All language subtitles for P.S.2004.1080p.WEBRip.x264-RARBG2_English

[ Birds Chirping ]

[ Wind Chimes Jingling ]

[ Wind Chimes
Continue Jingling ]

** [ Guitar ]

** [ Pop ]

* What would I do
without it *

* Think I been down
like that *

* I've gotta move
or sink here *

* And I only came to win

* Stay pretty

* I'll come back sometime

* And soon

* And while I'm away

* Stay tuned

* I can shoot a rocket

* We'll take it
to the end of space *

* You make me wanna say
pretty things *

* To people far away

* Look up now

* I'll put your flag on

* The moon

* And while we're away

* Stay tuned

* Stay tuned

* Stay tuned

* Stay tuned

* Stay tuned

* Stay tuned

* Stay tuned

* Stay tuned

* Stay tuned

* Stay tuned

* Stay tuned

* Stay tuned *

I can hear you.

Hear what?

Counting the calories.
Fuck off.

[ Laughs ]

Any plans
for the weekend?

Going to a conference
in Oregon.

What's the topic?

Repulsive energy.

Energy
can be repulsive?
Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Try pushing
two magnets together.

And you?

I'm having a manicure
on Sunday.

I would have taken you,
Lou,

except there's no way
they were gonna pay
for a guest.

[ Giggles ]
Peter, it's fine.

Oh. I had breakfast
with Sammy this morning.

Why did you have breakfast
with Sammy?

Because he helps people
invest their money, that's why.

Peter, my brother
is an addict
and a thief.

He's in recovery, Lou.
Besides, he's really good
at what he does.

You're not thinking about
giving him any money
to invest, are you?

Well, I'm not getting
any younger, am I?

There are things
that I wanna do.

Then play the lottery!

Peter, how would you
describe our marriage?

Better than most.

How do you know?

Because I hear
the stories.

It was a good marriage.
We had 10 years.

Six of them
were really good.
Yeah.

And we're still friends.

Peter,
you're my only friend.

What about Missy?

Missy
is 3,000 miles away.

She has a husband
and two children
to keep her company.

[ Phone: Line Rings ]

[ Rings ]
[ Woman ]
Ask me who I hate.

Go ahead. Ask me.
[ Chuckling ]
Who do you hate?

My husband.
Marcos is ignoring me.

Every time he starts
a new project,
it's like I'm invisible.

So I started
a little project
of my own.

Guess how
I spend my days.
Waiting for me to call?

Hitting on the pool boy.
[ Laughs ]

I'm telling you, Wheez,
I'm moving to Venice Beach.

You'd miss
your rich husband.

He'd miss me!

Wheezy, you know me.
Do I sit around
feeling sorry for myself?

Do I settle
for a life without sex?
No! I'm not you!

I work the problem.

So, as of today
I'm taking action.

I just wrote
a flirty little note...

to old flame Greg.
[ Giggles ]

Did you send it?

I'll have Marcos
do it.

Mar-Marcos?
Mm-hmm.

Proactivity, Wheeze.

Marcos needs to know,

if he can't give me what I need,
I'll go out and find
someone who can.

Wow.

[ Line Ringing ]

[ Line Picks Up ]

[ Man ]
Yo. What's crackin'?

I-Is this
F. Scott Feinstadt?

Uh, sure.
Who's this?

This is Louise Harrington
calling from
Columbia University.

Oh! Hey... Louise.
What can I do for you?

We received
your application today,
but there were no slides.

Uh, who's "we"?

Uh, I I received it.
Did you mail them separately?

Uh--
[ Exhaling ]

Hang on one second.

[ Rattling, Knocking ]

Hey, you still there?
I-I'm still here.

Uh, fuck, I completely spaced.
They are sitting right here
by the front door.

Look, I will hit
the post office first thing
tomorrow morning. Okay?

Uh...

actually, I'm calling
to schedule an interview.

You can bring them
with you then.

An interview?
Is--

Uh, is that, like,
a requirement?

No, it's--
it's not required.

But if you want to be
taken seriously,
then you should have one.

Well, uh...

yeah, I--

I definitely want
to be taken seriously,
Louise.

Um, will you be
doing the interviewing?

Yes.
Good.

Uh, when were you
thinking?

Monday?

Uh, okay.
What time?

Uh, 12:30.

Yeah.
No, 12:30's great.

Great.
Great.

I, uh--

I can still hear you
breathing, Louise.

Well, um--
So--

I'll... see you, uh, Monday,

and, um,
uh, don't forget your slides.

No, ma'am.
[ Chuckles ]
Okay.

[ Line:
Receiver Hangs Up ]

[ Chopping On Cutting Board ]

Hey, Mom.

Oh! Louise!

- You almost gave me
a heart attack.
- What's the occasion?

Sammy's coming to dinner.

Don't tell me
you're joining us.

I'm just gonna go
poke around my room
a little bit.

How's Peter?

Mom, Peter and I
are divorced.

I've known the man
12 years.

Louise, I can't ask
how he's doing?

