(solemn music)
(bell tolls)
("Fall" by Micachu and Shapes)
♪ I'll fall down very gradually
♪ Hit the ground with no urgency
♪ Bricks are bound to bend under me
♪ I hope my
♪bones crack evenly
(quirky music)
(camera clicks)
(door clatters)
- [Alex] Hey, 6:30.
- I'll be right down.
- Leslie wants you to call her before the interview.
And about the script, she sent over a few more
she thinks you should consider.
I booked my flight for a Thursday.
We got almost 40 emails.
I mean, I guess it is
a rent-stabilized apartment in Brooklyn.
Also, Madeline wanted me to remind you about her brunch.
She says you really shouldn't miss it,
'cause he is really cute and sweet,
and it's time for you to, Anna?
(water patters)
(Anna sighs)
- Yup, I've been reading them all week.
You know, I'd rather wait.
I just want to give them a little more thought.
Okay, Leslie, I gotta go, I'm late, I'm late.
Okay, bye.
You're an angel.
- Are you ready?
You got to go, or you're gonna be late.
- Okay.
Where are my keys?
- Oh, I thought maybe I would just come with you today
and hang out and watch the scene.
- No, absolutely not, you're supposed to be writing today.
Take your pen, wield it.
I'm fine.
- [Newscaster] Approximately 2,500 people are believed to have died
or gone missing trying to reach Europe so far this year.
On Sunday, 37 people died when a boat capsized
off the Libyan coast.
This came just days after another boat capsized
off the Libyan coast, killing more than 200 people.
Meanwhile investigators in Hungary
and Austrian authorities are continuing to probe the deaths
of 71 people who were found abandoned last week
inside a truck on the main highway between--
(phone chimes)
- Hello.
Yes, I'll hold.
Hi, Dan, how are you?
Okay.
Sure.
Well, I just wanted to talk to you about his one beat
that's been, I don't know.
It's just sort of been bothering me.
I think we've seen this coffee spilling thing,
this stumble thing a few times, and I'm just wondering
about playing that jealousy over and over again.
I feel like it diminishes the character.
She's an award-winning journalist.
Fine, blogger.
- All right.
These labs are looking great.
This is good news.
(Anna laughs)
- But it could come back?
- Listen, these autoimmune diseases are tricky.
The chemo and steroids are tough on the body,
but it does look like you're taking too long
to build up your adrenals.
We could put you back on steroids,
but I prefer you just try to slow down.
Are you sleeping?
- Not so much.
- Looks like you need a refill for the Wellbutrin.
How's it working for you?
- You know, I'm not sure.
(phone rings)
- [Receptionist] Your wife on line two.
- Have her hold on for a moment.
Why don't we up the dose
and see how you feel in a few weeks?
- Oh, and I need a refill on the Ritalin.
- Oh we talked about this.
- Just 'til we wrap.
(phone chimes)
- I'm sorry.
(doctor sighs)
Honey, what's up?
I'm with a patient.
Oh.
- [Alex] The interview's 90 minutes.
You have that fitting, the luncheon thing,
oh, sorry, we canceled that.
This Thursday, Leslie's coming over at 10.
She has a hard out at noon.
She wanted to make sure
you finished reading all the scripts.
She's being really Leslie about it.
Plus that call with with Paula to do your social media.
The car is coming at eight.
I'll be there by six, and Isaac called again.
(Anna sighs)
You still there?
(door slams)
(knocks at door)
- No!
(knocks at door)
- [Dan] Anna, let me in.
(Anna sighs)
(knocks at door)
Come on!
- Out!
You know, I would just like to be heard out
on some of these creative decisions.
- I can't call a summit every time you have a problem
with the scene.
Anna, the whole crew is on set waiting for you.
- I was thinking it might be interesting.
What if we just reversed it?
- Please, just let it go.
It's just who she is.
- What does that mean?
How do we even know what she is?
I mean, she's just somebody who gets shit dumped on her.
The way she's been written this season,
she's become a cipher.
I mean, does she care about anything besides him.
Yes, we get it.
She's a workaholic.
She has no personal life.
Her friends are text messages.
She's not a real person.
She's like a profession.
- I know it may be a stretch for you,
but I'm sure you can find something
in her you can relate to.
- You got your coffee spill in.
(Dan)
And there's a shitload of typos in there.
- [Man] Yeah, all right.
(Anna sniffs)
- Because you are brilliant
and charming and incredibly annoying
and frustratingly attractive,
and if you just get out of your own damn way,
and let me, let us help you,
we can do this.
You can do this.
(Anna sniffs)
You can do this!
My sources tell me my team in Arabia is ready to go.
You bastard!
You know me Sam, and you know I won't let this happen
on my watch.
(Anna groans)
You know, what's that book we're all supposed to get
when our husbands dump us?
