- What are you doing here? - Don't you want to paint me?
You've slept all day. It's time to work.
- Do you want to do it right now? - Mm-hm.
Okay.
How did you get in here? They just let you in, huh?
It's not top-of-the-line security.
- Do you want me sitting or standing? - Both. I mean, whatever.
Sitting.
I have to go. I have dinner in one hour and I look a mess.
- What are you doing? - You forgot your shoes.
What is it like not to feel anything?
Get the fuck out of here!
Say there was a little girl.
And from the time she could understand, she was taught to fear.
Say she was taught to fear daylight.
She was taught it was her enemy, that it would hurt her.
And then one sunny day...
...you ask her to go outside and play, and she won't.
Can you be angry at her?
I knew that girl, saw the light in her eyes. That's still what I see.
We are who we are. People don't change.
Yeah, hold on.
- What is it? Yeah? - Hi, Finn.
- Walter. - I know.
Is this a bad time for you?
- I can... - It's all right, come on in.
- Are you sure? - Yeah, come on in.
Thank you.
- What are you doing here? - Estella said she posed for you.
And I...
...was curious. Wow!
- You're really good. - I had a good subject.
Yeah, I'll say. She is incredible.
I've got to be insane, right?
- Why? - To risk losing her.
God, look at that one! Look at this.
And I still can't commit. That's certifiable, right?
You don't look crazy to me.
I feel like a cliff diver in Acapulco.
I'm right at the edge, I'm supposed to leap, the tide is high...
...and I think your friend Estella is trying to give me a little shove.
- What do you mean? - You know, these, you...
It's her charming little version of a wake-up call.
But, you know, I understand. I'm dragging my feet.
I'm sorry you got pulled into this mess. She doesn't want to hurt you.
In fact, I know that she really cares about you. Really.
It's just who she is, you know?
But I love her.
I don't know. You know her longer than I. Any advice for me?
What do you think I should do about me and Estella?
I think you two are perfect together.
Well, thank you.
I should get out of your hair. I appreciate your time.
You're really good. I look forward to seeing your show.
Next week, I received a postcard from Ms. Dinsmoor.
A beach with palm trees, it said, "How's my little mouse doing?"
What were her plans for me? Why was she promoting me?
What could her reason be, if not to make me equal with Estella?
That same day, I got a call from Ragno.
- Hello? In here.
What do you think of the digs? - It's cozy.
It's yours.
- What do you mean? - You open in 10 weeks.
We can reschedule, if... - No, I'll be ready.
You're moving here. We've got food, paint, canvas.
Anything else, just ask Erica.
Do you know what I'd like? I'd like some money. Some living expenses.
- I don't believe... - Done.
- Anything else? - Some publicity for my show.
No one's actually heard of you.
"Fisherman from the Gulf Coast Lands on Manhattan's Art Scene"?
- My, aren't we media savvy. - We learn.
Call Marion, she'll know. - Toast in my absence, I'm late.
She's a barrel of laughs.
An artist dropped out, she had to redo her schedules.
It's like someone wants to turn this frog into a prince.
What do you mean? You know what I mean.
It appears as if I have a fairy godmother.
Aren't you too old to believe in fairy godmothers?
Whatever you say, Spider man.
"Ragno" means "spider" in Italian.
See you at your opening. "Ciao."
I was born again. Why not? I had never asked for anything.
If Dinsmoor, the art world and the world chose to adopt me...
... I could take it.
New York held it out, and I'd take it and say thanks.
You would too.
I was an orphan, raised by my sister Maggie and her boyfriend Joe.
Maggie took off when I was still a kid.
Joe was a big drug smuggler.
Spent the '70s in the Raiford Penitentiary.
I came home one day, I found him dead on the couch.
He had OD'd.
They took the apartment away, so I spent the next years in a car.
It wasn't that bad. It was a big car, a '68 Riviera.
It's a miracle you survived.
- Do you like my paintings? - Yeah.
Why don't you tell me about this beauty right here.
That's some girl I knew back in Florida.
I used to have a huge crush on her. Now I can't even remember her name.
- This one looks a lot like the girl. - It's the same girl. She grew up.
- And you don't remember her name? - No.
Delicious. It's all coming together, as I promised.
Finn frenzy! Imagine what will happen when they see your wonderful work.
Your beloved per diem...
...and an invitation to the Hamilton Museum benefit.
Toss that.
I killed a publicist for this. It is the event.
Old money, new money, big money.
