Love Is Love Is Love (2020) Movie Script
LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE
THREE TALES
TWO FOR DINNER
Hey, babe. Hey.
How you doin'? Good, good. You?
I'm great.
You almost ready?
Almost, I just have shoes
and earrings.
Hey, would you wear that suit?
The one we had made in London.
I'm wearing it.
Remember that great little hotel?
I do. Where you surprised me
with the silk lingerie for my birthday.
Mmm... Rocky.
Say hi.
- Hi...
- Hello, Rocky.
He misses you. I miss him.
Hey, do me a favor,
wear those red strappy shoes
so I can see your feet.
The ones I almost broke
my back in?
I'd love to get you
on your back right now.
You...
Shoes coming up.
Ooh, look at that.
Wow, that's nice.
- Red shoes.
- Oh, boy.
Red shoes.
Oh, boy.
Oh... you're killing me.
You're killing me right now.
You don't wear those shoes
for anyone else, do you?
Never you mind.
Hey, it's Saturday night,
let's do something special.
Where should we go?
- What do you feel like?
- I don't know.
Maybe... something European.
How about the little French place?
Let's go. Let's do it. Okay.
- I'll see you there.
- Don't start without me.
Thank you.
Bonsoir, madame, and welcome.
- How are you? Been a while, hey.
- Doing very well.
May I bring you a Bombay
gin martini, very cold?
Oh, sounds prefect, thanks.
Oh, remind me,
what's the wifi password?
French75.
Gotcha.
Jack?
Is this seat taken, madam?
There you are.
- How's the connection, alright?
- It's fine.
We're making a movie
in Whitefish, Montana, don't forget,
so the closest thing to French
around here is the mustard.
No, not even that.
Oh, well...
- Amazing.
- Did you get a haircut?
You look great in that suit.
You trying to make
all the women to drool?
The only women drooling around here
have their A.A.R.P. cards.
But you love older women.
You, babe.
You, you get better...
and better.
- Hello, sir.
- Hello.
Can I get you a drink?
Should we start with our usual?
Get a martini, please.
- Bombay gin... very, very cold.
- Comin' right up.
Mine's already on the way.
What do you feel like?
I think...
I will have
the filet of sole almondine
with wilted spinach.
That sounds like girl food to me.
- Your martini, madame.
- Thank you.
Then I'm gonna get
the New York steak, "rare but not cold."
And a side of spinach.
We can eat our vitamins together.
Now, how's that for intimate?
I'll wait for you.
Mine is coming.
Thank you.
Cheers! Cheers!
Here's to us and those like us,
damn few left.
The girls hate that toast.
Well, other than that,
we haven't screwed 'em up too bad.
Well, let's hope our luck holds.
Lisa's only been
in college for three weeks.
Might be a little early to tell.
You know Kate's boyfriend,
the one with the motorcycle?
Let's call him "friend."
- Kate's friend with the motorcycle...
- Yeah... Uh-huh.
He asked me what the secret was
to our long marriage.
This is a guy with a lot of secrets.
What'd ya tell him?
"Don't get divorced."
Excellent advice, that's very wise.
What would you like
this evening, madame?
I think I'll have
the filet of sole, please.
And a glass of Sauvignon blanc.
Great choice.
- There you are! Bon soir.
- Look who's here.
- It's been too long.
- Yes, well...
She can tell you
the shoot has been...
It's been a little rough here.
Uh, but, uh,
it's only five more weeks.
Only? I will take good care
of your lovely wife.
Please, please do.
Au revoir. Au revoir.
Well, for a for a place that has bison
burgers and grits on the menu,
they have a pretty good wine list.
I'm gonna get the New York steak,
"rare but not cold,"
a side of spinach and get this pinot.
- Great choice.
- In a bottle.
Thank you.
What?
What's with that sheepish little grin?
There's a man over there.
He keeps looking at me,
like he thinks he knows me.
But he doesn't.
He wants to.
Who can blame him?
Look at you in that dress.
This is the time where you
give him that look that says...
my 400-pound wrestling
championship husband
is about to walk through
the door any minute and kill him.
Give it to him. Oh, yeah right.
I'm so practiced at that look.
Come on.
Well, give it to him.
I... Wait...
Like that? Like...
That's way to pretty.
Like this.
- Yeah. There we go.
- Sir?
Hey, won't you meet
my beautiful wife.
- Isn't she something?
- Wow, you are beautiful.
Is that right? Heh.
Yeah, she is.
He's right. You are.
I think it worked.
Thank you.
These Saturday night dates, babe.
They're not enough for me.
I know.
You didn't call me last
night to say good night.
Shit, I'm sorry, I...
I got in so late,
and I'm coming down
with something.
Can you hear me,
do I sound all stuffed up?
A little bit.
Yeah, I think I'm getting
an ear infection. I can only hear
in one ear right now so...
I-I didn't even eat.
I passed out,
I went right to sleep, so...
Would you please...
Please come to Montana?
I-I-I don't... ever get used
to not being around you.
We've done this plenty of times
and it just never,
it just never feels right,
so please come.
Remember, the last time
I came on your location?
I read three novels, and according to
my Fitbit, I walked 70 miles.
You make that sound like
it's a bad thing.
Well, it's good
for my health obviously, but...
With the girls
both finally away at school
and the catering business
is starting to take off...
You know, yesterday, I had an order
for 300 chocolate covered strawberries.
I ate all the ugly ones.
It was a big mistake.
Oh, no.
You and chocolate.
No good.
I don't know what happens
to me around chocolate.
I just... I'm a goner.
You once you told me I was
better than chocolate. Remember?
- No, I've never said that.
- Yes, you did.
- In your dreams.
- You did.
Come to Montana
and I'll remind you.
You have a whole cast and crew
who revere and adore you.
Yeah, yeah...
I'm the producer, remember...
I write the checks.
So yes, they adore me.
Oh, thank you.
- May I...
- Thank you.
Start while your steak's hot.
- Your Sauvignon blanc, madame.
- Perfect.
So, c'mon then,
tell me, what's the craziest
thing that happened this week?
The craziest thing.
Well, we were, uh...
We were shooting trying
to get a shot of the actors
sailing on the lake at sunset.
And suddenly the follow barge,
it starts to sink.
And water is coming
in the boat, yeah.
So, we take all the equipment
and the crew,
and we go to the other side
of the boat.
That side starts going down.
We barely made it to the shore
and we totally lost
the sunset shot.
It is pretty funny, actually.
Yeah, I guess,
if I wasn't responsible
for the budget.
We went over again. So...
- Filet of sole.
- That.
- Bon apptit.
- Thanks.
Yeah, well, I kind of rode
my own sinking barge this week.
You know that bit in the front entry
that we patched over twice?
- Yes...
- Well, it opened up again.
And Rafael found
a kind of subterranean geyser.
So, what do we do now?
Rafael is gonna come
back tomorrow to discuss it.
- To surprises.
- Surprises.
Oh, look who it is.
Jack? Hey.
I think I lost you.
Oh, I can still see you.
This is Cheryl, she works
in the hair department.
Hi. I still can't see anything.
- But hello.
- See us?
Uh, just... Yes. Hi.
We're actually...
We're on a date. Heh.
Oh, that's so cute!
I need to do that with my guy.
Nice to meet you.
And you.
Great to see you.
Have a good dinner.
Small town...
Mmm, the steak is...
perfect. It's perfect.
How's the wine?
I think you have
something in your teeth.
- Really?
- Smile.
You got a piece of spinach.
Where?
On this side or this side?
- This side.
- Which side?
- This way?
- Yeah.
- Bingo. You're on it.
- I can feel it hang on. Feel it?
What was that?
It's bread.
Do I look like a woman
who wants more bread?
Yes.
Is there something
you're not telling me?
Yeah.
I'd like butter too, and olive oil.
Well, just if I saw you,
this beautiful woman sitting alone,
I... I might wanna send you
something over.
Like what?
Like a glass of great champagne.
To my handsome
professional wrestler husband
who can still surprise me.
Surprise me
and come to Whitefish, Montana.
Your tenacity has made you a success
and I do admire it.
If you come,
I'll make my special pancakes
and we'll spend Sunday,
the whole day, in bed.
Come.
Unless, of course, you get called
out to urgent production meetings,
or location scouts,
or director breakdowns...
And if I do, I'll come right back.
- So, I get called away...
- I will come! I promise.
And for you, madame,
our dessert menu.
Thanks.
We having dessert?
You know what I'm craving?
Think I have an idea,
Mr. Subtle.
Some of your strawberries
dipped in chocolate.
That would be fantastic.
What if I told you
I'd saved you some?
Ah, I'd say seeing is believing.
- All finished, sir?
- Yes, I am.
- How about dessert?
- Please.
I've been good all week,
which is hard here.
I say we should go for it.
And I've been doing
my 10,000 steps,
so why don't we have our favorite,
creme brulee?
I don't know if they make
that in Whitefish.
Can you ask the chef if he can
make me a creme brulee?
I'm not sure what that is, sir.
It's a custard with a caramelized top.
It's really easy.
Uh, sorry, all we have
is what's on the menu.
Uh, but we do have Campfire Pie
as our specialty.
Did you hear that?
Campfire Pie.
What's in that?
- Well, it has...
- You know what, don't tell me.
Surprise me.
- Hold on, the girls.
- Aww, they knew we had a date.
Your mother and I are in a hot
FaceTime date right now.
Can we talk later?
You and Mom are really leveling up
in the romance department.
- Okay, bye.
- That's funny.
How about Lisa saying
we raised the bar on romance.
I love that they think
this is real romance...
Should we be worried?
No, not at all,
it is real romance.
Dare I ask
how the Campfire Pie is?
Well, It's the stuff of ghost stories.
How's the creme brulee?
Not as good as mine.
I'll make it when the girls
are back for Christmas.
That's a great idea.
Ahem. You know, babe,
I'm... I'm fading.
I'm sorry to be an old guy,
but I had to wake up at five
for a location scout this morning
and I think I should call it.
Okay... You should go
and crawl into bed.
Yeah.
I'm happy you didn't cancel
our date though.
No, never.
Drive safe, okay,
you've had a few drinks.
Oh, are we counting now?
Why don't you ask your buddy
in the corner?
He's long gone.
You can sleep well.
Good. I love you.
I love you too.
Kiss me.
Give me a real kiss.
I love you too,
but I'm not doing that.
Why not?
I don't care who's looking.
- Yeah, well I do.
- Give me a quick kiss.
Oh, for God sake.
There. I love you.
Good night. Good night.
How much of a "bigger problem"?
The city inspector says
it's not a real emergency.
- He won't come for two weeks.
- Seriously?
Two weeks before
you can even start?!
If you're lucky.
Thank you.
Oh, one minute.
Okay.
I'm ready.
Thanks.
Hello? Babe?
- Hi.
- Are you okay?
I was just missing you.
I'm totally asleep.
Can we just... talk in the morning?
I'm at your front door.
What?!
I'm here.
Are you. Are you kidding me?
- Are you serious?
- Heh. Yes.
Come on, it's freezing out here.
Hello.
Hold on a sec...
Just...
Surprise!
Hey. Hi. Hi. Hi.
Come in.
Hey... what a surprise.
