Being Erica (2009–2011): Season 2, Episode 11 - What Goes Up Must Come Down - full transcript

The Cold War at River Rock Publishing between Brent and Julianne continues. Erica, editor of "The None" - Katie's new book - is falling on Julianne's side of the war, despite not wanting to have to choose between the two. When a traumatic event occurs to Erica at River Rock, Dr. Tom decides on Erica's tenure at a dot com in 2001 as the next item on her list to revisit. Erica quit her job at meandyoumakes2.com just prior to it being sold. If she had stayed at the dot com through its sale, she probably would have made millions. Dr. Tom sends her to an alternate reality first in 2004 and then in current day 2009 as if she had stayed at the dot com through its sale. Erica is unsure if this visit will become her new reality. But through this process, Erica learns that life experience is important to personal growth. She uses this knowledge to reinvent herself, but not without some obstacles. Meanwhile, Kai is being pressured by Travis to embark on the path which ultimately led to Travis' suicide. Kai tries to change this path to save Travis' life, but ultimately Kai comes to a more important understanding.

Previously on "Being Erica"...

Travis and me,

we wrote all
our first songs together,

every night,
after hours at Goblins.

I mean everything
sounds perfect.

I guess I'm just
one lucky guy.

So how're you coping

with the suicide
of your band mate Travis?

"The None."

"The None." Hmm,
what's that again?

Oh, right, it's
only my favorite



new self-help title
of the year.

Is it true that you're taking
Friedkin's book from Julianne?

Yes.

Listen, Julianne's ship
is taking on water fast,

and I want you
to make it to shore.

Good evening, ladies,

and welcome
to the official launch

of "The None."

Please join me in welcoming
Katie Atkins.

Thank you.

I am so excited to share
this book with you.

We have lots
of surprises tonight,

and it is all thanks
to my very talented friend

and editor.



She is the vision
behind this launch,

so, thank you,
Erica Strange.

Ever get that feeling
that you've hit your stride?

You're in the groove,
on top of the world?

Like everything you've worked
so hard for is finally yours?

... and
Julianne Giacomelli,

and all of the people
at River Rock

who poured
their hearts...

This launch would make
Deepak jealous,

and those slogan ts
are the cutest!

Incredible work,
chicken.

Thank you, Julianne.

So, without further ado...

bachelors, come on out!

Oh boy!
Welcome, gentlemen.

Welcome. Have fun.

My spidey senses are saying,
"New York Times bestseller,

here we come!"

Hi there.
Have fun.

Can I get a whoo-hoo?!

Can I get a wha-wha?!

Who's the man?

That's me.
Oh, yeah.

Someone had
a good night.

Oh, Ethan,
it was the best!

All of that work,

all those months of stress
finally paid off.

The whole night,
it was perfect

from beginning to end.

That's awesome.

Wait here.

Where are
you going?

Hmm?

Ethan, what's this?

Open it.

I know it's
kind of corny, but--

No, I love it.

You coming to bed?

Um... in a minute.

The first reviews should
be out online and...

I can't wait.

But that
perfect moment,

no matter how badly
we want it to,

won't last forever.

Oh, my God.

That good, huh?

What does it say?

"The None is definitely
not the one."

Hey, it's just
one review, right?

Yeah,
one terrible review.

Come on,
try not to think about it.

Let's just go to bed.

Yeah,
I'll be right there.

Because without warning,
a setback can strike...

What?!

Sending us even further back
than where we started from.

♪ Being Erica 2x11 ♪
What Goes Up Must Come Down

♪ it's clearer inside of me ♪

♪ who I will always be ♪

♪ open me up to my heart ♪

♪ feels like I'm seeing
in the dark ♪

♪ waking me up to my heart ♪

♪ to do it all over
again and again ♪

♪ until the end ♪

♪ the sum of my dreams ♪

♪ and everything
I ever wanted to be ♪

"The None
is one colossal failure."

Oh, great, and that's
from Larry Horowitz.

Larry jerk-owitz.

No, he's actually one
of the top literary critics

in Toronto.

It's just a couple
of people's opinions.

