We Don't Live Here Anymore (2004) - full transcript

HANK:
You want
another drink?

Uh, I think
we're out of beer.

We out of beer?

You're empty.
I'll go get some.

EDITH:
I'll go.

TERRY:
No, I'll go.
I don't care.

EDITH:
No, I'll go.
I could use the air.

[MATATA'S "JUNGLE WARRIOR"
PLAYING]

* Whoa ohhh *

* Ooh-whoa ohhh *

* Ooh-whoa ohhh *



* Jungle warrior *

["JUNGLE WARRIOR"
CONTINUES PLAYING]

* Ooh-whoa ohhh *

Wait.

What are we doing?

I don't know.

Should we stop this?

Stop what?

Oh, my God.

Should we stop?
No.

Yeah, I don't ever wanna stop.
I don't either.

I'll meet you tomorrow
at 12 at Shane's.

Yeah, okay.
All right.

Okay.



[KEYS JANGLE,
ENGINE STARTS]

Bye, you guys!

All right. Good night.

Come here!
What?

Come here. Get in here!
What?

What do you
Terry,

what's the matter?

Listen to me. No more
of this crap, all right?

From now on, we act
like a married couple.

No more flirting around.
You understand me?

No. How could I?

Who could understand such
a flaming pile of bullshit?

Oh, Jack.

Come on.
Don't play dumb.

Please.
Terry...

Hey, why don't
you have some wine?

Because we've been drinking gin
and I don't want wine.

Let's not talk about this now.

Let's talk about this
in the morning.

You're drunk
and we're gonna fight

and you have that look of yours.

Forget that look of mine.

Let's talk about
you and Edith.

The little trips
you take.

These damn errands.

Huh? Somebody runs out
of something.

Some goddamn egg rolls

and off you go,
you and Edith.

Egg rolls

Egg rolls?

What are you
talking about?

You know what?

You shouldn't leave me
with Hank like that

and put me
in that position.

What position, Terry?

Jack, listen to me...
What?

...something's going on.

I mean, either
you want it to...

or it is.

That is such a lot
of horseshit, okay?

What is wrong

with me and Edith going off
to get a goddamn

six

What are you really
worried about, Terry?

It's you and Hank being
left alone here together.

That's what it is.

I see you two together.

You're horny for Hank.
Oh, please.

Am I supposed to feel guilty
because of that?

I'm horny for my husband.

Jesus Christ, Terry,
we're not a couple

of fucking honeymooners
anymore, for chrissakes.

Why aren't we?!

We've been married so long

that you're bored,
is that it?

Terry--
No, is that what it is?

Because you can leave any time.
Terry--

Maybe you and I should sit down
and talk about

how long this thing's gonna
last between you and me.

Terry! I am not going anywhere!

It's fine.
The kids will be fine.

If you're suffering--
I am not suffering.

If this is such
a disappointment to you--

Jesus Christ, you're
the only wife that I know

that actually gets pissed off
at her husband

for not hanging on her
at a party!

Other husbands
touch their wives!

Do you see Hank fondling Edith
every second?

Hank doesn't love her.

He told me while you were out.

He said that to you?

Yeah.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

Why? Why did he
tell you that?

He told-- I-I don't know.
He just said it.

So, what were you guys doing?

He just blurted that out?
Seems odd.

We were talking.

How else do people
tell each other things?

Well, usually when people say
things like that,

they're doing other things.

Yeah, I was blowing him
on the porch. What do you care?

I don't. As long as
you tell me the truth.

The truth?

Jack, you won't even
admit the truth.

You don't really love me.
Terry.

It's not true.
You don't love me.

It's never been true.

I'll tell you something!
You don't love me!

When you say shit like that,
for one minute, it is the truth.

Do you understand me?

Fuck you!
Aah!

Fuck you!

Goddamn it.

[CAT MEOWS,
DOGS BARKING]

TERRY:
Fucker!

TERRY:
Bastard!

CHILD:
Give it!

CHILD 2:
I'm trying to concentrate.

Nyah, nyah,
nyah, nyah.

[CHILD 2 YELLS
INDISTINCTLY]

[CHILD 2 YELLS
INDISTINCTLY]

Oh, shit.

CHILD:
Dad!

[BEETHOVEN'S "1ST SYMPHONY"
PLAYING]

ELF :
Be careful with
your new shoes, boy.

They're slippery.

CHILD:
Stop it! You're making
too much noise.

Oh.

Oh, shit.

CHILD:
Mom!

Stop it!

Come back here!

Stop it!

Mom!

Stop!

Mom!
What?!

[BEETHOVEN'S "1ST SYMPHONY"
CONTINUES PLAYING]

Go to school.

It's summer.
I don't have to.

You go to school.

It's Saturday.
I don't have to.

So, what are you
gonna do today?

Make up stories.

Why?

Uh, make people laugh,
make people cry.

But why?

Hey, have you seen
my keys?

EDITH:
Yeah, they're up here.

The sitter's coming over
in a couple hours,

then I'm gonna go out,
do some things.

All right. I'm gonna go run with
Jack after I finish writing.

