The Soloist

en
00:02:28 "Points West" by Steve Lopez.
00:02:31 A construction foreman in Griffith Park
00:02:34 Hey!
00:02:36 He saw a cyclist cartwheel off his bike
00:02:38 and slam face-first into the unforgiving
00:02:44 Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
00:02:45 As we begin our descent
00:02:47 we ask that you please be sure
00:02:51 A 911 call brought out the troops
00:02:57 - What happened?
00:02:59 - Do you know what happened?
00:03:03 I don't remember any of this,
00:03:06 - Our batteries are off.
00:03:08 Listen to me. Wait a minute.
00:03:11 Hypochondriac.
00:03:13 OR 2.
00:03:15 County-USC was
00:03:18 and I quickly realized
00:03:20 that if you find yourself there
00:03:21 with nothing more than
00:03:29 you are one lucky Angeleno.
00:03:44 Wow.
00:03:50 Ready.
00:03:56 I'm not entirely comfortable with this.
00:04:13 Thank you.
00:04:22 You have no new messages.
00:04:26 You have no new messages.
00:04:31 Okay.
00:04:35 Really?
00:04:44 Doctors told me to expect
00:04:49 Christ. All right.
00:04:51 I'm not asking for sympathy.
00:04:56 I'm not asking for sympathy.
00:04:57 I just want you to understand
00:04:59 if I start writing about
00:05:01 Governor Schwarzenegger's doing.
00:05:03 S- C-H-W-A-R-Z... Scratch that.
00:05:07 Passe. Lacks context.
00:05:29 Right. So the question is...
00:05:30 Hey, Tommy.
00:05:32 Theoretically could I,
00:05:34 his position at the muscle magazine,
00:05:37 Right. And will my non- Teutonic lineage
00:05:42 See, no, that's... That's...
00:05:47 Do I need to have been on steroids
00:05:49 Good.
00:05:52 Gail, I like
00:05:55 I might move it down a paragraph,
00:05:58 Thanks. I'm getting you a new desk.
00:06:02 Good morning, gentlemen.
00:06:06 - Thanks.
00:06:10 I got a study here that says
00:06:13 who read a newspaper
00:06:15 - Forty?
00:06:16 And the group we're losing mostly
00:06:19 - Pull my finger.
00:06:20 Hey, honey.
00:06:22 "Welcome back, Steve. "
00:06:23 Thank you. You know, when Lopez
00:06:25 You had to walk 20 miles to school
00:06:28 ...people cared about
00:06:29 - Am I right, Steve? I mean, Christ.
00:06:31 We're at war, and the only thing
00:06:33 is a Lindsay Lohan cooch shot.
00:06:34 Jesus, did someone
00:06:36 - I thought that was just on the Web.
00:06:37 - All I am saying is...
00:06:39 ...that if you run an excellent,
00:06:41 front-page piece about how corporate
00:06:45 and the only reader response you get
00:06:48 - Meanwhile...
00:06:49 - Fine. Thanks. You read it?
00:06:51 - Did you really?
00:06:52 Meanwhile, Lopez here
00:06:55 and gets, what,
00:06:58 from readers worried about his safety?
00:06:59 - I chased this piece.
00:07:02 There is something
00:07:06 Newsflash, something wrong
00:07:07 Yeah.
00:07:09 That's harassment.
00:07:10 - Mary?
00:07:12 - Please.
00:07:13 - in people's bodies.
00:07:14 - Give some blood and write about it.
00:07:16 I think it would be a good idea for you.
00:07:18 I'm glad you feel that way. I just did that.
00:07:19 What do you think?
00:07:21 The thought in my mind is,
00:07:22 It was funny.
00:07:25 - Readers.
00:07:26 What is that? What do you call that,
00:07:28 - Transference.
00:07:29 Freud. Thank you. No.
00:07:31 Sorry about the face.
00:07:32 - I hate needles.
00:07:37 Originally used as a camp by settlers
00:07:40 outside of what was then
00:07:43 it was called La Plaza Abaja,
00:08:45 Stevie Wonder fan?
00:08:46 My Cherie Amour is the song of my life.
00:08:49 Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
00:08:50 But you really shouldn't write
00:08:52 because you have to treat a violin
00:08:54 You only got two strings.
00:08:58 All I want to do is play music,
00:09:00 that I'm having right here.
00:09:01 This one's gone, this one's gone,
00:09:04 But you get that in
00:09:06 A lot of military statues in Cleveland.
00:09:07 - A very military-oriented city.
00:09:09 You're not gonna get musicians
00:09:11 You got Severance Hall there.
00:09:14 Ohio State University.
00:09:15 Whereas in Los Angeles, you have
00:09:18 you have Los Angeles Lakers.
00:09:20 Those are armies, too.
00:09:22 Roman gable, Roman Catholicism,
00:09:25 - but this guy right here is...
00:09:26 ...the quarterback with the orchestra.
00:09:27 Now the cello could back this guy
00:09:29 but the cello can't be concert master.
00:09:31 No. He leads out, this was
00:09:34 You can't play music
00:09:36 because of the ice and the snow.
00:09:37 That's why I prefer Los Angeles
00:09:39 because it never rains
00:09:41 and if it does, all I have to do
00:09:43 I could play to my heart's content.
00:09:45 I'm flabbergasted about the statue.
00:09:49 - Anyway, nice to meet you.
00:09:51 - No.
00:09:54 'Cause it's just astonishing to sit here
00:09:57 - It... It just blows me away.
00:09:59 It really blows me away
00:10:00 that someone as great as Beethoven
00:10:07 Yeah.
00:10:11 I'm Steve Lopez, LA Times.
00:10:13 - Lopez, L-O-P-E-Z?
00:10:15 Lopez, Los Angeles Times. Mr. Lopez.
00:10:17 - What's your name?
00:10:19 Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Junior.
00:10:20 N- A- T-H- A-N-I-E-L A-N- T-H- O-N-Y
00:10:23 A- Y-E-R-S J-U-N-I-O-R.
00:10:26 Or J-R-period.
00:10:31 I apologize for my appearance.
00:10:36 Me, too.
00:10:43 Who are Nancy, Paul, and Craig?
00:10:46 Those were my classmates at Juilliard.
00:10:51 Good afternoon, Juilliard School.
00:10:53 Registrar's office, please.
00:11:01 What's up?
00:11:03 It's highly classified. I can't tell you.
00:11:06 - How many?
00:11:10 Evidently, it goes like this.
00:11:12 Stock price sinks, we lose reporters.
00:11:14 Stock price sinks more,
00:11:16 That won't produce more or less...
00:11:17 Hi, this is Steve Lopez from
00:11:19 as to whether a Nathaniel Anthony Ayers
00:11:22 A- Y-E-R-S. I'm sorry.
00:11:25 Freaking child lock.
00:11:31 - How is our son, by the way?
00:11:33 He likes his classes.
00:11:36 You should call him.
00:11:37 - I call him.
00:11:39 I call him. He doesn't call me back.
00:11:40 - He calls me back.
00:11:42 - Just try again.
00:11:44 - Yes, Mary.
00:11:45 - I gotta take this call.
00:11:47 - Because I don't have a story. Hello?
00:11:49 I'm sorry, we have no record
00:11:51 of a Nathaniel Anthony Ayers
00:11:54 Really?
00:11:56 But then I don't have a story.
00:12:00 Thanks for checking.
