Woven (2016) - full transcript

Ethiopian-born Elenie struggles to integrate her mother's traditions with her own American dreams. When a tragic accident thrusts her into the life of an American family, Elenie realizes that one's search for a sense of place is universal. The ONE Campaign; co-founder Bono, is an executive producer and supporter for Woven. Woven is also the first feature film for both female directors, and the first Ethiopian-American SAG film shot in United States.

(FILM REEL CLICKING)

(LIVELY MUSIC)

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

(WOMAN SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(TRAIN RUMBLING ALONG TRACK)

(WOMAN SHUSHING)
(GLASS CLANGING)

WOMAN: Shush, please,
please, everybody quiet.

(WOMAN SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Hey, Mom, how you doing?

Ever since Dad passed away,



you've raised us both like
a mother and a father.

In honor of your birthday,
I made a small home video

of the recording you made
of Elenie and I growing up.

And Mom, you don't look a
day older than 55 years old.

Love you, Mom.

(CHILDREN SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(PEOPLE CHEERING)
(WARM MUSIC)

(CHILDREN LAUGHING)

(LAUGHING)

(PEOPLE CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)



(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(ALL SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Mom, what are you trying to say,

a woman can't be married
and have a career too?

Is that what you're saying?

What is the point of owning a house

if you don't have anyone to live with?

So, Mom, I'm gonna
marry a burger-loving,

pale American man and
share my home with him.

Hey, here we go again.

Well, find me a
burger-loving Ethiopian man.

Your father was a great man.

They don't make men like that anymore.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

You are not going to
sleep with his accent.

Oh, Mom.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Abell, you're leaving?

Honey, honey!

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Feel like I'm drowning here.

Nah, you're not drowning,

just got a little water-logged.

Hey, talking about my weight?

No, I know I'm fat, but you
can't do that. (SNORTING)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

All right, sweetheart.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SUBWAY CLACKING ALONG TRACK)

(HORN HONKING)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

Lena, if you were married,

there would be more pleasurable way

to work out a sweat.

Mom, that is so disgusting, you know?

And could you please knock the door

when you come to my room next time?

There are no boundaries in this household.

MOTHER: Elenie,

Elenie!

No, not Yohance.
Kiss me!

Mom, I grew up with him!

He's like my brother, and
he saw me pee in my pants

when I was five, no.

You know, he works with his hand.

He's a surgeon.

Oh, no, yuck, that is not right, no!

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

You should date him
'cause you're single.

I'm gonna arrange it, it's settled.

(SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(PHONE RINGING)

Elenie Tariku.

OFFICER FREEDMAN: Hi, Mrs. Tariku.

This is Officer Freedman with the NYPD.

(TENSE MUSIC)

(WOMAN YELLING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMAN SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(PEOPLE SOBBING AND YELLING
IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMAN SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMAN SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

You know,

it's funny.

When Abell and I were in college,

he used to irritate the hell out of me,

'cause it seemed like
he had this fascination

with hammering nails in
the most random places

to hang his pants.

So of course, I'd wake up and hit my head

on those things every morning.

When he moved out, he took
all his nails with him.

This morning, I woke up having the urge

to start filling all the
holes back with nails.

Then I realized I wouldn't
have anyone to blame

for my clumsiness.

Your brother,

he didn't mind taking the blame
for other people's faults.

If you ever need someone, call me.

Thank you, Yohance.

(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMAN SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(CLICKING TONGUE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(CLICKING TONGUE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(HORN HONKING)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(HORN HONKING)

(BREATHING DEEPLY)

Charley, you hit Madison pretty hard.

She had to go and see a
doctor, she was hurt by you.

I should apologize for him,

but I've never been
very good at apologies.

I'm the dad, I'm Logan.

Think your mom let me in.

ELENIE: Oh, yeah,
sorry about that,

my mother is helping me out today.

Come on in, I'm Elenie Tariku.

Hey, Logan Thompson.

Nice to meet you.

Charley, I need to speak
to your father privately.

Do you mind waiting in the hallway?

He's gonna tell me what you say anyways.

Wipe that tone of
voice off your face, bud.

Come on, come on.

I don't know what's been going on with him

these last few months.

ELENIE: Oh, he'll be fine.

You know, when kids move to a
new school, a new environment,

they tend to act out.

LOGAN: My wife and
I are from here.

We actually went to the same
school, good old Larsen Hill,

except I was the one beatin' up on kids.

So where did you move from?

Troy, Michigan.

My wife got this great job
opportunity at (MUMBLING),

and I got laid off.

