Can l help you?
Is a mousy little woman named Lydia here?
If you wait, l'll get--
It's a personal message.
-I have to deliver it. -You can't go back there!
Lydia Sinclair?
You must be she.
Our card.
It'll be like you work here.
What am l qualified to do?
Sort, you know.
Yeah, this'll be good.
You'll smell like a forest.
Hello. My name is Lydia Sinclair.
Oh, hi. How you doing?
Congratulations. Jack Lucas. Nice to meet you.
Anne Napolitano. Video Spot owner.
Hello. Congratulations.
And this is our coworker...
...Parry. Parry....
Parry Parry?
No, just Parry.
Like Moses.
How do we do this?
Well, first we'll have you sign out an official membership card there.
Sign that, if you would, and we'll have that laminated for you.
Would you laminate Miss Sinclair's card?
Oh, yeah.
This will last you a year...
...after which you can renew, if you wish, at a membership discount.
Yeah, but not for free, right?
You get 1 0 videos.
Free?
-Free. -Only the first 1 0.
After that, they're $2.99 a rental.
All right, all right. Go on.
Go on.
-Can l help you? -No, no. I can look myself.
Hell Merchants. Good choice.
I don't like horror movies.
How about...
... The Purple Bread?
It's a big new Speizak's film. Let's see.
It's set against a sweeping background of a Polish bakery.
Polish! That's a Polish bakery. That's why it's in subtitles.
Don't like love-- Polish love stories.
I like musicals.
Musicals?
Over here.
Here's our entertainment centre.
Here's Fred Astaire. That's good.
Yeah, Jolson. Mammy.
-Have you got any Ethel Merman? -Ethel Merman?
We're all out of Ethel Merman.
-What a gyp! -That sucks.
I think l actually ordered some just the other day.
Did you or didn't you?
Yeah. They'll be in soon.
I'll come back then.
Miss Sinclair, your card. Don't forget it.
I like your nails.
Where'd you get them done?
Actually, l....
I do them myself. I used to work in a beauty parlour.
-I like the stars. -You know, Anne...
...does other people. Sort of as a sideline.
She could do your nails.
How much?
-Well, you're a member. -Forty dollars.
Forty dollars?
Forty?
-When will you do them? -I don't know.
Tonight?
Tonight.
Thank you.
Getting your nails done is one thing...
...but going out to dinner with strangers, and that one!
-We'll make it casual. -She didn't look at him.
It won't be a date.
You got any more starchy food?
Oh, clumsy moi.
Thank you.
I've gone out with some bums, but they were beautiful.
That's the only reason to go out with a bum.
This food is delicious, Anne. Really.
You're a wonderful cook, and you have a great set of dishes.
Jack, he's trying to start a conversation.
Well, talk, then. He's not gonna bite you.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
You know...
...you are a beautiful woman. You got your own business.
I am surprised some guy doesn't just snatch you up all for his own.
Oh, you're surprised?
Guess l never met the right guy. What are you gonna do?
I'm shocked!
I mean, a childbearing body like yours....
A guy would have to be out of his mind.
Most guys are.
You?
This incredible woman going to waste before my very eyes.
No, this is outrageous!
I will not hear this. No! No, come on.
-Jack, get over here. -I am your man, then!
Let's do it right here!
Let's go to that place of "splendour in the grass" !
Behold my magic wand and free your golden orbs right now!
You know what l'm saying.
What are you? Out of your mind?
-Close your pants. -Took you long enough.
Are you a 40 in a jacket?
Yeah, that's it.
This is gonna work.
You let me know, because you're too good a woman to go to waste.
Welcome.
Come in.
I've never been in an apartment above a store before.
You always walk past them on the street...
...but you never really think anyone lives in them.
Can l get you something? A little coffee?
A little tea? A little tequila?
Will it hurt?
That all depends on you.
You sure you don't want a drink?
You just enjoy this. Thattaboy.
-This is mud. -We just washed that off.
This is gonna make you look great.
It's good mud.
Close.
Lips.
Close.
What are you doing?
There we go.
Now, you just relax.
So.... Anybody special in your life?
Does it look like there's anybody special in my life?
You don't have to say it like that.