00:12:10 I'm not doing the blood thing.
00:12:14 I got too many other good ideas.
00:12:18 My dad is gonna freak
00:12:22 He loves your column.
00:12:24 What about you?
00:12:27 - Well, I don't really read the newspaper.
00:12:31 But when I do...
00:12:37 Hey! Those aren't all for me, are they?
00:12:40 I'm also going to need a clump of hair
00:12:42 That's easy.
00:12:45 - All right.
00:12:48 Make a fist for me.
00:13:00 Come on.
00:13:01 Crap.
00:13:07 - Lopez.
00:13:09 Yeah, can you just hold on one second?
00:13:10 I'm having a little
00:13:12 This is Rosie Delgado
00:13:16 Mr. Lopez?
00:13:18 Yes. Please continue.
00:13:19 After we spoke yesterday, I realized
00:13:24 So I looked in our matriculates,
00:13:26 Nathaniel Anthony Ayers
00:13:30 and he dropped out toward the end
00:13:33 Thank you.
00:13:35 "Points West" by Steve Lopez.
00:13:40 He stepped back... He backed away.
00:13:43 He... Nathaniel is... Is what?
00:13:47 Nathaniel is...
00:13:51 Nathaniel is missing.
00:14:17 Son of a bitch.
00:14:18 - Raccoons.
00:14:22 - That's the culprit.
00:14:24 What are they doing?
00:14:26 No, they eat the worms in the grass.
00:14:28 They eat the worms in the grass?
00:14:30 Yeah, we had them.
00:14:32 - Wanna know how I got rid of them?
00:14:34 Coyote urine.
00:14:36 - Wow. Coyote urine?
00:14:40 - Remarkable.
00:14:42 Funny.
00:14:43 - Hey, I'm Neil, by the way.
00:15:56 Anxiety, restlessness, euphoria.
00:16:01 I would spend every night tossing
00:16:06 Wow. Okay, and what is the proper
00:16:09 Should I sprinkle it in the yard?
00:16:10 First, you wanna dilute
00:16:13 - Wait, I want to?
00:16:16 And then you're gonna have to hang
00:16:21 So, people are doing this
00:16:23 Oh, yes, sir.
00:16:26 But no Simon Cowell?
00:16:32 I'm gonna call you back a little later.
00:16:52 Hey.
00:16:55 Hey, Nathaniel.
00:16:59 Remember me?
00:17:03 Sorry.
00:17:08 Maybe have a minute when you're done?
00:17:13 Let me know.
00:17:44 I just saw you, so I...
00:17:49 Nothing.
00:18:01 Mr. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times,
00:18:04 Hey, Nathaniel.
00:18:05 I've been searching for Mr. Beethoven,
00:18:06 but he's slipping away like a dream.
00:18:07 I'm trying to get back into shape,
00:18:10 Beethoven's String Quartet,
00:18:12 Violin Concerto, Opus 61 in D,
00:18:14 Fifth Concerto, Opus 73 in E Flat,
00:18:17 there goes a police car, and God is right
00:18:20 I had to dig a hole
00:18:23 But they didn't have
00:18:24 I was looking for you.
00:18:25 ...to use the proper facilities.
00:18:27 Well, it's beautiful here,
00:18:29 and have pigeons clapping
00:18:30 and right there
00:18:32 - Right, that's where I work.
00:18:34 New York, Cleveland, it doesn't matter.
00:18:35 All I have to do is
00:18:37 and I know exactly where I am.
00:18:38 I was thinking about...
00:18:39 I'm in Los Angeles,
00:18:40 - Los Angeles Lakers.
00:18:41 for the paper.
00:18:42 Magic Johnson,
00:18:43 Magic Johnson is a basketball player,
00:18:46 What if I were to wanna write a story
00:18:48 Los Angeles Times,
00:18:50 - Staff writer, Mr. Steve Lopez.
00:18:54 Do you mind if I record this?
00:18:58 A column about how a guy like you
00:19:00 - What do you think of that?
00:19:01 what Mr. Lopez needs to do.
00:19:02 No one could ever stop Mr. Lopez
00:19:04 Are you flying that plane?
00:19:07 No. No, I'm right here.
00:19:11 I don't know how God works.
00:19:12 I called Juilliard, and they said
00:19:15 I bombed right out of there.
00:19:17 - Yeah, what happened?
00:19:18 I don't know.
00:19:21 Anyone I could contact? Family?
00:19:24 Family? Miss Floria Ayers, my mom.
00:19:26 She's a beautician.
00:19:29 I don't do hair. I do my own hair,
00:19:31 but obviously, my mom does
00:19:33 They would come for her.
00:19:37 But I don't know how you're gonna talk
00:19:40 Okay. Sorry to hear that.
00:19:44 Who could I call?
00:19:46 226-962-6746.
00:19:50 Whose number's that?
00:19:51 You know,
00:19:54 The sun is shining.
00:19:56 and I notice that everyone is smiling.
00:19:59 - Delivered just hours before...
00:20:03 Hi, I'm calling for Jennifer Ayers-Moore.
00:20:05 How will we finally win this war?
00:20:07 Hello?
00:20:08 Hi, this is Steve Lopez
00:20:10 I spoke with your aunt, I believe, earlier.
00:20:14 - About what?
00:20:19 Is he dead?
00:20:20 What? No, no, no, he's alive.
00:20:24 Is he all right?
00:20:27 He's... Yeah. He's homeless.
00:20:33 But he seems very bright, and...
00:20:35 And talented, obviously.
00:20:38 I'm, I'm... I'm sorry.
00:20:39 - Your name again, please?
00:20:41 Mr. Lopez, why are you calling?
00:20:43 I'm gonna write
00:20:46 Why?
00:20:50 Because that's what I do. Everyone has
00:20:55 you know, that a Juilliard alum
00:20:58 But he seems smart
00:21:03 And spends his days filling the city air
00:21:08 He plays the violin now?
00:21:11 He's... Yeah. Why?
00:21:18 Bye, Mama.
00:21:37 - Good morning, Nathaniel.
00:21:51 So, what do you want to play for me?
00:21:52 I'm going to play some Beethoven, sir.
00:21:56 He was younger than me
00:21:58 and I wanted to play the piano,
00:22:01 and there's only one at school,
00:22:04 So, I chose the cello. Hardly anyone
00:22:08 And Beethoven was composing
00:22:11 and I'm already older than that,
00:22:12 so I figure I got a lot of
00:22:15 Let's hear you play.
00:22:46 He had the talent, that's for sure.
00:22:52 I told her that I thought he was
00:22:57 I said that if he made
00:23:00 if he really, really gave it all he had,
00:23:07 And he did. He really did.
00:23:09 Go see if Martha's rollers are ready.
00:23:12 Okay, Mama.
00:23:18 Miss Florence, I'll be back in 20.
00:23:20 He ain't gonna get no sleep.
00:23:22 He gonna kill that little girl
00:23:24 $20,000! I told him he gotta buy me
00:23:49 Before long, it got so that was all he did.
00:23:51 No more football, no more baseball.
00:23:56 Day in and day out.
00:24:04 The whole world
00:24:07 And that was all he did.
00:24:10 Music.
00:26:11 Hey, you awake?
00:26:42 You know what I hear
00:26:47 I hear the voice of God coming...
00:26:50 I'm serious.
00:26:58 You got something special here, baby.
