The Way You Look Tonight (2019) - full transcript

I just mentioned it casually to
him and he was really pissed off at me.

One minute he's nice and the
next minute he's going crazy.

- What? I don't what the deal is.
- Right?

- It all came out at once.
- You know, I met a girl

- last week in this place.
- What? no!

She said
she'd absolutely never...

Oh, my God
she said that?

Hello there.

Oh, hi.

I like your jacket.

Thank you, uh,
I found it at a thrift store.



I got it when I started teaching 'cause
it makes me feel like a professor.

But look, someone sewed
on patches.

Oh, that's great. Uh, what
university do you teach at?

I... actually, I don't teach
at the college level.

Oh, I'm sorry, what high school?
What subject?

I teach kindergarten.

Oh, well, that's really nice.

Thank you.

Listen, you are also very nice,

but I'm actually supposed
to meet someone else here.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Good luck.

Uh, Alex, honey,
can you send a bottle over

to those friends at
table three please.



It's, uh,
their anniversary, thanks.

You got it, boss.

Hi there.

Ellie?

- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.

- Oh, good luck.
- Hey, girl, what can I get for you?

Uh, I will have...

- one of those please.
- Sure thing.

So, you like whiskey?

Is that what that is?

I've never really had it
before but it looks cool

when other people drink it, so.

Thanks.

That is definitely...

brown.

Hello, lovely,
so good to see you.

How's everything tonight?
Any trouble getting in?

No, Todd recognized me.

Great, and I see you
brought a friend.

Alex, this round's on me.

You guys enjoy yourselves.

Pretty popular I see.

I'm, I'm glad that you could
meet up on such short notice.

Well, I just mean that,
you know, most people, they,

they don't meet up on the first
day that they matched, so.

I am not most people, I guess.

And you didn't seem too scary.

Well I, I can be

tough.

What gno... gnocchi?

The g sort of just rolls off.

I am so glad I didn't order it
and sound like a moron.

- Well, I've been saying gnocchi my entire life.
- Gnocchi!

How have you ordered
it your entire life

and never had a waiter
set you straight?

I don't know, well, maybe people

think you won't
tip if they correct you.

My Mawmaw always used
to call it potato dumplings.

- Is that her?
- Uh, yeah.

She is my hero in a lot of ways.

She got her PhD from Yale
in educational psychology at 25.

Some lady.

Yeah.

Some lady.

What are you even
doing on an app like that?

- I could ask you the same thing.
- No, no.

My turn, my questions.

I don't know, it's been hard
navigating the dating scene.

Since college really.

Like, how do you even
meet people in your 20's?

I always thought I would
go to grad school and meet

my soulmate,
but practicality set in.

So you want to get your PhD.

- Like your Mawmaw.
- Yeah, she was more of an educational psychologist.

Maybe that's how I ended up
teaching the kiddos.

I swear, every single one
of them is probably worth

their own little case study.

Like Milly, she does this thing,
she'll close her eyes.

Okay, and I try to
stop this, all right.

She closes her eyes and
someone will hand her a crayon.

- Mm-hmm.
- She bites into it and she guesses its color, okay.

And she's right,
like 100% of the time.

- No way.
- Yes, isn't that incredible?

- Oh, my gosh.
- It doesn't make sense.

She's got to be clairvoyant or she has cracked

the Crayola color matrix.

Either way, people
should know about it.

They should, yeah.

Sorry if that was
like, 1,000% more

than you wanted to hear.

No, not at all.

So... what's stopping you
from going to grad school?

It's just kind of hard
to follow her up.

Or... not the crayon eater, but my mam.

I don't think
she would think that.

Maybe, it's just
a lot of pressure,

- if it doesn't work out.
- Mm.

What about you?

Uh.

I went to school online.

For various reasons.

What about high school?

My mom home schooled me.

She wouldn't let me
leave the house.

But sometimes

when she went out
I would walk around

the neighborhood,
it was me and Dad's secret.

People would look at me
like a stranger,

but I'd been watching
them my whole life.

She found out, though,
one time, it was...

That was bad.

It was her way of showing
she loved me, I guess.

I left when I was pretty young,

it was just... it wasn't...

It was, it was
better for everyone.

I went by the old
house a couple times,

it's on this corner lot
in Cleveland and Knox.

My dad still prunes
the roses out front.

I passed by him in
the neighborhood one time and

he didn't even know, it just...

It's a weird thing to have
your father look at you

and not recognize you.

I'm sorry.

I'm just...

I'm just talking about
myself way too much.

- I disagree.
- Oh, I'm not, like, getting too real with you,

we're not supposed to show
the real us on the first date.

And we're supposed to
pretend that we don't fart,

and that we really, really
like trying new things...

What's the point
if it's not the real you?

This is the real you, right?

For the most part.

Good.

I like you.

- Hey, bro.
- What are you doing here, Mia?

I thought it was cool to
chill here between classes?

- It's Saturday.
- I thought you'd be at Mom and Dad's.

Yeah, I have
a study group later,

and Jackson texted
he was making brunch.

Uh-huh, figured
you might need the energy.

Also, FYI the walls

are a lot thinner when
you're banging against them.

- Ew.
- So, uh, you and the lady want some breakfast?

She's not here, Jack.

- Oh.
- Wait, did you see anyone leave this morning?

- Sorry, I didn't get here til nine.
- Yeah, prime

ditching hours
are usually around sunrise.

- You have statistics on that?
- I'm just speaking from experience.

- Hey, where did you meet her?
- This mobile app called Arouse.

- Ooh.
- Ah.

