Original subtitles

[son] That's a loud...

[mother] Yeah.

[son] I'm a robot.

[babbling]

And a spider.

And a spider.

No.

No, no, no, no.

Okay. Okay. Babe, stop.

-[laughs] -[woman] Stop.

-Oh, we need some crunchy snacks, right? -Hi!

Oh, hi. Oh, my God.

Sally, what are you doing here?

I'm visiting my mom for the weekend.

Baby, this is Sally.

Yeah, Sally took over your mom's job at the gallery after you were born.

Oh, he's super cute.

Do you just love getting to be home with him all the time?

Must be so wonderful.

Yeah. I mean, that's a-- that's a good question, you know?

But it's complicated though because, I mean,

I would love to feel content.

But instead, I feel like I'm just stuck

inside of a prison of my own creation where I torment myself

until I'm left binge eating Fig Newtons at midnight

to keep from crying. [chuckles]

And I feel like societal norms, and gender expectations,

and just plain old biology, have forced me to become this person

that I don't recognize, and I'm just angry all the time.

Like, all the time. Like... [chuckles]

And, you know, I would love to direct some of my own artwork

towards a critique of the modern day systems

that articulate this, but my brain just doesn't function

the way that it did before I had the baby, and I'm dumb now. [chuckles]

And I am deeply afraid that I am never going to be smart,

or happy, or thin ever again.

Do you just love getting to be home with him all the time?

Must be so wonderful.

Oh, yeah, I do. I love it.

I do. I love being a mom.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

Seven, eight.

[♪ light music playing, Ani DiFranco "Joyful Girl"]

[mother] Wow.

Yucky.

Look it... Look at the house.

♪ I do it for the joy ♪

Uh-oh.

♪ Because I'm a joyful girl ♪

I'm hungry.

♪ Because the world owes me ♪

I'm gonna eat you.

♪ Nothing ♪

♪ And we owe each other the world ♪

♪ I do it because it's the least ♪

-[laughing] -♪ I can do ♪

-[gasps] Ooh! That scared me. -[laughing]

Up to the moon!

To the moon!

♪ And I do it just because I want to ♪

-[coughing] -Are you okay?

[son] Four, five.

[crying]

Where's the duck one?

Where?

No!

You know.

One, two, three, four, five,

six, seven, eight,

nine, ten.

[mother] You light a fire early in your girlhood.

You stoke it and tend to it.

You protect it at all costs.

You don't let it rage into a mountain of light,

because that's not becoming of a girl.

You keep it secret.

You let it burn.

It's from this point, this fire,

you can create and fight

and push your way through the world.

It's from this fire that you can birth something new.

A new version of yourself or a whole new person

who didn't exist before you squeezed them into the world.

A person who will one day pee in your face without blinking.

[♪ light music playing]

Let's go see the truck.

Let's go, yeah.

Where's the...?

-The what? -The...

-The truck? -Yeah.

It's up the street.

It's up the street?

Yeah.

-Is the truck there? -Yeah.

We have to put that on the street again.

-Yeah? -Yes.

They're going to-- next to the street with the green truck.

-He's on the back of that. -You think so?

Oh, he looks pretty strong. I bet he can do it.

[son] No.

No, it turned away.

-Higher. -Higher?

How high?

-Higher up to the moon. -To the moon?

We're going inside.

This?

Yeah, we're gonna go in there. That's what we're doing.

-Yeah. -We can go.

People can't say no to us.

They can't say no to us. That's right.

-Hi, Norma. -[man] In the ocean, too.

Some decomposers even help clean water.

-[son] Book Babies. -Wow. I had no idea.

Oh, shit.

♪ I go for a ride on my favorite bike ♪

♪ I'll tell you what I see ♪

♪ It's a warm summer day as I pedal by the lake ♪

♪ And right in front of me ♪

♪ Is a poor little duck with a bill too big ♪

♪ And eyes like buttered peas ♪

♪ His feathers are pink... ♪

[mother] The problem is I just don't enjoy the company of other moms.

♪ ...on water skis ♪

♪ Oh, what's up with that duck? ♪

♪ What's up with that duck? ♪

♪ Oh, what's up... ♪

[mother] I think becoming friends with another woman

simply because we're both mothers is pathetic.

♪ What's up with that duck? ♪

♪ I go for a drive in my favorite car ♪

- ♪ I'll tell you what I see... ♪ -[mother] Of course, if I happen to meet

a beautiful, smart, hilarious woman

and we became friends,

we bond over hating Book Babies.

♪ He's putting on skates and as he makes figure eights ♪

-[mother] No. No. [groan] - ♪ I see he's munching... ♪

[child crying]

♪ Oh, what's up with that duck? ♪

♪ What's up with that duck? ♪

♪ Oh, what's up with that duck? ♪

♪ What's up with that duck? ♪

♪ It's time to say goodbye ♪

♪ Goodbye to our friends ♪

♪ Thanks for singing along ♪

[mother] Oh, thank God.

♪ We had lots of fun but this is our final song ♪

♪ So goodbye to... ♪

Zarah Beverly.

♪ And goodbye to... ♪

Caden.

♪ And goodbye to... ♪

Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck!

[child] Mom!

[woman] I'm not coming here...

[son] I'm gonna fuck you up.

[mother] I'm the worst mother in the world.

Do you-- Oh, I'm sorry.

Do you like paint and sip?

You're an artist, right?

Did I tell you that?

Oh, we chatted at mommy-baby yoga.

Just for a sec though. Jen.

-So, do you paint or do something else? -No.

I used to do more immersive art,

-sculptures, and found materials. -Oh, like installations?

Sorry to eavesdrop. I just-- I'm a big art fan.

-Oh, are you? -Yeah. Yeah.

-She is. -Me, too.

I used to live in the city and I spent my lunch breaks

at the Modern, like, every day.

I showed some work at the Modern once.

-Wow. -Wow.

But that feels like a lifetime ago, so...

-[woman 1] Yeah. -Right.

-Totally. -[woman 1] Definitely.

-We get it. -Yeah.

I used to be a stripper...

if you can believe that.

[sighs, chuckles]

It was fun though, but just for a little while, not...

The before times.

-[all laughing] -Yes. Yes.

-Gosh. -Right.

You know, I really have to get him home for his nap.

Oh, yeah. Right.

-Yeah. -[son whines]

-Okay. -Well, maybe we'll see you next week.

Yeah. He's tired.

Yeah, of course.

Aww... Yes.

-So cute. -[woman 2] Yeah.

I know.

-Oh, my gosh. -I love her.

-She's fun. -She's fun, huh?

She is.

"Goodnight, goodnight, construction site.

Down in the big construction site, the tough trucks work

with all their might."

They washed their feet.

"Reaching, stretching, lifting high,

he swings the beams into the sky."

