Margaret (2011) - full transcript

That's the physical limitation
of the machine.

I don't know what else to tell you.
It's shocking. It was a shock.

But you can't bring her back.
You cannot bring her back.

I'm not talking about bringing her back.

I'm talking about telling the accident
investigators what really happened.

You already talked to them!

- I know that. But I lied.
- You lied.

I can understand if you don't want to
get in trouble, but...

Why didn't you say that right then?

Because when they were asking me
what happened

it seemed like you were looking at me
like we were saying to each other,



"Let's not say anything
about what happened. "

Now, I really don't know
what you're talkin' about.

I can't prove you were doing that.

What, did I say something to you?
Did I threaten you?

No! I am not blaming you for any of this!

All I'm saying is I didn't really
tell the cops what happened,

and I didn't want to go back
without having spoken to you first.

But you told 'em what you saw!
And so did I!

Only I'm the one driving the bus!
I'm the one behind the wheel!

- All right, Gerry, calm down.
- Leave it alone.

You wanna ruin my life?

Start telling them about looks and you
waved at me and I had my cowboy hat on.

Go ahead, but you're gonna go home
and you're gonna do your homework,

and I'm gonna lose my job.
And who's gonna take care of my family?



You?

Are you gonna do it? And for what?

She's dead! Okay? She's dead! And there's
nothing I can do to bring her back!

I just want to say what really happened.

You do whatever you fuckin' want, lady!

But those cops are gonna laugh in your
fucking face because this was not my fault!

It was both our fault.

Don't ever say that again unless
you got a fuckin' lawyer.

- What's your phone number?
- Why?

- Give me your number.
- No! Why do you want it?

You wanna show up at my house
like some anonymous person

I can't get in touch with?
What's your fuckin' number, Lisa Cohen!

- Gerry, take it easy.
- Fine! It's 212-5...

Hold on! Go on.

555-0157. Why do you need it?

You do whatever you're gonna do.
I hope you get a good lawyer.

Why are you being like this?

This was very traumatic for him!

Yeah, it's almost as bad as
getting your leg cut off!

I don't understand.

I guess I was afraid.
I didn't know what to do.

You didn't know what to do?

- I know it doesn't sound very impressive.
- Impressive!

Okay, I know you're trying to do
the right thing now.

What does your mother say?

My mother hasn't really been that helpful.

- What do you mean?
- She's got a lot going on right now

and she hasn't been that interested,
I guess.

What could she possibly have going on?

- Her show's opening.
- What do you mean, "her show"?

What show?

She's in a play.

Okay. Okay.

I'm gonna talk to a friend of mine
who's a lawyer,

and you're gonna go talk to the police.

- Do you want me to go with you?
- No, thanks.

Do you think maybe you should
ask your mother to go with you?

I think I can handle this part myself.

She's been so suspicious lately.

I don't know how to get her
into the office without...

Now, what do you think?

Hey! Let me tell you something, Eliot.

You want to fire me, go ahead and fire me.
Only don't tiptoe around me

like some kind of deranged ballerina
every time I see you in the fucking hall!

Now, do you have anything to say to me,
Eliot?

Um...

You're not fired?

Oh.

So...
What are you guys talking about?

A suicide bomber attempted

to set off a blast
Wednesday in Jerusalem.

No, Lisa read it to me.

No. I never read 'em unless I know
for sure there's nothing bad in them.

Why, do you?

Well, you're brave and stupid.

Um...

Victor, I wish you wouldn't talk
that way to me.

You know I'm...

Spring and Fall, to a Young Child
by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

"Margaret, are you grieving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?

"Leaves, like the things of man, you

"With your fresh thoughts care for,
can you?

"Ah! As the heart grows older

"It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh

"Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie,

"And yet you will weep and know why.

"Now no matter, child, the name:

"Sorrow's springs are the same.

"Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed

"What heart heard of, ghost guessed:

"It is the blight man was born for,

"It is Margaret you mourn for. "

Any thoughts?

Lisa?

Could I help you?

Yeah, is Detective Mitchell here?

- No, he's not.
- Oh.

I talked to him on Monday
and he said he'd be here after 3:00.

Yeah, he's not back yet.

Could I help you with something?

Um...

Well, do you know when you expect him?

What's this about?

I was involved in
an accident a few weeks ago,

and I filled out a report
with Detective Mitchell,

but I wanted to amend the report...

What do you mean?
How do you want to amend it?

There was something I didn't tell him,
and I wanted to tell him because...

I don't understand.

- You wanna change your statement?
- Yes!

Yes, I want to change my statement.

Yes.

Well, you'd usually have to talk to
the investigating detective on the case.

Yes, I know. That's why I asked
to see Detective Mitchell.

Who said he'd be here now,
but he's not, so...

- Do you remember the case number?
- No, sorry.

It was that woman, Monica Patterson,
who got run over by the bus on Broadway.

- It was in a lot of the newspapers...
- Sure, okay, sit down.

- Thank you. I...
- You know the case is closed.

I assumed it was.
But part of the reason it's closed is

because of my statement,
and the statement I...

- Because of your statement?
- Yes.

What do you mean it was
closed because of your statement?

- I mean, I was the...
- The DA's office closes the case.

You don't close the case.
The DA's office closes the case.

I'm sure it does. I obviously didn't mean
I personally closed it, like legally.

I meant what I said was
probably instrumental in

- getting the case closed...
- What's your name, honey?

Lisa Cohen.

- Okay.
- Don't call me "honey," okay?

Okay.

Are you not gonna help me
now that I've said that?

- Look, what's your name?
- Lisa Cohen!

