02x21 - The Aretha Theory

[bunniefuu]

ANNOUNCER:
Previously on Felicity...

We have some new guests.

Let me take the bags. Hey.

Did you guys hear about Calvin?

Yeah. The pipes broke?

I've got to say something,

so please just let me say it.

I made a lot...
A lot of mistakes,

But the biggest
mistake I ever made

was letting you go.

It's not about me!
It's about the chase...

That's not true! It's not!

It is true. That's all this is.

Why don't you just
get the hell out of here?

Because we're not done. No,
you know what? You are done.

(GROANS)

Can we go, please?

That was just, you
know, completely...

Just...

I can't believe he did that.

I... I... I mean
I've got to tell him.

I can't live my
life like this, right?

This isn't gonna work.

Greg, Greg...

Maybe you're
too polite to say it,

or maybe you don't
even realize it, but...

You're not going out
with me because I'm me.

You're... You're going out
with me because I'm not Ben.

And that's not fair.

To me or the next guy.

Greg, that's not true. I
am completely over Ben.

I... It's just...

The good news is that
you can solve your problem,

because he clearly wants you,

and you clearly want him.

Benjamin...

I have a big favor
to ask of you.

It has to do with Samuel,

but, shh, okay?

Mum's the word, all right?

It's a big surprise.

What's wrong with
your hair? Nothing.

What do you mean, nothing?

It's all askew.
Just... Don't... No.

Felicity and Greg
were out on a date.

I showed up, and
I told her how I felt.

He stood up and
punched me in the face.

They both walked out together,

leaving me on
the floor, all right?

Oh, my God, that is so romantic.

Oh!

Let me give you one big promise,

you on the floor is not the final
chapter to this luscious story.

There was a favor you...

There was a favor
you wanted to ask me?

Oh, yes. Okay.

And please forgive to me

if I start to cry
now, but, um...

I'm thinking of asking
Samuel to marry me.

Wow.

And I want you to
help me pick out a ring.

A ring? Really?

Yeah.

You getting punched in the face,

me buying a ring,

romance is really
in the air, is it not?

(LAUGHS)

(THEME SONG PLAYING)

So?

Are you gonna tell
us about Greg or not?

What?

Meghan told me this
morning in the bathroom

that you guys broke up.

Are you gonna share
the news with us?

Um...

Yeah. Greg dumped me.

And I should be
heartbroken, right?

But I didn't say
anything because...

I haven't been
thinking about it.

How can you get dumped
and not think about it?

Teach me that.

Ben showed up
at dinner last night.

Oh, God. Here we go.

Oh, God.

Completely disrupted

my entire date with Greg,

and just said...

He just said all
these great things,

but I've been single
basically the whole semester

and just when I
start dating someone,

suddenly he's interested again?

Typical guy. I know!

Greg said I was... I was dating
him because he wasn't Ben.

And then Ben says
I'm pushing him away

because I'm too afraid.

Last night I thought
they were both crazy.

Today I have no idea.

Tracy's a virgin.

Won't have sex
until he's married.

Oh!

Top that.

Sean told me he's
in love with me.

What?

Oh, God.

I didn't know what to say.

I mean, how do I react to that?

Do you like him?

I don't know.

Mmm, jeez.

Oh, I missed the whole class?

Oh, my God. I'm so sorry.

I overslept.

Yeah, no, you didn't miss much.

Just my breathtaking summary

on Camus' theory of the absurd.

Maybe later you can explain
the summary of the summary.

Sure.

So things went well with Wade?

I mean, you were
out pretty late.

Yeah, it went okay.

We spent the whole
night at Empire Diner

sort of catching up.

If you want to invite him
over to the loft tonight,

you should feel totally
comfortable doing that.

Thanks, but I told
him I was busy tonight.

I just wanted to relax tonight.

Rent a movie or something.

You want to join?

Yeah, definitely.

Yeah? Yeah.

Good.

Hey.

Hey.

Wait a minute. Wait.

Uh.

This doesn't look good.

Oh, no, no. Everything...
Everything's all good.

It's all good now.

All right. Oh, no. Wait. Hey.

