This Closeness (2023)

[bunniefuu]

[Woman's voice reverberates]

Hi. Welcome back.

I am so happy that you're joining

me as we get ready to sleep.

Sleep...

Sleep.

[Low rumble passing]

[Woman inhales softly]

It's always nice to have a soft, clean

blanket to put against your cheek.

Oh, this one is so soft,

just out of the dryer,

[Inhales deeply]

and it smells like lavender.

Are you feeling comfortable

in your bed?

Here. Why don't we

fluff a pillow for you.

You've got some...

You've got a little hair in

your face.

Let me get that out of the way.

- [Ethereal music, vocalizing]

-

There you go.

There.

That's better.

Are you ready to go to sleep?

[Door rattles, lock clicks open]

- [Man] It's just like...

- [Woman] I know.

[Man] Like red and green.

It's like...

I know. It's like Christmas.

It's so tacky.

You don't live there anymore.

Yeah, but at least have

some respect for the

f*cking, like, tradition

of the building.

I can't even imagine what

they did to the inside.

Yeah.

You know, I bet they're

the type of people

that, like, buy everything

new and it all looks

mid-century modern and then they say

they're

these revolutionary f*cking taste makers.

That's possible.

[Lock clicks]

I can't even bear to send

a photo to my parents.

Then don't.

What?

Then don't. Say you were too

busy with reunion stuff to check it out.

Okay.

Mmm...

What?

It looks different than

the pictures.

How so?

It looks different

from

the pictures.

Sadder.

Do you hate it?

No. No.

It's just for the weekend,

so it's...

it's fine.

Do you think he's home?

It's freezing in here.

[Soft rattling]

It is so cold in here.

What was I just saying?

The AC is still in there.

Why the f*ck.

- That's not working.

- Yeah. Ugh. Hm...

He should take it out.

I mean, I could,

I can probably do it myself.

That's not your job. It's his.

Whose?

Our, like, host's.

I don't mind.

You know, I'm

going to do it later.

Dave texted.

He wants to get drinks.

He knows this good happy hour nearby.

Oh, okay.

That cool?

Yeah. I'm just feeling

gross from the drive.

Okay. Well, take a shower. We've got time.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

Okay.

These towels smell

f*cking weird.

[Chatter on headphones]

Sorry.

[Cheering, whistling on headphones]

[Mouse clicks]

[Water runs]

[Door opens]

Hey, man, what's up?

- Hi.

- Hey, I'm Ben.

- Good to meet you.

- Adam.

I thought our, um, host's

name was Lance?

That's my room...

Um, that was my roommate.

He made the listing for me.

Okay. Gotcha.

So my girlfriend, Tessa, She's

using the shower right now.

Okay.

See you.

See ya.

[Door shuts]

[Knocks on door;

water runs]

[Tessa] Hello?

[Ben] Hey, um, I'm coming in.

- [Tessa] What, why?

- [Ben] Just let me in.

[Door clicks open;

She sighs]

So I just met Adam.

I thought his name was Lance.

No, that was his roommate.

- Did he say something about me?

- No.

But he's really f*cking bizarre.

- What happened?

- He just...

Just like nothing.

- You're, like, trembling.

- I'm not, like, trembling.

I'm just like, what the f*ck?

- What did he say to you?

- Nothing.

He was just so awkward

and unresponsive and,

like, didn't ask me

anything or tell me anything.

Ask you anything about what?

I don't know. Aren't hosts

supposed to show you around?

Show you around where?

I don't know.

He's not a concierge.

He's just sharing space.

Yeah, I know, but

[Water stops]

don't hosts usually want

to, like, you know,

tell you about local spots or

ask us if we got here okay?

Well, we obviously

got here okay.

And you're, like,

from here, so...

I don't know.

Maybe he's just introverted.

He seems really introverted.

Maybe I should ask him to be

in one of my videos.

You do not want this guy

to be in one of your videos.

What, why?

Is he hideous?

No. Just,

you know when being socially

awkward becomes a physical feature?

That's what happened

to this guy.

[Floor creaks softly]

[Muffled chatter]

[Soft whirring]

[Ben]

Wait, wait.

[Tessa]

Three, two, one...

[Faint music on headphones]

[Music rhythm intensifies]

[Loud thud]

[Tessa and Ben laughing, muffled]

I like when you look at me like that.

Like what?

Like you're remembering

a good dream.

[Door squeaks faintly]

Sorry, you scared me.

Hey man.

Hi. Morning. I'm Tessa.

[Adam] Hi.

We got breakfast from

that place around the corner.

It's... it's really good.

Have you been there?

We didn't know

if we can make coffee.

- Yeah. Yeah, you can.

- Cool.

Thank you.

How long have you lived

in this apartment for?

Um..-

A few years.

Since I graduated from college.

Oh. What do you do?

I, um, I edit videos for this

sports company here.

Like highlight reels, promos.

That's cool.

I actually work in video, too.

I mostly do sound design, but

sometimes I make YouTube videos.

Oh, what...

What kind of videos?

ASMR videos.

Um, they're really cool.

They're these videos

where you're taking

you know, little sounds or

experiences that are relaxing.

But then when you put them

all together, it all becomes

amplified and it creates this

really soothing effect. Like, um...

you know, you get chills,

but, like, relaxing ones.

Like, if someone plays

with my hair, I get tingles.

Does that...?

Who watches your videos?

Um, lots of different people.

