Summer Solstice (2023) Movie Script
1
The surgery.
What can I say about it?
Other than that,
it changed everything...
All it took was my whole life.
[sighing]
All that pain...
All that struggle...
And eight hours
under anesthesia.
I went from a caterpillar
to a butterfly.
And now, I'm me.
[sobbing]
Can't you see?
I'm finally me.
[exhales]
Can't you see me
for who I truly am?
What more do I have to
Okay thanks, that's enough.
Uh, sorry.
No, that was great.
Thanks for that.
Thank you.
As you know, the casting call
is for a transgender male
or transgender female.
Just for our records,
uh, which one are you?
Oh, uh, um.
Trans man.
Trans male.
Trans man.
Great. Thanks.
We'll be in contact.
[sirens wailing]
[music playing]
Hey,
I just got out of the audition,
which was a little.
[laughing]
Yeah. Uh, on
that front, bad news.
Wait...
They already passed?
I was just up
there 30 seconds ago.
Yeah, sorry, Leo.
They said they're going
in a different direction.
Different direction. Well...
[inhales]
At least they're efficient.
Onwards and upwards.
Look, the real reason I'm
calling is because you're
confirmed.
-The callback?
-Yep.
The callback.
It's Monday, 2 p.m.
At the production offices.
They want you
to read the same scene.
So I'll send you the sides.
I already have them memorized.
Wonderful.
You're going to kill it.
-Zip.
-Zap.
-Zop.
-Zop Zip.
-Zap.
-Zop.
-Zip.
-Zap.
-Zop.
-Zip.
Got it.
Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm just tired.
[clothes rustling]
[footsteps approaching]
Remember Leo, you are a worm.
You're not
pretending to be a worm. Okay?
Loosen up.
[clothes rustling]
[footsteps receding]
Uh, so I'm auditioning
for this like,
teen movie about a vampire.
Really! That's awesome.
-Wait--
-You're gonna be like, a
vampire?
Um, I mean,
I'm going to be a human.
-Oh, okay.
-Yeah.
-I'll see it's like a.
-Yeah.
But I might turn into a vampire.
Like, later on in the film
if it all goes well.
That's so cool.
[door closing]
[whimsical music playing]
[doorbell rings]
Hi.
Sorry I'm late.
[moaning]
I feel like I came this close
to booking.
My agent said they pinned me.
That's fantastic.
Be fantastic to book but.
Yeah.
How was your audition?
They passed, but, um.
I do have this callback for...
-The series regular thing?
-Yeah.
Leo! That's great.
-Yeah, I feel really
-Sorry, do you see my shirt?
Oh, um.
Uh, here you go.
Would you want to, um...
go to this reading
my friend's doing this weekend?
Sure.
But not, like,
as a date, right?
Totally.
Because I don't want to ruin
our dynamic.
I think we work
really well together
as scene partners.
I definitely wouldn't want to
mess up our classroom chemistry.
Good.
I'm glad we're on the same page.
What are you doing tonight?
I've got a date.
Cool.
What are you up to?
Uh...
Going to
a friend's party, I think.
Fun.
Yeah.
[Leo sighing]
[phone vibrating]
Hello?
Surprise!
Surprise!
Squirrel.
[laughing]
Squirrel.
Um.
You gorgeous creature.
[chuckles]
AH! You look so different.
A year and
Vitamin T will do that.
Vitamin T?
Testosterone.
Oh, my God. Right.
Of course. Of course.
Come on in.
-Okay.
-Yeah.
[laughing]
You really don't have
to roll out the red carpet.
I'm only staying a night.
It's fine.
Well, thank you.
So...
What are you doing in New York?
Just passing through.
You know,
living my usual nomad life
during the summer.
And when I realized
that I'd be driving
through the city
to go upstate.
I couldn't resist
[chuckles]
And I think
you should come with me.
I couldn't.
I'm not taking no for an answer.
No, really.
No, really.
uh, uh
I really can't
[laughing]
-I really can't.
-I really can't.
-What?
-Eleanor!
I am not...
-I'm taking your wine away.
-Going.
What? It's mine.
[slurping]
[machine whirring]
[door closing]
Oh! Hey.
Uh, you want me
to clear out?
Nah.
We used to change in front of
each other all the time, right?
Right.
Coffee?
Ooh, yes, please.
So I hear nothing
for three weeks,
and then, out of nowhere,
out of the blue
I get a call from a new number,
and he said, oh, sorry.
I dropped my flip phone--
Flip phone!
In a bucket of paint
-at an art gathering.
-Okay.
What the fuck
is an art gathering?
And then I was like, but
you were posting on Instagram?
And he was like, yeah,
I did it from my iPad.
So?
So I kept fucking him
until he disappeared. Again.
[laughing]
You really know how to pick 'em.
I'm nothing if not consistent.
Are you?
At least I'm consistent
in my inconsistency.
But you and Will are good?
Oh, yeah.
I'm glad we got back together.
He's, um, less awful
than the other
guys I've been with.
A glowing compliment.
You know what I mean.
[laughing]
What's he up to?
He was on part of the road trip.
We actually did
a project together,
combining his drawing,
and my photographs.
It was very romantic.
What's the project?
People...
and signage.
Speed limits, stop signs.
Public spaces, private life.
All these little commandments
everywhere.
Still not fully formed yet,
but yeah.
How's life as a Broadway hoofer?
Oh, you know.
No, I don't.
Give me all the juicy details.
I do have this callback
for a series thing.
Leo!
That's huge!
I hope so.
I mean, it would feel
really good to book something.
And then I could say my
oldest friend is the Leo Mark.
Eleanor, stop.
Don't forget about me
when you're famous, okay?
Right.
I mean it.
I won't.
Good.
[joyful music playing]
[car horns blaring]
[birds chirping]
Wow.
It's lovely.
Friends of
friends in high places.
[birds chirping]
Can you..?
And they're just,
-letting us stay here?
-Yeah.
I met her at an arts residency
and Lila said I could stay here
whenever she's not here.
[birds chirping]
Dibs.
[birds chirping]
[bed creaking]
[iPhone typing]
[music playing]
Sit with me.
[sighing]
You should put
on a bathing suit.
The sun feels
so good on my skin.
I'm good as I am.
Suit yourself.
[birds chirping]
[inhaling]
[exhaling]
[phone ringing]
Hey, this is Will.
You know what to do.
[phone locking sound]
[bed creaking]
[knocks on door]
I think we should go shopping.
I've got the urge to splurge.
Sure.
[birds chirping]
Oh dear.
[snorting]
[snickering]
Do you want to try anything on?
I mean, it's a woman's store.
Ahh, right, right.
Sorry. Sorry.
[shop entry bells clinking]
Oh.
She's cute.
Yeah.
Hm.
Remember when we used to go
to Savers?
We'd get,
what, 10 pounds of clothes
for 10 dollars?
I still have some of that stuff.
Some really good shit.
Okay.
What do you think?
It's nice.
-Nice?
-Uh--
I'm not an expert
on women's fashion.
It is cute.
-Flattering?
-Sure. Sure.
Well, I like it.
Will you check the tag
and see how much it is?
Woof.
We're not in Savers anymore,
are we, Toto?
No, we're not.
Should we steal it?
-What?
-We can put it in my bag.
Eleanor.
I'm kidding.
Right.
-I'm gonna wear it out.
-Right.
Eleanor?
Were you actually joking?
Of course. We're not in college
anymore.
I can afford it.
Right.
[birds chirping]
[insects chirping]
[food sizzling]
I mean it.
You have family in me.
Just because you refuse to see
it doesn't mean it's not true.
You don't have to be blood
to be family.
Our bond
is deeper than biology.
Whether you like it or not,
we're irrevocably connected.
-Yikes.
-Ah!
Sorry.
Is that for your callback?
Yup.
Dialogue's a little much, huh?
I guess. I don't know.
I think it's kind of nice.
Totally.
It's just nice
to have a character
that's not just
you know,
talking about transitioning
the whole time.
Right. Well, whenever you want
to practice,
I am ready.
I'm going to draw upon my long
and storied career
as a chorus member
from my sixth grade production
of Oklahoma.
Oh, how could I forget.
An acting
legend stands before me.
Don't be shocked
when I act in
circles around you.
-Wine?
-Mm.
I think I should move.
Again?
Again, again, again.
But I thought you liked Durham.
I do. But...
I also don't like
getting stuck places, you know?
What about Will?
Well.
Will is transportable.
Oh, sorry.
Just.
So,
moving?
[spoon clinking]
It's always a thought.
You know me.
Do the thing.
-What thing?
-You know.
Squirrel.
Squirrel!
Oh.
[dishes clinking]
I never told
you this in college,
but, you'd be holding court
at some party,
and I would be
hanging on the edge,
wondering when you were going
to figure out how much cooler
than me you were.
I would fantasize about
doing something, I don't know,
cool enough to
keep your attention.
Like what?
Something impulsive.
Like?
I don't know.
Steal a car,
go for a joyride,
you know,
throw caution to the wind.
We never quite did that.
No, I didn't.
I do remember seeing you,
though, at parties
at your most painfully
socially awkward looking at me.
I always wondered
what you were thinking.
Well, now you know.
Yeah, but it makes sense.
You're an actor.
You're shy in real life,
but on stage, you're...
