Original subtitles

Some argue it tells the story

of frustrated desire.

Others believe in its romance.

A lover's passionate embrace.

So which is it?

Perhaps we should ask the painter himself?

Magritte, from its inception, always insisted there was no story.

He told critics,

"It does not mean anything."

But what of Magritte himself?

His mother drowned herself when he was just 14.

She was plucked from the river as he watched,

her white, wet nightgown

hooked across her face.

But of course...

this painting...

"doesn't mean anything." [Door opens]

Which brings us to a wider discussion of meaning,

and who decides the narrative.

HANNAH: Do you think they know they're a total cliche?

Preppie love birds.

He's probably reading her Baudelaire.

From a book too.

Jesus.

You're failing my class, Hannah.

I'm hungover. I'm on my period. I don't need a pep talk right now.

How's your mom doing?

The new round of meds are helping.

[sighs] And what is this, old school irony?

Maybe I just...

like old things.

Now who's the cliche?

[Chuckles]

[Knock on door]

[Whispers] Get out of here.

[Coughs] Go!

Oh! Catch!

Oh!

Jesus.

[Sighs]

Professor Gaskell.

[Hannah coughs] Walter.

How can I help?

Carl's mother died.

I'm sorry to hear that.

He's taken compassionate leave,

so he won't be speaking at the trustee conference on Tuesday,

and the board has asked for you.

Uh, of course, yeah.

I'll prepare a summary presentation for review.

[Door opens]

[Door closes]

[Birds chirping]

David Maddox?

Hi.

Hello.

I'm Alison Jones.

Hi. Hi.

I'm sorry. I'm having a hard time placing you.

Have we met before? No.

No, but, um...

I have some important information I'd like to share with you.

What kind of information?

Okay, um...

Well, it's my test results.

Uh, our test results.

I made my profile private. You shouldn't have this.

I know.

Uh, I did something I'm not proud of and I'm sorry. But...

I had to know.

How did you get this information?

Illegally.

It was wrong, but... David, I took the test two years ago

and every day since, I've woken up wondering, whoever my match was...

why did he take the test if he never wanted to meet me?

I'm married.

I guessed as much.

I am too, by the way.

And, yes, I love my husband

very much, but...

One day I woke up and everything felt...

Different. Do you know what I mean?

I'm sorry.

Yeah. [Exhales]

Honestly, I don't even know what I was hoping for.

You know what? Um, I'm in town for a couple of days with work.

Um...

Maybe...

we can grab a coffee?

Maybe we're supposed to be...

friends. [Tears paper]

Here's me.

Right. That's that. [Exhales]

[Footsteps receding]

[Operatic

[Operatic music

SARAH: You will say something, won't you?

He hates me. He doesn't hate you.

He just doesn't think you're...

good enough for me.

Hmm. He's got that right. Ah!

You look beautiful. Thank you.

So...

will you say something?

David?

JORDAN: Okay, everyone. [Glass clinking]

Settle down.

Let's get this over with.

Toast to the birthday boy.

Everyone's favorite grouch.

The man of a thousand words,

all published. [Guests chuckling]

But, uh,

only a few choice ones spoken.

To my father

and inspiration.

Walter P. Gaskell.

Cheers.

DAVID: Cheers.

[Indistinct chatter]

SARAH: David, go on.

[Glass clinking] Just one more. Um...

To a wonderful man,

a loving father

and a cruel and punishing boss.

[Piano music playing]

[Indistinct chatter]

Walter.

It must be nice having your whole family here together.

[Liquid pouring]

I'm retiring at the end of the semester.

Hmm.

But as my final act, I'm going to recommend you to the board for tenure.

[Chuckling] Oh, I don't know what to say.

Thank you. People are going to think that I'm only doing it

because you're married to my daughter...

and I want you to know that is exactly the reason.

What's wrong?

Walter's retiring.

He told you that? [Chuckles]

When? Tonight.

He's endorsing my application for tenure.

[Gasps]

Oh, my God. David.

