[♪♪♪]
[CHUCKLES]
Hello, Ellie.
[SIGHS]
You're looking well.
You too.
[SIGHS]
I'm glad we can do this.
Do what, Adam?
Get together without hostilities.
Well, fine. Let's get started.
Okay.
Uh-huh.
WAITER: Can I get anything for you, sir?
Um. Oatmeal, coffee.
WAITER: Okay, great. Be right back.
Yeah, fine. Fine, fine.
So...
How have you been?
What have you been up to?
- Busy. Very busy. - Me too.
Ugh, I had to rush back from Paris
to give a lecture at the New School.
My little vacation already seems like
a distant memory of poof.
Adam.
I didn't ask what you've been doing.
I have no interest at all in your wonderful time in Paris.
- [SPEAKS IN FRENCH] - Fair enough.
WAITER: Here's your oatmeal, sir.
I suppose the next time we see each other
will be at Maud's graduation.
Mm. I haven't had the heart to tell her
that I have a commitment in London.
The Gielgud is doing a revival of Spanish Pipedream.
It opens that same weekend, so
it's regrettable.
It's not regrettable.
It's unacceptable.
I don't need a dose of your moral superiority, Ellie.
I'm totally supportive of Maud.
She's at my apartment, working in my office right now.
Are you that desperate for applause, Adam?
You're gonna miss the most important day
of your daughter's life for a play you wrote 20 years ago?
I'm not even gonna dignify that.
I have an obligation, end of story.
Maybe you do, or maybe it's like that opening in Prague
which was just an excuse for you to bang Miss Czech Republic
at the Hotel Chodska for two weeks.
For crying out loud, Eleanor, would you please grow up?
I was wondering why I ordered this.
Hey. Okay, all right. Very nice.
Very, very James Cagney.
Now let's just get out of here.
Yes.
Let's.
[♪♪♪]
[GLASS CLANKING]
Do you mind not watching me?
Why?
Do I make you nervous?
No.
This is very precise work.
Wow.
That's the most conversation
that I've gotten out of you all week.
I was beginning to think
that you'd taken a vow of silence or something.
Excuse me.
MAUD: Okay, then. Back on the chain gang.
Nice getting to know you, Sam.
Until next time.
[GASPS]
[CRYING]
[PHONE BUZZING, RINGING]
[SNIFFS]
Hello, Ruthie. How are you, dear?
RUTH [ON PHONE]: Hi, Ellie.
- I-I-I've only got a sec. - Have you spoken to Adam?
No, I haven't spoken to him, but...
But I'll let him know you need to talk.
- I've been leaving messages. - [KETTLE WHISTLING]
Okay. I'll make sure he gets back to you.
[♪♪♪]
[PHONE RINGING]
Yes, Elle, what is it?
ELEANOR [ON PHONE]: Ruth keeps calling me.
She's says been leaving you messages.
Yeah, I know.
She's your best friend's wife. Call the woman.
Vincent's been dead for five years.
Well, she's alone, and she's heartbroken.
ADAM: No one ever died of a broken heart.
Just call her back.
Okay, yeah. Fine. Fine, fine.
I-I'm at the gym.
The ties that bind. No escaping them.
ELEANOR: Hi, Jenny.
He has no idea what's going on inside of me.
And-and what do you think is keeping you from telling him?
He doesn't respond well to emotional needs.
He shuts down and becomes sullen.
Can you afford to be silenced because
he's uncomfortable with intimacy?
I keep getting the urge to stop using birth control,
just to punish him.
Well, we should discuss how you feel
punishing him would help you.
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
Hey.
Sorry, sorry, sorry. One second, one second.
Oh, my God. I finally had an insight that sticks to the page.
- [LAUGHS] - Yeah.
[SIGHS] I was beginning to worry that I'm really a big fraud.
We're all frauds until we come up with a good idea.
Then we're geniuses.
[LAUGHS]
- How was breakfast with Mom? - ADAM: Splendid.
These situations are never easy,
but, uh, it went as well as one could hope.
Good.
That's good.
I just, uh, hope that she lands on her feet like you have.
Your mother's an extraordinary woman.
We have a deep, deep connection, and we always will.
Yeah. That's good.
Well, I have to go.
Because it's time for me
to whine to my thesis advisor.
[♪♪♪]
Do you have any big plans for tomorrow night?
What's special about tomorrow night?
It's Friday night.
Dining, dancing?
Hanging out with that certain someone.
- I don't hang out. - Oh.
What about a certain someone?
You're right. It has no teeth.
It's shallow.
That's not what I was gonna say, Maud.
Morality matters. How we treat each other matters.
Your faith in humanity is inspiring.
But it doesn't add anything to the conversation.
Listen, Maud, I see this every year.
A student gets to the end of their thesis,
suddenly becomes their own harshest critic.
Don't go there. Just stay focused and finish.
All right.
If you say so.
I say so.
I can get away this weekend.
I miss you.
I ache for you.
Brian...
It's over.
I keep hoping you'll change your mind.
I'm not going to.
All right?
I feel like the worst kind of hypocrite.
I'm writing a thesis on morality,
and having an affair with a married man.
That's insane.
So...
It's over. That's final.
Don't do it.
Don't fuck up your life.
But you didn't tell her that?
ELEANOR: Of course not, but, you know...
- Wh-wh... - [SIGHING] I wanted to.
Yeah, but why are you so angry with this patient?
Because she's weak.
Passive.
Uh-huh. Yeah. Go on.
And I have to work so damn hard not to read my life into hers.
I keep rooting for her to leave
like I should have left Adam years ago.
Ugh.
Your life would've been very different.
Pfft. It doesn't matter now.
We signed the papers this morning.
It was all very civilized.
Although I did try to smash a grapefruit in his face.
- CHAZEN: No. - [LAUGHING] Yeah.
Good for you. Good for you.
He once told me that I was the North Star of his moral life.
But he has a... a new muse.
A new fuckmate.
And at 58, I get to start all over.
Very scary, huh?
Very scary in there.
I know.
But you're very alive right now. Very alive.
Fabulous.
- [PIANO MUSIC PLAYING] - [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
ADAM: Excuse me, is this stool taken?
[IN FRENCH ACCENT] Uh, yes, I'm afraid it is.
[CHUCKLES]
- Well, maybe it is free after all. - [CHUCKLES]
- Can I buy you a drink? - Yeah.
It's a lovely Châteauneuf-du-Pape
from a village near Avignon, just like me.
That's it. That's our password.
We give this little prick 10 minutes.
When I throw you, "This is a lovely Châteauneuf"
you look at your watch, and say you have
to meet your cousins from Avignon.
My cousins are from Montpellier.
Montpellier it is.
Why exactly are we meeting this little prick?
He is the most important critic in American theater.
Word is he's writing a book.
He asked to meet. I don't know why.
He slammed my last two plays.
Maybe he's writing a chapter on me.
Mm, maybe the whole book.
- Yeah. Maybe an opera. - Heh, heh.
There he is.
[WHISPERS] A lovely Châteauneuf.
[WHISPERS] My cousins are from Montpellier.
ADAM: Ah, Robert.
Hi, you look terrific.
Nice to see you.
ADAM: Sandrine, bon ami.
- Robert Gordon. - Nice to meet you.
- ADAM: Mike, one more time.
Thank you so much for taking the time, Adam.
Well, it's the least I can do for the man
who closed my last two plays in previews.
Oh, wait a second now. I've been hard on your latest work,
but I've given him plenty of raves as well.
Yeah, I'm just giving you a hard time. Here, pull up a glass,
and give unto the king your knowledge of the broil.
