04x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

Previously on The Affair...

[JEFFRIES] Do you remember
the first time you saw her?

[NOAH] Like it was yesterday.

[LAUGHTER]

I have to leave.

We've lived together for half our lives.

I'm in love with someone else.

I want you to get the
f*ck out of my house.

[NOAH] What if I moved to Montauk?

- Why?
- To be with you.

Look, I know I was a jerk, but I...

I just got out of three years in prison.

I don't want what I used to.

I just want a simple life.

I just want to get back into teaching.

I want to live with someone I love.

You were the best thing
that ever happened to me.

[ALISON] No, I, uh... I
want a divorce, Noah.

How's Vik?

He's good.

He just got a major job offer in L.A.

The children's hospital there.

This fella's quite a catch.

Handsome, polite, a doctor.

Anyone would be an improvement
after your first husband.

[VIK] Noah's not doing well, huh?

[HELEN] Well, he's downstairs.

I'll tell him to leave right now.

You do what you want, Helen.

Because I get how this goes.

He leaves now.

Whenever he shows up with his bullshit,

you let him right back f*cking in.

Why can't you just let him go?

[HELEN] Thing is, for my whole life,

I've had this idea that
I'm a good person,

and, uh, it's not true.

No, it's not.

Good-bye.

I k*lled Scott Lockhart.

It wasn't Noah.

That is why I let Noah back in.

Because I felt like I owed him

and I was trying to fix what I did.

It was not because I loved him.

I'll find you after work.

[NOAH] Being a parent is hard.

And I know we haven't done it perfectly,

but I learned from my parents' mistakes,

and your mother learned from hers,

just as you'll learn from our mistakes.

Until someone someday

finally has a perfect childhood.

[DRIVER] Where we going, buddy?

♪ I was screaming into the canyon ♪

♪ At the moment of my death ♪

♪ The echo I created ♪

♪ Outlasted my last breath ♪

♪ My voice it made an avalanche ♪

♪ And buried a man I never knew ♪

♪ And when he d*ed, his widowed bride ♪

♪ Met your daddy and they made you ♪

♪ I have only one thing to do ♪

♪ And that's be the wave
that I am, and then ♪

♪ Sink back into the ocean ♪

♪ I have only one thing to do ♪

♪ And that's be the wave
that I am, and then ♪

♪ Sink back into the ocean ♪

♪ I have only one thing to do ♪

♪ And that's be the wave
that I am, and then ♪

♪ Sink back into the ocean,
sink back into the ocean ♪

♪ Sink back into the o... ♪

♪ Sink back into the ocean ♪

♪ Sink back into the o... ♪

♪ Sink back into the ocean ♪

♪ Sink back into the ocean ♪

[QUIET PIANO MUSIC]

♪ ♪

It's been hours. No one's seen her.

She hasn't called to check in on Joanie.

The police have declared
her a missing person.

[ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[HELEN] I just think it's important

for you to get settled in first.

[NOAH] I am settled, Helen.

I'm in a three-bedroom house.

I got a room for each of them.

I got board games, trampoline.

Are we still litigating custody here?

No, Noah, it's just that weekends

are really important to them right now.

They're making all sorts
of new friends out here.

Okay, but the fact remains
that I moved all the way

out here to Los Angeles just
to be close to my children,

and I'm not seeing them.

Look, Noah, I really don't want

to get into this right now, okay?

We're running late, and I
have to get them to school.

Okay, will you just tell Trevor
I'll be at his thing tonight?

Please. Helen? Helen?

[TIRES SQUEAL, HORN HONKS]

assh*le.

[QUIET CHATTER]

Hey, Victor.

Did you get any sleep last night?

The baby was up like every half hour.

Believe it or not, you'll miss it.

Yeah? You want to trade?

I don't miss it that much.

[VICTOR CHUCKLES]

So, come on, somebody tell me, why...

why do none of the other animals

stand up to the tyrant Napoleon

or his mouthpiece, Squealer?

These pigs?

Anybody?

Come on. You're teenagers.

Don't you ever feel
oppressed or misunderstood?

Yes, great. Martina.

So, like, Mr. Solloway,
I've been wondering,

are you married?

'Cause, like, I don't see no ring.

- [STUDENTS LAUGHING]
- Actually, I'm divorced. Twice.

[FEMALE STUDENT] Ooh! I
like a man with a past.

