Original subtitles

Downloaded from YTS.LT

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.LT

Have a good day, madame.

- Good morning, Professor. - Good morning.

Not wallowing in myopia.

Kierkegaard said that, I think...

Yeah, but isn't that, like, implied?

That it's preferable for one to focus only on themselves.

Mmm. Busy week, Alma.

Mmm. I'm aware.

PATRICIA He's at Knox's lecture, sucking up. Ha!

See you tonight, Patricia.

Foucault paints a picture of public torture

performed in order to maintain the social contract

of a time in which displays of power...

Faviola.

- The table looks beautiful. - Thank you.

I'm not contesting the...

perceived existence of a collective morality.

I'm...

saying that...

I'm saying that

pretending that the ethics of a society

hasn't always started with the highly biased

stone-throwing court of public opinion...

Maggie.

Uh, yeah.

Is a convenient illusion.

Aimed at what?

Aimed at making us, as people, feel as though

we once had a plan for ourselves. We were...

better or more united.

Weren't we?

Would you say we've always agreed on...

God or sex or race or politics,

or were there just fewer voices,

less easily amassed in dissent?

That reminds me, what did you say?

What was the thing you said?

What's that thing you said?

- "Performative discontent." - Discontent.

Ah! Oof!

You read Maggie's dissertation, right?

Of course.

She's giving me little scraps.

That's all I'm getting, little scraps.

But what I have read is...

- Is barely coherent? - No.

I'm curious what you think, Alma.

I think it has potential to be great.

Truly great.

So why're you hiding it?

Why? Why? You're tight.

Why're you so tight?

All your generation,

everyone in your generation, you're so tight.

- Fuckin' why. I'm so sorry. - Look at life. Look at that.

Perfect. Exemplar.

What are you scared of?

Scared of saying the wrong thing or, uh,

- offending someone. - I'm sorry about that.

When did offending someone

become the preeminent cardinal sin?

I mean, I don't have a date exactly...

That's fine.

...but maybe it's around the same time your generation

started making sweeping generalizations about ours.

Are you scared that we're gonna think less of you

if it isn't perfect?

Whatever shame you have around your self-expression,

it is...

it's false. It's bullshit.

- It's bullshit. - Bullshit.

- It's bullshit. - Bullshit?

You can't corrupt your individual purpose,

your clarity of voice. It's...

it's too lucid.

Okay. Um...

That feels like my cue to use the restroom.

Why?

'Cause you need the restroom or...

Oh, honey, uh,

don't go to the usual one, 'cause Frederik has a...

project in there.

Uh, go to the guest one down the hall.

'Kay.

And then she said that all along, you know?

Man, I cannot...

I agree with her in the beginning...

Keep it up, okay?

This is exactly the tactic and it's doing things.

Well, I don't wanna always be a contrarian.

Why not?

My sense is that the two of you

might feel rather bereft

once you've gotten the thing you've been

so fixated on for the past six years, hmm?

Sometimes...

a wish fulfilled...

can be more baffling than the...

longing preceding it.

It's not a sure thing.

Oh... Hey, come on, Alma.

Don't let your modesty veer into delusion.

It's not a, um...

it's not a mountaintop, Fred. It's not some egoic...

teleological pursuit to tenure. It's...

It's a threshold. It's just a threshold to more freedom...

to freedom, to follow any impulse,

any desire, any interest you want

without fear of systemic reproach.

Oh, I'm not questioning its value.

I'm saying that...

well, it is a significant thing

to work your whole life for, hmm?

Being above accountability,

uh, consequence.

What happens if, uh,

one of you gets it and the other doesn't?

Oof.

If it's me and not you, will you be angry?

Yeah, I'll be rageful. Yeah.

Me too.

If it's you and not me. Furious.

Or will the strain of it

be too much for your friendship?

Hank, I'm fearing, doesn't like to lose.

Shit.

Fuck.

But seriously, how many of the people we teach...

Mmm, mmm.

have private lives that wouldn't pass today's muster?

Hmm.

- All. Well, most. Plenty. - Most. Precisely. So...

But we forgive it. Why? Because...

- we have to figure out... - Best to forgive it.

...how to forgive it, because they're canonical.

Nietzsche easily lends himself to

- Lebensraum propaganda. - Carl Schmitt...

doesn't just lend himself, he was a Nazi.

Sure, sure. Um...

Hegel, uh, couldn't...

- control little Hegel. - Okay.

- Heidegger. - Little?

Heidegger treated Arendt like shit.

Well, that whole dynamic, fucked up.

So I don't think we can

appropriate blame one way or the other.

Aristotle, xenophobe.

- Oh, they were all racist. - Yeah.

- And Freud was a misogynist. - Hmm.

Did you hear that, darling?

Freud was a misogynist, darling.

Oh, it was a different time.

Um, you know, if you're

- worried about tenure... - You okay?

- ...you shouldn't be. - Yeah.

Me? Oh.

Oh...

Um...

Well, I mean, you were gonna get it anyway,

but you'll definitely get it now.

What do you mean? Let's not.

No, come on, I'm interested.

- Illuminate us. - Okay. Okay.

You can't deny it's the culture.

- Mm-hmm. - The common enemy

has been newly chosen,

and it is the straight, white, cis man.

Okay, Arthur, I'm so sorry,

'cause I just had, like,

I had no idea that you were going through this...

that you were feeling so victimized.

I literally never said that.

You didn't have to.

But you're still bemoaning the fact that you're...

white and male and, uh,

straight and, regrettably, cis...

in a time when the overt culture

is just pretending,

like, you know it's pretend, right,

pretending to not prefer these things,

and that makes you, what,

the first man in this room or...

- or in history... - History.

...to feel fucked over by society's bad opinion?

- No. - All I'm saying...

is that it used to be that a man would edge out

an equally qualified woman

because he was a man.

But now a woman does just edge out

an equally qualified man because she's a woman.

So let me get this straight.

What you're saying is...

that even despite...

the many professional accolades I have accrued

over the years in a...

deeply misogynistic environment,

even despite coming back after a...

protracted absence,

only to affirm my singular position

as a woman in the field,

my prospective tenure couldn't

possibly be earned because

its awarding happens to coincide

with higher education's

sudden subservience

to inclusivity.

- Did I get that right, Arthur? - No, I mean, I'm not...

- Did I miss anything? - I'm not trying to...

- Tart. - Hey, it's a tart break.

It's a tart break. Everybody here.

- Hey! You're beautiful. - I didn't mean to...

You're beautiful. You did great.

- You did fine. Oh, yeah. - You could've backed me up...

a little bit, man.

It was, it was fun while it lasted.

I wanted you to see how you did on your own.

You did okay.

Okay. Have some tart.

You wanted to watch the Titanic sink.

Drop the grandiosity, eat the fucking tart.

Uh, no. I never wanna eat again.

Tart.

Don't be so dramatic, Arthur.

I mean, it's just a comment.

