Little Fires Everywhere (2020) s01e01 Episode Script
The Spark
1
What do you think
she's saying?
She'll probably find
a way to blame Izzy.
She always does.
They found evidence
of an accelerant.
Guys said when they went in,
there were, um
little fires everywhere.
What does that mean?
Well, the fire didn't just happen.
It was set.
Where's Izzy?
Is she, uh, is she around?
She doesn't have anything
to do with this, Lou.
Okay, well,
I'd just like to talk to her.
Where is she?
We don't know.
Look, she's a minor.
No other homes were damaged.
Elena.
Someone intentionally burned
down your house with you inside.
If Izzy didn't do this,
then who did?
Rise and shine!
Come on, up and at 'em.
Oh, my God, no.
No, tell Jim if he's not ready
in time, he's not going.
Brian wants to get there before the
line for the Raptor just gets insane.
Isabelle Marie, if you want a
ride, we have to go now, honey.
And don't forget your violin.
- Coffee.
- Thank you, honey.
- See you tonight. - Will you tell
her to come downstairs, please?
She's coming, but go easy on her.
She's on vacation time.
Trip,
don't forget your Gatorades.
And Moody, if you're gonna
go to Carl's pool,
make sure and get
a little sun on your legs.
You're looking a little pale.
It's summer.
You should look like
you've seen the sun.
Trip's just as white as I am.
Honey, everybody
looks better with a tan.
Okay, I'm going. - Are
you wearing that to orchestra camp?
Yes. Are there Pop-Tarts?
Uh, no, there's eggs and bacon
like everyone else had
with no complaints.
You know pigs have
the mental capacity
of a three-year-old, right?
So when you eat bacon,
you're basically eating me 11 years ago.
Fascinating.
Let's get in the car.
Listen, Linda, I'm with you. Memoirs of a Geishahad my vote.
But you know Elizabeth. ever since
she started at Planned Parenthood,
she's just been so political.
So I guess
Vagina Monologuesit is.
You know, I'm over my minutes.
Can I call you back?
Okay.
- Hi, everybody.
- Good morning.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Good morning, Elena.
- Marci, any day now.
Just sleep when they sleep,
and it'll be the best thing you do.
- I promise.
- Take it from the woman who knows.
She took six weeks
of paid vacation times four.
Right?
Look, I never normally
do something like this,
but I would hate to not say something
and then have something bad happen.
Yes, okay, so it's
an older model car.
Blue, and it looked as though
there was a woman
living in there.
African-American, I think.
Hey, hi.
You slept well.
Yeah.
Hands visible, honey, okay?
How we doing this
morning, ma'am?
Morning, officer.
- Hey.
- Hm?
- It's in the right zone.
- Yeah.
- Mm, I like it.
- Do you?
- I do.
- Should we go?
Yes, let's go.
Yeah, let's go.
Wow.
I thought the ad said "duplex."
It did.
Every house on Windsor
has two families in it
even though it appears
to only have one.
It was actually designed
that way to avoid any stigma
of renting instead of owning.
How thoughtful.
You can look around
wherever you want to, honey.
So rent is $300 a month.
That is well below market and it's
really not about the money for us.
I've lived in Shaker
all my life.
My parents
left this rental to me.
The point is to rent to someone who
can, um enjoy it.
You'll see the appliances
were updated a few years back.
The heat is all electric.
Water and power included.
What else?
Wait, there's two bedrooms
and a sun room?
- Yes.
- Pearl.
Mom, you could
have an art studio
and I could finally
have my own room.
Uh, are you an artist?
- I am.
- Oh, wow, that's fantastic.
I love art.
I can tell.
Well, you know,
I never normally do this,
but I might be willing to
knock a little off the rent
if you can mow the lawn.
'Cause our downstairs
tenant, Mr. Yang,
he was doing it,
but then he let it get patchy,
and with his arthritis,
we've taken to hiring someone.
That's very generous of you.
I'd be happy to mow your lawn
whenever you want.
Well, it would actually
have to be every two weeks
because the grass in Shaker
can't be over six inches tall.
Does someone measure it?
And ticket you.
It's all in the town welcome packet.
Thank you.
Mom, it's perfect.
You would be zoned
to East Shaker
which is private school
education
at public school prices.
It was actually one of the first
schools integrated in the city.
I know that because my mother was
on the board there when it happened.
And my own children go there.
Actually, my youngest
is starting there this year.
God help us all.
And the lease?
Oh, it's a year to start,
and month to month after that.
No I, I need
month to month to start.
We move around a lot for work.
But you said that
we could stay the year.
I said maybe.
What is it that you do?
I'm an artist.
Oh, yes, of course,
you said that.
I didn't realize you meant
professionally.
I feel like that's one of those
ideal jobs you just see on TV.
Like a spy
or a marine biologist.
I, I would love to rent
month to month.
It just becomes
a management thing.
It's just a full-time job
on top of my other job.
No, we don't expect you
to change the rules for us.
- But Mom.
- Hey, we will find another place.
There's always another place.
Excuse me.
So you rented it to her on the
spot, just like that?
Do you even know anything
about this woman?
Well, I know
she's a single mom
and she has
a 15-year-old daughter.
Actually, her daughter
is a rising sophomore as well.
You should do the neighborly
thing and introduce yourself.
- Can I get the rolls?
- What about the mom?
Well, she's very attractive.
African-American.
- What does that matter?
- Could I get the pasta?
- And an artist.
- You know it's not all for you, right?
Brian says his parents say
we should say "black" now.
Well, Jesse Jackson says
African-American and he's on television.
- What kind of artist is she?
- Well, apparently, a struggling one.
I saw her sleeping in her car.
You rented to
a homeless person?
Between homes
isn't homeless, Bill.
Did you even have time
to check her references?
You know what felt good?
Helping.
It is a beautiful thing
to know that your actions
can affect another
person's life.
And that's what life
is about, guys.
Doing kind things
for kind people
who appreciate your kindness.
Well, thank you for dinner, Mom.
It was great.
- You're welcome.
- It was really good.
There's bacon in the sauce.
How was practice today?
You ready for the concert
on Friday?
I didn't go.
- Mm.
- What do you mean you didn't go?
That's Jen.
We're going to talk about this.
Which Jen are you
- Jen R. and Jen H.
- Son.
- Both?
- Yeah.
You know,
you should take your brother with you.
- That's okay.
- No, honey, you should go.
I'm sure your brother would
like to meet some nice Jens.
You know, I would, but, um,
he's, he's not really their type.
- Or anyone's.
- Trip.
That's not nice.
The town history.
Ah, the town rules.
A good neighbor guide.
Ooh, look.
Bumper sticker.
Oh, don't even think about
defacing the Chevette.
Did you know that Shaker was the
first planned community in America?
I did.
Yeah, it says here that
all the schools were built
so that no kid would ever have to
cross a major street to get to one.
Uh-huh.
Here, your horses.
Okay, see,
this is interesting.
"Shaker was built
on the underlying philosophy
"by the founders
that everything can
and should be planned to avoid
uncertainty and disaster."
What?
