Original subtitles

Oh, Sylvia.

This is suicidal plagiarism.

Oblivion receding, the abyss opening, the screaming dirt

of chaos longing.

Strong metre, Amy.

Strong words.

Thank you.

TEACHER: Mazel tov.

Josh.

You're up next.

Good.

I love your words.

This is "Emerald Ambrosia-- An Ode to Absinthe."

Picture it with no punctuation, because there is none.

I think we're the best poets on campus.

Mmm.

Your turn.

Oh.

[LAUGH]

Whoa.

Yep.

Just yank it.

Are you still a virgin?

No, no.

I'm not, actually.

It's beautiful.

Poetry is really beautiful.

It's like you can see inside of you.

I want to be inside of you.

Here?

Mhm.

[KNOCKING NOISE]

What was that?

Nothing.

W-- wha-- s--

Wait, wait, wait.

Just relax.

Just relax.

[LAUGH]

What are you doing?

Easy, easy, easy.

Come on.

It's art.

Stop Whoa!

Amy.

Your dirt metaphor is a cliche, and your poetry sucks.

I hate that song.

Me too.

By the way, what a misogynistic pig.

You should have castrated that guy.

Ugh.

I don't even care anymore, you know?

I'm resilient.

I'd like to share something with you.

"A music magazine grins, feeding from the mall,

poly blend combustion burning on the escalator to nowhere."

Oh my god.

I think I just got my period.

So haunting, so ahead of its time--

it's practically ancient.

1989.

Shit.

Soon we'll be free of this hell hole.

As the days died early, she longed escape from her cage.

Thanks, Mom!

Here, honey.

These were on the printer.

You have a lot of submissions.

There's a small reading fee for a few of the reviews.

Small?

How small?

Well, um, a lot of the reviews have prizes-- like the Finger

Lakes prize is $1,000.

And I'm a shoe-in.

I mean, you're only eligible if you're an, uh,

unpublished female poet under the age of 25

from upstate New York.

So, hello.

Hello.

Hello.

Dad, can I get some stamp money?

Amy, you know we believe in your talent,

and we know how special you really are.

But, um, we can't afford to subsidise your poetry career.

OK.

I know it seems like I'm not really

doing anything right now, but I am

writing nonstop-- all the time.

Things are pouring out of me you wouldn't even believe.

I could have a volume of poetry in a week.

I mean, I-- I'm feeling a lot, I'm thinking a lot.

I'm-- I'm inspired, Dad.

I'm inspired.

Sweetie, you've got $90,000 in student loans,

and you've already spent a couple of thousand

on these submissions.

So we can give you an extension for another week,

but after that, no more.

We just-- we just have to cut the umbilical cord.

So, let's see what happens with those.

And here's some stamp money.

Just until you win the Pulitzer.

I love you.

Thanks, Dad.

I will suffer through this.

I will suffer through this.

So, you majored in poetry.

Yes.

Twice a week would be wonderful.

I could pay you four and a quarter an hour.

It was a sign-- literally and figuratively.

Hi hon.

Need some help?

No.

I-- I-- I didn't mean to come in.

Um--

You've come about the job?

No.

No, no, no.

No, not-- not-- sorry.

Sorry.

It won't bite ya.

Oh. [LAUGH]

Ew.

Augh.

Nope.

Sorry.

We're not hiring.

I could be a real asset here.

I know everything there is to know about poetr-- Rat Billings

is doing a signings here at this bookstore?

Yeah.

You like him?

Like?

"The Squalor of Spendor" is one of my favorite poems

ever written.

He was 18 when he wrote that.

It's the best thing he ever did.

He's-- he's a good training wheels poet, if you're not

ready for the great ones yet.

Rat Billings is the great.

Salinger worked in a meat processing plant.

Stanley, If this nice young woman

has come in about the job.

My friends know where I am.

Sorry.

Come on.

Come on.

Don't be afraid.

Got any experience working retail?

Actually, no.

Ah.

Are you at all familiar with our inventory?

More or less.

Tell her about our insurance.

Insurance?

Does this mean I got the job?

We try to take care of our people,

so we provide some basic health coverage.

Thank you.

[LAUGHTER]

Mwah!

My darling.

[KISSING NOISES]

[LAUGH]

It's pretty much a mum and pop operation.

Maryann likes to do the ordering

I know the merchandise better.

I had-- I had a question.

When-- when do I--

Oh, you get paid on Fridays, every two weeks.

Great.

Hi.

I'm Alex.

I'm the manager.

Amy.

Nice to meet you.

And I'm Rick.

Hi.

Rick.

We talked about this.

Rick doesn't work here.

And you should probably wash your hand.

I'm just kidding.

[LAUGH]

OK.

I got a job.

That's great.

What?

Oh.

See, Doug?

Oh.

That's wonderful.

Welcome to the adult world.

[CHOKING] [CLEARS THROAT]

So, aren't you going to tell us what it is?

What are you doing?

It's kind of an underground art magazine type of thing.

I'm, uh-- I don't like you working downtown after dark.

That's racist.

I just want to take a minute to explain our filing system here,

called Sparfs.

It's, uh, Sexual Preference, Age, Race, Fetish,

Size-- kind of like the Dewey Decimal system for erotica.

Hmm.

Anyway, this, uh-- this one right here, uh, they're old,

they're black, and they're gay.

But they wouldn't go in the old section,

they'd go in the gay area, because they're gay.

Uh, that's the sexual preference.

Oh my god.

And then, you know, and then it'd

go in the-- the old section and then

the black section-- uh, the black subsection

of the gay old section.

Anyway, like any great rule of thumb,

there are a few exceptions to Sparfs.

The green dot--

Who puts on the dots?

No one knows.

It's a mystery.

[LAUGH] Uh, it's really, really easy to remember.

Sexual preference, age--

ALEX: Race, fetish--

Race, fetish, size.

ALEX: Size.

I memorise it just like, by the rap, you know?

(RAPPING ) Sexual preference, age,

race, fetish, size, sexual preference,

age, race, fetish sex.

And it's pretty easy to remember that way.

You could do that.

I'm doing it in my head.

I don't want to do it out loud.

