City of Trees (2019) Movie Script
1
[airplane engine]
[Dad] Hey.
[Mom] There's my girl.
[Ainsley] Thank you.
- Looking good.
- Hi Dad.
[Mom] Sweater party Friday night
[Dad]How was your flight?
[Ainsley] It was okay.
[Dad] Okay?
Yeah.
You asshole!
This is not private property.
Come on!
Jesus!
You too.
The hell.
Here, here.
- No mom, I'm okay.
- Don't want you catching cold.
I'm okay.
- No sweetheart, come on.
- I'm good, thank you.
It's cold out. I don't want you
to get sick.
Here.
You're hovering.
Of course I am. That's what
mothers' do.
Here. Okay.
I love you.
It's good to have you home,
sweetie.
It is.
We missed ya.
Missed you.
Let's do that again.
That was fun.
[Mom chuckles]
Oh god, I've got too much to do.
[acoustic guitar and piano
music]
It's called the City of Trees,
but why do I feel like
I can't breathe.
Don't be so dramatic.
High school was fuckin' weird.
What's weird about it?
I don't know, man.
I just feel like
You were good.
I feel like
you're just always good.
Years of practice. You know.
- You practice at it?
- Yeah.
- That's what you do?
- I don't know.
I just feel like
I made a decision
to just kind of say "fuck it"
and just be who I wanted to be.
- In high school?
- Yeah, I'm kind of a
Kind of a cool guy, aren't I?
[laughs]
Okay you can go now.
You want me to leave?
Okay, I'll just get out of here.
- No, no, no.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Bye.
- Bye!
Cheers.
I don't know man. I just--
I don't know.
I think peaking just wasn't
on my graph chart.
I feel like my life
has always been
just kind of a straight line.
You know just
[makes monotone sound]
You've never really changed.
Not in a bad way though.
In-- yeah,
really good way.
- Yeah.
- Yeah. I mean,
not that I'm like giving you
a compliment or anything.
Thanks, I appreciate that.
Now you never, you know.
[Teddy laughs]
[Ainsley coughs]
- Yeah, I feel like yours is
- Don't.
Is more like
Aww...
Hey!
[fluctuating tone] Aww... Hey!
Aww...
Like waves in the ocean.
I'm like...
Maybe like a sound wave
of a really, really complex...
...techno song?
- You're an asshole.
- That's me!
Or like heartbeat.
Or something like
more rhythm to it.
- One with a murmur though.
You're such a dick.
I guess no one knew me
in high school.
Unless people that, I mean,
I don't know.
There were some
that really knew me.
- Yeah.
- There's you.
Yeah, there's me.
You know the ones you know.
You know?
- You know.
Do you think that's why
you didn't get invited
to the 10-year reunion?
Why would I care though?
It's--
Don't burn yourself.
- I don't want to burn myself.
The popular ones are just
married and have four kids
or gross.
The weirdos are
making it happen in life.
The fuck do I care?
- Yeah. Yeah!
Fuck you, Ryan Langly!
[Teddy laughs]
- Fuck you, Donna Hughes!
- Yeah!
The fuck kind of name
is 'Donna Hughes' anyway?
Don-na Huuughes!
Fuck you, Derrick Mallock!
That's too many consonants
in a name.
Der-rick Mal-lock.
Shut up!
- Fuck you, Sophie Michaels!
- Ooh--
She's actually still pretty hot.
And kinda nice, actually.
How? How is that fair
How the fuck is that fair?
[Mom] Do I smell smoke?
[Ainsley/Teddy] Uh-uh
We're not smoking.
Who's that?
- [quietly] She's never going
- Hi, Mrs. Sadler.
- It's Teddy.
- Oh, hi Teddy.
- Hey.
Goodnight mom.
Listen, you need to go to bed
really soon because we got to
get to the grocery store really
early tomorrow.
Why?
Because they're having a sale
on turkeys.
- Okay.
- Goodnight.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
I don't know why we're so
afraid of you mom.
[laughs]
How old are we again?
Ugh.
- Old enough.
Yeah.
I just can't believe
you make it back here every year
for this.
Nostalgia, man.
Gets me every time.
- You make it back for Easter.
- I love Easter.
- Who says that?
[knocks on door]
I better not see anyone I know
here.
It was your decision to come
out in pajamas, not mine.
Do you know what time it is?
So when did you decide
that hair color?
I'm going to get
the cranberry sauce.
We need eight cans.
Hey, it's Sophie!
Look who it is. Sophie.
Hey Sophie! Hi!
Oh hey, Mrs. Sadler.
Hi. Look who's home.
It's her first holiday home
in seven years.
[Mom laughs]
Ainsley.
I know who you are.
We went to school together
for like 12 years.
Uh, are you here for
the 10-year reunion?
No, I actually wasn't invited
to that.
Oh, well this is awkward.
[awkward laughs]
Yeah.
I'm just here for
holidays and stuff.
- Oh, cool.
- Yeah.
Are you gonna be around for
the sweater party Friday night?
I Wouldn't miss it.
[chuckles]
It's supposed to be freezing
tomorrow night,
so I'll see you then too.
- Okay. That's great.
Thank you.
[man] Number 8.
Gotta go, called my number.
- Bye.
- Bye.
How do you know Sophie?
She comes over to cover
the plants when it gets cold.
She's a nice girl.
- What's our number?
- 39.
Oh my god, mom.
Hey, what's the rush?
Hold on.
Okay.
Gotta get dad some soda.
You know how he like his soda.
Pineapple crush. Ooh!
He'd love that.
[Mom sighs]
Let's see.
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Get some of that.
[sighs]
[acoustic guitar music]
[chuckles to herself]
['Lottery' by Ten Towers]
I'll let you go.
Just need some time.
At your own pace,
you need to find your way.
I know now,
you'll never change your mind.
For something that matters.
Matters to me.
[chuckles to herself]
You do not know
what I have in mind.
I packed our bags,
we'll be on our way.
Night was long as I waited
without a sign.
Sign of what matters,
matters to you.
What do you want?
What's your biggest need?
Every hour
we spent together.
And suddenly.
The chances are small,
Just like the lottery.
Did you say hi to Sophie?
- No.
- Honey.
- Go out there and help her.
- I'm tired, mom.
I'm really tired.
Ainsley Sadler.
- 'Night.
- Goodnight.
[Sophie] So you live in LA?
Yep.
I don't live too far from here.
I'm sure you still have
better things to do than...
this.
It seems like
it kind of requires a lot.
Not really. Like what?
Ugh.
Checking the weather?
[chuckling] I do that most days
anyway.
You're not used to
the cold weather anymore, huh?
Not really.
You know, last year when I was
out here covering everything
real snowflakes started falling.
I've never seen that before.
Real life ones?
As opposed to the fake ones?
I'd only seen the
paper ones we used to cut out
in school.
It's crazy.
You think you know a place
so well,
but it still surprises you.
That is crazy.
Surprising is definitely
the last word I'd use
for this place.
It's kind of the beauty of it,
though.
I'd say it's more the
anxiety-inducing part.
Thank you for helping.
But you know, you don't have to.
Okay.
You good then?
-Yeah, I'm good.
Cool.
See ya.
[staple gun]
[staple gun]
[quiet humming]
[staple gun]
[quiet humming]
[staple gun]
[grunts]
[staple gun]
[staple gun]
[staple gun]
[staple gun]
[staple gun]
[grunts of pain]
Shit.
Shit.
Is it like
an ugly sweater party, or what?
It's just a sweater party.
No.
And I have one from your Aunt
Sheridan you're gonna wear.
No mom, I brought sweaters.
Too bad.
Come on.
Make your dad happy.
He'd love to see you in it.
How long has Sophie been
helping you?
She just helps with the plants.
Um, I don't know like
Four winters?
-Why?
-Because my carpal tunnel.
When it's frozen,
it hurts worse.
-Do you pay her?
-No, I don't.
She works all over town
in those community gardens.
-She does?
-Yeah.
You know, when I tell her about
your big fancy job,
she's very impressed with you.
-Mom...
Stop.
-[Mom chuckles]
Whenever I talk about
your big fancy job
ears just seem to perk up.
I even made my doctor subscribe.
[Ainsley takes a deep breath]
I just don't understand why
they don't put your pictures
in the magazine.
You're more talented than
all those stuffy photographers.
That's not how it works, mom.
You have to get it approved by
a lot of people
before you can get printed.
What time's Kelley get here?
Uh, she's going to get here
at about 9 o'clock.
Oh god, I gotta prepare.
She's going to show up
with the whole neighborhood
like she always does.
Da da daaa. Pumpkin pie!
-I'm not hungry, dad.
-Oh come on, come on.
You're gonna love this.
I already got it started.
I'm really not hungry.
-[Dad] One little bite.
-[Mom] Take a bite.
Come on, my poopy face.
This is your holiday pie.
-Just a little bite.
-That's big bite.
-[Dad] Mmhmm.
-[Ainsley] Mmm.
Okay, that's what I wanted.
That's a smile.
That's Sher's sweater, huh?
You're gonna where that?
That is so sweet of you.
Okay, alright.
More pie, more pie.
[rhythmic humming]
[sniffs]
[Mom] Close the door.
[door slams]
[Mom kisses]
[timer goes off]
Oh boy, the pot roast.
-You need help?
-Nope.
Nope.
You just sit down.
[Mom sighs]
[sound of oven opening]
['Auld Lang Syne'
performed by Maga Pascansky]
Isn't this a New Year's song?
Come here baby.
I feel like dancin'
-No no no.
-Come on.
-I have to get dressed. No.
-Put that down, come on.
[Mom and Dad laugh]
-Okay, oh yes.
-That's my girl.
[Mom kisses]
[Mom laughs]
[Dad hums]
We got our girl home, huh?
-Yeah.
[party chatter]
[Mom] Ainsley, Ainsley?
Sweetheart, Ainsley?
Would you please pour Sophie
a glass of wine?
[Sophie] Oh, I can do it.
[Mom] You can do it?
[party chatter]
[Dad] Sophia, sit here.
Come on here.
[party chatter and laughter]
[Mom] Thank you, Ainsley.
That's very nice.
Dinner will be ready...
In a little while.
[party chatter]
[party guests chatting
in the background]
[party guests laughing]
[Dad] Where's your train
of thought though?
[Mom] Oh boy...
Let's get serious here.
A toast to--
[Dad] You worked on this.
For a week, yeah.
A toast.
To togetherness.
[Dad] Yeah.
And to my beautiful,
baby daughter, Ainsley
for being home.
And to her job
for allowing it.
I love being left out
of the speech.
[Mom] And to my other
beautiful daughter Kelley
and her love of many things.
