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Arrival, The (2023)

Thanksgiving & Drama Movie Collection.
(Philosophical/Docudrama/Melodrama/Psychological/Anthropological/Teen/etc.)

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Thanksgiving, Dramas Movie Collection.

Arrival, The (2023)

Post by bunniefuu »

[dramatic orchestral music]

[operatic vocalizing]



[music ends]

[street din]

Jayce!

Hey! Uh...

Yeah, there's a--

No, over here. [laughs]

Hey. [exhales]

What is this place?

-It's quiet is what it is.

-There's no one here.

Mmm.

-Thanks for coming.

-Of course.

-Come.

-They have food?

Yeah,

I'm sure they have everything.

I got us a little

special something.

[Jayce] Mmm.

[exhales]

I'm on a tight deadline.

[laughs] You reporters always

claim to be on tight deadlines.

Well, it's the nature

of the beast, babe!

I'm starving.

This is

a Woodford Reserve Bourbon.

I would like to point out

that you are drinking

at 1:30 in the afternoon.

Yeah, it's 1:30,

which is almost 3:00,

which is close to 5:00,

which means that it's okay.

I mean, I don't see a bartender.

[sniffles]

Damn, girl.

Um, excuse me?

Can I get another Heineken 0.0?

What's up with her?

People are sensitive

these days about everything.

Maybe it was your tone?

Oh, yeah, no, I'm sure I'm to

blame for her attitude. Mm-hmm.

You're certain

this is the place?

Can we be certain

about anything?

No. No, no.

Don't get all existential on me.

Cora, calm down.

I'm not gonna make you do

anything that

you don't wanna do.

I should get back to school.

I have, uh, this

three o'clock afternoon thing.

Middle school, right?

Third grade.

-Right.

-Did you forget what I teach?

-I totally remember.

-Mathematics.

-I knew that.

-Oh, my gosh, Darbs.

-I teach art.

-Ah.

I even gave you

a sketch I did of you

back in the tenth grade,

remember?

Yes, I remember. I am sorry.

I have been very busy

with law school.

I can't keep track

of everything.

Oh, um, I was just wondering if

I could get

a correction on this drink?

I-- I actually ordered tea,

but I think I received coffee.

Yoo-hoo?

-[chuckles]

-Yoo-hoo?

Uh, yeah,

I was just wondering if--

[sighs] Who says "Yoo-hoo"?

I was just trying

to get your attention.

Okay, well, then

just call out "bartender".

"Yoo-hoo" makes you

sound like...

I don't know what

it makes you sound like.

-Apologies.

-But then why do I care?

-Apologies again.

-Please stop repeating yourself.

I took three years of Meisner.

I'm over the whole

repetition thing.

Right. Okay. Interesting.

Get to the point.

Tea here, please.

That's coffee.

I am aware.

So we good?

Well, look, the point being

that I requested tea,

-not coffee. But...

-[sighs]

no worries.

Tea as in tea and crumpets

or tea as in Long Island?

The tea and crumpets sort,

but you can hold the crumpets.

We don't have tea.

Okay.

Look,

I'm having a really bad day.

Um, actually, a string of them.

I-- I'm sorry to hear that.

[sighs] You don't know me

well enough to be truly sorry.

A string of bad days?

A very long string.

Like a string of pearls.

[soft chuckle]

-You'd look good in pearls.

-Okay,

I'm not interested in having

small talk with a guy at a bar.

Okay. Um, yeah, I--

I completely understand.

I-- I just thought

this was part of your job, so.

Yeah, at night,

when tips are good.

Well, I see this palaver

isn't going anywhere, so--

Oh, "palaver." You think I don't

know what that word means?

You think I'm illiterate

or something?

Oh, that was not my intention.

I don't want that

to come across.

The point is, this conversation

is making me anxious, so.

All right,

so about the apartment number.

You sure you don't recall?

Look, I wasn't in

the right state of mind

to take notes, Darby.

Prospect Park West.

That's an exclusive building.

-The man has money.

-Didn't notice.

You don't remember

anything else?

I have flashes.

Um, but nothing

really specific, except...

Except...

It was, like,

this thing that he kept saying.

Like, when he was mad,

he just kept repeating it.

Like, "F something." Just, I--

"F something."

Uh...

"f*cking Judas Priest."

[Darby] What?

"f*cking Judas Priest."

That's it.

[Darby] f*cking Judas Priest?

Yeah.

Uh, he said it a few times.

-[typing]

-"f*cking Judas Priest."

Okay, it's a band,

and they got their name from

a Bob Dylan song,

who got it from

an old swear word.

"It is better to say

Judas Priest than Jesus Christ,

Judas being the one

that betrayed Jesus."

Okay, so it's a swear word.

Okay, so, you said that when

you walked out of the apartment,

you went down the hall

and approached elevators

-on the left, right?

-I did.

There are two apartments

at the end of every hall,

including the fifth floor,

which you're sure you were on?

Pretty sure

it was the fifth floor.

Okay, so was it

the apartment on the left

-or the apartment on the right?

-Uh...

Look, it was not easy

to assemble all of this.

I actually had to borrow

the real estate board's database

on all leases, and the lease

on the apartment on the left

turned up an R. DuPont,

and the one on the right

a Jennifer Morgan.

Okay,

so it's the one on the left.

Googling turned up

a River DuPont.

River DuPont?

Ring a bell?

No.

[quirky string music]

What are you doing, with

your notebook and your pencil?

I'm just writing.

Wow. Well...

I hate writers, so.

-Is that so?

-Well, I hate playwrights.

Okay.

Why do you hate playwrights?

Because I'm never cast in

anything they've ever written.

So, I hate them.

What are you writing?

That would be a play.

Huh.

