Those Secrets (1992) - full transcript

A wife and mother drifts back to her life as a call girl.

NEILLE: In the dream,

I was holding a rope

and a boat was pulling

me through the water.

Then somebody cut the rope.

I thought I would drown.

The shore was so far away.

I wondered if I should

give in and sink,

or try and stay above water

for a while.

But if I tried to stay

above the water, if I try,

I would drown anyway,

because I couldn't

make it to shore.

The shore was so far away.

I was afraid I was

going to die.

It's a privilege

for me to present this

to Ken Stacey,

football's Man of the Year.

Teammate, friend,

great athlete,

you're one of a kind, buddy.

We're going

to miss you, Stace.

[ALL APPLAUDING]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

-LEN: Simon, Simon.

-Hey, man.

Great evening.

Great evening, really.

You know my associate,

Mark Karyn?

-Hi, Mark.

-And of course, Nora.

-Nora.

-Hi, buddy.

-And this must be...

-Warren Styles Julie.

LEN: Mr. Warren Styles,

first round draft Dallas.

Of course.

JULIE: Pleased to meet you.

LEN: Julie, my pleasure.

LEN: So, what happened

in the Super bowl, Simon?

Not a clan on the roster.

-It was a disastrous wipeout.

-Maybe Warren

will change that.

Neille, this is Simon Banesh,

friend, colleague

and a great attorney.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Hello.

Hello. My mother will

be right with you.

I'm Molly and she's Megan.

I'm Simon.

SIMON: I love athletes.

I love these guys.

A lot of people think

football is trivial,

it's not.

Players get hurt.

Kind of moving them

into a system

where a guy like

Kenny Stagey can wind up with

no cartilage in his knees?

That'll be with him

the rest of his life.

You're a beautiful woman.

Thank you.

Did you leave something

back there?

-Why?

-You do that a lot.

I do?

-Yeah, that.

-[CHUCKLES]

Is Leonard good

friend of yours?

Yes.

-More than Nora?

-Yes.

Is he a special friend?

No.

This is pretty much it.

You get what you see.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

I'm never sure you're

going to be here.

You're not? Why?

-I think you will reconsider.

-Oh...

[NEILLE MOANING]

SIMON: Stay with me.

Stay with me.

-Stay with me.

-[MOANING]

Marry me.

I'll make you

incredibly happy.

I've never said

that to another lady, so...

Fact is, I can't think

of life without you anymore.

Look, you want to give

me some help here.

Yes.

-Yes, what?

-I want to give you

some help.

Careful how you tread.

-Okay.

-Okay?

Okay. Yes.

Okay.

Fantastic.

-Congratulations.

-Oh, well, thank you.

[CHUCKLES] That is not

what I meant.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

Champagne. Everything

all right? No more? No?

Leonard, I know you

will have some.

Excellent.

NEILLE: Already out.

There you are.

Not much left.

[GIGGLES]

You missed. Try again.

NEILLE: Simon?

Thank you all for being here.

You're our closest

and dearest friends.

Oh, yeah.

-Hear, hear.

-Hear, hear.

Thank you for an

extraordinary two years.

Oh, hear, hear.

-Hear, hear.

-[NEILLE CHUCKLING]

LEONARD: I guess nothing

succeeds so much

in love as absence.

NORA: Never mind, Simon.

It's pure envy.

No, Simon is gone

an aggregate of five months

a year. Am I right?

-Well, but what's left

is choice?

-Uh-huh.

Quality time, Leonard.

Well, do I get a mention

for making the match?

Hey, bedtime. Uh, you too.

-Good night, baby.

-Good night.

-MOLLY: Good night, everybody.

-Good night.

Hey, wait.

Something you

needed, Mrs. Banesh?

Uh-uh. No, the girls like

to come every so often

and walk through rooms.

-Don't let them terrorize you.

-I won't.

NEILLE: That's not funny.

Come down, down carefully.

It's my room.

MAN: The commissioner

is about to receive

the Jets selection

and in a couple of seconds,

we'll find out who is

the third pick here

in the first round.

Time for one final...

-Hi.

-Grandma.

-Hi, Rae.

-Hi. Have they eaten?

-Uh, well...

-Are you hungry?

-Uh, no.

-Well, then go wait,

you wait in there.

Hi. How are you?

MAN: Tim Colson,

the dominant Tackle

out of USC trying to...

That was great.

But regarded as a weak

offensive line.

Uh-huh. Well, it's time

to find out if you are right

because the pick is up

and the commissioner

has the card and we

are ready to select...

MAN: Be open to what I think.

-Hope can still

change their minds.

-There it is.

California Tackle's

Tim Colson.

Yes!

[ALL CHEERING]

There you go, man.

That quarterback's

going to be the happiest

guy in the world.

-[PHONE RINGING]

-SIMON: Okay.

Brown gets $2.7 million,

Sharp gets...

-2.4.

-2.4.

I know Tim Colson

is not a wide receiver,

but why should a player

who gets picked

right above my guy

make $400,000 more?

I'll tell you what,

why don't we put an extra

50 in the fourth year

and we'll call it a bonus

for a point in training camp?

Steve, your offensive

line gave it more

sacks last year

than any other

team in the league.

[SIGHS] I know you guys

are relentlessly committed

to the bottom line.

-What did they give Erwin?

-1.875.

You gave Erwin 1.875.

If we're talking about 1.825,

we're in the right ballpark.

I don't want

a no-cut contract.

Because he's one

of the most successful

wrestlers in UCLA history.

