You know what? I am done.
You raise your son by yourself.
And you know what? You can just take him out of school
and go on tour with his band.
I don't care any more. Cool.
Kathy, it was one time.
Kathy...
I once picked up buddy holly... hitchhiking.
Oh, stop it.
- Hello? - Oh, my God.
Hey, hi.
Sorry, you scared me.
You scared me.
I thought you were watching the game with my dad.
Yeah, no, I was. I just came out here to...
Oh, okay.
Well, I just came out for a beer and a smoke myself.
The other kind.
Ah, a little impromptu degeneracy festival.
That's exciting. Come on up.
Mm?
Mm, no, thanks.
Pot makes me kinda paranoid.
All right.
(Chuckles)
Look, your mom!
Oh, God.
(Both laugh)
Oh, God damn it.
Wow, you start off paranoid.
Oh, no, that's all I need right now
is for my mother to catch me smoking pot.
What could she do?
What could she possibly do to you at this point in your life?
I don't know.
More of the same, I guess.
So does Kathy know you come out here to...?
(Chuckles) God, no.
Are you kidding? She'd pass out.
And on the way down, she'd call the FBI.
(Both laugh)
No, I keep my weed stash well hidden...
Just right next to my kiddie porn.
- You don't have kiddie porn. - No...
Not kiddie.
I don't know... What's the cutoff?
Stop it. You're making me wonder.
Oh, no, I'm just a mid-level perv, nothing exceptional.
Although, I guarantee you, every man worries what his wife
will find in his closet if he drops dead one day.
Oh, God. I am sorry.
That's was what you call... right there, that's what you call a faux pas.
(Both chuckle)
Don't worry.
It's the weed.
They should make this stuff illegal.
So, how you doing with all that, anyway?
What, widowhood?
Yeah.
Um...
Fine, I guess.
(Chuckles) "Fine?"
I don't know, I mean, I'm a mess, but I was a mess before,
so I don't know what's from what.
It's gotta be different, though.
I guess.
The lies are different.
Oh, here's something that's different...
Um, a guy asked me out today.
What? Who?
This guy, a patient, but not one of mine usually.
I was covering for Donna.
Um, he's a computer something-or-other.
Wow.
Goin' out with him or...?
No. No.
I mean, he's okay looking, and he's nice, but...
I don't know, it was just weird that it happened,
you know, just like out of the blue.
Well, you've got that allure, Laura Pehlke. That allure!
Yeah, I think it was the bloody smock that put him over the edge.
(Both laugh)
Oh, man.
When I was on the tennis team in high school,
I used to check you out all the time from the practice courts.
You and those other two girls, always smoking behind the gym.
Oh, um, Brittany Nuzzolese and Rhonda Calvaruso.
- Yes! Oh, my God. - Yeah.
You had those red jeans.
(Both laugh)
And that laugh.
Oh, that laugh... It made me nuts.
I used to purposely hit the ball over the fence and go, "a little help!"
You remember that?
Um...
I think so.
Yeah, you never helped.
I'm sorry. I was kind of oblivious back then.
I still am, I guess.
But you knew I was in love with you since, like, seventh grade, right?
No.
- (Laughs) No. - Come on.
How can you be that oblivious, Laura?
I used to talk to you every day...
About some stupid homework assignment
or whatever crazy thing I could come up with.
And you were always really polite to me, which I appreciated,
but then as soon as you could manage it, you'd...
Pfft! Just walk away.
I remember I thought you were funny.
Oh, well, that's nice.
No, I didn't mind you walking away.
Then I got to watch you go down the hall.
You had that great ass...
Oh, had.
Yeah.
Have.
Oh, my God. I'm sorry.
I'm such an idiot tonight!
- And I'm gonna shut up. - No.
Mmm. (Kisses)
Can I admit something really strange and disturbing because I'm stoned?
Please.
(Both chuckle)
Okay...