Maggie, give it to him. He's, you know,

it takes courage to be that kind of a moron.

Yeah, maybe you shouldn't, Arthur.

Think of that?

A slow death might suit your new-found martyrdom. Arthur.

- Tart. - Don't forget the cream.

We won't forget the cream.

Thank you.

That will be all.

Don't talk.

- Bye, Fred. - See you. See you in class.

- Make him stop talking. - Thank you, sir. Thanks.

- Make him... - Good night.

Oh, that boy can just

talk and talk and talk and talk.

Hmm.

I don't think there's anything wrong...

Don't look at me like that.

Oh, I didn't say anything.

You're the worst at hiding your feelings.

Well, coming from the welterweight champion,

I'm flattered.

I'm fine. I haven't had any pain in weeks.

It was a nice evening.

I'm just capping it off.

I imagine it was nice, hmm, for you.

Nice to bask in Hank's continued obsession.

The least he could do is hide it better.

We're friends. Always will be.

Hank's and Maggie's...

adoration of you.

- Maggie. Just... - Stop.

Just because Maggie is gay...

it doesn't mean she's in love with me, Frederik.

I'm saying you tend to choose people, hmm?

Maggie.

Elevate people to the status of your approval

because they worship you on bended knee, huh?

Not because of any actual merit on their part.

Maggie is brilliant.

Hmm, is she?

Or does she just think you're brilliant?

Huh?

- I don't know. - "I don't know."

- Hi. Oh, sorry. Sorry. - Oh. Hi.

Oh, did you have a nice night?

- Yeah. - The pork was too tough.

Oh, well, if you roast it past 145 degrees,

it is technically kosher.

You never did that,

but your efforts are duly noted.

Well, I put something together for you to take to Alex.

Oh, no, they're not coming back for a minute.

They're still in Boston.

No, it's already done. Look, it's done, right?

- Whoa, whoa, whoa. - Thank you.

Thank you.

And thank you both for a lovely evening, really.

These things are never lovely, but you're sweet to lie.

Nice, hmm?

- Thank you. - There you are.

- Thank you so much. - That enough? Let's see...

Whoa!

Okay.

Okay. Well...

- Ciao. - Hmm.

Freddie, hooyah.

Cheers, Henry.

- Say that ten times fast. - That was freakin' phenomenal.

- Peace out... - Thanks for everything.

...as the students say.

- Phenomenal fifth, Fred. - Good night.

Good night. Peace out.

Hank, no smoking in the hall.

No smoking in the...

Go. Go.

You can have your own, you know.

You want, you want your own?

You know it's not the seventies anymore, right?

- Narc. - Stop.

- Teacher's pet. - Fuck off.

I don't know, I think you're the teacher's pet, huh?

Come on.

- Fuck off. - Fuck off.

Hugo.

Faviola?

I'm sure we wore you out tonight.

What do we owe you?

It's 350, madam.

I don't know what we'd do without you.

- Thank... - Thank you.

Miss Mendelssohn?

Are you all right?

Take your water.

Ah, thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

We were discussing Foucault's expansion on the Panopticon.

Right?

The Panopticon, or the police state

in which we all as citizens

are conscripted to observe

and study one another for missteps,

as opposed to being at the mercy

of an ultimate authority.

This unconscious enlistment...

FREDERIK Making a cassoulet tonight.

See you later?

HANK Yes to drink

ALMA Meet at Three Sheets

ALMA TO MAGGIE ????

There we go.

- Can you behave yourself? - Nobody, nobody panic.

It's been a long day. Oh!

Wait, wait, wait. No, look.

Did you talk to Micheron last night?

No.

- I listened to Micheron... - Oh.

- You're just jealous... - ...last night.

...'cause he's better looking than you.

Ah!

I was trapped with Find, and he, oh,

just oozing the desperation

of still being relegated to adjunct.

- It's awful. - Yeah. It's a...

Believe me.

That's the thing about horse races.

Now tenure is what? Winning the Kentucky Derby?

This particular equine metaphor, yeah.

All right, so what's the thing?

Oh.

Only the thoroughbreds

have a chance at winning.

Here, take these.

Do you think what Frederik said after dinner...

there's anything to that?

I don't know what you're referring to...

but almost positive of my answer.

No, just, what's gonna happen?

You know, when... when it's won, when it's over.

Everybody talks about, you know,

reaching for the brass ring

but nobody says what you do when you win it.

Hey, is this mine?

Sure thing.

I think we celebrate.

Ladies. Enjoy those.

And then we just get right back to work.

Next publication, the next book.

- Opera Completa... - All right.

The Locke lectures.

All right, all right, all right. Okay.

Where is Fred tonight?

Making a cassoulet.

Can I get a beer, please?

Sure thing.

It's just a withering thing to say about a man.

Um...

It's quite a good cassoulet.

He's gonna break eventually, you know.

No.

He won't.

Yeah. No, he won't.

Mmm.

Talked to Maggie today?

No, she wasn't in class. No call, no show.

I think I've just extended her too much rope.

Hey! How we doin'? You good?

Hey. Hey.

I miss when it was only us that liked this place.

I can't hear you.

- You okay? - Yeah.

Uh...

You got this?

- Once a poor kid... - Always a cheap bastard.

Mmm-hmm.

- Stop doing that to me. - What is this?

- Bye. - Bye.

That's on me. That's for you. Keep working on that.

- Check, please. - Coming right up.

Here you go.

Maggie, what're you doing here?

Um, I came by, I went to your office,

but you weren't there.

Oh. All right, well, why don't you come inside?

Is Frederik home?

Probably.

Um, Jesus, you're soaking.

I... I need...

I need to speak with you.

Okay. Come on, let's just go inside.

- I'll get you a towel. - Alone, please.

Um, okay.

Yeah, I guess it's just, um...

Hank walked me home like I said he would.

It was friendly.

You know, he's Hank. Everybody loves Hank. Um...

And, uh, Alex isn't home.

I think I said yesterday, they're still in Boston, um...

He asked for a nightcap,

which, you know, fine, whatever, and...

I think, I don't even remember what I poured us.

It was something Alex brought home

from a party a few weeks ago.

Uh...

It was fine.

I don't know. I don't think I realized how drunk he was

until I saw him, like, stumble in the kitchen. Um...

Uh... And...

he started asking, like, inappropriate questions.

I guess first, you know, it was about my work.

The... My paper.

And then he asked about Alex

and if we had any men in the relationship, and...

Um...

when he kissed me, I almost,

I thought it was like a joke or something.

I didn't do anything.

Um, and then he kept going, and...

I said no...

and he kept going and, um...

When he left, I showered.

What are you saying happened?

What do you mean?

What are you saying he did?

Isn't it obvious?

He...

He crossed the line.

He kept going after I said no.

But what actually happened?

Why do you need to know?

He assaulted me.

Does it need to get worse than that?

Do you need to hear a...

Does anyone else know?

Just you, so far. And I don't know. I...

