I never dream.
But that night I did.
If I was a superstitious person,
I would have taken it as a sign.
A marker of dread and foreboding omens.
I remember feeling full of fear as I awoke that morning.
A feeling that's supposed to fade
as you leave your sleep,
and return to your bed, your job, your coffee.
Except that feeling wouldn't leave me.
It would stay with me all that day into the next.
Because some feelings you just can't shake.
Some feelings stay with you 'til the end.
♪ Big mouth ♪
♪ You've got a really big mouth ♪
♪ Fucked up and let your friends down ♪
♪ We're all tired of your big mouth ♪
♪ Big mouth ♪
♪ You've got a really big mouth ♪
♪ Fucked up and let your friends down ♪
♪ We're all tired of your big mouth ♪
Every morning I wake up in the afternoon.
I have my coffee
and I smoke my morning cigarette.
Today, the cigarette was better than the coffee.
I also work on my fine monthly horror porn comic, Whoreific.
That's how I work through my existential dread.
Basically, it's just tits and guts.
Drawing helps me figure out the world around me.
Not that there's much to figure out.
It's fucked.
I'm broke all the time.
I have rent to pay, and capitalism doesn't sleep.
I do have an actual job
at a burlesque club called Mama's.
It's cool. It's something to do.
It pays pretty shit, actually.
All right, it looks like he's had enough,
let's get a round of applause for Sissy Boy Louie
and the lovely Lady Mouse.
Yeah, Louie, way to go!
Ouch.
Great show, Mouse.
Um, do you think maybe I could be the sissy next time?
-Sure thing, Ed. -Thank you. Thank you.
I was selling sadness in a dying bar.
But there are worse ways to make a living.
♪ You think you're so cool ♪
♪ Breaking every rule, a boy that drools! ♪
Thanks, Ugly.
Ugly was the only beautiful thing around here.
The rose that grew from the concrete.
The type of person you can rely on.
Why he hung out with me, I had no idea.
How did you find yourself
in this serious situation, partner?
Oh, it happens how most things do, Ug.
Series of small events
that accumulate to the sum of your existence.
On the small scale,
let's say I got here by taking the bus.
Hm. And how are you getting home?
Same bus.
I didn't-- I don't mean it like that.
I know, you're a real stand-up guy, Ugly.
I'd say it's the thing I like about you the least.
I don't know why we call him Ugly, Mousey.
He's a looker to me.
Yeah, he's got the looks all right.
So, why do we call him that?
Because Ugly is just...
Ugly.
Oh, he's gone all shy.
Oh, God damn it, Kelly.
I brought you flowers.
Yeah, nice flowers, dickhead.
You're not supposed to be back here.
I told you that last time.
In fact, last time, I told you
that it would be the last fucking time I tell you.
So, why don't you fuck off?
Mama!
Mama, unsurprisingly, ran Mama's.
And if there was one person you didn't fuck with...
it was Mama.
This fucking idiot.
I didn't see him slip past. Sorry, babe.
Kelly, right?
Listen, no one gives a fuck about your romantic gestures,
or how you think they should go down.
We got rules here.
Come in, enjoy our show
and fuck off.
You can't follow the rules...
homerun.
What? No, I-- I just came to give her some flo--
How come men put so much of their self-worth and ego
into women they barely fucking know?
Like, did your mom not tell you she loves you enough?
Why are you all so broken?
I'm not sure that's entirely fair.
Oh, really?
How come I'm throwing these idiots out of here
on a regular basis?
I mean, some of the guys when they get rejected, they--
they lash out, and they're assholes.
I get it. But most of us are just--
- We're a little bit sad. - You're not kidding.
What does that sadness got to do with me?
Like, why do you make it our problem?
What do you think, Mousey?
I don't know.
I think we're all pretty fucking sad.
It doesn't mean you get to be an asshole.
No, you're right.
I'm just sick and fucking tired
of being a place for men to sort out their bullshit.
Let me know when you wanna leave.
I'll walk you to the bus.
But if you walk me to the bus, who's gonna walk you home?
This part of town is too dangerous to be pretty
and walk home alone at night.
For all my tough talk,
I had this aching feeling of dread that night.
All day, if I was being honest.
My coffee hadn't tasted right that morning.
And there isn't a day that doesn't end with dread
that didn't start with bad coffee.
Hey, Mama. Did Doe Eyes come in today?
Oh, Riz, you know Doe.
Pretty girl, dumb as a rock. Must have forgot.
Oh, did you try calling her?
I did. Nothing.
I can go to her place tomorrow and check in.
She lives right by me.
Well, do as you please,
she probably just shacked up with some bozo.
Remember that last guy?
Ugly as hell. Old, big ears and deep pockets.
He was nice enough.
Sure, if you like the sad sack type.
All right. It's late, I'm tired
and I'm going to go home and see my wife.
I suggest you girls do the same.
I ain't got a wife, Mama.
No, but fucking time you did.
On my advice, don't waste your breath on men,
they aren't worth their spit in shoe shine.
Well, all except you, Ugly.
-Close up, will you, Mousey? -Mm-hmm.
I guess, that means I gotta go too?
