One True Loves (2023)

[bunniefuu]

It's really not fair.

[person] Come on, Jesse,

you got this!

[crowd cheers]

Look, the guy is training

for the Olympics, right?

He shouldn't be allowed

to throw around

his diving skills at parties.

[people cheer]

At least he could keep

his shirt on. Geez.

He should never

have a shirt on.

[crowd cheers]

He has no idea

who I am.

How sad is that?

[clicks tongue]

Yeah.

How sad is that?

Here we go. Here we go.

I don't understand

what you're asking.

You just gotta hold it.

I'm holding it.

I thought you used

one of these.

Aw, man.

You drained the keg.

Uh, yeah.

Gotta move fast around here.

[person] Holy sh*t.

It's the cops!

[siren wails]

[Emma narrating] The future

is so hard to predict.

If I had a time machine,

would it even make a difference

to try to go back and explain

to my young self what was ahead?

[indistinct chatter]

[Marie] Okay, uh,

show me the other one.

This one, I like.

Yes. Definitely

more affordable.

Larger, but it's not

as, like, all-inclusive.

-Right.

-So there'd be a lot more...

Okay. Whiskey sours

up, everybody.

-[both] Thank you.

-You're welcome.

Bud Light seltzer

for the gentleman.

Thank you for not

making me have to say it.

[Colin] Oh, my God.

[Ann] Sorry.

So, I just wanna say,

Sam, Emma,

we are so excited for you.

Thank you

for helping our daughter

find a second chance

at life.

Welcome to our family,

Son.

Thank you.

The downstairs toilet

is clogged.

I had to put my arm

all the way down.

Hey, Michael. Wow.

What?

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Sure.

Well, I also have some--

some words to share.

I am so proud of the life

that you've made, Emma.

And I know

it hasn't been easy,

and there are a lot of people

who would've let that stop them.

[sighs] But not you.

And, look,

I know you and I,

we drive each other nuts

sometimes...

-What are you talking about?

We drive each other nuts?

-[Colin] Ladies.

[laughter]

What I'm trying to say

is that...

even though

you're my little sister, I--

I hope to have

as big a heart

as you do one day.

-Oh. I like that, honey.

-Thanks, Mama.

Well, since

we're all making speeches

and making

each other cry,

I'd like to thank you,

Marie,

for pushing me

to learn an instrument,

because I didn't end up

learning one.

But I did run into

an old friend.

My best friend.

All right, we get it.

You like your fianc.

How nice for you.

You are so lucky.

You have me.

[laughter]

Wow.

Wow.

Uh, I guess

that leaves me.

I guess you all know

that I've been

madly in love with Emma

for a few years now,

give or take.

-It was eighth grade.

-Oh, wow, Colin. Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah, I didn't realize

we were keeping track.

Um, I remember meeting her

for the first time

and thinking,

"That's it.

That's the girl."

And then life took us

in separate directions,

and when we ran back

into each other,

we had both grown up

quite a bit,

you could say.

But some things

don't change.

And, uh, when I look

at you now, Emma,

it's like I'm right back

in the eighth grade again.

And I'm thinking,

"That's her.

That's the girl."

And I look at you all

and think, "That's it.

That's the family."

-To family.

-[all] To family.

[Michael]

Cheers, cheers, cheers.

-[Sam] What are you cheering?

-I left my glass over there.

[lively conversations]

Hi.

Take me home.

Bye, everyone.

Look around

Where you are

Yo!

[screams]

See my love shine

Light the stars

Take a breath

Where you stand...

[phone ringing]

Who's calling you

on Saturday night?

I don't know.

Hello?

Sweetheart,

it's me, Jesse.

I'm alive.

Can you hear me?

Emma, I'm coming home.

[gasps]

Emma? Honey?

What is it?

What's going on?

Yeah. Gotta move fast

around here.

Yes, you do.

[person] Holy sh*t!

It's the cops.

-[police siren blares]

-Emma, come on.

[Jesse]

My ride's gone,

and your ride.

Sam.

[scoffs]

So, uh, Sam--

he's your boyfriend?

He's my best friend.

Ah. So, he wants to be

your boyfriend,

but you're not

into it, right?

No, no. It's not--

It's not like that.

Sure.

I mean, maybe

it's a little like that.

A little like that?

Shut up.

[police siren wails]

[Emma] I can't believe

I failed my Breathalyzer.

My parents

are gonna k*ll me.

That sucks. Do you ever feel

like everyone's always

telling you who you are?

All the time.

My parents own the bookstore

in town, Blair Books.

Yeah, yeah,

I put that one together.

Emma Blair.

They think that me

and my sister are going

to take it over.

And they don't listen

when I say

that I never

want to do that.

No.

Marie wants that,

and that is fine for her.

She's always been the perfect

little bookseller's daughter.

But... not me.

I'm getting out of here.

-Where are you gonna go?

-I'm gonna go see the world.

I like that.

You're not what I imagined

you'd be, you know?

You imagined me?

Oh, my--

My ex, she-- she thought

you had a crush on me.

She said she caught you

looking at me sometimes.

No, that's not-- That's--

That's--

That's completely un--

I don't know.

Maybe for, like, a day,

freshman year.

There it is.

No, but...

I obviously don't have

a thing for you now.

Why don't you?

Why don't you have

a thing for me now?

I think I do, actually.

As of about

an hour and a half ago.

But if you

aren't interested--

I'm interested.

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh...

You ready?

Yeah.

Whoo! Let's go!

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Tell me what it takes

To get you feeling alive

Tell me how to show you

It's a beautiful life

Oh, oh, oh, oh

I'll do anything to

Pull you into the light

'Cause everything will change

When you open your eyes

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Yeah

So don't you let the sunlight

Go by without you

Don't you realize

How lucky we are?

Open up your heart, baby

Let it all go tonight

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Live your life like

It was running out

Be alive

We gotta scream it out

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Breathe it in

And feel the rush again

You're not lost

No matter

Where you've been

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh

You've been trying hard

Just to make it alone

But I can help you baby

Let me carry the load

Oh, oh, oh, oh

I'll do anything to make

You see what it's like

'Cause everything is different

When you open your eyes

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Yeah

So don't you let the sunlight

Go by without you

Don't you realize

How lucky we are?