Look, um... If, you know,

you want to get something from outta
there, I could go in and get it for you.

I can get it. Thank you, Tracy.

Just don't get mad, all right?

Tracy... Just don't get mad.

It's almost done. I promise.

Okay? All right.

Okay, okay.

Okay? Hold on.

Let me get to the elevator.

Okay.

(LOUD DRILLING)

Oh, my God!

I'm okay.

It's all good.

I'm okay. It's all good.

(COUGHING)

Tracy is a dead man!

I am going to k*ll him!

Everything's gonna
be okay. Seriously.

Not a problem.

Hey.

Hey.

Ben, wait.

Um...

Can... Can I talk
to you for a second?

Yeah, sure.

Um...

Last night I
shouldn't have left.

I should...

Even if I was upset, I should...

Listen to me. Listen to me.

Don't worry about
it. You were right.

About which part?

About everything.
The whole thing.

That, you know, that
I've done this before,

that this is a pattern.

You know, going after you

when you're with somebody else.

That it's more about
the chase than anything.

You were right.

Yeah, that's... Yeah.

I'll see you.

Okay.

FELICITY: I'm depressed.

I'm... I'm confused,

and I need... I need
to forget about Ben.

I need you to take me out.

No.

Look, I don't know what
it is you do every night,

or where you go,

but you obviously
live in this...

World, this whole other...

Different world where weird,

potentially exciting
things happen.

Distracting things.

And tonight I really
need to go to that world.

That weird place.

Please. I'm begging you.

Fine.

(DOOR CLOSES)

No way. No!

Come on, you guys.

This is exactly what we need.

I mean you were in trouble,

and you don't know
what to do with Sean.

You're going nuts about Tracy.

Come on, let's
just follow Meghan.

We just need to get out there.

Please. We'll get
all dressed up.

It'll be so much fun.

All right.

All right.

Good.

♪ Anytime at all You can move me

♪ Nod your head Towards the door

♪ Anyway you
like You can tell me

♪ But lately it just feels
so good here on the floor

♪ Any other day
You might find me

♪ Climbing hills Very steep ♪

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Coming!

Javier, what are you doing here?

Oh, hi, there... Oh!

Look at you, my
little hot tamale.

My goodness. What,
are you painting the town

all different
colors tonight? Oh.

Jesus, Mary, and San Jose.

This is living.

You know, I work so hard
all my life to live in a hovel,

and you kids are living
like the Queens of England.

It's Sean's, and
it's rent control.

What are you doing here?

Oh, hello. My, look at you.

Wow, you look
taller. That's great.

Actually I'm waiting
for Benjamin.

He's gonna help
me with a wee task.

Oh, he went out for a run.

He'll be back soon.

Oh. Okay, well,
then, I guess I'll wait.

Okay, so where are
you ladies off to, huh?

Um, the T-Bone Club?

(WHISPERING) The T-Bone? Really?

What?

What does that mean?

It's... It's okay.

It's okay.

Well, have fun and, uh...

Um, hope you're
packing some heat.

Some what?

BOUNCER: Yeah, you.
Uh-uh, I don't think so.

I don't think so.

Hey, you two, come on in.

No, no, you wait here, buddy!

Come on.

How you doing?

♪ 'Cause I'll take
you In my arms

♪ And I'll take you
with my charms ♪

Uh, One, two, three,
four. How you doing?

Hey, who let you out?

Come on.

How are you?

Hey, hey. Wait,
wait. Oh, no, no.

Meghan! Meghan!

Meghan!

These three.

Okay.

Thanks. Thanks.

We got in.

(DANCE MUSIC PLAYS)

EARL: There he is!

Wheels of steel.

Hey, what's up?

Good to see you.

Is that a new
color? I like that.

Hey!

Stay right here.

And don't eat anything
anyone gives you.

All right?

So this isn't so bad, right?

I mean...

Okay, I got a rule for tonight.

No thinking about Ben.

No thinking about Sean.

And no thinking about Tracy.

Deal! Deal!

Right.

Hey, Michael!

What's up, Michael?

Uh, we're gonna have seven...

Bonsais.