Okay, Lisa, first thing,
you're gonna calm down.

- I'm calm right now.
- Okay. Just checking.

Second thing... Oh.
Here he is, your knight in shining armor.

- This guy givin' you a hard time?
- No.

So now you're sayin' he ran the light.

Yes. He wasn't even looking at the road.

And I was definitely trying
to get his attention.

Okay.

Well, before we do anything, Lisa,

anybody will tell you that just
because he ran a red light

- is not a criminal offense.
- Even if he kills someone?

Even if you cause an accidental death,
that's right.

In order for it to be a criminal offense,

the law says you need
two aggravating circumstances.

Like he ran a red light
and he was speeding.

- Or he ran a red light and...
- So he's not liable to be prosecuted

- for manslaughter or 2nd degree murder?
- No.

He could be charged with reckless driving,
or filling out a false police report,

- which... That's no joke...
- That's unbelievable!

What does he have to do?
Kill her on purpose?

Yes. Because that's
the definition of murder.

Killin' someone on purpose.

Now, you're not sayin'
that he ran her over on purpose.

Are you?

Are you?

No.

Okay, look...

Let me take another statement.

- We'll look into it, okay?
- You're kidding.

No. I'll talk it over with my sergeant,
probably pull this guy in again.

Put a little pressure on him.

We'll see what he says.

Thank you!

The Central Park Conservatory,
or whatever it's called,

put up about 500 miles of these cheap,
shitty-looking fences all over the park,

which is totally antithetical to what
the park was originally designed for.

We are so gonna miss the game.

- Oh, my God, it's John!
- Hi, John.

Hi, John.

You want some?

Come on, guys.

Come on, you can't be smokin' a J on
your way to a school soccer game!

- Now, come on!
- Sorry!

We're really sorry.

So, how about how he was like,
"smokin' a J"?

Like, "You can't be smokin' a J."

Like, "Everybody, let's go over to
John's house and smoke a J."

- Hi, Mr. Aaron!
- Lisa, how are you?

Pretty damn good. How are you?

I'm all right. Tell me something.
Whatever happened with that situation?

Oh, I'm working on it.
I'll tell you all about it sometime.

- Hey, what kind of a bike is that?
- It's a Trek.

I'm supposed to take a horseback riding
trip with my father over Christmas break

and I was wondering, does it
bear any resemblance to riding a bicycle?

As far as I know, no.

But you must have ridden a lot of horses.

What makes you say that?

Aren't you from Texas or Wyoming
or some place like that?

- Some place like what?
- You know, not New York.

I'm actually from Indiana.

But don't let me overwhelm you
with superfluous details.

God, so what are you doing at
a New York private school

teaching geometry to a bunch
of over-privileged liberal Jews?

Well... Um...

I came here to be a teacher,
and that's what I'm doing.

So, would you say you've reached
the summit of your lifelong ambition?

Is that a real question
or is that a Lisa question?

About half and half.

- In that case...
- Before you go,

I'm actually thinking about
getting one of these. Can I try it?

Just for a second?

- All right.
- Thanks.

- Here, I'll adjust the seat for you.
- Thank you.

- Watch my bag?
- Yeah.

Oh, hi.

Where've you been?
I didn't know if you wanted dinner.

No, thanks. I'll order something.

Someone named Emily called.

And Detective Mitchell called from
the Accident Investigation Squad.

Is that that one we met?

What's going on?
Did you ever go back and see him?

I'd rather not talk about it
when you have one foot out the door,

if that's okay.

All right.

- I'm gonna go.
- Have a good show.

Thank you.

Dave, Lisa.

- Hi.
- How are you?

So...

Lisa, Dave is one of my best friends.

He's a terrific lawyer, and if
he doesn't know what to do himself,

he'll certainly know someone
we can talk to.

Okay, great.

When someone is killed,
it's what's called a wrongful death suit,

which is a statutory case,
which means there's a statute

passed by a legislature
which gives you the right to bring the case.

As opposed to what?

As opposed to common law,
which is law passed by judges,

which is why the damages are limited.

- I don't understand.
- Just skip that part.

We don't care about that.

I thought we were trying to get
the police to arrest this guy.

- No, the police are not gonna...
- Why not? They told me

they were gonna look into it again.

I'm just telling you that even if they do,

there is no way in this world
the police are gonna recommend

- to the DA that they charge this guy.
- So, what can we do?

- I'm getting to that.
- Sorry.

- That's okay.
- That's okay, honey.

I'm just getting to that.

You can't do anything
unless you're a relative...

She didn't have any relatives,
except for those idiots in Arizona.

Hang on a minute. Or unless
you're the executor of her estate...

- I am the executor of her estate.
- Which is Emily. I know.

Because the executor of her estate
can bring a wrongful death suit,

but the beneficiary has to be a relative.

So let me explain about that.

In a wrongful death suit
you can sue for pain and suffering,

pecuniary losses,
loss of support or services.

Also what's called
care, comfort and society.

It's like advice or counseling
of the parent that the kids

- aren't gonna get anymore.
- I don't understand.

Who are we suing? The bus driver?

Well, no, because the bus driver
wouldn't have any money.

You basically sue everybody
and hope something sticks.

The person who pays will
probably be the MTA's insurance company.

But do you think the
driver would get fired?

No. Not necessarily.

Even if all the facts
came out at the trial?

- Maybe. I don't know.
- But how much could they be liable for?

- It depends...
- How badly do you think

we could ever hurt them?

If she was alive, and in pain
for an extended period of time,

they give more money for that.

I'd say she was alive for 10 minutes.

Was she conscious?
Was she awake the whole time?

I'm sorry, Emily.