Open up your heart, baby

Let it all go tonight

-Oh, oh, oh

-Mmm

Live your life

Like it was running out

Be alive

We gotta scream it out

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh

You gotta breathe it in

And feel the rush again

You're not lost

No matter

Where you've been

Oh, oh, oh, oh...

You know, do they even know

we're gonna be there?

Well, I know

we canceled Thanksgiving

with my parents last year

because of your sh**t

in Peru,

and Marie's being

a real Marie about it.

Yeah. Acton for Thanksgiving

is a good idea.

We should probably tell them

the news in person.

What news?

The past six years

have been the greatest adventure

I could've dreamt of.

I wanna spend

the rest of my life

with you.

Emma Blair,

wanna get married?

No.

No?

I'm sorry, no.

-I'm so heartbroken.

-[giggles] Yes!

Yes, yes, yes!

Yes!

[birds chirping]

Mmm.

[Marie] Really?

Huh?

Really? You're late

to your own wedding?

Get your asses

to the altar.

I have the perfect

Jane Austen quote.

Let's go.

Come on!

She's right.

We wouldn't want

to ruin her big day.

Mmm. The bookseller's

daughter strikes again.

Should we get married?

Okay.

It's my lucky day

It's my lucky day

It's my lucky day

Hey, hey, my lucky day

It's my lucky day

Don't need a pot of gold

A rabbit's foot

Or to be told...

Ladies and gentlemen,

Jesse and Emma Lerner!

[all cheering]

Slept in

'Cause I don't care

And didn't make the bed

Sipped coffee on my couch

What can I do instead?

I can't just fly off

to Alaska. My Madrid piece

is due tomorrow.

I can't

not fly to Alaska.

This is my chance to sh**t

a real documentary.

It's also

our first anniversary.

You're right.

I'm sorry.

We'll celebrate big

when I get back.

Okay? I promise.

We'll get a cheap flight

somewhere to, like, uh...

Iceland.

-Mmm.

-Croatia?

-Mmm.

-Bali?

Mmm, maybe just dinner

on the beach down the street.

Okay.

Dinner on the beach

down the street.

-It's a date.

-Okay.

-Love you past forever.

-Love you longer than that.

Do you know

how long that is?

Really long time.

So long.

[person] Your husband

was on a helicopter

that went down yesterday

in the Pacific.

We found the remains

of both pilots,

but we've not yet

found your husband.

And we do not believe

he would have been able

to survive the crash.

I'm so sorry.

We're still searching.

If we find anything, of course,

we'll let you know right away.

We understand this must be

a terrible shock...

Emma.

It's your third day

out here.

I'm gonna stay out here

as long as it takes.

As long

as what takes?

He's lost, and he's coming back,

and I'm gonna be here.

You-- You can't.

I mean,

that won't work.

I'm not giving up on him.

Emma, give me

the binoculars.

No.

Jesse's coming back.

He was a long-distance swimmer.

He was the best in state.

He can do this.

He's not

coming back.

You don't know that.

Yeah, Em, I do.

It's been a week.

They've given up the search.

You just can't stand

that I'm no longer

in your shadow.

Well, I know my husband,

and I know how incredible

he is.

And I'm not gonna let you

say he's anything less

because you like it better

when I feel small.

Emma--

No.

Emma--

Don't console me.

I'm so sorry, Emma.

He's dead.

I'm so sorry.

No, he's not.

No, he's not.

[sobs] Yeah.

No, he's not.

I'm sorry.

No, he's not dead.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry,

honey.

[sobs]

I don't know...

I don't know

how I can live without him.

I know.

I know.

But... you will.

How?

You're gonna

come home to Acton,

and you're gonna

move in with me.

And I'm going to make

your breakfasts

and your lunches

and your dinners,

and-and...

we're just gonna

build you a new life.

But not-- not right now.

Now you get to

just be broken,

and-and I'll hold you

together.

I'll hold you together.

Hey.

Walking down memory lane?

Sorry.

Did I wake you?

No. Not at all.

How are you feelin'?

I can't sleep.

How are you feeling?

I don't know.

But I, uh, ran you a hot shower.

The old Sam Lee special.

[chuckles]

What's the Sam Lee special?

Well, it's-- it's me

turning on the shower.

[Colin]

Oh, hey, honey.

Emma!

I don't like that you're

understocking the classics.

Obviously, Dad.

But not now.

I am not understocking

the classics. You are

overstocking the classics.

-Colin, focus.

-Sorry.

We'll-- We'll give you

some space.

So, how are you?

Really?

[sighs]

I don't know

how I'm feeling.

I mean, you're

probably feeling confused.

-I mean, yeah. But--

-I wasn't finished.

You and Jesse, you had

this beautiful life

together,

and then he got on a helicopter,

and it crashed,

and-and we all thought

he was dead,

and you--

you-you picked yourself up

like this incredible person

that you are,

and you found love again

with a great guy.

Right, and now--

I'm still not finished.

And now what is

probably the happiest

day of your life

is also the most complicated

and probably saddest day,

because no matter

what you do or how you feel,

you're gonna break

somebody's heart.

You've gained something,

and you'll lose something.

So it's okay to feel happy

and heartbroken.

Oh, you can talk.

I'm done.

Oh.

That was incredibly

verbose, but accurate.

Thank you.

[sighs] Why did I spend

my childhood hating you?

Oh. Because I hated you.

-Why did you hate me?

-Because you hated me.

Oh, my God, Emma.

Um, you can't wear that

to reunite with

your long-lost husband.

[gasps] Oh, my gosh.

[Colin] Wow.

You look amazing!

[Ann] Wow!

The color. The color.

Well, I think this works.

Mm-hmm.

Just not

so sure about this.

-Yeah.

-I'm engaged,

and I'm also married.

-I'm not sure

what the protocol is.

-What does your gut tell you?

To throw up, mostly.

Oh, yeah.

You could wear that one.

Yeah.

Or, you could wear both.

Yeah.

[scoffs] I just

won't wear either.

Okay.