I want after-tax spendable

dollars in his pocket.

The boy wants to

know he's going to play.

No, listen, I'm right here.

Bye-bye.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

Hmm.

-Are you done?

-Done.

-Everything, everyone?

-Everything, everyone.

-And the help department

didn't close again.

-No.

So, can I take you

home tonight then?

Please.

Hey, Simon.

-Done?

-Oh, I just did that.

So, how many hours

of sleep have you averaged

this past month?

Beth's barely been home.

-God, I'm bone-tired.

-Hmm.

How are the girls?

Glad you're coming home,

happy to be out of school,

thrilled about the new house.

I want a child with you.

I love you beyond imagination.

I've never for a single

solitary moment

stopped loving you.

-[GROANS]

-[MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO]

Neille, forgive me.

I don't know...

I don't know how it happened.

I don't want to hear

a confession.

It's killing me.

I can't live with it.

What? You can't

live with that?

It's done. It's over.

It's done.

Done? Is it, is it done?

Barry and I sharing

the revelation at

the same time?

Or could Beth

not live with it?

So now Barry

and I get to live with it.

[HORN HONKS]

[MUSIC STOPS]

I'm lost. Um...

Did you just solve something?

We all right now that I know?

Do we go through something?

What, are we cleansed?

Or what do you want from me?

I don't know.

I want us to

survive because...

Molly's in love with you.

She cries herself

to sleep at night.

I need us to survive this.

Molly cries, you cry?

Did Beth cry?

Oh, yeah, well,

of course she cried.

It's all so sad.

I need us to survive

this, too okay?

God, I hate you

for telling me.

[DIALING]

ANSWERING MACHINE:

This is Dr. Gabriella Miller.

I'm sorry I can't take your

call right now,

but please leave a message

and I will get back to

you as soon as I'm able.

-Thank you.

-[BEEP]

Girls, just let him sleep.

Is something wrong?

Uh, did we do something?

No, no.

No, you haven't done anything.

-[SIGHS]

-You're early.

So are you.

Nat's bringing the chromola.

-That good, huh?

-Yup.

-Can I help?

-No, thanks all the same.

Call came in

yesterday, Mrs. Banesh,

right up your alley.

Do it in your sleep.

Well, sure, fine.

Shall I leave you alone?

Yeah. Yes.

KOBE: When did you get

so good? Where was I?

See, the red needs to

be more intense on the right.

Right, right there.

And it's too orange.

You know, the whole

thing is just too orange.

-You've got it.

-Great.

We got it Tuesday?

-Come on, Neille.

-No, come on, Nat.

-Let me see what I can do.

-Just do on Tuesday.

Thank you, Nat.

Oh, thank you, Nat.

You want to take the

rest of the day?

No, I want you to

take the rest of the day?

[PHONE RINGING]

Yeah. It's Simon.

Hi. Yes, I'm fine.

Yes, I want that too.

Don't anymore.

Simon, I'm not

your client, I'm your wife.

I'm sorry, Simon, I'm working.

I know.

Simon, I have to go.

Simon, I have to go, really.

-Friday.

-Friday without fail.

You look

like your mother or what?

Or what?

I adore you, Simon.

ANSWERING MACHINE:

Hi, Chief. It's Barry.

Wanted to know

if you're hanging in there,

if you need any ear,

friend, friendly ear...

-[BEEP]

-BETH: Neille, it's Beth.

I'd like to think that

we could talk.

Oh! Beth...

[BEEP]

LEN: Neille, it's Len. Hi.

Give me a call when

you get a chance.

Thanks. Bye.

We're going to Lanie's.

We told you.

Well, all right, yes.

You told me.

Are you all right?

Yes, I'm all right.

Why don't you just go on?

We'll be back early.

Hmm. Well, I'll walk

you to the door.

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

I found you,

I don't believe it.

Hey, I knew

you when you were,

I don't know, yay high.

Glad to see me?

-I'm a friend of your mothers.

-Oh, yeah. This is Faye.

You're Molly and you're

Megan and you still

look like your mother.

-Hi.

-Hello.

I didn't see you a whole lot.

You were away

at school, but I kept

tabs on you.

It would be terrible

if this were real

bad time for you.

No, no. I'm surprised,

that's all.

-We got to go, okay?

-NEILLE: Yeah. You just go on.

-Nice to meet you.

-Yeah.

It's great.

-Was this a bad idea?

-No.

Took a whole lot of

networking to find you.

-It was meant to.

-I called Karen and Karen

called Lillian, on and on.

I landed I came

straight out to you.

I didn't call because

you're unlisted.

Yeah. That's...

Well, I'm out of it.

I sold my book

and said goodbye to it.

I was going nowhere, you know?

I was feeling real

bad about myself.

I had some real bad

experiences with

some of the jobs,

you know, ugly stuff.

It was time, you know?

God! You're

so talented, Neille.

-And I was taking class.

-Yeah?

Professional class taker.

I was really good.

I'm really good.

Very intimate talent.

Best suited for the screen.

All these guys saying,

"Come out to the post.

Come out to the post",

it was time I bit the bullet.

One thing, you make a lot

of good friends.

Johns flat out,

makes your best friends.

I got the names

of some agents.

I started stashing away.

I haven't done coke in,

God, six months.

There had to be something

there because if you're

really, really happy,

you don't get into that stuff.

Haven't done coke,

haven't done anything.

Every penny went

into the kitty.

Is he nice?

Of course, he's nice.

