- They all said I'd k*ll it
when I moved from Nebraska
to Hollywood.
They were right.
I ran. I ran away, screaming
for help.
- Did help come?
- No!
I was alone.
Alone with that awful
thing that had been David.
I was just another small-town
girl with big star dreams,
one of thousands of hopefuls
trying to make it as an actress.
That's why I wanted to forget.
I'd literally taken the
bus to Hollywood.
Forever.
I know you'd think lunch
meat, but you don't know me.
End scene.
- End scene, yes. Uh, end scene.
What's going on, Holly?
That wall is back up again.
- Really?
- Yes, really.
When I did my scene in
"Heat" with Al Pacino-
- He had three
lines with Al Pacino.
- The intensity was incredible.
And that's what you
need to find here.
He gave me 150% with every line.
Every time.
Clay, um, how
do you feel? In or out?
- In. Like totally there.
- Well, agreed. And I can see
why they booked you on "CSI."
Let's give him some love.
Come on.
There you go, yeah. Huh?
That's it, right.
Uh, no. Okay.
You really locked in with
that medical way of thinking.
- Right.
- Nice. Holly?
- I felt in. I really did.
- Well, I'll keep giving
you the same note.
Find and show your
vulnerability. All right?
I'm gonna ask that you
and Clay keep working.
If you're gonna use this
for the showcase,
it's gotta be better.
I strongly suggest
you book a private lesson.
- Private lesson.
If I'd taken one and f*cked
him like everyone else,
he'd tell me the scene
was perfect.
- Hey, we gotta nail that
scene for the showcase down.
There's two casting
directors coming.
- Yeah, totally, but I,
uh, we don't wanna just
recreate the movie,
we gotta make it our own thing.
- There was a movie. Is it good?
- Yeah.
Gore Vidal, Montgomery
Clift, Katharine Hepburn?
- Yeah?
- Elizabeth Taylor?
You tell me.
- Hey, we should go back
to my place and Netflix it.
We can rehearse and
smoke some pot.
- Clay actually thinks
this is original.
Can't, I got work at 5:00.
- No, it's good pot.
- I know what that's code for.
- Ah, yeah.
- But let's find a time to
rehearse tomorrow, okay?
- Yeah.
- I'd been in
Los Angeles a year
and still hadn't booked
anything more than a small part
in a movie that never
got released.
I was living paycheck to
paycheck on the good weeks,
barely making my rent and
student loan payments.
Sometimes I'd drive
up into the Hills
to look at the mansions
built way back
during the silent screen era,
before Beverly Hills was just
a gleam in a developer's eye.
I'd imagine what it would be
like to have money like that,
and then I'd remind myself,
it's just a matter of time.
Here in LA, everyone
raved about yoga,
but I preferred to relax
the American way.
They say if a g*n shows
up in the first act,
you'll see it in the third.
One thing's for sure,
an hour of target
practice was what I needed
to get through a night
of slinging pasta.
I was working the 5:00
to 11:00 shift at Orzo,
a restaurant that catered
to Eastside hipster types.
Men with leather jackets
that cost more than my rent.
Women with perfect
complexions and $300 haircuts.
You'd think they could
leave me a decent tip,
but they looked at me like
I was a piece of furniture.
- We'll take the bolognese.
- Thank you.
It was a night like any
other, until I saw him.
Hi, I'm Holly. Can I get
you something to drink?
- What do you recommend?
- We have a great Barolo
by the glass.
- I'll have the classico.
Any specials tonight?
- Yes, we have an ossobuco
alla Milanese,
a butternut squash ravioli
with a butter sage sauce,
and an ahi tuna carpaccio
with arugula.
- So Holly, would
you say the, uh,
the ahi or the ossobuco?
- Why do I have the feeling
that if I say the ahi,
you'd order the osso?
- Do I really seem
that contrary?
Tell me, um, what's your
favorite movie?
- Um, "Out of the Past," but
the 1947 version, of course.
- That's impressive.
They say that the day you die,
your name is written on a cloud.
- Exactly.
It was the bottom of the
barrel and I scraped it.
- No way.
- Waitress?
- Um, so the ahi
is very popular,
but I personally
prefer the osso.
- Okay, great. Then I
will have the tuna.
- Great choice.
- Thank you.
- May I?
- Oh, please.
- I'll be right back
with your classico.
It got busy then. People
and wine and opinions.
Big steaming bowls of pasta.
I decided to have a little
fun and f*ck with him
by switching out his entree.
- Perfect.
- Maybe that was my
first mistake.
Enjoy.
- Ah!
- Hey, can I get another
carafe of.
He watched me like a hawk
watches a mouse.
You holding up?
- Yes. It's better for
me when it's busy.
- f*ck table eight.
They drop 300 on dinner
and leave me 10 bucks.
- Assholes.
- I need two mojitos.
- Who the f*ck drinks
mojitos anymore?
Oh, do you guys know anybody
who's looking for an apartment?
My roommate just booked
a series and moved out
and I really need somebody
by the end of the month.
- I mean, I can ask around.
- Thank you.
- Hey, he's been watching
you all night. Creeper?
- Hmm, harmless.
- He's rocking that male pattern
baldness though.
- Anything else?
- Uh, an espresso, please.
I'm Richard, by the way.
- How was the osso?
- It was a little fishy.
Uh, excuse me, but you've, um,
you've got a spot exactly there.
- Can I get you something
for dessert?
- No, just the espresso.
And the check.
- f*ck it. I left the spot
right there on my chest.
I didn't care what he thought.
He was trying to throw me,
but I wasn't that type of girl.
Not even then.
Anything else?
- I am, uh, heading over
to the Hillhurst.
Why don't you join
me for a drink
when you're done here, huh?
- I can't. I have
to wash my shirt.
There was something about him.
I can't say what it was,
but when he left the place
went flat, like old soda pop.
For some reason, I couldn't
get the guy
at table eight out of my mind.
He was old, but he wasn't
a needy, struggling actor,
and I was in a weird mood.
He intrigued me.
What the hell?
I could use a free drink
and it wasn't like I
was gonna f*ck him.
- Did you get the spot out?
- Out, out, damn spot.
- How you liking in LA?
- It was intended to startle me,
like using my name.
But it was such an easy bet,
everyone here was from
somewhere else.
