Familiar Touch (2024) Movie Script
1
Hm.
May I?
Oh, of course. Thank you.
Great.
Hmm.
Oh.
Thank you.
So, how're you feeling?
I feel great.
Are you sleeping okay?
Yes...
Good. Good, good.
What does it concern you
how I sleep?
So...
Steve.
Steve!
-Sorry.
-It's okay.
Steve. Of course.
What do you do?
Uh...
-Well, I'm an architect.
-An architect! That's great.
In a destructive world,
the ability to build things is
a very important gift.
Mm.
My father builds homes.
He's a carpenter.
Maybe you'll meet him someday.
-I'd like that.
-Mm.
So, after lunch,
uh, we're going to go...
A surprise.
Yeah, uh, a surprise.
Uh, we're going to both, uh...
Don't tell me! You'll ruin it.
Right.
Don't you like your food?
It's my signature sandwich.
It's great.
I'm, uh, savoring it.
Mm.
So...
uh, are you
seeing anybody special?
I would consider my wife
fairly special.
Oh.
Oh, well, doesn't matter.
I'm married, too.
Oh.
Seymour?
Yes!
Do you know him?
We've met.
Oh.
I didn't realize.
So, what are you working on now?
Oh, uh...
I am building a house
that generates its own energy.
It's called
sustainable architecture.
We use wind and solar energy
to power the building.
Wow!
Sounds Godlike,
harvesting the elements.
I'm more of a demigod, I guess.
Mortal...
...and...
...demigod.
How will we get along?
Okay, well, uh,
it's time to go.
Oh.
-I'll take this.
-Okay.
Okay, then.
Huh.
FAMILIAR TOUCH
I left my jacket inside,
I'll be right back.
Okay.
Okay.
You packed a bag.
Yeah.
If I'd known,
I'd have prepared--
That's-- It's okay.
You won't need anything else.
Is this a...?
Um...
Give me a sec.
- Good afternoon, sir.
Checking in?
- Yes, hi. Goldman.
Goldman?
Okay. Here we are.
I'll get the...
Okay...
Okay.
I'll put this over here.
Okay.
-Do you wanna sit?
-Yeah, sure.
All right, why don't you
wait here and I'll go check in.
-I'm just going to look it over.
-Sure.
Vanessa,
come to the front, please.
-Everything's the same?
-Yes.
-Hi.
-Hi.
I'm Steve Goldman.
Pleasure. Vanessa.
So I brought her.
Everything went fairly smoothly.
That's good.
Well, we've got her room
all set up and it looks great.
I think you should
just know that
we've got it from here, okay?
Great, I appreciate that.
Mom, this is Vanessa.
Hi, Ruth.
It's great to meet you.
Mom?
Welcome to Bella Vista.
I'm going to show you around
and get you settled in.
You're going to be
staying here now, Mom.
Mom?
Yes.
You are my mom.
No.
No, I didn't want kids.
I'm not a mother.
It-- It's okay, Mom.
You don't have
to have any more kids.
I'm all grown up now.
Look, I know this is difficult.
Um...
Maybe we can just go
and see your room.
Uh, Vanessa will take us there.
I don't know
if you remember this,
but we've been here before, Mom.
We came on a tour.
You said you wanted to be here
if you needed extra care.
You chose this place.
Don't stay.
Mom, please...
Don't be a witness!
I just want to know
that you're going to be okay.
No, darling, don't be like that.
How do you want me to be?
I would like you to be
unconcerned.
Okay.
Okay.
I'm gonna go.
I love you, Mom.
I'll see you soon.
Ready?
Ready.
We're almost there.
Your room--
Your room's right down this way.
Mom?
Mom?
Hi, how you doing?
I'm going to help you
to get dressed for the day.
Here I come.
Are you ready to get dressed?
There you go.
Here we are.
This is...
...you.
Here we are.
Can I help you
unpack your suitcase?
I can do that, thanks.
Okay.
Is he coming back?
Steve?
That man.
I'm sure he'll be back soon.
But you don't know when.
I'm not sure when exactly
but I know it'll be soon.
How about we find some places
to put your belongings?
We're just going to take this
step by step, okay?
-Where shall we put these?
-Excuse me!
May I please have
a moment alone?
I-I appreciate your help,
but I'm not one
of those elderly people
you have to watch constantly.
Of course.
I know you're not.
I'll be right outside
whenever you're ready.
There's one here.
Excuse me.
I don't want to bother you,
but could I look at a menu?
We'll be
right with you, sweetie.
If you could just hang tight
a moment longer, okay?
Did you hear what happened
to Ana at Mar Vista?
No, what happened?
They fired her.
One of the residents
on her floor got out.
No, seriously?
Yeah.
-What's this?
-These are your pills.
They should help you
feel better.
I feel fine.
Oh. Well, good for you.
I don't want to take anything
I don't need.
Blood thinner, so you don't
get any blood clots.
This is for high cholesterol.
Multivitamin.