Less reading,
more unpacking, please.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Okay, okay.
You do realize
this whole youth orchestra
costs more than all of the kids'summer activities combined?
I mean, we could have gone to
Nantucket for a week for what it costs,
and she just takes it
all for granted.
She's 14 years old, hon.
Taking it for granted
is kind of her job.
Lexie never took
anything for granted.
And neither did Trip or Moody.
Different kids.
There are just
children out there
who have never even
had their own room before.
Why do you let her
get you this worked up?
She just doesn't participate.
And if you don't participate,
you can't succeed.
She'll be fine.
Can we stop talking
about Izzy, please?
- Isabelle.
- Sorry.
It's not Wednesday
or Saturday.
You know, we are allowed
to have sex on other days.
But it's so much
more fun when we plan it.
Tomorrow, we'll get you a bed.
- Get?
- Mm, find.
Except we'd have to trespass
to find anything.
"Trash bins and discarded items
have to stay behind your house
to avoid the unsightly
spectacle of clutter."
- No.
- I kid you not.
- No, you are making this up.
- I'm not.
So that we have to splurge
and go to Goodwill.
- No, I'm not.
- Uh-huh.
I'll miss being next to you.
We could do our knock.
From Ann Arbor, when we hadthat weird partition between us?
Yeah, I remember.
I love you so much.
I love you, too.
I love you.
What's so funny?
- You, you're stop
taking pictures. - What?
You're my child, I can take as
many pictures of you as I want.
- Are they all there?
- Uh, two slats are missing.
- We'll find new ones.
- Okay.
You've got a friend.
Hi. I just came by to
my mom is
the landlord on the house.
I'm Moody.
- Moody?
- Uh, yeah. It's a nickname.
Pearl.
"I came" what does that say?
"I came to explore the wreck."
Yeah, it's, uh, it's a line from a poem.
Adrienne Rich.
- I love her writing.
- Yeah, no, she's cool.
- You know her?
- No.
- Okay.
Are you good at lifting things?
Yeah, yeah, I'm
I love lifting things.
I lift things all the time.
It's kind of my thing.
- You good back there, Moody?
- Yeah.
You got it? Good.
Your family must be so fun.
I mean, four of you.
It's like a litter.
I used to beg
for a little sister, but, uh,
my mom always said that
work was her other kid.
So yours is a journalist?
Yeah, just part-time for,
like, this small-time paper.
The Plain Dealer
is the big one here,
but when she finally
got an offer there,
she had to turn it down because
she was pregnant with Izzy.
Um, here, let's switch.
- Yeah.
- Okay.
She did interview
Janet Reno once, though.
Hang around long enough,
she will bring it up.
Oh, wait.
- Sorry, I just do one.
- One what?
Wall.
Well, see,
the sample size is free,
and we just have to repaint
every few months when we move.
What do you mean
"every few months"?
My mom picks a place that
she wants as her subject.
We stay till she finishes a
series, and then we move on.
Cerulean blue.
I love it.
- Where's the interview?
- Oh, it doesn't matter.
You'll be here when I get back?
Um, Moody,
you said that you had
some cool spot you
wanted to show me, right?
You kind of need
a bike to get there.
We'll be here.
Oh, I think I recognize
those girls from East Shaker.
Is she showing her belly button? Is it pierced?
Look, is that April?
I feel like she's barely
been around this summer.
Did something come
between you two?
Oh, I see there's been
some new developments.
Oh, I remember being 14,
being in this body
and feeling like I had no
control over what was happening.
Weren't you, like,
super popular?
I thought you and Linda,
like, ruled the school.
Well, sure, we fit in.
You could fit in, too, honey.
Maybe you should wear your hair down
- Mom.
- What?
- Stop. - I don't know
what you're so upset about.
It's, it's actually
your best feature.
I'm gonna give you money.
You didn't need to do this.
Please,
I forced you to join.
You didn't.
Elizabeth forced us to join.
With everything that
you have on your plate,
you do not need to be buying
this off-Broadway smut.
What, what's on my plate?
- A little baby.
- One.
- You have four.
- But that is a lot of work.
I just can't wait to watch you
avoid saying the word "vagina"
for two hours straight.
I hate that word.
- It's just can we just
say "Virginia"? - What?
- Yeah, the Virginia Monologues.- Yes, better.
- Hi, shh.
- How'd she do?
She's totally out.
She finished the whole bottle
of formula, too.
You are a godsend.
Oh, Mom, have you
seen my roller blades?
I want to work off the fro-yo.
Uh, I think they're in
your closet. - Okay, thank you.
Thank you.
I mean, she is a mini you.
- Well, at least one of them is.- Mm.
You know, I'm just trying
to raise nice children
who do good in the world.
You are doing that
and setting a great example.
What did Lexie tell me?
You're renting to
a homeless woman
for practically nothing?
I mean, who does that?
Come on,
you're Superwoman.
- Oh, my God, Mom.
- What?
What is it?
What's the matter?
- Mom.
- What, what?
- Mom, it just, it smelled bad
- Oh, my God.
And it started smoking
and I didn't know what to do
- What is that smell?
- So I just threw something at her.
Oh, my God, honey,
are you okay?
Are you okay?
What's the matter?
Oh, my God,
are you all right?
Isabelle?
Did you do this on purpose?
We have to do something, Bill.
You saw it.
One side
is completely singed.
Something, yes,
but therapy, no.
She set her hair
on fire on purpose.
Because she's trying
to push your buttons, hon.
So don't give her
the satisfaction.
Right, I mean, why do you
keep on taking the bait?
So should I do what you do
and deny anything's wrong
and just make me
the bad guy?
I'm just saying if we fixate
- on what Izzy is doing - I'm
not fixating. I'm mothering.
I know you are, honey.
Have you ever thought about
talking to somebody?
I'm talking to you right now.
Honey.
Izzy has always been Izzy.
Isabelle.
I warned you
when we named her.
It's not even a proper name.
We call our son Moody.
She could have
called herself anything.
Belle, Bella, Elle,
Ella is cute.
But none of those names
would have pissed you
off, would they?
I'm just saying, hon.
Why all the constant battling?
I mean, really, is it because
you want Izzy to be happy,
or because you want Izzy
to be more like you?
I just think that
maybe we could do something
with, like, layers.
Like, um, Rachel from Friends.
I was thinking Drew Barrymore.
Mad Love, Boys on the Side.
We can definitely have fun.
We just have to take your
bone structure into account.
Drew Barrymore's is fun.
Coke at 12, rehab at 14,
flashing David Letterman
at 20.
So I think we're
thinking layers.
Um, and short,
but not too short.
I'm just gonna pop out for an
errand and I'll be right back.
It's gonna be great, honey.
Mia! Elena.
Hey.
Um, are you biking?
No, I'm building something.
Oh, you're a sculptor.
Uh, mixed media.
Photography, textiles.
I love your bumper sticker.
Shaker spirit. I love it.
Oh, that's all Pearl.
Are you working
at Lucky Palace?
Yeah, a couple nights a week.
Oh, nights. That's tough.
I hate to think of Pearl
all by herself, alone.