- Yeah, no surprise there.
- Oh-hoh.

What?

Wait, did she...

Her profile disappeared.

What do you expect on
a pickup app like that?

Oh, but especially Arouse,

not a great track record,

or dating pool in general.

- So I've heard.
- I don't know what you're talking about.

Ellie was great.
Okay, the app is fine,

- I've been using it for months.
- Look, maybe it's time to change tactics.

Can you just give
me a second, Mia.

I seriously thought I had
something real with this girl.

The fact that you think
that after one night

just shows how emotionally
starved you are.

The best thing you can do right
now is cleanse your palate.

But, you know,
pick from a different menu

to extend the metaphor.

I got to finish these pancakes.

- What does he mean?
- A different approach.

Something with a proven track record,
an extensive data to draw from,

a fool proof algorithm.

Like two other things.

Hey, you know, I think
I might have just the thing.

Yeah.

Have they updated
this since 2003?

Whatever. Done.

You 100%?

'Cause that survey's
not messing around.

Man, I owe five good years
of my life to that site.

And two miserable ones.

- Fucking Karen.
- Yeah, all good here.

Well, awesome just
drop in a profile pic

and, uh, start making matches.

Remember, shirtless profile
pic screams douche bag.

Right. Okay, done and done.

Look at that. What? 98% match.

Is that good?

I mean, yeah.

That's, that's really good.

I've never gotten
anything over a 90.

Uh, no, no way,
no profile picture.

That is a red flag.

Why don't you try
the next one down?

Is that really any better?

Well, at least put forth
the effort to lie, you know.

I hope I'm at least 30 before
I'm that cynical, Jackson.

Yeah, it was around
that time, yeah.

Okay, cool, she likes
Pad Thai, loves animated films.

I will message her.

Okay, wow. Uh, she's online.

What time do you start at
the restaurant tomorrow?

Uh, I start prep
work at like five.

Cool, what about you, Mia?

I have class starting at seven.

Good.

Why?

Just in case things go well.

- Already?
- You were the one who told me to cleanse my palate.

Well, yeah, but I mean, Jesus,
at least finish digesting

the first one.

Does that metaphor track?

Can you believe it's been four months?

What is congress doing?
They need to press charges.

Yeah,
I have no idea. I need an ID,

I need to apply for housing,
I need to get passed a background check.

- Hey, excuse me.
- Hey, man, how have you been?

- What can I get you?
- You wouldn't have happened to see a girl around, Ellie?

Maybe 5' 7", brown hair, uh,
the bartender the other night

- seemed to recognize her, so I...
- Sorry, man, can't help you.

Hey.

Hey there. Uh, Lois?

Oh, you look nice,
that's a nice shade of green.

- Can I get you a drink?
- Uh, I'll have a whiskey on the rocks, single malt.

- You got it.
- All righty then, you know your stuff.

Actually, I just started
recently, but I'm getting into it.

Thanks for meeting up with me
like this, last minute.

Uh, I teach so weekends
are precious.

- No problem.
- I just mean that, you know, most people wouldn't

be so accommodating.

Well, I'm not most people.

And you didn't seem too scary.

You know, we come into the world so open,

we're susceptible to
wonder, uh, imagination,

you know, the development
of the mind is such

a malleable thing,
and I want to know what we gain

and lose as we shape it.

So... if that makes any sense?

Yeah, yeah of course.

That's what made me
want to study it anyway.

It is getting late.

Oh, I hadn't noticed.

It's just that I have to be
at school tomorrow at seven

to prep, so I should
probably get to sleep.

Oh, uh,

- well, I thought that, uh...
- Oh, what? Oh, no,

err, I mean, you're very,

um...

you're super nice,
I just don't usually do,

uh, you know, uh,
anything on the first date.

Is that so, because I...

What's so different now?

- I'm sorry?
- What is it you don't like about me?

It's not anything about you.
I really enjoyed talking to you,

- I just, it's not...
- I get it.

- Can I walk you out?
- No, it's all right, I'll show myself out.

Tell me again
why I can't message 98%?

Because she's probably a dude or a robot...
or Chris Hansen.

No matter what, there's a high
probability you're being catfished.

- What?
- Oh, that documentary where the guy meets a girl online

- turns out it's not really her...
- No, I know what catfish is, you can scam me

with or without a photo. It's not like
I'm giving out my credit card info.

Buddy, just try your
luck with some of those

other girls in the 90's.

Elise?

Hey.

Hey there. Can I get
you something to drink?

Uh, dinner should be
ready in about 30.

You know, my roommate's a chef,
he lent me his recipe

for the marinade,
so it should be...

Okay.

Oh, that was...

oh, my God.

Elise,

it's amazing how
familiar that felt.

I, I mean, a little
aggressive but intuitive.

It just felt right.
Well, I don't mean to be...

Are... What, are you cold?

- You can have a shirt.
- No, no, no, no, I, uh...

I have to start work early, so.

- I really like to sleep in my own bed.
- What...

What's happening right now?

You're making me vocalize it,
or have you never had a one night stand?

Yeah, I guess I was just
reading the situation,

and there was something,
like a real connection here.

Yeah, well, you know, happens
to the best of us, right?

I don't know, I mean,

I felt

more than this.

Maybe I'm just still
reeling from this other girl

awhile back.

Either way I felt like there
was something real here.

Yeah, well.

Better luck next time.

I'm contacting 98%.

- Peter.
- She likes anti folk music, reads Alice Monroe...

Peter, she is
almost definitely a he.

