- 23 hours ago
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Come with me to a place of wondrous contradictions, a place that is silent and unstirring, yet restless and alive,
00:10a place of untold peace and boundless dread.
00:16Come with me into the very cradle of darkness, where those who dwell, dwell alone.
00:30The reluctant subject of these photographs is rock and roll legend Nicky the Snakeman Van Hatter.
00:39Seven years ago, he walked away from the music business, trying to escape the public eye.
00:47And this is the public eye.
00:50Fran Rayburn, once a promising photojournalist, now scraping by as a third-rate paparazzo.
00:58But that's all about to change.
01:02These are amazing, Franny.
01:04They need like them.
01:05After all the years you've been stalking Van Hatter, not one clear shot of his face.
01:09What do you expect? The man makes Michael Jackson look like a press hound.
01:14And I resent the word stalking.
01:16What else would you call it?
01:18Oh, God, spare me the ethics lessons, Bear.
01:21Nicky Van Hatter was a drunk.
01:23The man electrocuted himself in his bathtub playing the guitar.
01:27What's happened to you, Franny? Once upon a time you had scruples.
01:30Well, once upon a time you and I were invited him.
01:33Things change, Bear.
01:35Come on. Buy a picture. For old time's sake.
01:40Sorry, Franny. No can do.
01:43All right, look. Your magazine's doing an obituary tribute, right?
01:47What do you think they'd pay for something special?
01:51Such as?
01:52Such as a recent shot of the snake man?
01:57How recent?
02:00Oh, say, post-mortem?
02:03For something that tasteless, that low, the sky's the limit.
02:08That's just what I wanted to hear.
02:11Eddie, no one knows where they're holding that body.
02:14Come on, baby. If anyone can find that funeral home.
02:17Come on, Billy. You owe me big time for that Madonna tip I gave you.
02:20Come on, Ziggy. Don't give me excuses. Give me an address.
02:24Yeah, trust me, sweetie. You know I'll take care of you. Yeah, bye.
02:28So sorry I startled you, Miss Rayburn.
02:30Who are you? How did you get in here?
02:32The door was open.
02:34Yeah, well, what do you want?
02:36Word has that you're looking for Nicholas Van Ladder's last remains.
02:39Maybe. What's it to you?
02:48That's good. I've taken him.
02:51Yeah, how do I know this is for real?
02:53Oh, it's real.
02:55A friend of mine drove the hearse.
03:00Security's tight.
03:02You won't get in without a cover story.
03:03Yeah, I'll come up with something.
03:05Maybe I can help you.
03:06A woman named Rose Delmotto used to do Mr. Van Ladder's makeup.
03:10They're expecting her tonight at nine.
03:12I believe I can arrange for you to take her place.
03:15Yeah, well, what's in it for you?
03:17Dedication to one's craft is such a rare quality these days.
03:20After all the years you've been hunting him down,
03:23I figure you should get what you deserve.
03:29Yeah, look, Mr, uh...
03:31Flash!
03:31Just call me Flash.
03:34Yeah, assuming this address checks out Mr. Flash,
03:38what's it gonna cost me?
03:40I trust you, Mr. Rayburn.
03:42You'll pay me what you think is fair.
03:47Ordinarily, Miss Delmotto, I do all the cosmetology,
03:52but the Van Adder people wanted a specialist.
03:57Did you know the deceased will?
03:59Well, you could say I was sort of like his shadow.
04:06It's an honor for our establishment
04:08to serve an artist to Mr. Van Adder's magnitude.
04:12I understand he had a passion for privacy.
04:16Rest assured, we'll do everything to protect it.
04:19I think you would have appreciated that.
04:21I was about to begin the embalming when you arrived.
04:24Don't let me stop you.
04:28As you know,
04:30we're making every effort to ensure
04:33that nothing mars the dignity of tomorrow's proceedings.
04:39As an additional precaution,
04:41we have iron round-the-clock security.
04:46We're aware that Mr. Van Adder's notoriety
04:50attracts vultures.
04:52Vultures?
04:54The media?
04:55They rarely gave him any rest in this life.
05:02Miss Delmotto?
05:05No, I'll be fine. Thanks.
05:12It's the smell of the formaldehyde.
05:14I'll get you a nice glass of water.
05:17Thanks, you're too kind.
05:22Hey, Nikki.
05:23Remember me?
05:26This time I expect your full cooperation.
05:31Hey, Nikki.
05:47Remember me?
05:56Goal.
