Previously on Brothers and Sisters:
- Wake up, wake up, wake up, Justin! - He'll be OK.
- Really? - I'm recommending rehab facilities.
The Army's gonna buy the land for 30 mil?
As long as the owners of the land sign off.
- OK. - Holly Harper is one of the owners.
I'll sell you my share for half its value, in cash.
And?
I want the other half in Ojai Food stock.
- No way. - I could use somebody like you
- on my communications staff. - You're offering me a job?
You got a deal. You'll get a check for half in a month,
and you'll be officially a shareholder in Ojai Food.
Welcome to the family business.
The light within me salutes the light within you.
With our awareness on our breath, let's slowly exhale.
- Namaste. - Namaste.
Wow, that was awesome, Maya. Seriously.
I can hardly move, but I'm completely energized.
Thanks, Justin. You're getting a lot stronger.
I'm gonna get a mango smoothie. Want one? I'm buying.
I'm allergic to mangoes. They make my lips swell up.
Well, we wouldn't want that.
Um, what about a banana smoothie?
Justin, I'm on staff here. I can't date patients.
- It doesn't have... - Mr. Walker, you have a visitor.
Oh.
Only in California would a rehab look like this.
Oh. You know, when I came in I think I saw that guy with the funny hair.
The one that hosts that reality show. What's his name?
The anonymity pledge prevents me from telling,
but I will tell you this: That's not his hair.
- So how's it going? - It's good.
They make me go to, like, four different kinds of therapy a day.
For three weeks I've done nothing but talk about myself,
so as a matter of fact, I'm sick of me. How are you doing?
That senator chasing you down to take that job?
He wants to meet and discuss it.
But, you know, I'm just... I'm just not right for that.
I'm better at complaining about politicians than working for one.
Yeah, but isn't this your chance to sort of play the game
instead of doing the color commentary?
He's good-looking and Republican. I don't know much, but that is rare.
I don't know. I can't figure out... why me?
- You're perfect for this job. - I have zero experience in politics.
That didn't stand in the way of our president.
I'm not sure he's your best example.
You didn't spin asking me to keep your brother out of Iraq.
You took responsibility. The party needs honest people like you.
It doesn't make any sense. Why me?
I'm beginning to think you have either low self-esteem
or fishing for compliments.
You can't possibly be that blind to your own value. Thank you.
We talked twice, once on camera, for about probably 20 minutes.
I don't buy shoes without walking around longer than that.
See these shoes? I bought them on the Internet. Sight unseen.
Never had a problem. I'm a very good judge of quality, Ms. Walker,
and how things are gonna fit.
- Did you just compare me to shoes? - You started it.
The point is you don't know me well enough to offer me
- the number two spot on your team. - All right.
Come up to my place in Santa Barbara.
I'll take a crash course in Kitty Walker.
Right, and we'll start with how I don't date potential employers.
Especially those who are going through a divorce.
Well, I think we just ruled out low self-esteem.
You'll have lunch and a professional conversation.
If you consider that a date, your social life must be pretty lame.
- It is. - That, I can't help you with.
You can't be serious.
I didn't say that I was gonna take it. I said that I was considering it.
- Why you? - What the hell does that mean?
Because it's absurd. You can't work for this guy.
Why, Kevin? Because he's a Republican?
- He's against gay marriage. - There are lots of people,
for instance, me, who have no problem with gay people,
but still believe that marriage is fundamentally a religious institution
that has nothing to do with the state. And that does not discount civil unions
- or domestic partnerships... - Oh, come on, Kitty!
That's a cover people provide for people like him
- who hate people like me. - Please. Let's not make it personal.
I'm s... Personal?
Kitty, in ten years... in 20 years,
when I'm mature enough to sustain a committed relationship,
I would like to get married. That's personal.
- That's improbable. - Don't take this job.
- I'm warning you... - Wait, wait, wait a minute.
You're, you are warning me?
- No, I'm just saying... - Well, don't.
Don't say anything because I don't want to hear what you have to say.
Kevin and Kitty had this huge fight. And they never fight, ever.
I met Senator McCallister once. He came to Afghanistan
and talked to the troops. Dude's like a war hero.
Kevin says he's a political gay basher. There's the nanny scandal.
He's gorgeous. Clouds my judgment.
You can always tell Kevin he put on an apron and cooked blueberry pancakes
- for the base. That might help. - No. Know what?
