Critical Nexus

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1

I read somewhere once that

there has to be

a balance of sorrow and joy

for the world to keep turning.

That if all we ever felt was

pleasure,

then we wouldn't have any

pain to compare it to.

I guess that means

every time someone starts living,

someone else starts to die.

And then are those places

where the wires cross.

I'm leaving now. I'll see you

in a little while for dinner.

Love you too. Bye.

Katie! I didn't know you

were gonna be here tonight!

Katie.

Why did you do that to me?

(SCREAMING)

(MUSIC)

- Man, execution style.

- This is the second one this week, man.

- Nobody deserves that.

- Excuse me, sir.

I need you behind the

police line.

Sir, uh, can I have a

word with you please?

Um, I was just leaving and I

heard the commotion and

Right, how exactly are you

connected to the victim?

Um

We're going to have to

discuss exactly what

transpired here tonight, sir.

Police! Stop!

(MUSIC)

Are you insane coming in

here like that?

Shh! You'll have to hide

me, Charlie just got hit.

- The cops are in on it.

- What?

If they take me in I'm

gonna get pinned.

F***ing cops. Go in that door

and lock it from the inside.

Don't make a f***ing sound.

Is anybody in here?

Be right with you.

Hands where I can see them!

Hands! Hands!

Hands! Turn around,

turn around, turn around!

No, Katie, I can't forgive you.

I mean, you made me look

foolish in front of everyone.

No! You've ruined it

forever. No, that's not it.

F***. F***.

Of course I forgive

you. I know.

You're just scared.

We have to work on what keeps us together.

No, that's not it either.

Okay. What do I say?

I don't know what to say.

Give me the f***ing keys.

Come on, come on, come

on, give me the f***ing keys.

F***ing bullshit. F*** this

sh*t.

I told you I ain't got a key

to it.

- Would you stop f***ing yelling?

- No sir, I don't smell anything!

- Come on, let's get the f*** out

of here, man. - F***ing retard.

I'll lock up just to be on

the safe side.

It's alright. They're gone.

What the f*** are you thinking

bringing them cops in here?

I'm f***ing clean now.

I got to piss!

Now tell me what the

f***'s going on.

I don't know. Look!

I'm new to this!

I mean there's, there's

a senator, a business man

a runaway and a dead girl.

Somehow that got Charlie killed.

That's all I know.

Charlie's dead?

Charlie's dead.

Hey, um, why weren't the cops

able to get in the closet?

Slipped the key off the

ring before they came in.

That was slick.

I owe you one, man.

You still here?

It's the end of the world already?

F***ed over a lot of people for you.

Oh, come on!

F***!

(FOOTSTEPS)

OK, Mark. Time for a little

inventory.

You're driving west with your end

of the world fund under your seat.

Chasing after a girl you've never

met for reasons you can't explain.

The only friend you have is dead.

The cops knew who you were,

ergo some senator is on your ass

and you've probably

been framed for murder.

Is that about it?

(SIGH.)

Yes, Mark, except for the unfortunate

fact that you're talking to yourself

like a goddamned lunatic

because apparently there isn't a

single good radio station in the

entire f***ing state of Ohio.

And that, my old friend, is the

ocean of sh*t in which you swim.

Did I leave anything out?

Well, you do sort of feel like a

creepy pervert, but that could just be

residual guilt from way

back when.

Have a nice day!

God!

- Guys, this is Amanda.

- Hi Amanda!

We can have lots of fun!

Some people at the beach

said you guys would, um,

pay to photographer me?

- Yeah, we will.

- How's it work?

Well you just stand right over here and,

uh, we're going to take

some pictures and we're gonna put

them on one of our modeling websites.

You ever want to be a model?

Sure, I guess. Who doesn't?

Cause you are definitely pretty

enough. Wouldn't you say, buddy?

Oh, any day of the week!

And Brad knows what he's talking

about cause he's in advertising.

Where do we start?

Well, Johnny, get

this girl a shot!

So, Amanda, what do you drink?

I don't have to take my

clothes off or anything, do I?

Well, that is where the

money is.

I mean, everyone can use a little

extra cash, right? (LAUGHS)

Where's that shot?

Sh*t. Oh, what did I miss?

Where you headed?

Guess I'll know when I

get there.

It's not safe to hitchhike.

Pretty young girl like you.

You're lucky I saw you.

There's no telling what

people would do to you.

Well, I have pepper spray.

And it's kind of the reason

why I'm out here.

If someone wants to hurt or kill me,

then that's obviously

all the world is worth.

I'd rather die than live in

a world like that.

That's nonsense.

Is it?

Who put that fool

notion in your head?

No one. Well, I mean

obviously someone did.

But no one in particular,

so you could say either

with equal validity.

You seem like a pretty smart

girl to be spouting nonsense.

You have a lot of fast food bags

on your floor board. You

must be on some trip.

I am.

And the way you keep

looking in the rear view mirror

makes me think you're

running from someone.

That's none of your business.

Did he hit you?

Look, I'm doing you a favor.

If you know what's good for you,

you'll keep your mouth shut.

Nothing should be private.

If no one knows about it,

it doesn't exist.

I certainly don't agree.

I don't think I can learn

what I need to learn from you.

What on earth are

you talking about?

Do you ever cry in bed?

During sex, I mean?

I have.

I mean, sometimes it's just too

strong or too much and it's

scary because, cause I don't

know what will happen

and it feels like something

wants to jump out of me.

It never does.

I will not be having this

conversation with a child.

You can let me

off at the next exit.

(MUSIC)

Hi.

It's a long story, but

I'm looking for my cousin.

Have you been here all day?

Since 1:
00 this afternoon.

Great. Have you seen this girl?

As a matter of fact, I have.

She came around and asked for

ways of shopping near here

and you know, and um,

Oh. Maybe I should get

the manager.

Wait, that's totally not necessary.

You know what, just, as a matter

of fact, just give me her room

number and you know what,

actually call her and ask her to

meet me in the lobby here.

I'm her cousin.

You know, I should get

the manager

No. Sh*t, that's not...

He wouldn't have sent

the police.

Nah, they ask too

many questions.

But I know he sent somebody.

So I can't tell you where I'm

going. It's even risky for me

to tell you where I've

been. But I have to get

everything lined up.

Still, I'm disappointed.

I feel like the same

person I was a few days ago.

This is going to be much

more work than I thought.

But I guess there's still time.

Time can be measured

in distance.

Seventeen hundred miles on a

map doesn't seem so long.

But in terms of what I need to figure out,

it seems much further.

(SIGH)

It's hard to really know

myself.

I mean even though I've always

been putting myself

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