- Okay, okay.
- [LAUGHTER]

Who'd like to read? Somebody?

- Anybody?
- [MARTINA CLEARS THROAT]

Yes, Martina, go on.

Oh. If I read, Mr. Solloway,

- can I be number three?
- [STUDENTS] Ooh!

Martina, I have much loftier
aspirations for you than that.

But yes, you can read. Page, uh, .

Um, Squealer's speech,
starting, "No one believes..."

"No one believes more firmly
than Comrade Napoleon

- that all animals are equal."
- [CELL PHONE RINGTONE PLAYS]

Come on, guys. Who is that?

Can you silence it, please?

- [RINGTONE STOPS]
- Go on, Martina.

Um... "And then where should we be?

Suppose you had decided to
follow Snowball, with his

- moonshine of windmills.
- [CELL PHONE RINGTONE PLAYS]

- Snowball, who, as we know..."
- Wh...? Hang on, Martina.

Just wait. What...?

- Give that to me.
- No, mister, please.

- Give me the phone.
- It's just my brother.

He's giving me a ride
to my job after school.

I-I work at KFC.

Jaime, I'm-I'm teaching
an allegory on tyranny,

and you'll know the meaning of that

if you don't put that away right now.

- Okay.
- Now, put it on silent.

All right.

Okay, thank you, Martina.

Anton.

The passage Martina just read,

where Squealer is basically saying,

"We'd love to let you
make your own decisions,

but we can't because you might
make the wrong decisions,"

you want to tell us
what you make of that?

No.

Come on. We'd all love to hear.

Sorry for y'all.

Okay, I get it. It's a tough passage.

So let's, um... let's break it down.

I said I don't feel like it.

I know you don't feel like it,

but I want you to participate
in the class, okay?

So I'd like you to read it.

And you might understand it better.

Come on, read the passage.

I want you to do it.

You need to participate.

I mean it. Anton...

I said no.

[DOOR OPENS]

Principal Wilson, how can we help you?

Don't mind me.

Okay.

Okay, so, uh, we were looking
at, uh, Squealer's quote.

Well, he's trying to
come across as benign,

but he isn't, is he?

What is he?

No problem. It's a tough question.

When we get a tough question,

we go back to the book for the answers.

[CELL PHONE RINGTONE PLAYING]

Jaime.

But Mr. Solloway said it was okay.

- No, I did not say that.
- Yes, you did.

- Come on, man.
- No, I didn't.

No, it was a pedagogical...

It was a... a teaching thing. It was...

Mr. Ramos, you can retrieve it at
the end of the day from my office.

Oh, come on, Mr. Solloway.
I thought we were friends.

Jaime is trying to contact his brother

who is giving him a ride
to work after school.

Jaime is an only child.

[STUDENTS LAUGHING]

- Brother from another mother?
- [LAUGHTER]

[WILSON] I think you and your phone

can spend the rest of the
day with me. Let's go.

Mr. Gatewood, take down that hood.

Thank you.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Janelle does that to
my classes, too, man.

Always sitting in.

And I've been at this charter
since the beginning.

Sorry. I'm lost again.

What are you trying to do?

Trying to record the
grades from this quiz.

Oh, go back to your home page.

Click on that tab.

That'll take you to your
grading landing page.

Oh, thank you.

Sorry. We didn't really have any of this

last time I was teaching.

I'll bet. You're a lot older

than the last guy I
shared this room with.

So, should I be worried about Janelle?

To be honest, I think
she's overcompensating.

Because she knows her hiring's

an act of affirmative action.

Look, never mind. My wife
says I'm not allowed

to say things like that anymore,
so just, uh, forget it.

Let me ask you another writing question.

Mm-hmm.

When you finished your first manuscript,

- how'd you get it out there?
- Uh...

well, you make a lot of
contacts in grad school.

Oh.

Joel, what does "RD" mean?

It means the kid's retaking the class.

I thought AP English was
only available to seniors.

Oh.

Anton Gatewood?

He was supposed to graduate last spring.

Plagiarized in the second semester,

so Janelle made your
predecessor fail him.

Now the kid's gotta take
the whole year again.

So let me ask you a question.

Do you still have an agent?

Uh, hope so.

Sent him a manuscript a
couple of months ago.

You think there's any
way you could, uh...

- Go, go, go!
- [HONKS HORN]

[LINE RINGING]

Hi. It's Helen. Leave a message.

