Original subtitles

Hi. Oh, Grace, I'm sorry.

I thought I heard you moving around in there. Um, listen, I can't decide.

- Did you hear about the callback? - No. Not yet.

I got some new head shots though.

- What happened to your furniture? - I had to sell it all.

Even your bed?

Yeah, I'm not gonna need it. What do you think?

I liked the old one.

I still have it taped up on my fridge.

I like that one. It's more... you.

More me? How more me?

Well, all of these, it's like you're acting. This one is, like, you.

The real you. The real person.

You have beautiful eyes.

This one it is.

- Thank you, Grace. - You're welcome.

What is it?

Is it Neely?

He frightens me. Why does he wear that thing?

- Did someone beat him up? - Shh! He's a freak.

He's been following me around the neighborhood. I swear to God.

Did you know that the landlord came by yesterday?

And he knocked on your door for, like, five minutes.

I know. I was in there.

Were you? Listen, thank you.

Thank you for coming in. I'm sorry if I've disturbed your beauty sleep.

No. John, I could lend you the money.

I don't... Are you kidding? Come on. I'll be fine.

I'll be fine. Things are happening for me now.

I mean, I really nailed that audition. It's a great part.

No. They'll call you. I know they will.

You'll be great in the role. A real leading man.

It's Neely, your next-door neighbor.

What do you want?

- Hurry, please. - You can't come in here, Neely.

- Close the door. He may be coming. - 'He' who?

- You can't come in here. - Close the door.

I've been authorized to offer you a proposition.

Please sit down, my friend.

This is very serious.

I'm not your friend, Neely. I got problems of my own.

Oh, we know you have problems. We know many things, my friend.

Listen carefully.

You must take this blue suitcase to Baker, California.

There, within 24 hours,

a trucker named Cowboy will arrive to take the blue suitcase from you.

If you will do this, we will give you...

twenty-five thousand dollars.

That's absurd, Neely. You gotta go.

John, there is a way out. There is a gateway to the other side.

I could help you find that door. What size shoe do you wear?

- Good-bye, Neely. - Hey, they come at night, you know.

- Through these very walls. - It's been fun, Neely, but you gotta go.

- Good-bye, Neely. - Here's what we know.

Your stage name is John Person. We know it's not your real name.

Ten years ago you came to Los Angeles with a dream of becoming a movie star.

But after only two commercials and one sitcom that was soon canceled,

your dream fell into the abyss.

Your life became empty. Your existence, futile.

I've seen you following me.

Oh, many people have been watching you.

We had hoped not to have to delve into more personal issues,

but, if you insist.

This morning at 10:17...

you lay here on this very floor masturbating into a sock...

while fantasizing about this particular lingerie model on page 32.

We've already examined the sperm samples, John.

- Sperm samples? - You're a very healthy man.

- Neely, who are 'we'? - There are many questions I cannot answer.

Look,

if you will deliver this suitcase,

we are prepared to give you...

$25,000.

- I don't believe you. - Fine.

Shall I then describe an incident...

last week involving Vaseline applied liberally...

No.

We are prepared...

upon your acceptance, of course...

to pay your back rent of $1,875...

and to give you $1,000 to cover your expenses.

Wait. All I have to do...

is deliver this suitcase, up to Cowboy?

A gun?

This blue suitcase must not be opened.

If anyone attempts to open, steal,

or defame this suitcase in any manner, you must defend it with your life.

Jesus, Neely. I'm not doing this.

It's a very simple job, my friend. But it does have very serious responsibilities.

So, what is it? Is it drugs or money? What's in there?

I cannot reveal the contents.

And you have got to leave here by 10 o'clock tonight.

No way, I gotta wait for a phone call.

I had a callback audition. I nailed it. I got this part. I can feel it.

You have no messages.

That sound familiar, John?

Don't you think they might've called you back by now?

I'll do it...

for $27,987 and six cents.

That's my debt. That takes me back to zero.

What you're asking me for...

could cost me my life.

Well, make a decision. That's my deal.

Whew. You drive a hard bargain.

My friend.

Grace, it's John.

Are you skipping out?

No. No. I need you to do me a big favor.

This is my back rent. Give it to the landlord, okay?

I wrote down the number where I'm gonna be, but don't call it unless it's an emergency.

- What's wrong? - Nothing's wrong.

I just have to courier this suitcase out to the desert. It won't be long.

- A delivery this late? - Yeah.

It's Neely. Okay, he hired me. It's like a freelance thing.

- Neely? John, what's in the suitcase? - I don't know.

- This can't be a good idea. - I need to do this.

- It's one fell swoop. - You don't need to do this.

John, what about that callback? You said you'd start rehearsals right away.

- Grace, I can check my messages. - A gun?

- John, what on earth's going on? - Don't worry, this isn't a real gun.

It's just... It's a prop. 'Cause I have to rehearse for the...

John, I'm worried.

- There's something wrong. - There's nothing wrong.

This is a simple courier job. I do this every day.

Oh, yeah. Okay.

- John Parson? - I'm John Person.

He described you very well.

Six-foot, 220, a big head, average-looking...

- I knew it was you the second I saw you. - Who?

I'm Elron. That's my name.

