Girls (2012–2017): Season 4, Episode 7 - Ask Me My Name - full transcript

Girls - 04x07
Ask My Name

So here's the rub...
it was Oedipus' faults

that ultimately led
to his downfall, okay?

But was it his flaws or was
it fate that was to blame?

Well, Sophocles made
the prophecy unconditional,

so it had to happen.

It didn't matter
what Oedipus did.

Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding,
you are correct, Cleo.

And that is why
you're my favorite.

Well, that's not fair.

I'm a sub. It doesn't matter.



I haven't read this book
in, like, 20 years.

I'm just saying
what I remember,

which apparently
is quite a bit.

So here's the biggest question.

The fact is, Oedipus couldn't
have done anything differently.

He was screwed from the
moment he was born.

But he still had free will,

so he had the free will
to make positive choices.

So this begs the question...
are we just doing good things

to avoid personal suffering,

or is there actually
such a thing as goodness?

Well, what's he gonna do, ask every woman
he sleeps with if they're his mom?

That's a great point.

It kind of kills the mood. I think a
good rule of thumb for adopted kids



should be, like,
to go for another race.

Why risk it, you know?

Simon, you're the funniest
person I've ever met.

You should write for "SNL."

Here's the thing
that's interesting.

If we want to take Oedipus

and bring it into
our current moment,

this is basically where the whole
concept of the MILF comes from.

'Sup?

So this is a teachers' lounge.

Behold. That's why we are
teachers and lounging.

Oh, cool. Hey, I'm Hannah.

I shouldn't.
I'm covered in glue.

'Cause I'm guessing
you teach art.

Uh, history.
Yeah, it's a long story.

Oh, got it.

You're the new sub, right?

I am. It's my first week.

Yeah, I'm Fran.

Your juice box says Joe,

so I'm not sure
what to believe.

Yeah, well, Joe and I have
a little arrangement.

He brings me a juice box and I
don't fail his older sister.

- That's really good.
- It's great all the way around.

- What do you teach?
- This semester, it is 17th century

European notions of utopia.

- Oh, wow.
- Yeah, it's just normal high school stuff.

- Perfect.
- You know? Yeah.

So, should we get some
drinks tonight or what?

Um, yeah. That'd be awesome.

I just think maybe
this is the reason

that Adam and I broke up
in the first place,

is so that Fran and I
could get married.

That's something a
"Bachelor" contestant would say.

I mean, we had the most
incredible, immediate connection.

There was so much going...
it's like we're both academics,

he loves his sister.

What do you think?

Just, like, casual,
with, like, a huarache sandal.

What the fuck?

I mean, if you want him
to think you killed your kids

and have been living in the Florida
Panhandle, knock yourself out.

Okay, I'm sorry.
This shirt works.

Does it?

It's just so crazy. It's
like I'm going on a date.

Can you believe that? It's
like who even goes on a date?

It's like I'm fucking 45.

A 45-year-old who just got
out of a bad divorce.

My Pilates teacher
inspired me to take a chance.

Sure, I'm scared,
but I gotta take a chance.

I don't want to die alone,
not without a fight.

I'm still a sexual,
viable woman.

Now get out of here
'cause I have to masturbate.

- That's what you do before a date.
- Ugh!

So the sexual tension doesn't,
like, overwhelm the evening.

- So you can think.
- You're so loud when you do it.

I'll do it, too.

I guess I kind of always
saw myself more at, like,

a... an inner-city
public school type thing.

Like, deep in the Bronx, you know,
teaching the kids who can't be taught,

like Annie Potts in the
"Dangerous Minds" TV show.

- Ooh.
- But it turns out you need a teaching degree for that.

Yeah, well, you definitely do not need
a degree to teach at St. Justine's.

- That's... that's a hard fact.
- It appears not.

- Yeah, do you know Mr. Parsons, chemistry?
- Yes.

He dropped out
of middle school.

- Are you kidding me?
- He was like, "How far did you get in schooling?"

I was like, "Through college."

And he was like,
"Huh, sixth grade."

Wow, I didn't even need
to do half of what I did.

Look, I'm jealous
of these kids.

I didn't get to take,
you know, origami expression

when I was in high school.