[ Sighs ]

** [ Guitar: Folk ]

[ Woman ]
* These flowers
are coming up wild *

* They're coming up
They're coming up *

* They're coming up wild

* These flowers
are coming up wild *

* They're coming up
They're coming up *

* They're coming up wild

* They are like
those children *

* Who go off to school

* And don't come back

* Ohh-ohh

* Ooh-ooh

* And I am like
their mother *

* Waiting around
about to cry *

* Cry

* Cry

* I won't come back

* Back

* Back

* Back

* You are like a flower

* Rise and rise

* To the sun

* I wanna be like that

[ People Conversing,
Laughing ]
* That *

[ Man ]
Charming--
[ Slap ]

- Ow!
- [ Laughs ]

Hey, Louise, look--
Thank you.

Isn't it true,
after a hard day's work,

a man likes to have
his food waiting for him
when he walks in the door?

It's Saturday.
[ Man ]
So what?

He never rests.
I'll sleep
when I'm dead.

- Don't say that.
- What's in your bag?

I found some stuff
in my closet.

What stuff?
Clothes.

Oh, they won't fit you
anymore, darling.

I'll get them altered.
They're back in fashion.

[ Mother ]
If you say so.

Mom, whatever happened
to the Feinstadts?

They retired
to Florida.

Not too far from your father.
Did they have
brothers and sisters?

- Why do you ask?
- I saw the name Feinstadt
the other day.

I just wondered
if Scott maybe had a cousin
running around somewhere.

It was just the two of them.

Which made
what happened to Scott
so devastating.

- Still, the way she carried on
about his artistic genius--
- Mom!

It is the worst thing
that can happen to a woman,
losing a child.

I see Rachel Feinstadt
when she comes back to visit,

and she's lost her bloom.

Do you remember
how beautiful she was
when she was your age?

My age?
Yeah.

When you and Scott
were dating,

Rachel would have been
about your age.

[ Chopping
On Cutting Board ]

[ Line Rings ]

[ Missy ]
Hey.
Hey.

Did Scott ever use the phrase
"just-add-water life" with you?

Who?

Scott.

[ Chuckles ]
Scott was 20 years ago,
Wheeze.

I couldn't tell you what I had
for breakfast this morning.
Just this one thing.

What, are you
writing your memoirs?

No, I just--
I-I saw it somewhere.

It sounded familiar.
I wasn't sure if it was him.

Where did you see it?
Magazine.

Did he say it?

Uh, yeah. Yeah.

He used to say it.

It was part of
his whole thing.
You know?

You know,
that sensitive artist thing.

Like, "Hey, I make art,

so you don't get to yell at me
for making you wait at the IHOP
for two fucking hours."

I forgot that part.

What part?
Being late part.

Oh! And just when you were
ready to write him off-- poof!

He'd show up
with that shit-eating grin
on his face.

Thanks.
It was driving me crazy.
No problem.

Let's pick it up
in another 20 years.
Bye.

Scott.

F. Scott.
It's... Louise, right?

Close the door.

[ Door Closes ]

You're late.
I know. I, uh--

[ Chuckles ]
I totally fucked up
on the subway. I'm sorry.

And strike two.

Excuse me?

You're into abstracts.
I'm not abstract.

I mean, it's just--
It's not what I do.

I'm more figurative.

I figure [ Chuckles ]
that, uh,

you know,
you're telling a story,

so you need real...
forms to do that.

How was your time at RISD?

Good. You know?
It was good.

Good people.
Good times.

But, uh, you know,
at the end of the day...

it's Rhode Island,
you know.

So, uh, I guess
I needed more room.

And that's why I'm here.

I-I-I'm sorry.
Why are you here?

Louise,
ever since I can remember,

I have had this thing
inside of me, you know,

and it just keeps
coming and coming--
there's no stopping it.

Canvas after canvas.
It's like it's all part
of the same thing.

So, you just tell me
what I need to do, Louise,

and I will do it.

Well, let's, um,

take a look at your slides.

You're not
gonna believe this.

I forgot to bring 'em.

I'm just kidding!
I'm just joking.

Uh, you're not
gonna project them?

Well, not yet.
When the committee makes
their final deliberations.

Oh.

And here I thought I was
talking to the gatekeeper.

I can't go into procedure.
So why don't you
arrange them for me?

Sure.

I'll make 'em
nice and pretty,
just for you.

[ Knock On Door ]

Excuse me.

Peter.
Hello.

It's not a good time.
Oh. Okay.

Uh, I just wanted to see
if we could do it
at your place tonight.

Tonight?
Yeah.

It's Monday.
Oh. I'm sorry.
Sure. My place.

It's just, I'm--
I'm not up to cooking.
Sure. Okay.

So, uh,
I'll see you about 7:00.
Sure.

Okay.
Sorry to disturb you.
It's okay. Bye-bye.

All yours...

Lou.

All right, come on.

Hit me, Louise.
No, I-- I can take it.

Shh, shh.

Well,

I think...

they show
a great deal of promise.

Promise.

Okay. So, uh,
you keep these for now?

Yes.

And, uh,
I'm free to go?

Well, now's the time to ask me
any questions you might have
about the program.

Um, you know what?
I don't, uh--

Thanks for your time,
Louise.

Uh, F. Scott--
[ Door Closes ]

F. Scott!

Is that how you
conclude an interview?

You go running off
like that?

Um--

I don't know.
This is my first interview.

So, why don't we
go sit somewhere?

I can tell you about
the program, the faculty,
the resident artists.

