Original subtitles

I used to answer letters for a fashion magazine--

letters from girls all over the country.

"Dear Kitty, my boyfriend made me have sex

when I didn'’t want to. Should I break up with him?"

"Dear Kitty, what are these gross red bumps on my arms?

How do I get rid of them?"

"Dear Kitty, all the girls in your magazine

are so skinny..."

"Dear Kitty, sometimes

I cut my breasts with a razor.

It hurts, but it feels good, too."

"Dear Kitty, sometimes I just want to fight back,

but I'’m not strong enough."

[Young woman #6" "...what he did to me should happen to him."

"I'’m ready to kill myself, or maybe somebody else."

That'’s me. Alicia Kettle.

But everyone calls me Plum,

because I'’m succulent and round--

also known as "fat."

It'’s OK, I'’m allowed to say it.

♪ We lay by a river

♪ We looked at the stars

♪ I said, "How tiny we are, girl

♪ How tiny we are..."

...when a girl jumped in front

of the high-speed train.

I'’m telling you this from the future,

if you haven'’t gotten that yet.

But don'’t think this is one ofthose stories.

I'’m still fat.

- I still get the looks...

Honey.

Ooh, shake it there, sweetpants.

...like some people would prefer me dead.

When I look back, think of my life at that time,

it'’s like it was contained in a box--

a diorama.

Everywhere I went was within a five-block radius--

apartment, café, my Waist Watchers meetings.

Apartment. Café. Meetings.

The magazine I wrote for was calledDaisy Chain.

The original intent was all about inspiring

great young women to become great young wives.

Ah, you'’re so retro,

with your newspaper every day like my grandpa.

It'’s my artisanal skill-- reading on paper.

-Oh, Rolo.

Look. Somebody loves me.

Hey. Get your own dog.

-I can barely keep myself alive.

-Yeah. -Hit me. Best one.

"Dear Kitty, you'’re so pretty--

even though you look like a skinny wax Dracula.

Question: Is it always wrong to have sex with your father?"

Come on. Really?

No, not really.

But it wouldn'’t surprise me.

My job was answering the letters

girls send to the editor atDaisy Chain,

the editor being...

Kitty Montgomery,

editor for all the women'’s titles at Austin Media.

But it all started when I revamped Daisy Chain

and made it relevant.

Oh, and I don'’t look like a wax Dracula--

that'’s just envy speaking.

I know Plum thinks I'’m a fool.

But I pay her to make me look smart.

Who'’s the fool in that equation?

Hey, can you work tomorrow?

I gotta see the city guy about the liquor license.

Oh, I'’m on my food plan--

You don'’t have to eat, just bake.

Oh. Just smell the heroin, don'’t snort it?

I thought you needed extra money for your dumb surgery.

It'’s-- I'’m losing weight already.

This is just gonna speed things along, that'’s all.

Well, I read it'’s pretty dangerous.

Oh, my God, have you been talking to my mother?

I'’m offering you extra work.

I'’m trying to get booze up in here.

And your letter-writing thing pays crap.

My uncle said he might lower my rent.

Again? Pretty soon he'’s gonna be paying you to stay there.

I do water his plant.

I water the crap out of that plant.

Fine, I'’ll...bake.

Be dazzled by my iron will.

You'’re the best.

Thank you, Auntie Plum.

Aside from Steven and a few other people,

I had learned to live deep inside myself.

My body was just a thing I used to move my head around.

So I missed a lot.

Good job. That'’s another pound this week.

My home scale said two... and a half.

I know. My God, a person can just look at a French fry and put on water weight.

But you'’re making progress. That'’s what matters.

But you do need to pick it up a bit.

You'’re still morbidly obese.

Because they changed the charts--

Let'’s table this for now, OK?

You'’re staying for the meeting, right?

-Mm-hmm. -We'’ll get our one-on-one after.

Great.

I mean, I'’m doing everything right.

I'’m exercising, and that is not easy

with the kids at home.

I log every bite.

I mean, why won'’t the scale move?

OK, let'’s talk about that scale mentality.

-It is very hard to just-- Sorry!

