A Short History of Decay (2014) - full transcript

Subtitles by explosiveskull

So it's like...

now they're saying tumeric
doesn't do anything.

What?

Tumeric.

You know those tumeric
supplements I been taking?

I keep wanting to go
to Indian restaurants?

Yeah, it's turmeric.

It's t-turmeric?

Well, anyways,
well, it says here

they've done
these clinical studies,



and no evidence links any herbal
or nutritional supplements

to the slightest decrease in
risk of developing Alzheimer's.

What are you doing?

Just research.

No. I mean,
what are you doing?

You're young and healthy,

and instead
of living your life,

you're worrying about some disease
you might get when you're 80.

Well, if I can prevent it
now, why wouldn't I?

I'm late for work.

Are you gonna be here
when I get back?

Yeah, I should be,

although I might go see
a movie at the Angelika.

I don't know
what's playing, though.



I gotta check that.

I want to talk.
We have to talk.

Look, if this is what
I think it is, I just...

I don't want to have this
conversation again, all right?

I'm almost done
with the play.

You just said you're gonna
go to the movies today.

Yeah, when I
take a break.

Hmm. When I met you,
you were working on a novel

and before that,
a screenplay.

Yeah, okay. Thank you
for the encouragement.

Don't go there.

It's been five years,

and I have been very
patient and very supportive.

Okay, all right.
I'm sorry. You're right.

Thank you,
and I appreciate it.

You know,
I took your advice.

I rewrote
the part of Gustavo

to be more sympathetic,
but also ruthless.

It's got nothing
to do with Gustavo!

I've met someone.

Shit.

What do you mean,
you've met someone?

At the "Paris Review"
party.

His name is David,

and he's
a literary agent.

You already have
a literary agent.

I'm not looking
for representation, Nathan.

I'm looking
for a relationship.

We don't have
a relationship?

We've been living together
for four years.

We fuck sometimes.
We drink a lot.

You watch television.

You pretend to be
writing something

when really you're just
staring at that screen,

looking up random shit, like how
Indian spices can preserve your brain.

So, because I'm concerned
about my health,

you think it's okay
to have an affair?

We're not married,
so it doesn't qualify as an affair.

You're already
fucking him?

No, not yet.

Oh, great, but you're
gonna fuck him.

You're just announcing that
you're gonna cheat on me.

Well, if I tell you I'm gonna do
it, then it's not cheating.

How is that?

Because by telling you
I'm gonna do it,

I'm de facto
breaking up with you.

Therefore, I'm free
to do whatever I want.

I keep forgetting
you went to law school.

I'll talk to you later.

Come on.

E-Erika?

How do you see this
going, to be exact?

I'll be sitting at the
apartment, watching TV,

waiting for you
to come home.

"Hi, honey.
How was your date?"

Or do I just
stay up all night

wondering if you're
ever gonna come home?

Nathan, I'm at work now.
Goodbye.

Guess I'll just
move out, then?

Do you have
a place to go?

Oh, my God.

I didn't know
you hated me so much.

Nathan, I don't hate you.

Just hold on a sec, okay?

One sec. One sec.

Nathan,
I don't hate you, okay?

Let's not turn this
into something it's not.

I'm sure you can stay
at Barry's for a while.

I gotta go.

Barry's?

What? Hello?

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Hi.

See you later.

What?

Hey.

Oh, shit.

Just need to talk
to you for a second.

Please, not here.
Not now.

My dad had a stroke.

Jack just called.

He's with him
in Florida.

Don't.
Please don't do this.

You don't know
how long, how long

I've been working up to this,
trying to find the nerve to end this.

This isn't about you.

Just let me finish.

I love your parents,

but I've crossed a line.
Don't suck me back in.

I may never find the energy
to do this again.

I'm not trying to suck
you back in to anything.

I'm on my way
to Florida.

There's a taxi waiting
for me outside.

I just wanted
to tell you.

I just wanted
to see you.

I wanted to see you
before I left.

God, I'm sorry.

- How is he?
- I don't know.

It's hard to say.
Jack says he's stable.

Is your mom okay?

No.
She's really confused.

- I'm sorry.
- Yeah.

I'm so sorry you
have to go through this.

I'm so sorry you have
to go through all of this.

Jack's got to get
back to D.C.,

so I'm gonna head
down to Florida for...

Can you just not...

Can you just not start seeing
someone until I get back?

Nathan, what possible
difference will that make?

Because I just have
to get through this,

and I can't be taking care
of my parents while...

imagining you in bed
with somebody else.

Can you just wait for
things to get better?

I can't handle
all this right now.

I just need
a little help. Please.

Nathan,
your dad had a stroke.

Your mom's
got Alzheimer's.

It doesn't get any better.

Can you understand that?

Yeah, of course.
I understand.

It doesn't get better.

Yeah.

Hi. This is Erika.

You've reached
my cellphone.

I've probably
misplaced it,

and I'm running around,
trying to find it,

so just leave a message,
and I'll get back to you when I can

He has a stroke,
and you just let him go?

I advised him
against leaving,

but I also told him
that there's

nothing else
we can really do.

What do you mean,
there's nothing you can do?

He's already
taking Coumadin.

He just needs rest.

So there's no reason
for him to be here, then?

Honestly, he was so worried
about leaving your mother alone

that it was just causing
unnecessary stress,

which is
the worst thing for him.

Hi.

- Oh, my God.
- Hey, Mom.

What are you
doing here?

How are you?

- Hi, sweetheart.
- Hey.

Look at you.

Good to see you.

- Come on in.
- Can I come in?

- Okay.
- Sure. You just got here?

Yep, just got
off the plane.

You by yourself?

Yeah, just me.

Well, how did
you get here?

I took a flight.

We talked this
morning, remember?

How long's Dad
been sleeping?

Since we got home.

And when was that?

Yesterday.

Doctor said
it was today.

I meant what time?

Ah, few hours ago.

Don't you think
you should check on him?

No. I don't want
to wake him.

I forget. Have you
been here before?

Yeah, about
half a dozen times.

Erika and I stayed
at the Sea Breeze.

Ah, how is Erika?

She's fine.

But you
didn't stay here.

No. Jack stays here
with Kathy and the kids.

Jack was just here.

Yeah, I know, Mom.

I talked to him
this morning,

and then I talked to you.

He's gained
a lot of weight.

I'm worried
about him.

Can I fix you
something to eat?

Hi. This is Erika.

You've reached
my cellphone.

I've probably
misplaced it,

and I'm running around,
trying to find it.

Hi, darling.

Guess who's here.
Nathan.

Nathan?

Yeah.

Hey, Dad.

Hey, kiddo.

Huh.
You look...

look pretty good.

Feel like shit.

- Yeah?
- Heh.

Whoa. Gotta sit down.

O-Okay, yeah.

- Sandy.
- Huh?

How 'bout
a cup of coffee?

Sure, darling.

You want one,
too, honey?

No. I'm still working
on mine, thanks. You got it?

- Ah, fuck!
- Here you go.

How was
the trip?

Oh, it was good, yeah,

easy.
Caught a direct flight.

Oh, you didn't
go through Tampa?

No, no, JetBlue
goes direct now.

You rent a car?

No.

Well, use mine.

Okay.

So, I stopped by
the hospital earlier.

Little surprised that you
just checked yourself out.

Nothing they're
gonna do for me there.

