1
Here we go.
- Whoa-ho-ho!
- Whoa-ho-ho!
Rise and shine, beautiful.
Here you go, buddy.
Oh, thank you.
I still use these.
What took you so long?
They forgot the Mu Shu pork,
and it's your favorite.
Kids, come on!
Food's ready, let's go, inside!
Susan, you hungry?
- Bruce's book...
- Hmm.
Hedging Your Bet Against God
By Bruce Brooks.
That's a great fucking title.
What's the book about?
Well, the way I see it,
was there's a Bible for the afterlife.
I wrote the Bible for the here and now.
I'm actually not kidding.
And people can say
all they want about insurance,
and guys like me, but you know what?
At the end of the day,
having good insurance
is the most important thing
you can do while you're alive.
Every time you up it,
you're just hedging your bet against God,
am I right?
What are you doing?
Come on sit back down, Laney.
Everyone's enjoying the food.
The ribs are sour.
How would you know?
You didn't even eat them.
Laney, come on, sit down.
- Daddy...
- Where'd you get that dog?
We rescued him from the pound.
Janey, Bingo was supposed to
be a surprise for mommy.
Mommy, I think he needs you.
We talked about this.
No, you talked about this.
We didn't talk about anything.
Can you just give it a try?
Can you trust me?
Fuck you, Bruce.
Boom! Perfect!
Mom, can we keep her?
I don't know, E.
It's just one more thing to worry about.
E.
E, wake up.
You're having a nightmare.
What is it baby?
You have another bad dream?
Come here.
We were walking
down the street to go see Dad
and you were listening
to your headphones...
It's okay, take a deep breath.
Tell me.
I was trying to tell you,
but you wouldn't listen to me.
You couldn't hear me 'cause you
were listening to your headphones.
And there were all these cars.
And then I got trapped,
and I couldn't grab you.
And then the car just hit you.
You were dead.
That will never happen.
How do you know?
'Cause I don't have an iPod.
Oh, funny, Mom.
It will never happen
because I would never let it happen.
Okay? Go to sleep, Mommy's here.
I'll stay with you till
you fall asleep, okay?
Rise and shine, beautiful.
Thought I was gonna have to wake you up.
No, I don't want to get up.
Come back to bed.
I wish.
Hey, Bingo.
Only school buses allowed here, Lady.
- Since when?
- You must not be reading your emails.
- Mom!
- It's okay, E.
Um, is Frank here?
Frank always lets me double park.
I'm sorry.
What's it say, Mom?
It says we have to park.
Come on, Come on.
Susan, what is this?
Oh, it's to check the parent IDs.
They sent them in the mail.
Part of that whole new security thing?
- I don't...
- Don't worry. I'll vouch for you.
Okay, thank you.
ID?
I had a crazy morning. I forgot it.
I will bring it tomorrow, I promise.
Parent IDs are mandatory now.
We mailed them out last week
and sent an email.
- I'll vouch for her.
- Thank you.
- Mom?
- It's okay, E.
I've been walking him
to class for two years,
surely you can make an
exception for one day.
If I make an exception for you, Mrs.
Brooks.
Then I'm gonna have to
make one for everyone.
Is that how we want to teach our children?
I wouldn't think so.
At this point in the year,
Eli is familiar enough
to get to his own classroom.
- He'll be fine.
- I'll take Janey?
Okay.
- I'm okay, Mom.
- Are you sure?
Wait, Janey, give me a kiss!
Bye, baby.
Ooh.
I'll see you later!
...teach my kids, you fucking bitch.
"Is that how you want to raise your kids?"
Yeah, that's how I want to raise my kids.
Thanks for the help,
you fucking condescending...
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
I'm gonna take a shower.
Mmm-mmm.
Mmm-mmm.
It's early, stay with me.
No, I've got to pick up the kids.
Nah!
Oh, God. I love you.
No, you don't.
What?
Why do you say that?
Because you're married.
And because no man can
love a girl whose ass he just fucked.
