All language subtitles for Storytelling.2001.720p.BluRay.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

♪ Aah, aah ♪

♪ Aah, aah, aah ♪

♪ Aah, aah, aah, aah ♪

♪ Aah, aah, aah ♪

♪ Aah ♪

♪ Aah, aah ♪

♪ Aah, aah, aah, aah, aah ♪

♪ Aah, aah ♪

- Hey, you wanna hear my short story now?

- Huh?

- I can read it to you.

- You mean again?

- Well, I changed the ending a little.

- Oh, what happens now?

- Well, actually it's the same but longer.

I think it's better, more raw.

- Then maybe you should
just read the ending.

- But it won't make sense if
you hear it out of context.

- I think you should
leave it the way it was.

It was good.

- So you don't wanna hear my new ending?

- You'll read it in class tomorrow.

Surprise me.

Anyway, I have to go.

I promised Melinda I'd
help her with her oral.

- You're tired of me, I can tell.

- Marcus, I'm tired. That's all.

- You've lost interest.

You hardly even sweat
anymore when we have sex.

- I was never much of a
sweater. You know that.

- Look, Vi, I don't blame you.

You feel pity now.

Pleasure isn't there anymore.

The kinkiness is gone.

You've become kind.

♪ Aah, aah ♪

- "When he saw her, it was

as if he could walk like a normal person.

His legs didn't swing,
his arms didn't spaz away.

He wasn't a freak anymore,

for she made him forget his affliction.

No more cerebral palsy.

From now on, CP stood for cerebral person.

He was a cerebral person."

- I thought that was really good, Marcus.

Really moving and emotional.

- Yeah, I thought it was
really emotional, too.

- And I mean, really good word choices.

It kind of reminded me
a little of Faulkner,

but East Coast and disabled.

- Or Flannery O'Connor.

She had multiple sclerosis.

- And Borges, he was blind.

- Updike has psoriasis.

- Um, maybe I'm wrong, but um,

I'm afraid I found the whole thing

to be a little trite.

Its earnestness is, well uh,

it's a little embarrassing.

And those adjectives are
flatfooted and redundant.

I'm sorry, I mean...

Anyway, don't. What do I know?

Don't even listen to what I say.

I mean.

- Anyone else?

Catherine is right.

Your story is a piece of shit.

You express nothing but banalities,

and, formally speaking,

you are unable to construct
a single compelling sentence.

You ride on a wave of
cliches so worn in fact,

it actually approaches
a level of grotesquerie.

And your subtitle, "The Rawness of Truth,"

is that supposed to be
a joke of some sort?

Or are you just being pretentious?

Okay.

Who's next?

Marcus! Marcus, wait up!

- What do you want?

- Don't be so upset, it's okay.

- What the fuck are you
talking about? What's okay?

- You know he hated my story also.

- You story was terrible.

- Marcus, you'll write
something better next time.

- Patronizing fuck!

If you had just been honest
with me in the first place,

I wouldn't have read it.

I knew it was shit,

but like an idiot, I believed you.

- That's not fair, I was honest.

Just because I wasn't sucking
up like that bitch, Catherine!

- Well, I sure didn't hear
you voice your opinion

in there when it mattered!

- I admit it, I was scared.

I was shocked, in fact, by what he said.

And he's so convincing.

I'm sorry if I let you down, but really,

I just still say he's just one opinion.

I don't even like his books that much.

They're all so aggressively
confrontational.

I don't care if he's
won the Pulitzer Prize.

- You just wanna fuck him,

like Catherine and every
other white cunt on campus.

- Marcus, you can't just
unilaterally decide to end things.

This is a relationship we're
talking about, a friendship.

You don't just-

Fuck you! Fuck him!

Fuck him! Fuck him!

- Vi, are you okay?

- Yes, I'm okay. I'm
totally okay.

- You did the right thing.

- I know that.

Fucking cripple.

Why do I waste my time with undergrads?

They're all so juvenile!

Ugh, I just thought
Marcus would be different.

I mean, he's got CP.

- What are you gonna do now?

- I don't know.

Go to the bar, get laid, whatever.

Don't worry about me, I'll be just fine.

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Lord, it's a real mother for ya ♪

- What can I get you?

- I'll just have a beer.

♪ Make you wanna run for cover ♪

♪ Yes, it will ♪

♪ And if you look you will discover ♪

- Here you go.

♪ You know, it's a real
mother for ya, yeah ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Babe, it's a real mother for ya, yeah ♪

♪ Let's get outta here ♪

- My goodness!

Too cold.

Cold blooded, cold blooded.

I'm tellin' you the truth!

Let me stop here at this gas station.

Uh, gimme $3 of no-lead.
Can't afford nothing else.

Better get me two hot dogs
and a strawberry soda.

♪ Lord, it's a real mother for ya ♪

- Hi.

♪ Said, it's a real mother for ya ♪

- Hello, Vi.

- What are you doing here?

- What are you doing here?

- I'm sorry, I didn't mean.

