Calm Before (2018) Movie Script

- And?

- It's the storyteller.

- So, I'm at this uh, total

hole in the wall, right?

With uh some, some

trash band playing,

that I don't know,

disappeared after the 90s.

I don't even know

what someone like Gia

was doing at a show like

this, but, there she was

standing in the middle

of this giant mosh pit.

- I have no idea.

- So I remember looking

down at her thinking,

"Who is this chick?"

Right? Total girl of my dreams.

And then, the music

starts playing. Right?

And all these dudes,

mohawks, tattoos.

I mean, I, I was afraid of 'em.

They start to jump in

all over the place and,

and, and, like, doing

their mosh thing, right?

So, so I figured, well, why not?

I uh, wrapped one leg

around Gia's foot.

Boom. Down she goes.

- No.

- Yeah, her

sandal goes flying

halfway across the room.

- Oh, I felt like the whole

room was looking at me.

I wanted to stand up, but I

sprained my ankle in the fall.

So, Shane here spends the

whole night apologizing to me

in the ER, and then went back

to the club to find my shoe.

- That kinda sounds

like Cinderella.

Oh.

- I knocked her down and then

um, she became my wife. Huh?

- That's better than

knocking her up.

- Sweetheart.

To the most perfect

couple we know.

- Oh, cheers.

- We are absolutely

thrilled to be here

to celebrate with you two.

To 13 years, and

many, many more.

- Thank you, my dear.

- Thank you.

- Sorry I'm late.

- Oh, hey pal.

Hi.

- Great to see

you, congratulations.

- Thank you.

Oh, perfect.

- Look at that. Uh,

I gotta catch up.

So I'll take a, I'll take a

double bourbon neat, please.

- Wow. Look at that.

- Yeah.

- You're not

gonna eat anything?

- Uh no, I'm probably just

gonna get something on the road.

I won't stay long.

Unfortunately, it's uh, it's

it's been one of those days.

- Do I even wanna know?

- No, but I'm

gonna tell ya anyways.

- Course you are.

- Mm.

- Um, unfortunately,

all of our exit signs,

looks like they

were hung backwards.

So we're gonna be delayed

at least another week, Sam.

- Oh, dammit.

That's the new contractor?

- Yeah, that's the one.

- Did

you bring the papers?

- I knew I forgot something.

I'm, sorry pal. Um, when,

when are you guys leaving?

- Early.

Just email them.

- Done.

- Uh-huh. No more

shop talk, guys.

This is a celebration, okay?

Right, Gia? Come on.

- Forgive me.

You know what? You

guys are right.

This is a celebration

to you two.

- Aw.

- Yeah.

Happy anniversary.

- Thank you.

- Cheers.

- Thank you.

- Look at that. See Isaac,

that's all you need.

You gotta find yourself a good

woman and just settle down.

- Right. You know, Beverly,

where are my manners?

But unfortunately, I only

have eyes for one woman.

And sadly, she's taken.

I love ya, Sam.

- Okay.

- You've got a beautiful wife.

- Okay. Thank you.

- Oh, you are

smooth, aren't you?

- He is very smooth.

Listen, seriously.

I am making sure that you

are not going to be bothered

with any business-related

fiascos while you're gone.

- But, don't forget, it's gonna

be a mess when you get back.

So, get some rest.

Yeah, lots of rest.

- Why'd you come?

- I was invited.

- What if Shane had

seen you texting me?

- Let him.

- We can't do this

anymore. I told you this.

- You haven't even

opened it yet.

When are you gonna tell him?

- That's not your problem.

- You've made it my problem.

- Well, he's my husband.

- Of course he is.

- Then there's

nothing else to say.

- If you need me.

- I don't.

- You did.

- Hello.

- Mr. and Mrs. Gallo?

- Yes, that's us.

You must be Helen.

- I am. Yes, sir.

Come right on in.

- Hey, go ahead babe.

- Oh.

- This house has been showcased

in all the best Southern

Living magazines.

My late husband put a

lotta pride in this home.

He designed it himself.

A sort of utopia,

he liked to call it.

The stubborn thing,

he built it by hand.

So, it was several years

before we could call it a home.

- Sounds like a lot of

blood, sweat, and tears.

- Mostly sweat.

There was some blood.

The tears were all mine.

You'll be

staying in the master suite.

- Oh great.

Go ahead, hun.

- Now, I

wouldn't be a good host

if I didn't tell you

about the ghost matter.

- Ghost?

- Decades before there were

any houses built on this lake,

the land was owned by a Dr.

Arnold and his wife Devorah.

They built a huge estate here.

And this is where they

spent their summers.

Elaborate parties,

all the rage.

And this went sour.

She found out that Dr.

Arnold and her sister

were gettin' all cozy.

The poor soul lost her mind.

She shot him, strung

him up in the attic,

and burned the

place to the ground.

This house was built on

that original structure.

- Okay. So we're staying

on a haunted lake.

- Oh, I can assure you

that if any of the spirits

do come out of hiding,

that Dr. Arnold is the

perfect Southern gentleman.

But Devorah, not so much.

But she's a woman scorned,

so we don't like to judge.

- What happened to her sister?

- Good question.

I guess you'll have

to ask Devorah.

Now, if you need anything,

and I mean anything,

don't hesitate to

knock on my door.

I'm just downstairs

off the living room.

- Thank you, Helen.

I'm sure everything

will be perfect.

- Uh, you're staying here too?

- Oh yes.

I have my own suite with

a kitchen and a bathroom.

So, you won't hear me.

I'll be like a nun in compline.

- Well um, like I

said, thank you, Helen.

I'm sure everything will be

just perfect. Right, babe?

- Well if this storm

holds off, I'll believe it.

- Is there a storm coming?

- I just say what I hear.