She's used to it.
I used to clean at the Cam
in St. Louis till 3:00 A.M.
You know what you should do?
Weddings and family photos.
You would make a killing in Shaker.
You should do ours.
If you could get my youngest to
smile, I would pay you extra.
Yeah, the thing
about portraits
is you need to show people
how they want to be seen.
I prefer to show people
as they really are.
- There has to be something.
- I'm fine.
You know, I
I've been meaning
to hire someone for my house.
Um, just to do a little light cleaning.
Some laundry.
Maybe cook dinner.
You mean, like,
to be your maid?
More, more like a housekeeper.
Yeah, I don't do that.
Oh, I wasn't assuming,
I you said the thing about the museum
and the 3:00 A.M.
Yeah, because
I wanted to cultivate
a relationship
with the curator.
I got something that
I needed out of it.
No, no, you would get
something out of this as well.
I mean, we would pay.
We pay very
We pay really well.
I mean, we pay what's fair,
and whatever
you thought was fair,
that's what we would pay.
But I just you know,
what I meant was
house helper,
house manager.
That's what I really meant
because I'm so unorganized.
But it was just a suggestion,
so take it or leave it.
Take it or leave it.
I went to use the lawnmower,
and it's out of gas.
Oh, I'll send Bill
over with gas.
Yeah, or Moody,
next time he comes over.
Uh, wait, I'm sorry.
My son, Moody?
Yeah.
He and Pearl have been
hanging out every day.
You didn't know.
Okay.
Do you think it was offensive?
Well, I mean,
housekeeper is loaded.
No, no, no, I said
house manager.
And what does that mean,
loaded?
You mean racist.
- Mm-mm.
- Isn't it more racist
to not offer her the job
because of her race?
Now that's racist.
And I'd already had such a day
with Isabelle and her hair.
I should never have
left her at that salon.
And then when I leave,
and I'm clearly just trying to help
- somebody who needs it
- Hon.
- I'm made to feel like I'm a
horrible person. - Honey, hon.
You obviously had
the best of intentions.
Well, I try.
But asking this woman
to come work in our house.
I mean, really?
You don't even know her.
You have the biggest heart.
It's one of the things
I love the most about you.
Oh.
It's Thursday now.
- Yeah, okay,
so there's two guys in the hotel room.
- Okay. - And then they're
finally going to sleep
and they're snuggling in
the bed and he's like, wait.
- Those aren't pillows. It's like
- What?
I don't know, I'm probably
not explaining it right.
- That sounds great.
- We should watch that movie next.
This is it.
Come on, it's in here.
Okay.
- Hi, honey.
- Hey.
How are you?
- Where have you been?
- Video store.
Pearl's never seen
Before Sunrise.
- Oh, fun.
- Yeah.
- Hi, Pearl.
- Hi, Mrs. Richardson.
- Call me Elena.
- Okay.
- How are you?
- I'm, I'm-I'm good.
Uh, we're out of Snapple, honey.
We only have Shasta.
Shoot, really?
Uh, Pearl, are you
joining us for dinner?
- Oh, um, I-I don't know.
- Well, you are welcome to.
I just don't want to step
on your mother's toes.
Oh, no, trust me, you wouldn't
be stepping on her toes.
She's not really
a dinner person.
She's more of an "eat
what's left" type of person.
Yeah, and she might be
working late tonight too, so.
Working nights is so tough.
I used to do it before
the kids were born.
But you have to
take the good with the bad.
We can't all be interviewing
Janet Reno.
Moody, will you take these
into the TV room?
And tell everybody only
one before dinner.
Can I help you with anything?
Oh, no, I'm fine.
Please enjoy yourself.
I'll track down your mom,
okay?
- All right, thank you.
- Okay.
But what happened when they had
to initiate you into the gang?
- Hey, go. We wanna watch something.
- This is something.
- Yeah, Izzy in ten years.
- Dude, fuck off.
More like five
with that haircut.
- You're a bitch.
- Holy sensitive, Batman.
Take a joke.
This is Pearl.
Pearl, Lexie and Trip.
Hi.
You can take Izzy's spot.
Okay, sorry.
Um, yeah, no, that's fine.
As long as it's not
too much trouble.
Oh, please,
when you have six mouths to feed,
you hardly notice one more.
I just didn't want to step
on any plans that you had.
No, I don't, I don't plan.
I just wing it usually
with leftovers.
Yes, that's what Pearl said.
You know, it was so nice
running into you the other day.
I, I hope that, um,
you're still liking the place.
Tell Pearl to call me when she needs me.
I'll come get her.
Will do.
I mean,
that's got to be a record, Mom.
That's like the second
time this week.
Third.
She said it earlier, too.
Well, she is
the Attorney General
who rose from a rustic life
in the Everglades
to the height of
political power.
That's a quote
from the article.
Do you see the abuse
I suffer, Pearl?
- Is she really not coming to dinner?
- She said she's not hungry.
I'd hide too
if I had that haircut.
She should just G.I. Jane it.
Hey, you two, knock it off.
Oh, I can't believe she did thisthe day before the concert.
Trip, can you pass
the potatoes to Pearl, please?
Sure.- BILL: Speaking of the concert,
I'm not gonna be able
to make it tomorrow night.
- What?
- I tried, but Anderson said
he could only meet
on Friday night.
- But it's in the calendar, honey.
- I know, hon.
- Is she even playing?
- She better be.
I mean, she's not getting a college
scholarship with her grades.
- Pearl, have you been
looking at colleges yet?
Oh, um, no.
Wait, aren't you
gonna be a sophomore?
Not everyone has their
whole life planned out.
I'm going to Yale.
You know, kids here statistically
go to the best colleges,
so you'll have a leg up
just by going to Shaker.
- Congratulations.
- Thanks.
She hasn't even applied yet,
and Pearl is not
going to have any trouble.
She reads
The Bell Jarfor fun.
- Oh.
- Really?
Yeah.
Well, with all this
affirmative action stuff,
you'll be a shoe-in
practically anywhere.
Ow, what?
It's what Brian always says.
That's her boyfriend.
He's African-American.
Hm.
You really didn't
have to drive me.
- My mom could have come.
- Oh, I wanted to.
- So is it just you and your mom?
- Mm-hmm.
Oh, you two must be so close.
Your house is so beautiful.
I really liked how all your
books were arranged by color.
- Thank you so much for noticing.
- Of course.
- So when did you get to interview
- So what kind of artist is
- Oh.
- I'm sorry.
No, no, you go ahead.
I was just gonna
ask if it was recent.
That interview.
Yes, well, it was right after
the Oklahoma City bombing,
and I couldn't
believe I got her.
Well, I'm, I'd
love to read it.
If you have a copy,
of course.
Oh, I have eight.
I write, too.
Poetry. It's, it's not
the same as what you do,
I know, but it's
I-I'm sure it's wonderful.
Journalism can be
so prescribed, you know?
But I find comfort
in the who, what, where.
I'd be curious
to read your work.
And see your mother's art.
It sounds very impressive.
Well, what you do
is impressive, too.
