Felicity s02e12 Episode Script
The Slump (2)
Previously on Felicity We're dead if someone catches us.
Nobody's gonna catch us.
Hello? Do you two understand that youre both in serious trouble? Once mom gets here, she'll start trying to get me into Tuesday dinners again, and she'll wanna go shopping Mom's not moving here.
What? We're separating.
Dear Sally I'm in trouble.
Excuse me.
I I'm looking for Professor Papalian? Oh, yeah, sure.
He's not here.
He's on leave.
Indefinite leave.
Can I help you with something? Um no.
I I guess not.
OK.
Oh.
Damn it! Oh.
Damn it! - Is he OK? - Yeah, yeah! It's just a family thing.
What are you one of his students? No.
He was my counselor.
Oh.
All right, then.
That's me.
I'm filling in for him while he's gone.
I'm Toni Pavone.
Felicity Porter.
Oh, yeah.
Porter.
Youre in trouble.
Close the door.
Sit down.
Broke into the pool.
You broke into the pool Drinking.
Ben Covington.
Why did you break into the pool? I dont know.
I It was a really stupid and immature thing to do, and we're both very sorry.
Well, that's good.
are we gonna be expelled? went out drinking with his frat buddies, you know, guys and they broke into the pool just like you.
And this Adler kid, who's wasted out of his mind dives in the shallow end.
Smacks his head lands in a coma for fifteen days.
It cost the university a couple hundred grand in legal bills articles in the paper, you know.
Do you know this? Uh no.
Monteverdi.
It's nice.
OK.
So, technically you vandalized the school property under the influence of alcohol.
We have a zero tolerance policy which means that in addition to your punishment youre going to have to start alcohol treatment counseling.
Oh, my God.
How is Wednesday at 3:00? Hi.
Sorry I'm late.
- Who are you? - Ben Covington.
Youre in trouble.
Close the door.
Sit down.
Hi.
The fact is, I'm actually lucky.
I mean, if my parents ever had to break up I mean, for me, this is the best possible time.
Imagine if this had happened years ago when you were tutoring me.
I would have probably lost my mind.
I wouldve obsessed over it.
* We walked alone beside the park * * And talked about your shoes * But now.
I mean, it doesnt really affect me the way that it wouldve.
I mean, my everyday life is basically the same.
* I wanted to show you * * Right or wrong * You know what? - Screw Toni Pavone.
- What? What, we're gonna take alcohol counseling now? - It's so stupid.
- I know.
It's ridiculous.
And another thing, that lady, she stinks.
It's like old cigarettes.
It's nasty.
Yeah, well, you still have to go.
No, I don't.
College is an option.
Look, they took away swimming and and now I gotta go to alcohol counseling.
Well, I'm not doin' it.
Forget it.
Well, what are you gonna do, leave? Yeah.
I'm thinkin' about it.
- Hey, honey.
- Hey.
I was thinking about tonight.
I don't know.
Are you in the mood for Italian food? It really doesn't matter, dad.
I I'll just choose a place.
What time does mom get in? Can I get you something? A coffee? Yeah, sure.
Locke believed that women had the ability to reason that they should be given an equal voice which was a shocking idea for England in the 1600s and probably for a few people in here today, huh? All right, so I will have your tests graded by Tuesday.
You guys have a good weekend.
Hey.
You were so good.
Youre so much better! - I saw it.
- What? The, uh, the hi note.
Oh, you did? Why'd you do that? What? I was just saying hi.
We say hi all the time.
Did you have to do it on the bluebook on the anonymous test? I don't understand.
What's the big deal? It's anonymous.
You asked me not to give you any special treatment.
Don't give me any special treatment.
Well, I have to.
How can I not? Are you saying that I did that to get a better grade? All I know is, now when I read it, it's not just a paper.
It's my girlfriend's paper.
Well, that's an easy fix.
Ruby, come on I I think this might be a waste of time.
What's that? This.
Alcohol abuse counseling.
I mean, I don't drink.
It says here you drink.
I drank.
I don't drink.
Why'd you drink? I told you.
You were just blowing off steam? That's right.
Where'd the steam come from? I just found out my parents are splitting up.
That's all it is.
You wanna tell me about that? Uh, it's not that big of a deal.
I mean, it happens to everyone, right? No.
Well, it's gonna be fine.
I mean tonight, we're all having dinner, and - How's that gonna go? - It's gonna go fine.
- Yeah? Yeah.
You know, I understand that youre trying to get me to say something revelatory or whatever, but, you know if this is about figuring out my punishment just look at my record.
You can see that this isn't the type of thing I do usually.
Take a look.
I'm a real pro.
A therapist, licensed.
So when youre ready come back and we'll talk.
I never caught my parents having sex but this must be what it feels like getting a glimpse into your parents' intimate life seeing something that you know is happening but you dont want to think about at all.
Uh, how was your flight? Turbulent.
So was ours.
- How are your - l - Go ahead.
- No, you go.
