The Path (2016) s02e09 Episode Script
Oz
1 EDDIE: Previously on "The Path" What if we're wrong about our exemption application being recalled? We don't have any money, Cal.
- SARAH: Please, take a seat.
- Who the hell is that? That's Sarah Lane.
SARAH: And that is why the exemption is so very important to us, Lisa 'cause what you did will never, ever go away.
I need you to get in the car, sweetheart.
Sean, listen to your mother.
Sean, my name is Wendy Kennair.
She's gonna help you, Sean you, Mary, and our grandchild.
You're getting out.
Jacqueline Richards? You contributed on behalf of your daughter, Noa, to our cause.
- I'm a friend of your son's.
- My son? I'm afraid he's out of town.
Your doctor, Steven Meyer he hurt him.
I picked a son, but he was the wrong son.
You will build The Garden, and we will follow you there.
[suspenseful music.]
The Path 2x09 Oz DON: Sometimes I was with both of them on the same night.
Some nights, I would have dinner with Katie and the kids and then make up some excuse, like leaving for a business trip, and then go back to Tracy for the rest of the week.
[tense music.]
Why are you doing this? It's something I'm dealing with.
It's my life.
Your lives, plural, Don.
Fuck you.
SARAH: You came to us drowning in guilt, overwhelmed, and talking about taking your own life.
We helped you.
We asked you to search within yourself to figure out why you were doing what you were doing and why you started two separate families both built on lies; to ask yourself why you felt so compelled to deceive so many people.
And we talked you off the ledge of suicide, but you weren't willing to uncover the mystery of you.
We talked to you, but you didn't want to do any real work, and now you've made a very successful life built on Transgressions.
And it's all very delicate.
Your fragile house of lies it could collapse at any moment.
Sorry for the delay.
No problem.
I'll get you a receipt.
[exhales sharply.]
[church bell tolling.]
You look like you want someone to come over and talk to you.
I'm Father Cates.
You know, I used to come to this church when I was a kid.
- Really? - Yeah.
Welcome back, then.
Ah, 20 years, so Father Deans.
Yeah.
Wow, Father Deans.
Jesus, I never would've remembered that name.
You weren't here then, were you? No, I was still a kid in Washington State, thinking I wanted to be a doctor like my dad.
How did you decide to join the church? Are you considering entering the priesthood? No, no, I was just, uh just curious.
I mean, did something happen that made you sure that you were supposed to work for Him? Uh, no is the short answer.
Would it be helpful to tell me what it is you're deciding to do or not to do? [exhales heavily.]
Ah, I guess you could say that I'm hearing a call.
Well, listening can be terrifying.
But the thought of not listening can be even worse.
I don't know.
Just feels like a crapshoot either way.
Well, certainty that this is my life's work is tested every day.
But if it's a mistake, I'd make it again.
SARAH: Faith is inspiring divisiveness, destruction, hate, and greed.
And the tragic irony is that faith is meant to inspire compassion and empathy and love.
And would this Dr.
Meyer himself be speaking, were we to find room in the schedule? No, uh, my colleague and I speak on behalf of the Movement now.
But we are deeply interested in participating in your conference.
We we have much to contribute and much to learn, as well.
ABE: They must have squeezed some of their donors.
MCCLUSKY: No shit.
And just like that, any leverage we had with them up to their ass in back taxes is gone.
And you had no idea they were coming up with a plan to wiggle out of the noose.
You're inside, and yet we learn about this before you do.
Do you even recognize any of these people who coughed up cash to pay off their IRS debt? ABE: Don Hendren, Martina Bill, Pete Gilchrist all of these people are level 3R at the highest.
They're practicing Meyerists, but they they're not living it full-time.
Just figure out what the hell is going on and how we can use it.
Listen, I-I don't know how this happened, but I will figure out what's going on.
Damn it! [solemn music.]
[sighs.]
Felicia, what are you Richard told me everything.
But I need to hear it from you.
EDDIE: I just can't keep running from this.
He bears its mark on his back.
Or it's just a wound a wound from the lightning.
Well He's meant to lead us, Felicia.
I'm convinced.
Well, that must be nice.
I-I'm sorry.
This is difficult to process.
Three days ago, I had every reason to believe that Steve had fulfilled his work for us.
Now I have to accept this new story that you're meant to guide us.
EDDIE: I get it.
Certainty is a white whale.
There's only one way to know.
Climb.
You need to continue the climb, 8R.
[foreboding music.]
MAN: Excuse me, sir? What? We're here.
This is the address you gave me, right? [sighs heavily.]
[folksy acoustic music.]
Have you read it? Uh, no, but I saw the movie.
- It's black and white, right? - Yes.
Well, Kansas is black and white, but Oz is in color.
The land of Oz is entirely green, but the inhabitants are wearing these green-colored glasses, and they don't know that their world is the same colors as everyone else's.
Their "leader" is called the Wizard of Oz, but really, he's just a regular guy from Kansas that has everyone fooled.
Thanks for letting us throw you a baby shower.
Uh, how do you two know each other again? - Oh - College.
