Better Things (2016–…): Season 5, Episode 5 - Better Things - full transcript

Harry Hay founded
the Mattachine Society in 1950,

which was one
of the first organizations

to, like, advocate for
gay rights in the United States.

But the same guy
who founded the society

ended up also being an apologist
for pedophilia

at the end of his life.

Which is ironic, 'cause, like,
a lot of gay people

were trying to fight that
as a stereotype,

so it's actually, like, super
problematic, progress-wise...

Frankie. Stop. Just stop.

Just stop.
Just stop.



Mom, are you
really out of breath?

Yeah.

You know,
humans used to have

to walk seven miles a day
just to get food.

You look ridiculous.

- Yes.
- That is sad.

Seriously,
you need to get in shape.

Can you imagine if you did this
every single day?

You might actually have a chance
of living past 60.

Yes.

Ooh.

Smells like caca.

Smells like a lot of doody everywhere.

There was a place called
"Dog Doo Lane"



- where I grew up.
- Mom, get into frame.

- Am I in it?
- Do we have to?

- We're doin' it!
- Do we have to document

everything that we do?

Mom, keep up. Oh, my God.

Can we keep moving, please?

Whew.

Sana, sana, colita de rana.

Mutters in Spanish...

Mmm.

- Is this borscht?
- Mm-hmm.

Is this the Russian version
or the Ukrainian version?

- It's the delicious version.
- Mm.

Mmm. Want to try?

- Yeah.
- Blow, blow, blow.

- Mm.
- Tell me

that's not the
best thing you've ever tasted.

Needs more salt.

Thanks.

Okay, could you back up, please?
'Cause ya hoverin'.

Mom, my hovering has to do
with my childhood trauma.

Oh. What?

It's too much to get into now.
It's okay.

You couldn't help it.
I adapted to your moods.

You want to hear
my favorite quote?

- Sure, go ahead.
- Okay.

"The first problem
for all of us, men and women,

is not to learn,
but to unlearn."

Who said that?

Gloria Steinem.

Deep.

Love that.

Does need more salt.

Mmm. Mmm.

Honey baby! Time to go!

Yes.

Mom, have you ever read

The Drama
of the Gifted Child?

Does borscht have
a lot of calories?

Mom, what's the difference
between a freckle and a mole?

Yes.

No.

Moles are darker.

This is gonna make Gran
so happy.

Oops! I'm spilling borscht.

- Mom, how long are we staying for?
- Seriously?

Don't ask how long
we're staying for.

- That's so rude.
- You want me to ask in front of her?

You know how many hours
this took me to make?

How many hours?

I've been cooking this for five hours.

Come on, Nan,

you old cow, answer the door!

And don't freak out
when you pee tomorrow.

Remember that you had beets,

which is borscht.

Here we go.
I made your favorite, girls.

Chicken wings. I made a lot

because you always complain
I don't make enough.

Are you kidding me right now?

Don't be so sensitive, darling.

Chicken goes well
with bowls of ruffage.

You just cock-blocked
my borscht.

Yeah.

Mmm!

Yummy borscht.

Good when hot.

Mmm!

Max, will you
pass the sour cream, please?

- Yeah.
- Mmm, mmm, mm-mm.

This is really good, Mom.

Thank you.

Mom?

Mom?

Nan?

Oh. Yes, darling?

- You okay?
- I'm grand.

Sit down.

Mm.

Hmm.

You happy, Nan?

Happy?

"Happy" is an odd word.

It's quite an American thing,
you know,

pursuit of happiness.

Happiness is fleeting.

But meaningful.

That's another story.

Speaking of which,

I have a surprise.

What? Another surprise?

You mean the chicken
wasn't enough?

- Yeah, Mom.
- Oh!

What are we doing?

We need vodka for the borscht.

Be right back, be right back.

I found these,

and I wanted to share them
with you.

- Look at her. -
- Oh!

So beautiful.

- Is that me?
- Sure is.

Mom.

It's pictures
of your wedding to Dad.

- Oh. What?
- Don't you want to see these?

You look so lovely, darling.

No. No.
No, I do not want to see those.

- Mom...
- Stay where you are. Stay right there.

Don't move.

Mom, it's me inside of you.

I don't want to see that. Please.

I thought the girls would enjoy
seeing you look young.

Yeah, Mom, you
don't really even look like you.

Thanks.

Phil, can you put
the album away?

Mom, no,
we have a right to see these.

This led to our own existence.

This was the reception.

There I am.

I looked handsome, didn't I?

Yeah, Nan, you did.

Mom, can you just be nostalgic
for, like, five minutes?

This isn't nostalgia, okay?

