Connecting... (2020) s01e08 Episode Script

1
[discordant piano notes]
This land is your land ♪
♪
This land is my land ♪
♪
From California ♪
♪
To the New York island ♪
♪
From the Redwood Forest ♪
♪
Of course they're playing this song.
This is the corniest, touristy
Wait, you don't like this song?
I mean, sure, it's a little corny,
but if it catches me in the right mood,
it always makes me cry.
You think they're playing
this song to distract us
from the fact that we're 110 stories
above the Earth's surface?
I wouldn't know.
I got a 30-inch vertical leap.
I'm used to being up this high.
Come on, don't lie.
You're a little scared.
You're sweating through your shirt.
That's just the way
the light hits my muscles
underneath my shirt.
You know, it creates shadows.
Right, my mistake. Muscle shadows.
We also walked for,
like, eight hours today.
Yeah, well, we had to do
all the Chicago things in ten hours.
An hour of which we
spent not being able to move
because of Lou Malnati's.
- So worth it.
- That deep dish?
[together] So good.
I can't believe you
spit it all over yourself
trying it to fold it
like a New York slice.
This is Chicago, girl.
Yeah, well, how else
was I supposed to trick you
into buying me my favorite shirt?
I'm kidding. I'm gonna pay you back.
Hell no. We're days away from
electing our first female president.
Time to get excited.
♪
[children scream]
Grayson, Everett, stop it.
You really that afraid of heights?
- You really not scared at all?
- No.
- You wanna lean up against the glass?
- No.
Come on.
It's gonna be okay.
We're gonna get through
this together.
This land was
made for you and me ♪
♪
So you lied about
your fear of heights?
I was trying to make her feel safe.
Her or you?
Ben, dishonesty creates
distance, not intimacy.
I thought lying
above a certain altitude
was okay like international waters
but the sky.
I think that you are afraid
that she won't like you
The real you.
Can we focus on my stress ulcer?
I am.
You bottle things up.
You try to be optimistic
and strong to everyone
when you're really afraid and in pain.
Look, what is keeping you
from telling Annie
how you feel about her?
I don't know.
- I have an assignment for you.
- Therapy's got homework?
Radical honesty with
the people that you love.
No hiding just
speak your truth
and allow them to have an honest
and informed response to it.
Are you even a good therapist?
Like, I didn't Yelp you or anything.
Next week we can
discuss your use of humor
as a means of deflection.
So you want me to be
honest and not funny, cool.
You're still doing it.
All: Cheers.
- Ugh.
- Oh, eyes, eyes, eyes.
I can't believe how
insane this election is?
Have you guys heard about
him wanting to fire Fauci?
Oh, yes.
Everything's gonna be okay, right?
Annie, that's the 12th
time you've asked us,
and we still don't know.
I could hold a vote right now,
between Winnie the Pooh
and the Teddy Graham bear.
We could all vote for Winnie.
I could still make Teddy win.
Hacking is real.
I cannot take another four years
of the Teddy Graham bear.
Well, we just all need
to be Care Bears, all right?
And blast that gay as hell rainbow stare
as far and wide as possible.
Look, I'm nervous too, but
I want queer and trans kids
to know we're still gonna
be here to protect them.
I can't handle watching
the results tomorrow.
Cameron's planned a
special, virtual date
- to distract me.
- Oh, that's so cute.
Seems like a weird day for a date.
You know, I've been fantasizing
about moving to another country.
I know Singapore imprisons people
for chewing gum in public,
but is that really the worst thing?
Or we can focus on
fixing this country
by getting people to vote.
Call me Amethyst because tomorrow,
I'll be working the poll.
- The voting poll.
- Yeah, no, we get it.
The rest of you are still
down to watch it tomorrow?
I need to be with people.
- Of course.
- Hell yeah.
- Absolutely.
- Yes.
Also I think Jazmin's
gonna join tomorrow.
Oh, now I've got FOMO,
but I can't cancel.
