Masters of Sex (2013–2016): Season 4, Episode 9 - Night and Day - full transcript

Previously, on Masters of Sex...

I am talking about intimacy.

Daddy?

What are you doing here, honey?

Is Mom here?

Does this look like a place
your mother would come?

That is what we refer to as lost wages.

You're a secretary. You're not a lawyer.

Have you ever heard of a woman my age

taking classes or going back to school?

Are those my first patients of the day?



No, that's the homosexual and his wife.

Our supposedly homosexual
patient happened to achieve

an erection last night with his wife!

Because he was listening to you.

This needs to be a study.
Art, how do you feel

about laying the groundwork?

I'm going to meet Mr. Clavermore.

- Shh.
- I turned it off.

We can make a fresh start,

the two of us together
at our own clinic.

In New York.

Louise.

I shouldn't have just
showed up like this.

Just not everyone here knows
that I attend AA meetings.



This isn't about AA.

My husband was paralyzed
from the waist down,

and I was just hoping you
could explain all this to me.

You know that right now,

Dr. Masters and Mrs.
Johnson are on the road,

investigating a pair of
charlatan therapists

who claim to be using our method?

Marcia and I observe you and Ingrid

from behind a two way mirror.

I love you.

I've typed up the notes
that Bill and I took

over the course of our
treatment in Topeka.

These have already been sent
to our lawyer, of course.

So what happens next?

A cease and desist letter
was sent this morning.

We believe, based on the evidence...

Sorry I'm late. I must
have lost track of time.

No problem at all. We were
just getting started.

So we believe that we're
looking at a case

of copyright infringement,

possibly patent infringement as well.

So, uh, any sex clinic
whose work happens to be

inspired by Masters and Johnson
is committing a crime?

Oh, inspiration is different than theft.

The Toplins' intake questionnaire

was nearly word-for-word
the same as ours,

as was their protocol for
ejaculatory incompetence.

Why didn't they just
rephrase the questions

and alter the protocols?

We will have a cease and desist letter

sent to the Toplins as soon as possible.

We already discussed that.
Bram sent one this morning.

- You spoke to Bram?
- Called him first thing.

A lot of this hasn't even
been published yet, has it?

The sensate instructions,
the questionnaire,

none of that is in your book.

Correct.

You're wondering how they got it.

It's obvious how they got it.

You left it on the bureau last night.

a pair of charlatans, two therapists

posing as patients to
steal our material.

Which means we need stricter
screening procedures

for all potential new patients,

and our lawyer advised us

to get signed copies of this

from all staff members by
the beginning of next week.

That includes Guy and Lester.

A non-disclosure agreement?

Is that really necessary?

Well, the last thing we
want is somebody coming

to work at the clinic, and then leaving

with our work and starting
a rival business.

No. No, of course that makes sense.

I'm surprised the phone
didn't wake you this morning.

My parents called at 6:00

to give their customary
eight-hours notice.

They're coming to St. Louis,
staying through the weekend,

and for some reason,
my father is insisting

that they stay in a hotel,
so at least it won't be

a problem for us to stay
in the house together.

Good.

I know what you're going to say. I...

Mmm.

Ohh.

You should've woken me before
you left this morning.

Neither of us got any sleep last night.

Mmm.

I thought it was best if one
of us got an extra few hours.

But we had a meeting
at 9:00 this morning.

I'm still in yesterday's clothes.

Didn't you get my note?
I told you not to worry

about the meeting, I'd handle it.

Mmm. And you spoke to Keller without me.

I thought it was important
to get the legal process

started immediately.
Is there anything else

that I've done wrong that
you want to tell me about?

While you were whispering about my watch

in front of Art and Nancy,
they could had easily inferred

that we were sleeping together.

We are.

What is it that we're hiding exactly?

You don't have a wife anymore, Bill.

I don't have a husband.

Have we just gotten so
used to keeping secrets,

that we've forgotten that
we don't have to anymore?

Mmm.

Things are just... moving very quickly.

Take all the time you need.

Go home, take a shower.

Maybe consider having a cup of coffee.

It's interesting.

