Okay, Abrams.
Allende.
Bernstein.
Brown.
Come on, come on.
Attboy, Todd
Buckley.
Cohen.
Garcia.
Paul.
Take a seat, Lisa.
I just wanted to take a minute
to talk to you about your test.
Sure.
Now, I know you
had a little help.
Well, I mean, I didn't cheat,
if that's what you mean.
I'm just saying I know
you had a little help.
A lot of people did.
Well, be that
as it may...
I mean, I'll take it
over again if you want,
but, like, what
would be the point?
It's not like I'm
ever gonna actually
need to know this
stuff in my daily life.
Well, that's just not
necessarily true, Lisa.
Haven't you ever developed
an interest in something
that you didn't
initially think
you were gonna develop
an interest in?
Um...
No, not really.
Haven't you ever...
Haven't you ever been put
in a new situation
and found that after
overcoming its difficulties,
you had developed
a new set of skills
and new experiences
along the way?
No, I really haven't.
Okay.
Anyway, it was open-book.
So, what's the difference
between using a book
and, like, I don't know,
using somebody else's mind
who's really
good at math?
I mean, it's not like this person
did the whole test for me.
Oh, no?
No, I did some of it.
Well, next time I'd appreciate
it if you did it all.
Okay?
You are so fair.
What did he
say to you?
Nothing.
Mr. Aaron and I have an understanding
about my math problem.
So the President of the
United States, William B. McKinley,
authorizes the use of private
detectives to break the strike
and they went out there
and shot 'em down!
Just like they
did in Virginia,
just like they
did in Pennsylvania.
Because they didn't care!
They did not care!
And that's basically it.
That's basically
all there is to say.
All right? Go ahead.
- Becky.
- Well...
Mr. Klein! I mean,
was there ever, like,
a good president of
the United States?
I don't
know, Becky.
I think that's
a good question.
What do you think?
You. Lionel.
What do you think?
Did we ever have
a good president?
Um... I don't know.
I guess most of them have just
been, like, totally corrupt.
Lisa?
Can I just say that I'm not
necessarily, like, a big fan
of all the presidents
of the United States,
especially the current one.
But I still don't think it's
necessarily all that useful
to categorize every president
as universally corrupt,
because that just seems
really general to me.
Especially if you're gonna
judge them by the standard
of whatever they're supposed
to traditionally be like
in some mythical
version of America
that probably never
existed to begin with.
Lisa has raised
a salient point.
Tell him to be polite, tell
him to answer the questions,
and I'll arrange for his bail
in the morning. Yes.
Hey,
how'd you do?
Hey, Darren. It was fine.
Thank you so much.
So he didn't give you a
hard time or anything?
Well, he knows
I'm not planning
to go into mathematics
or anything.
He was totally
cool about it.
He's so cool.
Oh, yeah, everybody
loves Mr. Aaron.
What's that supposed
to mean?
Nothing. The man is
very lovable.
What are you doing now?
I was gonna go
look for a cowboy hat.
Why?
Because my dad is supposed to
take me and my brother
to this ranch in New Mexico
to go horseback riding
and I don't think
it would be right
to appear on horseback
in New Mexico
without the appropriate
equestrian paraphernalia, Darren.
You wouldn't
understand these things.
That is a
definite possibility.
Anyway, thanks again.
Well, before you venture forth on your
bizarre quest for a cowboy hat...
Yes, Darren?
What are you up to later?
Like tonight.
I don't know.
You wanna go to a movie?
What, you mean,
like on a date?
No, not on a date,
just go to a movie.
I don't know if
it's a fucking date!
All right. Calm down.
What do you wanna see?
I don't know, I don't
even know what's playing.
I don't know
if it's a date.
Let's just forget about it. I
hate the fucking' movies anyway.
They're just bullshit.
They're all bullshit!
Okay, take it easy. I'm sorry.
I was just asking!
What if it was
a date, anyway?
Would that be
so horrendous?
Oh, my God.
Are you like...
Are you asking me out?
I don't know.
Are you?
Yeah. I mean...
I feel like we're
already really close...
Oh, my God.
...and I think we'd
be a really good match.
Well, I would definitely
have to think about this.
Absolutely.
Give it some thought.
Okay. I will.
Okay.
Why do you look
like that?
Like what?
What do you want from me?
Not a thing!
AH right. I'll see
you later.
All right.
Hello!
Hi.
Is Mom home?
She went to the store.
Hey!
What are you
doing tonight?
Nothing. Darren wants me
to go to the movies with him.
Oh, my God.
What's that about?
I have no idea.
Becky, there is
not a cowboy hat
to be found in
the entire Upper West Side.
And I am very
depressed about it.
The Upper West
Side is saving you from yourself
because no one wants
to see you in that hat.
Hey! Hey!
Where'd you get...
How you doin?
Your hat!
What?
Where'd you get
your cowboy hat?
What?
What are you, crazy?
Hi.
Where'd you get
your cowboy hat?
My hat?
Yeah! Your cowboy hat!
You like my cowboy hat?
Really?
Yes! Where did you get it?
Somebody see
what happen?
Somebody call
an ambulance!
Call an ambulance.
Everybody just step back!
I'm calling one right now!
- Can you hear me?
- Get an ambulance!
Someone's calling one!
Ma'am, can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
I don't know!
Where am I?
You're on Broadway and
Between 75th and 74th Street.
- You were in a bad accident.
- Who are you?
My name is Lisa.
What do you mean? Am I dead?
No, you're not dead.
You were in a traffic accident,
but you're gonna be...
What do you mean?
What happened'?
You were run over by a bus.
You've got to be kidding me.
A bus?
Yeah.
ls there
a doctor anywhere?
Is it
still happening?
An ambulance is on its way.
The accident's over.
I think you're
a little confused.
I'll say I'm confused.
Here.
Let me just try...
No! Don't let go!
Ma'am!
- Don't let go of me! Don't let go of me.
- I won't.
I won't. I'm not gonna let go.
Thank you. Thank you, honey.
She needs a tourniquet
or she's going to die.
Okay, let me just...
Oh, my God!
Jesus Christ!
Help! God, what's
happening to me!
I'm sorry.
I'm trying to put
a tourniquet on you.
Ma'am, we need to get
a tourniquet on you.
Do you have a belt?
You can use your belt.
I just can't see
where to do it.
You're gonna be
all right, so just hang on.
Thank you, honey.
Just don't let go of me.
They're gonna put
a tourniquet on you.
What do you mean?
Are they doctors'?
No, they're not doctors.
They were just passing by.
Well, get 'em
the fuck away from me!
Ma'am!
Ma'am! We're only
trying to help you!
Never mind that!
Just try putting it around...
Do you wanna do it? You know how to do it.
You wanna do it?
Are you kidding me!
I can't see
anything.
Are my eyes open or closed?
They're open.
What do you mean?
You were in
a terrible accident.
But you're gonna be fine,
so just hang on, okay?
There's no place to put it.
I can't even find a...
Will somebody call
the fucking ambulance!
Calm down!
We already called them!
They're obviously
not coming fast enough,
so maybe you
should call them again!
Why not call them again?
You're gonna be...
Could somebody...
Could somebody
call my daughter?
Sure! We can call her.
What's her name?
Just tell me her name
and give me her number.
It's Lisa.
No, that's my name.
Is that your daughter's name?
What? What are you
talking about?
I'm sorry. I'm not
trying to be confusing.
My name is Lisa.
Is that your daughter's name?
Jesus Christ, just call her!
Would you call her?
I can't call her if you
don't give me the number.
I got it.
I got it!
Ma'am?
- You're gonna be okay.
- You're gonna be okay!
What's your
daughter's number?
Sweetie,
I don't think
I'm gonna make it.
Oh, no!
Please hang on. The ambulance
is gonna be here any minute!
So just hang on, okay?
Please!
It's okay.
She's gone.
No! No!
She's gone.
Please let go of me!
Please, let go of me!
Please, let go of me!
Just hang on. They're gonna
be here any minute, okay?
So just hang on!
You're gonna be okay!
You were going
the speed limit?
Yeah.
Lisa? You're Lisa? I just want to
ask you a few questions, okay?
Yeah, sure.
Now, just tell me
everything you saw,
even if you think it might
not be important. All right?
Think of it like a movie.
Like you're watching' a movie
in your head...
It was green as I
came to the intersection.
Could
somebody call my mother?
We already called
your mom,
but I'll have 'em put another call
in to your mother right now, okay?
I know this is
hard for you,
but we gotta get this while it's
still fresh in your mind, okay?
Some of these questions
might seem like
they don't make
a lot of sense to you.
They do make
sense. Just ask me!
Okay, that's what
I'm doin'. All right?
So now I'm gonna ask you,
from where you were standing,
could you see
the traffic light?
Could you tell me if it was red?
Yellow? Green?
She just came
out of nowhere?
What color
was the light?
Boy, I'm sorry...
I..
I guess it was green?
Green?
I think it was
just an accident.
Where were
you at?
I was on Broadway.
What happened to you?
Nothing.
Hello?
So, does anybody
know who she was?
I don't know. I guess
she lived around here
if she had all these
Fairway grocery bags.
What did they do
with her leg?
I have no fucking idea.
Hey...
Lisa? Are you sure
you don't want me to call in?
Oh, no, thanks.
I mean, thank you.
That's really sweet.
But I'm supposed to
go see Becky anyway,
and I don't really want to sit
here thinking about it all night.
Go to work.
I'll be all right.
- Hey.
- Hey, Darren.
Hey.
Joan?
Yeah?
You got some flowers.
Can you bring 'em in?
Oh, that's good.
I'm glad you guys liked it.
You were great.
Well, we have a lot of
work to do, but it'll be good.
The critics
are gonna love it.
They don't even
know me anymore.
Hey, are you
comin' out?
Um... I don't know.
I'm not sure.
Come on.
Maybe I will.
I don't know if I'm going to.
But I might.
See you later.
Bye.
- Goodnight.
- See you later.
Hi, are you Ramon?
Yes. Hello. You were
wonderful again.
Oh, you're so sweet. And thank
you for the beautiful flowers.
You're very welcome.
And you've seen
the show before?
Yes, two times.
Gosh. That's a lot!
It's a beautiful performance.
I'm sure you will
have a big success.
Well, right now, we're just trying
to focus on what we're doing.
I don't know
if you are busy,
but would you allow
me to buy you a drink?
If you like to
ask your friends...
I'm sorry. I can't.
I'm just on my way home.
Okay, that's no problem.
Tomorrow I'm going
to London for a few days.
Perhaps when I come back.
Um...
Yeah.
Okay.
I'm sorry.
I really have to go.
Okay. That's
no problem.
Anyway, thanks again
for the beautiful flowers!
It's a privilege
to meet you.