Everyone will be there, including you.
Erica! - These are Finn's new paintings.
- It's for you. - If you don't like the portraits...
Don't jump.
Would you save me?
Not in this suit.
How are you? Good. And you?
Pretty well.
Good-looking suit! Good-looking day!
It is.
Seen "New York Magazine"? Are you in it?
It's just a little piece. It's nice. You didn't see it?
Thrall thinks that the show will get good reviews.
I don't want to jinx it, but what does she know?
The curator from the Whitney came by. That was exciting.
Wow! I'll say I knew you when.
Listen. What?
Walter asked me to marry him.
He wants to marry me.
- Really? - Yeah.
Why are you telling me this?
Because...
I just... I wanted to know if you had anything to say.
Congratulations.
Sounds wonderful.
I wish you both the best of luck.
- I've got to go. I've got to... - Finn.
- I've got some business. - Finn, wait.
Why had she told me?
She told me to wound me, or out of habit or to drive me mad.
I didn't care if it was a clue or it was a plea or it was a tease.
No. She told me so I would stop her, and of course I would.
Fashionably late. I have hordes of people to meet you.
This is the senator. Finn! Sorry, senator.
As the evening mists Were rising
Finn! So good to see you. A friend of mine is decorating...
- Have you seen Estella? - No.
Very interested in getting some art. Interested?
I wanted to call you. Congratulations on your success.
You're all over the place.
The boy with the hands. I saw your spread. Anton Le Farge.
Be nice to Anton, he has a lot of empty wall space.
I'm taking my time.
You should get to Finn while his rates are reasonable.
How did we say you should price your art? Was it by canvas size or...?
By its beauty.
- There you are. - I have to talk to you.
- We've got to go, we're late. - We just got here.
We're to meet the Barrows at Kelly and Ping's 10 minutes ago.
Good night, kids. Have fun. Congratulations again, Finn.
This is the artist I was telling you about. Senator Elwood, Finn Bell.
Thrall has told me so much about you.
- What about my friend? - Not now.
Thrall is a loser in this town, I can introduce you to...
- Sorry. - It's all relationships, isn't it?
Don't touch me.
Can I get you a taxi, sir?
Excuse me, sir. Sir! Sir!
Hey, Finn! This is Finn. How do you do?
- Can I offer you a chair or a towel? - Would you like to dance?
Do you know him? Yes.
- Is everything okay? - Yes.
I want you inside me.
I have to go home, I owe my aunt a visit.
But you'll be back?
For your show? Of course.
I do love the way you dance.
Hi!
Congratulations!
- Have you seen Estella? - I'll send her over when she arrives.
- Congratulations! Great job. - It's wonderful, Finn.
- So... - Look who's here.
- All your dreams come true? - We'll see.
I want you to meet some people.
- Have you seen Estella? - No.
There's a very important guy here, Carter Macleish, he's a critic.
- Congratulations! - Thanks.
Nice to see you!
We'll be right back. Thanks.
- Is Clemente here? - Carter. Nice to see you.
- Finn Bell, Carter Macleish. - Congratulations.
Ruth you know. It's a most impressive show, wouldn't you say?
It is that!
Richard! Richard! Will you do a photo of us? Carter, come on.
Finn! Finn!
What is that? Do another one.
- I think you have a fan here. - I'm sorry, will you excuse me?
Hey, Finn! How are you doing? Surprise, surprise!
- What are you doing here? - Where did you think I'd be?
I had to change in my car. It's a rental tux, but what the hell.
It looks good. Do you want to get a juice?
It's Jerry, huh? Hey, Jerry!
Jerry! You son of a bitch, you weren't bullshitting, were you?
Erica Thrall, my Uncle Joe.
Miss Thrall, hi. This is your place, right? It's very nice.
- Carter Macleish. - Are you also from Florida?
- Yes. I operate a fishing boat. - This is Ruth.
- Hi. - Hey, Ruth.
Hey!
Look at me!
Uncle Joe, the drug smuggler? I thought you were dead.
- Drugs? - No, she's thinking about...
No, I've been sober for a good, long time now.
Carter can't believe it's your first show.
- No, it's not. - What do you mean?
Finn had a show at the Washington Federal a couple of years ago.
- You know the Washington Federal? - No.
- It's not a gallery. - It's a bank. Savings and loan.
- A bank? - This is my first gallery show.
And you're self-taught?
That was a gift. Finn always had it.
Seven months old, his sister and I took him to the beach. He drew in the sand.