Yeah, awake.

- It's okay.
- Well...

If she was in a lot of
pain for that long,

I don't know,
maybe 300,000, half a million dollars

to get a sustainable verdict.

A brain damaged baby
would be three million.

But the truth is, Lisa,
when all is said and done,

- it's not a very good case.
- Why not?

Because it's your word against his,

and because you already lied
on your first deposition.

A red light case
is a 50-50 proposition already.

And with only one eyewitness,
with two conflicting statements?

I wouldn't take that case.

Nobody really cares about
getting a lot of money here.

I understand that, but...

We just want this prick to suffer,

and we want the bus company to take
responsibility for hiring this guy.

I understand that.
But no matter how you slice it,

the fact that Lisa lied on her first
statement is a disaster for your lawyer.

Can't I explain why I
lied the first time?

It's not like I'm trying
to get any money for myself.

That's true. She has no financial interest,
she can't be impeached for bias.

Impeached for what?

She can't have her credibility
attacked on financial grounds

because the jury knows you're not
gonna get any money if you win.

So that's something, isn't it?

But do you really think
we know what that means?

I'm sorry. That's what it's called.

But who are you talking to?

You know we don't know what that means.

It's like you're not really
concentrating. You're not concentrating.

I don't know. I am concentrating.

I'm just thinking out loud.

Okay.

All right. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry!

Okay. All right.

He wasn't always
a lawyer, you know.

He used to be a very nice, little boy.

- Anyway...
- Anyway, the whole point of this

- is to get...
- To fucking get this guy!

It was to get him out from behind
the wheel of a bus!

Did she know she was dying?

I only ask because the terror of knowing
you're dying raises the damages.

I think she had a pretty good idea.

If she had lived for a couple more days
it would make the case better.

Thank you.

Thanks.

I know that sounds horrible,
but that's what it comes down to.

We know, Dave.

It's okay.

I would just like somebody to take
responsibility for what happened.

"As flies to wanton boys
are we to the gods.

"They kill us for their sport. "

"As flies to wanton boys
are we to the gods.

"They kill us for their sport. "

What do you make of that?

Lisa? Lisa?

I don't know.

You know what, Lisa?
That's not good enough.

That's just not good enough.

Shakespeare wrote something.
What's your response?

And don't tell me you don't have one,
'cause I don't buy it.

I don't really have a lot to say.
It seems pretty self-evident to me.

Matthew?

I think it is self-evident.

I think he's saying that human beings
don't mean any more to the gods

than flies do to little boys
who like to torture them for fun.

As far as the gods are concerned,
we're just ants. Nothing.

Darren?

Thank you, Matthew.

Yeah, I agree. Only it's not
Shakespeare saying it, it's Gloucester.

Maybe another character
would have a different point of view.

Okay. That's a valid point.
Just because Shakespeare

has one of his characters say something,
doesn't mean he personally agrees with it.

Yes, David?

Yeah, maybe Shakespeare
isn't saying the gods don't care about us.

Maybe he's saying there's
a higher consciousness that we can't see.

That the gods' perception of reality
is so much more developed than ours

that, compared to their perception,

our perceptions
are like comparing flies to boys.

Okay, I really don't think that
that's what he's getting at.

What I think he's getting at here

is a very dark view of
the arbitrary nature of human suffering.

But maybe he's not.

Maybe he's comparing human
consciousness to divine consciousness

and that even though it seems to us
that human suffering is just arbitrary,

that's just because
we're limited by our viewpoint.

Okay, I...

I still don't think
that's what he's saying.

No, like, if you say
they kill us for their sport,

when our perception
of the gods is so meager

that we can't even tell
what they're doing,

then how can we be so arrogant as to think
they'd even bother to kill us for their sport?

I don't know.

Uh...

Monica?

I don't think that's
what he's saying at all.

I think he's saying the gods
don't give a shit about human beings

and that they just like to kill
and torture us for fun.

But if the gods' consciousness
is so much more developed than ours

that we seem like flies to them,

then how can we be sure
what they have in mind for us

or why they do anything?

Okay, David,
I think you've made your point.

But it's not what Shakespeare meant.

Scholarly opinion is pretty consistent
that he's trying to say something...

- Scholarly opinion?
- ... about human suffering here.

What are you saying?
A thousand Frenchmen can't be wrong?

No, I'm not saying that.
But I would like to move on...

Well, I think he is saying that.

Because he's comparing
human consciousness to flies

and he's saying
we can't see the truth around us

because our consciousness is undeveloped.

No, David, you're wrong.
That's not what Shakespeare meant.

He says it somewhere else in the play,
but I don't want to get hung up on this,

because that's not
what Shakespeare meant.

I would really like to move on.

"Poor Tom's a-cold. "

Detective Mitchell.

Oh, hi, it's Lisa Cohen calling.

Hi, Lisa, what can I do for you?

I was just wondering whatever happened,
if anything, with the case.

You said you might
re-interview the bus driver.

Yes, we did. We brought him back in.

You did? What happened?

Well, he basically
stuck by his original representation

and that was pretty much it.

I brought it up with my sergeant,
and he agreed with me

that we still don't have enough
to charge this guy,

so there's not a lot more we can do
at this point.

Well, I'm not trying to tell you
how to do your job,

but how did you ask the questions?

- Excuse me?
- He's obviously not gonna

change his statement if you just ask him
really politely. Why would he?

- We already know he's a liar.
- Hey, in the old days, Lisa,

we'd just throw him in the back room
with a rubber hose

and get whatever answer
we want out of him.

But, fortunately,
we don't do that anymore.

Yeah, not to white people.

Excuse me?