Uh, when this gentleman wants to check out a video,

you get his card.

Uh, it's got membership info, notes written

by employees, et cetera.

What are sticky video returns?

[LAUGH]

What?

Really?

OK.

Uh, when that happens, we give him a copy

of our customer policies.

Here you go.

So you read that.

MALE SPEAKER: Thank you.

Here you go.

Bye.

Bye.

Happy first day.

Thanks.

I'll s--

Have fun with your esoteric reading.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Yeah.

Bye.

Drive safe.

Thanks.

Hi.

Wow.

That's an old one.

That's got to be 20 years old.

Thank you.

All right.

Who's next.

Hello.

Hello.

Hi.

Uh, what's your name?

Um, if you don't want to have your book signed,

can you just step out of the way so that people behind you can--

Yeah.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I got.

I got it.

Here.

I got it.

I got it.

I got it.

AMY: No, I got it.

No, just, uh, let me just do this.

That's fine.

Excuse me, Mr. Billings.

Hi.

I am an enormous fan, like crazy big fan of yours.

Thank you.

-Ah. -How are you?

It's so nice to meet you.

We-- we met inside.

I mean, I-- you remembered!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Um, I just wanted to say that, you know, ignore the reviews.

Your new book is tremendous.

I mean, the New York Times really has no taste anymore.

I know.

It's kind of a badge of honour, really.

I just-- I love your work.

I just want to smash your head open

and take everything in there.

That's lovely.

It really speaks to me.

What does it say?

It says wake up, break free from the chrysalis

of middle class ennui that's imprisoning you.

You're paraphrasing of course, huh?

Yeah.

Wow.

I can't believe we're bantering like this!

This is so cool.

Life is surreal kid.

Your work, the first time I read it,

I remember it so clearly evolved me.

What did it evolve you into?

An artiste.

Try not to use the pupa metaphor, for the record.

Um, you know, I thought maybe we could get together sometime.

You can give you some advice or let

me know how you got started.

You know, it's, uh-- it's-- it's in the books.

Well, maybe we can get a coffee.

You know, I stopped drinking coffee

because my adrenal glands are totally shot.

Maybe we can just talk, poet to poet.

Perhaps.

You're an inspiration.

You, my dear, are an apparition.

Au revoir.

Au revoir, Rat Billings.

[GLASS BREAKING]

[ENGINE STARTING]

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

That is not your-- come back here!

Hey!

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit, mother, shit.

Would you like personal lubricant or a key chain

to go with your sexist videos?

That's very charming.

Are you sure you're old enough to work here?

Yeah. I'm an adult.

I swear.

See ya, Maryann.

Bye, Roy.

Later.

Policemen shop here?

Sure, same as everybody else.

Well, yeah, but they're policemen.

So?

They're not doing anything illegal.

Yeah, but he's a person of authority participating

in the subjugation of women.

His wife was in a skydiving accident.

She plummeted 10,000 feet and her chute didn't open.

Been in a coma for two years.

He rents porn to stay faithful to her until Jesus takes her.

I'm kidding.

I'm kidding.

Oh, OK.

A lot of people like the old school

feel of browsing the real shelves.

Plus Let's have a tonne of vintage stuff

you can't find online, and the sex toys-- sometimes people

don't want to wait, or have their mum open a FedEx box

with their Fleshlight in it.

Ugh.

Who's on bathroom duty?

Not I.

Not I.

I am?

All right.

All right.

The brush is under the sink.

Oh my god.

There was--

Anybody ever tell you it's rude to stare?

I'm sorry.

I wasn't-- I wasn't staring.

I was, but I didn't-- I didn't mean to.

So inappropriate.

Hey.

Be cool.

Amy's all right.

Amy, Rubia.

Rubia, Amy.

Hi.

So, your shift's over.

Do-- do either of you guys know which bus goes to Dewittshire?

Oh, perfect.

Of course that's where you're from.

Why are you taking the bus?

My car was stolen.

Shit.

Are you OK?

Pretty sure I'm traumatised.

Man, I'm sorry.

I think the 5:15 goes that route.

The 5:15 what?

[LAUGH]

That's the bus route.

[LAUGH]

Rubia, you go that way, right?

She can show you.

Oh, that'd be great.

Really?

I'm going to rip your nuts off.

You know that, right?

Give me my battery, please.

What is this?

It's a battery.

From where?

A Cadillac.

You like paying your way through beautiful school?

What?

Why you work at a porn store downtown?

Oh, um, I'm a poet.

Get out.

Seriously?

I'm probably going to get published pretty soon.

Writing shit about new snow for the rich is not hot.

That's like my favourite haiku.

That's cool. [LAUGH]

Can I get my battery, please?

Yeah.

Gracias.

This is where you live?

Yeah.

It's that glam building down the alley-- number 666.

El diablo.

Back door, Becky.

Good night.

Hey, you forgot something.

Your power.

Goodnight.

Riding the bus is like being in Mogadishu.

Um, I've been on the phone all day,

and apparently someone cancelled the theft policy on your car.

Well, that is bizarre.

I said that's a mistake, and then they

sent me the signed letter of cancellation.

And it's a, um, it's a-- it's a poem.

That is a series of couplets.

Is that the mail?

The New Yorker.

Please, please, please.

Rejected.

Amy, do you know how difficult this year has been?

Why do we keep getting student loan bills that are past due?

Why did you cancel the insurance on your car?

I don't have enough money for car insurance.

We give you money for your insurance

and you spend it all on literary contests.

It's an investment in my future.

Stop being such a child.

Everyone needs to stop calling me a child.

You are a child.

Augh!

All right.

This is my last stop.

OK.

Um, do you think you could drop me off where you dropped

off my friend, you know, um, the guy that-- I mean, the girl--

Rubia?

Yeah.

That would be great.

Rubia?

Rubia?

Miss Rubia?

It's me, Amy.

Remember?

Hello?

My parents kicked me out.

So why'd you come here?

I don't know any other bus routes.

Jesus Christ.

Come in.

Thank you.

You're not sleeping on my bed.

That's-- that's fine.

RUBIA: Mhm.

I'll stay out of your hair, I promise.

What is that?

It's crack.

Oh, cool.

