12x06 - Opening Night

[bunniefuu]

[SCREAMING]

♪ Rock-a-bye, baby on the treetop ♪

♪ When the wind blows
the cradle will rock ♪

[BABY CRYING CONTINUES]

♪ When the bough breaks
the cradle will fall ♪

[BABY STOPS CRYING]

♪ And down will come baby ♪

♪ Cradle and all ♪

That is a pretty f*cked-up song.

What?

I said it's a pretty f*cked-up song.

Well, she likes it.

"Down will come baby, cradle and
all?" That's pretty f*cked-up.

[BABY CRYING]

Would you like to sing to her?

[BABY CRYING INTENSIFIES]

♪ Rock-a-bye and good night ♪

Is she down?

Mm-hmm.

[MOANS]

When was the last time you showered?

Do I smell?

Kind of.

[SNIFFS]

[SIGHS]

Is this how you thought it was gonna be?

What?

Being a dad.

I kinda don't really feel like one yet.

She's, like, barely a baby. She's
kind of like a potato with eyes.

[WIFE CHUCKLES]

Is it how you thought it was gonna be?

It's a whole...

different landscape.

I think I need to go to the doctor.

[YAWNS] We just took her in.

No. I mean for me.

I have this pain in my leg like a...

like a charley horse that won't go away.

You're okay.

[GRUNTS, SIGHS]

[GROANS]

[INHALES SHARPLY]

[GASPS]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

Stop moving.

[WIFE GASPING, CHOKING]

[GRUNTS, WHIMPERS]

Stop moving, Mar. You're doing
that twitching thing again.

[MAR COUGHING]

[HUSBAND] Okay. You're okay.

You're okay.

[MAR COUGHING]

[COUGHING STOPS]

[WHISPERS] Hey, Mar?

Mar?

Mar?

- Mar. Mar.
- [BABY CRYING]

[WHIMPERS] Hey, Mar. Hey!

Margaret!

[BABY CRYING CONTINUES]

[MONITOR EMITS RHYTHMIC BEEPING]

Sir, no, please.

[BABY CRYING CONTINUES]

[MONITOR EMITS STEADY BEEP]

[BABY CRYING CONTINUES]

[SWITCH CLICKS, BEEP STOPS]

[BABY CRYING CONTINUES]

[DOCTOR] I'm very sorry, Mr. Alcott.

Your wife suffered a pulmonary embolism.

It's relatively rare, but
complications such as this

do arise after some women give birth.

Nobody told us that.

[DOCTOR] I'm so sorry, Mr. Alcott.

Would you like me to get the chaplain?

[BABY CRYING CONTINUES]

Okay.

[SHUSHES]

[SHUSHES]

Hi. Good morning, Anna.

[SHUSHES]

It's okay. Okay. Okay. Okay.

Okay.

Okay. Okay.

[WHIMPERS]

[NURSE] May I?

♪ Rock-a-bye ♪

[NURSE] ♪ Rock-a-bye,
baby on the treetop ♪

[CRYING SUBSIDES]

♪ When the wind blows
the cradle will rock ♪

That was my wife's favorite lullaby.

Really?

♪ When the bough breaks
the cradle will fall ♪

[CRYING STOPS]

♪ And down will come
Anna cradle and all ♪

[NICOLETTE GIGGLES]

[GASPS]

[MOANS]

What's wrong?

[GASPS]

I'm so sorry, honey.

[PHONE BUZZING]

N-No. Don't.

Why?

[SIGHS]

I just have this weird feeling
that Siobhan might've...

- Honey.
- [PHONE BUZZING CONTINUES]

[PHONE ANSWER TONE]

Hey. I just saw the news.

I know. It's so tragic.

Where's Anna?

Hey.

What happened?

She was giving her limo driver fellatio
when he drove into a tree.

- Just awful.
- [SIGHS]

[ASHLEY] And I hope this
doesn't sound inconsiderate,

but you're back in the number one slot

on Gold Derby's Best
Actress Oscar nom poll.

[ASHLEIGH] The timing
is terrible, but congrats.

Babette can still be nominated.
I mean, even if she is...

- Decapitated?
- [ASHLEY] Dead?

