You know, we've been doing this dance for a long time...
and I love it.
And I hate it.
It's like that song,
"There's a Thin Line Between Love and Hate."
Hey.
Mmm...
You know what the crazy part is?
That even though nobody has ever seen that line,
we know exactly what it feels like when we cross over it.
I could stay like this for a month.
Mm.
Six months.
I vote sooner. I'm starving.
Hey, I got this.
You stay right here.
I'm on "breakfast in bed."
Yeah.
Shel, it's almost time for cake!
Happy birthday!
Mm-mmm!
Mmm!
Happy birthday.
It's not my birthday, Shel.
No, but it's the day you gave me the best present of our lives,
so I think we deserve to celebrate it, too.
-We do? -Yes.
Well, what'd you get me?
What do you have?
I got you a little present.
Mm, mm.
What is this? What is this?
Oh, my God. Oh, my God!
Oh, it's a 1946.
The 686 steam turbine locomotive, right?
Yes, with the operating headlight...
-and smoke. -And smoke.
We were about to send in the National Guard
to look for the two of you.
Oh, yeah? Why's that?
-It's noon. -And every morning
for the past two weeks.
Since your back got better.
Bad back, firm mattress?
Look, guys...
-She knows. -I know.
Ben told me.
Nice going, pal.
Well, anyways since you two made up,
-we're just glad you're happy. -That's pretty cool, right?
And we're starving.
Well, get the toast ready.
Hey, I thought we were staying in bed.
Oh, baby, I've got my open house tomorrow,
so I'm just gonna run over
and sit with the clients for a bit.
Well, okay.
I can cancel.
No. You know what? I can't.
This my new job. I can't.
All right, go.
Thank you.
-We got to get out there. -Okay.
Hey, here we come!
-Come on now! -Hey. Having a good time?
Whose birthday is it?
-It's Magpie's birthday! -Magpie!
M-A- -- come on!-- G... Come on, everybody, P-I-E!
All right, come and blow them out.
M-A-G-P-I-E!
Come on... whoa!
Come here, Mommy.
Give me...
Here's the cake.
Oh, it's all right, it's all right.
Here's the cake!
And that line is tough to walk, man,
because it's even thinner than what we imagine.
I think about that guy, that Frenchman
who tightroped across Manhattan.
Hundred stories up, quarter mile of a long, thin wire.
He had such... such faith in his balance...
in that line.
He did the whole thing without a net.
This is William.
Mr. Banks...
my name is Jonas Mullins.
We need your help.
I don't think they ever stop.
I don't think they even believe they have a problem.
They were never what you would think of as serious drinkers
the first few years they were together.
I've been bidding all morning
on this 1956 Stalin Soviet-era boxcar.
Amazing condition.
And some other train geek is outbidding me
into oblivion.
-Baby... -Hmm?
You're the other train geek.
This is your other account name.
You've been bidding against yourself.
Oh, no!
Shelly got pregnant, and she quit.
And then Neil, he quit, too, for the pregnancy.
I thought they were free and clear.
Then she had a miscarriage.
And she started drinking again.
Hey, Mom.
Hi, baby.
You all dressed and ready for school?
Yes.
Okay, well, I'll throw on s-some clothes,
and I'll walk you to the bus.
It's okay. I can walk myself.
Honey, I love walking with you.
I'll just be a minute, okay?
My son and daughter-in-Iaw are killing themselves,
and I can't stand to watch it, not anymore.
And my granddaughter, she's growing up too fast.
Mom, you really need to ask your doctor
about that inner ear infection.
Yeah, you're right, honey.
I need to go to the doctor.
After falling in the pool, how embarrassing.
Make sure Daddy takes care of it.
He is.
You have a great day, Magpie.
Nice to see you, Amy.
Excuse me!
-Hi. -Hi, Elizabeth.
Swenton's up in his room.
ls he climbing the walls?
Well, sort of.
I gotta tell you, bro-- kind of awkward.
I mean, I appreciate it really.
But seriously,
it's kind of freaking some of the staff out, man.
I'm like a role model to these kids, bro.
Puts their whole world on tilt to see me up in here.
It's like Bizarro Superman.
The mighty fall.
And then they get back up.
And then they get out of rehab.
Can they stop doing push-ups?