Bonsais. On him.

Yeah, fine. Put it on my tab.

What do you mean on me?

All right.

Drink lots of these.

What are they?

Bonsai Demons, but...

But if you have to ask,

don't even drink it.

It doesn't look so
good... Okay, let's go.

Ahhh! Here we go!

Whoa!

That's so romantic.

What?

The movie.

After everything
they've been through,

her accident,

he still wants to be with her.

Yeah, it's because
he's in love with her.

But look what happened to her.

I mean, he could walk away,

and it would be
completely understandable.

No, it would be a huge mistake.

Why?

Because he'd regret it.

What are we talking about, here?

(DOOR OPENS) SEAN: Oh, good.

(DOOR CLOSES) I
thought everyone was gone.

So did we.

Oh! I love this movie!

Oh, can you guys
scoot over a smidge?

(CHUCKLES)

How... Oh...

Can I have a little
of your blanket?

Just a corner.

No, we already had some.

You all right? Mmm-hmm.

Is there any dip?

You don't think
this ring's too much?

It's Tahitian-imported diamonds.

I just don't know if
it's exactly my Samuel.

Let me see it.

Yeah, that might
be a little bit...

What?

Brazen?

Garish?

Chintzy?

Might be a little chintzy.

Yeah, that's what I think, too.

You know, you should look
through some of these, too.

Felicity would look pretty
okay in something like...

No, no, no. I've
given up on that.

Oh, no, Benjamin, you
can't give up on diamonds.

No, no, not on diamonds,

on Felicity.

Look, I'm just...
I'm sick of it.

I'm sick of making
a fool of myself,

and I'm sick of having
her turn me down.

No, Benjamin,

open up your squinty little
eyes that are so cute, no.

She turned you down because
she... It's out of fear, you know?

It's... She loves you.

Oh, yeah? Well,
then tell that to Greg.

Oh, you don't know?

They're not dating.

Greg dumped her.

What?

Like a sweet hot potato.

A yam.

Okay, come on.

(STAMMERING) What are we doing?

(DANCE MUSIC PLAYING)

FELICITY: Oh, my
God! JULIE: Go, Meghan!

(LAUGHING)

What is she doing?

How come all of a sudden

I, like, worship her?

To Meghan's dancing.

Cheers to Earl.

Here's to girls' night out.

(CHEERING)

Hey.

Earl wants to dance with you.

I told him you're too
much of a wuss to do it.

Seriously, ladies,
time to get loose!

Come on!

All right!

You know what? Watch and learn.

That's what I'm talking about.

Easy. Only two at a time.

A man and a woman together.

All right?

Excuse me.

Hello, hi.

Two, please.

Excuse me,
sweetheart, hello, hi.

Look, I know it's your job

to be very cool and aloof,

you know, but you
don't have to play

Mr. Unyielding with me.

We just want to
go inside, please.

Okay, look, I don't
have time for this.

I got something
very... Hey, Javier.

(WHISPERING) Come
on, let's just get out of here.

I am not giving up
just by virtue of him.

If you're a guy,

you have to have
a date to get in.

Tuesday is our fifth
month anniversary.

Thank you.

(ALL COMPLAINING)

Hey, what is this?
What are we doing here?

Just keep your shoes on, okay?

I'll tell you in a minute.

Oh! Okay, look over there.

Excuse me. Pardon me.

Okay. Now...

Who loves you both more than me?

No one, that's who.

Now I know there are
a lot of disagreements

and bad timings

and issues galore
between you guys,

but do me a favor and talk.

Just for a few minutes.

I'm gonna go back inside.

Get one of those Bonsai Demons.

They're fantastic.

Excuse me. Pardon me. Pardon me.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I never told you, but I'm...

I'm glad that you
apologized to Greg.

Yeah, just in time for him

to smack me in the face.

Well, I mean before that.

It's all right.

I deserved that.

Telling Richard what I told him

is a screwed up thing to do.

So... I did. I deserved it.

So Javier said that
you and Greg aren't...

Yeah, no.

That's... Yeah.

Now, you see, now,

if I knew that was gonna happen,

I would have hit him back.