Why me?

What?

Uh, I, um... I don't know. I just...

It's the right thing to do, isn't it?

To tell someone, and I just...

You know, given your history...

What does that mean, my history?

What do you mean?

- I don't know. What... - Why are you saying that?

- I didn't mean anything. - What does it mean?

You asked it. It's gotta mean something.

I just thought your history

supporting women in the department.

- I don't know, that's... - Okay.

Why don't you just come inside?

I can get you a towel...

- No. I'm sorry. I'm... - ...and we can talk.

I'm sorry.

Hmm.

It's late.

Mmm. I'm sorry. The paper.

Of course, the paper.

If I don't publish this month...

Mmm. Your position isn't as secure, etcetera, etcetera.

Publish or perish.

Mmm-hmm, up or out.

I missed the cassoulet.

Oh, I left some in the oven.

- I don't deserve you. - Hmm.

Who did you see today?

What?

No, no, no, it's just,

you never wanna talk about my work.

- That's not true. - Oh.

Darling, please.

We're too old and too married

to lie to each other so blatantly, hmm?

I saw a teenager who hates me...

a woman who's lying to herself

about her husband's cheating...

and another patient. New.

A referral from Tim?

Hmm? Told you about him.

I thought he annoyed you.

Interesting?

Uh, remains to be seen.

Have...

Have you ever...

Yes?

Have you ever disagreed with a patient over...

a sensitive issue?

Course.

You know, most people don't come to analysis

looking to break old patterns.

They're looking to affirm that they don't need help.

Did you tell them so?

My father told me a story once

from when he was first building his practice.

He, um...

He was working with a young woman who was...

so wedded to her own misery, it drove him mad.

And one day, he told her

she lacked the ability

to overcome repeating the same patterns

for the rest of her small, miserable life.

- She never came in again. - Hmm.

Obviously.

Why?

What's this about?

Nothing. Mmm, I don't know.

I don't know. I think I'm just starving.

Dinner awaits.

- Again, I don't deserve you. - Again...

no one is contesting that.

Did something happen?

With a student?

No.

I wonder if...

I can be cold sometimes.

Cold? You?

I mean it.

Impenetrable, maybe, hmm?

Aloof, sure. But no, no...

I don't think you're cold...

...or unfeeling.

I didn't say unfeeling.

Hey, thanks for comin'.

I don't have a lot of time.

What do you want?

Uh... Can we talk inside?

Okay, look.

I don't know what she's told you

or what's already going around with the faculty.

I know I sound like one of those guys, but there's...

I feel like there's no way to avoid clichés here.

In fact, everything about this feels like a fuckin' cliché.

And I know...

I know that by saying that,

I'm making myself out to be the victim.

Just blameless entity in this fucking ouroboros

of he-said-she-said.

But see, this is...

This is what I mean. I'm damned if I do,

I'm damned if I don't.

Everything I say has been said before

by someone in my position, who was probably guilty.

Therefore, I'm guilty by association. But...

- Hey. Hey. - Hey. Ready to order?

- Yeah. Please. Thank you. - Mmm-hmm.

I'm fine.

- Okay. - I'll have my usual.

- Yeah. You got it. - Thank you.

Nothing for you?

No.

Okay.

"My usual"?

Yeah.

Okay.

It's not true.

Alma, it's just... It's not.

I swear.

It all happened so quick,

like wildebeest scattering from an approaching lion.

One minute you're part of the pack, next minute,

your leg is in the jaws of some apex predator

and everyone's thinkin',

"All right. Well, damn. Glad it wasn't me."

I'm not sure that's what everyone is thinking.

Okay.

- We got the saag paneer. - Ooh, yeah.

Yep. And we got the tandoori chicken.

Tandoori chicken. Oh, yeah.

And then, we've got the garlic naan.

Garlic naan... Give me that garlic naan.

- Yeah. - Goddamn. Thank you.

And the basmati rice.

- Oof. - And then a plate.

Just in case you wanted it.

Yeah, just in case I need to... Yeah.

- Sorry. - Yeah, you can give that

to her. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

And then, you guys got cutlery?

- You okay? - We're all good.

- All right. Great. Okay. - Appreciate you, Billie.

- Enjoy. Yep. - Thank you.

So, are you gonna tell me why this is not true?

Or did you just ask me here to check to see

if I was bearing pitchfork?

Caught Maggie cheating, a few months ago.

Didn't think much of it, really.

She, um, you know, I talked to her,

she said she was under enormous pressure.

I told her...

You know, I gave her a pass, and she...

Well, yeah. But I wasn't convinced.

Not totally.

And then...

Her dissertation?

What about it?

You don't know?

I knew immediately. She plagiarized it.

She lifted directly from Agamben's Homo Sacer.

His notion of...

simultaneous subjectification and de-subjectification,

it's reproduced almost word for word.

You had to have seen, too.

Didn't you?

So, when you brought it up at the dinner...

you just wanted to see what I would say?

Or you were trying to catch us out?

I wanted to see how she would react.

- Especially in your company. - Mmm.

Test my hunch.

Test your hunch?

I mean, we did go back to her apartment that night.

I asked her for a nightcap.

Why? Why?

Yeah, I know. I know.

That was a mistake.

A huge fuckin' mistake.

I just, I thought that if we were on her turf,

off campus, she would be, she would be...

more open, less guarded, you know?

I wanted, perhaps erroneously, stupidly, to...

Definitely stupidly.

To see if what I assumed was true, was true.

So, we had the drinks. And...

You know, at this point...

I'm fucking nervous.

I mean, you know who her parents are.

They donated half the fuckin' campus, so...

And then, and then, unprompted, she says to me...

...that her partner was out of town.

Truthfully, listen, I know this sounds

so brutally male, but...

I really did think she was coming on to me.

And I'm fuckin' terrified!

'Cause of the climate in higher education these days.

Then why would you go

to a female student's apartment?

And drink something she poured you?

Believe me, in retrospect?

I fuckin' know!

But I was stubbornly stuck on this.

I needed to bring up my suspicions to her...

to let her know she would be held accountable.

So, I did. I told her I suspected she plagiarized,

and she reacted just like...

Like, cold, ice calm.

Denied it. And then...

the next day... it's like... like...

An utter fabrication.

And now, it's gonna be...

it's gonna be her word...

against a lifetime of hard work and good deeds,

and advocating for women in philosophy,

workin' three fuckin' jobs. You know.

And it took me years

to get through all that debt and red tape.

And I'm not gonna let it happen.

I can't. I won't.

I'm not gonna allow. I worked too hard.

Done too much to get here,

to let it all just be taken away,

just 'cause some lying little fuckin' bitch

with a shit ton of money,

exploiting this shallow cultural moment says I should.

All right. Please don't ever fucking say that

to anyone but me.

They're gonna wanna speak with you.

Why me?

Since it was after your party

she's sayin' all this happened.