Can I have a whiskey neat?
LA?
- Mm-hmm.
- I like it.
I like every f*cking
thing about it.
Where you from?
- Uh, right here, actually.
- Bullshit.
- Hm, no, uh, went
to, uh, Marshall.
Must be a mile away, it's
a little nostalgic already.
Um, King Junior and, uh,
Franklin Avenue Elementary.
- It's hard to picture
you as a kid.
- Was a difficult child.
Never lived up to my potential.
I bet you that you were
a little angel.
- Suddenly I knew.
He was or had been an actor.
Hell, everything he said
had a character's name
written above it.
I did well. I was valedictorian.
Played flute in the
marching band.
- And then you decided to act
at, um, Champaign-Urbana
or, um, Lawrence, Kansas?
I'd have thought
you'd assume I'm from Chicago.
- You have this, uh,
flat Midwestern twang.
Just a season of corn
fields and apple pie.
- That's Hastings, all right.
- Now you're here, trying
to break into the big time.
How's your climb of fame going?
- It seems they tore
Schwabs down a while back,
but nobody told me.
- Naturally you take
class, Boyd Stocker?
- Chris Valente.
- Oh, ballet on 3rd Street?
- Tap.
- You've come close,
but so far the star never
broke her ankle.
- I have an acting showcase
coming up.
Casting directors, agents.
- Showcase?
Well, those are a dime a dozen,
but I think you'll catch on.
You have this spark. An edge.
- So why'd you stop acting?
- What is this, this
fascination with acting?
Seeing where our personalities
line up
with those fictional characters
and then just
fusing them with life.
I don't know.
Got tired of dredging
up all that life.
- Okay. So what do you do
now, high and climbing?
- A number of things.
I, uh, I coach.
I'm writing a, a book, actually.
"The Three Essential Musts
of Successful Actors."
- Musts?
- Yeah.
You know, uh,
must do this, must do that.
But yeah, I don't wanna
talk about it and jinx it.
- Of course not.
- I will tell you this though.
The first thing I tell my actors
is that actors have to
have interesting lives.
To just try crazy things.
Do you like to try crazy
things, Holly?
- Oh boy. Here we go.
Damn if I wasn't fascinated.
- Do you like animals?
- Excuse me?
- I, uh, I have this
problem, um.
I found this dog-
- Mm-hmm.
- And I need to return it.
- Okay, so why don't you?
- Um, well, it's
not that simple.
Um, the dog belongs
to Mariah McKay.
Do you know who that is?
- Sure. The bad girl
Brooke Shields.
- Well, I, I saw the name-
- Ah-huh.
- And address on the tag
and uh, well, I was
gonna return it,
but then I started to wonder,
what if she, you know,
thinks I stole it?
It's a problem, don't you think?
- It's only a problem
if you want a reward,
otherwise, just be
a good neighbor.
- But I'm not such a good
neighbor, Holly,
I really do want the money.
I mean, if you saw a
couple of thousand bucks
on the ground, wouldn't
you pick it up?
- I'll let you know when I
pawn my Girl Scout badges.
- You do realize I'm a little
too old for you, right?
- I think you flatter
yourself, Richard.
You're way too old for me.
I was running down on
Wayne when I found a dog.
- More of
an uptick to ya.
- I was running down on
Wayne when I found a dog.
- That's perfect.
- I don't know.
I think she's gonna see
me and think I stole him.
- She's not like that.
Trust me, you're the
one that should do this.
- The little dog
had a tag that said Gilbert,
with an address and
phone number,
but nowhere did it say he
belonged to Mariah McKay.
Richard's story stunk.
But so what?
He f*cked like an angel.
And I could use the money.
- What?
- Yes, I was, um, running down
on Wayne and I found a dog.
- Hold on.
Oh! Why, mister, where
have you been?
You had me worried sick.
Oh, you rascal.
- I'd assumed it
was the maid at the door.
Maybe an assistant. It
was Mariah McKay herself.
What the hell was she doing
answering her own door?
- He got out of the
backyard somehow.
I haven't been able to
find the hole yet.
Thank you so much.
- No problem, really.
I hope you don't mind
me saying this,
but um, I've seen
all your movies.
I mean, "Riverside 88," "Circus
Dreams," "Morning Glory."
I mean, you are one
of my heroes.
- Acting, uh. I prefer animals.
They never act, they
very authentic.
What's your name, baby?
- Holly.
- Hmm, Holly? Very Christmasy.
I just, uh, made some
coffee. You want some?
- Sure. That'd be great.
- Okay.
- Midwestern rule
number one, accept any food
or drink offered graciously.
She'd made a ton of
money in the 80s,
but it looked like she
hadn't held onto it.
She could probably cough up
a hundred, but thousands?
Of all the dogs to steal,
why had Richard picked Mariah's?
- Poor kiddo. You
must be starving.
- Have you been here
a long time?
- Oh, 20 years or more.
Ah, I always give him
a little yogurt,
you know, for probiotics.
You gotta pay attention
to your gut health.
Here you go, baby. There you go.
So how long have
you been in town?
- Um, about a year.
It's harder than I
thought though,
I- I just lost a roommate.
- Nah, chapter and verse.
Been there and done that.
I tell ya, uh.
Here.
You might not believe
it, you know,
but these, these are
the good times.
Have you got an agent?
- Ah, yes, but not
a very good one.
- Ah, well hang in there.
A lot of people give
up and go home.
So you just have to
outlast that mob.
- Good advice, but what I wanted
was a thousand bucks
for returning her dog.
Yeah, I thought I'd be
further along by now,
but um, I'm still waiting
tables down at Orzo.
- Orzo? Nah, that's
not a bad place.
I- I like their ossobuco.
- Yeah, we had it last night.
I don't mind working there,
it's just the tips
aren't as good
as you'd think they'd be.
Don't overplay the poverty.
Remember, Midwestern rule
number two. No hyperbole.
- Oh, it's tough.
You know, I really, really
very grateful
that you brought Gilbert back.
A lot of people wouldn't
have bothered.
- Mm. It's no bother, really.
- Ah, y- you know, I, um,
I can't offer much,
but uh, I was thinking
of hiring someone
to help organize my stuff.
And you seem like a
competent woman.
Do you think you'd
wanna help me?
- Sure. That'd be great, um.