Whereas with me.
Well, everywhere you go,
it's theater.
Yeah.
I think we should go out.
-Oh, really?
-Yeah. It's happy hour.
We should hit the town.
Have a few drinks.
Have a few laughs.
I haven't heard that one
since college.
Well, it's still true.
The afternoon is young!
Or,
old.
But the night
is still barely nascent.
Yes, but I am very old now.
Let's go.
Please,
please, please, please, please.
-Sure.
-Yes!
[laughing]
[whimsical music playing]
[indistinct chattering]
[dance music playing]
C'mon. Loosen up.
I am loose.
I'm loose.
We've been
hooking up for a year...
A year?
Yeah, but we're just friends.
[snorting]
Oh, really?
Yes, really.
I mean,
if she wanted more I, uh
but, I respect her boundaries.
She wants to
keep it professional.
Except when you're having sex.
Oh, I just want someone
to love me
like Rita Wilson loves
Tom Hanks.
What?
They famously love each other.
A lot.
I read a listicle about it.
Well, you deserve
an epic love like that.
I'd just be happy
with something
a little more stable.
But, um,
yeah, I'm totally fine
with the no strings thing.
Totally.
[indistinct chattering]
My own arts practice
is really informed
by being on the road.
-Uh.
-Not to get too Kerouac,
but the freedom of the open road
really frees me.
[chuckles]
I love Kerouac.
Me too.
I'm gonna go to the bathroom.
Oh, cool.
So what's the longest
you've ever driven in one go?
[chuckles]
15 hours.
Wow.
[music playing]
[phone locking sound]
[laughing]
No, c'mon.
Come on.
Mhm, mhm, mhm.
Uh-huh, uh-huh.
So?
How do they compare
to your boyfriends?
I'm not going to you know,
size wise,
put you in competition.
Mm-hm.
You both have beautiful,
artistic hands.
Um, sorry.
I think I'm going to head out.
Um.
Sorry. He's my ride.
I've gotta go.
Good to meet you.
Bye.
[upbeat music playing]
[vehicles passing]
You know, you could have stayed
if you wanted to.
I know.
I just hate Kerouac. Mm-hm.
And I'd never cheat on Will.
It's just nice
to flirt a little.
[car stereo bass booming]
[crickets chirping]
[footsteps approaching]
You want dinner?
No, I'm good.
I think I'm just hang out here
for a minute.
Okay.
Night sweetie.
[crickets chirping]
[sniffling]
[crickets chirping]
[birds chirping]
Whenever you're ready.
If I hadn't come,
what would you have done?
Something desperate.
No, seriously,
what would you have done?
Paid my respects
and left quietly.
These assholes are the only ones
who want to turn it
into a whole thing.
You can't expect
to just show up here
and no, nothing.
I mean,
you look like Holly Golightly,
for Christ's sake.
-Ugh. Are you slut shaming me?
-Rhea.
[dramatic inhale/exhale]
I couldn't turn up to my
estranged father's funeral
looking like shit.
Could I?
I know that was a lot.
What they did wasn't cool.
Oh, threatening to have me
arrested for trespassing
wasn't cool?
You know what I mean.
You haven't saved me, A.J.
-That's not...
- Showing up here
didn't fix anything for me.
I just wanted to make sure
you were okay.
Why do you care so much?
Because.
Because you're my family, Rhea.
Right...
Family.
I don't have any family.
[sighing]
I mean it.
You have family in me.
Just because you refuse to see
it doesn't mean it's not true.
You don't have to be blood
to be family.
Our bond is deeper than biology.
Whether you like it or not,
we're irrevocably connected.
Ever since that day
at the crash pad,
we've been linked.
[inhaling]
[stuttering]
-I messed up a line.
-No, you read them
fine.
I just thought,
maybe you're
being a little gentle.
Like.
Like where's the energy,
-the passion?
-Um.
I...
Why don't you try
the monologue again?
But this time, maybe like...
angry.
Why would I be angry?
Well, Rhea's kind of a bitch,
right?
-Kind of.
-Right.
She, like, doesn't listen.
So you have to
really get through to her.
Like really shake her.
I guess I just kind of
was thinking about AJ as if he,
you know, was a gentle person,
Like when he's making a point he
wouldn't be like, in her face?
Yeah, but I feel
like at this point,
it'd be a really
big breaking point for him.
I think you want
to wow the director.
So you should just try
something different. Right?
Mm, yeah.
Maybe I can try it angrier.
Yeah, just the monologue.
Just like, come on.
Like, really give it to her.
-Come on.
-Yeah.
I'll give
you the line leading in.
[inhales]
[exhales]
I don't have any family.
[exhales]
I mean it.
You have family in me.
Just cause you refuse to see
it doesn't mean it's not true.
Whether you like it or not,
we're irrevocably connected.
Ever since that day
at the crash pad,
we've been linked.
You're not perfect.
Neither am I.
But we're perfect.
In our imperfection,
two warped puzzle pieces
that manage to fit just right.
[exasperated breathing]
You fit me,
and I fit you.
So, yeah, Rhea,
you have family.
May not be those people
in the church, but.
You got family standing
right in front of you.
How was that?
I think it's getting there.
Felt so weird.
We can keep working on it.
Fuck, I really
don't wanna fuck this up.
You won't.
We'll get there.
And then I say...
We fit.
I guess,
in our own misshapen way.
And now you're supposed to
put your palm against my palm,
and we interlace fingers.
Right.
[music playing]
[birds chirping]
Might not be those people
in that church.
But you have family standing
right in front of you.
So?
Umm...
Umm?
Honestly?
Yes, honestly.
Why are you yelling?
I have literally no idea.
My friend
gave me all these directions
and now I'm totally lost.
-You were fine before.
-Fuck.
Look, just get out of your head
and don't run lines with
her again.
Mm.
I kinda wish it was just you
and me up here.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah.
That's, sweet.
Is everything okay?
I'm happy to
run lines and stuff,
but the guy that I've
been dating, he wants to be
exclusive.
Oh, yeah.
That's, I mean,
I'm cool with that.
Neither of us wanted anything,
right?
Yeah.
But I guess,
now I want
something with this guy.
So...
I hope that's okay?
Of course.
Thanks for being so chill.
And seriously, run lines
by yourself this weekend.
Bye.
[crickets chirping]
Leo?
Coming.
You okay?
You look like someone died.
No, I'm good.
Farm store?
[vehicles passing]
Oooh, these are gorge
[vehicles passing]
-Potted plant..
-I think it's hibiscus
So...
Put it in your hair.
[chuckles]
Hi.
How are vegetables so expensive?
Inflation?
Fuck.
What?
Just this person
from my acting class is here.
Don't look, Eleanor.
Why can't you say hi?
Because he's on
a really big show right now.
-So?
-And he's really good on it.
Leo?
Leo!
-Oliver!
-Hi.
It's so good to see you.
It's been a minute.
So what are you doing here?
Just set up
here for the weekend.
Oh, Joe's parents
have a house up here,
so we're here,
like, all the time.
Oh, this is my friend Joe.
-Nice to meet you.
-Hi.
You, too.
And I'm Eleanor.
Sorry.
This is my friend Eleanor.
-Well.
-Hi.
Hi, Eleanor, um.
So, how are you?
I'm good. I just.
I should say congratulations
on San Fran house .
I've been watching the show,
and you're so wonderful in it.
Oh, thank you.
You don't have
to say that, though.
Leo was just saying
how good you are in it.
-It's just a great show.
-Wait, wait, wait.
Uh, I'm having, like,
a brain blast moment.
-Um.
-Oh, yeah?
Okay. Uh, no pressure at all.
But you two should totally come
over to my place for,
like, snacks.
I mean, we came here for cheese
and crackers.
It'd be so lovely to share.
I think we have afternoon plans.
They're easily changeable.
Okay, so change them.
Look, we'll stay in the store
a little bit longer,
buy a few things,
and then we'll meet you outside?
-Hell yeah.
-All right. Cool.
Amazing. Okay. See you.
What is your problem?
I guess, I...
He just
was the only other trans guy
in our acting class.
And we weren't that close,
and it kind of felt.
I don't know,
like there was some competition.
Well, you're not in class now,
no need to be competitive.
Yeah.
Are you annoyed with me?
because I seized the moment?
If you don't wanna go,
we can back out.
No, no
actually, thank you.
Let's do the socializing thing.
See?
Serendipity!
Adventure!
[music playing]
[birds chirping]
[engine stopping]
[door closing]
[birds chirping]
Hello.
Wheat and Rye?
Yeah, it's over by the market.
[indistinct chattering]
Whaat.
Oh my god.
Thank you, Joe!
[indistinct chattering]
Don't mind if I do!
-That looks so beautiful.
-So beautiful.
I mean,
I think a lot about,
you know, art's ability to
create meaningful change. Right?
I'm an actor because I believe
movies are powerful engines
for empathy.
But sometimes I wonder what
actually meaningfully changes?
Like, I don't know.
Can you think of a movie
that has changed
the course of history really?
Uh, Cruising ,
you know?
Uh, responsible
for a huge homophobic backlash
against queer men.
Oh, no, Joe.
[chuckles]
But I love that movie.
I mean, Al Pacino doing poppers
in those tank tops.
It's ugh...