Jesus, Laney.
You're crazy, you know that?
I told you I'd leave Sue soon.
I love you.
That's what's so funny.
You could love me, fine.
I could love you.
It doesn't matter. It means nothing.
Fuck. Fuck!
You can't park here, ma'am.
We've been all through this, haven't we?
I was hoping you wouldn't remember.
No, I remember.
Hey, Laney!
Oh.
Hey! Is everything okay?
Did Henry have a bad day?
No, I can't find Donny.
His cell phone has been off all day.
He hasn't been to the office.
I'm sure he's in a meeting or something.
- Lady, you gotta move it!
- I'm moving!
Look, I'm sure, I'm sure Donny is fine.
- All right, thank you.
- I'll call you later.
- Okay, thanks.
- Okay.
Oh! Those are my kids! Those are my kids!
Hurry, kids. Kids, get in the car!
- How was your day?
- Good! How was yours?
It was good. How about you, E?
E, how was your day?
It was fine.
Mommy, your phone!
I know, Sweetie.
- Did you miss me?
- Yes.
Did you cry?
How much do you love me?
Oh, good!
Oh, good, oh, good, oh, good.
Promise you'll never leave me.
Mommy, stop!
I'm teasing, muffin! I'm just teasing.
Why aren't you eating?
Not hungry.
You need to eat more food.
Real food. Not lollipops.
Jesus, what are you, the food police?
All that sugar isn't good for you.
Empty calories, right guys? Not...
- Energy food.
- That's right! Energy food.
And I know, if you eat too much sugar,
you can, um...
You can be very tired and it can...
It can wear down your body.
That's right.
And you'll lose some of your energy.
Mmm!
Did you that the pilgrims actually stole
America from the Native Americans?
They had the Native Americans
teach them how to grow corn and stuff.
And then they stole their land.
Is that, right?
Yeah, so we gave them casinos.
Mrs. Zeldis told you this?
No, John Frye did.
His mom told him.
She also said Thanksgiving is a lie.
John Frye's mother is a pig.
Lane.
All right.
You kids want to play basketball?
- Really?
- Yeah!
As long as you promise
to take it easy on me. Let's go.
- Okay!
- All right.
- That's good.
- Yes!
Yeah!
That was high.
Eli, soap.
I already did.
Oh, you did?
Did you practice piano today?
E, you've got a piano recital coming up.
Did you practice?
- Yeah.
- How much?
You done? All set?
- Mmm-hmm.
- Great.
Whoa-oh!
Mom?
I can't breathe.
E, put on your T-shirt.
Ooh, dry your balls.
Mom!
You'll get a rash.
What's up?
I'm just thinking.
About?
Your balls.
- What?
- Your balls!
Like do you worry about drying them?
Do I worry?
Like when you
were a little boy, did your mother
teach you how to dry your balls,
or you just knew instinctively?
Like should I be teaching Eli?
Honey, you dry them
like any other part of your body.
Oh.
But if you don't dry it,
could you get a rash?
I guess you could, but
whatever you don't get
will just dry in your underwear.
What's going on, Laney?
Oh, your underwear!
Of course,
I don't know why I didn't think of that.
You know, all this talk about balls...
You're so beautiful.
I feel like my dad dried and powdered.
Christ, Laney,
can we change the subject?
We got to get rid of Bingo.
I'm serious. We can't keep him.
It's just a dog, Laney.
All kids get a dog.
Why does it have to be such a big deal?
Why does everything
have to be such a big deal?
Because dogs get old and die!
I mean, what does a dog live?
Ten years?
Yes. Ten enjoyable years
our kids can have a dog.
Only you could manage to turn
getting a dog into a fucking negative.
I'm trying to spare them a negative!
This dog is going to die,
and our kids will be heartbroken.
Yeah, but that's life, Lane.
That's how it works.
Dogs die. Bingo will die too.
The kids can handle it.
I can't handle it.
Well, then why bother loving anything, hmm?
I mean, why bother loving me?