I mean, he didn't (laughs), he didn't dump me.
I dumped him.
Promise me he'll go to college.
In my top drawer, wait 'til I'm gone,
but promise me,
no, promise me, you'll be good to your father.
(Anna sniffs)
(Anna mumbles)
He sent the secretaries home.
I knew the moment I saw you.
You're the worst mistake I've ever made,
and I'll make it every chance I get.
(knocks at door)
- You're gonna cover his fall semester,
and I'm gonna pay for the spring.
Well, John, that isn't my problem anymore, now, is it?
Hold on a minute.
Uh huh, well, has she ever done this before?
No, and did you get your shot?
And how much coverage did you really need
on a fucking coffee spill?
You have a brilliant, multiple Emmy award-winning actress.
You might want to think--
Wait a minute, uh uh, I have piles of offers for her.
So if you can't respect her process...
Oh.
Look, how 'bout after the hiatus,
we get together with the studio,
and we discuss the direction
of her character for the second half of the season?
All right.
- It looks worse than it is.
What would they do, hypothetically, if I broke my contract?
- We're doing this again?
- Could they sue me?
You know I've been phoning it in for months?
- Everybody phones it in, sooner or later.
It's normal.
- This is not normal.
- What you really need is just sit down
and think about what you really, really want,
because you walked off set.
And I don't even know what to do with all this.
Honey, you could have fucked yourself up.
- I can't.
(skimmer clatters)
- You're not supposed to drink coffee.
(Anna sighs)
- You're,
you're really special.
And I know how hard you've worked for me.
I don't know how to explain this, but
there's nothing left.
I don't want to let you down.
You've gotten me everything I wanted.
- Yeah, but what do you want now?
- I don't want to act anymore.
- [Leslie] Oh I don't believe--
- I'm serious.
Are you mad at me?
- That's not important.
- [Anna] I don't want you to be mad at me.
- And I don't want you to regret it.
- Do you think I'm a good actor?
- I think you're a good actor.
(Leslie sighs)
(lips smack)
I'll call the lawyers.
(heels clack)
(door clicks)
- Leslie, wait, Leslie!
- [Leslie] I'll call you back.
- Just tell me what I have to do.
- You have the entire week off now.
After that, we're gonna take a meeting with the studio
for contract renegotiations.
At that time, we can bring up all of your concerns
for your character for the second half of the season.
In the meantime, just take a break Anna,
a real break, not a work break,
not another charity drive, not a cleanse, actual fun.
And if you just can't bear to do that,
then at least unpack.
(engine revs)
(cell phone chimes)
(landline rings)
(shoes clatter)
- So I'm not going tonight, so you can just go.
Thanks.
(siren blares)
(door clicks)
(Anna sighs)
(faucet squeaks)
(pump hums)
(Anna sighs)
(water gurgles)
- I want to go to Coney Island!
- [Mother] But we can't do it right now,
because we have somewhere else to go.
("LA Poison" by Micachu and the Shapes)
♪ Listen to the faces in the background
♪ To the new one in the foreground
♪ And the old you and the old me
♪ And the new you, the front piece
♪ In the foreground, it occurred to me
♪ We're in the background
♪ We can do it, around
♪ And we sweat
♪ We do sweat
♪ And the sky, it was filled with concrete
♪ And I don't know why
♪ But the sunglasses cover their eyes
♪ And the story
♪ I'm told it did
♪ Let's feel that
♪ And the cold sweats, and the cold sweats
♪ And the high heat
♪ There's no one in front of me
♪ As I walk down the best street
♪ There are cars crash
♪ And all the lights flash
♪ Imagine a place
♪ Where the cars and people recall
♪ They even love each other
♪ They love it
♪ Thrashing, colliding, smiling, flying
(group cheers)
- Speech, speech!
Come on, babe, you've got to give it to us.
- [Heidi] Kate, Kate!
Hands away.
- Oh bloody hell, okay.
Blessings to all, and a big fuck you to my dear friend.
(group laughs)
- Anything for you.
- Who knows how much I love surprises.
I'm very happy you're here.
I don't know, I don't know how I would've done it.
(Kate laughs)
That's enough.
Oh, I don't believe I just did that.
(group laughs)
Someone put on Guns N' Roses now.
Come on, party!
(group applauds)
(rock music)
- Cut a big slice of that.
- Have fun!
- Did I make it?
Yes.
That's why I'm cutting it so well.
(upbeat rock music)
- Just a little longer.
- It's late.
Anna?
- Anna.
- [Nadia] Hi.
- [Isaac] Hey, hey.
- I didn't know you were in town.
- Yeah, for a minute.
- Hi there.
- You made it.
- I did.
- [Isaac] That's so great.
- Nancy's doing this performance thing.