You don't do it to white people.
Anyway, I'm not saying you...

- Wait. We don't do it to who? Shh!
- Oh, my God!

First of all, I don't understand
why you bring this guy's race into it.

- There's 40,000 cops in this city...
- Yes...

And I hate to disillusion you,
but most of them are pretty good guys

just tryin' to do their job.

Now, the bottom line is
the DA is not gonna take this case.

Now, you could take it up with
my sergeant if you want to, but he's...

- Yes, I would.
- Well, I will patch you through, then.

The original decision
was based on false information.

So what's the point of even bringing...

So there's no way to appeal?

But how do you know Detective Mitchell
interrogated him aggressively enough

- if you weren't there?
- What's going on?

My family is all there still,
but Rodrigo is studying in London,

and Hector is in Geneva.

Uh-huh.

I'm sure they will go back
eventually because

they will like to do something
for their country.

But it's a worry.
It's very bad there now.

Yeah? I haven't really been following it.

It's a big mess. Last year I helped
to found an organization

to work with children
whose families have been killed

or the parents have been kidnapped.

We try to find homes for them,
preferably in Colombia,

because if we lose our young people,
that's it.

That's the future.

Yeah.
I wish I knew more about it.

You think Lisa would be
interested in acting?

No. I don't.

I think she has a lot of
contempt for it, actually.

Anyway, maybe it's the age.

She would prefer the world with no plays?
No films?

Oh. Who knows?

Would you like to see
a picture of my mother?

Sure.

These are all my aunts and uncles.

- See? Big family.
- Mmm.

So after I talked to you guys
the other day,

I called this P.I.
I know to see if he could...

You called a what? A what?

Private investigator, to see if he could
find anything out about your bus driver.

- Really?
- Yeah.

- Dave! I can't believe you called...
- Wait, let me tell you what he said.

So he calls someone he knows who
used to work as a cop at the MTA.

And you know
the MTA have their own police?

The MTA police?

- They have their own uniforms...
- Yeah? Yeah?

- Just a minute!
- Jesus Christ!

What the fuck do we care
about the MTA police and their uniforms?

Okay, so this guy gets a look
at your guy's file.

It turns out he's had two previous
accidents less than two years apart.

What?

But that he's never been disciplined
or cited,

just moved around to different shifts.

- Are you kidding me?
- Why does this not shock me?

If you read the papers, you'll know that

they're going through a protracted
labor dispute at the MTA right now.

And according to my P.I.,

management doesn't want to aggravate
the situation by firing this guy.

This is making me sick.

I know, but what it means, Lisa,
is that we have a case.

- We do?
- We can now sue

for what's called "negligent retention. "

Which just means they should have known
this guy was a bad risk,

and they negligently retained him until,
finally, he killed somebody.

- You can prove that?
- Sure, because

we can just subpoena their
personnel records,

which we already know
contain damaging information.

- But you wouldn't be our lawyer, right?
- No.

Why not?

- I'm not a personal injury litigator.
- It's not his area.

I don't know enough about it.
I would lose.

But you could recommend someone?

Sure, sure.

I know a very good guy.

His name is Russel Deutsch.
He's not a sleazebag.

Very, very experienced.

You gotta get that crazy cousin on board,
she's gonna be your beneficiary.

She's not gonna want to come
to New York.

I can tell you that right now.

If you win, she stands to get anywhere
from $300,000 to $500,000.

She's coming to New York.

You're awesome!

First thing we do is we file
a summons and a complaint

against the MTA.
They get days 20 to respond,

and when they do,
we can make our discovery requests.

Accident reports,
personnel records, etcetera.

But now, you gotta realize,
this is going to take some time.

The law says you have to
have a court date within one year.

Usually it takes around six, depending.

- Six years?
- Yes, depending.

Now, I mentioned to Dave,

I have a friend who writes for
the Metro section of The Times.

Yes, now, if it could really happen,
this changes everything in our favor.

If they think there's gonna be
adverse publicity,

especially in The New York Times,

they're gonna want to settle right away,

as soon as possible,
and as quietly as possible.

So they'd make it a condition
that we didn't...

It usually works, you get the money,
but you can't talk about it.

Nobody knows the terms.

So what good does that do?

You get the money.

Is that bad?

This is how our society punishes people
for doing bad things.

By getting money from their employers'
insurance companies?

Yes. It's called "punitive damages. "

Could we insist they fire the driver?
As part of the settlement?

- Sure, why not?
- Is that something people do?

Sure. It's one of your conditions.

And you think we're gonna win?

- They're gonna settle?
- Oh, they're gonna settle.

Oh. Hi.

I want to talk to you.

I take it that's my report card?

It sure is.

I had a friend who used to
live on this block, at 262?

Oh.

That's so nice.
Yeah, I don't know if you know her.

Cheryl Rowan? She's a physiotherapist?

No, I don't know her.

I think about 1,000 people must...

What?

Nothing.

- Lisa says you're in a play, Joan?
- Oh, yeah.

It's really good, you should go see it.

Well, the play is great,
and it has this really nice cast.

She's being modest.
She's gonna win every award in New York.

Oh, all that stuff's a long way off.

I don't go to the theater very much.

No, it's just nice, because
you can work a long time in the theater

and play a lot of great parts
and not get a lot of recognition.

And even though you don't necessarily
do it for that as your primary motive,

it is nice when people do notice something
you've done.

I was on a television show a few years ago.
I'd been doing theater all my life,

and suddenly all my relatives
started calling to congratulate me

because they thought I'd finally made it.

All it was was this dumb show
that paid the bills for a while.

That show was so stupid.

