The Time Being

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1

There's a part of me that

feels a man has got to just do

a thing that wakes him up

in the middle of the night.

Things that he can't...

can't live without.

Can't survive without.

Good morning, Daddy.

You wanna see what I'm working on?

Mm-hmm.

Oy.

What if it's just me and

you, you gonna buy a painting?

Daniel, I love you, you know.

I know.

What do you think?

I think it's incredible.

Olivia.

Hi.

Hey, buddy.

Hi.

I got to steal him for a sec.

All right.

Okay.

This is the artist.

Daniel.

Hello.

Henry.

Nice to meet you.

And this is my lovely wife

Olivia and my son Marco.

Tell me about your work.

Are you trying to

recreate still lives?

Let's go see the lights, Mommy.

Not really.

How long does it take you

to paint one of these?

Um, how long does it take me to mix

the paint and put it on the canvas

or how long does it take

for the idea to develop?

How long does it take you

to paint a painting?

A month.

Really?

A month.

Depending on the size

of the canvas, yeah.

Of course.

Well, have you thought

about painting anything else?

Let me find Eric for you.

You okay?

I don't see any green dots, Eric.

I really need these to move.

It's opening night, all right.

You've got 30 more days.

Besides, Apples to Pit sold.

That's something.

Where is he?

I talked to him on the phone.

He wants to talk to you.

He wants you to deliver

the paintings personally.

Do you think it's to

commission new work?

Mm, that's the idea.

I'm gonna go see that guy

about the commission.

You deserve it.

Hello.

I'm looking for...

Warner Dax.

I'm going to the pharmacy now

and then do some shopping.

You're stopping

at the pharmacy, right?

Life is a lot less complicated

when you can't hear women.

Are you comfortable?

No, please.

Sit down.

How's your family?

They are fine. How do you

know about my family?

I read it in your artist bio.

Do they support you?

I thought you wanted

to see more work.

A family that supports you.

That's grand.

I'm very lucky.

Artists don't have families.

You paint from photographs,

don't you?

They're my photographs and I

refer to them while I paint.

I would like to see something.

I would like you

to film it for me.

Anjelica has a video camera.

She'll give it to you.

Okay.

Film the sunrise.

I would like to see the ocean

and the sky in one frame.

No land, no beach.

I'm a painter.

Well, then I'd better offer

this to someone else.

Perhaps someone who

has the good sense

to see an opportunity

when it is presented to them.

One thousand dollars.

Two thousand.

If I intended to pay that much,

I would have offered it to you.

All right.

Good.

- You want me to...

- I want you to do exactly what I ask

and if you do it well, perhaps

I'll have something else for you.

How long do you want it?

As I said, the sunrise.

Film it on Tuesday morning

and then bring it here

Wednesday evening, about 8:00.

Don't make any copies.

The sun will be

rising and setting somewhere

every second for the

rest of your son's life.

What's his name?

Marco.

Do you spend much

time with him?

As much as I can.

You have children?

You mean, do I have someone

to leave my money to?

This is not bad.

I can create a painting

using these images,

or you could commission me

to paint something else.

So you are quite happy to whore yourself

out and paint anything anybody wants?

Look, do you want me to

paint something for you?

What do you wanna paint?

I don't understand you.

You asked me here.

I want you to film

something else for me.

What?

I'd like to see children.

Children?

Yes.

I'd like to see children

playing on a jungle gym.

You know the park at the end of

Venice Beach near Windward Street?

I want you to go there.

Around 4:
00 tomorrow.

No, go at 4:
00 exactly.

All right, look, I don't know

what you're into, but...

I just told you I want

to see children at play

and you accuse me of being

some kind of deviant.

Is there anything else

you'd like to say to me

or would you just

like to leave now?

I work tomorrow,

I can do it Friday.

Don't you think a man has

to do whatever he has to do

in order to support his family?

I'll give you $2,000.

Bring the footage

exactly 5:
00 on Friday.

Would you give me the

card in there, please

I found a huge one.

You did?

You wanna pick it?

Yeah.

These are growing

in really well.

Did you film what I asked?

Yes, wanna see it?

Sit down.

Have you told your wife

that you're working for me?

Of course, she's my wife.

I share everything with her.

Oh, really, everything?

Yes.

Well, if you tell anybody else,

these meetings are over.

What do you do for a living?

That's a very American way

to qualify a person's value.

I was in commodities.

Does it make any difference?

I'm very tired today. Why don't

you show me what you filmed?

Come on, come on.

Would you ask Anjelica please

to bring me some water?

You'll find her

standing by the door.

- Warner would like...

- What is this?

Can't you even take

a f***ing direction?

I told you the jungle gym.

I thought the other kids

were more interesting.

I don't recall asking you

what you think is interesting.

Look...

In fact, I'm sure I asked you

not to think at all.

This is a waste of my time.

Get out.

Hey, I'm trying here.

I skipped work, so that

I could get that for you

and I expect to get paid.

You do your job properly,

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