Okay.
I'll see you at dinner.

Okay.

Hey.

Have a good day.

You too.

CHILD 2:
Ha-ha, I'm beating you.

CHILD:
Ha-ha, I beat you.

No, I'm
beating you.

Hey.

JACK:
Yeah?

You want lunch
or breakfast?

What do you got?

Just cereal
if you want breakfast.

But if you want lunch,

I could get us lobsters.
Just for you and me.

Kids don't like
them anyway.

I can't, I'm in a hurry.
I'm taking the car in.

It'll just take half an hour.

I need the car there by 12.

You have to?

If I want
the work done, yeah.

Well, what's the work?

Oil and a lube.

Oh, it doesn't take
very long, so...

Terry, those guys
have got work to do,

and they want the car now
or not at all.

They don't care
if you want lobster.

But if you do want one,
you should get it before I go.

JACK:
You petulant son of a bitch.

Just make love to your wife
and have a fucking lobster.

Well, I don't want one
by myself.

Why? You don't think
it'd taste as good?

You know what I mean.

You want Cheerios or Grape

Grape-Nuts, please.

Dickhead.

CHILD:
I'm working on that.

[BEETHOVEN'S "1ST SYMPHONY"
PLAYING]

Ah, fuck!

Jesus Christ.

Sean!

Sean, cease and desist, man.

You slept late.
Yeah,

because it's Saturday.

It's because you were up late.
You guys were fighting.

Oh, yeah?
What did you hear?

Yelling and swear words.
Then you left.

You know what, guys?

Grownups fight,
especially married ones.

You want me to make
something to eat?

I could eat a horse.

I could eat a horse.

Give that to your brother.

Mmm.

If I promise not to get fat,
can I keep our baby?

Want dessert too?

Do we even have any?

We never have dessert.

Oh, I'm a stupid papa.

I'll pick some up
on the way home.

Where are you going?

I'm going to get the car fixed.

Can I go to get the car fixed?

No, because I'm gonna go running
with Hank afterwards.

We don't mind.
We'll watch you.

Noooo.

Oh, it's Mama!

I want us to start
having desserts, Momma.

Yay, desserts!

We never have desserts.

I'm off.
O...kay.

Did you get enough to eat?
JACK: Yep.

SEAN: Bye, Dad.
See you.

How come Daddy likes desserts
and you don't?

Because Daddy's a daddy
and Mommy's a mommy.

Mom!

Honey, uh...

we're different people.

We're not the same,
we're different.

Hey.

You sign up
for summer classes?

Sure. Why not?

Oh, man.

If I were you...

I'd be at the beach every hour
of every day this summer.

I have to make up some credits.

No, anyone who looks like you
doesn't have to do anything.

See you, Mr. Evans.

Enjoy!

Won't last forever.

Yeah, just check the oil and...
Mm-hmm.

do a little lube job if you can.
Sure.

I'm just gonna go on a couple of
errands with my wife over here.

In the car over there.
All right. Okay.

We'll be back to pick
it up at, what, 2?

Duck. I think he's on to you.

EDITH:
Maybe I should start
smoking your brand.

Maybe we should ask your
husband to babysit our kids

while we go off
and fuck.

He'd be glad to.
Yeah. Well, she wouldn't.

I think he wants
to have sex with her.

Why?
Why?

Yeah.
Because he likes her

and she's pretty.

And he hasn't had any strange
pussy since that French cunt.

I mean, why do you think
he wants to?

Because of the way
he looks at her

and the way he looked at us when
we came back from buying beer.

Oh, yeah?
And how was that?

Sheepish.
Hmm.

Does that bother you?

Me? No.

Good. We can all babysit
for each other.

"She blooms, she blooms.
And in May, so hurt."

In May, I was alone.

Mmm.

Mmm.

Stinky.

Oh. You'll get sunburnt.

No.

And then you'll get caught.

I should keep the sun off.

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

Oh, come on.
I'm done.

Yes, you can.
I'm old. I'm old.

I'm wasted.

Ohhh.

Have you eaten enough?

Hmm?

I don't know. Let me see.

I mean food.

Yeah.

Yeah, I had Grape-Nuts.

I got up late.

Yeah.

You know, you ought to
live with me.

I'd feed you
better than that.

Oh, she feeds me okay.

She gives me what I want.

It's a sublimely
happy marriage.

Stop.

I wonder
how we'll get caught.

Hank'll smell you
on me at the gym.

No, I mean Terry.

If Hank caught us,
I wouldn't care.

I wouldn't stop
unless you wanted to,

but you probably would.

Wouldn't you?

No, I wouldn't.

Yeah, you would.

What? Don't you think
he's gonna notice?

Well, if he does,
it'd be a miracle.

Oh, come on, Jack.

You're talking like he's
Charlie Chan or something.

Like he gives a shit.

Sometimes I think--

Sometimes you
think what?

Hmm?

Sometimes I think
that I love you

even more than
I think that I do,

which is a lot.

"Which is a lot"?

Impotent as you are?

Give me a cigarette.

My last one.

Until...

Till, uh...

I don't know.
I'll call you.

