Name.
Joanna.
Do you know what this job entails?
Can you handle the stress? The hours? The commitment?
Can you actually do what's on your résumé?
It's why it's on my résumé.
Let's see what you got.
Five, six, seven, eight...
One and two and three, four.
Five, six, seven, and eight.
One and two and three, four.
Five, six, seven, and eight.
Okay, line up.
117, 114, 96, please stay.
The rest of you, thank you very much.
Next!
- Kill it. - See ya.
♪ Oh ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ I'm stumblin' through the darkness ♪
♪ There ain't no sign of a spark here ♪
♪ I'm used to feelin' the fire ♪
♪ You watered down that desire ♪
♪ I put my work in ♪
♪ Day in, day out ♪
♪ Baby, I deserve it ♪
♪ Don't let me down ♪
♪ You used to make me feel Like a diamond ♪
♪ Now it don't even seem Like you're tryin' ♪
♪ So give me one good reason I should need you ♪
♪ Whoa-oh ♪
♪ Come turn this around ♪
♪ Whoa-oh ♪
♪ No, no, don't let us down ♪
♪ I need more heat from you, baby ♪
♪ Make me feel weak for you, babe ♪
♪ Whoa-oh ♪
♪ When I feel alive, whoa-oh ♪
♪ Like my heart's in the wild ♪
♪ I need more heat from you, baby ♪
♪ Make me feel weak for you, babe ♪
♪ I'm slippin' out of your fingers ♪
♪ Keep coolin' down like November ♪
♪ I'm used to feelin' that fever ♪
♪ I wanna dive in you deeper ♪
♪ I put that work in ♪
♪ Day in, day out ♪
♪ Baby, I deserve it ♪
♪ Don't let me down, no ♪
♪ Give me one good reason I should need you, yeah ♪
♪ Whoa-oh ♪
♪ Come turn this around ♪
♪ Whoa-oh ♪
♪ No, no, don't let us down ♪
♪ I need more heat from you, baby ♪
♪ Make me feel weak for you, babe ♪
♪ Whoa-oh, when I feel alive ♪
♪ Oh-oh, like my heart's in the wild ♪
♪ I need more heat from you, baby ♪
♪ Make me feel weak for you, babe ♪
♪ Better than that, better than that You know I love you ♪
♪ Better than that, better than that So come on, love me ♪
♪ Better than that ♪
♪ We can do much better than that Better than that ♪
♪ Whoa-oh ♪
♪ Come turn this around ♪
♪ Whoa-oh ♪
♪ No, no, don't let us down I need more heat from you, baby ♪
♪ Make me feel weak for you, babe ♪
♪ Whoa-oh, when I feel alive ♪
♪ Oh-oh, like my heart's in the wild ♪
♪ I need more heat from you, baby ♪
♪ Make me feel weak for you, babe ♪
♪ Better than that, better than that, oh ♪
♪ Better than that, better than that ♪
♪ You know I love you ♪
♪ Better than that, you know I need you ♪
♪ You know I love you ♪
♪ You know I need you, oh ♪
♪ Better than that, better than that ♪
♪ So come on ♪
♪ Better than that, better than that ♪
♪ You know I love you Better than that ♪
♪ Better than that ♪
♪ da-da da-da ♪
Sorry.
It's fine, Mom. I can cover it, okay?
Sure, a plane ticket.
Yeah, that's fine. That makes sense.
Is Dad okay with it?
Don't... Hold on.
Shit. Sorry, Mom.
If you use the money for something else and then come home,
he just wants to know.
So he can prepare himself not to see you.
You could come here.
- Your father wants... - You keep letting Baba dictate everything.
Tell him you're coming, and if he wants to come...
We just want to see you.
We miss you.
I'll be home for St. Maron, Mom. Tell Dad I love him.
What the fuck are you looking at?
Excuse me.
Welcome to the Pool Club. How can I help you?
I'm here for the audition with Logan.
Really?
Yes, really. Why?
Nope, I'll get him.
- Well, now I don't know if you should. - It's fine.
- Logan. - Mm.
You're perfect. Can you turn?
Great. A girl got a commercial
so we could use you tonight if you're free.
I guess I'm free.
I need to know right now. A lot of girls want this job.
Yes or no?
- Yes. - We'll get started on some paperwork.
There's a waiver, some brief medical history, but...
I'm sorry, what is the job?
A girl in a box?
Jo, it's a job.
