Original subtitles

Tendu second. Close backwards, tendu side, close back.

Five, six, seven, eight. Big plié. Passé...

I started dancing at nine years old.

It started with a free after-school ballet class

and quickly became my obsession.

My greatest advantage as a dancer was my tolerance for pain.

It was a daily reality in my life already,

and a small price to pay for transcendence.

You learn to withstand the pressure of 12 times your weight

balanced on the tips of your toes

to create the illusion of walking on air.

To maintain that graceful, effortless performance,

even when things feel almost unbearable.

You sleep okay, honey?

Not really.

Did you crash on the couch?

In the guest room.

I had meetings run late so I didn't wanna wake you.

Can you help me with this?

Yeah. Give it a try.

I'm gonna be done around 6:00 if you wanna eat dinner together.

I have meetings until late, so do it without me.

- There. - Thanks.

First day jitters have me a little bit nauseous.

Over the volunteer thing?

I'm creative consultant to the entire production.

Yeah.

Weighing in on set design, costumes, sitting in on rehearsals.

You think investments are tricky,

try getting an experimental ballet on its feet.

Nancy, don't...

An entire liter in two days?

I have enough shit to deal with without you hammering me.

So just drop it, please.

All I'm asking for is time.

Just one hour with that therapist that I mentioned.

Sure. Okay. I'll try to get something on the books.

All right, I really need to get this over to Kit before the meeting starts.

Let me know when you're ready to talk.

Hi. Thank you so much for giving him a ride.

- Hi. - Our Saab is in the shop

for the fourth time this year, it's...

Should be back today sometime. I don't know.

How many coffees have you had this morning?

One, two, three, four. Maybe five.

But I've been up since 5:00 a.m. I wrote two chapters this week.

Did you sign up for the writer's workshop?

Yeah. And so far, it's just six retired boomers

at the South Pas Public Library,

but it gives me some structure, and I love it.

- That is great. - You look amazing.

- Really? - Yeah. This is very professional.

Well, knock on wood, maybe I can spin it into something more permanent.

You know, consult on a few other shows.

- Great, great. - Yeah.

- Would they pay you? - I mean, possibly.

I don't know, I just...

I don't know what's gonna happen, Mare. I gotta be ready.

Ready for what?

I don't know. Anything.

You and Robert still...

I mean, I've gotten a few full sentences out of him here and there, but...

Well, look, it's only been a few weeks, right? Since the party.

So, things might still be a little a raw.

He'll come around.

Archaia! Let the games of Mount Olympus begin!

Hi, Howard!

- Here you go. - Hey, Nancy.

Okay, have fun.

- Bye. - Hey, thank you.

I know Howard needed this, but I may have needed it more.

Have a good day, okay?

Have fun, you guys.

In all my years of friendship with Mary,

I hadn't spent any time alone with her husband.

I hadn't missed much.

- ...my phone to it? I'm just gonna add... - You know what?

I'm just gonna add my phone.

Just so that... I've got this great Stravinsky...

I loved Mary, I just wasn't in the headspace

to babysit anyone's underemployed husband.

Thank you, Bonny.

Thank you, dancers, musicians, technical artists,

and all of our magnificent crew.

Now, before we dive into rehearsal, I want you to take a moment,

turn to the person next to you and introduce yourselves.

Helga Durer, costume designer.

Yes! I'm Nancy Hennessey. I loved your work on Waves last season.

- Thank you. - It was really beautiful.

For the next eight weeks, until opening night, this is your family.

Now, before we wrap this up, there's one person I'd like to introduce,

Metro Ballet board member and creative consultant for this show,

Nancy Hennessey.

Thanks, Phil.

Ariadne is the company's most complex ballet yet,

which is appropriate for the complex times that we're living in,

and I'm so happy to be on this journey with all of you.

And I'd like to introduce Howard Simpson, a Classics scholar and--

And close friend.

And friend, whose program notes will provide the audience

with essential historical context.

Now when Phil recruited me for this project,

I paused my Herculaneum Papyri translation sabbatical.

As you may or may not know,

Ariadne derives from the Greek for most holy or most pure--

- Thank you, David. - Howard.

All right, thank you so much. Let's get to work, everybody. Thank you.

- Nice to meet you. - And you too, girl.

Hey, Nancy. Do you know what the lunch situation is?

I don't. No, sorry.

Hey, Phil, excuse me. Hey, I'd love your opinion on something.

I was just thinking about the color palette for the costumes.

I know that in your more recent work

you've used a modern monochromatic, black leotard look,

but I thought we could do something a little more innovative this year.

