05x05 - Call Mom

[bunniefuu]

Ooh, hello.

Hey.

You look amazing. You're all glowing.

Yeah. It's nothing.

Oh, no. It's not nothing.

It's something,

something pretty spectacular.

Thank you.

Um... you know, honey,

I don't really have anything planned.

- If you wanted to take the morning...
- Oh, no, no, no, no.

- What? What?
- Don't, don't, please.

What's that smell?

- Nothing. It's an airbrush
bronzing system. It's...
- A spray tan?

- Yeah.
- You just did a spray tan?

Don't mock me, okay? My agent will k*ll me

if I show up to this
go-see with some streaks,

- so please, no touching.
- No streaks. No touching.

Okay. Okay.

Okay. Go see, be seen.

I hope it's worth it.

I'm sorry it's been so busy lately

with meeting, photo sh**t.

Honey, do you want to do
something romantic tonight,

just the two of us?

Of course, yeah.

Okay. Okay. I will organize it.

I gotta go. I'm late.

Love you.

That's what it all comes down to, Francie,

self-esteem, self-esteem.

All right, all you radio land peop...

okay, lovely listeners, stick with me.

I'll be right back after
a word from my sponsor.

- If you've been dreaming
about installing a garage...
- Mom.

Oh!

God, you scared me to death.

What are you doing?

Nothing.

Nothing? Who were you talking to?

No one. I wasn't talking to anyone.

Um, really? That's funny.

'Cause I think I just heard you talking.

All right. Okay.

I... I... I was... I was practicing.

I have an audition today
at the radio station.

What? Is that happening?

- Yes, that's happening.
- What?

Yeah. They're gonna
call the show "Dear mom,"

and I might be the mom.

Mom, that's... that's...
congratulations. That's awesome.

Why do they want you again?

- Justin.
- I'm kidding. You're gonna be amazing.

Well, the producer wants the host to be

a real mom with real mothering know-how.

Now I may not have a lot of
experience in the workplace,

but listening to people's problems,

helping them sort themselves out,

that I have experience with,
that I can do... yes, you can.

- Can't I?
- Yes, you can.

So ask me something. Just ask me anything.

Okay.

How long after I eat can I go swimming?

- Oh, come on. Be serious.
- What? What?

- What's bothering you?
- Nothing's bothering me. I'm fine.

Then why are you here
at : in the morning?

Okay. I guess I'm having a little trouble

since Rebecca left.

I can't sleep.

I wake up every morning and go for a run,

but it feels like no no
matter how much I run,

I still can't sleep.

Oh, sweetheart. I had no idea.

Why didn't you tell me?

I'm gonna call the radio station...

- No, no. Oh, mom... come on.
- And have them push this thing...

No, no, no. Look, look... here, here.

Practice. Right? Pretend
I'm just some call-in guest.

All right? So give me this. Practice.

sh**t.

Running is good.

Running is very good.

It helps... it helps keep you fit
while you're... while... while...

life is not a piece of cake.

Cake is good.

Try a slice of cake and
a glass of milk at bed.

It works every ti... and you know what?

- I happen to have some cake.
- Wow.

Chocolate. I think I
will just wrap this up,

- and you can take it home
with you. There you go.
- Mom, you're...

really, that's great advice.

- You're gonna be fantastic.
- Do you want some milk with that?

- Yes, please.
- Okay.

What is going on with you?

I'm having coffee.

That's not what I mean. You
didn't come to bed last night.

Oh, well, in case you hadn't noticed,

I'm the only lawyer in my firm.

- I don't even have a secretary yet.
- You're working too hard.

I've barely seen you in the last two days.

Well, I'm on a losing streak,
but I'm gonna turn that around.

You know, before, it was all about

helping rich people keep their money,

but telling a squillionaire that
he can't afford a second yacht

isn't exactly the same as
telling someone with a disability

- he's not gonna get his benefits.
- You haven't lost all your cases.

True. I did tell a fifth
grader he didn't have to go back

to his drunken, abusive
parents. That felt good.

You know, so much of what I do
seems to boil down to the fact

that someone who shouldn't
have had kids had kids.

It's awful, and it's
completely unfair to the kids.

It's unfair to us. We can't go out

and get drunk and knock each
other up on a first date.