At one of those galleries,
I forget which one.
But she doesn't look very good.
Have you seen her lately?
- No, no, I haven't.
I haven't seen her for years.
- Kate.
- Wow. - What?
- What are you doing here?
- Heidi, hi.
- [Heidi] My God, Anna.
- Surprise.
- [Heidi] Nice surprise.
- [Jude] Kate.
Kate, I got to go.
- Jude's leaving, so--
- I didn't know either.
- Yeah.
You're gonna stay for a while, right?
- Yeah.
What was I thinking?
- Just give her a minute.
You know her.
- Yeah.
- You wanna drink?
Oh wait, hold on.
Hey, Suzanne, what's up?
What's up?
Wait, I can't hear you.
All right, take care.
Thanks for the call, bye.
Hey!
I fixed that scene.
- Why didn't you tell me she was coming?
- Hey, she called, and she asked about your 50th.
It never occurred to me that she'd actually show up.
- You really should've told me she was coming.
(Isaac laughs)
She never remembers birthdays.
- Ooh, birthdays, history,
reflection, rejuvenation, reunion, right?
Survival.
- I sold out, too.
My kid's doing ballet.
And that's her friend Julie.
She's a hand, oh no, that's Julie's kid right there.
- Oh.
- She's got attachment issues, a handful.
- Hi, we haven't met, but I love your show.
It's my total guilty pleasure.
I have to ask.
Can you give us any hints about the next season?
Like, do they finally hook up?
- Oh (sighs).
I really shouldn't.
Okay.
Actually, he has a nervous breakdown, flips out,
has to be institutionalized.
She takes over.
- Oh man.
That is such a bummer.
- Yeah.
You can't tell anybody.
- I won't, I promise.
- Promise? - Yeah.
- Okay, I'm sorry,
excuse me. - Thank you.
- I'll see you in a sec.
- Oh my God (laughs).
- Don't tweet it.
- I saw the new issue.
It's so good.
- Who's that?
- Flirting with your wife?
That's Jacob Carter.
He won the Henry Prize last year.
- Jacob is the editor of Texte zur Kunst.
This is Anna.
- Charming to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
- You know it's just ontological BS.
- Right (laughs).
- What is Texte zur Kunst?
- You don't know Texte zur Kunst?
- No.
- You should.
(Nadia and Jacob laugh)
It's a magazine.
- It's a brilliant magazine.
- Oh if I may say so myself.
The editing is particularly good.
- Oh you're so modest.
- Yes, I know.
(Nadia laughs)
- Anna doesn't seem like herself.
Have you shown her this?
Isaac?
- She's very good.
You're very good.
- Thank you, Nadia.
- You're very modest, I'd say.
- She's really modest.
(lips smack)
- [Jude] You don't want to know when I'm leaving.
- When are you leaving?
- Soon.
I got a little present for you.
- Oh come on.
- It's just a key, just for when you visit.
Okay?
- 55 bucks for non-alcoholic champagne.
It's insane.
("Girl Flavor Gum" by The Need)
- You okay?
- Yeah, mm hmm.
- I thought you'd left.
- I was gonna come say goodbye.
(Kate sighs)
- I'm sorry I haven't been in touch.
- No, that's okay.
- Do you want us to call you a car?
- Actually, I'm staying at my old place.
- Frost Street?
- Mm hmm (chuckles).
- I didn't know.
- Yeah.
- Why don't you stay for a bit?
- [Isaac] You haven't seen these?
- [Anna] Wow.
- [Kate] They're built in pieces, like Legos.
- [Anna] I can't believe, I walked in circles.
(Isaac chuckles)
- [Isaac] It's like some post-apocalyptic project.
- [Anna] So is that where Heidi lives, that one right there?
- [Isaac] You see the big crane, kind of dangling over it,
next to that.
- Oh.
Are you okay here?
- Yeah, I'm fine.
I'm still at the breakup.
I didn't know.
That must've been hard.
- The day I broke up with him,
I felt like I'd been let out of a cult.
- I hope you fucking sue the asshole.
- The thing is with addicts, speaking from experience,
if you can't live in their reality,
you can't live with them at all.
- It's like most New Yorkers.
- You should've seen it, speaking from experience.
- Addicts can be very, very seductive, even sober ones.
- Guys suck.
- [Kate] Speaking from experience?
(Kate laughs)
(Isaac laughs)
- [Isaac] Damn, knockouts.
- Do you remember?
The first week of previews.
(Isaac grunts)
- I look trashed.
- Really, I don't see that.
- Will I ever write anything that good again?
- I look so timid.
(Isaac and Kate snicker)
- As if.
(Anna scoffs) (phone chirps)
- Oh sorry.
(phone chirps)
- What?
- That's a little loaded.
