If I Forget (2017) - full transcript

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Next on "Theater Close-Up"...

Happy birthday...

Meet the Fishers.

They're a family just like

yours.



This is nice, all of us here!

And when they get together,

no topic is off limits.

Religion, God, Judaism.

Everybody is religious now?

So what?

You don't believe

in anything.

You're a hypocrite.

It's family drama at it's

finest as Roundabout Theatre

Company presents "If I Forget."

What happens when

the last person who remembers



can't remember anymore?

I don't think it warrants

actual glasses.

There are no abstractions

anymore.

And pull up your pants.

You look like a thug.

I am a thug.

Support for

"Theater Close-Up" is provided

by...

To state the task

is to suggest the magnitude

of the challenge.

Behind the Israeli-Palestinian

conflict lie the most profound

questions.

At the Western Wall

in Jerusalem, Jewish reactions

to the Camp David Summit

were mostly positive.

However, Palestinian

response to the talks

was not as positive...

...stating that he doesn't see

any benefit from...

Great!

Great.

What is so great?

Great!

Oh, my God.

She says it's completely

safe.

She feels completely safe.

She's incorrect. I'm sorry.

Well, because he's worried

about you, honey.

Is she watching the news?

He says if you saw

the news here --

Tell her to turn on the news.

No, we don't want you

to be scared, honey.

Of course we want her

to be scared.

How can she not be scared?

The entire peace process

collapsed three days ago.

The peace process

is very bad right now, honey.

Peace process is over.

The peace process is over.

The entire Oslo framework

is out the window.

They have security 24 hours a

day.

They should have security.

That's a given.

She says the Birthright

people, they don't

let them visit anywhere

that isn't 100% safe.

Where are they going

tomorrow?

Well, honey, where are you

going tomorrow?

The Wailing Wall!

Excuse me?

Well, you should be excited.

She is not doing that.

Tell her she is not going there,

Ellen.

Dad is so excited

for you to go there.

He's jumping up and down.

Oh, well, everyone

wishes you were here too, honey,

but we're so happy

you're having such a good time.

Don't tell her I'm happy.

I'm very unhappy.

Well, it does feel a little

bit strange being here.

It feels -- It's very quiet

without Grandma.

Let me talk to her.

Do you want to say hi to Dad

before...

Well, just a quick...

Can I have the phone, please?

Okay, well, we have the

cellphone in case anything --

in case you need to get us for

anything.

You're not gonna give me the

phone?

Okay. Love you, too.

Bye, sweetheart.

She's gonna call us tomorrow

night after they check in

to the next hotel.

She didn't want to talk to

me?

I think she heard everything

you wanted to say, Michael.

Good.

And she was running out the

door.

Her friends were gonna leave

without her.

They're doing a moonlight tour

of Jerusalem.

Oh, perfect.

You know, she could be

spending this whole trip sitting

in her hotel room by herself.

She's going out with people.

She's doing all the activities.

I guess I just still don't

really understand why we had

to send our daughter to Israel

in the most -- the worst time to

be in the Middle East in the

last 25 years.

We didn't send our daughter

anywhere.

She's 19 years old.

She can make her own decisions.

Yeah, well, except this was a

decis-- you did happen to

encourage this particular

decision.

The doctor told us this would

be the best thing for her,

socialize with --

meeting people her own age.

That's called an internship.

That's a summer job

at an ice cream parlor.

That's not a 10-day bus ride

through a war zone.

It's not a war zone.

Not yet.

You know, this means a lot

to her to be there,

and, frankly, I don't think

it's the worst thing

in the world for a teenager

to be interested in learning

more about her heritage.

Okay.

And you being the Jewish

parent here, I would think maybe

you might appreciate that.

Heritage is act-- That's

actually -- That's a very

problematic concept, first of

all.

Okay, can we just...

She's having a good time, thank

God, so can we please just try

to be happy that she's happy for

a second?

Is she sleeping?

Is she?

Yes, Michael, she is.

You asked her that?

I didn't need

to ask her that.

I trust her to tell us

if there's a problem.

So she's eating?

She's def-- She's taking her

medication?

Yeah, I would've heard it in

her voice if something was going

on.

Well, that hasn't --

Historically, that hasn't always

been the case.

You know what?

Right now I think you're upset

about other things, Michael,

okay?

And you're putting all that

negative energy onto Abby.

What other things?

Look, it's perfectly normal

to feel like --

I feel fine.

I'm fine.

It's good that we're here.

It means a lot to your dad

to have you.

Did he say that?

I could tell.

Why don't you go spend

some time with him

before everyone else gets here?

I'm only halfway

through "The Galleys."

It's his birthday.

His birthday is Tuesday.

The two of you have a lot

to talk about.

I have to send "The Galleys"

back by Monday.

I have a deadline, Ellen.

Don't do this to me.

Do what?

What you always do when we're

at your parents' house --

lock yourself in this room,

pretending you have work to do,

and I'm stranded downstairs

trying to entertain your family.

I do not always do that.

I have occasionally done that.

Yeah.

It is quiet, though, isn't it?

I didn't notice.

When I told Abby --

When I said,

"Dad wishes you were leaving

Israel and coming home,"

you know what she said?

She said, "I already am home."

Huh.

She still hasn't called you?

Yeah, I wish she would.

Are you hearing this?

It's been a year, and she can't

pick up a telephone?

I heard.

Every time I talk to her,

I say -- I must've said it

100,000 times.

Howard, what do I say every time

I talk to Jennifer?

"Call your aunt and uncle!"

"Call Michael and Ellen.

You live in the same city."

We'd love to see her, show

her the new place.

Oh, my God.

That's right, the new apartment!

How is it?

I need pictures.

Where are my pictures?

We can send you pictures.

Is it safe?

Do you feel safe?

In Park Slope?

I thought...

I thought Michael said Brooklyn?

Well, it is Brooklyn.

It's a neighborhood in Brooklyn.

And that's safe?

It's very safe.

Yeah, better value,

too, I bet, Brooklyn, eh?

Oh, well, Manhattan was no--

We could never afford that.

Oh, my God.

I couldn't believe it when

Michael told me you two were

buying.

I didn't think you'd ever buy.

Well, it just felt like the

right time with Michael's career

and Abby away at school.

Mm.

Welcome to the wonderful

world of homeownership.

Well, anytime Jennifer

would like to visit,

we'd be thrilled to have her.

Oh, my God.

She's so wrapped up in herself.

One year at Tisch,

and she's already --

She thinks she's Helen Hunt.

Ah, so she's liking it?

What's not to like?

They play games.

They sing songs.

They cry.

We're paying

$40,000 a year

for Montessori school.

Well, I'm sure it's a great

experience.

Mm.

What about Abby?

And hows Middlebury?

What a phenomenal school

that is.

You know, she really --

Her classes are terrific.

She loves her classes.

Of course she does.

Socially, it's still --

I think it's been a little bit

of an adjustment for her.

Oh, no.

No, no, no, just in terms of,

you know, she doesn't have

a million friends yet or --

Oh, no!

No, no, you know, we've been

struggling with the same things

with her since the third grade.

The eating?

She's had, yeah, issues with,

you know, body image and --

Eating.

College, I think,

has exacerbated certain things,

being away from home

for the first time maybe?

Absolutely.

That's not easy.

She was in the hospital

for a week in November.

Sharon told me.

Oh, my God.

Awful.

I didn't know that.

And she's such a beautiful

girl is the irony, isn't it?

Well, she's doing better now.

Second semester, much better.

She's really started to get

into the groove, I think,

finally.

Knock on wood.

And she's gotten very involved

with Hillel, which has been

great.

Fabulous.

Great.

Yeah, she really -- She

started going to the Shabbat

dinners and the holiday

services.

Fabulous idea.

No, I know.

She got very excited about

learning more about Judaism

and the culture and the history.

It's been very...

Well, I think it's been really

great for her to find something

that she's so passionate about.

Aww! She's a good girl.

How's Joey?

Is he doing okay?

He's doing great.

He was suspended for two

weeks.

Where the hell is Michael?

We've been sitting here for 20

minutes.

Oh, he's upstairs working.

I think he's a workaholic,

you know that?

Oh, he's -- It's nonstop.

It's like Howard.

Howard's like that.

Well, it's been a busy year.

And Michael is teaching three

classes in the fall, and on top

of that, his new book is coming

out in a few months, which is

what's making him really --

I mean, he's obsessing over it,

every detail.

I didn't know Mike

was writing a book.

Eh, the last time I tried

to read something Michael wrote,

I couldn't understand anything

he's talking about.

It's so convoluted,

the way he writes.

Well, this new book is

actually -- It's a lot less

academic, so we're hoping it's

more accessible than his usual

writing, sells more copies,

which is, you know, any copies.

What about your job?

Do you still love it?

Love is

a pretty strong word.

There are times when it's --

I mean, when you feel like

you're really making a

difference.

I couldn't do what you do if

you paid me a million dollars,

Ellen.

Well, it's important for

children to have advocates, even

if it isn't always pleasant.

I have a buddy.

His sister was a social worker

out in Anacostia

in the housing projects there.

The things she was doing with

those people -- I mean, heroic.

Oh, I'm sure.

Yeah.

She ended up --

She killed herself, actually.

Oh, look who's here.

Were you talking about me?

I heard my name.

Well, you heard wrong.

Say hello to your Aunt Ellen.

Hi, Aunt Ellen.

Hello.

Hey, pull up your pants.

No one wants to see your

underwear.

Can I have another iced tea?

I'm thirsty.

All the boys at his school

now, this is what they do.

I mean, look at this one,

pants around his butt.

He thinks it's attractive.

Can I have another iced tea

now?

You just had one.

I'm thirsty, though.

My mouth is, like,

completely dried out.

Well, you can drink water.

You don't need more sugar.

I don't like the water here.

It tastes bad.

Grandpa doesn't have a filter.

Where is Grandpa?

I thought you two were watching

the baseball game together.

He fell asleep.

Uh-oh.

You must've worn him out, Joey.

Is Abby coming today?

Aww! He loves his cousin.

Abby is actually

in Israel right now.

On Birthright?

Oh, you

know about Birthright?

One of my friend's cousins

did it.

Oh, great.

He got blowjobs

from all the girls on the trip.

Hey!

Oh!

Is that how we talk?

He did, though.

Well, we're hoping

that Abby's trip is

a little less exciting.

He doesn't know

what he's talking about.

How much do you want to bet?

Enough.

Howard, can I please have

another iced tea now?

I'm so thirsty.

What did I just say?

What did I just tell you?

I'm, like, dying of thirst.

I'm gonna defer to Mom

on this one.

This is so unfair.

Get out of here, Joey.

If you're just going to stand

there hawking about

the iced tea, goodbye.

Asshole.

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

What did you say?

I didn't say anything.

You better start acting

like a gentleman right now.

I am acting like a gentleman.

Do you hear me?

Right now.

I'm sorry.

Go.

Find something else to do.

I don't want to see your face.

I said I'm sorry.

Goodbye.

Jesus fucking Christ, Mom.

Goodbye.

Wow! He is so grown up.

You're just gonna let him

talk to me that way?

You dealt with it.

You were dealing with it.

You're his father.

He needs to hear from you.

Stepfather.

Oh, oh, what was that?

Stepfather.

I said I'm his stepfather.

What is the significance

of telling me that?

Mike!

Hey, I'm so sorry.

Mikey!

Where were you?

We've been sitting here

for 45 minutes.

Aw, I got stuck on --

There was a work call

I forgot I needed to take.

I thought you said

you were coming right down?

I know.

Hey, Mike.

How you doing, buddy?

It was one of my advisees.

I'm sorry.

It's a Saturday.

No, I know.

He wanted to hash out

the details of the conference

we're putting together

with the students for Nader.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Don't tell me you're voting

for that asshole.

Michael,

please don't tell me that.

I'm the faculty advisor

for the group.

You are such a jackass.

That is throwing your vote away.

Do you want to Bush to win?

Thank you!

That's what I keep telling him.

And Al Gore is not throwing

your vote away, corporate lackey

Al Gore?

I was a McCain guy so...

Mm.

How are you going to feel

when Bush becomes

the next president?

I am gonna feel like

there's no difference

between four years

of Bush and four years of Gore.

What a jackass.

Did you bring the plug

from the car?

The battery's running low.

Well, just turn it off.

Is that a cellphone?

He has a cellphone now.

Not gonna turn it off.

What if Abby needs us?

Well, she's not gonna call

tonight.

It's late there.

Unless there's an emergency.

Aw, God forbid.

What are you, a heart

surgeon?

You need a cellphone?

It's a family phone.

Aw, it's convenient.

Oh, I'm dying to get one.

You already have a car phone.

Yeah, well, this is

for when you're not in the car.

You don't need that, Howard.

Well, it's like Mike said.

It's for emergencies.

You don't have emergencies.

I'm just going to go

get the plug.

Can you sit with us

for five minutes, please?

'Course.

So, tell me more about Abby.

How's her trip?

She's having a good time?

She's having a great time.

Yeah?

Yeah, how's the news

coming out of there.

Troubling.

There's no news.

Nothing's happening.

It's all fine.

The Israelis have

the military on high alert.

Hamas is in the streets

calling for a new intifada.

Jerusalem -- they're saying

that was the final thing

for the Israelis.

Everything else they could agree

on except Jerusalem.

Well, I think there were

actually a couple things but...

That fucker Arafat.

Clinton gave him everything they

wanted.

They still couldn't say yes.

It was a little more

complicated than that.

Oh, oh, I forgot.

