Dim the Fluorescents Page #6

I could crash here tonight?

I think the subway's closed.

[thunder crashing]

[rain pattering]

[floorboards creak]

[door opens and closes]

[cat meows]

[doorbell jingles]

So when you say...

I spent the night?

I hate my life.

It's ridiculously complex.

It's like this matrix

of emotions.

The three of us were,

like, interdependent.

[Marion] How do I

get these problems?

Do you have a preference?

Lillian. She just...

Looks right through you,

you know?

No.

Um, these two and a pack

of Camel Yellows, please.

You got some ID?

[knocking on door]

Come in, Charlotte.

Ms. Watkins. Hi.

Good morning.

They said you wanted

to see me. Penny said.

Water, Charlotte?

Should I?

- May I?

- Please.

Water, Charlotte?

"Pours herself some water."

Sit down.

Well, Penny said right.

- Water?

- No, thanks, I'm fine.

What is this

in reference to, exactly?

Is it the toner?

- Because all of my printing is...

- How are thing, Charlotte?

...work-related.

- What?

- Things at home.

Things domestic.

Things personal.

Things good?

Home life?

Home life.

Life at home.

I'm quite well, thank you.

- Sam's well?

- Yes.

Why?

Charlotte, you make it sound

like I have an agenda.

Well, and if I... If I did have a motive,

what might that be, do you think?

- Ask yourself.

- Tell me.

I think we've all

told you already.

We've all told you, and you just

don't want to hear it, do you?

Who's "we"?

All of us here in the office.

Charlene, Terry, the Veigls.

Everybody.

- We know you slept here.

- What?

I do not sleep here!

- Come on.

- Why would I sleep here?

You slept here last night.

You sleep here often.

Teri saw you.

We know a lot of things.

The Robinson report

was two weeks late.

Fourteen days, Charlotte.

This isn't just a box company.

This place means a paycheck

for dozens of people.

But it's more than that.

It's stability.

It's family.

- Don't jeopardize that.

- I'm sorry, I'm not following you.

The things that we make here,

the boxes,

the various paper products,

they're a necessary outcome.

But our people?

They're our lifeblood.

Let me be frank, Charlotte.

You're becoming a liability.

A liability?

I am the hardest working...

I am the most

dedicated employee

this company has ever seen.

Success? That's a habit, yes.

You have been,

I'm not denying that...

You're denying reality.

I mean, I appreciate,

- but I don't have some kind of...

- Drinking problem.

- You do.

- That's the last thing I have.

People have come to me.

Come to you? About what?

Come to you.

You don't know me.

I do not have

a drinking problem.

I drink socially, like a normal person.

Like you.

How many bottles of gin in your

wastepaper basket, Charlotte?

Five.

That's right.

- [clears throat]

- You forgot to throw them out again.

- Admit it.

- I...

might have gone a little far.

Admit it, Charlotte.

It's excessive.

It's destructive.

How does Sam feel?

Sam's gone.

Cry, cry, cry.

We can get through this.

We can get

through this, because...

Because we care

about each other.

Say it with me.

"We care about each other."

We care about each other.

I wanna help you,

and I'm going to.

So all you have to do is...

[sighs]

Show me how to do that.

I don't know.

I can't lose you.

I...

I need you, too, and...

We need each other.

So take some time.

Take all the time

that you need.

I just need some time.

I'll be there for you.

Here.

I'm sorry.

I really am trying.

Me, too.

Are you okay?

She will be, Penny.

She will be.

We're taking a little break,

I guess.

Great.

Yeah.

- [Audrey sobbing]

- [water running]

Hey. What's wrong?

Look at me, okay?

[Audrey sniffles]

Can I help?

If... If...

If we tighten the beginning...

I... I like the part where...

It's the same.

It's exactly the same.

It's a first draft, we can...

Nothing's changing.

It's just...

We can rewrite it.

Whatever you want.

It's f***ing crap.

It's f***ing...

- It's f***ing... [mumbles]

- Audrey!

Audrey!

This isn't good enough.

F***.

The way things are is fine

if you let things be fine.

If you take care of yourself.

I'm sorry, okay?

It's fine.

It's fine for me

to humiliate myself.

That's what we're doing.

That's what this is.

It's what we are.

It's who I am, and I'm...

I'm sick of being the...

Can't you see this?

I can't believe

you're doing this.

This is deliberate.

I don't know why

you're trying to hurt us.

But it needs to stop.

Where are you...

Where are you going? Where...

I'm taking a bath.

No, you're not.

I'm just gonna take a bath.

You're not going in there.

I don't know why

I can't take a bath.

Tell me why I can't.

[kettle whistling]

F*** you.

[Lillian] Stop what

you're doing.

Please. Please?

Stop. Talk to me.

Don't... [sobs]

Hey, a**hole. We have

an obligation. This is a job.

I quit!

I need you!

Get the f*** off me!

- [sighs]

- [door closes]

[kettle whistling]

Thanks.

Have I been mean to you?

Today?

In general.

I have.

I understand. I mean, hey.

You get saddled with this girl

you don't even know

for something you've been

working really hard on, too.

I get it.

It's a tough position.

F***.

What is it?

Green, like the color,

no "e" on the end.

[man] And when did you

see her last?

Around four o'clock.

Well, a person isn't

legally considered missing

until they've been gone

for at least 24 hours.

She doesn't have

her medication.

Honestly, there's [sighs]

nothing we can do yet.

- Medication?

- Prescription.

Anti-depressants.

Oh.

I... I'm sorry.

[sighs]

[Audrey over voicemail] Hi,

you've reached Audrey Green.

I'm sorry I can't take

your call right now...

[dialing]

Hi, you've reached

Audrey Green.

I'm sorry I can't take

your call right now, but if...

[dialing]

Hi, you've reached

Audrey Green.

I'm sorry I can't take

your call right now,

but if you leave a message, I'll

get back to you as soon as I can.

Thanks for calling

and have a great day.

[loud rustling]

[Lillian] Piper?

Piper!

Piper.

[gasps]

[doorbell rings]

Hello, I'm from the agency.

- May I come in?

- [Lillian] Of course.

How much do you know about her

circumstances prior to being rescued?

Not much, I'm afraid.

It's not a very happy story.

Oh?

Suffice it to say

it'll be a while

before she's able

to trust humans again.

No.

Yes, and that isn't to say

there isn't any hope.

There is.

But her progress

depends entirely on you.

It's absolutely crucial that you make

yourself available to her emotionally.

And, most important of all,

that you're patient with her.

You cannot rush her recovery.

This needs to be

a safe space for her.

The cat?

Yes, the cat.

I thought they had a tendency

to land on their feet.

It wouldn't have mattered

at this height.

I guess cats can't really judge

that sort of thing, can they?

Actually, their depth

perception is quite good.

She did it on purpose.

You mean, she jumped?

Did you give her space?

[gasps]

[exhales]

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