Tales from the Darkside

Man lives in the sunlit world

of what he believes to be reality.

But... there is,

unseen by most, an underworld.

A place that is just as real

but not as brightly lit.

A dark side.

l photograph everything.

That is my mission.

But l should not have joined the group.

Every time l touched you...

nothing!

lt was sick!

Poison! Hateful!

l want to tear your heart out.

What's happened, Lee?

l'm taking a break.

Are you finished with your wife?

How does it look to you, Amy?

Looks finished to me.

Down-the-tubes finished.

l can't do this anymore.

Breathe... (inhales deeply)

l am breathing.

You're not breathing now.

l'm breathing irregularly, okay?

Look, it happens.

l'm-l'm-l'm angry.

Who are you angry with?

Your wife?

Oh, no, l'm done with that folly.

l'm angry at her.

Who are you talking to?

He's talking to the floor.

Maybe he doesn't like the carpet.

l'm talking to you, Claire.

The way you just stand there and stare.

How am l supposed to deal with such total passivity?

Tell her what you want.

l want her to give a damn!

''You''-- l want ''you.''

l want you to bestow

a little humanity on this enterprise.

Not once in a while.

Show some vital signs.

He's right. You've been standing there

for weeks, like a voyeur.

She's beautiful.

lt's her license to offend.

How do you feel about that, Claire?

lt's uncomfortable.

''lt's''?

l'm uncomfortable.

Oh, bull.

You don't feel a thing.

l don't show emotion.

You're making yourself and the rest of us nutso.

What are you worried about, Claire?

Let yourself go.

As a public service?

l don't do that.

CLAlRE: Stupid, stupid.

l should not have joined the group.

lt seemed like a good idea.

The material was so rich.

What are you worried about, Claire?

Let yourself go.

CLAlRE: They know something is wrong.

Pretty white artist-- five-feet-three,

successful and fun-loving,

needs slightly submissive sexy man...

Desirable woman with creativity and depth.

-Hurt by love's roving eye... -(various overlapping voices)

Gorgeous television actor with firm, athletic body seeks

attractive, passionate, adventurous, uninhibited female

for midnight drives in my sports car.

Any age okay.

You changed!

CLAlRE: They frighten me.

All their anger.

l wanted to tear your heart out!

CLAlRE: How primitive they are.

Faster.

l don't fool these creatures.

l try to be like them--

l replicate their looks and gestures, but...

they know l am different.

Stop.

CLAlRE: l photograph everything.

Trying to understand the natives,

what it is to be human.

Everything is filled with mystery.

Each building, each face.

(siren wails, distant explosion)

The city... the sky...

...this alien body l inhabit.

l am alone.

Surrounded by mysterious surfaces.

Yes?

AMY (muffled): lt's Amy. From group.

Hi.

l'm so sorry to barge in,

but your phone was busy.

The operator said it was off the hook.

My!

What a lovely space.

Oh, well...

Frankly, l was worried about you.

The group can be a bit rough sometimes.

Ye-Yes.

l hope you don't mind too much

or take it personally, for God's sake.

Sometimes people put up violent defenses,

when they're just about to face their real problems,

and strong emotions can be so frightening.

But the shouting and the tears

are all part of the work.

Anyway, l hope we'll see you next time?

Yes!

: Oh, good, l'm so glad.

CLAlRE: l lied to her.

Till next week, then?

Bye.

No!

l can't go back.

The group is dangerous to my mission.

They can draw me out, expose me.

l must... l must photograph everything,

collect images of the natives.

Start.

They huddle together in huge cities.

They huddle together, but they're still alone.

They fear loneliness...

the way they fear death.

Yes?

lt's Lee. From group.

(latch rattles, door creaks open)

l came to apologize, if it's not too late.

l said some off-the-wall things.

Who knows where that stuff comes from?

l mean, l'm on this wild roll because my life is a shambles.

lf l hurt you, l'm sorry.

We all want you back.

This is an amazing place.

Hmm, so...

how is life in the arts?

Looks like you do well.

You look good.

You're a photographer, right?

Yes.

Now, that's a major commitment.

My ex-wife-- we're separated.

She will be my ex-wife in a couple of months,

so l'm not jumping the gun.

She took these courses in the visual arts.

lt revolutionized my entire outlook.

With that horror show between us, there was still

a subterranean educational process going on.

l go to galleries on weekends.

Just to relax, you know?

l mean, it's hard being continuously insensitive.

You go with her?

Who, my ex?

Oh, no, no.

l tried taking Janine from group.

We met on a soap opera.

l was the doctor, she was my nurse.

Didn't work out.

l mean, in real life.

Hey, tell me something.

Are you seeing anybody?

No.

Oh, well, maybe we could go to a gallery, pal around...

No.