I mean, he's nice, right?

-What's he do?

-A sports agent.

-Lawyer, right?

-Right.

Well, look at this.

Look at you!

FAYE: Such a pretty place.

You got lucky, huh?

Good for you.

You know what? It really

stops messing you

up after a while.

I mean, to go around with

my face and the side

of arm numb is not healthy.

My chiropractor says I'm

taking a whole bunch of other

people's energy in here, so...

So I'm not running

my own energy.

I'm running George's

or Bob's or Sam's...

Get this, he said,

"What you are doing

is very intimate work."

[CHUCKLING]

I started laughing.

I have never thought

of it as intimate before.

It's scary because

you know it's such

quick money.

I mean, it's hard when

you know you're

worth $300 an hour,

no taxes,

whenever you feel like it.

Remember Hattie?

She got out of the

business three years ago,

got right into real estate.

Last year she made,

like, $250,000,

so it can happen, you know?

You miss it?

You don't miss it, do you?

FAYE: Thank you,

thank you very much.

I love to do that,

I used to love to

play with my mother's hair.

You're up?

Mmm, yeah. I'm up.

Um, you're going

to the beach today?

FAYE: This had nothing to do

with the business.

He sold hot clothes, designer

clothes, that are really

good deal, and jewelry.

This was horrible.

So I bought these clothes

from him and I started

to walk out and he says,

"Wait a minute," and

he bolts the door.

He says, "I had a big

rock on this table.

Where is it?"

I said, "You sat there when

you smoked it."

He says, "No, I didn't."

He goes, "You lying whore."

I said, "You sat

there and you smoked it."

He took out a .38

and he pistol-whipped me.

This has nothing to do with

me seeing a client.

This guy wasn't a client

I was his client,

but I didn't get a

concussion so I guess

I have a hard head.

[SLAMS DOOR]

You got any fours?

Uh, no. Go fish.

[LAUGHING] Look at you.

-You got any six's?

-Go fish.

[CHUCKLING]

Got any fours?

-[PHONE RINGING]

-Oh, meany. Here.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

Hello? It's Megan, who's this?

Just a moment.

It's for you.

I'll take it inside, okay?

Why don't you take it

in my room?

Okay, sure. Thanks.

Okay, girls. Uh, time for bed.

I appreciate it.

Yes. We're great friends, yes.

Bye.

Sorry.

It's not what

you're thinking.

This is my home, you know?

My children live here.

You're doing business

on the phone? What's

the matter with you?

What? Are you an idiot?

It's not what you think.

He's a contact.

He's not a trick.

-This is my home.

-Come on, Neille.

You're nobody to this guy.

It's, it's just

a phone number.

What, do you not

get it or what?

He's not trade, Neille.

Why? Is he a priest?

They're all trade.

Come on, Neille.

-I swear, Neille.

-Just a contact.

From some guy I trust.

I trust to say nothing.

I got to take it

one step at a time.

Hey, don't be angry with me.

I would never mess

things up for you.

Not for the world.

It's okay.

Oh, it's okay. I'm not angry.

I think I outlived my welcome.

-No, it's been

great you're here.

-No, I think I overstayed.

You got to get

back to your life.

-Friends, huh?

-Well, yeah, sure.

-Of course.

-I'll call when I get settled.

-You don't have to go, Faye.

-Yeah, I do.

This has been great.

I was stupid with the phone.

I'm sorry.

You can't really think that.

Not anymore.

That they're all trade?

No. No, not anymore.

-Thank you for coming

all the way here.

-Hmm.

So, how are you, Len?

You care for a drink?

Dewar's on the rocks.

No, thank you.

-Do you want to look at that?

-No, you'll order.

-So, how are the children?

-Nice.

So, Simon is up holding

some wide receiver's hand?

Uh, yes, something like that.

I knew about that.

And I knew he'd tell

you because

that's just who he is,

his tragic flaw.

So now I want to know

what I can do for you.

-Like what?

-Like anything you need.

-Like what?

-Well, I'm here for you.

-To do what?

-I'm a good friend, Neille.

I know who you are.

I think you need to trust me.

Not sex, no.

But you trust me.

-Are you going to leave him?

-No.

I'm glad.

-You are?

-Yes, yes. Genuinely.

Have you a genuine bone

in your body, Len?

Oh, you wound me.

You got me in

your back pocket.

Anytime you need me, Neille.

All right.

Do you remember

that little Arabia story,

where the wife makes her

husband cover her with lira

before she'll

make love to him?

Is that your fantasy, Len?

Among the many.

-Oh, nice.

-Hmm.

-Champagne?

-No, but you go ahead.

Oh, I'm disappointed.

You don't drink anymore.

Not when I work.

I think I'm going to leave

that one just to bypass me.

Oh.

LEN: Don't take it off.

[SIGHS]

-You'd be amazed how

often I thought about you.

-Yeah?

How much I want

to make love to you.

Mmm.

-I do have some leverage,

you know?

-You do have.

No John's flat out,

make the best friends.

-You want to forget this?

-You're done, Len.

Are you serious?

You expect me to pay you?

Why would that change?

And why would

that be different now?

I don't believe this.

I'll see you, Len.

Where are you going?

Where are you going?

I'll see you, Len.

I don't care about the money.

NEILLE: Oh.

Oh, God.

Oh, yeah, that one.

Oh, yeah, that one.

[MOANING]

NEILLE: Oh, Len...

[SIGHS]

God, I love to look at you.

Love the way you move.