Cameron said he's
been planning this date
since the day we met.
Isn't that romantic?
- So four days.
- [chuckles]
You're funny, Ben.
Well, I'm grateful that we're
all gonna get together tomorrow
'cause I'm gonna need that
strong friendship network
to provide the proper emotional support
during this stressful time in my life.
Ben, are you dying?
It's cancer. It's cancer, isn't it?
No, no, no, I'm fine. I'm fine.
I actually started taking therapy.
- Wow.
- Oh, that's great.
- Wow, good.
- Good for you.
That's very good.
That's terrific, Ben.
Seriously, I know it's
probably hard for you,
but it is so worth it.
Do you feel like it's helping?
Kirby's cool.
He actually gave me an assignment,
but it's cheesy.
He said I bottle things up
and instead I should practice
radical honesty with you guys.
It's dumb, right?
- No, not dumb at all.
- No, of course not.
I've been radically honest for years.
I had no idea it was good for me.
Do me. Yeah, come on, do me.
I don't really think
that's how it works.
Come on!
First thing that pops in your head.
Let's be radical.
I don't feel
comfortable, like
That's avoidance.
You're avoiding, Ben.
I'm gonna tell this
Kirby person that Ben's
Okay, sometimes you're too
selfish and self-involved.
I'm sorry, um
Yeah, that was I'm sorry.
That was, like I
wasn't trying to, like
No, no, no, it's okay.
Good note.
Just processing the jagged, little pill,
and, ah, processed.
There, okay, see, nobody died.
Thank you for your radical honesty, Ben.
Really? Oh, okay.
I also think your
love for Julianne Moore
is weird and unwarranted.
You take that back!
That woman breathes fire and music
into all of her roles!
Well, I know what
you're gonna say about me
That it's hard to live in my shadow,
et cetera, et cetera.
Actually, sometimes
I feel like you treat me
like a child when
you're the childish one.
[mockingly] Sometimes you treat me
like a child when you're the
Am I the childish one?
You know what? I don't remember
asking to be CC'd on this email.
Okay, I'm gonna stop this now.
No, this is great. We can take it.
Of course you love this, Ellis.
You thrive on drama. Janice, much?
Are you calling me a meddler?
I am not my mother.
I have some radical honesty.
The Clippers should move to Seattle.
- Not the time, Garrett!
- This is a bad idea.
Come on, these aren't
shocking revelations.
It's fine. We're a pretty
self-aware group, right?
Be radically honest with me, Ben.
What, hair too pink? Clothes too weird?
Mayday Malone impression too on point?
Come on, tell me, what do
you really think about me?
Maybe another time.
Intriguing.
Well, if truth court's adjourned,
I'm gonna go look for
my non-weird outfit
for my romantic date
with Cameron tomorrow.
Wish him luck for me.
What does that mean?
Nothing, I'm drunk.
You know, schnapps is
really a sipping beverage.
Maybe try those liqueur glasses
I got you, Ben.
What did you mean by that, Ben?
Just that this poor guy
is probably killing himself
trying to impress you when
he's secretly terrified
it won't be enough, and you know what?
- It probably won't be.
- Somebody mute him!
Him versus your expectations
is not a fair fight.
Not everyone speaks in sonnets, Annie.
He's just a guy doing his best.
He's not one of your characters
from your romance novels.
I don't need him to be perfect, Ben!
At least I'm putting myself out there
unlike you who's too scared
to make a move or take a leap
with anyone.
[soft beep]
So this therapist, would
you recommend them or
[upbeat music]
Hey, I heard you blocked Ben
after our little truth
circle last night.
Yeah, he just kept
texting me apologies,
and I just I can't right now.
I just wanna focus on my
date with Cameron today.
Totally. It's election day.
Everyone is on edge.
I just snapped at Siri for
saying, "Can you repeat that?"
Bitch, hear me the first time!
However, is today really the best day
to be severing friendships?
