Love the Coopers Page #6

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Like this.

I don't do that.

Yeah.

I wondered what it would be

like to kiss that lip.

Really?

No.

But, that's what I'm going to say to

my mom and she's gonna eat it up.

All right.

So good.

Before I saw her, I...

didn't believe

in love at first sight.

Thought it was bullshit.

And then I saw this...

reckless girl who had forgotten

how beautiful she was,

and I thought,

I thought if I could wake up

every day and look into that face,

I could get through anything.

And you...

were standing

right next to her.

[LAUGHS]

[CAROL OF THE BELLS PLAYING]

I thought you were

having dinner with your daughters?

You're going to ruin

your appetite.

I'm trying to.

Cranberries get

on my nerves.

I didn't want our last

conversation

to be remembered

as our last conversation.

Order whatever you want.

It's on the house.

It's my Christmas gift to you.

When I was younger, I worked

in a restaurant for a while.

And if an ugly person came in,

I would often give him a free dessert.

And I thought of myself

as being really special for...

treating the uglies well.

It's not what I'm doing.

I'm happy to hear it.

I'll get you some pie.

[DOOR CLOSES]

BUCKY:
Ruby? Listen...

You're not a coward.

You're the opposite

of a coward.

You're brave and you're beautiful

and generous and big hearted.

Can we have a minute's

privacy here, please?

Thank you.

All that sadness.

That feeling like you've landed

in the wrong life.

Everybody feels that way, Ruby.

It's all just going to become

an anecdote.

You don't know

that yet, Ruby, but...

you're grand...

You're like a grand piano...

around a bunch of little

toy pianos and uprights...

Thank you. But...

you're the grand piano.

NARRATOR:

And for a brief moment,

time was their friend,

as Ruby saw Bucky

the way he felt inside.

Do you know why

I came here every day?

Twice a day, sometimes.

So I could see you.

Just to see you...

So I could be around you.

Now I have to say goodbye again.

[SNIFFING]

ELEANOR:
I have a fear

that I am an impostor.

My first play got

a lot of attention.

So, basically I peaked at 19.

I also have a fear of silence.

I know.

Okay, yeah.

I'm dyslexic,

so, when I was growing up,

I thought I was just stupid.

I had a sister.

She was born with a weak heart.

So...

Sometimes I think I might

be unlovable.

I hear myself trying so hard

to be funny.

I think you're funny,

'cause you're sad.

[CHILDREN SCREAMING]

Percy? I confess.

Okay, I did it.

I took the brooch.

I did.

I know.

For my sister.

I was just being

small and petty.

I'm always measuring out how much

love and attention I'm getting

and then giving back just

exactly what I think I got.

Like I think

I'm gonna be gypped in some way.

What makes a person behave like

that, can you tell me?

A grown person.

And the three kids?

It wasn't a lie.

It was a wish.

NARRATOR:
As she heard herself

say it aloud,

Emma remembered the moment

she began to feel unremarkable.

It was the first time she felt

jealous of her sister,

who she always loved

and looked up to,

until she couldn't live up to.

[THUMPING]

[THUD]

Emma had told herself

it was just an accident,

and yet somehow today,

Emma knew it wasn't.

So, my mom has one sister,

Emma, she's always late.

Their dad is Bucky.

And my dad's aunt will be there,

Aunt Fishy.

Don't ask. Nobody knows

why we call her that.

And your brother is Hank,

and his kids are Charlie,

Madison and Bo Joshua, Maddie and BJ.

[LAUGHS] BJ.

What kind of a parent is gonna

name their kid BJ?

They're gonna see

right through me.

Oh, no, they're gonna love you.

Just don't mention gun control,

women's rights, or religion.

Why don't you just tell them

I don't speak English?

No, I just don't want them to think

I'm dating some narrow-minded birther.

The whole point of you coming home

with me is so I disappoint them.

Whoa.

No, don't take it personally.

They are liberally judgmental.

Look, we have a plan,

let's just stick to it.

How come you begged me to

come home with you,

if I'm such a narrow-minded

disappointment?

No, you misunderstood me...

Maybe you misunderstood you.

Of course, you're so open-minded,

how is that even possible?

Right?

Hey,

calm down,

man up,

and let's lie to my parents.

Okay?

Damn, lying comes

easy to you.

[BUCKETS OF RAIN PLAYING]

[BELT CLINKING]

Oh!

[SLAM]

Sorry.

[THUD]

Charlotte, come with me.

Sam...

If we just got away from everything,

all the distractions,

the kids,

we might have a shot.

I'm giving this

one last try here.

If we can't find

ourselves here...

how're we going to find

ourselves

on some worn out dream

we had of a trip to Africa.

It's so much more than a trip

and you know that.

For 30 years

I've given us a pass,

because you promised,

once I retired, you would

do this for us.

And moving out is for us?

No the trip is for us,

because we've become invisible

to each other.

Now? You want to go now?

What, with everything that's

going on with the kids?

They're not kids anymore!

That doesn't stop!

Don't turn your back on me,

Charlotte.

I am going to make

the dump salad.

NARRATOR:
The problem was,

they both were right.

But the fight about the trip

wasn't about the trip.

It was about the thousand microscopic hurts

that accumulate over 40 years.

You don't want

to get into this,

well, we are

getting into this.

Yes, you are

a wonderful mother.

But what happened to us?

We used to slow dance in the living room

when the kids went to sleep.

What happened to that couple?

I don't even know what

you're talking about.

There ought to be a whole

separate language for you.

Wait, where's the pepper? Did I put

the pepper in the mash potatoes here?

Oh.

Dad called, he said

he's bringing a friend,

probably an old student,

I don't know.

[EXCLAIMS]

No, Rags!

Oh, my God! Rags!

Rags.

Get down, Rags.

Good boy.

Go on.

Go on, go on, Rags.

[LAUGHING]

Why are you laughing?

I don't understand

how we're going to

have Christmas without

mashed potatoes.

Charlotte, it's funny.

My God.

When did we become

Alfred and Dizzy Ludwig?

Who are you talking about?

The dullest, most lifeless

couple my parents knew.

I'm not apologizing

for 40 years of marriage.

We raised a spectacular family.

We made a beautiful home...

And now you're afraid

to leave it.

Stop saying I'm afraid

like I'm afraid.

You are terrified.

You're terrified to be alone with

me without a kid between us.

Look, Mom.

You're terrified if you take

your eyes off those kids for one second,

something will happen

on your watch.

I have known you

for most of my life and clearly

you have no idea who I am.

You're right.

We lost track of each other,

raising the kids.

And then Lizzy died.

And we stepped back.

And we kept stepping back,

until that was comfortable,

until that was us.

Why do you just accept that?

Did you ever consider

that this trip

is not my dream?

It's an old dream.

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