- Yeah.
- Just let me check
my work schedule.
- Okay.
- Hey! Did it work?
- No.
And I was the friendliest,
this young thing you
ever did see,
but she doesn't have
any money, Richard.
That place is falling
down around her.
- It's not that bad.
Did Mariah actually tell you
that she didn't have any money?
- She didn't have to.
I mean, I was practically
choking on the molds.
Oh, correction, she does
have some money.
Enough to offer me a shitty
job sorting through our debris.
- Way to bury the lead.
No, but seriously,
think about it.
This is a fantastic opportunity.
- Don't f*ck with me.
- No, seriously. Think
about this.
- I did think about it.
I actually gave it the five
seconds of thought it deserves
and had exactly two thoughts.
A, it'll be depressing as hell.
And B, she'll probably offer
me like 10 bucks an hour.
- All right, Holly, you
are way too smart
to not see the side
benefits here.
- Side benefits to being
an old white woman's maid?
- No. No, no.
Do you have any idea how much
she brings in in residuals?
I mean, her backend deals?
She has to do a minimum
amount of business, right?
You'll come into contact
with agents,
casting directors, maybe
even directors.
This is an in. People
are gonna notice you.
No, I'm serious.
They can't help it.
- You already got me into bed.
- All right, imagine
what might happen
if you got Mariah McKay to come
to your acting showcase.
- My acting teacher
doesn't think
my scene is good enough yet.
- Well, it will be
after I coach you on it.
Gratis, of course.
Trust me, when you
charm your way
into a movie star's house,
that's magic.
You're magic.
- So wait, wait.
The short bald guy?
And you went through with it?
- Yes. And it was
kind of amazing.
- I mean, as long as you
kept your eyes closed.
So what does he do?
- Um, I don't know.
I think he used to be an actor,
but now he like writes
or coaches or.
- No, no. No, what
does he do in bed?
- Right.
It's like he barely ever came,
but he got me off like 20 times.
- 20?
- Yeah, well, I don't
know, I lost count.
- Uh, I'm sorry, you
were counting?
- Yeah, but at a certain
point I had to stop.
- Wow. Older guys, huh?
- I'm kind of into it.
- It's f*ck' hot.
- Ladies! Time to lean,
time to clean.
- b*tch.
I re-watched Mariah's best
movies before I went over again.
She'd been dazzling,
dangerous, and sexy.
Now she lived in a messy house
and only talked to her dog.
- Oh! Wasn't sure you'd show.
- Um, these were out front.
Do you want them there?
- Nah. You know, Jesus
didn't just die on the cross.
He actually traveled.
- What?
- Hmm. "History
Channel."
You can learn all sorts
of things on there.
- Woods, a
weapon, both subtle and-
- Where do you
want me to start?
- Ah, well, most of
this stuff goes
in the closet in my bedroom.
Up the stairs on the left.
- A strict diet.
- Great.
- Victorian.
Mariah didn't go out,
the world came to her.
Three years of brand-new
clothes still in their boxes.
It took a week to
organize it all.
And then there was the mail.
Do we wanna keep magazines?
- Only if they're this year.
You know, I, I-
I'm hardly in this book.
- What?
- Look.
- That's an amazing photo.
- I have seen much better.
- Okay, here we go.
Residual check? Yep.
$2 and 47 cents.
- Oh wow!
You see, that's what happens
when you have a movie
play on TV for 30 years.
- I'd done enough
sorting by now
to know that most of
her residual checks
were in the thousands.
She'd had money all right.
And a house full of empty rooms
waiting to be used by someone.
It's something, right?
- It's something when
Harry Dean Stanton
sticks his finger up yours a*s,
but it's not good, baby.
No, don't put it there.
There was, it's been
broken forever.
- Oh. Um, you just need
to re-drill the screws.
It's an easy fix.
Uh, my dad made sure I knew
my way around a toolbox.
Ah, like your character
in "Morning Glory" does.
- Patsy.
Yeah, I liked her. She
was, she was strong.
- Oh, she was more than
strong. She was kick-a*s.
- Yeah.
- Oh, and um,
your cousin in the movie.
- Jethro.
- Jethro!
I had a roommate lined up
who looked just like him.
- Really? That's horrible.
- He backed out. I've got
like a week to find someone.
- You know, um, I have a room.
I- I never thought about
renting it to anyone,
but you're a nice kid.
- Seriously? I.
- Don't get
excited until you see it.
Did you know cyanide occurs
naturally in peach pits?
- What?
- Mm,
"Science Channel," special
on poisons.
Uh, all right, clearly
it's, it's a lot of crap,
but uh, once it's
cleared out, it's really,
it's really, really cute.
- Mm-hmm.
How much would you want for it?
- Well, I suppose the
first month or so,
uh, we could consider it
trade when you do the work.
- So I'd be cleaning your house
and living in the
maid's quarters?
- No! I mean, don't
put it like that.
Yeah, it would be a regular
landlord/tenant situation.
Let's say, thousand a month,
after you finished all
the organizing.
- A thousand bucks a month
couldn't get me a closet
in Koreatown.
And this was a mansion
in the Hills.
But it was Richard who
really saw the opportunities.
But seriously, I mean,
it's the maid's quarters.
- It's a room in an oversized
house owned by a movie star.
- Yeah, if you saw her now,
you would not be saying that.
- You know what your problem
is? You're too Midwest.
- What?
- Too scared of getting
outta your comfort zone.
An actor has to have new
experiences to draw from.
- Let me ask, that's
one of the three musts.
- Yes, it is. The three musts.
Must survive.
- Mm-hmm.
- Must be creative at
the craft of acting.
- Yes.
- Must network.
Ah, must survive.
That's the number one must.
That means you gotta have
food, roof over your head,
um, gas, that sh*t takes
money, right?
I mean, if you're living there,
you might be able to find things
that she wouldn't notice
if they went missing.
- You're bad.
- That's why you like me.
- It took two days to clean
out the maid's quarters,
but only 20 minutes to
pack up my apartment.
I sold all my furniture
on Craigslist.
All that was left were
my clothes, my laptop,
and of course my g*n.
Okay.
Mm, okay, another
box of scripts.
- Let me see. Oh, oh God!
My first film, "Camp m*ssacre."
I think I do the lines.
"Brad, is that you?
