Original subtitles

Downloaded from YTS.BZ

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.BZ

[funky music]

[Roger] Evolving city? What in the world is that?

Look at all this obscene money just flowing in, right?

Like, it's just erasing the culture. It's just, like, smashing everything.

And the people, right? The people, the community.

This community, right? Which was so beautiful, which was one of the few places

where, like, folks could live with, like, grace and dignity.

Right? And the people who, like, made the neighborhood, who built the culture,

can no longer afford to live in the damn neighborhood.

But it's evolving? No, no.

Hell, no. I'd say that shit is devolving, if anything.

- You need to right that. - Apparently.

That's not the story that I pitched, and it's not what their readers wanna hear.

As long as I've known you, you're always "Oh,

I don't know, I can't do it. I can't do it." And you get it done.

- Yeah, yeah. Maybe. - You always get it done.

- Maybe in the past I did it. - Yeah, don't start with me. I know you.

- I'm not trying to... - I've known you a long time.

- You think you know me. - I know you!

- You think you do. - And you always figure it out.

Maybe in the past I've gotten it done. But I'm telling you,

this time I'm completely gone. [sighs]

Man, I've gotta figure out something to tell them or put them off somehow.

What if you told them the truth?

Right, and have them think that I'm an incurable fuck-up?

That, or that it's just taking you

a little longer than you thought and you need a month or so.

Which they will hear as "incurable fuck-up."

Anyway, should we get a... get another one of these?

- I thought you had to work. - Yeah, I do have to work,

but one work is not gonna make me any more stupid. Hi, can we get one more?

- Than I already am. - Sorry, I have an early date tomorrow.

- [Casey] I can't. - Right, yes. Good.

- Good. - Two checks, separate.

Hey, I'm happy to... I can take care of it, it's fine.

- Separate. - I've got it.

Yeah.

Okay. [snorts]

Thank you. Hey, listen. I was thinking about this DeCarava show

up at the museum. I thought maybe you'd like to go check it out with me.

You like art now? Oh, that's new.

I'm into all kinds of things now. Okay?

- I'm broadening my horizons. - You do know I look at art,

all day, every day.

You don't look at art all day, every day, with me.

If nothing else, they have a great bar. It's a good place to get a drink.

- Yeah, maybe. - Oh, gotta think about it that much?

- Damn, okay. - [Casey laughs]

Okay.

[slow music]

[sighs]

[music ends]

[phone vibrates]

Hey.

Yeah, yeah. How you doing?

Oh, uh... Yeah, just working. Yeah, making... making progress.

What you up to?

[clears throat] I was thinking about calling you too.

Yeah, okay. Just give me a few minutes to change and...

I'll be right there.

[doorbell rings]

- [Roger] Hello, hello. - Hello.

What you up to?

- You know, cleaning up a little bit. - Alright.

- For me? - [chuckles]

- Hey, you want me to help you with this? - Sure.

- Have you been smoking? - Uh... a little bit.

- Are you also? - Ah...

- No, that's okay. - Ah.

So, I haven't had a chance to take a shower. Do you mind if I take a quick one?

- No, no. Do your thing. - Okay.

- Can I offer you anything? Water, tea? - No, I'm good. I'm good.

[sighs]

[Nicole] You know what to do with me.

- [Roger chuckles] - How is that?

Well, you tell me what you like.

And I...

- oblige. - No.

- Yeah. - [chuckles]

- No, no, no. It's... it's more than that. - [chuckles]

It's like...

- You know what gets to me. - Hm?

Good.

- Our chemistry is real good. - Mh-hmm.

- Sexually. - Mh-hmm.

But I'm still not your girlfriend.

- What's that supposed to mean? - Come on, you know what it means.

Yeah.

Okay, but who's asking?

I don't know. I'm just, uh...

You know.

What?

I just wanna be clear.

Okay.

[chuckles] Okay, well, you're clear.

You are very clear.

You're always clear, Nicole. You don't have to worry about that.

- Good. - Okay, good.

Well, since we've been clear...

there's something I should be clear about.

- If that's okay. - Of course.

Well, there's something that's been on my mind for a while now, I guess.

- [sighs] As your non-boyfriend... - [chuckles]

I'm thinking that, if it's okay with you, I would really, really like to...

- [whispers] - [chuckles]

Again?

Yeah.

- Is that okay? - Mh-hmm.

[door closes]

[Alice] Mommy?

When Roger's done with you, can I come sleep with you?

In a minute, Alice. We...

Okay.

[chuckles] You should be sleeping now.

Hey, Ally.

What's this?

Good night.

[slow music]

[construction noise]

- Morning. - Good morning.

These guys from next door were snooping around again, looking at the building.

- They asked when you'd be here. - Did you tell them I was out of town?

Well, they're right next door. They can see that you're here.

I don't care if they're staring into my eyeballs. I'm not here.

I have these new slides up, if you wanna take a look.

- Thank you. - [pneumatic drill]

Thank you, Riley. It would be a relief to look at the slides.

[pneumatic drill]

Is this you?

- Yeah, yeah, just got it. - [snorts]

Always buying shit when you should be working.

You look like trash.

- You too. - Look at your hair.

Stop it. It was a late night.

I'm becoming completely nocturnal at this point.

- By the time I got home from Nicole's... - Nicole's?

- Are y'all still...? - Yeah, yeah. Still.

It's a bit of a complicated situation with the kid and all, but it works.

- So it's good, you and Nicole? - Yeah.

- The sex, I mean. Tell me about the sex. - Yeah, it's good.

Is it wild?

- It's good. - So it is wild. How wild are we talking?

Come on, man. What you want? Details about what I do?

Yes, yes I do.

- 'Cause I'm just... - So in love with your wife.

Well, yeah, that.

So it's good.

- Yeah. - It's good for you.

Do you talk to Casey still?

Uh, I guess, yeah.

- How's that going? - It's fine, you know. I met her yesterday.

And then went to see your current girlfriend.

She is not my girlfriend.

- Yeah, whatever. - Yeah, it's fine.