It's nice to meet
you, too.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
Hey.
I thought you
were at the movies.
Yeah, it wasn't
very good.
I was
doing a show in Detroit
and this woman
came backstage,
and she's like,
"Wanna come back
"to my place and
do some cocaine?"
I was like,
"I know the kind of pussy..."
Why you pop in
at 4:00 in the morning?
I'll get us thrown out.
Oh, oh. Do the Shirley Temple
! Come on, do the Shirley Temple.
Okay.
J' On the good ship Lollipop
J' It's a sweet
trip to the candy shop
J' And there you are
J' Happy landing
on the chocolate bar
J' If you eat too much
.l' Oh! Oh! You'll... J'
Keep going!
That's awesome!
Wait, what's that one?
Do the baby.
No,
it's too weird.
You have
to do the baby.
Some inspiration.
It's so disturbing.
I know.
It's too weird.
No, it's not.
Have another drink.
I think we can
tell I've had enough.
Matthew, if you would read
the role of France.
And, Anthony, why don't
you read Burgundy?
Burgundy.
And I guess I'm gonna hog
the part of Lear again.
Okay, Anthony?
"Royal Majesty,
I crave no more
"than what your
highness offered,
"nor will you
tender less."
"Right, noble Burgundy,
"When she was dear to us,
we did hold her so,
"But now her
price is falls."
My family are
from Colombia.
My father worked in
the diplomatic service.
Really? Wow.
I grew up five years in Panama
and nine years in Paris.
And what do
you do, Ramon?
I have a company.
We design computer software
to help companies
in South American countries
that use an
incompatible software,
so the computers can
talk to each other.
It's a big problem
in South America
where there is not so much coordination
in computer communication.
Right now is a lot
of opportunity for us
because for the big software
companies, we are still the backwoods.
That's changing quite fast.
Can I give you a lift?
Oh, no, thank you, I'm just
gonna grab a cab. But thanks.
May I call
you sometime?
Okay. Sure,
that would be great.
May I have your
telephone number?
Mom?
Just a minute!
Can I come in?
Just a second, please.
Hold on.
Come in.
Can I talk to you?
Sure. What's up?
I'm supposed
to go back to
the police to
confirm my statement
the day after tomorrow.
So what do you
think I should do?
Well, I don't know, sweetie.
I mean, that bus driver probably
has a family to support.
He could probably
lose his job.
So I think you
should really think
about that before
you say anything.
Okay?
Yeah.
Think of the
implications of what you're saying.
I'm saying what is
the frame of reference
for the average
Arab on the street?
Angie. Yeah. My mother's
family is from Syria,
and they're not exactly in
love with the current regime.
And I definitely don't agree with
a lot of their religious views,
especially when it comes to
the oppression of women.
But I just wanna say
that Americans have no idea
how much people hate them
all over the world.
It's pretty
clear to us now, Angie.
And all my relatives
in Syria think what
we did in Afghanistan
was terrorism, okay?
Anthony?
Not to mention Iraq.
Syria is a theocratic
military dictatorship.
No, it's not. Sorry.
Syria is not a theocratic
military dictatorship?
I think we have
a pretty good idea how
much people hate us now,
actually, Angie.
No, we don't.
They blew up our city, okay? So, yeah,
I think we have a pretty good idea
and personally,
I don't give a shit.
You should.
The people who blew
up the World Trade
Center were a bunch
of sick monsters.
Oh, they were monsters?
Yes!
Why, because they're Arabs?
No, because they killed
Maybe they think
they had a reason!
One at a time!
Like what?
Why did we
drop bombs on them?
What should
we have done?
Why did we invade Iraq
They declared war on us.
No, they didn't. Iraq
didn't declare war on anybody!
They didn't do
anything to us!
Come on,
guys, one at a time!
Anthony.
They did have a reason.
Thank you.
They wanted to
establish a medieval
Islamic caliphate
in the Middle East
and destroy
Western civilization.
Where did you read that?
It's on their website.
Okay, forget it.
Angie!
No! Forget it!
Go ahead with
what you were saying!
No! Why should I?
But why are you defending someone
who murdered 3,000 people?
I'm not!
Why are you
defending a country that
unilaterally invaded
two Muslim countries
and supports the Israeli
occupation of Palestine?
Give me a break!
And drops bombs on
women and children
and then calls
other people terrorists
for doing
the exact same thing?
Because it's not the same thing!
Yes, it is!
- Come on, guys.
- Lionel! Go ahead.
Yeah, I just want to ask why is
it okay to drop bombs on men
but it's not okay to drop
bombs on women and children?
I mean, isn't that
just like reverse sexism?
I don't know. I agree
it's a bullshit term.
This is totally stupid.
Monica!
I think the whole class should
apologize to Angie, actually,
'cause all she did
was express her opinion
about what her
relatives in Syria think.
Thank you! And everyone
started screaming at her
like she was
defending the Ku Klux Klan!
They are the Ku Klux Klan! They
throw acid in womans faces.
Who? Afghanistan? Why not drop
bombs on the Ku Klux Klan!
Because they're white?
Six people raised their hands
before you, Lisa.
MR. Come on, guys.
The correct term is Afghans.
Okay, I'm not even saying
I disagree with you.
I'm just saying it's pathetic the way
people in this class treated Angie
just for saying something they
didn't happen to agree with.
Because that's
censorship. Right?
Right?
It's not censorship!
Right on! This class
is not the government.
It's censorship. Oh,
my God, no, it's not!
We work out of Highway One
out in the Bronx.
Near the Bronx Zoo.
Oh, okay.
But for a situation...
Hey, how are you doin'?
But for something' like this,
we usually find a local
precinct or an apartment.
Whatever will expediate the
situation most effectively.
Have a seat wherever you want.
Just pull up a chair.
According to this statement,
the light was green
when the bus passed
through the intersection.
Yes.
So you're saying she walked
against the light?
Yeah.
It's true.
Two years of college,
two years at the magazine.
Two years with you.
I'm kind of
a two-year gal!
What's funny
about that?
What did you
think of the play?
It was okay.
- Hello?
- Hi, Dad!
Yeah! Hi!
How are you?
I'm okay. I'm fine.
I'm just sitting here, looking at the
ocean, trying' to do a little work,
listening to some music.
How are you?
I'm okay.
Are you practicing
your horseback riding?
Oh, yeah, I've
really been riding a lot.
I'm getting' these
really bad saddle sores.
Are you?
No,
I'm kidding.
Yeah. Do you know
Claremont Stables on 89th
between Columbus and Amsterdam?
Yeah.
Well, it might be
really worth your while
to go over there and maybe sign
up for a couple of lessons.
No...
I'd be happy to...
I'm sorry, what?
I was just saying I'd be
very happy to spring for it
if you want to take
a couple of lessons.
I think it would
pay off in the end.
Thanks. I actually
may take you up on that.
Yeah, just let me know.
I appreciate that.
So, how's school?
School's okay. I'm kind of
fucking up in geometry.
But I assume
you're not torpedoing
your scholarship or
anything like that?
Nope. The scholarship's on.
Okay, good.
Well, math was never my
strong suit either, so...
I guess I'm following in your
footsteps in that regard.
Well, I'm proud
to hear it.
So, how are you?
Um... I'm okay. Things are okay.
They're a little slow
and a little frustrating.
But there's one or
two projects we're
going after that
seem to look promising.
And I don't know,
I think it's okay.
Okay.
How's the boyfriend situation?
Oh. The same.
Nobody...
They're all kind
of the same.
Well, I know this is not
going to go anywhere,
but our next workshop is
comprised, for the most part,
of strapping young men of
about 17 years old who,
for some peculiar reason, are
interested in using their brains
to get on with their lives.
Nobody really understands
why or how this happened,
but if you're
interested in meeting any
of them when you
come out next time...
Yeah, I don't really go for the
California type, but thanks.
Well, I don't either, per se. It
depends on the person, obviously.
Hard to argue with. I think
I'll stop generalizing now.
Well, that's about
it on my end, sweetie.
I'll give you
a call in a week or two.
Give my love to Curtis.
Okay. Well...
I love you.
I love you, too. Bye.
You do know I
have two kids, right?
Yes. I would like
to meet them.
You are really smooth.
I would love to
meet your kids.
I have two boys myself.
I'm not smooth.
Would you like to
have a nightcap?
I just...
I feel like we used to
be really close, like,
up until a few days ago,
and I'm really not getting
that from you anymore.
Becky, give me a break.
Now you wanna do
the other nostril
because you always want to be symmetrical.
Very important.
You are so funny.
symmetry
So, what do
we do now?
Now we make out.
Paul! What about
your girlfriend?
I'm sorry.
It just sounded like
you asked me
about my girlfriend.
Oh, never mind.
I don't know, man.
I don't wanna get into it.
You know I really
love you, right?
Not really.
I gotta go home.
I'm just gonna
head out, too.
You need a little help,
I take it?
Joan, are
you all right?
Yes, fine.
I'll be out in a sec.
Okay, we're gonna start with
a few simple stretches.
I want you all to watch me
first, and then you'll follow.
All right,
so left arm goes up.
And then all
the way over to the side,
you're gonna
feel a long stretch
along the side of your body.
All right.
Mr. Aaron?
Yes, Becky... Lisa?
Are you still mad
at me about the test?
What's going on, Lisa?
Because maybe
the bus driver
is completely
devastated as it is,
and I'm just gonna
be this rich girl who
calls up the cops to
ease her conscience.
What does your being rich
have to do with anything?
You know what I mean.
No, I don't.
I don't mean literally rich. I mean
rich compared to the bus driver.
Lionel? I'm going
to need five minutes.
I just thought you
wanted to know that
there's a lot of
people out here
and it's kind of
hard to breathe.
You better close
that door now, Lionel.
I'm sorry, I gotta
let these guys in.
I don't want to leave you hanging.
Look, if you're hurting,
we could get a cup of
coffee after school.
I'd do that.
Hey, does this
dress make me look fat?
Um... A little.
Well, there's nothing
I can do about it.
Where are you going?
The opera.
Why are you
going to the opera?
Turns out he's
a big opera fan.
Anyway, don't you
think it sounds kind of fun?
We should all go sometime.
No, thanks.
Why not? I bet
you'd like it.
I don't like that
kind of singing.
You like classical music.
Yes, that's true, but I
don't like opera singing.
When have you ever... It's
like their entire reason
for existing is to prove
how loud they can be.
I don't really find
that all that interesting.
Yeah. I know what
you mean, but it's not
all like that.
You like The Magic Flute.
Okay. I guess I'm wrong.
I guess I do like
opera singing.
I just didn't realize it.
What is the matter
with you?
Nothing at all.
Why are you pushing this? I
don't want to go to the opera!
Yes, okay.
