♪ Blood from another I'm feeling helpless ♪
♪ The spell I'm under What is a family anyways? ♪
♪ And are there better days? ♪
♪ I know you claim to be But how are you a part of me? ♪
♪ A room full of strangers Without a light on ♪
♪ A casket of questions That put a smile on this time ♪
♪ And for a short while You know, I tried but ♪
♪ I wish I was runnin' away ♪
♪ You once said I cannot make it outta here ♪
♪ I pushed my way Through another atmosphere ♪
♪ I'll never look back Never look back ♪
♪ Don't ya know I'm sick of standin' still ♪
♪ On a roadway ♪
♪ Spinnin' wheels Got lost in conversations ♪
♪ The rest of life can't Help the situation though ♪
♪ Never look back Never look back ♪
In the '60's,
a soulful and brooding singer-songwriter
named Micky Adams burst from the folk scene
and onto the pop charts with a string of hits.
By the early '70's, he was a legend.
Critics were comparing his lyrics to Baudelaire's poetry.
By 1973, Micky Adams had won eleven Grammys.
By 1974, he had sold over 70 million records.
And by 1975, he was off-the-grid: a ghost.
I was in diapers.
When I met Micky Adams, he tried to teach me
what music is, that the wind is the world breathing
and sometimes you can even hear it sing.
What the fuck did I need to know any of that for?
It was 1996, and I was in the music business.
Johnny Depp owns this place.
I had a drink with him once.
He quietly made me feel like an idiot.
Space Hog, big fuckin' jam, man.
Yeah, fuckin'-A right?
Right over there? River Phoenix flamed out
never to rise from the ashes.
They say he died for our sins.
Thanks, Bud.
I don't think that's gonna cover it.
To me, guys like Micky Adams were ancient history,
and I was focused on the future:
the next Nirvana, Weezer, No Doubt.
That's what I was looking for.
Can I get a vodka rocks?
Vodka Rocks, a great name for a band.
Pectorals meets The Clash, tip of the hat to ZZ Top.
Thank you.
Rock 'n' roll is here to stay.
Life is a disease and the only cure is rock 'n' roll.
I have seen the future of rock 'n' roll.
Landau!
- About Springsteen? - Uh-huh.
Fuck off.
Charlie Porter. Indigo Records.
Hi. Charlie Porter. I'm Cory.
Think it was Dylan that said, "When opportunity knocks,
don't be too stoned to answer."
Dylan never said that, but if he was here right now,
I bet he'd say, "Fuck off!"
One day, and I hope it's soon,
I'm going to smash a pie in this kid's face.
Three of you are really good.
Hey! Um, sorry about that.
Rocket is a horrible drunk and a worse boyfriend.
And an even worse guitar player.
He's clunky, and he's derivative,
and you blow him off the stage.
I actually don't blow him anywhere anymore.
We broke up.
Can I get you a drink?
Beer.
Beer?
Can I have a beer please?
Thank you.
You know I don't think he knows it yet, though.
That we broke up.
We just kind of entered the sexual-tension-in-the-band
part of the rock 'n' roll cliché.
I could help with the lead- singer-becomes-a-star
while-her-boyfriend-spends-his time-in-rehab-teaching-fellow
juicers-Voodoo-Child-on-a second-hand-Strat...
part of the cliché.
Well, do you think we're any good?
I think your band can't decide if it's Guns N' Roses or Hole.
Whatever it is you're all trying to be, but never will be.
You aren't very nice.
I'm not paid to be nice.
Well, I'm not very nice either, but I don't get paid for it.
Part of the not-getting-paid-at-all cliché.
I can help you with that too.
Hey...
Call me.
There you go.
Josh.
Steph!
Oh, you look really good today.
You think I like doing this?
Don't you think I'd rather be on the floor watching the Lakers?
What's happening with, uh, Micky Adams?
I-In terms of...
I-In terms of dropping him, you fucking moron.
Cobain may be gone, but somebody's got to keep Courtney
in smack and ripped stockings.
Well...
And yet again, I'm forced to deal with the specter
of Micky Adams.
Has Micky Adams crossed him?
Micky Adams was my friend. I managed Micky Adams.
I got him high, and I got him laid,
and I watched him get a quarter million a year in perpetuity.
And now Micky Adams haunts me because no one seems to know
how to get rid of him.
Well, we've tried. He has no agent.
He has no lawyer.
Does he have an address?
Yes.
Then why don't you go there and drop him?
We've tried. We've sent people.
- And? - Well, no one...
No one comes back.
I'll do it.
- Who are you? - I'm Charlie.
- He works in the mail room. - Yeah, he's nobody.
Is that what you are, Charlie?
Nobody?
Nobody's fool.
Why don't you two go?
How long have you been in the mail room?
Long enough to know better.
Want my job? You can have it.
Get your shit outta here by lunch.
This fucking business,
I feel like I'm riding a dinosaur
into the jaws of the apocalypse.
Come here. I want you to hear something.
This is Micky Adam's latest offering.
It's a CD he calls, "Doors."
Some kind of homage to Jim Morrison.
No, it's a very real homage to masturbation.
- Listen. First track. - Homage.
Second track.
Third track.
This is my personal favorite here.
What is that?
It's a coffin. Unfortunately, it's not his.
If it were, he'd sell more than two CD's in a decade.
And finally, ten minutes of a refrigerator opening and closing.
Boy, is he nuts.
Yeah, he's a big crazy baby.
Uploaded leftover from a drug-addled, pampered,
completely out of control time in music.
Stephanie!
The bill for which has somehow landed on my desk.
Go out to Montecito. Get that big baby to countersign
that buyout agreement that releases us from blah blah blah blah...
and then maybe...
maybe your mail room days are over, Charlie.
You got it.
That's the last great thing he did.
Give it a listen on the way up to Montecito.
Maybe there's a clue in there on how to dump his oatmeal-y ass.
How soon do you want this done?
- Yesterday. - I'm already there.
♪ Come on now, Mr. Sailor Man ♪
♪ Get me off of this key chain Myself I rhymed ♪
♪ Oh, let's cruise Up to the city, shoot ♪
♪ I've got nothin' to lose But my brown suede boots ♪
♪ There's no two ways About this town ♪
♪ There's only one road out And that's down ♪
Talk to me.