-[Dad] Here here, Kelley.
-There you go.
[Mom] And to new recipes
with glazed carrots this year.
I hope you all like them.
You can um--
-[Dad] It's so good.
[Mom] I have brussel sprouts
too.
I roast them with
cloves of garlic.
A toast to cloves of garlic.
Wait a minute.
[Dad] Garlic? You're toasting
to garlic?
[Mom] Yes! I am
toasting garlic.
You're not writing a novel.
Let's just toast.
Please, we're hungry.
[Mom] Come on now, I wasn't
finished yet.
[Dad] I thought you were
winding down.
[Mom] No, we have more people
to thank.
[Dad] Ah gee. Alright, okay.
Thank everybody that's here
and let's eat. Please.
Alright, and everybody
that's not here. So...
-[multiple] Cheers!
-[Dad] Bravo.
Hey.
[laughs subtly]
[exhales]
[quietly] Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
You look ridiculous.
[bottle opens and cap drops]
You feel Okay?
Yeah.
No we'll go soon.
We'll go soon.
It was fun.
It was a lot of fun.
I'll be home in few.
I'm gonna leave really soon.
Try to fall alseep.
Okay, love you too. Bye.
-Hey.
-Hey.
Thanks.
Trying to outlast everyone?
Food coma.
Right, me too.
What?
What? No, nothing.
It's weird that you're
at my house.
It's weird, right?
[laughs] No.
I'm at your house more than
you're at your house.
I hope they have Uber here.
This town's not too small?
No, you just call
your friends.
They're not conditional,
you know?
Not like the one's in
the big cities.
Ouch.
What do you know
about big cities?
I lived in New York
for six months.
Six months?
Yeah, it wasn't for me.
[laughter]
Which part?
Ugh, all of it.
I see your work.
Your magazine?
-Mmm.
Your mom always
buys me a copy when
it comes out.
It's really cool stuff.
Thanks.
You work with--trees now?
Oh you make it sound
sooo glamorous.
[laughter]
Yeah, I guess I hated the city
that much
it actually pushed me into it.
No, I'm kidding.
Um, remember Mr. Lawson's class?
That guy was so nuts.
-NUTS!
Nuts.
But--
as I get older, I don't know
he makes more sense to me.
He used to have this saying
on his wall
"The best time to plant a tree
was twenty years ago,
the second best time is today."
I think maybe I took it
too literal.
Why do you cover her flowers?
Why not?
There has to be a reason.
Why? Do you believe that?
That there's a reason
for everything?
Most things, yeah.
You're probably not going to
remember this, but
she gave me a ride
when I was maybe twelve?
And it was like
below freezing out
and I was waiting for the bus.
I do remember that.
I got so embarrassed
for her stopping.
I really thought she wanted to
embarrass me.
Honestly.
I was so mad.
It's funny how people feel
different things from
the same situation.
Yeah.
I should head home.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You have one of those
unconditional friends
You have one of those
unconditional friends
to pick you up, huh?
[laughs]
No. I'm gonna walk.
I like walking.
I can walk you.
No, you don't have to.
-I'm not tired.
I'm really not.
Well then who's gonna
walk you home?
That's a good question.
[laughter]
Is it more dangerous around here
than I remember?
Well--
we did have a gang
try to form once
like four years ago.
But they quit.
They quit?
You can't quit!
I thought you have to kill
each other or something.
Yeah, I don't know.
[laughter]
[laughter]
[sighs]
[footsteps walking]
I forgot how cold it is here.
And I survived a winter
in New York City.
What are you trying to say?
I mean, I never knew you
that well, but
I never took you for
a complainer.
-That's probably why you left.
-Probably.
Yeah.
I heard about your dad.
I read about it online.
I'm really sorry.
Yeah, thanks.
We weren't super close
when he passed so...
Still.
Really sorry.
I think it was
the unexpected part
that threw me off the most.
I bet.
You know, when I was a kid,
I rode up this curb too fast.
And that's how I got
this scar here.
-This curb?
-Yep, this one. This very curb.
Yeah.
Good times.
I just remember thinking
my mom was going to be
so pissed at me.
Why?
I don't know.
Guess I was a worried kid.
But no, I borrowed
my sister's bike
and I kinda scratched up
the front.
I, uh...
convinced her to let me take it
'cause she
wanted some sour watermelon
gummies from the store.
And I told her
I'd get some for her.
It's the only reason
she said yes and
I flipped over
the handle bars and
[laughs]
I rode back home.
Freaked out.
I hid by the trash cans.
And yeah, I didn't go back in.
'Cause I just thought they'd be
more worried than mad at me.
And what happened
when you went inside?
Well, I mean, I got hungry
waiting outside
so I ate the gummies.
And then they were pissed.
They were so pissed.
[laughs]
You messed up her bike
and you ate her gummies.
Yeah, I mean I wasn't
that smart as a kid so...
-Yes you were.
-No, I really wasn't.
Guess I was just
open to learning.
This is me here.
Thanks for walking me home.
-Yeah, of course.
Bye.
-Goodnight.
[sniffs]
[chilly exhale]
Ok Well, long story short:
I'd been with them for 27 years
and
I had a loss in the family and
they, they let me go.
No sir, it wasn't.
No, but...
Well, I missed a week or two.
Maybe two weeks.
But you can be sure
that won't happen again.
You can be assurred.
Um sure, yeah, you can
call them. Yeah, sure.
Of course.
Do your due diligence and all.
Um, when can I expect
to hear from you again?
Oh.
Okay.
Well
Alright, well
Thanks for considering me
anyway.
Yeah, you have
a good holiday too.
Okay I appreciate it, yeah.
[Sophie] Hey.
Potatoes.
Celery.
Small towns are weird.
Hey, you wanna get a coffee?
At 4pm?
Yeah.
Okay.
Ugh, okay.
This coffee's really bad.
Is it?
It tastes like mud.
Do you not taste that?
I don't really drink coffee.
I don't have a palette
for what's good and bad, yeah?
Then why'd you say yes
to having a coffee?
I was cold.
-[both laugh]
It's warming me up.
I can almost feel
my fingers again.
So we're getting better.
['Silent Night' plays on radio]
Oh I love this song.
[music gets louder]
I should probably get going.
Just, it's celery soup
without the celery.
You know, my mom's gonna have
to be late for that.
-Just listen to the song.
-Okay.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
So are you married?
Or have kids?
Anything?
-That's a funny way of asking.
-Yeah. Is it?
Um, no.
I am in a relationship though.
-Okay.
-Several.
Several? Okay.
Yeah, with all the trees
I take care of.
Right.
Are you?
No.
I almost was, I think.
Married.
You think?
Uh, yeah.
I was close to asking, but...
Stuff happens, you know?
Like what?
She cheated on me.
I'm sorry.
Honestly, it was probably
the best thing
that's ever happened to me.
The best?
[laughs] Maybe not the best.
The trees don't mind
your non-exclusivity?
Oh no, they're very open.
-Okay.
-[laughs]
Holy night
Should we spike this coffee?
It's getting thicker
as I sip it.
Yes. Yes.
[laughs]
[Sophie] So Mr. Lawson.
[Sophie]
He married the old bio teacher.
[Sophie]
Do you remember Miss Richards?
-She was so old!
-So old.
[Ainsley]
When I was in school.
-I know, right?
-Yeah, no. I really can't.
[Sophie] He obviously didn't
feel the same way.
[Ainsley] I don't know.
I don't know if thats...
[Sophie laughs]
[both laugh]
-[Sophie] Oh man.
[Ainsley]
What's happening now?
[Sophie] What do you mean
'what's happening now'?
Well, there's something between
us if you haven't noticed.
[Sophie] Are you gonna go sit
in the bleachers?
-Uh, I geuss.
-Okay wait, hold my drink.
-Okay.
-Wait, hold my jacket.
[Ainsley] Okay.
[Ainsley] Anything else?
[Sophie] No. You go.
[Sophie laughs]
-Is this what I think it is?
-Yep.
-Okay.
-It's happening.
[Sophie laughs]
[Ainsley] Oh god,
this definitely what dreams
are made of, huh?
[Sophie laughs awkwardly]
[Ainsley]
I'm ready. I'm so ready.
[Sophie] Okay, you ready?
[Ainsley] Yeah.
-Can you see my pom-poms?
-Okay okay okay.
[Sophie] Okay.
[coughs]
[Sophie recites cheer and claps]
This team is boom dynamite.
This team is boom dynamite.
This team is tick tick tick
tick tick tick boom dynamite.
Now, ready.
When I say 'dyna'
you say 'mite'.
Dyna!
-Oh that's me... Mite!
Dyna-- We're trying that again.
When I say 'dyna'
you say 'mite'.
-Dyna!
-Mite!
-Dyna!
-Mite!
Gooo Bulldogs!
[laughs]
[Sophie] Oh god.
-You still got it in you, huh?
-Oh I still got it.
-You do.
-[laughs]
[Sophie] I think I tore my jeans
when I did that actually.
[both laugh]
You never came to any games.
I went to a couple.
It just wasn't my thing.
Oh, you were too cool for them.
Oh, no.
I think I wasn't cool enough.
Oh you were fine.
I was fine?
Fine?
Nice.
-You didn't talk to anyone.
I talked to people I knew well.
I'm sorry.
For what?
High school. Kids.
It was a long time ago.
Yeah and look at you now. Crazy.
[Ainsley sighs]
You know what we used
to call you in high school?
Maybe I don't want
to tell you actually.
Wait, wait, wait, wait. Okay.
Um, so Sophie Michaels.
I can't believe
I'm telling you this.
We used to say, we used to say.
We could buy art supplies.
Like in you.
That doesn't even make sense.
I don't know.
Because Michaels is like
an art supply store
and you had a lot of customers.
I don't know.
No, I get that.
Still doesn't make sense.
[laughs]
I can't believe I just told you.
You know what we used
to say about you?
She always looked so sad,
but she could look Sadler.
You said that?
No.
We didn't talk about you.
Great.
Amazing.
Wow.
That was really quick.
I wanted to ask you a favor.
I'm intrigued.
Should I be scared?
-Yes.
-Yes?
No.
[laughs]
Would you be able to take
some photos of some of
my preservation projects?
Hmm
I am not really taking
photos anymore.
But what about the magazine?
I'm a photo editor.
I don't know.
You always had that damn camera
around your neck in school.
So...
Sorry.
It's okay.
What's it for?
We have a couple of
300-year old oak trees
that they want to cut down.
Don't worry.
I'll figure it out.
I'll do it.
-Really?
-Yeah.
I'll do it.
That's awesome.
That was a really good cheer.
[laughs]
Uhhh. I'm embarrassed and proud.