[laughing]
-I don't know that one,
-Mm-hm.
but I'm sure it's better
than what you've
been auditioning for.
Am I right?
I guess.
You haven't saved me,
AJ. C'mon Leo.
That's not what I...
Showing up here
didn't change anything for me.
I just wanted to make sure
you're okay.
You know the lines?
Yeah, uh.
I auditioned.
Wow, that is.
Yeah. It's just so crazy.
We went in for the same part.
Oh, they already passed on me.
Yeah.
-So sorry.
-It's fine.
I'm actually really glad
that you're up for it.
When Leo first read it,
he was so quiet.
But I'm trying to work with him
and, you know,
try to get him to be
a little angry you know?
I kind of thought of AJ as a
sort of gentle guy?
Huh.
Joe, remind me
of the name of this cheese?
Oh, Camembert.
Do you eat this?
-Yeah.
-Yeah, you can.
Why we didn't we talk
about this kind of stuff
when we were in class together?
I don't know.
I mean,
we should've just
been doing this
the whole the time.
Yeah, right.
Leo said you guys are a little
competitive with each other.
Eleanor.
No, it's true. We were.
I mean, we were competing
for, like, the scraps of roles
they were throwing our way, but
it all feels really stupid now.
It does.
Well, we're talking now.
-Cheers?
-Cheers.
Oh my God. This
pool is everything.
It was. It was. It was, uh,
actually a little traumatizing.
Maybe I'm not ready
to keep this conversation going.
Uh, Eleanor,
we've totally been ignoring you.
What about you?
What do you do?
Uh, I'm a photographer.
I teach during the year,
and I travel every summer.
Okay, that's enviable.
It's nice to be
free in that way.
So what college do you teach at?
Uh, Eleanor, teaches at this
like, really amazing
high school.
Oh, that's so cool.
I mean,
it must be really interesting
-to work with people that age.
-Yup.
Eleanor has been living in
Durham for like, two years now.
Has this really cool boyfriend.
Who's also an artist,
and they went
on this road trip together.
-Yup.
-Ok, how was that?
Really romantic.
He painted and I photographed.
But I thought he was drawing?
Oh, drawing.
Yeah, he usually
is a painter, but
because we were on the road,
he was drawing
because of
the supplies and stuff.
I was just texting
him yesterday, and he said
he was really happy to be
back home with his materials.
-Yeah, drawing.
-Yes.
Uh, would anyone like some wine?
Oliver,
do you want to come with me?
-I can help.
-No, no. You're good. We got it.
[birds chirping]
Um.
You're being weird.
How?
I just feel
like you're not being yourself.
And what is me being myself,
Eleanor?
Just seems like
you're performing,
Maybe I'm just...
having a good time
and feeling loose with them.
Then why aren't you
like that with me?
I....
I have to pee.
I am.
[crickets chirping]
[music playing]
[phone ringing]
-Hey, this is Will...
-Motherfucker.
You were right,
I was being weird.
Good thing you know
my love language.
[chuckling]
Let's just have fun.
Mmm.
[water rippling]
[laughing]
C'mon, Leo.
Are you serious right now?
What?
Ok, what's with the t-shirts?
What do you mean?
I feel like you're going to
drown with all those clothes on.
Eleanor.
What?
I'm wearing a shirt
'cause I'm binding.
Oh, my God.
I'm so sorry, um.
It's fine.
Why didn't you tell me?
[water splashing]
More wine?
-Mhmm.
-Sure.
[exhales]
[laughing]
Stop.
Stop. No...
Seriously,
I have to stop laughing
cause my stomach is hurting.
Okay, okay. No more
dirty knock-knock jokes for us.
Is there more wine?
Uh, t...
Are you sure you want more?
Yes.
I guess I'm driving.
That would be great.
-Anyone else want?
-Um.
what is that?
I think okay.
Bigger glass.
Thank you.
[laughing]
[indistinct conversation]
[birds chirping]
Uh, I told the entire auditorium
I was bisexual,
during my campaign
-for student body president.
-What?
And, of course, I lost, um.
-Oh my god, why.
-Yeah, thank you.
I don't know why I the
revelation would help my chances
of being student body president
in 2008, in Chatham, New York.
But it's...
Wow!
I thought you were gay.
No, uh, bisexual, queer, both.
Eleanor: Oliver, what are you?
Oh, uh, I'm queer.
Everyone's queer.
Except for Leo.
Ummm, I'm not straight, no.
You're not?
I'm queer.
Didn't know that.
Well, I'm just
grateful to be able to live
a genuine queer life.
That part.
Sometimes I wish I was queer.
Oh, really.
But do you think maybe
I'm queering heterosexuality?
Maybe?
[chuckles]
Well, maybe I am queer.
Maybe you are.
You would be the one to know.
Well, remember when
we hooked up, squirrel?
-Eleanor.
-Well, do you?
Making out for less than
a minute before you passed
out drunk?
So, what? It doesn't count?
Leo: I guess it counts.
I guess you're queer.
Eleanor: See, I'm queer.
I'm queer too,
like why the fuck not?
I just want to be like,
in the club.
I want to get naked.
Oliver: Is she going to be okay?
Yeah, she's going to be fine.
-Just a little
-Okay.
too much day drinking.
-We've all been there.
-Yeah.
Well, we should head out.
-Thanks again.
-Bye.
Did you have fun?
I did, actually.
Oliver's...
Oliver is kind of
a blowhard.
I thought he was nice.
I thought him
and Joe were smart.
Yeah, they talk about
ideas.
[laughing]
I have an idea.
What is it?
I forgot.
Okay.
[sighing]
[crickets chirping]
[groaning]
[toilet flushing]
Eleanor?
You may enter.
[sighing]
Are you all right?
Never better.
Anything I can do to help?
Sit.
Do you still like me?
Of course I do.
Cause I was a terrible brute
tonight, wasn't I?
I still like you.
Uh. Okay.
That's good.
[exhales]
[vomiting]
Ugh.
I think I left my phone
at their house.
Oof.
I'll pick it up in the morning.
Ugh.
[sheet rustling]
[crickets chirping]
[snoring]
[birds chirping]
[birds chirping]
[vehicle approaching]
-Morning.
-Morning.
I have her phone.
Thank God.
Uh, do you want some coffee?
Oh,
-sure.
-Okay.
I'm not much of a hiking guy.
No, you should definitely.
I mean, the path is pretty clear
on the property.
You just have to, like, look out
for the trail markers,
and you should be good.
Are you sure?
Yeah, I mean,
we're leaving today,
but I know Joe would be happy if
you swung by for just
a little hike.
Maybe we will
I have to think of something
to do with her.
[laughing]
Oh, I'm sorry about yesterday.
She's,
a lot.
It's all good. Really.
I mean,
she's maybe
a little territorial?
Territorial?
Over you?
Protective, too.
Huh.
I think in kind of a sweet way.
If a little...
A little.
-A little.
-Yeah.
I just, yeah.
I still am sorry
for all the unhinged stuff
she said.
You know,
I don't really mind her chaos.
Oh, really?
Well, then maybe
you and I should switch places
for the weekend
because, oh, she's exhausting.
Maybe that's why
she's your friend.
What?
Maybe, you like
a little bit of dysfunction.
Okay, um.
Former classmate.
And now my psychoanalyst, um...
For the record, I like simple.
I like boring.
That's,
that's good.
Is it?
Yeah. Because,
I'm boring.
You absolutely are not.
I don't wanna...
I'm usually
a lot smoother than this.
But, um,
can I, can I kiss you?
Me?
Yeah. You.
Are you and Joe...?
Oh, no. We're just friends.
I've been wanting to do that
since that terrible,
terrible class.
Really?
Yeah.
And I'm glad to know
that you like boring,
because I'd very much like
to do something boring
with you sometime.
Can I call you this week?
I would really like that.
Cool. Me too.
So you should stick around.
Enjoy the pool, hang out.
I'm going to head back up.
We got to head out soon.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
-All right.
Have fun.
[giggles]
[water rippling]
Thanks for the coffee.
Thanks for the kiss.
[music playing]
You were gone for a while.
I was getting
your phone, remember?
Ah, thank you. My hero.
I got you an iced coffee
from that place down the road.
It's a little melted, though.
I just had a coffee.
But it's my peace offering.
I'm sorry about last night.
Apology accepted.
But maybe, don't you think
those guys are just,
like, a tiny bit pretentious?
[chuckles]
Eleanor, seriously.
You know,
you sound like Holden Caulfield.
Fine. Fine.
I am sorry
for getting so drunk last night.
I honestly don't remember much,
but I'm sorry
for whatever happened.
Okay. Thanks.
Cheers.
[slurping]
Leo: You have family in me.
You have family in me.
Family in me.
[door knocking]
Ready?
Yup.
What time is it?
Time for our big hike.
Ok...
Are you okay?
You seem weird.
Just tired.
Do you want to run lines
when we get back?
Oh, no. I mean,
no, thank you.
Just, uh,
appreciate it though.
[crickets chirping]
[music playing]
[birds chirping]
I thought of a movie
that changed history.
Oh yeah?
The Thin Blue Line.
Errol Morris
literally solved a crime
that exonerated an innocent man.
Huh. Okay.
What happened, um, afterwards?
He made a lot of money
doing computer
and beer commercials.
The death row guy?
Errol Morris.