Yeah...
She forgot her shoe.
LOVE IS
Have a sense of being calm
and relaxed as you start this program.
Exhale and feel any tension
in the neck and shoulders release.
Now bring your arms,
palm face up by your chest.
Extend the arms forward,
and then spiral around to your sides.
SAILING LESSON
And a nice deep breath
as you open the chest.
And bring your hands
down to your sides.
Now, as you bring your arms up,
have the wrists cross,
come up to the chest.
And the arms come up
to the sides and down.
So, you're not dead.
Why did you leave like that?
I had to get out of there.
Apparently so...
I ate the rest of your risotto
and both desserts.
I just wanted to do something,
without reporting to you.
You want to know the real reason?
Yeah. I-I don't know.
I want a girlfriend.
Someone fun to play with.
Do you have somebody in mind?
No. You know I love you.
Well, we've had some...
pretty great play dates
over the years.
Yeah, but now you're too busy
with your needy girlfriends,
your book clubs,
your garden events,
and that bocce game
every friggin' Friday night.
But-but you have
your guy friends to play with.
Okay, so what would you want
your girlfriend to do with you today?
Today?
She'd go sailing with me.
But you don't like to sail.
Oh John, it isn't that
I don't like to sail.
It's that it makes me sick.
I feel the same way about ballet,
but I've gone with you
for the past 41 years.
Okay.
What time?
What time do we sail?
Hey, I was just using
that as an example.
I'm going to take
an extra Dramamine;
I'm going to make
a picnic lunch.
How about that crispy fried
chicken that you love?
Really, you'd go?
You know I love that chicken.
I can't remember
the last time you made it.
I was saving it
for a... a last supper.
You're going to love today.
It'll be really great out on the boat.
Ah, sorry I'm late.
Hi.
The garden tour starts
in half an hour.
- What are you doing?
- And I tried to call you.
I'm going sailing with John.
Since when do you sail?
Since he went
to the city last night alone
and stayed there
'cause I'm no fun anymore.
Oh, brother...
Haven't you earned your free
"no fun" pass by now?
Apparently, it expired.
Listen, Diana,
he's at that dangerous age
when successful men trade in
their old wives...
Oh, please. Oh, please.
For young hot Asian girls
that specialize in...
Okay, okay. Stop.
I'm just saying.
What can you do?
You go sailing.
So, when did he buy a sailboat?
I thought it was into
that vintage Porsche.
No, no, Mustang,
that was the year before.
Last year was the boat.
Does he even know how to sail?
I don't know,
we've never been out alone.
Oy. I do not get
a good feeling about this.
Well, I'm not going
on the Titanic.
Can't you find something else
to do fun together?
He says I specialize in saying
"no", so today I'm saying "yes."
Well, I wouldn't
do that for any man.
And that's why you're alone.
Blessedly!
Alright, I am calling the Coast Guard
if I don't hear from you by six.
Can I help you, my man?
No thanks, my man.
I got it. Okay. You sure?
Yeah, I got it.
Can't get over what
a good day it is out here.
It's gorgeous.
And I'm not seasick so far.
I topped off your gas
for you, my man.
Okay.
Oh, perfect, thank you.
Ah! Damn!
- Oh, you okay?
- Ah, it's tiller...
You're all set.
And dude, you got a fast boat.
Oh, yeah.
Got some change?
No, man.
Thanks, man.
Have a great day.
Good job, honey!
Take the tiller, honey.
Oh, we sail the ocean blue
In our saucy ships of beauty
Not the kind of thing
you do in a book club.
Looks like we'll have to wait
for the wind to come up.
Oh well, it's such a lovely day.
Who cares.
How about we have a look around.
Wow, honey.
We have the lake to ourselves,
it looks like.
Except for that
big fella over there.
Oh, that's actually
a Great Blue Heron.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
It has extra feathers
under its chin
that it combs with a special
claw on its middle toe.
So, how'd you know all that?
Don't tell me you've
become a "birder" now.
No, but I read about Herons
in that boring book club
you refuse to join.
I just don't want to join a book club
or ever have a schedule again.
You don't get it?
If I want to go
to a baseball game,
I want to go to a baseball game.
Or maybe go to the antique car show
in Monterey.
Maybe just sit around on the
porch all day and play chess.
I want a girlfriend
who wants to do my stuff.
And what if your girlfriend
wants to do her stuff?
You mean like lunches
with girlfriends,
hair appointments, bocce?
I thought you would love playing
on the bocce team.
I joined for us.
But who wants to sign up a guy
with a bad knee?
Someone who's always looking
for interesting new things
for us to do together.
Like that Moroccan cooking class.
Yeah, that was a good idea,
except I got heartburn!
Remember, I signed us up
for that wood shop class to build
those bookshelves you wanted.
Well, that was
just great until...
I saw that guy get his fingers
cut off right in front of me.
That was an isolated accident.
It scared me.
But you could've told me that.
You just quit.
If you looked in my eyes,
I think it would be obvious.
You've changed, you know.
Thank you for noticing.
Our kids are gone.
We have an empty nest.
We're both retired.
We have to course correct.
And if your idea of doing that
is getting a girlfriend, just go for it!
- What are you doing?
- I'm eating my stuff.
Well, hey, I'm hungry too.
Let's find a place to drop anchor
and have lunch.
Here, come take the tiller
and I'll go get the anchor. Come on.
My knee!
Alright, come get the tiller.
Sorry, babe.
It's... It's up front there.
Okay.
I'd appreciate it
if you'd call me "Girlfriend."
Thank you.
Now, just drop it in when I say.
Now!
Some sailor you are.
I think I have great potential.
Don't you think?
I'm really sorry that wood shop
class scared you, Di.
Not as much as your phone call
this morning.
I have something for us.
As old Marines say,
"Here's to us and those like us.
Dammed few left."
Now, why do you say that?
It's true!
We never would have met
if it were now.
Everybody finds their perfect
soulmate online.
I mean, nobody gets married
because they're young
and pregnant, like us.
Yeah, I guess.
Well, they didn't both love
antique car shows and garden tours.
That's it, they'd never meet.
Yeah, they would've
already hit delete.
Yeah. Heh.
I guess we really are dinosaurs.
Can you imagine what our bio's
or whatever they call 'em?
Profiles. Oh, here's yours:
"Tyrannosaurus wants
to meet another 'Saurus',
preferably blonde
with big boobs." Heh.
"She must have the ability
to organize his closet,
"and tolerate Godzilla-like snoring
and make crispy fried chicken."
"He must accept book
clubs, garden events...
"and girlfriends with endless
relationship problems. Mmm. Stop.
Stop, stop, stop! Heh.
And appreciate sincere loyalty."
Wow, good save.
It is so peaceful here.
I'm not even seasick today. Heh.
Oh, honey.
I guess I can't do fried anymore.
Maybe not on a boat.
Here.
Do you want to think
about heading back?
Yeah, I'm really tired.
I couldn't sleep last night.
Maybe because I'm too used
to sleeping with you.
Yeah, let's go.
Okay.
I just...
I can't do it anymore.
My damn shoulder.
It's fine. It's no problem.
Why don't you call that dock boy?
There's no damn signal.
Well...
I mean, honey,
look where we are.
It's a beautiful afternoon.
Sorry, babe.
Damn!
I wanted this
to be a perfect day.
Honey...
Do you remember that time
when we were in college
and we were stranded
in that mountain cabin
waiting for
the snowplow to come?
Do you remember what we did?
Come on, baby, come sit with me.
I want you to relax.
I want you to have a nice day.
I wonder what a "girlfriend" would do
in a situation like this?
We got a problem here.
I know we have a problem, my gosh.
Hi! Hi!
Hi.
Wait... Hey!
Hello!
Hey, come help!
You got a problem?
Yeah, I can't get
the outboard started.
I... I got a bad shoulder.
I got it.
You're out of gas. What?
We had a full tank
when we left the marina.
Yeah, but this little tank
is so small
I'm surprised it got you this far.
These little motors are only meant
to get you in and out of the dock.
"He likes Hemingway,
certain lingerie,
"crispy fried chicken
he can't eat anymore.
And can be an ass."
"She adores his true sailor's heart
and his love of adventure."
"He adores her moves...
all of them."
Circle the right arm around
and down the midline.
Circle the left arm around
and down the midline.
This creates inner balance
and harmony.
Well, that, that feels kind of good.
Is there a class we can take...
girlfriend?
LOVE
Here we go.
Oh, hello.
Hey. Hi.
Come in.
Is this seat taken?
No. Great.
Thank you. What's your name?
I'm Jackie. Oh.
What's yours? Wendy.
Nice to meet you. Thank you.
Oh. Excuse me.
Oh, please. Jackie, hi.
Ah, well, it looks beautiful,
doesn't it?
So, let's all toast
in my mom's way.
Oh, and say your names.
I'm Caroline.
I'm Anne.
Remember what Claire would say
if we didn't really look
in each other's eyes?
"Seven years of bad sex."
Been there, done that.
Oh! I would like any sex.
Marlene.
Joanne.
Patty.
I'm not taking any chances.
Nancy.
Jackie.
Wendy.
Mary Kay.
To mom.
To Claire.
You okay?
Yeah.
I'm fine.
I have been living on the East Coast
pretty much since I was 18
and I just didn't get back
to see my mom
as much as much
as I wanted to or should have.
But we finally planned a trip together,
in September, to France.
We started planning it
after my dad died.
And then we thought we'd go
after I passed the bar,
and then after
she finished her book,
then I got a job
and I had to start right away.
And we were waiting
for the right time.
There's no such thing.
No, it's not.
I know this vase!
We got this in a little funky
thrift shop in Kentucky.
Yeah! And those peonies,
her favorites.
You know, I actually think that
Claire discovered peonies with me.
One of our dreaded regulars we had
at the diner that we worked at
would bring us some from his garden
instead of tipping.
We hated him,
but we grew to love those flowers.
After our sophomore year
at college working as waitresses
at a resort in upstate New York.
Our immediate goal,
besides making money,
was lose our virginity.
- What!
- Just get it over with.
- We wanted to know what it was like.
- Oh, my God!
The endless lecture series
I got from Mom about how I needed
to "save myself for the right guy,"
and there she was planning
some random...?!
Of course. She needed
to teach you ethics...
Even though she didn't
always practice them.
She was your mother.
Part of the job description.
So, she actually...
He was older...
about 24, experienced.
And I got some jerk from Wisconsin
we'll just call "the five second man."
I'm sorry.
Anybody want to know
how Claire and I met?
Yes.
We were interns
at Vogue together.
She was an assistant
to the photo editor,
who happened
to be a total bitch.
We both hated her
and bonded deeply over that.
Nothing like having someone
to hate together, right?
But then we discovered
that we were both dating
the same guy.
What?
I mean, he was awfully cute,
and he did have attributes.
But he was just too boring
for either one of us.
And anyway, she met your father
shortly after that, so...
But we always loved to toast Rodger,
because he brought us together.
I can't believe it's been only
a little over a month. Feels like...
I don't know what it feels like.
There's nothing to compare it to.
And what about you, honey?
Me?
How are you?
Well, every morning when I wake up,
I still can't believe it.
But I've been so busy... there's been
so much to take care of, and...