I'm just gonna grab this,
okay?

I'm gonna go home,
take a nap,

keep the sitter
another hour.

Ah.

EDITH:
You're okay
with that?

BABYSITTER:
No, that's okay.

Good, thanks.

Hi, Mom.

Hey.

Mommy.

What?

Mom, stop it.

Okay, okay.

What's this?

It's a show.

Yeah, I know it's a show,
honey,

but what show is it?

Space.
Hmm.

Do you wanna go into space
someday, sweetheart?

No, unless--

I don't want to go to space
unless Daddy goes and you too.

Of course Daddy and I
would go with you.

Then, okay.

[ASTRONAUTS SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY OVER TV]

ASTRONAUT:
...agree with that, over?

ASTRONAUT 2:
I, uh, definitely agree
with this.

[ASTRONAUTS CONTINUE
SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Houston, I think
we got a satellite.

It's quite a sight.

Okay, copy that, D26-33, full
proof in about five minutes.

Complete step-down.
That looks good. Thanks.

Okay. So I don't need it.

The beta alignment key
is obviously in place.

Go for rotate.

All right, thank you.

You can't write, you old fuck.
Let's go for a run.

One goddamn page.

One page in four hours?
That's sad.

Only three hours, 46 minutes.

Think I'd waste an entire
four hours on one goddamn page?

Ugh.

Let's run.

Ugh!

Ugh, ugh,
ugh, ugh, ugh!

Ugh! Mm! Mm!

I take it you quit.

Goddamn right, goddamn it.

What's this?
The eighth, ninth time?

The last time!
They're pissing me off.

They're trying
to kill me.

Ugh. Cigarettes don't
have souls, Jack.

They don't mean you
any harm.

Ha, ha, ha!

Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo!

Easy, sailor.

You all right there,
princess?

Yeah, I'm fine,
you competitive prick.

You sure?

You're a little screwed up
this summer.

Oh, yeah

Yep.

I should've worked
this summer, man.

Yeah, maybe. Maybe not.

Could use the money.

Ah, you need to work more.

You know, a man should be able
to live idly with himself

for a couple of months

without losing
his fucking mind.

Yeah.

Try writing.

I have.

I'm a reader, not a writer.

A pussy, not a fighter.

[DALE WATSON'S "IF IT'S OVER"
PLAYING]

* If it's over, say it's over *

Jesus, man.
Just smoke it.

You're hopeless.

You must smell like
an ashtray to Terry.

Does Edith to you?

No, not everywhere.

I haven't touched one
since Jeanne.

Ah, yes, Jeanne.

Yeah, got me smoking
fuckin' French cigarettes.

Make anybody want to quit.

* If it's over... *

Did you end up seeing her
before she left?

Yeah, I saw her.

Well, you remember when I went
to New York to see my agent?

I was in Portland.

Oh, man.

Airport, tears...

that was very romantic.

I think about running into her
in Paris in 10 years.

Jesus, man!

What can I say?
I'm dedicated.

I refuse to let anyone
go unloved.

Betty.

* Don't let me down easy *

* Let me down fast *

SEAN: Mom!
What?

* If you hold the heartache
The longer it lasts *

Mom.
Don't hit her with that bat.

So why didn't you
leave her, Hank?

Who?

Edith.

Why would I do that?

Because you're in love
with another woman.

Jesus, Jack, this isn't
the Middle Ages here.

What? It's happened.

Men have left their wives
for other women and been happy.

Until they start cheating
on their new wife.

Sure, whatever.

Aw, it's no use talking to you.

Why?

You're too nice a guy to fuck
somebody without feeling love.

Am I right?
Right.

So doing it with someone
with love in the mix,

you'd use as proof
you didn't love Terry?

What, have you been talking
to my mistress?

Look, just...
love everybody you can.

Love your kids. Love your wife.
Keep the peace.

Then once, just once...

try fucking somebody else
just 'cause it feels good.

Your wife, you know,

may be living exactly
according to these principles.

That's her business, Hank.

Oh, brave words.

But true.

What brought all this on,
anyway?

I don't know.
Nothing, I guess.

Just see you're unhappy,
and I want you to be happy.

JACK:
I have a girl,
so Terry gets a lobster.

We get a bottle of wine,
and the kids get this shit.

Oh, shit.

Come on, take it.

* If there's a way to say
I love you *

Come in for a quick one.

Oh, no, I'm late.

Come on.
I shouldn't.

[CARTOON PLAYING
OVER TV]

[VEGETABLES CRUNCHING,
KNIFE THUMPING]

SHARON:
Dad!

Brought home a present.

HANK:
Drink?

JACK:
Okay, we're goin' to 10.

That's two.

SEAN: No, that's three.
JACK: Okay, three.

Four.

Dad, when is it my turn?

Never.

You don't know how to pitch.

In a little while, Natasha.
TERRY: Hey, gang.

Let's go for a bike ride.

JACK:
No, we're playing
catch.

NATASHA:
Please!

Come on.

Come on, Natasha.
It's late.

Oh, come on, Jack.
It's not that late.

Yeah! Let's go to the river.