Excuse me, I'm looking for Louise.

She usually runs the Thursday meeting.

I'm filling in. Louise hasn't shown up

to any meetings this week.

This... this week? Did something happen?

You know that I couldn't share
any personal information

with you even if I knew
it, which I don't.

Are you joining us today or...

Yes, yes, I'm-I'm joining.

Let's... let's try slowing down
on the thrusting just a tad.

This isn't jackhammering
a sidewalk after all.

What are we gonna do?

Guy is already badgering
me about those forms.

Virginia said she didn't need
them signed until next week.

Okay, now, let's switch
to female superior.

We won't have the forms
signed ever, Nancy.

We can't.

As soon as we put pen to paper, we're...

- Shh, shh, stop.

I think Monday morning will
give us plenty of time

to look over the forms.

This position, you'll notice,

allows for better stimulation
of the clitoris.

We'll have to, um, shift
things around though.

The conversation we talked about having

with Mr. Drag next week, for example,

about his treatment plan?

Why don't you go ahead and
talk to him about it today?

I still have some concerns about...

the treatment plan as we discussed it.

Such as?

Such a...

That's right, look into
each other's eyes.

Share the moment together. That's right.

Such as the fact that Bill and Virginia

might object to the number
of follow-up appointments

that we would like to schedule.

I-I think you're being overly sensitive.

I'm sure that Bill and Virginia
would happily defer to us

when it comes to the day-to-day
management of the case.

I did it.

Oh, my God, I did it.

And you'll do it again.

Okay, Mr. and Mrs. Drag,
when you're ready.

You can get changed and join us outside.

Don't forget, we deserve this.

Uh, anyway,

the woman I've discussed in
these meetings before...

for months now, I've done
everything I can to resist her.

I have put up every imaginable barrier,

but somehow...

uh, all the defenses that I had
so carefully constructed...

they all just, uh... just collapsed.

I mean, in an instant.

I...

well, I guess I've fallen off the wagon.

Thank you for sharing.

But, uh, well, I'm-I'm
asking for your help.

And I don't know what to tell you.

The people in this room,
we're all alcoholics.

That's what we're here to discuss.

Your problem seems to be about...
some woman.

But is-is there a difference?

I mean, I mean, isn't
addiction addiction?

Who would like to share?

Look, I-I'm sorry, but...

I have sat here week after week,

listening to everyone else's problems,

and to be honest, that
meant weeks of listening

to a lot of self-pitying stories,

belly-achers blaming everyone else

for their problems.

Greta, it was your sister
that got the ballet lessons,

and that's why you grew up to drink

half a bottle of Jim Beam every night.

We don't use other members' testimonies.

If only Alan's wife didn't
snore like a terrier,

you know, he would never have
turned to mixing Canadian Club

with sleeping pills in the first place.

It's the same, isn't it? You feel bad,

so you drink to... to numb the pain,

and then when it wears
off, lo and behold,

you feel even worse, so
it's back to the bottle.

And then the cycle
goes on and on and on.

Because it's not the drinking!

Or... or... or the pills or the whatever

that you're addicted to... not really,

I suppose any more than it is
that I'm addicted to Virginia.

Well...

what we need, what we crave...

is the feeling bad part,

the blaming and... and the guilt and...
and the shame and...

we only feel like ourselves...

we only know who we are...

when we feel worthless.

Paging Mrs. Johnson.

Daddy.

I wasn't expecting to
see you till tonight.

I thought we were meeting for
dinner at the Marmaduke.

Your mother wanted to spend
the afternoon shopping,

and you know how I get
around department stores.

Yes, like it's the Bataan Death March.

Actually, um, I was wondering

if I could have a moment of your time.

Yes, of course. Sit.

I've have to level with you, honey.

We didn't come here just to see Lisa...

although we did bring
plenty of presents,

don't you worry about that.

I suppose it clicked
for me when I saw you

at that seminar last week.

Here I am, searching high and low

to find the secret of
fixing my marriage,

when the answer has been
in front of me all along.

You came for... treatment?

That's why I booked the hotel room,

because I thought your
mother and I would need

a place to work on the
assignments and such.