I'm just playing.

It's medical marijuana.

It's my TMJ.

Oh.

I don't do drugs.

You a poet?

Take a hit.

You need to chill out.

Come on, suburbia.

You're pretty.

I'm a diva.

Out of my way, please.

Sorry.

Say something.

You look like a cheap hooker.

Oh my god.

I didn't mean to call you a whore.

I mean a hooker.

I-- you're not either.

Shit.

I do look like a hooker.

I'm sorry.

I don't know why I said that stuff.

I think the drugs are talking.

Oh, don't get cray.

At least I can trust you to be honest.

My teeth feel so big in my mouth right now.

It's just pot, OK?

It's not acid.

Don't your teeth feel huge?

Ginormous.

And sharp.

They're really sharp.

You need to get them sanded down.

Teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

(SINGING) It took a long time to dig it.

But I found out you don't really dig me.

Mmm, mmm, mmm.

So get your heels a-clickin'.

[COMMOTION]

CROWD: (CHANTING) We are the 99%

Candace.

CROWD: (CHANTING) We are the 99%!

We are the 99%

CROWD: (CHANTING) We are the 99%

Candace!

Oh!

Oh my god.

You got my message!

Hi.

Hi.

How are you?

I'm so glad you came.

Sarrah, you look great.

Oh my god.

Hey, Pablo?

Can you help her to please come up?

AMY: Here we go.

One, two, three.

Oh my god.

Hi.

Oh my god.

I'm so glad you're here.

How are you?

I'm so good.

I'm so good.

After like Cuba and Darfur, I just

realized that, like, this is where I needed to be,

you know what I mean? -Mmm.

In our own decaying country, in stead of everywhere else.

Right?

Well, great.

I'm so happy for you.

Oh my god.

Sorry.

Pablo?

Pablo, this is Amy.

Hi Pablo.

This is Pablo.

We met hiking across Ecuador.

We met at the airport.

No we didn't.

We met at Ecuador, where the organic chicken farm.

Remember?

We met at the airport.

No. [LAUGH] He's so crazy.

All right.

I'm going to go to-- I have to go.

I have to go to work. No, no, no.

I have to go to work. No, no, no. No, no, no. Stop.

No, no, no. Stop.

Come on. Join the movement.

Come on. Join the movement. Maybe next time?

Maybe next time?

No, we need you.

It seems awesome, so, um, maybe next time.

But I'll see you this weekend.

Let's get together.

Love you.

I miss you.

Good to see you.

Nice to meet you, Pablo.

CROWD: (CHANTING): Hell no, we won't go.

Hell no, we won't go.

Hell no, we won't go.

Um, I gave you a hundred.

$75, $75?

You're right.

I'm so sorry.

I wasn't even thinking.

Don't worry about it.

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.

There you go.

Thanks.

Enjoy.

[LAUGH] Awesome.

You OK?

Every literary review in the country hates me.

They don't hate you.

I promise.

No.

They do.

Look.

Rejection letters, all of them-- the New Yorker,

Harper's, even the Southern Tallahassee Poetry Review

hates me.

I'm running out of time.

I can't be a wonderkind past 22.

A lot of great writers weren't even recognised

until after they died.

I know.

I've been thinking about that a lot lately.

What'd you think of that?

I think it's horrific.

The previous model, which didn't didn't even,

sold like hot cakes.

I'm really beginning to think that everything in this world

is cheap and plastic.

Nah.

These are high quality-- it says so right on the box there.

Voice activation is initiated by penetrating one

of the three lifelike cavities.

Do you want to do the honours?

I don't want to touch her.

No.

Up and to the right, right?

Do you know?

I don't know.

I think that's what I heard.

Can you please stop doing that?

[ROBOT MOANING]

Oh god!

[GASP] Oh my god.

DOLL: Give it to me.

Give it-- give it to me.

Oh, yeah.

Give it to me good.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Give it to me good.

It sounds like your dad.

Ew!

[LAUGH]

This is just so not how my life was supposed to turn out.

I was supposed to do great things.

I mean, I got good grades, I won awards, I stayed true to my art

and didn't let myself get distracted

by all of that trivial stuff.

Like what?

You know, like guys and stuff.

Wait.

Never?

You a virgin?

You work at a porn store surrounded by dildos

and you're a virgin?

I assure you the irony isn't lost to me.

Wow.

You need to find somebody to help you along

and teach you shit, you know?

Somebody with connections.

I had someone-- Miss Rowanna Sykes.

She was a wonderful woman.

She taught me everything I know--

how to sing from my diaphragm, how to walk, how to love,

how to tuck my junk.

[LAUGH]

She passed away.

I'm sorry.

I still feel like an orphan.

Go to bed.

Wow, a blizzard!

I need a letter from a past landlord.

That's such a crock!

Well, you should ask your dad for a letter or something.

Yeah, right.

Maybe you can pretend to be my mum or something.

No, I could be your sister.

You know I'm 19 on Craigslist, right?

Oh my gosh.

It's Rat Billings.

Who's that?

My favorite poet in the world.

I'm obsessed with him.

Well, go talk to him!

What are you doing?

Why are you hiding?

Hey, Bobby.

How you doin'?

How you doing, sugar mouth?

Ooh, brown bagging it.

You a thug.

You know, girl.

What are you doing?

Stop doing that.

No, no, no, no, no.

You can't do that.

We just found you a mentor, girl.

Oh god.

This is a bad idea.

Ahh!

So who is this guy?

What's the story?

He's dark and he's brooding.

Uh huh.

You would think he was so sexy.

Seriously?

Seriously.

He kind of looked like Dracula to me.

Well, that's kind of hot, though, don't you think?

My thighs are going to get real after this.

Oh my god.

Hold on.

Hold on.

Ahh.

Come on.

Keep going.

I'm trying.

Oh my god.

I'm just trying to help.

We're going to lose him.

No, I got this.

We're not going to lose him.

Ugh!

We're not going to lose him, Amy.

We're not going to lose you.

He's turning.

Here it is.

This is it.

Go.

Go. Just-- I believe in you.

Oh!

You can do it.

No, you're right.

Wait a second.

Wait a second.

Let me clean you off.