Here we go.

Oh. Okay.

Go get 'em.

[sighs]

Hey, Joe.

Emma.

-Francine.

-Emma.

Wow.

You look different.

[police siren blaring]

Our boy is coming home,

Frannie.

Oh. We've decided

not to tell Jesse

that you've

already moved on.

He's been through enough,

don't you think?

Let's go.

Come on.

Take a moment

To join the dance

Emma!

[sobs]

Wait but never

Miss your chance

[camera shutters

click]

No more walls

Your destiny

Is facing you

Hi. Hi.

[reporters clamoring]

Do you want to get

out of here?

Come on.

[door closes]

Come on.

[breathing heavily]

Are you okay?

[sobs]

[Jesse sobs]

[Emma sobs]

It's okay. It's okay.

It's okay.

It's okay. It's okay.

[TV reporter]

We're coming to you live

from the home

of Jesse Lerner...

God, can you imagine?

Your fiance has a husband.

An alive husband.

[person] You know she's

gonna go back to him, right?

He came back

from the dead.

Tell me it doesn't get

any more romantic than that.

Sam's toast.

[person] Totally.

[clears throat]

-Morning.

-Hey, buddy.

Janis.

Hi. We were just

talking about you.

Mm-hmm.

Behind your back.

Mmm.

Um, actually,

that's my lunch.

I guess

now we're even.

Um...

I swore if I ever

made it back to you,

I'd tell you how sorry

I was for leaving.

I'm going to spend

the rest of our lives

making it up to you.

I'm engaged.

What?

I'm engaged.

To be married.

You are married.

No. To someone else.

[laughs]

What?

[laughs]

What?

What is so funny?

It's not. No.

It's horrible.

[laughs]

Yeah, it's terrible.

You know, I think

that's the worst thing

I've ever been told.

-Jesse, I didn't know

that you were--

-You thought I was dead.

You didn't know.

There you are.

Oh, you can't just

disappear like that.

Come on. Everybody's

waiting for you. Come on.

[stammers]

It's too much.

It's okay.

Just breathe.

[mumbles]

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, I'm here.

It's--

It's been a long time

since I've seen so many people.

I--

I should get going.

Okay.

I'll stay here tonight,

'cause I figure

they need me.

But then I need to be with you.

Can we go somewhere tomorrow?

-Of course.

-Let's go to Maine,

to the cabin.

-Sure.

-First thing.

Yeah. First thing.

Bye.

Okay, bye.

[Sam] Hey. You're home.

You're still making me

a grilled cheese

with dairy-free cheddar?

Yeah, well, I figured

just in case you came back,

you know, a little

lactose intolerant.

So, how is he?

Still very, very,

very, very handsome?

Uh, he seems good.

A little overwhelmed,

uh, but good.

Good, mostly. Um--

Good.

Good that he--

that he seems good.

I saw you

kissing him.

On the news.

I'm not upset

about it.

I just--

Not telling you felt

wrong somehow,

so I-- I just

wanted you to know.

I'm really sorry, Sam.

This has all been so...

confusing.

Confusing.

It's-- It's confusing.

Hey. It's gonna be

all right.

It's gonna be okay.

Gonna be okay.

I love you so much, Sam.

I love you.

I need you.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

[moans]

[crickets chirping]

Where's your ring?

You're gonna have

to choose, you know.

I mean,

he's your husband.

I think we should

call off the wedding.

What?

I mean,

can you honestly say

that no matter what happens

from this moment on,

that you're ready to spend

the rest of your life

with me?

You know, if we're

gonna have a future,

you gotta go.

You gotta go and do

whatever you need to do

in order to know.

You could stay at a hotel,

or you could stay at Marie

or your parents'--

No, I get it.

I need to be

on my own.

Woke up with a cloud

Over my window

Some days I swear

The weatherman is out for me

I've been locked inside

Thinking about sunlight

Woke up with the thought

Maybe it's all for naught

All packed up?

Yep.

Uh, here.

I don't trust myself

not to set it on fire

when you're gone, so...

You are a good man.

Get me, you see

I'm all right.

I'm just not into it

I'm broke down

Exposed now

With no clouds

There's nothing

To cover me

There's nothing

To cover me

The highs and the lows

Get me, you see

I'm just not into it

I'm broke down

Exposed now

How are you?

It's low clouds

There's nothing to cover me

Jesse wants to go

to Maine.

For a few days.

Oh, my.

Would you run the store?

Are you able to?

Yeah.

I'd be happy to.

Do you think

you can be in love

with two people

at the same time?

Maybe some people can,

but...

I don't even think

that's the point, though.

You're a different person

with Sam than you were

with Jesse.

And maybe it's not about

who you love more.

Maybe it's about

whether you wanna be

the person you could be

with Jesse

or the person that

you're becoming with Sam.

Wow. You're good lately.

I just know you.

[Emma whispers]

Thank you.

You look great.

You do.

Oh. You gotta drive

the whole way.

My license expired when they

issued my death certificate.

-Okay.

-Good times.

[dog barks]

[beeps]

[groans]

[phone beeps]

[phone beeps]

Uh, hey, do you mind

if we stop by the store?

I guess I left some stuff

at Marie's last night.

Sure. Your stuff

isn't at your place?

No. I'm not currently

at my place.

Okay.

I'm looking forward

to seeing everyone.

Your parents still

recommending Walden Pond

to anyone who walks in

and then going,

"You know, Walden Pond

is just down the road"?

[chuckles] Well,

my parents are retired now.

Really?

Good for them.

So Marie's finally

inherited her birthright?

The bookseller's daughter

has become the bookseller?

Actually, I run it.

Oh, yeah. You run it.

No, I'm serious.

I run the bookstore.

-Oh.

-I know. [chuckles]

I used to hate it, but...

I lost you,

and I had nothing,

so I moved back home,

and... there it was.

Oh, Em.

What?

Come on. Let's go.

You are a sight

for sore eyes.

We're so happy

you're okay, Jesse.

I missed you guys too.

Hi.

Oh, my God. A real-life

Odysseus back to Ithaca.

Good to see

you're still reading, Sis.

Hi, Sophie.