I made appointments for us tomorrow at Cascades.
They have this body wrap there called the escape.
It's supposed to be so relaxing.
Great.
OK.
Ron Laberts called this afternoon.
He'll be there on Thursday.
What time does that start? Um.
Early.
7:00.
It's just one of those embarrassing in -honor-of dinners.
It'll be over by 9:00.
You are gonna go, right? Yes.
Ravioli sounds good.
Is that what youre having? Barbara? I don't know.
What are you gonna do, sweetheart? - Felicity.
- I'm sorry.
Barbara.
Um What's going on, sweetheart? What's happening? - Nothing.
- I told her what's going on.
Mom, he didn't tell me.
He just It was a slip.
It was a mistake.
I'm sorry.
- Honey - l it's OK, mom.
It's OK.
It's not OK.
I wanted to tell you myself in person.
- When did you do this? - Last week.
- You did this a week ago? - You say "You did this" like it was some sort of premeditated act.
Well.
It was certainly a very aggressive thing to do.
An aggressive thing.
Is that you talking or Carolyn? Oh.
Do not bring up Carolyn.
Why dont you make me a list of the things I can and cannot bring up.
Come in! Can I, uh, talk to you for a minute? Close the door.
Sit down.
I don't know who I am anymore.
How I got here.
I don't I don't know what I'm doing.
I don't know why I'm here.
* Just hold on to life * * I know that nothing.
Nothing * I've been in relationships that I don't really understand.
I I hate my haircut.
I * I think I' m turned around * I dropped premed like it was some kind of victory, and I can't even remember why it felt like that.
* Watching you run * * Watching you fall * Sorry.
Don't be sorry.
It's OK.
* If I make it something worthwhile * I didn't realize how much I depend on them my parents just being there.
I mean, even though I'm I depend on them.
And I'm an only child, so that's probably all this is.
Did you say any of this to them? No.
I just kinda let them talk.
They said they were having difficulties and that that it was for the best.
I guess I just feel responsible.
How are you responsible? I'm pretty sure that it disrupted things my coming here and pushing them away.
I mean, if I hadn't left Palo Alto.
If I'd If I hadn't been so selfish they'd probably still be together.
What was selfish about you coming here? What do you mean? Why did you come here? Oh pff.
Basically because Ben Covington came here.
You came for Ben? At first, yeah.
And then I thought it was for me, that that maybe I'd find myself or something.
I just don't understand.
What? Well, they were here for Thanksgiving, and they looked so hap well They looked happy, and I was home over Christmas, and everything seemed fine.
I just don't understand why they're breaking up.
I thought you said it was cause of you.
- Hey! - Hey.
So, if you don't go see Dr.
Pavone, youre gonna get expelled.
- Oh, yeah? She's a doctor? - Psychologist.
I guess she went to Yale.
Yale.
Big deal.
- You still thinking about dropping out? - Yeah.
A little bit.
I checked out the Voice.
They got ads in the back.
You can get a Courier ticket to Prague for 200 bucks.
A courier ticket? Yeah.
It's this thing, you gotta leave last minute and you can only take one bag, but the ticket's really cheap.
Well, let me know if youre really going because I should probably go with you.
I'm kidding.
Well, you know, if you wanted to, if you decided to do that, then I'd do it.
Come on! No, I'm serious.
That's what we gotta do.
- Go see Dr.
Pavone.
- No.
Let's drop out together.
Go see Dr.
Pavone! Dr.
Pavone.
Come on! Think about it.
Itll be fun.
I am such an ass.
Can you confirm that for me, that I'm an ass, please? I just read your essay, and it was fantastic! I'm not kidding.
It was one of the best in the class and I was thinking to myself could I have been more of an ass? Doesn't matter.
OK, all right, which is sort of a confirmation but I deserve it, because I was treating you like I didn't think you could write what you wrote which was excellent it was.
You hate my guts? I gotta go get ready for costumes of czarist Russia.
It is a problem.
A real serious problem.
Is anybody listening to me? What? My lab partner.
What's wrong with you guys? I'm writing lyrics.
What rhymes with column? Have you guys ever heard of courier tickets? - Slalom.
- Ben was talking about those.
- Listen! His name is Tracy.
- Slalom? I thought he would be a girl.
He is not a girl.
- He's way too cute to be a girl.
- Is he available? I don't know, and I don't wanna know.
I'm telling you, if I find out he is I'll get no work done, and I'll fail chemistry! Come in.
Hi.
Hi.
Can we can we talk? - Food? - Yeah, um Do you want something from the corner? No, I'm OK.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Would you like something? - No, thank you.
So, how are you? Uh good.
I had a meeting with Dean Alison.
They want me to come guest lecture at the medical school.
- Really? - Yeah.
I just learned about your incident at the pool.
And now youre in alcohol abuse counseling? Dad, that's just policy.
It was a little embarrassing learning that your daughter had been caught swimming drunk on university property.
