Once and Again (1999) s01e13 Episode Script
Mediation
Mediation So I'm probably gonna be late tonight because I have this tutoring thing after school.
I have this essay due, and I have to get a good grade because Coach is worried about my eligibility.
So he said if I could get my grades to a "C" or better he'd pass me for the quarter, which is pretty cool because then I'd end up playing out the season.
Dad.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
What? Nothing, just that Jennifer signed me up for tutoring.
Oh, good.
See ya.
Remember that thing that Mr.
Perry asked me to volunteer for? Anyway, I'm doing it, so don't pick me up.
I'll get a ride with Carter.
Yeah, okay.
Mom.
What? - Who are you looking for? - Nobody.
I'm sorry.
What were you saying? It's obvious she broke up with him.
You can-- You can tell by her clothes.
You can tell by her clothes but it was obvious even before she told us-- Because the whole time when she was going out with him she wore, like, her prettiest clothes of ever and then, all of a sudden-- And every time the phone rings you can see her, like, hoping that it'll be, you know.
The dad.
Only it never is.
- Mom.
- What? I said-- Just tell her, okay? What? She's staying late.
She'll get a ride home with Carter.
I heard that.
What I want you both to understand is that I'm here as a neutral third party.
My commitment is to the process not to the outcome.
You two have decided to get divorced.
You spent a lot of years-- uh, 16-- making decisions cooperatively.
More or less.
But divorce is a battleground where, usually, no one wins.
How long does it take, generally? And well, how much does it cost? Mediation? Uh, less than lawyers on both counts.
Uh, Jake, when I spoke to Lily she said that your primary focus here would be on finances, not child custody.
Would you agree with that? Yeah.
Um, A and E's and I and D'S-- assets and debts, income and expenses.
Uh, try to get these to me in the next couple of weeks.
For now let's start with a discussion of your assets.
Um, well, uh, there's the house and, um, and the restaurant.
Lily and I own 60%, her father owns 40%.
Do you know the value of the business? Uh, no, I--I don't.
Not offhand.
There's a lien on it right now.
Yeah.
We're-- we're handling that.
Still, we'll need to find out the value as well as the amount of the debt but we'll get to that.
And the house-- do you know what it's worth? Not really.
Well, I think a good place to start is to get them both appraised.
Uh, these are some real-estate appraisers I've worked with and a list of forensic accountants.
Forensic? Sounds like an autopsy.
Douglas Platt is very good.
You might want to try him first.
I have a little bookstore with my sister.
I have no idea how much it's worth.
You'll probably want the accountant for that as well.
Would you excuse me? I have to go to the bathroom about every seven minutes these days.
Of course.
When are you due, by the way? Yesterday.
Can I just ask you real quickly-- how likely is it that we would have to sell the house? Honestly? In about 90% of divorces, there just isn't enough cash for each party to have equal value and still keep the house.
Grace, you're tutoring.
Yeah.
I'm in A.
P.
English.
This is perfect.
You're perfect.
So, who did Perry put me with? Absolutely perfect.
What are you doing? Don't-- I--I need someone I can trust for Eli.
But you can't just-- I mean, aren't we supposed to stay with who he puts us with? Look, I know that girl they assigned him to.
She's a backstabber and not that smart and with you, it won't turn into a whole socializing thing.
I'm--I'm sorry.
I didn't mean it like that.
No.
It's okay.
All right.
Later.
- If it's a problem, we can just put it back how it was.
- No.
Hi.
Look who they put you with.
David David, off the phone.
Hang on a second.
He changed the facade again.
I gotta go.
What was it this time? Not epic enough.
Not epic enough? The facade wasn't epic enough? Yeah.
His exact words were, "David, when I look "at the entrance to this building "I am not filled with the sort of awe and dread that only great architecture can inspire.
" Awe and dread? Yeah.
You've got to meet this guy.
Well, I'll come with you tomorrow.
Maybe I can supply the dread.
All right.
Uh, just give me a second.
So this isn't, like-- I mean, this isn't gonna be a problem or anything? What? Oh, uh Well, I got to do something.
Maine South totally whipped us last Monday and everybody's saying it's my fault 'cause I couldn't play.
And, uh, I got to get this tutoring done and, uh Jennifer tries but, uh, I kind of get distracted.
No.
I mean being tutored by me.
No.
No, not a problem.
- Okay.
- Good.
So, first of all-- Okay, so the essay's supposed to be about, uh Camus' "The Stranger" and why the hero-- or why the guy is an antihero.
Meursault.
Right.
And you know what an antihero is, right? Someone who's against heroes? No.
More honest and weird than a typical hero.
Like how Camus has him not believe in God or how, when his mother dies, how he acts like it's no big deal.
That was dumb of me to think that you wouldn't want me to tutor you just because Oh, yeah.
Just because our parents used to date.
What do you mean, "used to"? They broke up.
You're kidding.
You didn't know? You know, that explains so much.
Hey, Dad.
Guess who's tutoring me.
Who? Grace Manning.
Oh, really? Isn't that the mom's daughter? Yeah.
Shut up.
Um, yeah, Dad, it's the daughter.
Well, with everything going on at work I haven't seen much of her lately.
You're tutoring Eli? Sammler? Yeah.
Well how did that happen? How did it happen? How do you think it happened? How does anything happen? It just happened.
Listen, we're gonna have to clean up tonight.
You mean Grace and I do the dishes? No, I mean-- I mean the whole house.
Why? And not just shove things in the closets--really clean up.
Bless you.
There's someone coming by tomorrow to take a look at the house to figure out-- You said we wouldn't have to move.
Well, it's just something we have to do for the mediation.
It doesn't necessarily mean We're not going to have to move probably.
But you don't know that for sure.
I'm 90% sure, but Girls, wait a second.
You just said we should clean up.
- Mrs.
Manning? - Yes.
Ed Cale.
Your husband asked me to take a look at the house.
Yeah.
Come in.
You're definitely gonna want to paint that.
Blue is always nice.
I like blue.
Nice high ceilings.
Hi.
I'm Ed.
I'm Zoe.
You do homework.
That's good.
How old are the appliances? Old.
But the refrigerator works great.
I mean, lettuce gets a little frost in it once in a while you know, if it's pushed too far back, but-- You might want to do something about those.
The counters? No, the clutter.
There's too many magnets on the fridge.
You might want to scrape off some of those, uh, stickers.
There's too much stuff on the walls.
Those are my pictures.
Yeah, and they're--and they're beautiful, cupcake, but clients like to see clean walls.
Clients? Wait a second.
Excuse me.
Sir? How about having these refinished? - Mr.
Cale, excuse me.
- Ed.
Ed, I'm a little confused because I thought you were here just to appraise the house.