- Who knows? Maybe we'll

get lucky.

- I like

the way you think.

- Hey, thanks Helen, again.

Babe, that was crazy, huh?

- Did you know she

was gonna be here too?

- Ah, no, I must've missed that.

Oh, she's not gonna

get in the way.

Plus,

when she hears how loud you get.

When I...

- Oh, stop.

- Baby.

- That's not me.

Oh.

- Oh, there's only you.

- Mm. You must be talking

about somebody else.

- No. There's only you.

I missed you.

- You see me all the time.

- Yeah, but.

- Okay.

- Oh.

- Okay.

- Yeah. Okay.

Go get our things.

- I'll go get our things.

Yeah, maybe I should

get my jacket.

- Mm-hmm.

- Bye.

- I'll see you in a minute.

- Hey.

You know, it's too

early for regrets.

- What do you think people

think when they see us together?

- I think people see two

people, me and you,

very much obsessed.

- But your family, your

friends, they don't know me.

- I know you.

Hey.

We're gonna have a wonderful

life together. Hmm?

- Mm.

- I won't let you down.

Nothing, and I won't let

anything get . Ever.

Hey you. Mm.

- Hey.

- What're

you thinking about?

- Hmm. Why do you think

Devorah killed herself?

I mean, she already

got her revenge.

She could've just thrown

his body in this lake

and gone on with her life,

and found someone

to appreciate her.

- Is that what you'd do?

- I don't know.

Mm.

Why didn't we get

married in the summer?

- Because you insisted

we shouldn't wait.

Hey babe, did I ever tell

you the story of that time

our, our golden

retriever ran away?

- That dog was close to death.

You didn't realize it,

but that poor dog--

- Okay.

Okay, okay, okay.

I would just like to

know how long you two

have been together.

- Hey, did you hear that babe?

Mom wants to know how long the

two of us have been together.

- Oh, uh.

- Seems like, like forever.

- Yeah.

- Right?

It's been like a month

or so, Mom, give or take.

Right?

- Yeah.

- And you just up and decided

to marry, without telling us?

- It just kinda happened, Mom.

- And I can't believe that

your mother's okay with this.

- Uh, she just wants

me to be happy.

- Yeah, she's happy,

Mom. Everybody's happy.

Why can't you just

be happy, right guys?

Come on.

- Yeah, right.

- Well, I don't know what

you've done to my son,

but he's happy.

Oh god, I'm gonna

need another drink.

- Let's move.

- What?

- Yeah.

Yeah, let's just, yeah,

let's just quit everything

and, and leave it all behind.

Just get a little, little

cabin in the middle of nowhere.

No distractions,

just me and you.

And I'll, I'll, I'll work

the land, or I don't know,

be a fishermen.

- Have you ever gone

fishing, ever, in your life?

- Uh, yes.

- Yeah?

- I have, actually.

- Hmm.

- Once.

- I didn't know that.

- When I was a kid, I

caught a fish, like a--

- Awesome.

- Big fish.

I threw it back in the water,

'cause it looked like it was

in pain, but I caught one.

- You're so sweet.

- Well, it's true.

You could make soap.

- Oh yeah?

- Yeah.

- Soap?

- Oh, we still have to be clean,

and we won't need any clothes,

'cause it'll just be you and I.

- Oh course.

- We won't need clothes.

- You're not serious?

You can never leave

any of this behind.

And then the chorus, you know.

I wrote it for you.

- Well here, some wine.

Celebrate.

- Oh well, thank you.

- Moving into our new home.

- Yes.

Geez.

Can't believe all these

boxes are just mine, huh?

- I told you,

I didn't have anything

worth bringing.

- I know, but not

even some like uh,

old china from your

grandmother, or, or love letters

from your first boyfriend?

- No.

- No?

- Nothing like that.

No, it's a, it's a fresh start.

You know, why bring any baggage

when you clearly have

enough of your own?

- Mm.

You know maybe uh, once

we get settled, you know,

my, my parents can

come down, visit.

Be nice, right?

- Uh-huh.

- Be nice if your mom came too.

- Mm. She's just

not around much.

- I know but, it still

wouldn't hurt to ask. Right?

You're my family now, Shane.

- Mm, I like the

way that sounds.

You know, I just, I would

just love to know where you,

where you come from, you know?

- So um, have you ever

written any other love songs

for any other girls before?

- No. Why do ask?

- Just a question.

- You're the only one.

- I'm sorry.

- You know, there's

more to that story--

Single picture will tell ya.

Here.

- Oh my god.

- What?

- Oh my god.

What is wrong with you?

- I don't,

I don't know who that is.

- That's all right.

- Honey, honey, are you okay?

Uh, uh, what're you doing here?

- What? I'm sorry.

I didn't know you had guests.

- Oh, oh,

well if you'd call me

every once in a while.

- Is everything okay?

- She broke in my

house and broke a mug.

- Helen, what the

hell's going on here?

- Forgive my son

for the intrusion.

He may look like a brute, but

he's as dense as they come.

- Gia, honey, you're bleeding.

- I'm sorry.

- Uh, name's Jedi.

- Jedediah.

- Jedi.

- Can I get a paper

towel, please?

Here, stand up.

Okay, watch it.

Okay, your feet.

Okay.

Oh, babe.

We'll give it some water.

- Not that bad.

- Here.

Let me, let me get uh, let

me go get a towel. All right?

Are your feet okay?

- Yeah. I'm fine.

- Okay.

I mean, you know, I guess

it's not her fault, you know.

And him, I, I don't know.

That, he's a, he's a

weird guy, isn't he?

And what was he

even talking about?

But, I guess he's

harmless, you know?

And, and look.

We still have this

room ,

and this uh,

really comfy big bed.

Hm? Hm?