I'm the night manager. Welcome to the Royal Hawaiian.

No, I meant... I mean, who described me?

Oh. Fella called Cowboy. He come here looking for you about an hour ago.

Uh, mean-looking dude. Wears this stupid long, black duster.

- Wait, Cowboy was here already? - Already here and already gone.

Well, was he angry? I mean, I was supposed to meet him.

That guy's a friggin' weirdo.

Said he'd be back in a couple of three days.

- 'A couple of three days'? - That's exactly what he said.

Hey, um, check this out.

Welcome.

Wel, welcome...

to the hotel.

That's excellent. Um, I'm gonna need a room.

Oh, okay. That's a little Hawaiian space jam...

I've been practicing.

Um, okay.

You're, uh... You're not John Law, are you?

- John Law? No. - Then you're into hookers?

Hookers?

We got a regular rotation come around to service truckers.

A couple of lookers too. Oh, Candy's due tomorrow night.

I got her Polaroids right here. You can have a... that. Here.

I'll, uh, give it some thought. Thanks.

Got a sign-up sheet right here. All right. Okay, here's your key.

Is there a place around here a guy can get a drink this late?

Damn. That's the exact same question that weirdo Cowboy dude said.

- I thought that you said he was... - Going to LA?

Yeah. He-He... Well, he did. He was. But first he said he was parched.

That's exactly what he said. 'Parched'.

Well, where did you send him?

The only place to go for a drink around here...

- is Pikes across the road. - Thank you.

Thank you. Hey, uh, Jonathan?

We-We got free Joe and doughnuts every morning in the lobby, 6 to 9.

You just missed him. Left five minutes ago.

Did he say he was coming back here or anything?

He didn't talk to me. He just sat down there at the end of the bar.

But you could tell by the look in his eyes, a crazy motherfucker.

I'll have a gin and tonic. A double.

Sorry 'bout the satellite. Comes and goes.

Got some change. You got quite a selection here. Mostly country...

Come on. Tell me where!

It's in the car. The suitcase is in the car.

- Shut the fuck up and don't move! - He won't shoot ya.

- Where is she? I'll kill this guy. - She doesn't wanna see you.

- But why? - She's all talked out, Randy.

- Stella, please! - Don't 'Stella, please' me, Randy.

And leave the poor guy alone. You don't even know him.

- Sorry, dude. - Now go home, Randy, and get some sleep.

Don't make me call the highway patrol.

Look, will you tell sweetie that I love her?

She knows you love her, Randy.

- Will you tell her that I dropped by? - I'll tell her you dropped by.

- Sorry about that. - Tell her that this time I'm really sorry.

Randy, put the gun away. It scares people.

Dude, look, I'm really sorry.

It's just that sometimes women can drive us crazy.

Look, I'm gonna buy you a drink. Stella, I'm gonna buy him a drink.

Can you put it on my tab, please?

Look, I'm gonna introduce you to Baker.

It's really a nice little truck stop.

My name is Randy, and I'm sorry, dude.

Randy, go on.

- Look, this won't happen again. Okay. - Okay.

I'm sorry about that.

Randy gets a little tripped out sometimes. Lovers' quarrel kind of thing.

Anything else?

Hey, mister. I got your wallet.

Stella sent me over from the bar.

Thank you.

She found it under the stool you were sitting on. Must've dropped it.

I didn't even know it was gone.

Got an awful lot of money in there.

You know, you oughta be more careful with all that money.

- Right. So what's your name? - Ruthie.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Ruthie. I didn't see you over at the bar.

Well, if that's it then.

Hey, don't let all that money burn a hole in your goddamn pocket.

Hey, Ruthie?

I'm sorry. Here you go. Thanks a lot.

Thank you very much.

That's all right. I know you're not some big high roller or anything.

- You live around here? - If you call it living.

Hey, John-Boy.

Saved ya a claw and a cup of Joe.

Damn truckers would take every last one if they could.

- Hey, these you? - Yeah, those are me.

- I'm an actor. - An actor?

Damn.

Well.

Well, you're good-looking.

Hey. They filmed a porno here once.

Right here in this very room.

And, uh, I got to watch.

One word. Bullet train.

Could be two words too.

It's gonna make a ghost town outta this town.

You know, I saw some surveyors out there in the desert last night.

- You know what they were doing? - Bullet train?

Surveying for the bullet train.

You ask me...

this bullet train is one big cover-up for the FBI.

You see too many alien sightings along the highway,

so you know what they're gonna do?

They're gonna put all these people on the bullet train.

They're gonna liquor 'em up and shoot 'em out across the desert.

Ain't nobody gonna see them UFOs.

Nobody but us locals.

And everybody thinks we're fuckin' stupid.

Hey, check this out.

That's an alien claw hand. Very rare.

I found it in the lake bed.

Used to be pure black, but, well,

now it's kind of...

I'm gonna shellac it.

Looks kind of like a-a chicken's foot.

Yeah. Tasted like chicken too.

Do you know they will steal your sperm?

And they can take a woman's eggs right out of her neck.

Elron says that they're harvesting eggs and sperm to start a master race.

Uh, could you pass the salt, Dan?

How'd you know my name was Dan?

Hey.