And obviously, we would want
to see one of your colleagues.

I understand this is not a subject

you want to be discussing
with your parents.

Yes, I would certainly recommend

that somebody else oversee the case.

I'm sor... I'm so surprised

that you got Mom to go along with this.

She has no idea.

If I'd have told her,
she wouldn't have come.

When were you planning
on breaking the news?

Actually, I was hoping
that you would consider

introducing the idea to her first.

You want me to talk
Mom into sex therapy?

I would never ask this of
you, Gini, except that...

Except you are.

Well, I thought today was a
very productive session.

Frankly, I'm not sure I'd be
achieving the same results

with Bill and Virginia.

Look, those two, they're the greatest.

They're the Fred and Ginger
of sexual dysfunction,

but ever since you came on board,

you've blown the whole thing wide open.

Until next week?

Actually, there's something I was hoping

to bring up with you.

It's somewhat... well...

it's... it's delicate.

Nancy and I have a proposal for you,

an idea for a book.

A book, I see.

We've just begun a major new
study on homosexuality.

We've already seen dozens of subjects.

We plan to bring in hundreds more

by the time all is said and done.

When you say "we,"

who exactly are we talking about?

Nancy and me.

Dr. Masters and Mrs. Johnson,

they're not involved in the study?

They've left much of the nitty-gritty

to the two of us.

Based on my work at
the Kinsey Institute,

I am something of a
specialist in the subject.

So they know about this book idea?

We haven't formally broached
the subject yet, no,

but I have every reason to
assume they'll be supportive.

Even if I believe you,
I'm in the business

of selling books.

"Masters and Johnson," that's a name

the consumer has come to know and trust.

"Dreessen and Leveau?"

That just sounds like a
Dutch guy and a Frenchman

with a personal injury practice.
With all due respect.

What if I could promise you
that was about to change?

Nancy and I are opening our own practice

in New York City.

I live in New York City.

I know you do.

We already have office space
secured on the Upper East Side.

How many wealthy, well-connected
Manhattanites are suffering

from sexual dysfunctions
and would be eager...

Do you know where you'll be living yet?

Because there are openings
in my building all the time.

Best location in the city.

Five-minute walk to Times Square.

So... are you saying yes to the book?

I'm saying I'm confident
we can work something out.

In the meantime, if we could,
you know, keep this between us.

Mum's the word.

Do you have a moment?

I've just spoken with a
potential new client.

Is that right?

Yes, he and his wife are in their 60s.

Evidently, their sex life has
dwindled in recent years,

and he's hoping to
rekindle the lost passion.

Well, they'll have to
make an appointment.

There isn't an opening for months.

I want to move them to
the front of the line.

So these are VIPs, I gather.

They're my parents.

I didn't know your parents
were having trouble.

Neither did I, till last week,

when I ran into my father
at that singles seminar.

He's dissatisfied in the marriage.

According to him, my mother is no longer

interested in sex at all.

Mm. I have to say,

I'm impressed your mother
would even entertain

the idea of treatment. Seems unlike her.

That's because it is unlike her.

He hasn't told her a thing about it.

He expects me to convince her.

Uh, you said no, I hope.

Oh, Virginia, you can't get

in the middle of your parents' marriage.

What choice do I have? They came to me.

He came to you.

And even if you did convince her,

who's gonna take the case?
Art and Nancy?

Oh, no, no. No, I can't
treat your parents.

- Why not?
- Because they're your parents.

My mother would never talk to strangers

about the intimate details of
her marriage. You know that.

And you think she'd be more comfortable

sharing those details with me?

Don't fight me on this, Bill, please.

Help me.

I can't just stand back and watch

my parents' marriage fall apart.

If they both agree, then...

Well, I'm seeing them both tonight,

so hopefully, I can find a moment

to take my mother aside.

You're coming over later, though, right?

Uh... actually, I'm, uh...

I'm concerned about a
patient, Louise Bell.

She came in for treatment last week.

Uh, her husband had spinal injury.