He loves the Arabs.

Well...

what happened at Camp David was

not -- It was a lot more complex

than what you see on CNN.

I'm sure that's true.

The Palestini--

The so-called Palestinian state

that Clinton and Barak put

forward, the Israelis would've

continued to maintain full

control in terms of militarily,

in terms of borders.

Okay, the things he says

sometimes, if I didn't know

him -- honest to god, if I heard

him on the street, I'd think

he's an anti-Semite.

Honest to god.

I'm a Jewish Studies

professor.

Oh, really?

When's the last time

you were at synagogue?

Uh, when was the last time

you went?

We were at Washington Hebrew

for Yom Kippur.

You go twice a year, Holly,

which is two times

more than I go.

You're not exactly

the rebbe here.

I went for Sukkoth last year,

thank you very much.

I'm an atheist just like you.

I'm not an atheist,

excuse me.

Do you believe in God?

That has nothing

to do with it.

Bombs is what scares me,

suicide bombs,

because these guys,

they'll walk into a café.

Everything's fine.

Everyone's eating tuna

sandwiches, drinking espresso,

chitchat, and then all of

a sudden, you know, body parts,

and it's just awful.

Blood everywhere, arms --

They find people's arms

or legs!

Two hours later, a block away,

they'll find a leg.

That's what I'm -- I just --

I don't want that sort of thing

to start happening again

because that is just --

You hear the screaming

and the bones and...

What the fuck

are you talking about?

That's what they do.

They blow themselves up.

Their daughter is there.

It's scary as hell!

Abby is there right now!

I don't think anyone on

either side wants dead American

kids on the news.

Let's maybe not talk about

dead American kids right now.

That would be nice,

wouldn't it?

By the way, where is Sharon,

speaking of suicide bombers.

You're so bad.

She had a book sale at school.

Hey, congratulations

on the book, Mike.

That's fantastic.

How about a glass of wine?

Am I the only one

who wants a glass of wine?

I'm okay with coffee

for right now.

Well, that's a huge

accomplishment to write a book.

Thank you.

I always want

a glass of wine.

Is that bad?

So, is this your first book?

My third book.

The others have been a lot

more specialized so...

Unreadable.

Well, I wouldn't say that.

I would.

They were not intend--

They were written for academics,

so they were not

for a general audience.

Oh, yeah?

What's this one about?

I re-- I don't want to have

this conversation.

What conversation?

What'd I do now?

I'm not good at the whole

two-sentence, like, "This

is a book about --"

It doesn't have to be

two sentences.

Who said it had to be two

sentences?

What is he talking about?

It's Jewish history.

It's about Jewish history.

Well, that was two sentences.

Have you read it?

He won't let me.

I want her to see it

when it's finished.

You sent the manuscript

to your dad six months ago.

That was different.

You sent it to Dad?

He must've been so touched.

Well, he never got back

to me, so

I guess he wasn't that touched.

You're kidding.

Has he read it?

I have no idea.

Well, have you asked him?

He won't ask him.

You haven't asked him?

Ask him!

I sent it to him.

It's his prerogative

if he wants to talk about it.

I'm not going to force him

to talk about it.

I don't see why you can't

just ask him.

Because I shouldn't have to

ask him.

I'll ask. You want me to ask?

I really actually wish

that you wouldn't, Holly.

Oh, it's crazy.

Six months!

Michael has some

other news, too.

Really?

I, uh -- I've been

recommended for tenure starting

in the fall.

I thought you

already had tenure.

No.

Well, then great!

What?

No, it's just sort

of a bi-- It's a big deal.

It's great. I just said.

It's really great.

Yeah, most people don't --

It's not an easy thing

to accomplish.

Yeah, I'll bet.

What are you

teaching next year,

anything I'm interested in?

Uh...

I'm teaching a grad seminar

on ethics

in the rabbinic literature.

I am teaching the freshman

survey course I do

every fall on Jews

in Europe in the 19th century.

I'm already asleep.

Thank you.

No, I like the class you did

on Jews in the movies.

That's my kind of thing.

Mike, I've been reading...

Have you checked out

the new Reagan biography yet?

Ooh, I haven't.

Well, I think you would

really -- I mean, the guy

is a sensational writer.

Really?

Well, see,

but I'm a big nonfiction guy,

so that sort of thing

is right up my alley anyway.

Do you miss Mom?

Do I what?

Do you miss Mom?

Mikey, I miss here so much.

It's like -- It's like a piece

of my heart has been ripped out.

That's how it feels.

Isn't that awful?

I mean, I do miss her, Holly.

It's kind of a random thing to

bring up out of nowhere but...

How is that random?

You know what?

Maybe I will have a glass of

wine, just...

You sound like Jennifer.

Random -- everything I say

is random.

"That's so random, Mom."

That's just a very personal

question to throw out there

when we're sitting here talking

about Ronald Reagan.

Okay, what do you think about

Dad?

Be honest.

Wow, you just switch gears,

don't you?

Do you see how thin he is?

Didn't I tell you?

He looks so old.

He is old.

How's Riesling?

That's all there is.

Anything.

I'll have a glass, too,

please.

None for me.

I can't drink it.

It's too sweet.

Sharon spends all her time

with him, you know this?

With Dad?

Oh, yeah.

They go shopping together.

They go to the movies.

They're like BFFs, as Joey says.

Oh, yeah, she's constantly at

the house, too.

You should see.

The way she walks around now --

she picks things out.

What does that mean?

She says, "I'll take this.

I'll take that.

This is mine. I want the silver.

I want the crystal."

Oh, yeah, she's already gone

through all Mom's jewelry,

you know this, right?

Ellen, you should be

very concerned about this.

We're not getting a thing.

Oh, it's your mother, and she

didn't like me very much either.

Oh, she loved you.

She didn't love you,

but that's not your fault.

Mom loved Ellen.

She was very upset

when you didn't convert.

I offered to convert.

Michael said no.

Why would you convert

to a religion for a spouse

who doesn't believe in it?

She puts sticky notes

on things -- Sharon --

on the bottom of furniture,

the backs of paintings,

with her name on it.

Sticky notes?

Yeah.

The store, though,

that's what she really wants.

Oh, she's got her eye

on that store.

Store?

Dad's store?

Oh, yeah.

She made friends

with the family there, the

Mexican family that rents it.

She takes Dad there

to see them every Sunday.

Why would she even want it?

I thought it was a ghetto

dollar store now.

Do you have any idea

how valuable the real estate

there is these days?

We're talking mega.

It's up-and-coming,

that whole area, 14th Street,

lots of new stuff coming in --

condos, retail.

Howard and I,

we actually got in touch

with an architect about it.

Okay.

You cannot breathe

a word of this to Sharon.

I will kill you if you talk

to Sharon about this.

I mean it.

You're talking

to an architect about the store?

Did you hear what I just

said?

I heard you. Yes.

We've been discussing

renovations.

The store hasn't been

renovated in, what, like a

hundred years?

All the systems need updating --

all new plumbing, electric.

Who's gonna pay for that?

I'm gonna pay for it.

Well, we are going to pay for

it.

Why would you do that?

Because it's the perfect

place for my business.

Howard thinks so, too.

There's a lot

of potential there.

What is your business?

What do you mean

what is my business?

Interior design!

You do interior design?

Yes, I do interior design.

You know that.

I mean, I did our whole --

Well, I redid our entire house,

top to bottom,

and I did Sharon's apartment.

That's -- That's not really a

business, right?

That's more like a hobby.

Well, because

I don't have an office.

The store would be my office.

I could actually

start something.

She's got a terrific eye.

Aww!

Have you talked

to Dad about this?

Oh, my God.

Sharon's got him so in love

with this Mexican family.

He's going to keep them there

forever paying, like, $200 a

month.

Meanwhile, we could be

making that store so beautiful.

Mikey, it makes me ill.

Where is Sharon's boyfriend

in all of this?

Dumped her.

Oh, no.

Oh.

Poor Sharon.

Yeah, she left the temple she

joined, too -- you know that,

right? -- the temple she

joined joined after Mom died.

The Orthodox one?

It wasn't Orthodox.

It was conservadox.

Right.

Yeah, she got -- She was

very involved with the temple.

Then all of a sudden,

she broke up with her boyfriend.

That was it with temple.

She got Dad going there, too,

all the time.

I don't like her doing that.

Mm.

He got a lot out of it.

He doesn't even read Hebrew.

Yeah, but she was gonna get

him into a class there.

Abby wants to learn Hebrew

when she comes home.

Fabulous.

Why is that fabulous?

I don't understand this.

Why is everyone...

Why are we excited about this?

It's wonderful.

It's keeping

the tradition alive.

Which tradition exactly?

Oh, my God.

He has to contradict everything.

No, it's not her tradition.

It's not...

Our grandparents, Mom's parents,

do you think they spoke Hebrew?

They didn't even go to temple.

They were educated people.

They were enlightened,

cosmopolitan people.

Now everyone is sudden--

I don't know what happened.

What happened?

Everybody is religious now?

So what?

The head of my department --

This is a smart guy.

This is not...

This is a world-renowned

scholar.

He grew up like us

with the cheeseburgers

and the sweet and sour shrimp

and the Christmas trees.

Oh, I love Christmas trees.

Now his whole family -- his

whole family

is shomer Shabbos!

They're walking to synagogue

on Saturday morning.

Why does that upset you?

Because we spent

the entire 20th century trying

to get away from all that,

and now you look around

the Upper West Side,

everybody is reading books

on Cabala and -- and Kosher

sex,

whatever the hell that is.

It's like, "What happened

to the last hundred years?"

Didn't we already have

this conversation?

Didn't we decide we were done

with, you know,

spirits in the sky?

I think you could be

a little more tolerant

of other people's beliefs.

I know what he's saying.

I understand what

you mean, Mike.

No, you don't.

The pendulum swings

in one direction, and then

it swings back the other way.

The parents are religious, so

the kids rebel by giving it up,

and then their kids rebel

by going back to it.

So history is just

an endless repetition

of the same back-and-forth?

The families I work with,

I see it every day,

the same patterns

repeating themselves.

So how does

anything new happen?

How does anything change?

Maybe it doesn't.

He doesn't believe

in tradition.

Ellen, you're

talking to the wrong person.

I do believe in tradition.

I just don't believe that

religion, organized religion,

is necessarily

a part of that tradition.

Of course you don't.

No.

A hundred years ago, Jews were

part of every single radical

secular political movement

in Europe.

The Zionists,

they hated religion.

They hated the rabbis

more than the communists did.

The point was to change

this world, to make a world

where Jews wouldn't even exist.

There would just be one single

international human brotherhood.

And then at a certain point,

we just...

We gave up.

We gave up on politics

and social justice

because...

I don't know why.

Because it was difficult?

Because it didn't always work?

So now we're running back into

the arms of the most irrational,

the most superstitious,

reactionary forces.

We're running as fast as we can

back into the Dark Ages,

back behind our borders

and our fences and our walls --

willingly, by choice,

with eyes wide open.

So, no, I'm sorry, I don't see

that as "keeping the tradition

alive!"

Abby learning Hebrew?

That's not our tradition.

That's not my tradition.

We sure there's just

the Riesling?

Oh! This one is my favorite.

Read this one.

I love this one.

"Dear Mommy,

I'm sorry I did a bad to you."

I love that.

"I wish you were not so mad

at me now.

Love, Mikey."

I mean, is that not --

How adorable were you?

Did a bad?

I don't find this adorable.

I find this troubling.

Oh, I love it.

I should show this

to a therapist.

This is, like, the smoking gun.

A lot of these are like that,

apologies.

Oh, I remember

just constantly apologizing

as a child.

Mom used to say --

Do you remember?

"I can forgive,

but I can't forget."

Do you remember that?

Of course.

You can't say things

like that to a 5-year-old.

Well, you can, actually.

You just -- You shouldn't.

I'm grateful, though,

you know,

that she was tough on us.

Ugh, these kids I teach,

you should see the parents just

terrified of their own children,

tiptoeing around them.

What do you think

they're like in New York?

Ugh.

There are pictures, too.

See?

Tons of old pictures.

Dad behind the cash register.

That is probably

the only time in his life.

I know.

I can't believe Mom let him

stand there long enough

to have his picture taken.

Oh, look at the fear

in his eyes.

She could be sweet,

though...Mom.

Well, when she was happy

with you, there was nothing like

that.

It was like the clouds parting

and choruses of angels.

I e-mailed you last week.

I don't know if you got it.

No, I did.

I'm sorry.

I've been swamped.

I keep calling you.

I don't hear back.

I've just been really crazy

with work

and moving into the new place.

I just never know.

Are you getting the messages,

or am I --

Did I call the wrong number?

I'm sorry.

Well, I was just trying

to see if you wanted to visit

the store tomorrow,

you and Ellen?

I thought it might be fun

if we all went.

You know, I'd love to introduce

you to the Jimenez family.

Yeah, maybe.

I don't know what time

we have to head back to the city

is the only problem.

We've become very close

with them, Dad especially.

Oh, they love Dad.

It's adorable.

They think he's, like, a legend.

That's sweet.

I think they saved his life.

Honestly, he was not...

I could barely get him to leave

the house after Mom died.

So finally one day,

I decided,

"I'm taking him to the store.

He hasn't been there

in 10 years.

He just collects the rent checks

in the mail.

He should see it.

He should meet his tenant."

He'd never even met them.

Right.

He and Rod,

they hit it off right away,

talking about the Orioles

and the neighborhood.

Rod?

Rodrigo.

