Being Erica (2009–2011): Season 2, Episode 4 - Cultural Revolution - full transcript

Risk averse Erica has decided that in not taking risks, she is often standing on the sidelines wondering how much more could have been achieved. Testing the sexual boundaries with Ethan may be one thing, but the bigger risk is the opportunity to write the sex book instead of edit it, which is what Julianne is offering her. If she accepts, that means she has to give up her stable editing job. This decision is reminiscent of the year after the completion of her undergraduate degree, when she and Jenny were going to go to Taipei for the summer to teach English but otherwise just "wing it". Erica chickened out at the last minute, which she has since regretted since it ended up being the worst summer of her life working at a boring government job instead. When Dr. Tom sends her back to that trip to Taipei, Erica learns that risk has its uncomfortable moments, and its extreme highs and lows. She also learns that taking risk should not absolve one of responsibility. And taking a risk should be about achieving what one really wants. With others, Brent takes another step to see if the risk he took at work pays off. And Jenny takes what she sees as a risk, but is really just her predictable course of action.

Previously on "Being Erica"...

And the lucky editor

who will be leading us through
this sexual revolution,

Erica Strange.

Me?

You're upset.
I get it.

I will do my best
to step it up.

I apologize
for disappointing you.

Aah!
No! Jenny!

You know,
a baby shower is basically

just rewarding somebody
for having sex.



Hey, if you're looking for a little
action on the side,

I'm available.
Jenny!

I have sex all the time.
Where is my reward?

? shalaka laka ?

? boom, boom ?

? the more I hang there ?

? the more I get wrapped up
in him... ?

Uh whoa, I thought
we were just

gonna have a nice glass of wine.
What is that?

You've never
done this before?

Are you kidding me?
Why is he lighting them on fire?

Why are you lighting them on fire?
Just relax. Relax.

It's not a big deal.

It's fun, Erica.



It is a big deal.
I have to work tomorrow.

Don't worry.
Don't worry.

When faced
with decision,

no matter how small,
we all do the same thing.

We calculate the risk.

Erica,
what is wrong with you?

I can't.
I-it's on fire.

Some of us play it safe.
While others...

It's not a big deal!

Dive right in.

I--you know what?
I'm so--I can't.

I have a huge day
tomorrow.

Oh, my God.
Would you stop already?

I feel like I'm out
with my Nana.

Look, I have this big
presentation tomorrow

for the sex book,
and I'm--

Shh-shh-shh-shh.
The sex book, the sex book--

It's all you ever
talk about.

Maybe if you even
had a sex life...

Ahh!
It'd be a start.

I have a sex life.

Ethan and I,
we--we do it all the time.

Let me guess...
missionary position

on your bed, lights out,
with a condom.

Jenny... come on.

You're supposed
to be this hotshot editor,

but you're not exactly
living the life.

How are you supposed to bring
any spark, any excitement to your work

when you are
a lights out by 10:00 kinda girl?

Fine.

Oh!

Yes.
Ohh!

Another one over here,
please.

Comin' right up.

Yowzer. Ohh.

Trust me. You live in fear,
you get the dregs,

but if you're willing to take a risk
and go after what you want...

Here you go.

Look.
See that guy over there?

Uh, yes, I do.

20 bucks,
I take him home tonight.

Yeah, right.
He's with someone.

You know what?

20 bucks says I
take your 20 bucks.

Watch and learn.

? eyes come in contact-a ?

? shalaka ?

? starin' me down,
talk-a ?

Get him.

? shalaka... ?

Excuse me.
Hi there.

Hi.
I'm Jenny.

Hi. Rob.
Nice to meet you.

Unbelievable.

? he make my heart
go-o-o ?

? my heart, my heart,
my heart ?

? shalaka laka... ?

Oh, God.
? boom, boom ?

Oh, my God.
You should've seen Jenny in action.

She was like--

She--

She was like
a heat-seeking missile.

Whoa! Easy, tiger.

Let's be spontaneous.

Ok.

Ok. Ahh.

You know what?

We, um--we prepare
food here.

