All language subtitles for My Dead Friend Zoe 2025.eng-1500

-No!
-Aww.

I thought you fixed it!

-Zoe.
-Mm?

-Come on.
-Sorry. Here.

Oh, come on, Captain America,
we're in a war zone.

Just... live a little.
It's not like

anyone's gonna come, anyway.

-Oh, shit, shit, shit!
-Shh!

- Shit!
- Shit!

Aw, fuck.

Hey, Ramirez.

I see you are filling out
that blouse quite nicely.

Ew. God, you are
such a mouth-breather.

Hey, Charles!

Lookin' as pretty as ever.

Mm-mm.

What do you want, Lewis?

Oh, um, Sergeant Shepherd's
on his way.

-For real?
-Yep.

Cool, okay.
Fuck off, Lewis.

Geez! I was just trying to help.

Fuck off!

-Can I call you? Call me?
-No!

-Ugh!
-All right.

No, no, no, no,
wait, wait, wait,

let me just finish the song,
I just-- I can fix it.

-Zoe.
-I can fix it,

I can fix it, I can fix it.
Just let me just do this,

and I think,
if I just hold this like this...

I got it, I got it,
I got it-- ready?

You believe Ventura got
medevacked out of here

for that tiny little
fuckin' scratch?

She almost got blown up.

I just hope that
everything is okay

with her...

You know.

-Her internal organs?
-No, her tits.

She's got great tits.

So, she might have PTSD
and need therapy,

but at least
her tits are all right.

Yeah.

They're important.

Can you promise me something?

Can you promise me
we won't get, like,

fucked up?

That's too easy.

Taliban can't touch this.

Come on.

No, I mean, like, in the head.

You already fucked up
in the head,

so what does that mean?

Merit, I'm serious!

What are you saying?

I'm saying that
if you ever catch me

in some sort of, like,
dopey-ass, PTSD

group therapy bullshit,

or any kind of therapy,

you have permission
to fucking kill me.

So, we're all here?

Good.

Who wants to start?

James.

Uh...

James.

Sergeant, Marine Corps.

2004, Al Anbar Province in Iraq.

Um, our job was
to go look for IEDs,

find the guys
putting 'em out there.

-Cool story, bro.
-Shh!

Merit?

-Everything okay?
-Mm...

Mm-hmm. Yes, sir.

Go on, James.

The, uh, negative,
unhelpful feelings

that I'm trying
to process from that day

are, um... um...

Oh, my God.

James, okay, okay.

Aren't we better than this--

than this woe-is-me shit?

Didn't we join the most powerful
military of all time,

did we survive the dumbest wars
of all time,

just to sit here broken
and all "Kumbaya"

and, oh,
"Oh, gee, my feelings"?

No! Fuck!

Get it together! God!

Ugh!

-Let's get out of here.
-Be quiet.

-I'm listening.
-Merit?

I'm sorry.

I'm so-- I'm so...

I'm sorry, James.

Uh, sorry, James. Go on.

Good work.

I can't sign that.

I was here.

Yeah, you were here, physically.

But you didn't share,

you didn't give your attention
to the others.

We all have pasts.

You think you're the only one

who doesn't want
to talk about it, Merit?

Honey, you're home!

It's 8:00 a.m.

Do you know why
people hate runners?

Flat stomachs?
Sculpted legs?

It's selfish.
It's a selfish sport.

What the hell
am I supposed to do

while you're gone?

You could work on our puzzle.

Man. That VA counselor guy,
what a dick.

Mm!

I just had a genius idea.

We watch MáAáSáH again,

but it's a drinking game.

Shit! That is not a no.

Ugh. Why does she
always FaceTime?

It's so creepy.

- Hi, Mom.
- Is talking

to your mother
really that dreadful?

No, Mom, it's...

How's China?

I'm in Hong Kong, honey.

-There's a difference.
-Is there?

I mean, they had some
limited autonomy then.

So, how's the warehouse job?

How's your life, boyfriend?

Any friends?

Mom, please. Stop.

I'm sure you called
because you need something.

I'm your mother, I'm allowed
to ask about your life.

Okay, so what
did you call about?

I need something.

- I knew it.
- I knew it!

It's your Grandpa Dale.

They found him wandering.

What do you mean, wandering?

Kwan found him
way out at her place.

She took him to the hospital.

-Okay, so he's okay, then.
-No, he's not--

I just told you that your
grandpa was in the hospital.

What is the matter with you?

Okay, Mom, I...

Sorry.

I gotta go.

No, no, no-- no.

I need you to go out there,

I need you to go out to the lake
and check in on your grandpa,

make sure he's all right.

It smells like crayon.

- Merit?
- I can't. I, um...

I just started a new group.

-Oh.
-At the VA.

Like therapy, counseling?

-Mm-hmm.
-Did something happen?

No, I...

I chose to.

It's good, it's, it's...

I think it's
really gonna help me,

but I-I can't miss
any sessions, or...

That's wonderful news,
it really is.

I will figure something out
for Grandpa.

I'm really proud of you,
Merit, I really am.

I know your dad would be, too.

Okay, Mom, I gotta go,
I love you.

I love you.

Did you hear back yet?

No.

I'm probably not
even gonna get in.

Come on. Merit, look.

I think college is stupid
and mostly useless,

but you,
you can do anything you want.

So if you want it,
you're gonna get it.

You're the smartest
person I know.

Nine-sixteenths.

Let's see,
what could you major in?

Oh... '90s hip-hop,
you're good at that.

Lumber sciences,
is that a thing?

Yeah.