Calcium support
to keep strong bones.
And this...
is to help with memory loss.
It's also a multivitamin.
Placebo.
Come on. Help me out here.
They won't kill you.
Thank you.
Well, thanks for the eggs,
but I didn't order them.
That's not how this works.
How does it work?
It's not a restaurant.
That's downstairs only.
But if you want
something special,
I can make you something.
Anytime you want.
Then what is it?
It's the dining room.
Here you go, sweetie.
Snack Clip
Excuse me.
Excuse me!
You have a chip clip
in your hair.
So?
It's for preserving chips.
Why are we
discussing potato chips?
Great.
Thank you, Ruth. Now...
Do you know
the recipe for Borscht?
-Uh, no, I don't believe I do--
-You take potatoes and beets
thinly sliced,
very thinly sliced.
You boil them in water
until they're tender.
You save the water.
Meanwhile,
you take two yellow onions
you chop them, you start
cooking them in butter.
When they start to sizzle,
you put in a pinch
of caraway seed.
Just a pinch, right?
And some salt, of course.
-Okay?
-Okay.
When you can
see through the onions,
you put in one carrot,
one stick of celery,
half a head of let--
...of cabbage.
-Thinly chopped.
-Mm-hmm.
You put that water
that you saved
from the potatoes
and the beets
over those vegetables.
You... boil them
until those are tender.
Then you add
the potatoes and the beets.
Now you're going to want
to put in stewed tomatoes
and-- and vinegar.
Most people use apple cider,
but I like to mix in red wine
and balsamic for taste.
Then there's black pepper,
honey, fresh dill.
You want to save
some of that fresh dill
to put on the top later.
You put a top over that.
You simmer that for 30 minutes.
You taste, adjust,
taste, adjust.
You put a little bit
of sour cream on the top,
and there's your borscht.
Thank you for that.
Thank you, Ruth.
Now, could somebody
who had, uh, you know what
have told you
that borscht recipe?
Oh, Ruth, no, you don't...
You know, you don't have to--
Aren't you going to write it
down in your book?
I'm writing it down.
I can tell you anything else
you wanna know.
Mm-hmm.
My name is Ruth Goldman.
I was born in Brooklyn, New York
to Harry Fox and Dvorah Kurtzman
on 6 March 1937.
My house is
at 1356 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn, New York.
Anything else?
Thank you. Thank you, Ruth.
You get a perfect score, okay?
That was great.
Now...
...who the hell are you?
I hope
you know that we are coming.
Soon.
Yes, soon.
We're going to arrive
in two months, okay?
No, soon.
Two months, okay?
Yes, Mom. Okay.
Don't worry, all will be well.
Yes, Mom.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES:
ANOTHER RECORD YEAR?
"The California Department
of Forestry and Fire Protection,
Cal Fire,
dubbed 2018 the deadliest and
most destructive wildfire season
on record in California,
with a total of over 7,500 fires
burning an area
of over 1,670,000 acres.
Records are made to be broken,
though.
Ranchers and homeowners,
particularly in
the northern part of the state
and the central coast
are wasting no time
in preparing for possible--"
Donna? Is that you?
No.
I'm not Donna.
Why don't you take over reading?
Okay.
That's the place.
"They are wasting no time
in preparing for possible
evacuation orders this year,
as drought conditions persist.
Many of them live in
wilderness areas,
where the danger is greatest,
and the evacuation routes
are few and far between.
I'm ready.
My children are ready.
My horses are ready
and my dog is ready too."
...from a family
called phalaenopsis.
And it's the easiest orchid
to grow
and it's about the only one
that grows in Manhattan.
You never touch
an orchid plant flower
because the oil of your hand
shortens the life of the flower.
There's a great... There are
Bibles of orchid plants,
and even when I gave up
my greenhouse,
I kept my orchid books.
You wait until you're 16 years
old, and you go to the prom
before a woman can indulge
in wearing an orchid flower.
But if I have hundreds of them
at my disposal,
she doesn't want them,
she has them already.
WASH YOUR HANDS
HAIR NET ON
CLEAN APRON ON
I'm sorry I'm late.
I slept in a little bit and...
Oh, y-you're new
on the line, right?
That's okay.
Let me show you how to do it.
There's a smoother way
of cutting.
Hi. I'm Rudy, the cook here.
D-Did you replace Max?
Yeah, I did. A few days ago.
Well...
Welcome! Congratulations.
Thank you. It's good to be here.
I'm Ruth. Pantry.
-Where do you want me?
-Um...
Let's...
Let's have you take over
fruit salad.
I'll have Randall help me
with some other stuff.
Okay.
Do you want me to call Nursing?
It's okay.
I just paged Vanessa.
Good morning.
What are you doing in here,
Ruth?
Ruth was just giving me a hand
with breakfast.
-What have you got there?
-Textbooks.
I've got some exams coming up.
You sit right down there
and study.
I'll bring your breakfast
in a minute.