I took gym.

The entire arts department
at my high school

consisted of a broken trumpet

and a music teacher who'd been
fired for acting in a porno.

No way.

Well, he was just jerking off.
He wasn't, like, the star.

But he... but he was there.
He was on the periphery.

Was he good?

I mean, he ejaculated?

I don't know. He was fine.

He was fine.

I'm having a really nice time.

- Yeah.
- Thank you for inviting me.

Uh, should we get
another drink?

I was actually gonna ask if you wanted
to maybe check out this art show

that I'm sure is gonna
be absolutely terrible.

I just sold it really well.

I absolutely would.

- Perfect.
- Cool.

Done and done. Cheers.

Cheers.

Been loading them cables
all damn day.

Back then we used to call it
the East River Bridge.

"Fit to be good
for jumping," we'd say.

Poor bastard died
of an infection.

I asked Steph
to meet me at the mall.

She texted me back. "L-O-L,
I don't hang with sluts."

I was like,
"What did Jaden say?"

What did Jaden say?

Oh, okay, so now
you're... you're Amber.

Okay, great. Sorry.

By this point,
it was all over Facebook.

"Amber sucks baseball dick."

Stop.

That is brilliant, though.

I mean, it was
offensive, I'm sure,

but you have to admit,
it was pretty clever.

Then... so what did you say?

Well, I'm not
supposed to go off-script.

What do you mean script?

Kindly put these on.

Oh, thank you very much.

- Okay.
- Love that enthusiasm.

Well, I knew this would suck,

but I did not have
any idea just how much.

Are you kidding?
This is terribly wonderful.

Well, you are
a delightful sport.

- Thank you.
- Shall we?

Kindly put these on.

"Ask me my name"?

- What's your name?
- Dorkis.

Dorkis.

- With an X?
- S.

- What's your name?
- Uh, Johan, but with a Y and a J.

- Excuse me.
- Hello.

Hannah?
What are you doing here?

Oh, um, hello, Marnie, Desi.
This is Fran.

Hey, nice to meet you.

Seriously, it's kind of crazy that
you're here, don't you think?

How come?
What's... what's going on?

I mean, if you're
talking about Adam,

he and I are completely fine

and we're just
checking out the show.

I think it's beautiful
that you're here

and not contributing to this
pervasive, toxic culture

of women in the arts just cutting each
other down, maligning each other.

I love the way you think.

- Seriously.
- Thank you. Thank you, Hannah.

So, just putting
a couple things together.

Uh, your ex-boyfriend is here?

Yeah, you know, I probably
should've told you about it,

but on the other hand, it's
like we broke up so long ago

and the wounds are so healed.

And at this point it's like we're all
just part of one big friend group.

- Really?
- You know what? It's no problem.

You know?
Everybody's got a past.

This might be shocking
for some folks,

but I have dated people before.

Women, in fact.

Hello. What the hell?

- Ahem.
- Uh, excuse me?

I was six years old when they took me away.
My mom was crying.

- They were gonna put her in another camp.
- We've heard this one, Desi.

What's happening?

She tried to give the soldier

my favorite doll,
a family heirloom.

The soldier threw it
on the ground.

Its porcelain head cracked.

Uh, this way, please?

- Uh, yeah, we can talk for a minute.
- Wow.

But Fran can hear
anything you have to say.

What are you doing here?

Okay, we're on a date.

We were looking for
a cultural activity to do

like the two cultured
New Yorkers we are,

and so we find ourselves here
at Mimi-Rose Howard's show.

Hannah.

It's our first date.

Hannah, would you do me
a favor and leave

before this gets
really fucking weird?

You mean like 10 minutes ago?

You know what?
Maybe we should go.

You know what, Fran?
I don't want to go

because I feel like
we haven't really experienced

the wonder
of this experience yet.

You can't be serious with this.

- We oughta...
- I'm not doing anything, okay?

I'm over it.
You're not over it.

Otherwise you wouldn't have noticed
me in this crowd of 40 to 70 people.

Starting to
feel a little used here.

You didn't come here
to see the show.

No, I came here to see
my friend Marnie,

my other friend Jessa, and for a date
that I'm on with a man named Fran.

Check him out.