I'd love to do that someday.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Well, like Lexie said,
you're in Shaker now.
Anything is possible.
Thanks again for the
ride, and these.
Yes, of course, of course.
- Okay, good night.
- Good night.
Oh, Pearl.
I want you to know you're always
welcome at our house, okay?
Okay, thank you.
Pearl.
Hey, Pearl.
I got you something.
- Moody, are you serious?
- Yeah.
Oh, my God.
This is where you wanted to take me?
A junkyard?
You'll see. Come on.
Oh, my God .
What is this place?
Uh, my wreck.
You read it.
That poem.
Yeah.
I love that line.
"I came to see the damage
that was done."
"And the treasures
that prevail."
Isabelle Marie,
we're gonna be late.
We've got to go.
What are you wearing?
I'm gonna button it.
No, just no.
Where is the dress that
I bought you last week?
- Mom, just please stop.
- Here, put this on.
- It's not me.
You lost the privilege
of being you
when you set
your hair on fire.
No one wears cutoff jeans
to perform
with the Cleveland Youth
Chamber Orchestra.
- I do.
- Well this isn't about you.
That's not how
the world works.
There are rules,
and they exist for a reason.
If you follow the rules,
you'll succeed.
Succeed in profiling?
Just put on
the goddamn dress.
And brush
what's left of your hair.
Okay, so the options are,
we have Dylan,
uh, Neil Young.
Mm-hmm.
I know that one
Toad the Wet Sprocket song.
- Their one song, yay.
- Um.
Or how about a poem?
You write poetry, too?
No, I meant one of yours.
Okay.
Why aren't we friends anymore?
You know why.
Freak.
"You'll say I stole them
"when I took them
off your dresser
"and put them in
my mom's black purse.
"The one she got in Arizona.
Or Sacramento.
Or maybe it was New Orleans."
"But I put them
where I knew they'd be safe.
Their smooth ceramic skin."
Second stand at 14.
"One like ivory.
"One like strawberry.
"One like chocolate.
"You'll say I stole them and
that horses should ride free.
But can something be stolenif it was always meant for you?"
Moody, what is that?
Wait, what is she doing?
- Why isn't she playing?
- I don't know.
Oh, shit.
- I'm trying.
- Hurry, let's go.
Hello?
- What happened?
- Mom.
- What did you do?
- Mom, I can explain.
This wasn't Pearl's fault.
Bruce, thank you.
Your son insisted
we come here first.
I'm sorry it was such
a hassle for you.
Well, you're lucky
the security guard called us,
or it could have been
even more of a hassle.
Trespassing? What
are you doing? - Trespassing?
He will not be doing that
again, I promise you.
Don't be too hard on him.
We did worse in high school.
- Oh, stop. Give Helen my love.
- Will do.
- Let me get the bikes.
- Bikes?
Moody, help him, please.
- Get inside now.
- Mom, I'm trying to explain.
This is so careless
and stupid.
What if you got arrested?
What then?
Uh, Bruce is not
a police officer.
He's just
neighborhood watch.
There's no reason
to be this upset.
Good night, Elena.
Thank you.
Of course. Good night.
Moody, hurry up.
Get upstairs. Get upstairs.
- I want to know where you
got that bike. - From Moody.
He got it for me.
You know you're not like
the Richardsons, right?
- I know that.
- The cops are not on our side.
- It wasn't even a cop.- We don't get passes like them.
The last thing we need is
to be on somebody's radar.
Mrs. Richardson
wasn't even upset.
You're the one making
a big deal out of this.
This was a mistake.
We should go.
- What? What, no.
- We should go to Connecticut.
- No, Mom, Mom, please.
- To that school in Guilford
you told me about.
- Mom, no.
There's still time to enroll youbefore the school year starts.
No, Mom, you can't do that
because you promised that
- I never promised.
- Yes, you did.
I said I would try!
You heard what you
wanted to hear.
Do you even care
about what I want?
Because most moms do.
They actually put
their kids first, you know?
That's what
Mrs. Richardson does.
She puts all of her kids first.
I am tired!
I-I'm tired of, of moving around.
Of going wherever
you want to go
whenever you want
to go there.
I am tired of not even
having a home.
I just
I want more
than just one wall.
You know what, Pearl?
You have had 100 walls
in 100 places.
How many kids get to
experience a life like yours?
Go to your room.
You wanted your
own room so badly.
Go to your room.
Go to your room!
Shit.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Um, is, is Moody here?
Uh, no, he actually, he ran
to the store to return a video.
Okay, um, well, could I just
leave this somewhere for him?
Yeah, sure, just right up
around the corner.
All right.
Uh, me and Lexie are inside
if you want to hang out
until he gets back.
Okay, yeah, sure.
When I was 18, you were 14.
Psh, yeah, and you
still look 15 so shut up.
Oh, my God, you're so rude.
Marathon just started.
Real World: Boston.
It'll be hard to beat
San Francisco, though.
- Aw, Puck.
- Oh, Pedro.
It was, like, an AIDS thing.
It was, like, super sad.
Okay.
- What are you doing?
- Where's Pearl?
- My mom would hate that.
You walking on the grass.
How does she feel
about black spray paint?
She's in the TV room
with the rest of them.
Have you seen that
brand, Rustoleum?
Quality's twice as good
but it's half as expensive.
We artists gotta stick together.
No,
you obviously don't have AIDS.
Like, clearly.
How do you get AIDS?
What is AIDS?
What is AIDS?
Is that like like I know,
no, no, I know, it's like,
you get a cold
and then you die.
- But like, what
- Yeah.
It stands for Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
It's basically where your body,
like, breaks down
and can't fight off any
form of disease.
But it's, like, super rare.
Can, can you like,
get it from, like, germs, right?
Oh, my God,
you're such a moron.
You can't no, you're not
You can't get it
from like, anything.
You have to have,
like, an open sore.
Look, Puck's not the one
I wouldn't want to live with,
that all I'm saying.
That's a double negative.
Dude, you're
a double negative.
Pearl.
I'll meet you in the car.
Go.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Isabelle Marie,
what on Earth are you doing?
Can I talk to you,
if you have a minute?
Oh, uh, hello.
Does the offer still stand?
I'm sorry?
That you made the other day
that I should have reacted
to more graciously.
I'd like to take you up on it.
To help you in your household
if the offer still stands.
Oh, um.
If you'd like to.
Sure.
Great.
Great.
We should stop at a paint store.
Pick up a quart
of cerulean blue.
- What?
- Hm?
Wait, what?
Wait, are you serious?
- Yes.
- Thank you.
Thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you.
Hello,
It's Elena Richardson again
calling about
your former tenant.
I was wondering if you could
call me back anytime tonight,
no matter how late.
Um, thank you so much.
I would really appreciate it.
What do you think?
I love it.
I love it.
Bill.
It's Saturday.
Yes, hello?
Yes, thank you for calling me back.
I really appreciate it.
I was calling about your
former tenant, Mia Warren.
Yeah, no, she wasn't my tenant.
Okay, I
she had you down as a reference.
Are you sure?
Positive.
I've never met a Mia Warren in my life.
