make a noise like a carrot.

- That's dumb. - Here's mommy.

- Uh, Larry, there's two more bags in the car.

Would you get them, please?

- Uh-oh, she's in one of her moods.

- Larry.

- What, honey?

- Why don't you do to me what you said you did to that girl

that you took to that black room?

- Come on.

I couldn't do that to you, it wouldn't be right.

You're my wife.

- Well, I don't wanna be your wife when we make love.

I wanna be your whore.

- Somehow, I just don't see you in that room.

You don't belong there, Robin.

- Well, if I was there, then what?

- In the room?

When people go in the room, it swallows 'em. They change.

- Oh, I know.

You tell me what you do there,

but you never let me go inside.

- No, I can't.

- Making it with other women in that room.

- Only their little head trips.

- They're your head trips, not mine.

I'm jealous, Larry.

Please just, you know,

do to me what you do to the other women.

- You know, you're coming on like it's for real.

I keep telling you it's...word paintings.

It's a fantasy.

- Is it?

- Yes.

- Are you okay, Jason?

Do you want me to go get you some pills?

- I'll be all right.

- Whatever happens...not Larry, okay? Please?

- Be careful, Bridget,

or you'll ruin everything for both of us.

- Bridget, I'm having one of my attacks.

- Hold on, Jason, I'm getting your pills.

- Oh, Jason, here.

Jason, she's gone!

- I'll go around the house.

Go down the hill, find her!

- What's the matter, lady?

Should I take you some place?

- Take...take...take --

- It's all right, mister.

She likes to freak us all out.

- It's all right, it's okay.

- Stop it!

- You want me to take her to the hospital for you?

- No thanks, I'm a doctor.

- You sure? - Yeah.

- You sure?

- Yeah.

- No, please, stop. Stop, please.

Stop them, please!

Please.

- My God, I can't believe this.

All this time, the place was real.

Then the people in it must be real, too.

And that's Jason.

- You're a...photographer.

- Did he tell you about Bridget?

Good, then he told you everything.

Larry doesn't know you came here, does he?

- No.

- We won't tell him for now, will we?

- I just had to see for myself.

I found what I was looking for.

I can go home now.

It'll never be the same between us.

- Why? Because Larry's been unfaithful?

- I am his wife.

I am the mother of his children.

My marriage is everything I have in this world.

See, you have your photography,

my art is my husband and my children.

- One, you can keep your mouth shut

and go on playing the game.

- Uh-uh, there's no way.

No I couldn't, Jason.

- Two, make his game yours.

Why not?

You have the keys and you have me.

- You?

So it's uh,

it's you who lights these candles

and pours the wine, and starts the music?

- All it takes is a telephone call.

Magic.

- Why do you wanna help me?

- Because the irony of it all appeals to me.

The idea of you bringing in an endless supply of new people.

Fresh blood.

Robin, I wanna make love with you, too.

Please.

- Oh, Jason.

- Yes, Larry?

Tweny minutes?

Make it half an hour, I have some company.

I'll open a new bottle.

What about a Pinot Noir, 1978?

That's the first girl he brought here.

She's a UCLA student.

He must have told you about them.

Every person I photograph

is my way of holding onto a little bit of their souls.

Um, how about some Chopin for a change?

Great.

His choice of partners is fascinating.

That one's Bridget, by the way. My sister.

- Tell me, how do you take the photos from this room?

Explain that to me.

Or, uh, explain it to Larry.

- That's good.

Blackmail.

For you, a step in the right direction.

You wanna see your husband in the room?

Give me your car keys.

I'll show you the magic.

See for yourself.

Look into the future.

Oh, excuse me, I forgot the wine.

- To the new Robin.

And all the new people I hope you'll be bringing

to the black room.

- Brady tags a good one.

It's going all the way back, it's going back!

It's going back --

Looks like Aaron -- nope.

Yeah, folks, he's got it.

Throws it in the stands.

- Hi. - Hi.

- This is my old man, Terry.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Terry's been bugging me about seeing the room

since I told him.

You don't mind if he comes, do you?

- That's a heavy trip just to lay on me like that.

- Not really.

I told him you're terrific.

Very clinical, no emotions to get in the way.

- Thanks a lot.

- I just wanna watch

and take notes for my psychology class.

- What can I say?

A bird in the hand is better than a bush in the bush.

Let's go.

- Oh, man.

- Here's a riddle for you.

What has three heads and six legs?

- What?

- What's it now?

- Us.

- Oh, jeez.

- Who said it?

After we know the truth comes sadness.

All truth is terrifying,

especially about ourselves and the people we love.

Jealousy is your sickness.