[laughs]
You should be proud.
Very proud.
Oh god.
[Ainsley] Yeah, this one.
[Sophie] You see?
This is a good one.
[camera shutter]
[camera shutter]
You can tell them that.
You look great.
-[both laugh]
This is one of
my favortie spaces.
Beautiful.
It's like a cave.
Yeah, is this your secret
in here?
-Little bit.
-Yeah.
Yeah.
[camera shutter]
[camera shutter]
I think you should
get in the photos.
No.
Yeah. I think so.
No, no, no.
They're too beautiful.
Let them stand alone.
I just think people want
to see who's saving them though.
Can we try a couple?
Just a few.
[laughs]
-Here?
-Yeah, perfect.
[camera shutter]
What?
-I don't know what to do.
I feel so awkward.
Okay. Sorry.
[camera shutter]
[Ainsley] First dibs.
-[Sophie] Me first dibs?
-[Ainsley] Yes.
I didn't even do any of the work.
Are you waiting for me
to take my turn?
Uh-huh.
These are good.
Just like I remember.
Tell your mom I offered
to pay you though.
This is payment.
You're hurting their feelings.
No, like money money.
-This is good enough.
-[Sophie chuckles]
You don't like sour watermelon
or what?
No, they're delicious.
I...
I just don't want anyone
to think that I'm taking
too much advantage of you
and your photography skills.
What do the trees eat?
Sour watermelon? Or...
No, I think they're
more gummy bear types.
Especially her.
-Which one?
-Her.
-This one here?
-Yeah, she likes gummy bears.
-No, she doesn't.
I don't see it.
-You have to know them.
-You would know.
-I do.
-Yeah.
[chuckles]
What is that?
Bird.
You say it so calmly.
They're home.
[exhales]
[breathes deeply]
How am I doing?
You're doing it wrong?
[laughs]
Oh okay.
You said to tuck it in
like I'd tuck myself in
with a blanket.
That's how I do it.
Yeah, but without
the toes tucked in.
Yeah, but without
the toes tucked in.
What?
What?
Okay. That's the best part.
But...
We'll just make
all their feet cold.
Alright.
Does that work?
Yeah that works.
[laughs]
-How'd I do?
-Much better.
Oh good.
It's freezing tonight.
I know.
Kiss me.
Kiss me.
What?
What?
I want you to kiss me.
[rhythmic beating]
[acoustic guitar
and piano music]
Its been 72 weeks
in this town
I still believe
Ill see you again
No matter what
I got off the ground,
For something that matters,
matters to me
But what do you want?
Whats your biggest need?
Whats your biggest need?
Every hour we spend together
Every hour we spend together
Every hour we spend together
ends suddenly
ends suddenly
The chances are small,
just like the lottery
I just hope
we could stay together
I just hope
we could stay together
we wait and see
we wait and see
But the chances are small,
just like the lottery
[instrumental acoustic guitar
and piano...]
[door knocks]
Oh my god.
[both laugh]
Why are we both hiding?
I don't know.
She doesn't even come in.
I don't know.
She doesn't even come in.
She just knocks
when breakfast is ready.
She just knocks
when breakfast is ready.
She just knocks
when breakfast is ready.
That's cute.
That's cute.
Thanks.
Thanks.
I feel like I'm 15 again.
I feel like I'm 15 again.
Did you do this
when you were 15?
Did you do this
when you were 15?
No, not at all.
Thank you.
No, not at all.
Thank you.
Good morning.
[they kiss]
Morning.
[Ainsley]
It's so pretty out here.
[Ainsley]
It's so pretty out here.
[bird calls]
[bird calls]
I haven't been here
for maybe 16 years.
Yeah, long time.
Thanks for coming.
I used to come here
all the time.
I used to come here
all the time.
I heard it was the spot,
drunken teenagers
I heard it was the spot,
drunken teenagers
and debauchery and all that.
I used to come here
all the time with my dad.
Oh you did?
Oh you did?
He taught me how to fish
on that sandbar right there.
He taught me how to fish
on that sandbar right there.
-Right there?
-Mmhmm. True
I could see that.
And I made him throw back
every single fish we caught.
Otherwise I would
just scream my head off.
Environmentalist from birth.
He must've hated
fishing with me.
I don't believe that
for a second.
Have you ever gone fishing?
[phone dings]
My dad wasn't really into
that kind of thing.
-I'm sorry.
-It's okay.
-I'm sorry.
-It's okay.
It's Jaycee.
We went to school with her.
It's Jaycee.
We went to school with her.
The tall girl with the big eyes.
-I know who she is.
She's having a get-together
before the reunion.
Nothing's changed around here,
huh?
A pre-reunion reunion.
You should come.
Yeah, come with me.
-Nope.
-Not coming.
-Please.
It's kind of my recurring
nightmare. You know?
You know,
Jaycee's changed a lot.
I'm sure.
She's...
After she had kids,
she really lightened up.
I'm still not coming.
-They've all seen your magazine.
-It's not my magazine.
Still.
They really like it.
They all say really nice things.
I'm not going.
You have fun though.
Okay.
Okay.
Ducks quacking.
Pretty good.
['Toyland'
performed by Maga Pascansky]
Toyland
Little girl and boy land
Little girl and boy land
While you dwell within it
While you dwell within it
While you dwell within it
You are ever happy then
You are ever happy then
Childhood
Childhood
Joy land
Joy land
Joy land
Mystic merry toyland
Mystic merry toyland
Once you pass its borders
You can never return again
Childhood
Childhood
Joy land
Joy land
Joy land
[whimpers]
[whimpers]
[whimpers]
Mystic merry toyland
Mystic merry toyland
Mystic merry toyland
[sniffs]
[sniffs]
[sniffs]
Once you pass its borders
Once you pass its borders
You can never
You can never
return
return
return
again
again
[tv playing]
It's not cheating if it's
just there in front of you.
If it's just fanned out
in front of you.
Aren't you curious?
About what?
About what?
Their looks?
How they'd treat you?
Their looks?
How they'd treat you?
-No.
-Lies.
How?
How?
Why is everyone trying to tell
me how I should feel about this?
Why is everyone trying to tell
me how I should feel about this?
Literally no one's
telling you that.
You're telling yourself that.
It's my turn.
Uh, yellow.
Not everyone can be perfect.
Not everyone can be perfect.
And what's that supposed
to mean?
And what's that supposed
to mean?
And what's that supposed
to mean?
It means you have the stuff.
So don't worry.
It means you have the stuff.
So don't worry.
It means you have the stuff.
So don't worry.
I have the stuff?
I have the stuff?
I have the stuff?
-Yeah.
-What the hell's "the stuff?"
-Yeah.
-What the hell's "the stuff?"
-Yeah.
-What the hell's "the stuff?"
The job. The location.
Et cetera.
The job. The location.
Et cetera.
And that's what matters?
And you have two more cards.
That's not what I'm saying.
I'm just trying to help you
feel better about yourself.
Just because this town
stirs shit up in me
doesn't mean I forget what
matters.
Then what matters?
You're asking me that like I
have to prove something to you?
No, I'm not asking you
to prove something to me.
No, I'm not asking you
to prove something to me.
I'm just trying to
I'm just trying to
give you some reassurance.
Okay?
-I don't need it.
-Alright.
-Shit.
-Okay. Fuck.
Message received.
Is it my turn?
-Mine.
I don't know.
Yeah. Mine.
Sorry.
Oh my gosh.
Thank god.
Okay, you can stop with
the nines now, please.
[knocks on the window]
[laughs]
Brought you some tea.
-Thank you.
-Yeah, of course.
Is it good?
-Yeah, it is. It's nice.
Kinda strong.
Kinda strong.
How was your day?
How was your day?
-Yeah?
-Mmhmm.
You should've been there
last night.
You should've been there
last night.
Everyone was there.
Everyone was there.
Almost everyone.
The important ones?
The important ones?
No that's,
that's not what I meant.
No that's,
that's not what I meant.
Hmmhmm.
You don't have to do this,
you know.
Do what?
All of this.
Help my mom with the plants.
Hang out with me.
I know.
Do you feel sorry for me
or something?
Is that what this is?
What?
You help everyone.
You help the trees.
You help everyone.
You help the trees.
Now helping me.
Now helping me.
I don't know if it makes sense.
I'm not trying to do anything.
Is it so hard to believe
that I just want to be here
with you?
that I just want to be here
with you?
Knowing your past?
Knowing your past?
Maybe it is.
[places cup firmly on table]
[places cup on table]
['Toyland'
performed by Maga Pascansky]
[shark week on tv]
Sweetie, these knuckleheads
are wearing me out.
I want to talk to you.
Can we turn that off?
[tv turns off]
Hey. You.
In there.
Mmhmm.
What's going on with you?
You're doing your silent act.
[Ainsley sighs]
Don't shake your head. I know--
I know you.
There's something going on.
I lost my job.
That's it?
That's why you're so sad?
Just now?
No.
Okay.
[laughs]
Well...
-[breathes deeply]
Jeez, I thought it was going
to be something like...big.
A job's nothing. Just...
A job's nothing. Just...
don't tell Mom.
don't tell Mom.
She'll make something big
out of it. You know.
Because I'm a loser?
Why would you even say that?
Cause it's true.
Oh come on!
Has nothing to do with it.
Your job has nothing
to do with you, Sweetie.
And--
To be honest, your twenties...
You're twenty eight, okay?
Thanks for reminding me.
Okay.
I'm making a point here.
You're twenty eight.
Your twenties are
for screwing up.
Doing s-- crazy stuff.
You haven't done anything
like that yet.
I was wondering if you were--
I was starting to get
a little worried about you.
That you hadn't screwed up.
You know?
Don't worry, don't sweat it.
This is nothing.
Are you hearing me?
Why are you so deep about this?
Do you miss Aunty Sher?
Ahh, sure I do.
She's--I miss her everyday.
Yeah, I know.
We had the best laughs.
Every time we'd get together
she'd make me laugh and
no matter how shitty
the day was, you know.
Yeah...
She'd find something
funny in it.
You know?
Yeah.
That's a talent.
I loved that about her.
[sighs]
Sorry I didn't
go to the funeral.
Sweetie.
There you go again, you're
looking back to stuff that's
You know...
I just don't know
what's wrong with me. You know?
There's nothing wrong with you.
There is nothing wrong with you.
Can you hear that?
I'll say it again:
There's nothing wrong with you.
You just keep looking back and
bumming yourself out
with stuff from the past.
You can't do anything
about that.
Just take this day
and go forward.
Have you ever felt proud of me?
Proud? Always!
Your mother and I have been
proud of you all your life.
All of your life
and you still don't hear that.