Well, I am writing a book.
Ah! I had no idea. Tell me more.
Well, it took some persuasion, but I finally convinced
the people at Encore Publishing to get behind
- a critical biography... - Oh?
Of the late, great Vincent Frank.
Oh.
Splendid.
- It's about time too, right? - Yes.
- Who is Vincent Frank? - Mm.
Uh, Vincent Frank is a national treasure.
He wrote five of the most brilliant
unclassifiable plays of the 20th-century American theater.
And, uh, he grew up in the Bronx with Adam,
and always referred to Adam as his closest friend
and his literary conscience.
And don't forget, his fiercest competitor.
Which is exactly why your input would be so crucial to the book.
So, what did you have in mind?
A series of interviews.
Your memories, your insight into his creative process.
- It would be invaluable. - Uh-huh.
Yeah, I am extremely busy with my new play, but I'll...
I'll do whatever I can to help.
Oh, that's wonderful.
That is so generous.
No. The privilege is all mine.
This is a lovely Châteauneuf. Isn't it, babe?
Mm, it's a little corky.
- Is it? - Oh, look at the time.
I hate to be a...
- Party pooper? - Thank you.
But my cousins from Montpellier are in town.
Yeah, we can't desert the French now, can we?
The balls on that putz.
"A series of interviews."
Call Charlie Rose, Bob.
Call 60 fucking Minutes.
SANDRINE: What a strange man.
He was so uncomfortable in his own skin.
He once called a play of mine
"a meaningless work by a gifted writer."
That's his style.
Compliments you while sticking a shiv in your back.
You don't have to help him. You don't owe him anything.
No, but I owe Vincent.
If it wasn't for him,
I'd still be teaching high school English in Yonkers.
I got all the glory.
But I envied him.
He was deeper,
and more original,
and uncompromising.
The rotten bastard.
Even now, from the grave, he's one-upping me.
Well,
tonight,
you've got the edge on him.
Ruthie. You look wonderful.
Hello, Adam. I'm glad you could come.
I made some coffee. You go sit.
You must be wondering why I've been
so persistent.
I have some exciting news about Vincent.
Oh.
You remember his sister Lillian?
She died this past summer.
No. I didn't know.
Her kids were cleaning out her house and came across
a chest filled with Vinnie's papers.
It wasn't just letters and notebooks.
He said he destroyed it.
And it's brilliant.
It is the breakout play his agent was always asking for.
And have you contacted Judith?
Oh, she doesn't return my calls.
Well, don't take it personally.
Takes her a week to get back to me.
Anyway, I want you to read it first.
If it's as brilliant as I think it is,
maybe you could follow up with Judith.
Of course, Ruth.
If you could read it soon, that would be a special favor for me.
Yeah, I'll read it. I'll...
I'll do what I can.
- I read it every night. - Oh.
I keep the original next to my bed.
It makes me feel like he's here with me again.
[LAUGHS]
MAUD: Hi, Mom.
Oh, my goodness, you look so good!
Do you have a date?
Oh, please. I've had this dress for years.
I'm just having an early dinner with your Uncle Paul.
Oh, Uncle Paul's in town?
For a few days on union business.
Gotta love Uncle Paul.
Still out there, slugging away for the working man.
Do you have that cute dress that you got in Spain
with the red flowers?
Yeah.
Oh, nice.
ELEANOR: It sounds like you're the one with the hot date.
Not with the professor, I hope.
No, I got out of that mess.
Yeah. I've, uh, moved on to greener pastures.
- Great. - Yeah.
Who's the lucky guy?
I don't know.
He never speaks, and he doesn't smile.
And he might not show up tonight.
But you can't have everything.
[LAUGHS]
[♪♪♪]
♪ Look out, mama ♪
♪ Better get yourself Over that hill ♪
♪ Come on, lace 'em up... ♪
Thank you.
♪ You got no insurance... ♪
Oh. Manhattan clam chowder.
It's my favorite.
[SIGHS]
I'm sorry, Maud.
I don't mean to be so unfriendly.
But I shouldn't be here.
I don't think I'd be a suitable partner
for anyone right now.
Who said anything about partners?
I think it would be nice if we could just get through soup.
[SCOFFS]
That's a fine ambition.
- Let's try to get through soup. - Great.
How was the rest of your day, Samuel?
Well, it's... It isn't "Samuel," actually. It's Samir.
Samir. That's... Wow, that's beautiful.
Yeah, my parents are from Lebanon.
I was born and raised in Seattle.
So why is it
that a fetching, young Lebaneser like yourself
doesn't wanna partner up?
You a lonesome cowboy type?
Or did some psycho ex-girlfriend
burn your house down? What's the...?
I was married for eight years.
No shit. Wow.
Ooh, the plot thickens. Why didn't it work out?
Things don't always work out in life.
Was it a horrible secret?
It's not a secret.
But it is horrible.
I'm sorry. I should not have been so glib.
I'm very sorry. I'm sorry.
It's all right.
There's still a lot of soup left. Ha.
I had no idea.
No idea.
[EASY-LISTENING MUSIC PLAYING]
I'm stunned.
No, we-we acted as if everything was fine
until Maggie went to college.
And after I settled her into her dorm,
the last thing she said to me:
"Dad, thanks for bringing me to school.
Now you and Mom can stop pretending you're married."
[BOTH CHUCKLING]
They don't miss a thing.
They don't.
But, honestly, the marriage had been dying for years.
The passion just...
Just drifted away.
That's so sad.
You know, the truth... The truth, it set us both free.
You guys seemed so indestructible.
- Like the teamsters. - [BOTH CHUCKLING]
Well, that's exactly what I thought about you and Adam.
Now I'm moving on to my exciting future as a single old woman.
Oh, don't say that.
Don't say that.
You are an extraordinary woman, Eleanor.
The world is gonna open up for you
in ways that you can't even imagine.
I don't know that I agree with your appraisal, but it's...
It's sweet of you.
Adam's a remarkable man.
He's talented. I love him.
He's my brother.
But when he told me you were splitting up,
I lost whatever respect I may have had for him.
Oh, Paul, you don't have to defend me.
[CHUCKLES]
Will you excuse me?
Oh, of course.
[SOBBING]
Are you out of your...
fucking mind?
That was totally inappropriate.
What could you possibly be thinking?
I'm sorry, Eleanor.
I've been waiting 35 years for this moment.
I've been biding my time, waiting for another chance.
Another chance?
Are you insane? I'm...
We dated for five minutes a lifetime ago.
How dare you take advantage of me in my state.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shock you, but...
I never stopped loving you.
I still love you.
Paul.
As your friend of many years,
as your ex-sister-in-law
and as an experienced therapist,
can I give you a simple piece of advice?
Paul, get some help.
[CHUCKLES]
How do you feel? Did that bath help?
A little bit.
My jaw's still swollen, but I took a Vicodin,
and I'm feeling no pain.
So if you want to take advantage of me,
now's your big chance.
A-ha, Advantage Weller.
- [PHONE BUZZING, RINGING] - Oh...
Oh, it's Dr. Yates.
I should answer.
Hello, Dr. Yates.
YATES [ON PHONE]: How are you feeling?
Much better, thank you. The bleeding stopped.
YATES: If the swelling doesn't go down, use ice.
Yes, I'll ice it.
YATES: Good, good.
Okay.
See you Friday for more fun and games.
YATES: Yes, of course. Is Adam around?
He's right here. You wanna say hi?
YATES: Yeah, sure. Please.
Okay, Kenny.
Are you speaking as my dentist or my producer?