People with insomnia.

Sometimes people will listen

to it for background noise.

Yeah. I mean, it's. It sounds...

It sounds weird, but people get

really addicted to it and very into it.

That's actually how Ben

and I met.

He was doing research for

an article about ASMR.

- Yeah.

- And...

I was wondering if I could

make one here, actually?

It gets such beautiful

light here during the day.

Yeah. Yeah, you can.

Oh, thanks. I promise not

to get in the way too much.

- Okay.

- [Coffee machine burbles]

Oh, do you want to sit with us?

You should sit with us.

Or, you know what?

We're finishing up.

If you want to be by

yourself, that's fine.

I need to get back to editing.

Okay. Okay.

Actually. Hey, man.

Yeah,

we just had a little question.

[Adam] Yeah.

Yeah, so we noticed that the,

uh, the AC was still in there?

It's not a big deal.

I think it's just a little broken so

a bunch of cold air is coming in.

Oh, um, it actually gets

really hot in that room

without it, because

the heat is sort of weird.

I can't control it.

It's a really old building,

so it's better to just keep it in.

That's what Lance always did.

Okay, so should we talk to Lance or...?

No. He's with his family right

now. His mom is, like, really sick.

So he had to move away.

But, like,

he said he'll be back.

No. I don't want to, like,

bother him with anything.

Um, okay.

It's just, it's

very cold in there.

And it said on the listing that...

Lance made that.

It's not my apartment.

It belonged to his aunt.

He just, you know, lets me live here.

Okay, so you're here now, right?

Yeah.

Okay. So I believe

you that it gets warm,

but Tessa gets cold very easily.

And I think we would just prefer it if,

you know, we could get the AC out.

- Oh.

- Yeah.

Okay.

I need to finish up some...

some work.

I'm on, like, a

deadline right now.

Yes, yes. Later, whenever.

We're going to be out for

most of the day. So, by tonight?

Okay. Sure. Yeah.

Okay, yeah.

Thank you.

[Door shuts]

I told you he was bizarre,

right?

Why did you press?

Because it's freezing in there.

But that was so awkward.

Yeah, because

he's an awkward guy.

Sometimes you have

to push through these things

so you don't

f*cking die of hypothermia.

Do you think he's actually

going to do it?

Or do you think it's going to be

one of those things where, like, every

interaction begins and ends with,

like, "Oh sh*t, my bad, I'm sorry."

"I'll get to it."

[She whispers]

I hate that kind of thing.

Who are you texting?

Hm?

Who are you texting?

Oh, nothing. No one. It's just It's

just is this group chat for the reunion.

They want to

have a little dinner tonight.

Some time away from the spouses?

The spouses?

Yeah.

Well, you're not my spouse.

You know what I mean.

Yeah, but, you know,

you're not my spouse. [Chuckles]

I'm aware.

It's just, like, an expression.

Yeah, no, no, I get it.

Um...

Is that cool?

That you're not my spouse?

No. The dinner?

Yeah, for sure.

I'll wander.

[Construction work rattle, distant]

Do you need help?

Um...

All right.

Ready?

Just...

f*ck.

- I'm going to get the window.

- Okay.

[Ben grunts]

Okay.

[Both grunting]

God damn, this thing is heavy.

f*ck!

Ah... ah...

Oh, my God!

What happened?

That's... that's from the AC?

- Yeah.

- Oh, it looks deep.

- It just stings?

- Do you have a band-aid?

- Yeah, in the bathroom.

- Okay.

No, I can get them.

- Are you sure? Oh, okay.

- Yeah.

Okay, so... I'll take this out?

- [Adam] Yeah, okay.

- [Door shuts]

Um, we should...

We should disinfect that.

[Bottle squelches]

[Tessa, muffled] What a mess.

[Door clicks open]

[Soft, high-pitch crescendo]

[Computer keys clacking]

[Rattling]

- Hey.

- Hey.

Is your hand okay?

Yeah, it's fine.

Good.

Sorry if I kind of freaked out.

I'm not very good with blood.

It's okay.

Oh, I have to show you something.

Here.

That way...

Well, first I was like,

each person gets a shelf,

but there they're

different levels, you know?

And that way you can put

taller stuff in too.

Yeah. This works.

Now it kind of

just looks like I'm an alcoholic.

My parents are alcoholics.

Their fridge doesn't look

like that.

[Fridge door squeaks]

Where's, um...

Ben? He's out with some

friends from high school.

That's why we're here for his

high school reunion.

Oh, uh, where did he go?

Central? You probably

know tons of kids from there.

I know a few.

[Engine roars by]

Are Ben and I your first guests?

How did you know?

Well, uh...

the guest book is empty.

So...

Oh.

- [They laugh]

- Yeah.

It's sad about

your roommate's mom.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Lance was, like,

the best.

We used to

do everything together,

but he said that I should

do this to meet more people.

And that way

he said, that way

if someone sucks, you uh,

you don't even

have to kick them out.

You know, they'll leave and you'll

have the whole place to yourself again.

I thought that was pretty smart.

I hope we don't suck.

Well,

I don't know yet.

I guess that's true.

I probably should go

to dinner soon.

[Siren wails by, distant]

But it was nice talking

with you.

Yeah, for sure.

Have a good night.

Yeah. See you.