Ooh!

You're hungry?

Uh, wait a minute.

I want you to meet someone.

Jesse, this

my daughter, Sophie.

Sophie, this is Jesse.

-Hey.

-[everyone laughs]

[Colin] Okay. Hey.

Welcome back.

Thank you.

Good to see you.

Well, I guess

a lot's happened

since you've been gone.

She is adorable.

-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

-Said hi to Mike for me.

-Oh, you could

tell him yourself!

Hey!

How you been?

Stranded

on a desert island, man.

Oh, right.

Must've been nice

to get away.

For a bit, yeah.

We should, um,

hit the road.

-[Marie] Yeah, yeah.

-[Michael] You're gonna

head to the cabin?

[Jesse]

Oh, just for couple days.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Actually,

can I drive?

Without a license?

Well,

it's a technicality.

Come on.

It'll be fun.

-Okay.

-Thank you.

[bell rings]

-Good morning.

-[all saying "good morning"]

Liz, you are

a trumpet player.

Please spit out

your gum.

The rest of you,

let's jump right in.

So, Debussy is considered our

first Impressionist composer.

Impressionist-- Can anybody

tell me what that means?

-Zoey.

-It doesn't have

a melody or something?

Right, right.

Debussy was less concerned

about a melody

and more about, um,

evoking a mood

and an emotion.

[plays piano]

He used notes

like a paintbrush,

painting colors

that conveyed an impression.

So, what moods are being

conveyed right now?

-Go ahead. Shout 'em out.

-Uh, sadness?

Loneliness.

Fear you might lose

Emma forever.

[bangs piano keys]

Really? Really, Zoey?

You got the from the song?

No, I got that from how

you were playing the song.

Are we really

not gonna talk about

your husband-in-law?

-My what?

-That guy that's married

to your wife, man.

Your brother-husband

or whatever.

Marcus, he's not

my brother-husband.

My cousin is in

a closed quad, and it

really works for them,

so I don't see

why a triple can't work.

First of all, Dylan,

it's called a "thruple,"

and sec--

Okay, we're not having

this conversation, all right?

Let's go. Instruments up.

Hey. "Clair de lune."

Come on.

You're trying to give

palm readings?

No, no, no, no.

Okay, the most romantic

place we ever went to.

Ooh.

I know I'm supposed

to say... Paris.

[both]

But it's Amsterdam.

Yeah.

New Year's Eve.

We fought about that stupid

bike lock until 11:59.

Yeah.

And then the clock turned,

and you said,

"I don't care who lost it.

I just wanna spend

my whole year with you."

Then you kissed me, and--

and then it felt like

nothing mattered except us.

And you were right.

You did lose that lock,

by the way.

No. I didn't lose--

You lost the lock by the river.

No, no. I've had a lot

of time to think about this,

and I have decided

I remember you losing it.

[chuckles] Okay.

Agree to disagree.

Okay.

[both chuckle]

[phone chimes]

[slow music playing]

[Jesse] Hey!

Come on.

Our cabin awaits.

[slow music continues]

[sighs]

Oh, come on!

Tuba.

Come on, tuba,

get it together.

-I thought

I did pretty good.

-You are, Marcus.

Yeah. You are.

You're-- You're great.

You're...

[sighs] Great.

We haven't been here

since--

Our wedding.

Right.

That old thing.

[chuckles]

[clears throat]

Do you want a drink?

-Please.

-Okay, great.

Let's see

what we can find here.

So you can build

a fire now?

So you get tattoos now?

I guess

a lot has changed.

Some things, yeah, sure.

But nothing

that really matters.

To us.

Finally.

Finally.

[coughs]

Whoo!

[coughs]

Smooth. [chuckles]

[clears throat]

What does it say?

Oh.

[clears throat]

Um,

"And so I walked on."

I'll never leave

your side again.

All I ever wanted was...

one more day

to be with you.

Oh, I missed your face.

I missed your voice.

I missed...

God, I missed

the feel of you.

[pilot] Out of control.

Got a flagging stick.

Mayday!

[gasping]

Hey!

[screams]

[birds chirping]

[alarm clock ringing]

[exhales]

[water running]

Jesse?

Just... turns on

when you need it.

Off when you don't.

Yeah.

Faucets are wild, huh?

What happened out there?

Nah, I just wanna focus

on us right now.

I'll tell you

what I do need.

I mean, what I really...

really need...

is breakfast.

Oh, you're such a jerk.

Mm-hmm.

You know that?

Yeah.

-Mr. Lee, just a couple

of questions.

-Oh, sh*t.

-Mr. Lee,

is the wedding off?

-Um...

-Is Emma here?

-Um...

Can we just get

a little privacy, please?

-We? Does that mean you're

still getting married?

-No, I--

-It's off?

-I honestly don't know.

Are you afraid that your fiance

is gonna leave you and go back

to her husband?

Sam, have you

talked to Jesse yet?

[reporters clamoring]

[sighs]

I feel bad you had to

move back to New England.

It's cold.

[Emma chuckles]

You don't have to feel bad.

Well, I'm just glad that

neither of us is stuck anymore,

and we can start

living again.

Go traveling.

Traveling?

You don't want to settle

somewhere safe?

Well, we'd have

a home base,

sure, but...

I was thinking Venice Beach.

Anywhere in California

would be good.

That was the best time

of our lives.

Mexican food

was top-notch.

And you can work

from anywhere, right?

Travel writing can be

wherever you want.

Well, I don't, um...

I haven't written

a travel piece in years.

Really?

I know you do the store.

I just assumed you were still

doing what you wanted to do.

The store--

It is what I wanna do.

You know?

I like seeing the regulars,

getting a cr*ck

at the new releases.

This coming from the girl

that wouldn't read

The Hunger Games?

Well, it turns out

The Hunger Games is

actually pretty great.

Hey, how you doing?

Uh, can we please have

two bacon, egg

and cheese biscuits

with home fries, please?

Um, actually I--

I don't eat cheese

anymore.

It's, like,

a whole thing.

Okay.

Uh, one egg and cheese

biscuit with home fries,

and my beautiful wife?

Um, fried egg

on toast.

