04x02 - Episode 2

[bunniefuu]

Previously on The Affair...

- [COLE] You look happy.
- [ALISON] A change is nice.

Are you ever coming home?

I don't think so.

- Where you from?
- Um, Queens.

Queens? I thought you said...

I came with my mom when I was ten.

From Ecuador.

I'm undocumented.

[COLE] Luisa, I promise I
will be faithful to you.

I want you to trust me above all others,

and I want to be worthy of your trust.

[ALISON] I don't know
who Joanie's father is.

What? I-I don't understand.

I slept with Cole.

Right around the time I got pregnant.

[COLE] Six f*cking months.

No explanation, no warning.

[ALISON] I'm better now.

And I'm back, and I'm not
gonna leave her again.

I'm still her mother. She needs me.

I was at Woodlawn, and I was

counseling a grieving mother,

and it went so well
they've offered me a job.

What about the Lobster Roll?
What if we bought it?

Okay, so, uh, how's it gonna work?

I thought we could ask Alison.

If what's holding you back

from this is the fear that

it might lead to me
getting back together

with my ex-wife who cheated on me,

that's not ever going to happen.

I'll try and leave you alone, okay? I...

I don't want to make anything
more difficult for you.

[COLE] I built this whole life.

I am building a whole house

just to prove to everybody

that I don't love you anymore.

But the truth is that I do.

I'm tired of pretending that I don't.

I love you,

but this is your decision to make.

[COLE] This is my home. Our home.

If you'll still have me.

I'll still have you.

♪ 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 ♪

[DOOR OPENS]

Hey.

We leaving or what?

[ENGINE STARTS]

- _
- [WAVES CRASHING]

[CAMERA SHUTTERS SNAPPING]

[MAN] You better watch and learn.

Oh, sh... !

Sorry about that, Grandpa.

Rad board.

[PHOTOGRAPHER] Hey. Hey, you.

Would you mind moving a
little to the left, buddy?

[SOFT ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

m*therf*cker.

[LUISA] Hey, sexy.

I thought I'd catch you
still in the water.

Look at this sh*t.

What happened?

Somebody must have backed into me

as they were pulling out.

Just now?

Yes, when I was in the water.

I gotta find a new break.

I mean, look at this f*cking place.

There used to be five, six
surfers in the water, max.

Now it's like Malibu.

Here.

Thank you.

- You didn't have to bring this to me.
- I missed you.

[CELL PHONE RINGING]

Oh, sh*t.

Hey. I got that meeting
with the Marshall Group,

and I promised Caleb I'd
talk to him beforehand.

Do you mind?

I don't think we can do
it ourselves, Caleb.

I'm not saying it's not scalable.

I'm just saying that I think the market

is inundated with that kind of food.

Legal Seafood, Red Lobster,
Long John Silver's.

And besides, we have no marketing

or advertising budget.
If we were going to

franchise ourselves, we...

Because that's what
they're paying us for.

The franchisees need support.

Yes, the brand and also the advertising.

Think about McDonald's.

It's not like each one
of those franchisees

- is paying for their own TV ads.
- [SIREN WHOOPS]

Oh, sh*t.

What's up?

[SIREN WHOOPS]

Oh, sh*t.

Hold on. Hey, I-I gotta call you back.

f*ck, f*ck.

[PANTING]

Do you know him?

- I don't think so.
- [LUISA MUTTERS IN SPANISH]

It's okay. Hey, it's okay.
Let me do the talking.

- Yeah.
- Roll down your window.

Hi, Officer.

Is there a problem?

Is this your car, ma'am?

Mine, actually.

And you are?

Cole Lockhart.

We own the Lobster Roll.

You aware your, uh... your
taillight's busted, sir?

Yes. That just happened.
I'm really sorry.

Sure it did. License and
registration, please, ma'am.

[LUISA] Uh, I'm sorry, Officer.

I left my license at home.

You're driving without a license?

Well, I just walked down to pick
up my husband at the beach.