Maybe, yeah.

You know, 'cause
your family owns

a Christmas tree farm?

Just thinkin' of the family biz.

You could run that shit
like Santa.

What about you, after this?

I don't know.

You know, you could
do something epic.

Mm-hmm.

Okay. Sure.

All right.
I thought, for today,

we would try
something different.

Follow the bouncing ball.

This is stupid,
but I'll-I'll play ball.

Hi. My name is Assia.

I was a captain in the Army.

Um...

I was the only female
in every unit I served in.

On my first deployment,

I was not allowed
to stay with my team

where they were sleeping,
and, um,

it was only because
I was a female.

And so, every day,
for our targeting mission,

I had to drive by myself
for six hours.

One direction,
six hours, back.

Um...

And I'm here

because I'm trying
to belong to myself again.

Try Merit.

You ready?

My name is Merit.

I was... Army.

You're doing great.

All right. Why don't we
start with an easy one?

Why did you join?

I joined because of my grandpa.

Hmm.

He's retired from the Army
22 years,

lieutenant colonel.

When I was a kid,

we would go to music in the park

on the Fourth of July,

and the band would play
the fight song

for each branch
of the military, you know?

And if you were a veteran,

you would stand
when they played your song.

Can you email me
the rest of this?

When they played the Army song,

my grandpa would stand, and...

I swear, he seemed
a hundred feet tall to me.

And I wanted to be tall
too, you know?

So...

Now tell us why you're here.

What I wanna talk about
is, is...

is not an incident, it's...

Leave me alone!

It's a-- it's a person.

Merit?

Go on.

I don't-- I don't--
I don't feel like it today.

Alicia, Air Force, 14 years.

Security forces.

MP, for you other folks.

-See you later.
-Yeah.

I'm sorry.

Why?

I shared.

You shared
why you joined the Army.

You did not share
why you are here,

which is the point.

If you don't show up and share,

I will have no choice
but to inform the court

that you did not
complete the group.

I'm sorry.

I actually do get
why you wanna reenlist.

But you're wrong.

Not everybody has
a happy fuckin' home

to go back to, Merit.

Ma'am, did you hear me?

Sorry, say again?

Your grandfather was found.

He was found wandering.

He didn't seem
to know where he was.

We're lucky
someone brought him in.

Right, yeah, that's Kwan.

She-she owns the lake house
next to ours.

This has happened before, so--

No. That was last time.

Dale was found
on the side of Highway 8.

The police brought him in.

Look. We ran some tests.

I'm diagnosing him with
early stage Alzheimer's.

I'm sorry.

Never thought I'd see the day
when a man can't go for a walk

on his own property.

You weren't on your
own property, Grandpa.

You were on Highway 8.

And Kwan's before that.

-Who?
-Exactly.

I know who Kwan is.
You just pronounced it wrong.

-How do you pronounce it?
-Kwan.

Kwan...

Sounds the same to me.

What the hell is this thing?

It's an iPod, it plays music.

Huh. I've seen
AN/PRC-25 field radios

in the garbage look
like they play music

better than this thing.

Dale's got jokes.

Want me to help you in?

Help how?

You sure you're all right?

I'm better than all right.

You don't think
you should help him in?

Nah.

You heard him.

He's better than all right.

Hi, Merit!

Not much of a talker, are you?

People talk enough.

I meant, in group.

I mean,
that's kind of the point.

Talking. Listening.

Not being alone.

It's not as simple as you think.

Who said it was simple?

You think it's easy
for everybody, anybody?

No, I...

Honestly, I don't even
know if I should be here.

Well, it's not about you, Merit.

There are other people in there.

People who need your attention.

If you can't talk
openly about your life,

how can they?

I was medevacked out of Vietnam

in November 1968.

I was shot,
almost lost my fuckin' arm.

And for a decade, I was alone,

self-medicating.

Strong and silent,
or so I thought at the time.

It wasn't until 1978
that I finally started

to talk about it.

Respectfully, sir...

I don't know if getting hurt
is the same as losing somebody.

I don't know what
happened to you, Merit,

what you lost, or who,

but I do know
that the kind of behavior

that brought you to me

is not the kind of behavior
of a person who is healed.

That behavior was
an accident, Dr. Cole.

You dropped a forklift load
of television sets,

almost crushed a coworker.

Please! That guy
at the warehouse

was all up in your shit.

What you're calling an accident,

the court's calling
criminal negligence.

-Nobody died.
-Nobody died.

What?

Merit, I know you think
you're above this.

But... courage is
moving forward.

I-It's not being unmoved.

What is it that you are
so afraid to talk about?

What is wrong with you?

Get back inside!

I just can't.

If you don't show up
and participate

and I don't sign off,

you're back
on the mercy of the court.

They'll fine you.

Hell, they may even
put you in jail.

If I were you,

I would think very seriously

about what living
in the past is worth.

Just sayin'.

God, this literal shit
is literally killing me.

We are light-wheel mechanics.
This is not that. Ugh.

Welcome to the Army.

Hey, did you give
any more thought

to any of those super cool
majors I suggested?

What?

Actually, um...

I got in... to Oregon.

That's great.

Thanks.

Yeah, no, my, um...

my cousin just, uh,

told me he's gonna have a job
for me when I get out, so...

-Yeah?
-That's cool.

-Your cousin?
-Mm-hmm.

Which one?

Why didn't you tell me?

I don't know, Zoe, I...

I didn't know
how you would react.

It's not like
you've had anything

super positive
to say about college.

I love college.
I think college is amazing.

Rich kids and snowflakes.

