[AUDIO LOGO]
[ELEPHANT TRUMPETING]
[TRAIN RATTLING]
[SIGHS]
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
[CAT MEOWS]
[KISSING]
[BESSIE SMITH, "A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND"]
(SINGING) My heart is sad
And I'm all alone
My man treats me mean
I regret the day that I was born
And that man I ever see
My happiness is less today
OPERATOR: Hello.
No one is available to take your call.
Please leave a message after the tone.
[BEEP]
Hey, Mommy.
It's Benjamin.
Just calling to make sure that you got the money
that I sent you yesterday.
Just give me a call back to let me know.
Love you.
Tell Daddy I say hi.
Bye.
[SIGHS]
[PLAYS SAXOPHONE]
[SIGHS]
[PLAYS SAXOPHONE]
Now repeat after me.
[PLAYS SAXOPHONE]
[PLAYING SAXOPHONE]
[CLAPS] I'm so proud of you guys.
High five.
Oh, come on.
We can do a better high five.
Ow.
[LAUGHS] Let's try it one more time.
[GAMES BEEPING]
CUSTOMER: I always forget what you charge.
It's $50 per hour, right?
Thank you so much.
- Same time next week? - It's perfect.
Awesome. Thank you.
CUSTOMER: All right, kids. Say bye to Benjamin.
Bye, guys.
Bye, Benjamin.
[GROANS]
[DOG BARKING]
[SIREN BLARING]
[DING]
[POP MUSIC] I think about you more than you think about me
And you go
BENJAMIN (VOICEOVER): Listen, I don't know.
This situation with Malcolm, he's so different from me
and we're such different-- we're in such different paths,
different lifestyles, different circles, different everything.
It's kind of refreshing.
You haven't even had sex with him yet
and you've somehow managed to catch feelings, so.
[POP MUSIC]
I do know.
I like him.
[LAUGHS]
No, I do.
So how-- like, how long have you been not having--
Waiting.
--sex with each other now?
It's been three weeks now.
Wow.
Three weeks.
That is-- that is seriously impressive.
I just hope this Malcolm deserves you.
Yeah, I guess we'll see.
ARIEL: I know.
I-- I just-- I think it's important to get
the sex over with, you know.
Once you-- well, no.
But, like, once you've got that done,
the feelings and everything can come afterwards.
And how's that working out for you?
Listen, this is why you're single.
[LAUGHS]
BENJAMIN: There's something about this guy, you know.
He's just got a different vibe.
You know what I mean?
He's very different from--
very different from-- from--
from Oscar.
Speaking of Oscar, though, are you coming to his costume thing
he's doing tonight?
[SIGHS] I think it's--
I think there's a lot, you know.
I feel like I'm still sort of working
through a lot of what happened and a lot
of how things went down.
He definitely hurt me, you know.
And he definitely put me through a lot.
I don't know if I'm ready to be in his space like that,
you know.
So what are you doing tonight then?
So tonight, Malcolm is coming over
and I'm going to cook some pasta.
So is tonight the night you guys finally?
Yeah.
Yeah?
Yeah, I mean, we'll see.
We'll see.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
Are you watching me eat?
No.
I'm not watching you eat.
Mm.
[CHUCKLES]
It's great wine too.
Yeah, it was $13.
It was on sale.
Wow, you made me feel so special.
You are special.
[CHUCKLES]
It's a cute apartment.
I really like your paintings.
Did you make them yourself?
These are some, like, finger paintings that I did.
Nothing special, you know.
Just, I moved in about a year ago, actually.
And after my last tour ended, I started painting these.
Tour?
Wow, look at you.
Did you perform with somebody?
Yeah, I did.
Yeah, I used to perform with--
we were-- I was like--
[SIGHS] I was involved with someone, that we
were performing together.
And it was just kind of a weird--
yeah.
Well, what happened?
No, nothing.
Sorry, I don't know why I got so-- yeah,
we were together for a long time.
We lived together.
We were touring together.
We were dating, you know.
And we had a really good relationship, you know.
And then just in the span of one week, everything changed.
Like, he cheated on me.
I moved out.
The tour ended.
No, it's all good.
It's not-- yeah, it's-- it's actually
good because I'm playing the saxophone again, which is good.