No.
That's what an appraiser does.
You're not an appraiser? Oh, heck, no.
I'm a real-estate agent.
Look, there's obviously been a mistake.
No, no.
I'm, uh, I'm always early.
Fireplace in the bedroom.
That's very nice.
Hello? Hey.
Jake Manning.
Ed Cale.
What do you think? Ballpark figure.
Won't-- won't hold you to it.
Oh, I sold a place just like it on, uh, Edgeworth.
It went for, uh, $345,000.
$345,000? Oh, come on.
It's--it's got to be worth more than $400,000.
I'm not finished yet.
- $345,000? Doesn't-- - What happened to the appraiser? $500 is what happened.
- These guys will give you an estimate for free.
- That's not what we agreed to.
Daddy, he's awful.
He said to take down my pictures and he called me "cupcake".
Come on.
Let's go.
He'll be gone in five minutes, okay? How about consulting me? How about giving me a little notice? All right, I'm giving you notice-- I'm coming back tomorrow with somebody else.
Is this cooperation? Can we just try to articulate what each of you is saying? I'm saying we got an estimate.
And I'm saying the guy was an idiot, okay? I mean, you've got to have at least-- at least three estimates.
- It's--it's a real-estate rule of thumb.
Am I right? - I have to go through this three times? No.
Don't be there, you know? Go--go off with your boyfriend or something.
I mean, I'll-- I'll show him around, okay? Excuse me.
I will not have strangers going through my house when I'm not there.
No, it's our house.
Our house, okay? I--I pay the mortgage, remember? When you feel like it.
Oh, yes.
Yes.
Excuse me.
I was late for a couple of payments.
You All right.
Can we just-- Can he--H--He can't just do this.
We didn't agree to this.
Lily's right.
All we agreed to was an appraisal.
We're doing-- we're doing this at $350 a pop, okay? The appraiser's $500.
What, I can't be concerned about money? No, of course you can.
Look we may need a second mortgage, okay? Just so I can open the restaurant so I can start making money so that maybe you can keep the house.
Okay, now, could we just-- could we just try this with the realtors and just see if it works--see if the numbers work? And then if we still need an appraisal, we'll get one.
What do you think about that? - I have to be the one to make the appointments.
- Fine.
I don't want to come home one day and see a "for sale" sign on my front lawn.
- No, Jake can't do that, Lily.
- He can't? Uh, "there can be no transferring, encumbering, hypothecating "concealing, or in any way disposing of any property without the written consent of the other party.
" Okay.
There will be no encumbering nor hypothecating.
When is your appointment with the accountant? I'm working on that.
No, Lily, no.
I--I called him, okay? The guy wants a $3,500 retainer.
This isn't negotiable, Jake.
You need to get this done.
Now, you can call him right now from here but then you're paying me to watch you make a phone call.
Fine.
I'll-I'll call him later, okay? Uh, he's running late, so I'll take you to his office and you can make yourselves comfortable.
You got something to drink? Oh.
Oh, and I'm sorry about the badge, Mr.
Sammler.
Uh, security only had the one name.
Told you so.
And these are their, uh, temporary offices? Yep.
Temporary offices.
What do they make? Uh, corporate images.
Bet you need a lot of square footage for that.
Do you know what it takes to keep a blade razor-sharp for 800 years? Miles Drentell.
And you are? Rick Sammler.
I'm David's partner.
Yes.
How are you, David, my young friend? A man spent five years of his life creating this.
kept watch over it in an unbroken chain so not a single speck of corrosion marred its perfection.
And the front side was folded over thousands of times to give it its flexibility.
Yet the edge was somehow formed of the hardest steel in the world.
Miles prides himself on being the cutting edge.
But never rigid, hmm, my friend David? You know, Miles, um, we aim to make you happy and with whatever that entails but our job as architects is to point out the intersection of both form and function.
Mr.
Sammler, I assume David has told you of our dialectical disagreement.
Well, I--I get the feeling you're just looking for a more imposing design.
You get the feeling I'm just looking aw, shucks.
Why do you suppose I would be seeking a more imposing design? To do justice to the role your agency plays in the world of advertising.
To stroke my ego, in other words.
No, my--my ego's been stroked enough, thank you.
Miles, what we were suggesting-- David, do you know what sells product? Shame.
The job of a commercial, for instance is to make the viewer unhappy with his own life so unhappy that he'll do anything to better it.
I must do the same with my clients.
The executives of the largest corporations in the world must come into my building and feel that their efforts are worthless without me.
Yes, I need a very imposing building for that.
Perhaps something from Speer's Yes, the Reichstag-- exactly.
But a bit more user-friendly.
The Third Reich with a little shabby chic.
Unless you think another firm would be better suited to the task.
Now that we understand the terms I think we can come up with something-- Something astonishing? Because that's what I need, gentlemen and nothing less.
Damn it.
Dad? I can't find the school roster.
I have to call Grace Manning about "The Stranger".
What's her number? Y--You have to call who about what? Well, I'm working on my essay, and I have to ask Grace Manning a question.
It's really important, only--never mind.
Hello? Um hi.
Uh, Grace? No, this is Lily.
Who's this? Eli.
Sammler.
Just a second.
Mom, who is it? It's for you.
Hello? Hi.
Um, it's Eli.
Oh! Hi.
H--Hang on.
I'm gonna go switch phones.
Me too.
I'm gonna take it in my room, so hang up, okay? Dad, can you hang up when I go upstairs? Sure.
Yeah.
Mom, hang up! Okay! Hello? Hi.
That was kind of, uh Yeah.
Okay, so, um I have only, uh, one thing I don't understand, okay? Yeah.
He did or didn't kill his mother? Didn't, but-- All right.
I mean, I--I thought so, but why did everyone act like he was guilty? Because when she died, he didn't react like-- like how people thought he should react and people, like, judged him for that really harshly.
You know what I mean? Yeah.
Like when people get divorced? What do you mean? Just how other people are always acting like "Your parents are getting divorced.
"How come you're not more upset? How come you're not crying?" I know.
It's so weird.
I just can't show it not how everyone, like, expects because it just doesn't you know.
Seem real? When does it start to seem real? Well, I'm not sure.
Never? So will you be tutoring again today? Well, that's good.
Well, so, what exactly do you--do you two talk about? Mom we talk about "The Stranger".
Of course you do.
What else would you be talking about? So, did she, uh happen to mention how her mom was doing? Dad What, I can't ask a question? Dad, he answered you like three times already.
This is English, Dad.
It's not like we're analyzing you and the mom, okay? Well, I know that.
But she didn't mention her mom at all? He didn't know that you two had broken up.
He didn't? He was, like, shocked.
He was? Yeah.
He said it explained a lot.