Exactly. And now we're gonna have crazy,
risky kitchen-counter sex.

You know what?
Don't worry about it. Look.

Opa!

Actually, this one's--
it was a gift.

I don't wanna do this one.

Yes, ma'am.

Ok. So, where were we?

Sit.

Ohh!

Oh, my God.
Oh, my God, Ethan.

Oh, my God.
Ethan, are you ok?

I'm so sorry.

Aah!

Oh! Oh, God.

Ahh! Ouch.

You know,
maybe we should just,

you know,
stick to the bedroom.

Taking the risk,
diving right in,

it comes more naturally
to some than others.

Trouble is...

when you're standing
safely back from the edge,

you can't help wondering
if you're missing out.

? Being Erica 2x04 ?
Cultural Revolution
Original Air Date on October 13, 2009

? 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 ?

So, the thing about sex
is that everyone does it,

but no one does it
in exactly the same way,

so, um...

Um...

So--so what?

I just--just give me
one second here.

I'm just trying to--

I guess where I'm going
with this is, um...

Beep, beep, beep,
beep, beep.

You hear that?

That is the milk truck backing
far, far away from you.

What do you want
the book to be?

I'm trying to, um--

No, there is no "try."
there's no "try."

There's only "do,"
so, please, do it already.

Do you think that
Michelangelo paused

when he was painting
the Sistine Chapel?

No?

But what if--
what if my take

on the book is different
from Julianne's?

Ohh. Stop being a little bitch

and tell me
what this sex book should be.

It's a fast-paced compendium of how
to have sex--

with who and how, from--

from vanilla
to tiger-tail.

All 32 flavors,
sprinkles on top?

Yes. Sprinkles.

Tantric sex, mutual masturbation,
pony play.

Heigh-ho, Strange! Away!

Go. Go get that
little blonde vixen,

and let's tell her this idea
while you're still feelin' the fire. Go.

This is fascinating.

So now, what's not
the hottest place,

but the weirdest place?

Huh. The weirdest?

Yeah.
Ok...

Oh...

An owl shed.

Is that like a pottery barn?

No, no, an actual shed
for owls.

Uh, Jenny!
Hey, what're you doing?

Just a minute.
Ok, go on.

Ok, imagine if...

Gerard Butler
and Daniel Craig

were to get it on
and have a love child.

Now, picture doing it
to the sound

of a hundred owls
hooting in the rafters.

Did someone
just crank the heat?

Oh, you.

Uh, ok. Julianne,

Friedken needs to see
you in the boardroom.

Oh. Your friends, huh?

They're all a lot more
interesting than you.

Aww. hey.

Hey. Heh heh.

What?

Jenny, that is my boss
that you just told

your soft-core
bestiality story to.

Relax. She asked me
who I was waiting for,

and I said "only the best
sex book editor ever."

And then she asked me
what I thought about sex and...

Right. Fine.

Listen, if you wanna
go for lunch, I can't.

My day is jampacked.

And I am hung over
because of you.

And my foot hurts.
Just don't ask about that.

I just came
for my 20 bucks.

No.
Yes!

Yes, Erica, it was
the best night. He slept over,

and then he stayed
for breakfast and now lunch.

Wow!
I know, right?

There is a downside, though.
He lives in L.A.

But I really like him.

His name's Rob.
He's a record exec.

He's sweet and exciting,
and I need to debrief.

Ok, just can't it
wait till tonight?

Only if you invite me and Rob
over for dinner.

You know what? Ok,
fine. We'll order in,

And I will suss Rob out
for you.

This is good, Jenny.

You know what?
It feels great.

Ok, good.
See you tonight.

Bye.

I don't wanna
hear, "they can't be here by 2:00."

We can be there by 2:00.
They can be there by 2:00.

Understood? Go.

Brent.

You sent me an e-mail.

Yes, sir, I did.

I'm going off-site
for a meeting.

Tomorrow, come find me.

Ok. Yes, sir.

I wanna talk further
about this.

It's just an idea.

I didn't mean it...

So every chapter,
it's a different flavor,

from vanilla
to tiger-tail

and everything
in between.