It was it was just the night after you told me about you and mom, and I don't know.
That stupid prank is gonna come at a real cost.
I know.
That's why I'm in counseling.
What sort of punishment are they discussing? - I don't know.
- What did your counselor say? I don't know! Mom's not coming on Thursday to my dinner and I know you were planning on going.
Dad, the hospital's honoring you.
Of course I'm gonna go.
Mom's only here for a couple of days.
I think it'd be good for both of you to spend some time together.
I'm not as good as she is at Anyway.
Dad Go with her on Thursday, please.
OK.
No.
I want you to go with dad.
But youre only going to be here for a few days.
It's a special night for your father.
I know how much he wants you there.
So, then why don't all three of us just go together? Because I'm angry at your father and because he's angry at me.
Please, just go with him.
But even he said it's just one of those stupid in-honor-of dinners.
He didn't mean that.
He loves those things.
You know that.
Go with your father on Thursday, please or I'll never hear the end of it.
- Mom? - Yeah? I'm sorry.
What for? For everything.
You apologized to them? Yeah.
Oh.
Boy.
What? What did they say? Uh, they told me not to be silly.
Good.
Points for the parents.
And youre not pissed off about any of this? No.
I'm just I'm a little tense.
Hmm.
Tense.
But not angry? - Not everyone gets angry.
- That's true.
Many people who are repressed and out of touch insist that they are just tense.
What are you what are you saying? It would just be nice to see who you really are under there.
Under what? This whole act.
This whole polite thing that you do.
Well, I'm sorry, but this is who I am.
No.
Come on.
First of all, youre not sorry.
Secondly, you told me yourself you don't know who you are.
You have no idea.
You dont know why you came here That's not true.
I told you why I came here.
Oh, to follow a guy? No.
I don't buy that.
Youre too smart for that and youre too screwed up not to be a little bit angry.
Are you angry? No.
Well, then why the hell not? All your life you have been your mother and father's little centerpiece.
You go home for Christmas.
They make you think that everything is nice and normal And then your father gets on a plane and comes back with you to start to work at a hospital that is affiliated with the college that youre attending.
- He did ask my opinion.
- Baloney.
It was after the fact.
Then he spills the beans that and he and your mother are breaking up but he doesn't bother to tell his wife that he's told his daughter, a huge burden for you to bear.
Then your mother finds out that you know.
She's furious with your father.
Your father's already fuming at her.
Youre caught right in the middle.
"Go with mom.
" "Go with dad.
" This is a sporting event.
This is martyr ball! They've got the sticks, and youre the puck and youre telling me youre not angry? Well, how does it feel? What? To be the good little girl.
You know, I don't know if I like this.
No.
Seriously how does it feel? Because it is annoying as hell to watch.
You sitting there like a little Kewpie doll denying what youre really going through.
Not only - Fine.
I'm angry.
- Well, you should be.
- All right, I am! - Well, why? Because everything's a little screwed up right now and because my mom's leaving and I don't understand why and my dad's moving here, and I don't want him here! - Of course you don't.
And I'm mad at the position my parents have put me in! Yeah, I'm a little mad! I'm a little pissed off.
Good.
So, I've done some research.
- About what? - About our trip.
- Our trip? - Yeah.
Vienna monumental sites as awesome as any in London, Paris, or Rome.
You know what we could do? We could just get, like, a eurorail pass, right? That does sound pretty incredible.
That's the thing.
It's not incredible at all.
It's something we could actually do that's credible.
- We could never really do it, though.
- Why not? Because, obviously, I mean, it's us.
What does that mean? Because we dated, we can't go somewhere together? I'm just saying it would be awkward.
All right, what would be more awkward getting on a plane and getting the hell out of here or staying? I mean it.
Are you even happy here? 'Cause I don't think you are.
- You don't? - No, I don't.
I've been watching you at work.
Listen to me.
It's Thursday.
We could get dirt-cheap tickets to France or Austria or Spain and we could be there by Saturday.
Backpacks, wine, cheese and no more stinking, reeking Dr.
Pavone.
What are you thinking? I'm thinking that my parents are splitting up.
That's one of the reasons my dad's moving to New York for a while.
My mom's leaving him.
I didn't know that.
I'm sorry.
Yeah.
That's OK.
It's fun thinking about this, though.
It's like the only fun I'm having right now.
But I don't think I'm where youre at, at least not yet.
Here's my problem I don't want to care.
I just don't.
I wanna be like every other guy and just not care.
I know guys like that.
You guys know guys like that.
You might be a guy like that.
I wanna be I wanna be like you.
I wanna be that guy whose girlfriend gives him a crooked look and he sorta shrugs and goes on his way, you know? But me? I am a disaster.
I'm freakin' out because Ruby's acting all distant and disinterested and I don't know if that's her reacting the way she should, because "Screw me" or if it's me overreacting because I get the distinct impression that we are in a nosedive and I have reason to believe that it's entirely my fault.
I'm Noel, by the way.
Tracy.