I played the saxophone in high school.
And then I stopped before I met my ex.
And then after we broke up, I picked it up again.
Yeah, just living the dream.
Yeah?
How's that going for you?
It's going.
It's still living.
[CHUCKLES] Good.
Good.
Anyways, I talk a lot about myself.
I-- I talk way too much.
No.
No, no, no, no.
I-- I like listening to you.
Do you?
Yeah.
What are you thinking about?
I'll show you.
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
Wait.
It's just, you know, I want to take things slow.
Yeah, no, that's cool.
That's cool.
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
[POP MUSIC]
[CHATTER]
[BURPS]
Can I have a drag?
Everything OK, Benjy?
Don't call me that.
Everything OK, Benjamin?
You seeing someone or?
No, are you?
I actually am.
Benjamin, this is my boyfriend Ed.
Ed, this is Benjamin.
Hi, Ed.
Oscar's told me so much about you, Benjamin.
Has he?
You ever need anything, you just hit me up, OK?
[POP MUSIC]
Guys, I cooked pasta.
I don't think you guys get how big of a deal
that is because I never cook.
[CHATTER]
Vodka.
Literally every person that I date is just like, fuck off.
Well, you do have poor taste in men.
[LAUGHTER]
You ready for Sunday?
Are you ready for Sunday?
Yeah, bitch, I've been practicing.
I've been practicing the-- what, are you ready?
[SIGHS] So I'm ready, but I started
rewriting a few parts of it.
How much rewriting?
No.
[LAUGHS] We have, like, how many days?
BENJAMIN (VOICEOVER): Just the whole song, nothing--
LOLA: [LAUGHS]
Can you send it to me, like email me the chord
progression, something?
Yeah.
[POP MUSIC]
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
Hey.
Hey, stop walking.
Hey, slow down.
Hello?
Come on.
Do I know you?
Not yet.
Rough day?
I'm not making you nervous, am I?
No.
[SIREN BLARING]
[VOCALIZING]
I'm-- I'm too drunk.
Shut the fuck up.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[GROANING]
[PUNCH]
[HIGH PITCHED RINGING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[COUGHS]
[GROANING]
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
[SIGHS]
[CELL PHONE VIBRATING]
[SQUEAKING]
[CELL PHONE VIBRATING]
[KNOCKING]
Hey, bitch.
You fucking disappeared last night.
I've been calling you all morning.
What's wrong?
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
What the fuck?
Was it-- is it somebody from the party?
[SIGHS]
Talk to me.
Come on.
[CRIES] [SIGHS] [BREATHES HEAVILY]
I don't want to ask you this, but did he use a condom?
[CRIES]
Did you go to the ER?
[CRIES] No.
It all happened so fast.
[CRIES]
Benjamin, when's the last time you got tested?
I don't know.
[SIGHS]
We're going to have to go get you tested, OK?
I've got a friend, Carl, who works at the clinic.
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[SIGHS]
CARL: So, Benjamin, Ariel tells me
you're in today because you may have
had a possible exposure to HIV?
I'm sorry that that's happened.
Have you been to the ER yet?
That's something you're probably going to want to do as well
and get on PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis.
It's a drug very similar to the drugs
that I take to control my HIV that will allow you to sort
of stave off any infection with HIV
if there is HIV in your system, OK?
So that's definitely what I would recommend.
We're going to do the test.
If it's a single dot, it comes back negative.
If we see two dots, that's a positive.
Carl, we got it.
Just spill the blood, OK?
Got it.
All right, Benjamin, I just need your finger.
All right, now I'm going to take this lancet
and you're going to feel just a little finger prick.
Are you OK?
Are you ready for this?
There we go.
Doing great.
You're a good bleeder.
We just draw out a little bit of blood.
You're doing great, Benjamin.
All right, that's all I need.
Take this cotton swab and put some pressure on the area.
Almost done.
All right, negative.
[SIGHS]
Thanks, Carl.
How are you feeling?
Broke.
I feel broke, mentally, physically, financially.
Well, I mean, physically, you're fucking killing it.
That face.
Ooh.
[LAUGHS]
Do you want me to come to the ER with you?
No, it's OK.
Thank you.
Well, I am going to come by later and check on you.
So can you explain what happened?