Right.
Which way?
[birds chirping]
This way.
I don't see any trail markers.
Trust me.
Can we just stick to the trail?
[exhales]
This is the trail, silly.
[breathing heavily]
Can we take a little break?
Yeah.
[breathing heavily]
We're having fun, right?
I never go on hikes.
That's your whole problem.
-What?
-You have such a rigid view
of yourself.
You say you never go on hikes,
but here you are,
going on a hike.
You just don't try anything new
unless someone pushes
you to do it.
[breathing heavily]
You okay?
[birds chirping]
You know,
maybe what you think of
as me being a coward...
I never said you were a coward!
Is actually
me just having
a little structure in my life
because my whole life is a risk.
And I don't need to, you know,
act out like some theater kid
just to prove a point.
[leaves rustling]
Oh, so everywhere
I go is theater, right?
Yep. Just without the stage.
I'm a photographer.
Oh, right.
And where is the camera?
Why are
you being such an asshole?
If you don't want to keep
hiking, then go back to the
house.
Why am I being an asshole?
Go back to the house.
Where the hell are we?
I think we're lost.
Yeah, no shit.
No, we're, like, lost,
metaphorically lost.
And actually lost.
Mm.
What are you doing?
I'm going to navigate us
out of here.
Not just metaphorically.
I don't have service, do you?
Don't worry about it.
Can you check
if you have service?
Eleanor!
What?
[music playing]
I only have 3% battery.
I think we're close.
Oh yeah, Eleanor? Where are we?
See, we're on the trail.
Yeah, but do we even know
if we're going
in the right direction.
It's a loop.
Okay. My phone just died.
Are you texting right now?
No.
If you are texting Will
with our source of light.
I'm not texting Will. I haven't
texted Will all weekend
because I'm trying to be present
with you.
You haven't texted Will
all weekend.
Let's just try
to get out of here, huh?
So you haven't
texted him at all.
-No!
-No?
No.
Is that, like,
normal for you guys?
And weren't you just saying
that you were texting him
yesterday?
Okay, busybody, we,
we broke up. Okay?
The fuck, Eleanor.
So you've just been lying to me
all weekend?
Well, you hide shit from me.
You didn't want
to take your shirt off
and get in the water. Why?
Because you didn't want me to
know that you hadn't had top
surgery.
-Am I right?
-That is completely different,
-Eleanor.
-Oh, is it?
You're so fucking clueless!
I'm not clueless.
You just don't clue me in.
This isn't about me.
This is about you,
lying to me, all weekend.
What do you want me to say?
I want you to tell me
why you're not telling me shit.
Okay.
[crickets chirping]
We were on the road trip
for two days,
and I picked some stupid fight
about directions,
and he just fucking left. Okay?
He hitchhiked back home.
I mean, why should I admit to
you that I'm 29 fucking
years old,
and I can't seem
to keep a relationship
for longer than three months.
And you have your, your head
so far up your own ass
with your shitty little callback
for your shitty little TV show.
And all you care about is
impressing pretentious assholes
that you don't even like.
Wow, Eleanor.
Just because you don't like
something
doesn't mean it's shitty.
What?
It's not like we're in college
anymore.
I don't need to
follow you around
and just mirror back
all your thoughts and opinions.
Okay. That's not--
I know I'm probably not supposed
to say this
because it's problematic
or whatever,
cause I'm not allowed to have
any feelings about
your transition.
But I miss how things were.
When you...
Who you were before.
You really,
aren't allowed
to have feelings about that.
Like...
At all.
So fucked, Eleanor!
I miss you.
I just feel so distant
from you now.
It's not because I'm trans.
It's really not.
I don't know,
I don't know. What.
I shouldn't be here.
I shouldn't be
in the fucking tick-infested,
Blair Witch Woods,
fighting with you.
Thank God. The house.
-Are you sure?
-Yes, I'm sure.
Just tell me you didn't lose
the car keys.
I didn't
Leo.
Leo!
I love you.
No, you don't, Eleanor.
Kind of ironic, I guess.
Seeing as it was me
keeping secrets all those years,
being in love with you.
And you,
pretending you didn't know.
Although, I mean...
You knew. You must've known.
I didn't...know.
I mean, I didn't know know...
You liked having me around
as your little lapdog and...
I'm done.
I am done.
That's so unfair.
Is it?
Can you?
[beeping]
[beeping]
[crickets buzzing]
[door slamming]
I mean it.
You have family in me.
Fuck.
[glass breaking]
You okay?
Yeah. Just,
clumsy.
[sniffling]
Let me help.
[glass clinking]
It's our last night.
It is.
You shouldn't be drinking alone.
I heard you.
Hmm?
Like I heard you.
I was fucked up.
But can I say something?
Maybe less fucked up?
Sure.
I miss us.
You miss us?
You're the best friend
I've ever had.
Like my best, best friend.
And I feel like,
you haven't
been acting that way?
Or something?
Or, like,
you were my best friend.
And now you're just
someone else?
I don't know.
I'm still me, Eleanor.
Definitely
still me.
That's good.
Maybe it's just...
I wish I weren't still me.
Maybe if you just
accepted you a little more,
it would help.
I mean,
I always liked you as you are.
Just, it's like
when you're not happy being you,
that you become a little bit
too much of you or something.
Yeah.
I liked following you around
in college.
You led me
out of the hole I was in.
And you still do.
Thank you.
[laughing]
Eleanor.
I think you're confused.
[exhales]
I am confused.
By you.
[sighing]
Okay.
You are something.
[footsteps receding]
[door closing]
[crickets chirping]
[exhales]
[bed creaking]
[sighing]
Can I?
[exhales]
Are you?
No. Yeah. I'm okay.
Could you maybe, um,
a little
to the left?
Sure.
Yeah.
My hand is cramping.
Oh, what, um, should we?
Maybe if, um...
Yeah.
[sighing]
[moaning]
[sighing]
Did you just fake it?
No.
Yes.
Okay.
[sighing]
I guess I should
probably go.
Yeah.
[heaving breathing]
Eleanor.
[laughing]
Oh my god, Leo.
I'm so sorry.
That was so horrifying.
Have you ever had worse sex?
No. Even the first time
wasn't this bad.
[laughing]
At least it was brief.
Ugh.
And now we know.
We really know.
And it will never happen again.
Unless we're stuck in a cave,
or on a deserted island.
Or on a long cruise ship trip.
Or if they make
another Avengers movie
that's 3 hours long
and we're stuck in the last row.
And we run out of popcorn.
[inhales]
[exhales]
So, I didn't
ruin everything?
No.
I just...
I did the thing where
I sabotage a good thing.
And I've just been driving
around for the past couple
of weeks,
aiming my camera aimlessly at
shit and not pressing
the shutter.
And you have a whole life
that I know nothing about.
And I know it's not your fault.
I am a little clueless.
But I'm learning, right?
We're all learning.
[sighing]
You want to
know something weird?
Another secret?
Kind of.
You know how much of a loser
I feel like I am?
You're not a loser.
No, don't try
to make me feel better.
But here's the thing.
I'm a fucking good teacher.
[sobbing]
Like bizarrely good at it.
And my whole life plan
was like, no,
I'm an artist.
And I was somehow embarrassed
that I became
a high school teacher.
But I admit it,
I fucking love my job.
[exhales]
[sniffing]
That's awesome.
The pay's shit.
Yeah.
It's exhausting.
The principal's a scumbag.
-That sucks.
-Did I mention the pay is shit?
You did.
I'm so sorry
for blowing everything up.
I'm sorry too.
[exhales]
Why do you care so much?
[chuckles]
Because...
Because you're my family, Rhea.
Right.
Family.
I don't have any family.
I mean it.
You have family in me.
[exhales]
Just cause
you refuse to see it,
doesn't mean it's not true.
You don't have to be blood
to be family.
Our bond is deeper than biology.
[inhales]
Whether you like it or not,
we're irrevocably connected.
Ever since that day
at the crash pad,
we've been linked.
You're not perfect.
[exhales]
Neither am I.
But,
we're perfect
in our imperfection.
Two warped puzzle pieces
that manage to fit just right
You fit me.
And I fit you.
So...
Yeah, Rhea.
You have family.
May not be those people
in that church, but...
you have family
standing right in front of you.
I was wrong.
That's how you should do it.
Gentle.
You're really good, Leo.
Thank you.
[music playing]
[laughing]
[birds chirping]
[birds twittering]
[engine starting]
[insects chittering]
[birds chirping]
[water rippling]
I wouldn't want it
any other way
There's not much I could say
A lot of things have changed
It isn't quite the same
I thought about you
every night and day
Not talking's pretty strange
We're on a different page
It's healthier this way
But when I look at you
I see an old friend
I see an old friend
passing through
And when I think of you
I wanna be friends
I wanna be friends with you
With you
[door creaking]
Leo Mark?
Years pass and
I pick up the phone
To see where this could go
How could we ever know
So let's just take it slow
Tears fall
It seems that we've outgrown
What kept us on our own
It's really come to show
There's no we can go
But when I look at you
I see an old friend
I see an old friend
passing through
And when I think of you
I wanna be friends
I wanna be friends with you
But when I look at you
I see an old friend
I see an old friend
passing through
And when I think of you
I wanna be friends
I wanna be friends
I wanna be friends
I wanna be friends
The surgery.
