All language subtitles for Stuck in Love 2013_track3_[eng]

[INFORMANT LOGO MUSIC]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

RUSTY [VOICEOVER]: I remember
that it hurt.

Looking at her hurt.

Your-- your--

your nose.

Oh.

Oh, um, it does that sometimes.

[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]

[STUDENTS CHATTER]

Hey.

Hey.

SAMANTHA: I never enjoy
anything.

I'm always waiting for
whatever's next.

I think everyone's like that,
living life in fast forward,

never stopping to enjoy the
moment,

too busy trying to rush through
everything,

so we can get on with what we're
really supposed

to be doing with our lives.

I get these flashes of clarity,
brilliant clarity,

where, for a second I stop, and
I think, wait, this is it.

This is my life.

I better slow down and enjoy it
because one day we're all

going to end up in the ground.

And that'll be it.

We'll be gone.

[MUSIC - SKATERS, "SCHEMERS"]

[SINGING] So you think you got a
problem?

That's why I think we should
fuck.

[CHOKING]

Um, what?

Well, let's just fast forward
through all

the drunken seduction bullshit
we have to look forward to.

I mean, you don't look like
you'd be very good at it

anyway.

And I don't want to sit here and
listen you

bumblefuck your way through it.

We both want the same thing, to
go back to your room,

have sex, and never see each
other again.

Are you with me?

Is this a trick?

- The offer's about to expire. -
No, I'm-- I'm--

I'm in.

I'm-- I'm definitely in.

[DISTANT CHATTER]

Do you like that book?

No, God, no.

No.

It's my idiot brother's favorite
book.

Is it yours?

No, no.

It's my roommate's.

I'm not really much of a reader.

Good.

Now, come here.

Yes, ma'am.

[EXHALES]

[DOG BARKING]

ERICA: What do you mean?

[INAUDIBLE]

MARTIN: [INAUDIBLE] shouty,
shouty, shouty.

ERICA: [INAUDIBLE] Take full
responsibility for it.

[INAUDIBLE]

ERICA: Nothing has happened.

All I'm saying is [INAUDIBLE].

It's all the time.

You're being ridiculous.

[INAUDIBLE] Once.

ERICA: You're being absurd.

MARTIN: Once.

BILL [VOICEOVER]: As I stood
there staring

through the window into my
ex-wife's new life,

I was overcome by the oddest
sensation.

Watching her with this man was
like turning

on a familiar sitcom and
realizing

they had replaced one of the
lead actors with a stranger.

The show was the same, but the
thespian

who played William Borgens for
nearly 20 years was gone.

In his place was a younger,
dumber model.

[DOG BARKING]

Ah!

MARTIN: What was that, boy?

[PANICKED NOISE]

Good boy.

Heel.

Down.

Heel.

Fucking dog.

[MUSIC - EDWARD SHARPE AND THE
MAGNETIC ZEROS, "HOME"]

[SINGING] Alabama, Arkansas, I
do love my ma and pa,

not the way that I do love you.

Now, holy moley, me oh my.

You're the apple of my eye.

Girl, I've never--

BILL: Rusty.

[SINGING] --loved one like you.

Man, oh, man, you're my best
friend.

I scream it to the nothingness.

There ain't nothing that I need.

Well, hot and heavy, pumpkin
pie.

Oh, yeah.

[SINGING] Chocolate candy, Jesus
Christ.

There ain't nothing please me
more than you.

BILL: There you go.

[SINGING] Ah, home.

Let me go home.

Home is wherever I'm with you.

All right, you got this bowl?

[SINGING] Ah, home, let me go
home.

Home is wherever I'm with you.

RUSTY: Hey.

[QUIETLY TALKING]

[SINGING] La, la, la, la.

Just get me to the turkey
juice.

Oh, fuck, yeah, Dad.

[SINGING] Mommy, I'm coming
home.

Oh, just lock it in there.

Here, can you just get him.
[SINGER WHISTLING]

Gentle, Gently, there you go.
Got him?

Got it.

Well, wait, don't push that
hard.

All right.

There you go.

Yeah.

[SINGING] I'll follow you into
the park, through the jungle--

[KNOCKING]

[SINGING] --through the dark.

Girl, I never loved one like
you.

Dad.

She's here.

[SINGING] --and waterfalls,
alleyways and pay phone calls.

I've been-- - Ready?

[SINGING] --everywhere with you.

That's true.

Hi, I'm back.

Hey, Dad.

[KNOCKING]

[SINGING] --sweeter than with
you.

Hi.

[LAUGHS]

Smells good.

Hey.

Hey, Rusty.

Hey, Sam.

[SINGING] Come home.

BILL: Well, they said that--
that you have to go back there,

or--

Well, they just said that I
think you might

have to end up paying for it.

BILL: No, but, I mean, they were
going

to cancel the whole thing, the
appointment?

RUSTY: Uh, yeah, they're
cancelling it.

It's over, uh, basically--

My book's being published.

[CHOKING]

[LAUGHING]

Oh my God!

Congratulations! SAMANTHA: Thank
you.

- Oh my God. - Thanks, Dad.

I'm so proud of you.

What house is it? - Scribner.

What?

That's King's publisher.

BILL: Yeah, no, they're great.

Great.

I-- we got to have a toast.

We have to have a toast. -
Scribner.

BILL: Yeah.

SAMANTHA: Yeah, yeah, that's
exactly what I was thinking

when I submitted the book.

This'll really piss Rusty off.

It's not because they published
books by Ernest

Hemingway or Kurt Vonnegut.

David McCullough, Frank
McCourt.

SAMANTHA: F. Scott Fitzgerald,
Bob fucking Dylan.

I didn't know you had dibs on
Scribner.

I never said I had dibs,
Samantha.

I just was-- - You're just
jealous.

- Wow. - I'm not jealous.

What-- [LAUGHS]

- Yeah. - What an
accomplishment.

Your sister is having her first
book published, all right?

Th-- this is a cause for
celebration.

This is what the holidays are
all about.

All right, cool.

You might want to congratulate
her.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Jeez, I didn't have my first
book published till, I

don't know, I was 25, 26.

I'd have been happy to call
those guys.

SAMANTHA: No, I-- - I know 'em
all over there.

--submitted it under a fake
name and didn't tell them

whose daughter I was until--

BILL: But I wouldn't have
minded.

--after it had been accepted. I
know.

I just--

BILL: Because you wanted it to
be about your book

and not about being my daughter.

Yeah.

BILL: OK, well, This is a
toast--

Psst.

BILL: --to you and your first
novel, "Just Saying Hi."

SAMANTHA: Oh, it's not "Just
Saying Hi."

BILL: Did they make you change
the title?

SAMANTHA: No, they're not
publishing "Just Saying Hi."

It's a different book.

What?

SAMANTHA: I put that aside for
now.

I wrote a new one.

When?

Over the summer.

What happened to "Just Saying
Hi"?

You were excited about that.

I was ex-- I put a lot of work
and effort into that.

I-- I proofed the manuscript.
And I--

I know. I'm sorry.

I--

BILL: I-- I-- I thought my
opinion meant something.

SAMANTHA: It does.

Dad, you know it does.

And yet, you turn around and
write an entirely new book

and don't think to share it with
me?

Sorry.

Something's burning.

Congratulations.

Why would you let him set that
place at the table?

I set it.

He asked me to.

Yeah, well, she's not coming.

RUSTY: I'm about to head over
there.

You should come. Give Dad a
chance to cool off.

I'm not going over there.

RUSTY: Fine, suit yourself.

I'll tell her you said, hi.

You can tell Mom to drop dead.

[INHALES] Whoa.

[MUSIC - CLOUDBIRDS, "END RUN"]

[SINGING] You wear your heart on
your sleeve.

The food is so good.

ERICA: I'm glad you like it.

So how did everything go over at
your dad's?

It was good.

Sam's getting a book published.

What?

Yeah, that was my reaction too.

That's great.

I always thought your dad making
you

and your sister keep journals
was, um, a little strange.

But it sounds like it's paying
off.

- I can't believe it. - Why is
it strange?

Rusty, just let that go.

- No, why is it strange? -
It's-- it's fine.

I just want to know why you
think it's so strange.

Well, it just seems like he was

forcing you to be writers,
instead of allowing

you to choose to be.

We don't have to keep the
journals if we don't want to.

You'd have to get a job if you
stopped.

He pays us to do it, so we can
focus

on our writing instead of
working some

bullshit job at McDonald's.

