Love in the Time of Corona (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Love and Protest - full transcript

(funky disco music playing)

♪ I put on my disco boots ♪

♪ When I wanna get loose, hey! ♪

♪ I slip on my
favorite suit... ♪

♪

- Elle: Hey. - Hey!

I was, uh...

I wasn't going to leave. I
was just going to the bathroom.

Then I was just
gonna come right back.

- It's okay. - (Oscar chuckles)

I just didn't want you to think that I was,
like, trying to sneak out



'cause things were
suddenly awkward between us

'cause, 'cause they're not.

They're not. For me at all.

Are they for you?

No. No.

I don't think so.

(chuckles) Cool.

So, um,
I will... I'm gonna come right back.

Elle: Okay.

(cell phone beeps)

(sighs)

(chuckles)

"I promise to always
be your travel buddy,

"to appreciate everything you do,
and...



to never give up on us."

(door opens)

How could you cheat on Mom?

- What? - I know about Gigi!

Does Mom know?

(sighs) Yes,
Sophie. Your mother knows.

Knows about what?

You're up! Are you feeling okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

I'm so sorry!

- For what, sweetheart?
- Dad's affair.

I'm not having an affair.

Oh, so now you're denying it?

Sweetheart...

baby, your Dad and I separated.

He moved out after the holidays.

What are you talking about?

We were, uh, gonna tell you
when you came back this summer.

But with quarantine and
Jordan breaking up with you,

we thought it was too
much for you to handle.

Well, you're right! It is
too much for me to handle!

Are you joking?

I mean,
as if a pandemic wasn't bad enough,

my boyfriend breaks up with me,

and then I find out my
parents are sus as hell!

Thanks. Wow!

Baking? Sade Aldicott,
I have seen it all.

The last time you were
making something in an oven,

you were in grad school.

Well, luckily,

the directions are on the box.

I am strong. I am capable.

I can make biscuits.

So I'm guess things between
you and James are still...

Shitty.

Yeah, he told me last night

that he didn't want
to have another baby.

Ever.

Oh wow.

That's, that's a full 180.

Yeah.

He's just retreating,
emotionally,

and I don't know why.

How are you?

- Um, are you home?
- (Adaeh coughing)

Why are you coughing?

Okay, now don't be worried,

but...

- I've got the 'Rona. - What?

What? How do you know?

I went to urgent
care and got a test.

What do, what do you need? What,
what can we do?

Nothing. (sniffles)

They said I just
gotta ride it out,

- that I'll be fine -
Sade: I'm so sorry.

What are your symptoms?

Fever, chills,
headache, exhaustion.

No trouble breathing yet,

but they said it
could take a turn

for the worse in week two.

Kinda like my relationship
did in week four.

- What happened? - Girl,

me and Niles,
we just kept arguing

like we had been
married for 20 years.

I mean, like,
who quarantines their delivery boxes.

Who does that?

I do.

Yes,
but I'm not sleeping with you.

Damn. I really
thought I knew him.

After three virtual dates?

Mm. Don't do that, okay.

It's not about how long
you've known someone,

it's about the quality of the
communication in the relationship.

Once that breaks down,
then you're toast.

Sean: (on phone) Hey,
Oscar, it's Sean.

Listen,
I'm really sorry I was a jerk.

Elle's your best friend,
and of course you miss her.

I, I understand that. And
as far as meeting up goes,

I'll wait until you're ready.

However long it takes, okay.

Just please...

please call me.

(sighs)

♪

I cannot believe that
you made all of this.

I, uh,
I wasn't sure how you liked your eggs,

so I made them
scrambled and fried.

And then I was worried
you might not even like eggs,

so I made pancakes and toast.

And blueberry muffins.

This is amazing. Thank you.

Oh, and one last thing.

Because you won't let me
listen to any of your music

until I let you read
something that I've written,

I, uh,
hid something under the placemat.

♪

"Love in the Time of Corona."

Guess I finally found
some inspiration.

(chuckles)

Uh...

Let me guess. You're leaving
to go quarantine with Gigi?

No. I wanna stay here with you.

I like being part
of this family.

- Is Mom okay with that?
- She is.

Are you?

