Nickels (2026) Movie Script
1
[bell tolling]
[bell tolling continues]
[somber music]
[electric buzzing]
[music continues]
[birds chirping]
[rustling]
[sighing]
Tough times, neighbor?
Digging for some scraps, huh?
[chuckles]
Hey, Bill. The bins are full,
so I was checking to see
if you had any extra space.
Normally I would,
but Mitch is back from school,
so our trash quadrupled.
-[laughs]
-Half a cheese pizza,
that one, you know,
dig down a little bit.
Thank you, Bill. Thank you.
[Bill]
If you change your mind...
-[Tom] Thank you, Bill.
-[Bill] ...I won't tell anybody.
[door creaks]
Hey.
Thought I might
find you out here.
Hey.
There's still a giant bag
in the bedroom.
Trash cans are full, babe.
[Tom groans]
-[grunts]
-[coins clattering]
[mysterious music]
[Harper]
Philosophy is not science.
If anything it's, like,
an arty science.
[Tom] Hey, you like art.
They let you draw sketches
in your philosophy class?
[Harper chuckles] No, no.
It's not that kind of art, Dad.
Right now,
we're covering reason.
-[Tom] Reason?
-[Harper] Mm-hmm.
[Tom]
Well, doesn't sound too hard.
[Harper] It's not supposed
to be hard.
Reason is just
drawing conclusions
with newer,
existing information.
As opposed to what?
[Harper sighs]
The belief in the truth
of something that...
does not require any evidence
and may not be provable
by any...
empirical or rational means.
That sounds like science.
I'm out.
Yeah, Harp, how
is any of that mumbo-jumbo
gonna help you
balance a checkbook, huh?
-[Harper] What?
-What your dad is saying
is that we're trying
to prepare you
for the practicalities
of the future,
given that college
is only a year away.
Have some faith
in your kid, okay?
I'm gonna
get into a good school,
and then both of you guys
can just relax.
I know, babe.
-Relax, she says.
-Please.
Harp, I hate to be the one
to break this to you,
but there is no relaxing.
-[Harper sighs]
-[Tom] It doesn't exist.
After college is a career,
and then a little thing
called real life.
And then, if you're lucky,
you get to take care
of your elderly parents
-for the rest of your life.
-[Harper gasps]
That's so exciting.
That's the circle of life, babe.
[Harper]
Well, there goes my appetite.
-Excuse me.
-Hey, hey, hey, while you're up,
will you please grab
the trash bins?
[Harper sighs] Okay. Yes.
-Thank you.
-[Harper] Mm-hmm.
You could try to be
a little more encouraging.
What? I am trying to prepare her
for what's to come.
Yeah, but maybe pull back
on the "circle of death"
speeches.
First of all,
it was the "circle of life."
Second of all, it's not all
rainbows and sunshine, Liz.
Okay? Sometimes life
deals you some dark side.
You think I don't know that?
I understand that.
But also, part of dealing
with the dark side
-is sort of what's beautiful...
-[feet thumping]
-...about existing.
-[door opens]
There's no... No, no, no way
did you get the trash can--
[Harper] Mr. Diller's on his way
to St. Joe's right now.
Mitch got into a bike accident.
[Liz] Oh, my God.
[indistinct sound on TV]
[Liz sighs]
-We should go.
-Yeah.
[chair scraping]
[tense music]
[sirens wailing distantly]
-Hey, guys.
-Hey.
-[Bill] Thanks for coming.
-Hey.
-Of course.
-[Bill] Mm-hmm.
[Liz] What happened?
[sighs] He was
in a motorcycle accident.
Hit his head.
[Liz] How's he doing?
[Bill inhales sharply] Um,
we're waiting to find out.
Well, we're here now,
so if you need anything...
-Thank you.
-...we'll
hang out
down in the waiting room.
-Thank you.
-Thanks. [sniffles]
[somber music]
[indistinct announcement
over PA]
[Liz] I mean, we're happy
to do anything like that.
We could bring the garbage in,
your mail in, we can water.
Don't you think, Tom?
Tom?
I'm sorry?
[Liz] No, I was just saying
that we could help them out
with household chores
until things calm down.
Absolutely. Uh, absolutely.
Anything you need.
[Lorraine] No, I appreciate
you both, but I think I...
I cope better when I'm busy.
No, I get it. Just know
that we're here for you
-if you need us.
-Okay, thank you.
[somber music]
[rustling]
[footsteps]
[sighs]
-Hey, bud.
-Hey.
-[Tom] How's it going?
-It's going all right.
A little tired.
-I bet you are.
-Mm-hmm.
I bet you are. How's the kiddo?
Um, he's doing okay, I think.
You know, the concussion
-has made him foggy.
-Yeah.
I tried to jar him back
to reality with some pictures,
but they say
it's gonna take some time,
so they're going
to keep him overnight.
Well, I mean, that's...
that's positive overall, right?
Yeah.
It was a little scary, though.
[Bill sighs]
Well, look...
Young people are resilient.
[chuckles softly]
-Right? Much more than us.
-Hmm.
-Yeah.
-[Tom] I think I'm gonna
grab Liz, and... and, uh...
you know,
we're gonna get out of here
and give you guys
a little space.
I told him
you two came to the hospital.
-[Tom] Oh, good.
-Yeah.
[Tom] Uh, please tell him,
you know, we said "Get well".
Mm-hmm.
He said he wants to see you.
[tense music]
-Me?
-Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Okay. [chuckles] Sure.
Yeah, w-whatever you need.
All right.
[tense music continues]
[Tom] Hey, kid.
How you feeling?
Dad said, uh...
you wanted to see me.
[breathy voice] Yeah.
How are you?
[laughs] Well,
it doesn't matter how I'm doing.
[Tom] All that matters right now
is how you are.
Gotta get you feeling better
so you can
get out of this place.
Hey, I'll tell you what.
It's a good thing
you had that helmet on, huh?
No, seriously.
We've been neighbors
for so long, but...
but we never talk.
-Well...
-How you been?
[chuckles] I'm, uh...
I'm good, I guess.
You know,
just working and stuff.
Where do you work?
Uh, well, you know, I...
I have a branding company.
Branding?
Yeah. Kinetic.
Remember?
Your, uh, dad wanted you
to apply for an internship
a couple years ago, but...
-But I never did.
-[chuckles] Right.
[clicks tongue]
I'm so sorry I...
But this is so nice.
What? W-What was that?
[Mitch] It's so good to see you.
Well...
Thank you.
It's nice to see you too.
Listen, this has...
It's been a rough day, you know?
I think I'm gonna...
Did something happen today?
[Tom] Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
You were in a...
you were in a bike accident.
Nothing else happened?
-Like, what are you--
-[nurse] Sorry.
Time to change
the patient's dressing.
Yeah, of course, of course.
I'll, uh...
I'll get out of your way.
Hey, Mitch,
you get better, okay?
Thanks again
for coming by, Tommy.
[unsettling music]
-Excuse me.
-Thanks.
Okay.
All right.
Mm-hmm.
[Liz] He called you Tommy?
[laughs] Yeah.
Well, it is your name.
Yeah, but no one's called me
that since, you know...
I mean, you're my wife,
and you don't even call me that.
True.
And then...
he asked me
what I did for a living.
Yeah, see, that's weird,
because he knows what you do.
Yeah. [grunts]
But Bill did say
he was having memory issues.
Well, he's clearly concussed,
because he seemed confused.
Well, you were a little
out of it yourself tonight.
Yeah?
Well...
I don't know.
Maybe being back
in that hospital...
you know, it's tough, you know?
It's tough.
Yeah, I figured that couldn't
have been easy for you.
And then finding
all those nickels today.
So strange.
I remember you telling me
about the nickels
a long time ago.
Right?
I started collecting them
right after he, um-
There was something that was
special about them, some detail.
What was it?
Well... he gave 'em to me.
You just said
you collected them.
[Tom groans] Babe, we gotta
get up early in the morning.
Let's get some sleep.
[light clicks]
[traffic rumbles]
[Charlie] I don't know, Tom.
To be honest.
-Um, maybe--
-[Tom sighs]
[Tom] I think
you should double your order.
[Charlie] Why?
Because it's better
to have inventory
than not have inventory,
that's why.
[Charlie] Yeah,
but if-if the price...
if there was
no price difference--
Hey, uh, Charlie, do you mind
holding on for a second?
Mitch Diller is here for you.
Mitch is here?
[Rachel]
Yeah, he says it's important.
Um, okay, yeah.
Charles,
I'm gonna have to, uh...
I'm gonna have
to call you right back.
[unsettling music]
Hey, Mitch. What's happening?