And I still, oh, I

still have this mm,

this, this beautiful, gorgeous--

- Shane.

- Woman sitting right here in

front of me, and it's, oh--

- Not now.

- What?

- Not now.

Not now.

- Not now?

- No.

- Okay. Okay.

Mm.

Just uh, trying to find

something positive.

- Well, not everything works

out the way we expect it to

all the time, you know?

- What does that mean?

- Well, you know, I mean,

things don't

magically get better

just because you're so good at

pretending everything's okay.

- Well ,

be nice to at least get a

little credit for trying.

I wish you'd just

talk to me, you know?

Tell me what's on your mind.

- Um.

Do you ever think of her?

- Who?

- I mean , did she do

things that I wouldn't do?

Is, is that, is that

why you ,

why you did it in

the first place?

- This is what's going?

Have you been waiting for

the worst possible moment

to bring this up, huh?

- You just asked me

what I was thinking.

And then you belittle me for it.

- Who's belittling you?

- Why can't you just

answer the question, Shane?

- Nothing happened. Okay?

- You know, there's, there's

consequences for your actions.

And when you're

with someone else--

- Yeah, and I told you a

hundred times, nothing happened.

- Why can't you just tell me

the truth so we can move on?

- You know, I'm not gonna, I'm

not gonna admit to something,

Gia, that's all in your head.

- All in my head?

It's all in my

head, and I'm crazy?

I'm making all of this up?

Were there others, Shane?

- This is unbelievable.

I, I don't believe this.

- Were there others, Shane?

- Oh.

- Shane.

- Take you on a journey to

the small but charming town

of York, South Carolina,

where the souls of the

dead still seek their rest.

Join us, as we wander

through the haunted hallways

and eerie streets on

another episode of.

And then that's when boom,

cue carnival-type music.

We got the strobe

light effect coming on,

the title blow on the screen.

It's gonna be the whole thing.

Mom, get that, make

that mirror disappear.

So what do guys think?

- Wow.

- Huh? Eh, huh?

- Okay.

- You asked what I did.

- Which, which, so,

so you're like a--

- Paranormal investigator.

I have a show.

- On TV?

- Well, it's on the web,

but the fan base is growing.

- You know, Gia's an actress.

- Ah.

- You're an actress?

- It's really,

it's just a hobby.

- Oh, come on, honey.

Go ahead and tell 'em

what you've been in.

- No.

Stop it.

- But I'm no actor.

It's just me.

- So you just, you

know, chase ghosts?

- I prefer the term,

contacting the dead.

I'm serious, if I got a drink

for every skeptic I met.

- Listen, I, you know I

just like to believe in

what's in front of me.

- Just because you can't see

something in front of you

doesn't mean it's not there.

- Come on.

I mean, there's no audience

now, right? It's just us.

You, you can honestly

look me in the eye

and tell me that you've

caught something supernatural?

- Hey Shane, guess what? I've

caught something supernatural.

- Have you ever

seen anything here?

- Are you kidding me?

Growing up by the lake?

The water's like a catalyst

for the paranormal.

I, I, you never know

what's gonna show up.

- So why do you do it if

you're gonna get hurt?

- The possibility

of the unknown.

You know, there's an

energy all around us,

even though we can't see it.

You know, lessons we could learn

from people who've lived

and died way before us,

an insight on places

way beyond this realm.

- I don't know.

I think you need to leave

the past in the past.

You know, just don't

mess with that stuff.

- Perhaps, maybe.

Maybe, perhaps, anyway.

For me though, it's

the closest I can get

to feeling something bigger

than my own existence.

- What are you doing?

- Reducing my life

span by 11 minutes.

Maybe yours by six.

- You can't smoke in this house.

- What the hell?

- I didn't need

you to come here.

- Right.

- How do you think

this is helping?

- Oh, Gia and Shane

lived happily ever after.

The end.

- I'm not gonna play

your sick little games.

- Hm, what's the

matter, baby girl?

Did he hurt you?

Oh, there it is.

That ocean of insecurity

you wear behind your eyes.

Ready to drown you every time

someone speaks the truth.

- I need you to leave.

- Mm.

- I need you just to go.

- Hell no, we aren't finished.

I warned you about

letting them in.

- Hey.

Sh, sh, sh. It's just

me, it's just me.

- Geez. All right, man.

What the hell? Are you okay?

- Yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm good.

Uh, you know.

Hey, you didn't

tell me this place

was all the way out in

the country.

I mean, god, I have some papers

that Sam needs you to sign.

And uh, you know, I, I,

I hit some black ice,

car slid right into a tree.

- Jesus.

- I, I, I tried to send

'em to you via email,

but I couldn't get a signal.

I mean, wifi was spotty.

Must've been the storm.

- Yeah.

And this client, man,

every step of the way.

Uh, where's the car now?

- I mean, god only knows, bud.

I had to walk the

rest of the way.

I don't know, half a mile.

- Jesus.

- We're just glad you're okay.

- Yeah, 'member you wanted me

to go back out in that earlier.

- Looks like we're gonna

have a full house tonight.

- No, no, no, please.

I, I, I couldn't

impose any, I insist.

- Uh, well, I'm sure Mr.

and Mrs. Gallo won't mind.

- Yes, we insist.

- I mean--

- We're not gonna let

you get back out in that.

You're here now.

- And, even if not, I mean,

you're way out in the country,

as you say, and I'm sure

Jedediah has some clothes

that you could wear.

Nobody's goin' anywhere tonight.

- Welcome.

- He's a, he's a

little weird.

- Yeah, you said it.

- You look great, Gia.

- Thank you.

- Doesn't she?

- Shane.

We shouldn't have come here.

- Can you just take a breath?

- We need to leave.

Are you listening to me, Shane?

- Yes, yes, I heard you.

- I just, I just wanna leave.

