Sweetbitter (2018–2019): Season 2, Episode 6 - Truffles and Champagne - full transcript

Simone's ex-husband shows up in the restaurant and dredges up old feelings. Tess tries to figure out what, and whom, she really wants.

Previously
on Sweetbitter...

You don't fit in
with your friends.

How would you feel about
training to be a manager?

There's a party tonight.
Maybe you should come.

Don't stop.

Not tonight.

You recognize?

This is a grower champagne

with my ex-husband's name
on the label.

Does anyone
actually know Simone?

I think that I might.



Yo, is your dude
coming or what?

He'll be here.

- We miss it?
- Not yet.

- You have the cash?
- Right here.

This shit better be worth it.

Oh, about time.

- What's up?
- What's up?

- Come on, come on. Let's go.
- All right, all right.

- Give him the cash.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.

You're not gonna
check the product first?

I trust him.

See you at Sue Jean's
on Friday?

All night.

Come on.



Ooh, sharing is caring.

You got it?

I am used
to these arriving

through more
traditional channels.

With invoices,
refrigerated trucks.

Just off the plane
four hours ago.

Do you have any idea
what my boy had to do

to get these through customs?

No idea whatsoever.

We're gonna be
the first restaurant

in New York with
white truffles on the menu.

Oh, my God,
it smells unreal.

Smells like the holidays.

The holiday schedule's up,

and Howard asked
that I, uh, remind everyone,

uh, about blackout dates.

Uh, it's the busiest
time of year,

so no vacation requests

or, um... or switching
or negotiations.

Are you going to a funeral?

Could you get me a deal
on a 2000 Sonata?

I'm training, okay?

Howard asked if I'd train
to be a manager, so...

My parents will kill me
if I miss Thanksgiving.

Just ask Ramona
to switch.

- Her parents are dead.
- I'll take all your shifts.

- I need the money.
- You're not a server.

Did anyone hear
what I just said?

We did.
You're not Howard.

Well, Howard is in a meeting,

and he specifically asked
that I-I-I post the schedule.

And, oh, oh, uh...
and to let your guests know

that we have white truffles
and, uh...

- Yeah, we fucking know that.
- You can smell them.

Oh, just wait.

They take over
the whole restaurant.

I'm trying to put my finger
on what it is they smell like.

- Overripe fruit.
- No, opium.

Like the woods
after it rains.

Oh, what, I can't
contribute now?

I don't know.

Can you?

Did you see
his fucking suit?

You, uh, didn't tell me.

I don't tell you
everything I do.

Well, I think it's great.

It's not if you guys don't
respect anything I say.

Hey, it might just
take a while.

That's all.

Hi.

Hey.

How was the rest
of your night?

You should have stayed.

You know, I got there.

We had that moment.

You touched me,
and suddenly I didn't want

to be stuck in a crowd

watching you bartend
for the rest of the night.

I do that enough.

Who's that?

Etienne.

Simone's Etienne?

What... what's he doing here?

Road show
for his new champagne.

Does Simone know he's here?

She hasn't come in yet.

Do you think maybe
we should warn her?

I'm keeping the fuck out of it.

Place looks pristine,
by the way.

Hasn't changed.

Wow.

Truffles.

So incredible.

You have them?

Only restaurant
in New York.

How much?

The add-on
for the tagliatelle is $120.

A bargain, in my opinion.

And I wouldn't order it
without the Nebbiolo.

We'll take two.

Great, I'll let
your server know.

So that's the trick.

Parade them through
the dining room,

shave them on-site,
and every table orders them.

That's the trick.

Hey, you're here.

Where else would I be?

- Did... did you...
- I heard.

Oh. Good.

Did you see him?

Yes.

Did he...

did he ask about me?

Um, no, we didn't
actually talk.

- Oh.
- And then he left, so yeah.

Well, he doesn't have
to see me.

It's his prerogative,
of course.

I'm just... I guess
I'm a little su-surprised.

Would you want to see him?

Well, I figured at some point,
he'd come through New York

or I'd come through Paris
and we would catch up,

because that is what adults do.

And he did make your champagne.

I know.

I mean, I just...
I can't figure out,

is he trying
to get my attention,

or does he just hate me?

Probably both.

Probably.

There's only one way
to find out, right?

I got the
Costco-sized bag.

My dealer is in Miami
until New Year's.

Thank God. I've got
multiple days where I close.

And then open...

Mm, the "clopen."

Mm, okay.

Thank you.

Sasha.

Nope, thank you.

Are you fucking kidding me?

I have been touched
by the Black Queen.

Oprah's secrets.

The Secret.

- Oh, I saw an ad for this.
- It's a cult.

No cult, it's a book.

