The Midnight Meat Train

Maya?

- Hey. - Hey.

- Did you finish your reading? - Yeah.

Most of it.

You know how everyone's complaining about how dangerous the city is...

...and how they wish they could go back to the good old days when it wasn't?

Well, it turns out there never really were any good old days.

It's always been a hell hole.

You don't find me fascinating anymore?

What?

- Babe, are you all right? - No.

- No? - No.

Some Russian cabbie jumped a curb today...

- Yeah. - And knocked a pedestrian...

...through a storefront window. I got there just as they were...

...loading the body in the bag, and I thought I got the shot...

...something that the Post would buy, you know, but...

- I don't think it's good enough. - What if I had some good news for you.

You know, like news that meant you could throw away your police radio...

...and only shoot the stuff you want. Forever and ever.

I'd marry you.

That's it?

What else do you want?

Well...

...how about...

...you in a bed...

...not worrying about anything...

...for at least an hour, except how to make me and yourself...

...really, really happy.

- It's a deal. - Yeah?

- Yeah. - You like that?

You like that? That's good. So ...

You know how you're wishing Jurgis would introduce you...

...to some of his fancy art-world friends?

And you can never understand why he doesn't?

Well, I called him today and I said:

"How come you don't introduce Leon...

...to any of your fancy friends?" Do you know what he said?

- What? - That he didn't do it...

...because he figured that when you were ready, you would ask.

So I asked for you.

Isn't that great?

Do you know who Susan Hoff is?

Of course. You're kidding.

Do I look like I'm kidding you?

- You're meeting her tomorrow. - Are you kidding me?

No.

Does my hour start now?

Whatever you do, don't mention Maya.

What? Why?

Susan likes her artists young, male and single.

Actually, you know what?

The male part isn't that important.

Here we go. Come on.

- Hello, my darling. - Hello.

- Sorry that we're late. - Oh, don't apologize.

Punctuality means nothing to me. It's a virtue for the mediocre.

You know when I first knew that Basquiat was a genius?

When he was three days late for lunch.

So tell me about your work.

Explain it to me. What interests you?

- The city. - Why?

Because no one's ever captured it. Not the way it really is...

...the heart of it. That's my goal, that's my dream.

Then you're failing.

You were at the right place, weren't you?

- Yeah. - But not the right time.

The image grabs our attention, sure, but so what?

It's melodrama, arresting but empty.

I want to know what comes next. I want to see the face of the businessman...

...when the filth touches him.

The next time you find yourself at the heart of the city...

...stay put, be brave, keep shooting.

Then come see me.

- She hates my work. - No, she doesn't.

When she hates somebody's work, she gives them about a minute.

- You got three. - So, what? She likes it?

Well, I wouldn't go that far.

You think she's right, don't you?

She's not.

Oh, no, no, no.

Time to pay the toll, baby.

Leave me alone, please.

Yeah.

- You gotta pay on your knees, baby. - Hey!

What the fuck you gonna do, bitch?

Why don't you come up here and find out.

What?

That's good.

Yeah, that's great.

All right, stop right there. Right there. Stop. That's perfect.

Ever starred in a movie before?

Yo. Let's go.

Dead motherfucker.

You okay?

Thanks.

Most people would have ran away.

Oh, yeah.

I didn't this time.

Yeah.

Thanks.

- Hey, babe? - Yeah.

You seen my purse?

- Yeah, it's on the chair. - Okay.

When did you take these?

Last night.

You have to show these to Susan Hoff. What you said she wants...

...I mean, this is it.

Yeah, you think so?

Yeah, because if it's not, I hope I never see it.

Hey. Good morning.

Morning.

Babe, I'll see you later.

All right.

- Here you go, sir. - Thanks, babe.

Hands off.

- No fucking way. - Come on, one last time.

I said never again.

If I don't care that your disgusting grease gets all over my tofu...

...why do you care that tofu would get over your grease?

Because my customers, real Americans with blood in their veins...

...they don't want their cheese steak within a mile of a bean curd.

- It makes me wanna puke. - They're never gonna know.

- I'll know. - Tofu's tasteless.

- Now you admit it. - Of course.

My gramps, God rest his soul...

Jesus. If he saw me do this, he'd rise and make a sausage out of me.

Yeah, and your regular customers would gobble it right up.

Maya.

That's the same girl, right?

She's a model.

"Erika Sakaki disappeared after leaving a downtown club...

...shortly after 2 a.m."

Oh, my God.

- What? - That's right when I shot her.

I gotta go.

- Where are you going? - Cops. I'll call you later.

And they ran off after you made your presence known.

No, you see them? No, no.

It wasn't until I pointed out the surveillance camera.

That's what made them leave.

- Where did they go? - I thought that they left...

...but it's quite possible, and that's why I'm here...

...to say that perhaps they went down another stairwell...

...and entered the same train that she went on.

And you?

I told you. I...

I did not get on the train. I left on foot.

- Okay. - Okay?

Well, I'm sure anything you need to know...

...will be on that surveillance tape.

Do you sell your photos?

What? Yes, but not like this. Police calls mostly.

Erika's a pretty big model.

Tabloids be interested in these.

Really? I wouldn't know.

- Is that so? - Yeah. I wasn't stalking her...

...if that's what you're indicating.

Look, I... I saw these guys.

I thought that they looked suspicious, so I followed them.

But you did continue to photograph her?

Well, yeah, yeah, but... I guess so, but...

Why?

When you come up with an answer, call me.

What?

It's nothing. I didn't imagine you to be...

- ...the person that would say, "whoa." - I'm not.

I don't.

I haven't said it since high school.

But that's how good it is.

I'm having a group show in three weeks.

Get me two more images that strong...

...and you'll be a part of it.

Okay.

Oh, good.

Without your unconditional love and support...

...and without you finally introducing me to one of your contacts...

I can't believe you made me wait so long.

none of this would have been possible.

I love you both.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

- Now, I must depart. - What? No.

- What? Where are you...? What? - Two more images.

That's not tonight. No.

Why can't...?

- Two more shots. That's all I need. - What about these shots?

Hey, tell your wife to relax.

Sweetie, I take the train every day. Safer than walking.

But you hear these stories.

That was ages ago. Look, no graffiti, air conditioning works.

You can understand the conductor. It's a new century.

We're getting at off the next stop, so you can do what you want...

...but we're getting off, okay.

All right, fine. You know what? We can go back to my place...

...and Leigh here can cook us...

- ...a nice romantic dinner for three. - Did we just miss our stop?

- You'd have to talk my wife into bed. - You're into it.

- Randle. - Wait a second, honey.

You know, it's cheap wine.

Cheaper than the plate.