Were you assaulted?
And was there penetration?
And I assume no condom?
Did you know this person?
Have you had an HIV test done recently?
This morning.
It was negative.
DOCTOR: That's great.
Given that it was negative, it doesn't rule out that you could
have contracted HIV last night.
You probably know it takes at least three weeks for HIV
to show up.
And it could take as long as three months.
So you'll have to get tested again in three months' time.
You know, we could call the police and have them come.
No, it's OK.
DOCTOR: And you can file a report.
I think that's OK.
DOCTOR: Here's the PEP.
We only have the starter packs here.
You'll have to go to the pharmacy
to get the remainder of the 28-day regimen.
Pills are likely to cause nausea.
So it's important to take it with food.
Here's your prescription.
Look, I don't want to add to your anxiety
because it's been a rough few hours for you.
But it's really important that you take that script
to the pharmacy, get it filled, and start
the PEP on a scheduled basis.
PEP works best to prevent HIV if you take it within 24
to 48 hours after the exposure.
And after 72 hours, it's not effective.
The pills take a few hours to start doing their job.
You can drink water, but no alcohol.
Avoid caffeine.
Avoid anything that would cause nausea.
Try to keep them down.
Don't throw up or you're back at square one.
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
[CELL PHONE VIBRATING]
Hi.
Can I help you?
Hi.
I'm here to fill a prescription, please.
Sure.
Can I see your health care?
Yes.
It's in here somewhere.
Thank you.
Can I see your prescription?
Thank you.
Hey, so you're looking at two pills here for the PEP regimen.
The first is a mix of tenofovir and emtricitabine.
And the second is raltegravir.
You need to take them together every day with food
so we can keep them down.
And you need to do this for 28 days.
How long has it been since the exposure?
Less than 24 hours.
But I actually got some of these at the hospital today.
They gave me a starter pack.
There were some of the pills you just mentioned,
just, like, one dose.
But I threw it up already.
That's OK.
Start taking them tonight with dinner
and try to keep on a regular schedule, all right?
OK.
So unfortunately, these medications here aren't
covered by the government plan.
Do you have a private health insurance
plan that can charge these two?
No.
PHARMACIST: You understand you will need
to pay for the medications here before I can
fill this prescription for you?
Yeah, yeah, how much are they?
I forgot to ask.
You're looking at--
you're looking at $919.57.
I'm sorry, did you say--
what did you say?
PHARMACIST: $919.57.
Will you be paying by cash or card?
I-- is there any way that I can just pay for half of it
and take half the prescription?
No, the-- the pills are prescribed together.
There are two separate pills, but they function together.
I understand that.
But if I were to take half-- if I were
to take one pill, whichever one, would that not be more
effective than not taking any?
Like, is that an option?
I don't understand what you're asking.
Because I can't afford $900.
But there's a window of time that I have to start
taking this medication, right?
Like, I think it's 24, or 48 hours, or whatever.
So if I don't take it, then if I am--
if I am exposed to HIV, if I don't take it within that period
of time, it's too late.
So I'm-- well, is there a way that I could
just fill the prescription and then
pay for them at a later date.
I believe there's a government program you can apply
to for medical assistance.
I think I have the number.
But how does that help right now when we have
such a short window of time?
So by the time I go through all of the stuff
with the government, like the red tape, the documents, filing,
like, it's the weekend even.
They're probably not open.
I'm sorry.
I can't help you.
But you can help me because this is the prescription
and you have the medication.
You-- like, they're-- I literally see them right there.
You've already filled the prescription.
So, like--
Sorry, I can't help you.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Well, no, I was hoping to get an increase on my credit
card limit, if possible.
No, I understand that.
I know that I'm a bit behind.
But I'm just curious if there's a way to increase
the limit so that I--
I understand that.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Hey, Chuck.
How's it going?
Yeah, good, good, good.
Just following up on those invoices
I sent you a few weeks ago.
No, I understand that.
But I just really need to get paid, you know.
The soonest would be-- the soonest you could
would be-- would be great.
You know what I mean?
Because bills got to get paid, right?
All right, we'll talk soon.
[PHONE RINGING]
Hey, Melanie.
How's it going?
I'm good.
Thanks.