"So no more huffing and puffing, teams."

What's this one?

Look at his big teeth. [roars]

Where is it?

Where is it?

"One by one, they'll go to bed to yawn and rest their sleepy heads."

Now, I'm yawning.

Can I get down?

No, we're gonna go sleepies, remember?

No.

-No. -Please?

No.

-No. -Aren't you so tired?

-All-- -No.

-All the vehicles are tired. -No.

-Yes. -No.

-Yes. -No.

Who is the dad?

No, no, no. Come on.

-Come on. Come on. -[whines]

All right.

-Now, let's sleep again. -No.

-It's okay. Yeah, I know. -[crying]

It's okay.

We'll just play quiet mouse game.

Do you wanna play quiet mouse?

Can you be quiet mouse?

Candy.

-Honey. -No.

No.

-No. -[sighs]

No!

It's my fault he doesn't sleep.

I shouldn't be mad at him.

Now, everybody told me, but I just didn't listen

because I liked it when he slept on my chest like a cozy warm heater.

I should've put him down drowsy, but still awake like all the books said,

and then he would have great sleep habits for the rest of his life.

And I would always have a clean kitchen, a good sex life,

and life would be amazing.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

But now I fucked that up.

Now what?

Maybe if I don't move, he won't see me.

[son moaning] Mwah.

I love you.

Yum.

I love you.

-[giggling] -I love you.

-I love you. -I love you.

-I love you. [laughs] -Oh. [kissing]

[son] Mommy.

Let's play horsey.

Okay.

♪ All around the mulberry bush ♪

♪ Where something chased the weasel ♪

♪ Monkey thought it was really fun ♪

♪ Pop goes the weasel ♪

Is that good?

Mama fuzzy.

-What? -[son laughs]

I'm not fuzzy.

Mama fuzzy.

Where am I fuzzy?

-Right here. -Ow!

[♪ dramatic music playing]

Oh, goody.

[soft chuckle]

What fresh hell awaits you today?

I've got some gray hairs.

A lot of gray hairs and some...

new wrinkles.

Huh...

[chuckling]

Huh.

Okay.

Well, that's where we're at.

Okay.

Let me get some tweezers.

[son] Daddy, daddy, daddy.

Hey, bud.

[grunts]

Uh-oh. Spaghetti-O.

Sometimes, I swear, it's like they don't realize that I have a life.

I'd much rather be here at home with you guys

than sitting at some hotel room at 11:00 o'clock at night,

typing up reports on a Thursday.

Oh, how annoying.

[husband] It really was.

Well, we had a fine week. We went to Book Babies, didn't we?

[son] Book Babies.

[husband] I thought you hated Book Babies.

Oh, I do.

-[son whines] -You still alive, you old furball?

Speaking of furballs...

-What? -I don't know. No.

-What? -I shouldn't have brought it up.

Well, no. Tell me. What?

Well, I'm just...

I don't know. I'm having some weird side effects from perimenopause.

I'm not sure.

Which is weird hairs seem to be sprouting up.

Are you talking about your nipples?

No.

I-I don't know. I just feel off.

It's like I feel like I have this heightened sense of smell,

kind of like when I was pregnant.

Mm.

Like the cat's butt smells disgusting to me.

The cat's butt smells disgusting to me too, though.

And look at my teeth. Hm?

See how sharp they are?

Right. Definitely.

That's weird.

Oh, honey. This is real.

This is not in your head.

Stop it. [chuckles]

You always think that something's wrong with you.

Well, that's the thing about being a hypochondriac,

is someday I'll be right and you'll be sorry.

-[husband laughs] -[dog barking]

[spits]

I can't remember the last time that I washed this shirt.

You're living the dream.

Yeah, I'm the housewife I never wanted to be.

You know, the hardest part is that like I'm always on suicide watch.

Like, if I turn my head for just a second, he's gonna stick a fork

into a light socket or he's gonna walk off a cliff.

It's better than leaving him with those awful ladies at that awful daycare.

Oh, that was heartbreaking.

If you wake him up, I will rip your throat out.

Okay. Okay.

Look, I kind of thought this is what you wanted, you know?

No more late nights at the gallery, you know,

crying in the bathroom while you pumped your boobs.

I did, I do, I do. I just...

Maybe if I could get a part-time job.

You know, the math doesn't totally add up.

You know, the likelihood that you'd make more than we'd have to pay a sitter is...

Well, may-- maybe when he starts school.

Yeah. Just gotta hold out till kindergarten.

Yeah.

And then I think...

what right do I have to complain?

You know, it's a gift I get to stay home with my baby all day long.

I should be grateful.

I would kill to stay home with him every day, for what it's worth.

[♪ dark music plays]

You think that you would,

but I assure you, you would not.

[both] Two, three! Whoo!

One, two, three! Whoo!

-One, two, three. -Three.

Whoo!

They're coming after...

[husband] All right.

What's next?

Um, bath time.

I got it.

Oh, thank you.

[husband] Who wants to do a daddy bath?

-Me. -All right!

-Yeah! Say, "Woo-hoo, daddy bath!" -Thank you.

[son] Daddy bath.

That's right.

-[son] Daddy bath. -[husband] Daddy bath.

I'll take a bath, too.

[exhales]

[husband] Honey?

Can you grab him some toast? He said he's hungry.

[water splashes]

[husband] Honey, can you grab his sippy cup?

My hands are full.

[exhales]

[husband] Honey, you mind throwing a towel in the dryer?

Warm it up for him?

[growls]

-[water splashing] -[son babbling]

What?

[mother] Nothing.

It's just when you're gone, I do this by myself every day.

-What happened? -I-- nothin'.

[toilet flushes]

[snoring]

Mama, Dada.

Mama, Dada.

-Mommy and Daddy. -[mother] Mm.

[babbling]

Hey.

[snorts]

-Can you not hear him? -What?

You fucking do something?

[son grunts]

[giggles]

Here, buddy. Go to sleep.

-No. -Okay?

-Go to sleep. -[babbles]

Mama! [crying]

Ma...

[scrubbing dishes]

Did you make coffee yet?

No, not yet.

Will you do it?

Sure.

Is it two scoops?

Well, I do three.

Alright.

So, last night, you were, um, kind of a...

Um...

A bitch?

Well... [chuckles]

You said it, not me.

Yeah.

Nightbitch. [chuckle]

I am Nightbitch.

[laughs]

[son] That's not true.

Bye-bye, Dada.

Is Daddy gonna be back?

Yeah, he'll be back.

Enjoy getting four full nights of sleep.

Oh, honey.

Are you gonna be okay?

Yeah, I'll be fine.

You know, you should really stop worrying about your weird hair growth or whatever.

You know, get on top of your week...

you know, structure, you know.

I read an article once

that said that structure was the key to mental health.

