What We Find on the Road (2024)

[bunniefuu]

[water sloshing and seagulls sounds]

["Back In The Day" by Casino playing]

Well back in the day

I was just thinking about

the games we'd play

And all I remember

Is all the good times

And the long goodbyes

But I tried so hard

And I could not relieve my soul

Tried so hard

But the devil wouldn't let me go

And the world keeps on changing

And the truth is all I've found

And the world keeps on lying

But the proof is all around

Well back on the yard

We were just dreaming

Of the things we want

All in it together

Nothing but time

To watch the world go by

But I tried so hard

And I could not relieve my soul

Mom?

[door knocking]

- Hi.

- You James Manse's kid?

Yeah.

You just turned 18?

Your old man wanted me

to give you this,

and this.

You can pick it up

at Billy's garage.

[Jake] TJ, what the hell?

You're supposed to tell me this

- [Jake] when it happens, okay?

- [Woman] Excuse me.

- [Jake] Not 12 hours late.

- [TJ] Dude, watch out, watch.

It's fine. Okay, so what?

- [Jake] He just shows up at your house

- [Woman] Let's go.

Out of nowhere, a random guy?

- [TJ] Sorry.

- [Jake] Hey.

What? Yes, yes.

And he was massive too.

So what? Just a key,

key and a note?

Yeah. I was going to walk

over after my shift

unless, trying to

give me a ride?

[Jake] Man, of course I'm trying

to give you a ride.

I want to see it now.

You can't just tell me

- [Jake] a story like this.

- [Amber] See what?

Oh, don't pay any

attention to him, Amber.

- Is this, ah? Oh! That for me?

- Is it your birthday?

Not quite.

- So, no.

- [Amber and TJ laugh]

[TJ] Cool. Yeah.

[Amber] Aren't you leaving soon?

Uhh, I got a week left here

and then summer league

starts in a few weeks.

Word on any big plans?

[TJ] Um no. Nothing yet.

Well, we should

hang out sometime.

Okay, cool. Sounds good.

[Amber] Okay, bye.

[TJ] Bye. Shut up, bro.

[Jake] What? Okay,

I see you, TJ.

[sigh]

You know, Amber's right though.

You really should have

some fun this summer

for like once in your life.

Well, I don't get an

allowance every week

like some people I know.

Right, right, right, right.

Okay, Hurry up.

I'm over it.

I'll be outside.

That's, that does

cost money. Okay.

[Jake] Hurry up, TJ.

[TJ] Worst case scenario is I

feel like he just needs me

to do a favor for him

or some sh*t like that.

[Jake] A favor?

[TJ] Yeah. Be like, take this

to this address or some sh*t.

30, 30. And that's 32.

The red.

[Jake] This? This place?

[TJ] This is it. Yeah.

[hammer banging in the distance]

[TJ] Let's do it.

[Jake] Let's see what this key's about.

[hammer banging in the distance]

[Man] I don't see what people see in the

Mini Cooper, you know what I mean, Jimmy?

- [Man] I don't like it.

- [Jimmy] I agree.

[Man] Jeez. These are

complicated, these cars.

- [Jake] Sir?

- [Jimmy] Oh, hey.

- [Jake] Excuse me.

- [TJ] Hi.

- [Jimmy] What can we do for you?

- [Jake] How's it going?

[TJ] Um, we're

looking for Billy.

[Jimmy] Looking for Billy.

[Billy] You found him.

What's happening?

Hi. Um.

My father sent me here.

Who's your father?

J... James Manse.

Oh, right, right, right.

[Billy] You're the Hammer's kid.

Jimmy, he's the Hammer's kid.

[Jimmy] Oh, is he? Yeah.

He looks a little bit like him.

And who are you?

You the Hammer's kid too?

- No, I'm not.

- [TJ laughs]

[Billy] Don't be too surprised.

You didn't know the Hammer.

[Billy] Anyway, so what

are you doing here?

Umm. Yeah, he sent, he,

I dunno he,

he sent me these keys

and your address and,

- You don't know what they're for?

- No.

[Billy wheezes in dibelief]

I guess you are

the Hammer's kid.

[Billy] All right. Let's go resurrect

the blue biscuit.

I'm going to need your help.

You're going to get dirty.

Jimmy, let's go.

[Billy] Okay.

All right.

Don't expect much.

Swing it.

[calm music]

- [Jimmy] There it is. What do you think?

- [Billy] Look at that b*mber.

Okay, now don't rush this.

All right. Let's see what

we're working with here.

Don't say we didn't help.

Remember, this car is

50 years old, man.

Even I looked better

50 years ago too.

- [Billy] Nice color combo.

- [Jimmy] It is.

[Billy] Oh, there's the hubcaps.

Yeah.

Dude, is this thing

a gift or a curse?

[TJ sighs happily]

[Billy] One, two, three.

Here's the good stuff. The 383.

- [Jimmy] Probably nice when it was new.

- [Billy] I know, man.

[Jimmy] Not a bad looking

car at all.

Excuse me guys,

let me slip in here.

[Billy] You know, when this car was

new in 1968, right?

People were driving this

in Beverly Hills.

[Jimmy] Okay. See if there's any

oil in this thing.

I mean, I think we got

more to work

with than we might have

thought originally.

How far do they have to

go with this thing?

[Billy] Manifolds, no rusting.

[Jimmy] It might go easier

than expected.

[Billy] But this hose got to go.

Oh, we'll get an M34

We'll get a new battery.

[Jimmy] It doesn't look too bad.

Yeah. Okay. Here's what

we're going to do.

So, we're going to work on it.

Okay.

[Billy] But not today.

So come back tomorrow.

We'll see where we're at.

We'll talk some more.

- [Jimmy] Yeah, we need some time.

- [TJ] All right. Thank you so much.

- [Billy] Yeah, you're welcome.

- [TJ] Thank you, seriously.

And I want you to do me a favor.

Start saving money for gas

because you're going to need it.

- [TJ chuckles happily]

- Yeah. Thank you.

It's a guzzler.

[Billy giggles]

- Well did you tell her?

- She said I can't go.

She says I'm too young and

she says I can barely drive.

Okay. That last part's

a fair point.

Well did you tell her

the army enlists kids

our age to go to w*r?

Oh no. I forgot to tell

her that, dude.

I'll bring it up next time.

I mean, she's pissed,

she's pissed he got me a car

without asking her.

She's pissed it's old.

And she said it'll never

make it to California.

[Jake] Okay. Many fair points

from your mom.

[TJ] Yeah. She said he's

the same, selfish,

irresponsible adolescent

he always was.

And the drugs and the drinking

and the prison time

wiped out any judgment

he ever had.

She wants to think it over.

She wants to

think it over, dude.

- You're right.

- Yeah.

Peep this.

Drainage.

Dude, you're getting good.

[TJ] Yeah.

You good to

drop me off at Billy's?

Yeah, sure. Why not?

Hurry up though.

I have places to be,

girls to see.

[Car door slams]

[Ratchet wrench turning]

[TJ] Billy.

- [Billy] Hey, how you doing?

- [TJ] What's going on?

[Billy] Hey, TJ, how are you?

Hey, Jimmy.

We got an Interstate 65

on the rack?

[Jimmy] Yeah, there should be one

on the bottom shelf.

