The Air I Breathe

"No emotion, any more than a wave, can long retain its own individual form."

I've always wondered, when a butterfly leaves the safety of its cocoon,

does it realize how beautiful it has become?

Or does it still just see itself as a caterpillar?

Happiness

When I was a kid, I knew the secret to a happy life.

Play by the rules, work hard in school,

and if you work hard in school, then your reward is more school.

And after more school,

then you're given the best that life has to offer,

a job, and money, and a future,

filled with the unending singular pursuit of more.

It's going up a quarter of a point. Block it now.

And this is what I was living for.

My happy life.

I envied those who never questioned it. Me?

I needed a way out.

- The usual. - Sure.

I have...

Here's something that I was hoping that you might...

You might take a little... A look at.

- Is there something the matter? - No.

Your track record is perfect.

And with your stock market luck,

we could... You could...

Maybe you should invest more.

No. Small amounts. Just keep it simple.

It's just... You just...

How do you do it?

Sometimes risking everything is the only choice you have.

But you don't seem to be taking any sort of chance.

I wasn't talking about me.

I'm sorry. You're right.

This is none of my business.

Please, don't concern yourself with me piggybacking on any of your stocks.

I would never do that.

I'm not worried.

I know for a fact that you would never do that.

So, where does change come from?

And how do we recognize it when it happens?

...and she's whining about it, saying,

"No, please. It hurts."

- Thanks for the tip. I owe you one. - Yeah. Back-door girl.

All right. Hey, that was my cousin.

We are on for tonight. All right, now, listen up.

All right. This place is the real fucking deal.

Back rooms and everything, so do not fuck around.

We go in, we make our bets, we collect, we get the fuck out.

The fix is in, he's got the winning horse's name.

And get this, shitheads, odds are eight to fucking one.

- Yeah. - It's a sure thing.

All right, we meet downstairs at 7:00.

And keep your mouths fucking shut, especially you, motherfucker.

- Jeez. - Don't worry. We're cool.

Hey! The winning horse? What's the name?

Get this.

Butterfly.

You want somethin'?

I want to put some money down on Butterfly.

In the next race.

Can I use this?

Sure. How much?

10.

$10,000, please.

Wait.

20. 20.

Maybe... How about 50?

You got that much scratch, huh, mister?

No, 'cause if you don't,

you can always borrow something from the house.

Thank you.

I'm gonna have to see your driver's license.

Hey, Louie, file this, will you?

Okay, 50 Gs on Butterfly.

The horses are in the gate.

And they're off!

Jello out in front by a half a length.

Alpha and Santana right behind him, followed by Shooting Star, Perpetrator,

Butterfly and Silky April.

On the inside, Alpha making a move.

He's neck and neck with Jello.

Wait! Here comes Butterfly

- at a surprise dash. - Come on, baby.

This is unexpected! He's passing Alpha.

Passing Jello. Butterfly takes the lead!

- Around the turn they go. It's Butterfly... - Yes!

... followed by Alpha and Jello.

- Oh, my goodness! He's down! - What the fuck?

Butterfly has rolled, and there goes Alpha with him!

- What a terrible accident... - Fuck!

...ladies and gentlemen! - Fuck!

And it's Jello across the finish line. Jello wins.

- What do you guys want me to do? - Shut up!

How did you find this place?

How did you... I'm talking to you! It's a simple fucking question!

Okay, here we go.

- Are you working for the cops? - No.

- I was just trying to gamble. That's all. - You wanted to gamble?

Nobody comes to this place because they feel like a little gambling!

Please, I'm sorry, Del. I wasn't going to run.

I was going to go...

Fuck.

God damn.

You bet on Butterfly.

Yes, I did.

You knew about the fix.

- No. I didn't... I... - Look,

don't lie to me. How?

Come on! Come on! Come on! How did you know about the fix?

I overheard my coworkers, and I...

I like butterflies.

- You like what? - Butterflies.

- Butterflies. - I like butterflies.

He likes butterflies. The horse's name is Butterfly, so he comes here,

and he bets on a fix.

- You know why they call me Fingers? - No.

Well, Mr. Parks here knows why they call me Fingers.

Because two weeks ago, he also came by because

he also felt like gambling.

Hey, I wasn't going to run.

I was gonna get the money from my sister! I was gonna go pick it up!

He lost. And instead of paying me what he owes me,

what does he do?

- He tries to run. - I wasn't trying to run.

I swear to God!

What is it with you guys?

You come here, you make a stupid mistake, and now what?

Now I got to be the bad guy? Is that it? That my job?

I can't enjoy the fucking opera? I got to come here, and be a bad guy?

You think I enjoy this?

- You think I enjoy this? - I don't... I don't... I don't know.

Well, I don't enjoy it. It's guys like you,

and you, Mr. Parks.

You know, you just leave me no choice.

No. You do have a choice. My sister has the money! I...

No! No!

Fucking no!

Oh, fuck! God! You son of a bitch!

You got two weeks to pay me the money. Each day you're late, I cut a finger.

Going somewhere?

You.

- But I... - You're packing.

No, I'm not.

Sit down.

You work for Fingers, don't you?

You have a nice home. A good job.

You're good at it. And you just threw it all away. Why?

- Please, I don't know. - Why did you do this?

I don't know. I was stupid. I wasn't thinking.

- Why did you do this? Why did you do this? - Please.

Stop it!

- Why did you do this? - I don't know!

- Yes, you do. - No, I don't!

- You do! - No, I don't!

- No! - Tell me!

I... I...

Here, take it.

Go on.

It's all I can give you.

Wait.

What am I supposed to do with this?

I don't know anymore.

Wait.

Wait.

Please.

Sometimes, being totally fucked can be a liberating experience.

Today, I see things in a new light.

I see the money move through this place like it does every day.

I see the cameras that will monitor my every move.

I see the panic button that the tellers will push, alerting the police.

And when that button's pushed,

I know that the police will arrive no earlier than four minutes,

which gives me plenty of time,

assuming I've already planned my escape route,

which I have.

And finally, I see a strap bag with a lead-lined pouch, filled with money.

No one else will see it. But I'll know it's there.

Everybody, freeze.

Freeze.

Everybody, freeze!

Dude, that was crazy. Are you okay?

Are you okay?

Let's go! Move, move, move!

This is the police. You are surrounded.

Do not attempt to run, or make any sudden moves.

Drop your weapon, raise your hands,

and walk forward to the south end of the roof.

Put the bag and the gun down!

This is your last warning.

Drop your weapon, or you will be fired upon!

Call the... We need to get him on...

Sir, sir, can you tell me what happened to you?

- I don't know. - Sir,

can you remember what happened to you?

I don't know. You tell me.

Pleasure

As far back as I can remember, I've never lost a fight.

- Come on, Markie, hurry up! - I can't do it anymore! Can't run anymore!

I didn't fight well because I was big or fast or mean.

I fought well because I could see the future.