I mean, I just didn't expect

to run into you here, that's all.

- Well, now you have.

- Yeah.

Um, then, are you alone?

- Mm-hmm.

- Can I join you?

♪ Just let me kiss you
and allow me to feel you ♪

- Gee, thanks.

Well um, I just wanted to say

that I'm, um, I'm really
happy with the class.

And um.

I know you must hear this all the time,

but I'm also a great admirer of your work.

"A Sunday Lynching," especially

really, um, spoke to me.

God, I hope I'm not embarrassing you.

- You're not.

- Good.

'Cause I, um,

I really agreed with everything
you had to say last week

about how bad my story was.

- That's good.

- And I also agreed
with what you said today

about Marcus's story.

It is a piece of shit.

- You have beautiful skin.

- Thank you.

So Catherine seems like she might become

a really good writer.

- Maybe.

She's okay.

- Aren't you going out with Catherine?

I'm sorry, it's none of my business.

I didn't mean.

- I'm not going out with Catherine.

- Oh.

Do you think I have potential as a writer?

- No.

- Thank you for being honest.

I have so much respect for you.

Can I just freshen up for a second?

- It's over there.

- Thanks.

Don't be a racist.

Don't be a racist.

Don't be a racist. Don't be a racist.

Don't be a racist.

It's a really nice place that you have.

Is the rent high?

- Take off your top.

Now take off the rest.

Turn around.

Bend over.

Say,

Nigger, fuck me.

- Oh, but I-I can't say that.

- Then say, Ni.

- Ni.

- Ger.

- Ger.

- Say, nigger.

- Nigger.

- Fuck me hard.

- Fuck me hard!

- Say, nigger, fuck me hard.

- Nigger, fuck me hard.

- Again.

- Nigger, fuck me hard!

- Again.
- Nigger, fuck me hard.

- Again!
- Nigger, fuck me hard.

- Again!
- Nigger, fuck me hard!

- Freak.

- Can, can I come in?

- You're all sweaty.

- "So John flipped her around,

and slammed her against the wall.

Jane braced herself.

She thought about her mother.

She thought about Peter.

She thought about god, and rape.

Say, fuck me, nigger, fuck me hard.

John's flesh abraded her soft skin.

There would be marks.

She acquiesced and said
what he asked her to say,

and did what he asked her to do.

She had entered college
with hope, with dignity,

but she would graduate as a whore."

- Why do people have to be so ugly,

write about such ugly characters?

It's perverted.

I know you all
think that I'm being prissy,

but I don't care.

I was brought up in a certain way,

and this is mean-spirited.

- Yeah.

Well, I-it did seem

a little affected.

Like by using taboo language,

you were trying to shock us

about the hollowness of your characters.

- I think it was a little bit racist.

- It was completely racist.

And beyond that, I felt
deeply offended as a woman.

As if women could only operate

from experiences of objectification.

- Totally phallocentric.

- And so weirdly misogynistic.

I mean, why does Jane
go through with this?

Is she stupid?

- Hey, but wasn't this a rape?

Or did I miss something?

Because, I'm, I'm confused,
because if this was a rape,

then why would she be a whore?

- It was confessional, yet dishonest.

Jane pretends to be
horrified by the sexuality

that she in fact fetishizes.

She subsumes herself to the myth

of black male sexual potency,

but then doesn't follow through.

She thinks she respects Afro Americans,

and thinks they're cool and exotic.

What a notch he'd make in her belt.

But of course, it all comes
down to Mandingo cliche,

and he calls her on it.

In classic racist tradition,

she demonizes, then runs for cover.

But then, how could she behave otherwise?

She's just a spoiled, suburban white girl

with a Benetton rainbow complex.

It's just my opinion and what do I know,

but I think it's a
callow piece of writing.

- Callow and coy.

Jane wants more, but isn't
honest enough to admit it.

In the end she returns to the safety

of her crippled, translation:
sexually impotent, boyfriend.

- This is bullshit!

Her story was the truth!

- Right.

- It's unbelievable!

- It's cliched!

- It's disgusting!
- But it happened!

- I don't know about what happened, Vi,

because once you start writing,
it all becomes fiction.

Still, it certainly is an
improvement over your last story.

There is now at least
a beginning, a middle,

and an end.

- Toby, I just know

you're going to become a movie star.

Please don't forget me when
you make it to the top.

I will always love you. Pam."

- Hello?
- Uh, hello.

Um, is this Pam?

- Who is this?
- Toby Oxman.

- Toby? Oh, hi, how are you?

- Oh, I'm fine. How are you?

- Great.
- Great!

- So what's going on?

- Oh, that's what I
was just gonna ask you.

- But you called.

- Oh, ah, yeah. Well, um.

I- I was, I was just
calling because, uh, well,

I was, I was wondering if
you still remembered me,

which I guess you do.

- Yeah?

- So look at where we are.

The year 2000! Can you believe it?

I mean, did you ever think
we would actually make it?

