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I knew Matthew Smith for 15 years before the night of his final show.
Everyone remembers his talent and face.
But the Matthew I knew was
strange, funny, and unbearably insecure.
Matthew didn't show up for that show 10 years ago...
Or any other show after that.
He left us all behind.
He left me, his girlfriend,
speeding off into the night,
completely and utterly totaled.
Hey, El? Gonna go crazy.
Yeah, I was that, uh... that maybe we shouldn't do this anymore.
You're breaking up with me?
Well, you know, breaking up would imply that we were actually going out, I guess.
We have been going out for three months.
No, you've been coming over to my apartment after shows for
three months... you know, which is awesome.
I like having sex with you, but...
Oh, wow.
To date, I suppose one would go out on dates.
That's what I'm saying.
It's just I like you, and it's not that you're older.
At this point in my life, it's
just like I want something more than just, like, casual sex,
and... and it doesn't seem like you do.
Now I sound like a dick.
What I'm saying is that...
Yeah, you sound like a dick.
Okay, you're leaving.
Hey, look, let's, like, still be
friends, and just don't slam the...
Hi, darling.
Just Doris calling to remind just Doris calling to remind
you that the rent was due yesterday.
I'm sure it's in the mail.
Okay. Bye-bye.
Miss Ellie, it's your boss.
I need to talk to you, dear.
Kurt, where's Courtney?
Or, Courtney, where's Kurt?
Oh!
I would love to have him
shoot the cover, but, you know...
Miss Ellie's here. I got to go.
I need to talk to you.
All right, well, you know, keep
up the good work.
I want to feature this guy.
Yeah. Who is it?
Lucas stone.
Why do you got to keep on featuring all these nobodies?
You know, I thought Stax was all about, you know, discovering new talent.
Isn't that why you hired me?
I probably said that when
Stax was still a beloved, Stax was still a beloved,
neolithic music magazine.
Neolithic music magazine.
Things change.
Mm-hmm.
No.
I've been surveying the territory, and from where I'm
sitting, things are looking pretty bleak.
Well, I think you're underestimating our readers.
You clearly have not been attending the same shareholders
meetings that I have.
Thank god.
Honey, I need you to go after
a bigger piece of the readership.
You used to be my go-to gal.
Your last story... got like two comments.
One of them was spam.
Apparently, that means the world wide web finds your
current sensibility neither
controversial or... I don't
know... interesting.
Matthew Smith.
Last month's anniversary issue,
every artist we polled called this one of the top-five most
influential records.
Yeah, I'm... I'm aware of that.
Well, I think it justifies a story.
The lasting the lasting impact."
Giles... you discovered him.
You broke him, for Christ's sake.
I know that there was a personal
element, but for god's sake, it was 10 years ago.
You got to have enough distance
by now.
He's probably dead.
He's not dead.
He's just an asshole who's gone.
Even better.
The truth behind the truth behind the mystery."
You are in a unique position to do this.
You're sitting on a huge fucking story.
The professional side of you has got to understand that.
I am not sitting on a story,
okay?
I'm just not... picking at a
scab.
Okay, well, I cannot have you ignore what's happening here
anymore.
We got to put a shock through
the system, and everybody's got to do their part.
don't make me do this.
You have to reclaim your
place at this magazine.
I mean, I do not get paid enough to go there again.
Right.
I don't want to relive this.
So quit.
Mm. I can't quit my job.
It's always pride.
So write it.
Are there any other choices?
No.
Excuse me?
Do you want another?
But doesn't part of you want to know what happened?
I'm trying to think what I'd do if Angela just...
I mean, I couldn't handle it.
I'd have to know.
Well, how about this idea?
Let's not talk about it anymore.
Oh, now you're heading out?
Yeah. I've got a, uh, singer to interview.
Well, hey, um, don't sleep with him.
I'm a professional.
Okay. There's a name for that.
train going down, spittin'
Oola neat.
Yeah, yeah.
Hey.
Hey. You're the guy from the other night.
Yes, the business card instead of a buck.
Ah. I'm not always so cheap.
Pull up.
Okay, so, this is weird.
This is, like, my first real interview.
Are you really as naive as
you seem?
I don't know. Am I?
Let's find out.
Okay, do you mind if I... Yes, please.
Okay.
Record away.
This is all very professional.
Hello.
So... uh, when did you start writing music?
This morning.
See? Nobody... I have never
met anyone who can do that.
Me either.
Uh, so, performing on the street... I mean, who does that anymore?
Does that? People do that.
I do that.
You do do that.
I don't know.
I love to play, you know?
Mm.
And, uh... I'm really broke, so, uh, the
money helps.
But, uh, you know, business cards are also welcome.
Oh.
Thanks for that.
Just, uh... you're welcome.
Hard to pay for the rent on business cards.
Mm-hmm.
Hard to pay for groceries with
it.
Oh, no, no.
Oh, god.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
You just... this cannot happen.
I'm... drunk and I am leaving.
Jesus Christ.
Were you asleep?
It's 3:00 in the morning.
I remember a guy that used to say the party was just getting
started at 3:00 A.M.
May I help you?
Well, I've decided to do the
no.
I decided that you do the
Matthew piece.
Okay, well, I'm agreeing to it.
I am just so overwhelmed.
Fucking nut-job.
Matthew, man... he was intense, but in a fucking sexy
way.
I mean, we broke up three times, but we always got back together.
I mean, he had his shit.
He had his demons.
But he... and he was talented, as everybody knows.
But there is no way... there is no way that he would have jumped.
Matthew... he was scared of heights... Is... is scared of heights...
Who was scared of heights?
Oh, this musician who's been lost for years and years...
And years and years.
Really? Lost? Huh.
Charlie.
Ellie.
Ellie Klug.
Okay.
It is good to see you.
Oh.
Coming in for an obligatory hug.
The timing wasn't right when we dated.
I was emotionally unavailable.
Oh, yeah, that's, uh... That's probably it.
I do think that your lack of open-mindedness affected your
judgment of me.