Yeah, yeah. I don't see why
anybody bothers loving anything.
Oh, come on, Lane.
You don't mean that.
I do mean that.
So what do you suggest?
Don't fall in love.
Don't...
Don't get married. Don't have kids.
Don't act like everything's gonna be okay,
when nothing's gonna be okay.
Well, thankfully
most of us like to keep fooling ourselves.
- You okay?
- Yeah, I'm okay.
Why wouldn't I be okay?
I don't know.
I just worry about you, that's all.
I got to go check on the kids.
Hello?
- Hi, is this Diane?
- Yes.
I'm so sorry to call so late.
This is Laney Brooks, I'm Eli's mom.
Fine. Actually,
I'm not, that's funny, I'm not fine. I...
Eli came home from school today
with a bunch of stories
about how the Pilgrims were thieves,
and Thanksgiving is a lie, and I...
Well, that's fine, I...
Well, you...
Yes, you can teach your kids
anything you want, I just would.
I'm trying to teach my son, uh,
to have gratitude and Thanksgiving...
Okay, now, I didn't call to get into
a debate with you, Diane, I just...
Mmm-hmm.
That's fine. Yeah, no, no, no.
How about this,
why don't you go fuck yourself?
And you can tell your little brat
to stay the fuck away from my kid.
Help.
Bruce.
Laney?
Are you okay?
Honey, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Oh, Jesus, Laney.
What did you do?
What did you do?
I don't think I can do this.
It's just a month, Laney.
You'll be home before you know it.
You must be Laney.
Okay. You can keep these.
And you can keep that.
And the rest of this
you can get back when you go.
And I need your bra too, honey.
Jesus.
I suggest you try and get some sleep.
Drink as much water as you can.
We'll check on you through the night
just to make sure everything's okay.
Questions?
I need to call my husband.
We'll give him regular updates.
Everybody's anxious their
first time, honey.
You're gonna do great.
I'll check on you later.
When did you start hating me, Lane?
I don't hate you, Bruce.
Then why did you stop taking your meds?
They were making me fat.
- That's bullshit.
- It's true.
So, what, you'd rather be insane?
You promised me you'd take your medication.
If not for me, then for the kids.
They're gonna start to notice.
I need to call my husband.
There's been a mistake.
It's honestly just not the place for me.
Your doctor will help you with that
when you see him, honey.
Okay, well then I'd like
to see the doctor now.
You know, the first 48 hours are the worst.
Well, is this a fucking hospital?
'Cause I'd like to see the doctor now.
This is a fucking hospital right?
Relax, relax. You need to get some rest.
This is the worst...
- Don't fucking touch me!
- You're gonna feel better soon.
I just want you to be happy, Laney,
like you used to be.
Don't you want to be happy?
Okay, your blood work shows
cocaine, amphetamines,
Ambien and marijuana,
but there's no trace of lithium.
Do you want to tell me
why you stopped taking the lithium?
Nurse Pauline says that
you're desperate to go home,
and that you feel you don't belong here.
I don't.
Well then, why are you staying?
Call someone and go.
You're an adult.
Why not?
- Because I have a family.
- So?
So, I can't just go home
and do this again.
So, uh, where would you like to start?
Really?
Really.
What's more interesting for you,
the daddy issues or the drugs?
Well, uh, I'd like to start
with the daddy issues
because it's a very organic segue
into the drugs.
Well, mine's boring.
My dad left when I was nine.
That's the whole story.
He kissed me goodnight,
and that's the last time I saw him.
So, drugs?
Yeah, we'll get to that.
Can you tell me
why you haven't spoken again?
Um, he didn't call me.
Why didn't you call him?
Because I didn't know where he lived.
Ah.
He's upstate. My brother told me.
- So, your brother talks to him?
- He does.
Or he did. I don't know.
We um, we don't talk about
Dad anymore because, um,
it always ends up in a fight.
When he left my mother,
she was devastated.
So, I... I held onto that.
And he
didn't, I guess.
