All language subtitles for Hearts. Under. The. Olive. Tree. 2023. AMZN. WEB. H264. en[sdh]

[film reel clicking]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[water lapping]

[dramatic tone]

[bird calling]

[light music]

♪ ♪

Chapter one.

All right.

OK, chapter two.

And got it.

Chapter three.

Chapter four.
Compare, contrast.

And...

[sighs]
Done.

[breathes deeply]

Feels like enough work
for today.

[sighs]

The unexpected success
of the book series

has captivated
millions worldwide.

But as fans eagerly await

the final installment

of the "Moonlight Magic"
trilogy,

the question still remains:

Just who is Georgina Cartwell?

Who, indeed?

While the YA fantasy author

has won numerous awards

for her first two novels,

she has never made
a public appearance,

prompting speculation
that Georgina Cartwell

may in fact be a pen name.

[tense music]

Hold on.

This just in.

Breaking news, Georgina Cartwell

has announced on social media
that she is two weeks

away from completing
her third novel.

No.

Mm-mm, mm-mm, no!
No, no, mm-mm.

That's right,
the third and final book

of the "Moonlight Magic"
trilogy will be delivered

to its publisher in two weeks.

You heard it here first, folks.

In other entertainment news,
Hollywood...

[sighs] Susana!

OK, OK, OK, OK, mm, all right.

First of all,
it's my social media account.

And who said anything
about two weeks?

No, I didn't read the contract.

OK, Susana, I think...

yes.

I... yeah, I know how you get
when I use your first name.

Of course, I'm almost done.
I'm like this close.

I'm just saying, can you maybe
buy me an extra month or two?

I mean, isn't that
what agents are for?

OK, OK, OK,
forget it, forget it.

Forget I asked.
Stupid Mel.

Actually,
I just had a great idea,

and I think I'm gonna go write.

OK, love you, bye.

[sighs]

Where are all the blue ones?

[light music]

Hey!

Sorry, my flight got delayed.

Ugh, there was
this baby screaming

the whole way, like right...

Melissa!

I'm on the patio!

♪ ♪

I'm home.

Hi, hi, hey.

OK, did you know
there's like 45% less

blue ones in this bag?

We're being scammed
by big candy.

Can you believe that?

I thought you said
you were gonna be doing

some writing this weekend.

Oh, yes, I did say that.

And I wasn't lying.

But you know I need some
unstructured free time

to let my creativity run wild.

I mean, how else am I supposed
to figure out what happened

on Arella's journey
or the night of the Dark Tide

if I'm just sitting
behind a desk?

So you figured it out then?

No, that was just...
that was an example.

Do not make that face.

- I'm not making a face.
- You are.

You are making that face.

You're making that face you make

when you're gonna say
something serious.

I think I need
some space from us.

U...

is this a breakup?

Why?

It's just, we're supposed
to be this power couple,

you know, and lately,
I've been feeling like

I'm in this relationship
all by myself.

Oh, Jonathan.
That's just not true.

Babe, most days,
you don't even get out of bed.

You don't work.

I mean,
you definitely don't write.

I mean, I get home
from a business trip,

and you can't even ask me
how it went or say hi.

Hey, you know, you're right,
you're right, and I'm sorry.

I was just distracted,
but I want

to know what's going on
at the bank.

[laughs]

You don't work at a bank?

- No.
- No.

[laughs]
You don't work at a bank.

I know you don't work at a bank.

At the hedge fund,
tell me what's

going on at the hedge fund.

It's commercial
real estate investment.

I've told you a hundred times.

Jonathan, that's like
almost exactly the same thing.

OK, fine.
Just don't do this.

Don't throw away what we have.

We're like
peanut butter and bacon.

Nobody likes
peanut butter and bacon!

- [scoffs]
- I love you.

Really, I do.

I just... I can't do us anymore.

I'm sorry.

You're gonna be OK.

Why wouldn't I be?

I am a grown woman.

No!
That is not real!

Jack would be like, "Move over.

"There's plenty of room
for us both on the door.

We're supposed
to be a power couple."

[doorbell rings]

Get up, Jack.

Get up.

♪ ♪

- Hello.
- [clears throat]

My lovely.

How are you?

Susana.

It's after 5:00, dear.
I'm off the clock.

Oh, great, sorry.

Mom, hi.
What are you doing here?

A mother's job is never done,
and neither is an agent's.

Not following.

Well, honey, I saw

that what's-his-name
broke up with you.

Who said anything... who said...

Shh.
No one said anything.

I saw that you posted
song lyrics online.

I just feel like
Beyoncé gets me.

I know.
I read your post.

But regardless, he's gone.

You're heartbroken.
Look at me.

We have a deadline to meet.

[scoffs] OK, OK.

I just... I kind of feel
like my grief

outweighs the whole
career thing right now.

I think you're wrong because,
darling,

you signed a contract,
a contract that will allow

a publisher to seek damages
if deadlines are not met.

OK, so we pay a little fine.

Sure, you can pay
your little fine of $1 million.

- What?
- That's what I thought.

So if you would like
to keep your house

from being repossessed,
I suggest you go upstairs

and start packing
because I booked us

on a ten-day writing retreat.

Think of it
as the mother-daughter trip

we've never taken.

OK.

So you and me,
together on vacation.

You know how I feel
about rhetorical questions.

Don't like them.

So go upstairs, start packing,

and put on some deodorant,
please.

Mom, I'm...

♪ ♪

[sniffs]
Fine.

[sighs]

♪ ♪

[upbeat music]

♪ ♪

Really? An olive farm?

I mean, why not, like,
a private library or something?

Darling, your final book
is set in a magical forest.

So this is your inspiration.

Mm, OK, now, where is
my cell phone service?

Darling,
don't dawdle under the sun.

It'd be a nightmare
if your forehead wrinkles.

My forehead what?

♪ ♪

Welcome
to the Babbling Brook Farm.

Checking in, I'm guessing.

Yes, the name is D-E-E.

Let's see, Dee.

So you've got one deluxe suite
and one basic room.

Perfect.

We'll just need
a card on record.

- Thank you.
- Is this made of stone?

Slate, actually.

Tell the bellhop to bring
the bags up to the room.

Thank you.

Your room
is upstairs on the left.

Darling, we have
a tasting tonight, 7:00.

And do not be late.

Oh, and wear that cute top
Mommy packed for you.

Oh.

Yeah, we don't have a bellhop.

Yeah, sorry.
She is a lot.

♪ ♪

Oh, is that the, um...

It's the first
"Moonlight Magic" book.

I'm rereading it.

I know it's YA,
but Georgina Cartwell

is just on another level.

You just get completely sucked
into her world, you know?

Yeah, yeah, no, I wish I could

get sucked
into a fantasy world right now.

I could probably
upgrade your room.

I mean, it's not like
we have many guests

staying here right now.

- Really?
- Yeah.

- Oh, thank you.
- I'm Colleen, by the way.

Hi.

♪ ♪

Correct.

Yeah, 458 pages.

OK, thanks so much.
Buh-bye.

Ugh, sorry I am late.

I was on the phone
with a publisher.

Ooh, were you working
on extending the deadline?

Darling, it's dinnertime.
Mommy's off the clock, OK?

Fine, let's get
this wine tasting started, huh?

I could use a couple hours
to turn my brain off.

Uh, garcon.

Ah, yes.

Hello, and welcome
to the Babbling Brook Farm.

My name is Ben Pulley.

I am the owner,
but I'm also going

to be your guide on your journey

through the wonderful world
of olive oil.

Oh, uh, what happened
to the wine tasting?

This is an olive oil tasting.

- We're at an olive farm.
- [chuckles]

Right, yeah, no,
I know it's an olive farm.

- Thank you.
- I'm so sorry.

You have to forgive my daughter.

A recent breakup has seemed
to have scrambled her brain.

- Mom.
- Darling.

Please, continue.

Right, well,
this is olive oil number one.

Olive oil number one.
That's some creative branding.

It is a cold press,
extra virgin olive oil

that is derived
from Mission olives,

which are in fact
the most popular

of the Californian varieties.

We tend to plant Arbequina
and Frantoio varieties

around all of the Mission trees
to give them

that extra punch
come springtime.

OK, can we just try
the olive oil now?

Darling, let the man talk.

The difficult part is getting
the pH levels of the soil

just right
because you're dealing

with slightly basic,
slightly alkaline levels.

I do actually have
a saying to help remember.

If you're eight and above,
easy up, bruv.

If you're 7.5 or down,
turn that ship around.

Wow, OK, I'm sorry, but I am
way too hungry for this.

Melissa.

Uh, ma'am, that's...
that's balsamic

vinegar on your bread.

♪ ♪

Would you like any olive oil
on your next bite?

I'm good. Thank you.

- Mom.
- Yes?

- Dinner has been great.
- Wait...

As always.

Ben.

Darling, Mommy needs pages
in the morning, OK?

Mm-hmm.

Charming.

OK.

You can do this, Mel.
All you have to do is write.

The beginning started

at the beginning

with a prerequisite.

♪ ♪

[sighs]

♪ ♪

Excuse me.

Is this seat taken?

Uh, yes, my husband
is sitting there, actually.

He must be bringing
your wedding ring.

♪ ♪

Well spotted.

You just earned yourself a seat.

Very well.

All right, I will humor you,

since you are sitting there
staring at me.

What is it that you do?

- Sergio.
- Sergio.

Is that the measure of a man,

the title on his business card?

Is that a deflection?

I have done many things,
seen the world,

owned businesses.

Now I'm just enjoying
the twilight of my youth.

I hate to break it to you,

but I think your youth
is far behind you.

Or sitting right in front of me.

[cell phone chimes]

That is the start
of my work day.

Pleasure to meet you, Sergio.

I did not manage
to catch your name.

I didn't throw it.

♪ ♪

How is it?

Well, the good news
is it's not olive knot.

Good news is no absence
of bad news, my friend.

Yeah, and there's bad news.

Olive flies have
gotten into the crop.

♪ ♪

[sighs] Kayzol.

I knew they would return.

Yeah, I think we're
gonna have to harvest

the olives early this year.

Any idea how to hold
them off until then?

As I told your parents,
a fight against the flies

is a fight against time.

But I know how to make traps.

All I need is some milk,
some anchovies, some urine.

Right.

I can help you
with the first two.

But how about
the capitalist banker, Mr. Ben?

I mean, earlier harvest means
less oil, means less money.

He is coming next week,
and we just have to convince

him to refinance the loan,
or otherwise...

The flies, they will win.

Yeah.

♪ ♪

- Hi.
- [gasps]

- Sorry.
- Oh, my God.

I was just going to see
if you'd seen my mom anywhere.

Were you writing something?

No.

Yes, I mean, OK,
so my college doesn't

have a creative writing major,

which is what
I really want to do.

So I'm trying to write some
short stories in my free time.

But like, it's super frustrating

because I feel like
there's this giant gap

in quality
between what I like to read

and what I actually write.

- Ha.
- Does that make sense?

Yeah, no, totally makes sense.

I mean, you either feel like
an idiot or a complete fraud.

And then you start going
down the rabbit hole of,

will actually even read this?

[scoffs] I know, right?

Wait, so you're a writer too?

Uh, yes, but I'm
really more of a reader.

If you want someone
to give you notes,

I'm happy to give it a read...
if you're interested.

Definitely interested.

♪ ♪

- I knew it wasn't very good.
- What?

No, no, no, no, no.
Don't get me wrong.

It's a good sentence.
It just gets kind of lost.

Every paragraph should
have one core sentence

that drives the whole thing.

You're really good at this,

like professional level
good at this.

Yes, she is.

If only she would
just apply herself.

Oh, hi, Mom.
How are you?

Oh, I am 12 minutes
behind schedule, thanks to you.

Right, got it, got it,
got it, got it.

Hey, look, I really,
really like your style.

So as soon as you have a short
that you're proud of,

just me know.

- I'll definitely give it a read.
- Can I give you one now?

- Yeah, of course.
- Melissa.

OK, I have
a mother-daughter work thing.

But can I leave it here,
and I'll grab it later?

And I'll read it
as soon as I can.

- Yeah, thank you.
- OK, of course.

- Let's go.
- I'm coming.

♪ ♪

Oh, Melissa!

OK, you said you wanted pages.

I'm sorry. It's my fault.

I should have specified.
I wanted quality pages.

OK, they're not that bad.

I feel like
they're not that bad.

Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom,
don't put on your agent glass...

[clears throat]

"Arella wondered what
she would have for breakfast."

Who cares?

"The Elven pastries
looked delicious,

"their dough perfectly crisp,

"flaking at even
the slightest touch,

"but she would be a fool
to ignore the warm welcome

of the lomberry porridge."

You go on like this
for six, seven pages.

OK, I just felt like maybe
if I riffed a little bit,

an actual story
would start flowing.

Let me be frank.

As your agent, you have nine
days and zero viable words,

and both of our careers
riding on the outcome of this.

So if I were you,
I would start writing,

and I would start writing fast.

OK, Mom, it's just,
it's not that easy, all right?

I'm really trying to be
the person you want me to be,

but I'm just not one
of those people who can wake up

and sit down and start working.

And with the breakup
and the pressure

of this deadline, I just...

I really don't think
I ever will be.

[sighs]

♪ ♪

Well, then we will
just find somebody who is.

Meet me at the patio
in one hour.

What are you doing?

What I do best, deal-making.

Mr. Pulley!

- Don't want to know.
- Oh, Mr. Pulley!

Mr. Pulley.

Ms. Dee, how can I help?

I have a business
proposition for you.

- Do you remember my daughter?
- Vinegar Girl.

Yeah, Vinegar Girl.

She needs help
finishing a manuscript

about a magical forest.

The problem is,
she's a bit lazy,

wholly unorganized, and...

And all-around unpleasant.

Yes, I remember her.

Well, just so you know,
between us,

she's a best-selling author.

- Like best.
- She is?

Mm-hmm.

Well, what makes you think
that I could help her?

Well, I can see
that you are meticulous,

and you are process-driven.

In essence, you are
everything that she's not.

And you happen to know
something about trees.

You do know this is an olive
grove, not a magical forest.

I know that. Mel doesn't.

She hasn't been
at a place like this ever.

Besides, I think you two
have some real chemistry.

Regardless,
my offer still stands.

You help her finish
her manuscript,

and in exchange, we will
use her influencer status

to help give this place
some much-needed PR.

Maybe you can pull it out

of whatever downward spiral
it's currently in.

The farm is doing just fine,
thank you.

Please, I'm an agent.

I can practically smell
the financial desperation.

Desperation doesn't smell.

Really? Huh, oh.

I think it might smell like...

[sniffs]
Yeah.

It smells like moldy olives.

♪ ♪

Deal?

♪ ♪

Nope. Nope, nope,
no, no, no, no, no.

No, Mom, no, no, no, no.

I'm sorry.
No offense to you, but no.

Reject. Mm-mm.

Are you done?

Good because I want you
to think very carefully

about what you're going
to say next because Ben here

agreed graciously to help you.

He is detailed.
He is ordered.

And he happens to know
something about trees.

So all you have to do is post
something nice about his farm.

Agreed?
Good.

I'll leave it to you two
to make a schedule.

Great.

♪ ♪

OK, so we don't
really need to do this.

It's actually not
that bad of an idea.

It's literally the worst idea.

I mean, how are you
supposed to help me write?

You're a farmer.
You're not a writer.

And in case you haven't noticed,

my entire life
is riding on this book.

Yeah, and so is my entire farm.

I'm going to level with you.

Do I want to be doing this?

No, but right now,
I'm desperate.

And everything I've done
up until this point

has clearly not been working.

And it seems like the same
is true for you.

Look, I am not gonna
teach you how to write.

You already know how to do that.

But what I can
teach you how to do

is sit down and focus
because that is the one thing

in my life
that I am actually good at.

So you think
you can help me write

100,000 words in nine days?

That's 11,000 words a day.

If we have you writing
from 9:00 to 5:00,

that's just a little
over 1,300 words an hour.

And yes, I do think
I can help you reach that.

Or we both crash and burn
in the process.

[laughs]

[sighs]

Fine.

- It's a deal.
- Let's get started.

OK, this doesn't
really even make any sense.

It makes all the sense.

I don't understand
why we actually

have to go to my room.

- What does that have...
- This is happening.

OK, can you just
slow down first?

OK, wait... just...

we don't really need
to do this, right?

To figure out a solution,

I first have
to diagnose the problem.

And that means seeing
your work environment.

No!

[laughs]
Maybe we do it a different day.

Another day?

Like one of the nine
that you have left?

OK, fine, fine, fine, fine.

It's just, I haven't really
had a chance to unpack.

It's not the best time
right now, and...

No, no. Excuse me.

- No, no, no.
- No, no, no.

I haven't had any time to...

[laughs]

How did you...

♪ ♪

Why?

Uh,
part of the creative process.

OK, so I had a bit
of a meltdown last night.

I tried to write
something half decent.

And by the end,
I wanted to curl up and die.

In a blanket fort?

Well, no, it's actually
more like a blanket mausoleum.

OK, either way, this has to go.

It has cathedral ceilings.

- [scoffs]
- Serious?

Yeah.

Wow.

OK, but I will do it.

OK, after you.

♪ ♪

- Seriously?
- Yes.

Goodbye, old friend.

♪ ♪

You're a monster.

[sighs]
OK, what now?

Let's begin.

So it's called
automatic writing.

In the olden days,
spiritual mediums

would utilize this technique
to try to speak to the dead.

They thought
anything they wrote down

while wearing the blindfold

was coming from a nearby spirit.

[laughs]

So you want me to talk
to ghosts now, right?

Blindfold back on, please.

The blindfold lets you
block out external stimuli

and access your subconscious.

If you're having writer's block,

this will let you bypass
any conscious objections.

You're just going
to write whatever

comes down to your fingertips.

Got it?

Got it, got it,
got it, got it, OK, so...

OK, OK. I got you.

- A little help.
- Uh-huh.

- A little help.
- Right down.

Is it over here?

No, it's right in front of you.

So I just write anything.

Anything at all.

[sighs]

[tense music]

- So when you say...
- [grunts]

Oh!

- I'm so sorry.
- I'm OK.

OK.
It's all good.

- You OK?
- Yeah.

[light music]

♪ ♪

Darling, how's it going?

[laughs]
Well, I've written zero words.

And I nearly killed a man.
So what do you think?

I think you're finally
learning what it's like

to be a woman in the workforce.

[groans]

Now sit down and do try
to enjoy a meal with Mommy.

So how's it going?

Mm.

It is going horribly.

He is an annoying know-it-all

who is all about productivity
this and efficiency that.

And it's not helping.

I was actually talking
about your breakup.

Oh.

I just... we don't normally talk
about that kind of thing.

Darling, Mommy's off the clock.

We can talk
mother-daughter things.

So tell me, are you finally
over what's-his-name?

OK, what is your deal
with Jonathan?

He was a nice guy.

Please, Melissa.

He wanted a status symbol.

And when he found he got
a DIY project, he left.

Wow, OK, so are you saying

that I need to be fixed?

I am saying that...
oh, here he comes.

♪ ♪

Look away, look away.

Is that the guy
you told me about?

Um, sir! Hi.

Would you like to join us?

Who could turn down
such beautiful company?

[gasps]

♪ ♪

What are you doing?

Oh, two can play this game.

♪ ♪

I thought I'd find you here.

Is there cheese in this?

Aww, that's a nice way
to say "thank you."

I just... thank you.

- So how's the yield this year?
- Not great.

Olive flies got into the crop,
which means...

Moldy olives, yeah.

Hey, dude, technically,
half this farm is mine.

I do know how things work.

So what are we going to do?

Well, we're either going
to harvest early

or wait and see if the flies
spread to all the trees.

Either way...

we're not going
to be producing a lot

of oil this year.

♪ ♪

Hey, remember
that time Dad forgot he left

half the harvest in the loft,

and all the olives
started decomposing?

Yeah, and all the moldy oil

started dripping
from the flood boards.

Dude, it actually
got in my hair.

So gross.

Point is, no matter how
bad things get around here,

you'll never run this place
worse than him.

- Famous last words, Colleen.
- Come on.

I believe in you.

You can do this.

So there I was, staring
into the belly of the beast.

The lion's jaws opened wide,
its teeth sharp and white.

It slowly sticks its tongue out.

I felt death approaching.

- And then...
- [gasps]

- It licked me.
- Oh, it licked you!

With a tongue like sandpaper.

If raised by humans, lions
are actually quite friendly.

But that is the joy in life, no?

To be almost mauled
to death by an exotic animal?

No, finding love and compassion

in the most unexpected
of places.

♪ ♪

Another bottle
for the table, please.

Actually, you know,
I think that I am good.

♪ ♪

OK, all right, Mom,
I'm gonna go.

I'm gonna go write, and I
will see you in the morning.

And, Sergio,
very nice to meet you.

Shall we move on
to the Pinot Noir?

I was actually thinking,
we should move on to dessert.

♪ ♪

This isn't working.

[sighs]

♪ ♪

One more try.

♪ ♪

[sighs]

Arella's journey into the forest

was a journey into the unknown.

♪ ♪

And by all accounts,
she should have been terrified.

And she was,
but she knew she wasn't

making the journey alone.

♪ ♪

[air horn blares]

Iceberg, ship is sinking.

[air horn blares]
What is that?

Good morning!

Rise and shine.

Give me that.

It wasn't that bad.

All right, maybe I went
a little bit overboard.

But you do know
that waking up early

is part of being productive.

It's about keeping a schedule.

Come on.

We can get breakfast.

It's free.

♪ ♪

Really?

Like actual words.

Yes, like actual,
bona fide, a lot of words.

Wow.

I thought that
the blindfold thing

was literally the dumbest
thing I've ever heard.

OK, a little harsh.

OK, but it worked.

It did.
It really worked.

Well, that's great.

We just need
to keep the words flowing,

make sure your mind is
in the optimal creative state.

Optimal what now?

Have you heard
of the gut-mind connection?

It's the belief that not
only can your brain influence

your stomach,
but actually your stomach

can influence your brain.

OK, so you want
to make me more productive

by controlling what I eat?

Exactly.

Do women like you?

♪ ♪

- Ah.
- Hi.

And for you.

[laughs]
Mm.

♪ ♪

Um, Ben, question.

Do I look like a Victorian
street waif to you?

- No.
- No, no.

So why are you feeding me gruel?

OK, first off,
this is not gruel.

This is called Bio-Fuel,

and it is nutritionally
completeness.

No, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, do not lie to me.

That?
That is slop.

- OK.
- And I'm not gonna eat it.

But I am gonna
order the waffles.

- Don't, don't.
- Yeah.

- Hi.
- Don't order the waffles.

- Oh...
- Please, no.

[shushing]
I'm so sorry.

Do you mind if I send this back
and get the waffles instead?

Oh, thank you.

Oh, and can I have
ice cream on top of it?

♪ ♪

Mm, I feel sick.

If only there was
a readily available

explanation for that.

I could be lactose intolerant.

[scoffs]

I could be!

Let's just get started.

Presenting the Idea Matrix,

a trademarked workflow solution
that breaks down

the writing process
into 42 KPIs.

Let's say you want
to map the progress of one

of your side characters.

The first thing
you're going to do

is select one of the 25
structural functions

and then cross-reference that
with one of the seven

main character archetypes.

Ben...

That's gonna be denoted
right here by the red string.

- But don't confuse that...
- Ben.

With the blue string because
the blue string is how you...

- Ben!
- [exhales sharply]

Do you want me to explain
the structural functions again?

No, this is insane!

It's like the
Zodiac Killer tried

his hand at arts and crafts.

Oh, maybe you
just don't understand it

because this
is a logical step...

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Ben, it's not gonna
help me write.

Because you've been so good
at that before my methods.

♪ ♪

Can I see that for a second?

Sure.

♪ ♪

Great.

It's not like I spent all
night making this for you.

Ben, can...

♪ ♪

[sighs]

Oh, dear.

If you're gonna comment
on my appearance,

please don't even bother, OK?

I look how I feel, and I feel
like a human dumpster fire.

Oh, I believe
this is what the kids

refer to as "a hot mess."

♪ ♪

- That's actually pretty good.
- I know.

You didn't get your witty
genes from your father.

So where are Mommy's pages?

- Desk.
- Desk.

[grunts]

Let's see.

OK.

♪ ♪

OK.

Well, honey, the quality
is good, but the quantity?

I know.
I didn't write today.

Melissa.

Don't give me
that face, Mom, OK?

I felt like I had it yesterday,

like the words
were just flowing out of me.

And then today, with this whole
stupid bulletin board thing,

I just...
I feel like a fake.

Honey, you are not a fake.

You are Georgina Cartwell.

Exactly.

She speaks fluent French
and vacations in Marseille.

And I can't even roll my R's.

I am just Mel, the girl who
apparently can't write anymore

and just lashes out on anyone
who tries to help her.

I understand now.

This, this is all about Ben.

Let me tell you a secret, honey.

Conflict isn't always bad.

Pressure isn't always bad.

That's how diamonds are formed
and steel is forged.

And it's exactly how I got
you an extra percentage

on your residuals.

I thought you threatened to sue.

My point exactly, conflict.

Now, look, I know that you
don't think your arrangement

with Ben is working,
but these pages right here

are proof of just the opposite.

So I need you to get up
and go make up with Ben

because the clock is ticking.

Go.

♪ ♪

Out!

♪ ♪

[sighs]

♪ ♪

Please don't tell me you're
making another org chart.

What? No, this...

actually,
can I have your advice?

It's like some psychotic AI
tried to create

a "Moonlight Magic" fan fiction.

What is this?

This is for Mel,

the woman
with a terrifying mother.

[sighs]

She's Georgina Cartwell.

What?
Do not mess with me!

Are you serious?

- That's Georgina Cart...
- Shh!

Her mom is terrifying.

And she is definitely gonna
sue me for telling you.

Are you helping you-know-who
finish her last book?

- Answer the question!
- Yes, yes, OK?

I am going to help
her finish the book,

and she's gonna
promote the farm,

and we hopefully
won't go bankrupt.

But every time I try
to actually help,

I just mess it up.

OK.

Real talk, dude.

This isn't how
creative people work.

There's no formula
for inspiration.

OK, if you want
to inspire an artist,

you need to get them out
into the world.

Have them explore,
live a little.

By "live a little," you mean...

Oh, you're so useless!
OK, here.

These are her first two books.

The final one will be set
in a magical forest.

We have 396 olive trees outside.

If you want to inspire her
to write, start there.

- Think you can manage?
- Yeah.

- Yeah, I can manage that.
- And read the books, dude.

Come on,
this isn't amateur hour.

This is
Georgina freaking Cartwell!

OK.

Thanks.

[laughs]

[birds chirping]

Huh.

Not bad.

♪ ♪

- Oh, no.
- [clears throat]

I don't know what
I was expecting.

Oh, wait, Ben! Hang on.

I just had my retainer in.

Hey, I'm really sorry, OK?

I know you were
just trying to help,

and I trashed your bulletin
board because, I don't know,

I think it made me feel anxious.

I'm supposed to be
this brilliant writer, right?

And I was just standing there,
thinking,

oh, is this how
you're supposed to do it?

Have I been doing it
wrong this whole time?

And I don't know.
I think I just kind of snapped.

It wasn't cool.

Honestly, I totally deserved it.

I don't know why I tried
to break down

the writing process
into 42 KPIs.

Yeah, I still don't know
what that means.

Oh, it's a key perf...

you know what, forget about it.

They don't matter.

They don't?

You know what,

instead of forcing you
to write today,

let's go outside,
see if inspiration

strikes you that way.

OK.

[clears throat]

So we're hanging milk cartons
on the trees because...

why?

There's no actual milk in them.

- They're flytraps.
- Oh.

[sniffs]
Oh!

I'm sorry, what is that?
It smells like a public toilet.

Best to not get into that.

OK, how about you take
those trees over there,

and I'll get the ones here.

OK.
I can hang it anywhere, right?

Yeah.

Anywhere you find,
just like that.

See?
Whoo.

Why don't you
just use pesticides?

I mean isn't that
what most farmers do?

Yeah, my parents
used pesticides,

but it's pretty hard
on the trees

and even harder on the wallets.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Every time it rains, you have
to reapply all the pesticide,

and it adds up pretty quick.

All right.

- Done with your tree over there?
- Done.

- Super easy.
- Good.

Because we've got
386 more traps.

What?

♪ ♪

OK, I'm done.

Done.
And I need shade.

♪ ♪

Why is the shade so bad?

You have to trim the branches
in the center of the tree.

That way, more light can
hit the branches beneath it.

The more light
that hits the tree overall,

the more olives it produces.

You know
you're kind of a know-it-all?

Has anyone ever told
you that before?

Pretty much my entire life.

Water?

Yes, thank you.

You know what's
actually crazy is,

I'm kind of having fun
sweating my butt off.

- Really?
- [laughs]

♪ ♪

Of course, now I get service.

What's wrong?

Just an email from Susana.

Apparently, the "Times"
is doing an article

on the cultural impact of
"The Moonlight Magic" series.

It's great.

- Isn't that a good thing?
- Yeah.

Yeah, I guess.

It's just, I spend all my time
trying to write this book.

You know,
I would love to go one full day

without having to think
about Miss Georgina Cartwell.

All right.
I've got an idea.

How about today we completely
forget about the book

and go somewhere fun?

[laughs]

I think Susana would
have an aneurysm.

I won't tell if you won't.

OK, yeah.

OK.

Let me get a few
things together,

and then meet me back
at the barn in like 20 minutes?

- OK, yeah.
- OK, great.

Wait, there's a barn?

♪ ♪

Wow.

OK, so we are going full horse
and plow with this.

Ooh, OK, OK, so what
are we going to do first?

Are we going
to churn some butter?

- Or milk a cow?
- This is an olive farm.

Remember, we grow olives.

Then why have the barn?

[horse whinnies]
What?

You have horses?

It's literally on the front
page of the welcome packet.

Nobody reads those.

Hi.

First time in a stable?

How can you tell?

Well, let me introduce you
to your first horse then.

This is Spencer, basically
the golden retriever of ponies.

And he is going to be
your horse for the day.

- My what?
- Yeah.

You're going to be riding him.

Oh, no, no, I'm not gonna...

I don't need to...
I don't need to actually ride.

Don't you want
to know what it's like

to ride a real horse?

What... didn't Arella
say that there

is nothing more freeing
than riding a horse

with the wind at your back?

You've read my books?

Yeah, I stayed up
all night reading them.

But seriously, what happened
on the night of Dark Tide?

I don't know.
Everyone keeps asking me that.

Like, I know the answer.
I don't know.

You'll figure it out.

So want to see
if Arella was right?

♪ ♪

- Here we go.
- That's good.

All right, you can
ease up on the reins a bit.

Yeah, but how do I drive...
or I mean steer.

Steer.

You ride a horse.

And just feel it in your leg.
Just feel it in your thighs.

Just give a squeeze
the direction you want to go,

and Spencer's a good horse.

- He'll know what to do.
- OK.

- All right, I'm doing it!
- Yeah, that's it, all right.

You ready for something
a little more advanced?

Advanced meaning?

- Meaning a canter.
- Canter, like faster?

- Yeah, just a little bit.
- No, no, no.

I would literally die.

OK, this is where we stop.

Good job.

♪ ♪

Good girl.

Ooh.

- What are they eating?
- Vetch.

It's a type of wild bean.

Topsoil erosion is a big
problem for farmers out here.

Overworking the land
disrupts the soil structure.

One big rain and half your
topsoil is rushing down river.

To avoid that, we've been trying

to let the farm grow wild.

Plus, vetch

adds nitrogen
back into the soil,

and its flowers
are pretty to look at too.

[laughs]

You are just a giant nerd,
aren't you?

- Massive, huge nerd.
- [chuckles]

[gasps]

OK, I have the best idea.

Here, you got this, right?
OK, thanks.

- Yeah, just hold that.
- Yeah, sure, OK.

- Thank you.
- All right, come on, guys.

♪ ♪

[laughs]
Whoa.

- Mel, where are you going?
- Come on, hurry up.

[laughs]

- Mel, Mel.
- Come on.

Where are you going?
Mel.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

- It's warm enough.
- Wait, are you crazy?

You just have to jump.

Ah!

♪ ♪

Get in!

I didn't bring a swimsuit.

You don't need one!
Just get in!

We're being spontaneous.

OK, on the count of three.

- 1.
- 2!

- 2 1/2.
- 3!

- OK, OK.
- Go!

Ah!

♪ ♪

- That was great.
- You did it!

- We did it!
- Oh, my gosh!

[laughs]

♪ ♪

You do know I had
actual activities planned

for today that didn't involve
jumping into the arctic water.

OK, it was,
first of all, balmy, lukewarm.

Yeah, and second of all,
you had fun.

Don't even pretend
like you didn't.

OK, so what is this all for?

These are from Colleen.

I thought it would
be a good idea

to do one
of those painting sessions

where you paint
what inspires you.

Hmm.

You know, help you
see the enchanted forest

for the trees.

Mm, I see what you did there.

- OK, let's paint.
- Here you go.

♪ ♪

- Oh!
- Ah!

[laughter]

♪ ♪

We are terrible painters.

No, they're not that bad.

♪ ♪

- OK, fine, they are not great.
- Yeah, they're bad.

But art is not
about being good or bad.

It is about expressing
yourself and wrangling

with the universe
to distill one essential truth,

even if it's only true for you.

I mean, here, look.

Look at this olive
that you were making,

and I mean really look at it.

Now tell me that
you weren't trying

to capture one specific
emotion when you made it.

I was trying to paint
a Manzanilla olive,

but it kind of looks
like a hairy lemon.

What?

I hate you so much right now.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Because I was about to see
if you wanted anything to eat.

I take it all back.

Here, try this.
It will blow your mind.

♪ ♪

Mmm.

- No way.
- Right?

What is in that?

Olive preserves
with lemon and ginger.

It's an old family recipe.

Super easy, but super delicious.

So good.

So how long has your family
had this farm?

Three generations,
but my mom and dad

did their best
to try to make it two.

They weren't exactly
in tune with the land.

Or the business,
for that matter.

Is that why you
started the resort?

Yeah.

Olive trees take five years
to get healthy again,

and so I thought
I could stave off

the impending financial doom
by opening up the resort.

Little did I know that nature
would have other ideas.

Honestly, I have no idea
what I'm going to do.

The flies are eating
into the crops and the profits.

And if I can't
convince the lenders

to refinance the loan next week,

I could lose all this.

Jeez.

I had no idea.

That's so serious.

- No, I'm sorry.
- No, no, no, no.

Look, this farm is beautiful.

These olives are insane.

All you really need
to do is show people

how incredible this place is.

You know,
use a little creativity.

Give them the old razzle dazzle.

You're right. I am doomed.

No, no, no.

OK, close your eyes.

OK.

Now I want you to take a bite.

But before you do, I want you
to think about everything

you love about this place,

everything you saw
in it as a kid.

And then I want you
to take that emotion

and try and distill it
into the description

of the olive oil.

- OK, yeah, I can do that.
- Ready?

- Yeah.
- One, two, three.

- Whoo.
- Mm.

♪ ♪

It tastes like
early season Kalamata.

OK, yes,
but now more of the flavor

and the feeling behind it.

Yeah.

[laughs]

♪ ♪

OK.

- It's kind of earthy.
- Mm-hmm.

- Like a warm summer rain?
- Yes.

Oh, but also rich
like brown butter.

Yes! Yes, exactly!

You're doing it!

See, I told you, you just
need a little creativity.

You can do this.

I know you can.

♪ ♪

Aww, I feel bad leaving them.

Are you sure they're OK
in here by themselves?

- They don't get lonely?
- Oh, yeah.

- I've got something for them.
- Hi.

[gentle piano music]

Music? Aww.

Even horses need something
to help them sleep.

That's fair.

♪ ♪

Hey, can I ask you something?

Sure.

♪ ♪

It's not just the breakup,
is it,

why you're not writing the book?

I mean, your ex broke up
with you last week,

and you spent, what, the last
two years writing the book?

Mm, a little more.

♪ ♪

So what's going on?

I don't know.

It's like I created
Georgina Cartwell

to be this impossibly perfect
version of myself.

Right, like,
she's sophisticated,

and she travels the world

and makes it look easy.

♪ ♪

And every time I sit down
to write this book,

I just feel like
people are gonna

finally see through it all,
you know?

They're gonna see me
for who I really am.

Just Mel.

What's so great about
Georgina Cartwell anyway?

No, really?
What's so great about her?

I mean, to me,
she's stuck up and pretentious,

but you, Mel, you're amazing.

You're spontaneous and funny,
and you're brilliant.

You, not Georgina Cartwell.

♪ ♪

What are you doing?

I'm asking you something I would

never ask Georgina Cartwell.

Melissa Dee,
would you like to dance?

[laughs]

♪ ♪

OK.

♪ ♪

I didn't think
you were a dancer.

I still don't think
that I am, so you know?

[laughter]

♪ ♪

You might be
the last person in the world

I would have thought
could dance.

That would make two of us.

You know what you should do?
You should throw a party.

No, like a festival.

Do I look like
a party kind of guy?

I'm serious.
OK, just hear me out.

You can make
a whole event out of it.

You could invite the bankers
to come and impress them

and, you know, show them

how truly magical
this place can be.

That's actually not a bad idea.

If we pick the olives early
before the flies got to them,

we could use this year's harvest

and put it on the tables,
call it a harvest festival,

and sell tickets.

And if we said Georgina Cartwell

was going to be there,
people would definitely come.

Yeah, we could say that
she's making a big announcement

about her final book.

That would mean
telling the world

that you're Georgina Cartwell.

[sighs]

Maybe I'm sick of her
getting all the credit.

What's so great about Georgina
Cartwell anyway, right?

♪ ♪

Um, I should go.

I should go write right now.

I'm going to write right now,

but you understood,
so I will see you tomorrow.

Yeah, I'll...

see you tomorrow.

♪ ♪

OK, let's write.

♪ ♪

So this will be
the main area for the festival.

And I was thinking
that we could do

maybe a half dozen
high top tables here

where people could set
their drinks down.

And then in the back,
we'll bring some chairs,

so we can...
are you gonna write this down?

When you say "festival,"

do you mean, like,
a giant party, or...

Your skepticism is duly noted.

Sorry, but you weren't exactly

Mr. Life of the Party
in high school.

OK, then help me out here,
Colleen, with the festival.

Come on, it is a good idea.

We're gonna pick the olives
early and then wow the bankers

with some good food and wine.

[sighs]
It was Mel's idea.

It's such a good idea.
I love it.

- Now write this down.
- OK.

We're gonna have tables there.

Buffet is gonna be back here.

♪ ♪

And through the fog
and the mist,

she saw the blood red moon rise
over the blackened sea.

And whether this was
a dream or a memory,

she knew one thing
for certain...

this was the night
of the Dark Tide.

♪ ♪

It's true.

Where I'm from,
you can see the ocean

from your doorstep.

So blue,
it's like liquid sapphire.

You could come visit
if you like.

Are you inviting me
on another vacation?

A vacation maybe.

Yes, or maybe something
a little more...

Hey, guys.

Hi.

Impeccable timing, dear.

Oh.

Sorry, I just... I thought
you were on the clock

because, you know, it's 1:30.

No, it is not 1:30...
it is 1:30.

Mm-hmm, yeah.

I guess time escaped me.

A beautiful thing.

We could just finish this later.

Arrivederci.

♪ ♪

Arrivederci.

♪ ♪

Pages.

- OK.
- OK.

Let's see, what do we have here?

I like him.

I think he's
a good influence on you.

♪ ♪

Darling, please, I am
trying to focus on the prose.

Wait.

Did you figure out what happens

the night of the Dark Tide?

- I did.
- You did?

Mm-hmm.
It just came to me last night.

OK, every 100 years,
the blood red moon rises,

creating this massive
ecological disaster,

and millions and millions
of little bugs

rise from the ocean floor.

And they start consuming
anything that produces magic,

including the enchant...

the enchanted forest.

Spoiler alert, darling.
I haven't gotten that far yet.

I'm sorry.
I'm just excited.

On a different note,
though, why don't you

join us for dinner tonight?

I thought you two have been
enjoying your date nights.

We have, but I miss you
at the dinner table.

Hey, invite Ben.

- Make a double date.
- Ben?

- Yes.
- No, no.

Would he even want to do that?

Regardless, I will
see you two at dinner.

♪ ♪

[machine whirring]

Hello?

- Oh, hey.
- What is this place?

Welcome to the frantoio.

It means olive press in Italian.

Ah. How does it work?

- This bad boy?
- Oh, please don't say that.

Oh, well,
this is a milling machine.

Back in the olden days,
they would use

these giant mill stones,
but they couldn't

regulate the temperature.

If the olives get
about 26 degrees Celsius,

then it ruins the flavor.

Ooh, ah, speaking of flavor,

I have something
I want to show you.

Olive oil number one,
Spring Garden,

a light delicate olive oil
with floral notes

that reminds you of the sun
dappling over the trees.

♪ ♪

I wanted to try
a little rebranding

before the festival.

I'll give the bankers
a little razzle dazzle.

The branding is perfect.

♪ ♪

Hey, random question,

and totally no pressure
to say yes,

but would you want to join me,

and Susana, and her new beau
for dinner tonight?

Like a sort of double
date thing?

No, no, no, no,
it's not a double date.

It's more like
a mother-daughter, Italian...

you can just say no.

Yes.

Really?

Yeah, it sounds fun.

OK. Um, OK.

So I'll meet you
in the lobby at 7:00?

Perfect.

♪ ♪

[imitating arrows whooshing]

Do you hear that sound,
Mr. Ben?

It's the sound of Cupid's arrow,

and you have been hit.

No, nobody has been hit.

And shouldn't you be
out harvesting the olives?

So I take lunch, big whoop.

But tell me, my friend.

What would you wear
for your big date?

It's not a date.

I think you need
help picking outfit.

And Alexei is just the man.

What do you think
about chambray?

♪ ♪

Melissa?

Jonathan.

Wow, you look incredible!

So what are you doing here?

What am I doing here?
What are you doing here?

I'm on a writing retreat.

I mean, what are you
doing at my client's farm?

Your client?

Remember,
commercial real estate?

♪ ♪

The firm is interested
in lending

to this distressed olive farm,

and the business model
really isn't great.

They've got low margins
and a lot of tax problems.

So I've got to go
there on Thursday.

- Really?
- But hey.

I can get you some olive oil
from the Babbling Brooks Farm

if you want.

Ooh, could you get me one

of those little
novelty chocolates

from the airport, though?

Yeah, it's pretty weird,
us meeting here, huh?

Yeah, Jonathan.

You broke up with me
after three years together.

It feels a lot worse than weird.

Yeah, that's fair.

Hey, when I came home that day,
I panicked,

and I hurt you.

And Mel,
I'm really sorry about that

because I never wanted
to do that.

You know what,

in all fairness,
I was spiraling pretty hard.

Really, I don't blame you.

It looks like you seem to have

pulled yourself out of that.

I'm proud of you.

Really.

Are you all dressed
to go to dinner?

Oh... Susana?

You know, why don't I tag along?

You could take it
as me extending

the proverbial olive branch.

♪ ♪

- It's definitely a date.
- It's not a date.

Then why are you wearing that?

Because Alexei wanted to play
"America's Next Top Model."

Hi, hey, I'm so,
so, so sorry I'm late.

Something came up, and I just...

No worries.
I'm just glad you're here.

Ben! Buddy!

How you doing?

Jonathan came up.

He is my ex.

Your ex?

Your ex is my banker?

Small world, right?

Hey, are you coming
to dinner with us?

♪ ♪

I'm starving.

Hi!

Mrs. Dee, it's been too long.

Bring it in.

Jonathan, hi.
I forgot you were a hugger.

Great. OK.

Jonathan.
Pleasure to meet you.

Hello, my name is Sergio.

Sergio, is that a Romanesco
accent that I'm hearing?

Yes, very impressive.

- Did you take him back?
- No.

I've spent a lot
of time in Italy.

[sighs]
All right, sit, everyone.

- Sit, please.
- Ah, right.

Oh, oh, oh, Ben,
please, you take the seat.

- You're the guest.
- Thanks, man.

No, you take it.

I'll just grab a chair.

♪ ♪

Great.

♪ ♪

So they wanted 100 million.

I said,
we won't do more than 80.

Closed the deal, made partner.

♪ ♪

Excuse me,
could we get another bottle

of the Cabernet Sauvignon
for the table, please?

Thank you.

And could I get a tonic...

water?

Jonathan, it's such
a shock to see you here.

Oh, believe me, Mrs. Dee,
I'm just as shocked as you are.

But Ben and I have been doing
business for quite a while.

I wouldn't say while.

Oh, come on.
Don't be modest, Ben.

It's been three years!

Our company lent Ben
the money to, uh...

[clears throat]
Turn the farm around.

But that harvest festival
that I'm hearing about,

I like that.
That's a good idea.

But really, what I'm most
impressed with is Mel.

She told me she's
on track to finish her book.

Of course, I always
knew she was brilliant.

To the triumphant return
of Georgina Cartwell.

She's not Georgina Cartwell.

♪ ♪

I mean, obviously, she is.

I, uh...

I'm so sorry.

Everyone, excuse me.

♪ ♪

Um, he's probably just
under a lot of stress

with the harvest festival.

I'm just gonna go
check on him quickly.

♪ ♪

Hey.

Hey.

So what was that about?

Just, when were
you going to tell me?

Tell you what exactly?

I don't know, that
your ex-boyfriend is my banker?

Technically, he works
in commercial real estate.

♪ ♪

OK, I still don't
know the difference.

Why does it matter?

Why does it matter
that you're cavorting

with the enemy?

OK, cheap shot.

Why do you care who I date?

♪ ♪

Ben, what is going on?
Just talk to me.

Nothing.

Honestly.

I'm fine, just stressed.

I'm stressed about you
finishing the book.

I'm stressed about the festival.

I'm stressed about getting

the Georgina Cartwell seal
of approval.

So you're worried
about Georgina Cartwell?

- No.
- No?

Yes.

I don't know.

The festival is coming up,

and you're so close
to finishing,

but I don't want to lose my farm

just because you can't live up
to being Georgina Cartwell.

Wow, I...

you know, I expected this
from Susana, not from you.

Yeah, I actually thought
that you saw me for me,

but apparently, you just
see Georgina Cartwell too.

Well, guess what, Ben?

I don't need anyone else in
my life trying to manage her.

Mel!

Wait.

[sighs]

♪ ♪

Um, yeah, sorry, something
came up with the festival,

so Ben had to leave.

Well, not to be
a stick in the mud,

but Sergio and I can't
stay for dessert either.

Why?

We're going for a walk.

Just go.

Good night, darling.

- Jonathan.
- Good night.

♪ ♪

Hey.

Are you OK?

Yeah. Yeah, why?

That face.

I'm not making the face.

Look, I don't want
to be too forward,

but can I walk you back to
your room, make sure you're OK?

♪ ♪

Yeah.

Yeah, that's... I'd like that.

♪ ♪

So this is me.

Why are you making the face?

The face?

Yeah, the face you make
when you're about to tell me

to take out the recycling.

Oh, don't worry.

I'm not gonna ask you
to take out the recycling.

But I am wondering
if you would be willing

to give us another shot.

Look, I know I hurt you before.

But, Mel,
you were really spiraling.

I mean, we were supposed
to be like this power couple.

And instead,
you were being crushed

by the weight of this book.

And it felt like it took all
my energy to keep you together.

OK, it wasn't that bad.

You once walked around the house

with a mint stuck to
your sweatpants for two days.

That was a lollipop.

[laughs]

OK, a lollipop then.

Look, I'm not proud
of what I did.

I was drowning,
and I was desperate for air.

And instead of talking
to you about it,

I took the coward's way out,
and I broke up with you.

I'm sorry for that.

And if you'd be
willing to forgive me,

and if you'd be willing
to take me back,

I promise I'll never
abandon you again.

♪ ♪

You know, why don't we
just start with you coming in

and watching a bad rom-com?

♪ ♪

But you can't stay.

OK.

♪ ♪

Oh, it's disgusting!

Where I'm from,
they put bankers in jail.

Effective system, really.

Jail would be a kindness.

- Yeah.
- [laughs]

Oh, I can't take this anymore!

Where are you going?

I'm going to slap some sense
into my brother.

Hmm.

♪ ♪

[grunting]

♪ ♪

- Seriously, dude?
- What?

What?

Do you have something
you want to say?

Yes, I have something
I want to say.

I am this close,
this close, to becoming sisters

with a famous author,
and you're here

building a cheap table.

I'm setting up for the festival,

the festival that's going
to determine whether or not

we keep this farm.

So yes, I'm building a table.

Ooh, you're like
the worst parts of Mom and Dad

glued together.

Mel is back together
with that off-brand Ken doll.

Is that what you want?

And don't give me the whole,
"Oh, I'm Ben.

I have no emotions," shtick
because that's ridiculous!

You know what's ridiculous?
All of this.

I hate to break it
to you, Colleen,

but life isn't like
one of your stories.

There are no heroes.
There are no magic potions.

And while we're being
perfectly honest,

there is no such thing
as true love.

I was stupid to think
that there ever

could have been anything
between Mel and I.

But that's the real world.

It's about time
you start living in it.

Fine.
Build your stupid table.

See what I care.

♪ ♪

So are they good?

Well, I don't have
a problem with them.

No.

OK, why do I feel like
there's a "but" coming?

But there could be
a potential problem with your,

shall we say,
recreational activities.

You're talking about Jonathan?

This is purely,
purely professional,

but Jonathan has not been
a good influence...

- Here we go again.
- On you in the past.

He's going to be
a terrible influence on you

again in the future.

That's great, Mom.
Thank you.

Thank you so much
for joining the long list

of people who think
they know what's best for me.

Melissa, I am your agent.

It is my job
to tell you what is best...

Yeah, you are also my mom.

And maybe for once,
you can talk to me like

I'm your daughter,
like you actually care about me

and not Georgina Cartwell,
but me.

OK, you're being
a little dramatic.

When have you actually
ever been there for me?

I'm serious, Mom.

It is no wonder I've spent
my entire childhood

racing off into fantasy worlds.

[cell phone ringing]

- Melissa, I...
- Seriously?

You're seriously
gonna take that?

No, go ahead.
Take your next meeting.

♪ ♪

I was going to send it
to voicemail, Melissa!

♪ ♪

- Babe, what's wrong?
- What?

Nothing.

OK, can everyone just give me,
like, a little bit of space?

- OK, backing up, backing up.
- I'm sorry.

I'm really sorry.

I just had a fight with Susana,
like worse than usual.

Well, you want me
to put a movie on?

Maybe see if
I could get us a tub

of ice cream from somewhere?

No.

No, I still have like
a fifth of the book

to write and two days to do it,
so I really need to focus.

- No distractions.
- Including me?

I'm not trying to be mean,
but I have a word count to hit.

No, no, no, I get it.

You're a strong,
independent woman.

♪ ♪

I didn't mean that
sarcastically.

I like the new Mel, really.

I'm still the same me.

Hey, look, I promise we can
watch a movie before bed.

♪ ♪

A little help?

[sighs]

Hey, man. Need a hand?

No, actually, it's...

Hey, do you know how many
times I helped Melissa move?

Don't worry. I got this.

All right, where are
we going with these?

Just follow me.

♪ ♪

All right,
so what's the plan, man?

Are we going to like set them
up around the table, or...

all right, can we get real
for a second?

What do you mean?

I mean,
can we talk about why you've

been acting so weird lately?

This harvest festival,
it's a cute idea,

really, but it is
stressing you out, man.

And what for?

Is it really gonna
make a difference

to your bottom line?

Is it going to improve sales?

Is it going to impress me
so much I go back to my boss

and tell him
to reapprove the loan?

That was the plan.

Look, it's not a bad plan.
Don't get me wrong.

But an easier plan,
a better plan...

sell the land.

Take the check, man.

Your margins are awful.

And the work, it's backbreaking.

Not to mention
your product is at the whim

of a million little beetles.

Flies.

Sure.

Why worry about all of that?

Sell the farm, man.
Take the money.

The land will still be here.

It's just going to have a bunch

of little houses
and condos on it.

I'm going to go grab
some more chairs.

You think about it, OK?

♪ ♪

"What We Build"
by Colleen Pulley.

I like that.

"She hid from her work,

"but not because the work
was difficult.

"She was a sculptor,
and she loved nothing more

"than putting her chisel
to stone,

"transforming rock
into living effigy.

"That was the easy part.

"The hard part was what would
happen when she finished,

"when she would stare at
the stony face of her creation

and see herself reflected
in its alabaster eyes."

♪ ♪

[chuckles]

♪ ♪

Couldn't sleep either?

Couldn't sleep.
Couldn't work.

- Mom, I...
- Listen, I am not mad.

I'm not mad at all.

Join me.

You know what's sad?

I can't remember the last time
I properly sat down

to look at the stars,

all this running around,
distracting myself with work,

when all this beauty
is right in front of me,

and all I had to do was look up.

♪ ♪

We're not really talking
about the sky, are we?

You know you got your
writing genes from me, right?

♪ ♪

Melissa, I am so sorry.

I have been a terrible mother,

and I have not
been there for you.

I mean, this whole on the clock,

off the clock rule,
it was just, it's ridiculous.

It's not like
I can turn off being a mother

like the notifications
on my phone.

I am so sorry.

Mom, look, you really
don't need to apologize.

I shouldn't have
freaked out on you.

And you have been a good mom.

- [scoffs]
- Yes, you have.

- Mostly.
- [laughs]

It's just sometimes I wish maybe

you were a little less harsh.

That is fair.

That is fair.

When I was young, I spent
so much time feeling lost,

and I did not want that for you.

So I pushed you.

- And I pushed you too hard.
- No.

I did, and I am sorry
for that as well.

I mean, honestly, sometimes,
I need some direction.

♪ ♪

OK, let me...

is that referencing Ben
or Jonathan by chance?

Honestly, I don't know.

Maybe both?

Here's what I do know.

I have spent the last 30 years
trying to manage your life,

and I think
it's high time I let you

make your own decisions.

Besides, you're the writer.

You know how to end
your own love story.

♪ ♪

I like the star thing better.

[laughs]

♪ ♪

So this is where
Mr. Ben is hiding.

♪ ♪

I'm worried about you,
my friend.

You don't seem well.

Yeah, what tipped it off?

You're eating cake.

You don't eat cake.

Come, the festival is starting
soon, and we have work to do.

We need you.

What's the point?

I feel like the olives in there,

crushed and ground up,
squeezed and bled dry.

Man, olives.

Who cares about such things?

In the end,
everything needs love.

Alexei, I messed up.

I don't deserve your help,

and I definitely
don't deserve Mel.

Mm.

Well, luckily for you,
I wasn't talking about the love

between a man and a woman.

Come, follow me.

♪ ♪

What are we doing here, Alexei?

Look up, my friend.

You'll see.

♪ ♪

How did you...

By driving all night to
the closest 24-hour print shop.

♪ ♪

Colleen, I am so sorry
about the other day.

I was angry, and I lashed out,
and I didn't mean any of it.

OK, whatever.

I didn't realize how
much Mel meant to me

and how much losing her
was going to hurt.

But in the process,
I almost lost

something even more special,
my sister.

And I don't ever want that
to happen again.

OK, Ben, shut up.

We don't have time
for this, dude.

I know you're
twisted up about Mel.

Literally, everyone knows!

But right now,
we're three hours away

from the start of the festival,

and we have
to get this place ready.

It doesn't matter
if we get the recommendation

from Georgina Cartwell or not.

We can do this without her.

But first, we have
to finish setting up.

We need you!

♪ ♪

OK.

OK, we're gonna need
flower arrangements

for all the tables.

Alexei, I need you
to get roses from the garden

and olive branches
from the grove.

Colleen, go get cows parsley
anywhere you can find it.

Got it?
OK, all right.

We got this, people.
Let's go!

I was thinking we could jet home

after this little shindig.

You sure you don't want to come?

Mm-hmm.

Babe.

What's wrong?

I'm almost done.

And?

I just need
to figure out how it ends.

All right, well,
that shouldn't be too hard.

You're Georgina Cartwell.

♪ ♪

But I'm not.
You get that, right?

I am like the sculptor
in Colleen's story.

I am too scared
to make anything out of fear

that people will actually
see me for who I really am,

not Georgina Cartwell.

Jonathan, we were
together three years.

I was crushed under the weight
of Georgina for three years.

How could you not see that?

- Mel, I...
- OK.

Do you even want me for me?

[scoffs]

♪ ♪

- I can't do this.
- Where are you going?

I am the author of my life,

and I'm choosing
how my love story ends.

♪ ♪

OK, sorry.

Well, first, I do have
to finish that chapter

and then put on a dress,

and then I'm choosing
how my love story ends.

♪ ♪

I think you're going to need
to make a speech about Mel.

A speech? Why?

Because I know what happens
when you disappoint a fandom.

Trust me.

You want to handle
this carefully.

It can't be that bad, can it?

♪ ♪

Just let them down gently.

Try starting with a joke.

A joke?

Right.

♪ ♪

Fancy seeing you here.

So I've been thinking,
I am going to wind down

my work with my daughter.

And I'm not gonna
be her agent anymore,

and I'm just going
to be her mom,

maybe take on smaller clients.

But I thought maybe
in between that big change,

I would... I don't know...
go somewhere,

you know,
without my phone or pages.

I should go somewhere
that I can just pick flowers

and, you know,
enjoy the moments as they come.

♪ ♪

It just so happens I know
of an achingly beautiful

little village in Tuscany.

You do?

♪ ♪

Excuse me. Excuse me.

♪ ♪

Excuse me, everyone.

Hi, I am Ben Pulley,

the owner
of Babbling Brook Farm.

I don't know if you guys
have been following

the news recently, but it
turns out that dairy cows,

they're about to go on strike,
refusing to make any more milk.

Yeah, I don't know
about you guys,

but I think
it's "udder" nonsense.

[laughing loudly]

What? It's funny.

♪ ♪

[clearing throat]

♪ ♪

Stupid shoes!

♪ ♪

Uh, OK, so before we kick
off this harvest festival,

I have a quick
announcement to make

about our guest of honor,
Georgina Cartwell.

[applause]
Uh, right.

Actually, Miss Cartwell is
not going to make it today.

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

- It's OK.
- No, stop.

It's fine.

No, stop, stop,
stop, stop, stop.

Wait.
Stop, stop, stop.

Mel.
What are you doing here?

I'm so sorry.
I know that this is... ooh.

Definitely not the right time.

But I just...
I needed to let you know

that Jonathan and I broke up.

Oh, and that your sister
is a stupidly good writer,

like annoyingly good,
and that I think

I really, really like you.

[sighs]

Whew, OK.
That felt good.

♪ ♪

OK.
[clears throat]

- Wish me luck.
- Good luck.

Everyone, hi. Sorry.

Um, I have
an announcement to make.

Georgina Cartwell is dead.

[all gasping]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Not like that.

Not like that.

Oh, you don't need
to film this, really.

What I meant is,

Georgina Cartwell never existed.

She was the messed up projection

of a slightly lazy,
slightly insecure writer,

me, Melissa Dee.

But Ben made me realize
that I don't need

to be afraid to show
the world who I really am.

♪ ♪

Which brings me to my second...
second?

- Yep, second.
- Second.

Second announcement,

which is
that the third and final book

of "The Moonlight Magic"
trilogy was completed

during my stay here
at the Babbling Brook Farm.

[cheers and applause]

♪ ♪

And I will be publishing it
under my real name.

Thank you for your time.

Oh, oh, oh,
and the name was Melissa Dee.

D-E-E.

- That's my daughter!
- Whoo!

Thanks, Mom!

[applause]

♪ ♪

[upbeat music]

♪ ♪

OK, seriously, Colleen, you are
an insanely talented writer.

Ooh, I'm still processing
the fact that Georgina Cart...

no, that Melissa Dee
likes my work.

Are you kidding?
I love it.

I mean, seriously,
I think maybe one more draft,

and then you're definitely
gonna get it published.

Although you are gonna
need a really good agent.

- I am so proud of you!
- Thank you.

OK, Mom,
I want you to meet Colleen.

This is Ben's sister.

- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.

Colleen also happens
to have a killer short story

that I think you'd love.

Well, that's quite
a recommendation.

Actually, I am considering
taking on smaller clients

these days.

Mm-hmm, I would love
to read what you have.

- Yeah, that'd be wonderful.
- Great.

I can email them to you.

I have at least like five
short stories ready to go.

I was a lot like you
when I was younger.

I can't believe that.

No, really.

When I was a young man,
my father died

and left my family with nothing
but a fishing boat.

I was told we would not
make it, but I persisted.

Because when you love something,

it is worth fighting for.

So...

♪ ♪

I you're looking for funding,
look no further.

I will not tear down your trees.

I will not put up houses.

I will invest in your future,

knowing full well that good
results are the product

of time and discipline.

♪ ♪

- I don't know what to say.
- Then say nothing.

♪ ♪

And enjoy the moment.

♪ ♪

Hey.

I liked your speech.

Yeah?

I was pretty high
on adrenaline and scared

that if I stopped talking that
people might start laughing.

♪ ♪

- Mel, I...
- Ben, um...

You go first.

I'm so sorry.

I am sorry about everything
that I said.

I don't care
about Georgina Cartwell at all.

I care about you.

♪ ♪

Well, I don't know
if you've heard,

but Georgina Cartwell is dead.

Yeah, apparently, I killed her.

♪ ♪

Would you like to dance?

With you? Always.

♪ ♪

[water lapping]

[dramatic tone]

[bird calling]

[film reel clicking]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