- I didn't mean to be--
- Of course you did.
(liquid pattering)
- Really?
- [Isaac] What?
My urine is 100% organic.
- What's the story with Jude?
- I don't know, something Upstate.
Why are you here?
- You invited me.
I have to deal with my apartment.
- Bullshit, you have Alex.
Isn't that the point of outsourcing your life?
- Can't I just take a break?
- No one comes to New York to take a break, especially you.
- It's okay.
I'd love to come.
- Oh it's nothing really.
We just have to teach one class to graduate.
Well, I guess, sure, if you want.
- Okay.
- All right, guys, I love you but please go.
♪ Hey
♪ Been trying to meet you
♪ Mm, mm, mm, mm
♪ Hey, must be a devil between us
♪ Or whores in my head
♪ Whores at the door
♪ Whores in my bed
♪ But hey
♪ Where have you been
♪ If you go, I will surely die
♪ We're chained
("Just Like Heaven")
♪ Spinning on that dizzy edge
♪ I kissed her face
♪ I kissed her head
♪ Dreamed of all the different ways
♪ I had to make her glow
♪ Why are you so far away, she said
♪ Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you
♪ That I'm in love with you
♪ You, soft and only
♪ You, lost and lonely
♪ You, strange as angels
♪ Dancing in the deepest oceans
♪ Twisting in the water
♪ You're just like a dream
(siren blares)
- Wow.
(Isaac grunts)
I am so fucked.
- She was just talking to him.
- Something's off.
- Take her on a date, like a real date.
- You know the going rate for babysitters?
- I could babysit.
- You don't have time for that.
- Yeah, yeah, I do.
- Really?
- Yeah, I want to.
- Dana would love to see her Auntie Anna.
I might take you up on that.
- Put your glasses on.
- Why?
- 'Cause I want you to.
Now go home and tell her she is the most amazing,
beautiful, brilliant, hottest woman you know
and how lucky you are to be with her.
- You're manazing (laughs).
(both laugh)
- Again.
- Okay.
- Sober.
- All right.
You're amazing.
- That's good.
Good night.
- Good night.
(gate squeaks)
(lock clangs)
(knocks at door)
(door buzzes)
(knocks at door)
- [Kathy] Hello.
(knocks at door)
Hello.
It's Derek and Kathy.
We're here to see the apartment.
(knocks at door)
Honey, I don't know what's going on.
- So the Twelve Nidanas,
the Twelve Nidanas or fetters as they call 'em,
looks at attachments to unhealthy habits and behaviors.
No (chuckles).
Tense back.
My jaw hurts.
The rent check,
I hate my landlord.
Don't say hate.
Think.
Anna, what's that place on Rivington?
Those $3 beers.
Ready?
(bell rings)
- You know, it was like watching you on stage.
You just throw out the script and go.
I could never do that.
- It's more like I was, who was it?
You know (laughs), the rain on my face
and the city, city pounding.
- [Anna] My tequila tongue.
- [Kate] My tequila tongue (laughs)!
- [Anna] Who thinks of that?
- I don't know.
But it's so self-important, I want.
- I need.
- I need my sandwich.
- Oh lovely.
- I'm sorry.
I've just seen like every episode.
You're amazing.
- [Anna] Thank you.
- You know, I'm actually an actor, too.
And can I ask?
I just, I'm really curious to know how you got your start.
Actually, you should ask my friend Kate, Kate Mullen.
She taught me everything.
- [Fan] Wow, cool.
Wait, so you--
- I forgot, I have to return a call.
- Do you mind if I just--
- Oh no.
- What did you do?
- Um,
well.
- Think it through.
Will it make you feel better?
I know.
Can you get to a meeting?
Okay.
Call me when you get there and call me after.
It's gonna be okay.
(phone clicks)
- Thank you so much.
It was so great to meet you.
- You're welcome.
Good luck with everything.
- [Fan] Have a good day.
- Thank you.
You're leaving?
- I should get going.
I got a few deadlines tomorrow.
- Oh.
What just happened?
- [Kate] You don't have to do that.
- I'm sorry.
She was so sweet.
- It's not that.
I'm not an actor anymore.
I don't want to be.
It's like you're trying to prop me up,
as if I feel bad about it.
- I'm sorry.
I didn't--
- What's really going on with you?
You look exhausted.
And the compliments and my birthday and coming to my class,
you suddenly drop in my life
and expect us to be, I don't know.
We haven't talked for more than an hour.
- I've been trying to talk to you for years.
- Phone messages from the freeway
in between meetings at your hotel.
- I'm sorry.
That was awful.
They wouldn't even give me an hour.
- It's really fine.
We've moved on with our lives.
Maybe it's better.
- Not for me, it isn't.
- I feel like you want something from me,
and I don't know what it is.