ERICA: Rusty.

What?

What?

Are you stoned?

Are you kidding? Are you
being--

- Rusty. - Don't be ridiculous.

Can I talk to you in the
kitchen--

I'm not stoned.

--for a minute, please.

I think you're stoned.

Great. RUSTY: I'm going.

Good.

RUSTY: I'm coming.

[SIGHS]

What's gotten into you?

I'm not gonna let that
Neanderthal talk about Dad

like that.

He didn't say anything about
your father.

It's not what he says.

It's how he talks about him like
he's-- he's some

sort of weirdo or something.

And watching football doesn't
make you a Neanderthal.

Owning his own gym does make
him a Neander--

OK, enough, enough.

Is Sam's book really getting
published?

That's what she said.

Wow.

[LAUGHS]

It's been over a year since we
spoke.

I know.

She said to say hi to you.

I don't believe that for a
second,

but it's very sweet of you to
say.

[CRYING]

Ah, Mom.

Please don't ever hate me, the
way she hates me.

I don't hate you at all, Mom.

Good.

You are stoned though, aren't
you?

I thought it'd make it easier
to eat again.

Pot and nothing else, ever.

You understand me?

You don't have to worry about
me, Mom.

Yeah, I do.

It's my job.

[WAVES SPLASHING]

[SEAGULLS CAWING]

I cleared the table and started
the dishes.

Sorry I reacted the way I did.

I was just surprised.

I thought you were happy with
the book.

I was.

It just-- it didn't seem like my
book anymore.

It felt like someone else's.

My editorial hand a little
heavy for you.

Yes, Dad.

I was scared of how you'd react.

And I felt guilty because of all
the work

that you put into "Just Saying
Hi."

I'm sorry I didn't tell you
about the other book.

Stop apologizing.

It's my fault for involving
myself in your God

damn book in the first place.

I'm guessing that you don't
want to read the new one.

Fuck, no.

Never?

No, thank you.

I brought you a hard copy.

Really?

Yeah, I was gonna sign it for
you if you, you know, want it

or not, but maybe.

Leave it on my desk.

Ha, wait, um, can I ask you a
question

without you getting defensive?

What?

Rusty, told me Martin called
the cops on a prowler

the other night.

Dad, you got to stop doing this
to yourself.

It's been two years. - She's
coming back.

You're completely delusional.

And what's with sitting a place
for her at the table?

That's fucking nuts.

You know they're fighting
again?

Oh, and where'd you see that?

Through their window?

Really?

People get arrested for doing
things like that.

You're a well respected
novelist.

You've won the PEN/Faulkner
award twice.

You can't behave like that.

She's coming back.

Jesus, at least tell me you've
been writing.

Look what you've let her do to
you, Dad!

Seriously.

[MUSIC - BILL RICCHINI, "A
MOUNTAIN, A PEAK"]

[KNOCKING]

Hey.

What are you working on?

RUSTY: Uh, it's a poem for
English class.

Sorry about earlier. I was being
a dick.

It's OK. [LAUGHS]

RUSTY: No, you were right.

I was just jealous.

I really am happy for you.
That's awesome.

SAMANTHA: You're gonna have a
book published one day too,

you know?

Sure, I know.

[SINGING] I stay, stay up here.

Jason, hooked me up with some
weed.

Roof?

You got your eye on any, uh,
girls this year?

Yeah, there's this girl Kate in
my English class.

Every time I see her, I hear
that song, the Beatles song,

"I've Just Seen a Face" playing
in my head.

[COUGHING] [LAUGHING]

God, you are so pathetic.

That is not pathetic.

Let me give you some advice.

Ah, I can't wait to hear your
advice.

Aw.

That sounds like really
awesome.

There are two kinds of people
in this world--

hopeless romantics and realists.

Right.

A realist just sees that face
and packs it

in with every other pretty girl
that they've ever seen before.

A hopeless romantic becomes
convinced

that God put them on earth to be
with that one person.

But there is no God, and life is
only as meaningful as you fool

yourself into thinking it is.

Guys who get laid a lot are
realists.

You should be listening.

Just avoid love at all costs.

That's my motto.

You've never been in love?

If love is setting a place at a
table

for someone that's never coming
home, I think I'll pass.

That's fucking depressing, Sam.

Making students read their
poetry assignments

in front of the class is a
sadistic exercise

in public humiliation.

You could have already been
done with it by now, Rusty.

RUSTY: OK, OK, OK. TEACHER: Just
read it.

[SIGHS]

RUSTY: OK, um, OK, this is a
poem

I wrote over Thanksgiving break.

Uh, it's called "School."

It was written under the
influence of cannabis.

[LAUGHTER]

OK, in the sea of-- this is so
awkward.

Uh, uh, in the sea of desks,
there's

talk of bags, and games, and
long pipes that leak

dreams with strike of a match.

And there's a loudness to the
whispers I hear.

Whispers shouldn't be that loud,
should they?

There's a girl over there who
everyone knows.

And men without ears will stand
by the door for a price.

In long hallways, there are
angry mobs of dwarves,

and rats, and one single angel.

KATE: Hey, Rusty. - Hey.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi, I, um, I liked your poem.

Yeah?

Yeah, it was really good.

Thanks.

Sure.

How was your Thanksgiving?

Oh, uh, it was good.

It was a little weird.

Like, my parents are divorced.

So I have two Thanksgivings in
one Thanksgiving,

just, like, strange.

[LAUGHS]

How-- how 'bout you?

It was boring, whatever.

That's cool.

Yeah.

Kate!

I have to go.

I just wanted to say I like your
poem, so bye.

All right.

Come on.

Who the fuck is that?

Just a guy from class.

[TALKING QUIETLY]

Fucking asshole.

Hi.

I literally have 20 minutes.

So it'll have to be quick.

Come on. Let's go.

Did you stretch?

Come on.

OK.

[PANTING]

Oh, yeah, just a second.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, make it rain.

Yeah.

Whoo.

[PANTING]

Yeah.

To the left.

To the-- yeah.

No.

Yes!

Ah, all right.

I got to run.

Thursday, be ready.

Yes, sir.

[MUSIC - CHINATOWN, "TOKYO"]

[SINGING] Tokyo.

It won't be long till I hit the
road.

I'm singing.

Whoa.

Tokyo.

Hey.

Hey!

Hey, God, damn it!

- What are you doing? - You
scared the shit out of me.

I caught you red-handed.

You're reading my journal. -
Look.

You promised you'd never read
our journals.

I know. I'm sorry.

- I trusted you, Dad. - Closed.

Done. I'm sorry.

That pissed me off so much.

It's a invasion of privacy.

I'm sorry.

Rusty, I-- I-- I-- uh, uh, sit
down for a second.

Let me explain. - No, I'm not
gonna sit down.

BILL: OK, OK, I wasn't reading
your journal.

I just-- I flipped it open to
check the dates like

I always do.

And something jumped out at me
and-- and-- and grabbed me.

I'm sorry.

OK?

I'm sorry.

What?

May I?

"I remember that it hurt.

Looking at her hurt."

That's it.

If that was the opening line of
a book,

you'd have your reader hooked.

They'd have to keep reading. I
had to keep reading.

I'm sorry.

Flattery's not gonna get you
out of this.

Oh, no.

That's-- that's coming to an end
right now.

You know Flannery O'Connor?

I know Flannery O'Connor.

She said, nothing needed to
happen in a writer's life

after they were 20.

By then, they'd experienced more
than enough

to last their creative life.

So?

So what's your point?

My point is--

sit down for a second, please?

Rusty, [SIGHS] I don't think
you're experiencing enough.

I mean, the reason that you're
comfortable leaving your God

damn journal here on my desk is
because there's

nothing you're trying to hide
from me in your life.

And that really worries me, you
know?

Sweet, sensitive guys like you,
they

spend their entire high school
years frozen in place

while everybody's running
around, going to parties,

and getting laid, doing
whatever.

I don't want you to look back
years from now

and think about this girl-- is
it Kate?

Yeah, tell this girl how you
feel.

Put your heart on the line.

It's not that easy.

It is too. It is too.

Look at your sister.

You could-- hey, you can roll
your eyes all you want.

Your sister is a great writer.

And it's because she's
courageous in her life.

She's promiscuous, Dad.

That's not the same thing.

BILL: Rusty, a writer is the sum
of their experiences.

[MUSIC - LIKE PIONEERS,
"POLKADOT"]

Go get some.

- It'll be fine. - Come on.