Yeah, but she won't win. Too sad.

I'm sorry. Ashley and Ashleigh,

what are you guys doing on this call?

I mean, I thought we solved my crisis.

Girl, you're in perpetual crisis.

The viral reel kind of helped, but...

- That was last month.
- Yeah.

[SIGHS]

Okay. So what's the plan?

We got you the headline speaker
slot at Babette's funeral.

Wait... [SCOFFS] ...
I... I barely knew her.

[SIOBHAN] That's why it's such a coup.

[ASHLEY] It's at the
Screen Actors Guild building

in Hollywood next week,

and literally everyone's gonna be there.

I'm under doctor's orders not to fly.

[SCOFFS]

I'll be there.

I'm surprised.

About what?

How well you look.

I thought you might stagger
off the plane and look,

you know, like death warmed over.

[ANNA CHUCKLES]

It is so weird.

Like, halfway through the flight,
I started to feel normal.

It was empowering,
getting on that plane.

Like I didn't listen to the men,
you know? My husband, my doctor.

Yeah. I listened to me.

You mean me?

That too.

But anyway, the rib
pressure just went away.

Maybe it was just gas this entire time.

Always get a second opinion.

[SIGHS]

- I'm nervous.
- Don't be.

I wrote you a very moving speech

to reflect the news of the day,

which you haven't even mentioned.

What's the news of the day?

I was nominated for a SAG award?

Honey, yes. Not surprising.

But what is surprising
is who wasn't nominated.

[SIGHS] Such a tragedy
about that Babette.

She was so young.

Life is unfair and unpredictable.

How else to explain the ways
the winds of fate blow?

I mean, how is it possible
that my friend, Babette Eno,

wins a Golden Globe Award

and then dies later that evening
in a freak accident?

[INHALES]

How is it possible that after
her win and tragic death

that she was overlooked this year

for a SAG nomination and I wasn't?

I don't feel I deserve it.

But I will show up and
dedicate the work,

the honor of the nomination, to Babette.

[SIGHS] She was not just my
competition, she was my friend.

[WHISPERS] She has my vote for SAG.

[WHISPERS] And mine
for the f*cking Oscar.

[CAT MEOWS]

[CHEWING]

[CAT MEOWS]

[CAT MEOWS]

[CAT MEOWS]

[CAT YOWLS, HISSES]

[GRUNTS]

[GRUNTS]

[GASPS]

[DEXTER] Terrible shame.

- It's awful.
- Oof.

The things I would
have done to that face.

[CHUCKLES] Dad.

Spit it out, Son.

I know you didn't ask to meet me
all the way in Sag Harbor

to make some memories.

[LAUGHS]

I'm just teasing you.

Madison and I just bought
a place in, uh, Water Mill.

You sold the place in Wainscott?

We have 'em both now.

What can I say? Madison fell in love
with the Water Mill cottage.

I had to buy it for her.

Women.

[CHUCKLES]

So,

let me guess.

This is about your batshit crazy mother.

- Dad.
- I know.

We're not supposed to say things
like that about women anymore.

People with uteruses.

But if a man can't call
Virginia Harding crazy,

you might as well not call
America the land of the free.

- Well...
- Look me in the eye

and tell me you don't think
your mother's batshit.

[SIGHS]

Don't worry about it, Son.
It's all gonna go away.

This is what your mother's always done.

Try to entangle herself
with me any way she can.

It's sad.

But I'm used to it.

And you should get used to it too.

The things she's accusing you of...

You gotta hand it to her, in a way.

Too bad she had to put her
life on hold to raise you.

She could have been
a great fiction writer.

What should I say to her?

About testifying? Say no.

What does your wife say about all this?

I haven't told her about it.

Well, it must not be weighing
too heavily on you after all.

No... [STAMMERS] ...
This... It's not that.

- Anna's...
- Anna's Anna.

What does that mean?

She's an actress, Son.

They're all the same.

Too bad what happened
to your first wife.

She was a keeper.

You know, if you two want your own place

out here with the baby,

Madison and I'd be happy to help out.

Who knows? Maybe
Madison will get pregnant,

and your kid can have a cousin.

What about that?