Yummy.

This whole ice cream thing,
it's--it's cute,

but what I'm really digging
is the idea that's behind it,

the pansexual
encyclopedia.

That's naughty
in a good way.

You could have kept it
at just "vanilla,"

but--but you surprised me.

Great, Julianne.
Thank you.

So who's the writer?

I'm--I'm still
working on that.

Well, I had some thoughts.

Um, Dan Savage.

I heart his column.

Uh, or we could talk sex
with Sue Johanson, or--

Uh, Jules...

This book's supposed
to revolutionize sex

and leading that
revolution is a newspaper columnist?

Ok, so who would you
have write the book?

And don't say yourself.

Anyone else--

A sex trade worker,
a pimp,

a 400-pound midget that
likes to wear diapers.

Hell, I'd rather have
Erica write it.

It was her idea.
She has the vision.

Erica?

Oh, no, no, no,
I think that he was joking.

No, he wasn't. I had
never written a word

before Julianne hired me
to write "The Secret of Now."

Really?
That's true.

And look how that
turned out.

You--you wanna be an author,
don't you, Erica?

Um, I--yes, but...

But what? But what?

I mean,
Friedken's right.

I'm--I'm willing
to go there if you are.

Wow. Um...

What about my books?

Well, obviously you
couldn't write this book

and remain an editor here.

Right. Right. Um...

Do you think I could--
can I think it over?

Oh, sure.

Sure. Overnight.

Ok.

Um...

So, I'm still
thinking about it.

I just don't get what
there is to think about.

Well, it's a big deal, Jenny.
I'd have to give up my job.

Yeah, to become
an author.

More wine?

Uh, yes, please.

You've wanted
to be a writer

ever since you wrote
your first story

in Mrs. Daily's class
back in grade one.

I know, but--
no, thank you.

But a sex writer?

Hmm...

Oh, hey, I think you're
smart to sleep on it.

So, in other words,
don't?

No, but you're gonna
have to quit your job,

and there's no guarantee
the book'll turn out.

Uh...

Rob?

Don't look
at me. We just met.

Which makes you
the objective third party.

Uh, ok.

Um, it's like this.

Mm-hmm.

The world can be
divided up into 2 camps.

You got rock stars
that make the music

and roadies that set up
the equipment.

No guts, no glory.

That's my 2 cents.

Then on the cover,

a new typeface, custom.

We can call it "
A new font for a new world."

Oh. Yeah.

Uh, I'm not sure that's exactly
where we were gonna head--

You wanted my answer
to the book,

and my answer is yes!

Huh. I was sure
you'd chicken out.

Uh, no way. No chicken here.
So, yes!

Yes?
Yes!

Yes.

Yes!
Ok. Yes.

Y-yes.
Say it like, "yes!"

Yes. Um, yeah.

Say that. No, no.
Say that, "yes!"

Yeah.
Say that. "yes!"

I--you know what?
I'm just gonna--

I'm gonna come back
when you're less busy.

Yes!

And the answer is...

"yes."

That is the fifth time
in 10 shakes.

Very interesting,
the law of averages.

Well, "yes" works for me.

It's fascinating that some people
can put so much faith

into a piece of plastic
to tell their fortune.

Mmm-mm-mm.

"the answer is no."

Well, "no" is for cowards.

Mm, harsh.

Harsh, maybe,
but kinda true.

I have said no a lot,

and as a result,
I've missed out.

"Taipei."

Regret number 18.

Heh heh. Exactly.

That is a perfect example.

That was the worst summer
of my life. I was--

I was between my undergrad
and my masters,

and I had a huge debt
because of school,

so I took
this well-paying job

with the government,
but it was deadly boring.

It was my first
call-center gig.

Jenny thought I was making
the safe choice, as usual.

We'd always talked about
travelling together after undergrad.

So she had this crazy idea.

Go to Taiwan for the summer,

make a ton of money
teaching ESL,

and then use our savings
to travel across Asia

before coming back
to the--the real world.

Mm, the real world
is overrated.

I thought so,

so I quit my job.