I mean, technically, yes, one where I have to sign a piece of paper
promising I won't make eye contact with guests
because it would ruin the sanctity of the installation.
See? It's art. You could put that on your résumé.
Oh, don't.
So it isn't ideal.
Just think of it as a performance.
I'll call you later, okay?
What the hell is this?
It's a chameleon.
- Ach! Give me that. - No, I'm not done.
Hi.
Um, no.
That's the dress that I wore when Levi's mom called me "acceptable."
Okay, fine, these pants.
No.
Spilled a drink on those at Coachella
when he told me that he wanted me to pay more rent.
- But these are good pants. - I know. And this is a really cute blazer.
But I can't wear this either because this is when he took me
to that listening party where he forgot to introduce me to anybody.
- Shoes? - Yeah, those are cute.
I loved those, until he called them "lunch box-y."
Oh, and this is the shirt that I wore when Levi met her.
All of my clothing has a history of disaster behind it.
Fun.
- Is this the guy? - Yeah.
He's not not bad looking.
Oh, but you should stop wearing that jacket.
- Oh! Stop. - Sorry.
I just...
Okay.
Ugh. I hate this shirt.
Shit!
Oh.
I don't hate it.
Yeah, neither did I when I borrowed it from my mom,
or when I told her I returned it,
or when I got mad at her when she doubted that I'd returned it.
- Prada. - Chloé. It's Chloé.
- Ha. - Oh, God.
It's too casual.
I think it's perfect.
A first date with a guy she picked up off the street on a Saturday.
You don't dress up for that.
- You undress for that. - Oh.
I think it's fine. I'll just return it to her...
after tonight.
Yeah, just whatever you do, don't... spill on it.
Hey, is Jerry still managing you?
No way. Oh, good for him.
Yeah, he was good. What about Liz? Is she... Oh.
- Hey. You found it. - Hey.
- Yeah. - Hey.
You gave me the address, but you didn't tell me what it was called.
Do you not like Mexican?
Look, I used to work here so, you know, they'll treat us great.
You worked here?
As, like, a waiter or...?
In the kitchen.
You're a chef?
A line cook.
The ones who really make your food.
Um...
I...
Never mind, it's not important. It's okay.
Okay. Um...
Well, I know that we said drinks but I thought we could get some food.
The table's almost ready, so...
Um... I'm sorry. I'm just going to be right back. Just...
He's hideous.
No, actually, he's hotter than I remembered, and he dressed up.
But he made reservations, like, to eat.
Reservations? How ambitious.
At El Condor.
And accidentally hostile.
How do you stop a panic attack?
Tequila?
Okay.
- Sorry, I have to take this. - You do?
Well, it's my mom and if I don't, she'll just keep calling, and it's like...
You know what? I am not going to answer it.
Shit.
I'm sorry. Just a second. Sorry.
- Eleanor? - Hi, Mom.
Are you someplace loud?
- Yeah, no... Yes, I'm out. - Did you ever find out the name...
Can I get you started with some drinks, Sam?
Er...
Margaritas?
I don't know. Go back to the wine shop.
- Ask them. I don't know. - Well?
My mom is completely obsessed with finding this one wine she had once,
this white burgundy.
- I'm sorry. - It's fine.
I'll just have whatever he's having. And shots.
- I mean, floats. Floats. - I'm really sorry.
She said it's fine.
- It is fine. - Not you.
- Call me or just... - Mom, can I please call you later?
- Bye. - Thank you. Love you. Bye.
Sorry.
You know, if you turn it off, then it can't ring.
Oh, that's really fun advice coming from a man who has a flip phone.
Ouch.
- Why do you have that, anyway? - I mean, I haven't wanted to pay for...
Oh, my God, I'm so sorry. That is not...
I didn't even...
- I'm not even thinking about that. - We all make choices.
I chose not to spend money on that, I chose to spend it on this.
A restaurant where I'll get a healthy discount and some free sides.
Yeah.
Well, you're remarkably hard to stalk.
Oh, good.
No, not actual stalk...
I mean, I'm not, like, outside your work or anything like that,
I just mean, like, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat.
Anything that you're not...
I mean, I even typed in your phone number into Google and nothing came up.
And I'm realizing now that I'm saying that,
that's a lot creepier coming out of my mouth
than what it actually felt like doing, but I've just...
All I'm saying is I just... I realize that you're a complete stranger,
and I'm a stranger to you, and I just...
We met on the side of the road and we exchanged informa...
I just wanted a bit of information about the person I'm meeting.