What is it about you that
you keep beating yourself up?
How do I get you
to stop doing that?
Can you?
Stop it.
You know?
[exhales sharply]
Nothing--nothing you can do
would ever make me
not proud of you.
Is that clear enough?
Yeah.
Okay.
[dishes clink]
Mom, did you forget
to roll out the dough?
[sighs]
Why are we doing it
with these cookies?
[Mom] I have no idea.
[laughs]
-Where you going?
-It's going to freeze tonight.
Sophie's not coming?
Mmm, she has a life too,
you know.
I know.
I know that.
Yeah she had to take
her mother--
her mother to the doctor.
What's wrong with her mom?
Nothing...
She just wants to have
a little peace of
mind after losing her dad
like that.
I'll cover your plants.
Don't worry. Sit down.
Are you sure?
-Yeah.
Really?
-Yeahh.
You didn't even finish this.
It looks terrible.
Thank you, sweetheart.
[laughter]
This looks like
a chocolate chip cookie.
I don't know what
I'm going to smear all over it.
You think an orange gummy bear
would help?
Yeah, I think so.
Give it some sprinkles.
Oh there, yeah okay.
Oh fancy!
[laughter]
Gorgeous!
Red gummy bear!
[laughter]
Well, here.
Here's a green gummy bear.
-My sister is so talented.
-You put a green gummy bear
on yours.
-Here you go.
Oh, thank you.
-I'll go with a green one.
-Thank you.
-Christmas gummies.
Yeah, absolutely.
Cheers!
-Cheers!
Ohhhh!
[laughter]
Gummy bears and chocolate chips.
[laughter]
That's a weird combination!
-I'm into it.
-Mmmm.
['Silent Night'
performed by Maga Pascansky]
[sniffles]
[fire pops]
[fire crackles]
Well, I'm sorry, you know.
I'm old.
Who put names on them?
-I can't remember these things.
Angel or a star this year?
Ohhh...
Ainsley, you decide.
Oh.
-That guy. Yeah.
Okay, you wanna put it up?
You wanna do the honors? Or...
We can--let's all do it?
Okay, yeah. Let's all do it.
Here we go.
[laughing]
The effort's too much!
I'm trying really hard,
I mean...
I can't even see, that's totally
straight. Definitely.
Let's make some candlelight
or something.
Oh, where is the lighter?
Dad, you had that.
Mom, is it over there
in that area?
Let's see.
-I don't see it anywhere.
Hmmm.
-I was sitting on it, here.
Aha! There it is.
Alrighty, here we go.
-You were sitting on it??
You had Santa's belt.
Oh, and Papa had Santa's belt.
And so you and I had the plaid.
How do you remember
these things?
Well, I'm lucky.
[laughter]
-Okay, okay.
Good job.
Let's hang some balls.
I lost my job.
[Dad groans]
You--you lost your job
just now??
Yeah, just now. She just--
poof!
Mom, mom don't.
Don't--don't do it now.
Well, when is a good
time to do it?
Don't worry about it. Just--
What?
--Let's do it after Christmas.
[sighs]
You know I worry.
Let's hang these balls.
Don't worry.
Especially the glittery ones.
-Fine.
Ah, there we go.
Okay we got some--
Okay you got one,
you got a hook?
I think they've all vanished
into the other dimension.
Yeah.
With all of our socks!
Put the socks in
the tree this year
or you wanna put them
up over the window?
Oh, I put mine here!
You guys can need to do yours.
Yeah, we can hang ours
on the tree.
-You said gold.
-Oh yeah.
Here we go.
-Dad.
At least these have
loops on them.
I'll do yours, dad.
-Oh, you got mine?
Yeah.
Alrighty.
-Nice and low.
[laughter]
Alright.
She said I'm hanging low!
What's that mean?
I'm not even gonna touch
that one.
No, no.
[laughter]
It's Christmas!
-No, no!
Forgive us!
[laughter]
Hey.
Hey.
Do you mind if I sit?
How'd you know I was here?
I talked to your mom.
She told me.
[sniffles]
Meeting the in-laws already,
huh?
[chuckles]
He loved Christmas.
Any excuse for all of us to sit
in the same room and buy us the
stupidest presents.
Hey.
I'm sorry about everything.
It's okay.
I don't know why sometimes I--
just do the whole
self-sabotaging thing.
It's easier than facing reality,
you know?
It's not an excuse, I know.
But how would you know
if you didn't try, right?
Yeah, I don't know.
That's true.
It's okay.
I brought some things.
You said that you guys
love Christmas so I just--
thought...
Oh, ha.
There's that.
That's really sweet.
[laughter]
Some lights.
Yeah, you got it.
And--
a letter.
You wrote this?
-Yeah.
He can read it later.
[laughs]
Oh, there we go.
Perfect.
[laughter]
[fire crackles]
Here's a receipt for a donut,
does this count?
Ains! He's cheating!
Dad, you're just cleaning out
Ains! He's cheating!
Dad, you're just cleaning out
your pockets!
Those are receipts!
your pockets!
Those are receipts!
It's weighing me down!
You didn't say it was--
At least they won't end up
in the washing machine.
Physical or emotional.
[laughs]
No, he's right actually.
Oh, come on!
-I didn't specify, so.
You didn't specify.
-I didn't specify.
This is just weighing me down.
All of these, none of these.
Alright, I'm going to go
to my car, get my
stuff and just dump it all
in there.
Don't even have to go to
the car wash.
Just throw it in.
Did you bring any more
underwear?
[laughter]
No, just the ONE pair!
I mean he--
Look at that,
the whole thing is going in.
No plastic straws, right?
Did you want to go
through your other coats maybe?
As well, is that what's
happening right now?
You know that's a lot of
receipts, dad.
You know this is kind of fun.
I feel lighter already.
[laughter]
Oh, here. Let me have a couple.
I'll throw them
in for you.
Here's one. You can throw that in.
-Alright!
The IRS doesn't care about
that donut.
You want to check it first, mom?
Well--
[laughter]
Check it.
See what he's trying to burn.
What evidence is he trying to
get rid of?
[fire crackling]
[Sophie] So, why did I bring
all of this stuff?
Well...
We're gonna--
-Ohhh, I see.
You see...
We're going to burn
all my valuables.
I said NOT to bring valuables.
I'm kidding.
Alright.
Let's see.
Mmm...you first.
Me first?
-Mmhmm.
Well, you're sitting
on them, so...
Okay.
So...
I lost my job.
It happens.
That's it?
I'm sorry?
Don't be.
I...
published my own photos
in one of the spreads.
-[laughs]
-Yeah.
Um...
I was just tired--tired of
publishing everyone else's
work and
not catching a break.
So, I just did it without
a thought and uh
Here we are.
So what?
It's a job.
People lose them every day.
It's not just a job.
That's what anyone in this town
brings up--is my job.
You know, no one approached you
in high school
because it was like you had
everything figured out.
It was because you were
intimidating.
That's not true.
Ha.
I don't know.
People ask you your job
right off the bat
so they can calculate
how much respect to give you.
Mmm--
-Yeah? No?
No one has everything
figured out.
And if they think they do,
they're lying to themselves.
Yeah.
So that brings me
to my next unload.
Uhhh--
I definitely thought I had
Uhhh--
I definitely thought I had
everything figured out
back then.
everything figured out
back then.
OH noooo.
-It's pretty bad.
-[gasps] Can I keep this?
-No, you can't keep it.
-Please?
-Oh, please!
-No!
Yeah.
I'm going to keep this.
You want it?
-Mmhmm.
You really want it?
-Yeah
Okay.
That's all I've got,
so it's your turn.
That's all I've got,
so it's your turn.
Okay
Okay
I'm excited to see
what you have.
[container rattles]
Is this your retainer?
It caused mea lot of pain.
This isn't gonna burn, Soph!
What the hell!
[laughter]
Yeah, I know.
I just needed to make
peace with it, you know?
It's a bit dramatic,
but I get it.
Yeah. You brought something
that can burn, right?
I did, yeah.
-Okay.
Okay this feels really good.
This is a paper I wrote in
the fifth grade
and it has haunted me
ever since.
What?!
-Don't read it!
What does it say you want to be
when you grow up?
A dog.
Let's not talk about it.
[whispers] A dog?
A boy made fun of me,
he said it was stupid
and it wasn't a real dream
and I cried.
He's stupid because you're
kind of living that anyway.
You know?
I mean not in a bad way! Like--
everything you're doing
You know I'm a grownup now,
so I'm going
to take that as a compliment.
Yeah, it came out worse
than I planned.
I don't think we should burn it.
Hey, you choose mine,
I choose yours.
Oh, so I get to keep it then?
-It's yours.
-Okay.
You wanna go out tonight?
The reunion?
Screw the reunion.
I don't know.
Maybe we should go.
Grace them with our presence,
you know?
It may be fun.
-Really?
-Yeah!
Yeah.
I would like that.
[fire crackling]
[Ainsley] Toyyyland.
[laughter]
Toooyyylaaannnnd.
Little girl--
boy--girl and boooyyy land.
[laughter]
While you dwell
within it
[laughter]
you are everrr
happpyyyy there
It's so slow.
Childhooooods
joylaaaand
mystical merrrryyy
toooyyyylannnd
Once you pass
its borderrrrrs
You can neverrr
return agaiiinnn
[laughter]
Okay, I've got some time.
[sophie laughing]
Tooooyyylaaaand
Oh, it's the same thing!
Tooooyyylaaaand
Oh, it's the same thing!
Tooooyyylaaaand
little girl
and booooyyyylaaaandddd
while you dwell
within iiiiiittt
[laughter]
you are evvvverrrr
happppyyyy
theeerrrrreeee
childhooooods
joylaaaannnd
mystical merrrryyyyy
toooyyyylaaannnnddd
Once you pass
its borderrrssss
you can neverrr retuuurrnn
aggggaaaaaiiinnnn
It just repeats the same thing,
I didn't know!
never return agaaaaiiinnn
I never knew this about
this song.
once you pass
its bordeerrrsss
you can neverrr
retuurrrnnn agggaaaiiiinnn
[laughter]
That's all. That's it.
That's the song. [claps]
[claps]Thank you. [laughter]
That was beautiful.
-Thank you so much.
[claps]
[bar crowd voices]
I'd say "your turn," but you've
already uh performed for me.
Yeah, that was--that was [laughter]
that was
['Lottery' by Ten Towers]
That was beautiful though.
Thanks. It felt really good.
[laughter]
I'll let you go
just need some time
at your own pace
you need to find your way
I know now you'll never
change your mind
for something that matters
matters to me
you do not know what
I have in mind
I packed our bags,
we'll be on our way
the night was long as I
waited without a sound
[airplane engine]
[Dad] Hey.