Mm-hmm, well, I went to a
meeting this afternoon,

and no one has seen her in days,
so I thought I would just,

you know, drop by her house,
see that she's all right.

Because you're still
going to AA meetings.

Occasionally. I find they help.

With what?

No, I-I'm trying to understand.

And that's exactly what
I'm doing as well,

trying to understand.

Civil Procedure is a must.

You're gonna want to
sign up for that one.

Every first-year law student takes it.

Well, it meets Wednesday nights,
which means I can still take

Constitutional Law Tuesday mornings.

A paralegal at my firm did the
same program you're doing...

part-time classes, nights and weekends.

He had his JD in six years.

I think maybe we should find a hotel,

finish the drive in the morning.

Just so we're clear, when
you said that Albany was

"a hop, skip, and jump"
away, what you meant was

a three-hour flight followed
by a six-hour drive

into the middle of nowhere.

For your information,
Albany is often compared

to the great cities of Europe.

Not favorably, but still.

So, this case of yours
tomorrow, you gonna win?

It doesn't matter either way.

You can't mean that.

Won't your client be in
trouble if you lose?

It's a test case.

My client intentionally set
fire to the American flag

to challenge the statute.

But what if the court doesn't
overturn the statute?

Three to five years in prison.

Oh. Who would volunteer for that?

Break the law, get arrested, and then...

just hope it all works out.

Can't imagine being that brave.

Louise is usually the one
to keep things tidy.

You know, some people,
they relax after work

by turning on the TV or reading a book.

Louise, she... she vacuums.

When do you expect her back?

She usually stumbles in
around 5:00 or 6:00.

Sleep it off for a few hours.

You know where she is now?

Bar.

Liquor store, hotel room.

I don't suppose it's a coincidence,

Louise picking up a drink the
week we began treatment.

How very astute of you, Doc.

See, you gave her hope.

She thought she had found a cure.

Abracadabra, I come in and
you'd wave your magic wand,

and just like that it'd all be better.

I tried. I really did.

We did everything you...
you told us to do.

- You... you had sex?

She had sex, Doc.

She had sex, I didn't have anything.

I just lay there, waiting for it to end,

so I could... go about my night.

The two of you should have come
to speak to me right away.

We could have discussed
the experience together.

Look, I don't know about Louise,

but I'm finished discussing
anything with you, Doc.

You can see yourself out.

Mason, Fred, and Karen...

Are you sure you turned
off the tape recorders?

Yes, don't worry. I double-checked.

Now, what did we decide
about New England?

If they are closer to New
York than St. Louis,

they are potential clients.

How long have they
been on the wait list?

Hmm.

Looks like Mrs. Mason
first called this office

to make an appointment on February 15th,

the day after Valentine's Day.

Fortuitous timing.

You know, Bob said there are openings

in his building all the time.

Apparently, it's not too far
from the theater district.

Surrounded by hicks from
Iowa snapping photographs.

Not even a New Yorker yet,

and already grumbling about tourists.

There's one thing I need to
take care of before we go.

Yeah? What's that?

I'm pregnant.

Oh, my God. Nance, this is...

I don't know who the father is.

So it... it could be mine?

Chances are just as
good that it's Bruce's,

or Randy's, or... someone else's.

I'm gonna speak to Barton tomorrow,

ask for the name of a doctor
who can perform the procedure.

Or we could keep it.

Look, maybe it isn't mine.

I-I'm willing to live with that chance.

I don't need to look at a child
and see my... my father's ears,

my grandmother's chin.

What about seeing Bruce's eyes,

or Randy's dimples?

Hey, look, we said that
going to New York,

this was our chance to start over,

just the two of us.
This... this is the...

it's the last thread tying
us to our old life,

our old marriage, our old selves.

Someday soon, we will have our own,

and there will not be any question,

and you'll see your father's ears

and... and your grandma...

grandmother's chin.

And that this will all
have been worth it.

I-I just... I promise. Okay?

Wasn't sure when you'd be coming.

You smell like a tavern.

I've just been to four of them.

Not to drink. I was looking for Louise.

Is that Bill?

They insisted on coming
back for a nightcap.