Listen, I wanted to ask if it was possible to reschedule
our next flute lesson, just because I've
got a bit of a family emergency that just came up.
And yeah, that day, I'll be out of town.
It's funny.
I could do today if that works.
That would actually would be-- be better for me.
I mean, listen, if it's good for you, that's-- that's great.
That'll help me out a lot.
So yeah, today is good.
I could be there in an hour, maybe even less.
But yeah, no, that's perfect.
All right, I'll see you soon.
[SIGHS]
[KNOCKING]
Hey.
Ariel, what are you doing here?
Did you forget I told you I'd come by and check on you?
BENJAMIN: [SIGHS]
Ariel, this is not a good time for me right now.
Should you be drinking while you're taking these pills?
My fridge was empty.
All that's left was wine.
So I'm drinking wine.
How are you feeling?
For real.
Are you getting any nausea or anything?
BENJAMIN: No nausea.
No nausea.
BENJAMIN: Girl, what are you doing?
What the fuck are you doing, Ariel?
You didn't get the pills?
[SIGHS]
[SOMBER MUSIC]
ARIEL: Didn't the ER doctor write you a prescription?
What do you mean?
I don't-- I don't understand.
Ariel, I don't have the fucking pills.
I can't afford them.
[SIGHS, CRIES] I go to the pharmacy and I--
I can't afford it.
I don't have insurance.
I can't afford it.
[BREATHES HEAVILY] Fuck!
Fuck.
[SIGHS]
I'm so sorry.
Stop, stop, stop.
Benjamin.
Benjamin, stop, stop.
You're going to hurt yourself.
Stop.
Come on.
Sit.
Sit down.
It's OK.
[CRIES]
ARIEL: We'll get through it, OK?
How much do these pills actually cost?
I can-- I can give you some cash.
There was a bachelor and bachelorette party at the bar
last night.
They're $1,000, Ariel.
Fuck.
[CHUCKLES] Oh, OK.
Well, hang on.
Hang on.
I've got-- hey, hey, hey.
Ariel, just stop.
Enough.
This is-- this is almost $200.
BENJAMIN: Ariel, stop.
I can't take your money.
Benjamin.
BENJAMIN: Seriously.
ARIEL: Please take it.
I want to help.
Please take it?
Thank you.
You're welcome.
How much money do you think you can get together today?
Well, I just paid my rent.
My credit card is maxed out.
And all I have is about $50 for my last lesson.
So nowhere near the-- the money that I need.
With what I've given you and your tutoring gigs, I mean,
that's something, right?
You know what's fucked, is I actually
just sent literally the exact money that I need to my family?
[SIGHS]
So call them and ask for it back.
[GROANS]
ARIEL: Is there anything else you could do to make some cash?
I could sell the saxophone.
No. Fuck no.
No.
Bitch, that's your most prized possession.
You're not selling your sax.
No.
BENJAMIN: Well.
Hey, hey, hey, remember, who's--
who's a bad bitch?
Go fuck her.
ARIEL: Oh, come on.
Can you say it for me?
[CHUCKLES]
ARIEL: Just like one time?
I'm not saying say it.
ARIEL: Say it.
[GROANS] ARIEL: Just one time.
BENJAMIN: Shut up. - Come on.
Come on.
You'll feel better if you say it, I promise.
Just-- just say it one time.
BENJAMIN: I'm not-- I'm not saying that.
Come on. Say it one time.
I'm not saying that, Ariel.
ARIEL: One time.
I'm a bad bitch.
That was fucking lame.
You can do it a little bit better than that.
Come on, louder.
A little bit louder.
Come on.
BENJAMIN: I-- [SIGHS]
Louder.
I'm--
ARIEL: Come on.
I'm a bad bitch.
ARIEL: You're a bad bitch?
I'm a bad bitch.
ARIEL: You're a bad bitch.
I'm the baddest bitch.
I'm a bad bitch.
ARIEL: You're definitely not the baddest bitch.
That's me for sure.
You're like the fucking-- you're the runner up, OK?
[GROANS]
ARIEL: But you smiled though.
But you did though.
BENJAMIN: You're crazy.
I know.
Just get over here.
ARIEL: [CHUCKLES]
I love you.
I love you too.
[CHUCKLES]
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
Fuck, what time is it?