Yeah.

Fried egg on toast.

New normal.

Yes.

Emerson and Alcott

and Thoreau

were all from Concord.

I had a lot of time

to do reading

while you were gone.

A lot of existential dread,

you might say.

But you know what?

Thoreau, he knows what's up.

And, uh, Walden Pond...

[both]

Is just down the road!

Yes, yes.

Oh, and when the leaves

change in autumn...

When you d*ed--

When I-- When I thought

you were dead,

I had nothing and...

came back here.

My parents and Marie,

they basically

nursed me back to life.

They picked out

all these books

to distract me.

And that's when I read

The Hunger Games, by the way.

And Wild.

And Octavia Butler

and Joan Didion, and...

that's when I realized

that... I wasn't alone.

All these people that had

come before me, they--

they felt this pain

that I felt, and...

they found

a way through, and...

I could too.

Then this place...

This place put me

back together.

[sighs]

You and I, we had this--

We had this idea

that our adventures

had to be grand.

Right? That we had

to go to Madrid

and the Great Wall and...

Mm-hmm.

...go everywhere

extraordinary,

but, uh,

extraordinary

is everywhere.

Running a bookstore

and being with our families

and raising our kids here,

that's--

that's a--

a great adventure.

Kids?

I wasn't sure you ever

wanted to have any.

I wasn't sure either.

But I am now.

I could build

a family here.

It's home.

Well, I am very thankful

to this place for taking

such good care of you...

while I was gone.

[Sam]

Sorry I'm late.

[Marcus] It's all good.

All right, everybody,

phones away.

Seriously. Debussy.

Let's go.

Put away

the g*dd*mn phones!

Sorry. That was, uh--

That was excessive.

[static]

I'm going through a real

stressful time right now,

and, uh...

Penny, Tom, please explain

why you're in my class.

We all wanna

be here for you.

In case you explode,

we wanted to

watch it happen.

[groans]

And if you do explode,

then we wanna

be there for you.

Thank you,

but, uh, I'm fine.

And you're not in orchestra,

so please get out of my class.

The rest of you,

instruments up.

Actually, can-can

somebody please tell me

what the hell it means

when someone is--

is texting you for 18 hours

and-and doesn't hit send?

I mean, what the crap

are these dots?

Is she texting me?

Is she not texting me?

Is it good news?

Is it not good news?

If I want it to be good news,

does that make me a bad person?

Is it-- Is it selfish?

Is it selfish to want

my fiance to be my wife?

Apparently, it is.

Well, I'm sorry that I didn't

survive a plane crash

and spend four years

on some small island somewhere!

I guess that makes me

an assh*le somehow.

[sighs]

Of all the people in the world,

why did it have to be him?

Why is it always him?

I met her first, you know?

I loved her first!

Finders, keepers!

Not that she's

some soccer ball

on the playground.

Obviously, she can make

her own decisions.

[clears throat]

As can all of the bright,

capable young women

in this class.

But I do think that

"finders, keepers" applies here.

No, no, I don't.

No, I don't.

That's the patriarchy talking,

and we must all

fight it together.

I just...

[sighs]

I just want her to love me

more than she loves him.

Well, that was

wildly inappropriate.

Um, I'm gonna stop.

No! Man, for God sakes,

just keep talking!

[engine revving]

[Jesse] Whoo!

Maybe we should go

a bit slower.

Really?

Yeah.

Come on.

It's a little fun, right?

[laughs]

[police siren blaring]

This is not good.

It'll be fine.

It's okay.

You don't have your license.

It'll be good.

I told you earlier,

you don't have your license.

Okay, here he is.

Hello, Officer.

Uh, how can I help you?

You were speeding.

License and registration.

That was

an honest mistake.

Truly. And, uh,

I'm very sorry.

Maybe we can get off

with a warning?

License

and registration.

I technically

don't have a--

He's been lost at sea.

Maybe you've heard

about it.

Um, it's been

all over the news.

If I could reach back,

I can grab an article

to show you.

Here.

This doesn't explain

why you're driving,

let alone speeding.

He just wanted everything

to feel normal for once.

We both did.

-Do you have a license, ma'am?

-Me? Yes. Yes, I do.

Okay, Ms. Blair.

Looks like

you're driving now.

Please try to keep it

under 55, all right?

Welcome home.

Thank you.

[sighs]

You changed

your name back.

I thought

you were dead.

So you went to

the Social Security office

and changed your name back?

There's more to it

than that.

Okay.

She should be with the person

that she loves the most,

not necessarily the person

that loves her the most.

'Cause I love her the most.

I love her the most.

I know everyone thinks that

he must love her the most

because he survived

a desert island for her,

but I comforted her

while he was on that island.

You know, I sat with her

while she cried for him.

And I figured out

a way to love someone

with my whole heart,

knowing that a part of her

would always love him.

-And I did that for her.

-[bell rings]

Well, you should probably

get out of here.

Oh, yeah, like American Lit

can hold a candle to this drama.

It's inappropriate

to keep you

from your classes, Dylan.

On the other hand, there is

still a lot to discuss here.

All right. Hit me.

[students chattering]

Honestly, you know

what the weirdest part

about all this is?

Everyone thinks they're

the hero of their own story.

Everyone.

Maybe I'm not the hero.

Maybe...

Maybe I'm the bad guy.

[sighs]

Jesse, please.

Jesse, talk to me, please.

I was supposed to

come home to my wife,

who waited for me.

Jesse, I did wait.

You got engaged

to someone else!

Because I thought

you were dead!

So you replaced me?

No, I didn't replace you.

I loved you.

I still love you.

This fianc--

You love him too?

Do you love him or not?

Yes.

Yes, I love him.

Do you love him

more than me?

Wh-What is it?

Is he better than me?

Jesse, no.

It's not like that.

It-It's...

-Sam and I--

-So he's got a name.

His name's Sam.

Sam Lee.

And I bet this was a dream

come true for him.

That is not fair. You have

no idea what I went through!

What you went through?

I was on a dead rock

for four years.

Alone!

Starving and just

trying not to die.

And that whole time,

you know what

I thought about?

This.

You!

I just thought

about us!

