01x01 - Butterflies

[bunniefuu]

INSPIRED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES COLUMN
MODERN LOVE

BUTTERFLIES

I really need to eat.
I'm practically going to faint.

I'd have to go all the way back!
I just finished paying.

What? White wine, all right. Coming up.

SEARCHING FOR
THE SPORTY WOMAN WITH BEAUTIFUL CURLY HAIR

DIDN'T DARE TO SPEAK TO YOU

ETERNAL REGRETS
TOBIAS

This lady demanded her own push present.

He said it was the most expensive one
they had. Now he's broke.

Well, I'll have to do the same
with Marvin.

Think he'll go for it
three years post-partum?

He'll have no money
after three years of childcare.

Are you okay, Roos?

What? For Ella's birth. Yeah, beautiful.

When's the opening?

In two weeks.

Really? Already? And the competition?

-In three weeks.
-No, seriously?

Yeah, it'll be fine.

Don't you want any dressing
on that salad, Roos?

-Or she could use wine.
-This is good...

Hey, guys. I mean I don't know, but...

Do you think this might be me?

"The sporty woman
with beautiful curly hair.

"I saw you in the park.
Didn't dare to speak to you.

"Eternal regrets.

"Tobias."

-July 15th?
-Last Friday, we were here too.

-Roos, that's you.
-That's you.

Maybe he's here now too.

-Tobias!
-Shut up, please, don't.

-Could be.
-You will call this guy.

You have to call.

Do it. Just get your legs
around that pole.

His pole won't win me the nationals.

Maybe he's got a good grip.

Or maybe he can really go the distance.

Or you'll be on an airplane
to Ibiza in a few weeks.

I guess we'll never know. Give it here.

Roos, this is silly. Come on.

-Boring.
-I'll call.

-Bye.
-Say hi to Tobias.

Hey.

We should get together
just the two of us soon.

I feel like ever since Ella's birth...

Well, I feel
like I hardly see you anymore.

So don't you think
we should talk about it?

Of course.

I'm really busy right now,
with nationals and the opening, but...

-Soon.
-Yeah?

Of course. And I'll see you next week.

-Later!
-Okay, bye.

First hold tight with your legs,
grab onto your ankle.

Then I want you to lean back
into the V-position.

Let go. This is where you want to be.

Careful.

Good.

Try with the other leg?

Keep a good grip. And then try to let...

Nice. You have to see what feels right.

And then let go. Perfect, that's it.

-Roos?
-f*ck.

Hey, I'm Tobias.

Hey.

-Well, here we are.
-Yes.

Funny.

You chose an appropriate place.

"Bide your time."
The other side's, "As long as it takes."

It's part of a longer poem

where the tower actually speaks to people

and says...

"Try to stay as still as me,
and don't rush things.

"Let time do its job."

Cool.

I'm a historian.

I have a master's in urban history.

That's why your bag has Anne Frank on it.

This bag is full of the ingredients
for a wonderful evening, madam.

You coming?

I know a nice café.

-Somewhere over there.
-No, no.

It's all good.

What are you doing?

Okay, not this one. Not this one. Wait.

Hello?

Good evening, sir.

I'm here with a beautiful woman
who hasn't eaten yet.

I was hoping we could
warm something up at your place.

Sir?

Come on.

Fourth floor.

-Is that a friend of yours or something?
-No.

Hello, youngsters.

-You're not here to rob me, are you?
-Absolutely not, sir.

-I'm Tobias. Pleasure.
-Hello Tobias, I'm George.

And who is this pretty lady
looking at me with trepidation?

This is Roos.

We're on a date
and I'm trying to wow Roos a bit.

I've brought two frozen pizzas with me

and I was hoping
that we could warm them up

and then maybe even eat them here.

Well, good thing you rang my doorbell.

Come in, come in.

Did you try everybody?

A couple.

Okay, enough with the theatrics.
Who's this George guy?

No idea.

I've never met him before.

Sir and madam, here we are.

Your pizzas.

-Who ordered the Hawaiian pizza?
-I did.

Then this must be yours,
four cheese pizza.

And lucky you, you get to wash it down

with this divine wine.

Chateau de La Trimouille.

Sounds good, doesn't it?

Look at that.

You have a lovely photo collection.

Yes, thank you.

I have my husband
to thank for that, really.

Yes. Photography was his greatest passion.

He called it food for the eyes.

The first time I took him out to eat,
we went to a hot food vending machine.

We got frikadellen.

I had no money.

That was the start of 40 years
of unconditional love.

Give him a chance.

Cheers.

I don't drink, actually,

and pizza is an absolute no-go.

How come?

Alcohol-free training regimen.

-What do you do?
-Pole sport.

-What do you do?
-Pole dancing.

I'm training for the nationals.

-Are you really?
-Yes.

Who's your biggest competitor?

There's this chick from Lelystad,
Yfke Boon.

She can fold herself in half, it's crazy.

She's so flexible it's not even funny.

Well, f*ck Yfke Boon.

Yeah, f*ck Yfke Boon.

But yeah, this...

Chateau de La Trimouille,
you're not going to drink it?

Shame. Cheers.

This is really good.

-Holy sh*t.
-Right?

Cheers.

In some obscure... I don't know where.

Whatever, so we're standing there.

And who comes in? Andy Warhol.

My husband immediately...

It's nice, right?

How George talks about his husband
like he's still alive.