You are joining us, aren't you, Bill?

Oy.

You missed a delicious dinner tonight.

Those lamb chops, didn't they
just melt in your mouth?

Mm.

I still think Lisa would have done fine.

Children do not belong in restaurants.

I think it's a sign of the
times that so many parents

don't seem to know that.
Maybe they just don't care.

How are your kids, Bill?

My kids? Uh, they're... they're fine.

Didn't Jenny just win a
prize at camp this week?

Uh, yes, yes, she...

she took home the blue
ribbon in the science fair.

The science fair?

Oh, looks like you have
a tomboy on your hands.

Uh, Jenny made a diorama
of the moon landing.

I bet she wasn't the only one.

No.

No, it was a very popular
theme this year.

I sure there will be quite a few
Neil Armstrongs at Halloween.

There was that one photo they
keep showing in the paper

of the astronauts planting the flag.

Yes, that was beautiful, wasn't it?

I thought it was just about the, uh,

saddest damn thing I'd ever seen.

What in the world are you
talking about, Harry?

Well, all around 'em, there
was nothing but black,

and they were wearing those helmets too,

so where their faces should have been,

there's just more black,

like, uh, they were lost

or... invisible.

Are you all right, Daddy?

Harry, I think you've had
enough to drink tonight.

I'm fine.

It's getting late anyhow.

Do you mind giving me a hand

with the dishes before you go?

Sure, sweetheart.

I'm sure Gini mentioned that,
uh, I came in to see her.

- Uh, yes. Yes, she did.

I didn't even think I was
gonna get up the nerve

to ask her for help, but...

just been so down in the dumps
about it, our marriage.

Honest to God, Bill,
I don't know anymore

whether it hurts more to stick together

or hurts more to...

throw in the towel.

Ugh.

I'm so sorry you walked into that.

Didn't you speak to your mother?

I tried to.

I told her how concerned
I was about my father.

She told me I was just being dramatic.

So, what are you gonna do?

I don't know.

But let's not talk about it tonight.

Okay.

I-I would like to talk about us, though.

Exactly... what this is.

I would like to talk about that too.

But... first I need this.

They're my favorite.

What the hell is going on here?

There are hippies everywhere.

I thought you knew about a shortcut.

This is the shortcut.

Can we turn around?

It's one-way.

You can't just leave your car!
This isn't a parking lot!

Maybe someone can tell
me what's going on.

Libby, stay in the car.

I'll be right back.

Hi. Excuse me, do any
of you happen to know

why traffic is at a standstill?

Is there some kind of accident up ahead?

There are no accidents.

We're all part of the
big karmic wheel, man.

- Yeah.
- Thank you for that.

Are you all headed up to Albany too?

Albany?

- Nah, man.
- Nah.

Nobody here is going to Albany.

I mean, I knew there was
a concert happening,

but the advertisements said it
was a "weekend in the country."

It sounds less like a getaway and
more like the Second Coming.

"Three days of peace, love, and music."

Have they seen the weather forecasts?

More like 72 hours of thunder,
lightning, and humidity.

I don't remember locking the door.

Bram.

Excuse me? Hello?

You have our keys.

You don't believe me.

You guys know why they
call it The Show Me State?

Because people always say,

"Show me what's so
great about Missouri."

What?

Bill Masters, as I live and breathe.

This is... this is Bill, everybody.

Wh-what are the odds of seeing
you here of all places?

Oh, slim, it turns out.

I've been looking for you for two days.

Here I am, about to buy drinks
for all my new friends,

because they are here
for a sales convention.

They're from the future.

We're futures commodities traders.

That's what I said.

I need a round of drinks for my friends.

We have time travelers... in our midst.

What are you doing, Louise?

Oh, you... came to scold me.

Go ahead, get it over with,
because I got stuff to do.

I'm not gonna scold you.

The truth is...

you're not the only one
who's fallen off the wagon.

What?

You didn't.

Two nights in a row.

Well...

since we both have fallen,

why not enjoy the way down together?

I've asked Guy to, um,

clear my appointments for the afternoon.

Barton gave me the number of a doctor.