Right now was supposed to be

the good time.

I was supposed to come home

to a life I was missing.

My part was to get back to you,

and your part was to wait.

I did my part, Emma.

-What did you do?

-I had to live my life!

I had to learn

how to live without you.

You managed

to do that.

[door opens, closes]

Jesse?

[Sam's voice] They say

if you love someone,

you should

set them free.

I'm starting to realize

that if you--

if you love someone,

you don't let anything

stand in your way.

You shout it

from the mountaintops.

You race through traffic.

You survive being marooned

on a desert island

and swim for miles

just to get back to them...

Son of bitch, I'm screwed.

[birds chirping]

[Emma's voice]

Dear Jesse,

you've been gone

more than three years now,

but there hasn't been a day

when I haven't thought of you.

At first, I refused to

admit you were gone.

I couldn't sleep.

I couldn't eat.

Even after the search

was called off, and they

said you were dead,

it was so hard to let go.

[voice mail] Hey, you've

tried to call Jesse Lerner.

I obviously have

better things to do.

So leave a message,

and I'll call you back.

[Emma's voice] I felt pain

that I didn't think

was humanly possible.

At times,

it nearly broke me.

Hey. I came across this

at the store.

It's by Joan Didion,

about the death of her husband.

-I hate being given books.

-I know.

Just a sh*t in the dark.

Just in case you wanted to read

how someone else got through it.

[sighs]

At least give me a happy book.

I don't want to read

about people dying.

Okay.

I can work with that.

How about

Pride and Prejudice?

Or falling in love.

Okay. Wow.

So, no death or love.

[chuckles]

I'll make a list.

There's gotta be, like,

three books in existence

that don't deal with either.

[Emma's voice] I used to

think grief was chronic.

Just a never-ending

cycle of bad days

with the occasional

good day.

No "D" or "L."

This one's complete.

Cut what makes you

Tethered

Tethered

Trust when you fall

In every risk you take

Knowing redemption's

Always on its way

Let all the courage in

You start to wake

Unafraid

Unafraid

Unafraid

Unafraid

You were right.

I loved it.

What else you got?

Uh, that can have

love or death in them?

Tons.

[Emma's voice] But then

I started to think that maybe

the good days could be

good weeks or good months.

Look for

Better measures

Oh, just say it.

My baby's finally

a bookworm.

Doesn't mean

that I wanna let go

of the memories of you

or the love I have for you.

But it does mean that I'm ready

to let go of the sadness.

I will carry you

with me always.

But I cannot define myself

by the loss anymore.

And that's four.

But you already know that,

'cause you're super good at it.

So let me just play it

for you just for fun.

Oh!

-Emma?

-Sam?

Here.

Hi. Um, here,

let me help you with that.

-Oh, my God. Still works.

-Still-- You're good.

Yeah. You don't

have to buy it.

Oh, my God.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

How are you?

I'm-- I'm good.

Have you been-- I mean--

I can't believe--

Yeah, you look, uh--

You--

Yeah. Wow.

Emma Blair. Wow.

Can't believe it.

[wind howling]

Keep reading.

[Emma's voice] I'm going

out into the world

with an open heart now.

And I'm going to go

where life takes me.

So, you wanna

learn an instrument.

Yeah. We can't all play

every single one

of them yet.

Hey, I will have you know

I'm actually pretty bad

at the harp.

-Oh, okay.

-No, that's a lie.

I'm pretty good.

I don't know why

I said that.

Well, I thought I'd start

with something easy,

like piano.

Oh. Well,

if you want my advice--

Yes, your advice is

the exact advice

I would like.

Uh, you should definitely

go for this one.

It's 88 keys.

Uh, it's weighted.

It's perfect to learn on.

-Great. I'll take it.

-Great.

You're a good salesman.

Uh, do you ring me up

here or up there or...

Oh. No, no, no.

I don't--

I don't work here.

Oh! Oh, my God.

Yeah.

I came for a pedal,

and I've just been looking

for an excuse to keep

talking to you, so...

Jesse's dead.

Yeah. Yeah, I heard.

Um, I'm-- I'm so sorry.

I should have called.

Oh, no, no.

It's okay. I--

When I started

dating him,

I guess I stopped being

a good friend to you.

So it's okay.

It's on me.

So, what do

you do, then,

when you're not...

-Oh, when I'm--

-...pretending to work here?

-I teach orchestra at A.B.

-Wow. That's crazy.

Yeah. I know. I know.

Um, I'm back in Acton.

Running the store.

-Blair Books?

-Yeah.

You used to hate it there.

-People change, I guess.

-Yeah. Thank God for that.

Yeah. I agree.

Thank God.

Uh, well, I'll have to

drop by sometime.

Say hi.

I'd like that.

That would be nice.

[Emma's voice]

I'm happy to say

I've reached a place

where your memory

brings me joy.

I have found meaning in life

that I never would have guessed.

[Sam] Wow.

See, the funny thing

about this is that you do

actually work here.

Well, I'm so glad

you stopped by,

because I've actually become

quite good at the piano.

-Really?

-Yes. You'd be

very impressed.

I know "Chopsticks"

and "Heart and Soul."

It's like the core

of Western music right there.

Very good.

Well, uh, show me

what you've got.

-Well, I don't have a piano.

-Sure, you do.

Anything you can play

on the piano,

you can play on the counter.

It's an old

music teachers' trick.

Here, um, give me a song.

Um, Beethoven.

Okay. That's less of a song

and more of a person,

but I think

we can work with that.

[clears throat] Ready?

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

[humming "Fr Elise"]

Oh, I know this one.

[both humming]

You wanna take this one?

[humming]

Oh.

[both hum]

There we go.

[humming]

-What is your sister doing?

-That's more like it.

Living.

Oh, so that's what

that looks like.

There. Good.

[hums]

[humming]

So, I should probably

buy a book,

so it doesn't seem like

I came here just to talk to you.

Hmm. This one.

On the house.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

Or you can just--

You can owe me.

Or how about, um,

I take you to lunch sometime?

Lunch?

Yeah. Yeah.

I was thinking sometime

between breakfast and dinner.