Go.

Carpe diem.

Hi.

Excuse me.

Hi.

I'm Amy, the-- the poet--

Oh yeah.

---from the other day.

Um-- -I do.

I remember that. Yeah.

I was just in the neighbourhood and I thought

I would stop by and say hi.

And--

How did you find out where I live?

Well, you-- I saw you driving.

Oh.

Did Laner put you up to this?

Did Mark-- is this-- come on.

No.

What do you want?

Um, OK.

I was wondering if maybe you would be willing to read

some of my poetry.

You're a writer.

Uh, yes.

I am.

Oh.

I-- and I'm really good, and I just--

Been writing long?

I've been writing my entire life, to be honest.

That long, huh?

Yeah.

Great.

Great.

Um.

OK.

You're my favourite living poet, I just want to say.

Thank you. Thank you.

You'd be my favourite dead poet too, but obviously

you're not dead yet.

I mean--

No.

Sorry.

Working on that, though.

Um, thank you so much.

I'm going to bring some of my work by.

I'll just drop it off.

Or I can read it online.

You know, I'm just going to come drop it by.

It's no problem.

I'll just come drop it by.

Is everything OK?

Are you thinking?

Yeah.

Yeah, I was thinking.

What-- what-- what were you thinking?

I was thinking you'd be the type of muse I'd get.

No.

S-- are you serious?

I mean-- I meant that sarcastically, OK?

Oh.

Don't stand out here when I close the fucking door.

OK.

Muse?

Ha.

Here you go-- first paycheck.

Social security, taxes, Medicare.

How am I supposed to afford rent with this?

I don't know, but figure it out.

Are you kicking me out?

Yes.

No.

I didn't mean to offend you.

I mean, I'm sorry.

Why?

I can't host with you there, Amy.

You're kind of a pain in my ass--

and I don't mean that in a good way.

Don't you like having me there?

No.

Why?

You talk like-- like-- look how you talk.

AMY: Talk like what?

(MOCKINGLY) Eh li leh, like that.

Just get a real roommate, OK?

Hi.

No pets, no rap music, no parties,

and no fireworks or gunplay.

What do you think?

Oh, this? [LAUGH] It's a shithole.

My parents would be horrified.

We're bohemians.

[DOORBELL] [DOORBELL] [DOORBELL] [DOORBELL]

Are you completely mad?

Hi!

Like, insane?

It's me, Amy.

I don't know if you remember.

Um, I just moved in down the street,

actually, so I thought I would bring

you a little housewarming gift.

[LAUGH]

Um, I hope you like kiwis.

There's a lot of kiwis.

You want to come in, kid?

Thank you.

Here you go.

Yeah.

You can just put that right down.

Can I get you something to drink or nosh

on, maybe a Shasta or a Triscuit or a trinket of some kind?

I'm fine.

So, thank you for that.

Um, I put some of my poems in the basket.

Great.

That's great.

I'll-- I'll look at those at some point.

Uh, why on earth would you want to be a poet, Alice?

It's Amy, actually.

Um, I-- I really feel a lot, you know?

Even if things are just happening around me,

I feel like I really internalise it.

And I want to be able to speak for all

of the people that suffer, that feel

the pain that I feel every day.

You know?

Yes.

Why me, Alice?

Why choose me?

Why come to me?

It's Amy.

But you can-- you can call me whatever.

Um, well, you're unique.

Your-- your work is-- it's real and it's honest.

And it's very partially subtle, but then very in your face,

you know, loud, and it speaks for an entire generation.

No.

No, it doesn't.

Yes.

It does.

I don't know what that means.

I'm glad people still like some of the stuff I did,

you know, back in the day.

I was just going to throw something out there.

Throw it out there.

See what happens.

Yeah. Throw it on the trash heap.

See what sticks.

Well, OK.

I would love to be your protege.

My what?

Your protege.

My protege?

I haven't heard that sober with my pants on for a long time.

That's OK.

What would that entail?

I'm an excellent speller.

I could proofread for you.

Oh, I've got a spell check.

Oh, of course.

I always imagined you had a typewriter.

[LAUGH]

What about readings?

I could do readings for you in your place

when you're feeling sick or, you know,

you're hungover or something and you don't want to go.

I feel kind of-- I feel kind of sick right now.

Um, you want to try that?

Give me-- read something.

It's Strindberg-- some passages from Strindberg

I thought were kind of cool.

--[CLEARS THROAT] There are discords

in this life which can--

Whoa, not-- not-- not in that voice.

Try, just-- can you do it in your own voice, with out the--

Sure.

What kind of voice was that?

That was my speaking out loud, reading out loud voice.

Yeah.

Don't-- don't-- don't use that one,

because it doesn't sound like-- it doesn't sound like--

it doesn't sound like you.

How do you feel about failure as a concept?

Because, you know, all the best people are failures these days.

I've failed many times.

That's good.

Continue to fail.

Beckett said, "if you want to make art, you have to fail."

And so the artists' job is to fail better.

Fail better.

Yeah.

You should make t-shirts.

This has been really good.

I was-- I'm-- I'm so happy that you came by.

OK.

What about if I, um-- what about if I organised for you?

You could euthanise me.

Um.

I could clean.

I could come over whenever you need me

to and just clean, like a maid.

Yeah?

Chop, chop.

Amy Amy!

Hey!

Guess what?

I got published in Anarchists Quarterly.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

I'm so excited.

It's like the first time I ever sent anything in.

Awesome.

I know. It's like, not a big deal.

It's just like some stuff that I wrote down about the strike

and stuff, but they're going to give it like the front page,

it says.

I'm so happy for you.

Thanks.

I'm going to go frame it.

I think they might have spelled your name wrong.

Just double-check that.

[SCREAM]

CANDACE: Amy?

Are you, uh, working on a new book?

Uh, excuse me?

Is that part of your new book?

Oh, yeah.

Um, just a, uh, just a little shitty little anthology

I'm putting together.

You know.

I don't want to, but gotta pay the bills.

What kind of stuff are you putting in there?

Uh, mostly unknowns.

Really?

I'm going to go out and, uh, come back.

So carry on.

OK.

The fright oblivion deep night spring kills with its might.

