Everybody's Fine Page #4

he's gotta go with the talking fish.

By the way,

your daughter is really good at her job.

-I know. That's the way she is.

-And she has great hair!

-It's healthy.

-Okay.

I know. Yeah, but you know what?

It was fine.

But it would be really awesome,

I would... No.

There was a line. Sorry.

My watch is off by an hour.

Should I change it?

You came from New York, so,

yeah, you need to go back an hour.

Use Central Time.

You were laughing on the phone.

That was nice to see.

-I was?

-Yeah.

-It was just work.

-It was nice.

-Was it the fish?

-The what?

-The fish?

-Yeah, the client went with the fish.

They said they should give it a name.

I said we should call it Frank.

-Because of me?

-Of course 'cause of you!

-No, not because of me. Really?

-Yeah. For real.

-Frank the fish?

-Frank the fish.

-No?

-What?

-Hi.

-Hey.

Hey, you should be at your desk,

shouldn't you?

Dad, this is Tom,

one of our creative directors.

-Tom, this is my dad, Frank.

-Hi, sir. Nice to meet you.

-Tom.

-So, what are you up to?

I was supposed to be heading

out of town to meet a client,

but the train got delayed.

-Hey, why don't you sit down?

-No, no, no, I'd be interrupting you.

-No, it's fine. It's fine.

-Really?

-Yeah. Sit down.

-Well, thank you.

So, do you live here

or are you just visiting?

No, no, I'm just staying the one night.

-Here, this is for you.

-What is it?

-You'll see.

-Well, tell me.

No, you'll see. You'll see.

I didn't wanna send it in the mail.

-You'll see.

-Okay.

You know what I'm trying to do?

I'm trying to get us

all around the same table.

The same table.

Yeah, like we used to at Christmas.

Are you happy?

-What do you mean?

-Are you happy?

Yeah, of course I am. I'm...

Good. Good. Good girl.

A happy one. First one on my list.

Isn't it terrible about Alice?

-Alice?

-The storm sweeping up the coast.

My name is Alice, so I took an interest.

-It's Greek, I think, Alice.

-Is it Greek?

-It means truth.

-Truth.

Yeah, well, I heard about it. I...

I was there a few days ago.

I must have just missed it.

-You're lucky, then.

-Yeah, well, I'm always lucky.

I'm always lucky.

Amy, have you seen David?

-No, not yet.

-Why not?

Well, I had an appointment

with a guy at the prison,

but he didn't turn up.

And I went to the embassy

and found a lawyer,

but he can't meet till the morning.

I've just been running around.

Hopefully tomorrow

I'll start to get somewhere

-and we can tell Dad.

-Okay.

Look, I'll call you as soon as

I know what's going on.

But, listen, don't worry. Okay?

Oh, sweet morning

Is your head not right

Did you heed my warning

This is the time of times

And your head feels like your body

Your mind is close behind

There's a teardrop on your shoulder

Says this is the time of times

Could you take a picture of me

in front of this?

Yeah.

And one more just to...

Like... Could you... Yeah.

Okay, everybody,

it's a new day,

an opportunity for all of us

to make amends.

So, why don't we start

at the beginning?

Horns, trumpets,

very percussive in the first section.

Strings, more energy in those bows.

Ready?

-It's fine. I'll take you right through.

-Thank you.

They're rehearsing right now.

-Hey, Dad, what are you doing here?

-What am I doing?

I've come to see you conduct.

-What are you doing?

-I'm rehearsing.

-Aren't you conducting?

-Not today. No. I'm...

-You're playing the drum.

-I am. It's percussion.

It's what I do.

-I thought you were conducting.

-Not today. I'll explain.

I should get back.

You just walked off the stage

and nobody noticed?

Come on, stop it.

What are you doing here?

I'm visiting. It's a surprise.

I came to spend some time

with my son, the conductor.

-That's my cue.

-Well, get back, get back.

Okay.

-That's very good.

-Very good. Yeah.

Never hit a drum in my life,

but suddenly I'm very good.

Without training, without skill,

without all the musical talent

that you have.

Never said I was conducting, Dad.

Yeah, well, your mother said

you were doing well,

that you were conducting

and composing and doing your music.

I am doing my music. It's percussion.

It suits me just fine.

But the drum?

It's low pressure, and I enjoy it.

I get to travel, the money's fine,

I got no ties.

Everybody said that you had a talent,

that you had a future.

People are polite, Dad. You know,

they don't always tell you the truth.

The truth is,

I was never quite good enough.

But all that education,

and now you're disappointed?

I'm not disappointed.

I'm not disappointed,

but you obviously are.

No, I'm not disappointed.

It just seems like a waste, that's all.

Of what? What's it a waste of?

Of your telephone wire?

No, no. It's not that. I didn't say that.

You know, I still compose,

and I conduct in my spare time,

but nobody wants to employ me

to do that professionally.

That's just the way it is.

Well, I guess I'm just saying

it's never too late. You could...

You could keep at it

and go back to studying,

-and I could help you out.

-It doesn't work like that, Dad.

If it was going to have happened,

it would have happened by now.

Besides, I'm not sure it's what I wanted.

I think maybe I was doing it for you.

I don't believe that.

Dad, the point is, this suits me just fine.

This is what I want.

Hey. Hey.

Are you managing okay at home?

-Yeah, I'm cooking every day.

-Cooking? Yeah?

-Do you know what you're doing?

-No, I just make it up, but...

Well, I thought we could spend

a couple of days together.

I... Dad, I fly to Europe this evening.

It's a big trip.

We gotta pack up this afternoon.

I wish I could, honestly, but you know...

I'm sorry, Dad.

That would have been great.

Well...

I went to see David in New York.

Is he still at the same address?

Yeah. I think so.

Yeah, I want to check his address

and phone number with you.

Sure.

-I need some fresh air.

-All right.

-Robert, come on. Don't smoke.

-What do you mean, don't smoke?

Don't smoke. You know better.

Come on.

Don't smoke.

All right, I won't smoke.

Not in front of you.

Not if it upsets you,

but you know I do smoke sometimes.

Just so you know.

-Anyway, you used to smoke.

-I know I used to smoke.

That's when I didn't know any better.

Now I do.

Your mother made me stop, too.

You know, I will, too, but occasionally

I do smoke. When I wanna quit, I'll quit.

-Hey, Robert.

-Hey, Dave.

Let me get this straight.

You worked in a wire factory

smoking a couple of packs a day,

but me being a percussionist

and having an occasional cigarette

-isn't good enough for you?

-Come on.

You know, Mom used to say,

"Make your dad proud.

"He works so hard for us."

And I know you're not proud of me.

I know.

-That's not true.

-I can feel it. It's fine.

I'm working hard here.

I'm doing the best I can.

-Have your cigarette.

-What?

Have your cigarette, you need it.

No, you know what? I quit.

-Hi, Robert.

-Hey, I just quit smoking.

-Good job.

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