I don't have to go home, but you can't stay here,
- is that it? - That's it.
I'll best to be off, too.
Good for you to check on Doe, darling.
I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?
-Sure. -Okay.
Good night, Ugly. You beautiful thing.
And then there were two.
When are you gonna go check up on Doe Eyes?
Not sure. Whenever I wake up.
So, uh, like, two or three, knowing you.
You making fun of me, Ugs?
I'm impressed.
I could meet you if you like.
We can go together.
What did I say about being a stand-up guy?
It's disgusting.
Another afternoon.
And the coffee wasn't any better.
Before I start any new project, I think about the paper.
Selecting the right paper is important.
It sets the stage for what's going to occur.
That's the one.
♪ Punch a Nazi ♪
Dirt's comic book shop was the only place in town
that didn't fill their cabinets with comics
about radioactive spiders and American super soldiers.
Not that it was a classy place.
Mostly, he sold dirty porn stories.
But luckily, that's exactly
what I'd come here to see him about.
Hey, Dirt. How're my comics doing?
Look. You know I love your work,
but to be honest, they just aren't selling.
-What do you mean? -I mean just that.
No one buys them. It's a shame, too,
'cause I know you put so much work into them.
Well, what are people buying instead?
Oh, you know, still porn stuff.
Even horror porn stuff like you do, but...
they go for more serialized dramas, you know?
we talked about this, kiddo.
These guys, they want to connect with the lead character,
watch her go through an emotional journey
before they jerk off.
Well--
Whatever, never mind the old stuff.
I-- I'm working on a new comic, a plot and everything.
I'll bring it by when it's ready.
Yeah. I really can't, Mouse.
People expect quality from me.
A-- all right, show it to me when you're finished,
but I can't promise anything, okay?
Yeah. Yeah.
Sorry about your comics, Mouse.
It's all right, Ugs.
I just got to find my voice, is all.
Is this it?
Yeah, being a dancer doesn't exactly pay.
You do okay.
I'm a better dancer.
What you think?
Fuck.
That's funny.
It looks like one of your drawings.
That's cause it is.
Miss?
I mean, what the fuck is she thinking?
-Why didn't she come to us? -Can't dance if you're using.
Mama would have lost it if she found out.
That I wouldn't have put Doe in a sharing mood.
Fuck, I hope she's all right.
We don't even have a clue where to start looking?
Well, that not true.
And I have one idea.
I'm pretty sure she was buying from Moony.
Wait, Moony? Your Moony?
I don't have a Moony.
If something's broken, I throw it out.
Still, you think he's the kind of guy
who would snatch her over some unresolved drug thing?
What the fuck would I know what he'd do?
♪ When you say nothing, you can mean so much ♪
♪ And I hear you speak through your touch ♪
♪ You make me feel so elated ♪
♪ You're so cute I get frustrated ♪
Sweets, what's that stuff over there?
He's been here long, hasn't ordered fucking anything.
He's here to look at the girls, I guess.
If he isn't paying, then get him out.
You got it, Mouse.
♪ Listening to the songs that remind me of the days ♪
♪ That we had together before you went away ♪
Creep.
Moony being involved didn't do anything
to help calm my feelings of dread.
He was bad news.
He and I were bad news.
And if he so much as plucked a hair
from Doe's pretty head...
I was going to castrate that motherfucker.
Well, all we know is Doe Eyes is smoking glass now,
which just makes her stupid, not dead.
Cops have seen too many junkies go missing
to care about another one.
Plus, I can't imagine Moony will appreciate us
bringing him into this.
I think she's in trouble.
The place had been turned over pretty good.
Yeah.
You're right.
Fuck me, the amount of times that girl--
Oh, right. Jesus.
All right, look, Mousey,
I know you're going to go see Moony
whether I think it's a good idea or not.
Fine, follow the drugs, see where they lead you,
but keep Moony at a safe distance, okay?
Take the van. It'll help you get around faster.
I'm not taking no for an answer, Mouse.
Find her. Bring her back.
We'll get her cleaned up,
tie her to the fucking radiator if I have to.
It won't be the first time I've done it.
Hey, Ugly.
Take care of her, will you?
I don't need taking care of.
Oh, honey, you're a tough nail.
Most hammers would break trying to keep you down.
You're a damn idiot
if you think you don't need any help.
Can't build a house with one tough nail.
All right, fuck off, ladies.
It's all fucking.
You know, these fucking white hedge fund motherfuckers
don't really give a shit about race or gender
or orientation.
If a black trans queer person showed up on Wall Street
with $500 million to invest,
do you think they'd get fucking turned down?
No, it's about money, man.
Whatever serves capitalism best.
No, I've never really looked at it like that.
Kelly, go the fuck home. You're drunk.
-Mm. -See these assholes in power?
They pit all of us people against each other,
and then, they fucking laugh at us
while they get rich.
Fuck's sake.
Why can't people just be nice?
No, but it's not enough to just be nice, right?
You have to actively fight against what's not nice.
Mouse, you gonna stick around for a drink?
I'd love to, but not tonight.
What did Mama say?
To stay safe.
That sounds like good advice.
I love you, Mousey.
Good night.