Yeah.
I heard a lot about you.
I don't mean to take up your study time but I do wanna know what you guys would do, especially you since I'm pretty sure Elena's advice would be like "Youre such a geek.
" So? Did you apologize to Ruby? Yes, I did.
And she didn't take it? No.
I mean, I don't know.
It was like she'd just run into an ex-boyfriend or something.
Why don't you just say, uh "Baby, I really am sorry, but I want you in my life.
"Now.
If youre hurting.
I want to make it better "whatever it takes.
" That's what I would say if I got into an argument with my girlfriend.
I mean, if I had a girlfriend.
- God.
- What? Nothing.
Thank you.
Youre invited back anytime no matter what happens between you two.
Thank you.
Look ask anything you want but know that certain questions aren't going to have clear answers.
There's no other man.
There's no horrible secret.
I'm just trying to figure out who I am.
Why can't you do that with dad? I just don't think I can.
Well, yesterday you said you were having difficulties.
- Yes.
- So what? I mean, isn't that what happens? Youre in a relationship with someone for a long time and you have difficulties, and you deal with it, right? I don't know what else to do.
Besides break up the family? I'm sorry you feel that way.
You don't know how it is.
Then explain to me.
Help me understand.
I've been in your father's shadow ever since the day I met him.
Then why did you get married in the first place? It was a very difficult time.
If you really wanted to finish college and that's how you felt, I just I don't understand.
I don't know what to tell you.
Were you pregnant? There are so many reasons why we got married.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Your father and I Honey So, let's drop out.
Baby I really am sorry.
- Noel, what are you doing? - Wait.
Let me finish.
I want you in my life.
- If youre hurting - What? I want to make it better.
I'll do whatever it takes.
That's sweet.
Oddly put, but sweet.
Ruby, what's going on? They still haven't taken down their Christmas lights.
Look, I know that it's weird with me teaching this class but we'll get through it.
People have been through much harder things than this.
I'm late.
What? And I'm never late.
Um, how late? Five days.
Look, it's probably nothing.
I thought I got my period, like, three times today.
OK, so then it could be nothing.
Unless I'm pregnant.
Youre not gonna call me a baby again, are you? No.
I was going to tell you that Is that no matter what we're gonna be OK.
I know.
Why Vienna? You know, it's got, uh monumental sites as awesome as London, Paris, or Rome.
Why did you come here? That question is getting so annoying.
I obviously don't know.
That's why No.
I mean here.
Today.
If youre leaving, why'd you come? Because I wanted to thank you.
What? You could've called.
I I wanted to see you and thank you.
You want me to talk you out of it? - No, I don't.
- Good, cause I'm not going to.
Well, good.
I don't want you to.
How'd it go with your folks? Bad.
How bad? I really I don't want to talk about it.
No, no.
You can't say bad and then clam up.
How bad? Horrible.
I haven't felt that way in a long time.
Since when? Since I was a kid.
And what happened when you were a kid? Nothing.
I mean, I went to ballet camp.
I was ten.
It was sleep-away and I hated it.
I came home a day early, I hated it so much.
And when I came home I realized my mom had been sleeping in the guest room not in her room with my dad.
She saw that I saw and was so embarrassed and my dad, too, and they didn't say anything about it and I didn't mention it.
I don't know.
It was just It was so uncomfortable.
It was that horrible feeling.
So, that night at dinner, I, uh I told them how much I loved ballet camp.
I just wanted to change the subject make it all better and then everything was back to normal again.
I went to ballet camp the next four summers.
It's a hard job, isn't it keeping the family happy? I I think that I think that might be it.
Why I came here to New York.
I dont blame you.
Who wouldn't want to get a break from that? But, seriously why Vienna? I don't know.
I just feel so lost here.
you know, the thing about bein' lost you can be lost anywhere.
Hey.
Hey.
I called before, and Meghan answered.
She said you were packing for Vienna? Oh, God.
If is this about me coming here or what's going on between us, then we need to sit down and talk about it, figure it out.
I'm not going to Vienna.
I thought about going for a little bit.
But I'm I'm gonna stay.
I kind of panicked when I heard.
Yeah.
I can imagine.
I thought you were leaving.
My flight's at 6:00.
Dad and I both wish this didn't have to be so hard.
But you know we both love you.
Yeah, I know.
I love you, too.
- Hey.
- Hey.
So, I can't go.
Yeah.
I, uh, I figured.
What do you mean, you figured? I don't know.
I I had a feeling.
- So you didn't buy the tickets? - Nah.
Youre kidding.
I don't know.
I I could tell your heart wasn't in it.
I just I don't think it's the best thing right now for me.
Yeah, I know.
So, how about you? Are you still gonna go? Nah, I'm not gonna go.
Not without you.
Guess I gotta go see stinky Dr.
Pavone, huh? I was thinkin', though, about our trip.
What? I don't know.
Maybe this summer.
- That's a nice shot.
- Thanks.
Nice.
