Being Erica (2009) s03e12 Episode Script

Previously on "Being Erica": What happened? Was there any almonds or walnuts in that latte? Yeah, it's actually the hazelnut mocha mint latte.
You're a doctor, right? I'm a therapist.
Do you wanna fix your problems or not? Yes! If you could go back, what would you do differently? You think I'm supposed to accept that I'm just like what, a time traveler because this, this can't be for real.
Feels real enough.
You're here because you're ready to start phase two.
And how many phases are there? You really have no clue? Three.
I have work.
It's better than anything you're likely to get.
And so I signed up and the rest is my sick history.
I lost you once, Barbara; I'm not gonna lose you again.
You really hurt me.
Let's just leave it at that.
What're you talking about? I don't know what I could have done.
Can we please just drop it? I actually have never met a woman I cared about more than you.
So I came here to tell you that and to see if you'll have me.
Come here.
Good morning.
Morning.
What time is it? I have no idea.
Oh my God, it's 10:30.
We slept for like Twelve hours.
I needed it.
And I haven't slept that well in a long, long time.
Yeah? Yeah.
They say the journey of life is like a trek up a mountain; we spend most of our time putting one foot in front of the other.
We get lost, we fall, we circle back.
And sometimes every step is a struggle, until the moment comes when we find our footing; when we are able to stop, take a breath, and look up And see how far we've come and understand how beautiful that is.
And suddenly the air sparkles all around us like a jewel and the world cracks open in all its loveliness, and we are filled with deep and abiding gratitude for all that we have and all that we are.
Mmm! Ugh I should probably get that.
Hello.
Erica, where are you?! You were supposed to help me set up.
Oh, my God, the engagement brunch.
Yes, the engagement brunch, with fifty of Dave and Ivan's closest and bestest friends, and it starts in 45 minutes.
- Do you want a glass of water? - Uh, sure.
Wait a minute.
Do you have company? Company of the overnight variety? Do not lie.
Yes.
Erica! Look, Julianne, I'm sorry.
I'm just gonna jump in the shower and I'll be right there, okay? Okay.
Do not take a bus, or a streetcar.
Take a cab.
I want you here pronto-Toronto.
Loud and clear.
Bye.
Oh my God! I completely forgot it's Ivan and David's engagement brunch, and Julianne's hosting and she asked me to be her little helper.
Yeah, no worries.
I'm late for work anyway.
I'll see you tonight.
Yeah.
Bye.
Bye.
Focus, focus, focus, focus.
it's clearer inside of me who I will always be open me up to my heart feels like I'm seeing in the dark waking me up to my heart to do it all over again and again until the end the sum of my dreams and everything I ever wanted to be Oh, come on, every couple has a story about how they met.
Yeah, I just don't think people are gonna wanna hear ours.
Dave, humour me.
Fine.
The year was 2002, and I was a working as a contractor in this library downtown and David was poet-in-residence.
Everyone knew I was gay.
Poet-in-residence, quelle surprise! And I thought Ivan was straight and still, I was stupidly hot for him.
Anyway, one day, I'm up a ladder, I'm reaching for a book And I was passing by, and I looked up You were just smitten! That's one way of putting it.
I couldn't stop myself.
I walked up to him, I reached up and I I grabbed his ass.
I'm sorry, you You what? And then smiled and said, "nice buns.
" Mmm.
Yeah, let's not share that today.
Oh, you sure? Retelling it, it's actually kinda funny.
Yeah.
I'm sure.
- Jana! - Dave! You made it! Ah! I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Oh, Jana, this is Julianne.
Nice to meet you, Jana.
How do you know the happy couple? Actually, Dave and I dated in high school.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I touched Julianne's breasts, so I guess we're even.
Yeah.
Anywho Before more of your guests arrive.
So, be back in a jiff.
Bye.
Okay.
Brent? One sec.
Great.
Brent.
Hello, Julianne.
Obviously you're on your way out.
I Just want to give this to you.
Okay.
Thanks.
Do you wanna come in? Sure.
Friedken handed in his final chapters.
Frank Galvin read them and loved them.
He's so impressed that He's sending me to Sydney to work with this new aboriginal voice we just signed.
Like Sydney, Australia? I leave tomorrow for a month.
Wow! Open it.
Oh.
Hmm.
Oh.
The dove is a universally recognized symbol for peace.
So is that what this is? This is a peace offering? In crystal.
Well, thanks.
Well, I guess I should let you go wherever you're going.
Uh oh, this.
Uh, I'm actually not going anywhere.
