Original subtitles

(screaming)

(alarm buzzing)

-(dog barking in distance) -(alarm stops)

♪ ♪

(groans softly)

(grunts softly)

(urinating)

(groans)

(inhales deeply)

-(sighs) -VIRGINIA: Morning.

Morning. Oh, God, Mom.

-What? -Tell me you're not doing that thing to your face anymore.

Course not. Didn't work anyway.

Think it gave me more spots.

Even if it made you look 16, it's disgusting.

Well, you can say that because you're still in your 30s.

Yeah, I'm in my 30s,

in class all day, surrounded by students in their 20s.

-Wait, what is that? -It's asparagus-beet juice.

Two-day antioxidant load.

You need to get over this obsession with growing old.

You know, the reason you're hitting the books at your age

is because you forgot one of life's most important rules.

(sniffs) Never marry someone who can't deliver the alimony.

I didn't marry Tim for his money.

And you see where that got you.

I'm going to law school

'cause I want to do something for myself for once.

That's very admirable.

We'll see how admirable it is when I fail this baby bar.

Oh, you're not going to fail the baby bar.

I have faith in you.

(sighs)

(lawnmower whirring)

♪ ♪

FAY: Mom.

Mm...

You know, actually, Bernie is getting divorced.

Really? They-they always looked so happy.

Well, I guess not.

Hmm.

And I know you've always had a thing for him.

I...

I said once that I didn't think

he was a terrible-looking man.

Your dad held it over my head for years.

Okay.

Well, let's just accept it.

Why don't you go over there right now

-and say hello? -(stammers) No.

-"Hi. Hi, Bernie." -No, no, no. No.

No, no, no, no.

O-Out of the blue like that.

No, you-you have to meet someone

in the natural course of the day.

Really? Okay, well, I may have heard something

from the clerk at the Camden Way Wine Shop.

And what's that?

That every Friday afternoon Bernie pops in

to pick up a bottle for the weekend.

You're impossible.

Mm-hmm.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(soft jazz playing)

Is everything okay?

Oh. Yes.

It's just you-you've been here for...

-quite a while, Ms. Mellon. -(chuckles)

I thought maybe I could help you find something.

Uh, no. I'm just-just browsing.

Stay as long as you like.

And, please, let me know if I can recommend anything.

(chuckles) Well, most certainly will.

(chuckles softly)

(exhales)

(doorbell chimes)

Oh!

Virginia!

It's great to see you.

-Bernie! What a surprise. -Oh.

-Oh! -(kissing)

It's been much too long.

How you holding up since Bill passed?

Oh, it's still one day at a time.

Well, you look positively wonderful.

Oh, thank you.

S-So do you.

(both chuckle)

Oh, um, how-how's Anita?

Uh, we're taking some time apart, I'm afraid.

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that.

Yes. It was...

-leading up to it for some time. -Mm.

-But I don't want to dwell on sad things. -Oh.

-(chuckles) -(chuckles) As a matter of fact,

-I was... -CASSIE: Bern-Bern,

the Olavidia came in.

-I got the last one. -Ah.

Fantastic.

This is Cassie.

Oh. Hello.

-Actually, we know each other. -We do?

Cassie Brooks.

Cassie, oh...

oh, my gosh, you...

We were in the same college dorm.

BERNIE: I can't believe the two of you

were in college together.

CASSIE: Three doors down, if I remember.

Yes.

CASSIE: You should drop by next week.

It'd be great to catch up.

Yeah.

Wait, we're gonna be in Tahoe.

I'm afraid so.

But you can make it another time.

Oh, well, I don't want to break up

-your wine and cheese shopping. -Yes.

I will go get the Claret.

-It's good to see you, Virginia. -Good to see you, too.

I-I just, I...

I have to ask.

How do you...?

(stammers) What's your secret?

Oh, just diet and exercise.

Oh, you, cut the crap.

This doesn't just happen.

What are you doing?

I'll tell you on one condition.

What's that?

You stay away from Bernie.

I don't know what you mean.

(stammers) This was an innocent run-in...

Why don't you cut the crap, Virginia?

I'll keep my distance.

Call and make an appointment.

VIRGINIA: I'm hideous.

At least that's what I feel like.

For a long while I...

couldn't understand where the time went.

One minute I was... young and traveling.

And loved being photographed, going to parties.

And the next minute I'm...

this.

I never in a million years

would've considered coming to a plastic surgeon,

but after I saw Cassie, well, I just, well,

here I am, ready for the hard sell.

I think you've come to the wrong place.

I-I wha... what?

I don't think you're right for me or what I do.

