location: Village Studios, west L.A.

Axl: Hey, you're here!
Eminem: Yeah! Yeah. Thanks for calling, great to meet you...I feel kind of stupid, I don't really know what to say.
Axl: I know, I know, it's probably like "Why is Axl calling me?"
[laughter]
Eminem: Yeah, yeah, like: "Umm...is this actually Axl? Does anybody actually know Axl?'
[laughter]
Axl: So yeah, I heard your fuckin' song on the fuckin', the fuckin', the new fuckin' Kayslay mix.
Eminem: Yeah?
Axl: Fuck yeah! Fuck, dude, best fuckin' song I heard all year.
Eminem: Jesus! Thanks, man, I don't...I mean I don't wanna make you feel all old and shit but you can fuckin' guess who I was listening to when I was twelve, you know?
Axl: I figured, dude, I mean I don't mean to get all grandpa on you but when I saw you comin' up I thought: "Aww, shit, is this a television or a mirror?"
[laughter]
Eminem: No, I take that as a compliment, I really appreciate that.
Axl: Cool! So listen, I heard that track, right, and I called you because I thought to myself if there's one guy needs to hear what I've got to say, it's that dude. On top of the world, right?
Eminem: Umm...sure, yeah, I'm doin' all right.
Axl: On top of the world!
Eminem: Don't punch my arm, dude, I hate in when people punch my arm.
Axl: On top of the fuckin' world!
Eminem: I'm serious, man, lay off the fucking arm-punching, I hate that shit. Respect and shit but I hate that shit.
Axl: On fucking top. So you have to totally disappear as soon as possible.

I had a Sony hi-res dome in the base of the ashcan by the studio door. Good thing, too. The audio following the above transcription consisted mainly of thumps, grunts, and canvas-on-pavement dragging sounds. But the film clearly indicates four ex-bouncer types emerging from a yellow H2 parked in a handicapped spot. After a shockingly quick scuffle, they place Eminem's unconscious body in the back seat of the vehicle. One of them drives, another rides in the back, Axl rides shotgun, and the other two just walk off down the street: as if, upon exiting the Hummer, they'd intended to walk down the street in the first place, but had interrupted themselves to lend a hand in a quick beatdown.

to be continued