It's just the zipper on my blouse split and I'm supposed to be giving a speech in 10 minutes, so I was a model; I'm used to wardrobe malfunctions.
You modelled underwear.
Show me the damage.
Come on.
Okay.
Uh, well I need you to hold very still, okay? Relax.
There.
Crisis averted.
Wow! Thank you.
Fits like a glove.
Well, I guess I should let you get to it.
Well, have a Have a great time in Australia.
Thank you.
Julianne The dove isn't just lip service.
I really do wanna make amends.
Maybe when I get back we could do lunch? I miss you.
Have a great trip, Brent.
Romeo and Juliet; Bogey and Bacall; Brad and Angelina; Dave and Ivan What do these couples have in common? True love.
What Dave and Ivan have taught me - besides the fact that "gays" come in all shapes and sizes - is that love does too.
To Dave and Ivan! To Dave and Ivan.
Okay.
Now, enough talking, it's time to celebrate.
And karaoke starts in 15 minutes, so warm up those voices and have fun! Thank you.
Oh, beautiful speech.
Oh, thank you.
Now, dish.
You had a guy over last night? As your best friend, I demand details.
And as your partner, I second that.
Who was he? Adam.
Adam?! The Irish Lothario? Well, you know, things Sort of worked out unexpectedly.
I thought you said he was with someone else? He changed his mind.
And, you know, I know that that sounds bad, but you just have to trust me, I know what I'm doing.
And we're taking things slowly, so Judith he slept over.
How is that taking things slowly? We slept side by side, all night, fully clothed, and nothing happened.
How's that for slow? Well, I stand corrected; That is slow.
I mean, that's slower than slow.
- That is just - Weird.
What're you gonna do the next time you see each other? Hold hands? Maybe.
Well, today is just turning out to be full of surprises.
What does that mean? Wow! It's It's really something.
Well, yes, Brent's always had fabulous taste.
But you gotta question the motive.
You don't think he's sincere? I mean, he's asking me to forgive him, but how can I trust him after everything? I mean, I don't even know what happened; I don't know why he went so crazy.
Have you asked him? Yes.
He just switches the subject.
What are you thinking? Well, I think that if you wanna know the truth, then you have to be ready to hear things that you may not wanna hear.
What? L-like what? Do you know something? No.
But it seems pretty clear, doesn't it? Now, why won't he tell you? Why does he change the subject when you bring it up? It's obvious that there's something that he doesn't want you to know, and if you push, you have to be ready to hear it, whatever it is.
That's kinda scary.
I know.
Oh Hmm.
Hmm? Who needs a shrink when I've got you.
Erica.
You gotta come hear this.
there are mountains in our way Oh my! But we climb a step every day love lifts us up where we belong! would you have ever believed this? Mmm, not in a million years.
They're really cute With their clothes on.
Oh.
Yeah, they really are.
You know what this means, Sam? What? You, me, up there, singing Islands in the Stream.
- Oh yeah.
- No-no-no-no-no-no I'm gonna go find a sub, and you can't stop me.
Lenin - Lenin asked me to move in.
- Really? And I said yes.
Erica, I have never liked anyone like this before.
Anyone.
Sammy, I'm so happy for you.
Yeah? And you think he's good? I mean, for me.
I mean, considering I was so spectacularly wrong about Josh, I I want your honest opinion.
Sam, I think he's great.
Yeah? Yeah.
love lifts us up where we belong and then, after brunch, Dave got up on stage and he performed this spoken love poem to Ivan.
Really? Was it any good? Well, it made Julianne cry.
And you? No, I didn't cry.
I was too busy smiling my face off.
It's like today has been the perfect day, you know, over and over and over again, surrounded by all these people that I love.
Everything, it just feels right - with work, and with my family and And you.
Don't jinx it.
I can't help it.
You know this therapy thing? I think everyone should do it.
You know, therapy's amazing, but sometimes I'm surprised I made it this far.
That last session was one of the hardest I've ever had to go through, and What? Well, the fact that you were there for me, waiting out the other side, it Helped me.
More than you know.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, you'd make a great doctor.
And what about you? Me? Nah.
I'm too hot-headed.
I don't have the patience.
You can work on that.
But what you do have, Adam, is passion.
You know, you're brave, and you say it like it is, and you always care.
Even when I'm being a bully? Even then.
Especially then.
