01x10 - The New Person

[bunniefuu]

So, I say to this guy, I can't do anything unless you give me an order number.

And I don't appreciate you taking that tone of voice with me.

He says he doesn't have an order number.

And I say, "well, you should always write down the order number."

Then he gets all pissy.

Says he wants to speak to the person he ordered the Astoria floor lamp from and I say, "well, do you remember his or her..."

Right, "name?"

And he says, "of course not".

And I say, "then I'm sorry, I can't help you."

Then he tells me this isn't the first time he had a problem ordering from us.

Last Christmas he bought a CD holder and it arrived all broken, but when we told him to send it back, he couldn't because he'd thrown away the box it came in.

So, I say, "boo-hoo, mister.

Ain't you got it bad."

And he says, "I want to talk to your supervisor."

And I say "of course you can talk to him, but unfortunately his hours are only 8:30..."

According to the cousin who arranged the funeral.

I bet he was abusing her.

Or maybe he had some sick sexual thing he made her do.

Please stop.

And you're wrong.

All she told the police was that he was boring.

That's it, that's all she said?

The sick part is, I understand it.

I do too.

Sometimes I'm boring.

I am too.

So, I should probably be at both intakes with you this morning, but you'll have to do the casket meeting people yourself because I'm really backed up down here.

David, maybe we need to think about finding a replacement for Rico.

Why? We're doing just fine without him.

It's saving money, thank you very much.

Is there something you'd like to say about my work?

You do a great job when it comes to the people who've had nice, peaceful farewells.

But the big reconstructions, come on, David, you're a little out of your league.

I see, so, those who can't do, criticize.

We've got a body in there that's a page one rewrite.

We've got two more coming in today from that nightclub fire in Valencia.

How bad was that fire?

Well, this is where they ended up.

Well, maybe the families want...

Open caskets, they already put in the requests.

I'll put an ad in the paper today.

It's already taken care of.

I've scheduled some interviews for this afternoon.

As you can see from my resume, I've had the good fortune to study under a variety of gifted restorative artists.

Oh, you worked over at hope valley.

I've known P.T. for years.

Oh.

Look, that lawsuit about the un-embalmed arm was not my fault.

I took the fall for some bitch that was supposed to cover my ass for leaving early.

Sometimes I wake up with a feeling of panic, like my heart's gonna b*at right outta my chest.

You know what I'm talking about.

But after I spend a few extra hours in bed and do my chanting, the dark time usually passes.

I know it sounds funny, but the first time I embalmed someone, it felt like I was coming home.

I just knew that this is what I was meant to do.

That doesn't sound funny at all.

There's something very intimate about it.

I'm the last person on earth who gets to know these people.

Anyway, I guess I take what I do very seriously.

Well, I have no further questions.

Me, neither.

Thanks for coming in, Angela.

We'll be in touch.

Great.

Oh.

It was very nice to meet you.

It was nice to meet you.

Yeah.

Okay.

I'll wait an hour before I call her.

We don't want to look desperate.

Just find out if she can start tomorrow.

♪ I've got a lot of livin' to do ♪

♪ I'm gonna break out, gonna go wild ♪

♪ have my way ♪

♪ I may break a heart a day ♪

♪ life's a ball ♪

♪ if only you know it ♪

♪ and it's all just waiting for you ♪

♪ you're alive ♪

♪ so, come on and show it ♪

( Ruth ) David!

David!

Why are you standing there like that?

I was thinking.

Isn't a person allowed to think?

You're gonna wish you'd gotten high with me.

I told you, I'm never getting high again.

Oh, doesn't Billy look great?

So handsome and confident.

Yo, Billy!

Would you excuse me for one moment?

Thank you guys so much for coming.

I really appreciate it.

Thank god you're here, Brenda.

My mouth is really dry and is my breath bad?

It's fine.

Okay, so truth, is this show any good?

Or is it just pretentious bullshit?

There are so many people, it's hard to see the pictures.

This is Billy's best work ever.

Very disturbing.

Really?

I am so proud of you, god!

Why is my mother here?