Excuse me. Heh.
Sorry, my plane was very late,
and the Uber driver was ignorant!
Everyone...
this is Rose Simon.
Bonjour.
It's a pleasure to be here.
Anne, Bonjour!
I brought some chocolate
for you from Paris.
Oh, thank you!
Rose, some wine?
Oh, thank you. Yes, please.
We've just been getting
to know each other.
There's plates and food.
Please help yourself.
Yes. Thank you.
I know what I'm going
to have later.
I think I'm done.
So, Rose...
we've just been telling stories
about Mom.
On the plane, I was thinking about
the first time I met Claire.
She floated
into my shop one afternoon.
I had a little boutique in
the Marais district of Paris.
She would come in and admire things
and often buy a scarf or two.
Or 43...
We shared a passion
for beautiful things in many forms
gardens, contemporary art...
We'd stroll over to the...
the Pompidou Centre
and explore for hours.
I tell you, she would not tolerate
any "French attitude",
not even from me.
Speaking of museums...
Yeah, Mom collected
all kinds of art.
Yeah, and I see she put yours
front and center.
This was her favorite ribbon.
I see she continued
to use it, huh?
Yes.
It was for my pigtails
and it was always on my tap shoes.
- I know that ribbon.
- I recognize it too.
She hand-picked
every truffle for you.
Your mother brought
those chocolates to my wedding.
Well, that's what we called it anyway,
but it was not legal then.
Uh, my wife Alice and I got married
in the desert outside of Taos.
And I had invited your parents,
and your mom said that your dad
couldn't come, but she accepted,
which, I swear to God,
I didn't expect.
There comes your mother,
all on her own, middle of nowhere,
impeccably dressed
in this very conservative suit,
holding a box
of those chocolates.
She was my most
conservative friend,
but also my most accepting
and supportive.
For me, too.
Claire was completely there
for me when...
when my husband came out
and left me and the kids
for his boyfriend.
- Oh, no.
- Oy!
I was blindsided.
I really didn't see it coming at all.
Claire called me.
I was in publishing at the time
and we were talking about
a book sale to England.
She heard the tone in my voice.
The next morning,
she jumped on a plane,
flew to L.A. and took the kids
while I went off to the desert.
Just remember staring out
over the landscape.
I couldn't even think at first.
But being alone for those two
days was exactly what I needed.
By the time I got back, she turned
into bloody Mary Poppins.
The kids had planted carrots
in the back garden,
and they'd been exploring tide pools
and making cookies.
They were having the best time.
Claire gave me what I so needed
those couple of days
as if it was the easiest thing
in the world.
She... She just knew.
And later she introduced me
to someone else
who'd been
in a similar situation.
She was a life saver.
I can't believe I just barfed all that out
in a room full of strangers.
No! It's why we're here.
You know, I just feel that
Claire brought us all together.
- You know what I mean?
- Oh, yes.
I worry that my daughter
won't be able to trust men.
She's already made some
horrible boyfriend choices.
Oh, you and my mom must have
had a field day on that one.
She loved your boyfriend.
No kidding!
When we broke up,
she went into mourning.
Oh, but she just wanted you
not to be too hasty,
to take a last look.
Right.
She did think a lot of him.
Yeah, she made that
crystal clear.
And that I wasn't
getting any younger.
I think she was afraid
she wasn't getting any younger
and she wanted to be the fun
grandmother, not the old granny.
Yes, and it wasn't that
she wasn't proud of your success.
It's just that she didn't want you
to miss out.
Yeah, right.
Are you doing okay?
Fine.
Of course.
Oh, that sounded
exactly like Claire.
She would always say,
"I'm fine."
Marriage, check.
Work, check.
Except when it came to you.
She was only as happy
as your last conversation with her.
That's just it.
Our last conversation,
I, um... We...
Excuse me.
She mention that last conversation?
Yeah. It was a big disagreement.
Yeah, was.
- Sorry.
- You okay?
It's alright.
I've just been sitting here
listening to you all,
and I feel like you're talking
about someone I didn't know.
It's ironic the way Mom was there
for all of you, so compassionate.
- For me, not so much.
- Oh, sweetie.
My life just always seemed
really messy compared to hers.
Honey, well, life is messy.
But your mother knew how
to clean up very well.
She didn't want to burden you.
I wish she had! That's the thing,
that's what distanced us.
She never told me anything.
Maybe her not telling you some things
was her way of showing her love.
What does that mean?
I mean that...
Well, I can think of one example.
- Don't. No.
- I know it's inappropriate.
- It's okay. What is it?
- It's inappropriate.
No, honestly, um...
Honestly, it makes me
too ashamed, so...
No really, I mean...
I really want to know. Marlene,
don't go there.
How embarrassing could it really be,
after your story about Rodger?
It was right after Rodger. I think
the lines got a little blurred for me
with Claire and I...
I had a thing with, with Tom.
My dad?
What do you mean by "a thing"?
A nothing thing, a one night,
drunken, million years ago,
deeply regrettable thing, that I wish
that you mother
never found out about, but...
Tom told her everything because
he didn't want there
to be any secrets... between them.
Jesus, poor Mom...
Yeah, she was, she was very angry.
And very upset.
She said it made her
even more upset
because I'd been
so dishonest about it.
See, your mother had
a very strong moral compass
and she followed it.
And... and I never
really had that, so...
How was she still your friend?
Well, it was a long time ago,
and, uh, we almost
didn't get past it.
But she was determined
to forgive me.
She saw forgiveness as kind
of a spiritual achievement.
And, uh...
This was sort of a life lesson for her,
something like that, you know...
Anyway, she did forgive me, so...
I just didn't really forgive myself, so...
Why didn't she tell me?
Oh, because
you adored your father.
She didn't want
to tarnish that relationship.
Let's face it.
Tom was irresistible. Heh.
Did you sleep with him too?
What I meant was that...
Claire was aware of how women
responded to him.
Men too.
He just...
He lit up a room.
I'm really sorry, Caroline.
Tom adored
Claire.
They were soulmates, really.
You know, in France, we say:
"On ne fout pas un mariage en
l'air cause d'un coup de cul",
which means, you don't
throw away a marriage
because of a piece of ass.
- No offense.
- None taken.
Marriage, well, love,
it's bigger than a bedroom.
They never lost their magic
the way most couples do.
I always thought they were
so romantic,
in an old-fashioned way.
He'd come home from work,
and she'd put on perfume.
He'd make martinis
and lift her up for a kiss.
Is that what that photo is?
Yeah, I took that.
Well, you have your mother's
eyes and her eye.
Okay, well,
I'm a lawyer, as you know,
and I have some questions,
I was hoping to answer today,
since clearly you all knew my mother
a lot better than I did.
I've been going
through her things.
I found her wedding dress in the attic,
which I didn't know she kept.
And I noticed that the seams
had been let out at the waist.
You were at the wedding...
Stress eating?
No.
She was pregnant.
So, my Catholic mother
who told me
she had a flu at her wedding
was pregnant with me.
She always planned to tell you.
Did my dad know?
She told him on their honeymoon.
That must have been a surprise.
Well, I don't think
either one of them
wanted to start
a family immediately.
But Caroline,
when you were born,
he was totally in love,
and a natural father.
When my brother
was born "too soon,"
my mother
was called "a sinner." Heh.
I mean, it was hard to shake off
that indoctrination in those days.
Now, it's almost the opposite extreme.
My daughter and her boyfriend
got married only after
they'd had two kids.
And my granddaughters
were her flower girls.
In France, you know, couples often
don't get married until their children
are teenagers, if at all.
Did my mom ever say
how she felt about it?
If it wasn't for all that Catholic guilt
your grandmother threw at her,
I don't think she
would've given a damn.
She was so happy
being pregnant with you.
Well, thank God for us old hippies
who lightened everything
the hell up!
- And feminism made a dent.
- Yeah.
My mom always said
that it passed her by.
She had three kids,
and my father
never changed a diaper
or did a dish.
We were lucky
to be born when we were.
Yup. That's right.
My mother told me
a horrific story
about her roommate
who got pregnant
and went to Mexico
and came back hemorrhaging.
Something that will always
define my friendship with Claire
was something
she did for me many years ago.
I was 42 and pregnant.
I have a friend that age
who's been trying for years.
Yeah, well, I wasn't trying.
I already had two kids,
teenagers.
I couldn't handle an infant.
And my husband,
he'd never understand.
It would have been the end of us...
and the family.
But if I kept it, it would have
been the end of me.
I needed someone to trust
that could take me
to the clinic...
and stay with me,
and I asked Claire, and...
And she did this for me.
Was one of those perfect
spring mornings.
The plum trees were in bloom
along the streets.
So beautiful.
And there I was,
about to end a life.
I asked Claire
to stop, turn around,
and she looked at me and said...
"It's time
for you choose your life."
I cried for a week.
She called me every day.
It's never easy
to make that choice.
No.
I'm so sorry,
that must have been horrible.
Yeah, that's one thing my mom
and I always agreed on.
So, Wendy,
do you want to tell
everyone how you met Mom?
Ah... let's see.
A couple of years ago, Claire
sat next to me on a flight.
And we just hit it off.
- Are you a doctor?
- Yes.
Yes, I heard about you.
But look, on the way back,
all your mother did was talk about you.
And what you do...
and why two vital women
would "choose"
such hard careers.
Yeah, yeah.
I know, she was always on me
about why I didn't go work
at a firm
that does "fun" stuff
instead of social justice.
Well, she got it though,
she really got it.
She did.
You know, while we're landing,
she pulls out her checkbook
writes a donation
to one of the clinics
I was overseeing.
She volunteered
there too, right?
She did, yeah.
And we would have... Oh...
We would have lunch together
afterwards and...
your mother was curious
about me.
She was curious about my work
and about me
being African American.
She was not afraid to ask
very specific questions.
We had the, the best
conversations about race
and everything that,
you know, I have to deal with
and what it means to me
and how it affects me
on a daily basis.
I mean...
it was okay to be uncomfortable.
Anyway, she also pushed me
to have my very first massage.
Yes, I agree with that.
I just didn't, you know,
realize how depleted I was.
And your mom, she cared
about my well-being.
Was the massage with Mitzi?
Yes, it was.
Well, don't they always say
put your own oxygen mask
on first?
That they do. Can't help anyone.
Oh, that's Robert,
he lives
in the basement apartment.
Oh, is Claire's book club
still meeting?
Nope.
Sorry to disturb
your ladies' lunch.
Or knitting club.
- This package just arrived.
- Oh...
And I wanted to let you know
there's also a car blocking
the neighbor's driveway
and the meter maid is
at the top of the block, so...
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
That might be me. Ah.
I'll be back.
It's for Mom.
Oh, it's California poppy seed.
She would scatter them
in road dividers, vacant lots.
Yes, she did do that.
Yeah, she used to stop her car
on the side of the highway
and get out and throw seeds.
As a kid,
it was so embarrassing.
I think that she did that on
the first day that we met in Charleston.
- Really?
- Yeah.
So, I was an aspiring singer,
but I couldn't make any money at it,
so I was working
as a photographer.
And I think that was Claire's first book,
um, "Gardens of the South".