Um, you might wanna know--

I'm not interested.

Okay. You might-- you might be

interested to know that

I've actually been

observing you.

Um, from your walk to

your voice and your rhythm.

So you're flirting?

No, no, no. Not my intention.

Oh. I'm kind of in

an "I hate all men" phase, so.

It's very common these days.

Well, all men as well as

all playwrights, it seems, so.

[pills rattling]

[tender music]

Whatever phase I was going

through will... end soon.

Just a few minutes.

I just don't really have

a family anymore.

You know, I don't have a mother,

I don't have a father.

No brother, no sister,

not even a cousin.

Just a lot of money

and unanswered questions.

Well, when your mother died,

I don't think it was the right

idea to drop out of Cornell.

Well, I was never

really happy at Cornell anyway.

Hmm. I mean,

maybe I'd do the same thing

if I came into a lot of money.

Would you like to try?

I'm more than happy

to take it off your hands.

Here.

This is a list of everyone

that I'm genetically related to,

or at least everyone that

also did the 23andMe thing.

These are all

third and fourth cousins.

There's like, over 50 of them.

I know. Crazy, right?

The top person has

51% of your genes.

Mm-hmm. Yep. That's my brother.

And he has a name.

-R. DuPont. Wow.

-Mm-hmm.

Do you think he's related

to the DuPonts,

as in, you know,

the chemical empire?

All I know is

that he's my brother,

and he works at this restaurant.

Okay.

You know, I'm impressed that

you found all of this out.

I'm a lawyer, Cora. It's my job.

Whoa, whoa. Ego down here.

You're in law school, Darbs.

Okay?

It's a little early

to call yourself a lawyer.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Is that a "thank you"

for all the work that I've done?

-You're an idiot.

-[chuckles]

Look, let's just get

all the facts straight, okay?

Nothing would be worse

than accusing the wrong guy.

Okay, well, if you're right

about the address

and the apartment

being on the fifth floor

at the end of the hall

to the elevators,

-the perp is de--

-Where?

The-- Like you said,

the end of the hall

to the elevators on the left.

-Yeah, yeah. Right, right.

-Yeah.

-Right?

-Yes, yes. Sorry.

Then the perp is

definitely River DuPont.

"Perp"?

Yes, perp. You watch TV.

You know what a perp is.

Yeah, it's just funny

to hear you say it.

There's nothing funny about

what happened to you.

We don't know that, okay?

I have no memory of anything.

Literally nothing.

Okay, all I know is that

I woke up with my clothes

neatly folded on a chair

in a strange apartment

with no one else there.

Okay,

there was no one else there.

[Lincoln] You feeling better?

To be accurate,

I'm not feeling like sh*t.

Remarkably honest.

Why shouldn't I be honest?

I don't know you.

I don't care what you think.

So, I can be honest.

It's only with people

that I really care about

where dishonesty seems to be...

what I do.

Well, your philosophy

seems a bit, uh, twisted.

Ah, yes. Well, you noticed, so.

Like a Gordian Knot.

[laughs] Um...

I don't know what that is,

but it sounds like me.

No, no, no. Let me guess. Um...

Is it a knot

that can't be untied?

[laughs] Oh, my gosh.

Please tell me I'm right.

I need-- I need

the affirmation that my...

I don't know,

brain is, like, still working?

Still functioning.

Like the Death Star.

The Death Star?

Star Wars.

[Lincoln] I didn't

make the connection.

Okay, ready?

[Admiral Ackbar voice]

"Until the battle station

is fully operational..."

[laughs]

"we... we are vulnerable."

Admiral Ackbar said that.

You know, I-- ugh,

I could've played that role.

Is there any reason why

a woman couldn't play

admiral of the battle station?

Well, I'm sure it would've

been more interesting.

I'm sure it would've been

more than interesting.

That thing that you're writing.

Is there a role for me

as an actor?

Um... I-- I'm sure I could

figure something out.

No, you must. You're just--

you're bursting with,

you know, all this creativity

just in seeing me.

What if we work together?

Uh, well, the issue is, uh,

playwrights are not always

the final, uh, decider

in these sorts of affairs.

God, there you go again,

trying to wiggle your way

out of casting me. Why?

You use me.

You deplete me.

You squeeze me

of everything that I've got.

And then your name's

on the marquee,

and I'm still

a f*cking bartender.

God, this place is a mess.

If my boss comes,

I'm gonna be f*cked or fired.

Do you mind if I ask

what it is you took?

Oxy.

Didn't I tell you to get

a drug test right away?

-Oh, my God.

-Did you?

No. Okay, so we have no proof

that you were drugged.

I must have been.

Okay, it's the only

reasonable conclusion.

You don't wanna believe me?

Really?

I'm just looking

for possible solutions.

No, I was dancing with,

like, everyone.

You know,

Eurotr*sh music pumping away,

and then, bam.

I'm out,

and I don't even know it.

I did talk to the staff

at the Avant Gardener.

None of them remember you.

They weren't very helpful.

You actually went

to the Avant Gardener?

[Darby] Yeah.

Wow. Thank you.

You don't have to thank me.

I'm just doing my job.

[Cora scoffs]

You're the best.

[Darby sighs]

River DuPont does work here.

His shift starts soon.

Sheesh. How'd you learn that?

You don't wanna know.

He's coming here?

A few anonymous phone calls

enlightened me

as to his schedule.

Wait, no.

I am not confronting anyone.

Okay, let's take this

one step at a time, okay?

You know, I think I need

the bathroom. I'll be back.

Maybe my father had

a kid with someone else

and that we just

didn't know about.

Maybe your mother

had an affair and...

your father isn't your father?

No, because then if

my mother gave birth

to someone my age,

then I would've known.