I just wanted to know where you're from, or...
you know, like, pro or con on gun control,
- movies that you like... - I'm from here.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
- From here. - You're from here?
- Cheers. - Cheers.
You don't feel like answering the gun control part?
So you worked here?
I did.
Why, have you been here before? Do you hate it?
Um, no. Yes.
Well, no, I don't hate the restaurant, it's just...
I will be honest with you. The last time that I was here...
the guy that I was seeing sort of...
dumped me in this really brutal way.
Oh, God, I'm sorry.
So this is like the scene of a crime.
- I know. - Oh, man.
How long has it been?
Um, six months.
That really fun time when your friends and your family are over it,
but you're not.
You're not over it.
Oh, my God, no. That's not what I meant.
I'm suddenly realizing as I'm talking that I...
you could be... you could be married.
You could have a girlfriend. Or a boyfriend.
- I don't even know. I didn't even ask. - I'm single.
Oh.
Great.
But I mean...
how does that happen?
'Cause you're just... You know, you're like...
good-looking and very fit.
Thank you.
Well, I like people.
You know, I like to date, I just haven't...
oh, wow. Okay, so we're gonna just do this.
- Yeah. - Okay. Um...
Well, you know, I haven't been in a lot of longer...
I'm 26. I just... I want to have fun.
Wanted to..
Want...
So you're from here?
Yeah, until I was 12, and then I moved to Oakland.
Cool.
And then what's after that?
I went to school in Boston.
Oh, really? Oh, did you go to Harvard?
There's other schools in Boston.
Oh, no, I wasn't assuming, I was just asking. I didn't...
Did you go to... was it BU?
Emerson?
Tufts?
- I think I'm going to go... - And ditch me?
I don't know. Do you want me to?
I can't tell.
I'm not sure.
I'll be right back.
He's going to think you have a UTI.
Maybe we'll have a good conversation about it, then.
What happened?
I don't know! It just... It keeps going off the rails.
It's like he'll be fine, I'll be fine, everything'll be fine,
and then it's just like...
Is he still hot?
Yes! Very. So hot.
Great.
It's 8:45.
Skip dessert, get yours.
Come home, get TiVo and takeout.
We still have Downton to watch.
- Really? That's it? - Think of it this way.
You are still on the breakup side of the river,
and you need to get across to the...
moved-on-and-ready-for-someone-else side of the river,
and since he's clearly not your guy, ride him across.
Make him your river horse.
So, "river horse"? That's a... Is that a thing or is that just...
I read it in a book. Go.
Okay. I love you. Bye.
I think she thought he was going to propose.
We all thought that.
But he left her?
It was humiliating.
I remember her spilling wine on her...
My dress.
It's been a pleasure seeing you again.
Sorry, you know...
I forgot they teach Spanish in private school.
My mom's half Mexican.
Well, my cousin's half Cuban.
- Do you want to get another drink? - Uh-oh.
Do you want to order some food?
No, I'm really not that hungry.
Do you want to go with me?
Excuse me?
Do you want to come with me to the...
Are you asking me what I think you're asking me?
I don't know, depends on your answer.
Er...
Hell yeah.
Okay.
Just meet me there in a minute.
Yeah, sure.
Just wait a second, though.
Okay, yeah.
I didn't think, uh...
is this is how it works?
I just... I've never done this before.
Don't you have... okay.
I didn't think you were...
- Just stop thinking. - Okay.
Okay.
- Eleanor? - Mm?
You didn't wash your face
- when you got home last night. - Mm-mm.
That's how you get infections.
I brought you some beignets.
Mm?
She went out?
Yes, I went out.
Good. If you ask me,
you allowed that ridiculous,
immature, narcissistic boy to take all your power.
Hole yourself up in this dark box for months.
- No offense. - No, you're right.
Not going anywhere.
Not even trying, not calling me, not seeing me.
I knew that was coming.
Well, Lourdes even prepared your room for you.
We assumed that you would be staying with us.
I just hope that the next time,
you pick someone who doesn't put himself first.
You're not built like me.
You will not survive another bad relationship.
Thank you. Beignet?
None for me.
If I ate one of those,
it would be downhill for the rest of the day.
How lucky you are with this hair.
Your grandmother told me that it skipped a generation.
But look at us. We proved her wrong.
Oh, may I?
Mm-hm.
You did not wake me up when you came home.
You have to tell me everything right now.
Okay.
The guy? So hot.
- Conversation? Terrible. - Okay.