I-I know this game.

-Game? -Yeah, you act

like you're too good for me, so I'll want you even more.

This isn't a sales tactic, Ms. Mellon.

Do I look like a used car dealer?

I wouldn't say so.

Then I'm not in the business of turning "hideous" people

into beautiful ones.

If you believe you're hideous,

nothing anyone can do will change that.

You're gonna tell me that beauty starts on the inside?

Maybe you should stop anticipating

my thinking and start working on yours.

Thanks for coming in.

Okay, please, stop. Stop.

W-Whatever I said wrong...

I didn't, I didn't, I didn't mean it.

I don't really think I'm hideous.

(crying): I'm having

a truly shitty week.

I just want to be able to look in the m-mirror

and be happy with what I see.

I'm basically alone. I...

uh, I have no friends.

I even drove my housekeeper off.

This is not how I want to end my life.

You can understand that, can't you?

You're not originally from Beverly Hills, are you?

No, Wichita, Kansas.

I came out here for college,

and I told myself I was gonna change my life.

And I did, I married a-a very rich man.

(sniffles)

Old Beverly Hills money.

I loved him, but I never gave myself a chance

to become my true self.

And...

now I'm afraid it's too late.

It's not too late.

First of all, I don't consider myself a plastic surgeon.

That's a medical term invented

-to get a license. -Mm.

I'm not an artist, either.

Not a sculptor.

Not a healer.

I'm a worshipper.

I worship the human form

in all its glory.

Time is a vandal that sprays graffiti

all over the work of the gods.

I'm just cleaning up.

If you want my help,

you need to believe

you're worthy of being worshipped.

Are you?

I'll be honest with you.

I don't right now.

I don't, I don't love myself.

I want to become someone I could love.

That is an honest answer.

Follow me.

The first thing you should do

is toss all preconceived notion

of what we do here.

I'm not slicing and stretching skin around

like I'm making sausage.

I use a proprietary face augmentation

and skin rejuvenation technique

that I've perfected after a lot

of study and travel.

No one does what I do, the way I do it.

Sounds mysterious.

It's secretive, but there's a reason for that.

Which is?

The same reason no one knows

the formula for Coke.

(chuckles)

All finished.

(machine whirring)

They don't even look like the same people.

PERLE: In a way, they aren't.

After visiting me, these individuals experienced

a profound change

in their lives, in their careers,

in their relationships,

their happiness.

So what-what happens next?

Do I look at drawings and tell you how I want to look?

I don't work that way.

The universe has already decided what you look like.

I'm just removing the graffiti.

Remember?

My compensation.

Oh.

You're getting a service you can't get

anywhere else in the world.

That's worth something.

Think it over.

I really want this, Grady.

We-we have to try to make this work.

GRADY: I've already run the numbers twice, Virginia.

I can't advise you to take on this additional debt.

I drive a Bentley.

I have a mansion in Beverly Hills.

I can't be this broke.

Yeah, if you want to keep the Bentley and the mansion,

then you'll continue taking my advice.

(sighs) Look, Virginia, the simple fact is

Bill left behind a lot of debt

when he passed, and a big chunk of that debt

is in both of your names.

And these creditors, they-they have to be paid.

Okay.

What the hell? I can cut back.

Sell the Bentley. I can drive a Mercedes.

It's not that simple, Virginia.

Well. (chuckles)

Maybe I just need...

another business manager.

Any other business manager

would've already made you sell everything

and move to Sylmar.

Will you be smart and stop with the threats?

Okay? You can't afford this, Virginia.

-Accept it. -(groans)

(beeps)

(crickets chirping)

(dog barking)

♪ ♪

(thud nearby)

-(Cassie laughing) -BERNIE: Where are you going?

(both laughing)

BERNIE: Come back here.

(both laughing)

(laughter continues)

(laughter continues)

♪ ♪

Very good.

May I see your hands?

-My-my hands? -Yes.

You have beautiful hands.

Once, back when people drove Pintos.

Oh, but the beauty's still there.

It's just waiting for someone to bring it out.

You see, there's no harmony if your face

-is in one era and your hands are in another. -Mm.

I-I've never heard

of anyone having work on the hands.

The "work" you're talking about isn't generally

done on the hands, but my procedure is different.

Your hands have a voice.

And they're crying out to me.

Well, they're making me cry.

Um...

I-I'll be honest with you, Dr. Perle.

I had to move a lot of money around just to be able

-to afford my face, so I really can't... -This...

will cost you nothing.

Nothing?

You'd be granting me the favor.

You may find this hard to believe,

but I don't just do this for the money.

I bring a vision to life.