[creaks]
Hey.
[Mitch] I'm sorry
to bug you at work.
No problem. No problem.
I'm glad to see
you're healing up nicely.
[Tom chuckles]
Uh, I can come back
if you're busy.
No. No, no, no.
Not a problem at all.
Don't be silly.
Would you like to come back
in my office for a minute?
Yeah.
I'd love that.
This way.
[Tom] Mitch?
Would you like to have a seat?
[Mitch grunts]
So...
just got out
of the hospital today, huh?
[Mitch] Yeah.
Early here this morning.
How you feeling?
Good.
Really good.
Good?
That's good. That's good.
[Mitch grunts]
[Mitch]
So, this is your office, huh?
Yeah.
This is it.
[Mitch] Oh, well...
it's nice.
So...
Mitch, I... [laughs]
I hate to ask, but is there
something I can do for you
or something you need?
I wanted to ask you a question.
Okay.
It's kind of strange.
Okay.
-Do you--
-[beep]
Sorry, Tom, I have Charles
on the line again.
[Tom] Oh, excuse me.
Uh, yeah, just, um,
ask him to hold, please.
-I'll be right there, okay?
-I'll just--
-Just give me a second.
-I'll, uh--
[Mitch] I found this
in your driveway, by the way.
-[phone beeps]
-[Rachel] Tom?
Uh, hey. Sorry, Rachel.
Uh, just tell Charlie
I'll call him back.
[intriguing music]
[music continues]
[music continues]
[footsteps]
[fridge door closes]
-[chair creaks]
-[Tom sighing]
[sighs heavily]
[suspenseful music]
-[Liz] What's going on?
-[Tom] Oh, hey.
[Liz] You okay? Can't sleep?
[Tom] No, I'm okay.
[Liz] You're getting out
all these old photos.
I haven't seen these in ages.
[Tom] Yeah.
Who even has photo albums
anymore, you know?
[chair scraping]
I know what this is.
-What what is?
-Nostalgia.
Your birthday's coming up
in a couple days.
You're feeling old.
[chuckles] I'm fine.
Midlife crisis, perhaps?
[Tom clicks tongue]
I had this dream...
about my brother.
[Liz] Mm-hmm.
I don't know, I think
it's all these reminders lately.
Mitch's accident, and...
the hospital.
-[Liz] Gosh.
-Yeah.
[Tom] You know,
it'll be 35 years on Friday.
[Liz] 35? Oh, my gosh.
[Tom] Yeah.
He was out of my life
way more than he was in it.
And I still miss him.
Lately, more than ever.
[Liz] It's okay, babe.
Be grateful for those dreams.
At some point, it's all we have.
[Liz chuckles] Look at you two,
thinking you're so cool,
leaning on the motorcycle.
[chuckles drily]
Man, he loved that motorcycle.
I think there's a better
picture of that
in one of these other albums.
That's a lot of albums.
That's not even half of 'em.
[chuckles]
There's more in the garage.
Well, no wonder
you never clean out the garage.
You can't get rid of stuff.
Well, I mean, my mom
documented our entire life
in pictures, so...
-Come on. I'll show you.
-[laughs] No way, baby.
You sweet little
emotional pack rat.
Not tonight.
We're going to bed.
[car engine rumbling]
[Tom] Just leave it
on the talk radio, okay?
We'll be at school
in five minutes.
Okay. Are you in a mood?
[low hum of radio chatter]
I didn't sleep well last night.
You want me to put on one
of your big hair band stations
to wake you up?
I don't listen
to big hair bands.
Anymore.
[chatter on radio continues]
Is that Mitch?
[Tom clicks tongue] Oh, yeah.
-Why are you stopping? Dad.
-What?
-Now he's gonna come over here.
-What's the matter?
Nothing, he just makes me
really uncomfortable.
[Harper sighs]
[Harper] Did I tell you
he was looking for change
in the driveway last night?
-[Tom] No.
-[Harper] Because he was.
[chatter on radio continues]
[Tom] It's been a strange week.
[car window whirring]
-[Tom] Morning, Mitch.
-[Mitch] Hey, Tommy.
You think
you could give me a ride home?
-Uh... uh, yeah.
-What?
No, yeah, yeah. Sure.
[car beeping]
[Mitch sighs]
So, Harper. How's school?
-[Mitch] Got a boyfriend yet?
-Nope.
What's this on the radio?
Can't you turn on something
with a little more... edge?
I don't know.
Oh, come on, Tom.
I know you want to play
one of those big hair bands
from back in the day, huh?
[chuckles softly]
[rock music playing on radio]
-Mom's grabbing me later.
-All right, sounds good.
-[Harper] Hey, love you.
-[Tom] I love you.
[clattering]
[Mitch sighs]
[Mitch] These are yours?
Yeah.
[students chatter distantly]
These are so good.
-Think so?
-[Mitch exhales sharply]
-[Mitch] Yeah.
-Thanks.
You remind me
so much of your dad.
That's a super weird
thing to say. [scoffs]
[sighs]
Really good artist, huh?
[Tom] Yeah. Yeah.
Do you still draw?
Look, I'm kind of starving.
Can we get some food?
[Mitch] Come on.
I'm starving.
And I'm injured.
-[waitress] Coffee for you.
-[Tom] Thank you.
[waitress]
And our breakfast special.
[waitress] There you go.
You're welcome.
Welcome.
So, about that question
that I had at the office.
Okay. We're back on that, huh?
-[Mitch inhales sharply]
-Hit me.
Did you used
to own a motorcycle?
That's your big question?
That's your big,
strange question?
[blues music in background]
No.
No, I never owned one.
[Tom inhales deeply]
Listen. I gotta get going.
I'll get your breakfast,
and, uh...
Can you please tell me...
about your brother's death?
What?
No.
And you need to let go of me.
-Everything all right, you guys?
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
-Be right back.
Please stay.
[Mitch] Please.
No. Mitch, I gotta go.
I'm late.
[waitress] Okay, there you go.
There's five dollars,
and five cents.
[Tom sighs]
[sighs] Okay.
You know what, I'm gonna, uh,
need something
a little stronger, please.
[waitress] Oh, I'm sorry.
Espresso machine's down.
[Tom] That's fine.
I'll take a bourbon.
[Mitch] Yeah,
I'll take a bourbon too.
[waitress] It's nine o'clock
in the morning,
and you're lucky
I let your underage ass
sit at the bar, Diller.
[Tom] Just...
Just one bourbon, please.
You're not even 21?
I'm almost 21.
Since it's so early
in the morning,
I'm just gonna charge you
for a very expensive coffee.
-Got it?
-Got it.
Did your sister
collect nickels too?
I don't know.
[Tom]
I don't know much about her...
anymore.
[clears throat]
She...
tells fortunes in the canyon,
or something.
When's the last time
you saw her?
[Tom] Five years ago.
At the 30th anniversary
of David's death.
[sighs heavily]
On the site.
The site
of his motorcycle accident?
See, I didn't say
motorcycle accident.
Take me to the site, Tommy.
[sighs deeply]
[engine rumbling]
[somber music]
[footsteps crunching]
This is where
the accident... happened.
Down there is where Deb
and I found the first nickel.
[Tom sighs]
[Tom] Found a bunch
of other coins.
We figured they must
have been Dave's, so...
[somber music continues]
I kept the nickel, and...
put the rest of the coins
in David's casket.
Where is that?
[birds chirping]
[gentle music]
[engine shuts off]
[melancholic music]
[music continues]
[music continues]
Have you...
have you been here before?
When was the first time
you were here?
It was, uh...
the day of the funeral.
I remember I was standing
right where you're standing now.
I only had
one thought in my head.
I thought...
"Everybody's here
because of me."
[Mitch]
Why would you think that?
Because it was true.
Why'd you only keep the nickel?
[Tom] It was dated
the year he was born.
-And you found more after that?
-Oh, yeah.
Everywhere.
Uh...
I kept them all too.
Because every time
I found one...
I knew Dave was close.
[sharp inhale]
[sighs heavily]
I'm gonna need another drink.
[somber music]
[sighs]
[objects clattering,
door lock clicks]
-[Tom] Hey.
-[Liz] Hey.
-Long day, huh? Not even a text.
-[Tom] Oh. Yeah.
Well, just a very
busy day today, babe.
[smooching]
Where were you being busy?
-O'Leary's?
-[both chuckling]
What makes you say that?
Because you're sweating bourbon.
-Oh.
-[Harper] Mom.
Give the guy a break, okay?
He's working on his birthday.
Let him tie one off if he wants.
It's "tie one on".