Um, this is gonna sound...
(Sighs) Okay, wow.
Okay, the main... not the main reason, but a big reason
that I married Kathy...
Was that she was your sister.
I always thought that if I could be married to you,
everything would be okay.
But that wasn't gonna happen, right?
So there was your sister.
She wasn't as pretty as you,
but she wore her hair longer then.
And from certain angles I could kind of imagine that she was you.
So I married her.
Huh.
How's that working out for you?
Not so well.
Where were you?
Having a cigarette. Don't start.
I wasn't going to say a word.
Paul: Back from my walk!
God, he's obsessed. He walks even in a blizzard.
(Phone rings)
So, I spent a few minutes with Dennis.
He seems all right, considering.
Yeah, he's all right.
So, the new school is working out, then.
In its way, yes.
Okay, sweetheart.
Kathy: She's right here. Hang on a sec.
Laura? It's for you. It's mel.
Mel? Why is he calling me here?
He said he's been trying to find you all day, so he decided to try here.
Hello?
You gotta be picking up your messages, kid.
I can't be hunting you down like this when I need you.
Sorry. What's up?
How well do you know this girl who worked with Bob...
Julie Cantoni?
What about her?
The other side called her in for a deposition.
Tomorrow afternoon. Any idea why?
She's the one, right? She's the girl?
Laura?
Yeah.
Yeah, well, don't sweat it too much, kid.
I mean, really...
Even if she does tell, it won't kill the case.
It just might make them feel more bold, that's all.
- Meaning what? - Oh, I don't know.
These things are such psych-out games.
The worst case is they lowball us on the settlement
and we're forced to go win this thing in court.
Now, how well do you know this Julie character?
Think she'll say anything?
I don't... Are you eating?
The thing is, our life would be a lot easier
if she didn't say anything at all about...
You know...
But what are you gonna do?
It is what it is, right? What can we do?
I know it's late. I'm gonna let you go, Laura.
Have a good night.
(Phone beeps)
So, what's going on?
What?
With the lawsuit. How far along is it?
Um, it's...
I think I'm gonna drop it, actually.
Drop it? Now? Why?
Kathy, I hate this thing so much.
I can't keep...
I just need to move forward, you know?
That's insane, Laura!
I know that this isn't fun, but right now
it's your whole financial future!
I can figure out a way to manage. People do it.
We can move into an apartment or...
No, but you're so far into it now!
Mel said the depositions are almost over!
If you know that, why did you just ask me how far along it was?
I don't know all the details.
I ran into him at a party and he mentioned it. That's all I know.
Kathy, why don't you just do it?
Why don't you sue Dr. Bronstein and tell me how it all comes out, okay?
- Oh, will you just grow up! - What? It was your idea in the first place!
I'm obviously just getting in the way here!
Oh, I am so sick of this family
treating me like an overbearing witch!
My brother-in-law was killed by an incompetent doctor...
Am I not supposed to care?
You care too much.
Do you care at all?
Go to hell.
Because I really wonder sometimes...
Do you even slightly appreciate what you got when you married Bob?
What you were lucky enough to get?
"Lucky"?
Yeah, lucky.
Being pretty is luck, Laura, that's all it is.
(Phone rings)
Woman: McDare and Arnold?
Yeah, this is Julie. Who's this?
Um, I don't, uh...
I mean, I really wanna help you, Mrs. Pehlke.
It's just that lawyer guy said it's, like, illegal to...
No, I know.
Well he just said if I don't tell the tru...
Okay.
Okay, I will.
# God bless America #
# Land that I love #
# Stand beside her #
# And guide her #
# Through the night with the light from above #
# From the mountains to the prairies #
# To the oceans white with foam #
# God bless America #
# My home sweet home #
# God bless America #
# My home sweet home #
Lucky Laura.
(Sighs)
Brian, hi.
- Hi. - Hey, Laura.
- Hi, sorry I'm late. - Hey, don't worry about it.