I booked a ticket to Taipei.
It was--

It was gonna be
my grand awakening.

But then right before
we were about to leave,

I chickened out.

I suddenly realized
that the only plan we had

once we got there
was to just wing it.

We were gonna stay
in a youth hostel,

and the jobs we had,
we found on some sketchy website.

So instead of forcing myself
to get into that cab...

I walked away.

I got my job back,

and I spent the summer
miserable and bored.

If I hadn't
have been so afraid,

who knows
what woulda happened?

Perhaps it's time
to find out.

Wait! Jenny!

Jenny! Hey!

I changed my mind.

Are you sure?

100,000%, yes.

All right!

Whoo-hoo!

Whoo-hoo!

Palace, huh?

Palace is a bit
of a stretch.

Well, it looks
very authentic.

Authentically filthy.
Listen,

I have my parents'
credit card here in case
of emergencies.

Lonely Planet says
there's a 5-star hotel
right down the street.

Ohh...

Come on!

No, Jenny, we are here
for an adventure.

Ugh.
Let's go.

Yeah, yeah.
I'm sorry.

We are in a great location.

We're just down the road
from the Peace Park.

We're a short walk
to the MRT line.

Careful! Careful!
Watch the puke.

Oh, God.

Wow.

Wow, puddles of puke.

This hostel
sure is authentic.

We're livin' on the edge.

whoo-hoo.

Hi.
Hey.

See? The Taipei palace
has its merits.

Where's our room?

I need to get some sleep
before our first day.

Oh, God.

Oh...God.

Oh...God.

Oh God?

Bloddy hell, don't stop!

All right.

I'm Laurie
from Bristol.

Laurie, I'm Erica.

Uh, this is Jenny
from Toronto.

You--we can--we're--
we come back later.

No, no, it's all right.

I'll just bring him back,
you know

to finish what we started.

Right. Ha ha.

She was joking, right?

And the adventure continues.

Hope you packed ear plugs.

Jenny, it just--
it feels like we've
walked here before.

Excuse me.
Do you know where
Chengdu Road is?

Mmm.
Ok.

Oh! Hey, sorry.

That...

Hey, Jenny? Jenny!

Can I help you?

Oh, thank God.
Someone who speaks english.

Nice backpack.

Thanks.

So, how goes
the big adventure?

Uh, it's--
it's been an experience.

You know, Taipei, it's-

It's interesting. It's--

Actually, it's been
pretty awful so far.

Huh.

I thought this
was supposed to be

the most amazing
summer ever.

Yeah, well, right now, that--

that cubicle in Richmond Hill
is looking pretty comfy.

Mmm. Right.

Stinky tofu?

Oh, that smells like
rotten garbage.

Yeah. That's because
it's been fermented in shrimp brine,

Mustard greens,
and chinese herbs.

The soup base, called mala,
is goose blood.

Mmm.
It's the unofficial snack food here
in Taiwan.

You know,
like doughnuts in Canada.

Right.
Go ahead.

The more stinky the tofu is,
the better the taste.

Try it.

Oh, God.

Heh heh.

Actually,
it's not that bad.

"it doesn't work
to leap a 20-foot chasm
in 2 10-foot jumps."

American proverb.

And Chengdu Road,
by the way,

is 2 blocks that way.

Enjoy.

Thank you.

Ok. Hey.

Hey. Where have
you been?

So I saw a white guy
go in a shop,

And I ran like a psycho
to catch him.

Gave me directions, and--
wait. What's that smell?

Uh, stinky tofu.

Eww. Ok.

How 'bout we go for
a big mac, instead?

Let's get to work.

Ok.

It's up here.

I pay 300 a week.

Your ad,
it said 400.

400 if you're on a work visa.

300 if you aren't.

300 sounds
more than fair.

Jenny, you have
the 4-year-olds.

Score!
Little kids love me.

Erica, I noticed
you have camp experience,

so I'm giving you
a bit more of a challenge.

Their teacher had an emergency
and had to leave.

She was teaching
the class their song

for the upcoming
parents showcase.

Oh. What song?