He's the one that --

It's his store.

Well, he runs it with his son,

Eduardo.

You would love it.

Being there, you walk in,

and it's just...

You can feel it.

It's all that history.

I thought it was

a bargain store now?

Well, but I mean so much

of it is still there, though --

I mean, the old moldings

and the tint ceiling,

and in the back, it's like

it's frozen in time.

There's an old framed picture

of Kennedy hanging up.

Yeah, I tend not to connect

very much with places --

old houses, old buildings.

Some places, though,

you can feel it,

like a spark of something.

Yeah, never really found

that to be true.

Well, I won't beg you,

but I think you would love it.

I think you would really get

a lot out of it.

Maybe.

Oh.

Did Holly tell you about

Jonathan?

Jonathan?

Jonathan.

We dated for a year!

Oh, yes!

Over a year.

She did, yes.

I was sorry to hear about that.

Well, I hope you know

that it wasn't your fault.

I don't know if Holly told you

that it was, but it wasn't.

And why would it be my fault?

Um, for calling him a Nazi

at the funeral.

I called him a Nazi?

Yes.

Michael, you said -- you were

talking to him, and he was

telling you about his job in

marketing, and you went on an --

ugh -- 20 minutes, just on and

on about Hitler and the media

and complicity -- how he needed

to think about complicity.

And that's why you broke up?

No, I'm saying that's not why

we broke up if you thought it

was.

I would never have

thought that.

He was very upset by that

conversation.

It rattled him.

To be called a Nazi, it

really -- that really got to

him.

He started questioning

everything -- his career,

our relationship, his faith.

I don't even remember

the conversation.

He slept with our cantor.

That's why we broke up.

You're kidding.

Please don't tell this

to Holly.

I know you and Holly,

you repeat everything I say.

What?

Oh, come on, Michael.

I know how you -- It's fine.

Well, then don't

tell me that.

I get it.

You know what?

If you don't trust me,

why would you tell me something

like that?

I do trust you.

I just -- I don't want you

to tell Holly.

I won't tell Holly.

She lords things over you.

She loves that.

So, tell me what happened

with...

Jonathan.

Jonathan.

What happened with Jonathan?

Ugh.

Well, Jonathan and the cantor,

they're both obsessed

with Bruce Springsteen,

so that was...

They were always --

After services,

they were always finding a table

together at the Oneg

to talk about "The Boss"

and how much they love The Boss,

what a great boss The Boss was.

And then fast-forward

to two months ago,

and I walk into my apartment,

and there they are on my bed.

Jesus.

Yeah, oral sex

at the same time,

69, just on my bed.

That's probably more

than I needed to know but...

And this is the kicker.

Do you know what he said?

I really don't.

"It's not what it looks

like."

Do you like that?

69 on my brand-new

duvet cover -- $400.

Now, I'm going to have to get it

dry-cleaned, and it's going to

cost me $75, and,

"It's not what it looks like"?

I mean...

Can you even?

Was she a good cantor?

She wasn't great, frankly.

She was very nasal.

I told you he was a Nazi.

Oh, stop.

I did.

Stop it.

I warned you.

Ugh. I should've listened.

You can do so much better

than that guy, "Shar."

I've gotten fat.

What are you talking about?

Ugh.

Pbht!

I have.

You're like emaciated.

Well, thank you but...

It's not a compliment but...

You look great.

I stopped working out.

Oh. I can't tell.

I got one of those rollers

from TV, the Ab Roller.

Does it work?

I don't know.

I haven't opened it.

I never come in this room

anymore.

Whenever I'm at the house, just

too many memories, you know?

Mom...

It reminds me of being 14

and smoking pot out the window.

You know, the hospice people,

they were going to set it

all up in her room.

They just assumed,

but she wanted to be here,

in "Mikey's room."

No surprise.

Well, listen,

if you want help getting rid

of some of this stuff...

We've already gotten rid

of most of it --

all the rental stuff,

the hospital bed.

You've still got her clothes

in the dresser.

I'm not throwing

out her clothes.

I'm not ready to do that.

What about the wheelchair?

Do you need a wheelchair?

Do you need her prescriptions?

I'm not ready.

I like knowing

that it's all here.

It feels like it's all just

sitting here,

waiting for her to come back...

like she just went downstairs

to make herself a cup of tea.

I don't remember Mom

ever drinking tea.

Well, with the chemo,

it's all she could keep down,

just peppermint tea

and Lorna Doones.

You were lucky.

You missed a lot of that.

I was working.

I know.

I'm not good in that sort...

I didn't want

to see her like that.

No one wanted to see her

like that.

We still did, though.

Okay.

She understood.

She really...

I mean, you know Mom.

Her son could do no wrong.

Dad looks good.

Doesn't he?

Holly thinks he looks thin.

She is so full of shit!

You know, he's put on 10 pounds

since last year.

He was like a skeleton

when Mom died, and he

practically killed himself

trying to take care of her.

Those last few weeks,

he barely left the room.

He wouldn't sleep.

He wouldn't eat.

Probably the only time in

their marriage they got along.

Oh. Don't say that.

It's true.

Now, he goes

to that McDonald's drive-through

in Bethesda all the time.

Ugh, I can't get him to stop.

He's still driving?

His eyesight has

gotten terrible.

Ugh.

He sees double.

That's not ideal, Sharon.

I would really --

I would love for you

to talk to him, Michael.

Just whenever I try to talk

to him about things like that,

he shuts down.

Well, if he's not listening

to you, why would he listen to

me?

He respects you.

He...

Not sure that's true, actually.

Oh, come on.

I sent him the manuscript

of my book six months ago,

and he never responded.

I know.

He told you?

What did he say?

You know what?

You should ask him.

It's not my place.

What did he say, Sharon?

He was hurt.

He found it very hurtful.

He found it hurtful?

It's inflammatory, Michael.

A lot of what you've written,

it's very inflammatory.

He told you

it was inflammatory?

He told me that, and

then when I read it, I agreed.

You read it?

He gave it to me

to see what I thought.

Uh-huh.

Look.

I am your biggest fan.

You know that, but I w--

Honestly, if you want me

to be honest with you, it...

I mean, it's offensive, Michael.

You were offended?

Yes.

How were you offended?

Uh, Jews run the government?

Where did I say that?

Jews run the media.

The Holocaust is about making

money.

Oh.

Jews making money

off of the Holocaust!

That's an incredibly facile

reading of an actually

quite complicated argument.

What did you think was going

to happen?

You thought Dad was going to --

what, he would really respond to

a book like that?

You knew that

it would upset him.

It's a very personal book

for me.

I thought maybe

he would appreciate that.

Well, it felt like an attack,

like a personal attack.

On Dad?

On Dad, on our family.

How is it an attack

on our family?

Obviously, you hate

where you come from.

Ugh.

You hate the culture

that you come from.

That's not true.

Well, I gave it to my rabbi.

You gave it to your rabbi?!

I have a very close

relationship with my rabbi.

This is the rabbi from

the synagogue with the cantor,

with the 69'ing cantor?

He was as upset about it as I

was, okay?

He tried to fire her,

and then the board -- Ugh.

She did a whole song

and dance for the board.

So, what did your

rabbi say about my book?

I'm sure he had a wonderfully

sage response.

Well, he said in the

Talmud, they talk --

If you slander your fellow

Jew, that's the most...

That's an unforgivable crime,

Michael.

That's one of the worst crimes

that there is.

Okay.

I'm just telling you

what he said.

That -- Just so you know,

Sharon, that was completely

inappropriate of you to do that.

To do what?

That is an unpubli--

That is a manuscript of a book,

my book, which I sent to Dad,

not to you and certainly

not to your asshole rabbi.

Okay.

That is not fair, Michael.

Abby told me about the petition

against you.

So, obviously,

he's not the only one

who felt that way.

When did you talk to Abby?

Abby and I talk almost

every day.

Since when?

She started calling me

when she was in the hospital.

Abby called you

from the hospital?

She wanted advice,

and I guess she felt like

I was the easiest person for her

to talk to

about the sort of things

that she was thinking about.

And what was

she thinking about?

Life, everything -- religion,

God, Judaism.

So you've been encouraging

that?

Why wouldn't I encourage it?

Because her paren--

You're not her parents, Sharon,

and her parents don't approve

of those kinds of values.

Actually, Ellen has been very

supportive.

I'm not sure why you're so

against it.

Because I raised her as a

sec-- to be a secular person,

a rational person.

It has been

very healing for her.

She was almost...

I mean, in November...

What did she tell you

about the petition?

She told me that people

read your book...

That's not true, actually.

...and they started a

petition to get you fired.

My book doesn't come out

until October.

The only people that have read

my book are you and Dad.

And Rick.

Who is Rick?

My rabbi.

Rabbi Rick?

So, you're not worried that

there's a petition against you?

It's not e...

Some disgruntled

right-wing undergraduates

read a two-page excerpt

of the book, which they took

completely out of context,

and they came up with

the idiotic idea for a petition.

Well, you can't fire

a tenured professor.

I've been recommended

for tenure.

Did you know that?

Did you even...

Did Abby tell you that?

I thought you already had it.

Well, I didn't.

Well, mazel tov, then.

Thank you so much.

How many people

have signed it?

I don't know, not very many.

50?

Maybe something like that.

More than 50?

I should go check on Ellen.

Please don't go.

Look, I don't want to fight with

you.

Neither do I.

I need to tell you something.

Okay.

You're just gonna stand there?

I guess not.

You can't tell Holly.

I won't tell Holly.

I think I like someone.

Okay.

Please, don't tell this

to Holly.

I am not going to tell Holly.

I think it...

it feels like maybe --

Ugh.

I don't know.

I just...

I feel so -- I'm happy, you

know?

That's great, Sharon.

Yeah.

No. It is.

Who is it?

Well, um, actually,

it's Rod.

Rodrigo.

That's sort of the funny thing

about it.

Rodrigo?

From the store,

from the Mexican bargain store?

They're not Mexican.

They're Guatemalan.

Isn't he -- How old is he?

51.

It's 12 years.

It's not that big a difference.

So he's --

What, he's divorced or...

They have a

terrible marriage.

Oh, my -- Sharon.

They hate each other.

With child--

They have children.

Just forget it.

Forget I said anything.

Sharon.

No, if you're just going to

stand there and judge me, I

wouldn't have told you.

I'm not judging you.

I'm telling you

this is a bad idea.

Why did I even --

I knew you would be like this!

Like what?

Like sensible?

Like reasonable?

No, like you always are,

like you know everything and

everybody else is a moron,

like I am a moron.

This is a family you're

getting involved with here,

Sharon.

I don't care.

You don't care?

I don't care.

What are you fighting about?

No one is fighting.

We're talking.

Howard kicked me

out of the kitchen.

I have been exiled

from the kitchen.

Uh-oh.

I was accused of

micromanaging the table setting.

Those are the charges

against me.

I'm a micromanager.

What are these?

Old drawings and pictures.

Mom had them by her bed.

Aww!

Oh, my God.

Oh, is this the house

with the tree in front?

That's the store.

How do you know?

Because I drew it.

Really?

It looks like the house to me.

No.

First of all...

this is a guy trying on clothes.

Is that what that is?

I thought that was a baby.

Well, I thought

that was a little puppy dog

with the tail here?

What tail?

The tail, see?

The tail. Boink.

That's a suit jacket.

Wow.

You were a terrible artist.

Weren't you?

Aww!

This is nice, all of us here,

the kids at the house!

I don't remember the last time

this happened,

all of us here together.

The funeral.

Really?

It's been that long?

Well, that was the last time

that Michael was home.

Poor Mom.

Look.

How young she is here.

With a cigarette on her lip.

Poor Mom.

I miss Mom.

Do you miss Mom, Sharon?

Michael doesn't miss her.

I didn't say that.

I thought you said

you didn't miss her.

When did I say that?

I don't know.

I thought it was weird, too.

But...

I didn't say it.

Well, good.

Obviously, I miss her.

We all miss her.

I know.

Maybe she's here today, too,

in spirit.

That's sweet, Sharon,

to think that.

Don't you ever feel that way?

Like, you're walking up

the stairs, and suddenly,

you just feel this sort of

presence, like someone

is right there next to you?

A little, maybe.

I think a little.

I do.

That's nice.

Do you, Michael?

Do you ever feel that?

No.

She says the food

is out of this world.

Ah, it's like nowhere else.

She had the best falafel.

Ah, nowhere else.

I wasn't finished.

You'll be up all night again.

They were in Tel Aviv.

They went to this little

hole-in-the-wall place.

She said, "Mom, you'd have

no idea it was even there,

this place, no sign."

Ah.

Those are always the best.

Falafel is original--

It's actually --

It's an interesting history

in terms of the politics of

falafel.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

The politics of falafel?

Come on.

That is not a real thing.

It is, actually.

The Israelis claim it's

an Israeli food.

The Palestinians

say it's a Palestinian food.

Boy, they are just divided

on everything over there.

Aren't they?

Ask Clinton.

Yeah, ask Clinton.

He'll tell you they can't

even agree to disagree.

The Arabs, they were never

gonna be happy with anything.

Absolutely.

Well, as long as the Israelis

refuse to even discuss the

concept of a right of return --

You think if it was up to

them, they would give you that

right?

Why should I have that right?

Bite your tongue.

Jews have one country.

How many countries do they have?

They can go anywhere,

but we have one.

I heard it was Jerusalem.

That was the main...

No consensus on Jerusalem.

Well, there is a consensus,

actually.

There are eight different

UN Security Council

resolutions on the subject.