Yeah, it's my fault. I was on a call.

- I asked her to drive. My mistake.
- [LUISA] Yeah.

Why don't you step out
of the car, ma'am.

Keep your hands where I can see them.

- What?
- [OFFICER] You, too, sir.

Hey, is Peter Brand still on the force?

He's an old friend of mine.
He knows us both really well.

I have no idea who that is.

Uh, look, this is my car.

The taillight's my responsibility.
I'll get it fixed immediately.

Do you have a license, ma'am?

Of course she has a license.

I'm asking her.

Yes, I do.

Why don't you just write me a ticket

and do whatever it is you gotta do...

What's your name?

You said you live locally, right?

Just tell me your
name, I'll radio it in,

we'll look up your license
number from our files.

Luisa Lockhart.

Thank you, Ms. Lockhart.

Please wait right here.

[GASPING BREATHS]

Hey.

Hey, we're gonna be fine.

It's okay. We're married.

No, it doesn't matter, Cole.
They don't care.

[LUISA PANTS, MUTTERS]

[INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

[ENGINE STARTS]

Listen, I gotta answer
a call on the other

side of town, so I'm gonna let you go,

but next time I see you
driving, Ms. Lockhart,

you better have your license on you.

Of course she will. Thank you, Officer.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

[SIREN WAILING]

[PANTING]

Hey.

Here.

[SOFT PIANO MUSIC]

[WIND WHISTLING, BIRDS CHIRPING]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Hey. I was looking everywhere
for this. Where'd you find it?

Uh, behind the washing machine.

[SIGHS]

You okay?

Yeah, yeah.

Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart, it's
so nice to see you again.

[SPEAKING MANDARIN]

[LAUGHTER]

I-I've been practicing so much.

I'll leave you to it, then.

Maybe a round of coffee?

- Oh, that would be wonderful. Thank you.
- Awesome.

Please.

Thank you.

Your wife is quite an asset.

Yes, she is. Thank you.

Will Ms. Bailey be joining us today?

Of course. I just think she's
running a little bit late.

[YANG] Oh. Should we wait?

No, it's fine. We can...
we can catch her up.

[CHEN] Okay. Wonderful.

So, Mr. Lockhart,

we appreciate you even
taking this meeting,

because we know you haven't historically

been open to the concept of franchising.

We hope to prove to you today that,

with the right approach,

this expansion strategy

will provide you and your lovely wife

limitless revenues while
preserving the integrity

of the institution you
worked so hard to build.

That sounds great.

[MA] Are you sure you don't want us

to wait for Ms. Bailey, Mr. Lockhart?

No, it's fine.

Do you want me to call her?

[SIGHS]

- Sir?
- Thank you.

[CHEN] Thank you.

So, let's begin.

[MA] I think we have effectively

shown you where in the marketplace

we feel there's consumer demand

for a restaurant that feels

authentically Eastern Seaboard.

Now we have come up with some visuals

that just slightly tweak the signage.

[ALISON] Hi.

Sorry I'm late.

[MA] Hey.

Hi. I'm Alison.

[CHEN] Hi. So glad you could make it.

Nice to meet you. So, what'd I miss?

[YANG] You're perfectly
timed, Ms. Bailey.

I was just about to show Mr. Lockhart

our new branding concept.

[CHUCKLES]

[ALISON] Wow. Wow.

That's, um...

That... Yeah.

Are you mad at me because I was late?

Forty-five minutes late.

I said sorry. I was studying,

- and I just lost track of time.
- Do you have any idea

what a bad impression that makes?

This restaurant group is huge.

They own Outback Steakhouse, IHOP,

- Five Guys...
- Wow. IHOP.

They did $ billion dollars in
revenue last quarter alone.

- Yeah, that's a lot of money.
- And I'm trying to make a

good impression so that they'll
make a competitive offer,

and you show up looking
like a f*cking coed.

Don't they have to make
us a competitive offer

since we're not actually
interested in selling?

Ali, if you want to be a
part of this process,

will you please just try to take
it a little more seriously?