Well, it wasn't that bad.

Anyway, I realize this is
horribly embarrassing for Lisa,

but I just really wanted
to meet you, Emily,

because you've frankly become
such a big part of Lisa's life,

and I don't want to be intrusive,

but this whole court case seems to be
suddenly dominating everything

and I can't get Lisa to tell me anything
about it.

- That's not true.
- Well, I can't.

I want you to know, Lisa,

I'm very, very proud of you
for pursuing this the way that you have.

But I can't let you pursue it to the point
where it's taking over your life

or interfering with your schoolwork.

See, it's come down to
a question of homework.

Lisa's on a half scholarship at her school.

I know she feels a real sense
of responsibility about what happened.

Yeah, I do.

I know you do. I know you do.
But you can't not do your homework

and you can't throw away
your scholarship because of it.

I'm not. My grades slipped a little.
They'll get better.

Anyone can do their homework.
You just sit down and do it.

I've been distracted. I'll stop.

- All right.
- We didn't need a big conference about it.

It's not a big conference.

I just wanted to know
what was going on.

And I wanted to meet Emily.

I know it's a little awkward.

Lisa? Do you think Emily would like
to see the play?

I thought you could both come,
and then we could go out afterwards.

All right. Let me ask her.

Okay.

Dig in everybody.

I was thinking about spending
next year with Dad.

- Oh?
- Yeah.

You're worried about my grades.

They have really good public schools
in Santa Monica

and if I officially lived with him,

you wouldn't have to worry
about my scholarship.

- Have you talked to him about this?
- We've had some general discussions.

- Do you want to go, too?
- Me?

- Yeah. Do you want to move to LA, too?
- No.

Well, let me know if you do.

Why are you being like this?

- Why am I being like what?
- Why are you about to start crying?

Because it's your intention
to make me start crying!

No, it's not.

You want to move to LA, move to LA.

Why can't this even be mentioned
without you taking it personally?

I'm just introducing a possibility!

Here's a possibility, that you can
make your own fucking dinner!

Here's a possibility, that you can do
whatever you want to do...

Jesus Christ! What is with you?

I don't care anymore,
you heartless little fucking bitch!

Keep it up!
This really makes me want to stay here!

You think you're so fucking perfect?

No!

- Nice one.
- Shut up!

Let me tell you something, Eliot.

How would you describe
the relationship overall?

Did you talk on the phone a lot?
Were there a lot of visits?

I would say we talked on the phone
a couple of times a month, at least.

Sometimes more than that.
I would call her, she would call me.

And what were the nature
of the conversations?

Oh, family stuff, mostly.
Her family, my kids.

She'd give you advice about your family?
That kind of thing?

Oh, I would say so, yes.

Do you have any phone records?

I have all my phone bills,
if that's what you mean.

I didn't record the actual conversations.

No, no.

You'll see we talked on the phone
quite frequently.

- Okay, terrific. I see you came prepared.
- Well, I wanted to bring everything.

Now, when they take your deposition,

you're gonna say the same thing
you just told me.

Just talk about the relationship.

Uh-huh.

- Kind of advice she used to give.
- Okay.

Now, Emily,
where did you find this lawyer?

He was recommended by my friend.

I'm asking because my husband knows
a real good New York lawyer

and I'm not entirely comfortable
with someone no one's ever heard of.

My friend's heard of him.
He says he's very good.

Well, I'm sure he is.

But I have a responsibility
in this situation

and I would feel a whole lot more
comfortable with someone who didn't just

drop in out of the clear blue sky.

He didn't drop in out of the clear blue sky.
He was recommended by my friend.

But, Abigail, even if we switched lawyers,
we'd still have to pay him.

It all comes out of the settlement,
so it's really up to you.

No, if you all think he's good...

I don't know whether he is or not.

- My friend thinks he is.
- All right.

Now, Lisa, what's your involvement
in all this?

What's your angle?

I just wanted to...

I was just there.

And that's you and Monica,
obviously.

Mmm-hmm.

Oh, my God, is that you?

That's me.

Oh, my God. Is that her daughter?

Mmm-hmm.

God...

So, how old was she when she died?

Twelve.

God, I can't even imagine.

Neither could we.

Do you know Monica asked about her
when she was dying?

No, I didn't.

Yeah, I think she was confused, like,

I think she thought
I was her daughter for a minute.

Then she was asking me to call her,
like, to tell her what happened, you know?

Like she didn't remember she was dead.

But, then it got confusing, because I said,
"Sure, what's her name?"

And she said her name was Lisa.
And I said, "No, that's my name. "

I didn't realize we had the same name.

And when I found out
her daughter was dead,

ever since then

I've had this really strange feeling that,
some way, for those last five minutes,

I kind of was her daughter.

You know, like in some weird way,
this obviously amazing woman

got to be with her daughter again
for a few minutes, right before she died.

And is she still inhabiting your body?

Or did she go right back to the
spirit world after it was over?

I didn't mean she was literally
inhabiting my body.

I don't believe in all
that stuff at all.

I don't give a fuck what
you believe in.

Oh, my God! Why are
you so mad at me?

Because this is not an opera!

- What?
- I said this is not an opera!

You think I think this is an opera?

- Yes!
- Because I think it's dramatic?

I think you're very young.

What does that have to do with anything?

If anything, I think it means I care
more than someone who's older,

because this kind of thing
has never happened to me before!

No, it means you care more easily.
There's a big difference.

Only it's not you that
it's happening to.

Yes, it is! I know I'm not the one
who was run over by a bus...

That's right, you weren't.

And you're not the one
who died of leukemia

and you're not the one who just died
in an earthquake in Algeria!