Oh, oh, the UN,

real Jew lovers.

They want to cup up the city,

divide it up into parts.

It's not a city anymore.

It's just pieces.

Much like the proposed

Palestinian state.

Let's maybe talk

about something else.

Wouldn't that be nice?

I didn't bring it up.

I think McCain could've done

something great over there.

What do you think of --

We're not talking

about it anymore, Howard.

I was saying one --

It's over.

Dinner was delicious, Holly.

Oh, stop.

You outdid yourself, honey.

I need the recipe

for that green bean casserole.

Oh, my God. It's so easy.

It's Mom's recipe.

Well, mine's

a little different.

It tastes just like Mom's.

Hers was all from a can.

I used fresh.

Well, it was delicious.

It was great.

I could probably do a

tablecloth trick right now and

pull the tablecloth out!

Okay, we're not doing that

now, Joey.

I could probably do it --

I don't care

if you can do it.

We're not doing it.

He loves magic.

Oh, good.

Okay, I'm not asking you

again.

Put the Nintendo away and go sit

with the rest of your family.

Come join us, Joey.

Holly, why don't you finish

the dishes later?

We're all relaxing now.

I just got to let these soak.

Ugh, she can't stop.

Anyone else need more wine?

Yeah. I'll have a drop.

So, do you feel 75, Lou?

75?

Mm.

What a fuckin' nightmare.

Oh!

Dad!

Please with the language.

Are you expecting a call?

Oh, Abby has the number

in case there's an emergency.

Is that a cellphone?

Can I see it?

Uh, the battery is running

low.

Can I still see it?

He doesn't need to see it.

Why don't you put it away?

I'm just worried

I won't hear it.

Give it to me. I'll hear it.

That's what I want

for my birthday.

Well, you're not getting it.

You're not a drug dealer.

Sharon was saying

maybe we could all go

to the store tomorrow.

Really?

Well, Dad and I were there

on Sundays, anyway.

Yeah, maybe we can try but --

Oh, I'd love to go.

Yeah, we have the train

to catch, though.

Oh, the Acela?

Is it the Acela?

Because you can exchange

your ticket for a later one,

no charge.

Ah.

I've done it a hundred times.

Perfect.

Great.

Thanks, Howard.

Poor Abby.

She's gonna be

jealous she missed out.

Mm.

Hey, you guys should come,

too.

Maybe.

I'm busy.

I don't think

Joey has ever been.

I'm busy, though.

Yeah?

What are you busy with?

Extracurriculars.

Your uncle and I grew up

there, you know?

Yeah. I know.

Used to go there

after school,

do our homework in the back.

Do you know about the store,

Joey?

Have you told him

about the store?

Of course.

He knows all about it.

Do you know

what it was called, Joey?

No.

Yes, you do.

Yes, he does.

Haberman's Corner.

Oh, right. I knew that.

I already knew that.

Your grandmother's family,

they were the Habermans,

and it was your Grandma Mimi,

her father, Papa Bill,

your great-grandfather.

He bought it all the way

back in...

Wait, When did he buy the store,

Dad?

Oh, who knows.

1880s.

Yeah, could be.

So when Grandpa --

When he came back from the war

and he married Grandma --

Were you in the Marines?

Army.

Marines are the best, though.

They have swords.

Your grandpa

liberated Dachau.

Oh, cool.

That's incredible.

That's a big deal, Joey.

Well, there were a lot of us.

And so when Grandpa --

When he married Grandma Mimi

after he came back,

he started working

in the store with Papa Bill.

Yeah.

They sold menswear --

suits, ties.

They sold clothes

to black people.

Don't you remember me

telling you about this, Joey?

We sold to all kinds.

We didn't care.

Predominantly black people.

In 1947, the blacks couldn't

even get into a department store

in Washington.

Incredible.

At Haberman's,

we had good merchandise.

We carried

everything they wanted.

We were fair-priced,

and we didn't care

what color they were.

It didn't matter to us.

A lot of the stores in the

black neighborhoods were owned

by Jews historically because

they were cheaper to own,

and there was

a captive customer base.

This was not a black

neighborhood.

It was a mixed neighborhood.

And the Habermans hated you.

Didn't they, Dad?

The Habermans were German.

Oh!

You know, they'd been in

Washington for two generations

already, yeah.

My family, they were Russian,

yeah, right off the boat, so,

uh, yeah we were...

They looked down at us.

They were snobbish,

but it was okay.

It was all right.

So, after Papa Bill died,

you took over the store?

Uh-huh.

Well, with Mom.

Mom ran the register.

She did all the bookkeeping.

What happened?

What happened?

Well, Martin Luther King died,

and the blacks had a riot,

and they burned down the city.

That's what happened.

The blacks had a riot?

All the black people,

apparently, on

the entire planet, had a riot.

Every street

they burned down,

all the way up to our street.

Wow.

But by the time they got to

us, I guess they were worn out.

Stokely Carmichael must've gone

to bed early.

By the time they got to you,

the National Guard was there.

It's like in the Exodus story

when God passed over the houses

of the Israelites.

Is it, though?

I think it's very much

like that.

We were there that night.

Do you remember, Michael?

I didn't know that.

Oh, yeah.

We walked there together

after school, the two of us.

I remember when they announced

it on the radio,

the assassination,

and Mom and Dad,

I remember they looked

at each other like they knew,

like they just knew.

And, Dad, you took out

all the money from the safe,

and they took out all the books

from our bags, our schoolbags.

He put the books in the safe,

the money in our schoolbags.

He said, "Sorry about the books.

We'll get them later."

Do you remember this?

Yes.

And then you decided --

Oh, Mom was so mad that Dad

decided he was gonna stay

until things calmed down,

so we locked up.

Mom put down the grate, and I

remember, we looked back inside,

and there's Dad just sitting

there, listening to the radio.

I'll never forget that.

He stayed there all night.

Mm-hmm.

I don't remember where I was.

Oh. You were a baby.

You were at home with the nanny.

Yeah.

Why did you sell the store?

I didn't sell the store.

We leased the store.

Your grandfather rents

the store to people

who pay rent for it, Joey.

They pay him rent every month

so they can use it.

That's how rent works.

Why don't you

just run the store?

Oh, I'm too old

to run a store.

I don't have the energy.

Yeah, it takes a tremendous

amount of work to operate a

business, Joey.

It's very time-consuming.

I got tired

of all the bullshit.

Dad.

You know, after the riots,

the blacks, they were always mad

about something.

Okay.

Well, the city changed.

The whole country changed.

Probably for the better,

in many cases.

In most cases.

Yeah, it changed -- more

drugs, more guns, homeless

people.

Well, it's changing again

in the neighborhood,

all those new restaurants,

new apartment buildings.

The rents in that part of

the District, they have shot up.

Yeah, yeah.

We don't want to raise the

rent.

Dad loves the tenants we have

now.

We're going to have them

for Rosh Hashanah this year.

They've never been

to a Jewish holiday.

Ooh! They're in for a treat.

You should see Dad

with Rodrigo.

They have such

a good time together.

He's --

He's got my sense of humor!

Which is what?

Funny.

Dad and I actually --

Last week, we opened

a college savings account

for Eduardo's daughter, Sylvia.

She's 7.

She's adorable, so smart.

You're paying for her

college now?

It's a couple

of hundred bucks a year.

She's brilliant, this girl.

How lovely.

I'm gonna

to grab another beer.

Anyone else for a beer?

I need water with ice.

Coming right up!

So when I go, Joey --

God forbid! Dad!

He loves to talk like that.

He thinks it's cute.

Oh, no.

Someday when I go...

the store will be yours!

Aww!

Probably, I'll make it

a video-game store.

Ah.

You're not doing that, Joey.

Do you know how much money

you can make in a video-game

store?

Well, you'll have to split it

with Abby and your sister.

That's fine.

Oh, he's so generous.

We'll see what the Jimenezes

think about that.

They have their own plans,

I'm sure.

It's not their store.

Well, I didn't

say that it was.

My father,

when he came to this country,

he was your age!

Didn't speak a word of English.

Didn't go to high school,

didn't go to college.

Came here with the clothes

on his back.

That's amazing.

Yeah.

And he walked

through Haberman's Corners.

Now here with --

This is a man

who spent his entire life

living paycheck to paycheck.

Everything he did, everything

he put aside, was all for that,

that he could live long enough

that he could see that,

that he could see that his son

owned something,

something that was, you know,

brick and mortar, you know,

something you could touch,

something you could pass on to

the next generation,

something that was better

than what came before.

Mm.

Wow, Dad.

Do you hear

what he's saying, Joey?

No, Mom. I'm deaf.

Nobody here thinks that's

funny.

I always thought that one of

you kids would want the store,

but you were always busy.

Well, we had careers.

Well, so...

Speaking of careers, Dad,

Michael actually has some big

career news, don't you, Michael?

Aw, we don't have to do this.

Can I tell everyone?

Think everyone already knows.

Dad, Michael got tenure.

Oh!

Well...

Isn't that great?

That's great!

Good for Michael.

Thank you.

We should toast.

A toast, yes!

And Michael has a new book

coming out, too.

Let's not talk about the

book.

Did you know that Michael

has a new book?

I don't need you to do this.

Let's talk about something

else.

Dad, Michael was very

concerned because he sent you

the book six months ago

and he didn't hear back.

What are you doing, Holly?

So, Joey, are you excited

to start eighth grade?

I'm starting 11th grade.

Oh, are we talking about the

book?

Did I miss it?

No. We're not.

Well, give us

the synopsis, Mike.

Synop-size it for us.

Well, Dad read it.

Maybe Dad can tell us about it.

He doesn't want

to talk about it.

Well, I at least

want to know the title.

Can I hear the title?

Uh, it's called

"Forgetting the Holocaust."

Whoa.

So it's, uh -- it's about the

Holocaust, sort of a history?

It's about Jews,

American Jews.

And the Holocaust?

Uh, the relationship

between American Jews,

Israeli, and the Holocaust

and just how

that relationship works.

Aha!

Great.

And how does it work,

the relationship?

Uh, it works because Israeli

and the right-wing allies

of Israeli in this country,

in the United States,

they use the Holocaust,

the memory of the Holocaust,

to get American Jews

to support certain kinds

of policy prerogatives

in the Middle East.

Is it fact or opinion?

Because it sounds more

like opinion, maybe.

Well, I have

60 pages of footnotes.

Well, that is impressive.

Wow.

I mean, why do you think

both political parties

in this country are in lockstep

with whatever Israeli wants?

Why is that the one thing

they can all agree on?

Because of the goodness

of our leaders?

Because they love Jews so much?

They certainly didn't love us

while the Holocaust was

actually, you know, happening.

Maybe because they understand

that it's the right thing to do.

Uh, or maybe it's

because they get campaign

contributions from wealthy Jews

and wealthy Jewish foundations,

and that's what drives

American foreign policy.

He sounds like Pat Buchanan.

Because Jews who used to care

about civil rights

and social justice,

economic justice, they're now --

now their number one iss--

their only issue is "Israel!"

This is what your book

is about?

You know, there's a petition

against him.

Do you know about the petition?

There's a petition?

It's like a hundred people.

You said 50.

You know, I think it was

very brave of Michael to write

about a subject like this.

I think it took

a lot of courage.

Well, you're

not Jewish, Ellen.

Sharon!

What?

Not to be rude, but I don't

think you really understand what

these issues mean to people.

Right, only Jews are allowed

to have an opinion about

Israeli.

Everyone else,

"Just shut up and agree."

This is about Ellen has never

had to be worried about being

put in a concentration camp...

There it is!

...because she's Swedish.

Norwegian, actually, but...

There it is.

Thank you, Sharon,

for demonstrating

the entire thesis of my book.

The best way to win an argument

about Israel -- change the

subject back to the Holocaust.

If you don't understand the

Holocaust, how do you understand

Israel?

The idea of the Holocaust has

been used to distort

American Jewish life and

discourse and culture

since the 1960s...

Yeah, here we go.

... until today.

Now -- Now, walk into

any synagogue in America,

the Holocaust is now

the centerpiece of Jewish life,

right, the linchpin

that binds us together.

It's no longer --

It's not culture anymore

or food or religi--

It's certainly not religion

with the number of American Jews

that actually

practice their religion.

It's the "6 million,"

and we have been manipulated,

all of us, our entire lives,

to feel constantly victimized,

constantly afraid.

You hear it all the time.

"It could happen again!

Never forget,

because it could happen again."

Well, because it could happen

again.

It already has happened

again!

Happened in Bosnia.

It happened in Rwanda.

It just didn't happen to us.

No.

We learned all the wrong lessons

from the Holocaust.

We learned that the world

hates Jews,

that the world will always

hate Jews, instead of what

we should've actually learned,

which is that nationalism

is a sickness, and it is lethal.

And the book argues

that the only way we can escape

what has essentially become,

at this point, a religion

and a culture of, frankly, death

and death worship,

a culture that finds its meaning

and its reason for being

in the charnel houses of Europe,

the only way we can get past

that is if we forget it

actively --

we stop making movies about it

and writing books about it

and just celebrating it,

venerating it like it's --

Because, otherwise, if we don't,

I feel --

I argue at length in the book,

if we don't forget

the Holocaust now,

if we don't begin to disentangle

ourselves from our own

obsessional neurosis,

then we'll be...

this will be the end of us.

This will be our last chapter

as a people,

if we can even call ourselves

that anymore, when the only

thing that connects us to one

another, that connects us to

ourselves, even, are ghosts.

I don't believe in ghosts.