Show up on time. Dry your hair.

Give them the respect that they deserve.

Dry my hair?

[CHUCKLES]

Since when do you care so
much what city people think?

We're not in high school anymore.

I wear a tie to a business meeting.

I try not to waste people's time.

It's called adulthood. Join
me here, why don't you?

Okay, I'm sorry.

I've let you down once again, Cole.

I'm gonna go now.

They want to take us to dinner tonight.

: , Turf in East Hampton.

Fancy.

You think you can make it?

Will your busy schedule allow for it?

I'll be there.

Wear a dress.

[SIGHS]

[HEAVY SIGH]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Wow.

Ready to go?

Uh, yeah.

I mean, no. I gotta change, but yeah.

How much did they offer?

Two-point-one against
% of the company.

Plus a small portion

of the future franchise royalty fees.

Well, that seems like a lot, right?

Actually, no, it's not.
Not for this model.

But because they're picking
up all of the other costs...

the construction, design,
development, everything...

they want a bigger piece of the profits.

Still, you'll own ten
percent of the company.

Plus, won't you be getting part

of the annual revenue of all
franchised restaurants,

plus whatever this royalty
fee turns out to be?

Yeah, it adds up.

And . million isn't
anything to sneeze at.

I mean, that alone would
make you pretty rich.

Us. It would make us pretty rich.

You could buy back your family's ranch.

Yeah, maybe.

So, why do you seem depressed?

Because I bought the
Lobster Roll to save it.

I mean, Oscar was gonna turn it
into a f*cking bowling alley.

If I sell it now, what was the point?

I don't know what I'm doing.

[SOFT, GENTLE MUSIC]

[QUIET CHATTER]

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Sir?

Oh.

That's great.

Thank you.

Would you all like to order,
or are you still waiting

on the last member of your party?

We could wait a little longer.

No. She must be held up somewhere, so...

we should go ahead and order.

I'll take the rib eye, well done.

Excellent choice, sir.

And for you, ma'am?

[MA] A butternut squash torte, please.

[WAITRESS] It's the
chef's special tonight.

You'll love that. Ma'am?

[LUISA] Um, I think...

I'm gonna have the halibut.

[WAITRESS] And would you like
that served with the baby kale?

[LUISA] Uh, yeah, that
would be wonderful.

- Thank you.
- [WAITRESS] Excellent.

Sir, what can I get for you?

[YANG] Think I'll have the...

Say it for me.

[LUISA] Oh, paella.

[YANG] Paella.

- [LUISA] Paella.
- [YANG] Paella.

- [LUISA] Yes.
- [YANG CHUCKLING]

[YANG] I just love how she says it.

[LAUGHTER]

[WAITRESS] It's an
excellent choice, sir.

We make that with wild farro here.

And what can I get for you?

I'll have the blackened,
uh, prawn pasta.

[WAITRESS SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]

Oh, terrific.

[YANG] So, what do you
think about Miami?

[LUISA] I would love to go
to Miami. I've never been.

[YANG] We would love to have
you there as soon as possible.

[WAITRESS] You have
excellent taste, sir.

[YANG] Of course, we'd
ask your husband first.

We wouldn't just steal you from him.

[LAUGHTER]

What's that? You're gonna steal my wife?

No. Mrs. Lockhart was telling me

she got her degree in hospitality.

We have a new property
about to open in Miami,

and it's practically
begging for someone like

Luisa at the front of the house.

So, what do you say, Mr. Lockhart?

We franchise the Lobster Roll,

make you a rich man,

and then set you up in a
penthouse on Miami Beach.

We're going to Miami.

- [LAUGHTER]
- [YANG] That's the spirit.

[LUISA] We'll talk about
it when we get home.

[CHATTER IN MANDARIN]

Cole.

We should have a toast.

- Sure.
- [LUISA] Yeah.

[SPEAKING MANDARIN]

Cheers.

Luisa.