Interesting.

So I've been researching textiles with the ability to reflect light and color,

even take projections.

I was thinking maybe it could elevate the look of the show.

Why don't you make me a lookbook, and we'll take it from there.

Okay, great. Just give me a few days.

Okay.

It had been 25 years since I stepped foot in a dance studio.

Returning to ballet required all of my emotional reserves.

Memories lingered in rehearsal rooms.

Young pliant bodies, the expanse of the stage.

It was harder than I thought it would be.

I've seen it with Robert's group of friends before.

One minute, Elana Berkhoff is showing off her new stack of Cartier bracelets,

and the next she is selling them for food.

Okay, I need you to breathe.

Honestly, like, really take a breath.

I think you're jumping to conclusions.

From where I'm sitting,

the drinking, the fighting with his family, that is...

That's more of a midlife crisis than divorce.

Wealthy families divide assets for so many reasons.

You just have to talk to him about it.

Every time I see him passed out on the couch or...

every time I find an empty bottle,

it's like my childhood nightmare playing on a loop.

Like, part of me thinks we will get through anything, right?

But then the louder part of me is like, "Fuck it.

If you can't control your life, then you might as well just..."

I don't know...

Nancy, can I give you some real advice?

Yeah.

You have to listen to that quieter voice.

I know that Robert's drinking is ripping open old wounds, but in reality,

this man thinks that your armpits smell like honeysuckle and rainbows.

He worships you. He is not leaving you.

You're right. I'm just... I'm spinning.

It's ironic that we're talking about this right now.

I just commissioned this piece of art for our anniversary...

if we make it that far.

Oh, my God. You are going to make it that far.

Those vows are till death do you part.

He's not going anywhere.

I love the piece you did with Georgia Leonard.

I do a lot of business with Georgia.

Did she tell you she commissioned a portrait of her dogs?

I was hoping we could do something a little less safe.

I haven't stopped looking at this piece. Who is she?

A poet.

We met at a party.

Did you sleep together?

She left an impression.

Please, take a seat.

It's sexier.

Well, you can see my... my scars.

Why not? I like them.

They're a part of you. They tell your story.

A story that I'd like to forget.

I thought you said you wanted...

less safe.

Well, I see them every day I look in the mirror.

I don't think I need to capture them for posterity.

So then, you do want safe.

I'm not sure what I want anymore.

Go ahead. We'll reset when you're done.

Excuse me.

The messages from Scott were frightening enough.

What was even worse was that I had asked for them.

That there was something inside me that made me go back and touch that flame

even though it had burned me so badly.

Everything okay?

Yeah.

I'm ready.

I think you're looking for this.

I saw your notebook was filling up... It's... It's nothing much.

Thanks, Howard.

Does he still call you David? He's called me Louise twice this week.

He calls me something different every time.

It is what you'd expect from a champion snowblower like him.

What? Wait, Phil?

I think all that devil's dandruff has perforated his brain.

Anyway. Glad you like it.

Great, everyone. Let's bring it in.

Thank you. Thanks.

I wondered if maybe I was wrong about Howard.

If my dismissiveness had more to do with me than anything about him.

Hey.

It started to feel inevitable that we would forge our own friendship.

There it is.

Okay. That's good, everyone. Let's call it a day.

Wow, half-day rehearsal, I hardly know what to do with myself.

I know. I've got four hours to kill before I pick up the girls.

Does it make me a bad father

if I want to catch the 35 millimeter print of Red Shoes?

You're welcome to join.

This dripped on me. I'm just gonna go clean it off.

- Okay, go ahead. I'll wait. - Okay.

Hey, Phil. Great rehearsal.

See you tomorrow, Louise.

It's Nancy.

What's wrong?

It's nothing.

Nancy, it's okay. You can tell me.

Phil threw away this lookbook that I made.

I'd... It's pathetic that I thought he cared about my ideas

as much as he cares about my money.

That gold-plated prick wouldn't have a job without your money.

It's not even my money, it's Robert's.

You don't really believe that?

Well, his family never misses an opportunity to remind me.

I don't know how all that money stuff works.

My father was confined to a wheelchair with MS.

We were always strapped.

I would get so resentful, and he would say,

"People like us have something those people will never have,

pride of accomplishment."

The fact that you made it from...

Was it Bakersfield?

To become a creative consultant of a world-renowned ballet company,

that's an enviable achievement.

Robert calls it my volunteer thing.

All due respect, your husband is a trust fund philistine.

What you've done is impressive.

Thanks for that.

What time is that movie?

Is that the point?