[KNOCKING]

- [DOOR OPENS]
- [MOANS]

[NICOLETTE] Ms. Alcott?

[GRUNTS]

I'm so sorry to bother you, but, uh...

I wanted to show you something.

What is it?

[NICOLETTE] This showed
up on my doorstep.

Scared the sh*t out of me.

[CHUCKLES] I thought I was going crazy

when I saw your face and her face,

but then I googled your name
and the word "doll".

[CHUCKLES] And it turns out...

I missed out on having
my own Summer Day doll.

Back in 2010.

[CHUCKLES]

They were discontinued a long time ago.

Who... Do you think someone is...

I don't know, um, like,

trying to give you some
sort of message or s...

[CAT MEOWS]

Oh... [LAUGHS]

... what are you doing here?

He's a stray.

- He's been coming here for years.
- [PURRING]

I named him Felix.

You hungry, boy?

Nicolette, where do you live again?

Rocky Point. About an hour west.

What's wrong, Ms. Alcott?

[SIGHS] I'd just like some
privacy right now, please.

Of course.

[SIGHS]

[SIOBHAN] Oh, my God. Andy's so funny.

[ANNA] ... discontinued.

[CAT MEOWS]

[NICOLETTE] Scared the sh*t out of me.

[NICOLETTE] Ms. Alcott?

I heated up the pool for you.

Thought you might wanna
relax and take a dip...

I'm coming up!

Oh, you know, when I was pregnant,

all I ever wanted to do was float.

[CHUCKLES]

If only I had my own pool.

And here you have it,
and you don't even use it.

I'm not much of a swimmer.

Well, I bet your little guy loves

when Mommy takes him into the water.

Don't you, buddy? [CHUCKLES]

How do you know it was a boy?

From how you're carrying. I just know.

All of the women in my family have

a sixth sense about this kind of thing.

[CHUCKLES]

Would you like me to help you undress?

No, thank you.

Okay, good. Well, your bathing suit

is over there and fresh towels too.

And do let me know
if you need anything else.

Hmm. [CHUCKLES]

[GASPS]

[GASPING, INHALES SHARPLY]

[WHISPERING VOICE] Anna. [LAUGHING]

[BLEATING]

[NICOLETTE] Are you
all right, Ms. Alcott?

Leave me alone!

[PANTING] Dex! Dex!

Sorry, baby, I was doing
a guided meditation.

[PANTING] I need to tell you something.

Are you okay?

Come here, come here.

I'm sorry.

I've been acting crazy and
treating you like sh*t. And...

- Stop it.
- No, I...

- I am sorry.
- [SIGHS]

The way I spoke to you the
night of the Globes was awful.

I never wanna treat you that way.

[SIGHS]

[SNIFFLES]

We'll get through whatever this is.

- Together.
- I know.

[CHUCKLES]

[SIGHS]

[GROANS]

When they said having a kid
changes your marriage...

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Hey, it's getting worse, babe...

No, no, no. Don't touch it, please.

You know, you don't need
to go to the opening tonight,

if you're not up for it.

It's tonight?

[SIGHS]

Anna.

No, I-I knew that. I'm sorry. [CHUCKLES]

Of course I'll be there.

- Great.
- [CHUCKLES]

Well, Sonia's picking me up
in about half an hour to prep.

- You okay to meet us there?
- Mm-hmm.

[INHALES DEEPLY]

Hey, Kamal. We...

- Ms. Alcott?
- [GASPS]

[SIGHS]

Kamal,

you told me Talia doesn't
have security cameras

installed in the basement, right?

No, Ms. Alcott. She didn't
want any cameras there.

Wait, she explicitly asked

for there to be no cameras
in the basement?

That's right.

- Do you know why?
- No, ma'am.

Well, did you ask her?

It is my job to execute orders,

Ms. Alcott, not to understand them.

We're gonna be late for the opening.

What the hell is wrong with you?

Are you breaking up with me?

[CHUCKLES] Yes.

'Kay.

Where you going?

The Hamptons.

[SCOFFS]

Is this supposed to be
dramatically compelling?

The Auteur is the greatest
masterpiece that I will ever make.

And knowing that I never wrote it,

but telling the world that I did.