Do you mind if I join you?

Oh. Not at all.

Oh.

Need a hand?

Oh, no.

I'm okay.

I'm okay.

Oh, ho, ho.

Oh, the difficult part

of sitting down is standing up.

You have to choose one

or the other

and then just stick with it.

You mind if we turn that off?

Oh, that -- I'm not watching.

Sharon and I, we went

to the cemetery last week.

Did I tell you this before?

Good, good.

We made a stone for you,

for your mother.

We told her you said hello,

and I wanted you to know that.

Well, thank you.

It's a nice -- nice plot.

Busy, very busy, always busy.

And that's what she liked

about it, right in

the middle of the action.

You got tenure.

You didn't say anything

about it.

That's an accomplishment.

I didn't know about this,

uh, petition.

A hundred names is it?

Close to that.

How close?

Um, the last time

I checked, it had just passed

9,000 signatures.

I was recommended for tenure.

The board hasn't...

They still have to approve

the recommendation.

They have to vote.

And, uh...

I did read your book.

I heard.

What'd you think?

At Dachau...

I don't know if you came across

this in your research or not.

When the Americans liberated

the camps at Dachau...

you have to remember they didn't

know what we know now.

They didn't have a word

as to what they were going

to see, what they were

going to walk in on.

They thought it was a POW camp.

Every door that they opened,

in every room, from the floor

to the ceiling,

they found bodies stacked up,

one on top of the other.

You can imagine the smell

coming from everything,

from the gas chambers, from the

bricks in the crematorium,

from the ovens, from...

the dirt under your feet, boots.

And the ones we found,

the ones that were still alive,

it was the worst with them.

The smell coming up off

their skin, their breath...

Oh, Michael.

They were so hungry.

Whenever the GIs gave them food,

they gave them rations,

and some of them,

they were so hungry, they ate

so quickly no one

could get them to slow down,

and their stomachs ruptured.

All those years, and they end up

dying of a full stomach.

Some of them,

they weren't hungry.

They didn't want to eat.

They went back, and they found

the guards, the Germans...

...and they took shovels --

Well -- Well, they found

shovels, they found bricks,

they found sickles, and they

hit them with the shovels

and the bricks and the sickles,

the Germans who had killed

their parents...

their brother maybe...

or their children

right in front of them.

They took shovels, men who

didn't weight 100 pounds.

You could see the bones

sticking through their skin.

They took their shovels,

and they smashed in their faces

on and on and over and again.

And the Americans, some even,

they helped.

They rounded them up.

They rounded the guards up,

and they gave the prisoners

their guns...

and the prisoners shot them one

by one like animals.

Like Jews.

And the Americans,

they just watched.

We just...

We stood.

We watched.

And we were glad.

My God!

We were glad.

I'm still glad.

For you, history

is an abstraction.

For us who have survived

this century, this long,

long century, there are

no abstractions anymore.

Happy birthday to you

Come on, Dad.

Come on, Michael.

Joey, sing.

...birthday to you

Happy birthday, dear Dad

Happy birthday to you

Does she need to that right

now?

Hello?

Who is that?

Honey?

Is that Abby?

What's going on?

I can't hear you.

Where is she?

I can't hear her.

Make a wish.

Where is she, Ellen?

I can't hear you.

Everybody, shh! Shh!

Abby, slow down.

I can't understand you.

What happened?

Chaos in the Middle East,

where that "day of rage" turned

into violent confrontations

between Israelis

and Palestinians.

NBC's Martin Fletcher is

on the front lines in

Jerusalem.

Israeli police today

stormed the most sacred

shrine in Jerusalem

after hours of running

battles with Palestinians.

They call this their "day

of rage,"

rage at the week's death toll.

Palestinians set fire

to this police station,

trapping police inside,

then hurled thousands of rocks

from inside the mosque.

Police fired back with tear gas

and rubber bullets,

avoiding live ammunition,

trying to keep the death

toll down.

Palestinians set fire

to this police station,

trapping police inside,

then hurled thousands of rocks

from inside the mosque.

I'm home!

Finally!

Oh, my God.

There's a terrible accident

on Wisconsin.

Dad?

Mm-hmm?

Are you awake?

Oh, hi.

Mm.

You are awake.

Hi.

This is what the Israelis

were fearing.

Ugh.

That is the worst intersection,

at Albemarle,

and people go through their like

it's -- ugh, they're driving

60 miles an hour.

It's absurd.

Oh, here.

That doesn't

look very comfortable.

How's that?

I just spoke to Rod again.

He said they're all pulling

for you, down at the store,

the whole family.

Eduardo wanted to come

and bring you flowers.

I said, "Ed, what is Dad

going to do with flowers?

He doesn't need flowers.

What he needs is -- Ugh, he

needs somebody who could

actually...

He needs people here

helping him.

That's what he actually needs."

Ed said,

"But aren't you helping him?"

And I said, "Yes."

He said, "Well, what about

everybody else?"

I said, "Everybody else?

Who's that?

Oh, you mean my siblings. Oh.

"They're busy," I said,

"They've got very busy,

very important schedules

apparently, so..."

I'm just still -- I know

I sound like a broken record,

but I'm still just

a little unclear on what Holly

has better to do right now.

Just because I have to go back

to work eventually.

I've already used up

half my vacation days.

I can't just...

I have a job, and Holly,

meanwhile,

she's sitting at home watching

"Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

Hi, Sharon.

Oh! My God.

Did I scare you?

Oh, my God.

I'm sorry.

I, uh...

I was, uh...

I got refills on Dad's meds.

Did you save the receipt?

I put it on his Mastercard.

You just left Dad here?

Well, I was gone

for 15 minutes!

Oh, really?

Because I've been here

for a half-hour so...

He was sleeping when I left,

and he has the Life Alert

if there's an emergency.

I made up the guest room

for Michael and Ellen.

Oh, thank you.

And I vacuumed --

I've been meaning

to vacuum all week.

Well, now you don't have to.

Now I don't. Good point.

You scared me half to death.

I know.

I thought I was going to have

a heart attack.

Thirsty, Dad?

I gave him a glass of water

just an hour ago.

His lips are chapped, Sharon!

Yeah, I've been

giving him water all morning.

He needs to stay hydrated.

Yes, I am aware,

hence the water.

His lips shouldn't

get chapped like this.

They weren't chapped

when I left.

Well, they're chapped now

so...

Here, Dad. Juice.

No, we got to use the left hand,

remember?

Got to practice.

Come on. There you go.

There you go.

Oop, oop, oop.

That's all right.

That's okay.

It's okay, Dad.

It's okay.

You want more?

Okay, Dad. Okay.

Guess who called

this morning.

Guess who called.

Holly?

I don't

know, Sharon.

Rodrigo.

He's been calling every day.

That's nice.

I know.

Don't you think?

Mm-hmm.

He got Sylvie

on the phone yesterday.

I put it on speaker for Dad.

She was so sweet.

Mm.

It really makes his day,

hearing from them --

hearing from anyone.

I'm sure.

How does he look?

what do you think?

Good.

He looks good.

Better, don't you think?

Better than last week?

Mm-hmm.

Good.

I think so, too.

Much better.

It's been

a nightmare.

How was I

supposed to know that?

An unending fucking

nightmare, and it hasn't even

been a week!

You told me he couldn't talk,

Holly -- that's all anyone told

me.

It's more than he can't talk.

He can't -- He's not even --

He just sits there.

Isn't it fun?

Does he have any idea

what's going on or --

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

He's in and out.

He -- He gets confused.

He forgets where he is.

So cognitively he --

He can't dress himself.

He can't, uh, feed himself.

He can't go up the stairs

by himself.

We have him sleeping on

a pull-out sofa in the office.

He can't use the bathroom

by himself.

Jesus.

Yeah, it's all very good

news.

So what are we gonna do?

What do you mean

what are we going to do?

I mean, in terms --

Does he need professional care?

Professional care?

He's getting professional care.

He's in occupational therapy.

He's in physical therapy.

Here, I'm saying -- somebody

here, somebody living here.

I don't know, maybe.

What about Sharon?

What about her?

Isn't she sort --

She's already living here,

right, it seems like?

What are you saying,

we should hire Sharon

to be Dad's nurse?

No, I'm saying maybe

that's -- if that's something

she wants to keep doing for the

time being.

Would you want to keep doing

that?

I'm not Sharon.

I don't enjoy my own misery

in quite the same way she does.

Oh, oh.

She's already complaining.

She's already --

I'm not doing anything,

Howard is not doing anything.

Okay, because otherwise,

I mean, a person who comes here,

a live-in person,

that's gonna be --

that's -- that's very expensive.

Yes, Michael.

We know it's gonna be expensive.

Thank you.

I'm saying I don't think

Medicare covers that kind of

thing.

Well, it didn't cover it for

Mom.

Right, so exactly.

And you weren't there

for most of that, I guess.

Is that --

Are you guilt-tripping me now

about Mom?

Do you feel guilty?

I don't live here, Holly.

It's a trek for me to get here.

You live 15 minutes away.

30 to 45

in traffic, actually.

Well, you're a much

better person than I am.

Give me a fucking break,

Michael.

You show up here a week

after the stroke?

Yeah, you told me

you didn't need me.

You and Sharon both told me

not to come.

Because we know how busy you

are.

Yes, I am in litigation --

Professional care?

What do you think we're doing,

giving him aspirins --

If you would have told me

to come here sooner, I --

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

Fuck you.

Fuck you.

No, fuck you --

No, fuck you, Michael, you

fucking self-righteous fucking

asshole.

How was the train?

Did you take the train?

How was the train?

We took the bus.

Greyhound?

Do you really care?

No, I don't.

How are you?

How am I?

I feel like we haven't

spoken in months.

We spoke yesterday.

For 10 minutes.

I am great, Holly.

I've never been better.

Are you being facetious?

Yes, I am.

How's the job search going?

The job search, that's funny.

Um, I can't get a job anywhere

in North America at this point.

I have a publicist, though.

I got a publicist.

He gets me speaking engagements

at left-wing colleges

and bookstores, tiny bookstores.

That's fancy.

It's not really.

Better than nothing?

It essentially is nothing,

so minus 5%

for the publicist.

And the lawsuit,

it's still --

Ongoing.

Have you thought

about settling?

Sure.

Yeah, they just need

to reinstate me in my position

with lost wages,

plus damages for defamation,

and I want an apology --

public apology from the board,

from the president,

then, sure, I'll settle for

that.

That's fine.

What do they say?

What do they say?

They say my work

lacks scholarly rigor.

That's their term of art,

"scholarly rigor,"

whatever that means --

scholarly rigor, which this

is after the faculty committee

voted unanimously

to recommend me for tenure,

glowing reviews from students,

fellow academics,

but, no, the board has decided

that they know better.

Only the second time, by the

way, in the 150-year history

of the university, that the

Board of Trustees has refused to

approve a tenure recommendation.

"What was the first time?"

you may be asking yourself.

Oh, well, the guy was

accused -- This is not a joke.

He was accused

of fucking a horse.

So, uh, in the annals of

university history, it is now me

and the horse fucker.

So they didn't like the book?

No, they did not

like the book.

They, um -- They disliked

the book, I would say.

Is it selling at least?

How is it supposed to sell

when the publisher won't market

it?

I mean, it's, like, you'd think

it never even happened.

Sharon said that Abby...

decided not to go back to

school.

When we took her in January,

she couldn't wait to start

classes and see her friends,

and then we got a call from the

emergency room three weeks

later.

Before Israel, we didn't...

We thought she had an eating

disorder.

Even when she was

in the hospital last year,

it was bad, but it was still...

We'd seen bad.

We didn't think it was some

kind of actual...

Hearing voices?

Talking to herself?

Hurting herself?

Cutting herself?

Well, the cutting, sometimes

they do that for attention.

No.

These were not, um...

What happened in Jerusalem...

I don't know how much you

actually want to hear this all.

No, I...

I want to hear.

The depth of the cuts,

the lacerations that she made,

these were very...

They were not superficial.

Oh.

They told us

it was Jerusalem syndrome,

that Abby had a case

of Jerusalem syndrome.

Howard looked it up

on the computer.

The hospital there said

they see 100,

150 people a year with it.

That's a lot.

Well, it's especially people

with preexisting --

if they already have certain

trauma or emotional issues

or -- which obviously Abby --

it can trigger --

Just being there in the city,

people who aren't even

religious, suddenly they start

seeing visions and scaring

tourists and...

But if it was Jerusalem

syndrome, she's home now,

so why is she still...

Why isn't she okay?

How's Ellen managing?

Ellen is...

She's in complete denial.

She spent the whole fall going

with Abby to temple,

every Saturday.

She thinks this is all --

She thinks Abby is having

a spiritual crisis.

She wants her

to talk to a rabbi.

She wants her to be a rabbi.

She doesn't understand that when

Abby says she's having visions,

when Abby

says God is speaking to her,

what she really means is

she's having a mental breakdown.

Not something to be encouraged.

She's not Joan of Arc.

Although look at Joan of Arc.

Imagine if she'd been alive

in the age of Wellbutrin

and cognitive behavioral

therapy.

She -- She thinks

that God is speaking to her?

On occasion.

Do you want some drugs maybe?

It sounds like you

could maybe use some drugs.

What do you have?

Everything.

I'm like a pharmacy.

I've got Ativan, uh, Klonopin,

Xanax, Valium.

I'll have half a Xanax if...

Where did you get all those?

They're prescriptions.

I have anxiety issues.

I'm being treated

by many doctors.

They don't know

about each other.

