"Meantime, it's a magnet for every macho surfer trying to shoot the pier." "I'm back!" "Hey, how you doing, Hobie, huh?" "How you doing, Uncle Buzzy?" "Hey, Hobie." "Meet your cousin." "He's my son." "San Dimas Pier." "Met some dude, said they were the hairiest break around." "You can't surf there, it's too dangerous." "You're a real hero, huh, Mitch?" "What if he dies?" "What happens if he lives?" "Can you handle that, Buzz?" "Mitch, this is so nice of you, but I really feel guilty about taking the afternoon off." "Guilt feelings..." "I like that." "Hey." "I've been busting my butt trying to get this paper going." "You know, I just want The Venice Voice to stand for something." "I want it to have an impact." "And I want to address the issues that affect our community." "A laptop computer." "I borrowed it from the office." "What for?" "Your lead story." "My lead story?" "There it is." "The San Dimas Pier." "What about it?" "It's condemned." "I thought they were going to tear it down." "That's just it... they're not tearing it down until they figure out who's going to pay for it." "The owners have filed a lawsuit, but between the county, the state, the owners and the attorneys, the whole thing could be tied up in court for years." "Meantime, it's a magnet for every macho surfer trying to shoot the pier." "See that black stuff around the pilings?" "Yeah." "It's called rebar." "Cut you up real good." "Why don't you just close down the beach in this area?" "It's a good idea, but we don't have the manpower to patrol the area 24 hours a day." "I don't know, Mitch." "To be perfectly honest with you," "I don't think there's a story here." "I mean, nobody cares about a collapsing pier." "Hey!" "What's wrong?" "Is he all right?" "Yeah, he's cut." "I don't think it's too bad, though." "Easy, easy, easy." "There you go." "Okay." "Do me a favor." "All right." "Put some pressure right here." "Uh-huh." "This easy." "Thanks." "I'll be right back." "Next time, read the signs, huh, buddy." "It's going to be okay." "It's going to be all right." "All I know is that sooner or later, somebody's gonna get seriously mangled on the pilings." "Mitch, I understand your concerns." "I feel exactly the same way." "I put in a call to the county commissioner." "What did he say?" "He's not in." "Big surprise." "Look, Mitch," "I know there's been some foot-dragging on this, but we still have to work through the proper channels on these matters." "Not anymore..." "Kay Morgan's gonna run a front page story in "The Venice Voice."" "You think it's wise to get the media involved now?" "Nobody's listening to us, Captain." "Maybe she'll get their attention." "What is it with these surfers today, Mitch?" "I mean, we never had to prove anything." "Running a gauntlet of some battered pilings?" "I mean, it was enough just being out there, getting on top of a wave, feeling the power of the world under your board." "Hanging ten." "Hanging ten." "Walking the nose." "Would you two follow me?" "I've got something to show you." "Ah, this was my first surfboard, gentlemen." "A Mickey Dora original, complete with a hatchet skeg." "This old plank and I go back a long way." "Longer than either one of us care to remember, eh, Ben." "Yeah." "You know, I'll never forget my first stick." "Yeah?" "It was a hand-me-down from my brother, Buzz." "Boy, could that baby rip." "You know, I offered it to Hobie, but he said he wouldn't be caught dead with an antique." "So I had to go out and buy him one of those new jobs, you know, the tri-fins with the gorilla grips." "That damn thing cost me a week's salary." "Yeah, tell me about it, huh." "At least the waves are still free, Mitch." "Yeah, well, so far." "See, feel the material." "The finest quality." "Imported directly from Brazil." "The bargain of a lifetime," "$25, two for $40." "Eduardo." "What's the special of the day?" "Bikinis." "Ah." "Made from a new, organic material." "One size fits all." "Please, you will look even more beautiful... if that is possible." "I have enough bikinis, Eduardo." "Thank you." "So, you got a permit?" "A permit?" "Of course." "I'm a business man." "Naturally, I would have a permit." "One second please." "It seems I left this permit in my car." "Well, where is your car?" "Unfortunately, my wife drove it to the doctor's." "She's very ill." "I have to sell these bikinis to buy her medicine." "All right, that's enough, Eduardo." "We're gonna let it slide this last time." "But that's it." "Comprende?" "Absolutely." "I am a law-abiding