What happened to you guys?

I don't know.

I think maybe for me...

I stopped appreciating
your mother at some point.

I'm sorry I went to the party.

You were right. I was
only thinking about myself.

I guess I do that a lot.

Hey. You're 19.

It's part of the process.

I think it would be nice if we
did something for your mother.

Make something special.

Like a bundt cake?

Or maybe something
a little more significant.

I have an idea,

but I need your help.

I'm in.

As long as it
requires zero effort.

I'm kidding.

I'm just fine. I'm
just looking forward

to your father coming home.

James: Ma, you know,
I called him yesterday...

and I don't think
he knew who I was.

Of course he knew who you were.

He just gets a little
confused sometimes.

But I think when
we bring him home,

around familiar surroundings,
he's gonna get much better.

Hey, Ma,
can I ask you something?

You can ask me anything,
except how old I am.

I know how old you are.

Nanda: Yeah, well,
I'm going to deny it, okay.

Did you, did you see that,
um, that video

of the black man
being shot and killed?

Ahmaud Arbery?

Yes. Yes, I did.

Is it ever gonna stop?

We just have to hope
that God hears our prayers.

When,
Ma? It's been 400 years in this country.

God can't see? He can't hear?

Nanda: There has been progress.

We may not be where
we're supposed to be,

we may not get what we deserve,

-but it's sure as shit ain't what it was.
-Hey!

- Language, young lady.
- (Nanda laughs)

How were you and Daddy
not angry all the time?

Nanda: Who says we weren't?

But we had to claim our joy,
son.

That was our protest.

Okay. But you
had two black sons.

Weren't you scared?

Nanda: I mean,
it doesn't matter that we raised you right.

It doesn't matter that you're good,
capable men.

Nanda: If you're
stopped by the police,

none of that matters.

That is why I put
all my faith in God.

Yeah, well...

I wish I had your faith.

But I am afraid for Charli.

I don't know, Mom,
what I'm gonna do.

You get on with it, son.

That's what you do.

And, uh, by the way,

Dedrick is here.

Nanda: He's been
staying in the guest house.

He's been very helpful,

and I want you to
reach out to him.

Talk about angry.

Nanda: He's not angry.

He's lost.

Nanda: You wanna do something?

Be there for your own brother.

♪

♪ They say you
should smile more ♪

♪ Darling, show your eyes more ♪

♪ Aren't you satisfied? ♪

♪ I'm tired of trying
to please someone ♪

♪ Who doesn't even ♪

♪ Care what's on my mind ♪

Adam: (on phone)
So what did you think?

I think you are not gonna be
flipping houses much longer.

You're an amazing writer.

Thanks. That, uh,
means a lot coming from you.

♪ Don't wanna be young and sad ♪

♪ Another day longer ♪

You okay?

Adam,
there's something I need to tell you.

I... have sort of been in love

with my best friend,
Oscar, for a long time.

But I didn't think that we
would ever be together

uh, but then...

last night...

well...

we, um...

We're sort of together now.

Adam: Oh. Uh...

I don't know what to say. I
didn't really see that coming.

Yeah. Me neither.

It sort of happened
out of nowhere.

Although we're so close
already and we live together,

it's kind of like we're
already married.

Um,
I think being in a quarantine

just kinda made it clear,
you know.

I'm sorry.

No. Don't... Don't be sorry.

Um... I'm happy for you.

I am.

Love is hard to come by.

Especially right now.

You're lucky you
found each other.

Or, didn't find, but got clear.

Elle: Yeah.

Adam: Well, take care.

Bye.

♪ Don't wanna feel numb ♪

♪ Or mad ♪

(door closes)

♪ Until I go under ♪

- (sniffles) - Babe,
what's wrong?

I...

I ruined everything
by telling my friends

that we were trying
to have a baby,

and I ruined how
good it was between us,

and I ruined the biscuits!

Well, I,
I love burned biscuit. Barbecue!

I'm serious!

What if we're toast?

Did you burn that too?

I don't know. Did I?

I just... I don't understand
how you just changed your mind

and we didn't even get
to have a conversation.

I still want to have
another baby with you.

And I wish that I hadn't told
other people that we were trying.