-Hi.

-Where were you?

-Where were you?

-Patsy, hi. Sorry, I'm late.

Sorry, I'm late.

-There's a bunch of calls.

-Yes? Here.

Simon called.

-There. Sure.

-Thank you, Mrs. Banesh.

-I'll see you guys. Bye.

-Bye.

Well, do I get a kiss or what?

We're too old to

have sitters anymore.

It's embarrassing.

-Okay. You're mad at me.

-MEGAN: Not me.

-We're too old for sitters.

-Hmm?

Well, we'll talk

about it later.

-A contractor called.

-Yes?

-The archi...

-NEILLE: The?

-The architect. Yeah.

-[SLOWLY] Architect.

Architect.

-Kobe called,

"Where are you?"

-Mmm-hmm.

-Barry called.

-Simon called.

-You know, I heard you.

-You can't reach him.

He was flying to Philadelphia.

Then he'll call back.

Where were you? You call.

You always call.

Well, I went into

Los Angeles to have lunch

with a friend of your Dad's

and I hit traffic.

I need a hug. Oh.

-And Grandma called.

-Ooh, Grandma? Wow.

I was in Los Angeles.

I was having a lunch

with Leonard.

I got caught in traffic.

I don't know why

she got so uptight.

She's 13 and having

a sitter insults her.

SIMON: Len just invited

you to lunch?

Mmm-hmm. Just like that.

-Are you telling me

something?

-NEILLE: No.

Are we in bad trouble?

You can't ask me those

questions right now, Simon.

-Don't throw this away.

-No.

I love you.

NEILLE: Please, Simon.

Bye.

[DIAL TONE]

ANSWERING MACHINE:

This is Dr. Gabriella Miller.

I'm sorry I can't take

your call right now,

but please leave

a message and I will

get back to you

-as soon as I'm able.

Thank you.

-[BEEP]

This is Neille Dornen.

Please call, please...

Call.

I need... I...

I need to talk with you.

Please call, all right?

[PHONE RINGING]

-Hello?

-GABRIELLA: Neille?

It's Gabriella.

Can you talk with me?

I'm scared.

I'm really scared.

I can hear that.

But you're going

to have catch me.

You're gonna have to

hang on to me because I'm...

I'm losing touch.

I'm getting lost.

My kids are here.

Neille, I have a patient now.

I'll have to call...

[SOBBING] Oh, God.

Don't hang up.

Please, don't hang up.

What's happened?

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

It's all back. I just...

-Talk to me!

-Neille...

Neille, I'll call you back

as soon as I have

a block of time.

Oh, I don't know if

I'll be able to wait.

I'll call you back today.

Yes. All right.

At 9:00, your time.

No, I can't. I can't wait.

Neille, I can give you

the number of someone out

there you can see.

No, I can't, I can't

do it all over again.

I can't start all over again.

Neille. Neille?

I'm not doing too good.

I hear how frightened you are.

Don't go away.

It's been a long time.

You survived for a

while by getting rid of

a part of yourself,

then suddenly it's coming

back at you full blow.

Well, just make it stop.

It must feel like it's

all coming apart.

That must be very, very scary.

-Oh, God!

-[DOOR OPENS]

Close the door,

go back to bed!

Close the door.

Neille? I will call you back

at 9:00 your time.

Close the door.

What's happening?

I'm just...

Please go back to bed.

It's all right.

It's going to be all right.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Come on in.

I won't shoot you.

I don't have a gun.

I don't remember.

Did you quit

or are you fired?

Whichever you say.

Stop leaving messages.

I gave up leaving messages.

Shame on you.

I'm sorry.

"Sorry" don't cut it, Neille.

We got a panic client

out there waiting for comps.

What, old Spanish days.

I sold the job on hand-tinted

archival photos.

Marsh can do it with his

eyes tied behind his back.

I have a copyright releases.

I don't care.

Look, it's your job.

Do what you want with it.

Just don't loss me up anymore.

I'll call him.

So, temporary lapse

we got here or what?

I don't know.

Don't count on me.

[PHONE RINGING]

MOLLY ON ANSWERING MACHINE:

This is the Banesh's.

We're not here to

take your call right now,

but if you'll leave

your name and number,

we'll call you back

as soon as we can.

[BEEP]

GABRIELLA: This is Gabriella.

I am returning Neille's call.

Come on in.

I got someone here.

Last minute, 300 bucks.

-Come on in.

-Uh, no. I'll come back later.

No, no. He's in the shower.

I share it with another girl.

It's okay, huh?

-A lot of bucks.

-[PHONE RINGING]

What do you think?

He brought these with him.

[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]

MAN: This is for Laurel.

It's, if...

I'm sorry.

I was hoping we

could do lunch and

a movie or something.

That's Lillian's number.

It took so long because

she's in Florida, in the Keys.

Thanks a million.

Listen, I don't want

you think that...

No, I don't think anything.

This is not who I am anymore.

I miss the money.

This is something

I know how to do.

-Something to fall back on.

-Yeah.

But once the work

starts coming in,

I'm going to kiss it goodbye.

It used to be

scotch and vodka.

Some Bourbon,

then it went to red wine,

then white wine.

Out here it's all mineral

water and diet soda

-and whatever's

fresh squeezed.

-[CHUCKLES]

-It's funny, huh?

-Yeah.

Now, with AIDS and everything,

it's all changed.

[DOOR CLOSES]

I've been with

some very big movie actors.

They're okay.

One was very nice.