What can I say about it?
Other than that,
it changed everything...
All it took was my whole life.
[sighing]
All that pain...
All that struggle...
And eight hours
under anesthesia.
I went from a caterpillar
to a butterfly.
And now, I'm me.
[sobbing]
Can't you see?
I'm finally me.
[exhales]
Can't you see me
for who I truly am?
What more do I have to
Okay thanks, that's enough.
Uh, sorry.
No, that was great.
Thanks for that.
Thank you.
As you know, the casting call
is for a transgender male
or transgender female.
Just for our records,
uh, which one are you?
Oh, uh, um.
Trans man.
Trans male.
Trans man.
Great. Thanks.
We'll be in contact.
[sirens wailing]
[music playing]
Hey,
I just got out of the audition,
which was a little.
[laughing]
Yeah. Uh, on
that front, bad news.
Wait...
They already passed?
I was just up
there 30 seconds ago.
Yeah, sorry, Leo.
They said they're going
in a different direction.
Different direction. Well...
[inhales]
At least they're efficient.
Onwards and upwards.
Look, the real reason I'm
calling is because you're
confirmed.
-The callback?
-Yep.
The callback.
It's Monday, 2 p.m.
At the production offices.
They want you
to read the same scene.
So I'll send you the sides.
I already have them memorized.
Wonderful.
You're going to kill it.
-Zip.
-Zap.
-Zop.
-Zop Zip.
-Zap.
-Zop.
-Zip.
-Zap.
-Zop.
-Zip.
Got it.
Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm just tired.
[clothes rustling]
[footsteps approaching]
Remember Leo, you are a worm.
You're not
pretending to be a worm. Okay?
Loosen up.
[clothes rustling]
[footsteps receding]
Uh, so I'm auditioning
for this like,
teen movie about a vampire.
Really! That's awesome.
-Wait--
-You're gonna be like, a
vampire?
Um, I mean,
I'm going to be a human.
-Oh, okay.
-Yeah.
-I'll see it's like a.
-Yeah.
But I might turn into a vampire.
Like, later on in the film
if it all goes well.
That's so cool.
[door closing]
[whimsical music playing]
[doorbell rings]
Hi.
Sorry I'm late.
[moaning]
I feel like I came this close
to booking.
My agent said they pinned me.
That's fantastic.
Be fantastic to book but.
Yeah.
How was your audition?
They passed, but, um.
I do have this callback for...
-The series regular thing?
-Yeah.
Leo! That's great.
-Yeah, I feel really
-Sorry, do you see my shirt?
Oh, um.
Uh, here you go.
Would you want to, um...
go to this reading
my friend's doing this weekend?
Sure.
But not, like,
as a date, right?
Totally.
Because I don't want to ruin
our dynamic.
I think we work
really well together
as scene partners.
I definitely wouldn't want to
mess up our classroom chemistry.
Good.
I'm glad we're on the same page.
What are you doing tonight?
I've got a date.
Cool.
What are you up to?
Uh...
Going to
a friend's party, I think.
Fun.
Yeah.
[Leo sighing]
[phone vibrating]
Hello?
Surprise!
Surprise!
Squirrel.
[laughing]
Squirrel.
Um.
You gorgeous creature.
[chuckles]
AH! You look so different.
A year and
Vitamin T will do that.
Vitamin T?
Testosterone.
Oh, my God. Right.
Of course. Of course.
Come on in.
-Okay.
-Yeah.
[laughing]
You really don't have
to roll out the red carpet.
I'm only staying a night.
It's fine.
Well, thank you.
So...
What are you doing in New York?
Just passing through.
You know,
living my usual nomad life
during the summer.
And when I realized
that I'd be driving
through the city
to go upstate.
I couldn't resist
[chuckles]
And I think
you should come with me.
I couldn't.
I'm not taking no for an answer.
No, really.
No, really.
uh, uh
I really can't
[laughing]
-I really can't.
-I really can't.
-What?
-Eleanor!
I am not...
-I'm taking your wine away.
-Going.
What? It's mine.
[slurping]
[machine whirring]
[door closing]
Oh! Hey.
Uh, you want me
to clear out?
Nah.
We used to change in front of
each other all the time, right?
Right.
Coffee?
Ooh, yes, please.
So I hear nothing
for three weeks,
and then, out of nowhere,
out of the blue
I get a call from a new number,
and he said, oh, sorry.
I dropped my flip phone--
Flip phone!
In a bucket of paint
-at an art gathering.
-Okay.
What the fuck
is an art gathering?
And then I was like, but
you were posting on Instagram?
And he was like, yeah,
I did it from my iPad.
So?
So I kept fucking him
until he disappeared. Again.
[laughing]
You really know how to pick 'em.
I'm nothing if not consistent.
Are you?
At least I'm consistent
in my inconsistency.
But you and Will are good?
Oh, yeah.
I'm glad we got back together.
He's, um, less awful
than the other
guys I've been with.
A glowing compliment.
You know what I mean.
[laughing]
What's he up to?
He was on part of the road trip.
We actually did
a project together,
combining his drawing,
and my photographs.
It was very romantic.
What's the project?
People...
and signage.
Speed limits, stop signs.
Public spaces, private life.
All these little commandments
everywhere.
Still not fully formed yet,
but yeah.
How's life as a Broadway hoofer?
Oh, you know.
No, I don't.
Give me all the juicy details.
I do have this callback
for a series thing.
Leo!
That's huge!
I hope so.
I mean, it would feel
really good to book something.
And then I could say my
oldest friend is the Leo Mark.
Eleanor, stop.
Don't forget about me
when you're famous, okay?
Right.
I mean it.
I won't.
Good.
[joyful music playing]
[car horns blaring]
[birds chirping]
Wow.
It's lovely.
Friends of
friends in high places.
[birds chirping]
Can you..?
And they're just,
-letting us stay here?
-Yeah.
I met her at an arts residency
and Lila said I could stay here
whenever she's not here.
[birds chirping]
Dibs.
[birds chirping]
[bed creaking]
[iPhone typing]
[music playing]
Sit with me.
[sighing]
You should put
on a bathing suit.
The sun feels
so good on my skin.
I'm good as I am.
Suit yourself.
[birds chirping]
[inhaling]
[exhaling]
[phone ringing]
Hey, this is Will.
You know what to do.
[phone locking sound]
[bed creaking]
[knocks on door]
I think we should go shopping.
I've got the urge to splurge.
Sure.
[birds chirping]
Oh dear.
[snorting]
[snickering]
Do you want to try anything on?
I mean, it's a woman's store.
Ahh, right, right.
Sorry. Sorry.
[shop entry bells clinking]
Oh.
She's cute.
Yeah.
Hm.
Remember when we used to go
to Savers?
We'd get,
what, 10 pounds of clothes
for 10 dollars?
I still have some of that stuff.
Some really good shit.
Okay.
What do you think?
It's nice.
-Nice?
-Uh--
I'm not an expert
on women's fashion.
It is cute.
-Flattering?
-Sure. Sure.
Well, I like it.
Will you check the tag
and see how much it is?
Woof.
We're not in Savers anymore,
are we, Toto?
No, we're not.
Should we steal it?
-What?
-We can put it in my bag.
Eleanor.
I'm kidding.
Right.
-I'm gonna wear it out.
-Right.
Eleanor?
Were you actually joking?
Of course. We're not in college
anymore.
I can afford it.
Right.
[birds chirping]
[insects chirping]
[food sizzling]
I mean it.
You have family in me.
Just because you refuse to see
it doesn't mean it's not true.
You don't have to be blood
to be family.
Our bond
is deeper than biology.
Whether you like it or not,
we're irrevocably connected.
-Yikes.
-Ah!
Sorry.
Is that for your callback?
Yup.
Dialogue's a little much, huh?
I guess. I don't know.
I think it's kind of nice.
Totally.
It's just nice
to have a character
that's not just
you know,
talking about transitioning
the whole time.
Right. Well, whenever you want
to practice,
I am ready.
I'm going to draw upon my long
and storied career
as a chorus member
from my sixth grade production
of Oklahoma.
Oh, how could I forget.
An acting
legend stands before me.
Don't be shocked
when I act in
circles around you.
-Wine?
-Mm.
I think I should move.
Again?
Again, again, again.
But I thought you liked Durham.
I do. But...
I also don't like
getting stuck places, you know?
What about Will?
Well.
Will is transportable.
Oh, sorry.
Just.
So,
moving?
[spoon clinking]
It's always a thought.
You know me.
Do the thing.
-What thing?
-You know.
Squirrel.
Squirrel!
Oh.
[dishes clinking]
I never told
you this in college,
but, you'd be holding court
at some party,
and I would be
hanging on the edge,
wondering when you were going
to figure out how much cooler
than me you were.
I would fantasize about
doing something, I don't know,
cool enough to
keep your attention.
Like what?
Something impulsive.
Like?
I don't know.
Steal a car,
go for a joyride,
you know,
throw caution to the wind.
We never quite did that.
No, I didn't.
I do remember seeing you,
though, at parties
at your most painfully
socially awkward looking at me.
I always wondered
what you were thinking.
Well, now you know.
Yeah, but it makes sense.
You're an actor.
You're shy in real life,
but on stage, you're...
Whereas with me.