It's not so, you know, crazy an idea.
You're healthy. You have a steady job. You're not cross-eyed.
Nope, there is nobody special.
Okay, fine.
I mean, it's not easy in this day and age.
What's not easy?
-Meeting people. -Oh, God. Tell me about it.
I've been dating longer than l've been driving.
I can't believe that.
I have never been through a dating period.
It is a disgusting process.
You haven't missed a thing.
Hold still.
I'm so excited.
Did you feel like this when you first met Anne?
She's a wonderful woman. She loves you too much.
But you love her too, don't you?
I mean, you know you do.
It's just that you're an asshole sometimes.
Sorry.
Thanks.
My mother calls me once a week, like an ongoing nightmare.
" Have you met anyone?" " No, Mom."
"What's going to happen?" " l don't know, Mom."
Thank God l moved out of that house!
I cannot believe you lived with her as long as you did.
If l had to live with my mother, l would stab myself six times.
I think some people are meant to be alone.
This is my idea:
That l was born a man in a former life...
...and l used women for pleasure.
So now...
...l'm paying for it.
I wouldn't mind so much if l could...
...just remember the pleasure parts.
I think you're getting a little too complicated.
What, in your opinion...
...is the actual problem?
I don't make an impression on people.
At office parties, l rearrange the hors d'oeuvres...
...while people are eating them, so that the platters will remain full.
I never start any of the conversations because l just don't know....
I don't know where to make it end, to go.
Listen, listen. You gotta be a little easier on yourself, doll.
A conversation...
...has a life of its own, you know?
You have to have some faith in that fact.
I mean, look at us.
We're having...
...a very lovely conversation.
I'm paying you.
Will you stop it? l'm not like that. I don't do people favours.
If l talk to you, it's because l want to.
You're not a supermodel. We can't all be Jerry Hall.
What a boring world it'd be if we were all Jerry Hall.
You do the best you can with what you got.
You're not so invisible.
Hey, you want a personality?
Try this on for size:
You can be a real bitch.
Really?
I'm gonna give you my wallet...
...so you can pay for dinner.
You're a nice man, Jack, doing all this for me.
I'm scared.
I mean, l feel so much for her.
I feel like something awful will happen.
Nothing awful is gonna happen.
Anne is gonna be there. I'm gonna be there.
Nothing awful is gonna happen.
-I'm still scared. -I know. It's gonna be fine.
-You're looking good. -You too.
-Just remember to breathe. -I gotta breathe.
Hey, look! Lydia, how you doing?
Look. It's Lydia Sinclair, our membership winner.
I know.
What have you fellas been up to?
Everything's locked up. We thought we'd get some dinner.
Say, anybody up for Chinese?
Would you like to join us?
No, thank you.
-Watch your nails. -I'd rather go home.
Me too.
-You still have to eat. -No, l'd like to--
Don't blow this.
What'd l tell you? lt's only dinner.
Come on. You're gonna do this.
You'll have something to tell your mother.
You are coming!
Fine.
What do you do?
Well, l get to read the book sometimes.
But mostly, l calculate production costs...
...calculation costs...
...from first-edition hardcover to, sorry, softcover.
And after softcover, it's somebody else's problem.
Boy, that sounds real exciting.
Why does it sound exciting? lt's not exciting.
Why not?
Your calculations determine whether a book is published or not.
You know, maybe it's a book that changes the way people think...
...or, you know, act.
Yeah, but what we publish is mostly trashy romance novels.
Don't say that.
There's nothing trashy about romance.
In romance is passion.
There's imagination. There's beauty.
Besides, you find...
...some wonderful things in the trash.
Oh, dumplings.
I could eat all of these.
Would you like a dumpling?
-Some tea? -Yes, please.
There you go.
Oh, boy.
Sorry.
It's hot.
Help her with that.
Excuse me.
It's contagious.
What do you think?
It's good stuff, huh?
I think that they were made for each other.
Scary, but true.
You got it?
I got it. You got it.
Did you see her with the noodles?
She had a noodle hanging down her head!
I couldn't believe it!
Then they started in on the dumplings.
Playing hockey with it on the table....
It was broccoli!