Where's my phone? - Oh, hang on.
Hang on. Oh, shit.
You got to go.
[GROANS] I've got a lesson.
And I need this money.
Call me later.
Thank you.
ARIEL: You're welcome.
[SIGHS]
Help me up.
[GROANING]
ARIEL: [CHUCKLES]
[PLAYING FLUTE]
BENJAMIN: Amazing.
How does that feel?
Yeah, making more sound.
[CHUCKLES]
BENJAMIN: That's good.
Let's try it one more time.
[PLAYING FLUTE]
Let's just adjust this a little bit.
Yep.
[PLAYS FLUTE] Oh, always that damn fourth
note throws me for a loop.
I think my arthritis might be flaring up
because, every time I reach with that finger,
it just does not listen to me.
Hey.
BENJAMIN: Hey, sorry about that.
So we're going to--
Are you OK?
You look sick.
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[CLEARS THROAT]
So--
Are you sure you want to continue?
We can pick this up, no, on-- - Yes, I-- I feel much better.
Thank you so much.
We can pick this up some other time
BENJAMIN: No, no, no, it's OK.
I just needed to--
yeah, but now I feel good.
You had said something about the--
[CLEARS THROAT] the fourth note, right?
That was giving you some trouble.
Yeah, but--
Listen, let's-- let's try an exercise.
I will-- I will play it.
Then I'll have you repeat after me, OK?
OK.
[PLAYING FLUTE]
Thank you so much.
MELANIE: Thanks for coming by.
Thanks for having me.
Now you go get some rest
[SIGHS]
I'll try.
All right, next week, same time?
Yep.
BENJAMIN: $40, $60, $80, $100.
$20, $40, $60, $80, $100.
$20, $30, $40, $50, $60.
[SIGHS]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
OPERATOR: Hello.
No one is available to take your call.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
[SIGHS]
OPERATOR: Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voice
message system.
At the tone, please record your message.
When you have finished recording,
you may hang up or press 1 for more options.
[SIGHS]
[BEEP]
Hey, Agnes, how's it going?
It's Benjamin.
Just checking in.
Just, it's been a while.
And just checking in and seeing how things are going.
Give me a call back and we can catch up.
I'm free today.
I'm off.
I'm just-- you know, don't got much going on today.
So I could--
I could do today if you want or whenever.
Yeah, just give me a call back.
And yeah, we'll talk soon.
[SIGHS]
[SOMBER MUSIC]
[PHONE VIBRATING]
Oscar.
This is a really nice place you've got.
Thanks.
So yeah, we've been here for two months now?
I'm sorry, we?
Yes, we.
Ed and I live here.
Oh, you live with Ed?
Oh, wow.
Damn.
Cheers to that.
Cheers.
Wow.
[LAUGHS] Too strong?
BENJAMIN: I mean, just wasn't expecting that.
That is literally all gin.
I'll still drink it, but--
So you've been thinking about me?
[SIGHS]
No.
Not even a little?
No.
Everything OK, Benjamin?
You seemed kind of off at the party last night.
Boy trouble?
[SIGHS]
Yeah, you could call it that.
[CHUCKLES]
So I heard through the grapevine that you're writing
music again on your own.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
It's not the same, you know, writing,
making music, without you.
[KISSING]
Oscar, I need to ask you a favor.
I need some--
[SIGHS]
I need cash.
Cash?
BENJAMIN: Yeah.
I got a bit of an emergency.
OSCAR: An emergency.
What kind of emergency?
A medical emergency.
You already spent all that tour money, hey?
[SIGHS] Yeah, I guess.
This city's expensive.
I can give you some cash.
Oh, yeah?
Sure.
But you'll need to earn it.
You know what?
Sorry, I should go.
Thank you.
This is your-- like, you live here
with your boyfriend and you're propositioning me for, like--
So what?
Oscar, seriously.
Honestly.
[SIGHS]
You're-- [SIGHS]
You still do that, hey?
I'm not going to fuck you, Oscar.
I know.
Probably owe you much more than that anyway for all the times
you covered my half of the rent back
when we were living together.
[SIGHING]
Thank you.
[SIGHS]
Cute fanny pack.
Shut up.
[CHUCKLES] Want another drink or something?
No, no, I should probably go.