This is crazy.

What are we doing here, man?

Everyone hates us.

Not tonight, they don't.

Not tonight.

[SINGING] I can't feel my feet.

Whoo!

[SINGING] Walking in the evening
cold.

What?

Uh, we're here for the party.

What party?

[CHEERING]

Dude, come on, man.

I'm in, like, three classes with
you.

Fuck off.

OK, but, uh, what are we going
to do with

all this [CLEARS THROAT] weed.

[LAUGHTER]

Oh, I was playing man, come on.

Yeah, yeah. - Really?

Hell yeah.

[CHEERING]

[SINGING] Sleeping here for
weeks, sleeping in--

Hey, everybody.

Hey.

My boys, uh, wait, what's your
name?

Rusty. This is Jason.

Hey. Hey.

My boys Rusty and Jason just
brought us a shitload of weed.

Whoo!

TOGETHER: Yeah!

- Your name is Rodney, right? -
Yeah, man, Rodney.

What's up?

You make sure with Jason that
everybody gets some of this.

- OK. - OK?

Where are you going?

I'm gonna go find my friend,
Kate.

Glen's chick? Oh, I think she's
upstairs.

[LAUGHS] Yeah, upstairs.

Dude, who are you?

I'm a new and improved Rusty
Borgens.

[MUSIC - RIO BRAVO, "AMERICAN
MAN']

[SINGING] And with an arrogant
smile, he shook his head,

counted his fingers from one to
ten.

With a foot like lead, revved
the engine,

and he left for the road, no
coming home.

No end in sight, like a blue
sky.

He was his own, no coming home.

No end in sight.

He realized that he drove all
night.

[PHONE RINGING]

SAMANTHA [VOICEMAIL]: This is
Sam.

Leave me a message after the
beep.

[BEEP]

[LIGHT SNORING]

[PHONE BEEPS OFF]

[MUSIC - LIKE PIONEERS,
"POLKADOT"]

[SINGING] I can't feel my feet.
- Let's see if he's down there.

[KNOCKING]

WOMAN: Glen, open the door.

Come on, Glen.

Glen, open the door.

I've been waiting here for like
10 minutes.

Come on.

Can you give us a fucking
second, please?

No, I can't give you a fucking
second.

I'm in pain.

Shut the fucking door.

[CROWD CHATTER]

Hey, Jason, let's get out of
here.

- Dude, I'm not going anywhere.
- Let's go.

I'm not going anywhere.

The plan was genius, dude.

No, it was a joke, Kate.

That's not a fucking joke.

Look, if you wanna fuck
[INAUDIBLE]..

You can fuck her, but you don't
get to fuck me too.

- Hey, don't walk away from me.
- Stop.

No, you're acting crazy.

KATE: Quit following me, Glen.

Oh, this is my house, bitch.

I'll follow you whoever the fuck
I want.

Oh, OK, big shot. Listen, I'm
leaving.

All right, asshole. - Good get
the fuck outta here.

CROWD: Oh!

Hey, asshole.

CROWD: Oh!

MAN: Dude.

MAN: [INAUDIBLE]

MAN: Glen, just got clocked.

[CROWD CHATTER]

- Ow. - Ah.

MAN: Dude, get up.

MAN: Dude, get up. Glen.

- You all right? - I'm fine.

OK, OK, come on. Come on,
Jason.

Come on. - And let me grab that.

- Hey! - Go, go, go, let's go.

- Let's go. - Run.

Run, run, run.

Yo, I'm gonna fucking kill you.

Dude.

Dude, fuck yeah, man.

All right, later, man.

Oh.

RUSTY: See ya, buddy.

JASON: Later.

[CAR DOOR SHUTS]

Hey, asshole.

Boom!

[DOG BARKING]

I can't go home like this.

I'm-- I'm a wreck.

My-- my knees are all banged up,
and I'm high.

Yeah, we should probably get
some ice on those.

Can I stay at your house
tonight?

OK.

[EERIE RING TONE AND BUZZING]

Hmm.

[PHONE BEEPS ON]

Hello?

ERICA [ON PHONE]: Hey, hey, it's
me.

Hey, are you OK?

ERICA [ON PHONE]: Um, where are
you?

I'm here.

I'm, um, at home.

ERICA [ON PHONE]: Oh.

I've been ringing the bell.

I fell asleep.

I'm-- are you here?

[FOOTSTEPS]

Hey.

We need to put our heads
together.

OK.

Bill, I can't sleep.

OK, I'm driving around in my
pajamas

in the middle of the night.

I'm, like, a crazy person.

I can't live like this anymore.

I can't either.

I've given her space.

I accepted her hatred towards me
as some phase

that she's going through.

But clearly this isn't a phase.

She has this amazing thing going
on with her life

now with this book being
published,

and I can't even share that with
her.

She won't return my calls.

She won't return my emails.

OK, but she's-- she's having a
book published,

and then she's-- she's busy.

And-- and-- and-- - Bullshit.

Getting her to return my
calls--

Bullshit. Bullshit.

She's petty. And she's cruel.

Everyone's parents are divorced.

Big fucking deal. You get over
it.

She fights with me too.

No, we're not fighting.

That's the thing.

I wish I could fight with her.

Then I'd be an active
participant in her life.

She's just abandoned me.

No, I don't think she's ab--
she's abandoned you?

That seems--

You are in a constant state of
denial about everything.

Bill, she acts like I don't
exist.

I haven't spoken to her in over
a year.

And you're not helping things.

Me, I haven't said one thing.

I-- I-- what have I--

You set a place for me at
Thanksgiving.

Yeah.

So every time she comes home
from school, she-- she

sees you miserable and moping.

And she blames me. - Oh.

I know she blames me. I know
she does.

I don't mope.

Oh, you mope.

You mope.

Say horrible things about me,
but don't try

to win her sympathy this way.

Hey, I made a promise to you,
and I intend to keep it.

Oh, Jesus.

Bill, that was a lifetime ago.

I release you from your promise.

Oh.

Please, go on with your life.
Go get laid.

- I get laid. - Great.

You get laid?

Mm-hmm.

Well, then be happy.

I just want you to be happy.

I was happy with you.

You were the one that wasn't
happy.

Well, I'm happy now.

You don't look happy to me.

What?

When you're sneaking around our
house at night?

When I see you and Martin
fighting.

Shut up, Bill.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[CROWD CHATTER]

Hey, do you need a menu?

Nice.

Oh, hey, wait a minute.

Excuse me.

Um, no, I-- uh, I don't mean to
be presumptuous.

But, uh, I wouldn't do that if I
were you.

I mean, he sleeps with a lot of
girls.

You're practically guaranteed,
you

know, to wake up with a rash.

Thanks for the tip.

Wouldn't want to see you get
ensnared in his web.

You look like a nice girl and
all, so--

I'm not a nice girl.

Well, in that case, I'm Louis.

Everyone calls me Lou.

Nice to meet you.

No, OK.

Look, I-- I don't want to hurt
your feelings,

but you're wasting your time.

What?

Talking's a waste of time?

We're not talking.

You're flirting with me.

And you're also cockblocking
your friend.

Huh?

Bon-- Bon Jovi over there is not
my friend.

He's a dick actually.

I'm just filling in on bass for
them tonight, so--

You're cute, Lou.

But you reek of romance and good
intentions.

I'm not looking for a nice guy.

I don't do boyfriends.

And I don't date.

All I heard was don't, don't,
don't, don't.

Well, don'ts keep people safe.

I'm gonna go. - OK, well, I'll--

I'll see you in class.

Do we have a class together?

Advanced, uh, fiction writing.

I don't remember you.

Well, I remember you.

You have a book that's getting
published.

Your dad must be thrilled.

You know an awful lot about me,
Lou.

You know, writers are an
envious bunch, so--

What's his name?

MAN: I know.

It looks great.

His name's Pete.

MAN: The music's great.

I saw them playing last week--

Have fun.

I will.

[BOTTLES CLINK] - Cool.

You're awesome.

[WHISPERING] It's all right.

I didn't know you lived at the
beach.

Shh, shh.

Would you just-- uh, I just
don't want to wake my dad up.

Um, I'm gonna go get--

I'll get some ice.

Here you go.

Thank you.

Sure.

BILL: Rusty?

Hey, Dad.

What are you doing up?

Who's this?

Uh, Dad, this is Kate.

Kate, this is Dad.

Hi.

Hi.

What happened to your knees? -
She fell.

This asshole pushed me.

