Original subtitles

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[BIRDS SINGING]

[CAR LOCK BEEPS]

[CAR STARTS]

[TYPING SOUND]

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]

[TYPING SOUND]

[WATER RUNNING]

[TYPING SOUND]

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]

[ENGINE RUNNING]

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

[FOOTSTEPS]

[WATER RUNNING]

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

[SIGHS]

[PLAYING GUITAR]

[SIGHS]

[MOUSE CLICKING]

JEFF: I looked through his computer and found the emails.

Did you read them?

Well, I know I said I wasn't going to go through his stuff

unless I had to.

So you read them, right?

A couple.

Not every single one.

There's more than a thousand over the past year.

Wow. What did they talk about?

Their lives.

What they do, who they are.

Were they in love?

I don't know.

Might just be one of those things, you know?

You hear about it all the time, people

wanting to see each other after they meet online.

I can't quite see Mark doing that, though.

Yeah, I don't either.

What do I know now?

This came out of nowhere.

Right.

I don't think it's just sex.

I mean, I'm sure that's part of it.

I'm not naive.

But they seemed to have similar interests and opinions.

They talked about film, music, politics, current events,

things like that.

It's like when I was with him, but it was different.

How?

It was a lot more open with the way he expressed himself.

What do you mean?

Well, like-- there was just one email

where he described this experience

he had with his mom in college.

Hmm.

She was picking him up at the airport for Thanksgiving,

and he noticed that she had a hole in her stocking.

Right.

And then he started to cry in the car,

because she had spent $300 on a plane ticket

and neglected to buy herself a new pair of stockings.

He never told me that story before.

I just-- I can't see Mark being that emotional about things.

People usually are when they write.

You just share all these things you wouldn't

share with people around you.

Did you find any pictures of this Adrian guy?

It's Andrea.

Andrea.

That's, um, Andrew in Italian, right?

Yeah, I think so.

No, I didn't find any pictures of him.

I'm sure they're on his computer somewhere.

I wasn't looking that hard.

I'm a little scared to look any further, to be honest.

Yeah, you may find something pretty scary.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised,

and I know he had his flings.

Just not with someone this far away.

Will you write him back?

[SIGHS]

I don't know.

I guess I should.

He must have meant something to Mark.

Hello, Jeff.

Hi, Larry.

How are you?

All right.

How are you doing?

I'm good, thanks.

I just wanted to drop this off.

It's the stuff that you asked me to pick up from his place.

Oh, right.

Also, some checks came in the mail.

Yes, thanks.

Please, come in.

I found this thing in my armpit.

I don't know what it is.

I felt it when I was taking a shower.

Hmm. Let's have a look.

It's there somewhere.

Yeah, I see it.

What is it?

It's a skin tag.

I just need to snip it off. - That's it?

You don't need to do a biopsy?

Nope.

It's benign.

Positive?

Absolutely.

Is that the only one?

Yeah, as far as I know.

Let's go ahead and check this other arm, just to be sure.

Nope, it's all clear.

Look, it's nothing to worry about.

It's just a piece of hanging skin.

Hmm.

I could also use something to help me sleep.

None of the over-the-counter stuff works.

Have you always had trouble sleeping?

Sometimes.

Not always.

It's just been more difficult to sleep through the night lately.

Are you under any stress?

I don't think so.

- Do you smoke? - Well, I did.

I quit several years ago.

Have you had any big changes in your life?

Work?

Well, I guess there's--

[KNOCKING]

Yes?

WOMAN: Sorry, doctor.

Dr. Carter's on line four.

He says it's urgent.

All right.

I'm sorry, Jeff.

I got to take this one.

OK.

Why don't you go ahead and lay back.

I'll be right back.

I'm going to grab some supplies to get

rid of that skin tag for you.

Sure.

I'm sorry about this.

It'll be just a minute.

No problem.

[SIGHS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]

[SIGHS]

[BANDAGE RIPPING]

Hey.

It's me.

Dropped some stuff off at your parents'.

They seem OK.

So, yeah.

Just wanted to let you know.

[PACKAGE CRINKLING]

[SIGHS]

So I just need to mail a copy of the death certificate?

Mm-hmm.

That's enough to cancel the account?

[SIGHS]

OK.