I'm not pushing anything.
All you have say is,
"No, thanks."
I did and then you
were like, "Why not?"
So then I told you, and then
you started debating me,
like you assumed
that I've never
thought this
through for myself,
which I have, many times!
Okay, well that was a really
contemptuous assumption on my part.
I don't actually
like the opera that much
myself, but I'm
trying to expand my mind,
maybe that's wrong.
I'm sorry. I guess I'm a little
nervous about you guys meeting Ramon.
Why? What's the big deal?
Why are you so
influenced by
what Curtis and me...
...what Curtis and I think?
Hey, why does everything
I say annoy you?
Jesus Christ,
I'm just sitting here.
Here, you be me, and say
anything and I'll respond to you
the way you've been responding
to me this whole conversation.
Go ahead,
you say something to me...
No! I'm not gonna do that.
Why not?
Because it's dumb!
I'm horrible.
I get your point!
Oh, okay. Whatever.
Was that supposed to be an
imitation of me?
Mmm. Okay, withdrawn.
Are you coming to
my opening night?
I will if I have to.
You're a little cunt,
you know that?
Yes. You're a big cunt.
Okay, let's not start talking
to each other that way.
You just called
me a cunt, Mom.
I'm sorry I said that...
Why? It's refreshing.
If you're saying you're not aware
you've been really annoyed with me,
or really irritable
with me and it doesn't
matter if I express
it exactly accurately,
because you know what I'm trying to say.
Not really.
If you're really saying that
you're completely unaware of that,
then I have to say I don't think
you're being honest about it.
Now, maybe I'm
doing something horrible
to you without
being aware of it,
but I have a show opening in two
weeks, I'm really nervous about it,
I'm seeing a new person
and I'm obviously anxious about
you and Curtis liking him,
you were involved in this
horrible, traumatic accident,
you're going on this crazy horseback
riding trip with your father...
Oh, my God! ...which sounds like
a recipe for disaster to me.
And on top of
everything else, Lisa,
ever since I told
you about Ramon,
you have been
treating me like I'm insane.
I think you're exaggerating.
Now, what am I supposed to do?
What am I supposed to do?
Just stop whining
about everything!
It doesn't matter.
None of it matters at all.
You've been in
a million plays,
you always get freaked out
because of what some dumb critic
is gonna say
about your dumb play.
I don't frankly
give a shit about Ramon
or who you're going
out with this week.
I never go out with anyone.
I don't care!
Don't talk to me like that!
I've barely had a date
for the last two years!
Yeah, but I don't care about any of it.
It doesn't matter.
Your boyfriend doesn't matter. Your
play doesn't matter, except to you.
I don't care about New Mexico,
because to tell you the truth,
I'm probably not even going.
What do you mean? Want to
know something else, Mom?
There are more
important problems
in the world than
our relationship.
There is a whole city out there
full of people who are dying,
so who gives a shit if I
like your fucking boyfriend?
It is so trivial.
Why are you bothering me
with all this?
It doesn't matter.
Well, should I
have him come up now?
Or should I
have him wait downstairs?
Do whatever you want.
I don't care.
Lisa, I don't even know
what we're talking about.
I know you don't.
That's the problem.
Oh, give me a break.
Everything is all right?
Oh, yeah. Oh. I'm so excited
to be going to the opera.
I don't think I've really gone
more than one or two times.
I wish it wasn't Norma,
but still it's fun to go.
What if we went to see
something else instead?
You don't want
to hear Norma?
Oh, no, I don't mean that.
I just meant,
wouldn't it be funny
if we walked into one
of the other events?
Like, what if we
just went to see
the Daniel Goldfarb
play instead?
I think
you will enjoy this.
It's beautiful.
Shh.
This is the dumbest
book I've ever read.
- Yo.
- Hey, Paul.
Hey.
It's Lisa Cohen.
Yeah, how's it going?
Okay. What have
you been up to?
Seeing some
questionable movies,
and not deciding
where to go to college.
Sounds good.
So, I was just thinking...
This is gonna
sound really queer,
but by any chance would you
want to meet somewhere
and, like, take away
my virginity?
Um... All right.
Really?
To what do I owe this
inconceivable honor?
Actually, it's because
of my deep,
passionate feelings
for you, Paul.
That's pretty
much what I figured.
Do you wanna give
me your address?
Oh, um...
It's 252 West 85th Street.
Okay.
All right. I'll be
there in like a half hour,
or more.
Okay.
All right. I'll see you. Bye.
- Hello?
- Hey.
What are you up to?
Writing my Lear paper.
That's impressive.
Not really.
I've just never
known you to be
so devoted to
your studies before.
So, what did you do tonight?
Actually, Darren, I don't really
feel like talking right now.
Okay.
Okay?
Yeah. I'll talk
to you later.
Okay.
Okay, bye.
Bye.
Hey.
Hey, come in.
I think I just
alienated one of
your neighbors by
smoking in the elevator.
Really? What
did they say?
She basically said there was
no smoking in the elevator.
That's original.
So, this is the living room.
Very livable.
We like it.
My mom hasn't read any of
these books, by the way.
Have you?
Some of them.
Not all of them.
This book is
a very cool book.
Yeah, I think The Third Reich may be a
little bit too much for me right now.
It's pretty hard to put down
once you get started.
Do you want
anything to drink?
I'd take a beer.
Okay, that's
in the kitchen.
This is my room.
Ta-da.
Very nice.
These are some
drawings I did.
Not that I should be
showing them to you, because
I know you're like a really
good artist, right?
I would like to be
a really good artist.
At this point, I think
it would be more
accurate to say
I'm good at drawing.
Yeah, I just do it for fun. But
I've always really liked it.
So, can I ask
you something?
Yes?
This is probably gonna sound
very immature,
but how can you be so relaxed,
knowing what we're about to do?
Or is it just like
no big deal to you?
Okay, that was
a really stupid question,
and I'm totally
embarrassed right now.
I'm actually more embarrassed
than I've ever been in my life.
If you wanna go home now,
that's totally okay.
Easy there.
Don't be embarrassed.
It's basically, like,
the world's greatest activity,
but it's not actually worth
getting nervous about.
Yeah, I don't usually get nervous
because I think it's worth it,
I usually get nervous because
I can't help the way I feel.
There is that philosophy.
You are so funny.
Do you have an ashtray?
You can just chuck
it out the window.
How would one just
chuck it out the window?
Oh, you just slide
the little door...
Like that?
Yes.
Am I supposed to go really
fast at the end or something?
Yeah, but we're gonna
move on before that.
Here.
Oh, oh. You don't
have to do that.
I know.
I want to.
But don't do that.
I'm just embarrassed.
Let me do it to you.
All right.
Um...
Any general guidelines?
Just be careful.
Okay.
Are you ready?
Yeah.
Okay.
Now, this is a little tricky. It's
probably gonna hurt a little at first,
but then it's gonna get better.
Just be patient.
There are certain
technical difficulties on
my end that have
to be addressed,
or it's not gonna happen.
Okay. You sound
insane.
Okay, ready?
Yeah.
Okay.
Mmm-hmm.
Okay, hang on.
Okay, there we go.
Does it hurt now?
Kind of, yeah.
Okay, just try to relax. It'll
get better in a second...
Did you bring a condom?
- huh.
Shouldn't you put it on?
I will in a second.
This is really
kind of hurting.
Okay, one second.
I love you.
What?
Nothing.
Okay. Hold on.
Shit.
What?
Okay, one second.
Oh! Sorry.
Sorry.
Oh!
Sorry about that.
Kind of got away from me.
Did any of it
get inside me?
I don't know.
Yeah.
It definitely did.
Honest to God,
it's probably okay.
The odds are overwhelmingly
that it's okay.
That's my little brother.
Hey, Curtis.
Hi.
I loved it.
It was so exciting.
But how about those people
yelling "bravi" and "brave"?
How do you mean?
Well, it's just
so pretentious.
"Bravi, bravi." Why can't
they just say "bravo"?
Well, it's the plural. It's what they
say to acknowledge the ensemble.
No, I know it's correct, but don't
you think there's just something
a little pretentious
about some of those people?
Pretentious?
I don't mean they
didn't really enjoy it,
but you know how you can
be enjoying something,
but you're also kind of looking around,
out of the corner of your eye,
because you know people are
watching you enjoy it?
Yes, but I wouldn't say
that it was pretentious.
In Italian you say "bravo" for the
man and "brava" for the woman,
and "bravi" for
the whole company.
- huh. Okay, I see
what you mean.
You use the masculine
for the male singer
and the feminine
for the female singer.
Anyway, I really enjoyed it.
Thank you.
We'll have to go again.
It was so glamorous.
Accident Investigation,
Detective Mitchell.
My name is Lisa Cohen.
I was a witness
in a bus accident
case a few weeks ago.
Yeah, hi, Lisa.
What can I do for you?
Well, are you
allowed to tell me how
to get in touch with
that woman's family?
I really wanted to send
some flowers or something,
or is that like
classified information?
No, the family's been notified.
Let me see what I got.
She mentioned
she had a daughter.
Just hold on a second.
How are you doing, okay?
I'm okay.
All right, let me just...
Okay, I don't have
anything for a daughter.
The only contact I have is
a cousin, Abigail Berwitz.
I got a phone
number in Arizona.
Okay.
Mmm-hmm.
I'm trying to
reach Abigail Berwitz?
This is Abigail.
Hi.
My name is Lisa Cohen.
You don't know me.
Yes? Hello?
I'm actually calling about
your cousin, Monica Patterson?
Okay?
Um...
I was actually
there when she had...
During the accident,
I didn't know her,
but I was holding
her hand at the time.
Yes? What can I do
for you?
Um...
Okay, well...
I saw her obituary
in the paper,
but can you hold
on one second?
Can you shut
up for five minutes?
What am I supposed to do?
I have to practice.
I don't give a shit!
Sorry. Um...
I didn't see anything about a funeral.
I assume they had one.
As far as I know,
they're doing
something or other
next week, but...
I'm sorry,
I was also wondering...
She said something
about her daughter?
No. She wanted someone
to get in touch...
No. Her daughter's not alive. She
passed away quite a long time ago.
Oh, my God.
Was she sick?
Or was it...
She had leukemia.
Oh, my gosh.
Mmm-hmm.
And do you mind if I ask...
Could I just interrupt?
How did you get this number?
This is harassment!
I'm sorry. I'm not
trying to harass you.
I've been getting
calls about this
for three weeks,
and I gotta tell you people,
I didn't have any kind of
relationship with Monica whatsoever.
The person you
should be calling is
Emily Morrison,
who was Monica's friend.
She's the person who's been dealing
with all of this in New York.
It has nothing
to do with me.
I'm sorry! I didn't really
know who to contact.
