Here and Now (2018) s01e09 Episode Script
Dream Logic
1 KRISTEN BAYER-BOATWRIGHT: You are connected to some major energetic forces.
Tell me about your near-death experiences.
- I've never had one.
- Are you sure? DR.
FARID SHOKRANI: Where's your mother? NAVID SHOKRANI: I came to put that stuff on your back.
FARID: (SIGHS) Just wanna keep you safe.
I promised I would never go out like this, Dad.
- I can't find anything.
- Must be a sentence? A detail from the orphanage? It's weird, you know.
We couldn't even get them on the phone.
We had to get 'em out of there.
Ashely, this is Sharon Chen.
Could I ask you some questions about your business? Sure.
Do you know what silver nitrate and sun exposure does to the skin? - (GIRL SCREAMS) - (BOTH LAUGH) (PHONE RINGS) No, no! Don't touch it! They are looking for us.
(PHONE RINGS) (WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE) Dinner, tonight, my place.
Yes.
AUDREY BAYER: I slept with Steve.
(WIND BLOWING) (BIRDS CHIRPING) (DISTANT KIDS SHOUTING PLAYFULLY) KRISTEN: Hi, Mom.
Pancakes? - Your father made them.
- Mmm.
KRISTEN: Now, what is he doing? Who knows? Philosophy? Mom, are you guys okay? Is there something I should know about? What do you mean? Like some kind of change, something big about to happen? No.
I'm I'm fine, though I can't speak for your father.
At least he's cooking.
He is cooking.
Damn it.
Your thing.
Alterna-mitzvah.
- You forgot to get the food.
- No, I just haven't yet.
It's this new job.
Someone at work told me about a caterer, does these little brisket sliders.
- I'll call now.
- (PHONE CHIMES) It's okay, Mom.
(PHONE CLICKING) It's fine.
We could just order pizza, Mom.
(CHUCKLES) - (WHOOSHES) - Sorry, time sensitive.
Tragedy of the human condition.
We can't order pizza - on your spiritual coming of age.
- (WHOOSHES) For once, we get to celebrate you! I thought that was the the idea.
(CLICKING) - I'll kick things off if you'd like.
- Mom.
Mom.
- (WHOOSHES) - Honey.
Mom.
Navid's gonna lead it.
- Oh.
Okay.
Great.
- (WHOOSHING) That's that's just so great.
That's just great.
You've only known each other a short while.
He groks me.
When you have an empathetic connection like Navid and I, time doesn't really matter.
- I know what grokking is.
- (PHONE DINGING) Mom, it's fine.
I gotta go anyway.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
It is this TV thing, you know? Really? TV after the last time? That's why I need to prep.
(CHUCKLES) Thanks for understanding.
Sweet, sweet.
I won't forget the food.
Promise.
Get yourself together, dude.
(SIGHS) (SIGHS) (KEYBOARD CLACKING) (ROCK MUSIC PLAYING) Light another cigarette Burning in the cold Waiting on the street for your man You're trying not to look so Young and miserable You gotta get your kicks while you can And in the lighted corner Sitting on your own What a lovely day to be lonely - You're holding on for life - (PHONE RINGS, BUZZES) - Holding on for life - Hello? SONNI (ON PHONE): Hi, Ramon.
It's Sonni Little from Littleshot Interactive.
I don't know if you remember me.
I got a look at your demo.
I was at PGX.
Holding on for life Oh, you you were? I got your number from the university rep.
I was hoping to chat at the Expo, but I had a plane to catch.
So, you left early.
Um, how early did you leave? SONNI: Well, I didn't see much, but it was enough.
Um, I was hoping that you'd be willing to meet.
Your game is compelling.
You have a unique perspective.
(CHUCKLES) Well, um thank you.
SONNI: Great.
I'm in Portland for the day, headed back to LA tonight.
Any chance you could meet me later? I'll text you the address.
That that sounds great.
I'll see you then.
SONNI: Okay, great.
- What do you mean, you're done? - I mean, I'm done.
(LAUGHS) Is this because you won an award? That award is a really big deal in the Portland real estate scene.
Well, you still have two prepaid sessions.
- I don't think we're done.
- I do.
And whose opinion matters? (FOUNTAIN TRICKLING) - Yours.
- You should be happy for me.
- Why aren't you happy? - I am happy.
I am.
I But how are you so sure? You taught me how.
(LAUGHS) I should get going.
- LAYLA: Let me translate it for you? - No.
Farid, you're making assumptions.
You haven't even listened to it yet.
I thought we had left her there to die (SIGHS) but she didn't.
God knows what her life must've been.
It wasn't your job to rescue her.
- Not my job? - No.
Seriously? You're talking like a white person.
Okay, I need you to hear something, Farid.
I'm not gonna do it again.
What happened when I was pregnant? What made you finally go on medication? Is something going on? No, it's all cool.
It's just Mom and Dad talk, baby.
Do I need to be worried? Waited too long to answer.
Later.
FARID: Hey.
Be safe.
I love you.
LAYLA: Have a good day, okay, honey? (DOOR OPENS, CLOSES) Let's listen to her.
(SIGHS) (CLICKS) (DONYA SPEAKING FARSI ON ANSWERING MACHINE) FARID: "Farid, where are you?" (DONYA CONTINUES SPEAKING) "Somewhere somewhere" "Somewhere safe.
" (DONYA CONTINUES SPEAKING) Yeah.
(CLICKS) "In the morning, I wake up" "I wake up thinking of you.
In the evening, I go to bed dreaming of you.
" Play it.
(CLICKS) (DONYA SPEAKING FARSI) (CLICKS) "I don't have much longer.
I wish I could see you again once more before I die.
" (CLICKS) (DONYA SPEAKING FARSI) "Please forgive me.
Oh God, please forgive me.
I love you, my Farid.
" (CLICKS) (SOBBING) All those years with this damn phone ringing.
(POUNDS PHONE) How did she have our number? (SOBBING) Mm-mmm.
No.
PHOTOGRAPHER: That's better.
Thanks.
KARINA: Your next appointment is here.
It's Sharon Chen and Cliff Miller from Cloth.
Do I need to look for a job? You have a job, and you're good at it.
Can you please do it? - Sharon.
It's good to see you again.
- SHARON: Mmm.
Mrs.
Collins, we appreciate your time.
Of course.
This is my associate, Cliff Miller.
Hi.
Hi.
I love your site.
- SHARON: Mmm.
Well, I'll cut to it.
- Mm-hmm.
We think your talents would be a great fit for our organization.
We want you to help us develop a tool, so that every shopper can create their own perfect store.
So, basically, what I'm doing now? On a much larger scale.
What exactly are we talking about? We'd like to acquire your business.
CLIFF: This type of deal, we're usually in the low-to-mid seven-figure range.
So, are we talking closer to one million or closer to 10? Payable with restricted common stock, vesting over four years, plus an employment agreement for the same term.
I assume that you would shut down the store.
The most valuable asset of your company isn't the store.
It's you.
And exactly how much do you think I'm worth? For questions about Steven's level of involvement, defer to him, but if directed at you, we would like to stress that he's hands-on, if not day-to-day.
Moving on! The Portland Empathy Initiative was founded with the mission of fostering I know what The Portland Empathy Initiative is.
- I founded it.
- Of course.
Okay.
Apologies for that.
So, the last thing is, if there's any mention of the working conditions in the Philippines or anything about employee suicides I know this is "Wake Up, Portland" we're talking, but Did you did you just say, "Employee suicides"? Shit.
See, I thought Steven looped you in.
- You should ask him.
- I intend to, but while we're here, Cait, why don't you loop me in? Hey.
Greg Boatwright here to see Steve.
Steven Benjamin? Do you have an appointment? GREG: Oh no, it's cool.
We're old friends.
(RALPH SCOFFS) Sir, I don't care if you're friends.
You need to have an appointment.
Steve, old friend! STEVEN: It's all right.
Professor Boatwright! (CHUCKLES) Good to see you.
Have a seat.
- GREG: Nice.
- So what can I do for you? (SIGHS) Just I'm trying I'm trying to think of the last time we hung out.
- The march, New York City.
- Right.
Of course.
I asked Audrey to marry me on that day.
- You're a lucky guy.
- I really am.
So are you apparently.
Yeah.
You look just the same.
Oh, you look taller.
(BOTH LAUGH) So, how's the saving- the-world business? It seems pretty lucrative, huh? Well could be worse.
How's the philosophy business? Aah! I'm taking a break.
Clearing my head.
Any new books on the horizon? I'm I'm waiting to read the next one.
GREG: Maybe.
I think I figured out how to kick off - my comeback tour.
- (JINGLES) Oh.
How's Nina? We divorced a couple years ago.
Oh.
Sorry to hear that.
So, you're a bachelor, huh? - (BOTH CHUCKLE) - Yes.
Yeah.
Dating must be easy with your looks and billions of dollars.
(CHUCKLES) Well, you know how it is.
Work, work, work.
Work is your true passion.
You throw yourself into it, from what I hear.