SEAN: Whoo-whoo-whoo!
NATASHA: Yay!

Fine! Let's ride bikes.

NATASHA:
Come on, Mom.

You know what, honey, you go
with Daddy. I got stuff to do.

JACK:
Sean, get your helmet on.

[BAGPIPES PLAYING
IRISH JIG]

[BAGPIPES CONTINUE PLAYING
IRISH JIG]

Hey, what's the name
of this dance?

WOMAN:
"The Angry Housewife."

What is that?

The Death of Ivan Ilyich.

I'm thinking of teaching it
this fall.

Oh.

I was crazy the other night.
I'm sorry.

It's okay.

I shouldn't have
gotten drunk.

Forget it.

No, I gotta grow up.

What, grownups
aren't violent?

TERRY:
Not with their husbands.

JACK:
Read the newspapers.

Women murder their husbands
every day.

Not people like us.

The other night,
did Hank make a pass?

Yeah.

But he was drinking.

And what? You're pretty.

Hank collects pretty women.

HANK:
Do you know
how much I love you?

Yes.

It's not just that.
It's more than that.

It's what?

It's how far you've come.

How strong you've gotten.

Do you know what I mean?

Well?

"Well," what?

Well, what did he do?

None of your business.

All right, then,
what did you do?

Nothing.

Come on.

He tried to kiss me
on the porch, so I went inside.

Where

In the kitchen.

To get a glass of wine.

So he followed you
into the kitchen, and...?

And he told me he loved me.

And he kissed me

and said he didn't love Edith,

and I felt dirty,

and we went outside
and sat on the front steps.

Dirty because...

what he said about Edith,
or because...?

Yeah. Edith's my friend.

She's sweet. She doesn't
deserve that bullshit.

I don't want to be
any part of it.

But before that
you were all right?

I wanna know
what you did.

Hey, can we stop this?

Or, uh...do you wanna know

if his nose was to the left
or to the right of mine

when he kissed me?

You remember?

Yeah, we were lying
on the floor,

and he was on my right,

so I guess his nose
was to the left of me.

You were lying on the floor.
Goodness gracious me.

I was squatting down
to get my gla--

Shut up.

What? I'm just kidding.

No, you're not, Jack.

You're glad he kissed me.

Let's just say
I'm not disturbed by it.

Well, I am!

Okay.

Jack.

TERRY: Hey.

Jack.

TERRY: Look at me.

Look at me.

JACK:
"It occurred to him

"that what had seemed
impossible before,

"that he had not spent his life
as he should have,

might, after all, be true."

Hey.

Let's go.

Wake up.

You want some pancakes?

SEAN:
I want three pancakes!

Ready? Get your plate ready.

NATASHA: Ready.
Hup!

Table one.

Hey, let's go.

All right.
SEAN: It's mine!

Mommy!

Hi, you guys. Ah!
Have a great time.

JACK:
"His professional duties

"and the whole arrangement
of his life and of his family

might all have been false."

JACK:
"He tried to defend
all those things to himself

"and suddenly felt the weakness
of what he was defending.

There was nothing to defend."

STUDENT:
Boring.

Jim.

So everything in his life
turns out to be false?

Sure doesn't
do much about it.

Doesn't do much?
He finds God.

GIRL:
That tiny bit at the end?

About seeing a light
and there being no more pain?

Is that it?

Well, the guy
does do one major thing.

JIM:
What's that?

He...dies.

And maybe Tolstoy
didn't have it in his head

to write
some big uplifting story

about the way we're supposed
to live our lives.

Maybe he just wanted to show us
what it was like to die.

HANK:
This is traumatic.

I'm reading your stuff.

I see little things wrong
here and there, easy to fix.

And I am noticing,
all of a sudden,

that most of you can write
just as well as me.

It's very depressing.

What happened?

There's a first half
of a story here

that really starts
to work.

Then just...pfft!

What?

You gonna tell me you ran out
of things to write about?

I won't believe you.

I lost focus
towards the end.

My new boyfriend just
moved in, and...

Wait, you're telling me
about your boyfriend?

I just mean that--

I just wanna talk about
what's on the page.

[BEETHOVEN'S "1ST SYMPHONY"
PLAYING]

Sorry.

Are you kidding?

All right, uh...

Just... Just this stuff.

Oh, fuck.

[BEETHOVEN'S "1ST SYMPHONY"
PLAYING]

Um, can I get
my highlighter, please?

Linden.

My mother sent some money.
You wanna celebrate?

Um...

Yeah. Soon.

Okay.

Tomorrow.

EDITH:
Okay.

HANK:
He wants to meet me and tell me
how much he likes it,

but he doesn't want
to publish it?

N

Look, you tell him
to publish the damn thing,

and I'll move into his house
and do his laundry.

SHARON:
Ernie, wait!

God. Who's depressed?
I'm not depressed.

SHARON: Tag, you're it!
Bye, Jerry.

Fuck.

All you need is one yes.

Where you going?

I have to do some shopping.

You taking Sharon?

No, she's outside playing.

Christ!
Edith, I was gonna write.

So write. She's outside playing.

Oh, fu...