I'm much cooler now.
Hmm?
Miss, could I get a clean
glass, a bottle of water, and a whole lime?
No.
Is she a friend of yours?
She's closing up.
We're going to a gig.
A gig? Huh.
A gig.
What kind of gig?
Uh, a music show.
A music gig.
Nah. That's not my scene.
Good.
What style music is it?
Alternative rock.
Hmm. Alt rock.
You may call it that if you wish.
Okay.
"Okay" what?
I'll tag along.
I'm retired, but until
recently, I was in the jewelry business.
Really?
Yeah, we had pieces crafted
from Mexican pesos, bits of
Caribbean currency, seashells.
Sold them online.
I got tired of it, so I dumped the business last year.
Before that, I had a software company and made about
$300 million on an I.P.A., so I can pay the rent.
Yeah, but you were rich before that, right?
It's true.
I come from one of the oldest
families in north America, but
truth be told, we lost our
fortune in the panic of 1907.
1907.
Anyway, lately, I've been taking some
documentary-filmmaking classes, and I love it.
I really think it's what I'm
meant to do in this world.
I do.
What do you do again, Ellie?
I'm a music critic.
Ugh! That would be the worst job for me.
I hate music.
All music you hate.
Is the bear a catholic?
I mean, really.
I think he might be.
I mean, you like music?
Okay, well, I'm beat.
I am so exhausted.
Uh... it was really great seeing
you, Charlie, but we... okay.
Dana... do we?
Yeah.
You know what?
Maybe we could get lunch sometime.
I haven't seen you in five
years, and, uh, it could be nice to see you again.
Uh, I say... yes!
I should be clear about one thing.
Uh, I'm off dating, so...
Great. That takes the pressure off of me to do all the
work in bed.
Do you want to... you want to...
Or do you want to write it?
You know what? I'll get it.
There's a crispness to my
writing that I enjoy.
"Ellie... Klug."
Good night, girls.
So, uh... the design on this site is so...
Just sad.
There was a time, my little friend, when it was actually
difficult to build a website.
What are you finding?
There's a message board where
people post sightings.
All these people claim to have seen him?
Claim to, yes.
Here's one for you this year.
Should I e-mail?
It does not look like it, but we can comment on his post.
Send him my e-mail, ask for more info.
No, no, no. Wait, wait. don't.
Yeah, do, do.
Ellie?
I meant to call you.
Yeah?
I, uh... I just... i-i
couldn't write the feature.
Couldn't... couldn't write it this month?
What do you mean?
It just felt wrong... somehow.
Felt wrong?
What are you... what are you saying?
You're not gonna write it?
Okay. Is this because we kissed?
Whoop!
Uh, could you answer that, please?
Ellie Klug's desk.
Wow. Well, that sucks.
It's Giles.
Hey, can I call you back?
What's up?
How's the story going?
Well, I can't do it if you keep talking to me, can I?
Okay. I didn't know you had a son.
Ha ha. Very funny.
Back to work.
I don't even get, like, a
blurb?
I don't even get, like, a little side blurb, like, the blurb
underneath the blurb?
What do you want me to do?
I don't know.
Apologize, maybe.
Okay. Okay.
I'm sorry. I really am sorry.
Well, apology accepted... Hesitantly.
Do you want to go out
sometime?
Hey, look, if you're not gonna write the story, we might as well, right?
What? No.
Yeah.
Listen, whatever you think is gonna happen...
Yeah?
Is not gonna happen.
No? So, you're gonna crush my dreams and then you're not gonna give me a date?
Oh, you seem fine to me.
I'm not fine.
I'm broken.
So... who's, uh... Who's the looker?
That is not intern-level Intel... Sir.
He says that's Matthew.
Could be anybody.
He's in Washington... Hobart, I
guess.
He wants 1,000 bucks.
Oh, I know. I know.
I know we don't do that, so...
don't do what?
Hmm? Pay for sources.
Pay for sources? What are we?
The national enquirer?
We don't pay for sources.
I can't believe you'd actually make...
That kind of suggestion.
I could get fired.
Uh... he wants cash.
So, listen, I've been doing a
lot of serious thinking, and, uh, all joking aside, i-i think
I'm willing to give you a second
chance.
Clearly, all those years of playing music have left you with
a serious hearing problem.
Come on. What is it?
Is it me? Is it my music?
Is my face funny-looking?
I mean, what? Give me something.
Nope. Yeah.
I don't know.
"No, yes, I don't know."
What? I didn't get any of that.
Musicians, I mean, men...
Toxic to me, and you're both, so it's... It's... it's not
personal.
It's not personal.
How can you say that's not personal?
Shit.
Hey.
I need your help.
Shoot.
I need you to come with me
tomorrow morning to interview this guy who says he knows where
Matthew is.
I can't.
I got groundwater thing.
Oh, come on.
don't make me go alone.
And Angela's finally going with me, and you know she hates
my "causes."
Hello? Excuse me.
Yes. I see you. Yeah.
Oh, no! Fuck!
Shit!
I promise it's gonna be fine.
No, I am gonna get fired
or... fucking sued or both.
Giles isn't gonna do that to you.
He already basically said that I'm irrelevant.
Ellie, please call and get it over with.
Oh, yes, and in other news... Who's Lucius?
It's... can you read?
It's Lucas.
Lucas. I'm sorry.
It's the singer that I didn't do the story on.
He keeps... and I keep...
Well, what'd he say?
Did you listen to it?
Should you listen to it?
Well, then delete it because you
know how it plays out.
What about that guy?
What guy?
The rich guy from the... the
fundraiser at the bar.
Oh, god. Charlie?
Yeah, he likes you, and he's got money.
And... and he can help you.
No. No way.
No... no way.
I am not doing that.
Well, you should.
I have some pride.
So, you think he's still
alive.
Yeah, I do.
He just ditched you?
Well, I mean, not ditched, but...
And then disappeared, never to be heard from again?
Yeah, except maybe for this
guy who says he saw him in a bar a few months ago.
Wow.
This is really interesting to me.