- Did she remarry?
- Mmm-hmm.
Yeah, a few years later.
Why didn't you call him then?
Why don't you ask him
why he didn't call me?
Why do you think he didn't call you?
Can we talk about the drugs now?
- Hello?
- Hi!
Hey, how's it going?
Good! It's going...
It's going well.
- How are you?
- Good.
The kids are wiped out.
Getting ready for bed.
It was a big day ice skating.
You went ice skating, without me?
Laney, I...
I just... It's just...
We always go together,
I mean, it's kind of our thing.
Yeah, I know, Laney.
But you're not here.
Would you rather I didn't take them?
No.
No, I just...
I should've been there.
I know, and you'll take them next year.
Just focus on getting better,
the kids need you. I need you.
I'm sorry. I got to go.
Can I say good night to the kids?
I don't want to upset them before bed.
We'll see you at the family visit.
I'm sorry, Laney, I...
I have to go. I love you.
We all love you.
We miss you here.
I love you too.
You look good.
Feeling better?
I am.
You seem like you're making progress.
Yeah.
Why don't you say
what you're really thinking, Bruce?
What?
I don't understand why you're so angry.
I'm not...
- What?
- I'm not angry! I'm not angry. I'm scared.
- What are you scared of?
- Everything!
I know you think
that if I take my medication every day,
that everything will go back to normal.
But it's bigger than that.
What is Eli doing with his eyes?
Have you noticed that?
No.
Is he doing that at school?
I don't know.
No one's called me about it.
You can't wait for someone
to call you about it!
You have to call them.
Kids could be making fun of him.
You've got to call the teacher on Monday.
First thing. You've got to...
Promise me you'll call
the teacher on Monday.
I promise, Laney.
I'll make sure he's okay.
Don't worry about it.
I need to tell you some things.
Some
really fucked up things I did
when I wasn't thinking clearly
and I want you to know them.
So we can start fresh.
I don't want to do this now, Laney.
It's important for me, that I, that I...
I need to...
Come on kids. That's enough.
Let's go. Sit down.
- How many cupcakes did you eat?
- One.
One? Liar.
She ate two.
- Okay.
- Bye, Mommy!
Bye, baby!
Oh, it's so good to see you!
It's so good to see you.
- I brought you something.
- You did?
I made this for you.
Dream catcher!
No more bad dreams.
Thank you. E, thank you.
I love it. I love it. It's beautiful.
Neither of them
will ever know how hard
I tried to not hurt them.
Am I gonna fuck this up?
I don't want to fuck this up.
I don't want to fuck this up.
Well, you're gonna fuck up sometimes.
You're gonna say things that you regret,
you're gonna do things
that you're not proud of,
and then you're gonna remember
that you're a human being.
We all have our moments.
But when you came here,
you made a conscious decision.
And that was to live.
Nobody tells you
that it's terrifying,
you know, to love something so much.
Well, yeah.
You're going to have
to find a way to face your terror.
And, uh, you're going to have to
decide what it is you want.
Right.
What do you want?
I've made
really shitty decisions my whole life.
And I just...
I need to remember how to be a good wife,
and a good mother, and a real person.
I want to smile like I did the first time
I saw Janey walk across a room.
I'd love to smile like that again.
You know?
It might not happen right away.
You might have to wait for a bit.
Look, everything beautiful,
every moment of beauty,
it goes away. Fades.
But then there's another one,
and another one, and another one.
And you just have to be alive to see it.
Keep taking your meds.
Have faith in yourself.
Eli, you want to help us ice the cake?
No, thanks.
It's not the way I pictured it.
It's not perfect.
What? It is perfect.
What are you talking about?
I don't know why you're crying.
This cake is beautiful.
- Isn't it, E?
- I like it.
See?
All right, basement's dry.
What's going on?
She doesn't like her cake.
What? Janey, that's a great cake!
That's the best cake I've ever seen.
- Really?
- Really.
Hey, can I smell it?
Does it smell as good as it looks?