It was fucking depressing,

bunch of old
fucking people.

They could have
observed you.

You should
have stayed.

Only reason I would have
stayed was this Irish nurse.

Ah, she was something.

Yeah,
dream on, hotshot.

Now I'm stuck here
with this batty old broad.

Your father's still
a son of a bitch.

Well, what do you expect?

You could be nicer
in front of our child.

Nicer?
I could be dead.

That's how
I'd be nicer.

I'm freezing in here.

I'm gonna
turn up the heat.

Really? I'm actually
kind of hot, Mom.

Let her do
what she wants.

Get me my computer
over there, will you?

What are you doing?

I'm cold.

Adjusting the blinds

is not gonna
make it warmer.

It's just gonna
make things darker.

Just don't argue with her.

Okay. I'll...

Don't put
your coffee cup

on the table!
Use a coaster!

It's fine. It doesn't
even leave a spot.

Besides, this table's
not exactly...

What's the matter
with the table?

There's nothing wrong
with the table.

It's just not what I
would call fine furniture.

Yeah.
I'm gonna make dinner.

You're making
dinner now? It's...

Don't you think
it's a little early?

Just use
the fucking coaster.

Sorry.
I'm using the coaster.

Using the coaster.
Happy?

How's Erika?

She's good.

She called
the other day.

She was asking
about your father.

Ah, son of a bitch.

That's nice of her.

Apple's up again.

I shouldn't have listened
to your idiot brother.

She's very excited about her
new book coming out next week.

She's gonna send us
an autographed copy.

How's your book?

My book? Yeah,

I haven't really had
time to work on that,

'cause I've been sidetracked
with working on some other...

Mom, I don't think you're
supposed to microwave plastic.

Why not?

You give it up?

I don't know.
Uh, cancer maybe?

We don't worry
about cancer at our age.

Yeah. Well, at my age,
th-that's kind of what you do.

Honey, we've been microwaving
your food since you were a baby.

- I microwaved your bottles.
- You did what?

So what do you do
all day, then...

You worry too much.

- if you don't work on our book?
- I...

Did I tell you
Erika called?

Yeah, Mom, you...
you mentioned that.

What would you
like me to say?

That a pretty girl
with an outrageous manner

means more
to an old pro like me

than a quarter
of a million dollars?

I don't suppose so.

Well, it's a toss-up.
I can tell you that.

What?

Hasn't it occurred to you
that I'm having

a tough time keeping
my hands off you?

Oh, you should
see your face.

What's the matter
with it?

It's lovely.

Now what's the trouble?

I'm not hungry anymore.
Isn't it glorious?

- Adam!
- It's all right.

Come and look.

Hi. This is Erika.

You've reached
my cellphone.

I've probably
misplaced it,

and I'm running around,
trying to find it,

so just leave a message,

and I'll get back
to you when I can.

Hey. That was
so thoughtful of you

to call my parents,
really.

You're probably out right
now with that David guy.

Fancy dinner,

moody East Side
Italian place.

You looked down
at your phone.

You saw that it was me,

turned it off.

"Oh, go on, David,
with your story.

"It was so interesting.

Finish what
you were saying."

I can't really
blame you now.

But I do believe it.
That's what I don't believe.

So it's goodbye...

My mom keeps
asking about you

because she keeps forgetting
that she keeps asking about you,

and every time she does,

it's just like
a punch in my stomach.

Maybe it's for the best.

I don't know.

You're probably right,
though.

I shouldn't worry
about Alzheimer's.

I'm gonna die
of cancer.

Yeah, I just
found out today

not only was
I not breast-fed,

but that my mom pumped BPA and
PCBs into my infant formula.

Anyways, call me back.

I love you, baby.
I love you.

I'm sorry.
Call me back.

Hey, you don't look
so bad in this light.

Well, why do you think
I brought you here?

I thought maybe
you wanted me to see

the kind of work the
competition was turning out.

Pretty good, huh?
Hmm.

I taught them
everything they do.

Well, did they do that kind
of thing way back in your day?

Sure. How do you
think I got here?

Wow, when you come on,
you come on, don't you?

Breakfast, honey!

I made you eggs!

You sure that it's okay to
leave you for a half an hour?

Yes. How many times
do I have to say it?

I'm fine.

You know, I can just go by
myself if you gave me a list.

Just go, will you,

both of you.

I need
some goddamn peace.

Probably for the best they
took your license away.

I loved it.
Well, you know what?

That's not
for you to say.

I know, but you weren't
a great driver to begin with.

That's for me to say.

I... I was
an excellent driver.

I haven't
got one ticket.

- I've been driving since I was 16.
- Yeah.

You should talk.
You...

Couple fender benders,
though.

Well, that was
a long time ago.

Not your fault, of course, right?
Yeah.

God, you're going
too fast.

You're going
to get a ticket.

I'm not
going too fast.

There's
nobody even here.

Darling, there are
rules in life.

Do you hear that sound?

Hmm? What sound?

What sound? The...
That grinding sound from the hood.

I'm sure it's nothing.

Oh, Mom, that is
definitely something.

Don't tell your father.

Why not?

Because I don't want
to upset him.

Mom, he's gonna be upset
if the engine blows up.

It's not gonna blow up.

Why is that?

Because it will upset
your father.

Ahh.

Hmm.

Hmm.

No. Your father wants

smoked turkey breast
from Morton's Deli.

He likes that better.

Okay. Well,
we can go there after,

or I can
just go by myself.

Can I help you
find anything?

He wants pepper jam.

He likes pepper jam.
Don't ask me why.

Yeah.
I'm gonna go find it.

- Yo!
- Yo, Jacko.

Can't believe
you picked up, man.

Hey, how's the old man?

How you surviving
in that nuthouse?

Oh, my God. I can't believe
it's only been 18 hours.

Hey, you know,
if it's too cold,

you can always ask Mom
to turn up the heat.

Ha ha ha. That's funny.

Hey, did you hear,
like, a weird noise

in the Mercedes when
you were driving it?

You mean the sound like someone
threw a toaster into the dryer?

Yeah, that's the one.
You didn't do anything about it?

Yeah, yeah.
You know, I was so busy.

How long are you
gonna be there?

I don't know.
They need somebody here.

Well, what else do
you have to do, right?

I mean, I've got
a meeting coming up.

Listen, I'll check in
with you later.

Yeah, all right.

Yes.

Yeah.

All right.

Shit.

Sorry.

Mom.

Oh, somebody
stole my purse.

Here.

And where did all
this wine come from?

It was me.
Where did you go?

I was here. Are you
drinking too much?

No, you were not here, and, no,
I'm not drinking too much, okay?

I... I didn't know
you like red wine.

Yeah, well, that's 'cause
they don't sell bourbon here.

Red wine
gives me a headache.

Mom,
you're giving me a headache.

...in just about 18,

so it seems it
has quietly crept down

as this market
is shooting up,

and this reflation train

becomes really
more of a reality...

So, Nate...

Hmm?

how's the book?

Oh. I'm working
on a play now.

A play?

There's some producers
that are interested.

Didn't know
you wrote plays.

I'm learning as I go.

Ah.

Well, I'm guessing, uh,

- it's not a musical.
- No.

No, it's more Beckett
than Broadway.

Yeah, the guy who pitched
for the Red Sox?

No, no. He's a playwright,
Samuel Beckett.