And if the vision isn't complete, it pains me.

My hands are in your hands.

Fantastic.

VIRGINIA: I've heard of company spirit,

but tattooing the company logo

-on your neck and on his arm... -(Perle shushing)

GROUP (chanting in Gaelic): Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn...

VIRGINIA (slurring): I-I don't, I don't like anesthesia.

PERLE: Ms. Mellon, we're about to begin.

Lie still.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn...

PERLE: Dìonadair gach nì a tha breagha,

deònaich deagh fhortan

dhuinn agus sinn ag ullachadh

na h-ìobairt seo airson do...

ALL: Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn, tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn...

(thunder crashing)

Hello?

Mom?

(thunder crashes)

(clattering nearby)

Is that you?

Mom?

-(thunder crashes) -(gasps)

Fay...

Oh, my God! What happened?

I left the painkillers in my purse.

Can you get them, please?

-Yeah. -And a glass of water.

-Okay. -Uh, it really...

-really hurts. -Oh, my God, okay, okay, okay.

Okay, talk to me. What-what happened?

I went to Dr. Perle.

She's a plastic surgeon. (moans)

Okay, I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it.

Can you hurry up, please?

I want to make sure you don't O.D.

Have you had anything in the last four hours?

No, which is why I feel like I want to die right now.

Okay, I'm coming, I'm coming.

Please, please.

Please.

What did they do to your hands?

Just put the pill

in my mouth already!

(swallows, pants)

(whimpers, gags)

Oh, God.

(grunting)

How long are you going to be like this, Mom?

For about a week.

About a week.

I can't believe you went and did this to yourself.

It's my body, Fay.

I can do whatever I want.

It's not just about you.

-Oh? Oh. -It's not.

Grady, your business manager, called and he...

-Oh, God. -He told me how much in debt you are.

Mom, I had no idea things were this bad when Dad died.

Neither did I. (sighs)

It was a most unwelcome

and unwanted surprise.

-You know Grady said we could lose the house. -Oh, no, no.

-Yeah, he did. -No. No, no.

-And I won't be able to pay tuition. -No, no, no, no.

No, he's overreacting.

None of that is going to happen.

And if it did, you take a student loan

(laughs): like everybody else.

Okay, well, that's very nice

of you to think of your daughter.

You're my stepdaughter.

Wow.

-Oh, God. Oh, my God. -You really said that?

I'm sorry, I just-- No, I...

You know, in all of our fights,

-you've never called me that. -No, no, no, I didn't mean it.

Sorry, can we please not overreact.

I'm not overreacting, I'm just getting the hell out of here.

No, no. Oh, for God's sake, Fay, please.

Please, I need you tonight, please.

No. You just need some pain pills.

Here they are. Good luck.

No, no, no, please, please.

No, don't leave me.

(crying): Please, please, please don't leave me.

(door closes)

(thunder crashes)

-(thunder crashes) -(gasping)

(moaning)

Oh, God.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No.

(moaning)

(pills crunching)

-WOMEN: Na fhìrinn. -(gasping)

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn, tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

(whimpers, grunts)

(moaning)

(overlapping demonic voices)

(whimpering)

-(demonic voices continue) -No!

No!

-It's okay, I'm right here. -Get away! (whimpering)

(Virginia moans softly)

-Ready? -Mm-hmm.

-Mm. Mm. -You got it? Okay.

-Mm. -Okay.

(grunts)

-(sipping) -It hurts, huh?

(grunts)

(swallows)

(coughing) Thank you.

(coughs)

You were...

-pretty wacked-out last night. -(grunts, exhales)

I want you in this bed all day, okay?

Uh-huh.

What made you come back?

Um...

I remembered something that I did.

In high school.

I wanted one of those...

side shaves to be oh-so-cool and feminist.

And Daddy and my bio mom...

(chuckles softly)

Mm.

...said no way, but I did it anyway.

They freaked out. They took away my phone and my computer

until it grew back.

It was a long time.

-Ah. -I was so mad. I just

trashed my bedroom.

Even this heirloom necklace

my mom had given me, passed on

from my grandmother.

VIRGINIA: I-I didn't know

that happened.

We all have things we want,

and sometimes they seem so important

that we do things we shouldn't.

Well, I gue...

I guess that's true.

What I'm trying to say is I-I don't...

I don't know what you're going through.

But I shouldn't-- I shouldn't judge.

I meant what I said.

You've never made me feel like a stepdaughter.

Good.

So, I want to help.

Okay.

Good.

Mm.

I do have one question though.

Wh-What's that?

This, this procedure that you got...

Mm.

