04x01 - The Declaration

[bunniefuu]

Dear sally,

I got your message.

I just called you back,
but your machine picked up.

So I'm a senior now...

Officially,

Which is, um...

Everything's gonna be great.

It's not like... You know.

Things have been...

Much more complicated than this.

Have you ever had such a good
summer that it was sort of a problem?

I spent the last three months
here in new york with noel.

At first, I thought it might
be... You know, awkward,

With everything that
happened at the end of last year.

But I was wrong. The
summer was a complete blur.

We spent the whole time in
central park or the angelika

Or at yankee games and the
strand eating really bad food.

We spent the
summer not thinking,

Which I didn't even realize

Until I started getting
these clippings from my dad.

Oh, my god.

- Are you reading that
article on gwyneth?
- No.

It is fantastic. Please
read it so we can talk.

Another clipping?

"This girl graduated
harvard medical at 22.

F.y.i. I thought you'd be
interested. Love, dad."

"F.y.i. Compare yourself to another
successful person that isn't you."

"P.s. Please return my
calls. Stop avoiding me."

- Are you avoiding him?
- Yes.

He'll start probing me about
my life and I'll get nauseous.

- Noel, get my back?
- Speaking of nauseous.

The problem is, when you make
the jokes, they're never funny.

- Here. I'll get you.
- You, I love. Slather me.

- Okay.
- I burn like dracula.

Hey, hey, look. The
saturday puzzle, in ink.

Wow. Okay, dinner's on me.

- That was the motivation.
- What were you thinking?

- The new chinese place?
- Yeah.

- You gonna stay, javier?
- No. I can't.

Before she gets
back from buffalo,

I have to perform errands
for that bane of my persistence.

Give elena a break.
She's getting married.

This is the last wedding
coordinator gig of my life.

You decide what we're gonna
do for dinner. I'm gonna run.

- That clipping means nothing.
- Thank you.

Yeah.

What? Javier.

There is one particular noun
I have not heard all day long.

- Benjamin.
- You know what?

He's back in two days. He's
my boyfriend. I love him. Stop.

This year is not gonna be as
simple as you like to think. Ay!

You're slathered.

I wasn't sure why they
bothered me so much,

Those stupid
clippings from my dad

About total strangers
who were my age

Who happened to know exactly
what they're doing with their lives,

As if that's all that matters.

But they did bother me.

They do bother me.

Noel.

- Noel?
- Hmm?

Are you awake?

Mm-hmm.

Forget it. I'm sorry.

Wait, wait, wait. What's up?

Did you have a bad dream?

I don't know.

Here.

Come in.

It was just this alligator
who was attacking everyone.

Yeah.

You were trying to fight
it, and then it k*lled you.

- It k*lled me?
- Yeah. It was horrible.

Then it started chasing me.

Oh, god.

- Noel?
- Hmm?

What's gonna happen this year?

We're so old. How can
we be seniors already?

Seniors? I already graduated.

This year's just
gonna be so weird.

I mean, elena's getting married.

You're gonna go off
and get some big job.

I'm never gonna see you.

There is no job yet.
And you're gonna see me.

You know there's gonna be a job.

All right. This is... This is
what happens senior year.

You begin to panic
about the future

Because you can actually,
for the first time, start to see it.

You're gonna find something you
love... That honors art program?

You're gonna do great.

- I haven't even applied yet.
- What?

Look. I mean, it's a big deal.
It's jeremy cavallo. Come on.

Yeah, but you're crazy.
Your portfolio's amazing.

What if he looks at my
stuff and says I'm not good?

Well, that's not gonna happen.

Trust me.

This is gonna be the
best year of your life.

Then why do I feel like this?

♪ Can you become

♪ Can you become

♪ A new version of you

♪ New wallpaper

♪ New shoe leather

♪ A new way home

♪ I don't remember

♪ New version of you

♪ I need a new version of me

♪ New version of you

♪ I need a new version of me ♪

How can you say
that answer's fair?

Shut your stinking trap.

Just go over this
with me one more time.

Someone save me from this.

Who's there? Felicity?

- Meghan.
- Oh, you'll have to do.

Uh, what color are
these? Bone or white?

I'm good, thanks.
Have a good summer?