I wish that I had kept
it just between us.

But really, I don't...

You just changed your
mind because of that?

Oh, baby, that's...

that's not why I
changed my mind.

I'm, I'm sorry. I...

Then what?

Do you remember when
I asked you to marry me?

Your family was
giving me the side eye

because we'd been
together for five years,

but I was waiting.

I wanted to know that I could be

an equal contributor
in this relationship.

I'm not ev... I'm not even
talking about providing, okay.

I'm just talking about I wanted to
know I was gonna be able to cover

my half of the rent.

I needed a,
I needed a peace to fall on me about it.

And then I got that
great job with Spike.

Right?

And I had health insurance,

and I had a paycheck coming in.

And I bought your
ring the very next week.

And when we had...

our beautiful daughter,

things were so good between us.

And we gave her my
grandmother's name

so that she would know

she was loved.

And it breaks my
heart that every year,

she gets older,
she has to shed a layer

of her innocence and
take up a layer of armor

just so she can
survive out there.

As her parents,
we have to thread that needle

between building
up her self-esteem

and protecting herself

in a world that's not
gonna always respect

her precious little life.

Her precious black life.

Having kids means

you gotta make peace
with the world as it is.

You gotta make peace,
and I, I...

I can't make peace right now.

I can't. (sniffles)

I can't do it.

Okay.

Okay. "At the very least,
cloth face coverings will get you

in the habit of not
touching your face."

I'm literally touching
my face right now.

I mean, I can't even talk
about not touching my face

without touching my face!

(sighs)

You never really read books,
do you?

No. No, but I read a lot online.

But you don't read books online.

No. Is that... Is
that a judgment?

No, it's just...

- an observation. - Hmm.

Well,
you don't really keep up with the news.

Is that a judgment?

No. No. No. Just a... (chuckles)

Just an observation.

(sighs) So, should we

talk about... what this is?

Like...

are we in a relationship now?

(both chuckle)

Yeah, I mean, I...

guess so.

So, now we are living together

and in a relationship.

Well, that, that was fast, huh?

What are we, lesbians?

(awkward laughter)

(clears throat)

We probably should still...
have our own bedrooms, though.

Oh. Totally. Totally.

And we shouldn't feel like we
have to spend every night together.

- Exactly.
- Like, maybe tonight we...

- We can sleep in our own beds.
- Yeah.

I just don't want us to feel

overwhelmed by all of this.

Me neither.

So, what did you tell Sean?

Um...

Yeah, I mean, I kinda...

I just told him the truth,
you know.

We were... we were
basically over anyway.

Mm-hmm.

(cell phone ringing)

Hello.

Hey, man.

It's James.

How you doin'?

Dedrick: I'm all right.

Just helping Mom out.

♪ Pretending not to be afraid ♪

♪

Man: (on television) A few
more announcements as well

and then we'll get to questions.

Together with the Los
Angeles County Department

of Public Health,

you probably heard
the news today,

and this is big news,
that we are extending

the Safer at Home
order until May 15th.

This was based on
the advice of Dr. Ferrer.

I wanna thank her...

♪

It's shaping up out here, huh?

Yeah.

But no need to hurry.

(sighs heavily)

What's wrong?

They have extended
the Shelter-at-Home order

until May 15th at least.

There's not gonna be
an anniversary party.

Dedrick: I'm sorry, Mama.

(sighs)

You know, the truth is...

even before the pneumonia,

I was having a hard time
taking care of your father.

He would fall,
and I couldn't get him up and...

He would be cooking and
leave a pot on the stove

until it burned.

And I'm thinking to myself,

what if he gets confused
and wanders off,

like people with dementia do?

I've just been kidding myself.

I may not be able to
bring your father home.

(sighs)

I tell you what...

I'll take you to the nursing
home on your anniversary.

So you can see him,

at least through the glass.

You know, James called me.

- Oh, he did? - (both laugh)

Now, don't act all surprised.

He told me you
told him to do it.

I didn't know he
would actually do it.

Well, he is the stubborn one.

If you ask me,
all the men in this family are stubborn.

(both laugh)

(laptop beeps)

Hey. Hi.