Me and Casey, we're just hanging out.

Is there anything better than breasts?

I mean, breasts are just so perfect.

Okay, man, just chill, okay? Just chill.

Oh, me and Beth are doing something on the 24th for Sam's birthday.

You should bring your non-girlfriend. There will be some kids there.

I'll ask her.

We generally don't go out together much, but I'll ask her.

'Cause y'all are inside, having all that crazy perverted sex.

I don't mean perverted. I'm sorry.

[Casey] It's a good idea.

- The what? - This is a good idea.

- The museum? Thank you. - Mh-hmm.

- I like, I like. - [chuckles]

I have a good idea every now and again.

- Okay. - That's pretty, that's nice.

- It's boring. - No, look at the texture.

- Texture? - The shadows on her cheek.

Oh, now.

Of course you'd like the danger.

- The action. - Yeah.

The DeCarava thing should be good. Now, to that, if you want to,

you can go upstairs to the third floor and check out some of that ancient shit.

Ancient shit? [laughs]

What's this?

- It's dope. - Sodom and Gomorra.

This was painted by Henry Ossawa Tanner.

Tanner? I never heard of him. Who's that?

He was the first truly famous black artist.

This actually hang in the MET, 1920s.

But yeah, like many others, he left racist America

for slightly less racist France.

- Wait, he did? - Everybody did.

- Wait. - Baldwin, Nina Simone, and, I mean, come on.

I didn't ever heard of this guy.

I will say, I always thought that Lot's wife got a pretty raw deal.

She couldn't resist taking one more glance over her shoulder and,

in exchange for that transgression,

that slight transgression, she got turned into a pillar of salt.

- Don't look back. - Yeah, but she probably was scared.

I'm sure she was scared, but, yeah, you can't get caught in what's behind you.

Okay, well, you can learn from it.

Yes, you can learn from it, but you can't get stuck in it.

Otherwise, salt.

- Okay. - Yeah?

Yeah.

Why salt?

- Are you asking me? - Come on, now.

[coughs] Okay. [clears his throat]

Why salt? Uh...

Well...

Salt, because you can't hold it in your hands.

When you try to, it just slips right through your fingers.

I think that, perhaps, that is the point, because you cannot take it with you.

And when you cannot hold it in your hands the things that you love the most,

you just take the things you can remember.

[glasses clinking]

Yeah.

You see how he painted them?

They're looking ahead, but there's something drawing them back.

It's like it's almost static, but there's an internal tension.

I mean, given the circumstances, I kind of understand.

You know, you are the one who said "don't look back."

You know what I mean. You wanna look back, but...

no matter how much you look forward, there's always something...

drawing you back.

- This? That's how he's doing. - Mh-hmm.

Just like I'm trying to move forward and...

- [groans dramatically] - [both laugh]

- Oh, my God. - Like I'm trying to move forward.

- Stop. - [groans dramatically] [chuckles]

Oh, what's that?

Oh, my goodness.

- Who left that here? - What is it?

- Oh! - Wow!

- Just... just dropped from Heaven. - Mh-hmm...

- Oh, no. - Since they're here...

Don't mind if I do.

- Not quite bad. - Oh, you bad.

You bad, you bad, you bad, you bad, you bad. Okay.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah. - Oh! Oh! Oh!

[Casey savors loudly]

[wheezes and laughs]

Shall we?

You are too much.

That's how you did it, right? Like...

Get me out of here!

- [whispers] Out of here. - [groans] [giggles]

Momma.

Just... give me a second, sweetie.

Why did you kiss Roger so hard?

Well, that's just the way that grown-ups kiss sometimes,

when they feel a certain way about each other.

Okay?

When they love each other.

Something like that. When they like each other a lot.

It's not fair that you get to see Roger and I don't.

I never get to see him.

Would you like to spend some time with Roger?

Yes.

Okay.

We'll see.

I'll ask him, alright? We'll see.

[soft music and laughter]

Which way? Which way?

Oh! This way...

We're thinking the same thing...

[Roger] So, Alan seems to be losing it.

[Casey] How so?

Well, he's been very vocal about his marital frustrations and so.

- Hmm. - Yeah.

But you know, he got such a good thing going with Beth.

I don't know why he'd wanna mess that up.

Sounds like he doesn't know how to sustain an adult...

[vocalizing] relationship.

- Oh. [chuckles] You talking about me? - No!

- But Beth asked me over. - Yeah?

Yeah, party for Sam's birthday.

I don't know why I'm invited if it's mostly for children.

It's on the 24th?

- That's it. You're going. - Ah...

Yeah, yeah. I'll be there.

[singing] Party! It's a party!

- Um... - What?

Well, nothing. Nothing.

No, when you say nothing, it means there's something.

- No, it's nothing really. - Give it up.

- It's nothing. It's... - Give it up!

It's just that I... I might be there with someone.

- Oh! Okay. - Like... a date.

Okay, that's good.

Yeah, I just wanted to let you know that I'll be there, you know what I mean,

with somebody. Might. Might be there with somebody, so...

- [mocking him] Thank you for telling me. - Stop.

- See? You bait too much. - [laughs]

- [shushes her] Look there. - I might...

- Bears. - Stop! Oh, my God!

[Roger laughs]

[both laugh]

- What's this? - [talks like a child]

- Casey? - [mimics explosion]

- [Casey laughs] - Casey.

Oh, Steve!

[Casey sighs] Hey.

- Sorry. [chuckles] We were just... - Good to see you.

Yes, good to see you.

[Casey] What are you doing in New York?

My movie's opening, at the Metrograph.

- Oh. - [Steve] We just came in for the premiere.

This is Dani.

- Hello, it's good to meet you. - Uh, this is my friend... [chuckles]

Roger.

- What's up, man? - What's up, man?

- All right. Hi. - Yeah.

[Dani] Hi.

So, your movie's opening. Uh...

- That's good. - [Steve] Yeah, yeah.

- Congrats. - [Casey] I read about it in the Times.

Sounds good.

Well, the response has been good. You know, we're hopeful.