Might I delight.

Question mark or exclamation point?

Sorry, ma'am.

Um.

Thanks.

Bye.

What are you doing?

Why are you not paying attention?

I am paying attention.

Amy, what are you doing?

Amy, what are you-- what are you writing?

What's going on?

[LAUGH] Stop it.

What are you doing?

Nothing.

I'm sorry.

Hey, guess what?

What?

I got a job.

I'm working for Rat Billings.

Are you quitting?

No, no.

I still need to work here.

He doesn't believe in money, so he's paying me in mentorship.

What are you doing for him that you're not getting paid?

Um, well, I'm kind of his protege.

Oh.

A lot of great writers get their start under the tutelage

of another great writer, you know like Ford Madox Ford took

James Joyce under his wing, and Joyce might never

have been discovered otherwise.

Wait.

I just remembered something.

Le Passion.

Call for entries.

We need erotica written by women about their sexual experiences.

Yeah.

I know it's not Harper's or the New Yorker or whatever,

but it's writing, right?

It's a publication.

Alex, I'm not going to peddle porn.

Amy, hey.

You're working in a porn shop.

Um, Alex, the girl on the cover-- one of her boobs

is bigger than my entire face.

You do kind of have a small face.

I'm just trying to help.

"Desired, reality desires itself,

invents a body of lightning, bends over and looks at itself.

Jaguar waves and skull, two eyes fixed on two eyes,

idols, always the same eyes."

South Americans are awesome, aren't they?

Who would like to read another bit of Octavio Paz?

All right, my assistant, Adrian, will read.

[CLEARS THROAT] "Dawn, cold, rapid hands

draw back one by one.

The bandage of dark.

I open my eyes.

Still, I am living at the centre of a wound still fresh."

Allison.

This guy is still in a wound so fresh.

I mean, in so much pain and violence, and--

Yes, yes.

But try not to be quite so literal with it.

That is quite a literal response.

Wait.

So is that going to be on the test?

Yes.

You'll be tested.

You'll be tested every day, and for the rest of your life.

And, uh, you know what?

You failed.

That's it.

Have you, per chance, found the time

to check out any of my poems?

I mean, I know you're-- you're busy.

No.

But I will, so keep working on them.

Was it hard to get off heroin?

You know, your opiated blues days when

you were homeless and hustling.

Well, in actuality, the smack came later, after I wrote it.

So you made all of that up?

Yeah.

You've got to blur the lines, kid.

You really are a bizarre little creature, aren't you?

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

Richard Simmons.

Why are you getting mail addressed to Richard Simmons?

Well, I wasn't being mean.

I was being honest.

Oh my god.

Rat is a nom de plume.

More of a nom de guerre, but don't tell anybody.

I'll skin you alive.

Of course.

They can't take a little criticism

without going to the dean.

Is that what you're telling me?

[INAUDIBLE]. [INTERPOSING VOICES]

All right.

I'll do whatever you want.

No.

I won't do that, but-- we'll-- we'll talk about it later.

Bye bye.

You're right to be hard on them, you know?

They need it.

I know.

Generation mundane.

How about a little nugget of advice before I depart?

Love.

Love until you hate, then learn to hate you love, then forgive

your hate for loving it.

Wow.

On that note, "do not wait to strike until the iron is hot,

but make it hot by striking."

That's William Butler Yates.

You're dumb, but you're not stupid.

God, time is so weird.

Being 22 is so weird.

It's weird.

It's super weird.

It's like this neverland, you know?

Like we're not quite kids, we're not quite adults.

[LAUGH] So it's like we're marginalised

others or something.

You just cured my insomnia.

[COUGHING]

[LAUGH]

It's so cool you have such diverse friends, Amy.

You have something on your face.

You have something on your face.

ALEX: Yeah.

CANDACE: Come dance with me.

ALEX: [INAUDIBLE].

CANDACE: Come on.

It'll be fun.

Ooh.

Ooh.

OK.

It's floor dancing.

Floor dancing.

Her need for release exploded in a violent, lustful vengeance

as the stock boy finally took her to the edge of oblivion.

She lay plundered, fighting for her next breath.

[KNOCKING]

Hey.

What's up?

Nothing, just writing.

That's cool.

You going to drink all that by yourself?

Not all of it.

[LAUGH]

Should really put some posters up-- maybe paint.

I could help you with that, and stuff.

Hi.

[LAUGH] You're so funny.

You're funny.

A second ago, I was teaching him how

to do, like, the dance moves?

It's cool.

You should join, seriously.

Uh, I'll pass.

Thanks.

[AWKWARD LAUGH] Yeah.

Sweet.

All right.

Uh, have fun doing what you do.

[CLEARS THROAT]

For your consideration, here is a taste

of some of the erotic prose I have been working on.

Sincerely-- sincerely, Evelyn Renoir.

[SIGH] You whore.

Ugh.

Hey.

Oh my god.

Who's the dead girl on the wall?

Sylvia.

Oh.

How'd she die?

She stuck her head in the oven.

Oh, that's bananas.

Mhm.

Do you ever feel invisible?

No, not really.

Hey.

I know what's wrong with you.

Hey.

I've been wanting to do this every since I met you.

Whoa.

She's a snow leopard.

I need a drink.

Holy mother of God.

I can understand that.

Sure.

Come on in.

Make it a stiff one, buster, and make it snappy.

You look lovely tonight.

What are you doing out here this late?

It's the witching hour.

Maybe I'm a witch.

Ran right into that one.

Ahh.

Why are you dressed like a hooker?

And so began our torrid love affair.

Whoops.

Oh my god.

Jesus Christ.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

I want you to deflower me.

I've chosen you, Rat Billings, to open

the bud of my womanhood.

I only ask that you treat me as you would treat a poet.

What, do you want me to slap you around a little bit?

I wanted to be picked like an exotic flower,

like a-- like a rare breeze.

You actually are a pretty girl aren't you?

Do it to me.

Do it to me good.

Oh, come on.

Don't use that voice.

Ah.

Do it to me.

Do it to me good.

That's when you're losing me-- with the do it to me,

do it to me good.

I thought people liked that.

No.

I don't believe anything you're saying, sweetheart.