Okay. I'll give you the money to find that guy.
You will? Oh, really?
Mm-hmm.
But it's conditional.
Okay?
Lately, I've been taking some
documentary-filmmaking courses at a local junior college.
I've been looking for something that really speaks to me.
Speaks to me... right here.
Okay, so you want to do a
story about Matthew.
No. I want to do a
documentary about you trying to
find Matthew.
No, no, no.
I don't want to be in your documentary.
And I don't want to just give you $1,000.
What do you think?
Jesus. What's this?
What the hell is this?
Well, anyone who makes movies
has one of these, so this one is
I did.
They just delivered it.
What do you think?
Uh... permission to board granted,
my lady.
You know how to drive, right?
What are you doing?
Interviewing you.
What? Now?
Why not?
It's for the documentary.
Because I'm basically driving
a submarine on wheels and I'm
not exactly a strong driver, so...
Well, let me just tell you...
You are piloting this submarine
on wheels brilliantly.
Interview 1, take 1... Ellie Klug.
And... action.
Okay.
Uh... so... so, Matthew Smith's
music is unique in that it was a
blend of... cut! What is that?
That's, uh... I mean, I don't really care about that.
Is that, like, music criticism or something?
Yeah, that's what I do.
Right.
Well, I don't care about that.
And I'm fairly certain that anybody that views this
documentary won't care, either.
You know what?
I think I'm just gonna focus on
the road here... if that's okay with you.
Okay. Hostile interview.
Cut.
You know what?
I'm just gonna get some, uh,
various shots of the landscape.
You know, we call it "b" roll
in, uh, filmmaking.
It's for editing.
You're not gonna understand it.
It's over your head.
This better be the right way.
How you feeling?
Uh... anxious.
You know, it'd be good for me and the documentary film that we're
shooting if you could expound on your feelings and whatnot.
I don't want to expound on it, okay?
I'm anxious.
It's been a long time.
Okay. There he is. That's him.
That... that's Matthew?
What? No.
- Hey. - Hi.
- Joshua? - Yes.
You, uh... you guys want to have a seat?
No. I'd invite you in, but, uh,
the place is kind of a mess.
So, that... that... that
video you sent, where was that recorded?
Yeah. Um... can I ask... Did... did you
bring the money?
I'm sorry to ask up front like this.
It's just I've been burned
before, you know?
So I thought if we'd just get this out of the way, then we'll
be more comfortable.
Sure. Uh, well, actually,
maybe I can give you, uh, half
now and then half when your
information leads to Matthew.
Okay, yeah. Sounds fair.
Okay.
Great. Thanks.
So, I mean, what was it about
this guy that made you think it was Matthew?
Hang on a second.
Hang on.
Whoa.
What's this about?
Oh, we're making a documentary about this.
Great.
Rolling.
Let me, uh... let me tidy up the scene for
you.
So... you said you knew where... Where Matthew was?
Oh, yeah.
He, uh... he lives close by.
Where is he, exactly?
Uh... do you want me to just go get him?
You know what?
I'll... I'll go get him.
Just stay put.
He lives like 10 minutes away, 10 minutes's walk.
Uh, so I'll just grab him and come right back.
Should we come with you?
Uh, no.
Well, he doesn't know I'm coming, so I'll... I'll just grab him.
We'll be right back.
Just, uh, hang tight.
Just make... make yourself at home.
Be right back.
We trust you... sir!
Oh, great. Lucas.
Is it all the way out?
Yes.
Does it look cool?
There's so many switches in here, it's like a spaceship.
Kidding me?
Charlie?
What's going on here?
Uh, we're just... we're just waiting for... For Joshua to
come back.
Joshua?
The guy that lives in that trailer.
He was just here.
don't no one live in that trailer, 'cause I know who live
in my trailer.
It sure looked like he lived
in there.
This is your trailer?
I'm gonna need you off my property.
Okay.
Well... yep. Yep. Yep.
We're out of here.
Have a great night.
Maybe we should call the police.
What are they gonna do?
Apart from arrest me for being
completely... naive and stupid.
Well, the good news is... you can take your time paying me
back.
Of course, I'll have to charge
you interest.
Please tell me you're joking.
Charlie?
Yes, I'm joking.
But we're not gonna quit,
okay?
This is nowhere near the end of
it.
Uh... this is a complete and
utter dead end.
We have the video.
The video is just some stupid bait.
You can't even see who's really
playing.
Come on.
Listen to me.
You have an obligation to your
story, to your magazine, and,
most importantly, to me to complete a documentary film that
we set out to make.
And I don't have enough footage, okay?
I have like three minutes, and
most of it is him running away up that hill.
Well, i-i am not an investigative reporter.
I am a music critic.
I don't know what the hell I'm doing, so...
Then let's find someone who does.
This is a note he... he left me.
This is the last
communication he had with you?
Yes.
"Babe, well, it's been a run,
honey, a real run, a sprint at
times.
Does this got to be?
Yeah, for me, and I say for you.
I'm in a dark place.
You know, what comes up must come down.
I know you understand.
Matthew."
What do you think?
What is he talking about?
I don't know.
It's just... it's him.
But he says, "I know you understand."
Well, I don't.
I don't think it's useful.
don't you want to analyze it or something?
Why?
I don't know.
Just, like, figure out where the paper was manufactured or
analyze his handwriting.
I don't know.
What? Do you think it's not his handwriting?
No. It is.
You know what?
We have a video.
It's crude, but it's a documentation of sorts.
Okay, yeah.
Okay, I have this video of him singing.
Well, it sounds like him.
Maybe you can take a look at it, maybe you can take a look at it,
like, isolate the voice or something.
I-i think you have some wrong
expectations about what I do.
I follow people.
Living people.
Would you like this back?
You don't need it?
No.
You know, I think maybe I should take on your case.
You can't take on the case because you're not a private detective, Charlie.
We need to go back to the
beginning, back to the scene of the crime.
And this one... it's a move that
I invented.
It's a pistol whip.
A gunslinger whip.