"Where Does
My Heart Beat Now."

That's Celine Dion,
fellow canadian.

Represent.

You look like Celine Dion.

Same height. Same hair.
Same mouth.

Oh, you could be sisters.

Mm, just don't ask
to hear her sing.

Trust me.
The resemblance ends there.

Anyway, the kids know the words.
They just need to practice.

Ok, well, maybe I'll
sign some autographs.

Thank you.

Uh, hello.

Ok, everyone!

Everyone, sitting down, ok?!

Please, shh!
Be quiet! Shh!

Shh. Shh-shh-shh--ohh!

Sitting down, everyone!
Sit!

Shay...

Shay wen shoo-ing wen?

Hey, do--do you--hi.
Do you speak english?

Do--do you speak english?

Ok, 'cause I need you
to help me, ok?

Can you tell everyone here
to stand in a lineup

so that we can
sing our song?

Yah!
Ouch!

Oh, my God!
Look, stay back!

Little monster!

Back! No! No! No!

Oh, I hate to say it,

But you look
downright pathetic.

What if it's fractured?

I can't believe some kid
karate-chopped you.

Look, knock a few
of these cosmos back,

and you won't feel
a thing. Trust me.

These cosmos
cost 20 bucks.

I can afford
to knock back one.

You hate it here,
don't you?

No. No!

Ok.

I just need to stop
living in fear

and start
living the life.

Look, sitting here
and talking the talk

ain't gonna
cut it, yeah?

You've gotta
walk the walk.

You know what, Laurie?
You're absolutely right.

Let's get out of here.
Let's just go do something crazy,

Something wild
and risky.

Yes. Excuse me.
Check, please.

You know, maybe
we could hitchhike out of Taipei...

Sure.
And go all bohemian,

You know, take odd jobs,

sleep in
the countryside,

just--just really
live for the moment, you know?

Oh, my God.

Hmm?

Oh, my God.

13,200 Taiwanese dollars
for 6 cosmos?

6 cosmos
and a table fee.

That's like 400 American.
I have maybe 50.

I don't have any cash.

Um...

Just don't draw
any attention.

We'll slip out.
No one'll notice.

Watch out

He eats dishonest westerners
for breakfast.

I'd pay your bill
if I were you.

Oh, pay our bill?
But the, um--

The owner, he said
that our drinks were complimentary.

Right. We're VIP guests.
Yes.

It's true.

I am very generous
with my VIP clients.

You're the owner?

Really?

Are you Americans?

Uh, Canadians.
2 Canadians and a Brit.

Hmm. That's so Strange.

I don't remember any Canadians
on my VIP list tonight.

Sorry. Remind me
of your name, ms...

Dion.

Ms. Celine Dion.

Heh heh. Of course,

How could I have missed it?

Everyone, we have the one
and only Celine Dion

gracing our bar.

You must honor us
with a song.

Oh, no, I--
I usually don't, for my throat.

Just saving it,
you know?

You want me
to waive your bill,

and you won't even
perform one song?

That is not very generous.

It's true, Celine.
You're being rude.

Mm-hmm.

Bien sur. One song
coming right up.

? so much to believe in ?

? we were lost in time ?

? everything I needed,
I could feel in your eyes ?

? always thought
of keepin' your heart ?

? next to mine ?

? but now
it seems so far away ?

? don't know how love
could leave without a trace ?

? where do silent hearts go? ?

? and where does my heart
beat now? ?

? where is the sound ?

? that only echoes
through the ni-i-ight ?

Merci, je t'aime!

Je t'aime!
I love you.

Love you!

I love you, Taipei!

I thought everyone in Asia lived
on top of each other.

Lots of people do.
I don't.

In fact, I don't
even live here.

So, what do you do
with all this space?

Rent it out,

usually over
the Chinese new year.

Summer is
the low season,

so I use it for parties
or whatever.

So no one's here now?

I mean, minus 30
of your closest friends.

33 after tonight.

Oh. Heh.

So....

How much would you charge
3 very nice and responsible,

yet severely underpaid
ESL teachers?

Depends.
What's in it for me?