Does that make sense?
I mean, like, you know.
I guess, if I was a Marxist scholar,
-I think-- -Oh, fuck off.
So, what do you think?
I think we talk with Moony tomorrow,
and find out the last time he saw Doe.
You think that's going to be okay?
-Not trying to be nosy, Mouse. -Then don't.
Sorry, Ugly.
It's just been a weird couple of days.
I should go.
You gonna take the van or should I?
I'll walk.
It's nice out.
So, when do we meet up tomorrow?
It was a full pack of cigarettes sort of night.
I don't know what possessed me.
Who knows what possesses mad, compulsive people
to perform mad, compulsive acts?
I couldn't shake that feeling from this morning.
Some self-destructive part of me
was pulling me to dark, familiar streets.
Into dark, familiar corners.
To dark, familiar moons.
What are you doing here, Door Mouse?
Don't fucking judge me.
No comic, no coffee.
No cigarette.
This is not how I like to start my day.
He looked less handsome
than he did in the doorway the night before.
As of the daylight didn't agree with him.
Like a werewolf or a vampire.
Or a coked up piece of shit.
You're gonna need to get out.
You think I'm just here to fuck?
Okay.
I'll bite.
Why are you here?
A girl named Doe Eyes.
You know her?
Maybe.
She's missing.
I know you were dealing to her.
So, when was the last time you saw her?
I dealt to her, I don't know...
about a week ago?
And you haven't seen her since?
No.
How long had she been buying off you?
About a month.
Started getting bad the last few weeks.
She had to sell her stuff off just to buy from me.
You're looking down deep wells,
little Door Mouse.
Asking dangerous questions.
I'll tell you what. Um, I'll keep an eye open,
and uh, if I hear anything, I'll call.
Don't use my art for this shit.
♪ Who's got when you're all alone ♪
♪ You've got nobody to walk you home ♪
Where've you been?
I went to see Moony.
This morning?
Last night.
You shouldn't have done that, Mouse.
He could have hurt you.
Did he hurt you?
Not more than I let him.
I'll never understand you.
You're probably right about that.
You're going to get yourself hurt.
Like, not in a fun way. Actually hurt.
This whole "willfully pursuing chaos" thing
doesn't end well.
You might not care, but I--
-I worry. -I know you do, Ugly.
Don't.
What did you find out about Doe Eyes?
He was dealing to her,
but he hasn't seen her in a week, so...
back to square one.
You know, that doesn't mean
he didn't have anything to do with it.
My shift at the bar starts in an hour.
You're coming?
Sirens.
Red and blue lights.
Most people see the cops and feel safe,
but not around here.
Around here, they mean something altogether different.
Canaries in the mine shaft of misery.
Eddie, what the fuck happened?
Oh, Mouse.
They snatched Riz.
I-- I went out into the alley to have a smoke,
and all of a sudden, this big, white limo pulls up,
and these two guys jump out, these-- these bald, big guys,
but they were wearing nice suits,
and then, they grabbed Riz, and you know Riz,
she's a tough girl, she starts to give back
and one of them hit her in the head,
and the other guy grabbed her,
and stuffed her in the back of the limo,
and then they--
they just took off, and it all happened so fast.
I'm sorry, Mouse, I couldn't do nothing.
Did you hear?
I'll get you a drink.
What did the cops say?
What they're always saying, file a missing persons,
wait by the phone, blah, blah, blah.
What did the guys in the limo look like?
Honestly, they were clean cut guys.
Not like the usual sort we get around here.
Mouse, I'm-- I'm so sorry.
You better go, Ugly.
I'm gonna be here for a while.
Hey, Mama, I'll get a water.
It was morning.
The kind normal people called morning.
TV sets across town were playing morning news shows
and the birds were chirping.
And by now...
I was used to the taste of the coffee.
I had spent all of last night
and most of the early morning on my comic, I guess.
I can't be sure.
When I get drunk, I draw
and it all gets a little bit hard to remember.
I needed an outlet. I knew that.
A way to try and put the pieces together.
Makes sense of it.
Mouse, this is really good.
Where did you come up with this stuff?
I just wrote how I felt.
Well, you must have felt pretty fucked up.
Yeah.
Are you fucking serious?
I saw him talking to a guy in a limo.
Yeah, I'm sure he deals with all kind of people
who ride in limos, Mouse.
-He's a drug dealer, remember? -Yeah, maybe.
Or maybe these limo guys are working for Moony.
I don't get this.
Why not laminate this,
if you're going to use such shitty paper?
What is this? 80 pound text?
You go for 65 pound, or even 80 pound cover stock
and still put the menu on it?
You're a fucking nerd.
Paper is important.
What did you order?
Well, I got a wonton soup for you,
couple of spring rolls.
orange chicken and a Peking duck.
-Peking duck. -Mm-hmm.
That's expensive.
Yeah, I'll pay for it.
Did you go ahead and order it?
Yes, indeed.
You are so responsible.
You hate that, don't you?
Hate's a strong word,
responsibility just doesn't look good on me.
I don't know, you might want to try it out.
You know, just for kicks.
What about that guy I saw at the bar?
-What guy? -There was a guy in a suit
throwing a ton of money around.