What are you doing here, Greg? Well, since you're working with my wife so much, I figured, we should reconnect.
Maybe Audrey and I could have you over for dinner catch up over a bottle of wine.
- Yeah, that'd be something.
- That'd be something.
Listen, I need to jump on a call.
The world needs you.
Steve Benjamin, here to save the day! Greg, you need to get the - fuck outta here - Seriously? When were you gonna tell me? We were just finishing up.
I'm heading out.
FARID: Why didn't you let me speak to her? Mmm.
Every time that phone rang, it terrified me, because you told me it was Khomeini's men.
But it was her my mother.
You lied to a fucking child, your own blood.
I was protecting you from that lunatic whore! - She was not lunatic! - (GRUNTS) Even after you tore us apart, she was sill trying to reach out! Do you think that was the only message? - How many messages were there? - There were many more! She said horrible things.
Unthinkable! I heard you crying.
Crying over a woman who tortured you who mutilated her own son.
You are as sick as she is.
- (GRUNTS) - Am I? Am I as sick as she is? Huh? - Sick enough to fucking crack - (GASPS) No.
- your skull open, old man? - No! (CRYING) No.
You're gonna die alone.
(CANE CLATTERS) (SOBBING) AUDREY: When was I going to find out? Live? On the air? STEVEN: We'll be on together, and I would never have you be ambushed.
- That that's why I had you prepped.
- Had me prepped.
You didn't think I should've known about this before I took the job? It's not relevant to your job.
We're talking about workers throwing themselves off of the roof of a building! All right, fine, fine, let then let's talk about it.
Benjamin Ventures has, at any given time, equity interests in dozens of countries.
Currently, we've got seven active funds, one of which is focused on emerging markets.
- Meaning the Third World.
- Meaning $10 a day is middle class.
- It's a path to a better life.
- For whom? People locked in a factory with no windows, never seeing their families, sleeping 15 to a room? I understand where you're coming from.
I wrestle with this myself.
You're only wrestling with it, because you got caught! I didn't get caught! I just didn't tell you! You don't work for our VC arm! The Foundation is the entity you work for.
It seems like the entity I work for is you.
You decide when to have me prepped what I need to know, right? I am your pet project.
That's not fair.
You're doing real work, important work.
Work that makes you look good.
Oh God.
Is this all just PR? I-I I don't need any publicity.
Look over here, everyone, at the do-gooder lady! Please ignore inhumane labor conditions.
Audrey, you've gotta unders All right, all right.
All right, you know what? You're right.
This is good PR.
It is.
It is, but it doesn't have to be either-or.
Both can be true.
We're actually doing good.
You are exploiting human beings! (SIGHS) The Steven I knew at Berkeley was an idealist.
I still am.
I will fix it.
You don't get to where I am AUDREY: Without being pretty damn charming.
What I forgot was, you're so charming, you can convince anyone of anything, including yourself.
We're making a tangible change in the world.
Do you really want to throw this away for something I can fix? Do you, Audrey? (INDISTINCT CHATTER) (ROCK MUSIC PLAYING) - ASHLEY: Excuse me.
- RAMON: Sorry, excuse me.
Hey, did you write anything for Kristen yet? ASHLEY: Uh, yeah.
- WOMAN: It's crazy.
- WOMAN 2: I know.
- Oh wow.
This is good.
- Mm-hmm.
I'm not sharing it.
You still owe me for Dad's shoes.
- (SIGHS) - MAN: Hi, everyone.
Thank you for coming.
Today's speaker is one of the most sought-after life coaches in Portland.
- Whoo! Whoo! - MAN: Yes.
Here to discuss his upcoming literary debut, getting some serious buzz this season, please welcome to the stage - Duc Bayer-Boatwright.
- (CHEERING) Whoo, whoo, whoo! Man 2: Yeah! (WHISPERS) Hey, um, that's my brother.
GREAT.
DUC: Thank you all for coming out.
I feel very lucky to be here.
Well, I first saw the idea for this book after realizing the phenomenal results my clients were achieving in my practice.
MAN: I feel like I went to sleep one night, when I woke up in the morning, the world had changed.
But I can't figure out how, and I'm wandering around, (MUFFLED) trying to make sense of it.
(DONYA SPEAKING FARSI ON ANSWERING MACHINE) I'm looking for (SPEAKS INDISCERNIBLY) (DONYA CONTINUES SPEAKING FARSI) MAN (MUFFLED): You know something, Doctor? (DONYA CONTINUES SPEAKING) MAN: I can't be the only one that feels like this? (NORMAL VOICE) Like the world's ending? You ever feel like that, Dr.
Shokrani? SCHNEIDER: If you don't mind, Officer Bledsoe would like to check your hands.
Sure.
- Why? - A few days ago, three students were sprayed with a chemical.
Are they okay? KRISTEN: What kind of chemical? BLEDSOE: Silver nitrate, stains the skin.
Have you heard anything about who did this? NAVID: No.
Sorry.
Nothing weird in chem lab or maybe after school? I wish we could be of help.
You're sure? I thought we were here to talk about the effigy.
You know, it's been kind of a rough semester at school this year.
I mean, the effigy was bad enough, but then there was - that swastika hate-crime thing.
- Swastika? On my locker.
Sorry, I figured everyone knew.
Any progress on the investigation, Mr.
Schneider? We're still working on it.
Mm.
Can we Can we go now? (CROWD LAUGHING) - MAN: Wow.
Who knew? - DUC: Oh, yeah.
Some wise words from our author.
Okay, we've got one more question.
Uh, yes, in the back.
You're Greg Boatwright's son.
Have you read your father's book? Not recently.
I've been a little busy.
(CROWD CHUCKLES) MAN 2: It's an important book.
MAN: Sir, do you have a question for Duc? MAN 2: Yes, my question is, how do you think your father's work influenced you? It shaped who I am.
Um, the idea that being a good person comes from focusing on the present, right? The past causes regret, the future creates anxiety.
But if we care, um, only about right now, how do we move forward? How can we ignore our past? Those things happened.
I think living only in the present can be a cop-out.
We are not static, unchanging in our nature as we are the sum total of our actions yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
The idea of being a good person is just that, an idea, an abstraction.
Living a good life, uh that's the goal.
Whoo! Yeah! ASHLEY: Oh my God! Duc! You know, in a few years, I'm gonna sell this proof for a million dollars.
Oh, you won't have to.
You're gonna be a bazillionaire game designer.
That's right.
ASHLEY: What? Baby Jesus has a real-life job interview.
- (GASPS) That's great, Ram! - Ah! Dude.
He's all grown up now.
Maybe you can buy coffee next time.
- (RAMON SIGHS) - (LAUGHS) RAMON: The company's doing really cool shit.
Um I just haven't thought about my game since, you know.
I'm just not really sure I wanna open it again.
- Yeah.
- But - what about our sister? - Oh! Are you gonna become a millionaire or what? Yeah, seriously.
Coffee's on you forever.
- Ever.
- Why aren't you more excited about this? It comes with strings attached four-year vesting, employment agreement.
That's a bad thing? I'll have to start working for the man.
- Mmm.
- No more hanging out with you two in the middle of the day.
I already don't see Hailey enough, and she loves Malcolm more than she loves me.
Come on.
- Okay, maybe maybe a little bit.
- (LAUGHS) - Maybe a little.
- Duc! You know, four years isn't that long.
These are years of my life I'm never going to get back.
Well, a company like that is probably nine-to-six, tops.
- Right.
- If you take the job, you might actually have more time.
But it won't be my time.
I mean, I won't be in control of my own money.
I call bullshit.
You're scared.
Yeah, Duc, I'm scared of money.
It's not the money that's scary.
It's getting what you want.
Well, if you get what you want, you have to stop waiting for the future.
Once your dreams come true, you have to start living in it.
Hmm.
- (PHONE DINGS) - Maybe you should write a book.
- (LAUGHING) - Fuck off.
I think I remember seeing that, actually.
Fuck, man.
What am I supposed to write for Kristen? (SIGHS) Figure it out.
No, this is where you come into play, sweetie.
- No, I'm not doing it.
No.
- Come on.
- "Sweetie"? - RAMON: Yeah.
- ASHLEY: Kiss my ass.
- (RAMON LAUGHS) ASHLEY: Oh, this is perfect.
You will always - (DOOR OPENS) - (KEYS JINGLE) Opened a bottle of wine.
Okay.
No wine for Audrey.
What were you thinking? I wasn't thinking.
That was instinct.
That was lower brain cellular, primordial man kind of shit.
Whatever it was, I had no control over it.
It felt good, though.
I could tell.
Yeah.
I wanted to clamp down on his jugular and thrash him around till his neck snapped.
Does that seem angry to you? - Greg! - Yeah.
He's a lot shorter than I remember.
AUDREY: Are you high? Mmm.
I don't know.
What do you think? You're the therapist.
What do you think that was? Was that me trying to be seen, because of you? Or I needed to see him? Or was it me fighting for you? - You're not a fighter, Greg.
- Bullshit.