And it's not my birthday.
Well, not yet, technically.
Um, well, we've been
pretty busy today too, so...
What have you guys been up to?
[Liz] Well, we know
it's not for a few days,
but I was really struggling
with your birthday gift.
And the other night,
when we were looking
at the photo albums,
it just hit me.
And since you're
not getting any younger,
maybe this will make you feel
a little bit younger.
We got a cake too,
but you can have it after.
-Yeah.
-After what?
[Liz] Wait a second.
Cover your eyes.
Close your eyes.
[Tom] Oh. Oh. Oh.
-[Liz] Keep walking.
-[Tom] Okay.
-[Liz] Stop. Okay.
-[Tom] Yeah.
[garage door whirring]
[Harper] Okay.
Ready?
One...
[Harper and Liz] Two, three!
[Liz chuckles]
I know it was so last-minute,
but do you love it?
You hate it.
Dad.
[somber music]
[door shuts]
That was really weird.
Yeah.
Okay. I have to go talk to him.
Well, that was a bust.
I like it.
[door shuts]
[footsteps approaching]
[sighs] All right,
I realize that that was probably
the last thing
you expected as a birthday gift,
but you didn't have to--
Liz, my brother died on
a motorcycle just like that one.
It's not a birthday present.
[Liz sighs]
It's just that your birthday
gets dismissed every year
because of what happened
back then,
which is why I thought
it would be a perfect gift,
like a... an opportunity
to break through this.
Don't you think?
No.
Not today.
Did something happen?
Do you want to talk about it?
I can't.
You can't. Why not?
B... because...
I don't even know...
I don't even know what it is.
[scoffs]
Okay.
[door creaks]
[door closes]
[somber music]
Amazing.
[scoffs softly]
I can see
why he loved it so much.
[sighs] What is happening?
What is this?
I saw the garage light was on.
Is this your bike?
It's my... birthday present
from Liz.
She knows your brother died
on one of these, right?
Yes. Yes, of course she does.
I mean...
[exhales]
...she's beautiful.
I'm thinking about having her
bring it back to the dealership.
[sighs]
Want to take her for a ride?
No. I don't want
to take it for a ride.
[uplifting music]
[engine revving]
[Mitch] Woo! [laughs]
[laughter]
[Mitch] Yeah!
[laughs]
[engine revving]
[crickets chirping]
[Mitch sighs]
-[water splashing]
-[Mitch laughs]
-[Tom] No.
-[both laughing]
-[Mitch] Hey.
-[Tom] Hey, you got it.
[Mitch grunts]
[Tom] Last time I saw him...
he was in the hospital...
about two days
after his accident.
Our mom made the decision...
to take him off the respirator.
She thought that
I should see him one more time
while he was still alive.
We all went into his room.
He was unrecognizable.
[somber music]
I think it was too much
for my mom because she...
she had to leave.
But when she did, I was alone...
with David and...
I had my Walkman with me.
I had a cassette,
a Wicked cassette.
So I put the, uh...
headphones up to his ears...
and I played him a song.
-Track five?
-Yeah.
Yeah.
Track five.
[unsettling music]
[door creaks]
[rustling]
[Tom groans]
I hope you had a nice ride.
[rock music playing]
-[knocking at door]
-[Bill] Mitch!
Yeah, come in. Mm.
[Bill] Hey. Uh, your mom and I
would like to talk to you
in the kitchen.
-Okay.
-[Bill] All right.
[rock music continues]
[clapping] Morning.
-[Lorraine] Morning.
-[Bill] Morning. So...
you were busy yesterday.
[Mitch scoffs]
You could say that.
[Bill] Yeah.
Where were you all day?
O'Leary's.
The bar?
Yeah. Relax,
it was just for breakfast
with a buddy.
What buddy?
Tommy.
Tommy who?
Monroe.
What?
The full-grown man
from across the street?
[Mitch] Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Uh, went to eat.
We, uh, talked about
job opportunities at his...
-at his company.
-Job opportunities?
And where were you last night
or early this morning?
Yeah, I was with, uh...
I was with Tommy again.
-All night?
-What were you and Tommy doing?
[sighs] I mean... [chuckles]
he got this new bike.
It's... it's... [exhales]
-[Mitch] And we took it out.
-Oh, my God.
[Bill] Son, you just
had a serious accident.
[Lorraine]
Yeah, this is not okay.
I don't know
how to tell you guys this...
I feel amazing. [laughs]
I actually feel
better than ever.
Like, I-I feel completely fine.
Don't worry.
I-I've never felt...
-I've never felt better.
-No.
I cannot believe
Tom would do that.
-Yeah.
-That is not smart.
No, it's not okay.
You are not allowed
to hang out with him again.
-You're not allowed. No. No.
-[Mitch scoffs]
[Tom] You're up early.
[Liz] Mm-hmm.
I never really slept.
What?
[Liz]
I said I never really slept.
[deep exhale]
Sorry I stayed out so late.
That's just one example.
[Liz] You have been
so distant lately.
What's going on?
-[Harper] Dad, are you ready?
-Hey, Harp.
-Hey.
-[Tom] Yeah.
-Can I drive?
-[Tom] Of course.
Yeah, you ready to go now?
Yep.
[Tom] Can we talk
about this later?
-[Liz] You tell me.
-[Tom] Yes.
We will talk about this later.
Hey, Harp.
I'll be out in the car, okay?
Okay. See you later.
[door creaking]
-[door shuts]
-You okay?
[sniffles]
It was so stupid.
I shouldn't have got that bike.
I just wanted him to have
a regular birthday for once.
[Harper] It's fine, Mom.
I'm sure
he likes the bike, okay?
Yeah.
[birds chirping]
-[Lorraine] Tom.
-[sighs]
-Tom!
-[Tom sighs]
Oh, hey.
Hey, Lorraine. Good morning.
You seen Mitch
again this morning?
Uh, no. I haven't.
Well, we know you took him out
on your motorbike last night.
Thought you might know
where he went.
[clicks tongue] I don't. Sorry.
You can't replace
your brother with my son.
[indistinct chatter]
[Harper]
Thanks for letting me drive.
-[Tom] Yes.
-[Harper clears throat]
-[Harper] Bye.
-Love you.
-Love you.
-[Tom groans]
All right.
I'll see you later tonight.
-[Harper] Yeah.
-Okay.
I get why you freaked out
over your birthday present.
Just wanted to say that.
Yeah.
I just got a lot
happening right now,
and I wasn't expecting
something like that, you know?
-Yeah.
-That's all.
Yeah, I mean, it's kind of
a bold choice for a gift.
[Harper]
But just know why she did it.
I know why she did it.
And I'm sorry
for the way I acted.
You don't have to
apologize to me.
You should tell her that,
though.
[Tom] I will.
Also...
I would be careful with
that kid driving your new bike.
I just don't really know
how much I trust him.
Okay. Love you.
-Love you.
-[Harper] Bye.
Bye.
[gloomy music]
[Deborah]
Why'd you come here today?
[chuckles]
Uh...
things in life have...
I've had some confusion
in my life, and...
I think I'd like some clarity.
-Maybe.
-What brings you here today?
[whispering]
You talk to dead people.
[Deborah exhales]
Take a deep breath.
[inhales deeply]
[exhales]
[unsettling music building]
[exhales]
[music intensifies]
[gasping, panting]
-Are you okay?
-Sorry.
Mitch, I can't help you anymore.
I'm sorry.
[Mitch]
Did I do something wrong?
[Deborah] I hope
that you understand.
I-I'm... I have to leave.
[unsettling music]
Tom?
Yeah.
Come on in.
You doing okay?
Yeah. Why?
No reason.
Okay, well, I'm gonna go
if you're sure you're good.
I'm good. I'm good.
Have a good night, Rachel.
You too.
[knocking on door]
[Lorraine] Mitch?
Yep?
How are you doing?
Fantastic.
Look.
I know you think
that your dad and I
treat you like a child.
Yeah.
But...
it's because you still
live under our roof.
And as long as
you're living under our roof,
we make the rules.
And you going out every night
and being reckless,
it... it's just not
working for us.
For once...
can you two...
not make everything about you?
[phone chimes]
If you wanna take it back,
I understand.
What?
If you wanna return
the motorcycle, I understand.
I know you would.
You don't have to go off riding
in the middle of the night
to prove to me that you like it.
Hon, I love the bike.
You don't have to tell me
where you went or what you did,
but you have to admit
that's not like you.
Can you see
my point of view with this?
I wasn't alone.
[Tom] It wasn't a woman
or anything like that.
Okay. Who were you with?
I can't say.
Do you even
wanna be here anymore?