Okay, thank you.
Best day ever!
What do you think
she's saying?
She'll probably find
a way to blame Izzy.
She always does.
They found evidence
of an accelerant.
Guys said when they went in,
there were, um
little fires everywhere.
What does that mean?
Well, the fire didn't just happen.
It was set.
Where's Izzy?
Is she, uh, is she around?
She doesn't have anything
to do with this, Lou.
Okay, well,
I'd just like to talk to her.
Where is she?
We don't know.
Look, she's a minor.
No other homes were damaged.
Elena.
Someone intentionally burned
down your house with you inside.
If Izzy didn't do this,
then who did?
Rise and shine!
Come on, up and at 'em.
Oh, my God, no.
No, tell Jim if he's not ready
in time, he's not going.
Brian wants to get there before the
line for the Raptor just gets insane.
Isabelle Marie, if you want a
ride, we have to go now, honey.
And don't forget your violin.
- Coffee.
- Thank you, honey.
- See you tonight. - Will you tell
her to come downstairs, please?
She's coming, but go easy on her.
She's on vacation time.
Trip,
don't forget your Gatorades.
And Moody, if you're gonna
go to Carl's pool,
make sure and get
a little sun on your legs.
You're looking a little pale.
It's summer.
You should look like
you've seen the sun.
Trip's just as white as I am.
Honey, everybody
looks better with a tan.
Okay, I'm going. - Are
you wearing that to orchestra camp?
Yes. Are there Pop-Tarts?
Uh, no, there's eggs and bacon
like everyone else had
with no complaints.
You know pigs have
the mental capacity
of a three-year-old, right?
So when you eat bacon,
you're basically eating me 11 years ago.
Fascinating.
Let's get in the car.
Listen, Linda, I'm with you. Memoirs of a Geishahad my vote.
But you know Elizabeth. ever since
she started at Planned Parenthood,
she's just been so political.
So I guess
Vagina Monologuesit is.
You know, I'm over my minutes.
Can I call you back?
Okay.
- Hi, everybody.
- Good morning.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Good morning, Elena.
- Marci, any day now.
Just sleep when they sleep,
and it'll be the best thing you do.
- I promise.
- Take it from the woman who knows.
She took six weeks
of paid vacation times four.
Right?
Look, I never normally
do something like this,
but I would hate to not say something
and then have something bad happen.
Yes, okay, so it's
an older model car.
Blue, and it looked as though
there was a woman
living in there.
African-American, I think.
Hey, hi.
You slept well.
Yeah.
Hands visible, honey, okay?
How we doing this
morning, ma'am?
Morning, officer.
- Hey.
- Hm?
- It's in the right zone.
- Yeah.
- Mm, I like it.
- Do you?
- I do.
- Should we go?
Yes, let's go.
Yeah, let's go.
Wow.
I thought the ad said "duplex."
It did.
Every house on Windsor
has two families in it
even though it appears
to only have one.
It was actually designed
that way to avoid any stigma
of renting instead of owning.
How thoughtful.
You can look around
wherever you want to, honey.
So rent is $300 a month.
That is well below market and it's
really not about the money for us.
I've lived in Shaker
all my life.
My parents
left this rental to me.
The point is to rent to someone who
can, um enjoy it.
You'll see the appliances
were updated a few years back.
The heat is all electric.
Water and power included.
What else?
Wait, there's two bedrooms
and a sun room?
- Yes.
- Pearl.
Mom, you could
have an art studio
and I could finally
have my own room.
Uh, are you an artist?
- I am.
- Oh, wow, that's fantastic.
I love art.
I can tell.
Well, you know,
I never normally do this,
but I might be willing to
knock a little off the rent
if you can mow the lawn.
'Cause our downstairs
tenant, Mr. Yang,
he was doing it,
but then he let it get patchy,
and with his arthritis,
we've taken to hiring someone.
That's very generous of you.
I'd be happy to mow your lawn
whenever you want.
Well, it would actually
have to be every two weeks
because the grass in Shaker
can't be over six inches tall.
Does someone measure it?
And ticket you.
It's all in the town welcome packet.
Thank you.
Mom, it's perfect.
You would be zoned
to East Shaker
which is private school
education
at public school prices.
It was actually one of the first
schools integrated in the city.
I know that because my mother was
on the board there when it happened.
And my own children go there.
Actually, my youngest
is starting there this year.
God help us all.
And the lease?
Oh, it's a year to start,
and month to month after that.
No I, I need
month to month to start.
We move around a lot for work.
But you said that
we could stay the year.
I said maybe.
What is it that you do?
I'm an artist.
Oh, yes, of course,
you said that.
I didn't realize you meant
professionally.
I feel like that's one of those
ideal jobs you just see on TV.
Like a spy
or a marine biologist.
I, I would love to rent
month to month.
It just becomes
a management thing.
It's just a full-time job
on top of my other job.
No, we don't expect you
to change the rules for us.
- But Mom.
- Hey, we will find another place.
There's always another place.
Excuse me.
So you rented it to her on the
spot, just like that?
Do you even know anything
about this woman?
Well, I know
she's a single mom
and she has
a 15-year-old daughter.
Actually, her daughter
is a rising sophomore as well.
You should do the neighborly
thing and introduce yourself.
- Can I get the rolls?
- What about the mom?
Well, she's very attractive.
African-American.
- What does that matter?
- Could I get the pasta?
- And an artist.
- You know it's not all for you, right?
Brian says his parents say
we should say "black" now.
Well, Jesse Jackson says
African-American and he's on television.
- What kind of artist is she?
- Well, apparently, a struggling one.
I saw her sleeping in her car.
You rented to
a homeless person?
Between homes
isn't homeless, Bill.
Did you even have time
to check her references?
You know what felt good?
Helping.
It is a beautiful thing
to know that your actions
can affect another
person's life.
And that's what life
is about, guys.
Doing kind things
for kind people
who appreciate your kindness.
Well, thank you for dinner, Mom.
It was great.
- You're welcome.
- It was really good.
There's bacon in the sauce.
How was practice today?
You ready for the concert
on Friday?
I didn't go.
- Mm.
- What do you mean you didn't go?
That's Jen.
We're going to talk about this.
Which Jen are you
- Jen R. and Jen H.
- Son.
- Both?
- Yeah.
You know,
you should take your brother with you.
- That's okay.
- No, honey, you should go.
I'm sure your brother would
like to meet some nice Jens.
You know, I would, but, um,
he's, he's not really their type.
- Or anyone's.
- Trip.
That's not nice.
The town history.
Ah, the town rules.
A good neighbor guide.
Ooh, look.
Bumper sticker.
Oh, don't even think about
defacing the Chevette.
Did you know that Shaker was the
first planned community in America?
I did.
Yeah, it says here that
all the schools were built
so that no kid would ever have to
cross a major street to get to one.
Uh-huh.
Here, your horses.
Okay, see,
this is interesting.
"Shaker was built
on the underlying philosophy
"by the founders
that everything can
and should be planned to avoid
uncertainty and disaster."
What?
Less reading,
more unpacking, please.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Okay, okay.
