The Soloist

Nathaniel Ayers: [going to sleep] Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Just keep it coming. There's plenty. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Steve Lopez: [narrating] I knew only part of his story. I knew him playing the violin on a dairy crate in the morning sun, suspended somewhere between boy genius and lost traveler. Every night my friend Nathaniel tucks his instruments away and lays his head among the predators and hustlers, among the fallen drunks sprawled in the streets, as rats the size of meatloaves dart out of the drains to feed off the squalor. Nathaniel Ayers: Lead us not into temptation. For thine is kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Forever and ever. Steve Lopez: [narrating] I tell him this is no place for him. He says he wants to be here. He says this is his choice. Should I take him at his word, or should I

The Soloist, CC BY-SA 4.0

Steve Lopez: There's papers you gotta sign. They just back back from... And you should them so you know what you're signing. Nathaniel Ayers: All right, you know, I'll just sign them Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, Jr., apartment B-116, and the B stands for Beethoven.

The Soloist, CC BY-SA 4.0

Graham Claydon: Nothing pains God more than when we squander his blessings. You owe it to Him to care for this... Nathaniel Ayers: I don't owe God. Mr. Steve Lopez is my god. Steve Lopez: What? Nathaniel Ayers: Star writer for Los Angeles. Higher power flying around with wings like an angel.

The Soloist, CC BY-SA 4.0

Steve Lopez: I don't want him to love me. David Carter: Well it looks like you might have to get over that. Steve Lopez: It's a bad idea. "I love you Steve," turns into, "You failed me, Steve," turns into very bad things. That's my limited experience. I don't want to be on the other side of that with him. Would you? He doesn't know if I'm a ballerina, if I'm God, if I'm an airline pilot. He has no idea what he's saying.

The Soloist, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nathaniel Ayers: So, you guys are basically united by non-belief. Atheist: That's right. Nathaniel Ayers: Yeah. So, do you non-gather? And non-worship? Atheist: We tried, but uh... Nathaniel Ayers: Not a lot to talk about. Atheist: Yeah... Now we have a website. Nathaniel Ayers: Swell. [pause] Anything else you don't believe in?

The Soloist, CC BY-SA 4.0