Oh, our--our rent,
measly as it may be,

and, well, we can--
uh, I don't know--

throw in some free english lessons--
not that you need any, and--

Tell you what.

How 'bout
you keep your money

and your english lessons

and you stay here
as my guests?

Stay here for free?

Yes.
That is so generous of you.

That would
be brilliant.

Uh, wait up.
Hold up. Timeout.

Erica, Erica, don't.

Jenny, I have to.

Look, Kendrick,
that's--

that's a very
generous offer.

It's too generous.

There are no strings
attached to my offer.

You move in.
We enjoy ourselves.

Whatever happens
happens.

And what if we don't want
anything to happen?

Then it doesn't.

It goes without saying that I'm
inviting you here

because I find all three of you
charming and beautiful.

You won't hold my honesty
against me, I hope?

I didn't hold your deception tonight
against you.

We'd love to stay.

Cheers!

Cheers!

? yo,
I'll tell you what I want ?

? what I really,
really want... ?

Hey! Welcome. Hey.

? I wanna, I wanna,
I wanna... ?

Much better
than the palace.

? wanna zigga-zig ah ?
fabulous.

? if you want
want my future... ?

... of the rainbow.

Starts with red,

then we go to orange,

yellow,

blue...

? if you wanna be
my lover... ?

indigo...

? you gotta get
with my friends ?

? make it last forever ?

? friendship never ends ?

? if you wanna be my lover ?

? you have got to give ?

? taking is too easy,
but that's the way it is ?

? if you wanna be my lover ?

Oh, whoa.

Jenny!

Hey!

Jenny, wake up!

Jenny, wake up.
Come on. We're late.

Oh, you go.
I'm--I'm too tired.

Jenny.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Red--

R-e-d.

Red.

Hi. I'm so sorry.

There was construction
on the Nangang Line,

and then my MRT pass,

it wouldn't swipe
at the Guandu Station,

so then I had
to take a taxi.

Or maybe you party all night
and woke up late.

The showcase is
tomorrow night, Erica.

I need you here,
not at some party.

I will be here,
I promise.

Good morning.

Ok, so... teaching hung over,
not so fun.

If it's ok with you guys, I'm just
gonna go to bed, ok?

No. No, no. No way.
You're not going to bed.

Heh. Jenny.

Not until you say yes.

Ok, fine. Yes. What?

You just agreed to fly
to Hong Kong tomorrow for the weekend!

Kendrick has rented out
the entire floor

of this, like,
crazy luxury hotel.

It's amazing.

Oh, you guys, I can't.

What? It's like
an hour flight,

it won't cost you
anything, and you get your own room.

I'm sharing
with Kendrick.

Look, I--I have the showcase.
I'm serious, Jenny.

I promised Mrs. Li
that I would be there.

Erica, you have given
Mrs. Li your blood, sweat, and tears.

For what?!
To be underpaid?

To work for free
on a Saturday?

Jenny!

We came to Taipei
to have an adventure.

When are you gonna get
this chance again?

Well, I guess...

You know, I could call Mrs. Li and
give her some warning.

The kids, they know the song, and I've
got them this far, so...

let me go get
Kendrick's cellphone.

We are gonna have
an incredible time.

Cheers.
Cheers.

Hi, Mrs. Li.
It's Erica Strange.

Uh...

Listen, I'm--
something's come up,

and I'm not gonna be
able to make the parents
showcase tomorrow.

I do realize
that it's short notice,

and I'm so--
I apologize for that,

but the kids, they did a great job
on the dress rehearsal,

and I'm sure
they'll be great.

Bye.

Jenny.

Hey, we need to talk.

What is it?

I just went to the kitchen,
and I saw--

I saw Kendrick and
Laurie making out.

So?

"so?"

Yes, Erica.
Come on. It's ok.

How is it ok? I--

I thought that you
were with Kendrick.

I mean, you guys
are all over each other.

You're sharing rooms
in Hong Kong.

Look, Erica,
I'm not worried about this, ok,

And you shouldn't
be either.

Really?
Really.

Jenny.

What's this for?