Anna?
- How did you know?
- Know what?
- That you weren't an actor anymore.
- What does it matter what I'm doing?
I'm not you.
(phone buzzes)
- [Anna] Hey.
- [Isaac] What is that?
- [Anna] Wall Street, moving in.
- [Isaac] You okay?
- [Anna] I think Google's replacing memory.
- [Isaac] Why stop there?
- [Anna] Do you have a scanner I can borrow?
- [Isaac] It's ancient, but yeah.
Oh shit, hold on, Anna.
- [Dana] Why?
- [Isaac] Honey, what are you doing up?
- [Dana] Something--
- [Isaac] Mommy's sleeping.
- [Dana] That already happened.
- [Isaac] Can you just wait one second?
- [Dana] What are you--
- [Isaac] Daddy's talking to Auntie Anna.
Dana, no.
- [Dana] I want a cookie.
- [Isaac] No cookies.
Anna, I got to go.
No, no, no.
- [Dana] That's silly.
- [Isaac] Just come over here.
Come over here. - No.
- [Isaac] Shh, shh, shh, it's okay.
- [Dana] Hey, what's this thing?
- [Isaac] It's all right.
- [Dana] I have no idea what it is.
- [Isaac] Come on, I'm gonna go read you a story.
- [Alex] Me again, just checking in.
A few of the applicants emailed me
that no one answered the door.
Are you okay?
(hammer bangs)
- Hi, Alex, it's Anna.
Listen, I think I need you to tell Leslie
that things are a little more complicated
than I thought with the apartments,
stuff with the landlord and repairs.
So I think we need to reschedule those meetings,
and I'm gonna have to push my flight.
Okay, thanks, bye.
(stove clicks) - Yeah.
Yeah, I know, I know, I know.
It's not an overnight process, yeah.
I know you like the conservative front,
but I actually think the other one's better for the brand.
Yeah?
One,
two,
operator.
(Kate sighs)
I've been on hold for an hour every day this week.
Can I please talk to a person?
- [Acupuncturist] So tell more.
- Besides the pemphigus?
- Your kidney is very thin.
You don't have enough energy.
- Sometimes I feel like I'm not inside myself.
Like I blank out.
- Let me see your tongue.
Are you married?
- No.
- [Acupuncturist ] Children?
- No.
- [Acupuncturist] Hobbies?
- Hobbies?
- If someone asks Anna, what do you most want,
what would you say?
(Anna laughs)
- I've been asking myself that question for 25 years
about other people, characters.
Really, people don't know what they want.
I mean, they say they do, but I don't think so.
What does it even mean to want?
I wanted to be an actor.
That's what I wanted.
I don't know how to do anything else.
(birds chirp)
(dramatic music)
- This is unbelievable.
Could you give us a minute?
So what was it, that pretentious suit,
Text von Kunta, whatever?
I guess he would never take you to Honey's.
Where'd you go, some swanky, hotel room?
(Nadia sighs)
I've been really preoccupied with work,
and I'm gonna step up.
- Please don't patronize me.
How 'bout that?
It's not about work.
It's about growing up.
And I feel like you wish we lived in that dive bar.
Like it holds the key to your own fucking authenticity.
But you are the one who wants her to go to Montessori.
You want her to eat organic.
- Nadia!
- How are we supposed to pay for that?
How do we pay for them?
Without your gigs?
No.
Did it ever occur to you one time, one time,
that maybe I wanted to keep writing
and not have to go to law school?
- Hey, I never said you should go to law school.
- Fuck you, 'cause you sure didn't stop me.
- What?
- But I'm okay with it, our life, what we have together.
You just don't appreciate what is right in front of you.
Maybe it's too normal for you.
Maybe I'm too normal for you.
- That's not true.
You're my rock.
- I'm sorry for what I did, and it was only once,
but I don't want to be a rock, 'cause it's boring.
- Do you mind getting a cab?
(Anna sighs)
I was gonna tell you.
- Were you gonna invite me?
- It's just this little side project.
- Hmm, yeah, you told me you were working
on a play about the downtown theater scene in the 1990s,
but you never said anything about a character who--
- It's not you.
It's not, it's not you.
- Bullshit!
Sarah Marks, character that's a dark-haired, Jewish girl
from Connecticut who's intense and neurotic and suicidal.
- It's not you.
It's not just you.
It's all of us.
(Anna scoffs)
Could you maybe see it as a compliment?
- A compliment?
Of what?
- You inspire me.
- No, I don't.
- [Nadia] Could you guys maybe not do this right now?
Could you? - I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, I'm just gonna get her a cab.
- I'm not her fucking aunt, and she had four cookies.
Hi, Leslie.
Well, I came home for the weekend.
No, not Connecticut, New York.
I don't know, Wednesday, probably.