citizen." "I love this country." "I will do whatever you say." "Look, see, feel the material." "The finest quality." "Imported directly from Brazil." "Hey." "What's the story here?" "I thought you were supposed to clean your room before we left?" "I did." "You did?" "Where?" "All right, just do me a favor?" "Make your bed, and I'll help you with all this junk." "Why do I have to make my bed when I'm not even gonna sleep in it?" "You have to make your bed because I asked you to." "Now, come on, get it together." "I don't want to miss the ceremony." "There's gonna be a ceremony?" "That's right." "First, we make a sacrifice to the gods asking them to bring good waves." "A human sacrifice?" "Worse... a cherished surfboard." "Ancient ritual, handed down from one generation to next, ha-ha." "Someday you'll pass it on to your son." "Um..." "I don't think so, Dad, I kind of plan on being normal, if you don't mind." "Why I ought to..." "Take it back." "You know what?" "If I said that to my father, you know what he'd do to me?" "He'd do this." "Take it back." "I take it back." "I take it back." "Oh, I got it, I got it, I got it." "Hey." "Hello?" "You must have the wrong phone number." "There's nobody named Rover here." "Wait, wait, wait, wait!" "That's my brother." "Uncle Buzzy?" "Buzz." "Yeah." "How the hell are ya?" "Where the hell are ya?" "What are you doing in Santa Barbara?" "Yeah, we're having the ceremony." "I'm walking out the door in ten minutes." "Yeah, Trancas." "Is he coming?" "He's coming." "Yes!" "All right!" "See you there." "Yeah!" "Uh-oh, no!" "Oh, my God." "Hello, Captain." "Eh, Kelly, stay in shape, will ya?" "Hey, Mitch?" "Hey." "What's this about your brother showing up?" "I thought he was living in New Zealand." "New Guinea." "New Guinea." "Oh, I knew it was "New" something." "How's it going?" "Huh?" "You remember Cat." "Hey, Dad?" "Why does Uncle Buzz stay away?" "I mean, how come we never see him?" "Really don't know, Hobe." "He left home when I was about your age." "He said he was going to find the perfect wave." "I think he's probably still looking for it." "Hey!" "I'm back!" "You!" "I want you!" "I am back!" "Buzzy!" "Give me Little Sammy." "Little Sammy." "Hey man, how are you?" "It's good to be back!" "God, it's good to see you." "Where have you been?" "Are you still with, uh?" "No." "No way, are you serious?" "Are you still?" "Nope, done deal." "No, this can't be." "Hobie!" "Come here, you little gremmie." "Hey, how are you doing, Hobie, huh?" "How are you doing, Uncle Buzzy?" "All right, buddy." "He looks just like you, Rover." "He's a good-looking kid." "Why do you call him Rover?" "Why do I call him Rover?" "Well, when he was a kid, he used to tag along with the big kids, like a little puppy." "Yeah, it would drive you nuts." "What are you doing?" "What are you doing here?" "What, do you expect me to wait in that van all day, or what?" "I wanted it to be a surprise." "Hobie... that's your cousin..." "Kyle." "Pleased to meet you, man." "He's my son." "Hey." "How come you never told me about him?" "I suppose because his mother never said anything." "Remember I was living up in Big Sur in that commune, and, well, there was this lady up there." "Felicia." "Ah, she was beautiful." "She looked like Julie Christie." "Anyway, we dug each other and, you know me," "I'm not one for staying in a place too long." "Especially for a chick." "She never said anything about being pregnant before I split, and I never heard from her again." "How'd you find out about him?" "She died three months ago." "They tracked me down at Bell's Beach in Australia." "So I came back, picked him up..." "He's mine." "Uh, no offense or anything, but, uh, you sure?" "That he's my son?" "Yeah." "You ought to see him surf." "Unreal." "Unreal!" "The Buzz Man is a papa." "Ha!" "How you feel about that?" "I mean... what are you gonna do?" "Beats the hell out of me." "No, I'm serious." "I know you're serious." "You're always serious." "You were born serious." "I'm the only screwup in this family." "Hey, look, Mitch." "I didn't come to talk about my problems." "I came to see my bro, hit some waves, let these two kids get to know one another." "Hey, I'm gonna pop a chill." "Want one?" "What's a chill?" "A beer." "How old are you, anyway?" "Uh, 10 and a half." "Almost 11." "Knock yourself out." "Uh, no, thanks." "Go on, take a hit." "It's not like you're gonna be driving or anything." "Oh!" "Hey, Hobie!" "Come on, guys." "Custom dictates." "Sacrifice must be made at stroke