Oh, that Beckett.

Dad...

don't start.

You still proofreading
at that... that ad agency?

Yeah, yeah.

They call me
when they need me.

Are you giving up
on the novel?

No, I'm not giving up
on the novel.

I just put
the novel on hold.

I'm working
on a play now.

Well, is somebody
trying to sell it?

No, I don't sell it.

The producers
set it up, and they...

It's complicated.

I'm going to bed.

All right.

Good night, Dad.

As we
mentioned earlier,

stocks are
marginally higher.

Housing data...

All right.
See you in the morning.

See you
in the morning.

Alex?
That's right, Dierdre.

It's really a rally
led by the financials.

I mean, take a look at the
names like JPMorgan, Citigroup,

Morgan Stanley really
catapulting higher,

leading this rally
in the S&P.

What an animal.

Whatever it
was, it must have been

pretty big and vicious
to have done that.

Right on both counts,
New York.

I was tussling with the most
dangerous animal in the world,

a woman.

She must have
been Tarzan's mate.

Okay.

I'm going to bed, too.

Will you take care
of the lights?

All right.
Good night, Mom.

The only one I keep on
is the, uh,

one in the center
of the kitchen

in case I want
to get up at night.

Okay.
I'll figure it out.

I'll show you
where the switches are.

No, it's...
I'll figure it out.

- Yeah? You sure?
- Yeah, yeah, I'm sure.

They're lights, Mom.
Unless one of them

is a self-destruct button
for the building,

I think I'll
figure it out, okay?

What does that mean?

That's a joke.

Ha ha.

Good night.

Good night.

...known a million
dames like that.

Two million.
Yeah.

Stopped the car,
opened the door.

"Take another hour and stop
here, sister," I told her.

That's the stuff.

As I was going on.

If you want to see a real scar,
brother, get a load of this.

I'm gonna turn the heat up.
I'm cold.

Aren't you cold, honey?

No. It's hot
in here, Mom.

I don't know, honey.

Parents are getting old.

Yeah. I was afraid
that was gonna happen.

Well, one day,
another kid and I took 'em down.

The old man
wasn't around.

We had a duel.

What?

I think when we get
back home this April,

we have to look
into Elmwood.

Have we talked
about that to you?

That's a...

Assisted living
community.

Okay.

Your father
doesn't want to do it.

You know him.
He hates old people.

Shuts me up every time
I mention it,

but I'm gonna need
more and more help,

and I don't want
to burden him with it.

I-I'll look into it, Mom.

It's very nice.

He's scared.
He's so scared.

He doesn't want you
to know.

He doesn't
want to show it.

He panics every time
I leave the room

for five minutes,
you know.

He loves you, Mom.

Yeah, he loves me.

Okay.

- Good night, sweetheart.
- Good night, Mom.

I don't want to be late.

We're not
gonna be late.

She cleared this time
just for me.

Of course she did.

I hate leaving
your father,

but a manicure
just makes me feel human.

Sure. Me, too.

Why are you doing that?

I'm just trying to see if it's
the engine or the drivetrain.

You're gonna break it.

Whatever.
It's already broken.

You said it's
on Pineapple, right?

North or South?

- Oh.
- Well, just pick one.

- Uh, it's to the right.
- All right.

All right, all right!
I'm gonna go.

No, it's to the...

I know, but there's
cars behind me.

I have to make a choice.

Look familiar?

No.

- No?
- Doesn't look familiar?

Okay, I'm gonna
turn around then.

No, no, no.
It's okay. It's fine.

You sure?
Yeah. It's...

This is Pineapple.

Just wait here, okay?

Are you Shelly?

Yeah, I'm Shelly.

Good. Don't go anywhere.
I'll be right back.

- Hi, honey.
- Hi, darling.

I'm so sorry about Bob.

You know my youngest son,
don't you, Nathan?

You met him before?

No, but you have told
me a lot about him.

You're the writer?

- Yeah, I'm... I'm a writer.
- Yeah.

And your brother is a
lawyer, a politician?

He's a lobbyist.

He bribes politicians.

I love your mother,
just love her.

Yeah, she's...
she's the greatest.

So do... do I
just wait here?

Yeah. You can wait
in there.

Uh, it's gonna be about an
hour, maybe more.

Is there... Is there maybe
a place that I could...

- Get a drink?
- Yeah.

That... That would be great.

Yeah, just
a couple blocks north,

Banks Channel.
Great burgers...

- Okay.
- if you're hungry.

Yeah, okay.
I'll be back, Mom.

You open?

Yeah.
Sit anywhere you like.

Can I start you out
with something?

Yes. Bourbon.

Yeah, what do you like?

Jack.

And a cheeseburger,
medium?

Plain?

Uh, do you have
pepper jack?

Hang on.

Oh.

The Tijuana Tornado...

- Yep.
- looks awesome.

- All right. It is.
- Thank you.

I'll go
put your order in.

Appreciate it.

Can I get you
another one?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah? Same glass?

Uh-huh.
That'll work.

All righty.

Why don't you
go buy her a drink?

She looks familiar.
I think... I don't know.

Maybe she was on my flight
or something.

So buy her a drink.

What's she drinking?

Who cares?

O-Okay, yeah.

Yeah, I'll buy her
a drink.

- All right.
- Sure.

Look at you.
Good man.

All right.

Okay. Well, that did
not seem to work.

Oh, what'd you expect?

Did you think she was
gonna fling herself at you

because you bought her
a $14 martini?

- That was $14?
- Yeah.

You gotta pay for
the good vodka, honey.

That's worse
than New York.

Hello.

Hi.

I think you might
have been on my flight

the other day
from New York?

Oh, yeah.
It's possible.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Let me guess. You're here
for the same reason that I am.

Your parents are just
driving you crazy, right?

Had to get a drink,

read a little
David Foster Wallace?

My grandparents.

What's that?

I'm visiting
my grandparents.

Oh, your grandparents, okay.

That... That's nice of you.

It's nice of them
to have me.

I'm Nathan.

- Your hamburger.
- My what?

The waitress just put
your food on the bar.

Oh, right.

Okay, well, it was, uh...

- It was nice talking to you.
- Alex.

- Uh, Nathan.
- No, my name's Alex.

That's... That's why you
came over here, right?

Yes. Okay.

You wanted to ask me.

Yeah, I...

Yes. That's why I...

It was nice
talking to you.

Well, if you
want to talk again,

you can find me at the
Shore Club by the pool.

Okay. Shore Club.

Alex.

Alex.

Okay, can you
make it at 10:15?

Oh, that's great.
That's great.

And that is
with Joanne.

Whoa. Shit.

Oh, man.

Wonderful.
We'll see you tomorrow.

Okay. Bye-bye.

Okay.

Oh, God.

Mm, what?

I need a tow truck.

I'm at the, uh,

Beyond Beauty
Day Spa.

Okay.

Uh, it's
a silver Mercedes.

The hood is open.
You can't miss it.

Okay,
called the tow truck.

They said about
20 minutes or so.

What are we gonna
tell your father?

It's a car, Mom.
They break down,

especially if you ignore loud
noises for months at a time.

I'm just gonna call him
and tell him.

No, no, no!
He's sleeping!

I don't want
to wake him up.

I don't want you
to call him.

Yeah, but we're
gonna be an hour late,

maybe two.
We have to call him.

No.

Fine.