Maybe he works for Moony.
Maybe Moony's changed his business.
Dealing wasn't enough, so he's gotten into girls, too.
Sent his suit guy to take a look around.
Well, if he's getting into girls,
he's probably moving in on someone else's territory,
Someone who I'd imagine isn't too happy about it.
-Craw Daddy. -Craw Daddy.
I guess that was a matter of opinion.
Craw Daddy was a slimy son of a bitch
if there ever was one.
Everyone knew him.
He'd run girls in and out of the slums
on our side of town for the last decade,
where lost girls go to bottom out.
And who are you,
if you don't mind me asking, sweetie?
My name's Mouse.
Are you looking for work?
We just came here to talk.
That's it.
Suit yourself.
They all come around eventually.
Step into my office.
How's business?
You two are cute.
Business is good. Why do you ask?
Just curious.
I heard it was full.
I heard Moony's getting into the game.
Moony?
That son of a bitch couldn't pimp
a 12-year-old boy to a pedophile.
No, I'm the only show this side of town.
We're here because we wanted to see
if you had any girl snatched.
Some.
Part of the trade. Why?
We had two girls go missing from Mama's in the past week.
One got snatched from her home and the other got grabbed
out of an alley by guys in suits and thrown into a limo.
Sounds like they're dead to me.
What do these girls look like?
Never seen them.
Ever?
These are dangerous questions you're asking, Mouse.
Keep it down, you fucking bitch!
Sorry about that.
Here's my advice.
You don't want to crash into anyone,
stay in your lane.
These body snatchers you're talking about?
I let 'em play in my sandbox, so I leave them alone.
So, you do know who they are.
They're ripping girls off the street.
I know that doesn't exactly pluck at your heartstrings,
but think of it this way.
Girls like Doe Eyes, already smoking glass,
on her way out of dancing.
That's usually your bread and butter.
Like you said.
They all come around eventually.
These guys are snatching girls off the street.
Girls that would have been yours eventually.
Where does that leave you?
Nice speech.
You know your audience, Mouse.
So...
maybe I know something.
Something has a price. Something always does.
Go on. Take a look.
Pretty nasty, huh?
Guy in that photo is Judge Andrew Taylor
and the girl underneath him ain't exactly his wife
and she ain't exactly of age.
What I need you two to do is take these photos
and go squeeze that judge a little.
Let him know I have copies.
Give him this number to call.
Why don't you do it yourself?
Well, he's a judge.
So, if this thing blows up in my face,
I'd rather you two go to prison.
I get the call...
I give you the name.
Simple.
You know, you seem like a real piece of shit.
That's because I am, sweetie.
Now what?
How are we gonna find out where this judge lives?
What?
Everyone's running from something.
And it turned out,
Ugly was running from a trust fund
and parents who never loved him.
His dad was a lawyer for white collar criminals
and saw a lot of the judge we were trying to blackmail.
So, he reluctantly told them we were coming over for brunch,
or whatever rich people do.
I can't believe you're a rich kid.
-Shut up. Can you not? -This whole time.
Ryan.
Your father's gone off again.
He says it's work, but who knows?
Sit.
Oh, your shoes.
- You look well. - Don't lie.
Doesn't suit you. Why are you here?
I just thought I'd pop by. Catch up.
Your father thinks you might be on drugs.
You're not on drugs, are you?
- No. - Is she pregnant?
If she is, we're not giving you any money for it.
No, Cynthia.
I just thought I'd pop by.
Catch up.
You know you have some nerve asking to come back here.
You were always so ungrateful
for everything that we provided for you.
You kicked me out if you remember.
Oh, it's typical.
He's always the victim.
Why are you here?
To make me feel like I'm a bad mother?
Well, I don't.
You're a bad egg.
And that's the end of it.
You know, you were lucky that we picked you.
Do you know how many babies that we looked--
Can I use the bathroom?
What the hell are you doing?
-Drop it. -Okay.
No, I-- I don't mean drop it.
I mean put it down.
Ryan, you tell this whore to stop it,
or I'm going to call the police.
Oh!
I'm calling the police.
I'm gonna put you in jail where you belong.
Yes, hello.
There are two intruders in my house.
Yes, I'm at 1775--
Crescent. Come quickly.
Don't eye the furniture.
Ryan. Don't you dare! Stop it!
You disgusting low lifes!
Homeless people!
You little shitheads.
- Did you get it? - Yeah.
♪ You're such a bitch, you're such a bitch ♪
So, your mom's the fucking worst.
Yeah.
I know.
You never talked about your parents.
I just assumed they were fucked up,
which, I mean, obviously they are.
But I thought they were poor people fucked up, you know?
I didn't realize they were rich people fucked up.
Why didn't you tell me about them?
I don't know.
You sort of hate people with money.
Well, yeah, still do, it turns out.
I didn't want you thinking I was some
scum-sucking silver spoon kid.
Right.
So, why aren't you?
Huh?
Why aren't you a scum-sucking silver spoon, kid?
I just couldn't do it.
I couldn't play along with it all.
Being left with the nannies and the bribes,
to get into the right schools and I'm happier.
