Being Erica (2009) s04e05 Episode Script
Sins of the Father
Previously on "Being Erica:" Well, the boundaries would have to be perfectly clear.
You would be working for us.
I will accept, with unseemly glee and a promise to bring some sparkle to 50/50.
Tom? Is that you? I'm not suggesting that you should rekindle your romance with Amanda.
I'm just wondering after the promise you made to Dr.
Arthur No, I've been taking steps.
I've come back to 2010 on another regret.
- Okay.
- And while I'm here we sleep together.
You wanted exciting! Riding a bike is about as exciting as it gets.
Even if it lands you in the hospital? I think that you should compromise.
Like a man who won't take Salsa lessons for his girlfriend.
Or a girlfriend who won't get on the back of a motorcycle for fun.
Sorry, sorry, sorry.
It's okay, I have nine more.
Brent, I mean, he spent over a decade at River Rock.
And the decision to leave, it must've been terrifying, but he did it.
He left the nest.
He took a risk, and hopefully good things will follow.
If you don't take a risk, then you're standing still; You're not really living.
Oh huh Okay, wait a minute.
You, you get cell service in here? No, this is, ah This is a new phone.
Um I apologize.
I should've turned it off.
No, no, no, that's fine.
Come in.
Hello, Tom.
Dr.
Naadiah.
Well, what can I do for you? You can tell me why you have a cell phone that you never answer.
I was in the middle of a session.
That's the second time she's called you.
Why are you so fixated on this? 'Cause I wanna know what's really stopping you from making a simple phone call.
Nothing is really stopping me.
I will call Amanda back when I have the time to do so.
Quite simply, it's not something that is at the top of my list right now.
Oh, you have a list? Where's your personal life on that list? Top? Middle? Toward the bottom? Okay You know, you keep saying I should be out there living my life, as if that's so easy.
You know, you show me someone who invests as much as I do in their work, okay, and in their patients, and who has a quote unquote "real life.
" All right? All right.
Tom! Where am I? Welcome, Tom, to my real life.
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 life, to do it all over again and again, until the end.
The sum of my dreams and everything I ever wanted to be.
And I wish you well yeah, I believe and wish you well yeah, I believe .
This is your house.
My house, my backyard, and here's my wife, Shanly.
Hey! Shanly, this is my friend, Tom.
Hi, Tom, nice to meet you.
And that is our daughter, Chloe, in the middle.
Hey, guys, slow down.
Shut the screen door behind you.
I'm gonna go get the pasta salad.
Make yourself at home, Tom.
Great.
Okay.
Can I get you a drink? - Oh yes, please.
- Great.
Follow me.
Boomer! Down! Cut it out! I'm sorry, she's really friendly.
Boomer, on your bed.
On your bed.
That's a big dog.
So, uh What do you Do you two entertain often? Oh, trust me, this is nothing.
For my 40th, Naadiah invited the entire neighborhood over.
She's like that; She always has something on the go.
Sounds busy.
So how do you know Naadiah? Well, uh Mama, can you open this? Of course I can.
Let's just go try and find scissors.
Okay, lovey? I'll be right back.
Okay.
Pasta salad? So you have a wife, and a child, and a job, and you also have time to be a doctor.
Well, so how is that possible? Our work's important to me, Tom, but it's not everything.
I've made my life a priority, and you could too, but for some reason you won't.
You come up with excuse after excuse Yeah, okay, fine.
So, well, what do you want me to do? I want you to take a risk, see what comes.
Yeah.
And make sure you try some of this pasta salad.
Family recipe.
Delish.
Got ya! And the last thing I remember you were spinning in circles on our lawn What're you looking at? Just my sexy boyfriend fixing my sink.
Trying to.
The guy at the store said this was gonna be easy, the lying bastard.
Can you pass me that wrench? - This thing? - That thing.
- Right here? - Right there.
- Yeah? - Thank you.
Erica Yes? Is there a problem? No, not if you like a broken sink.
Oh! Jesus! What? I'm just testing your concentration.
Okay, that's it! Ah! Ah! Hey, hey, hey.
Sink.
I need a break.
Oh my God, is that the time? Oh! I told Ivan that I'd be at Goblins no later than seven.
Sorry.
You're leaving me like this? Sorry.
Well, can I at least watch? No, you can't watch.
Oh, come on.
Because I know what happens when you watch.
This is ridiculous.
a reason to be alone Oh wow, now you're just gonna have to be late.
I'm sorry.
No, wait! That's, that's It's Kai on the radio.
I just wanna turn it up.
A-ha! Adam, this song, it's gonna be huge.
This? Really? What's that face for? I don't know, maybe it's just not my kind of thing.
It doesn't sound like a hit.
Oh, I forgot, you're Simon Cowell.
Sorry, but it's over-processed, middle-of-the-road crap.
Then don't listen to it.
Problem solved.
Come on, can I not have an opinion? Well, sure, but, I mean, it's not crap.
Kai is He's singing about his life.
His life, right.
Slinging lattes, and banging groupies.
You know what? You don't actually know anything about his music.
Well, I know one thing; That I don't like it.
Why are you being like this? Why are you picking a fight with me? Disagreeing is not picking a fight.
Really? Because it feels like we're fighting.
Okay, I just I don't wanna fight with you.
Neither do I.
I gotta go.
But, um, why don't we try for a late movie? Okay, anything you want - guns, explosions You name it, I will sit through it.
You may live to regret that.
Thank you.
Get to work.
'Kay.
So, and what is it that you do exactly? I help people plan adventure trips.
Wow.
Sunsets on the Serengeti; Penguin-watching in the Antarctic; Climb the Himalayas.
Sounds exciting.
I've always loved travelling, so Right.
Kind of the perfect job for me.
Yeah.
Anyway, um What about you? Still trading stocks? Am I, uh No, no, no.
I gave that up a long time ago.
Let me guess.
You made your millions, now you're just enjoying life.