- [BEEP]
- Hey, it's me.

I'm completely stuck in traffic.

It says I'm a half mile away

but it's gonna take f*cking minutes,

so just tell...

just tell Trevor I'll be there, okay?

Sir. Can I ask where you're going?

Uh, yeah. Sorry I'm late.

My, uh, son is a student here.

Trevor Solloway.

Name?

What, my name?

I'm his father, Noah Solloway.

Nope.

"Nope"? What do you mean, "nope"?

Nope, you're not on the list.

Do you have a school I.D.?

Uh, how do... how do I get one?

It's online, sir.

Any parent wanting access to
the grounds needs to register.

Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Garrison.

How are you?

How's it going? Come on in.

Okay, look, I can't do that,
so can I get a temporary one?

- Can I take one of these?
- Nope.

Look, my son is in there.

Sir, I cannot let you
through without a pass.

Can you imagine if I let you in

and your ex has a restraining
order out against you

and it's her night with the kids?

Hmm?

How'd you know I'm divorced?

Wild guess.

Helen.

Helen, pick up.

Helen, I'm out... I'm at the entrance,

and, um, he won't let me in.

You didn't put my name
on the list, so, um,

can you come vouch for me or whatever?

And, uh...

just call me, please.

You're an assh*le. You know that?

[QUIET CHATTER]

Hey, Trevor.

Stacey.

Hey. Hey.

[STACEY GIGGLING]

Noah, I didn't think you could make it.

No, we talked about this, Helen.

What are you doing here?

You didn't tell Trevor I was coming?

Let's not do this in front of the kids.

Sorry, do what?

We talked about this this morning.

We talked over the weekend.

- This was in my calendar.
- Okay, well, sorry.

I made a mistake. I got confused.

We just have... we have
a lot going on, so...

No, I'm not... I'm not
making a thing of it.

It's just that I was stuck out here.

My name wasn't on the list.

Looks like it was an honest mistake.

I'm not saying it wasn't. I'm just...

I know. I just wanted to show
the kids that I was here.

That I am here.

Message received, Dad.

[VIK] Look, come to dinner.

We're going to Mexican.

You should come.

[STACEY] Yeah, Dad.

You should come with us.

[MARIACHI MUSIC PLAYING]

Hey.

Sorry I'm late.

Hey, Dad.

Should I sit there?

Is this taken?

Thanks.

Uh, I put, uh, Los Angeles into the GPS

instead of Santa Monica, so...

Ah. Yeah.

Santa Monica's a whole different city.

You'll figure it out.
It just takes time.

Uh, can I get a margarita,
please, no salt?

All right, thanks.

So, kids, guess what I spent
last weekend setting up.

- What?
- Trampoline.

- Trampoline?
- Yeah.

Plus, I got some furniture
for your rooms,

so hopefully you can come for
a sleepover sometime soon.

[STACEY] Um, I'll come over for a day,

but I don't think I'm gonna sleep over.

Why not?

Topanga Canyon's creepy.

What's creepy about Topanga?

[TREVOR] Mom told her Charles Manson

lived there once.

He did.

How do you even know
who Charles Manson is?

I didn't, and then I YouTubed it.

Thanks a lot.

How about you, Trev?
Sleepover, just you and me?

Um, his weekends are kind of packed.

He can speak for himself.

[TREVOR] Well, I mean,

yeah, we can try and get
something on the calendar, Dad.

Okay, something on the calendar.

Oh, Mom, Vik, I wanted to talk

to you guys about drivers' ed.

- [HELEN] Okay, but...
- [TREVOR] So...

Maybe we'll wait six months?

No, no, no, I'm gonna be
so soon, and, you know,

it's good to get a head start.

Can I get that margarita, please?

So, what happened...

what happened with teacher night?

Curriculum night?

It went really, really
well, right, Trev?

Yeah.

I really wish I had been there.

I wanted to see what you were doing.

[HELEN] He was just telling
us more about the project

he's working on in the
unit they're studying.

What's the project?

Oh, yeah, so there's this girl,

and she lives in a funeral home.

Is it a book or...

It's a graphic novel.

[HELEN] And the girl thinks that she

- might be...
- [TREVOR] Yeah.

Gay. But not just thinks.

She is gay.

And as she grows up,

she begins to realize that
her dad was gay, too,

but closeted.

And your partner on this is Brooklyn?