No, it was a dumpling.
They were batting it around with chopsticks.
-Stop. I'm gonna lose it. -Wait, the burping--!
Yo, Lydia!
Watch out!
Tell me more about yourself. I'd like to know everything.
There's nothing more to tell.
Oh, don't say that.
-No, that's it. -It's enough for me.
-I think she went for him. -I know.
I can't believe l did it.
What?
It's Latin.
It means " love conquers all."
I don't mean us.
I mean everybody else.
-Do you think it'll work out? -Who knows? Who knows?
Two people could be across from each other and never find each other.
Two others could be on opposite sides of the world...
...and nothing could keep them apart.
Who knows?
The thing is, if a thing is meant to happen--
What?
Nothing. Go on.
Wait a minute.
You must be very proud of yourself.
You did a great thing for somebody tonight.
I was very proud to be with you tonight.
You were great.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Steamed dumplings!
Moo Shu pork!
You don't have to say that.
I never say anything l have to.
No, l mean you don't have to say nice things to me.
It's old-fashioned, considering what we're about to do.
-What are we about to do? -You're walking me home.
I think you're a little attracted to me.
And you'll probably want to come upstairs for some coffee.
I don't drink coffee.
Then we'll probably have a drink.
And talk and get to know each other...
...a little better, get comfortable.
And then you'll....
You'll sleep over.
And in the morning, you'll awake...
...and you'll be distant.
And you won't be able to stay for breakfast.
Maybe just a cup of coffee.
I don't drink coffee.
And then...
...we'll exchange phone numbers.
And you'll leave...
...and never call.
And l'll go to work and l'll feel so good...
...for the first hour, and then...
...ever so slowly, l'll turn into a piece of dirt.
I don't know why l'm putting myself through this.
It was really nice to meet you.
Good night.
Excuse me! Wait, just--
Sorry. Wait one minute.
Excuse me. Please wait.
-I'm not feeling very well. -Well, no wonder.
We just met, made love and broke up, all in the space of 30 seconds.
I don't remember the first kiss, which is the best part.
It was very special to meet you.
It was for me too, but l think it's time you should shut up now.
Shut up.
Please?
I'm not coming up to your apartment. That was never my intention.
-You don't want to. -Oh, no, l want to.
I have a hard-on for you the size of Florida.
But l don't want just one night.
I have a confession l have to make to you.
You're married?
You're divorced?
-You have a disease? -No, please stop.
I'm in love with you.
And not just from tonight.
I've known you for a long time.
I know that you come out from work and fight your way out that door.
You get pushed back in, and then you come back out.
I walk with you to lunch. It's a good day...
...if you stop and get that romance novel at that store.
I know on Wednesdays, you go to that dim sum parlour.
And l know that you get a jawbreaker before you go back into work.
And l know you hate your job and you don't have many friends.
Sometimes you feel uncoordinated...
...and you don't feel as wonderful as everybody else.
Feeling as alone and separate as you feel you are....
I love you.
I think you're the greatest thing since spice racks.
I'd be knocked out if l could just have that first kiss.
And l won't be distant.
I'll come back in the morning. I'll call you, if you'll let me.
But l still don't drink coffee.
You're real...
...aren't you?
Bye.
It's the wrong door.
You can call me.
She didn't give me the number.
Please, let me have this.
Let me have it!
Where are you?!
We're tired of looking at you people!
Thank you.
Yeah, well, l'm feeling good.
I don't know how else to put it, Lou.
Yeah, well, l had those personal problems to work out.
And l have, and now l want to get back to work.
Do you think that's possible?
Yeah, l understand.
I am, yeah.
I won't.
I will.
Great. When?
Tuesday's fine.
Tuesday's great, Lou. I'll see you then.
Thanks a lot. Okay, bye.
-Who's Lou? -Lou is my agent.
-You're kidding. -I called my agent.
What did he say?
He says that if l want to get back to work, no problem.
That l just come in...
...we talk and that's it.
Oh, baby!
That's terrific!
I gotta organize these tapes. You seen my jacket?
It's in the bathroom.
The bathroom.... I got coffee here if you want.
You made coffee?
You are going back to work and you made coffee?