Aw, that first night, I took her
to this funky little honky-tonk,
and we bonded over barbecue.
She found out
that I was a songwriter
and she asked me to sing
one of my songs for her.
But, you know, I was so worried
that this poised Yankee lady
would think that I was
some southern fried hick.
But... I sang for her,
and, uh, after I was finished,
she just looked at me
and she said,
"What are you doing
taking pictures
when you can sing
and write songs like that?"
- Mom.
- That's so sweet.
I find I keep talking to her
like she's still here.
She is.
I talk to my mom all the time.
She's still telling me what to do.
Caroline, your mother
was insanely proud of you,
graduating cum laude
and passing the bar.
I think she even may have
been a little intimidated
by all your accomplishments,
and maybe even a little envious
of your young, single life.
Mom, jealous of me? No.
I think that she had thought
that you'd done so much for the world...
and she wanted to make sure that you
were taking care of your own world too.
You know, she didn't want you
to put that on hold.
And for what it's worth,
she thought you'd make a great mom.
I can't believe
I didn't get a ticket.
It was so close.
You're so lucky.
It's so impossible around here.
So, Patty...
you went to grade school
with Mom, right?
This is us in first grade!
Well, that some connection,
losing your teeth together.
Yeah, but hers grew in
faster and straighter.
Aw, so cute.
We were best friends
at Sacred Heart-less.
She protected me in what was known
as "penmanship class"
from Sister Jean-Marie's
"knuckle rapping."
You know, they don't even teach
handwriting anymore.
They don't?
Three years ago,
we found each other on Facebook.
We realized we were
each other's oldest friend.
I've lived in Dayton
since 5th grade.
I guess I'm
her country bumpkin friend.
I have to admit, being around
all you accomplished women
is daunting for this Ohio gal.
Oh, no.
Claire came to visit last March.
We went on this long walk,
winter was just thawing.
We ended up having an...
unexpectedly deep conversation
about our mothers
and end of life issues.
I watched my mother die
of Alzheimer's for over five years.
And I still remember
the day that she said,
"I know you're someone I love."
We both wondered whether or not
we had enough faith to face death.
She still had so much life to live.
Feels completely unfair,
really outrageous, really,
I'm totally furious!
Amen.
That's the ravaging part
of a loss like Claire's.
You know, Claire and I went
on a retreat last year.
Yeah, to a spa?
Nope... for creative writing.
Really?
Our first assignment was to write about
the "what ifs" in our lives.
What if we'd married
different men.
What if we gone abroad
and never came back.
You know, I found a manuscript
with no title
in one of Mom's computer bags
and nearly tossed it out.
But then I read
the first few pages
and the style was so like
the way she talked.
What was it about?
- I don't know.
- Pardon?
That's all I read.
What the hell are you waiting for?
To be honest...
I was afraid to read more.
What were you afraid of?
Maybe she was writing about us.
I'm not ready to...
I get it.
I bet a lot of us have
unresolved "stuff" with our mom's.
No. Not me.
I know I do.
Well, you know
what Claire would say...
"Just keep moving
like you're dancing."
I don't know.
Excuse me.
That was Mom's Chi Gong instructor,
he came for her Thursday
afternoon lesson.
He's been in China
for the last two months...
I had to tell him.
Oh, Rose, do you want
to open those chocolates?
These are from A La Mere de Famille,
the oldest chocolate shop in Paris.
And Claire's favorite.
Voil.
- Gorgeous.
- Bon Apptit.
I'm sorry if this is awkward,
but I know your mother died
in an accident,
I never heard
what happened exactly...
Oh, I sorry, I didn't realize
that you didn't...
Me either.
Last month, Mom went to visit
her editor in Napa, Louise Greene.
Some of you may know of her,
she's 82 going on 28.
Yes, I always said I wanted
to be her when I grew up.
Amazing woman.
There was an unexpected rain
and the roads were slick.
A big rig truck coming
from the opposite direction,
it jackknifed...
crossed the center divider
into oncoming traffic.
I was told she died instantly.
Well...
going quickly without pain
or illness or dread,
even though
it was way too soon...
it's not all bad.
I called her on the way to work,
maybe 20 minutes before the crash.
I know from her phone log
I was the last person that she spoke to.
Oh, there must be some comfort in that.
None.
See, that's the thing.
We'd had that big "fracture"
months before.
And then we'd come out of our corners
and taken the gloves off,
and for a while,
we talked about everything else.
But that day, when I called,
I had a secret to tell her
she was not gonna believe,
and it was all her fault!
But I didn't want to tell her
on the phone
while she was driving, so...
I waited.
And she said,
"Oh, I love beautiful secrets."
She said it was
a "beautiful secret?"
Did she call it "beautiful"?
You just said it.
Oh, I hadn't remembered that
until just now.
I haven't told anyone.
Honey, you know,
wherever she is, your mom knows.
Why don't you... tell us.
I broke up with Michael
after almost two years.
And she was really upset.
She seemed more upset for him
than what I was feeling.
That's when we totally derailed
into a full-on blowout fight.
She let me know that
she just "couldn't believe"
that after I'd done the school thing,
and the work thing so well,
I'd completely blown
the "good man thing",
is what she called it.
Attempting to, you know,
rationally explain to her
that it wasn't her choice, it was mine,
didn't go over well.
And I didn't stay civil
for long either.
Well, it's natural, you were upset.
So, for weeks afterward,
she begged me to see Michael again.
She kept saying, "Just see him,
meet for a little talk",
be absolutely sure that
you are ready to let him go,
that I wasn't being impulsive.
I said no blanking way.
You can say "fucking."
I said no fucking way,
and I actually dated
some other guys,
nice, boring guys.
Good for you.
Boring is underrated.
Well, I ended up
in a moment
of weakness or clarity,
I'm not sure which,
texting Michael to see
if he wanted to meet and talk.
And...
Well, we "met" all right,
but I don't think
we said one word,
besides "Make sure it's locked",
and I left the next morning.
That day in May,
when I called Mom,
was just moments
after I found out
I was pregnant
from that little talk...
she insisted I have with Michael.
Why didn't I just tell her then?
Oh, sweetie.
And how is that
"beautiful secret" doing?
- Oh, my goodness.
- Oh, my goodness.
Michael must be thrilled.
I haven't told him.
I haven't decided
what to do about it.
You mean about him or...
Both.
You know that trip that you were
going to take with your mom...
could be a really good place
to, um, sort it all out.
Be a shame
to waste those tickets.
I was going
to offer them to you.
- Oh, no, no, no.
- Absolutely not.
Why don't you take Michael?
Oh, heh, no way.
And you could get
some talking done.
Oh, she's got you all
thinking just like her!
It's a conspiracy!
Okay, moving on.
Come, I want
to show you something.
So as some of you know,
my mom liked to make altars.
Oh, her beautiful altars.
She made one for me with
the kids when my husband left.
It was very healing for them.
Yeah, how she made one for me
when I was preparing for the bar
and I always thought
that was why I passed it.
It really got me through.
So I've started one
for her here,
and I have
some of her favorite objects,
and her books, and photographs.
That's why I asked you all
to bring a remembrance today.
I was hoping
we could all add to it.
Last January,
Claire and I went to Stinson Beach.
And we each made
a list of our regrets,
and tied them around a rock,
and threw them in the ocean.
And then we sat in the sand,
nipping from a flask of brandy,
making plans for this year.
I picked this up that day,
and it's wrapped
with a prayer for Claire.
I just wrote a note to Claire.
It's sort of a thank you note.
This is a photo of me,
my wife and our son Max.
Claire had bought him
his first pair of drumsticks.
Damn her. Heh.
This is Claire and me
at our first dance recital.
The teacher gave up on me,
but Claire was good,
she kept on dancing.
We saw this beautiful Matisse
exhibit together in Paris.
And Claire had particularly loved
this composition of two women,
and she said
they looked like sisters,
and she'd always wanted
a sister, so...
I'd say she got a lot of sisters.
Yes.
These are the children
in the kids' program
that had never seen a dentist.
Claire was a donor
and she came to visit them.
I'd like to make a donation
in Claire's name.
Oh, I would too.
Thank you so much.
I will gladly accept. Thank you.
I'm going to miss our long talks
at our favorite restaurant,
the Odeon,
where we would drink champagne
and eat oysters,
and we'd have
the best confessionals.
I promise you
I will always be here
for Caroline.
Last August,
Claire and I decided
we would meet
and exchange what we'd written.
But then we decided
we weren't ready.
So we started drinking wine.
How much wine, you ask?
Enough that we ended up
lying down in my backyard,
shooting our manuscripts,
and each other, with these pistols.
It felt like the first time
we first met,
and we felt so free.
These are lyrics to a song
that I wrote for Claire.
Well, sing it!
Oh, I can't,
I didn't bring my guitar.
Please sing it.
I... Please.
There are gifts In the love
There are gifts In the loss
Regrets are like rocks
That sink to the bottom
Free from the weight
A new road to cross
Now you're gone
But life goes on
Because love is what stays
Because love finds a way
Because love is the answer
At the end of the day
Because love is what stays
Because love finds a way
Because love will forgive
At the end of the day
Only love remains
Thank you.
I went into my mom's room
this morning,
I was looking for something to wear.
This ring was her mother's
and I found this book of poems
that I gave to her for Mother's Day
a couple years ago.
I opened it at random
and found these lines:
"Without warning you left me,
But you returned..."
I feel like my mother has
returned to me in all of you.
And now, from the "Claire Collection",
of the best scarves ever...
I know she would want
you all to have one.
So please pick your favorite,
no fighting and let's have champagne.
Oh, and Gloria, you have
to drink this. Thank you.
Gloria's been an invaluable part
of our family.
As you have been "mi familia."
To Mom, and all of us
who love her.
May her scarves wrap
each of us in her magic.
To Claire.
Oh, we have to take
a picture together.
Oh, I got that.
All you have to do
is click right there,
stand exactly where
I'm standing. Okay.
Alrighty,
and I'm scooching over here.
Okay.
Everybody, smile!
You're not really going to let them go
just like that, are you?
What do you mean?
Okay, ladies...
You can't leave just yet.
There are tap shoes for
every one of you Cinderellas.
As you know,
she collected these...
From Goodwill's, garage sales,
anywhere she was.
Yeah, she found a pair in Paris
and made me dance with her.
Caroline, you're not really
seriously gonna make us...
Oh, I seriously really am.
She is her mother's daughter.
Ah, yeah. Find your size.
Oh, gosh!
Step, step, up,
shuffle, step, step.
A five, six, seven, eight...
Oh, yeah!
Is everyone okay?
Honey, there's no perfect life.
Maybe so.
But, for the first time,
feels possible to think about
what to do with mine.
"Possible" is a good start.
Caroline, I hope someday,
you can forgive me.
I'll call you.
Okay, thank you.
Um, this is the advance
to my new CD.
And I want you to know
that your mom's song is on there,
and that I wouldn't have
been able to do it without her.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
When you decide what you're going
to do, will you let us know?
- I will.
- 'Cause we're here for you.
Thank you.
Alright. Bye.
Don't wait for anything.
Yeah?
Thank you.
Your mother gave me this,
and I want you to have it.
Thank you.
We love you.
I love you too.
LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE
THREE TALES
THREE TALES
TWO FOR DINNER
Hey, babe. Hey.
How you doin'? Good, good. You?
I'm great.
You almost ready?
Almost, I just have shoes
and earrings.
Hey, would you wear that suit?
The one we had made in London.
I'm wearing it.
Remember that great little hotel?
I do. Where you surprised me
with the silk lingerie for my birthday.
Mmm... Rocky.
Say hi.
- Hi...
- Hello, Rocky.
He misses you. I miss him.
Hey, do me a favor,
wear those red strappy shoes
so I can see your feet.
The ones I almost broke
my back in?
I'd love to get you
on your back right now.
You...
Shoes coming up.
Ooh, look at that.
Wow, that's nice.
- Red shoes.
- Oh, boy.
Red shoes.
Oh, boy.
Oh... you're killing me.
You're killing me right now.
You don't wear those shoes
for anyone else, do you?
Never you mind.
Hey, it's Saturday night,
let's do something special.
Where should we go?
- What do you feel like?
- I don't know.
Maybe... something European.
How about the little French place?
Let's go. Let's do it. Okay.
- I'll see you there.
- Don't start without me.
Thank you.
Bonsoir, madame, and welcome.
- How are you? Been a while, hey.
- Doing very well.
May I bring you a Bombay
gin martini, very cold?
Oh, sounds prefect, thanks.
Oh, remind me,
what's the wifi password?
French75.
Gotcha.
Jack?
Is this seat taken, madam?
There you are.
- How's the connection, alright?
- It's fine.
We're making a movie
in Whitefish, Montana, don't forget,
so the closest thing to French
around here is the mustard.
No, not even that.
Oh, well...
- Amazing.
- Did you get a haircut?
You look great in that suit.
You trying to make
all the women to drool?
The only women drooling around here
have their A.A.R.P. cards.
But you love older women.
You, babe.
You, you get better...
and better.
- Hello, sir.
- Hello.
Can I get you a drink?
Should we start with our usual?
Get a martini, please.
- Bombay gin... very, very cold.
- Comin' right up.
Mine's already on the way.
What do you feel like?
I think...
I will have
the filet of sole almondine
with wilted spinach.
That sounds like girl food to me.
- Your martini, madame.
- Thank you.
Then I'm gonna get
the New York steak, "rare but not cold."
And a side of spinach.
We can eat our vitamins together.
Now, how's that for intimate?
I'll wait for you.
Mine is coming.
Thank you.
Cheers! Cheers!
Here's to us and those like us,
damn few left.
The girls hate that toast.
Well, other than that,
we haven't screwed 'em up too bad.
Well, let's hope our luck holds.
Lisa's only been
in college for three weeks.
Might be a little early to tell.
You know Kate's boyfriend,
the one with the motorcycle?
Let's call him "friend."
- Kate's friend with the motorcycle...
- Yeah... Uh-huh.
He asked me what the secret was
to our long marriage.
This is a guy with a lot of secrets.
What'd ya tell him?
"Don't get divorced."
Excellent advice, that's very wise.
What would you like
this evening, madame?
I think I'll have
the filet of sole, please.
And a glass of Sauvignon blanc.
Great choice.
- There you are! Bon soir.
- Look who's here.
- It's been too long.
- Yes, well...
She can tell you
the shoot has been...
It's been a little rough here.
Uh, but, uh,
it's only five more weeks.
Only? I will take good care
of your lovely wife.
Please, please do.
Au revoir. Au revoir.
Well, for a for a place that has bison
burgers and grits on the menu,
they have a pretty good wine list.
I'm gonna get the New York steak,
"rare but not cold,"
a side of spinach and get this pinot.
- Great choice.
- In a bottle.
Thank you.
What?
What's with that sheepish little grin?
There's a man over there.
He keeps looking at me,
like he thinks he knows me.
But he doesn't.
He wants to.
Who can blame him?
Look at you in that dress.
This is the time where you
give him that look that says...
my 400-pound wrestling
championship husband
is about to walk through
the door any minute and kill him.
Give it to him. Oh, yeah right.
I'm so practiced at that look.
Come on.
Well, give it to him.
I... Wait...
Like that? Like...
That's way to pretty.
Like this.
- Yeah. There we go.
- Sir?
Hey, won't you meet
my beautiful wife.
- Isn't she something?
- Wow, you are beautiful.
Is that right? Heh.
Yeah, she is.
He's right. You are.
I think it worked.
Thank you.
These Saturday night dates, babe.
They're not enough for me.
I know.
You didn't call me last
night to say good night.
Shit, I'm sorry, I...
I got in so late,
and I'm coming down
with something.
Can you hear me,
do I sound all stuffed up?
A little bit.
Yeah, I think I'm getting
an ear infection. I can only hear
in one ear right now so...
I-I didn't even eat.
I passed out,
I went right to sleep, so...
Would you please...
Please come to Montana?
I-I-I don't... ever get used
to not being around you.
We've done this plenty of times
and it just never,
it just never feels right,
so please come.
Remember, the last time
I came on your location?
I read three novels, and according to
my Fitbit, I walked 70 miles.
You make that sound like
it's a bad thing.
Well, it's good
for my health obviously, but...
With the girls
both finally away at school
and the catering business
is starting to take off...
You know, yesterday, I had an order
for 300 chocolate covered strawberries.
I ate all the ugly ones.
It was a big mistake.
Oh, no.
You and chocolate.
No good.
I don't know what happens
to me around chocolate.
I just... I'm a goner.
You once you told me I was
better than chocolate. Remember?
- No, I've never said that.
- Yes, you did.
- In your dreams.
- You did.
Come to Montana
and I'll remind you.
You have a whole cast and crew
who revere and adore you.
Yeah, yeah...
I'm the producer, remember...
I write the checks.
So yes, they adore me.
Oh, thank you.
- May I...
- Thank you.
Start while your steak's hot.
- Your Sauvignon blanc, madame.
- Perfect.
So, c'mon then,
tell me, what's the craziest
thing that happened this week?
The craziest thing.
Well, we were, uh...
We were shooting trying
to get a shot of the actors
sailing on the lake at sunset.
And suddenly the follow barge,
it starts to sink.
And water is coming
in the boat, yeah.
So, we take all the equipment
and the crew,
and we go to the other side
of the boat.
That side starts going down.
We barely made it to the shore
and we totally lost
the sunset shot.
It is pretty funny, actually.
Yeah, I guess,
if I wasn't responsible
for the budget.
We went over again. So...
- Filet of sole.
- That.
- Bon apptit.
- Thanks.
Yeah, well, I kind of rode
my own sinking barge this week.
You know that bit in the front entry
that we patched over twice?
- Yes...
- Well, it opened up again.
And Rafael found
a kind of subterranean geyser.
So, what do we do now?
Rafael is gonna come
back tomorrow to discuss it.
- To surprises.
- Surprises.
Oh, look who it is.
Jack? Hey.
I think I lost you.
Oh, I can still see you.
This is Cheryl, she works
in the hair department.
Hi. I still can't see anything.
- But hello.
- See us?
Uh, just... Yes. Hi.
We're actually...
We're on a date. Heh.
Oh, that's so cute!
I need to do that with my guy.
Nice to meet you.
And you.
Great to see you.
Have a good dinner.
Small town...
Mmm, the steak is...
perfect. It's perfect.
How's the wine?
I think you have
something in your teeth.
- Really?
- Smile.
You got a piece of spinach.
Where?
On this side or this side?
- This side.
- Which side?
- This way?
- Yeah.
- Bingo. You're on it.
- I can feel it hang on. Feel it?
What was that?
It's bread.
Do I look like a woman
who wants more bread?
Yes.
Is there something
you're not telling me?
Yeah.
I'd like butter too, and olive oil.
Well, just if I saw you,
this beautiful woman sitting alone,
I... I might wanna send you
something over.
Like what?
Like a glass of great champagne.
To my handsome
professional wrestler husband
who can still surprise me.
Surprise me
and come to Whitefish, Montana.
Your tenacity has made you a success
and I do admire it.
If you come,
I'll make my special pancakes
and we'll spend Sunday,
the whole day, in bed.
Come.
Unless, of course, you get called
out to urgent production meetings,
or location scouts,
or director breakdowns...
And if I do, I'll come right back.
- So, I get called away...
- I will come! I promise.
And for you, madame,
our dessert menu.
Thanks.
We having dessert?
You know what I'm craving?
Think I have an idea,
Mr. Subtle.
Some of your strawberries
dipped in chocolate.
That would be fantastic.
What if I told you
I'd saved you some?
Ah, I'd say seeing is believing.
- All finished, sir?
- Yes, I am.
- How about dessert?
- Please.
I've been good all week,
which is hard here.
I say we should go for it.
And I've been doing
my 10,000 steps,
so why don't we have our favorite,
creme brulee?
I don't know if they make
that in Whitefish.
Can you ask the chef if he can
make me a creme brulee?
I'm not sure what that is, sir.
It's a custard with a caramelized top.
It's really easy.
Uh, sorry, all we have
is what's on the menu.
Uh, but we do have Campfire Pie
as our specialty.
Did you hear that?
Campfire Pie.
What's in that?
- Well, it has...
- You know what, don't tell me.
Surprise me.
- Hold on, the girls.
- Aww, they knew we had a date.
Your mother and I are in a hot
FaceTime date right now.
Can we talk later?
You and Mom are really leveling up
in the romance department.
- Okay, bye.
- That's funny.
How about Lisa saying
we raised the bar on romance.
I love that they think
this is real romance...
Should we be worried?
No, not at all,
it is real romance.
Dare I ask
how the Campfire Pie is?
Well, It's the stuff of ghost stories.
How's the creme brulee?
Not as good as mine.
I'll make it when the girls
are back for Christmas.
That's a great idea.
Ahem. You know, babe,
I'm... I'm fading.
I'm sorry to be an old guy,
but I had to wake up at five
for a location scout this morning
and I think I should call it.
Okay... You should go
and crawl into bed.
Yeah.
I'm happy you didn't cancel
our date though.
No, never.
Drive safe, okay,
you've had a few drinks.
Oh, are we counting now?
Why don't you ask your buddy
in the corner?
He's long gone.
You can sleep well.
Good. I love you.
I love you too.
Kiss me.
Give me a real kiss.
I love you too,
but I'm not doing that.
Why not?
I don't care who's looking.
- Yeah, well I do.
- Give me a quick kiss.
Oh, for God sake.
There. I love you.
Good night. Good night.
How much of a "bigger problem"?
The city inspector says
it's not a real emergency.
- He won't come for two weeks.
- Seriously?
Two weeks before
you can even start?!
If you're lucky.
Thank you.
Oh, one minute.
Okay.
I'm ready.
Thanks.
Hello? Babe?
- Hi.
- Are you okay?
I was just missing you.
I'm totally asleep.
Can we just... talk in the morning?
I'm at your front door.
What?!
I'm here.
Are you. Are you kidding me?
- Are you serious?
- Heh. Yes.
Come on, it's freezing out here.
Hello.
Hold on a sec...
Just...
Surprise!
Hey. Hi. Hi. Hi.
Come in.
Hey... what a surprise.
Yeah...