But you will be. Do you understand me?
You will be.

- And it's not dramatic.
- I'm well aware of that!

This first-blush, phony deepness
of yours is worth nothing.

- Oh, wow.
- Do you understand?

It's not worth anything!

Because it'll all be troweled over
in a month or two.

And when you get older

and you don't have a big reaction
every time a dog is run over,

then we'll find out
what kind of a person you are!

I'm sorry, but I didn't start this
conversation and I don't play these games.

- I'm not playing games!
- And don't look so outraged!

You have every right to falsify
your own life,

but you have no right
to falsify anybody else's.

It's what makes people into Nazis!

And I'm sorry,
but it's just a little suspicious

that you're making such a big fuss
about this when you didn't even know her

and you're having troubles
with your own mother.

Oh, my God!

But this is my life we're talking about,
'cause it's my real friend who got killed,

who I'm never going to see again,

who I've known since
I was 19 years old myself.

And I don't want that sucked into some
adolescent self-dramatization!

I'm not fucking dramatizing anything!
I was there and you weren't,

and if I happen to express myself
a little hyperbolically, Emily,

that's just the way I talk!

I can't help it if my mother's an actress!
Why are you being so fucking strident?

- "Strident"?
- Yeah.

Okay.

You should leave.

Why? Because I called you strident?

Yeah. You should leave.

Okay, I will.

- Now!
- Okay, let me get my bag!

All I meant by saying you were strident
is that you were being emphatic!

I obviously misused the word.

- Look it up when you get home.
- Jesus Christ. You're amazing.

- Yes. I'm amazing.
- Why are you doing this?

Lisa, I'm not doing anything.
I'm a human being.

Monica was a human being.

So was her daughter
and so is your mother.

We are not supporting characters
in the fascinating story of your life.

I never said or thought you were,

and I really didn't mean to call you
strident. I totally misused the word.

I wasn't trying to insult you, Emily.
I really wasn't.

I feel so bad about what happened

and I'm trying so hard
to do something about it.

I don't understand why,
if I say something wrong,

you can't just give me a break.

Thanks for letting me come over.

I know you don't want me here.

It's all right.

But I didn't have anyone else to talk to.

You have always been very sympathetic
to my craziness,

and I may not show it all the time,
but I actually really appreciate it.

It's no problem.

So...

What's been going on?

I just need to talk to somebody

who doesn't completely
misunderstand who I am.

Or not even who I am,

but what's going on inside me,
or all around me.

- Sound confused enough?
- No, no.

Anyway,
for whatever reason,

I always felt like
we understood each other on some level.

Even though I'm like this mass of
conflicting impulses,

and you're basically the most
grownup, rational man I know.

I doubt that's actually true, but thank you.

It's just a little hot.

A little warm.

- Is this all right?
- Yeah, it's fine.

Do you allow smoking in your apartment?

You can smoke.

- I like your apartment.
- Thanks.

It's a sublet, actually.

- Sorry.
- That's okay.

This is terrible.

What is?

What's terrible?

I just like you so much.

- Sorry. What a moron.
- Hey, Lisa. Lisa.

I'm your friend.

And that's not gonna change.

It's not gonna change.

Thanks.

I like you so, so much.

What's it like in Indiana?

It's okay.

Please don't do that.
Don't do that.

I really wasn't expecting
anything like this to happen.

I'm really not sure
how I'm supposed to react.

Don't worry. I'm not gonna tell anybody,
if that's what you're worried about.

I totally initiated the whole thing.

Anyway, it's just sex.
You're acting like a little kid.

I'll see you in school.

You're a fuckin' idiot!

I think teenagers should definitely
rule the world because

teenagers aren't corrupted by adult life yet
and they're idealistic and they care.

And I know a lot of people feel
that teenagers are really naive,

which they are, many of them.

But they still haven't had a chance
to get burned out by the disappointments

and harsh realities of learning
how to play the game.

So, yes, I would vote "yes. "

All right. Lisa?

I'm not even gonna comment on the fact

that you just compared
a 19-year-old Palestinian

to a member of the Hitler Youth!

That's right, because they both
like to kill Jews.

- Lisa! Hey!
- Come on, guys.

It's not because they've been
occupied and humiliated

and bombed out of their homes
for the last 50 years?

That's partly why they like it.

It's not like killing civilians
is their last resort.

It's their first resort
because it's easy and they like it.

Raise your hands.
- They like it?

They're just bad people and they like it?

Yes! There are bad people in the world.

I think they liked blowing up
the World Trade Center!

They kill their own sisters
when they get raped!

- It's called barbarism!
- Who?

It's practically all people do
is kill each other.

If they didn't like it, they wouldn't do it.

You guys aren't the only ones in the class!

You're not even Jewish, Lisa!

The next person who opens
their mouth without raising their hand...

I'm fucking half Jewish, and who cares
what I am? I'm anti-murder, not pro-Israel.

Lisa! You can leave!

Fine. Thank you.

I guess I lost my cool a little,
but there is such a thing as...

Who is running these discussions?

But, Lisa, you have to remember,

it's always easy for the dominant side
to be content with the status quo.

How do you mean, Ramon?

I mean the oppressor uses violence
to maintain his position

and calls it the rule of law.

But when the person underfoot
uses violence to change his status,

he's called a criminal and a terrorist.

And the violence of the state
is called upon to put him down.

I see.

And what would you like them to do?

"They" meaning?

The Jew oppressors.
What would you like them to do?

I didn't use that expression.

- No, you didn't.
- But since you ask...

I spent the whole day arguing about this.
I didn't really mean to bring it up again.