You're gonna make up a plan, draw up a schedule,

and treat it like it's your job.

Happiness is a choice.

Happiness is a choice.

I'll try.

-Okay. -Okay.

Say, "Bye, Daddy."

Bye, Daddy.

-[engine starts] -Bye!

We'll do a tiny part and now I...

and I did this part, and then I did...

[people chattering]

Mama!

Uh-huh.

[babbling]

[dog sniffing]

Oh, my God.

Oh, wow. Where did you guys come from?

Hi.

Are these your dogs? Oh, hi.

[dog barks]

Mama.

Yeah. I guess they're nice.

Yeah.

-Hi. -Who are these doggies?

I don't know.

Who do you belong to?

-[mother] Are these yours? -No.

-Anybody? -You smell like strawberries.

You smell like strawberries. She does.

[barks]

We're coming with you.

Come on.

We'll chase the doggies, come on.

Let's get 'em!

Get 'em!

-[son] Big dogs. -[mother] Come on! Wait for us!

Wait for us! [laughs]

You got it!

Come on!

[son] Look at that.

[mother] Yeah, they're way down there. We're gonna catch 'em, come on.

-You want me to carry you? -Yeah.

Okay. Come on.

Let's get 'em! Come on!

[both laughing]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

Fall down.

♪ In the sweet by and by... ♪

[mother] There was a great forgetting when I left home.

Because to forget childhood meant I had survived it.

♪ We shall sing on that beautiful shore... ♪

[mother] But now, memories are poking their way back in.

♪ The melodious songs of the blessed ♪

♪ And our spirit shall sorrow no more ♪

♪ Not a sigh for the... ♪

[mother] My mother once told me,

she almost became a famous singer in Europe,

but she stayed back and had us instead.

♪ ...sweet by and by ♪

♪ We shall meet on that beautiful shore... ♪

What else did we see?

♪ In the sweet... ♪

Oh, there's one.

It's green.

What's green?

Okay. So we're gonna have an art day, okay?

-Why? -So it's gonna be a lot of fun, okay?

So we're just gonna put those paints.

-Careful. -And a lots.

Lots, okay.

-There's-- What color is this? -Orange.

-Orange. Good job. -And green.

And... yellow.

What are you gonna paint, hmm?

Now, what are you gonna make?

A circle.

Yeah. Put your fingers in it, really get a feel of the paint.

-It's right... -Yeah.

...here.

Great.

Okay. It's so nice.

[babbling]

[laughs] Oh, yeah.

Beautiful.

-What are you gonna do? -I'm gonna put paint on you.

[laughing]

[exclaims]

-Oh, that's great. -More paint.

-That's great. I love this. -[babbling]

Ooh! Oh, are you okay?

-Yeah. -Are you okay, honey?

-I'm gonna get more-- -Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

No, not on the wall.

You're free.

No rules today.

Oh, that is so creative.

[both laughing]

Oh, I'm gonna touch your cheek.

Oh, thank you. That's so nice. Thank you.

[son] ...all over.

It's great. Do it on the paper.

Come do it on the paper. Oh!

[laughing]

I'm gonna put it on my butt.

Baby...

Can you-- can you not do that?

[♪ upbeat music playing]

-No, no, no, no, no, no! -[cat meows]

No, no! [grunts]

[groaning]

[bottle spray]

What's up with that duck?

What's up with that duck?

What's up with that duck? [laughing]

Fuck!

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[mother] Why do these memories of my mother before she died

keep coming back to me?

Why now?

Oh, fuck!

[groans]

Ow.

[♪ tense music playing]

I'm hysterical.

I am hormonal, and I'm hysterical.

[sniffs]

Hay...

smoke, honey.

A bit of fungal musk. Amazing.

Could I always smell like this, or was I just not paying attention?

Or is a...?

Vegetables are very civilized.

Yes.

Dogs wouldn't buy vegetables.

Look.

-Ahh. -Ah.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[♪ dramatic music continues]

[speaking foreign language]

[speaking foreign language]

[♪ dramatic music continues]

[dog barking]

[dogs barking, howling]

[dog whimpers]

[mother] Huh.

-It's you. -[dog whimpers]

Hi.

-[dogs yelping] -[mother chuckles]

No.

-[dogs growling] -Oh!

Stop. No!

[screams]

Mommy had a weird dream last night.

Do you wanna eat on the porch?

Yeah.

-[door opens] -Oh, don't let the cat out.

-[♪ eerie music playing] -[gasps]

Oh, honey, honey.

Yuck, yuck, yuck. Where did you get that?

No, no, no. Put it down.

Put it down. Yuck, yuck, yuck, yuck.

[babbles]

Yuck. [giggles]

Bunny.

[flies buzzing]

-Come on. -Why?

-Let's go inside, okay? -Why?

We're gonna wash your hands.

-Why? -Okay. It's yucky, huh?

-We don't want-- -It's yucky.

No, we don't wanna touch those, right?

[♪ dramatic music playing]

Maybe you could give me

more of a sense of what you're looking for.

Anything in the realm of women turning into animals,

transformation, metamorphosis.

I'm doing a project.

I'm just looking for a scientific perspective.

Or... metaphysical.

Well, there is this book, it's labeled "mythical ethnography"

but it's-- really, it's quite scientific.

Field Guide to Magical Women.

Have you heard of this?

-Thank you, Norma. -Mm-hm.

-We're gonna get going. -Yeah.

[mother] "My introduction to this topic came about serendipitously.

I was interested in the ways

that womanhood manifests on a mythical level.

The bird women of Peru lived in tall leafy boughs in the rainforest

where they constructed intricate

and breathtaking nests from sticks and reeds.

The bird women sprouted feathers and beaks in their 60s,

but only after they had children who had grown.

[♪ light music playing]

[mother] " The bird women spent the latter parts of their lives

flitting from tree to tree,

producing the loveliest calls and learning to fly."

[son babbling]

Mama, poop.

Poop.

[gasps] Oh, my...

-Mac and cheese. -Mac and cheese, great.

One more.

Do some mac and...

Meatloaf.

-Can you share some...? -What's that?

Can you share with me mac and cheese?

Mm-hm. Yeah, we're gonna share it. That's right.

[cashier] Oh.

I think I'm anemic. [chuckles]

All right. Here you go, baby.

Let's eat.

-Here. -I need a fork.

Well, here.

Uh-oh.

[both laughing]

Mmm...

[laughing]

That's real good, ain't it?

[snarling]

-[son roars] -[barks]

[son roaring and growling]

We're doggies, right?

[both barking]

Woof.

So much fun to have a boy, right?

We used to play dogs, too, my son and I.

Oh. So much fun, and he just loved it.

I didn't know that, that you had kids.

[both barking]

[Norma laughing, barking]

[both barking]

[all laughing]

Oh, don't go, Norma.