I hate the bus.

Oh! Pr-- Proceed. Sorry.

Oh!

Janice. First time.

I'’m pumped.

I was just telling Karen

that the scale is only one measure of our success.

I mean, she'’s doing this to look great naked.

I am.

I have to look great naked.

And you'’re doing so good.

I want you all to appreciate

that Karen isn'’t giving up on herself.

Yeah, but she doesn'’t need to lose weight.

That'’s not what my husband thinks.

Oh.Screw your husband.

Uh, Janice, we don'’t use profanity here.

I'’m sorry.

Screw your husband.

Janice, I love your enthusiasm,

but again, Karen wants to be comfortable in her body

just like you came here to be your best self.

Excuse me?

Plum, why don'’t you tell Janice our philosophy.

Plum has been doing such good work.

People don'’t come to Waist Watchers

because they feel good about themselves,

they come because they'’re ready to feel good...

about themselves.

Are you kidding me?

I feel good. Very.

I love myself.

Janice.

Oh, no.

Screw this ass-sucking crap.

I came here to get some help losing weight

because I have back problems, not because I hate my body.

-Why don'’t we talk about this outside-- -No, don'’t.

Don'’t you touch me, wench.

Iam a unicorn.

I am a goddess.

And...

I get more hot dick

than I can handle.

It'’s so sad, right?

So much denial.

So sad.

♪

Lookin'’ good, Plum.

Slow but steady loss.

And you still have seven weeks to practice good habits

before your surgery.

-Just one.

OK, let'’s talk about that.

I had some SnackWells.

-Ten. -Hmm. Ouch.

That must have felt bad.

You know, after your surgery,

if you eat more than this at a time

you'’re gonna get sick. Very.

My bypass clients, they say that it is torture.

I know. I think that

since I won'’t be able to indulge after the surgery--

But now'’s the time you gotta dig deep and figure out

why you felt the need to sabotage.

Plum, it'’s time to say good-bye to comfort food.

Food is fuel. That is all.

What were you feeing?

Hungry. Angry at being hungry.

Good identifying.

OK, well, next time tell that anger you'’re in control

and your thin person within wants out.

-OK. Yeah. -Mm-hmm.

Thank you.

Are you still taking the Y?

Yeah.

And how long you been on that?

Since grad school. A while.

Oh, gosh, yeah. Yeah, that'’s so stressful.

You know, when I was getting my GED,

I gained like 25 pounds.

I loved school.

I kept getting degrees until they kinda kicked me out

and made me get a life, such as it is.

Well, if you loved school,

then why did you decide to go on the Y?

Just--

You said it. Stress.

Gosh. Yeah.

I would say that 90 percent of my people

say that stress is what makes them binge.

Well, that and loneliness.

But everybody'’s lonely. Gosh.

Well, being on the Y could be helpful.

Some patients get a little blue after surgery.

It can be hard to say good-bye to bad behaviors,

such as eating.

I'’ve been feeling this intense nausea,

like I need to throw up.

Could that be related to my diet or the Y?

Are you taking it on an empty stomach?

My stomach'’s always empty. Basically.

Yeah! Good for you.

But yeah, I mean, that could be the problem.

Or you could be having a little breakthrough anxiety. No biggie.

Are you planning any follow

Thigh lift

Not right away.

I'’m already putting a lot of the bypass on credit,

what insurance won'’t cover.

The whole thing is so expensive.

Well, I would save your pennies,

because I think you'’re gonna do great,

and you'’re gonna have a lot of loose skin.

This one girl that I know,

she said she looked like a flying squirrel.

Can you imagine?

Aaah!

Ugh.

Are you following me?

What? S--

Sorry, I couldn'’t hear you.

Are you following me?

You have an amazing day.

You'’re capable of that.

So the girl was a weirdo,

but Iwas going to have an amazing day.

After the surgery, when I was thin,

I wouldn'’t evenbe Plum.

My name would be Alicia.

And I'’d burst out of my sad diorama

into a big, sexy life.

Next, we visit a community

rocked by the disappearance of two men,

both former military...

-Hey, Mom. -Hello! You picked up!

