[woman]
So, Connie,
is that short
for something?
[Connie]
Technically, Constance.
No one ever
calls me that, though.
Anyway,
I got back a week ago,
and I was like, "Oh, my God,
where am I gonna live?"
Well, this is the room.
Ah, I was mostly traveling
on my own
but then I spent two months
with this amazing group
of botanists
-in the rain forest.
-Oh, wow.
Did you, uh, did you
take a boat on the Amazon?
I don't swim,
so there was no way.
-Oh.
-Oh, I love the light in here.
Yeah, it's nice.
-Right?
-Yeah.
Leslie, the girl
who just moved out,
she actually went to Chicago
to do Development studies.
Really? That's exactly
what I was thinking of.
I would love to do that.
I mean,
that or Environmental Law.
I don't know,
I'm still exploring.
[man screams]
What's your name, sir?
What's your name?
-Mike.
-Mike, my name
is Paige, I'm a nurse.
I'm gonna be
taking care of you.
Can you take a deep breath
in through your nose,
out through your mouth,
there we go.
-In through your nose.
-[whimpers]
Out through your mouth.
[audience applauds]
[in Mandarin]
[applause continues]
[woman sighs]
-Here you go.
-Thank you.
Barbara's already texted
asking how it went.
Oh, yeah?
It was sweet of her
to invite me to the wedding.
I don't know anyone here
outside of work.
So...
So, you were a teacher
back in the States?
Yeah.
I taught for a bit.
And what did you teach?
A little of everything.
We don't have to, I mean--
-No, I want to.
-...if you don't wanna go there.
I want to.
-It's fine.
-I want to.
I was a teacher back home
for, um...
eight years, then I...
Then I came here.
And um...
[phone rings]
Tom. I'm gonna go down
and eat something.
Did you read the AgReport
on rotational grazing?
I saw it,
I haven't read it.
It's so full of distortions.
It's unbelievable.
That's why
I haven't read it.
Well, I'm writing Conners.
He needs to know
what they're producing.
-Yeah.
-I'm being polite, I swear.
Okay?
-You wanna come down?
-Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Just hitting send.
I want to see the fall
grazing trends.
I bet they conform.
Don't send
anything off yet, okay?
I promised to send a draft
last Friday.
I know, but I just want to
see the fall trends, Clyde.
This thing's
gotta be ironclad
when we go to committee.
Okay.
Okay, I'll hold off.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Can you pass the salt?
Sure.
Thanks.
Thank you.
It's a brackish lake,
and it has
this incredible reed
that regulates the salt level
and that allows
this one species
of leech to thrive.
It's the only place
in the world you find them.
They can't exist
anywhere else.
Really?
And you were dissecting them?
Yep.
I pretty much lived
in a Tasmanian marsh
from the age of 24.
We discovered
that these leeches
produced a peptide
in their salivary glands
that might be useful
in treating cancer.
Cancer?
-Wow. This--
-Yeah.
This sounds
like amazing work.
I know.
I mean, well,
I was really just
a lab grunt so...
I can't claim, you know.
-Sure, sure.
-Yeah.
Um...
you do realize
that most of us
can't stand our cafeteria.
-Really?
-Yeah.
You know, I might not be
the only infiltrator.
Mm, there's like
a million lunch places
-in this neighborhood.
-I know, I know.
I just haven't had
time to explore
Plus, I'm out on Long Island
half the time.
Right. Hunting frogs.
Hunting frogs.
[phone buzzes]
That's the whole point
of how we laid it out.
You know, I started with
the conceptual framework
we originally agreed on.
And then I layered in
exactly how to handle
all the regulatory hurdles,
so they'd be in a position
where they could actually,
you know...
Are you listening, Ramina?
Are they position to?
Nothing. Just hopefully
the guy at Agriculture
will actually pass it
up to the deputy
so we can move forward.
I finally feel like
I framed it in a way
where they really have
to move on it.
You know?
And what's Clyde say?
Very supportive.
What's the story
with this biologist?
She's just a friend, he says.
But he said it three times.
-Ah.
-Yeah.
I don't know.
I hear myself out loud,
and the whole thing
seems futile.
[in Farsi]
You want to have a threesome
for my birthday?
Wow, your Farsi
is getting much better.
[chuckles]
-I know that one.
-Uh-huh.
Orange cows are laughing
in outer space.
You don't say.
Not quite.
I like this one.
Makes you look gorgeous.
So when will this project
come up in committee?
September, I think.
They cannot do it earlier?
I don't control
the schedule, honey.
How will Clyde handle it
if you won't
be around by then?
Uh...this fucking cake.
-Tom.
-Yeah?
I don't know.
I mean, we haven't really
talked about it.
But after this big push
I've been making,
I can't exactly say
I'm not gonna be around
to see it through.
There are thousands
of farmers
depending
on the legislation.
It's important.
But my jewelry
is only jewelry?
-We agreed.
-We didn't agree.
I want to go to California.
So go.
Alone?
Unbelievable.
I gotta deal with this cake
before the bakery closes.
You didn't do it already?
I'm sorry,
I should have checked it.
Just dress the hens
for me, would you?
Can we finish
this conversation?
-No, I--
-[doorbell chimes]
You're early.
You're leaving.
[in Farsi]
Mark is on his way.
I'll be right back.
I tried to read your paper
about the leeches.