- Come here a minute. - Ruthie, right?

Do me a favor. Buy me some beer.

I don't know. How old are you?

Asshole Eddie in there won't sell to me, as if there could be a cop for 100 miles.

Would I be contributing to the delinquency of a minor?

Look, I'm not asking you for conversation.

I'm asking you to buy me some beer.

The way I figure, I did you a good deed last night. You could repay the favor.

All right. All right, sure.

Okay, I need a 12-pack of High Life and a bottle of Jack.

- Okay. - Oh, and a can of whip cream.

For later.

Oh, man, this is fucking nuts. What am I doing?

Here you go.

And I got ya... I got you a rose too.

Sort of like a thank you for yesterday.

It's, uh... It's the last one they had,

but with a little bit of love, it might come back to life.

Hey, uh,

you got an extra sixer there.

Yeah. You get kind of thirsty waiting around in a town like this.

Yeah, tell me about it.

Hey, um,

you wanna go up to Devil's Crest, maybe drink some beers?

Nah, I-I really shouldn't. I got a job to do here,

- and I shouldn't leave. - Are you sure?

Yeah, I'm supposed to meet this guy,

and it just wouldn't be good if I missed him.

All right. See ya around then.

Thanks, though.

Nice to see you again.

You know what? Hang on a second.

I will go with you. What the hell, you only live once, right?

- I don't think so. - Why not?

I'm a virgin. I intend to stay that way.

Hey, I'm in the middle of nowhere here.

I could use a new friend.

Come on. Live a little.

All right. But you gotta promise...

that you're not gonna hit on me, 'cause you ain't getting anywhere.

I can promise you that. I promise.

I mean, even if I get all drunk...

and just beg you to fuck me?

Sometimes I just get all horned up and I just can't help myself.

- Scout's honor. - Are you really a Boy Scout?

Are you really a virgin?

Sometimes down in the lake bed they find, uh, motor homes,

like trucks and cars, but no people anywhere.

Just, poof... vanished.

They don't find 'em, huh?

- They make the jump. - The jump? What's the jump?

Well, the lake bed is a jump station for the UFOs.

It's where they come to abduct travelers and leave others behind.

Right. Right.

It's kind of like an interplanetary truck stop.

- Yeah, right. - A gateway. A crossover.

And what? People just vanish out there in the middle of nowhere?

You really believe this?

Why don't you go build us a fire, Boy Scout, huh?

Okay. Take it easy, kid.

Take it easy.

- That's powerful stuff there. - Mm-hmm.

That's firewater. There we go. There we go.

Okay. Everybody gets the finger in this town.

Oh, here, here. I was wondering what this was for.

You should try it.

Yeah. Maybe if you clean that bottle off, I'll try it.

Oh. There, for the dead homies.

Open your mouth and close your eyes, I'm gonna give you a big surprise.

Open your mouth, close your eyes, I'm gonna give you a big surprise.

I love mixing the whipped cream with the Jack.

- Oh, yeah, it's great stuff. - Mm-hmm.

Well, it just gets all sweet and sticky at the same time.

I know.

Wow, hey, easy with that stuff. Okay. Take it easy with that stuff. Seriously.

Okay. Take it easy.

I don't feel so good. I think you should take me back to the bar.

To the bar? No, I'm taking you home, young lady.

No, the bar is my home. Stella's my mom.

- Tell me you didn't. - I didn't. I swear.

- We just knocked back a couple of beers. - Mister,

Ruthie could drink a six-pack for breakfast.

She obviously had more than a couple of beers.

Mommy.

Baby.

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

We better get her out of here before Randy sees her. He's a little upset.

They were supposed to get together, talk things out.

- Randy? - Randy.

He says his heart's about broke.

You know he's been a little unhinged lately.

Yeah, I'd say.

That Cowboy guy came back looking for you.

Cowboy, was here?

I sent him back over to the motel.

Blood?

All up and down the arms of that stupid black duster.

And that Stetson... the guy's like a walking Western wear store.

But I told you to tell him to stay.

Well... You don't tell that maniac nothing.

You really should have been here.

When I told him you were gone, I thought he was gonna kill me.

Anyway, he went off with Candy.

Then he left about 10 minutes ago.

So, you were messing around with Ruthie? Oh, goddamn.

- I sure hope Randy don't find out. - What did Cowboy say?

He said Candy gives a damn nice hummer.

What did Cowboy say about me?

Oh. Oh, he said he'd be back soon and that you'd better be here, or else.

Or else?

He left you this. Said to look after it for him.

He wanted me to emphasize,

do not open the bowling ball bag under any circumstances.

Oh. And you got an emergency message earlier from a girl called Grace.

Murdered?

The landlord found him in his apartment this morning.

It's horrible. Where are you? Agent Banks is asking about you.

Agent Banks?

He's with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

I mean, first Neely's shot... murdered... then you disappear.

I didn't disappear. I'm right here. What did you tell him?

Nothing. But he keeps asking about the blue suitcase.

It seems very important. John, what's in that thing?

Don't tell him anything, all right.

I knew it. This is not good.

I'm afraid. Something bad is going to happen.

- Why did you have to get mixed up in this? - Grace, I didn't kill Neely.