I just wanna go home.

- Gia.

Why don't you just

talk to me, huh?

Tell me what's on your mind.

I'm sorry.

I am.

Do you remember

when I first gave you this?

- Yes.

- Do you know that I

never ever regret it?

- No?

Not once?

- No.

- Well,

I would think after

13 years of marriage,

that you'd find some way

to be honest with me.

- Pre-wedding jitters?

- Is what it's called?

- Well, it's natural to feel

nervous or unsure of yourself

when you're about to make

a major life decision.

- I just don't wanna

disappoint him.

- What makes you

think you'll disappoint him?

- I'm afraid I won't

be who I need to be.

- Who do you need to be?

- The person he

fell in love with?

- Describe her to me.

- I mean, just Gia.

She's happy, optimistic.

Just the right

amount of confidence,

but not too self-assured.

She has enough vulnerability

to let him know

that she still needs him.

- You refer to Gia

in a third person.

It almost sounds like you see

her as completely different

from yourself.

- Why would I do that?

- Because you're afraid to let

Shane see who you really are.

- Is this version of

yourself that you present

to your patients, the

real you, Dr. Marcum?

Or do you change to

make us feel safe?

Do you ever drop your guard

or let your flaws show?

Exactly.

Because if you did, if you

would show us that you're human,

maybe even a little bit crazy,

then you'd just be

like the rest of us,

and we wouldn't trust you.

- Do you think that this

version will sustain itself

when times get tough?

- Love changes a person.

You can't love someone as

much as we love each other

and not have it transform you.

- Okay.

- Maybe you've

never been in love.

Maybe that's why

you can't understand

power that it gives a person.

- Or the power

that it takes away?

Time's up.

- Can I come in?

- Of course.

You don't have to ask.

- So, did you really come

to bring Shane papers?

Isaac, I'm, I'm really

trying to be nice

and I appreciate everything

that you've done, but--

- Do you?

- Of course I do.

But none of that matters now.

It can't.

- Hm. Did you bring it with you?

I'm trying to help you here.

Why can't you see that?

- I see what I'm meant to see.

- Hm.

We both know he's

no good for you.

But,

maybe that's how you like it.

- Who the hell are

you to tell me?

- I'm the one to tell you

that everything

that you need to see

is right in front of you.

You know, you say

it doesn't matter,

but you brought the

envelope with you anyways.

- If I open the envelope,

and no matter what's inside,

you have to leave me alone.

What do you hope to

get from all of this?

- Gia, what I hope to

get and what I expect

are two very different things.

- I can't.

I can't.

- Yeah, okay.

How long have I known you, Gia?

- You were Shane's

friend first, Isaac.

- Yeah.

Just because you seem

to have forgotten

what he put you through,

doesn't mean that I can.

It doesn't mean that I will.

- I have to go.

- Shane need Jane.

Baby. Mm.

- Oh.

Shane.

- Oh yeah, I think

you missed a little spot

right there, and--

- Okay. Okay, okay.

You gotta stop.

Shane, stop.

Remember, they told us

we need to wait a week.

If this is gonna work,

we have to wait. Okay?

We agreed to this.

- No, no, no, no. You agreed,

honey, just--

- No.

- Why? I just don't know how

much more of this I can take.

- Why are you getting

so worked up about it?

We agreed to this.

If we want the

treatments to work--

- I, I don't need some doctor

telling me how, where, and when

I can make love to my wife.

- Of course, because it's

all about you, Shane.

- Look.

It doesn't have to be this way.

- What do you mean?

- We can explore other options.

You need to see this. Sit here.

Look, that could be our

child. Right there, honey.

- No.

- Look at--

- No. Shane, we

talked about this.

- Well, I'm sorry

but that ship sailed

the moment we heard

the word infertile.

- Oh.

Oh.

- That wasn't cool.

- No. No, it wasn't cool.

It wasn't cool.

Just, just one more time.

- You think that--

- I know it's gonna work.

Just, just one more--

- Oh, that's what we said

last time and the time before

that and the time before that.

- You just wanna hurt me.

- No, I don't wanna hurt you,

honey. That's the whole point.

I just don't wanna sit here

and watch you hurt

yourself anymore.

You have to face reality.

There's, there's no

shame in that, honey.

- How would you know?

How would you know?

You're never here.

How would you know

there's no shame in that?

You don't know what I feel.

You don't know what I want.

- It's just not worth it.

- It's not worth it?

It's worth it to me.

Doesn't that matter?

You know, I'm

really sorry, Shane,

that I'm not the woman

you thought I was.

I can find someone else

who'll do this for me

if you're not

willing to do this.

- Wow.

- Shane.

- No.

- Where are you going, Shane?

- I don't know.

- Where are you going?

Helen, I'm, I'm sorry.

I, I didn't see you here.

Are you okay?

- Who's hurt you, honey?

- What?

What're you doing?

Helen?

- Is it your husband?

- I don't, I don't know

what you're talking about.

- I see a darkness, a,

I don't know if it's yours or,

somebody else's.

- Where you gonna go?

- Away from you.

- So it's my fault

that you hurt her?

- You're delusional.

- Daddy.

- Oh, good. Look,

see what you did?

The kid heard you.

- Move, before I move you.

- Please don't leave me here.

- It's all right, little one.

I'd take you with me if I could.

You take care of you.

- I'm gonna tell everyone.

Everyone's gonna know

what you did to her.

Do you hear me?

I'm gonna tell

everybody what you did.

- You need help.

If not for yourself, for her.

- Don't you talk about my kid.

What do you know about her?

You see what you've done?

I didn't do it. You did it.

Think you're hot stuff?

What are you looking at?

You did this.

You ruined everything.

- Please give me my giraffe

back, Mommy. I need her.

Give her back, please.

