Original subtitles

- [Speaker] So what would you like to know?

- [Interviewer] Who are you?

- I'm Adam, 27.

- [Interviewer] What do you do, Adam, 27?

- I'm a professional.

- [Interviewer] A professional what?

- Whatever you want me to be.

- [Interviewer] You're annoying.

(Adam laughs)

(traffic rumbles)

- [Jasper] You need a ride?

- Where are you headed?

- [Jasper] I got a place outside of town.

Real quiet.

- It sounds nice.

- You'd like it.

Complete freedom.

- Fuck it.

(ominous music)

(Adam sighs)

- [Jasper] What do you do?

- [Adam] Anything you want, man.

- Do you have any limits?

- No.

- You're making it too easy for me.

It's no fun.

What's your name?

- Adam.

- [Jasper] Not much of a flirt, are you, Adam?

- Whatever I need to be.

- It's not time to go to sleep yet.

We're gonna have some fun tonight.

- Why are you wearing sunglasses?

- So I can see you better.

Have you ever disappeared before?

Adam?

(ominous music)

(door thuds)

Sit.

(Adam sighs)

- Uh, do you have anything?

- What do you mean?

- Drugs.

Poke.

I don't know, weed, anything.

It'll wake me up.

(TV murmurs)

It'll make it more fun for the both of us.

- I got something for you.

(TV murmurs)

(Adam groans)

(zipper squeals)

(bag crinkles)

- [Jasper] This should do it.

- Thanks.

- How long have you been waiting for me?

- What?

- Last time you saw me, you said no.

What changed?

- A lot.

- Enough to make you trust me?

- Enough to not care.

- Lucky me.

(hand smacks)

- [Adam] Can I see you?

- You are.

- Your eyes.

- Beg me.

- I don't like to beg.

- What makes you think I give a fuck what you like?

- You know, we didn't talk about money.

- What?

- How much it's gonna cost you.

- I thought you understood.

- [Adam] Understood what?

- This isn't going to cost me anything.

It's going to cost you.

(ominous music)

Do you feel it, Adam?

Scream for me.

Scream!

- No.

(Jasper shouts)

(items rustle)

- [Jasper] It is not time to sleep yet.

Put this on.

Put it on!

- Oh God.

- You can do it.

(Adam groans)

(lock clicks)

You belong to me now.

(Adam pants)

What if I told you you could leave it all behind?

When you're alone at night, in the dark and lonely,

do you find ways of justifying the things that you do?

So do I.

(tense music)

Are you afraid of me?

You will be.

(door slams)

(chain clinks)

(lock rattles)

(Adam sighs)

(knocks)

- [Harmony] Look, I'm not leaving,

so you might as well open the door.

Or I can call the cops.

- Fucking shit.

Hey, sorry about that, I was getting dressed.

How's your morning?

- Your checkout time was 11:00 a.m.

On Monday.

It's Wednesday, but you knew that already.

- I already talked to the manager, Cy.

Just waiting on the wire.

- Yeah, yeah.

Well, that's what you told me yesterday,

and I already talked to my dad.

I mean, Cy.

And he doesn't know what you're talking about.

Do you mind if I come in?

- Sure.

- We've had tenants complain

about some activity going on here.

- What?

- I don't know, guys, men,

coming in, going out.

They think some kind of business is being run out of here.

They think you're a drug dealer.

Like I told them that I don't think you look

like somebody that sells drugs,

but there's just no convincing these people.

- Come on.

Harmony?

I know I owe you money and I'll get it to you,

but no need to make up stories.

- 220.

That's what you owe.

- And I'll get it to you.

- Okay.

- Well, not right now.

- Yes, right now.

- Tonight, I swear.

(siren wails)

- Look, man,

I don't wanna kick you out.

You are easier to deal with than most of these junkies.

But a business is business.

- Fine.

My mother gave me this when I graduated high school.

I don't know how much it's worth,

but hell of a lot more than $220.