[Billy] Look, take this,

put this over there.

This is dead.

It's heavy.

[TJ] Okay.

[Billy] It's gone. D-E-A-D, dead.

Any alternators come in?

I ordered that earlier.

Should be here this afternoon.

[Billy] Okay. I'll believe that

when I see it.

Okay. Here's what happened.

We can't find

a radiator for the car

'cause it's 1968 ya know?

I mean,

I was playing

a little league then.

[Billy] So we're gonna recore it.

And what's this for?

You're kidding me?

You don't know

what a radiator does?

No, you don't know what that is?

[TJ laughs nervously]

No.

[Billy] All right. Okay.

It cools the water,

the cooling system.

Keep the engine,

gets hot when it runs,

it's hot like you when you run

down the street, you get warm.

- Cools it off.

- Okay.

So, oh, you know,

what happened is Jimmy

found a cassette of the Hammer

in the glove box, right?

I did.

[Billy] Yeah. Lost in Love.

Remember that one?

- [Jimmy chuckles in aggreance]

- [Billy] That was a classic, Lost in Love.

That was beautiful.

Wow. How well do

you know my dad?

Well, I mean, everybody

knew him in the town.

I mean, he's a famous guy.

Rock and roll, man.

[Billy] Probably the most famous guy

in the whole town.

Was he as bad as they say?

[Billy] Bad? Come on.

What's bad? What is bad?

Jimmy, the kid wants to know

if the Hammer was bad.

Yeah, you know,

he made mistakes.

When you get caught

at making mistakes,

you end up smoking

Newports at Walpole.

- Right, Jimmy?

- [Jimmy chuckles in agreeance]

I mean, Jimmy's made

a lot of mistakes.

He probably made

more mistakes than me

because he lived

more dangerously than me.

And the Hammer had

a lot of opportunity.

He was talented guy.

So he made a corresponding

amount of mistakes.

I haven't seen him one time

since he disappeared.

All I've gotten is a key

to this and an address.

He could have called me

or something.

I don't know.

- [Billy] It is what it is.

- [TJ sighs in frustration]

[sighs] I mean, it could be worse,

right, Jimmy?

Could be coming at you with a tire iron

in the middle of the night sh*t faced.

[Jimmy] That's right.

What does your mother think

about all this, the trip?

Well, she's not crazy

about my dad, so.

Yeah. Well,

I know that. Yeah.

[Sighs in frustration]

So, will this thing make it to California?

Of course it'll make it

to California.

Well, you might have some

problems, but you can handle it.

Okay, so, get the alternator in.

Tomorrow, put it on the lift.

All right.

Thanks, Billy.

- [Billy] You bet.

- [TJ] See you, Jimmy.

["Rock Bottom" by Kevin Morby plays]

[car lift servo sounds]

[unintelligible chatter]

All of my life

Just trying to be like my father

All of my life

Up to the teat of my mama

It's cold down here,

it's cold down here

It's cold down here, it's cold down here

Rock bottom (bop-bop) Rock bottom (bop-bop)

Rock bottom (bop-bop)

Rock bottom (bop-bop)

All of my life

RJ12YC.Just trying to make a dollar

Open up your mouth, my boy

- [male clerk] How's it going?

- Good. Is that it?

[TJ] Yeah.

- [TJ] All right.

- [male clerk] Have a good one.

(Hey) in the rock bottom

(Bop-bop, bop-bop)

- [Billy] Alright, thank you.

- [Jimmy] Oh good, for the manifold.

- [Billy] Yeah.

- [Jimmy] Yeah, yeah.

All of my life

Everybody roasting me

All of my life

Like I was a piece of meat

- [car engine starts]

- It's cold down here, despite the heat

In the rock bottom

- [Billy] Don't hit anything. Come on.

- (bop-bop)

Rock bottom (bop-bop)

All of my life

Oh, to be a king

All of my life

Oh, to be anything but

In the rock bottom

[Billy] Hey, hey, hey, hey.

k*ll the motor.

(bop-bop)

Woo!

[exhales in releif]

Rock bottom (bop-bop)

Rock bottom (bop-bop)

[TJ] Oh, hey, Billy.

- [Billy] Hey. Nice work.

- [TJ] Oh, thank you.

[Billy] So, you ready

for the big getaway?

[TJ] Uhh, yeah,

I think so. Um.

[Billy] It's going to be epic.

[TJ] Yeah. Uhh, so, I know,

I know we're over budget. Um.

[Billy] What's that? No.

- [Billy] no.

- [TJ] No, I...

[Billy] Hey, no, no. Ya know, we're not

really too far over budget,

so don't worry about it.

We'll cover it.

No, you're going to need that.

- [TJ exhales in releif]

- You're going to need that for the ride.

Okay?

- All right.

- We're square.

- You sure?

- Don't even think about it. Yeah.

[Billy] Wish I put these in

order by number.

- Oh man.

- Billy.

Oh, hey, hey.

Thank you, thanks, TJ.

Thank you.

[TJ] Jimmy.

[Jimmy] Oh, hey, TJ.

- How are you?

- [TJ] Hey. What's going on?

- [Jimmy] Oh, thanks. Appreciate it.

- [TJ] Here you are. Sure.

[Jimmy] Yeah. Why don't you

grab the spare,

put that in the trunk.

Going to need it.

[TJ] Yeah.

[Jimmy] And here's your key.

[TJ] All right, thanks.

[Jimmy] Sure.

[calm music]

[Jimmy] What have you got?

Huh. Hey, Billy.

[Billy] What?

There's no room for

a spare in this car.

[Billy] What the hell is that?

Anybody in there?

[Billy] I mean, there's no seams.

Pretty nice welding job, actually.

You want to cut it open?

Let's cut into that bad boy.

What do you think?

[Jimmy] Yeah, I'll grab

the torches.

Oh no, it's all right.

Thanks, Jimmy.

Only take a second.

[TJ] No, no. Uhh, thank you.

I think I'm going to wait to see

What? You aren't curious

about what's in there?

- No, I'm curious but

- I mean,

you don't want to travel

with this big, heavy,

fat boy in the back of the car.

Yeah. Well, figured I,

I don't wanna,

we can just leave it

for now until I know.

Oh, no, no. Hey, okay.

Let's leave it for now.

All right, cool.

All right. Okay.

- [TJ] Thanks guys.

- [Billy] I bet there's something good in there.

- [Jimmy] Your call.

- [Billy coughs] All right.

All right.

[music continues]

[Jimmy] "You sure about this kid?

He's driving a long distance",

not knowing what

you got for cargo.

And the drugs and prison time.

[Jimmy] I'd think you want to know

"what's in the

trunk of that car."

[Billy] "You didn't know the Hammer."

[music continues]

[keys slam into the wall]

[drill whirls in the distance]

- [TJ] Billy.

- [Billy] What's up?

[TJ] Um. So I was thinking

about it. Um.

- [Billy] Yeah?

- [TJ] I'd like you to have the car.

I don't, I don't get it.

You don't want to go on the trip?

Yeah. I don't think

it makes much sense.

I'm not going to drive

across the country, dude.

What's this about?

This isn't about the car.

This is about you.

I don't want to, I don't want to want it.

[chuckles nervously]

Could you just keep it?

[chuckles nervously] Is that...