of midnight." "Come hither." "Come hither." "Ladies and gentlemen!" "Ladies and gentlemen!" "Attention, please!" "Attention, please!" "As senior member of this outrageous and bold and uniquely disgusting tribe of slackers and sleazeballs, who regularly crawl and frolic like demented lemmings to the bosom of the bountiful sea, in quest of the great ride, the endless wave." "Therefore rejoice and celebrate the return to these shores of the mighty and outrageous swells that may return again to these hallowed shores." "Midnight." "Ee-ee-nah-ah-loon." "Ee-ee-nah-ah-loon, Kahuna." "Ee-ee-nah-ah-loon." "Kahuna." "Ee-ee-nah-ah-loon." "Kahuna." "Ee-ee-nah-ah-loon, Kahuna." "Ee-ee-nah-ah-loon, Kahuna." "Ee-ee-nah-ah-loon, Kahuna." "What a joke." "Ee-ee-nah-ah-loon, Kahuna." "Ee-ee-nah-ah-loon, Kahuna." "Looks like you're ready to go." "Daddy!" "How are you?" "Actually, I'm a little nervous." "There's a guy down there juggling a chainsaw right next to my automobile." "Did you give him some money?" "Don't worry, he's a professional." "You don't see that kind of thing in Pasadena very much." "That's why I moved here to Venice." "I know." "I got to tell you, Kay." "Your mother and I are very proud of you." "Starting your own newspaper on a shoestring budget." "That's no small accomplishment." "I'm impressed." "Very impressed." "Is that what you came all the way from Pasadena to tell me?" "Not entirely." "My firm represents the owners of the San Dimas Pier." "The bad guys, as it were." "It's not that cut-and-dried, Kay." "Not now it isn't, no." "Not with the two of us going head-to-head." "I'd say it's gotten rather sticky." "Hey, wait a minute." "I'm not asking you to kill the story." "Good, because I won't." "I just want you to listen to my side of it before you publish." "That's fair, isn't it?" "It sounds fair... which makes me highly suspicious." "Come on, I'll buy you a cup of coffee." "Say, anymore of those Thai noodles?" "Kill it." "This reminds me of this little place in Phuket, right." "We'd be out in the water all day, you know?" "And we'd come in and grease on a big bowl of these noodles." "Hey, didn't I send you a postcard from Thailand?" "Oh, yeah." "Um, I think I took it to show-and-tell for school." "Thailand is an unreal place." "The surf is lame, but the chicks are awesome, dude." "Can I have some more Coke?" "Hey, can I have some?" "No." "Finish your milk." "Kyle gets Coke." "Come on, a little soda?" "Here you go, Hobie." "Buzz." "What, Dad?" "I mean, listen to yourself." "That's who sound like." ""Don't do this." "Don't do that."" "You got a rule for everything." "Lighten up, brah." "Why don't you shut up?" "Anybody want anymore chicken?" "No, no, I'm done." "Hey, Buzz, got any bread?" "We're gonna go cruise the strand." "Wait a minute." "What do you mean "we're" gonna go cruise the strand?" "We'll be home before curfew." "Don't even think it." "What is this, some kind of jail or something?" "Hey, Kyle, slow down." "I happen to agree on this one." "I read where there's some gang shootings down there." "Hey, Buzz, maybe you'll get lucky." "Maybe I'll get shot." "Kyle..." "Hey, Kyle, wait a minute, man." "Can I be excused?" "Go on." "Well, as you can see we haven't exactly bonded yet." "Things are moving a little fast for him, that's all." "Yeah, for the both of us." "Talk about going through some changes." "One day I'm sitting on the beach in Australia, the next day I'm some angry kid's dad." "No, it was "not" supposed to happen like this." "So you make a few adjustments." "That's life, Buzz." "There's no great mystery to being a father anyway." "A lot of common sense, instinct." "You know... remembering how Mom and Dad handled things." "Yeah, then do everything exactly the opposite." "Oh, you know, why don't you leave them alone?" "They didn't make you leave home." "Hey, I left home because I didn't believe in the war." "That's why." "And he's never forgiven me for it." "What groups you in to?" "Well, I don't have any real favorites." ""New Kids on the Block"?" "Man, what a Barney." "What's a Barney?" "A geek." "Oh." "You ever listen to the Dead?" "The who?" "The Grateful Dead." "They were my mom's favorite group." "I mean, she took me to a lot of their concerts." "It's like all these old hippies." "Man, what a trip." "How did your mom die?" "I mean, if you don't want to talk about it, that's okay." "No, no, that's all right." "I mean, I dream about it every night." "She, uh, she was riding her bike and this car crashed a stop sign." "Never