Oh, stop fooling around." Eh?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
- Oh wow.
Wait, I literally just
saw the magazine cover
of you wearing that.
- Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I was
doing publicity for "1982."
A lousy romantic comedy
I did with Kurt Russell.
And for that I passed
up "Blade Runner."
- Sean Young's part?
- Well, it wasn't
Harrison Ford's.
- Well, I'm sure you
had a good reason.
- Yeah, a
bigger paycheck.
Seemed like a good reason
at the time.
- I'd assumed
it was costume jewelry.
The kind of stuff you'd
find in a cr*cker jack box.
It's not like we had a
Tiffany's in Hastings, Nebraska.
- I felt like, nah,
I felt invincible in this
sh**t.
Ah, well.
Keep that.
- Mariah!
- Well, what is it, baby?
- Um, we need traps because
you have rats.
- Oh, no.
Oh, I've got traps.
You can put 'em out tonight.
Here, I keep 'em under here.
They're the, uh, anti-cruelty
kind.
You see the, the rat
goes in after the food
and the door closes behind it,
and then you take 'em out
back and, uh, let 'em go.
I mean, if they're
not in the house,
well, why hurt the poor
little fellas?
- Releasing the rats
would just give them
a chance to come back.
I was gonna handle this
the Nebraska way.
Do you wanna come over tonight?
The mattress is so old
I had to put two pairs
of sheets on it, but-
- Ah, ew, no.
And besides, I do
not wanna disrupt
your budding relationship
with the screen legend.
- Oh yeah, right.
- I'm serious. You still
don't get it, do you?
- I'm just the first person
who's been nice to her in years.
- Well, exactly. Exploit that.
Tell me more about what you saw
at the house in the
maid's quarters.
- She has these amazing dresses.
Props, old scripts.
I found a letter from
Stanley Kubrick.
- Get out. Anything
more valuable?
- Actually, yeah.
- Yeah?
- She has way more money
than we thought. I mean-
- Tell me.
- She wears these
around the house.
The jewelry, not the dress.
- She wears emeralds?
- Yeah.
Every single day.
I mean, I thought they
were glass, you know, junk.
- But they're not.
- Mm-mm.
- I bet you she's gotten
quite a bit over the years.
- Do we really think
it's a good idea for me
to steal from my rich landlady?
- Steal? Who said anything
about stealing?
More like, you know, liberate.
- I couldn't resist. I
had to try on Mariah's dress.
- How's it look?
- Well, I didn't think it
was gonna fit, but it does.
- Wow.
I haven't been able to
say that in 15 years.
- Something's off though.
Uh, it looked better on you.
- Oh. Well, you've got
the legs for it.
But my t*ts were
a little better.
We can do something
about that. Oh, hang on.
- I had a jewelry
box back in Nebraska.
One of those flimsy things
with a plastic ballerina.
When Mariah took the
key from around her neck
and opened hers, I gasped.
Who knew how much
it was all worth?
I'd never worn anything more
expensive than a $20 necklace.
- I got this in Cannes in '92.
- Wow.
These are gorgeous.
- Ah-huh.
- Are they real diamonds?
- Of course.
- The diamonds
hung heavy at my throat.
Over a hundred thousand
dollars right over my pulse.
They felt like they
belonged there.
- But not for you.
You need darker lipstick
and the earrings,
but, honey, you look
like hot sh*t.
Which is what we used to say
in my day, hot sh*t.
- I love the dress,
but I don't know,
I don't feel like it
enhances my vulnerability.
- That dress? No, damn!
No, that is a steal-your-
boyfriend,
hot-wire-a-car,
get-the-f*ck-outta-town dress.
You know, that looks so good
on you you ought to keep it?
- What?
- You heard me.
I'm never gonna wear it again.
- And so the girl
from Hastings, Nebraska,
got her first designer dress.
- You have to promise me
you'll wear it at the party.
- What party?
- The party that we're
gonna throw.
You know, it's time
to celebrate.
And guess who's gonna be
there? Everybody important.
You could ask some of your
nice little friends too.
- I wondered if
she knew anyone under 60.
Still, my friends would
leap at the chance
to come and stare at Mariah.
As for Richard, he'd wanna
check out her jewelry.
- Eh, parties aren't my thing.
All the incessant,
uh, small talk
and exchange of inanities,
they just drive me nuts.
- You know her, don't you?
- Mariah?
- Yes, Mariah.
I mean, you won't come
to the party,
you'll never come
over to my place,
I always have to come to you.
- I mean, our, uh, our
paths may have crossed
back in my acting days,
but she was always
on a whole different
level than I was.
- That's pretty big.
- The reason
why I don't wanna go
to the party is 'cause
of the dog.
I've got asthma.
- That dog was in your
apartment for days.
- Well, yeah, a couple
days too many too.
Anyways, you don't want
an old Lothario like me
dragging you down.
You know, all those, uh, agents
and directors and producers,
they're gonna wanna think
they got a shot with you,
so you have fun, just
don't f*ck 'em.
So d'you find out if
she's got more jewelry?
- Oh, yes. She's showed it
to me, I mean, I saw it.
Calling it a jewelry box
is an understatement.
It, it's more like a chest.
- Get out. Is it, how easy
would it be to get to it?
- Impossible.
- Midwest, you're k*lling me.
You're too safe.
I mean, hey, that's a
really fine way to live
if you're a waitress
or a, uh, let's see,
a, um, movie star's,
um, assistant,
but not an actress.
- I'm not safe.
- You won't even, uh,
steal a pair of earrings.
- Says the guy who's too
afraid to come to a party.
With the house looking better,
Mariah was ready to fling
open the doors.
To my surprise, the party
ended up being
a who's who of older Hollywood.
Actors, directors, producers,
they all showed up to
pay homage to Mariah.
- Oh gosh!
Yes, sister.
- Oh, there are the drinks.
Thank you.
- Oh, no, I- I-
- I'm gonna need another
one of those, please.
- Come on, come
on, don't be so stingy.
- Make it whole, right?
Thanks.
- The guests
were one thing,
but give Mariah an audience
and the magic and the
attitude came roaring back.
- And after the premiere, when
she walked into the theater,
well, let's just say
all the straight males
wanted to adjust their trousers,
if you know what I mean.
You were, you were
sex on a stick.