All right. I am out.

This is a huge fucking city.

- How hard is it for us to avoid each other...
- Fran!

Until you get over this?

Adam, I am over this, okay?

What am I supposed to do, call ahead
to every place you might possibly be?

It's my girlfriend's art show.
I'm gonna be here.

I'm not gonna be anywhere else.

You can hang out with your
friends everywhere else.

Why are you really here?

I don't know.

Hannah, you came.

I did, Mimi-Rose. I came and
I really enjoyed myself.

And now I think I'm
gonna have to leave.

Oh, okay.

Well, thank you for coming.

Thank you, and thank you
for this artistry.

Thank you, Hannah.

We're actually about
to go to the after-party,

if you'd like to join us.

No, I don't think
that's necessary.

No, it's not
that big of a deal.

My ex-partner Ace is going.

Her ex-partner Ace is coming.

Hannah, would you like
to share a car with us?

- Well, Hannah's on a date.
- I'm not on a date anymore.

Adam intimidated him
and he fled,

so, yeah, I'd love to come.

Holy donkey shit.

Mims, you ready to go?
Hi, I'm Ace.

- Oh, Hannah.
- Mimi's former partner.

Oh, my God, I'm Hannah,
Adam's former partner.

- Ace.
- Yeah, okay.

Shall we into the night?

Shall we do this thang?

Yeah. After you.

After you.

- After you.
- I said after you.

- Okay, I'll go.
- Okay, great, I'll go.

Oh, and you can
take these off now.

No way.

Let's keep this experience
alive all night.

I'm gonna wear mine
till the morning time

and then pretend I work
at Home Depot all day,

helping people and shit.

I don't even like what I
chose to wear tonight,

so this is actually
a great solution for me.

Oh, crap, a cab!
I'm gonna grab it!

Ace, there's
a cab right here.

Ace!

All right. Oh, Adam,
why don't you ride with Ace

and Hannah can ride with me?

The four of us can fit
all in one car.

- Ace!
- No, Adam, go ride with him.

Why? - 'Cause I want you
to get to know each other.

Our past relationships
are part of who we are.

Ace is a big part of my life.

Big part of her life.

Super.
I'll share a car with Ace

and you two will share this car

and we'll all meet
over at the place.

Sounds like a great plan.

- Motherfucker.
- Adam!

Let's NYC taxi it
to the party, bro!

Is your name Adeem?

Yeah.

That's a beautiful name.

Thank you.

This is a cool idea.

I'm sorry, man.

It's pretty classic Mimi-Rose.

You know, what we find
awkward, she finds blissful.

Your suffering's
her fucking safe space.

Wait, what?

What, you mean you're not
clued into the whole act?

No, I don't know
what you're talking about.

Her whole thing, man.

Pretending she's some
sweet weirdo girl from Maine

with the bitten-up lips
and the Asperger's.

Come on, man. Eventually,
you have to recognize

it's hollow, it's curated.

She's a bad, bad girl
who knows what works.

Should we just take some
selfies and get really weird?

Why do you keep coming to her
stuff and supporting her, then,

if you think
she's so manipulative?

Uh, because I will always
be in love with her.

Okay, fuck this.
We live together.

Enjoy it while it lasts 'cause I'm
gonna get her back, motherfucker.

No, this is fucking bullshit.

You think she really
likes you, monkey face?

You're just
a chess move, buddy.

You motherfucker.
Just pull over!

All right, buddy. Hey. Chill.

I would never, ever call you
a mother effer for serious.

It's not my game.
You know what I mean?

It's not my jam,
it's not who I am.

I know where you are right now.

Adrift in the river
of Mimi-Rose.

I get the feeling that you
didn't really like my show.

Well, that's crazy 'cause I
fuckin' loved your show.

You know you can
be honest with me.

I find criticism
to be super valuable.

And I can't criticize you when I have
absolutely nothing to criticize.

I mean, the show was perfect.
It was Beyoncé to me.

Okay.

Glad you found it
to be affecting.

I did. I was very affected.

I didn't really have as much time
to work on it as I would've liked

'cause I got sucked into
writing this stupid book.

- You're, uh, writing a book?
- I'm trying.