We're old friends.
I hope you enjoy the book.
I'll be curious what you see in it, living how you well, where you do.
They don't tell you what you can and can't read, do they? Can we be done, please? I'm tired, and this food is terrible.
I'm ready to, uh, move ahead with the sale of the center in in New York - I have news.
- Humble myself to the Council.
And if they feel they need me to step aside - Cal - No, no.
That is the best course of action right now.
It's over.
I made a few phone calls, and a few donors stepped up.
What? I paid the back taxes on this place.
I-I How how did you get donors to do that? I didn't sugarcoat.
I let them know how dire the situation was.
It's a Band-Aid, but it buys us some time.
- [chuckles.]
- Cal? No, no, um uh, I just, um Everything's gonna be okay? I mean, we're far from being in the clear.
We still need to put other sources of revenue in motion.
Yeah, of course, yeah.
And there's the World Faith Conference in Boston.
Very mainstream.
Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins and we'll be speaking.
That's exciting.
I got us on the schedule.
Main stage, second day.
Wow, you [chuckles.]
Wow, that's great, Sarah.
This could be the beginning of something new for us, you know, a way to monetize our message.
Open it up to corporate events.
You know, uh, executive training, you know.
Yeah.
We can do this.
Yeah, absolutely.
You know, we have to face reality, right? We've certainly had a a good dose of that recently.
You're gonna be great with this audience.
We'll be great.
[both chuckle softly.]
Uh, so, I, uh I'll just, uh I'll just settle back in, and I'll catch up with you later.
Is there anything that you want to talk to me about? All all the these donations, they were they were voluntary, right? Of course.
Yeah.
[tense music.]
[exhales sharply.]
[power tools buzzing.]
Hey.
Did you hear? The IRS stuff it's over.
I heard Cal might've had to go to jail.
Is that true? I don't don't think so.
Who said that? Please.
Stop.
You're out of shape.
Chasing after you is exhausting.
I like it, though.
I'm sorry that I-I was a - Dick? - Dick.
I am.
It's all right.
I was wondering if you if you want to come to dinner with me.
Yeah, fine.
Where you thinking? My mom's? You're really doing the "bring the girl home - to meet the family" thing? - Yeah, yeah.
I am, yeah.
Why? I've met your family.
I know.
I-I just I want you with me when I go home.
You're so "aww, shucks," it's incredible.
Yeah, I'll go.
ABE: This is a token of our appreciation for your incredibly generous donation.
The Movement thanks you.
Uh, you are an inspiration.
Honestly, thank you.
What do you want? I've done enough.
My family is in there.
They blackmailed you too, didn't they? [somber music.]
They played you your unburdening sessions? Welcome.
Thanks so much for having me.
Oh, I'm just so happy that Hawk wanted to bring you.
- She's a good one, this one.
- I know she is.
- Hawk's back.
- Hey, kid.
I missed you.
Hey, I got someone I want you to meet.
- Noa, this is my sister Summer.
- Nice to meet you.
- Are you Hawk's girlfriend? - [laughs.]
HAWK: You've got something on your face.
What you got on your face? No, on your face.
SARAH: You are Light in your world because you are your world.
You are capable.
- You are - [cell phone beeps.]
[sighs.]
Sorry, hon, I should have turned it off.
Uh, where was I? Uh, "You are capable of summiting the mountain of your spirit.
" Okay, um, you guys don't have to do this.
I can get Cal to run it Just relax.
Remember your breath.
I want to summit the mountain of my spirit.
HAWK: You don't have to do this, Mom.
You saved the city center.
You don't have to go pump up a bunch of CEOs.
Well, it's not just a bunch of CEOs, Hawk.
Look, I'm just saying, we can focus on the real work now the important work we're doing.
Hawk's right about one thing, though, and we should take a moment to, uh, acknowledge it.
Sarah saved our asses.
And I-I got to say, I was pretty nervous there.
- Yeah, he couldn't sleep.
- No.
I'd come downstairs; you'd just be sitting there.
HANK: No, I honestly thought it all might be coming to an end.
They're heartless gangsters.
We're just happy that some people stepped up.
You got them to do that.
You dragged us back from the brink.
We're lucky to have you.
And not just the family the entire Movement.
Although we really should be thanking the people who wrote the checks.
All right, Nicole, just Nicole is right, Russel.
Thank you.
I don't know; maybe that was wrong of me to say, but I feel like you're awfully critical of me lately.
What are you talking about? I don't have a family.
- I gave mine up.
- They gave you up.
- We're your family, Nicole.
- They did.
They gave me up.
We love you like our own.
Nicole is absolutely right.
The people who wrote the checks made the real sacrifice.
But you worked for it.
[sighs.]
Sorry you have to watch us like this.
Not fun, I know.
You kidding? I'm always impressed when I see a family actually say anything to each other.
My family doesn't ever talk.
We just hate each other silently.
You should take the compliment, Mom.
You deserve it.
SARAH: I'll be right back.
[tense music.]
[retching.]
[cell phone buzzes.]
[soft dramatic music.]
