02x07 - Matryoshka

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Russian Doll". Aired: February 1, 2019 - present.*
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Nadia, a game developer who repeatedly dies and relives the same night in an ongoing time loop and tries to solve it, leading to her finding Alan in the same situation.
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02x07 - Matryoshka

Post by bunniefuu »

♪ There was a time when we could dance
Until a quarter to ten ♪

♪ We never thought it would end then ♪

♪ We never thought it would end... ♪

Tabula rasa.

What are you talking about?

Tabula rasa.

A blank slate.

Do you know who I could've been
if everything had been different?

If anything had been different?

The chance to be the me I could've been

literally slid out of my body
on a 6 train platform.

How, with all the time travel stories

about people
accidentally obliterating themselves,

do you find a way to make yourself double?

I had to take her someplace safe.

This is safe? Hmm?

You have collapsed time, Nadia,

and now we are back in this horrible,
evil freaking birthday party

I spent lifetimes trying to escape!

Chicken's almost ready!

Jesus Christ with this f*cking song.

I went through major sh*t, Nadia.
You don't think I wanted to change things?

But no, I followed the rules of the train
because I am a good commuter.

But you, you on the other hand,
you're just...

Look, no kid should have to go through
what I went through, all right?

Trust me, I've lived all sides of it.

Who's a little Rashomon face?

♪ Rashomon ♪

- ♪ She's a Rashomon face ♪
- I'm... I'm sorry.

A friend kidnapping her newborn self
then collapsing time is a hard boundary.

Come on.

- They went down...
- Oh boy.

...alive, into the realm of the dead.

Who... who are they?

Oh look at that.

This used to be a school for Jews.

Now, it's open-planned living
for the enlightened.

I use the terms "now"
and "used to be" loosely.

- Oh my God.
- Okay.

Who's Nadia Comăneci?

- Yes, she is. Ten-ten-ten.
- God, oh God.

Enough about me.

How have you been?

Can I hold her?

Sure, but don't make it weird.

She's me, you know?

Ah.

Somebody likes you.

This guy.

Now, see, this is the type of sh*t
I was thinking about.

Hey, baby.

Okay, okay,
we... we have to bring her back.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

We cannot live
in this chaos forever. Look, look.

Nadia, it's a simple decision. We just...

Simple says you.
Me? I'm still exploring my options.

What?

I mean, the world is different, sure,
but it's not terrible.

Guess what? There's time.

There's time for everything.

Nadia, Nadia, please.

Come on, man,
we've been through worse, all right?

We can handle this.

Hey, as Abraham used to say,

"Trust that the fabric of space-time
is durable like Tyvek."

Uh...

Which is Sheol, where all dead go.

The common grave for all humanity.

Nadia, I understand
why you did this. I really do.

Well, it makes sense,
you guilt-tripping me in front of a rabbi.

Were you always this difficult?

Please don't harass the baby.
She's in her formative years.

- I'm so sorry. No yarmulke.
- Just relax, Alan.

They're basically non-playable characters,

just stuck in a loop, incapable
of deviating from preset grooves.

To them, this is all status quo normal.

Who wants a high-five? Yeah, hey.

Hey. How you doing?

Come here!

This guy has always loved to hug, Alan.

Hi. You want a light?

There you go.

You still look great, you know?

All right. Hey.

Hey, guys, how are ya?

Look who's having white wine spritz.
That's great.

Sweet birthday baby.

It's laced
with cocaine, like the Israelis do it.

How'd you know?

I broke time.

Oh, because you're so old.

We should get out of here.

Come on, Alan,
party's just getting started.

And Ruth hasn't showed up yet.

I've never had a birthday without her.
I'm not about to start now.

- You want some chicken?
- I don't want your four-year-old chicken.

Okay, well, I'll just put it in the oven
so it doesn't get cold.

Oh, hey, hey.
Okay, yeah, I... I don't know what to do.

Hush, she's fine. She loves parties.
Look, I've got a bottle.

Uh, I'll hold her. Is she... she a her?

She's a neither nor.

- Hmm. Chic.
- Yes.

Maxine.

Maxine, it's...

- Oh.
- What the hell? Dude, it's not ready.

Oh!

- Chicken's raw.
- Very interesting.