She forgot her shoe.
LOVE IS
Have a sense of being calm
and relaxed as you start this program.
Exhale and feel any tension
in the neck and shoulders release.
Now bring your arms,
palm face up by your chest.
Extend the arms forward,
and then spiral around to your sides.
SAILING LESSON
And a nice deep breath
as you open the chest.
And bring your hands
down to your sides.
Now, as you bring your arms up,
have the wrists cross,
come up to the chest.
And the arms come up
to the sides and down.
So, you're not dead.
Why did you leave like that?
I had to get out of there.
Apparently so...
I ate the rest of your risotto
and both desserts.
I just wanted to do something,
without reporting to you.
You want to know the real reason?
Yeah. I-I don't know.
I want a girlfriend.
Someone fun to play with.
Do you have somebody in mind?
No. You know I love you.
Well, we've had some...
pretty great play dates
over the years.
Yeah, but now you're too busy
with your needy girlfriends,
your book clubs,
your garden events,
and that bocce game
every friggin' Friday night.
But-but you have
your guy friends to play with.
Okay, so what would you want
your girlfriend to do with you today?
Today?
She'd go sailing with me.
But you don't like to sail.
Oh John, it isn't that
I don't like to sail.
It's that it makes me sick.
I feel the same way about ballet,
but I've gone with you
for the past 41 years.
Okay.
What time?
What time do we sail?
Hey, I was just using
that as an example.
I'm going to take
an extra Dramamine;
I'm going to make
a picnic lunch.
How about that crispy fried
chicken that you love?
Really, you'd go?
You know I love that chicken.
I can't remember
the last time you made it.
I was saving it
for a... a last supper.
You're going to love today.
It'll be really great out on the boat.
Ah, sorry I'm late.
Hi.
The garden tour starts
in half an hour.
- What are you doing?
- And I tried to call you.
I'm going sailing with John.
Since when do you sail?
Since he went
to the city last night alone
and stayed there
'cause I'm no fun anymore.
Oh, brother...
Haven't you earned your free
"no fun" pass by now?
Apparently, it expired.
Listen, Diana,
he's at that dangerous age
when successful men trade in
their old wives...
Oh, please. Oh, please.
For young hot Asian girls
that specialize in...
Okay, okay. Stop.
I'm just saying.
What can you do?
You go sailing.
So, when did he buy a sailboat?
I thought it was into
that vintage Porsche.
No, no, Mustang,
that was the year before.
Last year was the boat.
Does he even know how to sail?
I don't know,
we've never been out alone.
Oy. I do not get
a good feeling about this.
Well, I'm not going
on the Titanic.
Can't you find something else
to do fun together?
He says I specialize in saying
"no", so today I'm saying "yes."
Well, I wouldn't
do that for any man.
And that's why you're alone.
Blessedly!
Alright, I am calling the Coast Guard
if I don't hear from you by six.
Can I help you, my man?
No thanks, my man.
I got it. Okay. You sure?
Yeah, I got it.
Can't get over what
a good day it is out here.
It's gorgeous.
And I'm not seasick so far.
I topped off your gas
for you, my man.
Okay.
Oh, perfect, thank you.
Ah! Damn!
- Oh, you okay?
- Ah, it's tiller...
You're all set.
And dude, you got a fast boat.
Oh, yeah.
Got some change?
No, man.
Thanks, man.
Have a great day.
Good job, honey!
Take the tiller, honey.
Oh, we sail the ocean blue
In our saucy ships of beauty
Not the kind of thing
you do in a book club.
Looks like we'll have to wait
for the wind to come up.
Oh well, it's such a lovely day.
Who cares.
How about we have a look around.
Wow, honey.
We have the lake to ourselves,
it looks like.
Except for that
big fella over there.
Oh, that's actually
a Great Blue Heron.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
It has extra feathers
under its chin
that it combs with a special
claw on its middle toe.
So, how'd you know all that?
Don't tell me you've
become a "birder" now.
No, but I read about Herons
in that boring book club
you refuse to join.
I just don't want to join a book club
or ever have a schedule again.
You don't get it?
If I want to go
to a baseball game,
I want to go to a baseball game.
Or maybe go to the antique car show
in Monterey.
Maybe just sit around on the
porch all day and play chess.
I want a girlfriend
who wants to do my stuff.
And what if your girlfriend
wants to do her stuff?
You mean like lunches
with girlfriends,
hair appointments, bocce?
I thought you would love playing
on the bocce team.
I joined for us.
But who wants to sign up a guy
with a bad knee?
Someone who's always looking
for interesting new things
for us to do together.
Like that Moroccan cooking class.
Yeah, that was a good idea,
except I got heartburn!
Remember, I signed us up
for that wood shop class to build
those bookshelves you wanted.
Well, that was
just great until...
I saw that guy get his fingers
cut off right in front of me.
That was an isolated accident.
It scared me.
But you could've told me that.
You just quit.
If you looked in my eyes,
I think it would be obvious.
You've changed, you know.
Thank you for noticing.
Our kids are gone.
We have an empty nest.
We're both retired.
We have to course correct.
And if your idea of doing that
is getting a girlfriend, just go for it!
- What are you doing?
- I'm eating my stuff.
Well, hey, I'm hungry too.
Let's find a place to drop anchor
and have lunch.
Here, come take the tiller
and I'll go get the anchor. Come on.
My knee!
Alright, come get the tiller.
Sorry, babe.
It's... It's up front there.
Okay.
I'd appreciate it
if you'd call me "Girlfriend."
Thank you.
Now, just drop it in when I say.
Now!
Some sailor you are.
I think I have great potential.
Don't you think?
I'm really sorry that wood shop
class scared you, Di.
Not as much as your phone call
this morning.
I have something for us.
As old Marines say,
"Here's to us and those like us.
Dammed few left."
Now, why do you say that?
It's true!
We never would have met
if it were now.
Everybody finds their perfect
soulmate online.
I mean, nobody gets married
because they're young
and pregnant, like us.
Yeah, I guess.
Well, they didn't both love
antique car shows and garden tours.
That's it, they'd never meet.
Yeah, they would've
already hit delete.
Yeah. Heh.
I guess we really are dinosaurs.
Can you imagine what our bio's
or whatever they call 'em?
Profiles. Oh, here's yours:
"Tyrannosaurus wants
to meet another 'Saurus',
preferably blonde
with big boobs." Heh.
"She must have the ability
to organize his closet,
"and tolerate Godzilla-like snoring
and make crispy fried chicken."
"He must accept book
clubs, garden events...
"and girlfriends with endless
relationship problems. Mmm. Stop.
Stop, stop, stop! Heh.
And appreciate sincere loyalty."
Wow, good save.
It is so peaceful here.
I'm not even seasick today. Heh.
Oh, honey.
I guess I can't do fried anymore.
Maybe not on a boat.
Here.
Do you want to think
about heading back?
Yeah, I'm really tired.
I couldn't sleep last night.
Maybe because I'm too used
to sleeping with you.
Yeah, let's go.
Okay.
I just...
I can't do it anymore.
My damn shoulder.
It's fine. It's no problem.
Why don't you call that dock boy?
There's no damn signal.
Well...
I mean, honey,
look where we are.
It's a beautiful afternoon.
Sorry, babe.
Damn!
I wanted this
to be a perfect day.
Honey...
Do you remember that time
when we were in college
and we were stranded
in that mountain cabin
waiting for
the snowplow to come?
Do you remember what we did?
Come on, baby, come sit with me.
I want you to relax.
I want you to have a nice day.
I wonder what a "girlfriend" would do
in a situation like this?
We got a problem here.
I know we have a problem, my gosh.
Hi! Hi!
Hi.
Wait... Hey!
Hello!
Hey, come help!
You got a problem?
Yeah, I can't get
the outboard started.
I... I got a bad shoulder.
I got it.
You're out of gas. What?
We had a full tank
when we left the marina.
Yeah, but this little tank
is so small
I'm surprised it got you this far.
These little motors are only meant
to get you in and out of the dock.
"He likes Hemingway,
certain lingerie,
"crispy fried chicken
he can't eat anymore.
And can be an ass."
"She adores his true sailor's heart
and his love of adventure."
"He adores her moves...
all of them."
Circle the right arm around
and down the midline.
Circle the left arm around
and down the midline.
This creates inner balance
and harmony.
Well, that, that feels kind of good.
Is there a class we can take...
girlfriend?
LOVE
Here we go.
Oh, hello.
Hey. Hi.
Come in.
Is this seat taken?
No. Great.
Thank you. What's your name?
I'm Jackie. Oh.
What's yours? Wendy.
Nice to meet you. Thank you.
Oh. Excuse me.
Oh, please. Jackie, hi.
Ah, well, it looks beautiful,
doesn't it?
So, let's all toast
in my mom's way.
Oh, and say your names.
I'm Caroline.
I'm Anne.
Remember what Claire would say
if we didn't really look
in each other's eyes?
"Seven years of bad sex."
Been there, done that.
Oh! I would like any sex.
Marlene.
Joanne.
Patty.
I'm not taking any chances.
Nancy.
Jackie.
Wendy.
Mary Kay.
To mom.
To Claire.
You okay?
Yeah.
I'm fine.
I have been living on the East Coast
pretty much since I was 18
and I just didn't get back
to see my mom
as much as much
as I wanted to or should have.
But we finally planned a trip together,
in September, to France.
We started planning it
after my dad died.
And then we thought we'd go
after I passed the bar,
and then after
she finished her book,
then I got a job
and I had to start right away.
And we were waiting
for the right time.
There's no such thing.
No, it's not.
I know this vase!
We got this in a little funky
thrift shop in Kentucky.
Yeah! And those peonies,
her favorites.
You know, I actually think that
Claire discovered peonies with me.
One of our dreaded regulars we had
at the diner that we worked at
would bring us some from his garden
instead of tipping.
We hated him,
but we grew to love those flowers.
After our sophomore year
at college working as waitresses
at a resort in upstate New York.
Our immediate goal,
besides making money,
was lose our virginity.
- What!
- Just get it over with.
- We wanted to know what it was like.
- Oh, my God!
The endless lecture series
I got from Mom about how I needed
to "save myself for the right guy,"
and there she was planning
some random...?!
Of course. She needed
to teach you ethics...
Even though she didn't
always practice them.
She was your mother.
Part of the job description.
So, she actually...
He was older...
about 24, experienced.
And I got some jerk from Wisconsin
we'll just call "the five second man."
I'm sorry.
Anybody want to know
how Claire and I met?
Yes.
We were interns
at Vogue together.
She was an assistant
to the photo editor,
who happened
to be a total bitch.
We both hated her
and bonded deeply over that.
Nothing like having someone
to hate together, right?
But then we discovered
that we were both dating
the same guy.
What?
I mean, he was awfully cute,
and he did have attributes.
But he was just too boring
for either one of us.
And anyway, she met your father
shortly after that, so...
But we always loved to toast Rodger,
because he brought us together.
I can't believe it's been only
a little over a month. Feels like...
I don't know what it feels like.
There's nothing to compare it to.
And what about you, honey?
Me?
How are you?
Well, every morning when I wake up,
I still can't believe it.
But I've been so busy... there's been
so much to take care of, and...