I'm going to Boston going to, uh, speak at a conference there.
My mother died.
- I'm sorry.
- Yeah.
[chuckling softly.]
It's just over, then, huh? Once they go, that's that's it.
Done.
Have you read "The Wizard of Oz"? Um, I watched the movie.
Mothers are like Oz.
Everyone expects them to be able to give you a home, a heart, and a brain, but mostly they're just fucked-up people.
[chuckles.]
Why are you reading "The Wizard of Oz"? Why are you here? [exhales sharply.]
I'm a husk, Mary.
I want to be vapor.
I want to metamorphose.
We could do it together.
You know [sighs.]
Swim in the sea.
What do you say? He's kicking.
Oh, holy shit, he really is.
Does he do that all the time? Yeah.
You're tired.
Yeah.
So am I.
[Eddie breathes deeply.]
The Eighth Rung of The Ladder is devoted to the pursuit of mending.
There's a tapestry that is our collective existence, and it's frayed.
Find a tear, and think about ways to sew it up.
[tense music.]
Has the 27 bus come yet? You know, I-I don't know.
I'm just just sitting here.
Not waiting for a bus or anything, specifically.
I'm not sure if that sounds wonderful or horrible.
Yeah, me neither.
Hey, sir, it's right Sir? [eerie music.]
[indistinct chatter.]
Uh, we have time to go over our speech, grab some lunch.
I'd love to see Mata Amritanandamayi.
She comes on the main stage at 4:00.
If you have an M.
Div.
, what degree is that? Is it Master of Divinity? Uh, I believe so.
That sounds about right.
M.
T.
S.
? Theological Studies, I think.
Master.
- Master.
- Yeah.
The shuttle's this way.
Uh, I think I'm just gonna walk around a bit, maybe take in some of the lectures.
We should probably go over this at least once.
- No, best to keep it fresh.
- But, Cal Don't want it to sound rehearsed, you know.
That's the worst thing we could do with this crowd.
Call me when you're heading back over.
EDDIE: It's hurtful, it's hateful, not to mention counter-fucking-productive.
It's a big idea, certainly.
This wasn't some idea I came up with out of the blue, okay? This was a vision same as when I saw that Steve was sick.
You are either with me, or you are not.
Envisioning faceless people doesn't necessarily mean unraveling a policy that's been around for See, you don't even remember when the Denier policy started.
'81 or '82.
No, when The Movement started to grow, Steve realized that he needed to find a way to contain the people that is it.
You're suggesting he was corrupt? It was never a policy to shun Deniers.
Some of us chose to say good-bye to people in our lives because they became toxic to our growth to our climb.
EDDIE: Really? So that's why you said good-bye to Jeremiah when he stopped believing? Because he was toxic to your growth? Yes.
That is bullshit.
Once we decided that even our own loved ones were dead to us because they didn't believe exactly in what we did, we probably stopped truly loving then too.
I can see why you want this.
You've suffered by that ideology.
This has nothing to do with me.
You sure about that? Don't forget it's ego of the individual that always threatens the good of the whole.
Fuck! - Fuckin' shelf.
- You okay? - Hey.
- Hey.
Are you okay? Uh, I don't know.
No.
Sorry, maybe it's just postpartum.
Ugh, that's such a shitty excuse.
Excuse for what? - It's all Russel.
- Mm.
His family, his world.
My family disowned me when I left their church, The Scent of Jesus in Flushing.
What does Christ smell like again? - You're not a member.
- Mm-mm.
[both laughing.]
Sometimes I wonder if every move I've made in my life has been to spite them.
Yeah, I've felt like that.
Have you ever felt like the choices you made were never choices? Like the life you have has been assigned to you? Yeah, I have felt like that, yeah.
Kind of feel like that now.
You know, Nicole, I, uh Yeah? You know, I I like you.
I really do.
I-I just, you know I-I can't, um I just Sometimes I want something one thing that's just mine.
Not the family, not The Movement Just about me.
I want you to know, whatever happens in this moment it's real for me.
[both moan.]
Okay, okay, okay, okay.
Wait, w-wait a minute.
You're not gonna go and unburden out loud about this afterwards, are you? This is not the kind of thing I want on tape, hanging around the archive room.
The unburdening tapes are in the archive room? [both chuckle.]
[Jason Collette's "It Don't Matter Anymore".]
COLLETTE: It don't matter anymore Who's keeping score Nobody wins When the hurtin' stones begin I'm too tired tonight [sewing machine clanking.]
I'm too tired to fight - Hey, uh, Tessa? - Yes? Hi, um, my name's Eddie Lane.
I, uh I married your sister, Sarah.
- Wow.
- Yeah.
You're the one, huh? Holy shit.
[clears throat.]
Listen, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.
I'm done with Meyerism and all its bullshit.
I left too.
You left out? Yeah.
[sighs.]
Well, shit.
Um, why don't we go downstairs? I'll buy you a cup of coffee.
That sounds great.
One cup of coffee.
[indistinct chatter.]
[bell chiming.]
Cal, where the hell are you? [chiming continues.]