Now that you know the truth, my hope

is that you will not allow what is correct

keep you from doing what is right.

Professor Imhoff. I don't believe I was expecting you.

She's not on the schedule, sir.

If you have a minute, I'd like to speak with you.

Alma, sit.

So...

I imagine you know why I'm here.

A formal inquiry is going to be conducted, yes,

with all haste and via the appropriate channels.

Well, I think it's important I pre-empt those channels.

I believe there is a conflict of interest

that would preclude me from

speaking either without bias

or without the assumption of bias should I be asked.

But I believe I will be asked.

I'm just relieved you're not here about tenure.

It's a minefield, Alma.

A fucking minefield these days.

You keep the fancy stuff for show?

I hate that Laphroaig shit.

But what looks good, looks good, and

against all odds,

I've found myself in the business of optics

rather than substance.

I have to teach later.

Ah, of course. Purpose. Not just...

Sisyphean administration.

Maybe your secretary could use some.

Hey, be nice to Wendy.

She still believes what she does is important.

So, this "conflict of interest,"

do I wanna know?

It's nothing like that.

Good. Thank God.

So then, off the record?

Off the record.

How many more times do you think

we're gonna have to pretend that...

Dr. John Ensler

is capable of anything remotely close to...

...illuminating conversation.

You're here.

Yeah.

Told you I would be.

You look strange.

You scared me. I'm eating cheese.

Hmm.

Got a watered down red.

Save you a spot.

Popular discussion topic. Who would have thought?

I was surprised the other day.

I reacted poorly.

It's not news that's easy to hear.

Imagine telling it.

I reacted in a way that I shouldn't have,

as a teacher and someone who considers you a friend.

He's in there, Maggie.

I...

I didn't think he would come,

or I would have warned you.

I have a right to these spaces.

I have just as much right as he does.

You don't have to go in there.

Okay?

I need the lecture credit.

I'll sign off on it. Who cares?

Who cares. Right.

I'm, um...

I've decided to press charges

against Hank.

And I'm hoping...

It would mean a lot to me...

Um...

if I had your support, of me.

More specifically, um, your testimony.

If we have to go to trial.

You have a lawyer?

- Yeah. - Hmm.

Sort of. I don't know.

Alex? Isn't she pre-law?

They're in their second year,

and it's more of a consulting thing.

- I don't know. - Did you go to a clinic

to collect DNA evidence and photos?

I don't think we should be talking about this here.

Yes...

- I did. - Right. The university one.

That's good.

Uh, no. The one on Whitney. And I...

I went, but I... I don't know. I was there.

Um, I was... I walked, you know.

And I was by myself. It was late, and, uh,

there was this group of guys there

and they were just, like,

standing outside and staring at me.

I don't know. I...

I panicked. And I know I shouldn't have, but I...

I saw a security camera...

and so, they'll have me walking up.

And, um, I...

I went to you first.

So, even without, you know,

a certain type of physical evidence

with the tape and with your testimony,

it should, you know...

...there could still be, like, a case.

Right?

Maggie, I didn't see anything.

I don't know what you want me to say.

I believe you. You know I believe you.

I told the Dean of Humanities as much today.

You did?

I did, but I...

I don't know what good I could do in your case

if it comes to that. In fact, I might hurt it.

How?

The last thing you said to me that night

was that he was gonna walk you home.

And then I saw the two of you in the hallway, together,

leaving willingly is what it looked like to me,

if I were to be asked under oath.

Yeah, but that's not what I'm...

what I'm asking for. What I'm saying...

Everything okay?

Yes, Professor Angler. Thank you.

Everyone, please take your seats.

- They're starting. - You should hurry.

We'll be starting momentarily.

Please join me in extending...

- Maggie. - Alma...

...a warm welcome to the esteemed researcher,

scholar, and transregional studies expert...

I can count on you, right?

Dr. Hugo Micheron.

Thank you!

It's such a pleasure to be here.

Thank you.

Thank you for having me.

Who presented last? Arthur?

Excuse me.

What are you doing here?

Who are you?

- How could you? - What are...

Go to my office. Just wait for me...

I was fired this morning.

Not suspended. I was fired.

He's gonna see us. Don't open the door.

If you wanna talk, we can talk,

but not here, and not now.

Not here.

I told you the truth.

You just blatantly ignored it just to save yourself.

You are being paranoid.

Just go to my office and wait for me.

Oh, no. Oh.

No, I think I'm right on top of something.

Something that I just couldn't see before.

You see, I used to think

that you and me, we had a mutual fealty

to integrity, to the ethics that you so glibly teach.

But I'm realizing I gave you too much fucking credit.

You sound insane right now.

Professor Imhoff?

- Are you okay? - Oh. Uh...

No, I don't know, actually, Katie. I'm not sure.

This blood on her hands may never wash off.

Stop it. Yeah, I'm fine, Katie. Thank you.

Yeah, we should go. Come on.

No. No. I need to stay here.

You know the truth

and you won't say it.

Because it'll make you look bad.

You're lettin' them fuckin' ruin me, ruin my fucking life

and you could easily stop it.

You give me too much power, Hank.

I did not do this. You did this to yourself.

Oh, that's convenient.

Yeah.

Yeah, I know. I fell on my own sword...

but you were the one holding it.

"Let innocence make false accusation blush...

"and tyranny tremble at patience."

Fucking coward!

- Fuck you. - Fuck you!

Hey! Fuck you!

Fuck you!

Fuck all of you!

Fuck you!

Fuckin' privileged...

coddled hypocrites!

Ugh!

Alma, Alma.

It really happened?

I didn't just make it up, right? It's real?

If it's real to you, it's real.

Everybody keeps looking at me like I did something horrible.

But he's the one. He's the one.

- You want my advice? - Please.

Tell me what to fucking do and I'll do it, please.

- Please, just help me. - Okay. Okay.

Tonight, come over, and we can talk.

Or not talk. You don't have to have the answers.

I'll cook. Well, Frederik will cook.

All right?

Okay?

Okay.

It's late. Why don't we start?

I'm sure she's on her way.

You'd start without me, if I was late.

Oh, you're being childish.

I wish I had the leeway

to be childish in this relationship.

Give it 10 minutes, okay?

And even then, we'll probably still...

be waiting.

Probably, yes.

Why?

Because it's fucking polite.

Because you care more about kowtowing

to a mediocre student with rich parents

than you do about...

Hmm.

Hi. I wasn't expecting you.

Who were you expecting?

Mmm-hmm-hmm.

So, Maggie, how's the dissertation coming?

Um...

- It's coming along. - Mmm.

And what is it that you're exploring?

It's not particularly interesting.

Well, I'd like to hear.

Please, I'm curious.

Okay. Um...

Well...

it's mainly concerning

the, um, resurgence of virtue ethics.

Or the outward display of moral character

as the new model for personal morality,

as opposed to following, uh,

social duties and rules

or Karmic thought. Things like that.