Tell me about your son.

Did you work when he was little?

Did you make all of the right choices?

Is there anything that you would've done differently?

Tell me the secrets.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

Dada.

[shower running]

[♪ eerie music playing]

We're out of milk.

We are?

Yeah. We got 20 pounds of raw meat and no milk.

Come on, buddy.

Can you shut the door?

[husband] I don't understand how we're out of milk.

Because he drank it.

Yeah, but did you know?

Did I know?

Did you know that we were out of milk?

[scoffs]

I don't know.

What is that supposed to mean?

This is the first shower that I have had in a week.

I've been to the grocery store three times,

but I haven't washed my body in four days.

So clearly I didn't know we were out of milk

or I would've gotten some.

But you're welcome to go to the supermarket with our son

and get some milk.

Oh, and pick me up some tampons while you're there

because I think I'm about to start to bleed

and this one's gonna be a doozy.

Okay.

That's enough, all right? Jeez.

Perfect.

-[son] No. -"Construction site all tucked in tight."

-No. No. -Shh.

"The day is done, turn off the light.

Great work today now." Shh.

-No. -Shh.

You don't want to go to bed?

Go to sleep, please.

-No. -Please go to sleep.

I'm not going to sleep.

[whimpers]

No.

No bed ever.

[video game sounds]

Nitro boosters.

See you later, suckers.

[growling]

Is he down?

It's your turn.

[sighs]

He doesn't want me.

I don't care that he doesn't want you.

Hey, I have been doing night-nights every night,

of every day for 200 years,

and it's fucking killing me.

You have to do night-nights. It's your turn for night-nights.

All right.

But just for the record, I don't like the term "night-night."

Okay. Okay. Okay.

[groans]

[exhales]

[cat meows]

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

-No, no, no, no, no, no, no. -[cat meows]

I just-- I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I just--

I don't want anything else needing me or touching me.

[man on TV] Over here.

[woman] What is it?

[man] Take a look.

[woman] We should get out of here.

[man] Let's split up.

[woman] Don't leave.

You wanna...

you know?

[clicks tongue]

God, no.

[husband exhales]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I meant like--

That was like-- that was a little harsh.

Well, I'm just in so much pain.

You have no idea.

-Okay. Well, like, I didn't know that. -Well...

And also, I have eight nipples now, and I fear you'll be repulsed.

[woman on TV] No!

[mother] "In Hindu mythology, Sarama is a she dog

serving the warrior-god, Indra.

She is the mother to all clawed creatures.

In Greek mythology, the chimera embodied all things domestic

and motherly, a goat who nurses young

and cares for the home front

and simultaneously possesses the qualities of a beast."

[♪ mysterious music playing]

[door closes]

[girl] Mama?

[heavy breathing]

[soft growling]

[mother] If my mother were still alive,

I would have some serious questions for her.

How did she deal with the anger,

the resentment for all that she didn't do?

How many women have delayed their greatness

while the men around them didn't know what to do with theirs?

I'd ask her if she ever regretted becoming a mother.

Where should we go next, the mammals?

-Sure. -[babbling]

Yeah? You wanna go there?

I don't-- I don't wanna go to mammals.

I can't believe this.

-Here you are. -Hey. Jen. Oh, wow.

It is so weird to see you out in the wild.

I mean, out of context.

-Hi. I'm Jen. -Hi, Jen.

-So nice to meet you. -Nice to meet you.

So, are we gonna see you at baby yoga or tyke hike this week?

Oh, no, another time.

Poo.

-Okay. Next time. -Okay.

All right. Come on, kiddos.

Let's go see some more dinosaur bones, right? [chuckles]

[growls]

[husband clears throat]

Who the hell was that?

She's just a mom from Book Babies.

Hm.

[mother] I think I'm having a bit of a realization.

[soft chuckle]

What's your realization?

I don't think I'm an artist anymore.

Oh, honey.

I don't know why I'm getting upset. I'm not upset.

No, no, no, you don't-- you don't seem upset at all.

Because I just have...

this running list of all of the things that I'm not doing every day,

and all of the ways that I'm falling behind as an artist.

And I think that if I could focus on what I am doing,

then I would be much happier.

I could-- I could see that, yeah.

And I should focus on being the best mom that I can be

and really enjoying these moments with him,

because this isn't going to last.

He's growing up so fast.

Uh-oh.

And besides...

you know, being an artist is like the most silly,

self-absorbed thing you can be.

It's truly an embarrassing job to say out loud.

It's just such a relief in just letting it all go, you know?

-Good. -Yeah.

I'm just really focusing on being in this moment with him.

Okay.

I mean, if that's what you want.

Yeah.

Okay.

♪ We shall sing on that beautiful shore ♪

[son] Mama.

[dog howling]

[♪ eerie music playing]

[sniffing]

[faint scream in distance]

[growls softly]

[panting]

[mother] I am hair, and blood, and bone.

I am instinct and anger.

[growling]

[♪ tense music playing]

I know nothing but the night air.

I have one thought.

I am an animal.

[howls]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[growling]

[sniffing]

[mother] I'm gonna crush its skull.

[barking]

[grunts] Blood! Blood, blood, blood!

Ooh, blood!

I was once a girl, then a woman,

a bride, a mother,

and now I will be this.

Where did you go?

I went for a run.

I needed to clear my mind.

Did you run barefoot?

You're so dirty.

Can I get in?

Sure.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[mother] I am a woman.

I am an animal.

I am new and also ancient.

[moans]

I have been ashamed, but I will be no more.

-Okay. Say, "Bye." -[son] Bye.

[mother] Can you give a good wave to Daddy?

-Bye, Daddy. -Bye, Daddy.

There he goes.

Wave goodbye.

-[son] Bye. -Yeah.

[exclaims]

-Should we go have some fun? -What?

[♪ upbeat music playing, "Weird Al" Yankovic, "Dare to Be Stupid"]

Should we do this?

Should we act like doggies?

[barks, giggling]

♪ Put down that chainsaw and listen to me ♪

♪ It's time for us to join in the fight ♪

♪ It's time to let your babies grow up to be cowboys ♪

♪ It's time to let the bedbugs bite ♪

♪ Settle down, raise a family join the PTA ♪

♪ Buy some sensible shoes and a Chevrolet ♪

♪ Then party 'til you're broke... ♪

-Oh, no, no, no. Oh, that's-- You! -[giggling]

♪ Let's go ♪

[mother] Squirrel. Let's go get it.

Come on.

Maybe this is the secret to happiness.

[barking]

We're just animals.

Are you hiding out on a boat, you silly puppy?

-Should I do ears? -Yes.

[laughing]

It's for you.

Look. Look at this.

And do doggies go night-night in their own beds?

Yes, they do.