Nadia, this is crazy.

It's entropy, Alan. Right? Entropy.

It's what gives us linear time,
irreversible processes,

so things can only move
in one direction, into the future.

You can't un-fry an egg, usually.

You can't un-cook a chicken, usually.

- Except, hey, look at us, right?
- Mm-hmm.

- Now, we can.
- No, you cannot.

- No, no, you cannot un-cook the baby.
- Come on. That's a little impressive.

No, Nadia, you cannot un-cook that baby.

- The baby's fine.
- Can we bring it back?

She loves Lizzy.

Ple... please,
can we just bring her back?

Do you not care that their lives
are literally disintegrating?

They're artists, Alan.
They love the surreal.

- See?
- Come back here.

- Look how happy.
- Nadia. Nadia.

If you cannot figure out
how to do this for me,

or for your best friends, or for yourself,

just do it so you don't go to hell
for being the most selfish person ever.

I am painfully misunderstood.

Hey, hey, hey!
Who invited these kids to my party?

- I gotta go handle this.
- Yeah.

Take my baby.

Ha.

Come on, let's get the f*ck
out of here, kiddo.

Nadia, whoa. Nadia, where are you going?

Nadia, where are you go...

- Oh.
- Hey, it's all right.

Easy. She's not worth it, trust me.

Which is a lesson
I've learned in spades from my ex-wife.

She could never forget
my past transgressions, you know what...

Hi.

f*ck.

- f*ck it.
- Excu... Nadia.

- Hey.
- Huh.

Ah-ha! There's my birthday girl.

No need to roll out
the red carpet for me, pumpkin.

What'd I tell ya?

Ruth's here. Not so bad.

- Come on, man, just hold the baby.
- It's Ruth from four years ago.

Yeah, I know it won't
make a difference, but, uh...

- Well, I'll just wait. I'll wait.
- All right.

Hiya, Ruthie.

Oh...

- Come on.
- We're waiting.

- Oh, my f*cking knees.
- Yeah.

Upsie-pupsie, Ruthie.

I can do it.

- Yeah, I know you can.
- Okay.

Okay.

Um, Na... Nadia?

Yeah?

Look.

Ah.

Would you look at that?

They just keep coming.

Nadia?

What? Aren't you coming in?

Oh no. No, no.

You cannot Irish exit your own party.

I'm sorry I'm not in the hospital
with you right now, Ruthie.

I'm trying. I am.

You won't be alone, okay?

Sweetheart, what have you
got to be sorry for?

You're right here with me right now.

Nothing in this world is easy
except pissing in the shower.

- Okay.
- Nadia?

- Nadia?
- Yeah?

And there's my birthday girl.

Uh...

I f*cked up.

I know.

Ugh. Yeah, let's take her back.

Fire escape?

I guess. Thank God.

Ladies and gentlemen,

boys and girls,

experience the New York sky!

- Ten cents a ride...
- I'm proud of you.

...for your first bona fide...

...hydrogen balloon!

Jesus. Oh sh*t.

Told ya. Pamphlet.

Oh hey.

Yeah.

Well, here.

Yeah, two pockets.

This balloon won't be here for long!

All right, let's get this baby
back to the '80s.

Experience the New York sky!

This is a downtown
local 6 train to Brooklyn Bridge,

approaching the station.
Please stand away from the platform edge.

- Stand clear of the closing doors.
- Man, where's this f*cking train?

- This is a Pelham Bay Park bound 6 train.
- Come on.

Next stop, 77th Street, Lenox Hill.

Tell you, this baby's gonna be
a moody teenager

by the time we get her back
if we don't get a move on.

Spoiler alert, she gets her period at 12,

so basta la pasta.

Please stand away
from the platform edge.

This is a Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall
bound 6 train. Next stop...

This is ridiculous.
What if the train never comes?

What if we're stuck here for forever?

We should have a plan B just in case.

Oh man. You know, you're getting
very stressed out, Alan, all right?

- Why don't you hold the little baby?
- Oh no.

It will help you calm down.
Ah, okay. There you go. That's right.

My f*cking neck is k*lling me.

I swear to God, this is why people
get abortions. No offense, baby.

Stand clear of the closing doors.

- The Metro City Police Department...
- Hey.

- Remain aware of your surroundings.
- Look.