You do realize
this whole youth orchestra
costs more than all of the kids'summer activities combined?
I mean, we could have gone to
Nantucket for a week for what it costs,
and she just takes it
all for granted.
She's 14 years old, hon.
Taking it for granted
is kind of her job.
Lexie never took
anything for granted.
And neither did Trip or Moody.
Different kids.
There are just
children out there
who have never even
had their own room before.
Why do you let her
get you this worked up?
She just doesn't participate.
And if you don't participate,
you can't succeed.
She'll be fine.
Can we stop talking
about Izzy, please?
- Isabelle.
- Sorry.
It's not Wednesday
or Saturday.
You know, we are allowed
to have sex on other days.
But it's so much
more fun when we plan it.
Tomorrow, we'll get you a bed.
- Get?
- Mm, find.
Except we'd have to trespass
to find anything.
"Trash bins and discarded items
have to stay behind your house
to avoid the unsightly
spectacle of clutter."
- No.
- I kid you not.
- No, you are making this up.
- I'm not.
So that we have to splurge
and go to Goodwill.
- No, I'm not.
- Uh-huh.
I'll miss being next to you.
We could do our knock.
From Ann Arbor, when we hadthat weird partition between us?
Yeah, I remember.
I love you so much.
I love you, too.
I love you.
What's so funny?
- You, you're stop
taking pictures. - What?
You're my child, I can take as
many pictures of you as I want.
- Are they all there?
- Uh, two slats are missing.
- We'll find new ones.
- Okay.
You've got a friend.
Hi. I just came by to
my mom is
the landlord on the house.
I'm Moody.
- Moody?
- Uh, yeah. It's a nickname.
Pearl.
"I came" what does that say?
"I came to explore the wreck."
Yeah, it's, uh, it's a line from a poem.
Adrienne Rich.
- I love her writing.
- Yeah, no, she's cool.
- You know her?
- No.
- Okay.
Are you good at lifting things?
Yeah, yeah, I'm
I love lifting things.
I lift things all the time.
It's kind of my thing.
- You good back there, Moody?
- Yeah.
You got it? Good.
Your family must be so fun.
I mean, four of you.
It's like a litter.
I used to beg
for a little sister, but, uh,
my mom always said that
work was her other kid.
So yours is a journalist?
Yeah, just part-time for,
like, this small-time paper.
The Plain Dealer
is the big one here,
but when she finally
got an offer there,
she had to turn it down because
she was pregnant with Izzy.
Um, here, let's switch.
- Yeah.
- Okay.
She did interview
Janet Reno once, though.
Hang around long enough,
she will bring it up.
Oh, wait.
- Sorry, I just do one.
- One what?
Wall.
Well, see,
the sample size is free,
and we just have to repaint
every few months when we move.
What do you mean
"every few months"?
My mom picks a place that
she wants as her subject.
We stay till she finishes a
series, and then we move on.
Cerulean blue.
I love it.
- Where's the interview?
- Oh, it doesn't matter.
You'll be here when I get back?
Um, Moody,
you said that you had
some cool spot you
wanted to show me, right?
You kind of need
a bike to get there.
We'll be here.
Oh, I think I recognize
those girls from East Shaker.
Is she showing her belly button? Is it pierced?
Look, is that April?
I feel like she's barely
been around this summer.
Did something come
between you two?
Oh, I see there's been
some new developments.
Oh, I remember being 14,
being in this body
and feeling like I had no
control over what was happening.
Weren't you, like,
super popular?
I thought you and Linda,
like, ruled the school.
Well, sure, we fit in.
You could fit in, too, honey.
Maybe you should wear your hair down
- Mom.
- What?
- Stop. - I don't know
what you're so upset about.
It's, it's actually
your best feature.
I'm gonna give you money.
You didn't need to do this.
Please,
I forced you to join.
You didn't.
Elizabeth forced us to join.
With everything that
you have on your plate,
you do not need to be buying
this off-Broadway smut.
What, what's on my plate?
- A little baby.
- One.
- You have four.
- But that is a lot of work.
I just can't wait to watch you
avoid saying the word "vagina"
for two hours straight.
I hate that word.
- It's just can we just
say "Virginia"? - What?
- Yeah, the Virginia Monologues.- Yes, better.
- Hi, shh.
- How'd she do?
She's totally out.
She finished the whole bottle
of formula, too.
You are a godsend.
Oh, Mom, have you
seen my roller blades?
I want to work off the fro-yo.
Uh, I think they're in
your closet. - Okay, thank you.
Thank you.
I mean, she is a mini you.
- Well, at least one of them is.- Mm.
You know, I'm just trying
to raise nice children
who do good in the world.
You are doing that
and setting a great example.
What did Lexie tell me?
You're renting to
a homeless woman
for practically nothing?
I mean, who does that?
Come on,
you're Superwoman.
- Oh, my God, Mom.
- What?
What is it?
What's the matter?
- Mom.
- What, what?
- Mom, it just, it smelled bad
- Oh, my God.
And it started smoking
and I didn't know what to do
- What is that smell?
- So I just threw something at her.
Oh, my God, honey,
are you okay?
Are you okay?
What's the matter?
Oh, my God,
are you all right?
Isabelle?
Did you do this on purpose?
We have to do something, Bill.
You saw it.
One side
is completely singed.
Something, yes,
but therapy, no.
She set her hair
on fire on purpose.
Because she's trying
to push your buttons, hon.
So don't give her
the satisfaction.
Right, I mean, why do you
keep on taking the bait?
So should I do what you do
and deny anything's wrong
and just make me
the bad guy?
I'm just saying if we fixate
- on what Izzy is doing - I'm
not fixating. I'm mothering.
I know you are, honey.
Have you ever thought about
talking to somebody?
I'm talking to you right now.
Honey.
Izzy has always been Izzy.
Isabelle.
I warned you
when we named her.
It's not even a proper name.
We call our son Moody.
She could have
called herself anything.
Belle, Bella, Elle,
Ella is cute.
But none of those names
would have pissed you
off, would they?
I'm just saying, hon.
Why all the constant battling?
I mean, really, is it because
you want Izzy to be happy,
or because you want Izzy
to be more like you?
I just think that
maybe we could do something
with, like, layers.
Like, um, Rachel from Friends.
I was thinking Drew Barrymore.
Mad Love, Boys on the Side.
We can definitely have fun.
We just have to take your
bone structure into account.
Drew Barrymore's is fun.
Coke at 12, rehab at 14,
flashing David Letterman
at 20.
So I think we're
thinking layers.
Um, and short,
but not too short.
I'm just gonna pop out for an
errand and I'll be right back.
It's gonna be great, honey.
Mia! Elena.
Hey.
Um, are you biking?
No, I'm building something.
Oh, you're a sculptor.
Uh, mixed media.
Photography, textiles.
I love your bumper sticker.
Shaker spirit. I love it.
Oh, that's all Pearl.
Are you working
at Lucky Palace?
Yeah, a couple nights a week.
Oh, nights. That's tough.
I hate to think of Pearl
all by herself, alone.
She's used to it.
