How to Make It in America

* I need a dollar dollar *

* a dollar, that's what I need * - * hey hey *

* well, I need a dollar dollar *

* a dollar, that's what I need * - * hey hey *

* said I need a dollar dollar *

* a dollar, that's what I need *

* and if I share with you my story *

* would you share your dollar with me? *

* well, I don't know if I'm walking on solid ground *

* and all I want is *

* for someone to help me *

* I need a dollar dollar *

* a dollar, that's what I need *

* and if I share with you my story *

* would you share your dollar with me? *

- ( reggae music playing ) - ( man vocalizing )

- ( chatting ) - * hey, ring the alarm *

* hey, whoa, ring the alarm *

* and not a sound is dying, whoa *

* hey, ring the alarm and not a sound is dying... *

- How are you? - Good seeing you.

I'm good.

Hey. You're leaving? I just sent out for more beer.

I've got be up in four hours- big meeting in the morning.

- Party pooper. - What are you talking about?

I'm just a hard-working american trying to get mine.

Forget working hard. Quit your job,

Start a band with me. We'll sell a million ringtones and get paid.

That's tempting. That's very tempting.

- What do we call it? - Um, hey, jill!

Ben and I are gonna start a band together.

What should we be called?

Um, the fucking awesomes.

Oh. I'm so in.

Let me know when we have rehearsal, all right? - Okay.

Cam: Yo, what? I'm serious.

- It happened. - What's up?

You out? - Yeah. We've got that pattern maker

- At 8:30 a.M., all right? - Yeah, 8:30, I've got it.

- I'm good. - So?

He's squeezing us in, so don't be late, okay?

Amber, will you please make sure to set an extra alarm for me tomorrow morning?

I've got a problem with the snooze button.

You think you're coming home with m we met two hours ago.

Come on, amber. You know we've got crazy chemistry.

Your friend's been telling me bad jokes all night

And calls it chemistry. - Yeah, but his jokes grow on you after a time.

8:30.

No more snooze buttons, sleepyhead.

No. Fuck. Wait, I've gotta go.

* if you want time to show, baby, it's time to-- *

Yo yo, you get my text?

I'm so sorry, man.

Come on, let's go. What happened?

- Our meeting got pushed? - No.

no, you didn't.

You had me on cam time this morning.

Yup. - I could've showered at least.

I'm not smelling so fresh right now. - ( laughs )

We really appreciate you squeezing us in on such short notice.

At my age, long notice isn't such a great idea.

I don't even buy green bananas. So how'd you find me?

Oh, I read about you in " women's wear daily."

Ah. Did they say nice things about me?

- They said you cut for the best. - I cut for them all.

Wow. A lot of people making jeans, huh?

It's big business. Everybody wants their piece.

Well, my man here isn't like everybody else.

- He's a visionary. - How wonderful.

Ben: You see, we want an 18" leg opening

But with a narrow chain-stitch hem right here.

We want to keep the 1970s essence

But apply it to a modern pair of jeans.

- What you think, zev? - Not a problem.

Do you like the concept? - Sure.

Yeah?

So how much is althis gonna cost?

Bring me your denim and $1500 by tomorrow morning,

I'll put you ahead of a big job I've got coming in.

- Whoa. $1500? - Pattern and sample.

- For one pair of jeans? - It's your blueprint.

Every pair of jeans your factory makes is based on this sample.

Okay, so $1500 it is.

Glad one of you listens.

- This is not a fashion statement. - ( laughs )

I fucked up my back in yoga this morning.

That's a clever contraption though.

- It's cute, right? - Yeah.

It makes my tits look like a present.

Yes. - Where are we on essex street?

I talked to miguel this morning

And he says the wall unit looks awesome.

- And the bolsters? - Oh, f-- shit.

You forgot my custom bolsters.

And here I thought you were perfect.

I'll get them on the way to my lunch.

Lunch? - Yeah, I told you about that yesterday.

No. - Yes, my college roommate's in town for 72 hours.

She's doing the peace corps in africa. I never get to see her.

Well, what am I going to do for lunch? I don't want to eat alone.