Now, I can give you
her number,
but I would very much appreciate
it if the calls would stop.
Yeah...
Can you hold on
while I get a pen?
Yes.
All right.
Okay.
Hi, are you Lisa?
Yes.
As most of you know,
Monica was not
a religious woman.
Anybody who ever
had to sit through
a wedding or
a funeral with her
knows how she felt about
formal occasions.
So Harry, Elise and I,
we were talking about this,
decided we would
just have everyone over,
and let anyone who wanted to talk
about Monica, just talk about her.
Maybe share some remembrances.
Some of us know each other
and some of us don't.
But we're all here...
We're all here
because we loved Monica
and because we want to pay
tribute to her in a way
that might conceivably
not enrage her.
Now, I don't wanna tell anyone
what to think, or how to feel.
And I don't want
to kid myself about
the stupid, meaningless
way that she died,
because that would really
make her throw up,
but I don't want it to become
the summation of her life,
because it's not.
When her Lisa died...
When her Lisa died, I said to
her, "How can you stand it?"
And she said,
"First of all, I can't.
"But I don't want to take away
the 12 years she did have
"and turn them all into leukemia,
because they weren't."
And so I do think
it's important to remember
that despite the fact
that she got ripped off,
she was the most
fully developed person
I, personally,
have ever known.
She was also impossible
to get along with,
but that's another story.
So, now I've said
my little piece.
And now I want to talk a bit about
the first time we ever met.
She was... She was 21.
It's okay, Emily.
I know.
I was 19.
Even though I realize
it's impossible for my
children to believe
I was ever that young.
Hi, Dad.
Yeah, hi,
how're you doing?
Okay, how are you?
I'm just sitting
here listening to some
music, having
a delicious glass of beer.
That sounds pleasant.
Yeah. How's everything going?
How's the boyfriend situation?
Well, there's this one guy I sort
of had something going with, but...
But he kind of has
a girlfriend, so...
- huh.
I realize I'm
incredibly enthralling.
You are. You're very lucky.
You're a very
beautiful girl,
and you've got brains.
That makes you
a little dangerous.
Don't forget mature.
Well, I hope you're
not too mature.
No, don't worry.
Good. That was
a very good answer.
Anyway, I do think it's a pretty
longstanding relationship.
Then you know what?
You just do nothing.
Do absolutely nothing.
And I guarantee
you one of two
things will happen.
Either you're
going to get the guy to
start doing back flips
to get your attention
or you're going send
him a crystal clear
signal that if he
doesn't do back flips,
he's not gonna
get your attention.
I think he already
knows I like him.
- huh? Okay...
I think I might have spilled
the beans on that one.
That's okay, because now,
if you stop acknowledging him,
if you suddenly
give him nothing,
I guarantee you, the guy
is going to go berserk
and forget his girlfriend,
unless he's just not interested.
In which case, you just gotta
take your lumps, which is tough.
Okay, thanks, Dad.
I'll be sure to try out
the technique
next time I see him.
Well, everything's
okay here.
Things are a little slow, but...
Actually, Dad?
Yeah?
I actually have something kind of
serious I want to ask you about.
Okay.
I'm kind soliciting people I
respect for their views on this.
Okay, what's up?
Do you think I should go
back to the police, or what?
Well, first of all, I'm very
glad you told me about this.
I want you to let me call
my friend who's a lawyer,
just so we can find out what some
of the ramifications would be.
Maybe the three of us could talk
on the phone and possibly...
Hey.
Hey, babe.
Actually, Dad, please
don't call anybody.
Did you get my message?
Um... I got a message.
- Hello?
- Sorry.
About the flowers
for my mother?
Just one second. Annette just walked in.
I'm sorry.
That's okay.
Who are you talking to?
I guess I would
just like to know later
that I would have
done the right thing
by myself, if you
see what I mean,
because I don't think I have so far.
- huh.
Not that I'm trying to make
this woman's horrible death
into my own personal
moral gymnasium...
Right. Well, that's
that Shaw quote, right?
What?
The Shaw quote?
That great Shaw quote.
"The Englishman sees
the world as expressly
"designed to be his own
personal moral gymnasium."
I think it's in one of those
wonderful prefaces.
I don't know
where I read it.
Who is that?
It's Lisa.
Oh, good. Will you
please ask her...
Anyway-...
Hold on.
I'm sorry, Lisa.
Can you hold on
one second?
Yes?
Please ask if there's
anything we don't know about
that she won't eat,
for the trip.
I have to call the ranch
because they do all the meals
- ahead of time.
- Okay, I will.
I really will. We're just
in the middle of something.
Karl, I was supposed
to call them last week.
You said you were
going to call her.
If I hear about this
fucking ranch one more
time, I'm going to
blow my brains out.
I'm just in the middle
of something.
I don't...
What do you want me to do?
Fine, but if they put anything
in the baskets she can't eat,
well she's not going
to have anything to eat.
I will ask her...
The last time
she came out here,
we went to three different
restaurants and she...
I will ask her. We're just right
in the middle of something, okay?
Okay. Tell her
I said, "Hi."
I will. Okay.
Hello?
Yes. Hi.
Mom?
Monica!
There's
somebody here to see you.
Hi.
I'm really sorry
to bother you.
We never met.
I'm Lisa Cohen.
Yeah. What can
I do for you?
Well, do you remember me
from the bus accident?
I don't know.
What's this about?
Would it be okay if I
talked to you for a minute?
What do you want to talk about?
I don't understand.
I just wanna talk about the
accident for a minute.
I don't want anything, and I'm
not here to do anything bad.
I just wanted to
talk to you about it.
Where did you
get my address?
I called information.
I was gonna call first, but...
It would have been better.
We're about to sit down.
I don't get what...
All right.
Let's go outside.
I'm sorry. Could I
use your bathroom?
No, let's just
go outside.
Gerry, let her
use the bathroom.
I don't want her
to use the bathroom.
I don't understand
what this is.
It's right down
the hall, honey.
Hey, will you kids settle down, please?
I'm not kidding!
What's the matter with you?
Who is she?
Some girl that
was at the accident.
Nothing is the matter. I let
her use the fucking bathroom.
Who is she?
Honey, just do me
a favor and wait inside.
No, I want to hear
what this is.
Look, we're just...
Okay. What?
Okay.
I hope this isn't going
to insult you too much.
Insult me?
I was just wondering if you felt
bad at all about what happened.
About the accident?
Yeah.
Honey? Are you just upset
about the accident?
Yes! I'm upset
about the accident.
I'm very upset
about the accident.
And I wanted to talk to you
about it for a minute.
Why is that
so strange?
Gerry, why don't
we all go inside?
Could I please
talk to you alone?
Okay, what is
going on here?
Nothing's going on here.
So why don't you calm down?
Look, go ahead inside. Let
me find out what this is.
In the meantime, why
don't you make sure
those kids aren't killing
each other, all right?
All right.
No, you know what? Let 'em kill each other.
Give us all a rest.
All right, Lisa.
What?
I just...
Well... I just want you to know...
Yes? What? Speak.
Well, you probably already
know, obviously, that
I told the police,
on the police report,
that I thought the whole
thing was an accident.
- huh. Right. Because
it was an accident.
Well, I mean...
I know you didn't
do it on purpose.
"O" Purpose"?
But it wasn't like...
What? What?
Speak. What?
Well, I mean...
We were looking
at each other.
Who was looking at each other'?
You and me?
Well, yeah.
I mean, not like
romantically or anything.
Romantically?
Scratch that. That's
not even relevant.
You're not coming through
very clearly here.
If you could
just let me...
From my point of view, the way
I remember the accident is
you were wearing
this cowboy hat,
and I was out that
day to buy a cowboy hat,
so I was waving at you,
because you were wearing one,
and you were
kind of waving back.
And...
I know I was
distracting you,
but I did see the bus
go through the red light,
and that's when
it hit that woman.
Okay.
I'm getting
a little confused here.
Only nobody said
that to them,
and I wanted to acknowledge with
you that that's what happened.
I don't know what you really
mean by "waving at you."
Were you trying
to catch the bus?
No. Yes.
But I wanted to
ask you about
your cowboy hat.
Maybe I was
waving at you,
like waving at you to say,
"Step away from the bus."
Because if the bus
was in motion,
I would be waving
you away for your own
safety, but that's all
that would be.
You don't remember looking
at me and waving at me?
Not really. No.
Well, I think we both remember
something different.
Your brother's
on the phone.
Tell him I'll call
him back.
I'm not trying to
get you in trouble.
I know you're not,
because you can't,
because I didn't
do anything wrong.
There was no
criminality found.
That's it.
The report is final.
So you're just
gonna leave it?
I'm gonna leave it
because that's all it was.
If something
else had happened,
I'd take that to
whatever that was.
It was tragic.
It's a tragedy.
But there's only a certain speed
that those brakes can react.
That's the physical
limitation of the machine.
I don't know what else to tell you.
It's shocking. It was a shock.
But you can't bring her back.
You cannot bring her back.
I'm not talking about
bringing her back.
I'm talking about
telling the accident
investigators
what really happened.
You already talked
to them!
I know that.
But I lied.
You lied.
I can understand if you don't
want to get in trouble, but...
Why didn't you
say that right then?
Because when they were
asking me what happened
it seemed like you
were looking at me
like we were
saying to each other,
"Let's not say anything
about what happened."
Now, I really don't know
what you're talking' about.
I can't prove you
were doing that.
- What, did I say something to you?
- Did I threaten you?
No! I am not blaming
you for any of this!
All I'm saying is I didn't really
tell the cops what happened,
and I didn't want to go back without
having spoken to you first.
But you told 'em what
you saw! And so did I!
Only I'm the one driving the bus!
I'm the one behind the wheel!
All right, Gerry, calm down.
Leave it alone.
You wanna ruin my life?
Start telling them
about looks and you
waved at me and I
had my cowboy hat on.
Go ahead, but
you're gonna go home
and you're gonna
do your homework,
and I'm gonna lose my job. And who's
gonna take care of my family'?
You?
Are you gonna do it?
And for what?
She's dead! Okay? She's dead!
And there's
nothing I can do
to bring her back!
I just want to say
what really happened.
You do whatever you
fucking' want, lady!
But those cops are
gonna laugh in your
fucking face because
this was not my fault!
It was both our fault.
Don't ever say that again unless
you got a fuckin' lawyer.
What's your
phone number?
Why?
Give me your number.
No! Why do you want it?
You wanna show up at my house
like some anonymous person
I can't get in touch with? What's
your fuckin' number, Lisa Cohen!
Gerry, take it easy.
Fine!
It's 212-5...
Hold on! Go on.
need it?
You do whatever you're gonna do.
I hope you get a good lawyer.
Why are you being like this?
This was very
traumatic for him!