Mr. Thompson, it is your
right to refuse counseling,

but considering this is
Charley's second outburst,

if he continues this way,
the school will expel him.

You can call me Logan.

Your eyes are so expressive.

It's because they're
big, isn't it? (LAUGHING)

No, they're beautiful.

Isn't it funny the things
you were teased for as a child,

you always get complimented
on as an adult, right?

Where are you from?

I mean, if you don't mind me asking.

I'm from Ethiopia, do
you know where that is?

Of course you do, I'm sorry.

If I'm not mistaken, it's
the birthplace of coffee?

Wow, I'm impressed.

You know, most people would
jump straight to the famine

we had back in the '80s.

I got some good jokes.

No, I'm totally...

I'm kidding, that's ridiculous.

Anyways, I recommend Charley
and I meet twice a week.

LOGAN: Doctor knows best.

ELENIE: I'm not a doctor,
I'm just a counselor.

Six seconds, (MUMBLING)
you ready for this?

He dribbles, he dribbles,

six, five, dribbling really quietly

because the neighbors are asleep.

All right, oh, he's
makin' some fancy moves!

All right.

Two,

one.

(IMITATING CROWD CHEERING)

Yes, and the crowd goes wild!

Yes!

So Kobe, how do you feel

about talkin' to a counselor?

It's whatever.

So are we gonna talk about this?

Well, I was looking forward

to having a long conversation...

Being serious, buddy.

You know, you don't have
to tell her everything.

You just want to be
careful, you know, for me,

for you, for us.

I know.

Cool.

Oh, I forgot something.

What?

This.
No!

Put me down!

No, no, put me down!

He's a winner!

No!

He's a winner!

WALLACE: Mila, Mila Thompson.

(WALLY LAUGHING)

Wally?

What are you doing here?

I transferred.

Wally, I can't breathe.

You moved back without calling me?

I know, we just moved back last month.

You look as good as the
day we graduated high school!

Well, on that day, I
was six months pregnant.

Wally,

how are you?

Oh, you know, I'm good, fine, perfect.

Unemployed, per usual, and
always looking for a story.

You know, I sent cover
letters and articles,

but people must use it to wipe their ass

'cause I don't get so much as a you suck.

On top of which, Mom left,

so now I'm raising my sister with Dad.

Sorry.

Oh, it's fine.

Life is what it is.

What are you doing here?

Oh, I'm just visiting my sister, Maddie.

MILA: Why?

Oh, you know, the school
said Charley Thompson,

and I just didn't put it together.

Charley, my Charley?

Yes, he was involved in
an altercation with Maddie,

some schoolyard tantrum, you pick on me,

I pick on you thing.

I'm sorry, I had no idea.

Doctor said she'll be okay,
she'll be out in no time.

How have you been here a
month and not called me?

My mom got really sick.

And actually, she died.

Geez.

I'm sorry.

It's fine.

I haven't really been
talking to anyone about it.

I don't know what to say, really.

We moved back so Logan could fix her house

before we sold it.

He's still doing construction.

Cool.

It's hell.

Wally, I wish I was back in high school.

You're sweet.

Logan, didn't tell me anything happened

with Charley at school.

Well, maybe he didn't know.

Yeah, likely story.

They cover for each other.

(LAUGHING)

(WATER RUNNING)

Thank you, Lenie, but not tonight.

(WATER RUNNING)

(MAN CHATTERING ON TV)

Really?

(MAN CHATTERING ON TV)

(GROANING SOFTLY)

CHARLEY: No, no, no,
stop, stop, stop!

(MILA SHUSHING)

Hey, honey, honey, it's okay.

(SHUSHING) Baby boy, hey, it's okay,

just a bad dream.

Go brush your teeth.

CHARLEY: I don't want
to brush my teeth.

Goodnight!

Goodnight.

(MAN CHATTERING OVER TV)

(SIGHING DEEPLY)

(LOUD POUNDING)

I said I'm doing it.

What?

What are you...

Love you, babe.

(WATER RUNNING)

(MIRROR SQUEAKING)

Shave if you're gonna do that.

Were you planning on telling me

about what happened
with Charley at school?

I was waiting until you were relaxed,

which is what I'm in here trying to do.

(MUMBLING)

Oh, Mrs. Thompson, you
have, quite possibly,

the very best

knees of anyone

I've ever seen.

Logan,

you haven't put me in the
mood to come home to this.

You're Charley's dad, it's a school night.

What kind of rules are
you settin' for our son?