So, uh, your mom's
been telling me

that your
girlfriend's book

is coming out
next month?

Yeah.

Are you excited?

Eh, not really.

A lot of our friends
are writers,

so we just
think of it as a job.

He doesn't
get excited.

No, I...
I get excited, Mom.

Yeah, you don't
get happy excited.

You get anxious excited.

Wonder where
I get that from?

W-What's it about?
It's a novel?

Uh, yeah.
It's about a psychiatrist

who becomes convinced
that her patient

is really her daughter who she was
told was stillborn two decades earlier.

And is she?

Yeah, and she's not.

It's... It's sort of
metaphysical.

Hmm.

I'll lend you mine

when I'm finished
with it.

I'm getting
an autographed copy.

You know my other son?

Yeah, we've gone
over this, Mom.

He works
in Washington, D.C.

He protects all those poor banks
from those greedy taxpayers.

He does
a lot more than that.

No, that's pretty much
what he does, Mom.

He lives in a beautiful
house in Maryland

with his wife Kathy and
two adorable daughters.

Yeah, and he's been
getting fat from eating

all those wiener dogs at
cocktail receptions and parties.

He is looking a little unhealthy.
I worry about him.

I worry about you, too.

What are you worried
about me for?

I worry about how you're
gonna make a living

doing what you do.

I mean, Erika's book
could make a lot of money,

but you can't
count on that.

No, you can't.

Oh, listen. Daddy's
going to be so upset.

Don't worry about that.
I got you.

I'm worried about Daddy,
'cause he's gonna be upset with you.

No, that's okay.
I can handle it.

Yeah, you'll see...

You got it?
Scoot over.

...when he gets upset.

I'm gonna
sit here.

- Nathan?
- Yeah?

The music's so loud.

This isn't right.

Yeah, I know,
but what can we do?

I'll take her home.

Do you live
by my folks?

Oh, um, no, I don't,
but it's okay.

I'll take her home.

- You sure?
- Yeah. Yeah.

Let's get her down
from that truck.

All right, thanks.

And the bartender says...

"Why the long face?"

Yes!
Oh! Bingo!

I don't
understand it at all.

Why would you say that?

What's going on?

Ah, sweetheart,
come on in.

The first time I leave you guys
alone, you throw a party?

What'd you do
to my fucking car?

I didn't do anything
to your car.

Did you not hear
the grinding?

No, I didn't hear
any grinding,

and your mother didn't
say anything about it.

Your brother didn't
say anything about it.

Yeah, because you
scare everybody.

They don't want
to say anything.

I didn't do anything to it.
I don't know.

Are you drinking
red wine, Mom?

Yeah, it's good.
Do you want some?

Go get some.
Get a glass.

I love these chips, too, by the way.
They're fantastic.

The salt is so...

Do you not have
any wineglasses?

Oh, darling, just use
a regular glass.

No, no, you can't use a
regular glass for wine.

Doesn't taste right.

Isn't that right,
Nate?

It is true,
actually.

See? He knows
these things.

- What's wrong with my fucking car?
- Gourmand.

The service department
was closed.

They're gonna
call tomorrow.

You did
something to it.

No, you did,
you or your brother.

Okay, it must
have been us.

Couldn't have been you.

You know,
the first time

after he got
his driver's license,

he totaled the car
we bought him.

A brand-new Mustang,
right up a tree.

- Don't.
- Were you okay?

He was looking
at this girl.

He wa...

Yeah, he was fine.
He was in...

When he was in the
hospital getting the...

Had a couple stitches.

- Stitches.
- Stitches.

Stitches.
He says, "Hey, Dad,

Dad, when do we get
the insurance money?"

He loves this story.

The little shit wanted
the insurance money

so he'd
get another car.

I don't suppose
you gave it to him.

You bet I didn't
give it to him.

I let him
walk to school.

Teach him a lesson
in responsibil...

Not that he
ever learned it.

You know, you didn't
have to do this.

No. I just had to get
out of there. God.

Oh, thank you.

No...

- That didn't come out right.
- Uh-uh.

No, seriously,
thanks for...

thanks for driving my mom.

She could not have handled
that maniac tow-truck driver

and the repair shop.

No, I love
your mother,

and your dad
always cracks me up.

I didn't realize
you guys have met before.

Yeah. Usually he sits and waits
while your mom gets her nails done.

- Really?
- Mm-hmm.

You're kidding me.

He's got the patience
of a two-year-old.

Ah, he just reads
a paper or a magazine.

- Huh.
- You know, I can see

how it might not
be easy to be their son.

- You can see that?
- Yeah.

I was starting to feel
like a bad person.

No. You know,
I'm sure it's hard to be

in this small apartment
with them for a week.

That's how long
you're here, right?

I don't know.

Honestly, I just broke up
with my girlfriend.

Wow. A-Are you okay?

No. I mean, she left me
for somebody else,

and she's
with him right now,

which leaves me
feeling slightly nauseated.

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

I'm so sorry.

I haven't even told my parents yet.
They love Erika.

Oh, well,
I'm not sure about that.

What do you mean?
Did they say something?

No, nothing
in particular. They...

I just get the feeling
they're not sure

that she's
the right girl for you.

They look out for you
and your brother.

Yeah, I think
that's called meddling.

- No, no.
- Yeah.

No, it's sweet.

And you know what?

You're gonna
miss it someday.

Not really gonna
miss that so much.

I don't know
about that. Oh, I...

That's what made me
love your mother.

It's the way she
talks about her kids.

She just loves every single
detail about your lives.

And the grandkids!

Oh, she loves
the grandkids.

Oh! I mean, the first time
that your dad had a stroke,

her only thought
was for them.

Wait. What do you mean,
the first time my dad had a stroke?

Oh, God. I...

Did he have
another stroke?

They never said anything.

It was, like,
a year ago.

- I'm so sorry.
- Huh.

I... I didn't mean to
spill any family secrets.

I just... You know,
women tell their manicurists everything.

They're just sitting there for
hours with their hands occupied,

so their mouths
go on overdrive.

- I am so sorry.
- Don't be sorry.

It's not your fault
my family's crazy.

Okay?

- Um, I gotta go...
- Okay.

because I have to open
the shop in the morning,

but it was really nice
meeting you.

It was great meeting you.
Thanks again.

Oh, it's my pleasure.

Hey, I'm... You know,

I'm gonna be here
for a while,

so maybe we could
get coffee or lunch.

Oh, I would love that.

- Okay.
- Yeah.

- All right.
- Okay.

Call the salon.

Okay, yeah.

- Sounds good.
- Okay.

- All right.
- Bye.

- Get home safe.
- Thanks.

All things considered,
your mother's doing well.

I'm going to change her
medication to Memantine,

which I think
will be effective.

Well, if she's doing well,

why are you changing
her medication?

Honey, the doctor
knows what he's doing.

I know. I know.
I'm just gonna ask him.

That's okay,
Mrs. Fisher.

You have to understand what
doing well means in this context.

There's been steady
cognitive deterioration,

but the rate of decline has
been relatively moderate.

But she is getting worse.

Yes, but we're
essentially trying to delay

the progression
of some of the symptoms.

There's nothing
we can actually do

to delay the progression
of the disease itself.

You... You get
the distinction?

Yeah.

Mom, do you
understand?

Oh, yes.
I understand.

Okay.

Do you mind if
I ask Dr. Black

a question alone
for a second?

