A Million Little Things (2018) s03e15 Episode Script

1 Dakota didn't steal my pills.
I've been taking them.
Now I can't stop.
Previously on "A Million Little Things" This is my first protest.
- Hey, Pop.
- Rome, Regina got hurt! They're taking her to the hospital now.
Did he touch you? No.
He just touched himself.
- I'm really sorry, Sophie.
- It's okay.
What's going on? I don't think I'm the only one.
Who am I gonna live with? Give us a chance to talk about it.
We'll let you know what we figure out.
I don't think Katherine's gonna give me joint custody.
What is it? A lot of things have been happening lately.
Mom.
Something's wrong with me.
Anything, T? I found it, Dad.
It's this one.
The smoke detector at the top of the stairs.
Okay.
Come on down.
We'll have Mom change the battery when she gets out of the shower.
It's okay.
I got it.
What do you no, hey T.
You cannot get it.
Do not get up on that ladder.
It's not a problem.
I can do it.
T, do not get on that ladder.
Guys, what is going on out there? Theo, get down from there.
What do you think you're doing? I'm helping Dad.
Katherine, I told him not to.
Just give it to me.
Hello? Don't take this the wrong way, but I saw you less when we lived together.
And charming comments like that are why neither of these coffees are for you.
Fair enough.
Seriously, though, thank you for being here for Sophie.
Yeah, of course.
Where are you headed? Coffee shop? No, I have my own wheelchair-bound teenager to deal with.
Ed's meeting his divorce attorney today.
He wants me to be there for moral support.
You know what? You need this more than me.
- I accept.
- Great.
And next time you don't get me a coffee, can you also not get me a bagel? - Toasted.
- Okay.
Babe.
Babe.
Gina! - I think it's full.
- Oh, sorry.
No, I-I was just, um She was just so caught up with the pitch for your documentary, as was I, so please, continue, and I will help you finish filling the water bottles.
So, what I was saying was we're getting some great stuff.
Today, we're interviewing Nya Byrne.
She's a Boston organizer for Black Lives Matter.
She's incredible.
When Rome and I did the pre-interview with her, she was like everything you wanted in a soundbite.
Listen to you "soundbite.
" You know what would make a great documentary? The one we just told you about? Well, yes, of course, sweetheart, but I also think that there's a great one that looks at the effect that social media is having on our lives.
Oh, they already have one on that.
It's called "The Social Dilemma.
" Oh, well, sounds like I should be the one making a documentary.
Well, I'm sure the one based on your idea is fascinating.
Uh, it is.
We watched it together last weekend, remember? - Right.
- Mm.
No, I'm saying my mom would find it fascinating.
Oh.
Right.
Look, Tyrell and I have to go shoot this documentary before Shelly's crew gets the scoop.
Oh, I will be happy to help you in editing.
- And we're out.
- Alright.
- Bye.
Mm.
- Bye.
- I love you.
- I love you, babe.
- Have fun.
- Thanks.
That's it.
You have to tell Rome your concussion is getting worse.
Mom, what are you doing? No, don't call Rome.
I haven't seen him this excited since his movie got canceled.
I'm not calling Rome.
I'm calling my friend Joyce, whose son is Chief of Staff at Boston General, to get you an appointment with a neurologist today.
Regina, I-I don't understand why you're not telling him.
Because I'm really scared.
When Peter had me wear a bathing suit for my lesson, he said he got the idea from doing the same exercise with another student.
Yeah, uh, some kid named Gregory, right? Yeah, he He called him Gregory, but I think Peter was really talking about a female student of his Layla Gregory.
When I went to MMI, the Dean said that Layla was one of Peter's favorite students.
So why would Peter tell me Layla was a guy unless he was hiding something? Are you saying y-you think that Peter may have done something to Layla? What if I wasn't the only one? That could certainly be the case, but it's a really sensitive thing to bring up.
Are you thinking about reaching out to her? I can't.
Six months ago, Layla killed herself.
I'm so sorry.
Soph, i-if you found out that what Peter did to you happened to Layla, how would that change things for you? I-I don't know.
Maybe it wouldn't change anything, but just ever since I've heard about her, I've been having all these feelings.
Yeah.
I totally get that.
And it's really important and good that you are allowing yourself to think about what happened with Peter, but there's also the danger that you could become consumed by it.
Believe me, if I could tell myself just to not think about any of it, I would.
You know, when I was first diagnosed, what helped me the most was having an activity.
I started running every day.
7:00 a.
m.
Rain, snow, whatever.