Yeah, I'm not perfect,

established that when I flunked algebra.

And just to be exact,
it's been three weeks,

four days, five hours.

What?

Since what?

Since the sausage went in the biscuit.

Charley was playing
with your phone again.

LOGAN: Huh?

I said Charley was playing
games on your phone again,

and now, your phone is cracked.

Oh.

Since the ham went in the sandwich.

Dammit, Logan, have you
fixed anything in this house?

Yeah, you know what, I've
been painting the walls

in every room.

But if you want, why don't you
give me a prioritized list,

you can sign off on it at
the end of every night.

How does that sound?

(WATER RUNNING)

I wish you and me got married,

'cause you and I know how to
have a civilized conversation

without it ending in someone
saying something retarded.

Well, you know, I'm still available.

Get off the phone, you're
keeping your sister up.

Slamming my door's helping!
(MILA LAUGHING)

(GROANING) I have to move out,
I'm too old for this shit!

(LAUGHING) I know, you're so pathetic.

You should move in with us, but

I actually don't think living
here can be any better.

The school called about
Charley's behavior again today.

Charley knows we've been fighting.

I'm sorry, that sucks.

Wally, I miss our moms.

It's awful living here.

Death is so shitty.

I hear ya, death is lame.

(SNIFFLING)

(MELANCHOLIC PENSIVE MUSIC)

(MUFFLED CHATTERING AND LAUGHING)

(SUBWAY CLATTERING AND
SCREECHING ALONG TRACK)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

I got you some food.

You've gotta eat.

Remember, you like the
food from this place, Ma.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(BOX THUDDING IN TRASH CAN)

(SNIFFLING AND CRYING)

You know, Emai, I lost him too.

You know that?

He was my best friend, my best friend.

Now I feel like I'm losing you.

Okay, okay, okay, listen, Emai,

I made a big decision, okay?

I'm going to let you set me up.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

But only on one condition.

You have to take these black clothes off.

No!
Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no!

It doesn't mean you're losing him.

These are just clothes, Ma!

Come on.

Believe me, Abell and
Pa would be more upset

to see you wearing these
clothes than out of them.

You have to do it for them.

Okay?

Fine.

But this is our deal.

Okay, our deal.

Beyonce's tits.

Excuse you, Charley, we're
not talking about Beyonce here,

so you're gonna have to
think of something else

besides a celebrity, okay?

Your mom.

Charley, you are out of
line, you need to apologize.

(TOY CLATTERING)

Is he gonna be okay?

Ask him yourself.

You're the freakin' therapist!

Charley!

(SIGHING DEEPLY)

(CAR HORN HONKING)

(SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC)

LOGAN: Hey, Lenie!

(SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC)

(LOGAN CHUCKLING SOFTLY)

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

MAN: How can I resist
this whimsical spirit?

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SOFT ENERGETIC MUSIC)

LOGAN: Hey, you want a ride?

(ELENIE SIGHS)

(LAUGHING)

I guess so because I'm freezing.

My feet are cold.

(SOFT ENERGETIC MUSIC)

(SIGHS) Thank you.

So, how's Charley?

Unpredictable.

No more notes, right?

(CHUCKLING) Yeah, so far, so good.

Chocolate?

I'm all right.

You look really good.

Women don't wear dresses anymore.

I guess a dress makes you
feel like a lady, right?

Totally.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

What if I dared you to wear jeans?

Course I do, it's all I
used to do when I was a kid.

I was a tomboy, you know?

Really?
Yeah.

I would have never ever guessed that.

ELENIE: Yeah, I was.

Like, tomboy like you
used to play sports?

Of course.

I was in every team you
can think of at school.

You look so uncoordinated.

Oh, my God!

(BOTH LAUGHING)

(SOFT ENERGETIC MUSIC)

Turn left here.

Why'd you point right, though?

Oh, sorry, I'm dyslexic, you know?

Oh, that makes sense.

(SOFT ENERGETIC MUSIC)

You know, I have the same
problem with my mom's ring

that she gave me, it's a little too big.

Yeah, I got mine when I was 17.

Fingers were all ballooned up
from taking too many steroids.

Wow, that sounds unhealthy to me.

The marriage or the steroids?

ELENIE: Why so young?

You remember that
11-year-old in your office?

He pretty much sealed the deal.

I don't know, it's hard, but it's good.

ELENIE: It's right over here.

Really, you live right here?

Yeah.

LOGAN: That's crazy, I live
right around the corner.

ELENIE: What a small world!

I mean, it's Brooklyn.