Wait.
What explained a lot? Mom, I'm gonna be late.
It explained a lot about his father, or Hi.
Hi.
- Mom? - Coming through! Oh, my.
Can you believe this weather? Ah! Cindy Swan-- Green Vista Realty.
- You have a very beautiful home here.
- Perfect.
I'm--I'm sorry.
Are these clients? I was just telling Dan and Sue here how rare it is to find this floor plan anymore.
Listen, you kids, why don't you just go into the kitchen and I'll catch up with you.
Did someone tell you that we were showing the house? Well, I wasn't planning on bringing them by but, uh, between you and me, these two are very interested.
Oh, Cindy Wait.
We'll take you through.
I know! And look at the kitchen! Hello.
I've got Miles Drentell.
- For me? - For you.
Okay.
Hello? Good morning, Rick Sammler, able architect.
Hello, Miles.
What--what can I do for you? Well, actually, you can meet me today around 4:00 at my office alone.
Excuse me? Very good.
See you then.
There was no warning, no discussion.
This guy just--he just shows up at the restaurant! Who? This accountant person! Like the couple that arrived this morning without warning.
If you can have a realtor tromping through my house - I can send an accountant to the restaurant.
- Lily, we can't afford that accountant.
I'm paying for him.
I borrowed it from the bookstore.
Well, you know you're--you're wasting your money, then.
Jake, we need to know the financial status of the restaurant.
Thank you.
Okay.
There's no money.
Okay? There is none.
I mean, the two buildings are worth maybe $450,000 combined.
I got a $200,000 mortgage I owe another $200,000 toward construction which is now in the form of a lien, which means it's not ours unless I can come up with the money.
Okay? Which is why--that is why we have to sell the house.
What are you talking about? Oh, Lily, grow up.
- Where do you think the cash is gonna come from? - To save your stupid restaurant? No! It's our stupid restaurant! Jake, please sit down.
So our children have to be ripped from the only home they have ever known, move find new schools, all to rescue you - from this total disaster that you have created? - You approved every step of this-- You signed your name to every single document! - What choice did I have? - Let's just back off for a second here.
Were you just pretending to support me? Like you were pretending to care about anything? I wasn't pretending to be married! No, you just wanted it all to materialize, Lily - like your father used to do for you.
- This is not about my father! No, this is all about your father.
This is all about how you need the world to provide you with everything you need.
- I'm not going to sell the house.
- And God forbid anybody-- - God forbid anybody should need anything from you! - I am not going to sell the house.
You need this restaurant just as much as I do.
You can't make it out there in the world, and you're not gonna have me-- - Are you listening to me? - No! Are you listening to me? You're not gonna have me to take care of you anymore.
This is about our children-- your children! You live in a dream.
Why don't you both just take a minute here to cool off while I go pee? Oh, and definitely include how you feel about Meursault, like how reading this book has changed your view of the world or something.
What? Just pretend it has.
Teachers love that.
That was kind of weird last night.
You know-- when I called you? Yeah.
Weird how? Well like how he was listening to, like, every little word.
Oh, yeah.
My mom, too.
So who do you think broke up with who? I think it was his idea.
- No way.
- It has to have been.
She's wearing her depressed clothes and jumping, like, a mile whenever the phone rings.
Yeah, but so is he.
- Really? - Yeah.
Yeah, in his own little Rick Sammler way.
He is? Because my mother is, like, forget it.
I guess we should keep working.
I first saw you and I thought "Here's a man who's too robust and handsome to have much of a brain.
" How prejudiced of me.
We have a problem, Rick.
What problem is that? Your partner is our problem.
He's not a problem for me.
I'm not sure.
It depends how important I am to you.
What are you saying? You know what I'm saying.
You knew what I was saying before you came here yesterday.
In fact, I'd venture to say it's why you came.
What am I saying, Rick? You're saying that you have a problem working with David and you'd rather work with me.
Do you have a problem with that? If David does, I do, yeah.
Are you married, Rick? Why do you ask? You seem to have some very quaint notions of what a partnership is about.
I'm divorced, actually.
"Ah", what? No one survives a divorce with quaint notions therefore I wonder if perhaps your loyalty to your partner is a compensation for the betrayal of your wife.
E--Excuse me? You're way out of line.
I am, aren't I? What? I think you're very talented.
I'd like you to design our building.
This is the city of Mies Van Der Rohe Louis Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright.
We may never ascend to those heights but let's reach, shall we? I'd appreciate an answer by tomorrow.
Eli! - Hey, E.
- Hey.
Oh.
Hi, Grace.
Hello.
Do you need a-- do you need a ride? No.
No, it's fine.
I'm actually No.
It's taken care of.
I think it's really good what you're doing-- volunteering your time.
Oh, well-- Gracie? Mom.
Hi.
Hi.
- Hi.
- Hey.
Hi.
Dad, I just realized-- I left something in my locker.
Oh, God.
Me too.
Grace, honey, I'm--I'm in a hurry.
- I'll be back.
- Me too.
Hi.
Hello.
I didn't have anything to do with this if that's what you were thinking.
Oh, no, of course not.
I--I wasn't.
This was bound to happen sooner or later, I guess.
Yeah, that they would interact.
No, I'm-- meant Never mind.
I guess they're working on Camus' "The Stranger".
I think I read "The Stranger" in high school.
It's very you know, existential and French and You must have had to read "The Stranger".
No? This is, like, unhealthy.
This is, like, really weird.
Are you sure you didn't plan this whole thing out? What? To, like, get them back together.
Okay, this girl told me she was supposedly supposed to tutor me and somehow it got changed to you.
And, you know, I was just wondering if-- - Oh, God.
- No, no, no.
Look, it's okay.
If you did, it's okay.
I understand.
It's just I kind of, like, need to know.
Jennifer did it.
There was someone next to your name and Jennifer erased her and wrote me.
Why? Why would she do that? Boys are so naive.
I mean, sometimes you have to wonder, like how they even live.
I have no idea.
Well, she must have just thought you'd be a better tutor for some reason.
Exactly.
Which you have been.
Oh.
Well Okay.
No, I--I mean it.
I've learned a lot.
So he murders his wife or his mother or-- same thing-- and then, I think, he gets sent to prison, you know? Or does he get sent to prison? I think-- yeah, of course he does because that's the point 'cause in prison, you know, they thought that he-- he felt freer in prison, or something like that.
I actually have no idea what it was about.
I have to go.
Yeah.
I have to go, too.
Eli? Gracie? Come on, honey.
Let's go.
Come on.
What is so bad about it? Deciding who is or is not going to tutor me? Maybe the other girl was stupid.
Maybe she was cute.
And she actually is.
So? So is Jennifer.
Why do you care? I don't.
It just sounds like she was trying to help.
There's a difference between helping out and butting in, right, Dad? Dad? Dad, what is it? Oh nothing.
I just--I just remembered something from the office today.
I'm gonna have to call David and remind him.
Excuse me.
He saw the mom today.
Well, duh.
No wonder.
Zoe, honey, aren't you eating? Yes.
Well, you better get ready in a minute.
Does Dad want to sell the house? Honey, no one wants to sell the house.
Then why are we selling it? Well, we're not selling it.
We're just having people look at it to find out how much it's worth.
Why would you do that if you're not selling it? Sweetie, this stuff is very complicated.
You have to figure out your-- the value of your assets because when you get divorced, you have to split things up.
How do you split up a house? Oh, Zoe.
Honey, that's the point.
If I'm gonna keep the home then we have to know how much I have to give Daddy so he has the same amount.
You have to pay Daddy money? Well, not exactly.
Mom, do you have money? Well So then you have to sell the house, don't you? - No, we're not selling the house.
- But if you can't pay Daddy-- Grace! Zoe! Honey, listen to me.
Do you hear me? We are not selling this house ever.
Eat! How was your meeting? Sherrie saw it on your calendar.
I was gonna tell you.
When? Excuse me.
Let's start this over.
He called and wanted to see me alone.
I don't see anything wrong with that.
Neither do I.
Then what's the problem? The problem is you didn't tell me about it.
David, I was never not going to tell you what happened at the meeting.
Look, let's get something straight.
Miles Drentell does not want to work with me.
He's made that abundantly clear.
Granted.
Yeah, and my feelings are really hurt about it and I'll probably cry a lot about it tonight but that's not what we're talking about here, is it? No, no.
Listen to me.
I'm upset with you.
I'm not jealous.
There's a big difference.
Do you understand? We're partners.
We're supposed to tell each other everything.
I don't need my feelings spared.
- Well, what's the point if it doesn't affect the outcome? - How can you know that? What makes you think you get to decide that for me? When, um when Lily decided to sleep with her ex - how'd you feel about that? - What does that have to do with anything? No, 'cause I'm sure she still loved you when it happened.
- I'm not having this conversation-- - And I'm sure she thought that it had no significance on your future relationship whatsoever, am I right? - You-- - But it wasn't really her right to decide not to tell you, was it? You are such an ass.
But I'm not wrong.
You're saying I did the same thing to you that she did to me.
You slept with Miles Drentell? He's not usually this late.
It's all right.
These sessions are hard.
Harder on some than others.
It must be strange to spend your days watching people's marriages fall apart and then go home.
It's a great motivator, actually.
Is it-- would--would it be inappropriate of me to ask you-- what do you think the best thing for me to do is in my situation? I'm really not supposed to talk with only one of you.
Oh.
Right.
Sorry.
Listen.
How serious are you about wanting to stay in the house? I'll do anything to keep them in that house.
If that's your main goal, then you have to understand that the real obstacle is anger--his and yours.
This can't be about getting back at each other or who's right.
- I don't even know if we-- - Hey.
Hey, sorry.
Sorry.
I was-- What did I miss? Girl talk.
Oh, my favorite kind.
Uh, listen, can I wash up real quick? Yeah.
Um, I talked to Cliff-- he's our contractor-- that's, uh, that's why I was-- I was late.
He, uh, he said he's willing to settle.
You know, I think he, uh, realizes he's not gonna get his money unless I open.
So he said he's willing to work out a schedule of payments.
I can do this, Lil.
I can do this.
I can make this work.
I think the only prayer you have of keeping the house is if you help me out here.
Oh, that has to be the kids.
Sorry.
Hello.
Hey, it's me.
- Uh, listen-- - Oh, hi.
Hi.
Listen, uh, can I-- No.
I--I just want you to hear me out.
I--I know what you're gonna say, and-- - No, no, no.
I just need to-- - It doesn't matter.
I didn't sleep last night, Lily.
I haven't really slept in a week.
But I--I just put a lot of things together and I--I think you need to-- I think you need to hear them.
Yeah.
Listen, can we just-- I need to see you in person.
Can we do that? Of course.
Can we just figure this out in about an hour? Yes, but it has to be today.
Yeah.
We can, uh, talk about it in about an hour.
Today, Lily.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Bye.
So how do you feel about what Jake is proposing? What does it mean that there's a schedule of payments? Will you have the money to keep paying the mortgage? Well, I can pay this month's mortgage late and, uh, that's all I have.
But--but Cliff--no--Cliff will be able to finish the work so I can open soon--I mean, maybe even this month, okay? And that's how we're gonna get the money.
You didn't even have enough money to make this month's mortgage payment? No, no.
I told you--I told you that I'll have the money late.
- I'll--I'll have it.
- And what if you don't, Jake? Lily I understand that you're having trouble trusting Jake's promises.
I--I guess you just have to ask yourself what's most important to you at this moment.
Okay.
I need to know that you're telling me the truth about what's going on and that you will be committed to this process.
I will.
I'm really sorry.
No, no, no.
That's-- Just this, uh It's okay.
I just got here.
craziness at work.
So So.
- So I read Eli's paper.
- Yeah? It's the best paper he's ever written.
- Really? - Yeah.
She never completely learned how to hold her fork the right way, no matter how many times I-- or her pencil, for that matter-- but she can explain existentialism to someone so go figure.
I've never, ever said "go figure" in my entire life.
I must be really nervous.
You don't have to be nervous.
I don't? So you don't hate me? I never hated you.
I was-- Because the idea of you hating me was - I tried to hate you.
- like, this physical pain.
I tried, but I I just never succeeded.
That's good.
That's really good.
Do you remember the first time we came here? Of course I remember.
And I kept insisting how impossible this was? Because you weren't ready.
And the timing was all wrong? And, as it turns out, you were You were right.
I was? Well, look at what's happened.
I mean, hasn't it become clear that this is just not gonna So that's what you-- I mean the love was so right but the timing was wrong which may be the corniest thing I've ever said to anybody.
So you know the love was right.
Of course.
It was just the timing.
I mean, if-- if you had been divorced for a few years, or--or-- So you want to You want to We tried.
You know? You've got to you've got to give us that.
We did.
We tried.
And I don't have-- I don't have any bitterness toward you anymore.
I don't, and that's-- that's really what I wanted to say, because-- That's good.
Because it's nobody's fault.
Ready? We may just need another moment or two.
I'll be back in a few minutes.
Well, I really do wish you good luck.
Oh, God.
Yeah, I wish you that, too.
And not--not just with the mediation.
I'm really glad that we did this.
I mean, to be able to clear the air Yeah.
You know, and--and end it.
Like adults, yes.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Well I guess this is, you know goodbye.
Goodbye.
I can't let you go.
Thank God.
I have this essay due, and I have to get a good grade because Coach is worried about my eligibility.
So he said if I could get my grades to a "C" or better he'd pass me for the quarter, which is pretty cool because then I'd end up playing out the season.
Dad.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
What? Nothing, just that Jennifer signed me up for tutoring.
Oh, good.
See ya.
Remember that thing that Mr.
Perry asked me to volunteer for? Anyway, I'm doing it, so don't pick me up.
I'll get a ride with Carter.
Yeah, okay.
Mom.
What? - Who are you looking for? - Nobody.
I'm sorry.
What were you saying? It's obvious she broke up with him.
You can-- You can tell by her clothes.
You can tell by her clothes but it was obvious even before she told us-- Because the whole time when she was going out with him she wore, like, her prettiest clothes of ever and then, all of a sudden-- And every time the phone rings you can see her, like, hoping that it'll be, you know.
The dad.
Only it never is.
- Mom.
- What? I said-- Just tell her, okay? What? She's staying late.
She'll get a ride home with Carter.
I heard that.
What I want you both to understand is that I'm here as a neutral third party.
My commitment is to the process not to the outcome.
You two have decided to get divorced.
You spent a lot of years-- uh, 16-- making decisions cooperatively.
More or less.
But divorce is a battleground where, usually, no one wins.
How long does it take, generally? And well, how much does it cost? Mediation? Uh, less than lawyers on both counts.
Uh, Jake, when I spoke to Lily she said that your primary focus here would be on finances, not child custody.
Would you agree with that? Yeah.
Um, A and E's and I and D'S-- assets and debts, income and expenses.
Uh, try to get these to me in the next couple of weeks.
For now let's start with a discussion of your assets.
Um, well, uh, there's the house and, um, and the restaurant.
Lily and I own 60%, her father owns 40%.
Do you know the value of the business? Uh, no, I--I don't.
Not offhand.
There's a lien on it right now.
Yeah.
We're-- we're handling that.
Still, we'll need to find out the value as well as the amount of the debt but we'll get to that.
And the house-- do you know what it's worth? Not really.
Well, I think a good place to start is to get them both appraised.
Uh, these are some real-estate appraisers I've worked with and a list of forensic accountants.
Forensic? Sounds like an autopsy.
Douglas Platt is very good.
You might want to try him first.
I have a little bookstore with my sister.
I have no idea how much it's worth.
You'll probably want the accountant for that as well.
Would you excuse me? I have to go to the bathroom about every seven minutes these days.
Of course.
When are you due, by the way? Yesterday.
Can I just ask you real quickly-- how likely is it that we would have to sell the house? Honestly? In about 90% of divorces, there just isn't enough cash for each party to have equal value and still keep the house.
Grace, you're tutoring.
Yeah.
I'm in A.
P.
English.
This is perfect.
You're perfect.
So, who did Perry put me with? Absolutely perfect.
What are you doing? Don't-- I--I need someone I can trust for Eli.
But you can't just-- I mean, aren't we supposed to stay with who he puts us with? Look, I know that girl they assigned him to.
She's a backstabber and not that smart and with you, it won't turn into a whole socializing thing.
I'm--I'm sorry.
I didn't mean it like that.
No.
It's okay.
All right.
Later.
- If it's a problem, we can just put it back how it was.
- No.
Hi.
Look who they put you with.
David David, off the phone.
Hang on a second.
He changed the facade again.
I gotta go.
What was it this time? Not epic enough.
Not epic enough? The facade wasn't epic enough? Yeah.
His exact words were, "David, when I look "at the entrance to this building "I am not filled with the sort of awe and dread that only great architecture can inspire.
" Awe and dread? Yeah.
You've got to meet this guy.
Well, I'll come with you tomorrow.
Maybe I can supply the dread.
All right.
Uh, just give me a second.
So this isn't, like-- I mean, this isn't gonna be a problem or anything? What? Oh, uh Well, I got to do something.
Maine South totally whipped us last Monday and everybody's saying it's my fault 'cause I couldn't play.
And, uh, I got to get this tutoring done and, uh Jennifer tries but, uh, I kind of get distracted.
No.
I mean being tutored by me.
No.
No, not a problem.
- Okay.
- Good.
So, first of all-- Okay, so the essay's supposed to be about, uh Camus' "The Stranger" and why the hero-- or why the guy is an antihero.
Meursault.
Right.
And you know what an antihero is, right? Someone who's against heroes? No.
More honest and weird than a typical hero.
Like how Camus has him not believe in God or how, when his mother dies, how he acts like it's no big deal.
That was dumb of me to think that you wouldn't want me to tutor you just because Oh, yeah.
Just because our parents used to date.
What do you mean, "used to"? They broke up.
You're kidding.
You didn't know? You know, that explains so much.
Hey, Dad.
Guess who's tutoring me.
Who? Grace Manning.
Oh, really? Isn't that the mom's daughter? Yeah.
Shut up.
Um, yeah, Dad, it's the daughter.
Well, with everything going on at work I haven't seen much of her lately.
You're tutoring Eli? Sammler? Yeah.
Well how did that happen? How did it happen? How do you think it happened? How does anything happen? It just happened.
Listen, we're gonna have to clean up tonight.
You mean Grace and I do the dishes? No, I mean-- I mean the whole house.
Why? And not just shove things in the closets--really clean up.
Bless you.
There's someone coming by tomorrow to take a look at the house to figure out-- You said we wouldn't have to move.
Well, it's just something we have to do for the mediation.
It doesn't necessarily mean We're not going to have to move probably.
But you don't know that for sure.
I'm 90% sure, but Girls, wait a second.
You just said we should clean up.
- Mrs.
Manning? - Yes.
Ed Cale.
Your husband asked me to take a look at the house.
Yeah.
Come in.
You're definitely gonna want to paint that.
Blue is always nice.
I like blue.
Nice high ceilings.
Hi.
I'm Ed.
I'm Zoe.
You do homework.
That's good.
How old are the appliances? Old.
But the refrigerator works great.
I mean, lettuce gets a little frost in it once in a while you know, if it's pushed too far back, but-- You might want to do something about those.
The counters? No, the clutter.
There's too many magnets on the fridge.
You might want to scrape off some of those, uh, stickers.
There's too much stuff on the walls.
Those are my pictures.
Yeah, and they're--and they're beautiful, cupcake, but clients like to see clean walls.
Clients? Wait a second.
Excuse me.
Sir? How about having these refinished? - Mr.
Cale, excuse me.
- Ed.
Ed, I'm a little confused because I thought you were here just to appraise the house.
No.
That's what an appraiser does.
You're not an appraiser? Oh, heck, no.
I'm a real-estate agent.
Look, there's obviously been a mistake.
No, no.
I'm, uh, I'm always early.
Fireplace in the bedroom.
That's very nice.
Hello? Hey.
Jake Manning.
Ed Cale.
What do you think? Ballpark figure.
Won't-- won't hold you to it.
Oh, I sold a place just like it on, uh, Edgeworth.
It went for, uh, $345,000.
$345,000? Oh, come on.
It's--it's got to be worth more than $400,000.
I'm not finished yet.
- $345,000? Doesn't-- - What happened to the appraiser? $500 is what happened.
- These guys will give you an estimate for free.
- That's not what we agreed to.
Daddy, he's awful.
He said to take down my pictures and he called me "cupcake".
Come on.
Let's go.
He'll be gone in five minutes, okay? How about consulting me? How about giving me a little notice? All right, I'm giving you notice-- I'm coming back tomorrow with somebody else.
Is this cooperation? Can we just try to articulate what each of you is saying? I'm saying we got an estimate.
And I'm saying the guy was an idiot, okay? I mean, you've got to have at least-- at least three estimates.
- It's--it's a real-estate rule of thumb.
Am I right? - I have to go through this three times? No.
Don't be there, you know? Go--go off with your boyfriend or something.
I mean, I'll-- I'll show him around, okay? Excuse me.
I will not have strangers going through my house when I'm not there.
No, it's our house.
Our house, okay? I--I pay the mortgage, remember? When you feel like it.
Oh, yes.
Yes.
Excuse me.
I was late for a couple of payments.
You All right.
Can we just-- Can he--H--He can't just do this.
We didn't agree to this.
Lily's right.
All we agreed to was an appraisal.
We're doing-- we're doing this at $350 a pop, okay? The appraiser's $500.
What, I can't be concerned about money? No, of course you can.
Look we may need a second mortgage, okay? Just so I can open the restaurant so I can start making money so that maybe you can keep the house.
Okay, now, could we just-- could we just try this with the realtors and just see if it works--see if the numbers work? And then if we still need an appraisal, we'll get one.
What do you think about that? - I have to be the one to make the appointments.
- Fine.
I don't want to come home one day and see a "for sale" sign on my front lawn.
- No, Jake can't do that, Lily.
- He can't? Uh, "there can be no transferring, encumbering, hypothecating "concealing, or in any way disposing of any property without the written consent of the other party.
" Okay.
There will be no encumbering nor hypothecating.
When is your appointment with the accountant? I'm working on that.
No, Lily, no.
I--I called him, okay? The guy wants a $3,500 retainer.
This isn't negotiable, Jake.
You need to get this done.
Now, you can call him right now from here but then you're paying me to watch you make a phone call.
Fine.
I'll-I'll call him later, okay? Uh, he's running late, so I'll take you to his office and you can make yourselves comfortable.
You got something to drink? Oh.
Oh, and I'm sorry about the badge, Mr.
Sammler.
Uh, security only had the one name.
Told you so.
And these are their, uh, temporary offices? Yep.
Temporary offices.
What do they make? Uh, corporate images.
Bet you need a lot of square footage for that.
Do you know what it takes to keep a blade razor-sharp for 800 years? Miles Drentell.
And you are? Rick Sammler.
I'm David's partner.
Yes.
How are you, David, my young friend? A man spent five years of his life creating this.
kept watch over it in an unbroken chain so not a single speck of corrosion marred its perfection.
And the front side was folded over thousands of times to give it its flexibility.
Yet the edge was somehow formed of the hardest steel in the world.
Miles prides himself on being the cutting edge.
But never rigid, hmm, my friend David? You know, Miles, um, we aim to make you happy and with whatever that entails but our job as architects is to point out the intersection of both form and function.
Mr.
Sammler, I assume David has told you of our dialectical disagreement.
Well, I--I get the feeling you're just looking for a more imposing design.
You get the feeling I'm just looking aw, shucks.
Why do you suppose I would be seeking a more imposing design? To do justice to the role your agency plays in the world of advertising.
To stroke my ego, in other words.
No, my--my ego's been stroked enough, thank you.
Miles, what we were suggesting-- David, do you know what sells product? Shame.
The job of a commercial, for instance is to make the viewer unhappy with his own life so unhappy that he'll do anything to better it.
I must do the same with my clients.
The executives of the largest corporations in the world must come into my building and feel that their efforts are worthless without me.
Yes, I need a very imposing building for that.
Perhaps something from Speer's Yes, the Reichstag-- exactly.
But a bit more user-friendly.
The Third Reich with a little shabby chic.
Unless you think another firm would be better suited to the task.
Now that we understand the terms I think we can come up with something-- Something astonishing? Because that's what I need, gentlemen and nothing less.
Damn it.
Dad? I can't find the school roster.
I have to call Grace Manning about "The Stranger".
What's her number? Y--You have to call who about what? Well, I'm working on my essay, and I have to ask Grace Manning a question.
It's really important, only--never mind.
Hello? Um hi.
Uh, Grace? No, this is Lily.
Who's this? Eli.
Sammler.
Just a second.
Mom, who is it? It's for you.
Hello? Hi.
Um, it's Eli.
Oh! Hi.
H--Hang on.
I'm gonna go switch phones.
Me too.
I'm gonna take it in my room, so hang up, okay? Dad, can you hang up when I go upstairs? Sure.
Yeah.
Mom, hang up! Okay! Hello? Hi.
That was kind of, uh Yeah.
Okay, so, um I have only, uh, one thing I don't understand, okay? Yeah.
He did or didn't kill his mother? Didn't, but-- All right.
I mean, I--I thought so, but why did everyone act like he was guilty? Because when she died, he didn't react like-- like how people thought he should react and people, like, judged him for that really harshly.
You know what I mean? Yeah.
Like when people get divorced? What do you mean? Just how other people are always acting like "Your parents are getting divorced.
"How come you're not more upset? How come you're not crying?" I know.
It's so weird.
I just can't show it not how everyone, like, expects because it just doesn't you know.
Seem real? When does it start to seem real? Well, I'm not sure.
Never? So will you be tutoring again today? Well, that's good.
Well, so, what exactly do you--do you two talk about? Mom we talk about "The Stranger".
Of course you do.
What else would you be talking about? So, did she, uh happen to mention how her mom was doing? Dad What, I can't ask a question? Dad, he answered you like three times already.
This is English, Dad.
It's not like we're analyzing you and the mom, okay? Well, I know that.
But she didn't mention her mom at all? He didn't know that you two had broken up.
He didn't? He was, like, shocked.
He was? Yeah.
He said it explained a lot.
Wait.
What explained a lot? Mom, I'm gonna be late.