Positive way of thinking.

I'm tired of feeling sorry
for Sasha.

I'll try Law of Attraction.

I attract good things
to myself like a magnet.

I must ask for it
and be clear on want.

I want to feel fucking good.

- Does it really work?
- Of course!

It's proven
with quantum science.

You must say what you want.

And not like a little
pussy bitch, but clear,

like a lion.

- I want...
- I want...

What the fuck?

You can't be serious.

What, you want some?

Will.

I respect you.

Let's commence working.

What?

Come on.

What?

Whose side are you on?

I want you to come
to Home Bar.

With me.

Just us.

Alone.

Not tonight.

Why not?

I'm gonna walk Simone home.

This whole thing with Etienne

has got her
pretty messed up, so...

Jake...

Simone just left.

She didn't look messed up.

She looked hot.

Hair down, lipstick,

leather boots.

Jake, she's going
to see Etienne.

- Why does that bother you?
- It doesn't.

This is a joke.

Fuck this.

Hey, I'm going to Home Bar.
Who's coming?

Will, take off the jacket.

We're going to Home Bar.

Come on.

Oh, God.
Fuck.

No one stays
in this hotel anymore.

Who is this "no one"?

I forgot how little
you require.

May I come in?

Yeah.

You didn't
say hello today.

To be honest,

I didn't know
you still worked there.

- I see.
- Quick trip, 48 hours.

Then Chicago, San Francisco...

I'm miserable...

As you know.

The States
do not grow on me.

Well, it's all in service of...

a truly amazing champagne.

Huh.

I was right about that plot
of Chardonnay.

Is that why
you are here?

Fine.

You're right.

They're strong vines.

Thank you.
I will go now.

Look, I...

When I tasted
the champagne, it...

It felt like you were
talking directly to me.

Not a day goes by that
I don't think about France.

What about me?

Look, I-I respect
your privacy, but...

You made our champagne,

and I had to tell you
that I liked it.

You know I don't like
most things.

Are you hungry?
I'm famished.

By the way,
I want water.

You want a water?
You cannot drink this.

I'm not gonna let you.

Hey, um...

can I buy you a drink?

Why would I?

'Cause I'm in the top three
hottest guys in here.

Didn't notice.

Two tequilas.

A vodka soda,
splash of cranberry.

Listen, I, um...

We all have to play the
token black person somewhere.

And I-I just can't get over how
comfortable you are with it.

Eddie, right?

Ever been to Princeton, Eddie?

Ever been in a classroom
full of white people

who made you feel like
you didn't deserve to be there?

Now, this?

Is a good place for me.

I, um, support myself
while I figure things out.

- That's cool.
- Mm-hmm.

Then what do you really want?

Like, besides
pinning your hair up

and taking people's orders,

what's your plan?

- My plan?
- Mm-hmm.

Is go over there
and enjoy the rest of my night.

Thanks for the drink.

Uh, actually...

I thought you said
that all I have to do is ask.

No, it's not enough
just to "ask."

You have to believe.

What the hell
is he talking about?

Oh, Will, you understand.

People never believe
they deserve things they want.

Okay, I want
to taste truffles.

And I really believe it.

Well, I feel like a liar.

I upsold three tables today.

People are freaking out.

- Yeah, it's a frenzy.
- Why, though?

Because it's
a totally wild food.

You can't plant them
in your backyard.

- You have to go find them.
- Hunt them.

They use female pigs.

Uh-uh, female and horny pigs.

Because truffles smell
like testosterone to lady pigs.

That's it!
They smell like sex.

Now that you're
a, um, suit,

you think we can have truffles
at family meal?

Ooh, and maybe
we can get our 5% back

from the dishwashers?

Come on, you... you guys know

I don't actually
control anything, right?

I'm just trying this out, okay?

And it's complicated because,
you know, I know all

of your secrets, and you're all
terrible fuckups.

And I love you,

so cut me some slack, please.

Please?

Put this up
your nose, Will.

Yes, please!

- Relax him.
- Aye, aye.

You replaced
the stained glass?

Yeah, it was
over 300 years old, Simone.

Well, it better be
in a museum now.

I mean, I-I love that chapel.

I mean, I'm not a churchgoer,
as you know,

but I walked there every day.

Yes, you hid there.

- Mm-mm.
- Uh-huh.

No, a woman just occasionally
needs some privacy.

- Sure.
- Your family everywhere.

Yeah.

Mm.

- You know, it's funny.
- What?

I didn't remember
your face, exactly.

Ah.

- Hmm.
- Your face has changed too.

Careful.

You know, they said you were
quite beautiful back then.

I did not agree.

You didn't?

What do you mean?

Well...

when I met you,
I wanted this face.