Ah actually, um, I'm I'm a therapist.
You.
A therapist.
Yeah.
I know, I know, it's a little unexpected, right? Just a little.
- Really? - Yeah.
Really.
What kind of therapy? Uh, freudian? Jungian? Gestalt? Um I like to mix it up.
Wow.
You look pretty much the same on the outside, but inside? Big mystery.
That's the man I remember.
Oh, yeah? I just live up there, on Logan.
Well, uh Oh, well, I shall walk you home.
Okay.
Okay, this line here about how you and Dave met, I think that it's a good opener, so I think that we should just move it to the top.
And then this part in here, it just feels like it needs something more.
Like maybe a romantic anecdote.
Oh, yeah.
Well, it's kinda hard to channel romance, when you're just not feeling it.
- Oh.
- I swear, Erica, planning a wedding could break up any couple.
Being a couple could break up any couple.
Oh dear.
You too? I mean, it has been amazing since we got together.
But then we had our first argument, and then another one, and then another one, and I don't know, maybe I'm overreacting.
Nope.
The honeymoon is over, sugar.
You're moving onto phase two of your relationship, known as "the eclipse.
" Is that an official term? No, I'm just a huge Twilight fan.
Anyway, I've been where you are.
When David and I first got together, it was all love all the time.
You start at five times a day and then you Uh, sorry.
Five times a day? Oh yeah.
And then you're down to two, and then once a week if you're lucky.
Then you start to see one another's flaws, you start trying to fix them, and I don't know, it's all downhill from there.
- Great! - Oh, uh, but If it's meant to be, you pull through, and you move on to phase three: Commitment.
Oh, Mr.
Booker, long time no see.
Yeah, man, it's too long.
How's it going? Hey, Erica.
Hey! Okay, if you two need anything, just holla! - All right.
- Thanks, Ivan.
Uh Why so serious? Sorry.
It's just - You're back.
- I am, yeah.
It's great to see you.
Do you wanna sit down a second? Uh, sure.
Yeah.
So how're things? Good.
Really, really good.
You know, and, actually, I'm in a relationship.
I know.
You know? How do you know? Is it a secret? No.
But All right.
Anyway, I'm back on a regret.
I'm, uh, avoiding the sophomore slump, redoing album number two.
I don't know how long it'll take.
Might take a while.
What? I know I said that you look pretty much the same - older, of course And wiser.
Maybe.
Because you seem different.
Softer, I think.
Warmer.
Well, I was young.
A lot's happened since then.
You're different too.
How am I different? Well, I don't know.
Can't put my finger on it.
But you like it? Oh my God.
Do you like me now, Tom? Yeah, that's it.
How could I not like you? So Why did it take you so long to finally call me back? I I don't know.
You don't know? Or you don't wanna talk about it? Oh, we're having a lovely time here.
I don't think we need to dredge up the past.
Who said anything about dredging up the past? Look, if you wanna talk about what happened between us, we can.
In fact, I'd like to.
We've been sidestepping it all night.
Listen, this has been very nice.
But it's late, I should get going.
Some things change and some things don't, apparently.
All right.
If you wanna go, go.
That was a mistake.
Tonight was a mistake.
Why is that? It just was.
You do realize that you're not answering the question.
If you're not getting an answer, then maybe you should stop asking.
Tom She broke my goddamn heart.
Okay? I thought I was over it, but It's clear to me now that it's impossible to get over a betrayal of that magnitude.
Tell me what happened.
No, no, no, no, no.
You know what happened.
We were engaged and she left me.
You know, for Paul.
So one day she just came to you and said, "It's over.
I'm in love with someone else"? No, no, no.
It started Hmm Well, you know, I guess it started at our engagement party.
You know, they were all over each other.
Sneaking off together, having their little secret conversations.
We had an argument that night over a trip that we'd been planning, all right? And I wanted to postpone the trip, because I'd been offered a significant promotion at work.
But she dug her heels in and refused to cancel the trip.
Said she'd go without me.
And, uh, I stayed behind, I worked like a dog.
And then I get a postcard from her, okay? A postcard telling me it was over.
- What'd you do? - What? What could I do? She never loved me.
Amanda used the trip as an excuse to leave me.
Now that her marriage is over, maybe she thinks she made a mistake.
Mmm, whatever.
Too little, too late.
You believe Amanda never loved you.
I think the history clearly shows us that to be the case.
Well, history is shaped by the one doing the telling.
Maybe Amanda never loved you; Maybe you're right.
But the only way to know for sure is to go and see for ourselves.
Excuse me, everyone, could I have your attention? I'd like to say a few words.
First of all, I'd like to thank Tom's father for throwing this lovely engagement party for us.
I have to say I've I've never in my life been so Sorry.
Been so happy.
I'm marrying a wonderful man, who is so smart and kind and everything I could ever wish for in a husband.
Many of you know that we're going on our big, round-the-world adventure very soon.
We're so excited for this and all the other adventures we'll share together in the future.
So, before I turn into a puddle on the floor, I'd just like to say thank you all for coming, and we look forward to seeing you at the wedding! That was beautiful, Amanda.
Your turn, Tom.
Who wants to hear from the fiancé? Ah! Speech! Speech! Come on, Tom! Uh, no, I don't have anything prepared So then I'll just keep it short.
Um Thank you all for coming, I'm glad that you're all here.
And uh I uh We look forward to celebrating with all of you at the wedding in the upcoming months.
And that's Enjoy.
You, uh You might be right, Tom.
In the future, leave the public speaking to her, eh? Stop it, Paul.
Tom's just shy.
Oh! So that's how you reeled her in? Being the strong silent type? Actually, Tom didn't reel anybody in.
I'm the one who did all the chasing.
When I saw Tom, it was just one of those things.
Just right away.
I looked at him and I thought That's the guy.
That's my guy.
So, this big trip.
Sounds exciting.