-Here you go!
-Mmm.
Brain food!
Oh.
You take your time eating that,
and I will make sure
nobody bothers you, okay?
Thank you, Ruth.
Here you go.
And for you.
How's it looking out there?
Not bad.
-Hey. Vanessa, we need you.
-Oh.
- Yeah.
- No!
No, no, no.
Don't interrupt her.
She's working
on a very important exam.
Ruth, I'm her supervisor.
I'm allowed to interrupt her.
Not in my kitchen.
You can sit down right there...
...and eat what I bring you,
but do not speak to her.
Understand?
Got it.
Vanessa to room 305.
Ruth, I appreciate it,
but I really should
get back out there.
Here. Oh.
Thanks. It was a delicious meal.
So, how'd you become a chef?
I'm a cook. Not a chef.
So how did you become a cook?
I grew up in
my bubbe's kitchen in Brooklyn.
Both my parents worked.
She watched me.
Meanwhile,
I watched her and I learned.
You're not eating.
Mmm.
You know I did my fair share
of growing up
in my grandma's kitchen too.
Huh.
"Huh" what?
Well... she appears
to have done a good job.
Ah, I only know that
John is the one to help today.
I only know that John
is the one to help today.
Very good.
And the cat always hid
under the couch
when dogs were in the room.
The cat...
...always hid under the couch
when the dogs were in the room.
The cat
always hid under the couch
when the dogs were in the room.
The cat...
...always hid under the couch
when the dogs were in the room.
The cat always hid
under the couch
when the dogs were in the room.
- The cat...
- Mm-hmm.
...always
hid under the couch
when the dogs were in the room.
Bravo, Ruth.
Very good.
SEX NEVER GETS OLD
AGE IS NOT A CONDOM
Okay, if you could name
as many words as you can,
in one minute,
that begin with the letter F.
Seriously? These are
very strange questions.
I know, I know.
It's super weird,
but please humor me, okay?
Okay. I'll do it for you.
Okay.
-"F," right? The letter "F"?
-"F." And thank you.
Okay.
Um, okay,
your time starts... now.
-Friendly...
-Mm-hmm.
...frame,
framing,
frank,
um, fractal,
French,
fruit...
...um, phenomenal,
phenomenon...
uh...
...fantastic,
fantasy,
fatal,
failing,
fucking,
phantom,
phantasma,
foot,
feet,
fleet,
fleeting,
fractal...
uh... uh, um...
uh, f--
...fried!
Fruit, fructose...
f-f-- uh...
...found, foundling...
And, time.
Okay.
-Very good.
-Thank you.
Finally, I'm just going to
check your breathing
and your pulse, okay?
Okay.
Just a deep breath.
Deep breath in.
Very good.
Deep breath in.
One more in the back,
deep breath in.
Deep breath in.
Sounds good.
And now,
give me your right hand.
Thank you, and if you can
loosen it up just a bit.
Okay.
...and it always kind of
reminds me of my mom, you know?
Like...
...I just get a little glimpse
and then she's
in the room with me, you know?
How's your mom?
- She's all right.
- Mmm.
Still taking care of my grandma,
you know,
around the clock.
Doesn't want a geriatric
country club like this.
Not that she could afford it,
but, you know.
- Marco!
- Polo!
-Marco!
-Polo!
Ruth, come on!
Ruth!
Three, two, one, go!
Ruth?
It's time to get out now.
Not yet, mamma.
Okay.
Just a minute longer.
Ruth?
Ruth?
It's time to get out now.
Oh.
It's you.
My friend.
Hi, my friend.
Ruth, the water is ready
for you. You can come in now.
-Thank you.
-You're welcome.
Steve...
Steve...
He's my son!
I'm...
I won't remember.
Hmm!
Okay.
Right foot.
Left foot.
Right foot.
Left foot.
Right foot.
Left foot.
Right foot.
Left foot.
Right foot.
Left foot.
Right...
Left...
Right...
Left...
Right, right, right...
...foot.
There!
That's my house.
Yeah.
I can make it out.
I knew
you'd like my special spot.
You should come by the house.
EXAMINATION
ROOM
That's our standing date, okay?
Oh... I see.
I need to play the patient,
and you play the doctor.
Exactly.
Oh!
"Peaches,
manchego cheese...
...fresh dill,
sardines,
baby potatoes,
crme frache."
Come on, show me your list!
"Parboiled rice," hmm,
"grated garlic,
marinated chicken,
diced carrots,
chicken stock,
green onions,
vegetable oil,
salt and pepper,
chopped onion,
pigeon peas...
...coconut milk,
sugar,
green seasoning,
scotch bonnet,
pepper sauce,
ketchup." Mmm.
Oh, I'm sorry!
I didn't mean to make you cry.
No, it's okay.
These are good tears.
I'm just thinking about my mom.
Did she pass?
Oh.
You know...
...I could fix you up
with my brother.
He is very active
in the Civil Rights protests.