I used to clean at the Cam
in St. Louis till 3:00 A.M.
You know what you should do?
Weddings and family photos.
You would make a killing in Shaker.
You should do ours.
If you could get my youngest to
smile, I would pay you extra.
Yeah, the thing
about portraits
is you need to show people
how they want to be seen.
I prefer to show people
as they really are.
- There has to be something.
- I'm fine.
You know, I
I've been meaning
to hire someone for my house.
Um, just to do a little light cleaning.
Some laundry.
Maybe cook dinner.
You mean, like,
to be your maid?
More, more like a housekeeper.
Yeah, I don't do that.
Oh, I wasn't assuming,
I you said the thing about the museum
and the 3:00 A.M.
Yeah, because
I wanted to cultivate
a relationship
with the curator.
I got something that
I needed out of it.
No, no, you would get
something out of this as well.
I mean, we would pay.
We pay very
We pay really well.
I mean, we pay what's fair,
and whatever
you thought was fair,
that's what we would pay.
But I just you know,
what I meant was
house helper,
house manager.
That's what I really meant
because I'm so unorganized.
But it was just a suggestion,
so take it or leave it.
Take it or leave it.
I went to use the lawnmower,
and it's out of gas.
Oh, I'll send Bill
over with gas.
Yeah, or Moody,
next time he comes over.
Uh, wait, I'm sorry.
My son, Moody?
Yeah.
He and Pearl have been
hanging out every day.
You didn't know.
Okay.
Do you think it was offensive?
Well, I mean,
housekeeper is loaded.
No, no, no, I said
house manager.
And what does that mean,
loaded?
You mean racist.
- Mm-mm.
- Isn't it more racist
to not offer her the job
because of her race?
Now that's racist.
And I'd already had such a day
with Isabelle and her hair.
I should never have
left her at that salon.
And then when I leave,
and I'm clearly just trying to help
- somebody who needs it
- Hon.
- I'm made to feel like I'm a
horrible person. - Honey, hon.
You obviously had
the best of intentions.
Well, I try.
But asking this woman
to come work in our house.
I mean, really?
You don't even know her.
You have the biggest heart.
It's one of the things
I love the most about you.
Oh.
It's Thursday now.
- Yeah, okay,
so there's two guys in the hotel room.
- Okay. - And then they're
finally going to sleep
and they're snuggling in
the bed and he's like, wait.
- Those aren't pillows. It's like
- What?
I don't know, I'm probably
not explaining it right.
- That sounds great.
- We should watch that movie next.
This is it.
Come on, it's in here.
Okay.
- Hi, honey.
- Hey.
How are you?
- Where have you been?
- Video store.
Pearl's never seen
Before Sunrise.
- Oh, fun.
- Yeah.
- Hi, Pearl.
- Hi, Mrs. Richardson.
- Call me Elena.
- Okay.
- How are you?
- I'm, I'm-I'm good.
Uh, we're out of Snapple, honey.
We only have Shasta.
Shoot, really?
Uh, Pearl, are you
joining us for dinner?
- Oh, um, I-I don't know.
- Well, you are welcome to.
I just don't want to step
on your mother's toes.
Oh, no, trust me, you wouldn't
be stepping on her toes.
She's not really
a dinner person.
She's more of an "eat
what's left" type of person.
Yeah, and she might be
working late tonight too, so.
Working nights is so tough.
I used to do it before
the kids were born.
But you have to
take the good with the bad.
We can't all be interviewing
Janet Reno.
Moody, will you take these
into the TV room?
And tell everybody only
one before dinner.
Can I help you with anything?
Oh, no, I'm fine.
Please enjoy yourself.
I'll track down your mom,
okay?
- All right, thank you.
- Okay.
But what happened when they had
to initiate you into the gang?
- Hey, go. We wanna watch something.
- This is something.
- Yeah, Izzy in ten years.
- Dude, fuck off.
More like five
with that haircut.
- You're a bitch.
- Holy sensitive, Batman.
Take a joke.
This is Pearl.
Pearl, Lexie and Trip.
Hi.
You can take Izzy's spot.
Okay, sorry.
Um, yeah, no, that's fine.
As long as it's not
too much trouble.
Oh, please,
when you have six mouths to feed,
you hardly notice one more.
I just didn't want to step
on any plans that you had.
No, I don't, I don't plan.
I just wing it usually
with leftovers.
Yes, that's what Pearl said.
You know, it was so nice
running into you the other day.
I, I hope that, um,
you're still liking the place.
Tell Pearl to call me when she needs me.
I'll come get her.
Will do.
I mean,
that's got to be a record, Mom.
That's like the second
time this week.
Third.
She said it earlier, too.
Well, she is
the Attorney General
who rose from a rustic life
in the Everglades
to the height of
political power.
That's a quote
from the article.
Do you see the abuse
I suffer, Pearl?
- Is she really not coming to dinner?
- She said she's not hungry.
I'd hide too
if I had that haircut.
She should just G.I. Jane it.
Hey, you two, knock it off.
Oh, I can't believe she did thisthe day before the concert.
Trip, can you pass
the potatoes to Pearl, please?
Sure.- BILL: Speaking of the concert,
I'm not gonna be able
to make it tomorrow night.
- What?
- I tried, but Anderson said
he could only meet
on Friday night.
- But it's in the calendar, honey.
- I know, hon.
- Is she even playing?
- She better be.
I mean, she's not getting a college
scholarship with her grades.
- Pearl, have you been
looking at colleges yet?
Oh, um, no.
Wait, aren't you
gonna be a sophomore?
Not everyone has their
whole life planned out.
I'm going to Yale.
You know, kids here statistically
go to the best colleges,
so you'll have a leg up
just by going to Shaker.
- Congratulations.
- Thanks.
She hasn't even applied yet,
and Pearl is not
going to have any trouble.
She reads
The Bell Jarfor fun.
- Oh.
- Really?
Yeah.
Well, with all this
affirmative action stuff,
you'll be a shoe-in
practically anywhere.
Ow, what?
It's what Brian always says.
That's her boyfriend.
He's African-American.
Hm.
You really didn't
have to drive me.
- My mom could have come.
- Oh, I wanted to.
- So is it just you and your mom?
- Mm-hmm.
Oh, you two must be so close.
Your house is so beautiful.
I really liked how all your
books were arranged by color.
- Thank you so much for noticing.
- Of course.
- So when did you get to interview
- So what kind of artist is
- Oh.
- I'm sorry.
No, no, you go ahead.
I was just gonna
ask if it was recent.
That interview.
Yes, well, it was right after
the Oklahoma City bombing,
and I couldn't
believe I got her.
Well, I'm, I'd
love to read it.
If you have a copy,
of course.
Oh, I have eight.
I write, too.
Poetry. It's, it's not
the same as what you do,
I know, but it's
I-I'm sure it's wonderful.
Journalism can be
so prescribed, you know?
But I find comfort
in the who, what, where.
I'd be curious
to read your work.
And see your mother's art.
It sounds very impressive.
Well, what you do
is impressive, too.
I'd love to do that someday.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Well, like Lexie said,
you're in Shaker now.