And do doggies need binkies?

No.

That's so silly.

♪ Dare to be stupid ♪

[growls]

-[son] Woof. -All right.

Goodnight, doggy.

♪ Bite the hand that feeds you ♪

♪ Bite off more than you chew ♪

♪ What can you do? ♪

♪ Dare to be stupid ♪

♪ Take some wooden nickels ♪

♪ Look for Mr. Goodbar ♪

♪ Get your mojo working now ♪

♪ I'll show you how ♪

♪ Dare to be stupid ♪

♪ You can turn the other cheek ♪ - ♪ ...the other cheek ♪

♪ You can just give up the ship ♪

♪ You can eat a lot of sushi never leave a tip ♪

♪ Dare to be stupid ♪

-♪ Come on and dare to be stupid ♪ - ♪ Dare to be stupid ♪

There you go, come on.

There.

Hi, Norma.

Look, baby, it's Norma.

Shh. It's a quiet area.

I just wanted to thank you for that book recommendation.

I have to say, it was exactly what I was looking for.

Just doing my job.

[mouthing]

Well, look what the cat dragged in.

-Hi, ladies. -Hi.

-He's a dog today. -Oh.

-Sure. -Yeah.

-Cute. -[man] "Wheels on the Bus," everyone.

-Yeah. Here. I save you a seat. -Thank you.

♪ The wheels on the bus go round and round ♪

♪ Round and round, round and round ♪

♪ The wheels on the bus go round and round ♪

♪ All through the town ♪

You're not you anymore.

Oh, my God, you should join us for our Friday morning hike, right?

-Yeah. -Yes.

No, I really don't hike.

Oh, no. [laughs] Don't worry.

We don't do anything too major.

You know, just a few miles early in the morning before it gets too hot.

Sounds awful.

[all laughing]

You're so funny. Oh, you're so funny.

[woman] I can't hike far these days.

Oh, yeah, how are you feeling? May I?

Of course.

You smell like strawberries.

Strawberry shampoo.

What was that?

Sorry, my sense of smell is just really strong right now.

Tell me about it. I threw up from the smell of the trash this morning.

That's because you're pregnant.

That's where it all starts.

There's a change in our genetic makeup.

Nobody talks about the cellular change that happens when we become mothers.

Yes, nobody does.

Nobody tells you that you're never gonna jump on

a trampoline again either. Right?

Not to mention, that the whole concept of motherhood

that we're sold is such bullshit.

You're going to be expected to figure the whole thing out

on your own without any village to speak of.

You're going to get no maternal benefits from the government.

You're going to get mocked by popular culture.

And-and there's basically a billion-dollar industry

that's designing products to make you feel like you're a terrible mother.

But seriously, congratulations.

I mean, you're totally right.

My sister who lives in Berlin now got two years paid maternity leave.

Wow.

I can't believe I'm gonna go through this all again.

Birth.

That's so fucking intense.

How do you think Daniel will do?

He always tells the story of my first birth

and how the doctor turned around said, "It's time to get that baby out."

And there was a vein popping on my forehead.

I was like a wild animal.

Yeah, a wild animal.

Oh, my God, yes.

My husband said the same thing,

that the sounds coming out of me were pure animal.

He almost passed out.

-I mean, he's not good with blood, but-- -Yeah, right.

Do you ever feel like the big secret is that we are gods?

What?

We fucking create life.

We make life.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

We are so powerful.

[chuckles] I bet men are terrified of us. I mean, look at you.

You are this miraculous goddess growing bones as we speak.

I am pretty powerful.

Oh...

-Wow. -Yeah.

I guess I just don't fully understand.

It's just a game. We play dogs, and he loves it.

Hm.

And he's eating out of dog bowls?

Sometimes.

Yes, sometimes we eat out of perfectly new,

never been used by a real dog, dog bowls.

And he's-he's-he's wearing a collar?

[mother] Well, he wanted to be domesticated.

[chuckles] I was against it, but...

-All right. -And he sleeps in a dog bed.

-What now? -No, but I don't have to lie with him

for hours until he falls asleep.

I just give him a little growl,

and then he gets into bed on his own,

and he falls asleep without his binky.

It's a miracle.

Look, I don't wanna be critical, but don't you think

this might be a little bit confusing for him?

Well, for him or for you?

Come on. You gotta admit this is a little bit weird.

No, I don't. I don't see what the problem is.

He is sleeping, which means I'm sleeping for the first time

in two fucking years, and I'm getting plenty of exercise.

So my back doesn't hurt when I wake up anymore.

I mean, I'm just trying to have some fun.

When did you become so uptight?

[panting, grunting]

-Bite my neck. -Huh?

Bite my neck.

Okay.

[moaning]

Can you speak?

-Woof! -Oh, good job.

-Woof speak. -There you go.

[chuckles]

It's just a little party trick we're working on.

Right, the, uh, the dog thing.

Oh, you feel left out, honey?

No.

[mother] Here you go.

-Beg. -Mm-mm.

Beg.

[pants]

[pants

Good boy.

[cat meows]

Oh, gosh, shut up.

We fed you, you stupid animal.

Stupid animal.

Oh, kitty, kitty, kitty.

I'm gonna throw you up on the roof and let you starve to death up there.

And maybe a chicken hawk will swoop down and grab him in its talons

while he's up there and then take him up into the sky

and drop him from a very high height

into a deep quarry, where heaving mining equipment

with caterpillar treads will repeatedly run over its broken corpse.

-Where's the tunnel? -Right there. That's the tunnel.

-It's gonna blow the horn. -[horn toots]

Yee-haw!

Hi.

Yee-haw!

[♪ carnival music playing]

Hey, I took your advice, and I made a plan for us, a schedule.

-Oh, great. -Yeah.

No, come see.

Okay. So Monday, it's gymnastics play space.

Tuesday is Book Babies at the libraries, my fave.

Wednesdays, mommy baby yoga.

Thursday is free day. See?

And Friday is a tyke hike.

See the pictures?

-Wow. -Yeah.

-Okay. -[chuckles] Because if I'm gonna do this,

I should just really commit, right?

-Right. -Right.

[exclaims]

Um, oh, you remember that I said that I would meet up with my friends

from grad school in the city tonight, right?

Yes. Yes, I'm babysittin'.

It's not babysitting when it's your own kid.

Whatever. You know what I mean.

I'm on bedtime duty and you're going to have a grownup dinner.

Yeah. 9:00 p.m. which is four hours later than I usually eat.

[♪ rock music playing]

♪ The wheels on the bus go round and round ♪

♪ Round and round, round and round ♪

[patrons chattering]

It's got like an ironic wink to it.

I didn't get that.

I feel you have to come from a certain background to feel that irony.

[chuckles]

You know, work that is examining social media like my piece is tricky.