And he probably wants to
imprison you like human sheep

- and use your hair to make blankets.
- She has a profile picture now.

Okay, look. It's still
ambiguous, but it's something.

Huh, what is the deal with
this green sweater trend?

- Do you know, Mia?
- What do you mean?

Every girl I've gone
out with since Ellie

has worn some variation of it.

It's the same shade
of green too.

- All of them?
- Seemed that way.

Was it the same sweater?

I don't see how it
could be, okay.

- And what does this have to do with...
- You should go for it.

- What?
- Yeah, you should go for it.

Peter, this whole
thing screams catfish.

Trust me.

Do you ever
find yourself on a long stretch

of road, you can see all
the intersections ahead

for a mile or so. All the lights are
green, you probably think,

"Oh,
wow, it's an all go, straight through."

But then you realize
those lights will change

before you get there,
probably the nearest one first,

with your luck. And then you'll sit
at the light and watch the green

road turn red.
Now it's stop and go.

All the way through.

And I've learned from
seeing that because the road

is not really opened for you,
it was opened for some

driver before you who faced
down red lights that changed

at the last second, who raced
through changing yellows

and newly turned greens.

I would rather see
them all red, I think,

because, yeah, maybe I'll have
to stop when I reach them.

But, hey, what if
the first one changes

and then the second,
and then I look in the rear view

at the green road
behind me and think,

"Now, wasn't that more
interesting anyway?"

Okay, I should probably tell
you that I don't even have

a driver's license,
but it's a metaphor.

It's the way I live my life.

Hi, I'm Heloise.

I have a habit of changing
while the things around me

stay the same.
Hoping that's not a bad thing,

just looking for someone
to take a drive with me.

Her apartment is at
Jackstown and Vanguard,

just in case she actually
is a serial killer.

Hope I don't die.

Jackson, is there something
you know that I don't?

The sweater, hear me out.

It's always the same sweater.

Please be cute.

Please be cute.

Right.

Hey there.

Wha...

Heloise?

You...

you look great.

Oh,

thanks.

Sorry, where are my manners?

- Please come in.
- Yeah, thanks.

Oh, are these from
one of your books?

Uh, yeah.

That's awesome.

Uh, so, you like pinot, right?

Oh, perfect.

I also have some
whiskey in the pantry.

Dinner should be up shortly.

Do you want to come
help me chop the onions?

Uh, sure. What are we making?

Sweet potato gnocchi.

- This is really good.
- It's not too chewy?

I was distracted getting
ready and I overcooked them.

No, not at all.

It reminds me of this restaurant
I've been to a couple times.

Leshy's?

- Yeah.
- I know the owner, they gave me the recipe.

Well that is wild.

Uh, yeah, I've been
there a couple times.

It's a shame I didn't
run into you then.

Yeah, I guess I just
have one of those faces.

I really don't think so.

So do you, um, make those
children's books professionally or?

Ugh, no, unfortunately I do
freelance advertising work.

Oh, no kidding. There's a lot
of interesting psychology

that goes into that.

What kind of stuff
are you marketing?

Well, it's not the most
tasteful material.

Oh, come on.

I'd like to see some.

This is what you do?

To pay the bills, yeah.

I, uh, I also
compose the emails.

- It's terrible, right?
- I literally cannot think of a worse thing you could do.

I mean, I can't work
in parking enforcement

for my apartment, the beauty
is I can work remotely

which is kind of
necessary for me.

And I'm pretty efficient
at cranking these out.

So I have more time for
the books and stuff.

Oh, speaking of which...

can you show me
what you're working on?

Wow.

This is awesome.

Oh, is this from
your Aphrodite bio?

Yeah.

It's this, um, whole
explanation my dad had for why

things in life are hard.

I kind of thought it'd be a good
little thing for kids to have.

Yeah, it's great.

So, have you thought
about selling these, or.

Yeah, um, I've been
working on an e-store,

but I mean... I don't know if
kids would actually go for them.

Oh, come on, this is amazing.

Seriously.

What if you, uh, read some of
your stories to my class?

I mean, if it goes well,
which it totally will,

you'd probably have
a dozen pre-sales.

Well, at the very
least you'd have a...

little focus group.

I get it if you don't want to.

That was super forward
of me, I totally get it.

No, no, no, no.
I mean, yeah, yes, that...

that sounds amazing.

Do you want to
grab some more wine?

Still weird.

I just don't know if
they are really any good.

I think so. Uh.

These are all amazing.

Thanks.

Lately I've just been
trying to figure out a look

that will really
connect with kids.

Well, yeah, I think
you're on to something,

these pastels and rounded
shapes are statistically

prevalent in their
nursery environments.

Meaning what exactly?

It just makes sense for them
to develop an attraction

based on associations
from nurturing

spaces. Sorry, that was
a weird thing to say.

- No.
- Uh...

No, that's awesome.

I never would have thought of
that, but it makes so much sense.

I like the way you think.

I like the way you see things.

I had, uh...

this thing happened to me
a couple weeks ago

and I've been trying and trying
to get it out of my head.

You're the first person to...

you know, really make me
forget about it.

So, uh,

thank you.

We'll see how you feel about
me later on.

I'm not too worried.

Like I said,
we'll see.

Oh,

I'm sorry, uh.

I didn't know Heloise
had a roommate.

- I'm Peter.
- Yeah, I know.

I, uh...

So, did Heloise say
where she went?

Um...

- she...
- Did she say anything about

wanting me to wait for her, or?

Um...

- Yeah.
- Peter, listen. I...

- Is this how she gets rid of her guys?
- No, no, um.