It didn't fix what was happening, but every morning, for an hour, I had a way to focus all of that energy and pain and anger into something that I could control.
Made me feel like I was fighting back.
I gotta admit, Eddie, I've been expecting this call.
Is that, uh, French lady giving you and Katherine custody trouble again? Oh, wow.
You two haven't spoken in a while, huh? Yeah, sorry, I didn't send out my Christmas letter explaining my year.
Katherine and I are getting divorced.
- For real this time.
- Well I've still got that folder here.
I don't think that Katherine is gonna give me joint custody.
Did Did she say that? No.
But she's made it very clear she does not think I can take care of Theo alone while I'm in this chair.
Well, um this may sound a little, uh, un-PC, but, uh, given your injury can you? I mean, don't you live in a two-story house? You see, if a judge has to evaluate where a child is safe living, they're gonna want you to show that you can do everything that's required to take care of Theo on your own.
That's not gonna be a problem, Brian.
As soon as we hang up with you, Ed and I are gonna hop on Zillow, look for a place that's wheelchair-accessible.
Maybe a place that's got a communal hot tub for the times that your good friend Gary comes over to visit.
That's great.
Now, in in terms of taking, uh, Theo to school, can you can you drive? No.
Uh, my minivan hasn't been equipped with hand controls.
Also not a problem.
My lady friend Darcy She knows a guy that retrofits vans for disabled vets.
I don't know what qualifies you for a military discount, but I'm gonna take Theo's scout neckerchief just in case.
Alright, well, this is a This is a great start.
All we got to do is show a judge that you'll you'll do whatever it takes.
He's my son.
I will do anything.
You tell me about me You hear me, you doubt me This love is a stranger and our hearts in danger This one vicious cycle repeats on the vinyl And I need to know now Do you want in or want out? Nights are just wasted Can I help you? Hi.
Are you Mrs.
Gregory? I'm sorry, who are you? My name is Sophie Dixon.
I just wanted to stop by and tell you how sorry I am about Layla.
Georgia, who is it? Would you like to come in? Yeah.
Honey, this is Sophie - Dixon.
- Dixon.
Sophie was classmates with Layla.
Oh, no.
Layla and I weren't in school together.
Oh.
How did you know our daughter? Actually, I didn't.
I'm a musician.
I'm applying to MMI.
When I met with Dr.
Reeves, she mentioned what an incredible cellist that Layla was.
Yeah.
Layla loved music.
She started playing when she was 4.
Yeah.
Her cello was taller than she was.
First few years, I had to carry it for her to every lesson she had.
And most kids stay up talking on the phone with their friends or playing video games.
Layla would spend all night practicing till we made her go to sleep.
Mm.
It's been really quiet in the house since she I really miss the sound of her playing.
I'm really sorry.
I-I didn't mean to No, it's okay.
It's okay.
You know, after Layla died, I think her friends were afraid to come by.
It's really nice to talk about her.
Okay, how's this? Okay.
Okay.
I mean, this is good, but check this out.
You see how the light hits the Charles? - Yeah.
- Now you're capturing Boston.
City's gotta be a character in this, too.
That's why we're here.
That backdrop.
We are telling a story narratively and visually.
Dope.
See, I was gonna say that, but I just wanted to give you your chance to shine, you know? Yeah.
Right, right.
So, we got our camera angle.
Now all we gotta do is figure out our angle - for our documentary.
- We'll find it.
Even in a scripted movie, sometimes, you don't find your story until you're in editing.
Just gotta trust the process.
Yeah.
Thanks.
I wasn't gonna let you shoot in the wrong direction.
No, I mean thanks for everything.
To tell you the truth you're the first man in my life that's really shown up for me.
So, thanks.
I feel like I should be thanking you.
I know Gina told you that our adoption didn't go through, and for a while after that, I felt like I'd never get to share any of this with my son.
And I know I'm not your dad, but I really do love sharing it with you.
So, thanks.
You have no idea how to hang a flag, huh? Oh, that's what this is.
No clue.
And then when I was seven, I taught myself how to play "Moonshadow" on this little toy guitar.
And when I ran down the stairs to show my parents, - I fell and broke it.
- Oh, no.
So, that was the day that my parents bought me my first real guitar.
I've been playing ever since.
Well, it sounds like you and Layla have a lot in common.
Yeah.
Yeah, we actually had the same music instructor Peter Benoit.
Oh.
You studied with Peter? Layla loved working with him.
He's a big part of her getting into MMI.
Yeah, he's Yeah.
It's been sitting there since the day she brought it home.