[Door clicks open]

[Door shuts]

[Water trickles]

[Drain gurgles]

[Video chatter, indistinct]

[Door clicks open;

Thumping]

[Ben, muffled] f*ck, we should've picked

up stuff from the corner store. sh*t.

[Ben sighs]

Yeah, she got this fancy tasting

menu at some wine bar and they're, uh,

very slow, she says.

Who the f*ck gets pre-fee in Philly?

Prix fixe, Lizzy.

[She imitates him]

"Prix fixe, Lizzy."

- Whoa. Oh, my God.

- What?

Oh my God.

I told you we were staying

with a f*cking psycho.

That's insane.

At least there's beer.

Oh my God.

I'm, like, nervous for tomorrow.

Do you think Tessa is gonna

make me, like, a celebrity?

- I mean...

- Cheers.

She's not actually

famous or anything.

She just, She just has,

like, a lot of followers.

- What's the difference?

- I don't know.

That people don't

necessarily want to be her.

They just like her.

Did I tell you

I saw my old house?

On Chestnut?

Yeah. They closed

the deal, like, days ago.

That's why we had

to find this f*cking place.

Do you know who bought it?

No, but they already started

painting it.

Oh my God.

They move fast.

Yeah, it's

f*cking red and green now.

It is like Christmas.

Lame.

It's just not very respectful, you know?

I mean, my parents put so much

f*cking work and money into that place

and they should at least

f*cking respect the building.

Maybe they just

like those colors.

Yeah, but that's the problem.

That the people who chose

those colors are now living there.

Okay, maybe you shouldn't

care anymore, because,

like, you don't even live

here anymore, you know?

[Ben, muffled] Yeah. Maybe.

You're drunker than I thought.

[Lizzy, muffled]

I'm shwasted, baby.

So, uh...

what are you,

like, this total sl*t now?

Excuse me?

I mean, I'm using

sl*t in, like, that, that

empowered way. That,

like, that feminist, you know,

"I'm a sl*t" kind of way.

Why do you care?

I dunno. I'm just curious.

I want to be involved.

Oh, like join in?

Mm. No, gross. No.

I'm kidding.

So what's your status?

- Where are you on the spectrum of...

- Sluttiness?

Yeah.

Pretty far leaning.

Have you slept with anyone

from Central?

Oh, come on.

What? Come on.

Oh, God.

You can't judge me.

Okay?

I was kind of joking... who?

Dale.

- Dale Mullins.

- Yeah!

The guy who always had

his f*cking butt crack out?

Stop! He got a later better

since going to Penn State.

He's like a man now.

I don't know. I ran

into him at this bar

in Center City and he

started buying me drinks.

And he was being so nice.

He was like, "You haven't

changed at all since high school."

"You're still so pretty

and so nice."

Oh my God. He said, "I saw you

in the fall musical..."

- "every year."

- No f*cking way.

Yes. He was like, "I saw

you in the fall musical."

"And I was always

like," "I wish I'd come up

to you after and told

you how great you were."

What? So he's been... he's

been pining for you?

Stop trying to make it weird.

- Oh, he is f*cking weird.

- No, he's not.

He just remembered me fondly.

Oh my God, you love this.

Whatever. So many girls pined

after you in high school, Ben,

if you weren't with Tessa, they

would be all over you at this reunion.

Like who?

Like Joanna Lange.

She was in love with you.

[Ben sighs]

She was. [She laughs]

That's not much of a compliment.

I mean, she

she literally ate crayons.

Okay. That happened one time.

And it wasn't a crayon,

it was an oil pastel!

Oil pastel.

- And it was just a nibble.

- Just a nibble. Just a little nibble.

I mean, aren't you curious

what an oil pastel tastes like?

Yeah. You know what,

I can't say that I am.

[Door opens]

- Hi!

- Hey.

Hi.

I'm Lizzy.

- Hi. Tessa.

- Oh my God.

- It's...

- Nice to meet you. Yeah.

So good to meet you in person.

Get in here.

I'm really excited

about tomorrow.

Yeah. Yeah.

Thanks for doing it.

It won't take too long,

I promise.

Oh, no, I'm like, here for it.

Cool.

- Hi.

- Hey.

- How was dinner?

- It was so good.

- Yeah, it was a good time.

- Yeah?

And the party continues.

You want to sit down

and grab a beer?

Yeah, I'll grab

a beer that I bought.

[Lizzy] Oh! Oh my God.

You saw this, right?

So insane.

You might want to keep

your voice down about it.

I think he's still home.

[Lizzy] Oh, yeah, for sure.

[Tessa] So, you guys

were in the same class?

[Lizzy] Oh, yeah.

Class of...

[Both] 2! 0! 1! 3!

Yeah, I haven't seen

you do that in five years.

So dumb.

So, uh, what do you do?

Oh, I do market research at

this ad agency in Center City.

We do, like, most of the marketing

for the medical schools in the city.

Oh, that's cool.

It sounds like it keeps

you really busy.

Yeah. Isn't it weird how

people say that about jobs?

You know what I mean? Like, isn't that the

point of some, like, shitty corporate job?

So, I mean,

do you like working there?

[Lizzy] Oh, it's whatever.

I'm actually thinking about

applying to jobs in New York City.

No sh*t.

That would be awesome.

[Lizzy] Yeah, I'm just, like,

so sick of Philly.

[Ben] Yeah. No, it's.

I mean, it's too small.

So small. I see people

from high school everywhere.

It's insane.