Or at least my father

would've known.

Did you message this R. DuPont?

God, no. No, I wouldn't.

I wanted to, like,

check him out first.

What do you mean, check him out?

Well, I-- What if

he's a horrible person?

Well, I mean,

he'd still be your brother.

We can't pick our relatives.

I mean...

Yeah, but then I can, like,

choose not to embrace him

as a brother or something.

I still think it would be safer

just to message him on the app.

And Google shows that there's,

like, too many R. DuPonts

that live in New York,

but, um, this one's

-the only one in Manhattan.

-[cell phone ringing]

Uh, sorry, honey.

I gotta take this.

-Sorry.

-How so reporter of you.

I'm going to the loo.

You take your call.

Yes.

[sighs]

[quirky music]

[sighs, laughs]

Okay. This is what I look like.

This is...

this is what we're

working with today.

[sighs] f*ck.

These heels are stupid.

This is stupid. This is dumb.

So this is the outfit that

you're gonna be meeting

your brother in.

Stupid. You're so stupid.

These rings are stupid.

And your hair.

[laughing dryly]

[sighs]

[exhales] It's gonna be fine.

It's gonna be fine.

This is great.

You look good.

You're dazzling.

You're gonna dazzle him,

and he's gonna love you.

Don't worry,

I didn't hear anything.

Oh, I wasn't-- I wasn't

really saying anything.

So it's okay.

-[water runs, stops]

-[Cora] Yeah. I do that too.

Yeah. [chuckles]

Well, it's... just silly.

The mirror's a great option,

to-- to talk to yourself,

when you have no other options.

I use it all the time.

Sometimes it's my best friend.

Sure.

You, um...

look great.

Don't worry.

At least, um, well...

whatever it is.

Or whoever it is.

Never mind.

Um, do you recognize this guy?

Hmm? Uh, no. This is...

Uh, River DuPont?

Don't know.

Um, he lives in this building

in Slope Park.

He lives on the fifth floor

at the end of the hall.

Uh...

maybe if I heard his voice.

I don't remember.

Well, I don't have that.

Yet.

Okay.

And let's assume

this guy shows up.

And-- and

it turns out to be him.

Then what the hell

am I supposed to do?

Then we set the wheels

of justice in motion.

Even if I don't

remember anything?

Look, you woke up in a guy's

bed with nothing on, right?

Yeah, it's circumstantial, but

you could still go to a doctor.

You might have

evidence inside you.

Ew, excuse me?

A lot of these cases

go unchecked because

women feel too--

like it's too traumatic,

or, understandably,

they don't wanna know.

Yeah, it never ends well

for the woman.

Okay, chill.

Um, did you go to

the club alone?

Yeah.

You have a problem with that?

No, I can just see the headlines

on the New York Post now:

"Third grade art teacher has

secret life at dance clubs."

Seriously?

I'm just trying to think of what

the jury would make of this.

So I'm right.

I-- I should not be here.

They're gonna

turn me into a sl*t.

No. No, no, no, no, no.

No, not at all.

If we handle this smartly,

which we are,

and we take this

one step at a time,

we can avoid that outcome.

You know,

I think we should just...

-drop all of this.

-Cora.

I found the guy.

I found the guy!

Yeah.

[sighs]

I could still use something

other than this

cold coffee beverage here.

Gosh, you are

so high-maintenance.

Gosh, I'm like, always attracted

to high-maintenance people.

But don't let that

get to your head, okay?

You're not

high-maintenance enough.

Well, look, I can assure you

I'm not insolent

in any capacity.

Oh, insolent.

Yeah, that's what all guys say.

[chuckles]

Look, I don't wanna

sound arrogant, but...

I am somewhat of a nice guy.

You're writing a play,

using me as your muse,

and you won't even cast me.

Perhaps if you tried being

a bit more helpful.

Well, the pills used

to make me helpful.

Guess not anymore.

I-- I'm sorry.

I have to tell you something.

-Okay. Listening.

-Um... I can tell.

[chuckles]

Um...

You have really nice eyes.

Uh...

so do you.

[chuckles] Really?

I've always thought my eyes

were rather ordinary.

Well,

you are anything but ordinary.

What were we talking about?

Uh, you-- you were

trying to tell me something.

Oh.

I'm pregnant.

Wow. Uh, that's-- that's...

What?

Well, you seem

really happy about it, so.

Um...

but at least now it's like,

you know, I feel-- I feel calm,

and I feel...

like I don't care.

You know... so.

So, uh,

how are you gonna proceed?

Well, you know, I have--

You know,

it's early days, so, um...

You know, they're just

in there multiplying, and,

uh, you know...

E equals MC squared.

Uh...

going very fast, light speed.

-You know, uh--

-Physics.

Physics, yeah. [laughs] So...

I gotta-- I gotta take

some action or something, but.

You know, I once--

I once had a crazy dream,

and I was married

to Albert Einstein.

Oh, my God. Having sex with

a genius rather than a loser?

[exhales]

It's a game-changer.

So. [laughs] Um...

Yeah. But, you know,

everything's relative.

Can I ask you your name?

Just because

we're talking like this,

you wanna know my name now?

Oh, well, look,

I didn't mean to overstep.

Oh, yeah?

Um... well, what's your name?

Lincoln. Lincoln Larue.

Is that a made-up writer's name?

Well, actually, um,

everything is rewritten.

-[laughing]

-It's relative.

Ember Net.

You sure you don't have any tea?

Of course we have tea.



Do you think that guy down there

at the bar is your R. DuPont?

[Vera] Nah,

he just looks like a customer.

So, when I was on the phone

with my office,

I asked them to run a quick

check on this restaurant.

It is apparently owned

by DuPont Enterprises.