- Look, you don't have to-

- I'll be back for it.

- Cy is out for the night.

He'll be back tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.

I can give you until then to pay your tab.

- 8:00 a.m., that's all the time I need.

Hey.

Yeah, yeah, I, I know it's early.

I was just thinking about how much I missed you.

No, I'm...

I'm not asking for a front.

Come on, man!

I'm not going to the fucking boulevard.

Look,

I just need this small fucking amount of money.

It'll elevate the weight off my shoulders.

Please, just this one thing.

Hello?

Hello?

Fuck.

Okay.

(ominous music)

- [Speaker] He's the one.

Don't you dare let him get away.

(rock music)

- Hey there.

- Sorry, man, I think you misunderstood.

- Am I?

- Yeah.

Not interested.

- I think you got the wrong idea.

- [Lucas] Is that right?

- That's right.

I'm just in here looking for a new friend.

What's your name?

- You don't need to know my name.

- I'm Jasper.

- I don't need to know your name either.

- You don't look like you're from around here.

- Look who's talking, cowboy.

- (laughs) You're funny.

I got a place out in the desert.

You'd like it.

- What makes you think that?

- This city is so crowded.

You seem like someone looking to take up space.

- Jasper?

- [Jasper] Yeah?

- I'm Lucas.

Sorry.

- There's no need to be sorry, Lucas.

Tell you what,

I'll be out here eating greasy dive bar food.

You change your mind, you're more than welcome to join me.

It's my treat, of course.

See you around, Lucas.

(rock music)

Hungry?

Where you from, stranger?

You still don't trust me, do you?

- Why should I trust you?

- I know what you're doing out there.

- [Lucas] Do you?

- Yes, I do.

- What am I doing out there?

- [Jasper] You're making people happy.

- That's one way of putting it.

Look, I'm not like some broken boy.

I don't need you.

So if you're trying to exercise some savior complex thing,

save it.

- You make money being that suspicious?

- I'm getting by.

- [Jasper] Look pretty hungry to me.

- Tough.

- You're too good for this city.

It'll eat you alive.

- What makes you think I'm so good?

- With a smile like yours, you can't be all bad.

- You'd be surprised.

- Okay.

Let's play a little game.

It was payday yesterday.

Seeing as all information about you is so valuable,

I'm willing to pay for it.

$20 for each answer.

- Yeah, right.

- No strings attached.

- Okay.

- Okay.

Where are you from? - Phoenix.

- Frito pies?

- Every Thursday night for dinner.

- What brings you out here?

- Long story.

- I'm paying for it.

- Growing up constantly being told

the only thing good about you is the way you look,

you actually start to believe it.

At least my dumb ass did.

I was working some shit job, living a shit life.

In walks this sweet talker, tells me I should be an actor.

Tells me he can connect me

with the right people in Hollywood.

So I follow him here.

- I take it it's not what you expected?

- Even if he did have connections, he wouldn't share me.

So I said fuck him, went out on my own.

Money's gotten tighter and tighter.

- So you came out here to be an actor.

(fingers tap)

So you came out here to be an actor?

- I came out here to do anything but sell fertilizer.

- Is that the family business?

- One person, somebody thinks I have something else

to offer than that, I'm there.

Here.

- I know that feeling.

- What?

- Wanting to make someone proud.

- You know, I've never done that before.

- [Jasper] Done what?

- Gone out on the streets.

All my business is online.

So nothing against you, but dates off the street are known

to be not of upstanding character.

What's that for?

- Just 'cause I like you.

Feels like fate you and I met,

like some premeditated occurrence meant

to fulfill some sort of cosmic need, you know?

- (laughs) No, I don't.

- I got one last question.

- Alright.

- What's the urgency?

Why today?

- I need money.

I need it fast.

- Desperate times.

- Where'd you say you stay?

- Out in the desert.

Very discreet.

- I have to be back before 8:00 a.m. tomorrow.

(ominous music)

I got a question for you.