I'm staying out of it. I've got enough on my hands with Ojai.
- I thought you hit pay dirt. - No, we did, literally.
The land's worth twice what Dad invested, but the dirt also pays Holly.
As a beneficiary, she's rich.
She put half into the company... Don't ask.
...leaving her one of our largest shareholders.
Should be as fun as a root canal.
Oh, honey. I got to go. You look good. Hang in there, babe.
Hey, check out the wheels.
All right, let's go! Let's pick it up!
I want an office here at Ojai. I don't want to be a passive stockholder.
I want to be a part of this company.
That's just not possible. You can vote at the stockholder meeting.
Well, possibly I made a mistake.
- Maybe I should sell my stock. - OK.
That might be best. I hate to break this up, but we have a meeting.
- Can we talk later? - I think Westco Food might be
interested in buying them or one of your other competitors.
And that would make your stockholder meetings pretty interesting.
Why don't you tell us what you have in mind?
I have a number of projects that I have been considering.
Cute. That's adorable. It's not how business is done.
There's a process. Everything is vetted.
Do you think it is possible for you to listen to anything I say objectively?
Um...
We'll find you an office. Just try to stay out of the way.
She's working there?
- I thought you knew. - No.
Everybody's coming here and telling me stuff, OK?
- It's making me really tense! - No, no, honey.
Now don't get tense. Are they feeding you enough here?
I'm late for arts and crafts.
All right. All right. Love you!
It's not as if we have much choice, Nora.
- What's she planning on? - We're not sure.
- I want an office too. - If you're trying to drive me crazy,
- I can walk from here. - I can counteract her.
- Who counteracts you? - Despite what you might think,
in between changing diapers and reading The Velveteen Rabbit
13,000 times, I actually helped your father build this company
from a 200-acre farm to what it is today.
I worked in budgeting and hiring and a lot of other things.
- It's like riding a bike. - Right off a cliff.
Nora, the situation is awkward enough for me...
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, bright and early.
- Someone accept my resignation. - Oh, stop it, Saul.
If anyone's resigning, it's me. Take a breath.
Tell me what we're supposed to do, I'll decide whether I should breathe.
We'll do exactly what they both want us to do.
What does that mean?
We'll give them enough rope to hang each other.
Good morning.
I realize this is a bit awkward,
but with the company in such a positive place,
I figured it was time for me to step up to the plate.
- Have you decided? - Yes. I'm going to be working here.
Excuse me, if I seem a little shocked.
Just so you know, it was not my idea to double up,
but we're so short on office space around here.
Yes, Sarah mentioned that.
Well, should we get to work?
Yeah, it's very exciting.
I am having the best time.
I'm so glad. I took the liberty of bringing you a latte.
Great. Great. OK, I'll get back to you at the end of business.
OK. I didn't... Wow.
They make those headsets tiny, I didn't know you were talking to somebody.
Just vendors. Thank you.
It's nonfat. But don't be insulted. I just order out of habit.
Very considerate of you.
I stop and pick one up every morning.
If you would like, I would pick you up one too.
- Only if you let me pay for yours. - Oh, nonsense.
We'll start a coffee fund.
That way whoever's buying the coffee, they just...
- You look very busy. - Just rolling calls.
Oh. Are you? Rolling calls.
- I got to take this. Holly Harper. - You have to take...
Hey, Paul!
I feel like an idiot. I have nothing to do.
I refuse to just sit there and watch her while she seems to be running
a multinational corporation. I'm just twiddling my thumbs.
I've got to get to work. Why don't you sort it out.
Find something to do with her thumbs.
God, this office is drab. Hasn't anyone thought about hanging curtains?
- You want to be in charge of that? - No.
Nice try, though.
OK. OK, fine. Do you know how to create invoices for the shipping department?
- I'll learn. - All right. Let's go.
Hey-ho!
- Hi, Mommy! - Hi, sweet pea.
- Thanks for walking the kids home. - No problem.
Would you mind taking the trash cans out to the curb?
- Now? - Please.
All right.
OK.
Thanks, babe.
- Paige? - Yeah?
Who opened this bottle?
It's OK. You can tell me. Was it Gabe?
Oh, honey. Run upstairs. I'll be right up to give you your shot.
- Gabe. - Yeah.
Where's the vodka?