Really?

Somebody pushed you?

Yeah, yeah, but it's OK 'cause
Rusty punched him.

Well, good.

Nobody should ever push a girl
and get away with it.

That's a good start, that ice.

But we have some, uh, peroxide
in here.

So you are Kate.

Rusty's told me a lot about you.

He has?

But, um, we hardly know each
other.

I just know he thinks very
highly of you.

Dad.

Sorry, sorry.

Are you staying the night?

Uh, yeah, if-- if that's OK.

OK.

Your parents don't mind?

No.

BILL: All right.

You-- you take the bed.

And she takes the couch, or the
other way.

You take the couch.

She takes the bed, whichever
one.

Nice meeting you, Kate.

You too.

Good night.

Sorry.

Your dad's nice.

Yeah, he's a good guy.

What does he do?

Uh, he's a writer.

Like, a real one?

Yeah, he wrote a book called
"Suit Monkeys,"

won some awards--

Thanks.

--had a bunch of books
published, and--

whoa, uh, I didn't know you were
gonna-- that you're not, uh--

Well, that's cool.

[SIGHS]

Is that what you want to do?

Uh, yeah, I'm a writer too.

So is my sister.

I write books, and stories, and
stuff.

Poetry?

Yeah.

Where's your sister?

Uh, she's, you know, away at
college.

Yeah, so I'll just--

KATE: Wait, um, can you just sit
with me a second?

Please?

Um, yeah, sure.

You can come closer. I don't
bite.

I have a question.

Yeah.

Was I the angel in the poem you
wrote?

Yeah.

I think you're gonna be very
good for me.

Good night.

[STUDENTS CHATTER]

PROFESSOR: It is nearly 600 page
examination of the windshear

of time set on a fantastical
world called

[INAUDIBLE] that shares many
similarities with Earth.

[PROFESSOR CONTINUES]

[STUDENTS CHATTER]

[LAUGHTER]

I love Christmas.

Yeah, you strike me as one of
those people.

I am.

I'm definitely one of those
people.

I love everything about it.

I love the lights, the
decorations,

how TBS plays "A Christmas
Story" [LAUGHING]

24 hours straight, presents
under the trees,

and the looks on the kids' faces
when

they open 'em, sitting by the
fire with my husband

when they go to bed.

I get all depressed during the
holidays.

Yeah.

Well, you're divorced, Bill.

It's depressing.

Hey, can I give you a little bit
of advice, just

from one fuck buddy to another?

Mm-hmm.

You need to remarry.

Hmm.

Mm-hmm.

You're not getting any younger.

And if I were you, I would be on
every dating

website, signing up, and just
combing the newspapers

for personal ads.

I haven't been on a date in 25
years.

Yeah, but what is that?

Listen, you're handsome.

You're successful.

[SCOFFS]

You have a mild amount of
celebrity, which is really

all a writer can ask for.

That's enough to land one of
those 20-something trophy

wives.

You've really thought about
this, huh?

Well, I care about you, Bill.

I know you love Erica, but she
married someone else.

And you have to start thinking
about your future

and whether or not you want that
to be a happy one because I

don't want to jog by in five
years

and find you waiting on that
lawn chair for me.

It's a very comfortable lawn
chair.

Is it?

Just think about it.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

SAMANTHA: Procreation-- you give
to the next one down the line.

That's really all we've got.

Society, government, money,
religion, careers,

nuclear families, monogamy--

these are all just highly
creative,

socially accepted delusions that
we impose

on reality to try and gain some
semblance of control

over our lives.

It gives us the illusion of
choice.

It-- it makes us feel a little
less like animals.

Animals? What do you mean?

Like, evolution?

Yeah, evolution.

Exactly.

I do not believe in evolution.

There's 400 billion stars in
the Milky Way

alone, making the number of
stars in the entire universe

completely mind boggling.

We are nothing.

If an asteroid hadn't hit Earth
65 million years ago

and wiped out all the dinosaurs,
we wouldn't be here.

Yeah.

I'm gonna go.

Good.

All you creationists do is blow
chances at getting laid.

Really.

Oh, that was awkward.

Fuck.

You've really got to stop
stalking me.

I can't even go anywhere without
you showing up to annoy me.

Were you hitting on that guy?

Well, it's none of your
business.

I think he's a Mormon.

Well, what the hell's he doing
here?

Hey, probably trying to find
other Mormon girls.

I'm sure you corrupted him,
ruined

his relationship with God.

You want to get out of here?

Do you have brain damage?

No.

I-- I think I made it pretty
clear that I have absolutely no

interest in going out with you.

Oh, no, no, no, you and I are
gonna be friends.

Hmm, but I don't want to be
friends with you.

Ah, yeah, well, well, I'm gonna
take your jacket.

And you can follow me.

We can get some coffee if you'd
like.

Follow me with the jacket.

I need that jacket.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Uh, what are some of your
favorite books?

Is that really the angle you're
gonna play?

Really?

I thought you'd be more creative
than this.

I mean, well, come on.

We're writers, right?

Yeah, but--

Books matter to us.

I mean, come on-- come on here,
please?

Fine.

What are some of your favorite
books?

No, you can't do that. I asked
you.

You asked me because you want
to know

something personal about me.

If I tell you what my favorite
books are,

you'll come up with titles you
think will convince me

that we're soulmates, or you'll
latch on to one of my favorites

and try to convince me that it's
one of your favorites too.

God, you're so tough.

That's why you're obsessed with
me.

I'm not obsessed with you.

I'm like a unicorn to you.

You'll do or say anything to
possess me.

I'm really not like that.

And you're not anything like a
unicorn.

OK, well then, books.

But please, at least attempt to
be interesting.

No "Catcher in the Rye" or
"Portnoy's Complaint," OK?

Uh, well, I write mysteries.

So I love Elmore Leonard, James
Lee Burke, Ed Brubaker, um--

Who's Ed Brubaker?

He writes an incredible,
hardboiled crime

comic called "Criminal."

Telling me that you read comic
books

isn't exactly sweeping me off my
feet.

OK.

What's your favorite book? And
don't think about it.

Just name the first thing that
pops into your head.

"Dear Mr. Henshaw" by Beverly
Cleary.

Been my favorite since I was a
kid.

Read it like 100 times.

It's-- it's actually what made
me want to be a writer.

Hey, is something wrong?

I have to go.

Well, what, uh, what do you
mean--

I just-- I have to go.

Did I do something?

Samantha!

MAN: I'm here to see Kelly
Jackson.

Samantha, wait! Come on!

What?

What do you want from me?

What do you mean, what do I
want from you?

I like you.

I want to get to know you
better.

No.

Why do you keep running from
me?

Because this, whatever this is
between us,

it can't go any further. I won't
let it.

We're not even in the same
species.

Is "Dear Mr. Henshaw" your
favorite book too?

I don't do this, Lou.

No, no, of course not.

You just give yourself away to
assholes with infinitely

lower IQs than yours.

Fuck.

[KNOCKING]

Hi.

Hi.

Is your dad here?

Uh, no.

Well, when is he gonna be back?

RUSTY: I don't know, maybe a
couple hours.

Why?

Um, I want to give you your
Christmas present.

[MUSIC - BON IVER, "BEACH BABY"]

Uh, um, uh, OK.

[LAUGHS] - Merry Christmas.

Oh.

Hey, awesome.

Come with me.

Where are we going?

To the closet.

Wait. why the closet?

Why not on the bed?

Let me open it.

Because you've never had sex,
and I've

never had sex in a closet.

[LAUGHTER]

You'll remember me, and you'll
remember this moment.

And that makes me very, very
happy.

[SINGING] When you're out, tell
your lucky one--

[LAUGHTER]

--to know that you'll leave.

Don't you look when you're
fleeing.

I'd like not to hear keys.

Only hold till your coffee
warms.

But don't hurry and speed.

Once a time put a tongue--

Oh, fuck.

[SINGING] --in your ear on the
beach.

And you clutched clicking heels.

How's she feeling?

She's OK.

She knows you're here.

[MACHINE BEEPING]

How you feeling?

Not too bad.

Don't bullshit me.

I've got, like, a no bullshit
detector here.

I'm fine.

But shut up and read to me, hmm?

OK.

[SIGHS]

"Daily Alice couldn't tell if
she felt huge or small.

She wondered whether her head
were so big

as to be able to contain all
this starry universe,

or whether the universe were so
little

that it would fit within the
compass of her human head."

Lou.