- Congratulations. Yeah, it's good. - [Steve] Thank you.

- How's... how's the gallery? - Oh, it's fine. I'm...

[chuckles] They're trying to buy out the block, but...

Yeah, I imagine that property has appreciated a good bit.

- It was your... your grandmother's? - Mh-hmm.

- [Steve] Right? - Right, yeah.

- I'm not going anywhere. - [Steve] Well, good for you.

[Steve] I know how much that gallery has always meant to you. You hang on to it.

[Steve] Yeah.

Well, nice to see you.

- We'll check it out. - Alright. Thank you.

[chuckles awkwardly]

Corny.

It's not that I really care.

Yeah.

You never told me he was Mr. Cool.

- That sweater... - Condescending prick.

Dani seemed nice, though.

- Oh! - [chuckles] I hate you.

[coughs]

Why do you think we drink so much when we're together?

Smoke so much? You abuse yourself like this with anybody else?

- Do you? - [groans]

Do you?

No. I guess I don't.

[yawns]

So, you said somebody's trying to buy you out?

It's a giant...

[sigh] construction project next door,

buying up the block.

- Yeah. - How long have you been dealing with that?

A while.

And you kept that to yourself, did you?

[chuckles] Whose business is it but mine?

Well... [snorts] Okay, alright.

But what you wanna do?

- Are you thinking about selling? - Get the fuck outta here.

- What? - No fucking way.

Awesome.

- You know, the... - [sighs]

"The property value is appreciating quite a bit."

The fuck was that?

- He's the worst. - Yeah.

But you're seeing somebody. Right?

[mocking her] Whose business is that but mine?

- Tell me. Tell me about her. - What you wanna know?

- Her name? Her name is Nicole. - Nicole.

- Yeah. You do not know her. - How do you figure I don't?

- I know, I know you. - It's Brooklyn.

I know who you know, and you don't know her.

- Okay? - Okay.

- But she's cool. - Yeah?

She's cool. She's, uh... She's...

An open person. Honest.

- Super honest about... Radically honest. - Mh-hmm.

Yeah. About what she wants and needs,

to a fault sometimes, but...

Yeah, I guess she has to be.

- Yeah? - Yeah, she's got a little girl.

Her husband died in an accident.

- Jesus! - Yeah.

So, I don't know what's gonna happen,

but, for now, you know, we're seeing each other and it's good.

[groans]

- But what about you? You...? - Hmm...

- Aye, aye. - Me? No.

No one special.

No, no, no

- Okay, I kinda knew. [chuckles] - What do you mean?

I knew you were seeing somebody!

- What? - Oh, yeah.

- How did you know? - Ah, Beth told me.

- What? She told you? - A few weeks ago.

- Wait, so, a few weeks ago? - [Casey laughs]

Okay.

You want some?

- Ah, thanks. - You're welcome.

Alright...

- Million-dollar question. - Yeah.

- How goes it? - I... I'm working on it.

And it is in progress.

- Is there a date attached to it? - [Roger chuckles]

- I will do the best I can. - Oh, super wrong answer.

You actually just don't have more time.

Look, I just don't understand what the big deal is, okay?

Like, I'm trying to... I'm trying to, like, create something here, okay?

I'm trying to put something new into the world.

And I think you would agree with me that this idea of the...

Sorry, "the evolving city"

doesn't really align with the world around us, the Brooklyn around us.

You got hired

because you just made us all so excited

about this renewed city

and all the feelings we were feeling after being locked up. It was about joy...

Yeah, but that was just bullshit, it was bullshit and you know it was bullshit.

It's why I hired you.

And now you want what? Like, reverse it? And like, just...

Talk about how we've devolved and how miserable it is?

I thought you hired me because you believe in me, you believe in what I have to say,

and now I have something to say that is different to what I had to say then.

So, shouldn't you also believe in that?

So, we were given some time to talk about those things,

because the world was in a place to receive them,

and now it is no longer on that place.

And that free moment of black expression? That's over.

So, now you need to write the piece about Brooklyn evolving.

And you need to turn it in on time, so that we both don't lose our jobs.

Yeah, great.

Great.

You are really...

a wonderful editor.

- Thank you so much for your time. - Oh, don't. Don't act

- like I'm the worst person in the world. - I mean it.

No, you're the best. Thank you for the drink.

It's the fibular... No, hold on. I'm on the wrong page. Here we go.

- It's the fibularis tertius. - [chuckles] Yeah.

- Well done. - Yeah.

- That is great, thank you. - My pleasure.

Are you trying to butter me up?

You just really want me to go to this party.

Well...

I do want you to go. You're invited and...

there will be other kids there for Ally.

Sure. But do you want me to go?

Of course I do.

So...

This is a... [sighs]

[chuckles] I don't know what this is.

Ally wants to go on a date with you.

A date?

She's a little jealous and she said she wants to see more of you.

- What do you think? - Okay. Yeah, of course.

So, uh...

What-- what do you think?

- Dinner and a show? - Uh...

You haven't spent much time around kids, have you?

- No, not really. - [giggles]

- Just pick her up after school. - Okay.

- Take her to the playground. - Check.

Maybe offer some ice cream. She'll be thrilled.

- Great. Done. - Yeah.

Got it.

Do you wanna...?

Yeah, we'll shut him.

Did you bring any weed?

I did not.

- I thought... - What a shame.

Thought you said you wanna be good.

Oh, I know. But, lately, I've just...

- I've been feeling bad. - Bad?

[inhales] Bad.

Oh...

- Oh, "bad." - Quite bad.

- Oh, shit... - Quite.

Quite bad.

[Lorna, loudly] Oh, my god! What are you talking about?

Of course, I'm just so thrilled that I got a grant. A grant!

I mean, do you hear me right now? I have a grant!

It's like I'm finally something! Oh, dear!

But you know what? I don't have anything to complain about,

except when I think about traveling. Oh my god! JFK is a nightmare,

just trying to get there is a nightmare. [kids playing]

[Nicole] Wow, okay.

- Never done this for Ally. - I mean, you've got to pin the date.

