06x65 - Pullman Square

[bunniefuu]

Daddy!

Yes.

I haven't called you daddy
in awhile.

I like it.

Yeah, kind of puts me
in my place.

There are very few people
who I let call me daddy.

Daddy, daddy, daddy.

Yep.

Shut up.

I'll do the talking.

Okay, what's up?

Guess what the kid found out?

What?

Well, indeed there was
a last straw,

and that straw was, uh...

Wait, remind me what was
the next to the last straw.

They closed Senecal Pharmacy.

Okay, and the
last straw is what?

"Berman's."

Oh, no.

They closed "Berman's."

Bastards.

Yeah, they locked
the doors of "Berman's."

You know what, Ben, this is just
part of what we call progress.

But "Berman's" was like...
That was the benchmark store...

Right, but...
In Pullman Square.

I mean, that was the big...

What was the verb
in that sentence Ben?

Benchmark.

Ha ha, no, you're close.

Um, um...

It was the benchmark.

You know, that store's... dad,
don't get on this again.

It's old, it's smelly,
it's overpriced...

But you... you...

It's under-stocked,
overstaffed,

and Dee-licious!

No, I don't know what else
to say about "Berman's."

The weird thing is I don't feel that
strongly about "Berman's" but I...

Well, you used to.

I mean, that's the thing. You've
gotten soft in your old age.

Or I've come to my senses.

Dad, first the pharmacy...

Then "Berman's..."

Right.

And then pretty much
everything else...

And then, what happens to the
culture of the square, you know?

I see what you're
concerned about

but I do have to say this, Ben.

Mm-hmm?

"Shadd up!"

Hi, Laura.

What do you want?

Nothing, I'm just stretching
the ol' legs, you know.

Well...

Let me ask you something,
Laura...

Do you think we make a difference
in people's lives, what we do here?

Like, on earth,
like, we, in general?

I'm talking about my practice...

The people that come here
seeking my help.

You mean you, then?

Well, I'm including you
in the practice.

Well, I think I do,
but I don't know about you.

See, I sometimes
I'm not positive

that I am affecting people's
lives in a good way, you know?

Well, as long as
they don't realize it.

But don't you think that
what I do

caters to the "haves" and
not to the "have nots"?

Do you know what I mean?

The "have nots" have bigger
problems to worry about

than whether or not
they can afford therapy.

'Cause they have not.

Yeah, they already know
why they're depressed.

Yeah.

When I was a kid,

I used to think they were
the "half knots."

Don't you have work to do?

Yeah.

The other day I was in
the dry cleaners...

Mm-hmm.

And I just have a lot of anger

and I don't know what
I'm doing with it,

and I just snapped.

They said,
"Yes, sir, can we help you?"

I said, "Why is everybody
controlling me?"

What was it like in
your home growing up?

There was always a lot of death
around the house,

when I was a kid.

And I always knew that
someone had d*ed

because of the sudden appearance
of a 30-cup percolator

on the kitchen stove.

You remember the "big boy"?

That told me that the funeral brunch
was about to happen in the house,

with that great perking sound,
you remember this sound?

Ssssssshhh...

Sssssssshhhh,

with the light that came on
every 5 seconds that said to me,

"Death in the family".

"Death in the family
wake up and smell the pain,

trouble is a-brewin'."

Right.

We were at my aunt's funeral,
you know?

And all my mom could say
to me is,

"I just hope I have enough food
back at the house.

Who knew your aunt was
so popular,

everyone came,
everyone."

I guess, the only happy
memories, that I have,

is of the summers.

Mm-hmm.

Because we had a summer cottage

at a place called
Nantasket Beach.

And my uncle, my uncle Red...

Right.

He owned a ride there,

and it was a ride called
"The Rotor".

I don't know if you've ever been
on a ride like this,

but it was a ride that went

around around around around,
floor drops out.

And that's when you'd stick
to the wall.

And that's when you'd throw up.

And that's when my uncle would
take your picture...

For his throw-up gallery.

Well, why do you care?

Well, because I like
the old Pullman Square.

I spent a lot of time there.

You did?