Thank you.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
Take care of yourself, all right?
Yeah, you too.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
[SIGHS]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
[SIGHS]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Fuck.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Agnes, hey.
It's been a while.
I was just thinking, I should give Agnes a call,
and see how things are going, and just check in, you know.
Yeah I'm free tonight.
That sounds good.
Will Mr. Man be there?
Peter?
Paul.
Will Paul be there?
No, no, no, that's lovely.
I'll see you soon.
Yeah, you too.
It's been-- it's been too long.
All right, we'll talk soon.
[SIGHS]
[SIREN BLARING]
[CLASSICAL MUSIC]
[LAUGHTER]
This is really good.
It's delicious.
Thank you.
And this bread.
It is her secret recipe.
And she kills it every time.
And to be honest, that's the only reason why I married her.
[LAUGHTER]
PAUL: I'm-- I'm joking.
I'm joking.
[CHUCKLES]
But she tells me that you're an artist of some sort.
Sure.
I guess, yeah.
He's an incredible singer and instrumentalist.
We used to gather and get him to play whatever he wanted.
He was like our jukebox.
[CHUCKLING]
Only difference is you pay a jukebox.
I never got paid for anything.
AGNES: How much do I owe you?
[CHUCKLING]
Well, if you would excuse me, I just got
to go to the little men's room.
I will be right back.
Not the little men's room.
PAUL: Big men's room.
[LAUGHTER]
Yeah.
AGNES: Did he really deserve that laugh?
[LAUGHS]
It's really good to see you.
It's good to see you too.
You look incredible.
BENJAMIN: You look incredible.
[LAUGHS]
So it's been a long time.
I was pretty surprised when you called.
I mean, I was really glad, but--
[SIGHS]
To be honest, I was really out of it for a long time.
I was seeing this guy for a couple of years.
And you know those relationships where you just becoming in--
consumed with that of the person in their life?
That was kind of my thing for a couple of years.
And I slowly drifted away from my social life
and slowly drifted into his social life.
And--
What happened?
I mean, he cheated.
And, you know, we tried to make it work after,
but it didn't work.
I'm so sorry, Benjamin.
Oh, that's fine.
AGNES: Are you seeing anyone now?
No.
Actually, kind of, sort of.
[LAUGHTER]
Yeah?
BENJAMIN: Kind of. I don't know.
It's too soon.
Sometimes I miss dating, the adrenaline, the torture, sex.
[SIGHS] [CHUCKLES]
Yeah, lots of adrenaline.
That's for sure.
Lots of torture.
The sex is kind of hit and miss for me, at least.
But all those other things for sure.
[SIGHS]
So I haven't been completely honest with you.
I'm so happy to see you after all this time.
But I'm kind of here hoping for a favor?
[SIGHS] I need--
I need some cash.
Cash?
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm kind of in a bit of a situation.
And it's not very--
it's not very easy to talk about it.
What is it?
I--
AGNES: Oh my god, Benjamin, your nose.
Oh.
AGNES: Oh my god.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, it's fine.
It's nothing.
It's just a little--
oh.
Oh, it's nothing.
[LAUGHS] It's fine.
It's nothing.
I had a bit of an altercation the other day and--
What?
Little bathrooms can work wonders.
I--
What I'd miss?
AGNES: It's nothing, sweetie.
Oh, that doesn't really look like nothing.
BENJAMIN: Oh, no, no, no, it's nothing.
It's not a big deal, guys. - Are you OK?
I'm fine. Sorry, guys.
This is just--
I'm fine.
I was saying to Agnes that I'm in a bit of a-- that
I was wondering if I could ask for some help.
What kind of help?
You know, don't bother.
I already know.
You're going to ask us for money.
And I know that because I heard it when I was in the bathroom.
I--
Are you high right now, Benjamin?
- Paul. - He looks high right now.
BENJAMIN: No.
PAUL: Are you high right now, Benjamin?
All right, listen, Benjamin, we-- we really,
really want to help you.
But we just can't give you any money because you might
use that money to buy drugs.
And-- and we can't have that. You know, we're not--
Ben.
I think this dinner has run its course.
Thank you so much.
The food was lovely.
Yeah, thank you.
Benjamin.
I'm so sorry.