We have to spend thousands
of dollars on a surrogate,

- and we still wind up where we started.
- You know,

we could probably afford to
try again if that's something...

Now? Scotty, I am so busy,
I'd neglect you and the kid.

Look, I'm... I'm just
ranting. I got a phone call.

Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Promise me you won't work too hard.

Come to bed tonight. I miss you.

As soon as my head hits
the pillow, I'll be asleep.

Uh... that isn't exactly
what I had in mind.

Mm.

We're home.

I can't believe I made it.

What, are you kidding? I
could barely keep up with you.

Yeah, well...

they don't call me "Turbo" for nothing.

Yeah, well, I've seen
grown men in tears...

before that first mile marker.

- I am impressed.
- Oh, me, too.

You know, I don't think I've
been on my feet that long

since I went to the last
Barneys warehouse sale.

Yeah, well, at least at the end of this,

we had a gorgeous view

- instead of a credit card bill.
- Yeah, but I wish

we didn't have to hike
so far up there to see it.

I mean, at least at Barneys,
they send you the bill.

I don't think I can feel my legs.

Huh.

That is so weird...

'cause I definitely can.

Mm. You know, I should
probably take a shower.

Well, I could join you.

You know, conserve water.

Kitty.

Kitty. What...

Oh, uh, hello. Hey.

I'm, uh, I'm Justin, Kitty's brother.

Who's here. Uh, were you
guys just working out?

We were hiking. Oh, yeah, hiking.

Hiking, oh. Well, um, I had the day free,

so I figured I would drive up and...

And visit me.

Yeah.

- Is that a problem?
- No.

No, not at all. No, no, no.

Good, 'cause, you know, I...
I really wanted to see you

and... and Evan today, and... I'm sorry.

I'm... I'm... I'm going through a breakup.

No, a divorce. A divorce,
actually. A divorce, yeah.

Look, I... I don't want to interrupt you.

- I can come back...
- No, no, you know what? No. No.

We were just about to...

uh, make lunch.

Do you want... do you want... stay.

Really?

- Yeah.
- Yeah, absolutely.

Oh, thank you. I'm really
sorry about your wife, man.

Oh. Uh, but I brought
some fish that I caught.

- Why don't I, uh, get that started?
- Yeah.

- Thank you.
- He, uh, caught the fish.

- He caught some fish.
- So wait.

Tell me, is that... is
that the famous Jack?

Please, Justin. He's not famous.

Are... are you sure you're
cool with me being...

- like, are you guys, like...
- No, no, no, no.

Oh. There is nothing
going on. We're friends.

Well, thank you, 'cause I
could really use the company.

Of course. Always. Anytime.

I'm gonna...

Hey, uh, Jack, you need a hand in there?

Thanks for coming in, Nora.

And the muffins...

Wow. You really are the perfect mom.

Well, I'm... I'm so excited to be here.

So what do you want me to do?

Well, it's really very simple.

Uh, we're going to do a sample show.

We'll put you on the air,

- and... on the... on the...
- On the air today?

People will call in,
ask mom-type questions,

- and you'll answer them.
- Okay.

Can you handle it?

Yeah. Uh, yes, I can. I
can. I've got five kids.

I've been training for this my whole life.

There is just...

one slight hiccup.

Look, if it was up to me,
the job would be yours.

But the, uh, station
guys want to think about

maybe going a different way.

Oh.

What different way?

Well, they've called in
Alexandra Kirby as well.

Oh, my God.

Dr. Alex?

- Oh, so you've heard of her?
- Oh, my God, yes. I'm... I'm a fan.

I've read all her books,
I... I follow her on Twitter.

Oh, heavens. I'm so sorry I'm late.

Kent, be a dear.

This is the last kind of first
impression I want to make.

It's just with running the charity,

and shopping for my
grand-baby's birthday,

and the book tour, I'm simply swamped.

- Oh, where are my manners?
You must be Nora Walker.
- Yes, hello.

I have to tell you,

my assistant has been
googling you all morning.

You are keeping a low profile, lady.

- God, I wish I could do that.
- Well...

The grass is always greener, right?

- Oh, come here, you. Oh.
- Oh! I guess so.

Yes. I'm so excited to have a challenge.

