A Broken Life Page #8

be busy for hours.

Max:

Cheers.

Melinda, l don't

want to upset you,

but, l mean...

for God's sake,

what happened here?

There was an accident.

l fell down some stairs.

Well, that's funny.

Funny you should say that.

l-- l fell down some

stairs tonight myself.

What difference does it make?

l'm still in this chair.

ls he the reason? Huh?

Mikhail?

- Did he do it?

- Are you asking me

- did he throw me down the stairs?

- Yes, l am.

The answer is yes, but...

l did it to myself.

l was out of my mind. l was high.

Furious with him for nothing

and we were fighting like animals

and l-- l don't think

either of us really

knew what was happening.

And then l--

and then, the next thing l...

knew l was--

l was in intensive care.

And that's it. That's it.

l'm sorry.

Come on, you know what,

we all make choices.

And l'm-- l'm no more

of a victim than you are.

What?

- Do you want some ice for that?

- No no no no.

l'm fine, really.

Whoa, three in a row.

( sighs )

- You're bleeding.

- Oh, no no no no.

Honey, don't worry.

lt's not mine.

ls-- is it Mikhail's?

Oh, how l wish it was.

But no.

Um, Bud and l, uh--

we had an accident

earlier this evening.

Right?

l don't understand, Max.

Um, as this was--

this is my last day

here on earth,

l decided to set

some things straight.

So l went to see my boss, right?

And, um, well, l just

wanted him to say he's sorry,

- but he wouldn't.

- Okay.

So he came at me

and we struggled

and l threatened him with this.

- ( Melinda gasps )

- And it went off.

And...

that's what happened.

- Did you, um--

- Hmm?

- Did you kill him?

- Yes.

Hmm? Right?

Max:

Did l? Yeah, yes.

Look, l didn't want it to happen,

but he's gone, okay?

So what does it matter?

And l'll be gone too very soon

- before they catch up to me.

- What kind of man are you?

- What?

- What kind of man are you?

l'm the kind of man

who wishes he was dead!

Okay?

Why would l lie to you now?

Accident or not, there's no sense

in you taking your own life.

And what about your son?

- What about him?

- He needs you.

- No he doesn't.

- Yes, he does.

No he doesn't.

He needs--

- he needs a father.

- Melinda:
Bud. Bud.

- What do you say?

- Max:
Bud?

- ( crying )

- Oh, Bud, come on.

Buddy, Buddy, Buddy,

come on.

- No.

- Buddy, it's okay, come on.

Come on, it's okay. lt's okay.

Hey, look, listen to me.

Listen to me.

Hey hey hey.

For you--

for my son,

l can change my mind.

- l can change my mind.

- You mean it?

Yes, l mean it.

Buddy, Buddy, listen--

look at me, l mean it.

Okay? Turn the camera off, okay?

Would you?

- Turn the camera off.

- Promise me.

l promise.

Turn the camera off, okay, Buddy?

l promise. l promise.

l promise.

Max:

All right?

l know l took you

on quite a ride today.

- And l'm so--

- You could say that.

Buddy, Buddy--

Bud, l'm sorry.

l'm sorry for everything.

- For everything.

- lt's okay.

Why don't you just go home?

Just go home.

( crying )

Why don't you just go home?

l'm sorry.

Just go home, okay?

Here's the keys and l'll just--

l have to talk to her

and l'll be right behind you.

l'll be along in a while, okay?

Look, why don't l--

give me the gun.

- Nope.

- You don't need it.

You gotta trust me.

You need to trust me.

All right?

You gotta trust me.

- Why don't you let me take the gun?

- Bud, trust me.

lt would make me feel better.

Trust me, Buddy,

on this one, okay?

Why don't you just go home?

l'll, you know--

l'll be right-- just meet me

at my place later.

Everything's gonna be all right.

l promise.

Okay?

- l promise.

- See you at home.

- Max:
Okay.

- lt was nice to meet you, Bud.

lt was nice to meet you too.

( door opening )

He's-- he's a nice boy, huh?

Yeah.

( crying )

Melinda:

Why don't you sit down?

Max:

Thanks, but l think l should go.

l'm going to--

( sighs )

l'm going to

finish what l set out to do.

You can't do that to your son.

You promised him.

Think about it.

Look at me, Melinda.

l'm a wounded dog.

l am.

lt'd be better for everybody

if l just put an end to it.

And besides, how long before the police

are knocking my door down?

lf l don't die tonight,

l'll die in prison six months from now.

Either way, it's over.

So at least this way--

- No.

- l have some control over how it ends.

No. Can't you see you're blessed

to have that boy in your life?

l can see how much he loves you

just by looking at him.

- ( crying )

- Come on.

- l can't take it anymore.

- Yes, you can.

- l'm a coward.

- No, you're not.

- l can't take anymore.

- Come on.

l'm slowly day to day

turning into a cripple.

l don't know what to do.

l don't know where to go.

l'm sorry.

- l didn't mean to--

- l know. l know.

Max:

Oh, sh*t, l'm sorry.

Melinda:

Come on, Max.

Max:

Can l ask you something?

Why-- why do you

stay with him?

Melinda, look at me.

l want to know--

look at me.

You know what he is.

And how could--

why do you stay with him?

Where else am l gonna go?

l'm sorry, it's--

l can't help you either.

Do you know this chair

is breaking my f***ing heart?

lt's okay.

l just want to tell you that--

that-- that's all.

- l'm sorry.

- lt's all right.

- Hey, hey.

- l'm okay.

- Hey.

- l'm okay.

Melinda:

lt's okay.

Son of a b*tch.

- F***!

- No no no!

- Max:
No! No! No!

- Bud:
Sh*t!

- ( tires screeching )

- ( grunting )

- You son of a b*tch!

- ( Max choking )

( Bud panting )

- Max:
Motherf***er!

- Get him out of here!

Take his tie off,

put it on him, hurry up!

Melinda:

Do it! Do it now!

Ow! F***ing tie.

Get his gun.

Put it in his hand.

Max. Max. Max!

What?

- You shot him.

- Hit me.

Max:

What?

- What?

- lf you care about me

at all, you will punch me

as hard as you can right now.

Again!

- Max:
What?

- Again! Do it again! Harder!

( crying )

How many times

could l let him beat me?

He's got a record a mile long

and your boss

is just another customer.

Look, Mikhail's a dealer.

He's a thug.

He's a killer.

Melinda:

No one will ask any questions.

What's going on?

lt's self-defense,

nothing more.

What were we doing?

- ( sirens wailing )

- Sh*t!

- We gotta go.

- What?

- Bud:
Dad, we gotta--

- Melinda:
Go. Max!

l've given you back your life.

Don't you f***ing dare waste it.

Bud:

We gotta go! Come on!

Let's go!

F***.

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