- If you see something, say something.
- Yo! Yo!

Hey, you know where the trains are?

Hey! Hey, slow down!

Alan!

- We apologize for the delay.
- Hey, man, I'm talking to you!

Now arriving...

This way.

Hey, man,
do you know where the 6 train is?

sh*t.

Horse?

You work for the MTA now?

What? No, Haircut,
I live down here with my wife. f*ck you.

Can you help us?

Uh, I'm looking for my train.

It's number 6622.

For a price.

Nadia, this guy is no help, okay? So...

- The baby needs a diaper change.
- Come on, the baby's fine.

We're both fathers. I respect that.

Okay, we'll make a trade.

A trade?

It's good negotiating.

I know where your train is. Follow me.

Come on.

Yeah. Uh...

Everything falls down.

Closer to the center of the Earth you are,
the closer you are to the truth. Gravity.

I'm sorry, can we... can we hurry?
We're kind of in a rush.

You got time, man.

Time as you understand was invented
to synchronize European train systems

so that goods
could be moved across borders.

Watch the third rail.

Let me hold the baby.

Uh, your hands seem so full already.

Come on, just for a little bit.
Please? Let me hold her.

What do you need, baby, huh?

Babies are true materialists.

- Alan, don't give Horse the baby.
- Is she okay?

She's a subway baby. She's me, we're fine.

As long as I'm still standing,
that means that she's okay.

Fine.

Follow the tracks, end of the line,
you'll see your train. Pay up.

- For real?
- Yep. Pay up.

- Money. Mm-hmm. I take cash.
- How's that?

All right, 40 bucks, man. Not bad.

I hear a jingle.

- All right, keys.
- That's good. Go.

Great, thanks.

Ah, ah, ah, ah.

You too, bud. Pay up.

Is that your f*cking train, huh?
Is that your train?

Is that your train?

I don't know, man.
I'm an R32, number 6622, so...

- How do you even know?
- Oh, come on, man.

You gotta know your make and model.
That's Quantum Leaping 101.

Run.

Hey, Nadia.

Yeah.

Wardog. Yeah.

Um, Oh! Nadia, hey.
We didn't think you were gonna show.

- Uh...
- And you have a baby.

Oh, cute baby.

Uh...

What's going on?

I don't know.
The train's been stopped for 30 minutes.

We're gonna be late for the wake.

Ah.

This isn't right.

Hold up. Hold up.

You don't like these flowers?
I thought Ruth loved orchids.

Consider them gone.

Hey. Hey, Nads.

You have to stop
b*ating yourself up for not being there.

What do you mean I don't get there?

Ruth dies alone?

After everything?

I just talked to her on my birthday.

Your birthday was a month ago.

- It's April. It's April 30th.
- No.

It is March 30th, okay?

Today is still my birthday, so...

you're in the future.

- Nadia...
- It's okay.

Grief doesn't move you in a straight line.

Hey, do you... do you know
what you're gonna say tonight?

It's okay.

Um, "Do you believe
in the future of humanity?" Um, okay.

The 6 train is now departing...

Hey, come on.
Hey, hey, we need to get off this train.

We need...

We don't belong here, come on.

Nadia, we have to bring
the baby back, right?

I'm not leaving. f*ck that.

If I don't make it to her deathbed,

the least I can do
is show up to her f*cking funeral!

- No, Nadia! That's enough!
- All right?

- Come on!
- Are they f*cking?

- Alan, I know how to f*cking walk.
- Watch the baby.

God!

Nadia? Nadia, calm down.

Nadia, please.

Calm down?

Man, it's f*cking over, all right?

I don't get there for Ruth.

Wasn't there for the best mother I had.

All this sh*t, for nothing.

So, great.

How the f*ck do we get outta here? Yeah.

I don't...

Wait.

Where are you going? Nadia?

- I told you about Lenny, right?
- Oh yeah.

I tried to tell him
that the wall was gonna come down.

That I had solid information
from the future.

Total control of the situation, right?

Yeah.

He went anyway.

Well, you couldn't change anything.

Closed loop.

Right. Because of...

Laws of physics.

I was gonna say "human nature."

We can't escape being the product
of things we can't change.

Are you trying to say
that I'm not an original, man?