There it is.

And I'm neither, by the way.

Okay.

You know what I honestly think?

-Here it goes.
-I think you get uncomfortable

when anybody talks about
life after the military.

-Oh, is that what you think?
-Yeah, that's what I think.

Well...
sorry you misinterpreted me.

I'm actually really
proud of you.

I'm really excited for you.
Congratulations.

Hey.

Your mother called... again.

If I were you,
I would not call her back.

Ugh.

You dropped him off?

What is wrong with you?

-Mom.
-Merit,

you're gonna go back there,

you're gonna help me
sell that cabin.

I've already contacted
a realtor.

What?
Grandpa still lives there.

And that was fine
as long as he was fine,

-but he's not anymore.
-Where is he gonna live?

He's going to a retirement home,

and I've already started
making some calls.

This has to be done, Merit.

He needs help.

Mom, I can't.

I just don't understand, Merit.

There's no therapy at the cabin.

You used to spend so much
time with your grandpa.

Wow. You didn't tell me
your grandfather lived

on the set of a horror film.

So which one of us do you think
is gonna get killed first?

I mean, on the one hand,
you're Black.

You guys don't make it long
in horror movies.

But on the other hand,
I'm already dead.

You seriously need to stop.

What? Isn't Oregon known
for its serial killers?

Randall Woodfield,
the I-5 Bandit.

Dayton Leroy Rogers,
the Molalla Forest Killer.

There's something wrong
with your brain.

Or is it yours?

You know, this is exactly
how these movies start.

Bunch of bees over there.

Wow, so secure.

I feel very safe.

Grandpa?

Your grandma's so pretty.

Yeah, she was.

How come you never talk
about your dad?

He died.

Cancer.

I was seven.

Well, you should learn
to talk about

your dead loved ones more often.

That's an interesting place
for milk.

Hey, there's your grandpa.

Hey.

Hi.

Uh, hi.

Wow, you're doing great.

If you're here for
your grandmother's funeral,

you're ten months late.

I'm here to see you.

No, you're here to check on me.

Your mother put you up to it.

I'm here to see you, Grandpa.

I'll bet she guilted you so bad

you just rushed right over here,

didn't even remember to pack.

We did forget the toothpaste.

Am I wrong?

I, um...

I did talk to Mom,

but I'm here
because I want to be.

I'm sorry I left the other day.

Upstairs,
second door on the right.

In case you don't remember.

This house is legit spooky.

I saw a bat earlier,
I'm not even kidding.

So your Grandpa Dale

does not fuck around, does he?

Yeah, nah,
that's not really his thing.

No, no, no, no.

When was the last time
your phone rang

and it was good news?
Don't pick that up.

Hello?

You missed
tonight's session, Merit.

Yeah.

Yeah, I don't-- I don't--
I don't know what to tell you.

I'm with my grandpa.

He has early stage Alzheimer's.

I have to stay with him,
he lives alone--

We've only got
two sessions left.

We all have demons, Merit.

But you don't have
to face them alone.

-Why is that guy so
obsessed with you? -Ew.

Guess you still got it.

Oh, please.

Still got it.

Verl.

Damn, what a name. Hmm.

1927 to 1944.

-What is that?
-17.

Probably died on D-Day.

Damn, good for you, Verl.

Don't say that.

What? I can joke about the dead.

These are my people.

-What is that?
-Whatever it is, let it go.

I said let it go.

Hey!

Hey! Hey!

Holy shit.

Sorry.

Whew.

What the hell are you doing?

Oh, man, you scared me. Hi.

This is a cemetery.

Yeah, thank you
for the observation.

You're noise polluting

and you're disturbing
the visitors.

To be fair, there's one visitor,

singular, and, uh,

how do you know
you're not disturbing me?

Look, guy...

My name's Alex.

It's not even 8:00 a.m.

I'm sorry, did I wake you?

Were you-- were you sleeping
behind a grave over there?

What's going on?

Right now in the morning,

when it's early before work,

that's-that's when
I'm free, okay?

You don't work here?

You're Weedwacking
and you don't work here?

No, my grandparents
are buried over there.

I know what you're thinking.

It's very cool
that I'm descended

from one of the first
Indian families in Portland.

Unless you don't think it's cool

that my Thatha and my Patti
are buried here,

in which case, you're a racist.

I'm playing,
it's the dandelions.

They grow like damn weeds.

Well, they are a weed.

Yeah, well, I cleaned my, uh,

my grandparents' tombstones,

and they look beautiful,

but then all the other ones
look like shit.

And I-I got this thing
about cleanliness, so...

And then you stomped in
and you started yelling at me.

-It's weirdly...
-Selfless?

-Considerate.
-It's very selfless.

But it's weirdly considerate.

You should get a quieter one.

They're better
for the environment.

You're right, thank you
for the tip, stranger.

-Merit.
-Merit.

Wrap it up, high speed.

Okay, have a good run.

Get a quieter one!

But first,
let me introduce today's guest.

Bill Stokes is the author

of the Birder's
Conservation Handbook.

He's also an ornithologist

at the Oregon
Songbird Initiative.

He joins us today from Portland.

Thanks for talking with us
today, Bill.

Thanks, Tessa.

Let's talk about
some of the birds

you cover in your book.

Want a hand?

No.

Reckon you'll just tell me
it ought to be replaced.

Isn't that
what your generation does?

Something needs repair,
you just get a new one.

Well, I can't speak
for my generation,

but I was a 63 Bravo,

so I can repair
just about anything.

There.

Wow, Merit,
you're great at affection.