-We've lost some objectivity. -Right.

[woman] I'm working on a video piece about one woman's day,

taking over 24 hours side by side with an actress

who is acting out that same day in that very same space.

Masturbating, shitting.

But how will you know which woman is the woman?

Exactly.

That's the genius of it.

What it is to be watched.

Is anyone not watched?

Wow. That sounds really interesting.

Are you working on anything?

-Me? -Mm-hm.

Oh, um... No, no.

No, I'm not really working on anything.

Nope.

[waiter] We have a beautiful sea bass tonight.

It's served in a white wine reduction.

We also have homemade cavatelli with chanterelles and fiddlehead ferns.

[chuckles]

What's funny?

Oh, yeah.

Just my son and I, we have this joke about fiddlehead ferns.

It's like we call them fiddle dee-dee ferns. [chuckles]

I guess you just had to be there because he has this two-year-old lisp.

He can't really say the fiddle dee-dee.

Could I have the cavatelli, but without the chanterelle?

[waiter] Yes.

I'll have the...

-the kale salad, please. -What?

Kale salad.

What?

Um, the kale salad.

And another Manhattan.

[waiter] And for you?

Mm. I'll have the lamb.

So Naya?

-Naya? -Hm?

How's Liliana doing?

-Is she six now? -Yes.

She's in first grade at the music academy.

And she's really into the cello, as well the violin.

It's just amazing watching her blossom, you know?

Wow.

Is-is it ever hard to balance it all,

like, motherhood and art?

Not really.

I mean, listen, I couldn't do it without Christie.

Thank God for my nanny. [chuckles]

But...

I guess I'm a better mom because of my work.

Yeah.

And I just, I haven't lost myself, you know?

[man] Mm-hm.

[Naya] Oh, Freida...

application for the Founder's Grant.

-Did you get it in? -[Freida] Barely.

-I turned it in at like 2:00 a.m. -[Naya] What?

[Freida] Like a fucking idiot.

You?

-[Naya] I did it weeks ago. -[man] Mm.

[Naya] And now we wait.

Well, I haven't even turned in my application.

What am I gonna do?

Yeah, I bet everybody's wondering where's my application.

-[man] Sorry. -[Naya] We just got here.

[Freida] I was just asking how long does it take

-for a table to get ready? -[Naya] What are you doing?

-[man] Whatever we wanted. -[Naya] You know what?

-Next time you pick the restaurant. -[waiter] The kale for you, ma'am.

[Naya] You do this all the time.

-No, like, she-- -It's actually more of a meditation

-I believe from the perspective. -Let's just call a spade a spade.

The show was the most important artistic event of our lifetime.

-Yeah. I just don't see it that way. -[woman] Yeah, but you always disagree.

[woman] Yeah, I think that's a little bit overrated.

[Naya] You're so hyperbolic. I mean...

[woman] ...people was trash, and what was art?

I thought that went great.

I am a Zen cow.

I'm a Zen cow...

in a soothing green...

pasture.

[chokes]

Can I have, um...

Oh...

This kale.

It's just...

pushing it down further...

all of them,

rage and disappointment.

I thought that I had digested it,

but it is still down there just burning a hole in me.

And the woman that I used to be, this...

talented...

plucky young woman with big ideas,

she's down there also...

in my intestines...

buried in kale.

She's biding her time.

Or maybe she's dead.

[chuckles] She suffocated.

[background laughter and chatter echoing]

And here I am...

up here in this...

beautiful lighting of this beautiful fucking restaurant,

just this...

middle-aged saggy mom with...

nothing intelligent to add to the conversation...

Insignificant.

[woman] Have you seen Jermaine's installation at the Armature?

[man] I'm dying to get to the nighttime exhibit at Art Lucerne.

[Naya] Oh, me too. We should go together.

[Freida] Now, that-- both were incredible.

Yes. But you do need to...

Yeah, you need to trust me and knock it out there.

[chattering continues indistinct]

[Freida] Oh, I'm sure she's able to get a lens...

whoever bought it for the show.

-The value only goes up. -[Naya] Yeah, absolutely.

Ugh, this kale is not sitting well.

[belches]

-[chair screeches] -[gasps]

What the fuck?

[barks]

[patrons gasping]

[barks]

Oh, my God.

I could crush a walnut with my vagina.

[woman] Oh, my... What?

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[growling]

[howls]

[car tires screeching]

[honking]

[♪ dramatic music playing, AURORA, "Blood in the Wine"]

♪ Come on and feel the love like a sinner ♪

♪ Shout it louder ♪

♪ Shout it for the ones who could never say ♪

[mother] I wanna run and never come back.

I wanna never brush my hair ever again.

I want to stink.

I wanna be an artist,

and a woman,

and a mother.

I mean a monster.

I want to be a monster.

Oh, it's disgusting.

[cat meows]

♪ Shout it louder ♪

♪ Not a sinner, she's a lover ♪

[dogs barking in distance]

♪ I was given a heart ♪

[growling]

♪ A thirst for pleasure and war ♪

♪ A hunger we keep inside ♪

♪ We fell from sky with grace ♪

♪ And life gave us a sweeter taste ♪

♪ You can drink, you can feast ♪

♪ There's beauty in your beast ♪

[barks]

-♪ Come on, and feel alive, lover ♪ -[dogs barking]

♪ Come on and feel the love like a sinner ♪

♪ Shout it louder ♪

♪ Not a sinner, she's a lover ♪

-[cat screeching] -[dog barking]

Mama.

[breathing heavily]

[children screaming]

[child laughter echoes]

[dog barking in distance]

Baby?

[woman] Okay.

Come down.

You got it.

[girl screams]

Baby?

Have you seen a little boy?

-He's blonde. -[woman] No.

Okay.

Baby?

Baby?

[♪ tense music playing]

-[son babbles] -[mother panting]

-Here you are. -Hi.

[mother] Hey. Hey.

There you are.

You can't hide from mommy like that.

You can't hide from me like that.

[babbles] I was counting.

You were counting. I know. I know.

The cat died and you didn't even call me.

It was a pretty traumatic morning.

There was blood on the steps, and-and we had to bury him.

But... but I could've helped.

Well, I guess I've gotten pretty good at doing things by myself. [chuckles]

Oh.

Mm.

But it has made some things pretty clear though.

Like what?

I'm not doing okay.

You were so quick to support me

when I said that I wanted to give up being an artist.

That's what you said you wanted.

No, you were so quick, like there's no protestations from you.

And it just would've been nice to have a little encouragement from you,

say that I'm good at what I do

and that it would be a shame to give it up.

Tell me that I'll return to it someday. But you just smile.

No, no, I didn't.

Because somewhere you knew that you were getting exactly what you've always wanted,

which is for me to be a stay-at-home mom just like...

-Whoa, wait a minute. -...just like your mom and her mother.

