A Desert

Hello.

No!

No!

Hello.

Oh, god.

Shit.

1, 1,000; 2, 1,000; 3, 1,000; 4, 1,000; 5, 1,000; 6, 1,000; 7,

1,000; 8, 1,000, 9, 1,000, 10, 1,000.

Hey.

Hi.

- Yeah, I just checked into the motel.

Oh, where is it?

- Yeah, it's a Budget Inn out in Yucca Valley.

Yeah, the drive is fine.

It was productive, I guess.

Not sure if any of it will be worth printing, but--

M-hm.

Yeah, I know.

I did see this abandoned housing development.

I think it might actually be like an old military base.

Oh, really?

Yeah, it was--

it was really creepy.

Uh-huh.

Get lost there?

No, I didn't get lost.

Not yet.

That's OK.

Yeah.

Yeah, not having the cell or GPS, it's like it used to be.

It's like how it was when I first started Yeah,

this is going to sound kind of corny,

but I already have this feeling of freedom.

Good?

M-hm.

Yeah.

It is.

That's what I'm looking for.

That's what I needed.

Yeah, it just feels good to be away from the studio

and out on the road again.

- Well, remember, the mortgage is due.

The credit card is due.

Can't be late on that again, or there's going to be penalties.

Yeah.

Oh, I know.

Yeah, I'll pay it when I get back OK.

- Well, I should have a check from the gallery.

Walter said it'll be a good one.

He always tells you that.

- No, he doesn't always say that.

Yeah, I know.

I know.

Sorry.

I love you.

I know you do.

I love you too.

Yep. OK.

Good night.

Fuck.

Where are you.

Tell me where you are!

I don't know.

Tell me where?

- You would fix your car just like you intended.

- Young man, you have no right to take the car.

Yeah.

What if I don't fix it?

- You'll fix it all right, mister.

You better not take too long either.

Supposing I get a fix.

What happens then?

Me and my girl go away.

We won't bother you.

How do we know you'll keep your word?

Looks like you're just going to have to take it,

ain't you, mister?

Bang.

- Hey, I'm just checking in to see if that check showed up.

So today, I went out to this pet cemetery,

and I stopped by this junkyard on the way,

and I actually took a portrait of this old man that

lived there.

And it got me thinking about shooting more people.

And I'm always--

I'm so focused on the landscape and the buildings.

Everything but people.

Oh, I went and watched the sunset out by the sand dunes.

It was amazing.

I didn't even photograph it.

I just wanted to experience it.

The light was this pure, extraordinary light.

And with the absolute silence, it just was transcendent.

Got me-- I don't got me thinking about this trip.

It's like beginning again.

Actually, it made me kind of excited about the future.

Yeah, anyway, enough rambling.

I will try you tomorrow.

Yeah, OK.

I love you.

- How could you be that fucking stupid!

Don't call me that!

I'll call you whatever I want.

Oh, shit.

- Look what you fucking did to yourself.

Yeah.

Yeah, hey.

I want to report a disturbance.

Yeah, but, look, I don't want to get mixed up in it, OK?

Room 6.

No, I'm in room 6.

The fight, the disturbances next door to my room.

Yeah.

Yeah.

OK, I'll take a look.

Keep it down.

Oh, shit.

- The guy next door, what are you guys doing here?

Don't worry about it, man.

Oh, fuck.

Yes.

Yeah.

I just wanted to be a good neighbor and apologize,

for earlier.

All that damn noise.

Yeah, it's no problem.

No, no, no, it's a problem.

It's a problem.

She is a problem.

You know how they can get, man.

You have a sister?

No.

Is she OK, your sister?

OK?

Yeah.

Yeah, she's OK.

She would like you.

You want me to get her?

I mean, she'd probably want to apologize, too,

for all that noise.

Yeah.

No, it's a bit late, so--

What is that back there?

It's a camera.

- That's a funny-looking camera, man

Yeah, it's an 8 by 10.

- How about you, ah, take our picture?

No, it's getting late.

- You're not going to make me beg, are you?

Come on, man, real quick.

She'd just love it.

Yeah.

OK, sure.

All right.

Hot dog.

Fuck.

- I can't believe I forgot my manners earlier.

I'm Renny.

This is my sister, Suzy Q.

I'm Alex.

Hi.

Come on in.

Make yourselves at home.

Well, I figure maybe just--

yeah, just sit on the edge of the bed.

- Yeah, the man with the camera, whatever you say.

That's true.

- Oh, shit, man, this is for you.

It's a peace offering of sorts, you know, for earlier.

- Oof. Jesus!

Smells like turpentine.

Ha, ha!

It'll take paint off just like it.

Has some.

It's real good.

- Yeah. Nah, I don't know.

Oh, come on.

You're going to like it.

Come on.

All right.

Fuck it.

Ooh!

Ooh!

Damn, what is that?

- That's what you call my secret recipe.

It tastes like maple syrup.

Ooh!

Oh, god.

Have some more.

- You sure this isn't going to make me go blind?

- Not if you watch yourself, man.

Just fucking watch it.

Oh, fuck.

Yeah.

All right.

Woof!

I gotta take this photograph while I can still see straight.

All right.