I know that, but Agent Banks doesn't.

John, you need to come back to clear your name.

To clear my name? Wh-What am I, a suspect?

Well, he's very suspicious. And it's the way Neely was murdered.

First, they shot him, then they cut off his head, John, and it's missing!

Neely's head is gone.

John? John?

Are you there?

Who is it?

Hi. I'm Candy. I'm working here at this motel.

Can I talk to you?

Hey. Is that Cowboy a friend of yours?

No. I don't know him. I was supposed to meet the guy, but I missed him.

He's got me freaked out. I think he might be really dangerous.

- Dangerous? Dangerous how? - Can I come in for a minute?

- Yeah, sure. Sorry. Come on. - I don't have a lot of time.

My next appointment is in 10 minutes.

You'd be surprised at how tired your feet get from fucking.

Yeah, I never really thought about it.

Wow, I love bowling.

So, um, do you bowl?

Actually I do. Yeah. This belongs to Cowboy.

- I'm just watching it for him. - Cowboy bowls?

I don't know what Cowboy does. All I know is I'm supposed to...

deliver him something and I'll be on my way.

Well, I would be careful if I were you.

Three strippers from Vegas were abducted a couple months ago.

They were last seen getting in a motor home...

with some guy in a black duster and cowboy hat.

No one's seen 'em since.

Did you ask Cowboy about it when he was, uh, you know, in your room?

No. I was scared to death.

He's got these eyes that, like, hypnotize you.

And then his thing... I don't wanna get into it, but it's huge!

It's like a rocket ship. No, I didn't say a word.

Then when I came out of the bathroom, he left me a thousand dollars.

A thousand dollars?

And I don't even charge a thousand dollars.

Do you think he's a serial killer?

A serial killer wouldn't have left that much money.

Well, I would be careful if I were you.

Sorry, I don't even know your name, but...

Oh, I'm John. John Person.

John Person, the actor?

I thought you looked familiar.

You were on that sitcom...

the one that was canceled about three years ago with the guy and the girl.

- In the diner. Yeah, that's me. - I loved that show.

It was only on three times. I wrote a letter to the network.

It was one of the greatest shows ever on television.

- Thank you so much. - This is gonna sound really stupid,

but, um, would you sign an autograph for me?

- Really? - Yeah!

You know what? I, uh, I actually have my head shots. Pick one out here.

I think I'll go with this one.

- Pen? - Thank you.

Wow. Look at that.

You are so good-looking.

I should get some of these done instead of my dumb Polaroids.

You have no messages.

Did you fuck her?

Ruthie? No. No.

No, I swear I didn't.

I was supposed to get together with her tonight.

I was going to ask her to marry me. Well, that's great, Randy.

Yeah. But then you take her up to Devil's Crest and get her all fucked up.

No sway, um...

Okay. I see what... All right.

I met her, we were buying... We were both separately buying beers.

Look, if I find out that you fucked her, I swear to God I'll kill you.

Okay, that's not a problem. It's... It's not an issue.

I don't want you ever talking to Ruthie again.

'Cause I'll bury you in the desert, and they won't find your sorry ass.

Okay. This is good.

This is working out... really well.

Here's Johnny.

You look like hell.

I brought you some room service.

Hey, Randy find you? He come looking for you late.

Yeah, he found me.

Ahh.

Damn, you're here early. What are you doing still hanging around here?

You thinkin' about moving here maybe?

No, Dan.

I'm waiting to deliver a mysterious suitcase to a hooker-killing cowboy...

who's supposed to give me $27,000.

On top of that, I've got my neighbor's head in a bowling ball bag under my sink.

Hmm. You know Elron over there at the motel?

Did you know that he won the Barstow to Vegas motorcycle race in '85?

Made him world-famous. Oh, and then he had the lead the next year,

but his wheel hit javelina hole and it threw him right off.

Put his head right into a petrified cactus.

He's got a steel plate up there now. Yeah.

That's why he mostly works nights. If Elron worked...

Fuck.

- Come on. You want a ride? - You didn't tell me about Randy.

- Tell you what? - What, that he's your boyfriend?

That he might get a little jealous...

and wanna kill me if we went to Devil's Crest together?

Are you mad at me?

Not mad, it's just Randy stopped by and offered to kill me if we hung out again.

Don't pay any attention to Randy. He's crazy. Thinks we're going to get married.

I broke up with him for good this morning. He tried to hit me and tie me up.

So, I took the truck. He tried to hit you?

Yeah. Hits me all the time.

Ruthie, you should... you should never let a man hit you.

Randy's got a bad temper.

I should go, 'cause if he sees us talking it's just... it's just...

- What are you scared of Randy for? - I'm not scared of Randy.

Okay? I just don't want any trouble.

Your mom wasn't too pleased when I brought you home last night.

Well, Stella likes you. We were talking about it this morning.

- She said that? - She says you got a nice face.

Kind eyes and a strong chin.

Things a man can do with his chin.

Makes me shiver.

What's with the shovel?

You burying bodies out there in the Big Empty?

Yeah. Body parts. Got the chain saw out in the bus.

Well, I hope you're burying them deep enough,

'cause those coyotes can get pretty persistent.

So that Ruthie, she's a piece of work, huh?