People are usually too scared to
even compete with me, you know?

Oh, this is gonna be a
fun day, don't you think?

Oh, fun day, really fun.

Fun day.

Okay. So what are you
thinking for dessert?

You could go crazy

and do a heart-shaped
strawberry torte kind of thing.

I don't really think

I'm a heart-shaped
strawberry torte kind of gal.

Then again, you know what?
Let's go with the torte.

I want this picnic to be really romantic.

I'm trying to reenact
our... our first date.

Oh, that is so sweet. Um,
uh, let me get you a recipe.

I hope I'm not in the way here.

No, no, it's fine.

Scotty, have you ever had a spray tan?

Excuse me?

Just... a weird thing happened
this morning with me and Luc.

- Weird how?
- No, in-the-bedroom weird, between us.

You know, he didn't want to do it.

Oh. Well, you know, that's... normal.

Every couple goes through that.

I mean, I'm sure it's not that bad.

It's not like it's been weeks or anything.

Oh, or, you know, even if it has been...

Do you think weeks is a long time?

No, you guys are busy with kids and lives,

and there are plenty of reasons.

It's not like he's
getting it anywhere else.

You think he's getting it somewhere else?

Stop it, Sarah. You're making me nervous.

You're making me nervous.

Don't do this.

Luc loves you.

I know, but I mean, maybe you're right.

He... he does stay out late a lot.

He says it's for work, but work
these days for... for Luc is,

you know, parties and spray tans.

Sarah, sometimes a spray
tan is just a spray tan.

Okay?

Yeah.

I mean, and I'm trying
not to think about her,

but, like, on the way up here,

there's this date shake place,
which was, like, our place.

But I couldn't bring myself to go in.

Yeah, I get it, man.

Facing it... it's like a really cold lake.

You just gotta jump.

The water is never as
cold as you think it is.

Easier said than done.

But hey, thanks for letting me vent.

So what, you... you
caught these fish yourself?

Yeah. Yesterday.

- You want to try?
- Yeah.

All right, well, first you
gotta slice open their belly.

Okay. All right. Go ahead.

- Just get right in there?
- Just hold it down.

Ugh. Justin, don't you think

you should let Jack
concentrate on the fish

so we could eat one of these
days, and maybe we could

get you back on the road
before it's way too late?

Are you kidding me? This
is exactly what I needed.

Have you, uh, have you
talked to Kitty, too?

About what?

About Robert?

I mean, he gives great advice.

Um... uh, no, no.

Actually, Justin...

We don't really talk
about Robert very much.

Well, tell her... tell her about the lake.

Uh, I don't think Kitty really
wants to hear that one right now.

You know what? I should
probably go get cleaned up.

Did I say something wrong?

No, it's... it's...

we're a little bit more than friends.

Oh.

Before you start to judge me

and start to say that this
is all too soon or whatever,

you just have to understand
that... that being with Jack is...

is the first thing that's made
me not think about Robert so much.

- And the accident was,
like, what, a year ago?
- It's great.

And I think that it... what did you say?

It's great. I think he's great.

And the best part is, is he's
not even remotely your type.

Well, what do you mean, he's not my type?

Kitty, I don't think
this guy has seen a suit,

- let alone worn one.
- Well...

I mean, is he a democrat or a republican?

I don't know. I don't
have the foggiest idea.

Exactly, not your type.
But congratulations.

You just jumped.

Where are you going?

I'm gonna go so you guys can...

have lunch.

Oh, just... just... just stay and eat.

No, no, no. Thank you, but, um...

I think I'm in the mood for a shake.

Okay, it's about an hour till airtime.

Okay.

You know the drill?

Yes. Um, I'm gonna answer
questions for about two hours,

and then Dr. Alex will answer questions

for about two hour... are you
sure you want me to go first?

Are you kidding?

Uh, do you really want to follow Dr. Alex?

No, I don't want to follow Dr. Alex.

I don't want to do that.

As long as you can find some time

to get your point of view out,
you still have a sh*t, Nora.

Okay, I can do that.

There you are, you rascal.
You been hiding from me?

No, no, Alexandra. Wh... what's going on?

Oh, good. Nora's here, too.

This concerns you as well, darlin'.