NATASHA: I want it. Dad.
SEAN: I wanna hold it.

Where you going?

Uh, going to the library.
I'll be back at 4.

What

Since I have work to do.

What work?

Uh, work.

All right, give me 50 bucks.

Why?

Fuck why.
So I can fly to California.

So I can pay
the goddamn plumber.

That's why.

You blew through
Monday's money already?

I can't believe this.

Yeah, my heroin habit's
getting expensive.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Stop it.

[CHILDREN TALKING
INDISTINCTLY]

SHARON:
Give it to me!

Give it back!

Give it to me!

SHARON:
Give it back.

Give it to me.

Hey.

You guys wanna see something?

He thinks it's shit.

Pretty cool, huh?

[RAUNCHY MUSIC,
WOMAN MOANING OVER TV]

I hate her.

EDITH:
No, you don't.

She's your life.

You really love Terry,
don't you?

Yeah.

I think she's fantastic.

She is fantastic.

She just shouldn't be
married to me, that's all.

Hey, you, uh, want some coffee
or anything?

No, I'm great, thanks.

I went to the zoo last week
with Sharon.

JACK:
That's a depressing place.

Yeah, I know.

But...

We were standing there
watching this gorilla,

and he took a crap in his hand
and then he licked it.

It's a bit more interesting
than the flamingos, I guess.

It made me cry.

Told you
it's a depressing place.

He just seemed so human,
you know?

Like he knew
how trapped he was.

EDITH:
Do you realize how sad it is
watching you guys?

Hmm?

What do you think
the difference is

between you and us?

Terry loves you.

So, you married?

Thirty years.

Wow.

Got kids?

Hm. Two.
They're married now.

Does your, um, wife
take an interest in your job?

I mean, does she know
everything about plumbing?

No. No, not at all.

Nothing.

What does she do?

Oh, she likes to garden.

It makes her happy.

Did I say something wrong?

You make me a good wife.

If I didn't love you,
I'd have to love somebody else.

See, Hank needs us,
but he can't really love anyone.

Only his work.

The rest is surface.

JACK:
I don't believe that.

I don't mean
his friendship with you.

He'd give you a kidney
if you needed one.

Yeah, and he'd
give you one too.

Of course he would.

But he wouldn't go
to a marriage counselor.

You know, you're--
You're a funny girl.

After a long, carnivorous fuck

you're talking about
a marriage counselor?

Who are you?

EDITH:
You know what I wanted?

I wanted to know where we were.

Now I know.

JACK:
And?

EDITH:
You love the person
you're having the affair with.

He'll be busting out soon.

Trust me.

I know the routine.

He's been hibernating
with that novel so long.

Next thing you know,
he'll look around and blink

and fuck the first thing
that walks into his office.

Jesus, I hope someone
goes in there before I do.

Well, he screws his wife

once in a while.

Why not another man?

And your husband
making passes at my wife,

how do you feel about that?

Well, everybody
deserves to be happy, right?

NATASHA:
Stop!

[SEAN AND NATASHA TALKING
INDISTINCTLY]

Hey.

Hey.

NATASHA:
Stop it!

You're annoying me!

Hey.

Hey.

How'd the work go?

Burnt my novel,
wrote a shitty poem.

Oh.

How'd the shopping go?

Fine.

NATASHA:
Stop it!

Get your work done
at the library?

[GAS HISSING,
BURNER IGNITES]

Yeah.

Hank and Edith
are gonna come over

and watch an old movie
on cable tonight.

Oh, great. That's good.

Hank called?

Yeah, he called.

What

MAN :
Oh, she's beautiful.

There's no denying that.

But you know she does
nothing all day long

but eat, sleep, walk about,

fascinate us all by her beauty,
nothing more.

And an idle life
cannot be...

...pure.

Hello?

Hey. Hey!

Hello?

Hey.

Hi, guys. What's going on?

We're celebrating.

Well, I can see that.

Hank?

Uh, The New Yorker

is gonna publish
one of my poems.

What? That's fantastic!

How exciting!
What did Edith say?

I haven't had a chance
to tell Edith.

She's out...shopping.

You don't seem very excited.

I am.

Yeah, what do you know?

Hank, people who know you
like your work.

You're being published.

It doesn't really get
much better than that, does it?

It's a poem, Terry.
It's really not that important.

No, Hank, it isn't.

You want important,
go work in a cancer ward

with people
who are puking from chemo,

or teach math to a kid

who's brain-damaged
from fetal alcohol syndrome.

No, those people
generally aren't

that much fun to be around.

Okay. All right.

Oh.

Thank you, Mrs. Linden.
You're very welcome.

Pulling my head
out of my butt.

How about a spoonful

of this "dream come true"
jumbo split, huh?

I'd rather eat vomit.

Gotta fly.

Uh, hey.

Do me a favor

and don't tell Jack my news,
all right?

Allow me the joy of gloating.

You'll see him
before I will anyway.

You guys are running, right?

Are we?

Oh, yeah, yeah. We are indeed.

Okay.

Bye, honey.

See you.

Hi.

Terry's turning over leaves.

