The Trouble with the Truth

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[ Indistinct conversations ] [ Door opens, bell rings ] [ Door closes ] [ Door opens, bell rings ] [ Footsteps approaching ] [ Door closes ] Penitence. -Hey.

-Hi. -Where?

-Eight down. "Regret over one's misdeeds." Ah. -Thank you, Donut.

-Sure. -Good morning.

-Morning. -You want some breakfast?

-No, I'm good. I can't stay too long. I... I'm actually having brunch

with Hannah. I just wanted to pop in

and see what you were up to. Well, you know me --

the usual whirlwind of activity. Nonstop activity. How about you?

What's going on? Well, um... I have a little news. -Really?

-Mm-hmm. Dad. Who's the guy? What do you mean,

"Who's the guy?" Jason. -Jason Webber?

-Yes. Okay, so, I thought

that he was your fail-safe, like if you couldn't find

anybody better, like your safety school. No, Dad,

he's not my safety school. -God. Be nice.

-Well, come on, he's a doorknob. I mean, he's nice, he's amiable,

but he's a doorknob. Okay, don't sugarcoat it.

I mean, how do you really feel? Well, I think that the passion runs out of a relationship

fast enough without starting, you know,

handicapped right out of the gate

by marrying a pencil pusher. I'm in love with him. Well...fine.

You're in love with him. Then why ruin it

by getting married? Yes, I know,

that's what our generation did. -We got married, we had kids --

-And you got divorced. Exactly.

So, what did I learn from that? The only purpose of marriage

is to make it more difficult for two people who are

miserable together to break up. -You are such a romantic, Pop.

-Well, I mean it. Come on, now. What's --

Why are you doing this? I mean, if you love him

and you're happy together, you don't need a piece of paper

to stay together. But I want to have kids. What is this, the '50s? You don't need to get married

to have kids. You don't even need a man. Geez, Dad, you know, I-I...

I don't know. This is not the pep talk

that I had hoped it would be. A simple...congratulations,

that would have been just fine. Fine, fine, fine, fine.

All right. Maybe you and Jason will be

the exception to the rule. But if you know going in

that it's all gonna fade, maybe you'll have a little less

disappointment in the end. Thank you. Are you sure

you don't want to...order? All right. [ Both sigh ] So, what about your mother, huh? How...How is she? She's fine, I think. She's going to be out here

next week actually. -Really?

-Mm-hmm. Like a writing conference

or something. Huh. Maybe I should give her a call. [ Chuckles ] What, you don't think I should? [ Laughs ]

Do whatever you want. You always do. -What's that supposed to mean?

-Nothing. Forget it. I just...

I don't know. I think maybe you should give

her a little space right now. I think she and Jack

are having some problems. -Really?

-Jesus. You know what,

if you took as much pleasure in people's happiness as you do

their misery, then maybe you'd be a little more excited

about my engagement. I do take pleasure

in your being happy. That's why I don't want you

to get married. You know, you don't even have

to come if you don't want to. I mean, I can always have Jack

walk me down the aisle. Well, now, that is

a terrible thing to say. Oh [sighs] What do you expect? I mean, you can't even fake

being excited for me. Well, what can I say? I, you know, maybe I need

a little time to absorb this. I mean, come on,

give me a break. You know, it's like

a little bit of a shock to have

with my morning breakfast. I'm really sorry

to upset your routine. [ Sighs ]

Sweetheart, look, I'm sorry. I know.

I'm being a jerk, right? I'm playing the

overprotective father, I guess. I don't know. [ Chuckles ] I better go.

I'm gonna be late. No, no. Will you have

some breakfast with me? -This is my treat.

-Rain check, okay? So, are you gonna see Mom

while she's here? I thought you just said

that I shouldn't. I said you always do

what you want. Bye. Later, 'gator. All right, sweetheart. Jenny. Congratulations. [ Chuckles ] [ Bell rings ] [ Door closes ] [ Indistinct conversations

continue ] [ Cell phone vibrating ] Hey. Hey. How are you? I'm good.

How about you? I'm good.

I'm real good. I'm, uh... I...I hear that you're --

that you're coming to L.A. Yeah. Yeah, I'm speaking

at a conference. Wow. So, where...

where are you staying? Someplace downtown. The...Palermo or -- It's by the convention center. Wait, wait.

Not the Palmer. Yeah, that's it.

The Palmer. You're kidding. 'Cause that --

No, 'cause that's my -- that's my regular gig.

That's where I play. Really? Yeah.

So, you have to come down. You have to hear me play

while you're here. I mean, it's not the, you know,

Hollywood Bowl, but -- -I would love to.

-Good. Now, listen, um,

I was also wondering maybe... if you would like to... have dinner or something,

um, while you're here. 'Cause I'm...

I'm off on, uh -- I'm off on Mondays,

I'm off on Thursday. Well, yeah, I suppose I could

do it tomorrow after I get in. That sounds good.

Where do you want to go? Um, well,

there's a great little bistro right around the corner

from where you're staying. We could, uh, meet down

in the bar like around 7:00. I could... We could have a drink

and, uh, have a bite. What do you say? Yeah, sure.

Tomorrow at 7:
00. All right. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Robert.

[ Sighs ] Bye, darlin'. [ Click ] [ Sighs ] [ Indistinct conversations,

door closes ] ROBERT: Hey, doll. Hey, foxy. I didn't know

you were playing tonight. No, I'm not.

I'm meeting someone. Want to fix me up with a scotch? Sure thing. So...this meeting. A woman? Yeah, but it's no competition

for you, my love. -It's my ex-wife.

-Oh, yikes. -Yeah.

-Nervous? No, I'm not. It's just I'm worried

that we're not going to have anything to talk about. I mean, we were together

for 14 years, but, still, I haven't talked

to her for a long time. I mean, I'm pretty sure if you

were together for 14 years you have something in common. Yeah, but, I don't know.

It's strange. Have you ever found yourself

in the position where, like, you don't know exactly who's

gonna walk through the door even though it's somebody you've

known for, like, 30 years? I haven't been alive

for 30 years. Ah. -Hey.

-Hey. Wow. Hi. Hey. -Can I get you something?

-Oh, sure. Any kind of white wine

will be fine, thanks. BARTENDER: Sure. You look... You look fantastic. Thank you.

How are you? I'm good.

You okay? Yeah, yeah.

I can't complain, really. Good, good. So, tell me

about this conference. What's that all about? Oh, thank you. Um...it's this thing

for librarians. My, um... [laughs] my publisher

wants me out here to schmooze and talk

and try to sell some books. All right, good.

Well, here's to books. All right.

Sounds like fun, right? Yeah, well, they pay

for my trip and expenses -- Dinner's on me, by the way -- and I get to see Jenny...

and you. Mm-hmm. Did I tell you

that I really loved the last one that you wrote, the one

about the, um, congressman? -You read it?

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