Sorry, what's Brooklyn? Is that a...

Is that a person or...

Brooklyn's a boy.

Okay, so... so Brooklyn's your friend.

I-I don't understand what's going on.

Curriculum night was
definitely interesting.

- And so, uh...
- [TREVOR] Yeah, so, um,

in the special unit,

we then take our chosen graphic novel

and study the social issues

and history that make up its worldview.

[HELEN] Mm-hmm.

And in this case, it
would be gay rights?

[TREVOR] Exactly.

What-what is this graphic novel?

Fun Home.

Oh, Fun... Wasn't that a musical?

Yes, on Broadway, actually.

Anyway, it's a really cool way to learn.

[HELEN] Yeah. Okay, what
I was wondering, Trev,

is, um... I was wondering,
is there anything

you're trying to express

or communicate to us,

um, with your choice of material?

Because I hope that you know we love

and accept everything about you,

whatever you are.

Yeah. I know.

[HELEN] Every part of you.

- [TREVOR] Yeah, I know.
- Hey.

Helen, can I get a word, please?

Sure.

I'm sorry.

What's going on out there?

He's been inseparable from this boy.

- Brooklyn?
- Brooklyn, yes.

And it's something I've
suspected for a long time,

- and now finally...
- Suspected? What...?

He's gay, Noah.

Wait. So...

So, what I was seeing out
there was some kind of...

some kind of attempt
to make him say that?

[HELEN] Ugh, I really, really wish

you had been to curriculum night.

Yeah, I-I really tried.

Look, I don't know.

It just seems to me very obvious.

You should see his art.

And then this boy, Brooklyn.

And even his choice of... of material.

It's-it's just plain as day.

Okay, okay, first of
all, he's , Helen.

Maybe... maybe he's exploring things,

but it's way too early

to try to get him to confess to some...

Look, it was on the tip of his tongue.

I swear to you, he was about to say it.

- [TOILET FLUSHES]
- Was he? Really, was he?

Or were you leading him?

'Cause what I saw was you
were definitely leading him.

This is ridiculous.

More ridiculous than
trying to out your son

in a Mexican restaurant, when
he might not even be gay?

He is gay. And hey, guess what.

I have an idea, why don't you just

admit you have a problem with it?

I don't have a problem
with it, if he is.

- He is.
- Okay, fine.

But shouldn't it still be his choice

as to when and where
he wants to come out?

- That's what I'm saying.
- He was about to,

until you walked in.

You intimidate him.

Helen, why are you doing this?

Doing what?

I move all the way out here...

Yeah, to be with the kids, right?

I don't intimidate him or Stacey.

I just don't know them anymore.

That's why I'm here.

And you're doing
everything in your power

to box me out of their lives.

You know what I'm not doing anymore?

This.

I'm sorry.

[ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

♪ ♪

Hey, Alison, it's Noah.

Uh, sorry to call so late.

Um, just checking in.

Okay, bye.

Hey, Max, uh...

it's Noah.

Believe it or not.

I'm, uh...

just reaching out.

Hope you're well.

Bye.

Anton Gatewood.

[SCHOOL BELL RINGING]

Beginning Wednesday, get
ready for The Waste Land.

Anton.

Hold back, please.

Uh, I gotta meet my ride.

Your ride can wait a minute.

I want to talk about your essay.

What about it?

It's, uh...

it's very, very, very well done.

Is that right?

Yeah. Your analysis of
propaganda in the novel

and showing how language
can be manipulated to...

wield power, it's-it's not just good.

It's... it's brilliant.

Okay.

So, is that what you
wanted to talk about?

Yeah.

It's really, really good.

So, what I want to know
is... who wrote it?

What do you mean?

Just what I said.

Who wrote this brilliant essay?

'Cause I don't think it was you.

Why not?

Well, let's look at the evidence.

You refuse to participate in class.

You just sit there with your head
on the desk and your hoodie up.

Yeah, maybe 'cause your
class f*cking sucks.

We both know your history of plagiarism.

What do you think would happen
if you got caught again?

If I went straight to Principal Wilson

- with this right now?
- [ANTON CHUCKLES]

You think that's funny?

You think your future is funny?

No, man. You funny to me.

Why is that?

Okay.

How about this quote?

"The others said that Squealer
could turn black into white."

Okay.

Explain to me what that means.

So, in the novel, Squealer represents

the propaganda machinery
that despotic states develop

in order to control their populace.