I think he had it set up on electronic withdrawal.

Yeah. OK.

Can I have the address?

Oh, hang on.

Let me grab a pen.

[SIGHS]

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

AIRPORT ANNOUNCER: Please be aware of your belongings

at all times.

Baggage left unattended will be confiscated

and may be disposed of by airport law enforcement.

Jeff?

- Andrea? - Hey, hi.

How we doing?

I'm good.

Welcome to Dallas.

Thanks.

Did you have to wait long?

My flight was delayed.

I called you and left a message. - Mm-hmm.

I got it. I just got here, actually.

Do you have any more bags?

Uh, just one.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

This is not what I thought it would be like.

JEFF: What did you expect?

Uh, cowboys in the middle of the desert.

Maybe a century ago.

It's definitely very different from New York, even LA.

Yeah, but you need a car here, just like LA.

Everything is far apart?

Mm-hmm.

It's not a walking city.

Have you traveled much?

Where else have you been in the States?

Uh, San Francisco, Philadelphia,

Chicago, and Des Moines, Iowa.

What were you doing in Des Moines?

I had a friend there.

- Ready to order? - Andrea?

Um, yep.

I'll get a [SPANISH].

WAITRESS: [SPEAKING SPANISH]

Italia.

WAITRESS: [SPEAKING SPANISH]

Yeah, it's the first time.

WAITRESS: [SPEAKING SPANISH]

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

WAITRESS: [SPEAKING SPANISH]

Gracias.

WAITRESS: And you, sir?

I'll have number 32.

WAITRESS: [SPEAKING SPANISH]

Mm-hmm.

WAITRESS: Gracias.

Thanks.

You speak Spanish?

Well, I took lessons when I was in college,

and then Spanish is pretty much like Italian.

Oh, right. They're both a Latin language.

Yeah.

Your English is really fluent too.

I mean, not that I didn't expect you to be fluent.

Well, my mother was an English teacher,

so I guess I'm a little bit better than most Italians.

You do something for the web, right?

How did you know?

Your emails to Mark.

I read some of them.

I didn't read everything, and-- look, Andrea, I don't

want you to think I was prying. - It's OK.

It's not a problem.

It's OK.

You were curious.

You didn't know anything about me, so--

Right.

Yeah, I'm a graphic designer.

I freelance-- work for myself.

I mostly do websites.

What do you do?

I'm a financial planner.

Work for a bank here.

How was New York?

You were there for a wedding, right?

Yeah. My friend Vincent got married.

Mm-hmm.

We went to school together in Genova.

He then volunteered for UNESCO in India.

Oh, cool.

He met an American girl.

Yeah.

They had a very nice reception.

Part of his family from Italy were there too.

It was kind of surreal.

What do you mean?

Oh, because you were used to seeing them in Italy,

and then you ran into them in New York?

Yeah, it's usually people that I see at home,

and seeing them there, it's like--

That makes sense.

Is your family here in Dallas?

Just Lauren, my stepsister.

My mom lives in Houston with my stepdad.

Uh-huh.

My real dad's in St. Louis with his family.

Right.

And where are you from, originally?

Waco.

Waco?

Uh, David Koresh?

Our claim to fame.

But let's not forget Jennifer Love Hewitt.

She's also from Waco?

Well, she was born there.

It's not very far from here, right?

No, it's about two hours if you drive.

So you're also Texan.

Yep.

I don't hear accent, though.

I slip every now and then with some words,

like I still say y'all-- - Uh-huh.

--which is you all.

How is that used?

You've never heard y'all?

Um, let's say, for instance, I want to say, y'all have

a good day, for example--

OK.

--um, if there's you and another person I'm talking

to, or like a group of people.

Like, uh, y'all?

Well, it's strung together like one word.

Y'all. It's got to be smooth.

You all.

No, now you're further away.

Y'all.

Like, you have to twirl your tongue a little bit.

Uh, y'all.

It's pretty close.

You could be a Texan too, you know.

Mark had an accent.

I thought it was quite charming.

- He was from a smaller town. - Longview.

Mm-hmm.

Longview, Texas.

Do you know that he wanted me to learn how to line dance?

- Really? - Yeah.

He sent me a DVD, one of those instructional videos.

Mm-hmm.