I just want to be

somewhere where people are like

"Ew, who the f*ck

are you?" You know?

Really?

You do?

Lizzy was just telling me

that she slept with this guy.

- Dale Mullins.

- Shut up!

Who was an absolute weirdo in high school.

He's not that weird.

How did you guys even

get to that point?

Me and Dailey boy?

Oh, God, I don't even know.

We were both at the same bar,

and I was wasted.

You know how it goes.

Yeah.

I'll introduce you to him

tomorrow.

Okay. Cool.

Are you excited for it?

The reunion?

I think I'm curious

more than anything else.

It feels like people from your high school

have strong opinions about each other.

What does that mean?

Um...

I guess I just don't feel as

emotionally invested

in the people that I went to high

school with as you guys do.

Like, last night at drinks they spent

most of the time talking about all these

classmates they

hadn't seen in years, you know

like, gossiping

and everything, you know?

I mean, I hardly ever meet up

with people or,

you know, check

in on them or go to reunions.

I don't even

think my school has reunions.

Tessa is very unsentimental

about her youth.

[Tessa laughs] No, it's not that.

You know, I look back

at things and reflect,

and then other things feel

more forgettable. But...

I don't know.

The idea of caring

about people I was more

attached to back then

feels, I don't know... Weird.

It makes me, like,

physically uncomfortable.

Like the people you dated?

Like anybody.

Why?

Because you're, like,

better than them?

No, no.

She probably thinks

it's immature.

No. I just, you know,

don't put that much weight on that

time in my life because I grew up.

Maybe I do think it's

a little immature.

But I am very immature

about other things, so...

Yeah, you really are.

No, I think

Tessa's mainly bitter because

she thought she was really ugly in high

school and no one paid attention to her.

What?

But you're, like, so pretty.

You don't have to say that.

Oh, and she was in high school

too, but she doesn't think so.

[Lizzy] Oh, that's sad.

[Tessa] It wasn't that

I thought I was ugly.

People made fun of me.

Like, they were mean to me.

[Ben] Yeah, that one guy.

[Lizzy] A guy was mean to you?

Yeah, this one guy in my

class would, I don't know...

always make comments

about my appearance.

Yeah, he was... He was an as*h*le.

What would he say?

[Tessa sighs] He just seemed to

have tunnel vision

to the less flattering aspects

of the way I looked.

[Lizzy] Honestly, he probably

had a crush on you.

[Ben] I mean, that's the stereotypical

response, though, isn't it?

[Lizzy] Yeah, but it's true.

I mean, I was such a b*tch to

you in high school, wasn't I?

[Ben] Yes, yeah.

- [Ben] Yes. Definitely you were.

- [Lizzy] I was ruthless.

Do you remember

when I was on Accutane?

I mean, you were so mean to me.

I used to literally go home.

I would punch a wall and I'd be like,

God, Lizzie was such a b*tch today.

Yeah! Because

I had a crush on you.

- Oh my God. Come on.

- Duh!

- Shut up!

- Obviously! I did.

Oh my God. You were so cute.

I was like, even when your face

was all red and peely,

I wanted to take it and just make out

with you. You were adorable.

I was... I was hideous, dude.

I saw pictures of him

from that time.

You were still very cute.

So what would you say

to that guy if you saw him again?

- What guy?

- The guy who bullied you.

I have seen him again. Multiple times.

Really? What did you say?

- Nothing. I ignored him.

- What?

You weren't like,

"Look at me now."

"I'm this big YouTube star..."

"and I make a ton of money

and f*ck you."

I mean, he's, like, a

big movie producer now.

I don't think he gives a sh*t

about my videos, and, um,

I don't make

that much money, so.

Tessa's too enlightened

to engage with that.

Yeah, sure.

Because you're very mature, Tessa.

It's true. You are.

You are. You're very immature.

God, we're so immature.

Oh my God. At dinner tonight?

I can't even talk about it.

That was...

No! Then you...

You went, like, under...

Oh my God. Phew...

[Pipes hissing]

[Tessa] What are you doing?

It's so hot in here.

[Ben grunts]

[Distant chatter]

[Vehicle roars by]

[Brakes squeaking]

[Door opens]

Morning.

[Ben] sh*t. I'm sorry about that.

That's our bad. Seriously,

we can...

We can clean that up.

What are you doing?

Tearing these apart.

Why?

Because that way when this

sh*t reaches the ocean, you know,

like a sea turtle won't get

stuck in it and choke or whatever.

I mean, instead, they'll,

they'll, like, eat it and and they'll

choke on it, but, like, in a

different way where it's not our fault.

[Ben chuckles]

Got it.

[Door opens]

Hey. We left a mess out here.

You did.

What?

You did.

I had one beer.

Okay, so you contributed

one beer to the mess.

I got you breakfast

and a coffee. An iced one.

Even though I still think

that's legitimately crazy of you.

I need drink some water first.

Yeah, sure.

[He chuckles]

How are you hungover

when I'm not?

I'm not. I'm just thirsty.

Hey, what's up?

Tessa?

Hello?

[She scoffs] I just woke up.

I'm f*cking thirsty.

I just need a sec, okay?

What's the matter with you?

It was just a weird night.

Okay?

I just want to, like,

relax and forget about it.

With Lizzy?

Yeah, with your

Philly girlfriend.

Come on... We've been

friends since we were 14.

You know, she's close

like that with everybody.