Look, next time you want
to go on a dinner date

with your ex-wife, just
leave me out of it.

Oh, for f*ck's sake, she's
my business partner.

Yeah, I know. Lucky her.

[SIGHS]

[COLE] I'm sorry.

I was not looking for Alison.

You know how places
like that make me feel.

They make my skin crawl.

I just wanted to get out of there.

And I hate wearing these clothes.

Thank you for being so wonderful.

And thank you for learning Mandarin.

I don't know what I'd do without you.

Look, this is a huge decision.

Do I not get to have
a hard time with it?

No, you don't.

What exactly is the problem here?

They're offering to make you
an incredibly rich man,

and you don't have to do anything.

Us. They're offering us.

Why do you keep talking about this

as though it has nothing to do with you?

You want to know what I hate?

I hate that I can't
take that job in Miami.

That I can't take any interesting job.

That I can't put my degree to
use in this f*cking country.

That I'm totally f*cking
dependent on you.

Stop.

I hate that I have to
use your credit card.

That you sign all our checks.

And it's going to be like
that for the rest of my life.

I hate that a f*cking
cop can pull me over

and my only hope is that you know him

and he likes you so he
won't f*ck with me.

Listen, what happened this morning...

What if you decide to leave me?

I am not going to leave you.

[CHUCKLES]

Well, clearly not today.

Alison is busy.

f*ck you.

[CRYING SOFTLY]

[SIGHS]

Maybe we can try again
to get you a green card.

We've been over this again and again.

You know, I-I would have to
leave the country for ten years.

So we'll file for a waiver.

How?

I'm not a student.

They don't care that we're married.

I came illegally.

I have no special skills.

I have no children of my own.

I can't demonstrate hardship.

Nobody would care if I leave tomorrow.

I would.

And then I have to sit at
dinner like a f*cking escort

and listen as they throw
opportunities at you.

And you're depressed
because you don't want

to wear a f*cking tie!

Enough.

I'm going for a walk.

Good.

[WAVES CRASHING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER]

Do I know you?

Yeah, I think you decked me
with your board this morning

and then called me "Grandpa."

Ah...

That's right.

Yeah. [LAUGHS]

Sorry about that, bro.

Yo, let me make it up to you.

You want a beer?

That's all right. I'm good.

Yo, isn't that the dude
with the rad board?

Yep.

Where'd you get that board, man?

My board?

The one you were riding today.

It's vintage, right?

Yeah, I guess. It was my dad's.

Looked like it had a couple
of redwood stringers.

It's really f*cking rare, man.

You don't know who made it?

Nope.

[WOMAN] Sit.

We don't bite.

The swallow tail looked like
it was from the late ' s.

Redwood's probably Northern Californian.

Once saw a redwood pattern like that

from a shaper in Half Moon Bay.

Where's Half Moon Bay?

California.

[MAN] Bram, you're such a surf nerd.

I'd k*ll for a board like that.

Of course, the boards

Duke Kahanamoku surfed were made of

vertical-grain Hawaiian redwood

back in, like, .

It's okay. You finish it.

[SIGHS]

[QUIET, INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[SIGHS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER CONTINUES]

[GENTLE MUSIC]

[SIGHS]

[GULLS SCREECHING]

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

What the f*ck happened to you?

It's a long story.

I was taking a walk, I
bumped into these kids

- at a bonfire...
- And they drew on your face?

They did what?

m*therf*cker.

m*therf*cker!

What are you doing?

You can't sh**t someone just
because they drew on your face.

Sure I can.

Give me the f*cking g*n.

Stay out of it!

Give me the f*cking g*n.

[BOTH PANTING]

[CHUCKLING]

[PHONE RINGING]

[LUISA] Hello?

Hey, Alison.

Uh, of course you can talk
to him. He's right here.

Hmm?

[GRUNTS]

Hello?

What's the problem?

[g*n DROPS LOUDLY ON COUNTER]

[SIGHS] Yeah.

Yes, I can be right there.

Don't worry.

Bye.