That's amazing.

That's the mountain top.

Okay, so, why aren't we drunkenly

pouring champagne all over ourselves in the bath?

He thinks I'm only with you...

for your money...

and his connections.

He said that? Inferred.

Well, that's fine with me,

because I'm only with you for your body.

You know I love you. Don't you?

Shh...

Whoo! Shut up, old man.

[Sighs] Oh, I'm so proud of you.

STUDENT 1: I do not accept that when Kahlo looks at herself

it's in any sense vain or self-absorbed.

STUDENT 2: But why did she paint herself so much then?

Fifty-five paintings. A third of her output. That's a lot of selfies.

[Students laugh]

STUDENT 1: Look, don't undermine her art like that.

Her self-portraits are a way to express the physical pain of her accidents,

the emotional pain of Diego's affairs,

her suicide attempts.

I'm on the road, usually two weeks every month.

I could fly, but, um, I just...

I don't have the conscience for it.

[Jazz music playing on speakers]

Plus, I think truck stop coffees are underrated.

I love my wife.

And I love my husband.

Then why'd you come looking for me?

I don't know.

You don't know?

You had my account hacked.

That's a federal crime. You could go to jail for 20 years.

You don't think I already know that?

I've never broken the law before.

See, I thought that

if I came here and I saw you, that it would,

I don't know, be enough.

But it just made the feeling even worse.

[Indistinct chatter]

I'm sorry, Alison. Really.

I took the test a long time ago,

I'm a very different person now.

[Exhales]

I haven't told my husband.

He thinks this is just another work thing.

Have you told your wife I came to see you?

Maybe you're right.

Maybe we're meant to be friends.

We could exchange numbers.

Talk in... a month, maybe.

Yeah.

Yeah, I like that. That sounds...

grown-up and practical. [Chuckles]

Um... [Clears throat]

[Phone chimes] Oh!

I guess we now officially exist in each other's world.

Then let me officially buy the coffees.

Thank you. [Chuckles]

Well, it was nice meeting you... I think.

I'm still trying to decide.

I'm glad you made contact.

Are you sure?

No. [Chuckles]

[Stammers] Do we hug or...

I don't know.

Sure.

I'm so sorry.

I shouldn't...

[Door closes]

[Door opens]

[Chuckling] Barolo on a school night?

Yeah. It's been a strange day. [Faucet running]

Well, I hope you don't want to talk about it, because I need to drink water. Pee. Sleep.

You coming? After this.

[Classical mus [Indistinct chatter]

Beautiful,

Beautiful, isn't

Beautiful, isn't it?

Hey, how are you? Thank you so much for coming.

Hey, Julia. JULIA: Hi, Sarah.

Hi, how is it going?

Ooh! I am

two more "no thank yous" away from shedding these heels and popping a Valium.

[Groans] Are you okay? Mmm-hmm.

Oh, my God. There's Francis. Come with me.

Francis?

Sarah. SARAH: Darling. You made it.

Oh.

I love you. Thank you so much for coming. Hey, Laura, how's it going?

Um, so, before you tell me you love

what you're seeing, I would love to introduce you to my husband, David Maddox.

He's an arts professor here at Amherst.

David? Francis.

Francis, what a pleasure. Thank you so much for coming.

It's so good to see you. So good to see you.

Both of you. Both of you. And this is Laura, his wife.

[Vibrates]

ALISON: Hey. Hey.

Will you meet me?

Yeah. Tomorrow?

Yeah.

[Line disconnects]

Hey.

Hey.

Oh, uh...

I brought alcohol.

[Both chuckle]

[Sighs]

[Birds chirping]

I love my wife.

You keep telling me.

It's why I blocked the test.

Seemed unnecessary.

What we have works.

Why did you take the test?

College is a great place to meet people,

if you're a student.

Hmm.

The world of academia was not leaving me a lot of room to meet women my own age.

I'd been so focused on my career...

that I realized I was about to hit 40

and I couldn't honestly say that I had ever really

been in love.