Knowing my success is a lie.

Just like every other
mediocre white man.

I can't live with myself.

Say goodbye to The Auteur.

Wait, I'm confused.

You literally have that saved
on your hard drive.

It's symbolic.

I'm going to the press.

I'm telling them everything
about both of us.

I need to do the right thing.

Honey, in show business,
no one does the right thing.

Anna, darling. You look incredible. Hmm.

- Give us a kiss.
- Oh. [CHUCKLES]

Hi.

Sonia's paintings are selling like

fentanyl in an inner-city high school.

Everyone wants one.

Your husband's got a very good eye.

Ah! Beautiful.

Hi.

[SIGHS]

Why did you ask Kamal not to install

security cameras in the basement?

Sorry?

- Why did you...
- Oh, it's just the basement, darling.

Hmm.

I doubt your little stalker
will crawl through there.

We have to leave some
room for reality, don't we?

Theo, why don't you get
Anna a glass of sparkling?

I'm fine.

Oh, I'd like a moment alone with you.

Listen, dear.

I know you've been going through it,
and I actually get it.

You don't.

Well, I gave you my house.
I gave your husband his business.

- [SCOFFS]
- I'm not sure what else you want from me.

I saw a weird moving red
light in your basement.

The same one I saw
in our apartment in Brooklyn

that you had Kamal put in.

But then when I went back
to your basement, it was gone.

I don't know why,

but you've been watching me.

And you're trying to cover it up.

Darling, all due respect, you're
just not that interesting to me.

- I don't dislike you at all...
- No. [CHUCKLES]

... but you could stand
to show a bit more grace.

Especially if you want to be the star
you seem to think you are.

Adeline, at least, was aware of
the shoulders she stood on.

You seem to think you're
doing it all by yourself.

- Why don't you just say it?
- Say what, my dear?

That you've resented me ever
since Dex and I started dating

simply because I am not her.

Sweetheart, I'm the reason you and Dex

got together in the first place at all.

I'm the one who told him
he should give you a chance

after seeing your sad profile
on whatever that app is called.

I'm sorry.

- You obviously don't like me.
- No, I never said that.

And I am grateful for your generosity.

[SCOFFS] That's wonderful to hear.

But I know you're lying to me.

[THEO] One sparkling on the house.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

[DOOR SHUTS]

What the f*ck is this thing?

[SUPERFAN] I love your shoes.

Oh, my God. You're Anna Victoria Alcott.

Get-Get the f*ck away from me.

I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I just...

I love you.

Oh, I'm sorry my hands are so slippery.

- I wish I could say it's water...
- [GRUNTS]

... but it's sweat.

- You got a little...
- Don't touch me!

- [GROANING]
- Get off of me. Get away from me!

- Get the f*ck off of me! [GRUNTS]
- [GRUNTS]

[BREATHING SHAKILY]

[GASPS]

You're not very nice,
are you, Ms. Alcott?

Or smart.

You really thought you pushed
me hard enough to k*ll me?

[GASPS]

You stupid bitch!

- [KNOCKING]
- [HANDLE RATTLES]

[PERSON] Ms. Alcott, are you in there?

[ANNA] Don't come in please.

I'm-I'm so sorry...

- [GASPING]
- ... your husband told me to get you.

He's about to make a toast.

[ANNA BREATHING SHAKILY]

[SHOE CLANGING]

[ANNA PANTING, GASPING]

You're...

Sorry, have we met? I'm Ivy.

Yeah, I know who you are.

I'm such a huge fan of your work.

What did you do to my baby?

Sorry, what?

When you pretended to be the nurse.

- Oh, I'm not a nurse...
- Yeah, I know that.

I'd be a terrible nurse.
I failed biology three times.

I'm just an intern here at the gallery.

I know you're f*cking lying.

- I'm so sorry. Are you all right?
- [HANDLE RATTLING]

Don't touch me.

Anna.

Oh, my God. What's going on in there?

Just tell me the truth!

Anna?

- Ms. Alcott?
- [CHUCKLING]

Hi.

[CHUCKLES] It's...

Stay away from my family.

[SONIA] Anna.

