Chasing Life (2014) s02e10 Episode Script

- Previously on Chasing Life - I'm just trying to do whatever I can to make myself happy and feel better.
- You're gonna have to get over it.
- Get over my dead husband? Why the hell hadn't I thought of that? Winter storm Pam should hit New York later today dumping at least a foot of snow.
Just coordinating Mae's travel.
Listen, are you guys sure it's okay if she stays here? - Of course.
- Guess I really am my father's daughter They way I'm acting because Leo died and the way Dad was acting because your mom was pressuring him to be with her.
- Who told you that? - George.
We need to talk.
I know, I ate all the hummus.
I'll restock you guys before I leave.
It's not that.
It's I have a couple of questions about something - you mentioned the other day about Dad.
- Oh.
What's up? Remember how you said Olivia was pressuring him to get back together? Uh, I think so.
Well, I mentioned that to Natalie, and she says that her mom's been in a serious relationship for years.
Huh.
Did you know Marco? I mean, if you've known Olivia and Natalie this long, you must have crossed paths at some point.
Uh, I mean Yeah, now that I think of it, I Yeah, I I do remember a guy who was around Olivia.
Maybe Natalie didn't know her mom still had feelings for Dad? How sure are you about this Olivia thing? I'm really not.
Um, it was so long ago, I'm just guessing.
S sorry.
I wish I could be more helpful.
And there was nothing else going on with Dad during that time? Uh, just the usual: Pressures from work.
I know his editor was all over him about finishing that spy novel.
I thought you didn't know about the book.
Oh, sorry.
This is from, uh, the airline.
I'm flying out after dinner with Mae.
I really need to - Hello, April.
- Hi, Mae.
George, did you get the quart-sized bags for the toiletries? - I did.
- Thank you.
And since the airline is telling me that our flight is on time, I really should start packing soon.
You haven't packed yet? I think he's lying.
I really do.
It's not that out there for George to lie, as the person who's existence he denied for years.
Well, technically, he didn't deny your existence.
No one asked him.
Hey, Bren, isn't the role of the documentarian to remain objective? I'm reinventing the genre, and it doesn't sound like Uncle George is lying.
It sounds like he just got his facts wrong.
When I first told him about the book, he acted like he didn't even know it existed, and then today, he just happens to remember Dad being stressed out about turning his spy novel in on time? I Yeah, not to mention the lie he told about my mom still wanting our dad.
I have a question, but, April, you can't get mad at me for asking.
If you think I'm gonna get mad at you for asking a question, then You're turning the camera off first.
I do not need Berkeley's summer filmmaking program this up in my business.
Okay, fine.
Are you sure George said that he didn't know there was a book? I mean, you've been going through a lot lately.
It's possible you might have just remembered wrong.
And I knew that you would get mad at me, but, seriously, what is there left to hide? What is more of a secret than a secret family? I mean, two secret families? Dude! Why would George go to all the trouble to keep another family from us, after we found out about Natalie? Okay, listen.
Everyone in that book was based off of one of us or someone we know, except for one character.
- The woman at Langley.
- Yes, and he focused a lot of the story on her, so who's she based on? Oh, I know.
She's based on Dad's secret sister.
That's it.
And she's in cahoots with Uncle George who's not this amazing doctor, but, no, a spy, who's a part of this whole world-wide secret family conspiracy.
That's how crazy you guys sound.
Whatever.
I want to reread that part - of the book about her.
- Me too.
Okay, well write me a postcard from crazy town.
I hear it's beautiful there this time of year.
Hey, Beth.
Wow, it's really coming down out there.
April didn't tell me you were coming over.
Oh, I I kind of didn't tell her that I was.
You two still haven't spoken? No, so I just decided to show up in the middle of a snowstorm like an insane person.
You're not insane.
You're a good friend.
April's upstairs.
April's right here.
Everything okay? - You haven't replied to my texts.
- What? I replied.
April, a bitmoji doesn't count.
It said, "all good.
" Okay.
Uh Then I guess I'll just, uh Head back out into the freezing cold, and No! Please don't.
As your surrogate Boston mother, I'm not letting you leave.
George is flying home later, and we're gonna have an early dinner, maybe some games.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Or sorry.
Is that all good? Of course.
All good.
Well, Berkeley is such a great school, Brenna.