Just try and get it try and get it in the little round thing, all right?
Nobody's gonna catch us.
Hello? Do you two understand that youre both in serious trouble? Once mom gets here, she'll start trying to get me into Tuesday dinners again, and she'll wanna go shopping Mom's not moving here.
What? We're separating.
Dear Sally I'm in trouble.
Excuse me.
I I'm looking for Professor Papalian? Oh, yeah, sure.
He's not here.
He's on leave.
Indefinite leave.
Can I help you with something? Um no.
I I guess not.
OK.
Oh.
Damn it! Oh.
Damn it! - Is he OK? - Yeah, yeah! It's just a family thing.
What are you one of his students? No.
He was my counselor.
Oh.
All right, then.
That's me.
I'm filling in for him while he's gone.
I'm Toni Pavone.
Felicity Porter.
Oh, yeah.
Porter.
Youre in trouble.
Close the door.
Sit down.
Broke into the pool.
You broke into the pool Drinking.
Ben Covington.
Why did you break into the pool? I dont know.
I It was a really stupid and immature thing to do, and we're both very sorry.
Well, that's good.
are we gonna be expelled? went out drinking with his frat buddies, you know, guys and they broke into the pool just like you.
And this Adler kid, who's wasted out of his mind dives in the shallow end.
Smacks his head lands in a coma for fifteen days.
It cost the university a couple hundred grand in legal bills articles in the paper, you know.
Do you know this? Uh no.
Monteverdi.
It's nice.
OK.
So, technically you vandalized the school property under the influence of alcohol.
We have a zero tolerance policy which means that in addition to your punishment youre going to have to start alcohol treatment counseling.
Oh, my God.
How is Wednesday at 3:00? Hi.
Sorry I'm late.
- Who are you? - Ben Covington.
Youre in trouble.
Close the door.
Sit down.
Hi.
The fact is, I'm actually lucky.
I mean, if my parents ever had to break up I mean, for me, this is the best possible time.
Imagine if this had happened years ago when you were tutoring me.
I would have probably lost my mind.
I wouldve obsessed over it.
* We walked alone beside the park * * And talked about your shoes * But now.
I mean, it doesnt really affect me the way that it wouldve.
I mean, my everyday life is basically the same.
* I wanted to show you * * Right or wrong * You know what? - Screw Toni Pavone.
- What? What, we're gonna take alcohol counseling now? - It's so stupid.
- I know.
It's ridiculous.
And another thing, that lady, she stinks.
It's like old cigarettes.
It's nasty.
Yeah, well, you still have to go.
No, I don't.
College is an option.
Look, they took away swimming and and now I gotta go to alcohol counseling.
Well, I'm not doin' it.
Forget it.
Well, what are you gonna do, leave? Yeah.
I'm thinkin' about it.
- Hey, honey.
- Hey.
I was thinking about tonight.
I don't know.
Are you in the mood for Italian food? It really doesn't matter, dad.
I I'll just choose a place.
What time does mom get in? Can I get you something? A coffee? Yeah, sure.
Locke believed that women had the ability to reason that they should be given an equal voice which was a shocking idea for England in the 1600s and probably for a few people in here today, huh? All right, so I will have your tests graded by Tuesday.
You guys have a good weekend.
Hey.
You were so good.
Youre so much better! - I saw it.
- What? The, uh, the hi note.
Oh, you did? Why'd you do that? What? I was just saying hi.
We say hi all the time.
Did you have to do it on the bluebook on the anonymous test? I don't understand.
What's the big deal? It's anonymous.
You asked me not to give you any special treatment.
Don't give me any special treatment.
Well, I have to.
How can I not? Are you saying that I did that to get a better grade? All I know is, now when I read it, it's not just a paper.
It's my girlfriend's paper.
Well, that's an easy fix.
Ruby, come on I I think this might be a waste of time.
What's that? This.
Alcohol abuse counseling.
I mean, I don't drink.
It says here you drink.
I drank.
I don't drink.
Why'd you drink? I told you.
You were just blowing off steam? That's right.
Where'd the steam come from? I just found out my parents are splitting up.
That's all it is.
You wanna tell me about that? Uh, it's not that big of a deal.
I mean, it happens to everyone, right? No.
Well, it's gonna be fine.
I mean tonight, we're all having dinner, and - How's that gonna go? - It's gonna go fine.
- Yeah? Yeah.
You know, I understand that youre trying to get me to say something revelatory or whatever, but, you know if this is about figuring out my punishment just look at my record.
You can see that this isn't the type of thing I do usually.
Take a look.
I'm a real pro.
A therapist, licensed.
So when youre ready come back and we'll talk.
I never caught my parents having sex but this must be what it feels like getting a glimpse into your parents' intimate life seeing something that you know is happening but you dont want to think about at all.
Uh, how was your flight? Turbulent.
So was ours.
- How are your - l - Go ahead.
- No, you go.
I made appointments for us tomorrow at Cascades.