The rest are pretty

much about themselves.

Now, I'm getting past

the age for them anyhow,

which is just fine by me.

They're more the

20-year-old airheads.

I'm there.

Thanks a million.

-You're looking for a place?

-A book.

Well, Lillian would know.

That's what I thought.

Don't be a stranger.

Oh, just take care

of yourself.

Always. I always take care

of number one.

JERI: It's a good book.

And you're getting

a small gold mine.

And I get a lot of

client-to-client referrals.

These men want someone

a little older,

someone who can talk.

They're all regulars.

You can set your watch by it.

It's all straight forward.

Nothing kinky.

Roger likes to clean house,

wants a lot of verbal abuse

so I made notes

on them specials.

Oh, there is one

couple that's pretty bizarre.

They're, uh, well

you can refer them

on if you like.

It's just... I've known

them for a very long time.

They're very funny, very rich.

Little old people

who come through L.A.

once or twice a year.

Thank you.

No, thank you.

You and Lillian old friends?

Yes, we work together.

Well, she said

you're very, very good.

Yes, I am very good.

I need you a 3:00 at the

Charlestown. Do you want it?

That's terrific. Fine.

I just sold you

20 years of my life.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

[ELEVATOR DOOR CLOSES]

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

-I'm playing tonight.

-Oh.

-And please sit down.

-Hmm.

Oh, would you like

some champagne?

No, thank you,

but, um, you go ahead.

Do you know who I am?

Well, yes, of course I do.

I've heard you play.

Your name isn't Bree.

-No.

-It's not a name.

Bridgett.

Have you been

with anyone else today?

Yes.

Take off your clothes.

I want so much to

be with you right now.

This is very special.

Why don't we get business

out of the way

so we don't have

to think about it anymore?

-Hello?

-Hello.

Did you know you're

having dinner at Norbert's

at 8:30 with Kobe and Alice?

And Simon's coming straight

from the office so he'll meet

you there, for your birthday.

-Which is not until?

-Not our time with you.

-It's cats and dogs

out there.

-I know, tons.

And do you know who

wants to have you for

a few weeks?

-I'm not going.

-Who? Where?

-Your grandmother,

your grandparents.

-MOLLY: I don't wanna go.

-I do.

-And you with us?

-Not this trip.

-We aren't going.

Why not? I can go.

Why can't I go?

And they haven't

seen you in an age.

You'll have a great time.

-They'll spoil you rotten.

-You spoil us rotten.

-I certainly do not.

-You try and buy us.

That is unfair.

She doesn't.

How can you want

to send us away?

MEGAN: She doesn't

want to send you away.

I don't want to send you away.

Don't we get

to talk about this?

I mean, are we supposed

to talk about this?

We were talking about it,

I don't wanna send you away.

I never think it,

never think it.

You don't have to go.

It's an invitation,

we'll all just beg off, okay?

LEN: So the team wants

to establish the paradigm

of the sleezoid,

greedy agent,

but your basic pimp

is do you know what your

son does for a living.

So Simon turns

the paradigm on its head.

Altruistic, ethical attorney,

compassionate,

role model athlete.

Hmm.

-Praise to the face.

-Is an open disgrace.

-Well, um, today

at the hairdressers.

-LEN: An anecdote?

-Mmm-mmm, this is a fable.

-A fable.

The woman who was sitting

in the next chair,

she says to Guy or Claude,

or whatever his name is,

"My husband forgot

to leave me cash today.

"Well, that's gonna

cost him $1,000

"because I'm gonna

go shopping."

[CHUCKLING]

The game is always

played the same.

No matter how

it starts off, love,

it always ends up

a trade-off,

with one side trying

to maintain an advantage

over another.

Well, that's,

present company accepted...

Didn't I say that?

Happy Birthday, happy birthday

to my beautiful, patient,

enigmatic wife.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

-Happy birthday, dear.

-NEILLE: Thank you

all for coming.

You are my closest

and dearest friends.

And when you feel valued,

you feel loved

and I am valued.

-Hear, hear.

-And you're loved.

Hear, hear.

[KOBE LAUGHS]

So, Kobe, are you two

snowed under with work?

I don't know, well,

I'll let you feel

that one, Neille.

Well, there's always too much

and never enough.

Is that fair to say?

KOBE: That's fair to say.

-Thank you for my party.

-My pleasure.

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

You want some help with that?

I want you to come with me.

Well, I can't I'm sorry,

I have to stay with the girls.

I thought they were going

over to your mother's?

-No, they don't want to.

-Why?

Well, it's Molly, really.

She needs what

she needs right now.

What does that mean?

She needs to be home.

What do you need?

What I have.

I mean, it's not like

it's a piece of cake

with my parents.

Oh, come on.

They're nuts about those kids.

NEILLE: Don't get them

confused with your

parents, Simon.

Mine are still trying

to get it right.

But they like you,

you're always quite the catch,

you know, a feather in my cap.

Even my father will feel

better about himself.

What was that going on

between you and Kobe?

Oh, you know, Kobe.

No.

I don't really know Kobe.

-I'm not there anymore.

-What?

-I'm taking some time off.

-How long ago was this?

I don't know,

a few weeks ago.

And you didn't think it

was important to tell me?

I didn't think so, no.

Oh, this ground is feeling

really slippery to me.

Simon, look, I told you now.

So let's not

make a thing of it.

What do you do with your time?

I don't know, I fill it.

I don't care what you do,

you can do what you want.

I don't care what you do.