Who reads reviews
anyway?

Everyone in the industry.

I mean, my bosses,
the public.

A review--it can make
or break a book.

Ethan,
this is really bad.

Hey, I guess my day
can't get any worse, right?

Just hang in there,
okay?

Yeah.

Julianne?

Yes?

So, the reviews were...

Catastrophic?

I just... I feel like
I should do something.

Well, there's nothing
to be done.

Although, personally,

I'd like to give Larry Horowitz
a piece of my mind.

Yeah, see? Okay,
'cause I read the review

and normally,
I agree with Larry, I do,

But I feel like,
you know, he misunderstood

what Katie was trying
to say.

It's like his interpretation
of the message,

it was way off.

Okay, Erica, I get that you wanna cry
and share feelings--

No, it's not just that.

It's just I honestly feel
that the review,

it wasn't fair.

All right, chicken,

Let's get some
perspective here.

If the book sells,

no one's gonna remember
the reviews.

Really?
Yeah.

So... scoot!

Erica.
Yeah?

Don't "dwell."

Focus on
"The Sex Scoop."

Cry in the bathroom,
move on.

Frank Galvin
will be back today

and we've gotta be
on our game, you got it?

'kay. Thanks.

Move on.

You didn't even read it!

Thanks for coming in,

but we're looking for something
a little more relatable,

given our recent...
colossal failure.

Uh...

Thanks.

Ow!

Sorry, I just, uh...

I just got another
rejection.

Sorry to hear that.

Yeah, by number nine,
you...

well, you almost stop
feeling it.

Well, you know, Brent,

he can be pretty tough.

Are you a...

are you an editor, too?

Uh, I like to think so.

Well, in that case,
Seth Newman.

Hi, Erica Strange.

It's nice to
meet you, Erica.

Nice to meet you, too.

So what is
"The Purple Door" about?

It's the story
of my life.

Wow. So you were raised
in a cult

and your parents,
they're still there.

And now?

Well, I got out.

I'm one of the lucky ones.

But I had to um... escape,

and I haven't
looked back since.

Until now.

Seth,
that must be so hard.

It's an amazing story.

I mean, if you want,

I'd be happy
to give it a read.

I can't promise
anything, of course, but...

No, of course not.
Um...

You have no idea how much
I appreciate this, Erica.

Great.

I'll be in touch.

Okay.
Take care.

Yeah. Thank you.

This is a first.

What do you have in there,
a gun?

Oh, of course not.

Just checking.

An editor comes to see me
the day I give a bad review,

it's a little...

unorthodox?

That's one word.

Crazy's another.

What can I do for you,
miss Strange,

that I haven't
already done?

Well, I've read your review,
of course,

and I have to be honest,

I think you've
misinterpreted

what Katie Atkins
was trying to say.

Really?

Yeah. I mean, the book,
it's sending out

an optimistic message,

it's about
finding happiness.

With a guy
you don't love.

Happiness through
mediocrity,

through settling.

Well, I'm sorry,
Mr. Horowitz,

but I think that settling
is a little simplistic.

I mean, we're just saying stop
holding out for Mr. Right.

And settle
for Mr. Wrong.

Not Mr. Wrong,
Mr. Real.

Now that's a worthy idea, but it's
not in the book.

It's the whole backbone
of the book.

No, the backbone of the book is
the cynical flipside

that all men
are fixer-uppers;

That you never hoped
to find your soulmate.

Well, that wasn't
the intention.

What is it you want?

A new review?
A retraction?

I just...
I just wanna understand.

Fine.
Now you understand.

This book made me angry.

It's a manual
on giving up

and how to stop
looking for love.

You know, I've been married
to my soulmate for 20 years,

I can assure you,
I did not marry "The None."

I'm assuming
we're done here?

Okay, so...

remember when you told us

that the band shouldn't
enter V-Fest?

How you said
it would be a waste,

that we were still
too raw?

Yeah, I remember.

Before you freak out,
I want you to know

that there's a happy ending
to this story

because, bro...

we got in.

It's not the main stage,

but there will be key
industry people there

to hear us play.

No.

