American Woman (2018) s01e04 Episode Script

Come on! - Oh, that burns! - That means it's working.
It's not, and my shirt smells funky.
Mom, I'm cold.
Good thing we live in sunny California.
You'll both be dry by the time you get to school.
I know things have been difficult these past few weeks, but I'm getting my first paycheck today.
Things are really gonna start to change now that we'll have some money coming in.
Can you buy some groceries? When Dad was here, we had food and dry clothes.
Well, your dad loved having two things at the same time, but we don't need your father to buy groceries.
We don't need anybody.
I'm taking care of things around here.
Now, I'm working late today, so you're gonna go to Aunt Kathleen's office after school.
- Ugh, again? - Would you rather go to Aunt Diana's at the bank? - Oh, no.
- Right, come on.
Come on.
Thank God it's pay day.
I know the feeling.
Hmm, I know that feeling too.
Where did all my money go? To taxes Uncle Sam believes it's important we learn to share with him.
What's FICA? Social Security for when you retire.
Do they take this much money out every week? Yep.
Welcome to retail.
Excuse me, Randall.
What is it? I was wondering if there were any extra shifts I might be able to pick up.
Extra shifts are offered to employees who have been with the company the longest, Mrs.
Nolan.
Well, then, maybe I could stay after the store closes and tidy the shelves.
Mm, this is the May Company, Mrs.
Nolan, not a Safeway.
We don't stay to line up the canned goods at the end of the day.
Excuse me.
Let's play Mary Poppins.
Okay, first of all, you can't play Mary Poppins.
It's a movie, and, second of all, I really don't want to.
Come on, I'll be the lady that feeds the pigeons.
Please, get lost.
Mm, mm, only Tropic Coast Orange Juice has that great taste.
Tastes like sunshine.
Thanks, hun.
Great job.
Eh, none of these girls are right.
I want a little girl who looks like she loves orange juice.
I want a kid who's sweet, wholesome.
Why the hell can't you do that? We can.
And we will.
Who's next? Where are all the other girls, Claire? Annette was the last one.
What? Rosen's getting impatient.
There's no one left.
What? What about Amy? Her mom called she's sick.
Would you like to feed my birds, mum? Oh, these darlings birds.
They're my only friends.
I love them.
Stop being such a spaz.
Jessica, hi, honey.
You like orange juice, don't you? I love it I even had it in my cereal this morning.
Would you like to go with Uncle Greg and say that to the nice man in there? - What? - What are you doing? I think we should let Jessica read.
What? She's not an actress.
But she's exactly what Rosen wants.
Wholesome and sweet.
- Ow.
- I have a good feeling about this, honey.
Trust me.
I think we should give her a shot.
What if she tanks it? Well, we wouldn't be any worse off than we already are.
Okay.
Jessica, why don't you come with me? I'm afraid there's nothing I can do, Mrs.
Nolan.
As it states on the invoice, "Tuition is due upon receipt.
" I was hoping I might be able to pay it in installments.
That's not possible.
It would just be a one-time request.
I wouldn't ask if it wasn't urgent.
I'm having some personal issues at home.
Yes, I'm aware of your situation, and, if I may speak frankly, I think the less this school gets involved in that, the better.
I'm not asking you to get involved.
I'm asking you to educate my child.
You have a responsibility to do that.
Sorry, Mrs.
Nolan, I don't make the rules.
Of course you do you're the goddamn Principal, so act like it.
Mom, guess what happened today! - What? - Wow, cereal and milk? Yes, and try and make it last, please.
Cereal and milk cost over a dollar.
Oh, my friends will be so jealous.
Someday, you will appreciate how hard it is to earn money when you have to fend for yourself.
I'm taking a banana.
I have a dime, if you need it.
Mom, I was telling you something.
Yes, darling, what happened? Did you have fun with Aunt Kathleen? Go ahead, tell her.
- I - She booked a commercial! I'm gonna be on TV! But only if your mom says it's okay.
Remember, Jessica, that's what we said.
What are you talking about? Tropic Coast Orange Juice.
We cast Jessica.
And it wasn't easy that Ted Rosen is a real pain in the ass.
Don't ever talk like I do, honey.
He hated all the girls that we brought in, but then Jessica came in and charmed the shit out of him.
Same as before, sweetie.
She read for a commercial? And she was great, Bonnie.
Now, you're her mama, and you can say no, but I really hope that you don't because the shoot's tomorrow, and she needs your permission.
Jessica, can you go to your room, sweetheart? I wanna talk to Aunt Kathleen about this a bit more.
Mm-hmm.
- Bye, sweet pea.
- Bye, Aunt Kathleen.
- Oh, please, don't be mad.
- I'm not mad.
I just wish you would've called me first.
Well, there was no time, and he was ready to walk out, and I just reacted.
Well, I don't wanna make you do anything that you're not comfortable with, but you know that I love Jessica like she was my own, and I'll make sure that everyone on the set takes real good care of her.
Mm.
- Where do I sign? - Right there.
Thank you, Bonnie.
How about dinner at my place tomorrow to celebrate? It's not every day a star is born.
Now let's not get carried away.
I thought we were sunk until you pulled that rabbit out of your hat with Jessica.
Thank you.
When I saw her playing there, I got this feeling in my gut.
I just knew she could do it.
That feeling is worth a million bucks.
You are a natural.
You just wait and see.
We're gonna be the biggest casting agency in Hollywood.
I think we're good together.
I think we're real good together.
Greg? Alan, hi.
I thought that was you.
- How are you? - Great, yeah, just great.
Kathleen, this is my friend, Alan.
Alan, this is Kathleen.
- Alan and I used to work - Hi.
in the mail room at William Morris.
Oh, so you're old friends.
Ah, seems like a million years ago.
- Now he's a big time agent.
- The biggest.
Very nice to meet you, Kathleen.
Likewise, Alan.
What have you been up to, Greg? Are you still at Paramount? No, no, I left.
We've actually started our own casting agency.
Really, the two of you? That's exciting.
I'd love to hear more about that.
We should have dinner and catch up.
That's a wonderful idea.
We're having some friends over tonight.
You should join us.
Oh, well, thank you, but I wasn't fishing for an invitation, and I don't wanna impose.
Yeah, babe, I mean, none of your friends work in the business.
- It might not be a good mix.
- Nonsense, I'm sure Alan can talk about other things besides being an agent.
I insist, and I don't take no for an answer.
Yeah, I can see that.
You look good.
Oh, thanks, yeah, you too.
My address.
7:00 p.
m.
work for you? I'll see you then.
Get that dolly track ready.
I'm scared, Mom.
There's no reason to be scared.
Aunt Kathleen saw lots and lots of girls, and you were better than all of them.
That's why they picked you.
But if you don't wanna do it, you don't have to.
We can go home right now.
I just don't want you to ever doubt yourself.
No, I wanna do it.
They're gonna love you.
Remember to introduce yourself to everyone.
Shake their hands, and look them straight in the eye so they can see how amazing you are.
Am I amazing? Of course you are.
I tell you what.
I'll give you a nickel for everyone you talk to.
Hey, Jessica, we're ready for you.
Go in there and wow them, okay? Bonnie, I have something for you.
What's this? Jessica's paycheck for the commercial.
Oh.
Sorry, I took a little peek earlier.
How much is it for? $350.
- Isn't that great? - Whoo-hoo! Yes, it's wonderful.
And that check is just one commercial.
We're casting another one next week.
- She'd be perfect for it.
- Mm.
Well, I don't know if she even wants to act anymore.
I don't see why not with her talent.
If she books a few more, you could quit your job.
I mean, why waste your time working at a department store.
Yeah, if I ever need any money, I can just ask Jessica to raise my allowance.
I need another drink.
Oh, I'll get it.
Is someone else coming? My friend Alan.
- Will you excuse me for a minute? - Yeah.
Hi.
Alan, I want you to meet this beautiful woman.
This is Diana.
Isn't her dress gorgeous? It's lovely.
Thanks.
It was on sale.
I'll get you a drink.
You two should get to know each other.
Diana's a closet disco queen.
Diana, tell Alan how much you love to dance.
I love to dance.
Okay, is this a fix-up? Yes, are you mad? No, no, he is cute.
I mean, he is really cute.
And successful, ooh, he's gonna be a good match.
Yeah, but I don't wanna get my hopes up.
I just wish that, when you met someone, you knew right away so you won't get disappointed if it doesn't work out, do you know what I mean? Yes.
You want to be prepared for whatever shit life dumps on you.
If you figure out how to make that happen, you be sure and let me know.
Yeah, okay, thanks, Bonnie.
Here, help me get these appetizers together.
Put the bread in the basket.
What are you doing? Why are you trying to set me up with a woman? This wasn't my idea.
It was Kathleen's.