Now I know we all agreed
to this -shift scheme

of yours, Frank, but I talked to

the station execs upstairs,
and we all thought,

wouldn't it be so much more fun
if we went on the air together?

Oh.

Uh, don't they need to
evaluate us individually?

Oh, pish. I'm sure they'll be able to tell

which way the wind is blowing.

Oh, come on. What do you say, Nora...

a -mom smackdown?

A smackdown? A smackdown.

I... I don't think I have the
right shoes for a smackdown.

Oh, you are so funny!

So what do you say, Frank, are we on?

I guess.

Oh, great. Looking forward to it.

Yay. I'll go find out what's going on.

Okay.

Kevin, I don't know where
you are or what you're doing,

but I need you.

I'm about to get smacked.

Hey!

Kevin, where have you been?

What? Some kind of entourage you are.

We're about ready to go on.

- Okay. How are you feeling, confident?
- No. God, no.

I can't go up against Dr. Alex.

- I can't do that, Kevin.
- Okay, okay, mom,

you're the underdog, no question about it,

but that might be an advantage.

This is all about likability.

If there's one thing America
likes, it's an underdog.

I'm not ready. I can't do this.

- I'm not ready.
- Are you kidding me?

You're Nora Walker.
You're ready for anything.

Good.

Okay. Now get out there

and show 'em what you got.

You never saw "Rocky"?

All right. One date shake.

I can do this. All right. Come on.

It's not a problem.
It's just a date shake.

What can I get ya?

Um, one, uh, date shake.

Coming right up. Can you
just give me a second?

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. No hurries.

So who you talking to back there?

Got an imaginary friend?

Oh, my God. You heard that.

Sorry. I couldn't help but notice.

We don't get a lot of cute guys
strolling up here alone, so...

I'm gonna go get you that shake.

How much is it, actually?

You know... it's on the house.

Consider it a kind
gesture from a stranger.

You look like you could use one, so...

Uh, th... thank you. You
didn't have to do that.

So what's wrong?

Um, nothing. I... I... I don't know.

I was just, you know, driving,
trying to clear my head,

- get out of the city.
- Bad breakup?

Yeah. God, am I that obvious?

No, I just know the feeling.

Sometimes you gotta
just move on, you know?

Hey...

Are you in town for a while?

Uh, I was actually here. I'm
on my way back down to the city.

It's just, I get off in a couple of hours,

and there is a bar down the street,

and a great band is playing
tonight, and really good beer.

Do you wanna come?

Um, well, I don't drink, but, uh...

I... I love music.

Yeah, sure. I'd love to.

Great.

Great.

Well, I will get you that shake.

- Date shake, your...
- Yeah.

Yeah, that's your...

Today we have a special show for you...

"Dear mom homespun
advice for better living."

We have two moms, so don't hold back.

They'll both be serving
up their brand of apple pie

just for you.

To my right I have Nora Walker.

Oh, that's... that's my turn.

Okay, um, hi.

I'm Nora Walker.

I... I'm a homemaker from Pasadena,

uh, the mother of... of five...

and a cook.

Well, I'm... I'm not a professional cook,

but I do make the chocolate cheesecake

- for my son-in-law's restaurant.
- Great.

- Thank you, Nora.
- Okay.

And to my left,

we have acclaimed
author and commentator...

Dr. Alexandra Kirby.

Author, commentator,
and licensed therapist.

Don't forget those three
little letters, P-h-D.

And I just want to
remind everybody out there

that my new book,
"Moron-proof mothering,"

comes out next week.

And the phone lines
are already lighting up.

You're on the air, caller.

Who would you like to
direct your question to?

Oh, my God! Dr. Alex! I was so excited

when I heard you were
gonna be on the air today.

Well, thank you, darlin'.

When's the next time
you're coming to Pittsburgh?

We waited in line for, like,
three hours to see you last...

* My love making it just fine, *

Hey, there.

I am in the middle of making you

a very, very special surprise.

Luc, hello? Can you hear me?

Oh, please. You're being ridiculous.

Well, I... I wouldn't say it's ridiculous.

A little old-fashioned maybe, but...

Luc, darling, you were amazing.

Me? It was all you. I
was just laying there.

Luc?

Hmm. Are you busy later today?