- Shoot.

- What is someone like you,

someone that looks like you doing buying a hustler?

- Are you flirting with me, Hollywood?

- Just curious what makes you tick.

- Well, I could have met you at a bar.

I could have bought you a drink.

But then I'm gambling on a little game called,

is Jasper taking Lucas home tonight?

- What's that supposed to mean?

- I just wanna cut to the chase.

Can I get you something to drink?

- Uh, sure.

Whatever you're having.

(TV murmurs)

(dramatic music)

Thank you.

(glasses clink)

- Are you comfortable?

You got someplace to be?

- I have an audition tomorrow.

- Oh, yeah?

- Yeah, a TV thing.

Might be my ticket out of this mess.

Who knows?

Might be my last client.

- I'm honored.

I hope you'll remember me.

You don't like your drink?

Can I propose a toast?

- Sure.

- To the movie star.

It sure would be nice to sleep next to someone tonight.

- We'll see.

- Do you like me?

- I don't mind you.

Do you like me?

- Very much.

- How about now?

Do you like me better?

Your turn.

(belt clicks)

And everything else.

- And now why would I do that?

- To make sure you don't have anything that could hurt me.

- Lucas, after everything we've been through,

you still don't trust me?

Happy?

- Come here.

- What's the rush?

- Jasper, are you ready?

Jasper?

(ominous music) You okay?

- Can you excuse me a minute?

- [Lucas] You okay?

- Yeah.

(tense music)

(tense music continues)

Lucas.

(Lucas groans)

Lucas.

- What the fuck?

- Hey, hey.

You asked me why someone like me needs to buy a hustler.

(Lucas groans)

- Who is he?

- He's just gonna watch.

He's not involved.

Please understand.

- Oh, what is wrong with me?

- You just drank too much too fast.

You're okay.

- What's wrong with me?

Oh, what's wrong with me?

What is wrong with me?

- Hey, hey.

Sit down.

Don't want you to get sick.

(ominous music)

Do you feel your muscles relaxing?

Do you feel your heart racing?

Do you feel your breathing slow?

How does my flesh feel against yours?

Do you wanna stay here with me forever?

Like everyone else?

- Do it.

Do it!

(Lucas screams)

(Lucas gasps)

(solemn music)

(Jasper laughs)

- Are you afraid of me now?

(Adam groans)

- [Adam] No!

- [Speaker] Where my father worked.

Kept his stone cutting tools here.

Was trying to find out who made that monument.

- Richard.

We can get married.

Your mother's still sick, she won't be able to stop it.

No one will be able to stop us.

- I promise I'll never leave you.

- [Lucas] Never?

- Never.

(camera clicks)

(ominous music)

(Adam grunts)

(brick smacks)

(Adam groans)

(door creaks)

(Adam grunts)

- Help me!

Somebody help me!

Please!

Somebody, please!

(Jasper shushes)

(Adam groans)

(Adam sighs)

(footsteps rustle)

He's awake.

- What was that?

Speak up.

- He's awake.

- So?

What difference does that make?

- If I know when he's awake, I don't know, maybe I can-

- Maybe you can what?

You're a fucking idiot

if you think you can figure out what's going on up there.

- It's not like I have a choice.

I have to try.

- Let's face it, Adam.

You don't fucking stand a chance.

- I have a chance.

Okay?

If I do it right, I have a chance to get out of here.

- You're gonna get someone else killed.

- That wasn't my fault.

- If you didn't exist, you didn't come here,

that kid would still be alive.

You're bad luck for everyone that crosses your path.

You're walking doom.

And what happens if you get out of here?

Hmm?

Sure, let's break through the basement door,

but once you're past that?

You're forgetting something 'cause you're fucking stupid.

Something very important.

Something that you haven't taken into consideration yet.

You'll have to kill him.

And if you somehow miraculously do that,

what will you do once you're past the front door?

Call the police?

Why would they believe you?

- I want my life back!