- Guess I shouldn't be shocked. - By?
The fact that a record guy lied to me.
Not that you're even a record guy in the first place.
- Uh-oh. - How are things in the mail room?
Busted.
- So busted. - Things in the mail room are temporary.
Fuck!
♪ The wind is cold On my face ♪
♪ I feel the chill Of the ocean spray ♪
♪ Right where I belong They think they know it all ♪
♪ God give 'em peace ♪
♪ They think they know What's right for me ♪
♪ I'm high above the clouds ♪
♪ Little do they know ♪
♪ Man, they just Don't get it ♪
♪ I can fly so high In the sky ♪
♪ Little do they know ♪
♪ Shout it from the rooftops ♪
♪ Cause we don't Really give a damn ♪
That old man is out of his fucking skull!
I'm Charlie Porter. Um, hello?
Jesus Christ!
Hey!
Fuck!
Who the hell are you?
I'm Charlie.
- Are you one of them? - What are you doing?
You could have electrocuted yourself.
You A&R piece of shit.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to stay under?
How much willpower it takes?
I was recording, you dipshit!
What the hell do you want?
I'm from Indigo Records.
You actually sound proud of that, Sparky.
Okay, Mr. Adams, we have some business to discuss.
I'm an artist. I don't discuss business.
With all due respect, I don't think I would call
the sound of doors opening and closing art.
I'll tell you something, Sparky.
There's nothing more evocative
than the sound of doors opening and closing.
Nothing more hopeful and nothing more final.
When you reach my age, if your callowness and stupidity hasn't already done you in,
which is something devoutly to be wished...
maybe you'll understand that.
I doubt it.
Hungry?
What is this?
It's a spaghetti and mayonnaise sandwich. My fave.
Lowell George turned me on to 'em.
Eat.
Hmm.
Mmm. Is this Sprite?
I haven't had Sprite in a long time.
Sure, it could be. Sprite, yeah.
The new Spritelier Sprite.
Ha ha.
You want to know why you don't have any hair on your ankles?
I didn't know I don't have hair on my ankles.
How did you know that?
I'm an artist. I notice everything.
'Cause you're getting old.
I'm 23.
Well, just 'cause you're young, doesn't mean you're not getting old.
You think you're free from the vagaries, man?
Blow yourself.
Have... Have some more Sprite.
You know, the last guy that came up here, Stanley something.
We had a helluva good time,
but he left here thinking I was the Devil.
Um, Mr. Adams...
Nah. Don't call me that.
- Okay, may I call you Micky? - No.
Anyway. Back to the business at hand.
- So there are two ways we can play this. - Play this!
- I have in my possession... - Talk like a human.
...a signed contract, which terminates your contract,
the financial terms of which I'm sure you'll find much to your satisfaction.
You're a cocky little fucker, aren't you?
Would you have some more Spritelier Sprite?
It's good.
There are two ways we could play this, Mr. Adams.
You're clinging to that phrase like a lifeboat.
Now you can sign this now, okay?
Or you can sign it later,
but I'm not going anywhere till you do, okay?
Follow-through, man.
It's what I'm all about, man, follow-through.
Follow-through is the street where I live.
What was I saying?
The contract... Sorry. I'm a bit ADD.
Fascinating. Cheers.
You know what?
It's Miss Nicholson's fault.
Who the fuck is Miss Nicholson?
Miss Nicholson was my fifth grade teacher.
She used to peer over my shoulder and just stare at me
with these beady little rat eyes.
She'd stare at me while I was trying to do word problems.
Why the fuck am I talking about this?
I engender revelation, Sparky.
That's the street where I live.
- Mr. Adams. - Ah!
- Sorry, right. Micky! - Ah!
What do you want me to call you then?
I always liked Biff.
Attention must be paid!
What?
"Death of a Salesman," man.
Biff. Come on, Sparky. Try to keep up.
Totally.
Okay, so, Biff, I'm from Indigo Records.
Yeah. As my daughter used to say, "Duh."
You have a daughter?
Not according to her.
Did I mention that I'm from Indigo Records?
Yeah, a lot.
Cool.
I take it you're aware that your table is melting.
Sure.
And that the walls are... on fire.
You bet.
I'm a Zamboni. That's not what I said though.
Hear voices. You have to pay me for that.
I'm seeing things. I'm fucking hearing things!
What is happening, Micky?
You're kind of vague. What's happening where?
In spite of what you're feeling at this juncture,
you're handling this a lot better than Stanley Wilson did.
Wait! Stanley Wilson, that was it!
You drugged me! You gave me something!
You did, huh? You drugged me? You dosed me?
- Aren't you feeling Spritelier? - Fuck you!
- What did you give me, huh? - Don't have a name for it yet.
I know what it's like to be born.
Hey, Micky, you know... everyone thinks you are nuts.
I am nuts.
And my boss said that you're a big baby.
Yeah, well.
Donny Rumson is an anorexic fascist who is emblematic
of the decline of all that is good and holy.
The only thing Donny Rumson has going for him is his hair...
and that bogus whisper thing.
I am not afraid to stand naked! Okay?
Dig it!
Clothes are for cowards, man!
Fuck it. I don't need 'em!
Once you go buck, you never go back.
That's right, man!
I hunger for the wind on my skin and the rivers rushing
through my veins and the night dancing with my heart beating.
Can you do that again?
What is in me is without me.
I have thoughts in a green shade.
- Man, that was fucking epic! - All right?
I just thought of that. I just thought of that! Thank you!
That's the gift.
What is in me is without me!
This particular drug. Come on. Let's go, man.
- Okay, where are we going? - Let's put some shit up on the hill.
Up! Let's go up!
Are you bringing the thing?
Yeah, I'm bringing the thing.
Okay, let me get my bag.
Man, that was gold!
♪ I'm seein' endless Possibilities ♪
♪ Let's make a move Into reality ♪
♪ I'm seein' endless Possibilities ♪
♪ This inspiration Gets the best of me ♪
♪ Until the moment Shines eternity ♪
♪ Let's make a move Into reality ♪
♪ Endless possibilities ♪
- Wild! - Come on now.
It's incredibly wild and you know what, man?
It's incredibly holy, man.
And spirit, everything is spirit. It's all spirit!