You have the grades, and I bet you the summer program would really help with admissions.
Mom, stop.
I'm not going to college.
I'm only going to Berkeley for the summer, and that's only if I get in.
Well, if you're new film is anything like the one you premiered in Northeastern, - it's a shoe-in.
- What did you premier? Uh, that film I did with Ford.
The next one I'm making is documentary style about our family, so bring on the drama.
Oh, that'll be no problem.
Not too much, though.
I don't want it to be unrealistic.
Well, you know, I love documentaries.
I can't stop watching My 600-lb life.
It makes me feel so tiny.
That's not a documentary.
That's a reality show.
Yeah, it's the same thing.
Mae, how was your presentation at Columbia? I've never felt so popular.
There were 11 people in the audience.
It's because there is less than a dozen experts in the entire world who can understand her research.
Hey, maybe we should start thinking about getting to the airport? Yeah, it might take a little longer in this weather.
Sara, thank you so much for your hospitality.
- You're very welcome.
- Uncle George? Before you leave, can I get that manuscript back from you? Well, actually, I'm still reading it.
Can I mail it to you when I'm done? You still haven't finished half of a book? He's been a little busy getting April into her trial and everything.
I've had a few distractions.
Hey, George, you promised we'd play at least one game before you left.
Okay.
Okay, one game.
Pick one.
I remember packing your board games at the apartment.
Oh, um, maybe they're in one of the boxes in my room.
I'll go check.
Maybe you can find a ouija board up there.
We can ask Dad a few questions.
Why is everything wet? Got you a little something to take back to New York with you.
Aw, Dad.
You're the one with the birthday coming up.
Father's reserve the right to get their daughters gifts whenever the hell they feel like it.
It's what we get in exchange for not having anyone to play catch with.
Sorry, not feminist.
Oh, Mom and I have trained you well.
This way you'll always feel close to home.
And, uh, maybe you'll think of me when you look at it.
When are you back from Florida? Actually, I'm going to Baltimore first.
What's in Baltimore? You know, just research stuff.
I can't keep up, but you're gonna be back for your birthday right? Because I am coming up, and I am taking you to Mama Maria's.
You're favorite.
But you just got to New York a couple months ago.
You're roommate just moved in.
I can't be Yes you can.
Ellie's gonna take some time getting used to, so I don't mind a break.
And I I want to thank you.
You know, you're an awesome dad.
I'm lucky.
Are you crying? Dad, I've never seen you cry before.
It's this damn house full of women Making me soft.
Not feminist.
April? Did you find Trivial Pursuit? I thought it could be fun for us all to play, and I can't find it.
No, I think Grandma stole it.
She took Balderdash too.
What's going on? Just thinking about dad.
What about him? The more I think about it, the more I have this nagging feeling that When he said goodbye to me for the last time It's like he knew it was the last time.
When we look back on big moments from our past we don't always remember them exactly the way they happened.
No.
He was so emotional.
He cried.
Dad never cried.
I mean Do you remember why he went to Baltimore? No, I don't.
He traveled so much.
Honey, really, this is not a mystery that needs to be solved.
Your father was a complicated man, to say the least.
And I think there's a danger of your not being present in your own life right now.
And all the things that could be exciting about it, and all the people who love you, because you're focusing so much on someone else's past.
Someone who is gone.
You're right.
- I'll see you downstairs.
- Yeah.
Bring Scrabble.
Getting a little liquid courage before we hit Uncle George with the tough questions.
I say we just ask him about family number three.
Maybe Brenna's right.
Maybe we're being a little crazy.
You know, think about how that would go.
What would we even say? Did Dad have a third family? We don't have any evidence to support that, especially without the book.
- Which he's hiding from us.
- Well, we don't know that, either.
And since they're leaving tonight, I think maybe that's a sign.
Oh, what kind of sign? A sign that we should let this go so I can take my life back.
Okay, just one game, and then we're out of here.
I hate you, Pam.
Who's Pam? Pam is the winter storm that just caused our flight to be canceled.
Yeah, looks like we're stuck here for one more night.
Guess we're going to play more than one game.
What were you saying about signs? Yes! Okay, good.
Um Oh, uh, Sweet Home Alabama.
Wild.
- Bear Bryant? - Truman Capote.