- What? Is Lorna wearing you out? - Is an elephant heavy?

What you all talkin' about?

- The littles. - Mh-hmm

- [Beth] She's adorable. - [Nicole] Thank you.

Ally!

[Alan] Let's play a game, OK?

I like her, Roger.

- Yeah? - [giggles]

Okay, me too.

Yeah, I'm so glad she was able to come!

I appreciate you inviting us. Thank you.

Don't thank me,

- thank Alan. It was really his idea. - Yeah?

Honestly, I think he just wanted to get a little look at her.

Anytime any one of our friends finds somebody new,

Alan gets like a little fever.

Okay... Okay.

My husband is obsessed with the idea of having an affair.

I know my name's Bennet,

and I ain't in it.

No, but he wouldn't do it.

- [Beth] You know, y'all talk. - [Roger] Yeah.

- It would take too much energy. - [groans]

And I just wanted to say I'm sorry

for inviting Casey without...

- It was before Alan told me about Nicole. - It's fine, it's fine.

Me and Casey are cool. Really, we cool.

- Ain't no problem. - Okay.

As a matter of fact, just the other day, I met one of her guys and it was fine.

Oh, uh... Who do you mean? Jason?

Jason? No, Steve. I met Steve.

- Oh, yeah, Steve. Yeah. He... Mh-hmm. - Yeah. The guy who...

He has a movie coming out.

- At the Metrograph. Yeah. - At the Metrograph, yeah. Yeah.

But you didn't tell me who Jason was. Who's Jason?

- No, no, I don't know. - You don't know?

- You know what? - [giggles]

It's fine. Whatever it is,

I know it ain't serious, otherwise she would have told me.

- She'll tell me when she's ready. - Exactly.

- Where she's at, anyway? - I don't know.

But, you know, she did say something about running late.

- Some Jason issues? - No, it was probably just work.

Okay.

Yes, she's been really busy lately.

[phone vibrates]

Hello?

Yeah, I was gonna call you first thing tomorrow, but yes.

Everything is set. The piece is going out on Monday.

And you can... When you see this finishes up...

Mh-hmm.

Alright.

Alright.

Okay.

That isn't exactly what we talked about, I...

Right, but my client has worked really hard. She's giving you exactly...

Okay.

Oh, no. Oh, my God, you know I understand. Of course.

Okay. Yeah.

Yeah, you have my number if anything changes.

Alright, bye.

[whispers] Fuck.

Massages, just massaging people just... all day long.

It's one way to make a living.

I'm actually just starting to roll up some clients.

In case you ever need some body work.

Uh, I will. I'll give you a call.

- For body work. - For body work.

- If I need body work. - Good.

Any body work.

- Hey. - Hey.

- Networking. - You know. Why do you think I came?

- I was asking myself the same question. - [chuckles]

By the way, I think Ally might be getting a little...

Yeah, she's overtired. We should probably head out soon.

- Okay. - Um...

- Alan. - Yes.

- It was really nice to meet you. - You too. Good to meet you too.

And I'll make sure to give you a call for body work.

- For body work, okay. - For body work.

- Not rub work. - I'm gonna go say goodbye to Beth.

Alright, okay, you do you.

- What's up, man? - How you doing, man?

- I'm alright. How you doing? - You made some moves out there, bro.

Yeah, thank you, I appreciate it. You think you might be getting a massage?

- No, of course not. - You sure?

I'm past it, man. I don't need a massage.

So you probably don't need this thing.

OK... [mumbles]

- You ready? - Momma, can I just say goodbye to Sam?

Sure, but don't take too long. Okay? We really need to go.

You know, I've been watching you.

You have?

All day, and it turns out you are very beautiful by daylight.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

- I might have been watching you too. - Really?

- Mh-hmm. - And?

I was wondering something.

You have evening plans?

[snorts] Not yet. Make me an offer.

Well, she should knock-out around 9:00, 9:30.

- Mh-hmm. - You think, hopefully?

Keep a light on for me.

[phone vibrating]

- Hey. - [Casey, through phone] Hi.

- [Casey, through phone] How you doing? - I'm good, good.

- How you doing? - [Casey, through phone] Uh...

I'm sorry I didn't make it earlier today. I meant to, I just...

Oh, I am not having a good day.

- It feels like... You know? - You alright?

[Casey, through phone] I'm okay. Just had a hard time getting out of the house.

Ah, okay. Well...

- We... we missed you. - [Casey, through phone] Ah, good.

I'm feeling a little antisocial. You know what I'm saying?

- [Roger, through phone] Yeah, yeah. - You know how it is.

- How was it? - Uh... Yeah, it was cool.

- I mostly just hanged out with Beth. - And I miss Beth.

- I really like her. - [Roger, through phone] She's good people.

[Roger, through phone] You know how she makes everybody feel at home.

Anyway, Casey, it's just not a great time. I was about to head out, so...

Okay. Um...

I don't wanna hold you up.

I'm just not having the greatest day, and I could use a friend.

[Roger, through phone] Yeah, yeah.

I'm sorry, it's just not a great time. I was just about to walk out the door.

Hello?

Okay. Well, I was just checking in.

[exhales] Thank you for talking. I'll talk to you soon.

[Roger, through phone] Yeah, yeah, sure.

[Roger, through phone] Me... You know where to find me. I'll be here.

I'm avoiding work, so...

Anytime, you just let me know,

- and we'll make it happen, okay? - Okay, I'd like that.

Actually, I'm gonna be in your neighborhood

on Tuesday, visiting a studio. I don't know if you'll be around.

[Roger, through phone] Tuesday? Yeah. Yeah, that should be cool.

I'll be... Oh, wait, hold on.

Actually, no. That's my... There might be a date.

You have a date?

Yeah.

With, uh...

Nicole's daughter.

Nicole's daughter.

Mh-hmm. I'm taking her to the playground.

Playground.

Sounds like you finally found your level.

[snorts] Shut up.

Anyway, any day besides Tuesday is cool, so just let me know and we'll do it.

Alright, enjoy.

Bye, Roger.