I can afford to

take care of my family,

that's not the point.

I'm sorry,

I didn't tell you.

We do talk every so often.

Well, not so much

the past month.

-Whose fault is that?

-Mine, my fault.

I can't be guilty

forever, Neille.

What do you want

to know, Simon?

Nothing.

My God, we don't

even know how to fight.

MAN OVER ANSWERING MACHINE:

Hello, Bree? My lunch

was canceled tomorrow.

I wonder if we can

get together at,

say, noon?

I know its last minute.

Give me a call.

Let me see you.

Let me see you.

-Thanks.

-Yeah.

Uh...

Davies Truin, he says

a lot of good stuff about you.

He says a lot of

good stuff about you too.

Well, he's a great wide

receiver, fantastic athlete.

I guess he was two years

ahead of me at Michigan.

SIMON: So people starting

to crawl all over you, huh?

Oh, yeah, man.

You get a little rep

and all of a sudden

they're coming

out of the woodwork.

Well, when you get nominated

for the Heisman Trophy,

that stuff's gonna happen.

You play your senior year

like you did the last two,

you're gonna be the

first round draft choice.

These guys are gonna want

you in their pocket.

Your life's gonna

turn upside down.

Davies says I should

give you a call.

He says that

if I'm the best,

I should have the best.

Well, Davies has a way

with words then.

GIRL: Thank you, Mrs. Banesh.

NEILLE: Oh, you're welcome.

Grace will pick

you up after school.

My mother's picking us up.

-Well, Grace would

be at the house.

-Okay.

-You nervous?

-No.

It's all going

too fast for me.

-How?

-I don't know.

I have forgotten so much.

And I'll never have it back.

I liked being little girl.

I liked wanting

to marry Simon.

Hug me.

Oh...

-Mommy?

-Mmm?

I don't always feel safe.

[GIRLS SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

GIRL: I feel pretty,

so let's go.

[GIRLS SINGING]

[GIRLS LAUGHING]

[GIRLS SINGING INDISTINCTLY]

Excuse me.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

VIVIAN:

Was that one or two sugars?

NEILLE: Uh, no sugars.

It's not mandatory, you know,

that you do the cocaine.

-Jeri never did,

but we like to provide it.

-[COUGHING]

-Are you all right?

-He's fine. Aren't you, dear?

Yes.

Frances always

thought Jeri was the best.

-We travel. Rome,

London, Tangier.

-Tangier was good.

Yes.

But Frances always thought

Jeri was the best.

-Tangier was good.

-Yes.

Doesn't she look like Elena?

Elena is our daughter.

-Not really.

-Oh, but there's

something. Look.

Look.

This is Elena,

and these are

my grandchildren.

A handsome family,

don't you think?

Shall we get business

out of the way?

We shall like to keep

you for the afternoon.

First, we take a hot tub

and then we come back inside,

gag Frances,

then tie him to the bed.

-NEILLE: What do you do?

-Well, I watch.

FRANCES:

She's a screamer,

my Vivian.

Couch detective came

closed us down one night,

remember, Viv?

Yeah.

Oh, you're going to

disappoint us, aren't you?

-Yes, I'm afraid, so.

-Oh.

Well, do you think you

can reach Charlie for us,

she'd come sometimes with Jeri

and party with us.

Yes, I will, I'll try.

-Is she leaving?

-Yes, Frances.

-What's gonna happen?

-She's going to try to

find Charlie for us.

[DOOR CLOSES]

I remember Charlie.

Charlie was good.

[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]

HEIDI: Bree, it's Heidi.

Can you get to the

Waterton at 3:00?

I really need

the favor, say yes.

Jeans and a t-shirt.

[DOOR OPENS]

-NEILLE: I'm Bree.

-I'm Larry, come on in.

-Sit down,

you want a drink?

-No, thanks.

-So, you're from out here?

-Yes.

-Really out here?

-No.

Take off your hat.

I thought you'd be younger.

No, I'm not.

You know,

I'd feel much happier

if you take a drink.

Listen, uh...

You know, I just...

Let's just forget this.

-No problem.

-Why would I want to forget?

Well, I guess you're all

coked up, you've been drinking

and not a whole lot's

gonna happen.

Let's give it a shot.

And I'm not what

you're looking for.

I think you're great.

Okay, sure.

The $300 is on the table.

Don't touch the money!

-I'd like to get

business out...

-Don't touch it.

You're gonna get your money.

But I don't want the money,

I don't want the gig.

Let's call it a wash.

And you don't want trouble.

Go on.

Give me some trouble.

I own you for an hour.

[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]

MAN: Hi, Bree.

It's Len Sellers,

give me a call when

you get a moment.

Thanks, bye.

Mmm.

[SNIFFS]

Oh...

[SIGHS]

Faye, it's Neille.

I was beaten up by a John.

Can you take

my calls for a few days?

Mmm.

SIMON: Where were you?

NEILLE:

Oh... Oh, I'm sorry,

I fell asleep.

-Where were you?

-I was at Faye's

and I fell asleep.

Well, we don't have

to talk in the dark.

When are you going away again?

[SCOFFS] What?

I don't think I'm ready

for this conversation.

I like to sleep on it because

we're in trouble, Simon,

you know, we're in

serious, serious trouble.

And, um, I need

a clear head for that.

What is it, Neille?

I don't think I'd be much

good to you tonight.

Where were you?

It's a simple question.

I was asleep,

it's a simple answer.

You got two kids here.

They're your kids.