Man, there is shit going on underneath the surface
that is too deep for tears.
Yeah, man, and the waves, man!
Look at the waves. Listen to them!
It's like an never-ending roar, man!
It's fucking scary, huh?
You want to know what's scary?
Not really. Ha!
You know what a rogue wave is, Sparky?
I have no idea, Biff.
It's this huge wave, sometimes 20, 30 feet.
It comes out of nothing, from nowhere...
just washes everything away.
It's cool!
Yeah, it is cool 'cause a human can't stay underwater
by sheer will.
Fat, instinct, whatever. It almost always rises up.
A rogue wave can take care of that.
It's super cool. It's really, really cool.
That's what I am, you little fuck.
A rogue wave.
I came from nothing, from nowhere.
My father sold shoes for a living,
and my mother licked them clean.
And from them came me, a rogue wave,
and I washed the world clean.
Me!
You want to dump me?
You and that piece of shit label!
Is that what you fucking think?
I will drown your fuckin' ass!
Listen.
What?
The world, it's singing.
Come on! It's fuckin' amazing!
I don't hear anything.
It's fucking pretty though. I like the silence.
I don't hear anything.
Micky.
Oh, my God!
That's unbelievable!
Micky, that's you! That's you!
How are you there and here at the same time?
Fuck me!
Cameroon!
Who is that?
Cameroon, you fucking maniac!
Micky? Hey, Micky!
Gotcha!
Oh, oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Hey, come on, come on!
Let's go, let's go, let's go! Come with me.
Fuck! Cameroon, man! Fucking jacked my llama!
Sparky?
Sparky!
Oh!
Ah!
Dude.
Oh, dude.
Jesus!
No, it's Brandon.
Come on, dude. We'll hook you up.
The contract.
Fuck!
Still here!
You're the first one to ever come back.
Follow-through is the street where I live.
That's a pretty boring street.
You must be the daughter.
According to the father.
I'm Charlie.
I know. I'm Julia.
Huh, like the song.
Nope, not about me.
Is your dad home?
He's asleep.
- Can you wake him up? - I can, but I won't.
Your old man laced my drink with God-knows-what,
and I woke up naked.
My head is on fire, and I think I might spontaneously combust.
You're gonna need to relax.
I'm in no mood for this early morning badinage.
Ooh, badinage, good word.
I bet you might even know what it means.
I'll be back.
You think he's crazy, don't you?
Yeah. Don't you?
You left here yesterday saying you were out of here
'cause he's out of his skull.
He's not crazy. He's just hiding.
From?
All those other people.
Fuck!
So, he signed it?
Yeah, I dropped it off at legal.
I figure this buys me about a week.
My bible is short and fat-free.
When I say I'm gonna do something, I do it.
Old school, baby.
Yeah, that's right.
I used to think maybe I didn't deserve all this,
but I snapped out of it.
This is America, Pilgrim. You get what you deserve.
He signed it.
Follow me.
I will follow him.
I will follow him until I am him.
♪ Hip-a-dip As I come down and invade Presenting you a new shade ♪
♪ Took this whole masquerade ♪
♪ The era I'm from A special ed kid got it made ♪
♪ Through the rap trade Getting paid to keep it laid ♪
♪ Now, once again The start, G... ♪
Mmm. I read the Kushner article on you in Rolling Stone.
It sounds like you fought like hell to get here.
Yeah, it's a real New York bootstraps story, sure.
Iovine isn't the only scrapper out of Brooklyn, you know.
My dad died when I was seven. My mom had to go back to work.
I was pretty much on my own since then.
Fuck if I wasn't getting out of that hell hole first chance that I could.
Yeah, I dug my way out, and I won't let anything stop me.
And that's what kills me about them.
Who?
The... artists.
Yeah, they know pain and shit,
and some of them have real fucking talent to back it up.
But what fucking kills me is they will throw it all away
over hurt feelings and ego and shit.
Axl and Slash, Eddie V and David Lee!
Yes. And who knows what Art Garfunkel was thinking?
Exactly!
All right, lesson number one.
Do not fall in love with the artist.
Never confuse the artist with his art.
Bob Dylan.
Bob Dylan is not "Mr. Tambourine Man."
Nobody is who you think they are, except for Vedder.
Tomorrow he'll help build another Planned Parenthood
and be out there on his longboard by three.
Other than that, it's a fucking wasteland out there.
There is a hole in the soul of rock 'n' roll.
And you know what? I think Charlie Porter could fill it, huh?
That's a really big statement, Charlie.
I found this girl.
Girl. What girl?
Well? Look.
Great eyes. Can she sing?
Jesus, look at those... eyes!
You're stupid.
Hey!
- Hey, Big Man. - Hi.
I got your message.
- Congratulations. - Oh, thank you, thanks.
- Can I come in? - Yeah, yeah, please, come in.
You must be really excited.
Oh, yeah, you kidding me? It's unreal.
Nice digs.
It's so messy. I'm sorry.
- Do you want a beer? - Yeah.
What's, uh, Mr. Brand-new A&R man doing
all by himself on a Friday night?
Well, he's not all by himself now, is he? Right?
No, he's not.
- Cheers. - Cheers.
What did your boss say when you mentioned me?
That you have great eyes.
Yeah.
And do you agree?
Yeah, I do.
You have an eyelash.
Don't be afraid to tell me what you want.
Okay.
I want a house on Point Dume by 24...
Ferrari by 25.
I want Donny Rumson's job by, like, 30.
I want to master that whisper thing he does
- probably by 40. - Yeah.
I want his hair at 50.
I want you to never stop doing that.
All of you is perfect, like, this body is the one
that I've been waiting for.
Do you think this body can sing?
I think this body's a symphony.
Do you think this body's a star?
I think this body's the Milky Way.
Mmm.
Finally.
Daddy! Daddy!
Daddy.
Dad, come on!
Are you serious?
Look at me!
- I thought you said he wasn't crazy. - He's not.
Dad? Get down from there.
He's just a little bipolar.
This is not amusing!
With manic depressive tendencies.
- But not crazy? - Oh, God, no!
Goddamn it! Please!
Is there a specific reason he's up there
or just general non-madness?
This.
What the hell?
It was in the Enquirer.
I am but a tarnished angel.
Hey, Charlie.