-You've been Googling.
-I've been Googling.
I only got about as far
as the third paragraph.
The writing
was a little dense.
Yeah, well, don't blame me.
I was just
the research assistant.
I'm surprised that came up.
That and this great picture
of you.
The one with the leeches?
-Yeah.
-Oh, God.
I really want to get
that one taken down.
No, no.
I thought it was endearing.
I appreciate you
inviting me tonight.
Oh, yeah.
No problem.
It's a great group.
I really think
you'll like them.
-Yeah.
-You said you wanted
-to meet people.
-Oh, I do.
They're people, so...
Maybe we need
a safe word, though,
in case it isn't going well.
Like what?
Like I say "Potato famine."
-"Potato famine?"
-Yeah.
Well, that's really easy
to work into
any conversation.
Sure, everybody left
during the potato famine.
Okay.
-[Clyde chuckles]
-[woman] Hello.
-Oh, hi.
-Come in, come in.
Ramina, this is Alice.
Hi. Pleasure to meet you.
Please, come in, come in.
[Alice]
The sounds just completely
envelope you and you sink in,
and you become absorbed
by living music.
Of frogs?
-Yeah, of frogs.
-Of frogs?
And-- And screech owls,
tree crickets, mosquitoes.
I swear, I mean, I'm barely
out of the city,
but I feel like I could
be back in Tasmania.
And where is it again?
It's near Northport,
it's the Campbell Bog.
And it is this frog
that brought you to New York?
Yes, it did.
Yes.
Well, it's the first new frog
that's been identified
in North America
in 27 years.
I mean, you wouldn't know
it was a new species
if it wasn't
for its song.
Play them the recording.
-Really?
-Come on.
-No.
-You guys have to hear this.
You wanna hear
the frogs sing?
-Yeah, sure.
-Of course they wanna
-hear it.
-Really?
Play it.
She played it for me
and I cried.
[frogs croaking
on recording]
She promised me
a copy of this
for my white noise
machine.
Ah, that's in Long Island?
It's not even
an hour away.
-That's gorgeous.
-Huh.
[croaking continues]
I feel completely ridiculous.
I'm sorry.
-Why?
-Beautiful.
-It's gorgeous.
-Let me put this way
immediately, I'm sorry.
-Play it.
-Quite enough.
-Enough of that.
-Nice.
Hush, please,
are you kidding?
Your necklace
is beautiful.
Ah, okay,
that is cheating.
But points for coaching.
I didn't, I swear.
[stammers]
What do you mean?
Ahem, the necklace
is Ramina's.
-She has a line of jewelry.
-It's not a line yet.
-Oh--
-It will be.
[stammers]
What do you mean?
You mean you made it?
-Yes.
-This your work?
Oh, my God.
It's beautiful.
-It's stunning.
-Ah, well--
-Absolutely amazing.
-And she has good taste.
What kind of stone
is that?
It's a gold quartz.
I cut them myself.
-I want to see the rest.
-Later. Please, more wine.
Could I use
your powder room?
Absolutely,
it's just up the stairs.
Thank you.
[man whistles]
Clyde.
All right, take it easy.
Take it easy.
[man] Hey, is Tom coming
to his own birthday,
where is he?
[Ramina]
He's at the bakery.
We had some problems
with the cake.
[Clyde]
There was some confusion
-about his name.
-[guests giggle]
-[door opens]
-[guests cheering]
[Clyde]
You look like you need
-a drink.
-Happy birthday.
-Oh, yeah.
-Happy birthday.
Thank you, Mark.
Thank you, everybody.
Hey, buddy.
Yeah, yeah. Thanks.
-Happy birthday.
-Thanks, fella.
[growls]
-Speech, speech, speech.
-Yeah.
-What?
-Come on, come on, come on.
-Come on, man.
-Please, speech.
-All right.
-Let's do it.
Thank you, Brad.
Thank you all.
Well, I'm humbled
by your devotion
to celebrating
my birthday.
I mean...
The other day
Clyde was asking me
why I insist on no gifts,
and I said something
about how we don't need
any more stuff.
Which is true.
We don't need
any more stuff,
but I think
what I really meant
is you don't need
to give me anything
because you're here.
And that's a very good gift,
I appreciate it.
I mean,
if you have, you know,
an albino alligator,
I'll take it.
-Don't worry about it.
-[Clyde] We do. I have one.
Don't get me wrong.
All right?
But-- Well, it just
means everything to me
that we're here together.
that we're here together.
So...
So...
And to my lovely wife,
Ramina,
without whom
the hens would not be
in the oven.
Ah.
-You did put them in, right?
-Yes. They're in.
Cheers.
-Cheers.
-Happy birthday.
[Mark]
So, where are we dancing
-this year?
-Oh, Ramina found
the best place.
It's new and very hip.
-No bailing out.
-No bailing out.
I'm not letting him.
Rock and roll ready.
[Clyde]
Oh, there you are.
I want you to meet
the birthday boy.
Tom,
this is Alice Manning.
Nice to meet you.
-Alice? Alice?
-She's amazing.
You're the biologist?
Yeah, she just got
off the boat
from Australia.
-Tasmania.
-[sighs] I've always wanted
-to visit Australia.
-Really?
[Brad]
I was actually gonna ask,
it's like the craziest surfing
in the world, right?