-Yes, of course I do.
-Well, then, I don't understand
why you think
you can't talk to me.
It's not that
I can't talk to you.
That's not what this is about.
But there's something
you won't tell me.
I just think you'd have
a hard time understanding.
Well, try me. I'm your wife.
Okay.
Let me ask you something.
When your father passed away,
was there any part of you
that thought maybe,
just maybe,
he wasn't completely gone?
Can you not try
to change the subject?
I'm trying to figure out
what's going on with us.
Believe me,
that's what I am doing, okay?
I need you to have an open mind
if we're gonna talk about this.
I don't understand
what you're asking.
Do you believe in reincarnation?
-Why are you asking me that?
-Do you?
Does this have to do
with your brother?
I know the anniversary
is coming up
and there have been
some strange coincidences
happening lately,
but my God, Tom, my God!
It has been 35 years.
At some point,
you have to let him go.
Okay.
I wanna tell you something.
And I know how it's gonna sound.
Believe me.
But...
[distant whirring, clanking]
-What was that?
-No. No.
-No.
-Hold on, honey, hold on.
No! Finish what you were saying!
Finish what you
were about to say! Tom!
[tense music]
[door creaking]
[door shuts]
Come on.
[sighs]
[suspenseful music]
Goddamn it.
[music continues]
[car revving]
You gotta be kidding me
right now.
[bike engine rumbling]
[Tom] You got to be kidding me.
[engine idling]
What are you doing?
Huh? Hey!
What are you doing?
Get off the bike!
Let's go! Get off the bike!
Dad, calm down, we were
gone for, like, two minutes.
-We were around the corner.
-Shut up.
Hey! You're freaking out.
He was just
teaching me how to ride.
I don't care
what he was doing, Harper.
I want you to get
in the car and go home.
[shouts] Now!
And you, of all people,
you should know better.
What the hell
are you doing, man?
[door slams]
Go home.
[engine rumbling]
He took the keys!
[groans]
[sighs]
What the hell
do you think you're doing?
Jesus, Bill!
Are you trying
to get my son killed,
letting him drive
your motorcycle?
I didn't let him drive it,
all right? He took it!
Stay away from him!
We got enough problems
without your crap!
Damn it.
Liz! Did Harper take the...
-[Tom] Liz?
-[Harper] She left.
Where'd she go?
-She went to Gram's.
-[Tom] Why?
Why do you think?
You know, Harper, why don't you
just take it down a notch, okay?
You're the one
who snuck out to go joyriding
with Mitch on my motorcycle
-without my permission.
-I was not joyriding.
I was trying to figure out
what he's doing with you.
-What does that mean?
-Dad, I saw you and Mitch
take the bike out last night.
Okay?
It's your neighbor's son.
That's a really
strange thing to do.
What? He was just
in a major accident.
Okay? He's trying to get
his head screwed on straight,
and if I can help him do that,
I probably should.
Maybe he views me as
a mentor or a brother figure.
I don't know.
Or maybe it's because
you have a big corner office
and a shiny new bike.
[melancholic music]
[music continues]
[Liz clears throat]
[Liz] Is Harper almost ready?
Good morning.
Yeah. She's coming. I think.
She's not really talking to me.
Well, you shouldn't have
overreacted like you did.
-[Tom] She told you about that?
-Of course she did.
Well, it didn't really help
that when I got home,
you were gone too.
You know, there's a lot
of things going on, Liz.
Tom, can you just stop
talking for a second?
I don't know
what is happening here,
but I've gotten
nothing from you lately.
You are so far away emotionally,
I had to leave last...
I had to leave
for my own sanity.
You're right.
You're right.
I'm sorry.
About everything.
And I wish I knew
what "everything" was.
Yeah.
You gonna bring
Harper back after her test?
[door opens, shuts]
[Harper sighs]
We'll talk when you get back.
I don't wanna start something
you can't finish, Tom.
I'll be ready.
I need to be.
[Harper] Mom, we have to go.
Hey, Harp?
Yeah?
[Tom] Good luck
on your test today.
Thanks.
I'm sorry
I overreacted last night.
It's okay.
I'm sorry I took
the bike without asking.
You don't have to apologize.
-Bye.
-[engine starts]
What's going on, Mitch?
I wanted to come over
and apologize again for--
No, no, no, no, no.
What's going on?
Why do you feel the need
to constantly inject yourself
into my family's life?
You're getting rid of it,
aren't you?
You know,
I woke up the other day...
and I have
no connection to anyone...
or anything...
in my life.
But I have
this connection with you.
And you don't want
anything to do with it.
[Tom]
What do you think is happening?
Huh? What do you think
is going on here?
This isn't real.
This can't be real.
Don't you want it to be?
After everything
that's happened,
-you don't believe it?
-No!
I don't know!
Okay? I don't know.
Ah...
Don't you want it to be?
You know what reason is?
Do you?
[Mitch] Yeah.
It's the opposite of faith.
[birds chirping]
["Wheels"
by Foo Fighters playing]
[music continues]
[music fades]
[gate clanks]
[sighs]
Hi.
[Deborah] Mitch, right?
It's so nice to see you, Deb.
Do you live around here?
[Deborah] David wasn't
even supposed to
be riding the bike that day.
-[birds chirping]
-[somber music]
But it was Tommy's birthday,
and he had been...
promised a ride on the bike.
So...
he found the keys...
and he gave the keys to David
without my mom knowing.
[somber music continues]
And then David took the bike...
got some gas in it...
And what about Mom?
I spent so many years,
a lot of years,
resenting her
for leaving us the way she did.
But now...
I say that she ultimately...
she died of a broken heart.
And if Tommy would have
never found those keys,
we would probably
still be talking.
You and Tommy don't talk?
No.
It's not his fault, you know.
I know it's not.
I just don't think he knows it.
When you see him, will you
tell him something from me?
Yeah.
Tell him I forgive him.
[emotional music]
[bell tolling]
[exhales sharply] Hey, Mom.
I know it's been a while...
but, uh...
I really need to talk to you.
I don't know if
you've been paying attention
to what's been
going on down here.
But...
I don't know if this is real.
And if it is,
I don't know if I deserve it.
I wanna have faith.
I wanna have faith so bad.
I wanna believe it.
I don't wanna cause
any more pain.
So...
I could really use your help.
If you wanna
send me a sign or...
anything...
I'd appreciate it.
[sighs]
-[lighthearted music]
-[birds chirping]
[gravel crunching]
[music continues]
That's not your bike
out there, right?
It was a gift from Liz.
Wow. Does she know that our
brother died on one of those?
I'm taking it back.
Interesting choice.
Because I can't accept
good things, I guess?
Mm, or you just...
can't let go
of the bad things, mostly.
How long have you
been sitting here?
I don't know.
Just talking to Mom.
Now I'm talking to God.
You could have talked to me.
It's been a very strange week.
Things are happening
that I don't understand.
Strange things happen to me
all the time, Tom.
Isn't that the job description
of a fortune teller?
Psychic.
And you're not so different,
you know.
Well...
[inhales]
Sometimes a sign's
not a sign, and...
sometimes a nickel's
just a nickel.
Sometimes.
[tender music]
[bike engine rumbling]
[music continues]
[knocking]
-[Bill] Tom.
-Hey, Bill.
[Bill] What do you need?
Uh, is... Mitch here?
[Bill] He's busy packing.
Packing for what?
-What do you want, Tom?
-Can I speak...
-Can I speak with him, please?
-No, you can't talk to him.
Please? It's urgent.
What's urgent, Tom?
Never mind. Just...
Where's he going?
[Bill]
Not that you need to know,
but he wanted to
go back up to campus early.
We're taking him
up there tomorrow.
Tom, I just got everything
calmed down in here,
and I don't want you
upsetting the apple cart.
[somber music]
[somber music continues]
[music fades]
[footsteps approaching]
[knocking on door]
-[Rachel] Hey, Tom.
-Hey.
Um, I'm gonna go
get my mom from the airport,
if that's still okay.
-Yeah, no problem.
-Awesome. Thank you.
-[Tom] Hey, Rach?
-Yeah?
What's your mom's name?
[Rachel] Dana.
Dana. Okay.
-Okay.
-[Tom] Drive safe.
Thanks.
[footsteps]
[mournful music]
[inaudible conversation]
[mournful music continues]
[sniffles]
How you feel, Tommy?
It's a good birthday.
-[bell tolls]
-[music fades]
[lighthearted music]
[door shuts]
[Lorraine] Okay.