Seriously, bro, I can only spend so many hours
of the day playing Scrabble with the speed freaks, man.
I gotta get out of here.
Okay,
but you got to check in every hour.
You can't go off the grid.
Pinky swear.
Oh, you want to joke?
I'll leave your ass in here.
Not joking.
I'm packing.
And it came to pass...
-Hey, Sasha. -Hi.
Looks like Jason's been on a tear.
I see three new canvasses.
He go to bed yet?
No, he painted all night.
He's detoxing, but he's just not all there yet.
I saw your Red Sea painting.
Moses looks kind of pensive.
After he parted the Red Sea-- and nobody knows this--
but he told Moses that it was our choice--
the lsraelite's choice--
as to whether he would kill the Egyptian soldiers.
And you know this because...?
He told me.
You doubt me.
Doesn't really matter what I think, Jason.
God reveals himself to a few of us, William.
To a very select few.
I'll see you soon, Jason.
Be well.
He hears you, William.
When you speak to Him,
He hears you.
Really? Do you really?
I mean, because we've been having these conversations--
pretty one-sided for conversations--
but we've been having them for so long,
I'm starting to think maybe I talk too much.
Well, I don't know, maybe...
maybe it's just you got nothing to say.
And it came to pass after these things...
He was up all night again.
Dr. Newell keeps saying it's drug-induced schizophrenia,
but since he's clean, why isn't he back to normal?
I think the last round on ketamine
was pretty tough on him.
Can he come back?
Carla, if your husband's gonna get better,
it's fair to say we'll know in the next 48 to 72 hours.
Let me take him.
There you go.
Let's wait and see.
How did you find that '63 work cab?
I've been looking for that caboose for years.
Hey, I need those peppers for the tapenade.
No, I'm serious, Neil, they're measured.
-One little pepper won't... -Neil!
What's wrong?
This is my job,
and you don't take it seriously.
It's a little early
for the sixth drink,
-isn't it? -I'm having a bad day.
Hmm.
What?
You're only good up till your fourth.
Hey, it's Melissa.
Leave a message at the beep.
Hi, it's me. I'm just
letting you know that I love you and...
Hey, I-I had a great time last night...
and... yeah.
And...
anyway, I'm-I'm starting to feel like our daughter
when she's talking to Charlie Mintz, so I'm gonna go.
And, um... that's it.
I-I love you.
Okay, ready?
Yep. Open house.
All right, so they've been drinking together,
both of them, for the past ten years.
Well, how do they keep their jobs?
Well, Neil is his own boss.
He owns a lot of commercial properties,
so he kicks back, opens envelopes, counts the cash.
That's a pretty good job if you can get it.
Shelly works out of the house, too.
She's a chef.
Perfect environment for two functioning alcoholics.
So, boss, what's the plan?
All right, Swenton, you're the county official.
Can you handle that?
Yeah. Joe Stein.
Akani, you're the clinical social worker.
Put on a pair of pants.
Just 'cause you have a college degree
doesn't make you better than me.
Yeah, it does.
Where do you want me, William?
Backup, D. It could get pretty ugly
getting a drunk to give it up.
I want you to keep eyes on Swenton 24/7.
Akani, you do the same.
Now, Mr. Mullins, the grandfather, is gonna be
with me in the truck,
ready for the handoff of the little girl.
Swenton, there is no gray area here.
You keep your shit together, you hear me?
Go on.
Let's go. Come on.
I'll get it.
Who is it?
I said I'll get it, Shelly.
Mr. Mullins? Neil Mullins?
Yes.
Dr. Laura Takei, Child Protective Services.
What's going on?
Please.
Honey...
Hi. Joe Stein, County.
Listen, we've had a couple of calls
regarding the well-being of your daughter.
My daughter is fine.
Actually, um, it appears
-that at her birthday party, -Who called you?
-there was... -We can't divulge that information.
We need to know who the hell called you.
We understand the delicacy
of the situation, however, it is apparent
that both you and your wife are currently inebriated.
-You need to tell us... -Listen, we think it would be
in the best interests of both...
Do no tell me what's in our best interests!
-Just tell us who told... -Sir, ma'am,
please step back.
Step back! Please!
We're going to need to take your daughter from your home.
Once you can sufficiently prove that your daughter
is not in any imminent danger,
she'll be returned to you.
We've contacted a Jonas Mullins.