I'm much happier.
Sleep better at night knowing that I made my own decision,
that I chose my own life
and trust me, it's hard, but...
doing that was-- was much harder.
Sometimes, you gotta take a tough role.
Do what's right, you know.
You guys do quick work.
So.
Something for something.
I know this hotel on the West side,
the fancy, old place.
They call it the Sophia Hotel.
They have sex parties over there.
Dark stuff.
The clientele are all high-end.
Foreign businessmen, heads of state.
I've heard they snatched girls off the streets.
Girls that no one will miss.
You got a name for me?
It's not a name you say out loud, you know, but...
The Dame.
The hotel Craw Daddy gave us
was as old as the city itself.
A place where the rich and powerful went
to plan how to fuck over people like us.
The daytime was pretty quiet.
The rich attended charity fundraisers
for the latest earthquake,
or scholarship programs for urban minorities.
But at night, the mood changed.
It was that feeling of dread and foreboding omens,
like they were gathered here for some purpose.
Like they had some dark secret in common.
Whoever The Dame was...
she was deep into something sinister.
Hey, what about him?
Didn't we see that guy?
The tanned guy?
No.
Same car, different guy.
Hey, how do you think the world's gonna end?
Hm?
Like, how do you think it's gonna go down?
Probably run out of resources.
-Too many people, right? -Right.
And I was thinking the only way to curb that,
would be to, like, get rid of a fuckton of people.
Like, six billion people, that the one billion left
had a bunch of resources to split amongst themselves.
Some kind of military state
decides who gets food and who doesn't.
Who lives and who dies.
That's a bit of a pessimistic view,
but yeah, I mean, I guess.
Yeah, what I'm saying is,
if that's what it takes to save humanity,
why the fuck would we want to save it?
Let us fucking burn out.
I don't want to live in that world.
What do you mean?
Think about it.
Everyone around you will have signed off on this
"kill most of the people on the planet" plan.
It's not the kind of company I want to keep.
I'd rather die with the sheep, than eat sheep with the wolves.
I don't think the world is that organized, Mouse.
There isn't some secret global conspiracy.
I think most people wander aimlessly through life,
making moment to moment decisions
that end up being the totality of our person.
Good or evil, without us even being aware.
Most people aren't like you, Mouse.
Most people suck, Ugly.
It's not hard to beat that.
Bitching about the wolves of the world
wasn't going to help us any.
So, we decided to tell Moony.
I wasn't convinced that he didn't have something
to do with this.
He was the glue in some way.
Also, I still had to work at Mama's.
Fuck.
100 pound matte cover stock in cream.
Nice card.
I also keep an eye out for the man in the suit
when I worked the night shift.
If we got lucky, he'd be stupid enough
to come back here.
One night...
we got lucky.
Sweets. Sweets.
Stop. Not now.
Sweets.
Get out of here. Fucking out of here.
Fuck!
What the hell were you doing
taking off after that guy?
I thought there could be a connection.
To Doe Eyes and Riz? Was there?
Well, he ran. It's gotta mean something.
How deep into this are you, Mousey?
Whoever these people are,
they're working out of the Sophia Hotel.
The whole thing is run by someone called The Dame.
Oh, geez, Mousey, I don't know.
You gotta be careful.
These guys, they sound like serious people.
Don't give them a reason.
You're poking your nose in dangerous places.
Asking dangerous questions.
We're family, okay? We stick together.
But, baby, you picking at this
could create more problems for us than it solves.
Yeah, but if I don't do it, who's going to?
I was just like you when I was younger.
I wanted to save everyone.
Hell, that's why I bought this bar.
I wanted this to be a place where girls could come
and be whatever the fuck they wanted to be.
You know, feel safe.
You could tie someone up, get naked, hit shit, get hit.
So long as everyone involved was okay with it, it was cool.
Do you know what I found out?
World's full of monsters
and most people don't want to be saved.
How're your comics going?
Haven't sold a single copy.
Oh, Mousey, baby. Don't give up. No. Don't stop.
Trust me, you want out of this place.
You're too damn smart and too damn talented
not to make something of yourself.
You can only crawl on the ground so long
before the dirt starts sticking to you.
We decided since Ugly was the silver spoon kid,
he would go into the Sophia and scope it out.
♪ But dreaming all along ♪
♪ How would I know ♪
♪ That dreams are meant ♪
♪ For two ♪
What can I get you?
Water, please.
It's not much of a drink, for a man at this hour.
Guess I'm not much of a man.
Quick.
Are you staying at the hotel?
I'm visiting a friend.
Hm.
Quite the party, this place, hm?
Not down here.
It's quite slow, actually.
But I'm not here for the hotel bar.
True right, my boy.
True right.
And here we sit.
Until we don't.
Have to get the process started chemically these days.
I'm not as virile as I used to be.
Well, you wouldn't have that problem, would you?
Young boy like you.
I bet you're a real stud, aren't you?
When this stud gets himself a real drink...
put it on my tab.
Very good, Sir.
I look forward to seeing you up there.
For the real show.
Excuse me, Sir.
Can I be of assistance?
-No, I'm okay. -Are you a guest here, Sir?
