All language subtitles for Mindwash.2024.720p.AMZN.WEB-DL.AC3.H.264-Koza_track3_[eng]

[Billy]
Here's the thing about parents.

When you grow up, they tell you
to think for yourself,

but they spend
your whole childhood

telling you what to think.

My dad used to always say...

-"Don't trust anyone, Billy."
-Don't trust anyone, Billy.

[Billy]
Confusing, right?

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Laughs ]

Yes! Everybody on your feet.
Let's go.

How's everybody doing tonight?

I said, how's everybody
doing tonight?!

Let's go!
[ Cheers and applause ]

That's what I'm talking about.

How you doing?

Beautiful crowd.

Alright, thank you,
thank you, thank you.

Sit down.
Sit down, please.

We got a lot to do today.
We got a lot to do.

Leonardo here.

We're going live
for all the folks back home

who couldn't make it.

Thank you, Leonardo.

Let's give him
a round of applause!

Come on!
[ Cheers and applause ]

He wants to hear you, too!

Thank you!

Please, everybody, sit down,
sit down, sit down.

[Leslie] Billy?
We're ready for you.

[ Billy sighs ]
Here we go.

You sure about that?

We've been ready
for a few minutes now.

You were looking at your phone.

Well, the feed never sleeps.

Nor do you, it seems.

Well, no one lets me.
There's too much --

There's too many people
to connect to.

Want to ask you all a question.

How many of you...

think for yourself?

Now, folks, that's supposed to
be the hand-raiser today.

If that's all we got,
we got a problem.

[ Laughs ]

[Leslie]
What were you going to say?

[ Billy chuckles ]

If only she knew
what I really wanted to say.

Okay, well, I'm going to
introduce you quickly,

and then we can get started,
alright?

I thought we were
already started.

-I need something.
-Come on, come on.

I thought you were
already ready for me.

I need something
to introduce the segment.

Don't you want people
to know who you are?

If they're tuning in, Leslie,
they already know who I am.

There is no segment anymore.
That's why I'm here.

There's probably
someone already --

There it is, my -- my crafty guy
is already going live with this.

Your segment will be old news
before it even makes the news.

Be that as it may,

I need something
to come into from commercial.

So if you don't mind,
I'd like to do my job,

and then I can
get out of your hair.

-Is that okay with you?
-Great.

I just got the green light
from a dinosaur.

-[Leslie] Great.
-Alright, let's go.

Come on, hands up -- How many
of you think for yourselves?

That's more like it.
Alright, a lot of you.

A lot of hands, a lot of people
proudly admitting

to thinking for themselves.

-Nobody...
-Now...

...and I mean no-fucking-body,
thinks for themselves.

...what if I were to tell you...

Fuck me. I don't.

...it was all bullshit?

We're sitting here backstage,

and as you can hear through
the walls, the crowd is rocking.

This capacity crowd is here
to see this man, Billy Seldom,

-a social-media sensation...
-[Billy] Blah, blah, blah.

When does she shut the fuck up?

...with his rather aggressive
philosophies on self-help.

[Billy] Is she ever going to
shut the fuck up?

With more than 15 million
followers online

and what sounds to be
a lucrative book deal...

-Okay, get to the point, lady.
-...Mr. Seldom has spent

the past few months
on a sold-out speaking tour

across the country, becoming
a household name in the process

and the face of the ideals
of a generation.

[Billy] Yeah, they know my name.
That's why they're watching.

Of course.

To what would you say
you owe your success?

Well, I think
it's pretty simple, Leslie.

Thank you for that
lovely introduction.

I think what it comes down to
is that people in this country

and around the world are tired
of being told what to do,

tired of being shown
the rules of the game

and when and where
they get to play it.

They're finally ready
to take their lives

into their own hands.

As for why me, which, I think,
is what you were getting at,

I think that people,
especially young people,

have a much more sensitive
radar for bull[bleep]

than you give them credit for.

I'm always honest with them.

They respect that, which I think

this is what this movement
is based off of.

This is a cable
news program, Billy.

Oh, come on, you got a bleep guy
back there somewhere.

Let's make him earn
his [bleep] lunch for once.

[ Clears throat ]

Huh?
What if I were to tell you

that the last time any of you
thought for yourselves,

I mean really thought
for yourselves...

was never.

[ Crowd booing ]

[ Laughs ]

I don't know.
I don't know.

Alright, come on, come on.

Let's hear it.
Let's hear it.

Stay with me now.
Hear me out. Hear me out.

Don't you see the hypocrisy
in your message?

Where would that be?

Surely you see the irony
in one man making a fortune

asking people to listen to him

tell them to think
for themselves.

Don't you tell people
how to think?

-[Leslie] I report the news.
-With a point of view.

[Leslie]
An objective point of view.

[ Chuckles ]
Now who's the hypocrite?

Objectivity is dead.

You and whoever you work for

compete for head space
the same way I do.

The only difference is
I'm honest

about where I'm coming from.

I never told anyone
to listen to me.

All I've done is simply state
what I feel

is the most effective way
to live a life with purpose.

[Leslie] And charge
a pretty penny to hear it.

Well, I didn't invent
the marketplace.

No, but you did write a book.

[Billy]
Oh, so you did notice.

"Burn the Other Cheek."
Provocative title.

Are you implying that this
movement, as you so call it,

is representing
some kind of new religion?

No, I would never get
in the way of someone's faith.

But what is religion, anyway,

if not a code of rules
passed down through civilization

as a means
of establishing control?

Pray here.
Don't pray there.

Thou shalt this.
Thou shalt not that.

I don't really go in
for that kind of thing.

My message is simple.

I say think for yourself.

Do what you want to do
because you want to,

not your teacher or your father,

definitely not
your anchor woman.

Well, and what
about your father?

[Billy] And here we go.

You've never
mentioned him before,

and he's impossible to reach
for a comment.

Where does he fit into all this?

[Billy]
I'm done with this shit.

Billy, these people
want to know about you.

You said so yourself,
you're always honest.

So, what do you say
to the people out there

who are curious about
where Billy Seldom comes from?

[Billy] I say go fuck
yourself, Leslie.

I say think for yourselves.

What are you doing?
What are you doing?

Fucking prick.

