Sweetbitter (2018) s01e06 Episode Script

1 WOMAN: Previously on Sweetbitter Is Jake working today? Last-minute change.
- Where'd he go? - The Cape.
You want to transfer me? - Not here.
- Fuck you! This is Serena.
She was one of our best servers.
She was no Simone.
WILL: Simone's a lot of things.
She's not your friend.
I have to go home, Sasha.
You don't have to do anything.
I have my final trail tomorrow.
[BOTH MOANING.]
Sasha? TESS: That was scary.
[PERCUSSIVE MUSIC.]
You should return.
Where? What the fuck you think where? Wherever you came from.
- [DOOR CRASHES OPEN.]
- ARI: Sasha! What the fuck did you do? I thought you were dead.
I just need more attention.
Oh, give me kisses.
You scared the shit out of us, Sasha.
ARI: I'll never forgive you.
Are you in pain? - [YELPS.]
- HEATHER: What did you break? Wait, did they give you morphine? - SASHA: Nothing.
- Hey, uh, I'm gonna go.
You gonna go sleep? TESS: No, I've got a test to take.
I, um I got to get my stripes.
Good luck.
Okay, kisses! Kisses! And get me this thing.
- [UPBEAT MUSIC.]
- WOMEN: Uh-oh You want more real attention At my expense, guess you forgot to mention You talk good, I'll eat glass I heard you read my mind behind my back Don't you know You're out cold It's our dance floor - TKO - Hear it on the radio - TKO - Play it on the stereo - TKO - Watch a live video TKO, TKO Uh-oh - TKO - Hear it on the radio - TKO - Watch a live video TKO [PERCUSSIVE MUSIC.]
What are the five noble grapes of Bordeaux? Uh Cabernet Sauvignon, uh, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.
Which plates cannot be consumed by a guest with a nut allergy? Branzino and lamb couscous.
What's the difference between cognac and Armagnac? Um What's the difference between West and East Coast oysters? Uh, West are creamy.
East are briny.
When is truffle season? What sides come with the lamb? Why did you fall asleep in my tub? Why'd you leave me in the bathroom last night? HOWARD: Why did you come here? Why do you think about me all the time? Why do you think about me all the time? Pencil down.
Uh, wait, wait, I, um I just need five more minutes.
Sorry.
Wait, come on.
I didn't finish.
Maybe you shouldn't have stayed out so late.
[SCOFFS.]
Okay, Will.
- Last night - I gotta take this to Howard.
Uh, wait.
Wait.
How important is the written test? It's important.
I wouldn't fuck up your final trail.
[LAUGHS.]
I wasn't planning on it.
Tonight you work.
I watch.
You're the back waiter.
Go get dressed.
[PERCUSSIVE MUSIC.]
[SIMONE AND WILL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY.]
He said he had some business there.
JAKE: Keep away.
SIMONE: I am, trust me.
With a ten-foot pole.
Good.
Little one.
Good morning.
- Hi.
- How are you feeling? Nervous? It's totally understandable.
Nerves just mean that you care.
I'm fine.
I'm gonna make you dinner next week to celebrate.
How was your trip? It was good.
Oh, um, we, uh we brought you something.
It's lavender from the Cape.
Sometimes when I know I have a challenging day ahead, I like to stash it in my bra.
[CHUCKLES.]
That's, um, really sweet.
Thank you.
I hear, um I hear last night was interesting.
We have a lot to catch up on.
Yes, we do.
Good luck.
Thanks.
[LOUNGE MUSIC PLAYING.]
[PERCUSSIVE MUSIC.]
- Pick up! - Picking up! SCOTT: Table 15.
Salmon one, salmon two, salmon three, big fucking surprise, salmon four.
Let me guess, white people? Need a follow! Of course.
Okay.
Uh, hey, need a follow.
Following.
TESS: Good evening, ladies.
- WOMAN: Thank you.
- There you go.
- I hope you guys enjoy.
- WOMAN: Wow, that smells great.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Can you grab me a bottle of the Vouvray for table 25? - Mm-hmm.
- [PEOPLE LAUGHING.]
Are they celebrating? Yeah, it's a birthday.
You should try and sell them the Clos du Bourg.
Uh, it's the same producer, but it's single vineyard, so it's Chenin Blanc.
It's really special.
Good idea.
Thanks.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Skip, get me some ice.
- Mm-hmm? Look down, Nicky.
Hey! Look at that! - She learns fast.
- She does.
Try telling that to the bundle of joy over there.
Against my better judgment, I'm gonna leave you to your own devices for a second.
Try not to break anything.
How do you do it? - What? - Stay out of the drama.
I have three kids, Skip, and a wife.
- My drama's with that family.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Hi.
[SCOFFS.]
You're not gonna ask me about my shitty hometown? Well, I thought you weren't going.
Okay, you know what? This game is boring.
I have too much to do today.
- Wait.
- What, Jake? Where are you from? [SCOFFS.]
Uh, why? Why are you asking me that? Because I literally have no idea where you're from.
Dayton, Ohio.
Fred is looking for Simone.
Busy.
His coat, Skip.
We have a coat closet? Hey, there you are.
- Hey.
- Thanks for your help with Sasha.
Ah, it's fine.
He's lucky.
He'll be back at work next week, right? Yep, he will.
- Hey, Ari.
- What? Um okay, what is the deal with Jake and Simone? Who knows? No, right, I-I mean yeah, but, like, okay, when they go to the Cape, do you think they, like I don't think about that.
Hey! Stay out of it.
No, I-I know.
I, um I am.
I just Uh, I'm trying.
They just I feel like they want something from me.
- Just bang him and get it over with.
- Ari.
- Or her.
- Ari, come on, I'm serious.
So am I.
You can't have them both.
Bye.
[JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING.]
[SIGHS.]
Seriously? So you're a coat check now? FRED: Come on, don't be difficult.
- She avoided me my entire meal.
- Just get her.
- JAKE: Sorry.
- Don't be a dick, Jake.
Just I need to talk to her, now.
- Get the fuck out of here.
- What did you say to me? JAKE: What? - Hey, uh, excuse me, sir.
Hi, I think this is your coat.
Oh, it uh, hi, it's it's Serena's husband, right? Yeah, that's exactly who he is.
You condescending little shit.
- You and Simone deserve each other.
- JAKE: What the fuck you say? - JAKE: I will fuck you up, you little fucking - HOWARD: Gentlemen! - HOWARD: Gentlemen, gentlemen.
- Get the fuck off my bar.
I boxed up some cake for Serena, her favorite.
Fred, Fred.
You'll be wanting to take a cab.
I'll walk you out.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Hey, hey.
Hey.
Jake, what was that? - Nothing.
- Stop.
Tell me.
- I am so sick of not - They're fucking.
Who? Simone and that asshole.
- What? No - Yeah, exactly.
TESS: I thought Simone was Serena's friend.
What uh, well, does everybody know? - I mean - No.
Why are you telling me? I don't know.
Heather needs a bottle of the Clos du Bourg Vouvray 2006.
- You know what that is? - Uh, yeah, I sold it.
I mean, uh, I suggested that Heather sell it.
Sure, you did.
She's waiting at 25.
Yeah, I know.
Here.
[MYSTERIOUS MUSIC.]
[METAL CLATTERING.]
SIMONE: Why on Earth would you tell her that? - JAKE: She asked.
- SIMONE: She asked? SIMONE: So that's all it takes? She just has to ask? - JAKE: I don't want to lie to her.
- SIMONE: You lie all the time.
That motherfucker's a piece of shit.
I don't Okay, this is not about him.
This is about you.
- I was defending you.
- No, you were betraying me, because nothing is sacred to you.
I don't need this, Jake.
One day, I am just gonna be done with you.
JAKE: Don't say shit like that.
SIMONE: I've been carrying you since you were eight years old.
- I said - What are you trying to do, huh? You trying to punish me? I know you, Jake.
No one else will ever know you the way that I do.
I know.
SIMONE: Good.
I forgive you.
[SOMBER MUSIC.]
[LOUNGE MUSIC PLAYING.]
Thank you.
Thank you.
Allow me.
Did you pull this from the cellar? Yeah, a 2006 Clos du Bourg.
- 2006.
- Mm-hmm.
This is a 1986.
I bought this at an auction.
It was supposed to sell for $1,200.
- Uh - Stop.
- [GRUNTS.]
- Don't speak.
We'll glass it out.
Try and make back some of the cost.
[EXHALES.]
[SNIFFS.]
Fuck.
Don't make that anymore.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
[GASPS.]
[GRUNTING.]
[PEOPLE GASPING.]
Oh, Jesus Christ.
Hey, hey, hey, what happened? Hey, no, don't you don't have to get up.
Are you all right? Did you hit your head? - She's all right.
- I'm gonna go get you some ice.
- I'm fine.
- I'm gonna get her some ice.
- I'm all right.
It's okay.
- Show's over, ladies and gentlemen.
Hey, we'll help you clean up.
It's all good.
Just breathe.
You'll be fine.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[LABORED BREATHING.]
HOWARD: What was that guy's name? What was the guy's name, with the - Carson.
- HOWARD: Oh, right.
Carson Bell.
I love that name.
He fell down the kitchen steps on his second day.
[CHUCKLES.]
HOWARD: Yeah, the metal ones.
- That didn't kill him.
- [CHUCKLES.]
How about you? Any broken bones? - No.
- HOWARD: Good.
We'll have you fill out a workman's comp form, just in case.
Um, I Howard, I just wanted to say that I'm so, so sorry, uh, if I embarrassed you or the restaurant, um I don't know what happened.
I-I've been really focused.
I'm not embarrassed.