- Sex. Kind... - Are you coming?
Yep.
Three times.
I'm going to take this one home.
And you can keep the DVF because I have enough.
Now, I have told you too many times
that a white blouse must be dry cleaned.
This one's yellowing.
- I can take it on my next run. - Oh, thanks, Jean.
I spoke with Len.
Okay. No.
No? You don't even know what I'm going to say yet.
Oh, let's see. You want to talk about grad school
and how you and your business manager have set aside a fund for me
- to get a degree that I don't even want? - A PhD in art theory or history...
- No. - ...is not nothing.
You can teach, you can travel,
you can have a career, and get tenure.
I have a career. I'm an artist.
You're an admissions rep.
Art doesn't bring you money.
Okay? It may as well be a hobby at this point.
Not everybody gets their dreams,
and I don't want to see you be 30,
wondering what the hell you're going to do with the rest of your life.
30? That's the cutoff?
I'm not saying quit.
I'm saying that you can make your art,
and have an occupation at the same time.
Mom, I have a job.
I have a job with benefits.
- Yeah, a job is not a career, darling. - And studio access.
Yes, and my Platinum Card.
- Eleanor. - What?
I just want you to have a big life
and as your mother,
it is my job to ensure that you make the right choices to help get you there.
I am.
I promise.
Okay.
Let's take a look at that rug I brought for your living room.
- Okay. - Yeah.
Oh! It looks so good, Miss Weston!
Who's Sam?
He left a message for you.
- He did? - Mm.
I love the colors.
- I'm so glad. - Hey.
Uh, I was wondering if you'd like to try that again.
Maybe not standing.
You know, I bought some felt pads to put under the furniture
so they won't leave any divots.
Perfect.
Of course he wants to hook up again.
So funny.
Don't hook up. Go on a date.
What?
Why? That was a disaster. The only good part about that was the sex.
On a scale of one to...
Whatever number you're going to... higher.
Well, if a man can satisfy you like that, it's got to mean something.
Maybe you got off on the wrong foot 'cause he was nervous.
- I don't know. - We all know you're a bit out of practice.
- What are you saying? - Try again.
Like, a real date.
When you're not calling me every ten seconds.
Sit with him, talk to him, find out if you were wrong.
And also, let me make the res.
Eleanor?
Is this my Chloé?
- Hi. - Hey.
Oh, um...
- I know. - Okay.
Uh...
You know, I didn't know it was going to be this fancy.
Oh, don't worry about it. They'll just think you're famous.
Okay, it's Heath.
Okay.
- Compliments of the chef. - Thank you.
- Oh, nice. - Oh, is that champagne?
It's actually a sparkling Hungarian wine.
- I've been meaning to try it, so... - Oh, wow.
You know Hungarian wine?
- I do. - Oh.
Thank you.
Cheers.
I hope you're prepared. It's 16 courses.
Mm. I know how tasting menus work.
I'm just not sure how I'm going to pay for it all.
- Oh, no, this one's on me. - No, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to say that like...
No, just...
It's on me. It's no problem.
You can afford this place?
Yeah, I'm a... I have money saved up.
Oh.
Why don't I pay half?
No, seriously, I wouldn't have chosen this restaurant if I thought...
Why don't you tell me more about yourself?
'Cause, you know, just to stretch it out,
'cause we're going to be here for a couple hours, so...
Thank you.
- Um, you live in Bunker Hill? - I do.
- And you worked in a kitchen? - Work.
- Oh, you work in a kitchen. - Yeah.
So you went to culinary school in Boston?
Berklee.
- You're a musician. - I was.
What happened?
- I left. - Oh.
You left... Sorry, you left Berklee or you left music?
Both.
So you got into he Berklee School of Music,
- which you have to be... - It's actually just Berklee.
- ...a prodigy to get into? - Not "the" Berklee.
- It's "Berklee College of Music." - Yeah.
No, well, what did you do there? What did you play?
I was a classical pianist.
And you left?
Was not for me.
Yeah.
So you don't play anymore?
At all?
Thank you.
That looks nice.
So you play classical piano?
Is this déjà vu?
'Cause I just feel like I'm being asked the same question over and over again.
- You gave it up, though? - Okay.
Well, it was a pretty terrible experience.
To be so good at something
and get into one of the most prestigious schools
in the entire country and not see it through?
- That is pretty terrible. - Jesus, you sound like my mother.
- Your mother should meet my mother. - My mother's...
I figured I should do something I enjoyed.