She was drunk, and she just broke

up with her boyfriend, so she's been

a little weird,

but that's just her.

If a guy friend had acted like that

towards me, you would have been so angry.

I don't think so.

I think I would have understood.

[Scoffs, annoyed] Understood what?

God! What was with her going on and

on about how in love she was with you?

Okay, Tessa, that's not fair.

All right?

You've slept with her,

haven't you?

No.

- [He laughs] I...

- What?

Nothing, I...

She gave me a hand job once.

One winter break.

That's disgusting.

Why is that disgusting?

Because she's so f*cking desperate.

It's like this goo oozing off her

body, this desperate, stinking goo.

Ugh!

"I just want to peel the skin off your

face and eat it" "you were so cute."

God, f*cking psycho.

I have watched guys

flirt with you, okay?

And I've just taken it because

you're an attractive girl and I like...

No, you know what it is?

I'm proud to be with a

girl who is as beautiful

and magnetic as you are that so

many guys are attracted to her.

Okay?

What?

My God, would you stop

just looking at me like that?

You are so ridiculous.

I have no words for how

stupid you sound right now.

Okay... [Scoffs]

Look, why don't you just...

come sit down, have breakfast, okay?

Come on.

You sound like you're

talking to a dog. f*ck off.

Oh my God! I am just trying to

move past this stupid fight we're having

about absolutely nothing.

I mean, what do you

want me to say? Huh?

That Lizzie is desperate

and pathetic, and you shouldn't

compare yourself to her at all.

Yeah? Does that satisfy you to

hear that about a perfectly innocent girl

who just got a little

bit too drunk last night?

[He sighs]

I would also add that you guys

are pathetic losers stuck in the past.

God, it is so painful for you to shove

your sad, sad nostalgia down my throat.

What the f*ck!

I'm going to take a shower.

[She gasps]

I'm not cleaning this up.

[Footsteps recede, door opens]

[Tessa, muffled]

I'm not cleaning this up!

[Thud]

[Urinating]

[Water running]

I didn't clean it up.

Yeah, I heard you

the first hundred times.

- So it's still there.

- So?

So we're guests here, so

why don't you go and clean it up

before Adam comes out

and is like, "What the f*ck?"

I don't give a f*ck what

that guy thinks, alright?

You're horrible.

Listen. Okay.

Hey, if I go clean it up, all right,

will you forget whatever bullshit

you thought happened last night and we

can just move on with our f*cking day?

Tessa, come on.

Hey.

I mean, that sounds like

a pretty good deal to me, right?

Tessa, please.

I can't keep doing this. Just...

will you

please be nice to me again?

[Pipes thudding softly]

Fine.

Okay. Okay.

I love you.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I love you.

I love you too.

Do you, um...

Do you not want Lizzy

to do the video anymore?

No, it's fine.

Okay? It's not a big deal.

But she, um.

She asked yesterday.

She seem pretty excited,

but it's not a big deal.

No. She should still do it.

- You sure?

- Yeah.

Stop asking me.

[Ethereal melody, woman vocalizes]

[Tessa]

Today I have a very special

guest with me.

This is Lizzy.

I just met her last night

for the first time

and she went to high school

with my boyfriend.

And I'm also very excited

[Ethereal melody continues;

Woman breathes rhythmically]

to be using some local products today.

[Rhythmic breaths continue]

[Glass clinking]

They're called "City of Sisterly Love"

"Serums for hair, skin"

"and soul."

I'm going to be using

a few drops

of the concentrated

body oil,

which smells

absolutely amazing.

[Rhythmic breaths

and vocalizing continue]

[Hands rustling]

Lizzy, you want to take a

deep breath in and out for me.

[Lizzy inhales, exhales]

[Vocalizing and rhythmic

breathing continue]

[Both breathing deeply]

[Ethereal melody

and rhythmic breathing continue]

[Door clicks, music stops]

You can relax again.

[Lizzy clears throat]

[Exhales deeply]

[Door shuts]

Wasting no time.

Yeah.

You...

You sure you can't come?

No. They have this

big profile coming out

in some magazine and

they want this before that.

Why are you changing your shirt?

What?

Why are you changing your shirt?

I'm going to a nice dinner.

I want to look nice.

But the other shirt was nice.

This one's nicer.

You don't even wear shirts

like that when we go out.

What...

What are you even talking about?

Nothing. I just...

Just what?

Nothing.

It's just that your friends

already find you so intimidating.

You don't want to show

off by looking so good.

Suck up.

[Woman, voice over]

What

stops you from acting on it?

Acting on what?

[Woman, on video call]

I mean, the relationship.

We've talked about it in previous sessions

and it feels like it could be

positive for you in the long run.

So what's stopping you?

Loving someone like Ben feels...

really lonely...

because as much as I complain about

him and know things aren't working

or they could be and I just

don't know how to get us there,

maybe that's the same thing.

I feel so much for him and I see so

much in him that no one else does.

And I mean, you can't explain

what compels you to someone else.

You just feel it

in your whole body.

And that's why I think it's so lonely,

because you can love someone so much

and not be able to share that with anyone.

[Woman]

Do you think

Ben feels the same?

[Tessa scoffs]

I don't think

Ben ever feels lonely.

I think that's the main

difference between us.

I think that's, like, where all

this conflict comes from, right?

[Woman]

Do you feel lonely often?

[Softly]

Tessa?

[Tessa sobs]

It's hard to explain.

Sometimes I play this game

with myself where I...