I missed it a couple of times. I didn't know it was in a...
Really? I think I said that when we spoke the other night.
- Did you? - Yeah.
- Oh, well, I'm here. - Yeah.
- Hi. - Hi.
Hi.
- Take a seat. - Thanks.
Oh.
I'm glad you changed your mind about getting together.
To be honest, I didn't expect to hear from you.
Well, you did.
Yeah, and you look pretty great.
Thanks.
(Truck beeping)
It's probably making a delivery or something.
(Laughs)
You know how those trucks are.
Hey, guys. Can I get you something to drink?
Beer, glass of wine?
Double vodka on the rocks.
Yeah, um, same. I'll take the same.
- All right, coming up. - Thanks.
So...
What do you do again?
Do I smell oatmeal and salad?
(Laugh track)
(Moaning)
Oh, yeah! Oh!
Oh, you fucking bitch!
Tell me I'm the best! I'm the fucking best, right?
Yeah! Oh! Oh!
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!
Oh. Oh.
Oh, yeah. Ahh.
Well, I certainly would, if my own room had been...
(Panting)
Oh, yeah.
(Continues panting)
(Grunting)
God damn! Phew!
Wow.
Damn.
Hey, hey, can you not light that in here?
My mother died of lung cancer.
Yeah, well, my husband died in 9/11.
# Now welcome back to the ground #
# Now settle in, there's no doubt #
# That you've already taken #
# The easy way out #
# There is no pleasure in working #
# You over the coals again #
# Since it looks like you're learning #
# You're not match for what you've gotten in #
Mrs. Pehlke?
Yeah?
Oh, hi.
I just wanted to make sure that was you and not a burglar or something.
Yeah. I just need to go change.
- Dennis is... - What?
Oh, just, Dennis is in the den, watching TV.
He finished all of his homework except for the math.
I didn't even understand it, so I couldn't really help him. Can I show you?
See? It's like metric conversion stuff.
We never even learned this at Schreiber.
It's like decimeters and stuff.
I told him you might know it because
I figured you learned it at hygienist school, maybe.
Hey, mom.
I'm showing her the math.
- She won't know it. - Maybe she will.
- Did you? - What?
Did you learn metric conversion in dental hygienist school?
Uh, yeah. I don't know.
Listen, Amanda, you can go. What do I owe you?
Twenty, but I was gonna do the dishes first.
Oh, no, that's okay, you can just leave.
I would've done them before, but the homework thing slowed me down.
It'll only take a minute.
(Dog barking)
Hey, mom, this kid from school asked me to go to his birthday party tomorrow.
Can you take me? It's in Glen Cove.
I think so. I have to meet with the lawyer tomorrow. I don't know what time.
Please, just leave them. You know what my mom says?
When you babysit, leave the kitchen cleaner than...
Leave them!
Leave 'em.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
Good night, Dennis.
See ya.
What's with you?
Where did you even go tonight?
I went out with a friend. Now go to bed.
(Dog continues barking)
Did something bad happen?
God damn it, why won't you just shut up?
- I just asked if... - Please stop! Please!
- Mom! I didn't... - It's the dog!
It's the fucking dog!
Hey! Douchebag!
You want the ball? You want the ball?
Come on! Get the ball! Get the ball! That's right!
Get the ball!
Hey, asshole! Fetch!
Hey! Hey! What are you doing?!
Why are you doing that to my dog?!
- Oh, shit! - Come back here!
Ginger! I saw what you did!
Go get my dog! That's my dog! Ginger!
I saw what you did! I saw what you did!
You come back here!
Mrs. Cosolito, what happened?
Your son tried to kill my dog! He tried to kill my dog!
What?! Dennis!
Where's the dog?
I don't know, she ran after the ball!
She's never been out of that yard, she'll get lost! She'll get killed!
Good! That stupid dog should get killed!
What kind of mother raises a monster like that?!
You're a terrible mother! A terrible mother! I hear things!
Fuck you! Shut up!
You shut up! Haven't you done enough already?!
Find my dog!
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll find her.
Find Ginger, or I'll tell the police!
I have a nephew with the nassau county police!
I'll tell him what your son did!
I'll tell him what kind of a mother you are!
What kind of monster you raised!
Ginger!
(Panting)
(Computer beeps)
You suck!
And this... cannot...
Be... in my... house!
What are you gonna do? Huh? Tell everyone the truth?
- Go ahead, I don't care! - No! I don't care!
You can tell people that your father was Spiderman, I don't give a shit!
You are such an asshole to me! I don't care any more!
- Good! You suck, anyway! - You suck! You!
(Door slams)
(Children chattering)
This offer is bullshit. It's just bullshit.
Can I see it?
No, 'cause it's bullshit.
Can I see it?
You wanna see bullshit?
I wanna see the paper.
It's 150,000.
That's a big "go fuck yourself."
We can thank bush for that, that vicious little prick.
He's got his buddies down there in the insurance companies playing so rough now...
I wanna get a response back to them today.
I'll take it.
No, you're not gonna take it, Laura.
When someone says, "go fuck yourself"
you don't go fuck yourself, do you?
Sometimes.
Listen to me, the courts in this district are solidly pro-plaintiff.
We will win this judgment, it's just might get a little bloody, that's all.
They're gonna bring up Bob's affair with the girl.
She told?
Yeah. Yeah, she tried to lie, but they tripped her up.
It was kinda comical, actually.
But don't worry about it, trust me, okay?
In fact, I think it's gonna make the jury more sympathetic to you.
Mel, 150 is enough. I can manage on that.
- Laura... - I just want this to be over!
Laura! We're gonna win this case, okay?
God damn it!
Do you wanna live hand-to-mouth?
Don't you want a little security here?
Let's think about David here, huh?
Dennis.
How long's it gonna take?
Two years, maybe three.
# This is where you'll see when #
# It's no secret that you're hurting #
# You are now and you were then #
# The darkest part of the dead-end #
# There is no glory in taking #
# You back under my wing #
# Since it looks like you're learning #
# You're no match for what you've gotten in #
Everyone thinks the pitcher has the ball, but really the first baseman has the ball,
and everything's going good for the other team.
Cool party, huh?
Uh, yeah.
So everything's going good. There's a man on first and a man on third.
I may not be able to stay the whole time.
Me and my mom were maybe gonna head down to Ground Zero a little later.
Cool.
But if the pitcher goes on the rubber,
then it's a balk, and then you get your base.
You get a free base.
So when the runner takes his lead...
We've got news and weather comin' up,
but right now, Jerry Rafferty on WCLX Classics.
Enough of this Dion shit, let's get Avril Lavigne down here, huh?
Avril Lavigne? Are you listening to this?
What? I'd bang her. Put a bag over her head first, but...
You wouldn't need to. There'd already be a bag over your head.
Ho! Ho!
Comedy!
Paul?
Yeah, Rhonda?
You have kind of a weird call on line two.
Who?
She wouldn't say her name.
Sounded like she was crying.
Dan: Ooh, maybe the hooker from the Queensborough bridge.
The tranny!
Hi.
So, what's going on?
We used to all skate here. Remember?
Yeah.
The security guy told me they're not opening it at all this year.
They're gonna redo the whole thing.
So is that why you called me here?
No. I went...
I went to a bar. I shouldn't have called you.
I'm sorry. (Sniffles)
It's okay. Hey.
What did you wanna tell me?
I can't. I can't, Paul.
Just tell me. Hey, it's okay.
It's okay. What?
I wish I would've returned your tennis ball.
In high school?
When you said, "a little help"?
I wish I would've helped.
We had a whole basket of balls.
(Chuckles)
But I didn't help. I didn't help.
I didn't do anything I should've done back then.
I didn't understand anything back then.
I didn't understand anything until about two months ago, and now...
Now, what?
I don't know. It's just...
You know like when you said you had those feelings for me,
like, if you were with me, everything would be okay?
Yeah.
Now... It's the reverse.
We were just 20 years too late.
(Chuckles)
(Sighs)
God, you're such a beautiful girl, Laura.
(Children chattering)
We should get out of here.
Yeah.
Oh, this bites. Why do I have to be here, anyway?
Because he's your cousin and he went to your birthday party.
That's 'cause you invited him.
I don't know any kids here, mom. They all go to his school.
Well, I have errands, so you're here.
Deal with it. I'll see you at 5:00.
Ugh.
What are you doing?
I need gas.
I've been below "E" since yesterday. I'll never make it home.
You want me to pull over and wait?
No, just go on to my house. I'll be two minutes behind you.
(Horn honks)
Okay.
Laura?
Hi.
Nancy Feldman.
Hi.
Seth Feldman's mother.
Our sons were in the same group at day camp this summer.
Oh, right! Hi, hi.
Hi.
So, how ya been doing?
Oh, okay.
Laura, I was so shocked when seth came home from camp that day
and told me that Dennis' father had, you know...
Died. Yeah.
Heart attack, right?
Arrhythmia.
I'm so sorry.
How's Dennis dealing with it?
He's okay.
He's at Newbury Friends this year.
It's been good for him.
Oh, Newbury Friends?
My husband's cousin's son goes there... Adam Walton.
In fact, I just dropped Seth off at his birthday party.
Oh, yeah, Dennis is there. He's at the party.
He is? (Laughs)
What a small world! Is that funny? Is that funny?
Yes, it is. It is funny.
Oh, in fact, it's actually a Godsend
because seth didn't know any other kids there.
And I'm sure that Dennis will be surprised to see one of his camp friends, huh?
Yes, he...
Oh my God.
Oh, my God. Oh, God.
What? Are you okay?
Oh, God. Oh, God.
(Horn honks)
Hey, I know that kid. I went to camp with him.
What's with the tattoo?
His father died in 9/11.
Huh? Where'd you hear that?
(Engine sputtering)
Oh, my God. You gotta be kidding me. Come on! Come on!
(Screams)
(Panting)
There she is...
I have him waiting for you over there.
Disgraceful...
(Crying)
It's all right.
Oh.
It's all right. It's all right. It's all right.
It's all right. It's all right. It's all right. It's all right.
It's all right.
(Sighs)
# Sweet nothing #
# standing with me #
# Who do you think #
# you're fooling? #
# Stranger in your home #
# wondering always #
# You're nothing #
# lost here with me #
# One of the many #
# drifting #
# I'm lucky #
# Lost with you #
# Finding out #
# there is something #
Hello?
Paul?
Anyone home?
Daddy?
Oh, hello, sweetheart.
Ooh.
Where's your mother?
Um, Kathy's car is gone. Did they go out?
Oh, right, the girls went out shopping.
It is saturday, right?
Yeah.
Are you looking at old pictures?
Yeah, a little stroll down memory lane.
What the hell else do I have to do?
God. Look at us.
We're so young.
I tell ya, blink of an eye.
I remember a moment here, a moment there.
The rest... (Sighs)
Gone in the breeze.
Look at you, though. Oh, God, such a beauty.
(Both chuckle)
Much prettier than your sister.
Don't tell her I said so.
You've told her... Many times.
Yeah, yeah, but always while I was complimenting her on something else,
like her organizational skills.
(Both chuckle)
Which are first-rate, by the way.
You were always my pride and joy.
Such a free spirit.
I don't think your mom or Kath ever really appreciated that about you.
But you did.
Yeah, sure.
Then why didn't you stick up for me more?
Hey, look at this... That's me and Tom Seaver,
right after the Mets won the '69 series,
and Seaver's pouring champagne on me.
No, look, 'cause Paul is always saying how Seaver was pouring champagne on Howard Cosell,
but look, look how wet my sport jacket is, huh?
The point is, sweetie, I was there.
I got my story. Front page.
I know.
I'm not talking about the sports section, I mean the whole paper.
I know.
Honey, listen to me, nobody handed that to me.
'Cause when all is said and done,
everybody has to make their own way through.
I don't know.
That's just the way it is.
(Chuckles)
I love you, daddy.
Yeah.
(Chuckles)
Where's Paul?
I don't know.
He came in, then he said he had to go for a walk.
##
I didn't know you could play.
(Chuckles)
I can't.
I just taught myself this one riff when I was in high school,
so people would go, "hey, man, you're good, keep playing,"
at which point I would decline, appearing to be admirably humble about my musical gift.
Did it work?
I never had the guts to actually try it.
This was my first chance, and I blew it.
So there you go.
I knew you weren't gonna show up, Laura.
- I'm so sorry, Paul. - No, it's okay.
Don't apologize.
It's funny, I had this feeling as soon as I pulled away from the gas station.
Like it was inevitable.
Something happened.
Well, inevitable things always do.
That's how they get their name, right?
You helped me so much, Paul.
Well, truth be told, you also h...
##
# I hear you come #
# your pockets have change #
# on down the street a little again #
# The busy people, they've taken their seats #
# stranded us on our feet #
# The sunday papers are stacked up high #
# Tomorrow happens in the blink of an eye #
# Ain't nothin' movin' down the line #
# Ain't nothin' lookin' much alive #
# But the wind screams and without lights #
# You belong to me since you left your mother's side #
# Everything's slowin' down to a crawl #
# This ain't no season, this ain't no season at all #
# We can't get right, we can't get left #
# We can't get out from under it #
# Nothin' floats and nothin' sinks #
# I've been dragged out behind the ship #
# All this country and all this steel #
# Everything's far off, nowhere's near #
# Over valleys and over hills #
# It looks like spring happened, but just not here #
# Come out of the background into the front #
# your punches in bunches and all at once #
# This ain't summer, it's nothin' like fall #
# This ain't no season, this ain't no season at all #
# Rainbows are grounded like they were dust #
# We been down under the blacked out sun #
# My heart is open, but it's filled with love #
# It's the sale of the century, you still want some #
# weddin' fiddles are playin' loud #
# beyond the borders of the sleepy town #
# Bite the apple on down to the core #
# the sweetest parts have yet to come forth #
# I walk the interstate and into the void #
# These streets are too narrow for this kind of joy #
# I see the moon slippin' over the wall #
# This ain't no season, this ain't no season at all #
# Looks like you're just wakin' up #
# You'd think the circles would disappear #
# They don't #
# They wanna walk, but you're not tryin' it #
# They wanna talk, but you're not buyin' it #
# You can say one thing to take it back #
# But you won't #
# You can dream it went a different way #
# Close your eyes and fly the lie away #
# Rewrite the endin' of the play #
# and take a shot and fly your heart away #
# Your heart away #
# well #
# The belle has finally left the ball #
# still waitin' for that other shoe to fall #
# some basic rules, but you don't follow them #
# gaggle of fools, but you don't bother them #
# You make it all up as you go along #
# but you're not goin' anywhere #
# You can dream it went a different way #
# close your eyes and fly the lie away #
# Rewrite the endin' of the play #
# and take a shot and fly your heart away #
# I can be the canvas and the clay #
# If you let me through #
# just stick around for just another day #
# and help me help you #
# you, you #
# You can dream it went a different way #
# Close your eyes and fly the lie away #
# Rewrite the endin' of the play #
# Just take a shot and fly your heart away #
# I can be the canvas and the clay #
# if you let me through #
# Just stick around for just another day #
# and help me help you #