YATES: Both. And congratulations on London.
Yeah, thank you.
Yes, yes, it's exciting.
Spanish Pipedream in the West End.
[IN BRITISH ACCENT] It's about bloody time, eh?
YATES [LAUGHING]: Yeah, you can say that again.
[IN NORMAL VOICE] Listen... Yes. Listen, Kenny.
This would be the perfect moment for a Broadway revival.
YATES: That's not a bad idea.
I'll bring it up at the next meeting.
- Splendid. - YATES: Good.
All right, float it by the group.
And we'll talk at the Players Guild shindig.
YATES: I'll float it. I'll float it.
Okay. Done.
That sounded promising.
Yeah, we'll see.
They passed on my last two plays.
But a revival would buy me some time.
I'm dry.
You disappear for too long,
you become damaged goods.
Aw, don't put so much pressure on yourself.
You'll write something brilliant and you'll be back on top.
Yeah. Maybe.
Or maybe that's just the Vicodin talking.
Maybe you're right. I'm dead.
[♪♪♪]
[LAUGHS]
Crazy old bastard.
For 40 years, you write plays nobody wants to see,
and then you take a masterpiece to the grave.
Perfect.
Just perfect.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
PAUL: Would you like to come in?
ELEANOR: Can I trust you?
Can I take your coat?
I'll only be a minute.
I understand.
I-I...
I couldn't leave things like they were yesterday...
No, no. I'm glad you came.
You had no right to put me on the spot like that.
I know you're going through a confusing time.
But that's no...
excuse for betraying the years of trust between us.
I-I had no excuse.
I'm sorry.
Hope you'll forgive me.
I've always been fond of you, Paul.
You're a dear friend, and...
And I wouldn't want anything to harm our friendship.
Neither would I.
Well, I'm glad we see eye to eye.
You're a good man, Paul Weller.
- Hm. - Yeah.
[♪♪♪]
[MOANS]
Yes, but wasn't that the essence of Vincent's brilliance,
how he refused the shelter of illusion?
Ah, Vincent was unsparing that way
in bringing us to the bottom of our suffering.
But that was just to convey
the astonishing possibilities of human nature.
Yes, yes. It's perfect.
You know, heh, heh?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, look at the time.
Of course, the great tragedy is that his best work
may have been ahead of him.
You know what, Robert, you may be right.
But as Vincent loved to say, "Things are against us."
Well, all right.
Oh, uh...
Adam.
Sorry, one more thing, Adam.
Would it be asking too much to arrange an introduction to Ruth?
I didn't want to impose myself without your recommendation.
In all honesty, Ruth is an extremely private person.
And it's still too painful for her to even talk about Vinnie.
I-I can try to convince her,
but, uh, don't get your hopes up. Okay?
ROBERT: Let me show you out.
[CHILDREN YELLING]
[♪♪♪]
Oh, he's very severe.
And I admire his purity, but sometimes I just wanna
grab him by his tunic and say, "Lucius, baby,
lighten up.
It's not all that bleak."
I see.
But then again,
I happen to have it on good authority that, uh,
Seneca enjoyed the occasional Popsicle
in secret.
So he was just another hypocrite.
Yeah. Probably.
Even the father of stoicism couldn't keep his shit together.
I used to get lost in here all the time when I was a kid.
It was terrifying.
[WHISPERING] You do want me.
I thought so.
[BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY]
[CRYING]
I told you, I used to be married.
We had a daughter.
Her name was Zahra.
She was born with a blood disease.
She died when she was 6 years old.
I'm so sorry.
Her body accepted the cells.
She got stronger.
All the signs were encouraging.
Then...
Then a cold virus invaded her body.
She wasn't strong enough to fight it.
[CARNIVAL MUSIC PLAYING]
- [SQUEAKS] - Whoa.
Paul, please. This is my neighborhood.
Well, I've missed you. It's been over a week.
You're acting like a lovesick teenager.
Yeah, well, I feel like a lovesick teenager.
Honestly, Paul, this is a big fucking mess.
If I was my own therapist,
I'd tell myself to run for the hills.
- Now, that's a fear choice. - Hey.
I don't tell you how to organize sheet-metal workers.
Don't tell me about fear choice...
I just separated myself from the man
I spent most of my life with.
Even if he was a selfish prick.
Of course, I understand.
And taking up with my husband's brother
will be seen as a statement...
No, no, we both know that's not true.
Paul, wake up.
You don't know me.
You're in the grip of a fantasy.
I know there's a lot on the plate for you.
And you have your doubts.
But I have none.
[♪♪♪]
RUTH: Well?
What's the verdict?
I can't stand the suspense.
Ah, Ruthie,
I wanted this play to be good. I...
I wanted it with all my heart.
There's a reason Vincent hid it away.
It's the kind of sentimentality
he spent his entire life railing against.
But the characters are so rich and alive.
- It's poetic. - Exactly.
It's an epic love poem to the beautiful life
you and Vinnie shared.
It hurts me to say it,
but audiences would not come to see it.
I don't agree, Adam.
I think audiences need to hear these words.
You're reading it with the eyes of love.
My responsibility is to read it
with the eyes of critical judgment.
[CRYING]
[♪♪♪]
I thought he really got it this time.
But then I thought everything he did was a work of genius.
Me too.
[KNOCKS]
[LAUGHS]
[IMITATING PIRATE] Ahoy, matey.
[IN NORMAL VOICE] I have to admit,
you look very dashing in that eye patch.
SAM: I scratched my cornea, planing a table.
Oh. That's a bummer.
Maud...
[SAM SIGHS]
Although, you know,
I've always wanted to be seen in public with a pirate.
I think it would be good for my reputation.
Sorry, Maud,
why are you here?
[SHOES THUD ONTO FLOOR]
I wanna give you something.
What?
[♪♪♪]
Fucking.
Without commitment.
Without conversation.
Without conscience.
Shameless.
Faceless.
Soulless.
Loveless.
Here...
is fucking.
Anything you want.
What do you think of that, Samir?
[GASPS]
[BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY]
There he is. There's Kenny.
Oh, let's go and say hi...
Um... Let him come to us. It's better.
Okay. He's coming.
Does he look like a man bearing good news?
He's beaming.
'Cause he spotted a hot French babe.
A hot French babe who still needs
two crowns and another root canal.
Ken Yates, American theater's most eligible bachelor.
Ha, ha, that's a dubious distinction.
Bonsoir, Sandrine. You look fantastic.
[SPEAKS IN FRENCH]
What do you know? The good doctor speaks the French.
With a perfect accent, I might add.
- I grew up with a French nanny. - That fires the imagination.
Stop it.
Look, Adam, I bring bad news.
I presented your idea of reviving Pipedream
to the group, but it didn't take.
They're intent on getting behind a new play.
Thanks for running it up the flagpole.
Fear not, Ken. You know me.
I'm always hard at work on the next thing.
I look forward to reading it when you're ready.
Splendid.
- I'll see you both this weekend? - Um...
At my benefit for the Lincoln Center?
- Wouldn't miss it. - Better not.
- How are you feeling? - Much better, thank you.
- Great. - Thanks.
[SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
WALTER: What have you been up to, Weller?
Still dusting off your old chestnuts for a revival?
God knows you haven't done much lately.
Well, I've been busy writing a one-man play
based on your brilliant career, Walter,
but I'm stuck on act one.
- Oh. - [PHONE RINGING]
- Ooh! - Oof.
Someone get Walter a refill.
He seems to have lost his bark.
Sorry, babe.
It's Eleanor again. Let me just see what she wants.
Yes, Ellie, what's up?