Oh, it took some convincing.
Could I speak with you a moment, son? Yes, of course.
Excuse us.
Sure.
The French countryside is just And I've only ever seen pictures.
Oh, you know, you should do it for yourself someday.
You haven't told her yet? Told her what? About the job.
Tom? Uh, no.
No I haven't told her yet.
Well, you better do it soon.
You're both young.
You have your whole lives to travel.
Now is when you should be focused on your career.
Managing director is nothing to sneeze at.
Tom, are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
Dad.
Hmm? When mom left, I mean, did you see that coming? Is this about Amanda? I love her, but I'm just not sure that she You know, deep down, whether she feels the same way.
Well, son, you can never be sure.
I learned that the hard way with your mother.
People can let you down, and often do.
That's life.
Marriage is a crapshoot.
Your career on the other hand is all you.
You put in the effort, you get the results.
"The sum of wisdom is that time is never lost that it is devoted to work.
" Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Mm-hm.
An adventure is fun, but you need to invest in things you know will yield a return.
Your work.
Your future.
So talk to Amanda tonight.
- Hey! - Hey.
Okay, so, two options for tonight.
We have the remake of "The Thing.
" Or we could go see that biopic about boxing with that English dude from Inception.
Oh, wow! So, it's a toss-up between monsters and boxing? I told you you'd regret it.
Oh, whatever.
Either one's fine.
So you'll never guess who I just ran into at Goblins.
Um Dave? Ivan? Julianne? Kai.
Sorry.
Kai? He came to see you? He's back on a regret.
One that might keep him here for awhile and he just wanted me to know.
So he did, purposefully, come to see you? Adam, hey.
He knows that I'm in a relationship.
And he's a nice guy - a friend - nothing more.
And the truth is, is that I think that you guys, you'd actually really like each other if you got to know one another.
Oh, come on! I mean, you meet up with Darryl.
He's your time-travel friend and Kai's mine.
Yeah, me and Darryl have never slept together.
That I know of.
Would it help if, um if you were to sit down with Kai, over drinks, all casual? Maybe.
Did you have your heart set on going to a movie tonight? Thank you.
I'll just freshen up.
Do the Hustle! Back.
Forward.
To the right.
Nice, guys! To the left.
Very good! John Travolta.
John Travolta.
Well done! And up high! Yeah.
Uh-huh.
And Hm! Hm! Yeah, and back! Nice, guys! I'll take a scotch, please.
Make it neat.
Single malt.
I know.
What is this? Is this some kind of alternate reality? This is your past, exactly how it happened.
This doesn't make any sense.
Why? Because your fiancée seems to be head over heels in love with you? Yeah.
Exactly.
You're right, Tom.
It doesn't make any sense.
Amanda behaves like a woman in love with you, and yet, by this time next year, she'll be married to Paul.
So maybe there's something you're not seeing.
Yeah, or maybe she's just a really good actor.
I've seen "Saturday Night Fever" so many times, I know all the lines.
"Up your nose with a rubber hose.
" Oh! Nice John Travolta impersonation from "Welcome Back Kotter.
" Hey.
What's the matter? You two out there having some private dance lessons were you? Anyway, uh I'll see you guys back in the party.
What's wrong? Nothing.
Not nothing.
Something.
Let's Let's go talk about it.
Okay? Did I do something wrong? Because all night you've seemed off.
What's going on? I know you don't like parties.
And if all of this - the family, the church - if it's all too much, let's, let's make it simple.
I don't need a big wedding.
Let's get married on a beach somewhere.
I've accepted a managing director position.
Okay? And it starts in two weeks, and so What do you have to say 'bout that? What is there to say? You've obviously made up your mind without consulting me.
This is a huge opportunity.
We can travel anytime.
Amanda, if you can't put us and our future ahead of vacations-- And if you can't put our relationship ahead of your job? Tom you promised.
And I'm going on the trip.
Oh, with or without me? Yeah.
No, I know.
I know.
But, hey, don't worry though, because you could always meet up with Paul when you get there.
What are you talking about? Okay, I'm talking about I'm talking about you sneaking out here in the middle of our engagement party with him.
The plan was to give this to you later, as an engagement present, but I don't know anything about scotch, so I asked Paul to pick it up for me.
You honestly thought that Paul and I Why? Answer me! Why would you think that? Because I'm not sure if you If you wanna marry me.
Of course I'm sure.
Aren't you? If you're worried, if you're having doubts, we should talk about it.
No, Amanda, I'm asking you how you feel.
Why do you always do that? What? Why do you always turn it around? Whenever I ask you a question you don't wanna answer, you either get mad or change the subject, or How about, for once, we talk about you.
Okay, fine.
I'm going on this trip, and if you wanna stay behind and work, that's fine.
That's your decision.
But I'm going.
Amanda! Amanda didn't abandon me.
I abandoned her.
I put my job before her.
Just like I did with Marjorie and Searie The same thing The same pattern, my whole life.
So I want to add a regret to my list.
Okay, so what's the regret? I wanna see what would've happened if I'd turned down the job.
If I'd gone on that trip with Amanda.
You think it would have saved your relationship? You'd made the choice to put work second? I think that at the very least it would have given us a fighting chance, yes.
Well then, let's find out.
Hey.
Amanda.
Yes? Where are you going? I'm packing my bags and I'm moving back into my parent's house.
And then on Monday I'm calling a lawyer.
Why? Why do you think? This isn't working.
So I'm done.
Hey, hey hey, listen No! Don't.
Do not do that.
Well, maybe I'm not ready to give up.
Not ready to give up? Tom When did you ever tried? W Well maybe this is me, trying! Now Please, just talk talk to me.
W W What is it that I'm not doing right? I know you love me, Tom.
That's why I stayed as long as I did.
I can feel it when you touch me, I can see it, when you look at me, but When things gets difficult, you go away.
You go somewhere I can't get you.
Somewhere you won't let me get to.