But it was still too difficult for me to learn,

so I told Mark that he could teach me when I come to Dallas.

Do you line dance too? - No.

I'm pretty bad at any kind of dancing.

Mark did it every week, though.

There's a country western bar here that he went to.

It's funny to even think about myself doing that, you know?

What, line dancing?

Yeah, I mean, wearing the cowboy hat, and the jeans,

and the boots.

Can you picture me like that? I'm Italian.

I don't know.

Mark had a way of talking people into doing things

they wouldn't usually do.

I never told him how much I hated

country music, by the way.

Yeah, I'm not really a fan either.

He was always making me these mix CDs, trying to convert me.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But I just couldn't get into it.

Yeah, he sent me some CDs too, but I

didn't have the courage to tell him how I felt about them.

I thought they were interesting, though, the lyrics.

They don't beat the bush around, you know?

Beat around the bush.

Beat around the bush, right.

The lyrics don't beat around the bush.

I love you. I miss you.

I'm so lonely.

It's very straightforward.

So if you want a comforter, there's one in the closet.

But it's pretty warm now, so you probably won't need it.

- OK. - OK.

And then the bathroom's down the hall this way.

I've got some towels for you there.

Cool.

Grazie.

Sorry?

It means thank you.

Oh, right.

You're welcome.

Is this is your room?

Mm-hmm.

Where are you going to sleep, then?

I have a sofa bed in the living room.

I can sleep there. You can have your room.

No, no. It's OK.

I don't mind.

- You sure? - Yes.

It's really comfortable.

It's actually more comfortable than my bed,

so you're doing me a favor. - OK.

Thanks.

Didn't Mark paint this?

How did you guess?

He sent me one a couple of months ago.

It's a-- it's a smaller one, but it has

the same style, more or less.

Do you know what this one is?

No, he doesn't like to explain his art.

He gets really defensive about it.

It's kind of funny.

Yeah, same with mine.

He didn't want to tell me either.

This one could be an animal, like an elephant.

Mm, I don't know if it's supposed to be anything.

It's actually quite ugly.

Quite?

It's very ugly.

He loved to paint.

I didn't think he was any good at it.

Of course, I never told him.

I actually encouraged him.

So this is partially my fault.

Well, I told him that I loved the one he sent me,

so it's my fault too.

No, you did the right thing.

He didn't take criticisms well.

Oh, hey.

I've been meaning to ask you, is there anything you

want to do while you're here?

Something you want to see?

Can we go see Mark?

Sure.

Is it far?

Not too far.

It's in the north part of town.

ANDREA: If you don't mind taking me there.

JEFF: We can do that tomorrow.

I'll let you settle in.

OK.

Hey, I got something for you.

What is it?

Pesto.

My mom made it.

Oh, cool.

It must be good.

It's the best, but I'm biased.

Thanks.

Just a little gift.

You're welcome.

Well, you didn't have to, but I really appreciate it.

Anyway, get some sleep.

Let me know if you need anything.

OK. Thanks.

LAUREN (ON PHONE): What's he like?

Is he nice?

Yeah, he's pleasant.

He's very polite.

He even gave me a jar of his mom's pesto.

LAUREN (ON PHONE): That's really sweet.

You guys did anything after you picked him up?

Yeah, I took him out to dinner.

LAUREN (ON PHONE): Did you find out anything

more about him and Mark?

No, of course not.

I'm still getting to know him.

Besides, it's private.

He'll tell me when he wants to.

Hey, you should meet him.

LAUREN (ON PHONE): You think? - Yeah.

I'll let you do the interrogation.

WOMAN (ON TV): People coming in for aid [INAUDIBLE]

the ones who decide who stay behind.

They were lucky to leave their homes,

even though there's not much there.

Most even think that, once they leave,

someone will come in and take over.

[INAUDIBLE]

You have to remember that most of these people

have never traveled further than they can reach by foot, usually

only to [INAUDIBLE].

This is the worst it's been [INAUDIBLE]..

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]

MAN (ON TV): Three people were killed and more than a hundred

injured in a devastating attack that occurred this morning

in downtown Baghdad.

The coordinated car bombs detonated

outside the university, ripping through students,

teachers, and employees.

You superstitious?

No, not really.

Are you?

My cat Caesar, I had one of his whiskers

taped on my computer monitor last year.