They have this body wrap there called the escape.
It's supposed to be so relaxing.
Great.
OK.
Ron Laberts called this afternoon.
He'll be there on Thursday.
What time does that start? Um.
Early.
7:00.
It's just one of those embarrassing in -honor-of dinners.
It'll be over by 9:00.
You are gonna go, right? Yes.
Ravioli sounds good.
Is that what youre having? Barbara? I don't know.
What are you gonna do, sweetheart? - Felicity.
- I'm sorry.
Barbara.
Um What's going on, sweetheart? What's happening? - Nothing.
- I told her what's going on.
Mom, he didn't tell me.
He just It was a slip.
It was a mistake.
I'm sorry.
- Honey - l it's OK, mom.
It's OK.
It's not OK.
I wanted to tell you myself in person.
- When did you do this? - Last week.
- You did this a week ago? - You say "You did this" like it was some sort of premeditated act.
Well.
It was certainly a very aggressive thing to do.
An aggressive thing.
Is that you talking or Carolyn? Oh.
Do not bring up Carolyn.
Why dont you make me a list of the things I can and cannot bring up.
Come in! Can I, uh, talk to you for a minute? Close the door.
Sit down.
I don't know who I am anymore.
How I got here.
I don't I don't know what I'm doing.
I don't know why I'm here.
* Just hold on to life * * I know that nothing.
Nothing * I've been in relationships that I don't really understand.
I I hate my haircut.
I * I think I' m turned around * I dropped premed like it was some kind of victory, and I can't even remember why it felt like that.
* Watching you run * * Watching you fall * Sorry.
Don't be sorry.
It's OK.
* If I make it something worthwhile * I didn't realize how much I depend on them my parents just being there.
I mean, even though I'm I depend on them.
And I'm an only child, so that's probably all this is.
Did you say any of this to them? No.
I just kinda let them talk.
They said they were having difficulties and that that it was for the best.
I guess I just feel responsible.
How are you responsible? I'm pretty sure that it disrupted things my coming here and pushing them away.
I mean, if I hadn't left Palo Alto.
If I'd If I hadn't been so selfish they'd probably still be together.
What was selfish about you coming here? What do you mean? Why did you come here? Oh pff.
Basically because Ben Covington came here.
You came for Ben? At first, yeah.
And then I thought it was for me, that that maybe I'd find myself or something.
I just don't understand.
What? Well, they were here for Thanksgiving, and they looked so hap well They looked happy, and I was home over Christmas, and everything seemed fine.
I just don't understand why they're breaking up.
I thought you said it was cause of you.
- Hey! - Hey.
So, if you don't go see Dr.
Pavone, youre gonna get expelled.
- Oh, yeah? She's a doctor? - Psychologist.
I guess she went to Yale.
Yale.
Big deal.
- You still thinking about dropping out? - Yeah.
A little bit.
I checked out the Voice.
They got ads in the back.
You can get a Courier ticket to Prague for 200 bucks.
A courier ticket? Yeah.
It's this thing, you gotta leave last minute and you can only take one bag, but the ticket's really cheap.
Well, let me know if youre really going because I should probably go with you.
I'm kidding.
Well, you know, if you wanted to, if you decided to do that, then I'd do it.
Come on! No, I'm serious.
That's what we gotta do.
- Go see Dr.
Pavone.
- No.
Let's drop out together.
Go see Dr.
Pavone! Dr.
Pavone.
Come on! Think about it.
Itll be fun.
I am such an ass.
Can you confirm that for me, that I'm an ass, please? I just read your essay, and it was fantastic! I'm not kidding.
It was one of the best in the class and I was thinking to myself could I have been more of an ass? Doesn't matter.
OK, all right, which is sort of a confirmation but I deserve it, because I was treating you like I didn't think you could write what you wrote which was excellent it was.
You hate my guts? I gotta go get ready for costumes of czarist Russia.
It is a problem.
A real serious problem.
Is anybody listening to me? What? My lab partner.
What's wrong with you guys? I'm writing lyrics.
What rhymes with column? Have you guys ever heard of courier tickets? - Slalom.
- Ben was talking about those.
- Listen! His name is Tracy.
- Slalom? I thought he would be a girl.
He is not a girl.
- He's way too cute to be a girl.
- Is he available? I don't know, and I don't wanna know.
I'm telling you, if I find out he is I'll get no work done, and I'll fail chemistry! Come in.
Hi.
Hi.
Can we can we talk? - Food? - Yeah, um Do you want something from the corner? No, I'm OK.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Would you like something? - No, thank you.
So, how are you? Uh good.
I had a meeting with Dean Alison.
They want me to come guest lecture at the medical school.
- Really? - Yeah.
I just learned about your incident at the pool.
And now youre in alcohol abuse counseling? Dad, that's just policy.
It was a little embarrassing learning that your daughter had been caught swimming drunk on university property.
It was it was just the night after you told me about you and mom, and I don't know.