Do I look like a guy

needs another car?

No, I want to help you out.

You see, there's

a blue cooler over there.

See that cooler?

Go over there,

crack open two frosties

and bring them back here.

Pull out that chair,

put it there.

- I want to talk to you. Go get that.

- [calm music]

[Billy] Okay.

[Billy sighs]

I get it.

I get it. I do. I get it.

You know.

I mean, you've been challenged,

maybe even perversely

tested by your old man

to drive 3,000 miles

in a beat up old b*mber

to find your father

who hasn't exactly,

ya know, nailed

the fathering business.

But guys like us who grew up

in this town, these little towns,

you don't get

opportunities very often.

And so when they come,

you want to grab it,

you want to go for it.

[music continues]

Hmmmm, hmmmm

- [bird chirps in the distance]

- Mmmmm

Mmmmm

[cricket sounds]

[bird chirps]

[upbeat music plays]

- [Billy] So, today's the big day.

- [TJ] Yes, it is.

- [Billy] Let the games begin. Huh?

- [TJ chuckles in agreeance]

So we left some music cassettes

in the glove box

that we found, okay?

- Okay.

- And you're going to need this.

Billy, are you serious?

Everybody needs a light

and a C-note.

- [TJ exhales happily]

- Happy motoring.

Thank you.

[music continues]

[car engine starts]

[TJ exhales nervously]

[car horn beeps]

- [TJ] Yo.

- [Jake] What's up?

- [TJ] What are you doing here?

- [Jake exhales]

[TJ] Bro,

- What is this?

- What?

What?

What are you doing here?

Dude, I'm coming with you.

You're going across the country

to make an a*s of yourself.

I want to see it.

Okay. sh*t, I want to film it.

Bro, your parents

will freak out.

It's fine. I told them.

Okay, I left a voicemail.

They're going to call

every 10 minutes.

It's fine, dude.

I blocked their calls.

All right. Get in.

- Okay, pop the trunk.

- Let's go.

No, just throw it

in the backseat.

[Jake] Okay.

[TJ] Wow. Okay.

[Jake] Yeah.

[TJ] He's ready. Let's go.

[Jake exhales nervously] Okay.

Wait, have you ever driven

on a highway before?

Bro, just get in.

Okay. Scoot over.

[TJ] Just because you don't have

the navigation skills to get us there.

- [Jake] Oh, really?

- [TJ] Yeah.

[car engine struggles to start]

- [Jake] Damn.

- [TJ] All right.

Okay, well.

[TJ laughs excitedly] Good start.

Which way, which way

is California?

West. Let's go.

Which way is west?

- [TJ] Uh.

- [upbeat music]

That way, 3,000 miles that way.

Okay.

[smartphone buzzes]

[Jake] Alright.

[Jake] Dude, grab the phone.

You're nav.

- [TJ] Oh sh*t, sorry.

- [Jake] My God.

[Jake] "I'm a better navigator.

That's why you're the driver."

[TJ] What an as*h*le.

[TJ laughs]

[TJ] Okay. On our way out.

[TJ] It's a right here.

I didn't miss it.

- [Jake] Okay. Third exit?

- [TJ] Third exit.

Gas is on your side.

It's not on mine.

[Jake] Yeah, dude.

You think I didn't know that?

[TJ] Oh, you saw it?

- [Jake laughingly] Yeah, of course, I saw it.

- [TJ] Okay.

- [TJ] Okay.

- [Jake] Yeah, nice.

[TJ] Woo.

- Money.

- Cash.

Cash, I got you, bro.

- Um. sh**t, it might be in my jacket.

- [Jake chuckles impatiently]

Okay, I got it.

[Jake] All right.

[Jake lightly taps the side of the car]

Where's the gas?

The... yeah. What?

- [TJ] Oh, sorry.

- [Jake] Yeah, I checked.

Is it on my side?

[Jake] No dude, I checked there.

Okay, so.

Why are you coming around?

You think I didn't check there?

[TJ chuckles nervously]

I don't know, man.

[Jake] That's really weird.

Hey.

How's it going?

[gasoline pours into the car]

[TJ] Ah.

- Okay.

- Thank you.

Thank you very much.

[TJ] Full service.

[Jake hums in agreeance]

- [TJ] Fancy.

- [TJ and Jake exhale in releif]

[Jake] sh*t.

It is hot in here.

- Yeah, it is.

- Okay, it's time to let the roof down.

No.

Bro, it's convertible. The whole

point is to let the roof down.

Nah, nah.

I like the roof on.

And the windows up.

Okay. Well, it's getting

hot in here.

Your chariot doesn't have AC.

Okay, we're going

to roast in here.

No.

Is this about the bug thing?

- Bro. Yeah...

- No, hold it.

So you're trying to drive

across the country

with the window up and the

roof on because of the bug thing.

Do you want bugs

splattering your face

and getting in your mouth

while we drive?

- Does that sound fun to you?

- Dude,

that's why we have a

windscreen, you giant p*ssy.

- That's like the whole point,

- A windscreen?

It protects you from the bugs.

All right. It is

pretty hot in here.

So, I'm going to go

along with this.

Yeah.

But the minute one bug touches

my face, we lock it down.

- Deal? Okay.

- Okay, princess. Anything for you.

[Jake] Hi, how much?

- [Gas station attendant] Sixty bucks.

- [Jake] Sixty bucks.

- [Jake] Sixty bucks.

- [TJ] Sixty bucks.

[TJ] On the nose.

- [Jake] Thank you.

- [Gas station attendan] Thank you.

[TJ] All right,

let's get this thing off.

- [Jake] Got to be this.

- [servo sounds]

- No way.

- What?

[TJ] I was not

expecting that to work.

Yeah, it was much cooler

than I thought it would be.

This was a good idea.

You were right.

[Jake] All right. Seat belts.

- [TJ] Seat belts.

- [car engine starts]

- [TJ] Yeah!

- [Jake] Woo! Okay.

- [TJ] Yeah, that was a close call.

- [Jake] Nice!

- [TJ and Jake cuckle in releif]

- [TJ] Onward.

Yeah, onwards and upwards.

["Skydive" by Astronauts starts playing]

[TJ] Tic-Tacs.

Tic-Tacs and that's my dad.

[Jake giggles awkwardly]

- [Jake] So handsome man.

- [TJ] Yeah, beautiful man.

[Jake] Whoa, bro.

Check that out.

- [TJ] Oh my God.

- (Haaaaa)

It's the bit when I'm near the end

- [truck horn blares]

- Nothing hanging on from me

Turning 'round, I'll be turning 'round

Falling down to the street

(Haaaaa)

- [TJ] Ooo.

- Bro, put that damn map away.

Okay? You're blocking

my mirrors.

Got you, got you, got you.

- Thank you.

- [Jake's phone starts buzzing]

Now, nav on my phone, bro.

You have one job.

- You are getting a call from your dad.

- [Jake's phone continues to buzz]

Should I answer?

- Come on. Do not answer that.

- [TJ chuckles jokingly]

I got a plan.

Do you want to hear it?

Yeah.

Do you want to know

where we're going?

- Yeah.

- Uhh.

We're going to upstate New York,

Okay.

Which is where my aunt

and uncle live.

Well, my uncle

and his wife live.