Kai--
we're not doing this.

Yeah, we are.

Travis, trust me,
this is not what we need.

You said yourself

that you wanted
to keep the band small.

When did I ever
say that?

We're doing this,
Kai.

You know,
Travis has a point.

He doesn't say, "let's
keep the band small"

until June 18th, 2012.

You're a couple years
early.

He may not know it now.

But you do.

Because
hindsight's 20-20?

That's right.

Not always.

Travis has
big dreams, too.

But he couldn't
handle them.

That may be true,
but that's not the point.

Your future,

you know, the very thing you keep
fighting against?

Well, it looks like
it's found you.

Um, Brent, a quick word.

Yes, Julianne.

Well, I was reviewing
the latest chapters

of "The Mystery
of Tomorrow,"

and, I gotta say,
not exactly up to snuff.

Friedken and I actually
feel very strongly about the chapters.

Well, I feel very strongly that
they need work.

Care to be specific?

I will be "specific"
when I give you your notes.

And I don't like
your tone.

And I don't trust
your "instincts"

because lately,
they've been about as reliable

as a Bernie Madoff
stock tip.

Brent, I am your boss.

That's what
your business cards say.

The chapters remain
as they are.

Brent,
what is wrong with you?

This is none
of your business.

Look, she gave you
your shot, okay?

If it wasn't
for Julianne,

you would still be
in the mailroom

Working with Zeke.

Please, please,
could we all just calm down,

Remain professional?

Professional?!

Is that what you call going
behind my back

to Frank Galvin?

I was looking out
for River Rock.

You were looking out
for "numero uno,"

And Frank is either
too naive

or in the early stages
of Alzheimer's, not to see that.

Julianne.

Erica.

Boardroom.

Now.

Um, Frank...

ugh... God.

Engaging in a public
shouting match

with a fellow employee?

Frank, I'm sorry.

That's what I keep hearing,
apology after apology.

And yet I come back
to find your department,

once again, in shambles.

Case in point,

Erica visiting Larry Horowitz
at his office,

accosting him.

What?!

I-I... I just wanted
some clarification.

You went to see him?

Erica,
we don't do that.

I'm sorry, I...
I just thought--

No, you didn't think!

Neither did you,

dropping the ball
on "The None."

Giving a junior editor
free reigns.

Crossing the line
with Thomas Friedken,

a bestseller.

Frank.

You managed to talk me
into "The Sex Scoop,"

based largely on the projected
success of "The None."

It now seems only logical
to kill that title.

Mr. Galvin, if I may.

"The Sex Scoop"
and "The None,"

they're completely
different.

Who the hell
do you think you are?!

Julianne,

You brought us great success
with Thomas Friedken.

Based on that,

I was prepared to overlook
a few stumbles,

but we've reached the point
where your errors in judgment

are now compromising
the reputation of this company.

I cannot stand by
and let that happen.

Frank, please.

You will pack up your desks
and be out before lunch.

Both of you.

Hey...

It's gonna be okay.

No, Ethan, it's not.

I got fired again.

This is story of
my life, right?

You'll find another job,
you always do.

Mm.

Oh, that's great.
In what?

Um... customer service?

Maybe telemarketing?

Hey...

You're gonna bounce back.

I know it might not
seem like it,

but this could be
an opportunity.

To collect welfare?

You've always wanted
to work in fiction.

Now's your chance to apply
to those kinds of jobs.

Ethan, you don't realize how small
the industry is.

Everyone reads
the reviews.

No one's gonna hire me
after this.

Of course they will,
and I'll help you.

What are you doing?

Let's update your cv.
The best thing you can do

is just get right back
in the game.

I know that you're just trying
to make me feel better, but...

but honestly,
all I wanna do

is just crawl into bed
and disappear.

"a refreshing take on love
that tells it like it is."

That's not bad.

Oh, yeah?

Okay, so, uh...

Why don't you go tell that
to Larry Horowitz.

Enh, what does it matter
anyways?

I got fired.

Why does it have to be
so hard?

And what would
make things better, Hmm?

Vacation?
A good book?

Some perspective maybe?