Bye.

[soft piano music]

[sighs]

- I do. - You're high.

- I'm not. - You're so high.

- You've got beautiful eyes too. - It's been a while since I had sex high.

- I feel like I'm in college. - You've gotta be careful. Don't let

all these partying mess up your G.P.A.

We gonna... up.

- It was fun hanging with you today. - Yeah.

- In the daylight. - Hmm.

Your friends are nice.

Yeah, they're cool. They're cool.

It was kinda odd how people were sizing me up, though. Sizing us up.

Hmm, you noticed that too?

- Hard to miss. - Yeah, yeah.

Is that weird for you?

I thought Casey was supposed to be there.

Yeah, I don't know... I don't know why she didn't come.

- I hope it wasn't because of me. - I doubt it.

- You two ever talk about me? - No.

I mean, of course I've mentioned you.

You know, but not much more than that.

Really?

Yeah, really.

We don't really talk about, you know, relationships.

- Never? - Well...

I mean, more or less. Give or take.

- [chuckles] - What?

- Why are you? - Why don't you just get back together?

Oh, Lord.

Come on, Nicole. Me and her? No.

No.

Why?

Why? Nicole.

- I mean, you love her. Don't you? - Can you stop, please?

- What? - Please.

No, it's fine.

I don't mind. I can't mind. I really...

I really don't.

- You love her. - Look...

- We had our time, right? And it was good. - Mh-hmm.

But, you know, it just didn't work out for us.

In that way, so...

Yeah, outside the realm of possibility.

Must make it easier for you.

Having someone else attend to your physical needs.

Oh, come on.

I guess...

- It does make it easier to deal with her. - So you are just using me.

- Yes, I am. - [gasps]

- You asshole! - Well, you don't mind.

- All your women. - All my women? What are you talking about?

- You think I'm just out here like... - [laughs]

"Come to me. Come."

Fun.

- But what if it came up? - What?

You two getting back together. What would you do?

It... It won't come up.

But what if it did? What if you just talked about it.

Yeah, but we won't, so...

- Hear me out. - Okay.

What if...

it did?

It won't. We won't.

- Okay. - Look...

She's apparently already seeing some other dude, okay?

Oh, please. [sighs]

That's not going anywhere.

She's gonna break up with him soon.

What?

Beth told me today.

Does everybody know about her love life except for me?

Apparently.

Great.

Mama?

- One second, Ally. - Well, that's my cue.

- Wait, no. - What?

It's late. Stay the night.

Stay?

Yeah.

- Uh... - Hey, I'm sorry I pushed it.

I...

The truth is I feel a little weird right now. I think I need to...

just take a beat.

But if the offer stands, then maybe... Maybe next time?

See you Tuesday.

Tuesday?

Oh, right. Tuesday in the park with Ally.

Bring it on.

[soft music]

Hey. Thank you for coming yesterday.

Come on, man. You don't gotta thank me. Of course. It was great.

Nicole seems very nice.

Yeah, yeah. She is.

She actually wanted me to stay over last night for the first time. With the kid.

[chuckles]

Yeah, it was a lot, so... So I split.

I mean, we were talking about Casey...

You were talking about Casey with Nicole?

- Yeah. - No, man, that seems kind of...

Actually, healthy.

- Yeah. - Huh...

I got twisted up, so I had to get out of there.

Did you wanna stay, though?

With Nicole? Yeah, yeah.

Uh... No.

Both, neither.

Look, bro, I'm no expert on any of this.

I'm really not an expert.

Hey, man. Hey, hey.

Focus.

Look, man, as a friend, I'm just telling you.

"All of the above" is not an answer.

You've got to find your way to the center of this.

"Got to find your way to the center of this." That sounds like therapy.

- Are you seeing a therapist? - No, no more. I don't, but I did.

When I did, she told me to get to the center, so you get to the center.

[phone beeps]

[Editor, voice message] Hey, Roger. It's your favorite editor, just checking in.

I hope the piece is ready soon. We really, really need to have the draft of it.

No pressure, of course. Absolutely no pressure.

Just kidding. All the pressure. We really need to get it in.

Can you let me know what's going on?

[beep]

[construction noise]

- Are you good? - Mh-hmm. I am.

[Casey] I am.

Kind of a rough weekend.

Yeah, I hear that.

Don't even get me started on mine.

[construction noise]

So, are you like anything?

What does it matter? I can't sell anything anymore anyway, right?

I mean, you were excited about what you were going to see today, right?

Mh-hmm.

[loud construction noise]

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Oh, hi, Ms. Percy.

[Assistant] Yeah.

One second, let me check for you.

It's Lorna Percy.

Yes, give me one second.

Hey, Lorna.

And then the other two were in the cage, but there was an animal

that dug a hole under the cage, then got them.

- What kinda animal was that? - Mh-hmm

[kids playing]

I used to have a puppy when I...

You okay?

Are you...

- tired? - Yes.

Let me take your bag.

How about a piggy-back ride?

Oh, okay.

I'm getting old.

Alright?

- You having fun? - Yeah.

I'm glad, me too.

[kids playing]

- Roger, look! - What?

- That tree. Can I go climb it? - [chuckles]

Ah, I think that's a little too high for you, Ally.

My daddy lets me climb things all the time.

- Does he? - Yes.

Okay.

Okay.

Have fun, go ahead.

Uh, hi.

- You stalking me? - No.

- [chuckles] Well... - [chuckles] Not really.

I told you I had to see something over here.

- Mh-hmm. - And I decided to take a walk in the park,

and the gallery's uninhabitable, so...

I remember you said you might be here with your little girl.

[chuckles] Wait, with my little girl?

I want to see her.

If you don't mind.

I don't mind at all, it's totally fine. She's over there.

- Which one? - Right there, right...

- Hey, Ally. - Aww.

- Ally? - Yeah, Ally.

Hey, Ally, this is my friend Casey.

Casey, well, okay. This is Ally.

Hello.

- What are you...? Wait. - Hi, Ally. It is very nice to meet you.

- Are you two going to kiss? - What?