That stupid prank is gonna come at a real cost.
I know.
That's why I'm in counseling.
What sort of punishment are they discussing? - I don't know.
- What did your counselor say? I don't know! Mom's not coming on Thursday to my dinner and I know you were planning on going.
Dad, the hospital's honoring you.
Of course I'm gonna go.
Mom's only here for a couple of days.
I think it'd be good for both of you to spend some time together.
I'm not as good as she is at Anyway.
Dad Go with her on Thursday, please.
OK.
No.
I want you to go with dad.
But youre only going to be here for a few days.
It's a special night for your father.
I know how much he wants you there.
So, then why don't all three of us just go together? Because I'm angry at your father and because he's angry at me.
Please, just go with him.
But even he said it's just one of those stupid in-honor-of dinners.
He didn't mean that.
He loves those things.
You know that.
Go with your father on Thursday, please or I'll never hear the end of it.
- Mom? - Yeah? I'm sorry.
What for? For everything.
You apologized to them? Yeah.
Oh.
Boy.
What? What did they say? Uh, they told me not to be silly.
Good.
Points for the parents.
And youre not pissed off about any of this? No.
I'm just I'm a little tense.
Hmm.
Tense.
But not angry? - Not everyone gets angry.
- That's true.
Many people who are repressed and out of touch insist that they are just tense.
What are you what are you saying? It would just be nice to see who you really are under there.
Under what? This whole act.
This whole polite thing that you do.
Well, I'm sorry, but this is who I am.
No.
Come on.
First of all, youre not sorry.
Secondly, you told me yourself you don't know who you are.
You have no idea.
You dont know why you came here That's not true.
I told you why I came here.
Oh, to follow a guy? No.
I don't buy that.
Youre too smart for that and youre too screwed up not to be a little bit angry.
Are you angry? No.
Well, then why the hell not? All your life you have been your mother and father's little centerpiece.
You go home for Christmas.
They make you think that everything is nice and normal And then your father gets on a plane and comes back with you to start to work at a hospital that is affiliated with the college that youre attending.
- He did ask my opinion.
- Baloney.
It was after the fact.
Then he spills the beans that and he and your mother are breaking up but he doesn't bother to tell his wife that he's told his daughter, a huge burden for you to bear.
Then your mother finds out that you know.
She's furious with your father.
Your father's already fuming at her.
Youre caught right in the middle.
"Go with mom.
" "Go with dad.
" This is a sporting event.
This is martyr ball! They've got the sticks, and youre the puck and youre telling me youre not angry? Well, how does it feel? What? To be the good little girl.
You know, I don't know if I like this.
No.
Seriously how does it feel? Because it is annoying as hell to watch.
You sitting there like a little Kewpie doll denying what youre really going through.
Not only - Fine.
I'm angry.
- Well, you should be.
- All right, I am! - Well, why? Because everything's a little screwed up right now and because my mom's leaving and I don't understand why and my dad's moving here, and I don't want him here! - Of course you don't.
And I'm mad at the position my parents have put me in! Yeah, I'm a little mad! I'm a little pissed off.
Good.
So, I've done some research.
- About what? - About our trip.
- Our trip? - Yeah.
Vienna monumental sites as awesome as any in London, Paris, or Rome.
You know what we could do? We could just get, like, a eurorail pass, right? That does sound pretty incredible.
That's the thing.
It's not incredible at all.
It's something we could actually do that's credible.
- We could never really do it, though.
- Why not? Because, obviously, I mean, it's us.
What does that mean? Because we dated, we can't go somewhere together? I'm just saying it would be awkward.
All right, what would be more awkward getting on a plane and getting the hell out of here or staying? I mean it.
Are you even happy here? 'Cause I don't think you are.
- You don't? - No, I don't.
I've been watching you at work.
Listen to me.
It's Thursday.
We could get dirt-cheap tickets to France or Austria or Spain and we could be there by Saturday.
Backpacks, wine, cheese and no more stinking, reeking Dr.
Pavone.
What are you thinking? I'm thinking that my parents are splitting up.
That's one of the reasons my dad's moving to New York for a while.
My mom's leaving him.
I didn't know that.
I'm sorry.
Yeah.
That's OK.
It's fun thinking about this, though.
It's like the only fun I'm having right now.
But I don't think I'm where youre at, at least not yet.
Here's my problem I don't want to care.
I just don't.
I wanna be like every other guy and just not care.
I know guys like that.
You guys know guys like that.
You might be a guy like that.
I wanna be I wanna be like you.
I wanna be that guy whose girlfriend gives him a crooked look and he sorta shrugs and goes on his way, you know? But me? I am a disaster.
I'm freakin' out because Ruby's acting all distant and disinterested and I don't know if that's her reacting the way she should, because "Screw me" or if it's me overreacting because I get the distinct impression that we are in a nosedive and I have reason to believe that it's entirely my fault.
I'm Noel, by the way.
Tracy.
Yeah.
I heard a lot about you.