- And what a life you had.

Strange cocks, cold sores, drug-fueled mania so deep

that it took the place of any personality you ever had.

- I had friends.

- Who became enemies.

- I had freedom.

- Which became a chore.

- But that was my fault.

I could have changed.

- But you didn't.

- This time it'll be different.

- Oh, will it?

You never felt wrong for living the way you did, did you?

- No, but now I can,

I can feel things and think clearly, can imagine my life-

- You must think you've got it all figured out.

All the big picture bullshit that only survivors understand.

- That's right.

- Well, I am really looking forward

to this new life of yours.

You take on a real straight shooter type of job

and wake up every day with the morning sun,

meditate, and work on yourself.

- Stop it!

- Hey, maybe you can write a book

with that ninth grade education that'll change the world.

People will finally respect you and forget the only job

that you ever had was swallowing cum.

- Stop it!

(Adam coughs)

- And here's the thing

about that survivor's clarity you're holding onto.

You have to survive.

(Adam gasps)

- No!

I can't do this again, can't do this again.

(Adam groans)

He's gonna bring more and more people 'cause of me.

- You could always kill yourself.

(Adam sighs)

(Adam screams)

- If I do it, he can't.

He can't.

(items clatter)

(Adam shouts)

(solemn music)

(Adam shouts)

(Adam gasps)

(Adam screams)

Goddamn it!

- I know that it's hard.

- Leave me alone.

- This isn't the way.

- Leave me alone!

Why can't you just let me go and leave me alone?

- You don't belong here.

- I'm here, aren't I?

Here because I didn't care about anything.

I asked for this.

I have to do it.

If I don't, he'll just torture me to death.

More people will be killed just to spite me.

It's better this way.

- You think he's doing this because of you?

- I mean, he killed him because he couldn't kill me.

- He would've killed him anyway.

But you're still alive.

There must be a reason for that.

- 'Cause I didn't give him what he wanted.

I didn't scream and cry and beg for my life.

That's what he wants from me.

But I can take that from him.

- You're not gonna try and fight for your life?

You could stop him.

- It's not gonna happen.

Even if I get out of here, I don't know where the fuck I am!

We're in the middle of nowhere.

If I get out, he'll just find me wandering in the desert,

bring me back here again.

- You could kill him.

- Yeah?

Then what?

What do I do after that?

- Live.

- I'm a ghost.

No one fucking misses me.

I'm already gone.

And nobody's, nobody's noticed.

- You've had a tough life.

You did the best you could.

Don't you think you deserve the chance

to enjoy a simple life without all the excitement?

Without all the trauma?

You could have that.

- No.

I'll never be able to get away from it.

- But what if you can learn to accept it all?

Everything that you've been through?

Move past it?

Imagine a life for yourself,

a home, safety,

completely independent from anyone else.

A life that is sensational.

The sensation of fresh air in your lungs,

the sensation of clean water on your tongue,

the sensation of a full stomach.

The simple sensation of the sunlight kissing your skin,

of love.

And a safe place to lay your head at night

so you can feel it all again.

I know that you want this, Adam,

because I want this.

Everything is so clear now.

We are in control.

(gentle music)

So, Adam, do you want to live?

- Yes.

- [Speaker] Do you want to live?

- Yes.

- Do you want to live?

- Yes!

God, please let me live!

- Congratulations, boy.

Now you've got a challenge.

- Adam.

Adam.

It's time to wake up.

Come on.

You're faking.

Mm, isn't that good?

(drink splashes) (dramatic music)

(Adam groans)

Do you have any idea how hard I worked on this?

You're going to need your strength.

Isn't that good?

Aren't they delicious?

There you go.

(Jasper barks)

Oh, I gotta hand it to you.

I did not see that coming.

That was fun.

(Jasper laughs)

Whew.

Let's hit the showers.

(solemn music)

(curtain clatters)

That's enough of that.

Have a seat.

(lock clicks)

(water runs)

(Adam gasps)

No, no.