Well, I spent
my childhood there.

Huh?

It's sort of safe to say

I was sort of raised by
Pullman Square.

So I did what any normal person
would do when he's upset.

I've founded an organization,
called, "Free Pullman Square".

Well, what are you
freeing them from?

You know, Laura,
don't denigrate my movement.

Okay.

I mean, if we can stop

what they're doing
to Pullman Square,

then we can stop...

Progress?

No, not progress.

Well, how are you gonna do this?

Well, I'm starting a petition.

A petition?

Uh-huh,
and I made a sign

that says "Free Pullman Square".

Huh.

And I'll tell you
something, Laura...

Yeah?

You can evict our neighborhood

but not our spirits, alright?
- Wow!

Why don't you get involved
with a cause... that matters?

You don't think the
Pullman Square thing matters?

Like, land mines, you know...

The depletion of the ozone
or I don't know, uh...

What do you mean, land mines?

Well, 'cause they k*ll people.

Yeah, but there's no
land mines in America.

Well, then, I guess,
your work is done.

Are there land mines?

I mean, have we all just been
really lucky?

I'm not exaggerating.

The house is 2 houses away
from the Atlantic ocean.

Right.

And even though it was


it took us half the day
to get to the beach...

And half the day to get back.

Why is that?

We took everything in the house.

We took tables, we took chairs,
we took lamps,

we took a davenport couch and
a hassock,

big bottle of tab...

We were like Jews
on our way to Ellis Island.

Right down to the ocean,
Dr. Katz,

a sea of
brightly colored blankets,

and all the old beach smells.

Remember this?

A beautiful bouquet of Solarcaine, Sea
n' Ski, and Prell, filled the air.

I was the happiest kid
in the world,

for 3 seconds.

And then all of a sudden, my mom
would come to the water's edge,

"Come on in.
You're out way too far.

You're making me nervous
and if I'm nervous,

everybody's nervous.
Come on!"

And I'd just be out there
waving,

"Can't hear you,
cannot hear you."

God, how I loved the ocean!

Well, why don't you go
chain yourself

to Pullman Square somehow,
like, to a bike rack?

That was kind of like
the original plan

but I figured if I do that
then, the cops would come

and probably arrest me.

Well, that's the point.

I ain't goin' to jail for this.

Laura? Yeah?

Are you with me or
are you against me?

Well, I'm against you, but...

Ok, let me check my list here...

Are you part of
the solution or the problem?

Problem.

Paper or plastic?

Plastic.

Dumb choice.

Ok, so what is your plan
of att*ck here, Ben?

What, how are you gonna, uh?

Well, it's a
tri-phase att*ck...

Perfect.

Which means 3, dad.

What is phase 1?

Well, uh, phase 1 is uh, I want
to get everybody together...

Mm-hmm, like a
pep rally of some sort.

Like a pep rally.

But with dancing
and maybe bands.

Mm-hmm.

And, um, I'm gonna have that
right in the square, you know

and they can't stop me.

Well, I think you need
a permit to do that.

No, you don't.

To have a kickoff party
you need a permit.

Dad, if you're rebelling,
you don't need anything.

Ok, phase 1 sounds doable,
now what about phase 2?

Right.

Then that's when I kind of
need you mostly... in phase 1.

Because...

You want me to get
the old band together?

No no no, but we need money.

So I was thinkin' maybe
you would be the first

to donate to the cause.

Yeah. What's phase 3?

No, phase 2.
I'm sorry, sorry.

- Phase 2 is boycott.
- Boycott what?

Boycott the new stores.

Isn't it a little late
once the new stores are in?

Haven't you pretty much
lost the battle?

You mean after they've
already built them.

Yeah, and opened them up
to the public.

Ok, skip phase 2...

And we'll move to
phase 3... which is?

Phase 3 is to buy back
all the property

from the greedy bastards
who are developing it.

And how do you plan on
doing that?

Um, I can't get bogged down
in details, right now, dad.

How much would it take to buy back
all the property in Pullman Square?

I would say about


And how much money do you have?

I have 30 dollars.

We are sc-rewed!

Now, your parents
are not alive, right?