- Oh, Andrew!
- It's true.
You, you were, you were a
thinking male's sex-on-a-stick.
- Oh! Well.
- And then you, you
blew us all away
when you transformed
yourself in "Morning Glory."
- Oh, I love Patsy.
- I mean, who doesn't?
- Holly, Holly! Come!
- Yes. Mariah?
- Why isn't
the Pinot Grigio open?
Andrew needs a glass.
- Hi. Yes, sure.
Hi, I'm Holly.
I'm so happy you could make it.
- Um, yes, the wine, bub.
- Sure.
Goddammit, this is
supposed to be our party.
Ugh, I'm a host, not her maid.
- Come on, she's a
famous, rich white lady.
- Well, she's usually
not this bad.
- Is she really any worse
than half the people
that come into Orzo?
- No, but I get paid
to be ignored there.
- Hey, beautiful.
- Hi, Clay.
How are you?
- Great.
- Good to see you.
- This is so much fun.
Hey, is that that guy
from that movie?
- Oh yeah, he's actually
really quiet,
I can introduce you if you want.
Oh no, that is so fine.
I will just keep pouring.
Thanks. Thank you.
I made a mental note to tell
Mariah to call Merry Maids.
Sorting through her
mail was one thing,
but no way was I cleaning
up this sh*t.
The house was a wreck.
At least no one had
called the police.
- I had an amazing time.
- Oh, so did I, baby.
- I'd call
Mariah a cougar,
but with that age difference
she was more like a
saber tooth tiger.
But then again, look at
who I was hooking up with.
- Mm.
Coffee's ready.
- Hey! I'm good, but
I'll see you in class?
- Yeah.
- I'll see you later.
- Okay.
Bye.
Good morning, baby.
- I wanted to stay mad at her,
but how could I?
She'd seduced my scene
partner and trashed the house.
She was a teenager
with an AARP card.
I take it you had a good night?
- I had a great night.
That little pal of yours, Clay?
He is a cutie pie.
He made me feel like
a new woman,
even if he didn't know
what he was doing.
- Did he now?
- Yeah, I tell you, that
boy has stamina.
- Hm! That he does.
- Ha! Oh, holy f*ck, is
he your boyfriend?
- Clay? No.
- But you've
slept with him?
- Once.
- Hmm. Well, okay, there's
no problem.
I like you a lot more
than I like him.
He does have that sort
of, I don't know,
speedy rabbit thing going.
- There's a reason I
only slept with him once.
- Ah! Well, he's young.
He can be trained. I'm patient.
- Guess I'm not.
- At your age, you shouldn't
have to be.
Uh, about the party.
I know I can be a bear at
times. No hard feelings?
- Mariah, you treated
me like a servant
in front of my friends.
- And you don't think I paid
my dues to be where I am?
How many directors have asked me
to get them a cup of coffee?
- That's not the same thing.
- And I did it.
I did it, because that's
what it takes to get success.
Like a- a- a wolf willing
to gnaw it's paw off
to get out of a trap.
Only afterwards, you
have to look pretty.
- No place for actresses
with gnawed-off limbs?
- Exactly, darling.
But last night made me
realize something.
I wanna go back.
There has never been
a better time
for women over 45 in this town.
And I wanna work.
- I was tempted to remind her
that the last time
she'd seen 45,
I was in kindergarten,
but I'm not an idiot.
You and me both.
- Hm. No reason that we
can't both be working.
No reason at all.
- We? I liked that.
Her jewelry and house
were small time.
If I played my cards
right, I'd get a career.
The long game was the
one worth playing.
- So she wore the emeralds?
- Yeah. They
were beautiful.
I mean, she cleaned them
and everything.
I- I felt like a criminal
scoping them out.
- That's good.
New experience.
So she didn't break out the
other stuff for a party.
Huh! That's interesting.
- You're very focused
on her jewelry.
Did you give her some of it?
- What?
- I mean,
you obviously know her
more than just in passing.
- No, I didn't go to the
party because of the dog.
- Oh, Richard, come on.
- Really, you wanna delve
into ancient history?
- Yes, I mean, Julius Caesar,
the Norman Conquest,
you and Mariah.
- We did a movie, like eons ago.
Um, an era called the '80s.
- Oh yeah, I think I've
heard about it.
Landline phones, shoulder
pads, cocaine.
What happened between you two?
- There's just not much
to, to share, you know?
- Why should I tell
you my most intimate stuff
if you won't tell me yours?
- You know, you wanna
be an actor,
so why don't you break down
that big-a*s wall of yours
and tell me the most
painful thing
that's ever happened to you?
- Oh, and that's
called trauma porn.
- You know, it's not that
hard. You just say it.
- Then you show
me. You and Mariah, go.
- We had a short fling
as co-stars. Well.
- What movie?
I haven't found you in
any of her movies on IMDb.
- It was a, um, a
so-called comedy
called "Two for the Show."
I died on the cutting
room floor, alas.
- And how did that
make you feel?
- Okay, all right. Um.
It made me feel foolish
and stupid.
- So how was she?
- Uh, a gentleman
never kisses-
- Oh, gentlemen kiss
and tell all the time.
How was she? Was
she a good f*ck?
Was she better than me?
- Don't do that.
- Do what?
- Make it all about sex.
Look, way back in the day,
she had this, this magic,
this magnetism,
this amazing, you just, ah,
you couldn't look away.
Just like you.
- Uh, so what
did you do then?
- I ran. I ran screaming
for help.
- And did help come?
- No, I was alone.
And alone with that awful
thing that had been David.
You are flashing your entire
b*ll s*ck to the entire world.
- It's my secret superpower.
- Oh, great to know.
- Hi, baby. You up?
- Right here!
- Ah, good!
- Morning.
- Good morning.
Now I want to go see
my team today.
The Chandler Agency.
So, uh, I need a ride.
- You don't drive?
- No, honey, are you kidding?
I haven't been behind
the wheel of a car
since "Alabama Roadkill."
And that was a picture car.
- Okay, well
then, can Clay?
- No, I can't.
I got an audition at 1:00.
- Honey, I meant it when I said
I wanted us to go together.
So come on, get ready.
- You ready?
- Ah, almost.
Oh, put some lipstick
on, honey. Pop your face.
- So I met a man at Orzo
the other night
that says he knows you
from back in the day.