05:57Ah!
06:05Here you are, Miss Delma.
06:08You're white as a sheet.
06:12Take deep breaths.
06:15Deep breaths.
06:16Thanks, I'll be fine.
06:17I'm sorry, it's the smell that gets to some people.
06:21Make yourself comfortable.
06:23I'll let you know when Mr. Van Ander's ready.
06:27Thanks.
06:48Barry Shepard.
06:49Hey, Bear. Guess where I am.
06:51In a supply closet right across from the embalming room.
06:55Let's start talking prices.
06:57Wait a minute. Don't tell me you're actually at the funeral home.
07:00I was thinking somewhere in the low six figures.
07:04I'll even throw in a candlelight dinner for two.
07:06I don't believe this.
07:07You mean you took a picture of his corpse?
07:10Let's just say I was interrupted.
07:12But I'll get the shot. Count on it.
07:14Franny, get out of there before you wind up in jail.
07:17Not until I've captured this snake man for posterity.
07:21Bye.
07:23Bye.
07:28I like to give the impression that they've just drifted off into a calm, restful sleep.
07:36That's Betsy.
07:37His guitar.
07:39They're to be buried together.
07:41I'll be in my office.
07:55Come on, Fran.
07:56Just relax.
07:57Come on.
08:08It's just in your head, Fran.
08:09It's just in your head.
08:11Dead rock stars don't open their eyes and sit up.
08:23So you're just letting your imagination run away with you, Fran.
08:26Just stay calm.
08:28You're going to get the shot.
08:29There's nothing to worry about.
08:35You're just stressed.
08:36You're tired.
08:37You're just hearing things.
08:41Just chill out, Fran.
08:43Just stay focused here.
08:54No.
08:58Shh.
09:01Shh.
09:03Shh.
09:03Shh.
09:03No.
09:04No.
09:08No!
09:09Oh.
09:11Oh.
09:13No.
09:22Mr. Deavers, we're not quite ready in there yet.
09:25Is everything all right?
09:27Of course, it's fine.
09:28I was just going back in to finish his makeup.
09:31No, he's not done yet.
09:33Mr. Del Matto, please step aside.
09:35No, he's not ready.
09:36Nikki's extremely sensitive about presentation.
09:46I owe you an apology.
09:49Don't worry about it.
09:53Well, since this is the way he wanted to be remembered, I think he's ready for caskading.
10:04I know Mr. Markov will be pleased with your work.
10:07Who?
10:08Mr. Van Adder's business manager?
10:11Yeah, right.
10:11I'm sure.
10:12Mr. Deavers, business manager, of course.
10:14I guess this just about wraps it up for me.
10:19Don't worry about me, I'll find my own way out.
10:34Jim?
10:48Yeah?
10:49Hey, Barry.
10:50You're never going to believe this.
10:52Franny, don't tell me you're still there.
10:53The man is not dead.
10:55I mean, he is, but he isn't.
10:57What are you talking about?
10:58He's sitting up.
10:59He's opening his eyes.
11:00He's playing riffs on his guitar.
11:02It's like he won't sit still for a picture.
11:04Did somebody put acid in your Irish coffee?
11:06Barry, I am serious here.
11:08I don't know what to do.
11:09Well, I'll tell you what to do.
11:11Get out of there now.
11:12Yeah, but that is just what Van Adder wants.
11:14Franny, listen to yourself.
11:16You're losing it.
11:18Yeah, yeah, yeah.
11:18Maybe you're right, Barry.
11:19Maybe you're right.
11:22Hey, tell me something, Barry.
11:24If your magazine is willing to pay six figures for a shot of Van Adder dead,
11:29what's it worth for a shot of his corpse taking a stretch?
11:33That's it.
11:33Where are you, Fran?
11:34I'm coming over there right now.
11:36Go buy the champagne, sweetie.
11:38I'll call you when I get the shot.
12:09Hey, Nikki, show time.
12:12So how are things up there in rock and roll heaven?
12:16Everybody up there?
12:19Janice, Hendrix, Elvis, Sid.
12:23We are going to be bigger than any of them, Nikki.
12:25And I can make it happen for you.
12:28One picture, that's all it takes.
12:30Come on.
12:37Okay, so you dropped out.
12:39You needed a break.
12:41Fine.
12:43But you're dead now.
12:45Time to start thinking about the future.
12:52Okay, look.
12:52Can I be honest here?