Um.
No, no.
Reese Witherspoon! Yes! Good.
Okay, um.
Okay, stop.
The score is tied 15 to 15.
Beth, you're up.
All right.
Okay.
Okay, ready? Okay, go.
Uh, Suri's mom.
Oh, Steve Jobs! - Dawson.
- Oh, Katie Holmes! Uh, love story.
Bad blood.
- Ali MacGraw! - Taylor Swift.
Yes.
Yes.
Genovia.
- Anne Hathaway? - Yay! - Blane.
- Andrew McCarthey.
Yes! - Party of five.
- Neve Campbell? - Mmh.
- Matthew Fox.
- That's so fetch! - Lacey Chabert! - Yes! - What? Ah, stop! I have no idea what just happened.
These two are of one mind.
Can we try something that adults can play? Like a bluffing game? Where you have to decide if someone's telling the truth? Uh, well, I think Sara told me that Emma took Balderdash with her to Sedona.
Yep.
That's okay.
I feel like you might have an unfair advantage.
Or, uh, you know, we could stick to Celebrity, let's just try picking people not ripped from the pages of US Weekly.
And and we're going to have to switch up the teams.
Beth and Brenna can no longer be on the same side.
- No! - What? - Oh, come on.
- That is not fair.
How 'bout Shiloh Jolie-Pitt? Oh, good one.
Is it weird that I want to be Shiloh? - A little bit.
- Thank God I'm on your team.
I don't know who any of these people are.
Good to see you two getting along.
When weren't we getting along? Uh, I I came by here yesterday to see you, and I had a little chat with my free therapist.
- Mom.
- She was worried about you.
Look, I know I was acting all Britney Spears circa 2007, and I know it's because you guys care.
But talking about me behind my back doesn't make me feel any less nuts.
Just believe that I'm trying, okay? Hey, guys As luck would have it, I bought stuff for s'mores.
Oh yay! Okay.
Okay, girls.
Uh, if someone has something they want to ask me, then go ahead and ask.
We're going to be stuck in here, so Did Dad have a third family in Baltimore? - April, I thought we decided - He said I could ask him whatever I wanted, and that's what I want to know.
No.
No, there was no third family.
Then what was he doing there? Well, he was a writer, so he traveled for research all the time.
Remember, this book wasn't set in Baltimore.
Well, maybe it was for a future book.
Who knows? Now that you're not rushing to make a flight, can I please take a look at the manuscript? It's buried in my luggage.
I'd really have to dig it out.
- We've got time.
- Okay.
You know what? Enough.
April, I don't think this could possibly be good for you getting worked up like this.
Can we please just play another round of Celebrity? Actually, I'm going to sit this one out.
I have to take my meds anyway.
S'mores? Yes, please.
- Hey.
- Sorry.
If you don't want me to film this, I won't.
Oh, sure.
I mean, if they don't let you in after seeing your dying sister give herself chemo, then they're evil.
You're not dying.
We'll see.
It's weird.
Death used to be my greatest fear, but now It's such a real possibility, that if I don't, it's like a bonus.
Imagine if you hadn't found out when you did.
Remember, George was the first person to tell you.
- Bren - You basically called him a liar.
That's because I think he's lying to us.
Brenna, I know how you feel.
I do.
It's the same way I felt when I found out about Dad.
I loved him so much that I was blindsided, and I just want you to prepare yourself for that with George.
- Can I talk to you for a sec? - Hmm.
Sorry I asked George about the other family.
- I just thought that - It's okay.
And I understand why you think that, but I'm positive it's not true.
How do you know that? When you were gone to college, your dad began to have Well, a problem.
How was your night? Good.
The girls and I had the turkey meatloaf.
There's There's more in the fridge, if you're hungry.
- How's Edwin? - Oh, he didn't show.
He's probably off doing some research - with another T.
A.
- You were by yourself all night? Not by myself.
Bartender was good company.
He was on Jeopardy once.
Thomas.
It helps the writing.
Every conversation helps the writing.
I study the human condition.
I'm not buying that anymore.
How many drinks did you have? I know I have been overindulging a little bit lately, - but I'm fine.
- No, you're not.
You're all over the place.
You're slurring.
You're stumbling over things.
Something's gotta change.
