Better Things (2016–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Future Fever - full transcript
Hey, Sam.
Mother, you had me
but I never had you
I wanted you
you didn't want me
Frankie. Soccer.
Frankie.
Hi, baby.
I'm sick.
Oh, no.
100.1.
That's barely a thing.
Mom, we're not supposed
to go to soccer over 100.
Children's Tylenol is gonna
knock that right down.
Mom, that's not a cure. That's
just a mask of the symptoms.
I could still get
other kids sick.
I'm like patient zero.
Dude, you're gonna be running
around a field,
not kissing everybody.
Mom, I really
don't feel good.
But it's my day for snack.
I got cuties and this shit.
Hey, Sam. Hey.
Hey.
Where's-where's
Frankie?
Uh, well, she's sick.
Aw.
Or she says.
But I have snacks, so great.
I know. Yeah, I...
Well, I hate when that
happens, you know?
I had to chaperone
this school field trip
when flo was sick,
you know?
Ugh.
This, uh, museum...
God... museum of something
or something. I can't...
Yeah.
Hi, Sam.
Hi. Hi, Francis.
How you doing
with all this?
Uh, all of what?
Thera's mom, her surgery.
Are you okay?
Yeah, i-I'm okay.
Is she okay?
She's really nervous
about the surgery.
You know, as we all are.
I didn't want to put this
in the e-mail.
Oh, it's, uh worse
than in the e-mail?
They're opening up
her stomach.
There could be blockage,
infections.
They might have to remove
part of her intestine.
I mean, she could wind up
with a colostomy bag.
Ooh.
Ooh.
But still, it'll be worth it.
For who?
I mean, sure, yes.
Will you just pray
for her tomorrow?
Oh, did she ask for that...
The praying?
Okay, but it
can't hurt.
No, I mean, it's just that
she's really not a god person.
You know, she got upset
when the new people
tried to do the team
circle prayer thing.
Well, it's not
about that.
It's about the power
of group consciousness
helping her heal.
Yeah, is there
another thing I can do
besides praying?
Oh, you know what?
You should sign up
to play with her cat.
Mm.
Mm, yeah.
Excuse me. Flo?
Yeah.
Do you have
a living will?
Good evening to you.
Seriously, do you
have a plan?
Because I think
i should know it.
Well,
your grandfather,
my father,
was diabetic,
and you can lose your legs
to diabetes,
which would be devastating.
My best feature
are my legs. And I think
if somebody told me
I was gonna lose
my legs to diabetes,
I would probably
just pay the Piper.
You mean kill yourself?
I think that's
the way to do it.
Because I don't want you
to have to look after me, and...
I never want to be a burden.
You don't want to be a burden?
Oh, never.
In fact, after Felicia
had her stroke...
Oh...
No one could find
her pin numbers,
and all her money's
locked up, so you must
have my pin numbers.
Okay.
So my bank
pin number is
3-9-6-7.
Mom, mom...
Mom, stop.
Well, we have to
be prepared.
Okay, bye.
Jesus. 103.
Did nan give
you medicine?
No.
The grape kind.
I know.
Mm.
That feel good?
Do I have to drink all of it?
Yes.
Why?
Drink it all.
You need even more
than that, too.
Good job.
Baby...
Mom, it's gross.
I know.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I wish I could
take it out of you
and put it into me.
I'm sorry.
But then it wouldn't help me.
'Cause I'd be sick, and
you'd be like, "mom, get up."
Oh, I thought you
meant the medicine.
No.
Two.
Up, three.
Four. Let me see you
arch back lightly.
Five.
Nice, pretty line.
Six. And nice straight back.
Two. Scoot.
And three.
Look up. Four.
Arch back,
and five.
Six and seven.
Tendu, second,
and eight.
So there's, like, me
before I've had an ipa,
and then there's me
seconds after.
And they're distinct versions.
One is just so much more
at peace with himself, you know?
'Cause, like, I'm-I'm
a stressed-out guy.
You know, it's-it's
a hard racket I'm in.
And just after that sweet kiss
of an ipa, I just kind of...
you know what that is?
Yeah, so my buddy
and I...
That's a first date.