Anything is possible.
Thanks again for the
ride, and these.
Yes, of course, of course.
- Okay, good night.
- Good night.
Oh, Pearl.
I want you to know you're always
welcome at our house, okay?
Okay, thank you.
Pearl.
Hey, Pearl.
I got you something.
- Moody, are you serious?
- Yeah.
Oh, my God.
This is where you wanted to take me?
A junkyard?
You'll see. Come on.
Oh, my God .
What is this place?
Uh, my wreck.
You read it.
That poem.
Yeah.
I love that line.
"I came to see the damage
that was done."
"And the treasures
that prevail."
Isabelle Marie,
we're gonna be late.
We've got to go.
What are you wearing?
I'm gonna button it.
No, just no.
Where is the dress that
I bought you last week?
- Mom, just please stop.
- Here, put this on.
- It's not me.
You lost the privilege
of being you
when you set
your hair on fire.
No one wears cutoff jeans
to perform
with the Cleveland Youth
Chamber Orchestra.
- I do.
- Well this isn't about you.
That's not how
the world works.
There are rules,
and they exist for a reason.
If you follow the rules,
you'll succeed.
Succeed in profiling?
Just put on
the goddamn dress.
And brush
what's left of your hair.
Okay, so the options are,
we have Dylan,
uh, Neil Young.
Mm-hmm.
I know that one
Toad the Wet Sprocket song.
- Their one song, yay.
- Um.
Or how about a poem?
You write poetry, too?
No, I meant one of yours.
Okay.
Why aren't we friends anymore?
You know why.
Freak.
"You'll say I stole them
"when I took them
off your dresser
"and put them in
my mom's black purse.
"The one she got in Arizona.
Or Sacramento.
Or maybe it was New Orleans."
"But I put them
where I knew they'd be safe.
Their smooth ceramic skin."
Second stand at 14.
"One like ivory.
"One like strawberry.
"One like chocolate.
"You'll say I stole them and
that horses should ride free.
But can something be stolenif it was always meant for you?"
Moody, what is that?
Wait, what is she doing?
- Why isn't she playing?
- I don't know.
Oh, shit.
- I'm trying.
- Hurry, let's go.
Hello?
- What happened?
- Mom.
- What did you do?
- Mom, I can explain.
This wasn't Pearl's fault.
Bruce, thank you.
Your son insisted
we come here first.
I'm sorry it was such
a hassle for you.
Well, you're lucky
the security guard called us,
or it could have been
even more of a hassle.
Trespassing? What
are you doing? - Trespassing?
He will not be doing that
again, I promise you.
Don't be too hard on him.
We did worse in high school.
- Oh, stop. Give Helen my love.
- Will do.
- Let me get the bikes.
- Bikes?
Moody, help him, please.
- Get inside now.
- Mom, I'm trying to explain.
This is so careless
and stupid.
What if you got arrested?
What then?
Uh, Bruce is not
a police officer.
He's just
neighborhood watch.
There's no reason
to be this upset.
Good night, Elena.
Thank you.
Of course. Good night.
Moody, hurry up.
Get upstairs. Get upstairs.
- I want to know where you
got that bike. - From Moody.
He got it for me.
You know you're not like
the Richardsons, right?
- I know that.
- The cops are not on our side.
- It wasn't even a cop.- We don't get passes like them.
The last thing we need is
to be on somebody's radar.
Mrs. Richardson
wasn't even upset.
You're the one making
a big deal out of this.
This was a mistake.
We should go.
- What? What, no.
- We should go to Connecticut.
- No, Mom, Mom, please.
- To that school in Guilford
you told me about.
- Mom, no.
There's still time to enroll youbefore the school year starts.
No, Mom, you can't do that
because you promised that
- I never promised.
- Yes, you did.
I said I would try!
You heard what you
wanted to hear.
Do you even care
about what I want?
Because most moms do.
They actually put
their kids first, you know?
That's what
Mrs. Richardson does.
She puts all of her kids first.
I am tired!
I-I'm tired of, of moving around.
Of going wherever
you want to go
whenever you want
to go there.
I am tired of not even
having a home.
I just
I want more
than just one wall.
You know what, Pearl?
You have had 100 walls
in 100 places.
How many kids get to
experience a life like yours?
Go to your room.
You wanted your
own room so badly.
Go to your room.
Go to your room!
Shit.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Um, is, is Moody here?
Uh, no, he actually, he ran
to the store to return a video.
Okay, um, well, could I just
leave this somewhere for him?
Yeah, sure, just right up
around the corner.
All right.
Uh, me and Lexie are inside
if you want to hang out
until he gets back.
Okay, yeah, sure.
When I was 18, you were 14.
Psh, yeah, and you
still look 15 so shut up.
Oh, my God, you're so rude.
Marathon just started.
Real World: Boston.
It'll be hard to beat
San Francisco, though.
- Aw, Puck.
- Oh, Pedro.
It was, like, an AIDS thing.
It was, like, super sad.
Okay.
- What are you doing?
- Where's Pearl?
- My mom would hate that.
You walking on the grass.
How does she feel
about black spray paint?
She's in the TV room
with the rest of them.
Have you seen that
brand, Rustoleum?
Quality's twice as good
but it's half as expensive.
We artists gotta stick together.
No,
you obviously don't have AIDS.
Like, clearly.
How do you get AIDS?
What is AIDS?
What is AIDS?
Is that like like I know,
no, no, I know, it's like,
you get a cold
and then you die.
- But like, what
- Yeah.
It stands for Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
It's basically where your body,
like, breaks down
and can't fight off any
form of disease.
But it's, like, super rare.
Can, can you like,
get it from, like, germs, right?
Oh, my God,
you're such a moron.
You can't no, you're not
You can't get it
from like, anything.
You have to have,
like, an open sore.
Look, Puck's not the one
I wouldn't want to live with,
that all I'm saying.
That's a double negative.
Dude, you're
a double negative.
Pearl.
I'll meet you in the car.
Go.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Isabelle Marie,
what on Earth are you doing?
Can I talk to you,
if you have a minute?
Oh, uh, hello.
Does the offer still stand?
I'm sorry?
That you made the other day
that I should have reacted
to more graciously.
I'd like to take you up on it.
To help you in your household
if the offer still stands.
Oh, um.
If you'd like to.
Sure.
Great.
Great.
We should stop at a paint store.
Pick up a quart
of cerulean blue.
- What?
- Hm?
Wait, what?
Wait, are you serious?
- Yes.
- Thank you.
Thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you.
Hello,
It's Elena Richardson again
calling about
your former tenant.
I was wondering if you could
call me back anytime tonight,
no matter how late.
Um, thank you so much.
I would really appreciate it.
What do you think?
I love it.
I love it.
Bill.
It's Saturday.
Yes, hello?
Yes, thank you for calling me back.
I really appreciate it.
I was calling about your
former tenant, Mia Warren.
Yeah, no, she wasn't my tenant.
Okay, I
she had you down as a reference.
Are you sure?
Positive.
I've never met a Mia Warren in my life.
Okay, thank you.
Best day ever!