Yes. Vicky chose obsession over all else, love, food, sleep.

And it was that choice that led to her inevitable destruction.

Do we really choose our compulsions or are they hardwired into us?

I don't think she could stop even if she'd wanted to.

That's what makes it a tragedy.

You know, I always thought you bought into the whole "trophy wife" shtick.

But, you know, beyond the perfect bone structure

and the watch worth more than my mortgage,

there is so much more than meets the eye.

Well, that is the sweetest back-handed compliment I have ever received.

And I admire the hypocrisy of your bacon-eating veganism.

And your irrational loathing of e-books.

If I can't touch it, I refuse to read it.

- Hello. - Nancy?

You need to stop calling me.

Why do you keep playing these games? You found me.

No.

No, I was curious, and in a stupid, weak moment I looked you up.

You need to leave me the fuck alone.

Nancy--

Hey, sorry.

That looked intense.

Yeah.

Is it something you want to talk about, or...

It's just someone from my past.

It's complicated and twisted in the worst way imaginable.

I've had my fair share of those.

God, you're trembling.

You know Mary invited us over to your house for dinner.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

Can we just keep this conversation between us?

You know, about the calls.

I just... I haven't... I haven't spoken to Robert about it.

Of course. Won't say a word.

Great. Thank you.

Two cappuccini, please.

Name for the order?

- David. - Louise.

I heard you’ve been talking But I’m doing just fine

Saying I’m crying my eyes out Every night after night

Hate to disappoint But I’ve been doing just fine

Fine Fine

Yeah, yeah, I’ve been doing just fine

Fine Fine

Yeah, yeah, I've been doing just fine

Excellent!

Fantastic! That was fantastic.

We gotta book her to one of our parties. Okay?

We're gonna book you!

- Yes! - We're gonna book you.

Go do your homework. Start with your spelling.

That was amazing, sweetie.

- She's so sweet. - I got it, I got it.

Thank you. How's the ballet going?

- Great. Great, yeah. So far. - Yeah?

Yeah, if you don't factor in the insufferable pomposity

of the nasal hoovering director.

- Nasal hoovering? - Who are we talking about?

- I don't know... - The... Phil, the artistic director, he's...

...an ass. But enough about him. You two, relax.

Retire to the living room, let the men handle the dishes.

Thank you.

- Oh, my God. I'm so tired. - Yeah?

Sleep has just become a bit of a luxury these days.

Between Howard's, you know, job search, everything that's going on with Marcus.

Well, I think that Howard

- is gonna get a full-time job soon. - Thank you.

Spending the small amount of time that I've spent with him, he's so smart.

Are you wearing your claddagh ring I gave you?

- Yeah. - It looks beautiful.

Well, you told me it would be my grounding force, right? It is.

Well, well, well. Look at who's wearing Mommy's good shoes!

Please be careful with those!

Especially up the stairs, honey.

Hey, babe. I think we should head home.

- They're gonna put the kids to sleep. - Yeah.

No, let me tell Mary and Howard this one thing.

We're all ears.

So, this friend of mine, Jay Michaels...

Actually it's a friend of my family's.

He's kind of a dick, but he's really fucking smart.

- Baby. Let's just head home. - Hang on.

These are our friends, babe, and they need our help.

- We're fine. It's okay. - So, Jay is a criminal defense attorney,

and he owes me a big one.

And Nance told me that Marcus has a court date coming up.

So, why don't I just have Jay represent him, totally free.

Oh, my God. Well, that's... Robert, that's...

As generous as that sounds, we're gonna have to decline.

Well... Howard, we should talk about it.

We don't have to freeload off your friends to protect our son.

I'll find another way.

- Thank you. - Howard, it's not freeloading.

It's a gift. You know? He owes me, I told you.

Babe, let's just respect their boundaries on this one.

Oh, my God, Nance.

"Respect their boundaries."

Do you realize how stupid you're sounding right now?

Come on, I'm sorry.

Come on, I was just trying to help.

She's so sensitive.

It's not my place, but that was totally uncalled for.

Is it a good idea for you to be alone with him tonight?

Yeah, I'll be fine.

Nance, Robert's about to get in the car.

Yeah, I should take him home.

- I'll see you at tech rehearsal. - Okay.

Hey.

- Hey, I thought you left. - I forgot my bag.

I'm just finishing up the program copy.

Do you mind taking a look at this passage before I press send?

Sure.

You're the expert, not me. I... I don't know if I captured the right tone.

Can you scroll down?

Yeah, there.

Add a line that says,

"He is pushing the limits of ballet with angular staccato movement,

and the physicality is creating an intense intimacy between the dancers."