And it's bad.
Why are you
listening to them?
God, you are so intrusive.
Because you're
on your phone.
Mom, don't.
I have to help her.
No.
Mom, I will kill you.
Do not get up.
Then you have to talk to me.
Mom, I'm in a group chat.
It's a big thing,
and there's, like,
a potentially bullying thing.
Dakota is just
having the worst...
Mom, don't!
Excuse me. Hi.
Can we use your salt?
What?
Hi. You're so cute.
You two don't know each other
very well, do you?
I met him at the gym.
This is our first date.
I know.
How do you know?
Well, I can tell.
And he's gross.
And he hasn't stopped talking.
Well, we're just getting
to know each other.
I know all about him.
You know, the real estate thing,
commercial real estate,
selling office space,
the printer guy
who wouldn't move out.
And I'm sorry about his sister.
That's the one thing.
That was bad.
That was really bad.
But, I mean, give you a second,
I have heard nothing about you.
Mom, that...
Is that your daughter?
Yeah.
Yes. I'm so sorry
she's bothering you.
Mom, I'll talk to you now.
She's not bothering me.
Oh, he's coming back.
Hi.
You know what?
You should
sit over there, because
you both don't listen,
and I will sit here
with your lovely date,
who you
don't notice.
Mom?
Hi.
Ew.
Ew.
Ew.
Okay, so the categories
are, uh, state schools,
private universities.
Then you have
the Ivy league schools,
but you needed to be
thinking about that
a couple of years ago.
Uh, what you need to do
is start focusing on
what you're going to study.
And you need to start taking
the test prep right away.
Now, there are some schools
that put more weight on
the interview
and your extracurricular,
but most of these schools
won't even consider you
if you are not testing
in at least the top 90%,
so you need
to get these scores up.
Might I suggest to you
junior college?
Trevor got back
from college,
and, uh, he has a
girlfriend over there,
but he's still
scamming on lizzy.
It's so gross.
Yeah.
He wants to take her to Tahoe
this summer with his family.
Whatever.
You know what we should
do this summer?
Get a cabin at Joshua tree.
There's this resort there
that's stripped down,
but you can just
go squat in the cabins.
We could spend
the whole summer there.
Just tell our moms that we're
like, at camp or something,
and just do mushrooms
the whole summer at Joshua tree.
God.
So, what did he actually say?
I mean, you were
up in the stirrups...
I'm in the stirrups,
I'm literally seconds away
from my first abortion.
Your first abortion?
Yes.
Jesus, you painted woman.
No need
to comment further. And,
um, the doctor, um...
Turns and says that
there's a problem,
and I'm like, "oh, god, what?"
And he says,
"um, I can't do the abortion
because you are not pregnant."
Oh, just
perfect.
I'm gonna go to my room.
I love you, baby.
I don't know
how it happened.
I felt a kick,
i tell you.
Night-night.
Oh, bubba.
Oh, good, that's given me
fodder for the next year.
Jesus, Macy,
you're so stupid.
I'm not stupid.
That's not a word
that I would have
chosen to use.
Oh, honey.
"Oh, honey."
That's a friend.
That's what
you'd say.
Um...
Night.
Good night, honey.
I don't know, anyway.
Anyway, that's the thing.
I love you.
Good night, poppy.
Good night.
Sleep well.
Okay, I have a question.
How many abortions
in this room?
Tressa, tressa?
Oh, I am not telling.
I... I went with my mom
when she got an abortion.
What?
What?
Yeah, I did.
You never told me that.
I did.
You did?
Yes, I did.
How old were you
when it happened?
I was 16.
And my mom
got pregnant,
and she couldn't tell my dad.
Yeah.
Oh.
So... it wasn't his.
Was it his?
You know,
i... I don't even know.
But she trusted me
and we-we went
to abort my brother
or whatever, so...
Right?
Whoa.
Wow.
I know.
Wow.
That's amazing.
Isn't it crazy?
That should be a play.
Yeah.
You need
to write that.
I... I tried. I can never
write real things, you know?
So... I don't know.
Can I use it?
Wow.
What?
Unbelievable.
What? It's good.
Oh, my god, Nora ephron.