A gunslinger tilt.
You ready?
Action.
How old were you when you met Matthew Smith?
I was 16.
In the interest of
documentary filmmaking, just elaborate.
I was 16 when I met Matthew Smith.
Here at this camp.
Mm... that was a little dry, emotionally.
Want to try it again?
This is where we had our first kiss.
Really? How was it?
Too much tongue.
I mean, neither of us knew what
we were doing.
We got much better at it over time.
That was it? Just kissing?
Yeah. That was a big deal for me back then.
I wasn't exactly... confident.
Nobody here was.
Why?
Why weren't you confident?
It was, uh... it was...
It was a weight-loss camp.
Weight-loss camp? Hang on.
You met at fat camp?
It's not funny, Charlie.
Fat camp.
Fat camp is a little funny.
Stop saying "fat camp."
Well, did they call it something else, like
k-a-m-p p-h-a-t?
Come here.
This is where we he wrote his first song.
Performed it at talent night.
Oh, god, it was really beautiful.
Yeah?
What'd you do?
I cried.
No, f-for talent night.
Oh. I, uh... I hula-hooped.
Did you terrify small children?
Shut up.
After camp, you know, we said
we'd stay in touch.
Yeah. He wrote me these...
Really beautiful letters.
Is that enough?
You know, I got to figure out
how to get this footage on to my new editing system.
Or you know what?
Maybe I can just edit on here.
That was weird.
I don't think you're letting
yourself see the new me.
Charlie, neither of us are new.
!
I just think that you and I could...
Okay, don't do take this
personally, but I'm not looking.
Seriously, I'm... I'm not.
That's cool.
It's totally cool.
That's a gracious rejection.
I don't know why I'd take that personal.
I'm gonna hit the hay.
I'll take the rear bunk.
And you're in the, uh, forward deck.
Okay. Solo.
Good night.
Night.
Ready? Ready?
And... action.
This is where Matthew first
started playing.
Man, he loved it here.
I used to, uh... I used to sneak out of college to come see him.
Then we'd go on the road together and...
Yeah, it was a lot of fun.
Actually, you know what?
It... it wasn't that much fun.
Everybody wanted him, and it was
like I got into some kind of
fucked-up conga line.
Was this the place?
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Uh, they found his car over
there.
That's a long way down.
No one could survive that... No one.
Charlie.
I'm sorry. My bad.
I think that Matthew may have
been left-handed.
Yeah, he was.
Really?
Mm.
So, did you know Matthew Smith?
I knew him.
I mean, I didn't know him, know him, but i-i-i knew him.
I mean, if I've seen the inside of his house, I've seen the
inside of his house, but a lot
of people have seen the inside of that guy's house.
He was hugely talented.
Hugely.
What does... what does what does... What does Matthew Smith's music mean to
you?
He was a huge influence on my
music, all my friends's music...
Maybe all music, I mean, music itself.
People talk about Cobain, but fuck Cobain.
He could have been so much more.
He could have been our
generation's... voice.
There's people that kind of
come and go in the music scene
whose "ghosts" always live on, you know?
And he's definitely one of them.
I mean, you guys... you guys
were pretty tight, right?
We got wasted a couple times.
And did he ever seem like he, you know, just wanted to...
Disappear?
What the hell do I know?
I bounce drunks.
Lucas.
There she is. How you doing?
Yeah, good.
Uh, Lucas... uh, this is Lucas.
Lucas, this is Charlie.
He's making a documentary I'm helping him with.
How's it going?
Good.
Um... man, you never called me back.
Yeah. I just, uh... yeah.
These things happen.
Hey, you should, uh... you should at least have one of
these.
Here, you too, man.
No, sir.
When did you get these made?
Uh, last week, actually.
These look really good.
Yeah?
Yeah. Good for you.
Thanks very much.
Hey, if you guys are free tonight, you should come down
the street.
I'm playing a little gig on the
stage, so not just a sidewalk
and drunk people yelling at me.
Yeah, sure. Why not? Yeah.
Do you want to?
Of course.
You should come, too, man.
Wait. What?
You... you want to come, Charlie, or...
Now?
We're... we're quitting?
I think we're good for tonight.
I mean, if you guys are doing your thing, you know, maybe I'll see you.
I don't want to...
Let's go. Go with you now.
All right, cool. Then...
Hey, see you later, Doug.
Um, good luck with the doc, man.
What just happened, man?
Thank you, guys.
Um, okay, this is a new one,
and, uh, I haven't really played
it before live, so we'll see how it goes.
But, uh, I wrote it for someone special.
I know that sounds cheesy, but,
uh, it's true.
I want you to be my permanent
alarm clock.
Sure. Just follow you around...
Singing all the time.
Yeah.
Wow. Someone singing songs
written about me.
Hasn't happened in a long time.
Actually, um, I didn't... I
didn't write that one about you.
Oh, my god.
No, i-i-i wrote it for this,
uh, guy I met in prison.
His name's Bobby. "Big Bob."
Big Bob?
Big bog.
Big Bobby.
Big Bob was a sweetheart.
Here we are.
Wow.
Yeah.
What are we gonna do today?
I don't know.
Well, you know what?
I-i think we should do something
really stupid.
Like, really stupid.
Let's do this!
Oh, my god! Oh, my god!
Terrible, terrible idea.
Oh, my god.
You're a madman.
What was that?
Put something on. Here.
I can't feel my testicles.
That outfit is... fantastic.
Man, you got a lot of records.
And, by the way, who the hell still has cds?
I do.
That is a lot of cds.
Man, it is crazy that you used to hang with him.
Like, you used to hang out with Matthew Smith.
Yeah, well... that's insane.
Dude's, like, my idol.
No kidding.
And why did he kill himself?
It's like if I had half the
talent that this guy had...
That is the best song.
"Inside"? I love that song.
I used to listen to that song on
repeat in eighth grade.
Hi. You guys ready to order?
Uh... the salad.
The dressing.
Yes?
Does that have dairy?
I can check for you.