- It's in my backpack. - Get it. Now.
- Thank you. - I'm sorry. I was just...
I'm sorry, OK? Just please don't tell my dad. OK?
Please?
Please.
Hey.
What did you do? Relocate your office?
You accused me of taking things too personally,
so I've compiled research on McCallister's voting.
- Unbelievable. - We should talk about this.
- This is litigating. - It would be nice if you listened.
This reminds me of when you thought I stole your Walkman.
- You cross-examined me. - It wasn't cross-examination.
- You weren't under oath. - Lawyers are not made, they're born.
OK, fine, counselor, talk.
This is a copy of the Republican-sponsored
constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, which your boss voted for.
He's not my boss.
You and I have argued about these issues for years.
We agreed to disagree 100 times. You've never had a problem.
Before it was just rhetoric.
No. No, it's never been just rhetoric.
You know, when people ask me, how can you let your sister
spew all that right-wing garbage on television and not disown her,
I tell them it's because I know she loves me.
I know she wants what's best for me, what's best for this country.
But the day you start working for that guy, it's not about what you believe in.
It's about what he does.
There's not one thing in all this legislation,
all these speeches, that suggests he will do what's best for me.
In fact, there's a lot of evidence to the contrary.
All I'm asking
is that you consider that before saying yes to this offer.
That's all.
Fine.
I will.
Really?
Mm-hm. Really.
Why is it that this family thinks I am incapable of rational conversation?
- Well... - Ah... Mm-mm.
Court is adjourned.
I mean, you know, I think I got through to her, but I...
I can't be sure. Has she said anything about McCallister?
Are you not able to talk? Is this some kind of therapeutic exercise?
- Pass me notes? - I'm not telling you anything.
Every time I open my mouth, someone in this family has a fight.
I need you to do me a favor.
Thursday is family day. Spread the word. You guys are up.
- Up for what? - It's part of group therapy.
They call in families, you participate in group.
And when you say "participate," you mean?
You share your feelings. The whole family.
Have you told them about our? I mean, warned them about our family?
Hey, what if I bring back two of us? Me and Tommy.
It has to be everyone. This is non-negotiable. I need everyone there.
OK. OK. I guess we could use a little therapy.
Ojai Foods, always fresh.
Please hold on.
Ojai Foods, may I help you? I understand. You need Accounting.
Oh, I'm sorry. I gave you the storage room.
Yes, please hold on. Sir, there is no need to shout.
And there is certainly no need for you to shout so loudly. Please hold on.
Is there something wrong with the phones?
People aren't getting through.
- Yeah? - Well, this makes sense.
- I'm filling in. - Uh, please, please,
until Gladys gets back, right?
Ojai Foods, always fresh. Please hold on.
Her son is playing in a basketball game. An important game.
He's ten. How important can it be?
Tommy, I'm surprised at you. And you're gonna be a parent soon.
- Ojai Foods! What? - Doug? Doug?
- We could use a hand. - Please hold on.
Oh. OK, Doug, listen to me. If they start to shout, just hang up.
There's no reason to put up with that kind of behavior. Yeah.
Don't hang up on them. Mom, the shipping department never got their invoices.
- I got a little backed up. - Well, just get them down there ASAP.
Let me just tell you this: You could improve performance all around
if you used the word "please" every now and then.
Yeah.
Whoa! What the hell is this?
It's a puppy. What a good puppy.
Oh...
I thought it might be nice if people brought their dogs to work occasionally.
- I sent e-mail. - What?!
I read this wonderful study about it. It relaxes people, lowers blood pressure,
not to mention depression. Office productivity soars.
Office productivity soars? Great.
Doug!
After my dad died, we gradually scaled back the cattle business.
Now I just keep a few horses and the kids have their ponies and ducks
- and rabbits and a goat named Milly. - Are these your kids?
Yeah. That's Jack. He's eight and Sophia, she's ten.
Going on 40.
The kids haven't been out since Courtney filed for divorce.
- I'm hoping they come soon. - They're beautiful.
Thank you.
- Here you go. - Oh, thank you.
All right. You suggested that I was rash.
I wouldn't have offered you a job if I knew you?
- Wouldn't. - What disqualifies you,
- apart from lack of experience? - Wasn't that enough?
Nope.
Frankly, I don't think I know you well enough
to know that I want to work with you.
