Original subtitles

[music playing]

[theme music]

HOST: All these recall an earlier hour,

more vivid with life, a time when

the future seemed without limit,almost like being in love.

You've been in love.

It's not that I've never fallen in.

I've done it myself many, many times.

And I have memories to prove it.

Not flames, mind you.

Not flames anymore.

Embers.

Comfort in the night.

To love, to really love, one must

let go of everything one knows,of everything one holds dear.

One must open oneself up.

[italian singing]

JAMES [VOICEOVER]: Itstarted with a proposition.

My father proposed that Ijoin the family business.

It's one of the oldest cosmetic companies in the world.

I declined.

Wanted nothing to do with it,said I'd made my own plans.

Not really.

I was in between plans.

Tried painting,photography, writing, drugs.

Even got an acting agent.

But at the end of the day,the only one I was good at

was drugs.

Heh.

It was the best.

Then came the big gloom.

Everything got dark.

I woke up in the emergencyroom, my folks standing over me.

Dad's proposition becamean ultimatum-- three months

in rehab or a first-class ticket to London

for an international cosmetic conference.

So here I am.

London, November.

Asian fags in cosmetics.

SALESMAN: Why do we fight?

JAMES [VOICEOVER]: God, I miss LA.

Is it because of the product?

No, the product is tested, proven.

Celia here can well attest.

Is it because of the clients?

The clients are out there.

And as you've seen, when the clients

are exposed to theproduct, what do they do?

They order more.

[chuckle]

It's not the product.

It's not the clients.

What does that leave?

Let me quote, if I may, a very wise man.

He said, quote, "The markinside was come upon him.

On man, that's a rumble no one can call.

The mark inside, he means you!"

Yeah.

You in the movies?

No, no.

[chuckle]

No, no.

But you are from LA, right?

Yeah.

[SINGING] The soft you tread--

James, do you, uh, partake?

[sigh]

No, no.

No thanks.

I'm here specifically to avoid the bad influence

of people lacking moralfiber and social standing.

[laughter]

Fucking A. You've come to the right place.

Yeah, to my lad from Los Angeles

and an evening full of debauchery and mischief.

[laughing]

Cheers.

Oh, god.

Come on, guys.

I know the perfect place for our quest.

[music playing]

Pretty, isn't she?

You don't smoke cock, do ya?

No, no.

Thank God for that.

Name's Dean.

I like pussy meself.

Jesus H. Christ, look at 'em.

Look.

I've been dying for a pissfor the last two hours,

only I can't on account of me faggot

alarm's gone off the meter.

Heh.

Got me wound so tight, I couldn't even fucking

shove me pinkie up me ass.

Pretty, isn't she?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Stick around.

Watch the show.

Have a couple of beers.

Come watch the swords.

She's from the Middle East.

Very, very exotic.

Thanks a lot.

So don't forget, ladies and gentlemen.

Buy drinks and tip big, because the girls

are working hard this morning.

And now, without further delay, allow

me to present to you-- pleaseput your hands together

for the lovely Musidora!

[one person cheers and claps]

DEAN: You people, with your nipple rings,

genital rings, you think you know body piercing.

Well, let me tell you, youdon't know body piercing.

Get on with it, you fucking asshole.

DEAN: So who'll be first?

No partakers?

Then allow me to make the firstdemonstration of the swords!

[MUSIC - THE TIGER LILLIES, "WHORE"]

[SINGING] You are my whore,even now, old and poor.

You're the one that my twisted heart adores.

[scattered applause]

You are my whore.

Like a dog, I will gnaw.

You're the one that my twisted heart adores.

Bullshit!

[MUSIC - THE TIGER LILLIES, "WHORE"]

[SINGING] You're the one that my twisted heart--

the one that my twisted heart--

[scattered applause] - Yay!

[MUSIC - THE TIGER LILLIES, "WHORE"]

[SINGING] The one that my twisted heart adores.

All we need now is aparticipant from the audience,

a volunteers to experience the thrusting of steel

on the flesh.

Oh, come on.

For a reasonable 5 pounds, come up here

and give Musidora tore poke.

Oi!

Throw a fucking 10 in.

Aha.

A courageous one at last.

Take a sword, sir.

Anywhere-- I can stick her anywhere, right?

Anywhere in the midriff.

Oh, come on, then.

Fuck!

Yes!

That is fucking unbelievable!

Get your skinny ass out of here!

Get another brave soul up here!

Dude, you've had your [inaudible].

Fuck off.

Come on, back row.

Come on.

Come up and give Musidora a poke.

Feel of steel thrusting into her.

Wait, James, get up here now!

[MUSIC - THE TIGER LILLIES, "WHORE"]

[SINGING] You are my whore--

Oi, oi, get your fuckinghands off my swords!

Fuck off!

[MUSIC - THE TIGER LILLIES, "WHORE"]

[SINGING] --even now, old and poor.

You're the one that my twisted heart adores.

[sniffing]

[whap]

Each ingredient is there for a reason.

Each accomplishes a specific task.

And they work with one anotherto bring results far greater

than each one separately.

Let me give you one example.

Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant.

But without the help of mineral selenium,

vitamin E can break down long before it

reaches the bloodstream.

[music playing]

You missed the end of the show last night.

The finale.

I had to, uh-- I had to get up early today.

What do you have?

A pint, half?

Tea.

Tea?

Tea, please, mate.

We're doing it again tonight,you know, early, 10:00 PM.

Since you missed your chancelast night, it's on the house.

Your friend, he had it coming.

He-- he demonstrated suchlittle respect for the art form,

for my Musidora here.

I had to straighten him out.