ELEANOR: I'm afraid I have some bad news.
Okay. What? What is it?
ELEANOR: Ruth passed away last night.
That's impossible. I saw her a few weeks ago.
- She seemed fine. - ELEANOR: Well, it seems
her cancer returned several months ago,
and she never told anyone.
Oh, my God. I can't believe it.
I can't believe she's gone.
ELEANOR: She's gone. She's gone.
So I guess there'll be a service.
ELEANOR: I suppose you'll speak. I suppose you'll be the star.
Really, Eleanor? Is that necessary?
ELEANOR: No, it's not. I...
- Forget it. - ELEANOR: I apologize.
Okay, well, thanks for the call. I need to hang up now.
[♪♪♪]
ADAM: I spent a lovely afternoon with Ruth just a few weeks ago,
and she spoke with such pride of her children, Shelly and Ethan.
And her fierce dedication to her beloved Vincent
is a lamp she kept trimmed and burning.
We are all richer for having shared our lives
with someone so imbued
with the sum and substance of love.
Ruthie,
we miss you already.
This isn't the best time, but I've gotta tell you.
I have some disappointing news.
London isn't gonna happen.
Don't say it.
They cancelled Pipedream.
There's been a shake-up at the company.
It seems like they wanna move in
a new direction, or something like that.
I'm sorry.
Bravo, Weller.
You really brought her into the room.
I only wish I could've done more.
What more could you have done? She had cancer.
Well, I could've been a better friend.
We do what we can do.
I suppose so.
So you're looking very well.
How are things? Anything new and exciting?
No. Nothing new or exciting.
- Heh, heh. - And you?
How's the writing going?
Well, same old grind.
Just trying to stay optimistic
in this depraved cultural moment we're living in.
Well, I'm sure things will work out for you.
Maybe, maybe not.
I fully embrace the randomness of the universe.
Well, enjoy your food. It was lovely to catch up.
Yeah.
Shelly, how you holding up?
I can't believe it.
I thought she'd be here to take care of me forever.
- [CRYING] - Aw. There, there. It's okay.
No, no, no. We're all hurting.
I should show you the things that Mom wanted you to have.
Sure, yeah.
SHELLY: Everything he thought was worth keeping.
I never read any of his work.
His writing was
always over my head.
I should have tried harder.
No. Don't be so hard on yourself.
You were a terrific daughter.
They were both very proud of you.
Thank you.
[♪♪♪]
And don't worry about the trunk.
I'll go talk to the super right now.
SHELLY: You're a lifesaver.
I am a mess.
- I should get back. - ADAM: Of course.
Stay strong, Shelly. This too shall pass.
Excuse me. I'm gonna have to say goodbye.
- Bye. - Take care.
[♪♪♪]
My goodness, Adam, what's going on?
I've been calling for hours.
Oh, shit. I... I must have left my ringer off.
You're not ready? We're supposed to be there in 15 minutes.
- Be where? - Ken's benefit.
- What? Who? - Ken Yates.
Dr. Yates, Lincoln Center.
Oh, Christ! Heh, heh, was that tonight?
Are you okay, Adam? You're acting very peculiar.
- Have you been drinking? - No. No, no, no.
Nothing like that. I'm really on to something.
This is the best thing I have written in years.
I... I gotta keep going.
Oh, Adam, we said we'd go.
We have to go. I'm all dressed up.
And you look fantastic.
- You should go. Yeah. - Alone? I don't know anyone.
Come on, you know Ken. Listen, baby, I need you to go.
Tell him I did it, I cracked it.
It's the play he's been waiting for.
Adam, that's awkward.
Tell him in French.
He'll be charmed. He's charmed by you.
Oh, yeah.
You see the way he looks at you.
What are you talking about?
- No. - Get him excited.
Get him excited about the play. I need you to do this.
- Okay. I'll go. - I need you to do this.
Thank you. Go.
But this better be good.
Or I'm sending you to Toulouse
to visit my Tatie Monette by yourself.
I'll visit your Tatie Monette and your cousins from Avignon.
My cousins are from Montpellier.
Tell them to move to Avignon, it's easier for me to say.
Ha, ha, funny.
[♪♪♪]
[MAUD & SAM BREATHING HEAVILY]
MAUD: I know something that you don't want me to know.
You think about me.
You wake up rock hard thinking about me.
You think about me sucking your cock.
You think about fucking me.
I'm your home, Samir.
Look at me.
I'm your home.
[BOTH PANTING]
"I wouldn't mind if it never appeared.
The night is astounding just as it is."
We did good, Vincent.
[EASY-LISTENING MUSIC PLAYING]
Where did you get it from?
Huh?
The idea behind your dissertation.
And why is it so important to you?
Um...
"Out of the crooked timber of humanity
no straight thing was ever made."
- What? - That's a Kant quote.
I'm... I'm interested in finding out why we are the way we are.
That's a good quality.
Yeah.
You're ruining my practice.
I snuck three peeks at my watch.
You got 10 minutes till your next patient.
ELEANOR: Then we better get busy.
No foreplay? No afterglow?
You're the boss. Oh!
[LAUGHS]
Oh, I am such a pushover.
So, what's your day like?
Oh, stroll in the park, check out the Frick,
lunch, contemplate the moon.
Living the life of Riley.
Damn straight.
I can't help you with your biography.
- Oh, my goodness. - Suddenly
to relive all those memories,
you know, it's...
It's just a little much.
That is a... That's a devastating blow, Adam.
I mean, our interviews were going to be
the centerpiece of my book.
I'm, uh...
You know, maybe we could pick it back up in a... In a few weeks.
You're giving me far too much credit, Robert.
No, no. Soldier on.
Everything you need, you'll find in the pages of Vincent's plays.
Don't get up.
I'm in session till 8.
Late dinner?
Sounds great.
I think we should invite Adam to join us.
Why would you possibly think of doing that?
I want this to be out in the open.
I don't.
I said from the start, this had to be on my terms.
Yeah, but, honey, that was over a month ago.
I mean, if this is real, then why do we wanna hide it?
Of course this is real.
What is this obsession with telling Adam?
Are you trying to settle a score?
Ellie, there's no score to settle.
It's just that every time we go out, it's always...
a corner table in some dark, quiet place.
It's as if you're trying to keep me hidden.
Unless, of course, the real reason is...
you're still in love with Adam.
Don't be ridiculous.
I just wanna have dinner alone with you.
- You amaze me. - Aw.
You amaze me.
You think it's that good?
Listen to me.
It's astonishing.
They're gonna be performing this play 100 years from now.
I'm so glad you like it.
You've transformed yourself.
Your writing, it has a...
It's a tenderness I've never seen in your work.
I've been your agent for what, 20 years now,
and all of a sudden I feel intimidated by you.
I've always wanted to intimidate you, Judith.
[BOTH LAUGH]
The office is going crazy. Ken's gonna flip.
His group will wanna jump on this.
- You think? - Oh, my God, yes.
I have to get out of here,
and do my job.
But here.
Adam Weller is back.
Congratulations. This is gonna be some ride.
Listen, I want you to start thinking about casting.
Okay. We're in a hit.
[SAWING]
The role of Michael suits you nicely.
If you read it, I think you'll agree.
It's nice of you to think of me, Mr. Weller,
but, no, thank you.
[LAUGHS]
Sam.
This son of a bitch is the best piece
of American theater in the last 10 years.
I'm offering you a chance to be a part of it.
Well, thank you.
But I don't act anymore.
All right, look,
we all know what you've been through.
Our hearts broke for you.
That's why we kept you close.