Well, as long as you're here.

Paper goes in six, remember?

We don't live in the city.

We sort our own trash out here.

Paper...

...goes in six.

Metal in one, compost in two,

plastic in three, burn in four,

trash in five, paper in six.

Hmm?

Metal, compost, plastic,
burn, trash, paper.

Got it?

Got it.

Do you got it?

I don't got it.

What's the little one for?

Is that just a mystery?

Okay, Mom, I'm on my way.

Yes, yes.

Hi, sorry I'm late.

My mother called ahead about
a room for Dale Tillman.

Said you need
a family signature.

Where's the sugar-free candy?
We used to...

Oh, hey.

Uh, it was "stranger," right?

-Merit.
-Merit, hi.

-Alex.
-Yeah.

Wow, you remembered.

-So you work here?
-Yup.

Actually, my family
owns the place.

You know, they decided not
to go into the hotel industry

'cause my dad was like,

"Mm, assisted living.

Recession-proof."

My dad is apparently Yoda.

I don't know why I did that.

Um...

Would-- uh, would you like
to see the room?

Is that how--
how it normally goes?

People normally wanna see it?

Uh, yeah, unless
they hate their parents,

then they usually just drop 'em
on the curb outside.

-Okay.
-Okay.

Thank you.

Just this way.

Dr. Castro, how you doin'?

So...

Is it, um...

Yeah, it's right up in here.

Here we are.

Closet, bathroom,
and bedroom's back there.

People normally sign right away?

Yeah, it's in high demand.

Yeah, my mom says these rooms
are harder to get into than--

-Yale.
-Yale.

Yeah, let me guess,
did your mom go to Yale?

Can I ask you a question?

Sure.

Is this a good place?

A lot of people wish
they could be in here.

My grandfather's particular.

My grandmother...

when she died,

he became a different version
of himself, you know?

Not worse, but... not better.

It's like when you lose someone,

you don't know who you are
without 'em.

You want to know
if he'll find a home here.

-Yeah.
-It's a hard decision.

Um...

Take a few days
to think about it.

And, uh,
I'm not supposed to do this,

but I'll-I'll hold
the room for you.

-Really?
-Yeah.

I mean, even the Yale
of assisted livings

has an A-list.

-You're scared of my mom.
-I'm terrified.

-Thank you.
-Mm-hmm.

Hey, I know-- I know--
I know you don't like noise,

and I'm guessing you probably
don't like people either,

but sometimes I go to this
bar called the WildHorse.

Sometimes, um,

like tonight around 8:00-ish.

-Okay.
-Okay.

So, you're really thinking about

taking him away from this place?

Oh, what the hell?

Grandpa?

You all right?

Not especially, no.

'Cause paper goes
in goddamn six.

Metal, compost, plastic,
burn, trash, paper.

Is that hard?

Is that impossible?

You know, you come here,

you eat my food,
you use my water.

Fine, have at it.

But it defies imagination
that you and I were in

the same branch of the service.

If you'd learned anything
in the Army,

you'd have learned respect.

Do you think I'm crazy?

Your mother thinks I'm crazy.

Fine! But as long as you're
under my roof,

paper goes in goddamn six!

Clean it up!

Where does plastic go again?

You know, I've read
about us vets getting PTSD,

but good for your granddad.

Not a lot of vets
trying to give PTSD.

You sure about this?

He's just angry.

But he is not gonna

scare me off.

Gran--

How's it going over there?

Hmm.

It-it can be complicated,
the trash system.

How's that bird feeder
repair going?

Oh, it's going.

You're really gonna go
meet this guy,

the weed whacker?

I just thought it would be...

good to...

I don't know,
get a change of scenery.

You mean
you don't want to see me.

-It's just for tonight.
-Mm.

What if he's a murderer?

You don't think he would've
murdered me when we were alone?

Like in the cemetery?

It's just for tonight,
I promise.

Just for tonight.

The forecast that
we have up at Mount Hood today,

we are going to stay sunny...

They were supposed
to be kids, but I think

they're actually
like adult women.

-Really?
-I'm not even kidding.

The handwriting, you can tell.

The Dynamic Duo.

Hey, Ramirez.

Fuck off, Lewis.

What's up?

Green to green.

Threatcon got bumped up
to amber.

Some jackass from first platoon
said there's a sniper out there.

Look, we didn't see anything.

Sounds like the bogeyman.

Sergeant Charles,

you girls gonna be okay
out there?

-Listen, Ser--
-Hey, you talk to her

like that one more time,
I'm gonna make you wish

that sniper got you.

What'd you just say to me?

You heard me.

See me after your shift,
Specialist.

Ooh.

Bye, Ramirez.

You didn't have to do that.

That guy's a fuckin' dork.

Well, at any rate...

So...

Your cousin.

Yeah, I think
he's moving to Florida.

Okay, you think you'll go?

What, and leave all this?

Right.

It's not like
you're gonna reenlist.

I don't know, maybe.

Why would you reenlist?

I don't know, Merit,
maybe because it's an option

that's actually available to me.

I see you talk about
your grandma and your grandpa,

and I think to myself,
"Man, she's got a home,

"she's got a family,
she's got a...

a whole life with meaning
to go back to," you know?

I bet when you take
those career tests,

you don't even think
about how expensive

the results are,
how much it would cost

to be an artist
or a psychologist.

Do you want to be an artist
or a psychologist?

-Because you could be.
-No.

No, I can't, Merit,
that's my point.

The world is not
my fucking oyster.

You think the world
is my oyster?

I'm a Black woman in America.