- Now we're getting somewhere. - You know, I'm sorry. Really.
Let me just put that another way.
Well, no. You want to get to know me better. That's reasonable.
- What's the gun for? - We're Republicans. It's foreplay.
I'm kidding.
No, we just need to find her a niche.
But in the basement behind locked doors.
What's going on? It's like a pound.
- Don't allow dogs where you work? - You kidding?
They bite, Tommy. It's a litigator's nightmare.
Come on. We're gonna be late for the meeting.
Notice how she made a meeting sound like a trip to the zoo?
Speaking of outings, tomorrow's family day at Justin's clinic.
- Family day? - Yeah. It's a group sharing thing
where you share things in a group. Anyway, he wants us all there.
This is not because he slipped.
No. They do this with all families.
- With this family? - Now, don't start.
If your brother wants us there, we're going. End of discussion.
Hey, Mom, listen to me. This is your first board meeting,
so just take it in. You don't have to say anything. It's OK to be quiet.
Why would I say anything?
Tommy.
Let the record show that this board has heard from the audit committee,
compliance and the compensation committee.
Due to the fact there's no more relevant business, the board holds...
Excuse me. If it's all right, I would like to present something to the board.
Very well. The chair recognizes shareholder Holly Harper.
Thank you. First of all,
I would like to thank everyone on the board for such a warm welcome.
It means so much to me being here today.
If you could just take one, please, and then pass it on.
It is my understanding
that one of the goals of Ojai is new investments.
As you will see, in this case,
this is a vineyard called Greendale Vineyards.
At its full capacity, the winery will produce 5,000 cases annually.
Tim, if you will?
Could you direct your attention, please?
Good job. All right.
Why do I get the feeling you've never touched a gun?
I've never served in the Army and I've never had to defend my house
against an attack by soda cans.
You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it.
Here. Let me show you.
I used to watch my dad when I was a kid, but he never let me touch his rifle.
Let's see.
Right in here.
Right there. Just squeeze the trigger gently.
He just gave me my own rifles to play with.
When you did my background check my NRA membership didn't turn up.
Apparently not.
I'm also, uh, on the Council to Prevent Handgun Violence.
So am I.
- What about immigration? - All for it, as long as it's legal.
- Family values? - Against.
Families are ruining this country.
Divorce is the bedrock of this great nation.
It's funny. What about gay marriage?
- Nonissue. - Really?
Then why vote in favor for the ban on gay marriage?
Because it was never gonna pass anyway,
and I needed to pacify leadership to get my education bill into committee.
I get it. You don't want to work for a hypocrite.
I vote for an amendment to ban gay marriage,
and I can't keep my marriage afloat? That what you think?
Nah.
My brother, whom I respect very much, is gay.
That's what he thinks.
- He thinks you hate gay people. - He's right about the vote.
I learned a tough lesson. I wouldn't do it again.
But I'm not a hypocrite, and I don't hate gay people.
As for my own marriage, my wife of 16 years and the mother of my children
cheated on me. She accused me of cheating on her
so she could get a better settlement. She knows I won't fight it.
- Because you're a public figure? - Because I'm a father.
Airing our dirty laundry in the media, no matter how false,
is only gonna end up hurting the kids.
That's gonna go on as long as I'm getting a divorce.
Since that's being handled by divorce attorneys, that could be a while.
I need someone on my staff who understands how the media thinks.
Someone who can help me deal with the endless gossip and innuendo
that people are spinning as the truth.
Know anybody?
This is something that William Walker believed in.
He felt very strongly that Ojai Food should be in the wine-making business,
so I hope that his wisdom survives in this board's decision.
Yeah, thank you, Holly.
That's very impressive and we will give it a lot of serious thought.
On that note, I would like to say...
Saul, I, too, would like to address the board.
- You would? - Yes.
OK. Of course, Nora.
William and I also talked about many, many things
when we were married.
And I would like to...
...share some of my thoughts with you.
Uh... It was on Oprah. I...
They have this avocado where they've taken the fat out of it.
It's a...
...SlimCado. SlimCado.
It's a SlimCado, and it's really very, very good.
And I can't help but think that it might be a gold mine for us.
I think we should consider seriously investing in it.
What did I say before that meeting?
- You told me not to speak. - I told you not to speak!
- Do you have any idea why? - You didn't want to be embarrassed.