Pretty good. I'm
sorry. I'm in a crisis.

- Wanna hear something funny?
- You will lose your ball. They're white.

- Hey. Hey, guys.
- Hi.

When did you get back?

- Everything is a nightmare.
- What? The wedding?

If you read that something
happened to javier, I did it.

- It's good to see you.
- You, too.

- Hey.
- Hey.

- Is this weird?
- Clam it.

We're on the plane from
switzerland playing a game.

If you could have sex with
anybody, who would it be?

He says elizabeth hurley.

- What's wrong with that?
- Nothing. Perfect answer.

You know who meghan says? Tracy.

Oh, my god.

What? He's hot.

He's marrying elena.
He's our friend.

You could have sex with him.

I'm not gonna put you
through this. We're leaving.

You're good. Right?

- Yeah.
- Tracy.

It's so weird. I'm a senior.

You'd think I'd finally
be at a place where...

You know, where no one
person's opinion of me

Or what I did would
really matter.

We'll meet friday.
Yeah. Let's meet friday.

What?

Noth... Nothing.

Ex-excuse me.

I guess I'm just not there yet.

I didn't really say
anything. I just...

Muttered nothing and
made a squeak and ran away.

So you'll go back tomorrow.

No. Now I'm too embarrassed.

- What do you think?
- It's good. I like the tie.

Now take it off. We have an
hour before the sun disappears.

I feel good about
these interviews.

Are you kidding? You're
gonna be turning down jobs.

Did I just ruin my chances
of getting into that program?

Hey.

What are you doing here?

I, um... I came home early.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Hey.

Look at your hair.

- I know. Hey. How you doing?
- Good. How are you?

- I'm good. It's
good to see you.
- You, too.

I'm gonna go up to tar beach.

- What's tar beach?
- The roof. I'll
meet you in a bit.

No. You guys hang out. I'll
see you later. Welcome back.

Thanks, man.

You know how much
I missed your face?

I can't believe you're here.

Yeah, I know.

What is this?

That, in many western
civilizations, is a dress.

- What are these buttons?
- We talked about the buttons.

I never said buttons. I
gave altadena a picture.

Not altadena. It's almundina,
and this is her notion.

That notion is a disaster.

- Put on your chill pill. I'll call her.
- The hemline is wrong.

Excuse me. We'll fix everything.

I want it right in
the first place.

- She can handle this?
- Yes. For two reasons.

One, she's my cousin. I don't
know why that's a reason.

And two, she's so fast,
she's like rumpelstiltskin.

- What?
- Who is rumpelstiltskin?

I have to register for
class. Can you handle this?

Uh-huh.

Good. I'll call you later.

Ooh, lucky me.

Can I tell you
something horrible?

Yes.

When you called me last week

And you said you could tell
from the e.m.t. Training program

That you didn't
wanna be a paramedic...

Yeah?

I was relieved.

Why?

I don't know. It
made me feel like...

Like I wouldn't be alone

In not knowing exactly
what I was going to do.

You know?

Well, it's true. I don't wanna
be a paramedic. I know that now.

But I said that because...

When I was there, I
realized something.

What?

You can't laugh at this.

I won't laugh. What?

I realized I wanna be a doctor.

Wow.

Hello? Yeah. She's here.

Okay. Hold on.

Yeah?

It's your dad.

Um, could you just
tell him I'll call him back?

He's in town.

Don't let him make you
feel bad about yourself.

- Thanks.
- You all right?

- Mm-hmm.
- Good.

Hi.

Yeah. When did...

Wow.

Dad, you didn't have to...

I know. Dad, I
know. Listen. Um...

You know what? That's not fair.

No. It's not.

What do you mean, "for example"?

Okay. Well, for example, I'm in
the honors art program, okay?

Yes.

Jeremy cavallo. Have
you even heard of him?

Mm-hmm.

Okay.

Yeah. No. Tomorrow. That's good.

All right. Okay. Bye.

You all right?

You're, uh... You're in
the honors program?

No.

Oh.

Well, what does he want?

My dad?

Um, he's just
here to talk to me.

About what?

Just, uh...

I don't know. My future.

Excuse me. Professor cavallo?

Yeah?

Hi. Um, I'm felicity porter.