He can see me right away.

Nance, look, I-I hate this.

At least let me come with you.

You have study subjects coming in.

I'll reschedule them.

This is my responsibility, not yours.

Okay?

Hmm? What do you think?

For Tessa.

Isn't it a little short?

She's got the legs.

I don't know why she wouldn't
want to show them off.

I-I'd like to continue our
conversation about Daddy.

Oh, are you still on about that?

I'm worried about him.

In fact, I'm worried about both of you.

He came to talk to me
about your marriage.

I'm sorry, I must have heard you wrong.

I thought you said my marriage.

He feels that there is a certain...

spark missing.

And he would like you

to consider treatment.

Your father's lost his mind.

Is he wrong?

I mean, do you find yourself...

sexually satisfied?

Some of us are trying to eat here.

I don't think that you realize

how seriously Daddy
is taking this issue.

If something doesn't change...

I'm afraid your marriage is on the line.

At least he's being honest,

willing to admit that
there's a problem here,

instead of just burying
his head in the sand.

I guess he told you
about Colleen Goddard.

Since he's being so
honest about everything.

Oh.

He didn't bring up Colleen.

Who is that?

Do you remember that dumpy dry cleaner's

off Bradbury Road?

Her husband owned it.
She was the tailor.

For the longest time, I was worried

that your father was yoyo dieting,

because he was constantly
having his trousers

taken in, then out.

And then I found a note
she'd written him.

And he didn't deny it.

After that, he didn't even bother hiding

what was happening anymore.

He kept seeing her?

For six more years.

Six years?

You just stayed with him?

How was I supposed to
leave him with a baby?

I couldn't afford to have
my child raised by sitters.

We got past it.

Then we had some happy years.

And this is exactly why
I did not want to have

this conversation with you.

I can understand that
hearing this could be

very upsetting to you, sweetheart.

Not at all.

Obviously, I feel sorry

that you had to go through
such a painful experience,

but I can also separate whatever...

personal feelings I might have
from my clinical understanding.

I have spoken to hundreds of clients

with stories just like yours...

people who have found a
way, through treatment...

to recapture what was lost.

Whatever is... broken
between you and Daddy...

I can fix it.

Whew.

- Mmm.
- Ahh.

God, rum was never my drink.

Well, I have always
loved a man in uniform,

and Captain Morgan is no exception.

You know, I know I've been
a skeptic in the past,

and I'm certainly in no place
to tell you or anyone else

how to lead their lives, but...

But you think that I
should get to a meeting,

and work the program.

Today is already shot.

So, I will go to a meeting tomorrow.

Mm.

Marrying that man was so glorious.

This was the... this was the
song that we danced to,

our first dance at our wedding, and...

We danced all night.

I mean till 5:00 the next morning.

I...

couldn't believe it when my
feet were hurting, 'cause...

felt like they never touched the ground.

Yeah.

You want to dance?

Okay.

I owe you an apology.

I know that the work you
did with your husband...

the work I encouraged you to do...

that's the reason we're here.

I'm the one

who made the mistake of coming to you,

thinking that my marriage could change,

that things could be different.

They still can.

I know what my marriage is,

'cause I made it that way.

Maybe if he had the keys that night...

but he didn't. I did.

Hmm.

What you and James have now,

it doesn't seem like love.
It seems like punishment.

If you stay in this marriage, Louise,

this will... this will
just keep happening.

Eventually, you will be
right back here again.

Don't you think I know that?

Well, then you have to leave, don't you?

How do I do that?

I put this man in a wheelchair
for the rest of his life,

and then I just walk out the door?

You're asking me to trade

one form of punishment for another.

How do you know it would be any worse

than what you have now?

I don't.

I don't.

But at some point, you
gotta make a choice.

I choose to stay.

Isn't there somewhere
else that you can do

whatever it is that you're doing?

Can't you see? I'm dying.

Apparently, she is dying now.

You can't argue her out of a bad trip.

Oh, so now you're the
expert on bad trips?

Oh, poor thing. She looks terrified.

Careful, Lib, she might bite.