Mine is need.

- Oh, Jason, what should I do with my life?

- Find someone, bring them back.

We'll both enjoy your game.

You in the room and me in here.

- No, no I can't!

It's wrong!

- Hello, Terry?

Hi.

- Hi.

- Are you waiting for your girlfriend?

- Yeah.

You know Lisa?

- Oh, yeah, yeah.

- I don't remember your face.

Have we met?

- Um, yeah. Uh, last week at the black room.

- That's funny, I don't remember.

What's your name?

- My name's Robin.

- I was really wrecked.

I thought there was only three of us.

Were you really there?

- Yeah.

- No. - Yeah, I was.

- If you were there, I would've remembered you.

- Well...

- All right, if you were there, where were you?

- I was, uh, looking on the other side of the looking glass.

- Yeah, a line from Alice in Wonderland, right?

You a student?

- Well, I am now.

- Oh, there she is.

Hey.

Hi.

- Hi. - Hi.

What's happening?

- Um, hi, how are you?

- Who might this be?

- I'm Robin, I'm Larry's wife.

- Oh, I see. - I do.

- Wait a minute, you're Larry's wife?

- Yeah.

- Okay.

- Oh, listen, would you like to go with me to the room?

- Well, listen, guys, I got exams, so, um,

I'll just see you later, Terry.

It's nice to meet you.

- Yeah, see you later. - Bye.

- Do you have time, or...?

- Yeah, I'm game.

- Well, come on In.

Oh.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah, ooh.

Yeah, oh.

- You can bring your wife if you like.

- The world is full of married men.

- You can bring your wife if you like.

- The world is full of married men.

- Well, was it worth it?

Huh? - What?

You mean was it satisfying?

Yeah, yeah.

- Yeah.

- You mean was, well, Terry better than you?

In some ways, yes.

In others, no.

- Yeah, I saw.

- What can I say?

He has youth.

He has time.

Don't you -- don't you see, Larry?

I had to feel what you must have with all the others.

Anyway, I guess I found out.

- I guess so.

- Will I do it again?

I don't know.

I don't know, will you?

- If I give up the stupid game, will you?

- Yeah, yeah.

No, no, no.

No, I'm not...I'm not sure.

I feel like a different woman.

Will you gimme a break, Robin?

- Can lI go on?

- Oh, yeah.

You can go on.

You can go on out the door and outta my life,

and take the kids with you.

- Come on, Larry.

You started this.

Now that we're both in it together,

I just wanted to get the ground rules straight.

- I don't believe how much you've changed.

- Oh, we both have.

We had to. Our sex life was a mess.

- Right.

I saw that and I tried to do something about it.

- Well, oh, you did.

- Terrific.

In a few years, maybe we can bring the kids in, huh?

- That's not funny.

- You used to love me.

- I still do.

- Yeah, sure.

- Larry, when I first saw you in that room, I was sick.

I thought I was gonna die.

- I noticed you didn't.

- But I died a dozen times,

and then I realized it wasn't you in there.

It was just bodies.

What I'm trying to say is that I have lost all my jealousy.

That's what you have to do.

- Don't ever go into that room again.

It's either that room or me, Robin.

It's up to you.

- Well, do you mean that?

- Yes, I mean that.

I don't want to lose you,

but I don't like the taste it leaves in my mouth.

- The taste of your own medicine.

- Where are you going?

- I don't know.

You can take care of the kids for a change.

- Well, have yourself a ball.

- I will.

- Was she as good as me?

- Better.

- Thanks a lot.

You know,

I really think that we should get our act together

and split, Terry.

- Let me just finish my wine.

- Terry.

It's getting dark over here

and I don't seem to be able to move.

- I'm so stoned.

- Terry, help me.

Help me, Terry, God.

- My God!

Get away! - Help me, Terry! Terry!

- What do you want?

- Help me, Terry, help me! - Get away.

- Terry, help me! - What's going on?

- Oh, Terry, what is that?

- Jason, there's someone driving up.

Oh, it's Robin.

I'll put some of our special wine in the black room.

- Good, I'll join you later.

- Hello, Robin.

- Hello, Bridget.

I recognize you from your photos.

- Yeah, well, now is a very good time for us to meet,

woman to woman.

My brother, he...he has wonderful plans for you and Larry.

Without them, they're ruined.

- Where's Jason?

- He's been getting worse.

Needs two or three transfusions a week.

- He's spent half his life in the hospital.

- No, plasma isn't anywhere near as good

as fresh blood from a donor.

And hospital blood isn't as fresh.

Sometimes, they've been frozen for months.