...what exactly is it?

That's a weird question to ask.

It-It's a facelift.

Okay. Just...

These bandages, they seem a little,

like... (stammers) They just seem

-a little thick. -Well, she said

there'd be swelling.

Okay, well, okay, I'm not a nurse

and I promised myself I'd just be supportive.

-(sighs) -So as long as you're talking to your doctor

-and she says everything's okay, what do I know? -(sighs)

PERLE: Let me know

if you feel any pressure.

VIRGINIA: Why can't doctors use the word "pain"?

Oh! I felt some... pressure right there.

Sorry.

-Um... -(grunts softly)

-What about what my daughter was saying? -Uh, well,

you already know the answer to that.

-You said it yourself. -(grunts)

A procedure like this

causes trauma to the tissues.

There's always going to be some swelling.

But good news--

it's already coming down.

How long do I have to wear these?

It's very hard not to be able to use my hands.

I think the bandages will come off in a...

-day or so. -(grunts)

You know, it feels like you did more than work on the skin.

The-the bones actually feel different.

I don't just work on the skin.

I work on the whole you.

These sensations you're feeling are just the healing process.

Your nerves are interpreting signals in the wrong way.

There's nothing to worry about.

All right, all done.

(grunts)

(groaning softly)

Your recovery is a tad slower than I'd hoped,

but it's on track.

So, I'm very pleased.

Can I be frank with you, Virginia?

Please.

I don't think your daughter

is a very positive force in this recovery process.

I know she's being very helpful to you,

but any experienced physician will tell you

that, for the healing process,

state of mind is as important as anything else.

And she's affecting yours.

Fay has her problems with this,

but I need her help.

What if I were to tell you

that there is a place where you can go

where all your needs will be taken care of

and you'll be surrounded by supportive people

who want nothing but the best for you?

This exists?

(chuckles softly)

I have a small retreat in the Santa Monica Mountains.

This weekend, I'm having

a small gathering of patients and colleagues.

And I'd like you to join us.

My staff is medically trained and will tend to all your needs.

And this will coincide with the removal of your bandages,

which I can do up there.

Uh, sounds like heaven.

But I can't

-be doing... -This is complimentary

for all my patients.

Oh.

(sighs)

I don't like not knowing where you are.

Well, she likes to keep the location a secret.

I would think you'd be happy having me out of your hair.

-Okay, that's everything. -(bag zipping)

Thank you.

I don't trust this doctor, Mom.

I did some searches in the legal database at school,

and there's no record of her having a medical degree,

at least not in the United States.

She has a certificate of medical science--

whatever that is-- and it's from some school

that I've never heard of in some country I can't pronounce.

What happened to you being supportive?

This is me being supportive, Mom.

She has three malpractice suits from Oregon and Washington,

all of which vanished before she moved to Beverly Hills

and set up her firm. This woman is shady, Mom.

All these things you are saying, all these negative thoughts,

they are not helpful.

I am leaving.

♪ ♪

Oh.

Oh! Thank you.

Oh... I can smell the ocean.

-I feel better already. -Welcome.

Thank you.

♪ ♪

You made it.

So lovely to see you.

Hello. Yes, I-I'm the only one wearing bandages.

(chuckles) It's a little embarrassing.

No, no, not at all.

Most of the people here have been exactly where you are now.

-Really? -Yes.

-No one is judging anyone. -(sighs)

That's one of the rules here.

I like that.

(chuckles) I think there's a lot you're going to like

about this place.

Remember, you're among friends and supporters. Come.

-No need to be tense. -(chuckles nervously)

This is the only place I do house calls.

Oh.

-Any discomfort? -No. None at all.

You know, I think the bandages are ready to come off.

-Tonight. -(gasps softly)

If you'd indulge me, I'd like to conduct the removal

at a little gathering I'm having tonight.

Uh, you want to do this in front of other people?

I know it may sound a little strange,

but I really do think of everyone here

as one big family.

And I think it'll be good for you.

You know, it can help you get over any lingering anxieties

you have about your appearance.

I-I just wasn't expecting to do it in front of an audience.

Well, you should be reassured.

Re-Reassured?

I wouldn't be asking you this if I didn't believe

you're going to look spectacular.

I think you belong up here, Virginia.

I really want to see you take your place among us.

-(muffled cries) -(grunting)

(applause)

(applause quiets)

It's hard to believe, isn't it?

Another year has passed.

But here we are.

And while the rest of the world has suffered

disease, war and economic upheaval,

we have thrived, both in health and in wealth.

(group murmurs in agreement)

I've never seen a finer group of human beings.