Well, I have this dinner thing, but I...

"Dinner thing"?

I am making you a strawberry torte, you...

Fabulous! Then you, me, and
a cabana at the hotel Venegas

have a date.

This afternoon, : p.m.

Perfect.

Oh, my God.

Scotty, it's me. Listen, we need to talk.

The statistics back me up on this.

Monitor your child's
interactions with their peers.

It'll help you avoid problems,

and they'll thank you for it later.

Uh, well, Dr. Alex, I appreciate
that kind of diligence,

but not every mother has the time.

I mean, there comes a time
when you just have to trust

you've taught your children

the difference between right and wrong

and just let the pieces
fall where they may.

Well, callers, you've heard it here first.

I guess there are some moms
who don't believe their children

are worth making whatever
sacrifices are necessary.

That is what you mean, isn't it, Nora?

I... I don't... I don't think
that's what I... I meant.

N... no.

Uh, let's take another call.

Oh, hi, yeah. Question
for N... Nora Walker.

Sure. Can I get your name, sir?

Well, uh, uh, yeah, it's, uh,

Devon from L.A.

Um, Devon, yes.

Uh, so what's your question?

Uh, well, I was just thinking,
you sound like someone

who knows a lot about
baking, so I was wondering

if you could give me some
hints about baking a cherry pie.

Well, if there's one thing I
know about, it's cherry pies.

This is actually a -part answer, Devon,

because you've got your crust,

and you've got your filling.

Now if you...

If I could just jump in here
before we get to the recipe,

Devon, who are you making this pie for?

Uh, it's...

for my husband.

Oh, I see. And what kind of pie is this?

Uh, what do you mean?

I mean, is this a birthday
pie, or a thank-you pie?

It's not an apology pie, is it?

Yeah, actually, it is.

What are you apologizing for, sweetheart?

I... I... I've... I've been distant,

- um, lately.
- Are you depressed?

No. G... no. I just
think I'm disappointed.

Um, it was a very hard year for us.

We were trying for a
baby. That didn't work out.

It's just been a lot of things.
I... that's not why I'm calling.

Why don't we get back to the pie?

I take it by distant that
you're referring to the bedroom.

Do you know what's been holding you back?

Are you still attracted to him?

No, of course. It's just, I don't know.

Somehow lately, it's all
been feeling a little...

Futile, maybe, because
you and your partner

aren't able to have children biologically?

Yeah, maybe.

I've given it a name... wombenvy.

Does that sound right?

Wow. Actually, it does.

Well, Devon, believe it or not,
I have a chapter in my new book

on this very thing.

All the answers are in
my book, available online.

Oh. Oh! Sorry. Sorry.

Okay, thank you, Devon.

Oh, wait, wait, wait. W...

- wait. No, stop.
- What's wrong?

Stop. No, I can't.

I'm really sorry,

but I... I just... I...
I'm not ready. I'm sorry.

I thought you... I thought
we were on the same page here.

No, I know. I know. But
I just... I can't do this.

I... I thought that I
could, but... I can't.

- Kitty, I... I didn't mean to push you.
- I ca... I can't do this.

Kitty, wait. Stop. What are you doing?

- I never should've come up here.
- Well, where are you gonna go?

I don't know. Maybe I'll go to my mom's.

I mean, this... this was
such a colossal mistake.

Can I beg to differ? Because I...

- No! No, Jack, you can't.
- Look, was it something Justin said?

No, Jack. Jack, you don't understand.

A... a month ago, I was married.
Okay? Now I may be kissing you,

but I'm still thinking about Robert.

Look, we don't have to
move this fast, Kitty.

- We can slow things down.
- You know what? That's very sweet of you,

but it's not gonna make any difference.

This is never gonna work. We
live completely different lives.

You live up here, and you... and you hike,

- and you take very long
walks in the woods...
- Okay,

there is more to me than that, Kitty.

Well, you know what? There's
a lot more to me than this.

I'm... I'm...

I'm sorry, but I really
do need to go home.

Okay, we're gonna break for the news

and be back with more "Dear mom"

in just a few minutes.

Oh! All this talking
can make a girl thirsty.

Nora, can I get you something to drink?

No, no, not unless you've got a
sh*t of Tequila in there, doctor.