Calm down.

Calm down.

Now it's fine.

Don't you want to be clean?

How dirty you are.

Wouldn't like you dirty.

It's my job.

I make sure you're perfect.

Old fashioned shave.

There's nothing like it.

I know you don't trust me, Adam, but you're gonna have to.

You know, for a long time,

the barber was the most trusted man in America.

He worked silently,

knowing he held each and every man's life

in his steady hands.

But was it just the barber's hand

that made him so trustworthy?

I mean, he has to be sharp.

For instance, if I'm shaving you here

and you forget where you are for just a second

and turn to check the clock, it's over for you.

I have to be ready to save your life,

to save you from yourself.

Open your eyes.

Open your eyes.

Let's try something.

I'll put my blade here, right on your jugular.

And if you want to, you can kill yourself.

Now, this carries all the blood

from your head down to your heart,

but it'll all come pouring down and out.

It'll all be over in seconds, if you want it badly enough.

But you don't wanna die anymore, do you?

Say it.

- I don't wanna die.

- [Jasper] I want to hear you.

- I don't want to die.

- I think you're ready.

(lock clicks)

There.

Now you're perfect.

(ominous music)

(plate scrapes)

(paper crinkles)

"Dear police, if you are reading this letter,

it is because you have discovered one, some,

or all of the bodies

and I have decided to liberate myself

before being caught in the only way I know how.

The boy should not be blamed.

He was created and is innocent.

I've drawn a map on the back of this letter.

You may dig up their skeletons

and whatever flesh may remain on them.

But remember, please, their souls belong to me."

Since he's been gone,

I've read that letter over and over again,

memorized every syllable, every stroke of ink on that page.

"The boy should not be blamed.

He was created and is innocent."

You can eat.

Two years ago,

he took the same knife that he killed so many people with,

and he slit his own throat.

And he did it with this knife.

Everyone he chose, they were all like you.

They looked like you, were lost like you,

ungrateful like you.

We decided hustlers were the easiest to dispose of

because no one ever came looking for them.

They were already gone.

There were so many before me too.

But I was the best.

He didn't need me to fear him.

I respected him

and he respected me.

And then one day, Wayne saw me in town with Ryan.

He said him.

Wayne wanted me to get him for him.

But what he didn't know was

that Ryan and I had known each other

since we were little kids.

We'd been friends our whole lives.

So I said no.

It's the only time I ever said no.

Wayne said I'd gone soft

and I thought that was the end of it, but...

One day I come over

and Ryan's sitting there on the couch,

taped, tortured, poisoned.

Already one step into the next world.

See, Wayne wanted me to redeem myself.

He said I was ready to be a killer,

but I, I couldn't do it, I...

So I said no.

So Wayne hurt him more than he'd ever hurt anyone before.

Kept him alive longer too.

And this time he made me watch.

Wayne had a talent

for knowing how much pain a human body could take.

Wayne put the knife in my hand and he made it clear

that I'd either leave this room a killer or not at all.

And you know what?

I loved it.

There's this, this release that happens

when you take your first life.

You lose yourself

and you're replaced by something so much stronger,

so much more powerful.

Pretty soon, after a few more bodies, he was afraid of me.

And then one day I find this.

"The boy should not be blamed.

He was created and is innocent.

(Jasper laughs)

The boy should not be blamed.

He was created and is innocent."

He tried to take credit for them.

He tried to take credit for me.

There was only one thing left to do.

- I did what I came here to do.

Believe me, there is such a thing as perfection.

And I've achieved it.

I know better than anyone else,

there is no greater bore than perfection.

I'm glad it's you.

(Jasper grunts)

(fists smack)

(Jasper groans)

- It was his strength against mine, his skills against mine,

his stamina against mine, his intelligence against mine,

his desire to live against mine.

And guess who won?

Oh, but he was right.

Perfection is a bore.

So then there's you.

Wild, feral, an animal.