No, Leslie, I am fine.
I just need a minute to myself.
I can't.
I can't really talk about it right now, okay.
Yup, I will be there.
Yup, bye.
(metal clatters)
- Coming?
- Okay.
(bell rings)
Hey, do you know where Kate is?
I was supposed to meet her here.
- Uh, I don't.
She is usually here.
It's Anna, right?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, Sam, I'm in teacher training with Kate.
- Oh cool.
Well, thank you for encouraging me.
I'm glad I stayed.
- Yeah, maybe we will see you again.
- Oh probably not, I have to head back to work.
- What do you do?
Oh, no, no worries.
- I'm a forensic anthropologist.
- Wow.
Well, that's extremely interesting.
(Anna laughs)
So where you headed?
- Syria, if I can get in.
What do you do?
- I have a small contracting company.
Nothing fancy, we mostly do green roofs.
It's strange.
I mean, Kate's always here, so.
- Yeah, I think I'm just gonna go find her at her house.
- I hope she's okay.
- Thanks.
- Let me know.
- [Anna] Does she have your number?
- Probably not.
- They can just kick you out without any warning?
- I've been in housing court all month.
Didn't know it was gonna happen so fast.
- You have to get everything out today?
- They're gonna lock me out at 11,
and I have to arrange to get the rest of my stuff
at the landlord's convenience.
- Oh okay, how can I help?
- Those books can go in there.
- [Anna] You can fight this.
- [Kate] I can't afford the legal fees.
I can barely afford the rent.
- [Anna] Take my apartment.
- I don't want your apartment.
- Well, where are you gonna go?
- I don't know, Upstate probably.
I'm priced out.
- I can lend you some money.
- I don't need a bailout.
- Why won't you let me help you?
- I don't need you to save me or solve me or do anything.
- [Anna] You'll never forgive me, will you?
- [Kate] Of fuck you, you fuckin' left me!
- Yeah, I left in the middle of our show,
and it was fucked up.
But I was broke.
I was scared.
And I didn't know I was gonna stay out there for that long.
So yes, I am a sellout.
I'm pathetic.
You, Kate,
you were hard.
I didn't know who you were gonna be
from day-to-day, from night-to-night.
- [Isaac] Guys, just please.
- Did I ever miss a show?
- [Anna] No.
- Did I ever fuck up on stage?
(Anna sighs)
Yeah, you wanted to leave.
Our show was always just a stepping stone for you.
- That is not true.
- [Kate] It was about you.
- Kate!
- To be honest, I don't have time for you right now.
- Enough.
- And I don't need a fucking intervention.
- All right, you know what?
For what it's worth, she didn't just fly into town
and fly out afterwards.
She's the one who made it happen.
She got us all together--
- Isaac.
- When none of us had the balls to do it.
No!
And then she stayed in some shitty motel for several weeks
to make sure you were okay.
Actually, to make sure that you were not dead.
So enough, both of you, just give it a rest.
- Why are you telling me this right now of all times?
- It's not really yours to tell at all,
but that doesn't seem to stop you, does it?
- Did you know about his script?
Oh my God (laughs).
You helped him write it, didn't you?
- She didn't write anything. - I helped a little.
- Yeah.
You helped.
- [Isaac] Anna!
Anna!
Come on!
- You think I'm gonna let you put this in the world.
You can't take my life.
- It wasn't intentional.
I was so in it.
It just kept coming out.
And people were responding.
It's been years since anyone gave a shit about my work.
You have no idea what a complete train wreck my career's in.
- What you wrote--
- [Isaac] What?
- She's selfish.
She's self-absorbed.
She's manipulative.
She's needy as hell.
- Yeah, and loving and intense and smart
and so full of pain that it breaks my heart sometimes.
- What happened with us?
You know what I'm talking about.
- I was a mess.
- (scoffs) We were all a mess.
- It was just so complicated.
If I would've come any closer,
you would've been out the door,
just like now.
(Anna sighs)
- Think there's room for this?
- Yeah.
(horn honks)
- [Isaac] Wait, just pull it up first.
Up, lift up, and now pull.
(horn honks)
(Isaac sighs)
What are you doing? - Thank you.
- [Isaac] No, no, no, no, no, no.
- This is for the storage space.
- Don't worry about it.
I got it.
What time's your train?
- [Kate] I was gonna try and get it 10 past 10.
- I could drive you to Grand Central.
- Nah, the traffic.
And I was gonna try and get some things to bring Upstate.
- [Isaac] You'll be back for my reading, right?
- I don't know.
- [Isaac] Come here, ya old geezer.
Get over here.
- It's a beautiful play.
(wood bangs)
(door creaks)
- I only have one glass.
- Oh.
Hurricane Sandy?
- Uh, yeah.