Is... is that okay?
Yeah, it's fine.
with my life.
Oh?
I'm really confused.
And I'm never
getting into college.
Oh, honey,
yes you are.
All you need to do is all the...
Mom.
Sam.
I had to start trying
to be that kind of smart
a long time go.
And I've wasted so much time
just being social.
It's such a waste.
And I look back at the last...
I-i don't know, three years?
I have just been a loser.
Getting high.
Just drama with my friends.
And I am just now
starting to realize
that I am going to be,
like, 18
in two years.
And it's like...
I already blew it.
That's how it feels.
You know, honey,
I felt exactly like that
when I was your age.
And when I was 20.
And this morning.
Right? And now she runs
her own company, so...
I'm gonna let you in on a...
Big, fat secret
that we all know about life.
And that is that you don't
ever figure it out,
and you're always behind,
and it's kind of
always unfair, frankly. Right?
Mm-hmm.
So... you know?
Yeah.
You're on schedule.
Yeah.
That's right.
Oh, Sam, don't cry.
Oh, no!
Oh, Jesus, mom.
Look what you did
to your mother.
It's all right,
yeah?
That's my wine!
You stole it out of my garage.
You... what are you doing?
Come here.
Are you cold?
No.
Come and sit.
I was quite looking forward
to a nightcap.
Is this your nightie now?
Well, I forgot
where my pajamas were.
Thank you. Thank you.
Of course.
Um, so this is a sort of party
going on without me.
L'Chaim.
It's not a party
without you, phyl.
Yeah.
No.
You know what?
Mm-hmm?
You look good.
Oh!
You do. You look good, yeah.
How much am I gonna get,
do you think?
Well, honey, you can
start counting it.
N... no, don't count.
I want to find out once
she gives us the money.
Okay, okay.
Is this all the nickels?
Uh, yes.
Nice piggy bank.
Oh, well, this is
Martin Luther King bank.
That's what she calls it,
even though it's a pig.
Oh.
How old are you?
Can I ask?
I'm 25.
So how did you get this job?
When did you start
going down this road?
I did the training program
when I was 22.
Did you go to college?
No. Ged.
Really?
Yeah.
And that is 20, 40,
65, and...
75 cents left over.
How much?
$65.75, son.
Yes!
Okay.
I got it.
Did you bring a wallet?
No. Left it at home.
You told me you would.
I can just...
Your responsibility for money.
I will hold this.
Don't forget
Martin Luther King.
Oh!
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Hello.
What did you guys get?
String candy and earrings
with my money.
Well, that's
not fair.
Max.
Maxie. Max?
Max. Max.
Max.
What?
Get your shoes.
Come down,
I'm taking you somewhere.
Where?
Just come down.
Wait, why does she get to go?
Because she gets to.
You're staying with Duke.
What?
It's okay.
Mm.
Uh...
Mm-mmm.
Mom!
Mom!
Hey, so why'd you bring me
to go shopping for your clothes?
Come on.
Come on, let me see.
Mom.
Just come on, let me see.
Come here.
Listen, baby.
Your future is yours.
You could be anything you want.
You know those people
that you see every day?
That look like
they have their shit together
and they made
all the right choices?
And how impossible it seems
just to get to that place?
Well, look.
Look at you.
You look like
one of those people.
And all they did
was put on the clothes.
And honey,
you can be anything
you want to be.
Seriously.
But also,
if you just get
a job and get by,
you're still
gonna love your life.
Because life is good.
Even at its worst.
You came here just
to say that to me?
Why? Was it shitty?
I thought it was
gonna be good.
It wasn't shitty,
you liked it.
Mm-hmm.
I love you.
I love you, too.
I love you, too.
I love you.
Don't worry.
I love you.
Your ass looks good in these.
Look.
Though I am nothing big
to offer
I watch the birds
how they dive in then gone
it's like nothing
in this world's ever still
and I'm just a shadow
of your thoughts in me
but sun is setting,
shadows growing
a long cast figure
will turn into night
it's like nothing
in this world ever sleeps
oh, sometimes the blues
is just a passing bird
and why can't...
Captioned by
media access group at wgbh
Are you kidding?