12:53If you don't work with me to turn this thing around,
12:55you're just going to remember it as another burnout who couldn't hack it.
12:58Is that what you want, huh?
13:00Come on.
13:01Come on, Nikki.
13:02You want to play games?
13:03Play some games.
13:04Come on.
13:05Sit up.
13:06Strum your guitar.
13:06Anything.
13:07Come on.
13:11Fine.
13:11Don't move.
13:12Move.
13:13No skin off my nose.
13:16Portrait of a loser.
13:18The other.
13:19The other.
13:20No skin off my nose.
13:21No skin off my nose.
13:25The other.
13:25Yeah.
13:35No skin off my nose.
13:40Yeah, no.
13:46I'm not going to be a killer.
13:47Okay, let's come on.
13:55Oh, my God.
14:26Oh, my God.
14:48Oh, my God.
14:57Nicky?
15:00Nicky, where are you?
15:08Look, what I was saying before, I was just trying to get a reaction.
15:20Nicky?
15:22Nicky?
15:23Fine, you know what, you celebrities are all alike.
15:25Make us not to be the villains while you play the poor innocent victims.
15:29Will you people need us as much as we need you?
15:33Oh, I can explain. I made a mistake.
15:39You made a mistake, all right.
15:41Rose Del Mato died in an auto accident.
15:45What?
15:45I spoke to Mr. Markov. He doesn't know who you are.
15:52But I do. Even in death, he's not safe.
15:57Give me the film or I bring trespassing charges.
16:03Sorry, this falls under the public's right to know.
16:17Hey, Bear. Got your checkbook handy?
16:19I've been worried sick. Please tell me you're home.
16:23I'm home, and I didn't return empty-handed.
16:27You got the shot?
16:28And, sweetie, when you see it, you're gonna freak.
16:32Barry?
16:33What?
16:34Congratulate me. Admit I'm the best.
16:37Congratulations, Fran. This is an all-time low for you.
16:40But you still love me, right?
16:43At a six-figure price?
16:45I think you sold your soul cheap.
16:48Well, if you feel that way about it, maybe you shouldn't buy the picture.
16:51Plenty of other magazines out there with money to burn.
16:54I'll be there in an hour.
16:56Make it two.
16:57It's been a long night.
17:02Gotcha, Snake Man.
17:15What the hell's wrong with you? Don't you believe in knocking?
17:17I just stopped by to see how things went.
17:20Oh, well, uh, to be honest, it didn't go very well.
17:23I'm distressed to hear that.
17:26Was my information incorrect?
17:28Oh, no, it wasn't that. It was just, well, you know, there were some problems.
17:33You must be very disappointed.
17:35Yeah, well, you win some, you lose some.
17:39That's so true, isn't it?
17:43If I didn't know better, I'd say that was Mr. Valader.
17:49Uh, yeah, well, it's not a really good angle of him, so I'm not going to get much for it.
17:52I thought we were dealing in good faith here, Miss Rayburn.
17:56Look, let's say I write you a check for 500 bucks. How's that sound, huh?
18:00You certainly are a talented photographer.
18:04All right, I'll go as high as 750, okay?
18:07Bet you went through hell to get that.
18:09A thousand bucks, Mr. Flash. Take it or leave it.
18:12You don't understand, Miss Rayburn. I'm not interested in cash.
18:17What are you talking about?
18:19You haven't given me a day's peace in five and a half years. Not even in death.
18:31Now, it's time to return the fame.
18:34I have seen.
18:35Bring this.
18:39Come on.
18:39Ooh...
18:44No!
18:45No, no, no!
18:49Keep it.
18:50Not just stop us.
18:51Please.
18:53Please, please.
18:54Please!
18:56No!
18:57No!
18:59No, no!
19:01No!
19:01No!
19:03Stop!
19:04No!
19:09No!
19:09No!
19:11No!
19:12No!
19:12No!
19:12No!
19:16Franny?
19:19Franny, where are you?
19:29Franny.
19:30Oh, my God, what happened?!
19:35What?!
19:37I'm going to get help.
19:38I'm going to get help.
19:40Franny!
19:42Franny!
19:44Franny!
19:45Franny!
19:46Franny!
19:48Franny!
19:48Franny!
19:49Franny!
19:50Franny!
19:54Every action has a consequence.
19:58Fran Rayburn made a living stealing pictures of unwilling subjects.
20:02But in her eagerness to turn a profit, she neglected to calculate the cost to her own sanity.
20:28For more information, visit www.fema.org
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