- Probably wouldn't be that hard to fix.
(lips smack)
(Anna giggles)
(siren blares)
- I really need to be here tonight.
I've been thinking about when I first came in these rooms,
I was like a spoiled, little child.
I couldn't cook sober.
I couldn't pay my bills sober.
I couldn't hold on to a job sober.
I couldn't act sober.
I couldn't love sober.
It's like you're so fully attached
to this idea of yourself
that you can't find another way,
can't find yourself without the drink.
I (coughs), I didn't know how to ask for help.
But there was someone in my life
who took care of everything
for me without asking for (gags),
for anything in return.
I've resented her for it ever since.
I felt so beholden.
I hated her for helping me.
Thank you for letting me share (sniffs).
- [Isaac] We can add this.
Who's this?
(people chatter)
We hold these truths to be self-evident.
- We hold these truths to be self-evident.
- That all men, that all men.
All right, I got it, I got it.
Please.
- You can't turn it around like that.
You can't turn it around.
- I was really sick last year.
- Yeah?
- I had this weird autoimmune thing.
It's not contagious.
I started to see strange lesions on my back.
Then it spread to my mouth, my throat, my lungs.
I couldn't talk.
I almost lost my job.
- You okay now?
- Mm hmm.
(Anna laughs)
(lips smack)
- Good.
(birds chirp)
Sorry, I forgot I have to be on the site this morning.
- Oh, cool.
- I can come back later today to fix your door.
- Oh no, we can call the landlord about that.
- We?
- My assistant, sometime assistant,
she helps with stuff, research.
- Cool.
- Yeah.
- So are you around for a few more days?
- Yeah, I think I am.
- Yeah.
Okay.
Well, you have my number.
- Mm hmm.
- Or you can have your people call--
- [Anna] My people will call you.
- Oh, hey, what's up?
- Hi.
- How ya doing?
- It's Sam.
- Isaac.
- Nice to meet you.
- This is an old friend.
- So I'll see you.
- [Anna] I'll see you later.
- Yes, great.
- Bye. - Bye.
- [Isaac] It's good meeting you.
- [Sam] You too.
- Who was that?
- [Anna] What are you doing here?
- Kate said you said something about quitting.
But if this is your not working plan,
I don't think it's gonna work.
- You know, I was actually feeling good for a minute.
What do you want?
- I, uh,
I need your help.
I'm gonna beg you to please, please, just hear me out, okay.
Jill just got a pilot and has to leave for LA immediately.
Is there any way that you would consider coming out
of early retirement, just to do the reading?
- So you're (coughs) really worried about me, huh?
- Yeah, actually I am.
- You have an unbelievable amount of nerve.
- You know, it's a really good part.
- Don't flatter yourself.
- And maybe it'll help find your way back.
And I'm not gonna lie, you're, you're--
- My attachment.
- Well, not attachment.
- You weren't gonna say attachment?
- Anna, I'm fucking hanging on a thread here.
Please.
- Mm mm, no I don't want to play her.
I don't want to play a part.
I don't want to play any, mm mm.
No.
- Okay.
Um,
I just wanted to say about that other night--
- Just...
(door creaks)
("Oh, Baby" by Micachu and the Shapes)
♪ Oh baby
♪ It's cold out
♪ We're throwing away now
♪ This pain
♪ And away these regrets
♪ Oh baby
♪ It's all right
♪ You're okay now
♪ Everything's fine
♪ They told us
(machine rumbles)
- [Sam] Hey, it's Sam.
I'm sorry, but I can't get together tonight.
I don't want to sound like a jerk here,
but I know who you are, Anna.
I mean, I'm sure you had your reasons,
but I really wish you'd, I don't know.
It just seems like you've got
some unfinished business, you know, stuff.
Anyway, I just got out of something really complicated,
and I'm trying not to (sighs).
It was an amazing night.
And I'll check out your show.
(somber music)
(phone buzzes)
- Hey.
I wouldn't call this phone tag,
because you're not returning my phone calls.
But I did make a call to Don and Ruby and the entire team,
and bottom line is you are contractually bound
for the next five years.
That can mean no work for you for the duration
of the contract, no films, no commercials,
no television shows, no theater, no readings.
What are you gonna do with yourself, huh?
What if you get sick again?
This is career suicide.
You will not get another chance for a long--
- It was called The Blackout, El Apago.
And I was playing a guy who was trying
to get home. - Oh my God, Luis.
- There she is! - Hi.
- Hey, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Hey, these are some of the actors.
This is Anna.
- Hey.
- Pleasure to meet you, big fan.
- Thank you.
- Anna, it's been such a long time.
- Oh I know, it has.
- Thank you so much for saving us at the last minute.
- Of course.
- [Suzanne] Okay, let's get started, everybody.