I'm waiting for a friend.
Huh.
Then perhaps Sir can wait outside for his friend.
We can't have people waiting in the lobby.
It's a fire hazard.
The guy was so drunk he did everything
but tell me what was going on upstairs
and only way of getting up to the top floor
is if you're an invited guest or you get snatched.
No.
I can take care of myself.
We have no idea what they would do to you, Mouse.
Doe and Riz are already missing.
If we don't do something, more of us are gonna disappear.
Ug, we're the only people that give a shit about them.
Let's talk to Craw Daddy.
He seems to know the most about these people.
It's a bad idea.
You're rolling the dice too hard, Mouse.
Mouse, where you been?
Around.
Your comic, the first issue sold huge.
Really?
Yeah, I couldn't keep it in the store.
I think you could get it made into a real comic.
Your take.
Thanks, Dirt.
You've got to give me more.
My customers want to know what comes next.
Yeah, yeah, I could, um-- I could work on it.
Problem was, I didn't know what happened next.
Getting snatched was a bad idea.
But we were short on good ones.
You gotta understand
how these people work.
They don't just steal any old gal off the street,
they do their research.
What do you mean?
They inquire.
You go through the proper channels
so these girls don't get missed.
The only reason I know about these guys
is because one of them came poking around
after one of my girls.
They asked and you said no.
She was a good worker.
Also, I'd be fucked if I let him cut into my business,
so I told him to fuck off
and they haven't bothered me since.
These people are careful.
So even if I said yes to doing this thing...
I'm not sure they'd believe I changed my mind.
There's a better way, Mouse.
Mouse.
Listen to your friend.
They were right, of course,
but camping outside the hotel hadn't helped us
and we had to get up there
where those girls didn't have a shot.
Maybe it was the coffee again
or maybe I was just getting paranoid,
but something dark
and terrible in the back of my mind told me
we might already be too late.
Eddie.
Wow, wow, wow, slow down, Ed.
Dread.
What happened?
Foreboding omens.
Jesus Christ, when?
Bad coffee.
They found Riz.
The sirens again.
It was like this moment had already happened.
From the day she went missing, I knew I'd be standing here,
bathed in red and blue lights, looking over her body.
-What happened? -What is it look like?
That's that guy Kelly's car.
One who was always lurking around Riz.
He didn't do this.
How are you so sure?
He's just the fall guy.
They're getting rid of evidence.
I swear, I didn't do it.
Who told you she was in my trunk, huh?
Who made that call?
Where's Mama?
Maybe we should go by the club,
see if she's there.
Mouse?
I could use a drink.
Mama's at the morgue.
Said she won't be coming in tonight.
Riz used to play this record for me all the time.
-Thanks, Sweets. -Yep.
To Riz.
Oh, he doesn't drink.
I will for her.
Oh, shit, I got to go. I got the kid.
You gonna be okay, Mousey?
Okay, I'll drive you.
All right, thanks, Sweets.
Ugly, you can lock up, right?
Sure.
Riz was dead.
There was nothing me, Ugly or anyone in the fucking world
could do about that.
Was Doe Eye still alive? I didn't know.
But I had to get up to that hotel.
For myself, for Riz.
We gotta get 'em, Ugs.
I don't know, Mouse.
The world is a fucked up place.
Every person on this planet, all of us are born to die.
But not like that.
Not fucking like that.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa.
It's okay.
Just hold on to me.
♪ Oh baby ♪
♪ Never gonna back up and walk out on us ♪
Now, I knew what happened next in this story.
And I hated it.
When people like us show up dead,
no one bats an eyelash.
No one sheds a tear.
But I did.
You okay, Mouse?
I guess.
Hey, about last night, I just wanted to say I'm sorry.
Why?
Well, we were all feeling fucked up about Riz,
and you were drunk
and I had a shot, which I never do, and I...
Ugly, what the fuck are you talking about?
I'm sorry I kissed you.
You don't remember, do you?
No.
Look, it's fine.
Things happen when you're drunk, right?
That's why you should stick to water.
Right.
So...
are we square?
Yeah. Yeah.
So... what now?
We call Craw Daddy.
I keep the money.
All you have to do is make the deal.
You know what you're
getting yourself into, right?
Last night they found Riz's body
stuffed into the trunk of the car.
I am fully aware of what they're capable of.
Let me think about this.
No promises.
Like I said, might not believe I've changed my mind.
Uh-huh.
You know...
I think I was wrong about you.
Probably.
I don't think I'll be seeing you
in my line of work anytime soon.
It took a few days.
But finally he called.
No dice, Mouse.
They don't want to do business with me.
Sorry.
And that was it.
We had no way to get up to the hotel.
No way to get Doe Eyes.
I walked the streets at night looking for another way in.
Looking for some whisper.
Maybe some rich kid would pick me up,
take me to some secret party he was going to.
But nothing came.
Sometimes with your back against the wall,
you try a risky play.
Sometimes, the risky play works.
How did you get here?
I-- I don't remember.
They told me my parents--
My parents, they sold me.
They-- they wouldn't do that.
Who sold you?
Doe. Doe Eyes.
Doe.
Ladies and gentlemen.