Okay.
Mmm
- Daddy!
- Yeah, that smells good.
- Your nose!
- What?
- Your nose!
- What?
What's wrong with my nose?
- You have something on your nose.
- What?
- I don't see anything.
- Your nose!
- Right there.
- What?
- I want to smell it!
- Okay!
- Oh, my gosh!
- You got a little something.
- What?
- Just a little...
- Smell it, Mommy!
- I'm want to smell it. Can I smell it?
Oh, my gosh!
That's the best smelling cake
I've ever smelled.
Come on, E. You want to smell it?
- What?
- Mommy!
Oh, it's all right, muffin.
It's just the electricity.
It'll come back in a few minutes.
Janey, look at this.
This one is just for you.
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Down in my heart, I'm gonna let it shine
Down in my heart, I'm gonna let it shine
Down in my heart
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine
Let it shine
Are you kidding me?
You can do better than that.
What concerns me
are the rituals.
The eye blinking,
the constant pencil sharpening.
Recently, he started a pattern
with tapping his feet.
These behaviors suggest anxiety.
The rituals are a way
for Eli to stay in control.
It's not unusual,
but the rituals can become a problem
when they get in the way of functioning.
When they become all consuming.
So, what do we do?
In my opinion,
Eli needs to see a specialist.
Perhaps start with
cognitive behavioral therapy.
Or, perhaps, he can even
benefit from medication.
Medication?
It's my fault. He's got my genes.
Stop it.
Did you go to rehab
because you're a drug addict?
No. Why...
Why would you think that?
John Frye said you're a drug addict?
Mommy, drugs are bad.
That's not why she was there, E.
John Frye is just trying to get your goat.
Eli doesn't have a goat.
Then why were you there?
I was having some problems in my mind.
And they were making me do things
I shouldn't have done.
Then why did you do them?
Well, it's complicated.
But, um,
but I saw a doctor
who was really, really smart.
And he helped me sort through my problems.
And now I'm better.
Did Mr. Odesky tell you
to send me to rehab too?
No. No, no, no.
Mom, look at this one. It's so cool.
Really cool.
- Eli!
- Hey, Henry!
- Hey, look who it is.
- Hey.
Hi, Donny. Hi, Henry.
Hey, it's good to see you back.
Oh, it's good to be...
It's good to be back.
Which one are you getting?
I have to see what I can afford.
I'd get a superhero if I were you, Eli.
Now, I don't know about you guys,
but I have always wanted
to be the kind of superhero
that swoops into the burning building
and then rescues the woman
and flies her off to safety.
Well,
you can't be Batman 'cause he doesn't fly.
Right.
And Spider-Man
doesn't really fly. He swings.
Well, what do you guys
think about Superman?
What do you think, Laney?
I think I could be a good Superman.
I think you're already a superhero, Donny.
Laney! It's so good to see you.
I've missed you.
I...
I didn't know that you were pregnant.
You're glowing!
Oh, bullshit. I look like shit.
I feel like shit.
But I'm almost halfway through, thankfully.
Oh, my gosh!
Congratulations!
Thanks. Hey, did you get my message
about my birthday party?
I did. I'm sorry, I did.
It's fine, I just want to make sure
you know, no pressure, really.
I totally understand if
you'd rather skip it.
- We're gonna be there. We're planning on it.
- Okay.
- Can I get this one, Mom?
- Yes.
Oh, hey, good choice, my man.
Um, we've got to go.
So, we'll see you next weekend!
- Yeah! We'll see you soon.
- Bye, Henry.
Oh, my big girl.
I have a wish.
You do? What's your wish, baby?
I can't tell you.
Why can't you tell me?
Because it won't come true.
Who told you that?
I don't remember.
Well, whoever told you
doesn't know about the "mommy clause."
You can always tell Mommy your wish.
I wish you'll love me forever.
You don't have to worry about that, baby.
I will always love you.
- Forever?
- Forever!
I don't know, I always heard
you're not supposed to have too much time.