- You're sitting next to Flaco.
- So thank you.
Thanks to everyone for being here.
Let's just jump right in.
- [Narrator] Life, Still written by Isaac Jones,
directed by Suzanne Boudreau,
lights up on East Village Street,
outside a scrappy storefront under renovation.
Sarah Marks, 44, stands looking at the building.
- You try to hold on.
But days get buried under new ones.
That rust-stained, porcelain tub,
the kitchen (laughs) smelled like Turkish coffee
and her cheap lavender soap.
It is like a drug, you know.
(Isaac grunts)
But the boundaries start to blur.
Everything
opens up, you know.
You can see and feel things you didn't even know were there.
And when you can't feel it--
- You were perfect.
- It's not...
(hand slaps)
What?
- You felt that.
How about that?
- Yeah.
- And this?
- Mm hmm.
(both laugh)
Isaac.
(lips smack)
You need to go home.
(door clatters)
(Anna sighs)
- [Sam] Hey, it's Sam.
I'm sorry, but I can't get together tonight.
I don't want to sound like a jerk here, but,
so I know who you are, Anna.
I mean, I'm sure you had your reasons,
but I really wish you'd, I don't know.
It just seems like you've got
some unfinished business, you know, stuff, so.
Anyway, I just got out of something really--
(knocks at door)
- Anna?
- Okay.
- You all right with it?
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
- How long have you been helping him?
- Not long.
- How many drafts has he given you to read?
- 10, seriously, yeah. - 10 drafts?
- You should've, the Kate in the first one was...
(Anna laughs)
- I'm so tired of pretending to be other people.
And yet this is supposed to be me,
and something about it just, like, I don't know.
- Okay, fuck it, fuck it, fuck it.
And do this.
(Anna sighs)
- Okay.
- You're gonna open up your chest,
because remember, we're onstage.
You need that voice.
And you need that, well, what do we always need?
We need that relaxation.
(Anna moans)
You can hear the story.
It's your story.
You're in it.
Just take them back, and they're each separate things,
and let's just take our time to find them.
- The kitchen smelled like Turkish coffee
and her cheap lavender soap.
I didn't like it, I'm sorry.
I didn't like lavender soap.
- I loved it.
- I want you to read it, just one more time,
just one more time.
Just one more time,
I just want to hear it out of your mouth.
- That rust-stained,
that rust-stained porcelain tub,
remember we took a bath together in it?
- I don't feel like I could've done anything without you--
- No, listen,
you were a poet.
You were a poet up there, onstage.
(Anna laughs)
(Kate laughs)
Oh what the fuck (laughs)!
- You were always better than me.
- I should go.
I told Jude and...
- Promise me you'll be there.
- Yeah, I'll be there.
I can't go to those places sober,
but you can.
That's a gift.
Don't be so cavalier about it.
- What do you think?
- Too bluish.
- Too bluish?
- Blue, blue, blue, too bluish.
- Maybe I'm feeling a little blue.
- I think you should change the pants.
- The pants?
- Pants.
- These are the pants you got me for Father's Day.
All right, what do you think if it's tucked in?
- Better.
Better, right? - All you need
to do is have a tie.
- I mean, are you joking with me?
Are you okay?
Where are you?
I really need you to do this.
You know you can do it.
You know it.
You know her.
- I'm sorry, I can't.
- So why don't we just call it off?
- Thank you, thank you all so much for being here.
I apologize for the delay.
We are very pleased to introduce Kate Mullen
who will replace Ann Baskin due
to a last-minute scheduling conflict.
You of course remember Kate and her brilliant work
with Anna and Isaac in the Mercurial Theater.
(audience applauds)
- Life Still, written by Isaac Jones.
Lights up on East Village Street
outside a scrappy storefront under renovation,
the windows are papered over,
and there are construction permit signs.
Sarah Marks, 44, stands looking at the building.
- You try to hold on, but days seem
to get buried under new ones.
Was it 139th or 120?
That rust-stained,
that rust-stained,
that rust-stained porcelain tub,
the kitchen smelled like Turkish coffee
and her cheap lavender soap.
His bootleg scripts for master plays,
that grungy rehearsal room on 48th,
it was as if one's self had been lifted away,
and there was another underneath.
I could do anything.
I could feel everything.
But now I'm finding it harder and harder to stay connected.
(audience applauds)
- [Anna] Kate.
- Where the fuck have you been?
- Here he is.
Thank you.
(phone chimes)
- You sure about this?
- Thank you for everything.
- I was thinking about stopping by the set tomorrow,
just watch the scene.
- I'd like that.
(Anna sighs)
Your boy graduate?
- [Leslie] Barely.
(both laugh)
(Leslie sighs)
(solemn music)
- So the last tenant was here a long time.
(solemn music)
♪♪