You just came up with that?

Yeah, I was a very serious dancer.

Serious enough to be recruited by the San Francisco Ballet when I was 16.

But I never did end up making it.

And it was a million years ago.

But I feel like if you do that, then you'll be golden.

Okay, done.

Look, I really have to thank you.

More than just the gainful employment,

I've made a great friend.

Well, don't get too sentimental.

You are my best friend's husband.

I will be seeing you.

Yeah. I know. I know.

But it's been nice spending time with such a thoughtful, intelligent person.

You, Nancy Hennessey, have been superb company.

That's very kind. Thank you.

I was actually going to treat myself to this stellar bottle of wine.

Obviously I cannot share it with Robert.

So, would you like to...

This is a '98 Pomerol Bordeaux.

Louise, it would be criminal to drink this by yourself.

Are you sure you don't have to get back to Mare and the kids?

This might be the house red in your household,

but this is some good shit. So...

And like the Bacchae,

we will savor every drop of this bold-bodied liquid ecstasy,

and worship the god of the 13th century BCE Linear B tablet.

What is a B tablet?

The Mycenaean artifact where Dionysus first appeared. Obviously.

And apropos of Dionysus also being the god of insanity,

here's to the chaos and the madness.

Now, this should really be decanted.

Let's see.

I think I'm actually quite good at this.

- I might actually be a prodigy. - You can't even stand up straight.

Oh, God. That's so...

Everyone thinks they can dance, and no one knows how hard...

Well, come on and show me.

I know it. I mean, it's first position. Second position.

No, you gotta extend that arm more.

I am. You're looking at a man with the most unfashionable rotator cuff injury.

This is as far as it goes.

Oh, for God's sakes, no. Try it again.

I'll show you. Okay.

- Wait. - Are you okay?

Oh, my... Don't move. Don't move. Don't move. I got you.

Here, sit back a second.

Take the weight off. Oh, my God.

- I hurt it-- - Oh, God.

- For the swelling. - Thanks.

For the pain.

Nice.

So, why did you stop dancing?

You want the short answer or the long answer?

Let's start with the short.

A car accident.

What's the long?

Well...

When I give you my answer,

you're gonna think I'm fucked up in the head.

Try me.

My mom, she was furious with me and rightfully so.

She was driving, speeding, and I begged her to stop.

But she wouldn't.

I guess the usual drunken slap wasn't gonna cut it this time,

not after what I did.

What did you do?

I fucked her boyfriend.

You mean he assaulted you.

After my mom would pass out drunk,

he would take me to the car, or my closet, or wherever.

That mystery caller, that's him?

Scott.

You want to know something crazy?

I'm the one that reached out to him this time.

I don't know why I did that.

I think you do.

You're a fire starter.

That's your true nature.

You run into the burning building right before it collapses.

But you have to hide it behind all this respectability.

Robert's good little wife.

I bet he has no idea.

I did start to like it.

The danger.

Not knowing if we were gonna get caught.

And the attention. I never had that before.

And you wanted that.

I needed it.

Some crashes you can see coming.

There's time to brace for impact or veer off course.

But some crashes send you hurtling through space at such velocity

that there's nothing you can do to change your fate.

So, the judge agreed to put Marcus in a diversion program

if he commits to Gambler's Anonymous and then he does community service.

- So, which is... It's good news. - I think it's great, right?

Because he's gonna get the help that he needs.

He's not gonna have a permanent ding on his record.

- And that's so important. - I have to leave.

- I don't feel good. I'm gonna go home. - What's wrong? What's... Nancy?

- I'm just not well. - Nan?

- Are you... Yeah, yeah. - Should I? Yeah. I'll be right back.

Hey, Nancy.

- Nance! What is going on? - Sorry. I wanna...

I wanna be there for Mare, I just...

I just have too much going on right now.

What do you... With Robert?

I did something so stupid.

Stupid how?

I slept with someone.

Please don't tell Mary. I don't think she would understand.

Nancy, I...

Are you having an affair?

With who?

- It doesn't matter. It's no one you know. - Okay.

His name is David. It's not gonna happen again.

- Okay. - I have to go.

- Can you call me? - Okay.

Okay.

Hey, honey.

Where are you going?

I'm rushing to make a flight.

Why didn't I know about this?

I just found out about it myself.

It's a 911 emergency.

They need my help closing a deal before the restructuring gets finalized.

I'm meeting with the New York lawyers first thing tomorrow.

I feel like I'm losing my mind.

What? Why? You... There's nothing to worry about.

Of course I'm worried.

