Life During Wartime Page #4

- Everyone understands.

- I know.

And I forgive them...

but even so -

Cutting ties with Mom, Dad,

Trish especially-

it must have been hard.

It was.

Really, I can't tell you.

I missed you, but -

It's all right. I understand.

And I forgive you.

I just felt bad -

I mean, when I couldn't reach you...

'cause you were unlisted.

I had no choice.

I can't tell you,Joy, how many times

I thought about calling you.

Really?

I was too guilt-ridden.

Oh, Helen. All this time, we all thought

you were just ashamed of us -

of being related to us, like it would

ruin your career or something.

Ashamed?

How could you -

I'm sorry. I should have had more faith.

We all should have been more understanding.

I was going through a very intense time.

I'd given up on poetry.

It had become too -

too easy.

And I was feeling crushed

by the enormity of my success.

And I was afraid.

But you know something?

It turns out writing a good screenplay

is a much harder...

and purer process.

Still, it must at least be neat

going out with Keanu.

[ Sighs ]

There's nothing neat about it.

I'm sorry.

That was a stupid thing to say.

- It's f***ing idiotic.

- You're right.

I mean, like, we're still a country at war!

- ?? [ Cell Phone Ringtone ]

- Oh, God.

[ Scoffs ]

Salman again.

He wants to know

what he should wear to the Emmys.

Kwaku?

So, how long do you plan

on staying out here?

Oh, I don't know.

I thought maybe if I could stay with you

just till I got my life together.

- How much time are we talking?

- I don't know.

I'm sure I could find a job within

a couple of months - or weeks.

Days if I really set my mind to it.

And what are you gonna do out here?

Try working with ex-cons again.

I've had a lot of success

with penitentiaries back east.

And California, well -

There are so many prisons here,

so I thought that I could maybe -

- And if that doesn't work out?

- Oh, anything. Really, anything's fine.

[ Helen ]

Anything?

Yeah, anything.

Say, do you know Joni Mitchell?

I heard she lives out here...

and she's someone I've always thought

I'd really connect with...

like she'd really get me, you know?

Maybe she could give me some advice.

Can I give you some advice?

Oh, please.

No. Actually, I have no advice for you.

[ Sighs ]

[Joy ]

Did I say something wrong?

No. Why?

Then why do you still

have to make fun of me?

Make fun?

Yes.

I'm not -

[ Clicks Tongue ]

Oh, God. Please,Joy.

I try. I really do.

But you and Keanu and everyone...

thinks I mock them...

that I'm cruel and condescending,

that I have no heart.

And it's really hard.

It's hard on me,

because I really do love you.

I do.

And I know how you didn't come

all this way and hunt me down for nothing.

You really just want my advice

on men and marriage and Allen...

and why nothing works out...

and you feel like a total loser-

the self-disgust, self-loathing.

Life has no point, it's over,

you're basically dead...

blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,

and you think maybe I have the answer.

But,Joy, I'm only human.

I'm sorry.

It's my fault. I shouldn't have.

No. It's okay.

[ Sniffles ]

I'm used to that. I can take it.

But thanks.

- [Joy ] ? I try to forgive ?

- ?? [ Acoustic Guitar]

? I try to forget ?

? Try not to relive ?

? What makes me upset ?

? We all make mistakes ?

? So why not admit them? ?

? I made a mistake ?

? It's just like Vietnam ?

? Life during wartime ?

? Life during wartime ?

? Time-to-reflect time ?

? Time-to-rethink time ?

? Life during -??

[ Gasps ]

Oh, Andy.

I'm sorry about before.

It's just I'm off my medication and -

Really, I didn't mean what I said.

What are you doing here?

I don't know.

I saw you all alone, and I thought -

What?

Was your song about me?

No.

[ Helen Moaning ]

[ Helen, Man Moaning ]

You know...

just listening to Helen and Keanu, I -

I can't help but thinking -

What?

What about you and I spend the night

together,just like old times?

But we never spent the night

together before.

Old times?

We never did anything.

I wouldn't let anything happen.

[ Moaning Continues ]

Wouldn't you like to change things?

Change the past?

Fix everything like it could have been?

Done the right thing?

Oh, Andy.

Sometimes -

Sometimes it's better to just...

- [ Moaning Intensifies ]

- let go.

[ Moaning Continues ]

[ Helen Sighing ]

Do you think Helen's happy?

Yes.

I think she's faking it.

Sometimes just pretending

can be better than the real thing.

[ Sighs ]

Oh, but I hate pretending.

Everyone pretending.

I'm not pretending.

Imagine a world where no one pretended.

Please forgive me.

I tried, but I just can't fake it.

Come on,Joy.

- Come on.Joy!

- No. No.

- Come on,Joy.Joy.Joy.

- No. No.

[ Shouts ]

Back off, motherf***er!

[ Gasps ]

[ Sobbing ]

[ Line Rings ]

[ Phone Rings ]

[ Ringing Continues ]

- Hi. this is Joy.

-And this is Allen.

[ Both ] Please leave a message

at the sound of the-

[ Machine Beeps ]

[Joy ]

Allen?

I just wanted to tell you

that I'm coming home.

I-I miss you.

I'm sorry.

but relationships are so complicated.

Sometimes I ask myself.

what am I doing?

Why are we fighting?

Why does anyone fight?

What good does it do?

Your problem - well. it just seems

so unimportant now.

It's probably psychological or genetic.

I really don't care.

I forgive you.

if forgiveness even mattered.

Really. all I want is just to be with you

and my ex-cons and security guard friends...

maybe have a heart-to-heart

with that poor waitress.

Oh. Allen. I just hope you haven't been

too depressed or anything.

But don't worry. I'm on my way.

And I love you.

- [ Grunting ]

- [ Moaning ]

[ Grunting Continues ]

- Oh! Yeah!

- [ Rhythmic Panting ]

F*** family.

F*** motherhood.

F*** the kids.

I just don't care anymore.

What I said before -

about the kids and family-

I didn't really mean it.

I know.

[ Sighs ]

Love really can change a person.

[ Both Sigh ]

Don't ever leave me.

I won't survive it.

Promise me.

- Mommy?

- Yes, Honey?

Do you think baby carrots feel pain?

- [ Background.. Video Game Playing ]

- [ Doorbell Rings ]

Timmy, could you get the door?

Sure, Mom.

Hi. Hi. Harvey Wiener.

Nice to meet you.

You must be Timmy.

- Nice to meet you.

- Yeah. That's my son, Mark.

Hi! Oh! Look at those tulips.

Those are beautiful.

Red for love.

What about the white?

- Uh -

- [ Both Laugh ]

- Timmy!

- Uh, for forgiveness.

- I'm sorry if we're a little early.

- Oh, please. Come on in.

- Mark, hi. I'm Trish. It's nice to meet you.

- Oh, my God, who's that?

Timmy, get the door, sweetheart.

This is Chloe. Say hi.

- Oh, hi, Chloe.

- Come on, sweetheart. Say hi.

Hi. How are you?

Mmm!

[ Smacking Lips ]

Mmm! This chicken - out of this world.

Really? It's not too dry?

Oh, like butter. Mmm!

Oh, and the sauce.

- It's Israeli style.

- Ah.

Mommy, the baby carrots -

they're looking so sad.

Aw. Shoot 'em on over.

I'll cheer 'em up.

- Thank you.

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