You can join us. - No, you guys will just talk about the crazy, fun times

You had giving college boys humding

And make me regret dropping out of hunter.

I think you've given enough humding in your day to join us for lunch.

Not ivy league.

I'm insecure.

Yo yo, here we go, man.

- ( bell dings ) - there he is,

The most handsome bodega owner on the lower east side.

- Good morning, rene. - ( both speak spanish )

So how many cases today?

To be honest with you-- none.

Did I just hear him say none as in "zero" none?

What? - Rene, I try to help you,

But the rasta monsta just sit on shelf.

Nobody buy it.

Well, maybe if you put it somewhere where people will see it.

- Can you see it from there? - Jabar: No.

Rene: I can't see it from there.

- what you got there, little man?

- Red bull. - Why you buy that drink?

Because red bull has wings.

You ever see this rasta monsta?

Never even heard of that.

Amigo, here you go.

Try one-- one the house.

That's good. - ( laughs ) that's rasta monsta!

Hey. Yo, little man,

Tell your friends all about that, okay? You got it.

- nothing wrong with rasta monsta.

You just gotta get the word out.

You owe me $1. 25 for the kid's drink.

Take it easy. I'm just kidding. It's a joke.

Don't get me wrong, man. These are good,

But I'm gonna have to pass. - What?

Mike, do you realize the gems I just brought you here?

I've got more inventory than I can move right now, guys.

And truthfully speaking, I don't know if you know this yet,

But everybody's rocking these.

- Cam: What? - Ben: What the fuck, mike?

All right. Cool. Thanks, man.

I've got $220 in the bank I can put in.

- What you got? - I have $1600 to my name...

$1600? -...And I need $1550 of it for rent next week.

Rent? Man, come on. Fuck rent.

It takes months before they can even kick you out.

- We need this money today. - "fuck rent"?

I'm sorry. I'm not getting evicted.

I'm not gonna stay on your grandma's couch with you, all right?

Oh, any chance we could ask your pops for a contribution?

Any chance we could ask your moms?

Oh, please, man. She doesn't even say hello when I call.

She says, "I've got no money for you," and hangs up.

Well, I haven't asked my dad for a dollar since I moved out.

- I really don't want to start now. - ( cell phone rings )

Oh, great, it's david kaplan.

Perfect timing. Kapo's good for $1500, easy.

No, we're not going to take any more money from him until we pay him back, man.

Yo. What? - Yo, kapo, just the man I wanted to talk to.

- Hey, dave. - Dave: Benito mussolini.

- ( whispers ) stop it. - What's up my man?

All good, man. What's up with you?

Yo-- avenue. You ready to make good

On your promise or what, boychick?

Well, tonight is- is goth night at avenue,

So I don't think it's the vibe you're looking for.

But we'll do it next week, okay? - No, ben, it's not ok.

The truth is I'm in a really bad place right now

And I could really use a friend to talk to,

But apparently I'm only cool to hang out with

When you're $3000 short. But whatever.

I'll just go home, take a handful of xanies

And make it another early night.

- Jesus, dave. - I'm fucking with you, ben!

- Jesus. - ( chuckles )

- We'll do it another time. - O-- okay.

- I love you, bro. - I love you too, bro.

- wait. You guys say "I love you, bro,"

But you can't ask him for $1500?

- He's not an a.T.M., cam. - Fine. Forget it.

I'll ask my pops for it, okay?

Okay! Yo, and tell your pops

I think he raised a very good son

And I always wished I had a father like him.

And as soon as we get our first order,

We'll pay him back in full plus interest.

Who could say no to that pitch, huh?

You the man, ben.

- I'll see you at 7:00. - See you at 7:00, man.

- Hi! - I'm so sorry I'm late.

Oh! My god, I would've called you, but-- - I know, I know.

I'm the last person on earth to not own a cell phone.

- Which is why I love you. - You look amazing.

Oh my god, you do. You look amazing.

Oh, god. How long has it been?

- Katie's wedding, I think. - Oh, that's right.

Wait. What? Tell me everything.

When I was in swaziland doing peace corps,

We found out that truckers were the highest transmitters of h.I.V. On the continent.

- That's a frightening statistic. - Yeah, so one day