One night he took Maggie's best perfume and drew with it in the street.
He poured it all out, and then he lit it...
Just up in flames. The most beautiful designs you ever saw. Just...
- Are you all right? That's my fault.
Your trousers, are they all right?
Just leave it, Joe.
Erica, it's fine.
Joe, just leave it!
I'm sor...
- I'm sorry. - Yeah, it's just...
Oh, man. Excuse me, I'm sorry.
Excuse me.
Joe. Joe!
Jeez, I'm...
Listen, I'm going to head out, because I'm starving.
I'm going to find a McDonald's or something and...
So you go back in, and I'm going to talk to you later.
Joe! Come on, I mean...
Joe, listen. This is work.
Sure. Come on, I get it.
Finn.
You dazzle them.
Go ahead.
Jeez, I'm proud of you, Finn.
And I always have been.
So, just...
Finn!
Go see if they know how to smoke a swordfish.
The night all my dreams came true.
Like all happy endings it was a tragedy, of my own device.
For I'd succeeded. I'd cut myself loose...
... from Joe, from the past, from the gulf, from poverty.
I had invented myself.
I had done it cruelly, but I had done it. I was free.
I did it! I did it!
I am a wild success!
I showed them all! All my paintings.
You don't have to be embarrassed by me anymore. I'm rich!
Isn't that what you wanted? Isn't it great? Are we happy now?
Don't you understand that everything I do, I do it for you?
Anything that might be special in me is you.
Estella!
Finn! What a lovely surprise!
- What are you doing here? - I own this house. I was born here.
- I haven't been here for ages. - Where's Estella?
Since I had to come up for the event, I figured, "Why not stay there?"
- What event? My opening? - No. Estella's wedding.
- What? - You were the catalyst.
The fool wouldn't commit to Estella, but then you came on the scene.
- I don't believe it. - Storybook, isn't it?
Why?
At first you were practice for her, a teaching device.
Throw a mouse in with the snake, teach it to hunt, swallow food whole.
I must say, you didn't provide much of a challenge.
Now, now.
You enjoyed it.
And I warned you, years ago. I didn't have to do that.
I told you the girl would hurt you terribly. Didn't I?
You chose not to listen.
Well...
I suggest you look on the bright side.
We are together, joined. You, Estella and I.
A pyramid of pain.
It's not love, but it is a bond. We are together.
Give me your hand.
Do you know what this is?
It's my heart.
And it's broken.
Can you feel that?
I'm sorry.
What have I done?!
The girl, the money, fame, revenge.
They had been Dinsmoor's sick obsessions.
And now they were mine.
He's not under the car, Jojo. How are you?
- Who's this kid? - Don't worry about him. Keep looking.
Hey!
Listen, listen. Can I just talk one second?
Can I call the police on your phone? Some armed guys are chasing me.
All right, come on.
Here you go.
Hello? There are some armed gentlemen chasing me.
Could you send some police to...? What's the address?
111 Greenwich. 111 Greenwich Street.
Arthur Lustig. Could you send them as soon as you can, please?
Thanks. Arthur Lustig.
So the police are coming? And these guys, they're after you?
This is a great place. Are you an artist?
Yes, I am. Tonight was my opening.
Congratulations. Thanks.
What's your name? Finnegan Bell.
- Like Finn? - Exactly.
I'm sorry, do I know you?
I don't think so.
- You don't remember me, do you? - No.
Look, I don't know...
Whisper! Whisper! Whisper!
That's right, my boy. It's me.
Look at you. Look at you! You're all grown up.
Don't you want to know what happened to me?
After I left you, they caught me.
I escaped again, and I relocated...
...many years abroad. Until now. Until now.
I'm glad things worked out for you.
Fucking glad.
It's great.
Who's that handsome young man over there? You did think about me!
You scared the shit out of me.
I like that. Yeah, I like that.
That's really good. How much is it?
- Is it for sale? - Actually, the whole show sold out.
- Congratulations. - Thanks, I'm lucky.
No, you're not lucky. You deserve your success.
You're a talented young man. You're a fine artist.
Your whole... This place is...
Might I ask a personal question?
- What does a place like this cost? - The rent?
I don't know. It's taken care of.
Oh, yeah? Could I ask who by?
- A lawyer. Why? - No reason. I'm happy for you.
- Do you mind if I have a drink? - The cops will be here any minute.
- They're always late. - It is late.
- I'm sure you understand. - Understand?