Colder.

- Harder.
- Hmm.

It is more beautiful.

When you married me...

Feels impossible
that we did that.

Yes.

You made it very impossible.

I don't think I knew
how to be loved.

And when I left,
I just, um...

I didn't let myself feel...

anything.

I just moved through it.

Surviving.

You deserved better.

I'm so sorry.

I lived.

I should go.

18, 25.

You can't tell anyone
about this.

Oh, my God!

It's on toast.
Your favorite.

Second day as manager

and already
breaking into the safe.

It's not really breaking in
if you have the combination.

And besides, Howard believes
in education.

Right.

Go for it.

Mmm.

Oh, shit.

Give me a bite.

Oh, my God.

Mmm.

Mm-mm.

And you remembered
I love toast.

I listen.

Seriously this... this is
just beyond.

Really, no one else
would ever do this for me.

Thank you.

There might be some perks
to being a manager.

Now go, get back on the floor.

Okay.

- Can I take...
- Yeah, yeah, go ahead.

Okay.

Thanks.

God, I don't want
to be here tonight.

Yeah, you look tired.

It was a late night.

I went and saw Etienne.

It was different
than I thought it would be.

- Was it?
- Yeah.

I really hurt him.

I'm a little ashamed.

When I look back
and I just think I was...

so lost back then.

So young.

I mean, I wasn't ready
to be a wife.

There was...

there was so much
to our life together, you know?

Made the world feel so big.

The train rides
and the meals

and the plans we had.

I... I had forgotten
most of it.

I, um...

He made you miserable.

You hated his family.

You don't remember the calls
waking me up at night

desperate to come home?

That isn't true.

What?

I didn't call you crying.

I wasn't miserable.

- He was my...
- Your what?

He was my chance
at a real life.

I'm telling you
right now...

Hey, Will?
Can I talk to you for a sec?

- In private?
- Yeah.

Is... is everything okay?

Uh, yeah... yeah, no,
it's, um...

Um...

Back to work.

You grew up.

Is Simone around?

She called me.

I bet she did.

Hi.

- Hey.
- Hi.

Uh, thanks for coming.

Will you put this order in?
Please?

Thank you.

Have a cigarette with me?

I quit.

Then stand in the alley with me
for two minutes?

So I've been thinking.

There is a revolution coming.

Too long, there's been
a monopoly

that has made wines overpriced
and inaccessible,

but grower champagne
is gonna change that.

What are you doing?

Let me sell it.

Let me sell our champagne.

I mean, I tended the vines.
I know it better than anybody.

And you have your hands full
with all the big-picture stuff.

Plus, you hate traveling.

I mean, who could possibly
do it more justice than me?

No one.

I'm ready for a change.

I'm so sick of New York.

And I mean, it would...
it would mean

more time in France, but...

Maybe that's a good thing?

We could spend
some time together,

get to know
each other again.

I was up all night thinking
about our life together.

I really, really understand
what I did wrong.

No, Etienne, I am different.

You... you would be amazing.

No one could sell the wine
better than you.

But I can't have you
in my life.

Simone...

I-I wasn't being coy

or trying to send a message.

I really did not want
to see you.

I don't believe you.

That's because you're not
listening to me.

Simone, you...
you haven't changed.

Look around.

Same job, same bartender,

even the same lipstick.

Still incapable
of actual intimacy.

I really want to, Simone.

Uh, I just can't.

I'm sorry.

Simone!

I had a truffle.

And I can't taste
anything else, not even water.

Is it ever gonna go away?

What happened?

Just another night of service.

Like the one last night
and the one tomorrow.

Do you wanna take a walk?

I just want to go home.

I'll come with you.

I remember thinking
he was so well-bred.

Does that make sense?

I mean, not entitled,
just, like...

So at ease in the world.

I could never imagine
feeling that way.

Oh, neither could I.

I mean, here was this...

perfectly sane,
handsome man...

offering me
everything I wanted.

You know, Europe
and the vineyards,

a family.

I mean, even an estate with
a 15th-century chapel.

It was out of a storybook.

What happened?

Took me a while
to realize that...

I wasn't happy.

I didn't quite fit.

Etienne was right.

I haven't changed.

For better or worse...

this is what I want.

- Hey.
- Hmm?

I kissed Will tonight.

Oh, God, to be
a back waiter again.

Was it in the coatroom
or the walk-in?

- The coat closet.
- Mm-hmm.

- I blame the truffles.
- And?

Mm...

and...

I get it.

I should want Will.

I kind of do, but...

I just don't feel it.

Mm-hmm.

I'm drawn toward something...

Irrational.

And I can't just turn it off.

I want Jake.

Then you will have him.