Oh, god.

I invited her as part of my ongoing campaign to get her to like me.

I didn't think she'd actually turn up.

Some stranger just rubbed my ass.

Isn't this fabulous?

Oh, Billy, darling!

Thanks, mom.

You can't keep him to yourself all the time.

Okay, no offense.

But your family is f*cked up beyond comprehension.

She is completely tanked.

I brought someone, I hope that's okay.

Hey, Nikolai.

Hello, Nate, how are you?

This is Brenda.

Good evening.

Hello, dear.

It's good to see you, Mrs. Fisher.

Where's Hiram?

He's visiting his son in Portland.

I'm serious, darling.

This new stuff is really...

Visceral.

Not at all left-brained like your father.

Yeah.

Hey, so, where is dad?

Oh, honey, Bern sends his regrets.

He's just heartsick.

Unfortunately he's treating one of his patients who's undergoing a complete psychotic break at the moment.

Gee, that always seems to happen whenever there's something important in my life.

I guess that's just typical Bernard...

Excuse me, Burr-nurd Chenowith behavior.

Pretentious d*ck.

Now, you just hush.

I thought this would be paintings.

I could take photographs.

That doesn't mean they'd be any good.

Mrs. Fisher, I've never seen you having this much fun.

Oh, no, it's great.

I am having fun just watching you.

Hey, Mr. Seattle co-op hippie boy.

Oh, Margaret Chenowith, who are you?

Ruth Fisher.

Nate's mother.

That explains why you're looking at me like I just took a giant dump on your front lawn.

Mom, if I'd known you were putting on a show tonight, I would have bought tickets for all my friends.

Goody, there's Dr. Feinberg.

What is he doing here?

I invited him.

Gareth Feinberg, the guy who wrote the book?

Yeah.

He wrote "Charlotte f*cking light and dark".

He's a f*cking evil dead fish of a f*cking n*zi f*ck.

Darling.

Try not to act so adolescent.

It only makes you look bad.

As opposed to being drunk in public and slobbering all over my boyfriend who, by the way, is completely not interested.

Isn't this fun?

Billy, Billy, Billy.

It's quite powerful stuff.

It's potent.

( Laughing )

That's a word Dr. Feinberg likes to use a lot.

Brenda, I see a lot of you in these photographs.

Hello, Gareth.

Margaret.

Ew.

Does this have a theme, darling?

I know you like your things to have a theme, don't you?

Mother, nothing is more tedious than when you look for meaning in my work.

I don't need your f*cking approval.

Excuse me.

Isn't that beautiful?

Yeah, it is.

He's good.

Yeah, he is really good.

I only wish he believed that.

This one's got real attitude.

Oh, my god.

The light's spectacular.

Brenda, that is a picture of me urinating on a wall.

I realize that.

Hey, what do you think?

What, so, now you're stalking me?

No, no, I just happened to see you one day when I was out taking pictures.

So, I followed you for a couple of miles.

Oh, yeah, you were just out taking pictures?

You live in f*cking Venice.

There's no reason for you to be in my neighborhood.

Wow.

You really think the world revolves around you, don't you?

Bren, would you tell him, please this isn't about him?

It's what Billy does.

He takes pictures of people when they're off guard.

He's got a talent, it's art.

No, it's f*cked!

Thanks a lot.

Look!

That's your son pissing against a wall!

So, I should just let him humiliate me whenever he wants?

Oh, god, Nate, don't make this about you.

Well, why the f*ck not?

This is about me.

You certainly make enough stuff all about you.

So, what, there's a picture of you pissing on a wall.

Who got hurt, who d*ed?

You don't think I have a right to not be spied upon?

You're talking to somebody who was spied on her whole life.

God, Billy is severely f*cked up, Bren.

I don't like being stalked by a psycho.

Billy is not psychotic!

He has a disease!

He's fine when he takes his meds.

Yeah, well, when the f*ck is that?

Look, has he ever done anything weird?

Uh, yeah, he's bipolar.

His whole life he's been weird.

Has he ever done anything dangerous?

Oh, god...

Nate, no.

The only person Billy would ever be a thr*at to...

Is himself.

Has he ever tried to...

Yes.

When I was 18.

I went to Europe for three months.

It was this big reward for me winning a scholarship to Yale.

When I got back to L.A., my mother was at the airport.

She told me that Billy had committed su1c1de.

My whole life just collapsed in on itself in that moment.

Of course, she meant to say that Billy had...

Tried to commit su1c1de.

She was drunk, or else...

It was a Freudian slip.

You never went to Yale.

Billy was in a hospital in Pasadena.

I took some classes at U.C.L.A. in the spring.

Then in the fall, he was diagnosed manic depressive, which kicks in in adolescence, so, it probably had nothing to do with me getting the scholarship.

I can't believe they pressured you into sacrificing your life for your brother.

Nobody pressured me.

I wanted to stay.

( Nate ) Morning.

Pee on any walls lately?

Shut up.

So, mom, what's with you and Nikolai?

I don't know what you're talking about.

And Dave...

What'd you do last night?

Nothing.

Saturday night, what happened to that...

Person you're seeing?

Uh, that person is no longer in the picture.

Sorry to hear it.

What about you?

Are you dating anybody?

No.

If you're dating someone, you don't need to hide him from us like we're lepers.

I'm not dating anyone.

I've just been hanging out a lot with somebody.

Who is this person?

Nobody.

David, I'm ready to go to church.

Thanks, guys.

Hey, Joey, the kid's ready.

So am I.

This is the most terrifying shower scene since "psycho".

( Video game sounds )

That football game used to make this really obnoxious noise when you scored a touchdown.

Do you want to show me how to play it?

No.

You know, there's this...

There's this little kid next door and...

I mean, the only toy he's got is like this stupid mousetrap game from when his mom was a kid.

Maybe...

You know, he'd want some of these.

It's a beautiful day.

Why would you waste your Sunday in here watching television?

What are you doing?

Umm...

I thought that Tony Rechner next door might want some of these.

Just keep your hands off them.

She doesn't even look me in the eyes anymore.

C'mon, I want to show you something funny.

Come on.

Come on.

We're going on a field trip?

This is like the first day of school.

I am so excited.

Oh, and...

I just want to apologize in advance because I had calamari last night for dinner.

What do you mean?

Well, let's just say this is the one time where the strong smell of formaldehyde really comes in handy.

So, then I said to him

"I don't care if you have a low sperm count.

"I mean, I'll just shove a Turkey baster up there if I have to."

I want to have a child before I turn 40.

That's fair, right?

Hello, everyone.

Hi.

How was church?

Nate told me you're a Deacon.

That's adorable.

I see you've made yourself at home.

Angela doesn't like to feel constrained.

You know, my glands go double-time.

I find if I wear too much while I work, I get all...

Pitted.

Angela...

We're sort of used to a more professional appearance around here.

Give me a break, David.

They're just nipples.

I mean, we've all seen 'em, we've all touched 'em.

We've all sucked on 'em.

And it's not like this guy is gonna be lying in the casket and people are gonna be saying, "oh, my god, the embalmer's nipples were hard."

There gonna be saying, "oh, my god, how did they put his face back together after he went through the g*dd*mn windshield?"

I told father Jack I'd help him with the food distribution downtown.

I just wanted to make sure that your first day was going okay.

Thanks.

I'm all gassy, but that's not your fault.

Angela had calamari last night.

Boy, he's a barrel of laughs.

( Laughing )

It's hard when a new person comes into a situation.

It throws everything off balance.

Bren, I'm not threatened by your boyfriend.

Oh, yeah?

Your behavior consistently communicates otherwise.

Okay, you want me to take the picture out of the show, fine.

But please don't spout psycho-babble at me like f*cking Margaret and Bernard.

You're like, becoming them.

f*ck you!

You know what you did was wrong.

That's why you didn't show it to me before.

Why are you making such a big deal out of this?

Because I love him!

You're f*cking with my life, Billy, and it's not fair.

You have to stop.

Or what?

Goddamnit, Billy!

What is it with you, you like f*cking with my brain like Feinberg?!

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Can I get you anything else?

I can always use a good blow job...

Hey, do I get my f*cking lunch or not?

I'm going to get a drink of water.

Melinda Daner, Mark Whitman...

Darryl Heinz, Keith Charles.

Okay, well, just tell them we'll meet them at the usual corner on Tuesday.

Hi, Tracy.

Oh, hi, David.

How have you been?

Fine.

I love your new hair.

What are you working on?

St. Stephen's is sending over some volunteers to help out next week.

Someone told me that you used to go to St. Stephen's.

Not that I've been asking around about you.

It just came up naturally.

So, did you?

Go there, I mean.

Yeah, just for a few months last year.

They're a very progressive church.

Yes, they are.

The guy who took these is a total psycho.

Good.

We should probably get going if we want to see that movie.

I should probably get home.

And check on my mom.

I'm sure she's doing fine.

I'm sorry.

It's not like I was dying to see a movie.

That's not what I'm talking about.

I'm sorry...

About what happened between us.

I never meant for those assholes to write sh*t on your car.

I shouldn't have told Andy about us.

I was just being stupid.

That was me being really, really, really stupid and...

I'm sorry.

Well, thank you.

Look, I don't want to make a big deal out of this.

All I'm saying is I sat around last week in that stupid get-up you wanted me to wear and had to say all this daddy this and daddy that bullshit.

When I tell you, I keep reading these articles about having this one-hour orgasm, well, the least you could do is try to help me have one.

Well, I'm sorry that men can't have it.

But since you guys get to have everything else on the planet, it seems like a fair trade-off.

Fine.

Goodbye.

You know...

Angela, my brother likes a certain decorum when you're working with someone's loved one.

Yeah?

The personal calls are a probably little uncool.

Oh, right, got it.

I won't do it when he's around.

( Phone )

Hello?

Hey.

Really?

Why don't you want me to come over?

Dammit, Brenda, you always do this.

You're shutting me out.

The pissing thing is no longer an issue, I swear.

Look, maybe you'd feel better if I came over.

Alright, fine, whatever, fine.

Whoo!

Girlfriend trouble?

Not really trouble.

Just tell me what the fight was about and I'll tell you what to say to fix it.

I mean, trust me this is my thing.

We didn't have a fight.

She just...

Pulls away from me at the weirdest times.

Maybe she senses that...

You're pulling away, so, she just does it first.

Maybe you should mind your own business.

sh**t.

I guess this means I can't ask about the pissing?

'Cause I had an ex who wanted to pee on me.

And I wasn't grossed out.

I mean, I just thought it was kind of silly, but that's me.

Thank you for taking me to the art gallery last night.

I thought you hated those pictures.

No, no...

It's just that I don't like them, that's all.

But it was nice to be spending time with you.

I mean, outside of working together.

Would you like to go to dinner some time?

Is that like a...

Date?

Of course not.

Good, I pick you up tomorrow night, 8:00.

I don't want to go, okay?

Just stop asking me.

Okay, fine.

I was only inviting you to be nice.

Besides nobody even wants you there because you've been acting so f*cking weird lately.

Gabe?

We have to be some place.

Get lost, Morticia.

Shut up, peanut testicle.

f*ck off, both of you.

What's his problem?

Nothin'...

He wants me to go to this party tomorrow.

I'm just not in the mood.

We can do something if you want.

Actually I gotta go to Barstow tomorrow and spend the night at my dad's.

I gotta ask him for money for my mom.

Not that he's gonna give it to me, but.

Do you want company?

Look, Claire, you don't have to keep taking care of me.

I'm not.

I just like hanging out.

Or we could just go for the drive and then you go see your dad and I'll stay in some like, creepy motel and read a Stephen King book.

Okay.

Meet me after fifth period tomorrow by the gym.

Oh, this is just what I need today.

I see this is payback time for my missing your opening.

Just shut up!

Both of you, for once.

Just shut your f*cking mouths.

All that ever comes out of you is garbage, garbage, garbage!

Okay...

Good, we have a dialogue.

Where did you get this?

From his office.

They're every piece of data Feinberg has on Brenda and it's all destroyed.

Now he can go back to wherever he came from before he f*cked her up.

You're off the hook, Bern.

Obviously this has nothing to do with you missing his show.

Don't f*cking talk about me like I'm not here!

Even though I'm not and never have been.

Son, what's wrong? Just tell us.

Oh, there's nothing wrong with me.

I didn't sell my daughter to some smug, star-f*cking psychiatrist so, he could pick her apart like a g*dd*mn cadaver and turn her into sh*t and garbage just like everything else you touch!

Billy, sweetheart.

You bitch!

You're the f*cking nurse.

You wanna tie us up, you wanna lock us in a room, leave us to die.

Well, you're the one that should die, you and him!

You don't get to touch the children.

I refuse to be an audience for this.

Oh, boy, you can juice her, but you better let me take care of that skin.

This guy has a really sinewy neck.

Sinewy.

I love saying that word, don't you?

I don't know.

I went out with this guy once, he had a really sinewy neck.

He was a total animal in bed.

I mean, the things he could do with his tongue.

( Slurping )

Course, he thought he was god's gift to women.

I guess in that one respect he was.

So, do you like sinewy necks, David?

I never really thought about it.

Hey, I'm just trying to figure out your type.

Believe me, I can tell you're single.

And I know about a million people I can set you up with.

So, what kind of guys do you like?

What makes you think that I like men?

Oh, please, let's not play that game.

I think we should fire her.

I've been thinking the same thing.

Has she made a lot of mistakes?

No.

She's a little hard to take.

She's a lot hard to take.

Sometimes people are hard to take, but only because the first side they present to you is annoying or aggressive because they're nervous.

And it's only after you spend some time with them you realize maybe there's another side to them that's worth knowing.

Or not, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

( Door closing )

Sorry I'm late.

By the way...

I won't be here for dinner tomorrow.

So, everyone's on their own.

Actually, I'm going to be volunteering with the food distribution.

Well, that leaves you and me, Claire.

Want to go to the apple pan?

Uh, can't.

I have to do this...

Astronomy overnight thing...

At the observatory for school.

I didn't hear about this.

I told you.

You probably weren't listening.

That's the type of thing I would listen to.

David and Nate did it when they went to Bonaventure.

David, you did this?

Uh, yeah, I had to.

You too, Nate?

Yup.

Back then we thought Pluto was a planet.

When did Pluto stop being a planet?

A few months ago.

Well, I suppose it's okay for you to go.

( Bernard ) Luckily Gareth isn't going to press charges, but I did promise him that steps would be taken to remedy the situation.

I wish I had been there to see the look on Feinberg's face.

I'm sure he started with his whole blinking thing.

Brenda, we have a serious problem.

Okay, I'll talk to Billy's doctor, see if he needs to be on different medication.

Actually, we were thinking of something a little more involved.

Your mother and I feel that he needs to go away for intensive therapy.

There's a very good facility in Colorado.

You want to put Billy in an institution?

Oh, please, let's not turn this into a 1950s B movie.

This place is run by excellent psychiatric specialists who may have some...

Creative solution to help Billy.

You want to give Billy shock treatment.

Darling, really, this dramatic streak, aren't you a little old for it?

And just for the record, electroconvulsive therapy has had a real resurgence in the last 10 years, with very impressive results.

You can't do this.

Your mother and I think it's best.

It certainly makes your lives easier.

God forbid Billy should embarrass you in front of your stupid fat celebrity friends.

Unfortunately, he is an adult.

Which means you can't have him committed unless he does something dangerous.

Darling...

We were thinking that if you talked to him, explained how it would help him.

f*ck you both.

You're out of your minds.

( Door closing )

Hi, I'm Angela.

You must be Ruth.

Yes.

I spilled some beet salad on someone's wig, so, David said I should eat up here.

I got the stains out.

Everyone in my family gets cancer, so...

I know tons about taking care of wigs.

Is that yours?

The hair, I mean.

As far as I know.

It's beautiful.

Thank you.

I don't want to be one of those menopausal women you know, that goes all dikey with the butch haircut.

So, Nate says that you're dating a hairdresser.

That is so lucky.

If he's any good, I'd love to know if he can do anything with this mop.

Does your boyfriend come around?

He's not exactly my boyfriend.

Oh, come on, you're blushing.

Must be pretty serious, is it?

Is it serious?

Or is it just hot sex?

I'm really not in the mood to discuss my personal life.

Oh.

( Chattering )

( Voicemail ) You have one new message.

( Gabe ) Hey, it's me.

Look, it's better if I go by myself.

You should probably just not worry about it, okay?

Thank you for trying to...

Look, just...

Thank you.

So, that's...

That's it, I guess.

Bye, Claire.

This is disgusting.

You have crap in here from the 80s.

Billy, I'll get a plumber.

Somebody who actually knows what they're doing.

Would you look at me?

I'd really like to talk to you.

I take it you spoke to mom and dad.

I don't know what happened that day.

You know, I was on new meds, they weren't working.

It wasn't my fault.

But don't worry.

I've already been to my doctor and changed my dosage.

And I already feel more even.

Billy, I need to know if I should be worried about you.

You shouldn't.

I swear.

Yeah? Yeah.

My god, you could eat off this skin.

Angela does her job perfectly.

What about those hairs in her mole?

Rico would never have left those there.

Angela had a long philosophical debate about it and decided the nieces would want to remember her exactly how she was.

I'd like to know the meaning of this.

Nikolai is picking me up to go to dinner and I was planning to serve him Sherry beforehand.

I wanted to use the goblets I got from my cousin Hannah's trip to Dresden.

Now, I can't because someone broke this and hoped I wouldn't notice it.

Which one of you did this?

It wasn't me.

Well, it wasn't me.

It was Angela.

Oh, it was definitely Angela.

Hi.

David.

What are you doing here?

I volunteer with these guys a couple of times a week.

Oh, I just started.

You need some help?

Yeah, sure.

David, David...

David!

I'm dying.

No, you can't.

Not before we make love one last time...

Okay.

Thought you were gonna help.

So, how've you been?

Good, you?

I'm okay.

I've driven by this mini-mall hundreds of times, but I never knew this place existed.

Is best restaurant in all of Los Angeles.

And not outrageous prices too.

( Speaking Russian )

Lotte, Irina.

What a surprise this is.

You usually do not come in on Tuesday nights.

Can we join you?

Please.

Maybe another time.

No, no, she says it's okay.

So, you must be Nicky's special friend we keep hearing all about.

You must be thinking of someone else.

No.

You lost your husband.

You work for Nicky.

You used to fix dead people.

Oh, I suppose that is me.

This is Ruth.

So, that guy I saw you with at the club, is that a serious thing?

Eddie?

Ah...

Not really.

Not yet.

Those dr*gs I saw you taking, is that a serious thing?

No, no, I just tried them once.

I don't think I'll be trying them again.

I'm glad to hear you say that.

You know what that sh*t has done to my sister.

It can seriously f*ck up your life, David.

I'd hate to see that happen.

It was stupid, I know.

I was just...

You know, Rico left, it was just Nate and me.

Not that it's an excuse.

So, what's up with that kid I saw you with at the club?

Let's just say it was a learning experience.

Everyone else has gone home.

I don't know what you two are waiting for.

David, this isn't one of your regular shifts.

Is there any special reason you showed up here tonight?

No.

Oh, well.

Goodnight, you two.

Goodnight.

You hungry?

I'm always hungry.

♪ ( Russian music )

You f*cking bitch!

I would like to tear your heart out like you have torn out mine.

There's supposed to be a picture of Nate peeing on a wall.

I see it.

I don't.

Four from the left.

Oh, my god.

What'd your mom say when she saw that?

She was kind of horrified, I think.

How is your mom?

She's...

Dating.

It's weird.

Why?

Because she's my mother, she's not supposed to date.

People should be with people.

Yeah, sometimes people are just too stupid to know it.

How's your taco?

Disgusting.

I had no idea about you and Nikolai.

For six years...

Every Saturday night, I cook for him dinner.

And then he take me to a $2.50 movie on Fairfax.

Then you come along...

And he stop calling.

I have to see every g*dd*mn film this Freddie Prinze Jr. does, and what do I have to show for it?

I'm sorry.

Do you want to marry Nicky or not?

Marriage is the last thing I would ever want again.

Maybe I have an amusing flirtation with Nikolai, but he scares me.

Best of all, I have this job, something I never would have predicted for myself.

And I love it because it's mine.

And I would...

Never do anything to jeopardize that.

Which means I should probably just finish dinner with Nikolai and go home.

Thank you.

I've had the best time coming to this funny restaurant and having you yell at me in the bathroom.

Do you realize the whole time we were going out, I was never in your bedroom at night?

Well...

You're here now, aren't you?

Whoa, this is not the David I know.

Maybe this is the real me.

I'm not sure we should.

Why not?

Well, I'm kind of seeing somebody right now.

I don't care.

I do.

Come on, David!

Please, why'd you even come up here, if you weren't into something happening?

To talk to you.

To see how you were doing.

To be friends.

I don't want to be friends, I want to f*ck!

Well, I'm not into that.

Can't we just have sex?

It doesn't have to mean anything.

It's getting late, I should just go.

You take care of yourself.

( Door slamming )

Claire, what are you doing here?

I thought David and I covered for you so, you could be out having fun.

What's wrong?

There's this really big hole in my sock.

Maybe Gabe just wanted to be alone.

I know.

Is he your boyfriend?

No.

It's just...

He needs me.

For the first time in my life, I felt...

Important.

Like someone needed me.

Not like some annoying extra person just lumped in with everyone else.

No one's ever needed me.

I need you.

Right.

I felt this really intense connection and now it's just gone.

And I want it back.

I want him back.

Is there something wrong with me?

Is there something about me that makes me deserve something like this?

Deserve what?

Just feeling really close to someone then having them just disappear...

Like I mean nothing.

Claire...

Gabe just went to visit his father for a day.

I think you're talking about dad.

Look, we never talk about him and that's okay, if that's what you want.

But at some point you're gonna have to deal with how you feel.

Oh, god, can't I just get upset without having to focus on what's really making me upset?

It worked for me for 34 years.

Hey.

( Male ) Hey, who's this?

Jim, who's this?

Steve.

So, what do you look like?

I'm 6'2", 190 pounds, and I'm a professional boxer.

Yeah, what's your d*ck like?

Nine and a half inches, uncut.

So, what are you looking for?

A nasty top to f*ck my brains out.

Found him.

Now, get on your knees and suck my cock, boy.

Oh, f*ck, yes, sir.

Oh, yes.

I don't care what time it is.

I need to be with someone.

Someone, that's comforting.

Okay, I want to talk to you.

If this is about Billy, I can't.

I've done nothing but talk about Billy for two days.

Well, what's happening with him?

Mmm.

Look...

I know this is really hard for you.

I've had some time to calm down about the picture, so, you can just...

Spill your guts to me, okay?

I promise not to make it about me.

I'm too tired.

You know what?

I love you and I need you.

It's okay for you to need me too.

I want you to need me.

I'm doing the best I can.

Rough night, stud?

You're fired.

f*ck!

( Female ) Yoo-hoo, Brenda!

Brenda, I know you're home, your car's out front.

I don't know what's so strange about a spontaneous brunch.

I think it's fun.

It's weird.

You don't do things like this.

You pay people to do things like this.

Oh, hello, Nate.

Hey.

Now I see why you're so upset that I'm here.

My mother's come over to see if I talked Billy into committing himself.

She just loves saying that.

It makes her father and I sound more like monsters.

Well, I didn't do it and I'm not going to.

Goddamnit!

I asked for chives and they give me this veggie crap.

Brenda...

There's something you don't know about Billy.

Oh, here we go.

You know when you were in Europe that summer?

Billy didn't try to k*ll himself.

What?

Your father and I had gotten back from a conference to find our house on fire.

It started right below the family room.

Remember, we had it redone when you were away?

Yeah, but Billy was...

I went to visit him in the hospital.

He was there all summer.

Your father and I put him there.

We had no choice.

That fire wasn't accidental, Brenda.

He was making a b*mb.

This is getting really f*cking desperate, mother.

What, now, Billy's the Unabomber?

He had written things.

Ugly, violent things about your father and me.

About you.

He was dangerous.

You let me believe for all these years that Billy tried to k*ll himself.

We were only trying to protect you, honey.

Get out of my house.

Get out of my house, you f*cking lunatic!

( Phone )

Uh, hello?

Dave, this is a really bad time.

You know what the really sick thing is, mother?

You have no idea what you've done to me.

Brenda...

Brenda, hang on.

I'll call you later, Nate.

When that f*cking assh*le's out of my house.

Dave, I gotta go.

What, you fired her already?

Oh, for Christ sake.

Well, you should have lined up somebody else first.

And why are you whispering?

I'm hiding up here until she finishes Mrs. Sarno.

So, which of those other people did you like best?

Look, let's not make any quick decisions.

I guess I could probably live with the panic att*ck guy.

Uh, I've got a better idea.

Hey, Rico.

Bad time?

No, no, everyone's at lunch except for me and Pam.

You're one of the fishers, aren't you?

( Laughing )

Cigarette break, but I gotta be back in 10

'cause I told Gilardi I'd have this one done when he got back.

( Male recording ) The subscriber you've called is outside the...

Oh, great, f*cking hell.

Here, let me help you.

sh*t.

I don't know why I brought so much stuff here.

I guess I'm just a nester.

I should have told you that I broke the goblet.

It was a gift from my cousin.

Yeah, trip to Dresden, I heard.

I don't know why I didn't...

Just tell you.

It's totally unlike me.

I usually just say whatever I'm thinking.

I noticed.

But I saw that broken glass and I just was overcome with this feeling that it was better to just...

Ignore it.

Just pretend that it didn't happen.

I get that feeling from all of you here.

Everyone is so fragile and can't bear to hear anything.

Is that everything?

I mean, all I did was try to fix David up with this guy and I thought he was gonna k*ll me.

I mean, I never met anyone who was so uptight about being gay.

Thanks.

You know something?

I never worked in a funeral home that was this depressing.

( Door closing )

Tell me you're happier here, and I'll go.

It's not perfect.

These body farms are a f*cking assembly line.

And I've got like 12 idiots breathing down my neck.

Well, at Fisher & sons you only get two of those at the most.

And Gilardi lied to me.

My hours are nothing like he said they'd be.

And the work here is...

Not even as challenging, you know?

Nate...

It was Kroehner who b*rned down the house across the street.

And Gilardi's told people that he's not done trying to drive you guys out of business.

Does that mean it doesn't make sense for you to come back?

No, but if I do, you have to match what I'm making here.

Plus guarantee me flexible hours for picking up Julio, and helping out when the baby comes.

Done.

And if I do decide to come back...

It's not for good.

I'm never gonna become a partner, am I?

I can't offer you that.

Unless you want to marry Claire.

Uh, no, thank you.

Okay, I can start in a couple of days.

Thank you.

That makes me very happy and it will make David very happy.

Hey.

I heard there's some picture of you in a gallery peeing.

Is that true?

I just wanted to get Gabe's father's number so, I could talk to him.

Well, why would Gabe's step-father know where Gabe was?

No, his father, the one who lives in Barstow.

Yeah, Gabe's father d*ed when he was four.

Oh.

Oh, if you should run into Gabe, would you tell him I really don't appreciate his staying out all night?

( Gabe ) So, that's...

That's it, I guess.

Bye, Claire.

Mrs. Dimas!

Mrs. Dimas!

Mrs. Dimas!

( Pounding on door )