What have you been doing? I've been looking everywhere for you.
Sorry, uh, um I can't do this.
Um you're gonna have to go on alone.
Cal, listen.
I know losing your mom No, no, no, Sarah, you should do this, all right? You're the one who saved us.
You're the real Guardian of the Light.
You you can do this.
I don't want to do this alone.
Yeah, but I can't do it.
I can't do it.
I can't do it at all.
- That's not fair.
- It's not a choice.
It's not for me either.
I can't articulate my conviction right now.
Well, I'm I'm not sure I have any conviction left to articulate.
[chuckles.]
Quite the pickle we're in, being that we are at the World Faith Conference.
We're scheduled to go onstage in less than an hour.
[grim music.]
I blackmailed them.
All of them.
The donors.
You knew that, though, right? So do this for me.
Do this for what I have done.
Do it for me, if for nothing else, or we have nothing.
Make people believe.
Make me believe.
Okay? Okay? - First - Yes? I want to be clean in your Eye.
[whispering.]
Yes.
Yes.
I want to wash away our Damage.
I want to be clean in your Eye.
Because I I see myself reflected in you.
With my Eye I see you anew.
With my Eye, I see you anew.
I see you anew.
KODIAK: It's over.
What's over? Us? We never were, Kodiak.
I wish I was referring to us, Gab.
I mean this what Steve built.
But Sarah saved it.
We're gonna be fine.
Things are gonna get ugly.
What? Why? Tell me.
You're scaring me.
Did Sarah do something? It's all smoke and mirrors, Gab all of this.
I needed Steve to be a God, and so he was.
He needed me to be this madman, aa victim he could save, and so I was.
- I don't understand.
- Escape.
Don't go down with it.
Come with me.
[slow music.]
Don't you want to just scream in your family's face, "I exist.
You can't ignore me.
I'm a fucking human being"? Of course I do.
Don't you think I do? I've obsessed about this for years.
I've had hundreds of hours of therapy.
But you can't change other people.
You cannot get them to see what you see.
No, no, I don't I don't buy that.
Okay? That's giving up.
This needs to be fixed.
All those broken families it's not fucking fair.
Grow the fuck up.
Hey, Tessa, I'm I'm sor Tessa.
Hi, I'm I'm taking over for Andrea.
Can I get you a refill? - Ashley? - Hi.
Oh, my God.
- Wow.
- Uh, how's Hawk? I don't know.
We're not talking right now.
It's a long story.
Uh, I do know he's living in the city.
Did you know that? A clear sensorium and complex perceptual processes during a period of apparent clinical death challenge the concept that consciousness is localized in the brain.
This is a concept shared by every faith tradition around the world.
- And yet today - I don't want this.
BRYCE: Science is proving it as fact.
[applause.]
How can this really be all there is? [chuckles.]
How can there not be more? And how do we not find ourselves on the fast track to the grave? We only have five minutes on this planet.
How do we make the most of those five minutes? It's possible to take the best parts of ourselves and take the five minutes that the universe has given us and break it down into seconds, into milliseconds, into nanoseconds and live in between those seconds content, happy, and free.
My mother, who died recently, never once told me she loved me never once.
How do I make the most of my five minutes knowing that? Acceptance, that's how.
I-I accept that I have no I had no control over my mother or her love.
And I-I let her go.
And I surround myself with people who do love me.
Loving begins with you.
Love begins with you, but it rarely ends with you.
It will lead you into your own heart into yourself.
And you will love yourself, and you will love others.
And you will realize just how much more there is to this existence.
[applause.]
Your mother said some things before she died Things that were hard to hear.
Yeah, well, she tends to do that.
Sorry you had to suffer her venom.
[elevator dings.]
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Yeah.
That's me.
I just, um I couldn't let you walk away.
You're everything that Everything I said up there was about you.
[Gavin Clark and Toydrum's "The World That I Created".]
CLARK: This is a world that I created I created light From sweetness And darkness Created light This is a world that I created I created light Created light This is a world that has been spoken I created light Created light Oh, oh, oh Oh-oh-oh Oh, oh, oh Oh-oh-oh Oh-oh, oh Oh, oh, oh Oh-oh-oh Oh-oh, oh Oh, oh, oh Oh-oh-oh Oh, oh, oh Oh-oh-oh Oh-oh, oh Well, here it comes [suspenseful music.]
[knock at door.]
Hank.
Why are you contacting Tessa? Wait, she told you? She's my daughter.
I talk to her, Eddie.
Why are you contacting her? Come in.
Look, our families need to be mended, Hank.
I'm doing 8R.
What? Why? And with whom are you doing 8R? You've left The Movement.
I have.
But I haven't left everything.
Steve chose me.
I'm climbing the rungs with Richard and Felicia, and when I am ready, I am going to replace Cal.
Things can be better, Hank.
We can all be back together.
Where did you get that? Steve wanted me to have it.
We can put all of this back together.
[exhales deeply.]
[Andrew Judah's "Better & Better".]