I fight for what I believe in.
And what's that? You.
The kids.
Our family.
You know, I I I said it was an experiment.
That that was the wrong word.
No, this is something that you and I created together.
It was a shared vision that we had.
Bayer-Boatwright.
It meant something.
And then I made a mess of things.
How convenient of you to realize that after you had sex with a stranger dozens of times.
I know you've been enjoying this moral superiority you have over me, but you kinda just forfeited it by sleeping with a friend of ours.
- Did you use your real name? - (LAUGHS) 'Cause, uh 'Cause I didn't.
(CHUCKLES) So what was this? Some kind of revenge fuck? No.
It wasn't.
Oh.
That hurts.
Yeah, I kinda really don't like you right now.
Why aren't you at work? Oh, um I'm on leave.
- By choice? - Well in retrospect, I do believe it is by choice.
(LAUGHING) You should get high more often.
This really works for me.
- Mmm.
Kristen has really good stuff.
- Mmm.
Listen, when I was up in the tree house, I found something.
Um Ramon's adoption agency doesn't exist.
Records show it never existed.
The good news is Beverly Mills our case worker? I tracked down her home address.
Greg.
We we can get some answers.
We'll go see her tomorrow in the morning, before Kristen's thing.
Oh God.
I forgot to call the caterer.
It'll be fine.
Everything'll be fine.
SONNI: I mean, there's something alive in your game.
You know, even from the demo, it feels like you've discovered a world, and when I I see the real thing I like to nurture it.
So, you want to develop my game? Possibly, down the road.
We're a small shop, so we have to be selective in what we do, but what I am most interested in is your voice.
Are you offering me a job then? You'd be a utility player, - so testing, bug fixes - Okay.
but you would work directly with the head designer and me, and if things work out, then you'd be designing levels before long, which would take you years in a big shop.
So, what is next with your game? Um I don't know.
I'm sort of lost at the moment, and I've hit a wall.
Usually, I sort of feel my way through dream logic but lately it just feels like the dream is disintegrating so Well, if your game world feels a bit restrictive, then maybe what you need is a bigger world.
(DONYA SPEAKING FARSI) (ANSWERING MACHINE CLICKS) (WHIRRING) (DONYA SPEAKING FARSI) (SPEAKING FARSI) (AMIR SHOUTS) (DONYA SPEAKING FARSI ON ANSWERING MACHINE) (BEEPS, CLICKS) KRISTEN: I thought genies were blue.
NAVID: Yeah? (LAUGHING) No? Mmm.
Yeah, that's what I thought.
How's your brother doing? I think he's really fucked up.
My mom thinks my dad's obsessed with him.
I think he's really fucked up too.
My dad.
That's so fucking depressing.
High as the light of day You're falling down across your lost highway Pain does it hurt this way? You look super hot in this one.
(CHUCKLES) To come so far to find they've closed the gate? You've lost your tongue When you fall from the pendulum DENISE: Now that you've handled a gun, any interest in getting one? ASHLEY: I don't know.
(LAUGHS) What am I gonna do? - Shoot racists? - No, but it's peace of mind, knowing you can keep your family safe.
Guns don't keep you safe.
Money keeps you safe.
(CHUCKLES) Looks like you do all right.
Oh, yeah, we do fine.
That money that they're offering, it's a layer of protection.
A college fund, a rainy day fund.
End of the world fund.
Yeah.
(CHUCKLES) Well, what does your husband think about it? - Oh, you haven't told him yet.
- Tonight.
Tonight.
I, uh, I just I need to get my head on straight.
Come on.
Your eyes get stung By the rays of the sinking sun You follow the drum Keeping time with everyone Going beat, beat, beat It's beating me down Mmm.
Beat, beat, beat, beat It's beating me down We're gonna need some practice.
(LAUGHS) You know, we don't we don't have to You're sweet.
- (BUCKLE CLINKS) - Till all my days are drowning out - Too much eye contact? - A little intense, yeah.
(BOTH LAUGH) (TV PLAYING INDISTINCTLY) Hello! Mommy's home! MALCOLM: Dinner's in the fridge, babe! Come on! Come on.
Come on! (SIGHS) (WHISPERS) There's Mommy.
- (FRIDGE OPENS) - (WHISPERS) (MALCOLM SIGHS) ANNOUNCER: near the goal line, officials confirm, and it is Oh, hi, baby! Hey! Are you watching the game? You can't you can't - HAILEY: Yes.
- ASHLEY: Yes.
- Can I have a cookie? - Of course you may have a cookie.
But you know what? Hang on.
This is pretty.
Look at this pretty drawing.
Can you tell me about it? Which one is Mommy? MALCOLM: You suck, dude.
Hey.
(KISSES) Uh, Malcolm, have you seen this drawing? Yeah.
Yeah, excellent coloring, right? Malcolm My bad.
I did not even ask you about your day.
How was your day? We can talk later.
- Yeah? - Mm-hmm.
- Later.
Okay.
- Mmm.
ASHLEY: This is for you.
All right? ANNOUNCER: That's a big, big contact.
(LAUGHS) Hello! Oh, my good luck charm is back! Oh, I'm so grateful.
Yes! Yay, good.
Now they can win.
Finally! Finally! LAYLA: Farid! I'm headed to the mosque.
You need real food.
I thought you would be happy to hear her voice and know that she loved you.
She didn't love me.
She cursed me said I had killed my father.
When you left Iran, it was chaos.
She was ill.
I get it.
You don't know how to feel.
The things that she said and did, I know they were abusive, but she still loved you which you felt, which is so confusing, and it's all become connected in your mind.
It is all connected.
Why did I get the tape today? Huh? I went to the Moon Mart because of my dream, because Ramon led me there.
Farid, this fixation with your patient, it's clouding everything.
Well, you're always nagging me about embracing the spiritual, and I'm fucking doing it! Islam is not the only way! You need to make an appointment with Dr.
Langsdale.
I am not doing this again! Go.
Get out.
Go to the mosque and pray to no one.
Great.
(DOOR OPENS) - I'm gonna focus on what's real.
- (DOOR SLAMS) Oh, I'm so hungry.
Can we can we break the fast? Technically, I already did.
Sex is breaking the fast.
See, that's so cool.
Sorry.
Not that we broke the fast, just that you have, like, traditions.
I want traditions.
Do you ever think how random it is that we're together? I don't know.
I guess the universe just wanted us to meet.
But I never expected us to have this kind of connection.
Wait.
Why are you being weird? Is this weird for you because you're fluid? No, I I don't know.
You know, I was just trying to figure out which box to fit in, but there aren't two boxes.
There are, like, a thousand.
Or none.
Maybe you're boxless.
We can be boxless together.
FARID: How is Ramon? Oh my God.
Hello.
(CHUCKLES) FARID: He sees beyond the veil.
But, unfortunately, the veil is what separates us from madness.
And once you've crossed that point you may You may never be able to truly come back.
Um okay.
It's nice to see you, Dr.
Shokrani.
(RADIO PLAYING INDISTINCTLY) WOMAN (ON RADIO): takeaway point is that scientific research is clear: Were one to occur AUDREY: Sorry to barge in on you.
You helped us years ago with our son's adoption.
Oh, I I haven't been with the agency for years.
I I'm retired now, living on Social Security, but it's always nice to see former clients.
We've we've looked through our records, and we can't find anything like a family medical history.
Our son's had some health issues.
I'm so sorry.
Is there anything you might remember about the orphanage? We figured since you worked with them, you'd have some knowledge It's so long ago.
I don't recall much.
Hmm.
Strange, 'cause we can't find anything about it online.
You should stop looking.
GREG: That's the name of the orphanage.
That's your name and your signature.
What do you mean, we should stop looking? Is it because the orphanage didn't exist? Leave or I'll call the police.
Do it.
I'm sure they'd be interested to hear about this.
(SCOFFS) Ramon was stolen.
Wasn't he? Oh, don't look so shocked.
As long as there are rich do-gooders, there'll be a market for brown babies.
Why didn't you adopt a white kid? Looks like you could afford it.
Who the fuck are you to judge us? You made a living trafficking babies.
Go home to your comfortable life and stop trying to fuck up mine.
Who did you work for? Huh? - Who did you work for? - Keep digging.
You might not like what you find.
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING) - (FIRE WHOOSHES, CRACKLING) - 'Cause this is my victory I want it This is something you can't buy - I want it - (KEYBOARD CLACKS) - (FIRE CRACKLING) - Oh, don't you get it Nothing else will satisfy? I want it (ROARS) Even worse than someone that would lie I want it But only a champion would qualify I want it Oh, to be in the books of history I want it Oh, look, page one hundred, this is me I want it They'll say I changed things officially I want it And so these were the words to my speech Victory Yeah, I can smell it in the air, in the air In my mind, it surrounds me everywhere Everywhere - (STUDENTS CHATTERING) - Yeah, yeah What a wondrous occasion this could be - BOY: Whoa.
- BOY 2: No Way! In fact I know it will, I know it will - Wow.
Oh wow.