JACK:
She said her life
had reached a turning point.

She said she would work.

She would start right now
by paying for being a slob.

For three days after that,
she made all the beds

as soon as we got up
in the morning.

She folded the laundry by 10.

She vacuumed by noon.

She wrote lists of chores
for the rest of us.

Then, on the fourth day...

her momentum suddenly stopped.

So?

So then I checked
his gym bag

and the clothes
were folded and clean.

He didn't even go running.
He fucking lied to me.

So confront him.

Can't you ask Hank?

Do you want me to ask Hank?

Yes.

Shit.

I don't even know.
I don't know if I wanna know.

Hey.

Hey.

How was your run?

Great.

Lobsters.

Fuck you.

[TV PLAYING
INDISTINCTLY]

SEAN:
Mom!

NATASHA:
Dad!

MAN :
Now available
at stores everywhere.

[JACK & SEAN
SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Okay. There you go.

What's the matter?

Still wet.

Good night.

Lay down.
I'll be back in a second.

What else, Terry, huh?

What else?

What? Relax. I'm gonna do 'em
as soon as I finish this.

It's not what you didn't do,
Terry. It's why. Okay?

Why do we live
in the foulest house I know?

Why is it that you say
you love our children,

and they go unbathed
for days at a time,

and right now Sean is upstairs
sleeping in last night's piss?

I forgot.

Goddamn it!

Goddamn it, Terry!

Fucking lazy.

TERRY:
It's okay, baby.
It's okay.

Just gonna need
more linen, okay?

I'll take the sheets.

Just a little bit wet.
That's okay.

It's okay, honey.

I love you.

Night-night, honey.
Go back to sleep. Love you.

All right.

I wanna talk to you.

I'm gonna do the dishes.
No, now.

You could talk to me
while I'm doing the dishes.

Now!
Terry, I'll wash--

Sit down.

Don't you take anything.
Listen to me.

I am tired of being judged.

Who are you to judge me?

Now, I forgot
that Sean wet his bed.

But if you got them up

one morning out of
every thousand,

if you loved them
the way you say you do--

Oh, that was shitty.

Accusing me of not loving
my own children!

Oh, man.
That's just the way you fight,

like a catty, bitchy woman.

Me, me, me, me.

Me, me, me, me.

Me, me, me, me.

And you know what?

If you ever got them up
Terry--

in the last four
or five nights,

you would've known
he hadn't wet his bed.

Come on, Terry.

He wet his bed three nights ago.
I know that because he told me.

So what

So what? You never
get the facts right!

You always get it wrong, Terry.
Ehhh! Wrong.

You never, ever, ever
get it right!

It's the same thing
with the sheets, the bills.

You always find a way
to blow it, Terry.

You always have an excuse,
and you're always fucking wrong!

So, what do you want me to do?!

Do? There's something
you can do?

Oh, you son of a bitch!

Terry!
Son of a bitch!

You son of a bitch!
No!

Goddamn
it!

Goddamn it, Jack!
Goddamn it!

Oh, fuck!

Oh, fuck.

JACK:
It was the day after payday,

and I gave Hank $50
I had owed him.

[BEETHOVEN'S "1ST SYMPHONY"
PLAYING]

...eight, nine.

Oh, my God!

I can't believe this.
He paid me.

JACK:
He made a big deal about
how he didn't need the money.

Thank you so much.

[LAUGHING,
SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Then, later that night...
Night.

...he fucked my wife
in the front seat of my car.

[BEETHOVEN'S "1ST SYMPHONY"
CRESCENDOES]

[DOOR CLOSES,
ENGINE STARTS]

[FOOTSTEPS
ASCENDING STAIRS]

Where were you?

Oh, I, uh...uh...

woke up and couldn't
get back to sleep,

so I went for a walk.

You don't have to tell me that.

I've been up since 1:30.

You're such a bastard.

Did you ever go to sleep?

Yes.

Sure you did.

What? I was tired. Yes.

Why didn't you
just bring me to bed?

Why didn't you come to bed?

Because I need to be
made love to.

You don't make love to me
anymore.

You fuck me.

I sat on those steps

with Hank,

and he held my hand
and he listened to me.

He listened to me

while I talked about
this shitty marriage.

And he told me
he felt close to me.

And I was happy
when he said it.

And I was happy
when I made love to him.

I was so goddamn happy
for a minute.

And then I thought of you.

I just wanted
to be here with you

and get us back

and be in this fucking bed
in this house

with my husband and my kids,

where I belong.

That's a really admirable
sentiment, Terry.

Oh, fuck.

Jack.

Right now,
I love you,

maybe more than I have
for years.

But I am angry.

I am so fucking angry,
Jack, way down,

because you set
this fucking thing up.

You set it up
and it happened!

And I don't know
what else is gonna happen.

Why? You gonna
see him again?

God! Jesus Christ, Jack,
I don't know.

What?

So then it's over
Is that what you're saying?

What's wrong with you?

Think making love
is like smoking? It's--

It's what?

It's-- It's a promise.

You promised him
you're gonna see him again.

I didn't--
I didn't say anything.