You must have
some questions.

And it'll be my turn
in the hot seat.

Okay?

Okay.

[ Sighs ]
Um...

do you want
something to drink?

Why not?

Just go on in.

** [ Whistles ]

What does it
make you think of?

I don't know.

Take your time.

[ Wine Pouring ]

It's a mother and child.

Ah.

It was a gift.

Well, I gotta say,
Louise,

I am really diggin' this
executive recruitment thing.

You know, I'm completely
at your disposal.
Oh.

Uh, actually, then
I do have...

a question.

Go ahead.

Has anyone ever
painted your portrait?

Once.

A long time ago.

You should let me.

[ Chuckles Weakly ]

[ Sighs ]

Are you-- Are you sure
this is okay?
Yeah.

I don't wanna make you
do anything that--
No, it's fine.

Do you have something?

Do you have
something?
Yeah.

Get it.

Fuck!

[ Spits Away Wrapper ]

[ Gasps ]
Oh, God.

[ Moaning ]

[ Continues Moaning,
Panting ]

[ Groans ]

Aah!
[ Gasps ]

[ Both Exhaling, Panting ]

[ Whispering ]
Oh, God.

[ Both Groaning ]

[ Gasps ]

[ Both Continue Panting ]

[ Groans ]

That was
fucking awesome.

Can I get you anything?

Can you--
[ Chuckling ]

Are you kidding me?

Louise, can I
ask you a question?
Yeah, sure.

Is this gonna hurt
my chances?

Chances of what?

I mean, as the head
of admissions,

can you balance
business and pleasure?

Yeah. Yeah. I--

You know, I think
I-I'd better get back
to the office for a bit.

Oh, yeah. No.

You can't abandon
all responsibility.
Right?

You want to chill out
later tonight?

Yeah. Yeah.
Do you?

Sure--
Ah, I can't tonight.

How about tomorrow night
I will take you out
on a proper date?

How does that sound?

Yeah, I'd-- I'd like that.
Okay.
I'll call you.

Uh, speaking of which,
can I use your phone?

Yeah. Yeah.
Of course.

Right there.

[ Punching Buttons
On Receiver ]

Thank you.

Hi, Mom.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No, I think
it went pretty well.

Okay.

No, it was, uh--
it was pretty easy.
I mean, it was fun.

I was--
I was in and out of--

Can we talk about this
when I get home, Mom?

I love you too.
Bye.

[ Sighs ]
Mom.

She worries,
you know.

I'll bet.

You know, I think I should
probably take a shower,
uh, just sober up a bit.

Yeah. Yeah. Sure.

Wow.
That's organized.

There. Just--

You're sure
this is okay?
Yeah, yeah. It's fine.

Just take
all the time you want.

And then just
let yourself out.

Okay.
Okay.

Will you promise me
one thing?
Yeah.

Promise me I'll see you
tomorrow night?

[ Chuckles ]

I promise.

Hey.
You changed.
Yep.

[ Phone Rings ]

Louise Harrington.

[ Missy ]
What are you up to?
What do you mean?

I've been calling
all over the place.

Well, I--
I took a long lunch.

Ah. Well,
I heard back from Greg.
Who?

Greg! Greg! Greg!

He called me
this morning!

Oh!
What did he say?

"What did he say?"
Wheezy.

[ Giggling ]
Wheezy!

He called me
from a hotel.

A hotel?
Mm-hmm!

Subtle
this man is not.

He calls me and basically says,
"Come on over for an afternoon
of hot, nostalgic sex."

Oh, my God!
What did you say?

I said, "Order up
some of that room service
shrimp cocktail, honey.

I'm comin' over!"
[ Laughing ]

No.
Yes!

Two hours ago
I'm in the S.U.V.

I'm actually on my way
to meet Greg...

at the Radisson, no less.
[ Laughs ]

You shoulda seen me,
Wheeze.

I'm driving barefoot,
with these "fuck me" shoes
bouncing on the passenger seat.

It's a good hair day.
All systems are go.

And?
And two blocks
from the hotel,

I turn around
and drive home.

Why, Miss?

Why?

Because the last time
Greg saw me naked I was 22.

I was still perfect,
Wheezy.

He's picturing me
as a girl.

If I let him see me now,
the girl is gone forever.

She gets replaced by
a housewife who's had twins.

I mean, you should see
my bazooms, Wheeze.

It's like
National Geographic
over here.

Oh, come on, Miss.
You always needed a bra.

Ouchy!

[ Gasps ]
Wait a minute.

You're getting laid,
aren't you?

What are you talking about?

I know you.
Your voice changes
when you're getting laid.

Spill the beans, Wheezy.

Who is he?

I don't know.

You look great.

I forgot
about your groupies.
Oh, yeah.

They're newly intoxicated
with the wonders
of the universe.

Remember when
we were like that?

I remember.

Getting you
was like winning a prize.

I outshone
all the other girls.

You sure did.
Mm-hmm.

Still do.
[ Giggles ]

[ Liquid Pouring ]

How are you, Lou?

Well,

I'm wonderful,
actually.

You look wonderful.

And how are you, Peter?
I'm good.

Good.

I'm happy.

Happy?
Mmm.

Lou, I didn't go to, uh--
to Oregon...

last weekend by myself.