Well, everywhere you go,
it's theater.
Yeah.
I think we should go out.
-Oh, really?
-Yeah. It's happy hour.
We should hit the town.
Have a few drinks.
Have a few laughs.
I haven't heard that one
since college.
Well, it's still true.
The afternoon is young!
Or,
old.
But the night
is still barely nascent.
Yes, but I am very old now.
Let's go.
Please,
please, please, please, please.
-Sure.
-Yes!
[laughing]
[whimsical music playing]
[indistinct chattering]
[dance music playing]
C'mon. Loosen up.
I am loose.
I'm loose.
We've been
hooking up for a year...
A year?
Yeah, but we're just friends.
[snorting]
Oh, really?
Yes, really.
I mean,
if she wanted more I, uh
but, I respect her boundaries.
She wants to
keep it professional.
Except when you're having sex.
Oh, I just want someone
to love me
like Rita Wilson loves
Tom Hanks.
What?
They famously love each other.
A lot.
I read a listicle about it.
Well, you deserve
an epic love like that.
I'd just be happy
with something
a little more stable.
But, um,
yeah, I'm totally fine
with the no strings thing.
Totally.
[indistinct chattering]
My own arts practice
is really informed
by being on the road.
-Uh.
-Not to get too Kerouac,
but the freedom of the open road
really frees me.
[chuckles]
I love Kerouac.
Me too.
I'm gonna go to the bathroom.
Oh, cool.
So what's the longest
you've ever driven in one go?
[chuckles]
15 hours.
Wow.
[music playing]
[phone locking sound]
[laughing]
No, c'mon.
Come on.
Mhm, mhm, mhm.
Uh-huh, uh-huh.
So?
How do they compare
to your boyfriends?
I'm not going to you know,
size wise,
put you in competition.
Mm-hm.
You both have beautiful,
artistic hands.
Um, sorry.
I think I'm going to head out.
Um.
Sorry. He's my ride.
I've gotta go.
Good to meet you.
Bye.
[upbeat music playing]
[vehicles passing]
You know, you could have stayed
if you wanted to.
I know.
I just hate Kerouac. Mm-hm.
And I'd never cheat on Will.
It's just nice
to flirt a little.
[car stereo bass booming]
[crickets chirping]
[footsteps approaching]
You want dinner?
No, I'm good.
I think I'm just hang out here
for a minute.
Okay.
Night sweetie.
[crickets chirping]
[sniffling]
[crickets chirping]
[birds chirping]
Whenever you're ready.
If I hadn't come,
what would you have done?
Something desperate.
No, seriously,
what would you have done?
Paid my respects
and left quietly.
These assholes are the only ones
who want to turn it
into a whole thing.
You can't expect
to just show up here
and no, nothing.
I mean,
you look like Holly Golightly,
for Christ's sake.
-Ugh. Are you slut shaming me?
-Rhea.
[dramatic inhale/exhale]
I couldn't turn up to my
estranged father's funeral
looking like shit.
Could I?
I know that was a lot.
What they did wasn't cool.
Oh, threatening to have me
arrested for trespassing
wasn't cool?
You know what I mean.
You haven't saved me, A.J.
-That's not...
- Showing up here
didn't fix anything for me.
I just wanted to make sure
you were okay.
Why do you care so much?
Because.
Because you're my family, Rhea.
Right...
Family.
I don't have any family.
[sighing]
I mean it.
You have family in me.
Just because you refuse to see
it doesn't mean it's not true.
You don't have to be blood
to be family.
Our bond is deeper than biology.
Whether you like it or not,
we're irrevocably connected.
Ever since that day
at the crash pad,
we've been linked.
[inhaling]
[stuttering]
-I messed up a line.
-No, you read them
fine.
I just thought,
maybe you're
being a little gentle.
Like.
Like where's the energy,
-the passion?
-Um.
I...
Why don't you try
the monologue again?
But this time, maybe like...
angry.
Why would I be angry?
Well, Rhea's kind of a bitch,
right?
-Kind of.
-Right.
She, like, doesn't listen.
So you have to
really get through to her.
Like really shake her.
I guess I just kind of
was thinking about AJ as if he,
you know, was a gentle person,
Like when he's making a point he
wouldn't be like, in her face?
Yeah, but I feel
like at this point,
it'd be a really
big breaking point for him.
I think you want
to wow the director.
So you should just try
something different. Right?
Mm, yeah.
Maybe I can try it angrier.
Yeah, just the monologue.
Just like, come on.
Like, really give it to her.
-Come on.
-Yeah.
I'll give
you the line leading in.
[inhales]
[exhales]
I don't have any family.
[exhales]
I mean it.
You have family in me.
Just cause you refuse to see
it doesn't mean it's not true.
Whether you like it or not,
we're irrevocably connected.
Ever since that day
at the crash pad,
we've been linked.
You're not perfect.
Neither am I.
But we're perfect.
In our imperfection,
two warped puzzle pieces
that manage to fit just right.
[exasperated breathing]
You fit me,
and I fit you.
So, yeah, Rhea,
you have family.
May not be those people
in the church, but.
You got family standing
right in front of you.
How was that?
I think it's getting there.
Felt so weird.
We can keep working on it.
Fuck, I really
don't wanna fuck this up.
You won't.
We'll get there.
And then I say...
We fit.
I guess,
in our own misshapen way.
And now you're supposed to
put your palm against my palm,
and we interlace fingers.
Right.
[music playing]
[birds chirping]
Might not be those people
in that church.
But you have family standing
right in front of you.
So?
Umm...
Umm?
Honestly?
Yes, honestly.
Why are you yelling?
I have literally no idea.
My friend
gave me all these directions
and now I'm totally lost.
-You were fine before.
-Fuck.
Look, just get out of your head
and don't run lines with
her again.
Mm.
I kinda wish it was just you
and me up here.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah.
That's, sweet.
Is everything okay?
I'm happy to
run lines and stuff,
but the guy that I've
been dating, he wants to be
exclusive.
Oh, yeah.
That's, I mean,
I'm cool with that.
Neither of us wanted anything,
right?
Yeah.
But I guess,
now I want
something with this guy.
So...
I hope that's okay?
Of course.
Thanks for being so chill.
And seriously, run lines
by yourself this weekend.
Bye.
[crickets chirping]
Leo?
Coming.
You okay?
You look like someone died.
No, I'm good.
Farm store?
[vehicles passing]
Oooh, these are gorge
[vehicles passing]
-Potted plant..
-I think it's hibiscus
So...
Put it in your hair.
[chuckles]
Hi.
How are vegetables so expensive?
Inflation?
Fuck.
What?
Just this person
from my acting class is here.
Don't look, Eleanor.
Why can't you say hi?
Because he's on
a really big show right now.
-So?
-And he's really good on it.
Leo?
Leo!
-Oliver!
-Hi.
It's so good to see you.
It's been a minute.
So what are you doing here?
Just set up
here for the weekend.
Oh, Joe's parents
have a house up here,
so we're here,
like, all the time.
Oh, this is my friend Joe.
-Nice to meet you.
-Hi.
You, too.
And I'm Eleanor.
Sorry.
This is my friend Eleanor.
-Well.
-Hi.
Hi, Eleanor, um.
So, how are you?
I'm good. I just.
I should say congratulations
on San Fran house .
I've been watching the show,
and you're so wonderful in it.
Oh, thank you.
You don't have
to say that, though.
Leo was just saying
how good you are in it.
-It's just a great show.
-Wait, wait, wait.
Uh, I'm having, like,
a brain blast moment.
-Um.
-Oh, yeah?
Okay. Uh, no pressure at all.
But you two should totally come
over to my place for,
like, snacks.
I mean, we came here for cheese
and crackers.
It'd be so lovely to share.
I think we have afternoon plans.
They're easily changeable.
Okay, so change them.
Look, we'll stay in the store
a little bit longer,
buy a few things,
and then we'll meet you outside?
-Hell yeah.
-All right. Cool.
Amazing. Okay. See you.
What is your problem?
I guess, I...
He just
was the only other trans guy
in our acting class.
And we weren't that close,
and it kind of felt.
I don't know,
like there was some competition.
Well, you're not in class now,
no need to be competitive.
Yeah.
Are you annoyed with me?
because I seized the moment?
If you don't wanna go,
we can back out.
No, no
actually, thank you.
Let's do the socializing thing.
See?
Serendipity!
Adventure!
[music playing]
[birds chirping]
[engine stopping]
[door closing]
[birds chirping]
Hello.
Wheat and Rye?
Yeah, it's over by the market.
[indistinct chattering]
Whaat.
Oh my god.
Thank you, Joe!
[indistinct chattering]
Don't mind if I do!
-That looks so beautiful.
-So beautiful.
I mean,
I think a lot about,
you know, art's ability to
create meaningful change. Right?
I'm an actor because I believe
movies are powerful engines
for empathy.
But sometimes I wonder what
actually meaningfully changes?
Like, I don't know.
Can you think of a movie
that has changed
the course of history really?
Uh, Cruising ,
you know?
Uh, responsible
for a huge homophobic backlash
against queer men.
Oh, no, Joe.
[chuckles]
But I love that movie.
I mean, Al Pacino doing poppers
in those tank tops.
It's ugh...
[laughing]
-I don't know that one,
-Mm-hm.
but I'm sure it's better
than what you've
been auditioning for.