even slowed down." "Just... it was just like... pow." "She, uh, she went straight up in the air." "Came down right on the windshield." "You saw it?" "I was right behind her." "I saw the car." "I yelled." "But she didn't hear me." "Hey, what's the matter?" "My bathing suit." "It's falling apart." "Okay, all right, just relax." "Oh, God." "Calm down." "I'll get you in, all right?" "Okay." "Eduardo." "What's going on?" "Eduardo's suits are disintegrating." "What?" "Yeah." "Oh, God." "Hey, you tell Eduardo I want to talk to him." "Yeah, well, take a number." "My wife said you were selling those bikinis." "Oh, I'm sorry, but they're all gone." "Sold out." "Perhaps next week." "Yeah, well, she wants her money back, and so do I." "As a matter of fact, we all do." "Well, uh, there's a slight problem with that." "You see, all sales are final." "Oh, it's a very strict policy." "But seeing as how we're so close together, maybe I can give you a partial refund." "Do you have a receipt?" "Hey, man, the swells are pumping." "Let's go out." "I can't." "I got Junior Lifeguard." "Oh, man, bail it." "I can't." "Man, that's weak." "Your dad makes you do all this stuff?" "No, I like it, it's fun." "Besides, you learn a lot." "Yeah, like how to be a Barney." "Look, man, all I can say is you're going to miss out on some gnarly waves." "Where you going?" "San Dimas Pier." "Met some dude, said they were the hairiest break around." "You can't surf there..." "it's too dangerous." "Not for me." "Later." "Wait up, Kyle." "I'm coming." "Pretty ridiculous." "Here, Rover." "Hey, boy." "Here, Rover." "Sounds like a kennel in here." "Thank you very much." "Yeah, yeah..." " Hey." " How you doing?" "Did you see this?" "Hey, how's Kay's article?" "What article?" "You are not the publisher of my newspaper..." "I am." "Kay, you said you were going to run the story." "What happened?" "I made an editorial decision." "Well, if you don't mind," "I'd like to know what prompted the decision." "Or is the upcoming Venice Pleasure Fair your idea of hard-hitting journalism?" "Okay." "I was paid a visit by the attorney for the owners." "So what?" "What's the problem?" "He happens to be my father." "Your father?" "Mm-hmm." "Ellis Morgan is your father?" "Yeah." "He said he spoke to you on the phone." "Yeah, he did, a couple of months ago, and he wasn't very helpful." "This is the first time in my entire life that he's ever asked me for a favor." "It's not about favors." "You saw what happened to that surfer, Kay." "It's about saving lives." "I know what it's about, Mitch, as does my father." "He's just trying to reach a settlement that all the parties can agree to, and he thought if I ran the story it might jeopardize the negotiations." "I don't buy any of it." "Your dad's just another attorney." "It's a stall tactic." "Stay away from the pier." "Anyone surfing in this area, will be subject to arrest." "Oh, man." "The pier has been condemned." "Take your boards and leave the area immediately." "Do not attempt to surf these waves or you will be arrested." "See, I told you." "Leave the area immediately." "Let's get out of here." "Wait a minute." "I want to check this out." "The pier has been condemned." "Anyone surfing in this area will be arrested." "Hey, Hob, someone's at the door." "Hey, Eddie." "Hey, Hob." "Can I come in?" "Yeah, sure." "Great." "Is your dad around?" "Uh, no, but he should be here pretty soon." "Kyle, how's it going?" "Hey, you know, I missed you at Junior Guards today." "Oh, yeah, sorry about that." "I should've called." "Yeah, well, you know, I was just worried about you, that's all." "I thought maybe something might've happened to you." "Uh, no, we went surfing." "Oh, yeah, where did you go?" "Uh..." "Sunset Beach." "Surfing two places at one time..." "that's a good trick." "I saw you at the pier." "You were in the boat?" "So, what, are you going to tell his old man?" "No." "He is." "But he'll kill me." "Look, Hob," "I know your dad." "I know how he feels about you, he loves you." "And he trusts you." "And that's why you gotta tell him the truth." "Because if you don't, you're going to blow that trust and things will never be the same." "Same goes for you." "What?" "I'm supposed to trust a guy who doesn't even know who I am?" "Or even care?" "Look, why don't you give him a chance?" "It's a two-way street." "Why don't you give a little instead of taking all the time?" "Hi, guys." "Hey, Eddie, what's going on?" "Nothing." "Just stopped by to say hi." "Stay for dinner?" "You