And the donors, oh,

they're usually winos, drug addicts, God knows who.

So we always select our donors carefully.

Jason thinks that the younger they are, the better.

His ultimate dream is to use children.

- How could they let you?

- Come on in, Milly.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Hey, the kids are asleep and if you're hungry,

there's plenty to eat in the refrigerator.

Any problems, just gimme a buzz.

The number's on the table.

- Okay, fine.

- Just put the lights on, Milly.

I forgot. - Okay.

- Larry?

Larry?

Larry?

Larry?

- Hm? - Larry?

What is going on?

Oh my God. - Oh my God.

- Where are the kids?

- The kids are with Milly.

What is this?

The kids are with Milly.

- Oh, God, we've been drugged.

- How do you feel?

- Terrible.

You?

- Guilty as hell.

Sorry, this is all my fault.

Stupid room was my idea.

Can you ever forgive me?

- Can you ever forgive me?

- Yeah.

- They're ruining my plans for them.

We'll have to treat them like any of the others.

- Oh, well, not Larry.

Right, Jason?

I mean, that can wait.

Not yet, anyway.

- Not yet?

Not Larry?

What are you trying to tell me, Bridget?

- I don't know.

I mean, he can continue to be very useful to us.

- He will be, as long as he's here.

- Jason.

Look, Jason!

You're my brother, you're not my lover!

You're my partner, you're not my father.

Oh, God, I just want someone to be close to.

To sleep with.

He -- I mean, Larry --

- How touching.

My little sister in love.

No one can come between us and live.

- Jason.

Jason, you don't have very much time left

and I'm gonna be left here all alone!

God, I don't think I could take it.

- Then when I die, come with me.

We'll sign a pact in blood.

Larry's.

- Jason!

Let us outta here!

What is this?

Jason, open that God damn door!

Jason!

- Milly, we're really up high.

How come it's so dark up here?

- Don't worry.

- Milly, will we be there soon?

- Come on, kids.

Come on, we're gonna go see them.

Come on.

Your mommy's here and your daddy's here,

and we're here, okay?

- Milly, where are we?

- Ah, hello, Milly.

I'm Bridget, the lady you spoke to on the phone.

So this must be Mark and Jenny.

Well, you don't look very sick to me, Mark.

- I'm feeling better now.

- Where's mommy?

- Oh, um, she's with my brother, Jason, inside.

Would you like to come inside?

Wait here, Milly.

- What's this, Jason?

Why are we handcuffed?

- Transfusions.

- Transfusions?

- Is that what this room is all about?

- We needed to get donors for ourselves. You did.

- Now we have to keep you here.

- No, what about our children?

- Oh, they're here.

- No, they're not.

They're at our house with the babysitter.

- That's right.

- The babysitter is downstairs.

The children are in the garden.

- They're the only way we can be sure of keeping you here.

- You touch them, I'll kill you.

You bastard! - Please.

Don't make us hurt you.

- I don't want to kill you.

Would be a terrible waste.

- You bastard!

Robin.

Robin.

Hey.

- You son of a bitch, I'll kill you, you bastard!

Die!

Die!

- Oh, God.

- Hey, take it easy, calm down.

It's all right.

The kids.

Stay here. I'll find the kids, all right?

Mark, Jenny?

Mark?

Mark?

Milly.

Milly.

Milly, are you all right?

- Hm?

- Milly, I'll get you outta here.

I'll get you outta here.

Hey!

Hey!

- Oh my God.

Oh, oh.

- Hey!

- My eyes.

- My God, you all right?

Robin, are you all right?

The kids.

- I don't know, I don't know.

- Bridget?

- I killed her.

- Oh, Jesus, come on.

- Oh, thank God.

Oh God.

- All right, you okay?

- Oh.

- All right, come on. - Oh, my baby.

- Let's get the hell outta this place.

- Mommy, what happened to Milly?

- Remember, where is Milly?

- Milly.

Jason.

Is this what you do to your donors, Jason?

- Oh, Larry, God.

What happened?

Larry, are you all right?

- Wake up, Milly.

What's the matter?

- It's okay.

- Come on, Daddy, let's go home.

- Let's get outta here.

- God damn!

- Daddy, let's go. - Let's get outta here.

- I'm trying.

- Why won't the car start?

- I don't know.

The damn thing's flooded or something.

Damn it!

- Did you hear that?

- What?

No, no, it was nothing.

It's just the wind.

- Larry,

do you think people like that ever really die?

- Yeah, yeah, of course they do.

Well...

- Somehow,

I have the feeling they go on living. Forever.

Forever, forever, forever, forever, forever,

forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever,

forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever,

forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever.