All language subtitles for Strife.2023.S02E08.1080p.WEBRip.x265-PGW

We should be doing more
pro-active pitching.

Targeting the brands
we want to represent -

like Pure Willow.

[Paul] Oh, Willow Russell -
she's a saint.

- Where'd you get those?
- They were a gift.

This office space isn't.

What's the matter, Dom?

Well you were on your

Me Machine the whole time.

- And I botched a line.
- No one noticed.

[Guy] Some explicit
photos of Opal

- went live on the site last night.
- That pig!

[Opal] I'm making my point
that it's not the photos

I had a problem with,
it's about control.

Are you at least journaling?

I'm writing - to myself.

I see your love.

[Daniel] I'm not happy,
and I don't know what to do.

- Stop it!
- Stop it?

I'm fucking stuck in this.

I had an affair
when we were still married.

Because we were
already broken. Sorry.

What are you doing?
You fucking idiot.

[tense music]

Stop it...

Oh, what are you doing,
you idiot.

Sorry, there was
such a long queue.

It's okay, I was just getting
my 'Eve Life' fix.

Oh, should I feel nervous
or flattered?

Flattered.

I think it's really
fascinating, what you're doing.

I don't know how you do it.

Gin helps.
Where are the drinks?

Are you nervous?

Oh, a little...

Well, don't be.

I think you're
pretty fascinating, too.

Oh, God, I've never
been called that.

Oh, God, I've never
been called that.

Back in a minute.

You're Evelyn Jones, right?

Yeah, I am.

[sarcastically] Hmm, big fan.

Maybe stick to what you know.

Privileged women without a
sense of humour or a clitoris.

Look, sorry if I've
offended you in any way.

I'm trying to get better,
with context.

And nothing you said before
isn't something

I don't say to myself every day.

[bartender] Mm. Fair enough.

And just to be clear,
I do have a sense of humour,

and a clitoris.

[man] By the left!

Quick march!

[military percussion]

[Jon] Why can't she follow
orders like this at home?

[Evelyn] Maybe we need to don
a uniform and do the voice.

[thunder rumbling]
[Jon yawning]

You look terrible.

You look terrible.

Thanks.

I'm not sleeping.

I lay awake at night thinking,
am I really that guy?

I mean, am I?

Yep.

I didn't even want the beer.

I just wanted to go back
to the hotel room,

watch some bad local news
and pass out.

But it was a big mistake.

Wasn't it?

[military drumming continues]

Philosophy is
a history of mistakes.

If Aristotle was right,
Plato was wrong.

Well, all I know is we're both
seeing other people.

Ginny and I are very close now.

How do you feel about me
seeing someone new?

I'm okay with it.

Although I'm not sure
he's any match for you.

Uh, unlike you and Erika.

I mean, what do you
even talk about?

Dewey Decimal System?

[Evelyn] This is so weird.

[Evelyn] This is so weird.

Has she expressed any interest
in joining the army to you?

[Jon] No, honestly I forget
we even have an army.

I think I've got it.

This whole
thing is about structure.

We've let her go rogue.
She needs routine.

Direction!

We have to kill
the bird nesting.

It's clearly too disruptive.

Go, Addy!

[Jon] You're not
supposed to cheer.

Ooh...

- Whose are these?
- They're Dad's.

I thought Ginny
was doing his washing.

So, what do we think?

I think we tried, we failed,

we all just need to
spread our wings

and fly away from this
messed-up nest.

[Alex] Anyway,
things are changing.

I'm going to uni next year,

Addy wants to go to that
rich farm school,

and Dad's got Erika.

Well, I wanted to
tell you that...

I've started seeing someone.

It's early,
but he's really nice.

- I think you'll like him.
- [zip whirs]

So you and Dad are never
getting back together?

So you and Dad are never
getting back together?

It's good to know.
[tense music]

Come on, Addy, I can't be late.

Well, h-hang on a minute,
I'll take you.

No, it's alright, Dad
lent me his car, I'm driving.

Well, well, what about
some breakfast, toast?

We can just get smoothies
on the way.

- We can have pizza tonight.
- I'm going to Gracie's.

Yeah, I'll be at
the library, so...

Do you want anything?

Money? -Come on, Addy -Yeah.

Tampons, parking tickets.

You should probably pay those.

- Bye.
- See ya.

[gentle music]

[Opal] Dom liked 14 of
my 43 most recent posts.

And yesterday,
he liked my selfie,

but then he unliked it
eight minutes later.

I should never
have encouraged you

to write about
your relationship, Opal.

You know what
my first thought was,

when I heard about the photos?

"Will I go viral?"

"Will I go viral?"

It'd be good for you
to talk to someone.

It can't be good, looking
at a screen all day.

You literally pay me to do that.

I know, but you need to
find real connection again.

Sylvie will help you.

You might have to bounce
on a balance ball.

Okay.

- What do I talk about?
- Anything.

Just don't say what you
think she wants you to say.

She'll be all over that. She's
the smartest person I know.

[door opens]

- Pearl.
- Opal?

Oh, okay, sorry, um, follow me.

I just need a quick five.
Do you mind?

Sure.

[door squeaks and thuds]

Jon had an affair.

He cheated on the librarian.

My, God, he doesn't muck around.

No, on me, during our marriage.

- He told you that?
- Yeah.

And what did you do?

- I slept with him.
- Obviously.

And it was...

And it was...

We were really good.
I was good.

Yeah, may I remind you that
you two are getting divorced?

It must, it must mean something.

You want to know
why it was good?

Because you're not
washing his underwear

or disinfecting the toilet bowl

after his two-hour
shitting sessions.

That's why.

No, I, I think
it's more than that.

More than what? You're trying
to get your power back.

You're trying to reclaim
your territory

by putting your flag back in,
I get it.

[gentle music]

I might still love him.

What if I was wrong?

And what if you leave before I
charge you for two sessions?

I'm going, I'm going.

["How to Tame Lions"
by Meg Washington playing]

♪ How do you tame a lion?
It was a savvy answer ♪

♪ The repartee and argument
You look like a dancer ♪

♪ You can take the East side
and I will take the West ♪

♪ You know
I liked you better... ♪

Where are my sweet-smelling,
entitled tech-boys?

Gone.
Vanished into thin air.

- What?
- Thin air.

Oh, I for one am going to
miss their casual misogyny.

Oh, I for one am going to
miss their casual misogyny.

Business-casual misogyny.

[laughs]
Where's Opal?

- Oh, she's with Sylvie.
- Who's Sylvie?

Who's Sylvie?
[chuckles]

She's my life coach,
mentor, counsel, guru.

- Your therapist.
- Yeah.

Mm.
[tense music]

Never share your 'airdresser
or your therapist.

- Your words.
- Well, Pen,

maybe it's not just
my core that's softening.

'Hair' dresser.

- Oh, what are you...
- Willow!

Paul Bowen Clark, 'Eve Life'.
How are you?

Finally. [laughs]
17 missed calls.

I sound like a stalker, I'm not.

But we are absolutely
obsessed with you

and we would love
the opportunity

to pitch for the business.

And I think we deserve to pitch.

We're trailblazers too.

Anytime.
We'd make midnight work.

Thursday at 4pm?
Absolutely.

Lock it in, Willow.

Lock it in, Willow.

I love you.

Bye...

Oops...

Well, a squeaky wheel
gets the oil.

[high-fives]
Yes!

[laughs] 'I love you'
was a bit much.

So, when were you going to
tell me about Jon pulling out?

Oh, pulling out as an investor.

What do you think I meant?

No-nothing.
I, I just thought, yeah.

I thought it would be best
not to be in bed with my ex.

Well, yeah, I agree with Evelyn.

The relationship's
already damaged.

- They're getting divorced.
- Now, I agree with Helen.

Guys, I'm feeling
really positive.

We finally got a meeting
with Willow Russell.

Let's just enjoy the moment.

[Helen] Even still, Sweet Jane's
is still stirring her toxic pot.

My clothes are itchy today.

Norma's book
comes out this week.

Actually tonight, Helen.
Yeah, you going to go, Ev?

You know what?

Yes, I will.

[gasps] Oh, God, ugh!

[Evelyn] She's hanging
herself?! [tense music]

- [Paul] Mm.
- [Evelyn sighs]

Alright,
back to the circus, Bozo.

Alright,
back to the circus, Bozo.

[indistinct background chatter]

[woman] Oh, my God. That's her!
That's the toxic boss. [laughs]

[footsteps clomping]

Ev?

You coming in?

Uh, no, I, I,
I missed therapy today,

so it's probably
not a good idea I go in.

I wish I could write a novel,
and be on tour,

stay in fancy hotel rooms
by myself.

Sure, that's why writers write.

[Evelyn chuckles]

Ev, I never apologised to you,
and that shames me.

What I did was business,
but it was also immoral.

I did go to therapy today.

[Evelyn chuckles]

And I regret naming it 'Whoman'.

Seemed like a good idea until
I had to say it 40 times a day.

Seemed like a good idea until
I had to say it 40 times a day.

Anyway, enough shop talk.

Peter.

[Dan] Happy birthday, darling!

[group] Cheers, cheers,
cheers, cheers, cheers.

[Rebecca] She keeps
sending me selfies,

- it's really...
- Woo!

Hey, hey, Rebecca,

careful what you say
at the table,

it might end up online.

No scruples, this one.

[laughs] Oh, that's rich,
coming from a lawyer.

Your lawyer!
When it suits.

- [Lucy] Where were we?
- We were talking about

the proliferation of the selfie.

The rise of narcissism.

There's nothing particularly
new in the concept

of the selfie though, is there?

I mean, Van Gogh was doing it
a couple of centuries ago.

That's an excellent point,
Simon.

Yeah, but at least
Van Gogh had talent.

I mean, these kids,
all they have is an iPhone

and a hipster-matic filter.

I think the selfie's
a healthy form of expression.

Ev, didn't you get
one of your writers

to post explicit images
of herself online?

Didn't you just represent a guy

accused of running a sweatshop?

Yeah, I did, he got off.
[laughs]

Yeah, I did, he got off.
[laughs]

Social media is nothing
more than a fast-track

to a mental health crisis,
that's my opinion.

- Oh, God, chill out.
- Oh, okay.

[Simon] Dan, I, I'm intrigued.

Did you read the piece that
accompanied those images?

No, I didn't, sorry, I, I mean,
I don't read 'Eve Life'.

Yeah, he just looks at
the pretty pictures.

Can you stop, you two?
[chuckles]

Well, what, you don't
read it either, come on.

[Simon] No, I do,
I love the way they tackle

gender and politics
without apology,

and Opal's essay on,
on shame and trust was superb.

- Mm. I do too.

Yeah, I, I loved the piece

on the un-needing phase
of parenthood -

really spoke to me
on a profound level.

Ah, thanks, Erika.

- Would you like some more wine?
- Oh, no thanks.

How many kids
do you have, Erika?

Uh, none, but I have two cats

and they were also quite
independent past a certain age.

- Who needs a top-up?
- Ah, definitely not you.

Um, I'm going to get
some champagne for everyone.

[Daniel] Sorry, sorry, sorry,

I got a bit carried away, sorry.

None on your clothes.

- No.
- Beautiful.

So you don't read 'Eve Life'?

Oh, I do when I can.

Honestly, I barely have time
to read your text messages.

Well, that's why I curate the
news into bite-sized pieces.

For time-poor working women.

What about time-poor housewives?

Happy birthday.

- [glasses clinging]
- [laughs] Thank you.

[Lucy] I like Simon, handsome
with a quiet intelligence.

Mm. Jon thinks
he's no match for me.

Mm, sounds like
someone's jealous. [giggles]

Baby - champagne?

Oh, darling,
I think you've had enough.

He's a train wreck tonight.

I know, he's been off
since the workshop.

He didn't say anything to you,
did he?

When?

[scoffs] When you were
physically entwined

and emotionally vulnerable.

Oh, right, no.

Right, well, I might go
and hit up rich Rachel

for some 'Eve Life' support.

Oh, of course, everything's a
networking opportunity with you.

- Daniel.
- Well, you know,

- Daniel.
- Well, you know,

it'd be nice if just once
she wasn't talking

about herself and her work,
that's all I'm saying.

As opposed to porn and cartoons.

[footsteps clomping]

You told her about
'Jessica Rabbit'.

[Daniel and Lucy
indistinctly arguing]

I think they're just
a bit stressed

because Lucy quit work.

[Daniel] I'm sick and tired
of Evelyn

always making
everything about her.

And, and I think
Daniel thinks that,

that I supported her
leaving work, which I didn't.

[Lucy] ...about yourself,
including me.

[Daniel] All we do is argue.

I think we should just eat.
Erika's nearly finished hers.

I, I'm so sorry, I just have
low blood sugar, so...

That's okay.

[Evelyn] Luce?

[sighs]
[footsteps clomping]

We, we waited. [chuckles]

Except for Erika,
who dug right in.

But it was getting cold, so...

But it was getting cold, so...

[Daniel exhales] Will you
just leave us alone, please?

When were you going to tell me?

Tell you what?

That you'd been having
conversations

with Daniel about our marriage.

I asked you if he said
anything to you at the workshop

and you said, no.

You lied to me.
You lied to my face.

Mm-hmm.

Uh...

It, it's, it's not,
it's not a big deal.

Oh, it's not a big deal,
my husband isn't happy

in our marriage.

Yeah, he's, he's not.

You met her.
You talked to that woman.

And you call yourself a friend.

You bet I do.

And what kind of friend is that?

What?
[tense music]

He made me lie to you

because he, he wanted me to
protect you and, and I agreed.

I didn't think
you could handle it.

You, you're feeling very
vulnerable at the moment.

You, you've been through
a big trauma at work.

How dare you make assumptions

How dare you make assumptions

about what I can
and can't handle.

I'm smarter than you.

- I'm smarter than both of you.
- Okay.

Guys, would you
like us to leave?

I can save lives.

I've operated on children.

I've delivered babies, how
many babies have you delivered?

- Well, none.
- Yeah.

And it wasn't my fault.

That ectopic wasn't my fault.

I care deeply about
my patients. [whimpers]

Every decision I make
weighs heavily on me,

and I don't need you
meddling in my business,

adding to that weight,

thinking that you know
what's [quivers] best for me.

[gentle music]
[Lucy sighs]

You are smart, Luce.

But thinking you can
fix this is stupid.

It's not a broken ankle.

This is a marriage with
two very different people,

and you need to talk -
not pole dance.

Anyway, I'm going to go
and finish my lasagna

before Erika eats it all.

[footsteps approaching]

We think you should leave.

[Evelyn scoffs]

Jesus, Daniel.

I'm not the one
slowly breaking her heart.

I didn't have an affair.
I've never done that.

["Beast Of Love"
by Cloud Control playing]

♪ Yes, it's always
been your smile ♪

[cars whooshing]

How humiliating.

I guess I fucked up again.

[scoffs] What a surprise.

♪ Fills the void
between the light ♪

♪ Fills the void
between the light ♪

♪ Feel the voices in the wild ♪

♪ Waiting for the
beast of love to kill ♪

[Paul] Evelyn!

[Evelyn deeply inhales]

Ugh, what are you doing in here?

- It's you.
- I had a feeling it was you.

Sweet Jane.

[scoffs] No, it's not.

Guy traced it.

- [Penny] Is this true, Evelyn?
- [Opal] No, of course not.

That's like something
I would do, not Ev.

[Lily] Why on earth would
anyone troll themselves?

[Opal] I know, right?

This is insane, Evelyn.

[tense music]

[Lily] Wait, what?

[discordant voices] What
the hell were you thinking?

You realise
how fucked up this is?

-[Opal] What are people
going to say?

-[Paul] We work our arses off...

[Lily] I can't believe
I left Vogue for this.

[Opal] I've got issues?
That's nuts, Ev.

[Penny] I mean if 'Whoman',
let alone 'Tart'

hear about this we're fucked!

[Paul] Meanwhile
you're undermining

everything we're doing here.

What, was it just for traffic?

[gasps] It runs
deeper than that.

[tense music]

[Penny] Ev?

Evelyn.

[lift beeps]

[tense music]

[Evelyn loudly breathing]

Oh. [whimpers]

[tense music]
[shoes thudding]

[Evelyn loudly breathing]

[tense music]

[distorted cry] Help! Paul!

[tense music]

[tense music]

[Evelyn loudly
breathes and sobs]

Oh. [panting]

It's okay.

[Evelyn panting]

[tense music]

[birds chirping]

You told me to journal, to, to
create a dialogue with myself.

Well, you told me to
write my darkest thoughts,

interrogate my weaknesses
for anxiety,

and so that's what
I fucking did.

I did that.
You told me to do that.

Yeah, but not in
the public domain, Evelyn.

In a journal that
you keep by your bed,

preferably with a lock
and key, like when you're 13.

Well, I only know
the public domain.

[sighs] And it became...
addictive.

Evelyn.

You know the ancient Greeks -
of course, who else?

They used public debate
as a way to get to the truth.

They used public debate
as a way to get to the truth.

But arguing with yourself
as somebody else,

in front of everybody else,

at the risk of everything else,

is next-level, Evelyn.

Plato and Socrates
would be proud.

- [Evelyn scoffs]
- Well done.

What were you arguing
with yourself about?

The hypocritical divide
between my low self-esteem

and, and my judgement of others.

Who exactly are you judging?

Myself, of course. [whimpers]

[Evelyn deeply exhales]

[birds chirping]

And women.

[tense music]

I actually like all of this.

I think it shows
growth and development.

It's self-preservation,
protection.

[tense music]

Not pathological self-loathing?

Actually, it's the opposite.

I see it as an act of self-love.

I mean, just think about
what you've been through.

New business, divorce,
financial pressures,

New business, divorce,
financial pressures,

betrayal, competition -

it's the perfect storm
for an identity crisis.

And it's really important

that you remember that,
at the end of the day,

we're just a bunch of atoms.

[scoffs] Atoms, okay.

[gentle music]

Just as a matter of interest,
do my atoms need...

medicating?

[sighs]

Do I need medicating?

[Sylvie] I think you know
the answer to that.

[birds chirping]

Are you okay?

I think so.

Uh, should I cancel Willow?
I could say you're sick.

Uh, should I cancel Willow?
I could say you're sick.

No, no.

When is it again?

Now. She's actually
already in the boardroom.

I can't cancel,
I don't know why I said that.

Great.

We're looking to partner up
with one media organisation.

It's a substantial investment

and it's crucial
I know who your readers are.

Your competitors seem to have
a clear idea who theirs are.

[gentle music]

Wait.

Sorry, she's had
a very difficult week.

- What's happened?

[gentle music]

Her dog died.

- And she killed it.
- Oh, God.

With her car. To be fair,
it's a small dog

and she drives a very big car.

Look, we, we can reschedule.

- We can reschedule.
- What? No. Why?

You're here now. [laughs]

This is Cate with a C.

This is Cate with a C.

She's a typical
'Eve Life' reader.

And I'm ashamed to say
that I fought against her

because she was average.

She wasn't smart enough.

She's not pretty enough.

And she was... boring.

[tense music]

I, I abandoned her.

But she's still here,
more loyal than I'll ever be.

And, she likes herself.

'Whoman' sell themselves
as the modern perfect woman,

'Tart' sell themselves
as, as the most worthy,

but neither exist.

So their audience doesn't exist.

We want women to feel something,

and sometimes that's not pretty.

I mean, real women
make mistakes.

I know that better than anyone,
don't I, Paul?

Yes. Big time.

Absolutely.

But what if we were to commit

to keep on making them?

What, what if we never
learned from our mistakes?

What, what if we never
learned from our mistakes?

- ['Cate' board thuds]
- [Paul] Jesus.

Have you ever made a mistake?

Sure, but
I, I, I try hard not to.

I don't.

I make them all the time.
I've made so many.

I mean, this week alone, I,
I've slept with my ex-husband.

Only once,
well, actually, a few times

in the only-once night.

I've, I've betrayed
my best friend,

by not telling her
the truth about her marriage.

One of my writers
is seeing my psychiatrist

because I failed to protect her.

Your dog died as well...

Remember?

Mm...

[Paul] Thanks
for the call, Willow.

[computer keyboard clacking]

Pass?

[sighs] Willow said
you made her feel something.

They're in?

She felt bad about
your dead dog.

[both chuckle]

Uh, yeah, they want us to
start working

on the campaign next week.

That, that's all you, Paul.

Paul.

I'm really sorry.

I'm going to give you
a big pay rise,

and your office back.

Thanks, Ev.
Good night.

[phone trills]

Hi, Mum.

[Ginny] Darling,
you home for dinner?

Uh, no, I'm, I'm, I'm
good tonight, I'm at work.