- Um, well, yeah.

So are you still acting?

- Uh, um, no.

Not anymore.

No, um, I kind of came
to terms with myself.

I realized I had done what I had to do

and uh, it was time to move on.

- Oh, so what did you do
after you gave up on acting?

- Well, I went to law school,
if you can believe that.

- I believe it,
- Yeah, well, it was really

all kind of a joke and a
rip-off, the whole thing,

so I dropped out.

- Oh, that's too bad.

- Yeah, well, but then it got me writing,

so that was a good thing.

- Anything I might know about?

- Well uh, I kinda let things go

on this novel I'd been really into.

I mean, the
whole publishing industry

is totally corrupt.

Really, it's finished.

- That's too bad.

- Hmm, I worked over at a
homeless shelter for a while,

drove a cab to pay the rent,
but I mean, that was, like,

I mean, I have some dignity.

- That's good.

So then what do you do now?

- I'm a documentary filmmaker.

- Oh? Anything I might have seen?

- Mm, not yet.

I'm hoping to get a grant for
this one project on teenagers.

Geez, remember
when we were teenagers?

- Yeah, you didn't
wanna take me to the prom.

- Oh, I-I don't remember that.

- I do.

- Well, ugh, but it was so long ago.

You know, we were so different
back then.

Uh, well, anyway, um,

I'm, so I'm looking for
subjects for this documentary

on teenage-life in suburbia.

It's kind of a, an exploration

of the psyche, of its mythology.

I wrote to Derrida to see if
he'd like to do the narration,

but everything's still kind of
in development at this point.

- Huh.

- I work in a shoe store right now.

Uh, but it's cool, I'm, I'm not ashamed.

I mean, I-I, really,

I have a much stronger sense of self now.

And uh, anyway, it's
really very temporary.

- That's good.
- Yeah.

Um, so anyway, tell me, what about you?

Uh, I'd heard through the grapevine

that you were producing movies.

- Yeah, but not anymore.

- Oh. Tired of life in
the fast lane?

Yeah.

So, you're, um, married?

- Yeah.
- Huh.

- Kids?
- Yeah.

- How many?
- Three.

- Great.

Ah, how old are they?

- Eight, six, and four.

- Wow, that really is great.

Hm, in a few years, who knows,

maybe they'll wanna be in
my documentary

- Listen, Toby, I
can't really talk right now.

Do you mind if I call you back?

- Yeah, sure.

- Okay, bye,
- Okay, bye,

Maybe she has caller ID.

- Do you have any hobbies?

- No, not really,

- Any books
you like to read for fun?

- No.

- How about those underground comics?

- I hate reading.

- All right, Scooby, let's
not beat around the bush.

With your attitude, you
not gonna get in anywhere.

- Okay.

- "Okay." So you just don't care?

I- I-let me ask you something,

not as your guidance
counselor, but as a friend.

What do you wanna do with your life?

I mean, what, what kinda long-term goals

can you possibly have?

- I don't know.

- Come on, you can talk to me.

Tell me what you're thinking.

- Well, I mean, I wanna be on TV.

Maybe have a talk show or something,

like Conan or early Letterman.

- Ah-ha!

And how is it you hope
to achieve this goal?

- I don't know. See if
I have any connections?

♪ Island girl ♪

♪ What you wanting with
the white man's world ♪

♪ Island girl ♪

♪ Black boy want you in his island world ♪

♪ He want to take you
from the racket boss ♪

♪ He want to save you,
but the cause is lost ♪

- Did you knock on his door?

- Yes, but he just shouted
at me and used the F word.

- Scooby, dinner!

- Would anyone be interested

in being hypnotized after dinner?

- No.

- Let's just start.

- I don't know what's wrong with that kid.

- Maybe he's gay.
- Don't ever say that.

- What if he is?
- He isn't.

- Marty, ignore him.

- He's vegetarian,

doesn't do sports-
- Brady!

- And even if he is.

- Gay people are people too, you know?

You're just being prejudiced.

- I don't care if he's gay.

I'm cool, I mean, it's not

like I have to share his room or anything.

- I just wanna know what
the hell he does in his room

that's so interesting he
doesn't come down for dinner.

- Maybe he's building a bomb, just like-

- Don't even joke about that.

- I'm serious.

What happens if he blows up the school?

Fuck!

- That's it, I'm going in there.

- Was anyone in my room today?

- Is everything okay?

- My CD case like totally collapsed.

Gonna have to re-catalog all weekend.

Hey, can you pass the salad over?

- Steak's really good tonight.

- Good.

- Do you have a lot of homework?

- I don't know.

- What do you mean, you don't know?

You either got a lot or you don't.

What's not to know?

- Marty.

- You started filling out
your college applications yet?

- I'm not going to college.

- What are you gonna do?

- I don't know.

- What do you know?

- Dad, I'm trying to figure
things out right now, okay?

It's like, really hard

and I'm just listening to
some old Elton John, and-

- Gay.
- Out.