00:27:02 A way out.
00:27:05 There is a whole world waiting for you.
00:27:50 "Points West" by Steve Lopez.
00:27:53 Nathaniel was shy in our first encounter.
00:27:57 He took a step back
00:28:00 I liked the way his violin music
00:28:03 drowned out the jackhammers
00:28:08 Nathaniel's first instrument
00:28:11 Strangely, he has never had
00:28:14 He has never had... Period.
00:28:16 He has never had
00:28:19 He switched to the latter
00:28:23 One day, I asked him
00:28:26 "That's easy," he said.
00:28:33 Dear Mr. Lopez,
00:28:35 this morning I read your article
00:28:39 and was deeply moved.
00:28:42 This cello is one I used for 50 years,
00:28:45 until arthritis got the better of me.
00:28:48 Please pass it along to Mr. Ayers
00:28:51 with my prayers
00:29:11 - Nathaniel!
00:29:12 is work as hard as I can
00:29:14 - Hey! Nathaniel!
00:29:16 I won't have it, you know.
00:29:17 - Don't want to have this degradation...
00:29:19 ...because they just won't respect
00:29:21 What are you doing?
00:29:22 ...and I try to tell every one of them,
00:29:24 - Nathaniel!
00:29:28 Don't!
00:29:30 Don't! Don't!
00:29:37 I'm not going to have this nastiness
00:29:40 Good.
00:29:43 Remember when I said
00:29:45 Well, I did.
00:29:47 When people heard that you were
00:29:51 some of them thought you might want
00:29:54 No. I can't cover that.
00:29:57 You don't have to pay for it. It's a gift.
00:29:59 - I'm sure it's a very beautiful instrument.
00:30:01 People are very, very generous.
00:30:03 But, look, here's the deal.
00:30:04 It's not safe for you to have something
00:30:07 You don't have to worry
00:30:08 I've been mugged 24 times.
00:30:10 I will fight to the death
00:30:11 Right, that's my point exactly.
00:30:13 So, apparently there's a place
00:30:14 that's a couple of blocks down
00:30:16 - I can't go... No, I can't go there.
00:30:18 I can't go... No, I can't go there.
00:30:19 - They smoke cigarettes.
00:30:20 - He says you can keep it there.
00:30:22 They do it to torment me. They just...
00:30:24 That's the deal. You wanna play this,
00:30:27 - I can't do that.
00:30:34 Except for this one time. Take it out
00:30:39 - So I can play it here?
00:30:41 and then we're gonna bring it to Lamp.
00:31:02 Laying in there like a pig in a blanket.
00:31:06 Only... Only the greats.
00:31:08 Yo-Yo Ma, Jacqueline du Pre,
00:31:12 and the coolest cucumber of them all is
00:31:15 Janos Starker.
00:31:17 Gotta put rosin on your bow.
00:31:21 A bow needs rosin
00:35:08 So pack it up. We'll bring it to Lamp,
00:35:11 I haven't really gotten a chance
00:35:12 - So...
00:35:14 - You can. Just not here.
00:35:16 - for playing music.
00:35:17 - No.
00:35:18 This is a sidewalk, okay?
00:35:20 - That's the deal. We made a deal.
00:35:23 - You'll put water in it, you'll drown her.
00:35:25 - It will be ruined.
00:35:26 - I gave you the damn thing.
00:35:28 - because, Mr. Lopez, you'll ruin it.
00:35:30 I'm not gonna see you
00:35:31 You don't know what you're doing.
00:35:33 Then put it away.
00:35:35 Thank you.
00:35:39 Because when you start
00:35:43 - Don't make a big deal of it, okay?
00:35:44 In a minute,
00:35:46 and be playing like you never stopped.
00:35:48 - Right?
00:35:49 - I don't want this relationship to end.
00:35:51 - No, I can't do that.
00:35:54 I have my cart there.
00:35:55 What are you doing?
00:35:56 - Just let your fingers go.
00:35:57 Does anyone see
00:35:58 - He's stealing it.
00:36:01 San Julian and 6th.
00:36:03 All right?
00:36:05 - I'll drive. You walk.
00:36:08 See you in a half hour?
00:36:28 For cash money
00:36:30 I'm good.
00:36:42 Jesus.
00:36:44 Fine.
00:36:46 Tennis shoes.
00:36:49 Oh, boy.
00:37:10 One at a time. One at a time.
00:37:20 The pusher. Ten cents.
00:37:24 - Say, hey, is David here?
00:37:29 I'm here for David.
00:37:30 - Who?
00:37:32 David? I can go get him.
00:37:35 Thanks.
00:37:39 David!
00:37:41 Hey.
00:37:52 - Hi.
00:37:55 Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times.
00:37:57 - Don't be scared. Come in.
00:38:01 Every staff has a key,
00:38:02 so if he does come by and I'm not here,
00:38:05 - Well, he'll be here.
00:38:07 He said he was coming.
00:38:08 Can you sign in for me?
00:38:09 - Sure.
00:38:13 - Afternoon.
00:38:15 I mean, it's tired.
00:38:19 that's right for me, you know?
00:38:21 - You know what I'm trying to say?
00:38:23 When they put me on lithium,
00:38:26 it was like a portion of my brain
00:38:29 was fully functional.
00:38:31 You know what I mean?
00:38:33 Because it's like when I take
00:38:36 it totally eliminates
00:38:39 when they first start rising up,
00:38:41 you know, and it stops them, right there.
00:38:44 I don't like that,
00:38:46 Because, see, sometimes
00:38:49 And when they comfort me,
00:38:53 then I no longer have the voices
00:38:56 You understand what I'm saying?
00:38:57 Do you feel what I'm saying to you?
00:39:05 - You mind if I sit here?
00:39:07 All right.
00:39:08 - I'm Steve.
00:39:10 Oh, boy. Hi.
00:39:11 - I knew I picked the right spot.
00:39:17 So are you a new Lamp staff, or...
00:39:20 - No. I'm just waiting for somebody.
00:39:28 I just try to keep Leeann happy.
00:39:30 He is a bright spot in my life.
00:39:35 And we're comfortable together.
00:39:36 Thank you, Leeann.
00:39:41 I call him Piggy Boy and stuff like that,
00:39:43 but I shouldn't,
00:39:45 We thought his problem was cocaine.
00:39:48 - But it was pancreatic cancer.
00:39:50 KK's French, Egyptian,
00:39:53 and I am a quarter French.
00:39:55 I know about disease.
00:39:57 Now I understand people.
00:40:00 and I can comfort them.
00:40:01 They've got Italian nurses, 6'4",
00:40:05 And one of them talked to me
00:40:07 Now, this is probably that the hour
00:40:11 somebody who speaks a harsh
00:40:14 The computer is probably the beast.
00:40:16 My aunt ended up with
00:40:18 because she didn't want to go to bed
00:40:19 with her sex-crazed husband.
00:40:20 He was paying call girls $200 apiece,
00:40:23 going to bed with them
00:40:24 and giving my aunt all kinds of diseases.
00:40:26 I got sick. I was working over there.
00:40:28 And I got sicker than a dog one day.
00:40:31 The neighbor's dog was sick one day
00:40:35 was a packet of tetracycline
00:40:38 So they wouldn't... They were too busy
00:40:41 - You're fantastic.
00:40:52 Ice cold. Ice cold.
00:40:55 "Points West" by Steve Lopez.
00:40:59 I put Nathaniel's new instruments
00:41:05 Fifteen minutes.
00:41:11 Too long, in fact,
00:41:15 you got a deadline tomorrow.
00:41:19 And the story of a guy not showing up
00:41:22 is not a story.
00:41:26 Nathaniel. Nathaniel. Nathaniel.
00:41:48 Okay.
00:42:08 So, you guys are basically united
00:42:12 - That's right.
00:42:14 So, do you non-gather?
00:42:17 And non-worship?
00:42:18 We tried, but...
00:42:22 - Not a lot to talk about.
00:42:25 - Now we have a website.
00:42:31 Anything else you don't believe in?
00:42:33 - Sorry.
00:42:35 - Sorry.
00:42:36 - Lopez.
00:42:39 Sorry, can't hear you.
00:42:40 I said, can you hear this?
00:42:57 This family thinks it can have
00:43:58 This is my apartment.
00:43:59 This is my apartment.
00:44:01 Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Junior.
00:44:34 - I need Charles for the practice.
00:44:36 I am so good, but I still have
00:44:39 There's a fine line in performances.
00:44:43 - I mean, I can't let her beat me.
00:44:46 Half an hour is all it takes for me.
00:44:47 Half an hour.
00:44:51 Nathaniel.
00:44:55 - Nathaniel.
00:44:57 - Nathaniel.
00:44:59 - Nathaniel.
00:45:02 - Nathaniel Ayers.
00:45:06 - Nathaniel. Nathaniel.
00:45:08 - Ayers!
00:45:09 Ma, I'm good, honestly, it's just that...
00:45:13 - I'm real proud of you, baby.
00:45:16 It's just that I'm not always so sure
00:45:21 You are gonna be fine.
00:45:24 It's so frightening, and...
00:45:26 And I'm having trouble
00:45:29 Keeping things separated.
00:45:32 If you'd like to make a call,
00:45:35 If you need help...
00:45:44 - That's where your pain is stored.
00:45:48 - Nathaniel. Nathaniel.
00:45:51 Protect her from the pain.
00:45:53 Nathaniel.
00:45:54 I'll be here to protect you from the pain.
00:45:57 - I'll protect you from the pain.
00:45:59 I'll protect you from the pain.
00:46:01 I'll protect you from their eyes and ears.
00:46:04 Nathaniel.
00:46:05 Are you finding this piece to be
00:46:08 They're listening to you, Nathaniel.
00:46:10 They can hear your thoughts, Nathaniel.
00:46:12 - I can hear your thoughts, Nathaniel.
00:46:15 They can hear your thoughts, Nathaniel.
00:46:18 - Don't think, Nathaniel.
00:46:30 - Run away, Nathaniel.
00:46:32 Run away, Nathaniel.
00:46:34 - Come on. Run.
00:46:36 - You'll have to hide, Nathaniel.
00:46:38 - You'll never get out of there.
00:46:40 - Run! Run! Run!
00:46:43 - Quick, like a jackrabbit.
00:46:46 They're white, heartless, aren't they?
00:46:48 - Heartless.
00:46:49 Hide for me here, Nathaniel.
00:46:51 We see you, Nathaniel.
00:46:53 - They'll see you, Nathaniel.
00:46:55 - There's no hiding, Nathaniel.
00:46:57 You'll never hide well enough.
00:46:58 ...turn you white...
00:46:59 - No hiding for you, Nathaniel.
00:47:01 Whiteness.
00:47:34 You'll take it,
00:47:36 Detroit? Anger management.
00:47:38 It's amazing, right?
00:47:40 Does it look like
00:47:41 Yeah. Man, I'll take him any day.
00:47:43 He quiets everybody down.
00:47:45 - What does he have, schizophrenia?
00:47:50 Well, we should hook him up with
00:47:54 Yeah, I don't get
00:47:57 What do you mean?
00:47:59 What do I mean?
00:48:01 But how do you help somebody
00:48:05 Look at these people.
00:48:07 Every one of them's been diagnosed
00:48:10 And as far as I can tell,
00:48:12 But he needs medication, right?
00:48:15 I'll tell you one thing he doesn't need.
00:48:17 One more person telling him
00:48:25 Son of a bitch.
00:48:27 - Where'd he go?
00:48:29 - Nathaniel.
00:48:35 - Thanks, Steve.
00:48:40 - Keep walking. Keep walking!
00:48:43 - He'll shoot a nigga with a pop.
00:48:46 - You're right about that cheese.
00:48:50 Hey, wait!
00:48:52 Want to buy some candy?
00:49:55 Five-o. Five-o.
00:49:59 No way this is gonna be...
00:50:02 That boy's not the real police.
00:50:04 Oh, man.
00:50:54 Back up.
00:50:57 I went over to the library.
00:50:58 I thought I might pick up
00:50:59 Sonata Number 1, F Major, Opus 5,
00:51:01 Sonata Number 2 in A Major,
00:51:04 What happened?
00:51:06 Overdose, I think.
00:51:07 The other night, someone...
00:51:10 Someone got bones rearranged
00:51:13 I don't understand why anybody
00:51:17 - This where you sleep?
00:51:19 but it's too dirty.
00:51:37 You know, Mr. Lopez, my vision...
00:51:41 I hate to admit it, but I'm gonna have
00:51:43 Just do what he did and just die.
00:51:48 My vision is not far-off stuff,
00:51:50 just basically getting
00:51:53 Honor thy father and mother,
00:51:54 the music will take care of itself.
00:51:57 That's really all you can do.
00:51:58 I mean, when you think about it,
00:52:00 there's not much that
00:52:02 - Would you care for a drink?
00:52:06 Thanks.
00:52:10 Gotta tuck this guy in here,
00:52:14 Put that down there.
00:52:17 You can rest on this.
00:52:24 Do you think of writers often, Mr. Lopez?
00:52:27 Do you think of writers
00:52:34 I write for a living,
00:52:37 and it's not like it used to be.
00:52:42 I love thinking about musicians.
00:52:43 I imagine Beethoven and Mozart
00:52:48 and they just hunger and they thirst
00:52:53 It's angelic.
00:52:56 I believe these children of God are
00:52:59 They're gonna sleep and dream
00:53:27 Our Father,
00:53:33 who art in Heaven,
00:53:35 hallowed be thy name.
00:53:38 Thy kingdom come,
00:53:42 thy will be done,
00:53:45 on earth as it is in heaven.
00:54:03 Give us this day our daily bread...
00:54:05 Just keep it coming. There's plenty.
00:54:06 And forgive us our trespasses,
00:54:10 as we forgive those
00:54:19 I knew only part of his story.
00:54:21 I knew him playing the violin
00:54:24 suspended somewhere between
00:54:31 Every night, my friend Nathaniel tucks
00:54:33 and lays his head
00:54:36 among fallen drunks
00:54:39 as rats the size of meatloaves dart
00:54:50 ...lead us not into temptation,
00:54:54 For thine is the kingdom,
00:54:59 the power and the glory,
00:55:06 forever.
00:55:10 Forever and ever.
00:55:11 I tell him this is no place for him.
00:55:15 He says this is his choice.
00:55:18 Should I take him at his word,
00:55:22 Wouldn't a little arm-twisting be
00:55:25 than leaving him here on the streets
00:55:27 in this lost colony of broken,
00:55:32 I hope you sleep well, Mr. Lopez.
00:55:37 I hope the whole world sleeps well.
00:55:53 A- D-A-M C-R-A-N-E.
00:55:55 Who?
00:00:03 Wondering if you wanna come
00:00:05 at Disney Hall some time as his guest.
00:00:09 They're doing Beethoven.
00:00:10 - Ludwig van?
00:00:14 They got one coming up. The Third.
00:00:16 - Well, what's the date today?
00:00:21 I'll cause a scene.
00:00:23 I don't wanna stick out
00:00:25 So it's just...
00:00:32 What if I could get us in for a rehearsal?
00:00:47 Nathaniel, let's go.
00:00:49 What I did with the keys right here...
00:00:50 Come on. Lock up the cart.
00:00:52 - No. You know what, Mr. Lopez?
00:00:53 I can't leave my stuff here
00:00:54 They can't be trusted.
00:00:56 Oh, no. We have an entire orchestra
00:00:58 They have drug addicts
00:00:59 and they will steal all of what I have.
00:01:01 - No one is going to steal your shit.
00:01:02 No, no. We have to get in touch
00:01:03 - Nathaniel, it's garbage.
00:01:05 ...or the president.
00:01:07 - In the corner...
00:01:08 I'm not gonna be
00:01:10 Okay. Oh, boy.
00:01:11 Fantasia. Walt Disney Hall.
00:01:13 I have to deal with things here
00:01:15 because I wouldn't leave a dog
00:01:18 Right. Okay. Fine.
00:01:19 A cockroach does not tell a greyhound
00:01:20 It's fine! Do you understand? It's fine.
00:01:25 I do not give a smooth fart
00:01:29 There are a million other things
00:01:32 Obligations,
00:01:34 I have a job. I'm a professional person.
00:01:50 - Sorry.
00:01:52 What?
00:01:55 Still not gonna leave my cart here.
00:02:01 Okay.
00:02:04 Pick a side.
00:02:05 The company is offering you
00:02:08 Yeah.
00:02:09 - I understand how difficult this is.
00:02:13 Right.
00:02:14 Unfortunately, this is the reality
00:02:20 Nathaniel, hard left
00:02:40 Mr. Lopez, are you okay?
00:02:53 How long has it been
00:03:02 This is great.
00:03:06 There's the conductor.
00:03:16 - Just us.
00:03:21 It's the way it should be.
00:05:39 - He's in the room.
00:05:42 Beethoven.
00:05:48 Sing the hate out!
00:05:51 Stop.
00:05:52 - All right.
00:05:55 Get up there.
00:05:59 I'm telling you,
00:06:02 the whole thing, the whole day.
00:06:06 And if you had seen him,
00:06:10 I mean, it's the same hall.
00:06:12 We're listening to the same
00:06:15 You see him, it's one thing,
00:06:17 I'm watching him.
00:06:19 And while they're playing, I say,
00:06:20 "My God, there is something
00:06:23 "Something higher out there,
00:06:26 I've never even experienced it,
00:06:29 I don't even know
00:06:33 - Grace.
00:06:36 - Grace.
00:06:40 - Yeah.
00:06:48 To be there with him like that
00:06:51 and see the way that he is transported.
00:06:55 Damn it, honey.
00:06:57 I mean, I've never loved anything
00:07:06 Hey, come on.
00:07:10 I'm thinking about my day.
00:07:12 That I believe, honey.
00:07:15 Call the mayor.
00:07:16 - Which mayor?
00:07:18 Okay.
00:07:32 Call the mayor.
00:07:35 Thank you.
00:07:36 "Points West" by Frank Sinatra.
00:07:39 Every now and then,
00:07:42 the powers that be get things right.
00:07:44 Los Angeles has
00:07:47 of being the homeless capital
00:07:49 and skid row is
00:07:53 So, I am pleased to announce
00:07:56 that I am increasing the city's
00:07:59 by $50 million.
00:08:02 Every now and then,
00:08:03 the words I write do not leap
00:08:08 Instead, every now and then,
00:08:10 they reach the right reader
00:08:15 Every now and then,
00:08:18 of the city's officials
00:08:21 And when that happens,
00:08:26 the city is a better place for it.
00:08:29 - Steve.
00:08:31 Your boyfriend is downstairs.
00:08:36 Thank you.
00:08:40 That's funny.
00:08:48 - Nathaniel? You all right?
00:08:51 - Yeah?
00:08:53 You need something?
00:08:54 A man only needs
00:08:55 and I have all I can carry right here.
00:08:58 - I have my drums. I have my flower.
00:08:59 - I have my water bottle. I have it all.
00:09:02 You can't hang out here.
00:09:04 - I can't?
00:09:07 You can't. Sorry.
00:09:09 I don't mind that at all, Mr. Lopez.
00:09:12 You understand, right?
00:09:20 - I'll be over here if you need me.
00:09:24 Okay. You all right?
00:09:30 Yeah, I just... You know, I... Yeah.
00:09:34 Sorry. I gotta...
00:09:39 All right, Mr. Lopez, I completely
00:09:42 You're working. You have to work.
00:09:45 All right, get out of the way
00:09:47 because you don't wanna
00:09:49 in front of people,
00:09:51 You stand in front of Mr. Lopez,
00:09:53 So, it's a lot of work.
00:09:57 - I think he's good. You know, I really do.
00:09:59 I mean, I just... This is great.
00:10:03 I feel like you are exactly what he needs.
00:10:05 Well, thank you.
00:10:06 - Does that make sense?
00:10:10 - Graham Claydon. Thank you.
00:10:15 All we need is a place for them to meet
00:10:18 You're asking for an apartment
00:10:20 - Yeah.
00:10:23 - Yes.
00:10:27 - Yes.
00:10:30 - I don't want an apartment.
00:10:33 It's actually a music studio
00:10:34 for Mr. Claydon to give you
00:10:36 Well, why don't we have Mr. Claydon
00:10:38 This is a perfect place to play in,
00:10:39 No, Mr. Claydon doesn't like tunnels.
00:10:40 We'll just have Mr. Claydon come here
00:10:42 - He says it has to be quiet.
00:10:43 It has to be quiet for the cello lessons,
00:10:46 It's not my apartment.
00:10:47 I know. I know. The apartment
00:10:49 I don't have an apartment.
00:10:51 I don't need an apartment.
00:10:52 Beethoven lives out
00:10:53 Nathaniel, the apartment
00:10:54 He's the leader of Los Angeles.
00:10:55 - It's an opportunity.
00:10:57 - You can't hold down angels.
00:10:59 - You can't clip angels.
00:11:00 - Do you want an opportunity or not?
00:11:08 No. I have a house.
00:11:19 So angry. Yelling.
00:11:23 It doesn't make sense.
00:11:49 - Do you have a family?
00:11:52 Are you a married man?
00:11:55 - Is there a Mrs. Steve Lopez?
00:11:59 I did. Mary. But we split up.
00:12:05 We have a son, Thomas.
00:12:08 Mr. Steve Lopez, Mr. Thomas
00:12:12 Not Mrs. Lopez. Mary Weston.
00:12:16 - Mrs. Mary Weston Steve Lopez.
00:12:21 We were married. We're not anymore,
00:12:25 You were married to Mary,
00:12:29 Correct. Don't ask me how.
00:12:34 Mrs. Floria Ayers, Miss Jennifer Ayers.
00:12:38 And then there was
00:12:41 He was a big man. He had big hands.