Look who it is.

I thought you were ghosting me.

Hi!

Aww, you, you look so cute.

Thank you.

Um,
what's going on? Where have you been?

(sighs) I'm sorry.

I got scared and
when I get scared,

I push people away.

Okay. So I didn't blow it?

No. No, I...

I blew it.

Um... I...

I had sex with Elle.

Okay.

Oscar: She told
me that she'd been

in love with me for a long time,
and...

I don't know, it just,
it just kind of happened.

Okay. Um...

It's just weird because

you just... Because
you accused me

of,
of hooking up with other people.

Well, Elle... Okay,
Elle is not "other people."

She...

She's Elle.

Right.

Are you in love with her?

♪

No. No!

God, no. No.

No, okay. I...

(sighs)

I think I might be
falling in love with you.

You were right. I mean,
this scares the hell out of me.

I just don't know
what to tell her.

The idea of, of hurting her or

of losing her.

So...

I'm sorry. I just... I don't,
I don't see

how this is gonna work.

Sean: Yeah.

Okay.

Even though I'm falling in...

It's okay.

Sorry, I, um...

I thought that I...

I heard something when I was...

I was,
I was listening at the door, but...

- I'm sorry. I, I didn't...
- Elle: No. No.

But really, it's, it's okay.

It's not right between us.

And it has nothing to do with

that we had sex or anything...

Oh my God,
does he know that we had sex?

- Sean: Yeah, I, I...
- Yeah, he does.

Okay. The sex was nice.

And... (sighs)

I just think that we're
better off as friends.

Oh my God, I,
I do too. I do too.

- I do too. - Yeah.

I also think you're
better off as friends.

- Okay, go.
- I... Okay, I will...

I'm gonna leave you
two alone completely.

- You can have privacy...
- Goodbye.

- Okay. Sorry. Okay.
- Oscar: Thank you so much.

- Thank you.
- (whispers): Sorry.

Whoo! Well, that was like...

That was like a roller-coaster.

- Wow. - Oscar: Um, what were we

talking about?

Oh my God, I said a thing.

You were gonna say a thing.

No, I don't think so.

Sure about that?

Yeah. Yeah. No, I, I wasn't...

I wasn't gonna say anything.

Hmm. Okay.

Sarah: Okay,
if you're ready, here I come!

Ciao, bella!

Oh!

Buona sera! Benvenuti a Venezia.

What did you guys do?

(in Italian accent): Since
you cannot go to Venice,

we brought-a Venice to you.

And you cooked dinner?

I made-a the pasta.

And I made the meatballs,

with a lot of help
from a TikTok.

Video.

- (laughing) Thank you.
- Paul: Beautiful lady,

it's customary to
have the gondola ride

- pre-dinner, huh?
- (Sarah gasps)

Come.

Come.

Yes, please.

(laughing)

- I don't know if this is a good idea.
- Come on, lovely lady.

Come on, lovely lady.

- (Sarah screams)
- Paul: Come on.

(laughing)

You can sit over there.

Go on.

I think somebody
is coming for us.

- Sarah: Yes.
- We make an escape, huh?

- (humming) - Sarah: Oh,
be careful.

You two, this is incredible.

(Paul continues humming)

Something good in Italian!

Do you think all
the gondoliers sing?

Paul: Yes, they do.

(Sarah laughing)

Most kids had a stuffed
animal or a blanket.

You...

had a soup ladle.

(all laugh)

You took it everywhere with you.

- You even slept with it. - Oh.

God, I was such a weird kid.

No,
you were adorable. Still are.

You know, I, I'm kind of glad
that Jordan broke up with me.

'Cause if he had
quarantined with us,

we wouldn't have this time together,
you know?

I know that you guys
aren't together anymore,

but can we still
spend time like this?

- Like a, like a family?
- Paul: Hey,

we'll always be a family.

That will never change.

I love you. I'm going to crash.

I love you too, baby.

Thank you, sweetheart.

- I love you. - I love you.

(light music playing)

♪

Thank you for
everything tonight.

- My pleasure.
- It was so lovely.

You know, I think, uh...

it's a shame that

this quarantine didn't
happen a little earlier.

Before we separated.