- Oh my God, you didn't give
him my address, did you?
- No, of course not.
He might have been
bullshitting me,
but um, he says you two had
a fling back in the '80s.
- Honey, I'm gonna
need more than that to go on.
I lost track of my
flings around '86.
- I mean, he has these
blazing blue eyes.
- Short? Named Anthony, intense?
- He's intense, he is short too,
but no, his name is
Richard Metzger.
- Ah. Mm.
I met a lot of intense
guys back in the day.
I was doing a lot of coke.
So it's possible he
could be right.
- Who are all these
intense guys?
- Oh, sweet baby Jesus, I
can't begin to remember.
The, the good thing about being
Mariah McKay in those days
was how easy it was
to get rid of 'em.
One guy I had the studio
fire from "Circus Dreams"
after he threatened to k*ll me.
None of this restraining
order sh*t for me,
thank you very much.
Another one, let's see,
I had thrown out of the house,
I had the locks changed.
And I don't want to start
on the arsonist.
- The arsonist?
- I said I don't wanna start.
No, took me a while,
but I learned my lesson.
I don't want a smart man.
I want a man who is nice,
and dumb, and hung.
- Like Clay?
- Exactly.
- Um, are we good on time?
I don't want you to miss
your appointment.
- Honey, I don't need
an appointment.
- Yes, it's her. It's
been 20 minutes.
I'm so sorry, Mrs. McKay, um,
Aline is in a meeting
right now and she-
- About what?
- I'm sorry?
- What is the meeting about,
that it can't be
interrupted by Mariah McKay?
- Hurry. She's scary.
That would be great. Thank you.
- Ah! You know what I miss?
- Mm?
- The days
when you can smoke a
cigarette, no questions.
- Oh yeah, equal-opportunity
cancer.
- That's her.
- Ms. McKay,
if you follow me,
I'll take you to Aline's office.
Can I get you anything to drink?
- Coffee, black, sugar. I
asked for it 30 minutes ago.
- So you're Mariah
McKay's assistant?
- No, I just rent a
room in her house.
- That must be nice.
- Yeah, it will be, once
we get rid of the rats.
- You know, I think that this
is an exciting new chapter
for all of us.
- I just can't believe it.
The, the best new
roles are on TV?
- I'm sorry I have to call
you back in five minutes.
No, fine. I promise.
Okay, fine.
Yes, and you know what,
you are so right for
so many of them.
Let's set up meetings
with all the streamers.
- A meeting?
- To reintroduce you
to a new generation.
- Well, I would think that
an Oscar, two Golden Globes,
and a combined $532 million
in box office,
might be introduction enough.
- Of course.
How about "Circus Dreams,
The Series"?
Is that fabulous? You call Hulu.
We're gonna set that up.
- Uh, my character dies
at the end of the film?
- Well, the writers will
figure that out.
It'll be a prequel or a reboot.
Like a whole reimagining.
Anyway, I'm sure you
wanna beat traffic.
- I'd like to introduce
you to Holly Sloan.
- You're, are her assistant?
Okay, if you need anything,
I want you to call my
assistant, Thomas.
Anything you need.
- Uh, no. No, no.
Holly is a very talented
actress.
Newly arrived in LA.
- Oh, you're an actress.
If Mariah recommends
you, that means a lot.
It's so good to see you. I'm
so glad that you stopped by.
It was nice to meet you, Holly.
Okay, bye. Let's go.
Hi, sorry.
- I pulled the
"Circus Dream" files
from Mariah's agent.
Why was I even thinking
about taking her jewelry?
If my career kicked into gear,
I could buy my own
damn diamonds.
- Look at that one.
I mean, I'm telling you,
Mariah is quite the collector.
I've counted seven different
diamond pieces alone.
- You're researching Mariah?
- Yeah, um, just the
stones around her neck.
- Don't you think her
introducing me
to her agent changes
things a little bit?
- Well, I mean, that's great,
but I mean, it's gonna
take time, right?
So all I'm saying is,
must survive, right?
- Huh, okay, um.
"The Three Musts" is
a pretty sh*t title.
- Okay. Work in progress.
Hang on.
- Just let it go to voicemail.
- No, it's early. It
could still be a audition.
- Mm-hmm.
- Hello?
Hi. Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Yes, sure. Yes,
absolutely, absolutely.
Okay, great.
- Who was that?
- That was Mariah's agency.
They wanna meet with
me. They might sign me.
It was the biggest thing
to happen for my career
since I'd gotten off
that Greyhound bus,
but Richard was jealous.
He couldn't see past
Mariah's jewels.
At least that's what I thought.
- God, everyone wanted
risotto tonight,
I smell like Parmesan cheese.
- Wait, you're making
me lose count.
- 6, 19.
- Stop.
- Hey, you coming to
my DJ set this weekend?
- Mm-hmm.
- Are you too busy having
multiple orgasms
with your old man f*ck buddy?
- Goodnight, you
guys, thank you.
Have a good night.
Okay. All right.
Oh sh*t. I missed a call
from the Chandler Agency.
Did I tell you about my meeting?
- Only about 3,000 times.
- Holly, come talk
to me before you leave, okay?
- Okay.
They canceled the meeting.
- Why?
- I don't know. They didn't say.
Here you go, Logan. f*ck.
f*ck! What changed?
Hey, what's up?
- There's no easy way
into this, so,
we're letting you go.
- What?
- This was
your last shift.
- Wait, why?
- A customer called about
your attitude.
That's all I'm gonna say.
- Danielle, come
on, you know me.
I'm a pro. I never lose my cool.
- You're losing
it right now.
- Because you're firing me.
- Yes, I am. We'll mail
you your last check.
- Oh, hey. Are you,
are you okay?
- Never better.
- Oh. Okay, guess what?
I just got an audition for
"American Horror Story."
It's like!
- Congrats.
- Yeah.
- Your agent's really
getting you out there.
- Yeah. No, I got a new agent,
um, the Chandler Agency.
- Mariah's?
- Yeah, yeah.
She recommended me,
but I asked her not to,
'cause that's not why I'm
hanging out with her, you know?
- Oh dear God.
Dumb, sweet Clay really
liked Mariah,
and she had gotten him
an agent instead of me.
So much for my long game.
- Right. Well, have
a good night.