Listen, I cover all that in the book.
But, to answer your question,
there really is no such thing
as having too much life insurance.
Especially, if you're planning
on having more kids.
No offense, David,
you look like you are in great shape.
Seriously.
But, I'm guessing Katrina here
is going to outlive you.
Yeah. That's the plan
I mean, I plucked her out of high school.
Stop, I was almost out of college.
Yeah, the book covers
a lot of unique scenarios.
I see it like this, Dave.
There's a Bible for the afterlife,
I wrote the Bible for the here and now.
Yeah. It sounds brilliant.
I mean, especially, that notion of, uh,
hedging your bet against God.
Sure it'll be a bestseller.
You know, I have always
dreamed of writing a book.
But, how did you do it, Bruce?
I mean, did you just sit down
and type everything
you were thinking into a computer?
Or did you pay someone to help you?
It's sentence by sentence.
Anyone can do it.
Listen, you call me any time,
and I would be happy to help you.
Thank you.
What do you want to write a book about?
You know, like, maybe a children's book?
I'm not sure yet.
I'm thinking about writing a book.
Really? On what?
Prostitution.
Prostitution? Come on, honey.
You don't know anything about prostitution.
It's the ultimate hypocrisy.
It's illegal to sell your body, right?
But if you're rich enough,
it's perfectly acceptable.
They just call it being a wife.
Sorry.
Uh, I would like to make a toast,
uh, to my beautiful wife.
Thank you.
Thank you for putting up
with the restaurant hours,
and thank you for putting up with me.
Suz, I just want you to know,
that, uh, every morning
when I drive away to work,
and I see you standing there waving,
with Henry by your side,
the only thing I'm thinking about
is how fast I can get back to you.
Happy birthday, honey.
- Hey.
- Hey.
God, you look amazing.
- Do I?
- Like a million bucks.
Thank you.
I wanted to...
I was gonna call.
But I figured I had done enough,
that I had done enough damage.
No, you...
It's not your fault.
You could have been any man.
Wow, really.
That came out wrong.
I just meant it's not your fault,
you didn't drive me to rehab.
I am here for you.
If you need anything,
you just call me, okay?
- Thanks. Thank you, Donny.
- Yeah.
Not at home.
You can call the restaurant.
If you need anything,
you talk to Jeanine, okay?
I mean, anything at all.
Thank you.
When are you gonna talk to me?
Why would you do that?
Babbling about prostitution?
I was this close to signing
David Blackman as a client.
- I know.
- Do you?
Do you have any idea how hard I work
to keep this all going?
'Cause you act like it's some big joke.
Like what I do for a living
is somehow beneath you.
We used to be in this together.
Remember?
We used to be on the same team.
I'm sorry. I said I was sorry.
I am, I mean it.
I know how hard you work. And I...
I don't know what I was thinking.
Come here. I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry.
- She was just, she was such a...
- Prostitute?
Yes!
Why don't you come to the conference
with me this weekend?
What if we run into my dad?
We don't ever have to leave the hotel.
I don't know,
you know how those things are.
It's just people being shitfaced
for three straight days, and I don't...
Not for us.
Nothing stronger than water for me, either.
Come on, we can lay in bed.
You could get a massage.
- What about the kids?
- They'll stay with my sister.
They've been through so much already.
They'll be fine, Lane.
Happy parents make happy kids.
Just think about it, all right?
It's been a long night.
I'll go with you.
Thank you.
I hate Upstate.
You don't hate Upstate,
you just hate your dad.
I think I hate them both.
Can I hate them both?
Yes, you can hate them both.
Rise and shine, beautiful.
No.
Pancakes and coffee.
- And bacon?
- Of course!
I've got to call housekeeping.
I got to get my dress steamed.
Wait, wait.
Wait one second.
What have you done?
Who would have ever thought
you'd be able to afford this ring?
You did.
Tell me the newsstand story.
And I want a massage.
- I forgot how high maintenance you are.
- Mmm-hmm.