I mean, it felt fucking great, I must admit.

Did you enjoy the show last night?

You rushed out in such a hurry.

We didn't get a chance to inquire.

Yeah.

The show was fine.

What would you say to a private show?

A show just for you?

We accommodate you.

You compensate me.

In your own home, Musidorawith her swords or without.

Now, a private show will cost a little bit more.

Well, it would, wouldn't it?

But you'd have her all to yourself.

She could be with you tonight.

She could be with you at midnight.

And she wouldn't have to hobble away either.

Let's call it 100 pound.

Are we on?

Got a good price for it?

It's a hotel.

DEAN: Oh, Musidora would love to meet you there.

[WHISPERING] And she can goslow if she wants to, as well.

So we got a deal? I'll tell you what.

For you, we'll call it 90 pound.

JAMES [VOICEOVER]: I've been with other girls

before, girls who could easily model my father's

beauty products and did.

Musidora was different-- nostunning features to speak

of, exceptionally average.

But there was more to her--an intangible essence,

a strangeness, like the swords.

[knock on door]

Evening, sir.

[cough]

There you go.

You're soaked. Can I get you a towel?

Here.

What would you like me to begin with?

Where would you like to begin?

James.

My name, James.

James.

Where would you like to begin, James?

May I?

Yeah.

Not on the mouth.

Dean said, no kissing on the mouth.

Sorry.

Do you want this?

What would you like?

I can take off my shoes.

Or I can keep them on.

Anything you want.

What do you want?

We can do the swords.

It doesn't hurt, you know?

I'm in a spell.

I can't feel it.

It doesn't hurt me.

We can have sex.

You have to let me please you.

It's been paid for.

I want to please you.

I have to make you happy.

You have to let me please you.

You'll be very angry if I don't.

[door shutting]

[departing footsteps]

You fucked her?

He fucked her.

And he paid for it.

Have you seen what thatfucking gorilla did to me?

And you gave him money.

What kind of fucking lot is that?

I'll tell you, men are such bastards.

FRIEND: Look at me, man.

Every time I take a dump,I think my fucking head's

going to explode.

Chlorine in the water supply can be

responsible for dry skin and--

JAMES [VOICEOVER]: Idon't know what to expect.

SALESMAN: --can be responsible for this psoriasis.

JAMES [VOICEOVER]: I justexpected it to be different.

SALESMAN: This platinum catalyst--

JAMES [VOICEOVER]: Iexpected it to be better.

--neutralizes the chlorine.

JAMES [VOICEOVER]: There wasa strange coldness about her.

But somehow, I wanted more.

--so that skin can be skin again.

[MUSIC - THE TIGER LILLIES, "WHORE"]

[SINGING] You are mywhore, even old and poor.

You're the one that my twisted heart adores.

You are my whore.

Like a dog, I will gnaw.

You're the one that my twisted heart adores.

You're the one that mytwisted heart-- you're the one

that my twisted heart-- theone that my twisted heart--

the one that my twisted heart adores.

You're the one that my twisted heart-- the one

that my twisted heart-- theone my twisted heart adores.

Ah, open.

Ah.

My father's from Shanghai.

Hmm.

Well, we moved around a lot.

He was a missionary. - Yeah?

Uh-huh.

[giggling]

How did you talk me into this?

[chuckle]

It looks good.

My mother [inaudible].

Yeah?

Mm-hmm.

What about Dean?

Dean's real name's Harold.

[laughter]

Harold.

Mm-hmm.

[giggling]

Harold found me in Singapore.

He was there with the Marines.

He gave me Musidora for a stage name.

Musidora.

Mm-hmm, Musidora.

Said it was based on some freaky woman

with the powers of immortality.

Dean says I am a lot like her.

He says I have this invisiblemembrane around me protecting

me from the elements.

Said I must have been born that way.

Dean calls it a spell.

The rules are, never challenge the spell.

So I hope you didn't break it.

That first night I saw you in the back row,

you were my only audience.

And that day in the pubwhen Dean sought you out,

I was so nervous.

I didn't think you'd agree.

But you did.

I don't think Dean would'vebeen too happy if he'd found out

I was nervous.

He says it's like the show.

It's a job.

You do it, you do it well, and you walk away.

No emotional attachment.

I don't think he'd be too happyif he found out about this.

About what?

This.

JAMES [VOICEOVER]: I'vereplayed this scene in my mind

a thousand times.

And a thousand times, wekissed on that boat, 1 inch

to the left, tilt of the headto the right, kiss on the lips.

Could have been as easy as that, but it wasn't.

I've never been good with commitment,

and I felt Musidora waslooking for a commitment.

But I I swear I never meant to hurt her.

I have to get back now.

He gets angry when I'm late.

We're going to Glasgow tomorrow,Dean and I. Then [inaudible]

after that.

Tonight's our last show.

Can you hear me, James?

Did I disappoint you?

I love you, James.

[italian singing]

Taxi!

Taxi.

Taxi.

Fuck you!

Now, without further delay,please put your hands together

for the lovely Musidora.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, allow me

to be the first to make thedemonstration of the swords.

No!

No!

JAMES [VOICEOVER]: I should have felt more.

But it's strange I didn't.

Or maybe I only allow myself the numbness

that still remains to this day.

Accountability, like my father said.

We take responsibility for ouractions, and we live with it.

In the end, a choice wasmade and a spell was broken.

We live.

We feel.

We hurt.

The world makes noexceptions, not even for her.

[theme music]

HOST: Love, the grandest hunger of all.

Never easy.

I know.

I know.

[speaking french]

May I translate?

Never the rose without the prick.

[theme music]

[music playing]