Not the chemical company,

but a Hunter DuPont

who owns several businesses

and buildings in New York.

And he's got quite a reputation.

He's one of those guys,

a lot of money,

uses it to get what he wants.

Your R. DuPont must be his son.

Well, did you get

the name of his son?

Or, like,

what's the "R" stand for?

Not yet. But I'm thinking

of going down there

and see what I can find out,

and get something to eat.

Uh, no. No, I know you.

You're gonna go have a chat,

and then you're gonna

blow my cover.

[Jayce laughs]

-Your cover?

-Uh, yeah, my cover.

Okay, honey, you're watching

way too much TV, sweetheart.

Okay, whatever it is, I--

Please, just don't

say anything about me.

It'll be fine.

I'm just gonna feel it out.

No, you're gonna promise me

that you're not gonna

say anything about me.

-I promise. I promise.

-Okay.

Yes, I'm good. We're good.

Yeah. We're good. Okay.

Okay.

Then let's say we drop this.

Right here, right now,

and we walk away

from it completely.

Then what are you left with?

A black hole.

A gaping black hole that

lasts all night in a man's bed.

You wanna live like that?

No, I don't want any of it.

Okay. So, you said that

you remember dancing.

You remember being at the club,

admittedly with a lot of people,

and someone handed you

a drink, right?

Yeah. People were passing around

beers with straws in them,

and I thought that was funny.

So I handed it to someone else,

and eventually another one

ended up in my hands.

Okay. I see, I see.

I remember going to

the restroom,

which was mobbed with girls,

because... yeah.

And it was a long line,

so I waited for a stall to open.

Do you remember feeling okay

when you were in the stall?

Yeah.

I-- I think.

I-- I don't really know...

I guess.

[low, tense music]

Oh, sh*t.

I think I remember something.

I remember, um...

I remember in the bathroom,

there was banging

and yelling that started,

and-- and I put

my hand in my head,

and I think

I must have nodded off,

for, like, a second

or something, because...

I remember that my heart--

my heart literally

jumped out of, like, my chest

because of the banging

and the yelling.

And it got so violent

that I got scared,

so I wanted to get out.

So I got out fast, and--

and as I opened the door,

someone just pushed it

back hard, because I-- I fell.

Like, I fell back

onto the toilet.

And then-- and then, uh...

And then I--

I was feeling woozy,

so he, like, held me up.

Like, he was, like, hugging me.

No, like-- like, holding me

and moving to the music.

-Like he was dancing?

-No, not really. Like...

Like he-- like we were walking.

Yeah. Yeah. We walked out.

I-- I remember

because it was raining,

and the rain hit my face,

and it felt kind of good.

-[Darby] And then?

-And then-- and then...

[sighs]

Nothing.

And then nothing.

The next thing that I remembered

was waking up in that bedroom.

And...

and I remember waking up

and looking around.

And it took me the longest time

to figure out...

where the hell I was,

and what I was doing there.

And who I was.

I didn't even

remember who I was.

So I looked around,

and then I saw my clothes.

Folded on the chair,

with my shoes perfectly

aligned at the bottom.

Like, perfectly symmetrical.

Symmetrically,

like, below the chair.

That's a statement.

Yeah, he's trying to show

that he's in control.

So then I got up and I ran.

I ran as fast as I could.

Okay, okay. Let's not be upset.

I'm not upset. I'm not upset.

Okay, I'm angry.

Okay, I'm-- I'm mad.

I'm pissed off. I'm furious.

Just-- Ugh!

I hate men.

[quirky music]

-Hi.

-Hi.

I was wondering if you have

any non-alcoholic whiskey.

And, uh, a menu.

What is going on in here today?

Tea?

Non-alcoholic whiskey? What?

Yes, please.

Well, it's actually

quite popular these days, so,

-great choice.

-[Ember] What's the point?

Like, why drink whiskey

if you're not gonna get drunk?

I take it you don't have any.

Are you the owner?

Or related to the owner?

Girl, I wish.

The owner is...

Why are you asking?

Doesn't Hunter DuPont

own this place?

Yeah.

What can you tell me about him?

Again, why are you asking?

I'm a reporter.

A reporter.

Hmm. Well,

I'm not talking to any reporter.

Uh,

does Hunter DuPont have a son?

Uh, I said I can't talk

about any personal things, so.

I'll go check in the back for

your non-alcoholic whatever.

So I'll be back.

Okay.

-[door opens, closes]

-Well, that went great.

Well, hello there.

Uh, you work here?

I do not.

Um, I'm just, I suppose,

working here temporarily.

Yeah, but I meant for the bar,

not at the bar momentarily.

Oh. Um...

well,

as you can probably assume,

I'm a writer.

What kind of a writer?

What do you write?

Um, I'm a playwright.

-I write...

-Oh, okay.

...plays.

Great.

You-- you seem...

apathetic, unimpressed.

[laughs] Oh,

you sound like a writer.

No, I'm sure when I do have

the pleasure of seeing

one of your plays,

I will be very impressed.

Have I had the pleasure of being

impressed by one of your plays?

To be frank,

I doubt that you have.

But hopefully, hopefully soon.

Hmm. I like you.

What's your name?

-Lincoln Larue.

-Yeah, I don't know that name.

But it's

definitely unforgettable.

You know, I can see it

on the marquee, kid.

Oh, yeah.

I'll definitely remember you.

So, do you come here often?

This is actually my first time

here, believe it or not.

Oh. Okay, then. Never mind.

Thank you.

Uh, good luck with your play.

Leaving so soon? You're--

Oh, no, I'm not leaving.

I just--

There's not a whole lot to say.

Well, that's fair enough.

-Also, you seem very busy.

-Well, I am, but, uh...