Excuse me. Heh.
Sorry, my plane was very late,
and the Uber driver was ignorant!
Everyone...
this is Rose Simon.
Bonjour.
It's a pleasure to be here.
Anne, Bonjour!
I brought some chocolate
for you from Paris.
Oh, thank you!
Rose, some wine?
Oh, thank you. Yes, please.
We've just been getting
to know each other.
There's plates and food.
Please help yourself.
Yes. Thank you.
I know what I'm going
to have later.
I think I'm done.
So, Rose...
we've just been telling stories
about Mom.
On the plane, I was thinking about
the first time I met Claire.
She floated
into my shop one afternoon.
I had a little boutique in
the Marais district of Paris.
She would come in and admire things
and often buy a scarf or two.
Or 43...
We shared a passion
for beautiful things in many forms
gardens, contemporary art...
We'd stroll over to the...
the Pompidou Centre
and explore for hours.
I tell you, she would not tolerate
any "French attitude",
not even from me.
Speaking of museums...
Yeah, Mom collected
all kinds of art.
Yeah, and I see she put yours
front and center.
This was her favorite ribbon.
I see she continued
to use it, huh?
Yes.
It was for my pigtails
and it was always on my tap shoes.
- I know that ribbon.
- I recognize it too.
She hand-picked
every truffle for you.
Your mother brought
those chocolates to my wedding.
Well, that's what we called it anyway,
but it was not legal then.
Uh, my wife Alice and I got married
in the desert outside of Taos.
And I had invited your parents,
and your mom said that your dad
couldn't come, but she accepted,
which, I swear to God,
I didn't expect.
There comes your mother,
all on her own, middle of nowhere,
impeccably dressed
in this very conservative suit,
holding a box
of those chocolates.
She was my most
conservative friend,
but also my most accepting
and supportive.
For me, too.
Claire was completely there
for me when...
when my husband came out
and left me and the kids
for his boyfriend.
- Oh, no.
- Oy!
I was blindsided.
I really didn't see it coming at all.
Claire called me.
I was in publishing at the time
and we were talking about
a book sale to England.
She heard the tone in my voice.
The next morning,
she jumped on a plane,
flew to L.A. and took the kids
while I went off to the desert.
Just remember staring out
over the landscape.
I couldn't even think at first.
But being alone for those two
days was exactly what I needed.
By the time I got back, she turned
into bloody Mary Poppins.
The kids had planted carrots
in the back garden,
and they'd been exploring tide pools
and making cookies.
They were having the best time.
Claire gave me what I so needed
those couple of days
as if it was the easiest thing
in the world.
She... She just knew.
And later she introduced me
to someone else
who'd been
in a similar situation.
She was a life saver.
I can't believe I just barfed all that out
in a room full of strangers.
No! It's why we're here.
You know, I just feel that
Claire brought us all together.
- You know what I mean?
- Oh, yes.
I worry that my daughter
won't be able to trust men.
She's already made some
horrible boyfriend choices.
Oh, you and my mom must have
had a field day on that one.
She loved your boyfriend.
No kidding!
When we broke up,
she went into mourning.
Oh, but she just wanted you
not to be too hasty,
to take a last look.
Right.
She did think a lot of him.
Yeah, she made that
crystal clear.
And that I wasn't
getting any younger.
I think she was afraid
she wasn't getting any younger
and she wanted to be the fun
grandmother, not the old granny.
Yes, and it wasn't that
she wasn't proud of your success.
It's just that she didn't want you
to miss out.
Yeah, right.
Are you doing okay?
Fine.
Of course.
Oh, that sounded
exactly like Claire.
She would always say,
"I'm fine."
Marriage, check.
Work, check.
Except when it came to you.
She was only as happy
as your last conversation with her.
That's just it.
Our last conversation,
I, um... We...
Excuse me.
She mention that last conversation?
Yeah. It was a big disagreement.
Yeah, was.
- Sorry.
- You okay?
It's alright.
I've just been sitting here
listening to you all,
and I feel like you're talking
about someone I didn't know.
It's ironic the way Mom was there
for all of you, so compassionate.
- For me, not so much.
- Oh, sweetie.
My life just always seemed
really messy compared to hers.
Honey, well, life is messy.
But your mother knew how
to clean up very well.
She didn't want to burden you.
I wish she had! That's the thing,
that's what distanced us.
She never told me anything.
Maybe her not telling you some things
was her way of showing her love.
What does that mean?
I mean that...
Well, I can think of one example.
- Don't. No.
- I know it's inappropriate.
- It's okay. What is it?
- It's inappropriate.
No, honestly, um...
Honestly, it makes me
too ashamed, so...
No really, I mean...
I really want to know. Marlene,
don't go there.
How embarrassing could it really be,
after your story about Rodger?
It was right after Rodger. I think
the lines got a little blurred for me
with Claire and I...
I had a thing with, with Tom.
My dad?
What do you mean by "a thing"?
A nothing thing, a one night,
drunken, million years ago,
deeply regrettable thing, that I wish
that you mother
never found out about, but...
Tom told her everything because
he didn't want there
to be any secrets... between them.
Jesus, poor Mom...
Yeah, she was, she was very angry.
And very upset.
She said it made her
even more upset
because I'd been
so dishonest about it.
See, your mother had
a very strong moral compass
and she followed it.
And... and I never
really had that, so...
How was she still your friend?
Well, it was a long time ago,
and, uh, we almost
didn't get past it.
But she was determined
to forgive me.
She saw forgiveness as kind
of a spiritual achievement.
And, uh...
This was sort of a life lesson for her,
something like that, you know...
Anyway, she did forgive me, so...
I just didn't really forgive myself, so...
Why didn't she tell me?
Oh, because
you adored your father.
She didn't want
to tarnish that relationship.
Let's face it.
Tom was irresistible. Heh.
Did you sleep with him too?
What I meant was that...
Claire was aware of how women
responded to him.
Men too.
He just...
He lit up a room.
I'm really sorry, Caroline.
Tom adored
Claire.
They were soulmates, really.
You know, in France, we say:
"On ne fout pas un mariage en
l'air cause d'un coup de cul",
which means, you don't
throw away a marriage
because of a piece of ass.
- No offense.
- None taken.
Marriage, well, love,
it's bigger than a bedroom.
They never lost their magic
the way most couples do.
I always thought they were
so romantic,
in an old-fashioned way.
He'd come home from work,
and she'd put on perfume.
He'd make martinis
and lift her up for a kiss.
Is that what that photo is?
Yeah, I took that.
Well, you have your mother's
eyes and her eye.
Okay, well,
I'm a lawyer, as you know,
and I have some questions,
I was hoping to answer today,
since clearly you all knew my mother
a lot better than I did.
I've been going
through her things.
I found her wedding dress in the attic,
which I didn't know she kept.
And I noticed that the seams
had been let out at the waist.
You were at the wedding...
Stress eating?
No.
She was pregnant.
So, my Catholic mother
who told me
she had a flu at her wedding
was pregnant with me.
She always planned to tell you.
Did my dad know?
She told him on their honeymoon.
That must have been a surprise.
Well, I don't think
either one of them
wanted to start
a family immediately.
But Caroline,
when you were born,
he was totally in love,
and a natural father.
When my brother
was born "too soon,"
my mother
was called "a sinner." Heh.
I mean, it was hard to shake off
that indoctrination in those days.
Now, it's almost the opposite extreme.
My daughter and her boyfriend
got married only after
they'd had two kids.
And my granddaughters
were her flower girls.
In France, you know, couples often
don't get married until their children
are teenagers, if at all.
Did my mom ever say
how she felt about it?
If it wasn't for all that Catholic guilt
your grandmother threw at her,
I don't think she
would've given a damn.
She was so happy
being pregnant with you.
Well, thank God for us old hippies
who lightened everything
the hell up!
- And feminism made a dent.
- Yeah.
My mom always said
that it passed her by.
She had three kids,
and my father
never changed a diaper
or did a dish.
We were lucky
to be born when we were.
Yup. That's right.
My mother told me
a horrific story
about her roommate
who got pregnant
and went to Mexico
and came back hemorrhaging.
Something that will always
define my friendship with Claire
was something
she did for me many years ago.
I was 42 and pregnant.
I have a friend that age
who's been trying for years.
Yeah, well, I wasn't trying.
I already had two kids,
teenagers.
I couldn't handle an infant.
And my husband,
he'd never understand.
It would have been the end of us...
and the family.
But if I kept it, it would have
been the end of me.
I needed someone to trust
that could take me
to the clinic...
and stay with me,
and I asked Claire, and...
And she did this for me.
Was one of those perfect
spring mornings.
The plum trees were in bloom
along the streets.
So beautiful.
And there I was,
about to end a life.
I asked Claire
to stop, turn around,
and she looked at me and said...
"It's time
for you choose your life."
I cried for a week.
She called me every day.
It's never easy
to make that choice.
No.
I'm so sorry,
that must have been horrible.
Yeah, that's one thing my mom
and I always agreed on.
So, Wendy,
do you want to tell
everyone how you met Mom?
Ah... let's see.
A couple of years ago, Claire
sat next to me on a flight.
And we just hit it off.
- Are you a doctor?
- Yes.
Yes, I heard about you.
But look, on the way back,
all your mother did was talk about you.
And what you do...
and why two vital women
would "choose"
such hard careers.
Yeah, yeah.
I know, she was always on me
about why I didn't go work
at a firm
that does "fun" stuff
instead of social justice.
Well, she got it though,
she really got it.
She did.
You know, while we're landing,
she pulls out her checkbook
writes a donation
to one of the clinics
I was overseeing.
She volunteered
there too, right?
She did, yeah.
And we would have... Oh...
We would have lunch together
afterwards and...
your mother was curious
about me.
She was curious about my work
and about me
being African American.
She was not afraid to ask
very specific questions.
We had the, the best
conversations about race
and everything that,
you know, I have to deal with
and what it means to me
and how it affects me
on a daily basis.
I mean...
it was okay to be uncomfortable.
Anyway, she also pushed me
to have my very first massage.
Yes, I agree with that.
I just didn't, you know,
realize how depleted I was.
And your mom, she cared
about my well-being.
Was the massage with Mitzi?
Yes, it was.
Well, don't they always say
put your own oxygen mask
on first?
That they do. Can't help anyone.
Oh, that's Robert,
he lives
in the basement apartment.
Oh, is Claire's book club
still meeting?
Nope.
Sorry to disturb
your ladies' lunch.
Or knitting club.
- This package just arrived.
- Oh...
And I wanted to let you know
there's also a car blocking
the neighbor's driveway
and the meter maid is
at the top of the block, so...
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
That might be me. Ah.
I'll be back.
It's for Mom.
Oh, it's California poppy seed.
She would scatter them
in road dividers, vacant lots.
Yes, she did do that.
Yeah, she used to stop her car
on the side of the highway
and get out and throw seeds.
As a kid,
it was so embarrassing.
I think that she did that on
the first day that we met in Charleston.
- Really?
- Yeah.
So, I was an aspiring singer,
but I couldn't make any money at it,
so I was working
as a photographer.
And I think that was Claire's first book,
um, "Gardens of the South".
Aw, that first night, I took her
to this funky little honky-tonk,
and we bonded over barbecue.