I did. But I'’m about to head out.

-That'’s a lie.

Really? You'’re leaving the house?

Mom. How'’s your shoulder?

Better.

-I went bowling the other night. -That'’s good.

How are the fine ladies of the league?

Did you get that article I sent you?

What are you doing? Are you eating?

Yeah. Sorry.

Good! Youshould eat.

That'’s what the article says.

Only one in one hundred people who do that stupid surgery--

Stop. I swear I'’ll hang up on you.

Yeah, I know you will.

I just wish you could be happy with what God gave you.

You have Grandma'’s body.

Grandma was fat.

Grandma was married.

She lived a good, full life. She knew who she was.

A fat wife.

Oh, well, fine. You'’re in a mood.

Let'’s just talk about something else.

They canceled my program.

-Scream Queens.

After my sad excuse for a meal,

I tried to forget how hungry I was and sleep...

but my dreams took over.

That right,

it pays to dig deep.

Oh...

The sweet, delicate meat

and the rich melted butter...

Fresh cut, and fire-kissed perfection!

Uh-uh-uh.

It'’s not safe.

But my dreams were no comfort--

they were trying to wake me up.

Because across the country, a war was starting.

Oh, yeah.

It'’s a Plum day.

May I?

Yes, I made extra. I know you.

Oh.

Oh, man. That is--

You'’re like a professional, right?

You trained in Paris or something?

-Glendale, California. -Oh, wow.

My aunt owned a restaurant. She taught me.

She taught you good.

I didn'’t set out to write vague advice

as somebody I wasn'’t

to sad girls I didn'’t know.

I wanted to be a journalist-- or a baker.

Yeah, I know.

I loved baking my whole life,

but back then I hated what it made me hunger for,

which was everything.

♪ Don'’t even go to a movie show ♪

♪ If you are not at my side ♪

♪ I stay home by my radio ♪

♪ But I'’m satisfied ♪

♪ All my flirtin'’ days are gone ♪

♪ On the level from now on ♪

♪ I have told them in advance

♪ They can'’t break up our romance ♪

♪ Livin'’ up to every vow ♪

♪ I'’m keepin' ♪

♪ Keepin'’ out of mischief now ♪

Can I help you?

I like this shade.

It'’s called... Juicy Plum.

What?

-Hey! -No go. You'’re dog is anal-retentive.

Like father, like son.

Hi, Rolo!

Here, can I try? Can I try?

Come on, baby, come on. Let'’s go.

These scones are beyond. If you baked every day, you'’d--

I have a job.

Queen of Darkness over there?

Oh, yeah. She'’s here all the time lately.

She basically told me to go on a diet.

Wrote it on my arm in indelible eyeliner.

What? No, I'’m gonna tell her get out of here.

-She can'’t do that. -No, stuff like that happens.

It'’s-- It's fine. I'’m leaving anyway.

I don'’t want a whole thing.

I hate people.

Everybody sucks but us.

Daisy Chain was just a small part

of a corporate giant--

Austin Media.

My command performances for Kitty

forced me out of my comfort zone

and into their crooked monolith.

Could you give these to Julia?

-Hi. -I'’m here for Kitty.

Sure, Plum. Oh--

would you like one?

They'’re just jellybeans.

There'’s so much pussy around here

I'’m syncing up with everybody'’s cycles.

I'’m good, thanks.

Kitty'’s still in a meeting.

All right. I'’ll just wait.

Yeah?

You work here?

Kind of. I...answer letters to the editor for Kitty.

So I mostly work from home.

Oh. That sounds like a good deal.

I'’d like to work from home.

It'’s good and bad. Gets lonely.

Yeah. Yeah, I guess sometimes you need someone to talk to.

I forget that, because all I do is talk to people all day.

What do you do, if you don'’t mind me asking?

Not at all. I'’m a detective.

NYPD.

That sounds fascinating.

It usually does to people, but a lot of times

it'’s like a missing person isn'’t really missing,

runaway husband, or it'’s just really sad.

A lot of the letters I get are sad, too.

Lost girls.

Hmm.