I pretend that a spirit's

been inhabiting my body

and then, you know, I get

control back

and I come to and I really have

to quickly gauge where I am.

And, you know, I think,

"Oh, you know,"

"this must be my mom or, oh,"

"I'm in a caf drinking coffee

and reading a book."

And I think,

you know, sometimes I

play this game with Ben,

and for a lot of the instances,

I don't know if I would... um,

that I would recognize that I was

with him, like, that he was my partner.

It's like I don't belong to him.

[Woman]

Do you want to belong to him?

Yes.

[Woman]

Why?

Because it means I've won.

[Train roars by, distant]

[Crackling]

[Door opens, squeaks]

You can see it's

kind of like a human head.

So sound travels in through these ears.

And then

it replicates what it would

sound like inside of your head.

So it sounds really

realistic and amplified.

Do you want to

put your headphones on?

Yeah.

[Her voice on headphones, clear]

So I'm going to start

[Closer, changing direction] whispering

into it and moving my head around

and maybe I'll even tap

on the ears a little bit.

[Soft thumping]

And don't you see how it sounds like

it's coming from inside of your head?

Like I'm actually touching you?

Yeah, it's...

It's really cool. [Laughs]

Could...

Um, could you do it again?

Yeah.

[Soft, fast thumping]

[Vehicles passing by]

[Door opens]

Sorry. Do you need the

kitchen or something?

- No, I'm going out.

- Oh, OK.

I'm a part of an ultimate Frisbee group,

so I'm going to go meet

them at Fairmount Park.

Cool.

Yeah. Lance?

He was a part of it

and told me I should join.

It's actually really fun and

the people are really nice.

That's great.

- I hope you have fun.

- See you later.

Bye.

[Footsteps receding]

[Door shuts]

- [Door opens]

- [Lizzy, distant] Hello?

Hi.

[Lizzy] Hi. It's us.

[Footsteps approach]

[Lizzy laughs] Alright, princess.

Pretty, pretty princess.

Inside you go.

Hi! Oh, you look cozy.

So your man's got a little drunk

tonight, and I had to drive him home.

Where were you guys?

Well, they were at a bar, and I went

home to walk my dog after dinner.

And next thing I know,

all the guys are calling me

to pick them up like I'm

their f*cking chauffeur.

I'm sorry.

It's whatever.

I'll see you at the reunion

tomorrow, yeah?

- Yeah.

- Okay.

- Bye Benjamin.

- Bye Lizzy.

Love you.

[Ben] I love you.

[Lizzy chuckles]

Bye.

- Hi.

- Mmm.

Oh my God. You're wasted.

Mm. What are you doing?

You know, just reading

and having a little vino.

A little vino.

Yeah.

[Soft rustling]

That feels good.

I know.

I'm really sorry about today.

I know.

I can't believe I threw

an iced coffee at you.

Like, what the f*ck.

- The iced part.

- Yeah. That's what really got you.

Yeah, that was f*cked up.

[He cries]

I'm a sh*t boyfriend.

I'm a really shitty boyfriend.

Don't say that.

Your thighs are so soft...

I love you so much.

I love you too.

f*ck, Lizzy. Yeah?

Hm? Yeah, sure.

Did she say anything about me

tonight?

What would she have said?

Just about how the video went.

No, no, it didn't come up.

Okay.

Lizzy's a good person, Tessa.

You just don't know her.

But she's a good person.

We're all good people.

Sure.

Okay.

Go to sleep.

Okay?

But not on me. Come on.

[He sighs] Where are you going?

I'm just going to sit on the

couch and hang out for a little bit.

Why?

It's just

kind of stuffy in here.

Go to sleep.

[Door closes]

[Muffled chatter on headphones]

Hey, how was it?

Um...

Really fun. I'm really sweaty.

[Door squeaks open]

[Door closes]

Hey, man.

Just wanted to check in.

I... I hope your

mom's doing okay.

I wanted to tell you that the

first guests are here, and...

they're, they're kind of weird.

Um, but, yeah,

you can call me back later.

I'll call you or...

Yeah, I'll talk to you later.

See ya.

[Door clicks, footsteps approach]

Hey, um...

Tessa?

Yeah?

Um...

So...

It was, um,

really nice

when you were doing that like,

that thing with the microphone.

And I was

wondering if we could

um, like, do that again?

I could pay you or something.

[She hesitates]

I know that it's, um,

I know that it's

really weird, but like, um, I don't know.

It was, um, it was really nice.

And I...

it helped me, like, calm down.

Um... okay.

This is awkward.

This is, like, really weird.

Um...

It's, um..

It's just that...

I haven't, like,

had someone around

who would treat me like that for

a while, and it's been

something I've missed. And...

I don't know, like, especially,

like, since Lance left,

I've felt, like, like, really

lonely, I guess.

Oh, I'm sorry.

You don't have to be.

Just...

It was...

It was just nice.

I wonder, I, um.

Have you ever had a

girlfriend or a partner before?

Yeah. I did.

In college for a little while.

What happened?

She just, um...

She just, like, didn't like me

that much after a while.

She said I never left her alone.

She got um, just like, tired of me or...

something like that.

I'm not really good at talking to women.

That's why it was really

cool living with Lance

because he was like, really, like,

smooth with the ladies, you know?

And he would, like, give me tips and,

like, sometimes when I was

talking to a girl online and like,

didn't know what to say.