[Ally] Are you two going to kiss on the lips?

- Ah... No, Ally, Casey's my friend. - My mom's your friend.

Yeah, but she's a different kind of friend.

It's different because you love her?

Ah... Well, Ally, there's all kinds of love, you know.

[Ally] Don't you love her?

It's not... It's... In a different, I guess, sort of way, yeah.

Ally, grown-ups can be so impossible, can't they?

What are we gonna do?

- Bubbles! - Bubbles.

Well, it turns out human beings are pretty complicated after all.

Yeah. She's just trying to figure stuff out.

Yeah, well, maybe she can teach me something when she does figure that.

- Hmm, anyway... - Yeah.

- I'm going to Lorna's for dinner tonight. - Okay.

- She invited some folks over. - Hmm.

Yeah, gotta keep the costumers satisfied.

You know, she's basically keeping us open.

I thought you said that new sale was gonna pay you well.

Not so much, so...

- Oh, shit. I'm sorry. - Whatever.

Lorna's fine. And she's funny, at least.

- Yeah, I guess. I guess. - Mh-hmm.

Do you wanna come back later and rescue me? Maybe?

What is that?

- Thanks. - It's all good.

You know, I would, but I think I'm probably gonna be busy, so...

But I'll give you a call if I can.

- Okay. - Alright.

Here, come on.

- Have fun. - Alright.

[slow music, kids playing]

Ally, having fun?

- [Ally screams playfully] - Is she yours?

- Yeah, well, for the day. - Don't let the bubbles get you!

It's good that you have a fun daddy.

[Ally] He's not my daddy.

My daddy's in heaven.

I'm sorry.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Hey, Ally, you wanna go?

- Sorry about that. - It's alright. It's okay.

[doorbell rings]

[sighs]

Is it good?

Wanna put a little black pepper on it?

Is that you over there in that picture?

It is?

Cute.

Hey, this was delicious.

- Thank you. - Yeah, my pleasure.

And I like a home-cooked meal.

You should eat at your home.

Sure, but your mother makes the best curry chicken I have ever had.

Do you ever eat with that other lady?

- Other lady? - The lady at the park.

- Oh, you mean Casey. - [Ally] Yeah.

[Ally] Don't you ever eat with Casey?

We ran into her at the park today.

- Okay. - I told her we were gonna be there,

so she showed up.

She was working in the area. I think she really just came to laugh at me.

- [Ally] Roger? - Yeah?

- Don't you ever eat with Casey? - No, not really.

Why not?

She's just not the kind of friend I eat with, usually.

Most of the time I eat all by myself.

But you know what I really like?

Eating with you and your mother.

You know what? Why don't I...? Why don't I do the dishes?

- That'd be great. - I can... Here.

- Can I pick that. - No.

You don't want me to do the dishes? Your mother did all the cooking.

No.

Ah, would you like it, maybe, if Roger read you a story?

No. No, I don't want Roger at home.

I want Roger to go.

[sighs] At the park today, someone thought I was her dad.

And how did that go?

"Daddy's in heaven."

Yes.

Yes, he is.

Why don't I just...?

Thank you.

Ally?

- Yes? - You wanna go upstairs?

- Yes. - Okay.

Come on, let's go.

Alright, I've got you. It's good.

Okay.

Thank you for taking her to the park. That was nice of you.

Yeah, of course.

- And thank you for dinner. - Sure.

- It was delicious. - Goodnight, Roger.

Hey, listen. Uh...

I was just thinking that if I... If I said

something wrong or did something wrong, I'm sorry.

You know not everything is about you, yeah?

- Okay. My bad. - Yeah.

I don't know, this is just all...

a lot more...

difficult...

than I thought it would be.

It's been really hard giving up on the idea of the way that things...

should have been.

And, like, I know I'm supposed to put the past behind me, but...

I don't want to.

I don't wanna put it behind me, and Ally...

Anyway, uh...

- Anyway, thanks again. - I'm s...

Good night.

[melancholic music]

Hey.

Still at Lorna's?

- [people laughing] - [Roger] She was in... Was it Florence?

[Lorna] Oh, it's a fucking hellhole.

[Lorna] I'm just telling you, it's a fucking hellhole.

- [Roger] A hellhole? - [Lorna] Yes.

- Florence? - [Lorna] Yes.

- Florence, Italy? - Yes, it is a fucking hellhole.

I mean, it just needs to disappear beneath the waves.

It just needs to sink into the ocean.

Yeah, I think you might be talking about Venice.

- [Lorna] Wait, wait, no. Not... - Yeah, Venice, with the canals.

[Lorna] I know about Venice. I have not been to Venice,

I hear it's supposedly stunning. No.

Yeah, a lot of people would say the same thing about Florence.

[Lorna] Well, like there's people in the world. Okay.

This is where you wanna live, not there. Horrible!

Are you okay?

Not crosses. It's not Basquiat! Can we move on from Basquiat?

Do we all need to do the same thing?

[Lorna] This is what I'm talking about, people. This is what art is.

Not a fucking Virgin. It's just... It's a feeling.

- [Lorna] You have great art. - Hmm.

[Lorna] Great art. And honestly, I do too,

- because I keep coming back to you. - I appreciate you deeply.

- [Lorna] Oh, I appreciate you too. - Yes, yes.

Do you know how many times people told me I should be a critic?

- I mean, walk around my house... - Hey, wanna take a walk?

- Mh-hmm. - [Lorna] I preach things that are real.

And I just feel like a lot of these art galleries don't have it,

but my girl here, you have it.

I love you so much. Thank you for having us.

[Lorna] Thank you for this beautiful piece of art.

- [Lorna] Oh, my god. What an eye! - Yeah, it's beautiful.

So many people tell me I'm the one with the eye, and I have to agree.

But you need to take a break, go somewhere.

- Oh, I'd love to. - You know what's really great right now?

Bora Bora.

Honey, you should go there, like, yesterday.

- You know what I did when I went there? - I had such a early morning...

- Thank you so much for coming. - I love you. Thank you for having me.