- What the fuck? Nice turbans.
We have to get through this party for Kristen.
Not through, you you know what I mean.
(VOICE BREAKS) Get this right.
I'm not his mother.
I'm not Ramon's mother.
Of course you are.
(CRYING) Not if she is still alive.
She's his mother.
Her child was stolen from her.
GREG: We had to do what felt right.
And at the time, that's what felt right.
- (DOOR OPENS) - He needed to be saved, and we saved him.
- (DOOR CLOSES) - And he's our Ramon now.
Nothing will ever change that or the memories we have with him.
Hey.
- What are you guys talking about? - Hey.
AUDREY: Ramon, you're here early! Yeah, I got a ride from Malcolm and Ashley.
I've got cake.
Hey, um did I ever, like clinically die for a few minutes or anything like that? - No.
- Why do you ask? Just curious.
(SNIFFS) Something's burning.
Oh shit! Mini-quiches! The mini-quiches! RAMON: Oh! - Shit! - (SMOKE DETECTOR BEEPING) - RAMON: Aah! (LAUGHS) - Aah! Oh shit! Looks like pizza it is.
- RAMON: Fuck! - (GRUNTS) Oh my God! Wait, did you see Madison's face? - Oh my God, we pulled it off.
- (VEHICLE STOPS) - (DOORS OPEN, CLOSE) - Holy shit.
KRISTEN: I mean, for once the bad guys didn't fucking win.
BOY: Fucking tranny! Muslim freak! - GIRL: Come here, bitch.
- BOY 2: Yeah, fuck him up! - BOY: Faggot terrorist! - You fucking slut! Towelhead freaks! GIRL: I'm gonna kick your fucking ass.
- Kick him again! - MADISON: You look ridiculous! Who dresses up like a fucking terrorist? Fuck you, Madison.
- Who dresses up like a fucking racist? - (GRUNTS) - You bitch! - Fuck you, you fucking cunt! You Muslim-loving whore! (GRUNTING) - MADISON: Fucking bitch! - BOY 3: Yeah! Smack his bitch-ass down! BOY: Huh? BOY 3: Beat the shit out of his Muslim ass! Stop! Stop! Don't hurt him! Where the fuck do you think you're going? - Stop it! - You Muslim whore! - Fuck off! - (GRUNTS) - (GRUNTS) - Tranny freak.
Fucking bitch.
- Let's go! Come on! - BOY 3: Fuck you! (KIDS SHOUTING) - BOY 2: Whoo! - GIRL: Whoo, whoo, whoo! - BOY 2: Go! - (ENGINE STARTS) (TIRES SCREECH) (PANTING) KRISTEN (WHISPERS): I love you.
RAMON: Five million dollars? Really? AUDREY: Ashley, oh my God! I I mean, money is not everything, - of course.
- What's the excitement? A company offered Ashley five million dollars to buy her business.
Wow.
Take it.
That's "fuck you" money.
Dad, really? You too? And please, guys, keep your voice down, okay? Right, sorry.
Yeah, Hailey.
- (DOOR OPENS) - I just haven't told Malcolm.
Kristen, are you okay? (ASHLEY GASPS) Oh my God.
GREG: What the hell happened to you? Jesus.
KRISTEN: I don't want to talk about it.
Have you called your folks yet? - Do you want me to do it? - If you don't mind.
Let me take a look at that.
Come on.
Maybe we should, uh, postpone the party? Hell no.
Let's do this.
RAMON: You okay? (WHISPERS) Who's that? What happened? You're Shokrani's kid, right? Yeah.
How's he doing? (PHONE BUZZING) (PHONE CLICKS) KRISTEN: This is Navid.
He will be our rabbi for the afternoon.
Also he's my boyfriend.
(CHUCKLES) Um Thanks for letting me be here.
This probably seems kind of random, but it's a rite of passage for Kristen, a moral and spiritual coming of age.
(CHUCKLES) This isn't a bat mitzvah, traditionally celebrated in the Jewish faith.
This is an alterna-mitzvah, one-of-a-kind ceremony for one-of-a-kind person.
(LAUGHTER) NAVID: Uh, I believe you've prepared some remarks about Kristen? (ASHLEY LAUGHS) Kristen for most of your childhood by which I mean up to and including last week (LAUGHS) you were self-conscious, never comfortable in your own skin.
And yet you have always owned it.
You are so willing to to be the outsider in any situation that it becomes this really weird form of bravery.
And I admire that about you.
DUC: All right.
There are a lot of things I respect about you, Kristen, but most of all, I respect your confidence.
It's definitely something that I didn't have at your age, and I just think you have an unlimited potential to achieve anything that you wanna achieve, and I'm totally talking to you like one of my clients.
(LAUGHS) I'm sorry.
Basically, I just wanna say that I love you, and you have a beautiful soul.
(GIGGLES) MALCOLM: Ah.
Kristen.
You have a huge heart.
Both your mother and I have known it since you were little.
And it has been one of the great privileges of my life to watch you grow into this extraordinary heart.
(CRYING) Mmm, I love you.
RAMON: Um (SIGHS) Kristen, um you're 17 - going on 18.
- (BOTH CHUCKLE) Um (CHUCKLES) Um (LAUGHS) Okay, fuck it.
I I didn't write anything, all right? But you're my favorite human, and I love you, come here.
- (LAUGHTER) - (KISSES) I love you.
She's my favorite.
I'm sorry, but she is.
Oh my God.
Stop.
Mercy.
Enough.
- Stop.
- Sweetie, I haven't gone yet.
Mom, sorry.
I just I can't.
I can't anymore.
(LAUGHTER) So, I thought that I was gonna wanna hear nice sort of nice things about me.
(LAUGHS) (SIGHS) You're all incredible.
And for once, I just wanted my own thing.
But I don't have a thing.
I tried different identities, and I kinda of treated it like a game like an experiment.
And then I got beat up we got beat up.
Because of Navid's actual identity, one he can't take off, ever.
You all made it look so easy that I that I never realized how hard it must've been growing up, and probably still is.
I'm so proud to be a part of this family.
You're all my identity.
(SOBS) Okay.
Is it over? - Am I a woman now? Seriously.
- (LAUGHTER) KRISTEN: Okay, let's go.
Cold pizza.
(LAUGHTER) (KLEZMER MUSIC PLAYING) (LIVELY CHATTERING) RAMON: If you want pepperoni, it's not gonna hurt you.
Cheers.
Congratulations.
- Sure.
What? - Ashley's offer.
To sell her store.
Oh.
Oh.
Shit.
Never mind.
(POUNDING ON DOOR) - (MURMURS) - (POUNDING CONTINUES) - GREG: Coming! - (DOOR OPENS) Oh, Dr.
Shokrani.
- FARID: I'm here to pick up Navid.
- Come in.
Navid? - Navid, let's go! - (DOOR CLOSES) You you might want to have him checked out.
He was pretty roughed up.
RAMON: Come on, Hailey.
Now, Navid.
(DOOR CLOSES) FARID: I don't want you to see that girl anymore.
Look at you.
She's a bad influence.
I choose who I want my friends to be.
Oh yeah? And what is that exactly? A girl who thinks Judaism is a costume you buy at a store? - So fucking white.
- That's a shitty thing to say, Dad.
You don't know anything about her.
FARID: Look how she got you all banged up! NAVID: I don't understand why you can't FARID: You don't Do you seriously think you can tell me who I can be friends with and how how to worship? Meanwhile, day-drinking, weed.
What kind of an influence are you? I'm trying to protect you! - WOMAN: Mijo! - (TIRES SCREECH) (TRUCK HONKS) (WHISPERS) What are you? - RAMON: You're it! - (HAILEY LAUGHS) You're it! MALCOLM: What's the big deal? Four years is nothing.
That is so easy for you to say.
And please don't say that you work, too, okay? Your work costs us money, Malcolm, with the sports massages, and your wardrobe, and the babysitting.
- RAMON: Yeah! - MALCOLM: Okay, so now we're insulting - my job and my paycheck.
- No, but the reality is it just doesn't move the needle.
You make spending money for drones, skis, and shit, and I make the money that we live on.
Yeah, and I supported that business when it was brand-new, before the store.
The store was your bad idea.
Nobody does brick and mortar anymore.
You were the one that was like, "We have to stay in Portland, babe, for my job, babe.
" And so we did.
Yeah, well, it doesn't seem to have hurt you.
And anyways, you know what? You're flipping this whole thing around now, - 'cause you're the one - I'm just saying, how much bigger would I have been if I didn't have to waste capital on rent and overhead? You know, I might not even need to consider this offer now.
(SCOFFS) You see? Look at all the names.
That's Uncle Duc.
- That's Mama Bear.
- Come on, Uncle Ramon.
- That's Kristen.
- HAILEY: Let's play.
Do you smell the smoke? (SNIFFS) Yes.
(WHOOSHES, CRACKLING) I tied you down with a store? - Oh my God.
- If you hate it so much, take the offer! - (SCOFFS) - You won't have to deal with it, anymore.