I'm extremely lactose-intolerant.
If it has dairy, uh, I can't have it anywhere near me.
Okay.
Also, I will have the toast, but you'll need to burn that
because I cannot ingest live gluten.
Okay, so, I'll... I'll just take the, uh... the burger,
medium-rare, please.
Thank you.
So, I met a sound specialist who thinks he might be able to
do something with the video.
Hmm.
I think I might be a better
investigative journalist than I
am a documentary filmmaker.
Well, Ellie, I think I have
found the woman that I am going
to spend the rest of my life
with, until they crank my coffin
into a coffin-sized hole.
Wow. That was fast.
Love happens, it happens.
Are you shocked?
I'm... I'm... no, I'm happy for you.
Thank you.
Yeah, I really am.
Her name is Charlotte.
She's fun. She's beautiful.
She's young.
She's amazing.
And I know she's the one.
I have a way of telling now.
Oh, really? How?
I've devised a system that can apply to any couple.
It goes like this.
If the relationship can be
summed up in a single sentence, it will never survive.
I'll give you an example.
The previous relationship, our
single sentence was, "she is the
lost child to my father figure."
In another one, I was the exotic
aesthete to her Midwestern homebody.
Exotic aesthete?
And with another, "she is my
every sexual fantasy, but she just wants her bare bottom
spanked."
Right. So, you're saying it works with you and Charlotte
because there's not one sentence that describes you.
Exactly.
And what about you and Matthew?
I was the carpenter to his
unfixable... fixer-upper.
"Can't save nobody."
It's a famous saying.
An enormous earthquake hit
Kabanjahe, Indonesia, two days ago.
There are probably over 500
animals that have died.
Most of these animals will,
unfortunately, go without proper
burial.
We need to aid these souls, help
them transition into the next
stage of their existence.
So please remember today, heart to heart...
Soul to soul... paw to paw.
Charlie has told me all about
your search for Matthew Smith.
I was a huge fan of his in junior high school.
You know, originally, I
volunteered to help Ellie find Matthew because I wanted to have
sex with her.
Jesus! That's not... that's
not true.
It's fine.
I'm not threatened.
You shouldn't be.
Look at the house.
Look at how she's completely made it over.
It's just aglow with love and
warmth and that dream catcher.
She's got a great eye, not
unlike my mother... except, you
know, Charlotte's alive and gorgeous.
That sounds like your sentence.
Oh, come on.
By the way, what are you and...
La... lagary... Lucas. His name is Lucas.
What are you and Lucas doing
I don't know.
Well, Charlotte and I have
something wonderful to celebrate.
don't we, my dear?
Celebrate?
Her lips are like tiny sugar pillows.
That's lovely.
Oh, my god.
That thing is huge!
Look at that.
That is beautiful.
You guys are coming, right?
Uh... to the wedding?
Yeah. Yeah. When is it?
Next week.
Oh, god.
What? Uh, wow.
That's... it's really great.
That's really kind of... Exciting.
Well, when you know, you know, and we know.
So, I'm chartering a jet and
we're flying over, and you got to come with us.
You have a private jet?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, we'll... we'll fly on your private jet, sure.
Of course, you know, I've really been trying to get
Charlie to enjoy objects more.
I just... I think it would be good for him, you know, because
we're in such a golden era of materialism.
And we all have a slot to fill
in the world, and until you
learn to fill that slot, you're just... You're fighting against
the natural order.
You'll never be completely at peace.
I've been studying all about this.
Oh, wow.
So, there's... there's, like, papers written on this?
Oh, yeah, tons.
Are they written in crayon?
That's really insulting.
No, they're not in crayon.
Charlie has rich-man's guilt.
I do?
Mm-hmm.
Even your... your documentary
filmmaking is an effect of your misalignment.
Right.
Documentaries... they're a platform for the poor.
They should be by poor people,
for poor people, about poor people.
You know, I once saw this little film online, and it was,
uh, made by a monkeys, about monkeys, for monkeys.
That's not true, is it?
The whole thing's like 10 seconds long, and it's just
this shaking camera with occasional glimpses of, like, a
banana and other monkeys.
And then the camera breaks.
That's... not funny at all.
That would be animal cruelty.
Right.
It was just a funny little...
It's just a... video.
The golden age of materialism?
What?
She's kind of crazy, right?
Thank you for being nice.
Yeah. When am I not nice?
You're the one who can't fake it.
You look really cute tonight.
Thanks, baby.
What's going on?
Are you nervous about your
meeting?
Hmm? No.
You don't need to be.
I mean, he's gonna love you.
No, it's gonna be good.
Thank you for hooking that up.
Of course.
You don't have to thank me.
You're up, champ.
Thanks, bud.
Glory hole is stall 3.
Wow.
It's exciting, isn't it?
What?
Love.
Me, Charlotte.
You, Lucas.
You guys are gonna have a great time at the wedding.
And I'm gonna tell Charlotte to
throw the bouquet at you as hard
as she can.
So, what is going on?
What do you got for me?
Well, yeah, it's coming along.
Ellie, your deadline is next week.
Can I just get a little, tiny progress report, please?
Okay. Uh, well, if you... if
you have to know, the truth is... I, uh...
I'm kind of seeing somebody, so
my time is... oh, for god's sake.
I could give a shit.
Honey, the story.
What... what's going on with the story?
You know, what happened with the
Internet guy?
What Internet guy?
The guy that I gave $1,000 to
because he knew where Matthew was.
That guy.
Oh, yeah.
Uh, that guy.
Uh... funny thing.
People on the Internet... they
aren't always honest.
Huh.
And I want to state for the
record that I had my doubts from the beginning.
So, what else have you tried?
What do you mean?
Like, have I found Matthew?
Is that what you're asking?
'Cause, I mean, you said it...
He may not even be out there.
Did our conversation just have no effect on you
whatsoever?
Because here's the deal, honey.
I just... I cannot cover for you
anymore while you self-destruct
over some idiot fucking musician.
My magazine is on the line here.
Okay, I need you to do three
things, all right?