So we'’re just two gainfully employed sad folks.

Hey, could be worse, I guess, right?

I bake, too. That'’s happy, I guess.

I make an incredible chocolate cake.

-I do.

I would kill for a good chocolate cake.

Well, you would have a good lead on the investigation.

-'’Cause you did it. -Yeah.

-The cake murder. -I'’d-- I'd-- Yeah.

Plum, Kitty'’s ready for you.

-Oh. -You'’ll be right after.

Thank you.

It was nice to meet you, Detective.

You too.

Say, it'’s Dominic.

Oh. Plum.

Hey.

Maybe you'’d like to grab a coffee sometime.

When you need someone to...talk to.

-OK. -'’Cause you work from home.

-Yeah. -Or you need a cake tester.

OK. Have a nice day.

I had met men like him before.

It'’s a kink. A fetish.

They screw girls like me,

but they marry women like this.

Kitty Montgomery.

Plum.

I always forget...

what beautiful eyes you have.

Thank you.

-Well--

You know, everyone talks about Vogue'’sSeptember issue,

but arguably ours is more influential.

I mean, my girls are going back to school.

It'’s their opportunity to say, "Hey, I'’m new.

Desirable in a whole new way."

That'’s the theme this month. "Thirty Days to Sexy."

Here is all the information. Makeup, fashion, fitness.

Great. Did you get that email I sent you?

With pitches for articles?

There'’s a new crop of young female entrepreneurs--

Oh, I wish you had time for that,

but aren'’t you just swamped with letters?

My girls have such a special connection with me.

Before I found myself, I was them. You know,

bad hair, bad skin, bad...everything.

And look!

Now I give them hope.

And yougive them hope.

Someone like you has such insight

into what they'’re going through.

Well, thank you.

And you'’re so good at it.

You make me sound well read, which, of course, I would be,

but...time...

who has it?

So...

My letters. What'’s new?

Well, we'’ve had a lot of cutters.

Cutters.

You know...

last night it was so strange.

I was testing this new shave cream,

and I had my leg out so my foot was resting on the tub.

And I didn'’t see, but I nicked a little scab on my shin.

This tiny drop of blood just dots the bathroom floor.

It was so beautiful. I just kept staring at it.

You know, girls, we see our blood every month,

but this time it wasn'’t gross like that.

So I ran the razor over my scab again,

and more drops of blood.

Some of it trickled down my calf.

If my boyfriend hadn'’t knocked on the door,

I would'’ve done it all night.

Plum?

I'’m sorry. Um...

how was the shave cream?

Oh. Nothing special.

But it was just that suddenly I understood the appeal, these girls,

chopping away at themselves.

What else?

-Um, purging. -Purging.

Confusion about the female anatomy.

Well, there'’s nothing I can do about that.

Those parent groups target us if we mention the word "vagina."

Makes writing articles on tampons hard.

Find some euphemisms for "vagina."

Poontang?

Nothing sexual. Medicalize things.

Come up with a list and send it to the girl writing the tampon piece.

Best advice you can give a 13-year-old:

"Start using tampons as soon as you can."

But I can'’t tell her where to put it.

Send the list to Plum, too.

You can use it, too.

Oh, I know that some of this seems silly,

but we'’re helping these girls.

We are.

Good! OK.

OK.

Oh, one more thing.

Um, you haven'’t had any unusual letters lately?

I mean, anything disturbing in an out

No, just regular disturbing.

Anybody contact you wanting information about me

or the magazine? Any strange encounters?

No. Nothing like that.

Is something wrong?

Oh, we'’ve had an eensy security breach. Hacking.

We just need to find out where the leaks are coming from.

-That'’s why that detective is here. -Mm-hmm.

Yes, they got the home addresses and phones for me

and every member of the Austin family, including Stanley.

It'’s...

absolutely not serious.

But why are the bad people always after the good people?

I mean, have you seen the news?

Those two boys who were murdered.

Veterans. Tossed like cats in a bag onto the freeway.

My West Coast editor,

he got stuck on the wrong side of the 110 for hours and hours.

It was awful.

Yeah, I, uh, my stomach has just been feeling weird lately.