Do you see that angel by the
door?

Or am I the only one seeing her?

Oh, that's, uh, that's
definitely not an angel, Mom.

WOMAN: All the presents for
Johnny are taken care of.

[LAUGHS]

TOGETHER: Hi.

Hi.

What are you-- what are you
doing here?

Oh, same thing you're doing, I
hope.

Uh, don't-- don't be
suspicious.

[LAUGHING] OK.

I'm getting a laptop for
Samantha.

In fact, I got to pick out a
color.

Why don't you come?

I don't know.

Oh, excuse me.

Huh?

What don't you know.

I don't know if it's a good
idea, Bill.

It'll take 10 minutes.

I'd love to. Yeah.

Yeah?

Yeah, I'd love to.

BILL: I'm glad I bumped into
you.

I'm sure that's what all
stalkers say.

No, really, and--

been thinking a lot about what
you said.

Really?

Mm, somebody else said the same
thing recently.

Someone else asked you to stop
hanging

around their house at night.

About moving on with my life.

Who's that?

You know Tricia, uh, Wolcott
lives about a mile and a half

down the beach? - Yeah.

I remember her.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I always suspected you had a
crush on her.

Yeah, she's very pretty.

She's very married as I recall.

You're seeing her?

I think I'm a good way for her
to kill an hour after she

drops her kids off at school.

An hour?

An hour!

So, um, she thinks you need to
stop moping around too, huh?

Something like that.

Here's a confession.

I'm not a great writer.

I'm a great rewriter.

I think about us, our story, and
all of the things

that went wrong with us, and I--

I could do it so much better
this time.

I haven't written anything since
you left.

ERICA: Bill, you've had two
books published.

Yeah, but they're books that
I--

I started when we were married.

I finished 'em.

But I haven't written anything
new.

You are a great writer.

Don't waste all your imagination
on me.

[CROWD CHATTER]

Which way are you?

I'm over here.

Oh, I'm the other way.

It was great running into you.

You too.

Bill.

Ah, I have--

I have days when I'm not sure I
made the right decision.

I have bad days too.

[LAUGHS]

I don't know why I'm saying
this.

I guess I just--

I-- I wouldn't want you to think
that I don't think about us,

you know, and all those years
that we spent together

'cause I do think about
everything that I gave up.

Hmm.

And I wonder if it was worth it.

Was it?

Oh, I gotta go.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

It was so nice to meet you.

Oh, you too, Samantha.

I hope you come back and see me
again soon.

SAMANTHA: I will.

OK, you two.

I'm gonna walk Sam to her car.

I'll be right back, Mom.

NURSE: Not so fast.

I made hot chocolate.

It's in the kitchen.

What's wrong with your mom.

She, uh, she has a brain tumor.

Oh my God.

I'm sorry.

I can't believe how much of a
bitch I've been to you.

Yeah, I know, right?

OK.

[LAUGHS]

Ah, I don't--

I don't want you to feel sorry
for me, really.

I, um, I've enjoyed all of our
back

and forth, you know, sparing.

It's really, um, it's helped me
take my mind off of all this.

Well, I'm glad I could help
out.

You going home for Christmas?

Yeah, I'm headed back there
tomorrow.

Well, I'm willing to forget
about this whole stalking

incident if you will allow me to
take you out on a proper date

when you get back. - OK.

Really? That easy?

Yeah?

I'm not gonna say it again.

OK.

Oh, um, I actually brought you
an ark of my new book.

Oh, wow.

Stalking and a present.

[LAUGHS]

"Under the Pink" by this
Samantha Borgens.

Look at that.

Wow.

Well, I will, uh, I will read
this over break, probably loud.

My mom and I have been tearing
through some books lately.

No, you can't read it to her.

It's filled with sex and
profanity.

LOUIS: Oh, no, no, she-- she
loves sex.

SAMANTHA: You added-- BILL: Yeah

SAMANTHA: --too much water. I--

BILL: Well, you'd only--

it's not like you're Martha
Stewart in here, all right?

Take it easy. - Well, you know.

At least I'm putting some--

Says the guy who put sprinkles
on the bun.

I'm putting some sugar on them.

- Hello, guys. - Overly
optimistic.

Hey. Look at you.

What are you doing all dressed
up?

I'm going over to Kate's.

Why does it smell so horrible in
here?

No, no, no. These-- this is our
cookies.

These-- these are our cookies.
Smell.

Yeah, we burned the first
batch.

Well, no, actually, that's
the-- the second.

No, no, no. - Oh.

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

- No, no. - Great.

Sorry.

SAMANTHA: Oh my God, Dad.

- What? - Oh.

Oh my God. SAMANTHA: This is
ridiculous.

We burned them again.

All right.

God, OK.

[LAUGHS]

Yeah, no laughing, Rusty.

When am I-- when am I gonna meet
this girl?

I don't know.

Try not to burn the house down
while I'm gone.

- OK. - Yeah, drive careful.

I will.

How serious is this thing?

Uh, they're having sex.

What?

How do you know?

Yeah.

SAMANTHA: Wow.

Go Rusty.

I don't know.

She-- she has more experience
than him.

Yeah, well, who doesn't?

He seems really happy.

At least someone in this house
is.

You see a frown on my face?

You do seem unusually chipper
today.

Have you discovered
antidepressants?

Actually, no.

I'm just, uh, moving on with my
life.

I went through the whole thing
with your mom,

and I'm moving forward.

Seriously?

New Year's resolution.

How 'bout that?

Moving on.

Dad!

Yeah.

Oh, that's huge.

That's so-- oh, oh, flour hug.

- Oh, no, no. - Yeah.

No, no, no, no.

You're the one--

Not on my white shirt.

[MUSIC - NAT AND ALEX WOLFF,
"LOVE YOU ANY LESS"]

Tada.

I thought you already gave me
my Christmas present.

Shut up and open it. Come on.

All right. Here we go.

KATE: This isn't just a CD.

It isn't?

No, it's a roadmap to my soul.

[LAUGHTER]

It's like if you give me your
favorite book.

Yeah, speaking of that, boom.

Oh my gosh.

Wow.

This is the biggest book I've
ever seen.

I know it looks formidable.

But honestly, it's gonna be,
like,

one of the most satisfying
reading

experiences of your life.

- Is it scary? - Yeah, sure.

But it's not just a scary book.

It's like Moby Dick.

It's about everything.

I mean, you're gonna be so
wrapped up in it,

you're gonna crying by the time
you get to the end of it.

You cried?

Oh, you'll cry too, OK?

I might have cried.

[LAUGHTER]

You're really cute when you get
worked up about books.

Hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Do I have you worked up about
me?

Yeah.

Good.

'cause I've gotta have you right
now.

What about your parents?

Won't they come in?

They don't come in here.

Are you sure?

I'm sure.

Come here.

LOUIS: How was your Christmas?

It was good, filled with
family, you know, loud.

Yeah.

So you haven't mentioned my
book.

Mm, yeah, um.

So you didn't like it?

No, no, that's not it.

I-- I liked it a lot.

It's incredibly well-written.

The characters are vibrant and
alive.

But--

LOUIS: I mean, I knew you were
cynical.

But is that really how you feel
about love and marriage?

SAMANTHA: I don't know.

Sometimes.

Oh.

Thank you.

How much of that really
happened?

I made most of it up.

I didn't draw that much from my
parents

divorce other than the little
girl seeing her mother having

sex with the man on the beach.

Holy shit.

That really happened?

Yeah.

I mean, I wasn't a little girl.

I was in high school.

My parents were having a party.

And I was up on the roof.

It was late, and my mom came
staggering out of the back

of the house with Martin.

And she was all over him.

Then I remember Martin saying,
what about Bill?

What if Bill sees?

And my mom replying, I don't
care.

I don't care.

Hey, Lou?

Mm-hmm?

You make me feel less cynical.

My turn?

My turn.

Uh, favorite TV show.

"The Wonder Years."

Ooh, all right, that's nice.

I'm-- I'm still in love with--
with Winnie Cooper.

[LAUGHS]

OK, favorite song.

Beatles, "Polythene Pam."

Mm, great choice.

Thank you.

Yours?

"Between the Bars" by Elliott
Smith.

Play it for me.

Actually, I do have it here.

Ah.

You're in luck.

Although, this is, uh, this
really is no way to, uh,

to hear a song--

Just play it.

--for the first time.

Will you at least close your
eyes because you got to block

out all this other stuff?

It's really distracting.

OK.