You're a journalist?

Yeah, but I personally

prefer "reporter."

Oh. Well, that's-- that's fair.

Um, well,

if you're a reporter, then you--

then there must be

a beat of some kind.

You've been watching

too many movies, kiddo.

-[Lincoln laughs]

-Yeah, I do have a beat.

It's New York City. I mean...

it's New York City, so,

anything and everything

interesting that happens here.

-There's always something.

-Right.

So you think there's a story

here, then, at this restaurant?

I mean, look at this place.

There's a story somewhere.

I mean, you know, wherever there

are people, there's a story.

I just have to find it.

[door creaks, thuds]

[Ember] Okay. Um...

so we do not have

any alcohol-free whiskey,

but I do have alcohol-free beer.

Yeah, no.

Uh, thank you, though. Um...

can I have a menu?

Well, lunch is over,

uh, and the kitchen's not gonna

be open for a few hours. Um...

How about some bar nuts?

Sure.

Um, and a seltzer,

if you don't mind.

-On the house.

-[Jayce] Um...

I really would love to meet

and hopefully interview

the owner's son.

Is that possible?

Does he come around much?

You really don't let up, do you?

[Jayce] No.

[chuckles] I told you,

I can't-- I can't talk to you.

I don't know anything.

Okay.

Well, thank you for

the seltzer and the nuts.

[Jayce] The kitchen's closed,

but I was able to get us

a bowl of nuts.

The bartender

was actually rather put off

by my questions

about Hunter Dupont,

which makes me think

that she was actually

trained to keep her mouth shut.

Hmm. Really?

What's your passcode?

-Hmm.

Your birthday.

-You remember.

-Mm-hmm.

Hmm. V, have you looked at

the health section of the app?

What do you mean?

I didn't see anything.

You, my dear, you have

the E4 variant.

Okay, like I know

what that means.

Also, you have none of

the three variants that

cause breast cancer.

Oh, my God.

Yeah.

That's what my mother died of.

Well, I guess that's possible.

She must have had the variant,

but you were lucky enough

not to get it.

[sighing] Science is

a magnificent and glorious

human pursuit, okay? Yes.

But as it produces

these floods of information,

then that information needs to

be labeled and categorized,

and then people who control the

money and politics and power,

they can use

those appellations to, um,

use it as a tool to oppress,

to segregate, to abuse.

I mean, look at history.

Ever heard of ethnic cleansing?

I'm saying we should just

remain vigilant, super vigilant.

God knows when the next thing

or next person is going to be

who's going to come around

and change everything.

Enough for the better.

Okay, well, like I said,

I did this to find out about

my DNA relatives, not to...

look at the fine print.

[ominous orchestral music]

Hi.

Okay, then.

Someone has arrived.

What are you doing?

Look, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

River!

Well, we have a confirmation

on his name.

I barely touched you.

You know what?

Can we not do this here?

You can't just walk out on me

like that.

Yeah, well, I have

to get to work.

There's no one here.

You're a customer, right?

Yes.

Amber, you can't just...

Can't just walk out on me

like that. All right?

I can't do a show like that,

you know that.

Can I get you

something to drink?

Um, well, I-- I could do

a non-alcoholic beer,

perhaps, if-- if you

have one of those. Um...

What's non-alcoholic beer?

Yeah, it's a thing.

Very popular.

You should try it.

I have a double Heineken Zero.

Is that okay, Lincoln?

Sure.

Lincoln?

Yes, that would be my name.

Look, we're a bit busy

for the minute. Can you just...

can you wait on that beer?

I got you.

Yeah, get him his beer,

and then just...

can-- could you leave us alone

for a little bit?

Thanks.

Do you recognize him?

No, he's not jogging any memory.

Well, he looks like an as*h*le.

Clearly someone who would drug

and as*ault a woman.

How could you

possibly know that?

Okay, okay, yeah, maybe I am

jumping to conclusions.

Oh, he's not charming.

But that's about

all you can say.

[intriguing string music]

Really? Binoculars?

River.

He's a customer,

plus he's a really nice guy.

[River] Yeah,

how do you know that?

[sighs] That he's a customer

or a really nice guy?

Don't-- don't be cute.

Okay, I am cute.

Well, I can't say that about

your f*cking apartment.

I mean, it's a mess.

Jesus Christ.

Do you ever clean up?

Babes, don't worry so much

about the apartment, okay?

I'll clean it up.

Come on, go sit down.

I know things haven't

worked out for either of us.

But maybe we can start fresh.

You just can't be

so upset, okay?

Plus, we need to talk.

Wait, okay, you take them.

She's saying something to him.

I can't-- I can't tell--

What--

[Jayce] Trying to

read her lips...

He wants to talk to her

about something.

This is actually kind of cool.

I feel like Angela Lansbury

in m*rder, She Wrote.

Okay.

You good?

I sure am.

[River] Hey.

[Ember] Yes, yes, I'm coming.

I'm feeling lightheaded.

I think I need

a glass of water.

Oh, I'll go get you some.

What, you're just gonna go up

and grab it yourself?

It's called initiative.

I swear,

I am never drinking again.

You can drink at home

with your girlfriends.

That's about it these days.



Listen, I'm not sure

the-- the bartender

will return soon to help you.

Not really.

You are sure?

-[Lincoln] Yes.

-Well...

I have a glass in my hand,

and all I need is this.

Who needs a bartender

when you have me?

Um, I can see that.

So, um, you seem pretty,

uh, familiar with the drama

that's been going on

up here at the bar.

Well, I am just

a bystander, so...

Well, you're sitting,

not standing, so there's that.

Yes, um, there's that.

You're taking notes?

I'm a writer.

Ah, a writer.