[Leonardo] [ Italian accent ]
Because, Billy, we have to

-cross-pollinate with --
-Stop! Stop!

That is the last interview
I ever give.

-You got that? Ever!
-Yeah.

[ Speaking Italian ]

[ Crowd chanting in distance ]

-You hear that sound?
-Uh, yes.

You know why they make
that sound for me?

Because they love you, Billy.

No, it's because I sell them
a fucking dream.

Got that?

Don't ever saddle me
with reality

like that again ever, okay?

[ Speaks Italian ]

Fuck off me.

Oh, fuck!

Okay.

♪♪

[ Exhales sharply ]

[ Chuckles ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

What is truth?

This world
has led us to believe

it's everything and nothing.

We've become
our own worst enemy,

total hypocrites.

[man] The tragedy unfolding
before our eyes is partly paved

by misplaced optimism
and the global community.

Will you turn that off, please?

[man] ...that have been growing
for decades.

[ TV shuts off ]

Great interview today.

I thought it doesn't air
until tomorrow.

Well, they released
some teaser footage.

You fucking killed it.
She was a bitch.

[Billy]
Yeah, she was a bitch.

That was quick.
[ Scoffs ]

How was your day?

Like every other day.

The world is ending.

[Billy]
When is it not ending?

Is that what you're wearing?

-Oh, shit.
-You are unbelievable.

I completely forgot
that was today.

How is that possible?

I was a little busy
this afternoon.

Oh, please, you could
practically sleepwalk

through those things by now.

-I mean, you already do.
-What does that mean?

Billy, I thought we came home
so you could change.

Babe, I really, really don't
think I can do it tonight.

Billy, this is a party
to honor you.

You're literally
the guest of honor.

-You can't not go.
-Yes, I can.

I can do whatever I want.

That is the whole point
of all of this.

Oh, my God, I'm not talking
about your shows.

I'm not talking
about your books.

I'm talking about the real world

where you actually have to thank
the people who give you money.

Isn't the fact that I make them
the money thank-you enough?

Can't I just keep
making them more money?

I'm not having
this conversation with you

every single time
we go to dinner.

Natalie.

Do you like this life
that we live,

this house that we live in,
going on tour around the country

with people running up to you
screaming your name?

-Yes.
-[Natalie] Yeah, you do.

Okay, well,
these are the people.

Is that what you're
fucking wearing?

We can just order in.

We will have a drink.

We can have a drink here.

Fuck.
Could --

We don't need them.

Alright, we got here
without them.

We don't owe them anything.

Alright, don't you ever
get tired of it?

No. You look great.
Let's fucking go.

[ Chuckles ]

Okay.

So, here's the thing.

My dad is a good guy.

Yeah, he's a good one.

But, shit, he really
had a lot to say.

You know, sometimes when people
try to teach you something,

they shove it all the way
down your throat.

They never give you a chance
to figure it out for yourself.

It's counterintuitive, right?

Well, that's how
the brain works.

You see, Billy,
life is a funny one, ain't it?

You waited here like a good boy,

waiting for me
to tell you what to do next.

That's good.

That means you follow orders.

And really, son,

you got to make life
the way you want it.

Have morals, but people's --

people's going to want you
to follow its ways.

You know?

Go to college, get a job, taxes.

Always got to follow
this damn system.

My best advice to you, son,
Billy boy...

screw all that
and do what you want to do.

I can teach you
right from wrong.

But the rest, it's up to you.

School won't teach you that.
No, no, no, it will not.

Job?

It won't teach you that.

You got to teach yourself
what you want to do.

You know, Billy,
think for yourself.

That's all I can say.
[ Chuckles ]

Now, where is my goddamn cigar?

[ Buttons clicking ]

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

[ Buttons clicking ]

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

[ Glass clinking ]

[Speaks Italian] people.
Put these telephone down.

I said put the phone down.

We're good.
We're good.

[ Sighs ]
No, we're not good.

Thank you, everybody,
for being here tonight.

-[Billy] No one gives a shit.
-We're here to celebrate

our boy Billy
and his great accomplishment.

You're the man, Billy.

Tomorrow is going to be
the first day

of the rest of your life.

These fucking books
will turn into movie.

And who knows
what the fuck else?

You might even be playing
yourself in one of these movies.

I say, Tony Robbins,
kiss my ass.

And, Billy, you did it all with
one simple yet powerful phrase.

Think for yourself.

-Everybody, think for yourself.
-[Billy] Oh, Leo, Leo.

Only thinking and caring
about his bank account

and how much fatter it gets

with whatever I
or any of his clients sell.

No, no, no, no.
You're the man of the hour.

Everybody wants
to hear you talk.

Give us a speech.

[ Laughs ] I could be a
serial killer for all he cares.

No moral code, no nothing.

Only the code of the Benjamins.

Alright, speech for Leo.

Um...

Where do I start?
I've been speaking all day.

So I'm gonna make this quick.

I feel like that's all
I do these days

is just talk, talk, talk, talk.

I'm sure you're all sick of it.

Um, I'd like to say
thank you, Leo.

I don't know if this
is a good thing or not,

but, um, I wouldn't be here
without you.

So thank you,
my hardworking, crazy agent.

[ Chuckles ] I don't think that
this is where I want to be,

but I wouldn't be here
without you.

So thank you for that.

I'd be remiss
if I wouldn't thank

my beautiful girlfriend,
Natalie.

She looks amazing tonight,
guys, right, doesn't she?

-Look at her, miserable.
-You look beautiful.

[ Sighs ]
And, of course,

have to thank
these little guys right here.

All these things.

These little
fucking bastards here.

Where would I be without
these little bastards, huh?

I know where I would be --
I'd probably be back

on some farm or something,
some nobody.

Leo never
would have heard of me.

But they found me,
all these little things.

They brought me into people's
homes and people's screens

and their feeds
and their families.

And they listened.

The crazy thing about it

is as soon as I started telling
people to think for themselves,

they all started
listening to me.

They listened
and they got hooked on it,

just like they get hooked
on everything else,

just like you guys are all
hooked on the screens right now.

I'm speaking,
there's a human being

speaking in front of you
right now.

[ Chuckles ]
Whatever.

I'll be the guy, I guess.

But we're gonna sell a lot
of fucking books,

so cheers, everybody.

Drink for yourselves.