Uh, you know, I think I'm...
I'm good.
Oh, here, I got you.
Oh.
I got stuck.
Yeah, a little.
Yeah, yeah.
You sure you got this?
-I've got it from here.
-Okay! Go get 'em.
Thank you for coming, everyone
for our speed dating evening.
It's time to find a seat,
so get where you want to be.
Hello, Ruth.
Hi.
First time, right?
-Do you know the rules?
-What rules?
Only date men
from floors one, two and four.
And stay away from our floor.
I don't play for real
because I'm married.
But this is
my recommendation to you.
What's on our floor?
We're floor three, or Memory
Lane, as it's popularly known.
A memory care unit.
Okay, everybody!
who's ready to go on a date?
All right.
Well...what about twenty dates?
Who's ready to fall in love?
All right,
so, here we are again.
Welcome to
Bella Vista's fifth annual
Valentine's Day Speed-Dating.
Here's how it's gonna happen.
Each of you
will look at the first...
These look great.
- When's the next meeting?
- Friday.
They arrived just in time
for the union drive.
Let's put one on.
Okay! Try it on.
-Ah.
-There we go.
"Caregivers unite!"
Looks good.
Okay, that'll be $44.67.
Your money or your life!
I'm sorry!
-Just give me a second.
-Yeah.
I think I
have one of your residents here.
She didn't seem agitated.
Granny Smith.
Apricot.
Artichokes.
Salmon.
Cabbage...
...red and white.
Peach.
Plum.
Ruth.
Breadsticks.
Mrs. Goldman.
Mrs. Goldman?
-Why didn't you
tell me why I'm here?
-I--
I still have a right
to the truth.
Yes, you do, it's just...
...your truth and ours
are just a little different.
And that's okay.
-I trusted you!
-Yes, and I trusted you!
And you running away puts me
in a very difficult position.
You could have gotten me fired.
Bella Vista pays for my school!
Vanessa, I don't think that--
No, no, no. She wants--
She wants to know the truth.
Sure, but I don't think--
No. She's right.
I'm sorry, Vanessa.
I didn't realize.
No, it's...
I'm so sorry.
It's okay, it's okay, Ruth, I...
I know you didn't mean to.
I know.
I'll live here
for the rest of my life?
Yes.
- Hey, where are you going, Ruth?
-Home.
You are home.
Can we take you to your room?
Hmm.
So, it's going to be
everything in here.
You can leave this alone,
I'll handle it later.
Excuse me.
Uh, and then as far as
the hallway closets go,
just box everything up
and label it.
It doesn't have to be
super specific.
It should say
"hallway closets" and...
You don't have to inventory it.
Just box it.
Okay.
And everything in here,
and that'll do it.
-I'll be in here if you need me.
-Cool.
Thank you.
Do you think it'll be all right
if I borrow this one?
You can take it if you want it.
God, I bet grandma was a babe!
Yeah, I guess she was.
You know,
you look just like her.
I'm gonna keep it.
Good choice.
It suits you.
Black Bean
Vegetable Chowder
PROVISIONS FOR PROTESMAY 16, 1969
HELL NO! WE WON'T GO!
Steve'S SICK DAY SOUP
BEST CHEF MOM
Oh. Jeez.
THE KITCHEN CLIPPINGS COOKBOOK
Ruth GOLDMAN
Hmm.
There you are, my love!
There you are.
Hey...
Hello!
Ruth?
Hey, um,
I'm just heading out,
and I just wanted to... check in
to see if there's anything else
you might need before I...
Nope.
I'm fine, thanks.
Okay.
Well...
Wow!
You look wonderful!
Thank you, Ruth
- Well...
- Bye, my friend,
see you tomorrow.
Yeah.
See you tomorrow.
Bye, Pearl!
It's been such a pleasure.
You need anything else,
before I go?
No, we're all set.
Good luck, honey!
We're all rooting for you!
We know you're
going to make a really fine...
What are they calling you again?
Mmm.
Health and Wellness director.
Ahh.
Right, right. Our director!
Take care.
- One more.
- One more, one more!
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday
March residents
Happy Birthday to you!
Oh yeah, that's right.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MARCH RESIDENTS
Hello, there.
Hi!
May I join you?
Well, yes, please,
pull up a chair.
Thank you.
This okay?
Would you like some cake?
Oh, no. You-You enjoy yours.
No, I don't want it.
I'd hate to lose my figure
over the birthday
of some schmucks I barely know.
-It's store-bought!
-Oh no.
What brings you here?
- I heard there was
some store-bought cake.
Actually,
I brought something for you.
-My books!
-Yeah.
Where did you get them?
I stopped at your house.
You did?
Yeah.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Pearl?
I thought you'd never ask!
Come on, everybody!
Shall we, Ruth?
Yes. Please.
Hand me over
your right hand, please.
There you go.
The left one now.
That's it. You're doing good.
Okay, hand me your hand again.
And the other hand.
And over your head.
Thank you, sweetie.