And with a pencil.

You even have

a pencil sharpener.

Makes me feel like

I'm back at high school.

Um, the-- the pencil is really

my preferred weapon of choice,

so to speak.

-They're so tactile.

-Yes.

So, I know you know

who this guy is, uh,

who's treating the bartender

rather severely.

Is that the right word? Severe?

Um, I-- I would say

that harshly

is perhaps the-- the more

adequate, uh, terminology.

-What were they arguing about?

-I-- I'm not sure.

I don't really know them, so...

You're a writer.

You observe people.

You draw conclusions based

on your observations.

Stop being so obstreperous.

I know you know something that

you're not telling me.

Come on.

Obstreperous.

[eerie instrumental music]

Okay, okay, okay.

Are you calm?

Why do I need to be calm?

Why do I need to be calm?

What?

What? What?

-Do you have any more?

-Of...

Of, um, you know what I mean.

You don't have a--

Ember, you gotta be careful.

I need like a hundred of them.

You're losing control.

I'm fine. I'm fine.

-You're not fine.

-I'm fine.

You're not fine.

We need to talk, okay?

Why? What--

What-- what is it?

I'm pregnant.

You're sure?

Yes.

f*ck.

Well, we'll-- we'll just,

we'll take care of it.

Make the problem go away.

It'll all be fine. Just--

Can you not say that?

Like, it's like your decision?

Well...

-That's your response to me?

-What, what, what...

Don't tell me you want

to keep it.

Like, someone you love,

you don't talk to like that.

You care how they feel.

You should want

to make sure I'm okay--

Okay, it's-- it's--

it's not a discussion.

It's not a discussion. It's--

What do you mean,

it's not a discussion?

It's the discussion.

Ember, what?

You want to keep it?

-I don't know.

-What-- what do you want?

-Why-- why do you--

-I'm confused.

I'm confused.

What, so you want to

have some kind of

like, phony-a*s discussion

where we wind up at

the same conclusion anyway?

Oh, my god, please stop yelling.

[Ember sighing]

Oh, um, excuse me.

Can I get

a glass of water, please...

[Ember] What are you doing?

I just figured I was helping.

Helping who? Yourself?

Chop this up

at the table, please.

[dishes clinking]

Here.

[energetic house music]

[music abruptly ceases]

You've lost your binocular

privileges, they're mine.

My brother looks upset.

Do you think it's judicious

to refer to him

as your brother yet?

I like saying it.

I don't like that girl.

She's making my brother upset.

Okay, girl, you're having

a lot of assumptions.

It feels like you're rushing

towards a train wreck.

Okay, can we just like let me

have this moment about

fantasizing about my brother?

Thank you.

Okay, have your moment.

[intriguing orchestral music]





[Lincoln] You okay?

-Yeah.

-You sure?

Yeah, no, I'm fine, actually.

As fine as a woman can be.

Which is pretty

f*cking fine, so...

All right.

Um, I'm not.

Okay, okay, I'm-- I'm pregnant.

Yes, you mentioned that.

Look, I don't-- I don't

wish to make any assumptions,

but, um, by chance, is that

what you and your boyfriend

-were fighting about?

-He's not my boyfriend.

-Right.

-He's just-- a guy.

Right.

[intriguing orchestral music]

What the f*ck

are you talking about?

That's ridicu--

Holy f*cking sh*t.

Nah, yeah, yeah, no.

I'll call you back.



Oh, Jesus.

What the hell

are you doing here?

I just came by to say hi

to Ember, okay? That's it.

You came by to say hi to Ember?

[River] Yeah.

Well, we know that's bullshit.

-Okay.

-Right. Are you strung out?

-No.

-You need money.

I came by to help, that's it.

To help? Well, that's what

we have your brother for.

Yeah, well,

Richard's not here, okay?

Oh? Hi, Mr. Dupont.

[Hunter] Yeah, Ember.

So let me ask you, are you

the reason that he's here?

Uh, yeah,

he just stopped by to talk.

[Hunter] What the hell

is going on?

I mean, we have 85 people

coming tonight.

There's not enough top shelf

liquor up there.

These-- these-- these--

these-- these boxes

are all over the place.

There's no tablecloths

on the tables.

Well, I mean, what the hell

are you thinking?

Right, right. Uh, I was just

about to get to those.

I like you.

You know?

I mean, you're a good kid.

That's why I have you here.

But, uh...

I mean, you need to do better.

Am I right?

God put his hand on you when

you arrived in this world.

-Sorry, I'm sorry.

-Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,

whoa, whoa, whoa.

What's that about?

-Uh...

-What was that about?

-I don't...

-What are you doing?

-I'm sorry--

-Come on, what, what is this?

-You scared me.

-I scared you?

-I'm sorry.

-You scared me.

I don't mean to scare you.

No, it's okay.

It's just this...

I don't know why,

but it just really scared me.

All right, listen to me.

Listen, take it easy.

Take it easy. Take it easy.

I'm your friend.

-Okay, yeah. Uh-huh.

-I'm your friend, okay?

-Mm-hmm.

-I'm here to help you.

Okay.

You gotta take care of

what He gave you, right?

Don't waste what

your maker gave you.

I don't really know anything

about your heart, but, uh...

Well, I'd say that

you lack courage.

Good.

Good.

You still here?

You don't get it.

She needs me here, okay?

I don't get it.

I don't get it. Jesus Christ.

How many times have I heard you

say that, I don't get it?

Why don't you play

another record?

All right. All right, look.



Like I said, Dad, I can help.

Yeah, well,

I don't need your help.

All right, well,

maybe you don't have a choice.

All right? You chose to piss

away everything

that I ever gave you, right?

Money, education, a job.

You're right. Thank you so much

for doing your job as a father.