Oh, Nora, please. Call me Alexandra.

Yes, Alexandra. Yes, fine.

Okay.

Tough first couple of rounds, I admit it.

Well, thank you so much.
A lot of help you were.

"Womb envy"? What were you thinking?

I... she's a siren. She seduced
me with her birdlike voice.

Look, I can't do this. I can't do this.

I can't go up against her.
I'm gonna tell Frank I'm sick,

and let's just get out of here. Mom,

mom, come on. You can't
just walk out of here.

No one wants to listen to you

if you aren't famous,
and have a fancy title,

and a string of letters behind your name.

Nora Walker, snap out of it

right now.

You're gonna let her hoity-toity
education intimidate you?

Yes. Yes, it's... it's
a show of accomplishment.

What the hell have I ever accomplished?

Me! That's what you've accomplished...

me and Kitty and Sarah
and Justin and Tommy.

You raised a family,
and you held it together

in the face of remarkable odds,

things that would've made
an average mother crumble.

And you did that without an entourage,

or fancy statistics, or theories.

You did that with love,
and with your heart,

and with your instincts.

And if you'd seen what
I have at work recently,

you would know how rare that is.

You have an amazing gift, mom, amazing,

maybe the most precious there is.

You really think that?

No, I know that,

and this is your chance
to share that with people

beyond our family.

- You said you wanted it.
- I do, I do. Oh, I do. I want it so much.

Okay, so prove it, because
the Nora Walker I know

- would pulverize that big-haired windbag.
- Right, right.

Don't let her walk all over you.
This is a fight you could win,

- and I could sure use a win right now.
- I can win this.

- What do you say, mom?
- I can win this.

- Yes, you can.
- I can't let this big windbag b*at me.

No. Whoa. Easy.

You're not gonna get another
bathroom break for two hours.

Spit. Good.

- Now go get 'em, slugger.
- Okay.

- Just relax.
- I can do it. I'm relaxed.

- Hey.
- Hi.

Nora, you just need to make sure

that this mic is muted
when we're not on the air,

otherwise, the whole
building can hear you.

Go get 'em, slugger.

Oh, boy.

It's Wednesday afternoon.

Don't these people have jobs?

These people are too beautiful for work.

Okay, now I'm officially scarred.

You know, Sarah,

- it's not too late to bail
on this whole thing.
- No, listen,

I want to find out if what I
heard is what I think I heard.

Where is that French man-slut?

Bingo.

Come on, Scotty.

We could be at home making a
heart-shaped torte, you know?

- Why, thank you.
- Luc.

Hey. What are you doing here?

Oh, I thought I'd come down
and drink a glass of cristal

and screw a teenager. How could you?

This is not what you think it is.

Don't tell me that you're
working on your tan,

- because we all know it's fake.
- Hey...

She's a waitress.

- What?
- Ah, come on, Sarah. Let's
do this somewhere else.

- Who are you exactly?
- I'm Luciana.

I took some pictures of your
Luc for our new swim-wear line.

I'm such an idiot.

- Um, I'm... I'm...
- It's just... just a meeting.

I've made a horrible mistake.
I do apologize. Um, for the...

oh, of course. I understand.
I have a husband, too.

I'm so sorry.

Hey, Sarah, wait, wait, wait.

- No, no, no, just...
- Luc... I messed up.

I'm really sorry.

So...

I should... I should get her.

Excuse me.

You're home.

Yes, I am home.

Oh...

Ooh, may I?

Sure.

So I got your message.

What's the good news?

Do you remember my friend,

the photographer who took pictures of me?

Mm. Sure.

Okay, well, he called me today,

and an agent saw the pictures,

and you're never gonna believe
it, but I got a meeting.

Modeling?

I know. I know, I know. It's
for an underwear campaign.

- You're kidding me.
- No.

- That's hilarious.
- Yeah, ridiculous.

It's really well-paid.

How well-paid?

Really well-paid.

Like, one sh**t, and
I can paint for a year.

- Are you serious?
- Mm-hmm.

That money, Sarah, gives us freedom.

Oh.

Wait till you see this painting.

This is the one.

I will be finished with this any day now.

I'm sorry to say this, darling,
but it sounds like your friend

is two sandwiches short of a picnic.