Under Stalin, it was Dmitri Shepilov.

Under h*tler, it was Goebbels.

And the quote,

"turning black into white,"

is just a simplistic
way of Squealer saying

that he can make evil
sound like it was good.

Orwell expanded on this idea
in Nineteen Eighty-Four

with Oceania's Ministry of the Truth,

the irony being that all
Ministry does is lie.

Anything else?

Anton.

Anton.

Anton, come on.

I owe you an apology.

f*ck you.

[CAR DOORS CLOSE]

[ENGINE STARTS]

[ENGINE REVVING]

[DEEP INHALE]

[DEEP EXHALE]

_

[LONG EXHALE]

[DEEP INHALE]

[EXHALES SLOWLY]

How the f*ck do they stay up there?

[VIK] What are you doing?

Nothing.

- Are you obsessing?
- No.

[CELL PHONE CHIMES]

[CELL PHONE CHIMING REPEATEDLY]

Stacey, breakfast.

[STACEY] I'm finishing my math homework.

Well, you can finish it while you eat.

Just a minute.

Trevor, can you please turn that down?

Sure, Mom.

- Who's texting you, anyway?
- Brooklyn.

Brooklyn, as in our former borough?

No, Mom.

Brooklyn's my friend.

Oh.

Well, that's a lot of texts.

What, does she have a crush on you?

Wrong gender. Brooklyn's a boy.

Oh. Okay.

- Hey.
- Hey.

Look.

I think I've lost like eight pounds.

Maybe you should lay
off the green juices.

Thought you were going to relax today.

Um, I am relaxed.

- Stacey!
- [STACEY] Just a minute!

I told you I'd get them to school.

You could've slept in, gone to yoga.

Well, I'll relax right after this.

- I promise.
- Babe.

- Yeah?
- Come here.

- No.
- Come here.

Oh, sh*t.

I have mayonnaise all over my fingers.

What are you so worried about?

- Staining your clothes.
- Helen.

I'm not worried about anything.

We have an amazing house.

We're down to just two kids.

They're happy at school.

We're finally all unpacked.

You promised me, when we got
out here, you'd take it easy.

And I seriously am...

going to.

- When?
- Today.

Chief Surgeon Ullah.

Mmm.

Say that again.

Chief Surgeon Ullah.

Ooh. Oh.

[TREVOR] Guys.

Gross.

Buzzkill.

[RUMBLING]

[OBJECTS CLATTERING]

[VIK] Helen.

- Huh?
- [RUMBLING STOPS]

You okay?

Yeah.

Fine.

Okay.

Sollomanders, let's rock and roll!

Yeah, Stacey, come on.

[STACEY] Coming.

Have you figured out
who her mother is yet?

Think she looks a little like
Michelle Pfeiffer, you think?

Not really.

- Geena Davis?
- Why don't you just ask her?

Why don't you? You spend so
much time looking at her.

[VIK CHUCKLES]

No, that would be you, Helen.

Do you think she even realizes
these cans are hers, not ours?

No, I don't. And she's not going
to if you keep moving 'em for her.

Hey there.

Good morning.

Morning.

Are those mine?

Yeah, but don't worry
about it. I got it.

So, tell me,

what are you going to do to relax today?

Go to therapy.

That just makes you hate your mother.

I already hate my mother.

And besides, this is different.
It's West Coast therapy.

Very chill.

- Bye.
- Bye.

- You guys ready?
- Yep.

[MARTIN] I've got a negative balance.

I'm sorry. Uh, can you say
that again? I didn't hear you.

I said I'm standing here in
checkout at the school cafeteria,

and I've got a negative
balance on my food card.

Um, okay, well, it-it's
your father's month to pay.

Did you try to call him?

So you want me to hang
up, try to call him,

then wait around for
him to call me back?

I'm trying to get breakfast
so I can get to class.

Okay, sweetheart, I'm sorry.

I'll-I'll take care of it.
Give me three minutes, okay?

Thanks, Mom.

Oh, God, Noah. I swear to f*cking God.

[THERAPIST] So, um,

let's try scanning your body, huh?

Take a deep breath.

Scan your body.

And tell me where
you're feeling tension.

[TAKES DEEP BREATH]

Nothing?

I'm fine.

But this morning,

you thought you felt an earthquake?

That's right.

A big one.

Why don't we try that
body scan one more time?