- What?
- Leave the table.

- What?
- You heard me.

Leave the table!

- Man, I'm outta here.
This family is so fucked!

- Mom, it's not fair if
Brady can say the F word

and I can't.

- Yeah well, Mikey, listen
up, 'cause here's a lesson.

Life's not fair.

♪ Gonna have fun, fun, fun ♪

♪ In the sun, sun, sun ♪

♪ 'Cause you're the one, one, one ♪

♪ We're gonna have fun ♪

♪ We are gonna have fun ♪

- I'll talk to you later.
- I'll see you later.

- Later.
- Thanks, Esposito.

♪ In the sun, sun, sun ♪

- Hey!

- Consuelo?

Consuelo?

- Yes, Mikey?

- Do you have any brothers or sisters?

- Yes.

- Really? How many?

- Four brothers and five sisters.

- Wow.

But why did your parents
have so many children?

I mean, if they were poor,
wouldn't it be better

to just have one or two?

- It was God's will.

- But do you really believe in God?

In heaven, hell, and angels
and all that kind of stuff?

- No.

- So how was school today?

- The same.

- Same. Same as what?

- Just the same.

- We're studying the
Holocaust in social studies.

- Oh, yeah?

- We did the same thing last year also.

- How is the class?

- I'm supposed to watch
"Schindler's List" for homework.

The movie's like almost four hours.

Then I'm supposed to write
a report on survivors.

You know any survivors, Dad?

- Hmm, well. Do I know any?

Personally?

- Well, technically,
your Zeda is a survivor.

- He was in a concentration camp?

- Well, no, but he had
to escape the Nazis.

- But I thought he came over
to America before the war?

- Well, he did, with his family,

but his cousins, they had to
stay and they were all killed,

and if he'd stayed, he
would've been killed.

So in my book, he's a survivor.

- Even though it was only
his cousins that were killed?

- But that
could've happened to him,

or, or to me, if I'd been alive, or you.

- Or me?

- You mean, then we're all survivors?

- Well, yes.

If it hadn't been for Hitler,

he wouldn't have had to leave Europe.

We would've been European.

- But then, in a sense,

since you would've never have met Dad

if your family had stayed in Europe,

if it weren't for Hitler none
of us would've been born.

- Get the hell outta here!

- Man! It's just, like, conversation.

- Tell me, you make a living at this?

- Well, sir, uh, I'm actually
not doing this for the money.

When you make a documentary,
uh, you do it for many reasons,

but money is certainly not one of them.

- I don't get it.

- Well, sir, uh

A lot has happened to the landscape

of the suburban high school
since I was a student.

And I feel it would be a valuable,

perhaps even enlightening endeavor,

to chronicle the changes,

to get intimate with the realities

kids and parents face in
American schools today.

- Yeah, well, whatever.

I'll let you know if there's interest.

- Excuse me, where's the bathroom?

- You a pervert?

- No. Uh.

Uh, actually, I'm a, I'm
a documentary filmmaker.

- Oh. You mean like "Blair Witch Project"?

- Uh, well, no. Um.

Uh, I'm doing one on high
school students, in fact.

- What for?

- Well, it's kind of, um.

It's kind of a sociological study

on the aftermath of Columbine.

- Is this, like, to get into Sundance?

- Yeah, well, it's possible
they would be interested in it.

Yeah.

- Doubt it.

- Actually, there is some interest

from the Sundance Channel.

- Whoopee.

- HBO and MTV have also
shown some interest. So.

- So you have connections?

- You see, we're trying to do
a film on suburban lifestyles.

Eh, kind of an "American
Family" for the new millennium.

- I thought this was about
kids getting into college?

- Oh, uh, it is. I mean, um.

- Which is it? You got to
keep your focus straight.

- Uh, yeah, uh, yeah, well,

you're, you're absolutely right, um.

The, the focus is on the college
admissions process today.

- And you want Scooby to
be the focus of all this?

- Yeah, Scooby and a few other students

of different socioeconomic backgrounds.

- You didn't mention any
other students before.

- Oh well, I-I don't
have any yet, but uh-

- Either Scooby is the focus or forget it.

- Yeah, I thought I was the focus.

- I wanna be the focus.

- Eh!
- Toby

We need this to be a positive experience.

- Yeah, um, well, I suppose
I could, I could reconceive.

- Reconceive.

- 'Cause Scooby does have a quality

that I've been looking for.

He had a quality that is
emblematic of America today.

It's part disillusionment, part hope,

- Twinkies!

- Boys, take napkins. Napkins.

- Not to be crass,

but what do we get out of this?

- Don't worry,
he, he doesn't mean money.

- Oh, I know. I know that.

Um, well, sharing your story,

your, your ups and downs and so forth,

can, I hope, be an
illuminating experience.

- Yeah. How do we know
we won't be exploited?

- No, it, it's true.

- Yeah, Mr. Livingston, I fully understand

and I share your concerns.

You feel vulnerable.