I'm loving this.
Oh, you know what would be neat?
Now that there's gonna be another income coming in...
...l'd love to look for a bigger place.
I mean, l don't want to rush anything...
...but l'd like to start looking anyway.
Maybe a two-bedroom...
...or maybe even the top floor of a house?
Say, in Brooklyn...
...Heights?
What?
You don't want to commute. That's all right. We could--
Come here.
You are an incredible woman.
I'm an incredible woman? What's this, a death sentence?
No, no, l want to talk about this.
So much has happened...
...that l think it would be a good thing for both of us...
...if we...
...slowed down a little.
Slowed down? Have we been going fast here?
Now, look, this has been...
...a real, real difficult time for me this past year or so.
I feel like l'm above water for the first time.
I feel like l know a lot more now, and l don't want to make any more mistakes.
I think l need time...
...to make the right choices....
Wait, wait. I'm lost here.
I think that maybe l should...
...be alone for a while.
Now that l know more, you know, l feel...
...that l should focus on my career now that everything's taken care of.
All right, first of all, let me just say one thing, okay?
You don't know shit.
Secondly...
...as far as we go, what have we been doing here except time?
Have l ever pressured you once, ever?
So what time do you need, baby?
I love you, you love me.
You want to get your career going?
I think that's the greatest thing in the world.
I want to be there when it happens.
So what do you need time to figure out, huh?
All right, let me just ask you one thing.
Do you love me?
I don't know.
You can't even give me that, can you?
Jesus, Jack! What were you planning on doing here?
Pack up and drop me a note when you met somebody new?
I have no idea what l was planning to do.
I just said l need time.
Bullshit! lf you're gonna hurt me, hurt me now.
Not some drawn-out hurt that takes months of my life...
...because you don't have the balls!
Okay. I'll pack my stuff tonight.
What have you been doing here?
-We both got something out of it. -What did l get?!
What did l get?!
What did l get l couldn't have gotten from anybody...
...any night of the week?!
Do you think your company is a treat?
Your moods, your pain, your problems. You think this was entertaining?
Then why do you want to stay with me?
Because l love you.
You stupid fucking....
Stop it, stop it. Don't.
No, you don't get to be nice!
I ain't gonna play a stupid game where we act like friends...
...so you get to walk out feeling good about yourself.
I'm not a modern woman.
If this is over...
...let's just call it over.
My wallet? What do you mean?
He can't hear you.
I'm Dr. Mandeville. I was on duty when they brought him in.
I went over his record. He was brought in once before.
Catatonic stupor, condition rendered him nonverbal.
Yeah. So he's been beat up.
He's got a concussion, right?
Right? He's gonna snap out of it.
I'm afraid not.
The beating's bad, but it's not the problem.
He seems to be re-experiencing catatonia.
So he could snap out of it in an hour...
...or 1 3 months, 1 3 years.
There's no way to be sure.
One could re-experience the full effect of a tragedy...
...long after the event took place.
I was reading how he lost his wife.
Are you relatives?
Well, it doesn't matter. We'll take care of him.
He'll have to be sent back to the same institution.
What if l was a relative?
You'd have the option to care for him at home.
My advice is, l wouldn't recommend it. It wouldn't be good for him.
He needs hospital care.
I thought you could sign the release forms, but the city can.
I'm sorry.
Poor Lydia.
She finally finds her prince and he falls into a coma.
Some women just have no luck, huh?
I'll call you, okay?
The answer: two dwarfs and a melon.
Have a perfect weekend. And remember, on Monday...
...we have as our special guest, Ben Starr...
...star of the recently defunct hit TV show On The Radio.
From one of the botched to all of you bungled cats out there, l love ya...
...and right back at ya.
Yeah, Lou. Look, l said l want an offer or they can forget it.
Tell them l'm talking to the cable people about a talk show.
What?
Beth's father set it up.
No, he owns it.
I'm not bothering--
Come on, you gotta move it.
Come on, let's go. Come on.
No, it's Jack. It's me!
Stop it, l know that guy!
Jack, do you remember me?
Venice! You know me!
Can l talk to you, please?
I need to talk--
We spent time together.
Do you know this guy?