He would like, type

everything out for me.

[She chuckles] He sounds

like a really good roommate.

I mean, he's like my best friend.

He's like the best friend.

He's like the coolest guy ever.

I wish you could meet him.

He's that kind of person, you know,

the kind of person that you want

every other person to get to know.

I love that.

What?

What you just said.

Sometimes I feel like I don't

know a lot of really good people.

They're hard to find.

I know I'm not one of them.

I uh...

I try to be, but...

I don't know.

Why don't you think you're

one of them?

Well... people, like...

I don't have a lot of friends

and people don't seem, like,

happy to see me.

People are always happy

to see Lance.

[She sniffles, exhales softly]

Here.

What?

Just close your eyes.

[Ethereal melody, woman vocalizes]

[Soft rustling;

Adam breathes deeply]

[Ethereal music and vocalizing continue]

[Door squeaks softly, music stops]

[Ben] What are you guys doing?

Oh, um, you know,

Adam was just curious

about the ASMR stuff,

so I just thought I'd

show him what it felt like.

Well,

Adam, it definitely looked

like you were enjoying yourself.

[Ben chuckles]

Don't let me interrupt you guys.

[Door slams]

No, seriously,

can we keep going?

Ben...

No. Tessa. I'm serious.

Just don't stop.

I mean you can't stop

when he's that close, right?

My God...

you guys are...

[Ben scoffs]

[Door shuts]

You're not even going to say anything?

I don't know what to say,

because whatever I say

is going to make you angry.

Well, I'm allowed to be angry, right?

What the f*ck were you doing?

What I always do.

What do you always do?

ASMR.

Tessa. Can you stop treating

me like I'm a f*cking idiot?

It's really exhausting.

- But that's what I was doing.

- Why?

I don't know. Because I was...

I was bored and a little

drunk and I don't know.

I cannot believe you getting

so pissed at whatever bullshit

you thought went down with Lizzy

when you have been pampering

this complete, like, f*cking stranger

who's been staring at us with

his f*cking bug eyes all weekend.

You're acting like he was,

like, a r*pist or something.

I offered. He didn't force

me into anything. I offered.

Women do that! They, like, offer.

They think quiet weird

guys are sympathetic and it is

very f*cking annoying.

Why do you do that?

I was just trying to be

nice to him.

We were just talking about how

lonely he was and it was just like...

It wasn't even like

he was an adult man.

It was just like he was this boy and he

wants someone to talk to him like that.

That's great! I'm so

happy that you've bonded.

Is this why you've been

hanging back, staying in?

No.

It's because I...

I don't...

I don't know how to be here.

I don't know what to do, how

to act around your friends here.

Oh! Okay! So it's that you're

not the center of attention,

so you have to rope some f*cking

weirdo into making you feel important.

That's it?

You think I'm that hungry for attention?

That I'm that desperate?

No! But you definitely like it!

You definitely aren't telling him to stop

even when it's about to

cross a thin f*cking line.

You'd rather he keep going

till the last possible second

and then you can act terrified

by the fact

that he wants you as if you didn't

know the whole f*cking time, Tessa!

Of course I know!

But that doesn't mean

this is all so conniving.

I can't help how he feels

about me, so I'm just...

I'm just trying to be nice to

him. I'm not trying to f*ck him.

Does he know that?

Does he know that?

I don't think

he f*cking knows that.

And I think you want to keep it that way

because I don't think you

actually give a sh*t about this guy.

You reward him because

he gives you attention.

You comfort him because

he gives you attention.

That's why you hate Lizzy.

That's why you hate Lizzy.

But you'll... you'll cuddle up next

to this absolute f*cking pervert.

Is that right?

You always have to

make everything so disgusting.

No. No, Tessa.

Oh, come on.

That's you.

Because you're the one out

there touching that guy making him

think he actually had a

f*cking chance with you, right?

[Pipes rattling softly]

Well, maybe I wanted him to think that.

Maybe that's the only way you

keep a guy being nice to you.

Maybe I wanted to reward someone

for being generous to me and

let me be generous to them.

Maybe I want to feel like

there was something else

besides this miserable,

miserable cycle we're in

of not knowing how to treat each other,

how to talk to each other, how

to actually be nice to each other.

Always being so cool and nonchalant

and judgmental and sh*t talking!

Hey, don't act like you don't

like my f*cking sh*t talking, okay?

Don't act like I'm

some horrible f*cking man!

But sometimes you act like a horrible man!

Yeah! But sometimes you are a

horrible f*cking woman.

OK? Because what you were doing out there

that was so nice and charitable to Adam,

you know that that f*cking hurt me, right?

You know that hurt me.

All this is is actually

really f*cking hurting me.

I'm sorry.

I don't know how I got to

where I was.

Suddenly I was there.

It felt good.

So I kept going.

What felt good?

- What felt good?

- I don't know.

What felt good? Hurting me?

No, of course not.

The attention.

- The attention?

- Okay.

Yes, maybe. I don't know.

Just stop asking me.

Yes, yes, yes!

And I don't really know

what to do here.

This is...

really f*cking strange Tessa, you're...

You're weirding me out. I, ugh,

I really don't know

how to deal with this.

I don't really know

how to deal with you.

Okay... what do you want me to say?

That I feel bad for him?

That I f*cking pity him

because he's sad and strange

and he seems to only have one

friend who he's fully obsessed with,

who might be imaginary?