Never?

So I took the test.

And then I waited.

And then I met Sarah.

We fell in love.

And I made a choice.

[Sighs] I only ever truly

loved one person.

And it wasn't him.

Who was it?

It was a long time ago.

We did...

everything together.

But then she went to college

and fell for her professor and...

Well, you know the rest.

She?

And her professor, huh?

So when I found out what you did, I thought... [Scoffs]

The universe really loves irony.

You know, that moment I saw you in that parking lot,

I just knew there was no going back.

Everything I felt for her just came rushing back.

When I first saw you, I had the strongest feeling that I knew you.

You do know me.

[Phone line ringing]

SARAH: What's up?

DAVID: Yeah, um,

this seminar thing, they wanna take me out for dinner after.

I think it's going to run late. SARAH: How late?

DAVID: I don't know.

I think I might stay over.

SARAH: You okay? DAVID: Yeah. I'm just tired.

Maybe a little distracted, I guess.

SARAH: Okay. Love you.

DAVID: Love you too. Bye.

Alison?

[On voicemail] Hi. This is Alison Jones. I can't take your call right now.

But if you leave me your name and number,

I'll call you right back.

[Phone beeps]

DAVID: Gentileschi emphasizes

the physicality of the beheadment,

perhaps drawing on her own experiences of the power of men.

Judith's young maidservant helps pin Holofernes down,

an unusual detail.

Possible moment of sisterhood.

Now, if you compare this interpretation with Caravaggio's vision...

[Students laugh]

Okay...

It's very, very, very funny.

And when I find out

who put that in there...

we're gonna have a long talk about lighting and composition.

As I was saying...

[Inaudible]

[Cell phone vibrating]

Alison. ALISON: Hey, you.

What happened? Where did you go?

I'm sorry. I didn't want to wake you. You looked so innocent just laying there.

Yeah, I tried to call you. I'm passing back

through tonight. I really wanna see you.

Tonight? I don't know if I can...

I know what we did was wrong,

but I can't stop thinking about you. Please?

Okay. Yeah. Same hotel?

I'll leave a key at reception for you.

Okay. Bye.

TV on. [TV switches on]

[Sportscaster speaking indistinctly on TV]

[Door closes]

[TV continues playing]

What the hell is going on? Hannah, what are you doing here?

Are you joking right now? What the hell are you doing here?

[Stammering] We've been...

I sent you a... I sent you pictures.

No. No, no. What pictures? What are you talking about?

You sent me pictures.

What pictures are you talking about? I didn't send you pictures.

Yes, you did. You sent...

No, Hannah, what pictures? What are you talking about?

[Sobs] What's happening, please? Please.

Hannah. Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Hannah Stop! Stop! Wait! Hannah!

Hannah! Get off me!

[Phone line ringing]

[On voicemail] Hi, this is Alison Jones. If you leave me your name and number,

I'll call you right back. [Phone beeps]

Where are you?

You need to call me...

and tell me what the hell is going on!

End call.

[Suspenseful music playing]

[Door opens]

WOMAN: So I dipped down into my bag, I am looking for my camera

and all of a sudden this monkey grabs my glasses... [Sarah laughing]

and I'm screaming, "David, get the monkey!" in the middle of Jemaa el-Fna.

There you are.

David, uh, meet Alison.

David.

Hi. SARAH: I came to her rescue.

Mmm. You know, I swear there's something wrong with the battery.

David, I hate cars.

SARAH: I, uh, I got back and found her stuck in the middle of the street.

It was total "damsel in distress" stuff.

She was my knight in shining armor.

Uh, so, um, Alison is actually thinking of moving here.

[Sighs] She has a secret.

She's taken the test.

And her match lives here.

Somewhere. But she won't reveal who it is. Hmm.

Well, he's married.

Yeah, for now. Oh, it's all very salacious.

Oh, I really should be going. I'm supposed to be meeting him.

[Chuckles]

I'm gonna be late.

