Portraits

No, I have to grab my stuff. I won't be long.

Okay.

Someone's still here.

Can you turn the lights back on?

Hello?

Hello?

Someone's still here.

Can you please turn the lights back on?

Hello?

A little late for that.

Oh, shit.

F...

Hey, sorry to bother you. Can I borrow a wine opener?

Yeah, of course. Come on in.

- Oh, I'll come back. - Oh, no, you're fine.

I didn't realize you had company.

Hey, you're bleeding.

Yeah, I cut myself trying to open the wine.

It's okay.

Let's take care of that, it's bad.

I'm gonna go get a band-aid, okay?

Thank you.

So, you moved into the old lady's apartment.

Did she die or something?

Yeah, she did.

Man, that old bitch has been there so long,

I bet her rent was like 200 bucks.

Did they mark it up for you?

No, she was my aunt.

Ooh, sorry.

Do you know if she died in the apartment?

- I'm not sure. - Hmm.

Anyway, it's nice to have some young blood here.

It's been nothing but weirdos and geriatrics since I moved in.

You're a model.

- Yeah, and I act sometimes. - Really?

Uh, have you been in anything I might have seen?

Maybe, probably not.

Freddy goes to Hawaii.

So what do you do?

I'm a photographer.

Oh, awesome. You know what?

You and I are gonna get along just fine.

Retail therapy?

Oh, yeah, manufacturers send me free shit all the time.

See anything you like?

You know what?

This would fit you, it's too big on me.

Oh, I couldn't take your stuff.

No, no, no, you wouldn't have said anything

if you didn't like it.

Besides, it's free.

And red is definitely your color.

- Thank you. - Mm-hmm.

Excuse me for a second.

Mistress Zoe, how may I be of service?

Oh, it's you again, you naughty boy.

You didn't get enough yesterday, did you?

Stay, stay. It'll only take a sec.

Put the dress on.

I want you to take a rubber band

and I want you to tie around your cock and balls real tight.

Put it on. Put it on.

Okay, now you sit there and you wait for me

to call you back, you little shit.

Sorry about that. Yeah, try it on.

I mean, this dress deserves a cocktail.

Have you been to the Blackheart yet?

What's that?

Oh, it's a bar that's in our building.

There's a bar in our building?

Tito, hey!

Hey, uh, Lauren, right?

Yeah, silly.

This is my friend Mira.

This is Tito. He's an amazing photographer.

He shoots for Vice and.

This is Mira.

She just moved here from New Orleans?

New Orleans.

Oh, I love the cemeteries there.

Yeah, so are we still on for next weekend?

Oh, I'm sorry, babe.

They wanted to go with somebody a little bit younger.

You know how idlers are.

First 23-year-olds, then 19.

Before you know it, you're shooting ten-year-olds.

Well, that's totally fine. Next time.

- Yeah, next time, maybe. - Yeah.

I've been thinking about going blonde, actually.

Nah, I wouldn't do that. Not with your skin tone.

Yeah? Okay.

Ciao. Bye, doll.

Bye.

That's bullshit.

Why would you want to work with someone like that anyways?

You don't get it, okay?

This town is pure evil.

But you have to play the game.

I used to be just like you.

I used to think I had a choice.

You always have a choice.

No, sweetie.

Here, you're either predator or you're prey.

And if you're not strong enough,

this place will eat you alive before you even know it.

Look at me.

Fate always catches up with you.

I don't believe in fate.

Neither did I.

- Oh, excuse me. - That's all right.

Were you looking for someone?

I was just leaving.

That's a shame.

The show isn't over.

That was you.

Have we met before?

You look so familiar.

It's possible.

- I'm Madeline. - Mira.

That's pretty. What's it short for?

Mirkala. It's Russian.

Mirkala.

Do you dance, Mirkala?

No.

No. I am a photographer.

What do you shoot?

I shoot portraits mainly.

Well, you've come to the right place.

This is a building of many faces.

It is.

Did I tell you I live here?

Didn't you?

I have a bad memory sometimes.

And I'm sure this doesn't help.

Well, have a good night.

What are you rushing off to that you can't have here?

An empty apartment?

Have you made any friends yet?

No, not really.

I can remedy that.

And who are you?

Olivia, this is Mira.

Hi.

Are you going on next?

I just did.

You missed it.

Patrick's making a toast. Let's go.

Let's get you another drink.

- Um... - I insist.

Here.

I love costumes.

A girl never outgrows dress up.

Where are you from?

- Styria. - Is that in Germany?

Austria.

It's like Germany, but not as friendly.

Madeline is a comedian. What do you do?

Mira is a photographer.

I love my pictures taken.

It's truly the only way to immortalize yourself.

Are you any good?

Violette, don't be rude.

That's okay.

- I'm getting better. - Practice makes perfect.

Just not feeling very inspired lately.

Something will come to you.

Inspiration is unpredictable.

- What are you making? - Ruby loves concoctions.

What's this one do? Improves vision?

Makes you smell better to men?

You are jealous.

No, Olivia's the jealous one.

You're the short one, and I'm the sweet one.

Like Charlie's Angels.

Who?

The show.

Never mind.

They're herbs.

To clean the chakras.

And to purge little devils.

Too late for that.

It's safe, I promise.

She hasn't killed us yet.

Thanks.

You should come down for dinner tomorrow.

It's Violette's birthday.

- We're having a party. - Okay.

Well, I guess I should look for my friend now.

I promise we're more fun.

Ladies, you are the lifeblood of this place.

If it weren't for you, I am certain

the rest of us would turn to dust and blow away.

I like you, Patrick.

I think we'll keep you around for a while.

Hmm. I should hope so.

Not from my charms, perhaps for your pay.

To success, money,

clean-ish living, and, uh...

And to new friends.