Sorry if it's a bit confusing. It's so boring, I'm sure.

No, no, no. I like listening to you talk.

How often do you make doro wat?

I'm curious. What drew you to virtue ethics?

- What drew me... - Well, I'm...

You're spending, what, four or five years

of your life on this, right?

Why?

What, um...

What turns you on about it?

Um...

Well, it's become very popular,

- of late. - Hmm.

And as you might know or even recall...

it was sort of invented in the '60s and '70s,

when society was radicalizing

and now that we're radicalizing again,

I find that interesting.

- Interesting? - Yes. Interesting.

- Frederik. - I'm sorry,

did I say something wrong?

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

Forgive me. I'm sure without me present,

you ladies can talk about

such interesting topics with much more freedom.

Excuse me.

I'm sorry, Maggie. He's an asshole.

Does he want me to feel, like, stupid or something?

Alex didn't want me to come tonight.

Well, she's also an asshole.

- Yeah, they can sometimes... - "They."

- ...be a little bit... - "They". Right.

- Stop. - Okay.

They thought it would do more harm than good

to be back here so soon with you all.

Well, I guess we didn't prove them wrong.

Yeah, they don't find you especially trustworthy.

What do you think?

You know, I used to think I could rely on myself,

that I could...

...trust my instincts, about people, about myself.

Now, I'm not so sure.

I certainly didn't anticipate this

getting so big so fast,

or being something that would resonate with so many people.

Like, a lot of women, you know, DMing me,

stopping me on campus, with similar stories and...

A reporter approached me.

I declined to comment...

but she gave me her card.

I kept it.

- And... - And I don't know.

Don't do it, Maggie.

Don't tell your story to someone

who just wants to turn it into something they can sell.

I... I am telling you, if you move forward with this,

if you press charges, you will become radioactive.

Hmm? I... I...

I know that you want to believe

in the fairness of the system, but...

Higher education is run by white men

and you need those white men to hire you, and they won't

because they will be terrified

you will do the same thing to them

if they ask you to work late

or touch your shoulder for too long.

It, not your work, is what anyone is going to see

when they look at you.

I promise.

And what if I don't care to be a career academic?

You need to decide what you care about,

yourself or...

You need to decide what you care about,

yourself or what you want to do for yourself.

And which would you choose?

I think you know.

Sometimes, it's about taking the long view.

Can we just stop being smart for, like, one fucking second?

I... I... I feel like you're completely removing me

from what happened to me.

Like, you're speaking in these

hypothetical riddles about women writ large

when I'm sitting right here

in front of you. I just...

I thought you wanted my advice.

I do... I did. I do.

I don't know. It's just, um... So...

Because women are penalized for speaking out, I shouldn't?

That's your logic? I mean, that's just so...

And then what? He just gets to get away with it?

And relocate to another university

and give speeches, and write books

and sleep with other students all over again? That is...

Well, I think Hank is pretty well fucked,

so I wouldn't worry about that.

So you think I ruined his life?

I didn't say that.

Am I not owed this?

I mean, this happened to me,

and I'm not even allowed to speak about it?

You can do whatever you like, Maggie.

Just not with your support.

I support whatever you choose,

but I think what you want is restorative justice

and what you are getting is vengeance.

And I would be doing a disservice to you

to let you believe otherwise.

You free?

It's not long now, right?

What?

Tenure.

I keep meaning to check in.

Do you not want to talk about it?

I haven't thought about it.

I'm always thinking about it.

Well, I, for one, have no doubt.

I'm okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You okay?

Hey, Professor.

- Shall we? - Hey. Let's go, let's go.

Oh, fuck! I have to pee.

Hover, don't sit.

They're all genderless now

so we don't even know who to blame

for all the piss everywhere.

Rich kids are filthy.

Because they've been looked

after their entire lives.

Of course they are.

Hmm?

Good morning.

Take your drink.

So, are we gonna talk about it?

What?

Maggie Resnick of the Resnicks.

Has she talked to you?

Oh. Doctor-patient confidentiality.

That is deeply honorable and fucking boring.

I'm not technically her doctor.

Sometimes. This is between the two of us, right?

I won't be screwing anything up between you two?

No.

I believe her. I think Hank crossed a line.

I think he violated something she held to be deeply sacred.

The student-teacher relationship.

And I think one could make the argument...

that, when a power differential is involved...

consent and the ability to give it

is inherently incapacitated

to the point of rendering the question all but moot.

But I have had a lot of wine.

I know this isn't very correct of me.

But after all these years,

it's gotten so fucking hard for me...

to listen to these kids

when they have had everything, everything

handed to them in their lives, insist that the world stop

at the first small injustice.

There's almost this possessiveness

they have to their pain.

How they nurse every slight, every bump in the road

every blip of victimization

as if it's the only thing that can affirm them.

Whatever happened to stuffing everything down...

and developing a crippling dependency habit

in your thirties, like the rest of us?

You know?

They're playing this here?

Bold.

- What? - Morrissey.

Oh.

I think this is The Smiths.

Oh, potato, po-tah-toh. I love this song.

So, what do you think?

About what?

All of it. The student, the professor.

I think...

it was only a matter of time

and, um, it's hopelessly banal.

Didn't you have to pee?

You never talk about yourself.

I never hear from you,

about your personal life, your family.

All I know is what I hear from Fred.

Mm.

Well...

misconstruing my need for privacy

as having something to hide

would be a mistake.

Respectfully, Alma, I'm not sure that it is.

Look. Maggie and I did talk.

And when we did, she mentioned a favorite teacher of hers...

a mentor,

the target of her Electra complex, perhaps.

All right. Let's not bring Jung into our conversation.

Fine. Well...

this person was less than supportive

when she came forward

and this lack of support

made her wonder why this teacher was unforthcoming,

which made her question said teacher's deeper motives.

Anyway, without saying too much

I just thought you should know.

And I thought you should be ready.

Ready for what?

Well, backlash, potentially.

I mean, these are insane times we're living in.

Now, if you want anybody to talk,

you can come to me anytime

on the record or off, or I could

put you in touch with some very excellent people...

Why would I trust a therapist

who violates her clients' privacy?

Shit. I... That was uncalled for.

- It's okay. I'm gonna... - I'm sorry. I'm...

Be right back.

Oh.

I, uh...

I'm off. I'm...

I'm sorry. I'm an ass. I'm buying the wine.

And I mean it. I... I apologize.

Who keeps playing this?

Fuck yeah.

Mm.

Did you see this?

In the Yale Daily?

What?

"Promising young Philosophy PhD candidate, Maggie Resnick,

"tells her all-too-familiar story in her own words."

"Said, 'I was prepared for hard work,

"prepared for the difficulties inherent

"'in being a Black woman

"in an elite, white, male-dominated...'"

Oh, my God.

And Hank.

I almost feel bad for him.

Did you know anything about this?

No.

She didn't say anything to you?

Campus will be a zoo.