Like working in a kitchen?
Well, I have to work.
I mean, I'm not independently...
So, what do you do?
- I'm an artist. - Mm.
And so you love that, right?
It's all you can think about? Can't wait to wake up
- and start painting? - Drawing.
And you can't go to sleep at night because you see it in your head,
behind your eyelids, you dream about it?
- Yeah. - Yeah.
I did not have that.
But all of that talent. I just...
You may very well be talented,
but that doesn't mean that's what you're meant to do.
Well, my mom always says if you can't be Picasso, don't bother.
Well, I mean, I think that really only matters
if you're trying to be Picasso.
Yeah.
Thank you.
So you're really never going to play music ever again?
How about this? How about I handle me and you handle you?
What about you? Um...
- Do you make money from your art? - I work in the admissions office
of the school that I went to, and I make art, and I work.
Ah, I see.
No, it's not the same thing. I didn't...
I didn't have to choose one or the other.
That must really nice, you know?
- No, I'm saying... - To have that freedom.
- I didn't give it up. - No, I get it.
You're being supported by Mommy and Daddy
so you can afford to come to places like this.
- No, that makes sense. - You know...
♪ I don't wanna hurt you 'Cause I don't think it's a virtue ♪
♪ But you and I have come to our end ♪
♪ Believe me when I tell you That I never wanna see you again ♪
♪ And please can you stop calling 'Cause it's getting really boring ♪
♪ And I've told you I don't want to be friends ♪
♪ Believe me when I tell you That I never wanna see you again ♪
♪ How on earth could I be Any more obvious? ♪
♪ It never really did And now it's never gonna happen ♪
♪ With the two of us ♪
♪ I don't understand What it is that you're chasing after ♪
♪ Chasing after ♪
♪ But it makes me really sad To hear you sound so desperate ♪
♪ It just makes it harder ♪
Well, thank you.
I'm parked around the corner,
and because valet here is very expensive.
Well, it's the only way these guys make a living, so...
Jesus, I can't win with you.
- I cannot win with you. - Well, now you won't have to.
Yeah, well thank you very much for the worst second date
- of my entire life. - Thank you for the worst
- first and second date of my entire life. - You're so welcome.
Jesus.
Bye.
See ya.
Never again!
You gonna let go?
Shit.
♪ Down ♪
♪ I should write a song about you ♪
♪ And all the shit that you do ♪
♪ You don't even know what's up ♪
♪ But soon it all comes crashing down on you ♪
♪ Since we're on the subject ♪
♪ Tell me why your name's in the dictionary ♪
♪ When I look up idiot ♪
♪ Check yourself It's very necessary ♪
♪ Stop, listen What's that sound? ♪
♪ Supersonic spinning 'round ♪
♪ You don't mind the fall Until your face hits the ground ♪
♪ Crash and burn, girl ♪
♪ Going down, down, down, down, down ♪
♪ Crash and burn, girl ♪
♪ You don't mind the fall Until your face hits the ground ♪
♪ Ooh, ah ♪
♪ You should have a sticker on you ♪
♪ Saying warning, keep out ♪
♪ You're the kinda girl That'll mess you up for life ♪
♪ That's smashing up his car ♪
♪ Crying on his doorstep And waiting in the rain all night ♪
♪ And you'd tell him you're the kind That never show your ugly side ♪
♪ Until you're sticking like glue ♪
♪ Stop, listen What's that sound? ♪
♪ Supersonic spinning 'round ♪
♪ You don't mind the fall Until your face hits the ground ♪
♪ It's just that every time ♪
♪ You mess it up like that ♪
♪ I see myself in you ♪
♪ I've been there too ♪
♪ And there's so many times I stand beside ♪
♪ And see what you are going through ♪
♪ Where you headed to ♪
♪ Standby ♪
♪ Crash and burn girl ♪
♪ Going down, down, down, down, down ♪
♪ Crash and burn girl ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ You don't mind the fall Until your face hits the ground ♪
♪ Crash and burn girl ♪
♪ You keep on banging you head ♪
♪ Girl, your shirt's all red ♪
♪ Crash and burn girl ♪
♪ You don't mind the fall Until your face hits the ground ♪
How can you read in there?
- You're reading. - Yeah, but I'm in school.
Box girls are usually...
Dumb?
Done.
Like, they got the life they wanted.
But you, you're...
What was the book that you were reading last week?
The Sociology of Human Aggression.
You read it in like, a day.
Sorry...