You know, that's what my husband said.

- I knew you'd see my side of things.
- Hey, Kit.

Hi, Kev. Where is mom?
She... she's not at home.

She's not answering her cell,

and I really need to talk to her.

And if that doesn't help you, sugar,

all the answers are in my book.

Okay, next up is Catherine,
calling from Pasadena.

Uh, hi. Yes, this one's for Nora Walker.

I recently lost my husband.

Well, Catherine, that... that sounds like

a very hard situation.

Yes,

- but I met another man.
- You did?

- Well, that's wonderful.
- Yeah, but when things got too close...

You know what I mean?

I couldn't do it. I mean,
I literally could not do it.

And I... I panicked... and I ran away.

Oh...

what are you feeling now?

Well, I feel sad, I feel guilty,

and... I'm afraid.

I'm afraid that I'm never gonna
get out of this fog that I'm in,

and I'm afraid that
I'm never gonna be able

- to be with another man.
- Oh, honey...

- uh, Catherine, dear...
- You know, Catherine,

most people consider a year to
be the minimum waiting period.

- Statistics show...
- Well,

that's all Jim dandy,
peachy keen, Dr. Alex,

but statistics can't
hold your hand at night

or... or share a cup of
coffee with you in the morning.

- Do you have any idea how
hard it is to lose a husband?
- I...

Well, I do, and so I know.

Listen, Catherine, you're grieving,

not only for the husband you lost,

but for the life you had envisioned.

You're grieving for the future

and all the plans and
dreams you had in your head.

And now that's all... gone.

There's a wonderful saying...

you have to give up the
life you've planned...

to find the life that's waiting for you.

Hey, Kev.

Talk fast. I'm meeting this
girl, in, uh, in five minutes.

Are you listening to
this? Listening to what?

Mom's on the radio. am.

Mom's on the radio?

All... all our lives, we... we grow

by giving up things...

- by loss and... and moving on...
- Okay, bye.

Big things, little ones.

How we handle those losses
really defines who are.

Where are you now, Kitty... Catherine?

I'm at my mom's house.

Great. Great. Good idea.
That's a really good idea.

But listen, you don't really
need her to tell you what to do.

All you need from her is
just to listen, that's all,

a place where you can talk out loud

so you can hear what you really think,

what you think, not... her.

You'll know what to do and what not to do,

'cause that's all right, too.

And you'll know when it's time to move on.

And to the gentleman who called in earlier

with the womb envy... Devon...

what the hell is that anyway?

You don't want a womb. You want a child.

You tried, and it didn't work out,

and that loss, or disappointment,

as you put it,

is just as real as Catherine's.

So is the grief and sadness,

and if you don't acknowledge it

and feel it, it will
never get out of your way.

Unacknowledged feelings

are like a drunken cousin
at a family reunion.

They never shut up so
you can hear anyone else.

And you have to be able to
hear what's next in your life,

what path you might want to travel down,

with or without children.

You have to be able to
see what's right there...

right there, right in front of your eyes.

- Did you hear that, Catherine?
- Uh...

Catherine?

I have to go, mom.

What are you doing here, Jack?

You don't know my whole story.

I guess I never told you where I was from,

before I moved to Ojai.

I used to have a place up on Mulholland,

worked downtown.

Really? Seriously?

Yeah. Classic story, I guess.

Successful investment
banker becomes disillusioned,

sells everything,

and escapes to Ojai to become a carpenter.

Look, I'm not trying to replace him.

What I'm trying to say is that...

maybe we're not as different
as you think we are.

Oh, there you are.

I'm so sorry.

- You don't have to apologize.
- No, I do.

Storming in on you like that, it was...

just, when I heard that phone call,

my imagination...

went to the worst possible version of you.

Okay, apology's accepted.

What's all this?

Oh, a picnic.

I was trying to recreate our first date.

That's nice.

Luc, I really... don't
think I'm up for all of this.

What do you mean?

If this is what you
want your life to be now,

sitting by the swimming pool
and hanging out with models,

schmoozing all night at
Hollywood nightclubs, I...

Qhat are you saying?

One day, one of those
"cocktail waitresses"

is gonna offer you more than a drink.

Oh, come on, Sarah. You
know I'm not like that.

I would never do that to you.

