Coney Island, 1950's. The beach, the boardwalk. Once a luminous jewel, but growing...

[first lines] Mickey: [narrating] Coney Island, 1950's. The beach, the boardwalk. Once a luminous jewel, but growing relentlessly seedier as the tides roll in and out. Summers I work here on Bay 7. Comes the fall, I'm a student at New York University going for my Master's in European drama. I'm Mickey Rubin. Poetic by nature. I harbor dreams of being a writer. A writer of truly great plays, so I can one day surprise everyone and turn out a profound masterpiece. Mickey: [to the camera] Anyhow. Let me get to the story in which I am a character, so, be warned, as a poet, I use symbols, and as a budding dramatist, I relish melodrama and larger-than-life characters. Enter Carolina...

Yes? You take out my daughter last night? Oh, you're Carolina's father. I'm Mickey Ruben. I'm happy to meet you. Yeah, well, where is she? Now? Isn't she at work? No, no, no, she didn't come in. I already called. She didn't come home last night? She didn't stay with you? No, she went home. Listen, you could tell me the truth. You know, I'm kind of worried about her. We had a pizza at Capri Pizzeria, and then we left. We had a nice time. I offered to drive her home, and she said she wanted to walk. I-I told your daughter that I cared for her very much, and she wanted time to think things over. - Wait, what do you mean she didn't come home? - She didn't sleep at your place? No, I'm telling you. We split up after dinner. I told her I'd call her. You know, I'm gonna call the police. They're gonna wanna check your place out, you know that. Listen, she wasn't at my place. I live in Greenwich Village. They're free to check it out. Which way did she go when you split up? She went over toward the boardwalk, and I walked around the block to get my car. If you're lying to me... if you're lying to me, you're gonna be in a lot of trouble, you know that? Take it easy. I'm as alarmed as you are. She tell you that these, these guys are after her? I know her whole story, but, but she didn't walk around as if she was worried about it, and I didn't see anybody. Where the hell is she? What's the matter, Mom? Nothing. Then why are you drinking? - This is my first. - Third. Can I go to the movies?