Listen, Holly being here is the price of keeping this place afloat.
Mom, you, you're...
You're just making things worse.
Hey. Am I running late for Justin's rehab confab?
No, you've got time.
I've been reading all these books on addiction for Justin.
Yeah? Learn anything?
Yeah, that it's a mistake to overlook the early warning signs.
You're about ten years too late for that.
Yeah, not really. Listen, Joe, I... I screwed up with Gabe.
- Why'd you do it, Gabe? - These guys were having a party
- and I wanted to go. Stupid. - We're all in agreement.
- I'm sorry. - We appreciate your apology, Gabe,
but it's not gonna cut it. Not by a long shot.
We can't let you break rules of this house, not to mention the law.
- Break the law? Are you kidding me? - Wait a second. Let's just chill. OK.
- She's not gonna call the cops. - That's not what I meant.
What I'm saying is that Gabe needs to realize there are lines he can't cross
- without facing the consequences. - Fine. Let's not get carried away.
- So, Gabe, you go upstairs. - You're not helping him.
Gabe, go upstairs, I'll talk to you later.
I can't believe you would undermine me in front of him.
Don't overreact. It's not gonna help to come down on him
like a ton of bricks right now. I know my own kids. I'll handle it later.
This is so classic. Don't you see it?
First, he convinces me to team up against you,
- now he's got you teamed against me. - OK, we got Justin's thing.
Let's suspend the psychobabble until after I shower.
I am trying to be a good mother. I know that's what he wants here.
- He has a mother. - But she's not here. And I am.
You guys make me sick! OK? Just let me be who I am!
I'm not like you! Why would anyone want to be like you?
Look at yourselves! What's wrong with you? Or have you all had lobotomies?
Can we at least thank your family for coming here today, Claire?
I would rather eat glass.
OK, why don't we stop there?
Poor kid. I'd shoot you if you talked to me like that.
- What does that mean? - Justin.
You want to come up now?
- Uh, yeah, sure. - And bring your family, please.
- Guys, let's... - OK.
That's us. Everybody sit down. Where's Julia?
- Morning sickness, but it's all day. - Well, Kitty, you come over here.
Sit next to me. Kevin, sit with your brother.
- Mom. - Thanks, Mom.
Introduce yourself to the families.
Sure. I'm Justin Walker and, uh, this is my family.
- Hey. - Hi.
Thank you for coming.
All this is a really important part of Justin's recovery
and just you guys being here is a really healthy gesture.
So how are you feeling?
Uh, totally weird.
A little panicked. Surrounded.
But otherwise, great.
Part of what this is about is accountability,
which we talk a lot about here.
So I think Justin has some things to say to you.
Go ahead.
I would like to apologize for some things. Um, a lot of things.
It's OK. We all love you so much.
I'm the most lovable person in the world, Mom.
That sounded cynical. If you're upset, tell your mom why you're upset.
I've done some things any human being would be ashamed of
and I know that's hard to believe, Mom,
but in order for this to work, I need to make amends, OK? So just...
OK. But whatever you've done, it's fine. I know you didn't mean it.
Mom, just let him talk. Please.
Who do you want to apologize to first?
Uh, Kevin.
Remember when we were cleaning out the attic
and you couldn't find your Princess Leia Star Wars figure?
The one with the slave-girl outfit?
- Well, yeah, yeah. Why? - I sold it to a kid to buy drugs.
What? Justin, I had that since tenth... That thing was in mint condition!
It's in the original packaging. It's worth 300 bucks!
I sold it for 50.
Well, why didn't you just ask me for the money?
- To buy drugs? - Just accept his apology.
This is his amends to me. Talk when you get your own amends.
Speaking of which, Kitty, I'm sorry that you had to find me half-dead.
Well, I was there too. We found him together.
- Mom. - Tommy, stop "momming" me.
If you had your way, I would never speak at all.
- Easy. - I'm sorry for that morning.
It's the worst thing I ever could have done. I'm sorry.
You found out they were calling you back to the war.
I'm not asking for forgiveness. I want you to understand I know what I did.
- OK. Yes. - Can I finish?
Sarah and Joe. There was a time, I don't know if you remember,
I promised to baby-sit and I called you and said my car had broken down.
- Yeah. - Right.
- You were high? - Yes. I was in Vegas.
I could barely speak, so I can't believe the car story worked.