[chuckles]

Lunch sounds nice.

Great.

Okay.

Hey.

Tell me everything.

[Emma's voice] I think

if I work hard,

I can have the sort of life that

you would have wanted for me.

I can't go on a date, right?

Like, that's crazy.

I can call him

next year,

maybe,

if he's still single.

Shutting yourself off

from the world

doesn't prove how much

you loved your husband.

You have your whole life

ahead of you, so live it.

[Emma's voice] I believe

I can have a happy future,

where I love

and am loved in return.

So, we've been dating

six months now.

Yeah.

Well, one of the months

was February,

so it's a light six.

It's a tight six.

Come on.

Well, long or short...

I think I'm in love

with you.

But I don't think

I'm ready to say it.

Or hear myself say it.

Hmm.

Well...

don't tell anyone

I told you,

but I think

I'm in love with you too.

I always have been.

I don't know. It all kinda

sounds the same to me.

But I know that you love it,

so I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Hey, um,

you wanna go this way?

Come on.

Let's go for a walk.

I'm sorry, my love.

We're gonna go down

some steps.

[gasps] What?

Okay, yep. And you're

gonna keep your eyes closed.

Because you trust me,

right?

I do.

Okay. One foot--

There we go. That's perfect.

You're doing great.

I'm sorry. Are we--

Are we going onto

the Green Line?

Uh, we are not going

onto the Green Line.

It feels like

you're taking me

onto the Green Line.

That's not true.

Oh, Jesus.

The lighting here

is much better.

I promise you.

Okay.

So, here's the thing.

Yeah?

All right? Um--

Where am I going?

You're here.

[chuckles] Okay.

I got you.

Okay.

So, here's the thing.

Um...

I bought something

a few weeks ago.

Okay.

And I haven't been able to

decide when to give it to you.

I was doing some thinking,

and I realized

that it should probably

be you that decides.

Okay.

[guitar strumming]

Oh, my gosh!

Your students!

[Sam]

We have been working on this

for a few months now.

Um, I'd call it "Your Song,"

on account of it being yours.

But Elton John kinda

b*at me to the punch,

so, uh,

it's currently untitled.

Uh, guys, actually,

can we cut the music?

Sorry. The sound is

really traveling in here.

-Sorry, Mr. Lee.

-No, you're-- It's fine.

Hey.

Hi.

Um...

Emma, I was put

on this earth to be yours.

And I am so,

so lucky

to be able to

call you mine.

I believe in us,

I believe we're good

for each other,

and I believe that

I'm a better man

because of you.

[gasps]

Here it is.

And I don't want you

to do anything

except hold on to it...

and just

keep it safe.

And, um,

when you're ready,

if you're ever ready,

I'll be ready.

[chuckles] Oh!

[exhales]

I love it,

and I love you.

Thank you.

[chuckles]

I love you so much.

[Emma's voice]

So I'm going to say yes

to Sam Lee.

I think that you would

like him for me.

He's kind,

he makes me laugh,

and he makes room

for you.

He accepts the full me.

And he knows the full me

includes you.

[clears throat]

Sam.

-What are you doing?

-I'm proposing to you.

-I'm in my underwear.

-I don't care.

Sam Lee,

you are my second chance.

You are the arms that helped me

pull myself back up.

You're the life

that I never saw coming.

You are my reminder that life

can be unexpectedly beautiful,

and I promise I will spend

the rest of our lives

trying to be

that reminder for you.

-Will you marry me?

-Yes!

[laughs]

Yes!

Will you marry me?

Yes! Yes!

Yes!

Yes! Yes!

I want to be happy,

and I want more love

in my life, Jesse.

So I'm asking

for your blessing

to embrace it.

Your love, Emma.

You know what I thought

on our wedding day?

What?

I was putting on my tux.

I was a little nervous,

but then I just thought...

"At least I picked

the right person."

I always thought

no matter how hard it got,

at least we picked

the right person.

But you gotta keep being

the right person.

You have to change

together

so that you can stay

the right person.

I want to be

with you.

So if staying in Acton

for a bit is important,

then I will do it.

A bit?

As long

as you need.

Jesse,

I want to stay here always.

I want to continue

my life here.

-Because of the store?

-Jesse, it's not just

because of the store.

How about this:

We go on a big, famous

bookstore tour of Europe...

No.

...and see the world's

greatest libraries--

Jesse, I wanna stay here.

I want to be with my family.

You're asking me,

now that I am free,

now that I can go

anywhere,

to chain myself to a life

that I can't live.

My world is here, Jesse.

[Emma]

I have people I love.

I feel like

I belong, like--

like I'm a part

of something,

and I have found a piece

of myself here

that I never expected.

This life that

my parents pushed on me,

I left it, and then

I lived my own life,

and then life brought me

back to them.

And now...

I've chosen all of this.

I've chosen it

for myself.

This is who I am now.

You're different.

Not in a bad way.

You just...

changed.

See, the Emma I knew,

she wanted to be

as far away

as humanly possible

from Blair Books.

And she was--

She was never

gonna sit still

until she had seen

the entire world.

She loved me

and only me.

That's not you

anymore.

No, it's not.

I promise we can live

any life you want,

but just not--

not Acton.

You're asking me

to be someone

that I'm not anymore.

You're asking me

to be someone

I always told you

I wouldn't be.

We didn't stay

the right person.

I could try and be

the right person for you.

You can try and make yourself

the right person for me, but...

That's not real love.

We should head back.

Do you want to stay here

just a little bit longer?

Okay.

You know, there was a game

I used to play out there.

I'd just ask myself,

"What's Emma doing right now?"

And I'd say

something like,

"I bet she's eating tapas

in Barcelona"

or "She's on the beach

in Malibu."

In Berlin...

But I was always wrong.

You were here.

And I--

And I never guessed here.

I'm starting to see it.

It suits you.

I never stopped

loving you.

Do you believe me?

I'm really trying to.

One day you might.

I hope so.

Come on. Let's go.

Now our wild songs

Are oldies

Passion has begun

To slip away

The past spirals

Behind us

The future is a mystery

The sky is our blanket

And we are the stars

That used to be

After all that,

we weren't meant to be, huh?