(HAILEY SHOUTS) No, no, no! - (HAILEY SCREAMS) - (GASPS)
Tell me about your near-death experiences.
- I've never had one.
- Are you sure? DR.
FARID SHOKRANI: Where's your mother? NAVID SHOKRANI: I came to put that stuff on your back.
FARID: (SIGHS) Just wanna keep you safe.
I promised I would never go out like this, Dad.
- I can't find anything.
- Must be a sentence? A detail from the orphanage? It's weird, you know.
We couldn't even get them on the phone.
We had to get 'em out of there.
Ashely, this is Sharon Chen.
Could I ask you some questions about your business? Sure.
Do you know what silver nitrate and sun exposure does to the skin? - (GIRL SCREAMS) - (BOTH LAUGH) (PHONE RINGS) No, no! Don't touch it! They are looking for us.
(PHONE RINGS) (WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE) Dinner, tonight, my place.
Yes.
AUDREY BAYER: I slept with Steve.
(WIND BLOWING) (BIRDS CHIRPING) (DISTANT KIDS SHOUTING PLAYFULLY) KRISTEN: Hi, Mom.
Pancakes? - Your father made them.
- Mmm.
KRISTEN: Now, what is he doing? Who knows? Philosophy? Mom, are you guys okay? Is there something I should know about? What do you mean? Like some kind of change, something big about to happen? No.
I'm I'm fine, though I can't speak for your father.
At least he's cooking.
He is cooking.
Damn it.
Your thing.
Alterna-mitzvah.
- You forgot to get the food.
- No, I just haven't yet.
It's this new job.
Someone at work told me about a caterer, does these little brisket sliders.
- I'll call now.
- (PHONE CHIMES) It's okay, Mom.
(PHONE CLICKING) It's fine.
We could just order pizza, Mom.
(CHUCKLES) - (WHOOSHES) - Sorry, time sensitive.
Tragedy of the human condition.
We can't order pizza - on your spiritual coming of age.
- (WHOOSHES) For once, we get to celebrate you! I thought that was the the idea.
(CLICKING) - I'll kick things off if you'd like.
- Mom.
Mom.
- (WHOOSHES) - Honey.
Mom.
Navid's gonna lead it.
- Oh.
Okay.
Great.
- (WHOOSHING) That's that's just so great.
That's just great.
You've only known each other a short while.
He groks me.
When you have an empathetic connection like Navid and I, time doesn't really matter.
- I know what grokking is.
- (PHONE DINGING) Mom, it's fine.
I gotta go anyway.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
It is this TV thing, you know? Really? TV after the last time? That's why I need to prep.
(CHUCKLES) Thanks for understanding.
Sweet, sweet.
I won't forget the food.
Promise.
Get yourself together, dude.
(SIGHS) (SIGHS) (KEYBOARD CLACKING) (ROCK MUSIC PLAYING) Light another cigarette Burning in the cold Waiting on the street for your man You're trying not to look so Young and miserable You gotta get your kicks while you can And in the lighted corner Sitting on your own What a lovely day to be lonely - You're holding on for life - (PHONE RINGS, BUZZES) - Holding on for life - Hello? SONNI (ON PHONE): Hi, Ramon.
It's Sonni Little from Littleshot Interactive.
I don't know if you remember me.
I got a look at your demo.
I was at PGX.
Holding on for life Oh, you you were? I got your number from the university rep.
I was hoping to chat at the Expo, but I had a plane to catch.
So, you left early.
Um, how early did you leave? SONNI: Well, I didn't see much, but it was enough.
Um, I was hoping that you'd be willing to meet.
Your game is compelling.
You have a unique perspective.
(CHUCKLES) Well, um thank you.
SONNI: Great.
I'm in Portland for the day, headed back to LA tonight.
Any chance you could meet me later? I'll text you the address.
That that sounds great.
I'll see you then.
SONNI: Okay, great.
- What do you mean, you're done? - I mean, I'm done.
(LAUGHS) Is this because you won an award? That award is a really big deal in the Portland real estate scene.
Well, you still have two prepaid sessions.
- I don't think we're done.
- I do.
And whose opinion matters? (FOUNTAIN TRICKLING) - Yours.
- You should be happy for me.
- Why aren't you happy? - I am happy.
I am.
I But how are you so sure? You taught me how.
(LAUGHS) I should get going.
- LAYLA: Let me translate it for you? - No.
Farid, you're making assumptions.
You haven't even listened to it yet.
I thought we had left her there to die (SIGHS) but she didn't.
God knows what her life must've been.
It wasn't your job to rescue her.
- Not my job? - No.
Seriously? You're talking like a white person.
Okay, I need you to hear something, Farid.
I'm not gonna do it again.
What happened when I was pregnant? What made you finally go on medication? Is something going on? No, it's all cool.
It's just Mom and Dad talk, baby.
Do I need to be worried? Waited too long to answer.
Later.
FARID: Hey.
Be safe.
I love you.
LAYLA: Have a good day, okay, honey? (DOOR OPENS, CLOSES) Let's listen to her.
(SIGHS) (CLICKS) (DONYA SPEAKING FARSI ON ANSWERING MACHINE) FARID: "Farid, where are you?" (DONYA CONTINUES SPEAKING) "Somewhere somewhere" "Somewhere safe.
" (DONYA CONTINUES SPEAKING) Yeah.
(CLICKS) "In the morning, I wake up" "I wake up thinking of you.
In the evening, I go to bed dreaming of you.
" Play it.
(CLICKS) (DONYA SPEAKING FARSI) (CLICKS) "I don't have much longer.
I wish I could see you again once more before I die.
" (CLICKS) (DONYA SPEAKING FARSI) "Please forgive me.
Oh God, please forgive me.
I love you, my Farid.
" (CLICKS) (SOBBING) All those years with this damn phone ringing.
(POUNDS PHONE) How did she have our number? (SOBBING) Mm-mmm.
No.
PHOTOGRAPHER: That's better.
Thanks.
KARINA: Your next appointment is here.
It's Sharon Chen and Cliff Miller from Cloth.
Do I need to look for a job? You have a job, and you're good at it.
Can you please do it? - Sharon.
It's good to see you again.
- SHARON: Mmm.
Mrs.
Collins, we appreciate your time.
Of course.
This is my associate, Cliff Miller.
Hi.
Hi.
I love your site.
- SHARON: Mmm.
Well, I'll cut to it.
- Mm-hmm.
We think your talents would be a great fit for our organization.
We want you to help us develop a tool, so that every shopper can create their own perfect store.
So, basically, what I'm doing now? On a much larger scale.
What exactly are we talking about? We'd like to acquire your business.
CLIFF: This type of deal, we're usually in the low-to-mid seven-figure range.
So, are we talking closer to one million or closer to 10? Payable with restricted common stock, vesting over four years, plus an employment agreement for the same term.
I assume that you would shut down the store.
The most valuable asset of your company isn't the store.
It's you.
And exactly how much do you think I'm worth? For questions about Steven's level of involvement, defer to him, but if directed at you, we would like to stress that he's hands-on, if not day-to-day.
Moving on! The Portland Empathy Initiative was founded with the mission of fostering I know what The Portland Empathy Initiative is.
- I founded it.
- Of course.
Okay.
Apologies for that.
So, the last thing is, if there's any mention of the working conditions in the Philippines or anything about employee suicides I know this is "Wake Up, Portland" we're talking, but Did you did you just say, "Employee suicides"? Shit.
See, I thought Steven looped you in.
- You should ask him.
- I intend to, but while we're here, Cait, why don't you loop me in? Hey.
Greg Boatwright here to see Steve.
Steven Benjamin? Do you have an appointment? GREG: Oh no, it's cool.
We're old friends.
(RALPH SCOFFS) Sir, I don't care if you're friends.
You need to have an appointment.
Steve, old friend! STEVEN: It's all right.
Professor Boatwright! (CHUCKLES) Good to see you.
Have a seat.
- GREG: Nice.
- So what can I do for you? (SIGHS) Just I'm trying I'm trying to think of the last time we hung out.
- The march, New York City.
- Right.
Of course.
I asked Audrey to marry me on that day.
- You're a lucky guy.
- I really am.
So are you apparently.
Yeah.
You look just the same.
Oh, you look taller.
(BOTH LAUGH) So, how's the saving- the-world business? It seems pretty lucrative, huh? Well could be worse.
How's the philosophy business? Aah! I'm taking a break.
Clearing my head.
Any new books on the horizon? I'm I'm waiting to read the next one.
GREG: Maybe.
I think I figured out how to kick off - my comeback tour.
- (JINGLES) Oh.
How's Nina? We divorced a couple years ago.
Oh.
Sorry to hear that.
So, you're a bachelor, huh? - (BOTH CHUCKLE) - Yes.
Yeah.
Dating must be easy with your looks and billions of dollars.
(CHUCKLES) Well, you know how it is.
Work, work, work.
Work is your true passion.
You throw yourself into it, from what I hear.
What are you doing here, Greg? Well, since you're working with my wife so much, I figured, we should reconnect.