And I know that this is a
very difficult question,

but what it comes down to is,

can you make the leap of faith in me,

in the same way that I have to make

the leap of faith in you?

- This is a great school.

I don't care what anybody says.

I mean, it's not perfect,

but like the people are really cool,

like the teachers and kids,
they really care and all.

And I know, they, they make
fun of New Jersey all the time,

but I don't care, 'cause
they're just snobs.

'Cause Jersey is where America's at!

- Walking down these hallways,

hallways just like the
ones I once walked down

as a teenager, I couldn't
help thinking back

to a time when every
day I woke up depressed,

suicidal, consumed by despair.

Had things changed?

Was the competition to get into
the most prestigious schools

still a requisite rite of passage?

Beneath these masks of
courtesy and friendliness,

I knew that there were
darker forces at work.

And I knew that Scooby was the
key to revealing the truth.

Scooby, Scooby, Scooby.

What are you thinking?

College, SATs, your parents,

your brothers, your friends.

How is it you deal with all this stress?

- The pressure to get into the college

of your choice is incredible.

You know, they did a study recently

of the youth in Bosnia during the bombing,

and they found that the stress

the young people experience there

was less than what American
high school students go through

when applying to college.

- Is that right?

- Yeah,
- My God.

So what do you think?

- Well, I'm not really sure
what you're trying to say.

It's funny, I suppose.

But it seems glib and facile

to make fun of how
idiotic these people are.

- I'm not making fun.

Ah, I'm showing it as it really is.

- You're showing how superior
you are to your subject.

- No, but I-I like my
subject. I like these people.

- No, you don't,
- Yes, I do! I love them!

- The camerawork's nice.

- Thanks.

I'll tell Mike.

Well. Uh,
- No.

- It's still just the beginning.

Oh, I know I can dig deeper.

- But Marj. May I call you Marj?

What it really boils down to is,

what does it mean to be a Jew?

Exactly, Tzedakah, charity.

And the new wing at Beth Israel is real.

Well, actually, last year you gave $500.

But this year, $1,000 would
not only be a mitzvah,

it would bring you to a new level.

Yes, of course, your
gift would also give you

a Chagall menorah and two tickets

to the dinner dance this spring.

Because it's true.

Israel needs us now.

If not now, when?

That's wonderful.

I- I'll speak to you next week.

You too. Take care.

Hi, Scooby.

Scooby. Scooby?

How was school today?

- Fine.

- Ready for tomorrow?

- What's tomorrow?

- The SATs, knucklehead.

- I'm not taking them.

- Just back!

Mom?

Yes, Mikey?

- I was looking through one
of Scooby's SAT practice books

this afternoon and I took
one of the practice tests.

Guess what score I got?

- What?

- 550 verbal, 520 math, and
I'm only in fifth grade.

- Scooby?

- Yeah?

- We have to talk.

- What do you wanna talk about?

- Don't screw around with me,

you know what I'm talking about.

You're taking those SATs.

You're taking those SATs or
your CD collection's history.

You're taking those SATs
and you're going to college.

You're taking those SATs

if I have to strap your ass to a chair,

but buddy, you are taking 'em!

- Okay.

- Hm! I'm tired of this shit.

- So were you surprised

that, uh, Scooby took the SATs after all?

- Not really. He's kind of a wuss.

- Okay, uh, how about you, Cheryl?

Were, uh, were you surprised?

- I don't know. Whatever,

- Hey, how come you
drive such a shitty car?

- Yeah.

- I don't know.

Uh, that's interesting though.

A cool car, is that, is that something

that's real important to you, Brady?

- Yeah.
- A cool car?

Yeah?
- Duh.

- Pretty cool, Stanley.

- Thanks.

- How'd you get it?

- It's, it's my dad's.

He hides it under some old
"TV Guides" in his closet.

- Gee, your dad's smart.

- Yeah, I know.

- Is it loaded?

- No, I don't think so.

Scooby, don't! Be careful!

- I'm not an idiot, man. I watch TV.

- I-I know. I-I'm sorry.

I'm just a little nervous.

I don't know why.

- You should be.

Here. You can keep it.

- Scooby?

- Yeah?

- You know.

I- I like you.

- Yeah, I know.

- I mean.

- I know. Everyone knows.

- Oh.

Um. Do you think?

Do you think that you'd let me, um.

- Okay.

If you feel like it.

Just gimme a sec.

You want some?
- No, thanks.

♪ I was surprised ♪

♪ I was happy for a day ♪

♪ In 1975 ♪

♪ I was puzzled by a dream ♪

♪ It stayed with me all day ♪

♪ In 1995 ♪

♪ My brother had confessed he was gay ♪

♪ It took the heat off me for a while ♪

♪ He stood up with a sailor friend ♪

♪ Made it known upon my
sister's wedding day ♪

- I'm so sorry!

I should never have
made you take the SATs.

God, I'm burning to death!

Scooby, I'll never do it again!

- Hey, Scooby.
- Made you take the SATs!