- You think Dad was an alcoholic? - He admitted it to me, and I made him go to rehab.
He found a place in Baltimore.
That's why he was there.
Not as long as I wanted.
He only stayed a week.
I don't think he ever got well before he died.
Why didn't you tell me this before? You know your dad, his hubris.
He he'd had a pretty hard fall from grace as it was, and I just didn't want to ruin whatever last shred of Good memories that were left.
We can't choose who we love, but We can choose how we respond to those people when they do self-destructive things.
I used to think I should protect you from the truth about your dad, but it wouldn't have been healthy to let you keep him on a pedestal as some ideal man who could do no wrong.
Someone else is on that pedestal now.
Leo.
I know, sweetheart.
And a first love is hard to top.
Actually, I'm Not sure that was the first time I fell in love.
And it won't be the last.
Where are you going? Home.
Now? Why? Because I'm going stir crazy here.
Have you noticed there's some super weird energy in this house tonight? I notice there's a weird energy in this house pretty much every night.
Well, since I'm not a part of this family, I get to opt out.
Are you sure you want to go? - Yes.
- Fine.
All right, um.
It's really bad out there.
You're not going anywhere.
By the way, you're wrong About not being a part of this family.
I mean, you're here for breakfast, lunch, dinner, cancer, weddings, funerals.
You're my sister.
Get used to it.
You are a good egg, Brenna Carver, and also, impressively good at Celebrity.
- I know.
- We killed it.
- Dad was an alcoholic.
- What? Mom just told me, the reason he went to Baltimore was for a rehab he didn't even finish.
If you think about it, it pretty much explains everything.
It definitely doesn't explain why George has been lying.
Maybe he was just trying to protect Dad, like he always does.
Well, if that's the case, then the book should be in his suitcase like he said.
Let's go look.
Come on.
What else is there to do in here? And what happened to your reporter skills? If this was a story, no way in hell the old April Carter would have dropped it.
To give you some perspective on this potentially historic storm.
- The low pressure area - They're talking about three feet of snow.
We could be in this house for a while.
Ooh.
Sunny and 60 one day, freak blizzard the next.
Welcome to New England, Mae.
Thanks.
Well, I'm glad I stocked the fridge, though I don't know.
Can the family survive on hummus and s'mores alone? Oh, well, you know, during a snow storm, Tequila definitely moves to the top of the food pyramid, or the bottom.
Where'd you find that? Uh, in the back of the sideboard.
Hope you don't mind, Sara.
We are totally out of wine.
- No, that's fine.
- Okay.
I can't even remember where that bottle came from.
Maybe a gift from a long time ago? It is a pretty bottle, though.
What is it? A very high quality anejo I haven't had in a long time.
Two years in Los chivos jalisco with Doctors Without Borders.
Well, since it's doctor approved And it looks like we're going to be stuck here for who knows how long.
Ah, well, none for me, thanks.
I'm good.
We're out of marshmallows.
On it.
Count me in, please.
Oh, yay! Is it my imagination or is Mae a little prickly with me? Oh, I wouldn't read too much into it.
You know how doctors are.
One minute they're healing a person, the next minute, they're moody as hell.
Hi, George.
Hi, Sara.
Hi, Natalie.
What are you doing? Doing? Nothing.
Just, you know, hanging in the kitch.
April, what's going on in there? Hey, why are all my clothes lying all over the floor? - Where's the book, George? - April! You said you packed the book.
Where is it? George, just show her the book so we can drop this.
I cannot believe that you went through my luggage.
Because you weren't being honest with us.
Okay, listen to me.
I I got rid of it For the good of this family.
There's nothing truthful in it, and it was making everybody crazy.
Mae! You really need stitches.
I don't need stitches.
Pretty sure you nicked your radial nerve.
If there's a nick on my nerve, it's because of your tweezer work.
Now I see why you didn't go into surgery.
Thought you might want some water.
Is there anything else I can do? Yes, please turn up the anesthesia.
- Stop clenching your fist.
- Stop poking in the wrong place.
Stop backseat driving.
Isn't there a saying that doctors are, like, the hardest patients? No, I think it's just when the other doctor isn't instilling trust.
Well, maybe it's just that the first doctor doesn't know how to trust.
Ah, ah, ah.
I'll do it.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I I'm going to bed.
Good night.