- You ruined everything.

You've ruined my life.

- Eventually,

everything ends.

- Now out.

There you go. Yes.

Now, you said, "I need her."

And you said, "Eventually

everything ends."

- I don't know.

- It's, that's okay.

We've done enough for today.

- Is there something

wrong with me?

- I think that we

made tons of progress,

and we're going to have you

feeling back to yourself

in no time.

- I don't know who that is.

- How long have

you been up here?

Who did this to you?

What did he do to you?

- He didn't do this to me.

- No!

No, no.

- Gia honey, it's me. Huh?

- She just started shaking.

Then she went down.

- You okay?

Come on, let's--

- What happened?

- Let's get you back

to bed. Come on.

Do you want, you

wanna talk about it?

- I don't wanna shut my eyes.

- You don't have to.

- We haven't seen a storm

this bad since hurricane Amy.

The city has decided to

call in the National Guard.

As crews work round the

clock repairing bridges,

ice and damaged trees

have caused power outages

throughout the area

and surrounding counties.

- It's the end of the world.

- We're all gonna die.

- I feel like I'm

losing my mind.

I need you to tell me.

- Yeah.

- What's in the envelope?

If you know he's cheating,

just say something.

- Gia, I'm starting to think

that it wouldn't

even matter anymore.

- Of course it would.

- What are you afraid of?

Look, I try,

I try to be supportive

but it just starts to feel

like a waste of my time.

- I'm not those other women.

- You haven't even

opened the envelope yet,

so I'm starting to believe

like maybe you are.

- It's gone too far.

- What scares you the most, huh?

The fact that you

lost control or maybe,

maybe you just believe,

maybe it's because you've

just become an empty vessel

for everyone just to fill you

up with whatever they want.

- Is that what you think

I am, an empty vessel?

- Gia, do you

honestly even care

what I think of you?

- Why do I feel like

the bad guy here?

Oh, it smells great in here.

- Mrs. Gallo.

Um, I hope you're hungry.

- Well, you outdid yourself.

Do you need any help at all?

- No. No, I'm fine.

Sit down.

- Yeah um, I wanted

to ask you something.

- Yes?

- You, you said

something last night.

Do you remember?

- I don't know.

What did I say?

- Um, no, nevermind.

Uh, are you sure

you don't need help?

If you just tell me

where the dishes are,

I'd be happy to set

the table for you, or.

Yeah.

- Marriage is like

a fabrication.

You know, like a false

sense of security.

Like, you know, you, you

vow to be with somebody

the rest of your life.

And it's like, boom, off

the market, problem solved.

Okay?

But then, you know,

what happens when

someone wants to be

with somebody else?

You know, is, is

marriage gonna stop that?

- Uh, it's

called commitment.

- Commitment can only

blanket natural tendencies

for so long.

Entering a contract with

another human being,

you know, basically, "Now we

belong to each other forever."

Like, you know, basically,

no matter what happens.

Yeah, no thanks.

Yeah, I don't think

that's exactly what it means.

- I used to date

this girl, Tatiana.

She was a taphophiliac,

hardcore into hanging

out at cemeteries.

Anyway, she uh, she wanted

me to commit to her,

and I almost did.

But then I realized that

she had been lying to me

the whole time.

She wasn't into

hanging out at graves.

She was dead.

She had no other choice.

But as humans we're

constantly evolving.

Like the person you

vow to be with now,

may not be the person

you eventually get.

- Wow. Does your mother

know you're this cynical?

- Sounds like you've been hurt.

- I swear, this one's psychic.

But hey, like, you guys,

what has it been 13 years?

I mean, you gotta be

doing something right.

- Honey?

Gia, I'm home.

Babe?

You up here? What're you doing?

Gi, you up here?

Gigi, you up here, baby?

Hey.

Hi sexy.

I missed you.

What're you doin'?

- Hi. I missed you.

Why haven't you called me?

I, I wish your body

was next to mine

right now.

- You went through my email?

- You're so special to me.

- You went through my

emails? This is work.

- This is work?

- Yes. It's just work.

We worked on a project

together, babe.

She worked with us.

We, we had a few, a few late

nights meals over, yeah--

- I thought I was--

- With drinks, but that--

- The actor, Shane.

- You know what?

You're not even in the right

head space for this, babe.

This is not normal.

Nothing happening. You

have to believe me, okay?

She's a friend.

- She's a friend?

- Yes.

- All right, you work with

her, or is she a friend, Shane?

Make your mind up.

No wonder I can't get pregnant.

- Oh, semantics, Gia,

please, just stop. Just stop.

- Have you stopped? Have you?

- Have I stopped what, honey?

I haven't done anything.

All right?

You have to believe me. Okay?

Listen. Listen to me.

Listen to me.

Look, nothing happened. Huh?

Nothing happened.

I want you.

Hey, I only ever wanted you.

- You disgust me, Shane.

- Disgust you?

- Yes.

- Disgust you?

Disgust you?

You say to me after

all I've done, huh?

Dammit. Just listen to me.

- You're hurting me,

Shane, you're hurting me.

- I'm sorry. I'm sorry,

I didn't mean it.

Honey, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

- For what part?

- I'm sorry.

- What part didn't

you mean, Shane?

- Ah, I'm sorry, baby.

Honey, put your hand on me,

please. Tell me you love me.

Honey.

Please, I'm sorry, baby.

Tell me you love me.

- Shane?

- Yes.

- I have to tell you something.

- Gia.

- I've had bad

things happen to me.

No, oh no.

No.

What if, what if I

did bad things to you?

- Honey.

All that matters

is that I love you

and you love me, right?

That's all that matters.

- That's not enough.

- Yes, yes, yes.

Hey, I knocked.

- Hey.