There you go.
Hm.
May I?
Oh, of course. Thank you.
Great.
Hmm.
Oh.
Thank you.
So, how're you feeling?
I feel great.
Are you sleeping okay?
Yes...
Good. Good, good.
What does it concern you
how I sleep?
So...
Steve.
Steve!
-Sorry.
-It's okay.
Steve. Of course.
What do you do?
Uh...
-Well, I'm an architect.
-An architect! That's great.
In a destructive world,
the ability to build things is
a very important gift.
Mm.
My father builds homes.
He's a carpenter.
Maybe you'll meet him someday.
-I'd like that.
-Mm.
So, after lunch,
uh, we're going to go...
A surprise.
Yeah, uh, a surprise.
Uh, we're going to both, uh...
Don't tell me! You'll ruin it.
Right.
Don't you like your food?
It's my signature sandwich.
It's great.
I'm, uh, savoring it.
Mm.
So...
uh, are you
seeing anybody special?
I would consider my wife
fairly special.
Oh.
Oh, well, doesn't matter.
I'm married, too.
Oh.
Seymour?
Yes!
Do you know him?
We've met.
Oh.
I didn't realize.
So, what are you working on now?
Oh, uh...
I am building a house
that generates its own energy.
It's called
sustainable architecture.
We use wind and solar energy
to power the building.
Wow!
Sounds Godlike,
harvesting the elements.
I'm more of a demigod, I guess.
Mortal...
...and...
...demigod.
How will we get along?
Okay, well, uh,
it's time to go.
Oh.
-I'll take this.
-Okay.
Okay, then.
Huh.
FAMILIAR TOUCH
I left my jacket inside,
I'll be right back.
Okay.
Okay.
You packed a bag.
Yeah.
If I'd known,
I'd have prepared--
That's-- It's okay.
You won't need anything else.
Is this a...?
Um...
Give me a sec.
- Good afternoon, sir.
Checking in?
- Yes, hi. Goldman.
Goldman?
Okay. Here we are.
I'll get the...
Okay...
Okay.
I'll put this over here.
Okay.
-Do you wanna sit?
-Yeah, sure.
All right, why don't you
wait here and I'll go check in.
-I'm just going to look it over.
-Sure.
Vanessa,
come to the front, please.
-Everything's the same?
-Yes.
-Hi.
-Hi.
I'm Steve Goldman.
Pleasure. Vanessa.
So I brought her.
Everything went fairly smoothly.
That's good.
Well, we've got her room
all set up and it looks great.
I think you should
just know that
we've got it from here, okay?
Great, I appreciate that.
Mom, this is Vanessa.
Hi, Ruth.
It's great to meet you.
Mom?
Welcome to Bella Vista.
I'm going to show you around
and get you settled in.
You're going to be
staying here now, Mom.
Mom?
Yes.
You are my mom.
No.
No, I didn't want kids.
I'm not a mother.
It-- It's okay, Mom.
You don't have
to have any more kids.
I'm all grown up now.
Look, I know this is difficult.
Um...
Maybe we can just go
and see your room.
Uh, Vanessa will take us there.
I don't know
if you remember this,
but we've been here before, Mom.
We came on a tour.
You said you wanted to be here
if you needed extra care.
You chose this place.
Don't stay.
Mom, please...
Don't be a witness!
I just want to know
that you're going to be okay.
No, darling, don't be like that.
How do you want me to be?
I would like you to be
unconcerned.
Okay.
Okay.
I'm gonna go.
I love you, Mom.
I'll see you soon.
Ready?
Ready.
We're almost there.
Your room--
Your room's right down this way.
Mom?
Mom?
Hi, how you doing?
I'm going to help you
to get dressed for the day.
Here I come.
Are you ready to get dressed?
There you go.
Here we are.
This is...
...you.
Here we are.
Can I help you
unpack your suitcase?
I can do that, thanks.
Okay.
Is he coming back?
Steve?
That man.
I'm sure he'll be back soon.
But you don't know when.
I'm not sure when exactly
but I know it'll be soon.
How about we find some places
to put your belongings?
We're just going to take this
step by step, okay?
-Where shall we put these?
-Excuse me!
May I please have
a moment alone?
I-I appreciate your help,
but I'm not one
of those elderly people
you have to watch constantly.
Of course.
I know you're not.
I'll be right outside
whenever you're ready.
There's one here.
Excuse me.
I don't want to bother you,
but could I look at a menu?
We'll be
right with you, sweetie.
If you could just hang tight
a moment longer, okay?
Did you hear what happened
to Ana at Mar Vista?
No, what happened?
They fired her.
One of the residents
on her floor got out.
No, seriously?
Yeah.
-What's this?
-These are your pills.
They should help you
feel better.
I feel fine.
Oh. Well, good for you.
I don't want to take anything
I don't need.
Blood thinner, so you don't
get any blood clots.
This is for high cholesterol.
Multivitamin.