- You were here yesterday.
- Yes. Exactly. Um...

- I was on the phone.
- I'm sorry if...

No. I'm sorry. Um, it
was a bad call, and...

- I may have been
a little grouchy.
- No.

Little bit?

A little. Only a little.

- I wanted to drop off
my portfolio if...
- For the honors program.

- If you were still looking.
- I'm still looking.

Should I leave it?

- Yeah. Uh, do you
have a contact number?
- Yes. Inside.

- Good. I will call you.
- Thank you very much.

Just... Avoid me
when I'm on the phone.

Good to know.

- I'll see you. Bye-bye.
- All right. Thank you.

Yep. Yep. That looks fine.

- It does?
- Sure. I'll sign
your drop-add form.

- You're a natural
for med school.
- A natural?

Really?

Wow.

"A" in organic chem.

A-minus, bio chem.

Uh, mr. Norman?

Mr. Norman, I never
took those classes.

- Benjamin conner?
- No. I'm not benjamin conner.

Who are you?

I'm ben covington.

Yeah.

No. No. This is a problem.

How so?

- How so?
- Yeah.

Have you seen this?

Yes, I've seen it. Sir, I know I'm
not the strongest student...

Mr. Covington, you're
looking to take 18 credits.

- I know.
- Fourteen is the norm.

Yes, I know that.

Well, your grades...

And I'm not trying to
bring you down here...

Your grades indicate that
taking 18 credits could...

Possibly k*ll you.

I'm the one that's
willing to give it a try.

- What do you care?
- You should be thanking me.

It is beyond unlikely that
you'll be able to do this.

Do what many people
do. Take a fifth year.

I'm gonna have to anyway
if I'm gonna make premed.

I'm gonna be honest.
When I got here,

I had no idea what
I wanted to do.

Now I do.

So, please.

I'll tell you what.

Take this. It's a
placement test.

If you pass that,
I'll sign your form.

Thank you.

Okay, keep 'em closed.

Two more seconds.
Okay, open 'em.

- What happened to the sleeves?
- You asked almundina
to make 'em shorter.

Yeah. I didn't say remove them.

Okay. Sweetheart,
would you tell me...

If you were doing dr*gs?

I'm not doing dr*gs. I just...

I want the dress
that I asked for.

Then we'll fix it.

You have to redo
the whole thing.

You have to stop exploding...

I have to do everything
myself. It is a wedding dress.

It is not the wheel.
Can't you get it right?

No. Apparently no. I
can't... No, I can't get it right.

I have been busting my little
behind for you 24-7. For what?

To get your sassy mouth? No.

You couldn't
possibly understand.

I will do it myself.

It's okay. She liked it.

You'd think it would be
statistically impossible

To have 16 meetings and
not get one second interview.

The moment I know it is when
they say, "oh. Looks good."

There's this pause and they
say, "but..." That is the moment.

It's just the first round.

Where did summer go?
Summer's gone and I have nothing.

You have the honors art program.

- I do not.
- You do.

- My dad is in town.
- True.

- Dinner tonight
is gonna be t*rture.
- No, it's not.

He's the one freaking out, not
you. It's like the spider thing.

What spider thing?

How scared people get around spiders, but
really it's the spiders that are scared.

Just keep thinking, "he's
not dad. He's daddy longlegs."

Hey, will you come with me?

- You don't really
want me to.
- I do.

There's nothing worse than these dinners
with my dad. Little moral support. Come on.

I'll be there in spirit.

Yeah?

Yeah. You'll feel me there.
I'll be right beside you.

Moping about my future.

It looks like I'm gonna
have to do one more year.

- Wow.
- Dad.

- Hey.
- Hey, sweetie.

- I thought we were gonna
meet at the restaurant.
- I was nearby.

I just came by to pick up
those books. The o-chem books.

- Premed.
- I know. I know.

Yeah. I, uh, passed that test,
by the way. The placement test.

That... That's great.

- You did?
- Yep.

- Congratulations.
- Thanks a lot.

- So, you ready?
- Yes.

Okay.

So mom sounds like
she's doing okay.

Yeah. Yeah. She seems, uh...

Seems happy.

Yeah.

- How's...
- Let me say what I wanna say.

Okay.

I think...

You're wasting your time.

You've been floating through your
experience here, head in the clouds,

Concerning yourself mostly
with relationships with boys

- Instead of planning.
- Dad...

You're graduating
college in nine months.

I know.

Art is fine.

I like the arts. I like museums.

I love that you're
artistic, that you paint,

But that is not a life.

Felicity, it's time to
get back to medicine.

Now, this art thing,
you can do that also.

Sam devonshire.
He's a cardiologist,

And he also makes
these little...

What... Crafts.

Can I get you folks
something to drink?

Excuse me.

- Hello.
- Hey, it's me.

- What are you doing?
- Staring at my résumé.

- Is dinner over already?
- Just starting.

- How bad?
- Bad. You said I'd
feel you here. I don't.

Look, this is just
what parents do.

They're not evil. They're
just stupid sometimes.

- He told me
I'm wasting my life.
- That just proves it.

- What?
- He doesn't know you
as well as i.

But he's not right, is he?
Just tell me he's not right.

You have to make
your own choices here,

Even if some of them
end up being mistakes.

This is your life
we're talking about.

This is not some schedule or
some preordained performance.

Life is an obstacle course.

- Life is a challenge.
- I'm gonna go in there.

Yeah. Think positive.
Kick ass. Take names.

- Okay, thanks.
- No problem.

Bye.

Look, dad, I know
what you're saying.

Good.

And I know it must seem
to you like I'm floundering.

Yes.

But the fact is, I am in
this honors art program,

And this is a class that
is very important to me.

This is my life and I feel like I
have to make my own choices,

Even if some of
them are mistakes.

It's not like I'm
on some schedule.

Maybe you should be on one.

Well, that's not how
I wanna live my life.

Fair enough.

Then I am not comfortable,
and neither is your mother,

Subsidizing this lifestyle.

- Dad, I'm in college.
- Look at yourself.

You're no better off than
you were three years ago.

Keep this up, where are you
gonna be one year from now?

You can't come
here and judge me...

That is exactly what I can do.

You wouldn't be here
if it wasn't for me.

If my being here means
having to answer to you...

Your future isn't gonna
start years from now.

- You're not even listening.
- These last three years
have been a waste.

A waste of money and time.

I don't want you to pay
for this. I will pay myself.

- That's not what I'm saying.
- It's what I'm saying.

I don't want your help. I
don't need your critique, okay?

I don't need you.

Felicity.

What are you doing?

I'm just lying here.

In your suit?

Mm.

Why are you in your suit?

Hmm.

I put it on just
to look at myself,

Try to figure out
what the problem is.

- Things get any better
with your dad?
- No.

- I'm paying
for college now.
- Oh, god.

Whatever.

How'd you end it?

I walked out.

Want some candy?

Yeah.

There are three
steps you need to take

In order to declare
your independence.

First, your parents or guardian
need to sign these two forms.

Provide us with rent stubs,
phone bills, etcetera, as indicated.

You need to sign this form in
order to be eligible for a loan.

Thanks.

Yeah. Next in line.

I went into that office sort
of dreading the whole thing.

But you know, the weird thing
about declaring your independence,

There's something about it...

I mean, if you really
think about the idea of it...

It's kind of amazing.

Hey. Sorry I'm late.

You said you were gonna
be here an hour ago.

- You're mad?
- Yes. I'm late
for my first class.

If there's a reason tracy and elena
shouldn't get married, it's this dress.

You don't want
'em to get married.

It'll be harder for you to
get lucky with the groom.

- You know what?
- What?

Don't ask me a question unless
you want an honest answer.

What are you fighting about?

- We're not fighting. We're just...
- Nothing.

God!

What is that?

- What?
- What you're eating.

What? Cake.

That's the wedding cake!

Are you kidding?
It was in the fridge.

You ate their wedding cake.

It had a bride and groom on top.

I knew it was a wedding cake. I
didn't know it was the wedding cake.

I'm gonna cry.

You are so busted.

Shut up.

Rod liked you.

No. Rod loved me.

I told you you'd
have good interviews.

This graphics house is
amazing. There's a full-time chef.

Wow.

You'll come visit. You
won't believe this office.