It explained a lot about his father, or Hi.
Hi.
- Mom? - Coming through! Oh, my.
Can you believe this weather? Ah! Cindy Swan-- Green Vista Realty.
- You have a very beautiful home here.
- Perfect.
I'm--I'm sorry.
Are these clients? I was just telling Dan and Sue here how rare it is to find this floor plan anymore.
Listen, you kids, why don't you just go into the kitchen and I'll catch up with you.
Did someone tell you that we were showing the house? Well, I wasn't planning on bringing them by but, uh, between you and me, these two are very interested.
Oh, Cindy Wait.
We'll take you through.
I know! And look at the kitchen! Hello.
I've got Miles Drentell.
- For me? - For you.
Okay.
Hello? Good morning, Rick Sammler, able architect.
Hello, Miles.
What--what can I do for you? Well, actually, you can meet me today around 4:00 at my office alone.
Excuse me? Very good.
See you then.
There was no warning, no discussion.
This guy just--he just shows up at the restaurant! Who? This accountant person! Like the couple that arrived this morning without warning.
If you can have a realtor tromping through my house - I can send an accountant to the restaurant.
- Lily, we can't afford that accountant.
I'm paying for him.
I borrowed it from the bookstore.
Well, you know you're--you're wasting your money, then.
Jake, we need to know the financial status of the restaurant.
Thank you.
Okay.
There's no money.
Okay? There is none.
I mean, the two buildings are worth maybe $450,000 combined.
I got a $200,000 mortgage I owe another $200,000 toward construction which is now in the form of a lien, which means it's not ours unless I can come up with the money.
Okay? Which is why--that is why we have to sell the house.
What are you talking about? Oh, Lily, grow up.
- Where do you think the cash is gonna come from? - To save your stupid restaurant? No! It's our stupid restaurant! Jake, please sit down.
So our children have to be ripped from the only home they have ever known, move find new schools, all to rescue you - from this total disaster that you have created? - You approved every step of this-- You signed your name to every single document! - What choice did I have? - Let's just back off for a second here.
Were you just pretending to support me? Like you were pretending to care about anything? I wasn't pretending to be married! No, you just wanted it all to materialize, Lily - like your father used to do for you.
- This is not about my father! No, this is all about your father.
This is all about how you need the world to provide you with everything you need.
- I'm not going to sell the house.
- And God forbid anybody-- - God forbid anybody should need anything from you! - I am not going to sell the house.
You need this restaurant just as much as I do.
You can't make it out there in the world, and you're not gonna have me-- - Are you listening to me? - No! Are you listening to me? You're not gonna have me to take care of you anymore.
This is about our children-- your children! You live in a dream.
Why don't you both just take a minute here to cool off while I go pee? Oh, and definitely include how you feel about Meursault, like how reading this book has changed your view of the world or something.
What? Just pretend it has.
Teachers love that.
That was kind of weird last night.
You know-- when I called you? Yeah.
Weird how? Well like how he was listening to, like, every little word.
Oh, yeah.
My mom, too.
So who do you think broke up with who? I think it was his idea.
- No way.
- It has to have been.
She's wearing her depressed clothes and jumping, like, a mile whenever the phone rings.
Yeah, but so is he.
- Really? - Yeah.
Yeah, in his own little Rick Sammler way.
He is? Because my mother is, like, forget it.
I guess we should keep working.
I first saw you and I thought "Here's a man who's too robust and handsome to have much of a brain.
" How prejudiced of me.
We have a problem, Rick.
What problem is that? Your partner is our problem.
He's not a problem for me.
I'm not sure.
It depends how important I am to you.
What are you saying? You know what I'm saying.
You knew what I was saying before you came here yesterday.
In fact, I'd venture to say it's why you came.
What am I saying, Rick? You're saying that you have a problem working with David and you'd rather work with me.
Do you have a problem with that? If David does, I do, yeah.
Are you married, Rick? Why do you ask? You seem to have some very quaint notions of what a partnership is about.
I'm divorced, actually.
"Ah", what? No one survives a divorce with quaint notions therefore I wonder if perhaps your loyalty to your partner is a compensation for the betrayal of your wife.
E--Excuse me? You're way out of line.
I am, aren't I? What? I think you're very talented.
I'd like you to design our building.
This is the city of Mies Van Der Rohe Louis Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright.
We may never ascend to those heights but let's reach, shall we? I'd appreciate an answer by tomorrow.
Eli! - Hey, E.
- Hey.
Oh.
Hi, Grace.
Hello.
Do you need a-- do you need a ride? No.
No, it's fine.
I'm actually No.
It's taken care of.
I think it's really good what you're doing-- volunteering your time.
Oh, well-- Gracie? Mom.
Hi.
Hi.
- Hi.
- Hey.
Hi.
Dad, I just realized-- I left something in my locker.
Oh, God.
Me too.
Grace, honey, I'm--I'm in a hurry.
- I'll be back.
- Me too.
Hi.
Hello.
I didn't have anything to do with this if that's what you were thinking.
Oh, no, of course not.
I--I wasn't.
This was bound to happen sooner or later, I guess.
Yeah, that they would interact.
No, I'm-- meant Never mind.
I guess they're working on Camus' "The Stranger".
I think I read "The Stranger" in high school.
It's very you know, existential and French and You must have had to read "The Stranger".
No? This is, like, unhealthy.
This is, like, really weird.
Are you sure you didn't plan this whole thing out? What? To, like, get them back together.
Okay, this girl told me she was supposedly supposed to tutor me and somehow it got changed to you.
And, you know, I was just wondering if-- - Oh, God.
- No, no, no.
Look, it's okay.
If you did, it's okay.
I understand.
It's just I kind of, like, need to know.
Jennifer did it.
There was someone next to your name and Jennifer erased her and wrote me.
Why? Why would she do that? Boys are so naive.
I mean, sometimes you have to wonder, like how they even live.
I have no idea.
Well, she must have just thought you'd be a better tutor for some reason.
Exactly.
Which you have been.
Oh.
Well Okay.
No, I--I mean it.
I've learned a lot.
So he murders his wife or his mother or-- same thing-- and then, I think, he gets sent to prison, you know? Or does he get sent to prison? I think-- yeah, of course he does because that's the point 'cause in prison, you know, they thought that he-- he felt freer in prison, or something like that.
I actually have no idea what it was about.
I have to go.
Yeah.
I have to go, too.
Eli? Gracie? Come on, honey.
Let's go.
Come on.
What is so bad about it? Deciding who is or is not going to tutor me? Maybe the other girl was stupid.
Maybe she was cute.
And she actually is.
So? So is Jennifer.
Why do you care? I don't.
It just sounds like she was trying to help.