-I mean, do you surf?
-Oh, everybody surfs
-down there, yeah.
-Wait a minute.
You're not from
Australia though.
I mean, you don't
have an accent.
No, originally
I'm from Denver.
Oh.
[woman #2]
Tom, you didn't toast Ramina.
-What?
-That's such great news.
We're so excited for you.
[Clyde]
What's the great news?
California.
Oh--
Ramina just got into
this amazing jewelry program
-in San Diego.
-Oh.
-Yes.
-What? Really?
Congratulations.
-Thank you.
-Wow.
Why didn't you
say anything?
Eh.
I'm sure Tom just did not
want to jinx things.
-There you go.
-Right, Tom?
-That's it.
-Who wants a drink?
-Awkward me, please.
-Hey, Mark.
What are you
in the mood for, buddy?
-Bourbon.
-[Alice] Well, happy birthday.
We take boat rides
along the glades.
The alligators are literally
feet from you
and they follow the boat.
My goodness.
So, Alice,
how did you meet Clyde?
Oh, we frequent
the same lunch spot.
In Long Island?
I'm in Midtown
part of the week.
Turns out Clyde and I
both studied
at Carnegie Mellon.
Isn't that wild?
-Music?
-Biology.
She discovered
a new species of frog.
Play him the the recording,
you have to hear this.
No, no. No, really.
Once in an evening is enough.
So, when did you go
to Carnegie Mellon,
before or after Clyde?
Hey. It's not polite
to ask a lady's age, Thomas.
Did I ask her age?
-Uh--
-Did I ask your age?
-After.
-Okay.
-So, how old are you?
-Definitely not polite.
-What's going on?
-Tom's just giving Alice
the third degree.
-Yes.
-Ah, sure.
-I love your home, Tom.
-Oh, thanks.
Tom and his brother Brad,
actually they grew up here.
-Really?
-Yeah.
Well, my parents
live in London now,
so Ramina and I are
sort of house-sitting.
Huh. Lucky guys.
Brad and Sharon,
they own their own place
-in the West Village.
-Hedge fund.
Wow.
Must be strange, though,
living in the same house
you grew up in.
No. I mean, sometimes.
Would you like a tour?
Sure. Can I ask you
what that is over there?
-What?
-Up here.
I don't know.
-That's all my father's stuff.
-Hold on a minute,
-can I stand on this?
-Whoa, whoa, hey.
Oh. This is a fossil.
-Is this real?
-I don't know.
-Oh, Late Cretaceous.
-It's my father's.
You know what this is?
This is a two-legged snake.
You see, see the vertebrae?
-Yeah?
-Those are the legs.
-No.
-Isn't that amazing?
Yeah, they were discovered
in South America.
This is 80
or 90 million years old.
Back when snakes had legs.
[Brad] I thought
Dad brought that back
when he was teaching
in Nairobi.
Well, they would have been
all over.
They would have been
in East Africa--
-Huh, cool.
-...South America.
-She's right, that's beautiful.
-All over the world.
-Did you know that was up there?
-No, I had no idea.
You know, this should be
where people can see it.
Put it where someone
can see it.
You got it.
Yeah, I think,
should we eat?
-Yes.
-Yes, I'm starving.
-Right.
-Time for salad.
Yeah.
Jennie?
-It's-- It's--
-[Clyde] Want a drink?
-I'm starving. Yeah.
-Great.
Does Ramina
have assigned seats
-for us or...
-What? No. Just sit wherever.
[Ramina]
Tom, will you grab
-the salad dressing, please?
-Sure.
Actually, Clyde,
I want you to sit there.
And Alice,
you come sit next to me.
-No.
-[fossil bangs]
-God damn it.
-Tom.
Clyde, Clyde, come here.
[Ramina]
Tom, will you grab
-the bread also?
-Sure thing.
So, how did you meet her?
Why didn't you tell me
that Ramina
-got in to San Diego?
-I don't know. I--
We still need to work out
what we're gonna do.
You think?
-Well, I told her,
I needed to discuss it
with you.
You make it sound like
you need my permission.
I don't need your permission.
-I just--
-Is this you quitting?
No.
I don't know.
I mean, maybe...
I can take a leave
-for part of it--
-[sighs]
or maybe we do
long distance for part.
I don't know.
Oh, my God. Right.
'Cause that's what
you guys need
is time apart from each other.
Actually...
What?
So how did
you meet her again?
In the cafeteria.
The cafeteria?
So she works
in our building?
No, her lab has an office
across the street.
She likes the food.
Huh. What do you know
about her?
What kind of question
is that?
I'm--
Are you going out?
She's made it clear
that she just wants friends
in her life right now,
so I'm being her friend,
but...
actually, she's
the first woman
that I've meet since Lisa
that I like, if you care.
No, that's great.
Don't sound so thrilled.
[Ramina]
Tom, salad dressing.
-Who's Tony?
-Don't ask.
It's a whole saga.
-Alice, red or white?
-What? Red, please.
[man]
Four hundred applied.
They accepted 12.
-Wow.
-That's awesome.
We are so thrilled
for you, Ramina.
Thank you.
Well, it's two years
of course work,
metalsmithing, gemology,
computer rendering,
it's everything.
-Wow.
-Wow, that's awesome.
I would like
to propose a toast.
-Don't touch my knobs.