All right, all right, all right!
Okay, okay.
Hey, Dad, it's me.
-Hi, Maggie. -A... a problem's come up.
It's about Maggie.
I need... need your help.
You listen to me right now.
All right? You can make this all right.
Okay, if you want to, you can do that.
Okay, you can make this better.
Can you pl... can you please...
call me back as soon as you get this. It's important.
We're going to make it better for you, okay?
I promise.
Call this number.
What is it, a lawyer?
-Just call. -William Banks? Who the hell is he?
You're going to stay with your grandfather for a little while
so Mommy and Daddy can get better.
That love-hate thing.
The line--
is it strong enough for the rest of us
to walk between a hundred stories high?
Strong enough to build a life on?
Strong enough to hold together a marriage?
Absolutely unbelievable.
This is absurd, Neil.
We're great parents. We do everything for Magpie.
We need to find out who's talking.
Which one of our neighbors would do something so... sick.
Who cares who told?
They took Maggie. They took our daughter.
It could have been Laurette.
She doesn't like us. Maybe it was Laurette.
No, it's not Laurette.
We can't keep doing this. It's no one else's fault.
I know.
Shelly, what are you doing?
I just need a drink.
I need to calm down.
Shelly, don't. Not now.
-I need a drink... I said... -Give me the...
You make a good soup, Dad.
Thanks, baby.
Yeah, Dad, you do open a mean can.
I used that counterclockwise method
made popular in Australia back in 1978.
Hey, hey, hey.
-Hey. -Who wants Chinese?
We got to go celebrate.
What's up?
I sold my first house.
My very first listing and we sold it.
-Oh, my God. -That's amazing. -I know.
-The one in Brentwood? -Yeah.
Man, the commission on that must be huge.
Lu, what's Mom's cut?
Mom's cut is Mom's business. Thank you.
Duncan and l-- we're this great tag team.
We were awesome.
He was pushing them out, the buyers, I'd reel them back in.
They were this uptight couple from the Palisades.
He didn't even...
What?
Nothing. Go on.
You were saying something
about this couple from the Palisades.
No, no, what?
No, nothing, you know.
I just called you a few times today, and...
Yeah, I got your message.
It was... that was really sweet.
I just sold my first house, William.
I know, baby, and that's great.
You know, I just think if someone calls you...
Well, don't think-- okay, not over this.
Look, babe, you could have called, all right?
-I'm not making a big deal out of this. -Right.
Like you called me when you made your first get,
or your second.
-Look, l... -Hey, Ben and Lula,
let's go get some Chinese. Come on.
This is crazy.
Their daughter was taken from them.
They haven't even come forward
-to claim her. -It's addiction, Darnell.
Oh, I know addiction,
but the way they hurt each other,
the way they hurt this little girl?
We need to find out who's talking.
Which one of our neighbors would do something so... sick?
Who cares who told?
They took Maggie. They took our daughter.
-Hey, boss. -What's up, William?
Didn't think you were coming in tonight.
Staying home with the kids and the esposa.
What's up with the Mullins?
So, Shelly's playing junior detective.
She's driving around the neighborhood, asking
-if anybody's been... -All right, Darnell,
get your guy from Compton down there
with his flatbeds.
Now that we got the kid out of the house,
we're gonna put the squeeze on them.
Make sure they don't leave the home.
What difference does it make we take their cars, man?
Foreclose on their house?
We took their child, they still
don't want to get better, man.
So what the hell difference does it make?
You done?
You okay, boss?
Yeah, I'm fine, Akani. Thanks for your concern.
Hey, I'm just trying to...
You're just trying to what? What are you trying to do?
-Help you. -You know, bullshit.
You've been circling me for a month. I'm married,
all right?! You need to respect that!
Excuse me?
Look, don't think for one minute I'm interested
in playing this game with you, all right?
Just get out. Take off, all of you.
Just go take some time.
Figure out what it is you want out of this job, out of me.
I'm gonna take the Mullins case on myself.
-Whoa, whoa... -Hey, man...
I said take off!
We have to stop.
We have to clean ourselves up
and make the County realize that it's safe
for Maggie to come home.
But do you have to throw it all away?
Let's do it for good this time.
Not for a month or a few months, for good.
How do you know we can?
Because we love our daughter.
Because we love each other.