Sorry you had to see that.
No, no.
Not at all.
I mean, it just seemed like You know, couple banter.
Hmm, not exactly.
Things with us aren't working out.
And I thought you going through your uncle's luggage was going to be the highlight of the evening.
I know I'm probably completely obsessing about this stuff, and honestly, I don't blame you if you just wanna delete my number from your phone and throw in the towel.
You know, it seems like forever since you told me about your life.
It was kind of intentional, 'cause my life's pretty good these days.
Tell me more.
Um, things are getting a little serious with me and Josh.
Pretty sure we're going to be a thing.
What? You never talk like this.
I know.
Why didn't you tell me? How could I? I mean, you just lost Leo.
That doesn't mean I don't want you to find someone to fall in love with.
I didn't say I loved him.
You pre-love him.
Maybe.
Oh my God.
Ape.
Oh, hey, you can go.
I got this.
If there's nothing in the book, then why did he get rid of it? I know.
There was something in there.
Bet we have a brother.
I always wanted a brother.
Not like this, obviously.
I kind of believed George when he said there weren't any more of us.
Maybe Dad killed someone? I don't think he could if he tried.
What if Dad was gay? And George went to these extremes to cover it up? I mean, what year is it? What if Mom and George wanted to have an affair? What? Are you trying to stir up drama for your movie? No.
There's no camera here, just a question.
Mom and George? Because they dated before Mom and Dad? Sara and George dated? Yeah, and They dated, like a few months ago.
- What? - And George and Mae just broke up.
Maybe Mae is picking up on something between them? Do you think they hooked up while Sara was married? God knows Dad was out of town enough.
You guys The first line of Dad's book is the main character saying that He's planning his own death.
What if that's what happened? What if Dad killed himself because he found out about an affair between Mom and George? No.
Wait, actually, that's impossible.
George was driving the car.
Unless he wasn't.
But then the only way the police report would say that George was driving, is if George lied.
Blankets, blankets.
Where are you, blankets? "We're hiding from you, because "you're addressing us by name, and it's a little creepy.
" "We used to like it.
" - Okay.
- Okay.
I got it.
Thank you.
Hey I'm sorry about you and Mae.
I'm a little surprised.
It seemed like things were going well.
Well, uh, I thought they were, but you know how it is when there's so much distance, and just two insanely demanding careers.
Yeah.
I thought you guys wanted that kind of relationship, though.
I mean, it worked in theory, rather than in practice.
Um, this was sort of our attempt to have a last conversation about whether to make it work, and that's why she came up from New York, but sometimes if it's broken, you gotta stop trying to fix it.
Well, I'll let her know, that She's got a friend if she ever needs one when she's in Boston.
Yeah, I wouldn't do that.
She has some complicated feelings about you.
Me? You and I were over before you met her.
Well, she could never get over it.
Oh! No, no.
Beth, I think that one's a goner.
No.
No way.
I like them well done.
Bleh, oh.
Maybe not that well done.
Wow.
What'd I miss? She's been putting on quite the show for us down here.
I blame the Tequila.
Ah, all of it? Haven't seen you this drunkie in a while.
I'm like a fun drunk, right? Yes, you are a super fun drunk.
But when you get this drunk, you usually drunk dial your exes.
Oh, yeah I do.
I do.
And now that your in, you know, pre-love Yes.
Yes.
I am in pre-love.
So I must put myself to bed before I sabotage my own happiness.
Good night.
Farewell, loved ones.
You're beautiful.
You're beautiful.
- Good night, Beth.
- Beautiful.
Okay.
This family needs to talk.
There are some rumors going around, and I think it's time we find out the truth.
I think we already know the truth.
Uh, lay it on me.
Well, we know you destroyed a book that began with a line about a man planning his own death.
April, your father was a novelist.
He wrote fiction.
Is that true? Was it fiction, George? We've been through this.
Right.
Nothing truthful? Lies.
Like what you and Sara have going on? Mom, have you and George dated since Dad died? Well, yes, but what does that have to do with anything? Why didn't you tell me? You had enough on your plate.
And now? What are the two of you hiding from us now? I I'm trying to protect all of you.
Can we just leave it at that? Protect us from what? Were you together with George when you were married to Dad? No! No! People make mistakes.