It's a psychosexual thriller

told from the perspective
of a dead woman

who solves her own murder

using hologram technology
that she invented.

I think it'll probably suck, but I just
always try to work outside my comfort zone

'cause that's
the only way you grow,

but I'm not
a real writer like you.

I'm not a writer at all.
I mean, not anymore.

That's not what Adam says.

I quit, and I've literally
never been happier.

Your finger's
touching my shoulder.

Hey, um, could we make
the turn up here?

That would be great. We need
to try a different route.

Great. Great idea.

- (
Hannah and Mimi-Rose scream]

Are you okay?

I... I think I'm...

What's your name?

- Mary.
- Mary, okay.

Hey! Come here.
Can we get some help?

- I'm so sorry, sir.
- His name's Adeem.

Adeem, I'm so sorry
I asked you to turn.

It's your fault.
It's her fault.

Well, it's not my fault.

Miss, are you all right?

Yes, yes, I... I'm all right.

- What happened here?
- Our cab hit this woman.

- Because of her.
- It was not because of me. I wasn't driving.

Ma'am, let's take the driver's and lady's
statements, and then we'll get yours.

Okay, but you're not
gonna pin this on me,

and I know enough
to ask for a lawyer.

Please wait in the cab.

This is totally bogus, okay?
Let's just hop in another cab.

No, we can't abandon
Adeem and Mary.

She's totally fine.
The police are here, okay?

And I'm very hungry. Let's
at least wait in the deli.

- Fine.
- Okay, we're gonna be in the deli,

and, Adeem, I don't
want to upset you,

but the meter is still running.

What smells?

Oh, it's probably me.
I don't wear deodorant.

I'm sorry.

They have coconut popsicles?

Oh, this was the last one.

- Do you want mine?
- No, I'm good.

Do you resent me
for dating Adam?

What? Uh, no,
I don't resent you.

I would never resent another woman
for that and place blame on her.

That is just not how I roll.
If I was gonna resent anyone,

I would resent him.
I don't resent you.

So, why are you mad at Adam,
if you were mad at Adam?

I'm not mad at Adam,
but if I was,

it'd probably be
because he's deceitful

and because he didn't tell me he
was in love with someone else,

if that's even a word
you two are using.

Not yet.

And I would also be angry
at him for being a coward.

Because he is a coward, and then
he lashes out like a maniac

when you call him on anything
because he feels so guilty.

Yep, that is Adam
in a nutshell.

Can I use your bathroom?

We don't have a bathroom.

You do have a bathroom.
I just saw it.

I saw what was most
definitely a toilet, dude.

It's for employees only.

Okay, well, can you
just maybe bend those rules

because I'm gonna buy all this stuff and
I really, really, really have to pee.

Sorry, it's the rules.

Seriously? You know what?
Fuck this.

- We're fucking out of here.
- She has to pay for the Popsicle.

- She's not paying for the Popsicle.
- This is a protest.

Hey! You can't steal
the Popsicle!

- There's probably a bathroom in there.
- Okay!

Excuse me, we're gonna
be in here now!

Go! Go!

You were ready to
beat me down, weren't you?

I know, I was ready to fuss...

like, what is she doing
getting in my underwear?

- Like, is this bitch crazy?
- I know.

- Oh, Hannah, meet my new friend Chezza.
- Hi.

She caught me trying to slip a
note into her dryer mid-spin

and she ran over. She was
like, "What are you doing?"

But it turns
out she had written me a poem.

Yeah, I always wanted to give
a stranger a poem. -

I was in that bathroom
for less than two minutes.

It's actually a pretty great poem.
You want to hear it?

- No, thank you.
- I just gotta read the first line.

It's so beautiful and touching.

You know what, Chezza? I told you
I'm not in the mood for a poem,

but thank you so much.

Okay.

Never a dull fucking moment

in this fucking city.

Hannah, do you still
want Adam back?

Fuck, no.

Because if you did, that's something
that we should talk about.

We don't need to talk about it.
I don't want him back.

You told Jessa
that you wanted him back.

Fucking Jessa.

She is insane, and,
anyway, I change my mind.

And even if I didn't change my mind, it
wouldn't matter because he's with you now.