- I can. - How did I become the problem here?
I'm the one everybody's gonna blame.
Gabe's my kid. Don't criticize how I parent.
He's my child now too, OK? Wake up, Joe. Look around.
Do you want him here?
- What's wrong with Gabe? - He got into the vodka.
This is none of their business.
When we were young, we did our share of experimentation. All of us.
Are you saying I sat around while my children got sloshed?
We're not at work now. You have to stop shushing me!
Stop arguing. It's been going on all week.
- What did you expect? - Find her something to do.
I had no idea I was a burden, while your father's mistress is such a big asset.
Look! Wait a minute!
- We are here to talk to Justin. - Let's get on with it.
Kitty's late for her new job.
- Oh, Kevin. - I didn't know it started.
I kn... I kn... Oh, God, I knew it! What happened to weighing it?
- I did, I took it. - You took it?
- Yes. - Congratulations. He's hot.
Congratulate her on stripping me of my constitutional rights.
Marriage is not a constitutional right.
Maybe you better wait for a guy who actually wants to marry you.
If I cheated on my fianc� and played musical chairs with my career,
- I'd get a little more play. - This is what I was afraid of.
They're usually much better behaved.
- Mom... - Stop "momming" me, Tommy!
Excuse me. Hey! Hey! Come on!
OK.
Oh. I think it's clear what this family dynamic is all about.
Justin, you want to say something?
Look, I love you guys very much, but I am so sick of all your problems.
You guys are always fighting and making up with each other,
and that's the way you like it.
And you liked me because I was the one person you didn't fight with.
Because I was the cute one. I always had a smile on,
so you didn't see me like I really was. And Tommy?
You have lately, and I thank you for that.
Look, if you guys love me, you'll just stop taking care of me.
And you'll call me out on my crap.
And then... And then we'll fight.
The same way you guys fight.
God.
Good morning.
I have coffee.
Kevin.
What are you doing here?
I stopped by on my way home from the gym.
Why do all you gay people work out so early?
"All you gay people"?
After six, all the treadmills in front of the mirror are gone.
- So can we talk about the job? - I couldn't not take it
because you didn't want me to. I... It's what I want, Kev.
- I'm not gonna argue with that. - Wow.
This is working.
Will you please just promise me one thing?
That you will argue with him every time he's wrong.
I promise.
Thank you. Go back to bed.
I promise to argue with you whenever you're wrong.
Wow. You, you... You really have been working out.
- Can you really tell? - Yeah, you look good.
I need to work my pecs a little more.
- It's not fair! She's not my mother! - Yes, she is.
In this house, she is your mother.
I've seen for myself how fiercely she loves you,
so trust me, pal, she's a lioness protecting her cub.
- By what, grounding me? - That is what we decided together.
OK, Gabe, so, for the next month,
on the nights that you're here,
no Internet, no iPod and no television.
What the hell do you want me to do then?
Try hanging out with us and your brother and your sister.
Fine. Can I go now?
Sure.
I think I succeeded in making him hate me.
Hey, he hates us both now. You happy?
No, I need a drink.
- Think there's any vodka left? - Don't make me ground you.
This is yours. I switched to decaf. I got too jittery this week.
Thank you.
- What are you doing? - I'm packing up my desk.
Do you need any extra Post-its?
Why are you leaving?
I've had some bad ideas in my life,
but thinking I could work here and share an office with you is one of the worst.
- No offense. - None taken.
I shouldn't have brought up William at the board meeting.
- It was insensitive and... - Passive-aggressive?
I was very nervous.
And it wasn't exactly a friendly audience.
Anyway, I'm sorry.
The truth is you and I had very different relationships with him.
I'm not surprised he talked to you about his work.
Well, it was all we could talk about.
He kept his family private, and I didn't really want to know anyway.
But being here around all these Walkers, watching you all together...
Well, I never had that. A family.
You always want what you can't have, I guess.
Isn't that funny. I never did.
Well, that's about it. I really didn't accumulate too much.
I really want to wish you luck. You obviously have a knack for this.
I'm just an old working girl who seems to have gotten lucky.
I thought all you actresses had it easy.
You have assistants to do all the mundane things for you.
Assistants? I was practically unemployable in Hollywood.
I went from temp job to temp job. How do you think I learned how to type?
I don't know the first thing about you, do I?