Yeah, it's almost as bad as
getting your leg cutoff!
I don't understand.
I guess I was afraid.
I didn't know what to do.
You didn't know
what to do?
I know it doesn't
sound very impressive.
Impressive!
Okay, I know you're trying
to do the right thing now.
What does your
mother say?
My mother hasn't
really been that helpful.
What do you mean?
She's got a lot
going on right now
and she hasn't been
that interested, I guess.
What could she possibly
have going on?
Her show's opening.
What do you mean,
"her show"?
What show?
She's in a play.
Okay. Okay.
I'm gonna talk to a friend
of mine who's a lawyer,
and you're gonna go
talk to the police.
Do you want me
to go with you?
No, thanks.
Do you think maybe you should
ask your mother to go with you?
I think I can
handle this part myself.
She's been
so suspicious lately.
I don't know how to get her
into the office without...
Now, what do you think?
Hey! Let me tell
you something, Eliot.
You want to fire me, go ahead and fire me.
Only don't tiptoe around me
like some kind of
deranged ballerina
every time I see you
in the fucking hall!
Now, do you have anything
to say to me, Eliot?
Um...
You're not fired?
Oh.
So... What are you
guys talking about?
A suicide bomber attempted
to set off a blast
Wednesday in Jerusalem.
No, Lisa read
it to me.
No. I never read 'em unless I know for
sure there's nothing bad in them.
WW, do you?
Well, you're brave
and stupid.
Um...
Victor, I wish you wouldn't
talk that way to me.
You know I'm...
Spring and Fall, to a Young
Child by Gerard Manley Hopkins.
"Margaret, are you grieving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
"Leaves,like
the things of man,
"You with your fresh
thoughts care for, can you?
"As the heart grows older
"it will come to such sights
colder By and by, nor spare a sigh
"Though worlds of
wanwood leaf meal lie,
"And yet you will
weep and know why.
"Now no matter,
child, the name:
"Sorrow's
springs are the same.
"Nor mouth had,
no nor mind, expressed
"What heart heard of,
ghost guessed:
"it is the blight
man was born for,
"it is Margaret
you mourn for."
Any thoughts?
Lisa?
Could I help you?
Yeah, is Detective
Mitchell here?
No, he's not.
Oh.
I talked to him on Monday and he
said he'd be here after 3:00.
Yeah, he's
not back yet.
Could I help you
with something?
Um...
Well, do you know
when you expect him?
What's this about?
I was involved in an
accident a few weeks ago,
and I filled out a report
with Detective Mitchell,
but I wanted to
amend the report...
What do you mean?
How do you want to amend it?
There was something
I didn't tell him,
and I wanted to
tell him because...
I don't understand.
You wanna change your statement?
Yes!
Yes, I want to
change my statement.
Yes.
Well, you'd usually
have to talk to
the investigating
detective on the case.
Yes, I know. That's why I asked
to see Detective Mitchell.
Who said he'd be here now,
but he's not, so...
Do you remember
the case number?
No, sorry.
It was that woman,
Monica Patterson,
who got run over by
the bus on Broadway.
It was in a lot of the newspapers...
Sure, okay, sit down.
Thank you. I...
You know the case is closed.
I assumed it was. But part
of the reason it's closed is
because of my statement,
and the statement I...
Because of your statement?
Yes.
What do you mean it was closed
because of your statement'?
I mean, I was the...
The DA's office
closes the case.
You don't close the case. The
DA's office closes the case.
I'm sure it does.
I obviously didn't mean
I personally closed
it, like legally.
I meant what I said was
probably instrumental in
getting the case closed...
What's your name, honey?
Lisa Cohen.
Okay.
Don't call me
"honey," okay?
Okay.
Are you not gonna help me
now that I've said that?
Look, what's your name?
Lisa Cohen!
Okay, Lisa, first thing,
you're gonna calm down.
I'm calm right now.
Okay. Just checking.
Second thing... Oh. Here he is,
your knight in shining armor.
This guy giving'
you a hard time?
No.
So now you're saying'
he ran the light.
Yes. He wasn't even
looking at the road.
And I was definitely trying
to get his attention.
Okay.
Well, before we do
anything, Lisa,
anybody will tell you that just
because he ran a red light
is not a criminal offense.
Even if he kills someone?
Even if you cause an accidental
death, that's right.
Now, in order for it to
be a criminal offense,
the law says you need
two aggravating circumstances.
Like he ran a red light
and he was speeding.
Or he ran a red light and...
So he's not liable
to be prosecuted
for manslaughter or
No.
He could be charged
with reckless driving,
or filling out
a false police report,
which...
That's no joke...
That's unbelievable!
What does he have to do?
Kill her on purpose?
Yes. Because that's
the definition of murder.
Killing' someone
on purpose.
Now, you're not saying' that
he ran her over on purpose.
Are you?
Are you?
No.
Okay, look...
Let me take
another statement.
We'll look
into it, okay?
You're kidding.
No. I'll talk it
over with my sergeant,
probably pull
this guy in again.
Put a little pressure
on him.
We'll see what he says.
Thank you!
The Central Park Conservatory,
or whatever it's called,
put up about 500
miles of these cheap,
shitty-looking
fences all over the park,
which is totally
antithetical to what
the park was
originally designed for.
We are so
gonna miss the game.
Oh, my God,
it's John!
Hi, John.
Hi, John.
You want
some?
Come on, guys.
Come on, you can't be
smoking' a J on your way
to a school
soccer game!
- Now, come on!
- Sorry!
We're really sorry.
So, how about how he
was like, "smoking' a J"?
Like, "You can't be
smoking' a J."
Like, "Everybody, let's go
over to John's house and smoke a J."
Hi, Mr. Aaron!
Lisa, how are you?
Pretty damn good.
How are you?
I'm all right.
Tell me something.
Whatever happened
with that situation?
Oh, I'm working on it. I'll
tell you all about it sometime.
Hey, what kind
of a bike is that?
It's a Trek.
I'm supposed to
take a horseback riding
trip with my father
over Christmas break
and I was wondering, does it bear any
resemblance to riding a bicycle?
As far as I know, no.
But you must have
ridden a lot of horses.
What makes you say that?
Aren't you from Texas or Wyoming
or some place like that?
Some place like what?
You know,
not New York.
I'm actually from Indiana.
But don't let me overwhelm you
with superfluous details.
God, so what are you doing at
a New York private school
teaching geometry to a bunch of
over-privileged liberal Jews?
Well... Um...
I came here to be a teacher,
and that's what I'm doing.
So, would you say
you've reached
the summit of your
lifelong ambition?
Is that a real question
or is that a Lisa question?
About half and half.
In that case...
Before you go.
I'm actually thinking about getting
one of these. Can I try it?
Just for a second?
All right.
Thanks.
Here, I'll adjust
the seat for you.
Thank you.
Watch my bag?
Yeah.
Oh, hi.
Where've you been? I didn't
know if you wanted dinner.
No, thanks.
I'll order something.
Someone named
Emily called.
And Detective
Mitchell called from
the Accident
Investigation Squad.
Is that that one we met?
What's going on? Did you
ever go back and see him?
I'd rather not talk about it when
you have one foot out the door,
if that's okay.
All right.
I'm gonna go.
Have a good show.
Thank you.
Dave, Lisa.
Hi.
How are you?
So...
Lisa, Dave is one
of my best friends.
He's a terrific lawyer, and if he
doesn't know what to do himself,
he'll certainly know
someone we can talk to.
Okay, great.
When someone is killed, it's what's
called a wrongful death suit,
which is a statutory case,
which means there's a statute
passed by a legislature which gives
you the right to bring the case.
As opposed to what?
As opposed to common law,
which is law passed by judges
which is why
the damages are limited.
I don't understand.
Just skip that part.
We don't care about that.
I thought we were trying to get
the police to arrest this guy.
No, the police are
not gonna...
Why not?
They told me
they were gonna
look into it again.
I'm just telling you
that even if they do,
there is no way in this world
the police are gonna recommend
to the DA that
they charge this guy.
So, what can we do?
I'm getting to that.
Sorry.
- That's okay.
- That's okay, honey.
I'm just getting
to that.
You can't do anything
unless you're a relative...
She didn't have any relatives,
except for those idiots in Arizona.
Hang on a minute. Or unless you're
the executor of her estate...
I am the executor
of her estate.
Which is Emily.
I know.
Because the executor
of her estate
can bring a wrongful
death suit,
but the beneficiary
has to be a relative.
So let me explain
about that.
In a wrongful death suit you can
sue for pain and suffering,
pecuniary losses, loss
of support or services.
Also what's called
care, comfort and society.
It's like advice or counseling
of the parent that the kids
aren't gonna get anymore.
I don't understand.
Who are we suing?
The bus driver?
Well, no, because the bus
driver wouldn't have any money.
You basically sue everybody
and hope something sticks.
The person who pays will probably
be the MTA's insurance company.
But do you think the
driver would get fired?
No. Not necessarily.
Even if all the facts
came out at the trial?
Maybe. I don't know.
But how much could
they be liable for?
It depends...
How badly do you think
we could ever hurt them?
If she was alive, and in pain
for an extended period of time,
they give more
money for that.
I'd say she was
alive for 10 minutes.
Was she conscious?
Was she awake the whole time?
I'm sorry, Emily.
Yeah, awake.
It's okay.
Well...
If she was in a lot
of pain for that long,
I don't know, maybe 300,000,
half a million dollars
to get a sustainable verdict.
A brain damaged baby
would be three million.
But the truth is, Lisa,
when all is said and done,
it's not a very good case.
Why not?
Because it's your
word against his,
and because you already lied
on your first deposition.
A red light case is a 50-50
proposition already.
And with only one eyewitness,
with two conflicting statements?
I wouldn't take that case.
Nobody really cares about
getting a lot of money here.
I understand that, but...
We just want this
prick to suffer,
and we want
the bus company to take
responsibility
for hiring this guy.
I understand that. But no
matter how you slice it,
the fact that Lisa
lied on her first
statement is a disaster
for your lawyer.
Can't I explain why I
lied the first time?
It's not like I'm trying
to get any money for myself.
That's true. She has
no financial interest,
she can't be
impeached for bias.
Impeached for what?
She can't have her credibility
attacked on financial grounds
because the jury knows you're not
gonna get any money if you win.
So that's something,
isn't it?
But do you really think
we know what that means?
I'm sorry. That's what
it's called.
But who are you
talking to?
You know we don't
know what that means.
It's like you're not really concentrating.
You're not concentrating.
I don't know.
I am concentrating.
I'm just thinking
out loud.
Okay.
All right.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry!
Okay. All right.
He wasn't always
a lawyer, you know.
He used to be
a very nice, little boy.
Anyway-...
Anyway, the whole
point of this
is to get...