What?

I went with somebody else.

Oh.

I wanted
to tell you myself,

because I didn't want you
finding out some other way.

Thank you.

Is she a student?

No. No, um--

I met her through Sammy,
actually.

Sammy?

[ Sighs ]
Do you have a cigarette?

You don't smoke.
I do, sometimes.

Thanks.

Lou, some months back...

I, um--

I went to Sammy...

for help.

You told me.
This is different.

I have an addiction.

You have an addiction?
Yeah.

An addiction to what?

To sex.

Sex? Y-You have
an addiction to sex?

Yeah.

It started before--
before we met.

But, P-Peter,
the last three years
of our marriage...

w-we didn't have sex
at all.

Oh, God.

Every semester
I swore to myself,
this will not happen again.

And then a list of names
would be left on my desk,

and just even looking
at the names would start
the whole cycle all over again.

But that's how we met.
I was a name on a list.

Lou, I swear to you...

you were different.

I swear.

How many?

I don't know. I--

How many, Peter?
[ Sighs ]

Hundreds.

[ Gasps ]
Hundreds?
Yeah.

And, um, there were
some men as well.

Men?

Yeah.

How many?

I don't know.

You don't know?
How many?
I-I-I don't remember.

It wasn't many.
It was... a few.

"A few." "A few."
What does that mean?

Not more than,

I don't know, 10.

Not more than 10.

Not more than 10.
Peter, that's more than me.

It's a disease, Lou.

It's taken me
all my adult life
to just...

accept that.

Sammy helped me.

He helped me get there.

Are you fucking
my brother?

[ Sighs ]

I-I went to Sammy
because I saw the way
he handled his addiction--

one day at a time.

I asked him
if he could help me
to get into a program.

He did, and that's
where I met Farrah.

Farrah.

Wh-What's her addiction?
Is she a sex addict too?

Do the two of you
just get together,
you just fuck all the time?

It doesn't matter.

It's cocaine, actually.

Oh. Good.

Good-- Expensive.

The worst thing of all,
Lou,

was that throughout
our marriage...

I blamed you
for what was happening.

Well, sure. Why not?

The more I acted out,
the less you seemed to notice.

You had this image of me
that I was like
some knight in shining armor.

You wouldn't let go of it.
You clung to it.

I was desperate
for you to catch me.

You have no idea
what it's like to live
with an addiction...

day in, day out, Lou,

to live this secret life.

But I can tell you
right now...

I have finished with hiding.

And if you'll let me, I--

I want to repair
the damage that I've done.

You're on step nine,
aren't you?

Hmm?

You're making amends?

I fucking hate step nine
with a passion!

I am trying...

to repair the most
important relationship...

of my life.

After all these years,
I am offering myself to you.

[ Laughing ]
The real me.

My real self.

Get out, Peter.

Okay.

[ Door Opens,
Closes ]

** [ Guitar ]

[ Woman ]
* When the day is short

* And the nights are long

* It's a different world

* Where the rules
are all in doubt *

* I will go home with you

* Brutal and unsure

* Are you sure

* And I don't care

* If you

* If you love me
tomorrow night *

* Love me tonight and I
[ Knock On Door ]

* I will be all right

* I'll be all right

* I'll be all right

* I'll be all right

* Until tomorrow night *

Ohh.
[ Chuckles ]
Hey.

Is this about me?

No. No.

It's about Peter.

Who's Peter?
My ex-husband.

Oh, I didn't--
I didn't know
you were married.

I'm 39 years old.
We met yesterday.

Look, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.

He just-- He told me
some stuff about us.

[ Sighs ]
About us?

No, not-- not--
not"us," but...

him and me "us,"

when we were
married.

Like... maybe he did
some cheating?

He probably fucked you
at some point.

You know what, Louise?

This is about me.

I've entered your bloodstream.
You know? And he can smell it.

He's jealous, that's all.
He wants you back.

You think?
Yeah, I think.

And, hey, you know,
it's not like I don't
know the feeling.

I been thinking about you
all day.

I have been
counting the hours.

Then I come over here,
and you're talking about him?
I'm jealous!

[ Laughs ]
You're jealous?

Yeah! I-- Come on.

I want you
all to myself.

You do?

Yes.

Tonight it's just
you and me. Okay?

It's just you and me.

We are the only two people
in the entire world.

Oh, my God.

I had no idea
I was this hungry.

So I went out
and checked out
some studio spaces.

Are you looking?
Yeah.

You know, uh, if Columbia
doesn't work out...

I gotta have
a plan "B."

Where are you working now?

Oh, it's this little place
you might have heard of
called my mom's basement.

[ Laughing ]
Mmm.

Well, what are you
gonna do?

Scott, what would you do
if you couldn't paint?

Probably, um, go crazy.

What if something happened?

What if...

you were driving in your car
and you hit a tree and you went
flying through the windshield?

Uh...

I guess I would...

take all
the splintered wood...

and the shattered glass...

and the twisted metal...

and I'd mix it
with my blood and my guts...

and I'd create
this giant...

mixed media
roadkill sculpture.

But you'd be buried
under the ground.

But I'd--
I'd bust out of there.

I'd come racing up
through the dirt.

I'd bloom into
a beautiful flower.