Okay, the newsstand story.
Once upon a time,
there was this incredibly good looking kid.
Awkward kid.
Oh, right, I'm sorry,
that was a different story, my bad.
There was this incredibly awkward kid
in Teaneck,
who used to rack magazines at a store
around the corner from his house,
so he could make some extra bucks.
He was usually bored out of his skull,
but one day,
this knockout walked in.
Long black hair,
and some really incredible...
You know what I'm saying?
There was just something about this girl.
So this kid, started dressing up for work.
Bullshit, he wore a T-shirt.
If you knew how carefully
he selected them for fit and color.
Anyway, the point of the story
is that every day this kid would wait,
wondering when that girl
would come back in.
Mmm.
And then, one day she came back in
and asked the old man behind the counter
for a pack of smokes.
And, when he turned around she boosted
a candy bar and stuck it down her pants.
But before she left,
she turned around
and gave the kid a huge smile.
Blew him away.
He thought, this chick is hot and crazy.
So he rushed out after her,
desperate to get the nerves up
to talk to her for the first time,
and then she did the thing
that just owned him.
She gave the candy bar to the homeless guy
who lived in the alley.
And right then, the kid was done.
Whatever it took,
he knew he was gonna marry that girl.
And did he?
I'd marry you a hundred times.
I'm gonna go jump in the shower.
I don't want to be late.
Let's fuck first.
Mmm.
You sure you don't want to come with me?
As much as I love insurance seminars,
I think I might pass.
Funny. All right, I'm back at 5:00,
cocktails at 6:00, and the awards at 7:00.
I'll be ready.
- Have fun.
- Thanks.
Oh, I...
- I think I'm at...
- Daisy...
Elaine?
Hi.
What a... What a surprise.
Um...
Daisy, Daisy. This is Elaine.
She's, um...
I knew your dad a long time ago.
You can call me, Laney.
Come in, come in!
And this is Daisy's room.
Did you have a dollhouse
when you were little?
- I did.
- What color?
Yellow with blue shutters.
That's me, that's Mommy, and that's Daddy.
All right.
Let's snap.
Okay!
Bike helmets, huh?
Yeah, all these laws.
All that P.C. garbage.
Keeping our kids safe.
Helmets, car seats, this, that.
We didn't have any of this stuff
when you were a kid, and you came through.
You survived just fine.
Um...
I thought...
I thought maybe we would, uh,
come down to the city,
Daisy and me, over the summer.
You know,
maybe meet her niece and nephew?
- Janey and Eli are their names.
- Janey and Eli, yeah, right.
Uh, I'd like to meet them too.
My grandkids.
And Bruce.
I just, you know, when you're...
When it's the right time.
When you're feeling better.
Who told you?
Your brother calls me from time to time.
He gives me updates.
Why didn't you call me?
You were in the hospital.
It didn't seem the right time.
I mean, the 30 years before that.
She loves that bike.
Gave it to her for her last birthday.
When I was her age,
all I cared about was baseball.
I'll never forget when I
hit my first homerun.
Pow!
Brought in three runs.
I was so excited
I ran all the way home from school.
And, "Ma! Ma! Ma!" I shouted, "Ma!"
I couldn't wait to tell her.
I burst right into her bedroom.
Didn't even knock.
And there she was.
Face down on the floor
in a pool of her own vomit.
I never knew that.
No. You were too young.
I don't think your...
your mother even knew.
I felt calling you was wrong.
It was too much for me.
The whole family thing.
I wasn't ready. I just couldn't do it.
This time, Daisy helps me make her lunch
before she goes to school.
I never knew that would mean something.
Making lunch.
I have to go.
Can I use your bathroom?
Yeah, of course.
I really could have given you a ride
back to your hotel.
Give us more time to catch up.
Next time.
Bye, Daisy. It was very nice to meet you.
Take good care of your daddy, okay?
Hey. Can I?
Yeah.
I never stopped thinking of you, Elaine.
Make it work this time.
Go.