What about your job as a son,

as a human being?

I mean, not just to me.

What about your mother?

No, don't.

Don't bring Mom into this.

You know I'm not the one

who brought her down.

Well, Jesus Christ, not to me.

You were a f*cking drug addict.

God, it's--

it's never on you, is it?

It's-- it's always my fault.

It's all my fault, right?

-She loved everything about you.

-No, no, no, you're right.

-She loved you.

-You're right.

-There's no accountability.

-Your weaknesses.

Oh, my God.

Yes, she loved me.

She loved me.

Because we were close,

and she was my mother.

And, I mean, where the f*ck

were you? Where were you?

-Where the f*ck was I?

-Yeah.

I was paying the bills,

and I was bailing your a*s

out of every f*cking problem

you ever had.

It's never you.

It's never you, is it?

Jesus. Can you believe

this f*cking kid?

Can you believe him?

Everybody, let's--

let's give him

a round of applause for

this wonderful performance.

Look, if you're gonna go,

just go. All right? Go.

Nobody here wants to see you.

I-- I don't want to see you.

Your brother

doesn't want to see you.

And stay away from Ember.

She's off limits to you.

Give everybody a round

on the house, all right?

Come on, come on.

Let's--

let's get this place cooking.

We got people coming.

[ambient street noise]

[mysterious piano music]



[horn honking]

Dad?

Richard.

Know you're gonna make me proud.

[intriguing music]

Oh, my God, Darbs.

There's two of them.

Wait, what the f*ck?

He's a twin?

Looks that way from here.

Oh, there is no way that

I am related to these people.

They are f*cked up.

No wonder my mom was a mess.

Well, there's definitely

a story with this Dupont family.

Yeah, okay.

I love that for you,

but I just want to

get out of here.

Okay.

And that's another R. Dupont

perp that we're looking for.

-You're kidding me, right?

-Twins?

How are we supposed to know if

it's him or if it's his brother?

[Darby] Um...

I really don't know how

we're ever gonna figure

that one out.

You know, Ember,

was that just River I saw?

Yeah, he was here.

Yeah, what was he doing here?

[drawer closing]

But the one thing

you've gotta fix is River.

He's no good for anyone,

especially someone

as fragile as you.

-Fragile?

-Fragile.

Hmm. Thanks for the advice.

[liquid pouring]

[dishes clinking]

[Richard] Tell River that, uh,

he's got the apartment back.

-Your dad's apartment?

-Yeah.

[chuckling] Yeah. Yeah.

Uh, hey, buddy, what's up?

[mischievous music]

Hey.

Keep the change.

[camera clicking]

Thanks for the entertainment.

[River] Have a good day.



How are you getting home?

Uh, subway.

No, you're coming in

the car with me.

-Oh, am I?

-Yeah.

There's a story here.

Mmm. No, the story

is that 23andMe is a scam,

and I'm gonna get my money back.

Good luck getting your money

back from Google.

Oh, I need a drink of water.

Otherwise, I am going

to literally faint.

Yeah, yeah, take your time.

You know it's not just for you.

You know that, right?

Yeah.

You okay?

That's the third time

you've asked me that.

Sorry, I keep repeating myself.

What are you thinking?

I think that

you will be all right.

Sublime, even.

I don't know what that means.

It-- it means

that there's, uh...

There's --

there's something, um...

Uh, Je ne sais quoi about you.

Thanks, I...

I also don't know

what that means.

There's something, uh...

Alluring about you.

I suppose.

I don't know. I'm--

I'm at a loss for words. Um--

A playwright...

at a loss for words?

You know,

I'm very attracted to you.

Uh, you're very appealing.

You're very kind.

But I don't think it's--

it's good for me

to be doing anything...

Right now.

I just need to be alone.

Figure sh*t out.



Well, listen, I-- I would be

delighted to take you out

to a restaurant in--

in whatever capacity

you would like, if that's...

No. Sorry.

-Hi.

-Hi. Uh, we'd like to pay.

Yeah, yeah, sure.

Just settle up with me.

Thank you.

[machine whirring]

It was nice chatting with you,

by the way.

Oh, uh, likewise.

I don't need that.

I have my own pen.

Okay.

Okay, Ember, we have

a lot of organizing to do.

Um, if you do

need anything else,

my card is at the front.

Thank you for the...

incredible evening.

Thanks, guys.

f*cking Judas Priest!

[eerie orchestral music]



[gentle orchestral music]

[horn honking]

[haunting vocal music]

[man shouting]

Hey, so the kitchen

is not open yet,

but do you want to look at

the menu in the meantime?

How about, uh, two cups of tea?

Can you do that?

-For two?

-Um, Earl Grey, if you have it.

Okay. Sure.

I'll get that for you.

Thank you.

[dishes clattering]



[Lincoln] Hello.

-Hi.

-You have arrived.

[chuckling] Yeah.

This is my arrival.

Please.

Um, well, thank you for coming.

-I appreciate it.

-Oh, yeah. Of course.

Uh, thank you so much

for reaching out.

Yeah.

You know, I've been really busy

just going from, like...

I just figured I could stop in

for a coffee,

you know, catch up.

You're busy. That's good.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-Excellent, yeah.

Um, you know, it's crazy.

I haven't seen you

in, like, a year.

You know what, it's actually...

I think it's been, like, nine

months or so, to be exact.

-But who's counting?

-Oh, yeah, right.

No, who's counting?

-You are.

-Uh, well...

Okay. I-- I am.

I can't--

I can't help myself.

Well, I don't know if

you remember, but...

last time we were together...

You--

You wouldn't remember because

you're a man, you know,

sometimes they

don't remember things.

Um, no offense.

But you asked me out to dinner.