You're funny.

[MUSIC - ELLIOTT SMITH, "BETWEEN
THE BARS"]

OK.

[SINGING] Drink up, baby.

Stay up all night with the
things you could do.

You won't, but you might.

The potential you'll be that
you'll never see.

The promises you'll only make.

Drink up with me now and forget
all about the pressure of days.

Do what I say, and I'll make you
OK, and drive them away.

The images--

I'm so scared right now.

[SINGING] --stuck in your head.

I know.

I know.

[SINGING] People you've been
before that you

don't want around anymore.

I don't want to get hurt.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

[SINGING] --bend to your will.

I'll keep them still.

Drink up, baby.

Look at the stars.

I'll kiss you again, between the
bars.

Where I'm seeing you there with
your hands in the air,

waiting to finally be caught.

Come on.

[SINGING] The people you've been
before that you don't--

[LAUGHTER]

[SINGING] --want around
anymore--

Come on.

Come on.

[SINGING] --that push and shove
and won't bend to your will,

I'll keep them still.

TRICIA: And that's the picture
that you want to have up there?

Yeah.

I'm gonna trump that though,
real quick,

because you look like a serial
killer.

Let's take another one.

Let me show you a test picture.

Yeah.

Let me show how it's done, OK?

If I were on this website, I'd
say, oh, I'd love

to go out on a date with you.
Yeah.

[CAMERA SHUTTER]

[EXHALES]

Did you actually pay for that?

No?

No.

Can I ask you a serious
question?

Are you colorblind?

Fuck no.

Professional-- you do not-- no.

You know what?

You do not look like you're
ready to party.

I think that-- let me just take
a look.

Are you being serious with this?

We're not in Cancun.

Eh, no.

That's my favorite shirt.

Don't ever do it.

[LAUGHS]

OK.

Good. - Right?

Uh-huh.

Come get in this, right now.

Let's go.

Let's do it.

OK.

Hubba hubba.

Have you had this the whole
time?

Yeah.

Why on-- you are endlessly
frustrating.

Oh, I would definitely fuck you
in this outfit.

How do you feel?

Yeah.

Oh, right.

OK, come on.

[MUSIC - THE NATIONAL, "GOSPEL"]

[SINGING] I got two armfuls of
magazines for you.

[CROWD CHATTER]

I'll bring 'em over.

So hang your holiday rainbow
lights in the garden,

and I'll--

I'll bring a nice icy drink to
you.

Let me come over.

I can waste your time.

I'm bored.

Invite me to the war, every
night of the summer.

And we'll play GI blood, GI
blood.

We'll stand by the pool.

We'll throw out our golden arms.

Darling, can you tie my string?

My angel face is falling.

Feathers are falling on my feet.

Darling, can you tie my string?

Killers are calling on me.

Stay near your-- stay near your
television.

Set it up outside.

And hang your holiday rainbow
lights in the garden.

Hang your holiday rainbow lights
in the garden.

And I'll-- I'll bring a nice icy
drink to you.

Let me come over.

I can waste your time.

I'm bored.

Invite me to the war every night
of the summer.

And we'll play GI blood, GI
blood.

We'll stand by the pool.

We'll throw out our golden arms.

Darling, can you tie my string?

Killers are calling on me.

[HUMMING]

RUSTY: Hey, Ma.

Hey.

You made it. - Hi.

- Hi. - I'm Kate.

I'm Erica.

Nice to meet you.

[MUSIC - ELECTRIC VALENTINE,
"BODY TO BODY"]

I love this song.

[LAUGHTER]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Ooh, ah.

Down attack.

[GRUNTS]

[SINGING] I'm not in love with
you,

but I'm in love with the way you
move.

[DISTANT CHEERING]

Hey.

Can I help you find something?

Um, I was looking for some
aspirin.

I have a headache.

Oh, should be in there.

I got it.

Thank you.

[JAZZ MUSIC]

William.

Hey.

How are you?

So good to see you again.

Great to see you too, Leslie.

This is my son, Rusty.

Hi, hey.

- And his girlfriend, Kate. -
Hello.

Hi, nice to meet you.

This was so nice of you to do
this for Samantha, really.

This is great.

LESLIE: I would have done the
same thing for you

if you'd publish "Suit Monkeys"
under my watch.

Yeah, well.

Yeah.

I would like you to meet your
daughter, Samantha Borgens.

You might think you met Samantha
before,

but this Samantha just received
a starred review

from "Publishers Weekly" and
life

will never be the same again.

Hi, Dad.

Congratulations.

Thank you so much.

And this is my boyfriend, Lou.

Hi.

- Oh, nice to meet you. - And
nice to finally meet you.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

Mr. Murphy's a talented writer
as well.

He's my Patricia Highsmith.

I don't know.

Samantha, can I steal your
father for a little bit.

There's so many young writers
around here

who are just dying to meet him.

He's all yours.

Come on. Come on.

Come on. - Hey, sis.

Congratulations.

Oh, thank you so much for
coming.

And it's so nice to finally meet
you.

Hi, nice to meet you too.

Sam tells me you're a huge
Stephen King fan.

I'm, like, the biggest Stephen
King fan in the world.

I love "The Stand." It's, like,
my favorite one.

What? Since when?

Uh, what do you mean, since
when?

Everybody loves Stephen.

Who doesn't like Stephen King? -
She doesn't like Stephen King.

I don't not-- I-- let's leave
'em.

- She calls herself a novelist.
- Um, let's go get a drink.

And she doesn't like Stephen
King.

We're gonna-- you guys continue
this.

This is getting really awkward.

We're gonna go.

OK.

"Girls." LOUIS: Yeah.

Yeah. LOUIS: Yeah.

Uh, two champagnes, please.

How old is she?

21.

[SCOFFS]

I wouldn't believe you if you
told

me she was 18, much less 21.

How old are you?

This is my party.

Stop acting like a pussy.

No one's gonna tell on you.

And I haven't even told you
about the big tip

I'm going to leave you.

Look, as far as I know, you
ordered

these drinks for yourself.

I didn't even see her here.

And here's the drinks you
ordered, Miss.

Enjoy.

I will.

Ha.

[SIGHS]

So?

Fuck yeah.

Samantha.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, don't worry about it. It's
your night.

Go have fun. - OK.

LESLIE: Ladies and gentlemen,
can I have your kind attention,

please?

You may come forward if you
wish.

I have been trying to get
William Borgens up here

to speak to my class for years.

He's never said, no.

But he's never said, yes,
either.

[LAUGHTER]

Tonight, I have him at a certain
disadvantage.

My entire class is here, Bill.

And I insist you come up here
and say a few words.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr.
Borgens.

[APPLAUSE]

Your-- your professor, while a
very nice man,

is a sneaky son of a bitch.

[LAUGHTER]

The reason Leslie could never
get me up here

to talk about the process of
writing

is I'm not sure I have much to
say about it

that could benefit you.

I-- I still find it all very
mysterious, years after I

wrote my first book.

And I'm not sure what it is that
compels

a person to continue to play
make

believe even after they're an
adult.

My favorite book is a collection
of short stories by Raymond

Carver called "What We Talk
About When We Talk About Love,"

and in the closing lines of the
title book,

Carver says, "I could hear my
heart beating.

I could hear everyone's heart.

I could hear the human noise we
sat there making.

Not one of us moved, not even
when the room went dark."

And I think that that's what
writing is.

It's listening for that beating
heart.

And when we hear it, it's our
job to decipher it

to the best of our abilities.

[APPLAUSE]

I'm here because my daughter
Samantha's

book is being published, in case
you haven't heard.

This is her success. - Whoo.

Whoo.

I love you, Dad.

I love you too.

Yeah, that's great.

Great.

ERICA: Is this seat taken?

Louis invited me.

Well, that was a calculated
risk.

Hmm.

How long you been here?

Hmm, I was waiting in my car
for about

an hour trying to build up the
courage to come in.

So that's what 19 looks like.

She's all grown up now.

Look at you.

Hi.

She's still just a baby.

BILL: You gonna talk to her?

ERICA: I don't know.

I'm scared.

Yeah, she's scary.

She's all I've done with my
life, and she doesn't want me.

[SIGHS]

Hey.

You want some courage?

Free of charge.

Yes, please.

Your favorite book John
Cheever's

"The World of Apples," I got you
that signed first edition.

Yeah.

That's your favorite book,
right?

Um, well, I really liked it.

Oh, Jesus.

I even told you what to read.

Sometimes.