Why won't you talk to me?
Leave me alone!
It's a weekly comedy about the homeless.
But it's not depressing.
We want to find a funny, upbeat way...
...of bringing the issue of homelessness to TV.
So we've got three wacky homeless characters.
But they're wise. They're wacky and wise.
The hook is they love being homeless.
They love the freedom, the adventure.
It's about the joy of living, not the shit we deal with: money, politics.
And the best part is, it's called Home Free.
I'm getting a rush!
Is this another disappearing act with this guy?
It's not a problem. It's a bathroom break.
I'll check.
Shit!
There.
What?
It's a Grail.
The Holy Grail.
The Holy....
Some billionaire has got the Holy Grail in his library on Fifth Avenue?
I know. Who'd think you'd find anything divine there?
They said...
...you're The One.
Henry Sagan?
Pardon me. Not long ago, l left some new sheets for Parry.
They were lime-coloured, much like this colour, with watermelons.
Oh, yes. I'm sorry. They're being cleaned.
The doctor had a little accident with the hypo.
Just make sure that he does get them when they are clean. Thank you.
It's Jack.
How you doing? You're looking good.
You do.
You gonna wake up for me?
This isn't over, is it?
You think you'll make me do this, don't you?
Well, forget it. No fucking way!
I don't feel responsible for you or for anybody.
Everybody's got bad things that happen to them. I'm not God!
I don't decide....
People survive.
Say something!
Everything's been going great.
Great.
I'm gonna have my own cable talk show.
With an incredible equity, l might add.
I've got an incredible.... Incredibly fucking gorgeous girlfriend.
I'm living an incredible fucking life.
So don't lay there in your comfortable coma...
...and think l'll risk all that because l feel responsible for you.
I'm not responsible!
I don't feel guilty. You've got it easy. I'm out there...
...every fucking day...
...trying to figure out what the hell l'm doing.
No matter what l have, it feels like l have nothing.
I don't feel sorry for you. It's easy being nuts. Try being me.
So l won't do it.
I don't believe in this shit.
Don't give me that stuff about me being The One.
There's nothing...
...nothing special about me.
I control my own destiny...
...not some floating, overweight fairies.
I decide what l'm gonna do, and l'm not gonna risk my life...
...to get some fucking cup for some fucking vegetable!
Motherfucker!
What am l supposed to do?!
What am l supposed to do?
Cup...!
All right, for sake of argument, let's say l do do this.
If l do this...
...l want you to know it wouldn't be because l felt l had to...
...or because l felt cursed or guilty or responsible.
If l do this....
Shit!
If l do this...
...and l mean if...
...it's because l want to do this for you.
That's all.
For you.
Don't go anywhere.
Shit!
Great.
I'm hearing horses now. Parry will be so pleased.
Radio personality turns screwball on mission from God.
I just hope when they put me away...
...they find me a place right next to his.
Fuck!
Thank God nobody looks up in this town.
Shit!
" Lannie Carmichael.
Christmas 1 932."
Shit!
Hey, come on. Wake up!
Christ!
All right, l did my side of the bargain.
Here's your cup.
You gonna wake up now?
You want to think about it a little more.
Take your time.
I had this dream, Jack.
I was married.
I was married to this beautiful woman.
And you were there too.
I really miss her, Jack.
Is that okay?
Can l miss her now?
Thank you.
Tempo. Allegro.
Here we go.
Hi, sweetheart. Where you been?
What's this face all about? Why are you crying?
Are you my girl?
Yes.
Baby!
Tempo.
Well!
What do you expect me to do?
Applaud?
What? What?
What'd you come here for?
Did you come to get the rest of your stuff? lt all got burned...
...accidentally.
Whatever the hell it is you're doing, don't do it.
You don't just show up here...
...and stand there like a statue and make me do all the work.
What did you come here for?
I love you.
What?
I didn't get that.
Would you run it by me again?
I think....
I realize....
I love you.
You love me, huh?
You son of a bitch!
God, what a beautiful night, huh?
Hey, look.
What?
They're moving.
Am l doing that?
Are you crazy? lt's the wind.
Good night, Manhattan!
-Say good night, Jack. -Good night, Jack.