It's a sweet deal for you. You have your job and I have mine.

Only my job has no pay, and no vacation days,

and no appreciation, and includes washing your fucking underwear.

I never said that, okay? This feels a little bit like a trap.

Oh, you feel trapped?

Do you have any fucking clue how trapped I feel?

I have found myself in a fucking 1950s marriage

where all I do is take care of our son,

and you, and the fucking cat.

[grunts]

It was your idea to quit your job.

-I didn't suggest that. -No, I agreed to it,

but I had no fucking clue what I was agreeing to.

I didn't realize that I would feel like a single parent who has zero help,

who has to give up her dreams to take care of everyone.

I don't know what to say.

I-I-- I didn't know you felt this way.

Do you think that I want it like this?

I mean, do you think that I want to be married to my mother?

I don't wanna feel your resentment the moment I walk into my house.

If you were so fucking unhappy,

why didn't you tell me?

Do you expect for me to read your mind?

Look, if you tell me that everything's fine,

then I think that everything is fine.

If you tell me that you wanna quit your job

and stop being an artist and stay at home with our son,

and I say, "Okay."

I think I'm supporting you.

That is just some passive-aggressive bullshit.

-No. Okay. But-- -No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

You're not the person that I married either.

The person I married let things go that weren't important.

She was tough as shit.

She was-- she was weird and excited about things

in the world like reading books.

Oh, my fucking God, I cannot believe you're saying this to me!

No, it's fucking disappointing. It's disappointing for me, too.

I mean, I don't know how we got here. I really don't know how we got here.

You're too busy worried about fucking Book Babies

to ask about my day at work or-or-or keep up on current events.

I mean, what happened to the girl that I married, huh?

What happened to the-- to the girl that inspired me

and made me challenge this world in new and interesting ways, huh?

What happened to my wife?

She died in childbirth.

[chair skids on floor]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[girl] Mama.

[mother] I think that...

we need a separation.

I'm just so confused.

This agreement that we made isn't working for me anymore.

I just-- I need space. I'm...

I don't know how'd I...

I don't...

I don't know how I feel or what I need, but...

I know I need-- I need to dig around in the dark

and just find myself again.

Do you-- do you regret having a kid?

No...

I don't.

But if I could go back in time, I would sit us down

and figure out a more equitable way to do this parenting thing.

I'd have been open to that.

I'm sorry.

Me, too.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[trunk closes]

[son] Daddy?

What's wrong, sweetie?

Why don't we play with your train?

I want Daddy.

Oh, choo-choo.

Where's the tunnel?

Did you kick that train?

What...

Are you mad at the train?

What are you doing?

Come here, sweetheart. I got you.

Come here.

Come here.

Yeah, it's okay.

Yeah.

I love you.

I don't want this anymore.

Oh, um, I-- This isn't one of ours.

I don't think.

What?

You gave that to me.

Uh, well, I don't think so.

Look, there's no catalog card.

I don't know where this book came from, but, um, we can't-- we can't take it.

[chuckles]

I remember what it was like when my kids were little.

I had a hard time keeping things straight also.

I mean, you don't sleep for years, right?

And you're holding them with the stomachaches,

and the toothaches, and the bad dreams.

It's enough for anybody to lose their bearings.

You just didn't seem like a mother to me.

You didn't recognize it?

You look in the eyes of other women and you see a fire flickering there.

Oh, my God.

Yeah, the pain, the sacrifice,

that shared bond of all you've given up

for the continuation of the species.

It's just so much more encompassing than I thought it would be.

Yeah, yeah, it changes you...

and connects you to some...

primal urges.

Thanks.

What happened with your husband?

We were just so stuck in this horrible dynamic

where I was the stay-at-home mom,

which maybe I'm not cutout for, and he was the worker who got to go out

and engage in the world, and I just had to break out of it.

And I killed the cat this week.

So it just made me realize that maybe I'm not doing great...

emotionally.

I let the fish die.

Benign neglect.

I didn't wanna clean the fucking bowl.

I accidentally let Percy fly away.

-[woman] Oh. -I know, I know, I know.

[woman laughing]

Wait, who's Percy?

He's a parakeet.

-Great news. This is actually great news. -[women laughing]

Okay.

Okay, I probably over-packed,

but you should have everything you need, okay?

It's in the bag.

-Have fun, okay? -[son] Okay.

[mother] I'll miss you.

[kissing]

I'll call you if I need something.

-Bye. -[engine starts]

Bye.

Bye.

[♪ dramatic music playing, Nate Heller feat. King Isis "Summer Blue"]

♪ Hello, new friend ♪

♪ How do you do? ♪

♪ Where do you run to ♪

♪ Shake summer blues? ♪

All right, buddy.

All right.

This is Dad's famous pasta with his famous sauce, all right?

I'll get that, I'll get your water...

and some Parmesan cheese.

Whoa, whoa! Oh!

Oh, buddy.

Are you okay? What...

-It's on my arm. -Uh-huh.

-What happened? -It's on my arm, Dad.

What? Oh, it's on your arm. Okay. Let me get that off.

♪ Hello, new friend ♪

-Are you okay? -Yeah.

What happened?

It fell and then I broke it.

Oh, it fell, but you-- but you broke it?

That doesn't make a lot of sense.

♪ Some took the cue ♪

Oh, the thing, let me just get this thing right.

I got it.

All right. You wanna go on the couch?

Can you sit right there?

♪ Not a moment too soon ♪

You know, Dad's killing it. [chuckles]

He's killing it, isn't he?

And there's two under the couch.

♪ White ghost walking... ♪

[husband] Oh, yeah.

[dog howling in distance]

[son] Right there.

Yeah.

[mother] Aww.

There's my baby!

-Come here, hi. -[son] Like this.

-Like that? -Yes.

Oh, it's so good to see you.

[son] I'm tired.

Oh. I know.

How'd it go?

Uh... it was good.

-Yeah? -It went really good, right, little dude?

Right?

-It was hard. -It was hard.

It was really hard, I'm not gonna lie.

Yeah.

Uh, how was your time alone?

Um...

-It was really wonderful actually. -[husband] Oh.

[mother] Yeah.

Um, I've got this new idea for a project.

Yeah, it's cool. I'm really-- I'm really focused right now.

It's amazing how efficient I can be

when I don't have any time, you know.

Thanks.

[mother] Yeah.

[babbling]

-Should I cut these? -Yeah.

-You wanna help? -No.

-[mother] No? Okay. -[son] Don't cut this.

Oh, because it has syrup on it.

Oh, you want that? Yeah, get that in there.

Can you say bye-bye to Daddy?

-Bye-bye, Daddy. -[husband] Bye-bye, buddy.

-I'll see you soon. -Bye.

Bye, Mama.