Opening my legs is a promise.

And he didn't say anything
either?

He must've said something.

Oh, my God, you like this.

You want details, huh?

Fine.

We drove around for a while.

He put his hand on my tit.

And I practically got off
just from him touching me.

You know what happened then?

We parked,
and we fucked like crazy.

And you know what, Jack?

I came before he did.

And the second time...

I was on top.

And I looked in his face.

I looked right in his eyes
and I told him I loved him.

That's enough, all right?

Enough.

You should be
knocking my teeth out.

But not you, huh?

Not you.

Because you like it.

Wanna watch us, Jack?

This comes to you--

You fuck whoever you want
whenever you want,

but do not give me
your half-assed insights

into the soul of a man
that you have never understood.

Your insights suck.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

Gugh!

My "half

Yeah, the soul of a man
I don't understand.

You poor baby.

Oh, my God.

You poor

little...baby.

You talk and talk.

You think you know yourself.
But you know what?

You're a pervert.

I'm gonna go to sleep.

We got a couple of kids
that are getting up soon.

And you're not known
for getting them breakfast.

I'll do it.

Forget it. I'll do it.

Thanks. It's one thing
you can help with.

Unfortunately, you can't help me
with my other problem.

See, Jack, I--
I'm not sure what to do.

I mean, tomorrow, what
What do I say?

"Gee, Hank, uh...that was
last night and this is now.

And I just don't know
if I want to fuck anymore."

You gotta admit,

even adultery
has morality to it.

So I got some things
to figure out.

You do what you can, Terry.
Thanks, Jack.

Good night.

I'll do what I can.

Hello.

JACK:
They did it last night.

Come over.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Wait, wait.
Where's Hank?

He's sleeping.

Upstairs?

Yeah. He'll go to the bathroom
first. Don't worry.

We'll hear him. Come on.

Come on, fuck me.
Okay.

Oh, fuck.

MAN :
Come on back here!

Come on! Take the gold.
Get the gold.

Hurry up. Come on.
Come on.

He's gonna hit
that guy soon.

Which guy?

The big fat mean guy.

How do you know?

Because if he doesn't hit him,

he won't feel good
about himself.

MAN 2:
Where's your rifle?

Is that because

[MEN YELLING
INDISTINCTLY]

Go to sleep.

Hey, Tanya,
we'll be back at 12:30.

Don't talk to boys.

TERRY:
Hey, Tanya, can you
put two shirts on them?

They get cold at night.

Thanks.

NATASHA: Bye, Mom, Dad.
SEAN: Goodbye, Dad.

Good night, gang.

[SINISTER MUSIC
CONTINUES PLAYING]

Hey.
Finally! Congratulations.

Congratulations are in order.
Hello. Thank you.

HANK:
Thank you. Thank you.
I have to thank my lovely muse.

All strewn in violets
this evening.

[SINISTER MUSIC BECOMES
FUN, WILD JAZZ]

Hey, Joe. How's it going?

Good.

Hank looks like he's
in good shape these days.

Hank's always in good shape.
All days.

Mmm. Yeah, yeah,
The, uh, New Yorker.

You...

MAN:
Hey, Hank,
The New Yorker.

Hey.

Smooth.

Christ.

I don't know
if I can handle this.

Be careful what you ask for,
you just might get it.

So cheers to Hank.

ALL:
Hank!

Thank you.
MAN: Salud!

I don't know...

Don't know.

Good night.
Bye, Jack.

Of course.

Hey, uh,
Terry said she's tired.

I'm gonna run her home.
I'll take your car, okay?

Have fun.

Enjoyed it. Nice.

Nice to meet you.

He's giving her a lift home.

Among other things.

I think you should
tell him now.

I can't.
Why not?

I don't know.
Why not?

I don't know.

Don't.

What?

I'd like to just concentrate
on hating his guts right now.

Not this way.

Not after 10 fucking years.

I just spent the last
three hours at Willie's.

You know, that bar
all the bag ladies drink in.

Alone in a bar
for the first time in my life.

Alone in a bar.

What happened?

Never mind what happened.

All right.

That's one of your strikes
against me, right?

I drink more
than any woman we know.

I'm the only woman who keeps up
with the men at parties.

I'm drinking in the afternoon.

You'll get rid of me
that way.

So...

Yeah.

I drink a lot...

especially on nights like this

when my husband sends me off
to fuck his friend.

Don't you wanna
stop that, Terry?

Give me a reason, Jack.

I was...

thinking tonight about...

...when I was 10,

my dad taught me
how to fish.

And I was just praying, "Please,
God, let me catch one fish."

Just one, you know?

As if the luck of catching a
fish would make me more lovable.

And then it would follow that to
be unlucky is to be unlovable.

And luck isn't an element
in my life now.

It just isn't.

And, for some reason, you still
hate me for this house of mine

because it's
filthy sometimes.

I don't hate you, Terry.

Jack, how would you know
if you hated me?

You don't even know me.

I know you, Terry.

No, you don't, Jack.

I do know you.
No.

You say,
"You are what you do"?

Uh, who really
believes that?

I mean,
what does that mean?