Hong Kong.

I'm sending a car
to pick you girls up tomorrow.

I want you to buy
something nice.

All three of you.
No backpacker clothes.

Oh, my God,
thank you.

I can't believe
we're going to Hong Kong.

It's gonna be
a total blast!

Yes.

? hey-o, hey-o, yeah,
you really hit that spot ?

? shake it
till you're breakin' my ?

? come on, come on ?

? let me take you home
so we can get it on ?

? now listen
while I break it down ?

? mama, what's the deal-a ?

? with-a you and me-a? ?

? baby, you got me ?

? you got me,
you got me ?

? you got me ?

Jenny,
what're you doing?

What?
What?

With Kendrick.
What the hell was that performance?

Erica, it's fine.

It's fine because
he--he paid you a bunch of money?

I mean, what are--
what are you, his girlfriend?

You're his mistress?
You're just like a part of his harem?

Ok, tone it down,
drama queen.

Look, I'm sorry, but I don't understand
how you're ok with this.

And I don't understand how
this is any of your business.

Jenny! Look, it's my
business because you are my friend,

and he's treating you
like a piece of meat.

Oh, I'm a piece of meat?

Ok, a-and you're not?

I'm not the one
that's making out with him

or kissing Laurie on his say-so
because he pays me.

I mean, Jenny,
you are acting like...

A whore?

You know what?
You're right.
You're right.

You're not
making out with him,

But you're living
in his place,

And you're eating
his food,

so what does that
make you?!

You know what, Erica?
The problem with you

is that you're scared
of everything.

No, that is not
what this is about.

Yes. Yes, it is.

We have an incredible
thing going here,
and you wanna ruin it

by looking for problems
that don't exist.

I have to go pack.

Now? Just pack tomorrow.

Our flight doesn't leave
till late.

No, not for Hong Kong.

I'm going back
to the palace.

Look, e-Erica,

Don't, don't, don't,
don't. Look....

come on. I am sorry, ok?

I don't
want us to fight,

and don't skip out
on this and Hong Kong
just 'cause--

'cause I'm drunk and I'm
not watching what I say.

No, it's fine.
Jenny, you're right,

It is none of my business,
and even if

I don't like
what's going on here, it's your life.

It is your call,
but this is not for me.

Erica,
please don't do this.

I'm--I'm sorry.

I am here
to do the showcase if--

If you still want me to.

Good to have you
here, Erica.

Now, children,
it's time.

Big smiles.

Remember to smile big, ok?

Ok.

You know, you could've
sent me to Taipei

the same way
you brought me back

and saved me
a 24-hour flight.

Well, you said you wanted
the full adventure.

I gave you
the full adventure.

Yeah? Well,
it turns out that I am not

the full adventure type
after all.

I don't think
that's true.

I just think it depends
on what the adventure is.

The people
that take the risk

are the people
that get the reward.

Everyone knows that.

What?

My daughter
used to take risks

all the time.

In fact, it was the thing
that defined her

and of course
terrified me.

I used to think that there was nothing
that Sarah wouldn't try.

And some people,
her friends,

admired her for that,
but...

Well, I only bring it up
because...

I happen to think
that sometimes

the biggest risk of all
can be the willingness to say no.

Erica...

we're all waiting
for you.

Oh, right. Um...

Excuse me.
Hi, um, Julianne,

can I talk to you
for a second, please?

Oh, you'll be spending all day
speaking with me

right after we
make this "offic."

Brent...

you will be taking over
Erica's slate, so...

first is "Rocket Man"
by Marcus Stahl.

And then
my personal favorite,

"The None"
by Katie Atkins.

That's my personal
favorite, too.

Actually, Julianne, um...

what I wanted to talk
to you about is--is that...

I can't write
the sex book.

What?

I'm sorry.
I'm not the person you need.

I am not
a self-help writer.

Uh-oh.
Someone has cold feet.

It's more than
just cold feet.

It's--it's not for me.
And the truth is--

is that I don't wanna
quit my job.

And I realize, believe me,

that this
an incredible opportunity.

Oh, you bet it is.