I... I'm gonna go to the wharf to work. I'll be home late.

But that's it?

What, you're fine?

Guess I'm just an unfeeling cunt.

Babe, I'm back.

- Hi! - You're there?

- Yeah. - Kiss?

- You're all sweaty. - Mm.

Is that new?

- Um... - Did your mom get it for you?

No, I think she left it, like, when she was here once. Or...

Mm.

Looks like something she'd want you to wear.

The reporter called to, um, congratulate me.

That's great!

I mean, I guess. I don't know.

Yeah. I mean, I guess...

It's just, like,

kinda fucked up, maybe, to, like,

be congratulated on being assaulted?

No. I'm sure she congratulated you for your bravery.

Look, we talked about this.

Fallout is inevitable.

It's your courage that's gonna inspire other people in pain.

Yeah, I guess...

It's just, like, amazing to me, you know. Like,

a young Black woman can get assaulted

and all these white people figure out a way

to make it about themselves

or how to process their shit.

Or, like, get a leg up at their job.

She was like,

"Oh, we might get picked up by The Times."

And I was like...

"Neat?" Like,

"Congrats on your fucking Pulitzer or whatever."

Can I?

Come here. Let me get close to you.

- She hasn't called. - Mm.

Your mom?

Alma.

She hasn't said anything.

Uh-huh. Hmm.

Kim's not in.

I'll just...

Okay, go in. I'll tell her you're here.

Yeah, and the other one.

Oh, hi. Alma's in there.

Oh, good. You're here.

Sorry I'm late.

I was compelled to interrogate Donna

on her insistence on eating

and then lying about eating my Chobani

for the 50th fucking time.

What's up?

Oh, uh... Nothing. I gotta go.

Well, Alma, it's not even 7:00.

We said after 6:30.

No, I just... I thought I had more time.

Well, you asked to see me.

No, it's not important.

I'll see you later. Night, Kim.

Alma Imhoff, 01-31-68.

This is a controlled substance.

I'm gonna have to get the pharmacist to sign off.

Hold on a sec.

Are you okay, ma'am?

Mrs. Imhoff? I just need to check something.

Naked girls want to play with you.

- Download now. -

Naked girls want to play with you.

- Download now. -

Naked girls want to play with you.

- Download now. -

Naked girls want to play with you.

- Download now. -

Naked girls want to play with you.

- Download now. -

Naked girls want to play with you.

God.

Frederik, can you turn the music down?

Frederik!

Frederik!

Can you please turn the music down?

What, you don't like my beloved Adams?

I like coffee.

Last night was nice.

- Oh? - Mm-hmm.

Well, we haven't slept that close together in...

I don't know how long.

It was nice.

You look so different when you sleep.

Wretched?

Mm-hmm.

Like you looked when we first met.

I was 29 when we first met.

Oh, you looked beautiful.

Frederik...

Frederik.

What?

What? What? What?

It's been months since we were intimate.

If it's the beard, I can lose it.

If it's the belly,

that might take a little bit longer, mm-hmm.

Or is it because

I'm not in the Philosophy department?

You're my husband. I married you.

Won the battle, but lost the war, have I?

I'm still here, aren't I?

Hmm?

How's the paper coming?

Uh...

Finished, more or less.

Finished?

Finished-finished. Wow.

MAGGIE Can we talk?

That's cause for celebration, hmm?

Maybe we could, I don't know...

FREDERIK ...have some people over, or...

What, go out, huh? Hmm? Maybe? To the city?

Whatever you like.

Uh...

- Yeah. Sounds good. - Hmm? Mm-hmm.

Kim, it's Alma. Call me back.

We could have done this from my apartment.

I wouldn't want to run the risk of being deposed.

I thought Alex wasn't a "real lawyer" yet.

Well, someone should tell them that.

What did you wanna talk about?

I don't want you to be angry.

I don't know why I took it. I...

It was a strange, impulsive thing.

But I can't help but wonder if...

if something like what happened to me...

happened to you...

Why didn't you tell me?

May I?

You translated it online?

I guess it's impossible

to keep anything to oneself these days.

You don't know anything about me.

And whose fault is that?

You are not entitled

to any information about me in my life.

And yet you have so much of mine.

I haven't asked you for anything.

You take it anyway.

Yeah,

at first, I thought it was maybe because

we were close or

you had some sort of interest in me as a human being.

But now, now I can't help but wonder if it wasn't

some sort of sick vampiric kink of yours

to let me bleed myself dry

while you give nothing in return.

Thank you. I already have a husband.

That's how you treat people who care about you?

I told Kim.

I really think you should talk to someone about this.

I'm trying to help you.

No.

No.

You...

are trying to convince me

and yourself that violating my privacy

was moral and good because it proved you right.

Leave me alone, Maggie.

Go.

Go!

Fuck.

Kim, it's Alma, calling you for the 15th fucking time!

Fuck!

Adorno writes in his Minima Moralia...

"There is no right life in the wrong one."

What is he really saying?

Okay. What he's saying is

there is no right life in the wrong world.

We are either of this world and its conditions

or we are awake to what is right, and therefore,

cast out of society, alienated.

But then, why attempt to act morally

if it's truly impossible?

Isn't that just nihilism?

I think, um,

Hannah Arendt's explanation of Ulysses' Paradox

could be relevant.

So, Ulysses is sitting

at the Phaeacians' court, and, um,

a blind poet...

Aoidos.

Aoidos. Right.

Um, Aoidos starts singing the story of Troy

and of a hero, Ulysses,

whom he doesn't know is sitting in front of him.

And suddenly, Ulysses starts to cry.

And Arendt says,

"Of course, he never cried before

"hearing that what had actually happened.

"Only by listening to the narration

"did he fully understand its true meaning."

And what does that mean to you?

That Ulysses recognizes himself as a hero

only when his story is told to him by someone else.

But not just someone else, "The Other,"

a blind poet who has

no external sight, only self-sight,

and therefore, more knowledge.

And so, such an account

by "The Other" can

mitigate nihilism and give us a sense of linearity?

Of purpose?

When you say "The Other,"

who exactly are you referring to?

Stop being so literal. Trying to

take the philosophical "Other"

and turn him into a sociopolitical binary

is like a sweaty tourist at a modern museum of art

who points at a Pollock and says,

"My kid could do that."

It's immature and regressive

and totally misses the fucking point.

Okay. In the universal human condition of...

Of a...

Katie?

Sorry. I don't understand.

What...

What part of the argument

that you helped frame do you not understand?

It...

Well, it seems to me, like,

you're condoning literally,

not conceptually, othering someone

despite seemingly advocating for the opposite.

You do realize this is a philosophy class, right?

What is it that you think we are doing here?

What is wrong...

with your question, Katie, and why I don't care for it

is that you are assuming

when I refer to "The Other," I mean something bad.

When, in actuality, you are the one

who is instinctually and unconsciously

- making that association. - I don't think she...