A lottery ticket?

Ah, money.

Interesting.

And so what do you think that that
would solve for you?

Buy a little happiness,
maybe?

No, it's not about
buying anything;

it's about...
it's about freedom.

Which brings us
to your list.

You wanna take a stab?
Got any guesses here?

Well done.

So what happened there?

Oh, it was a dot-com company
that I worked for in the boom,

and I quit a few months
before they were bought out.

And that was the lottery ticket
that I threw away.

Ah...

It's pointless anyways,
though.

it's like you told me,

you can't go back
to win a lottery.

Mm, no, I said you can't go back
and buy a ticket.

This is different.
This is a legitimate regret.

So, go ahead,
indulge me.

I...

If I would've stayed,
I would've been...

I would've been rich
in my twenties.

I...

I mean, I could've paid off
all my student loans,

and I never would've had
to work at a call center.

I would've had the time
and the means

to dedicate to my writing.

And my life, it would've been
completely different.

What?

Ah...

So, I made us
reservations

for tomorrow night
at Canoe.

Right.

Hey, come on,

I had to call in
some serious favors

to get
a last-minute table.

A little "thanks, Luc"
would be good.

Luc...

Yeah?

Um...thanks.

Anytime.

Uh...

Hey, I've got a 2:00 today
at Goldman Sachs,

but call me
after your meeting,

I wanna hear all about it.

Um, my meeting...

at River Rock,
about your book.

My book?

Okay,
so it's not a book yet,

but I believe in you.

Your paper.

My paper.

My, my paper!

My... which I'm
going to read

with my coffee.

You okay, babe?

Yeah, I'm fine.
Mm-hm.

Bye.
Bye.

See ya.

Whaaa-ha-ha-ha!

Stay there.

Coming!

Ms. Strange?
Christmas comes early,

courtesy of the 2004
fall collection.

2004?
Wait, wait, wait...

I worked at "meandyoumakestwo"
in 2001.

Yeah, yeah, yeah,
well, you didn't quit,

it's three years later,
options vested,

you made millions,
yada-yada-yada.

Ooh, can anybody say
"fierce"?

Oh, so...

you're my personal shopper?

Well, I prefer
personal stylist.

Oh.

This is for
your meeting today.

Right, at River Rock,
for my book,

that I write here

in my big,
fancy-shmancy mansion

that I bought
with my millions.

Dr. Tom,

I own a first edition
of "Ulysses."

Right here.
First edition.

Oh, my God, I wonder
if James Joyce signed it?

I rather think that you'd
want to focus on this.

"Little Feats?"

This is my short story
from Professor Lozar's class.

Hm. You say short story,

I say first chapter
of your first novel.

Look, you've already
started to expand it.

And I snagged a meeting
at River Rock?

Oh, why, because I'm...

in good company.

Turns out that you frequent
the same private club

as Frank Galvin's daughter.

"success is often achieved

by those who don't know
that failure is inevitable."

Coco Chanel.

Thanks!

So, it's the story
about a girl

from rural Ontario

who suffers hardship
after hardship

and she's in love...

and I know
you're thinking hardship,

rural Ontario,

not the sexiest world,

but it's a story that
has been important to me

since university.

You know, I really connect
with the protagonist.

She's--she's an underdog.

Erica...

I was born just after
the great depression.

I had seven siblings.

I know.

I built this company
from nothing.

I have lived
through poverty.

Whereas you?

You became wealthy
overnight.

That's true, but--

You've heard the saying,
"write what you know?"

Authenticity
is everything.

H-how could you possibly
know anything

about your protagonist?

Uh...

Okay, I could make
the character more urban.

That's a start.

Tell you what.

Let's start
from scratch here.

Mr. Galvin--

Stop trying to be
the next Margaret Atwood.

Be what you are!

Write the next
"Devil Wears Prada,"

or "Shopaholic" book.

Write what you know.

That's the best advice
that I can give you.

Oh...

Right. Well,
thank you, Mr. Galvin.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Uh...?

Hello?

Where are you?

Uh, sorry,
who is this?

It's Shayna.