Take the whole thing.

You'll thank me later.

Wow. This is like old times.

Me and my big sister getting

high and listening to Jim Croce.

Yeah.

No Jim Croce this time.

Well, that's too bad.

So, how are you?

How are things with you,

aside from the anxiety issues?

Things are all right.

Well, until Dad.

Yeah? Joey is...

Joey is okay.

How's Howard?

Working like a maniac.

Traveling all the time,

doing all these big mergers.

Uh-huh.

He got a computer

for his birthday.

Now he's obsessed with it,

"the Web."

Whenever he's home, he's down in

the basement on AOL.

He does these family

genealogy things, chat rooms.

Sounds fun.

Yeah, I think he's probably

doing porno things is my hunch.

I mean, genealogies at 4:00

in the morning

does not sound normal to me.

Well, but it is Howard so --

Yeah.

Hey, I want to show you

something.

I had these printed

up the other week.

Take a look.

"Holly Fischer,

Spaces and Places."

And everyone says interior

decorator, interior designer.

I thought, "Let's do something

different.

Let's do something fun," right?

"Spaces and Places."

It's fun, right?

Isn't it fun?

Yeah, it's very fun.

It's so fun, but it's gonna

be very upscale,

like, very concierge, right?

And this architect and I,

we've been really getting into

the plans, and then especially

since Dad got sick,

I thought, "Hello? Wake-up call.

We can't keep waiting on this."

I mean, we're talking about

we need somebody

living here, taking care of him.

Well, guess what?

Dad needs someone in that store

who is going to be

paying real money every month,

not the discount.

Wait, so you're going

to pay rent to Dad?

Why not?

I'll -- Howard and I

will pay the actual price,

not the discounted special,

and we'll do all the

renovations, all the upgrades.

What does Sharon

say about this?

Oh, my God.

Sharon is practically --

I mean, she would cut

my head off before she lets me

take the store

away from these people.

Mikey, you should see

how she is with this

little Spanish girl.

I mean, I think she finally

understands that she's not gonna

have children of her own,

that that's over and done with,

and so this little girl,

it could be...

It could be, like,

her adopted daughter.

It's sick.

So you haven't

brought it up with her?

Well, I figured I wanted

to make sure you were on my side

before I did.

I really have to pick a side?

I'm sorry.

Are you new to this family?

Have you never been

in this house before?

Oh, no. You keep that.

That's yours.

So, tell me more

about your career.

I mean, it's official?

You're fired, end of story?

The university doesn't have

an open position for me.

That's the party line --

no open position.

Because

the Anti-Defamation League

has nothing better to do

than to turn me into their cause

of the month.

I'm the self-hating

Jewish Studies professor/Hitler

apologist, who wants

to wipe Israel off the map.

Wow.

I mean, the bottom line

is they can't fire you

for saying something politically

they find noxious,

so this is how they do it.

This is the game plan.

They find some technical

loop hole.

They use words like

scholarly rigor so they don't

have to say the truth,

which is that academic freedom

in this country does not extend

past the green line, pass 1967,

let alone '48.

It's a dark time.

Sounds like it.

For all of us.

I mean, another Bush

in the White House?

Ugh.

A second intifada?

Ariel Sharon, the butcher

of Sabra and Shatila --

history repeating itself,

every terrible thing coming back

around again but worse,

and where are we in all this,

American Jews?

We're just rah-rah-rahing

along with everyone else,

the Bushes and the Cheneys

and the Donald Rumsfelds

of the world.

Alan Greenspan.

That's what's left.

That's our inheritance.

A hundred years ago,

we had Albert Einstein.

We had Emma Goldman,

Hannah Arendt, Walter Benjamin.

Now who do we have,

William Kristol?

Alan Dershowitz?

That's what remains of the great

Jewish radical

intellectual tradition?

O.J. Simpson's defense attorney,

really?

What happened to the red

diaper babies, the Jews

who sat at the lunch counters

and marched in Selma, you know,

who burned their draft cards

and stormed the Pentagon?

We were in the streets.

We were shutting down traffic,

disobeying police orders,

refusing to be silent

in the face of empire and death,

but we traded all that in

for a seat at the table,

for Joe Lieberman

on the presidential ticket,

and look at us now.

Now the whole world eats bagels.

They watch "Seinfeld" in Topeka.

We even have our own country

with our own atom bombs

and everything!

Star of David gunships!

We're white people now!

We're respectable!

We're nothing.

We're nothing at all.

But, so, I can count

on you, though, with the store?

Sure.

I think I'm starting

to feel that Xanax.

My tongue is really heavy

all of a sudden.

Take a nap.

Maybe.

I'm happy you're here, Mikey.

Don't call me Mikey.

I hate that.

I'm happy

you're here...Michael.

Me too.

He don't even look his age!

Yes. He doesn't.

My gosh.

But this is good.

You are a tutor and a mentor

in school, an assistant teacher

in anger management.

Whoa.

How's school?

It sucks.

That's too bad.

I'm used to it.

We saw your sister's play

a few weeks ago, "The Seagull."

Mom said Jennifer had the

smallest part in the whole show.

Well, she didn't say

very much,

but she was onstage a lot,

especially in between scenes,

moving things on and off.

Is Abby coming today?

She's not,

but she sends her love.

Is she living

in a mental hospital?

Is she --

Howard says she has to live

in a mental hospital.

She was in -- It's called

an outpatient program.

She was never --

She's not in a mental hospital.

Howard said Abby went crazy

in Israel.

Abby had...

She was going through a very --

a tough time,

but she's doing a lot better.

She's feeling really good now.

Why isn't she here?

She had...

She has a busy schedule.

At the mental hospital?

Again,

there's no mental hospital.

There's an outpatient program.

Ellen.

I didn't know you were here.

Oh, we just got in.

And you're here, too.

Hi.

How long has he been asleep?

About 10 minutes.

Do you think

he's warm enough?

I just turned the heat up.

I think he's --

I think it's good.

How's Abby?

She's -- You know, she's doing

okay.

I spoke to her this morning.

Oh.

She said she wanted

to come today

but Michael wouldn't let her.

That's not nice.

Well, Michael felt that

it was better for her

not to make the trip,

all the added stress.

We should talk later,

just privately.

Okay.

Abby is feeling very --

She's upset with her Dad.

She thinks he's being very

unsupportive.

Yeah, she and I, we've had a

lot of conversations about this,

and it's -- We resolved the

issues.

Let's talk later.

Great.

Look, I want to be as helpful

as I can, you know?

Thank you.

I love my Abby.

I was there when she was born.

Remember that?

I do.

I was also there.

That's true.

Why are you here?

Howard dropped me off.

What is he doing?

He said he had

to run errands.

What errands?

I don't know.

Stop screaming.

Hi, sweetheart.

Aw, you look thin.

Aw, no.

Is he warm enough?

I just turned up

the thermostat.

I'm freezing.

Are you cold, Ellen?

No, I'm okay.

I don't want him

to get overheated.

It's like an igloo

in this house.

Where is Michael?

I left him upstairs.

He's taking a nap.

I thought we were all going

to talk as soon as he got here.

Well, he's tired.

I gave him a Xanax.

Okay.

You know, I'm here,

too, Sharon.

I can talk.

Why don't, uh...

Why don't we talk?

Yeah. Let's talk.

Do you want me to...

I don't think we need you

right now, Ellen.

Is that okay?

Oh, no, no, of course.

Thank you, sweetheart.

You're so sweet.

Isn't she sweet?

Oh, the sweetest.

Should I get Michael?

Not if he's napping.

I bet he's tired

from the long bus ride.

It's very tiring sitting

on a bus, reading a book.

I'll see if he's up.

She left Abby at home alone

with a nurse.

They hired some nurse.

I thought Abby was

in a mental hospital.

It's an outpatient program.

She begged them to come

today, begged to see Dad.

That's sweet.

Michael refused.

Of course,

Ellen just rolls over.

Well, it sounds like things

are very...delicate

with Abby right now.

What, Is that what Michael

told you?

I don't want to have this

conversation in front of Joey.

I'm not listening.

Go into the other room.

You go in the other room.

Excuse me?

And pull up your pants!

You look like a thug.

I am a thug.

He doesn't even know

what that means.

Yes, I do. I'm not retarded.

What did I tell you

about using that word?

I know! I know!

Well, then don't do it!

Come on.

That's smart not letting him

say retarded.

Why is that smart?

Well, because it...

It lets him know that it's not a

bad thing.

Joey is not retarded.

I know that.

Well, then why is that smart?

You know what, Holly?

If you're just going to pounce

at everything I say --

Come on, we're going to talk

about Dad.

Let's talk about Dad.

Look, I'm exhausted.

Well, you're doing

too much, Sharon.

You're running yourself ragged.

I can't just take off work

forever.

I have 23 kids that need me.

Of course.

I just -- Ugh.

I can't keep

doing everything myself.

I've been here

every day, Sharon.

That's not true, but okay.

You're right -- Thursday, I

had a doctor's appointment.

For the entire day.

What is gonna

make you happy here?

We're going to need somebody

here with him 24 hours a day.

Right, well,

I think we all agree on that.

The sooner, the better.

Well, Howard looked through

Dad's long-term-care policy.

First of all, it takes three

months for it to even kick in.

We can't wait for three

months.

And then once it does,

Howard says it's crap.

So, where does that leave us?

Well, obviously...

there's the store.

The store?

Well, in just in terms of

when you look at the money

that's coming in, Sharon,

the rent that's being paid

right now is very, very low.

That's what Dad wants.

Is that what Dad wants

or what you want?

It's what we both want.

So you're saying you

won't even consider the income

that Dad is getting from

the store, which is his

primary -- his only source of

income?

I won't.

Well, I don't really know

what the other option is,

Sharon, I hate to tell you.

The other option is Howard,

obviously.

He makes more money

than all of us combined.

We can help out.

You can help out?

I'm not asking Howard to put

in all of the money

when you won't even have

a conversation about the store.

That's not fair!

Fair is we each give

what we can afford.

I can afford to spend time

helping Dad, and you and Howard

can afford to pay for his care.

We would be paying

for his care so you wouldn't

have to spend time helping Dad.

I would still help Dad.

Then why would we pay

for his care?

You know what? Forget it.

Oh, oh, oh.

Are you gonna have a hissy now?

Is that what's happening?

"Let's just let Sharon

do everything."

It'll be just like Mom

all over again.

Excuse me?

"Because, Sharon,

what does she have better to

do?

Because a kindergarten

teacher has no life.

She can stay with Mom,

change her catheter --

I'm leaving!

Look, where are you going?

I'll pick up dinner.

I already got groceries.

Well, I'll get more.

Ugh. That's a waste!

I know!

Look, Holly.

Ugh!

Where did Mom go?

Aunt Sharon, where did --

She left! Okay?

She's gone.

Okay.

What happened?

Mom left.

Where did she go?

I don't know.

How's it going?

Fine.

Yeah, how is school?

It sucks.

That's great.

He's asleep.

I can see that.

Where'd Holly go?

I hear you're taking drugs.

What?

Holly gave you drugs, right?

You're high.

I took one Xanax.

I'm not high.

We're not here to have fun

with drugs, Michael.

Fun with drugs?

We need to figure this out.

I'm here to figure it out.

What is your problem?

My problem?

I don't have a problem.

I'm not the one who can't spend

two minutes in this house

without getting stoned.

You know what?

If you're going to be combative

and rude at everything I say --

No!

I'm not. I'm sorry.

I'm in a shitty mood.

I'm sorry.

I have the worst headache.

Have you eaten anything?

I'm so nauseous right now.

Are you sick?

Holly put me

in a shitty mood.

Well, you don't have

to take it out on me.

I know.

You're right.

I'm sorry.

You're right.

Thank you for coming.

Thank you for being here.

I know it wasn't easy for you.

Well,

I wanted to be here sooner.

Well, still, you did your

best.

You did tell me

you didn't need me.

It's been a hard

couple of months,

I know, with Abby

and this whole lawsuit business.

Yep.

I guess maybe I was right,

though, about the book.

What?

Well, I told you

people would be upset.

I don't care

if people are upset.

Well, then good.

They should be upset.

It's upsetting.

It is upsetting to tell

people to forget the Holocaust.

I didn't --

That was not meant to be taken

literally, obvious--

That was a provocation,

an intellectual provocation.

So you don't want people

to forget the Holocaust?

I do want...

I want people to remember

in a different way.

Why didn't you say that,

then?

That is what I said.

No, you said "forget."

As a provocation.

Well, I didn't get that.

Okay.

It seems like I think

most people didn't get that.

It does seem like that,

doesn't it?

Ugh.

Just what a shitty year it's

been.

Ohh.

All this shit -- Abby, Dad.

And then the Supreme Court...

...the coronation of

George W. Bush.

I thought that was going to kill

me on top of everything else.

I started watching CNN

till 2:00, 3:00 in the morning,

just yelling at the screen.

So if I can't yell at the

Board of Trustees, I can at

least yell at fucking

Wolf Blitzer.

Oh, my God.

You voted for him, didn't you?

What?

Who?

You voted for Bush,

didn't you?

It's none of your business

what happens

inside the ballot box.

That is private.

Only Republicans say that.

I'm an Independent.

Cannot believe that my own

sister voted for George Bush.

Just because you disagree

with my opinions doesn't mean

that you're right and I'm wrong.

Eh, except in this case,

actually, I think it does mean

that.

You didn't vote

for Gore either.

Well, I didn't think

he was gonna lose.