Calcium support
to keep strong bones.
And this...
is to help with memory loss.
It's also a multivitamin.
Placebo.
Come on. Help me out here.
They won't kill you.
Thank you.
Well, thanks for the eggs,
but I didn't order them.
That's not how this works.
How does it work?
It's not a restaurant.
That's downstairs only.
But if you want
something special,
I can make you something.
Anytime you want.
Then what is it?
It's the dining room.
Here you go, sweetie.
Snack Clip
Excuse me.
Excuse me!
You have a chip clip
in your hair.
So?
It's for preserving chips.
Why are we
discussing potato chips?
Great.
Thank you, Ruth. Now...
Do you know
the recipe for Borscht?
-Uh, no, I don't believe I do--
-You take potatoes and beets
thinly sliced,
very thinly sliced.
You boil them in water
until they're tender.
You save the water.
Meanwhile,
you take two yellow onions
you chop them, you start
cooking them in butter.
When they start to sizzle,
you put in a pinch
of caraway seed.
Just a pinch, right?
And some salt, of course.
-Okay?
-Okay.
When you can
see through the onions,
you put in one carrot,
one stick of celery,
half a head of let--
...of cabbage.
-Thinly chopped.
-Mm-hmm.
You put that water
that you saved
from the potatoes
and the beets
over those vegetables.
You... boil them
until those are tender.
Then you add
the potatoes and the beets.
Now you're going to want
to put in stewed tomatoes
and-- and vinegar.
Most people use apple cider,
but I like to mix in red wine
and balsamic for taste.
Then there's black pepper,
honey, fresh dill.
You want to save
some of that fresh dill
to put on the top later.
You put a top over that.
You simmer that for 30 minutes.
You taste, adjust,
taste, adjust.
You put a little bit
of sour cream on the top,
and there's your borscht.
Thank you for that.
Thank you, Ruth.
Now, could somebody
who had, uh, you know what
have told you
that borscht recipe?
Oh, Ruth, no, you don't...
You know, you don't have to--
Aren't you going to write it
down in your book?
I'm writing it down.
I can tell you anything else
you wanna know.
Mm-hmm.
My name is Ruth Goldman.
I was born in Brooklyn, New York
to Harry Fox and Dvorah Kurtzman
on 6 March 1937.
My house is
at 1356 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn, New York.
Anything else?
Thank you. Thank you, Ruth.
You get a perfect score, okay?
That was great.
Now...
...who the hell are you?
I hope
you know that we are coming.
Soon.
Yes, soon.
We're going to arrive
in two months, okay?
No, soon.
Two months, okay?
Yes, Mom. Okay.
Don't worry, all will be well.
Yes, Mom.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES:
ANOTHER RECORD YEAR?
"The California Department
of Forestry and Fire Protection,
Cal Fire,
dubbed 2018 the deadliest and
most destructive wildfire season
on record in California,
with a total of over 7,500 fires
burning an area
of over 1,670,000 acres.
Records are made to be broken,
though.
Ranchers and homeowners,
particularly in
the northern part of the state
and the central coast
are wasting no time
in preparing for possible--"
Donna? Is that you?
No.
I'm not Donna.
Why don't you take over reading?
Okay.
That's the place.
"They are wasting no time
in preparing for possible
evacuation orders this year,
as drought conditions persist.
Many of them live in
wilderness areas,
where the danger is greatest,
and the evacuation routes
are few and far between.
I'm ready.
My children are ready.
My horses are ready
and my dog is ready too."
...from a family
called phalaenopsis.
And it's the easiest orchid
to grow
and it's about the only one
that grows in Manhattan.
You never touch
an orchid plant flower
because the oil of your hand
shortens the life of the flower.
There's a great... There are
Bibles of orchid plants,
and even when I gave up
my greenhouse,
I kept my orchid books.
You wait until you're 16 years
old, and you go to the prom
before a woman can indulge
in wearing an orchid flower.
But if I have hundreds of them
at my disposal,
she doesn't want them,
she has them already.
WASH YOUR HANDS
HAIR NET ON
CLEAN APRON ON
I'm sorry I'm late.
I slept in a little bit and...
Oh, y-you're new
on the line, right?
That's okay.
Let me show you how to do it.
There's a smoother way
of cutting.
Hi. I'm Rudy, the cook here.
D-Did you replace Max?
Yeah, I did. A few days ago.
Well...
Welcome! Congratulations.
Thank you. It's good to be here.
I'm Ruth. Pantry.
-Where do you want me?
-Um...
Let's...
Let's have you take over
fruit salad.
I'll have Randall help me
with some other stuff.
Okay.
Do you want me to call Nursing?
It's okay.
I just paged Vanessa.
Good morning.
What are you doing in here,
Ruth?
Ruth was just giving me a hand
with breakfast.
-What have you got there?
-Textbooks.
I've got some exams coming up.
You sit right down there
and study.
I'll bring your breakfast
in a minute.
-Here you go!
-Mmm.
Brain food!
Oh.
You take your time eating that,
and I will make sure
nobody bothers you, okay?
Thank you, Ruth.
Here you go.
And for you.
How's it looking out there?
Not bad.
-Hey. Vanessa, we need you.
-Oh.
- Yeah.
- No!
No, no, no.
Don't interrupt her.
She's working
on a very important exam.
Ruth, I'm her supervisor.
I'm allowed to interrupt her.
Not in my kitchen.
You can sit down right there...
...and eat what I bring you,
but do not speak to her.
Understand?
Got it.
Vanessa to room 305.
Ruth, I appreciate it,
but I really should
get back out there.
Here. Oh.
Thanks. It was a delicious meal.
So, how'd you become a chef?
I'm a cook. Not a chef.
So how did you become a cook?
I grew up in
my bubbe's kitchen in Brooklyn.
Both my parents worked.
She watched me.
Meanwhile,
I watched her and I learned.
You're not eating.
Mmm.
You know I did my fair share
of growing up
in my grandma's kitchen too.
Huh.
"Huh" what?
Well... she appears
to have done a good job.
Ah, I only know that
John is the one to help today.
I only know that John
is the one to help today.
Very good.
And the cat always hid
under the couch
when dogs were in the room.
The cat...
...always hid under the couch
when the dogs were in the room.
The cat
always hid under the couch
when the dogs were in the room.
The cat...
...always hid under the couch
when the dogs were in the room.
The cat always hid
under the couch
when the dogs were in the room.
- The cat...
- Mm-hmm.
...always
hid under the couch
when the dogs were in the room.
Bravo, Ruth.
Very good.
SEX NEVER GETS OLD
AGE IS NOT A CONDOM
Okay, if you could name
as many words as you can,
in one minute,
that begin with the letter F.
Seriously? These are
very strange questions.
I know, I know.
It's super weird,
but please humor me, okay?
Okay. I'll do it for you.
Okay.
-"F," right? The letter "F"?
-"F." And thank you.
Okay.
Um, okay,
your time starts... now.
-Friendly...
-Mm-hmm.
...frame,
framing,
frank,
um, fractal,
French,
fruit...
...um, phenomenal,
phenomenon...
uh...
...fantastic,
fantasy,
fatal,
failing,
fucking,
phantom,
phantasma,
foot,
feet,
fleet,
fleeting,
fractal...
uh... uh, um...
uh, f--
...fried!
Fruit, fructose...
f-f-- uh...
...found, foundling...
And, time.
Okay.
-Very good.
-Thank you.
Finally, I'm just going to
check your breathing
and your pulse, okay?
Okay.
Just a deep breath.
Deep breath in.
Very good.
Deep breath in.
One more in the back,
deep breath in.
Deep breath in.
Sounds good.
And now,
give me your right hand.
Thank you, and if you can
loosen it up just a bit.
Okay.
...and it always kind of
reminds me of my mom, you know?
Like...
...I just get a little glimpse
and then she's
in the room with me, you know?
How's your mom?
- She's all right.
- Mmm.
Still taking care of my grandma,
you know,
around the clock.
Doesn't want a geriatric
country club like this.
Not that she could afford it,
but, you know.
- Marco!
- Polo!
-Marco!
-Polo!
Ruth, come on!
Ruth!
Three, two, one, go!
Ruth?
It's time to get out now.
Not yet, mamma.
Okay.
Just a minute longer.
Ruth?
Ruth?
It's time to get out now.
Oh.
It's you.
My friend.
Hi, my friend.
Ruth, the water is ready
for you. You can come in now.
-Thank you.
-You're welcome.
Steve...
Steve...
He's my son!
I'm...
I won't remember.
Hmm!
Okay.
Right foot.
Left foot.
Right foot.
Left foot.
Right foot.
Left foot.
Right foot.
Left foot.
Right foot.
Left foot.
Right...
Left...
Right...
Left...
Right, right, right...
...foot.
There!
That's my house.
Yeah.
I can make it out.
I knew
you'd like my special spot.
You should come by the house.
EXAMINATION
ROOM
That's our standing date, okay?
Oh... I see.
I need to play the patient,
and you play the doctor.
Exactly.
Oh!
"Peaches,
manchego cheese...
...fresh dill,
sardines,
baby potatoes,
crme frache."
Come on, show me your list!
"Parboiled rice," hmm,
"grated garlic,
marinated chicken,
diced carrots,
chicken stock,
green onions,
vegetable oil,
salt and pepper,
chopped onion,
pigeon peas...
...coconut milk,
sugar,
green seasoning,
scotch bonnet,
pepper sauce,
ketchup." Mmm.
Oh, I'm sorry!
I didn't mean to make you cry.
No, it's okay.
These are good tears.
I'm just thinking about my mom.
Did she pass?
Oh.
You know...
...I could fix you up
with my brother.
He is very active
in the Civil Rights protests.
Uh, you know, I think I'm...