Look, this is all the cash that I have.
No, no, no, thank you so much.
That was a lovely dinner.
Please just take it.
BENJAMIN: No.
AGNES: Just take it.
Thank you.
You're going to be OK.
You're the scrappiest person that I know.
[SIGHS]
Yeah, I think I got almost $700 now.
That's amazing.
Yeah, it's been a long ass day.
I'm so tired.
Listen, you've still got time.
And you're killing it.
So take it easy on yourself.
I got to call you back, OK?
[SIGHS]
Hey.
What's going on?
Listen, Malcolm--
I've been calling you all day.
What's up?
Are you avoiding me?
Man, I just--
What's going on?
Malcolm, listen, I'm--
I'm a mess right now.
And I just--
Don't do that.
[CRIES]
Benjamin, talk to me.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
Look at me, Benjamin.
Benjamin, please.
I'm right here.
Look at me.
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[SOMBER MUSIC]
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
[SIGHS]
[SOUNDS OF TRAFFIC]
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
[VOCALIZING]
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
[VOCALIZING]
[SOFTLY CRIES]
[VOCALIZING]
Hi.
Can I help you?
So I don't know if you remember me from yesterday.
But I came and I had--
I had just came from the emergency room.
And I had a prescription for PEP.
I had a starter pack and I vomited.
And we spoke for a while about the fact that it was $900
and I couldn't afford it.
And I asked if there was anything that I could do
or that you could do to help me get it because
of the-- the sensitivity with the time
because it's a 48 hour, 24 hour.
[SIGHS]
So the thing is I've spent the last 24
hours trying to find the money.
And I've come so close.
I've asked friends.
I've begged.
I've pled.
And I came so close.
And I actually just got my money stolen from me in the park.
So if there's anything, anything that you
can do to help me in this situation,
that would be really lovely.
Really sorry.
I can't help you.
Please.
I'm sorry.
I can't help you.
[SIGHS]
I'm going to have to ask you to leave.
I'm not fucking leaving!
I'm not leaving until I get those pills!
Sorry, I can't help you.
I'm not leaving.
Please. - I really can't help you.
I'm really sorry.
[PHONE RINGING]
I'm sorry.
[PHONE RINGING]
Hello, pharmacy, can I help you?
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
PHARMACIST: Sir, excuse me.
No, no, you can't be back here.
This area is for paid staff only.
Hey! Hey!
Security.
SECURITY: Hey!
You can't be back here!
You got to get out of here!
Excuse me, step away from the pills, please.
You can't be back here.
What the fuck?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
You got to relax. BENJAMIN: No.
SECURITY: You got to relax. BENJAMIN: Fuck!
You can't be back there.
Calm down!
You got to calm down.
You got to calm down, OK?
BENJAMIN: Get the fuck off of me!
You need to calm down.
You need to leave the store.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
[TV CHATTER]
Hey, hello, son.
Hi, Mommy.
How you doing?
You all right?
I'm good. I'm good.
How are you?
Your father's leg is getting much better now.
I'll soon be able to ship him off back to work.
[LAUGHS] Thank you so much for sending us that money.
We really, really appreciate it.
Son, really miss you, you know.
When you coming to look for me?
Soon.
Soon, soon, soon.
I've just been so busy with everything
that's been going on, you know, like work and just work.
Your father and I are so proud of how
you just focus with your passion and you're just sticking to it.
I always knew that my son was destined for great things.
[TV CHATTER]
Benjamin?
Benjy, everything all right with you, love?
Yeah, everything's good.
Everything is good.
Well, you just keep remembering to take
care of yourself up there.
You hear me, son?
You too.
Love you.
All right, God bless you, you hear?
[TV CHATTER]
[LAUGHS]
Give me some of that.
[LAUGHS]
Go away.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
[VOCALIZING]
[GLASS CLINKING]
[BEEP]
LOLA (ON PHONE): Hey, Benjamin.
This is Lola.
I haven't heard from you since Oscar's party Friday night.
And I tried calling you on Saturday.
You never showed up for rehearsal.
So I'm just checking in.
Are we still performing for the show tonight?
I hope you're all right.
[BEEP]
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
[VOCALIZING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[SIREN BLARING]
[KNOCKS]
Hey, babe, where were you?