You shut me out! And when I ask you why you say you don't know.
That you are the way you are.
I can't be any other way Bullshit.
Amanda.
I don't know what you want me to say.
Say you're mad.
Or sad.
Or scared.
It's so lonely being married to a man like you, Tom.
And I don't want to do it anymore.
I can't do it anymore.
This whole thing has been a colossal waste of time.
What? All this to discover what I already know? That I'm a private person? So what? Earlier, Tom you were, uhm you were saying you pushed Amanda away, - that you pushed everyone away.
- Yes, yes.
You're right, and I need to work on that.
And I started with my daughter Sarah.
And if you've asked anyone of my patients They would say that you're an excellent doctor.
That you're always there, always compassionate, measured, intuitive.
But your patients are no replacement for your own life.
What I need to jump into a romantic relationship because you or Doctor Arthur say that I should? I was perfectly happy with my life before you started meddling with it.
Okay? I don't do relationships well.
Okay.
I accept that.
What, I work too much? Okay, fine.
Maybe I do.
Work is a symptom, Tom.
It's the thing you use to hide.
Now we're talking about the disease.
My father was the same way.
He is happy with the way he lived his life, and you know what? So am I.
Okay, Tom.
You've made up your mind.
But you were wrong about Amanda, so How do you know you're right about your father? - No way.
- Yeah way.
I'm telling you, man.
Ireland takes Brazil three-zip.
So, I take it that that's a good thing? Yeah, Erica, like the farthest we've come is the quarterfinals in 1990.
Winning the World Cup in 2018? The best news ever! Oh, that's great! Well, congrats.
So, you follow the game, yeah? You play? No, I did.
I did a bit.
I loved it.
My buddies have an occasional pick-up game, if you're interested.
Yeah.
Might be.
Cool.
Another beer? Yeah, yeah.
Thanks.
Well, Adam's great.
You know, seriously.
Thumbs up.
Good.
I'm glad.
And, I mean, I think that he likes you, too.
So, this, us all being friends, - it can work.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Hi.
Sorry to interrupt, but have we met? No, I don't think so.
Are you sure? Because you're really familiar.
Yeah, pretty sure.
Sorry.
- Wow.
- Was that rude? No.
Honestly, how many times a night does that happen? Couple.
A couple.
Oh, come on.
.
What is it, like 10? I dot t wanna answer that question.
So you just let her walk away? What's that all about? I don't know, she's not really my type.
Super-model doesn't do it for you at all? Yeah.
One time, maybe.
But I just I got tired of the whole scene.
I'm just over it, you know? So you can have your pick of any woman, anywhere, single or otherwise, and, uh, you're saying you're over it? You're done with it? Because they don't want me, they want the fantasy.
I'm telling you, Adam, you're the lucky one.
Tom! I didn't know you were coming today.
Yeah.
I hope that's all right.
Of course.
Come in.
So, you're keeping busy.
Well, don't work too hard, Tom.
Don't work too hard.
This from the man who never stopped working.
I loved my work, I still do.
Yeah.
You're happy? Right? Happy.
Who's actually happy in this world? Uh, "happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life" " the whole end and aim of human existence.
" Aristotle.
What does Aristotle know? He died over 2000 years ago.
Not that I'm complaining.
I made my bed.
I chose this life.
It may not have been the best choice.
What? What do you mean? Since when? You always say how much you loved your life.
A lone wolf The master of your own destiny.
- I said that? - Yeah.
What a bunch of bullshit.
Sorry.
Oh, it's your move.
Loneliness is a terrible thing.
I do my best to stay busy, but as I age, I Well, there's a part of me that wishes I'd invested more in, well more in your mother.
And less in this.
I put so much value on my freedom, my privacy, my work, my routines.
But now I'm old and I It's your move, dad.
Oh.
Checkmate.
I'm old and I have a son who visits and lets me beat him at chess.
And this visit will be the highlight of my week.
Should we play again? One more game? Yeah, sure.
And no letting me win this time.
I am going to beat you fair and square.
Tom.
Can I come in? Thanks.
Can I get you a drink? Uh, yeah.
That's probably a good idea.
Ah, do you have any scotch? Do you make it a habit to drink scotch in the middle of the afternoon? You're not gonna make this easy for me.
I don't know what "this" is.
I don't even know why you're here.
Right, well, I mean, I'm trying.
I'm listening.
You once told me that you wanted to, uh, see the real me, and that you wanted to You wanted me to let you in.
And I couldn't.
And I still can't 'cause I don't know how.
Tom Listen, Amanda, I've, uh I have designed my life so that I don't have to take any risks and so I can live vicariously through other people.
You know, I can help them and it's rewarding work, and I do, I do help them.
But, I, uh, I find that when it comes to my own life, uh I'm I just find that I'm afraid.
Afraid of what? I don't know.
I'm afraid that people are gonna leave; You're gonna leave.
So you leave first? Yeah.
Or I force you to leave.
You know, I make it come true.
Why do you think you do that? My mother left me.
She left me and my dad, when I was young.
I know.
I guess I just don't wanna be left again.
- Hey! - Hey! So I stopped by Dundas Square on the way home and looky what I have here.
"The Thing".
Oh, I just I just wanted to thank you for being so incredibly cool and amazing last night with Kai.
I mean, he loved you.
Great.
And that's where you're supposed to say, "I loved him, too!" Yeah, he was all right.
You didn't like him? Look, if he was just some random dude at a bar or at a party and we got to shooting the shit? Then, yeah, we could be mates.
- But - 'Kay, but But what? But he's not some random guy.
He's got history with you.
And he's not over you, Erica.
Not by a long shot.
I'm sorry.
I made it super clear that we are together.
So what more do you want me to do, Adam? I don't want you to see him.
Cut things off with Kai; That's what I want you to do.
They say that without risk there is no reward.
Perhaps it goes further than that.
Without risk, there is no exploration, no discovery, no delight.