You have time to fly across the country at the drop of a hat,

but you don't have time to talk to me, or to set a time with the counselor?

I'll make time for everything when I get back on Monday.

Monday?

You're going for a week?

It's not like I want to leave.

- Then don't. - I have to.

Are you divorcing me?

Hey. Stop worrying. I love you.

We'll talk when I get back.

Hey.

Can we meet?

Yeah, that's good.

Hey.

Hey.

How was the trip?

Fine.

I was hoping we could sit down tonight and talk?

We're joining family dinner tonight.

I'm just gonna hop in the shower.

They said it was futile. She was too far gone. Time to let her go.

But your obstinate father wouldn't listen.

No price was too great to pay to bring her back to life.

This summer, we bid fair winds and following seas to Demeter's Wish.

The old gal is ready to cast off.

- Son. - Yes, sir?

- Our champagne glasses need refilling. - Right away.

I shouldn't have to ask.

Well, that's incredible news, Daddy.

It almost wasn't, thanks to Bobby's colossal fuck up.

Not here. Please.

Why not? That's why we're celebrating.

The SEC is off our backs thanks to Harlan's clever maneuvering.

Always happy to be of service.

We managed to survive a bloodbath by the skin of our teeth.

I think that's cause to celebrate.

Babe, what's he talking about? What fuck up?

I thought you were gonna tell her when you got home, Bobby?

I haven't had time.

No? Well, allow me.

Bobby convinced Daddy to sink 20% of our holdings

into acquiring a company that was nothing but a steaming pile of debt.

And the only way that we were able to avoid the nightmare of a lawsuit

was to have Bobby use his portion of the trust to pay off our investors.

Is that true?

Sometimes you just gotta rip off the Band-Aid, Bobby.

His name that he uses in his adult life is Robert.

Right, let's go.

Sweetheart.

I fucked up, Nance.

I really fucked up.

I'm a fuck up.

They're right about that.

Everything changes now.

All our expenses...

My father will control.

The house, the cars, your parties.

Everything goes through him.

Is that all that this is about? Money?

I know this isn't what you signed up for.

So I want you to know that if you decide to leave me, I understand.

Leave you? I thought you wanted to leave me.

Why would I ever wanna leave you?

You're the most important person in the world to me.

'Cause I read that email about separation of assets.

- I... - That was to protect you.

You're divorcing me to protect me?

It's needed to stash your settlement money

in an offshore account so my father couldn't get to it.

Oh, my God.

You deserve protection.

I don't want a divorce. I want you.

But the man who rescued you, I'm not that guy anymore.

Your money did not rescue me.

- You can't say that. - Yes, I can.

I can.

I've been living without your love for three months now

and I'm... a total mess.

I don't care about it. Your dad can take it.

I just want you.

I'm so sorry.

I really let the drinking get out of hand.

I fucked that up too, huh?

Then I look at you, how strong you are.

- No. - Yeah.

Don't.

I'm never gonna let you go.

You haven't answered my calls in days.

You can toss the burner phone. We both need to move on.

Two weeks ago, you and I were fucking in the back seat of your Range Rover.

The day before that, we fucked in the dressing room.

And the day before that, it was wherever you told me to be.

It was a mistake. I was in a bad place in my marriage.

- It never should have happened. - I deserve more consideration than this.

- I risked everything for you. - I never asked you to.

No, you just seduced me and then treated me like one of your house servants

- that serves at the ring of a bell. - Okay. If you need to blame me

to make yourself feel better, that's fine, but we need to move on.

You don't get to decide that.

Let go of my arm, or I promise this won't end well for you.

Maybe I owe it to Robert to tell him about us.

He's a good man.

He deserves to know who he married.

You really think he would believe I'd sleep with you?

No one ever would.

I'm so happy that you didn't hate it.

- That I what? - That you didn't hate it.

I loved it. I loved everything about it.

The dancing and the clothes.

Costumes.

The costumes, yeah. That was beautiful.

This was my chance to course correct and avoid catastrophe.

I had to tell Robert the truth. All of it.

And believe that he would still love me.

Hey.

Your phone...

Honey. Honey, I have to tell you something.

Who sent this to you?

I don't know. I...

I don't... know. I...

You're lying.

Who is he?

No one. He was a mistake.

A mistake that you fucked in the back seat of your car?

Please, please, can we just talk about it?

This whole time I've been torturing myself with guilt.

- I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. - This whole fucking time.

I can't believe this. I can't believe this.

- How could you? - Let's... Don't...

- Stop! Stop! - You fucking did this!

Hey! Get back here!