I'm not watching you in a weird way,
it's just, there's nowhere else for me to look, really.
Uh.
I guess I just like books.
I like books too.
If I'm not reading it for school, then it's usually YA,
or E. L. James,
or whatever Gwyneth's seen holding.
I assume God's Crucible isn't about exfoliating?
No.
I like books that try to explain people and their emotions.
My dad calls them "owner's manuals."
You're a writer?
Uh... I'm a dancer.
There's the box girl.
I love dance.
It's the only place I feel like myself and in the moment.
And now I'm auditioning and booking.
Mostly not booking.
And I don't know, I just feel like the thing that used to help me find myself
is being chipped away at every single day.
So, I read now.
It's my escape.
Shouldn't the thing you love be your escape?
It used to be.
I used to dream about it all the time.
I'd see it whenever I closed my eyes.
Now I just need time and luck.
But my luck is about to...
Sorry.
Gotta go.
- Have a good night. - You too.
That is amazing.
It would be if I could make it.
That other gig's the same time. You should take it.
How? I'm not you.
They don't care who you are as long as you dance your ass off.
Hey.
You left these on Monday.
Oh.
- I've been looking for these. - And...
these...
last Friday.
Oops.
Oh.
I almost forgot. We don't do that sort of thing.
So, I'll see you tonight maybe?
Or whenever?
Or...
never?
- Bye. - Bye.
- Okay? - I can't find my book.
Where'd you last see it?
I...
don't remember.
Oh, when Troy was reading in the bedroom.
When Troy was reading in the bedroom.
- Okay? - I mean, I...
- You've looked in here? - Mm-hm.
I looked in there four times.
I mean, I just...
I've literally looked everywhere. I don't...
I don't even know where else it could be.
Mom?
Darling, I'm just in the middle of working on my accent for the BBC thing.
Did you need something?
Mom, did you take anything from my apartment when you were here?
I took some things that were mine.
A few things that needed some mending.
Oh, and I took that box. Why?
Wait, what box?
The one with Levi's things.
I knew you wouldn't be strong enough to throw it out on your own, so I...
No, did you look inside of it before you threw it out in the trash?
Did you see, like, a big hardcover black book?
I have no idea. Why?
Did I throw away your book?
Oh, El.
I am so sorry.
Do you have a copy? Surely you must. Or a file on your computer?
No.
- No, I don't. - Okay.
Darling, I know you're not going to like what I'm about to say, but...
could it be a sign of some sort?
You've been working on that for years now,
you've never come close to finishing it.
Maybe you're meant to start something new.
This could be an opportunity.
Eleanor?
Thank you, Mom.
- What? - Are you into this?
I want to be. Just... Just try again. Come on.
- Why d'you... - What?
- Why do you keep doing that? - I just... I want to see your face.
Maybe I don't want you to.
Well...
but your hair's kind of in my mouth when...
It's in your mouth?
Yeah, if you're leaning over there.
Okay, you know what?
This really is only fun for me if it's fun for you.
So, what's going on?
Mm-mm.
No, we don't do that.
- Do what? - The sharing thing, we don't do that.
- It's not sharing... - This is what we do. No.
It's not sharing, it's telling me what's on your mind.
Okay.
So, this...
thing happened.
- Thing? - Mm-hm.
This very bad thing.
I think it could be a sign.
- A sign? - Mm-hm.
What, are you one of those, like, horoscopes-are-real,
crystals-give-me-power types?
You know, I just am aware in this moment of how little I actually know about you.
No, I'm just saying, don't you think
that the universe sometimes gives us signs?
Not all the time, but sometimes.
You know, like, things happen for a reason.
I mean, where I'm from,
you either believe in Jesus or you believe in nothing,
and I don't really believe in Jesus.
What about us? How we met?
What would you call that?
Okay.
This book that I've been working on for... years...
it got accidentally thrown out.
And...
I just keep wondering if maybe...
it's a sign.
Like, maybe I should stop.
- You know? - What?
- No, why would you do that? - Like, give it up. No, I'm serious.
Well, you did.
Okay, that's not exactly what happened.
Okay, so what happened?
You are so... I'm so sorry. This is, you're right. This...
I should not have tried to make this...
Okay, look. Like you said you were an artist, right?
That's what you wanted to do.
That you think about it all the time, you dream about it?
I do. Yeah.
So do you want it or not?
It's not a simple question of just, whether I want to do it or not.
- Why not? - Some people just don't get their dream.