Oh, my God, what happened to your face?

It's a long story. Hey, kiddo.

Hi, Dad. You look scary.

I know I do. Sorry, baby.

It won't start?

No.

I think it's the battery.

[RAPID CLICKING]

Yep, I think you're right.

How was last night?

I'm sorry I missed it.

I was so stressed out about this test,

I just completely forgot.

Really?

So your babysitter came,
rang your front doorbell,

and you just didn't hear her?

You never had any intention
of coming, did you?

You're gonna do what you want
to do in this situation, Cole.

I don't think you actually care

about my opinion, so what does it matter

- if I'm there or not?
- Of course I care about your opinion.

You're a partner.

Yeah, okay, okay. Well,
I wouldn't sell it.

We're different people.

Pop the hood.

What about the money?

I have money.

Not this kind of money.

Well, how much do I need?

You want to know what I really think?

- Always.
- Okay, I think you want me

to tell you not to sell it.

So you can turn around, sell it,

and look like a hero to Luisa.

Get in the car and start it.

[ALISON SIGHS]

All right.

[ENGINE STARTS]

Ah, thank you.

All right, kiddo.

Let's get you to school.

- Watch your head.
- [ALISON] Okay.

- Buckle up.
- [ALISON] Here.

Don't turn the car off when
you get to the school.

Got it, Coach.

[COLE] Oh.

Did it ever occur to you

that I don't want to
sell the Lobster Roll?

That I don't want to become
part of the establishment?

[CHUCKLES] Cole, you drive a Jeep.

You built a mansion on the water.

You tip like a f*cking banker.

You are the establishment.

♪ There ain't no easy way ♪

♪ No, there ain't no easy way out... ♪

Hey, babe. It's me.

I'm just calling to say I'm sorry

about this morning and about last night.

I was wondering if I could take you

out to dinner tonight and just...

we could talk about everything.

m*therf*cker.

Hey!

Little m*therf*cker.

♪ It's easy to fall in love ♪

♪ When you're on your luck,
you know you're done ♪

♪ And the last kiss
had a foolish cause ♪

♪ Now your tired eyes can only haunt ♪

♪ There ain't no easy way ♪

♪ No, there ain't no easy way out... ♪

[GRUNTING]

Where is my f*cking wallet?

- I don't know, man.
- What did you put in my drink?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Ah, you're gonna break my arm off!

Do you have any idea who
I am in this community?

You can't prove anything.

I just watched you freebasing, assh*le.

What are you gonna do about it?

I'm gonna call the cops.
That's what I'm gonna do.

That's a great idea, Mr. Lockhart.

Why don't you give the
police a call, huh?

Love to tell them who sold
me my first eight-ball,

Mr. Lockhart.

So you can act like you're
the mayor of Montauk, Cole,

but I was when your brother
got me high for the first time.

So spare me the sanctimony,
you f*cking hypocrite.

♪ There ain't no easy way ♪

♪ No, there ain't no easy way out ♪

_

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Oh, hey.

Come in.

Did he just do this?

When you were meeting with Dr. Lippman?

How did that go?

[SCOFFS]

It takes time.

I know. It's hard to
believe at this moment.

Just promise me you'll keep
coming to see us here.

He says that that's his father.

It's Tony.

That's what he told you?

Where is Jamie right now?

He's playing in the kids' room.

I don't know. I just wanted to
show that to you before we left.

How are things at home?

[SIGHS]

Not good.

Did you tell Dr. Lippman that?

Why not, Abby?

Hey, why do you think that...

Jamie drew a picture like this of Tony?

Uh...

ever since Evie's funeral...

He drinks.

All the time.

And he blacks out most nights.

And I can't wake him.

He snapped at the neighbor for

asking him to move his car.

He...

called him terrible names.

r*cist, awful.

I mean, I-I had to beg the
guy not to call the police.

Are you afraid of him?

All right.

And you didn't tell Dr.
Lippman any of this?

How can she help you
if she doesn't know?