00:12:43 I have very small hands.
00:12:46 Fit around a violin, a cello.
00:12:52 Mr. Ayers was a big man,
00:12:57 I have my god.
00:12:59 Mr. Steve Lopez.
00:13:00 Oh, boy.
00:13:01 Yeah, you're my god.
00:13:03 - You're my god.
00:13:05 Mr. Steve Lopez, staff writer,
00:13:06 - That it? I'm your god?
00:13:08 All right. I am your god.
00:13:10 And as your god,
00:13:12 I command you to be at Lamp,
00:13:15 for a cello lesson. Done deal.
00:13:21 And it's a really sweet deal, too.
00:13:23 'Cause if you show up,
00:13:26 Hell, I might even make you a disciple.
00:13:29 If you don't, you're on your own.
00:13:33 This is my apartment.
00:13:34 This is my apartment.
00:13:36 This is my apartment.
00:13:37 This is my apartment.
00:13:38 Always number one.
00:13:40 Nathaniel.
00:13:41 We've always been here,
00:13:43 I've always been with you, Nathaniel.
00:13:45 I'll never leave you, Nathaniel.
00:13:48 - I love you.
00:13:50 But I love you, Nathaniel.
00:13:53 When you fell from Heaven,
00:13:56 You're my heart, Nathaniel.
00:14:00 We'll be together forever, Nathaniel.
00:14:02 I'll protect you.
00:14:03 Look, I'll be here
00:14:05 - I'll be here to protect you from the pain.
00:14:08 I'll protect you from the noise.
00:14:09 Fear for you. Fear for you.
00:14:11 I'll protect you from their beady eyes.
00:14:13 - I'll be here to obey.
00:14:17 - Step right, Nathaniel.
00:14:19 You're my boy, Nathaniel.
00:14:21 - Take off the shoes.
00:14:23 No one can kill the child.
00:14:26 Forget you. Jump off!
00:14:46 Come on.
00:14:48 Hey. Look at that.
00:14:52 Don't see those on the street.
00:14:56 And then, and then...
00:14:58 Nathaniel. Come on down.
00:15:01 What are you... Come on. We go down
00:15:06 I think we should do the lesson out here.
00:15:07 No, no, no. It's just this way. Come on.
00:15:10 Mr. Lopez... Mr. Lopez.
00:15:12 Mr. Lopez, I really think
00:15:14 No, come on. Let's have a look.
00:15:17 Mr. Lopez.
00:15:19 Nathaniel, come on.
00:15:21 It's really clean.
00:15:26 Come check it out.
00:15:29 We should do it out here. It's better.
00:15:38 Looks nice.
00:15:42 Looks nice.
00:15:48 It's nice.
00:16:25 Come on. You can do it.
00:16:52 Hey.
00:16:58 I can't live here.
00:16:59 I'll give you a hand with that.
00:17:04 Got it.
00:17:08 Oh, boy. Let's get this in nice.
00:17:13 Good.
00:17:20 It's great, right?
00:17:21 I mean, I like it. What do you think?
00:17:25 It's nice. It's clean.
00:17:31 Except for him.
00:17:32 I don't wanna die in here.
00:17:34 Don't...
00:17:35 Somebody could just come in here
00:17:37 - You'll be fine. Nathaniel?
00:17:39 - Nathaniel, the door locks.
00:17:40 What if in 12 days, someone walks
00:17:43 And I don't care
00:17:45 Walt Disney Hall. Disney Duck.
00:17:47 Doesn't make a difference.
00:17:48 If I'm gonna take a lesson,
00:17:50 where I can hear the city sounds
00:17:53 locked off from the world.
00:17:54 In the tunnel I can hear the music
00:17:57 Not in this place, there's no city sounds,
00:17:58 there's no Beethoven,
00:18:01 I don't belong here.
00:18:03 I'm never coming here again.
00:18:35 Nathaniel, that's Graham Claydon.
00:18:39 Pleased to meet you, Nathaniel.
00:18:42 I always love meeting a fellow musician.
00:18:47 I brought you something.
00:18:49 I know you're partial to Beethoven,
00:18:52 so I thought you'd enjoy this,
00:18:55 because, you know,
00:19:00 there would be no Ludwig van.
00:19:19 The A, the D, the A, the D, the A, the D.
00:19:24 Steady. Don't rush it. Don't rush it.
00:19:33 And...
00:19:38 Well, for someone who hasn't had
00:19:40 you play quite beautifully.
00:19:43 Thank you.
00:19:44 - So...
00:19:46 Work on a smoother rhythm
00:19:48 And don't stop-start.
00:19:51 Carry a phrase all the way through.
00:19:53 - Great.
00:19:55 - Thank you.
00:19:57 - Yes.
00:20:01 Do you think I could be good again?
00:20:05 Yes, I do.
00:20:10 I like your apartment, by the way.
00:20:13 - It's not my apartment.
00:20:14 I don't live here.
00:20:16 Well, you should.
00:20:19 God has blessed you
00:20:22 Nothing pains God more
00:20:26 - You owe it to him to care for this...
00:20:31 Mr. Steve Lopez is my god.
00:20:33 - What?
00:20:35 Higher power flying around
00:20:37 Mr. Steve Lopez is my...
00:20:40 He doesn't know what he's saying.
00:20:42 Mr. Graham Claydon is going to tell me
00:20:44 Down by the car?
00:20:45 Do you know who my god is,
00:20:46 I know who my god is!
00:20:48 - He's a good teacher.
00:20:49 You should accept his help gracefully.
00:20:50 Graceful is the ballerinas at Juilliard.
00:20:53 Those girls were graceful.
00:20:54 - Tiny ballerinas just twirling round.
00:20:58 - Twirling round. Angels.
00:20:59 - graceful as little ballerinas.
00:21:01 like I love Mr. Steve Lopez flying around.
00:21:04 I love God. I love you!
00:21:13 I love you.
00:21:18 I don't want him to love me.
00:21:19 Well, it looks like
00:21:21 It's a bad idea.
00:21:22 "I love you, Steve,"
00:21:24 turns into very bad things.
00:21:26 That's my limited experience.
00:21:29 I don't want to be on the other side
00:21:31 He doesn't know if I'm a ballerina,
00:21:34 He has no idea what he's saying.
00:21:38 Is there something you want
00:21:40 Or did you just come to show me
00:21:43 I want you to help him
00:21:44 because he's sick
00:21:46 and you have a team of doctors here.
00:21:47 Tell them to sit down with him.
00:21:50 Nathaniel's made it quite clear
00:21:53 Force him.
00:21:54 - Force him?
00:21:55 Tell him he can't play his instruments
00:21:56 until he sits down with a shrink.
00:21:57 - That's not what we do here.
00:22:03 It is.
00:22:05 Look, even if I did wanna
00:22:10 - Coerce.
00:22:12 - Coerce.
00:22:14 I couldn't force him to take medication.
00:22:17 The law is the law.
00:22:19 to himself or someone else...
00:22:21 Are you gonna answer that, or what?
00:22:28 I'm in the car. What if he was
00:22:30 - But he's not.
00:22:34 What if someone said he was?
00:22:36 What if someone dialed 911
00:22:39 They'd put him in psychiatric hospital.
00:22:40 I know you're not thinking
00:22:42 And then he would be
00:22:44 they'd put him on meds straight away.