Erica You and me, between sheets, it just doesn't get better than this the many windswept yellow stickies of my mind are the molten emotional frontline I couldn't care less, I'm transfixed in this absolute bliss oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh the sweet sleepless tumbling night oh, and the morning on your skin and loved up light tracing patterns in the maze of your back softly, softly the goose bumps like that and then a ki-i-i-iss o-ooh maybe another maybe another Maybe another oo-oo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooh oo-oo-ooh Adam Dr.
Maron to Radiology please.
Dr.
Maron to Radiology.
Ms.
Strange? Dr.
Tom.
Where am I? Don't try to move.
Just easy, easy.
Just relax.
Why am I in the hospital? The ambulance brought you here.
- What? - You were in a coffee shop, do you remember? You went into anaphylactic shock.
You fell and you hit your head, and you lost consciousness.
Why have you sent me back here? Sent you back? No, Ms.
Strange, you don't understand.
You've been in a coma for two weeks.
Wait a minute.
What? Your parents are on their way; they're gonna be here in a few minutes.
Just hold on a second.
What is this? Listen, it can be very disorienting when you first regain consciousness.
What are you talking about? Oh my God! Erica! Can I hug her? Absolutely.
Oh, you're awake, my darling.
Thank God.
No, no, I'm sorry.
I am not doing this.
Okay, Dr.
Tom? Uh, nurse! We need a nurse in here please.
Okay, wh-wh-wh-wh-whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Julianne? Okay, it's okay.
You're a little confused.
Let's get a chair.
I'm gonna help you get up.
There.
What is this? I can- I can get up on my own.
Honey, just let them help you.
You've been through a lot.
I'm fine.
Oh! All right, okay.
You haven't moved your muscles for two weeks, so you're very weak.
Please, just let me help you.
Okay? Let's watch her lines.
There you go.
Dr.
Hinckman to Orthopedics please.
Hey! Look who's awake.
Dave? Feeling better? Dr.
Wexlar, she seems so confused and panicked, and the things she was saying? Well, you know, she took a bad fall.
And even though the swelling in her brain has subsided, she may be conflating her dreams with reality.
But she's still all right, isn't she? They'll run more tests at the rehab, but the most important thing right now is she needs to rest.
She needs to be around people and places that are familiar.
That'll help to ground her.
Okay.
Thank you so much, doctor.
You're very welcome.
You take care, Erica.
Thank you.
Dr.
Tom Just go slow, honey.
Look, I can walk.
You thought you could walk in the hospital.
I'm not going to fall.
Just let go.
Thank you.
Would you like to take a nice hot shower? I can make you some lunch if you're hungry.
Okay.
You've gotta be kidding me! I'm worried sick about her.
It's the confusion that's the most disturbing.
She talks about time travelling.
It's, it's frightening.
Time travelling, doctor, the therapist I don't know At least we're all together.
- Mom? - Yeah? Is this really all you could find me to wear? I mean Honey, look who came by to see you.
Erica.
Oh my God.
How're you feeling? Um, I'm- I've asked your doctor to forward me all of your test results, and you're gonna be with the best rehab specialist.
He's actually a personal friend of mine, so- - Sam - Too much? I'm sorry.
Two weeks is a long time to be in a coma, Erica.
Can I have a turn? It's really Really good to see you.
So, would everyone like something to eat? I'll have a bagel.
Minus the lox; The salmon gives me heartburn.
Josh.
Oh, and welcome back, sleeping beauty.
It's in Forest Hill, and I wouldn't exactly call it little.
It's brand new.
Mom, who cares about the house.
I wanna hear about Erica.
She's been out cold for two weeks, Sam.
It's not like she's got a lot of stories to tell.
Ouch.
Actually, it was very interesting when she first woke up.
She had lots of stories to tell.
She thought the real doctor Dr.
Wexlar was her therapist.
Do you remember that, honey? How you thought he could send you back in time? He could.
But I just imagined it, right? I mean, isn't that what you're all hoping I believe? Erica, come on, just sit down.
When you've been in a coma- you know what? Just don't, okay? Because I know what you're all thinking; that there's someting wrong with me.
Why is this happening? This isn't real.
This isn't real This isn't real All right, Dr.
Tom, what're you trying to teach me, huh? This was a bad idea.
The doctor said it would be good for her to be around familiar faces.
Which is true, but I think maybe we overdid it.
Erica's brain has suffered a trauma and trying to rush her back to normal Is not gonna work.
I have to check on her.
I'll come with you.
How am I supposed to know what to do? Geez Erica? Are you okay? Erica, open the door.
We're sorry.
We just wanna talk to you.
I don't feel like talking.
Come on, sweetheart, just let us in.
Erica, it's gonna be fine.