Are you embarrassed? - Will, are you embarrassed? - Mm-mm.
Well, we're all okay.
The question is are you okay? Yeah, I am.
And I'd really like to go back to my shift.
Great.
Off you go.
Will, stay a minute.
Now's as good a time as any.
So I've looked over the exam.
There are some knowledge gaps, but there's some knowledge in between.
Obviously, I know about the fall and the mistake with the Vouvray.
- Tell me the rest.
- My opinion? Your assessment.
She's got the three-plate.
She has all of her side work.
She has a strong attention to detail.
She's better on the floor than in the kitchen.
But considering how little she came in with she's not exactly graceful, but she's determined.
Go on.
WILL: Uh, she asks a lot of questions, which I know is important to you.
And she connects with the guests pretty easily.
Well, people, actually.
She's got a fair amount of, um of empathy.
- I have noticed that.
- Did she pass her trails? No.
But if it were up to me, I would, um I would give her another week of training.
Maybe with, uh, Ari.
Another week, she'll she'll be where she needs to be.
- Thank you, Will.
- Yes, thank you, Will.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
Mm.
They're fucking.
- Are they? - Mm-hmm.
I mean, Howard, we have a system for a reason.
Test, trail.
People either pass or fail.
- I thought you liked her.
- I do.
Quite a lot, actually.
But this job isn't for everyone.
It's not for Jake.
- Not anymore.
- Oh, this dance again? He threatened a soigné guest.
And when I asked him to defend his actions, he just stood there.
[LOW VOICE.]
Hey, uh - [BABBLES.]
- [LAUGHS.]
[CHUCKLES.]
It's good to hear you laugh.
Speaking of funny, I sent Fred Benson home.
With cake.
- Thank you.
- I have to say, that choice it surprises me.
Surprised me too.
Well, you and Serena were always competitive.
Even about tips.
I cared about him.
- Yeah? - I did, Howard.
He wasn't just some hostess.
Low blow.
Since Lizzie died, I've been alone.
A lot.
And when I have not been alone, I have been discreet.
That was a slip.
- That was a mistake.
- Well, how much did it cost you? What are you doing? You are not firing Jake.
And I will put out the word that we're looking for a new back waiter.
HOWARD: Simone.
I wasn't finished yet.
[SOFT MUSIC.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Hey.
So uh what did you tell them? The truth.
[EXHALES.]
Must have been pretty satisfying for you, huh? - What? - Watching me fall down the stairs.
Oh, yeah, well, that, yes.
That was extremely satisfying.
I really, thoroughly enjoyed that.
I thought you really stuck the landing, though.
[CHUCKLES.]
Don't pretend you're not mad at me.
I mean you treated me pretty horribly.
But that doesn't mean you don't belong here.
[SCOFFS.]
I took it for granted.
God, I've been so excited just to walk through the door every day.
We all do that a little bit.
I'm sorry, Will.
I just wanted a job.
I didn't expect this.
[EXHALES.]
Ah, doesn't matter now.
[SNIFFS.]
Because I fucked it up.
[SOMBER MUSIC.]
[SIGHS.]
Congratulations, Tess.
[EXHALES.]
Are you surprised? Uh, uh, um, yeah.
- I mean, I don't understand - Put it on.
Let's see how it fits.
What's wrong? No, it's nothing.
I just, um I guess I never let myself want anything this much before.
Well, then I think it is time to give yourself permission to want things.
Hmm.
And to have them.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Look at you.
Why did he hire me? I made so many mistakes.
Howard is not a traditional manager.
He tends to value his instincts above evidence.
At the end of the day, he thinks you know how to make guests feel at home.
It's good for business.
Maybe he finds you attractive.
I don't exactly know him right now.
Regardless I'm happy for you.
Thanks.
Oh, um since it looks like you'll be staying with us for a while, I hope you'll be careful.
What does that mean? The stairs.
[SOFT MUSIC.]
HOWARD: It's brave if you make it.
- SIMONE: Pay attention.
- ARIEL: Refire.
BECKY: You're not gonna tell me, motherfucker? - SASHA: I will save you.
- ARIEL: Home Bar.
SIMONE: New York is never a mistake.
SERENA: I miss being the new girl.
[OVERLAPPING DIALOGUE ECHOING.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
JAKE: Is this what you wanted? [GRITTY ROCK MUSIC.]
MAN: Say, say, my playmate Won't you lay hands on me Mirror my malady Transfer my tragedy Got a curse I cannot lift Shines when the sunset shifts When the moon is round and full Gotta bust that box, gotta gut that fish My mind's aflame We could jet in a stolen car But I bet we wouldn't get too far Before the transformation takes And bloodlust tanks and crave gets slaked My mind has changed my body's frame But, God, I like it My heart's aflame, my body's strained But, God, I like it My mind has changed my body's frame But, God, I like it My heart's aflame, my body's strained But, God, I like it