[mother] Mama's not leaving.

Um, so, I will drop him, uh, on Saturday morning?

Oh, yeah, sure.

He, uh... he's-he's still not used to me.

I kind of felt like he thought he'd been kidnapped.

[laughs]

That'll change.

I don't know. He was-- he was kind of like, "Who's this weird man

living at this sad apartment complex with all these other sad men?"

I swear, the whole place is newly divorced dads.

It was all these kids sitting around the pool confused.

-Not a mom in sight. -[chuckles]

All I can think of is all of these sunburned kids

'cause nobody remembered to bring sunscreen.

Shit, I didn't even think about sunscreen.

Uh, um, so I'll see you on Saturday.

Yup.

[singing on TV] ♪ How many eggs do you want to get? ♪

[mother] I missed you so much!

[son] Mama!

Look at him chase the ball.

Isn't that so silly?

Mama.

Can you hold-- Oh-- That's two.

Can I touch your dog?

-Hi. -Say hi.

Which one should we go see? The little guy?

Come on, let's go. Hi.

Thank you.

Hi, oh, hello!

Hi! Is he yours?

We just love dogs, so...

[♪ dramatic music playing, Joanna Newsom "Divers"]

♪ The diver is my love ♪

[exclaims] Are you now...

♪ And I am his ♪

I'm a dog.

No, you're not a dog.

[son] What's this?

[mother] Do you see it?

Do you see all the colors?

[son] Red, yellow, orange, green.

-Can you count? -One, two,

-three, four... -Two, three, four, five!

There's five people on that train?

-Yes. -That's so many.

-Can I tell you something? -Yeah.

I love being your mom.

Oh, I love you. I love the choo-choos.

-I love... -I love the-- all those choo-choos.

Yeah.

[girl] Mama?

I didn't want you to be scared.

I wanted you to know I came home.

Where did you go?

I needed some space,

so I went walking in the woods.

I thought you weren't gonna come back.

I will always come back.

I am your mama forever,

and I will always come back.

♪ But you loved me last ♪

♪ Recall the word you gave ♪

♪ To count your way ♪

♪ Across the depths of this arid world ♪

[mother] I wanna go back and grab you by the shoulders

and scream at you.

Insist on your joy.

Time is short.

Don't just do it for you.

Do it for me, too.

♪ A woman is alive ♪

♪ A woman is alive ♪

[mother] I always thought motherhood was sort of a weak state of being,

but motherhood is a far more primal, active thing than that.

It is probably the most violent experience a human can have aside from death itself.

Thanks.

A child's first act is violence against the woman who created it.

Yet still, the mother loves the child

with the most powerful love known in the universe.

This thing rips its way out of us.

Literally tears us in two

in a wash of blood, and shit, and piss,

or it is cut from us with a knife.

Our organs taken out only to be put back in and sewn up.

So, no, motherhood is not sunshine and baby powder,

little pastel mints and lacy frocks.

Motherhood is fucking brutal.

♪ Tell me why ♪

♪ Is the pain of birth ♪

♪ Lighter borne than the pain of death? ♪

♪ I ain't saying that I loved ♪

♪ You first ♪

♪ But I loved you best ♪

[patrons chattering]

I know, I know, I just like-- I...

You are.

And the dead bird wasn't there.

-Thank you. -Thanks so much.

-Hi. -Oh, my gosh!

Thank you for coming!

-Thank you, thank you. -Oh, my gosh.

I am just so impressed by you.

-I feel so honored to be a part of this. -Thank you. Thank you, guys.

-Thank you. -Okay.

-[mother] Oh, hi. -Hi.

-Hi, thank you for coming. -My gosh.

This is so fucking cool,

but especially for the suburbs.

I'm so into this show.

It's very provocative. Very you.

Thank you.

It reminds me a little bit of Charlotte Ghibli's work

from last year, but I mean that in a good way.

It's not derivative, like it's in conversation. You know?

Excuse me.

-Oh. -Oh, you came!

You did it.

They called and you answered.

[chuckles]

Did you see Naya?

I can't believe we got her out of the city. [chuckles]

You okay?

Not really.

I didn't get it.

Get it? Get what?

I didn't see it.

I mean, I didn't-- I didn't see all that you were giving up by being at home.

Oh, right.

I mean, look at what you fucking did.

It's like I feel like I've been led into this whole universe

that I've been totally blind to,

just all the things that you weren't able to say.

Yeah.

I'm just in awe.

I'm in fucking awe of you.

And I should have told you to not give this up.

I fucked up.

I fucked up, and I'm sorry.

You're so weird and...

and I love you.

I love you.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

Okay.

I gotta go relieve the sitter.

I'll come with you.

No, no, please.

You should go meet up with all the moms from Book Babies.

They're at the bar across the street.

You sure?

Yeah, it's your night.

What sound's a bear make?

[son and husband growling]

[mother] There are times when I look at my son,

and I cannot tell where he begins and I end.

He is that much a part of me.

We are part of one another.

You guys, you-you be a bear.

You be a bear. I'll be a bear.

All right, who goes first?

You.

[husband and mother growling]

[mother] This must be what it is to be an animal.

Beneath the moon, we pile inside our warm cave,

becoming one creature to save our warmth.

You go to sleep?

[mother] This is how it's always been and how it will continue to be.

Wanted to go back to sleep.

[babbles indistinct]

[crickets chirping]

Sleepy time.

[mother panting]

[♪ upbeat music playing, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Fleez"]

Okay. Okay. All right.

-I can't. -Listen to me.

-Yeah. -You can do this.

Your mother did this.

Her mother did this.

So it is time for you to dig deep.

Find the strength.

Because it's time to meet your daughter.

Now!

[screams]

Come on.

I got it.

[screaming]

[roaring]

♪ ...mation ♪

[baby crying]

♪ And it feels nice ♪

♪ To roll the dice ♪

♪ Once or twice ♪

♪ Fleez and me eating nuts in the leaves ♪

♪ That's where we dance to ESG ♪

♪ Fleez and me eating nuts in the leaves ♪

♪ That's where we dance to ESG ♪

♪ Like this ♪

♪ Very moody, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Very moody, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Very, up down ♪

♪ And all around baby ♪

♪ Very moody, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Very moody, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Very moody, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Very moody, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

[song ends]

[♪ dramatic music playing, Nate Heller feat. King Isis "Summer Blue"]

♪ Hello, new friend ♪

♪ How do you do? ♪

♪ Where do you run to ♪

♪ Shake summer blues? ♪

♪ Burning with faith ♪

♪ She's a heck of a guide ♪

♪ Your feelings won't wake up ♪

♪ With the moon at your side ♪

♪ Think I'm coming unglued ♪

♪ Found a new attitude ♪

♪ Hear me coming alive ♪

♪ Found a way to survive ♪