With any luck,
someone would come by
and take care of me,

give me plenty of water
and sunlight.

Sounds like
a just-add-water kind of life.

Oh, it--
Mmm.

No. You know--

Not if the person...

had a gentle touch.

Not if they had
a green thumb.

[ Man ]
* You'll try and try

* Even if it lasts an hour

* With all our might

* We'll try and make it ours

* 'Cause we're on our way

* We're on our way
to fall in love *

* Yeah, we're on our way
to fall in love **

Can we get dessert?

** [ Blues Rock ]
* Yea-eah

* Uh-huh

* Whoa-ohh
[ Man ]
Break it up!

Oh, break it up!

Ah.
Hang on one sec.

** [ Continues ]

Hey, Louise.

This is Ricky.
Ricky, Louise.

- Hi, Louise.
- Hi.

Are you aware
that F. Scott here
is not to be trusted?

Dude, just... bounce.

Who was that?

That's, uh,
a friend...

from, uh,
the old neighborhood.

And why are you
not to be trusted?

Oh, that's, uh, 'cause
he's being a dickhead.

I told my mom
I was staying at his place
last week, and I wasn't.

He had to cover for me,
so--

Were you with a girl?

Well, that was before
I met you, Louise.

Hey, come with me.

** [ Blues Rock Continues ]

** [ Blues Rock Fades ]
** [ Woman Singing:
Folk Rock ]

I know
what you're thinking.

What am I thinking?
You're thinking that
I'm too young for you.

How do you know
what I'm thinking?

Well, I have powers,
Louise.

Mmm.
No, I do.

Yeah.
You want me to prove it?

No.
I think it would be fun.

Come on.

Look, you just met
my best friend.

I want you to think
of your best friend.

Really get a picture of them
in your mind. Okay?

Are you-- Do you
have that picture?
Okay. I got it.

Come on. I really
want you to concentrate.
I got it. Mm-hmm.

Okay.

Oh. Yeah-- Whoa.
This is freaky.

Whoa. Let me see.

It's strong tonight.

Mm-hmm.

Um... it's a woman.

Good.
Yeah.

It's a woman.

She's got dark hair.

She lives in a house...

on a hill.

She's got a child.

No. T children.

Twins! Twins.

Her name
starts with an "M."

Like M-- M--

Missy? Is it--
Is her name Missy?

How do you know that?

I told you, Louise.
I know everything there is
to know about you.

[ Laughing ]
I'm just-- I'm just--
I'm kidding.

I spoke with Missy
yesterday on the phone.
You spoke with Missy?

Yeah. I, uh, came running
out of the bathroom.
I was dripping wet.

I was, you know--
I was hoping it'd be you.

She said she was
your best friend.
Is that true?

It's true.

What else did she say?

Um, she told me about--

I don't know.
She told me about Marcos.

And the twins.

F. Scott.

Yeah?

Let's go home.

Yeah.

Take off your clothes.

Well, I like this.
[ Giggles ]

[ Shoes Dropping To Floor ]

Walk back and forth.

Walk--

You'd leave
a good-lookin' corpse.

Well, that's the best thing
about dying young, right?

You know
what the worst thing is?

About dying young?
About dying
when you're still perfect.

I'm not perfect.

- Well, you're a little scrawny.
- Wiry.

Wiry.
Thank you.

And, you know, this--
this is gonna go eventually.

That's what
I'm talking about.

The worst thing
about dying young is that
your work has no relevance.

Why?
[ Laughing ]

'Cause you got off easy.

You skipped out on
all the countless humiliations
life had planned for you.

So, then
as a career choice,

you would advise
against dying young.

Let's play a game.

Hmm?

It's a pretend game.

Pretend?

Okay.
What shall we pretend?

Go to the mirror
and look at your reflection.

Okay.

Oh, yeah.

Now I'm gonna describe
a situation to you.

You ready?

Yeah.
[ Sniffs ]

It's the future.

You're 40 years old.

Can you imagine that?
Yeah.

You're 40 years old,

and you're a failure
as an artist.

I mean, you haven't
completely stopped fighting.

You haven't completely
given up the ghost, but...

it's been years and years
and your work hasn't
achieved any real acclaim.

I don't care about acclaim,
just as long as I get
to keep working.

Of course,
which is why you haven't quit.

But today you're feeling
particularly fragile.

This morning--
It's morning...

and you're
getting dressed for work.

Where do I work?

You work for your uncle
selling cars...

in New Jersey.

Wow.
It's a long commute.
You're running late.

I'm a car salesman.
Used cars.

Wow.
And here's where you have to
use your imagination.

What you're wearing.
Look at yourself.

Imagine
that you're wearing...

a dress shirt,

boxers,
black socks...

and nothing else,

and you're
tying your tie.

I don't know
how to tie a tie.
Exactly.

You never learned how.

That's why you need me
to help you.

And who are you, Louise?

You my wife?

I am.
I'm your wife.

Usually I tie your ties
and hang them on the doorknob...

so all you have to do
is slip them over your head,
but I forgot today, so...

you need my help.

And here's another thing
you have to imagine.

You've gotten chubby
over the years.

Your hair
has started to thin.

Can you imagine that?

Yeah.

And today's one of those days
when you look in the mirror...

and you wonder
if you have any fucking
purpose at all in life.