- Cool.

- Um, and we'll stay the night.

It'll be nice.

It's pretty up there.

[Jake] Okay.

(Haaaaaa)

Stretching out like a skydive

(Haaaaaa)

Stretching out like a skydive

(Haaaaa)

Stretching out like a skydive

[Jake] You're going to call him

and tell them I'm coming?

[TJ] No, because it's

Uncle John.

- [TJ] Do you remember the...

- [Jake] Do I remember?

[Jake] Dude, that's even

more reason to call them.

- [TJ] They're family. It'll be fine.

- [Jake] Yeah.

[car break screeches]

[car doors slam]

TJ.

[TJ] Hey. Hey, John. How's it going?

[TJ chuckles nervously]

What are you doing here?

Uhh, we're just... we're just

driving through and...

- Is your pop in the car?

- No.

- John.

- Jake.

- My buddy.

- Toby!

[TJ] Toby!

- [Toby] TJ?

- [TJ] What's going on?

- [Toby] Hey.

- [TJ] It's so good to see you.

- [Toby] Oh!

- [TJ] So good to see you.

Look at you.

[Toby giggles happily]

Hi.

- Toby.

- Handsome wingman, Jake.

- Hi.

- Nice to meet you.

- How you doing?

- Good.

- I know. Surprise.

- [Toby giggles happily]

We uh, we were wondering

if we could stay the night?

[Toby] Absolutely.

One.

[Toby] We'll make it a good night.

Come sit.

[Jake] Say, uh, you wouldn't happen

to know anything

about engines or motors or?

[Unlce John] Yeah, I know a

couple things.

[Jake] Okay.

[Toby] What brings you

to the Catskills?

Umm,

That! Uhh, my... my dad, he sent me

a key to that car

and, um, a address

in California.

And me and Jake are driving

it there to meet him.

- Wow. Road trip.

- Road trip.

And how's it sitting with you?

I'm happy to be here with you.

I'm, I feel... conflicted.

I left, I just

left my mom a note.

I did. I know.

[TJ chuckles nervously]

No.

I didn't know how to tell her

really I was going to see him,

- [Toby] Mm-hmm.

- Um, after everything, you know.

And I do feel like I'm betraying

her a bit, um, because of.

All the heavy sh*t?

Yeah. Yeah.

But it's complicated

because I was little

when I saw him last,

and I have all these

wonderful memories

with him of going

to his gigs in Boston and,

you know, him picking

me up from school, and

playing songs for me

and stuff like that.

I don't know how you balance,

I don't know how you

balance those things but,

- He's a charismatic guy.

- Yeah, yeah.

And, uhh, y'know,

maybe he's, trying.

I think it's good.

I think it's really good.

- Think it's good?

- Yeah.

- I'm so happy to see you.

- Ohhh.

[Toby] Did you see my garden?

[TJ] I did. I saw it.

It's beautiful.

You hungry?

- Is there stuff in there to eat?

- Let's do it.

Dude, I'm an artist.

I figured it out. I'm an artist.

- [Jake] It's beautiful.

- [TJ] Thank you.

[Jake] sh*t. I need to charge this.

[smartphone buzzes]

Okay. How are we doing this?

- Doing?

- Sleeping.

Oh, right.

Well, let's sees like,

okay, so we got one couch. Right?

- [TJ] So there's one couch.

- [Jake] Mm-hmm

And I'm, yeah I'm like,

I'm on it.

- Yeah, okay. Floor it is.

- Yeah.

[TJ] Floor? All right.

That's a good idea.

Okay.

Not exactly the welcome

party you anticipated.

Aunt Toby was very sweet.

- I wasn't talking about your aunt.

- [light switch flicks on]

Hey, at least we're not

wasting money on a hotel.

Bro we couldn't pay for

a hotel even if we wanted.

Bro we couldn't pay for a hotel even

if we wanted. [TJ laughs in agreeance]

[TJ laughs in agreeance]

That's true. That's true.

What'd you expect?

You've know me my whole life.

Honestly, I don't know, TJ.

I don't think I really cared.

- [Jake groans]

- Well, that's nice.

Nice.

- Ah, uh.

- Get your feet out my face.

[TJ] Jesus.

- Well, it's so comfortable.

- [Jake sighs while relaxing]

- I can't even take it, honestly.

- Shut up.

[Jake] All right, well you have to

turn off the lights.

- Okay.

- [calm music]

[Jake] Well, your uncle's

a man of his word, dude.

One night meant one night.

Not a moment longer.

At least he gave us breakfast.

Yeah, sure. As long as we ate

while driving off his land.

Yeah. Uhh, I think things haven't

gotten patched up

with old Uncle John

and my dad since...

Since he stole his car, his

wallet, his keys? Passport?

- Pretty ballsy move by my dad, got to say.

- [Jake chuckles] Yeah, it is.

[Jake sighs] Any updates?

[TJ] All right. I got one more place

we can take a crack at.

- [Jake] Okay?

- [TJ] Should be cheaper gas.

It's like a mile up

on the right.

Okay. That's not too bad.

Well, we'll grab that because

we are about to waste more gas

looking for

cheap prices. Okay?

- Yeah.

- [Jake's phone buzzes]

Your dad texted.

Should I check it?

- Sure. Yeah. What's he say?

- I'll check.

He said to call him immediately

or he cuts your phone off.

He's bluffing.

It will never happen.

Okay, man.

Yes, dad, I'm fine.

[Jake's dad] Turn the car around

right now.

No. What?

I will be back in a few days.

Okay? No, no, Dad,

I'm not turning around.

Okay. So it's my fault that

mom is freaking out? That's...

[Jake's dad] We have so many things

planned for the summer.

You know that.

Okay, well this is the last...

No, this is not

TJ's fault. Okay.

Dad, this is the last summer

before college,

and for once in my life

I want to do

something for myself.

Dad, I have to go.

Okay.

He said that my mother's

had to take a sedative

every four hours

since I abandoned her.

Sounds a tad melodramatic.

Yeah, dude, of course,

it's a tad melodramatic.

Have you met my mother?

I mean, she's still laying out

socks for me every day.

[car engine starts hissing]

You know, he also said

that I'm ruining my chances

- at getting a good start on college.

- Jake?

I mean, what is that

even supposed to mean?

It's summer.

- Yeah.

- The whole point

- is to have some,

- Jake.

And it's the last summer

in my life as well.

- I'm just trying to have a little fun

- Bro.

- For once in my life.

- Jake? Jake?

- What, dude?

- Dude.

Look, dude,

there's smoke

coming out of the front.

- We got to pull over.

- sh*t.

- What the hell?

- f*ck.

- What the hell?

- f*ck. [car engine continues to hiss]

[car engine continues to hiss]

[TJ] Okay, um,

Billy said...

Billy said get the water.

He left it in the trunk and

put it in the radiator thing.

[calm music]

[TJ] That should do it.

Okay. Oh.

Okay.

[TJ] Okay.

[TJ] Thanks, man.

- [TJ] All right.

- [water sizzles]

[TJ] Um.

[TJ] Cool. All right.

Billy said it'll take 15 minutes

for the radiator to cool down.

Hey, when I popped the trunk

to get the water...

It's not a big deal, dude.

Like he said,

this would happen on the road.