Yeah, she is.

She's not long for this place, though.

Next time she runs away, I'm gonna have to let her go.

You two seem a little more like sisters to me.

Maybe that's 'cause she's sort of adopted.

When Ruthie was maybe two years old, she just wandered up out of the desert.

Little girl lost. They made a big search, but they never found her real parents.

People around here still think that she was left behind from up there.

Don't believe 'em, though, she's just a little girl.

Once Ruthie runs off, I'm gonna sell this place.

I got a nice little bankroll stashed away for a rainy day.

Maybe move to Hawaii, open a little crab shack,

or maybe I'll just lay back on the white sandy beach all day.

Sounds great.

- You want another? - No. I'm done.

Welcome sight for a weary traveler.

What can I get ya?

Tomato juice. Twist of lime, pinch of pepper.

- Gambler? - Excuse me?

- What's your game? - My game?

Don't look like a poker man, to me.

Couldn't bluff your way out of a paper bag with that face.

- Uh, let's settle up, Stella. - I'm guessing slots.

Don't have to think too much. Complete game of chance, that ol' one-armed bandit.

You just sit down, play slow, let the house honeys bring you the free drinks.

See you're fond of the old gin and tonic.

That used to be one of my favorites.

Honey, bring this man another gin and tonic. He looks parched.

You know what? I'm going to be heading out.

Sit down, John.

My name is Banks. Agent Banks of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

And I suggest you take me up on my little offer.

Not very often you can drink a gin and tonic on Uncle Sam's tab.

- Well, in that case... - I'll make it a double?

- So, am I under arrest? - Break any laws?

I broke no law, but I know why you're here.

My neighbor Neely was murdered.

Somebody cut off his head.

I noticed this shovel here.

Belongs to the bar.

Forgot to put it away this morning.

- You digging ditches, honey? - I use it to bury assholes.

I'll just bet you do.

I have a few questions for you, John.

I found these two files in Neely's apartment. What can you tell me about 'em?

Never seen 'em before.

The first one contains some personal information about you.

Financial records. Details about your career.

And it also contains some things... more personal, deeper.

Medical records. Masturbatory techniques.

Preferences.

John, did you provide Neely with sperm samples?

What do you think?

No.

Then there is this incident involving Vaseline. Liberally applied to...

- Listen, what do you want from me? - You ever drive an RV?

- RV? - Motor home-type deal.

No.

Do you own a black Stetson or a long, black leather duster?

What is it that you want?

I'm just asking questions, John. It's our job.

We're the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

So, you're an actor.

- A thespian. - A rude mechanical.

- Hmm? - A rude mechanical.

It's a term that means actor. Shakespearean.

Boy, that Shakespeare. He sure could write a play.

You know, I did a production of...

'The King and I' once back in high school.

They made me play a slave.

Had to wear a skullcap. Make me look bald.

Fucking thing itched.

John, this second file...

contains a list of over 75 people...

that have disappeared without a trace over the last six years.

I'd like you to have a look at it,

see if you recognize any of the names on this list.

I mean, nothing looks familiar.

Seventy-five people, John. Gone. Vanished without a trace.

And they all had families.

I'd like to think I could provide them with an answer.

Where there loved ones have disappeared to. I'd like to think you could help me.

Nothing?

Look, I'm sorry. I can't help you.

Maybe they don't wanna be found. Maybe they got on a spaceship and flew away.

And there is one other possibility, John.

They may have all been the victims of, say, a single, diabolical serial killer.

Maybe somebody who entices his victims to a remote location...

middle of nowhere, where he has his way with them.

And then buries their bodies...

somewhere out there, deep in the desert.

- Wish I could help you. - I wish you could too, John.

Grace tell you where to find me?

No, you're pretty little neighbor covered for you.

That's a brave girl you got there, John. Lying to the FBI.

You oughta keep her.

Here's my card.

If you should happen to remember anything... anything at all...

please give me a call.

Or, if you'd like to research a role,

I've worked with a couple of big actors in town.

- Fact is, I even wrote a screenplay. - Really?

Yeah. Well, it's the story of a mediocre guy, really.

Ordinary in just about every way. Suddenly he finds himself on the lam.

Alone. You see, he's running away from himself and from the law...

because of a crime that he may or may not have committed.

- You'd be perfect for it. - Thank you.

Send me your head shot. Oh, John.

One more thing.

Neely was last seen with a blue suitcase and a bowling ball bag.

You have no clue as to the whereabouts of those two bags?

No. Sorry.

So you wouldn't mind if I took a quick look around your motel room?

It's all right, John. I already searched it.

Your friend Elron was only too happy to let me in.

Lucky for you all I could find was some Bun Boy wrappers...

and a half-empty bottle of hand lotion.

Must be the climate.

Listen, asshole, you couldn't bluff your way out of a paper bag.

I don't like being lied to.

When I figure out what you're up to, I'm going to take you down, motherfucker!

Do not fuck with the FBI!

Had you there, didn't I?

Just a line out of my screenplay.

I could of been an actor.

Slave, my ass!

I should have been the king.

- Why would you let Randy in? - Why not? He's a friend of yours.

- He's not a friend of mine. - Well, you said he was.

