Wetlands

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1

[Man sobbing]

Can't no more.

Can't no more, can't no more!

I can't no more!

[wind howling]

[glass shatters]

[sobbing]

Help.

[gulls calling]

[ship horn blowing]

[Surfer Girl narrating]

All around Atlantic City,

you get the wetlands.

Miles and miles of this swamp.

Everyone knows each other

around here.

The cops, the surfers,

the crooks.

The degenerates.

So when this stranger

came to town that warm fall day,

we all noticed.

Those few people that move here

try to escape their past.

One came to chase it.

The renter is here.

You shoulda met him first,

just like I told ya.

[clatter]

[gulls calling]

Hey, dude.

Oxy, pops?

Get you fully at peace,

my man.

[phone ringing]

[Katherine on TV]

Four years to date,

Hurricane Sandy

ravaged our shores...

- Mm-hmm. OK.

- ...and not all is dandy yet.

We lost our loved ones.

We lost our homes.

- [Babel] Captain Schmidt?

- And my heart goes out to you.

[Babel]

All right, I got it.

[phone beeps]

[Katherine on TV] No wonder, folks.

We are from Jersey.

We are tougher

than some wind and rain.

Babel Johnson.

Schmidt.

Sit down.

I'm good. Thanks.

Florida, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah, I heard.

You know, John and I were

in the academy together.

He loves you like a son.

So I'm gonna do this, for him.

But I sure as hell

ain't gonna like it.

I can do good work for you.

Yeah... forget about the work.

All I'm concerned about is that

crap you pulled up in Philly.

From what I hear,

you created

one major league

sh*t storm up there.

So take my advice

and keep to yourself,

mind your own business,

'cause this is

the last stop for you, son.

You screw this up...

you won't be able to get

a job as a night watchman,

not in this state.

You understand?

Appreciate the chance.

Drop by the station

a week from Monday.

I got some old-timers that are

turning in their papers.

There'll be room for you then.

- [reggae music playing]

- [patrons shouting, laughing]

[music continues]

[Man]

All right.

[music fades]

[woman sighs]

[exhales]

[Savannah]

'92.

LA was like

a Guns N' Roses video then.

There was the Roxbury

and the Viper Room

and a shitload of blow.

- And you started surfing.

- In Point Dume

with the cool dudes.

Venice was just a bunch

of stupid kids jumping around.

I wanna take my boards

out west so bad.

- I'd sell a ton of 'em.

- You know I wanted a Beemer?

So I told my dad,

"Either you give me a Beemer,

"or I'm gonna make a porno

and send the tapes

to everyone at your club."

You bad!

Resourceful.

He deserved it anyway.

- [lighter clicks]

- Did I tell you about the idea I had for the logo?

Oh, it's 4:
00. Do you mind

checking on my daughter?

I'm too chilled to get up.

Hey. What are you doing

up so late?

I don't like being alone.

We were just hanging

with friends.

A hundred of them?

Every single night?

Go to sleep, and tomorrow

we go to the skate park.

Promise?

No fail.

- [hip hop playing]

- [kids shouting]

Water, concrete,

it don't matter.

A board's a board, right?

Get up here and take some falls.

[gulls calling]

[Surfer Girl narrating] And that's

me, born and bred in the wetlands,

chasing my dreams

down the boardwalk.

Whoa, hey!

Hey, don't hurt me!

Don't hurt me, man.

I got two, OK?

Let's split.

I see you round those kids

again, I'll f*** you up good.

OK.

There you go.

- [chanting]

- [beads rattling]

[dog barking]

My name is Babel.

I was a heroin addict.

Had a little girl...

called Amy.

I love her very much.

Have an ex-wife.

Savannah.

For my daughter...

I managed to stay clean

for 360 days.

Hello, Babel.

[Katherine on TV] And as

October comes to an end,

we can answer

the burning question,

is Mother Nature going

to trick us or treat us?

It's safe to say

she's treated us.

We dodged the big bullet,

no major storms.

From Atlantic City,

it's Katherine Buchanan.

I wish a great night to you all.

[Woman]

And we're out.

- [theme song playing]

- [crew murmuring]

[theme song ends]

My time of year, huh?

Halloween.

Kids think I'm a goblin

or something, they love me.

Instead you're just a junkie.

I'm sorry, alright.

I... I'm trying hard, I swear.

Sometimes I slip.

I won't bother those kids

no more, I promise.

What kind of name is Babs?

Hey, man. Easy, man.

[Babel]

How you know my name?

Well... I know sh*t.

That's my trade.

Babel. Mother was

a religious type.

[Man]

That's f***ed up.

- I can be useful to you.

- Do what now?

I check things out.

You know, we can make

transactions, you know?

[engine revving]

[horn honking]

[siren chirps]

[engine revs, sputters, dies]

Oh, yeah!

Oink, oink! [chuckles]

Yeah, good idea, big guy,

get outta here.

[chuckles]

Wow, look at you.

Man!

I tell ya,

I love you already.

Hey, hey, easy.

[Sheehan] Look, I just came

by to take you to dinner.

I'll tell you everything

in the car.

Oh, you got

a nice sports jacket?

Hey, you know what,

forget about it.

But we gotta roll

'cause we're late.

We're late for dinner,

we're late for the game.

And if we're late for the game,

that's a bad omen.

It's not good.

I got ten big ones

on them birds.

Eagles, don't fail me tonight.

Come on, man, we gotta roll.

Are you with me, partner?

Come on.

Partner?

What, the captain

didn't tell ya?

Jesus Christ.

Patty Sheehan, detective.

Babel Johnson.

[Sheehan]

OK, Babs.

Good. So...

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