 Michael and Carole turn to crime as a means of getting by , with Carole taking the role of a prostitute . Carole flirts with a sleazy businessman and brings him to a hotel room , where Michael beats him to death with a lead pipe . The two walk out into a pinball background with the dead man 's cash . Just then , Shorty shows up and shoots Michael in the head with a gun that Angie gave him to finish the job before Ida chases him ; the bullet is seen going through Michael 's skull in slow motion . Many of the movie 's characters run around in a circle and a kaleidoscope of shocking images and horrifying events proceeds before reverting to the live action story . The " real " Michael destroys a pinball machine after it tilts and walks out onto the street , bumps into the " real " Carole , and follows her into a park . The two are seen briefly arguing before they finally take each other 's hands and begin dancing in the park . 