I'm sorry that I
was so busy trying

to be Super Mom.

I wish I had spent
more time focused on us.

I'm sorry I was being
such a pain in the ass.

You think that we could...

try?

(sighs)

Yeah.

I mean, I would love that.

What about Gigi?

Honestly...

I hate Pilates.

(laughing)

♪

I really do hate Pilates.

(both laugh)

Oh...

You know how beautiful you are?

Stop.

How do you feel?

(sighs)

I'm fine.

(sighs)

Your parents,

my parents,

our grandparents...

none of them had it easy.

And we're still here.

They still had us.

They believed in us,
James. And I do too.

Yeah,
the world is scary and... hard,

but that's not a reason to stop.

Let's finish what we started.

Let's finish what they started.

You know, and Charli,

she would be such
a good big sister.

I'll give it some more thought.

That's all I ask.

These biscuits ain't
half bad when you scrape

the burnt parts off.

- Yeah? - It's true.

Scrape it off and...

I...

Stop...

So tasty.

(door opens)

I am ready to make good
on my end of the bargain.

Okay.

(strumming light melody)

♪ Feels strange to
try to write it down ♪

♪ But it's too strong
to try and fight it now ♪

♪ Mmm ♪

♪ When the heart
knows what it wants ♪

♪ But the words are hard
to say stuck in my lungs ♪

♪ And we're
standing face to face ♪

♪ Nothing but the empty space ♪

♪ Between us ♪

♪ We're so damn
close feels like six feet ♪

♪ Away from love ♪

♪ Away from us ♪

♪ If I could know
what you're feeling ♪

♪ Who you're thinking of ♪

♪ That'd be enough ♪

♪ That'd be enough ♪

♪ What are you waiting for ♪

♪ Ahh ♪

♪ Ahh ♪

♪ What am I waiting for ♪

Whoo!

Yeah!

That was amazing!

Thank you. (laughs)

It looks like you
inspired me too.

And, uh...

Oscar and I decided that

we're better off as friends.

I'm sorry to hear that.

(door opens, closes)

- Okay, I, I'm outside.
- Sean: Okay.

Um... look up.

Sean: Look up.

(airplane droning)

I'm in love with you, too!

Oh my God. You made
a grand romantic gesture!

Sean: I really did.

♪ I remember when
you used to say ♪

♪ I didn't have time for you ♪

♪ My baby ♪

♪ I'm doing nothing ♪

♪ I'm doing nothing ♪

♪ Nothing at all ♪

♪ Nothing at all ♪

♪ So, baby, please,
please, please, baby ♪

- Oh! - Nanda: Here I come.

- Ha ha! - Charles: Oh!

Hello, handsome.

Here is my bride.

Oh. (chuckles)

Happy 50th anniversary.

Happy anniversary to you too.

Fifty sweet, wonderful years.

(footsteps approaching)

(laughs)

(upbeat music playing)

- (horn honking) - Oh!

What is happening out there?

(horns honking)

What is this?

It's your anniversary party!

- (horns honking) -
Happy anniversary!

♪ I deserve congratulations ♪

♪ I'd never thought
that I'd survive ♪

This is... This is for us!

- They're all here for us.
- Oh my...

Nanda: Oh my God,
look who it is!

Hey, Sophie!

Hi!

(laughing) Oh!

Happy anniversary.

Did you put all
of this together?

- Hey, Mrs. Aldicott!
- We love you!

I had a little help from James.

(horn honking)

Hi!

Oh my God, look who it is.

- Nanda: Oh my... - We love you!

Hey, everybody. Hey!

We love you.

Aww.

Happy anniversary!

Charles: Guys, thank you.

Oh, you're so nice.

Oh.

Oh my God.

(horns honking)

Oh my God, this is wonderful.

- Just... just wonderful.
- Well, Mom, I've been thinking,

if I stay living in
the guest house,

when this is over,
we can bring Dad home.

I can help take care of him.

- You would do that?
- Of course I will.

(airplane droning)

- Ah! - Mom, look.

"You can't quarantine love."

"You can't quarantine love."

- Ain't that the truth.
- Charles: Look at that!

Oh, that's so wonderful.