The Knife

CHRIS (voice-over): When I was a kid,

my grandma used to say, "Life presents choices...

...and choices lead to consequences."

She'd say, "The choices we make determine our future."

"And once you make that choice,

"you got to accept what comes with it,

-whether you like it or not." -(light switch clicks)

(music playing faintly over headphones)

Busted. -Ryley was having trouble sleeping.

-Kendra had a nightmare... -Shh. Keep your voice down.

Hey. Turn it off.

-Keep it off. -Okay.

Come on, it's time for bed.

Let's go.

What?

-You smell like beer. Beer?

No, I don't. I don't. Dad.

-I don't. Yes, you do.

Hey, I don't. Stop it.

Yeah, you do. Stop it.

Don't tell Mom, okay?

How's my room coming?

Uh, good.

Just give me a couple more days, okay?

Kendra?

Okay.

Good night, Daddy.

Good night, baby.

-(water swishing) -(spits)

Smooth.

Sorry.

You ain't getting any, just so you know.

What? I didn't even say anything.

-I just laid down. -Mm-hmm.

The old "Oops, I dropped my phone, but while you're up,

-I guess we could..." -Oh, please, woman.

-Don't flatter yourself. -No?

-No. Good night. -(Alex laughs)

Come on.

You know you want it.

Come on, Chris.

Hmm?

-I could do better. -(scoffs) Really?

-Without a doubt. -In this neighborhood?

Wait, what's that supposed to mean?

It's a great neighborhood.

Yeah, ripe with your fair share of drug dealers, pimps,

-prostitutes, male and female. -Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Hold on, hold on, hold on. Lest I remind you,

we're paying less per month to own this house than we were

when we were renting over on Dearborn.

And that includes the renovation costs,

-so say what you want. -Oh, God.

I love it when you talk renovation finance with me.

Ooh. (inhales sharply)

: Tell me more. Tell me about the...

subprime second mortgage.

: What is happening right now?

What are you doing?

You don't even know the words, you dork.

-Get out of here. Oh, my God. -How dare you.

I am over here throwing myself at you...

-(whispers): Alex, shh, shh. -(baby fussing)

-But you call me a dork? -Okay, okay.

-Okay, okay, okay. Okay. -(fussing stops)

Go again. I'm sorry.

Go again.

Okay.

Mm, mm. -Mm.

-Mm-hmm. -(Chris chuckles)

Mm. -Mm-hmm.

ALEX (whispers): Come on. Come on.

Come on, baby.

Oh.

Well... (clicks tongue)

Maybe your phone really did just...

: fall on accident.

Well, now that we're awake, I guess we could...

: I knew it.

But seriously...

-Baby. -Hmm?

I am way too tired to actually have sex.

-Yeah, me, too. -Okay, good.

-(Alex groans) -(Chris chuckles)

Hey.

We'll be back, you guys. We promise.

-(Chris laughs) -When we get a little more...

Uh, energy. -Energy.

-Yes. -Get some more energy. Yeah.

We shall return to

our previously scheduled programming.

Yes.

My back is killing me. -(Alex groans)

-(Chris sighs) -Oh, my God.

It's almost 1:00, babe.

What were you doing?

Finished the backsplash.

You did?

I did.

Oh, that's incredible.

You animal.

But you got to call in sick tomorrow.

There's no way you're getting up in three hours.

-Mm-mm. Mm-mm. I can't. -Babe, you got to sleep.

I can't. I can't take any time off.

I'm paid by the hour. You know that.

-What time's your interview? -(sighs)

-10:00. -10:00?

That's good.

Mm. You'll be great.

: God.

I can't believe we're really pulling this off.

Yeah.

Seven weeks ago, that ceiling was a disaster.

Yeah.

Now you just got to finish Kendra's room.

-She's gonna kill me. -(laughs)

Okay.

Now I'm going to bed.

-I love you. -Love you.

-Your light. -(groans)

Right. Yeah.

Good night.

(train horn blowing in distance)

(objects clattering in other room)

Hello?

Ma'am?

Ma'am, this is 1220 McCullough Street.

You've entered the wrong home.

Ma'am?

You need to leave, okay?

You need help?

Ma'am.

I can help you.

-Okay? -(woman shudders)

It's okay.

It's okay.

-(distant clattering) -(gasps)

Chris?

Chris?

Chris.

-Chris. -(light buzzing)

She broke in. I'm calling the cops.

-Wait, what-what happened? -I just told you she broke in.

I came, and she was standing right there. Fuck.

911. What's your emergency? -KENDRA: Mom?

We need an ambulance right away to McCullough and Simpson.

-Somebody just broke into my house. -Oh, my God, Mom.

-What happened? Mom! Please.

-Kendra, wait. I don't know, but she's

on the ground bleeding to death, ma'am. Please hurry.

Is she dead? -Don't touch her.

Okay, how did she get on the ground, sir?

I don't know, I don't know, I don't...

We just need a fucking ambulance! Listen to me!

There's a woman dying on my kitchen floor!

Mom, is she dead?

Ryley, I swear to God!

What's your address, sir?

Uh, uh, 1220 McCullough Street.