-Don't touch my knobs.
Don't touch my knobs.
He gave this speech
at their wedding where--
-As I was saying.
-All right, all right.
Now, I've known Ramina
for a long time.
And I can tell you stories
of her terrorizing the boys
of our neighborhood.
But I won't.
I'll just say that she has
always been remarkable.
But I look at her now
and she is becoming herself.
She has become an artist.
Well, I like how that sounds.
Say it again.
[all laughing]
Your work is beautiful.
And it makes the people
who are wearing it beautiful.
And, Tom,
you have encouraged her
to do this.
And I am grateful.
I am overjoyed.
-So, cheers.
-Cheers.
-Cheers. Congratulations.
-Cheers.
Oh, and also,
don't touch my knobs.
-Don't touch his knobs.
-There it is.
-Guys.
-Can't help it.
[Mark]
Tom, I hear you had
a victory of your own
at work.
What? No.
It's just something I wrote.
[Clyde]
No. He's being modest.
What was it?
[clears throat] Well,
we're helping formulate
a part of this
land reform bill.
But we've been struggling
for six months
with the Cattle Growers
Association,
-they've been--
-Cattle growers?
Is that the word in English?
You grow cattle?
-That's the technical term.
-Oh.
Yeah. So, anyway,
I finally managed
to frame it in a way
where hopefully
we'll get some traction.
You should've read
this email.
[Sharon]
It was an email?
It was
a very masterful email.
Not email.
Email makes it
sound like emails.
-Correspondence.
-There you go.
It's a set of guidelines
that can be inserted
into the legislation.
I wish I could
still have red wine.
Now suddenly it gives me
a headache.
Oh, I know,
it's the tannins.
I have a friend
who has that.
-Really?
-Yeah.
I cannot drink red wine,
I am completely allergic
-to it.
-Oh, my God.
This friend of ours,
Danny--
If they don't respond,
I swear
I'm gonna dump them
-as clients.
-[Tom] No.
The work goes before
the legislative committee
for discussion
in September.
All of the sudden,
he starts sneezing.
Can't stop.
Goes to the doctor
and the doctor says
he's developing an allergy
to the cats.
-No way.
-I know.
-Developing an allergy?
-Yeah. We don't know.
-That's what he said.
-No, apparently it can happen.
Yeah, sure I'd love
to work on more.
Anybody need a cat?
Or ten? Ten?
I don't buy it.
I don't buy it.
-What don't you buy?
-That you develop allergies.
I mean, maybe
they're dormant, but--
Well, she's a scientist,
she ought to know.
-Yeah.
-Yes.
Well, it depends.
Some you're born with,
some you develop.
Yep. See?
I just hope
I don't develop
an allergy to wine.
That or chocolate.
Kill me now.
[Clyde] Can I get an allergy
to cucumbers,
I hate cucumbers.
No, you can't pick
what you're allergic to.
It was hypothetical.
What if they made us
allergic to things?
-Like cigarettes.
-Or cell phones.
[woman] Or just technology
in general.
You could
just go off the grid.
Well, I know someone
who did that.
-Yeah?
-I would love to do that.
Can you imagine just leaving
everything behind?
-You can't do that anymore.
-I bet you can.
[Ramina] Sounds like being
an immigrant.
[Clyde]
Or like life after divorce.
I bet that some people
just run off to Tasmania.
I'm sorry?
I bet some people
just run off to Tasmania.
Oh. No, not that I met.
Well, what about you?
Where would you go?
I'd go to Mexico.
Mexico is hardly
off the grid.
No. It was when I went.
I went in college
and I almost never came back.
-Like Butch Cassidy.
-That was Bolivia, baby.
And it did not end well.
That's why you
didn't finish CMU?
Yeah,
I dropped out completely.
I changed my name,
everything. Mm-hmm.
Why?
Just sort of happened.
I was on a bus
to Guatemala,
and I got into a conversation
with this girl in Spanish,
and she asked me my name
and I told her
my Spanish name.
-Your Spanish name?
-Like in Spanish class?
I was Marco.
Well, my parents
named me Jennifer,
which doesn't exist
in Spanish,
so my teacher decided
I'd be Consuelo.
That's random, Consuelo?
What was wrong
with Jennifer?
I just hated
the name Jennifer.
Anyway, after we got
off the bus
she invited me to stay
with her and her family.
And then they started
asking me
questions about myself
but by then I was Consuelo.
So, I made her up.
Fun.
-Wow.
-What lying to people
who took you in
on complete trust?
-How long were you traveling?
-Eighteen months.
You went 18 months
as Consuelo?
Mm-hmm.
I love that.
That's amazing.
Well, when I was
finally coming home, I...
I was watching the guy
stamp my passport
and I had this feeling like,
I'm not the person
in that passport anymore.
I'm Consuelo.
[man]
So, Alice is the American name
-for Consuelo?
-Your mother must have been
a little insulted, no?
We weren't exactly close.
So you got home
and told your friends
to start calling you Alice?
Actually, no,
I never went home.
I went to Portland.
You never went home?
[Ramina]
Oh, my goodness.
Wait, so you just
completely left.
Yeah, you know, listen,
I was practically a kid
when I did this.
It was a really
long time ago.
-Sure.
-[man] So I'm sorry,
but you haven't seen
your family since?
Or anyone else you knew?