Hi. I understand you're
having a hard time?

You're dying, I'm told?

Maybe I could come in,
we could talk about it.

Just you.

Not the guy that looks like an ape.

That was unnecessarily hurtful!

What's your name?

Allison.

Can I tell you a secret, Allison?

Sometimes I feel like I'm dying too.

Because this person that
I've always been...

this person who was
sensible and cautious,

every day...

little by little, that person is...
fading away.

Will you help me then? Since
you've done it already,

you can guide me.

Okay. Um...

Tell me what you see.

It's dark. I don't see anything.

Okay, okay, okay.

I want you to, um...

take a step forward.

I want you to begin to let go.

Let go of everything that
you're holding onto,

Let go of everything

that's weighing you down.

All of the people that have hurt you,

all of the... disappointments.

The betrayals.

I want you to leave it all here.

It's of no use to you anymore.

Now, this is gonna be the hardest part.

Now... you have to let go...

of you.

You ready?

I'm gonna count to three. Okay?

One.

Two.

Three.

You did it.

What happened?

You died.

Oh.

- That's so sad.
- No. No.

You had to.

It's the only way you could be reborn.

Well, I have to say, I wasn't sure

you were gonna be able to pull it off,

getting your mother to agree to this.

Well, it only took two
hours of haranguing.

I didn't realize you were gonna
sit in on the appointment.

I thought it would just be Bill and me.

Well, actually, I have decided
to oversee the case myself.

Really?

I will be conducting an
intake with you this morning,

and then a separate intake
tomorrow with Mom...

uh, Mrs. Eshelman.

You're not gonna call her that, are you?

Let's start by discussing the issues

that brought you to treatment.

Well, um...

your mother and I haven't really had...

You don't have to say, "Your mother."

Uh, Edna and I haven't had sex in years,

and, uh, we haven't had good sex in...

God, I don't even know.

Was there a particular
time in your marriage

that you remember sex being
the most satisfying?

Well, um...

in the beginning, we really
couldn't go a day or two...

without...

Have you ever been
unfaithful in your marriage?

It's a standard intake
question I have to ask.

Hmm.

Um, the answer's no.

Never?

Never.

Are you going to tell me
about the drycleaner's wife

or are you intentionally
leaving that out?

Uh...

I'm not sure what your mother told you.

She told me that you slept
with this woman for years.

Well, that was... that
was a long time ago.

And that she confronted you about it,

but you continued to see her.

Why is this suddenly feeling
like an inquisition?

I'm just trying to figure
out if this... event

had something to do with...

why you have these... issues
emerging between you and Mom.

Uh, Mrs. Eshelman.

Well, your mother and I never
had any problems with sex.

I... not back then, at least.

So...

you continued having
sex with Mrs. Eshelman

during the time of your affair?

How could...

How could you do that?

I don't think this was
a good idea after all.

Why?

Because you can't answer the question?

Because I thought that
this was supposed to be

about you listening to
me, without judgment.

I'm not judging you, I'm just asking you

how you could do that to your wife.

Well, I think that's a question

you could answer as well as I can.

You and Bill, weren't you
both married when that began,

or was it just him?

And... and what about Dan Logan?

I seem to remember he had a
wife back in New York City.

And I am not judging you.

Hell, maybe you had the right idea...

get out while the getting is good.

Before the... before the passion goes,

before... you find
yourself arguing about...

Before you find yourself arguing

about who forgot to
close the cereal box.

Before it gets...

before it gets boring.

Do you know the only thing more boring

than a one-night stand?

A whole string of them.

On the surface, they may
all seem different,

but underneath,

they're all exactly the same.

Same inane small talk

followed by...

a few frantic moments of p...

of pleasure,

ending with... phone
numbers being exchanged,

only to be thrown in the
nearest garbage bin.

But you and Mom,

you... you know each other, deeply.

You've built this...

real life together.

I know there have been
so many ups and downs...

a million of them, but...

you're together.

But, honey,

if you're saying that's
what you really want...

then why don't you have it?

It's over.

Good news.