Hi.
Um, who took this picture?
Cameroon Robbins. The prick. Charlie, why don't you come on up here?
Who the fuck is Cameroon Robbins?
And why is he taking pictures of us naked?
Charlie.
And uh, why don't you come down here, Micky, huh?
Okay.
- Oh, shit! - No-no-no-no!
Daddy? Daddy! Well?
Well, what?
Well, do something! You're the guy!
Yup-yup. Fuckin' whale.
- Hurry up. Come on! - All right.
Come on, Micky.
What the fuck, man?
I'm tired, Charlie.
Too tired today to try.
He's asleep.
Your clothes are almost dry.
Thanks.
Who's Cameroon Robbins?
He used to write for Rolling Stone a million years ago
before they started putting tits on the cover.
Now all he does is kind of sneak around and stalk my father.
He peeks through our windows. He goes through our trash.
He calls himself an Adamsologist,
but he's really just a lonely old pain in the ass.
Can we just get back to the business at hand?
He really needs to sign the contract, Julia.
Your father needs to be realistic.
This is an inevitable formality.
Aren't you a little young
to be concerned with inevitable formalities?
The contract is not currently in my possession, I forgot.
Perhaps your dog ate it.
Or perhaps in a drug-induced stupor,
I unwittingly threw it into the ocean.
Not that I have any memory of it.
Maybe you were soaring on the wings of your better angels.
I don't know what that means, and I don't really fucking care!
I got a job to do, and goddamn it, I'm gonna do it!
- Shush! You're gonna wake him up! - Good! Somebody has to!
Let me ask you something, Mr. Charlie Porter.
How would you feel if everybody thinks you're a genius
and then, whimsically, one day, they decide that you're not.
That you're uncool, over, that you're embarrassing
and that you should maybe just go away?
Or even better, die.
You know what I would do?
I would just sign on the dotted line,
take the money and fade gracefully into the sunset.
Fuck you.
You have no idea the people who used to hang out here.
Legends. I grew up bouncing on the knees of legends.
They all took to the hills.
All that's left is me.
Where's your mom?
She died.
My father too.
Just too weird for words isn't it, when they die?
Everything stops.
Oh, well, what are you gonna do?
Move out, move on, focus on your own life.
I'm all he has, Charlie.
Even a shitty real thing is better than a memory.
Yeah.
Where are you going?
We're out of mayonnaise.
Um, what do I do when he wakes up?
That's your call, Mr. Follow-Through Boulevard.
Hey, Julia.
Wasn't there something else you wanted to do with your life?
Yes.
♪ I clean my guitar With a cotton cloth ♪
♪ Wipe off the fingerprints ♪
♪ Sweat and alcohol At a breakthrough gig ♪
♪ At a club called The Bitter Prince ♪
♪ Pack it all away In a Gibson case ♪
♪ Stickers put on In a happier place ♪
♪ Don't turn the light on I'm livin' the life ♪
♪ Ridin' in silence ♪
♪ Tears in my eyes ♪
♪ I see colors When you're with me ♪
♪ When you're with me Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ I see colors When you're with me ♪
♪ When you're with me Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Call from the hotel Wait for your voice ♪
♪ It's a habit I'll never break ♪
♪ I ask how you're doin' You say that you're fine ♪
♪ I know I've made a mistake ♪
♪ You can't resist me Sippin' on whiskey ♪
♪ Lookin' neat and tidy Fit for a king ♪
♪ I stare out the window Clouds in the sky ♪
♪ So far away I tell you good-bye ♪
♪ I see colors When you're with me ♪
♪ When you're with me Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ I see colors When you're with me ♪
♪ Baby ♪
What is that?
Nothing.
Doesn't sound like nothing.
I know the sound of nothing.
How does this thing even stay in tune?
Play it again.
Okay. I can't believe I'm doing this.
Nothing you can imagine is wilder than what's real, Sparky.
Keep going.
Play!
Play. Just play.
Oh, my God, I feel like my heart's gonna explode.
Do you know how long it's been since I played anything?
- And you! - Me what?
You are my muse!
No, no, I'm not your muse. I'm a suit. You said so yourself.
You are my muse in suit's clothing,
and I'm not letting you outta my sight!
I have a job, Micky! The contract.
Fuck the contract, man! The contract is bullshit.
You just saw what I can do, man!
Sweet Mother of God!
This happiness is strong medicine, man!
Wait, wait. I'm getting ahead of myself.
I've gotta start writing again.
I got to write a hit.
I'm gonna write a hit.
Do you know why?
Not really, no.
'Cause I got you, babe.
And I love you, man!
Micky, Micky. Stop, stop!
Ha!
Ha! Aaah!
I can't believe we're doing this.
This is so crazy.
Who was it told you you couldn't play the piano?
That was a weird segue.
Who?
Why do you think somebody told me I couldn't play the piano?
If somebody didn't tell you that,
you wouldn't be a fucking suit.
Was it Mrs. Nicholson?
No, it wasn't Mrs. Nicholson. Jesus, Micky.
It's my only frame of reference.
I give up.
It was my father.
Happy?
Now maybe we can have a little less talking about that.
Uh-huh.
My muse has father issues.
Can we drop that because everybody has father issues?
Is he still alive?
No.
- Was he famous? - No.
Bigger than a bread box?
All right, fuck you, Micky.
Sounds like?
He was the sound of ice clinking in a bourbon glass.
My father never loved me.
And as sad as it is to say, I never loved my father.
I-I meant nothing to him.
My muse is a raven with a broken wing.
Yeah, he sure is.
I have this fantasy where I dance on his grave.
I love it!
Yeah.
This is so crazy.
Um, what street?
There's nothing crazy about this.
- Corvo Way. - Corvo Way.
Listen, I wrote all my best stuff in my old room
at my parents' house.
If we go back there, I'll soak up the vibes and I'm back.
There's nothing crazy about that.
What's the address again?
- 117. - There is no 117.
My memory lane's a dead fuckin' end.
Far out!
What are you doing, Micky?
Micky? What are you doing?
Micky, don't shake the gate.
- Stop. - This was the living room, right there, man.
My parents' bedroom was over there.
Muffled yelling, doors slamming,
cars starting in the middle of the night.
Fuck, people are waking up. Micky, stop. Let's just go.