We can do this for Maggie.
You and me together. Come on.
You and me together?
Always.
Promise me?
I promise, I promise.
I promise.
Shelly, d-d... Shelly, don't.
Shelly, look at me.
Look at me. Just... put it down.
Shelly... oh...
Keep the change.
ls this you?
Yeah.
I need your help.
Do you recognize these folks?
Yeah, yeah, those are...
those are the people from County DCPS.
My team.
You set this up?
Only to get your daughter to a safe place.
Your house is not safe, Neil, you know that.
I haven't had a drink since they took Maggie.
I quit before, so I-I can do it again.
Shelly... together, we're...
we're stronger together.
That's good.
I know.
It's also a crock of shit.
No way addicts are better in pairs.
I mean, we want to cop together,
we want to get loaded, we're great.
But two addicts who throw down together,
they can never get back up together.
That's your philosophy.
That's my experience.
You lean on a weak partner, you're both going down.
I need her. She needs me.
Okay, you want to convince her to get clean with you,
here's the deal:
You've got about 18 hours before the CPS,
the real guys come calling, all right?
You know where I am. lf you need my help,
if you want to get clean on your own, you find me.
You don't know me and my wife.
We can do anything.
Yeah, I wish that were the first time
I ever heard that.
Are you still hungry?
I thought you ate dinner.
-Chinese. -Ah, yeah.
Where's your mom and Lula?
Mom's asleep in her bedroom, yours,
and Lula's probably studying for the spelling bee.
Me and Gurzky were gonna go work on the truck,
if that's okay.
Yeah, it's all right.
Hey, Dad.
Yeah?
Sorry about before.
About you and Mom not getting along again.
It's gonna be okay.
You're gonna have a bad back for a while again.
I hope not.
Me, too.
Shelly?
Shel!
Shelly!
Shelly! Shelly?
Turn it off.
I said turn it off!
Why did you do this?
Well, I'm only good till my fourth,
isn't that what you said?
What about seven or eight?
Or ten?
Do you know I didn't drink
before I met you?
I didn't have a drop.
But then you started, and I wanted to keep up
to make you happy, to fit in.
This is your fault.
I am your fault.
Your daughter is gone because of you,
and we are falling apart because of you!
Aah! Oh!
These trains are so stupid.
They go nowhere.
They just go around and around on these stupid little circles.
They go around and around
and they never go anywhere, like you.
Like us.
Nowhere.
Shelly, just...
Leave me alone!
Turn off the light.
lf you saw him-- Philippe something,
the tightrope walker--
the way he moved was...
I mean, some people-- they, they try to do it too quickly,
right, they just move across that long, thin line,
not looking down, just moving,
anything to move forward.
It's a rush, isn't it?
The moment just before the house goes on the market.
There's so many variables. Are we going
to get asking, over asking?
Did we make a mistake?
You're right.
Not... not about the mistake part.
It is a rush.
Shall we?
Thank you.
And some of us, we,
we look around or we look down,
and we fall.
Hey, buddy, you can't sleep here.
We're gonna need you to get up.
Ah.
Okay.
Got any lD on you?
Yeah.
Yeah-- aah.
Okay.
I'm... I'm Neil... I'm Neil Mullins.
M... M-U-N-N...
l-L...
-Okay. -Hey, one Banks' guys.
-Buddy, come on. -My...
Buddy, come on.
Hey, thanks a lot, guys.
Tell Terry I said thanks, too.
No problem, Willie. Glad to help.
You were right.
We can't do it together.
She's too angry.
Yes.
Yeah, and l...
can't get her to stop being angry.
I don't know how.
You do the best you can do sometimes.
Come with me, Neil.
I know of a place that can help you.
I-I wish she were here
with me.
I know we're better together.
No matter wh-what you...
She's agreed to come here and get clean.
I talked with Shelly at your house earlier today.
Thank you.
Don't thank me yet.
Can we... You said we could see Maggie?
It's all been arranged.
She'll be here later.
Thank you.
That one I will take.
He's almost ready.
Who?
God.
Genesis 22.
He's ready.
I'm sure he is, Jason.
I'm sure he is.
-Hey. -Oh, hello, sir.
-Who are you? -Uh...
I'm a friend of Lula's.
Nice grip.
Thank you, sir.