00:22:47 What if that's all it took
00:22:49 What if two weeks of meds,
00:22:52 into what his life could be,
00:22:57 Why wouldn't you want to be
00:23:01 Steve, Nathaniel has one thing going
00:23:07 If you betray that friendship, you destroy
00:23:11 I don't want to be his only thing.
00:23:20 Didn't you just tell somebody
00:23:28 Mary, relax. What table are we at?
00:23:30 This is Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, Jr.,
00:23:32 - Nathaniel.
00:23:33 a hard case for my cello
00:23:36 - Yeah?
00:23:38 for Beethoven's Second Sonata.
00:23:39 And also Opus 131 and Septet for
00:23:43 Can you just... One sec.
00:23:45 - ... and also my A string is missing...
00:23:48 I need my A string replaced.
00:23:50 Nathaniel, you know, this is not...
00:23:56 ...his series in the Times
00:23:59 of Nathaniel Anthony Ayers
00:24:01 has brought crucial attention to one
00:24:05 ...promises you should make good
00:24:06 Get off the phone.
00:24:08 ...to address this problem
00:24:11 And in honor of this,
00:24:12 it is my pleasure to present this year's
00:24:18 Thank you.
00:24:22 ...you know that I can't leave
00:24:25 It houses my violin, my cello,
00:24:29 A child needs protection. You don't want
00:24:32 and have it get bashed up
00:24:34 Bashed up against the wall.
00:24:41 I got a phone call from Mark Rosenthal
00:24:44 Book editor?
00:24:45 Bob Geldof with a crew cut.
00:24:46 He's been reading your Nathaniel stuff,
00:24:50 - Whatever.
00:24:55 What did he say exactly?
00:24:56 "It's personal, it's political, it's timely.
00:25:00 - Oh, boy.
00:25:03 Well, it's complicated.
00:25:06 Well, yeah, he's mentally ill, I mean.
00:25:11 Right. But beyond that, it's endless.
00:25:13 I just...
00:25:16 By all means, avoid full responsibility.
00:25:18 Just, you know, keep going
00:25:21 and exploiting him
00:25:24 You should stop.
00:25:25 'Cause that's a slippery slope
00:25:26 Lopez.
00:25:28 - Stop. Stop.
00:25:29 - Please stop.
00:25:31 he's expecting, I don't know,
00:25:32 Mary, stop.
00:25:33 ...consistency in the relationship.
00:25:37 Who needs that shit, right? My words.
00:25:40 - You driving?
00:25:42 And a driver?
00:25:46 - Oh, my God!
00:25:48 It's Nathaniel for you.
00:25:52 ...as a youngster labeled mentally ill
00:25:54 because of the underlying
00:25:56 constant disturbance,
00:25:58 You know, bigots have children, too.
00:26:00 Pens from Steve Lopez. Many thanks.
00:26:02 Constant disturbance,
00:26:04 Bigots have children.
00:26:06 Pens... Paper...
00:26:13 And a cello from Steve Lopez.
00:26:17 Without Steve Lopez,
00:26:20 Constant disturbance.
00:26:22 Constant disturbance.
00:26:25 I've had what I think is a beautiful idea.
00:26:28 I think Nathaniel should give a recital.
00:26:32 I don't know if I can make that call.
00:26:36 - Right. When is he clearest?
00:26:38 When is he most able
00:26:40 - When he's playing.
00:26:43 This could increase his confidence
00:26:46 It could be transformative.
00:26:48 How can we not give him that, Steve?
00:26:53 God bless you, Steve.
00:26:56 Sure he does.
00:27:11 My first concert, I was so nervous,
00:27:17 It was so embarrassing.
00:27:22 Want to know how I got over
00:27:26 I prayed.
00:27:29 Shall we pray together, you and I?
00:27:33 Heavenly Father,
00:27:35 shine your light on brother Nathaniel,
00:27:38 that he may speak
00:28:38 Nathaniel, you never have been here,
00:28:43 - You're not there.
00:28:45 You never have been here.
00:28:50 My voice is all there is.
00:28:52 Everything's fine.
00:28:53 - Follow my voice, Nathaniel.
00:28:55 Run away from these people, Nathaniel.
00:28:56 They'll laugh at you.
00:28:57 - You're nothing.
00:29:10 Nathaniel?
00:29:13 I got some soup here for you.
00:29:38 Nathaniel?
00:29:41 You think I'm stupid.
00:29:43 You want to kill them, Nathaniel.
00:29:47 No.
00:29:48 They'll string you up, Nathaniel.
00:29:49 No. You think I can't see everything.
00:29:52 I know who you are.
00:29:54 - Dogs, biting at your feet.
00:29:56 - I thought you might be hungry.
00:29:58 - The dusty open manual.
00:30:02 The manual.
00:30:03 That's hydrochloric acid. If I eat that, it'll
00:30:06 - Oh, no.
00:30:08 - Nathaniel, I wouldn't do that.
00:30:11 Nathaniel.
00:30:16 You'll eat it, dust and all.
00:30:19 Okay.
00:30:21 It's good, see.
00:30:33 Shit.
00:30:39 Don't put your hands on me!
00:30:40 - Nathaniel!
00:30:42 Don't you ever touch me!
00:30:45 Please, don't. Nathaniel.
00:30:50 Don't you ever touch me.
00:30:52 Stop.
00:31:05 Nathaniel!
00:31:18 What am I supposed to do?
00:31:32 Hi, Nathaniel.
00:31:37 It's freezing out here.
00:31:40 I can't go back there. It's not safe.
00:31:43 Come on, home, Nathaniel.
00:31:50 Nathaniel?
00:31:52 Where are you gonna sleep?
00:32:03 David, sorry, it's Steve. Listen.
00:32:08 Can you call me back
00:32:10 There was an incident
00:32:14 worried. Anyway, call back
00:32:21 All right, let's go.
00:32:33 It's my thing!
00:32:38 Show me your stuff!
00:32:43 - Linda!
00:32:44 - Hey, where's Nathaniel?
00:32:46 - I haven't seen him.
00:32:49 Is it Darryl?
00:32:51 Hey, stay back. Who the hell are you?
00:32:52 LA Times. That's the last guy
00:32:55 - Come on, man! Come on.
00:32:57 Steve! Steve!
00:32:58 This man is in illegal possession
00:33:01 Are you gonna arrest him
00:33:03 - Steve! Steve!
00:33:08 Take it easy.
00:33:10 Help! Help!
00:33:21 Come on!
00:33:23 Officer, what happened?
00:33:25 A couple of kids came out here
00:33:27 and beat the shit out of this poor guy.
00:33:29 - Get a name?
00:33:36 Sorry, excuse me. I'm sorry.
00:33:41 Is this Admits? May I make
00:33:46 - This way?
00:33:47 Yeah, down here.
00:33:49 It's usually on the... I'm sorry.
00:33:53 Excuse me, ma'am. Recent ER
00:33:56 Thank you, by the way.
00:34:00 No.
00:34:02 Hi. Thank you.
00:34:04 I'm looking for a recent admission.
00:34:07 I'm hoping you have a recent admission
00:34:10 I know. Contreras was the reporting
00:34:16 It's not the... It's not the...
00:34:21 Mr. Ayers. A-Y-E-R-S.
00:34:23 Nathaniel Anthony Ayers.
00:34:26 Hi. It's me again.
00:34:28 It's gonna be a long shift.