We all know that Dad did, and if, you know, you cheated back, how could you have possibly known that he would want to end his life? End his life? Where is this coming from? Mom We think that Dad killed himself, and George covered it up.
You know what? You You don't know what you're saying.
You're talking about my brother's death like it was a soap opera, when really it was It was tragic.
Yes, Thomas did want to end his life, but not because we were having an affair.
Because he was sick.
He was dying.
So, April's in New York, huh? - She loves it.
- Huh.
Hey.
Damn it.
Those twitches look like they're getting worse.
They're not twitches.
Well, it's been a few months.
We should check your Your thyroid.
Rule out any infection or a minor stroke.
Have you talked to Sara? No.
Well, Tommy, this could be Serious.
It is serious, and my symptoms are obviously getting impossible to hide.
What are you talking about? Well, it turns out Lou Gehrig and I have a lot more in common than our love of baseball.
A.
L.
S.
? Are you saying, that you have Yes.
I have A.
L.
S.
Yeah, but that's Incurable.
There's only one outcome And it's coming.
Which is why I need your help.
I want you to help me die.
Don't talk like that.
You can Still live.
You can have a productive life.
And if I don't, you know what that looks like, I'm not gonna die like that.
George, you are the only one I can count on.
Please.
You need to talk to Sara.
No.
I'm not gonna say anything to her or the girls.
They'll just try to talk me out of it.
This way I can go out with some dignity intact.
Dignity? Screw your dignity.
Your children need you.
Your wife needs you If only for a a finite time.
How could you leave them before you have to? If not for yourself, you stay here.
You stay with them Every second you have.
Do you hear me? That's not possible.
He wasn't an alcoholic, Sara.
He went to rehab in Baltimore.
To see a specialist at Johns Hopkins Where he accepted How debilitating his disease was.
It is no way to die.
And still He was telling me that he didn't want to suffer through that.
I thought I'd I'd talked him out of it.
What happened? Well, it was right before his 55th birthday, and he invited me Down to Florida for some golfing and Fishing to celebrate.
Natalie probably remembers some of this.
And, uh and when I arrived, he again pleaded with me to help him And nobody could know.
His insurance policy was expiring when he was 55, so he had to do it before his birthday.
Otherwise he'd have to renew, and then any physical he would take would reveal how sick he was, and he wanted all of you to be taken care of.
And all he needed was my help.
You You helped him kill himself? April I promise you, there will be no more secrets left When I stop talking, okay? I didn't agree with his plan.
We fought about it, but my God, he was He was determined.
He hopped in his car, and and sped off, and I got in my rental and I followed him, 'cause I knew.
I knew what he was I tried to get him to pull over.
We were racing in this Ugh, this empty, open street a few miles outside of Key West.
We're driving along, and He looked over to me And he gunned the accelerator, and I watched him as he swerved head on into a tree.
And, uh, I stopped Ran over to him and he was, uh I mean, he was You know, my brother was all He was broken.
He was broken, and he was bleeding, and he was He was hurt pretty bad.
But he was still alive.
Barely.
What did you do? I did nothing.
I sat there And I held onto him until the end.
But the police said I had to make absolutely certain that it looked like just an accident.
So I moved his body into the passenger seat and I took a a crowbar or something and I smashed the glass on the passenger side And I dragged my hand, my arms, even my face in the gravel.
And I hid my rental car and I reported the accident with myself as the driver.
And I spent the last years trying trying to put this behind me.
Why did you do all this for him? Why did you lie for him all these years? He's my big brother.
I'd do anything for him.
I know it's not logical, but it's the truth.
I'm sorry.
What you did was basically murder.
Well, some would say that I assisted With something that he wanted, but yeah yeah, the law says it's murder.
Could you go to prison? You should have told us.
It's better that you didn't know.
Because if the truth ever came out, then the insurance money that Thomas was so adamant you receive would be gone.
The money for this house, for medical care.
We never got any of that money.
Why is that? I don't know.
I never wanted any of you to find out.
Because I've been carrying this secret for so long And now it's your secret to carry, too.
Yeah, thanks for letting me crash at your place.
Last night was insane.
Can't believe I got wasted in front of your mom and uncle.
A lot of things happened last night that I can't believe.
I'm glad you made it home safely.
Hey, what's wrong? April, Natalie's gone.