- Look, Gia, um, I'm,

I'm, I'm disappointed

that this anniversary

weekend hasn't worked out

like we'd hoped.

- I don't blame you.

- I'm willing to do

whatever it takes.

- I don't know, Shane,

there just so much stuff.

I don't know how we're

gonna get past it.

- Yep. Yeah, it's me.

That's funny.

I didn't think I needed your

permission to come out here.

And clearly, I wasn't

gonna ask for it.

No, she hasn't seen anything.

Why?

You know, did it

maybe occur to you, Adrian,

that you just might be

wrong about this one?

All right.

Mm-hmm.

Later.

April,

Caitlyn,

Devin.

Christina, Christina also,

and Tara, Vanessa, whatever.

- Doesn't that feel

a little different?

It's party time.

Can we do a dip?

- Can I borrow your princess?

- It's coming, baby.

- Think I'm gonna grab another

drink. Anything for you?

You don't wanna dance?

Did I do that right?

Something like that?

May I have this dance?

- What happened to it?

- Look

what happened here.

- Very good.

- Lose something?

So, how long do you think

you can keep this up?

- I don't know what

you're talking about.

- Look at yourself.

You can't even keep your

head straight anymore.

I guess being good Gia

isn't so perfect after all.

Yep. Walk away.

It's always been your thing.

- What do you want from me?

- Hey. Who are you talking to?

Come on.

- Hey.

We need to talk. Okay?

- Okay.

- You haven't been

taking these, huh?

- You're going through

my things, Shane?

- How long?

- You don't under--

- Does your doctor know?

- I had to.

- Had to?

Gia you told me your moods are

all over the place, off the--

- My moods?

- Yeah. I only know

what you tell me.

- My moods were

fine, Shane, before.

- Yeah.

That's probably what it is then.

You know, you're withdrawing.

- Probably what?

- Probably why

you haven't been--

- What, myself?

Uh, or less

difficult? Forgiving?

Understanding?

- Yeah, I was

gonna say yourself.

You nailed it.

- Yeah.

This could be serious.

- This is serious.

- Yeah it is.

- It's been serious.

- This whole weekend, I've

been doing nothing but trying,

this whole messed-up weekend.

Nothing, but trying.

- You've been trying?

- You're

gonna take this.

- No.

Are you happy now, Shane?

You wanna check? Look.

Are you happy?

- Hey, don't, don't leave.

Please, don't leave.

- Where am I gonna go, Shane?

Do you mind?

- Do you know why Devorah

killed her husband?

- You said it was

because she found out

he was having an affair.

- Her and Arnold tried for

years to conceive a child.

But it wasn't God's will.

When she found

out that her sister

was carrying her husband's seed,

she felt like it was the

ultimate betrayal from God.

- I thought um, I thought she

didn't hurt the sister. Right?

- Well she didn't wanna

let the child suffer.

- Oh.

- But she did.

She did.

- What happened to the sister?

- Well she had the baby.

She raised her without a man.

But she never quite

got over the fact

that she betrayed her sister.

That she betrayed herself.

Do you even know what

it's like to be conceived

by the flesh?

- You're her. Right?

- Yes.

- You, you're the daughter?

- Yes.

I'm returning to the

place where it all began.

That is my penance,

and my absolution.

- Shane?

- Someone must have

left the door unlocked.

Oh. Now that is so not like you.

Something I would

do, but not Gia.

- My husband's right outside.

- Let me talk to him.

- Why are you doing this?

- You're kidding.

Look, when I was around,

nobody got into your head.

- I wanted a family.

- Yeah. Yep, we

were a family, okay?

We, we took care of one another.

- Well, the scars tell

a different story.

- Yeah, I showed you

another way. Okay?

- Doesn't matter.

I mean, this isn't real.

- No?

You think you can run? Huh?

Just wake up and what,

just change who you are?

Didn't you learn anything

from your mother?

You know, I watched

you let them in.

Mm-hmm. Let them hurt you

over and over and over again.

Like you just had no

control over anything.

- No one, no one believed me.

- I believed you.

- Tell me what to do.

- Okay.

You were wrong.

Nothing ever ends.

Sure, sure, the memories

can fade, but you know what?

The imprint is still there.

This little fairy

tale you've created,

yeah, it's never

going to be yours.

- Maybe it can be.

- Just, go back.

- What if I can't go back?

- Hey, may

as well take 'em now.

- What a circus.

- Huh, yeah.

One hell of a night, huh?

- Remind me just to buy jewelry

next year, huh?

- Yeah so,

how is Gia?

- Question of the night.

- Yeah.

Some guys just don't know

how lucky they really are.

- Luck, has nothing

to do with it.

Do you know, man, I spent my

whole life trying to make this,

trying to make this girl happy.

- Yeah.

- You know?

What did it get me?

All she wants to see

is the bad. You know?

What's up with that?

- I wouldn't know.

I'm one of the good guys.

- One of the good guys.

Jesus.

Hit me.

- Let's fill up.

Coming in.

- Mrs.

Gallo, you still there?

- Yes, I'm still here.

Yeah uh, I'm sorry,

but Shane's not in the office.

Did you try and call him?

- Yes, I tried calling him.

He said he was in a meeting.

- Okay.

Do you want me to check?

- Yes.

- Yeah,

I'm not seeing a meeting.

Uh, maybe, maybe he went

out to dinner, maybe--

- You think he deserves to know?

- You miscarried.

Don't you think that that's

something he should know?

- It wasn't even a baby.

- An embryonic

pregnancy, I know,

which sometimes

happens during IVF.

But it's not something that

you should have to deal with

on your own.

- Well, he should've thought

of that before he lied to me.

- I know how important it

was for you to have a baby.

And I'm concerned that if

you don't address this--

- I just don't wanna bring a

baby into this world anymore.