That's why we hired you to renovate our kitchens
and build our sets.
But you're an actor.
It's who you are.
Now it's time to get on with it.
You're out of line now.
I appreciate the offer, but I'm not interested.
What do you think?
You think, uh, you're the only person
who's ever suffered a terrible loss?
What right do you have to pack up your gifts
and go into permanent hiding? That's not bereavement, pal.
That... That is arrogance...
I've got work to do.
[♪♪♪]
[KEYS JINGLE]
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
[♪♪♪]
[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]
[MUTTERS QUIETLY]
[INTERCOM BUZZES]
- Sam? - SAM: I know what you're up to.
You wanna control me, you wanna break me, I won't let you.
I don't want you. You disgust me.
Stay the fuck away from me.
[INTERCOM BUZZES]
[SAM CRYING]
SAM: Oh, my God.
MAUD: It's okay.
- [POP ROCK MUSIC PLAYING] - [PEOPLE CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]
Splendid. Couldn't be happier for you.
To my dear brother, and my beloved ex.
The two finest, most morally upstanding people I know.
I'm fucking famished. Let's get a table.
Oh, no. We should be getting along.
Don't be ridiculous. Come on.
A celebration is in order, right?
I'm taking you to dinner. Won't take "no" for an answer.
I could eat.
[LAUGHS] There. It's settled.
The Blue Points here are exquisite. He loves his oysters.
MAUD: But let's personalize this, okay?
How do you specifically relate to Kant's categorical imperative
that we must find a way to recognize one another?
I look around and I see very little empathy.
Everybody just uses everybody. That's...
I mean, that's the game, isn't it?
Well, you know, that's why Schopenhauer's on the syllabus.
Because he's there to remind us
that, um, everything ends in nothingness
and life is... It's utterly meaningless.
And on that note, go enjoy your weekend.
All right. Thank you.
- Have a good weekend. - MAUD: See you. You too. Bye.
Bye.
[♪♪♪]
[SPOON CLANKING]
I didn't ask for tea.
You don't want it?
No, I do.
Sorry. I'll let you get back to work.
Thank you.
- It's just tea. - I know.
Uncle Paul, wow.
- Does Dad know? - He knows.
Wow.
Wow, you sure know how to change it up, huh?
I haven't been this happy in a long time.
It's hard to get used to.
That's a really good problem to have.
Um.
Not to see your good news and raise you, but...
- Tell me. - Let's just say
I have a little...
philosopher...
growing in my belly.
- [MAUD LAUGHING] - That is big news.
I didn't know you and Sam were trying to start a family.
We weren't. Just happened.
[CHUCKLES]
Do you love him?
Yeah.
I really think I do.
He's really smart, and he's kind. And he...
He feels things very deeply, and he's never fake.
I think you'll be an extraordinary mother.
When the time is right.
Are you ready for this?
Lesser things have caused you to feel overwhelmed in the past.
Yeah, I know. I just...
But those were growing pains.
I've been fine for years, and I feel like this is so right.
I feel like I'm in a state of grace.
MAUD: Thank you.
I'm pregnant.
Let's sleep on it.
[♪♪♪]
[SIGHS]
The day I met you I tore up All my maps.
What?
My father used to translate Arabic poetry.
And there was this one poem.
It was about a man whose life had been overturned by love.
Say it again.
The day I met you I tore up All my maps.
That's beautiful.
I remember thinking...
wondering if...
love was really like that.
If I could ever feel that way about someone.
WOMAN: I think it's a good thing that we ran into each other.
You know what? Me too.
Hey, did you really like the adagio?
Yeah, I thought it was delightful.
Thank you. Very good work.
It was nice to meet you.
Melanie, you can go. We're done for the day.
- Well, the search continues. - Afraid so.
Who the hell is left?
Do you guys need me to stay?
There's... There's one more.
No, we're done. Done.
MELANIE: No, no. He said he knows Adam.
Well, of course he does.
No, if he has the brass to crash, let him take a swing.
Oh, no. No, not a chance.
Maybe we should reach out to L.A.
And Chicago.
And Moscow.
[BOTH LAUGH]
I'm glad you could make it, Sam.
So am I.
♪ On the dance floor ♪
♪ I know I'm gonna wanna Circle this floor ♪
♪ But there's times I know I'm just warming up ♪
♪ At my own address ♪
♪ In the side of the young and Making the one ♪
♪ On the dance floor ♪
♪ I know I'm gonna wanna Circle this floor ♪
You lucky dog!
- He's a dream. - Yeah.
He's smart, he's gorgeous.
Girl, you're gonna have beautiful babies.
WOMAN: You rocked it, girl.
Look at him move.
♪ He barely made a surprise ♪
♪ With me You know I'm real versatile ♪
Yeah, he is an interesting bunch of guys.
- Hey, Maud, I have some good news. - Uh-huh.
I wanna share it with you.
- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.
That's good. I love good news.
Your father hired me for his new play.
- He did? - Yeah.
That's so cool. You're gonna build the sets?
Actually, I'm in it.
What do you mean, you're in it?
I mean, I'm acting in it.
[LAUGHS]
Good. Yeah.
And I'm playing point guard for the Knicks.
I'm not kidding.
You're an actor?
I was. I...
I... I'm sorry. I mean,
I didn't mean to keep anything from you.
The guy I couldn't get a complete sentence out of
for the past three months is an actor?
- Yeah. - That's impossible.
That can't... That can't be.
Well, after Zahra died, I, um...
I couldn't get back on stage.
But then Adam insisted I read his new play,
and it was the last thing I expected, but I read it.
I knew I had to do it.
You're an actor.
My dad wrote a good play?
Oh, I mean, it's... It's beautiful.
[♪♪♪]
- ACTRESS: You left. - SAM: I did.
- ACTRESS: Why? - SAM: Couldn't leave.
You've been building a case against me
now since your father got it.
What is it, exactly, that you wanted me to do?
You should go.
You've done your duty and you're free.
SAM: I don't think you mean that.
[SAM CONTINUES, INDISTINCTLY]
Hi.
Hi, Maudy, what a pleasant surprise.
How's my little grandson doing?
He's good. He's just... He's kicking up a storm like always.
Of course. He's a Weller.
How are rehearsals going?
Sam is knocking it out of the park.
He's incapable of a false moment.
That's good.
At least one of us is on his game.
Don't be ridiculous. You're doing great too.
I'm not so sure.
You're brilliant, you're beautiful, you're pregnant,
and your man is about to own this town.
Yeah.
MAN: Okay. Whenever you're ready.
DR. LIN: Someone's moving around a lot today.
Looks like she's a thumb-sucker.
What?
See, right there? That's her thumb in her mouth.
You said, "her thumb."
We're having a boy.
You said at the last ultrasound that we're having a boy.
I said I thought you were having a boy.
But as I explained then,
the early pictures aren't conclusive.
You said that you saw his balls.
Well, early on, the labia can resemble a scrotum.
But the amnio is definitive.
You have a very healthy little girl, Maud.
[♪♪♪]
[GAGGING]
[COUGHING, SPITS]
[TOILET FLUSHING]
SAM: Maud?
Hey.
- Hey, you all right? - Yeah. Yeah.
I'm okay.
I'm done.
[HACKING]
[SIGHS]
I know you feel like shit right now, but...
remember what Dr. Lin said.
You know, this is normal.
It'll pass.
She also said we were having a boy, so...
what the fuck does she know?
[SCOFFS]
Wait, what?
We got the amnio results. It's a girl.
[♪♪♪]
A girl?
[CHUCKLES]
This is wonderful.
Yeah. You say that now, but...