With a lake house.

It's my grandparents'
lake house.

It is not mine.

Still a lake house.

Don't worry,
nothing is set in stone yet.

Your aim is definitely
not set in stone.

Oh, shut up.

Hey.

Hi. You...

I didn't think, um...

You want to sit down?

Uh, yeah.

Sorry, I ordered already.

Um, I didn't...

I'm a natural pessimist.

-Me, too.
-Yeah.

To be honest, I wasn't sure

if you were too good to be true

'cause in my line of work,

the women I usually
talk to are...

You know, they remember
where they were

when we stormed Normandy.

Have-have you ever played
Buck Hunter?

No.

That's one, that's two.

That's all three.

You nailed it!
That's a new record!

Well, damn.

If I knew I was playing
with a sniper,

I'd have dressed up.

Light-wheel mechanic, actually.

There it is, military service.

I'm impressed 'cause, you know,

I actually talked
to a woman today

who drafted the Truman Doctrine.

How could I ever compete
with that?

How'd you get into the military?

My grandfather, actually.

Oh, our prospective resident.

That's right.

Retired 22 years from the Army.

Lieutenant colonel.

Two tours in Vietnam.

He used to let me play
with his medals

and his patches.

He would sit me down,
tell me a story

about each one of them.

I was just talking about this.

But every Fourth of July,

my entire family would stay
at my grandparents' lake house

and we would drive into town
for music in the park.

-Yeah, every year, of course.
-The fireworks.

And the local chamber orchestra,

you know, would play
the "Battle Hymn."

-If you served-- yeah.
-Yeah.

You stand up.

I remember every year
my grandpa would get up

out of his...
his old folding chair

and he would tip his hat
to everybody.

-That's so cool.
-Yeah.

There's a new sheriff in town.

What?

How-- Who-who taught you that?

Miss Truman Doctrine
taught you that, huh?

No, she can't sing.

Like, seriously,
you should see her

on karaoke night, it hurts.

My parents, however,

uh, well, we just had
the immigrant experience

where you double down
on being American, you know?

So we celebrate every holiday,

and my dad loves fireworks
and hot dogs.

So, I mean, you put
a firework in a bun

and that would blow his mind.

All right, let's see
what I can do.

-Are you ready?
-I'm ready, let me see.

Okay, oof, oof, oof.

Oh, no, he got away.

Mm-hmm.
- Pick a spot.

You need spectacles.

Okay, so, so, so,
you know, zero...

-Well...
-...deer.

-Um...
-I-I shoot around them.

-I'm a pacifist...
-Right.

...so you help them scatter
so they can be free.

You're way better at this
than I am.

Well, you're-you're a pacifist.

Indeed, I am.

So, um, so...

-Drinks?
-Yes.

-Probably?
-Yeah, I'm sure they're ready.

-Food, probably not.
-Okay.

Yeah, we might have to wait
till tomorrow for that.

Hey, you.

Zeke...

You-you seen Merit?

Sorry, Dr. Cole.

Have you always lived
in Molalla?

Molalla?

Yeah.

I was born and raised here.

Um, and then my dad, of course,

wanted me to take over
the family business

at Shady Acres, um,

but I did, I moved away
for a little while

when I got married.

When you got-- what?

Uh, formerly married.

Formerly married.

Oh.

Six years.

You were married for six years,

or you've been divorced
for six years?

Actually, both.

That's a long time.

Sorry, d--

Does that--
does that make you nervous

-to talk about the past?
-What? No.

No, I'm not nervous
about the past.

I'm-I'm...

I'm, uh, well,
I'm nervous about you, so...

Indian people aren't
supposed to get divorced.

It's definitely not
in the job description,

so, um, I was-- I was just--
I was so ashamed.

I'd felt like I'd failed
at marriage,

and it, um...

Mm, it, uh, it had-- it had
a power over me and, um...

But then, you know, I just--

Fuck it, I started
talking about it.

It helped.

Yeah, I mean, it's not perfect.

I still have PTSD
from my marriage.

I mean, oh my God,
I can hear her just...

I'm so sorry,
that was so insensitive.

-Oh, no. It's all good.
-No.

No, there's no reason
for me to say that.

You can relax, the military
doesn't own PTSD.

We do happen to be
the best at it, though.

Okay.

How about you?

Do you-- do you have
any war stories?

Yeah.

Yeah, I do.

Um...

Kind of
third-wheeling it tonight.

Yeah, actually.

Uh, when I was over there,

um, Afghanistan, um...

Actually,

when I-- when I came back...

Um, I...

Merit, are you...

Hey, it's okay.
Are you all right?

Are you okay?

-Um...
-I'm-I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, if, uh...

It's okay, it's okay.

-I gotta go.
-It's okay.

-What was that?
-What was what?

Why would you ruin that? Why?

Zoe!

That was my first date since...

Since what?

Something traumatic
happened to you?

Get the fuck
out of my face, Zoe.

Get the fuck out of my face!

Damn, Merit,
never could take a joke.

Oh, my God.

Grandpa?

Oh, my God.

Grandpa, hey, hey.

What?

What happened?

Um...

Oh, my God, you're bleeding.

I'm fine.

Wait, are you-- are you sure?

-Here, can you get up?
-I can get up.

I just didn't feel like it.

-Where were ya?
-I was out.

Well, I could've used you here.

-Here.
-I'm-I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

Thank goodness someone was there

to bring you back home.

-Hey, Mom.
-Hey, sweetheart.

What are you up to?

Nothing, nothing.

Just, um...

hanging out with Grandpa
at the lake.