And then that FBI guy came, and he had a badge. I had to let him in Johnny-O.

And you're not my friend either, so stop calling me Johnny-O or John-Boy.

It's John Person. Check the goddamn register!

You really do have a steel plate in your head.

Who told you that? Dan?

- I hit a javelina hole. - Now, where's Randy live?

At the junkyard. The junkyard.

Drop it!

I've got nothing, and you wanna take it all away.

I told you, stay away from Ruthie.

I saw you talking to her this morning in my fucking truck!

Hey, she pulled over, she said hi. I said hi.

- What's in the suitcase? - Nothing.

- What the hell are you doing? - She broke up with me.

So you tied her up? Did you hit her?

Just you and me now, dude.

Don't be an idiot. I got a gun. I'll shoot you!

Then shoot me, asshole. I don't care.

Exactly. I'm gonna carve you like Thanksgiving dinner.

- I'll do it! - You won't!

I will! Now, put down the fucking chain saw!

- We're gonna get married. - You can't marry a dead girl, Randy.

Now drop it!

- You don't have to yell. - I said drop it!

You don't have to go all psycho on me, dude.

Now, get the suitcase and put it in the bus.

What's so special about this suitcase?

I don't know! Just put it on the fucking bus!

- Are you all right, baby? - You were gonna shoot me!

I wasn't gonna shoot you. I wasn't gonna...

You cocked the goddamn trigger!

There's no bullets in the fucking gun, okay?

Don't say a goddamn word, Randy.

This is not how you treat a woman.

You don't kidnap a woman. You don't tie her to a chair.

You don't put a gag in a woman's mouth.

- And you never, ever hit a woman, Randy. - I never hit her.

You stay away from Ruthie, okay? She's got plans.

She deserves respect. She deserves to be treated like a woman.

You think she likes to be trapped in the middle of goddamn nowhere...

with some loser who ties her up and beats her?

You think about your life, Randy.

You think it through. You make some-some plans.

You develop some hopes and realistic dreams for your future.

And then you act upon them, Randy.

- Look. Hey. - Don't do it. Don't say a fucking word.

I came here to do a simple job... to deliver a blue suitcase.

And as soon as that job is done, you will never see me again, Randy.

I'll be gone from your life. And I can promise you one thing.

I am not leaving that goddamn motel room, until this job is done.

Don't even ask.

It's all right, Mom. He rescued me.

It wasn't him that tied me up. It was Randy.

Randy did this to you?

- Bring her inside. - Mom?

Now!

You have no messages.

Hi, it's Grace. Please leave a message.

Hey, Grace. It's John. I'm really sorry it's so late. I'm still in the desert.

Now listen, I-I met Agent Banks today.

He found out where I was. I just wanted to tell you everything was okay.

I cleared my name, okay? I didn't want you to worry.

And I really want to thank you for not telling him where I was.

Good-bye, Grace.

Go away, Ruthie.

Just thought you might want a cold pop. Gets awful lonely out here.

Please. I don't want any trouble. Randy'll kill us both.

Fuck Randy. He's a loser.

Hey, I just wanted to thank you for what you said this afternoon...

about me being a woman who deserves respect.

You need to get away from that maniac.

The thing to do is just get a one-way ticket out of here, hit the highway.

Where is Randy?

Lieutenant Gates went by the junkyard and arrested him.

- So he's in jail? - Wherever.

I hope he's gone for good this time.

Hey, uh...

I got you a present.

I did just like you said. I gave it some love.

It's beautiful.

No one's ever given me a flower before.

But, I just wanted you to have it, you know?

Being that you're going away and all.

I don't know. I just wanted you to have something...

to, uh, remember me by.

Come on. Live a little.

Twenty-seven thousand?

What are you gonna do with all that?

I'm gonna pay off my credit card debts.

But with all that money? I mean, we could just...

We could steal Randy's truck and just drive.

- Where are we gonna drive? - Anywhere but here.

We could just disappear. Just... I don't know. We could drive to Hawaii.

All those palm trees and white sandy beaches and cool ocean breezes.

We could just fly away into that big, blue sky that goes on forever.

What do you wanna do?

We could do anything.

- Ruthie, listen... - Come on.

Ruthie, listen to what you're saying.

Twenty-seven thousand dollars is not a lot of money.

It's enough.

Enough for what? To-To steal Randy's truck...

and drive to-to Hawaii and live happily ever after?

You're not very optimistic.

I am. I'm very optimistic.

I started off good. You know, I had nothing, but I had a dream and a purpose.

You know, then suddenly I'm lost...

and I'm out of money and lonely.

You know? And I did nothing wrong. I mean, I swear to God, I did nothing wrong.

I just wanna get back to where I started.

You started with nothing, and that's what you wanna get back to?

- And what about me? - You?

Here's what you need to do, Ruthie.

You need to forget about me and you gotta forget about Randy.

And it's time for you to leave this town, okay? You gotta see the world.

You gotta just go and not look back.

I should probably go.

You know, you're a good man.

I can tell. Good things are gonna happen for you.

Thank you.

There'll be the last words you ever speak, movie star.

We're goin' for a ride.

Randy...

What are you worried about? You're a good man.