And I started to get a lot of work.

But then I cleaned up my room and took the whisker off,

but guess what happened. - What?

Work became stale.

Nothing was happening for weeks.

So I plucked another whisker from him.

Ouch.

Yeah, he was not happy.

And I taped it back on the monitor,

and work picked up again, just like that.

- That's funny. - Yeah.

I think I'm going to pluck some more, tape it around my house.

Then you'll be rich.

I hope so.

Tell me more about where you live.

Um, have you ever been to Italy before?

Well, Genova is not like Rome or Florence,

if you know what they're like.

I know a general idea.

Mm, Genova is not as well-kept as those places.

It has a huge historical center, but it is also

a bustling industrial town.

So you can find 14th century architecture next to a factory

from the '60s.

It's by the sea, isn't it?

- Yeah, it has a seaport. - That's right.

I can picture the map from a history class.

It's where Christopher Columbus was born, right?

- Exactly. - Mm-hmm.

I usually describe it to people as medieval and decadent

San Francisco, because it goes up the hills,

just like San Francisco.

So it's pretty.

Some parts, especially in the mountains.

We have a lot of old buildings too-- churches, museums.

Mark and I talked about taking a month

off to backpack through Europe. - Oh, yeah?

Yeah, but we could never find the right time to do it.

You know, it's one of those things you always talk about--

Right. Right.

Yeah.

--because it sounds like a great idea.

Mark said he wanted to come and see me in Italy,

but then I got here first.

Just-- my timing is still not right.

Have you heard from Danny?

He moved to Seattle after they broke up.

I called him to let him know about Mark,

and I thought he was coming to the funeral,

but he didn't show up.

They were together for a long time, right?

About five years.

Look, I don't know if he told you this,

but it got really ugly toward the end.

Mark only said that things didn't work out between them.

I didn't ask him why.

- Danny started using drugs. - Really?

What kind of drugs?

Meth, mostly.

They started getting into big fights,

and one time, Mark showed up at my door

with a bruise on his face.

Danny hit him?

Well, they were hitting each other.

That was at a time when Danny was on something

almost every night.

Mark didn't really like to talk about it much.

I never got along with Danny.

Why?

He didn't like me spending time with Mark.

He thought we were intimate.

You mean intimate sexually?

Yeah.

And were you?

No.

Well, I mean, there was one time,

but it didn't really count.

We were drunk.

What happened?

Somehow, we just ended up on my bed.

I mean, I know we didn't do anything.

We had our clothes on the entire time.

But at some point during the night, we kissed, and--

anyway, when I woke up, he was already gone.

So you never talked about it afterwards?

No, it's one of those things you don't bring up.

It's just awkward.

It's strange that you and Mark were not together.

- Why? - I don't know.

It seems like you guys were right for each other.

You were close.

JEFF: You're forgetting something.

What?

Type.

I wasn't his.

ANDREA: What do you think was his type?

Oh, I don't know.

Someone more exotic-looking, preferably a foreigner.

Maybe an Italian.

[CHUCKLES]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

ANDREA: That's him?

JEFF: Yeah, when he was born.

Kept a picture of himself every year.

ANDREA: He played soccer?

Mm-hmm.

He was really good at it too.

He played through high school.

Oh, and that's his dog, Sammy.

He died last year.

ANDREA: What happened there?

JEFF: Well, you know he played rugby, right?

ANDREA: Yeah, yeah.

Played in a tournament in London, broke his arm at a game

there.

You were friends in college, right?

- Yeah. - How did you meet him?

We were in the same dorm.

I was two doors away from him.

He didn't speak to me until we were in the same class

one semester.

We cheated off of each other in our finals,

then we moved off campus and became roommates.

What's going to happen to his place?

His parents will be putting it on the market soon.

I'll have to help them pack up if it sold.

I don't think they'll be able to do it by themselves.

It would be too difficult.

That's very nice of you.

He would have done the same for me.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[TOILET FLUSHES]

[WATER RUNNING]

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]

JEFF: Hey.

I was in this room before.

He sent me pictures.

I feel like I know it well.

I wonder why he never told me anything about you.

He thought you would judge him.

Why would I?

He said that you once told him that he

was attracted to losers.

Imagine what you would say if he told

you that he met this guy online who lives in another country.

What I said was sort of true.

I mean, before Danny, there was Eduardo, and then Francois.

They were all fuck-offs in one way or the other.

You also said that he needed therapy

before he started dating again.

Yes, I did say that.

I even volunteered to pay for his first session.

I guess he just didn't want you to think that I was

a fuck-off before you met me.

But he did want us to meet, you know?

When I'm here.

[GARAGE DOOR OPENING]

I didn't know this was here.

Are you sure it still works?

Uh, there should be a switch there at the back.

He bought it online.

I was going to try to kick his ass while I'm here.

Haven't you played this before?

Yeah, when I was, like, 16.

Come on, let's fight each other.

Nah, I'll just watch.

How do you jump? I'm--

You have to--

- No, mine's broken. - --push that button.

I think mine's broken.

No, it's not broken.

You have to-- you just have to try harder.

OK, hang on. Hang on.

Don't punch me. Let me see if I can get it.

No, like that, like that!

Well, you can't punch me whenever I'm trying to--

I'm trying to figure out how to work the move.

I'm trying to explain to you how to do that.

Why do-- how do you make a fireball out of thin air?

You cannot make fireballs.

Well, you just hit me with a fireball!

It's my character.

It's my character. My character can make fireballs.

Well, what does my guy make?

All I make is punch.

You have to do a combo to get that.

Man, this character's lame. A combo?

OK. OK.

Yeah, it's a combo you have to do.

First button, second button.

OK, that one.

- First button, second button. - Yeah.

Oh, nice. A rain shower.

That's cool.

What's a fucking rain shower?

Well, I don't know, but it took half your health away.

Yeah.

You see this one? - Uh-huh.

It's the clutch.

You grip it, and you shift.

One, neutral, two, and three. - OK.

OK. - You think you can do that?

I guess we'll find out.

OK.

[ENGINE REVVING]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, take it easy.

Take it easy. - OK.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

How old were you here?

I was about eight.

This is your family?

Mm-hmm.

You look more--

more like your mom.

That's what people say.

Who is the girl?

Oh, that's Lauren, my stepsister.

- She's Asian? - Uh-huh.

Chinese.

So your stepdad is Chinese, then?

Mm-hmm.

There's a picture of him in there somewhere.

There he is.

How did they meet, him and your mom?

They belonged to the same church.

They've been married about 10 years now.

Oh, skip that page, please.

Is this really you?

Yeah, back in the day when I was fat and hated myself.

And you bleached your hair.

Well, I was going for surfer blonde,

but it came out pumpkin orange.

When did you come out?

In college, senior year.

So Mark was around.

Mm-hmm.

He came out a week before I did.

A week?

Why a week?

Well, he called me one day and wanted

me to meet him at the library.

There was a spot there that was really secluded and private.

So it was me and three other girls,

and we just sat there, wondering what was happening.

And he just blurted it out, you know, just like that.

- Unexpected. - Yeah.

And this was before we had any kind of support group

on campus.

I was stunned, but everyone else was really

happy and supportive of it.

I think I might have said something like, way to go,

or something really stupid like that, you know.

I called him a week after and told him that I was,

but he was really pissed that I didn't

back him up the week before.

It was too late.

Well, yeah.

I mean, he was expecting me to come out right then too.

Hmm.

I had a friend in high school.

He sat next to me in all my classes.

We were quite close, but I was in love with him.

And he would torture me with stories about the girls

he was having sex with, you know.

Typical.

I saw him again recently, say, a month ago at the market.

It must have been at least 15 years since I last saw him.

That's a long time.

He's married.

He has two kids.

The real family man, you know.

He was very excited to see me.

He asked for my number, said, we should get together for a drink

sometime.

Mm-hmm.

But I don't know if I want to see him again.

Why not?

Well, he's going to ask about me-- if I'm married,

if I have a girlfriend.

Oh, right.

Right.

And then I have to tell him, like, yeah,

I used to jerk off thinking about you

fucking your girlfriend.

[LAUGHS]

Yeah, that probably won't go over very well.

Not at all.

The funny thing is that I still dream about him sometimes.

Like, once every year, I have a dream about being

in high school with Gianluca.

I've been having dreams about Mark.

It's like we're back in college, and, you know, just

hanging out, doing whatever.

I can actually smell his deodorant

and see this red sweater that he used to always

wear that was hideous.

[LAUGHS]

Then I can--

I can feel him sitting next to me.

Everything is just so vivid and real, you know?

And then I wake up.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Mm. This pesto is great.

Your mom must be a good cook.

Yeah, but when she's in a bad mood, she cooks like shit.

Here, put some of this on your chicken.

Mm. What is it?

It's peach juice, mixed with yogurt and mustard.

Wow.

Your own recipe?

Well, it was an accidental discovery at a buffet.

See, my sister and I, we had a dare that we'll try anything

we put together.

So she did a Jello and green bean casserole mix,

and it was terrible.

So I did a sauce with orange juice,

mustard, and vanilla ice cream.

And it actually wasn't bad, but I thought, you know, this

may taste better if I substitute the orange with peach

and the ice cream with yogurt.

And then I added a dash of nutmeg for balance.

Voila.

I like the potato curry too.

I don't usually eat Indian food, but this one

has a unique taste.

It's not too spicy.

It's the Chardonnay.

Works wonders with curry.

You should be a chef.

No, I'm way past the age of changing careers.

It's never too late.

In the end, it's better late than ever.

To Mark.

To Mark.

[GLASSES CLINK]

Who's your best friend in Italy?

Mm.

That would be Diego.

And what's he like?

He's my age, slightly taller, naturally tan skin.

How old are you, anyway?

34.

You?

- 29. - Oh, yeah?

Mm-hmm.

What year were you born?

1978.

Shouldn't it be '77?

I wouldn't want to be my financial planner, man.

All right, you got me.

I'm the same age as Mark.

Anyway, I interrupted you about Diego.

Oh, where was I?

Slightly taller with naturally tanned skin.

Yeah. Uh, he's very exotic-looking.

He's half Lebanese. - Mm.

Sounds hot.

Yes, he is.

Were you intimate with Diego?

No.

Not even a drunken incident that ended on someone's bed?

We met through my ex-girlfriend,

and they're together now, so.

You had a girlfriend?

Yeah.

How long?

Six years.

No kidding.

She's one of those people I like being with.

We get along pretty well.

So what happened?

Uh, I found out that she was missing a dick.

[CHUCKLES]

We've known each other since high school.

I didn't come out until my mid-20s,

but she always knew, just like Mark knew about you in college.

- He was married once. - Oh, yeah?

Mm-hmm.

Well, it was an arrangement.

What do you mean?

Well, he had this friend that he

used to work with that was from Venezuela,

and she really wanted to stay here.

So they got hitched so she could get her green card.

Did she pay him for doing that?

No, he just did her the favor.

That's what Mark was like.

He would do almost anything for the people he cared about.

I wanted to ask you--

What?

The accident.

How did that happen?

He was on his way to work, and, uh, 18-wheeler

switched over into his lane.

So he swerved into a faster lane to avoid it

and got rear-ended by a speeding truck.

His car flipped over.

What happened to the other driver?

He was hurt, but it wasn't critical.

When you do find out?

His dad called me.

I was in Houston visiting my mom.

Flew back and went straight to the hospital.

He was in a--

he was in a coma.

He had a massive brain injury.

He died the next day.

One of the nurses said that, when they first brought him in,

he was still conscious.

I just wished I was there, you know?

Have you ever heard that, when someone dies,

that there's usually a sign beforehand, like,

even if it's unexpected?

Yeah.

When my grandma passed away, the day before she died,

she was talking to someone in a room, like having a--

like having a real conversation.

But there was nobody there.

See, Mark was really adamant about doing his laundry.

He never let his dirty clothes pile up.

It was just one of his things.

But, um, I was there a week after he died,

and his laundry basket was overflowing.

I've never seen that before.

Maybe that was the clue that--

that he didn't have to do his laundry anymore.

What was the last thing he said to you?

Um, bye? Goodbye?

No, I mean, before goodbye.

Do you remember what he said?

[SIGHS]

No, I-- I don't know.

I'd have to think about it.

What was the last thing he said to you?

We talked on the phone a couple

of days before the accident, and he said--

What did he say?

It's kind of cheesy.

Promise not to laugh. - Yes.

You promised.

Yes, I promise.

He said, I cannot wait to hold you in my arms.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Excuse me.

- Hey. - Come on in.

We're just having dinner.

Are you OK?

Yeah, yeah.

Do you want me to come back later?

- No, it's fine. - OK.

- Hey, Andrea, this is Lauren. - Hi.

Hi.

Jeff has told me a lot about you.

Likewise. How are you?

I'm fine, and you?

I'm good.

I'm doing great.

Jeff, do you, um--

you got the vacuum?

What?

I was going to borrow yours, remember?

Mine broke.

Oh, right.

Uh, it's in the closet.

I'll go get it.

Do you want something to eat?

No, I just--

I had some takeout already.

Well, sit down and have a drink, then.

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

I want some butter.

Um, give me your purse!

[SPEAKING ITALIAN].

- Give me your money. - Right.

[ITALIAN] - OK, here's mine.

[CHINESE]

[CHINESE]

I'm happy?

I'm very happy?

[SPEAKING CHINESE].

I like you?

- [SPEAKING CHINESE] - [ITALIAN].

I love you?

That's it.

What was that you said?

Ti voglio bene.

- Ti vo-lio bene. - No.

Ti voglio bene.

Ti voglio bene.

G.L. Voglio.

Voglio.

Ti voglio bene.

Right.

Can you say yours again?

Wo ai ni.

Uh, wo.

Ai.

- Ai. - Ni.

Ni.

Wo ai ni.

Perfect.

Your turn, Jeff.

I don't know any foreign languages.

Just make up something.

How?

Just come up with something-- something

that we wouldn't understand.

OK, here's one.

It's so dry, the trees are bribing the dogs.

Oh, god, not one of those.

What is it, Texan?

Texbonics.

Texbonics?

You mean like Ebonics?

So you know what that means?

I have no clue.

It just means we're not getting any rain.

That doesn't make any fucking sense.

All right, here's-- here's an easier one.

This applies to you, actually.

Tend to your own knittin'.

LAUREN: What?

What does it mean when I say you should

tend to your own knittin'?

Uh, like, uh, you have to mind your own business?

JEFF: Exactly.

LAUREN: Right.

So how do you like Dallas so far?

It seems nice.

I haven't really seen much, but it seems cool.

Honestly, coming from Italy, just the fact

that a place is clean makes it prettier.

Have you shown him around, Jeff?

We just went by Mark's place today.

Well, you should take him around.

You know, do some sightseeing.

He's leaving in the morning.

So soon?

Yeah.

This is a really short visit.

That's what, uh, me and Mark agreed on.

JEFF: And what was the agreement?

That, uh, two days were enough for first meeting.

If we didn't get along, we would not be forced to stay together

for too long, you know?

Right.

I mean, what if you got along?

Were you going to stay longer?

Maybe.

He said that he wanted to come and visit me in Italy

if it all worked out.

LAUREN: Hmm.

I've done this before, once.

Do you remember Des Moines?

Des Moines, Iowa?

Yeah.

Um, I didn't have a friend there.

I went there to see a guy.

LAUREN: Was it someone you met online too?

Oh, yeah.

I was supposed to spend a week there.

LAUREN: Damn.

It's kind of embarrassing.

Do tell.

Well, he didn't tell me that he was bipolar, which is fine,

but he stopped taking his medication.

So he was acting very erratic when I was there.

And by the third day, he started screaming at me for no reason.

So I got really scared and checked into an hotel.

Is there no one in Italy you could date,

people who live in Geneva?

It's Genova, dear.

LAUREN: Sorry, Genova. - Genova.

Um, there's not much of a scene there.

It's not like Rome, you know.

It's not easy to meet other guys.

So my social outlet is quite limited,

and I end up meeting people online.

Why Americans?

Why not Europeans?

Because I have a fetish for Yankees.

Oh, really?

Is that so?

No, um, it's not that.

Just-- sometimes you chat with someone online.

You start talking.

You have a connection.

And they just happen to be in, uh--

LAUREN: Des Moines, Iowa. - Yeah.

JEFF: Or Dallas, Texas.

Exactly.

It's not like I plan it out geographically,

like I have to meet one guy per state, at least.

I know it sounds crazy that I'm coming all the way

out here to meet a person.