Does that mean
I'm a cook?

An errand
A fucker?

A goddamn
cleaning lady?

Because if you, you bastard,
lost all discipline

and folded up and turned drunk

and got bald
and lost everything,

I'd love you.

I love you.

You, Jack.

Oh, fuck.

But if you love me for what I do
instead of for what I am--

And there's a goddamn
difference, I know there is.

Then what are you loving
when I fuck Hank?

What is it in you
that lets me do that?

Or is that just another one of
the tricks I do for you, huh?

Screw Hank, shake hands,
sit, roll over, play dead...

fetch, love me like a dog?

I love Edith.

What?

I love Edith.

Jack!

Don't do this, please.
Terry--

Come here, come here.

Please, please.
Terry--

Please!
Terry--

No!

Just take it.

Jesus Christ.

Just take it.

All right.

I'll take it.

So when are you leaving?

I don't know.

Maybe you should go today.

[TERRY YELLING
INDISTINCTLY]

Terry, why don't you
come to bed?

I wanna clean my house.

You should see the house.

Oh... What's she doing?

She's doing everything.

Are you talking to Daddy?

JACK:
Hey, come here.

Is it true
that you don't love Mom?

Who said that?

I heard Mom last night.

Wait a second.

Are you getting
divorced?

Natasha said
you were leaving.

I want to live with you.

I'm not going to choose.

Now, you guys, that's just Mom
and Daddy fighting at night.

Mom said you were leaving,

and you love Edith,
and you screwed her.

You know what that means?

Yes.

You do?

What?

What what means?

Now, listen to me.

Listening?

That's just adult foolishness.

Okay?

Understand?

Come here.

Let's go on our bikes.

Yeah.
Yeah.

[NATASHA CHEERS
INDISTINCTLY]

Know what's out there?
The moon, the sun--

Yeah, I know.

SEAN: Uranus, Pluto, Mercury...
NATASHA: Mercury.

BOTH:
Venus, Mars, moon...

Saturn, Jupiter.

NATASHA:
Did you know
that the universe is so big

that nobody can even count
how big?

How many feet it is?

So people say "googol."
"It's googol."

Guess what
Yeah.

Guess how old they are.

Uh...100 years old?

Nope, these rocks have been here
from the very first cells.

If the very first cells were
the first thing on the Earth,

then these rocks
weren't here.

NATASHA:
Who were the first people

on the planet?

SEAN:
Uh, if you believe in God,

it's...Adam and Eve.

And if you don't, apes.

Did you know that
they've just found things

that said that
God had a wife?

It's true. They did
in real life. They did.

What if they don't
believe in God?

No, I mean people
that look for him thought that.

Do you believe
in the Bible?

No.
Me neither.

How come?

Because...

Was it awful?

Was what awful?

What's this?
What are you doing?

I thought
that's where you went,

to tell the kids.

Unpack it, please.

Why

I don't want to.

Okay, I'll, uh...

call them in,
and we'll both tell them.

I mean
I don't want to leave, Terry.

Jack, I know it's the kids.

No.

Is it just the kids? 'Cause you
can see 'em whenever you want.

I'm not gonna make
a big deal out of it.

You know I wouldn't
put us through that.

And if it's
just telling them,

we can do it
and get it over with.

It's not the kids, Terry.

It's not the kids.

Just unpack my bags, okay?

We can do this.

It'll be okay.

EDITH:
She didn't mean it, huh?

Hey. Honey, what's wrong?

Somebody was mean
to her at school.

It's okay, honey.

It's okay.

Hey.

Hey.

Edith wants to
see you tonight.

She's gonna
tell Hank.

She probably
already told him.

She said
he won't mind.

Yeah, I know.

I told her about
Hank and me, and, uh...

she talked
about you two.

Just, Terry--

Please don't.

I'm sure it was
a fine afternoon.

It was, in a way.

It's gonna snow.

JACK:
Hey.

Hey.

Want some coffee?

No.

Drink?

Yeah, a Scotch.

Take a seat.

[POURING
DRINK]

All right.

Well, I think this is
probably a good time

for me to go see a movie.

Hey, Hank?

Hank?

What?

You knew all along?

I'm not real slow.

You okay?

I'm drowning in shit.

Ah, I'll be laughing soon.

Hey, listen,

I ought to dedicate
my new novel to you.

I wrote three new chapters
this week.

It's much easier living
with a woman who feels loved.

He said he was happy for us,
and now he's sad for us.

He's happy that you were
taking care of me,

and now he's...
sorry that you can't.

I can't.

T-- Too sad.

What's going on?

Where's Sharon?

She's outside,
waiting in the car.

I...

I'm gonna take her
to my mother's for a while.

Why?

What's wrong?
What's going on?

Edith?

Edith!

Edith!

Stop!

Edith, Edith, Edith,

please stop.

I'll stop.

I'm not leaving you
because you're unfaithful, Hank.

I'm leaving because I was.

Well, well, none of that
matters anymore. That's over.

Isn't it?

Isn't it, Edith?

Yeah...

It's over.

Well, then,
why leave now?

B--

Because I can.