[Mom] There's my girl.
[Ainsley] Thank you.
- Looking good.
- Hi Dad.
[Mom] Sweater party Friday night
[Dad]How was your flight?
[Ainsley] It was okay.
[Dad] Okay?
Yeah.
You asshole!
This is not private property.
Come on!
Jesus!
You too.
The hell.
Here, here.
- No mom, I'm okay.
- Don't want you catching cold.
I'm okay.
- No sweetheart, come on.
- I'm good, thank you.
It's cold out. I don't want you
to get sick.
Here.
You're hovering.
Of course I am. That's what
mothers' do.
Here. Okay.
I love you.
It's good to have you home,
sweetie.
It is.
We missed ya.
Missed you.
Let's do that again.
That was fun.
[Mom chuckles]
Oh god, I've got too much to do.
[acoustic guitar and piano
music]
It's called the City of Trees,
but why do I feel like
I can't breathe.
Don't be so dramatic.
High school was fuckin' weird.
What's weird about it?
I don't know, man.
I just feel like
You were good.
I feel like
you're just always good.
Years of practice. You know.
- You practice at it?
- Yeah.
- That's what you do?
- I don't know.
I just feel like
I made a decision
to just kind of say "fuck it"
and just be who I wanted to be.
- In high school?
- Yeah, I'm kind of a
Kind of a cool guy, aren't I?
[laughs]
Okay you can go now.
You want me to leave?
Okay, I'll just get out of here.
- No, no, no.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Bye.
- Bye!
Cheers.
I don't know man. I just--
I don't know.
I think peaking just wasn't
on my graph chart.
I feel like my life
has always been
just kind of a straight line.
You know just
[makes monotone sound]
You've never really changed.
Not in a bad way though.
In-- yeah,
really good way.
- Yeah.
- Yeah. I mean,
not that I'm like giving you
a compliment or anything.
Thanks, I appreciate that.
Now you never, you know.
[Teddy laughs]
[Ainsley coughs]
- Yeah, I feel like yours is
- Don't.
Is more like
Aww...
Hey!
[fluctuating tone] Aww... Hey!
Aww...
Like waves in the ocean.
I'm like...
Maybe like a sound wave
of a really, really complex...
...techno song?
- You're an asshole.
- That's me!
Or like heartbeat.
Or something like
more rhythm to it.
- One with a murmur though.
You're such a dick.
I guess no one knew me
in high school.
Unless people that, I mean,
I don't know.
There were some
that really knew me.
- Yeah.
- There's you.
Yeah, there's me.
You know the ones you know.
You know?
- You know.
Do you think that's why
you didn't get invited
to the 10-year reunion?
Why would I care though?
It's--
Don't burn yourself.
- I don't want to burn myself.
The popular ones are just
married and have four kids
or gross.
The weirdos are
making it happen in life.
The fuck do I care?
- Yeah. Yeah!
Fuck you, Ryan Langly!
[Teddy laughs]
- Fuck you, Donna Hughes!
- Yeah!
The fuck kind of name
is 'Donna Hughes' anyway?
Don-na Huuughes!
Fuck you, Derrick Mallock!
That's too many consonants
in a name.
Der-rick Mal-lock.
Shut up!
- Fuck you, Sophie Michaels!
- Ooh--
She's actually still pretty hot.
And kinda nice, actually.
How? How is that fair
How the fuck is that fair?
[Mom] Do I smell smoke?
[Ainsley/Teddy] Uh-uh
We're not smoking.
Who's that?
- [quietly] She's never going
- Hi, Mrs. Sadler.
- It's Teddy.
- Oh, hi Teddy.
- Hey.
Goodnight mom.
Listen, you need to go to bed
really soon because we got to
get to the grocery store really
early tomorrow.
Why?
Because they're having a sale
on turkeys.
- Okay.
- Goodnight.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
I don't know why we're so
afraid of you mom.
[laughs]
How old are we again?
Ugh.
- Old enough.
Yeah.
I just can't believe
you make it back here every year
for this.
Nostalgia, man.
Gets me every time.
- You make it back for Easter.
- I love Easter.
- Who says that?
[knocks on door]
I better not see anyone I know
here.
It was your decision to come
out in pajamas, not mine.
Do you know what time it is?
So when did you decide
that hair color?
I'm going to get
the cranberry sauce.
We need eight cans.
Hey, it's Sophie!
Look who it is. Sophie.
Hey Sophie! Hi!
Oh hey, Mrs. Sadler.
Hi. Look who's home.
It's her first holiday home
in seven years.
[Mom laughs]
Ainsley.
I know who you are.
We went to school together
for like 12 years.
Uh, are you here for
the 10-year reunion?
No, I actually wasn't invited
to that.
Oh, well this is awkward.
[awkward laughs]
Yeah.
I'm just here for
holidays and stuff.
- Oh, cool.
- Yeah.
Are you gonna be around for
the sweater party Friday night?
I Wouldn't miss it.
[chuckles]
It's supposed to be freezing
tomorrow night,
so I'll see you then too.
- Okay. That's great.
Thank you.
[man] Number 8.
Gotta go, called my number.
- Bye.
- Bye.
How do you know Sophie?
She comes over to cover
the plants when it gets cold.
She's a nice girl.
- What's our number?
- 39.
Oh my god, mom.
Hey, what's the rush?
Hold on.
Okay.
Gotta get dad some soda.
You know how he like his soda.
Pineapple crush. Ooh!
He'd love that.
[Mom sighs]
Let's see.
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Get some of that.
[sighs]
[acoustic guitar music]
[chuckles to herself]
['Lottery' by Ten Towers]
I'll let you go.
Just need some time.
At your own pace,
you need to find your way.
I know now,
you'll never change your mind.
For something that matters.
Matters to me.
[chuckles to herself]
You do not know
what I have in mind.
I packed our bags,
we'll be on our way.
Night was long as I waited
without a sign.
Sign of what matters,
matters to you.
What do you want?
What's your biggest need?
Every hour
we spent together.
And suddenly.
The chances are small,
Just like the lottery.
Did you say hi to Sophie?
- No.
- Honey.
- Go out there and help her.
- I'm tired, mom.
I'm really tired.
Ainsley Sadler.
- 'Night.
- Goodnight.
[Sophie] So you live in LA?
Yep.
I don't live too far from here.
I'm sure you still have
better things to do than...
this.
It seems like
it kind of requires a lot.
Not really. Like what?
Ugh.
Checking the weather?
[chuckling] I do that most days
anyway.
You're not used to
the cold weather anymore, huh?
Not really.
You know, last year when I was
out here covering everything
real snowflakes started falling.
I've never seen that before.
Real life ones?
As opposed to the fake ones?
I'd only seen the
paper ones we used to cut out
in school.
It's crazy.
You think you know a place
so well,
but it still surprises you.
That is crazy.
Surprising is definitely
the last word I'd use
for this place.
It's kind of the beauty of it,
though.
I'd say it's more the
anxiety-inducing part.
Thank you for helping.
But you know, you don't have to.
Okay.
You good then?
-Yeah, I'm good.
Cool.
See ya.
[staple gun]
[staple gun]
[quiet humming]
[staple gun]
[quiet humming]
[staple gun]
[grunts]
[staple gun]
[staple gun]
[staple gun]
[staple gun]
[staple gun]
[grunts of pain]
Shit.
Shit.
Is it like
an ugly sweater party, or what?
It's just a sweater party.
No.
And I have one from your Aunt
Sheridan you're gonna wear.
No mom, I brought sweaters.
Too bad.
Come on.
Make your dad happy.
He'd love to see you in it.
How long has Sophie been
helping you?
She just helps with the plants.
Um, I don't know like
Four winters?
-Why?
-Because my carpal tunnel.
When it's frozen,
it hurts worse.
-Do you pay her?
-No, I don't.
She works all over town
in those community gardens.
-She does?
-Yeah.
You know, when I tell her about
your big fancy job,
she's very impressed with you.
-Mom...
Stop.
-[Mom chuckles]
Whenever I talk about
your big fancy job
ears just seem to perk up.
I even made my doctor subscribe.
[Ainsley takes a deep breath]
I just don't understand why
they don't put your pictures
in the magazine.
You're more talented than
all those stuffy photographers.
That's not how it works, mom.
You have to get it approved by
a lot of people
before you can get printed.
What time's Kelley get here?
Uh, she's going to get here
at about 9 o'clock.
Oh god, I gotta prepare.
She's going to show up
with the whole neighborhood
like she always does.
Da da daaa. Pumpkin pie!
-I'm not hungry, dad.
-Oh come on, come on.
You're gonna love this.
I already got it started.
I'm really not hungry.
-[Dad] One little bite.
-[Mom] Take a bite.
Come on, my poopy face.
This is your holiday pie.
-Just a little bite.
-That's big bite.
-[Dad] Mmhmm.
-[Ainsley] Mmm.
Okay, that's what I wanted.
That's a smile.
That's Sher's sweater, huh?
You're gonna where that?
That is so sweet of you.
Okay, alright.
More pie, more pie.
[rhythmic humming]
[sniffs]
[Mom] Close the door.
[door slams]
[Mom kisses]
[timer goes off]
Oh boy, the pot roast.
-You need help?
-Nope.
Nope.
You just sit down.
[Mom sighs]
[sound of oven opening]
['Auld Lang Syne'
performed by Maga Pascansky]
Isn't this a New Year's song?
Come here baby.
I feel like dancin'
-No no no.
-Come on.
-I have to get dressed. No.
-Put that down, come on.
[Mom and Dad laugh]
-Okay, oh yes.
-That's my girl.
[Mom kisses]
[Mom laughs]
[Dad hums]
We got our girl home, huh?
-Yeah.
[party chatter]
[Mom] Ainsley, Ainsley?
Sweetheart, Ainsley?
Would you please pour Sophie
a glass of wine?
[Sophie] Oh, I can do it.
[Mom] You can do it?
[party chatter]
[Dad] Sophia, sit here.
Come on here.
[party chatter and laughter]
[Mom] Thank you, Ainsley.
That's very nice.
Dinner will be ready...
In a little while.
[party chatter]
[party guests chatting
in the background]
[party guests laughing]
[Dad] Where's your train
of thought though?
[Mom] Oh boy...
Let's get serious here.
A toast to--
[Dad] You worked on this.
For a week, yeah.
A toast.
To togetherness.
[Dad] Yeah.
And to my beautiful,
baby daughter, Ainsley
for being home.
And to her job
for allowing it.
I love being left out
of the speech.
[Mom] And to my other
beautiful daughter Kelley
and her love of many things.
-[Dad] Here here, Kelley.