No, when I pop the trunk

to get the water...

What's the problem, bro?

Can we...

TJ?

- Bro, can we just not?

- TJ?

When I popped the trunk

to get the water,

I saw the steel box.

What?

N... Nothing to say?

- [cop siren blares]

- [low, ambient music]

[inaudible radio chatter]

- [Police Officer] What's going on, fellas?

- [TJ] Hey officer, how's it going?

- [Police Officer] What you guys up to?

- [TJ] Uhh...

We're having some engine

issues right now

- and we're just waiting for it to cool off.

- Yeah.

[Police Officer] You guys need a tow

truck or anything?

- No. Thanks.

- I think we'll be okay.

We've dealt with this

a few times before.

Well, your trunk's

popped open a little bit.

- Oh sh**t. Okay.

- Okay.

Yeah, we just got the water.

[Police Officer] No uhh, dead bodies

are nothing. Right?

[Jake chuckles in acknowledgment]

[Police Officer] All right. Well y'all

give us a holler if y'all need anything?

- Okay.

- [TJ] All right. Thank you.

[Police Officer] Cool.

I mean, really couldn't have

been any nicer about it all,

but I'm just tired. Okay?

That guy scared the sh*t

out of me, honestly.

You know I can drive.

Right?

I don't mind driving.

I'm,

I got my license and everything.

Yeah, man.

I know you can drive.

Okay? I'm just scared as hell

when you're behind the wheel.

You hug this side of the road

like it's your mom's t*tties.

[TJ laughs]

I'm just scared as sh*t

whenever you drive, honestly.

Okay.

I got to find us

a way out of here.

Your phone

doesn't have a signal.

What? Oh, you got

to be kidding, bro.

[TJ exhales in frustration]

- [TJ] This is about ready.

- [spatula scraping]

All right.

[Jake] Hit me.

[Jake] Nice.

Oof!

God, that's hot.

[Jake exhales in relaxation]

[TJ] And, mmm,

it looks, uhh,

it looks like food.

It's beautiful.

Oh man. Mine when

fell apart already.

- Cheers.

- Cheers.

Oh. Oh.

- [TJ] No, no?

- No.

I'm so sorry. I forgot salt.

It's a disaster.

I'm sorry.

I'll stick to

the graham crackers.

- You good?

- [calm music]

- Yeah.

- Yeah?

You think we'll make it?

I think we're off

to a good start.

And you'll think he'll be there

when we get there?

I don't know.

[TJ] I know I've never been

in Arkansas before.

[Jake sighs in agreeance]

How very Zen of you.

Got a play them as their dealt.

Speaking of which.

Texas hold 'em?

["Strange Land" by Stephen Emil Dudas &

Mark G. Hart starts to play]

You wake up in a place

Where you've been many times before

And you recognize

- [TJ] Oh, alright. Thank you.

- the fernisgings

The colors from the

ceiling to the floor

The way that she is acting up

(acting up)

Doesn't seem quite real

- [TJ] We need to get on the I-71.

- It's as if she

Could be someone else

The way she's giving you

those looks of steel

And you feel like a

Stranger from a strange land

Falling from the infinite sky

You feel like a

Stranger from a strange land

Contemplating and wondering why

[TJ] Yeah, this is like straight

out a horror movie.

- [Jake] Look at this.

- [car engine hisses]

The radiator might be

- too hot to touch right now.

- Yeah.

[TJ] Oh, you good?

[Jake] Yeah, I'm good.

- [TJ] Turn it off?

- [Jake] Yeah.

Oh God.

Okay.

I don't even want

to mess with that for now.

I feel like it's

just getting worse.

Let's just chill

until it cools off a bit.

I don't even want

to touch it for now.

You sure?

Yeah. I'm going to,

we got to give it a sec.

Okay.

Uh oh, we've got

to state-y back there.

[TJ] Oh f*ck. Okay.

Dude don't look like that.

[low, ambient music]

It's okay.

- We haven't done anything wrong, so

- [footsteps approaching]

We should be okay.

Okay. Well you're going to get

the chance to tell him that.

Sheriff's office.

- Hey.

- How you guys doing?

Yeah, we're doing good.

Thank you.

What's the problem?

Oh, the radiator's

just overheating.

- We're waiting for it to cool down.

- [Jake hums in agreeance]

Okay. Where are you guys

coming from?

Massachusetts.

- Where y'all headed to?

- California.

What part of California?

- The Bay Area.

- Vallejo.

Okay. Who's the car

belong to?

- This guy.

- It's mine.

Okay. See the license

and registration please?

Yes, sir.

There's that.

[Sheriff] I'll be back in

just a moment.

[TJ] Okay. Thank you.

- [TJ exhales in frustration]

- [car door opens]

You boys just hold tight.

All right?

[music continues]

You guys have any water

or anything?

Oh yeah, we do.

We got some in the trunk.

Good. Yeah, let's

come back here.

- Oh no. That's all right.

- Oh no.

I got a... um.

Yeah, okay.

Um. Yeah, I can handle it.

I've done this a few times.

[Jake whispers] Oh sh*t.

[TJ] Um.

Hey, it's really nice of you

to stay and help us,

but I think we've

got it from here.

We've done this operation

a few times before.

Step over there.

We have a family dispute.

4280 South Road.

What's your location?

Disregard. 7851.

Officers on sight.

Carry on with your truck stop.

What's this?

[Jake] Oh... oh, it just came

with the car.

Shots fired.

Officer assistance needed.

Are you guys

headed west on I-40?

- Yes, officer.

- All right.

Thank you.

[cop car engines revs up and

police siren blares]

He's coming back for us.

Okay?

Soon as that code 130, whatever

bullishit has sorted out,

he's coming back for us.

Did you see him staring

at that damn steel box?

He's definitely

coming back for us.

"Where will you boys be?

Huh?

What road exactly can

I find you on?"

f*cking a*s.

Does he even have a right

to look in our trunk?

Huh? Isn't that some kind of

a legal search or something?

Yeah, I think in Texas

they can do pretty much

whatever they want.

Yeah, that was rough.

But we got through it.

I mean, we literally

can't speed in this car,

so we should be all right.

What are you still

so freaked out about?

What am I freaked out about?

TJ, is it a f*cking mystery?

- Easy.

- Your father spot welded a metal coffin

to the floor

of this car's trunk.

Okay? He's a man who's spent

years in prison for drug distribution.

And after not speaking to

you for almost a decade,

he wants the car

brought to him, okay?

Across the country

with the coffin intact.

- Easy.

- In fact, the f*cking thing

doesn't even have

a way to be open.

What am I so freaked about?

You know what?

Let's play guess

what's in the coffin, huh?

Yeah, I think state-y's

got a real good idea.

[TJ] Take it down a notch.

[calm music]

[indistinct chatter]

[door opens and bell chimes]

- [Jake] Hey.

- Hey. Yo!

Okay, so I spoke to the guy

across the street

and he says that he can

take a look at it,

but he thinks he'll be

able to get it open.

Wait, take a look at what?

The box.

Oh. No, dude.

I already know how to open it.

Billy showed me

back at the garage.

But, so you knew how to

open it this whole time

and you still had me

driving around with it?

I mean, we got to get it open.

- No, I don't want to.