I didn't forget.

I'm sorry if

I was rude at all. I--

No, no, no, it--

it's okay. Don't...

No need

to apologize, okay? Um...

If I can recall,

you were actually busy, I think,

cleaning up for an event.

I figured I'd call later,

but when I did,

they said you had quit.

And wouldn't give me a number

for you, so...

Yeah, it was a bad day. Um...

-But you found me.

-I did, I did. I-- I--

I tracked you down, finally.

Yeah, I don't like being

tracked down.

Okay, uh...

Um...

So what have you been up to?

Um, what's going on

in Lincoln's land?

-I've been writing.

-Oh, good.

-I've been writing, so...

-Good, good.

Yeah. Well, you--

you-- you look great.

Uh, oh, my...

you think?

Just, uh... threw it on.

Uh, and you look...

I mean...

Honestly, I don't even remember

what you looked like.

You know,

I was so screwed up, so...

So I just...

I went cold turkey.

I've been sober for,

like, nine months.

On-- on the pills?

-Yeah, I've been...

-You're going through-- oh.

Well, that-- that's great.

I'm happy to...

I'm happy to hear that.

That's good.

Yeah, it was necessary.

I was...

not in a good headspace, and...

-Yeah.

-I had to break up with River.

Oh, River.

Yeah, yeah, because him

and the-- pills are just--

just too connected, you know?

-Right.

-Um, so...

Yeah, so I don't drink.

I don't... drugs.

Uh, no red meat.

I'm a pegan.

Um...

I'm sorry. I'm not--

I'm not exactly sure

what a pegan is.

Yeah, yeah, no.

No, a pegan, so it's, uh, vegan

and, uh, paleo.

So it's basically, like,

twigs, nuts, berries, leaves,

branches, and an occasional

wild-cut salmon.

Um...

That seems like a very limited

array of options.

No, no. Oh, my God.

No, I can eat a lot of stuff.

That seems very healthy, and...

Well, I'm just trying to,

you know, get out from there.

-Right.

-And control's good for me.

-Absolutely.

-I don't know if you've read

what happened

with Richard Dupont.

-Oh, yeah, I mean, goodness.

-River's brother.

I-- I-- I actually haven't heard

about Richard, no.

Basically, three women came

forward and...

spoke on how he had drugged them

and sexually assaulted them.

-Horrible.

-Yeah.

So he was arrested, thank God,

but his father

just bailed him out, you know?

You know what?

Speaking of--

of reading up on--

on the Duponts, um, there was

a New Yorker piece about Hunter.

It was an expos of sorts

on how his clubs have ill*gal

betting services and--

and other, you know, escort...

Um...

So, are you-- are you acting?

You still...

Oh, God, no. No.

I gave that up with also, like,

all the other things.

Drugs, alcohol.

I just-- I mean, I started

therapy, right, so I can't--

I can't really afford her,

so I just go, like,

I've only gone a couple times.

-Only-- only--

-It's really useful, though.

But only a couple times

it's useful?

What? Like, why are you saying

that like-- [both chuckling]

[both chuckling]

-I don't...

-No, no, no, it's okay.

-You're saying I need therapy.

-I'm-- I'm not, I apologize.

-I'm hurt.

-I don't mean to...

-I don't mean to pry.

-No, I'm hurt.

And I'm never gonna

forgive you.

No, no, no. [chuckles]

I-- I don't really

have much experience

with the whole therapy thing,

so I...

Yeah, I can tell.

I think you need therapy.

-Yeah.

-Oh, okay.

I think you need therapy.

You think I need therapy.

-Mm-hmm.

-Um. Why-- why is that?

Why do I need therapy?

Uh, you have extreme

procrastination issues.

Look how long it took you

to track me down.

Oh. Okay.

Speaking of which, have you

even finished your play?

Okay, well, that-- that's

interesting you mention that,

because, in fact, I did.

-Oh! Congratulations.

-I-- I did.

I-I did finish my play, um,

and that's sort of

the reason why

I made an effort to find you.

Why?

I'm gonna be having a reading

of my play this Saturday,

and I was gonna ask you

to play the lead.



What?

Yes, but-- but if you--

if you aren't interested, I...

Wh-- why me?

Um...

I'm...

I'm sorry. Um...

Okay, this Saturday,

a reading, me the lead.

I just don't even know if

I'm that good anymore,

you know what I mean?

I haven't, like, acted

in a really long time,

and, like,

I have a lot

of anxiety around it,

which is why

I haven't really decided if

I want to go back, and, like,

I think people said I was good,

but also maybe it's just my ego?

Like, maybe it's just, like,

I think I'm good, and, like,

maybe I, like, lost my touch.

Maybe I feel like I'm good,

and I'm gonna start

and make a big fool of myself

-in your play...

-Yeah.

...that you worked so hard on.

Whoa, I'm sorry. Uh...

No, no, no, no,

don't apologize.

I just-- I--

I think this, right now,

what-- what you've

just expressed is...

...you know, is all the--

the little doubts of--

of every artist that--

that's, you know,

trying to find their way,

and... that's okay.

-Thanks.

-Ah.

But, uh, okay, yeah,

so now that you're,

I guess, no longer acting...

Well, I-- I didn't say that.

I'm honestly thinking about it.

-Okay, so-- so...

-Okay.

...you-- you--

you might be interested

in doing the reading.



I'll do it.

-Yeah.

-You'll do it?

-Yeah.

-Great.

That's-- that's--

that's amazing. Thank you.

-Yep.

-Thank you.

Okay.

So, now that that is settled,

now that you are gonna be doing

a reading in my play,

um, are--

are you okay with playwrights?

I'm okay with this playwright.



[upbeat music]



[eerie orchestral music]