Between Worlds

Man: Hey. Hey, Larry, look.

I'm sorry I got behind.

Larry: You said that last month.

Well, business has been slow this past year,

but it's starting to pick up, and when I get back,

I got at least three jobs lined up,

so--so can't you just cut me some slack?

We did that last month and the month before that.

What can you pay me now?

Nothing. I'm tapped.

Well, I can't help you.

Wait. Larry.

Been a while, Joe.

How's business?

Just ring it up, Ricardo.

Can I interest you in our dessert cart?

Keep the change.

Hey!

You don't understand.

We don't hurt women down South.

Oh, please stop! Stop!

You all right?

Woman: Stop! Please stop!

Next time, why don't you wrestle a man gator?

Stop! Oh, shit.

What did you do?

I saved you.

No, you screwed it up.

Hey. Hey!

Hey, buster, the State Troopers are coming.

I'm gonna need you to explain what just happened.

Okay.

- Hello. - You hear me?

Speaking. Yes. W-When? What--

Oh, thank God. Thank you so much.

Okay. I-I will be there as soon as possible. Yes.

My daughter's out of the coma, but it's still touch and go.

What? Coma?

'Hey! Hey,

Wake up!

Look, you want some No-Drowsy?

No. No, no, no.

Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor,

keeps the blood vessels from opening back up.

Do you have kids?

Do I have kids?

I don't know. Family?

Wife and daughter. You like?

Oh, beautiful.

Oops! They're dead.

That's terrible.

I mean I'm sorry.

Well, I-l have an 18-year-old daughter.

Her name is Billie, and this morning,

she had a terrible accident.

I got the call, like, an hour before you showed up.

What the hell does that have to do with getting strangled?

Look, I don't expect you to understand this, okay,

but it was the only way I could help my daughter.

Oh, God. I'm so woozy. Shit.

Oh, I don't know.

Could you give me a lift to Mobile?

Is that a siren?

That was a siren, wasn't it?

I don't know.

Billie's such a gear-head,

loves to ride.

Says it's like flying.

Dumb kid.

When I heard that she was in a coma,

I found that guy at the truck stop.

Look, I understand what this all feels like.

I mean, I really do, and l-l'm very sorry

about what happened to your daughter,

but this strangling business is insane.

You are aware of that, right?

You think so?

Did I say something funny?

Look, I haven't even gotten to the crazy part.

Here it goes.

When I was a teenager, I almost drowned.

I was sliding on this frozen lake with my friend,

and the ice broke.

Seconds later, these guys that were driving by the lake,

they stopped, and they pulled us out.

You're saying you left your body?

Yeah.

I've done it a few times.

It has to feel like I'm drowning,

so I asked this boy who I knew to choke me.

He thought it was a sex thing.

What did you mean when you said

that I screwed things up back there?

- What did that mean? -lt's okay.

She found her way back all by herself.

How can you know that?

How can you be sure about something like that?

How can anybody be sure about something like that?

And what if she didn't?

I can't be sure, but it's exhausting to leave my body.

I don't--I'm not sure I could do it twice in a day.

You know, I was only trying to help back there.

I know.

Thanks.

Who knows what is or isn't possible?

If you could save somebody like that, that would...

be a miracle.

Hey, Mama.

How you doing?

Mama's here.

Who's that?

Oh.

That's Joe.

He's my friend.

Mama...

I don't know what happened. I--

But I don't wanna go back there.

Julie: Uh...

- Julie: Why is she... - Man: Ma'am. Ma'am.

Woman: Step outside.

- Man: Get the crash cart. - Julie: Come...

-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. - Woman: Excuse me.

I need to get through, please.

Julie: Come with me, please.

Maybe here. Okay?

It's okay. Let's just--

Can we-- Can you do it?

Do it?

Now? Please.

It's just I-l don't have a lot of time.

I can bring her back, but I need your help.

Okay? Please.

You'll be fine, okay?

Just do it, okay?

Okay?

Clear.

Billie: You know what I remember most?

you know what I remember most?

That when he left, he walked all the way

out to his car without ever looking back, not once.

Nurse". Now you do not know your daughter.

- Do you? - No.

You okay?

Did it work?

I don't know.

- Is she okay? - She's stable.

You did good.

She's back where she belongs.

She will not leave again.

I--Thanks for looking after her.

Keep an eye on her.

She has been to the other side.

Okay.

Julie, you want some coffee?

No, that's all right. Thanks.

That's right. Caffeine's a--a constrictor?

So--So when you go to the other side,

do you just see people you know,

or are there other people there?

Uh-

Uh, sometimes.

A-And can you talk to them?

I mean, can--can you give someone a message?

Ow.

Did I do something wrong?

Oh, no. I just--

I just have a headache. I'm just tired. I--

I've never done it twice in one day.

Actually, I-l might just lie down for a minute.

Do you want me to stay here?

I can let you know if she wakes up.

Really? You don't have to go?

Oh, I-I have to get the load to Biloxi,

but I could stay a couple hours and still get there by noon.

Ah, wow. That--That's so nice.

Um, that will be awesome.

Cool.

Thanks.

Um-

L'll--l'll let you rest.

Thanks.

Woman: Why do you leave me alone?

You know I don't do good alone.

Joe". I don't want to, but you married a truck driver.

What can I do?

Woman: Don't you ever leave me alone again.

Hey, Julie.

We came to see how Billie's doing, but, um--

They said just family.

Is she okay? How is she?

"How is she?"

She's in a hospital.

How do you think she is, you moron?

-L'm sorry. - We're sorry.

She could have died. You all could have died!

You know what? Get the fuck out of here!

Get out of my face!

Billie: It's gonna be different, right, Joe?

Joe". It's gonna be different.

We can rebuild.