Have a fun time.
Eat up on me.

How's that for
your Insta Stories?

Tired of living
this fucking lie.

Yeah, maybe just
stick to the wine.

What wine?

Do you want me
to ask the waiter?

-No, I'll do it myself.
-[woman] Hey, guys.

We're going live.

[ Beep ]
This is so gonna trend.

[Billy] Is this what
our society has become?

Detached from their brains
and their hearts.

[Leslie] ...like this be
threatened on a global level.

[Billy] Reality.

[Leslie]
...is just unheard of, really.

[man] Look, Leslie,
this is bringing back

a lot of unsettling thoughts.

Chianti, old as hell.

[man] What happened to us could
happen to the entire world.

Well, these are potentially

uncharted territories
we're entering.

Is that funny?

It just hit me.

Wine is the only thing
people like old.

Nothing ages like a grape.

Hmm.
That's true, huh?

I'm glad someone's having fun.

Rough night?

Well, it was a rough morning,

and then it was
a long afternoon,

and then it was a drive
in traffic to a dinner

that I wanted no part of,
and then it was a rough night.

Well, it can't be that bad.

You're drinking
pretty good wine.

Maybe that's the problem.

Maybe I was sad
'cause I was empty.

Maybe you're empty
because you're sad.

[ Indistinct talking on TV ]

I am sad because
this is what passes

for entertainment around here.

God, guy, isn't there,
like, a-a game or something?

You don't watch the news?

[ Scoffs ]
That is not news.

Oh, it's not?

No, that is a dumpster fire

filled with anger porn.

Sounds pretty bad.

That sounds like
a fucking Thursday.

[ Indistinct talking on TV ]

Let me ask you something.

How many times does the same
shit have to keep happening

for people to stop calling it
the new normal?

Huh? If it just keeps happening
over and over and over again,

isn't it just normal?

Well, some people aren't ready
to give up on things as you are.

Are you gonna give up
on that martini?

You know what they say
about martinis.

What's that?

They're like tits.

One's not enough.
Three's too many.

I always thought martinis
were like assholes.

Why?
Because they're dirty?

No, because you can
see right through them.

[ Chuckles ]

I'm Billy.

I know who you are.
I follow you.

So you're the one.

Yeah, looking for
the blue checkmark.

Well, you're different
than I thought you'd be.

Uh-oh.

No, it's not bad.
It's just that

onstage, you're so positive.

You came to see me?

I did, about a year ago
in Green Bay.

Really?

How d-- I mean,
what did I say that helped?

You said, hmm, "In order to win
what hasn't been won,

you have to do
what hasn't been done."

And that really stuck with me.

It changed my life.

And I thought,
if I ever got to meet you,

I would say thank you.

So...

thank you.

You're welcome.

It's all bullshit,
isn't it, though?

[Billy] Yes.

-No. No. No.
-Yes, it is.

This isn't --
This isn't really... me.

Who are you?

I don't know.

Just caught me
on a rough night is all.

Well, can I give you some advice
that someone once told me?

Sure.

Don't throw fuel into the fire.

Think for yourself.

♪♪

♪♪

[ Buttons clicking ]

Fun night.

[Billy] Yeah.

Hey.

Hmm?

I'm not tired.

Okay, well, I'm gonna go,
like, scroll and unwind.

I'll come to bed later.

No, come on, stay.

When are we just gonna
be honest with each other

and end it?

It only continues
because we settled

and normalized this entire
dysfunctional relationship.

Now, Billy, Billy, Billy.

Actually, your mother hated
that I call you Billy.

We did, after all,
name you William.

Yeah, William.

Snooty, snazzy, uppity William.

Nah. Not my son.

You ain't no razzle-dazzle.

[ Coughs ]

♪♪

So Billy suits you better.

I think.

But what the hell do I know?

It's better to know nothing.

If you know too much, Billy,
you become compromised,

compromised of
your surroundings.

Your mind becomes
who you're with.

And the next thing you know
is what they know.

You follow?

I guess where I'm trying
to get is...

...forget everyone
and decide who you are.

What is it that you like?

Not what I like,
but what you like.

What is your purpose
in life, son?

I mean, shit.

Life happens, fast too.

And then all of
the sudden, poof.

You forget your purpose.

You got to find it on your own.

♪♪

Shit, some people
never find their purpose.

Some?

I mean most.

Hear me out.

How many of you went to college

with a major that matches
your job right now?

[ Scattered applause ]

Okay.

Alright, couple. Nice.

College-educated crowd.
I like it.

Now, how many of you
with your hands raised,

how many of you feel
that what you're doing,

your current career,
is your destiny in life?

What you are doing right now,

everything that led up to it,
was it what you wanted?

Was it?
Was it your calling?

I see two hands.
[ Laughs ]

Oh, man.
Folks, folks, folks, listen.

We have fallen into patterns.

Patterns of what, you might ask.

Well, patterns.

Following.

Patterns of following
your friends.

Like. Like. Like.

Like, like, like,
like, like, like.

Patterns of what
our parents want.

Patterns of what
our parents don't want.

That's even worse, right?

Patterns of what the media
tells us is the thing right now.

Do it, do it, do it.

We've all but forgotten
who we are.

Who I am.

Who you are.

Who are you?

Got to ask yourselves.

When was the last time
you did what you wanted to do?

When was the last time you went
where you really wanted to go?

When was the last time
you said what you wanted to say?

When was the last time
you didn't do something

you didn't want to do?

When was the last time
you said no?

Jesus, I can say no?
I'm allowed to do that?

Yeah.

You got to ask yourselves.

When was the last time

that you... or you...

or you...

genuinely thought for yourself?

Without hesitations,
without any interruptions,

without hesitations,
without influences.

[ Laughs ]

That's a tough one, folks.

That's a tough one.

In-flu-ences!

Influences.

We should all have role models.
We should all have North Stars.

We should have
healthy influences.

But at what cost?

Huh?

What's good for you?
Is it good for me?

I don't know.
I don't know.

Might not be.

The key...

to thinking for yourselves.

Three words.

One phrase.

[ Scattered applause ]
Yeah, that's right.

A lot of you know
where I'm going with this.

It's the first page
in your booklet.

Three big letters.
Let's hear it.

Everybody, on your feet.

Everybody, say it
with me on three.