I was able to use a
phone at a gas station

to call the firm. They have
chartered a helicopter

to pick us up in a hippy-free field

1/2 mile down the road.

I'm gonna stay, actually.

What? In a traffic jam?

No.

Allison and her friends are
walking to the festival.

It's 35 miles away.

Have you ingested something?

You know, in the last few days,

I have begun registering
for night classes,

and in six years I will be a lawyer.

In the meantime, I can
keep my job with Herb,

and I can keep my slot in the carpool.

When did my dreams get so small?

They're not small. They're...
they're... reasonable.

Dreams aren't supposed to be reasonable.

They're supposed to be outlandish.

Dangerous.

Like burning a flag and not knowing

if you're a hero or a felon, or...

walking 35 miles, even if you don't know

what you'll find when you get there.

Even if all you find is... rain.

Come with me.

Oh.

In half a mile, you're
gonna change your mind.

I'll be here waiting.

Well...

don't wait too long.

What about your things?

I have everything I need.

Has Bill been in yet today?

I haven't seen him.

But it's not unusual, though,

for Dr. Bill to come in late on Fridays.

Why is that?

What?

There's an AA meeting

at the Baptist Church on Hickston.

Right.

Good morning.

How is she?

She's...

she's tired.

Some cramping.

Otherwise, I think she's gonna be okay.

Oh, Art.

I'm so sorry.

I didn't know who else to ask.

No, no, I'm...

You did the right thing.

You can come to me with anything.

You know that.

I'm not gonna lecture you,
try to talk you out of it.

I'm sure this is not a decision
you've arrived at lightly.

You can tell them I've referred you.

Thank you.

I, uh, I know you and Art,

you have an unconventional setup.

I'm just saying, I understand

why you might be hesitant
to raise a child

when the parentage is in question.

It isn't in question, actually.

So you know who the father is?

It's Art.

Well, I'm very careful
about these things.

I use condoms with everyone else.

Um...

a few weeks ago, though,
I woke up in the morning

and realized I hadn't worn

my diaphragm with Art

the night before.

But I don't understand.

I remember you telling
me how keen Art was

to start a family as soon
as you were married.

What happened?

Nothing.

Art is as keen as ever.

Then... why wouldn't you keep it?

I never wanted to get married.

He did and I agreed.

And I knew that this was just a ring.

It can be put on and taken
off a hundred times a day.

It doesn't mean anything.
It's... it's not that

I even want to leave him... I don't.

I just...

I-I need to know that I can.

I need to know that there's...

a... a door leading out,

even if I never go.

And a baby... whew...

it closes that door forever.

A... a baby means that
I can never leave.

I was hoping I could
sit in on a meeting,

see what it's all about.

It just ended ten minutes ago.

Good night.

- Good night.
- Good night.

So what happens here exactly?

In these meetings?

Uh, well, uh...

First of all...

we... we go through the steps.

It's fine, I can finish up. Good night.

And then, you know, if someone's new

we encouraged them to
introduce themselves.

Yes. "My name is Virginia,
and I'm an alcoholic."

I saw that in "Days of Wine and Roses."

I'm...

I'm not an alcoholic though.

But...

for a long time I thought I was

addicted...

to...

Well, to you.

I'm not your addiction, Bill.

Well, I-I know that now.

I've lived in a... in a...

dark place...

for a long time, and...

I don't want to live there anymore.

And to be completely
honest with you, Virginia,

I don't know if you're the
way out of that place...

or if being with you is just another way

for me to stay in it.

You're scared.

Yeah.

Well, just so you know,
Bill, I'm scared too.

Is it so bad that we're scared together?

We've always just leapt
into the unknown,

the work or sex.

Been open to trying...

almost anything, really.

The only thing we haven't tried is...

just being.

Waking up together and having breakfast.

Watching the news at 6:00.

Discussing...

I don't know, whether
or not to get a dog.

- A dog?
- A dog, I know,

from a woman terrified
of being a housewife.

Having a dog is...

it means having a life together.

And having a life together
means being all-in.

Both of us.

For better or for worse.

In good times or in bad.

Sickness or health.

For richer or poorer.

Till death do us part.