- Don't handle me.
- I'm not handling you.

- What did you think of the play?
- Don't bother, Mom.

And I think it's ironic in the extreme
that the victims of Nazis

- find it essential...
- If Israelis were like Nazis

- there wouldn't be any Arabs left.
- ... to use Nazi tactics...

- That's what I've been saying!
- And I'm leaving.

That seems excessive, Emily, come on.

That's the response.
That's the Jewish response.

It's the what?

It's the Jewish response.

You don't like what I am saying
or what I do, so you...

- Oh, my God!
- That's my Jewish response.

That's all right. It's all right.

It's all right. That's all right.

It's a perfect little encapsule.

It's the Jewish response.

Joan, I won't defend myself.

All what I meant was

that was the typical response
you will get from someone

who will take that position
that woman was taking.

If I would have said the word "Israeli"
instead of the word "Jewish,"

I don't think there would be a problem.

But if you want to break up with me
because I used the wrong adjective...

What I'm going to do?

I'm not going to beg you.

Hello?

Hi, Dad, how are you?

Really? What's the matter?

I never said I didn't want to go.

I can't get a straight answer from
anybody about what they want to eat...

Annette says she's called you four times
and you haven't called her back.

The ranch seems to be putting some
kind of intolerable pressure on her

to choose five lunches for a 5-day trip that
we're not taking for a month and a half.

I talk to Curtis about it and all I get
is monosyllables. So what is the point?

I think he's really
looking forward to it.

Well, that hasn't been my impression.

I also think, Lisa,
it would be a good idea

if we just tabled the notion of you
coming out here next year.

Things look like they're gonna start
picking up for me a little bit in the fall

and that means I'm not gonna be
around the house all that much,

and since you and Annette
detest each other,

I honestly don't think that's what
I want to come home to after a 14-hour day.

We don't detest each other.

Well, I gotta tell you, it doesn't strike me
as something you seem that serious about.

Okay.

So, just tell Curtis that New Mexico's off
and I'll talk to you whenever.

- Okay.
- All right.

What's wrong?

Mr. Deutsch?
- I'm right here.

I had the thought,
if they're willing to settle so quickly,

maybe we're better off waiting a little bit,
you know, rattlin' the saber a little more?

Maybe we're cuttin'
our own throats here.

They are responding to
the story in the paper.

That's just common sense.

But what you gotta understand
is they're offering to settle now

because they want to get the story
out of the paper.

That's why Russel thinks...

Besides, the point
is not to jack up the price.

I'm sorry?

- We didn't hear that last bit.
- Ladies, let me just...

Rob. Abigail.
Let me just finish my thought.

They are jumping at the bait right now.

But if another six months goes by, we run
a serious risk of losing our momentum.

You see what I mean?

Now I'm gonna hit them very, very hard,
I guarantee it.

That's why I wanted all of us
together on the phone,

so we could talk about your other terms,
besides the damages.

I promise you, I am gonna be very,
very aggressive.

What other terms would there be?

What do you mean,
like some kind of a fund?

- A what?
- Some kind of fund for the kids?

I don't understand what you mean
by a fund.

What does he mean,
"Besides the damages?"

Mr. Deutsch, do you mean
some kind of trust fund?

A fund that would be set up
by the bus company for our kids?

For tax purposes?

- What fucking fund?
- These people are retarded.

Because I have to tell you,

we have just lived through that
nightmare with Monica and our children,

and it was not a
pleasant experience.

We just want a clean, straight...
Damages is fine.

- Lisa, I'm really proud of you!
- Thank you.

- Really, really proud!
- Thank you.

So, what happens now?

They have to figure out the terms.

Hello? Yes?

- What do you mean!
- What's the matter?

Yes?

Yes.

- Ramon's had a heart attack.
- What?

- Is he gonna be okay?
- Quiet!

Yes?

Okay.

Okay, let me write that down.

Okay,
I'm really not trying to be funny,

but isn't this a Jewish funeral home?

I guess they do both.

Excuse me.

- Joan?
- Yes.

Oh, you must be Rodrigo.
Oh, my God, I'm so sorry.

- Rodrigo, this...
- I want to tell you, Joan,

my Dad talked about you all the time.

- He did?
- Yes.

Thank you for telling me that.

- And, I don't know if this is
appropriate... - No, it's okay.

But...

He went out a lot.

Do you know, the last time
I spoke to him,

he told me, from the moment he met you,

he knew he wanted to marry you.

Because, for the first time
since he lost my mother,

he finally met a woman
he could really connect with.

Well,

- he was...
- Excuse me.

Thanks for coming with me today.
I really appreciate it.

Oh, you're welcome.

I don't want to be macabre, but...

Ramon and I were supposed to go to hear
The Tales of Hoffman the week after next

and I still have the tickets.

Would you be interested in going?
Or should I give them away?

It's Monday night. We can dress up.

I'll go.

What did you make of that?

People don't relate to each other, Mom.

They're totally disconnected.
That's what I make of it.

Well...

I think that's kind of unfortunate
that you think that,

because I feel like you and I used to
relate to each other really well.

I'm not trying to hurt your feelings.

It's just a general observation.

Okay.

Hey, can I get a hug?

Sure.

I just feel totally at sea.

Hi, Emily. Hi, Lisa.

- Hello.
- Hi.

Hello.

I am very pleased
to be able to inform you all

that I had a long meeting with the lawyer
from the bus company

and they have agreed to settle for $350,000.

What? Fantastic!
That is just great!

I assume this is agreeable with everybody.

Yes!
It's just fantastic!

But, of course, I gotta bring the offer
to you, and get your approval.