I don't mean to take up your study time but I do wanna know what you guys would do, especially you since I'm pretty sure Elena's advice would be like "Youre such a geek.
" So? Did you apologize to Ruby? Yes, I did.
And she didn't take it? No.
I mean, I don't know.
It was like she'd just run into an ex-boyfriend or something.
Why don't you just say, uh "Baby, I really am sorry, but I want you in my life.
"Now.
If youre hurting.
I want to make it better "whatever it takes.
" That's what I would say if I got into an argument with my girlfriend.
I mean, if I had a girlfriend.
- God.
- What? Nothing.
Thank you.
Youre invited back anytime no matter what happens between you two.
Thank you.
Look ask anything you want but know that certain questions aren't going to have clear answers.
There's no other man.
There's no horrible secret.
I'm just trying to figure out who I am.
Why can't you do that with dad? I just don't think I can.
Well, yesterday you said you were having difficulties.
- Yes.
- So what? I mean, isn't that what happens? Youre in a relationship with someone for a long time and you have difficulties, and you deal with it, right? I don't know what else to do.
Besides break up the family? I'm sorry you feel that way.
You don't know how it is.
Then explain to me.
Help me understand.
I've been in your father's shadow ever since the day I met him.
Then why did you get married in the first place? It was a very difficult time.
If you really wanted to finish college and that's how you felt, I just I don't understand.
I don't know what to tell you.
Were you pregnant? There are so many reasons why we got married.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Your father and I Honey So, let's drop out.
Baby I really am sorry.
- Noel, what are you doing? - Wait.
Let me finish.
I want you in my life.
- If youre hurting - What? I want to make it better.
I'll do whatever it takes.
That's sweet.
Oddly put, but sweet.
Ruby, what's going on? They still haven't taken down their Christmas lights.
Look, I know that it's weird with me teaching this class but we'll get through it.
People have been through much harder things than this.
I'm late.
What? And I'm never late.
Um, how late? Five days.
Look, it's probably nothing.
I thought I got my period, like, three times today.
OK, so then it could be nothing.
Unless I'm pregnant.
Youre not gonna call me a baby again, are you? No.
I was going to tell you that Is that no matter what we're gonna be OK.
I know.
Why Vienna? You know, it's got, uh monumental sites as awesome as London, Paris, or Rome.
Why did you come here? That question is getting so annoying.
I obviously don't know.
That's why No.
I mean here.
Today.
If youre leaving, why'd you come? Because I wanted to thank you.
What? You could've called.
I I wanted to see you and thank you.
You want me to talk you out of it? - No, I don't.
- Good, cause I'm not going to.
Well, good.
I don't want you to.
How'd it go with your folks? Bad.
How bad? I really I don't want to talk about it.
No, no.
You can't say bad and then clam up.
How bad? Horrible.
I haven't felt that way in a long time.
Since when? Since I was a kid.
And what happened when you were a kid? Nothing.
I mean, I went to ballet camp.
I was ten.
It was sleep-away and I hated it.
I came home a day early, I hated it so much.
And when I came home I realized my mom had been sleeping in the guest room not in her room with my dad.
She saw that I saw and was so embarrassed and my dad, too, and they didn't say anything about it and I didn't mention it.
I don't know.
It was just It was so uncomfortable.
It was that horrible feeling.
So, that night at dinner, I, uh I told them how much I loved ballet camp.
I just wanted to change the subject make it all better and then everything was back to normal again.
I went to ballet camp the next four summers.
It's a hard job, isn't it keeping the family happy? I I think that I think that might be it.
Why I came here to New York.
I dont blame you.
Who wouldn't want to get a break from that? But, seriously why Vienna? I don't know.
I just feel so lost here.
you know, the thing about bein' lost you can be lost anywhere.
Hey.
Hey.
I called before, and Meghan answered.
She said you were packing for Vienna? Oh, God.
If is this about me coming here or what's going on between us, then we need to sit down and talk about it, figure it out.
I'm not going to Vienna.
I thought about going for a little bit.
But I'm I'm gonna stay.
I kind of panicked when I heard.
Yeah.
I can imagine.
I thought you were leaving.
My flight's at 6:00.
Dad and I both wish this didn't have to be so hard.
But you know we both love you.
Yeah, I know.
I love you, too.
- Hey.
- Hey.
So, I can't go.
Yeah.
I, uh, I figured.
What do you mean, you figured? I don't know.
I I had a feeling.
- So you didn't buy the tickets? - Nah.
Youre kidding.
I don't know.
I I could tell your heart wasn't in it.
I just I don't think it's the best thing right now for me.
Yeah, I know.
So, how about you? Are you still gonna go? Nah, I'm not gonna go.
Not without you.
Guess I gotta go see stinky Dr.
Pavone, huh? I was thinkin', though, about our trip.
What? I don't know.
Maybe this summer.
- That's a nice shot.
- Thanks.
Nice.
Just try and get it try and get it in the little round thing, all right?