Oh, dear. Well, um, let'’s get you to the ladies'’ room

before we make a mess. Eladio!

You okay?

Did you follow me to work?

Oh, I'’m not dangerous. Um...

I don'’t think. Um, but--but--

but definitelynot to you.

I promise.

I, um, I left you something in the kitchen.

Her boots said she was a witch.

The book she left for me? "Dietland."

Would it turn me into a good witch...

or a bad witch?

Anti

Crazy twist, right?

-Here ya go. -Oh, thanks.

Hey, Ben, cover the cash register.

There are no customers at the register.

Thank you, Captain Literal.

Should anyone else come in.

Got it.

Bye.

It'’s written by Verena Baptist.

Her mother was the woman who started the Baptist Weight Loss Clinics.

-Never heard of her. -Yes, you have.

They'’re all over the country.

Verena'’s mother died,

and Verena shut everything down.

I think she'’s some kind of big feminist

who thinks diets are the root of all evil.

Here'’s the thing, though-- I was on that diet.

No. Really?

Yeah. I was a Baptist.

Baptist. Doesn'’t that get a little confusing?

Like what kind of freak are you, religious or chunky style?

-Some of them were both.

Baptist Baptists.

The whole thing was like a cult.

We practically prayed to the founder, Eulayla, and her old "fat jeans."

Well, if this book is against fad diets,

Goth Girl gets free scones from now on.

Those things are awful.

But should I be worried?

This girl following me, pushing the book?

I think she knew my name.

She'’s just probably just one of those body acceptance people.

Saving big lives, one book at a time.

But why me? I'’m not special.

There could be an exposé in this for Daisy Chain,right?

Like "The Strange Legacy

of the Baptist Weight Loss Clinics."

Maybe that'’s what Goth Girl wants,

for me to write about this.

That seems a little hard-hitting for Kitty.

I could sell her. It'’s juicy.

She can'’t ignore me forever.

Yeah, she absolutely can.

She absolutely can.

Especially now.

There'’s been some hacking thing at Austin.

-Kitty seemed freaked out. -Oh, no.

Maybe somebody stole the secret to better brows.

Right?

Oh. Thank you.

Hello?

This is Plum.

Can'’t I do it over email?

All right, give me an hour.

The thing about the book,

the girl--

yes, it felt like an invasion,

but something in me welcomed it.

-That'’s it.

Let me walk you to the elevator.

This way.

Hey.

Get in. Press S-C.

Excuse me

The Beauty Closet. Go.

They have answers.

Guess plus size really is a huge market.

Coming!

You must be Plum.

Come in.

Come in.

You call this a closet?

For you.

This is-- There was a girl following me--

Leeta. I asked her to do that. I'’m Julia Smith.

Manager of the Beauty Closet.

You asked her to

Oh, we'’ll get to that.

I am so glad to finally meet you.

Leeta has told me somuch about you.

W-Will you just tell me what I'’m doing here, please?

My, my, we are the eager beaver.

No, I-- I just want to understand.

Don'’t we all, hon? Don'’t we all?

What is all this for, anyway?

We are under 52 floors of lifestyle, hon.

Magazines, TV shows, sponsored YouTube channels.

Every face, every body, must be perfect.

You must agree that everything I tell you is strictly confidential.

Fine. Just tell me.

I sent you a message.

Under an assumed name.

To "Dear Kitty"?

"Dear Kitty,

as one of the great intellectual minds of all time--"

You should have known it was a fake from that alone.

"--I have to ask, who is more oppressed,

a woman covered from head-to-toe in a burka,

or one of the bikini-clad models on the cover of your magazine?"

"You pose an interesting question,

one I'’m not sure that I can answer.

One woman covers her body, while the other exposes herself.

You could consider it two sides of the same coin."

There was no way on God'’s green earth that Kitty wrote that.

I noticed it in the magazine, too.

Her answers were too aware, too smart.

-Thank you. -That'’s not a compliment.

You'’re squandering your good brain. It'’s criminal!

Anyhow, I figured someone was writin'’ for her.