Have sex with me.

No.

No to the voice or no to the sex?

No to both.

What?

Do you think I'm ugly or something?

No.

No.

I think you're psychotic.

Ugh!

You're just a kid.

I am a woman.

You're a little Snickers bar.

You're little snicks.

I'd like to read you something I wrote for you.

You're a little snick snack.

You're an asshole.

[CLEARS THROAT] In squalid ether,

digital surveillance nightmare.

Shattered wings, catapult the vast vulva

of shattered oblivion.

That's astonishing.

Tell me what you really think of it-- poet to poet, mentor

to protege.

Tell me the truth.

Do you think I could be a real poet?

Snicks.

Do you?

Tell me!

[CHOKING]

Ugh.

Snickers?

Snicks.

Well, you're off to a good start.

Oh.

There's more.

[COUGH] Could I use the bathroom?

Yeah.

So where'd you go last night?

To an awful, terrible place I may never recover from.

What happened?

Are you OK?

I messed up.

I'm such a failure.

Whatever it was, I'm sure it wasn't that bad.

Trust me.

It was bad.

I've done some really stupid shit.

Last night?

No.

Last night I left right after you did.

Your friend Candace is kind of an octopus.

AMY: [LAUGH]

I had to escape her testicles-- tentacles.

I've been working here too long.

Whatever.

Really, though.

You know, I've done things I wish I hadn't.

It's part of life.

But if you need anything, let me know.

Thank you.

That's really nice of you.

You're welcome.

What do you want to bet that's a bachelorette party?

FEMALE SPEAKER: Hi.

Um, we're only in here because we're

going to a bachelorette party.

A bachelorette party?

FEMALE SPEAKER: Yeah.

Oh my god.

And I was wondering if you had like, uh, some kind of package?

I have a package.

-Od. -I'll be right back.

FEMALE SPEAKER: Thanks.

Oh my god.

Amy?

Amy Anderson?

Oh my god.

Maggie, Hi.

How's it going?

I didn't-- didn't see you.

Amy used to go to my middle school.

She thought she was going to be this famous poet.

I'm actually, um-- I'm still working on that.

What's it like working in a dirty video store?

I bet you see a lot of freaks.

You know what, Maggie?

You're a freak.

OK.

Rat.

I'm not receiving any visitors today.

It's life or death!

It's creative life or death!

I am so sorry that I vomited upon you.

But I need to know the truth.

Truth's subjective, Amy.

Uh--

Oh, cut the bullshit, OK?

I am in physical and emotional pain right now.

I need to know what you thought of my poems.

Well, y-- you're in pain?

How mu-- what-- what kind of pain are you in?

Are you in--

The worst pain I've ever been in.

Oh, OK.

Well on a scale, where would you say you are, on a universal--

On the Wong Baker Facial Grimace Scale?

RAT: This is the death of a loved one, all right?

It's a 10.

It's worst pain possible.

No.

Well, that's like Auschwitz, so I mean,

I think it's-- you would be somewhere--

somewhere in here, I think.

If you go like that, and then you're

like that, and that's Amy here.

You know, where it's on this side of it, maybe in Cleveland.

Tell me.

I read your poems.

And?

Credit to your tenacity.

What is this?

It's a map.

Russia and Mongolia.

Just-- I want you to go there one day and write something.

Anyway, I-- I-- I found exceedingly special.

I found them uniquely you.

I found them most like you.

You really think so?

Yeah.

Yeah.

In fact, I'm-- I'm putting together a little anthology,

a little shitty little shit-filled shit-stained

anthology of, uh, of new work.

And?

And it's not anything major, but if you want, I can include

one of your shitty little--

Oh my god.

Yes!

Yes!

Oh my god.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

All right.

All right.

All right.

Yes!

Yes!

This is the best day ever!

This is the best day ever!

Oh my god.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you!

Thank you.

Thank you.

[HUMMING] All right.

I'm going to go.

Thank you!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

MALE SPEAKER: Come on, darling.

Goodnight, darling.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, darling.

Goodnight.

You asshole!

Hi.

Hey.

What's up?

Did you just see what just happened?

What?

That asshole just stole a bunch of shit.

You didn't even notice.

Uh, sorry.

I'm was rearranging some DVDs and stuff--

You know, you're luck to have this job,

and any other place would have fired you by now.

And you get to do anything you want here,

and we don't say shit.

And you just-- you just take advantage.

It's bullshit.

Like--

OK.

I'm sorry.

But, it's not like this is a career.

It's a stupid job in a stupid place.

This place is how Stan and Maryann make their living.

It's how I make my living!

And it really pisses me off that you think

that you're better than that!

What are you trying to say?

I'm saying go find yourself another stupid job.

Fine.

You know, I'm up for a lot of awards right now and accolades,

and I don't need a job that's for losers, OK?

Especially not in this-- this porn hole!

RAT: [INAUDIBLE].

Yeah?

Is the napkins that I had over there

that I moved over here that I was

working on-- the white ones?

I don't know about those.

What do you mean you don't know about them?

They were-- they were here and then you cleaned up,

and then-- and then things got unorganised.

The st-- the manuscripts on the napkins that

were with the coasters that you moved over from over there

when I told you you don't have to clean, don't clean,

don't clean.

And you did anyway.

I can't find them.

Oh, napkins, napkins.

There's napkins there.

I know.

I'm not looking for these.

I'm looking for these.

This has got this.

Where are they?

I told you not to clean up.

Did you put them back over here?

I'm going to be very upset with you.

Here they are.

I found them.

I must have accidentally put them in my purse.

I don't know why.

I'm sorry.

Um, here you go.

What were they doing in your bag?

OK.

Are you going to be mad?

I'm already mad.

I thought that it was trash, like doodles or something.

Do I look like a doodler to you?

[SIGH] Not now you don't.

OK, so that's bullshit.

I thought it would be cool to have something

of yours for when you die.

I'm not going to die, ever.

You idiot.

I really wouldn't have taken them if I

thought they were important.

All right.

Look.

You can have that one.

Thank you.

This is really good.

This one's-- you should keep this one.

This one's really good.

You were young when you became famous-- you

and Rimbaud are both so talented, and younger than I

am now.