Just, um, watching the geese.

Well, that's great,
I'm glad you have time.

So, I-I was thinking
the realtor could

come by this afternoon at 2:00.

Please leave your message...

You know, when we met,
I was sure

you were going
to do the work, Merit.

Guess it's never too late
to be surprised, hmm?

Merit?

-Hello? Are you there?
-Yeah, yeah, I'm here.

Okay, great,
so 2:00 then, all right?

2:00, they'll be there.

Thanks so much, honey.

They'll see you at 2:00, bye.

It's a gorgeous day.

We should take
the pontoon boat out

this afternoon, get some sun.

The bird feeder
still needs fixing.

Okay, well, we can go into town

and shop for new bird feeders.

I got what I need.

Maybe not new ones, but...

No, that would be crazy.

...parts.

What is this?

Uh-oh.

It's an iPod, Grandpa, remember?

Plays music.

Let me see it.

I put some new music
on it for you.

Not bad.

Still, I've seen AN/PRC-25
field radios in the trash

that were capable
of playing music.

You sure about the pontoon boat?

Yeah, I'm sure.

Wow. Your grandpa is just
putting shit everywhere,

isn't he?

Hmm.

Ooh.

These expired in 2012.

I would still eat them, though.

You know, my abuelo
was stubborn as hell, too.

-You don't have to...
-No, no, really, he was.

I mean, he loved us kids,

but anything we wanted
to do was "no."

"Want to go to the movies?"
"No."

"Ice cream?"
"No."

Even shit he wanted to do
he wouldn't do.

One time, I stole
a Reader's Digest

from the library, and it had
something on the cover like,

"A hundred fun things
to do with your grandkids,"

and I put it in our mailbox
and just, like, pretended

it got delivered
to the wrong address,

and that con worked
like a charm.

We had ice cream that afternoon.

Zoe, you're a genius.

Thank you.

Wait, why?

Listen, my abuelo
was kind of dumb,

and that was just ice cream.

I don't think this is
gonna work the same way.

No, it's gonna work.

We just...

just gotta make
the ice cream his idea.

Well, can we actually get
ice cream afterwards?

'Cause now we've said it
so many times,

I really want some.

What in God's green hell
is that?

Jesus.

Goddamn it, Emmy!

What...

-Jesus Christ.
-Ooh, you did it now.

This is the plan.

You're gonna flood it.

There it goes.

Be a shame to squander
a beautiful day like this.

Get in your seat.

You're on rocks lookout.

Charlie Mike.

So...

What's the plan then?

-The plan?
-Yeah, you and your mom,

I'm sure there's
some scheme afloat.

She's just worried about you.

Yeah, what about you?

I just want you to be happy.

I've actually been meaning
to talk to you

about the cabin.

You know, your grandma,

she loved this lake.

Especially in the wintertime.

She thought
it was prettiest then.

Always preferred
the summers myself.

"Too damn muggy," she'd say.

"Didn't you get
enough humidity in Vietnam?"

That was her one Vietnam joke.

That's what I think about now...

hot days like today.

That's why your
little snot-nosed ass

used to spend all those summers
out here with me.

You didn't talk much, and you...

...you were a deadeye
on rocks lookout.

Perfect fisherman's mate.

I loved it.

I love being out here.

Why haven't we seen you
in so long?

I thought for sure
you'd have shown up

during your grandma's
final days.

At her funeral.

Do not tell him.

I've... I've been dealing
with some things...

...from over there.

Yeah, let me guess...

PTSD?

You Iraq and Afghan vets,

you know, your whole
entitled generation really,

blame everything on something
or someone else.

You know, when we came back,
we didn't have any PTSD

to blame everything on.

Call it what you want.

Combat stress,
shell shock, whatever.

Goddamn it, don't "whatever" me,
young lady.

Our wars were not the same.

I read in the Army Times
that people line up

at the airports and greet
each and every one of you

when you return home from duty.

Is that true?

Did that happen to you?

You know what happened to me?

I had to change out
of my uniform at SFO

in a public bathroom.

And I still got spit on.

My short hair
and my green duffel,

that's how they knew
I was a "baby killer."

I didn't know that.

You never talked about it.

Well, why would I?

Why burden any of you with that?

That's-that's
what a soldier does.

We go out and do things
nobody else wants to do.

And we suck it up.

Well, I am sucking it up.

Believe me.

We have each other, you know.

Us veterans.

You know, maybe I didn't talk
about my war with you guys,

but I sure as hell talked
about it down at the VFW.

Even brought your mom
a few times on bingo night

when she was just knee high
to a grasshopper.

I bet she took bingo
very seriously.

She played four boards
at a time.

She used to yell at us
for talking too much.

I should've been here.

Okay, Em, why don't you
come on over here

and steer us home?

Yes, sir.

Thanks.

I thought you only ate
that guten-free stuff.

Why, because I live in the city?

I'm still your granddaughter.

Yeah, you're gonna have
to speak up, darlin'.

Everybody talks
so quietly these days.

Jesus.

So, the Fourth of July
celebration,

and craft show, is tomorrow.

You mean the crap show?

I know you have everything
that you need here, but...

I thought maybe we could go
to Roy Purdy's booth?

I'll bet he has some spare parts
to fix that bird feeder

-of yours.
-Mmm, perhaps.

I could drive us in.

First thing in the morning.

I'm goin' to bed.

Not really hungry.

Yeah, hi, I'm Richard,
semper fi.

I was a Marine lieutenant
in Vietnam.

Platoon commander, combat type.