Nice digs.

Thank you, but it's kinda too big

for the two of us, you know?

It's just the two of you?

I just recently moved
back home with my mom.

(PHONE RINGING)

(PHONE VIBRATING)

ABELL: You've reached
Doctor Abell Tariku.

I can't come to the phone right now.

My God!
I'm so (MUMBLING).

Okay, try not to...

Oh, grab this (GROANING).

ABELL: Message, I'll get back
to you as soon as possible.

If this message is urgent,
please press three to have...

Stupid door never works.

Well, all right.

Bye.
Take it easy.

Hi, Mom.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Embarrassed, Mom?

He made me feel so cheap!

I know I made this
decision, but you know what?

It's very hard for me.

Enough.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

You have no idea how
hard it is for me, Mom.

I know it's not easy for you,

but it's not easy for me either!

(SOFT MELANCHOLIC MUSIC)

(BUTTONS BEEPING)

(SIGHING DEEPLY)

(PHONE VIBRATING)

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello?

Who is it?

Hello?

Hello?

Answer me, hello?

Answer me, please, hello?

Who is it, you know my son?

Hello?

(TENSE PENSIVE MUSIC)

(TRAIN CLACKING ALONG TRACK)

How's school?

Pretty good.

Hey!

Oh, what a surprise, look who's here!

Hi.

Oh, your mother was in this morning.

She had breakfast with my wife.

Yeah?

Rama!
Yeah?

Look who's here.

Hey, Lenie!

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(RAMA SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

So, somebody's answering
your brother's phone?

ELENIE: Someone
picked up the phone?

I've been wanting to cancel the account

but I know Mom likes to call
and hear his voice, that's why.

She must be hallucinating, huh?

Stop it!

It happens.

RAMA: Stop!

SAMARA: Oh, hello!

Hi.

I'm Wallace, I'm Madison's brother.

Oh, I'm Samara,

Elenie's beautiful mother.

(LAUGHING)

Are you hungry, Mr. Wallace?

Okay, cool.

Ooh!

Holiday is a great deal to me,

and Christmas is a big
holiday in Ethiopia.

Oh, it's a big deal here too.

Your wife needs to feed you better.

You are too skinny!

Ah!

Well, that would be tough
because she doesn't exist.

SAMARA: Oh.

My son is your age.

Oh, does he live nearby?

No.

He died in a subway
accident six months ago.

I'm sorry.

That's awful.

I'm...

He was a doctor,

Doctor Abell Tariku.

They called him Doctor AT.

(CHUCKLING) That's good, Doctor AT.

I called his cell phone
and somebody answered.

That's random.

His cell phone is still working?

Somebody's using it.

Oh!

Are you all done, Madison?

Yeah, let's go.
All right.

Bye, Maddie, Merry Christmas.

Bye.
Bye.

Merry Christmas.

SAMARA: Thank you.

WALLACE: Got your stuff?

LOGAN: How's the shrink?

She showed me these
pictures, these splat things,

Rasherzees?

(LOGAN LAUGHING)

I don't know.

Rorschach?

Ah, yeah, well, they were stupid.

Everything cool?

Yup.

You gotta get a new phone, man.

Hey,

if she asks you something, you know,

anything that you don't
feel comfortable answering...

CHARLEY: Dad, I watch
CSI, I'm not stupid.

Oh, smartass, huh?

CHARLEY: No, stop, come on, Dad!

LOGAN: What we have here is
the rare South African donkey

known as the smartass.
No, you're weird.

You're weird.

To be perfectly honest, you do look

pretty stupid right now.
I am not stupid.

No, you look super stupid.
You're stupid.

No!

Thank you for your call.

Sorry we couldn't meet in my
office, is everything okay?

I got this note from Charley's teacher.

ELENIE: Oh, another note?

LOGAN: She seems like
a really nice lady.

What strike now?

I don't know, I could
use some advice, I guess.

So are you and your wife ready

to start family therapy, or?

I think his teacher's
overreacting, I mean, don't you?

I mean, come on, Charley's not,

you know, he's not a bad kid.

Then you should give it some time.

Time will tell, things will change.

I just want him to be happy, you know?

Sure.

(LAUGHING) Are you all right?

I'm just hungry. (LAUGHING)

Me too.

Oh, here comes our food, cool.

Oh, wow!

It's colorful.

Enjoy.
Thanks.

She forgot the forks.

Oh, we don't have forks,
we use our hands. (GIGGLING)

All right.

ELENIE: So you're gonna
have to try something new.