Erica, open the door now! Where do you go with your broken heart in tow? what do you do with the leftover you? how do you know when to let go where does the good go? where does the good go? Ow! Look me in the eyes Are you trying to make me think that I'm insane? Erica, did you come here by yourself? 'Cause if you're trying to drive me crazy, well, it's working.
I see that you're a little upset.
So, why don't we sit down and we can talk about it.
I don't want to have a seat.
All right? I just I wanna know why you're doing this, okay? Could you pull Erica Strange's file please? Get her parents' number and call them right away.
You are my therapist, you're not my doctor, and we have spent two years together.
And this - you doing this to me, it's really unfair.
And I don't care what you're trying to teach me right now, I just want you to stop, okay, and just admit you know me! Just take a breath, all right? It's okay.
Please, Dr.
Tom! It's okay.
All right.
Dr.
Tom, please?! Call a code white.
What is a- what is a code white? We're gonna call your parents and we're gonna figure this out.
Okay? Why are you torturing me?! We;re gonna need a 5 and 2, please.
Calm down.
Take it easy okay? I want my life back, Dr.
Tom.
You give me my life back! Calm down, okay?! Get the hell off of me! Stop it! Just take it easy, okay? Get off me! Get off! No! Hello, Erica.
I'm Dr.
Rodriguez.
Dr.
Wexlar sent me to talk to you.
Can you tell me why you're here? Well, I'm here because everyone seems to think that I have been in a coma for two weeks.
And what do you think? Well, I don't really think that it matters what I think because you're not gonna believe me.
I can't promise I'll agree with your version of events, but I'd like to try and understand.
I'd like to help you.
I think that my whole life has been erased somehow.
Like I've been dropped into a nightmare and I really wish that I could just wake up.
You have a sense that you've been living a different life.
No, it's not a "sense"; I know.
I have a company, I am in a relationship.
My life My life, it's not this.
So how do you explain this then? That night - the night that I fell - I woke up in the hospital and Dr.
Tom was there, and he said that that he could help me fix my life.
And he started sending me back in time to fix my regrets.
So, this Doctor Tom I know how it sounds.
You're convinced that he's also your neurologist, Dr.
Wexlar.
No, he's not a neurologist at all.
No? Dr.
Wexlar works here, Erica.
Fine, but he's pretending to, to teach me a lesson, or else Something got messed up.
Oh God, this is coming out all wrong.
Erica, I'd like you to consider an alternative; the possibility that there's another explanation.
You were in a coma.
You were minimally conscious, and you saw and heard things that you built into a fantasy.
A fantasy that felt so real- - No, no! I - Just hear me out.
I wonder if this other life you lived is a kind of dream.
A very vivid dream.
You recognize your doctor because he was in and out of your room.
Dr.
Rodriguez, what you're saying makes sense.
But just because you sound right, it doesn't mean that you are.
I understand why you want it to be real, Erica, I do.
Sounds amazing.
But if you persist in holding onto the utopia you've built for yourself, you run the risk of losing touch with what is actually real.
I don't want you to be right.
Do you think I might be right? Do you think it's possible? She just needs a few days rest, then we re-evaluate.
Gary, she jumped out the window.
So you want to commit her, commit our daughter? I don't I don't wanna commit her.
But Dr.
Wexlar said that maybe- Dr.
Wexlar also said Erica could come home, and look where that ended up.
So why are you listening to him? How can you make me feel guilty about this? Don't try to turn this into a fight about us, Barb.
I'm not.
I'm worried about her.
At least, as an inpatient, she'll be safe.
Well you know something? It seems to be it's more about your neurosis than what is best for her! Say you got trouble say you got pain say you got nothing left to believe in nothing to hold onto nothing to trust nothing but chains scouring your conscience raking through your memories scouring your conscience raking through your memories but that was the river and this is the sea that was the river behold the sea Erica? Hey.
Leo? Why are you here? I'm here because you want me to be here.
So you're, um You're just in my head, you're a You're like a ghost, like a hallucination? Something like that.
Okay.
So, wow I guess I really am insane.
It's my turn to ask a question.
Why are you here? I woke up yesterday morning to find out that my whole life is gone, Leo.
It was worse than gone.
It was like it didn't exist.
It was a dream.
I don't know what I'm supposed to do.
Well You always have a choice.
Isn't that what therapy taught you? You know about therapy? I know everything you know because, well I am you.
You're standing on a bridge, talking to yourself, trying to figure out how to escape thisnightmare you feel you're trapped in.
And you're considering your options.