[LAUGHS]

I'm sorry.

What?

[SIGHS]

Anyway, she swiped it from my
library.

She did?

Yeah.

Could only have been her.

She thought that it was your
favorite book.

That's what I had told her, and
I think she was hoping to find

some piece of you in it.

[WHISPERING] Go talk to your
daughter.

[LAUGHS]

Thanks.

Sorry.

Hi.

Would you sign this for me?

Uh, what's your name?

Sam, I don't want to cause a
scene.

OK, I--

I'm-- I'm Louis by the way.

I believe we-- we-- we met over
the phone.

- Hi. - Right.

Nice-- nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you too.

Yeah.

Name.

Come-- come on, uh, Sam don't
do this.

It's OK, Louis.

No name?

No problem.

Guess we'll go with a signature
and no personalized note.

Sam.

I just wanted to tell you that I
love you.

I love you so much.

I'm so proud of you.

Thank you.

I hope you enjoy it.

Kate.

Kate.

No, it's just me.

Mom, I didn't know you were
coming.

Are you OK?

You're looking for Kate?

Yeah, I've been looking
everywhere for her.

I can't-- can't find her.

Are you worried?

[SIGHS]

Yeah.

I'm-- I'm gonna go check in the
house

and check the bathroom.

OK, I-- have you guys seen
Kate?

I've been looking for her
everywhere.

I-- I can't find her.

I'm freaking out.

Well, yeah, the last time I saw
her we were at the bar.

I got her a champagne, but that
was ages ago.

Wait, wait, you what?

You got her champagne?

She's under age. What the hell
are you doing?

It's not a big deal.

You know, it is a big deal, OK?

Because she has a history.

And she has a drug problem.

So she can't drink.

She has a drug problem?

She had a drug problem.

She--

Come with me.

Come with me then.

She has a drug problem.

Jesus.

Did you give that girl another
one?

What girl?

She said they were for you.

RUSTY: Did you see where she
went?

Have you seen her? - I don't
know.

She left with some guy. - Jesus.

SAMANTHA: Calm down.

RUSTY: I don't want to calm
down, OK?

She's 16, and she's fucked up.
I--

Rusty, take it easy. Take it
easy.

We'll find her, OK.

Did you look at the guy's ID?

Do you remember his name?

I look at dates, not names.

Oh, she left with Gus.

Who the fuck is Gus?

LOUIS: I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

All right? I'm--

You had no right.

No, I-- I--

I didn't think that your mom
would want

to miss one of the most
important

nights of her daughter's life.
That's all.

We are not having this
conversation right now.

And just stop following me.

Will you two just shut up?

Just shut up.

Look, I will call you later,
just please answer the phone.

BILL: Come on. Come on.

Jesus, Dad.

This isn't a family vacation.
BILL: Hey, shut up.

Get in the car. You're acting
like a child.

RUSTY: Come on, guys.

[SAMANTHA GROWLS]

We need number 608.

There it is.

Right there.

- You guys, wait here. - No, no,
no, Dad.

I'm getting out. - It's over.

Samantha, you restrain him.

RUSTY: I'm-- Dad, I'm getting
out.

- Don't let him out of the car--
- I am [INAUDIBLE].

BILL: --even if he tries to get
out.

Stay in the car.

Rusty, get back in this fucking
car.

G, Unit G.

[MUSIC - TARIK NUCLOTHES, "2 THA
TOP"]

GUS: Who is it?

Is Kate there?

GUS: Who wants to know?

Hey.

Shit. Oh.

She's a minor, asshole.

And she's [INAUDIBLE].

OK, where is she?

In the bedroom.

[SINGER] Too many haters in my
ear.

Is they--

Oh.

[MAN CRYING]

ERICA: Bill, help me.

She won't wake up. - Oh, Jesus.

What'd you give her? GUS: She
was drunk.

- Fucking liar. - Oh, fuck.

Coke. We did a little coke.

That's it. She'll be fine.

I got her. GUS: Just passed
out, I swear.

You're gonna be expelled.

You'll be lucky if that's all
that happens.

You can't do that.

All right. Is she all right?

Is she OK? - She's fine.

Get in the car.

What's going on?

Get in the car. OK.

- Rusty. - Dad, what's going on?

Mom? - Just want Kate.

We need to call her parents. Do
you have their number?

- Here you go. - I've got her.

I've got her. RUSTY: Uh, yeah,
watch my phone.

SAMANTHA: Yeah, yeah. BILL: OK.

RUSTY: What's going on?

[CRYING]

[WAVES CRASHING]

[TYPEWRITER CLICKING]

How's Louis?

Who's Louis?

[RUNNING FOOTSTEPS]

Why don't you, uh, see if your
brother's up yet?

You don't need to send me away
to go talk to Mrs. Wolcott.

I know you two are sleeping
together.

Hey, you don't know shit.

I know you fuck Tricia Wolcott.

Hey.

Go wake up your brother.

Rusty, wake up.

Rusty?

[MUSIC - BRIGHT EYES, "THE
CALENDAR HUNG ITSELF"]

[SINGING] --inside your shoes?

Looking down every few steps to
pretend he walks with you?

Or does he know that place below
your neck that

is your favorite to be touched?

And does he cry through broken
sentences, like, I love you--

Oh my God.

[SINGING] --far too much?

Does he lie awake listening to
your breath,

worried you smoke too many
cigarettes?

Is he coughing now on a bathroom
floor?

For every speck of tar, there's
a thousand more

you won't ever see but must hold
inside yourself eternally.

Go, go, go, go.

[SINGING] Well, I drug your
ghost across the country,

and we plotted out my death.

In every city, memories would
whisper, here's where you rest.

Go, go, go, go.

[SINGING] I was determined in
Chicago.

[GRUNTING]

[SINGING] But I dug my teeth
into my knees.

And I settled for a telephone--

Take that. Take it.

[SINGING] --singing to your
machine.

KATE [VOICEOVER]: Dear, Rusty.

I know you probably never want
to see me again.

I did a terrible thing to do.

My dad told me you called to see
how I was.

As I'm sure he told you, I'm in
rehab.

My biggest mistake, other than
hurting you,

was thinking you could fix me.

[GROANING]

KATE [VOICEOVER]: Only I can fix
me.

Ah, ow.

KATE [VOICEOVER]: I'd like to
become

a person who actually deserves
to be with someone like you.

I don't know how long that will
take.

But I hope you're around when it
happens.

In the meantime, just know that
I'm truly sorry for everything

I've put you through.

Love, Kate.

Oh, PS, you were right about
that book.

I cried at the end.

Big time.

I know it's been a rough couple
of months.

But you're coming home drunk or
stoned every night.

Now you've been in a fight.

Uh, someone's payback for
something

that happened last fall.

I don't care.

I know it's your first
heartbreak.

I know it hurts.

Nothing hurts like the first
one.

But you've got to channel this
into your work.

Make something positive out of
it.

Is that what you did when Mom
left?

What?

Is that what you did when Mom
left?

Turned it--

You're grounded.

Are you kidding me, Dad?

Will you just chill out.

You can't ground me.

Yeah, I just did.

OK?

I just did.

You're gonna be-- - You were the
one who told me--

No journal, nothing.

You were the one who told me to
go out and get experiences.

You can't make me write, Dad.

You--

BILL: I won't have to.

You're a writer.

You'll do it yourself.

[WAVES CRASHING]

[LAUGHING]

When you were little, you used
to run down

to the edge of the water like
that

when the tide was pulling out.

Mm-hmm.

And then you would turn around
screaming when it came back--

I'm letting the ocean get me,
Daddy.

I'm letting the ocean get me.

Your mom used to be watching
you like a hawk.

She was terrified the ocean was
going to grab

you and pull you out to sea.

Why are we talking about her?

What are we doing down here?

Your mom loves you.

And she never did anything to
you.

[GROANS] - This is pointless.

I know what you're gonna say.

No, you don't.

Those things she did to me, the
thing

you been holding over her, I had
already done to her years ago.

What are you talking about?

I fell in love with somebody.

And I got lost, and I left.

Bullshit.

You were just a baby.

And your mother waited for me.

Shut up, Dad.

She waited six months,
Samantha.

And when I realized what a
selfish shit I'd been--

- Shut up, Dad. - --she took me
back.

It's the truth.

You couldn't tell me, Dad?

Really?

You just let me hate her.

She made me promise that if
ever she did something

as stupid as I had that she
hoped I'd have the decency

to wait for her, so I am.