So don't waste time.
Take a risk, see what comes.
You would be working for us.
I will accept, with unseemly glee and a promise to bring some sparkle to 50/50.
Tom? Is that you? I'm not suggesting that you should rekindle your romance with Amanda.
I'm just wondering after the promise you made to Dr.
Arthur No, I've been taking steps.
I've come back to 2010 on another regret.
- Okay.
- And while I'm here we sleep together.
You wanted exciting! Riding a bike is about as exciting as it gets.
Even if it lands you in the hospital? I think that you should compromise.
Like a man who won't take Salsa lessons for his girlfriend.
Or a girlfriend who won't get on the back of a motorcycle for fun.
Sorry, sorry, sorry.
It's okay, I have nine more.
Brent, I mean, he spent over a decade at River Rock.
And the decision to leave, it must've been terrifying, but he did it.
He left the nest.
He took a risk, and hopefully good things will follow.
If you don't take a risk, then you're standing still; You're not really living.
Oh huh Okay, wait a minute.
You, you get cell service in here? No, this is, ah This is a new phone.
Um I apologize.
I should've turned it off.
No, no, no, that's fine.
Come in.
Hello, Tom.
Dr.
Naadiah.
Well, what can I do for you? You can tell me why you have a cell phone that you never answer.
I was in the middle of a session.
That's the second time she's called you.
Why are you so fixated on this? 'Cause I wanna know what's really stopping you from making a simple phone call.
Nothing is really stopping me.
I will call Amanda back when I have the time to do so.
Quite simply, it's not something that is at the top of my list right now.
Oh, you have a list? Where's your personal life on that list? Top? Middle? Toward the bottom? Okay You know, you keep saying I should be out there living my life, as if that's so easy.
You know, you show me someone who invests as much as I do in their work, okay, and in their patients, and who has a quote unquote "real life.
" All right? All right.
Tom! Where am I? Welcome, Tom, to my real life.
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 life, to do it all over again and again, until the end.
The sum of my dreams and everything I ever wanted to be.
And I wish you well yeah, I believe and wish you well yeah, I believe .
This is your house.
My house, my backyard, and here's my wife, Shanly.
Hey! Shanly, this is my friend, Tom.
Hi, Tom, nice to meet you.
And that is our daughter, Chloe, in the middle.
Hey, guys, slow down.
Shut the screen door behind you.
I'm gonna go get the pasta salad.
Make yourself at home, Tom.
Great.
Okay.
Can I get you a drink? - Oh yes, please.
- Great.
Follow me.
Boomer! Down! Cut it out! I'm sorry, she's really friendly.
Boomer, on your bed.
On your bed.
That's a big dog.
So, uh What do you Do you two entertain often? Oh, trust me, this is nothing.
For my 40th, Naadiah invited the entire neighborhood over.
She's like that; She always has something on the go.
Sounds busy.
So how do you know Naadiah? Well, uh Mama, can you open this? Of course I can.
Let's just go try and find scissors.
Okay, lovey? I'll be right back.
Okay.
Pasta salad? So you have a wife, and a child, and a job, and you also have time to be a doctor.
Well, so how is that possible? Our work's important to me, Tom, but it's not everything.
I've made my life a priority, and you could too, but for some reason you won't.
You come up with excuse after excuse Yeah, okay, fine.
So, well, what do you want me to do? I want you to take a risk, see what comes.
Yeah.
And make sure you try some of this pasta salad.
Family recipe.
Delish.
Got ya! And the last thing I remember you were spinning in circles on our lawn What're you looking at? Just my sexy boyfriend fixing my sink.
Trying to.
The guy at the store said this was gonna be easy, the lying bastard.
Can you pass me that wrench? - This thing? - That thing.
- Right here? - Right there.
- Yeah? - Thank you.
Erica Yes? Is there a problem? No, not if you like a broken sink.
Oh! Jesus! What? I'm just testing your concentration.
Okay, that's it! Ah! Ah! Hey, hey, hey.
Sink.
I need a break.
Oh my God, is that the time? Oh! I told Ivan that I'd be at Goblins no later than seven.
Sorry.
You're leaving me like this? Sorry.
Well, can I at least watch? No, you can't watch.
Oh, come on.
Because I know what happens when you watch.
This is ridiculous.
a reason to be alone Oh wow, now you're just gonna have to be late.
I'm sorry.
No, wait! That's, that's It's Kai on the radio.
I just wanna turn it up.
A-ha! Adam, this song, it's gonna be huge.
This? Really? What's that face for? I don't know, maybe it's just not my kind of thing.
It doesn't sound like a hit.
Oh, I forgot, you're Simon Cowell.
Sorry, but it's over-processed, middle-of-the-road crap.
Then don't listen to it.
Problem solved.
Come on, can I not have an opinion? Well, sure, but, I mean, it's not crap.
Kai is He's singing about his life.
His life, right.
Slinging lattes, and banging groupies.
You know what? You don't actually know anything about his music.
Well, I know one thing; That I don't like it.
Why are you being like this? Why are you picking a fight with me? Disagreeing is not picking a fight.
Really? Because it feels like we're fighting.
Okay, I just I don't wanna fight with you.
Neither do I.
I gotta go.
But, um, why don't we try for a late movie? Okay, anything you want - guns, explosions You name it, I will sit through it.
You may live to regret that.
Thank you.
Get to work.
'Kay.
So, and what is it that you do exactly? I help people plan adventure trips.
Wow.
Sunsets on the Serengeti; Penguin-watching in the Antarctic; Climb the Himalayas.
Sounds exciting.
I've always loved travelling, so Right.
Kind of the perfect job for me.
Yeah.
Anyway, um What about you? Still trading stocks? Am I, uh No, no, no.
I gave that up a long time ago.
Let me guess.
You made your millions, now you're just enjoying life.
Ah actually, um, I'm I'm a therapist.
You.