Uh, let me give you Harry Carmichael's details. Oh.

He is a great realtor. Just get my phone.

Oh. And, uh, David is a lecturer at the college here.

ALISON: Hmm.

What are you doing?

You know, I couldn't help myself.

I wanted to see what your life was like.

It's nice.

And you're right. Your wife is a real sweetheart.

I don't know what kind of sick game you are playing,

but it is going to stop now.

Careful, David. You squeeze any tighter and you'll leave a mark.

[Footsteps approaching]

SARAH: Oh, got it.

Here you go. [Phone chimes]

Great. Now we officially exist in each other's worlds.

It was lovely meeting you, Sarah. You have a beautiful home.

Thank you. Goodbye, David.

SARAH: Let me show you out.

[Suspenseful music playing]

And, boy, I want updates.

DAVID:

DAVID: How

DAVID: How many

DAVID: How many times

DAVID: How many times have

DAVID: How many times have you

DAVID: How many times have you checked?

I can tell you right now that what you have made is not secure. cked?

Then let me talk to somebody else.

Someone has hacked into your system and pulled my information.

So check again.

She had my personal information. Look, a crime has been...

You okay? DAVID: Troubled student.

[Mouths] Coffee? Please.

Yes, I'm still here.

I'd like to file an official complaint.

[Indistinct chatter]

I need to speak to Hannah.

She don't wanna talk to you. Hannah?

Hey. You better step back!

I need to talk to you. Please. She doesn't want to talk to you.

You creep!

[Indistinct chatter]

[Cell phone vibrating]

ALISON: That poor girl. She was really into you.

It wasn't hard to convince her you wanted her too.

But it won't just be your word against hers.

She's got pictures of your dick on her phone.

Who are you? I'm your soulmate, David.

I will go to the police.

And tell them what exactly?

You hacked into my Connex account. Forged documents.

Who did? Alison Jones?

What do you want? Money?

No, David. What I want...

is for you to be alone.

To be alone and wondering why someone would do this to you.

How much do you want? I don't want your money, David.

I want you to go home now. And I want you to tell your wife about us.

Come on! I want you to tell her

how you convinced yourself it was true love just so you could screw me.

I want her to see who you really are.

I thought this was real.

I fell for you.

You tell her, and I'll delete all the texts and the pictures.

I'll wipe away all the dirt. Then you can keep your tenure.

How do I know you'll do that? You don't.

You only know that I'm willing to ruin you if you don't.

I'm giving you until tomorrow morning to tell your wife.

Why are you doing this?

For love, of course.

Good luck, David.

Let's hope she can forgive you.

I'll be watching.

[Suspenseful music playing]

This morning, every member of this board

received an email

about you, David.

You do realize...

that my endorsing your tenure application has put my reputation on the line.

And it is very much appreciated, believe me.

Believe you?

When were you going to tell me about the allegations you faced during your time at Berkeley?

Sexual assault of a student.

God damn it, David.

That is exactly what it was.

Allegations. Totally unfounded.

I have endorsed you more than academically.

I've vouched for your integrity, your probity...

that you are a fit and proper person to be entrusted with student welfare.

And until today, this board,

every one of them have trusted my judgment.

But you...

didn't think it was worth mentioning.

It was 15 years ago. Doesn't matter when it happened.

Only that it happened. It didn't happen.

I was the victim.

Chloe Lamb was a student of mine. She was delusional.

She had a history of mental illness. But I tried to help her.

She became obsessed with me.

But nothing happened.

This was dealt with internally.

The board are going to be meeting here this afternoon to reassess your application.

It'll be handled correctly.

David, you're gonna tell me right now.

Is there anything else I need to know?

No.

[Door closes]

AUTOMATED

AUTOMATED VOICE:

AUTOMATED VOICE: This

AUTOMATED VOICE: This is

AUTOMATED VOICE: This is David

AUTOMATED VOICE: This is David Maddox.