Um, we weren't actively trying.

And I thought you said

without the injections that--

- Yeah

um, and you know, and it's,

it's kind of a

miracle because this,

I can tell you that I've

never done a phone call

like this before.

Working here all

these years, I mean,

you're actually

gonna have a baby.

Um , you okay?

Like, this is a

good thing, right?

- Oh, no, this is a great thing.

This is a great thing, um.

No, thank you, I'm sorry,

I know this is weird.

I'm sorry, I just

didn't expect that,

and it's very exciting and,

you just gave me the best

news of my life, thank you.

Thank you.

Bye.

Hey.

- Hey.

Wow. Look at you.

This is a pleasant surprise.

How are you?

- I'm good. I'm good.

- Um, Shane's at the

uh, at the other site.

- Yeah, no, I, I know.

Um, it happened.

- It?

What happened?

- It happened.

- Oh, it happened.

Congratulations.

- Yeah.

- What about Shane?

- I'm telling him tonight.

- Good. Uh, can I get

you a drink of water?

Please have a seat.

- Um, okay.

- Wasn't going to

give this to you.

But I suppose

considering the news,

now is about uh, as

good a time as any.

Here.

- I thought you said you

didn't find anything.

- Gia, open it.

Open it.

- I can't.

I can't.

- Dammit.

Really?

- Whatever's in there, it

doesn't matter anymore.

I mean, that's the past, right?

- Well, I think you might

wanna reconsider that.

- Are you jealous, Isaac?

I mean, I know we got close.

- Yes, uh, close.

That's what you call it?

Close?

- Yeah.

- That's all

we were was just close?

- That's it.

- I see.

- Is it bad?

Is it, is it really bad?

- I suppose that depends on

what you're hoping to find.

Look um, it was

great to see you.

But, if you don't mind,

I have some places

I need to go to.

- Sure.

- Hey.

- You're home late.

- I had an audition.

- Ah.

How'd it go?

- I, I don't know yet.

- So, I think that I

have the perfect thing

to take your mind off of it.

What would you think

of a weekend away?

- For what?

- Um, our anniversary?

You know?

I mean with everything

that's been going on,

I just think, you know,

we, we deserve it.

You deserve it.

"Shane, did I tell you

that you're just like,

the best husband ever?

You're almost like

magical?"

- No, it, that's great.

That's, that sounds,

that sounds great.

- Well good, because I, I

booked it, and I can't wait.

- Yeah, so um, is there

anything else you wanna tell me?

- Like what?

- Your fault, you did

this, you ran him off

just like the others.

- You need help. If not

for yourself, for her.

- You ruined my life.

I hate you. You ruin everything.

- Does your doctor know?

Gia, you told me your moods

are all over the place.

- Everyone's gonna

know what you did to her.

Do you hear me?

I'm gonna tell

everybody what you did.

- Dr. Marcum?

- Well, good news.

The road should be

clearing by morning.

- When did you first realize?

- Realize what?

- That I wasn't who

you thought I'd be.

- I'm not sure I understand.

- You do, Shane.

- Gia.

Gia, hasn't this weekend

been hard enough?

Look.

Everything was fine.

And the company had me travel

and you didn't take it well.

I thought maybe at first

you were just acting out.

You know, as a way

to keep me around.

But I had no choice.

I had to go.

So, I left.

Every time I came

back, I don't know.

There was,

there was something different.

I thought maybe at

first you were just mad.

You know, and you'd snap

out of it and adjust.

You said you'd been seeing

a doctor, doing work.

Then we thought,

then we thought

having a child ,

someone to keep you company.

I tried.

We tried.

But it just, just

distanced us further.

Whatever light you had on

when we were first together,

it just started to go out.

I didn't wanna see it.

I didn't wanna think

that I was the cause.

Gia, every, every marriage

has their share of problems,

you know, so I thought

ours would just--

- Work itself out?

- One night I came home and,

you just were,

you were acting different.

I thought you were

preparing for some role.

It didn't stop.

You were into it.

- I'm so sorry.

- No.

- I was so difficult

to live with.

And because of that

you don't think

I'm worth telling

the truth to, Shane.

- Of course you are. I

should have addressed it.

- How can you look

at me in my eyes

and tell me that you,

you saw me day after day

just destroying myself,

just falling apart,

and you did nothing.

- That's not--

- You took advantage of it.

And I know, Shane, I know,

in my heart I've known that

there was another woman,

and you, you can't even

tell the truth to that.

And it hurts.

It hurts me.

- Well.

- Who are you?

- You know who I am.

Do not leave me here.

- Let go of me.

Let go of me, I don't

know who you are.

- Gotta admit, Jedi, your mom

makes a mean cup of coffee.

- Ah, thanks man. Mean,

I've had it forever.

- Well, it's, it's special.

- Yeah. How's your head?

- Uh, well, thanks,

I'll survive.

- Can I get ya some

more coffee? Any cream?

- Uh, no Helen, thank you.

- I'm fine.

- Good morning.

- Hey, what's up?

- Mr. Gallo, come and have a

bite before you hit the road.

- Uh, is Gia here?

- No, I haven't seen her yet.

- She took off.

- Where'd she take off to?

- Well, I like to wake

up early to meditate

down by the lake--

- Wait, she what?

- And, yeah, and I

saw her down there,

and she was trying

to start the car.

I think the battery's

dead from the cold.

- Jesus.

- I helped her start it,

and then I told her to

check out my web show.

She said she would

when she got back.

- Wait, wait, so you're saying

my wife left with our car?

- Yeah, that's about it.

- What, what car'd she take?

- Um, the one that worked.

- Is there, is there

somewhere I can get reception

in this house?

Gia. Hey, it's me, hon.

Listen, I, I, I just wanna

make sure you're okay.

Can you just please

give me a call back?