This piece is remarkable!

Thanks for having me, I appreciate it. It was great. It was delicious.

- Thanks. See you later. - [Lorna] I love you.

- Bye. - [Lorna] I'm sorry, I'm just jetlagged.

[Lorna] I have such a headache.

No, it's like I don't know how to talk to kids.

Like, I try to, but they just...

I don't know. I just end up resorting to bad comedy.

What's bad comedy?

Bad comedy, like bad jokes. Like, just making faces

- and waving my arms around. - Hmm.

I think kids like it when you make faces and wave your arms around.

- You think so? - You're probably doing it exactly right.

You're sweet, but I don't know.

[puffs] I don't know anything about kids.

For real. I mean, I barely remember being a kid.

- Because you still are one. - [Roger chuckles] Funny.

But, for real. I think about, like, my past. Right?

How do you know, you know what I mean, how to be a good dad?

You just, I guess, figure it out.

But with me, it's like kids have this, like, an errant instinct.

You know what I mean? It's like they see

right through me and know they can't trust me.

[Casey] I saw you with her. She likes you, you did well.

- Yeah? - I think you are being hard on yourself.

A little girl, she's kinda been through some things and...

You can't expect you to just accept you as a father figure.

[chuckles] Father figure? Oh, boy.

- That's not exactly what I mean. - It's not?

- No, not exactly. - In a relationship with a single mother,

you're gonna have to think about that.

Okay. Alright. Well, thank you for the advice.

- I appreciate it. Uh-huh. - Uh-huh. Not what I'm doing.

Well, it sounded like advice to me.

In some ways, you're probably the perfect person to...

No, I'm the worst person to be giving you any kind of...

direction on... You know.

- [Casey] Anyway. - Anyway.

[mimicking Lorna] Anyway, we took the train to Rome.

To Rome!

[mimicking Lorna] Oh, my God. Like, I basically smell Marmite.

- Yeah, you did. - You know?

And there was, like... There was, like, razorblades on the sea.

- Razorblades? We had to sit on them. - What? Yeah.

- We had to sit on them. - Totally cut cooch.

- Exactly! Cut... - Cut cooch.

All the things.

- And why? - Alright, alright.

- Because of a fucking grant. - I have to pee. Move your leg, I beg.

Move, move. Seriously.

Hey, man. Let me just...

- Hey, hey. - Hey, hey.

- Do you want another? - No, no.

Why? You wanna go outside?

You are the Devil.

Yes. Yes, I am.

[Casey] Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm Garfield.

[Roger laughs]

- [Casey] Hey! - [Roger] What's that?

- [Roger] I've got you. - [Casey] Oh, my God.

[Roger] Oh! It's time.

- [Casey] Thank God for you. - [Roger] Oh, oh, oh!

Bam!

Mine. Mine.

- What? - What?

Okay.

Okay.

- What was that? - Uh...

- Casey, I... - Oh, no!

- No? - Oh... No, don't say that.

What? You didn't even know what it is that I was gonna say.

No, it's just not true. You know?

You don't even know what it is.

I don't want you to say it. Fuck.

- Come here. Come here. - No.

No! Don't say, it's not true.

- Hey! - Don't say it. You don't mean it.

No!

[stutters] Why are you messing with me?

- [whispers] Oh, my God. - Hey!

Hey!

Casey!

Are you...? Are you messing with me?

You don't know what you want.

It makes you strange.

- I'm not the only strange one here. - Am I saying otherwise?

Well...

You don't think I know how fucked-up I am?

I want everything...

and I want nothing.

Every time I try to get close to you, I can't.

And if you were honest with yourself, you would admit...

you can't either.

Because if you wanted to, you would.

- It's just too tangled. Just let it go. - I don't understand.

I'm supposed to be the only one being honest? Is that what it is?

- What do you mean? - When we were together,

you never told me you were unhappy. You just broke it off.

I mean, shit!

You don't know what you want!

I do know what I want!

Well, say it.

Let it go.

I need to take this.

Okay, I'll talk to you later. Goodnight. Bye.

[dramatic music]

[sighs]

Don't look back.

Don't look back.

[dramatic music continues]

[sighs]

[knocks on the door]

[rings the bell]

[knocks on the door]

[knocks on the door]

[knocks on the door]

[knocks on the door]

- [knocks on the door] - Oh!

What the fuck, Roger?

You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing here?

[sighs] It's, uh... I was...

in the neighborhood. [chuckles]

- You're drunk, actually. - No, not exactly.

You've been with Casey.

And now you wanna come over.

- A quick one on your way home. - [sighs] God, that's...

- That's not exactly how I would put it. - Mh-hmm.

And how exactly would you put it?

Nice night.

- Romance is in the air. - [chuckles]

God, I miss Steven.

I miss him so fucking much.

Like...

you can't even imagine.

You can't.

You can't even imagine.

I mean, I'm a human being. You know? I have needs.

Does that make me a bad person?

I'm a decent person, right?

A drunken man, showing up at my door in the middle of the night now.

This is what it's come to. After...

everything, it's come to this.

[snorts]

Alright, then.

Come on in.

Come on in, king. That's what you want.

Come on in.

You know?

I'll mix up a bunch of pina coladas, and we can...

rumba down the way.

No. Seriously, come on in.

No?

No.

[melancholic music]

[pants]

[melancholic classical music]

[doorbell rings]

Hey.

I'm sorry.

- Hey. - Did I wake you up?

I'm glad you're here, actually.

I...

I said some things last night that...

I don't know what got into me, probably too much alcohol.

Are you alright?

Oh, no. Wait, sit here. Sit here.

I don't think you're strange.

[groans]

Thank you.

- I'm strange enough, in my way. - Mh-hmm.

Casey.

I think...

I think we should take a break.

- From? - Us.

Do you know what I mean?

Mh-hmm.

It's just all this messing, it's tangled up. It's...

Don't. Don't do that.

We're not doing each other no favors. You know?

So...

Yeah, I think it's best that we...

- take a break. - Take a break.

- Yeah. - Get it.

Okay.

Alright.