I mean, how can she help me if she does?

She needs to be able
to assess if it's safe

for you and Jamie to
keep living with Tony.

No. No.

Tony would never hurt Jamie.

Would he hurt you?

Look...

Abby, listen, um...

when couples experience,
uh, the death of a child...

... sometimes they need some time apart.

No, it doesn't mean it's forever.

But if he's out of control

and you're afraid of him, why
not go stay someplace else?

Your mom's?

No. Jamie needs his dad.

He can't...

He-he cannot lose another
person in his life.

- He's too young.
- Abby, listen to me.

The only thing Jamie needs right
now is for you to be safe.

[JAMIE] Mom.

I'm tired.

- Can we go?
- Oh, yeah, sweetheart.

We're gonna go right now.

Okay.

[SIGHS]

I'm really glad you're here, Alison.

The therapists are fine, but...

it's just so nice to talk
to somebody else who's...

I'm here.

[SIGHS]

Are those your kids?

Uh...

Yeah.

These two.

- Oh.
- Yeah.

Which one's... ?

This guy.

Hey. You ready?

[ABBY SNIFFLES]

One, two, three.

[GRUNTS]

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Is, uh... is this the grant
coordinator's office?

Um... uh, no.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

This is peer-to-peer counseling.

Oh. Well, then, uh...

then I'm f*cking lost.

Uh, well, who are you looking for?

Meyers. Roger Meyers.

Uh, yeah, he's one floor up.

Oh. Um, okay.

And the elevators are... ?

Uh, down the hall.

First left, then a right,
then your second left.

Okay, down the hall, first, um... ?

I'm sorry, I...

No, it's a maze.

Uh, I'll show you.

Oh, that's okay. You don't have to...

No, it's okay. I need to go

check my mail anyway, so...

Uh, hi. I'm Alison.

Oh. Ben.

- Uh... yeah.
- After you.

So, you work here?

Um, uh, yeah. That was my...

- Your office.
- Mm-hmm.

Right. Right.

Yeah.

[CLEARS THROAT]

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS, DOORS OPEN]

Oh.

- Oh. Hey.
- Alison.

I was just coming down to see you.

That conference I was
telling you about...

- Uh-huh?
- EMDR.

It's happening in Montauk.

- It is?
- Yes.

A place called Gooney's, I think.

- Gurney's.
- That's it.

Week after next. I'll
get you the details.

Okay, thank you.

- Still coming?
- Oh.

Yeah.

Mmm...

Ah. Here.

Ah, yeah.

It's very obvious when you know what

you're looking for, isn't it?

Mmm.

Well, thank you.

I couldn't have done it without you.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[COLE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY OVER PHONE]

No, I-I am sorry. It
just slipped my mind.

[COLE] It slipped your mi...

- [COLE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
- No, I'm not. I'm listening to you.

I can hear you typing.
Would you just stop for

- a second and pay attention?
- No...

I'm not doing anything else. I swear.

I'm just listening.

Do you have any idea
how embarrassing it is

for your own business partner...

I just wanted to leave this with you.

Oh. Did you get a chance to
finish my recommendation?

Yes. It's in your inbox.

Cole, I said I'm sorry.

It wasn't intentional.

No, look, I've just been
really busy at work, and...

Really, your absence was
completely disrespectful.

I'm not trying to disrespect anybody.

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

[COLE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

Uh, Cole, I...

I have to go.

[COLE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

I apologize, okay? I'm sorry.

What I did was wrong.

Yeah, you think?

Okay?

Anything else?

Yeah, show up next time.

[CLICK, DIAL TONE]

Tough call?

No, it's fine.

Did you get your grant?

My what?

What, you're not applying for...

Oh, no, no, no. I, uh...

No, uh, actually, you need me.

What?

I'm from the VHA.

Uh, you guys applied to us for a grant.

I just came to check out the facilities,

make sure everything's kosher.

Oh. You work with veterans?

I do. You seem really
excited about that.

Oh, no, I'm just applying

for a clinical rotation with the V.A.