Help me up, help me up.
- Don't. - Look, it's my room right there, man!
Don't jump the fucking fence!
What is this orange shit?
Are you kidding me?
Micky? Micky?
All right man, all right.
What the fuck are you doing jumping over a fucking fence?
Sir! I don't know what the hell is going on here,
but this is private property.
I-I know, it's...
- Gun! - What? No.
No, that's whipped cream. That's whipped cream.
Micky! Micky.
I quit.
I don't want to be your muse.
I think it's lethal.
So, you know what, I-I quit.
So just sign the contract and then just-just-just set me free.
Why are you so pissed?
Because I'm in jail.
This isn't jail. It's a holding cell in Malibu. Calm down.
The big, fat madman is telling me to calm down.
I must be really out of my fucking mind, man.
Why do you think you're out of your mind?
Because you won't sign the contract.
I think it's something else.
- Do you? - But don't worry,
I got half of side one already written in my head.
They don't fucking make side ones anymore, you lunatic, okay?
Can you do me a favor, Micky? Can you stop referring to me
as your muse, okay, especially to cops,
because it sounds... it sounds gay, you know?
Oh... so my muse is homophobic.
No.
You know what? I think you need me
and that you are very quickly becoming my best friend.
I-I don't want to be your best friend.
I don't want to be your muse...
I just want to go back to my life.
I'll tell you what. I'll make you a deal.
I'll sign your contract if you'll be my best friend.
Stop saying best friend!
It makes it sound like you're five years old, Micky.
Okay, and if I had the contract, great, but I don't.
What the fuck?
Does the "Horse Whisperer" know?
Who?
Donny.
Yeah, I told Donny you signed the contract, okay?
Which is a lie, Micky, which has probably revealed itself to him.
Which means that I'm fucked! I'm fucked.
Listen, your life's already over,
so you might as well just be my best friend.
I'm really, truly starting to hate you.
Mr. Adams!
A big, big fan.
- Oh, thanks, man. - Hey.
You're free to go, and you want to stay out of trouble, please?
Yes, Officer.
Your muse is free to go too.
He doesn't even snore like a human.
That's because he isn't.
- What? - Nothing.
- Something. - I don't know.
My life seems to be veering off somewhere.
How does he just fall asleep like that. I don't understand.
He can be manic to the point of being orbital
and then crash to the point of narcolepsy.
Does anything help?
In a way, a night like this probably does.
I don't usually have nights like this.
Are you having fun?
Oh, god, you think?
Must have been wild growing up with him.
Yeah, he'd weep like a baby at my birthday parties
in front of all my friends.
That's sweet.
Not when I was 16.
When I was younger, he'd go to my parent/teacher conferences
on mescaline and draw pentagrams on the blackboard
while my mom tried to distract the teachers.
Yikes.
Well, at least after my mom died, he didn't have to go those anymore.
I just started negotiating my own grades.
School wasn't so easy for me either.
I was always visible when I tried to, like,
sit in the back of the class and I was...
Kids tease you?
No, not... I can't tell you actually. So forget about it.
- Uh, sure you can. - No, I can't.
Now you have to. In fact, I think you want to.
It was a really long time ago.
Okay, then it should be okay to tell me.
All right, I'll tell you, but if I tell you,
- you're going to have to marry me or shoot me. - Deal.
Okay.
One day, I'm sitting at my desk.
I've never told this to anybody.
For some reason, I started thinking about foxes.
Foxes.
For whatever reason, I still to this day don't know why,
I-I-I-I...
- Keep going. - I got an erection.
- Thinking about foxes? - Yeah.
That's sensational.
I'm sitting there. You know, this is new. What is this?
And I look down and I'm like "Oh."
So I start playing with it, and then I look over
and the teacher's just staring at me,
and because she's staring at me,
all the kids turn around, and then they're staring at me.
And I'm just sitting here... Good times.
You now.
Me what?
You tell me something that you didn't want to tell me.
Like what was that thing you always wanted to do.
It's nothing.
Law school.
I can totally see that.
What happened?
I don't know. Like, 75,000 kids applied the year I graduated.
You know "Kill all the lawyers" and all that.
Mmm.
I got turned on thinking about dolphins once.
That's normal.
You're actually supposed to get turned on by watching dolphins.
Really?
Yes.
Pull over right here.
Why Mr. Porter, this is so sudden.
No, this is where I live.
So this is the street where you live.
Um, we seem to have maintained the fox theme,
but mercifully with a different species.
Uh-huh.
- Well... - Well...
Thank you for the ride.
Sure.
For the bail out.
No problem.
♪ I used to think I knew everything ♪
♪ But now I'm not so sure ♪
♪ Without my encyclopedia... ♪
All right, so he said that if Joan Jett
and Debbie Harry had a baby, that would be you.
He really said that?
No.
Do I look okay?
Yeah, you look great. You smell great.
You're killing me.
I'm so nervous. I've never been to one of these things before.
I'm hardly a regular myself.
What if I say something stupid?
I'll try to beat you to it.
Think somebody famous is really somebody not famous?
Yeah.
I'm famous for that.
What?
♪ Come on, y'all Let's take a ride ♪
♪ Don't you say shit Just get inside ♪
♪ It's time to take your ass On another kind of trip ♪
♪ Cause you can't have the hop If you don't have the hip ♪
♪ Grab your strap With the extra clip ♪
♪ And close your eyes And hit the switch ♪
♪ We're going to a place where Everybody kick it ♪
♪ Kick it, Kick it Yeah that's the ticket ♪
♪ Ain't no bloodin' Ain't no cripin' ♪
♪ Ain't no fools In the party set trippin' ♪
♪ Everybody's got a stack And it ain't no crack ♪
♪ And it really don't matter If you're white or black, I ♪
♪ Want to take you there Like the Staple Singers ♪
♪ Put something in the trunk And I know that I can bring ya ♪
♪ If you can't take the heat Get yo' ass out the kitchen ♪
♪ We on a mission So come on ♪
♪ Come along and ride On a fantastic voyage ♪
♪ Slide, slide Slippity-slide... ♪
- Yo. - You're not going to believe who just hit on me.
Gavin Rossdale.
He's really cute, but a lot shorter than I thought he would be.
They're all shorter than you think, right?