To fucking get this guy!
It was to get him out from
behind the wheel of a bus!
Did she know
she was dying?
I only ask because
the terror of knowing
you're dying
raises the damages.
I think she had
a pretty good idea.
If she had lived for a couple more
days it would make the case better.
Thank you.
Thanks.
I know that sounds horrible, but
that's what it comes down to.
We know, Dave.
It's okay.
I would just like somebody to take
responsibility for what happened.
"As flies to wanton boys
are we to the gods.
"They kill us
for their sport."
"As flies to wanton boys
are we to the gods.
"They kill us
for their sport."
What do you make of that?
Lisa? Lisa?
I don't know.
You know what, Lisa?
That's not good enough.
That's just not good enough.
Shakespeare wrote something.
What's your response?
And don't tell me you don't have
one, 'cause I don't buy it.
I don't really
have a lot to say.
It seems pretty
self-evident to me.
Matthew?
I think it is
self-evident.
I think he's saying
that human beings
don't mean any
more to the gods
than flies do to little boys who
like to torture them for fun.
As far as the gods are concerned,
we're just ants. Nothing.
Darren?
Thank you, Matthew.
Yeah, I agree.
Only it's
not Shakespeare
saying it, it's Gloucester.
Maybe another character would
have a different point of view.
Okay. That's a valid point.
Just because Shakespeare
has one of his
characters say something,
doesn't mean he
personally agrees with it.
Yes, David?
Yeah, maybe Shakespeare isn't saying
the gods don't care about us.
Maybe he's saying there's a higher
consciousness that we can't see.
That the gods'
perception of reality
is so much more
developed than ours
that, compared to
their perception,
our perceptions are like
comparing flies to boys.
Okay, I really don't think that
that's what he's getting at.
What I think
he's getting at here
is a very dark view of the arbitrary
nature of human suffering.
But maybe he's not.
Maybe he's comparing human
consciousness to divine consciousness
and that even
though it seems to us
that human suffering
is just arbitrary,
that's just because we're
limited by our viewpoint.
Okay, I...
I still don't think
that's what he's saying.
No, like, if you say
they kill us for their sport,
when our perception
of the gods is so meager
that we can't even
tell what they're doing,
then how can we be so
arrogant as to think
they'd even bother to
kill us for their sport?
I don't know.
Monica?
I don't think that's
what he's saying at all.
I think he's saying the gods don't
give a shit about human beings
and that they just like to
kill and torture us for fun.
But if the gods' consciousness is
so much more developed than ours
that we seem
like flies to them,
then how can we be sure
what they have in mind for us
or why they do anything?
Okay, David, I think
you've made your point.
But it's not what
Shakespeare meant.
Scholarly opinion
is pretty consistent
that he's trying
to say something...
Scholarly opinion?
...about human suffering here.
What are you saying? 1,000
Frenchmen can't be wrong?
No, I'm not saying that.
But I would like to move on...
Well, I think
he is saying that.
Because he's comparing
human consciousness to flies
and he's saying we can't
see the truth around us
because our
consciousness is undeveloped.
No, David, you're wrong. That's
not what Shakespeare meant.
He says it somewhere
else in the play,
but I don't want to
get hung up on this,
because that's not
what Shakespeare meant.
I would really
like to move on.
"Poor Tom's a-cold."
Detective Mitchell.
Oh, hi, it's Lisa Cohen
calling.
Hi, Lisa, what
can I do for you?
I was just wondering whatever
happened, if anything, with the case.
You said you might
re-interview the bus driver.
Yes, we did.
We brought him back in.
You did? What happened?
Well, he basically stuck by
his original representation
and that was pretty much it.
I brought it up with my
sergeant, and he agreed with me
that we still don't have
enough to charge this guy,
so there's not a lot more
we can do at this point.
Well, I'm not trying to tell
you how to do your job,
but how did you
ask the questions?
Excuse me?
He's obviously not gonna
change his statement if you just ask
him really politely. Why would he?
We already know
he's a liar.
Hey, in the old days, Lisa,
we'd just throw him in the
back room with a rubber hose
and get whatever answer
we want out of him.
But, fortunately,
we don't do that anymore.
Yeah, not to white people.
Excuse me?
You don't do it to white people.
Anyway, I'm not saying you...
Wait. We don't
do it to who?
Oh' my God
Shh!
First of all,
I don't understand
why you bring this
guy's race into it.
There's 40,000
cops in this city...
Yes...
And I hate to disillusion you, but
most of them are pretty good guys
just trying' to do their job.
Now, the bottom line is the DA
is not gonna take this case.
Now, you could take it up with my
sergeant if you want to, but he's...
Yes, I would.
Well, I will patch
you through, then.
The original decision was
based on false information.
So what's the point
of even bringing...
So there's no way
to appeal?
But how do you know
Detective Mitchell
interrogated him
aggressively enough
if you weren't there?
What's going on?
My family is
all there still,
but Rodrigo is
studying in London,
and Hector is in Geneva.
- huh.
I'm sure they will go back
eventually because
they will like to do
something for their country.
But it's a worry.
It's very bad there now.
Yeah? I haven't
really been following it.
It's a big mess. Last year I
helped to found an organization
to work with children whose
families have been killed
or the parents
have been kidnapped.
We try to find homes for them,
preferably in Colombia,
because if we lose our
young people, that's it.
That's the future.
Yeah. I wish I knew
more about it.
You think Lisa would be
interested in acting?
No. I don't.
I think she has a lot of
contempt for it, actually.
Anyway, maybe it's the age.
She would prefer the world
with no plays? No films?
Oh. Who knows?
Would you like to see
a picture of my mother?
Sure.
These are all my
aunts and uncles.
See? Big family.
Mmm.
So after I talked to
you guys the other day,
I called this P.l.
I know to see if he could...
You called a what?
A what?
Private investigator,
to see if he could
find anything out
about your bus driver.
Really?
Yeah.
Dave! I can't believe
you called...
Wait, let me tell you
what he said.
So he calls
someone he knows who
used to work as
a cop at the MTA.
And you know the MTA
have their own police?
The MTA police?
They have their
own uniforms...
Yeah? Yeah?
Just a minute!
Jesus Christ!
What the fuck do we care about the
MTA police and their uniforms?
Okay, so this guy gets a look
at your guy's file.
It turns out he's
had two previous
accidents less
than two years apart.
What?
But that he's never been
disciplined or cited,
just moved around
to different shifts.
Are you kidding me?
Why does this
not shock me?
If you read the papers,
you'll know that
they're going
through a protracted
labor dispute at
the MTA right now.
And according to my P.l.,
management doesn't want to aggravate
the situation by firing this guy.
This is making me sick.
I know, but what it means,
Lisa, is that we have a case.
We do?
We can now sue
for what's called
"negligent retention."
Which just means they should have
known this guy was a bad risk,
and they negligently retained him
until, finally, he killed somebody.
You can prove that?
Sure, because
we can just subpoena their
personnel records,
which we already know
contain damaging information.
But you wouldn't be
our lawyer, right?
No.
Why not?
I'm not a personal
injury litigator.
It's not his area.
I don't know enough about it.
I would lose.
But you could
recommend someone?
Sure, sure.
I know a very good guy.
His name is Russel Deutsch.
He's not a sleazebag.
Very, very experienced.
You gotta get that
crazy cousin on board,
she's gonna be
your beneficiary.
She's not gonna want
to come to New York.
I can tell you that
right now.
If you win, she stands to get
anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000.
She's coming to New York.
You're awesome!
First thing we do is we file
a summons and a complaint
against the MTA. They
get 20 days to respond,
and when they do, we can
make our discovery requests.
Accident reports, personnel
records, etcetera.
But now, you gotta realize, this
is going to take some time.
The law says you have to have
a court date within one year.
Usually it takes
around six, depending.
Six years?
Yes, depending.
Now, I mentioned
to Dave,
I have a friend who writes for
the Metro section of The Times.
Yes, now, if it could
really happen,
this changes everything
in our favor.
If they think there's gonna
be adverse publicity,
especially in
The New York Times,
they're gonna want
to settle right away,
as soon as possible,
and as quietly as possible.
So they'd make it a condition
that we didn't...
It usually works, you get the
money, but you can't talk about it.
Nobody knows the terms.
So what good
does that do?
You get the money.
Is that bad?
This is how our society punishes
people for doing bad things.
By getting money from their
employers' insurance companies?
Yes. It's called
"punitive damages."
Could we insist they fire the driver?
As part of the settlement?
Sure, why not?
Is that something
people do?
Sure. It's one of
your conditions.
And you think
we're gonna win?
They're gonna settle?
Oh, they're gonna settle.
Oh. Hi.
I want to talk to you.
I take it that's
my report card?
It sure is.
I had a friend who used to
live on this block, at 262?
Oh.
That's so nice. Yeah, I
don't know if you know her.
Cheryl Rowan?
She's a physiotherapist?
No, I don't know her.
I think about
What?
Nothing.
Lisa says you're
in a play, Joan?
Oh, yeah.
It's really good,
you should go see it.
Well, the play is great, and
it has this really nice cast.
She's being modest. She's
gonna win every award in New York.
Oh, all that stuff's
a long way off.
I don't go to
the theater very much.
No, it's just nice, because you can
work a long time in the theater
and play a lot of great parts and
not get a lot of recognition.
And even though
you don't necessarily
do it for that as
your primary motive,
it is nice when people do
notice something you've done.
Mmm-hmm.
I was on a television
show a few years ago.
I'd been doing
theater all my life,
and suddenly all my relatives
started calling to congratulate me
because they thought I'd finally made it.
All it was was this dumb show
that paid the bills for a while.
That show was
so stupid.
Well, it wasn't
that bad.
Anyway, I realize this is
horribly embarrassing for Lisa,
but I just really wanted
to meet you, Emily,
because you've frankly become
such a big part of Lisa's life,
and I don't want
to be intrusive,
but this whole court case seems to
be suddenly dominating everything
and I can't get Lisa to
tell me anything about it.
That's not true.
Well, I can't.
I want you
to know, Lisa,
I'm very, very proud of you for
pursuing this the way that you have.
But I can't let you
pursue it to the point
where it's taking
over your life
or interfering
with your schoolwork.
See, it's come down to
a question of homework.
Lisa's on a half
scholarship at her school.
I know she feels a real sense of
responsibility about what happened.
Yeah, I do.
I know you do. I know you do. But
you can't not do your homework
and you can't throw away your
scholarship because of it.
I'm not. My grades slipped a little.
They'll get better.
Anyone can do their homework.
You just sit down and do it.
I've been distracted.
I'll stop.
All right. We didn't need a
big conference about it.
It's not a big
conference.
I just wanted to
know what was going on.
And I wanted
to meet Emily.