[woman] Do they have any idea
what happened to you?
No.
[Ramina]
I think it sounds amazing.
[Brad]
Me, too.
That's... Yeah.
-Brave.
-[Ramina laughing]
Cheers, Alice.
[dishes clattering]
[Ramina giggles]
I mean, really, Clyde,
I am impressed.
She is wonderful.
Yeah, I can't say
I exactly knew.
But, yeah.
[Tom]
How is she wonderful?
What do you mean how?
I mean, she's beautiful,
exciting, adventurous.
She is a keeper.
How does walking out
on everyone in your life
-make someone a "keeper"?
-Pay no attention to him.
Oh, so, if you stick
with something or someone
you're basically
not adventurous?
I don't think I'm quite ready
to propose to her yet.
Oh, but you need a woman
who knows
how to wipe the table clean.
That's not
even the expression.
You know-- Oh. Never mind.
-Ugh.
-Well, I like her, Clyde.
-I approve.
-Thank you.
[Mark] I love my Spanish name.
You should call me Marco.
I don't see you as a Marco.
Marco would be
so much fun, right?
Marco would speak Spanish,
he knows how to merengue.
[man]
Maybe Marco
would not drink so much?
I've had three glasses.
I think I need four.
[man]
So, Marco also has
a drinking problem.
[sighs]
[Alice clears throat]
It's a beautiful deck.
Jennie.
Jennie, come on, it's you.
Right?
This is crazy.
You're alive.
Yeah.
Thought I was dead?
I didn't know.
I mean, where--
where'd you go?
To Mexico?
What difference does it make
where I went?
Oh. Good point.
So you didn't go to Mexico.
It's just a story.
And you're from Denver
all of a sudden?
It's a part of who I am now.
You're kidding.
Please, tell me
you're kidding.
What is this?
You know what?
Actually, don't even bother.
Okay?
Just do me a favor.
I don't especially
want to explain this
to my wife and my friends.
What the hell?
I wanted to see you.
Jennie, it's been 15 years.
Yeah.
I'm married.
I mean, why didn't you just
pick up the phone
and call me?
Say what,
"Hi, this is Jennie,
only I'm not really Jennie
anymore."
Do you understand?
Your parents showed up
at my door.
Your father was bawling
his eyes out,
begging me to tell him
where you were.
They had no idea
what happened--
I let them know
I was alive.
But you didn't see them?
Or was that
just a story too?
I went to Canton.
Couldn't get out of the car.
My dad died two years ago
of a heart attack.
So...
What do you want?
[Brad]
Tom?
You guys ready for cake?
Yeah. Yeah, sure.
Let's--
Let's do cake.
So, in other words,
it's my fault
-for making you binge?
-No, I'm saying maybe
that's the reason
she decided
she needed
to get the fuck away
from everybody for a while.
I'm sorry,
I thought step one
was accepting that
it is a disease.
That it doesn't go away.
Actually,
that's not step one.
At all.
People can still change.
Their behavior, maybe,
but not who they are.
At least people
still recognize
that they have
room to improve.
Yeah, I think everyone wants
to be a better person.
Guys, this is not
about improvement.
This is about running away.
I wouldn't call it that.
I'm sorry,
what would you call it?
Making a change.
Right, but wherever you go
there you are.
-Isn't that what they say?
-I think that's just what
people tell themselves
when they don't have
the courage to change.
[man]
What about you, Tom?
Maybe you can take up surfing
in California?
Grow a beard?
[Clyde]
Tom's not going anywhere.
-What?
-That's not exactly
what I said, Clyde.
-Really?
-What does that mean?
It's complicated.
Why is it complicated?
[Tom]
Look, I don't really want
to talk about it
right now. Okay?
[man speaking in Farsi]
I am not an idiot,
thank you.
No, wait, seriously,
what's going on, Ramina?
-You don't want her to go?
-No.
I'm the one
who pushed her to--
-Jesus Christ.
-[man] Is this about
your committee meeting
in September?
You can find someone else
to do that, no?
No, it's not.
We're figuring it out, okay?
Maybe she can...
go by herself.
-Ramina?
-[in Farsi]
[woman]
For two years?
Look, can we be permitted
to figure this out privately?
Not at my birthday party.
Thanks.
The candles are melting.
Who's Tony?
Oh, my God.
You weren't kidding.
That's amaz--
Okay. I guess we're not
singing "Happy Birthday"?
I bet they didn't have cakes
like that
during the potato famine.
[man]
The potato famine?
Uh, inside joke.
Oh, no, actually,
aren't we going dancing?
[Brad]
Oh, yeah,
I think maybe--
No. No, no, no.
Don't even think about it.
[electronic music playing]
That's wild whiskey.
-Let's do this.
-Yeah.
I'll be over--
I'll be over in a minute.
Excuse me, can I get
an Old Fashioned?
I thought
you wanted to dance?
Want to see something?
Watch the olive.
[Mark]
Hey.
What are you guys up to?
[man]
There you are.
[Mark mumbles]
She's good with the olives.
Where did you learn
to do that?
I used to let a guy
saw me in half.
You did not.
When I was 28
I toured China for a year
-as a magician's assistant.
-[Mark laughs]
What? A magician's assistant?
-That's awesome.
-You said you lived
in a Tasmanian marsh
from the age of 24.