Well, who knows?
Maybe we'll be friends someday.
Maybe.
But not today.
Mom, where are you going? Wait, wait.
You can't boss me around anymore. I'm totally useless here.
I know that. But you know what?
It wasn't always that way. I was once an executive secretary.
- You were? - Yes, I was. To a wonderful man.
Mr. Stanley Elliot. He was a president of a big manufacturing company.
He used to say to me, "Nora, one day, you're gonna run this place. "
- And he meant it. - What happened?
Sarah was born and then Kitty and you
and Kevin, and last but not least, Justin.
- You don't have any regrets, do you? - I should, the way you guys treat me!
- Mom. - No. No.
No.
Tommy, you know, I read Mr. Elliot's obituary in The Times
not too long ago and I felt so sad because I realized
there wasn't anybody left who knew me the way I was then. The way he knew me.
Whatever else I could have been in this life was buried with old Stanley.
I made my choices. I just forgot for a minute they were the right choices.
I've got to go.
One more thing.
Ojai should buy that vineyard. It's obviously a very good deal.
Could you excuse me for a minute?
I've got the LA Times. They want to know why I want to keep
my divorce proceedings sealed. Got any ideas?
Hi, this is Kitty Walker. Who's this?
Benny. Hi, how you doing? No. No, I work here now.
No, I'm not kidding.
Listen, about those, uh, divorce proceedings,
I'm gonna call you back with a full statement.
I'll talk to you tomorrow.
- Good morning, senator. - Good morning, Miss Walker.
Oh, um...
What full statement were you referring to just now?
The one I'll be writing today as your new communications director.
Where you tell the truth about your divorce.
About how you never had sexual relations with that nanny.
You're kidding.
Mm-mm. Every time you hold back or try to conceal something,
you're giving them another story.
The story is, "McCallister is still concealing something
from his constituents. " You are gonna have a chronic
character problem that will follow you unless you tell the truth now.
And, yes, there will be a fair amount of unpleasantness,
but I'll be here to get you through it. That's my job.
And how will my kids get through it?
Well, that's your job.
And your brother?
Is he OK with you working here?
He'll survive.
Don't go voting for any more amendments to ban gay marriage.
Don't worry. My brother wouldn't let me do that.
Wait a minute. You have a gay brother?
Yeah. And a cute one too.
Why didn't you tell me that?
My brother's sexual orientation doesn't come up in an interview,
but you're, you know, a staffer now.
Well, is he single?
Kitty, do you want both of our brothers to kill you?
Hm.
I got this towel when you guys were still married.
Lead singer of the Rotting Monkeys threw it and I caught it.
It smells like ass, but it reminds me of when we all used to be a family.
I love this towel.
Thanks for sharing, Claire. That was great.
OK, Justin, you want to come up now?
Why does he always have to follow her? It's not fair.
Hello.
Um, I'm supposed to think of something that would help me stay clean.
So, uh... this is it.
My mom sent me this tape when I was in Afghanistan.
They say when you're a drug addict,
you're supposed to think of something that you want to live for.
Um, and I've thought a lot about that.
Back then too, and, uh, the thing I live for is...
...is my family. They kind of had a bad day here yesterday.
That's not really who they are.
This. This is who they are.
Hi, sweetie. How are you?
I was gonna write another e-mail, but Mrs. Silver told me
that I should send a tape, which I thought was such a good idea.
Not as hi-tech, but you get to hear my voice. Lucky you.
Actually, I have some amazing news, so let me lead off with that.
Joe and Sarah are pregnant again. She just told me two nights ago.
Can you believe it? I really can't think of a better mother than your sister.
And she works. She's like this super mom.
Tommy, Mr. Newlywed, is doing so well at Ojai.
Dad's giving him more responsibility. It's a family business, after all.
And speaking of work, Kevin is doing much too much of it.
I wish he'd take some time off.
But he is going to the gay pride parade this year.
He won't let me go with him though, which I guess I understand.
Kitty's back in New York. I listen to her radio show from time to time.
I don't agree with a word she says, but it's so nice to hear her voice.
And your dad couldn't be better.
He carries your picture everywhere he goes.
You can't imagine how proud he is of you.
We all miss you beyond words, my sweet boy.
You're my light.
I know what you're doing takes so much courage.
Please, come home as soon as you can.
Life is so much less without you.