Okay.

Sounds fun.

This is what we call
Injera, it's like our bread.

Injera.

It's made with a tiny grain
that grows in Ethiopia only.

It's called Teff.

It's gluten-free.

(LOGAN MUMBLING)

And then you just put it in your mouth.

LOGAN: What's this,
is this lentils?

ELENIE: Mm-hmm.

I'm learning more about this.

ELENIE: No, it's okay.
(MUMBLING)

LOGAN: That is so good!

You like it?

Wow, that is amazing!

Yeah?
Yeah!

(RINGS CLATTERING SOFTLY)
(PENSIVE MUSIC)

(WATER RUNNING)

Hey.

You know what I miss?

What?

Being your girlfriend.

What do I have to do

to get you to take me out on a hot date?

(WATER RUNNING)

Ask.

(WATER RUNNING)

I...

(WATER RUNNING)

(CAR HORN HONKING)

Didn't he, like, light his
textbook on fire, or something?

Logan, grow up.

I'm just saying, you know,

let's just not leave him
alone, let's stay home.

MILA: Two hours of TV.

Mom!
Thank you so much.

Don't Mom me.

Listen to me, you see
this guy right here?

If you see him with a
book, I want you to go

to the neighbor's house...
Neighbor.

(LOGAN MUMBLING)

(LAUGHING)

You look slamming, Mila.

MILA: Oh, thank
you for noticing.

I noticed.
Yeah, sure you did.

I noticed!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(MAN VOCALIZING)

Only let me have two.

I've heard that before.

What is that supposed to mean?

It means you are your own boss, baby.

(MAN SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Hey.

BARTENDER: Hi, how you doing?

Great, how are you?

BARTENDER: Very well.

Two tequila shots, please, chilled.

BARTENDER: Coming right up.

(UPBEAT MUSIC WITH MAN
SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Thank you.

(UPBEAT MUSIC WITH MAN
SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Come on.

(UPBEAT MUSIC WITH MAN
SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(LOGAN CHUCKLING)

That's two.

Hold that thought.

I have to pee.

Are you sure you're allowed
to have these before dinner?

I won't tell if you won't tell.

(UPBEAT MUSIC FROM TV)

WALLACE: Did you do
this crash drawing?

Yeah.

WALLACE: Sucks to be that subway.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Hey. (LAUGHING)

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(MAN VOCALIZING)

Oh, my God!

Hey!
Logan

Thompson, hey!

LOGAN: Hi, buddy, this is my spot.

Are you serious?

I come here too all the time.

Well, we live right around the corner.

Brooklyn for you.

Brooklyn! (LAUGHING)

What are you doing here by yourself?

LOGAN: No, I'm not by myself.

My wife is in the bathroom.

Oh, okay, okay.
Yeah.

I'm here with my girlfriend as well.

How's Charley again?

Charley's good, Charley's good.

So you know how to dance?
How's your mom?

ELENIE: Good.

I want to see you do some moves!

I can do some moves.
Come on, show me.

You want some of these moves?

ELENIE: Yeah.

Oh, wow, '80s, huh?

(LAUGHING) Oh, my God, I'm so sorry.

Don't let me dance.

(LAUGHING)

I don't know, I'm sorry.

Mila!

Mila, hey!

This is my wife.

Mila, this is Elenie.

This is Charley's counselor.

I'm really sorry that I
haven't been by to see you,

but I started a new job at the hospital

and it's just been so busy.

I'm a bad mom.

No, no.
That's not true.

Okay, I need another drink.

Oh, this is my friend, Ayana.

Hi.
Hey.

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson.

How are you?
Very nice to meet you.

I'm propping her up with my elbow.

Oh, okay, would you like another drink?

I do.
Yeah, okay, come on.

MILA: I want another drink.

LOGAN: What happened to two?

Two happened to you. (LAUGHING)

Be social.

Wow, you...

She's just being social.

Maybe I should do that. (LAUGHING)

LOGAN: Why not?

I can let go a little bit,

but it's kinda hard when you're
a psychologist, you know,

or a counselor.

LOGAN: I bet you
could find a way.

Sure, once in a while, but not always.

What?

Not always!

Okay, this is my bad ear.

Not always!

(LAUGHING) Yeah, did you
make that dress yourself?

No, I bought it.

I don't know, I'm sorry.
Why?

Do you think I make dresses
all the time or something?

No, I just...
Just because I wear 'em?

You just look talented.

ELENIE: That's very nice of you.

LOGAN: Oh, no worries.