00:34:30 N- A-T-H-A-N-I-E-L A...
00:34:34 I do words for a living. It doesn't matter.
00:34:36 Whoever has two stripes
00:34:38 Ayers! A-Y-E-R-S.
00:34:40 N- A-T-H-A-N-I-E-L
00:34:46 No! Do not put me on hold again!
00:34:47 A- Y-E-R-S!
00:35:15 - Lopez.
00:35:18 I got your message, what's up?
00:35:20 There was a beating of a homeless man
00:35:23 - it was right in Nathaniel's spot.
00:35:27 What? How do you know?
00:35:28 'Cause he's here,
00:35:33 I guess sleeping inside
00:35:37 What?
00:35:39 He spent last night in the apartment.
00:35:42 He came inside.
00:36:02 Thank you.
00:36:04 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
00:36:07 I thought I lost it forever.
00:36:10 Hi.
00:36:12 You good?
00:36:17 I literally looked everywhere else
00:36:23 Not that I was worried.
00:36:25 What happened? What made you
00:36:27 Oh, well, a body can only take
00:36:31 I'm not young anymore,
00:36:34 - You know how it is.
00:36:38 I mean, a body gets weary, a body...
00:36:40 Housewarming gift.
00:36:52 Thank you, Mr. Lopez.
00:36:56 Thank you, Mr. Lopez. Thank you.
00:37:04 I've done good by you, haven't I?
00:37:07 I mean, things aren't so bad, right?
00:37:14 Say, things are set for Jennifer
00:37:18 I can't believe Beethoven himself
00:37:22 Are you still okay with that?
00:37:25 It's all right with me
00:37:27 Well, you guys let me know.
00:37:31 'Cause there's papers you gotta sign.
00:37:35 You should read them
00:37:38 All right, yeah, I'll just sign them
00:37:41 apartment B-116, and the B stands for
00:37:47 Beethoven.
00:37:50 - Read them and sign them.
00:37:52 - Okay.
00:37:53 What do you...
00:37:55 Yes, sir, Mr. Lopez.
00:37:57 help yourself to some water, it's where
00:38:04 - At your leisure.
00:38:15 Is there a...
00:38:20 What's with Neil Diamond?
00:38:22 I thought that was you.
00:38:32 Well, I'm flattered.
00:38:37 What's wrong?
00:38:41 What's this business about me
00:38:43 having a schizophrenic mind?
00:38:49 It's, it's... It's legal jargon.
00:38:51 It says that I have a schizophrenic mind.
00:38:54 It doesn't mean anything.
00:38:55 - I have a schizophrenic mind.
00:38:59 Nathaniel, they try to put people in a...
00:39:02 - I'm not going anywhere.
00:39:04 it has nothing to do with you.
00:39:06 I don't go where you say to go.
00:39:08 You don't put me away, Mr. Lopez.
00:39:11 - Okay. Okay.
00:39:12 I'm not gonna... I don't...
00:39:13 - No, no, you don't have to go...
00:39:15 ...to court.
00:39:16 Jennifer will take care of you.
00:39:18 My sister's not coming near me.
00:39:20 - She's not coming near me.
00:39:22 If I say she's not coming
00:39:23 You said... Nathaniel, you said...
00:39:25 Listen, I'm not going to have anymore...
00:39:28 I will tell you. I will tell you. I'm sick
00:39:32 Okay. I'm not just...
00:39:33 Wait. I'm not your boy.
00:39:36 You know, I'm sorry I was wrong.
00:39:39 I can take care of myself.
00:39:43 I don't need you. I don't need this city.
00:39:51 And if I ever see you again,
00:39:54 I'll cut you open
00:39:57 and gut you like a fish.
00:40:09 Because I'm Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Jr.
00:40:14 Mr. Ayers.
00:40:19 I'm Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Jr.
00:40:28 N- A-T-H-A...
00:40:29 - N-A-T-H-A...
00:40:50 - Hi.
00:41:21 So, that was my first mistake.
00:41:28 The Northridge Quake, '94, remember?
00:41:31 I smelled the toast.
00:41:37 We'd been here two days.
00:41:40 All our crap still in boxes.
00:41:42 And at 4:00 a. m. It hit.
00:41:44 God, that terror.
00:41:50 You, me and Thomas.
00:41:53 All huddled
00:41:58 I told him it was a good omen.
00:42:04 Welcoming us to our new life.
00:42:07 Better life.
00:42:10 In LA.
00:42:24 I should have had us
00:42:39 I thought I was helping someone.
00:42:42 And it was a guy who's got a gift.
00:42:44 He's lost his way. I'm gonna...
00:42:52 Inevitably backfired.
00:42:56 He's backlashed to the...
00:43:00 And the very person I was trying to be of
00:43:06 I'm the enemy. You know?
00:43:11 A stranger.
00:43:14 And...
00:43:17 I don't know who to fault.
00:43:20 I can't see any outcome to support.
00:43:29 Can't believe in anything worthwhile.
00:43:36 Done trying. I resign. I resign.
00:43:40 From everything.
00:43:42 It's... It's official.
00:43:52 You couldn't stop that earthquake.
00:44:00 You can't fix LA in just...
00:44:05 And you're never gonna cure Nathaniel.
00:44:13 Just be his friend and show up.
00:45:37 Good? I'll be right here if you need me.
00:45:52 ...go, next to the gold store.
00:45:54 You know what I mean.
00:45:57 Okay, okay, okay. Bitch, slow down.
00:46:00 Do you still love me?
00:46:04 I ain't playing with you.
00:46:06 I'm saying I do.
00:46:08 It means you and me together forever.
00:46:13 So that's why I'm saying I do.
00:46:18 - I love you, Lois.
00:46:24 Disguise himself now as...
00:46:28 They disguise themselves...
00:46:33 Cleveland?
00:46:38 And...
00:47:04 We...
00:47:11 We had some life, didn't we?
00:47:17 Yeah.
00:47:20 Yeah.
00:48:05 Beethoven's Triple Concerto, right?
00:48:09 - Yeah.
00:48:13 I liked it.
00:48:14 Mr. Ayers, I'm gonna give your sister
00:48:18 You don't have to
00:48:21 I know. I want to. I should have been
00:48:26 I said such terrible things
00:48:28 I... I hate myself for saying those things.
00:48:32 Sometimes friends piss
00:48:34 It's part of the deal.
00:48:36 I can't imagine that you would want to be
00:48:42 I just...
00:48:44 Mr. Ayers,
00:48:47 I'm honored to be your friend.
00:49:09 "Points West" by Steve Lopez.
00:49:12 A year ago, I met a man
00:49:15 and thought I might be able to help him.
00:49:18 I don't know that I have.
00:49:20 Yes, my friend Mr. Ayers
00:49:23 He has a key. He has a bed.
00:49:26 But his mental state, and his well-being,
00:49:29 are as precarious now
00:49:36 There are people who tell me
00:49:39 Mental health experts who say
00:49:41 that the simple act of being someone's
00:49:45 improve his functioning in the world.
00:49:49 I can't speak for Mr. Ayers
00:49:52 Maybe our friendship has helped him.
00:49:58 I can, however, speak for myself.
00:50:01 I can tell you that by witnessing
00:50:05 his humility, his faith
00:50:11 I've learned the dignity of being loyal
00:50:15 Of holding onto it, above all else.
00:50:18 Of believing, without question,