- Hey.
What's up with you?
- God, can
you say bad day?
I need a f*cking drink.
- Okay. Uh, Gin, whiskey?
- Pick your poisons. Swirl
'em together for all I care.
- Why you breathing so hard?
- I walked here, okay?
I walked here because
I can't afford an Uber.
And my car's radiator hose split
right where I parked it
in front of the restaurant
that I used to work at.
Used to, because I got fired
today at the end of my shift,
after some as*h*le called
to complain about me,
and tomorrow, when I call
a tow truck to pick it up,
I'm gonna have to look
at that f*cking place
and their $22 bowls of pasta.
- Jeez.
- I can't afford to
get my car fixed.
- Oh, look, I've got a
little bit of money, I-
- Shut up.
And f*ck me now.
What was I gonna do for money?
And if an actress
isn't a waitress,
is she even an actress anymore?
Let's do it.
- Let's do what?
- Let's take Mariah's jewelry.
And not just a necklace.
Enough to really make
a difference.
- Well, hold on, why not just,
better take just a little
bit, you know,
and just milk it over time.
- No!
You're the one who
said I have to do
what it takes to survive.
Packing up my bags and
going back to Nebraska
is not an option.
- Hey, hey, hey.
You never have to go back there.
You know what? f*ck Mariah.
Come on, say it.
f*ck her.
Come on.
- f*ck her.
- That's it.
You said she only wears
the emeralds, right?
If some of the other
pieces were to go missing,
do you think she would even
like, would she notice?
- No.
She wouldn't even notice.
She wears the key
around her neck.
If I can get it,
if I can take the jewelry
while she's sleeping,
she'll think Clay did it.
- Who the f*ck's Clay?
- My scene partner.
The one who booked the SVU spot,
who signed with her agent,
'cause he did the smart thing
and started f*cking her.
I come home tonight and
they're just going at it.
- Is he there, is he
there every night?
- Yeah.
- And.
- Since the party.
- Do you know where he lives?
- That, um, that old
building on the corner
of, uh, Franklin and Cower.
- We, we could.
What do you think if
we were to, um.
What do you think if we were
to plant some jewelry there?
Do you think he'd make
a good fall guy?
Oh, you're bad.
- Yeah, but that's
why you like me.
- Well, when I'm done with her,
we could throw her back
into the gutter.
- Some people
might feel bad
for what we were going
to do to Clay.
- End scene.
- Not me.
Everything had come
so easy for him.
- Clay, fantastic
work as always.
Y- you have this, um,
Pacino-esque quality.
This intensity that-
- Well, things were gonna
start coming easy for me.
So what if Mariah had helped
Clay and screwed me over?
I'd take her jewelry.
Must number one, must survive.
What the hell?
Your old headshot. Explain.
- Where'd you find that?
- You changed your name.
- So? A ton of actors
change their names.
- You didn't tell me. Lying
by omission is still lying.
- No, my name is
Richard Metzger.
Uh, here's my license
and registration.
I just don't talk about it.
- Well, you do now.
You weren't in "Two
for the Show" with her,
you were in "Circus Dreams."
- We jumped into bed 15 minutes
after our first rehearsal.
It was intense, it was
crazy. That's it.
- Bullshit, that's not it.
- She was f*cking clingy,
helpless, a psycho b*tch.
Yeah, I broke it off.
- Okay, so Mariah is
a lot of things,
but honey, she's not a
f*cking psycho b*tch.
Stop lying to me, Richard.
- What the f*ck, Holly?
- Okay.
- What are you doing?
- I will not take a piece
of that jewelry
until you tell me what
your deal is with her.
- She, uh, she got me
kicked off the movie.
I wasn't in a single frame.
All right, it was f*cking
humiliating.
Mariah, uh, she k*lled my
career, so I changed my name,
I went to New York, I did
plays for like three years,
came back here, nothing.
Couldn't get one
f*cking meeting!
Who'd you tell about this?
Who'd you tell about my name?
- No one.
- f*ck.
f*ck, man. I might as
well just burn my book!
Yeah, I mean. F.
- Finally the truth.
Richard was the guy Mariah had
thrown off "Circus Dreams."
He'd threatened her and
she destroyed his career,
just like she was doing to me.
Now he wanted reimbursement
for a lost life.
No wonder he was so
obsessed with her.
f*ck that b*tch.
Come on, say it.
- Yeah, f*ck her.
- We'll steal the jewelry.
We'll make it right with her.
I just have to figure
out how to get the key.
- Leave that to me.
Morning, sleepy head.
- Good morning.
Mm, what is this?
- Breakfast. All kinds
of flavors.
Uh, you got your, um,
your
fluffernutter.
- Mm-hmm.
- Your, um, lemon raspberry.
- Mm-hmm.
- And maple bacon.
My favorite.
- I can't tell if this is
disgusting or delicious.
- Well, which is a sign
of greatness right there.
- Possibly.
Well, you know, this feels
like a significant moment.
- What? You
getting breakfast?
- Me not sneaking out in
the cover of darkness.
You know, I guess
planning a felony
does that for a relationship.
- Well, diamonds too,
marks education.
- And Mariah has
some great ones.
- Oh, she does.
This is,
this is how
we get the key.
- What is that?
- Crushed-up benzos.
Mix them with her
and Clay's drink,
and um, sleepy time.
Can you, um, can you do that?
- Easy.
Mariah hates getting anything
for herself.
I mean, if she can wave a hand
in my direction to fetch it?
- Okay,
good, uh, great.
When, when will you do it?
- As soon as I can.
- We'll celebrate
afterwards.
What do you think? Pack a bag.
Bring it over when you're
done, go to Big Bear.
- Big Bear?
- Yeah.
- Mm-mm, if I do this,
we're going to Hawaii.
- Nice.
- He broke up with me.
- Clay?
- Of course Clay.
We were supposed to
have lunch together
and then he didn't show.
When I called and left
texts, he never answered.
- He's ghosting you.
- He's what?
- Ghosting you?
You know, when someone
suddenly stops answering
your text messages?
- So he's dumping me,
hm? Because I'm old.
I'm old. I'm old.
You see, I got offered
this part.
Be the judge, 'cause I'm old.
Of course he dumped me.
- We don't know that
Clay dumped you.
- Then why hasn't he answered?