We are pleased to present to you this evening,
the first four.
Doe.
Doe Eyes.
Mousey?
What's your room number?
What?
What is your room number?
Three.
310.
You lost Doe Eyes.
You were supposed to buy both of us.
I got outbid.
I had to choose.
And you chose me.
Yes.
I wasn't going up there without a fucking plan.
But I'd made a deal with the devil.
A drug dealer who was selling his shit to swine.
Sex drugs to rich and powerful monsters.
He was as bad as them.
But better the devil you know.
You should have chose her.
I can take care of myself.
Right.
The big girl lied again.
Don't need anyone's help.
I don't know why I offered.
Me neither.
You don't care about Doe Eyes or any of these people.
That's probably true.
But...
I do care about you.
Door Mouse.
You're a bad person, Moony.
And you caring about me...
doesn't change that.
And don't call me Door Mouse.
She's just back here.
Wait.
I've always thought you were the thing that saved me.
You turned the light on.
Kept me fully out of the dark.
Well...
take me doing this is my way of...
giving back a little.
Saving myself.
Whatever helps you sleep.
She was shaky, but she was coming around.
Living in the service of true and real monsters
must have left some sort of imprint, scars.
Things she'll have to deal with sooner or later.
Start with what you can remember.
I was supposed to go to work that night, but I--
Oh, please don't get mad at me, Mouse.
But I was sick because I had a bad night.
I know we're supposed to be clean
if we wanna work here, Mousey,
but I started using
just so I could keep my energy up, you know?
For the dancing.
Anyway, I--
I was home
and I get a knock at the door which...
surprised me because I never get a knock at the door.
And the rest gets a little fuzzy,
but I remember putting up a fight.
What about the people who...
What about the people who were there?
They're real
powerful people.
You could hear them talk about murders
and laws being passed.
But they're the ones who are meant to protect us, you know?
Watch out for us.
They're monsters in skinsuits, Mousey.
When did Riz show up?
A few days after me.
She was stronger than me, you know.
Not that it did her any good.
Fought back.
Some of them liked it.
That I'm made for good sport.
She got bought by some bad men.
What are we gonna do now?
You listen to me.
You need to get out of here and you can't come back. Ever.
These people don't do loose ends.
They will track you down and balance their check book.
Do you understand what I'm telling you?
Ugly, meet me at my place in a few hours, okay?
What are you gonna do?
You can't stay here either.
I know.
But I can't leave just yet.
I should be leaving.
I shouldn't even be at my fucking place.
I should be running like hell, but I'm not.
We got Doe Eyes back,
but I still had that feeling of dread.
It wasn't enough. There were more of them.
The others.
There would always be more of them.
Mama was right.
I don't think I can save them all.
I find myself back at the same spot,
drawing, writing...
...trying to figure it all out in my head.
I had to make a record of what these monsters were doing.
I had to get it all down.
Coming.
- I love you. - [door slamming
Hello.
You only wanted a nibble,
but it looks like you got the whole wheel of cheese,
didn't you, little Door Mouse?
No one calls me Door Mouse.
Really?
He did.
Poor guy.
I guess that's the danger
that comes with the company you keep.
Indeed.
I brought you here to talk.
And to let you know that you will not
bring down my organization.
It is stone hard statistical fact.
We win.
We are in far too deep.
We have our hands in many, many pockets.
We are safe.
That being said,
I will concede that letting you escape with Doe Eyes
was an unforeseen mishap in regards to whom I trust.
As you can see by this corpse between us...
that mishap has been rectified.
And now we should talk about how to move forward.
Because, and this may come as a shock...
I hold no intentions of killing you.
Oh, yeah?
Should I be grateful?
Yes.
Yes, you should.
On this table is an envelope.
In it you will find two tickets for you and your friend, Ugly.
It will send you far away from here.
Can I ask why I get the pleasure of walking away from this one?
It wasn't afforded to my friend Riz.
That is an understandable question.
I think I won't kill you because
in many ways, we are very much alike.
Oh.
You don't think so?
Time...
is an incredibly powerful thing.
There was a time where I was like you.
I believed there was a system of ethics
in place in the world.
A scale by which all people are weighed.
Time changes that.
I grew to understand the true nature of people.
There are no good or bad people.
The concept of a structured moral ideology
serves only to make you more vulnerable to the real truth.
Which is that there are only predators or prey.
And in a stratified society,
the only logical position to take
to ensure your own survival...
is to become a predator.
You don't understand that now,
but in time, I think you might.
And when that time comes...
you should call me.
The system is always looking for talented young people.
Additionally, I am sure you will not be coming back for me.
Because if you did...
I would peel the skin off your friend Ugly's skull
and make you watch.
But I really hope it doesn't come to that.
I don't think it will.
You're a smart girl.
And smart girls know
when they are being given an opportunity.
Think of this as an opportunity
to rise above your station.
Make something of yourself.
You can only crawl on the ground for so long
before the dirt starts sticking to you.
Who sold you Riz and Doe Eyes?
I think you know the answer to that question.
Fuck.
Where the fuck have you been?
Everyone get the fuck out.
Hello, Mama.
You have to answer for what you did.