No one is.

Well, what about Bowie?

That's not my point. Look,

Ruth would not want you
to carry that guilt.

Sweetheart, guilt,
it's a wasted emotion.

He tried to escape. He tried to get out.

Lenny went to West Berlin,
and I don't even know that he got there.

I mean...

I think I was supposed
to stop him from going,

and I didn't even make it
in time to say goodbye.

I don't know what I was supposed to do.

I'm never gonna forgive myself.

Alan, you're okay, all right?

It's okay.

It's just, it's a...

It's a Coney Island.

A what?

The thing that would make
everything better

if only it had happened, right?

Or... or didn't happen.

You know, uh, an "if only."

Do you hear that?

sh*t. Let me take her.

Nadia?

Nadia!

Alan!

Alan!

Nadia.

Shh.

Nadia!

Hmm.

Oh sh*t.

All right.

sh*t.

Come on, would you?

Come on.

Fine.

You win.

Grandma?

Alan.

Look at you.

What happened to Lenny?

Lenny? I... I don't know.

You don't know? So was I supposed
to stop him from going then,

or I shouldn't have done anything?

I... I shouldn't have done anything at all.
Why did I do anything?

I f*ck it all up.

I always f*ck it up.

Alan, Alan, I don't know.
And that's all right.

Everybody says that I'm just like you.

He was never going to stay.
I was never going to go.

I couldn't leave the life I was building.

I helped him get out.

There was no other way
it was supposed to happen.

So I got it wrong.

I just want answers. I just...

I just wanna know.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being this way.

You are just like me.

We can't spend our lives
so scared of making the wrong move

that... that we never live at all.

Don't be so afraid to live.

Yeah, I k*lled myself, so I...

I don't really know how to live with that.

It all just seems
so much easier for everybody else.

Am I wrong?

My perfect baby boy.

Didn't I tell you?

You were too young. You don't remember.

I'll tell you again...

my perfect baby boy.

Okay?

What... what is this place?

Um,

we call it the void.

It's an empty pocket of space

left over from a job
that was never completed.

Am I dead?

You must go.

- Follow the blue lights.
- Okay.

There's an emergency exit
around the corner

that will take you to the surface.

Okay, okay. Thank you.

I was lost.

There's so much empty space
beneath the city we've forgotten about.

It's a wonder
the whole thing doesn't cave in.

Look at that.

That's good.

Just a little bit of piss on my blazer.

It's fine. It's why we buy clothes, right?

All right.

Look at this.

Okay.

We got this. We got this.

Hello.

Am I dead?

How am I supposed to answer
a question like that?

So I'm not dead?

Just because I came before you
doesn't mean I have all the answers.

You're looking in the wrong place.

Well, that is starting to become a theme.

If you could choose your mother all over,

would you choose me again?

Ma...

Yeah, I didn't choose you the first time,

but I guess that's just
how the story goes, huh, Mom?

Come on, kid.

Please make room for my babies.

Miss, please, give room for my babies.

Hey, do you know what station this is?

I don't know. I'm not a conductor.

Nora, let's get her home.

Uh, you had no obligation,
but you loved me anyway, right?

Bye, Ruthie.

This is a southbound 6 train.
Next stop, Astor Place.

Stand clear
of the closing doors.

♪ Remember when you were young ♪

♪ You shone like the sun ♪

♪ Shine on, you crazy diamond ♪

♪ Now there's a look in your eyes ♪

♪ Like black holes in the sky ♪

♪ Shine on, you crazy diamond ♪

♪ You were caught in the crossfire
Of childhood and stardom ♪

♪ Blown on the steel breeze... ♪

Mmm. You hungry?

Me too.

♪ ...for faraway laughter ♪

♪ Come on, you stranger
You legend, you martyr, and shine ♪

♪ You reached for the secret too soon ♪

♪ You cried for the moon ♪

♪ Shine on, you crazy diamond ♪

♪ Threatened by shadows at night ♪

♪ And exposed in the light ♪

♪ Shine on, you crazy diamond ♪

♪ Well, you wore out your welcome
With random precision ♪

♪ Rode on the steel breeze ♪

♪ Come on, you raver
You seer of visions ♪

♪ Come on, you painter
You piper, you prisoner, and shine ♪
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