AUTOMATED VOICE: This is David Maddox. Please

AUTOMATED VOICE: This is David Maddox. Please leave

AUTOMATED VOICE: This is David Maddox. Please leave me

AUTOMATED VOICE: This is David Maddox. Please leave me a

AUTOMATED VOICE: This is David Maddox. Please leave me a message.

AUTOMATED VO[Beeps] This is David Maddox. PlWALTER: David, it's Walter.

I wanted to make you aware that the board is still undecided

how best to proceed with your application.

I know you deny the allegation, but...

Well, the fact that Chloe Lamb...

Well, what she did after...

It makes it very difficult for some members to reconcile.

And it makes it difficult for me, too.

We'll have a final decision in a day or two.

[Suspenseful music playing] [Beeps]

I only ever truly loved one person.

We did everything together.

And then she went to college and fell for her professor.

[Dramatic music playing]

You do know me.

What I want...

is for you to be alone.

To be alone and wondering why someone would do this to you.

You sent me pictures. What pictures?

Stop. Wait! HANNAH: Get off me!

DAVID: Why are you doing this?

ALISON: For love, of course.

[Dog barking in distance]

[Keypad beeping]

[Shudders]

[David grunts] [Alison whimpers]

[Alison breathing heavily]

If you didn't want to be found, maybe you should have paid for the room in cash.

Jodie.

Where is it?

[Objects clattering]

The phone?

Where is it? Where is it? Where is the phone?

Where's the phone?

You cloned my phone.

Unlock it. Unlock it.

Unlock it now!

Unlock it!

[Alison whimpers]

[David grunts]

[Whispers] I could scream.

No one would come.

Unlock it.

[Phone chimes]

[Breathing heavily]

JODIE: I did her a favor. Now she's safe.

You weren't going to delete any of these.

What were you going to do?

Tell me.

Convince Hannah Green to make an official complaint.

Release the pictures to the board members.

Why?

I wanna destroy your life the way you destroyed my sister's.

You knew she was vulnerable,

and you told her everything she needed to hear so you could sleep with her.

It didn't happen like that.

It happened exactly like that.

And when she became a problem,

you made up lies about her,

and had her kicked out of college just to protect your career.

I had to break down the door...

I loved her. Don't you dare.

I loved her. And when we broke up... Don't! No.

She went crazy. I was trying to help her. No, no.

What was I supposed to do? No, no, no!

She's dead because of you, David.

My sister wasn't suicidal until she met you.

You hacked into an encrypted company database and stole information.

I could go to the police.

And you'd go to jail for a long time.

You go to the police and your wife will know what you did.

She'll know about us, too.

How does tenure work in that scenario?

If I'm really the monster you think I am,

you better let this go right now.

Because I won't just...

go after you...

I looked you up, Jodie.

I did my research.

I'll go after your wife, Beth.

And your little boy.

That's right.

I know who you are.

And you're not taking anything from me.

[Breathing heavily]

[Sobs]

DAVID: The Lovers

by Magritte.

Some argue it tells the story of frustrated desire.

Others believe in its romance.

A lover's passionate embrace.

So which is it?

Hmm?

Perhaps we should ask the painter himself?

Magritte... [All cheering]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

But please, do not mess with my presentation.

If you would like to congratulate me, a simple cash gift will suffice.

[Students chuckle] All right. Now. Where were we?

Magritte always insisted that The Lovers had no story. But what of Magritte himself?

What about his story?

DAVID: Unlock it.

Unlock it now! No.

Stop presentation. [Grunting on screen]

This is some... [Both grunting]

[Stammering]

Class dismissed. Everyone get out of here.

Class is dismissed. Everyone go home. This is a joke.

This is a rude joke.

No one would come.

[Jodie whimpering on screen]

Please. Uh, class dismissed, everyone. Please go.

Get out of here! Get out of here!

[Cell phone ringing]

[Students murmuring]

SARAH: David.

David!

David!

[Exclaims]

[Breathing heavily]

SARAH: David? What did you do?

You look like a monster!

[Sarah continues indistinctly]