Maybe Audrey and I could have you over for dinner catch up over a bottle of wine.
- Yeah, that'd be something.
- That'd be something.
Listen, I need to jump on a call.
The world needs you.
Steve Benjamin, here to save the day! Greg, you need to get the - fuck outta here - Seriously? When were you gonna tell me? We were just finishing up.
I'm heading out.
FARID: Why didn't you let me speak to her? Mmm.
Every time that phone rang, it terrified me, because you told me it was Khomeini's men.
But it was her my mother.
You lied to a fucking child, your own blood.
I was protecting you from that lunatic whore! - She was not lunatic! - (GRUNTS) Even after you tore us apart, she was sill trying to reach out! Do you think that was the only message? - How many messages were there? - There were many more! She said horrible things.
Unthinkable! I heard you crying.
Crying over a woman who tortured you who mutilated her own son.
You are as sick as she is.
- (GRUNTS) - Am I? Am I as sick as she is? Huh? - Sick enough to fucking crack - (GASPS) No.
- your skull open, old man? - No! (CRYING) No.
You're gonna die alone.
(CANE CLATTERS) (SOBBING) AUDREY: When was I going to find out? Live? On the air? STEVEN: We'll be on together, and I would never have you be ambushed.
- That that's why I had you prepped.
- Had me prepped.
You didn't think I should've known about this before I took the job? It's not relevant to your job.
We're talking about workers throwing themselves off of the roof of a building! All right, fine, fine, let then let's talk about it.
Benjamin Ventures has, at any given time, equity interests in dozens of countries.
Currently, we've got seven active funds, one of which is focused on emerging markets.
- Meaning the Third World.
- Meaning $10 a day is middle class.
- It's a path to a better life.
- For whom? People locked in a factory with no windows, never seeing their families, sleeping 15 to a room? I understand where you're coming from.
I wrestle with this myself.
You're only wrestling with it, because you got caught! I didn't get caught! I just didn't tell you! You don't work for our VC arm! The Foundation is the entity you work for.
It seems like the entity I work for is you.
You decide when to have me prepped what I need to know, right? I am your pet project.
That's not fair.
You're doing real work, important work.
Work that makes you look good.
Oh God.
Is this all just PR? I-I I don't need any publicity.
Look over here, everyone, at the do-gooder lady! Please ignore inhumane labor conditions.
Audrey, you've gotta unders All right, all right.
All right, you know what? You're right.
This is good PR.
It is.
It is, but it doesn't have to be either-or.
Both can be true.
We're actually doing good.
You are exploiting human beings! (SIGHS) The Steven I knew at Berkeley was an idealist.
I still am.
I will fix it.
You don't get to where I am AUDREY: Without being pretty damn charming.
What I forgot was, you're so charming, you can convince anyone of anything, including yourself.
We're making a tangible change in the world.
Do you really want to throw this away for something I can fix? Do you, Audrey? (INDISTINCT CHATTER) (ROCK MUSIC PLAYING) - ASHLEY: Excuse me.
- RAMON: Sorry, excuse me.
Hey, did you write anything for Kristen yet? ASHLEY: Uh, yeah.
- WOMAN: It's crazy.
- WOMAN 2: I know.
- Oh wow.
This is good.
- Mm-hmm.
I'm not sharing it.
You still owe me for Dad's shoes.
- (SIGHS) - MAN: Hi, everyone.
Thank you for coming.
Today's speaker is one of the most sought-after life coaches in Portland.
- Whoo! Whoo! - MAN: Yes.
Here to discuss his upcoming literary debut, getting some serious buzz this season, please welcome to the stage - Duc Bayer-Boatwright.
- (CHEERING) Whoo, whoo, whoo! Man 2: Yeah! (WHISPERS) Hey, um, that's my brother.
GREAT.
DUC: Thank you all for coming out.
I feel very lucky to be here.
Well, I first saw the idea for this book after realizing the phenomenal results my clients were achieving in my practice.
MAN: I feel like I went to sleep one night, when I woke up in the morning, the world had changed.
But I can't figure out how, and I'm wandering around, (MUFFLED) trying to make sense of it.
(DONYA SPEAKING FARSI ON ANSWERING MACHINE) I'm looking for (SPEAKS INDISCERNIBLY) (DONYA CONTINUES SPEAKING FARSI) MAN (MUFFLED): You know something, Doctor? (DONYA CONTINUES SPEAKING) MAN: I can't be the only one that feels like this? (NORMAL VOICE) Like the world's ending? You ever feel like that, Dr.
Shokrani? SCHNEIDER: If you don't mind, Officer Bledsoe would like to check your hands.
Sure.
- Why? - A few days ago, three students were sprayed with a chemical.
Are they okay? KRISTEN: What kind of chemical? BLEDSOE: Silver nitrate, stains the skin.
Have you heard anything about who did this? NAVID: No.
Sorry.
Nothing weird in chem lab or maybe after school? I wish we could be of help.
You're sure? I thought we were here to talk about the effigy.
You know, it's been kind of a rough semester at school this year.
I mean, the effigy was bad enough, but then there was - that swastika hate-crime thing.
- Swastika? On my locker.
Sorry, I figured everyone knew.
Any progress on the investigation, Mr.
Schneider? We're still working on it.
Mm.
Can we Can we go now? (CROWD LAUGHING) - MAN: Wow.
Who knew? - DUC: Oh, yeah.
Some wise words from our author.
Okay, we've got one more question.
Uh, yes, in the back.
You're Greg Boatwright's son.
Have you read your father's book? Not recently.
I've been a little busy.
(CROWD CHUCKLES) MAN 2: It's an important book.
MAN: Sir, do you have a question for Duc? MAN 2: Yes, my question is, how do you think your father's work influenced you? It shaped who I am.
Um, the idea that being a good person comes from focusing on the present, right? The past causes regret, the future creates anxiety.
But if we care, um, only about right now, how do we move forward? How can we ignore our past? Those things happened.
I think living only in the present can be a cop-out.
We are not static, unchanging in our nature as we are the sum total of our actions yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
The idea of being a good person is just that, an idea, an abstraction.
Living a good life, uh that's the goal.
Whoo! Yeah! ASHLEY: Oh my God! Duc! You know, in a few years, I'm gonna sell this proof for a million dollars.
Oh, you won't have to.
You're gonna be a bazillionaire game designer.
That's right.
ASHLEY: What? Baby Jesus has a real-life job interview.
- (GASPS) That's great, Ram! - Ah! Dude.
He's all grown up now.
Maybe you can buy coffee next time.
- (RAMON SIGHS) - (LAUGHS) RAMON: The company's doing really cool shit.
Um I just haven't thought about my game since, you know.
I'm just not really sure I wanna open it again.
- Yeah.
- But - what about our sister? - Oh! Are you gonna become a millionaire or what? Yeah, seriously.
Coffee's on you forever.
- Ever.
- Why aren't you more excited about this? It comes with strings attached four-year vesting, employment agreement.
That's a bad thing? I'll have to start working for the man.
- Mmm.
- No more hanging out with you two in the middle of the day.
I already don't see Hailey enough, and she loves Malcolm more than she loves me.
Come on.
- Okay, maybe maybe a little bit.
- (LAUGHS) - Maybe a little.
- Duc! You know, four years isn't that long.
These are years of my life I'm never going to get back.
Well, a company like that is probably nine-to-six, tops.
- Right.
- If you take the job, you might actually have more time.
But it won't be my time.
I mean, I won't be in control of my own money.
I call bullshit.
You're scared.
Yeah, Duc, I'm scared of money.
It's not the money that's scary.
It's getting what you want.
Well, if you get what you want, you have to stop waiting for the future.
Once your dreams come true, you have to start living in it.
Hmm.
- (PHONE DINGS) - Maybe you should write a book.
- (LAUGHING) - Fuck off.
I think I remember seeing that, actually.
Fuck, man.
What am I supposed to write for Kristen? (SIGHS) Figure it out.
No, this is where you come into play, sweetie.
- No, I'm not doing it.
No.
- Come on.
- "Sweetie"? - RAMON: Yeah.
- ASHLEY: Kiss my ass.
- (RAMON LAUGHS) ASHLEY: Oh, this is perfect.
You will always - (DOOR OPENS) - (KEYS JINGLE) Opened a bottle of wine.
Okay.
No wine for Audrey.
What were you thinking? I wasn't thinking.
That was instinct.
That was lower brain cellular, primordial man kind of shit.
Whatever it was, I had no control over it.
It felt good, though.
I could tell.
Yeah.
I wanted to clamp down on his jugular and thrash him around till his neck snapped.
Does that seem angry to you? - Greg! - Yeah.
He's a lot shorter than I remember.
AUDREY: Are you high? Mmm.
I don't know.
What do you think? You're the therapist.
What do you think that was? Was that me trying to be seen, because of you? Or I needed to see him? Or was it me fighting for you? - You're not a fighter, Greg.
- Bullshit.
I fight for what I believe in.
And what's that? You.
The kids.
Our family.