-There you go.
[Mom] And to new recipes
with glazed carrots this year.
I hope you all like them.
You can um--
-[Dad] It's so good.
[Mom] I have brussel sprouts
too.
I roast them with
cloves of garlic.
A toast to cloves of garlic.
Wait a minute.
[Dad] Garlic? You're toasting
to garlic?
[Mom] Yes! I am
toasting garlic.
You're not writing a novel.
Let's just toast.
Please, we're hungry.
[Mom] Come on now, I wasn't
finished yet.
[Dad] I thought you were
winding down.
[Mom] No, we have more people
to thank.
[Dad] Ah gee. Alright, okay.
Thank everybody that's here
and let's eat. Please.
Alright, and everybody
that's not here. So...
-[multiple] Cheers!
-[Dad] Bravo.
Hey.
[laughs subtly]
[exhales]
[quietly] Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
You look ridiculous.
[bottle opens and cap drops]
You feel Okay?
Yeah.
No we'll go soon.
We'll go soon.
It was fun.
It was a lot of fun.
I'll be home in few.
I'm gonna leave really soon.
Try to fall alseep.
Okay, love you too. Bye.
-Hey.
-Hey.
Thanks.
Trying to outlast everyone?
Food coma.
Right, me too.
What?
What? No, nothing.
It's weird that you're
at my house.
It's weird, right?
[laughs] No.
I'm at your house more than
you're at your house.
I hope they have Uber here.
This town's not too small?
No, you just call
your friends.
They're not conditional,
you know?
Not like the one's in
the big cities.
Ouch.
What do you know
about big cities?
I lived in New York
for six months.
Six months?
Yeah, it wasn't for me.
[laughter]
Which part?
Ugh, all of it.
I see your work.
Your magazine?
-Mmm.
Your mom always
buys me a copy when
it comes out.
It's really cool stuff.
Thanks.
You work with--trees now?
Oh you make it sound
sooo glamorous.
[laughter]
Yeah, I guess I hated the city
that much
it actually pushed me into it.
No, I'm kidding.
Um, remember Mr. Lawson's class?
That guy was so nuts.
-NUTS!
Nuts.
But--
as I get older, I don't know
he makes more sense to me.
He used to have this saying
on his wall
"The best time to plant a tree
was twenty years ago,
the second best time is today."
I think maybe I took it
too literal.
Why do you cover her flowers?
Why not?
There has to be a reason.
Why? Do you believe that?
That there's a reason
for everything?
Most things, yeah.
You're probably not going to
remember this, but
she gave me a ride
when I was maybe twelve?
And it was like
below freezing out
and I was waiting for the bus.
I do remember that.
I got so embarrassed
for her stopping.
I really thought she wanted to
embarrass me.
Honestly.
I was so mad.
It's funny how people feel
different things from
the same situation.
Yeah.
I should head home.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You have one of those
unconditional friends
You have one of those
unconditional friends
to pick you up, huh?
[laughs]
No. I'm gonna walk.
I like walking.
I can walk you.
No, you don't have to.
-I'm not tired.
I'm really not.
Well then who's gonna
walk you home?
That's a good question.
[laughter]
Is it more dangerous around here
than I remember?
Well--
we did have a gang
try to form once
like four years ago.
But they quit.
They quit?
You can't quit!
I thought you have to kill
each other or something.
Yeah, I don't know.
[laughter]
[laughter]
[sighs]
[footsteps walking]
I forgot how cold it is here.
And I survived a winter
in New York City.
What are you trying to say?
I mean, I never knew you
that well, but
I never took you for
a complainer.
-That's probably why you left.
-Probably.
Yeah.
I heard about your dad.
I read about it online.
I'm really sorry.
Yeah, thanks.
We weren't super close
when he passed so...
Still.
Really sorry.
I think it was
the unexpected part
that threw me off the most.
I bet.
You know, when I was a kid,
I rode up this curb too fast.
And that's how I got
this scar here.
-This curb?
-Yep, this one. This very curb.
Yeah.
Good times.
I just remember thinking
my mom was going to be
so pissed at me.
Why?
I don't know.
Guess I was a worried kid.
But no, I borrowed
my sister's bike
and I kinda scratched up
the front.
I, uh...
convinced her to let me take it
'cause she
wanted some sour watermelon
gummies from the store.
And I told her
I'd get some for her.
It's the only reason
she said yes and
I flipped over
the handle bars and
[laughs]
I rode back home.
Freaked out.
I hid by the trash cans.
And yeah, I didn't go back in.
'Cause I just thought they'd be
more worried than mad at me.
And what happened
when you went inside?
Well, I mean, I got hungry
waiting outside
so I ate the gummies.
And then they were pissed.
They were so pissed.
[laughs]
You messed up her bike
and you ate her gummies.
Yeah, I mean I wasn't
that smart as a kid so...
-Yes you were.
-No, I really wasn't.
Guess I was just
open to learning.
This is me here.
Thanks for walking me home.
-Yeah, of course.
Bye.
-Goodnight.
[sniffs]
[chilly exhale]
Ok Well, long story short:
I'd been with them for 27 years
and
I had a loss in the family and
they, they let me go.
No sir, it wasn't.
No, but...
Well, I missed a week or two.
Maybe two weeks.
But you can be sure
that won't happen again.
You can be assurred.
Um sure, yeah, you can
call them. Yeah, sure.
Of course.
Do your due diligence and all.
Um, when can I expect
to hear from you again?
Oh.
Okay.
Well
Alright, well
Thanks for considering me
anyway.
Yeah, you have
a good holiday too.
Okay I appreciate it, yeah.
[Sophie] Hey.
Potatoes.
Celery.
Small towns are weird.
Hey, you wanna get a coffee?
At 4pm?
Yeah.
Okay.
Ugh, okay.
This coffee's really bad.
Is it?
It tastes like mud.
Do you not taste that?
I don't really drink coffee.
I don't have a palette
for what's good and bad, yeah?
Then why'd you say yes
to having a coffee?
I was cold.
-[both laugh]
It's warming me up.
I can almost feel
my fingers again.
So we're getting better.
['Silent Night' plays on radio]
Oh I love this song.
[music gets louder]
I should probably get going.
Just, it's celery soup
without the celery.
You know, my mom's gonna have
to be late for that.
-Just listen to the song.
-Okay.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
So are you married?
Or have kids?
Anything?
-That's a funny way of asking.
-Yeah. Is it?
Um, no.
I am in a relationship though.
-Okay.
-Several.
Several? Okay.
Yeah, with all the trees
I take care of.
Right.
Are you?
No.
I almost was, I think.
Married.
You think?
Uh, yeah.
I was close to asking, but...
Stuff happens, you know?
Like what?
She cheated on me.
I'm sorry.
Honestly, it was probably
the best thing
that's ever happened to me.
The best?
[laughs] Maybe not the best.
The trees don't mind
your non-exclusivity?
Oh no, they're very open.
-Okay.
-[laughs]
Holy night
Should we spike this coffee?
It's getting thicker
as I sip it.
Yes. Yes.
[laughs]
[Sophie] So Mr. Lawson.
[Sophie]
He married the old bio teacher.
[Sophie]
Do you remember Miss Richards?
-She was so old!
-So old.
[Ainsley]
When I was in school.
-I know, right?
-Yeah, no. I really can't.
[Sophie] He obviously didn't
feel the same way.
[Ainsley] I don't know.
I don't know if thats...
[Sophie laughs]
[both laugh]
-[Sophie] Oh man.
[Ainsley]
What's happening now?
[Sophie] What do you mean
'what's happening now'?
Well, there's something between
us if you haven't noticed.
[Sophie] Are you gonna go sit
in the bleachers?
-Uh, I geuss.
-Okay wait, hold my drink.
-Okay.
-Wait, hold my jacket.
[Ainsley] Okay.
[Ainsley] Anything else?
[Sophie] No. You go.
[Sophie laughs]
-Is this what I think it is?
-Yep.
-Okay.
-It's happening.
[Sophie laughs]
[Ainsley] Oh god,
this definitely what dreams
are made of, huh?
[Sophie laughs awkwardly]
[Ainsley]
I'm ready. I'm so ready.
[Sophie] Okay, you ready?
[Ainsley] Yeah.
-Can you see my pom-poms?
-Okay okay okay.
[Sophie] Okay.
[coughs]
[Sophie recites cheer and claps]
This team is boom dynamite.
This team is boom dynamite.
This team is tick tick tick
tick tick tick boom dynamite.
Now, ready.
When I say 'dyna'
you say 'mite'.
Dyna!
-Oh that's me... Mite!
Dyna-- We're trying that again.
When I say 'dyna'
you say 'mite'.
-Dyna!
-Mite!
-Dyna!
-Mite!
Gooo Bulldogs!
[laughs]
[Sophie] Oh god.
-You still got it in you, huh?
-Oh I still got it.
-You do.
-[laughs]
[Sophie] I think I tore my jeans
when I did that actually.
[both laugh]
You never came to any games.
I went to a couple.
It just wasn't my thing.
Oh, you were too cool for them.
Oh, no.
I think I wasn't cool enough.
Oh you were fine.
I was fine?
Fine?
Nice.
-You didn't talk to anyone.
I talked to people I knew well.
I'm sorry.
For what?
High school. Kids.
It was a long time ago.
Yeah and look at you now. Crazy.
[Ainsley sighs]
You know what we used
to call you in high school?
Maybe I don't want
to tell you actually.
Wait, wait, wait, wait. Okay.
Um, so Sophie Michaels.
I can't believe
I'm telling you this.
We used to say, we used to say.
We could buy art supplies.
Like in you.
That doesn't even make sense.
I don't know.
Because Michaels is like
an art supply store
and you had a lot of customers.
I don't know.
No, I get that.
Still doesn't make sense.
[laughs]
I can't believe I just told you.
You know what we used
to say about you?
She always looked so sad,
but she could look Sadler.
You said that?
No.
We didn't talk about you.
Great.
Amazing.
Wow.
That was really quick.
I wanted to ask you a favor.
I'm intrigued.
Should I be scared?
-Yes.
-Yes?
No.
[laughs]
Would you be able to take
some photos of some of
my preservation projects?
Hmm
I am not really taking
photos anymore.
But what about the magazine?
I'm a photo editor.
I don't know.
You always had that damn camera
around your neck in school.
So...
Sorry.
It's okay.
What's it for?
We have a couple of
300-year old oak trees
that they want to cut down.
Don't worry.
I'll figure it out.
I'll do it.
-Really?
-Yeah.
I'll do it.
That's awesome.
That was a really good cheer.
[laughs]
Uhhh. I'm embarrassed and proud.