I know this

may not matter to you,

but Bush happens to be

much better for Israel.

Better in what

sense of the word?

Mm.

In the sense that he's not going

to force them to give up

Jerusalem like Clinton was

trying to do.

The Israelis would've kept

all of West Jerusalem,

two-thirds of East Jerusalem.

You know, a lot of Democrats,

a lot of liberals,

people like you, have become,

frankly, very anti-Semitic,

especially about Israel,

and a lot of Jews are realizing

that the Republicans,

they actually like Jews.

They want them in their party.

Until they don't.

Well, anyway,

like I was saying,

it's very kind of you

to take time out of your busy

schedule to be here a week

after we needed you.

You told me you didn't need

me, Sharon.

Well, I'm so appreciative

that you could be here with us

today to help poison the

atmosphere.

You've already turned Holly

into a nightmare.

Hello?

Anyone home?

Ah, fabulous.

Another big help.

I'm here to be helpful,

Sharon.

That's why I'm here.

Uh-huh.

Oh, hey, Mike.

How you doing, buddy?

Hey, Howard.

Uh, where's Holly?

She stormed out of the house.

Ai, yi, yi.

Is everything...

Everything's great.

Hi, Sharon.

How are you, sweetheart?

I feel like I'm gonna

vomit, Howard.

How are you?

I'm pretty good.

Can't complain.

Weather could be better.

So happy to hear that.

I'm going to sort Dad's pills

for the week.

We're not going to talk?

How can we talk

when Holly isn't here?

Well, can I help you?

No, thank you.

Well, don't say

I didn't offer.

Yeah, I definitely

will not say that!

Is she...

Insane?

Your words, not mine.

Is there anything to drink

in this house?

Well, there might be

some Kahlúa left over

from Holly's birthday.

I only see vodka.

Yeah, well, that's it then

probably, sorry to say.

First time I ever got drunk

was vodka.

Holly and I stole a bottle

from my parents.

We must've been...

I was probably 12.

She must've been, I guess,

15, 16.

We split it one night

when they went out to dinner.

I threw up three times.

Holly held her own.

Sounds like Holly.

Sharon was 9.

She caught us and ratted

to Mom and Dad, naturally.

Yeah.

I don't think it warrants

actual glasses.

Hey. I'm all right, I think.

You sure?

It's -- It's terrible.

My parents --

It's funny they never drank.

Holidays occasionally.

I figured it was a Jewish thing.

Nah.

My family was split right down

the middle.

The Russians, they'd barely

finished a glass

of Manischewitz at Passover,

but the Germans, they were --

they were all drunks.

That's fascinating.

You're gonna

regret that later.

Ugh. I'm sure I will.

Yeah, why don't you slow

down, Mike?

You're gonna get drunk like

that.

That's the idea.

Well, it's pretty early,

don't you think?

Well, I need

to get drunk enough

to beg you for money so...

Ah.

Yeah.

Yeah, you, uh...

you need -- you need money,

Mike?

I'm about 100 grand in the

hole right now, approximately,

not to mention two months late

on the mortgage, so, yes, I do.

I do need money.

I was just thinking that maybe

you could float me a loan,

and I'd pay you back, obviously.

It's just right now, with

the apartment and legal fees

and Abby, the treatment program,

Abby's school,

which we're still paying for...

Have you thought

about declaring bankruptcy?

Yeah, I have thought about

that.

And?

And I thought I could

borrow money from you

so I wouldn't have to do that...

was my thought on that.

Hmm.

I mean, it would

just be temporary.

I mean, as soon as I win

the case, I'm gonna have --

We're seeking major,

major damages.

Well, but if you lose

the case, Mike --

No, no.

No, it's a fundamental

First Amendment issue,

so either they --

either we win in court

or they settle,

and the settlement is...

It's got to be high six figures

for us to even entertain it.

It's just right now, um,

my lawyers are just --

they're delaying any more work

on it until...

until they get paid so...

Oh, boy.

Yeah, boy, oh, boy.

I mean, the thing is --

God, it's just cash is

pretty tight for me right now,

Mike.

Uh-huh?

Yeah, we're not doing so

great ourselves at the moment.

Really?

Slow year for you?

It was, actually.

That's not what Holly thinks.

Well, Holly doesn't know.

Well, Bush is going

to give you the tax cuts,

though.

That'll be nice, right?

Maybe that'll bump you back up

a little.

Hey, I voted for Gore.

Good for you, Howard.

I just couldn't wait for that

damn election to be over,

and then Florida --

I couldn't believe everything

that went down with the chads,

and, yeah, "What was that, a

hanging chad or a regular chad?"

Or -- Could you believe that?

Can I...

Ohh! God, that's really...

Ew.

You don't have to...

Uh, I, uh...

I made some bad decisions, Mike.

I made some pretty, uh --

Oh, these past couple of months.

What kind of decisions?

Holly doesn't even...

All right, look, this has to be

between you and me, man to man.

You have to promise me that,

Mike.

What kind of decisions,

Howard?

Oh, come on, you have to

promise me, please.

Jesus.

Promise.

I promise, yes.

Okay, because I just --

I promise. Calm down.

Well, I'm -- I'm trying,

yeah.

We got a --

We got a computer.

Right, Holly said

that you do genealogies.

Yeah.

I mean no. I don't.

I-I got involved with some --

I don't know --

just chat rooms.

These chat rooms --

Nothing actually -- Just some,

you know, stupid sex talk

bullshit.

Nothing big. Stupid.

I think that's pretty common.

Yeah.

No, well -- Well, I think yeah,

but then it started --

I don't know.

I just --

I kind of got into, Mike.

I got really just...

The whole experience?

You know, nobody knows you are,

what your history is.

You can be fat or thin

or black or white

or you can be a guy who's a girl

or a girl who's a guy or...

Am I freaking you out?

N-Not yet.

I, uh -- I gave

someone my credit card.

I don't know why I even...

Well, we talked for hours

online -- I mean hours and

hours,

and we met a couple of times.

She was --

Well, she had a hard life.

She was from one of those --

um, Estonia or Lithuania.

I mean, she wasn't a --

a call girl, but she was...

Well, she got involved

in some things

that she wanted to get out of.

You know, they lock you

into these things,

and you can't get out.

So I said --

I was so stupid, Mike.

I was so freakin' stupid.

I told her --

I gave her my card.

I said, "Do what you have to do,

then get it back to me,"

and she did.

She charged, you know, a couple

thousand bucks on the card and

said, "Yep, all done.

Thank you so much."

And then she sort of

disappeared.

But then a week later, the phone

rings, and it's Mastercard,

and, I mean, it was, uh, tens

of thousands of dollars, Mike.

And I can't dispute the charges

because I gave her the card,

so I canceled it.

Problem solved.

But then I got another call from

Visa and another call from

Discover.

She used my information.

She used my name and

information, and she took out --

she had 12 credit lines

all maxed out, cash advances.

We're talking hundreds, okay?

Hundreds of thousands

just gone like that, vanished,

and it's not like --

We didn't have a whole lot

of savings to begin with.

Everything I make, it goes

right out the door.

And what am I supposed to do now

if I tell them what happened?

They'll have to open

an investigation, and if they

open an investigation,

Holly finds out.

And if Holly finds out,

I am fucked.

Look, it wasn't even sexual

between us, is the thing...

well, at least after

the first couple of times.

I just...

I liked her.

I thought she was nice.

So, what do you think?

What do I think?

Well, about the situation --

What do you think I think,

Howard?

Uh, I don't know.

It's my sister.

Well, it's my wife.

How am I supposed

to respond to this?

Uh, like a friend maybe.

Well, I'm not your friend,

Howard -- I'm your

brother-in-law.

Oh. Well, okay.

Well, then never mind.

Never mind?

I can't never mind --

How am I supposed to never-mind?

Well, if you would've told me

about something like this,

I would've never-minded.

Well, I didn't have sex with

a prostitute from the Internet

and give her my credit card,

Howard.

That was you.

You did that.

I did.

You're right.

I did.

So, what are you gonna do?

I don't know.

You don't know?

I don't know.

That's not good.

Well, I had one idea, maybe.

What is it?

Oh, this has

to come from you.

It can't come from me,

otherwise Holly will just...

What's the idea, Howard?

The store.

Is this about Holly's

interior-decorating business,

the Spaces and Spaces?

Because I don't think

that's gonna be

a real cash cow, Howard.

No.

I'm not talking about Holly's

business, Michael.

So what are you talking...

Hello.

So...

I think we need to have

some sense of overall cost

before we start even talking

about who's doing what.

This is not about money.

It's a lot about money.

I disagree.

It has something

to do with money.

I think actually it

has more to do with care.

Right now we need to know

what each of us -- what we're

gonna be expected to contribute

here in terms of --

fine, care.

Let's call it care.

Well, with Mom, for instance,

what ended up happening

was I did everything

from the beginning.

That is just not true,

Sharon.

I moved into the house

the day she was diagnosed,

and I left a month after the

funeral -- two years of my life.

I was here as often

as I could be.

Which was not a lot

to just be --

if we're being honest about it.

I had two children to raise.

It doesn't matter

who was here more.

You weren't here at all so --

I really don't want

to dredge this up.

Yeah, I bet you don't.

Can we get back to Dad since

that's why we're here, please?

If I could just...

Look, with families that are --

When there are health issues

that affect everyone,

a good question to start with

is really what kind of care

do you think he's going to need.

He's going to need someone

here, someone at the house.

Okay, great.

That's helpful to guide

the conversation.

And how much does that cost?

$1,000 a week.

Wow.

A week?

At least.

Ellen and I

don't have that kind of money.

Do you think I do?

Well, I'm sure we can help.

Howard, looked through

Dad's savings.

There's not a huge amount

of savings.

He spent all of it for Mom.

Insurance wouldn't cover

any of it,

the prescriptions, the nurses.

Howard and I can obviously --

I mean, we have the most, so we

can pay for a lot of the care.

That's fine with us.

Good.

Well, not necessarily

with Joey, with his

needs.

We don't have

unlimited resources.

No one is saying unlimited.

We're saying you're rich.

You're a lawyer.

Well, Joey is very expensive.

Okay, that is not

a nice thing to say.

Well, I didn't mean

it like that.

He's our son.

Come on, I'm saying

with his school.

Look, a lot of our money

is tied up.

There's Joey's tuition,

Jennifer's tuition,

Jennifer's apartment,

Jennifer's allowance.

Which we've already

cut back on.

Well, if it's not already

with the kids,

it's tied up in investments.

We don't have

a tremendous amount of cash

lying around for the taking.

I wonder if maybe the best

solution -- There might actually

be a best-case scenario here

that we haven't even thought

about.

Which is what?

Um, well, the store.

Yes!

What about it?

Um, properties in that area

have re-- 14th Street --

Everything there is hot

right now, Sharon.

I'm not raising the rent

on the Jimenez family.

I'm not talking about raising

the rent.

If other property owners

are doing that, pricing people

out, that's despicable.

To me, that's horrible.

I agree.

I'm not saying

raise the rent.

I think Michael is saying

that maybe it's time

to consider new tenants,

tenants who could afford to pay

the market price for rent.

That's not exactly

what I said.

The Jimenez family

is wonderful,

but the store is a business.

Sharon, we have to think

about it like a business.

Yes, I'm aware

that it's a business, Holly.

Thank you.

I need an office.

I've been looking for the past

two years.

Howard can tell you.

I mean, I've --

I've looked everywhere,

and the -- the store it's --

well, it's perfect.

It's the perfect location.

An office?

Mm-hmm.

For what?

My business.

What business?

Well, it's called...

Spaces and Places.

What is she talking about?

Let's maybe take a second --

It's a boutique

interior-design firm.

Well, I'm lost.

W-With the rent that we pay

Dad, we'll end up

paying for his care.

That's the point.

Okay, Sharon?

You want to kick out

the Jimenez family so

that you can have an office for

a business that doesn't exist?

It does exist.

Do you want to see

my business cards?

Ca-- Can you support me

here, someone, please?

So this is your idea, too?

Yes, it is.

You want to put the Jimenez

family on the street

after all they've done for Dad?

Can I say something?

What have they done for Dad?

Everything.

Like what?

Before we get

too far ahead of ourselves --

Like lift his spirits.

Oh, oh, by calling him

on the phone once a week?

No, by caring, Holly!

By actually caring!

I think Mike is trying to say

something.

I'm saying sell the store.

We sell the store.

What?

Before you both have

your knee-jerk reactions --

Absolutely not.

Can you just listen?

You want to sell the store?

We are not doing that.

It's not even the store

anymore.

It hasn't been the store

in 30 years.

It's a Mexican bodega.

Guatemalan, and it

is not a bodega.

Are you going to participate

in this conversation, Howard,

or are you just --

are you suddenly a deaf-mute?

I'm listening to Mike.

I want to hear

what Mike has to say.

This would guarantee that

we have enough money for Dad,

and whatever is left over

we can, you know...

We can divide the rest

between us.

So this is

an investment thing for you?

This is a money-making thing.

It's our inheritance.

We're going to inherit it

anyway.

What is the difference?

The difference, Michael,

is that he's still alive.

Yes, and, this way,

he could see us enjoy the money

instead of --

You want him to sell the

store to some huge real-estate

company who's going to knock it

down and turn it into some kind

of what, condos for yuppies?

It's horrible!

It's a neighborhood there.

It is a neighborhood.

It's not gonna be

a neighborhood for much longer.

Oh, so you're comfortable,

Mr. Ralph Nader?

You're comfortable

completely transforming the face

of this neighborhood?