Fame's your generation's black plague, kid.

That's really good.

Who said that?

I did, just now-- me.

I said that to you.

AMY: Alex hates me.

Men are really delicate.

They get their feelings hurt easy.

Oy.

Here.

I want my job back.

You like Alex.

What? [LAUGH] That's absurd.

If you are like, what's tomorrow going to be like,

and what will people think of me,

you're going to be blind to what's right in front of you.

"Forever is comprised of nows."

That's Emily Dickinson, bitch.

Get my fat toe.

Hey.

Alex.

Are you here to rent a movie?

No.

Then you'll have to excuse me, because I have

very patient customer waiting.

Do you want a three or a five-day rental?

What do the green dots mean?

Uh--

It means new release.

Alex, I'm sorry.

I am not too good to work here, and I didn't mean any

of those things that I said.

Do you have the antimicrobial anal beads?

Sorry, buddy.

We're all sold out.

There should be more coming on Monday, though.

Ugh.

I'm not better than this, and I don't think

working here is for losers.

I want my job back.

Why?

So I can find out who puts the dots on.

[LAUGH]

Do you have any of those leather masks

that are flame retardant?

What the fuck is with th-- no.

We don't.

I'm sorry.

She took the last one.

They're awesome.

I'm going to let you deal with that,

because that's your punishment.

Thanks.

What's your name?

Max.

OK, Max.

Max, Max.

Cougar Den.

Dorm girls.

That's-- this is the wrong Max, isn't it?

Mhm.

Hey.

I brought you some turtlenecks.

Thanks, Mum.

You're welcome.

They're all cotton.

Dad says hi.

Does he hate me?

Mhm.

We both do.

No.

He doesn't hate you.

We love you.

But we're a little worried about you.

What?

I'm fine.

I have a good job now.

I mean, things-- things are really looking up.

But are you happy?

Mother?

Hmm?

An artist's life-- it really is a life of solitude.

[CLEARS THROAT]

That is, um, bullshit.

It's almost your birthday.

Let's just plan a party, OK?

You haven't had a birthday party for a while.

Dad wants to see you.

I want to meet your friends.

I always used to meet your friends.

I'll make you a cake.

What kind of cake do you want?

Cheese.

I can do that-- cheesecake.

Anything else?

Sprinkles.

Good.

That's-- now we're talking.

Rainbow, not chocolate.

It's goign to be fun.

You're very skinny.

I'll make you two cakes.

Woo!

Yeah!

Way to go!

Happy birthday!

Hello.

Hi.

RAT: Hi.

I'm so happy you came.

RAT: Oh, we just thought we would stop by.

I'm sorry we didn't wait for cake.

Happy birthday.

Thanks.

Hi.

This is my friend Yumi.

She's a theoretical linguist.

This is Amy, the girl that I told you about. [LAUGH]

OK.

Um, do you want some-- some cake or something?

Uh--

Sure.

Drinks?

We-- Yeah.

Hi.

This is my family.

Um, this is Rat.

You must be Mrs. Anderson.

How are you?

No.

I am Mrs. Anderson.

RAT: I know.

Todd Anderson.

RAT: Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you. RAT: Nice to see you.

Hi.

What's your name?

Rubia.

I'm sorry?

Rubia.

Rubia.

Hi.

-Alex. -Alex.

Would you like something to drink?

Yeah, do you have any, um-- um, wine?

SHERYL: Yes.

TODD: Sure do.

Because I think Yumi likes wine.

Red is fine.

SHERYL: OK.

And I'll have, um-- do you have coffee?

We have coffee.

SHERYL: And red wine for the Yuni.

And can you bring the cake cutter?

TODD: You need a cake cutter.

So, a cake cutter, and--

SHERYL: Yes.

That was really amazing what you did for Amy.

I haven't done anything to Amy.

Well, no, but, I mean, you see how talented she is.

That's amazing.

For a girl like her, there's nothing she wants more.

She's a good kid.

She's just, as my father used to say, free of all knowledge.

Ho, ho, ho, ho.

Somebody knows what they're doing.

This is for you.

I don't want you to open in front of everybody,

because then they're like, oh, it's from Alex.

And what is it, and, you know.

AMY: Stop.

That's weird.

"Letters to a Young Poet."

Yeah.

I know you've probably read that like a thousand times,

but-- no, I haven't.

I haven't read this one.

Sweet.

Score.

Amy, happy birthday.

I thought of you when I saw this.

No.

Shh.

No.

You're not gonna read that.

No.

I'm a dork.

It's embarrassing.

Thank you.

I love it. -You're welcome.

Seriously.

It's a really good present.

What-- where's Rat?

Oh, he had to leave, honey.

Seriously?

Yeah.

But he left you a present.

Here it is.

Rat.

It's a galley of the book that I'm in.

SHERYL: [GASP] Oh my gosh.

Open it.

Open it!

I can't do it.

Oh, man.

Here.

I got nails.

Careful with the paper, please.

Let me see.

"Shit Poetry-- an Anthology of Bad

Verse edited by Rat Billings."

What?

What is this?

My poem.

"Hilariously awful," Joan Diddian.

"So bad it's good," Zadie Smith.

"So terrible I laughed and then I cried," Jonathan Franzen.

Oh my god, Jonathan Franzen.

SHERYL: Amy.

Amy.

Amy.

Amy, come on.

Amy, stop.

Amy.

TODD: Come on, honey.

It's your birthday.

Amy, it's really not that bad!

Honey.

[SCREAM]

You miserable son of a bitch!

Where are you?

Problem?

"Shit Poetry-- an Anthology of Bad Verse"?

It's just a silly little book for the Urban Outfitters.

You know, hipsters are going to love it.

They're going to be reading my poetry while taking a shit!

But you said you wanted to be published, didn't you?

Not in a book that people are going to read

while they're on the toilet!

Well, how do you think I feel?

It's probably going to outsell everything I've ever written.

Ugh!

Who anointed you the arbiter of poetic quality anyways, huh?

It's not quality.

It's poetry that's so bad it-- it goes around the world

and it's kind of good.

The Rat Billings that I admired-- he is dead.

You're a big, fat phony.