My dad taught me
how-to-give-handshake lessons when I was younger.
He told me, get in that pocket and make eye contact.
Oh.
My name is Charlie Mintz.
Oh, yeah, I think,
I think Lula has mentioned you a couple of times.
Oh, yeah, I've been helping her out with her bid for the...
National Scripps Spelling Bee.
-Good, yeah. -Yeah,
amazing phonologist.
She does love that phone.
Oh.
Yeah, good one, Mr. Banks.
So where is, where is Lu?
Oh, sh... I think she's getting changed.
You know, I-I told her I'd wait up here
to give her some privacy.
Huh.
Wow, Lu.
You look...
You look just like your mother.
Thanks.
Well, listen, I'll let you get back to studying or whatever
-you were doing. -Dad.
Don't get me wrong. I meant studying.
Keep studying.
-Charlie, it was nice to meet you. -You, too, Mr. Banks.
Hey, in the pocket, eye contact.
Yes, sir.
Right?
Of course, sir.
Okay, have fun.
Sorry.
It's okay. It's all right.
You'll go home with your grandfather,
and then Daddy and I will see you
bright and early in the morning.
Can I see you every day?
Of course.
-I love this brush. -Hmm.
The magic baby brush.
I like it when you call it that.
Do you remember the song?
Yeah.
Will you sing it?
M...
Mag...
Mom, it's okay.
-Once again, thank you so much. -Thank you.
-Hope to see you again. -Thanks.
Excuse me.
-I'm in the market for something Colonial. -Hi.
Hey.
I found it in the kitchen.
So...
Buyers?
Maybe.
We never talked about
the boundary situation with this new job of mine.
Well, you know, it says "Open House."
Yeah, but...
I don't come to your shop.
Well, I've come by the dental office
-plenty of times... -Those were for cleanings,
smart-ass.
Listen, babe,
I... I just wanted to say that...
Let's not say anything, William.
Let's just let it happen.
It's good. It's all good.
"It's all good." Really?
-William Banks? -Yeah.
Hi. Duncan Collins.
It's good to meet you.
You, too.
Listen, thanks for showing my wife the ropes.
Oh, trust me, she already knew the ropes.
I just kind of helped her climb through to get into the ring.
Listen, I've got to get to Bel Air for this other listing.
-Are we all good here? -Yeah.
Great.
Well, it's good meeting you.
Can I do anything for you?
It's all good, Duncan.
Okay.
-How pathetic. -Pathetic? Oh, please.
Like you're not coming back here to grovel?
I don't grovel. I'm here to get my stuff.
Oh, stuff, right.
So, beg, plead, kowtow-- none of that means anything to you?
-Doesn't ring a bell? -No.
-Huh. -You know what, you come to mind.
-Oh, that's kind of funny. -Yeah.
Sort of.
Maybe it's the...
maybe it's the solitude.
Maybe that's what makes it so scary up here,
walking this thin line.
So we look around hoping to find someone
to take the walk with us.
"Archipelago."
A-R-C-H-I...
P-E-L-A-G-O.
That was perfect.
I think you're going to win.
And if we're lucky, we find them.
But some of us... we can't take that walk even with the best.
Even with someone holding us every step of the way.
"I'm sorry.
I love you forever."
Your mom-- she loves you.
And that doesn't go away, ever.
You know that, right, Mag?
But she's sick.
And she needs to be alone to get better.
How was your day?
-Good enough. Yours? -Oh, fine.
Did you guys get the paints?
"You guys"?
Jason said you were taking him to an art supply store.
Sasha.
When... when is the last time you saw him?
This morning at around 7:00. Why?
Didn't you take him
-to the art supply store? -Yeah, what's up?
Carla, go home.
Sasha, go up and check Jason's room now.
-Yeah. -Thanks.
He'll probably go there.
Just wait for him.
When he gets there, you call me, okay?
-It'll be all right. -O-Okay.
Hey, Swenton.
Hi, buddy. Wh-What's going on?
Where are you?
You know me, man.
I'm just at... the mall
shopping for new kicks.
Hey, look, I need you to get over to 3476 Carpenter, okay?
Jason Anders' house.
-Absolutely. -Grab Akani and go.
Okay, I'll try and track her down.
When Jason Anders gets there, you call me.
Find Darnell, have him meet me at the surf shop.
Roger that.