Did you forget our shiatsus?

No, I did--
no, of course not.

Can you just remind
me again, where are we meeting?

Wow,
I could get used to this.

Mm, yeah, I know.

Once a week
really isn't enough.

So, listen, you coming
tonight or what?

I need to know.

Oh, remind me?

Hello?
The Noam Chomsky lecture.

He's talking about
his new book,

All about American
Imperialism, post 9-11.

That sounds amazing!

So what?
We get to meet him?

Meet him,
have drinks with him.

So, here's the plan.
Yeah.

I'm gonna pick up
Jenny and Tassie in my new wheels

and then we'll swing
around and get you,

And you'll spend the night finding me
a future husband.

Perfect!
And what about Judith?

'cause Noam Chomsky,
he's right up her alley.

Judith?
Yeah.

Do you guys even talk?

Seriously, that girl
is so jealous of you.

I mean if you wanna
invite her, invite her,

but I'm not
picking her up.

Hey, Jude.
Thank you.

Thank you for coming.

So what's the big emergency?

Oh, well, uh...

um, I just...

I wanna know why
we don't talk anymore.

Please, Jude, tell me,

why did you stop
talking to me?

Come on,
why are you doing this?

Because I know
that you will tell me the truth.

So, just lay it on me,
Jude.

I'm serious, don't hold
anything back.

Fine.

You used to be ambitious.

You wanted to be
an author,

you wanted to win
a booker.

But ever since you...

ever since you cashed in,
all you do is shop,

or travel, or...

go to parties and...

lectures
and silent auctions.

You don't even try
anymore.

Okay.

And you and I?

It's not like
I don't love you, Erica,

I do. I just...

I mean we were best friends
for years.

We're just in
different places now.

I have to go to work,
so...

Sure. Of course.

And thank you.

Yeah. Um...

Erica, for the record?

You stopped calling me.

Hey, I thought you were
going to Chomsky?

I...
I cancelled.

You did, why?

I ended up meeting up
with Judith.

We went together
for coffee.

Judith? Well,
that must've been fun.

Look, I take it
the meeting at River Rock

didn't go so well?

Luc, what do I do?

About Judith?

No, I mean, day after day.
I...

I don't have a job,

I go for massages
with Shayna and...

And then what?

Just sit around
and eat bon bons

and talk about politics
all day?

Erica, you're
writing a book, right?

Ugh.

River Rock--
who needs them?

Self-publish.

Luc.

I'm serious.

Look, you don't
need to go in there on your knees

begging to be taken
seriously.

Publish
your own book.

Buy a publishing
company.

Oh, so it's that easy,
huh?

If I can't do it myself,
then I just buy it?

Who says money
can't buy happiness?

Hello?

Hello?
Hello!

Say, "WTP Insurance,
how may I help you"?

Say it.

WTP Insurance,
how may I help you?

Vair?

Okay, I'm sorry,
am I going too fast?

Is that it?

Uh, this is
a telephone.

We use these in 2009
to transmit

and receive sound.

Most commonly
the human voice, i.e. yours.

Do you... are you
understanding me?

How is this happening?

Yeah, actually,
it kind of isn't,

Okay? Since someone
put the "you" in incom-petent.

Vair,
I just need a second--

Tea time!

Don't talk,
don't answer the phone,

don't move.
Perfect.

Hello. Um, WTP.

Hello, Erica.

Dr. Tom?!

Where are you?

Huh?

Dr. Tom?

What the hell is going on?

Well, I think Vair
made that pretty clear.

You're in training.

What am I doing at WTP
in 2009?

Because I don't work at WTP
in 2009.

Well, you do now.

Oh, come on,
you lived the good life,

you know, for a while,

but then, hey,
the well ran dry.

I don't think it helped having Luc
as your boyfriend

and your
financial advisor.

Apparently,
he was terrible at both,

but anyway,
there you have it.

'kay, wait a minute,
wait-wait-wait.

What are you saying?

I'm saying that
it's gone.

All of it.

And with nothing
to fall back on...

WTP?! I mean...

What about my book?

What about "Little Feats"?

Uh...