Get your shit together.
Find Matthew.
Write a very good story about it.
Or what?
You'll fire me?
That's right.
Hey. Come on in.
I was just running.
Really weird.
It was good.
The meeting was really, really...
Oh, god, yeah. What happened?
I think, uh... I think I'm flying to L.A. tomorrow, yeah.
Oh, my god.
And they want to set up a
bunch of meetings and shows and, uh...
Wow! Ahh! That's amazing!
Crazy!
I cannot believe it.
Wow. Wait.
Uh, when... when will you be back?
Uh... I don't know.
Oh, um... Charlie's wedding.
Yeah.
What... what day is it?
Saturday.
But he's gonna fly us over on
Friday.
So, that's fine.
I'll just fly in and meet you Saturday.
Okay.
Yeah. What was that?
What?
What was that?
I'm gonna make the wedding.
I know.
I am.
And I'm gonna call you every
day.
Okay.
Name a day, any day.
Monday.
I'm gonna call you Monday.
Name another day.
Thursday.
Yeah, Thursday's bad for me.
Fuck you!
I'm gonna call you Thursday.
I'm glad we're back to work
on the, uh, documentary.
Nice to have the distraction.
What's the latest on the, uh,
wunderkind?
I figured it out.
I am the industry-wise transition girlfriend to his
soon-to-be model-fucking teen heartthrob.
Ooh. Your sentence.
I'm sorry.
This is, uh... well, this is the house where Matthew grew up.
Who do you think lives there
now?
Apparently, nobody.
I mean, no one answered when I knocked.
I know how to break into his room.
Done that before.
This used to be easier.
There is a door here... That's unlocked.
Let's just... let's go in this door.
It's exactly as I remember it.
It even smells the same.
Luckily, for the documentary,
I don't have smell-o-vision.
This is where I lost my virginity.
Maybe that shouldn't go on
record.
Oh, no. That's great.
That's just the kind of, uh,
detail we're looking for in
hard-hitting documentary filmmaking.
How was it?
Eh. What do you expect for the first time?
How was yours?
Oh, man.
I lost my virginity about 200 or 300 times.
Uh... just answer the question.
All right.
If you must know, I was 14.
It was our 46-year-old Jamaican housekeeper.
What?!
She was very tender.
She had a lot of moles.
Okay, thank you.
Hey, I'm gonna leave you and
the ghost of Matthew alone for a second.
I got to pee.
Holy shit.
I don't know he had these.
Hey, I just found a bunch of issues of Stax.
I think he was a subscriber from I think he was a subscriber from way back.
His mom must have... shit.
Ellie?
Mr. Smith.
What are you doing in my house?
Uh, I just... i-i knocked on the door, and there... there was
no answer, so I... So you broke in.
Well, I thought you might have moved or...
Oh, for the love of god.
Check it out... potty cam.
Who the hell is this?
This is, um... this is
Charlie.
He and I are making a documentary together.
A documentary?
Oh. On that?
This is cutting-edge Japanese technology, sir.
I am... I am so sorry we broke in.
Obviously, it was a very stupid
idea.
I just want to apologize again.
I mean, it must be unpleasant to
be reminded of everything.
Yeah.
You guys know the way.
Yes.
And you have a beautiful home.
It's really lovely.
He always hated me.
Really? Why?
Yeah. I don't know.
He... he didn't want Matthew to be famous, and I think he
thought I encouraged Matthew too much with his music.
He held me responsible when...
He rebelled and left home and,
eventually, when he...
Would you come back with me
to my house?
I have something for the wedding
being delivered.
Ooh! Your tux?
No.
The ring?
No.
What? Cake?
No.
Lingerie?
No.
What is it?
$2,400. It's all there.
Is it one of those things you can't get water on?
Uh, it's Galagos bush baby.
He's endangered, though, right?
'Cause that's the more expensive one?
Yeah, it's a girl, actually, but, yes.
Does she get lonely in there?
Galagos is not puppies.
They don't want love.
They just want to be left alone.
Lucky them.
Oh, Lucas, it's, uh...
You-know-who calling you
again... and again and again.
Uh... just call me.
When do you start serving?
Good. Come in.
Oh, you look so nice.
Thank you.
You look quite elegant yourself.
Oh, yeah, that's me.
Have a seat.
What's happening?
Oh. I just needed to talk
about something before I actually go through with this.
I'm not a religious guy, so I
hope you don't mind sitting in for my confession.
I'd be honored.
It's dark and sordid.
Really?
No, not at all.
I'm excited.
You know, after I got
divorced, I went through...
A period of... failed relationships.
And now, recently, I see you and
Lucas, realize that something's missing in my life.
So I did something out
character, something I'd never done before.
I called an escort service.
You'd never done that before?
No, no.
I was always too afraid that something would go wrong.
Worry about diseases or... Of course.
They're everywhere.
No, it was more the protocol of it all.
If you don't take up all your
time, do you get to snuggle for the rest of the hour?
Or if you need more time, do you pay extra?
If you run over, is there a
bell, and they just shove you off of them?
There's a bell?
As it turns out, there was
not a bell, which was a relief.
But one night... There was a knock at the
door, and I opened it.
And... and there stood Charlotte.
Wow.
I thought she was a socialite.
Like, all the charity work
and... she loves animals.
She has a big heart.
She wasn't cut out for that life.
She said that I was her first
client as a prostitute.
I'm not naive, but... yeah.
Anyway, I love her.
And, uh... I'm gonna marry her.
I don't know, Ellie.
I know I'm not a deep guy, but
I'm not a shallow guy, either.
Eh, what can I say?
Life's pretty weird.
I got to agree.
So, here before your family
and friends and everyone who
knows you best, I pronounce
you husband and wife.
You may kiss the each other.
Where's Lucas?
I haven't heard from him in two days.
Well, just pick somebody out.
There's a lot of guys here, a lot of available man cake.
You can do a lot of damage
with some of these guys.
Charlie.
Come on. Piece of man cake.
You see that big hunk of
rock 'n' roll man back there?