She...

Uh, it's me.

I'm Heloise.

Well, I've had some
bizarre encounters with women

recently, but what this is...

No, Peter, just listen.

Uh...

- let me show you something?
- You know, if she wanted to ditch me

then, we could have done my place.
And she just could have bailed, seems to be

- standard practice lately.
- Peter, you know me.

Honestly, unless you killed Heloise
and filmed it on that thing,

I don't have any interest
in what you have to say.

Someone recently
told me about a little girl

who can taste
the color of crayons,

so isn't anything possible?

I promise it will be
the most interesting

thing you see all day.

What is this?

Just watch.

I'm sorry I disappeared
the first time.

It's sort of standard
operating procedure for us,

but you were the first
person I wanted to stay for.

I figured I could always
come back to your house

and just tell you,
but then when our Aphrodite

profiles matched, it felt like
something cosmic was at play.

But... it didn't
go as I planned.

But then it just kept happening, and then the
other night you said that you couldn't get me

out of your head,
which is a mutual feeling,

and it made me so happy. But still,
I was just really scared of fucking it up.

But I guess I did that
anyway, didn't I?

Ellie?

- Hi.
- Okay.

Okay, uh.

- Okay.
- I do go by Heloise, though.

This must be a joke, right?

I'm like on Catfish?

I'm on Catfish, this is Catfish.

What is Catfish?

It's a show.

You were them.

You were...

all of them.

Why didn't you tell me
the, the second time?

- Or better yet, why not be upfront about it?
- Well, it's not something

that we like to broadcast,
we have to be careful about

the way we present ourselves
on the internet.

Some people harass us
because we're different,

others just make
weird propositions.

Ask if they can watch us sleep
so they can see us change.

- It's like a fetish to them.
- Happens when you sleep.

Yeah, which can still catch you
off guard if you can believe it.

What? Uh, us, you said,
"Watch us sleep."

There are more, others like you?

Uh, well, yeah,
you've never heard of us,

of changelings? Well,
that's what we call ourselves,

the technical term is
non-voluntary random

interpersonal metamorphs,
but we prefer changelings.

We have a group,
we meet on Tuesdays.

I thought I was going crazy.

I thought there was
a conspiracy of women

in green outerwear.

But you lied.

- You lied to me.
- Um, okay.

Ellie liked Nabokov and sushi,
and Lois likes yoga

and chess,
different profiles, yes,

but all excerpts from the same
list that makes up the whole me.

Mystique-chic, Heloise.

That's the entire list,
everything.

And I just needed you to know all
of me before I could tell you.

Well, how could you possibly
expect us to keep matching?

Well, that wasn't
always the plan.

I was going to tell you
on our second date

but it didn't go
the way that I expected it.

Because I didn't sleep with you?

No, because you didn't see me,

and you didn't want
what you did see.

And why? What, was it
because I was big

or was it because I was brown?

Uh...

That isn't fair, Ellie.

Heloise, fuck. I paid you
every respect that night,

- every courtesy.
- You did, but it was different than the first time,

you didn't see me the same
way that you didn't see me

this morning. Like I'm something
distant and strange

and unwanted.

Well, maybe that's because
I had just had my heart broken

by a mysterious woman who
vanished into the night.

Is that what the fuck and fly
by was the next time around?

Revenge? You were Ellie and Lois,
but you were Elise too, right?

Jumped me at the door,
got what you wanted and left,

yeah, she was a fucking peach.

I didn't even know I hurt you.

I'm sorry, I can't read minds.

I didn't see you.

I didn't even fucking know you.

What did you expect?

More than this.

Well, the disappointment
is mutual.

Where have you been, young man?
I have been worried sick.

I'm guessing it went well.

I really don't want to
talk about it right now.

- Guys, it's like 10 a.m.
- Yeah, it's beer brawn Sunday.

So, uh, what's up, went well, huh?

Yes.

- And then no.
- What happened?

We talked all night
and fell asleep.

- For real?
- Aw.

Okay, well, then what happened?

- I said I don't want to talk about it.
- Oh, come on.

- You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
- Come on, just tell me.

- What? No.
- Come on, Pete!

- We're friends!
- I said I don't want to talk about it!

What... Mia, goddamn it.

- You wouldn't dare.
- Tell me.

I got that jacket
thrifting with Mawmaw.

Tell me.

- Okay then.
- Fine, fuck!

She wakes up everyday
in a different body.

Okay? She was Ellie
and all the girls since then.

She's, uh...

a changeling.

- Well, I'll be damned.
- I told you.

- See? It makes so much sense.
- I'm sorry, what?

I'm just surprised I didn't,
I didn't think about this like a week ago.

- Honestly, me neither.
- Is this some deep level of sarcasm

I'm incapable of
processing right now?

Hey, you know, I actually
hooked up with a changeling

chick a few months ago.

Like a week after
they all came out,

and she always wore
this orange vest.

So you guys know about
this, this thing?

- This thing?
- Wow!

- What?
- Jesus, brother.

What, it's a thing? What?

You know, I thought it
was going to be funny

when you found out,
but I had no idea

that you were
completely oblivious.

I'm sorry, do you read?
Changelings had this

big coming out
like four months ago.

There were cover stories in
The Times for like a month,

where were you?

There's like a changeling bar
two minutes away from here.

Leshy's.

Leshy's is a changeling bar?

Yes, oh, my God,
the pasta is amazing.

- I know!
- There's a big issue of knowledge and sensitivity

- training in public services right now.
- How is this possible?