Are you bleeding? JUDAH: Every day In every way I'm getting better and better Despite what you say I know I will Climb up to heaven And never look down Never coming down
- SARAH: Please, take a seat.
- Who the hell is that? That's Sarah Lane.
SARAH: And that is why the exemption is so very important to us, Lisa 'cause what you did will never, ever go away.
I need you to get in the car, sweetheart.
Sean, listen to your mother.
Sean, my name is Wendy Kennair.
She's gonna help you, Sean you, Mary, and our grandchild.
You're getting out.
Jacqueline Richards? You contributed on behalf of your daughter, Noa, to our cause.
- I'm a friend of your son's.
- My son? I'm afraid he's out of town.
Your doctor, Steven Meyer he hurt him.
I picked a son, but he was the wrong son.
You will build The Garden, and we will follow you there.
[suspenseful music.]
The Path 2x09 Oz DON: Sometimes I was with both of them on the same night.
Some nights, I would have dinner with Katie and the kids and then make up some excuse, like leaving for a business trip, and then go back to Tracy for the rest of the week.
[tense music.]
Why are you doing this? It's something I'm dealing with.
It's my life.
Your lives, plural, Don.
Fuck you.
SARAH: You came to us drowning in guilt, overwhelmed, and talking about taking your own life.
We helped you.
We asked you to search within yourself to figure out why you were doing what you were doing and why you started two separate families both built on lies; to ask yourself why you felt so compelled to deceive so many people.
And we talked you off the ledge of suicide, but you weren't willing to uncover the mystery of you.
We talked to you, but you didn't want to do any real work, and now you've made a very successful life built on Transgressions.
And it's all very delicate.
Your fragile house of lies it could collapse at any moment.
Sorry for the delay.
No problem.
I'll get you a receipt.
[exhales sharply.]
[church bell tolling.]
You look like you want someone to come over and talk to you.
I'm Father Cates.
You know, I used to come to this church when I was a kid.
- Really? - Yeah.
Welcome back, then.
Ah, 20 years, so Father Deans.
Yeah.
Wow, Father Deans.
Jesus, I never would've remembered that name.
You weren't here then, were you? No, I was still a kid in Washington State, thinking I wanted to be a doctor like my dad.
How did you decide to join the church? Are you considering entering the priesthood? No, no, I was just, uh just curious.
I mean, did something happen that made you sure that you were supposed to work for Him? Uh, no is the short answer.
Would it be helpful to tell me what it is you're deciding to do or not to do? [exhales heavily.]
Ah, I guess you could say that I'm hearing a call.
Well, listening can be terrifying.
But the thought of not listening can be even worse.
I don't know.
Just feels like a crapshoot either way.
Well, certainty that this is my life's work is tested every day.
But if it's a mistake, I'd make it again.
SARAH: Faith is inspiring divisiveness, destruction, hate, and greed.
And the tragic irony is that faith is meant to inspire compassion and empathy and love.
And would this Dr.
Meyer himself be speaking, were we to find room in the schedule? No, uh, my colleague and I speak on behalf of the Movement now.
But we are deeply interested in participating in your conference.
We we have much to contribute and much to learn, as well.
ABE: They must have squeezed some of their donors.
MCCLUSKY: No shit.
And just like that, any leverage we had with them up to their ass in back taxes is gone.
And you had no idea they were coming up with a plan to wiggle out of the noose.
You're inside, and yet we learn about this before you do.
Do you even recognize any of these people who coughed up cash to pay off their IRS debt? ABE: Don Hendren, Martina Bill, Pete Gilchrist all of these people are level 3R at the highest.
They're practicing Meyerists, but they they're not living it full-time.
Just figure out what the hell is going on and how we can use it.
Listen, I-I don't know how this happened, but I will figure out what's going on.
Damn it! [solemn music.]
[sighs.]
Felicia, what are you Richard told me everything.
But I need to hear it from you.
EDDIE: I just can't keep running from this.
He bears its mark on his back.
Or it's just a wound a wound from the lightning.
Well He's meant to lead us, Felicia.
I'm convinced.
Well, that must be nice.
I-I'm sorry.
This is difficult to process.
Three days ago, I had every reason to believe that Steve had fulfilled his work for us.
Now I have to accept this new story that you're meant to guide us.
EDDIE: I get it.
Certainty is a white whale.
There's only one way to know.
Climb.
You need to continue the climb, 8R.
[foreboding music.]
MAN: Excuse me, sir? What? We're here.
This is the address you gave me, right? [sighs heavily.]
[folksy acoustic music.]
Have you read it? Uh, no, but I saw the movie.
- It's black and white, right? - Yes.
Well, Kansas is black and white, but Oz is in color.
The land of Oz is entirely green, but the inhabitants are wearing these green-colored glasses, and they don't know that their world is the same colors as everyone else's.
Their "leader" is called the Wizard of Oz, but really, he's just a regular guy from Kansas that has everyone fooled.
Thanks for letting us throw you a baby shower.
Uh, how do you two know each other again? - Oh - College.
We're old friends.
I hope you enjoy the book.