WOMAN 1: To Dr. Perle.

WOMAN 2: A'deàrrsadh aon!

ALL: A'deàrrsadh aon!

-(applause) -Thank you, thank you.

There'll be time for that later.

Right now I'd like you all to meet our very special guest,

Virginia Mellon.

As you can see,

Virginia has just had the procedure.

Congratulations.

Than-Thank you.

Welcome to the family.

And lucky for us, the bandages come off tonight.

And she's agreed to let us all share in the moment.

(applause)

I think we just found a new member

to our very special, growing family.

And she's ready to take her place with us.

(applause)

Thank you all.

I-I'm very happy to be here.

I-I haven't felt this happy

in... I can't remember when.

(applause)

Unfortunately, before we can begin,

we have to attend to something rather unpleasant.

-(Fay cries out) -Fay?

Mom!

PERLE: I have to ask you, Virginia,

did you have anything to do with her being here?

I have no idea how she got here.

I hid in the back of the SUV. I was worried about you, Mom.

She violated our rules and this gathering.

-She must answer for this. -FAY: Rules?!

What the fuck is she talking about?

Something's not right here.

Fay...

Mom, you don't need this.

-Please. -I-I'm not her real mom.

-Mom, please. -I'm her stepmom.

Fay, you shouldn't have come here.

You bitch.

What have you done to her?

-VIRGINIA: N-No... -Let me go!

The security will take care of her.

-FAY: Mom! -Don't worry about that.

Now, let's focus on you

and getting these bandages off.

Have a seat.

Please close your eyes

and hold very still.

Perfect.

GROUP (chanting in Gaelic): Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn...

Oh, my God.

Is this a joke?

-(groaning) -Stop.

Stop. You'll hurt yourself.

Hurt myself?! What have you done to me? No!

GROUP: Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn...

-In the name of Etain, the Shining One... -Don't! (shouts)

...who takes the form of the sun and the butterfly,

you will take your place among us as a sacrifice.

What?

We hold the pageant once a year on the day

when the giver of beauty slayed the ugliness

in the form of the swine.

-WOMAN: Here, piggy, piggy. -For tradition,

this has to be a striving,

-a challenge... -(Virginia gasps)

...a hunt.

Two miles down is the Pacific.

Between it and us is wilderness.

If you can get to the water, you go free.

This is the chance we're offering you.

-Do you understand? -No! No, I...

You have a two-minute head start.

Tell me this isn't real. Please.

One for each wing of the sacred butterfly.

(stammering) I can't. I-I...

Who the hell are you people?!

The beautiful ones.

And this is how we stay beautiful.

Now go.

-Go! -(crying out)

♪ ♪

(panting, grunting)

To another year of prosperity,

-health and beauty. -(applause)

-We sold our souls for it. -(group chanting)

(whimpering)

(distorted, overlapping voices)

GROUP: Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

(panting)

(bird hoots)

(cries out)

(loud whistle nearby)

(whooping)

(overlapping voices approaching)

(cries out)

GROUP: Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

♪ ♪

-(clamoring) -(Virginia snorting)

(grunting) Come on.

(gasping)

♪ ♪

Hello, Virginia.

Bernie?

Is that you?

Oh, please. Please help me.

Please help me. These people are crazy.

(Virginia whimpers)

-No. -(loud whistle)

(indistinct chatter)

CASSIE: Hello there, Virginia.

(sobbing)

GROUP: Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn.

Tha bòidhchead na fhìrinn...

PERLE: They say you can't make a silk purse

out of a pig's ear.

But pig's blood,

that's another story.

(cries out)

(groaning)

In the name of the pig, as we sacrifice to the gods

for our health and beauty... go!

(clamoring, grunting)

(whimpers, gasps)

What did you do to my mother?

You heard her, Fay. She's not your mother.

Your real mother was one of us.

-Mom? No! -And this is her gift to you.

You're one of us, too.

You were meant to live under the blessings of Etain,

the keeper of the beautiful ones.

Try to remember.

♪ ♪

We've loved you since the day you were born.

We've been waiting for this so long.

Why?

She didn't deserve this.

Can't you see?

She never belonged here.

But you do.

It's time...

for you to step out of your cocoon

and spread your wings.

Let your true form emerge.

The world is full of ugliness, Fay,

but the beautiful people are coming back,

retaking our place in the world.

(bell tolling)

-Cool tattoo. -Thanks.

Could you maybe tell me where law school admissions is?

You want the Smith Building. It's that direction.

I could walk you over, if you'd like.

Oh, no, that's okay. I can find my own...

Actually... I wouldn't mind the company.

♪ ♪

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH