01x02 - The Critical Path

[bunniefuu]

MASHA: Namaste.
Welcome to Tranquillum House.

I'm Masha.

[FRANCES SOBBING]

Are you saying they don't want the book?

TONY: It's not normal to be screaming,

"Dead to the f*cking world"
at the top of your lungs.

JESSICA: We're going
'cause we have issues, Benjamin.

- With us.
- [ENGINE REVVING]

TONY: What are you in for?

Weight loss, esteem building,
mind and body transformation.

I mean, I already feel better.
I really do.

Is this not fantastic?

What's that?

DELILAH: Blood draw. Standard practice.

Did she give you any idea
what to expect?

FRANCES: Suffering.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[THIS STRANGE EFFECT PLAYING]

♪ You've got this strange effect on me ♪

♪ And I like it ♪

♪ You've got this strange effect on me ♪

♪ And I like it ♪

♪ You make my world seem right ♪

♪ You make my darkness bright, oh, yes ♪

♪ You've got this strange effect on me ♪

♪ And I like it ♪

♪ And I like it ♪

♪ And I like it ♪

[ZOE PANTING]

[BREATHES SHARPLY]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[SOBS]

[INHALES, EXHALES DEEPLY]

FRANCES: Hey, there.

- Hey! [CRIES AND SNIFFLES]
- Are you okay?

Yeah. Yeah. No, I'm fine. I just, um...

just a little panic att*ck.

They come and go. And sometimes

I just feel like I'm gonna
freak out so I didn't want to,

you know,
disrupt the session or anything.

Oh, well, that session is
officially disrupted, anyway.

Your dad's back there
holding your mom back,

- I think she wants to, uh...
- [ZOE CHUCKLES]

...claw Masha's eyes out.

Something about death, or something,

I didn't quite catch it.

Yeah, yeah, um,

it's... it's my brother Zach.

He... he stopped living three years ago.

Kind of why we're here. Um... [SNIFFLES]

It would've been
his st birthday this week.

Or our st. We were... we were twins.

But, uh, he...

stopped living the day before
our th birthday. So...

Oh, God.

There you have it,
the Marconi family baggage,

which was also searched,
by the way. [SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

Yes. Oh.

I'm sorry, honey.

It's okay. We really weren't close.

So... [SLIGHT CHUCKLE]

- Are you all right?
- Yeah, I'm fine.

Just needed some air.

- Hello.
- Hello.

- Could I talk to my daughter...
- Yes.

- ...please?
- Mom, Mom, it's fine.

I'm fine. Frances, I'm fine.

I was actually just gonna go for a run.

We're runners. [CHUCKLES]
Um, I'll... see you.

She was telling me about your son.

Oh.

I'm so sorry.

Thank you.

TONY: Yeah, I didn't read anything about

getting my f*cking bags gone through.

Anybody else read anything about that?

- 'Cause I didn't read anything...
- Hey.

- ...about that.
- Maybe you could take a breath.

TONY: The f*ck?

I am not taking a breath.

It's a f*cking crime is what it is.

Tossing our cells for contraband?

Not giving our sh*t back,
that's a violation

of our human rights, lady.

Now, I've got prescription
medication in my wash bag

and I'm gonna need it back,
like right-f*cking-now.

You feel me?

Yao. Would you go and retrieve
Tony's medicine?

Yeah, very good, thank you.

MASHA: Would you like
your vodka as well?

Or do you take it separately?

- f*ck you.
- Hey, now.

- Let's just take it easy.
- f*ck you, too.

JESSICA: Yeah, this is not
what I signed up for.

- Just like, FYI.
- MASHA: We're okay.

Part of the healing
is finding the wound.

That's why you picked us, right?

What do you mean, she "picked" us?

She accepts less than ten percent
of her applicants.

We're just an equation.

We complement each other's demons.

What a f*ckin' crock.

What is it you look for in your guests?

- Damage.
- Potential.

FRANCES: Tomato, to-mah-toe.

Is that how
you're feeling about yourself,

Frances? Is it?

About things? About your life?
Tomato, to-mah-toe, whatever.

I know women like you.

- You don't.
- FRANCES: You're so driven.

And you're so committed...

to perfection that
you're not even human anymore.

And you whittle away everybody else

so you don't have to see
your own bumps and bruises.

Maybe some of these...
guests did come for struggle.

But I get enough of
that in my day-to-day life.

I didn't come here to open a vein.

I came here to have
a little bit of f*cking fun.

I'd like to talk to you in private,
if I may.

[LIGHTS MATCH]

Look, obviously,
you're a very smart person...

building this whole...

thing. [BREATHES]

But uh, it just doesn't make any sense.

There's not a qualified
professional in the world

who would confiscate
somebody's medication.

You're a drug addict, Tony.

There's many places you could go
to detox or rehab.

But you came here.

Maybe to fix what caused
you to become a drug addict.

I know. I know what caused it, okay?

Three spinal surgeries, a blown knee.

That's just a story.

One that's keeping you numb
and checked out of your entire life.

Okay. Yeah, day one
and you know all this, right?

[CHUCKLES, SNIFFS]

You're divorced, yes?

Yeah.

You have, two children?

[EXHALES]

How's your relationship with them?

[TONY CHUCKLES]

- This is it, right?
- This is what you do?

You get people to talk about their sh*t,

and then you use it against them.

Huh? You gonna plug me
into an ATM machine now?

Are you happy with your life?

Am I happy with my life?

Mm-hmm.

Who the f*ck is happy with their life?

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

Just give me my medicine, please.

[SIGHS]

MASHA: Have it. [LID THUDS ON TABLE]

Right now!

And another one, in the morning.

Every day.

I don't want you sick, Tony.

Hmm? I just want you...

safe, healed.

Whole.

And I think that's what you want.

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

I never wanted to take your pills, Tony.

Just your secret.

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

[SIGHS IN RELIEF]

[OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SIGHS]

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

- [GASPS] Oh, sh*t!
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

- Jesus!
- I'm sorry.

- [SIGHS] Oh, you scared me to death.
- I'm so sorry.

You shouldn't sneak up on people
in the dark like that.

I wasn't sneaking.
I just... You know, I read in the...

in the... the pamphlet,
uh, to be mindful

of others that they might
be meditating and try not to...

to disturb. So that's...
that's what that...

Yeah. Well. I'm not meditating,

just despondently staring
into the gaping void.

Hey, um... the... the... like,
welcoming thing, that was...

- It was bat sh*t.
- Yeah.

- Yeah.
- Okay, cool.

'Cause I thought I was just
like losing my mind... okay.

- [FRANCES CHUCKLES]
- Hey, um,

you probably don't want to hear this.

Uhm, you know, people come
to retreats to get away

from it all and I have to say...

- I am such a huge fan.
- Oh.

JESSICA: I've read
Nathaniel's Kiss like, three times.

I think it's the most romantic book...

in the world.

Thank you for that.

So, what's, uh, what's your crisis?

What's my what?

The British dude, he said that, uh,

Masha like picked us all
for a particular crisis.

With all your success, I just...
was wondering, I...

Now I'm realizing that...
I am kinda crossing a line.

So, I'm gonna...
just gonna take it back.

It's okay, I... I'm just
here for a little R&R.

Maybe, my crisis is
I don't have a crisis.

- [CHUCKLES]
- Mm-hmm. [CHUCKLING] Oh.

- So are you writing anything new...
- What's your crisis?

Oh, uh. Marriage counseling.
Yeah. Well, Ben and I just...

a little bit of a bumpy patch.
[CHUCKLES]

- I know that road.
- JESSICA: Oh, you're married?

[INHALES]

Not currently. Have been. Twice. Uh,

optimist-masochist. Fine line. [INHALES]

"He saw her." [CHUCKLES]
That's my favorite part of, um,

Nathaniel's Kiss.
You wrote, um, "He saw her.

"And until then, she never knew.

"She'd never been seen before.

It was like coming home."

[CHUCKLES] It's a little clunky.

No. No, it's not.

It's the most wonderful feeling
in the world.

To be seen. [CHUCKLES]

You want a little grown-ass lady advice?

- You can take it or leave it?
- I'll take it.

I wouldn't look to novels,
or music, or movies,

to tell you the truth about love.

They lie.

And we're just a pack of dirty liars.

Right? [CHUCKLES] I mean, yeah.

Hustlers of the heart.

Did you just make that up?

I... Yeah, I guess I did.

- God! You're good.
- [CHUCKLES]

Oh... [SIGHS]

I'm gonna... get back to...

Ye... um, thanks.

[CLEARS THROAT]
I'll see you tomorrow, I guess?

- Maybe it won't be as...
- Weird?

- Yeah. [CHUCKLING]
- Yeah. Let's hope.

[CHUCKLING] Good night.

Good night.

- [JESSICA CLEARS THROAT]
- [FOOTSTEPS RECEDING]

[CRICKETS AND BIRDS CHIRPING]

[GOAT BLEATING]

[BIRD TWEETING]

Hi, baby.

- Let's have a quiet day today.
- [GOAT BLEATS]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[MASHA PANTING]

[PANTING CONTINUES]

- [BREATHES]
- [MOBILE NOTIFICATION RINGS]

[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]

_

[EERIE MUSIC CONTINUES]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

NAPOLEON: Oh, what shower pressure.

- Fantastic.
- [SQUIRTS LOTION]

I had a spectacular sleep.

[CLAPS HANDS TOGETHER]

It's going to be
a fantastic day, I can feel it.

You should shower if you're
going to do so before breakfast.

They want us promptly there at seven.

I am absolutely famished, by the way.

Which I take as a good sign.
My metabolism is engaged

and f*ring.

I think I might skip breakfast
and go for a run... instead.

Uh, I think brekkie is mandatory.

It's a very precise regimen here.

I suggest we surrender to it, pumpkin.

There's only so much
surrendering I can do, Leon.

You go. Don't be late for breakfast.

You certainly wouldn't want
to break a rule.

What's that supposed to mean?

Look, it means rules
are meant to be followed.

How else to ensure

the survival of a civilized society?

You have to seek out
the wonderful, Heather,

because it doesn't just come knocking.

Maybe life will surprise you.

You know what you said to me?
Right after. Do you remember?

You said, "Things happen for a reason."

[CHUCKLES IRONICALLY] What...

What reason?

As much as I love you, and I do, I do...

- Finish it.
- I'm angry.

- NAPOLEON: At me?
- Yeah.

For being so constantly upbeat.

For trying to make sense of
of the most incomprehensible.

But mostly, for making me feel so alone.

You make me feel so f*cking alone.

You ask, "Why are we here?"

I'm here because I miss liking you.

[NAPOLEON EXHALES]

I know, you didn't deserve that.

Hmm. But I got it just the same.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
BY JIMMIE DAVIS PLAYING]

♪ The other night, dear ♪

♪ As I lay sleeping ♪

♪ I dreamed I held you in my arms ♪

♪ But when I woke, dear,
I was mistaken ♪

♪ And I hung my head and cried ♪

♪ You are my sunshine ♪

♪ My only sunshine ♪

♪ You make me happy
when skies are grey ♪

♪ You'll never know, dear,
how much I love you ♪

[INHALES] Yes!

[GUITAR SOLO]

[SNIFFS]

- [CHUCKLES]
- Hi, there, handsome.

Hey, honey. I am unfortunately
gonna have to postpone my trip.

I'm so sorry.

- Oh, no. What happened?
- It's Ari.

He was in a car accident.

Oh, my God. Is he okay?

[SIGHS] They put him into
an induced coma

to help with his healing.

I'm trying to get him
transferred to a better hospital...

FRANCES: Here, you go detective,
you can keep it.

I told him I loved him. [SCOFFS]

He's an imaginary person
and I... I told him I loved him.

MAN: This happens to a lot of women
of your age and circumstance.

[EXHALES]

NAPOLEON: Good morning.

This should be on Instagram.

BEN: Woo!

Oh, this is so adorable. So healthy.

It... It's like a dream.
The perfect breakfast.

Yes, if you can't have substance,
style will do,

I suppose.

How we doing, everybody?

I lost weight!

Y'know, I was meaning to say.

BEN: Why you trying to lose weight?
You're not fat.

Thank you. But I'd...
I'd still like to be thinner.

But why? I don't get it.

Why is everybody so obsessed
with that kind of thing?

I don't think we are, Ben.
And... If you're looking for

commonality, I think we're
all obsessed with being a little

better than we were yesterday.
A little less lousy,

a little less in the toilet.

I could be wrong, but isn't
that the essence of life?

Identifying your hump

and then hurling yourself over it.

Told you, she's, like, a gifted writer.

Good morning, good morning, everybody.

What fell off the chuckwagon?
That's not me.

Uh... hey, guys, look,
I know I came in a little rough

to the dock yesterday
and I apologize, okay?

And if I offended any of you

and I probably offended most
of you, sorry. New day, huh?

Mm. Seems like someone
got his meds back.

You know what, Lars?

I did.

Thanks for caring.

Who are you, really?

You mean, like, deep down?

He does look familiar, right?
Like, I've seen your face.

Probably on Dateline or something.

DELILAH: People!

All right! Today's schedule.

We will all begin
with a little dirt-digging.

In the afternoon...

What do you mean, dirt-digging?

Soil bacteria has special qualities.

It can fight anxiety,
depression, maybe even cancer.

I'm not... I'm not that big
on dirt or bacteria.

It's kind of a Protestant thing.
I don't wanna talk about it.

- TONY: You got an excuse for everything.
- Hmm?

- I said, you got an excuse...
- No! Still can't hear,

- your mouths is...
- DELILAH: Okay.

- I get it.
- DELILAH: Team...

Yeah, this is definitely not a team.

I mean, this is like
the opposite of a team.

[WATER BURBLING]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[g*nsh*t FIRES]

[OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES]

[GASPING, PANTING]

[EXHALES] Something you need?

Tell me, you pool sit
when you're stressed.

And you've been down here
every day of late. What's wrong?

[SIGHS]

I received some disturbing messages.

[SIGHS]

- Threats.
- Threats from who?

Anonymous.

Should we report it?

To who? The police?
What are they gonna do?

It could be from anyone.

I wasn't a very nice person
in my previous life.

You would've sh*t me too
if you'd known me then.

No. No, I wouldn't have.

No. You wouldn't have.

You and Delilah okay?

She still gets a little jealous.

She'll have to get over that, won't she?

Hmm?

It's difficult.

That's what life is more
than anything, difficult.

Hmm.

We are and we always will be

profoundly and inextricably bound.

Don't you agree?

[YAO BREATHES]

Love her. And she will feel loved.

[GRUNTING, PANTING]

[GRUNTS] f*ck! That's it, I'm done.

Digging graves is not doing
my back any favors.

What are you talking about?
They dug half of it for us

and you haven't even stood up, yet.

I am still helping and exerting myself.

Not that I've asked for your opinion.

[GRUNTS]

It feels good, doesn't it?

To exhaust the body
with hard, hard work.

Pre-industrial man,
he didn't get depressed

because he was too busy working.

Would you please lie down
in your ditches?

- Uh...
- [SHOVEL CLANKING]

[TONY PANTING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

We spend our lives avoiding
the thought of

the one true guarantee.

That our time here is limited.

We are terrified of death,

not because it is unknown,
but because it forces us

to confront our deepest regrets.

Be it...

lies we have told...

people we have hurt...

professional failures or...

or simply...

an unfulfilled life.

So, I want you all now
to close your eyes.

Think of your life, past.

- [BREATHES]
- [GRUNTS]

Imagine that your body,

has returned to the Mother Earth,

and that your soul has been set free.

And your loved ones...

your loved ones are gathered around you.

Marconis, we okay with this?

Yeah. You good, Mom?

I'm fine.

Now, think of all the things
that matter to you.

The events that pre-occupy you.

Everything that you're obsessed about.
That you're worried about,

that is stopping you from having a full

and extraordinary, exceptional life.

Think of the relationships
that matter to you.

The people who will mourn you.

What do you want them
to say about your life?

Now... that it is over?

You know, this exercise is ridiculous.

Just lie down, Frances. Contemplate.

What is it gonna take?
What do I have to say

to get out of the dirt hole?

You wanna hear that if I die today,

nobody would care? Fine.

Because if I did die today,
nobody would care.

Because I'm humiliated and I am alone

and it's only gonna get worse.

And you'll love this.
I pre-paid my own funeral.

Because nobody else
is gonna do it, okay?

Is that enough? Does that count?
Can we stop now?

Frances, this isn't just about you.

[BREATHES ANGRILY]

You now have the chance...

and you have the choice...

to come back and reinvent yourself.

When you hear the sound of the chimes,

I invite you...

to rebirth yourself...

out of the Earth and into your new life.

[BELL CHIMES]

- That was interesting.
- Could you just be open, please?

Okay.

YAO: All right! Next up
is the hike this afternoon.

Yeah, I... I don't think
I'm up for a hike.

Of course. It's not mandatory,
though highly recommended.

We can schedule you
for some acupuncture,

- maybe, it'll help with your back.
- Oh, that would be lovely.

Jessica, your session with Masha is now.

- Is that mandatory?
- YAO: Yes. Yes, it is.

[FRANCES SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

This is absolutely incredible.

You know, I toured
the Acupuncture Houses, uh, in Beijing.

I was doing some research
for one of my books.

- But have you been?
- Oh, Lulu's been everywhere.

- Oh.
- I trained in Oregon.

Oh! La-di-dah-di. [CHUCKLES]

[CHUCKLES]

[SIGHS] Oh.

The Bai Hui point.

It's where all energies converge.

- Is that right?
- That's right.

- [FRANCES CHUCKLES]
- Try to keep still, Frances.

Oh. I felt that.

Yeah, I'm just taking some blood.

Oh. Why?

For your blood sugar.

Ah. Okay. Well, next time maybe

give me a heads-up
before you shiv my lipids.

- Okay. [CHUCKLING]
- Okay, good one. [CHUCKLES]

[CHUCKLES] You're funny. I like you.

Well... that makes one of us. [CHUCKLES]

Can I ask you two a question?

GLORY: Mm-hmm, of course.

I mean, is Masha crazy
or is she the real deal?

GLORY: Masha?

Masha is the realest of them all.
Hundred percent.

Why are you here?

Oh, I thought we had
our one-on-one, but I can come...

- Oh, no.
- Why are you at Tranquillum?

Oh! [LAUGHS NERVOUSLY]

What are you hoping to gain?

Um...

Transformation, for one thing.

I'm really... interested
in fixing what's broken,

- you know?
- And what would that be?

[GULPS]

Uh...

You are very nervous.

[LAUGHS NERVOUSLY] Yeah, I am.

There is no reason to be.

Tell me.

What is particularly making
you anxious right now?

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

You.

You're, like, super smart

and intuitive.

And very f*cking hot, by the way.

I'm sorry, but you are, and I'm, uh...

I'm okay. I'm fine. Um... [GULPS]

And I'm okay with people looking at me

on the outside, you know, I've basically

cultivated that but,

being seen on the inside, which...

you strike me as very... capable of, um,

- it just makes me...
- MASHA: You came here afraid.

You were afraid before
you knew of my existence.

[BREATHES SHAKILY]

When I was, uh...

lying in that ditch,

you know, um,

imagining my own death,

I thought about comments.

Not my family.

Comments.

Saying how tragic it was
that someone so...

young and...

pretty...

d*ed like that.

And for a second,
it made me feel better.

For a second.

Then I realized

my Instagram account
would be deleted a week later

and everyone would move on,
forget about me.

You want your life... to be important,

to mean something.

Yeah.

But that's not
what you really came here for.

Um, it's not?

Why doesn't he love you anymore?

[WHISPERS] I don't know.

It's unfair.

[SOBBING] Mm-hmm.

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

[ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYING]

TONY: Attractive.

[FRANCES COUGHS]

If you don't mind,
I'm social distancing.

Actually, I do mind.

Well, then fine. I have my cramps.

You can't have both cramps
and hot flashes...

I don't think.

For you, I can. So bye-bye.

- You know what, lady?
- [SIGHS] Here we go.

One of the reasons I came
to this funny farm,

my entire adult life
people have been telling me

to f*ck off.

- Well...
- TONY: And in the very short time

that we've known each other,

you've practically medaled at it.

You know what, I'm not f*cking off.

All right?
This place practically screams,

"welcome mat."

I'm going to enjoy the nature.

I'm going to enjoy the food.
I'm gonna enjoy the... pool.

I'm even gonna enjoy you

bobbing up and down
like a cork in the pool.

You know why?
Because every day is a gift.

This whole place
is my f*cking gift, lady.

Did I hear something?
I could have... I...

I just thought...
Did anyone say something?

I don't see anybody. No. Nobody.

Nobody. Nobody.

[LAUGHS]

Son of a...

[GASPS, COUGHS] You bastard! [COUGHS]

- I'm sorry, what did you say?
- [COUGHS] Ugh!

Okay, let's take this to
a higher plane, shall we?

You're gonna start with your hands out

in front or behind you.
Eyes on the ground.

Six to eight feet in front of you.

We're gonna start with your right foot,
move it forward one step.

Think right step, left step...

Right. Left. Right.

So how did it go?

- Yeah, oh, uh...
- Wait, was she amazing?

I bet she was. [LAUGHS]

I think both of
y'all are a little star-struck.

Oh, no. I'm... I'm actually,
not a star-struck person.

[SIGHS] I used to work on Broadway,
so I've met stars,

real stars.

I met Alan Cumming. [CHUCKLES]

So, I'm not star-struck.

- Wow, Broadway.
- What'd you do on Broadway?

Oh, I did, um... wardrobe, um,

hair and make-up, props.
I kinda actually...

I did it all.

Yeah, till I had my girls.

And my husband, he didn't want me to

work anymore. He made enough money...

so, you know, he just...
he didn't like the idea

of a nanny raising our kids.

That's nice. At least you had
that time with your kids.

What did you say?

Huh?

CARMEL: Well, they're still my kids.

Just because they're off
with someone else, they're still...

they're still my kids.

BEN: What did I say?

You... you said, had, past tense. But...

Seems like she... had a past
and now it's tense. [LAUGHS]

Is that really something to be proud of?

These bloody breeders.

Biggest thr*at to the planet
is overpopulation and they keep

pumping them out without an apology.

It's incredible you're still single.

Crazy.

[SIGHS] Whatever.

[MUFFLED CHATTERING]

[LET'S LIVE BY AARON NEVILLE PLAYING]

[BIRD CHIRPING]

♪ Why t*rture yourself? ♪

- ♪ When you know ♪
- [FRANCES SNORING]

♪ You're in love ♪

♪ Throw your pride in the ocean ♪

♪ And be happy beneath the stars above ♪

- [SNORING CONTINUES]
- ♪ Confess your feelings ♪

♪ To the one you love ♪

[SNORING, GAGS]

♪ And let's live ♪

- [CHOKES]
- ♪ Before it's too late ♪

- [FRANCES COUGHS]
- Are you f*cking kidding me? Are you...

♪ Why deprive yourself? ♪

- Hey, hey, hey.
- No, no, no. Come here.

- Hey!
- [FRANCES CONTINUES CHOKING]

- [COUGHS]
- You all right? Hey?

- You okay?
- I don't know I... [COUGHS]

- Just take deep breaths.
- Deep breaths. In and...

- [EXHALES] Oh, good.
- [COUGHS] Oh God!

- Oh.
- What happened?

I don't know. Ah... you... you
were sleeping, you were snoring

and then all of a sudden, you...
you were choking. It was...

so weird.

[CLEARS THROAT] I don't
understand how you just...

...just start choking. [COUGHS]

I don't know.
Do you have a medical condition?

No.

Not that I know of, I don't...

- Oh, that was scary.
- [EXHALES] Oh, what is that?

What?

- Is that a grape?
- No. No, I don't...

Is that...

- Don't! What are you doing?
- I don't... I don't think so.

FRANCES: Keep... Damn it.

- It is a grape.
- Huh.

Ah... [SIGHS]

How did it a grape get in my...

I don't know. Yeah.

[EXHALES] Oh. Did you put
a grape into my mouth?

- No. What are you...
- Oh, my God!

I... No...

Did you throw a grape into mouth?

I know, I tossed the grape in your mouth

but it was an accident, okay?
You were snoring and I just...

you know, I just wanted to wake you up.

- And...
- [COUGHS]

- I'm sorry.
- You could've k*lled me.

I could take that sh*t all day long

and the odds of it going in are like...

- Do you want a grape?
- What?

I do not want a grape. I'm not gonna...

Don't you...

How do you like it?

TONY: Who's Paul?

FRANCES: Who's what?

Paul. You were...
You were saying his name, Paul,

- when you were sleeping.
- No, I wasn't.

- Yes, you were.
- No, I wasn't.

[CHUCKLES, BREATHES DEEPLY]

Got it.

[GROANS, EXHALES]

So who is he?

[FRANCES EXHALES HEAVILY]

I don't know. I can honestly say,

I don't know who Paul is, but I do know

that it's none of your business.

Well, which is it?

[SIGHS, INHALES DEEPLY]

Paul Drabble. Uh...

Is a man I met...

online,
a man I fell in love with online.

A man who did not fall in love with me,

either online or offline.

Allegedly from...

Canada, who had a fake child,

that got a fake illness...

and then he convinced me to...

send him... quite a bit of real money.

[GROANS] Oh, I'm sorry.

I mean, you know, it's not like

I had to date online.
I get asked out by men...

all the time.
There's multiple sources that say

I'm... I'm very good in bed,
even enthusiastic.

Well, you don't have to talk about this

if it makes you feel uncomfortable.

Doesn't make me uncomfortable.
Does it make you uncomfortable?

Yeah, a little.

[FRANCES CHUCKLES]

There's a part of me
that thinks it was worth it.

You know, six months of love
and... companionship.

I don't know, half a year of
that, feeling like that...

Not a bad deal. Right?

Maybe you could put
it in one of your books.

It'll make a good story, no?

- Yeah, maybe.
- [CHUCKLES]

I take it you've never read me.

Well, uh, yeah. You know what?

I read a snippet.

- [SCOFFS] Snippet.
- Yesterday.

When I was taking
a piss on this massive tree,

found an article
all about your b*ating Heart.

Wait, what?

Isn't that what it's called?
The b*ating...

- The b*ating Heart?
- No!

- It was.
- No.

- The... That's what they said.
- No, it's not.

It can't... No, because it can't be

because it's not...

It's not published yet.

And so it's still in manuscript format.

[HESITATES]
I don't know what to tell you.

Maybe the guy got
a leaked copy or something.

I'd be stoked, actually.

It means he really wanted
to read it, right?

You're in demand.

I would take it as a compliment.

- What did it say?
- I don't... I don't remember.

Just what... You... I know you're lying.

What did it say?

He didn't like it very much.

He... He didn't like... Did he hate it?

What do critics know anyway, huh?

Look at poor Stallone.

Ah, the f*cking critics
treat him like garbage

and Rocky is the greatest movie
ever made.

- So they hated it.
- [TONY SCOFFS]

Well. That's that.

[FOOTSTEPS RECEDING]

Where are you going?

[LAUGHING AND SCREAMING]

GLORY: Implicitly,
it may seem like a kids' game.

But when it comes to trusting,

when it comes to being ourselves,

when it comes to letting go,

kids have a lot to teach us.

NAPOLEON: That's right.

GLORY: Let's give it a go.

[NAPOLEON CHUCKLES]

NAPOLEON: Okay, come on, Carmel.

Come on! [INDISTINCT]

- Okay, you ready? Here we go...
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]

All right. Come on, Carmel.

[SCREAMS] Oh, my God!

- NAPOLEON: Oh, wow, you got me.
- [CARMEL LAUGHS]

CARMEL: Got you!

[CHEERING]

[WAVES CRASHING]

All right, I wanna do him next.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

Mom.

- Mom!
- Honey!

Honey!

- [HEATHER GASPS]
- [WAVES ROAR]

HEATHER: Take your hands off me.

Just take your f*cking hands off me!

NAPOLEON: Please, honey. Please.

- Napoleon, please step back.
- It's okay.

It's okay!

Heather, what's going on?

I just want you to step away.

I'm not gonna do that.
But what I am gonna do,

is hold your hand.

[HEATHER GASPS, BREATHES]

Do you know what
they say about holding hands?

[INHALES]

It's intimate.

It can be more intimate
than lovemaking even.

Do you know why?

There's something intuitive about it,

something knowing about it.

Perhaps, it's... it's
the nerve endings in the

fingertips or the sensory
systems in the hands,

but people feel each other.

They know each other,

even people they've never
even met before.

What do you feel in my hands, Heather?

Somebody who's been where...
where you are, maybe?

Somebody who has stood where you stand?

[RAGGED BREATHING]

You have never stood where I stand.

[SOMBER PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]

[ZOE SIGHS]

YAO: Do you think she
was really going to jump?

DELILAH: I don't know. Maybe not today,

but she's certainly ideating.

This group is a powder keg, Masha.

I mean... [CLEARS THROAT]

Lars is... Honestly,
I... I don't know what Lars is,

but I know, he's not just
a guest. [INHALES]

He-he's... got some agenda.
I can smell it.

You swept his room?

DELILAH: Top to bottom.

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

Yao, would you sweep it again for me?

YAO: No problem.

Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were

in a meeting. [CHUCKLES]

No. It's quite all right. Please.

Come on in.

How can I help you?

Um... [EXHALES] I think...
I think I have to go.

I don't...

want to find myself. I don't...

think I'm equipped for the discovery.

I just had kind of
a near-death experience myself,

so... guess that's one thing
we have in common, huh?

Mine wasn't as exotic as yours, but...

First, because I almost
choked on a grape.

And, uh... second,
I didn't... I didn't...

I didn't see the little girl,
joyously riding her bike.

I just...

I just saw the truth.

Which is...

[EXHALES]

How much time do you got?

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY] Sit.

Frances.

What?

The... truth is that I'm a...
twice-divorced, middle-aged...

hot-flashing, menopausal heap.
I've become a punchline.

I have been down
in these dark holes before.

And... the one way out was
that I could write my way out.

Turns out... [LAUGHS]
I'm a one-trick pony

that can no longer do her one trick.

You're a car, Frances.

Oh, okay. A... a car?

Hm. And your gas t*nk is empty.

And you're smoking,

you're churning, you're wheezing.

You can't get going. But...

in a few days, you're gonna refuel.

And I promise you, you're gonna
feel a thousand times better.

I totally expected a metaphor there.

I just thought...

maybe it would be
something a little more

- lyrical.
- Okay. Try this.

Kintsugi.

A bowl? [LAUGHS]

No. The Japanese art
of repairing broken pottery.

The broken pieces are mended
with lacquer,

powdered gold to make
something stronger.

More beautiful.

Does b*at a crappy car.

This will be you.

I just, uh... I don't think I want it.

It's what you need.

[SNIFFLES] I... I think
I may need a Four Seasons

and a couple of bellinis,
is what I need. [SOBS]

- [WHISPERS]
- Frances, give me one more day.

Please.

One more day.

If tomorrow you... you...
you don't wanna stay, fine.

I'll respect your decision.
But give me one more day. Yes?

I don't think anything is gonna change.

What have you got to lose?
You've come this far.

[SNIFFLES]

Okay.

Just no more metaphors.
Like I can take it.

[LOYALTY BY GABRIELS PLAYING]

♪ We're in deep, me and you ♪

♪ This thing of ours
through and through ♪

♪ We all do things we shouldn't do ♪

♪ I ain't gonna stop loving you ♪

♪ Aim is lit, hope is dry ♪

♪ God himself can't deny ♪

♪ We all do things we shouldn't do ♪

[NAPOLEON PANTING] Hey, honey.

She wasn't gonna jump.

Stop... trying to shield me
from everything, Dad! I saw!

I f*cking saw it.

Honey... You know, as well as I do,

your mother would...

You watch me like I'm the problem.

Do you realize you guys
are the f*cked up ones inside?

And all you do is hide it from me.

[CRIES] And from each other,
from everybody.

♪ Must admit I've done wrong ♪

♪ Same old sh*t... ♪

- [LAUGHS]
- One at a time.

Oh, hey. Um, how's... how's Frances?

She's hurting.

You're right, Delilah, this is...

a particularly volatile group.
But they're a brilliant one,

and we need them all.

Let's start the Protocol.
The new Protocol.

O... Okay, but it's, it's only day two.

Mm-hmm. But we have to make it
to day three.

We can't lose any of them.

They haven't fully detoxed.
It hasn't been tested.

They are begging to be saved.

They're on their hands and knees.
You can both see that.

I've made the decision.

All right?

Let's go, my loves.

There is no time to waste.

This is exciting.

♪ I ain't gonna stop loving you ♪

♪ I ain't gonna stop loving you ♪

♪ They'll b*at youse same old smile ♪

♪ Self-respect's been gone a while ♪

♪ We all do things we shouldn't do ♪

♪ I ain't gonna stop loving you ♪

[VOCALIZING]

[VOCALIZING]

♪ Until ♪

♪ Death do us apart ♪

♪ Shallow grave, roses grew ♪

♪ This thing of ours
we know is through ♪

♪ We all do things we shouldn't do ♪

♪ I ain't gonna stop loving you ♪

♪ I ain't gonna stop loving you ♪

♪ I ain't gonna stop loving you ♪