One, two, three.

[all] Clear the slate.

Turn the page!
Let's go!

♪♪

♪♪

[ Cellphone chimes ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[ Buttons clicking ]

♪♪

Programming,
ladies and gentlemen.

Let's talk about programming.

Where do we start with that one?

Programming is the enemy
of thinking for yourself.

It happens to all of us.

It happens from the second
you're born.

You've been programmed.

You've been programmed.

You've been programmed.

You've been programmed.

You've definitely
been programmed.

[ Laughs ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

Why are you laughing, lady?
You've been programmed, too.

All of us.

Programmed to want...

what they tell you to want.

Big house, rich job.

You want makeup
that celebrity likes?

No, no, no.
I-I-I need it.

Because if I don't have
the same concealer

that that celebrity does,
I might as well be dead

at the side of the road.

Programmed to feel
how they want us to feel.

He said what?

What a monster.

She did what?
What a bitch.

Fuck her.

Let's bury her
for the rest of her life

in shame and ridicule
and accusations.

We think that this program
is given to us to make us happy,

make us feel all warm
and cuddly.

But it's not.

No, it's given to you
to control you.

It's given to you to turn
you all against each other.

What we need to do...

...is tear that program down,

break it apart
brick by brick by brick.

[ Applause ]

You guys with me?

[ Cheers and applause ]

Good.

Now repeat after me.

[Billy's dad]
Repeat after me, Billy.

[both] Tootin', snootin',
loop-a-loop hoop.

Don't fall for all that hoot.

[ Chuckles ]

Gotcha.
You ain't repeating that.

As a matter of fact,

don't be repeating anything
from anything.

You get lost more and more
from all what you have in here.

♪♪

All those damn sing-alongs
you learned in school.

Shit, you'd just repeat

and didn't even know
what you were singing.

Hell, next thing you know,

they'll tell you to jump off
the goddamn London Bridge,

and you'll do it,
just 'cause they said so.

Now, be a good boy
and go get me another cigar.

♪♪

♪♪

Hey, guys.

Just watching the sun come up.

Sometimes there's just
nothing to say, you know?

Isn't it beautiful?

[Billy's dad] Tootin', snootin'
loop-a-loop hoop.

Don't fall for all that hoot.

[ Laughs ]

[woman] To help us better
understand the situation,

we turn to Secretary Glass.

[ Indistinct talking on TV ]

You feeling okay?

Yeah. Why?

Nothing, just weird Live.

What's weird about the sunrise?

Nothing's weird about a sunrise.

You were, like, crying over it.
And also, "Hey, guys"?

Like, did you forget how
the Internet works or something?

Oh, shit.

You can't just misgender
50% of your followers, Billy.

-They'll get you for that.
-Shit.

[woman]
...head of the UN Council

who's here on the front lines

of America's response
to such an unbelievable horror.

Secretary Glass, good morning.

Good to have you
during this dark, dark time.

Is this really what you put on
in the morning?

Well, you see what's happening?
I can't take my eyes off of it.

[ Indistinct talking on TV ]

I can't even.
[ Cellphone buzzing ]

-Who is it?
-It's Leonardo. Hey.

-What the fuck, Billy?
-Jesus.

[Leonardo] "Sometimes
there's nothing to say"?

These people are paying you
a fucking fortune to say things.

That's exactly
why they're paying you.

I already received three
phone calls from the publisher.

Okay, I get it.

What is it that you get, Billy?

What do you get?
What do we do now?

I'm not gonna say it.

Oh, yes, you are.

I'm not gonna hang up
this phone until you say.

What do we do?

We give them what they want.

What they want. Exactly.
Thank you, Billy.

When are we meeting
about the book deal?

Um, the -- the meeting
is pushed.

What?

[Leonardo] I don't know.

It was something about
troops moving in.

They had to reschedule.

But this is exactly
what I'm saying, Billy.

Let's don't give them
any opportunity

to go cold feet on us,

not until we sign
on the dotted line.

Okay. I hear you.

[Leonardo] Oh, good.

But what is it
about this misgender?

[man] ...of proportions
we can't even imagine.

The death toll
is now rising to 190,000.

No meeting?

[ Indistinct talking on TV ]

It's rescheduled.

Hmm.

What's "Mm"?

-I just told you that was weird.
-It's not what it's ab--

It's about troop movement
or some--

I don't -- It's not --
They don't care about that.

Don't be stupid, Billy.
Everyone cares about everything.

Come here.

[Billy]
No, they don't love me.

No one even knows
what that is.

[ Buttons clicking ]

It'll happen, okay?

Don't worry.
They all love you.

Just go back to doing
what you're best at.

Which is what?

Making their hearts race.

I was just trying to
give them something honest.

When do you care
about doing that?

[ Chuckles ]

Okay. I mean, I was just
trying to comfort you.

[ Billy humming ]

♪♪

♪ Why does the sun
go on shining ♪

♪ Why does the sea
rush to shore ♪

♪ Don't they know ♪

♪ It's the end of the world ♪

♪ 'Cause you don't
love me anymore ♪

♪ Why do the birds ♪

Oh, so you're just gonna
fucking ignore me now?

Is that what we're doing?
Shut the fuck up.

You could enjoy this
a little less.

What are you talking about?

I'm trying to tell you
that something is wrong,

that something feels wrong.

And you have this fucking grin
on your face.

It's like you're relieved.

What? I'm --

What?

Patting me on the back
while you're texting?

You think that's supposed
to make me feel better?

I'm just trying to
fucking comfort you.

-[Billy] What?
-I don't know, Billy.

Comfort me by telling me
I'm a professional liar.

-That's supposed --
-[Natalie] I didn't say that.

I didn't even fucking say that.

[Billy]
Cut the shit, Natalie.

Okay, I saw what you were doing.
You're --

I'm try-- I'm trying
to accomplish something here.

I'm trying to get off
of people's phones.

A book deal gets us
to that next level,

and you can't even look at me

while we're fucking
talking to each other.

It's like I'm interrupting you
or something.

So I'm sorry for bothering you

and interfering with the
stimulating fucking conversation

you were just having.
-[Natalie] Oh, fuck you, Billy.

Figuring out how to split
the fucking atom, I'm sure.

Where the fuck
did this even come from?