Don't think, Arthur! You, Katie,

are advocating for the human rights

of a symbolic poet,

while, in actuality,

refusing to allow "The Other" to exist at all,

because you think

that acknowledging difference, naming it, is wrong.

So, what is right? Hmm?

What could make you happy?

Shall we build a society

to your exact specifications?

Should I build a world for you

that has all the edges rounded out?

Pad your chosen cell with niceties

and fucking trigger warnings? Hmm?

That's not what I'm here for.

I am here to fucking teach, okay?

- Okay? Okay. - Okay.

Good. Great. Good.

Marcus! Fucking Marcus is here.

You wanna add anything to this?

No, Professor Imhoff.

Okay.

I wish I didn't have to call this meeting,

and I'm sure you all wish you didn't have to be here.

We've experienced a terrible breach

of Yale's values.

A wakeup call for me, certainly, and for all of us.

As many of you know,

a female PhD student

has brought allegations against a male professor.

Professor Imhoff?

Can you stay behind a minute?

Well, no sense in dragging this out further.

It's come to our attention

that you filled a prescription under Doctor Sayers' name

that she did not prescribe to you.

Wait, what?

Walgreens on Park

flagged the prescription for being filed

without an online corollary.

When Doctor Sayers realized who'd filled it,

she brought it to us.

I... I don't know what you're talking about.

Alma...

there's a pretty unassailable paper trail here.

Kim has decided not to press charges,

but we need to decide

collectively, what disciplinary actions

must be taken.

I think it's safe to say the tenure conversation is...

paused.

Paused?

Indefinitely.

Oh.

I just think it's fascist.

But it's in the paper, so...

Yeah.

It's not really been my thing, but...

Alma, what are you doing here?

I'd like to talk.

That's not a good idea. Maggie?

Don't you have some obscure protest

to go be publicly angry at?

Okay, it's fine. I'm fine.

She's fine.

- Maggie... - They... go away.

It's okay. Promise.

Okay. Okay.

Did she just use 'they' as a slur?

Yeah. Guys.

Dude, come on.

It seems, like, totally insane.

I know.

Should we go over?

No, it's fine.

You know, Alex is right.

Probably shouldn't be talking like this.

People used to say that you were like my shadow.

Frederik actually used to say it all the time.

That you were taking on my mannerisms,

copying the way I dress.

Okay, you can stop.

So, this is what

we're writing a report on? Yeah?

Yeah. Yes.

Okay.

It's just gonna be like...

What did she say?

I know you have feelings for me.

What is this? What are you doing?

Alex is right there.

Frederik is wrong about a lot of things,

but he was always right about you.

You are the worst kind of mediocre student

with every availability to succeed

but no talent or desire to do so.

Yet so many resources,

so much of other people's time,

is wasted on you.

Not the least of which, mine. And your paper,

so obviously plagiarized

just reeking of laziness

combined with, with your desperate hope

that you will be worth your endowment.

Okay.

I don't know what you think

you think you're talking about...

Spare me. Please.

Please.

I don't feel comfortable

having this conversation with you anymore.

Not everything

is supposed to make you comfortable, Maggie.

Not everything

is supposed to be a lukewarm bath for you

to sink into until you fall asleep and drown.

And there are no rewards in death

for suffering as much as fucking possible in life.

You've constructed a life that hides

your accidental privilege, neediness,

desperate desire to impress.

At least I have the self-respect

to be obvious about what it is that I want.

But you? It's all lies.

Living in an apartment that's

ten times cheaper than what you can afford?

Dating a person you have nothing in common with

because you think

their identity makes you interesting?

Fawning over me because you think

my affection offers you credibility,

another adoptive mother

to replace your own insufferable one.

It's all lies.

Christ, it's no wonder everyone thinks

you lied about Hank, too.

Fuck.

You stupid bitch.

You have no idea what you've just done to me.

Hey, hey, that's enough. Let's go.

You okay? Yeah, Alex.

You okay, babe? I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

It's all right.

Well, what did she fuckin' say to you?

I'm fine.

Oh, my God. Fuck. Come on, let's go.

I got you. I got you.

Let's just get out of here.

Thank you. Goodbye.

Hmm.

Oh, yeah, this is embarrassing.

How long have you been here?

Today?

I've just been comin' off and on.

How did you get my keys?

Why are you here?

It's my apartment.

You gave me the keys last Christmas,

when my sister was visiting.

I never gave 'em back.

I've had a shit day. You want a drink?

Yeah.

You want?

No, thank you.

Actually, yes.

Look at us.

Two Icaruses.

You've heard.

Word travels fast.

Last I checked, we were still living.

What's being alive when your livelihood

is stolen from you?

I feel like, deep inside, I always expected this.

I expected the rottenness in me to be

seen by other people

right before I managed to expunge it.

Spoken like a true woman.

Never felt myself to be rotten at all.

Spoken like a true man.

A man you loved once.

Yeah.

Knew I was right about that.

Didn't keep you from wanting me to say it.

Yeah. Dead right, I'm a simple man.

Want my feelings to be reciprocated.

You loved me?

Come on. Told you.

Told you.

Countless times.

It never went away.

Not for me.

Why... Why do you think I'm here?

You're not, you know.

What?

A simple man.

Maggie hit me.

Whoa, whoa. Uh, what?

Well, she slapped me.

- She slapped you? - Mmm.

Goddamn.

Okay, well, I do wish it was the other way around, but...

Well, I mean, I did belittle all of her life choices

and told her that I knew about the plagiarizing,

so it wasn't entirely unwarranted.

You told her what I told you?

No. The dissertation, I knew before you told me.

It was clear, as you said, anybody looking at it, so...

You knew?

All this time? You knew?

Why didn't you tell me?

- I didn't think it mattered. - You didn't think...

you didn't think it mattered?

What would you have done?

Draw a line between two disparate points

and make a case against a young woman

who said you abused her?

- It's grasping at straws. - Yes. Yes. Exactly that.

You sound like a desperate man.

I am a desperate man.

I'm absolutely, positively fucking desperate!

You just would have given them more rope to hang you with.

I wish... I wish they would. I wish they would.

Rather than let me just die here in obscurity.

You know how many fuckin' times

I thought about jumpin' into that fuckin' wharf?

Do you?

Nothing I would have done could have changed what's...

You don't know that. You don't know that!

You can't know that.

Mmm.

Do you think... Do you think I did it?

- What? - Do you think I raped her?

You flirted with all of 'em, Hank.

I flirted? I flirted. Yeah.

So fuckin' what?

All of who?

All of your students.

You could have fucked any number of them.

So, you're jealous? Is that...

I'm uncertain.

'Cause I didn't.

'Cause I didn't. 'Cause...

'cause, like a fuckin' idiot,

the only person I ever broke the rules...

to fuck was you.

Shit.

Fuck!

Fuck.

Jesus Christ.

- Shit. Fuck! - You're an idiot. Let me see.

Let me see. Hey.

Jesus!