No, Maud...
...she's our daughter.
She's Zahra's sister.
She's...? She's healthy? The doctor said she's healthy?
Yeah, she's hale and hearty.
She's got 10 fingers and 10 toes...
and she has a big old labia that looks like a scrotum.
[CHUCKLES]
Don't be silly. You don't wanna come all the way to JFK.
I'm happy to. It'll give us another hour together.
Yeah, and then you'll spend two hours
on the Grand Central in rush-hour traffic
getting back into town. It's crazy.
I can't let you go alone.
There's nothing more joyless than a man with a suitcase,
walking through the airport by himself.
[LAUGHS]
Look at my face.
No one is gonna confuse me with a joyless man.
Aw. Why do you have to go anyway?
[SIGHS] There's a lot of money
behind these union-busting bastards.
You know, I gotta get there, raise a little hell.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
Could you and Adam be more different?
Well, we're not that dissimilar.
We both like getting in front of a crowd,
getting applause.
Only he gets paid a lot more.
[LAUGHS]
I'll be back.
Keep a light on.
Hello, darling!
Are you awake?
I am now.
- I brought you a sandwich. - Mom.
We go through this every day. I'm not hungry.
It's important for you to try to keep something down.
The baby needs food too.
Well, if she's hungry, then she should just come out.
I don't know what the hell she's waiting for.
[LAUGHS]
Mom, please don't do that. Please.
- Just leave that... - Ah, it's a beautiful day.
A little fresh air and sunlight,
might inspire you to get out of bed and take a walk.
Stop treating me like a child.
You wanna give me good advice?
You should have eight months ago,
and then I wouldn't be in this fucking mess right now.
I did give you good advice.
I said you'd be a wonderful mother
when the time was right,
and you said you were in a state of grace.
And you bought that?
Of course.
I have the utmost respect for you.
So it's all my fault.
No one is at fault, Maud.
There is no fault.
Maybe you don't feel you can talk openly with me right now.
I can understand that.
If you'd like, I can recommend somebody.
Why?
Because you think I'm gonna go under again?
I'm gonna have this baby,
and everything is gonna be fine.
I know it is, sweetheart.
Everything's gonna be fine.
- I'm sure of it. - [DOOR CLOSES]
SAM: Hello?
Maud?
- Hi, Sam. - Hey, Eleanor.
How are you? It's good to see you.
- ELEANOR: How's the show going? - It's good. It's coming along.
- Good. - Hi.
- Look at those flowers.
Beautiful.
Mm.
Well, I should get going.
Paul's coming back tonight,
and I wanna be there when he gets home.
- SAM: I'll walk you out. - Oh, thanks.
[SIGHS]
I'm glad I got home before you left.
- I've been wanting to call you. - I wanted to talk to you too.
What's going on with her?
I keep hoping she'll pull out of it.
Once the baby's here...
I'm sure she'll be the great love of Maud's life...
and all this sadness will make sense.
Yeah.
Of course.
In the meantime, stay close.
Okay, I will.
Thank you, Eleanor.
See you.
I know something you don't want me to know.
Stop.
- You think about me. - No.
You wake up thinking about me.
No, I don't. Could you shut up, please?
[SIGHS]
Where you going?
Walk.
Oh.
- I'll go with you. - No.
Maud, come on. I wanna come with you.
- Let's go for a walk. - No.
I can't stand the sound of your voice.
I'm walking to get away from you.
- Maud? - What?
You know, this is hard for me too.
Right.
Right, it's about you.
[GRUNTS]
It's about you how hard it is for you.
I don't understand.
When did you come to hate me?
I don't hate you, I don't know you.
You do know me. You loved me.
- You saved me. - I didn't love you.
I pitied you.
And now I'm stuck with this baby inside me.
Hey! Don't say that. I know you don't mean that.
You're trying to push me away.
You're not pushing me away. I love you.
If you love me, then leave me the fuck alone!
[PANTING]
[♪♪♪]
[SOBBING]
Mm.
Nothing like a home-cooked meal
after a week of diners and buffets.
Full disclosure, it's takeout from Fairway.
[BOTH LAUGH]
[PHONE BUZZING, RINGING]
Sam, is everything okay?
SAM [ON PHONE]: Maud's water broke.
- Really? Oh, my God. - SAM: Yeah.
- Did you call Dr. Lin? - SAM: Yeah, yeah. I called her.
- Okay, good. - SAM: See you soon.
I'm on my way.
Maud's water broke.
[SILVERWARE CLATTERS]
Paul, I'm sorry. I think I should go alone.
Don't be silly. I'm coming with you.
I'd rather go alone.
- It's a very delicate situation. - That's why I'm coming with you.
Stand down, Paul. This is not negotiable.
Please, give me a kiss, and let me get going.
Go on.
- I'll be here if you need me. - Thank you for understanding.
- Okay. I will see you soon. - SAM [ON PHONE]: Okay, see you.
Well, believe it or not,
this young fella is about to become a grandfather.
Congratulations. That's wonderful.
Yeah, gotta go to the hospital.
Hey, why don't you join me?
I don't think so.
This should be a family moment, no?
Well, I'd like you to be there.
Yeah, like me to be there
because you don't like emotional situations.
Guilty as charged.
I... I could use a buffer.
You never wanted me to meet your family before.
Fair enough. Point taken.
- I'm not a prop, Adam. - Oh, my God.
Slow down, wait a second.
Where...? Where is this coming from?
Everything's so casual with you.
Right, exactly. That's why we work so well.
Where are we going with this anyway?
Come on, Sandrine.
[SIGHS]
This is what we agreed to. Let's not spoil a good thing.
Suddenly, you are being very un-French.
[SIGHS]
Go on.
Go meet your grandchild. It's nice.
All right, wish me luck.
[SNORING]
Adam.
You're snoring.
How long was I sleeping?
An hour. I don't know.
How we doing?
She's been pushing for two hours.
Maybe I should go check in, and just...
Eleanor, sit down.
You want coffee?
- Milk, no sugar. - Elle...
I know how you take your coffee.
[SIGHS]
[SOFTLY] Oh, my...
Hi, Rosie. It's so nice to meet you.
We love you so much.
Welcome to our crazy world, kiddo.
[LAUGHS]
May the road rise to meet you
and the sun shine warm upon your bottom.
[LAUGHS]
[SOBBING]
Oh, my dear.
What's wrong?
Nothing's wrong. I'm just so happy.
I feel so blessed, that's all.
We are blessed.
Let's leave these kids alone. Let them rest up.
They've earned it.
Come on.
[ROSIE CRYING]
Those were tears of joy, weren't they, Adam?
She had a baby for the first time.
I'd be worried if she wasn't emotional.
You cried for a week when she was born.
Hey, hey!
Okay. This is you.
Hey, give me a minute.
Look...
all kidding aside...
[SIGHS]
...you were an amazing mother.
You put this family on your back.
You had something to do with it too.
Let's be honest.
You did all the heavy lifting.
I'm grateful.
- I mean it. - Thank you, Adam.
It means a lot to me.
[♪♪♪]
[CAR ENGINE STARTS]
We're going to Riverside and 91st Street, please.
Well, that was...
unexpected...
but amazing.
It was.
[CHUCKLES] You know what that reminded me of?
Williamstown.
Summer stock, '76.
Your first play.
What a train wreck.
But you and I set a few records,
didn't we?
I remember.
Hey, Elle.
We should do this again.
Get together from time to time.
Like... Like coming home.
I don't think so.
[♪♪♪]
I'm glad we could spend this time together.
Me too.
[DOOR OPENS]
How'd it go?