Well, little came of it.

You and Luc broke up

and rather than working
on the book,

you decided that you wanted to get
away from it all

and you went on a safari

to... Tanzania,
I believe.

and you saw lots
of lions and a...

giraffe or two and...

monkeys.

Okay, wait a minute,
so, I didn't...

I didn't finish the book

and now I have nothing?

No, you still
got your mom.

You live with her now.

What?!

Well...

We don't wanna keep Vair
waiting.

W-wait.

wait... I mean...

You're gonna
send me back, right,

to the real 2009?

Well, who said that
this isn't real?

Dr. Tom.

Go on.

Go on, Erica,
and enjoy the first day

of the rest
of your life.

No way!

I'm not going anywhere.

Oh, hey, Erica,
where were you?

I, uh, just had to use
the, um...

washroom? Okay,
that's pretty funny,

'cause the rest of us
have to wait 42 more minutes,

'cause that's when the scheduled
bathroom break is.

Okay, Vair, just,
just back off.

Wow, wow, that's a little
hostility, huh?

No one really likes
an Amy attitude.

Would you please just--

hold on,

getting a little signal.

This just in.

Good stuff.

I got fired by sticky note.

That's worse than being
let go by email.

Oh, it's gonna be fine,
honey,

you'll find
something else.

Oh, yeah, maybe...

maybe another call center job.
You know, oh, hey,

maybe I could go work
for Uncle Ruby at White Dreams?

Erica,
when you hit a bump,

you pick yourself up
and you keep going.

Mom, this isn't a bump;

It is a giant wall.

I mean, is this my life?

Do I just need to accept

that this is as good
as it gets?

You know,
you yourself said

you didn't even
want this job.

Ugh. You know what?
Mom, you don't get it.

No, actually,
I do get it.

Losing your job
is one thing, Erica,

losing your son

and then your marriage
is another.

I'm not trying
to diminish

what you're going
through here, Erica, but--

No, mom, you're right.

I'm wallowing.

Heh.

You know, when your father and I
first got together,

it felt like I could see
our entire future,

complete with three
healthy, happy kids.

But things don't always
turn out

the way you imagine.

Life deals you a hand

and no matter what card
you're holding,

you have to play them.

And, honey, it's hard,

and it never
stops being hard.

But you learn,

and you change,
and you grow.

And even in my
darkest moments, Erica,

I remind myself...

it's the reason
we're all here.

So you got fired.

So you're back down
at the bottom again.

It could be worse.

Yeah.

So get back up

and keep fighting!

Hello.

My name is Erica Strange.

Do you have
an appointment?

No, I don't,
but I was...

hoping to talk to you
about working...

here.

I love books

and I feel that
I have what it takes

to work with authors,
and to develop projects.

Mm-hm.

And I know that my cv
doesn't reflect that, but--

All it really reflects

is that you have
a masters in English lit

from ten years ago.

It's nine years,
but point taken.

Look,

I have a soft spot
for go-getters,

but let's
all gather around

and have a little
reality check.

You have no experience.

Then hire me
in the mail room.

Honey, mail sorters
don't wear prada.

I bet you did.

Secret number 34:
Dress to impress, right?

And I can promise you

that I will not stay
a mail sorter for long.

Is your phone number
on here?

Home and cell.

I'll see what I can do.

Thank you,
Mr. Kennedy.

You're welcome,
miss Strange.

You're up early.

Well, I had to get
my cv ready.

Plus, rustle up a list

of every publishing
company in town.

Wow, what a difference a night's
sleep makes, huh?

You were right.

I usually am.

Good luck.

Thanks.

♪ you can cry a million tears ♪

Hi, there.

Just here
to drop off my cv.

♪ ...A million years ♪

♪ if you think that time
will change your ways ♪

♪ don't wait too long ♪

♪ maybe I got a lot to learn ♪

♪ time can slip away ♪

♪ sometimes you gotta
lose it all ♪

♪ before you find your way ♪

♪ it may rain ♪

♪ it may shine ♪

♪ love will age
like fine red wine ♪

♪ but if you think that time
will change your ways ♪

♪ don't wait too long ♪

Hey!