And you know what?

You're old!

You're an old, phony man.

That's what you are!

It's all phony, of all washed-up phony.

Why?

I want to know why you would do to me.

Why?

Why?

Why?

You-- my-- my life!

Because somebody needs to tell you the goddamn truth, Amy.

I thought truth was subjective.

No.

It's not subjective.

Not everybody can grow to be Beyonce or the President.

Not everybody's talented, OK?

And fame doesn't mean shit.

Ah!

Amy, if everything was great, nothing would be great.

Nothing would be special.

I am special!

I got straight As!

I scored in the 97th percentile on my SATs.

Thank you very much!

Well, the SATs don't mean shit.

That's like believing in Scientology.

Ugh!

Easy.

Easy.

Are you all right?

She's a monster.

Get her out of here.

Come on.

All I wanted was your advice.

You're a phony, Richard Simmons!

Don't take my-- don't take my napkins!

ALEX: Get the fuck out of here!

Don't take those napkins!

Don't take my napkins!

AMY: Will you just pull over?

You shouldn't care what anybody thinks.

It doesn't matter.

Sadie Smith thinks I'm an idea.

No she doesn't.

And Rat probably hates himself.

I can't face anyone.

I don't want to go back to my parents' house.

I just don't want to see anyone.

You wanna go to my place?

[SNIFF] Yeah.

Just, uh, just make yourself at home.

You want some water?

OK.

Did you do these?

Yeah.

Hey, don't look at that.

No, no.

Hey.

Hey.

That's not finished.

I don't know what that is, actually.

This one is so beautiful.

Thank you.

Have you shown these?

No.

Why not?

You could be famous.

Well, it's not really about that for me.

It's more kind of just something that I like to do on my own,

you know?

Don't you have anything that you just

wrote for yourself, that you didn't want to show anybody?

No, not really.

Hmm.

I should go.

Um, you want me to drive you?

That's OK.

OK.

Andrea, let me call you back.

I got a problem here.

What?

Relax.

I'm not going to do anything.

Are you sure?

I promise.

What do you want?

I read some of your work.

It's, uh-- it's beautiful, some of it.

It's heartbreaking.

It's too bad you're such a colossal asshole.

Oh, thank you for saving me a lot of time and agony,

but you didn't have to be so terrible just because I suck.

You don't suck, Amy.

You don't anything yet.

That's the point.

You might be a great writer someday-- I don't know.

You haven't even lived yet.

Go to gaol, you know?

Become a nun.

Right now you're just a suckling little piglet.

Just go out and live your life and get your heart broken

and get out of mine, please, for a little while.

OK, Rat.

OK.

Bye.

I'm not done .

You've got to stop taking yourself so seriously.

The world is full of innocuous mundanity,

and people are literal and stupid.

But you're a fighter, you know?

A rebel.

Did you rehearse that one?

Maybe.

Yeah.

It doesn't quite work yet, does it?

You know what?

There may not really be a place for poetry

left in the world, Amy.

The literal may have triumphed and conquered all.

But we-- we press on, right?

We press on.

Now-- now give it to me and-- Woo.

[WHISTLING] Hey, hey, hey, hey.

You give it to me good, man.

Give it to me good.

You know what I mean?

Because, like, this is it.

This is the moment.

Rat.

Stop taking yourself so seriously.

I want to tell you something right now.

The culture around us is disintegrating.

But you are not a part of that.

You stand against the tide, and this is no small thing.

You will always be a hyena, Amy.

Arthur Rimbaud.

Ahh.

You're a thief-- regal and ragged.

Ah. [LAUGH] No, stop.

You're going to rip it.

I win.

Do you need help?

Yeah.

[LAUGH]

What?

You have paint on your face.

Hang on.

I do?

[LAUGH]

Oh god.

No.

Hey.

Hey. [INAUDIBLE].

What?

Oh, that's really embarrassing.

There's a few of them here.

That's really embarrassing.

Come on.

No.

I like them.

They're cool.

I like that one.

I was worried you would think that was creepy.

It's not creepy.

It's cool.

I like them.

Are you going to take off your clothes?

What is this?

I'm wearing two shirts. [LAUGH]

Being with him was as perfect as a sonnet.

--[LAUGH] Did I just say that out loud?

Yeah.

Do another line.

I like it.

[PHONE RINGING]

Don't get it.

Why are you getting it.

Whoa.

[LAUGH]

Hello?

This is she.

Really?

Oh my god.

I can't believe that.

Um, really?

OK.

Yeah, just-- just, um, I guess send over the contract.

OK.

Yeah.

That-- that sounds great, actually.

Cool.

OK, thank you.

Bye.

ALEX: What is that?

Is everything OK?

You're never going to believe this.

I'm getting published.

What?

I know.

It's going to be on the website later today and in the magazine

next month. -Oh.

That's amazing.

And I got $500.

Score.

What magazine?

I'm numb.

I want to read it.

What magazine is this?

Le Passion.

[LAUGH]

What?

You submitted?

Yeah.

Oh my god.

That's amazing.

And you're going to be published again.

Yeah.

Yeah.

This time it's good.

This is good.

This is very good.

This is good.

Yeah.

We should celebrate.

What is this place?

It's just a place.

You're so cryptic.

Hey, Alex.

What's up?

Hey.

You got that?

Yeah.

Hi.

Hi.

[LAUGH]

Whoa!

Hi.

[INAUDIBLE].

This is new.

It's pretty nice.

Alex, you should really show your work.

Yeah, I don't know.

I'll probably just end up working at a porn store

the rest of my life.

Really?

Me too.

You should really keep writing though, because you

kind of suck at your day job.

As long as I'm not boring.

You're not boring.

You're a weirdo.

You are not normal.

[LAUGH] And it's inspiring.

It's cool.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Bend-- bend the other leg, too.

Bend--

Both legs [INAUDIBLE].

Well, you can't get [INAUDIBLE].

Yeah.

Do you like that look?

Oh, god.

That's sexy.

FEMALE SPEAKER: She [INAUDIBLE].

I'll get somebody to go with her.

[CHEERING]

[INAUDIBLE].

Hello.

Thank you.

It's over.

Go home.