I know it's
a little awkward.
Lisa? Do you think Emily
would like to see the play'?
I thought you could both come, and
then we could go out afterwards.
All right.
Let me ask her.
Okay.
Dig in,
everybody.
I was thinking about
spending next year with Dad.
Oh?
Yeah.
You're worried
about my grades.
They have really good public
schools in Santa Monica
and if I officially
lived with him,
you wouldn't have to worry
about my scholarship.
Have you talked
to him about this?
We've had some
general discussions.
- Do you want to go, too?
- Me?
Yeah. Do you want
to move to LA, too?
No.
Well, let me know
if you do.
Why are you
being like this?
Why am I being like what?
Why are you about
to start crying?
Because it's your intention
to make me start crying!
No, it's not.
You want to move
to LA, move to LA.
Why can't this
even be mentioned
without you
taking it personally?
I'm just introducing a possibility!
Here's a possibility, that you can
make your own fucking dinner!
Here's a possibility, that you can
do whatever you want to do...
Jesus Christ!
What is with you?
I don't care anymore, you
heartless little fucking bitch!
Keep it up! This really
makes me want to stay here!
You think you're
so fucking perfect?
No!
Nice one.
Shut Up!
Let me tell you
something, Eliot.
How would you describe
the relationship overall?
Did you talk on the phone a lot?
Were there a lot of visits?
I would say we
talked on the phone
a couple of times
a month, at least.
Sometimes more than that. I would
call her, she would call me.
And what were the nature
of the conversations?
Oh, family stuff, mostly.
Her family, my kids.
She'd give you advice about your family?
That kind of thing?
Oh, I would say so, yes.
Do you have
any phone records?
I have all my phone bills,
if that's what you mean.
I didn't record
the actual conversations.
No, no.
You'll see we talked on the
phone quite frequently.
Okay, terrific.
I see you came prepared.
Well, I wanted
to bring everything.
Now, when they
take your deposition,
you're gonna say the same
thing you just told me.
Just talk about
the relationship.
- huh.
Kind of advice
she used to give.
Okay.
Now, Emily, where did
you find this lawyer?
He was
recommended by my friend.
I'm asking because my husband
knows a real good New York lawyer
and I'm not
entirely comfortable
with someone no one's
ever heard of.
My friend's heard of him.
He says he's very good.
Well, I'm sure he is.
But I have a responsibility
in this situation
and I would feel
a whole lot more
comfortable with
someone who didn't just
drop in out of
the clear blue sky.
He didn't drop in out
of the clear blue sky.
He was recommended
by my friend.
But, Abigail, even if we switched
lawyers, we'd still have to pay him.
It all comes out of the settlement,
so it's really up to you.
No, if you all think
he's good...
I don't know
whether he is or not.
My friend thinks
he is.
All right.
Now, Lisa, what's your
involvement in all this?
What's your angle?
I just wanted to...
I was just there.
And that's you
and Monica, obviously.
Mmm-hmm.
Oh, my God, is that you?
That's me.
Oh, my God.
Is that her daughter?
Mmm-hmm.
God...
So, how old was
she when she died?
Twelve.
God, I can't
even imagine.
Neither could we.
Do you know Monica asked about
her when she was dying?
No, I didn't.
Yeah, I think she
was confused, like,
I think she thought I was
her daughter for a minute.
Then she was
asking me to call her,
like, to tell her
what happened, you know?
Like she didn't
remember she was dead.
But, then it got confusing, because
I said, "Sure, what's her name'?"
And she said
her name was Lisa.
And I said,
"No, that's my name."
I didn't realize we
had the same name.
And when I found out
her daughter was dead,
ever since then
I've had this really
strange feeling that,
some way, for those
last five minutes,
I kind of was her daughter.
You know, like in some weird way,
this obviously amazing woman
got to be with
her daughter again
for a few minutes,
right before she died.
And is she still
inhabiting your body?
Or did she go right back to the
spirit world after it was over?
I didn't mean she was
literally inhabiting my body.
I don't believe in
all that stuff at all.
I don't give a fuck
what you believe in.
Oh, my God! Why are
you so mad at me?
Because this is
not an opera!
What? I said this
is not an opera!
You think I think
this is an opera?
Yes! Because I think
it's dramatic?
I think you're
very young.
What does that have
to do with anything?
If anything, I think it means I
care more than someone who's older,
because this kind of thing has
never happened to me before!
No, it means you care more easily.
There's a big difference.
Only it's not you
that it's happening to.
Yes, it is! I know I'm not the
one who was run over by a bus...
That's right,
you weren't.
And you're not the one
who died of leukemia
and you're not the one who just
died in an earthquake in Algeria!
But you will be. Do you understand me?
You will be.
And it's not dramatic.
I'm well aware of that!
This first-blush, phony deepness
of yours is worth nothing.
Oh, wow.
Do you understand?
It's not worth anything!
Because it'll all be troweled
over in a month or two.
And when you get older
and you don't have a big reaction
every time a dog is run over,
then we'll find out what
kind of a person you are!
I'm sorry, but
I didn't start this
conversation and I
don't play these games.
I'm not playing games!
And don't look
so outraged!
You have every right to
falsify your own life,
but you have no right
to falsify anybody else's.
It's what makes
people into Nazis!
And I'm sorry, but it's
just a little suspicious
that you're making
such a big fuss
about this when you
didn't even know her
and you're having troubles
with your own mother.
Oh, my God!
But this is my life
we're talking about,
'cause it's my real
friend who got killed,
who I'm never
going to see again,
who I've known since
I was 19 years old myself.
And I don't want that sucked into
some adolescent self-dramatization!
I'm not fucking dramatizing anything!
I was there and you weren't,
and if I happen
to express myself
a little hyperbolic ally,
Emily,
that's just
the way I talk!
I can't help it if my
mother's an actress!
Why are you being
so fucking strident?
"Strident"?
Yeah.
Okay.
You should leave.
Why? Because I
called you strident?
Yeah. You should leave.
Okay, I will.
Now! Okay, let me get my bag!
All I meant by
saying you were strident
is that you were
being emphatic!
I obviously
misused the word.
Look it up when
you get home.
Jesus Christ.
You're amazing.
Yes. I'm amazing.
Why are you doing this?
Lisa, I'm not doing anything.
I'm a human being.
Monica was a human being.
So was her daughter
and so is your mother.
We are not
supporting characters
in the fascinating
story of your life.
I never said or
thought you were,
and I really didn't
mean to call you strident.
I totally
misused the word.
I wasn't trying to insult you, Emily.
I really wasn't.
I feel so bad
about what happened
and I'm trying so hard
to do something about it.
I don't understand why,
if I say something wrong,
you can't just
give me a break.
Thanks for letting
me come over.
I know you don't
want me here.
It's all right.
But I didn't have
anyone else to talk to.
You have always been very
sympathetic to my craziness,
and I may not
show it all the time,
but I actually
really appreciate it.
It's no problem.
So...
What's been going on?
I just need to
talk to somebody
who doesn't completely
misunderstand who I am.
Or not even who I am,
but what's going on inside
me, or all around me.
Sound confused enough?
No, no.
Anyway, for
whatever reason,
I always felt like we understood
each other on some level.
Even though I'm like this
mass of conflicting impulses,
and you're basically the most
grownup, rational man I know.
I doubt that's actually
true, but thank you.
It's just a little hot.
A little warm.
Is this all right?
Yeah, it's fine.
Do you allow smoking
in your apartment?
You can smoke.
I like your apartment.
Thanks.
It's a sublet, actually.
Sorry.
That's okay.
This is terrible.
What is?
What's terrible?
I just like you so much.
Sorry. What a moron.
Hey, Lisa. Lisa.
I'm your friend.
And that's not
gonna change.
It's not gonna change.
Thanks.
I like you so, so much.
What's it like
in Indiana?
It's okay.
Please don't
do that. Don't do that.
I really wasn't expecting
anything like this to happen.
I'm really not sure
how I'm supposed to react.
Don't worry. I'm not
gonna tell anybody,
if that's what
you're worried about.
I totally initiated
the whole thing.
Anyway, it's just sex. You're
acting like a little kid.
I'll see you
in school.
You're a fuckin' idiot!
I think teenagers should
definitely rule the world because
teenagers aren't
corrupted by adult life yet
and they're idealistic
and they care.
And I know
a lot of people feel
that teenagers
are really naive,
which they are,
many of them.
But they still
haven't had a chance
to get burned out by
the disappointments
and harsh realities of
learning how to play the game.
So, yes, I would
vote "yes."
All right.
Lisa?
I'm not even gonna
comment on the fact
that you just compared
a 19-year-old Palestinian
to a member of
the Hitler Youth!
That's right, because they
both like to kill Jews.
Lisa! Hey!
Come on, guys.
It's not because they've been
occupied and humiliated
and bombed out of their homes
for the last 50 years?
That's partly
why they like it.
It's not like killing civilians
is their last resort.
It's their first resort because
it's easy and they like it.
Raise your hands.
They like it?
They're just bad
people and they like it?
Yes! There are bad
people in the world.
I think they liked blowing up
the World Trade Center!
They kill their own sisters
when they get raped!
Who?
It's called barbarism!
It's practically all people
do is kill each other.
If they didn't like it,
they wouldn't do it.
You guys aren't
the only ones in the class!
You're not even Jewish, Lisa!
The next person who opens their
mouth without raising their hand...
I'm fucking half Jewish,
and who cares
what I am? I'm anti-murder,
not pro-Israel.
Lisa! You can leave!
Fine. Thank you.
I guess I lost
my cool a little,
but there is
such a thing as...
Who is running
these discussions?
But, Lisa, you have
to remember,
it's always easy
for the dominant side
to be content
with the status quot.
How do you mean, Ramon?
I mean the oppressor uses
violence to maintain his position
and calls it
the rule of law.
But when the person underfoot uses
violence to change his status,
he's called a criminal
and a terrorist.
And the violence of the state
is called upon to put him down.
I see.
And what would
you like them to do?
"They" meaning?
The Jew oppressors. What
would you like them to do?
I didn't use
that expression.
- No, you didn't.
- But since you ask...
I spent the whole day
arguing about this.
I didn't really mean
to bring it up again.
Don't handle me.
I'm not handling you.
What did you think of the play?
Don't bother, Mom.
And I think it's ironic in the
extreme that the victims of Nazis
find it essential...
If Israelis were like Nazis
there wouldn't be any Arabs left.
...to use Nazi tactics...
- That's what I've been saying!
- And I'm leaving.
That seems excessive,
Emily, come on.
That's the response.
That's the Jewish response.
It's the what?
It's the Jewish response.
You don't like what I am
saying or what I do, so you...
Oh, my God!
That's my Jewish
response.
That's all right.