Th-There's nothing we can't
discuss in front of your mother.

She's... She's fully
aware of everything.

Yeah. This was
more about me, though.

Shoot.

Um...

is there
anything I can do

to prevent getting
Alzheimer's in the future?

You have the markers?

Yeah. I mean,
sometimes I forget things.

Yeah, so do I.

You could get tested.
You'd have a better idea

of the odds
you're looking at,

but I wouldn't
recommend that.

- Why not?
- Well, if it's positive,

there's nothing
you can do about it.

There's nothing I can do?

Research.
This is Erika.

Hey.

Uh, this isn't
a good time.

It isn't, is it?

I'll talk to you,
but later.

Look, I just have to ask
you one question, okay?

Simple answer.

What?

Have you been going out
with this David guy?

Yes.

And have you been
sleeping with him?

Yes.

Okay. See, that's good.

That's really good,
'cause I've...

I been feeling shitty,
staying up all night,

wondering if
I should feel shitty,

and now I know I can...
I can just feel shitty.

Thanks for that.

Okay.

Okay.

Bye.

Wait. Are your parents okay?

No. Remember,
my mom has Alzheimer's?

My dad had a stroke?

It's not gonna get
any better.

That's what you said,
right?

You sound like
you're at the beach.

Yeah.

Well, enjoy it.

It's cold and rainy
in New York.

Thanks for
the weather report.

Nathan, I'm just trying to
normalize things between us.

Oh, normalize?

Is... Is that what
normal people talk about,

the weather? Oh.

Is that just
what famous writers

think the rest of us spend
our time talking about?

- You know what your problem is, Erika?
- Nathan...

You think that
by publishing this book,

it's gonna somehow
transform your life,

like... like you're gonna
walk into a restaurant,

and people are gonna
whisper, "Ooh, look,

"that's Erika Bryce.
She's a famous writer.

- She published a novel."
- Nathan...

Well, you know what?
No one's gonna give a shit

that you published
a book, okay?

Look around the F train
during rush hour.

I bet you there's a ton of
people cramped in that car,

and five of 'em
have published books.

They're just
as uncomfortable

and irritated
as everybody else!

H-Hello?
You still there?

I like this one.

You doing a series?

I guess you could
say that, yeah. Yeah.

Eh, you got
a lot of 'em?

Come back
another afternoon,

I'll show you...

next time I see you.

You always in the same spot
right here?

Around here...

when the...
when the light's good.

All right.

See you then.

Good morning, sir.

Morning.
Can I have a Bloody Mary?

Are you a guest here?

Yeah, I guess.

I mean, are you
a guest of a member?

Oh. Well,
I-I'm meeting someone here,

and her name's Alex.

She's a brunette,
very pretty.

- Mm-hmm.
- Uh...

Yeah, that's describing
about half the women here.

Can I just
get a drink, please?

Okay.

Could really use
a Bloody Mary.

Bloody Mary.

Thanks, man.

Be right back.

Here you are.

Thank you.
Yeah,

you just act like
you belong here.

When someone asks,
you just found that here.

Thanks again.

All right.

What the fuck?

Mom?

Hi, honey.

Hey.

You're a long way
from home.

- I am?
- Yeah.

Yeah, I guess I am.

Do you know
where you are?

Of course I do.

I just didn't think you'd want
to be this far away from Dad.

Dad's asleep.
Jack is keeping an eye on everything.

Jack's not here, Mom.
He was here last week.

I'm pretty sure he is.

No, Mom, he's not.

All right, how long
have you been out for?

I don't know. Not sure.

All right, we're gonna
get you home, okay?

Did I tell you
Erika called?

Did she call again?

Again?

Yeah. I talked to her.

No, well, you said she
called a couple days ago.

I... I just want
to make sure.

Did she call
once or twice?

Uh, I'm not sure. Once.

- Yes, once.
- Huh.

You don't like her,
do you, Mom?

I like her.

Not sure
I like her for you.

Huh.

It's ruts, you know.

Yeah, I know,
but this is where you're from.

- Yeah.
- Look at this.

- What?
- See?

Family reunion time.

- Hey.
- Hey.

Look at that.

- How 'bout that?
- Okay.

Good to see you, bud.

I didn't know
you were coming.

So nice to see
my boys together.

Spur-of-the-moment
thing.

Drove to the airport,
got on a plane.

You think capitalism will survive
a couple days without you?

Let's grab lunch.

I'll make something.

No, we'll go out.

It'll do you both
some good.

- I'm not going out.
- No?

Come on.
I rented an SUV.

There's plenty
of room.

Sure you don't
want to go, Dad?

Yeah, I'm sure.
Go out with your brother.

Take your mother with you.

No, no. I'm not
going without you.

Go ahead.
Have some fun.

I just got here.

So how long
you staying for?

I don't know.

- You spending the night?
- At least.

I took your stuff
from the other bed

in the guest room,
got rid of it.

- What?
- Yeah.

- Purple?
- Yeah.

Really?

Yeah. For her.

Sweet.

Really?

Maybe we should
play some golf this week.

Yeah, I don't
really golf anymore.

Well, then we should
definitely play golf this week.

Don't you have to be
a member to eat here?

- We are members.
- What?

Mom and Dad are members.

We have
a family membership.

Huh. I did
not know that.

Dad never comes here.
He hates it.

Want to sit here?

Yeah.

So I looked into Elmwood.

Yeah?

Mm-hmm.
It's pretty great.

- Hmm
- But there's a catch.

What's that?

So you know when you're
trying to get your kids

into a really good
private school?

Well, you wouldn't
know, but...

I'm not
totally ignorant, okay?

I do have friends
with kids.

All right, all right.

It's harder to get in
a few years down the road

when you're
really infirm, okay?

They want people to buy in when
they're still relatively healthy

so they can stay
on the program until...

you know,
till the end, right?

So it's like school
in reverse.

Yes, it's like school
in reverse.

You know
that scene in "2001"

where Dave is removing
HAL's memory units?

As HAL's memory fades,

he becomes all
childlike and docile

till he remembers
the first thing

that he was ever taught,
that song "Daisy."

Daisy?

You know...

♪ Daisy, Daisy ♪

♪ Give me
your answer true ♪

What are you talking about?

You don't know
that movie?

No, I've never
seen the movie.

Oh, my God.
That's a classic.

I thought we were
talking about Mom and Dad...

- We were!
- not your favorite movies.

- Jesus, just can you...
- I was free associating.

- We were talking about...
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Listen. My point is,
if we want to get them

into this place,
we gotta do it now.

I know, but Dad
doesn't want to go.

God, that woman's hot.

Her name's Alex.

"Her name's Alex."

You've been here
three days.

"Her name's Alex."

- Hey.
- Hey.

How are you?

You remember me, right?

Sure.

If you're in town
for a little bit...

What was that about?

Asked her out on a date.

I hope she
let you down gently.

She said no to dinner...

but she said yes
to lunch.

What about Erika?

Oh, yeah.

She's fucking
somebody else.

Is that a good thing?

For whom?

For you.

No.
I'm fucking heartbroken.

I'm just trying
to make the best of it.

Good night, boys.

- Good night, Mom!
- Good night, Mom!

Y-You're a cop?

As we mentioned earlier,
stocks are marginally high...

Mark my words.

We have crossed a very
dangerous line here in America,

and it's not
a line in the sand.

