Where Mothbloods Bloom

- So what?

What are you just gonna leave me here?

You're just gonna-- - I don't know.

I can't take you home.

- Do you even care what happens to me?

- [Autumn] Of course, I care what happens to you.

(sighs) I want you to be okay, but you gotta figure it out yourself.

- You are being such a selfish bitch right now.

We have a good life.

(train roars) (car beeps) (hazard lights click) (door handles clank) (Autumn sighs) (door bell dings) - Hey, can I use your phone?

- Sorry, workers only.

- It'll just be really-- - It's management, I'm sorry.

- (sighs) Okay.

(Autumn sighs) Hi.

Can I use your phone?

I lost my keys, I just need to talk to my mom.

I'll only be a second.

(Zane sighs) Thanks.

(footsteps) (June exhales) - Yay!

- Yeah (laughs)!

(Zane sighs) (phone rings) - Simone?

- Yeah, it's me.

- Simone, I'm sorry, I know it's late.

I closed my eyes, and-- - Mhm.

- My day got away from me.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

I had to deal with a blowout today.

- [Simone] Mm, it's okay, I get it, I understand.

- Is she up?

- [Simone] Zane, I just put her to bed.

- Oh, can I please talk to her?

- [Simone] Hold on, let me see if she's awake.

(coins clank) (slot machine beeps) (slot machine jiggles) (slot machine beeps) - [Zane] So what color are your nails, baby?

- [June] Green.

- Green?

Well, you didn't always like green.

- [June] Yeah, that's my new favorite color.

- Oh okay, well, honey, if you don't like what daddy got you, I can take it back, and I can get you something green instead.

- [June] What you talking about?

- You didn't get a gift from daddy in the mail?

- No, where is it?

- You think that maybe somebody must've got it on accident?

(blinkers click) Has anybody been comin' around the house?

- [June] Mommy's got a friend that come over and help me with my homework.

- [Simone] June, that's enough, give me the phone.

Listen, I'm exhausted, she's exhausted, we, we'll talk about this in the morning, okay?

Goodnight.

(ominous music) (tools rattle and clank) - So what took you so long to get here?

- Not a lot of us workin' tonight, what you do?

- I was goin' down 40 West and some deer jumped out in front of me, and-- - And you swerved to miss it?

- I didn't wanna kill it.

- Well-- - Yo, sir, sir, excuse me.

Excuse me, hey, hi, I was wonderin' if maybe you had a light on you by chance?

- Oh, no, no, I'm sorry.

I don't.

- Oh, that's alright.

That's alright, hey, listen, listen, hey.

So here's.

Here's the thing, man.

- Hey, you're gonna-- - I just got out of the hospital, and I don't got a place to go.

And I'm just lookin' for a little something to put in my stomach.

- Hey, you're gonna need a wheel.

- Maybe you can take this off me, and you know-- - What you say?

- I said you're gonna need a wheel, I don't have one with me.

- There's no scratches on it.

Maybe you can take it-- - Well, I don't.

If you don't get out of here.

- Just take anything.

- I need a new tire?

- No, I got the tire, but-- - Hey, look, I'm tryin', dealin' with my own right now.

- Nothing to it, man.

- You said I need a wheel?

- Yeah, there's a hole there-- - Man, if you don't get out of here!

So what's wrong?

- There's a hole in the wheel, it won't hold the pressure.

I've got a tire.

- If I'm not movin', I'm not makin' money, I cannot afford to just sit here.

- [Man] I understand.

- Okay, well-- - Give me a hour.

I'll be back in a hour.

- Look, I know you've got something please.

- If you don't get out of my face!

(car revs) Listen, I cannot wait anymore, I've been here for two hours.

- What's wrong with you, get up, oh my god.

- It's not something you can see from the outside.

I'm sorry.

(Zane sighs) - Alright.

Fine.

- You're alright, alright.

Come on, get up, get up, get up.

- Aye yo, get up.

- Hey, look, look, look, I am really sorry.

- Look, I ain't start this, he came up on me.

- I know.

(boy spits) - Man, I bet I beat the-- - I'm sorry, look.

He's really sick, he's in recovery.

I know he started this.

I know you didn't mean to do anything wrong, okay?

So let's, everything's okay, let's just walk away.

(truck lift squeals) (hazard lights click) What's wrong with you, get up, come on.

Get up.

(Darren grunts) (slot machine beeps) Thanks.

- You wanna sit down?

(Autumn sighs) - You should have some water.

(Autumn sniffs) Sorry.

- [Autumn] It's not your fault.

(Autumn sighs) - Is your mom gonna come and get you?

- She didn't pick up.

(police sirens blare) - Wait, whoa, whoa, wait.

Where you goin'?

- I. I.

- What are you doing?

- (sniffs) It's my fault.

- What's your fault?

(Autumn sighs) That has nothing to do with you, that isn't you.

That cannot be helped.

Just.

You have a seat, and we'll try your mom again in a few minutes, okay?

(Autumn sighs) (Autumn exhales) It doesn't mean anything.

- Yeah.

(Autumn exhales) - You hungry?

- Yeah.

- Wonder if there's something?

Not a certain dessert here, but I'm wondering if they have birthday cake.

- Is today your birthday?

- Oh no.

It's my daughter's birthday.

- Oh.

- Well, yesterday (laughs).

- How old is she?

- She turned six.

- Oh.

(Zane laughs) - And she's.

Since I kinda, well, I wasn't there, and I didn't get a chance to really celebrate, maybe you can have some cake with me?

- Yeah.

- Sound good?

- Yeah, that sounds good.

- Alright.

- Can I see a picture of her?

- Yeah, sure.

(Zane exhales) Here she is.

(Zane laughs) - [Simone] Okay, you gotta make a wish.

- Yeah, that's June Bug.

- Oh.

- That's my bug.

- Yay!

- Look at her.

(Zane laughs) She's beautiful.

(slot machine beeps) (coins rattle) (slot machine beeps) (melancholy music) (upbeat music) - [Narrator] Film School Shorts is made possible by a grant from Maurice Kanbar.

Celebrating the vitality and power of the moving image.

(upbeat music) (bright music)