Am I right?
I guess.
You haven't saved me,
AJ. C'mon Leo.
That's not what I...
Showing up here
didn't change anything for me.
I just wanted to make sure
you're okay.
You know the lines?
Yeah, uh.
I auditioned.
Wow, that is.
Yeah. It's just so crazy.
We went in for the same part.
Oh, they already passed on me.
Yeah.
-So sorry.
-It's fine.
I'm actually really glad
that you're up for it.
When Leo first read it,
he was so quiet.
But I'm trying to work with him
and, you know,
try to get him to be
a little angry you know?
I kind of thought of AJ as a
sort of gentle guy?
Huh.
Joe, remind me
of the name of this cheese?
Oh, Camembert.
Do you eat this?
-Yeah.
-Yeah, you can.
Why we didn't we talk
about this kind of stuff
when we were in class together?
I don't know.
I mean,
we should've just
been doing this
the whole the time.
Yeah, right.
Leo said you guys are a little
competitive with each other.
Eleanor.
No, it's true. We were.
I mean, we were competing
for, like, the scraps of roles
they were throwing our way, but
it all feels really stupid now.
It does.
Well, we're talking now.
-Cheers?
-Cheers.
Oh my God. This
pool is everything.
It was. It was. It was, uh,
actually a little traumatizing.
Maybe I'm not ready
to keep this conversation going.
Uh, Eleanor,
we've totally been ignoring you.
What about you?
What do you do?
Uh, I'm a photographer.
I teach during the year,
and I travel every summer.
Okay, that's enviable.
It's nice to be
free in that way.
So what college do you teach at?
Uh, Eleanor, teaches at this
like, really amazing
high school.
Oh, that's so cool.
I mean,
it must be really interesting
-to work with people that age.
-Yup.
Eleanor has been living in
Durham for like, two years now.
Has this really cool boyfriend.
Who's also an artist,
and they went
on this road trip together.
-Yup.
-Ok, how was that?
Really romantic.
He painted and I photographed.
But I thought he was drawing?
Oh, drawing.
Yeah, he usually
is a painter, but
because we were on the road,
he was drawing
because of
the supplies and stuff.
I was just texting
him yesterday, and he said
he was really happy to be
back home with his materials.
-Yeah, drawing.
-Yes.
Uh, would anyone like some wine?
Oliver,
do you want to come with me?
-I can help.
-No, no. You're good. We got it.
[birds chirping]
Um.
You're being weird.
How?
I just feel
like you're not being yourself.
And what is me being myself,
Eleanor?
Just seems like
you're performing,
Maybe I'm just...
having a good time
and feeling loose with them.
Then why aren't you
like that with me?
I....
I have to pee.
I am.
[crickets chirping]
[music playing]
[phone ringing]
-Hey, this is Will...
-Motherfucker.
You were right,
I was being weird.
Good thing you know
my love language.
[chuckling]
Let's just have fun.
Mmm.
[water rippling]
[laughing]
C'mon, Leo.
Are you serious right now?
What?
Ok, what's with the t-shirts?
What do you mean?
I feel like you're going to
drown with all those clothes on.
Eleanor.
What?
I'm wearing a shirt
'cause I'm binding.
Oh, my God.
I'm so sorry, um.
It's fine.
Why didn't you tell me?
[water splashing]
More wine?
-Mhmm.
-Sure.
[exhales]
[laughing]
Stop.
Stop. No...
Seriously,
I have to stop laughing
cause my stomach is hurting.
Okay, okay. No more
dirty knock-knock jokes for us.
Is there more wine?
Uh, t...
Are you sure you want more?
Yes.
I guess I'm driving.
That would be great.
-Anyone else want?
-Um.
what is that?
I think okay.
Bigger glass.
Thank you.
[laughing]
[indistinct conversation]
[birds chirping]
Uh, I told the entire auditorium
I was bisexual,
during my campaign
-for student body president.
-What?
And, of course, I lost, um.
-Oh my god, why.
-Yeah, thank you.
I don't know why I the
revelation would help my chances
of being student body president
in 2008, in Chatham, New York.
But it's...
Wow!
I thought you were gay.
No, uh, bisexual, queer, both.
Eleanor: Oliver, what are you?
Oh, uh, I'm queer.
Everyone's queer.
Except for Leo.
Ummm, I'm not straight, no.
You're not?
I'm queer.
Didn't know that.
Well, I'm just
grateful to be able to live
a genuine queer life.
That part.
Sometimes I wish I was queer.
Oh, really.
But do you think maybe
I'm queering heterosexuality?
Maybe?
[chuckles]
Well, maybe I am queer.
Maybe you are.
You would be the one to know.
Well, remember when
we hooked up, squirrel?
-Eleanor.
-Well, do you?
Making out for less than
a minute before you passed
out drunk?
So, what? It doesn't count?
Leo: I guess it counts.
I guess you're queer.
Eleanor: See, I'm queer.
I'm queer too,
like why the fuck not?
I just want to be like,
in the club.
I want to get naked.
Oliver: Is she going to be okay?
Yeah, she's going to be fine.
-Just a little
-Okay.
too much day drinking.
-We've all been there.
-Yeah.
Well, we should head out.
-Thanks again.
-Bye.
Did you have fun?
I did, actually.
Oliver's...
Oliver is kind of
a blowhard.
I thought he was nice.
I thought him
and Joe were smart.
Yeah, they talk about
ideas.
[laughing]
I have an idea.
What is it?
I forgot.
Okay.
[sighing]
[crickets chirping]
[groaning]
[toilet flushing]
Eleanor?
You may enter.
[sighing]
Are you all right?
Never better.
Anything I can do to help?
Sit.
Do you still like me?
Of course I do.
Cause I was a terrible brute
tonight, wasn't I?
I still like you.
Uh. Okay.
That's good.
[exhales]
[vomiting]
Ugh.
I think I left my phone
at their house.
Oof.
I'll pick it up in the morning.
Ugh.
[sheet rustling]
[crickets chirping]
[snoring]
[birds chirping]
[birds chirping]
[vehicle approaching]
-Morning.
-Morning.
I have her phone.
Thank God.
Uh, do you want some coffee?
Oh,
-sure.
-Okay.
I'm not much of a hiking guy.
No, you should definitely.
I mean, the path is pretty clear
on the property.
You just have to, like, look out
for the trail markers,
and you should be good.
Are you sure?
Yeah, I mean,
we're leaving today,
but I know Joe would be happy if
you swung by for just
a little hike.
Maybe we will
I have to think of something
to do with her.
[laughing]
Oh, I'm sorry about yesterday.
She's,
a lot.
It's all good. Really.
I mean,
she's maybe
a little territorial?
Territorial?
Over you?
Protective, too.
Huh.
I think in kind of a sweet way.
If a little...
A little.
-A little.
-Yeah.
I just, yeah.
I still am sorry
for all the unhinged stuff
she said.
You know,
I don't really mind her chaos.
Oh, really?
Well, then maybe
you and I should switch places
for the weekend
because, oh, she's exhausting.
Maybe that's why
she's your friend.
What?
Maybe, you like
a little bit of dysfunction.
Okay, um.
Former classmate.
And now my psychoanalyst, um...
For the record, I like simple.
I like boring.
That's,
that's good.
Is it?
Yeah. Because,
I'm boring.
You absolutely are not.
I don't wanna...
I'm usually
a lot smoother than this.
But, um,
can I, can I kiss you?
Me?
Yeah. You.
Are you and Joe...?
Oh, no. We're just friends.
I've been wanting to do that
since that terrible,
terrible class.
Really?
Yeah.
And I'm glad to know
that you like boring,
because I'd very much like
to do something boring
with you sometime.
Can I call you this week?
I would really like that.
Cool. Me too.
So you should stick around.
Enjoy the pool, hang out.
I'm going to head back up.
We got to head out soon.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
-All right.
Have fun.
[giggles]
[water rippling]
Thanks for the coffee.
Thanks for the kiss.
[music playing]
You were gone for a while.
I was getting
your phone, remember?
Ah, thank you. My hero.
I got you an iced coffee
from that place down the road.
It's a little melted, though.
I just had a coffee.
But it's my peace offering.
I'm sorry about last night.
Apology accepted.
But maybe, don't you think
those guys are just,
like, a tiny bit pretentious?
[chuckles]
Eleanor, seriously.
You know,
you sound like Holden Caulfield.
Fine. Fine.
I am sorry
for getting so drunk last night.
I honestly don't remember much,
but I'm sorry
for whatever happened.
Okay. Thanks.
Cheers.
[slurping]
Leo: You have family in me.
You have family in me.
Family in me.
[door knocking]
Ready?
Yup.
What time is it?
Time for our big hike.
Ok...
Are you okay?
You seem weird.
Just tired.
Do you want to run lines
when we get back?
Oh, no. I mean,
no, thank you.
Just, uh,
appreciate it though.
[crickets chirping]
[music playing]
[birds chirping]
I thought of a movie
that changed history.
Oh yeah?
The Thin Blue Line.
Errol Morris
literally solved a crime
that exonerated an innocent man.
Huh. Okay.
What happened, um, afterwards?
He made a lot of money
doing computer
and beer commercials.
The death row guy?
Errol Morris.
Right.
Which way?