We were supposed to be on five minutes ago.
BENJAMIN: Hey, sorry.
Are you OK?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, I'm good.
What's up?
Nothing.
It's all good.
We already soundchecked.
So I'll meet you on stage?
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[CHATTER]
[SOMBER MUSIC]
(SINGING) How high we were
Oh
Lately I've been
Try, and try, and trying hard
But it seems my world is fall, fall, falling apart
Years go by
And I'm still going
And I'm trying to get by
And now that I'm gone
I forgot how to try
I'm not sure of my mind
But I blame myself
I'm not sure of my mind
And I need your help
I don't know who I am
And I don't know who you are
I'm not sure of my mind
But I blame myself
I'm not sure of my mind
And I need your help
I don't
I don't know who I am
And I don't know who you are
[PLAYS SAXOPHONE]
I don't know who I am
And I don't know who you are
I
Ooh ooh
[CHEERING]
MALCOLM: You were incredible up there.
And you look so beautiful too.
Look, I-- I haven't been completely honest
with you because I was scared.
I don't know how serious this was.
Look, Malcolm, there's something I need to tell you.
[CHATTER]
[SIGHS]
So-- [SIGHS]
The other night when you were at my house and we--
you know, we had that awkward--
I don't know.
I don't even know what it was.
It was like just an energy.
It just kind of felt like you weren't--
you know, like you weren't into me.
And then after you left, I went to a party.
And there was alcohol and there was drinking.
And I was drinking.
And I was drinking a lot.
[SIGHS] And then I left the party and I was walking home.
I saw this man.
I'd never seen him before.
And I don't know what came over me in that moment.
But I was just feeling so in need of attention
or just to feel desired.
And-- [SIGHS]
Did he hurt you?
Yeah.
So stupid.
Did he hurt you?
Yeah.
I don't even know who he is.
I don't know anything about him.
I don't know his status.
I don't know my status.
[SIGHS]
I've been running around the city like a fucking madman,
like, this whole weekend, just trying
to get the money for these pills that are so expensive.
It's like the price of my rent.
Benjamin, you know you could have come to me.
I just didn't want you to think that I was a mess,
you know.
I just didn't want you to think that I was like--
I mean, you are kind of messy.
[CHUCKLING]
[GROANS]
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[SOMBER MUSIC]
Hey.
It's my turn.
Your turn?
For what?
I told you I had to tell you something.
Sorry, just been talking a lot this whole time.
- Hey, hey, no worries. - Talk.
Stop.
Years ago, I had sex with this guy I didn't know.
I didn't even know his name.
But we met online and we hooked up that same night.
And I thought it was fun, you know.
But next day, I opened up the app
and he blocked me out of the blue.
You know, I started to worry, but not
enough to do anything about it.
I waited, months.
You know, I didn't sleep with anyone.
I-- I cried.
I was-- I was terrified.
You know, I knew something was wrong.
But at the same time, I didn't want to know because I
knew if I got tested, I'd--
I'd have to face it.
Got to face the truth.
Eventually, I went and I was right.
I was HIV positive.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
Just like that.
And all it took was a few minutes of my life.
And it's never going to be the same again.
And then I thought my life was over.
But that nurse who gave me the test,
she gave me all the information.
She got me my medicine, got me together.
And now I'm--
I'm here.
And I'm healthy and strong.
Everything is going to be OK, yeah?
We'll get you your medicine.
And if it doesn't work out--
hey, look at me.
I have HIV.
And I'm living, alive.
I'll take care of you, as long as you take care of me too.
BENJAMIN: I'm allowed to take care of it.
This is stupid.
Hey.
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
PHARMACIST: These three medications for the PEP kit,
take them once a day with food.
Make sure you take it every day.
Don't forget your doses in order to get--
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
[LAUGHTER, CHATTER]
BENJAMIN (VOICEOVER): This reminds me of waiting to exhale.
We're all like Angela Bassett and, like--
[LAUGHTER]
Moi.
I love that movie.
I watch it, actually, at least once a year.
I don't give a fuck.
[LAUGHTER, CHATTER]
[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]
(SINGING) Lately, I've been trying, trying, trying hard
But it seems my world is fall, fall
[ELEPHANT TRUMPETING]