Right, it was Kathleen's.
Your girlfriend's.
What's the endgame here, Greg? There's no endgame.
What are you doing to that girl? You think you're doing her a favor lying to her like this? I'm not lying to her.
Things are different now.
I've changed.
I'm finally getting past the mistakes that I made.
Was I a mistake? My life is finally on track.
I am with Kathleen, and I love her.
Don't do that.
- Stop it.
- You wanna stop me? Yes.
Then stop me.
Please, Alan.
Oh, my God.
And so I took the bus.
I didn't mean to, but there I was.
- Didn't mean to? - Well, I yeah, how do you - fall into a bus? I know.
- Accidentally take a bus.
That's well, there are people who might.
You okay, honey? You seem a little nervous.
Yeah, Greg, what's the matter? Oh, nothing, I'm fine.
Yeah? So how do you and Greg know each other? - Oh - From New York.
It's a boring story.
Well, I don't know about that.
We had some pretty wild nights.
Oh, do tell.
How about a toast? To Kathleen I couldn't ask for a savvier business partner or a foxier girlfriend.
I love this man.
You two are so cute.
Aren't they so cute? Oh, yeah, never thought Greg would be with a girl like Kathleen.
- Oh, and to Jessica.
- Yes, to Jessica.
Such a natural talent.
- So cute.
- Oh, she is adorable.
- Do you like kids? - Oh, actually I'm more of a dog person.
Oh, and Bonnie.
We love you Bonnie.
- Here, here.
- Here, here.
Can I ask a question? What are we celebrating? What do you mean? I don't know what we're celebrating.
The whole single mom thing isn't really working for me, and, sure, I kicked the ex out, and I didn't even blink.
It was a good, strong start, but then I realized I needed money, so I got a job.
That sounds good, right? But then the whole thing started to fall apart because my paycheck is a freakin' joke.
That's 'cause you just started.
You know, once everyone sees how fantastic you are, you're gonna move up quickly.
Don't give me advice, Diana.
Your career isn't exactly skyrocketing.
Actually, I'm doing quite well.
So in order to become an independent woman, I have to willing to be completely dependent on my 11-year-old daughter.
So that is why I'm asking you what are we celebrating? Jessica booking her first commercial and you being her amazing mama.
What? Oh, am I the goddamn mother of the year? Is that what we're celebrating? I didn't know.
This is so unexpected.
Thank you all for coming tonight.
First of all, I'd like to thank Kathleen and Greg for showing my daughter what it feels like to have to work for a living.
You're a little drunk.
You should just sit down.
And I'd also like to thank Diana for tearing herself away from doing absolutely nothing in order to be here.
I was actually very busy.
Tonight was my only free night, so.
Lastly, I'd like to give special thanks to my daughters who couldn't be here tonight because one was so exhausted from hawking orange juice and the other won't speak to me because she thinks I've driven her father away.
Thank you so much.
So what's for dessert? This is real quaint.
It's a house.
Yes, it is.
Thanks for bringing me home.
I'm sorry about Bonnie.
She isn't normally like that.
What's dinner without a show? It was very nice to meet you.
- Yeah.
- Good night, Diana.
Good night.
Sure, Diana, I'd love to.
What's your number? It's 10:15, Diana.
You have work in the morning.
If you don't get enough sleep, your eyes get puffy.
I'm not doing this.
- I've already had a bad night.
- I don't doubt it.
You went on a date with a homosexual.
I'm just telling you the truth.
- You didn't even meet him.
- I didn't need to.
I saw him from the window, and I know the type.
Articulate, immaculately dressed, perfectly groomed.
So what? He dresses well, and he gets his hair cut.
You're a beautiful woman.
He's not a normal man.
He didn't even try to kiss you.
Maybe he put off by my puffy eyes.
How did you meet him? He's a friend of Greg's.
I see.
In that case, Kathleen might have a problem too.
They tend to stick together.
Oh, my God, Mother, he's not gay.
He's in show business.
I cannot believe Bonnie would say those things at dinner.
I've never seen her like that.
I'm not gonna let it ruin a great day.
Greg, honey? Hmm? What's wrong? You've been acting strangely all night.
Nothing.
Okay.
- Kathleen - Yes? You know that I love you, don't you? Of course I do.
Why do you ask? I just I never want you to think that I don't.
You know that, right? I do.
I love you too.
Mm.
- Thank you.
- Yep.
Here's the check for Becca's tuition.
I'm sure you know where to put it.