I'm ready to go right now!

LOGAN: Kidding, both are for you.

That's great.

I'm gonna give you the better one.

Okay, thank you.

Cheers.
Cheers.

Cheers.
Cheers.

Cheers.
Cheers.

Cheers.
Cheers.

Cheers.
Oh, cheers!

Cheers. (LAUGHING)

You don't need it, come on.

Baby, eh!

What happened to two drinks?

(UPBEAT MUSIC WITH MAN
SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

What happened to being my own boss?

(UPBEAT MUSIC WITH MAN
SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Right, no, come on!

What are you doing, what are you doing?

What are you doing?

(LOUD CLATTERING)

(YELLING)

(MILA LAUGHING)

I'm really sorry, I'm really sorry.

What are you sorry about?

Come on, come on.
What?

What happened to two drinks, huh?

Don't touch me!

I'm trying to have a good time.

Every time I have a good
time, you shit on it!

LOGAN: I shit on it?

Look, I'm sorry.

What are you fucking apologizing for?

I haven't been out since
my mother died, Logan!

Who are you apologizing to?

Fuck you!

(UPBEAT MUSIC WITH MAN
SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Fuck it!

(UPBEAT MUSIC WITH MAN
SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

I think the heat's broken!

CHARLEY: Yup!

Oh, man.

(MAN CHATTERING OVER TV)

No way!

Oh!

The king.

(MAN CHATTERING OVER TV)

Oh, man!

Oh, I miss this.

(MAN CHATTERING OVER TV)

Doctor AT.

Shit.

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Hey, can I get my tab closed out?

Hey, is everything okay?

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

She left her purse.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Thank you for walking me home.

Are you gonna be okay?

(LAUGHING)

I always am.

You sure?

What?

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

(BOTH PANTING)

You should go.

You're right.

You're right, this is,

this is a horrible idea.

I just,

you're right, I should go home.

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

This is really good.

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

(BOTH PANTING)

(WATER SPLASHING)

I'm sorry about last night.

I guess I'm a piece of work, huh?

Hey, did you see my purse from last night?

I love you.

(SIGHING DEEPLY)

Charley, what are your
soldiers looking for?

Hmm?

Are they looking for something cool?

Charley, I know you're sad
about your grandmother dying.

Someone close to me passed away too.

Would you like to see a picture?

This is my brother,
Abell, he was a doctor.

Charley, are you okay?

Charley, you don't have
to look at this picture.

We'll do something else,
we'll try something else.

You okay?

What?

(MILA CLEARING THROAT)

Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.

The door was open.

ELENIE: No, you didn't,
you didn't, I was just...

Are you finished?

Can I have a word with you, Elenie?

Sure, of course.

Charley, we'll be right back, okay?

It's been really busy at
the hospital every night,

and all of my spare time, I
just try to spend with Charley,

and I'm just giving you excuses.

You don't have to give me excuses.

Logan wants what's best for Charley.

I think that he wants to
be everything for him.

(TENSE PENSIVE MUSIC)

What's wrong with my baby?

ELENIE: He has anxiety
and suffers from depression.

He's 11.

He shows tendencies.

I'm so bored, my brain hurts.

I know, honey, one minute.

Go.

Listen, I'm really
sorry about last night.

I guess Charley's not
the only one acting out.

No, you were fine, absolutely fine.

No, I wasn't fine.

I was a nightmare, but
we all make mistakes, so.

Okay, thank you.

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

I know you're afraid of
marriage, it scares you.

Okay, I'm gonna go home, I have cramps.

Elenie, please sit down.

Please, sit.

(SOFT JAZZ MUSIC)

I don't want to own you or tame you.

I want to give you the
space to be who you are,

but also give you a place to come home to.

That was a good dinner, wasn't it?

It was, it was lovely.

It was too expensive.

Yes, it was.

(LAUGHING)

I had a really nice time tonight.

Thank you.

ELENIE: You're most welcome.

Johance has my approval,

your dad's approval, and Abell's approval.

Okay?

(PHONE RINGING)

LOGAN: Yup?

ELENIE: Hello, Mr. Thompson,
this is Elenie Tariku.

Yeah, I know who you are.

You don't need to be so formal.

ELENIE: I'm actually
calling to let you know

that I will no longer
be Charley's therapist,

so starting tomorrow, I will
be handing his case over.

Oh.

Okay.

ELENIE: All right,
thank you very much.

All right.

(CHARLEY SIGHING DEEPLY)

Where's Dad?

I don't know, honey.