All right?

Gia?

- No, it's

Beverly. Sam said you called.

- Yeah. Have you heard from Gia?

- No. Why,

what's going on?

Last we thought, you guys

were enjoying yourselves.

- Oh god, it's,

it's been a nightmare.

She left this morning, and

uh, no one's heard from her.

And, Isaac's here,

he's helping out.

- Isaac? What's

he doing out there?

- Um, well, he

delivered those papers

that Sam needed me to sign.

- Papers, uh,

no sir. Not from Sam, no.

I put the fear of God in him

about bothering you guys

while you were away, and...

- Anything?

- No, nothing.

- Um, all right.

I'm gonna go grab my

car and drive around,

see if I can find her.

- Thought you said

you crashed your car?

- Yeah.

- Hey, Isaac.

What're you here for?

- I told you that.

- No, what are you, what are

you really here for, man?

- Protecting her.

- Protect who? From what?

- Look Shane, I could've

made this all go away.

Her worries, her

questions, everything.

All I had to do is show her

that she was right about you.

- So you're saying you have

evidence to tear us apart.

That's what you want, right?

- Yeah.

- So why didn't you do it then?

- 'Cause you and I both know

that if she knew the truth,

she probably

wouldn't survive it.

- I think you underestimate Gia.

- Oh yeah?

So I assume that you

admitted that you someone

the night that she was

home all by herself,

bleeding out in the bathroom--

- You better stop right there.

- Or what? What's gonna happen?

Huh?

I know you're worried.

I'd be worried out

of my mind too,

especially with a

new baby and all.

Oh.

- What?

What baby?

- I let out the surprise.

- Gia's pregnant?

- I thought she

would've told you.

- How do you know that?

- It's mine, man.

- You and her?

- She just wanted to be loved.

Get off me! Get off me!

Huh?

You don't deserve her!

Be a man.

- You came back.

- But I don't wanna be here.

- Neither did I.

- What was I suppose to do?

I didn't know.

- Maybe you wanted me to hurt.

- No, I wanted love.

- Did you find it?

Love?

Look at me.

Look at what she's

made you do to me.

- You've ruined my life.

I hate you. You ruin everything.

I hate you.

I wish you were never

born. I hate you.

You ruined my life.

- Stop.

Stop, stop.

- I wish you

were never born.

- You know you believed her.

- I hate you. I

wish you were never born.

- You didn't even give

me a chance.

Do you know who I am?

- Yeah.

You tell me.

- Dr. Marcum, Dr.

Marcum, is Gia inside?

- Yes. And

you'll leave her be.

- Like hell I will.

- Isaac. Don't you forget

how well I know you too.

You think she's weak.

That she'll need you.

- She came to me.

- There's something

different about this one.

- How so?

- Unlike any one of us, we

become who we need to be,

depending on the situation.

But now Gia can't see

herself as she truly is.

- But I, I know her.

I know Gia, she's,

she's not crazy.

- I didn't say she's crazy.

I just hope that

she'll be able to

accept everything

that's happened to her.

All that she is, that she'll

become who she is at her core.

- And who might

that be, Dr. Marcum?

- That's what you're

gonna help me figure out.

That is, if you still want to.

- How do I know

she's gonna be safe?

- Oh, we should have dealt

with these codependency issues

when you were my patient.

- Excuse me?

- Oh, that should be Shane.

- Wait, wait, you told

him that she's here too?

- Don't look so shocked.

He is her emergency contact.

- You really enjoy

this, don't you?

Manipulating people,

using their secrets

to fulfill some need in your

own pathetic little life.

- Oh, just as you do, honey.

- Where is she?

- Hey.

- Gia, honey, what are

you doing? Just drop it.

Everything's gonna be okay.

- Do something. Do

something, will you?

- Gia, what do you want?

- You have no idea the

hell she put me through.

- Amber.

- I know about the baby.

It's okay. I'm not mad.

- I'm scared.

- It's what you wanted.

- You've heard your turn.

- Gia, I've been

with you all along.

Please, I can take you away.

- But I'm good at being Gia.

- None of this was

supposed to be yours.

- What is it you told me?

Eventually everything ends.

You, you're, you're

in control now.

What do you want?

You said it again. "I need her."

- Yes.

- Who is her?

- My friend.

- What does she

do when she comes?

- She helps me.

- How?

- She protects me.

- Does she have a name?

So who are these other women?

- Parts of me, of who I was.

But they're outside of me.

I can talk to them

and touch them.

Yet, they're inside of me too.

- And when

you're on the medication?

- It's like they're sleeping.

- So do you think

it would be helpful

to let your husband

know about this?

- No. He needs Gia.

We both do.

You like me like

this. Don't you?

- Yeah, I do.

- Do you think that this ideal

version will sustain itself

when times get tough?

- You did what you had to do.

Please, please, let

me have a chance.

- She's gone and

left me an orphan.

- You're still holding back.

That's the thing

about this business,

you can be whatever

you wanna be.

I don't know.

With you, I, I'm

still seeing Gia.

- I, I don't know

what to tell you.

I'm doing what I

learned in class.

- Just stop.

Just lose control

for one moment?

Stop putting things on.

And start being.

Let's try something different.

- Do you know why you're

sitting in a chair?

It's because you're weak.

It's because you

have no confidence.

It's because you

have no strength.

It's because I'm

better than you.

It's because you

have so much fear.

It's because you have

so much to be afraid of.

- Freeze.

Gia, ask yourself, is this

the character you wanna be?

We can end the scene right now,

and this is the narrative

you chose to leave us with.

Or you can choose to

change that narrative.

This is your scene, not Joe's.

So it's in your hands.

- Eventually, everything ends.

It's not your fault.

Everything is just beginning.

Calm Before (2018) - full transcript