I'm sorry, you live in
a rent controlled apartment

in Los Angeles, and you're
asking me about what is possible?

Okay, okay, whatever,
we've had our fun,

but honestly I think you
should just drop this.

- Jackson!
- Look, changelings, they are fine to hang out with

and everything, but they come
with their complications.

- You don't want to have to deal with that, dude.
- Don't listen to him.

Peter, look, you said
you wanted something real,

well, like it or not,
this is real.

- It's time to step up to the plate.
- You do not get to say that.

- Yeah, she did lie to him, Mia.
- Yeah, she did.

Well, hey, and you don't get
to say that either.

This isn't happening
to you guys.

No, no, it's not.

It's happening to you.

So, what do you feel, angry
at her for hiding something

she knew would
make you run away,

or scared that, maybe,
ultimately it doesn't matter?

That girl you fell for,
she's still that person.

And that person that you
stayed up all night talking to,

she's that person too.

Maybe she deserves
a straight shot?

I, I have study group,

I should go.

Hey, man, um, I still just...
I want to say, I think

it's more trouble
than it's worth

but, uh, yeah, you're an adult,

just do what you want, dude.

Heloise?

Hi.

- I'm sorry.
- Sorry?

For lying. For not telling you
the truth about me sooner.

I'm sorry for freaking out.

It was...

it was a lot to take in.

Do you have any questions?

You must have questions.

How does the hair work?

- I'm sorry?
- Your hair's shorter today,

does it just, like,
go back into your head?

- I...
- Exactly how many of you are there?

More than you'd expect.

We're all just taking
it day by day.

Every day?

Yup.

I, I actually have
to head out soon

for group.

Group?

Well, the changelings,
changeling group?

I'm sure we'd be happy to answer
any questions you might have.

You don't have your
license, right?

Guess I'm driving.

You're new.

Well, how could you tell?

No name tag.

- I like your habit.
- Thanks.

Or... what? Sorry.

It's not as bold as we're
used to around here,

but I like the cohesion of it.

Your digs, man, the clothes,
that's what we call them here,

- 'cause we wear it everyday.
- You don't have a habit?

How do people recognize
you from day-to-day?

- They...
- He's not a changeling.

We met, at Tim bar at Leshy's.

Oh, uh, yeah,
nice to see you again.

Well, let's get
started, I can't say

that I see a familiar face
in here tonight.

And isn't that just so
comforting?

Let's begin by meeting our
new friend, this is Peter.

Hi, Peter.

And as always, let's begin
by asking if there's anyone

here that has anything
to get off their chest?

Uh, my parents want
to go on a vacation.

That's marvelous,
Marcy, where to?

They were thinking, um,
a cruise to Mexico.

- Oh.
- But then...

they realized I couldn't go.

Uh, why?

- Why is that?
- She doesn't have a passport.

- Oh.
- They said maybe we could fly to New York,

but I'd still need an ID.

But you're under 18.

Sometimes I look older,

and there's no way to
tell that it'll happen.

- Right.
- You could always drive.

That's right, you could
turn this into a road trip.

- You think so?
- Sounds like a great adventure to me, kiddo.

Yeah, it sure does.

- Who's next?
- I'm having trouble with my neighbors.

- What kind?
- They think I'm running a cult with all the people

in yellow shirts that
answer my front door.

I wouldn't say it sucks
to be a changeling,

sucks to be a changeling
with narcolepsy.

I finally found an apartment.

Um, but I'm afraid my landlord's
going to find out about me.

I am so damn tired of
looking in the mirror

and not recognizing
the person I see.

My brother got stopped
by the police yesterday,

and I just kept
praying to myself,

please don't ask for my ID.

I thought my supervisor
would be more tolerant

than others I've had, but
now I'm back on unemployment.

At least until
I figure this out.

My boyfriend left me,

he said he couldn't
find the energy

to be attracted to me anymore.

I guess some people just
don't want a freak like me,

but, uh, you know,
it's, it's their loss, right?

Sometimes I just try to
sit down and list the positives.

I can eat whatever
I want, for instance,

size is just part of
the daily crap shoot.

No bruises either.

No birthmarks.

No scars.

Found that out the hard way.

Some of you know this, but I

used to have a problem.

I scratch my face when
I'm scared or nervous,

and... sometimes I couldn't
help thinking I just wanted

something that was
permanent in my life.

A way to recognize myself.

So...

I just started scratching
and scratching...

and scratching...

until I made something
I thought would stay but...

like I said,

no scars.

But I'm finding other things
and people that are giving me

consistency, and...

I'm really thankful for that.

Hey, Bob, great job tonight.
All right, guys, I'll catch you all later.

Did you have a nice
introduction to our group?

Yeah, it was
definitely an experience.

Hello, lovely.

Great job tonight.

Well, I'm off, stay strong,
and I'll see you next week.

It was a pleasure
meeting you, Peter.

And if you have any
questions, don't hesitate

- to give me a call.
- Thank you.

Hey.

Hey there.

Thanks for sticking
it out tonight.

Yeah.

I'm still pretty overwhelmed
to say the least,

but I'm sorry, I know
this is your life...

I get it.

- I just need some time to figure this out.
- I understand.

You know
how to contact me.

Okay, guys, as you know, I promised
you a very special treat this week.

Our reader will be sharing
her own storybook with you.

And it's very special,
because it's never been read

to anyone else. Okay, yes, Amy.

- Who's our reader?
- Her name is Heloise and she is a friend of mine.

- Amy?
- Is she your wife?

No, she's not, now,
I want... Yes, Amy.

What does she look like?

Well, uh,
you will find out soon enough.

Okay?

One second.

- Hey.
- Hey there.

- You find us okay?
- Yeah.

- You ready?
- Yeah.

Well, here she is, it's
Heloise Korrigan.

Now, this is the world premiere
and it's just for you,

- super big deal, are you excited?
- Yeah!

Hi, everyone, and thank you.

So, here we are, "Green Lights"

by Heloise Korrigan.

- Yes?
- Are you a boy or a girl?

- Amy!
- No, it's okay.

Um, I'm a girl.

But you look like a boy,

- kind of.
- Well, that may be true today,

tomorrow may be a different
story, but I believe I'm a girl,

so I'm a girl.

- Okay.
- Is it okay if we start the story now?

Yeah!

There was once a little girl
who loved to drive her race car.

Then one day, at the end
of a long stretch of road,

she could see an even
longer stretch of lights.

Some were red, some were yellow

and some were green.

She found herself stopping
and going, stopping and going,

as she approached
the lights of red and yellow,

she knew it would turn red soon.

Let's see, all green.

Flickering like lightning bugs in the distance.

Stopping and going...

All right, we'll see
you guys later.

- Bye.
- Bye, there you go, okay.

- Bye, see you later.
- Bye!

Yeah, good one.

- Bye!
- You too.

Yeah, all right, see you guys,

have a good one.

Thank you for this.

Sure.

- Of course.
- Well, most people wouldn't have even called me back.

I am not most people.

And neither are you
for that matter.

Well, I mean, technically
I am the most people.

Okay.

Are you doing
anything right now?

I just thought, would you
maybe want to hang out?

I live like right
around the corner,

I could make tea.

We could talk.

Yeah, yeah, I'd,
I'd really like that.

Great.

- Grab my bag.
- Oh, yeah, sorry.

Shall we?

Oh, hey, Mia.

- Heloise, uh, this is...
- Hi!

Hi, hey, hi, I'm Mia.
Very nice to meet you.

Uh, nice to meet you too,
I've heard a lot about you.

And I you.

I'm so sorry, um, I have...
I just... I didn't know

that Peter was going to
have company, or else...

Um, yeah, I'll just, uh, I will
get out of your guys' way.

Oh, it's totally okay.

Yeah, Mia, stay and hang out.

No, I'm sorry, I can't. I, uh,
I have class at four so, I should...

Okay,
I'll see you guys later.

I'll get out of your guys...

I'll see you around.

Yeah, well, can I get
you something to drink?

No, I'm all right.

Mia, uh, looks like your Mawmaw.

Does she lecture anymore?

No, not for a few years.

She has trouble standing
for long periods of time,

and, you know, keeping
the same train of thought.

It would be so
great to meet her.

- I'm sorry.
- No, no, it's fine.

I think I would like
that very much.

She is more of a handful
than Mia though.

Oh, yeah? Well, um, I can be
a bit of a handful too.

- Oh, yeah?
- Mm-hmm.

Um, several handfuls even.

Oops. Oh, I'm so sorry, I forgot my keys.

I don't even know.

I'm... Okay.

Where you going?

- Your apartment?
- Sure.

Hello, how's it going?

Hey.

Nice to meet you.

You too.

"Hey, Jackson, how are you?"
"Well, I've, I've been better."

"Oh, you want to talk about it?" "Aw,
guys, that would really mean a lot to me."

Oh, what the fuck?

- What's wrong?
- What are you doing?

Peter. Peter, baby.

Calm down.

- What, Heloise?
- I know, I think my cycle's off.

What? Since when
does this happen?

It started when I was 14.

How often?

Usually once a month
for a few days.

Up to six or seven.

This is your period.

It does... Other
things happen too.

And you didn't think to
fill me in on this one?

Well, I was afraid you'd freak
out, and obviously I was right.

Well, that isn't fair.

What happened to the honesty?

Transparency is important
in a normal relationship.

Normal?

Oh, come on,
you know what I mean.

Listen.

I'm sorry.

Why don't we put on some
coffee and, and just talk...

I can't.

I can't.

I can't do this

right now.

I just.

I should leave.

Maybe that's best.

I'll call you in...

I'll call you.

Hello,
no one is available

to take your call, please
leave a message after the tone.

Hi there, it's Peter.

I guess it makes sense you
wouldn't have recorded a message.

Anyway, I could really
use some advice right now,

please call or text me
back as soon as you can.

I'd really appreciate
if we could meet up and talk.

Oh, sorry I'm late.

Life's slower when you
take the bus everywhere.

Oh, no. No problem, Leshy.

- It's good to see you.
- You as well.

So... tell me
what's on your mind.

Right.

Well, things have been
going pretty well with...

I'm sorry, uh, last time
I saw you, you were, uh...

Bearded.

Right.

And now you're...

- not.
- Yes, well, you, uh,

you caught me at
that time I'm afraid.

So usually you're...

Oh, most of the time, yes.

Some of us are more
like 60/40, even 50/50.

- It can change over time.
- 50/50,

how do you even know
what you are at that point?

Well, it was always easy for me,

but it's something
we all have to face.

Some people find something
familiar in themselves.

Some find it's not so important,

the best thing we can do

is surround ourselves with
people who give us consistency.

Now...

what was it you
wanted to talk about?

But what is this
demonstration trying to prove?

Well, they
got a lot of grievances, Richie.

In some places
they are not even allowed

to use the public restrooms.

At least 36 individual counties

have already passed.

It's open.

I brought aspirin

and chocolate.

What are you doing?

- Excuse me?
- Are you doing anything now?

Or later today?

Maybe, why?

I just realized there's
something you never done before

and... I want to teach you.

I, uh...

have a couple of ads
to revise for some clients.

Can you delay it?

I already canceled
a parent teacher conference.

Pretty sure of
yourself, aren't you?

Okay, so the most
important thing

is you're only going
to use your right leg.

Other than that, you want to
keep your hands at ten and two.

Okay.

Are you sure this is
the best day to do this?

- Maybe we should wait.
- That's ridiculous,

- you have waited long enough, so come on.
- But my friend Jade,

when she said she tried to drive,
she got pulled over, and since she didn't

have ID she got arrested, and
then they couldn't process her

because there was this...
They didn't have information or records.

Hey, hey, hey.

It'll be okay.

We're just going
around the block.

Okay?

So, uh, yeah, on the brake,
and put the car in reverse.

Just easy.

Just, it's sensitive,
just easy on the brake.

Super.

Oh.

Is this, this no
good for you, or?

Yeah, I just think
on days like today

it's just a little,
just a little harder to get wet.

Oh.

I think this body might be...

post menopausal.

Right, um.

All right,
do you want me to, uh,

- you know, go down there, or?
- No, no, no, no, we can do this.

- Here.
- Okay.

- Here.
- Yeah.

Just.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Just, uh, just go slow. Okay.

Yeah, just, just like that.

Okay.

Yeah.

- Oh, God, okay, careful, careful.
- What? Shit.

- Honey, you okay?
- Uh, so. Yeah, yeah, uh.

- Shit, what?
- Ooh.

Oh, sorry, I...

I don't think
it's going to work tonight.

I'm so sorry.

Um.

That's okay.

You're sure?

Of course.

We'll just, uh,
we'll just try tomorrow night.

Let's just get some sleep.

Yeah?

Sweetie.

Jesus.

What?

I'm fine, I just didn't
recognize myself.

Ew.

Gross.

What?

- Hi.
- Hey!

What? No, you don't.

Okay, okay.

Is this okay?

Yeah, just...

- What?
- Just...

just give me a second.

Maybe I could just...

Okay, I can't, I can't, fuck.

- Just stop.
- Okay.

It's not easy.

You know, I just can't flip
a switch and make myself...

Okay, Peter.

Fuck.

I get it.

This isn't fair.

No, no, it really isn't.

There are now
roughly 10,000 changelings

and changeling advocates
converging on the national mall.

There are likely
ten's of thousands more

unable to travel due
to identification.

I wish I could be
there with them.

Is this really going
to change anything?

Their demands seem
pretty reasonable.

Proper documentation
would be a start.

Accurate birth certificates,
social security cards,

- bathrooms.
- We spoke to Leshy Mamuna,

the head of our local
changeling advocacy coalition,

for further comment
on the movement.

What the public at
large does not realize is,

that we've always
been around you.

We have a legacy
and rich cultural tradition.

We are the friendly faces
you pass in the street,

we are your neighbors,
and we hope to be your friends.

All we ask is for you to see
the beauty and the familiarity

we see in ourselves.

Hard to argue with that.

Well, you'd you be surprised.

Guess now this is as good as time as
any to introduce you to the folks.

Just me.

Hey.

Peter. Hi, sweetheart.

Oh. Muah.

- Pete Pie.
- It's so good to see you.

- Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad.
- Hi, sweetie.

Uh, did she make it yet?

Yes, yes, finally, I mean,
she's actually washing up.

I mean, can I just tell you
something? They just had a

crazy time getting her here
from the airport, you know,

and that whole escort system, I mean,
it just needs a complete overhaul.

Anyway, I have four
degrees, I think I can figure

my way around
a God damn airport.

Oh.

Who do we have here?

Oh, how are you, darling?

Oh!

Oh. You still tending
those young minds?

Yeah, I'm trying to, Mawmaw.

Uh, Heloise actually
encourage me to apply

for some PhD programs,
so hopefully

I will soon know how
the young minds are shaped.

Oh, you are not.

- Where?
- Bunch of small places, a couple big ones.

UCLA, Berkeley,
Minnesota, Harvard,

- Yale.
- Oh.

That's my boy! Oh.

Get that girl over here
so I can thank her.

Honey, you need some help
with those dumplings,

- I know you do.
- No, no, actually, you know, Mom, please sit down.

I mean,
you never put celery in it,

it's got to have parsley...

Where's your girlfriend, bro?

Working on it.

Anything the matter, buddy?

No, no problems, Dad.

When's the little miss
making her debut?

She, uh...

I think she's running
a little behind getting ready.

Uh-huh.

sounds like
somebody else I know.

Oh, Richard,
you shut the hell up.

I was getting nervous

about meeting your parents,

so I tried to do some
deep breathing exercises,

some meditation, and I guess
it worked pretty well

because I fell asleep,
and when I woke up...

I ruined my dress.

Well, uh...

- that's okay.
- My cycle ended three days ago, I shouldn't look like this.

It's taking over more and more.

Uh, maybe, maybe you
can lay down for a bit,

- we can see if...
- I've been trying to lie down for the past hour,

I even took a handful
of melatonin.

I still can't even
sit still, okay.

I don't know what's
happening to me!

Okay.

Hey.

It's going to be okay.

Do you really want me to
go out looking like this?

We should never have agreed
to this, this was a bad idea.

No, these kind of things are
bound to happen from time to time.

Okay, we knew the risk going in.

- I didn't mean...
- I really don't think you do know, Peter.

What are you saying?

We're, we're in this together.

Okay, let's fuck, right now.

Like this.

- Hope you don't want to travel.
- We can go on road trips.

And I guess we're going to be
sitting at home a lot drinking,

because good luck
sneaking me into a bar.

- We can go to Leshy's.
- And, uh,

oh, I won't be able
to co-sign on a house

or a car or get married.

Heloise.

What about kids?

Yeah, I know you think
about it all the time.

It's hard to grow a fetus
when your uterus disappears

- every other day.
- We can try,

and maybe you'll stay
a woman once...

- you know, once your body...
- It won't work.

You don't know that.

I really do, Peter.

Look, this is what
my life is like.

I don't think you know what it
means for it to be yours too.

Okay.

Well, I'll call my mom and
we'll reschedule or something.

Tell her I'm sorry.

Heloise?

I'm sorry.

- Oh, baby, baby.
- I'm sorry.

Heloise, what did,
what did, what did you do?

I just wanted something
that was mine.

- I'm so sorry.
- It's okay, it's okay, it's okay.

It's okay, it's okay.

Heloise?

Heloise?

Ells Bells?

Look, I don't know,
okay, she just left.

But couldn't she be at
the apartment right now?

No, I told the neighbor to keep
a lookout and she hasn't called.

- Did you talk to the support group?
- Leshy hasn't heard anything,

okay, she left her phone, her clothes...
you know, she could be lying dead

on a slab in the morgue and I
couldn't even identify her body.

Pete, let's just be logical
about this for one second.

Now, nine times out of ten,
people who run away like this

usually go to someone they know.

Does she have any family?

Someone she might have fled to?

...Corner lot
by Cleveland and Knox,

my dad still prunes
the roses out front.

Hello.

I hope this is the right place.

It's the only corner house
with roses on it, so.

I realize anyone could
have kept them up.

How can I help you?

I'm sorry, is this
the home of the Korrigans?

My name's Peter Shalen,
uh, I've been seeing

your daughter, Heloise.

Didn't take photographs.

Didn't want us to feel
like we were... different.

There wasn't really
much of a point, you know.

Yeah.

You know, they really
didn't know what the baby

was going to be.

The ultrasound said one
thing, then another.

I wonder if they were
shifting in the womb,

they must have been.

Her mother...

didn't know what to do with her,

she wanted a girl so bad,

she had expectations.

Nobody really knew anything
about changelings back then.

She never let her go outside,

she told people in the neighborhood
that she had immunodeficiency disorder.

Yeah, I guess it'd be
a little suspicious having

a bunch of different
kids around.

Well, you know, it wasn't
always children,

in her teens she started
waking up sometimes older

than her mother.

And she used that to her
advantage whenever she could.

She started leaving the house,
sometimes in secret,

other times a little
more brazenly.

She, uh,

she got caught drunk off her
ass one day after she bought

some vodka, because,
you know, it's really easy

when you look like a little
old Vietnamese man.

She got a tattoo when she was
16 and her mom freaked out,

but it was gone by the next day.

And so were the bruises.

Like a year later,
there was a fight.

It started over
something really trivial.

You know,
I'd forgotten what it was.

But Selma,

she couldn't stop.

She said that she would beat her

so bad the bruises would stay.

Heloise was gone in the morning,

she didn't say a word.

Selma...

it's not that
she was a bad person

or a bad mother,

at times she...

She just didn't know how
to be a mother to Ellie.

It was...

so much work.

That's no excuse
for what she did.

Maybe.

I'm sorry, maybe?

You weren't there, Ellie was...

hard to handle.

You know, it's... amazing.

Ellie is so kind
and warm and optimistic

with what she did to her.

Selma was a complicated woman.

Well, Selma can go fuck herself.

She was protecting
her from the world.

She was trying to
protect herself.

Don't give me that,
that's bullshit.

I know she blames herself.

she must have processed it over and
over, trying to rationalize

why someone
would do that to her.

And that, to me, is just...

the greatest evil.

That someone could make
a little girl feel so guilty...

just for being.

Make her feel like she
isn't beautiful, but she is.

Always.

You just have to look at her.

You can see it
in the way she moves.

You know, really look at her,

and you can see it.

Clear as day.

Just like I see it now.

I see you.

I do.

I see you, Heloise.

Hey.

Hey there.

- I'm sorry.
- I'm sorry.

See? He found you after all.

You two want some dinner?

That is very kind of you,
Mr. Korrigan,

but I don't think we'll be
able to stay for too long.

We have dinner plans.

- Oh, do you now?
- Yeah, we canceled on someone recently,

and...

I think it's about
time we make it up to them.

Peter,
are you sure about this?

- Of course.
- It's just...

Peter.

- And this must be...
- Mom, Dad,

this is Heloise.

- It's nice to meet you.
- It's, it's nice to meet you as,

as well, I, I, I've heard...
we've heard so much about you.

Is that them?
Is she here?

Oh, you are here.

I can't tell you
how excited I am to meet you.

The way this one
talks about you,

I'd swear you were
a mythical creature.

I guess I could say
the same thing about you, Ma'am.

Oh.

My name's Mary Lou,

but, uh, you can call me Mawmaw.

Now, I hear you write

and you illustrate
children's books.

You must tell me all about that.

Hey.

Hey there.

Did I...

did I rip my dress?

I don't think so.

- Does it feel tight?
- Yeah.

Then maybe you
should take it off.

I mean...

it's okay.

No, you don't...

- You don't have to do this...
- Shh.

Are you sure about this?

Absolutely.

Okay. Oh.

Oh.

Oh!