(TENSE PENSIVE MUSIC)

CHARLEY: Ow!

(TENSE PENSIVE MUSIC)

Mom?

Brush your teeth before bed, honey.

(TENSE PENSIVE MUSIC)

(WATER RUNNING)

YOUNG ABELL: Are you okay, Elenie?

Are you okay, Elenie?

Are you okay, Elenie?

(MUFFLED SPEAKING)

(MAN CHATTERING ON TV)

You hungry?

(MAN CHATTERING ON TV)

(MAN VOCALIZING)
(BELLS JINGLING)

(ELENIE SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(PEOPLE SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(ELENIE SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(ELENIE WHISPERING)

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

ELENIE: Mommy.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

ELENIE: I'm fasting.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Mom, you better close your virgin eyes!

SAMARA: What?

Your boy was not so innocent after all.

He had a nudie magazine!

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Look at all these boobs!

I wish my boobs were like that.

Oh, see?

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(LAUGHING)

(SAMARA COUGHING)

Mom, I'm gonna marry him.

Marry who?

Who do you mean who?

Johance, of course.

Really?

Yes!

(CLAPPING)

My only daughter is going
to get married to a good man

who loves her right.

Okay, okay, okay, okay, do you know what?

I have saved my wedding dress for you.

You're gonna wear that, yeah, yeah!

Let me call, let me call him up

and tell him that you said yes!

No, no, no, Mom.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!

I'm gonna call him, I'm gonna
call him, I'm gonna call him!

Oh, God, no need for him to ask me, Mom,

no need for romance.

(SIGHING)

Goodnight, baby boy.

(BUS WHIRRING)

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

Hi, Charley.

Can I get a hug?

How are you?

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(DOORBELL RINGING)

Hey.

WALLACE: Hey.

What happened?

(UPBEAT MUSIC WITH MAN
SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMEN CHATTERING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(WOMEN CLAPPING AND SINGING IN UNISON)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(WOMEN CLAPPING AND SINGING IN UNISON)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(UPBEAT MUSIC WITH MAN
SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Mila, you home?

MILA: In here.

Man, traffic was bad, (LAUGHING)

and Charley had to pee, so I
dangled him out of the window.

You should have seen this woman.

Hey.

Where you been?

What's he doing here?

WALLACE: What do you
know about someone

named Abell Tariku?

(LIVELY MUSIC)

(MEN VOCALIZING)

(WOMEN CHANTING AND CLAPPING IN UNISON)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(MEN SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

(WOMEN TRILLING)

Hey, bud, why don't
you go take a shower,

wash up before dinner?

Cactus.

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

(WOMEN SINGING AND CLAPPING IN UNISON)

(MEN VOCALIZING)
(WOMEN TRILLING)

(TENSE PENSIVE MUSIC)

(TRAIN RUMBLING ON TRACK)

Say something so I know it's not true.

I didn't know what else to do.

No, no!

(TENSE MUSIC)

No, no, Logan, no!

No! (SOBBING)

(TENSE PENSIVE MUSIC)
(HEART BEATING LOUDLY)

(TRAIN CLACKING ALONG TRACK)

(MILA SOBBING)

(CHILDREN SCREAMING IN EXCITEMENT)

(CHILDREN LAUGHING)

(TRAIN SCREECHING)

(TRAIN RUMBLING ALONG TRACK)

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

(TRAIN RUMBLING ALONG TRACK)

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

(TRAIN CLACKING ALONG TRACK)

I appreciate you coming.

I understand that you don't
want to press charges.

I just want to say

that I'm very sorry.

It was an accident.

You are Charley's father?

Lenie?

Lenie.

What?

Oh, I see.

Oh, dear Jesus.

I want to choose my words
carefully before I speak.

If we don't say the words
out loud, it will harm us.

I want to know what happened
before I decide how I feel.

Charley, when somebody
drops their phone,

you give it back to 'em,
it's called not being rude.

That's okay, he could
play with it, I don't mind.

CHARLEY: Say hi.

Are you recording this?

CHARLEY: Yeah, you're
in my movie now.

Say hi.

I'm really sorry about him.

That's all right.
I'm Logan.

ABELL: Abell, nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you too.

CHARLEY: No, no, no, say
that to the camera.

Hi, I'm Abell.

Let's go!

I'm Dad.

(CAR HORN HONKING)

(MUMBLING)

CHARLEY: Dad?

Look behind you, there's, Dad!

(MEN GROANING)

No, Dad, no!

Dad, no!
Run, Charley!

CHARLEY: Oh, God!