Nostalgia is pleasant, Frankie.

These memories are
very unpleasant.

Mom, do you realize
how it makes me feel

when you say things like that?

I wouldn't have been born
if it wasn't for my dad.

This is my history.

No, this is my history, okay?

You're not the only one
with trauma, Frankie.

Those memories are
very painful to me.

Such a good actress, Mom.

Really, so performative.

So I bid two clubs.

She bids three hearts.
What am I supposed to do?

I bid two clubs.

Dad, you're so loud.

Oh.

Would you look at her.

Such an actress.

Look at this performance.

You've got everyone's attention.

Mom, look how curly
your hair is.

Nan, did you cry at the wedding?

Oh, no. I knew this marriage
had a ticking clock.

But...

Look. Look at this one.

Sam carrying your father.
This was an omen.

Day one of a codependent pact

that's been going on
for over two decades.

Don't you think, Sam?

You know what?

- Mom.
- Really?

Call me when you're done reading
from your favorite book.

All righty.

Anyone want to read
The New York Times

- from when President Kennedy was shot?
- Why are you so tone-deaf?

If Mom did what you just did
to any of you,

you would've exploded.

It's so passive-aggressive.

No. Just aggressive.

Okay, don't overreact.
He's our dad, too,

and we should be able
to look at photos of him.

Max, how the fuck would it feel

if we all started fangirling
over photos of you and Ollivier

after you broke up? Huh?

Or you, Frankie, what if
we all just started dissecting

- old photos of you that you hate?
- Okay, that's different,

- so just...
- And, Gran, sorry to say this,

but the only reason any of us
even came today was

because Mom forced us.
We all had other plans.

But Mom, your loyal daughter,

rounded us all up on a Saturday
just to make you feel happy

- and cheer you up.
- Forced?

Okay.

Oh, my God.

I'll get you a new glass.

♪ Time cast a spell on me ♪

♪ To bind me to your feet ♪

♪ Dizzying breeze ♪

♪ Speed my heartbeat ♪

♪ Salt stings ♪

♪ Feel something ♪

♪ I can't feel ♪

♪ Anything. ♪

Hi.

How are you?

I'm here to see Dr...

- Yes. No.
- ...Babu.

Well, like I said, we don't have
anything until March.

- You're on the phone. My bad.
- Yeah.

Well, you could find
another provider.

Have a nice day.

How's your day going so far?

Just a minute.

Mm.

Can I help you?

I have a 9:00 with Dr. Babu.
Sam Fox.

Okay. Sam.

Fox?

Mm-hmm.

Here you go.

- Fill that out. Sit down.
- Okay,

but I just wanted to check
on the follow-up appointment

Dr. Babu wanted me to make.

It's on the 26th.

Mm-mm. It's on the 29th.

- We moved it.
- Oh.

Mm-hmm. We tried to leave you
several voice mails,

but your inbox was always full.

You need to clean that out.

Oh, no, you see, I can't,

because I have all my daughters'
voice mails saved

from when they were babies.

I just, I can't delete 'em.

You understand, r-right?

Yeah. Okay, so,
the thing is,

I can't do the 29th because
I'm going to San Francisco,

- so...
- Mm-hmm.

If there's any way
you can squeeze me in

any time on the 26th...
Late, early.

Dr. Babu is very, very booked.

I'm just saying,
it's kind of on you guys

to try to accommodate me.

Okay, look.

We can keep going around
and round like this,

but the reality is...

you're not gonna get
an appointment before the 29th.

You win.

- I'll take the 29th.
- Great. And next time,

get here 15 early so you can
fill out your paperwork,

so you're not putting us behind.

Have a seat there. We'll
let you know when he's ready.

- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.

- Thank you!
- Yeah, I heard you.

Jesus.

Oh, no, no, no.
Please don't use that.

I was gonna borrow
the pen of it.

- There's a pen on top.
- I didn't see it.

Just right there,
where we always put pens.

Go for Paige.

Absolutely not.

Are you fasting?

Rude.

I'm gonna sit with you.

Mr. Collier?

Did you do a urine specimen?

No, not yet.

I don't like her.

She's mean.

These are shit.

No. No, these are just shit.

- Shit. These are big, though.
- Really?

Yeah, I'm good with these.

Okay, what about these?

Oh, number 42.

Somebody wrote on that one.

Who's Sam Fox? What an idiot.

- Seriously?
- That's fucked-up.

I'll take this one, though.

Hank Aaron, hell yeah.

Damn it, Sam.

- Awesome. Good job.
- Thanks, Paul.

Thank you. Have a good day.

Hey, Cal, check this shit out.

Hi, Sam.