- How's it going?

- Conan O'Brien? Whoa.

What are you doing here?

- I'm looking for a
last-minute guest for my show.

Any suggestions?

- I'll be your guest.

- Really? Well, all right.

Let's take a look at the
television and see how we look.

- Cool.

- Welcome to the show, Scooby.

- Thank you.
- Nice, nice to have you here.

- Great to be here.
- And thank you

for dressing up for us.

This is very classy

Uh, tell us, what kind of
professional plans do you have?

What's in your future?

- Well, I was thinking
I might work for you.

- Uh, tell me, what do you,

what do you wanna do for me?

What's, what's your idea?

- Be your sidekick.

You know, and, and maybe, eventually,

become a TV talk show host.

- TV talk show host? Okay.

You were at sidekick eight seconds ago,

then TV talk show host.

You'll be a Latin dictator
in about a minute.

Let's see what they
think of the first idea.

I'm curious what the audience thinks.

Folks, what do you think, should
Scooby be my new sidekick?

Wow.

Scooby, new sidekick,

everybody.
- Oh, man.

- Yeah! Scooby!

- Yeah?

- Hey.
- Hey.

What's up?

- There's something I
need to talk about with you.

- What?

- There are some rumors.

- Like what?

- You know. Stanley.

- Huh.

- Like, don't take this the wrong way.

I'm, I mean, I'm cool,

but you know,

I've got a good reputation at school.

Well, I really don't want it ruined.

- No problem.

I'm cool.

- Thanks.

- Go, go, go!

- Esposito, what the fuck
do you think you're doing?

You're tackling like a bitch
on my football team, son!

You better bend your ass over

and hit somebody, you understand me?

- Yes, sir!

- Do you understand me?
- Yes, sir!

- Then do it!

Livingston! That's the
way to hit that hole, son.

We're gonna become a
football team today, guys!

Let's move the ball!

Move, move, move!

- Break!
- I wanna see

you hit those holes.

Defense, fill those goddamn gaps!

Let's go, guys. Let's do it!

- Yes, yes!

A little bit rowdy.

- Set left, set left.

Red 17!

Red 17! Hut!

Hut! Hut!

- Come on!

- That's it,
boys, that's it, boys!

- Keep moving!

- When I'm in high school, I'm
not gonna play any football.

I'm just gonna concentrate on class rank.

What did you do in high school?

- I did not go to high school.

- Weren't there high
schools in El Salvador?

- We had to
work. My family was poor.

- It must have been hard being poor.

- I am still poor.

- Hmm, but Consuelo,

even though you're poor,

don't you have any hobbies
or interests or anything?

- No, Mikey.

- But like, what do you like
to do when you're not working?

- I am always working.

- But when you're not, like
now, what do you like to do?

- This is work.

- But it's not like real work.

This is just babysitting.

You know, your job's really not so bad,

if you think about it.

You should smile more.

- When the sky is
clear and the sun is warm,

you're reminded of how
beautiful things can be.

A lamppost, a sign,

a straw wrapper blowing in the wind.

But when that dark cloud
appears, you realize

how fragile the balance of life is.

- When Brady first
arrived at the hospital,

he was unresponsive to verbal stimuli.

Uh, we performed a CT
scan which demonstrated

a large subdural hematoma
with mass effect,

Uh, since the removal of the
subdural, he's been in a coma.

- When I first met the Livingstons

it was in the first 24
hours of Brady coming in

after his tragic football accident,

and they were acting in
a fairly typical way.

- We're not the ones that need the help.

My son needs help.

My son's in there,
- And you wanna know

what to do to help him,
- He can't even feed himself.

He can't, I don't even know

if he's gonna be a vegetable
or not, for Christ's sake!

- But what about Scooby?

How would this affect him?

What meaning is to be found in this?

- This is definitely better.

- You think so?

You don't think that this
might not be a little dry?

- This is not an
entertainment you're making.

Toby, this story about
a kid in the suburbs

and the state of the
college admission process,

has, with this Brady crisis,

evolved into something much
richer and more provocative.

- Yes, I know.

But it still, it should
be somewhat entertaining.

- I mean, without this footage,

without this rigorous documentation,

it would feel like exploitation.

- No, no, no, no.

No, no exploitation, this is serious.

But I mean, don't you find
it a little funny, too,

at the same time?

- You've got a family
tragedy on your hands.

Will you tell me what's funny about that?

About a kid in a coma?

- Nothing, I guess.
- I mean,

why are you making this documentary

if you can't treat your subject
with appropriate gravity?

- Okay, you're right,
you're right. You're right.

You know, we need to
screen what we've got.

Invite some regular people,

just some random off-the-street types

and, and, and see what
real people think of this.

- I don't know, Toby.

We really have a long way to go.

You still need to get a lot more footage

and it's probably a
little premature to start-

- Okay, then we can invite
serious intellectual types.

- We're not ready,
- Hip alternative types

who'll understand the process.
- Toby, we're not ready!