I'm the man you met at that
picnic, and I always will be.

When was the last time you
picked up a paint brush?

Uh, I don't know.

Look at this painting.

You have not touched that

since the day you got
your first modeling job.

I'm sorry. I guess I've
gotten a little lost.

You said modeling was a way
for you to support your passion.

When I look around,

it feels like you've
given that passion up.

You know what I did the
day I got that first check?

I... I... I got this.

Oh, my God. Luc.

I just didn't give it to you yet

because I knew the man I was becoming

wasn't really the man you
were supposed to marry.

- Luc, that's crazy. I'd n...
- You're right.

I stopped following my
dream because I was scared.

And there's only two things
I care about in this world.

It's my painting...

and it's you, my love.

So I'm done.

I'm done being scared.

If I can be that man again,

the man you met at the picnic...

the painter...

if I can be that man again,

could you possibly consider
being that man's wife?

Could I consider it?

Oh, yes. Yes.

I love you.

Nora. I'm glad I caught you.

Oh, thank you for everything, Frank.

- I... I... I know it's not up to you...
- Guess what. You got the job.

- Oh, my God!
- They said they loved your honesty,

they loved the way

you talked to the callers as
if they were your own children,

uh, but I gotta tell you, bottom line,

- you were a lot cheaper than Dr. Alex.
- Yes, I... I imagine so.

I got the job! I got the job!

Nora Walker...

I gotta go.

You cagey little Pasadena homemaker, you.

I guess congratulations are in order,

which is so totally fine with me.

I don't know what I was
thinking. I don't have the time

to put this little a.m.
radio thing in my life.

It could never be worth my
while, so it's all yours.

And let me tell you something, darlin',

you're not gonna be able
to keep that up, you know.

What?

Devon, Catherine?

Oh, Nora, naughty, naughty.

They're your own children, are they not?

Not all of them. I have more.

Nora, let me give you a piece of advice

as you start on this sweet
little career of yours.

Don't lie to your audience.
You didn't hear my children

calling in trying to save their mother

- from embarrassing herself, did you?
- No, I... I didn't.

But that's kind of what my family does.

We try to help each other.

I'm sure your children
would want to help you

if they thought they could.

My children have very busy lives.

They have better things to do

than to sit around listening
to the radio all day.

Well, I'm sure they've

- called in at one time or another.
- No, never.

- But they've read your books.
- I'm sure not.

- Well, how do you know?
Have you asked 'em?
- No, I have not.

Well, why don't you ask 'em?
Because I don't talk to them.

You don't talk to your kids?

They won't call me back.

Well, th...

then...

you go over to their house,

and you ring the doorbell,

and ring it and ring it and
ring it until they answer.

And when they do, you look 'em
straight in the face and say,

"ignore me if you want,
but I'm your mother,

and I'm never gonna leave your life,

so we might as well
get to know each other."

You think?

Yes, I think.

I thought you were gonna try
to get to bed early tonight.

Yeah. Uh, we need to talk.

Okay. What's... what's going on?

I've been afraid for,
uh, the last few months,

and because I've been afraid, I've...

been trying to do everything
to avoid the future.

Okay, now you're freaking me out.

Should I be afraid?

No.

Uh, no, you shouldn't.

Um...

neither of us should
be, because we are happy,

and we're in love,

and...

Did you hear mom on the radio today?

Oh, uh, yeah, I... I...

She was amazing, and it hit me...

being a good parent,

it's the greatest gift anyone can give.

And we are gonna be great parents, Scotty.

O... oh, Kevin...

I think we should foster.

I think we should adopt a child,

because I read these files every day,

and there are so many kids
out there who need help.

I just think now is the right time.

What do you think?

God, Kevin, I... I... I...

I... I guess I... I'm
not, um, ready for this.

But we are ready. I know we are.

No, it's not that. I think it's a...

I think it's a great idea. I just...

That's not the problem, Kevin.

Okay. Just tell me what the
problem is so we can fix it.

We... can't.

What are you talking about?

I did something, Kevin.

There was someone else.

What do you mean?

It was one time. It was months ago.

I didn't want to hurt
you, so I didn't tell you.

I would do anything in
the world to take it back.

I'm so sorry.

Kevin, say something.