[Ginny] Oh, okay,
I'll see you tomorrow then.

Mm.
Bye, Mum.

[Ginny] It's nice to
hear your voice, Ev.

[slow uplifting music rising]

Hello, world.

This is Evelyn Jones.

It's an existential fact
that we cannot see ourselves.

Instead, we, we rely on some
kind of internal distortion,

our critical inner voice.

[gentle music]

Over the last few months,

my inner critic has gone rogue,

and public.

I created
a self-hating alter ego.

And I called her Sweet Jane.

If I'm being completely honest,

it was the fear of competition
that fed my anxiety.

I was so full of fear.

I was so full of fear.

I, I couldn't accept that
competition's a good thing.

That it can be
better for women...

Because, quite simply, there's
more seats at the table.

I'm still trying to understand
what led me to this point,

and maybe this will help.

I grew up in a world

that is, is too quick
to find women's faults.

And I know that attacking myself

is a response to a system

that demands too much of women.

We're not allowed
to be emotional -

jealous, mad, incompetent...

angry.

But I'm all those things,
and I'm glad I am.

I think I was punishing myself
for being imperfect.

But, when everyone
keeps telling you

that you're failing,

as a boss, as a mother...

[inhales sharply]

as a woman -
eventually, you believe it.

as a woman -
eventually, you believe it.

So I'm not going to
judge myself for what I did.

I've been through a lot.

My marriage has ended,
and divorce is hard.

And it's daunting,
thinking of a new relationship.

But I don't want to be alone.

[gentle music]

A very wise woman
once said to me,

"At the end of the day,
we're just a bunch of atoms".

[gentle music]

So, a true crime investigation?

Yeah, well, sort of.

It started off
as a hazing ritual,

but three girls were raped.

Allegedly?

No, they were definitely raped.

No, they were definitely raped.

[phone ringing]
Oh, good.

I mean, not good, but...

Sounds like a cracking
podcast series.

- Don't look at my history.
- Why? - It's private.

You know, I moved up the
corporate ladder very quickly here.

- Here you go.
- Oh! Thanks.

Hello, you
sexual little deviants.

Welcome to 'Eavesdropping
with Opal Taylor'.

Today we're going to be talking
about favourite sex positions

to do when you've got the runs.

Runaway!

[door knocking]

Liam! You're back.

Ev, yeah,
just back for my Aeron.

Your chair?

- Yeah.
- It's been six months.

I know, uh,
we've been busy, but...

Look, it has sentimental value.

I came up with SpecPoints
sitting on that thing.

Sat on it for months.

Barely moved, never showered,
slept on it one night.

God, did all sorts of things
on that chair.

- Sure it was this chair?
- That's her.

- Ugh, please, take it.
- Oh, thank you.

Hey, listen, you guys still
owe me a bit of rent. [laughs]

Hey, listen, you guys still
owe me a bit of rent. [laughs]

I, I know business
is tough, but...

Wait, you didn't hear?

We sold SpecPoints.

Oh, Liam, I'm sorry.

It was a really good idea.

You should, you should be proud.

You don't have to be sorry.

Well, I hope you broke even,
don't worry about the rent,

or my points.

Are you sure, I mean,
I can write you a check now

for the rent. 12 grand, right?

Well, only if you can afford it.

Yeah, it's no sweat,
we sold for 40 million.

You should have invested.

You could have been
rich as fuck. [laughs]

Wait, what did
we ask you for again?

60,000 for 10 percent.

Wow.
That was a good deal.

Shit, I'd be writing you
a check for 4 million.

You know, that's like
a real sliding-doors moment.

And you chose the dumb door.

[chuckles] Mm.

[Liam] Yeah.

Could I still have
my two points?

[chuckles] Of course, you can,
Evelyn.

Lawyers are finalising
things at the moment,

but your check will be
in the mail any day.

[gasps]

See you around, Ev.

Paul!
Helen!

What's up?

How much is 2 percent
of 40 million?

- You're so bad at math.
- Shut up, Helen.

800,000.

Oh, my God. [laughs]
We're rich, I did it.

Why?

[Evelyn] Our luck's changing,
I can smell it.

You're not still looking
for an investor, are you?

Oh. [chuckles]

["Welcome To My Island"
by Caroline Polachek playing]