No, I have one alive
and one in heaven.

Well, whatever
your concept of...

Well, what is your
concept of heaven?

For me, it's like high school.

Heaven is like high school.

After you die you go to
high school.

'Cause that's where a lot of your
opinions are formed, in high school.

So you're sort of
freeze-dried there

and after you die, you go back
to your high school

and just sort of fly around,

and visit the different cliques
that you couldn't get into,

and that's what I think happens
after you die.

What was it about high school
that you find so appealing?

Oh, it's not that
it was appealing.

I think it's kind of my own version
of my own private, little hell.

You're so self-conscious
when you're in high school.

I mean, isn't everybody?

And there's all this pressure...

What are you gonna do with your
life after this is over with...

And this is your last chance
to go dating and have fun...

Are you gonna let
that guy touch your bra?

And every possible element
of your life is aroused

when you're in high school.

So you might as well
go back there after you die

and deal with it, finally,

instead of just shoving it
under the carpet.

And is that what you did, Teri?

Did you shove it
under the carpet?

Well, um, somewhat.
Yes, I had to.

Didn't we all?

Well...

So that's what I think happens
when we die.

Yeah.

But um, I remember being very innocent
and all that... almost Mormon.

And then I had all these girlfriends
that were very much racy.

That's who I hung out with.

They smoked in the bathroom
and everything.

Not Mormon.

They were not Mormon, no.

They were catholic girls.

I sense that this whole
conversation we're having now

is really about sex.

Which is okay, you know?

I'm so glad we're
sophisticated adults

and we can talk about
these things

without being embarrassed
or humiliated.

Well, that's one of the
advantages of being dead...

That's right.
And in high school.

We can say the word penis
and it would be okay.

That's right.

Penis, penis, penis.

Yeah.

I just want to know if
I'm getting better.

You are getting so much better,
it's embarrassing.

Ha ha, really?

What's gonna happen to all
the Senecal employees?

Well, they'll have to
find other work

or at least pretend to,
while they collect unemployment.

You know dad, I'm kind of
disappointed in you.

Why is that?

Because you're not
embracing my cause, you know?

What happened to the old
'60s spirit, hmm?

Well, I guess, I woke up.

I would think
you would agree with me,

that Pullman Square should
stay the same.

I may not be embracing
your cause, Ben,

mm-hmm. But my cause... mm-hmm.

Is embracing my son.
Come here, you.

Ha ha, oh dad, don't.

Let's try this little chant...

What do we want?

Change!

When do we want it?

Now!

How badly?

Badly!
Very badly!

I think I've lost my touch.

Is he spearheading this
"Save Pullman Square"?

Yeah, he started a
grassroots movement.

Really?

Are there a lot of people
now involved in it?

He's had a meeting, and he
had a fairly good turnout.

Oh.

What's fairly good?

Little bit better than mediocre.

Oh, ha ha ha.

Well, I'd like to know when
the next one is, I would come.

Good for you!

Count me in too.

I'll save Pullman Square.

Is there gonna be
hors d'oeuvres and stuff?

You better believe that,
my friend.

Nice.

He sort of inspired me

to maybe start giving a little something
back, myself, to the community.

Have you ever done that?

Well, I used to do some work
with the animal-rights people

in the area of
sexual harassment.

I know that sounds strange,
but we worked with the horses.

And our feeling is that
when horses neigh,

that that's exactly
what he means.

Ha ha ha.

You really have got me
thinking, Laura,

about this whole
giving back to the community,

this doing the
socially responsible thing.

I really was affected by
our conversation

and I decided to make
a tidy, little donation

to the community
mental-health center.

Oh, what happen to
the "pro bono" idea?

That is a great idea.

Unfortunately... just looking
through my schedule,

I really don't have
time to do that.

Oh, you know,
they really need volunteers

a lot more than donations,
I'm sure.

Yes, I think you're
probably right.

I just don't have the time to do it.
If I did...

What about Wednesday afternoons,
they're wide open?

Yeah, well, then maybe that's
the day I can make my donations.

Uh-huh.

But, for me, the most elegant
solution to this problem

is just to write out a check.