Wish me luck.

He's gonna love
your work. You'll see.

You were right about
me. I can't be wrong.

- I'm gonna call you later.
- Okay. Bye.

Dad, what are you doing here?

I wanted to see this class
that was so important.

I thought I'd get to your
stuff, but I haven't even looked.

That's okay.

- Jeremy cavallo.
- Edward porter.

At 2:00 I can tell you
whether or not you're in.

- Sure.
- Good.

- I need you to sign these.
- What's going on?

Please just sign.

- What is this?
- So I can pay for school.

I have to send them
to the accountant.

Whatever you gotta do.

- Hi.
- Hello.

- This is o-chem?
- It is.

- The door was locked.
- Yes, it was.

I'm in this class.

- What's your name?
- Ben covington.

You're late. Door
locks on the hour.

There'll be a quiz on today's
lecture. Get the notes online.

- Please.
- You've been warned.

Miss two lectures and we
drop you from the class.

- Hello.
- Uh, should I come back or...

No. Pull up a seat.

So...

So...

Good stuff.

- Thanks.
- Really. It's good.

But?

But, um...

I think you should
take composition first.

- I already took that.
- Okay. Okay.

Bradshaw's teaching a fantastic
class on shading and form.

He's supposed to be really good.

He is.

Phone. Me on the phone.

Excuse me.

Hello.

Hey.

Yeah. Seven.

Mm-hmm.

No. It's just a
few things. Yeah.

- Hey.
- Hey.

I met with cavallo.

Do you know how to
get this thing to work?

Can you get it to work?

Uh... Is there paper in there?

Yeah, there's paper.

What's going on?

Nothing. Can you get it to work?

Um, yeah. Let me, uh...

- I don't know why
it's not working.
- I'll do it.

- Why are you angry?
- 'Cause I got locked
out of class.

Hodges wouldn't let me in,
so I missed my first lecture.

That's why I'm angry.

Because I was late.

I've been trying to
download for a freakin' hour.

Ben, I'm really sorry.

I don't think you have any idea how hard
this year's gonna be. I'm taking 18 credits.

- I told you that, right?
- I didn't mean to be late.

Whatever. I'm just gonna
go play some basketball.

Uh, listen. Um, almundina gave
me something to return to you.

It's the, uh... The
picture you gave her.

It's your mother, isn't it?

Yeah.

I didn't know you were trying
to copy your mother's dress.

Ah, it's all right.

I guess I forgot that, uh...

I forgot that your mother's
not around anymore for you.

That would be so hard for me.

It's just that I thought
if I wore this dress,

That she would be there with me.

Let's call almundina...

And we'll get that
dress perfect.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Do you wanna come
in for a little bit?

No. No. I have a car
waiting... Downstairs.

So ethan looked over the papers.

Said they were standard.

Did you sign them?

Yeah.

Thanks.

This is not how I
wanted this trip to go.

I love you.

I know, dad.

I love you, too.

I just... I think
this is important.

I'm not a little girl anymore.

How did the teacher
like your stuff?

He loved it.

So, you got into the class?

Yeah.

Yeah. I start on monday.

Good for you.

Bye.

It's hard to articulate...

This thing that
I'm so afraid of.

The future.

I mean, why should we be
so afraid of the future?

It's just time.

Isn't it?

- What are you doing here?
- To see you,
but no one was home, so...

Thought I'd come up
to our summer hangout.

Yeah. Me, too.

Need to clear my head.

So, how'd it go?

The job thing?

Didn't happen.

What?

Yeah. It turns out rod
likes a lot of people.

Turns out that rod is fickle.

Rod has problems.

Noel.

Oh, it's not a big deal.

Yeah, it is.

Yeah, it is.

Well, I didn't get into
the honors program, so...

Oh, no.

He turned me down.

And it occurred to me
in sort of a huge way...

That my dad's right.

I'm just lost, you know?

No.

Yeah.

Yeah.

How could we both be so
wrong about each other?

Yeah.

Maybe it was just...

What?

I don't know.

♪ Feels so good but
damn, it makes me hurt

♪ I'm too scared to know
how I feel about you now

♪ How I feel about you now

♪ La cienega just smiles

♪ And says "I'll
see you around" ♪