[SIGHS]

[CHUCKLES]

[SIGHS]

I'm so thrilled you came.

[ANNA] Mmm.

What happened?

You're so red.

Uh. Um.

- And here?
- I...

And here.

[SIGHS]

[KISSING]

[KISSES]

[KISSES]

All better.

I have a surprise for you.

I want to gift this to you.

♪ ... bye, baby on the treetop ♪

- ♪ When the winds blows ♪
- [BABY CRYING]

♪ The cradle will rock ♪

[CLINKING]

Sorry to interrupt the festivities.

I just wanna take a moment
to thank you all for being here.

It is very moving to me,

and my incredible partner
in Harding Galleries, Talia Thompson,

to see the incredible response

to Sonia Shawcross's
work in the Hamptons.

[ALL CHEERING]

I wanna thank Sonia for
making tonight possible.

I also wanna thank my beautiful mother,

who should be here tonight,
but I don't see her.

I guess she blew me off.

And lastly,

I need to thank my beautiful wife, Anna.

[CLAPPING]

[CLAPPING CONTINUES]

[VOICES WHISPERING, MURMURING]

Anna.

[VOICE LAUGHING]

Anna.

[LAUGHING CONTINUES]

Anna.

Anna.

[VOICES CHANTING]

Salve, o puer. Ave Satanas.

Vivant liberi domini nostri.

Salve, o puer. Ave Satanas.

Vivant liberi domini nostri.

Salve, o puer. Ave Satanas.

Vivant liberi domini nostri.

Salve, o puer. Ave Satanas.

Vivant liberi domini nostri.

Salve, o puer. Ave Satanas.

Vivant liberi domini nostri.

Salve, o puer. Ave Satanas.

Vivant liberi domini nostri.

[ANNA SIGHS]

Hey.

It's just me.

What is it?

Let's get you out of here.

They're doing something
to me and my baby.

And it's just getting worse.

Who's "they"?

I don't f*cking know.

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

- What is up with you?
- I feel like I...

I feel like I don't even know
who I am anymore. [SIGHS]

Are you eating a bone?

I told you something was happening.

I know, and I brushed it aside.

I've been so focused on award season,

I forgot how to be a friend. I'm sorry.

But I'm here, and I'm gonna help
you with whatever you need.

I will personally disembowel
anyone that tries to hurt you.

I promise.

I think I need to quit.

- The business?
- I didn't realize

I signed up for all of this.

I wanted to tell stories.

And I don't know, maybe
get a little attention,

wear some couture.

Is that a crime?

I didn't think I would be stalked.

Or that, you know, Babette would die.

How can I bring a baby into a world
where none of us are safe?

That's what being a mother is.

Well, it shouldn't be.

Just let me leave.

What are you saying?

I can't keep campaigning for
this f*cking Oscar. I can't do...

I will not let you f*cking say
another word about quitting.

Let go of your dream
to protect your baby?

Is that what you think your baby wants?

An unfulfilled mother who secretly
resents its own existence?

Is that what your mother d*ed for?

f*ck that.

I don't wanna hurt you,

but what I really don't want
is to see you hurting yourself.

I'm your best friend.

I know what you've been through.

What sacrifices were made for you.

I know that you've been given
this priceless gift, your talent.

We live in a world that tells us
it's fine to give up what we love

as long as we're mothers.

And you know why we're told that?

They want us to disappear
and stop competing with them.

If you quit, it'll be a
tragedy for all of us,

including that f*cking baby.

So instead, why don't you stop

whining about what you're so scared of

and focus on what you can change.

And that's how hard you fight
for that little gold man.

Okay. [CHUCKLES]

[SNIFFLES]

Oh, my God.

[SIOBHAN] Wow.

Such a bummer.

Be really good press
for the movie though.

I need another drink.

[DIALING]

[LINE RINGING]

[DISTANT PHONE RINGING]

[LINE RINGING]

[PHONE RINGING]

- [LINE RINGING]
- [PHONE RINGING]

- [MS. PREECHER] Anna.
- [PHONE RINGING]

What do you want?

Please, not here.

- Why not?
- [GRUNTS]

[DOORBELL RINGS]

[LINE RINGING]