You're having a moment
of serious doubt.

I'm scared.
You're terrified.

You're terrified.

And here I am.
I'm standing behind you,
tying your tie.

You, a grown man
in your boxers
and black socks.

I'm standing here
like your mother,

and I look down
at your stomach and...

you have love handles.

They're oozing out
over your boxers.

I reach down, grab them,
give them a jiggle,

and I say, "Darling,

why don't you
take up jogging?"

Imagine me
saying that to you...

just like that.

Singsong,
like a joke.

And what do I say?
Nothing.

You say nothing.

There's nothing
you can say.

You just
have to stand there
until I finish.

You just have to
suck it up.

That's pretty harsh.

You bet.

And guess what.

It's just
the tip of the iceberg.

But...

it's that humiliation
that will connect you
to the rest of us.

It's that feeling that
will give your work meaning.

Okay.

I know
what this is about.

What?

Why you're so angry.

I'm not angry.
It's about Peter.

He hurt you like crazy,
Louise.

I know it's fresh,

but you have to
listen to me.

He has nothing--

Hey. Hey!

Look at me.

[ Emphatically ]
Look at me.

F. Scott?

Mom?

Mom?

Mom?

What's wrong, darling?

Everything.

Ohh.

Peter has a girlfriend.
Can you believe it?

Yes, I can.
[ Laughs ]

So, how did you find out?

Peter told me.

He told me
a lot of things.

Is she young?

Her name is Farrah.

Do you know why
I love it out here?

[ Wind Chimes Jingling ]

All I'm responsible for is
this little piece of dirt.

No more
saving the world.

No more
fighting injustice.

Just me and my babies.

Is Sammy
coming for dinner?

Oh! I never know
when he's coming.

He works
such long hours.

But you baked a pie.
I keep a little something,
just in case.

You know, you always complain
that we never see each other,

but maybe
if you baked me a pie...

I'd be magically compelled
to visit.

You don't eat pie,
darling.

Twice in one week!

That's a world record.

I need to know something.

What?

How could you?

How could I what?

Peter.

It's his money,
Louise.

I don't care
about the money.

That's not
what I'm talking about.

Okay. So, um,
what are you talking about?

You could have
told me...

about Peter, Sammy.

He asked me not to, Louise.
So no, I could not have.

Oh, y-you couldn't
or wouldn't?

It's not my job to tell you
something you should have
figured out for yourself.

How can you sit there
with such dignity?
You're a drug addict.

- I'm in recovery.
- Oh! Oh.

Oh, that's right.
You just snap your fingers,
everything goes back to normal?

Oh--
Nothing is normal.
No, nothing is normal.

'Cause you're a grown man
sitting in your mother's kitchen
eating pie.

Your mother,
who you stole from.

Yeah, that's right.
I'm here in her kitchen.

I'm here.
Where have you been?

In your office,
watching your family fall apart?

Watching your husband
flush his life down the toilet?
Where have you been?

You don't know anything
about my marriage.

Oh, giv--
[ Mutters ] Sanctimon--

You know,
asking the universe for pity...

is a waste of time.

The universe doesn't care.

It doesn't care
that my entire life was a lie.

It doesn't care
that our mother's getting older.

Doesn't care
about you, me and the--

It sure as hell doesn't care
about your marriage.

Then...

why don't you
help me out, Sammy?

Why don't you give me
some of that
good old step nine stuff?

Find the pattern.

"Pattern."

Find the pattern and put
yourself in a position of profit
when the pattern repeats itself.

You are so full of shit.

Whatever, Louise.
Jesus.

Dignity is a choice.

Quit feeling sorry for yourself
and work the problem.

[ Screen Door Shuts ]

Is there
a Missy Goldberg
registered here?

[ Bell Dings ]

[ Missy ]
It's open.

How did you find me?

Pattern recognition.

You sound like Sammy.

Sammy?
Didn't I tell you?

He's helping me
with some investments.
Oh.

Whatever it is,
sink all your dough into it.

Sink the kids' college funds.
Whatever he says,
it's a sure thing, truly.

I saw him.

Who? Sammy?

You know who.

[ Liquid Pouring ]

You were holding out on me.

What do you think, Miss?

I don't think.

I know.

It's him!
It's Scott.

- You have a cigarette?
- I quit.

I-- I-- I can't believe
he's real.

I thought
I was going crazy.
Believe me, it's him.

The question is,
what are we gonna do?

Ahh!
[ Giggling ]

Oh, you must have died
when you first saw him.

I couldn't
believe my eyes.

But then again,
I-I could. It's--

It sort of made sense,
happening there
in my office.

[ Chuckles ]

Mm-hmm!

[ Sighs ]

How'd you find out,
Miss?

Oh, coincidence.
Fate.

You weren't picking up
in the office,

so I rang you at home
and he picked up.

Did you know right away?

Well, there was the voice.
But it was more than that.

It was the words he was using.
It was the way
he was making me feel.

It felt like him, but I talked
to him for half an hour before
I finally asked him his name.

Half an hour?

I made him say it three times.
I actually made
the poor kid spell it.

He must have thought
I was crazy.

So, what was it?
How did he make you feel?

Like myself.

The real me.

Yes.
The one
I'd forgotten about.