Don't.
Ugh.
Mother, you had me
but I never had you
I wanted you
you didn't want me
Frankie. Soccer.
Frankie.
Hi, baby.
I'm sick.
Oh, no.
100.1.
That's barely a thing.
Mom, we're not supposed
to go to soccer over 100.
Children's Tylenol is gonna
knock that right down.
Mom, that's not a cure. That's
just a mask of the symptoms.
I could still get
other kids sick.
I'm like patient zero.
Dude, you're gonna be running
around a field,
not kissing everybody.
Mom, I really
don't feel good.
But it's my day for snack.
I got cuties and this shit.
Hey, Sam. Hey.
Hey.
Where's-where's
Frankie?
Uh, well, she's sick.
Aw.
Or she says.
But I have snacks, so great.
I know. Yeah, I...
Well, I hate when that
happens, you know?
I had to chaperone
this school field trip
when flo was sick,
you know?
Ugh.
This, uh, museum...
God... museum of something
or something. I can't...
Yeah.
Hi, Sam.
Hi. Hi, Francis.
How you doing
with all this?
Uh, all of what?
Thera's mom, her surgery.
Are you okay?
Yeah, i-I'm okay.
Is she okay?
She's really nervous
about the surgery.
You know, as we all are.
I didn't want to put this
in the e-mail.
Oh, it's, uh worse
than in the e-mail?
They're opening up
her stomach.
There could be blockage,
infections.
They might have to remove
part of her intestine.
I mean, she could wind up
with a colostomy bag.
Ooh.
Ooh.
But still, it'll be worth it.
For who?
I mean, sure, yes.
Will you just pray
for her tomorrow?
Oh, did she ask for that...
The praying?
Okay, but it
can't hurt.
No, I mean, it's just that
she's really not a god person.
You know, she got upset
when the new people
tried to do the team
circle prayer thing.
Well, it's not
about that.
It's about the power
of group consciousness
helping her heal.
Yeah, is there
another thing I can do
besides praying?
Oh, you know what?
You should sign up
to play with her cat.
Mm.
Mm, yeah.
Excuse me. Flo?
Yeah.
Do you have
a living will?
Good evening to you.
Seriously, do you
have a plan?
Because I think
i should know it.
Well,
your grandfather,
my father,
was diabetic,
and you can lose your legs
to diabetes,
which would be devastating.
My best feature
are my legs. And I think
if somebody told me
I was gonna lose
my legs to diabetes,
I would probably
just pay the Piper.
You mean kill yourself?
I think that's
the way to do it.
Because I don't want you
to have to look after me, and...
I never want to be a burden.
You don't want to be a burden?
Oh, never.
In fact, after Felicia
had her stroke...
Oh...
No one could find
her pin numbers,
and all her money's
locked up, so you must
have my pin numbers.
Okay.
So my bank
pin number is
3-9-6-7.
Mom, mom...
Mom, stop.
Well, we have to
be prepared.
Okay, bye.
Jesus. 103.
Did nan give
you medicine?
No.
The grape kind.
I know.
Mm.
That feel good?
Do I have to drink all of it?
Yes.
Why?
Drink it all.
You need even more
than that, too.
Good job.
Baby...
Mom, it's gross.
I know.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I wish I could
take it out of you
and put it into me.
I'm sorry.
But then it wouldn't help me.
'Cause I'd be sick, and
you'd be like, "mom, get up."
Oh, I thought you
meant the medicine.
No.
Two.
Up, three.
Four. Let me see you
arch back lightly.
Five.
Nice, pretty line.
Six. And nice straight back.
Two. Scoot.
And three.
Look up. Four.
Arch back,
and five.
Six and seven.
Tendu, second,
and eight.
So there's, like, me
before I've had an ipa,
and then there's me
seconds after.
And they're distinct versions.
One is just so much more
at peace with himself, you know?
'Cause, like, I'm-I'm
a stressed-out guy.
You know, it's-it's
a hard racket I'm in.
And just after that sweet kiss
of an ipa, I just kind of...
you know what that is?
Yeah, so my buddy
and I...
That's a first date.
And it's bad.
Why are you
listening to them?