[music continues]
[car doors shutting]
[car engine revving]
[music stops]
["Down by the Water"
by Abigail Lapell playing]
[bell tolling]
[bell tolling continues]
[somber music]
[electric buzzing]
[music continues]
[birds chirping]
[rustling]
[sighing]
Tough times, neighbor?
Digging for some scraps, huh?
[chuckles]
Hey, Bill. The bins are full,
so I was checking to see
if you had any extra space.
Normally I would,
but Mitch is back from school,
so our trash quadrupled.
-[laughs]
-Half a cheese pizza,
that one, you know,
dig down a little bit.
Thank you, Bill. Thank you.
[Bill]
If you change your mind...
-[Tom] Thank you, Bill.
-[Bill] ...I won't tell anybody.
[door creaks]
Hey.
Thought I might
find you out here.
Hey.
There's still a giant bag
in the bedroom.
Trash cans are full, babe.
[Tom groans]
-[grunts]
-[coins clattering]
[mysterious music]
[Harper]
Philosophy is not science.
If anything it's, like,
an arty science.
[Tom] Hey, you like art.
They let you draw sketches
in your philosophy class?
[Harper chuckles] No, no.
It's not that kind of art, Dad.
Right now,
we're covering reason.
-[Tom] Reason?
-[Harper] Mm-hmm.
[Tom]
Well, doesn't sound too hard.
[Harper] It's not supposed
to be hard.
Reason is just
drawing conclusions
with newer,
existing information.
As opposed to what?
[Harper sighs]
The belief in the truth
of something that...
does not require any evidence
and may not be provable
by any...
empirical or rational means.
That sounds like science.
I'm out.
Yeah, Harp, how
is any of that mumbo-jumbo
gonna help you
balance a checkbook, huh?
-[Harper] What?
-What your dad is saying
is that we're trying
to prepare you
for the practicalities
of the future,
given that college
is only a year away.
Have some faith
in your kid, okay?
I'm gonna
get into a good school,
and then both of you guys
can just relax.
I know, babe.
-Relax, she says.
-Please.
Harp, I hate to be the one
to break this to you,
but there is no relaxing.
-[Harper sighs]
-[Tom] It doesn't exist.
After college is a career,
and then a little thing
called real life.
And then, if you're lucky,
you get to take care
of your elderly parents
-for the rest of your life.
-[Harper gasps]
That's so exciting.
That's the circle of life, babe.
[Harper]
Well, there goes my appetite.
-Excuse me.
-Hey, hey, hey, while you're up,
will you please grab
the trash bins?
[Harper sighs] Okay. Yes.
-Thank you.
-[Harper] Mm-hmm.
You could try to be
a little more encouraging.
What? I am trying to prepare her
for what's to come.
Yeah, but maybe pull back
on the "circle of death"
speeches.
First of all,
it was the "circle of life."
Second of all, it's not all
rainbows and sunshine, Liz.
Okay? Sometimes life
deals you some dark side.
You think I don't know that?
I understand that.
But also, part of dealing
with the dark side
-is sort of what's beautiful...
-[feet thumping]
-...about existing.
-[door opens]
There's no... No, no, no way
did you get the trash can--
[Harper] Mr. Diller's on his way
to St. Joe's right now.
Mitch got into a bike accident.
[Liz] Oh, my God.
[indistinct sound on TV]
[Liz sighs]
-We should go.
-Yeah.
[chair scraping]
[tense music]
[sirens wailing distantly]
-Hey, guys.
-Hey.
-[Bill] Thanks for coming.
-Hey.
-Of course.
-[Bill] Mm-hmm.
[Liz] What happened?
[sighs] He was
in a motorcycle accident.
Hit his head.
[Liz] How's he doing?
[Bill inhales sharply] Um,
we're waiting to find out.
Well, we're here now,
so if you need anything...
-Thank you.
-...we'll
hang out
down in the waiting room.
-Thank you.
-Thanks. [sniffles]
[somber music]
[indistinct announcement
over PA]
[Liz] I mean, we're happy
to do anything like that.
We could bring the garbage in,
your mail in, we can water.
Don't you think, Tom?
Tom?
I'm sorry?
[Liz] No, I was just saying
that we could help them out
with household chores
until things calm down.
Absolutely. Uh, absolutely.
Anything you need.
[Lorraine] No, I appreciate
you both, but I think I...
I cope better when I'm busy.
No, I get it. Just know
that we're here for you
-if you need us.
-Okay, thank you.
[somber music]
[rustling]
[footsteps]
[sighs]
-Hey, bud.
-Hey.
-[Tom] How's it going?
-It's going all right.
A little tired.
-I bet you are.
-Mm-hmm.
I bet you are. How's the kiddo?
Um, he's doing okay, I think.
You know, the concussion
-has made him foggy.
-Yeah.
I tried to jar him back
to reality with some pictures,
but they say
it's gonna take some time,
so they're going
to keep him overnight.
Well, I mean, that's...
that's positive overall, right?
Yeah.
It was a little scary, though.
[Bill sighs]
Well, look...
Young people are resilient.
[chuckles softly]
-Right? Much more than us.
-Hmm.
-Yeah.
-[Tom] I think I'm gonna
grab Liz, and... and, uh...
you know,
we're gonna get out of here
and give you guys
a little space.
I told him
you two came to the hospital.
-[Tom] Oh, good.
-Yeah.
[Tom] Uh, please tell him,
you know, we said "Get well".
Mm-hmm.
He said he wants to see you.
[tense music]
-Me?
-Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Okay. [chuckles] Sure.
Yeah, w-whatever you need.
All right.
[tense music continues]
[Tom] Hey, kid.
How you feeling?
Dad said, uh...
you wanted to see me.
[breathy voice] Yeah.
How are you?
[laughs] Well,
it doesn't matter how I'm doing.
[Tom] All that matters right now
is how you are.
Gotta get you feeling better
so you can
get out of this place.
Hey, I'll tell you what.
It's a good thing
you had that helmet on, huh?
No, seriously.
We've been neighbors
for so long, but...
but we never talk.
-Well...
-How you been?
[chuckles] I'm, uh...
I'm good, I guess.
You know,
just working and stuff.
Where do you work?
Uh, well, you know, I...
I have a branding company.
Branding?
Yeah. Kinetic.
Remember?
Your, uh, dad wanted you
to apply for an internship
a couple years ago, but...
-But I never did.
-[chuckles] Right.
[clicks tongue]
I'm so sorry I...
But this is so nice.
What? W-What was that?
[Mitch] It's so good to see you.
Well...
Thank you.
It's nice to see you too.
Listen, this has...
It's been a rough day, you know?
I think I'm gonna...
Did something happen today?
[Tom] Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
You were in a...
you were in a bike accident.
Nothing else happened?
-Like, what are you--
-[nurse] Sorry.
Time to change
the patient's dressing.
Yeah, of course, of course.
I'll, uh...
I'll get out of your way.
Hey, Mitch,
you get better, okay?
Thanks again
for coming by, Tommy.
[unsettling music]
-Excuse me.
-Thanks.
Okay.
All right.
Mm-hmm.
[Liz] He called you Tommy?
[laughs] Yeah.
Well, it is your name.
Yeah, but no one's called me
that since, you know...
I mean, you're my wife,
and you don't even call me that.
True.
And then...
he asked me
what I did for a living.
Yeah, see, that's weird,
because he knows what you do.
Yeah. [grunts]
But Bill did say
he was having memory issues.
Well, he's clearly concussed,
because he seemed confused.
Well, you were a little
out of it yourself tonight.
Yeah?
Well...
I don't know.
Maybe being back
in that hospital...
you know, it's tough, you know?
It's tough.
Yeah, I figured that couldn't
have been easy for you.
And then finding
all those nickels today.
So strange.
I remember you telling me
about the nickels
a long time ago.
Right?
I started collecting them
right after he, um-
There was something that was
special about them, some detail.
What was it?
Well... he gave 'em to me.
You just said
you collected them.
[Tom groans] Babe, we gotta
get up early in the morning.
Let's get some sleep.
[light clicks]
[traffic rumbles]
[Charlie] I don't know, Tom.
To be honest.
-Um, maybe--
-[Tom sighs]
[Tom] I think
you should double your order.
[Charlie] Why?
Because it's better
to have inventory
than not have inventory,
that's why.
[Charlie] Yeah,
but if-if the price...
if there was
no price difference--
Hey, uh, Charlie, do you mind
holding on for a second?
Mitch Diller is here for you.
Mitch is here?
[Rachel]
Yeah, he says it's important.
Um, okay, yeah.
Charles,
I'm gonna have to, uh...
I'm gonna have
to call you right back.
[unsettling music]
Hey, Mitch. What's happening?