Really? Are you a therapist?

No, not yet, but I'm
studying to become one.

Oh, hey. Can I help you?

I'm looking for a Ms. Bailey.

Yeah, that's me.

They sent me to sign up for some program

where parents talk to other parents.

Yeah. Come in.

Um, please just take a seat, and...

Uh, would you mind?

Oh, no. Um...

It was good to meet you.
And thanks for your help.

You, too.

Uh, we just have some paperwork
to go through, so...

[DOOR CLOSES]

Oh, no, I'd prefer if you
didn't lock the door.

Who the f*ck do you think you are?

My wife told me what you said to her.

Your wife?

Do you have any f*cking idea

what our life is like right now?

What we're going through?

She doesn't sleep.

She wanders the house at night

banging her head against windows.

She's not taking care of our son.

There's no food in the house.

I found him last night trying to eat

dry pasta for dinner.

Uh, Tony.

We don't have the money to send her

to this f*cking place for
$ dollars an hour.

$ dollars so you can
tell her to leave me?

- Take my son away?
- I know what this must feel like for you.

- No, you don't!
- You can't be here right now.

We can't be in a room

- with a locked door.
- Oh, why not? Are you afraid of me?

Please, can you just let me
out of this room, please?

My wife and I need to be together.

- We need to heal.
- You're absolutely right.

I'm just... Look, I'm just...
I'm just really sick and tired

of everybody telling me
what to do and how to be.

- Yeah, it must be exhausting.
- When all you do here

is take our money and
make everything worse.

Look, look, just-just...

- No, no...
- Stop talking.

I-I felt my seven-year-old's
body go cold.

I watched her skin turn blue.

How are you gonna make that better, huh?

- You gonna bring her back
- [DOOR BANGS OPEN]

from the f*cking dead?

[GRUNTING]

Stay down!

[PANTING]

Call security.

Now.

- No, Daddy! Daddy, no!
- Shh. Jamie, come here.

Dad! Please, that's my daddy!

Daddy! Daddy!

Daddy!

How did you know?

I've seen a lot of
guys with severe PTSD.

He was, uh, checking his exits.

He kept his back to the wall.
He was rubbing his thumb

and index finger like this.

Uh, I need a drink.

[CHUCKLES]

Don't look at me. I-I don't drink.

Seven months sober.

Okay. How about a coffee, then?

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah, when I got back
from my second tour,

I was a disaster.

I'd been there for
months straight, and, uh,

I just didn't know who I was anymore.

I didn't know what to say to
my family, to my friends.

I found everything confusing.

You know, um, grocery
store, traffic lights.

Why traffic lights?

It's all about your environment.

Your context.

So, in a w*r zone,

you know, traffic lights mean nothing.

Nobody pays attention to them.

But then I get back here,
and I'm stopped at a light.

Nobody's coming, but...

I'm supposed to stay there
until the light turns green?

- Right.
- That just doesn't make sense anymore.

Understand.

The thing about PTSD, it's...

it's not the guy that jumps
when a car backfires.

You know, that's... that's just someone

who just came back from
a dangerous place.

That's training.

You know, there's nothing
wrong with that person.

They just need some time to adjust.

But true PTSD, I mean, it's...

it's different.

It makes no sense.

It's, uh...

Endless.

Yeah.

Is that why you stopped drinking?

From PTSD?

- Uh-huh.
- No.

Um, not exactly.

When I, uh, first got
back, I felt really numb,

and I, uh, had a hard time being...

... being intimate.

Oh.

Yeah. I... I mean, I couldn't, you know,

which, for a guy, is
worse than being dead,

so I drank a lot.

- And then I could have sex.
- Right. Got it.

This vicious cycle where I'd feel lonely

and I wanted to be close to someone.

So I'd get wasted, but
then half the time,

I wouldn't be able to get it up anyway,

and it just was this...

Sorry.

Why am I telling you this? Honestly.

I asked.

