Original subtitles

[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.