I'll be curious what you see in it, living how you well, where you do.
They don't tell you what you can and can't read, do they? Can we be done, please? I'm tired, and this food is terrible.
I'm ready to, uh, move ahead with the sale of the center in in New York - I have news.
- Humble myself to the Council.
And if they feel they need me to step aside - Cal - No, no.
That is the best course of action right now.
It's over.
I made a few phone calls, and a few donors stepped up.
What? I paid the back taxes on this place.
I-I How how did you get donors to do that? I didn't sugarcoat.
I let them know how dire the situation was.
It's a Band-Aid, but it buys us some time.
- [chuckles.]
- Cal? No, no, um uh, I just, um Everything's gonna be okay? I mean, we're far from being in the clear.
We still need to put other sources of revenue in motion.
Yeah, of course, yeah.
And there's the World Faith Conference in Boston.
Very mainstream.
Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins and we'll be speaking.
That's exciting.
I got us on the schedule.
Main stage, second day.
Wow, you [chuckles.]
Wow, that's great, Sarah.
This could be the beginning of something new for us, you know, a way to monetize our message.
Open it up to corporate events.
You know, uh, executive training, you know.
Yeah.
We can do this.
Yeah, absolutely.
You know, we have to face reality, right? We've certainly had a a good dose of that recently.
You're gonna be great with this audience.
We'll be great.
[both chuckle softly.]
Uh, so, I, uh I'll just, uh I'll just settle back in, and I'll catch up with you later.
Is there anything that you want to talk to me about? All all the these donations, they were they were voluntary, right? Of course.
Yeah.
[tense music.]
[exhales sharply.]
[power tools buzzing.]
Hey.
Did you hear? The IRS stuff it's over.
I heard Cal might've had to go to jail.
Is that true? I don't don't think so.
Who said that? Please.
Stop.
You're out of shape.
Chasing after you is exhausting.
I like it, though.
I'm sorry that I-I was a - Dick? - Dick.
I am.
It's all right.
I was wondering if you if you want to come to dinner with me.
Yeah, fine.
Where you thinking? My mom's? You're really doing the "bring the girl home - to meet the family" thing? - Yeah, yeah.
I am, yeah.
Why? I've met your family.
I know.
I-I just I want you with me when I go home.
You're so "aww, shucks," it's incredible.
Yeah, I'll go.
ABE: This is a token of our appreciation for your incredibly generous donation.
The Movement thanks you.
Uh, you are an inspiration.
Honestly, thank you.
What do you want? I've done enough.
My family is in there.
They blackmailed you too, didn't they? [somber music.]
They played you your unburdening sessions? Welcome.
Thanks so much for having me.
Oh, I'm just so happy that Hawk wanted to bring you.
- She's a good one, this one.
- I know she is.
- Hawk's back.
- Hey, kid.
I missed you.
Hey, I got someone I want you to meet.
- Noa, this is my sister Summer.
- Nice to meet you.
- Are you Hawk's girlfriend? - [laughs.]
HAWK: You've got something on your face.
What you got on your face? No, on your face.
SARAH: You are Light in your world because you are your world.
You are capable.
- You are - [cell phone beeps.]
[sighs.]
Sorry, hon, I should have turned it off.
Uh, where was I? Uh, "You are capable of summiting the mountain of your spirit.
" Okay, um, you guys don't have to do this.
I can get Cal to run it Just relax.
Remember your breath.
I want to summit the mountain of my spirit.
HAWK: You don't have to do this, Mom.
You saved the city center.
You don't have to go pump up a bunch of CEOs.
Well, it's not just a bunch of CEOs, Hawk.
Look, I'm just saying, we can focus on the real work now the important work we're doing.
Hawk's right about one thing, though, and we should take a moment to, uh, acknowledge it.
Sarah saved our asses.
And I-I got to say, I was pretty nervous there.
- Yeah, he couldn't sleep.
- No.
I'd come downstairs; you'd just be sitting there.
HANK: No, I honestly thought it all might be coming to an end.
They're heartless gangsters.
We're just happy that some people stepped up.
You got them to do that.
You dragged us back from the brink.
We're lucky to have you.
And not just the family the entire Movement.
Although we really should be thanking the people who wrote the checks.
All right, Nicole, just Nicole is right, Russel.
Thank you.
I don't know; maybe that was wrong of me to say, but I feel like you're awfully critical of me lately.
What are you talking about? I don't have a family.
- I gave mine up.
- They gave you up.
- We're your family, Nicole.
- They did.
They gave me up.
We love you like our own.
Nicole is absolutely right.
The people who wrote the checks made the real sacrifice.
But you worked for it.
[sighs.]
Sorry you have to watch us like this.
Not fun, I know.
You kidding? I'm always impressed when I see a family actually say anything to each other.
My family doesn't ever talk.
We just hate each other silently.
You should take the compliment, Mom.
You deserve it.
SARAH: I'll be right back.
[tense music.]
[retching.]
[cell phone buzzes.]
[soft dramatic music.]
I'm going to Boston going to, uh, speak at a conference there.
My mother died.
