Clean

Six months later

Paris, a few weeks later

Peking duck.

Stir-fried chicken.

Curry chicken.

White rice?

For me.

Here you go.

Thanks.

All done?

Yes, thank you.

Careful. Everyone knows. They want to tell Mr. Li.

You'll get us all in trouble.

And with the pills, you're totally spaced out.

Fried noodles, two white rice,

stir-fried shrimp, and Peking duck for two.

Another fried noodles. Sorry, sorry!

Hey.

What happened?

Nothing, I'm sick of this shitty job. That's all.

I couldn't get your prescription. And I'm really worried.

Alexis hasn't answered for four days.

But I'm all out!

Yes, I know, you told me. And I told you I'd do my best.

We better get going.

Who's she?

Aline, Alexis's ex-girlfriend.

They broke up a long time ago, but she still has the keys to his place.

We haven't spoken in over a year. This is a pain in the ass.

I already tried to open. I told you, it's chained from inside.

See what I mean?

Alexis!

Don't bother, I already tried.

Allow me.

- What are you doing? - Let me try.

Let's clean up first, then we'll call the cops.

Give me a trash bag.

Thank you. Here you go.

Thanks.

- You should lay off that stuff. - Fuck you.

It's none of my business.

It's your life.

What are you doing? Are you coming or not?

Why are you using that tone?

Come on. You asked me for a ride. Now I'm going back to help Aline.

And what should I do? Come with you and wait for the cops?

I can drop you off somewhere or leave you here. No problem.

I don't need your help.

You pity me. I don't need pity.

Emily, just shut up.

You're only here because I'm Lee's wife.

- Oh, fuck off! - Get lost! Get lost!

No need to say it twice.

Jean-Pierre!

Jean-Pierre!

Jean-Pierre!

What's going on with Tricky?

I spoke to the manager. He's putting you on the guest list.

Who the hell cares about the guest list?

I just want five minutes with him.

I know, I'm waiting for an answer.

I need to talk to him.

You think he'll help you get your son back?

Wake up!

Look at you. You think you can raise a kid?

You want some money for a cab?

I know we're not Limp Bizkit or System of a Down,

but for once I'd like to do a sound check.

The band before you screwed it up. I can't be everywhere.

Don't take it so personally. It's always the same story.

What I'm telling you is that the club owners suck.

They care about selling beer, but they don't know a fuck about music.

I take it personally because you yell at me and I have that.

I'm upset. I had to get it off my chest.

Those are the demos I did with Gloria. I got them this morning.

Who's Gloria?

I told you about her. I met her in prison.

Are you angry?

You bet your ass I am. You piss me off.

In prison, who was the punk, you or her?

No, it's like that for men.

For us, the problem was not to get raped by the guards.

But, if you care, I managed just fine, thanks.

Thank God for your letters. Everyone else forgot about me.

Oh, come on.

Except the press, who wrote tons of crap.

Yeah, here too.

Skip the first two tracks, they're mediocre remixes.

Start with the third.

You do the vocals?

Yeah, I wrote the lyrics, too. Gloria did the music.

Come on, that was an easy shot!

Is Gloria still in jail?

She was involved in a holdup.

A guy got hurt.

She's been in for over a year and hasn't got to trial yet.

How many tracks do you have?

About 10.

I know it sounds pretty rough, but obviously the conditions were lousy.

I don't know what to say. Not good, not bad.

Like a lot of other stuff.

You mean it sucks.

No, I didn't say it sucked.

Come on, let's get out of here.

Hello. I'm Irene Paolini's assistant.

- Hello. - This way.

She shouldn't be long, but with her you never know.

She's always late, and I apologize for her.

It's a real pain.

I know. I used to work with her.

- Yes, I know. - Really?

Yes. I watched you every week on the cable.

Introducing video clips, MTV-style, dressed like a total bimbo.

I watched the show for you.

I was a huge fan. I still am.

Thanks.

When was it? At least six years ago.

How old were you?

15. I was in high school.

I wore my hair and clothes like you.

Thanks.

Do you want something to drink? A coffee?

Yeah, I do.

My name is Sandrine.

We spoke last week.

Oh, yeah?

I put your call through to Irene.

I haven't stopped thinking of you since.

Last night I dreamt of you.

Was it a good dream or a bad one?

A little of both.

I went to a hotel.

We had an appointment, but they wouldn't let me in.

It wasn't even a fancy place.

I told them, "I'm a friend of Emily Wang's."

They wouldn't believe me. I became hysterical.

I was crying because it got later and later.

Fortunately Lee Hauser was there.

He recognized me and let me in.

But we got up to your room, and you'd disappeared.

The bed was left unmade.

- And? - And nothing.

I woke up.

Are you in Paris for good?

I don't know. It depends on a lot of things.

It depends on Irene Paolini?

I need to find a real job, to do something with my life.

Right now, things aren't great.

It's true that I'm counting on her.

Did she offer you something serious?

No, nothing.

We just spoke for a minute.

How typical. All she cares about is herself.

The heyday of cable is over.

The network doesn't give her much freedom.

It's a police state.

I wanted to work with Irene Paolini because she tried to change things.

I guess that's sort of true.

But now she's given up.

You're being harsh.

No.

You had your share of blows. You've lashed, too.

People badmouth you, but you haven't given up.

That's why I respect you and not Irene Paolini.

- Yo. - Hello.

- Are you okay? - Yes.

Listen, I couldn't get ahold of him.

They came late and went to do the sound check.

But I got you a ticket.

Thanks.

- But no backstage pass. - But you said you would.

Yeah, I know, but they're being control freaks.

I could barely get one for myself.

Tricky has to convince Lee's father.

I want to see my son again.

- I'll tell him. - At least once in a while.

It's only human. I'm not asking much.

I wrote him a letter. Will you give it to him?

Call me on my cell phone after the concert.

I'll tell you where we're eating.

Come meet us.

Did you manage to meet Irene Paolini?

No, she stood me up. I'm waiting for another appointment.

Yes? Yeah, he got your message.

No, I don't know. Someone else gave it to him.

Hold on.

Okay, listen. Apparently, it's not a great time.

- Hello, Jean-Pierre. - How are you?

What I suggest is that...

Meet us at the stage door. It's on Rue Caumartin.

Mr. Li wants to see you.

I called to say I'd be late.

Take care of this. She's your niece.

Follow me.

- No use coming back. - What did I do?

You know. You didn't keep your word.

You must respect your family.

If they respect me. My mother won't speak to me.

I treated you like my own daughter.

I lent you money. I gave you a job.