Nobody seems to know

where to find you.

Well, you know, you're right

about that. No contest.

I'm on your side.

-Is it somebody else?

-No.

-Is that the truth?

-Yes, I...

Simon, I need to go to bed.

Have you been with Len?

No.

Anytime, have you made love

with Len anytime?

No.

You're not sure.

I had to give it some thought.

Why is that?

Let me go to bed, Simon.

Hey, you owe me.

You owe me somehow.

I owe everything, Simon.

Just everything.

Owe you! I owe you everything.

You want to know

if I've been with Leonard?

Yes, I have been, Leonard.

Wanna know if I've

had sex with Leonard?

Yes, I had sex with Leonard.

I will probably have sex with

Leonard next week because

I am a whore, Simon.

-[GRUNTS]

-No, pay attention.

Pay attention to this.

No, listen you wanted

to get in to this.

Don't get hang up on Leonard.

Leonard is just another John.

I'm a hooker, Simon,

I'm a working girl.

I sell my body,

money for services,

on call,

I'm a whore, Simon.

I am a whore.

And I just got punched out

by a client tonight

and I hurt.

[CRYING]

And I'm sorry.

Oh, Simon. I'm so sorry.

Megan?

Dad, it's Neille.

Let me talk to Mom.

I know what time it is.

No, don't hang up.

Just wake her.

She'll be up in

half an hour anyway.

Wake her, damn it!

-[SIGHS]

-[CAR ENGINE TURNS OVER]

Ma, hi, um...

I want you to come out

for a few weeks, okay?

[CAR DEPARTING]

No, just do it.

To some time with

your grandchildren.

You say you always

want to spend time with

your grandchildren.

Ma, I need you

to come out here, just you.

He'll survive.

When was the last time

I ever asked you for anything?

Yeah, I'm in trouble.

Ma?

[SIGHS] Ma, I...

I'm sending the ticket, okay?

I'm sending it, Ma.

You don't need to make

arrangements just get

on the plane, okay?

[SIGHS]

[ENGINE TURNS OVER]

[INDISTINCT TALKING]

[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT

OVER P.A.]

NEILLE:

Well, thanks a bunch.

No, I didn't give

you a chance.

I didn't let you say no.

Yeah.

Yes, I do understand.

It's all right, Ma. I...

It's all right, Mother.

MAN: What are you doing?

You're not supposed

to do that.

I don't want you to do that.

[BANGING]

[GROANING]

[SOBBING]

This is beautiful,

very, very classy.

When could I have it?

NEILLE: Your convenience.

-Just one bedroom?

-Yes.

-Where do you sleep?

-I sleep at home.

I don't know how

Charlie does it.

Charlie's only got

one bedroom.

A house set for her.

I couldn't sleep in there.

It was too crowded.

Too many entities.

Today we were going

through the cleaning

out of shockers and stuff

and my counselor told me

I had to limit the sex

partners to five a week.

I had this one guy

that I just talk to him.

I have to pretend

he's the pizza delivery man

and I'm the housewife.

Or, he's the furniture guy

and I don't know

how I'm gonna make

the payment on my sofa.

He's the saddest,

sweetest guy.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

-Hi.

-Hello.

-Well, come on in, Leonard.

-Oh.

Hmm.

You want something to drink?

[SIGHS] Some white

wine is fine.

-I have Champagne.

-Oh, that's better.

NEILLE: How did you

find this number?

Well, that's my little secret.

It's so easy, Neille.

Cheers.

I'm giving it up.

Oh, again?

Starting with you.

I don't know what to say.

NEILLE: You don't have

to say anything.

Well, I'm mildly ticked off.

I wanted to see you,

I wanted you to know

that Simon knows.

-Simon knows what?

-About this, about you.

-How?

-It came up.

Oh, it just came up?

No, he asked me, Len.

He asked me specifically

about you.

And you told him that

we had an affair.

No, we never had

an affair, Leonard.

For God's sake, Neille.

I mean... [CHUCKLES]

The man is my best friend.

I mean, I kept the confidence.

I never betrayed

your confidence.

-You're a good lawyer.

-I didn't deserve that.

You're a saint.

Has he left you?

I think so, yes.

You know, you burned

your bridges, fine,

but you did not have

permission to burn mine.

What, how would you

do that to me?

What earthly purpose

did it serve?

It had nothing

to do with you, Len.

-I'm sorry if you're upset.

-Are you?

I don't think so,

I don't think you give a damn.

The man was my friend.

He is my husband.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[FAUCET RUNNING]

NEILLE: Take care.

Have a safer trip, Faye.

-Which one are you?

-MOLLY: Molly.

Warm.

NEILLE: In the dream,

I was holding a rope

and a boat was pulling me

through the water.

Then somebody cut the rope.

I thought I would drown.

If I try to stay

above water, if I try,

I would drown anyway.

The shore was so far away.

I was afraid

I was going to die.

-I'm not going to die.

-No.

I used to think

he wished me dead.

Who?

I could disappear

in front of his eyes.

There was no excuse

for me, for my sister, for me.

We ended the line,

we were proof of failure.

We were lousy trophies.

We were children.

-That was very confusing.

-I would imagine.

It's very sad you

had to take that on.

You know what I did

with the money?

I sent it to my father.

Envelopes full of cash,

no note, no return address.

I know they're piled

in the back of a drawer

somewhere.

Back out of sight.

He'll never touch them.

You enjoy that?

Hmm. Being little kid, huh?

Got some of my own back.