She found out
that I was a songwriter
and she asked me to sing
one of my songs for her.
But, you know, I was so worried
that this poised Yankee lady
would think that I was
some southern fried hick.
But... I sang for her,
and, uh, after I was finished,
she just looked at me
and she said,
"What are you doing
taking pictures
when you can sing
and write songs like that?"
- Mom.
- That's so sweet.
I find I keep talking to her
like she's still here.
She is.
I talk to my mom all the time.
She's still telling me what to do.
Caroline, your mother
was insanely proud of you,
graduating cum laude
and passing the bar.
I think she even may have
been a little intimidated
by all your accomplishments,
and maybe even a little envious
of your young, single life.
Mom, jealous of me? No.
I think that she had thought
that you'd done so much for the world...
and she wanted to make sure that you
were taking care of your own world too.
You know, she didn't want you
to put that on hold.
And for what it's worth,
she thought you'd make a great mom.
I can't believe
I didn't get a ticket.
It was so close.
You're so lucky.
It's so impossible around here.
So, Patty...
you went to grade school
with Mom, right?
This is us in first grade!
Well, that some connection,
losing your teeth together.
Yeah, but hers grew in
faster and straighter.
Aw, so cute.
We were best friends
at Sacred Heart-less.
She protected me in what was known
as "penmanship class"
from Sister Jean-Marie's
"knuckle rapping."
You know, they don't even teach
handwriting anymore.
They don't?
Three years ago,
we found each other on Facebook.
We realized we were
each other's oldest friend.
I've lived in Dayton
since 5th grade.
I guess I'm
her country bumpkin friend.
I have to admit, being around
all you accomplished women
is daunting for this Ohio gal.
Oh, no.
Claire came to visit last March.
We went on this long walk,
winter was just thawing.
We ended up having an...
unexpectedly deep conversation
about our mothers
and end of life issues.
I watched my mother die
of Alzheimer's for over five years.
And I still remember
the day that she said,
"I know you're someone I love."
We both wondered whether or not
we had enough faith to face death.
She still had so much life to live.
Feels completely unfair,
really outrageous, really,
I'm totally furious!
Amen.
That's the ravaging part
of a loss like Claire's.
You know, Claire and I went
on a retreat last year.
Yeah, to a spa?
Nope... for creative writing.
Really?
Our first assignment was to write about
the "what ifs" in our lives.
What if we'd married
different men.
What if we gone abroad
and never came back.
You know, I found a manuscript
with no title
in one of Mom's computer bags
and nearly tossed it out.
But then I read
the first few pages
and the style was so like
the way she talked.
What was it about?
- I don't know.
- Pardon?
That's all I read.
What the hell are you waiting for?
To be honest...
I was afraid to read more.
What were you afraid of?
Maybe she was writing about us.
I'm not ready to...
I get it.
I bet a lot of us have
unresolved "stuff" with our mom's.
No. Not me.
I know I do.
Well, you know
what Claire would say...
"Just keep moving
like you're dancing."
I don't know.
Excuse me.
That was Mom's Chi Gong instructor,
he came for her Thursday
afternoon lesson.
He's been in China
for the last two months...
I had to tell him.
Oh, Rose, do you want
to open those chocolates?
These are from A La Mere de Famille,
the oldest chocolate shop in Paris.
And Claire's favorite.
Voil.
- Gorgeous.
- Bon Apptit.
I'm sorry if this is awkward,
but I know your mother died
in an accident,
I never heard
what happened exactly...
Oh, I sorry, I didn't realize
that you didn't...
Me either.
Last month, Mom went to visit
her editor in Napa, Louise Greene.
Some of you may know of her,
she's 82 going on 28.
Yes, I always said I wanted
to be her when I grew up.
Amazing woman.
There was an unexpected rain
and the roads were slick.
A big rig truck coming
from the opposite direction,
it jackknifed...
crossed the center divider
into oncoming traffic.
I was told she died instantly.
Well...
going quickly without pain
or illness or dread,
even though
it was way too soon...
it's not all bad.
I called her on the way to work,
maybe 20 minutes before the crash.
I know from her phone log
I was the last person that she spoke to.
Oh, there must be some comfort in that.
None.
See, that's the thing.
We'd had that big "fracture"
months before.
And then we'd come out of our corners
and taken the gloves off,
and for a while,
we talked about everything else.
But that day, when I called,
I had a secret to tell her
she was not gonna believe,
and it was all her fault!
But I didn't want to tell her
on the phone
while she was driving, so...
I waited.
And she said,
"Oh, I love beautiful secrets."
She said it was
a "beautiful secret?"
Did she call it "beautiful"?
You just said it.
Oh, I hadn't remembered that
until just now.
I haven't told anyone.
Honey, you know,
wherever she is, your mom knows.
Why don't you... tell us.
I broke up with Michael
after almost two years.
And she was really upset.
She seemed more upset for him
than what I was feeling.
That's when we totally derailed
into a full-on blowout fight.
She let me know that
she just "couldn't believe"
that after I'd done the school thing,
and the work thing so well,
I'd completely blown
the "good man thing",
is what she called it.
Attempting to, you know,
rationally explain to her
that it wasn't her choice, it was mine,
didn't go over well.
And I didn't stay civil
for long either.
Well, it's natural, you were upset.
So, for weeks afterward,
she begged me to see Michael again.
She kept saying, "Just see him,
meet for a little talk",
be absolutely sure that
you are ready to let him go,
that I wasn't being impulsive.
I said no blanking way.
You can say "fucking."
I said no fucking way,
and I actually dated
some other guys,
nice, boring guys.
Good for you.
Boring is underrated.
Well, I ended up
in a moment
of weakness or clarity,
I'm not sure which,
texting Michael to see
if he wanted to meet and talk.
And...
Well, we "met" all right,
but I don't think
we said one word,
besides "Make sure it's locked",
and I left the next morning.
That day in May,
when I called Mom,
was just moments
after I found out
I was pregnant
from that little talk...
she insisted I have with Michael.
Why didn't I just tell her then?
Oh, sweetie.
And how is that
"beautiful secret" doing?
- Oh, my goodness.
- Oh, my goodness.
Michael must be thrilled.
I haven't told him.
I haven't decided
what to do about it.
You mean about him or...
Both.
You know that trip that you were
going to take with your mom...
could be a really good place
to, um, sort it all out.
Be a shame
to waste those tickets.
I was going
to offer them to you.
- Oh, no, no, no.
- Absolutely not.
Why don't you take Michael?
Oh, heh, no way.
And you could get
some talking done.
Oh, she's got you all
thinking just like her!
It's a conspiracy!
Okay, moving on.
Come, I want
to show you something.
So as some of you know,
my mom liked to make altars.
Oh, her beautiful altars.
She made one for me with
the kids when my husband left.
It was very healing for them.
Yeah, how she made one for me
when I was preparing for the bar
and I always thought
that was why I passed it.
It really got me through.
So I've started one
for her here,
and I have
some of her favorite objects,
and her books, and photographs.
That's why I asked you all
to bring a remembrance today.
I was hoping
we could all add to it.
Last January,
Claire and I went to Stinson Beach.
And we each made
a list of our regrets,
and tied them around a rock,
and threw them in the ocean.
And then we sat in the sand,
nipping from a flask of brandy,
making plans for this year.
I picked this up that day,
and it's wrapped
with a prayer for Claire.
I just wrote a note to Claire.
It's sort of a thank you note.
This is a photo of me,
my wife and our son Max.
Claire had bought him
his first pair of drumsticks.
Damn her. Heh.
This is Claire and me
at our first dance recital.
The teacher gave up on me,
but Claire was good,
she kept on dancing.
We saw this beautiful Matisse
exhibit together in Paris.
And Claire had particularly loved
this composition of two women,
and she said
they looked like sisters,
and she'd always wanted
a sister, so...
I'd say she got a lot of sisters.
Yes.
These are the children
in the kids' program
that had never seen a dentist.
Claire was a donor
and she came to visit them.
I'd like to make a donation
in Claire's name.
Oh, I would too.
Thank you so much.
I will gladly accept. Thank you.
I'm going to miss our long talks
at our favorite restaurant,
the Odeon,
where we would drink champagne
and eat oysters,
and we'd have
the best confessionals.
I promise you
I will always be here
for Caroline.
Last August,
Claire and I decided
we would meet
and exchange what we'd written.
But then we decided
we weren't ready.
So we started drinking wine.
How much wine, you ask?
Enough that we ended up
lying down in my backyard,
shooting our manuscripts,
and each other, with these pistols.
It felt like the first time
we first met,
and we felt so free.
These are lyrics to a song
that I wrote for Claire.
Well, sing it!
Oh, I can't,
I didn't bring my guitar.
Please sing it.
I... Please.
There are gifts In the love
There are gifts In the loss
Regrets are like rocks
That sink to the bottom
Free from the weight
A new road to cross
Now you're gone
But life goes on
Because love is what stays
Because love finds a way
Because love is the answer
At the end of the day
Because love is what stays
Because love finds a way
Because love will forgive
At the end of the day
Only love remains
Thank you.
I went into my mom's room
this morning,
I was looking for something to wear.
This ring was her mother's
and I found this book of poems
that I gave to her for Mother's Day
a couple years ago.
I opened it at random
and found these lines:
"Without warning you left me,
But you returned..."
I feel like my mother has
returned to me in all of you.
And now, from the "Claire Collection",
of the best scarves ever...
I know she would want
you all to have one.
So please pick your favorite,
no fighting and let's have champagne.
Oh, and Gloria, you have
to drink this. Thank you.
Gloria's been an invaluable part
of our family.
As you have been "mi familia."
To Mom, and all of us
who love her.
May her scarves wrap
each of us in her magic.
To Claire.
Oh, we have to take
a picture together.
Oh, I got that.
All you have to do
is click right there,
stand exactly where
I'm standing. Okay.
Alrighty,
and I'm scooching over here.
Okay.
Everybody, smile!
You're not really going to let them go
just like that, are you?
What do you mean?
Okay, ladies...
You can't leave just yet.
There are tap shoes for
every one of you Cinderellas.
As you know,
she collected these...
From Goodwill's, garage sales,
anywhere she was.
Yeah, she found a pair in Paris
and made me dance with her.
Caroline, you're not really
seriously gonna make us...
Oh, I seriously really am.
She is her mother's daughter.
Ah, yeah. Find your size.
Oh, gosh!
Step, step, up,
shuffle, step, step.
A five, six, seven, eight...
Oh, yeah!
Is everyone okay?
Honey, there's no perfect life.
Maybe so.
But, for the first time,
feels possible to think about
what to do with mine.
"Possible" is a good start.
Caroline, I hope someday,
you can forgive me.
I'll call you.
Okay, thank you.
Um, this is the advance
to my new CD.
And I want you to know
that your mom's song is on there,
and that I wouldn't have
been able to do it without her.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
When you decide what you're going
to do, will you let us know?
- I will.
- 'Cause we're here for you.
Thank you.
Alright. Bye.
Don't wait for anything.
Yeah?
Thank you.
Your mother gave me this,
and I want you to have it.
Thank you.
We love you.
I love you too.
LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE
THREE TALES