Well, if you actually
did want him back,

I might say,
"You can have him."

You are laying out
a beaver trap,

and I'm not gonna walk
into your beaver trap.

Hannah, there's no trap.

I think Adam
is an extraordinary person,

but I've only known him
for a few months.

If you feel like you two
should really be together,

then I am not gonna
stand in the way of that.

And I think that that is something
that we need to discuss.

Okay, and how would
we go about discussing this?

Well, I wouldn't
just give him to you,

but I feel like we could
figure something out.

I would subtly distance
myself from him

as you incrementally worked
your way back into his life.

Perhaps through
a joint creative project.

Okay, you are insane,
and that's insane.

Are you mad because
you gave up on art

or because you gave up
on Adam or is it both?

I didn't give up on Adam, okay?

You stole him from me.

You swooped in
under the cover of night

and you took him while I was
away at graduate school

getting a graduate degree in a
form of art that is actual art,

unlike what you do,
which is not art.

And you're not a genius.

You're just tricking people
and confusing them,

and I think you know
it's bullshit,

and I think maybe
you should just admit it.

I just... I...

I don't know. I saw this
photograph from the 1940s.

Well, that has fucking nothing to
do with what we're talking about.

It was a picture
of this little girl.

She was Japanese, five or six,

and she was standing next to
a row of American soldiers

on her way
to an internment camp.

And the caption,
it just said, "Girl."

I thought, "'Girl'?

Do any of these soldiers
even know this girl's name?"

They probably didn't. They
were, like, war criminals.

But I think it's so easy for us to get so
wrapped up in ourselves and our own lives

that we just completely
lose our empathy.

We don't want to get
to know other people.

And I get it.

It's easier
to not ask and not tell.

It's easier not to know
someone's name.

Well, it sounds like
you know what you're doing.

And I'm sorry that learning more
about you physically pains me.

Why does it pain you?

Oh, I don't know,
because of your book

that's gonna be a best seller,

because of your
smash-hit lectures,

because of your
little doll face.

You know, it pains me to find
out shit about you, too.

Oh, save it, please.

No, it's the truth, Hannah.

I know that
you hated my show.

And the way that you see me,

I'm afraid that that's the
way everyone sees me.

I just want to make something
that says something,

and I don't even
know why anymore.

You try because
you're an artist.

And I couldn't do it,
so I quit.

Now I'm gonna have a boring
life like my mother's,

be dissatisfied,
and I'm gonna be normal.

Do you think
I want to be normal?

I just wasn't talented enough,
and that is why I left Iowa.

I think that we should just go to
the bar and start drinking heavily.

Let's get outta here.

Isn't Ace the coolest?

Fuck, no!

He told me he was
gonna get M-R back.

Said he was kidding,
but he wasn't.

- He said that?
- Yeah.

- He said he wanted her back?
- Yeah, he said she's playing some kind of game

and he always gets her back.

He's a fuckin' psycho.

No.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

He didn't really say that.

Yeah, why?

This is the whole reason
why I set you up with her

is so that I could get Ace.

He's not supposed
to still want her back.

He's supposed to love me now.

Oh.

I don't buy it. He loves me.

I'll be pregnant
with his twins by May.

- Congratulations!
- Oh, thanks. Thank you.

Oh, my God! Hi.

You came.
Oh, you look so terrific.

Congratulations,
fancy lady.

- Hey.
- Jesus fucking Christ.

- Hey, sorry.
- Hey.

You're probably still
mad at me or whatever.

No, I... I am not trying
to make you unhappy.

I don't want you to be unhappy.

I just want
everyone to be happy.

I know, I feel
the exact same way.

I just wanted to tell you
that I really like Mimi-Rose.

Oh, okay. All right, thank you.

I'm not kidding, okay? I think
she's a really special,

unique, neat person,

and my eyes have been
totally opened

and I just... I wanted
to let you know that

and just say congratulations,

and I just wanted
to say that I...

get it.

So now I'll get out of here
before I make it bad again,

but I just wanted
to say that and...

Okay, thank you.

Excuse me.

Hey, um, can I get a falafel
sandwich and a seltzer, please?

What's your name?

Oh, my name is Hannah.
What is your name?

We'll call you when it's ready.