She didn't play it at all over break.
Should've been a sign.
Look, do you know if Peter ever asked Layla to do any unusual exercises when they were working together? I don't think so.
Unusual how? Uh, well Peter was amazing at first.
Really helping me get out of my shell.
Yeah.
He He did the same for Layla.
He really helped her find her stage presence.
Yeah, exactly.
But there's just things, uh, he had me do that just didn't feel right.
And I thought it was about him pushing me, but Like, we did this one exercise where, to get me out of my comfort zone, he had me wear a bathing suit.
And when I went over to his house to tell him that I got an audition to MMI, he he assaulted me.
And you think this happened to Layla? Well, I wasn't sure.
- That's why I was - No.
My daughter and I were very close.
She would have told me.
- I'm sorry.
I didn't - You know, you didn't even know her.
Layla was a very smart girl.
She would have never let that happen to her.
I think you need to go.
- I'm really sorry.
I - Just leave.
Please.
I was in such a hurry to get Theo to my mother's, I I forgot all my prep work for the deposition.
Hey, uh, Katherine, can we talk for a sec? I am really late for this.
Now, I know you're worried about me taking care of Theo by myself.
I am, Eddie.
And I get that, but I want you to know that I have a plan.
I have an appointment to check out an apartment where Theo's bedroom is right next to mine Completely wheelchair accessible, and right now, Gary is with Darcy, and they're meeting with a guy who retrofits vans with hand controls.
So, I'm gonna take driving lessons, and I'm gonna be able to take Theo to school by the time things open up in person again, - so you don't have to worry.
- Stop.
Stop.
Eddie I'm not worried about leaving Theo alone with you because you're in a wheelchair.
It's because you're an addict.
And I don't know if I can trust you to stay sober.
Okay, it's been two minutes.
Let's see how many of the words I told you earlier that you can remember.
Uh, sure, okay.
- There were eight of them, right? - Yes.
Sorry.
Okay, let's see.
Um Raincoat.
- Mom, can you not do that right now? - What? I'm trying to remember the words.
I-I was just looking up your symptoms on WebMD.
I don't know if you noticed, but we have a real MD right here.
Let's keep going.
Pony.
- Apple.
- Mm.
Um Sled.
F-Feather.
Candy.
No.
Not candy.
Oh, lollipop.
Yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
Okay, there was one more.
- Or two.
- Okay, I-I can't remember.
- That's alright.
Uh, six out of eight is reasonable after a concussion.
In fact, it's reasonable even without a concussion.
Not for me.
I'm I'm telling you, there is something wrong.
When I'm in the kitchen of my restaurant, all I do is multi-task, but when you were giving me the test, like, all the sounds The phone clicking, the the intercom, th that vent I hear it all at the same level.
These things take time.
It's been two weeks.
I Shouldn't we be doing a CT scan or something? I really don't think that's necessary.
Look, I know you're feeling like you're not at the same level you're used to, but it's not gonna help anything if you get yourself all worked up about it.
Mm? Just try to relax and give it time.
You can book a follow-up appointment with Louise on your way out.
Excuse me.
My daughter just told you that she feels something's not right and requested a scan.
And like I said, I don't think it's necessary.
Great.
Then we will be on our way, just as soon as you write down in her file that your patient requested a specific test and you declined to give it to her.
Alright.
Uh, if you want, I can have Louise write a prescription, and you can go get a scan downstairs.
It's not what I want.
It's what she wants.
I'll have Louise write it up.
That would be great.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Nobody treats my daughter that way.
Well, except for me.
I cannot believe you don't trust me with my own son! I can't believe I can't trust you with him.
Katherine, I have a problem I'm facing head-on.
I go to all of my meetings.
I check in with my sponsor.
I am sober.
For how many days, Eddie? Because if you can still keep count, it's not enough.
I have proven I can take care of Theo for 11 years.
11 years! Unless somebody else was home all day, every day, making sure his homework was done, making his little costumes for his plays, most of which you missed, by the way! - 'Cause you were off - Because I was where? Making money? So we could keep our house? What? You want to make another demo, Eddie? I have a lawyer, Katherine.
I'm gonna fight you on this.
Fantastic! So I get to pay for that, too? Let's just see what a judge has to say about how good of a mom you are when they find out that you walked out on your son last year.
I went to my mom's so Theo couldn't see how you destroyed me, not only after having an affair, but a baby with another woman! God.
Katherine.
What?! I know I messed up.
I know I have been a horrible husband.
Horrible.
But I have also been a wonderful dad.
Please, Katherine.