For Doe Eyes.
For Riz.
The Dame sold you out.
Just like you sold out them.
Sold them into slavery.
Why?
Sweetie.
You-- you wouldn't understand.
Don't.
The bar was going under, Mouse.
Had been-- been losing money for years.
Honestly, it never made any money.
Doe Eyes.
A teen girl's going down that path before, it was--
It was only a matter of time before
she was out on the streets selling her body.
So you sold it for her?
I told you you wouldn't understand.
It was either give them Doe Eyes,
or shut the bar down and...
turn all you girls out onto the streets.
Watch the world devour you.
I--
I made the--
I made the tough call.
Right.
The tough call.
And Riz?
What about Riz?
Riz wasn't my choice.
They pressured me.
But you got paid.
You took the money, right?
Yes.
And she died.
Yes.
You killed her.
I want you to say it.
I wanna hear you say it.
I--
I killed her.
They're all scum.
Craw Daddy. Moony, The Dame, all of them, scum.
But you know what makes you worse than them?
They never once pretended to be otherwise.
You pretended to be our mother.
Our protector.
And you gave those girls up to monsters?
You let Riz die.
In a dark corner.
At the bottom of the world.
- And now you have to answer. - Wait.
Get out of here, Mousey.
Make something of yourself.
I love you.
This was my last performance on that stage.
It was as if the world started spinning backwards
to slow down time,
because the world is just and kind sometimes.
It slowed, as Mama reflected on
how she had spent her time on this Earth.
The good she had done,
the days she had wasted and the people she had betrayed.
And in her final moment, she thought of Riz and Doe Eyes.
You all right, Mouse?
Yeah.
I'm fine, Ugly.
The Dame expects us to be on a train tonight
or she'll have people come after us.
After you.
I'm sorry that I dragged you into this, Ugly.
It wasn't right.
I need you to get on the train tonight.
Get out of town.
Be safe.
Without you?
Yeah.
Fuck you, Mouse.
You ever think for one second I got myself into this?
And I don't wanna leave?
That I will stay here with you no matter what.
No, you didn't.
Because at the end of the day,
you just don't want to feel bad if you get me hurt.
Keep yourself bulletproof.
Well, that's too fucking bad.
I'm staying.
Or you're coming with me, but...
I'm not leaving you.
You remember when I said you were a stand up guy?
That it was what I liked about you the least?
Yeah.
I lied.
I'll meet you at the train.
And-- and we'll go.
I know you.
If you leave right now without knowing
that you did all you could, you'll regret it.
I don't want you to do something you regret.
You have to be able to live with it.
I'll meet you there at midnight.
♪ All this that is more than a wish is a memory ♪
♪ All this that it he ceases to be ♪
♪ All is revealed ♪
♪ The obvious door opens nothing ♪
♪ Nothing ♪
♪ Nothing left ♪
♪ To chance ♪
♪ When you try to see, we'll watch you ♪
♪ When you try to leave, we'll keep you ♪
♪ When you should be dreaming, we'll wake you♪
♪ But don't scream ♪
♪ We'll make you swallow your words ♪
That the rest of it?
I got your last issue and it sold out in an hour.
People want to know more about these missing girls
and who The Dame is.
Thanks for believing in me, Dirt.
♪ How ending starts ♪
I had found my ending.
I wouldn't end up getting on the train
with Ugly that night.
I would end up breaking my promise.
The dread was too heavy.
And Ugly was right. It had to sit right with me.
There's no place a train could take me
that was far enough away to forget what I had seen.
That monsters are real, and they walk among us.
The Dame was arrogant enough to let me go.
Arrogance is always the downfall of the rich and the powerful.
It blinds them.
They never see us coming.
There are some evils in the world
that just need endings.
And there's some feelings you just can't shake.
Maybe tomorrow morning, normal people all over the city
will awake from fearful dreams.
Fears that will fade as they start their day.
Perhaps without dread.
Foreboding omens.
Or bad coffee.
I'd rather die with the sheep than eat sheep with the wolves.
♪ Big mouth ♪
♪ You've got a really big mouth ♪
♪ Fucked up and let your friends down ♪
♪ We're all tired of your big mouth ♪
♪ Big mouth ♪
♪ You've got a really big mouth ♪
♪ Fucked up and let your friends down ♪
♪ We're all tired of your big mouth ♪
♪ Drunk again ♪
♪ You think we care about what happened? ♪
♪ Shit about feeling abandoned ♪
♪ It's time to leave, let me go ♪
♪ Big mouth ♪
♪ You've got a really big mouth ♪
♪ Fucked up and let your friends down ♪
♪ We're all tired of your big mouth ♪
♪ Big mouth ♪
♪ You've got a really big mouth ♪
♪ Fucked up and let your friends down ♪
♪ We're all tired of your big mouth ♪
♪ Big mouth ♪
♪ You've got a really big mouth ♪
♪ Big mouth ♪
♪ You've got a really big mouth ♪
♪ Tell it again ♪
♪ Big mouth ♪
♪ Bigger this time ♪
♪ Big mouth ♪
♪ Louder ♪
♪ With feeling ♪
♪ Big mouth ♪