- [Jake chuckles in disagreeance]

Okay. Well, it doesn't really

matter what you want to do.

I mean, what are

you missing here?

We could be like carrying

ill*gal goods over state borders

or like, I don't know, dare

I say, just wild, wild thing,

but maybe smuggling

drugs for your dad?

I do have a choice.

It's my car. I'm not

going to open the box.

My dad asked me to drive

that car to him in California,

and that's what I'm going to do.

I'm going to trust him.

Trust him?

TJ, are you f*cking crazy?

It took me 20 minutes on Google

to find out that this guy has what?

Three arrest records?

Public intoxication,

drug distribution.

I mean, the list just goes on.

Look, the rock and

roll thing, super cool.

Okay. The music's

great, honestly.

But that's the only good

thing he's done for you

in 18 years as a father.

And you're going to f*ck up

my chances at college

because you trust him?

What? And your dad?

The insurance salesman who

makes his living scaring people

into spending money

they don't have,

who drinks a bottle

of wine every night

before passing out

in front of the TV.

But what? Because he makes it

to some baseball practices

and parent-teacher conferences,

that makes him a better father

than mine, a more inspiring one?

Yeah.

You have no idea what

you're talking about, Jake.

So what?

You're just not

going to open the box?

No.

You want to maybe just think

about it for a second,

put a little more

thought into it maybe?

I already have.

Do you have your phone on you?

- It's in the glove compartment.

- Can I use it?

Sure.

[Jake whispers in frustration]

f*cking as*h*le.

[door opens and bell chimes]

[door closes]

- [calm music]

- [TJ exhales in frustration]

[TJ] It's nice of your dad

to get you a ticket.

[Jake] Yeah, he's good

about things like that.

He said he'd get you one too

if you change your mind.

[TJ] Tell him thanks,

but I'm all good.

Wish you luck, man.

All of the best of luck.

Hey, can you stop by my mom's

and let her know that I'm okay

and I'll call her

from California?

Thanks.

And thanks,

thanks for everything.

- [music continues]

- Hmmmmm

Uhhhhhhhh

Mmmmmm

Mmmmmm

[car engine starts]

[servo sounds]

- [criket sounds]

- [dogs barking in the distance]

[car engine starts]

[calm music]

[criket sounds]

[buzzer sound]

[buzzer sound]

- [TJ lightly strums the guitar]

- [criket sounds]

[dogs bark in the distance]

[thunder booms in the distance]

[fly buzzing]

sh*t. sh*t. sh*t, sh*t.

sh*t, sh*t, sh*t, sh*t.

[TJ sighs in relief]

[TJ sighs in relief]

["This Cruel Town" by Matt Keating

starts to play]

The headlines say

The end is near

That we're okay

They're selling fear

So will you buy

Or turn around?

To find kindness

In this cruel town

The taxi cabs will run you down

Each person grabs for more unwound

I'm tied until today

I found some kindess here

in this cruel town

The subways grind

The lights don't change

The worlds decline

And friends are estranged

But I don't mind

'Cuz my mind's been rearranged

- [music stops abruptly]

- [car engine hisses]

[TJ whispers] Okay.

[somber music]

Uh.

[TJ grunts in frustration]

[music continues]

[running foot steps]

f*ck you!

[car horn honks]

You all right?

Do you need a ride?

You're welcome to ride with us

though I don't know how far we're going.

I'm looking for a garage.

Thank you. Yes.

I'm TJ.

- Maeve.

- [dog whines]

Hi.

Don't worry about Fionn.

He'll be no bother you at all.

You look like you're burning up.

Do you want some water?

- Yes, please.

- Sorry, it's not colder.

The truck doesn't have

any air conditioning.

Was that your car pulled

over a while back?

- Mm-hmm.

- The blue one.

Slower, you don't want

to get hyponatremia.

Sorry, I'm a nurse.

Just don't drink too fast.

Okay.

So what are you doing out here?

I was on my way to California.

Oh, funny.

Me too. To LA.

- Vallejo, near San Francisco.

- [Fionn whines]

LA's a long way.

Right now I just need a garage.

- Do you know anything about engines?

- A little.

- [engines struggles to start]

- This one sound okay to you?

- [engine belt screeches]

- Sure doesn't sound healthy to me.

[mechanic] Oh, it looks like you guys

blew a radiator hose,

uh, overheated the motor, and you've

got coolant leaking out

between the cylinder head

and the cylinder block.

That's a blown head gasket.

Does that make sense to you?

Not much, sorry.

How far can I drive

on it like it is?

Oh, I wouldn't recommend

driving it at all.

You keep driving,

it's going to seize it

and then you'll need

a whole new motor.

[Maeve sighs in frustration]

God-damn him.

- Thank you. Um.

- You're welcome.

Just one second.

[calm music]

- [TJ] All right. Thank you, man.

- [mechanic] Y'all take care.

[Maeve] Thank you?

For all we know he took me like

a babe in swaddling clothes.

[TJ chuckles in agreeance]

Hey, at least the Polara

had time to cool down.

And that guy didn't rip you off.

He was a sweet guy.

He just.

- Are you sure?

- That car was on its way out.

[TJ giggles happily]

Yeah, no, it's going to be great.

Okay. I have to warn you, I've

been a bit of a bad luck of charm.

That's all going to change.

What do you think about Fionn

starting off as my navigator

and you can get

some sleep in the back?

[TJ] How's that sound?

Great.

[Maeve giggles happily]

How long have I been out?

A few hours.

Any crashes, lightning strikes,

or visitations by angry aliens?

Not since the first battle

cruiser attack a few hours back.

Then we can safely assume

the curse has been broken.

Oh, yes. Good.

I need a new navigator.

Fionn has fallen asleep on me.

I'll bring my A-game.

There's a Holiday Inn for $79

a night up about 15 miles.

How much did you get

for the car?

$800, which makes the sum

of my life savings right now.

Almost $900.

Oh, well you're like

Bill Gates compared to me.

If we can find some change

lying around the floor,

I might have $100 to my name

and this car is...

It's brutal on gas.

It's k*lling me.

Um. Yeah, so a hotel is

a little too pricey for me.

I've been sleeping in state

parks and in the car.

Um, how do you feel about that?

Yeah. Everyone says America's

greatest invention is the park system.

[TJ exhales happily]

All right.

In three days, you meet him.

If he shows up.

Seems like a lot of pressure.

My expectations are pretty low.

I mean, there were loads of times I

wished my dad would just go away,

but at least I always knew

what I was dealing with.

[cricket sounds]

[Maeve chuckles]

No one's going to steal

the food from you.

You can sneak up on it

as slow as you like.

[TJ giggles with a full mouth]

And I always had my sisters.

And where are your sisters now?

Ahh. Two of them are

back home in Ireland,

one still lives

with my mom and dad,

and it's the other

I'm pushing to see in LA.

Four. That's crazy.

Four sisters.

- Yeah.

- I can't imagine.

Bridget's younger than me.

She's trying to make it

as a singer.

- Do you have siblings?

- No. No, it's just me.

[plastic bag rustles]

I figured we should celebrate

after selling the truck and all,

- Ohh.

- But there are no glasses,

so we just have to share.

I'm so sorry.

I don't, I don't drink.

- Why not?

- My dad.

Fair enough.