Navy commander, trauma surgeon.

I work the ER over
at St. John's.

Army, staff sergeant, OIF1.

I was deployed to Iraq twice
and Afghanistan once

and now I'm a teacher.

Going back to school,
get my MBA.

You know, proving
that all Marines aren't dumb.

Now I work in finance,
but I hate it.

So, um, I tried to find
something that I do love now

and it turns out
that's stand-up comedy,

so I've been giving that a try.

"Being in the military's
a lot like being Asian.

"We all kinda look alike
and everybody thinks

we're the Marines."

The world has this
impression of who we are

when we say that we're veterans.

Trying vulnerability
and talking to my friends,

but realizing, like...

I can't tell them about
the things that I've done or--

Eh, all this Iraq
and Afghanistan stuff

has brought up
some old tapes for me.

So, I wanted to come here
and share with you

what I could and--

I've lost more guys
back home, though,

than I did in Iraq.

Thanks, James.

- Hey.
- Hey.

Sorry, I haven't gotten back
to you about the room.

Yeah, no, it's cool.
You still got two days anyways.

I wasn't calling about that.

I was just... I was just
checking on you, soldier,

um, 'cause last night, uh...

Yeah, uh...

Yeah, I'm-I'm-I'm sorry,
I don't--

Look, I'm a forgiving
and noble man.

So, you're good.

Yeah, and-and considerate.

And I'm also handsome
and I do my taxes

on time, usually, so...

Um, when can I see you again?

How about
the Fourth of July thing?

You going to that?

Yeah, well, I hope so.

Yeah, okay, uh, well, um,
thanks for picking up.

And, um, good night, Merit.

Good night.

Shit... you scared me, Zoe.

I'm your shadow.

Boo!

Where else would I be?

Hey, um...

next time you want to tell
your granddad about me,

why don't you tell him about
your big plans for him instead?

How you're going to take him
away from his home,

his boat and his birds,

and stick him in
a septuagenarian purgatory

where he'll die confused
and alone.

Coward.

You got any other tunes
on this thing?

Sir, yes, sir.

Fine, this one is a good one.

There's Roy.

Well, I'll be.

Is that Dale?

You're damn right it is.

How the hell are ya, Roy?

Oh, you know, can't complain.

Good to see you.

Ah, we haven't seen you
since Angela passed.

How you been holding up?

Oh, fine.

-Doing fine.
-Uh-huh.

Listen, Roy,
I need some material

for an old finch feeder
I've got.

I've had it for years
and the damn thing's

falling apart on me.

What do you think
about a new one, huh?

Well, what do you got?

-I thought you didn't want--
-Oh, hush.

- You must be--
- Merit.

Merit!

That's my granddaughter.

She lives in the city.

I don't believe it.

Wow.

Last time I saw you,
you were about this high,

playing with G.I. Joes.

What are you up to these days?

Not much.

She was in Afghanistan.

Lightweight vehicle mechanic.

And then, they stuck her
on some outpost

near the Pakistan border

pulling guard duty detail
for the 10th Mountain grunts.

Army's run by a bunch
of yahoos these days.

Well, thank you
for your service.

Welcome home, young lady.

Thank you very much.

How much is this one?

$40.

For you, Dale, 50.

Well, fine.

-We'll take it.
-Good.

Do you have money?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think so.

-Good to see ya, Roy.
-Good to see you.

-40.
-It's 40.

Sticking you with the bill, huh?

Doesn't he know you're broke?

We will continue
tonight's program

with a salute
to our nation's veterans.

As is our tradition,
if you've served

or are currently serving,
when you hear

your branch's song played,
please stand

and be recognized.

Seems like
right up here is good, yeah?

Yeah, fine.

Hey, Merit?

Hey!

What's up, stranger?

Hey.

You look, uh, um...

Hi, uh...

You must be the colonel.

Lieutenant colonel.

Retired.
Who are you?

Uh, hi, I'm Alex,
Manager First Class,

Shady Acres
Assisted Living Facility.

Come again? What?

That's a retirement home, right?

I...

How do you two know each other?

Uh, uh, we-we, uh...
we met at-at-at...

Grandpa.

Traitor!

-Fuck.
-I'm sorry, I didn't know.

Of course you didn't!

Hey, don't you think you
should give him some space?

What?

You used to be so good
at giving him space.

Zoe, let me go.

Grandpa!

Grandpa!

Get back inside!

What is wrong with you? Stop!

-Get back inside, now!
-Why?

No, no!

Mom?

I...

uh...

Grandpa, uh...

Yeah, don't worry.
He's here.

He's here?

He's in bed and he is resting.

Oh, thank God!

I'm sorry, okay?

It's-- Listen,
listen to me, Mom.

He got-- he got upset.

It was so fast, he walked away--

Merit, stop.

I can't.

We'll talk in the morning.

Hey... hey!

Hey, you gonna get that?

I'll get it.

S-O-G, this is ECP1.

Green to green, over.

I actually get why
you want to reenlist.

Mmm?

But you're wrong.

Why?

Aren't you the one that calls us

Imperial Storm Troopers

tricked into modern colonialism?

Well, it's not not true.

What about you could,
uh, I don't know, die?

Well, then I will die in
a blaze of glory, I hope.

Oh, fuck you.

Oof!

Small words
from the college girl.

All right, I got
a question for you then.

Do you think we would be...

friends back home?

Where even is home for you?

You don't ever talk about it.

Just answer me.

Do you think
we would be friends?

Of course we would.

Okay, then how would
it work, like,

honestly, how would it work?