Are you calling him rock 'n' roll because of his hair?
No, seriously, that's my buddy Craig.
He's a good guy.
I'll hook it up.
No. Charlie, no.
Why not?
He's a good guy.
You and Craig.
Charlie, no.
You and Craig.
You and Craig!
Yes, I have the jaw of a superhero.
Yes, I could light up a dark room with my smile.
Yes, I have the hair of an '80s rock star.
But this... this is what I'm really proud of.
This is god-given.
I can't do anything about this, but this, I feel, is... is
something that I've... I've earned through hard work and determination.
And I'll tell you something else that I think is going to impress
you.
What is that?
I am 14 credits away from an
online degree... from the
university of Phoenix no less...
To be a therapist.
Wow.
A licensed, accredited therapist.
Okay. I am gonna let you give me a free like five-minute
consultation.
How do you feel about that?
Oh, yeah.
Okay, so, I have this
boyfriend... or maybe had.
And, uh, well, he was supposed
to meet me here.
But I think the gig is up.
Ah! See?
Now, why do you call it a gig?
See, gig is a very temporary term.
It's very, uh, transient.
It's here today, gone tomorrow.
I think that you get on that
stage knowing that you're going
to get off that stage quickly.
Quickly, like maybe after a
couple of songs, hmm?
Are we, uh... are they still serving?
I mean, either whiskey or cake
or... something sweet.
Oh, here we go.
Charlie, what is this?
Well, Charlotte, it's
something that I know you've always wanted and thought you
would never, ever get in this lifetime.
From the Galapagos islands in
the south pacific...
It's so beautiful!
Oh, god. Is it dead?
Oh.
Oh, shit.
Hey. Surprise.
What are you doing here?
Uh... this... this was our
plan... I thought.
You didn't... you didn't even show.
You didn't call me back.
Yeah, well, I got held up.
Well, some of us know some of
us.
Um, who is this?
He's sort of my... therapist.
Great.
You two should probably talk.
No, no, no.
You stay right there.
I mean, what could possibly be
said that could make this any
better, you know?
Yeah, all right.
So, I should stay?
No.
Well, I heard about you and
Lucas... and Craig.
I don't even want to talk about it.
Look on the bright side.
At least you didn't give a dead
animal to somebody on their wedding day.
Guilty.
Come on.
It's a new day.
You know what you need to do.
You need to go back to work.
Need to get started looking for Matthew again, get back in the RV.
Or, you know what?
Just take a trip somewhere.
It's on me.
How about that?
Charlie... that's fucking ridiculous.
I'm just trying to help you
out.
I know you feel bad about last
night, and I'm... I just want to be your friend.
You're only my friend 'cause
you had a thousand bucks when I needed it.
I didn't mean that.
Came out the wrong way.
Did it?
Charlie... oh, fuck. Charlie... .
"Ellie, I think we could have
been something special, but what's done is done.
Here's the money you wouldn't
let me return."
Holy shit.
"It paid for my demo, so thank
you.
Take care.
Lucas."
Ellie, your deadline came and
went weeks ago.
You know, this business, it's fickle enough.
I would be absolutely justified never publishing another word
from you, based on the way
you've been screwing me around.
Whiskey and a beer.
Hey, you cannot be going dark
on me like that.
Yeah.
No, this is what I was worried about.
What?
No guy, just you wallowing.
I'm working!
I was getting so close to figuring this out.
Okay, what is this shit?
This song.
It's Matthew. It is.
And he's singing... singing about me... I mean, us.
Listen.
I tracked the I.P. Address where this e-mail came from,
when the guy sent me this, but it's just some fucking library
computer.
And I just... ugh!
I know that I'm just not thinking of something.
I mean, he's out there, singing
about me, wanting me to find him.
Okay, but, Ellie, don't you think he'd just call you?
Him?
No.
God. He was such a dick.
Hey, listen... don't... Fuck you.
Oh, wait. Fuck me?
Yeah, fuck you.
Oh, all right, cool.
Um, listen... you need to stop
this shit, okay?
Excuse me.
Hey. I am working.
Okay, it's not work, all right?
You're in crazy town!
Listen to me.
Listen!
All right, you have to stop this.
Okay.
Please, please, please let go,
please let go, please let go!
I want you to look at him...
Okay?... and remember him for
the shithead that he was.
Is!
Was/is.
Holy shit.
Yeah.
Holy fucking shit.
Yeah, tough stuff.
I love you.
I love you, too.
Oh, my god.
Wait. What?
Oh, god.
Where's Charlotte?
Have a seat.
Before you apologize... and I
assume that's why you're here...
I have something I'd like to say to you.
Okay.
I only had good intentions toward you.
I didn't deserve to be treated the way I was treated.
I know, I know.
I... I was totally out of line.
Sometimes I can be a jackass.
Mm. Yeah.
I wasn't necessarily asking
you to agree with that specific point.
I am really sorry, Charlie.
Really sorry.
Thank you.
I believe you.
So, you asked about Charlotte.
Yeah.
Yeah, well, Charlotte and I are done.
Wow. What happened?
We had some issues.
What kind of issues?
You know, "issues."
You couldn't get it up?
Why is that always the assumption?
No.
I could get it up.
But there were some bigger issues.
Like what?
That she was already married.
No.
Yeah.
Wow.
I don't know... what to say.
There's no logic to love.
It's just a painful, brutal
process of trial and error.
And you just go through it again
and again and again.
And again and again and again.
And again.
Well, I think I might have something... That will take your
mind off Charlotte for a little while, at least.
Okay.
Think I've... I really found him.
"Him"?
Matthew.
Matthew?
Really?
Mm-hmm. I've rented a car.
And I would very much appreciate your help.
I'm ready to hit the road again.
Okay. Remember in Matthew's house, he had all these back
issues of Stax?
Mm.
Right? So, according to the subscriber database, it's never been dropped.
Just the address was changed to the bar.
So, his mom got him the subscription back in high
school, but I think he's just
kept it in her name all this time.