cooking?" "Yeah, I'm cooking." "I don't think so, man." "I'll see you later." "Well, thank you." "Where's Buzz?" "Partying with some babe." "When's he coming back?" "Don't ask me." "Later, Dad." "Yeah." "Hello." "Mitch." "Buzz, where are you?" "San Clemente." "I've had a couple of beers." "I don't think I should be on the road." "Aw, man, don't do this to me." "What?" "Your dirty work." "Look, I got my hands full with my own life." "Kyle's your responsibility." "I don't know what to do with him, Mitch." "You can start by getting your butt back here." "I'll be there by noon." "Can you handle it till then?" "Sure." "Sure, I guess I'll have to." "Morning, Hobe." "Morning, Dad." "How do you want your eggs?" "Uh, scrambled, I guess." "Good." "Grab some butter, will you?" "Yeah, sure." "You notice there's two cans of beer missing from in there?" "You know anything about that?" "No, I swear." "Do you think Kyle knows anything about that?" "Well, maybe." "I mean, I can't say for sure." "Something you're not telling me?" "Well, it's-it's not about the beer." "It's just that yesterday," "Kyle wanted me to go to the pier with him, so I cut Junior Lifeguards, and I went with him." "But I-I didn't surf there or anything." "I just wanted to try and talk him out of it." "I think it's about time I had a little talk with Kyle." "Wait a minute, Dad." "He's not as bad as you think?" "He's just got a lot of problems." "I know, Hobie, I know." "Kyle?" "Come on, K..." "Okay." "You got him breathing, but he's still unconscious." "Let's get him down." "Okay." "On three." "One, two, three." "Okay, easy." "All right, ready?" "And up." "Let's go." "Dr. Kirchy to Emergency." "Dr. Kirchy to Emergency, please." "Hey, Mitch, how is he?" "He's in a coma." "It's touch and go." "Mr. Rosenberger to Medical Records." "How long was he under?" "About two to three minutes." "His blood-gas level went down to 25." "That's right on the edge of brain damage." "I know." "We're not going to know anything until he comes out of it." "So where's Buzzy?" "Wheelchair to Admitting." "Somewhere between here and San Clemente." "You mean he doesn't know?" "No." "Any change in his condition?" "No... hey!" "He came by headquarters." "I filled him in on the way over." "Oh, God." "Bud, you okay?" "I thought you were keeping an eye on him." "What was he doing out there?" "What?" "What was he doing out there?" "!" "Look, don't lay this on me, man." "It's your son we're talking about." "Buzz, I was the one who brought him in." "Where the hell were you?" "Oh, you're a real hero, huh, Mitch?" "Just shut up, huh?" "What if he dies?" "What if he lives?" "Can you handle that?" "Can you grow up?" "Mitch, come on." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on!" "You got to get it together." "Mr. Jim Buchannon." "Your son has regained consciousness." "All indications are he's going to be okay." "Hey." "Kyle." "Hey, Buzz." "Boy, you're a tough kid." "You're probably going to drive me nuts." "I just figure you're my karma for what I did to my folks." "Hey, look." "I don't know what kind of life we're going to live, but I promise you, from now on, it's you and me... together." "You know, I'm thirsty." "Do you want to get a nurse to get me a Coke?" "How about some milk, huh?" "Whatever you say, Dad." "Got a minute?" "Yeah, yeah, sure." "Come on in." "Um..." "how is your nephew?" "He's doing fine." "Thanks." "That's good." "You know, I felt terrible when I heard what happened, like I was responsible." "Believe me, it was not your fault." "I know..." "I just, well..." "I should have run the story." "Kay, it was your dad." "I mean, that's..." "it's a tough call." "I spoke with my father." "This morning..." "and they reached a settlement." "Demolition starts tomorrow." "Terrific." "Thank him for me." "Yeah, I will." "So does this mean we're still friends?" "I hope so." "Don't I owe you a hotdog or something?" "I think so." "You know, if it wasn't for you," "Kyle would have been dead." "Sometimes we get lucky." "It wasn't luck, Dad, it was you." "Thanks, pal." "I love you, Dad." "And I promise that every time you tell me to make my bed or drink my milk, I won't ever complain." "How about doing your homework?" "Don't push it." "You!" "Uh-oh!" "Whoa!" "So, uh, what's up with you and Kay?" "You going to ask her out or what?" "Hmm." "Think I should?" "Well, she's pretty hot." "Really?" "Maybe you should ask her out." "Maybe I will." "Besides, she probably doesn't want to go out with you anyway!" "Really?" "Really." "Good-bye."