[laughs]
You should be proud.
Very proud.
Oh god.
[Ainsley] Yeah, this one.
[Sophie] You see?
This is a good one.
[camera shutter]
[camera shutter]
You can tell them that.
You look great.
-[both laugh]
This is one of
my favortie spaces.
Beautiful.
It's like a cave.
Yeah, is this your secret
in here?
-Little bit.
-Yeah.
Yeah.
[camera shutter]
[camera shutter]
I think you should
get in the photos.
No.
Yeah. I think so.
No, no, no.
They're too beautiful.
Let them stand alone.
I just think people want
to see who's saving them though.
Can we try a couple?
Just a few.
[laughs]
-Here?
-Yeah, perfect.
[camera shutter]
What?
-I don't know what to do.
I feel so awkward.
Okay. Sorry.
[camera shutter]
[Ainsley] First dibs.
-[Sophie] Me first dibs?
-[Ainsley] Yes.
I didn't even do any of the work.
Are you waiting for me
to take my turn?
Uh-huh.
These are good.
Just like I remember.
Tell your mom I offered
to pay you though.
This is payment.
You're hurting their feelings.
No, like money money.
-This is good enough.
-[Sophie chuckles]
You don't like sour watermelon
or what?
No, they're delicious.
I...
I just don't want anyone
to think that I'm taking
too much advantage of you
and your photography skills.
What do the trees eat?
Sour watermelon? Or...
No, I think they're
more gummy bear types.
Especially her.
-Which one?
-Her.
-This one here?
-Yeah, she likes gummy bears.
-No, she doesn't.
I don't see it.
-You have to know them.
-You would know.
-I do.
-Yeah.
[chuckles]
What is that?
Bird.
You say it so calmly.
They're home.
[exhales]
[breathes deeply]
How am I doing?
You're doing it wrong?
[laughs]
Oh okay.
You said to tuck it in
like I'd tuck myself in
with a blanket.
That's how I do it.
Yeah, but without
the toes tucked in.
Yeah, but without
the toes tucked in.
What?
What?
Okay. That's the best part.
But...
We'll just make
all their feet cold.
Alright.
Does that work?
Yeah that works.
[laughs]
-How'd I do?
-Much better.
Oh good.
It's freezing tonight.
I know.
Kiss me.
Kiss me.
What?
What?
I want you to kiss me.
[rhythmic beating]
[acoustic guitar
and piano music]
Its been 72 weeks
in this town
I still believe
Ill see you again
No matter what
I got off the ground,
For something that matters,
matters to me
But what do you want?
Whats your biggest need?
Whats your biggest need?
Every hour we spend together
Every hour we spend together
Every hour we spend together
ends suddenly
ends suddenly
The chances are small,
just like the lottery
I just hope
we could stay together
I just hope
we could stay together
we wait and see
we wait and see
But the chances are small,
just like the lottery
[instrumental acoustic guitar
and piano...]
[door knocks]
Oh my god.
[both laugh]
Why are we both hiding?
I don't know.
She doesn't even come in.
I don't know.
She doesn't even come in.
She just knocks
when breakfast is ready.
She just knocks
when breakfast is ready.
She just knocks
when breakfast is ready.
That's cute.
That's cute.
Thanks.
Thanks.
I feel like I'm 15 again.
I feel like I'm 15 again.
Did you do this
when you were 15?
Did you do this
when you were 15?
No, not at all.
Thank you.
No, not at all.
Thank you.
Good morning.
[they kiss]
Morning.
[Ainsley]
It's so pretty out here.
[Ainsley]
It's so pretty out here.
[bird calls]
[bird calls]
I haven't been here
for maybe 16 years.
Yeah, long time.
Thanks for coming.
I used to come here
all the time.
I used to come here
all the time.
I heard it was the spot,
drunken teenagers
I heard it was the spot,
drunken teenagers
and debauchery and all that.
I used to come here
all the time with my dad.
Oh you did?
Oh you did?
He taught me how to fish
on that sandbar right there.
He taught me how to fish
on that sandbar right there.
-Right there?
-Mmhmm. True
I could see that.
And I made him throw back
every single fish we caught.
Otherwise I would
just scream my head off.
Environmentalist from birth.
He must've hated
fishing with me.
I don't believe that
for a second.
Have you ever gone fishing?
[phone dings]
My dad wasn't really into
that kind of thing.
-I'm sorry.
-It's okay.
-I'm sorry.
-It's okay.
It's Jaycee.
We went to school with her.
It's Jaycee.
We went to school with her.
The tall girl with the big eyes.
-I know who she is.
She's having a get-together
before the reunion.
Nothing's changed around here,
huh?
A pre-reunion reunion.
You should come.
Yeah, come with me.
-Nope.
-Not coming.
-Please.
It's kind of my recurring
nightmare. You know?
You know,
Jaycee's changed a lot.
I'm sure.
She's...
After she had kids,
she really lightened up.
I'm still not coming.
-They've all seen your magazine.
-It's not my magazine.
Still.
They really like it.
They all say really nice things.
I'm not going.
You have fun though.
Okay.
Okay.
Ducks quacking.
Pretty good.
['Toyland'
performed by Maga Pascansky]
Toyland
Little girl and boy land
Little girl and boy land
While you dwell within it
While you dwell within it
While you dwell within it
You are ever happy then
You are ever happy then
Childhood
Childhood
Joy land
Joy land
Joy land
Mystic merry toyland
Mystic merry toyland
Once you pass its borders
You can never return again
Childhood
Childhood
Joy land
Joy land
Joy land
[whimpers]
[whimpers]
[whimpers]
Mystic merry toyland
Mystic merry toyland
Mystic merry toyland
[sniffs]
[sniffs]
[sniffs]
Once you pass its borders
Once you pass its borders
You can never
You can never
return
return
return
again
again
[tv playing]
It's not cheating if it's
just there in front of you.
If it's just fanned out
in front of you.
Aren't you curious?
About what?
About what?
Their looks?
How they'd treat you?
Their looks?
How they'd treat you?
-No.
-Lies.
How?
How?
Why is everyone trying to tell
me how I should feel about this?
Why is everyone trying to tell
me how I should feel about this?
Literally no one's
telling you that.
You're telling yourself that.
It's my turn.
Uh, yellow.
Not everyone can be perfect.
Not everyone can be perfect.
And what's that supposed
to mean?
And what's that supposed
to mean?
And what's that supposed
to mean?
It means you have the stuff.
So don't worry.
It means you have the stuff.
So don't worry.
It means you have the stuff.
So don't worry.
I have the stuff?
I have the stuff?
I have the stuff?
-Yeah.
-What the hell's "the stuff?"
-Yeah.
-What the hell's "the stuff?"
-Yeah.
-What the hell's "the stuff?"
The job. The location.
Et cetera.
The job. The location.
Et cetera.
And that's what matters?
And you have two more cards.
That's not what I'm saying.
I'm just trying to help you
feel better about yourself.
Just because this town
stirs shit up in me
doesn't mean I forget what
matters.
Then what matters?
You're asking me that like I
have to prove something to you?
No, I'm not asking you
to prove something to me.
No, I'm not asking you
to prove something to me.
I'm just trying to
I'm just trying to
give you some reassurance.
Okay?
-I don't need it.
-Alright.
-Shit.
-Okay. Fuck.
Message received.
Is it my turn?
-Mine.
I don't know.
Yeah. Mine.
Sorry.
Oh my gosh.
Thank god.
Okay, you can stop with
the nines now, please.
[knocks on the window]
[laughs]
Brought you some tea.
-Thank you.
-Yeah, of course.
Is it good?
-Yeah, it is. It's nice.
Kinda strong.
Kinda strong.
How was your day?
How was your day?
-Yeah?
-Mmhmm.
You should've been there
last night.
You should've been there
last night.
Everyone was there.
Everyone was there.
Almost everyone.
The important ones?
The important ones?
No that's,
that's not what I meant.
No that's,
that's not what I meant.
Hmmhmm.
You don't have to do this,
you know.
Do what?
All of this.
Help my mom with the plants.
Hang out with me.
I know.
Do you feel sorry for me
or something?
Is that what this is?
What?
You help everyone.
You help the trees.
You help everyone.
You help the trees.
Now helping me.
Now helping me.
I don't know if it makes sense.
I'm not trying to do anything.
Is it so hard to believe
that I just want to be here
with you?
that I just want to be here
with you?
Knowing your past?
Knowing your past?
Maybe it is.
[places cup firmly on table]
[places cup on table]
['Toyland'
performed by Maga Pascansky]
[shark week on tv]
Sweetie, these knuckleheads
are wearing me out.
I want to talk to you.
Can we turn that off?
[tv turns off]
Hey. You.
In there.
Mmhmm.
What's going on with you?
You're doing your silent act.
[Ainsley sighs]
Don't shake your head. I know--
I know you.
There's something going on.
I lost my job.
That's it?
That's why you're so sad?
Just now?
No.
Okay.
[laughs]
Well...
-[breathes deeply]
Jeez, I thought it was going
to be something like...big.
A job's nothing. Just...
A job's nothing. Just...
don't tell Mom.
don't tell Mom.
She'll make something big
out of it. You know.
Because I'm a loser?
Why would you even say that?
Cause it's true.
Oh come on!
Has nothing to do with it.
Your job has nothing
to do with you, Sweetie.
And--
To be honest, your twenties...
You're twenty eight, okay?
Thanks for reminding me.
Okay.
I'm making a point here.
You're twenty eight.
Your twenties are
for screwing up.
Doing s-- crazy stuff.
You haven't done anything
like that yet.
I was wondering if you were--
I was starting to get
a little worried about you.
That you hadn't screwed up.
You know?
Don't worry, don't sweat it.
This is nothing.
Are you hearing me?
Why are you so deep about this?
Do you miss Aunty Sher?
Ahh, sure I do.
She's--I miss her everyday.
Yeah, I know.
We had the best laughs.
Every time we'd get together
she'd make me laugh and
no matter how shitty
the day was, you know.
Yeah...
She'd find something
funny in it.
You know?
Yeah.
That's a talent.
I loved that about her.
[sighs]
Sorry I didn't
go to the funeral.
Sweetie.
There you go again, you're
looking back to stuff that's
You know...
I just don't know
what's wrong with me. You know?
There's nothing wrong with you.
There is nothing wrong with you.
Can you hear that?
I'll say it again:
There's nothing wrong with you.
You just keep looking back and
bumming yourself out
with stuff from the past.
You can't do anything
about that.
Just take this day
and go forward.
Have you ever felt proud of me?
Proud? Always!
Your mother and I have been
proud of you all your life.
All of your life
and you still don't hear that.