[Mark]
No, that was Consuelo.
No, I saw a picture.
I mean...
Right? Why did you just say
that you were in China?
I was in China
before I was in Tasmania.
[woman]
Are you sure?
[man] So were you
really a magician?
[Clyde]
Do you really study frogs?
-Jesus, did you make--
-Stop.
...all of that up?
Were you actually
in Tasmania?
-Yes.
-[woman] And how do we know
that you're telling
the truth?
Well, how do I know anything
that you've said
tonight is true?
Because they all know me,
and you're
a pathological liar.
You're under complete
false pretenses.
[Tom]
All right, Sharon.
-Just calm down.
-Why are you defending her?
[muffled chattering]
[Ramina]
What is going on?
-I don't even know her.
-Jesus, Ramina.
Back off. Okay?
Well, it was nice
to meet you.
Happy birthday.
[Clyde]
Where are you going?
[Sharon]
Look I'm sorry, Clyde.
But that was horrible.
[Ramina]
Clyde, I am so sorry.
[Clyde]
No, I am sorry.
I had no idea.
I'd say you dodged
a bullet, buddy.
Okay, excuse me.
I need some air.
Jennie.
Jennie. Jennie.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Should I call you Consuelo?
Is that it? Hey, come on.
You completely disappeared
for 15 years,
and then you show up,
tell this crazy story,
turn around,
and run out the door.
Have you actually been
to Tasmania?
Or Australia?
-Or China?
-Yes, yes.
I was in China,
Hong Kong, and Singapore
for 11 months.
You're making
all this shit up.
Why'd you follow me out here,
to call me a liar?
I came out here...
because you were
about to run off.
Again.
You don't understand
the feeling.
I went to Portland.
And in Portland
I was a whole other person.
And...
I felt reborn.
But then, after a while,
it started to feel
too familiar.
And I realized
I could just step out of it.
I could just start again.
It was like
I had this skill.
This power.
I could be anyone I wanted.
And I could do it again
and again.
I could live
a thousand lives.
And every time it was like
she'd always existed.
She had her own history.
And I keep filling her in.
Until she felt finished.
Ready to move on.
I'd feel free to let go.
There's this moment...
when you're a blank slate.
It's like a high.
And you're deciding
what next.
So, how many times
have you done it?
Nine.
Jesus.
Did you rob some banks
along the way?
It's not like that.
Oh, so you just get off
on deceiving people,
and playing
master of disguise.
-That's not what it is.
-Oh, yeah?
So, what are you
doing here, Jennie?
I wanted to see you.
You were the last person
who really knew me
before I left.
And I needed
to see someone...
who knew me.
Yeah, but...
that doesn't mean--
-[dog barks]
-Hey! Hey! Easy, boy, easy.
-Quiet.
-Easy, boy.
Quiet. Oh, you'd never know
he was trained.
Be nice, Jimbo.
Look at you.
Are you out for a late walk?
Say, "I insisted.
Wouldn't take no
for an answer."
Aw, he's great.
You guys been
to the new club?
Aw, you must hate the noise.
Well, actually,
I dragged my husband there
a couple weeks ago.
I wanted to see what
they'd done with the place.
It's not too bad.
Beats what we had
there before,
one of those weird
climbing walls.
Oh, I love those walls.
You ever try it?
Well, once.
Yep, you look like
the adventurous type.
-Do I?
-Yep.
Well, that's nice to hear.
Two years
in the Peace Corps.
Last of the hippies.
[Jimbo barks, growls]
You got everything
you need?
Let's go see Roger.
All right.
You guys enjoy your night.
-Good night.
-Good night.
-Jimbo, drop it.
-[barking continues]
-Stop it.
-[shuffling]
-Ow.
-Oh!
You all right?
Hey. Hey.
You okay?
Here, take my hand.
Take my arm.
-Ooh. Dear.
-Ow, my damn feet.
[groans]
-You okay?
-No. I don't think so.
Use the ball of your foot.
-How far are you?
-Oh, God.
I'm just around
the corner.
Well, we'll help you.
[panting]
Come on.
Yep, probably a sprain.
Need to elevate it.
Put ice on it.
[woman #2]
You sound like you know.
Yeah, well,
years of medical training.
Lucky for me.
What kind of doctor
are you?
Cardiologist, heart surgeon.
Children.
Ooh, geez,
how did you choose that?
Just in it for the money.
Yeah. Right.
You seem like the type.
My parents
were both doctors.
My brother's a doctor.
Me, I couldn't stand
the sight of blood.
My mom took me
into surgery when I was a kid
and I almost fainted
as soon as the knife went it.
It was an act of will
to force myself back up.
From then on I was determined.
Oh.
I'm a secretary.
Thirty-eight years.
I retire next year.
-Well, congratulations.
-Yeah.
What am I supposed to do?
Wind that gold watch
they give me?
[chuckles]
You're good, I can tell.
I don't understand
how some doctors
can be so awkward.
[Tom] Yeah, she's got
a real way with people.
Well, home sweet home.
Yeah. Oh,
he's dying to go in.
-Oh, well, we'll--
-It's okay, I got him.
-Let me, let me get--
-I got him.
Let me get my keys out.
Hang on a minute.
Move over, Jimbo.
I gotta get in here.
-There just hold on to the--
-Oh, dear.
-Is it upstairs?
-In there.