Mm. Huh.
This is good.
This is good investigative journalism.
Good.
Why, thank you.
You're welcome.
Check these out.
Got them on an online spy store.
See?
A camera and a microphone.
And no matter what I look at, you can see it on the screen.
Like, look.
Gonna pan right... And then pan left.
Stop looking at my tits.
Okay.
I just happened to be looking over there.
I was... I like your scarf.
How is it you don't like music?
It's not so much that I don't like music.
Um... it's just hard to find a song
that doesn't annoy me.
Well, what do you like?
I remember liking a Canadian artist.
Leonard Cohen?
No.
Neil young?
No.
Rufus Wainwright?
No.
Okay. So, listen, when we're finished with all this, you should come over to my
apartment, and I'll... I'll play
you some stuff. I'll... Bryan Adams.
I remember, on the album cover,
he's doing this... this pose,
like a guy... like, running across the street.
I thought that was kind of cool.
Mm. Mm.
Well, that's it. That's a start.
Wait.
Someone's going in.
Oh, yeah, it's the bartender.
Should we go?
No, no, no. Just give her...
Give her a few minutes.
I have been thinking, what was our sentence?
Hmm?
What was our sentence when we were dating?
I know... two dates doesn't...
It doesn't really count as dating anyway.
Anyway, let's go.
We should probably...
First?
I think you should.
And, you know, settle in, and then I'll wander in.
She won't know we're together.
Okay. All right.
Remember, I'm filming.
How could I forget?
Hi.
What can I get you?
Could I get a clean glass, a
bottle of water, and a whole lime, please?
A whole lime?
Please.
Hey.
I'm actually looking for someone.
I was hoping you could help me.
His name's Matthew... Matthew Smith.
Matthew Smith?
Mm-hmm.
Matthew Smith...
Isn't that the dude that killed
himself over at the falls?
Well, I mean... yeah, but... He...
I was told, you know, he used to
play here a lot and... Probably. I...
I don't know.
Sorry.
Okay.
No, no. Thanks.
Thanks anyway.
Hey.
Yeah.
I'm just gonna mosey along.
There she is.
Let's go.
You're really good at this.
You know that last night,
when they found his car out by the falls?
I fucking... I just drove out there like a maniac.
And I stood there with the cops,
just waiting.
I feel like that's what I'm still doing.
So... should we wait a little longer?
Just until the morning?
Yeah, it's much better to confront the demons of your past
in the harsh, unforgiving light
of early dawn.
Yeah.
Definitely.
Yeah.
So... we have this item.
This is an ancient weapon,
purely designed to protect you from the detritus of your
relationships past.
It's a powerful weapon.
Do you require a demonstration?
So... mm. Mm!
Mmmm!
It makes your face light up like
Satan's concubine.
You are so weird.
Ellie.
Ellie, wake up.
Is that Matthew?
Is that him?
I can't tell.
What do you want to do?
Do you want to go?
No.
This is... this is weird now.
Are you okay?
Yeah.
Well...
Please turn the camera off.
Thank you.
Hi.
What... oh, god.
I... I don't even...
Hey, Matthew, we're gonna go... Oh.
Sara, this is Ellie.
Hi.
Hey, there.
I'm Charlie.
I, uh... I saw your dad.
Wow.
Yeah.
I haven't seen him in a long, long time.
I don't think he was very happy to see me.
He's not very happy.
I heard your... your new song.
Heard the new song?
Yeah, you played at a bar
around here somewhere.
No.
No new songs.
You look great, kid.
So, do you guys... want to
come in for coffee or something?
I would really enjoy some delicious coffee.
Thank you.
We can't stay.
We can't stay, actually.
It's really nice to meet you.
Bye, Matthew.
We can go to the park.
Yeah? Yeah? Yes?
You all right?
Yeah.
Talk about it in a sec.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, you're heavy.
You may want to hang on to this.
Everything's still in it that I shot.
If you want it, you can have it.
We all have someone like Matthew Smith.
We spend thousands of hours
wondering, imagining, and
re-creating our time with them.
We look backwards to avoid going forwards.
But at a certain point, it's
time to stop singing that old
song and write a new tune.
I'd be... pretty embarrassed to walk in
here if I were you.
Your deadline?
It came and went weeks ago.
I had to push a total piece-of-shit story to the cover because of you.
I need people I can rely on, Ellie.
This business is fickle enough.
I mean, your story, it's... It was okay.
It was pretty good.
It's good.
You know, it's very good.
I recognize this... this chick.
Are you sure you want to reveal this much about yourself?
It's just as much about your
defects as it is about Matthew.
I mean, it's like a goddamn confession.
Yeah, well, I've... I've decided to...
Embrace my defects, so...
Part of the package.
I got to admit, you really had me going with all that, you
know, "Matthew is alive" stuff.
Yeah, well, we can all close the book on that one now.
So, I'm thinking about using
it to, um... launch our first digital issue.
Wait. What?
Oh, yeah. The last paper edition went out last month, but
I know that you're not concerned
with such mundane... matters.
Did I tell you that they want
me to add a lifestyle section?
What does that even mean?
I have no fucking idea.
I'm serious.
I'm proud of you.
I mean, you could've had reporters swarming to do a story
and labels trying to get him to
sign a new record deal, but you took the high road.
Yeah. What is wrong with me?
There's a lot wrong with you.
No, but that's...
You know, the list is getting...
Oh, thank you.
Smaller.
Oh, Jesus, I hope not.
Do you want to get food?
Uh, no, thanks.
I'm... I'm gonna go out for dinner later.
With who?
Lucas.
You're... what?
With Lucas?
"Lucius Lucas" Lucas?
No, this is... this is Lucas.
We hate him, right?
He's good.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
He is. He's talented.
Super-talented.
You don't have to do this.
I'm really happy for him.
No, I'm saying... that's what
I'm saying.
That's what I was saying.
I was like, "oh, my god, Lucius.
So stoked for him.
This song..."
You are an ass.
I'm serious.
Yeah!
Whoo!