Like, don't we all need each other
more than ever right now?
Can't you just unblock him
and at least hear him out?
Wait, is this meddling?
God, am I a Janice? Damn it, Ben!
What have you wrought?
First of all, the assignment
was to be honest about yourself
to your friends, not give
them a Comedy Central roast.
Secondly, I never said to do it drunk.
I needed liquid courage. I was
- Scared?
- Nervous.
Look, Ben, being
vulnerable doesn't mean
shooting flaming truth
arrows at your friends.
It means taking off your
armor and setting it down.
How can I take off my armor
if she won't let me in the castle?
She pulled up the drawbridge.
I'm standing at a moat.
Give her some space, okay?
Try reconnecting with the friends
that haven't blocked you.
Look, everyone is going
through a tough time right now.
This is not the time
to give up on people.
Besides, with a
friendship and a connection
like the one that you
describe between you and Annie,
I doubt she's gonna
freeze you out forever.
God, I hope not.
Man, I don't know if this
therapy thing's for me.
We're supposed to
have weekly sessions.
You asked for three in three days.
I mean, I guess I like some parts.
[upbeat music]
Wow, you look great.
You have no idea how much
I've been looking forward to this.
So what are we doing?
Oh, boom.
We are organizing our
closets like the Home Edit.
- [quietly] Oh, wow.
- Yeah.
'Cause I remembered you
said on your first date
that you love that show,
and you said listening
- was romantic.
- I did, I did.
I did say that.
- You hate it.
- What?
No! No, I love it.
I have a perfectly reasonable
expectation of romance.
- What?
- This is perfect. No, not perfect.
I don't need things to be perfect.
I love organizing dates.
Okay, then we'll see what sparks joy.
See, this can be romantic.
What about this coaxial
cable I stole from work?
♪
I messed up.
This therapy thing is
new, and I didn't mean
to call you childish.
Oh, it's fine, and
to be radically honest,
I have way bigger things to worry about.
Garrett's volunteering
at a polling place,
- and we're fighting.
- Why?
You know how I've been joking
about wanting to move
- to another country?
- Yes.
Stop sending me articles
about Prince Edward Island.
I don't know what that is.
I think I actually
wanna leave the country.
- What?
- But not Canada.
They put too many
animals on their money.
I wanna move to Portugal.
- What kind of random-ass
- It's not random.
I've always wanted to learn Português.
It's like Spanish but you're drunk,
and Garrett loves oily fish.
I think we'll thrive there.
Hi, thank you for voting. Water?
Garrett, back me up
on this Portugal thing.
No, you back me up.
I think it's a ridiculous idea,
though there are some
beautiful properties
in our price range.
What's really going on here?
Oh, I don't know, the election,
RBG dying, climate
change, the wildfires,
Breonna Taylor, waiting
to see if the government
takes my uterus, my
brother, or my husband first.
It's too much!
I just feel like curling up into a ball
and hugging a stuffed animal.
I am not childish.
Look, is America broken? Yes.
Do I love an oily sardinhas assada
or a caldo Verde? Of course I do.
But we can't just run away.
And what about the
people who can't leave?
We have a moral obligation
to stay and fight
to make this country
better for everybody.
Do we though?
It's like what you
said about me and therapy.
It's hard, it sucks,
and sometimes I don't wanna do it,
but it's worth it.
And since when have you
been scared of a fight?
- Since I might be pregnant.
- What?
Michelle.
I know. I know.
It's early.
And maybe probably nothing,
but I might be pregnant,
and I don't know if I want to raise
a Black child in this country.
Is everything okay, sir?
Hi, thank you for voting.
Do you want some water?
[light music]
- Michelle's pregnant?
- Yeah.
And you're moving to Portugal?
You know they had a fascist dictator
- well into the disco era.
- Might be pregnant.
I'm just late and a little hormonal
and might be moving to Portugal.
Not moving to Portugal.