All I've ever done
is try to support your ass.

-You support me?
-[Natalie] Okay?

You support me as long
as there's a dinner to go to

or some celebrity to meet.

And then what do you do
when I introduce you to them?

You fucking get drunk and fucked
up, make a fool out of yourself,

and you burn every fucking
bridge I try to set up for you.

Well, I am so sorry
we're not all as gifted

at bullshitting as you.

Fuck right you're not
as gifted as I am,

'cause if you were,
you'd be better at hiding

the fact that you like
when I get bad news.

It makes you feel fucking equal.

Oh. God forbid I feel
equal to you, Billy.

That's not what I fucking meant.

God forbid, the great
fucking Billy Seldom,

who has sunrise meltdowns.

How could I ever compete?

I'm not trying
to compete with you.

I'm trying to share
this shit with you.

The good stuff
and the bad stuff together.

Well, that's what
I'm trying to do, too.

That's what you're trying --
You don't even share

the same bed with me
anymore, Natalie.

How long has that been, huh?
A couple weeks, some months?

That sound like a healthy
relationship to you?

Where the fuck did this
come from, Billy, honestly?

-Oh, my God.
-I'm not...

happy.

♪♪

You think I'm happy?

Who's happy, Billy?

You think anyone's happy?

Listening to you scream the same
fucking bullshit every weekend,

all year long.

The only difference is, I'm not
fucking whining about it

and putting everything
that we've been working for

-in jeopardy.
-That we've been working for?

Yeah, fuck right that
we've worked for.

-The fuck?
-[Billy] "We've"?

You wouldn't fucking
be here without me, yeah.

Without my constant push
and my support

and posting and reposting
your shit.

Please.
I am the only --

You're the on--
You're the only what?

Please give me that.
I need that. Only what?

Billy, no one knew who the fuck
you were before me.

No one knew who you were.
How many followers did you have?

How many?
A few thousand?

A few thousand, right?

You think people
actually give a shit

about what you have
to say, Billy?

They show up because they think
that I am the end result.

They show up because they think
that if they walk like you

and talk like you and wear
fucking turtlenecks like you,

then they will end up with me.

I am the reason why you exist.

So let's fucking drop this shit,
like, all of it, honestly.

And let's fuck or E
or something.

God damn, keep doing
what the fuck we've been doing,

because it's been working.

How about Thai?

It's not.

[Natalie] Italian?

No, it's not working anymore.

You should go.

Oh, shut up, Billy.

No, I'm serious.

Maybe you're right.
Maybe --

Maybe the world does
revolve around you

or people like you.

But we're supposed to
revolve around each other.

And we don't.

It's my fault
because I don't know

what the fuck I'm doing anymore.

Like, you act like -- like
these things revolve around you

because they should.

Like it's some burden

that you have to carry around.

But it's not, Natalie.
It's just narcissism.

And it's fucking boring,
and I don't want it anymore.

♪♪

If I go, I'm gonna win.

You know?

I'm sure you will.

Fucking destroy you
online, so...

Do what you have to do.

♪♪

You know what?

No, actually, no.
Fuck you.

You get out.
I'm staying.

-This is my place.
-It's my bed.

No shit.

♪♪

You're really not gonna go?

[Natalie] No.

[ Billy chuckles ]

Okay.

Don't be here when I get back.
[ Door opens ]

Yeah, go thank for
your fucking self.

[ Door closes ]
Asshole.

Narratives.

You're gonna deprogram,

you're gonna clear your slate,

you got to know your story.

What story are you in?

What's the narrative
that you tell yourselves

when you wake up in the morning?

We all do it.

Based off songs we hear,
you know, movies we see.

We've all seen Disney, right?

The prince saves the princess.

Two dogs make out
over a piece of spaghetti.

Happy ever after.
That's a good one.

Everyone loves that.

Don't put all your eggs
in one basket.

Slow and steady wins the race.

They never tell us
how these stories end.

The tortoise and the hare
go out to the bar after.

And spoiler alert,
the hare still gets the girl.

[ Chuckles ] Why do you
think he's so tired?

We cling to these Hollywood
endings, these fantasies.

We get our expectations
way up here.

What happens when
we don't make them?

There are entire industries
devoted to what happens

when we don't make them.

Pharmaceutical industry.

Therapy industry.

Anyone in here
a child of divorce?

[ Cheers and applause ]

Yeah, a lot of you.

You can't trust anyone, right?
Least of all yourselves.

See a therapist.

Take a pill.

You know, people call us
Millennials, call us Gen Z.

Those are the ones
in the audience

whose balls haven't dropped yet.

[ Laughter ]

I call us
the blanket generation.

Because we can't do anything

without needing
to medicate afterwards,

without needing to roll up in
a blanket, find our safe place.

Why didn't you get your job?
"'Cause I was triggered."

And then what happened?
"My therapist told me --"

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
I'm sick of it.

And I'm not saying
it's bad to seek help.

I'm not saying that trauma
doesn't happen.

Trauma happens to all of us.

Some of us when we're young,

before we even have any tools
to defend ourselves.

But someone out there
is eating your lunch.

Someone's getting that job.

Someone's fucking that girl
or that guy.

Someone's making that money.
Someone's winning that game.

And all you guys care about is
having an understandable excuse.

Does anyone out here
know the difference

between genius and talent?

Anyone?

Talent is being great
at established things.

She plays Mozart beautifully.

He's lights out
from behind the line.

He knows pi to 600 digits.

That's talent.

But genius...

is finding something
that no one on earth

has ever seen before...

and creating it from nothing.

Steve Jobs turned your computer
into a camera.

Isaac Newton got hit
in the head with the apple.

He invented calculus.

That's genius.

And everyone in this room
is a genius at something,

can do something that no one
else has ever seen before.

Our jobs are not to make money.

Our jobs are not
the house or the car.

Alright, our jobs
while you are on this rock

is to find out what that is.

What can you do
that no one else can?

You put all of your eggs
in that basket.

And you run as fast as you can.

Authenticity is the truest
form of currency.

And for some of you,
the most genius thing

that you can ever do...

...is figuring out how to
rewrite your own stories.

Narratives.

Know their power.

[ Applause ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[woman] A curfew will go
into place tonight

at 8:00 p.m. local time.