It's happening already,

whether we want it to or not.

No, you're comfortable

kicking Hispanic people

out of their own neighborhood.

It used to be a Jewish

neighborhood.

Then it was a black

neighborhood.

Now it's Hispanic.

Soon, it'll be something else.

Wow.

I'm not comfortable

with any of this.

Thank you.

That is your family's

heritage in that store.

It's Abby's heritage

in that store.

It's a building, Ellen.

It's four walls and a ceiling.

Our grandparents built

those walls.

I don't actually think --

They built the ceiling.

I'm sorry to burst

your bubble on this.

I think the building

was already there.

Abby would be heartbroken

to lose that history.

How do you think that

Jennifer would feel or Joey?

They don't care.

That is absolutely not true.

We could sell it for $3

to $4 million, okay?

That's the figure

we're talking about here --

just so we're all on the same

page, okay?

$3 to $4 million.

You're kidding?

Conservatively.

So what?

So what?

I don't care

if it's $20 million.

Well, that's a lot of money,

Holly -- $3 million.

We already have a lot

of money, Howard.

Nobody needs

that kind of money.

Uh, we do.

We're broke, Ellen.

We are not broke.

No, we understand, Michael.

Money comes first.

Spoken like a true socialist.

Howard and I can give you

money, Michael.

If you need money --

Oh, really?

We don't need money.

Michael is exaggerating.

He's being very dramatic.

He's putting on a little show

for us.

In what way

am I exaggerating?

We have my salary.

You're completely discounting

my salary.

Your salary? Are you kidding?

Am I kidding?

I'm sorry, but there is

already a compromise here

which everyone is ignoring,

and that is Spaces and Places!

Aw, my God!

Howard and I are offering

to take care of Dad,

all of his expenses.

Is that true, Howard?

But you need something

in return.

You need your little --

your project.

Is this what you want

to do, Howard?

Howard and I

are going to renovate the store.

We're going to take care

of all the upgrades for free.

Well, we should discuss

the details first.

Who's going to pay for that?

He's not going to pay for that.

Of course, he is.

Let's just --

Can we discuss for one second?

See.

Okay, do you believe

in this or not, Howard?

I-I believe in it.

I just -- I think what Mike is

saying, it makes a lot of sense

to me.

Oh, it does, does it?

Well, $3 million.

So nobody here is on my side.

No, of course,

I'm on your side, Holly.

Nobody is supporting me.

I'm just trying to think

about it practically.

No, you know what?

I give up.

No, Holly.

I give up.

We'll give her the money.

Okay, Sharon?

Howard and I, we're gonna

give you the money.

You happy?

You can keep the store.

No, I'm not sure

that's the best plan, Holly.

I just want Dad to be happy.

That's all I want, and if that's

our money, that's our money.

I'm not arguing anymore.

This is insane.

Thank you, Holly, for saying

the one sensible thing

that anyone has said.

Except you can't give Dad

the money.

It's tied up, like Howard said.

That's the problem.

So get it un-tied up.

I don't understand that.

Well, it's a lot more

complicated than ju--

I mean, there are fees and

taxes, and just I would really

rather not do that.

Oh, I would really rather not

sell my family history, Howard.

Choices, choices.

So we'll pay for now, and

then we can readdress in a year.

I don't care.

A year?

We can't do that.

No, I can't guarantee

I have the cash for that.

He doesn't have the cash.

Why not?

He just said that.

That doesn't make

a lot of sense to me.

A lot of it is tied up in the

stock market and other

investments.

He doesn't have the money,

Holly!

But what does that mean?

It's gone! Okay?

It's gone.

That's what it means.

Okay, well, it's not --

Stop, How-- Just stop.

We don't have time for this.

I'm sorry.

It's gone.

What is he talking about?

What is he talking about,

Howard?

It's complicated.

What, you lost money?

What did you do?

Look, it's gonna be fine.

Maybe you can have this

conversation --

No, what did you do, Howard?

I just -- I met someone who

needed help.

You met someone?

Holly.

Oh, my God.

How much money

did you give this...person?

No, we have money.

Then where is it?

Yeah, a lot of it

is just tied up.

Okay, if you say "tied up"

one more time,

I'm gonna tie you up

by your fucking balls, Howard!

Where's our money?

I don't know

what you want me to say.

You bastard.

What do you want me to say?

I want you to get the fuck

out of this house.

That's what I want, Howard.

Holly...

Get the fuck out.

Look...

I'm not giving up my family, our

history,

because of whatever kind

of creepy thing that Howard did.

Don't, Sharon.

I'm not doing it.

What is the alternative?

I guess we all just

have to pitch in.

Well, we can do that.

How can we do that?

We can help, Michael,

obviously.

We can help as much

as we can afford to help.

Thank you, Ellen.

We have a mortgage.

So?

We'll take out another loan.

This is family.

Can't take out another loan.

Who is going to give us

another loan?

We'll figure something out.

We always do.

And what about the $2,000

a week for Abby's treatment

program?

That is a temporary expense.

She's done in two months.

And then what?

And then she's going back

to school in the fall.

We've already set that money

aside.

And how long until we get

a call from the hospital?

How long until the phone rings

at 2:00 in the morning because

she hasn't eaten in a week?

She is doing better.

100%.

She's working very hard.

She's always doing better,

Ellen!

She was doing better

before Israel.

She was doing better

after Israel.

Well, I happen to have faith

in our daughter.

I do, too.

And I see the reality.

And what is the reality?

The realit-- The reality

is our child is sick.

She's sick, and she's not...

she's not getting better.

She's not gonna get better,

Ellen.

We are going to be taking care

of Abby for the rest of our

lives.

Excuse me.

Ellen, you...

Can we...

Let's maybe start from the

premise that we have no other

options here, okay?

Because guess what?

We have no other options here.

Why don't we sell

the house, too?

Tell us the alternative.

Yeah, why don't we

sell the drapes?

Fire sale.

Let's get rid of it all.

Let's make a killing.

Maybe we could all retire early.

What's your better idea,

Sharon?

We're all waiting to hear it.

Dad won't let you do this.

You realize that, right?

He's not going

to let you sell his store.

He's not in a state of mind

to make that kind of decision.

According to who?

According to the fact

that it's completely obvious.

Look at him!

He has no idea what's going on.

That is not true.

Well, then we'll hire a

lawyer to prove that it's true.

Oh, my God.

We are not punishing Dad

because you decided to buy

an apartment six months before

you published "Mein Kampf."

Okay.

Yeah, maybe if you hadn't

felt the need to write a book

telling the whole world

how much you hate yourself,

a book that --

by the way, a book

that broke your father's heart.

Okay?

You think it's a coincidence

how sick he is?

Aw, you're trying

to get me...

You think that's

just happenstance?

Trying to push my buttons,

Sharon.

I'm not gonna let you,

not today.

You dragged your family

through the dirt.

Oh, okay.

You dragged us 6 million

through dirt

for your own ambition...

Right. Okay. Right.

...so that all the co-eds on

campus in their "Free Palestine"

T-shirts could think,

"Ooh, what a cool guy he is.

He's willing to slander

6 million dead Jews.

What a hero."

Right.

Yeah, let's be honest

with ourselves, Michael.

Let's be honest.

You don't believe in anything

except yourself.

You're a hypocrite,

and you're a liar.

And the fact

that your mother begged for you

on her deathbed

and you were too busy

with your career to be with her

is indicative of

a whole lot else wrong with you.

I was here as soon

as I could be.

Which is just

too fucking late, wasn't it?

Fuck you, Sharon.

Both of you.

You made the bed, Holly.

You want an award for that?

You want a trophy?

You vacuumed!

I think we should vote.

You are not selling my store!

Your store?

I'm the only one who cares

about it, who appreciates it.

You can pretend to be on your

high horse about this, Sharon,

with your principles

and your bullshit.

You and I both know

the only reason you care

about any of this

is 'cause you're fucking

the Guatemalan guy, okay?

So save the sanctimony.

What?

She's, uh, sleeping with,

uh, Rodrigo.

You didn't know this?

Thanks for sharing that,

which you swore not to do.

Oh, you're welcome.

Is that true?

Married man.

They're separated now.

Oh, good for you.

Great job. Well-done.

I'm pregnant.

You split up a marriage,

so you give yourself a pat

on the back.

What did you say?

Your family-values friends in

the Republican Party are very

impressed.

We're having a baby.

You're having a baby, Sharon?

Sharon?

I don't believe that.

Ugh, do you want to look

at the fucking sonogram?

I'm happy.

For the first time in my life,

I'm finally...

I'm happy.

Look...

if we don't have this money,

I don't know

what else we're going to do.

Do we want to put Dad

away somewhere?

Is that what we want?

We want to put him

in a facility, like,

a government facility?

And now there's a baby?

Who's gonna take care

of the baby, Sharon?

How are you

gonna afford that?

With sales from the bargain

store, with your teaching

salary?

How much does that add up to?

It's history. I get it.

I do.

We all want to save history

and hold on to our history.

I would love to keep the store

and pass it on to our children

and our grandchildren,

but at what cost?

It's a store.

It's a parcel of property.

It's not some kind

of magical place.

There are no magical places.

There's just dirt.

It's all the same, dirt.

This is our family,

the family that is sitting

here at this table.

The people who came before us,

they're not here anymore.

There's just us.

And Dad is part of this family,

and we -- we owe him this.

We owe him.

Come on.

I'm sorry, Sharon.

No!

Jesus! Dad!

Oh, Jesus.

Dad!

No!

Let's go sit down.

Dad --

Nooooo!

Okay, Dad. Whoa, whoa.

No!

Okay, shh!

No!

No!

Okay.

No!

No!

Dad --

No!

Shh!

No!

No.

It's all right.

Okay.

You're leaving?

Oh.

Hi. Uh, we are leaving, yes.

I didn't really

get to see you at all.

Next time, I guess.

When's that going to be?

Oh, I don't know.

Maybe Passover.

Maybe.

Why was everybody yelling?

Uh, there was a disagreement.

About the store?

What happened?

Uh, we're selling it.

We're gonna sell it.

To who?

I don't know.

When?

As soon as possible, I guess.

I don't, uh...

I thought we were going

to inherit the store,

me and Jennifer and Abby?

Yeah, it didn't

work out like that.

Oh.

What are we going

to inherit then?

I don't really know.

I used to sit up here

sometimes with Grandma

when she was sick.

It looked like the bed

kept getting bigger and she was

just this blue nightgown

that got smaller and smaller.

I don't remember that.

I didn't, uh...

I wasn't here.

Jews don't believe in Heaven.

Is that --

Are you asking me that or...

Mom says they don't.

Well, it's a little more

nuanced than that but...

Mom says the only way people

live after they die

is if we remember them...

except what happens when all the

people who remember them are

dead, too?

What happens when the last

person who remembers

can't remember anymore?

That's a hard --

That's a tough question.

Is Abby sick now forever?

Abby's...

struggling.

Can I help her?

I would like to help her

if I could.

She's my cousin, my only cousin.

I will let you know

if I think of anything.

I would like to make sure

that she's okay.

That's

very nice.

She's my family.

Well,

I should

probably --

What happened to her

in Israel?

No one will tell me.

Yeah, it's sort

of complicated, Joey.

I don't mind.

I like complicated stuff.

Please?

Well, she was in Jerusalem.

In Israel?

Um, sort of.

That depends on how you pick

the, um...

Yes, she was in Israel,

and she was with her group,

and then, at a certain point...

we don't really know when,

but she broke off from her group

and went on her own.

Why?

Well, that's --

We really --

We don't know that either.

That's when everything gets

a little hazy

because she doesn't really

remember everything

that happened after that,

just bits and pieces,

but she remembers that she

climbed somewhere up high,

and she was looking down

at the city,

and she called us then.

I don't know where she was

at this point

or how she got to a pay phone,

but she called us, and she said

the city had opened up to her.

It had opened up, she said,

so she could see the inside

of it, of the earth,

all the built-up rock,

all the time, the centuries.

Ellen didn't...

She told her to slow down,

but Abby couldn't stop.

She just kept going.

She said, "I saw where Jesus

entered on a donkey past

the gates of the old city."

"I saw where Jesus Christ

entered on a donkey through

the gates of the ancient city."

"I saw where Muhammad

came from Mecca."

"I saw where the Prophet

traveled through the night

from Mecca on a dream."

"I saw where David laid

the foundation for the temple."

"I saw the walls

and the altar

and the sashes

of the priests,

and I smelled the incense

of the burnt offerings."

"I heard the widows..."

"I heard the wailing,

the gnashing

of teeth of the widows

and orphans and strangers."

"I saw the Greeks,

the Romans, the Persians..."

"I saw the famed warriors

of Babylon

and the terrible legions

of Caesar and Suleiman."

"Righteous servants all of

the one God and the one faith."

"Brandishing cold steel

to the throats of the infidels."

"I saw the crusaders..."

"I saw the crusaders sweaty

and reverent..."

"...in their armor."

"...burning the bodies

of unbelievers

in great pyres under the stars."

"I saw men in many uniforms

speaking many tongues..."

"And I saw them all pass

away..."

"One by one..."

"...by one..."

"...by one."

"Back into the sand

from whence they came."

"I saw kingdoms rise

and crumble in a moment..."

"In a breath."

"I saw visages of emperors,

hard faces stamped

on coins of gold and silver,

their names long forgotten,

lost to time..."

"Vanished back

into the sand..."

"Everything back

into the sand."

"Gradually, everything,

all of us, everything in time,

swallowed back into the sand."

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