I-I don't usually just
vomit my life story

within four hours of meeting someone.

You know?

Look, uh, I guess this is a...

a special case, considering you...

- I mean, I...
- Saved my life?

Continue.

Anyway, I, uh...

I joined A.A. and changed my life.

Now I'm sober and abstinent.

It's part of the program:

no dating, no sex for the first year.

Well, that's one way to deal
with your impotency issue.

Yeah. Exactly.

Here's what I figure.

Maybe if I just concentrate
on myself for a while,

maybe eventually I'll meet someone

I feel safe with.

Someone I can trust and I won't

have to get wasted to love her.

In fact, I won't even want to

because I won't want to miss any of it.

So...

what about you?

- Uh...
- Are you married?

- No.
- Ever been married?

Twice.

- Yeah.
- Kids?

Yeah, I have a daughter.

So you're a single working mom.

That's right.

I was raised by a single mom.

Baddest m*therf*ckers in the world,

and I spent eight years in the Marines.

Thank you.

How old's your kid?

Uh, she's six.

I can't believe it, but she is.

Hmm.

[STAMMERS]

Yeah, I-I have to get going.

- It's getting late.
- Yeah, I should...

- I should let you go home. Um...
- Yeah.

Well, it was really nice talking to you.

You're fascinating.

See, uh, yeah, this would be the part

where I'd probably ask you out
if I wasn't in the program.

Um, thank you again for
what you did today.

Yeah.

Ben?

How long do you have
left with your program?

Five months, two weeks and three days.

But who's counting?

[ALISON] Hurry up, sweetie.

We're gonna be late.

[ALISON SIGHS]

[MUTTERS]

Here. Hold this.

Strap yourself in.

Okay.

[SIGHS]

[RAPID CLICKING]

Come on.

All right.

[RAPID CLICKING]

Come on.

Joanie, did you turn this light on?

Yes.

- When?
- Yesterday.

Oh, sh*t.

[SIGHS]

Um... all right.

I'm sorry.

You're the only person I know

who still has jumper cables.

Oh, my God.

What the f*ck happened to your face?

Pop the hood.

[ALISON] I'm just not that
interested in keeping the place.

It holds a lot of complicated memories.

I'm just trying to move on with my life.

I would hardly call what
you're doing "moving on."

Why not?

If you were truly trying to move on,

you wouldn't be spending all your time

with people who reminded you of Gabriel.

You have practically made his
death your entire identity.

What is your... what is wrong with you?

What is wrong with wanting
to use my experience

to help people?

And what are you doing with
your life that's so much better?

Yeah, maybe the reason you can't

let go of the damn Lobster Roll is

because you don't have a f*cking clue

what else to do with your time.

[ENGINE STARTS]

Thank you.

All right, kiddo.

Let's get you to school.

Hop up.

Are you taking me to school?

No. Your mother is.

Why can't you both take me?

Please. Just this once.

Like the other kids.

Joanie.

[COLE] Don't forget you have
the field trip today, hon.

[JOANIE] I know. It's at the aquarium.

[COLE] You've never been to an aquarium.

[JOANIE] I know.

[COLE CHUCKLES]

Okay, sweetie?

Have fun.

Backpack?

You know, the Roll
wasn't even your idea.

Let me guess, it was yours.

No.

It was Scotty's.

It was his big dream, his
plan to go straight.

- What are you saying?
- I don't know.

I guess I'm asking.

Why do you think you're
holding onto it so hard?

[SIGHS]

It's also something you
and I built together.

[ALISON] Uh, yeah, that's right.

It's Alison Bailey.

B-A-I-L-E-Y.

Just one.

Yeah, I'm from the Woodlawn Center.

I'm a trainee.

Yeah, that's right.

[ELECTRONIC CHIMING OVER COMPUTER]

Um... great. October .

I'm looking forward to it.

Okay, thank you.

_

[CHIMING CONTINUES]

Hey.

Hi.

So... I was just wondering,

what are you doing in five months,

two weeks and two days?

♪ ♪