I hope he gets
a breath of fresh air in the house.

-Yeah?
-Yeah.

-Could you move on that easily?
-Don't ask me things like that.

Why not?

I don't know if I was made
to be with someone for that long.

You?

No.

I don't think
I have a talent for that either.

-Pick up, it's okay.
-It's just a friend, she can wait.

You saw her, in the park.

-She's the one with black hair.
-Yeah.

Yeah.

Then why didn't you talk to us?

I'm not good at that.

So you leave hopeless little notes
in the supermarket?

Well, we're here, aren't we?

What would you have said
if I'd talked to you?

Something like, "f*ck off!"

Classy.

Good thing I'm such a romantic.

Wait, hold on a sec...

No, no way, definitely not.

-Howling?
-It's good for you.

Let's try this! It seems fun!

-And this one.
-Yeah.

Could you...

Look!

This is my diet. This is all I eat.

I was seriously so close...

-Is everything okay?
-I lost my mom.

That's awful.

Okay, one more time.

Black hair, brown jacket,
really white teeth.

Here's a brown jacket. Is this your mom?

There you are!

You shouldn't run off like that.

Really?

-Honey.
-Happy ending.

-My pleasure. It was no trouble.
-Thank you so much.

-Have a nice evening.
-Bye.

Losing your child
must be the worst feeling.

These things happen.

Kids can just suddenly...

-Good thing you were there.
-Yeah.

-It's getting late.
-It is.

Do you want to go home?

Welcome.

So...

For a guy with a master's
in urban history...

Yeah, it's...

It was specially...

It was specially designed for me.
My friend is an architect.

I made some requests.

Yeah...

Lots of glass.

Wood.

What?
Nothing.

Hey, good morning.

I wanted to make breakfast,
but I only have apples and oranges.

-You're leaving?
-I have a class at 11:00.

Can't you call in sick?

That's crazy.
My students are waiting outside.

Won't they be there tomorrow?

Just one more day?

Please?

Well, since we're skipping class...

My body's so tired.

So unbelievably tired.

Are you familiar
with the concept of relaxing?

Apparently it helps.

I can't even be still at a red light.

What happens then?

My brain switches on.

Do you want children?

Seriously? Are we there already?

I can't have children.

I was in a relationship for a long time
and we wanted a family.

And we tried for two years
before we went to a clinic.

Nothing wrong with him.

He even has a kid now.

My results weren't so good.

Yeah.

So that's what you think about
when you stop moving.

Except now.

First time in three years
I'm thinking about absolutely nothing.

Should I go get some breakfast?

I don't want us to be found dead
of starvation in three weeks.

I'll be right back.

Sorry, I'll get started now.

Would you like pancakes?

Think you can figure out the ceramic stove

or should I explain how it works?

No, this is my parents' place.

-My house is being renovated.
-This is not your parents' place!

Here.

What was the plan?
To propose on the first date?

If you want a sex affair
just use an app, man.

I...

I never thought anybody
would respond to that ad.

Let alone you.

Let alone me? Weren't you looking for me?

You'd never even seen me.

Twisted grip, with your top arm you pull,
and with the bottom arm you twist.

Lower your hand.

Look up.

Swing. Swing harder.

Point your toe. Look up.

Swing harder.

Lower your hand.

-And swing your leg harder. Harder.
-I'm too afraid to use that leg.

I've got you.

-I can't do it.
-Come on, b*tch.

Ridiculous. You think this is hard?

Come on, ladies. Show's over. Let's go.

Well, if you'd answer my calls.

Now's not the time, Kate.

-Hey, what's wrong?
-Nothing.

Are we doing this again? Roos?

There's nothing to tell.

Girl, I am seriously going to slap you.

-f*ck off, Kate.
-Don't you dare.

Don't you dare walk out on me.
If you walk out we're done.

We're done.
You're on your own from now on.

For years I've pushed everyone away

but I opened my heart
to that idiot within 24 hours.

-But was it fun?
-Yes. It was amazing.

I'm so f*cking stupid.

So you can do it.

Listen...

If I ever see that as*h*le,
I'll punch him. Seriously.

But I won't lie to you,
I'm going to thank him too.

He got you to do something
I've failed to do all this time.

You can't spend your entire life hiding
behind the walls you've put up.

No matter how broken your heart is.

That would be a terrible shame.

Can I open my heart up to you then?

Of course. Always.

Always.

I'll set up a nice place for it.

-With candles?
-With candles.

Come here.
It was fantastic. Congratulations.

Now to k*ll it at nationals.

-I withdrew.
-What?

I decided to be more relaxed about it.

So proud of you, Roos.

Come here, well done.

-Is that the clown?
-That's him.

Loser.

What I did was totally unacceptable.

I shouldn't have tricked you like that.

I'm not the only one, am I?

No.

What were you thinking?

I'm the cliché, really.

Young kids at home.

A sort of identity crisis.

Relationship crisis.

You could have asked your wife on a date.

Would've saved you a lot of trouble.

Yeah.

I'm truly sorry.

You deserve better than this.

I hope that you can drink
this Chateau de La Trimouille

with someone who actually deserves it.

I'll find someone.

Take care.

-Cheers!
-To...

To love. To life.

-To life, ladies!
-To love.

And to Kate, of course.

Do you want to say hello?

Yes! Come here, baby.

Step, step, step, step.

Yes!