So, I tested my theory, and you passed!

And once Eladio told me it was you,

I thought Leeta should check you out,

see if you could be trusted.

Leeta? Is she-- Is she here?

She'’s out.

I'’m afraid our lovely Leeta may have overstepped her bounds.

You weren'’t even supposed to notice her.

But she grew quite fond of you. Or your potential.

-Uh-uh-uh!

-Now, now.

-I could'’ve called the police.

I wa-- I wasn'’t sure.

But she gave me that book--

Oh, "Dietland." That was all her.

She thought you might appreciate the message.

-Shit!

Come with me.

Oh.

What took you? I can'’t stand up that long.

Maybe it'’s time for flats.

Kidding. '’Course not.

I need perfume.

All day long I have been smelling this ass smell,

and then I realized it was myass.

My gross pregnant sweat.

No problem.

Here you go.

No more smell.

Just keep these in your desk for future emergencies.

If I don'’t have this kid by the end of the week,

I'’m gonna cut it out with a kitchen knife.

Ohh.

Witch.

And not the good kind.

Ninety percent of the women here

are complete lost causes.

Believe me, I would never do any of this if it wasn'’t necessary--

For your confidential undercover work?

Exactly.

That security breach Kitty was talking about--

was that you?

Some kind of radical covert action?

Of a sort.

Plum, how much time would you say you'’ve spent

trying to better your outsides?

I don'’t count, exactly.

The average woman devotes almost an hour a day to grooming.

That'’s years in her life.

Not to mention the dieting and self-loathing--

I know, but that'’s just how it is.

Who says

Austin Media is part of the dissatisfaction- industrial complex,

a hugely profitable machine.

They get us to pay them to tell us how broken we are,

and then we pay for the products to fix it.

But we'’re never fixed.

Because there'’s always some new way

we don'’t please the eye of our big brother beholder.

Now I say: enough.

Time to change the game.

But it'’s not a conspiracy.

It'’s human nature.

People like pretty things.

You'’re not a thing.

You are a woman,

and you should decorate yourself however it pleases you.

Open your mouth.

Excuse me?

Just do it.

I don'’t understand. How did you guys know I was a Baptist?

Shhh!

No more questions for now.

Open.

Oh...

this color...

it'’s so you,your...

your skin is white as a rose.

What color are your nipples?

To match.

Pink.

Lighter.

Doesn'’t anyone ever tell you you'’re beautiful...

just as you are?

Please! Just--

What do you want from me?

You know this place peddles bullshit,

and you'’re ready to do something about it.

J

Calm down. It'’s easy.

All we need are the names and email addresses

for Kitty'’s girls.

The girls who sent Kitty questions?

All of '’em? For what?

Deprogramming! Truth!

Like that book. "Dietland."

Maybe. Different things-- depending.

Don'’t worry. Nothing actionable.

I could get in trouble for that.

Why would I ever do that?

Right now you'’re doin' nothin'’.

Aren'’t you tired of that?

I told Julia I needed to think about it.

Even if I wanted to do what she asked me,

I wasn'’t sure I could.

Fifty thousand emails.

Fifty thousand girls lonely and desperate enough

to write to Kitty...

and Julia wanted them all.

"Dear Kitty, my friend Kelsey

has a thigh gap, and I was wondering..."

"Dear Kitty, I'’m 15 and on the swim team..."

"...I think my stepfather touches me when I'’m sleeping,

but I don'’t know..."

"...every night after dinner I got into the bathroom

and throw up..."

I was tired of doing nothing.

I wanted to fight back-- my whole life--

but it was going to cost me.

Hey. Hey, hey.

How ya doin'’, beautiful?

Look, my friend here, would like a kiss from you.

Hey, look at him.

What are you doin'’? Sexy! Turn around.

Talk to us. Please. Hey!

♪ Do you, do you

♪ Tell me, do ya know yourself ♪

♪ When you'’re left alone ♪

♪ Do you, do you

♪ That day will come, that day will come ♪

♪ That day will come

♪ That day will come, hey! ♪

♪ '’Cause that day will come ♪

♪ That day will come

♪ Hey!