- I'm sorry.
- Yeah.
[chuckling softly.]
It's just over, then, huh? Once they go, that's that's it.
Done.
Have you read "The Wizard of Oz"? Um, I watched the movie.
Mothers are like Oz.
Everyone expects them to be able to give you a home, a heart, and a brain, but mostly they're just fucked-up people.
[chuckles.]
Why are you reading "The Wizard of Oz"? Why are you here? [exhales sharply.]
I'm a husk, Mary.
I want to be vapor.
I want to metamorphose.
We could do it together.
You know [sighs.]
Swim in the sea.
What do you say? He's kicking.
Oh, holy shit, he really is.
Does he do that all the time? Yeah.
You're tired.
Yeah.
So am I.
[Eddie breathes deeply.]
The Eighth Rung of The Ladder is devoted to the pursuit of mending.
There's a tapestry that is our collective existence, and it's frayed.
Find a tear, and think about ways to sew it up.
[tense music.]
Has the 27 bus come yet? You know, I-I don't know.
I'm just just sitting here.
Not waiting for a bus or anything, specifically.
I'm not sure if that sounds wonderful or horrible.
Yeah, me neither.
Hey, sir, it's right Sir? [eerie music.]
[indistinct chatter.]
Uh, we have time to go over our speech, grab some lunch.
I'd love to see Mata Amritanandamayi.
She comes on the main stage at 4:00.
If you have an M.
Div.
, what degree is that? Is it Master of Divinity? Uh, I believe so.
That sounds about right.
M.
T.
S.
? Theological Studies, I think.
Master.
- Master.
- Yeah.
The shuttle's this way.
Uh, I think I'm just gonna walk around a bit, maybe take in some of the lectures.
We should probably go over this at least once.
- No, best to keep it fresh.
- But, Cal Don't want it to sound rehearsed, you know.
That's the worst thing we could do with this crowd.
Call me when you're heading back over.
EDDIE: It's hurtful, it's hateful, not to mention counter-fucking-productive.
It's a big idea, certainly.
This wasn't some idea I came up with out of the blue, okay? This was a vision same as when I saw that Steve was sick.
You are either with me, or you are not.
Envisioning faceless people doesn't necessarily mean unraveling a policy that's been around for See, you don't even remember when the Denier policy started.
'81 or '82.
No, when The Movement started to grow, Steve realized that he needed to find a way to contain the people that is it.
You're suggesting he was corrupt? It was never a policy to shun Deniers.
Some of us chose to say good-bye to people in our lives because they became toxic to our growth to our climb.
EDDIE: Really? So that's why you said good-bye to Jeremiah when he stopped believing? Because he was toxic to your growth? Yes.
That is bullshit.
Once we decided that even our own loved ones were dead to us because they didn't believe exactly in what we did, we probably stopped truly loving then too.
I can see why you want this.
You've suffered by that ideology.
This has nothing to do with me.
You sure about that? Don't forget it's ego of the individual that always threatens the good of the whole.
Fuck! - Fuckin' shelf.
- You okay? - Hey.
- Hey.
Are you okay? Uh, I don't know.
No.
Sorry, maybe it's just postpartum.
Ugh, that's such a shitty excuse.
Excuse for what? - It's all Russel.
- Mm.
His family, his world.
My family disowned me when I left their church, The Scent of Jesus in Flushing.
What does Christ smell like again? - You're not a member.
- Mm-mm.
[both laughing.]
Sometimes I wonder if every move I've made in my life has been to spite them.
Yeah, I've felt like that.
Have you ever felt like the choices you made were never choices? Like the life you have has been assigned to you? Yeah, I have felt like that, yeah.
Kind of feel like that now.
You know, Nicole, I, uh Yeah? You know, I I like you.
I really do.
I-I just, you know I-I can't, um I just Sometimes I want something one thing that's just mine.
Not the family, not The Movement Just about me.
I want you to know, whatever happens in this moment it's real for me.
[both moan.]
Okay, okay, okay, okay.
Wait, w-wait a minute.
You're not gonna go and unburden out loud about this afterwards, are you? This is not the kind of thing I want on tape, hanging around the archive room.
The unburdening tapes are in the archive room? [both chuckle.]
[Jason Collette's "It Don't Matter Anymore".]
COLLETTE: It don't matter anymore Who's keeping score Nobody wins When the hurtin' stones begin I'm too tired tonight [sewing machine clanking.]
I'm too tired to fight - Hey, uh, Tessa? - Yes? Hi, um, my name's Eddie Lane.
I, uh I married your sister, Sarah.
- Wow.
- Yeah.
You're the one, huh? Holy shit.
[clears throat.]
Listen, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.
I'm done with Meyerism and all its bullshit.
I left too.
You left out? Yeah.
[sighs.]
Well, shit.
Um, why don't we go downstairs? I'll buy you a cup of coffee.
That sounds great.
One cup of coffee.
[indistinct chatter.]
[bell chiming.]
Cal, where the hell are you? [chiming continues.]
What have you been doing? I've been looking everywhere for you.