Actually, I'm just trying to clear my head; figure out what's real, what isn't.
I think it's pretty obvious what's real.
This life - the one where you're single, unemployed, and in the middle of a nervous breakdown.
What do you have to go back to really? I mean, your entire life, everything you worked for, it was all a fantasy.
What are you saying? What do you think I should do? It doesn't matter what I think, Erica.
It's what you think.
You know that friend you have, the one who seems to have it all figured out? She's got the great job, the great guy, the great life? Well You're not that girl.
And that's what you keep telling yourself; that is what you fear is true.
You're afraid that you made up this other you, this better you.
And now? All you're left with is this.
And if this is all you are, Erica, all you'll ever be, then you're asking yourself what's the point? Dr.
Tom would say There is no Dr.
Tom.
Dr.
Tom would say, in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
Even if it's not real - even if everything that I've experienced wasn't real, I've been changed by it.
And that's real.
Erica I remember it all, Leo.
Every lesson, good and bad; every victory, every defeat.
And I can't just I can't just throw it away.
I can't throw my life away.
I would rather live and try and fail than give up.
Goodbye, Erica.
Erica.
Dr.
Tom What is happening? You passed, Erica.
Welcome to Doctor training.
That was a test? It was.
That's it.
That's all I get - you passed the test? Nothing about how you basically, you just tortured me?! It was necessary.
Why? Not everyone is meant to become a Doctor, Erica, and this is the way that it gets determined.
It is a trial; it's not meant to be easy.
Erica not it's cruel and it's vicious, actually.
It's inelegant, perhaps, but that's the way it's done.
The way that it's always been done.
Okay, so what about the others? What about Camilla, Adam, Darryl, Rebecca? They took the test as well.
And? And, now that you have passed, you get to move on, to give back; to help in the same way that you, yourself, were helped.
What if I had failed? Each phase builds on the last, Erica.
You cannot enter group until you're ready and the same is true for Doctor training.
And that's why we do the test; so that we can be sure that you have a solid foundation, and you proved back there that you do.
Because you were able to hold onto yourself.
Everything else was ripped away from you.
You earned this.
Well done.
I'm gonna become a Doctor.
Doctor Erica.
You are indeed.
So, I mean, what about the rest of my life? There'll be plenty of time to sort out those details.
But, for now, what you need to worry about Is your office.
My office? Yes.
Every doctor needs one.
This, Erica, is your canvas.
You get to make this office whatever you want it to be.
Okay.
So, do you guys just give me a charge card for Home Depot? It's not quite as pedestrian as that.
Clear your head, and let whatever comes to mind speak to you.
Okay, but if- But not out loud.
Just think.
Concentrate.
Oh my God.
Honeycrisp.
Tasty.
This is amazing! So I can just like make whatever I want to? Whatever you want.
Have fun.
Experiment.
Enjoy.
Uh, Dr.
Tom.
How exactly do I leave here, when I'm done? Decide where you want to go, walk through the door and you'll find yourself there.
Wherever I want? Like Bangkok? Baby steps, Erica.
Where to begin? Adam? Oh my God, that test? Can you believe it? I came this to failing, but I passed.
I didn't, Erica.
What? I'm not going to be a Doctor.
What do you mean you didn't pass? What happened? I blew it.
How? I ended up agreeing to go back to work for Hastings.
And you failed because of that? I failed because I couldn't withstand the pressure.
I buckled.
I turned my back on everything that I learned.
And I did some terrible things again, Erica.
Awful things.
I don't know what to say.
Why am I so weak? Adam You're not weak.
I'm sorry.
Look I'm wrecking this for you.
You should be celebrating.
No, I don't I don't feel like celebrating.
I just, I feel awful.
Don't.
Don't feel awful.
You deserve this.
You passing, you becoming a Doctor, is right.
- Adam - It is.
I mean it.
And even though I feel like shit, I'm glad that some lucky person's gonna have you as their therapist.
I'm really, really proud of you.
Nice chair.
Thank you.
You talked to Adam.
Yeah.
He's upset.
And I'm upset for him.
What about Darryl and Rebecca, and Camilla? Did they pass? Camilla did, yes; the other two, no.
Wow! You guys are tough.
We have to be.
You'll understand that, soon enough.
What's this? Your card.
My card? Wait.
Why do I need a card? Because, Erica, it's time to meet your first patient.
My first patient? But this is training.
I mean, I'm not ready.
They say the journey of life is like a trek up a mountain; we're all climbing to the top and what we'll find when we get there Is anybody's guess.
Behold the sea behold the sea