Dr. Kaplan, I'm sorry, I'm just really

not used to doing therapy this way.

In New York, we-we
talked. We didn't scan.

You still miss New York?

Getting easier?

Um, yeah, I guess.

I guess so. I guess it is.

I don't know. I just feel, um...

...um, uncomfortable here.

This town, it makes me feel unsafe.

Okay.

Unsafe how?

Well, like, for example, when's
the earthquake gonna hit?

[KAPLAN CHUCKLES]

Which particular earthquake?

The big one. The one that's
gonna k*ll all of us.

I mean, why are we all existing here

on a f*cking fault line
just waiting to die?

Doesn't that seem insane to you?

Okay, so what I'm hearing is...

this town, this place,

it really makes you feel unsafe.

Yes, I just said that.

Yes, but now I feel

I understand the magnitude
of your concern.

Was that an earthquake joke?

Why don't we try scanning your body

- one more time just to see if we...
- I think my son might be gay.

Oh, okay.

Perhaps there's your earthquake.

What?

The earthquake in your life

that you so greatly fear.

I'm fine with it.

I am.

I am % fine with it.

I'm thrilled, actually.

I always wanted a gay son.

My other son is like Gary Cooper.

It's awful.

It's awful because...?

It's his father I'm worried about.

Your son's father, your ex?

Uh, yeah. He's not very, uh...

tolerant.

Ah.

And I'm afraid he's gonna
think it... it's his fault.

His fault?

For not being around
when Trevor was young.

For leaving us.

You're afraid your ex-husband

will consider your son's sexuality

a result of his poor choices?

Yeah.

You know, of course, that's
not how sexuality works.

Well, I didn't say I thought that.

I said I was afraid he might think it.

Um, how are you and Noah doing?

Uh, last session, you were having

mixed feelings about his
being out here at all.

It's fine. We're fine.

Uh, it's-it's good for
the kids to see him.

I don't have any problems
with Noah anymore.

It's just, uh... uh...

- What?
- He annoys me.

Huh.

You seem uncomfortable
talking about Noah.

Physically uncomfortable.

Do you notice that?

Helen, if I may.

I see you relying on your head a lot

to rationalize or even
deny certain feelings.

You don't seem incredibly aware,

appreciative of the intelligence,

the experience,

the trauma

that is hiding in your body.

What trauma?

Uh, your husband left you abruptly

after years of marriage,

then hit his new wife's
brother-in-law with a car,

fled the scene

and ended up going to
prison for three years.

Meanwhile,

your older son failed out
of two high schools,

barely graduated,

and your daughter dropped out

of college to run off to Paris

with a man twice her
age, who abused her.

I mean, well, when you
put it like that...

I left all of that behind me
when I came to California.

I have literally nothing
to worry about right now.

Whitney's back in school.

She has an age-appropriate
boyfriend who she likes.

And I like him, too.

And Martin seems happy
at William and Mary.

And the younger kids
really like school here.

And Vik has an amazing job.

And we live in a gorgeous house.

Oh, and my parents are , miles away.

I don't have to work right
now if I don't want to,

and it's sunny every
day. Every g*dd*mn day.

Every g*dd*mn day is sunny... perfect.

But you know what, sometimes
the sun gives me a headache.

And I f*cking hate this ocean.

- You hate the Pacific?
- Yeah.

There's nothing you can do

when you're around it except look at it.

It's so huge and blue and obvious.

It's like an attention whore.

The ocean is... is an attention whore?

Okay, no, when you say it like
that, it makes me sound crazy.

That's not what I was trying to...

I know, but never mind. It's all right.

Just, you don't get it. Never mind.

You know, I think this would
be a really good time

to just try closing your eyes

- and holding your breath...
- f*ck you, Ezra.

[SEWING MACHINE WHIRRING AND RATTLING]

Priya?

I'm almost done.

Vik didn't tell me that
you were coming over.

He told me his pants are falling down,

so I'm taking them in.

Um, well, I could have
taken care of that.

Do you know how to sew?

No, but I could've, um...

you know, dropped 'em off somewhere.

At a tailor's?

Yeah.

I am a tailor.

I know. I just... I didn't
want to bother you, so...

Why would it bother me to do
something nice for my son?

Does it bother you to care
for your children, Helen?

Can I get you something?

Uh...

we have, um, water, juice.

I think we have some club soda.

Wow.