-Second floor.
-Second floor?
-Do you mind?
-No, not at all.
-Let's do it.
-Okay.
Let's do it.
Go on, Jimbo.
Wait a minute, Jimbo.
Hold up.
-No, no, no, can you get it?
-[cell phone beeps]
Hold on
to the banister there.
I got it.
[grunts]
There you go.
Oh.
-What's the matter with you?
-I fell.
These nice folks
helped me home.
Why were you walking him?
I told you
I was gonna to do it.
He needed to go.
Didn't you see him
pacing around?
How 'bout the couch, huh?
-Thank you.
-No problem.
She's a doctor.
Can you believe that?
Thank you.
I'm Roger, this is Nina.
Hello, Roger.
Nice to meet you.
-I'm Alice.
-Thank you, doctor.
-This is Tony.
-Tony? Okay.
She needs to elevate it
and stay off it
for a day or two.
-All right.
-Can you get it higher?
Here.
And it should be iced.
-Tony? In the freezer.
-Yep.
-Mm-hmm.
-[Roger mutters]
[Nina]
The plastic bags
are in the cabinet
over the sink.
[Roger muttering]
-[beeping continues]
-She doesn't listen,
she doesn't think.
Stubborn, stubborn,
stubborn, stubborn.
[Nina]
Yeah, look who's talking.
[Roger]
Oh, God damn.
[Nina]
Roger, move those books
so she can sit down.
And the mail.
Oh, my ankle's gonna swell up
like a balloon,
I can tell.
[Tom]
Here you go.
You might wanna let Tony
take a look,
he's the osteopath.
[Nina]
Oh, what are the chances?
[Roger]
Oh, course. Go ahead.
She has osteoporosis
and arthritis both.
Which is why she shouldn't be
walking the dog.
What's your specialty?
Sports.
Sports Medicine mostly.
Neck injuries.
He used to treat
Andre Agassi.
[Roger]
No kidding?
-Mm-hmm.
-Once. She exaggerates.
You could take
my sock off.
Okay.
[Roger]
Where do you practice?
In New York Presbyterian.
That's where my brother had
his kidney transplant.
Oh, really?
What was
Albert's doctor's name?
You think I remember?
It's something,
something...
Ah! I think
it's Fenworth.
I don't really interact
with that department.
But...
I'm guilty.
-I love being a doctor.
-Yeah.
Yeah.
So, let's take a look.
Oh, I'm a mess.
-Hold on.
-Aren't we all?
It's worst in the morning
when I get up.
I have to take
a Tylenol first thing
-or walking's a misery.
-Oh, I'm sure, I'm sure.
Uh...
On a scale
of a one to ten,
on average,
how would you
rate the pain,
ten being the worst.
Seven.
Better than an eight.
Here, use these.
Sure. Thank you.
Uh...
How long have you had
the problem?
[Nina]
About a year?
Right.
I was diagnosed
with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis,
yes.
It's actually
an autoimmune disorder.
The immune system attacks
the linings of the joints.
Tends to show up symmetrically
on the right and left sides.
Mornings are always
gonna be bad, I know.
You have to do
your flexibility exercises
-every day.
-Yeah, I know.
See,
that's what the doc said.
Yeah.
It sounds so much nicer
the way he says it.
He's good.
[Roger]
You better get good
or they'll
have to amputate.
Right, doc?
Mm-hmm.
No,
that shouldn't be necessary.
[laughs]
You'll have to excuse
his sense of humor.
[Tom]
Oh, you got me.
So, how's the ankle
feeling now?
It's comfortable.
Comfortably numb.
Perfect.
We certainly appreciate
your help.
I don't know
what she would have done
if you hadn't
dusted her off.
You two are cute.
How did you meet?
Us?
We met at a party.
He made a beeline
right to me.
His college was across town
from mine
and I used to sneak
into the parties.
[Tom] Oh, yeah.
Yeah, that's right.
It was three weeks
before she told me
she wasn't even
a student there.
Yeah.
I was totally
in awe of him.
He was the first person
I ever fell in love with.
Then he sat me down
for the "just friends"
conversation.
Oh, yeah.
Big speech about the future.
How he didn't see us--
What was it? Uh...
"Together down the road."
That's about right,
isn't it?
[Nina]
So, then what happened?
She disappeared.
It wasn't because of you.
Really?
Anyway,
it wouldn't have worked out.
He was far too wrapped up
in himself.
I needed something else.
Now, how did you two
end up together?
Oh, we're not together.
[Nina]
Wait, you're not a couple.
Oh, no.
No, we're friends.
He has a lovely wife
named Ramina.
-[Nina] Huh.
-[Roger] Here.
Something,
by the way of thanks.
It's grilled goat meat.
-[gasps]
-Eat.
Thanks.
It's not bad
for the the cholesterol.
You should tell
your patients.
It's a Haitian specialty.
I will let them know.
All right.
We slaughtered her
in a special ritual
so eating her flesh
makes you blessed.
[Nina laughs]
Stop it.
They're gonna think
you're serious.
He didn't take me serious.
You didn't think
I was serious, did you?
Not spicy enough.
He never makes it
spicy enough.
I had her one year,
one year in Port-au-Prince,
and she thinks
she's more Haitian than me.
-It's delicious.
-[cell phone rings]
-Have some more.