You're sure I would understand what?
The police will be here any minute.
- No, they won't. - They won't. Why not?
- I didn't call them. - You didn't?
I pressed my finger on the button.
- Why? - They're looking for me too.
They are? And those guys down there?
Old associates. They have a beef about something they should've figured out.
- You should leave. - Let me finish my drink.
Just give me a minute.
It's so good to see you.
You don't know how happy it makes me to see how you've turned out.
You grew up. Little Finn.
You're a grownup. You're a man now.
A famous artist.
You live this life.
Mix with all kinds of interesting people.
I'm very impressed, and nobody deserves it better than you.
I remember when you were a little kid. A good-hearted little kid.
Little Finn.
The one person who did a really pure and good thing for me.
Congratulations on your success, on your show, on everything.
To you.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
I do.
It's just that... the truth is, it's making me really uncomfortable.
Would you mind?
I don't want you feeling badly. I don't want you feeling badly.
I just came to see you, say hello. Now I'm happy.
If it was another night, we...
This is great. This is the way it should be.
Ragno did a good job.
Hey. Hey.
Don't go down there. Those guys are there. There's a better way.
You know where you're headed? JFK.
So where are you going? Paris, city of lights.
Come with me to Paris. I'll get a ticket on the Concorde.
I can't go to France. You will love Paris.
I love Paris in the springtime I love Paris in the fall
Paris is a beautiful city, a city of culture, a magnificent city.
It's got elegance, beauty.
You gotta go to Paris. You won't regret it.
Every artist must go to Paris at least once.
The streets, the romance, the women. The women...
- You should come. - I can't go to France.
Do you hear that shrieking? The subway's wheels...
- Is that you? Arthur! - You look like Howard Hughes.
- Have you been on a desert island? - I've been on vacation.
You're heavier. I got fat. I got kids too.
Age catches up with you.
Arthur, Tommy wants to invite you to the club for old time's sake.
- Give me Tommy's number... - We'll come over.
- All right, two minutes. We're coming there, Arthur.
We'll wait right here.
Come on!
What are you doing there? You told me to come over here.
I thought you wanted me to come over here.
Tommy's not going to like this.
Come here!
Sorry, guys.
You have this much fun with your artist friends?
- Is this fun? You're having fun? - Are you going to miss me?
- Why don't you come? - I can't go to Paris.
I love Paris in the springtime I love Paris in the...
No, no, I'm not hurt.
- You're hurt bad. - Stay, stay. Attaboy.
Oh, jeez.
I did a lot of bad things in my life. A lot of bad things.
But the one good thing...
...is that any money I had, anything I had...
...and I made bullshit money, I gave to you.
All for you.
The one good thing I did...
I set you up, I sent you to New York. I did it all.
- I bought that show. - All my paintings?
You're a great artist.
Open up my suitcase. Open my suitcase.
What do you want? Pull out the paper bag.
Pull it back. That's it.
Remember this?
See this?
Very special.
Look at this.
It's beautiful.
- What time is it? - It's almost 6:00.
We've still got time.
Perhaps he should have died those years ago back in the gulf.
Perhaps.
But he'd lived to be my benefactor. For good and ill.
I went to Paris, worked there...
... and received everything I thought I wanted.
I heard about Estella from time to time. She was divorced.
The years went by.
And then one day, I went home.
Hi. I'm Finn.
Joe!
You dog! You dog. Why didn't you tell us you were coming?
- Who is he? - This is Jesse and Clemma.
And you came in time to do the dishes. Are you hungry?
Joe told me Ms. Dinsmoor had died alone some years back.
Her body lay there undiscovered for a month.
The mansion was due to be torn down for a housing tract.
I sat there and thought back over the things I'd done.
Over my life.
And where, in that brief, violent time, it had gone.
And then, she came back again.
Estella?
Finn?
Is that you?
Is that your little girl?
Oh, God. She's beautiful.
What are you doing here?
I brought her to show her this place.
What's left of it.
- Have you been here often? - No.
No, me neither.
So, you're doing great. I hear all about you.
I'm doing all right.
Yeah.
Things have been different for me.
For a long time I'd get...
What?
I think about you.
A lot lately.
I'm glad.
Can you ever forgive me?
Don't you know me at all?
She did know me.
And I knew her.
I always had, from the first instant.
And the rest of it, it didn't matter.
It was past.
It was as if it had never been.
There was just my memory of it.
Subtitles by SDI Media Group