Not the me
that drives the kids to school
in a fucking S.U.V.

Someone else.

The girl.
[ Missy Chuckles ]

That's it exactly.

I looked in the mirror,
and for the first time
in God knows how long...

I saw someone I recognized.

It was me,
it was my face,

not the face
of someone's mother.

So I tried to get you
to spill the beans,

which you wouldn't do.

So I sat on my hands...

until I couldn't
fucking take it anymore,

and then I came here
to see for myself.

And?
And...

I rang him up.
[ Laughs ]

Where?
He was over at Ricky's.

Ricky?
How did you find out
about Ricky?

Scott's mother's
in the phone book.

So I called her up,
pretended like I was
from Columbia.

I said I needed to
speak to him right away
regarding his application.

Then I rang him up...

and I invited him
to brunch.

I said I'd tell him
all about you.

So you
were with him today.

Yeah.
We had a blast.

I bought him socks.

Did he ask about me?

Sure.
He was full of questions.

You didn't tell him
about Scott, did you?

Excuse me.
I'm not an idiot.

And just how much progress
did you make, Missy?

Not enough.

But enough.

I touched him.

You touched him?

You better believe it, sister.
I touched that creamy skin.

[ Laughs ]

[ Door Opens ]

How could you hold out
on me, Wheezy?

I loved him too,
you know.
I understand that.

But who cares?
What do you mean?

We're not sharing him
this time!

We tried that.
Remember?

Here's what I remember.

I remember
Scott dumped you for me.

I remember
it was me who shared.

It was me
who took pity on you.

Besides,

he was mine
when he died.

I don't care.

He was mine
when he died!

So what?

If he had lived,
he would have
come back to me.

He would have seen you
for what you really are.
Which is what?

A dickhead!

Maybe.

Or maybe we would've
gotten married,

had kids and lived
in a loft in Soho.

Or maybe he'd be working
at his uncle's car dealership
in New Jersey.

Right. Can you just
see him doing that?
You're just jealous.

Jealous of what?
Jealous that Scott and I
are married,

living in Soho
with two beautiful kids
and a Jack Russell terrier.

I'm not jealous. He would've
dumped you in three weeks for
a sculptress with a toe ring.

Oh, and then what?
He would've come
running back to you?

Yes.

With me
he could've had a family.
He could've had kids.

You needed in vitro!

Well... he could've
had that from me.

It just wasn't in the cards
with you, Wheezy.
You are just not a mother.

I'm sorry, Wheezy,

but it's true.

Besides, you're forgetting
how he used to treat you.

Don't you remember
you told me...

he used to make you
run around naked so he
could poke fun at your body?

He was critiquing me!
He was gonna paint
my portrait!

Which he kept promising
to do, but he never did.
He di paint my portrait!

The mother and child!

Wheezy!
You were 17!

[ Louise ]
I'm telling him the truth.

I'm telling him
everything.

You're gonna
fuck it up, Louise!

F. Scott,
what are you doing out here?

Waiting for you.

Did Missy call you?

What did she say?

She said that you had
something important
to tell me.

Let's go inside.

Why don't you just tell me
what you came here
to tell me?

What do you think
I'm here to say?

That you're through with me,
that you've had your fun.

That's not
why I'm here.

When I was
in high school,

I had a boyfriend,

and... I...

went out with him,

and then Missy
went out with him.

She stole him
from me.

And--

And then
he was killed.

How?

Car accident.

Louise.

Louise, I'm sorry.

He looked like you.

He painted like you.

He had your name.

F. Scott?
Scott Feinstadt.

His name
was Scott Feinstadt.

And Missy thinks
I'm a lot like this guy too?

She does.
She thinks you're him,
or he's you, or--

Do you understand
what I'm saying?

Well, what do you think,
Louise?

What do I think?
Yeah.

You're telling me that
Missy thinks I'm some guy...

back from the dead.

Is that what you think?

I-- I d--
I don't know!

I--

Yes.

Yes.
Ohh.

You said
you had something
inside of you.

You said you were meant
to be here in this place.
You said that.

And maybe you're right.

Maybe there is
something inside of you.

Maybe it brought you here
to find me.

[ Scoffs ]

Louise.
[ Sighs ]

Some guy...

broke your heart.

And I get that.
That's-- That's traumatic.

But you know what?

That happens to everybody.
No.
Not like this.

That happens...

to everybody.

Okay?
It's called high school.

Ohh.
[ Sighs ]

And you know what?

Usually people learn
from the experience,

and then they just
move on with their lives.

Well, maybe they shouldn't.

Maybe that's what's wrong
with the world-- everybody,
they're just moving on.

When you're working
and nothing's coming, do you
just get up and walk away?

Do you?

Okay, I don't
want to fight, Louise.

Well,
what if I want to?
Well, it takes two.

F. Scott!

Hello.

Hi.
Hi.

Shit.

Peter?

Are you okay?

I just wanted
to tell you
the truth, Lou.

For once I wanted the words
coming out of my mouth
to bring us closer together.

[ Banging On Door ]

[ Banging Continues ]

Hi.
Listen.

Let me guess.
Peter.

Yeah. Who--
Who are you?

He's an M.F.A.
applicant.
[ Chuckles ]

An M.F.A. applicant?