This better be good.

I have a half-eaten
container of chunky monkey

and season 4 of "The Golden Girls"
waiting for me at home.

Okay.
Are you ready?

What is that?
A manuscript,

and it's amazing.

I mean it needs some work,
but...

Julianne,
it is so different

from anything
that I've ever read.

In case you forgot,
Erica,

we're unemployed,
we are pariahs...

'kay, just hear me out.

What if we publish it?

Okay, someone needs to share
her anti-depressants.

No, Julianne,
I'm serious.

Let's start a company.
Together.

Erica,

starting a company,
that's a big deal.

It's not like setting up
a lemonade stand.

Okay, you know what?

Stop being such
a Debbie Downer.

When did you ever give up
without a fight?

I mean, you made a mistake
with Friedken

and I screwed up
on "The None."

And we got fired.

And it's a setback.

But it's also an opportunity
to try something.

Maybe...

this is the universe's way
of giving us a push.

When the lord
closes a door,

somewhere he opens
a window.

It's mother superior.

"Sound of Music."
I heart that movie.

Exactly.

Okay, I'll read it.

Tonight.

But I can't guarantee
you I'm gonna like it.

You're gonna love it.

Julianne, I...

I have that tingly feeling.

You stalking me?
Yeah, Kai,

I'm stalking the lead singer of
a nonexistent band.

I know I've been
acting weird.

You've been acting

like a completely
different person.

A few months ago,

you were talking about head
becoming the new U2.

I know, but, Travis,
success isn't everything.

If we do this,
if we go to V-Fest,

there's a chance
we could blow up.

Is that really
what you want?

Of course.

That's
the whole point.

Go big or go home.

We can't do this
without you,

so don't back out
on us now.

You are not gonna
regret this.

See you at practice,
okay?

I don't wanna hear it.

Okay, then.

I'll just say that I think you handled
that really well.

It's not how I remember it.

I thought I was the one--

You thought
you pushed him into it.

Yeah.

You thought everything
you did

lead to Travis' suicide.

Yeah.

Looks like the way
you remember things,

isn't exactly how
they really happened.

Something to think
about, Kai.

Take it easy.

Hey, Dr. Fred?

Thanks.

Happy to be back?

Oh...

You have no idea.

So, winning the lottery?

Is not all
it's cracked up to be.

Well, it did gave you
that freedom

you were talking about.

Yeah,
freedom to coast

and freedom
to stop trying.

I mean, having it easy,

it did solve some problems,
I guess,

but then it created
a whole bunch of new ones.

For example?

All those hard years,

all that struggle
to find my way,

it made me different.

It made me better.

Where would we be
without struggle,

without hardship
and pain?

You know, it's easy to forget
how much these moments teach

and shape us.

How different we would be
without them.

I guess, it's hard to look
at a setback as a gift.

Why? When that's exactly
what it is.

"the struggle itself
towards the heights

is enough to fill
a man's heart."

Albert Camus.

Setbacks.

We face them every day.

Some cause us to stumble,

others brings us
to our knees.

And along with pain
and heartache,

each setback brings
the opportunity to rise up,

to be stronger and better

and braver than before.

Hey.

Hey!

Are we celebrating
something?

We are.

It's... it's more of
a new direction, actually.

Here, have a seat
and let me explain.

So...

what if Julianne and I started
our own publishing company?

I know it's crazy,
right?

But, I mean,
think about it.

Was this
Julianne's idea?

No, it was mine,
actually.

I read an incredible manuscript
by this new author.

His writing blew me away.

Okay, what's wrong?

Erica, starting your
own publishing company,

it's a risky move.

It's not something
you just decide on a whim.

No, and I'm not.

I'm gonna have to take out
a business loan,

the hours are gonna be
crazy at first--

You've never run
a business.

It might not work out.

Why are you being
so negative?

I'm not being negative

and I don't mean
to sound like a jerk.

I just think
we should be practical.

I'm sorry, I just don't
think it's a good idea.

But no sooner
have we conquered a setback,

we'll find another

just waiting
to take its place.