I don't think things

have to last to be real.

We can be meant

to have been.

Meant to have been.

Yeah.

Thank you.

For what?

The thought

of seeing you again.

You saved my life.

I know that for her,

it's sometimes been him

and sometimes been me.

For me,

it's always been her.

[bell rings]

All right,

that's the end of the day.

I'm out of things to say.

It is what it is.

It's out of my hands now.

It's Emma's choice to make.

Mr. Lee,

isn't that exactly

what you did

in high school?

-What are you talking about?

-She's right.

You never just told Emma

how you felt.

You hinted at it,

but you never said it.

Yeah, this Jesse guy,

he never makes it unclear.

He wants her, and he always

let her know that.

He puts it all out

on the line.

-Yeah. If you're gonna go down,

Sam, go down swinging.

-[all murmur agreement]

Go tell this woman

how heartbroken

you'll be without her.

Remind her of the life

you two could've

had together.

-I can't lose her.

-Then do something about it.

[all agreeing]

I gotta go.

I gotta go. I gotta go!

Thank you.

Sam!

Sam?

Damn it.

Pick up your phone, man.

[groans]

[line ringing]

Oh, hey, Marie.

I, uh--

Hello.

Uh, I'm looking for Emma.

Hey. Hey.

Um, she's not here.

Any idea where she went?

Um, she, um...

Just tell me.

-I don't wanna tell you.

-Marie?

She...

You know, um, she's--

She's with Jesse, right?

Look, I-- I know.

Okay? I know.

And-And it's fine.

Just-Just tell me

where they went.

I can take it.

They went to

the cabin in Maine.

[groaning]

Mother... sh*t!

As friends?

As-As friends, right? Right?

It's a simple question, Marie.

As friends?

Did they go as friends?

Were they friends?

Were they friendly?

Are they platonically friends?

I don't know

how to answer that.

[sighs]

Sam!

-You're back?

-Is Sam here?

Yeah, he was just here.

He was looking

for you, and--

He was looking for me?

How did he seem?

Hopeful?

Angry? Devastated?

-Uh, at first,

he was hopeful.

-Oh, that's great!

And then I told him

you went to Maine with Jesse,

and he got sorta devastated.

[groans]

Oh, my God, Marie.

-I've ruined it.

-No.

I've completely ruined it.

By loving them both--

-Also no. Um--

-I've lost them both.

Don't you think

maybe you should be

a little more mad at me?

No, I'm not mad at you,

because you were there for me

through all of this.

No, I'm not mad.

You're not even a little mad

for that day on the dock

when I convinced you

your husband was dead,

and I was wrong?

No! Marie, I was insane

that day on the dock.

If I had spent

the last four years

believing he was alive,

I would've lost my mind.

No. I did the best I could

with the information that I had,

and that led me to Sam.

[sighs]

I can't lose him, Marie.

So don't.

Go tell him

what you just told me.

You're right.

This isn't over yet.

[door bells jangle]

[Sam] Come on! Let's go.

Come on! Come on!

-Come on, come on--

-Pick up. Pick up, pick up.

[phone rings]

-Hello?

-Sam, can you hear me?

Emma, yeah, I can hear you.

Can you hear me?

Sam, I need you back.

[static]

Hello?

Jesse was gone,

and I was broken--

You're breaking up.

Hello?

But then I pulled myself

back together, and--

[static]

Oh, sh*t!

And the person

that I became chose you!

-[tires screech]

-[gasps]

[car horn honks]

Sam?

Sam!

Sam, don't hang up!

Um, I just hit somebody.

Uh, honey?

You hit me.

Holy sh*t!

Are you okay?

No. No, I'm not.

I haven't slept in days.

There's reporters camped

outside of our house.

I've lost all semblance

of privacy with my students.

I'm-- I'm terrible.

Sam--

No, no.

I need to say something.

I need to...

I have loved

every version of you,

and I will love

every version of you

that you become.

[motorist]

Get out of the road!

I am madly in love

with you, Em.

And I'm in.

I swear to God,

with every fiber

of my being, I am in.

But I refuse to settle

for part of you.

I need you to be in too.

I'm in. I'm in.

I'm so sorry

it took me so long

to understand that.

Jesse was right

for me once, but you

are right for me now,

and I promise

I will work

for the rest of my days

to be the right person

to you.

No, you be

whoever you want.

If you're in, I'm in.

Nothing you do

could ever change that.

I went to Maine

with Jesse--

No, no, no, no.

I already said

that I was in.

Okay? Save the rest

for couple's therapy.

Okay.

[sniffles, sighs]

Our life starts now.

Together.

You're a good man.

I'm all right.

[motorist]

Get out of the way!

Oh, oh, oh.

Oh, whiplash, whiplash.

Oh, my God. Are you okay?

Yeah, yeah. I just need

to sit down for a minute.

Oh, it's a little spin-y.

Okay.

Just breathe...

Uh, excuse me.

Can somebody call

an ambulance?

Yeah, thank you.

[horns honking]

Hey, shut up!

Just go around!

[bystander] Come on!

We're fine,

thank you.

I love you.

Oh, I love you too.

[mumbles] Honey...

[winces]

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, no, no. It's fine.

I just wanna be--

I just wanna be close to you.

[siren blaring]

See the clouds

And let 'em be

Keep every story

Of your days a mystery

Hear the songs

In the breeze

Sing out your winds

And trials like a melody...

[Jesse's voice]

Emma, I met someone.

Her name's June.

Somehow she's convinced me

to get back in the water.

But it feels freeing now.

I'm out there swimming

almost every morning.

I can see now

that the only way

to get my life back

was to move forward.

I know that's what

you had to do too.

I get it now.

Loving you got me through

my darkest days.

And now I have a future

because of it.

A future that

I'm discovering every day.

And for that,

I owe you everything.

Love, Jesse.

Light a flame

Inside your heart

See every finish line...

You okay?

Yeah.

Raise your fist

To the sky

Lightning

And mountaintops

Are made for you and I

-Morning comes

-[Emma] I'm good.

When the nightfall goes

Don't turn back

To the road below

You ready to check out?

Okay.