But I thought you
wanted to be an author.

I do.

It's my dream to--
to write literature

and short stories
and essays, but...

I don't wanna write
a sex book.

I'm sorry, chicken.

Looks like Erica
has come back to roost.

If you'll excuse me.

Brent, I'm really sorry.

Oh, I'm making everything
so complicated.

Yeah, no guff.

Well, I can't
say I "love" this turn of events,

but I can't
force you to write a book

that your heart
is clearly not into.

One more time.

You're sure?

Completely.

Listen, Mr. Galvin.

I want you to know that
I only sent that e-mail

because I care
about River Rock,

and I would hate to see
nonfiction falter...

because my manager's
having an affair with one of our authors.

Friedken. Yes?

Yes.

And I believe
their relationship

is compromising
Julianne's leadership.

In what way?

Well, um,
she's distracted.

She's making
snap decisions,

like asking
junior editors to be authors.

What? Which junior editor?

Brent.

Um, Erica, sir,

B-but that
was Julianne's doing,

Friedken's and hers.

She's--she's not
thinking clearly, sir.

Books, Brent,

they're all I care about.

When I start to see
this quarter's work roll out,

I will know immediately
if you're right.

It's a ballsy move
coming to me like this.

Coming!

Hey!
Surprise!

It's to celebrate
your book and me meeting a great guy.

What's this?

Oh, I'm just...

Cleaning out some of
my stuff in the closet

for Ethan's things,
because...

he's moving in.

Erica,
this is fantastic!

Look at you,
living with Ethan,

soon to be
a published writer.

What's next?

Actually,
I passed on the book.

Oh.
Yeah.

Ethan talked you
out of it.

No. No, it just--

it--it wasn't
the right leap.

Not right now,
not this book,

but I'm happy
right where I am.

Ok.

Well, if you're happy,
then I am happy.

All I know is
that I wanna drink this thing, so...

Yeah.
How 'bout we celebrate the fact

that I am
moving to L.A.

What?

I am so into Rob,
Erica.

I just figure
I'll quit my job,

hop on a plane,
give it a shot.

But, Jenny,
you barely know him.

I know,

but I have a really good
feeling about this.

I--I just--I...

What?

I don't think
it's a good idea, Jenny,

for you to pick up and
leave your whole life here

for a guy
you don't even know.

I mean, does Rob--does he
even know about this?

And where--where are
you gonna live when you get there?

With Rob.

Ok, but what if
it doesn't work out?

Then it doesn't,

But at least
I'll know that I didn't chicken out.

That's unfair.

Really?

'cause you turned down
a book deal.

No, no, actually,
what you turned down is your dream.

Talk about a bad idea.

My dream is
to write fiction,

and that will
happen someday.

I am not letting that go.

No, you're just letting
the opportunity

to publish something
you wrote go,

but you don't see me
attacking you.

No. God,
I'm not--listen, ok?
I'm not attacking you.

I just care about you,
and I don't think that--

that moving to L.A.
on a whim is going after
what you want.

It's not a risk.
It's--it's just reckless.

Wow.

Wow, so this is what happens when you
get a boyfriend, huh?

You become one of those--
those stuck-up girls

Who thinks that a safe, boring life is
the only way to go?

That is not what this
is about. Jenny, I'm just
worried about you.

Just spare me, ok?
Come on.

Keep the champagne.

Hey, you know what?
Listen to me,

and you're really
not gonna like this,

but you think that
you're this big risk-taker,
but you're not.

Because you do the same thing
all the time with guys.

You hook up with them
for a couple months,
and then you break it off.

I mean, you flying to L.A.,
it's not living on the edge.

It's par for the course.

Honestly, Jenny,

taking a risk, for you,
would be to take it slow

and, for once,
to show this guy

the side of Jenny that the men you date,
they never get to see.

That would be
taking a risk.

Risks--

How we feel about them
says a lot about us.

Every day, every moment,

We calculate and assess,

Debate and decide.

But when you
get right down to it,

The truth is
that when it comes to risk,

the only thing that matters

is that you take the ones
that are right for you.