Good things are gonna happen for you.

Randy, let's talk about this for a minute.

- Shut up! - Ow! Goddamn it, Randy!

Get that suitcase and put it in the truck bed!

You want to hear a sad story?

Keep fuckin' digging, dude.

When I was a little boy, I lived up in Vegas.

My daddy worked security at the Sands.

Then when he'd get off late at night,

he'd go out partying with the pretty little showgirls.

Then he'd come home all fuckin' drunk,

and he'd beat my mama.

So one night... I'm 10 years old...

and I'm waiting for him, and I'm hidden,

and I got his 10-inch hunting knife.

And that night,

first time he hits my mama I bury that motherfucking blade in his back.

Twenty, maybe 30 times.

And my mama, she's screaming.

She's trying to pull me off him, but she can't,

because I wouldn't let that fucker touch us again.

And I remember the look in her eyes.

I miss you, Mama!

Get up.

She looked into my eyes,

and I knew she don't see her little boy anymore.

She only sees the eyes of a killer.

Randy, please don't do this.

- Turn around, dude. - Please.

I said, turn around.

What I learned...

is that you never take away...

the thing that somebody else loves.

Real sad story, Randy.

- Who are you? - Call me Cowboy, dude.

Where did you come from?

Your mama sent me.

She asked me to give you this.

Top of the evening to you, John.

- Cowboy? - Let's go, partner.

But... He'll be taken care of.

Bring the suitcase and the shovel.

Boy, that Randy sure could talk.

Look, I appreciate you saving my life and all,

but... where did you come from?

Born out of a devil's wedlock, partner.

Right.

You mean, how did I get out here in the middle of goddamn nowhere...

just in time to save your sorry ass?

Yeah.

That's a mystery, ain't it?

- What's with the cowboy getup? - What, you don't like it?

You got my money?

You'll get your money, buckaroo... 27,000 and change.

But this night's not over yet. There's been a little hitch in the giddyup.

What? You got your suitcase.

I'll explain when we get back to the motel.

Hey, got a little surprise waiting for you there.

Now, listen to me.

You will not leave this room.

We need you to watch these blue suitcases till just after midnight.

Then you load them into Randy's truck.

Courier them to a dry lake bed about halfway up Devil's Highway.

Turn when you see the Indian.

- His name is Bob. - Bob the Indian.

Yeah. He'll be waitin'.

He'll ride in the back, guide you the rest of the way.

Okay, you know what? I'm done. Okay?

Neely said bring up the suitcase, deliver it to you.

A deal's a deal. I want my money.

Yeah, well, Neely fucked up.

What did you do with his head?

Where's the bowling ball bag?

It's buried out back.

Then dig it up. I need it.

You know what? I'm not doing this. I'm through, all right?

Go ahead. You can shoot me if you fucking want, but I'm done.

You ain't got no choice, partner.

No choice? I don't have a choice?

Everybody's got a choice.

I told you I had a little surprise waiting.

Yeah, well, I want my money. I'm leaving.

- A deal's a deal. - Open your mouth and close your eyes,

and I'm gonna give you a big surprise.

Fuck you, asshole. I got a surprise waiting for you out here.

Since you're such a stick in the mud,

I figured I'd better bring along a little extra insurance.

I'm sorry, Grace. I don't know what's going on here. I don't know what's happening.

- Hand me the gun, John. - I'm sorry, John.

He said you were in trouble, and that I'd be able to help.

- Wasn't part of the deal. - The gun, John.

Don't worry.

Now, here's the deal, John.

You do exactly as I say.

You go dig up the bowling ball bag, and you bring it to me.

Then you'll deliver the blue suitcases...

exactly as I asked you.

You do that simple job, and your girlfriend Gracie here...

will live a long and fruitful life.

Whoa. Where's Grace?

She'll be fine.

You do your job, I'll do mine.

Now, this will need to go with the suitcases.

Promise me if I deliver these suitcases...

that you'll leave Grace out of this.

I'm a man of my word, John.

Why me? I help people move on, John.

Help 'em to escape their mundane, ordinary lives.

If you want to keep living this life of quiet desperation,

that's up to you.

Hey, John-John.

- Ain't that Randy's truck? - He, uh... I borrowed it.

I gotta make a delivery.

Tonight's the night.

Tonight's the night they come. It's a freak show.

I wouldn't go too deep in the desert if I were you. You might never come back.

In fact, maybe you'd better stay here with us till it's over.

Sorry, I... I gotta do this.

But it's been real fun meeting you.

Well, if, uh, you change your mind,

we'll be in there.

But knock first.

You Bob the Indian?

No, I'm Lawrence of fucking Arabia.

Nice guess, kemo sabe.

You want to get in, Bob?

No, no. I'll ride up top.

You... go that way.

Pull over by the cone there.

Whoa. Good.

Now, you unload these suitcases,

and you arrange 'em in a big circle...

exactly 12 paces from each other.

I think that might be your job, Bob.

Well, I think your girlfriend Grace's life depends on it.

Just... do it. Do it.

Jesus Christ.

What do you want me to do with this?

Head to the center.

Then what?

Stand there...

and wait.

Wait for what? What's happening here, Bob?

It's the same old same old.