You know, I I I said it was an experiment.
That that was the wrong word.
No, this is something that you and I created together.
It was a shared vision that we had.
Bayer-Boatwright.
It meant something.
And then I made a mess of things.
How convenient of you to realize that after you had sex with a stranger dozens of times.
I know you've been enjoying this moral superiority you have over me, but you kinda just forfeited it by sleeping with a friend of ours.
- Did you use your real name? - (LAUGHS) 'Cause, uh 'Cause I didn't.
(CHUCKLES) So what was this? Some kind of revenge fuck? No.
It wasn't.
Oh.
That hurts.
Yeah, I kinda really don't like you right now.
Why aren't you at work? Oh, um I'm on leave.
- By choice? - Well in retrospect, I do believe it is by choice.
(LAUGHING) You should get high more often.
This really works for me.
- Mmm.
Kristen has really good stuff.
- Mmm.
Listen, when I was up in the tree house, I found something.
Um Ramon's adoption agency doesn't exist.
Records show it never existed.
The good news is Beverly Mills our case worker? I tracked down her home address.
Greg.
We we can get some answers.
We'll go see her tomorrow in the morning, before Kristen's thing.
Oh God.
I forgot to call the caterer.
It'll be fine.
Everything'll be fine.
SONNI: I mean, there's something alive in your game.
You know, even from the demo, it feels like you've discovered a world, and when I I see the real thing I like to nurture it.
So, you want to develop my game? Possibly, down the road.
We're a small shop, so we have to be selective in what we do, but what I am most interested in is your voice.
Are you offering me a job then? You'd be a utility player, - so testing, bug fixes - Okay.
but you would work directly with the head designer and me, and if things work out, then you'd be designing levels before long, which would take you years in a big shop.
So, what is next with your game? Um I don't know.
I'm sort of lost at the moment, and I've hit a wall.
Usually, I sort of feel my way through dream logic but lately it just feels like the dream is disintegrating so Well, if your game world feels a bit restrictive, then maybe what you need is a bigger world.
(DONYA SPEAKING FARSI) (ANSWERING MACHINE CLICKS) (WHIRRING) (DONYA SPEAKING FARSI) (SPEAKING FARSI) (AMIR SHOUTS) (DONYA SPEAKING FARSI ON ANSWERING MACHINE) (BEEPS, CLICKS) KRISTEN: I thought genies were blue.
NAVID: Yeah? (LAUGHING) No? Mmm.
Yeah, that's what I thought.
How's your brother doing? I think he's really fucked up.
My mom thinks my dad's obsessed with him.
I think he's really fucked up too.
My dad.
That's so fucking depressing.
High as the light of day You're falling down across your lost highway Pain does it hurt this way? You look super hot in this one.
(CHUCKLES) To come so far to find they've closed the gate? You've lost your tongue When you fall from the pendulum DENISE: Now that you've handled a gun, any interest in getting one? ASHLEY: I don't know.
(LAUGHS) What am I gonna do? - Shoot racists? - No, but it's peace of mind, knowing you can keep your family safe.
Guns don't keep you safe.
Money keeps you safe.
(CHUCKLES) Looks like you do all right.
Oh, yeah, we do fine.
That money that they're offering, it's a layer of protection.
A college fund, a rainy day fund.
End of the world fund.
Yeah.
(CHUCKLES) Well, what does your husband think about it? - Oh, you haven't told him yet.
- Tonight.
Tonight.
I, uh, I just I need to get my head on straight.
Come on.
Your eyes get stung By the rays of the sinking sun You follow the drum Keeping time with everyone Going beat, beat, beat It's beating me down Mmm.
Beat, beat, beat, beat It's beating me down We're gonna need some practice.
(LAUGHS) You know, we don't we don't have to You're sweet.
- (BUCKLE CLINKS) - Till all my days are drowning out - Too much eye contact? - A little intense, yeah.
(BOTH LAUGH) (TV PLAYING INDISTINCTLY) Hello! Mommy's home! MALCOLM: Dinner's in the fridge, babe! Come on! Come on.
Come on! (SIGHS) (WHISPERS) There's Mommy.
- (FRIDGE OPENS) - (WHISPERS) (MALCOLM SIGHS) ANNOUNCER: near the goal line, officials confirm, and it is Oh, hi, baby! Hey! Are you watching the game? You can't you can't - HAILEY: Yes.
- ASHLEY: Yes.
- Can I have a cookie? - Of course you may have a cookie.
But you know what? Hang on.
This is pretty.
Look at this pretty drawing.
Can you tell me about it? Which one is Mommy? MALCOLM: You suck, dude.
Hey.
(KISSES) Uh, Malcolm, have you seen this drawing? Yeah.
Yeah, excellent coloring, right? Malcolm My bad.
I did not even ask you about your day.
How was your day? We can talk later.
- Yeah? - Mm-hmm.
- Later.
Okay.
- Mmm.
ASHLEY: This is for you.
All right? ANNOUNCER: That's a big, big contact.
(LAUGHS) Hello! Oh, my good luck charm is back! Oh, I'm so grateful.
Yes! Yay, good.
Now they can win.
Finally! Finally! LAYLA: Farid! I'm headed to the mosque.
You need real food.
I thought you would be happy to hear her voice and know that she loved you.
She didn't love me.
She cursed me said I had killed my father.
When you left Iran, it was chaos.
She was ill.
I get it.
You don't know how to feel.
The things that she said and did, I know they were abusive, but she still loved you which you felt, which is so confusing, and it's all become connected in your mind.
It is all connected.
Why did I get the tape today? Huh? I went to the Moon Mart because of my dream, because Ramon led me there.
Farid, this fixation with your patient, it's clouding everything.
Well, you're always nagging me about embracing the spiritual, and I'm fucking doing it! Islam is not the only way! You need to make an appointment with Dr.
Langsdale.
I am not doing this again! Go.
Get out.
Go to the mosque and pray to no one.
Great.
(DOOR OPENS) - I'm gonna focus on what's real.
- (DOOR SLAMS) Oh, I'm so hungry.
Can we can we break the fast? Technically, I already did.
Sex is breaking the fast.
See, that's so cool.
Sorry.
Not that we broke the fast, just that you have, like, traditions.
I want traditions.
Do you ever think how random it is that we're together? I don't know.
I guess the universe just wanted us to meet.
But I never expected us to have this kind of connection.
Wait.
Why are you being weird? Is this weird for you because you're fluid? No, I I don't know.
You know, I was just trying to figure out which box to fit in, but there aren't two boxes.
There are, like, a thousand.
Or none.
Maybe you're boxless.
We can be boxless together.
FARID: How is Ramon? Oh my God.
Hello.
(CHUCKLES) FARID: He sees beyond the veil.
But, unfortunately, the veil is what separates us from madness.
And once you've crossed that point you may You may never be able to truly come back.
Um okay.
It's nice to see you, Dr.
Shokrani.
(RADIO PLAYING INDISTINCTLY) WOMAN (ON RADIO): takeaway point is that scientific research is clear: Were one to occur AUDREY: Sorry to barge in on you.
You helped us years ago with our son's adoption.
Oh, I I haven't been with the agency for years.
I I'm retired now, living on Social Security, but it's always nice to see former clients.
We've we've looked through our records, and we can't find anything like a family medical history.
Our son's had some health issues.
I'm so sorry.
Is there anything you might remember about the orphanage? We figured since you worked with them, you'd have some knowledge It's so long ago.
I don't recall much.
Hmm.
Strange, 'cause we can't find anything about it online.
You should stop looking.
GREG: That's the name of the orphanage.
That's your name and your signature.
What do you mean, we should stop looking? Is it because the orphanage didn't exist? Leave or I'll call the police.
Do it.
I'm sure they'd be interested to hear about this.
(SCOFFS) Ramon was stolen.
Wasn't he? Oh, don't look so shocked.
As long as there are rich do-gooders, there'll be a market for brown babies.
Why didn't you adopt a white kid? Looks like you could afford it.
Who the fuck are you to judge us? You made a living trafficking babies.
Go home to your comfortable life and stop trying to fuck up mine.
Who did you work for? Huh? - Who did you work for? - Keep digging.
You might not like what you find.
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING) - (FIRE WHOOSHES, CRACKLING) - 'Cause this is my victory I want it This is something you can't buy - I want it - (KEYBOARD CLACKS) - (FIRE CRACKLING) - Oh, don't you get it Nothing else will satisfy? I want it (ROARS) Even worse than someone that would lie I want it But only a champion would qualify I want it Oh, to be in the books of history I want it Oh, look, page one hundred, this is me I want it They'll say I changed things officially I want it And so these were the words to my speech Victory Yeah, I can smell it in the air, in the air In my mind, it surrounds me everywhere Everywhere - (STUDENTS CHATTERING) - Yeah, yeah What a wondrous occasion this could be - BOY: Whoa.
- BOY 2: No Way! In fact I know it will, I know it will - Wow.
Oh wow.
- What the fuck? Nice turbans.
We have to get through this party for Kristen.
Not through, you you know what I mean.