Like, would we see
each other once a year

and then, like, random calls,
and, I don't know,

just eventually end up
just liking each other's

Facebook posts and shit?

I mean, yeah, why... why not?

We can-- we can
do whatever we want.

Friendships evolve.

Why don't you explain
where this is coming from?

I'm just being realistic.

I don't think
you can explain yourself,

even if you wanted to.

I have been explaining myself.

I told you, it's--

Not everybody has
a happy fuckin' home

to go back to, Merit.

These are excuses, Zoe.

You need to be honest.

Honest about what?

That-that you're scared!

You are scared
of what comes next.

You wanna know where
your meals are coming from,

you wanna be told
what to do every day.

Okay... you think I'm scared?

I think you're terrified.

What are you doing?

-Where are you going?
-What do you care?

Zoe.

What? Stop it!

Zoe!

Zoe!

Mom was right,
you do feed them too much.

You, your mother, Merit,

you all seem to know
a lot about what's best for me.

They are looking kind of big.

They're huge.

Nice, having you
and your mom around, honey.

Dad, Mom isn't here.

Your mother and I,

for 22 years,

went wherever the Army sent me.

And then we bought this place.

Together.

Your mother wanted it
to stay in the family.

I told you...

I'm not planning
on letting her down.

Long as I'm breathing,
I'm staying put.

-Mom...
-You know, when the hospital

called me
to approve new medication

for your grandpa,
I thanked them.

I told them I was so happy

you were there as a proxy.

And then when
they told me you were there

'cause your grandfather
fell again

and I said, "Oh, I know,
no, Merit told me."

Mom...

You lied to me.

Your grandfather
can't live on his own.

I love you, Merit,

but you've made a mess.

What is wrong with you?

Stop!

Now, get back inside.

Getting us both
fucking killed out here?

-Get back inside now.
-No!

Stop this, why are you acting

like your life
doesn't mean anything?

It doesn't,
none of this means anything.

-Yes it does, stop.
-Why?

Because I love you
and I care about you.

Zoe, you're so big

and your whole life
is ahead of you

and you don't even see it.

What life?

We'll make it work.

We will make it work.

Okay?

After the Army.

We'll figure it out.

I swear.

Zoe!

You swore.

Isn't that what you said?

Me and you? You got me?

I didn't reenlist
because of you.

I believed you.

I know.

I know, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I convinced you
not to reenlist.

I'm sorry I didn't see
how badly you were doing.

And I am so sorry,

I am so sorry I didn't pick up.

On behalf of the President
of the United States,

the United States Army,
and a grateful nation,

please accept
this flag as a symbol

of our appreciation
for your loved one's

honorable and faithful service.

I hate my-- I hate myself.

I hate myself for it.

You, uh--

Say it.

You would still be alive
if it weren't for me.

You can't tell anyone.

I know,
and it's breaking me, Zoe.

It's breaking me worse
than I'm already broken,

I have to.

If you tell them,

you will lose me forever.

And I will never,
ever forgive you.

No...

But Zoe would have.

Huh.

Mom!

Wait, you can't sign these.

Merit, what are you doing?

I'm sorry, can--
I need to stop you.

-Hi.
-Hi.

Can I talk to you for a second?

-Um, yeah.
-Just over... over here.

-Just...
-I promise you I'll explain.

I will explain,
just please don't sign them.

-Hey. So, sorry. It's...
-What?

Look, I know,
I know, I'm gonna...

Um...

-I'm sorry.
-What?

I'm sorry for everything

-at the bar.
-At the bar?

I'm sorry about the park,
I-I didn't know.

Oh, it's okay, I...

I should've told him.

But thank you and...

I'm working through
a lot of stuff right now.

And, um,
I'm gonna get through it.

-Yeah.
-So...

Second chance?

You're being a goofball.

Okay?

Y-Your mom's looking at us.

- Yes, she is.
- Yeah.

Okay, all right, I'm gonna...

-Yeah.
-Yeah, okay.

Okay, okay, Mom, listen. Um...

Yeah. Don't sign these.

Should've used the Loctite,
much better glue.

I would, Grandpa,
if you would store it

in a normal location.

Tell him the news.

You're not going to Shady Acres.

No shit.

I'd like to stay here.

Where?

Here. With you.

I can help you around the house,

I could fix stuff,
drive you places.

Build you an organizer
for your glues.

You should start
with the water heater.

You gonna be taking
those long-ass showers,

we'll need it in tip-top.

All right.

You sure about this?

I am sure.

-Okay, yeah.
-Oh!

I gotta go, um,

I have so much to tell you both,

but I have to go now.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

Where the hell's she going?

I don't know.

No! Fuck!

If this thing dies one more time
I'm just gonna kill myself.

Don't do that,
what would I do without you?

Well, you know, you'll get
your own umbrella I guess.

-Come on, hurry up.
-I got it, I got it-- ready?

Let me see it,
just give it to me.

Come on.

Under my umbrella.

We'd been back home
for about four years.

He was like the coolest
dude ever...

...and the last person
you'd ever think that...

Surprised to see you.

Never too late to be surprised.

We'll see.

Sorry, James.

It's fine.
Do you want to...

You ready?

My name is Merit.

Served eight years in the Army.

63 Bravo, light-wheel mechanic.

Deployed to Afghanistan in 2016.

And why I'm here...

It's not an incident.

It's a person.

Her name was Zoe.

Some kind of wild protection,

although it doesn't
really do jack,

but it makes me feel more
comforting on the inside.

-Did you serve your country?
-Roger, I'm really proud.

You know...