Hey.

You're an idiot.

Okay.

Mm-mm. Hank.

Hank. Stop. Please. Hank...

Stop it!

Get off!

Jesus. God.

Get out.

This was a mistake. Get out.

Please, get out.

Oh, shit.

Shit.

Yeah. Anyway.

- Let's get outta here, man. - Yeah.

Yeah, man, let's roll, man.

The article came out today.

I know, we just need a statement from her.

And, honestly, the administration, too.

That's her!

- Professor. - Look, look.

- Oh, shit. Yo. There she is! - Professor.

Everyone, come on!

Professor! Professor!

Professor, we just...

Professor Imhoff!

Are you gonna hold Yale accountable?

We just wanna have a conversation with you, okay?

No. Okay. I'm sorry. I...

All we want is accountability.

Professor, we just wanna chat.

We want justice.

I'm sorry. I just... Please. Just...

Do you believe Maggie Resnick?

Are you willing to say that what he did was wrong?

- You don't understand what... - We want accountability.

- Will you give us a statement? - No, I...

They need to hear the truth, and...

Oh, shit. Is she okay?

I don't know. Fuck.

Guys, give her space. Give her space.

Step back. Give her some room.

We didn't touch her. I swear. No one touched her.

She just collapsed.

Hey.

How are you feeling?

Like shit.

Well, multiple perforated ulcers'll do that to you.

Doctor said you must have been in a lot of pain.

Why didn't you say anything?

You, um...

got a lotta calls.

All from the same number.

And, uh...

It'll blow over, huh?

Some other catastrophe will break,

and it'll all be forgotten.

Read it to me.

Al, I...

Please.

"It's what Resnik refers to

"as the 'Feminist Generation Gap'...

"saying, 'Alma had to fight for everything

"'she should have been given...

"'but she can only conceive of progress in the way

"'that she achieved it...

"'by subsuming herself

"'to the abusive patriarchal agenda.'"

"'Alma failed me as a teacher,

"'but beyond that, she failed me as a woman...

"'as a mentor. And now,

"'I'm just another Black woman

"'who hoped for equal and fair recognition

"'from a white woman,

"'but got nothing but tokenistic subjugation

"'in return.'"

We can fight this, yeah?

Do a counter op-ed or something?

I wanna share something with you.

I told you, when I was a child

that my father's best friend

sexually assaulted me, abused me.

None of that is true.

We were in love.

He was so kind. He was so handsome, and...

I could just stare at him from across rooms.

I would go...

to work, sometimes, with my father,

just so I could see him.

I couldn't focus in class.

School, my friends, just, everything felt so pedestrian.

Except for him.

He was the only thing that felt real to me.

He kissed me for the first time

the day after my 15th birthday.

And...

- When... - Six months later, maybe.

He said I was too young, but I had insisted.

It was the happiest time of my life.

Then, out of nowhere, he said he...

that he met someone else, and...

someone that was more appropriate.

He started bringing her to my parents' parties and...

throwing her in my face like he was...

trying to prove how little he cared.

It was so cruel.

So, I made up a story...

that I knew would hurt him the most.

And three years later he committed suicide.

I had already retracted the story by then, but...

it didn't matter.

I'd wanted to hurt him

the way I thought he'd hurt me

and I did.

Alma, you were... you were...

very young.

Young girls want adult things to happen to them...

sooner than they're ready for them all the time.

But it's always the adult's job

to protect the innocence of a child.

No.

I didn't give him a choice.

Hmm.

There's always a choice.

It doesn't matter if you wanted him,

it doesn't matter if you threw yourself at him,

he should have rejected you outright.

No. He did.

He did. He refused me.

He was a good man,

and I destroyed him with a lie.

Alma.

It wasn't a lie.

You keep thinking he did nothing wrong.

You keep blaming yourself.

Do you think you can

allow yourself to see the truth in that?

The truth...

is that I love him.

And I love you.

Oh, my gosh.

There's so many people in there.

I know. It's, like, 10? What, 12?

This is new.

Yeah, we've been watching...

It then spreads, from these trees...

Look at all these embers just...

I don't know if you can pan up,

but look at all these embers just flying up.

You see them in the smoke.

All of that. Those can... Those...

The winds are a little... Have died down here.

But those can just get

picked up by winds for miles

and they can go for miles and light down...

- you know... -

...fall on somebody's roof...

and a whole new fire will pop up.

- So, this house is gone. - Dean Imhoff?

Your four o'clock.

You said to remind you?

Thank you, Peter. I was just getting ready to leave.

This house is now underway.

The left side of this house is ignited.

- Horrible, don't you think? - And also now

- the house nearby it. - Absolutely.

Yeah. This...

But liter... I mean, these embers

are like snowflakes. They're falling all around us.

The sun, I mean, this, it looks so crazy. If you...

You can't even see the sun. It is completely blacked out.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook

and Instagram, announced Friday

that it's ending its diversity, equity,

and inclusion programs.

Earlier this week, Meta announced that it's

ending its third-party fact-checking programs

in the United States.

It's also changing its hateful conduct...

Sorry I'm late.

- Sorry I ordered without you. - It's fine.

The wine here is surprisingly good.

Oh, I mean, I don't drink anymore, so...

Nobody does.

- It's good to see you. - Yeah.

You look the same.

- You're lying. - No.

But the people who only live

for one thing never seem to age.

You know,

this is where Hank used to take all of us?

That was his table, right over there.

Sometimes I still wonder where he is.

Oh, um, making a pile of money

spin doctoring for some Democrat.

"The death knell of intellect is politics."

That's what Frederik always says.

Are you still together?

We're still together.

And Alex?

Uh, but I hear they're doing very well.

On track to make partner somewhere.

You know, I read your article.

I thought it was very smart.

Your confession, the contrition.

It was well written, though, didn't you think?

I think it was written for you to get

everything you wanted.

And how 'bout you? Married?

Engaged.

- Congratulations. - Yeah.

- Who's the lucky... - Uh, Nia.

She's great. I mean,

so intelligent and just...

- Do you wanna see? - Sure.

Wow. She's gorgeous.

How old do you think she is?

Forty-three.

She's the Director of Curatorial Affairs

at the New Whitney.

You can keep going.

You know,

I think I spent so much time wishing for you to fail,

I figured it'd make us even or something.

It probably doesn't matter now,

but I know I hurt you, Maggie, and I'm sorry.

I don't know if you were expecting more, I just...

That's nice.

I think I was more confused than anything at the time.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to be you or be with you.

And now?

I mean, I always knew we were different,

but now I know that that's a good thing.

I like being alive to what happens to me,

and nothing affects you.

I lost everything.

And look at you now.

You think I'm a bad person?

Oh. Does that even matter?

I gave up on the idea of retribution

a long, long time ago.

But I am curious.

After everything, are you...

are you really happy?

Yes, I really am.

Then I'm happy for you.

You did it.

You won.

Check, please.

Cut!