It's now written
in stone...

Would you
change this, please?

- To what?
- Anything else.

You said you didn't care
what you were watching.

Now we're gonna
watch this.

We have traded leaders
who celebrate success,

- who celebrate freedom...
- Come on.

You don't actually
buy this crap, do you?

If you had a job
and made some money,

you'd understand
what he's saying.

Jack, I thought
you were just doing

this wing-nut thing
because it paid well.

I didn't picture you sucking
it up in your spare time.

So you're saying it's better
to be a cynical hypocrite

than it is to be an
honest conservative?

- I'm saying change the channel.
- No.

And what we're gonna
do is we're gonna...

I can't believe this guy.

He's in a wheelchair.

So? What, are you

prejudiced against
the disabled now?

No, but he's going on
against government regulation

about things that could actually
help people who need help.

Exactly. And look at what
he's accomplished in his life.

Look at how far he's come
without government handouts.

Government'll be your mommy.

Yeah, if you call being a loudmouth
douche bag an accomplishment.

Change the channel.
Come on.

Give me the remote.
Come on.

I'm just gonna change
the channel myself.

Don't do it.

...to help in sentiment,
Alex Steele has...

I have the power.

I'm gonna unplug it.

Don't do that.
Don't you do that.

I'm unplugging...

Don't do that.
Get out of there!

Ow! You just hit me!

Not on purpose.

You just hit me hard!

I can still
kick your ass.

Oh, you want to.

- Huh? You want to?
- Come on.

- You want to?
- You want to?

Give that fucking...

No! Get off! Aah!

Stop it. Stop it!

What's the matter with you?

Fighting. You're gonna
wake your father.

Get back in your own bed.

Get off of me.

Good.

Now you've done it.

He started it.

Did not.
He's full of shit.

Freezing in here.
I'm turning up the heat.

It's 10:00 at night.

What the hell are we
doing lying in bed?

Let's get out of here.

Let's go.

So when are you
going back?

I don't know.

Don't you have
to get back for work?

I don't have a job.

What did you say?

I got fired.

Oh.

I had a thing with a woman
in the office. I was...

What, they fired you
for that?

Just so happens
that she is the daughter

of the CFO of one
of our biggest clients...

- Oh, fuck.
- so there's that.

At least tell me she wasn't an
intern, please.

She was getting paid...

a stipend.

Jesus Christ.

Does Kathy know?

Yeah. She knows.

She's not letting me
see the kids.

How long has...

I mean, when did...

About 4 1/2 months ago.

4 1/2 months.

I figured
we'd work it out quickly,

so I put myself up
at the Ritz-Carlton.

Didn't really
turn out that way,

so now I'm at the La
Quinta Suites Rosslyn.

"Suites"
sounds luxurious.

I'm running out of money.

And I can't
get unemployment.

I'm sorry.
Did you say, "Unemployment"?

Yeah.

You fucking
hypocrite.

- It's a big day for it.
- Hmm.

Big day. Big day.

That's huge.

Yeah.

Jesus Christ, Jack.

Mom and Dad are happy
because of you.

You had the wife, kids,

big house,
two German cars.

I was allowed to just do
whatever the hell I wanted to.

You had to go and fuck
that up for me, huh?

My apologies.

Thank you for caring so
much about your big brother,

you piece of shit.

Yeah, next time
you fuck an intern,

just think of me
first, please.

I'll take it.

What?

Look at that.

Jesus Christ.

They have actual Germans
back there?

Oh, that sucks.

What are you doing?

Didn't Dad
give you money?

Dad's not gonna
give me money.

What do you...
Am I supposed to pay for this?

I mean, I don't
even think I have...

I don't have
that much cash.

I definitely...
I know I don't. I just...

I don't...

Should we just...

- Split it.
- split it?

Is there anything that's
not deep-fried here?

There's oysters.

Yeah, that's like
the one thing

that's better
deep-fried.

I love places like this,
though, clam shacks.

Yeah. I guess
it has its appeal.

It kind of reminds me
of this... this place

we used to go to
as kids in Maine.

So, what do you do,
Mr. Nathan?

I'm a writer.

But don't ask me if you've
read anything I've written,

because you haven't.

So you're
a ghostwriter?

A what?
That was a joke.

Little double entendre?

Yeah. Um, so what...

so what do you
write, then?

Well, I started
a novel once,

but I'm working
on a play now.

And you keep them in a
box hidden under your bed?

I actually keep them on a hard drive.
Saves paper.

That was supposed
to be a joke, too.

Yeah.
Heh heh. Okay.

- We can both tell bad jokes.
- Yeah.

No, your joke was good.
Mine was bad.

So, wait.
Y-You started a novel.

That's awesome.
What happened?

Yeah, I started the novel,
but then...

I felt like I should
be working on the play,

but now I'm thinking I
should go back to the novel.

But I don't know.
I don't know.

You don't know?

Don't you think
you're a little too old

to still be
figuring it out?

- Old?
- You know,

like by the time
they reach your age,

most people who haven't
really succeeded in art

usually join a law
school or something.

I'm only 35.

That's what I'm saying.

Yeah. Well,
what about you?

What do you...
What do you like to read?

I like
David Foster Wallace

and, uh,
Michel Houellebecq,

think they're
my favorite.

That's pretty heavy.

Where do you find time to read those?
Do... Do you work?

I... I collect alimony,

and I travel.

Aren't you
a little young for that?

Well, I'm... I'm 25.

Like I said.

Well, you know,
I gave it my best shot.

Let me guess.
He was a lot older than you.

Yeah,

about your age.

Wow. Hello.

I'm gonna have the...

fried clams
and the onion rings.

Boom.

How was your date
with the bod?

It was pretty good.

She's French,
so she's very up-front.

Did you get that little
tingle in your balls?

What the fuck
is your problem, man?

Just want to know if you're
gonna try to fill the doughnut.

Did you just say,
"Fill the doughnut"?

Seriously?
Who talks like that?

Whoo!

Motherfucking slice!

Damn it!

You know how much
money I've spent

- to try to get rid of that?
- Yeah.

Why don't you just aim it a
little farther to the left?

Because you don't
do that, Nathan.

You don't compensate for your weaknesses.
You overcome them.

That sounds like
an excellent philosophy.

Fuck you.

You don't even play!

You want
to know my secret?

What's your secret?

I just
don't give a shit.

Hah! That'll get you
far in life.

Well, it's got me
two strokes up on you.

Thought you
didn't give a shit.

Yeah. Still want
to beat you, though.

What?

You gonna
ask her out again?

Yeah, sure.

She's really
beautiful,

and she... I think
she's smart.

Did you give her
an IQ test at lunch?

That's pretty romantic.

No, I can tell by the
type of books she reads.

Right. Like Erika?

I'm trying to help you!

Don't bother
helping me!

I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Ma!

You understand what your
father is going through?

Of course I do.

I didn't mean
to upset him.

You didn't?

How could this
not upset him, Jack?

He seemed all right.

He seemed all...
He's gone off to sleep!

He's not
all right with it!

Mom, what's going on?

I can't talk
about this.

Ma, it's gonna be all right.
I'll take care of it!

I'm sorry, Ma!

I told them.

Everything?

Bullet points.

They're really pissed off.

At you?

Of course at me.

Dad started yelling.

Mom started yelling
that I was upsetting Dad.