A break is good.

It's all good.

Take a break.

Yeah. Okay.

Okay.

Talk soon?

Uh...

[sighs] Not soon.

Okay, bye.

[melancholic music]

- Hi. - Hi.

Hello.

You're, uh... You're without your friend today.

- Friend? - Mh-hmm.

- Your homeboy with the bike. - Oh, yeah. Yeah.

- Yeah, you're with him almost everyday. - Yeah, yeah.

Oh, so you noticed.

I did.

And your cool tie collection.

- Thank you. - Yeah, no problem.

- I'm Adele, by the way. - Alan.

Nice to meet you, Alan.

I was wondering...

Hello?

You were wondering.

I was wondering what I should get my wife for her birthday.

Her birthday is tomorrow, and I haven't gotten her anything yet, because...

Because I'm an idiot.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

I'm sure you will think of something.

You don't have to overthink it. Guys always think too much.

Just keep it simple.

And whatever you do, don't forget the flowers.

- Flowers? - Yeah.

Flowers are nice.

Flowers are really nice. Can't go wrong.

- Thanks. - My pleasure.

Anyway, uh...

- I've gotta roll. - You have yourself a lovely day.

- Absolutely, I will. - I hope she loves the flowers.

- Alright. - Hey, your...

- You don't wanna forget that. - Thank you.

[chuckles]

[soft music]

[Roger, voiceover] The city was perfect, when I first got here.

[Roger, voiceover] I mean, nobody ever said it was an easy place.

[Roger, voiceover] In those early days? Sure.

[Roger, voiceover] Sometimes life could be tough.

[Roger, voiceover] It was dirty.

[Roger, voiceover] It was crowded. It was loud.

[Roger, voiceover] But none of that really mattered.

Twist had also found a very special friend.

A friend different than he ever imagined.

But, sometimes, they are the best friends...

[yawning] ...of all.

- That's a good story. - Yeah?

I like that the little pony found a friend.

He wouldn't be lonely anymore.

- Do you sometimes feel lonely? - No, because you're here.

[chuckles] It's okay if you do, you know?

Good.

[Roger, voiceover] The vast imperfections only made the city more perfect,

this quaint, wonderful universe to explore,

to find my way in,

to become a part of.

[Roger, voiceover] Everything seemed inviting,

there was something intriguing in every single block, down every street.

If I tell you that the guys next door called again, please don't yell at me.

[Roger, voiceover] It was complete, and it was perfect.

[Roger, voiceover] And then, my perfect, complete city started to shift.

Do you know I've had this place since I graduated from college?

My grandmother died,

left the building to me.

I had this Art History degree, all these artist friends...

and I just loved it so much.

It was a lot of work to get this place going.

But...

Different city,

back then.

Don't worry, Riley. I...

I know people. There are other galleries. You'll find something.

Where are you going?

Uh...

I'm gonna go next door,

and see what the neighbors have to offer.

It's been nice.

[Roger, voiceover] Little by little, bit by bit,

things turned, revolved, broke up,

and got put back together.

[Roger, voiceover] Spaces got filled up. Other spaces emptied out.

[Roger, voiceover] The streets seemed to lead to the same places,

but the places weren't the same.

Things that I assumed were permanent just disappeared,

replaced by bigger things, newer things,

less familiar things.

[Roger, voiceover] What was this place now?

[Roger, voiceover] It wasn't mine anymore.

[Roger, voiceover] I still lived here,

but all too often, I felt like a stranger.

[Roger, voiceover] The lost livable neighborhoods,

the lost sense that anyone could come here and anything could happen.

[Roger, voiceover] Sometimes, I close my eyes and I can still hear it.

[Roger, voiceover] It sounds like the same as it ever was, it smells the same.

[Roger, voiceover] It feels the same. It's right there.

[Roger, voiceover] But then I open my eyes, and it's not,

something has been lost.

[Roger, voiceover] But, when I look at the new city

with fresh eyes, I have to admit that, despite everything...

it is still a wonder.

[Roger, voiceover] It still has magic, just different magic.

[Roger, voiceover] I mourn the loss of my old city, but I don't live there anymore.

[Roger, voiceover] I live in this one,

and this one has wonders of its own.

[Roger, voiceover] Something has been lost,

something has been gained.

[Roger, voiceover] And it's possible to love something and let go of it.

[Roger, voiceover] It's also possible

to love something new

in a different way.

[Nicole] Two! OK, ready?

[Nicole] One, two. One, two. One, one. Ha!

[laughs]

OK.

OK. One, two. One two. One, two, two! [laughs]

OK.

Who are you waving at?

Hi, Roger!

- Hey, Ally. - Hey, Roger.

Hey. I was just running by.

I saw you, and thought I'd say hello.

Oh, you interrupted your run for us. Wow.

[chuckles] Please, please interrupt.

I was struggling.

- Hey. - Where have you been?

I've been working.

Finishing some things.

- It's very boring. - [giggles]

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello, and...

have a good day.

[Ally whisper] Can we tell Roger to come eat ice cream with us?

- Yeah? Would you like that? - [whispers] Yes.

So, we just finished lunch,

and thought it'd be nice to go and get some ice cream by the lake.

Would you like to join us?

Unless you're running.

You're running.

Hey...

I can walk.

- Strawberry with sprinkles? - [Ally] Yeah.

[Roger] Alright.

- [Ally] And one scoop of vanilla ice cream. - [Roger] Oh, okay.

- Is there an ice cream spot around here? - [Nicole] I don't know.

We'll just have to walk across the park and find out.

What's the worst that could happen?

[Roger] We could get attacked by bears.

[Ally giggles] There's no bears in the park.

[Roger] Say what? You don't think so?

[Nicole] No, there are no bears, Roger.

[Roger] Oh, bears come out and get you.

- [rawrs] - [Ally laughs] No, you're funny.

- I will always keep thinking you're silly. - [Nicole laughs]

[Roger] You think I'm silly?

- Alright. - [Ally] You're always so silly.

[Roger] Okay, you keep thinking that.

[soft music]