Not nice.

Nice?

What kind of word is that?

-Hi.

-Hi.

Kobe's not here right now.

Do you want to wait?

He's with a client.

I'm Tracy.

-I'm Neille Banesh.

-[CHUCKLES] I know

who you are.

Do you want to wait?

He was due back at 10:30,

I guess they ran over.

-I don't think so.

-Well, why don't you

try back at 2:00?

-He has to be back at 2:00.

-Maybe I'll do that.

TRACY: I'm a big fan

of your work.

-I've seen a lot of your work.

-Well, thank you.

It's okay. The art's great.

-[PHONE RINGING]

-Mmm.

-I thought you're

coming back at 2:00.

-I said, I might.

-That was a week ago, Monday.

-Mmm-hmm.

[SIGHS] Uh...

Come on over here.

Let me take a look at you.

You've lost weight.

-Oh, no, gained some.

-[KOBE CHUCKLES]

What do you think of Tracy?

-NEILLE: Well,

she's got great taste.

-[CHUCKLES]

-She likes your work.

-Well...

-Oh, she told you.

-Yes. [LAUGHS]

Well, it's good.

It's good work.

I decided I'm getting

too old to do my

own grunt work.

-Tracy is doing

all the production.

-Oh.

What I'm saying...

She hasn't replaced you.

Well, I hoped,

I Hoped that you were

overloaded with work.

[LAUGHS]

I pray for too much work.

I hoped you had something

you wanted to farm out.

I love you,

but I can't trust you.

Once, shame on you.

Twice, shame on me.

Okay.

-Alice had the baby.

-Sorry, I meant to ask.

Yeah, little girl.

October the 15th,

Sylvie, yeah.

-How's Alice?

-Ah, she's great.

She is a great woman.

And Simon?

Simon is well.

I think Simon is well.

-Away?

-Way away.

Really away.

-Permanently?

-I think pretty permanently.

Well, always good to see you.

Neille, I'm not going

to throw you any bones.

You wanna

come back to work,

just come out and say it.

I'd never turn you away.

Not my nature.

When I was working,

sometimes right after,

only sometimes,

it felt, sometimes...

I felt I was in the

eye of the storm.

And what was that like?

A state of grace...

Sacrilege.

It was never about sex.

I never felt...

Yes?

Is that true?

Yes, um...

-No, control.

-Control?

That exacts such a price,

to feel in control.

No, to be in control.

You control the sex,

you control the Johns,

you control the beating.

Is that what you're saying?

-No, you can't understand.

-Perhaps not.

I'm trying to understand

if that's what you believe.

You felt in control,

very big and in control.

What you were hiding

is that scared child.

That wounded child.

That's what needs mending,

who needs healing.

She can't control anything.

Do you know

she isn't hateful?

She isn't worthless?

Oh, I know.

I know.

Bye, Grandma.

Bye, Rae.

All right.

Hi.

-Hi.

-Hi.

Surprise.

Well, they're still

grandparents at the moment.

-It's really, really good

to see you two.

-Thanks.

It's good to see you.

All right, why don't

you two go wait

in the car, okay?

Just wait in the car.

When are you coming

back home?

He's not coming back home.

-What did we do?

-Wait in the car, okay?

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

-Sorry.

-Why?

-Rotten timing.

-Oh.

So, what...

What's happening in your life?

I'm getting well,

getting better.

I didn't know you were ill.

I'm back with Kobe.

Oh, good.

They had a girl, Sylvie.

Number five.

[SIGHS] Faye is dead.

Oh, I'm sorry. How?

Well, nobody knows really.

She was doing drugs.

She fell into a sink,

she drowned.

Absurd, absurd way to die.

Alone and absurd.

But that was Faye all over.

Right.

Uh, I can't bear

to look at you.

It breaks my heart

to look at you.

I tried to clean you

out of me.

I tried to rip you

out of me.

I can't grasp it.

My mind won't allow

me to grasp it.

[SIGHS]

Boy. You lose some,

you lose some.

It really wasn't

about you, Simon.

It was, it was safe

for me there.

You were

in a safe place, Simon.

Not for me, not anymore.

Our marriage

wasn't a safe place.

Safe now?

Simon, I have to...go.

The girls are waiting for me.

NEILLE: You know,

the truth is, Simon,

you got what you saw.

I really think so, you know?

-[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

-[ENGINE TURNS OVER]

[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]

SIMON: Neille, are you there?

[BEEP]

Neille, are you there?

[BEEP]

Neille, are you there?

She's just happier

than the rest,

I mean, I do my damndest,

but she's sickeningly happy.

KOBE: Just the attention

she gets

from all the other ones,

that's all.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Sorry.

I keep looking for you.

You want me?

I can't make you safe.

Say you want me.

I can't.

What, you don't want me

or you can't,

you can't say it?

Got away from us,

didn't it?

There's something in you,

I couldn't reach.

I can't get there.

I don't want to get there now,

I don't need to.

-I think we're

supposed to try this.

-Oh.

I think we're

supposed to try it.

-I think that's

what's supposed to happen.

-No, I don't think so.

I won't let go.

It's dark without you.

It's empty.

Dark and...

What, what...

Shattered. Alone.

Help me out here.

-I can't.

-Yes, you can.

I see you, I'm here.

Give that a chance.

We've got something.

We have something here.

You think I don't see you?

There's so much

goodness in you,

there's so much

goodness in you.

You know, I never for one

single solitary moment...

-Stopped...

-Stopped loving you.