[birds chirping]
This way.
I don't see any trail markers.
Trust me.
Can we just stick to the trail?
[exhales]
This is the trail, silly.
[breathing heavily]
Can we take a little break?
Yeah.
[breathing heavily]
We're having fun, right?
I never go on hikes.
That's your whole problem.
-What?
-You have such a rigid view
of yourself.
You say you never go on hikes,
but here you are,
going on a hike.
You just don't try anything new
unless someone pushes
you to do it.
[breathing heavily]
You okay?
[birds chirping]
You know,
maybe what you think of
as me being a coward...
I never said you were a coward!
Is actually
me just having
a little structure in my life
because my whole life is a risk.
And I don't need to, you know,
act out like some theater kid
just to prove a point.
[leaves rustling]
Oh, so everywhere
I go is theater, right?
Yep. Just without the stage.
I'm a photographer.
Oh, right.
And where is the camera?
Why are
you being such an asshole?
If you don't want to keep
hiking, then go back to the
house.
Why am I being an asshole?
Go back to the house.
Where the hell are we?
I think we're lost.
Yeah, no shit.
No, we're, like, lost,
metaphorically lost.
And actually lost.
Mm.
What are you doing?
I'm going to navigate us
out of here.
Not just metaphorically.
I don't have service, do you?
Don't worry about it.
Can you check
if you have service?
Eleanor!
What?
[music playing]
I only have 3% battery.
I think we're close.
Oh yeah, Eleanor? Where are we?
See, we're on the trail.
Yeah, but do we even know
if we're going
in the right direction.
It's a loop.
Okay. My phone just died.
Are you texting right now?
No.
If you are texting Will
with our source of light.
I'm not texting Will. I haven't
texted Will all weekend
because I'm trying to be present
with you.
You haven't texted Will
all weekend.
Let's just try
to get out of here, huh?
So you haven't
texted him at all.
-No!
-No?
No.
Is that, like,
normal for you guys?
And weren't you just saying
that you were texting him
yesterday?
Okay, busybody, we,
we broke up. Okay?
The fuck, Eleanor.
So you've just been lying to me
all weekend?
Well, you hide shit from me.
You didn't want
to take your shirt off
and get in the water. Why?
Because you didn't want me to
know that you hadn't had top
surgery.
-Am I right?
-That is completely different,
-Eleanor.
-Oh, is it?
You're so fucking clueless!
I'm not clueless.
You just don't clue me in.
This isn't about me.
This is about you,
lying to me, all weekend.
What do you want me to say?
I want you to tell me
why you're not telling me shit.
Okay.
[crickets chirping]
We were on the road trip
for two days,
and I picked some stupid fight
about directions,
and he just fucking left. Okay?
He hitchhiked back home.
I mean, why should I admit to
you that I'm 29 fucking
years old,
and I can't seem
to keep a relationship
for longer than three months.
And you have your, your head
so far up your own ass
with your shitty little callback
for your shitty little TV show.
And all you care about is
impressing pretentious assholes
that you don't even like.
Wow, Eleanor.
Just because you don't like
something
doesn't mean it's shitty.
What?
It's not like we're in college
anymore.
I don't need to
follow you around
and just mirror back
all your thoughts and opinions.
Okay. That's not--
I know I'm probably not supposed
to say this
because it's problematic
or whatever,
cause I'm not allowed to have
any feelings about
your transition.
But I miss how things were.
When you...
Who you were before.
You really,
aren't allowed
to have feelings about that.
Like...
At all.
So fucked, Eleanor!
I miss you.
I just feel so distant
from you now.
It's not because I'm trans.
It's really not.
I don't know,
I don't know. What.
I shouldn't be here.
I shouldn't be
in the fucking tick-infested,
Blair Witch Woods,
fighting with you.
Thank God. The house.
-Are you sure?
-Yes, I'm sure.
Just tell me you didn't lose
the car keys.
I didn't
Leo.
Leo!
I love you.
No, you don't, Eleanor.
Kind of ironic, I guess.
Seeing as it was me
keeping secrets all those years,
being in love with you.
And you,
pretending you didn't know.
Although, I mean...
You knew. You must've known.
I didn't...know.
I mean, I didn't know know...
You liked having me around
as your little lapdog and...
I'm done.
I am done.
That's so unfair.
Is it?
Can you?
[beeping]
[beeping]
[crickets buzzing]
[door slamming]
I mean it.
You have family in me.
Fuck.
[glass breaking]
You okay?
Yeah. Just,
clumsy.
[sniffling]
Let me help.
[glass clinking]
It's our last night.
It is.
You shouldn't be drinking alone.
I heard you.
Hmm?
Like I heard you.
I was fucked up.
But can I say something?
Maybe less fucked up?
Sure.
I miss us.
You miss us?
You're the best friend
I've ever had.
Like my best, best friend.
And I feel like,
you haven't
been acting that way?
Or something?
Or, like,
you were my best friend.
And now you're just
someone else?
I don't know.
I'm still me, Eleanor.
Definitely
still me.
That's good.
Maybe it's just...
I wish I weren't still me.
Maybe if you just
accepted you a little more,
it would help.
I mean,
I always liked you as you are.
Just, it's like
when you're not happy being you,
that you become a little bit
too much of you or something.
Yeah.
I liked following you around
in college.
You led me
out of the hole I was in.
And you still do.
Thank you.
[laughing]
Eleanor.
I think you're confused.
[exhales]
I am confused.
By you.
[sighing]
Okay.
You are something.
[footsteps receding]
[door closing]
[crickets chirping]
[exhales]
[bed creaking]
[sighing]
Can I?
[exhales]
Are you?
No. Yeah. I'm okay.
Could you maybe, um,
a little
to the left?
Sure.
Yeah.
My hand is cramping.
Oh, what, um, should we?
Maybe if, um...
Yeah.
[sighing]
[moaning]
[sighing]
Did you just fake it?
No.
Yes.
Okay.
[sighing]
I guess I should
probably go.
Yeah.
[heaving breathing]
Eleanor.
[laughing]
Oh my god, Leo.
I'm so sorry.
That was so horrifying.
Have you ever had worse sex?
No. Even the first time
wasn't this bad.
[laughing]
At least it was brief.
Ugh.
And now we know.
We really know.
And it will never happen again.
Unless we're stuck in a cave,
or on a deserted island.
Or on a long cruise ship trip.
Or if they make
another Avengers movie
that's 3 hours long
and we're stuck in the last row.
And we run out of popcorn.
[inhales]
[exhales]
So, I didn't
ruin everything?
No.
I just...
I did the thing where
I sabotage a good thing.
And I've just been driving
around for the past couple
of weeks,
aiming my camera aimlessly at
shit and not pressing
the shutter.
And you have a whole life
that I know nothing about.
And I know it's not your fault.
I am a little clueless.
But I'm learning, right?
We're all learning.
[sighing]
You want to
know something weird?
Another secret?
Kind of.
You know how much of a loser
I feel like I am?
You're not a loser.
No, don't try
to make me feel better.
But here's the thing.
I'm a fucking good teacher.
[sobbing]
Like bizarrely good at it.
And my whole life plan
was like, no,
I'm an artist.
And I was somehow embarrassed
that I became
a high school teacher.
But I admit it,
I fucking love my job.
[exhales]
[sniffing]
That's awesome.
The pay's shit.
Yeah.
It's exhausting.
The principal's a scumbag.
-That sucks.
-Did I mention the pay is shit?
You did.
I'm so sorry
for blowing everything up.
I'm sorry too.
[exhales]
Why do you care so much?
[chuckles]
Because...
Because you're my family, Rhea.
Right.
Family.
I don't have any family.
I mean it.
You have family in me.
[exhales]
Just cause
you refuse to see it,
doesn't mean it's not true.
You don't have to be blood
to be family.
Our bond is deeper than biology.
[inhales]
Whether you like it or not,
we're irrevocably connected.
Ever since that day
at the crash pad,
we've been linked.
You're not perfect.
[exhales]
Neither am I.
But,
we're perfect
in our imperfection.
Two warped puzzle pieces
that manage to fit just right
You fit me.
And I fit you.
So...
Yeah, Rhea.
You have family.
May not be those people
in that church, but...
you have family
standing right in front of you.
I was wrong.
That's how you should do it.
Gentle.
You're really good, Leo.
Thank you.
[music playing]
[laughing]
[birds chirping]
[birds twittering]
[engine starting]
[insects chittering]
[birds chirping]
[water rippling]
I wouldn't want it
any other way
There's not much I could say
A lot of things have changed
It isn't quite the same
I thought about you
every night and day
Not talking's pretty strange
We're on a different page
It's healthier this way
But when I look at you
I see an old friend
I see an old friend
passing through
And when I think of you
I wanna be friends
I wanna be friends with you
With you
[door creaking]
Leo Mark?
Years pass and
I pick up the phone
To see where this could go
How could we ever know
So let's just take it slow
Tears fall
It seems that we've outgrown
What kept us on our own
It's really come to show
There's no we can go
But when I look at you
I see an old friend
I see an old friend
passing through
And when I think of you
I wanna be friends
I wanna be friends with you
But when I look at you
I see an old friend
I see an old friend
passing through
And when I think of you
I wanna be friends
I wanna be friends
I wanna be friends
I wanna be friends