JAUNT

There he is.

So, how were the assignments last week?

They're all right.

All right?

I feel like you're hiding something.

Am I wrong?

You didn't do the hike, did you?

You're five minutes from the canyon, Paul.

I know. I just...

-I couldn't get going. -It's hard as hell, man.

But if you're gonna get better, what do we say?

You need to go through the fear.

Yeah, yeah. I do it all the time.

Get out of my comfort zone.

How about I streak a Dodgers game? Hmm?

Baby steps. Baby steps, baby steps.

Oh. Mmm. All right.

Little League team. There we go.

We'll-- we'll stay away from that. Uh...

This isn't working, Doc. I don't--

I'm not feeling any different.

-Okay? -Listen to me.

I want you to look at me, okay? Look at me.

You are good.

I believe in you.

But look, I will see you next week at noon.

Afternoon on Wednesday.

And, uh, do the hike.

You know, you might even meet a girl.

You never know. Gotta get out to know.

I give myself space for healing.

I respect my feelings.

I give myself permission and support to change,

to change what isn't serving me well.

And I set healthy boundaries.

I support myself in making room for more peace.

I listen to my feelings.

I respect my surroundings.

I embody my environment.

I acknowledge that a clean home means a clean mind.

I respect my body and I will keep it loose.

I will reject all toxins

in an effort to reach peak bodily performance.

And now we have a stretch. Take a deep breath.

Stretch your arms and release your breath

in a long, slow exhalation.

- -Oh, come on.

Fuck.

- -Fuck you!

It's gotta be fucking off, right?

It's not working. Right?

Yeah, yeah. Runyon Canyon.

Huh? Yeah?

Hello.

Oh, boy.

Yeah, great.

Ready for some fucking construction?

Hello, fellow West Hollywood joggers.

You want some orange soda?

Oh, yeah. Safety cone. Full effect.

Ready to direct traffic.

Oh, dude. Why--

Is this the only shirt I got?

All right. Runyon today...

Everest tomorrow. All right.

Oh, damn. I think I'm gonna have a baby.

You guys do this for fun?

Oh, shit.

Oh, come on.

Yeah, of course.

That'd be too easy.

That'd be way too easy. Oh, my God.

Excuse me. Sorry, can I...

have a cigarette?

Thanks.

Sorry. Do you have a lighter?

Fire? Like, uh...

Fire?

You speak English?

Yes, fluently.

I just thought it would be rude to interrupt your little performance.

- -

-Huh? -Mmm. Nothing.

Okay. Thanks.

In France, we like to humor each other with small talk after we share a flame.

At least while it still burns.

Sorry.

I love how everyday mundanities appeal to foreigners.

Like, Asians will come to Paris and obsess over a loaf of bread,

and I come to LA and fall in love with a view

that you haven't considered once since joining me.

Bread's good.

Are you mundane?

You say it like it's a good thing.

Maybe it is.

Then, yeah, I'm as mundane as they come.

I'm Madeline.

-Paul. -Pleasure meeting you, Paul.

You too.

Uh, hey.

Yes?

How long are you in town for?

As long as I want.

Would you like to do something sometime?

Like, tonight?

Hmm.

I will have to think about it on my hike.

How about I tell you at the top?

All the way up there?

Oui.

-Yeah, sounds good. -I'll see you at the top then.

Great.

You made it.

Yeah. Piece of cake.

Okay, so what are we doing tonight?

Tonight? Tonight we're, uh--

Dinner... and music.

Okay, fun. Here, take down my number.

Here. It's just easier.

Perfect.

Text me your address and I'll be there at 7:00.

-Seven o'clock. -Parfait.

-Nice. -See you later.

Fine.

Seven o'clock.

Seven o'clock.

Oh, fuck.

Fuck!

All right.

Oh, shit.

Yo, what's up?

Fuck.

Just be cool.

So.

This is Hollywood.

Uh, West Hollywood.

Not as glamorous as it's made out to be.

In what way?

It's got problems.

Every city has problems.

True, but...

watch out for that needle right there.

Oh. Oh, my God, you weren't joking.

Told you.

So... I gotta ask you.

What made you wanna come out with me?

What, you think I should have sought out a better deal?

No, no, definitely not.

Well, why go overseas if you're just gonna stay in your comfort zone?

Reminds me of a story my sister shared with me last year.

She was at some bar in Paris.

-Harry's, I think it was. -I know it.

Okay, so, like, Hemingway was there all the time.

Okay, Hemingway was everywhere all the time back in the day.

-All right. -

She's loving it, she's speaking French, you know,

practicing French and everything like that.

She starts chatting up with this couple.

She asks how long they've been married for.

He wiggles his wedding ring, says, "Nine years."

The woman reaches over, touches his thigh.

Says, "11 years one month ago."

They weren't even married. Like, they're married, but they're not married.

-What did your sister say? -Nothing. She was speechless.

They got drunk and everything, duh-duh-duh.

And towards the end of the night,

the woman comes up to my sister.

-Mm-hmm. -And says...

"Darling, it is the French way."

Indeed it is.

Oh, what the hell.

Is this what you had in mind?

They said they'd be open online.

Look, there's a place up the street a few blocks up.

-We can try. -And if that's closed,

I imagine we'd take refuge in some lonesome McDonald's, no?

I can't say I haven't tried that before.

Come on. Let's just cook.

Allez.

- -

-Voilà. -Merci.

These photos are beautiful, by the way. Who took them?

-I did, actually. -Really?

-Mm-hmm. -You're a photographer.

-Well, I was. -Why did you stop?

I didn't.

-The pay did. -Mmm.

Did you ever shoot movies?

I got a lot of offers back in the days.

Anything I would know?

Nah, nothing exciting.

-Mostly shit. -

-Bon appétit. -Merci.