- Mr. Deutsch?
- Now,

I know there was a concern
after our last call

that we were jumping the gun a little bit.

- That's okay.
- We're only...

Abigail. Rob.

Could we just listen to what
Russel has to say

and then talk about it
once he's told us the whole story

and given us his recommendation?

Yeah. Yes. Sorry. Fire away.

I was gonna say,

I know there was a concern
after our last call

that we were jumping the gun a little bit.

Well, that's okay.

- Would you let him talk, please!
- It's okay.

We're sorry.
Sorry.

I want to tell you that
I think it's a very good offer.

I think they're very anxious to settle.

But I also do think that at this moment,

they are under the maximum amount of
pressure that we can really bring to bear,

and I don't believe
they're gonna come up any higher.

Hey, $350,000,
that's nothing to sneeze at.

Let me just...
I just want to introduce the thought...

Can you all hear me?
Yes!

Was that everybody? Okay.

Emily? What do you think?

I think it sounds like we should do it.

- But I'd like to be...
- Okay. If that's the vote.

Unless you think there's something
to be gained from holding out for more.

I think that would be a big mistake.

Robbie, what do you think?

- Sold!
- Sold!

Okay.

Now, the only downside to this
as it stands,

and I know this may be a serious wrinkle
for all of you,

is that the bus company will absolutely
not discuss the removal of the driver.

- What?
- What do you mean?

- The driver?
- Then tell them to forget it.

What do you mean? They won't discuss
the removal of the driver?

- Ladies. Let me finish what I was saying.
- It's just a blast in our ears.

- Let him finish.
- Finish what? Forget it!

Thank you. Lisa, I want you to understand,
I pressed them very, very hard on this,

but they will not discuss
disciplining a company employee

as part of the settlement

because it could be seen as an admission
of guilt on the part of the MTA.

What does giving us $300,000 mean?

Settling out of court does not imply
an admission of guilt.

It simply does not carry the same stigma.

On top of that, you may not know, Lisa,

that they're currently involved
in a very tricky labor dispute right now.

Yeah, we know about that!
Just tell them to forget it.

- I know that's your reaction...
- It's the only reason we're here.

- Can I jump in here? Russel?
- It's really not your decision.

- It's Emily's decision.
- Hello?

- Are you still with us? Hello?
- No.

- They're not listening, Robbie.
- It's not?

- No!
- It's Abigail's decision,

because she's the next of kin.

But she didn't even know about it!

That doesn't matter.

Could we get back
in this conversation, please?

Yes. I'm sorry.

Obviously there's some strong emotions
going either way here.

Listen, Emily?
I don't know what you're thinking,

but Rob and I are thinking we should take
Russel's recommendation while we can.

Because if they won't fire the guy,
they're not gonna fire him.

- And six months or a year from now...
Exactly.

We're gonna be in a situation

where we're begging them
for half this much...

The entire point of the lawsuit

was to get the guy fired
so he doesn't kill somebody else.

It was not to get you $350,000

you didn't know you were entitled to
for somebody you didn't even like!

And the only reason you're getting
the money at all

is because I started this whole
fucking thing in motion!

I'm sorry for swearing,

but you should be willing to trade in all
the money

- for getting this guy off the street!
- For getting him, Abigail!

Well, I'm sorry,
but I have a responsibility

to Monica and
I take that responsibility very seriously.

And rather than being cursed at
over the telephone

for having the courtesy to involve you
in these discussions, Lisa,

I would hope you would be guided
by our judgment.

- Unless I'm wrong about that.
- None of that matters.

Unless I'm wrong about that,
just what is your interest in this?

Because I'm the one who killed her!

I'm the one who killed her,
but at least I know I did it.

And that guy has no idea!

He is wandering around
blaming everybody else.

All I want is for somebody to let him know
that what he did was wrong.

And if they don't fire him,
and all you want is the money,

and the police won't do anything,
then how is he gonna know he's wrong?

You can't take the deal, Abigail!

It wasn't to get you any money,
it was because we wanted to get him fired!

Well, it may not matter to you,

but where I come from,
$350,000 is an awful lot of money

and to my mind is a positive result
of all this tragedy and not just negative.

Not just getting someone fired for one
mistake, no matter how bad it was.

Shove it up your ass!

Lisa!

You sleazy fucking lawyer!
And you're a moralistic cunt!

At this point, I literally have
a zero-tolerance Roger policy.

Good for you.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one.

Hey!

Hey, Lisa. What's up?

Hey, did you guys know
I had an abortion last week?

No. I didn't know that.

Yeah, it cost $400.

Um... Should I...

- No, no, don't go anywhere.
- Yeah, don't go anywhere.

Do you want to tell us about it?

Yeah, I do.

Okay.

Go ahead.

Well...

Do your parents know
about this, Lisa?

Yes.

And have you told the father, honey?

No. There's a couple of people it could be.

Well, I think you better tell them,
whoever they are.

No.

No. Never mind, I mean, I'm sure
he's sorry, anyway, whichever one he is.

I don't see how that makes any difference,
at all, if he's sorry.

That doesn't matter.

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought this up.

Please don't tell anyone.

We're not gonna tell anyone.

But you're gonna have to tell
whoever it could be.

It's okay, I...

I gotta go.

It doesn't matter about the father
because the whole thing was my fault.

I'm sorry.

What was that?

- Mom's looking for you.
- What for?

She thinks you're going out
with her tonight.

Where are we going?

I don't know.

Don't get run over.

- Wait.
- What?

I want to see if that's him.

It's him, Mom. That's the one.

Hey.

Well, so far it's not the greatest opera
I ever heard.

What do you mean? It's okay.