God, you are so intrusive.
Because you're
on your phone.
Mom, don't.
I have to help her.
No.
Mom, I will kill you.
Do not get up.
Then you have to talk to me.
Mom, I'm in a group chat.
It's a big thing,
and there's, like,
a potentially bullying thing.
Dakota is just
having the worst...
Mom, don't!
Excuse me. Hi.
Can we use your salt?
What?
Hi. You're so cute.
You two don't know each other
very well, do you?
I met him at the gym.
This is our first date.
I know.
How do you know?
Well, I can tell.
And he's gross.
And he hasn't stopped talking.
Well, we're just getting
to know each other.
I know all about him.
You know, the real estate thing,
commercial real estate,
selling office space,
the printer guy
who wouldn't move out.
And I'm sorry about his sister.
That's the one thing.
That was bad.
That was really bad.
But, I mean, give you a second,
I have heard nothing about you.
Mom, that...
Is that your daughter?
Yeah.
Yes. I'm so sorry
she's bothering you.
Mom, I'll talk to you now.
She's not bothering me.
Oh, he's coming back.
Hi.
You know what?
You should
sit over there, because
you both don't listen,
and I will sit here
with your lovely date,
who you
don't notice.
Mom?
Hi.
Ew.
Ew.
Ew.
Okay, so the categories
are, uh, state schools,
private universities.
Then you have
the Ivy league schools,
but you needed to be
thinking about that
a couple of years ago.
Uh, what you need to do
is start focusing on
what you're going to study.
And you need to start taking
the test prep right away.
Now, there are some schools
that put more weight on
the interview
and your extracurricular,
but most of these schools
won't even consider you
if you are not testing
in at least the top 90%,
so you need
to get these scores up.
Might I suggest to you
junior college?
Trevor got back
from college,
and, uh, he has a
girlfriend over there,
but he's still
scamming on lizzy.
It's so gross.
Yeah.
He wants to take her to Tahoe
this summer with his family.
Whatever.
You know what we should
do this summer?
Get a cabin at Joshua tree.
There's this resort there
that's stripped down,
but you can just
go squat in the cabins.
We could spend
the whole summer there.
Just tell our moms that we're
like, at camp or something,
and just do mushrooms
the whole summer at Joshua tree.
God.
So, what did he actually say?
I mean, you were
up in the stirrups...
I'm in the stirrups,
I'm literally seconds away
from my first abortion.
Your first abortion?
Yes.
Jesus, you painted woman.
No need
to comment further. And,
um, the doctor, um...
Turns and says that
there's a problem,
and I'm like, "oh, god, what?"
And he says,
"um, I can't do the abortion
because you are not pregnant."
Oh, just
perfect.
I'm gonna go to my room.
I love you, baby.
I don't know
how it happened.
I felt a kick,
i tell you.
Night-night.
Oh, bubba.
Oh, good, that's given me
fodder for the next year.
Jesus, Macy,
you're so stupid.
I'm not stupid.
That's not a word
that I would have
chosen to use.
Oh, honey.
"Oh, honey."
That's a friend.
That's what
you'd say.
Um...
Night.
Good night, honey.
I don't know, anyway.
Anyway, that's the thing.
I love you.
Good night, poppy.
Good night.
Sleep well.
Okay, I have a question.
How many abortions
in this room?
Tressa, tressa?
Oh, I am not telling.
I... I went with my mom
when she got an abortion.
What?
What?
Yeah, I did.
You never told me that.
I did.
You did?
Yes, I did.
How old were you
when it happened?
I was 16.
And my mom
got pregnant,
and she couldn't tell my dad.
Yeah.
Oh.
So... it wasn't his.
Was it his?
You know,
i... I don't even know.
But she trusted me
and we-we went
to abort my brother
or whatever, so...
Right?
Whoa.
Wow.
I know.
Wow.
That's amazing.
Isn't it crazy?
That should be a play.
Yeah.
You need
to write that.
I... I tried. I can never
write real things, you know?
So... I don't know.
Can I use it?
Wow.
What?
Unbelievable.
What? It's good.
Oh, my god, Nora ephron.
Is... is that okay?