Sorry, uh, um I can't do this.
Um you're gonna have to go on alone.
Cal, listen.
I know losing your mom No, no, no, Sarah, you should do this, all right? You're the one who saved us.
You're the real Guardian of the Light.
You you can do this.
I don't want to do this alone.
Yeah, but I can't do it.
I can't do it.
I can't do it at all.
- That's not fair.
- It's not a choice.
It's not for me either.
I can't articulate my conviction right now.
Well, I'm I'm not sure I have any conviction left to articulate.
[chuckles.]
Quite the pickle we're in, being that we are at the World Faith Conference.
We're scheduled to go onstage in less than an hour.
[grim music.]
I blackmailed them.
All of them.
The donors.
You knew that, though, right? So do this for me.
Do this for what I have done.
Do it for me, if for nothing else, or we have nothing.
Make people believe.
Make me believe.
Okay? Okay? - First - Yes? I want to be clean in your Eye.
[whispering.]
Yes.
Yes.
I want to wash away our Damage.
I want to be clean in your Eye.
Because I I see myself reflected in you.
With my Eye I see you anew.
With my Eye, I see you anew.
I see you anew.
KODIAK: It's over.
What's over? Us? We never were, Kodiak.
I wish I was referring to us, Gab.
I mean this what Steve built.
But Sarah saved it.
We're gonna be fine.
Things are gonna get ugly.
What? Why? Tell me.
You're scaring me.
Did Sarah do something? It's all smoke and mirrors, Gab all of this.
I needed Steve to be a God, and so he was.
He needed me to be this madman, aa victim he could save, and so I was.
- I don't understand.
- Escape.
Don't go down with it.
Come with me.
[slow music.]
Don't you want to just scream in your family's face, "I exist.
You can't ignore me.
I'm a fucking human being"? Of course I do.
Don't you think I do? I've obsessed about this for years.
I've had hundreds of hours of therapy.
But you can't change other people.
You cannot get them to see what you see.
No, no, I don't I don't buy that.
Okay? That's giving up.
This needs to be fixed.
All those broken families it's not fucking fair.
Grow the fuck up.
Hey, Tessa, I'm I'm sor Tessa.
Hi, I'm I'm taking over for Andrea.
Can I get you a refill? - Ashley? - Hi.
Oh, my God.
- Wow.
- Uh, how's Hawk? I don't know.
We're not talking right now.
It's a long story.
Uh, I do know he's living in the city.
Did you know that? A clear sensorium and complex perceptual processes during a period of apparent clinical death challenge the concept that consciousness is localized in the brain.
This is a concept shared by every faith tradition around the world.
- And yet today - I don't want this.
BRYCE: Science is proving it as fact.
[applause.]
How can this really be all there is? [chuckles.]
How can there not be more? And how do we not find ourselves on the fast track to the grave? We only have five minutes on this planet.
How do we make the most of those five minutes? It's possible to take the best parts of ourselves and take the five minutes that the universe has given us and break it down into seconds, into milliseconds, into nanoseconds and live in between those seconds content, happy, and free.
My mother, who died recently, never once told me she loved me never once.
How do I make the most of my five minutes knowing that? Acceptance, that's how.
I-I accept that I have no I had no control over my mother or her love.
And I-I let her go.
And I surround myself with people who do love me.
Loving begins with you.
Love begins with you, but it rarely ends with you.
It will lead you into your own heart into yourself.
And you will love yourself, and you will love others.
And you will realize just how much more there is to this existence.
[applause.]
Your mother said some things before she died Things that were hard to hear.
Yeah, well, she tends to do that.
Sorry you had to suffer her venom.
[elevator dings.]
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Yeah.
That's me.
I just, um I couldn't let you walk away.
You're everything that Everything I said up there was about you.
[Gavin Clark and Toydrum's "The World That I Created".]
CLARK: This is a world that I created I created light From sweetness And darkness Created light This is a world that I created I created light Created light This is a world that has been spoken I created light Created light Oh, oh, oh Oh-oh-oh Oh, oh, oh Oh-oh-oh Oh-oh, oh Oh, oh, oh Oh-oh-oh Oh-oh, oh Oh, oh, oh Oh-oh-oh Oh, oh, oh Oh-oh-oh Oh-oh, oh Well, here it comes [suspenseful music.]
[knock at door.]
Hank.
Why are you contacting Tessa? Wait, she told you? She's my daughter.
I talk to her, Eddie.
Why are you contacting her? Come in.
Look, our families need to be mended, Hank.
I'm doing 8R.
What? Why? And with whom are you doing 8R? You've left The Movement.
I have.
But I haven't left everything.
Steve chose me.
I'm climbing the rungs with Richard and Felicia, and when I am ready, I am going to replace Cal.
Things can be better, Hank.
We can all be back together.
Where did you get that? Steve wanted me to have it.
We can put all of this back together.
[exhales deeply.]
[Andrew Judah's "Better & Better".]
Are you bleeding? JUDAH: Every day In every way I'm getting better and better Despite what you say I know I will Climb up to heaven And never look down Never coming down