[PRIYA CHUCKLES]

His favorites.

Baingan bharta,

chicken tikka, chole bhature.

I've even brought Indian bread... naan.

It's in your freezer.

Don't put it in the oven.

It'll get crusty.

Put it in the microwave

and heat it in a frying pan.

He can take the leftovers

for lunch to work.

I really don't know what to say.

There's plenty for you
and your children, too.

You really didn't have to do this.

I mean, there's enough
food in there for a week.

I don't mind doing it every Sunday.

- I know you're busy.
- Well, I'm not that busy.

I have time to cook.

What?

Vikram is very skinny.

I know.

I think he's stressed out.

Um, about his new job.

Perhaps.

Or perhaps he's simply not

accustomed to the food you cook.

A husband should be fat.

It shows he's happy.

Oh, I think Vik's happy, Priya.

I mean, I...

I think I make him happy.

That's what he tells me.

Of course, no man is truly happy

until he has children of his own.

Um... [CLEARS THROAT]

Okay, will you excuse me?

I have to do something.

[ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[RUMBLING]

[OBJECTS CLATTERING]

[RUMBLING AND CLATTERING STOP]

[WATER DRIPPING SLOWLY]

[SEWING MACHINE RATTLING
AND WHIRRING IN DISTANCE]

[TAKES DEEP BREATH]

Oh, hi.

- Helen?
- Hi. Yes. Sierra, right?

- Yeah, that's right.
- How's it going?

Great, actually. I, uh...

I have been picking these
literally all morning,

and I just realized that I-I never

really welcomed you guys, so...

Well, thank you.

Wow, this room is great, by the way.

Thanks. Uh, just... come in.

Who's your, uh...

who's your interior person?

Oh, I'm my interior person.

Wow, this is a lot of avocados.

Oh. Yeah.

I, uh... I mean, I was never gonna

eat all of those on my own.

But my mom actually has
this amazing guac recipe

- on her blog.
- Oh, right, your mom.

What is the name of her blog again?

I'll send it to you.
You have amazing skin.

- Oh.
- No, seriously.

Like, I was just gonna
tell you about this mask

that you can make with the avocado

that, like, literally sucks the toxins

out of your skin, but I
feel like maybe you already

- do something like that.
- No.

- No, you're glowing.
- Oh.

Well, thank you.

Okay, well, um, I'll go.

- Okay.
- I-I did just want to say

that if you ever wanted, like,
you know, a workout buddy

or a drinking buddy, I do both a lot.

Great. Thank you.

- Have you ever tried goat yoga?
- [HELEN LAUGHS]

Goat yoga? No.

Oh, my God, it's yoga
but with baby goats.

- Really?
- Yeah.

They, like, massage you
with their little hooves.

So it might be fun if we
wanted to do it together.

Well, thank you.

That would be nice. Thanks.

I'm so glad that you guys moved in here.

Really, because the last people

were really... cold, you know.

They had a very stagnant energy.

They were Scandinavian.

Oh.

But you...

Your being is, like...

it's a little...

[CLICKS TONGUE]

It is?

Yeah, I don't know. I-I
guess we'll find out.

Okay.

Bye.

[MECHANICAL WHIRRING]

Nice school.

Apparently.

I am disappointed there's
no particle accelerator.

[HELEN CHUCKLES]

I'm sure they'll have a...
capital campaign to buy one.

Maybe he's just running late.

Maybe he found something better to do.

Why do you still let him get to you?

I don't know.

- There's Trevor.
- Mmm.

[WOMAN] Hi.

You're Trevor's parents, aren't you?

Uh, well, I'm...

You guys have such a wonderful son.

Oh. Did you hear that, Vik?
We have a wonderful son.

Thank you.

Yeah, we really think so, too.

And you guys, of course, know Brooklyn.

Um, we know about Brooklyn

more than we know him,
but yes, of course.

They're joined at the hip, those two.

Totally inseparable.

- Mm-hmm.
- Which...

I want you guys to know,

we totally support here in every way.

This is a safe environment

in which Trevor can
fully express himself.

Anyway, great to see you,

and great to have Trevor with us.

He's truly special.

Thanks.

So he's gay, right?

As the day is long.

Do you think that kid made that robot

by himself really, or did
his parents help him?

- [NOAH] What the f*ck, Helen?
- Noah, where were you?