- I don't know. He's
a 25-year-old actor.
He, his phone is dead.
He booked a role.
He's playing hard
to get. Anything.
- Well, if his phone's dead,
that means he, he can get
my other message.
- No, it's more texting.
- Well, but I-
- No!
You want some tea?
- Tea? Do I look like
a woman who wants tea?
- No. You look like a
woman who wants more wine.
- Bring me the
shiraz, not the cab.
- I'll be right there!
- There's no arguing
with these results.
Okay? It's like falling-
- m*therf*cking spooking me.
I'm Mariah f*cking McKay!
- Ghosting. He's ghosting you.
- Whatever.
Look, I think, I, uh, I
think I'm gonna turn in.
Ah, you okay to, to
clean up, baby?
- Not a problem.
- Where's the love, mister? Huh?
What, have you, you've
turned from me too?
Come on! Come on!
- Get a load.
- If we're lucky,
she won't notice for
a long, long time.
Maybe never.
- And the sedatives,
they, um, she was out?
- Out like a light.
She would've slept
through an earthquake.
Almost like she was dead.
- Okay, okay. All right.
- Getting her key, stealing
her jewelry?
Oof, it was nothing.
Check this one out.
She got this one in Cannes.
1992. It was worth
180K back then?
I mean, it's gotta be
worth a whole bunch more.
- Oh man. Absolutely.
- Whoo! I'm still jacked up.
Adrenaline. You want a drink?
- I'll, um, I'll take
whatever you're having.
- Whiskey.
- What about Clay?
- Oh, Clay wasn't there.
- Lucky us.
- He is, um, ghosting her.
- He's what?
- Ghosting her. God,
you old types.
It's, um, it's when someone
doesn't respond to your texts.
To Mariah McKay, goddess
of the silver screen.
And her jewelry.
- Yeah, thank God
that the latter
kept its value and beauty
while the former withered
and aged.
Cheers.
- You're awful.
I don't even wanna know
what you say about me.
- That I have never met
anyone like you, Midwest.
Ever.
- Maybe it was
the adrenaline.
Maybe it was the diamonds
on the bed next to me.
Goddammit, I still wanted him.
Even after what I knew.
Even after what I had done.
Are you okay?
- f*ck!
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
God, I.
- Are you okay?
- Yeah. This is weird.
This hasn't happened.
Did you, did you
pick up the dog?
Oh geez.
Oh, Jesus, f*ck.
Yeah, water! Water!
- Richard, breathe!
- Hospital.
- Hi. Yes.
Wait, wait, wait. It's
gonna be okay.
Richard, hang on. It's
gonna be okay.
Yes. Hi, yeah, yes.
No, no, no, don't put me
on hold, m*therf*cker!
I need an ambulance right now!
My boyfriend can't breathe.
4730 Fountain Drive, Unit B.
- I can't, Midwest.
- Richard, they're coming.
End scene.
I never called.
You're not having an
asthma attack, by the way.
That powder you gave me,
the cyanide?
It's paralyzing your
respiratory system.
You got about five minutes.
I put it in your drink,
in case you're wondering.
Cheers.
You know, I used to think
you were being ironic
when you called me
Midwest until I realized
you know f*ck all about
the Midwest.
Nebraska isn't just corn
fields and apple pie.
It's also oxy and Dilaudid.
That powder didn't look
like any crushed-up pills
I'd ever seen and when
I smelled it.
Almonds?
Dead giveaway for cyanide.
I mean, you were right
about one thing.
Nobody would've bought
your stupid f*cking book
if they knew the truth
about you and Mariah.
That you're a f*cking
canceled, washed-up has been
who got dumped by a movie star.
Whoa!
Oh-uh.
Some romantic getaway.
What, were you planning
on poisoning me
and then making it look like
I k*lled Mariah and Clay,
'cause I was jealous of them?
Me? Jealous of them?
Oh, Richard!
I would've kept your secret.
I'm so used to
being underestimated,
it f*cking kills me.
But I was stupid.
I believed you when you said
that I was special, that
I would make it.
But you never even saw me.
You were just thinking
about her.
You crushed me, Richard.
- You have this spark, an edge.
- You changed your name.
- Ton of
actors change their name.
I found this dog and
I need to return it.
- There's
no easy way into this,
so we're letting you go.
- I am, uh, calling
about a complaint
with one of your employees.
You're badge.
But I'm not such a good
neighbor, Holly,
I really do want the money.
What about Clay?
- Oh, he wasn't there.
- Lucky us.
- You know
her, don't you?
- Our paths
may have crossed
back in my acting days.
- What is that?
- Crushed-up benzos.
Mix them with her
and Clay's drink,
and um, sleepy time.
You're bad.
- You're the one
who said I have to do
what it takes to survive.
Am I good enough for you now?
- Making an omelet. Want some?
- What are you putting in it?
- Just cheddar cheese.
- Yeah, I'll take some.
- How are you, baby?
- Everything went
according to the plan.
- Thank God you figured it out.
- I wouldn't have been
able to do it without you.
And I mean that.
- Not everyone can smell
that scent of almonds.
It's genetic. "Science Channel."
- I'll wait a few more
minutes and then I'll call.
- I'd wait till tomorrow and
make sure I knew all my lines.
- Well, last person I
saw was my boyfriend,
but no, I don't think
he'd take my g*n.
He has been a little depressed.
- No, honey. Don't push it.
Let them bring up suicide.
- Right, right.
- Yeah.
You up for this?
- Actually, I'm kind of excited.
I mean, sort of like
opening-night-play excited.
- As soon as I
reported my g*n missing,
the police connected the dots.
Ballistics linked my g*n with
Richard and Clay's deaths.
Soon Richard's real
name came out.
Then his history with Mariah.
The press had a field day.
Of course, the cops had
questions for me,
but Mariah was brilliant,
she made it all about her.
The woman so enthralling,
so enticing,
that two men died for her.
She had movie offers
by the end of the week.
And it turned out that
I didn't need
some actors showcase
to make things happen.
So I took class, I hung
out with Mariah,
signed with her agent,
and started actually
working as an actress.
I still think back
to that night,
about what it was like
to k*ll Richard.
It was like k*lling
a part of myself,
the part that was sheltered
and innocent.
Well, good riddance.
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Long Game, The (2024)
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