A therapist.
Yeah.
I know, I know, it's a little unexpected, right? Just a little.
- Really? - Yeah.
Really.
What kind of therapy? Uh, freudian? Jungian? Gestalt? Um I like to mix it up.
Wow.
You look pretty much the same on the outside, but inside? Big mystery.
That's the man I remember.
Oh, yeah? I just live up there, on Logan.
Well, uh Oh, well, I shall walk you home.
Okay.
Okay, this line here about how you and Dave met, I think that it's a good opener, so I think that we should just move it to the top.
And then this part in here, it just feels like it needs something more.
Like maybe a romantic anecdote.
Oh, yeah.
Well, it's kinda hard to channel romance, when you're just not feeling it.
- Oh.
- I swear, Erica, planning a wedding could break up any couple.
Being a couple could break up any couple.
Oh dear.
You too? I mean, it has been amazing since we got together.
But then we had our first argument, and then another one, and then another one, and I don't know, maybe I'm overreacting.
Nope.
The honeymoon is over, sugar.
You're moving onto phase two of your relationship, known as "the eclipse.
" Is that an official term? No, I'm just a huge Twilight fan.
Anyway, I've been where you are.
When David and I first got together, it was all love all the time.
You start at five times a day and then you Uh, sorry.
Five times a day? Oh yeah.
And then you're down to two, and then once a week if you're lucky.
Then you start to see one another's flaws, you start trying to fix them, and I don't know, it's all downhill from there.
- Great! - Oh, uh, but If it's meant to be, you pull through, and you move on to phase three: Commitment.
Oh, Mr.
Booker, long time no see.
Yeah, man, it's too long.
How's it going? Hey, Erica.
Hey! Okay, if you two need anything, just holla! - All right.
- Thanks, Ivan.
Uh Why so serious? Sorry.
It's just - You're back.
- I am, yeah.
It's great to see you.
Do you wanna sit down a second? Uh, sure.
Yeah.
So how're things? Good.
Really, really good.
You know, and, actually, I'm in a relationship.
I know.
You know? How do you know? Is it a secret? No.
But All right.
Anyway, I'm back on a regret.
I'm, uh, avoiding the sophomore slump, redoing album number two.
I don't know how long it'll take.
Might take a while.
What? I know I said that you look pretty much the same - older, of course And wiser.
Maybe.
Because you seem different.
Softer, I think.
Warmer.
Well, I was young.
A lot's happened since then.
You're different too.
How am I different? Well, I don't know.
Can't put my finger on it.
But you like it? Oh my God.
Do you like me now, Tom? Yeah, that's it.
How could I not like you? So Why did it take you so long to finally call me back? I I don't know.
You don't know? Or you don't wanna talk about it? Oh, we're having a lovely time here.
I don't think we need to dredge up the past.
Who said anything about dredging up the past? Look, if you wanna talk about what happened between us, we can.
In fact, I'd like to.
We've been sidestepping it all night.
Listen, this has been very nice.
But it's late, I should get going.
Some things change and some things don't, apparently.
All right.
If you wanna go, go.
That was a mistake.
Tonight was a mistake.
Why is that? It just was.
You do realize that you're not answering the question.
If you're not getting an answer, then maybe you should stop asking.
Tom She broke my goddamn heart.
Okay? I thought I was over it, but It's clear to me now that it's impossible to get over a betrayal of that magnitude.
Tell me what happened.
No, no, no, no, no.
You know what happened.
We were engaged and she left me.
You know, for Paul.
So one day she just came to you and said, "It's over.
I'm in love with someone else"? No, no, no.
It started Hmm Well, you know, I guess it started at our engagement party.
You know, they were all over each other.
Sneaking off together, having their little secret conversations.
We had an argument that night over a trip that we'd been planning, all right? And I wanted to postpone the trip, because I'd been offered a significant promotion at work.
But she dug her heels in and refused to cancel the trip.
Said she'd go without me.
And, uh, I stayed behind, I worked like a dog.
And then I get a postcard from her, okay? A postcard telling me it was over.
- What'd you do? - What? What could I do? She never loved me.
Amanda used the trip as an excuse to leave me.
Now that her marriage is over, maybe she thinks she made a mistake.
Mmm, whatever.
Too little, too late.
You believe Amanda never loved you.
I think the history clearly shows us that to be the case.
Well, history is shaped by the one doing the telling.
Maybe Amanda never loved you; Maybe you're right.
But the only way to know for sure is to go and see for ourselves.
Excuse me, everyone, could I have your attention? I'd like to say a few words.
First of all, I'd like to thank Tom's father for throwing this lovely engagement party for us.
I have to say I've I've never in my life been so Sorry.
Been so happy.
I'm marrying a wonderful man, who is so smart and kind and everything I could ever wish for in a husband.
Many of you know that we're going on our big, round-the-world adventure very soon.
We're so excited for this and all the other adventures we'll share together in the future.
So, before I turn into a puddle on the floor, I'd just like to say thank you all for coming, and we look forward to seeing you at the wedding! That was beautiful, Amanda.
Your turn, Tom.
Who wants to hear from the fiancé? Ah! Speech! Speech! Come on, Tom! Uh, no, I don't have anything prepared So then I'll just keep it short.
Um Thank you all for coming, I'm glad that you're all here.
And uh I uh We look forward to celebrating with all of you at the wedding in the upcoming months.
And that's Enjoy.
You, uh You might be right, Tom.
In the future, leave the public speaking to her, eh? Stop it, Paul.
Tom's just shy.
Oh! So that's how you reeled her in? Being the strong silent type? Actually, Tom didn't reel anybody in.
I'm the one who did all the chasing.
When I saw Tom, it was just one of those things.
Just right away.
I looked at him and I thought That's the guy.
That's my guy.
So, this big trip.
Sounds exciting.
Oh, it took some convincing.
Could I speak with you a moment, son? Yes, of course.