Okay.

What?

I also thought that.

[Both laugh]

I fully think so.

You're such a f*cking freak.

Yeah, sort of.

What were you guys even talking about?

He was just going on and

on about how amazing Lance is.

No one's named Lance.

Yeah, I know.

Then what?

[She sighs] And then

I saw him in his baggy gym shorts...

Oh my God.

And I just knew

I had to touch him.

Shut the f*ck up.

[She sighs] And then

when he came back from

ultimate frisbee, so sweaty,

I just couldn't resist him.

I swear to God.

[She moans]

And then...

I saw him

in his little sweatpants

and it just made me so wet.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, I don't know

if I can do this with you

after having Adam.

[She laughs]

No! It just won't be the same!

[Both panting]

[She moans]

[Tessa, muffled] Oh... oh...

[Loud rock music on headphones]

[Distant rattle]

[Distant traffic hum]

[Ben chuckles]

[Water runs]

Hey, man, Hi. [Chuckles]

I'm sorry about last night.

It was, uh,

it was not cool of me.

I just...

I just walked into the weird

moment.

I understand that, but I was

being overprotective of Tessa, and...

that's not me.

[Adam] Sure.

Tessa is a really nice person, and I

think she likes to make people feel good.

Sometimes she struggles

with the limitations of that.

So sorry if she made

you feel weird.

Yeah, I, uh...

I guess I felt a little weird.

Yeah.

You know, she's touchy.

Okay.

[Water runs]

[Phone beeping]

[Chimes cheerfully]

- Hey.

- Hey.

What are you up to tonight?

I'm meeting someone for dinner.

For a date.

I'm going to use the bathroom.

[Game music, whooshing, chiming]

Wow.

You're really good at this.

Thanks.

I know.

Did you have fun?

Yeah, I had so much fun.

The dancing was so fun

and the open bar was so fun.

- Actually?

- Yeah, yeah.

It's like the high school

experience I never had.

You looked really good.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

[They moan]

Come on.

- Oh, they're home.

- Oh.

They sound really annoying.

Yeah.

[Muffled exclaiming and laughter]

[Music and beeping continue]

[Girl] Oh, wow. Hi.

[Adam] Hi.

[They moan]

[Adam] You can be as loud as you want.

Okay.

[Adam] Go louder.

I like it when you're loud.

- [Girl] Oh, oh, oh.

- I want to f*ck you so bad.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

- You're so pretty.

- You don't have to say that.

- I think you're really pretty.

- You're really nice.

[Adam] Put your hands in my hair.

[Girl] Okay.

[Adam and girl moaning]

What the f*ck?

No, seriously.

What? What the f*ck?

What is going on?

Adam's full on f*cking, dude.

Oh my God,

that is so f*cking gross.

He said he had a date tonight.

Oh, well...

The walls are thinner

than I thought.

I'm going to use the bathroom.

Okay.

- You like that, huh?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- Yeah?

- Oh, yeah. I really do.

[She moans]

Okay. Maybe that was too hard.

[Adam] Oh, sorry.

You like that, huh?

- [Girl] Yeah.

- [Adam] Louder!

[Girl] Yes!

[He groans]

My butt hurts,

like, pretty badly.

[Adam] Sorry.

sh*t.

I'm sorry.

[Pipes hissing]

What the f*ck?

What the f*ck.

Who was that girl?

I have no idea.

You still want to have sex?

- No.

- I'm joking.

- I feel f*cking traumatized.

- Yeah. Same.

Jesus Christ.

And I just wonder what

that girl looks like, you know?

Why do you care?

I just feel like I can so clearly

imagine his type.

- What's his type?

- Like...

Small, cute, Asian,

purple hair or something.

Small, cute, Asian?

Yeah, that's clearly his type.

Well, what's your type, Ben?

[Scoffs] Come on.

You know it's different.

He looks like he has a fetish.

Maybe people think

that about you.

Tessa, there are other things I like about

you apart from you being Asian. Obviously.

Yeah. Obviously.

You don't even look that Asian.

Okay.

Yeah.

Sure.

[They sigh]

[Vehicle roars by]

[Window rattles;

Traffic hum]

[Birds chirp]

[Door squeaks]

[Door opens, shuts]

Hey.

[Zipper zips]

[Door shuts]

- Did you see the girl?

- No. Here.

Thanks.

Let's go soon.

Yeah.

I mean, before we have to see

Adam again.

Yes, yeah. Definitely.

If you want to finish

packing, I'll go get the car.

Okay. Yeah.

Hey, will you close the

window? It's cold in here.

It doesn't matter. We'll

be gone soon anyways.

- Ben.

- Hm?

What are you smiling about?

Lizzy just sent me a bunch of

funny pictures from last night.

- You want to see?

- No. Later.

Can you get the car, please?

[Vehicle passes by]

[Horn honks, distant]

I was just...

I just wanted to tell you... I...

I went on a date last night.

It went well.

Yeah. Yeah, it was...

Her name is Kristen.

I even you know, I did the thing

where I picked a restaurant close by,

and then she came over and

we played Super Smash Brothers.

Yeah, she stayed over.

It was...

It was really nice.

She was pretty cool.

I think we'll... we'll

see each other again.

[Breathes deeply]

[Soft, delicate music]

[Music stops]

[Ben] All right.

Let's get this show on the road.

Tessa?

Tessa?

Tessa...

[Soft, delicate music]