I would also tell you not
to move to another country,
but I don't wanna come off as meddling.
I am so sorry I called
you a meddling Janice.
You're not. I think
it's just the hormones.
I thought the pregnancy hormones
didn't kick in until later on.
Then it's just 2020, all right?
Listen, I know I try
to keep things light
and I joke around or whatever,
but if I'm being radically honest,
this year has been hard and lonely.
I need you guys, and I need my sister
not to move to Portugal.
I love you.
I love you too.
Also what's the deal
with feelings, am I right?
Okay, Seinfeld, what
did we say about avoiding?
Pradeep, I'm sorry
I called you selfish.
You know, no one ever said
any mean, honest things about me.
- You're bougie.
- You dress like a grandpa.
The way you describe
food is so off-putting.
You have too many V-necks.
Your mother makes the worst cobbler.
Thanks, guys.
♪
Aw, I can't get rid of this.
You're a little sentimental, huh?
No.
All this stuff is practical.
Like this old b-ball here,
it's for playing
one-on-one with the guys.
- Why is there a Post
- It that says "Aidan's ball" on it?
Because he was my ninth grade crush,
and I stole it from him so I'd have
something he touched forever.
But I can still play with it.
[ball thuds]
Is that an old Solo cup back there?
This is from a keg party in college
where my freshman
crush almost kissed me.
He was emotional, but it worked out.
We ended up having almost sex later.
[melancholy music]
♪
Maybe today's not the
day to empty my closet.
Let me guess
Another almost kiss?
Yeah, almost.
Why didn't you just kiss him?
Girls who make the first moves are hot.
First moves are hard.
Not really. All you
gotta do is show up.
Did I mention I live very nearby
- and just tested COVID negative?
- Yeah, you did.
So just show up, huh?
[upbeat music]
♪
Have you talked to Annie?
No, I'm giving her space.
Space is for insecure
billionaires, Ben.
- She likes you.
- She blocked me.
I turned down your offer of free,
live-in Manny services
so you two slowpokes
could finally hook up.
It cannot have been for nothing!
Why didn't y'all tell me earlier?
- I don't know.
- Oh, the drama was fun.
What took you so long?
All that stuff I said about
Cam funk is really about me.
I'm worried I'm not good enough.
Hey, that's my friend
Ben you're talking about.
I'll thank you to be nicer to him.
Sometimes you just gotta take a leap.
I mean, I didn't even really
have friends before you guys,
but I took a chance, and now I do.
And then I took another chance,
and now I have a girlfriend.
- Since when?
- Shut up, Rufus.
- Who your boo?
- You do not.
He does.
And her name is
Ellis Dominique Devereux Murmelstein!
- What?
- Shut up!
- Oh, my God.
- Shut up!
I might have been a little extra
when I was picking my new name.
Ellis, Rufus is your quarantine bae?
- What?
- Hey.
Sex amigos turned official
steady romance couple.
Whoo, pew, pew, pew, pew.
We're still working with him
on talking about physical intimacy.
I'm new to it, yeah.
Well, how did all this happen?
Well, I can't not have sex
obviously for all the reasons,
and I was talking to
Rufus about how I wanted
to go and find a
COVID-safe internet hookup.
And I told her that was
a contradiction in terms.
She should find someone that
she knew she could trust.
And so he offered to come over
and platonically help
me fulfill my needs.
And that proved to be
almost immediately impossible,
and we fell in love.
Oh, well, like. Like a deep like.
I'm really happy for you two.
Ben, you know, you can call
her and leave a voice-mail.
It'll show up in her
blocked calls folder.
She'll find it if she's looking.
I can't believe I'm
taking relationship advice
- from Rufus.
- Believe it, Ben.
Miracles happen.
The assignment was
radical honesty, right?
So do your homework.
♪
[line ringing]
[sighs]
- [phone beeps]
- Hey, Annie, you were right.
I was scared.
That day at Willis Tower, you and me,
those weren't muscle shadows.