Excuse us.
Sure.
The French countryside is just And I've only ever seen pictures.
Oh, you know, you should do it for yourself someday.
You haven't told her yet? Told her what? About the job.
Tom? Uh, no.
No I haven't told her yet.
Well, you better do it soon.
You're both young.
You have your whole lives to travel.
Now is when you should be focused on your career.
Managing director is nothing to sneeze at.
Tom, are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
Dad.
Hmm? When mom left, I mean, did you see that coming? Is this about Amanda? I love her, but I'm just not sure that she You know, deep down, whether she feels the same way.
Well, son, you can never be sure.
I learned that the hard way with your mother.
People can let you down, and often do.
That's life.
Marriage is a crapshoot.
Your career on the other hand is all you.
You put in the effort, you get the results.
"The sum of wisdom is that time is never lost that it is devoted to work.
" Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Mm-hm.
An adventure is fun, but you need to invest in things you know will yield a return.
Your work.
Your future.
So talk to Amanda tonight.
- Hey! - Hey.
Okay, so, two options for tonight.
We have the remake of "The Thing.
" Or we could go see that biopic about boxing with that English dude from Inception.
Oh, wow! So, it's a toss-up between monsters and boxing? I told you you'd regret it.
Oh, whatever.
Either one's fine.
So you'll never guess who I just ran into at Goblins.
Um Dave? Ivan? Julianne? Kai.
Sorry.
Kai? He came to see you? He's back on a regret.
One that might keep him here for awhile and he just wanted me to know.
So he did, purposefully, come to see you? Adam, hey.
He knows that I'm in a relationship.
And he's a nice guy - a friend - nothing more.
And the truth is, is that I think that you guys, you'd actually really like each other if you got to know one another.
Oh, come on! I mean, you meet up with Darryl.
He's your time-travel friend and Kai's mine.
Yeah, me and Darryl have never slept together.
That I know of.
Would it help if, um if you were to sit down with Kai, over drinks, all casual? Maybe.
Did you have your heart set on going to a movie tonight? Thank you.
I'll just freshen up.
Do the Hustle! Back.
Forward.
To the right.
Nice, guys! To the left.
Very good! John Travolta.
John Travolta.
Well done! And up high! Yeah.
Uh-huh.
And Hm! Hm! Yeah, and back! Nice, guys! I'll take a scotch, please.
Make it neat.
Single malt.
I know.
What is this? Is this some kind of alternate reality? This is your past, exactly how it happened.
This doesn't make any sense.
Why? Because your fiancée seems to be head over heels in love with you? Yeah.
Exactly.
You're right, Tom.
It doesn't make any sense.
Amanda behaves like a woman in love with you, and yet, by this time next year, she'll be married to Paul.
So maybe there's something you're not seeing.
Yeah, or maybe she's just a really good actor.
I've seen "Saturday Night Fever" so many times, I know all the lines.
"Up your nose with a rubber hose.
" Oh! Nice John Travolta impersonation from "Welcome Back Kotter.
" Hey.
What's the matter? You two out there having some private dance lessons were you? Anyway, uh I'll see you guys back in the party.
What's wrong? Nothing.
Not nothing.
Something.
Let's Let's go talk about it.
Okay? Did I do something wrong? Because all night you've seemed off.
What's going on? I know you don't like parties.
And if all of this - the family, the church - if it's all too much, let's, let's make it simple.
I don't need a big wedding.
Let's get married on a beach somewhere.
I've accepted a managing director position.
Okay? And it starts in two weeks, and so What do you have to say 'bout that? What is there to say? You've obviously made up your mind without consulting me.
This is a huge opportunity.
We can travel anytime.
Amanda, if you can't put us and our future ahead of vacations-- And if you can't put our relationship ahead of your job? Tom you promised.
And I'm going on the trip.
Oh, with or without me? Yeah.
No, I know.
I know.
But, hey, don't worry though, because you could always meet up with Paul when you get there.
What are you talking about? Okay, I'm talking about I'm talking about you sneaking out here in the middle of our engagement party with him.
The plan was to give this to you later, as an engagement present, but I don't know anything about scotch, so I asked Paul to pick it up for me.
You honestly thought that Paul and I Why? Answer me! Why would you think that? Because I'm not sure if you If you wanna marry me.
Of course I'm sure.
Aren't you? If you're worried, if you're having doubts, we should talk about it.
No, Amanda, I'm asking you how you feel.
Why do you always do that? What? Why do you always turn it around? Whenever I ask you a question you don't wanna answer, you either get mad or change the subject, or How about, for once, we talk about you.
Okay, fine.
I'm going on this trip, and if you wanna stay behind and work, that's fine.
That's your decision.
But I'm going.
Amanda! Amanda didn't abandon me.
I abandoned her.
I put my job before her.
Just like I did with Marjorie and Searie The same thing The same pattern, my whole life.
So I want to add a regret to my list.
Okay, so what's the regret? I wanna see what would've happened if I'd turned down the job.
If I'd gone on that trip with Amanda.
You think it would have saved your relationship? You'd made the choice to put work second? I think that at the very least it would have given us a fighting chance, yes.
Well then, let's find out.
Hey.
Amanda.
Yes? Where are you going? I'm packing my bags and I'm moving back into my parent's house.
And then on Monday I'm calling a lawyer.
Why? Why do you think? This isn't working.
So I'm done.
Hey, hey hey, listen No! Don't.
Do not do that.
Well, maybe I'm not ready to give up.
Not ready to give up? Tom When did you ever tried? W Well maybe this is me, trying! Now Please, just talk talk to me.
W W What is it that I'm not doing right? I know you love me, Tom.
That's why I stayed as long as I did.
I can feel it when you touch me, I can see it, when you look at me, but When things gets difficult, you go away.
You go somewhere I can't get you.
Somewhere you won't let me get to.
You shut me out! And when I ask you why you say you don't know.
That you are the way you are.