There's a difference between helping out and butting in, right, Dad? Dad? Dad, what is it? Oh nothing.
I just--I just remembered something from the office today.
I'm gonna have to call David and remind him.
Excuse me.
He saw the mom today.
Well, duh.
No wonder.
Zoe, honey, aren't you eating? Yes.
Well, you better get ready in a minute.
Does Dad want to sell the house? Honey, no one wants to sell the house.
Then why are we selling it? Well, we're not selling it.
We're just having people look at it to find out how much it's worth.
Why would you do that if you're not selling it? Sweetie, this stuff is very complicated.
You have to figure out your-- the value of your assets because when you get divorced, you have to split things up.
How do you split up a house? Oh, Zoe.
Honey, that's the point.
If I'm gonna keep the home then we have to know how much I have to give Daddy so he has the same amount.
You have to pay Daddy money? Well, not exactly.
Mom, do you have money? Well So then you have to sell the house, don't you? - No, we're not selling the house.
- But if you can't pay Daddy-- Grace! Zoe! Honey, listen to me.
Do you hear me? We are not selling this house ever.
Eat! How was your meeting? Sherrie saw it on your calendar.
I was gonna tell you.
When? Excuse me.
Let's start this over.
He called and wanted to see me alone.
I don't see anything wrong with that.
Neither do I.
Then what's the problem? The problem is you didn't tell me about it.
David, I was never not going to tell you what happened at the meeting.
Look, let's get something straight.
Miles Drentell does not want to work with me.
He's made that abundantly clear.
Granted.
Yeah, and my feelings are really hurt about it and I'll probably cry a lot about it tonight but that's not what we're talking about here, is it? No, no.
Listen to me.
I'm upset with you.
I'm not jealous.
There's a big difference.
Do you understand? We're partners.
We're supposed to tell each other everything.
I don't need my feelings spared.
- Well, what's the point if it doesn't affect the outcome? - How can you know that? What makes you think you get to decide that for me? When, um when Lily decided to sleep with her ex - how'd you feel about that? - What does that have to do with anything? No, 'cause I'm sure she still loved you when it happened.
- I'm not having this conversation-- - And I'm sure she thought that it had no significance on your future relationship whatsoever, am I right? - You-- - But it wasn't really her right to decide not to tell you, was it? You are such an ass.
But I'm not wrong.
You're saying I did the same thing to you that she did to me.
You slept with Miles Drentell? He's not usually this late.
It's all right.
These sessions are hard.
Harder on some than others.
It must be strange to spend your days watching people's marriages fall apart and then go home.
It's a great motivator, actually.
Is it-- would--would it be inappropriate of me to ask you-- what do you think the best thing for me to do is in my situation? I'm really not supposed to talk with only one of you.
Oh.
Right.
Sorry.
Listen.
How serious are you about wanting to stay in the house? I'll do anything to keep them in that house.
If that's your main goal, then you have to understand that the real obstacle is anger--his and yours.
This can't be about getting back at each other or who's right.
- I don't even know if we-- - Hey.
Hey, sorry.
Sorry.
I was-- What did I miss? Girl talk.
Oh, my favorite kind.
Uh, listen, can I wash up real quick? Yeah.
Um, I talked to Cliff-- he's our contractor-- that's, uh, that's why I was-- I was late.
He, uh, he said he's willing to settle.
You know, I think he, uh, realizes he's not gonna get his money unless I open.
So he said he's willing to work out a schedule of payments.
I can do this, Lil.
I can do this.
I can make this work.
I think the only prayer you have of keeping the house is if you help me out here.
Oh, that has to be the kids.
Sorry.
Hello.
Hey, it's me.
- Uh, listen-- - Oh, hi.
Hi.
Listen, uh, can I-- No.
I--I just want you to hear me out.
I--I know what you're gonna say, and-- - No, no, no.
I just need to-- - It doesn't matter.
I didn't sleep last night, Lily.
I haven't really slept in a week.
But I--I just put a lot of things together and I--I think you need to-- I think you need to hear them.
Yeah.
Listen, can we just-- I need to see you in person.
Can we do that? Of course.
Can we just figure this out in about an hour? Yes, but it has to be today.
Yeah.
We can, uh, talk about it in about an hour.
Today, Lily.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Bye.
So how do you feel about what Jake is proposing? What does it mean that there's a schedule of payments? Will you have the money to keep paying the mortgage? Well, I can pay this month's mortgage late and, uh, that's all I have.
But--but Cliff--no--Cliff will be able to finish the work so I can open soon--I mean, maybe even this month, okay? And that's how we're gonna get the money.
You didn't even have enough money to make this month's mortgage payment? No, no.
I told you--I told you that I'll have the money late.
- I'll--I'll have it.
- And what if you don't, Jake? Lily I understand that you're having trouble trusting Jake's promises.
I--I guess you just have to ask yourself what's most important to you at this moment.
Okay.
I need to know that you're telling me the truth about what's going on and that you will be committed to this process.
I will.
I'm really sorry.
No, no, no.
That's-- Just this, uh It's okay.
I just got here.
craziness at work.
So So.
- So I read Eli's paper.
- Yeah? It's the best paper he's ever written.
- Really? - Yeah.
She never completely learned how to hold her fork the right way, no matter how many times I-- or her pencil, for that matter-- but she can explain existentialism to someone so go figure.
I've never, ever said "go figure" in my entire life.
I must be really nervous.
You don't have to be nervous.
I don't? So you don't hate me? I never hated you.
I was-- Because the idea of you hating me was - I tried to hate you.
- like, this physical pain.
I tried, but I I just never succeeded.
That's good.
That's really good.
Do you remember the first time we came here? Of course I remember.
And I kept insisting how impossible this was? Because you weren't ready.
And the timing was all wrong? And, as it turns out, you were You were right.
I was? Well, look at what's happened.
I mean, hasn't it become clear that this is just not gonna So that's what you-- I mean the love was so right but the timing was wrong which may be the corniest thing I've ever said to anybody.
So you know the love was right.
Of course.
It was just the timing.
I mean, if-- if you had been divorced for a few years, or--or-- So you want to You want to We tried.
You know? You've got to you've got to give us that.
We did.
We tried.
And I don't have-- I don't have any bitterness toward you anymore.
I don't, and that's-- that's really what I wanted to say, because-- That's good.
Because it's nobody's fault.
Ready? We may just need another moment or two.
I'll be back in a few minutes.
Well, I really do wish you good luck.
Oh, God.
Yeah, I wish you that, too.
And not--not just with the mediation.
I'm really glad that we did this.
I mean, to be able to clear the air Yeah.
You know, and--and end it.
Like adults, yes.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Well I guess this is, you know goodbye.
Goodbye.
I can't let you go.
Thank God.