What's the matter with you?
What is the matter with me?
I'm at the right party with the right girl,
all the right people.
And I really want to give a flying fuck,
but I can't seem to sprout wings.
You must be Cory.
Cory, Cory, Cory, you and I are going to have lunch on Monday,
and on Tuesday, we make history.
Today the mountains, tomorrow the world and... and all that.
Okay, cool.
Charlie, Charlie, Charlie.
- Sir? - You disappoint me.
- Do you want me to... - Oh, no, no.
Charlie, Charlie, Charlie.
You bullshitted your Uncle Donny.
- Really, it's no problem. - No!
Please, please. Tommy Mottola is circling you like a vulture. Don't move.
I checked with legal, nothing from the fat bastard.
Get your ass back up to Montecito
and you do what's necessary,
or you won't even be a mail room boy anymore.
You said that you weren't...
So where are you from, darlin'?
Jersey.
Huh, not anymore.
Let's see, Texas, Odessa.
You were gawky as a girl,
but lonely until you discovered Ma Rainey.
Mmm.
- Who? - Ma Rainey.
This old Delta Blues singer.
Why are you here... still?
Well, I don't have my car.
You can take mine...
- I can take yours. - ...if you want.
That's figured out then.
I think I'll just go.
- Odessa. - Texas.
- Yeah. - Cool.
♪ Just roll along Just roll along ♪
♪ Just roll along Just roll ♪
Fuck it!
It's just amazing. Come on in.
I guess there's no such thing as coincidence.
No idea what you're talking about.
- I really need to speak to your father. - Shh shh!
I'm not bullshitting anymore, and I mean it, goddamn it.
Charlie!
How do I look?
You look great.
Groovy.
I'm driving.
This is all your fault, Charlie.
♪ Stay Just a little bit longer ♪
♪ Please, please Please, please ♪
♪ Tell me that You're going to ♪
When was the last time you drove a car?
You seem a little rusty.
Stopped driving back
when Dylan had his motorcycle accident, man.
Wasn't that all bullshit, though?
So, I guess I never stopped driving.
There used to be only three things I cared about.
- Stay in the lanes. - My old Chevy Impala...
There's a red light, so... Red light.
- Debbie Garfield. - Red light, red light!
...and a guy named Micky Adams.
Fuck! What the hell's wrong with you!
I totaled the Impala... and uh, Debbie Garfield,
well, she cut her hair. She married a lawyer.
But Micky Adams, I don't know what happened to him.
Micky, what the fuck? What are we doing here?
There's not a week that goes by where I don't wonder what happened to Micky Adams.
So, I think I'll just ask him.
Me? I woke him up?
Hey, Micky, where the hell you been?
Dear Mr. Jesus, I sure hope you're paying attention.
Welcome back, Micky.
Micky Adams, everybody!
We love you, Micky!
I-I think it helps if you don't know me.
I'm sorry.
Miss, may I borrow your pen?
Thank you.
They were my brother's. They were too tight.
I play the piano.
I know there are notes that I can't hear. Nobody can.
I call it "The Angels' Share."
The Angels' Share.
If I pray, in their own sweet-ass time, they will.
They sure as hell weren't with me tonight.
Very clever how you beat me.
You played music with me. You gave me hope.
Believe me, nothing will kill you faster than hope.
Mind if I ask you one question before I never see your face again?
What's the get?
The get?
Yeah, the get.
What's in it for you?
I signed the thing. What do you get?
I get to be an A & R guy.
Golly-gee.
Look...
this is my commencement address to you, Sparky.
You know what music is?
Yearning for something, someone so bad,
but never quite gettin' it.
The Sistine Chapel.
God's hand to man's, not quite touching it...
reaching.
The music is the space between.
Between love and hate...
faith and fear...
man and woman...
life and death...
heaven and hell.
Between the thing that happens all the time...
when it is revealed why.
Music is the space between.
Space between you and me.
Good night, moon.
Yes.
What we have here is the sentimental education
of young Charles Porter.
You're that asshole that took my picture.
I am that very asshole, man.
So, you're the famous Micky Adams nut.
Whatever there is to know about Micky Adams,
I know it, and it weighs on my head,
and it fucking heavies my heart.
- You follow me? - Y-You go through his garbage. Why?
Because Micky Adams is a fucking genius, man.
You have no fucking idea the shit that he used to sing about.
I mean, it kept us alive.
What happened to him?
He got too close, man.
Too close to what?
What are you, a fucking idiot? The flame, man.
And he got scared, and he beat a hasty retreat.
They all do.
Who? Who all?
Shakespeare sold fucking real estate, man.
Salinger's hunkered down in some bunker.
Lennon hid out in the Dakota.
And Morrison and Joplin and Hendrix and Cobain,
they all joined the 27 club,
and Micky Adams went to fucking bed.
I know his Joy thinks he went nuts
because people forgot about him.
With all due respect, she doesn't know shit either.
Joy, you mean Julia?
Micky Adams went nuts because he didn't think
he had anything left to say, but he does, and I fucking know it.
And I stand around in the dark outside of his house hoping to hear it.
I keep that fucking piano in tune, dude.
And all these years, nothing. Dick.
And then one day, I'm prowling around,
and I hear it, and I run, and I look, and I see you.
You and him. Fucking music, man!
Such music.
You were sent here, man.
You know what?
You're the chosen one.
You, man.
Why don't you just listen to me? I knew this would happen.
Ebb and flow, babe. What goes around...
Exactly.
Everything old is...
Exactly.
The cyclical nature of business is...
Exactly.
I'm so there.
I've already got my man working on it.
When have I not delivered? Answer, never.
Charlie, Charlie, Charlie.
Hey.
That was New York.
- He signed it. - He didn't.
He didn't sign diddly.
That was New York.
Apparently, there's a picture of Micky naked.
Him and some guy whose johnson has become
a bit of a joke on the interweb.
Okay.
Little tiny...
And then there's this story about Micky getting arrested
for possession of a gun.
I mean, this is madness, and all of a sudden,
people are waking up to the fact
that Micky Adams is still around.
They want Micky to present an award at the Grammys,
maybe even sing one of his songs.
So, I want you to go up to Montecito
and you get Micky in shape.
You work with him. You've got a week.
He trusts you. You can make this happen.