Please don't do this to me.
I am not doing anything to you, Eddie.
You alone used drugs while you were taking care of our son.
All I ever wanted was to be able to believe you.
Wow, Nya.
That was a really great answer.
One last question.
What was the moment that you knew you needed to be a part of this? The day after Trayvon was murdered.
I remember going to school and looking around and thinking, "How can people just go about their day like nothing happened?" I couldn't do that.
So I sat down, right in the middle of the hall, and some people laughed and kept walking by, and then a few kids sat down with me, and then Mr.
Johnson, the history teacher, sat down.
And in the end, there were 50 of us sitting there, talking about what happened.
That's the day I knew.
Sometimes I still feel like that little girl who's sitting on the floor like half the world is laughing at me and the other half is just walking by.
There is this armor that we have to wear just to get through the day, and every time another innocent Black person is killed, that armor gets heavier and heavier.
But I've seen what can happen if we just keep showing up.
Things can change.
I'm coming! Sophie? What's wrong? I should have left it alone.
I shouldn't have gone over there.
Whoa.
Come in.
Hey.
Slow down.
What happened? I-I-I went to her house.
I went to see Layla's parents.
- Oh, Soph - I know.
I know I shouldn't have, but I-I needed to know, but when I mentioned what happened with Peter, they had no idea what I was talking about, and I mean, even her mom said that Layla was too smart - for that to have happened to her.
- No.
Earlier, you asked me how things would be different if I knew that Peter had done what he did to someone else.
And maybe it shouldn't, but the truth is, if I knew that I wasn't the only one, then maybe I could forgive myself for letting it happen to me.
Oh, Soph, come here.
- Hello? - Dude, I have hooked you up.
I just got back from seeing Vic Vic, the van man.
That's what it says on his business card.
"If you need a van, Vic's your man.
" I'm quoting the back of the card at this point.
He is going to retrofit your minivan for 10% over cost.
Throw in an extra 75 bucks, he'll airbrush a narwhal on the side.
You give me 80 bucks, I'll make sure he doesn’t do that.
I appreciate it, man, but, um it doesn't matter.
None of it does.
What? Of course it matters.
You're gonna show Katherine you can do this.
I'm not getting joint custody of Theo.
Katherine doesn't even want me to have unsupervised visits.
Ed, what are you talking about? Katherine doesn't, um trust me not to use drugs around Theo.
She's never going to.
I'm coming over.
I'll be right there.
I'll be right here, trying to figure out your passcode.
I'm kidding.
I'm sure it's my birthday.
Hey.
You're gonna be fine.
Ready to get started? Go on.
Okay.
Okay, I'll tell them.
Dr.
Anton just got your scan back from the technician.
He's reviewing it now, and then he'll talk to you about the results.
Thank you very much.
This is where you tell me it's gonna be okay.
This is where I tell you that no matter what it is, I'm here for you.
I know when you were younger, I could have done a better job of protecting you.
I will never make that mistake again.
Thanks, Mom.
There is something else I'd like to say.
You have an incredible husband who loves you.
I have seen the two of you go through so much together in the last year alone.
As soon as we know what's going on, you need to tell him.
Yeah.
No, Mom, I'll I'll be right there.
I just wanted to put the lasagna in the oven before I headed over.
Yes.
I'm making a salad, too.
Okay, I'll I'll see you soon.
Whoa! That timing is crazy.
Now I gotta call Maggie.
Apparently psychics are real.
Hey, Gare.
Uh, Eddie's in the garage.
I didn't come here to see him.
If you're here to change my mind about custody Wrong again.
I came to apologize, Katherine.
Look, I thought the best way to have Eddie's back was to support the idea that he could pull this off, but I know you're right.
He just got sober.
I don't think Eddie should be around Theo without a guardian yet, either.
Which brings me to the other reason I'm here.
If memory serves, you and Ed chose me to be Theo's guardian.
I know that probably shouldn't kick in till after you're dead and you can't correct my parenting, but I talked to Maggie.
She's gonna move into Delilah's house, stay with Danny and Sophie until D gets back.
I would like Eddie to move in with me, at my place, and I'll be around any time you think it's okay for Theo to come visit.
You'd do that for him? I'll do it for all three of you.
And for me.
Look, I'll be honest.
I'm I'm running dangerously low on dinosaur trivia.
Having Theo around was very good for me in that regard.
I thought you guys would all hate me when you found out.
You're a mother trying to protect her son.
Why would anyone hate you for that? Now, let's talk stipend.
I've gotten very good at babysitting.