I can't be any other way Bullshit.
Amanda.
I don't know what you want me to say.
Say you're mad.
Or sad.
Or scared.
It's so lonely being married to a man like you, Tom.
And I don't want to do it anymore.
I can't do it anymore.
This whole thing has been a colossal waste of time.
What? All this to discover what I already know? That I'm a private person? So what? Earlier, Tom you were, uhm you were saying you pushed Amanda away, - that you pushed everyone away.
- Yes, yes.
You're right, and I need to work on that.
And I started with my daughter Sarah.
And if you've asked anyone of my patients They would say that you're an excellent doctor.
That you're always there, always compassionate, measured, intuitive.
But your patients are no replacement for your own life.
What I need to jump into a romantic relationship because you or Doctor Arthur say that I should? I was perfectly happy with my life before you started meddling with it.
Okay? I don't do relationships well.
Okay.
I accept that.
What, I work too much? Okay, fine.
Maybe I do.
Work is a symptom, Tom.
It's the thing you use to hide.
Now we're talking about the disease.
My father was the same way.
He is happy with the way he lived his life, and you know what? So am I.
Okay, Tom.
You've made up your mind.
But you were wrong about Amanda, so How do you know you're right about your father? - No way.
- Yeah way.
I'm telling you, man.
Ireland takes Brazil three-zip.
So, I take it that that's a good thing? Yeah, Erica, like the farthest we've come is the quarterfinals in 1990.
Winning the World Cup in 2018? The best news ever! Oh, that's great! Well, congrats.
So, you follow the game, yeah? You play? No, I did.
I did a bit.
I loved it.
My buddies have an occasional pick-up game, if you're interested.
Yeah.
Might be.
Cool.
Another beer? Yeah, yeah.
Thanks.
Well, Adam's great.
You know, seriously.
Thumbs up.
Good.
I'm glad.
And, I mean, I think that he likes you, too.
So, this, us all being friends, - it can work.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Hi.
Sorry to interrupt, but have we met? No, I don't think so.
Are you sure? Because you're really familiar.
Yeah, pretty sure.
Sorry.
- Wow.
- Was that rude? No.
Honestly, how many times a night does that happen? Couple.
A couple.
Oh, come on.
.
What is it, like 10? I dot t wanna answer that question.
So you just let her walk away? What's that all about? I don't know, she's not really my type.
Super-model doesn't do it for you at all? Yeah.
One time, maybe.
But I just I got tired of the whole scene.
I'm just over it, you know? So you can have your pick of any woman, anywhere, single or otherwise, and, uh, you're saying you're over it? You're done with it? Because they don't want me, they want the fantasy.
I'm telling you, Adam, you're the lucky one.
Tom! I didn't know you were coming today.
Yeah.
I hope that's all right.
Of course.
Come in.
So, you're keeping busy.
Well, don't work too hard, Tom.
Don't work too hard.
This from the man who never stopped working.
I loved my work, I still do.
Yeah.
You're happy? Right? Happy.
Who's actually happy in this world? Uh, "happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life" " the whole end and aim of human existence.
" Aristotle.
What does Aristotle know? He died over 2000 years ago.
Not that I'm complaining.
I made my bed.
I chose this life.
It may not have been the best choice.
What? What do you mean? Since when? You always say how much you loved your life.
A lone wolf The master of your own destiny.
- I said that? - Yeah.
What a bunch of bullshit.
Sorry.
Oh, it's your move.
Loneliness is a terrible thing.
I do my best to stay busy, but as I age, I Well, there's a part of me that wishes I'd invested more in, well more in your mother.
And less in this.
I put so much value on my freedom, my privacy, my work, my routines.
But now I'm old and I It's your move, dad.
Oh.
Checkmate.
I'm old and I have a son who visits and lets me beat him at chess.
And this visit will be the highlight of my week.
Should we play again? One more game? Yeah, sure.
And no letting me win this time.
I am going to beat you fair and square.
Tom.
Can I come in? Thanks.
Can I get you a drink? Uh, yeah.
That's probably a good idea.
Ah, do you have any scotch? Do you make it a habit to drink scotch in the middle of the afternoon? You're not gonna make this easy for me.
I don't know what "this" is.
I don't even know why you're here.
Right, well, I mean, I'm trying.
I'm listening.
You once told me that you wanted to, uh, see the real me, and that you wanted to You wanted me to let you in.
And I couldn't.
And I still can't 'cause I don't know how.
Tom Listen, Amanda, I've, uh I have designed my life so that I don't have to take any risks and so I can live vicariously through other people.
You know, I can help them and it's rewarding work, and I do, I do help them.
But, I, uh, I find that when it comes to my own life, uh I'm I just find that I'm afraid.
Afraid of what? I don't know.
I'm afraid that people are gonna leave; You're gonna leave.
So you leave first? Yeah.
Or I force you to leave.
You know, I make it come true.
Why do you think you do that? My mother left me.
She left me and my dad, when I was young.
I know.
I guess I just don't wanna be left again.
- Hey! - Hey! So I stopped by Dundas Square on the way home and looky what I have here.
"The Thing".
Oh, I just I just wanted to thank you for being so incredibly cool and amazing last night with Kai.
I mean, he loved you.
Great.
And that's where you're supposed to say, "I loved him, too!" Yeah, he was all right.
You didn't like him? Look, if he was just some random dude at a bar or at a party and we got to shooting the shit? Then, yeah, we could be mates.
- But - 'Kay, but But what? But he's not some random guy.
He's got history with you.
And he's not over you, Erica.
Not by a long shot.
I'm sorry.
I made it super clear that we are together.
So what more do you want me to do, Adam? I don't want you to see him.
Cut things off with Kai; That's what I want you to do.
They say that without risk there is no reward.
Perhaps it goes further than that.
Without risk, there is no exploration, no discovery, no delight.
So don't waste time.
Take a risk, see what comes.