Am I gonna die?

We all die, John Person.

It's just a matter of when.

It's the way of the world.

You finally ask yourself, 'Was my life worth living?'

'Did I make the right decisions?'

'Did I do the right thing?'

'Will I be remembered?'

It's a tough old road we follow, isn't it?

Myself...

there's a lot of things I want to accomplish before I leave this earth.

Yeah. Me too, Bob.

Where are you going?

I'm gonna get goin'.

- You take me with ya? - Don't even ask.

You know how he gets.

Bob, don't leave me out here.

I'm gonna go back to bed.

It's too late for this spooky shit. It gets old.

Bob!

Hey, Bob, don't leave me here.

Look! It comes!

Ruthie! What are you doing?

She's been instructed not to speak with you.

What's going on?

Done a fine job here, John.

Yeah, where's Grace?

Patience, my friend.

Patience? What are you all doing?

Are all you people crazy?

What's happening here?

- It's time, John. - Time for what?

Time to go.

It's the chance of a lifetime, John,

but you only get one chance.

Put these on, and you're on your way.

On my way where?

To paradise, my friend.

There's no such place.

Oh, yes, John. There is.

Make a choice.

There's a whole other world out there.

One chance, John. Make it count.

You goin' too?

My ticket is open-ended.

And my work here is never done.

Where's Grace?

It's time to go, partner.

Are you okay, Ruthie?

What's going on here?

Go with me.

Go with you where?

Out there.

Maybe it's a better place.

Ruthie, I'm not going anywhere.

Are you sure?

Yeah. Are you?

I am.

Thank you, John.

Thanks for your help, John.

A deal's a deal.

Let's start a new game, John.

What are you?

I'm just a cowboy, John,

pure and simple.

John?

- Grace. - John.

I thought you were dead. That cowboy threatened me.

He threatened me, and he made me stay in that awful motel for three days.

He killed Randy, and-and he took Ruthie away.

And all those people in the... in the blue track suits, they're all gone.

Just calm down. It's all right.

You don't know what you're saying. You've been out here for three days.

John, let's go home.

- Get you some rest. - Three days?

John, why are you still carrying that suitcase?

It's locked. I can't open it.

Cowboy gave me this.

He said you'd know what to do.

- Case closed? - Orders from above.

Seems this one really tickled a few funny bones.

- Didn't you go back to Baker? - We did. Came up empty.

- But it happened. - John, I got the file right here.

It contains your whole story... Neely, Cowboy, the blue suitcase,

the alleged murders, the alleged incident in the desert.

But they were there. There were 15 people getting on a damn RV.

John, do you really expect me to believe you were abducted by aliens...

wearing track suits?

Says here in your statement,

you believe they have stolen your sperm.

I don't know.

It's what Dan said, that Elron says.

It's the only thing that made sense.

We checked out every detail of your story.

John, I would like to thank you personally...

for coming in here on your own.

It was very courageous of you, but we've done everything we can.

But Ruthie... she's gone!

Yes, she is. We spoke to Stella about that.

She's convinced that she and Randy ran off together somewhere.

And we asked around, but Ruthie's gonna be of legal age in a couple of weeks,

so it's a dead issue.

- Of legal age? - Oh!

We did find Neely's head...

in a Dumpster outside a bowling alley in Reno.

Coyotes had been at it. You can imagine. The man was ugly to begin with.

- What about the money? - We looked into your accounts.

It seems that last week you did pay off a sizable debt.

Lucky for you. Credit cards can be a nasty business.

Lucky for me mine's a government card.

But the money didn't just appear.

Baker's pretty close to the state line or Vegas. A few hands of blackjack.

Couple of quarters in the slots. Who knows? Those jackpots can really build up.

So you think I won the money?

A lot of fortunes have been won and lost out there...

in the middle of the desert, John.

Now it's just a matter for the IRS.

- The IRS? - And this Cowboy fella.

That's quite a mystery, the way you describe it.

We'll be sure to keep an eye out for him.

- So the IRS is... - Just another government agency...

with a job to do, John.

It's not my department. I wouldn't worry about it, though.

Oh, and John, we're not gonna tell you that we don't believe you.

Maybe we do,

maybe we don't.

And there is still the matter of those 75-plus missing people...

- we've been charged to investigate. - But...

But, when people like yourself and others...

come to us with tales of blue suitcases,

cowboys and aliens, well, let's just say...

that's not the kind of story...

the government wants to tell the families of missing people.

Listen to me. I'm not fucking crazy.

I'm telling you what happened. It's the goddamn truth!

Now. something strange is going on out there, and people's lives are at stake!

John, that was incredible.

You know I didn't make this up.

Didn't say you did. Didn't say you didn't.

But you're an actor, and from what I've just seen, a damn good one.

Why you're not a big star beats the hell out of me.

If I were you, I'd forget about this whole sordid story.

Send me that head shot.

Yes!

Did you see that?

Yeah, two strikes in a row. Finally.

I told you they'd call. I knew it would happen.

Wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but...

John, you'll be great.

You can't be the lead every time.

A supporting role is... good.

Thank you, Grace.

You look different tonight.

It's the tenth frame.

You get one more chance. Make it count.

Then we start a new game.