Anyone out past curfew should
expect to face repercussions

as police attempt to prevent
instances of unrest.

So stay in, folks.

[man]
There you have it, folks.

[ Indistinct talking on TV ]

Excuse me.

Miss.

♪♪

Excuse me.
Can I have a seat, please?

It's them.

[Billy] Huh?

What?

We're not miss.

I'm sorry.

Um, can I order
from you all or --

Plenty of booths around.

[Billy] Okay, then.
I guess I'll just seat myself.

[ Indistinct talking on TV
continues ]

♪♪

♪♪

Excuse me, sir.
No smoking here.

Put that away or go outside.

How do you know I'm a sir?

What do you want me
to call you?

I would like you
to let me smoke.

And I would like
to work in a place

that doesn't give me cancer or
any other respiratory illnesses.

We can't get all
what we want, can we?

I-I'm just trying to --

Hey, Mr. Martini.

Who's following who?

I guess you caught me.

Yeah, the jig is up.
Might as well come and join me.

It's "whom."

♪♪

[ Chuckles ]

[woman]
Mm. Do you know this place?

No, uh, I just came
to sit down for a bit.

You sleep at all?

I don't think
I'd call it that, exactly.

Well, this place is my favorite.

I come here every morning,

and they serve breakfast all
day, and coffee's pretty cheap.

[ Clears throat ]
So, what will it be?

Oh, just get me, um --

I don't know.
What -- What's good here?

He'll -- He'll get
the all-American.

Oh, so it is he, huh?

And a cup of coffee, please.

I'll take a refill, too.

-[Billy] You can't smoke --
-You can't smoke in here.

[ Sighs ]
Megan, stop showing off.

It's so unbecoming.

♪♪

Do I know you from somewhere?

No. No.

Megan.

Fuck off.

[ Scoffs ]

Geez. Remind me not
to get on your bad side.

I don't have a bad side.

They know me here.
It's fine.

She just doesn't like it
when people do it.

So she says that to everybody.

I didn't figure you for
a waitress's worst nightmare.

Just her.
It's kind of fun, though, huh?

-What?
-Being surprised.

I didn't take you
for a Chianti kind of guy.

Please don't base anything
off of last night.

-I was --
-Not you?

Yeah.

And what about right now?

I thought you'd order
for yourself.

Isn't that kind of your thing?

Oh, my God.
It is you.

Billy Seldom.
Holy shit. I follow you.

My friends are gonna
lose their shit.

Can we take a picture?

Yeah, sure.

Smile.

I'm going to be famous.

-Sorry about that.
-Must get annoying.

It's just kind of part of it
at this point.

Guess I asked for it, right?

What'd you get me, anyway?

You'll just have to
wait and see.

[ Chuckles ]

♪♪

I know, Billy.
Life is hard.

Or so we've been told
over and over and over again.

But you know, son,

there will come a time in your
life where nothing makes sense,

when everything that
you were told, thought,

became in your life,

none of it
will make sense to you.

And it will be that moment
in life, Billy,

where you will decide
who you really are.

You'll either become like them

or you will become like you.

It will be the most important
decision of your life.

It'll make you or break you.

[woman]
Want to talk about it?

What?

Whatever turned the guy
I saw onstage

into the guy that
I saw last night

and that I'm seeing right now.

Not really.
That's okay.

Of course. It might help
to talk it out, though.

Might need to use some of
that famous Seldom confidence

right about now.

-Oh, yeah?
-Yeah.

It's getting
pretty bad out there.

Well, I'm not in any position

to give anyone
any advice right now.

Now we're in the age
of celebrity.

These people have
become our gods.

Right?

Oh, no, you don't agree with me?

Let me ask you something.

When you wake up in the morning,
before you even pray,

what do you do?

You scroll, check out Instagram,
check out TikTok, right?

Yeah, it's Gram before God
in this country every morning,

worshiping these celebrities.

And you don't even know.

Buying their brands
and their image, stories.

Celebrities.

How many of you people
have met your idols

and wished you hadn't, huh?

'Cause they couldn't live up
to the expectations.

Isn't that a bummer?

Superficiality!

Celebrities feed and breed
on superficiality.

I'm supposed to be a celebrity.

[ Applause ]
You believe that shit?

Yeah, I was interviewed
this morning by a woman.

You'd all recognize her --

interviewer, news anchor,
whatever.

She called me the face
of the ideals

of a generation.

Why?

'Cause I could
sell out an arena.

'Cause I got all you in here?

God, th-the standard...

it's not based on anything.

It's just based on who seems

like they're the one to
listen to at any given moment.

And we listen to these people

so we don't have to
listen to ourselves.

We stay up at night scrolling
for hours, losing sleep,

all so we can quiet
the voices in our heads.

[ Growling ]

Bad voices, gnarly voices

telling us all kinds of
fucked-up shit about ourselves,

horror stories.

Eyes on the fucking ceiling
that won't shut up.

Go away!

And that's how we end up giving
a shit about who got the rose

or who thought they could dance

or -- or let's all chip in
and raise a million dollars

to watch some geriatric box
that guy from that thing.

What the fuck is happening here?

What the fuck is happening here?

Our standards out there
are based on the standards

that we create for ourselves.

We need to fix them.

And the way that we fix them

is by thinking f--

Why am I saying it?
This is your guys' fucking job.

You say it.
Three, two, one.

[all] Think for yourself!

I try to act like I have
all my shit together.

Truth is, I'm just in
the same boat as everyone else.

I mean, I just have
a catchphrase,

slightly better poker face.

These people,

all of these people,
they -- they expect me

to be this version of myself
that they want me to be, right?

Someone who will tell them
what they want to hear,

make him feel
how they want to feel.

[ Sighs ]

It's like this --

It's like this monster
that I've created

that I c--
I can't come out from.

I was just trying
to help people, you know?

I was just trying
to give people confidence.

I was trying to make them feel
how they want to feel

and hear what they want to hear.

You can't trust feelings.

And you can't count on...

...anyone else.

You know, people hear
what they want to hear

and they see
what they want to see.

They say what they want to say,

and then they just leave
and forget about the rest.

I'm no -- I'm no different.

I don't have any more control
over my shit.

I just -- just
a fucking hypocrite.

Well, you helped me
and you helped a lot of people.

That'll always be true.