(VOICE BREAKS) Get this right.
I'm not his mother.
I'm not Ramon's mother.
Of course you are.
(CRYING) Not if she is still alive.
She's his mother.
Her child was stolen from her.
GREG: We had to do what felt right.
And at the time, that's what felt right.
- (DOOR OPENS) - He needed to be saved, and we saved him.
- (DOOR CLOSES) - And he's our Ramon now.
Nothing will ever change that or the memories we have with him.
Hey.
- What are you guys talking about? - Hey.
AUDREY: Ramon, you're here early! Yeah, I got a ride from Malcolm and Ashley.
I've got cake.
Hey, um did I ever, like clinically die for a few minutes or anything like that? - No.
- Why do you ask? Just curious.
(SNIFFS) Something's burning.
Oh shit! Mini-quiches! The mini-quiches! RAMON: Oh! - Shit! - (SMOKE DETECTOR BEEPING) - RAMON: Aah! (LAUGHS) - Aah! Oh shit! Looks like pizza it is.
- RAMON: Fuck! - (GRUNTS) Oh my God! Wait, did you see Madison's face? - Oh my God, we pulled it off.
- (VEHICLE STOPS) - (DOORS OPEN, CLOSE) - Holy shit.
KRISTEN: I mean, for once the bad guys didn't fucking win.
BOY: Fucking tranny! Muslim freak! - GIRL: Come here, bitch.
- BOY 2: Yeah, fuck him up! - BOY: Faggot terrorist! - You fucking slut! Towelhead freaks! GIRL: I'm gonna kick your fucking ass.
- Kick him again! - MADISON: You look ridiculous! Who dresses up like a fucking terrorist? Fuck you, Madison.
- Who dresses up like a fucking racist? - (GRUNTS) - You bitch! - Fuck you, you fucking cunt! You Muslim-loving whore! (GRUNTING) - MADISON: Fucking bitch! - BOY 3: Yeah! Smack his bitch-ass down! BOY: Huh? BOY 3: Beat the shit out of his Muslim ass! Stop! Stop! Don't hurt him! Where the fuck do you think you're going? - Stop it! - You Muslim whore! - Fuck off! - (GRUNTS) - (GRUNTS) - Tranny freak.
Fucking bitch.
- Let's go! Come on! - BOY 3: Fuck you! (KIDS SHOUTING) - BOY 2: Whoo! - GIRL: Whoo, whoo, whoo! - BOY 2: Go! - (ENGINE STARTS) (TIRES SCREECH) (PANTING) KRISTEN (WHISPERS): I love you.
RAMON: Five million dollars? Really? AUDREY: Ashley, oh my God! I I mean, money is not everything, - of course.
- What's the excitement? A company offered Ashley five million dollars to buy her business.
Wow.
Take it.
That's "fuck you" money.
Dad, really? You too? And please, guys, keep your voice down, okay? Right, sorry.
Yeah, Hailey.
- (DOOR OPENS) - I just haven't told Malcolm.
Kristen, are you okay? (ASHLEY GASPS) Oh my God.
GREG: What the hell happened to you? Jesus.
KRISTEN: I don't want to talk about it.
Have you called your folks yet? - Do you want me to do it? - If you don't mind.
Let me take a look at that.
Come on.
Maybe we should, uh, postpone the party? Hell no.
Let's do this.
RAMON: You okay? (WHISPERS) Who's that? What happened? You're Shokrani's kid, right? Yeah.
How's he doing? (PHONE BUZZING) (PHONE CLICKS) KRISTEN: This is Navid.
He will be our rabbi for the afternoon.
Also he's my boyfriend.
(CHUCKLES) Um Thanks for letting me be here.
This probably seems kind of random, but it's a rite of passage for Kristen, a moral and spiritual coming of age.
(CHUCKLES) This isn't a bat mitzvah, traditionally celebrated in the Jewish faith.
This is an alterna-mitzvah, one-of-a-kind ceremony for one-of-a-kind person.
(LAUGHTER) NAVID: Uh, I believe you've prepared some remarks about Kristen? (ASHLEY LAUGHS) Kristen for most of your childhood by which I mean up to and including last week (LAUGHS) you were self-conscious, never comfortable in your own skin.
And yet you have always owned it.
You are so willing to to be the outsider in any situation that it becomes this really weird form of bravery.
And I admire that about you.
DUC: All right.
There are a lot of things I respect about you, Kristen, but most of all, I respect your confidence.
It's definitely something that I didn't have at your age, and I just think you have an unlimited potential to achieve anything that you wanna achieve, and I'm totally talking to you like one of my clients.
(LAUGHS) I'm sorry.
Basically, I just wanna say that I love you, and you have a beautiful soul.
(GIGGLES) MALCOLM: Ah.
Kristen.
You have a huge heart.
Both your mother and I have known it since you were little.
And it has been one of the great privileges of my life to watch you grow into this extraordinary heart.
(CRYING) Mmm, I love you.
RAMON: Um (SIGHS) Kristen, um you're 17 - going on 18.
- (BOTH CHUCKLE) Um (CHUCKLES) Um (LAUGHS) Okay, fuck it.
I I didn't write anything, all right? But you're my favorite human, and I love you, come here.
- (LAUGHTER) - (KISSES) I love you.
She's my favorite.
I'm sorry, but she is.
Oh my God.
Stop.
Mercy.
Enough.
- Stop.
- Sweetie, I haven't gone yet.
Mom, sorry.
I just I can't.
I can't anymore.
(LAUGHTER) So, I thought that I was gonna wanna hear nice sort of nice things about me.
(LAUGHS) (SIGHS) You're all incredible.
And for once, I just wanted my own thing.
But I don't have a thing.
I tried different identities, and I kinda of treated it like a game like an experiment.
And then I got beat up we got beat up.
Because of Navid's actual identity, one he can't take off, ever.
You all made it look so easy that I that I never realized how hard it must've been growing up, and probably still is.
I'm so proud to be a part of this family.
You're all my identity.
(SOBS) Okay.
Is it over? - Am I a woman now? Seriously.
- (LAUGHTER) KRISTEN: Okay, let's go.
Cold pizza.
(LAUGHTER) (KLEZMER MUSIC PLAYING) (LIVELY CHATTERING) RAMON: If you want pepperoni, it's not gonna hurt you.
Cheers.
Congratulations.
- Sure.
What? - Ashley's offer.
To sell her store.
Oh.
Oh.
Shit.
Never mind.
(POUNDING ON DOOR) - (MURMURS) - (POUNDING CONTINUES) - GREG: Coming! - (DOOR OPENS) Oh, Dr.
Shokrani.
- FARID: I'm here to pick up Navid.
- Come in.
Navid? - Navid, let's go! - (DOOR CLOSES) You you might want to have him checked out.
He was pretty roughed up.
RAMON: Come on, Hailey.
Now, Navid.
(DOOR CLOSES) FARID: I don't want you to see that girl anymore.
Look at you.
She's a bad influence.
I choose who I want my friends to be.
Oh yeah? And what is that exactly? A girl who thinks Judaism is a costume you buy at a store? - So fucking white.
- That's a shitty thing to say, Dad.
You don't know anything about her.
FARID: Look how she got you all banged up! NAVID: I don't understand why you can't FARID: You don't Do you seriously think you can tell me who I can be friends with and how how to worship? Meanwhile, day-drinking, weed.
What kind of an influence are you? I'm trying to protect you! - WOMAN: Mijo! - (TIRES SCREECH) (TRUCK HONKS) (WHISPERS) What are you? - RAMON: You're it! - (HAILEY LAUGHS) You're it! MALCOLM: What's the big deal? Four years is nothing.
That is so easy for you to say.
And please don't say that you work, too, okay? Your work costs us money, Malcolm, with the sports massages, and your wardrobe, and the babysitting.
- RAMON: Yeah! - MALCOLM: Okay, so now we're insulting - my job and my paycheck.
- No, but the reality is it just doesn't move the needle.
You make spending money for drones, skis, and shit, and I make the money that we live on.
Yeah, and I supported that business when it was brand-new, before the store.
The store was your bad idea.
Nobody does brick and mortar anymore.
You were the one that was like, "We have to stay in Portland, babe, for my job, babe.
" And so we did.
Yeah, well, it doesn't seem to have hurt you.
And anyways, you know what? You're flipping this whole thing around now, - 'cause you're the one - I'm just saying, how much bigger would I have been if I didn't have to waste capital on rent and overhead? You know, I might not even need to consider this offer now.
(SCOFFS) You see? Look at all the names.
That's Uncle Duc.
- That's Mama Bear.
- Come on, Uncle Ramon.
- That's Kristen.
- HAILEY: Let's play.
Do you smell the smoke? (SNIFFS) Yes.
(WHOOSHES, CRACKLING) I tied you down with a store? - Oh my God.
- If you hate it so much, take the offer! - (SCOFFS) - You won't have to deal with it, anymore.
(HAILEY SHOUTS) No, no, no! - (HAILEY SCREAMS) - (GASPS)