He signed it though.
You know the moment that you walked in my office...
Stop, stop right there.
I knew that there was something special.
Okay, but I...
Is that, uh...
Yeah, yeah, that's...
Okay.
- Listen, she was your find, right? - Yes.
Then you've got to tell her.
I have to tell her what?
That it's not happening. I mean... Listen to her.
She doesn't have it.
Like, not even a little.
Yeah.
You can actually smell the desperation on her skin.
Listen, that chick will be nothing but a steamer trunk
full of stomach troubles, and those are the worst kind.
- Wait, I don't know... - You need to do some ab work there.
For a young man your age, you don't want that stuff.
You got it all. You're a young guy.
Wait a minute. Are you leaving?
Hey.
What do you want me to tell her?
What am I supposed to say?
Oh, you'll think of something.
Welcome to the bigs, babe.
♪ You carried the cardboard Boxes up and down ♪
♪ Lookin' for some excuse To stay around ♪
Hey, Superman.
♪ Eighteen with a bullet ♪
♪ So much left to learn ♪
♪ You'll find your home You'll fine your man ♪
♪ Things didn't turn out The way you planned ♪
I'm sorry.
♪ Life sure has Its cruel twists ♪
Gets worse.
♪ And turns ♪
♪ Maybe in some other universe ♪
♪ Maybe in some other life ♪
♪ We'll have our Beautiful moments ♪
She didn't take it so well.
Said she's gonna go back to Jersey,
that LA is full of nothing but bullshitters,
me being the reigning champ.
Yeah.
♪ Took off your glasses... ♪
When Julia said all my fault,
I didn't realize that all meant so much.
♪ You were so suddenly Utterly beautiful ♪
You know in Apocalypse Now when that guy sees the tiger
and he freaks and starts like screaming,
"Never get off the boat! Never get off the fucking boat."
I should have never left the mail room.
You know what, Charlie Porter?
You are about the last motherfucker
on the face of the earth I want to see right now.
I think I really need to speak to your dad.
Oh, wow, really?
That's great, and I can't help you. He's gone.
- Where did he go? - See, if I knew that,
do you think I'd be calling you motherfucker?
Do you think I use the word motherfucker in casual conversation?
I don't know where he went!
I woke up to check on him like I always do, and he was gone.
Maybe he's got a girlfriend somewhere.
Would a man who's going out to get laid write this?
"Goodbye. All is discovered."
What the hell does that mean?
Isn't that a line from the song?
I told you it's not about me. It's a suicide note.
I know it. I tried calling the cops,
but they won't consider him missing for 24 hours.
Julia, let's not leap to any conclusions here.
I'm totally not leaping. You know him.
You're here, so you may as well make yourself useful.
- Where are we going? - I have no idea.
Never been there. I hear it's very relaxing.
This is no time for fucking jokes.
You know everything was fine before you showed up.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everything was fucking peachy.
The two of you living in that loony bin.
Hmm, guess what?
He is crazy. He's not hiding.
You know who I think's hiding is you.
Oh, please, as if you understand anything truthful.
- You wouldn't know the truth... - Oh, the truth!
Yeah, you should try it. God, you'd make a hell of a lawyer
if you could see the proof in front of you.
You're all he has?
How about admitting that he's all you have for starters?
You're just afraid of what else might be out there.
You know what, Charlie Porter? You're right.
I have never been as scared in my whole life as I am right now.
You were right too...
'cause I don't understand jack shit.
Whoa.
What the hell?
Oh, yeah man, I just thought, you know,
if I brought his llama back, it might you know, help.
That was extremely thoughtful of you, Cameroon,
but I'm afraid my father has fled.
Bummer. Why?
Because all is discovered.
I get that, man. Yeah.
You get it? You understand that? I don't get it.
I don't fucking get a fucking thing, dude.
I don't fucking get it. I don't fucking get this.
I don't fucking get it.
Llamas?
Literally a fucking llama?
Your dad ghosts me, fucking crazy doorbells
and bowling shoes and fucking my dick on the web.
I don't know what's going on, man.
I'm from the fucking valley.
Before I came to this goddamn fucking house,
I knew who I was, where I was going and how the hell I was gonna get there.
Now, fuck man, I don't get a motherfucking,
goddamn fucking thing. Fuck!
So goodbye... and good luck and to our scattered bodies go.
Jesus Christ, I'm starting to sound like you fucking people.
I know where he is.
Help me.
Are your motives pure?
He's my best friend.
Please?
♪ Blood from another I'm feeling helpless ♪
♪ The spell I'm under What is a family anyways? ♪
♪ And are there better days? ♪
♪ I know you claim to be But how are you a part of me? ♪
♪ A room full of strangers Without a light on ♪
He's surfing?
I don't think it's what he's doing.
Daddy! You're gonna have to get him.
Me? Why me?
'Cause you're the chosen one.
I'm sincerely tired of being the chosen one.
That happens to the best of them.
Christ!
Yeah, perfect example.
♪ I'll never look back Never look back ♪
♪ Don't ya know I'm sick Of standin' still on a roadway ♪
Micky!
♪ Spinnin' wheels Got lost in conversations ♪
♪ The rest of life can't Help the situation though ♪
♪ Never look back Never look back... ♪
Micky!
Fuck you!
Where are you fucking going?
Micky.
- Wait, Micky. - What the fuck do you care?
They want you to sing at the Grammys.
You swam out here to tell me about some silly-ass award show?
Do you have any idea how stupid you sound?
Yes, I'm becoming increasingly aware of how stupid I sound.
Micky, Micky, you said that instinct
- would always make you rise out of this. - I said almost always.
There's nothing I can say that's going to make you change your mind?
- Nothing? - Not a fucking thing.
Micky. Micky!
Fuck. Micky, Micky. Julia... Joy, you fucking asshole, Joy.
I'm sorry I fucked everything up, but you know what?
She doesn't owe you a goddamn thing, and you know what? No one does.
You fucking coward.
Micky.
Micky!
The music is the space between.
Anytime, Sparky.
Hit it.