Tell me, what happens when you injure an animal?

Does it writhe around on the floor,

waiting for God to take its life?

Or does it devise a plan to fight, to survive?

Talk!

- He fights.

(hand smacks)

- That's right.

- Look, man, I...

I'm sorry that you went through all of that,

but that has nothing to do with me.

I was also abused.

(Jasper laughs)

- I am the abuser.

- Why are you telling me all this?

- I've never told anyone what I'm telling you tonight.

I think I just wanted someone to know.

You're the only person in the world who I can trust.

And it's, it's not because we're such great friends, Adam.

No.

It's because I'm gonna kill you.

(ominous music)

One Mississippi.

Two Mississippi.

Three Mississippi.

(Adam gasps)

(Adam grunts)

Eight Mississippi.

Nine Mississippi.

10 Mississippi.

(Adam gasps)

(Adam sighs)

- Adam.

(knocks)

Adam.

I know you're in there, open the fucking door.

Adam.

Adam.

Adam!

Adam!

- Oh.

Oh God.

- What the fuck happened to you?

- I said no.

(Adam groans)

- Gotta hand it to you, you can take a beating.

- Ugh, thanks.

(Adam groans)

- You know there's a breaking point for everyone.

This isn't it for you.

What will be?

- I've been through way worse shit, Genesis.

- That's not a good thing.

Get up.

Gotta look at you.

Come on, up, up.

(Adam groans)

- Oh, fuck.

Oh.

(Adam groans)

- [Genesis] Jesus Christ!

- I'm sorry.

- [Genesis] Just, okay, hold on, hold on.

- Oh, fuck, fuck.

Oh!

- [Genesis] I told you.

(Adam gasps)

- How do you even know how to do this?

- I wish I didn't know how to do this.

You know, one or two

of these beatings would've sent someone running home.

- I am home.

- I know.

We're cursed to this life.

What are you gonna do, cry about it?

- No.

- Sometimes when you are at the bottom of the bottom,

the best you can do is just hit them back

as hard as they hit you.

'Cause if you don't try,

honey, you are as good as dead.

- [Jasper] Adam.

(Adam pants)

- Fuck!

(Adam pants)

(tools clank)

(Adam grunts)

(Adam screams)

(Jasper barks)

(brick scrapes)

(Adam grunts)

(ominous music)

(ominous music continues)

(Jasper groans)

(shirt rips)

(suspenseful music)

(trunk thumps)

(Adam pants)

(ominous music)

(Jasper grunts)

(doorknob clicks)

(Adam groans)

(Adam pants)

(phone rings)

(items clatter)

Hello?

- [Operator] 911, what's your emergency?

- I've been kidnapped.

There's, there's this guy, he's a, he's,

he's killed all these people and everyone's dead.

- [Operator] Sir, can you tell me your location?

- I don't, I, I don't, I don't know.

Joshua Tree?

I dunno.

- [Operator] Are you in immediate danger?

- Yes.

Please, please.

(phone beeps)

Fuck.

(owl hoots)

(Jasper groans)

- You're soft, boy.

You're slipping.

Just like you did with that little friend of yours.

- You're not a part of this.

- It's not like you to play with your food.

- Quiet.

- You're nothing without me.

You're just another gullible kid I picked up off the street.

I started all of this.

- I am the prodigy.

I have transcended you in every way.

And when tonight is through,

you will be nothing but a footnote in my legacy.

- Prove it!

(Adam pants)

- [Jasper] What if I told you you could leave it all behind?

(glass smashes) (Adam groans)

(dramatic music)

(Adam gasps)

(Adam coughs)

(head smacks)

(Jasper groans)

(Adam gasps)

(Jasper screams)

(brick smacks) (Jasper groans)

(Adam gasps)

(gentle music)

(gentle music continues)

(dramatic music) (Adam gasps)

(Jasper groans)

(body thumps)

(wind blows)

(solemn music)

(solemn music continues)

(solemn music continues)