It's all right.
It's all right.
That's all right.
It's a perfect
little encapsule.
It's the Jewish response.
Joan, I won't
defend myself.
All what I meant was
that was the typical response
you will get from someone
who will take that position
that woman was taking.
If I would have said the word
"Israeli" instead of the word "Jewish
I don't think there
would be a problem.
But if you want
to break up with me
because I used
the wrong adjective...
What I'm going to do?
I'm not going to beg you.
Hello?
Hi, Dad, how are you?
Really?
What's the matter?
I never said I
didn't want to go.
I can't get
a straight answer from
anybody about what
they want to eat...
Annette says she's
called you four times
and you haven't
called her back.
The ranch seems
to be putting some
kind of intolerable
pressure on her
to choose five lunches
for a five-day trip that
we're not taking for
a month and a half.
I talk to Curtis
about it and all I get
is monosyllables.
So what is the point?
I think he's really
looking forward to it.
Well, that hasn't
been my impression.
I also think, Lisa,
it would be a good idea
if we just tabled the notion of
you coming out here next year.
Things look like
they're gonna start
picking up for me
a little bit in the fall
and that means
I'm not gonna be
around the house
all that much,
and since you and Annette
detest each other,
I honestly don't
think that's what
I want to come home
to after a 14-hour day.
We don't detest each other.
Well, I gotta tell you,
it doesn't strike me
as something you
seem that serious about.
Okay.
So, just tell Curtis that New Mexico's
off and I'll talk to you whenever.
Okay.
All right.
What's wrong?
Mr. Deutsch?
I'm right here.
I had the thought, if they're
willing to settle so quickly,
maybe we're better off
waiting a little bit,
you know, ratlin'
the saber a little more?
Maybe we're cutting'
our own throats here.
They are responding to
the story in the paper.
That's
just common sense.
But what you gotta understand is
they're offering to settle now
because they want to get the
story out of the paper.
That's why Russel thinks...
Besides, the point is not
to jack up the price.
I'm sorry?
We didn't hear
that last bit.
Ladies, let me just...
Rob. Abigail. Let me
just finish my thought.
They are jumping at
the bait right now.
But if another six
months goes by, we run
a serious risk of
losing our momentum.
You see what I mean?
Now I'm gonna hit them very,
very hard, I guarantee it.
That's why I wanted all of us
together on the phone,
so we could talk about your other
terms, besides the damages.
I promise you, lam gonna
be very, very aggressive.
What other
terms would there be?
What do you mean,
like some kind of a fund?
A what?
Some kind of
fund for the kids?
I don't understand what
you mean by a fund.
What does he mean,
"Besides the damages?"
Mr. Deutsch, do you
mean some kind of trust fund?
A fund that would be set up by
the bus company for our kids?
For tax purposes?
What fucking fund?
These people
are retarded.
Because I have
to tell you,
we have just lived through that
nightmare with Monica and our children,
and it was not
a pleasant experience.
We just want a clean, straight...
Damages is fine.
Lisa, I'm really proud of you!
Thank you.
Really, really proud!
Thank you.
So, what happens now?
They have to
figure out the terms.
Hello? Yes?
What do you mean!
What's the matter?
Yes?
Yes.
What? Ramon's had a heart attack.
What? Is he gonna be okay?
Quiet!
Yes?
Okay.
Okay, let me write
that down.
Okay, I'm really
not trying to be funny,
but isn't this
a Jewish funeral home?
I guess they do both.
Excuse me.
Joan?
Yes.
Oh, you must be Rodrigo.
Oh, my God, I'm so sorry.
Rodrigo, this...
I want to tell
you, Joan,
my Dad talked about
you all the time.
He did?
Yes.
Thank you for
telling me that.
And, I don't know if
this is appropriate...
No, it's okay.
But...
He went out a lot.
Do you know, the last
time I spoke to him,
he told me, from the
moment he met you,
he knew he wanted
to marry you.
Because, for the first time
since he lost my mother,
he finally met a woman
he could really connect with.
Well,
he was...
Excuse me.
Thanks for coming with me today.
I really appreciate it.
Oh, you're welcome.
I don't want to
be macabre, but...
Ramon and I were
supposed to go to hear
The Tales of Hoffman
the week after next
and I still have the tickets.
Would you be interested in going?
Or should I give them away?
It's Monday night.
We can dress up.
I'll go.
What did you make of that?
People don't relate
to each other, Mom.
They're totally disconnected.
That's what I make of it.
Well...
I think that's kind of
unfortunate that you think that,
because I feel
like you and I used to
relate to each
other really well.
I'm not trying to
hurt your feelings.
It's just
a general observation.
Okay.
Hey, can I get a hug?
Sure.
I just
feel totally at sea.
Hi, Emily. Hi, Lisa.
- Hello.
- Hi.
Hello.
I am very pleased to be
able to inform you all
that I had a long meeting with
the lawyer from the bus company
and they have agreed
to settle for $350,000.
- What? Fantastic!
- That is just great!
I assume this is
agreeable with everybody.
- Yes!
- It's just fantastic!
But, of course, I gotta bring the
offer to you, and get your approval.
Mr. Deutsch?
Now,
I know there was a concern
after our last call
that we were jumping
the gun a little bit.
- That's okay.
- We're only...
Abigail. Rob.
Could we just listen to what
Russel has to say
and then talk about it once
he's told us the whole story
and given us his
recommendation?
Yeah. Yes. Sorry.
Fire away.
I was gonna say,
I know there was a concern
after our last call
that we were jumping
the gun a little bit.
Well, that's okay.
Would you let him talk, please!
It's okay.
- We're sorry.
- Sorry.
I want to tell you that I
think it's a very good offer.
I think they're
very anxious to settle.
But I also do think
that at this moment,
they are under
the maximum amount of
pressure that we can
really bring to bear,
and I don't believe they're
gonna come up any higher.
Hey, $350,000,
that's nothing to sneeze at.
Let me just... I just want
to introduce the thought...
- Can you all hear me?
- Yes!
Was that everybody? Okay.
Emily? What do you think?
I think it sounds
like we should do it.
But I'd like to be...
Okay. If that's the vote.
Unless you
think there's something
to be gained from
holding out for more.
I think that would
be a big mistake.
Robbie, what
do you think?
- Sold!
- Sold!
Okay.
Now, the only downside
to this as it stands,
and I know this may be a serious
wrinkle for all of you,
is that the bus
company will absolutely
not discuss the removal
of the driver.
What?
What do you mean?
The driver? Then
tell them to forget it.
What do you mean? They won't
discuss the removal of the driver?
Ladies. Let me finish
what I was saying.
It's just
a blast in our ears.
Let him finish.
Finish what?
Forget it!
Thank you. Lisa,
I want you to understand,
I pressed them very,
very hard on this,
but they will not discuss
disciplining a company employee
as part of the settlement
because it could be
seen as an admission
of guilt on
the part of the MTA.
What does giving
us $300,000 mean?
Settling out of court does not
imply an admission of guilt.
It simply does not
carry the same stigma.
On top of that,
you may not know, Lisa,
that they're
currently involved
in a very tricky
labor dispute right now.
Yeah, we know about that!
Just tell them to forget it.
I know that's
your reaction...
It's the only
reason we're here.
Can lump in here?
Russel?
It's really not
your decision.
It's Emily's decision.
Hello?
Are you still with us? Hello?
No.
They're not listening, Robbie.
It's not?
No!
It's Abigail's decision,
because she's
the next of kin.
But she didn't
even know about it!
That doesn't matter.
Could we get back
in this conversation, please?
Yes. I'm sorry.
Obviously there's some strong
emotions going either way here.
Listen, Emily? I don't
know what you're thinking,
but Rob and I are
thinking we should take
Russel's recommendation
while we can.
Because if they won't fire the
guy, they're not gonna fire him.
And six months or
a year from now...
Exactly.
We're gonna be
in a situation
where we're begging them
for half this much...
The entire point
of the lawsuit
was to get the guy fired so he
doesn't kill somebody else.
It was not to get
you $350,000
you didn't know
you were entitled to
for somebody you
didn't even like!
And the only reason you're
getting the money at all
is because I started this whole
fucking thing in motion!
I'm sorry for swearing,
but you should be willing
to trade in all the money
for getting this
guy off the street!
For getting him,
Abigail!
Well, I'm sorry,
but I have a responsibility
to Monica and I take that
responsibility very seriously.
And rather than being cursed
at over the telephone
for having the courtesy to involve
you in these discussions, Lisa,
I would hope you would be
guided by our judgment.
Unless I'm wrong about that.
None of that matters.
Unless I'm wrong about that, just
what is your interest in this?
Because I'm the one
who killed her!
I'm the one who killed her,
but at least I know I did it.
And that guy has no idea!
He is wandering around
blaming everybody else.
All I want is for somebody to let him
know that what he did was wrong.
And if they don't fire
him, and all you want is the money,
and the police
won't do anything,
then how is he
gonna know he's wrong?
You can't take
the deal, Abigail!
It wasn't to
get you any money,
it was because we
wanted to get him fired!
Well, it may not
matter to you,
but where I come from, $350,000
is an awful lot of money
and to my mind is
a positive result
of all this tragedy
and not just negative.
Not just getting
someone fired for one mistake,
no matter
how bad it was.
Shove it up your ass!
Lisa!
You sleazy fucking lawyer!
And you're a moralistic cunt!
At this point, I literally
have a zero-tolerance Roger policy.
Good for you. Glad to
hear I'm not the only one.
Hey!
Hey, Lisa.
What's up?
Hey, did you guys know
I had an abortion last week?
No. I didn't know that.
Yeah, it cost $400.
Um... Should I...
No, no, don't go anywhere.
Yeah, don't go anywhere.
Do you want to
tell us about it?
Yeah, I do.
Okay.
Go ahead.
Well...
Do your parents
know about this, Lisa?
Yes.
And have you told
the father, honey?
No. There's a couple
of people it could be.
Well, I think you better
tell them, whoever they are.
No.
No. Never mind,
I mean, I'm sure
he's sorry, anyway,
whichever one he is.
I don't see how that makes any
difference, at all, if he's sorry.
That doesn't matter.
I'm sorry. I shouldn't
have brought this up.
Please don't tell anyone.
We're not
gonna tell anyone.
But you're gonna have to tell
whoever it could be.
It's okay, I...
I gotta go-
It doesn't matter
about the father
because the whole
thing was my fault.
I'm sorry.
What was that?
Mom's looking for you.
What for?
She thinks you're going out
with her tonight.
Where are we going?
I don't know.
Don't get run over.
Wait.
What?
I want to see
if that's him.
It's him, Mom.
That's the one.
Hey.
Well, so far it's not the
greatest opera I ever heard.
What do you mean?
It's okay.