(LAUGHING)

And you know, so
business is good, you know.

I certainly don't miss
working with Alfonso.

How's marketing?

(MAN'S VOICE) You know
how it is, the daily grind.

Oh, tell me about it.

MEGHAN: Hey, Javier.

Hi, Bijou.

Hey, Meghan.

Um, hey, where's Felicity?

Oh, she's outside
talking with Benjamin.

Oh.

All right. Gotta
go break that up.

I don't know what
her problem is.

She scares me.

What... What I said
before, outside the loft,

that's...

That's not true.

I mean, this thing
with you, it's...

It's not about the chase.

It's not about any pattern.

MEGHAN: Hey!

Hey! We gotta go.

What? We're going to Earl's.

Hi. Hi.

Come on. Whoa.

Bye, Ben. Bye!

Um...

Let's... Want to meet
up later at the loft?

Let's meet up later.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, bye!

Yeah, okay.

EARL: See, what I'm saying

is a prototypical example
of this complacency

that is the
advancement of science,

is nanotechnology.

It's the self-replicating
capability of nanobots.

This is stuff that
Heinlein and Asimov

have talked about for 40 years.

No, Lulu, look, you
just can't handle the fact

that unless international
communities come together

and restrict everything,

including miniaturization...

Go tell her. Go tell her,
Earl, go. and robotics...

Lulu!

Earl and Lulu used to go out.

Oh. Oh.

I need candy.

Yeah.

Hey, I want to
thank you for before.

Taking me away from Ben.

Kind of started to forget

what this whole night was about.

No problem.

And I know you think our
relationship is ridiculous,

my relationship with him,

but unless you've felt
that way about someone,

for forever, then you just...

Hey, I have a Ben, okay?

So...

Earl?

(WHISPERING) No, not Earl.

Greg.

Oh, holy crap. This
is a sign from God.

Wait, wait, no. What
are you gonna do?

I'm gonna go talk to him.

We just broke up.

Yeah, I know. He's vulnerable.

Hi.

Hey, Meghan.

(LAUGHS NERVOUSLY)

Um...

We're married.

What?

You and I, we... We got married.

In a sandbox.

You were in first grade,

Ashburton Elementary.

I was fat.

Very fat.

Oh, my God.

Yeah. Right.

So it's been a few years.

You're Meghan.

Yeah.

So I was wondering,

I mean, I don't want to be
too aggressive about this

or anything, but
I... I was wondering,

you want to go...

Find a sandbox?

(LAUGHS)

That's cute.

No, I'm serious.

You want to go find a sandbox?

(STAMMERING)
I'm sorry. I'm just...

Not interested, but thank you.

Oh, well, yeah.

It's fine. I mean, I gotta ask.

Um, anyway, you are gonna be

hearing from my
lawyer about alimony.

So, uh, now it's your turn

to take me out.

I do know of... Of one party.

Take me there.

(LATIN DANCE MUSIC PLAYS)

Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah. That's right.

Good to see you.

Whoo! All right!

Oh, my God.

(BOTH GIGGLING)

Hey, gals.

Yeah, good to see you come out
for another Richard-is-president night.

Yeah.

Hey, which one
of you lovely ladies

wants to do a
little dirty dancing

with the new president, huh?

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Oh, we're okay, thanks.

Beneath the aura of power,

it's still just me, Richard.

Okay.

You know what?

We don't need men.

We can go out and have a
kick-ass time without guys.

Yeah, and you know what else?

We have accomplished
a lot this year.

I mean, first of all,

we're R.A.s.

Yeah. Damn good ones.

Completely, and also... Hello...

I ran for student council.

And lost.

True. True.

But, I mean, the point is,

win or lose,

we get through it.

We survive.

I know. We're women.

Yeah.

We're strong. Completely.

We're sisters doing
it for ourselves.

Like Aretha Franklin.

Like Aretha Franklin.

Oh, thanks. You're the greatest.

Yeah, I am.

Obviously the greatest.

That was fun.

What, the movie?

Yeah, it was like, you know.

Yeah, I know.

What are you doing tomorrow?

You have, uh...

You have plans with Wade?

I really don't want to talk
about Wade right now.

What do you want to talk about?

I've been thinking about

what we've talked about,

and, um, I think we should

spend the rest of
our lives together.

Samuel...

Will you marry me?

(DOG WHIMPERING) Hi.

Yes, of course I will. Yes.

You make me so happy.

So you and... You and Samuel,

you guys are really happy, huh?

Oh, yeah.

Like two lovebirds in a tree.

But, you know, it wasn't
always like that, though. No?

No, I mean, we've
had our difficult times,

our Dynasty moments.

I played Alexis.

(LAUGHS)

I even cheated on
him once, though.

You cheated on him?

Yeah, I know.

It was with the
water delivery guy.

Otis.

So... So tell me what happened.

Did he forgive you right away?

Oh, no, I wish.

I had to prove
myself all over again.

So what did you do?

Now that's personal.
I can't tell you that.

Every man has to
find his own way.

His own way of
showing his true love.

So, what, do you think
Samuel will marry me?

Oh, if he's smart,
he will, yeah.

Benjamin!

That's the sweetest thing
you've ever said to me.

Come here.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

This is the best time.

Does anyone else
want to go dance?

Aren't you supposed to go

meet up with Ben later
and hang out with him?

No! You don't need Ben.

No Ben, no.

No! No.

I don't.

I don't need Ben.

Oh, my God. I don't need Ben.

You know what?

I've got to go do
something right now.

I'm gonna take care of this.

I'm just gonna take
control of it. Excuse me.

You are your own woman.

I am. Excuse me.

Where are you going?

I'm just gonna go
take care of this.

All right.

I'm hungry.

Excuse me.

I'm hungry.

SEAN ON ANSWERING MACHINE:
You've reached Blumberg Productions.

If you'd like to leave a message

for president and CEO
Sean Blumberg, press one.

For his assistant,
Ben, press two.

Or for his other assistant,
Julie, press three.

Creditors, press four.

Hey, it's Ben. Leave a message.
(ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS)

Ben, it's me.

Um...

I... I... I just
wanted to call and...

Because I'm not gonna
meet up with you tonight.

Um...

The thing is,

uh... I don't need you.

I mean we cannot
hang out tonight

or... Or ever. I mean, we
can't be together because...

Because I don't trust you,

and... And we'll never
be able to change that,

to go back and...

God, change all that
stuff that's happened,

and I'm not gonna let
you screw up my life again.

So I think that...

I just think that you and I,

we just... I think
that we need to not

see each other at all,

like, you know, even as friends

until we're way
past all this stuff.

And, um, I mean,
even though, you know,

we're living in the same
place right now, um,

so I'm gonna move out

tomorrow.

(CLEARS THROAT) But, um, yeah.

That's basically
why I'm calling.

Because, um,

you and I...

Just...

We can never really be.

Hey.

Morning.

Headache.

Oh. Same.

Fun, though.

Kind of.

Aretha. (LAUGHS)

You know what I
was thinking, though?

What?

That...

When we don't need men...

Is exactly when we should
get together with them.

You know what I mean?

Yeah.

I think I do.

I've been pushing Ben away

all this time,

saying that I
couldn't trust him,

but the truth is

I'm the one I couldn't trust.

I mean, I just...

I didn't think that
I could handle it.

But I can,

and there's proof.

Ben broke my heart

at the beginning of this year,

but I got over it.

I mean it's like what you
were saying last night,

you know, about how
we've accomplished so much,

and we've had all these trials,

but that can't change.

No matter what, you
know, Greg or Ben

or any other guy says or does,

it's about being able
to be on our own.

You're saying that I
don't need Ben to survive,

and that that is exactly why

I'm ready for us to be together.

You have a little toothpaste.

What?

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God, the message.

SEAN: Hey, morning.

Stop screaming!

Okay, this is my apartment.

You know that, right?

I think I'm gonna throw up.

(ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS)
FELICITY: Ben, it's me. Um...

(BEEPS) FEMALE
VOICE: Message deleted.

Oh, my God.

Felicity, what are you doing?

Nothing.

What does the message say?