- Everything okay? - Everything's fine. Just fine.
Her name is Rose.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
Seven pounds, two ounces.
And she's... She's beautiful.
Oh, that's wonderful. I'm so glad
everything worked out well.
Thank you, Paul.
You know, in all honesty, I...
I thought you'd call me when the baby arrived.
I was worried.
Well, you've been gone all night.
I was at Adam's.
I spent the night at Adam's.
I'm sorry.
- Are you in love with him? - No, I...
I'm free of him.
Then where does that leave us?
Maud and Rosie need me.
I... I can help you with all of that.
This is what I want, Paul.
- I wanna be on my own. - So that's it?
You gonna throw all of this away?
Please, Paul.
This is painful for me too.
Is it?
[SCOFFS]
You use me to, what, cushion the fall?
And now... Now I'm expendable.
You knew from the beginning
that this was extremely confusing for me.
You love me, Eleanor.
You love me.
And it scares you.
And you're taking the easy way.
Maybe I am.
You know, I could live with you sleeping with Adam?
It hurts, and I'm humiliated,
but I could understand.
But I never imagined that you'd be such a coward.
[♪♪♪]
My nipples are ripping apart.
- [CRYING] - She's trying to latch on.
She just... She wants a bottle.
- She wants a bottle. - I'll get her one.
What do you want? What do you want?
[SHUSHING]
Here.
[CLICKING TONGUE]
What a big girl.
[ELEANOR JABBERING SOFTLY]
[CHUCKLES] Her eyes are closing already.
Why don't I take her for a stroll?
Give you a few hours.
Maybe you can get back into your thesis.
What is my thesis about, anyway?
How people treat each other? They treat each other like shit.
- Oh, Maud. - [ROSIE STARTS CRYING]
- Maud, you don't mean that. - I fucked up.
My thesis is a big fat fucking lie because I...
I inherited this, like, good-girl gene
from you, you know?
You're just so ethical,
and you're so aware of the needs of others.
And you can barely stand up for yourself,
and that's why you've made a fetish
out of caring for weak people.
There's no shame in feeling weak.
Okay, that's great. That's good. That's more false uplift.
Just please go home. Please, go home, okay?
Well, after I finish the laundry.
There's a load in the dryer.
Forget the laundry. I don't need it done.
Just go home, please. You're like a prison guard.
I'll wait till Sam gets back.
What did you just say?
Is that what you think?
That I'm a danger to myself? That my baby's not safe with me?
- That's not what I said. - Please go home, okay?
Just get a life. Go home, please!
[♪♪♪]
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
I love you. I'm... I'm sorry. I love you, Mom.
I'm sorry.
Okay.
Yeah.
I'll go put Rosie down, and I'll see you in the morning.
Here we go.
SAM: It'll be visible any minute.
I hope this doesn't turn out like Kohoutek.
ACTRESS: Kohoutek, what was that?
SAM: It was supposed to be the biggest comet ever.
The show of the century,
but by the time it got close to Earth, it fizzled out.
- [DOOR CLOSES] - [ROSIE SCREAMING]
Maud?
Maud.
Are you all right? Rosie's screaming.
Don't you hear her?
Okay. Okay. Okay.
Her diaper's full.
She's fine. She was napping.
She's hungry.
I... I keep trying, she won't feed.
Do you wanna try to feed her again?
No.
She doesn't want me.
Sh. It's okay, baby. It's okay.
Daddy's here.
[♪♪♪]
Mommy.
I'm here.
I'm going under again.
I know.
It's okay.
[SOBS]
I can't do this.
Not right now.
I know.
I tried.
Of course you did.
[SNIFFS]
I need to talk to Sam.
He's with Rosie.
I have a history of...
feeling overwhelmed.
And...
of needing a rest.
Of, um...
needing to go away to rest.
I love you.
And I love Rosie, I do. I, um...
really hope that I do.
But I...
I can't feel it.
[♪♪♪]
Maud, we're ready to take you back.
Do you want your family to show you to your room?
No.
Don't get up, please.
[ROSIE FUSSING]
SAM: When a Greek hero died,
gods would put him up in the sky.
- Show me. - Well...
you can see Perseus...
just above the horizon, and, uh...
...Andromeda is hidden below the curve of the...
I'm sorry.
- I'll take care of this. - Okay.
[MAN WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY]
[SOBBING]
Sam, buddy, you all right?
No, I'm not all right. She won't see me.
- She won't see Rosie. - Hey, hey, hey.
Listen to me.
She's a tough kid.
She's gonna be okay.
Hey, hey. Sam.
Trust me.
I've seen this before.
It'll pass.
She's gonna come through.
- Right. Right. - Right.
You can't let this drag you down.
We've come too far to dump this thing in the drink.
No, Adam.
- I don't know if I... - Don't you say it.
Don't even think it.
[♪♪♪]
Because no matter what happens...
this show must go on.
Are we clear?
Yeah.
- Yeah, we're clear. - Yeah.
Okay.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
I keep thinking about this line that Kafka wrote:
"One must not cheat anybody...
not even the world of its triumph."
It's...
The world is just kicking my ass right now.
Fuck Kafka.
- What does he know, anyway? - Mm.
I just keep telling myself I can think my way out of it.
You know what? Don't think so much.
Don't fight the tide.
- Swim sideways for a while. - Mm.
Yeah.
If I'm gonna go down, I'm gonna go down fighting.
I'm not gonna be so polite about it.
You know?
Rec therapy in five minutes, Maud.
Thank you, Louise.
- You're welcome. - Thank you.
That's my cue.
Um...
Will you...
say hello to Rosie for me?
- Of course. - Okay. Good. Great.
Oh...
Thought you might like to have that.
[♪♪♪]
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
Okay, what sounds better?
White sand beach in the Bahamas
or a cabin in the pines of Vermont?
- Why? - This has been
the craziest few weeks.
So as soon as we open,
we are catching the first flight out of this madhouse.
- Adam... - Hey. Hey, Mike.
Yeah, Scotch with a few...
Oh, no. The Greek Isles, the Blue Aegean, right?
Adam, we have to talk.
Wow.
This is very dramatic.
I'm seeing someone.
Oh, really?
Anyone I know?
Well, yes, actually.
Ken.
Ken...
Yates?
Ken Yates. That is not possible.
I'm sorry.
You can't be serious. He's a dentist, for chrissake.
You can't...
You can't leave me for a dentist.
- He's your producer. - He's a dilettante.
That's not fair. He's a good man.
Oh, my God. All right, look, Sandrine,
I admit, I've been distant these past few months.
I've been obsessed with the play.
- Let's slow down for a minute. - Adam...
you've spent the last year
making sure we never got too close.
That's what you want.
Easy, casual.
I want something deeper.
Don't...
Don't give up on us.
Be happy for me.
[♪♪♪]
[DOOR OPENS]
- Hey. - Hello, my dad.
Hey, I'm sorry it took me a few weeks to get here.
Things have been crazy hectic with the play.
It's okay. Don't worry about it.
You haven't missed much.
Well, looks like they spruced it up a bit
since last time.
Yeah. Yeah. It's...
It is not bad for a bughouse.
[CHUCKLES]
The best part is, I can sleep.
For the first time in months, I'm dreaming.
[MUMBLES AGREEMENT]
If we're not gonna make a break for it,
I smuggled in your favorite.
Oh... Oh.
Hot pastrami.
Oh, you're my hero. I'll save that for later.
And I also brought some reading material.
New York Magazine was
a little short on content this month.
I guess they had to fill up space.