Alright, Dr. Katz.

Well, if that's gonna make
your conscience feel better,

I guess, that's what
it's all about.

No, it's not about
my conscience, at all.

It's about my social consciousness...
My social conscience.

Yeah, whatever.

Laura, I am responsible
for the mental health

of more than 30 people.

You're not responsible for it,
you just tamper with it.

I don't tamper, I uh, I tinker.

I want to try
something new with you, Ed.

Mm-hmm.

I want you to take in
the silence...

And then when I say "now",
give it a color. Okay?

Just tell me what
color it feels like... now.

Blue.

So close.

Do you mind if I...
Can I ask you one question?

You can ask.

Can we try a little
word association?

Absolutely.

Okay.

Um, music.

Hello.

Grief.

Dance?

Bag.

Shopping.

Leg.

Hello.

Friendly.

Octopus.

Sponge.

Pigeon.

Filter.

Hello!

Hey, Todd.

How ya doin'?

Not well.

What's wrong?

I got problems in my life.

Oh, no.

When you have problems...

Well, I don't have problems,
but I almost said that.

I appreciate your support.

What's wrong?

You see what's goin' on
with Pullman Square, I mean...

Oh, yeah yeah, I like it.

Why would you like that?

There's a lot of reasons...

All those new stores, you know?

Well, it's the same stores
in the mall.

I know, but they're right there.

But the whole point is
you can go to the mall

and go to those stores, not...

I don't like malls, though,
I don't.

But it's gonna be like a mall!

I like the stores in a mall
but I don't like malls.

Well, it's gonna be like a mall.

I know!
It's great man.

You know what?

It would be like comin' in here
and seein' you

but you were different.

Uh-huh.

Like it was Todd...

But I became a gap or somethin'?

No, not a store...
Like you looked different.

Like, let's say...
Let's say, you styled your hair,

like you slick-ified.

Slick-ified?

Yeah.

Wow!

Like, put gel in it.

I do put gel in it.

You do?

Yeah.

So, it was kind of a bust, huh?

Well, not a lot of
people showed up

that's why I'm doin' this now...
This flyer thing.

Flyers always help bring
people in.

I'm posting flyers up
everywhere.

Can I post one up here?

Ok, actually, it's against
store policy, Ben.

What about all those
flyers up in the window?

The flyers?

Yeah.

Oh, those are bands that are
playing in town soon.

Oh, so bands can do it,

but if I'm on a
"Save Pullman Square" kick...

Well, that's an apolitical
sort of agenda.

The bands have an agenda.

Nah, they just want to rock out.

You know Todd,

you may have a
laissez faire attitude

uh-huh...

About this now...

You like that?

But you should really start
getting into the esprit de corps.

Do you know what I'm saying?

I know, I know.

I have a joie de vivre about it.

Well, you may have a
joie de vivre

but that joie de vivre may be
taken away... Tout suite

if you don't do something

because what I'm planning here
is coup d'etat.

Oh, wow!

And that coup d'etat is gonna
change la monde.

This is a big moment
in my life...

Um when I was a little kid,

it was the first time
I ever saw my father cry.

Well, it was 1978...

Mm-hmm.

And it was the playoff game between
the Yankees and the Red Sox.

And my father and I were watching
a little black-and-white TV set

sitting on the edge of the bed,
it was amazing.

And Carl Yazstremski, his hero,
got up to the plate...

And he hit a home run
into the right-field stands.

And I look over at my father
and my father is crying...

Tears are rolling down
his cheeks.

And I said, "Dad, are you okay?
Why are you crying?"

And he said, "Ed, I'm trapped in
a marriage I don't understand."

So, how did it go?

What?

The rally.

It wasn't a rally
it was a meeting.

How did the meeting go?

It was a decent turnout.
There was um, 11 of us.

Mm-hmm.

That's a pretty impressive
number of people

at the beginning of a movement.

Yeah?

Yeah.

We're in trouble.

Yeah, did you guys get done what
you needed to get done?

No.

So it really wasn't...

It really wasn't that organized.

This movement doesn't have,
I think a lot of uh...