All this happened while
I was in the shower?

Dude, you were in there
for, like, a half an hour.

I asked Dad if I
could borrow some money.

How much?

200.

Thousand?

No, $200.

Of course 200,000.

What the fuck, Jack?

I'm underwater.
I overpaid for my house.

Real estate's
in the shitter.

I took out
a second mortgage,

I can't get any credit,

and I've been spending like
crazy since she threw me out.

Okay, hold on.
You've been out there in D.C.

working for
the banking industry,

helping them fuck people
out of money, right?

I just think
that's a little ironic.

Ah, irony, yes,

the last refuge
of the hipster.

Are they handing out medals in
Brooklyn for spotting irony?

This is why
you came back?

- No, it's not.
- It is.

No, it's not.

You came back
to ask for money.

- Bullshit. No.
- Well, you did. You just asked him.

I came here because I have
no place else to go!

Plus we are losing them.

Don't you see that?

Bit by bit,
we're losing them.

I think you're trying
to blame me for this.

No, no,

but it is your fault.

You know, that's just a
sign of your own insecurity.

Insecurity?
What do I have to be insecure about?

Because I have a successful
career, and you know it.

Well,
that's ridiculous.

So when am I gonna see
my girls again?

You'll see
your girls again, Ma.

I'm gonna take care
of this, okay?

Everything's
gonna be fine.

I'd like to see them
while I still know them.

You'll know them, Ma!

Dad?

Dad, you okay?

- Darling?
- Dad!

Honey?

I fucked up.

I'm sorry, Ma.

I'm so sorry.

God.

Well, it wasn't
another stroke.

He's asleep now.

May I see him,
please?

What was it?

He just passed out.

I'd like to see him,
please.

So, stress?

Stress can never
be ruled out.

He'll be asleep
until morning.

May I see him, please?

- Can she see him?
- Sure.

- Dr. Mattam.
- Yes?

She's ready
for release.

We just need
your signature.

Hi, Grandma.

Hi, Grandma.

Ah, I didn't
know you could do this.

Hi, sweeties.
Oh, look at you.

It's wonderful
to see you.

Hi, Molly.

I'm Ashley.

Oh, of cour...
I know that.

I know you're Ashley.

You're growing up
so fast.

Hi, Molly.

How old are you now?

I'm five.
Well, almost five.

Ohh.

And, Ashley, honey,
how old are you?

I'm nine, Grandma.

You're so beautiful.

I just want
to look at you.

You're beautiful,
too, Grandma.

Oh, yeah? You think?

Aww.

And how old are you now?

I just said, Grandma.
I'm nine.

Oh, yeah.

Well, you're so big.

Okay, goodbye, girls.

Bye, Daddy.

Bye, Daddy.

Thank you, darling.

Hi. I'm looking
for my Dad.

He's out getting
a PET scan.

Oh, okay.
He told me about you.

Oh. Yeah,
I'll bet he did.

Red hair.

So when's he
gonna be back?

Several hours probably.

All right, 'cause I've
got his clothes here

and got his computer.

This is really important
that he gets this.

Of course.
I'll keep an eye on it.

How's he doing?

Oh, he's good.

Yeah?
Oh, yeah.

Okay. I'll be back.

It's the stories,
you know.

- Yeah.
- I ju... I love the stories.

Do you ever hear anything
that's really disturbing?

Oh, yeah,

every detail.

See, you should be
writing a book.

I could introduce you
to people.

"Tales of a Manicurist."

Oh, yeah,
that's not in the cards.

You should, though.

All you have to do
is just listen,

take some notes.

Well, I don't think that my
clients would appreciate it.

Like, I mean, we kind of
have an understanding.

Like a manicurist-client
privilege.

That's it, exactly.

It's a well-known doctrine.

I want
to hear about your play.

My play.

Your phone's ringing.

Yeah. My ex.

Oh. You... You can
take it if you want.

I'll take a hike.

I really don't want
to talk to her.

Okay. Then tell me
about your play.

I would love to.

It's an historical drama
based on the life

of an Italian
named Enrico Malatesta.

I don't know
who that is.

He was an anarchist,

sort of the Abbie Hoffman
of his day.

- I do know who Abbie Hoffman is.
- Okay.

His mother used to come
in and get her nails done.

- Really?
- No.

Malatesta, he lived in the late
19th, early 20th century...

- Okay.
- and, um...

it's a whole...

You really do not
want to hear this.

If you think I don't want to hear
it, why are you writing about it?

Uh...

I don't know.

I really don't know.

Shoot, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean...

No. That's...

It's just that when things
are important to people,

really
important, good or bad,

they... they like to talk
about them, you know?

- Mm-hmm.
- Can I tell you what I think?

Please.

I think you should be
writing your novel.

How did you know
I had a novel?

Your dad, he told me.

He said it had
a lot of promise.

He told you about it, huh?

I think it's obvious

why you
abandoned the novel.

I'm sorry.
She's not gonna stop.

Do you mind?

- Yeah.
- Give me a second.

No, go ahead.

Hey.

Hi. How are you?

How are your parents?

I'm good, but that's
not why you're calling.

I got my PW
this morning.

Have you been crying?

They hated it.
They just hate it.

They called it
an undistinguished debut.

That's just one review.

Those people are all
frustrated writers.

That was the best one.

Did you see
what Bookslut said?

- No. I haven't really been...
- Listen.

"Ms. Bryce's reach
far exceeds her grasp.

She's drifting aimlessly
in an intellectual firmament

where she clearly
has no bearings."

Oh, thank you.

This one's from Beatrice.

"The experience
of reading this novel

is akin to being forced to watch
a particularly bad soap opera

with a freshmen psychology
student sitting beside you,

offering a running commentary
on the proceedings.

There might
have been some camp value

in the overwrought
narrative,

but it drowned
in the insistent exposition

of Ms. Bryce's
interior monologue."

I'm sorry.

Fucking blogger bitches.

Who the fuck told them
they could have an opinion?

Yeah. I think Beatrice
is actually a dude.

It's not how
it was supposed to go.

You know, it's not
how it was supposed to go.

I was gonna get
my starred PW,

and my editor was gonna call
me and take me to lunch,

and we were
gonna celebrate,

and then I was gonna be
in "New York" magazine.

Yeah, and you were going to be
dating a hot, young literary agent.

Yeah, I deserve that.

Yeah.

Look, Erika,
I'm sorry things

aren't working out
for you, but I gotta go.

You knew
that my book was bad.

Well, not bad,
but that it had problems,

and you tried
to tell me,

and I didn't listen.

I'm sorry, Nathan.

- Well...
- All right.

thank you.
That was a nice break.

You owe me 8.99 for your
tacos, by the way.

Oh. Wait.

Hold on one second.

Look, I'm sorry.

I just... I realize
you paid for the lunch,

and I was on my phone
the whole time.

You did.
You took a phone call.

Yeah. That was an awful,
awful lunch for you.

It's probably not in the top 10
worst dates I've ever had, so...

Yeah. Well,
I didn't know it was a date.

Oh. No, it's...

No, 'cause if
it was a date,

I wouldn't talk about
myself the whole time,

and I might ask you
a couple questions.

'Cause I really don't know
that much about you.

That's okay. You have a lot
on your plate right now.

Yeah, how much time
do you have?

I have, like,
five minutes.

Is it too late to ask you
a question now?