We are not ready!
- Well, I need to see this

with an audience.

- What's an audience gonna tell you?

- I don't know.

Maybe they'll like it.

- Consuelo! I spilled some
grape juice on the floor.

Consuelo?

Consuelo?

Consuelo. Are you crying?

- No.

- Yes, you are. I can tell.

What's the matter?

- Speak English.

- Consuelo, I'm sorry, but you know

if you don't speak English
I can't understand you.

- My Jesus.

- Who is Jesus?

- My baby.

- You have a baby?

- My grandchild baby.

- Gee, I didn't even know
you had any children.

But why are you so upset about Jesus?

- He is dead.

- Oh. How did that happen?

- He was executed.

He was on death row

and then he was executed.

- How did they execute him?

- Poison gas.

- Maybe it's for the best.

I mean, if he was guilty
of doing something wrong.

People who are bad should be killed.

Don't you think so?

- Jesus was not bad.

- Maybe he was and you
just didn't know it.

- He wasn't.

- But still, you can't be sure.

- I am sure.

- But really, you never know.

- I know!

- Why was he on death row?

- For rape and murder.

- Consuelo, what is rape, exactly?

- It is when you love someone

and they don't love you,

and you do something about it.

- Sometimes I feel like
my parents don't love me.

- Well, then, when you get older,

you can do something about it.

- Consuelo? I spilled
some grape juice upstairs.

Do you think you could
clean up the floor now?

♪ We're gonna have fun ♪

♪ We are gonna have fun, fun, fun ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ In the sun, sun, sun ♪

- Dad?

Do you think that Brady
will ever get better?

- One-in-a-million recover.

- Maybe he's that one-in-a-million.

- Mikey, there's optimism

and then there's stupidity.

It's a very fine line.

- I don't think there's any hope either.

I was just trying to make you feel better.

- Thanks.

- You're welcome,

Dad?

Would you let me try hypnotizing you now?

- Yeah, sure. Go ahead, hypnotize me.

- Okay, stay there. I'll be right back.

Just a sec! Be right there.

Could you turn around to me?

Just turn. Thanks.

All right, you must look
at this shiny object

and concentrate.

Relax your legs.

Relax your arms.

Relax your shoulders.

Now keep your eyes on the shiny object.

Your eyelids are getting heavy.

Heavier.

You're getting sleepy.

Sleepier.

Now let your eyes close shut.

And you are sound asleep.

Now you are completely under my power.

I am the only voice you can hear,

the only voice you will listen to.

And now, when you wake up,

you will be in a good mood.

You won't worry so much about Brady

and I will be your favorite from now on.

If Brady dies, you can
be sad for a little bit,

but I will still be the most
important person in your life.

You will never be mean to me

and always give me whatever I want.

Also, you should fire Consuelo.

She's lazy.

Now, when I snap my fingers,

you will remember nothing,

but you will do everything I have asked.

One, two,

three.

- Hey, Mikey, you wanna
get some ice cream?

- Okay!

- It's like, yeah, I-I caved in.

I mean, I had to.

My parents, they're like still
really depressed about Brady.

So I wrote the bullshit essay,

filled out the applications,
did the interviews.

You know, I figure I can always drop out.

- So where'd you get in?

- Princeton.

- But wh-what
did you get on your SATs?

- Uh, 200 verbal, 710 math.

Kinda weird, I know,

but I think they thought it was, like,

good weird.

- We used pull.

- You know, you have to.

Sometimes you just have to, Toby.

- What kind of pull did you have?

- I have a cousin.

A very big giver to the alumni fund.

- It's all about who you know.

- Look, we're not suckers.

Everyone else is out there
doing the same thing.

- He's right.

- Damn, Toby.
- It's too hard.

- This thing won't open again.
- Don't.

Let me try it. Let me try it.

It's, um, yes, the button is just stuck.

- Hey, hey, Toby?
- Hey, man.

- I was wondering.

Is the documentary almost finished?

- Uh, yeah, we're getting there.

- Can I see what you have so far?

- Sure, uh, yeah, as soon
as I have a screening,

I'll let you know.

- Thanks, man.
- Okay, man.

- Okay.

- Gin, I win.

Let's play again.

- Hey, Mikey!

- Hey, Dad,
- Come here and gimme a hug.

Come here!

- Gee, you're home early.

- Yeah.

Uh, listen, why don't you go upstairs

and keep your mom and
Brady company for a bit?

I need to speak alone with
Consuelo for a moment.

- Sure, Dad,
- Take off.

Consuelo.

Um, Mrs. Livingston and I have,

uh, discussed this

and we've come to the conclusion

that we are not very happy
with your work lately,

so we're going to let you go.

- I-I don't understand.

- We've been happy with you in the past,

but now we think maybe
it's time for a change.

Uh, I know you've had trouble at home.

And, and, and maybe, you know,

some of that is reflecting on your work.

- But, Mr, Livingston,
I work very hard for you

and your family.
- I understand.

I understand that.