Nothing that Ben should hear.

Oh, um...

He already heard it.

What? When?

Uh, yeah, before you
got back last night.

He played it and
then he took off.

I haven't seen him since.

No!

No...

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

(RINGING CONTINUES)

SEAN: Blumberg Productions.

Yes, she is. Hold on.

Ruby!

Yeah?

Phone's for you.

Who is it?

Wade.

Oh.

Uh, hey.

NOEL: Morning.

Uh, you want me to
tell him to call back?

You should take it.

Thanks.

Hey. No, no.
Don't worry about it.

Yeah, um...

I can't. I have to
meet you later.

Well, I'm going to
the library about 1:00.

(STAMMERING)
So... So, did you guys...

No.

Hey. Hi.

Okay...

The other night when I...

Kissed you... Which, by the
way, was totally unplanned...

Um, and I... And I told you...

What you told me.

What I told you, right.

Anyway, after that,

when you said, "Thank you..."

And I'm just
trying to figure out

was that thank
you... Is that a yes,

or a no, or something else?

A maybe.

Maybe.

Okay, I can...
I'll take a maybe.

That's really a maybe.
Okay, great. Thank you.

Okay, I want to apologize
in advance to you...

I just want to see
my damn apartment.

Okay. That's fine, but
listen, try not to get too mad,

because I tried my
hardest. I really did.

Are you done? Yeah.

I'm done.

Oh, my God.

Oh, this is so good.

Now you understand why I
couldn't go out with you last night.

You did all this last night?

Yeah, I wanted to finish,

and I knew it was taking
longer than you wanted.

So, do you like it?

It's incredible.

I mean now I'm mad

I have to move out next month.

Yeah, well, sorry
it took so long

for me to finish up, but...

There are certain things you
just shouldn't rush. You know?

Well, that's why you
have to have patience.

Because some things

are really worth waiting for.

Wow.

You read my mind, baby.

Thank you for doing this.

Thank you for waiting.

Javier, is Ben here?

Ah, no. He's not
coming in today.

He canceled his shift.

Did he say why?

I don't know. Norman
took the message.

Oh, God.

He probably doesn't want
to work with me anymore.

I think I really might
have messed up last night.

(EXHALES)

Okay, well, can we
not talk about you

for one minute,
and talk about me?

I have such good
news, I'm gonna burst.

Samuel said yes!

Oh, my God.
Javier, that's great.

Congratulations. Oh, thank you.

I know.

Oh, Martha Stewart
wedding, here I come.

Save the date, okay? Okay.

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

BEN: Hey.

Hi.

So, I, uh, I walked
around almost all night

trying to figure out
how to show you

that you can trust
me, that I've changed,

instead of telling
you, 'cause...

I don't know, I just think

I've used up all of
the words I've got.

I just... I tried to think
what was the one moment,

this sort of turning
point where I blew it,

where I could have done
the right thing, but didn't.

It was the night we were
supposed to go see that movie.

You remember? We were...

The Gold Rush. Charlie Chaplin.

Yeah, I remember.

And I didn't show up.

Yeah.

I remember that, too.

You know where I was that night?

I was... I was on the
Staten Island Ferry,

by myself, just
going back and forth,

just running away.

Which is something
I've done all my life.

Just run.

I'm sick of running.

I'm sick of skating by.

And after I got your
message last night,

I realized that was the moment.

Bryant Park.

That's... That's the moment
I'd take over if I could.

So this morning I...

I called around
and I finally found it.

This place in Jersey had it.

You know what that is?

Yeah.

It's a film canister.

No, it's a... It's
a time machine.

♪ These are the
hands of the one I love

♪ And these are troubled times

♪ This is when the
tongue spits out the words

♪ That are so unkind

♪ And then silence hits me

♪ And I'm left with this

♪ That I wanna love you, baby

♪ And I wanna make it right

♪ And I wanna love you, baby

♪ Can we give it one more try?

♪ Can we give it one more try?

♪ Yeah, yeah

♪ These are the
weeds from my backyard

♪ And this is the budding rose

♪ Careful not to pull to hard

♪ Or get just a
little too close... ♪