Inside Llewyn Davis

[medium-tempo acoustic guitar intro begins]

You probably heard that one before.

If it was never new and it never gets old, then it's a folk song.

You and Mikey used to do that song.

Yeah.

Boy, you were some mess last night.

Yeah, sorry, Pappi, I'm an asshole.

Ah, I don't give a shit. It's just music.

Your friend is out back.

My friend?

Said he was a friend of yours.

Guy in a suit.

You a funny boy, huh?

What?

Had to open your big mouth, huh, funny boy?

I had to… what?

That's what I do for a living.

Who… who are you?

What you do?

"What you do."

I'm sorry… what, what--

Oh!

You sit there in the audience last night, yelling your crap.

Oh, for Christ's sake! You yell stuff, man. It's a show.

It wasn't your show.

It's not the opera, jackass, it's a fucking baskethouse.

-Whoa! -We're leaving this fucking cesspool.

You can have it.

What you do.

Hello?

Shit.

- -Shit.

Goddamn it!

Hello?

Hi. Um…

Could you, um… Could I leave this cat with you?

With me?

Yeah, it's, um, it's the Gorfeins' cat.

Just till one of them gets back?

With me?

It slipped out and I don't have the key.

Could you just keep it till they get back?

I have to run the elevator.

I mean, that's not a problem, is it?

-It's the Gorfeins' cat. -I have to run the elevator.

- Sociology. -Professor Gorfein, please.

He's in a lecture now. Could I take a message?

Uh…

Yeah, could you, could you just tell him

uh, don't worry, Llewyn has the cat.

Llewyn… is… the cat.

No, Llewyn has the cat.

I'm Llewyn. I have his cat.

Oh, shit.

-Hey, Nunzio. -Yeah. They ain't home, though.

Yeah, I know. Can I use the fire escape?

Hiya.

- -

- -How we doing?

We're doing great.

Really? The new record's doing well?

Uh, how we doing?

Not so hot, I gotta be honest. Ginny!

-Where's Cincinnati? - What?

Cincinnati! It's not in here.

It should be in there.

It's not in here, I'm telling you.

- Is it-- - Cincinnati?

- Yeah. - I got it…

- What? - I got it!

- You got Cincinnati? - Yeah, yeah, you want it?

-Could I have it? - Should I bring it in?

-Yeah. -Do you owe me something?

You have to owe me something.

I wish.

People need time, you know.

Get to know you, buy you as a solo act.

Even know you're a solo act.

Cincinnati is not good.

-That's it, right? -Yeah, this is it, God help me.

Nobody knew us when we were a duo.

It's not like me and Mike were ever a big act.

It's not a big re-education…

for the public.

Mel?

-Mel! -

How you doing, kid?

Mel, there was no advance on my solo record.

There's gotta be some royalty. Fuckin' Christ's sake,

it's cold out, I don't even have a winter coat.

Jesus Christ. You're kidding me.

-Take this, kid. -Mel, no.

I insist. I insist!

I don't want your fuckin' coat. What'll you wear?

-Kid, I'll get by. -It won't even fit me.

This is… It's bullshit, Mel!

It's just a big fat fuckin' bluff!

Bluff?

Kid, what are you ta…

Bluff? I offer you this?

Get the fuck out of my office!

All right, thanks for the coat.

What? All right, well… wait.

Ah, shit.

Let me give you 40 bucks.

Explain the cat.

Yeah, sorry. It's, uh, it's the Gorfeins' cat.

-I crashed there last night. -What's its name?

Uh… I… I don't know. He snuck out the door when--

Do you think you're staying here tonight?

You mean, uh… I was hoping to.

-Is Jim around? -Jim's not here.

-We told Troy he could crash here. -Troy Nelson, how are you?

-How you doing? Llewyn Davis. - Oh, hello.

I've heard your music, and heard many nice things about you

from Jim and Jean and from others.

You have not heard one nice thing about me from Jean. Ever.

-Have you? -You tell the Gorfeins you'll take care

of their cat, and then bring him here for us to take care of.

I've heard nice things from Jim and Jean and others.

I didn't… It just happened.

-It's a peaceful cat. -It's very contented.

So I can't stay here tonight?

Look, we told Troy he could stay.

We don't keep the couch free on the chance you'll show up.

If this is awkward,

I could hitch back to Fort Dix after I perform tonight.

Don't be silly. We offered you the couch.

You… You're gigging somewhere?

Troy's playing at the Gaslight. We'll meet Jim there.

Well, I could sleep on the floor here, and Llewyn could have the couch.