I don't know what kind
of sick game you're

f*cking playing here, but
those are my kids, too,

and if you ever try to box me
out of their lives again...

Box you out of their
lives? You didn't show up,

- and suddenly that's my fault?
- You didn't put my name

on the f*cking list.

What list? I don't even know...

Okay, stop. That's enough.
Your kids are coming, guys,

so what do you want to do?

How do we want to play this?

[VIK] You're saying you
actually think the producers

of Fun Home would give you the rights

to direct a student production?

Yeah. Me and Brooklyn.

You think I can't do it?

[VIK] I know you can do it.

It's just a matter of your
convincing the producers.

Because, really, who are you?

You're just some kid.

I have good ideas.

So practice your pitch on me first.

You only get one chance
with these people.

I can tell you the parts that need work.

You would do that?

You have to make an appointment first.

- I'm a very busy person.
- Okay, okay.

I'll have Brooklyn's mom call your mom.

- That'll be fine.
- [TREVOR] Yeah.

You know, I, um...

I really like Brooklyn a lot.

Yeah, I know you do.

And I'm really glad.

And I think Vik is glad about that, too.

You know...

if I can be honest with you guys,

sometimes I think I might be...

[NOAH] Oh, God.

So sorry I'm late.

This f*cking traffic. Jesus.

Oh, can I take that?
Put that on our tab.

Thanks.

Hey, little man. You okay?

What were you talking about?

Nothing.

- Hi, Dad.
- Hi.

Can I talk to you?

- What the hell's going on?
- Martin called me today.

You forgot to fill his food card.

Is it my month?

- I'm sorry.
- You know, I am really trying,

but you are not the center of
the f*cking universe, Noah.

Oh, for f*ck's sake,
Helen, not this again.

Do you know what you just
blundered into out there

like a... like a bull in a china shop?

Trevor was about to tell us he's gay.

- What?
- Yes.

I-I-I'm... I'm pretty sure

he was about to tell Vik and
me that he thinks he's gay.

Well, okay.

Good for him.

We're happy for him, right?

Yes, of course we're happy for him.

I just wanted him to be able to tell us.

Which he was trying to do,
and then you showed up.

Okay, well, I didn't know.

So let's go back out
there, and maybe he'll...

No, don't you see what happened?

You walk in, and he just shuts down.

And you come in, and you're
angry, and you're swearing,

and you're grabbing beers,
you're eating chips and...

It's a Mexican restaurant.

He is intimidated by you.

- That's ridiculous.
- He's afraid to tell you.

Well, maybe if he spent
more time with me...

He's afraid you're gonna
think it's your fault.

Why would I think it's my fault?

- Because it is.
- What?

- Trevor being gay is my fault?
- No. Shut up.

- That's not what I said.
- It is what you said.

Well, it's not what I meant.

Well, what the f*ck did you mean, Helen?

- I...
- [RUMBLING]

Is that what you think?

If that's what you really think,

then you've got really weird ideas

about how people become gay.

[RUMBLING INTENSIFIES]

Oh, my God, it's you.

[RUMBLING STOPS]

You're the earthquake.

I'm the what?

You're the other f*cking shoe.

You're the reason why I
can never ever relax.

Because every time I see you,

I am just waiting for the
next disaster to happen.

[RUMBLING STOPS]

Jesus Christ, Helen.

That's a little unfair
to me, don't you think?

No, I don't.

You know, years ago, you
broke our family apart,

and now I finally have a
new life in a new place.

The only problem is you're still in it.

Well, what do you want me to do, Helen?

Not see my kids?

'Cause that's not gonna happen.

No, I understand.

I...

I think we should just try
to stay away from each other

as much as possible.

Okay.

Okay.

[INHALES DEEPLY]

[EXHALES SLOWLY]

Hey.

Five more minutes. It's
pretty late, okay?

- Okay, Mom.
- Okay, good night.

Good night.

- Hi.
- Hey.

I was thinking maybe we could
take a few days and...

go up to Big Sur.

I've never been there.

It's supposed to be,
like, God's country.

Huh. Sounds awful.

Yeah.

I'll switch some things around,
try to clear a weekend.

I'd love to have you to
myself for a few days.

[ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH BUZZING]

You know, I think I'm actually
starting to understand

- why people like L.A.
- [CLUNK, THUMP]

[TOOTHBRUSH CONTINUES BUZZING]

What do you think about that?

Vik.

Vik!