I'm good.
Oh, here, I got you.
Oh.
I got stuck.
Yeah, a little.
Yeah, yeah.
You sure you got this?
-I've got it from here.
-Okay! Go get 'em.
Thank you for coming, everyone
for our speed dating evening.
It's time to find a seat,
so get where you want to be.
Hello, Ruth.
Hi.
First time, right?
-Do you know the rules?
-What rules?
Only date men
from floors one, two and four.
And stay away from our floor.
I don't play for real
because I'm married.
But this is
my recommendation to you.
What's on our floor?
We're floor three, or Memory
Lane, as it's popularly known.
A memory care unit.
Okay, everybody!
who's ready to go on a date?
All right.
Well...what about twenty dates?
Who's ready to fall in love?
All right,
so, here we are again.
Welcome to
Bella Vista's fifth annual
Valentine's Day Speed-Dating.
Here's how it's gonna happen.
Each of you
will look at the first...
These look great.
- When's the next meeting?
- Friday.
They arrived just in time
for the union drive.
Let's put one on.
Okay! Try it on.
-Ah.
-There we go.
"Caregivers unite!"
Looks good.
Okay, that'll be $44.67.
Your money or your life!
I'm sorry!
-Just give me a second.
-Yeah.
I think I
have one of your residents here.
She didn't seem agitated.
Granny Smith.
Apricot.
Artichokes.
Salmon.
Cabbage...
...red and white.
Peach.
Plum.
Ruth.
Breadsticks.
Mrs. Goldman.
Mrs. Goldman?
-Why didn't you
tell me why I'm here?
-I--
I still have a right
to the truth.
Yes, you do, it's just...
...your truth and ours
are just a little different.
And that's okay.
-I trusted you!
-Yes, and I trusted you!
And you running away puts me
in a very difficult position.
You could have gotten me fired.
Bella Vista pays for my school!
Vanessa, I don't think that--
No, no, no. She wants--
She wants to know the truth.
Sure, but I don't think--
No. She's right.
I'm sorry, Vanessa.
I didn't realize.
No, it's...
I'm so sorry.
It's okay, it's okay, Ruth, I...
I know you didn't mean to.
I know.
I'll live here
for the rest of my life?
Yes.
- Hey, where are you going, Ruth?
-Home.
You are home.
Can we take you to your room?
Hmm.
So, it's going to be
everything in here.
You can leave this alone,
I'll handle it later.
Excuse me.
Uh, and then as far as
the hallway closets go,
just box everything up
and label it.
It doesn't have to be
super specific.
It should say
"hallway closets" and...
You don't have to inventory it.
Just box it.
Okay.
And everything in here,
and that'll do it.
-I'll be in here if you need me.
-Cool.
Thank you.
Do you think it'll be all right
if I borrow this one?
You can take it if you want it.
God, I bet grandma was a babe!
Yeah, I guess she was.
You know,
you look just like her.
I'm gonna keep it.
Good choice.
It suits you.
Black Bean
Vegetable Chowder
PROVISIONS FOR PROTESMAY 16, 1969
HELL NO! WE WON'T GO!
Steve'S SICK DAY SOUP
BEST CHEF MOM
Oh. Jeez.
THE KITCHEN CLIPPINGS COOKBOOK
Ruth GOLDMAN
Hmm.
There you are, my love!
There you are.
Hey...
Hello!
Ruth?
Hey, um,
I'm just heading out,
and I just wanted to... check in
to see if there's anything else
you might need before I...
Nope.
I'm fine, thanks.
Okay.
Well...
Wow!
You look wonderful!
Thank you, Ruth
- Well...
- Bye, my friend,
see you tomorrow.
Yeah.
See you tomorrow.
Bye, Pearl!
It's been such a pleasure.
You need anything else,
before I go?
No, we're all set.
Good luck, honey!
We're all rooting for you!
We know you're
going to make a really fine...
What are they calling you again?
Mmm.
Health and Wellness director.
Ahh.
Right, right. Our director!
Take care.
- One more.
- One more, one more!
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday
March residents
Happy Birthday to you!
Oh yeah, that's right.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MARCH RESIDENTS
Hello, there.
Hi!
May I join you?
Well, yes, please,
pull up a chair.
Thank you.
This okay?
Would you like some cake?
Oh, no. You-You enjoy yours.
No, I don't want it.
I'd hate to lose my figure
over the birthday
of some schmucks I barely know.
-It's store-bought!
-Oh no.
What brings you here?
- I heard there was
some store-bought cake.
Actually,
I brought something for you.
-My books!
-Yeah.
Where did you get them?
I stopped at your house.
You did?
Yeah.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Pearl?
I thought you'd never ask!
Come on, everybody!
Shall we, Ruth?
Yes. Please.
Hand me over
your right hand, please.
There you go.
The left one now.
That's it. You're doing good.
Okay, hand me your hand again.
And the other hand.
And over your head.
Thank you, sweetie.
There you go.