Guess I'm just going through
a little existential crisis

right now.

Oh, poor William.

No one --

My mom used to call me William.

She passed away.

I was 6.

I'm so sorry to hear that.

What about your folks?
They still around?

Yeah.

They divorced when I was 12,

and that got me into
a pretty dark place.

I hated myself,
and [Sighs] I hated everyone.

And then I, um, realized
we're all in the same boat

and we keep selling the same
story, and it's all bullshit.

You know, we keep telling
ourself the same thing,

kind of like
you're doing right now.

And I can't believe the person

who says all those things
onstage is sitting right here

and he can't even
take his own advice.

I don't get it.

Well, our own advice is the
toughest advice to take, right?

So then let me give it to you.

What you do is valuable,
and people need to hear it.

Especially with everything
that's going on out there.

And where you have it wrong
is that you think

you need to be this asshole
to be independent,

but you can still think
for yourself.

You just have to lean
on other people.

That's never been
how it is for me.

Well, you're leaning on me.
Don't you feel better?

♪♪

Looks good.

Give me your phone.

Text me if you need a reminder.

♪♪

♪♪

♪ You say your mind is rushed ♪

♪ I feel that mine is empty ♪

♪ And I'm crushed ♪

♪ I'm crushed ♪

♪ I know all the ways I can ♪

♪ You know all the ways
I can't be ♪

♪ So I'm crushed ♪

♪ Yeah, I am crushed ♪

♪♪

♪ You played up
all your innocence ♪

♪ And I downplayed experience ♪

♪ And I can't believe
I got so dumb ♪

♪ And led myself ♪

♪ To think a kiss is love ♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Yeah, I'm crushed ♪

Being lost, son,
we all go through that

at some point in life.

But like I said, that's where
you'll find yourself

or just follow the crowd.

But you know, Billy, if you stay
lost, the longer you're gone,

the closer you are
to your own destruction.

Don't ever stay lost too long,

or else it'll be
the end of you, Billy boy.

♪♪

♪ I fell onto the beach ♪

♪ With everybody's envy ♪

♪ It doesn't matter
'cause I am crushed ♪

♪ Yeah, I am crushed ♪

♪♪

♪ In my words I am alone ♪

♪ In your silence
you resent me ♪

♪ I am crushed ♪

♪ Yeah, I am crushed ♪

[man] This just in.

♪ You played up
all your innocence ♪

[man] ...to address
the current state of affairs

seen across the country.

♪ Experience ♪

[woman]
So, this is the new normal.

This is what we expect
as we move forward

into uncharted territory.

Turn that off.

Missed you, too.

[ Scoffs ]
[ Indistinct talking on TV ]

I'm gonna shower.

Hey, are you gonna
post tonight or what?

This is, like, the longest
you've been MIA

from your social.

[woman] ...in some
of the larger cities.

But unfortunately...

[ Breathing heavily ]

Yeah. Yeah.

How could I forget?

♪♪

♪♪

For your fucking self, Billy.

♪♪

♪♪

And about earlier,
I forgive you.

[Billy] What?

I forgive you.

[Billy]
Be right out.

♪♪

♪♪

I forgive you.

[Billy]
Did I miss something?

I didn't apologize.

Well, I forgive you
for that, too.

But I can think of a few ideas
for you to make it up to me.

[Billy] No.

[ Scoffs ]

Let's just kiss and make up.

[Billy]
No, no, no, no, no, no.

[Billy]
I meant what I said.

[Natalie]
I mean, you were upset.

We both were upset.

But I meant it.

You should go.

There's nothing more to say.

Nothing?

♪♪

Okay.

[ Beep ]

Good evening, everyone.

Sorry it's been a quiet day,
but it was a long one.

Let me try and read
some of these.

"Cheers from Australia."

G'day, my Aussie mates.
Let's see.

"I love you, Giuseppe."

Ciao, Giuseppe.

You know, my agent's Italian.
I should put you guys in touch.

Give you guys a second
while you all tune in.

[ Cigarette carton rustles ]

[ Lighter clicks ]

Here we are.

Here we are.

You know, for a long time,
you guys have all been

listening to me tell you
think for yourself,

find yourself,

you know, look out for yourself,
fuck everyone else, right?

You've all thought probably
that that comes

from a place of strength,
confidence.

That's good.
I hope you do,

'cause I want you
to be confident.

But I have been thinking today.

What I've learned is that
that has never come

from a place of confidence
for me.

No.

No, for me, it has always come
from a place of fear.

You're selfish,
and you should be afraid.

#Canceled.

Sorry. I just want to check
that that's my girlfriend.

[ Whispering ]
Shut the fuck up.

Or should I say ex-girlfriend?

What are we now, baby?

Yeah, I'm afraid, guys.

This is an age
of fear and anger.

At least that's what it seems
like everybody wants us to feel,

right, the news, social media.

Everybody's going fucking crazy.

Don't you guys ever get tired
of staring at your phones?

Huh? Don't you ever get tired
of listening to me talk?

Blah, blah, blah, blah
every day.

More, more, more, more,
more, more, more.

'Cause you're fucking terrified

of being with yourselves
for one fucking second.

One second of quiet.

♪♪

Truth is, if any of you guys
ever did think for yourselves,

your fucking heads
would explode.

None of you can even
wipe your ass

without someone
telling you how to do it.

You say, "Billy, how do I do it?

Billy, give me strength.
Billy, tell me what to do."

Now you fucking...

[ Shouts ]

Fuck off!

Cancel me.

I'm afraid.

I'm afraid of not posting.

I'm afraid that if I post...
something wrong

or if I don't post,
then you guys will go away.

Maybe you'll forget about me.
Maybe --

[ Sighs ]

Maybe you won't even
remember who I am.

I'm not afraid anymore.

So there's not gonna be
any more from Billy.

I tried to be one
encouraging voice

in this cacophony of anger
and pain and chaos.

And it hasn't made
a fucking difference, has it?

No.

It all just swirls down
the same bowl together.

So I don't care what you do.
You can unfollow me.

You can unfriend me.
You can cancel me.

I don't give a shit.

At least maybe that's something
you can all do together.

[Natalie] What the fuck?

Now there's nothing else to say.

[ Cellphone buzzing ]

[Natalie]
Are you fucking stupid?