[creaks]
Hey.
[Mitch] I'm sorry
to bug you at work.
No problem. No problem.
I'm glad to see
you're healing up nicely.
[Tom chuckles]
Uh, I can come back
if you're busy.
No. No, no, no.
Not a problem at all.
Don't be silly.
Would you like to come back
in my office for a minute?
Yeah.
I'd love that.
This way.
[Tom] Mitch?
Would you like to have a seat?
[Mitch grunts]
So...
just got out
of the hospital today, huh?
[Mitch] Yeah.
Early here this morning.
How you feeling?
Good.
Really good.
Good?
That's good. That's good.
[Mitch grunts]
[Mitch]
So, this is your office, huh?
Yeah.
This is it.
[Mitch] Oh, well...
it's nice.
So...
Mitch, I... [laughs]
I hate to ask, but is there
something I can do for you
or something you need?
I wanted to ask you a question.
Okay.
It's kind of strange.
Okay.
-Do you--
-[beep]
Sorry, Tom, I have Charles
on the line again.
[Tom] Oh, excuse me.
Uh, yeah, just, um,
ask him to hold, please.
-I'll be right there, okay?
-I'll just--
-Just give me a second.
-I'll, uh--
[Mitch] I found this
in your driveway, by the way.
-[phone beeps]
-[Rachel] Tom?
Uh, hey. Sorry, Rachel.
Uh, just tell Charlie
I'll call him back.
[intriguing music]
[music continues]
[music continues]
[footsteps]
[fridge door closes]
-[chair creaks]
-[Tom sighing]
[sighs heavily]
[suspenseful music]
-[Liz] What's going on?
-[Tom] Oh, hey.
[Liz] You okay? Can't sleep?
[Tom] No, I'm okay.
[Liz] You're getting out
all these old photos.
I haven't seen these in ages.
[Tom] Yeah.
Who even has photo albums
anymore, you know?
[chair scraping]
I know what this is.
-What what is?
-Nostalgia.
Your birthday's coming up
in a couple days.
You're feeling old.
[chuckles] I'm fine.
Midlife crisis, perhaps?
[Tom clicks tongue]
I had this dream...
about my brother.
[Liz] Mm-hmm.
I don't know, I think
it's all these reminders lately.
Mitch's accident, and...
the hospital.
-[Liz] Gosh.
-Yeah.
[Tom] You know,
it'll be 35 years on Friday.
[Liz] 35? Oh, my gosh.
[Tom] Yeah.
He was out of my life
way more than he was in it.
And I still miss him.
Lately, more than ever.
[Liz] It's okay, babe.
Be grateful for those dreams.
At some point, it's all we have.
[Liz chuckles] Look at you two,
thinking you're so cool,
leaning on the motorcycle.
[chuckles drily]
Man, he loved that motorcycle.
I think there's a better
picture of that
in one of these other albums.
That's a lot of albums.
That's not even half of 'em.
[chuckles]
There's more in the garage.
Well, no wonder
you never clean out the garage.
You can't get rid of stuff.
Well, I mean, my mom
documented our entire life
in pictures, so...
-Come on. I'll show you.
-[laughs] No way, baby.
You sweet little
emotional pack rat.
Not tonight.
We're going to bed.
[car engine rumbling]
[Tom] Just leave it
on the talk radio, okay?
We'll be at school
in five minutes.
Okay. Are you in a mood?
[low hum of radio chatter]
I didn't sleep well last night.
You want me to put on one
of your big hair band stations
to wake you up?
I don't listen
to big hair bands.
Anymore.
[chatter on radio continues]
Is that Mitch?
[Tom clicks tongue] Oh, yeah.
-Why are you stopping? Dad.
-What?
-Now he's gonna come over here.
-What's the matter?
Nothing, he just makes me
really uncomfortable.
[Harper sighs]
[Harper] Did I tell you
he was looking for change
in the driveway last night?
-[Tom] No.
-[Harper] Because he was.
[chatter on radio continues]
[Tom] It's been a strange week.
[car window whirring]
-[Tom] Morning, Mitch.
-[Mitch] Hey, Tommy.
You think
you could give me a ride home?
-Uh... uh, yeah.
-What?
No, yeah, yeah. Sure.
[car beeping]
[Mitch sighs]
So, Harper. How's school?
-[Mitch] Got a boyfriend yet?
-Nope.
What's this on the radio?
Can't you turn on something
with a little more... edge?
I don't know.
Oh, come on, Tom.
I know you want to play
one of those big hair bands
from back in the day, huh?
[chuckles softly]
[rock music playing on radio]
-Mom's grabbing me later.
-All right, sounds good.
-[Harper] Hey, love you.
-[Tom] I love you.
[clattering]
[Mitch sighs]
[Mitch] These are yours?
Yeah.
[students chatter distantly]
These are so good.
-Think so?
-[Mitch exhales sharply]
-[Mitch] Yeah.
-Thanks.
You remind me
so much of your dad.
That's a super weird
thing to say. [scoffs]
[sighs]
Really good artist, huh?
[Tom] Yeah. Yeah.
Do you still draw?
Look, I'm kind of starving.
Can we get some food?
[Mitch] Come on.
I'm starving.
And I'm injured.
-[waitress] Coffee for you.
-[Tom] Thank you.
[waitress]
And our breakfast special.
[waitress] There you go.
You're welcome.
Welcome.
So, about that question
that I had at the office.
Okay. We're back on that, huh?
-[Mitch inhales sharply]
-Hit me.
Did you used
to own a motorcycle?
That's your big question?
That's your big,
strange question?
[blues music in background]
No.
No, I never owned one.
[Tom inhales deeply]
Listen. I gotta get going.
I'll get your breakfast,
and, uh...
Can you please tell me...
about your brother's death?
What?
No.
And you need to let go of me.
-Everything all right, you guys?
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
-Be right back.
Please stay.
[Mitch] Please.
No. Mitch, I gotta go.
I'm late.
[waitress] Okay, there you go.
There's five dollars,
and five cents.
[Tom sighs]
[sighs] Okay.
You know what, I'm gonna, uh,
need something
a little stronger, please.
[waitress] Oh, I'm sorry.
Espresso machine's down.
[Tom] That's fine.
I'll take a bourbon.
[Mitch] Yeah,
I'll take a bourbon too.
[waitress] It's nine o'clock
in the morning,
and you're lucky
I let your underage ass
sit at the bar, Diller.
[Tom] Just...
Just one bourbon, please.
You're not even 21?
I'm almost 21.
Since it's so early
in the morning,
I'm just gonna charge you
for a very expensive coffee.
-Got it?
-Got it.
Did your sister
collect nickels too?
I don't know.
[Tom]
I don't know much about her...
anymore.
[clears throat]
She...
tells fortunes in the canyon,
or something.
When's the last time
you saw her?
[Tom] Five years ago.
At the 30th anniversary
of David's death.
[sighs heavily]
On the site.
The site
of his motorcycle accident?
See, I didn't say
motorcycle accident.
Take me to the site, Tommy.
[sighs deeply]
[engine rumbling]
[somber music]
[footsteps crunching]
This is where
the accident... happened.
Down there is where Deb
and I found the first nickel.
[Tom sighs]
[Tom] Found a bunch
of other coins.
We figured they must
have been Dave's, so...
[somber music continues]
I kept the nickel, and...
put the rest of the coins
in David's casket.
Where is that?
[birds chirping]
[gentle music]
[engine shuts off]
[melancholic music]
[music continues]
[music continues]
Have you...
have you been here before?
When was the first time
you were here?
It was, uh...
the day of the funeral.
I remember I was standing
right where you're standing now.
I only had
one thought in my head.
I thought...
"Everybody's here
because of me."
[Mitch]
Why would you think that?
Because it was true.
Why'd you only keep the nickel?
[Tom] It was dated
the year he was born.
-And you found more after that?
-Oh, yeah.
Everywhere.
Uh...
I kept them all too.
Because every time
I found one...
I knew Dave was close.
[sharp inhale]
[sighs heavily]
I'm gonna need another drink.
[somber music]
[sighs]
[objects clattering,
door lock clicks]
-[Tom] Hey.
-[Liz] Hey.
-Long day, huh? Not even a text.
-[Tom] Oh. Yeah.
Well, just a very
busy day today, babe.
[smooching]
Where were you being busy?
-O'Leary's?
-[both chuckling]
What makes you say that?
Because you're sweating bourbon.
-Oh.
-[Harper] Mom.
Give the guy a break, okay?
He's working on his birthday.
Let him tie one off if he wants.
It's "tie one on".
And it's not my birthday.