- I'm going to be 30 someday. - What? How old are you?
And then people will ask me what I do.
And what am I gonna... How am I supposed to answer them?
Just pull out a zine from my purse I've been carrying around for two years?
- I meet those people all the time. - Who cares?
- I don't want... - Who cares about those people?
If you're an artist, and that is your life, then you do it.
- No. - No matter what.
You can't not do it.
But that's what I'm saying, is maybe...
what if I can not do it?
- What if my mom is right? - Oh, my God.
Why do you care so much about what your mom thinks?
Don't you care what your mom thinks?
Are you mad?
I can't tell. Are you mad?
I'm just...
I'm trying to figure out if this is a sign.
What would it be a sign of?
Oh, shit.
Sorry, it's...
No. While I hardly know you, I know who that is.
- Eleanor. - Hi, Mom. Not a great time.
I just wanted to tell you I'm having brunch
with Matt Garman tomorrow.
From UCLA.
He wants me to loan my Schiele to the school for a show,
and I thought, "Well, isn't that a crazy coincidence?"
Based on what you and I were just talking about.
Yeah, that is crazy.
Your current situation.
What time?
Hold on a second, Mom.
Don't go.
Hey.
Yeah.
No, I'll be there.
Mom?
- Hi. - Oh, hi.
Ooh.
- Well, you look so nice. - Thank you.
Yeah.
There's that silk top that you like, the one from Barney's?
You can go put that on, though.
Yeah.
Okay.
Line up.
If I say "stay,"
you'll come back after lunch for us for Astielle and Richie.
It'll be the same combination,
a freestyle and another eight-count.
If I say "leave,"
leave.
Leave.
Stay.
Leave.
Stay.
Leave.
Your mom tells me you might be interested in our PhD program.
I'm very proud of our candidates this year.
Yeah, I mean, it would be a big change,
'cause I've never really had my sights set on academia.
It's an adjustment, making academics a priority over the art,
but you're not going to get stuck in a classroom your whole life.
I make my art and I make a living.
Once you get tenure, you can go anywhere.
I travel for lectures.
I get to see all the great works.
I stayed on an extra month at the American Academy in Rome
just to paint last year.
Just how long is the program?
- Seven or so years. - Seven years?
Uh, for your thesis, and then seven after that for tenure.
Wow. That's like med school.
It is a commitment, but think of what you get in return.
A chance to hone your skills,
while protecting your future at the same time.
Wow.
Are you okay?
Do I seem okay?
Oh, I just meant...
I'm a mess!
I'm a snotty mess.
Did you know that crying makes your hair frizz?
Because I do now.
I don't look good with frizzy hair. I don't have the bone structure.
I can't go out there like this.
I can't face them.
Judgmental assholes.
Well, that they are.
You'll be okay.
Of course she calls today.
She has notoriously great timing.
My friends, they keep telling me to cut her off,
but I can't, I can't do that.
Then she'll have nobody.
My sister.
Deep breath, okay?
These auditions are good metaphors for shit life throws at us.
Out there they tell us what to do.
It's fast, it's loud.
They don't wait for us to get it,
we just have to... get it.
I close my eyes,
I take a moment,
I make sure I know where I am,
and I just... do it.
Why are you telling me this?
Whatever's going on with your sister, you can't control that.
The only thing you can control is how you react.
Maybe don't answer her call the first time it rings.
Maybe listen to the message,
or wait ten seconds and then call her back
Taking that small moment for yourself will help you to stay focused.
Will help you to not be a mess.
That's good advice.
Do you do this a lot?
Help total strangers?
Whenever I can.
I'll see you out there.
What I've read of your application is strong.
I don't have an application.
Well, it's just not finished yet.
Oh. Well, with your letters of recommendation,
and of course with the experience you've had,
I can't imagine it would be hard to get you to the top of the pile.
And what takes someone from the top of the pile
to becoming a PhD candidate?
Oh, a lot of things.
Commitment to academic excellence,
vision, willingness to publish.
I'm sorry, do you consider my art at all? Um...
No? Do you review a portfolio or...
Not specifically, no.
See, it's not about how good you are,
it's about how good a thinker you'll be.
And once you get tenured,
you'll have plenty of time to work on your art.
Will you excuse me?
Eleanor?
Oh, I just have to go find the missing parts of my application
for you to review them.
Fantastic idea.