Ah! Leonardo.

-What can I do for you, Leo?
-Or not do.

Billy. Billy, tell me you know
what the fuck you just did.

Tell me you know it.

-[Billy] No clue.
-Yeah, I think I do.

Billy, the world is a fucking
sensitive and cynical place.

How do we recover from this?

There's no turning back.

Billy, I thought we had
something good.

So did I.

It was shit.

But it wasn't.

What do you mean, it wasn't?

It wasn't good.

Billy, I'm gonna
have to let you go.

I know.

Billy?

Billy.

[ Speaking Italian ]

[ Scoffs ]

[ Billy clearing throat ]

Sorry.
[ Clears throat ]

Sorry. Where was I?

♪♪

Now, when you start to make
all these changes,

one of the things you have to
prepare yourself for

is people's perception of you.

'Cause the first side effect,

when you start thinking
for yourselves,

people will call you selfish,

call you an asshole,

say you've changed.

Don't listen.

It's just fear.

These people are projecting
their fear onto you

with their insecurities
and their anxieties

'cause they want
to keep you where they are.

They're lost, they want you
to be just as lost as them.

They think that they're saving
the world by agreeing with it.

Keeping the ship right side up.

Staying safe, staying protected.

And then here you come along
saying no, doing what you want,

thinking for yourself.

You say, "Well, no,
maybe I don't agree."

Or, "Yeah, that's
an interesting point,

but maybe I'll come
to my own conclusions

about whether I want
to spend my mornings

cooking sourdough bread
in my kitchen."

You'll see.

These friends, these family
members, these co-workers,

they will lose their shit.

They'll call you names.

They'll call you selfish.

But when you start
thinking for yourself,

you come to know yourself.

When you do that,
you find that that person,

that version of you

can start to accomplish
meaningful things,

because they will
find meaning in them.

So be genius!

Be selfish!

Take no prisoners!

And suffer no fools!

[ Applause ]

Go out there and get started!

Thank you!

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪♪

Well, you have almost lost
500,000 followers.

And now #CancelBilly is trending
right along #WorldIsOver.

I don't care.

I've had it.
I don't give a shit.

Just get the fuck out of here!

Excuse me?

Leave!
Please.

Oh, so you're gonna kick me out

right as the world
is shutting down?

I will give you one guess
what my advice to you will be.

♪♪

♪♪

If I go, this is it.

Heard you the first time.

You're such a fucking
selfish asshole!

[ Sighs ]

♪♪

[ Sniffles, sobs ]

[ Door opens ]

[Billy] Don't go.

[ Door slams ]
Please don't.

♪♪

God damn it!

♪♪

♪♪

Come on in, son.

Hi, sweetie.

♪♪

Promise me...

you'll listen to your father.

♪♪

[ Gasps, coughs ]

Promise me...

...you'll never lose...

what's in here.

♪♪

[ Gasping ]

♪♪

♪♪

[woman] An increase in
unprecedented violence

following what seems to be
a horrid attack

on the free world,
triggering agonizing debate

about freedom of speech
and liberty.

Shut the fuck up!

♪♪

♪♪

[ Cellphone buzzes ]

♪♪

[ Buttons clicking ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[ Chuckles ]

♪♪

You said every morning.

You're a good listener.

Well, I just wanted
to tell you in person, uh,

thanks for yesterday.

I-I really needed to hear that.

Anytime.

Is everything okay, though?

'Cause that was a very
interesting Live last night.

Yeah.
[ Chuckles ]

Um...

I'm gonna head out of town
for a little while.

I should be back
in a couple days, I think.

But I would love to see you.

Well, you know where to find me.

[ Chuckles ]

Yeah.

♪♪

♪♪

[woman] As we saw,
today was a turning point.

[man] Yes, the beginning
of the end.

[woman]
The beginning of the end.

♪♪

[ Birds chirping ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

It's been a while, son.

Yeah.

It h-- It has.

Come on, let's walk.

You got a cigarette?

Yeah.

Good.
Now throw that shit away.

What, you don't smoke anymore?

Cigars, Billy boy, cigars,
not those damn tiny cigarettes.

Okay.

♪♪

♪♪

Those cigarettes, son...

Those damn things are just
a propaganda machine.

You know, there was
a time when doctors

would tell pregnant women
to smoke cigarettes

in order to relax more.

[ Scoffs ]

Hell, they'd even smoke them
in the doctor's office

when they were there
for their checkups.

Nowadays, it would be unheard of

for an expectant mother
to do such a thing.

Okay, I get it.

I-I get it.

♪♪

You know, son,
I've seen your talks,

your interviews.

Seems to me
you're doing just fine.

I seem fine to you?

Was it something I said?

What didn't you say?

♪♪

I don't follow you, son.

Everything I know about the
world and about how it works,

I got that from you.

Okay, but I go out there
and I tell it to everyone else,

and they love me for it and they
think it's coming from me.

But it's not, alright?

Those aren't my words.
Those are your words.

I wake up every day and I feel
like shit because I'm...

I'm not being honest.

Do you have any idea
what that's like?

Wake up every day
and feel like a fraud?

You told me all this stuff.
You jammed it down my throat.

But you never gave me
any opportunity

to go out there
and find it out for myself.

[Billy's dad] I know, son.

I may have overstepped

when it came to telling you
about the world.

Losing your mother...

that was hard.

I had to make sure you were
ready for what was out there.

You know, I wanted
to be your father,

but also, I also had to make up
for her not being here.

I'm -- I'm not here
for a lecture.

Okay, I don't want to hear
your -- your ideas

or your thoughts or your musings
about cigarettes in the '50s.

That's not why I came here.
I j--

♪♪

I could use your help.

♪♪

Well...

...what do you want to do?

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[Billy] Okay.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪ You say your mind is rushed ♪

♪ I feel that mine is empty ♪

♪ And I'm crushed ♪

♪ I'm crushed ♪

♪ I know all the ways I can ♪

♪ You know all the ways
I can't be ♪

♪ So I'm crushed ♪

♪ Yeah, I am crushed ♪

♪♪

♪ You played up
all your innocence ♪

♪ And I downplayed experience ♪

♪ And I can't believe
I got so dumb ♪

♪ And led myself ♪

♪ To think a kiss is love ♪

♪♪

♪♪