That was I was terrified.
I needed to hold your hand
as much as you needed mine,
but when we looked down
at that city together,
I knew it would be okay
because I was with you.
Truth is, I've had feelings for you
for a long time, and that scares me
a hell of a lot more than any heights.
I it's hard for
me to be vulnerable,
so I work my ass off not to be,
but I don't know if
that's working out for me.
This insane election, this whole year
has terrified me,
but nothing scares me more
than the idea of not
having you in my life.
I love you.
Kind of feel like I just sent a telegram
to the bottom of the ocean,
but at least I sent it, right?
I know you might not get this,
and I know it might be too late
But at least I tried.
Your friend, Ben.
[tender music]
[sighs]
[upbeat music]
- Jazmin!
- Jazmin!
- Jazmin.
- Hi.
What is going on? What have I missed?
Well, I started my own
hand sanitizer business.
And he hasn't gotten reported yet.
Pradeep yelled at a
food delivery person.
Okay, not my best moment.
- Oh, Garrett got arrested.
- For like five minutes.
Oh, and Ben got a stomachache
and then started therapy.
That's a gross oversimplification.
Michelle might be pregnant
and moving to Portugal with Garrett.
- Might be.
- We are not moving.
And Ellis is dating
Rufus. How crazy is that?
- I know, right?
- It's not that crazy.
And Ben finally knows that
Annie had feelings for him
- back in March.
- What?
Amazing, and also I knew all that.
- Ellis sends daily texts.
- I knew it.
- Ellis!
- I don't thrive on drama.
I just like to keep people informed.
I meant what
have I missed tonight?
Well, I finally told
Annie how I feel about her.
- [gasps]
- What?
- Oh, love wins!
- What?
In a voice-mail she
probably won't get.
- Right.
- Oh.
- Less incredible.
- All right.
Bannie.
Anyway, forget that.
Jazmin, how are you?
Better.
Things are better here in New York,
but still not great.
I'm still self-isolating
from my family.
I'm still pulling crazy
hours at the hospital,
and, I'm sorry, Portugal?
- You cannot move to Portugal, Michelle.
- Thank you.
You know what I love about you guys?
You are always there for each other
or as there as you can be, and Portugal
is not as there as you can be.
Michelle, I know it'll be hard
to raise a Black kid in this country.
We know better than anyone.
Is this country racist
Like deeply racist?
Yes.
But there's racism
everywhere, even in Portugal,
and probably racism you
won't even understand yet.
Don't go across the globe
looking for new racism.
Stick to the rivers
and the racism you know.
You can't leave the only
home we've ever known.
You can't leave your family.
And when Ben says
family, I'm inserting me
and the rest of us too.
We're your family.
We need you, and you need us.
- Absolutely.
- 100%.
Okay, fine. You convinced me.
- We'll stay for now.
- Yeah.
- Jazmin convinced me.
- Yay!
- Wait, Jazmin?
- I knew you weren't leaving.
I have been making
amazing arguments all day.
Yeah, but she's a doctor.
When she says things,
they just sound true.
Yeah.
Okay, guys, listen.
We will not only survive this.
We will rise out of it and
become something stronger
because we have to.
- [knocking on door]
- Um, somebody's at my door.
- You got my message.
- I [chuckles]
What message?
Then what are you doing here?
I'm showing up
at your door.
You mind if I come in?
- Yeah.
- Annie?
- It's Annie!
- Bannie.
Annie, you are just in time.
All right, the results
are starting to come in.
Buckle up, everyone.
["This Land Is Your Land"]
This isn't over.
No matter what happens,
our fight has just begun.
♪
We're gonna be okay.
We're gonna get through this together.
♪
Nobody living ♪
♪
Can ever stop me ♪
♪
'Cause I go walking ♪
♪
My freedom highway ♪
♪
Nobody living ♪
♪
Can make me turn back ♪
♪
This land was
made for you and me ♪
♪