Well, not yet, technically.
Um, well, we've been
pretty busy today too, so...
What have you guys been up to?
[Liz] Well, we know
it's not for a few days,
but I was really struggling
with your birthday gift.
And the other night,
when we were looking
at the photo albums,
it just hit me.
And since you're
not getting any younger,
maybe this will make you feel
a little bit younger.
We got a cake too,
but you can have it after.
-Yeah.
-After what?
[Liz] Wait a second.
Cover your eyes.
Close your eyes.
[Tom] Oh. Oh. Oh.
-[Liz] Keep walking.
-[Tom] Okay.
-[Liz] Stop. Okay.
-[Tom] Yeah.
[garage door whirring]
[Harper] Okay.
Ready?
One...
[Harper and Liz] Two, three!
[Liz chuckles]
I know it was so last-minute,
but do you love it?
You hate it.
Dad.
[somber music]
[door shuts]
That was really weird.
Yeah.
Okay. I have to go talk to him.
Well, that was a bust.
I like it.
[door shuts]
[footsteps approaching]
[sighs] All right,
I realize that that was probably
the last thing
you expected as a birthday gift,
but you didn't have to--
Liz, my brother died on
a motorcycle just like that one.
It's not a birthday present.
[Liz sighs]
It's just that your birthday
gets dismissed every year
because of what happened
back then,
which is why I thought
it would be a perfect gift,
like a... an opportunity
to break through this.
Don't you think?
No.
Not today.
Did something happen?
Do you want to talk about it?
I can't.
You can't. Why not?
B... because...
I don't even know...
I don't even know what it is.
[scoffs]
Okay.
[door creaks]
[door closes]
[somber music]
Amazing.
[scoffs softly]
I can see
why he loved it so much.
[sighs] What is happening?
What is this?
I saw the garage light was on.
Is this your bike?
It's my... birthday present
from Liz.
She knows your brother died
on one of these, right?
Yes. Yes, of course she does.
I mean...
[exhales]
...she's beautiful.
I'm thinking about having her
bring it back to the dealership.
[sighs]
Want to take her for a ride?
No. I don't want
to take it for a ride.
[uplifting music]
[engine revving]
[Mitch] Woo! [laughs]
[laughter]
[Mitch] Yeah!
[laughs]
[engine revving]
[crickets chirping]
[Mitch sighs]
-[water splashing]
-[Mitch laughs]
-[Tom] No.
-[both laughing]
-[Mitch] Hey.
-[Tom] Hey, you got it.
[Mitch grunts]
[Tom] Last time I saw him...
he was in the hospital...
about two days
after his accident.
Our mom made the decision...
to take him off the respirator.
She thought that
I should see him one more time
while he was still alive.
We all went into his room.
He was unrecognizable.
[somber music]
I think it was too much
for my mom because she...
she had to leave.
But when she did, I was alone...
with David and...
I had my Walkman with me.
I had a cassette,
a Wicked cassette.
So I put the, uh...
headphones up to his ears...
and I played him a song.
-Track five?
-Yeah.
Yeah.
Track five.
[unsettling music]
[door creaks]
[rustling]
[Tom groans]
I hope you had a nice ride.
[rock music playing]
-[knocking at door]
-[Bill] Mitch!
Yeah, come in. Mm.
[Bill] Hey. Uh, your mom and I
would like to talk to you
in the kitchen.
-Okay.
-[Bill] All right.
[rock music continues]
[clapping] Morning.
-[Lorraine] Morning.
-[Bill] Morning. So...
you were busy yesterday.
[Mitch scoffs]
You could say that.
[Bill] Yeah.
Where were you all day?
O'Leary's.
The bar?
Yeah. Relax,
it was just for breakfast
with a buddy.
What buddy?
Tommy.
Tommy who?
Monroe.
What?
The full-grown man
from across the street?
[Mitch] Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Uh, went to eat.
We, uh, talked about
job opportunities at his...
-at his company.
-Job opportunities?
And where were you last night
or early this morning?
Yeah, I was with, uh...
I was with Tommy again.
-All night?
-What were you and Tommy doing?
[sighs] I mean... [chuckles]
he got this new bike.
It's... it's... [exhales]
-[Mitch] And we took it out.
-Oh, my God.
[Bill] Son, you just
had a serious accident.
[Lorraine]
Yeah, this is not okay.
I don't know
how to tell you guys this...
I feel amazing. [laughs]
I actually feel
better than ever.
Like, I-I feel completely fine.
Don't worry.
I-I've never felt...
-I've never felt better.
-No.
I cannot believe
Tom would do that.
-Yeah.
-That is not smart.
No, it's not okay.
You are not allowed
to hang out with him again.
-You're not allowed. No. No.
-[Mitch scoffs]
[Tom] You're up early.
[Liz] Mm-hmm.
I never really slept.
What?
[Liz]
I said I never really slept.
[deep exhale]
Sorry I stayed out so late.
That's just one example.
[Liz] You have been
so distant lately.
What's going on?
-[Harper] Dad, are you ready?
-Hey, Harp.
-Hey.
-[Tom] Yeah.
-Can I drive?
-[Tom] Of course.
Yeah, you ready to go now?
Yep.
[Tom] Can we talk
about this later?
-[Liz] You tell me.
-[Tom] Yes.
We will talk about this later.
Hey, Harp.
I'll be out in the car, okay?
Okay. See you later.
[door creaking]
-[door shuts]
-You okay?
[sniffles]
It was so stupid.
I shouldn't have got that bike.
I just wanted him to have
a regular birthday for once.
[Harper] It's fine, Mom.
I'm sure
he likes the bike, okay?
Yeah.
[birds chirping]
-[Lorraine] Tom.
-[sighs]
-Tom!
-[Tom sighs]
Oh, hey.
Hey, Lorraine. Good morning.
You seen Mitch
again this morning?
Uh, no. I haven't.
Well, we know you took him out
on your motorbike last night.
Thought you might know
where he went.
[clicks tongue] I don't. Sorry.
You can't replace
your brother with my son.
[indistinct chatter]
[Harper]
Thanks for letting me drive.
-[Tom] Yes.
-[Harper clears throat]
-[Harper] Bye.
-Love you.
-Love you.
-[Tom groans]
All right.
I'll see you later tonight.
-[Harper] Yeah.
-Okay.
I get why you freaked out
over your birthday present.
Just wanted to say that.
Yeah.
I just got a lot
happening right now,
and I wasn't expecting
something like that, you know?
-Yeah.
-That's all.
Yeah, I mean, it's kind of
a bold choice for a gift.
[Harper]
But just know why she did it.
I know why she did it.
And I'm sorry
for the way I acted.
You don't have to
apologize to me.
You should tell her that,
though.
[Tom] I will.
Also...
I would be careful with
that kid driving your new bike.
I just don't really know
how much I trust him.
Okay. Love you.
-Love you.
-[Harper] Bye.
Bye.
[gloomy music]
[Deborah]
Why'd you come here today?
[chuckles]
Uh...
things in life have...
I've had some confusion
in my life, and...
I think I'd like some clarity.
-Maybe.
-What brings you here today?
[whispering]
You talk to dead people.
[Deborah exhales]
Take a deep breath.
[inhales deeply]
[exhales]
[unsettling music building]
[exhales]
[music intensifies]
[gasping, panting]
-Are you okay?
-Sorry.
Mitch, I can't help you anymore.
I'm sorry.
[Mitch]
Did I do something wrong?
[Deborah] I hope
that you understand.
I-I'm... I have to leave.
[unsettling music]
Tom?
Yeah.
Come on in.
You doing okay?
Yeah. Why?
No reason.
Okay, well, I'm gonna go
if you're sure you're good.
I'm good. I'm good.
Have a good night, Rachel.
You too.
[knocking on door]
[Lorraine] Mitch?
Yep?
How are you doing?
Fantastic.
Look.
I know you think
that your dad and I
treat you like a child.
Yeah.
But...
it's because you still
live under our roof.
And as long as
you're living under our roof,
we make the rules.
And you going out every night
and being reckless,
it... it's just not
working for us.
For once...
can you two...
not make everything about you?
[phone chimes]
If you wanna take it back,
I understand.
What?
If you wanna return
the motorcycle, I understand.
I know you would.
You don't have to go off riding
in the middle of the night
to prove to me that you like it.
Hon, I love the bike.
You don't have to tell me
where you went or what you did,
but you have to admit
that's not like you.
Can you see
my point of view with this?
I wasn't alone.
[Tom] It wasn't a woman
or anything like that.
Okay. Who were you with?
I can't say.
Do you even
wanna be here anymore?