It's a bad habit altogether.

Now that my luck's

all been changed

for the better

by my backseat ride,

I suppose I could

give it up anytime I like.

Hmm.

- But not tonight.

- [TJ giggles]

Slinte.

That guitar is on the

backseat, do you play?

Not much.

But some?

Some, yeah.

Would you play a little for me?

- [TJ exhales in frustration]

- It would cheer me up.

Yes. I'll play it for you.

[TJ chuckles nervously]

My dad used to play for me

when I was a little girl.

It's one of my

earliest memories.

Yeah, my dad used to

play for me too.

[TJ plays guitar]

[car door slams]

[TJ] All right.

Oh, that's where that is.

[TJ] If you could watch this,

I'm going to get some water.

[Maeve] I can watch that.

- [man 1 wolf wistles]

- [rock music plays over radio]

Now that is a pretty looking

car you got there.

Classic beauty.

Not something you see every day.

[man 1 chuckles]

I bet she gets awful hot to

drive on a day like this, right?

Does she get awful hot

to drive or what?

[man 2 chuckles mischiefly]

- [man 2] How are you doing there pal?

- [TJ] Hey.

[TJ] Good.

[TJ] All right.

I've got a new system

I'm going to go inside and pay.

[man 1] See you later.

You look like you're a long way

from home there, bud.

- Where you going?

- California.

[man 1] California?

Well, yeah, you're not

going to get there tonight.

You and your sister

need a place to stay or?

Um, no, we're staying at a

state park down the road.

[man 1] Well, I know all the state

parks in Tonto.

If you need some inside advice

on where to camp,

I could let you know.

Where are you going?

Usually we just decide

last minute so.

Okay. Well, I wish you

the best of luck.

Relax young man,

nothing get hurt about.

He's just having some fun.

[chuckles mischiefly]

[man 1] Let's go, Jeff.

Oh, tell your lady friend

that I said goodbye

because it was sure

nice talking to her. Okay.

- [car doors slam and engines starts]

- [rock music plays over the radio]

Arse holes.

[car doors open and close]

[man] Okay. Your mom's

already inside,

so are you guys

ready to head in?

You know the Grand Canyon's

only a few miles north of here.

[man] I sure do love you guys.

- [little girl] I love you too dad.

- [Maeve] I've always wanted to see it,

but it will slow us up a bit.

TJ?

I'm sorry, what were you saying?

That I'd like to get off the highway

and head north to the Grand Canyon.

Does that mean we skip

staying in Tonto?

- I'm afraid so.

- [TJ] Sounds good to me.

- We got a plot.

- [Maeve] All right.

[Maeve] Look what I scored.

- [TJ] Wow!

- [Maeve] Didn't even want me

- [TJ] Amazing.

- [Maeve] to pay him for them.

Uh, all right.

Should we spread them out?

- Let's do it.

- All right.

- [camp fire crackles]

- [cricket sounds]

This really is

a very big country.

You know, we only have six national

parks in Ireland and several of them

are so small you could fit

them inside your car's boot.

[TJ exhales in agreeance]

The parks on Cape Cod

are pretty cool.

I think anywhere you can just

hang out and relax in nature is nice.

People are so wound

up in America.

Anything that can calm them

down a bit is a good thing.

When I first started

traveling across the States,

it was the first thing

that I noticed.

There's so much energy

here, but it's a frenetic energy.

People seem to have so much

and to be so worried

it will all be taken from them.

Things different in Ireland?

Back home there's nothing

to take from us.

I named him Fionn because Fionn mac

Cumhaill was a great Irish warrior.

When I got him my life

in Michigan felt like a w*r,

and in w*r everybody loses.

Why was Michigan so bad?

[Maeve exhales in relaxation]

Michigan wasn't

really bad at all.

The man I was with Michigan

on the other hand.

You have to learn to listen

to us women with love,

but somehow you seem

to know that already.

- But you said you don't have sisters.

- No.

But my mom definitely thinks

my dad's the reason

for everything bad

that's ever happened to her.

[Maeve giggles in agreeance]

Well, I know how she feels.

I think my ex is the source

of all evil too.

I guess I don't

really think that.

I just wish it were true.

Then I wouldn't be partially at fault

when I know damn well that I am.

The thing that pisses

me off about my dad

isn't the stuff my mom says.

What gets to me is that

he just left me back there.

He never came back to see me,

even after he got out of prison.

He didn't even call me.

He didn't even call me.

[calm music]

[calm music]

He just didn't want me.

[footsteps approach Maeve]

Why is everyone in such a rush?

It's in the American character.

We're always in a hurry,

[truck horn blares]

Especially when we don't

know where we're going.

And can we go a bit faster?

It'll feel better than having

everyone scream around us.

I know. I'm sorry,

this is about as fast

as this car is going to go.

Is your sister expecting you

at any particular time?

No, she doesn't know I'm coming.

I only decided last week.

That's when the divorce

was settled, so.

All I got was Fionn

and the truck.

I just decided to put

the truck to good use.

And whose big brain

got you the truck?

It got me from Michigan

to New Mexico.

[TJ chuckles]

That's not even halfway.

I had the chance to hear

some campfire music

from a musician too

scared to even sing.

No, not scared to sing.

Not too scared.

Just mysteriously reluctant.

- Oh.

- Yeah.

How does that work

with the girls back home?

Oh my God. Brings them

out in droves.

Absolute droves.

You have no idea.

NOFS?

- N-O-F-S?

- N-O-F-S?

- Yeah.

- What's that?

There was a sign

that just said NOFs.

Ahh.

Oh, NOFs, right.

What does it mean?

- It's a kind of moose.

- Oh, no way.

Yeah. Yeah. It's like a moose

except they only have one...

- One antler?

- Yeah.

A unicorn moose?

They're lopsided and they can

only walk in circles.

Wait, are you joking?

- No.

- You're pulling my leg.

No, that's a NOF. You just

don't know about America.

[Maeve and TJ giggle]

That's enough.

Enough about the NOFs.

[TJ giggles]

Yeah. I've

never heard of it.

There's no such thing as NOFs.

Wait you are kidding?

Yeah. Of course,

I'm kidding. That'd be

a horrible design for an animal.

You've got this way of telling

jokes where it's so straight

I have no idea

when you're joking or not.

Nice. Good job, me.

[Maeve] Oh, wow.

- [TJ] Oh.

- [Maeve giggles in excitement]

- [Maeve] Hey, pull in here. Pull in here.

- [TJ] Yeah.

- [TJ] Wow. Wow.

- [Maeve chuckles]

[calm music]

[TJ] Oh, my God.

[Maeve exhales in amazement]

[TJ] It's huge.

I don't know why but I've been

dreaming of coming here

since I was six years old.

- I think I know why.

- [Maeve exhales in agreeance]

Do you know you can see 2

billion years of Earth's history

in the geology revealed

in the canyon's walls?

Did you know that

Paul Thomas Anderson

watched The Treasure

of the Sierra Madre

every day leading up

to filming There Will Be Blood?

[Maeve chuckles]

He did, I'm telling you.

We're in such a poetic landscape

and you're thinking about films.

What's more cinematic than this?

Okay. Fair.

- [Maeve] I really want to stop here.

- [TJ] Why here?

Hell, I want to stop everywhere,

but you won't let me.