♪ Oh, no ♪
♪ Did I get too close? ♪
♪ Oh, did I almost see ♪
♪ What's really on the inside? ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ All your insecurities ♪
♪ All the dirty laundry ♪
♪ Never made me blink one time ♪
♪ I love you ♪
♪ But I gotta stay true ♪
♪ My morals got me on my knees ♪
♪ I'm begging please ♪
♪ Stop playing games ♪
♪ I don't know what this is ♪
♪ But you got me good ♪
♪ Just like you knew you would ♪
♪ I don't know what you do ♪
♪ But you do it well ♪
♪ I'm under your spell ♪
♪ You got me begging you for mercy ♪
♪ Why won't you release me? ♪
♪ You got me begging you for mercy ♪
♪ Why won't you release me? ♪
♪ I said release me ♪
♪ So open up your heart And just let it begin ♪
♪ Open up your heart And just let it begin ♪
♪ Open up your heart ♪
♪ Unconditional ♪
♪ Unconditionally ♪
♪ - I'm begging you for mercy - I will love you ♪
♪ - Unconditionally, yeah - I'm begging you for mercy ♪
♪ - I'm begging you for mercy - There is no fear now ♪
♪ - I'm begging you for mercy - Let go and just be free ♪
♪ - Why won't you release me? - I will love you unconditionally ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah Break it down ♪
♪ Begging you for mercy ♪
♪ You got me begging ♪
♪ Down on my knees ♪
♪ I said you got me begging ♪
♪ Begging you for mercy ♪
♪ You got me begging ♪
♪ I said you better release me ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
Number 32, please come forward.
Go ahead and set the order. I don't want to think about it.
Okay.
Your kicks are soft
and your face is too round for your haircut.
Okay.
This is a very specific world that we're building.
She's precise, she's the right size.
She's good, but she isn't interesting.
You're not giving me this job, are you?
Thank you for your time.
Thank you!
Number 11.
Oh, you found it.
I was going to give it to you before you left.
You were absolutely right to have me look for it.
They hadn't even picked up the trash yet.
I have to go.
I don't know why I'm here.
Something tells me that she never threw it out,
that she took it, I think she took it.
- Why would she do that? - Because she knows that she's in it,
she knows that I don't want to show it to her.
Because she knows... I don't know, I feel sick,
I'm sweating, my head hurts, I just need to sit down for...
Can I please just sit down for a second?
You just did.
Great, now I'm losing my goddamn mind.
Well, did you confront her about it?
Are you high?
Um. Okay. Well, can I read it?
What?
- The, your... - No.
Okay.
- Okay? - Sure.
- I can wait. - No, it's...
It's just...
Wow, this is, um...
A ridiculous thing to pin all my hopes and dreams on...
Breathtaking.
Why would you ever give this up?
Well, since we're sharing, um...
I never gave up music.
I just gave up the dream that my mom had for me.
So you do still play.
I do.
And I write.
I left conservatory because it's not what I wanted to do.
It's what she wanted me to do.
But ever since I left, I've been writing.
You know, I see it at night,
I hear it when I go to bed,
wherever I am.
Even right now.
But I haven't done anything with it.
I've been like you.
Scared of going all-in.
The thing is,
I don't write my songs for me.
I mean, I enjoy doing it, but...
I want them to be heard.
I want this to be seen.
So...
Despite our mutual hatred for each other...
maybe we could...
help each other.
If you want.
You know, you're unlike anyone I've ever met.
Why? Tthat could be taken...
- a couple different ways. - No, I meant it the good way.
Really?
Really.
Oh...
Mm.
You know what this job entails?
You can handle the stress?
The hours? The commitment?
You're willing to make the hard decisions?
I am, yes.
I see here you're a dancer.
Big career from that to this.
Not as much as you might think.
Not everyone gets their dream, right?
They can.
They just might have to dream a new one.
Welcome to the USC School of Social Work, Joanna.
We'll be seeing a lot of each other the next three years.
I'm looking forward to it.
There's nothing to be afraid of, Mr. Hughes.
DCFS is here to help advocate for your son.
I admit, sometimes it's hard to know what's best for a kid.
Sometimes the answer isn't obvious.
But this isn't one of those times.
You're a great father. He's a great kid.
He belongs here with you.
Okay.
But don't relax just yet. I'm going to need your help.
We're going to look into your employment, his care, his health.
Help me prove how great we both know you are
so that Barry can stay here with you.
Yeah, I'll do whatever you need.
I'm going to go to the office to write this up,
so just call me if Barry needs anything,
or if you need anything.
Thank you.