Are you fucking
insane?

Look, what's--
what's going on here?

Oh, she didn't
tell you about me?
I'm the dead guy.

Peter,
I need you to leave.

No, no.
I think I'm gonna stay.

Yeah, stick around.
We'll all grab hands
and... have a séance.

Peter, please.
Let me handle this.

Yeah, let her handle this.
Watch your tongue.

- [ Guttural Voice ]
Get the hell out of here!
- Stop!

Peter. Please.

I'll call you
in 15 minutes. Okay?
Fine.

It was a pleasure.

I don't believe you.

You come over last night
and you fuck with my head,

and the whole time
you've been sleeping
with your ex-husband?

Peter and I did not
sleep together last night.

We didn't sleep together much
when we were married.
Then what?

Is that how you break up with
someone? Tell them they're dead
and just hope they'll go away?

The whole thing is just
too fucking mystical for me.

You don't think this is
mystical for me too?

I wake up
yesterday morning,

you're asleep
next to me,

and I'm freaking out
'cause everything's
so new and different.

And then
I look over at you,

and I am blinded--
I'm blinded.

You are six inches
from my face,

and you are
so fucking beautiful...

I can't even
focus my eyes.

F. Scott--
F. Sc--
[ Sighs ]

What?

My name's not F. Scott.

Okay?
It's Francis.

Francis?

Francis Scott Key
Feinstadt.

I guess I thought
F. Scott sounded cool
on the application.

Everyone at home
calls me Fran.
Fran?

Yeah. Fran.

You know
what the worst part is?

You don't even think
I'm an artist
in my own right, do you?

I'm just some extension
of him. Right?

You know what that is,
Louise?

The... mother and child?

It's a fuckin' joke.
Don't say that.

That's some kid
who kicked over
a can of paint...

and decided
to call it art.

Don't say that!

F. Scott!

I couldn't sleep
last night.

You know,
I was going crazy...

trying to make some sense
of what you said.

So you know what I did?
What?

I went and saw Missy.

And what happened?

Well...

what do you think
happened?

Bye.

Have you seen him?
Yes.

Mmm.

We acted like a couple
of boys, didn't we?

What happened last night?

The kid
came up to my room.

We fucked
till the sun came up.

We did it four,
maybe five times.

We did everything
imaginable.

Oh, the Earth moved.
Is that what you wanna hear?

Well, I wanna hear the truth.

The truth is,
I gave him a shot.

I gave him two shots,
actually.
[ Giggling ]

He wasn't buying.
He said no.
Can you believe it?

Why, Miss? Why?

You know how it is.

I only wanted him
because you had him.

Is that really true?

Of course it is.

At least that's
what Marcos says, anyway.

[ Laughing ]
Marcos?
Mm-hmm.

[ Laughing ]

You told Marcos?

We're meeting this weekend
in Napa.

You said terrible,
terrible things to me
last night.

-You said some pretty
terrible things to me too.
-You said terrible things to me.

I surrender.
You won.

It's not attractive
to sit around and gloat.

Gloat? What are you
talking about? Gloat?

Wheezy, would you stop!

No two snowflakes
are exactly alike,

but these two
are pretty damn close.

You have
a gorgeous snowflake...

who's just dying
to get to know you better.

What are you
doing?

You're sitting here
arguing with me.

[ Chuckles ]

I swear.

Some people just refuse...

to let anything good
happen to them.

[ On Phone ]
This is Sammy.

This is Louise.
What's wrong?

There's nothing wrong.
Gotta call you back then.

Okay?
I am really proud
of you, you know.

[ Sighs ]

All right,
eat my butt.
[ Laughing ]

- Peter.
- Hey, Lou.

I got your message.

I know you were worried.

Yeah.
I was gonna call the police.

I told you
I could handle it.

So you did.

You and I are never
gonna work, Peter.

Even though...

we love each other?

Even though
we love each other.

[ Switch Flips ]

Fran.

Hey, Louise.

Louise, look--

What is this,
like, uh,

some kind of
Dear John letter?

Did you do this?

No.
Your work did that.

Congratulations.

And your work
is beautiful.

Fran, it's beautiful.

Louise.

Louise, thank you.

So--

So.

Well, it's
a beautiful day, so--

Yeah, it is.

Okay?

Okay.

Okay.

I guess...
I'll see you later.

I know where to find you.

[ Whispers ]
Okay.

** [ Pop ]

* Well, I was on my way

* When the great quake
of '89 *

* Began to shake

* And we were gonna meet

* Under the lights
under the tree *

* On Alameda Street

* And so they say

* Let them go

* And if they come back again

* Three days away

* And I'll see you

* Across this crowded space

* I looked around

* And around

* Thinking you were in

* Outer space

* And so they say

* Let them go

* And if they come back again

* So I'll ride
So I'll ride *

* Without you by my side

* So I'll ride
So I'll ride *

* Eight years since

* And I wonder

* Where she's been

* Life has its tricks
and funny games *

* And sometimes we learn

* Along the way

* And so they say

* Let them go

* And if they come back again

* So I'll ride
So I'll ride *

* Without you by my side

* So I'll ride
So I'll ride *

* So I'll ride
So I'll ride *

* Without you by my side

* So I'll ride
So I'll ride *

* Yeah *