- Hi, Dr. Babu.
- Good to see you.

- Good to see you, too.
- How's your mom?

Um, she's good.

Okay, so, what brings you in?

Says something about, uh,
shortness of breath?

Yeah, um,
so I'm a little worried,

uh, you know,
happens time to time.

My dad was 49 when he dropped
dead of a heart attack,

and my mom had her incident
two years ago,

so I just came in to see
if I'm okay

and there isn't anything
hereditarily going on with me.

Okay, well,
your blood pressure's fine.

124/80.

So, when do you experience this,
uh, shortness of breath, huh?

Um, you know, sometimes
when I'm moving around.

Like when you're exercising?

Uh, I don't really exercise.

Hmm. What about smoking?

What about it?

Do you do it?

Um, well, no... Not...
No, no, no, no, no.

So, how often do you not,
not fucking smoke, huh?

Like all the time?

Or a couple times a week?

Like a couple every few weeks
or something.

Okay. Take off your jacket.

Okay.

What the fuck happened there?

Oh, nothing.

It's just a thing.

- It's nothing.
- All right.

Breathe in.

Out.

In.

Out.

I think you're okay.

But I am going to order you
an echocardiogram

because, well, you know,
I'm fucking fond of you,

and I want you to feel at ease,
okay?

Thanks, Dr. Babu.
That'd be great.

Um, I was just... Can I,

uh, can I talk to you privately
for a second? Please?

Could you give us a second,
Leslie?

Thank you, Leslie.
No offense.

Oh. Oh. This is so awkward.

Come on. What's up?

Uh, how do I put this?

Um...

- Your receptionist...
- Mm-hmm.

She can come off
as extremely intense.

Dr. Babu, your 9:45 is here.

Okay, well, thank you, Paige.

And I need your signature
on this.

Well, just leave it
on my desk.

Okay, but you didn't pick
a protein on your salad.

Okay. Thank you, Paige.

- Did you want croutons, or...
- We'll pick a protein, Paige.

Yeah, she's fucking rude.
I know.

Yes.

Actually, another word
comes to mind for me,

and it starts with C
and it rhymes with "shunt."

It's a little heart humor.

I know. And don't worry.

I live for that kind of shit, Sam.

It can't just be me, right?

- Your receptionist, it's not just...
- No, no.

People have been saying things
for years.

What did she do?

Okay, so, your office... She...

- Uh-huh.
- She cancelled an appointment

that you wanted me to make,
and she's been

extremely inflexible
about rescheduling it.

Okay. Well, I am very sorry.
Give me your phone.

Oh. Okay.

I am going to give you
my cell number.

So, next time you need to make
an appointment, text me.

- Okay?
- Oh, wow. Doctor's digits.

- I love it. Do you make house calls?
- Fuck no.

I was just kidding.
I didn't...

- Yeah, I know.
- Yep.

You're in trouble.

Excuse me?

Have a good day, Paige.

I told on you.

Yes, I did, and it felt good.

Good for the heart. Yes.

Dr. Babu is so sick of
your deadeye-looking ass.

Shut up, Paige.

What is it?

- Oh.
- Hi, I'm Joe.

Present from
your friend Caroline.

Joe Feng Shui consultation.

- Yes!
- Mm.

Oh, wow.

That's today.
I'm so sorry.

Do you need to reschedule?

No, um... no.

Might as well do this.

But, Joe, please don't tell me
things that are impossible.

I can't. This is just the way...

my house... is.

May I?

Yes.

Um... people?

Human people? Uh, we have
a special guest down here.

We are about
to get feng shui-ed.

- Present from Caroline.
- Hi. I'm Joe.

- Hi, Joe. - Hi, Joe.
- Hi. Nice to meet you.

This isn't in the right place.

What? The door?

The chi is negative.

Mom, you have to move the door.

I'm not moving the door.

"Tracing Outlines"
by Abracadabra playing...

Uh...

The sink is in the wrong spot.

- No.
- Okay.

Spray four thieves vinegar.

You want to stop
the money leaking out the door.

Get 14 Chinese coins,

put them on a red string
and hang them up...

...here.

Also, put jade in your wallet.

Oh, okay. Jade in...

- Write that down.
- That beam.

I'm not moving that beam, Joe.

You can.

Then plant a green persimmon
in the garden.

The energy is stagnant.

The stove and sink are
too far apart.

The stove is about abundance.

Do you need to cook right here?

Where am I supposed to cook,
in the bathroom? Joe.

Break the wall. Add more flow.

I can't do that, Joe.

Mom, we need more flow.

Yeah, Mom. Do we need the wall?

Yes, we need the wall.

Okay.