-[Tom] Ah, it's all right.
[Nina]
Well, I'm sure they want
to get on
with their evening.
[Roger]
I actually, before you go,
is there a chance
you could take
-a look at something?
-Oh, what?
Roger, no.
-Mm-mm.
-He's here. Okay?
Why not?
Her back has been
bothering her
because
of the osteoporosis.
Could you take a look?
-At her back?
-You don't mind?
-Sure. No problem.
-Just a little peak.
-[Nina] Oh, Roger.
-I've got you.
And let the good doctor
help you.
Help me? [groaning]
I don't know.
I was planning
on sleeping here all night.
It's chronic.
My mother had the same thing.
-Yeah, right.
- Ohh.
There you go.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Go ahead.
-Tom?
-Yeah.
Maybe we should head off.
You've got that patient
who keeps calling.
Right, yeah.
[Tom] Wow, I was
completely absorbed.
[Alice]
Yeah, it's hard to stop.
Remember when we went to go
visit your parents?
And we had to stay
at that motel afterwards?
-You got so sick.
-You took care of me.
Well, you were burning up.
I had to keep getting ice
from the ice machine
all night.
It kept eating
your quarters.
Yeah.
Oh, and there was
that weird woman
at the front desk
when we checked out.
She kept...
[squeaks]
[both squeaking]
-Her wheezing.
-Yes, yeah.
Oh, my God,
I forgot about her.
Yeah.
Hey, you know...
I'm sorry about your dad.
He was a really great guy.
Yeah.
He was.
Did you think I'd run off
and killed myself?
Well, you said,
some pretty extreme things
about your life.
Well,
things were pretty extreme.
Look, I didn't want to be
responsible
for you leaving school.
You were supposed to have
this whole life.
Yeah, right.
You know, they used to lock
the building on Sundays
to make us stop practicing
and get out
of those tiny piano studios.
You know, I didn't know
what to do with myself, I...
I went across town
and I remember seeing
the list of all
the different departments
you guys had.
I mean,
you could study anything.
You looked at me
so differently
when I told you
the truth about--
I was impressed.
I liked who you were.
No, you liked the idea
of who I was.
You liked
the incredible piano prodigy.
Anyway...
You weren't the reason
I disappeared.
I mean, you didn't help.
You were pretty
fucking shitty in fact.
I mean, that speech
you gave me about--
Yeah, yeah, I know,
-about being on a path.
-Being on a path? God.
Look, I was jealous.
I mean, you already
seemed so driven.
And I...
I mean, you know
what I do for a living?
Basically, I write emails.
I've spent the last 13 years
suggesting guidelines.
Which honestly,
I get almost nothing out of.
Almost, which is in a way,
worse than nothing.
'Cause you think
if you just hold on,
and shift
one little thing,
you can...
I feel like...
You know, if I leave,
basically, I've failed.
Mm, anyway,
what else am I gonna do,
sell insurance?
-I sold insurance.
-[laughs]
Mm? Oh, really?
Yeah, fuck you.
So, it's not a coincidence
you're in New York,
is it?
I mean, did you invent Alice
just so you could...
see me?
And all the rest of it.
You just made it up
all the studying frogs...
No.
It's real.
Show me.
Show me. I want to see...
who you are now.
[keypad beeping]
[Alice]
Knock-knock.
-[man #2] Alice, hey.
-Hey. James, this is Tom.
Tom, James.
-We trade night shifts.
-Nice to meet you.
I thought you weren't back in
till Tuesday.
I'm not.
Tom's an old friend
just visiting
and I told him he has
to hear the frogs sing
before he leaves
in the morning.
Definitely.
Hey, C-group's hatching.
-Yeah?
-Mm-hmm.
Will you give me
a minute?
[frogs croaking]
[louder croaking]
[croaking continues]
[mouths]
Thanks.
Thank you.
So...
So what's next?
Now that you've seen me,
you just
become someone else?
I want to see how you do it.
Leaving.
[loud clatter]
This is-- Huh.
I mean, they're all
so totally different.
Yeah.
Were you married?
No. Not married.
How do you even
keep track of them all?
Well...
This is Mae, China.
Cut in two. Mm-hmm.
Vanessa.
South Africa.
Sasha.
She was the last one.
[sighs]
Keeping track
isn't the hard part.
It's when everyone
around you
thinks they know who you are,
and they try to lay claim
to you and...
Then you're trapped.
That's the hard part.
So, stop doing it.
[chuckles]
And be who?
Hmm.
I still remember watching
you practice, you know.
There was this one time
you were working on a passage.
It was Brahms, I think.
And you just wouldn't stop.
Just over
and over and over.
You were so...
determined.
To just master it,
you know?
You're still doing it.
I mean, that's what
all this is, right?
It's all you.
All of them.
And it's crazy
and fucked up and...
it's also kind of amazing.
Want to come with me?
Time to go.
Ah, shit.
So, where next?
You should go now.
Wait, you mean,
you just want me
to leave you here?
Mm, okay.
Well, see you
in another 15 years maybe.
Maybe.
It was good
to see you again.
Thank you.
Take care of yourself.
You know where
to find me, I guess.
I've been thinking
about California and, uh...
[woman on PA system]
Attention, please.
This is the final call
for flight 421
to Amsterdam.
Departing passengers
should proceed to gate 52
for final boarding.