[GIGGLES]
"Back on center stage,
Adam Weller returns to Broadway."
Dad.
- You're amazing. - Yeah.
It's half smoke and mirrors.
And the other half, luck.
[CHUCKLES]
[♪♪♪]
Hey, Maudy.
Maudy...
what's wrong?
- I wish I could be like you. - Oh.
You take everything that's thrown at you,
and you come back stronger.
I'm sorry, uh...
I was just showing off.
I wanted you to be proud of me.
The truth is, I wish I were more like you.
You are so fearless.
You feel everything so intensely.
Some good it's done me.
I'd trade it all for just a little bit of your spine.
No.
I'm not as strong as you think, Maud.
I was a selfish husband and an absent father.
No, don't be so hard on yourself.
My God, you did your best.
- You... You always did... - Stop it, Maud. Stop it.
Stop defending me.
I lied to you about who I am.
And you think you've failed in comparison.
No. I got here on my own, Dad.
You don't have to take a bullet for me.
The truth is...
...I'm a big fraud.
Oh, yeah?
A big fraud with a Broadway show
that everyone's buzzing about.
Well, my big comeback,
my Broadway show everybody's buzzing about...
...it's not mine.
What do you mean?
I mean...
[SCOFFS]
...I didn't...
[SIGHS]
I stole it.
You stole it?
I mean, I didn't literally steal it.
It was a gift from the universe. It was handed to me.
Fully formed, and I took it.
My name's on it.
But it's not really mine.
But you were ready for it.
You... And you reached for it,
and you turned it into something beautiful.
Listen to me.
The little I know of beauty...
...I learned from you.
[♪♪♪]
[ROSIE FUSSING]
SAM: I used to know all of the constellations.
When a Greek hero died...
the gods would put them up in the sky.
Show me.
That one's Cepheus.
Now, he married the beautiful Cassiopeia.
Oh, she's over there.
They had a daughter, Andromeda.
You can't see her now.
She's hiding beneath the curve of the Earth.
But she'll rise in autumn.
Come on. It's almost time. It'll be here any minute.
I hope this doesn't end up like Kohoutek.
It was supposed to be the biggest comet ever,
the show of the century.
But by the time it got close to Earth, it fizzled out.
I hope this one doesn't fizzle out.
ACTRESS: I wouldn't mind if it never appeared.
The night is astounding already, just as it is.
[AUDIENCE CHEERS AND APPLAUDS]
Bravo!
[WHISTLES]
Adam!
- [LAUGHS] - Yes...
- Bravo. Well done. Well done. - Bravo.
I loved it. I cried all the way through.
Thank you, Sandrine, I'm flattered.
And, Kenny, we couldn't have done it without you.
- ELEANOR: Ken. - Oh, hello.
- Congratulations. - Thank you.
Do you mind if I steal the author for a moment?
- That's me. - Well, for a minute.
- He's got a lot of people to see. - Let's get a drink.
ELEANOR: Adam, that was beautiful.
Well, thank you, Ellie. Thanks a lot.
So heartfelt, so moving.
Well, that... That means a lot to me.
And you didn't write it.
Excuse me? What...? What did you say?
You did not write that play.
Are you insane? Of course I wrote it.
Adam, I lived with you for 35 years,
and I've read every word you've ever written,
and there is no way you could have written that play.
How dare you.
That is an outrageous accusation.
It's too honest.
- It's too vulnerable. - Ah.
You could never write about love that deeply
because you've never felt love that deeply.
That's your big proof?
I was a shitty husband? I'm a selfish prick?
You're right.
But I'm a damn good writer.
And you know what? That's what writers do.
We make shit up, even if we don't feel it.
Don't look at me like that, Ellie.
[CHUCKLES]
I wrote that play, Eleanor.
[SCOFFS]
It was in a box...
with Vincent's old papers.
Of course.
Vincent.
I was dry.
I was empty.
- That's no excuse. - Vincent is dead.
Ruth is dead.
- The dead don't care. - It's Vincent's work.
It's not yours. It's his love story with Ruth.
I worked my ass off on that play.
I completely rewrote it.
I made it my own.
MAN: There you are, you son of a bitch.
You know what you did?
You know what he did?
You broke my heart...
Adam.
I am at a loss for words.
To watch you...
risk a kind of emotional openness
that you've never risked before.
I am stunned.
- Thank you, Robert. - Thank you.
No, I'm honored you feel that way.
- You know my ex-wife, Eleanor. - Of course.
Nice to see you.
Robert is writing a book
about Vincent Frank.
I'm glad someone's keeping his memory alive.
Although, I confess, after tonight,
I wonder if I'm writing about the right author.
Perish the thought, Robert.
What a rare pleasure you've given us.
- Thank you. - What can I say?
- Nice to see you. - Nice to see you.
So that was your chance.
Why didn't you tell him what an imposter I am?
I have no intention of destroying you.
All right. Of course.
Because you want the moral high ground.
You got me, you win.
Now you can think the worst of me.
I thought that's what I wanted, but it's not.
I couldn't stand the thought of being irrelevant.
I was desperate.
I was afraid.
Welcome to the club.
[PEOPLE CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]
- Brava! - Brava.
Bravo!
[PEOPLE CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]
Hey.
Adam, thank you.
- Really, I owe you so much. - No, Sam, thank you.
- So wonderful. - MAUD: You rocked my world.
What a stupendous night.
Because you're here.
- [CHUCKLES] - You are here.
[WHISTLES]
Folks. Ladies and gents.
I have been forwarded a copy
of tomorrow's New York Times review.
It reads, "Last night, Adam Weller
"made a glorious return to Broadway,
"with an inspired new play
"that is by turns tough-minded,
devilishly well-observed and achingly poetic."
And it just gets better and better from there.
Folks, how about a hand for our fearless writer.
Adam! Come on, get up here.
Come on, come on.
Come on. Come on.
Well, we all know, don't we?
All of us who have committed everything
to this beautiful and maddening quest
to capture the ephemeral.
We know how rare it is
for all the elements to come together on that stage
and produce a revelation
about the human story.
Well, tonight is our night.
- I thank you all. - WOMAN: Thank you, Adam.
[♪♪♪]
I missed my stop, and...
ended up in Cincinnati.
Yeah, I've done that.
[♪♪♪]
Subtitles by explosiveskull
[♪♪♪]
♪ She cooked him eggs That made him well ♪
♪ She looked at him And she could tell ♪
♪ It won't be long Until he fell ♪
♪ Under a spell again ♪
♪ So she came out And asked him ♪
♪ Is forgiveness Something you can find? ♪
♪ It's not that I Still love you ♪
♪ I just miss you ♪
♪ Sometimes ♪
♪ She said maybe you Could stay for the night ♪
♪ But something about it Wasn't right ♪
♪ Inside of him There was a fight ♪
♪ He knew he Couldn't win ♪
♪ And when The losing begins ♪
♪ It's hard to leave it All behind ♪
♪ When you're here it's not That I still love you ♪
♪ I just miss you Sometimes ♪
♪ He said, maybe we Could go to a bar ♪
♪ Where the lights are dim And the mood's on par ♪
♪ 'Cause you see I still have a scar ♪
♪ Where you Cut me deep ♪
♪ And sometimes I can't sleep ♪
♪ In the middle Of the night ♪
♪ I hear it's not that I still love you ♪
♪ I just miss you ♪
♪ Sometimes ♪
♪ Hm-hm-hm-hm-hm ♪
♪ Na-na-na-na-na ♪
♪ Hm-hm-hm-hm-hm ♪
♪ Na-na-na-na-na-na ♪
[♪♪♪]