♪ The night we met I knew I needed you so ♪
♪ And if I had the chance I'd never let you go ♪
♪ So won't you Say you love me ♪
♪ I'll make you So proud of me ♪
♪ We'll make them turn Their heads every place we go ♪
- ♪ So won't you, please ♪ - ♪ Be my, be my baby ♪
- ♪ Be my little baby ♪ - ♪ My one and only baby ♪
- ♪ Say you'll be my darlin' ♪ - ♪ Be my, be my baby ♪
- ♪ Be my baby now ♪ - ♪ My one and only baby ♪
♪ Wha oh oh oh ♪
♪ I'll make you happy, baby Just wait and see ♪
♪ For every kiss you give me I'll give you three ♪
♪ Oh, since the day I saw you I have been waiting for you ♪
♪ You know I will adore you Till eternity ♪
- ♪ So won't you, please ♪ - ♪ Be my, be my baby ♪
- ♪ Be my little baby ♪ - ♪ My one and only baby ♪
- ♪ Say you'll be my darlin' ♪ - ♪ Be my, be my baby ♪
- ♪ Be my baby now ♪ - ♪ My one and only baby ♪
♪ Wha oh oh oh ♪
♪ Not afraid to take a stand Oh, no ♪
♪ Little do they know ♪
♪ Man, they just don't get it ♪
♪ I can fly so high In the sky ♪
Shit. Shit.
He made it further than last time though.
Someone recently told me...
no one owes me shit.
And he was right.
And wrong...
because...
there's someone here I owe everything.
Someone I owe an apology to.
Julia.
I'm sorry for this wreck of a life I've given you.
Your mom died, but I'm the one who left you.
You have always been my muse...
and you always will be.
This is for you, no matter what you say.
♪ Always thought I'd look down ♪
♪ Catching all four walls From ceiling to ground ♪
♪ Here in the living room Middle of the night ♪
♪ There's nothing I can say I finally got it right ♪
♪ I feel your breath on my brow I hear an angel's voice ♪
♪ Nothing lasts forever That's why I sing ♪
♪ J is for Joy ♪
♪ A dying balloon Floating mournfully ♪
♪ Never let it go... ♪
♪ You said better Than a memory ♪
♪ Here in the living room In the middle of the night ♪
♪ There's nothing I can do As darkness turns to light ♪
♪ It's going to be You and me ♪
♪ Till the rest Of the world is asleep ♪
♪ It's going to be you and me ♪
♪ When the rest Of the world is a dream ♪
♪ What becomes of the sun When it falls from the sky ♪
♪ This is all that I need For the rest of my life ♪
♪ It's going to be you and me ♪
♪ Till the rest Of the world is a dream ♪
♪ I feel your breath On my brow ♪
♪ I hear an angel's voice ♪
♪ Now all is discovered ♪
♪ That's why I sing ♪
♪ J is for Joy ♪
♪ J is for ♪
Julia.
Mr. Micky.
Yeah, thank you.
Ahhh.
Oh, my god!
I mean, get the fuck outta here.
That was... that was Mozart.
Book some studio time.
Take all the time you want, just like the old days, baby.
Oh, Jesus, my head's exploding.
Start a campaign, Micky's back.
Micky is back, and you, Charlie,
Charlie you're my son, my acolyte.
- Why didn't you tell me you got the big guy... - I know, it's incredible,
- and we already have the studio time booked. - What?
And we're going to be in New York.
Yeah, and I actually got something that belongs to you.
Micky, what do you say?
I say earn your 10%. Give the man what he asks for.
Yeah, yeah, I'll do you one better,
I'll give the man what he deserves.
It's like you said, Donny.
When have you ever not delivered?
- Right? - Let's get out of here.
Good to see you.
Hopefully, by this point you want to know
that Micky and I made it to New York and fucking killed it,
and that I managed him for the rest of his days
and we made a boatload of money,
none of which went to Donny Rumson.
That we all strived and reached until we got it right
and left our mark.
♪ I will show you Where I hide out ♪
♪ Where I lose myself ♪
♪ We could hang In the shadows ♪
♪ Never have to talk To no one else ♪
♪ If you go with me ♪
♪ We'll be high as the stars Up in the sky ♪
♪ And we'll never crash down ♪
♪ If you go with me ♪
Maybe all that happened, maybe it didn't.
Does it matter?
It's like Micky Adams taught me.
The beauty is in coming close.
♪ Cruise down the highway ♪
♪ Kicking our jams 'Till the sun goes down ♪
♪ We could watch all The stars shining bright ♪
♪ As the world Keeps spinning around ♪
♪ You could put your hand In my hand ♪
♪ And I would squeeze so tight ♪
♪ We could say adios To the cold, cruel world That we leave behind ♪
♪ If you come with me ♪
♪ Ooooh ♪
♪ If you come with me ♪
♪ Ooooh ♪
♪ We'll be high as the stars Up in the sky ♪
♪ And we'll never crash down ♪
♪ If you come with me ♪
♪ Ooooh ♪
♪ There will be No more crying ♪
♪ If you lay by my side ♪
♪ We can both hitch a ride ♪
♪ To the merry-go-round In the sky ♪
♪ If you come with me ♪
♪ Ooooh ♪
♪ If you come with me ♪
♪ Ooooh ♪
♪ We'll be high as the stars Up in the sky ♪
♪ And we'll never crash down ♪
♪ If you come with me ♪
♪ Ooooh ♪
♪ Always, always be with you ♪
♪ If you come with me ♪
♪ Always, always be with you ♪
♪ If you come with me ♪
♪ Always, always be with you ♪
♪ If you come with me ♪
♪ Always, always be with you ♪
♪ The wind is cold on my face ♪
♪ I feel the chill Of the ocean spray ♪
♪ Right where I belong They think they know it all ♪
♪ God gave 'em peace ♪
♪ They think they know What's right for me ♪
♪ I'm high above the clouds ♪
♪ Little do they know ♪
♪ Man, they just don't get it ♪
♪ I can fly so high In the sky ♪
♪ Little do they know ♪
♪ Behind the wheel Of this old Mustang ♪
♪ I'm putting miles On the PCH ♪
♪ Watch the Harleys go Gives you vertigo ♪
♪ Blowing in the breeze ♪
♪ You look like You could fly with me ♪
♪ High above the clouds ♪
♪ Little do they know ♪
♪ Man, they just don't get it ♪
♪ We can fly so high In the sky ♪
♪ Little do they know ♪