Uh, actually, that would
be lovely. Go ahead.

Okay, I'll make it quick.

- Okay.
- One question.

How the hell did you end up
in Florida with a nail salon?

Oh. Um, well, here's
the short version.

This place
belonged to my aunt,

and I was going
to school in Michigan,

and I would come down for
winter and spring breaks

and just hang out,
and I started working here.

And, um...

then she got sick,

and I finished college,

so I just stayed
for a few years

and helped her out.

And, um, when she died,

I couldn't just...

I mean,
I could have sold it,

but I... I didn't.

You got time
for one more question?

Man, you are pushing it.

Can we go on a real date?

- Ooh.
- And I won't wear shorts,

- and I will pay...
- Ooh!

and ask you questions.

And we can have
real plates

and not paper plates,

maybe even use
linen napkins.

Oh, are you sure?

Yeah.
Why wouldn't I be sure?

Okay, look,
here's the deal.

If you ask me out,
I'm gonna say yes.

Can you just
do me a favor

and take a moment and just...
just think about it, okay?

Yeah, okay.

- Okay.
- All right.

Good.

Whoa.

Yeah, whoa.
That's right.

Maybe you should take
a walk around the neighborhood,

relax a little bit.

You can't be
passing out like that.

You scared the shit
of everyone.

Good.

Ah, Theresa, Theresa,
Theresa, Theresa.

- This is my son, Nate.
- Hi.

- Hey.
- You know, I think your dad here

- faked the whole thing so he could come back and annoy me.
- Yeah.

- I don't like you that much.
- Mm-hmm.

When am I getting
out of here?

Well, the doctor will be
here in about an hour,

and we will
let him decide.

Well, tell him
to hurry up, will you?

Have you been
taking your meds?

I do whatever
you tell me, Theresa.

Yeah, sure you do.

Okay, you behave,
and I'll be back.

That's going too...
going too far.

You're right.
She's pretty cute.

Hmm.

You doing all right?

You like freckles.

Brother was here earlier.

Yeah.

Ah, boy.

- He fucked his life up.
- Yeah.

Fucked it up.

He did, but he's
gonna figure it out.

Yeah, well, he will,
or he won't.

- And you?
- What?

Well, you haven't made
any major commitments,

so you haven't made
any big mistakes,

but where the fuck are you?

I'm getting there, okay?

I'm getting there.

You gonna marry that...

No. No.

We broke up.

Well, that's good.

Yeah?

Pretentious little thing.

Bookslut was right
about her.

You saw that?

Yeah.

I have Google Alert
out for her.

I got one out
for you, too.

I'm still waiting.

I'm sorry.

Give me the goddamn
keys, will you?

You can't drive, Dad,
not even when you walk.

It's my fucking car.
Just give me the keys.

Don't argue with me.

I'm driving, okay?
That's final.

What a difference.

Needed attention.

Oh, yeah,
just a little love.

You know, you can
thank me anytime.

What for?

You said you
didn't do anything,

so I'm taking you
at your word.

You're welcome.

So I know we...
we never really...

never really
talked about it,

but h-how you doing

with Mom?

What do you mean?

How you doing?

You guys all right?

We're losing her.

Now, you know that,
right?

Yeah.

Well...

that's how it is.

I'm sorry, Dad.

Yes.

Hmm.

Mmm, smells so good.

- Can I help?
- No.

- No,
- I'm cooking tonight.

You just sit down.
Mm-hmm.

I'm making a little shrimp scampi.
Mmm.

You like that?
Love it.

So wonderful
to have my boys here.

It's good to be here.
Mm.

So did you have
a good time with Shelly?

I did. I like her.

Yeah,
she's a good girl, huh?

She is. Yeah, she is.

Check.

You know, she told me

that Dad
had a stroke last year.

Very small one.

Why did you
not tell me that?

Oh, darling, please.

Mom, I would
have come down.

You know your father likes
to do things his own way.

His own way? That's...
That's a big deal.

Nathan, he drove himself
to the hospital.

Are you kidding me?

I don't want to talk
about this right now.

We have to talk...

Not now.
Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!

Oh!

We should take a walk
on the beach tomorrow.

Why?

'Cause it'd be good
for you to get out.

I hate the beach.

I never set foot on it.

Never?

What'd I just say?

It's right here.

It's right at your door.

Yeah.

Well, why... why the hell
do you live in Florida?

You can live
anywhere in the world,

New York, Paris.

For your mother.

The sun's good for
Alzheimer's, they say.

Check.

Shit.

What? I smell good?

- You smell wonderful.
- Yeah?

You smell like the sea.

I gotta go home.

You do what you
need to do, but...

yeah...

it's time
for me to go home.

Okay, but honestly,

I don't think the old guy
wants me here.

Yeah, he does.

Yeah, he does.

He's not gonna...

beg for your help,
but...

of course he does.

But I gotta go.

Start checking on flights.
I got this.

You want
to go to bed?

Yeah.

With you.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Hmm. Come on.

Okay.

Hey!

Came by here yesterday,
but you weren't here.

Might have been
the day before, actually.

Well, sometimes when
I don't like the light,

I just stay home.

Wow.

How many of these
do you have?

When did you paint that?

That was
about four years ago.

Okay.

That's nice.

How 'bout this one?
When'd you do that?

Well, that's the 1970s.

Wow.

Wow.

Oh, that is beautiful.

I love this one.

Well, here. Take it.

It's yours
if you want it.

Really?

Yeah.

Look at that.

I appreciate it.

Yeah, it's come...
They forward to you.

If only.

Big improvement.

Beautiful.

See if you can get rid

of that orange
piece of crap over there.

Mom.

Bye, Mom.

Bye, darling.

Be safe, hmm?

I love you.

Yeah.

Hey, it's Nathan.

So I've thought
hard about this.

Not long, of course,

but I've made up
for not thinking long

by thinking
extra hard about it.

I really want to take
you on a date tonight

or tomorrow
or next week.

It doesn't matter.
I'll be around,

so call me.

Bye.

You gotta go to Kathy,

get on your hands
and knees.

Beg, beg, beg,
beg her to forgive you,

take you back.

I will.

I will.

Thanks, Dad.

All right.

So that's it?

Bro.

- Okay!
- Heh heh heh.

Thank you.

One for the road.
Uh-huh.

We'll talk soon.

I'll miss you.

Get out of here.
Yep.

Listen.
With Kathy,

don't cry.

Never looks good.

I won't.

I'm gonna open the door,

get some fresh air.

Do that.

I'll have a manicure
appointment tomorrow.

Can you drive me?

I can drive you.

No, you can't.

That's, uh...
That's okay.

He can drive.

We need to talk
about Elmwood.

Forget about it.

No. What do you mean,
forget about it?

The only way
I'm going to Elmwood

is in an urn on your
mother's mantelpiece.

I'm gonna make
some coffee.

Hey, Mom...

Yeah?

can I have a mug?

Of course.

Thank you.

I'm turning up
the heat first.

Okay.

When are you going home?

What's that?

- What?
- Huh?

Did I tell you
that Erika called?

Yeah, Mom,
you told me.

She feels
really terrible

about the awful reviews
she got.

What's a Bookslut?

It's complicated.

I told her not to worry.

I said it's all
gonna get better.

I'm gonna close
this door.

Or window,
whatever you call it.

Subtitles by explosiveskull