And, and, and I'm sorry.

I'm sorry it had to end this way.

- Florsheim, can I help you?

- Hi, I'm trying
to reach Toby Oxman.

- Sorry, he's off today.

- Okay.

Um. Thanks.

♪ I'm coming over in the wrong direction ♪

♪ I only wanna be the
center of your attention ♪

♪ For long enough to show you ♪

♪ I'm worth the trouble that you take ♪

♪ I wanna see the way that you portray ♪

♪ A boy who's gonna try
to change his life today ♪

- Hey, Mike, uh, is Toby here?

- Uh, no, he's not.

- Oh. Uh, do you have
any idea where he might be?

- Uh, I think he's at a test screening.

♪ I wanna see the way that you portray ♪

♪ A boy who maybe doesn't
have too much to say ♪

♪ And you can draw your own conclusions ♪

♪ But you'll find I'm not a fake ♪

♪ You can turn away from me ♪

♪ But there's nothing that'll
keep me here, you know ♪

♪ And you'll never be the city guy ♪

♪ Any more than I'll be
hosting The Scooby Show ♪

- I think Scooby's like a lot of kids.

He just hit a, a speed bump.

Now he's gonna find his way,

uh, his path's gonna be clear,

and I think he's gonna
continue his education

at a good college.

And uh, everybody else is gonna be happy.

- Yeah, um, Mr. Livingston,

aren't you a bit fearful that Scooby

will be confronted with hollow values

and systemic conformism?

- I don't
know why this is so hard

for you to comprehend.

I had a terrific time in college.

I've got a terrific job,
a comfortable salary,

terrific wife, three terrific kids,

and every year I give to the alumni fund.

Now, why are you trying
to make college out

to be a bad thing?

A negative experience? You had a bad time?

Well, too bad! Get over it!

Stop trying to impose
your misery on others

by going around saying, "Life is bad,

life is horrible."

Life is tough on you? Well, boo-hoo!

- Well, yeah, My dad
is kind of a goofball.

You just have to pretend
to go along with his ideas,

'cause he really doesn't get it.

Like, I could be the next Oprah

for all he knows,

but he's never even seen the show.

- What is most important to you?

- I don't know.

I'd, I'd like to be good at, at something.

You know, it doesn't have to be TV.

I mean, it could be movies. Anything.

I- I'd be willing to direct.

But I'd like to be,

you know, famous.

Not necessarily a superstar.

Just famous.

Be recognized.

Get fan mail and things.

- Uh, Scooby, now I understand

how you wanna be like a
TV talk show host and all,

like Conan O'Brien, but did you know

that even he went to college?

- He did?
- Yeah.

Uh, he went to Harvard.

- Oh.

- One police officer,
eight others were wounded,

before he tried to kill-
- Mom?

Dad?
- Identified as Bruce Evan.

- Can I sleep with you?

I- I-I'm scared.

- Sure, buddy. Come on.

- Come in bed with us. Come on.

- Snug as a bug in a rug.

Yeah, there you go, pally, all right.

You're monster-proofed.
- Hm.

- Stand by.

- Scooby.

Oh my God, Scooby.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so, so sorry.

- Don't be.

The movie's a hit.

♪ Picture a scene in your mind ♪

♪ Look at all the people ♪

♪ And take note of the setting behind ♪

♪ Listen, watch and wait ♪

♪ A plot begins to take shape ♪

♪ There's a story ♪

♪ And then characters will come to you ♪

♪ Relating events as they choose to ♪

♪ But all their words and actions ♪

♪ Come entirely from you ♪

♪ If you're a storyteller ♪

♪ You might think you're
without responsibility ♪

♪ And you can lead your
characters anywhere you want ♪

♪ You have immunity ♪

♪ Have you considered the way ♪

♪ People might react to all the things ♪

♪ That your characters say ♪

♪ And are their actions hand-in-hand ♪

♪ With what you wanted to portray ♪

♪ Are you sick ♪

♪ Are you crippled, insane ♪

♪ Expressing the desires that
daren't speak their name ♪

♪ Are you the one to be blamed ♪

♪ Now you're a storyteller ♪

♪ You might think you're
without responsibility ♪

♪ But in directions, actions and words ♪

♪ Cause and effect ♪

♪ You need consistency ♪

♪ How can you finish the tale ♪

♪ Lives which have played a part ♪

♪ Are summarized from the very start ♪

♪ And episodes left out ♪

♪ To make it all go your way ♪

♪ It's a mighty big world ♪

♪ Some of it I've seen ♪

♪ But mostly I've only heard ♪

♪ And stories are all fiction
from their moment of birth ♪

♪ You're just a storyteller ♪

♪ You're not trying to
escape responsibility ♪

♪ If we believe you
then you're successful ♪

♪ But you don't make claims of verity ♪

♪ You're just a storyteller ♪

♪ You're not trying to
escape responsibility ♪

♪ If we believe you
then you're successful ♪

♪ But you don't make claims of verity ♪