[TJ sighs in frustration] I got like one

day until I'm supposed to meet my father

and 600 miles

to go or something.

And you're nervous,

I understand.

Still, I think we should

learn something

about the history

of this amazing landscape.

I'm not nervous.

Who said I'm nervous?

[TJ chuckles nervously]

I'm not nervous.

[Maeve] There's something so incredibly

romantic about Indian culture.

[TJ] We don't call the Native

Americans Indians anymore.

We call them Native Americans.

I don't know where Americans

get this habit.

You're constantly changing

the words for things,

but not the issues

behind the words.

[people speaking in the distance]

[Maeve] It's an Irish point of view.

[TJ] Well, a Native American

point of view

is that they want to be

called Native Americans

and they should get

to decide, right? I mean,

they were here first

like the sign says.

Okay. Good point.

There's something incredibly romantic

about Native American culture.

I think it's the sense

of independence.

Maybe how close

they lived in nature.

There seems a beautiful

freedom in that.

Yeah, and America is a country

that cares a lot about freedom.

Maybe, uh, yeah. Maybe some of that

came from the Native Americans.

Pretty profound,

for a guy whose idea of deep

reading is movie trivia.

- Hey, there you go judging again.

- [Maeve chuckles]

Everyone is their own path to follow

and mine is wherever PTA says it is.

- [Maeve laughs]

- [calm music]

You've made it

to California now.

Why don't you wander around

and get a sense of her?

[music continues]

[TJ] It's wild, you drive

10 minutes off the highway

- and the whole world completely changes.

- [Maeve exhales in agreeance]

Do you know that California alone

is six times bigger than Ireland?

I did not know that.

I also don't know

what you got in that bag

because you won't tell me,

but I'm really hoping it's food,

a lot of a food.

[cricket noises]

Tonight's our last night

together.

Tomorrow you go your way

and I go mine,

so it's our version

of the Last Supper.

So we'll have the great

Irish delicacy

- of the crisp sandwich

- Ah.

And brownies and for the cook

a little something

to wash it all down with.

Amazing.

So we got here, two pieces

of bread with the butter,

and then you are going

to put crisps on top.

- Crisps.

- Potato chips.

- Potato chips. Yeah.

- [Maeve giggles]

Okay.

There's that.

Oh, you do the honors

and then when you close it,

listen to the crunch.

It's fun.

[potatoe chips crackle]

- Oh, whoa. Yeah.

- [both chuckle and laugh]

You Irish girls

really know how to party.

Wow.

[TJ laughs]

[TJ] I mean, My Left Foot

isn't his best movie,

but I mean what he puts

himself through physically,

he plays a guy with cerebral palsy

and he has to sit in the wheelchair

and he stays sitting in it

even when they're not filming.

And he actually

broke two ribs during filming

because just from contorting

his body into that position.

I mean, It's insane what he puts

himself through for these roles

just to feel like these people.

It's really cool.

And There Will Be Blood,

which is, I mean, that's his best movie.

That's his best performance.

- That's a different kind...

- Are you anxious, TJ,

about tonight or tomorrow?

No. I just get

really excited

when I talk about

Daniel Day Lewis.

- He's one of my big...

- I know,

you told me.

Tomorrow's going

to be all right.

But what if,

- what if,

- What if he doesn't come?

Well, the truth is,

you've been fine during all

the years he's been absent.

So, should something go

wrong tomorrow, you'll be fine.

And second, why on Earth would

he go to all of the trouble

to get you the car

and invite you to California

if he didn't intend to show up

to see you when you arrive?

I'm less scared

that he won't show up,

as I am at

what I'll discover if he does.

[keys jingle in TJ's pocket]

I want to show you something.

I'm sorry I didn't

tell you. Um.

[TJ exhales anxiously]

- [calm music]

- I think it's time for dessert.

I can't believe how clear

the stars are out here.

I mean, back home there

are usually clouds.

So.

I swear the sky

is bigger out here.

- Yeah, I feel that too.

- [music continues]

[unintelligible loudspeaker announcement]

[TJ exhales in anticipation]

You're sure they'll let

Fionn on the train?

I can easily take you to LA,

three hours there, three hours back.

You'll be late.

So what? I haven't seen

the guy in eight years.

What's one more day?

Do you feel ready to see him?

Yeah, I think so.

Then let's part here.

It's easier for me this way.

I'm not good goodbyes.

Okay.

Come on, buddy.

Come on. Good boy.

[car door slams]

Close your eyes.

- [TJ chuckles]

- I have a present for you,

but I don't have any wrapping

paper. So close your eyes.

- Maeve, you did not-

- Close your eyes!

I'm going to miss your

commanding presence.

Now open them.

I found them in a vintage store

in Bakersfield.

If you're going to meet

your father, it's a big day.

You want to dress for it.

Even more than drink,

the Irish love books.

Twain is my favorite

American writer,

and this story has a tale you'll

find familiar of a young man

traveling across the

states to California

and adventuring along the way.

I left you

a little note in there,

my address in Venice

and back home in Ireland.

There's even my email

and my mobile written down

in case you decide to rejoin

the 21st century and get a phone.

- Maeve, I don't...

- Until we meet again.

Now go.

Stop wasting time.

[calm music]

[train horn blares]

[car door opens]

[car engine starts]

[music continues]

[car horn beeps twice]

[car horn beeps longer]

[door opens]

[foot steps]

Hey, Tommy.

Glad you made it.

You thought that I'd obey.

No, I thought maybe

you'd be ready to understand.

I understand that this car

is important to you.

[bat bounces on trunk]

I understand that

you've been a shitty father,

that you abandoned mom and me,

that you're a drunk

drug addict convict as*h*le,

- that you never called

- [calm music]

Or visited

since I was 10.

I understand that you had me

drag this across the country for you,

never worrying about

whether I get busted for it.

You know there's two sides

to every story.

Look, Tommy, there's a lot

I need to tell you.

- [ambient music]

- [saw starts to whirl]

Be careful in there.

Tommy. Tommy, hold on.

Let me show you how to get it.

I got it. I got it.

Careful, it's going to be hot

where we just cut it.

[calm music]

[TJ breaths nervously]

Yeah.

[James] Open it.

[James] It's yours.

Happy birthday.

Best night of music I ever had.

Tom Petty gave it to me

when I was about your age,

I played back up for him

for about six weeks.

[both chuckle]

It might be out of tune, here.

It's been a while.

[James exhales in acceptance]

It's yours.

You must be pretty beat.

You hungry?

Probably should take my car.

["Lemon Tree" by Mt. Joy starts to play]

[James and TJ inaudibly chat]

I just found a lemon tree

It's a bad day for my enemies

Yes, there's sugar water in the breeze

And I'm ready, I'm ready

So someone play guitar for me

I'm ready to leave my body

And oh, this could be rage

We're flying to the space

Between the lies we told

And find the good in every soul is all

Connected energy or how would I know

You were thinking of me in the tree?

The sweetness is around the seed

And I'm learning to keep going

Just an itty-bitty hit of weed

Got me ready to leave my body

And oh, this could be rage

We're flying to the space

Between the lies we told

And find the good in every soul is all

Connected energy or how would I know

You were thinking of me?

When all of the lights remain

This is all that our time contains