Yeah, it's fine.
with my life.
Oh?
I'm really confused.
And I'm never
getting into college.
Oh, honey,
yes you are.
All you need to do is all the...
Mom.
Sam.
I had to start trying
to be that kind of smart
a long time go.
And I've wasted so much time
just being social.
It's such a waste.
And I look back at the last...
I-i don't know, three years?
I have just been a loser.
Getting high.
Just drama with my friends.
And I am just now
starting to realize
that I am going to be,
like, 18
in two years.
And it's like...
I already blew it.
That's how it feels.
You know, honey,
I felt exactly like that
when I was your age.
And when I was 20.
And this morning.
Right? And now she runs
her own company, so...
I'm gonna let you in on a...
Big, fat secret
that we all know about life.
And that is that you don't
ever figure it out,
and you're always behind,
and it's kind of
always unfair, frankly. Right?
Mm-hmm.
So... you know?
Yeah.
You're on schedule.
Yeah.
That's right.
Oh, Sam, don't cry.
Oh, no!
Oh, Jesus, mom.
Look what you did
to your mother.
It's all right,
yeah?
That's my wine!
You stole it out of my garage.
You... what are you doing?
Come here.
Are you cold?
No.
Come and sit.
I was quite looking forward
to a nightcap.
Is this your nightie now?
Well, I forgot
where my pajamas were.
Thank you. Thank you.
Of course.
Um, so this is a sort of party
going on without me.
L'Chaim.
It's not a party
without you, phyl.
Yeah.
No.
You know what?
Mm-hmm?
You look good.
Oh!
You do. You look good, yeah.
How much am I gonna get,
do you think?
Well, honey, you can
start counting it.
N... no, don't count.
I want to find out once
she gives us the money.
Okay, okay.
Is this all the nickels?
Uh, yes.
Nice piggy bank.
Oh, well, this is
Martin Luther King bank.
That's what she calls it,
even though it's a pig.
Oh.
How old are you?
Can I ask?
I'm 25.
So how did you get this job?
When did you start
going down this road?
I did the training program
when I was 22.
Did you go to college?
No. Ged.
Really?
Yeah.
And that is 20, 40,
65, and...
75 cents left over.
How much?
$65.75, son.
Yes!
Okay.
I got it.
Did you bring a wallet?
No. Left it at home.
You told me you would.
I can just...
Your responsibility for money.
I will hold this.
Don't forget
Martin Luther King.
Oh!
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Hello.
What did you guys get?
String candy and earrings
with my money.
Well, that's
not fair.
Max.
Maxie. Max?
Max. Max.
Max.
What?
Get your shoes.
Come down,
I'm taking you somewhere.
Where?
Just come down.
Wait, why does she get to go?
Because she gets to.
You're staying with Duke.
What?
It's okay.
Mm.
Uh...
Mm-mmm.
Mom!
Mom!
Hey, so why'd you bring me
to go shopping for your clothes?
Come on.
Come on, let me see.
Mom.
Just come on, let me see.
Come here.
Listen, baby.
Your future is yours.
You could be anything you want.
You know those people
that you see every day?
That look like
they have their shit together
and they made
all the right choices?
And how impossible it seems
just to get to that place?
Well, look.
Look at you.
You look like
one of those people.
And all they did
was put on the clothes.
And honey,
you can be anything
you want to be.
Seriously.
But also,
if you just get
a job and get by,
you're still
gonna love your life.
Because life is good.
Even at its worst.
You came here just
to say that to me?
Why? Was it shitty?
I thought it was
gonna be good.
It wasn't shitty,
you liked it.
Mm-hmm.
I love you.
I love you, too.
I love you, too.
I love you.
Don't worry.
I love you.
Your ass looks good in these.
Look.
Though I am nothing big
to offer
I watch the birds
how they dive in then gone
it's like nothing
in this world's ever still
and I'm just a shadow
of your thoughts in me
but sun is setting,
shadows growing
a long cast figure
will turn into night
it's like nothing
in this world ever sleeps
oh, sometimes the blues
is just a passing bird
and why can't...
Captioned by
media access group at wgbh
Are you kidding?
Don't.
Ugh.