What's the word, the uh...

Momentum?

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Damnit.

This movement doesn't have
a lot of glamour.

I remember the first
anti-w*r protest I went to.

It was crazy, we laugh we cried.

Uh-hmmm, really?
What happen?

Well, first we sang songs and
then we got tear-gassed.

Did you really get
tear-gassed?

Yeah.

Wow, what was it like?

It's not as bad as it sounds.

Ha ha ha.

You know?

Tears of joy?

Any kind of dr*gs in
those days was acceptable.

Ha ha ha.
You just breathed it in.

Yeah, you get a little buzz.

My generation doesn't have
Vietnam or Korea or the South.

We don't have any big like uh...

You know what, Ben?

- Big reason to uh...
- Guess what?

- Protest.
- Guess what?

- What?
- I'm proud of ya.

You serious?

Yes, I am.

What's important is
not the issue.

It's the spirit of protest
that lives in you.

Yeah.

And the spirit of caring.

I do care, you know, I do.

We need a more outspoken
and um, better leader.

Ben, I thank you for the offer,
but I'm not available

or interested in the position.

Dad, I wasn't asking you.

I don't think you're a particularly
charismatic man, you know?

What about like this?

Alright, you're in.

That was my stomach.

Oh, was it?

Uh-hmm, ha ha.

Um, no, you seem to be
doing so much better.

Do I?

Yeah.

Good, I feel better.

Do you miss living in
New York City?

Well, no, I don't.

I hate to say this,
but as you grow older,

it gets much less romantic
and attractive...

To be racing around on subways,

and seeing old ladies eating
out of garbage cans and stuff.

It's not so funny
as it used to be.

Right.

So, I don't think I like that... or
spend the entire day going across town

in six different cabs
just to get a lampshade.

Yeah, isn't it...
What's the expression?

"Nice place to visit but
I wouldn't live there."

That's the expression!

Yeah, I'm not trying to reduce
some real insight you have

to a really short cliché...

But you just have.

Well Teri, you know Rome
wasn't built in a day...

Uh-huh.

And things like that.

Was that my stomach or
your stomach?

I keep telling you
it was my stomach.

Is that a nervous response?

It isn't a nervous response.

It's either, well... sometimes
I think my unconscious

is trying to say something.

If you listen very closely
to my stomach,

it's actually saying words.

Mm-hmm.

So that I can, you know,
realize what I'm feeling.

Mm-hmm.

Sometimes I deny the word,
it will go,

"joy", it'll go, "joy"

and that means I'm really happy
when I think I'm not,

and that helps me.

Sometimes it will say,
"Grieve, you need to grieve".

When I knew that
I wasn't grieving, I'd go,

"Oh, I know the dog d*ed,
I don't care".

But actually, I need to
grieve about the dog,

so it will remind me...

"Grieve"...

That has happened to me.

Well, you can't really
expect your stomach

to be tapped in, constantly.

Sometimes I don't think it's
tapped in at all

'cause it says something very
mundane, like you know,

"We need cleanser"

you know something stupid
like that, and I go,

this is not even important
to my life.

You seem like you've
mellowed out a little bit, Ed.

No, I think, I'm not as rageful
as I was when I came in

'cause I was sitting on it,
right?

Now, I feel like I'm just
getting out with it.

You know what, Dr. Katz?

Could I just go through a litany
of all the things

that I'm angry about?

Absolutely.

Well, I'm angry...

I'm angry that the Red Sox
haven't won a world series.

I'm angry about it!

Mm-hmm.

Dr. Katz.

That's the whole list?

That's it.

No, I think you're missing
the point, Dr. Katz.

The point is that you feel
emotionally raw.

Yes, I'm raw.

I'm very emotional right now.

That's a good thing.

Is it good?

Yeah.

What about this voice?
Isn't it too high?

Little bit,
but you can adjust that.

Oh, so if I go a little lower,
that's good.

Mm-hmm.

Still emotional!

Well, I think you arrive
with rage.

Yes.

And you leave with
something less than rage.

Yes.

Whoops, you know what
the music means.

We're gonna have to stop now.

Our time is up.