LOGAN: Charley, please get up.

(SOBBING)

(TRAIN HORN HONKING)
(MAN SCREAMING)

My God!
Run!

Run!

CHARLEY: Oh, my God, no!

What did you do?

LOGAN: It was an accident,
Charley, run, run!

Don't look back!

I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry.

I didn't know that he was your brother,

I swear.
Doesn't matter!

Lenie...
No!

No!

Stop, Ma.

Please, I'm sorry.

I didn't want them to take Charley away.

I've been holdin' on to this.

(SAMARA SOBBING)

It's killing me.

It's destroying everything, my family...

Your family?

You've destroyed my family!

You don't deserve to look
at my mother in the face.

(SAMARA SOBBING)

(MYSTERIOUS PENSIVE MUSIC)

(PANTING)

(WINE SPLASHING IN SINK)

Yes, I would like to
cancel a service, please.

(MYSTERIOUS PENSIVE MUSIC)

MILA: We'll find
something nearby.

What about Dad?

He'll be nearby.

Promise.

Okay.

(MYSTERIOUS PENSIVE MUSIC)

Do you want some breakfast?

No.

I can't get another thing in my stomach.

(SNORTING PLAYFULLY)

I'm so ashamed, Ma,

and I'm disgusted in how
much I embarrassed you.

I'm sorry,

so sorry.

I'm really sorry, I hate myself for it.

Don't hate yourself.

You don't embarrass me.

You make me proud every day.

I'm the one that is sorry.

You're stronger than me.

I don't understand how
you could forgive him,

or me, for that matter.

When they killed your father,

I was so angry.

The rage burned me inside, and I let it.

For the last 25 years, it
prevented me from doing anything.

All I had was you and Abell.

And if you don't turn
out the way I planned,

I told to myself, I'm a failure again.

I don't know how to say it in English.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

A whispering guilt, a voice
that keeps tugging at you.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

It haunted me.

It's with me when I'm awake, when I sleep,

all the time.

You know what it says to me?

No.

You must be at peace.

Find peace, choose peace.

I have not been listening to
that voice for many years.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

I don't want to hold you
responsible for my joy.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Like I did with your father, sweet love.

I want to walk down the streets
wearing beautiful dresses

and feeling attractive, the
way I felt with your dad.

I'm serious.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

I'm serious!

(LAUGHING AND SNIFFLING)

I hope you'll forgive me.

(ELENIE SOBBING)

(ENERGETIC MUSIC WITH MAN
SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

♪ He strum the guitar light,
the way he stroke my back ♪

♪ 'Cause he's shy sometimes ♪

♪ I ask him to dance
but, oh, he won't dance ♪

♪ No, he don't know he's beautiful ♪

♪ He pull back the veil and
show the color of his heart ♪

♪ Is blue, so blue, so blue ♪

♪ But yes, I know you're leavin' soon ♪

♪ Oh, baby, no, don't come
so close, you're leavin' ♪

♪ Leavin' soon ♪

♪ Baby, no, don't come so
close, you're leavin' ♪

♪ Leavin' soon ♪

♪ He take me to the roof
and show me the moon ♪

♪ Near full tonight ♪

♪ And there we lay with
my guitar and play, oh ♪

♪ Lovely ♪

♪ My dear, my dear, so far from here ♪

♪ You'll be, you'll be, you'll be ♪

♪ Maybe you can stay with me ♪

♪ Well, baby, no, don't come
so close, you're leavin' ♪

♪ Leavin' soon ♪

♪ Baby, no, don't come so
close, you're leavin' ♪

♪ Leavin' soon ♪

♪ Well, your eyebrows, they arch softly ♪

♪ Like branches toward the water ♪

♪ And your fingertips, they
remind me of the moon ♪

♪ Well, time, it passes quickly ♪

♪ Been years and years already ♪

♪ I am glad you are leavin' ♪

♪ He take me to the roof
and show me the moon ♪

♪ Near full tonight ♪

♪ And then we lay with my
guitar and play, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Lovely ♪

♪ My dear, my dear, so far from here ♪

♪ Oh, you'll be, you'll be, you'll be ♪

♪ Well, maybe you can stay with me ♪

♪ Well, your eyebrows, they arch softly ♪

♪ Like branches toward the water ♪

♪ And your fingertips, they
remind me of the moon ♪

♪ Well, time, it passes quickly ♪

♪ Been years and years already ♪

♪ I am glad you are leavin', oh ♪

(UPBEAT MUSIC WITH WOMAN
SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)