Paint it green.

Oh, okay.

Don't do business in this space.

Fantastic.

Hi, Uncle Lester.

♪ Chase a cloud away ♪

♪ To say it ♪

♪ In a simple way ♪

♪ Give me some pieces of... ♪

There was a little man.

People would gather here.

This is a touching point.
You need to fix this.

Get another man, or woman,
or person.

♪ You... ♪

Why do you have so many faces
looking at you?

I like 'em. Is that bad?

It's not good.
Hang pictures of nature.

Flowing water.
Gentle, not rushing.

Oh, um, that's my room, actually.

♪ I see it ♪

♪ In a simple way ♪

♪ Tracing the outlines of ♪

♪ Tracing
the outlines of... ♪

I have no notes.

It's perfect.

♪ You... ♪

- Take notes. Mm-hmm. I am.
- So proud of yourself.

I'm sensing chaos.

No harmony.

There are lots of obstacles
in here.

- Mm-hmm.
- You need a rooster.

Point it north.

Can you move this bed?

- It will give you balance.
- In life?

In every area.

No, Joe.

I can't move my bed.

Okay? I-I really appreciate

that you are
a sacred practitioner

of this ancient art.

But I can't move my bed,
and I can't do

a lot of these things
that you're asking me.

It's a lot for me to process
right now.

Listen, I work with
a lot of women.

Older women.

There's a constant haze
hanging around you.

Now, some of these women
take my advice,

And some of them don't.

You haven't lost them.

I've been doing this
for a very long time.

They're not gone forever.

I know that
we can figure out a way

that we can make this work
for you.

So, tell me,
what are you nervous about?

Changing things?

Well, it's more than that.

It's not just changing.

- It-
- It's everything.

You know, I just dropped out of
this big acting gig,

and I've never turned down work before.

And then, I have
this whole new job coming up,

and I don't know
if I made the right choice.

There is no wrong choice.

Okay. When is the date
that you start?

Next Monday.

You have to move it.

Fuck you, Joe.

Wear color blue.

Hmm.

Can I touch your snake?

- Huh? Oh! Yes. Yes!
- Yes. Sorry.

Come on over.
It's my boudoir snake.

- Frankie, you want to get her for Joe?
- Yeah.

- There she is.
- Here we are.

You want to wear her?

Sure.

All right. Hello.

- I trust you. - Very cool.
- Yeah.

- Oh.
- Aw!

She looks good on you.

I'm coming. I'm coming.

- Hi. Hi. One sec.
- Finally.

I can't get on the Internet.
Can you get on yours?

Hi, Mal. Hi.

Is this available?
Question mark.

I love this place.

Can you get this for me? Please?

Question mark.

Thank you so much.
You're the best.

Yas!

Period.

Who are you talking to?

Okay, what do you need? Mal.

Mal. He got me
this insane Airbnb.

- Who?
- Mal, my agent.

- Never mind.
- Why Airbnb?

- He got me an apartment.
- Why? Are we moving?

What? No.

- No. No, I'm-
- I'm working in San Francisco next week.

I love San Francisco.

Do you remember
when we stayed there?

- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
- I haven't been in years.

There's so much to see.

The food, the people,
the gay culture.

And San Francisco's changed.

The things that
spell San Francisco to me

- are disappearing fast.
- Are disappearing fast.

I'd like to go with you.

What? Oh.

Uh, well,
that would be impossible,

'cause I'd have to invite you,
and, you know,

I'll be working there, Phil.

I mean, I'm not gonna be
on vacation.

There's no time for sightseeing.

I'll be shuttled from,
hopefully, this apartment to set

every single morning and night.

- Isn't it cool?
- Yes,

but there's enough room
for me there.

I can stay with you.

Keep myself busy
during the daytime.

Oh. No.

No. Yeah, no.

No, no, Phil. No.

I'm not going to live forever, you know.

And the listing says
there's room for four guests.

Why can't you share it with me?

Because I can't.

Well, I'll book a flight myself
and get my own Airbnb.

I want to see the city,
and you can't stop me.

I'm a grown woman
with my own free will.

Phil, I'm there to work.

Don't do this to me.

You would need a companion.

You do as you wish
and I will, too.

You're not my overseer.

I can make my own itinerary.

I'm going
no matter what you say.

I know my way
around San Francisco.

I don't need a babysitter.

Stop! Do you understand me?
Just stop.

Don't raise your voice at me.

- The way you throw up walls...
- I do no such thing.

...all the time.
Yes, you do!

You throw these tantrums
like a six-year-old.

It's just relentless with you.

Do you realize
what this does to me?

The pressure
that you put me under?

Oh, my heart.