Hi, this is Bruce Brooks.
Please leave a message.
Fuck.
Keep 'em coming.
Not a problem.
Enjoy the company.
Where are you from?
Minnesota.
Dylan, Prince or The Replacements?
I went to the same high
school Dylan went to.
You're gonna think I'm crazy.
I like crazy.
Forget it.
Tell me.
Do people tell you, you look like Jesus?
Because you look like Jesus.
Bruce, I'm... I'm so sorry.
I fell asleep by the fireplace.
And, um, when I woke up, it was over.
The ceremony.
And I would have gone over, but I was...
I was nervous because
I didn't want to disappoint you.
But how was it? Were you a hit?
I looked for you there, Laney.
You weren't there.
So, now you don't believe me, is that it?
Yeah. I don't believe you.
- Well, Jesus...
- No.
Do not try to make me the bad guy here.
Saying your lie louder
doesn't make it true.
Okay, okay. Okay.
Listen to me, I...
I found a couple Xanax
in the bottom of my purse, and...
What the fuck is wrong with you?
Huh?
Why is it so easy for you to look me
in the eyes and lie to me? Why?
Huh?
- Do you even love me, Laney?
- Yes, of course I love you!
It's just not enough, huh?
I'm going to Atlanta,
I've got business there for a few days.
I need to clear my head
and figure out where we go from here.
Well, when are you back?
What about Eli's recital?
I'll be there in time for that.
And they can stay with
my sister until then.
What, you don't trust them with me?
No. I don't.
Look, I...
I think this was my fault.
I shouldn't have brought you up here.
- It was too soon.
- No, yeah, it was too soon.
I said it was too soon,
and now you're leaving me here.
You always seem
to find your way home eventually.
I just don't know if I want
to be there this time when you do.
Much has been written
about Beethoven's deafness,
but my favorite story is this one.
After the first performance of The Ninth...
Beethoven just stared blankly
at the orchestra.
A thoughtful musician realized
that he couldn't hear the clapping, so...
Daddy! Daddy!
...he made Beethoven turn around
to face the audience.
Bruce, please.
Why don't you sit with your family?
This isn't Carnegie Hall.
It was Beethoven's eyes, not his ears,
that conveyed the symphony's triumph.
And now let's use our eyes and ears,
while we welcome Eli Brooks to the stage.
Eli will be performing
the final movement of The Ninth,
The Ode to Joy.
Come on, Buddy.
Why is Mommy crying?
Oh, they're happy tears, baby.
You were just spectacular.
You were just so extraordinary, E.
I don't deserve to be your mother.
All right. Who wants a snack?
- I do!
- I do!
I'm gonna go to the bathroom.
See you in a minute.
- Mom?
- Mom!
- Laney?
- God, I...
I can't find my contact.
This is crazy. Because it's clear. It's...
Hi, Pumpkin.
Oh.
Oh.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- I need something to calm down.
- What happened?
Um, I don't want to talk about it.
I just...
I need something.
Laney, I can't give you anything.
What kind of person would that make me?
Donny, this is not the time to moralize.
You were just in rehab.
And now I'm not.
So, please...
It's all going to be okay.
Okay?
Not for me. No.
For you though, you're having a baby!
We'll figure that out.
Suz, what's up?
Okay, I'm on my way.
Honey, everything's gonna be okay.
Tell him Daddy's on the way.
How many people are you gonna
make everything okay for?
I got to go.
I know. I know.
Beer.
No Springsteen on the Jukebox?
Springsteen fan?
Best musician on the planet.
Put Jersey on the map.
Frank Sinatra would probably
argue with that, and Bon Jovi...
Bon Jovi?
All he ever wanted was to be Bruce.
We all want to be something
better than we are.
So...
So, what?
- Lick it.
- Lick what?
Lick it. Lick my ass.
I'm not licking that fucking ass.
No more, fucker.
I'll tell you when it's no more.
Fuck!
That hurt?
I didn't even feel it.
I didn't feel it.