-Yes, of course I do.
-Well, then, I don't understand
why you think
you can't talk to me.
It's not that
I can't talk to you.
That's not what this is about.
But there's something
you won't tell me.
I just think you'd have
a hard time understanding.
Well, try me. I'm your wife.
Okay.
Let me ask you something.
When your father passed away,
was there any part of you
that thought maybe,
just maybe,
he wasn't completely gone?
Can you not try
to change the subject?
I'm trying to figure out
what's going on with us.
Believe me,
that's what I am doing, okay?
I need you to have an open mind
if we're gonna talk about this.
I don't understand
what you're asking.
Do you believe in reincarnation?
-Why are you asking me that?
-Do you?
Does this have to do
with your brother?
I know the anniversary
is coming up
and there have been
some strange coincidences
happening lately,
but my God, Tom, my God!
It has been 35 years.
At some point,
you have to let him go.
Okay.
I wanna tell you something.
And I know how it's gonna sound.
Believe me.
But...
[distant whirring, clanking]
-What was that?
-No. No.
-No.
-Hold on, honey, hold on.
No! Finish what you were saying!
Finish what you
were about to say! Tom!
[tense music]
[door creaking]
[door shuts]
Come on.
[sighs]
[suspenseful music]
Goddamn it.
[music continues]
[car revving]
You gotta be kidding me
right now.
[bike engine rumbling]
[Tom] You got to be kidding me.
[engine idling]
What are you doing?
Huh? Hey!
What are you doing?
Get off the bike!
Let's go! Get off the bike!
Dad, calm down, we were
gone for, like, two minutes.
-We were around the corner.
-Shut up.
Hey! You're freaking out.
He was just
teaching me how to ride.
I don't care
what he was doing, Harper.
I want you to get
in the car and go home.
[shouts] Now!
And you, of all people,
you should know better.
What the hell
are you doing, man?
[door slams]
Go home.
[engine rumbling]
He took the keys!
[groans]
[sighs]
What the hell
do you think you're doing?
Jesus, Bill!
Are you trying
to get my son killed,
letting him drive
your motorcycle?
I didn't let him drive it,
all right? He took it!
Stay away from him!
We got enough problems
without your crap!
Damn it.
Liz! Did Harper take the...
-[Tom] Liz?
-[Harper] She left.
Where'd she go?
-She went to Gram's.
-[Tom] Why?
Why do you think?
You know, Harper, why don't you
just take it down a notch, okay?
You're the one
who snuck out to go joyriding
with Mitch on my motorcycle
-without my permission.
-I was not joyriding.
I was trying to figure out
what he's doing with you.
-What does that mean?
-Dad, I saw you and Mitch
take the bike out last night.
Okay?
It's your neighbor's son.
That's a really
strange thing to do.
What? He was just
in a major accident.
Okay? He's trying to get
his head screwed on straight,
and if I can help him do that,
I probably should.
Maybe he views me as
a mentor or a brother figure.
I don't know.
Or maybe it's because
you have a big corner office
and a shiny new bike.
[melancholic music]
[music continues]
[Liz clears throat]
[Liz] Is Harper almost ready?
Good morning.
Yeah. She's coming. I think.
She's not really talking to me.
Well, you shouldn't have
overreacted like you did.
-[Tom] She told you about that?
-Of course she did.
Well, it didn't really help
that when I got home,
you were gone too.
You know, there's a lot
of things going on, Liz.
Tom, can you just stop
talking for a second?
I don't know
what is happening here,
but I've gotten
nothing from you lately.
You are so far away emotionally,
I had to leave last...
I had to leave
for my own sanity.
You're right.
You're right.
I'm sorry.
About everything.
And I wish I knew
what "everything" was.
Yeah.
You gonna bring
Harper back after her test?
[door opens, shuts]
[Harper sighs]
We'll talk when you get back.
I don't wanna start something
you can't finish, Tom.
I'll be ready.
I need to be.
[Harper] Mom, we have to go.
Hey, Harp?
Yeah?
[Tom] Good luck
on your test today.
Thanks.
I'm sorry
I overreacted last night.
It's okay.
I'm sorry I took
the bike without asking.
You don't have to apologize.
-Bye.
-[engine starts]
What's going on, Mitch?
I wanted to come over
and apologize again for--
No, no, no, no, no.
What's going on?
Why do you feel the need
to constantly inject yourself
into my family's life?
You're getting rid of it,
aren't you?
You know,
I woke up the other day...
and I have
no connection to anyone...
or anything...
in my life.
But I have
this connection with you.
And you don't want
anything to do with it.
[Tom]
What do you think is happening?
Huh? What do you think
is going on here?
This isn't real.
This can't be real.
Don't you want it to be?
After everything
that's happened,
-you don't believe it?
-No!
I don't know!
Okay? I don't know.
Ah...
Don't you want it to be?
You know what reason is?
Do you?
[Mitch] Yeah.
It's the opposite of faith.
[birds chirping]
["Wheels"
by Foo Fighters playing]
[music continues]
[music fades]
[gate clanks]
[sighs]
Hi.
[Deborah] Mitch, right?
It's so nice to see you, Deb.
Do you live around here?
[Deborah] David wasn't
even supposed to
be riding the bike that day.
-[birds chirping]
-[somber music]
But it was Tommy's birthday,
and he had been...
promised a ride on the bike.
So...
he found the keys...
and he gave the keys to David
without my mom knowing.
[somber music continues]
And then David took the bike...
got some gas in it...
And what about Mom?
I spent so many years,
a lot of years,
resenting her
for leaving us the way she did.
But now...
I say that she ultimately...
she died of a broken heart.
And if Tommy would have
never found those keys,
we would probably
still be talking.
You and Tommy don't talk?
No.
It's not his fault, you know.
I know it's not.
I just don't think he knows it.
When you see him, will you
tell him something from me?
Yeah.
Tell him I forgive him.
[emotional music]
[bell tolling]
[exhales sharply] Hey, Mom.
I know it's been a while...
but, uh...
I really need to talk to you.
I don't know if
you've been paying attention
to what's been
going on down here.
But...
I don't know if this is real.
And if it is,
I don't know if I deserve it.
I wanna have faith.
I wanna have faith so bad.
I wanna believe it.
I don't wanna cause
any more pain.
So...
I could really use your help.
If you wanna
send me a sign or...
anything...
I'd appreciate it.
[sighs]
-[lighthearted music]
-[birds chirping]
[gravel crunching]
[music continues]
That's not your bike
out there, right?
It was a gift from Liz.
Wow. Does she know that our
brother died on one of those?
I'm taking it back.
Interesting choice.
Because I can't accept
good things, I guess?
Mm, or you just...
can't let go
of the bad things, mostly.
How long have you
been sitting here?
I don't know.
Just talking to Mom.
Now I'm talking to God.
You could have talked to me.
It's been a very strange week.
Things are happening
that I don't understand.
Strange things happen to me
all the time, Tom.
Isn't that the job description
of a fortune teller?
Psychic.
And you're not so different,
you know.
Well...
[inhales]
Sometimes a sign's
not a sign, and...
sometimes a nickel's
just a nickel.
Sometimes.
[tender music]
[bike engine rumbling]
[music continues]
[knocking]
-[Bill] Tom.
-Hey, Bill.
[Bill] What do you need?
Uh, is... Mitch here?
[Bill] He's busy packing.
Packing for what?
-What do you want, Tom?
-Can I speak...
-Can I speak with him, please?
-No, you can't talk to him.
Please? It's urgent.
What's urgent, Tom?
Never mind. Just...
Where's he going?
[Bill]
Not that you need to know,
but he wanted to
go back up to campus early.
We're taking him
up there tomorrow.
Tom, I just got everything
calmed down in here,
and I don't want you
upsetting the apple cart.
[somber music]
[somber music continues]
[music fades]
[footsteps approaching]
[knocking on door]
-[Rachel] Hey, Tom.
-Hey.
Um, I'm gonna go
get my mom from the airport,
if that's still okay.
-Yeah, no problem.
-Awesome. Thank you.
-[Tom] Hey, Rach?
-Yeah?
What's your mom's name?
[Rachel] Dana.
Dana. Okay.
-Okay.
-[Tom] Drive safe.
Thanks.
[footsteps]
[mournful music]
[inaudible conversation]
[mournful music continues]
[sniffles]
How you feel, Tommy?
It's a good birthday.
-[bell tolls]
-[music fades]
[lighthearted music]
[door shuts]
[Lorraine] Okay.
[music continues]
[car doors shutting]
[car engine revving]
[music stops]
["Down by the Water"
by Abigail Lapell playing]