My heart is fucking racing
right now.

I say yes
to everything for you.

You are a part of all of it.

It's every single day with you.

Can't you meet me halfway?

You never meet me halfway.
You never say,

"Fair enough. Okay.
I've gone too far."

You're absolutely right.

What?

You're right. I don't.

I am?

Yes. Now don't gloat.

I will try harder,

and...

I won't go to San Francisco.

Jesus.

That is really,
really satisfying.

Phil?

Hmm?

Get the vodka.

Tout de suite.

Okay, so, what do you want
to do on here?

- What are y...
- I just want to get onto the Internet.

Okay, well, it's-it's
on the Internet.

I show you this
every single day.

I know, but it had gone wrong,

and I just couldn't get
back onto it.

Okay, here. You're on.

- Ooh.
- I'm on now?

It's the same way I show you
every day.

But it doesn't work
when I do it.

- Good for your heart.
- You're gonna kill me, you know.

You kill me
and then you revive me.

Schnapps.

Can you write it down this time?

♪ I've been normal ♪

♪ I've been ostracized ♪

♪ I've watched
through a window ♪

♪ As my young self died ♪

♪ I've been popular ♪

♪ With all the popular guys ♪

♪ I gave them punch lines ♪

♪ They gave me warning signs ♪

♪ I look okay ♪

♪ In the magic hour ♪

♪ In the right light ♪

♪ With the right amount
of power ♪

♪ And I'm okay ♪

♪ With the life
of the sunflower ♪

♪ And I'm okay ♪

♪ With the life
of a meteor shower ♪

♪ So, say ♪

♪ What you will ♪

♪ Go on, say what you will ♪

♪ You're gonna do it anyway ♪

♪ Go on ♪

♪ Just ♪

♪ Say what you will ♪

♪ You're gonna do it anyway ♪

♪ Go on ♪

♪ Just ♪

♪ Say what you will. ♪

Chewy.

Hi.

- I need coffee.
- Seaweed smoothie.

- Coffee machine.
- Seaweed smoothie.

- Coffee.
- Seaweed smoothie.

- Those... Coffee.
- Seaweed smoothie.

- Coffee for Mommy.
- Seaweed smoothie.

- Coffee.
- Seaweed.

Seaweed smoothie.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Chewy. Very green.

It is made with kelp
and spinach and avocado.

And love. And apple.

I like it. It's nice.

Um...

Mom, I'm really sorry
about the other night.

I was being an asshole.

The slow clap thing,
I know that's...

really triggering for you,
and I'm sorry.

Thank you.

And I have something for you.

The fuck?

I sold your baseball cards,
and that is your money.

I just told you
to get rid of 'em.

And I did
and turned a profit.

For you.

- Did you sell the Hank Aaron?
- Mm-hmm.

Shit.

But...

you had two.

It has no value because
you wrote your name on it.

It was 1977.

I needed to write my name
on my shit.

This is your history, Mom,

and it belongs to you.

I kind of love this.

- It's cool, right?
- Yeah.

I'm gonna put it on fridgy.

- No!
- Yes!

- Coffee.
- No, no, no.

♪ Doing our thing with pride ♪

♪ Trying our best to survive ♪

♪ Doing our thing with pride ♪

♪ Doing our thing
with pride ♪

I'm really sad.

Yeah.

Me, too.

A lot of people are.

You know, these steps,

they're like
the Stonewall of L. A.

It's like a gay pride memorial.

But a lot of people
don't realize that.

They just use it
as a place to exercise.

I don't care.

Yeah.

Side! Excuse me.

Can you not take
the entire stairs?

Thank you so much.

You're so welcome.

It was perfect.

Oh, my God.

I mean...

Hmm.

Life's funny.

"Better in the Morning"
by Birdtalker playing...

- ♪ Tired and worn from the patterns I've carved ♪
- Even when it's sad.

♪ I will do better
in the morning ♪

♪ Stuck inside a cycle
of opinions ♪

♪ Where there's two clear ways ♪

♪ And I always take
the easy one ♪

♪ And I'm always left
with the taste in my mouth ♪

♪ I will do better
in the morning ♪

♪ I learned shame
when I was young ♪

♪ I will do better
in the morning ♪

♪ Choked libido fucked me up ♪

♪ I will do better
in the morning ♪

♪ Suck me dry,
you uptight fakers ♪

♪ You stole from me lovemaking ♪

♪ I'm always left
with the taste in my mouth ♪

♪ I will do better
in the morning ♪

♪ In stillness, boys ♪

♪ Clear water to the bottom ♪

♪ You will do better
in the morning ♪

♪ I will do better
in the morning. ♪