But every now and then, you talk to someone special,

and you take a chance.

It was nice to meet you, Andrea.

It was nice meeting you too.

Hey, Jeff, can you help me with the vacuum?

Oh, sure.

Hey, just leave those on the table.

I'll take care of them.

It's OK.

I can do this.

OK, thanks.

The vacuum, Lauren?

I had to make up an excuse.

It would be too obvious otherwise.

Right. Very convincing.

So when am I going to get this back?

Just leave it in my car.

I'll bring it back tomorrow.

Oh, trunk's full.

Not going to go in there.

I've got some room in the back seat.

Well, you certainly probed him for details.

He was more than happy to share anyway.

I think he likes you, by the way.

What makes you say that?

Woman's intuition.

You know, you should tend to your own knittin'.

Like you haven't thought about it!

Good night, Lauren.

Good night.

Did I break it?

No, it just acts up sometimes.

There we go.

Thanks for your help.

Thanks for making me dinner.

Your sister is funny.

You think so?

She came by just to check me out, right?

Was that your impression?

I'd have to be blind not to see that.

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]

[SIGHS]

WOMAN (ON TV): [INAUDIBLE],, but I also

wish to clarify that this book is still,

ultimately, a work of fiction.

I'm still not writing about the same person 100%.

Ciao.

Hey.

I didn't wake you up, did I?

Is the TV too loud?

Oh, no.

I just got up.

Couldn't go back to sleep.

You too?

Yeah, my doctor gave me these sleeping pills,

but I think they're giving me a headache in the morning.

You know what Mark used to do when he couldn't sleep?

What?

He would jerk off.

[CHUCKLES]

It never works for me, though.

I'll stay up all night.

Did you love Mark?

Sorry?

You love Mark?

Of course.

He was my best friend.

Were you in love with him?

[SIGHS]

There was a time when I was.

Are you?

In a way.

In a way, I was.

He would have really liked you if he'd met you.

I think you guys could have hit it off.

[CHUCKLES]

You think so?

Yeah, definitely.

He knew how you felt about him.

He told you?

Yeah.

He was very sorry that he couldn't

feel the same way about you.

I remember now what he said last.

Dropped me off for my flight to Houston,

asked that I send his love to my mom.

She was very fond of him.

And that was the last thing he said to me.

What was the last thing you said to him?

[SIGHS]

I can't wait to see what you smell like.

[CHUCKLES]

Which one do you think is cheesier,

the last thing he said to me, or the last thing I said to him?

Mm, they're both pretty cheesy.

Yeah, they are.

What was the last thing you said to him?

I'll see you when I get back.

I have something that I want you to see.

[PLAYING GUITAR]

(SINGING) I've been watching you awhile,

your eyes and your smile.

It's hard to admit this to you.

But each night I go to bed, it's you that's in my hand.

I hardly sleep the whole night through.

I'm dreaming three times a minute.

Baby, you are in it.

Won't you let me be your man?

I'm dreaming five times a minute.

Baby, I admit it.

Come on, let me be your-- come on, let me be your man.

You know, when I first saw you--

online-- a strange feeling was in my head.

Now, I just adore you.

And each night when I'm in bed, I'm dreaming three times

a minute.

Baby, you are in it.

Won't you let me be your man?

I'm dreaming five times a minute.

Baby, I admit it.

Come on, let me be your-- come on, let me be your man.

Oh.

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

Ciao.

[SOBBING]

- Here. - Thanks.

- Are you OK? - Yeah.

What time is your flight tomorrow?

It's around 9:30.

It's getting pretty late.

We should probably get some sleep.

Do you need anything else?

No.

Good night, Jeff.

Good night, Andrea.

I'll set my alarm, so we don't oversleep.

OK. Thank you.

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]

Is your flight to Genova from New York?

It's, um, JFK to London, and then London to Rome,

and then Rome to Genova.

It's a long flight.

Thanks for inviting me.

You're very welcome.

- I'm glad I came. - I'm glad we met.

Please stay in touch.

I will.

You should come visit me in Italy.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

May is the best time.

It's spring there.

OK.

I must warn you, though.

Genova is not as pretty as you think Italy is.

Dallas isn't that pretty either.

Ciao, Jeff.

Ciao, Andrea.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]