What is it about you that
you keep beating yourself up?
How do I get you
to stop doing that?
Can you?
Stop it.
You know?
[exhales sharply]
Nothing--nothing you can do
would ever make me
not proud of you.
Is that clear enough?
Yeah.
Okay.
[dishes clink]
Mom, did you forget
to roll out the dough?
[sighs]
Why are we doing it
with these cookies?
[Mom] I have no idea.
[laughs]
-Where you going?
-It's going to freeze tonight.
Sophie's not coming?
Mmm, she has a life too,
you know.
I know.
I know that.
Yeah she had to take
her mother--
her mother to the doctor.
What's wrong with her mom?
Nothing...
She just wants to have
a little peace of
mind after losing her dad
like that.
I'll cover your plants.
Don't worry. Sit down.
Are you sure?
-Yeah.
Really?
-Yeahh.
You didn't even finish this.
It looks terrible.
Thank you, sweetheart.
[laughter]
This looks like
a chocolate chip cookie.
I don't know what
I'm going to smear all over it.
You think an orange gummy bear
would help?
Yeah, I think so.
Give it some sprinkles.
Oh there, yeah okay.
Oh fancy!
[laughter]
Gorgeous!
Red gummy bear!
[laughter]
Well, here.
Here's a green gummy bear.
-My sister is so talented.
-You put a green gummy bear
on yours.
-Here you go.
Oh, thank you.
-I'll go with a green one.
-Thank you.
-Christmas gummies.
Yeah, absolutely.
Cheers!
-Cheers!
Ohhhh!
[laughter]
Gummy bears and chocolate chips.
[laughter]
That's a weird combination!
-I'm into it.
-Mmmm.
['Silent Night'
performed by Maga Pascansky]
[sniffles]
[fire pops]
[fire crackles]
Well, I'm sorry, you know.
I'm old.
Who put names on them?
-I can't remember these things.
Angel or a star this year?
Ohhh...
Ainsley, you decide.
Oh.
-That guy. Yeah.
Okay, you wanna put it up?
You wanna do the honors? Or...
We can--let's all do it?
Okay, yeah. Let's all do it.
Here we go.
[laughing]
The effort's too much!
I'm trying really hard,
I mean...
I can't even see, that's totally
straight. Definitely.
Let's make some candlelight
or something.
Oh, where is the lighter?
Dad, you had that.
Mom, is it over there
in that area?
Let's see.
-I don't see it anywhere.
Hmmm.
-I was sitting on it, here.
Aha! There it is.
Alrighty, here we go.
-You were sitting on it??
You had Santa's belt.
Oh, and Papa had Santa's belt.
And so you and I had the plaid.
How do you remember
these things?
Well, I'm lucky.
[laughter]
-Okay, okay.
Good job.
Let's hang some balls.
I lost my job.
[Dad groans]
You--you lost your job
just now??
Yeah, just now. She just--
poof!
Mom, mom don't.
Don't--don't do it now.
Well, when is a good
time to do it?
Don't worry about it. Just--
What?
--Let's do it after Christmas.
[sighs]
You know I worry.
Let's hang these balls.
Don't worry.
Especially the glittery ones.
-Fine.
Ah, there we go.
Okay we got some--
Okay you got one,
you got a hook?
I think they've all vanished
into the other dimension.
Yeah.
With all of our socks!
Put the socks in
the tree this year
or you wanna put them
up over the window?
Oh, I put mine here!
You guys can need to do yours.
Yeah, we can hang ours
on the tree.
-You said gold.
-Oh yeah.
Here we go.
-Dad.
At least these have
loops on them.
I'll do yours, dad.
-Oh, you got mine?
Yeah.
Alrighty.
-Nice and low.
[laughter]
Alright.
She said I'm hanging low!
What's that mean?
I'm not even gonna touch
that one.
No, no.
[laughter]
It's Christmas!
-No, no!
Forgive us!
[laughter]
Hey.
Hey.
Do you mind if I sit?
How'd you know I was here?
I talked to your mom.
She told me.
[sniffles]
Meeting the in-laws already,
huh?
[chuckles]
He loved Christmas.
Any excuse for all of us to sit
in the same room and buy us the
stupidest presents.
Hey.
I'm sorry about everything.
It's okay.
I don't know why sometimes I--
just do the whole
self-sabotaging thing.
It's easier than facing reality,
you know?
It's not an excuse, I know.
But how would you know
if you didn't try, right?
Yeah, I don't know.
That's true.
It's okay.
I brought some things.
You said that you guys
love Christmas so I just--
thought...
Oh, ha.
There's that.
That's really sweet.
[laughter]
Some lights.
Yeah, you got it.
And--
a letter.
You wrote this?
-Yeah.
He can read it later.
[laughs]
Oh, there we go.
Perfect.
[laughter]
[fire crackles]
Here's a receipt for a donut,
does this count?
Ains! He's cheating!
Dad, you're just cleaning out
Ains! He's cheating!
Dad, you're just cleaning out
your pockets!
Those are receipts!
your pockets!
Those are receipts!
It's weighing me down!
You didn't say it was--
At least they won't end up
in the washing machine.
Physical or emotional.
[laughs]
No, he's right actually.
Oh, come on!
-I didn't specify, so.
You didn't specify.
-I didn't specify.
This is just weighing me down.
All of these, none of these.
Alright, I'm going to go
to my car, get my
stuff and just dump it all
in there.
Don't even have to go to
the car wash.
Just throw it in.
Did you bring any more
underwear?
[laughter]
No, just the ONE pair!
I mean he--
Look at that,
the whole thing is going in.
No plastic straws, right?
Did you want to go
through your other coats maybe?
As well, is that what's
happening right now?
You know that's a lot of
receipts, dad.
You know this is kind of fun.
I feel lighter already.
[laughter]
Oh, here. Let me have a couple.
I'll throw them
in for you.
Here's one. You can throw that in.
-Alright!
The IRS doesn't care about
that donut.
You want to check it first, mom?
Well--
[laughter]
Check it.
See what he's trying to burn.
What evidence is he trying to
get rid of?
[fire crackling]
[Sophie] So, why did I bring
all of this stuff?
Well...
We're gonna--
-Ohhh, I see.
You see...
We're going to burn
all my valuables.
I said NOT to bring valuables.
I'm kidding.
Alright.
Let's see.
Mmm...you first.
Me first?
-Mmhmm.
Well, you're sitting
on them, so...
Okay.
So...
I lost my job.
It happens.
That's it?
I'm sorry?
Don't be.
I...
published my own photos
in one of the spreads.
-[laughs]
-Yeah.
Um...
I was just tired--tired of
publishing everyone else's
work and
not catching a break.
So, I just did it without
a thought and uh
Here we are.
So what?
It's a job.
People lose them every day.
It's not just a job.
That's what anyone in this town
brings up--is my job.
You know, no one approached you
in high school
because it was like you had
everything figured out.
It was because you were
intimidating.
That's not true.
Ha.
I don't know.
People ask you your job
right off the bat
so they can calculate
how much respect to give you.
Mmm--
-Yeah? No?
No one has everything
figured out.
And if they think they do,
they're lying to themselves.
Yeah.
So that brings me
to my next unload.
Uhhh--
I definitely thought I had
Uhhh--
I definitely thought I had
everything figured out
back then.
everything figured out
back then.
OH noooo.
-It's pretty bad.
-[gasps] Can I keep this?
-No, you can't keep it.
-Please?
-Oh, please!
-No!
Yeah.
I'm going to keep this.
You want it?
-Mmhmm.
You really want it?
-Yeah
Okay.
That's all I've got,
so it's your turn.
That's all I've got,
so it's your turn.
Okay
Okay
I'm excited to see
what you have.
[container rattles]
Is this your retainer?
It caused mea lot of pain.
This isn't gonna burn, Soph!
What the hell!
[laughter]
Yeah, I know.
I just needed to make
peace with it, you know?
It's a bit dramatic,
but I get it.
Yeah. You brought something
that can burn, right?
I did, yeah.
-Okay.
Okay this feels really good.
This is a paper I wrote in
the fifth grade
and it has haunted me
ever since.
What?!
-Don't read it!
What does it say you want to be
when you grow up?
A dog.
Let's not talk about it.
[whispers] A dog?
A boy made fun of me,
he said it was stupid
and it wasn't a real dream
and I cried.
He's stupid because you're
kind of living that anyway.
You know?
I mean not in a bad way! Like--
everything you're doing
You know I'm a grownup now,
so I'm going
to take that as a compliment.
Yeah, it came out worse
than I planned.
I don't think we should burn it.
Hey, you choose mine,
I choose yours.
Oh, so I get to keep it then?
-It's yours.
-Okay.
You wanna go out tonight?
The reunion?
Screw the reunion.
I don't know.
Maybe we should go.
Grace them with our presence,
you know?
It may be fun.
-Really?
-Yeah!
Yeah.
I would like that.
[fire crackling]
[Ainsley] Toyyyland.
[laughter]
Toooyyylaaannnnd.
Little girl--
boy--girl and boooyyy land.
[laughter]
While you dwell
within it
[laughter]
you are everrr
happpyyyy there
It's so slow.
Childhooooods
joylaaaand
mystical merrrryyy
toooyyyylannnd
Once you pass
its borderrrrrs
You can neverrr
return agaiiinnn
[laughter]
Okay, I've got some time.
[sophie laughing]
Tooooyyylaaaand
Oh, it's the same thing!
Tooooyyylaaaand
Oh, it's the same thing!
Tooooyyylaaaand
little girl
and booooyyyylaaaandddd
while you dwell
within iiiiiittt
[laughter]
you are evvvverrrr
happppyyyy
theeerrrrreeee
childhooooods
joylaaaannnd
mystical merrrryyyyy
toooyyyylaaannnnddd
Once you pass
its borderrrssss
you can neverrr retuuurrnn
aggggaaaaaiiinnnn
It just repeats the same thing,
I didn't know!
never return agaaaaiiinnn
I never knew this about
this song.
once you pass
its bordeerrrsss
you can neverrr
retuurrrnnn agggaaaiiiinnn
[laughter]
That's all. That's it.
That's the song. [claps]
[claps]Thank you. [laughter]
That was beautiful.
-Thank you so much.
[claps]
[bar crowd voices]
I'd say "your turn," but you've
already uh performed for me.
Yeah, that was--that was [laughter]
that was
['Lottery' by Ten Towers]
That was beautiful though.
Thanks. It felt really good.
[laughter]
I'll let you go
just need some time
at your own pace
you need to find your way
I know now you'll never
change your mind
for something that matters
matters to me
you do not know what
I have in mind
I packed our bags,
we'll be on our way
the night was long as I
waited without a sound