My rates have skyrocketed.
That's the day I knew.
Sometimes I still feel like that little girl who's sitting on the floor like half the world is laughing at me and the other half is just walking by.
You see that right there? Y-Yeah, I-I get it.
That's why you told me not to stop recording.
You're an amazing teacher, and I can only benefit from your tutelage.
- I mean, the whole ride home - No, no, no.
That's That's not why I paused it.
Although that's true.
I am a gift to filmmaking.
But no no, seriously, I-I paused it because I just realized something.
You know, while everybody's becoming more aware of the physical scars that have been imposed on the Black community, what they're not seeing are the emotional ones, them eating away at our sense of self the entire time, like what Nya was talking about, right? The hidden damage of having to always carry around your armor.
When I was at my lowest I felt like no one could understand how worthless I felt.
I mean, of course, now, you know, I see that I'm not alone.
There's a world of people out there who feel the same way.
That's our angle.
The impact of what's been going on for all these years have had on the mental health of Black Americans and that this movement is not just about telling the world that Black lives matter, but reminding ourselves that our lives matter, too.
You get so caught up in trying to maintain your physical safety, that you just you end up convincing yourself that those other things don't matter, bro, but they do.
They really do.
That's what our documentary should be about.
Trust the process.
You know, I think it's raining too hard for us to take a walk, so I'm just gonna heat up a couple of Pop-Tarts instead, and if you don't want one, I'm gonna eat both of them.
Should I just make three? Got it.
Can I help you? Hi.
Um I'm looking for Sophie Dixon.
Uh, she left this at our house this morning.
- Oh, you're - Layla's dad, yeah.
Uh, Christopher.
Ugh, come in.
Uh, come in.
Sophie's in her room.
Uh, I'm Maggie.
I'm I'm so sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
I-I guess Sophie told you she came over.
She did, and I'm sorry for that, too.
If I had known that she was gonna do that, I would have told her not to.
She's You know, she's dealing with a lot right now.
Yeah, it sounds like it.
Um Oh, yeah, thank you.
My wife, uh she's really hurting, and she's too upset to accept what Sophie said, that that what happened to her might've happened to But I, uh Now I'm not sure.
This is Layla's diary.
After she died, I read through it a bunch of times, just looking for I don't know.
Clues, names.
Anything that would tell me why she did this.
I didn't think there was anything in it.
But after Sophie came by this morning, I remembered something.
"I didn't want h" "I didn't want him to see me in my bathing suit.
" My wife thought that she was talking about some boy she liked.
But it was November.
Why would she be in her bathing suit in November? Look, I-I don't know if this means that Peter did to Layla what he did to Sophie, but Sophie was really brave to share that with us, and when you give that to her, will you just Can you tell her that I said so? Yeah, I will.
Thank you.
I'm so sorry for what you and your wife are going through.
Thank you.
Hey, babe, where you been? Uh, my mom took me to an appointment.
With a neurologist.
Is everything okay? They did a CT scan.
What did they find? Nothing.
O-Okay, I don't I don't understand.
That That's good news, right? No.
It's not.
Why? What's going on? Ever since I hit my head at the protest, I've been forgetting things.
I've been distracted.
I can't focus.
If something showed up on the scan, at least there would be something we could track, so I could know when it's gonna get better.
But there was nothing.
Why didn't you tell me? I-I would've went with you, babe.
Because I know how hard this year has been for you, and you're trying to deal with everything that's going on.
I didn't want to add to that.
Especially given how I got hurt in the first place.
But now I need you to know, because I can't get through this without you.
You don't have to.
Come here.
Hey.
You can come in.
Layla's dad brought this back.
He wanted me to tell you how brave he thought it was that you came by and shared what you shared.
They're just hurting, Sophie.
Yeah, I know.
There's something else he wanted me to tell you.
I know.
It's man's other best friend that's making me do this.
You know, from the moment you told me what Peter did, I suspected that he had done it to others.
He's a teacher, and he has students who want and need his approval, which puts him in a position of power, and he has opportunity.
But, Sophie, no matter what he did or did not do to anyone else doesn't take away from the fact that he did it to you.
And that's not your fault.
He has two parents that would do anything for him.
And he's probably stronger than you think.
He's definitely stronger than me.
Well, we knew that.
Dad.
Dad, wait! You forgot the guitar I made you.
Take good care of it until I see you this weekend.
I'm still coming, right? Uh yeah, bud.
Of course you are.
I love you, pal.
- I know.
- Whoa.
You just Han Solo'd your old man.
Well done.
See you Saturday.