I should have told you,
Samantha.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

She waited six months, Dad.

You've been waiting three years.

I think you made good on your
promise.

It's OK to stop waiting.

Hmm.

She's coming back.

Pfft.

What makes you so sure?

Because she waited, and your
mother is a far better

person than I'll ever be.

[KEYBOARD CLICKING]

[PHONE VIBRATING]

Hello?

LOUIS [ON PHONE]: Sam.

[LOUIS CRYING]

I'm here.

LOUIS [ON PHONE]: She's dead.

[CRYING] My mom is dead.

I don't know what to do.

She-- Mom is dead.

Ah.

I--

[CRYING] I'm coming.

[MUSIC - CONOR OBERST, "YOU ARE
YOUR MOTHER'S CHILD"]

I'm coming.

[SINGING] I remember the day,
you appeared on this Earth,

with eyes like the ocean, got
blood on my shirt.

From my camera angle, it looked
like it hurt,

but your Momma had a big old
smile.

We drove ya home, saw your
yellowing skin,

packed a few things, and drove
you back again.

Stayed up all night worrying,
wondering,

what was gonna make it better.

Broken bones heal when you set
them right.

Get your fine tooth comb from
the Barbicide.

Our love's a protective poison.

Well, you are your mother's
child.

And she'll keep you for a while.

But someday you'll be grown, and
then you'll be on your own.

Tears will dry if you give them
time.

Life's a roller coaster, keep
your arms inside.

Fear, that's a big emotion.

Well, you are your mother's
child.

And she'll keep you for a while.

But one day you'll be grown, and
then you'll be on your own.

[CRYING]

You'll never be on your own.

[KEYBOARD CLICKING]

[PHONE VIBRATING]

[PHONE BEEPS ON]

Hello?

MAN [ON PHONE]: Hello?

Is Rusty there?

Ah, this is Rusty.

MAN [ON PHONE]: Rusty, this is
Stephen King.

Hello?

Uh, yes sir.

I'm here.

STEPHEN KING [ON PHONE]: Your
sister sent me your story,

"I Have Just Seen a Face."

I read it, and I think it's damn
good.

I loved it. - Um, my sister sent
it to you?

STEPHEN KING [ON PHONE]: Yeah, I
took the liberty

of sending it to the "Magazine
of Fantasy

and Science Fiction."

They published some of my
stories over the years,

and I thought they might be a
good fit for yours.

Uh, wow.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

STEPHEN KING [ON PHONE]: You're
welcome.

I think you've got a bright
future ahead of you.

Hey, tell your dad I said,
hello.

I'm a big fan of "Suit Monkeys."

It's a classic.

Keep up the good work.

Wait, uh, Mr, uh, Mr. King,
don't go.

Just, uh--

STEPHEN KING [ON PHONE]: I'm
still here.

You're not--

OK, yeah, I-- I just wanna-- uh,
I just want to tell you

how much your books mean to me.

But I don't even--

I don't even wanna try.

[SIGHS]

[STEPHEN LAUGHS]

It's kind of like what you said
in the opening of "The Body."

STEPHEN KING [ON PHONE]: Mm.

"The most important things are
the hardest to say."

Right, right.

I just can't believe you
actually-- you read my story,

and you liked it.

It's-- I can't--

STEPHEN KING [ON PHONE]: I
didn't say I liked it.

I said I loved it.

Oh my God.

Holy shit.

[STEPHEN LAUGHS]

STEPHEN KING [ON PHONE]: It was
great talking to you, Rusty.

OK, yeah.

OK, uh, yeah.

I'll see ya, Stephen.

[MUSIC - EDWARD SHARPE AND THE
MAGNETIC ZEROS, "HOME"]

[SINGER WHISTLING]

BILL: Ah.

You're gonna kill yourself.

[INAUDIBLE] Haven't I ever shown
you how to do that?

Yeah, Dad.

I'm doing it.

Hey, that's enough.

That's enough.

[SINGING] Alabama, Arkansas, I
do love my ma--

Easy, easy with the knife.

[SINGING] Not the way that I do
love--

Ah, there you go, samurai.

[LAUGHING]

[SINGING] Now, holey moley, me
oh my.

You're the apple of my eye.

Girl, I never loved one like
you.

Man, oh, man, you're my best
friend.

I scream it to the nothingness.

There ain't nothing that I need.

Catch up with the turkey juice.

Be careful.

Hmm.

Ooh, ah.

Ace.

Hold on for it.

There we go.

[SINGING] Ah, home.

Let me go home.

Home is wherever I'm with you.

[KNOCKING]

BILL: Hey. - Hi.

Hey, hey.

We're here.

[INAUDIBLE]

Good to see you.

SAMANTHA: Smells good.
[LAUGHTER]

[INAUDIBLE]

She's laughing at your work,
for God's sakes.

What-- what-- what-- it's not
funny.

I mean, it's actually
interesting.

It sounded like a serious--

No, it's a really good-- a
really good short story.

It's a really good one.

LOUIS: No, no, it's-- it's
great.

It's-- it's-- well, it's about
a, uh,

detective with Alzheimer's.

- You're kidding me. - No, yeah,
no, I'm--

I'm-- [DOOR BELL RINGS]

I'm interested in the
perspective

of his family members. - Here,
I'll get it.

I invited Kate. She might come.

Hold on.

No, but, yeah, it should be
entertaining,

if you get a work out. I think
that's actually--

I'm gonna start. I wanna start
working out.

SAMANTHA: Yeah.

BILL: [INAUDIBLE]

Mom?

Hi.

Um, I kind of pictured your dad
opening the door.

Could you shut it and go get
him?

Hi.

Hi.

What are you doing here?

I got a little lost.

I was just--

I was wondering if there's still
a place for me here.

And I-- I completely understand
if there isn't 'cause I--

I know that I really--

I-- I really don't deserve it.

Shut it.

Shut up.

[CRYING] I'm so sorry.

- We got food in here. - Oh, you
do?

[LAUGHS]

Come on in.

Hi.

Hi.

Rusty, why don't you make a
place for your mom.

SAMANTHA: No, no. I got it.

I got it. - Thanks.

Ah.

And I'll move this over.

BILL: Well, I guess she's fine.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

- I don't wanna move her. - No.

Here.

Here.

Ah.

SAMANTHA: [INAUDIBLE]

Thank you.

Here.

Here.

This and, uh, oh, wine glass.

OK.

Thanks.

Good, well.

I sold my first story.

Rusty, that's wonderful.

That's great.

Uh, it was actually all Sam.

You wrote it.

I just sent it to the only
person I could think

of who'd actually like it.

[LAUGHTER]

A toast.

Oh, OK.

To Rusty. BILL: Yeah, to Rusty.

SAMANTHA: To Rusty.

And Happy Thanksgiving.

RUSTY: Happy Thanksgiving.

BILL: Happy Thanksgiving.

LOUIS: Happy Thanksgiving.

BILL: All right.

[MUSIC - BIG HARP, "AT YOUR
DOOR"]

BILL [VOICEOVER]: I could hear
my heart beating.

I could hear everyone's heart.

[LAUGHTER]

I could hear the human noise we
sat there making, not one of us

moving, not even when the room
went dark.

[SINGING] Like the sea leaves
the shore, if I drift

from your side, honey, you can
be sure,

I'll come in like the tide right
back through your door.

I don't need no roof.

I don't need no walls.

I need you and that's all.

That's all.

Like a leaf on the tree, if I
slip from your limbs,

honey, wait till the spring,
I'll be home, safe again,

right back to your door.

And if you'll be my home, then I
won't need no roof.

And I won't need no walls.

I need you and that's all.

That's all.

Not in brick, not in wood, do my
memories reside.

I could leave them for good.

It's to you that I'm tied.

And I don't need no roof.

And I don't need no walls.

I need you, and that's all.

That's all.

[MUSIC - FRIENDS OF GEMINI,
"SOMERSAULTS IN SPRING"]

[SINGING] Rolling over the edge,
sleeping

underneath a tidal wave.

Waking up in my bed, getting
ready for another day.

Praying over the dead, pick the
berries

with the strangest taste.

It fits all in my head in the
forest, but I knew the way.

I drank my own reflection, then
swam across the lake.

Whatever it takes.

I lie and listen to the rain.

It's love starting, repeats
again.

Turn off the light and see your
face.

I trace the shape, the path it
takes.

It's not just the promises we
make that we're gonna break.

Whoo, ooh.