All right, that was William.
Apparently, there's more work to be done.
He asked for you to stay here
and hold down the fort.
You're coming with me.
To the Batmobile.
Eek.
Let's go.
Before he disappeared, what was he saying?
He said, "He's ready for me."
Kept talking about the leap of faith.
Taking the leap of faith no matter what the consequences.
-Ready for me... -You don't think he's gonna hurt himself
-again, do you? -Ready for what?
He kept referring to Genesis 22.
Yeah.
He's not here.
Akani's inside with Carla,
but the little boy Sammy is gone.
Baby-sitter said that Jason came by,
said he was taking the kid for a drive,
and that was three hours ago.
Shit.
Okay, call Officer Lyons-- let him know what's going on.
Tell him I'm going to call him back
as soon as I find out where to look for him.
Pick up, big man, pick up.
Hey, Darnell.
William. Look, man, I'm sorry...
Genesis 22-- what's the story of Genesis 22?
Abraham and lsaac, man.
It's about faith and sacrifice.
God was testing Abraham's faith by asking him
to sacrifice his son, you feel me?
That's why he took Sammy.
Where does this happen?
Mount Moriah.
Mount Moriah?
Mount Moriah, that was 4,000 years ago.
Yeah, that doesn't help me.
Look, D, thanks. I got to go.
Jason, where are you?
lf that's Mount Moriah, what's that, a temple?
Looks like an observatory.
That's what you see?
That looks like the Griffith Park Observatory.
That's Griffith Park.
That... that's got to be Bronson Cave.
"And it came to pass after these things,
"that God did tempt Abraham,
"and said unto him, 'Abraham.'
"And he said, 'Behold,
Lord, here am l."'
Here am l, Lord.
"And Abraham took the offering
"and laid it upon his son.
"And he took a knife and they went both of them together.
"And Abraham stretched forth his hand
"and took the knife to slay his son.
"And the angel of the Lord called unto him
"out of Heaven and said, 'Abraham, Abraham.'
"And he said, 'Here am l.
Here am l, Lord."'
Jason?
Jason?!
Hey, Carla. It's William.
Did you find him?
I have Sammy.
Yeah, he's fine. Don't worry.
And Jason?
He's gone. I don't know where he is.
William, where would...?
Look, I have people looking for him, all right?
-We're gonna find him. -But why did he...
Don't... don't worry, Carla. All right?
I'll find him.
Do you think that's a good picture?
The lighting's weird, huh?
What?
I know there's something, so... what?
It's all good.
Don't be an asshole, William.
Oh, so it's not all good?
I don't want to do this with you.
What, talk to me or talk about your new real estate boyfriend?
You're kidding me. Why can't you just be the guy
who tells me your proud of me.
You know, I'm doing something pretty great here.
So let's not make it all about you, please.
Oh, it's not all about me, sweetheart.
It is all about you.
You're the one changing the rules, right?
You got a new job, new wardrobe.
Yeah, and on my first day at work
all you care about is how much my dress costs?
Oh, bull. I told you you looked good.
And then today, what is that? You come by my work.
-What is that? -It's called open house-- so what?
I can't do this.
You can't do what? Answer my questions
about your new job? Huh?
You feel completely at ease to tell me
how much I'm a screw-up in mine.
How I made it so hard for you and the kids...
Because you did! Okay?! You did!
For 15 years I sat here while you shot dope,
-while you went to jail, -Oh, boy, here we go.
while you slept with other women.
You know, Melissa, if it was so shitty
then what are you still doing here?
-Why didn't you leave? -I should have!
I'm sorry.
I said I'm sorry.
Look, I can't...
I can't go back and fix those things.
I wish I could, but...
All I can do is...
I'm trying, sweetheart.
You know, I'm really... I'm trying to change.
I know you are.
And some people do change.
We've been at this a long time, William.
So far, we don't.
We need to take a break.
What? No.
Come on, you know we've both been thinking about it.
Every morning in the bed, we want it to be right
and it's just...
Why? Why?
Why do we need to take a break?
Because we never did.
We never did.
Not really.
Dad, guess what Charlie...?
What are you doing?
Where are you going?
Dad...
What's the matter?
Dad?
Dad, it's okay now.
Here, you don't have to go.
lf you've ever had something to say, please say it to me now.
I'm listening.