Step Back, Doors Closing (2024) Movie Script
1
[]
[soft dinging]
[curtain rustling]
[button clicking]
Is everything all right?
I was hoping to see a food menu.
There it is.
You must be awful sick of that.
Mm-hmm.
[sighs]
[pages flapping]
"I first appreciated the mix of
traditional and modern elements
in my father's whaling cottage
when I was five years old.
Ever since, I knew I was
destined to design mid-century
modern homes with a
flair for Scandinavian--"
[inhales]
[soft dinging]
[button clicking]
Would you like to
purchase something?
Have you ever tried the
Mediterranean sampler?
I have not, but I have
heard very good things.
[chuckles]
Huh.
Kinda wish you tried it.
Can I have an extra pillow?
Uh-huh.
[chuckles]
[seatbelt clicking]
Excuse me.
I'm just gonna go
to the restroom.
Oh this guy's sleeping.
They don't go back very far.
I wonder if there's a--
like a, trick to it?
[uplifting piano music]
[phone keys clicking]
[laughs]
[]
-[toilet flushing]
-[phone splashing]
[gasps]
Please don't die.
Please don't die.
-[phone clattering]
-[groaning]
[water running]
[whispers] Oh, shit.
[paper towel rustling]
-[upbeat bluegrass music]
-[sighs]
I got my boots
Strapped and cleaned up good
My best jeans on and
I brushed my teeth
Shirt's hangin'
Up nice and fresh
I got three days off
I plan to take it all
I'm goin' one, two, three,
Four
The doctor just
Left my front door--
-[water running]
-[phone ringing]
[man on phone] Hello?
Hey, man.
How you doing?
[man] Hey, man. I'm good.
How are you?
God, it's been, like--
what, three, four years?
Just about.
You ready to make up
for some lost time?
[man] Yeah. Uh...
Well I thought I was.
But your flight got
in kind of late.
Yeah.
There was some-- ugh,
some security something.
It held us up for a few hours.
[man] Yeah.
Look, I hate to
do this man, but I
think I gotta stay in with
my girlfriend tonight.
Hello?
Ry, you there?
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm here.
[man] I'm really sorry, man.
It's just-- I got this
thing in the morning--
No, no.
No apologies. You're good.
[man] Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, I understand.
[man] Cool, man.
But I'd love to hang
out soon and catch up,
hear what you've been up to.
Yeah.
Yeah, [laughs] absolutely.
All right, man.
You, uh-- good luck with
your thing in the morning.
Tell your girlfriend
some random dude said hi.
[man] Yeah. Yeah, man.
Thanks. You have fun tonight.
-All right?
-Thanks.
Talk to you later.
[man] Cool. See ya.
[phone key taps]
[muffled announcement]
-Oh! Oh, oh!
-[items clattering]
[groans]
[sighs]
-[gentle synth music]
-[phone ringing]
[]
[voicemail] Hi.
You've reached the
voicemail of Clyde--
[]
[voicemail] What up? Leave a
message.
[phone ringing]
[luggage bag rolling]
[phone ringing]
[voicemail] Hi.
This is Kesang's cell phone.
I'm unavailable
right now, but if you
leave your name and number--
[muffled announcement]
[yearning piano music]
[muffled voices]
[conveyer belt whirring]
[luggage bag rolling]
[train brakes screeching]
[train doors sliding]
[muffled announcement]
[luggage bag clattering]
[exhales]
[whispers] Still open.
[distant horn blaring]
[panting]
[whispers] Yep.
[luggage bag rolling]
[luggage handle sliding]
[sighs]
[background chatter]
[sighs]
[clears throat]
[background chatter]
You want some help?
Not unless you're a medium that
specializes in cell phones.
Where are you trying to go?
Um, my friend's apartment.
The location of which is on
this malfunctioning gizmo, so.
You wanna borrow mine?
I don't know her number.
You can message
her on Instagram--
I have two-step verification.
[chuckles]
What's her name?
You can use mine.
I don't care.
It's Sierra Baderra.
Sierra, underscore--
here, can I?
Yeah. Go for it.
-Thank you.
-[chuckles]
Do you have any sense of
what neighborhood or area
she lives in?
Um, I think she's downtown.
I don't know.
I'm not 100% sure.
[distant sirens blaring]
Hey, we have a mutual friend.
-Really?
-[girl] Yeah. Jamaan Mills.
That's awesome.
How do you know Jamaan?
Boys and Girls Club. [chuckles]
You?
Temp assignment.
We had to do these PowerPoints
for some healthcare company.
Small world.
Yeah. Really small.
[phone keys tapping]
-[girl] Thank you.
-Of course.
Where are you from?
Los Angeles.
LA. Nice.
Are you actually
from there, or is
it like when people from
Virginia say they're from DC?
Yeah, no.
I-- that's where
I'm actually from.
I'm halfway between
downtown and the beach.
What about you?
Maryland, but I was born in DC.
-Oh, congratulations.
-Thank you.
[chuckles]
[tender piano music]
[tone rings]
Step back.
Doors closing.
-[doors sliding]
-Please step to the side
to allow customers to exit.
If there's one
thing about DC, it's
that the metro is about as
reliable as the weather.
[]
[jacket unzipping]
[jacket rustling]
[exhales]
How long are we underground for?
Depends where you're going.
How did you survive a
six-hour plane ride?
I can do flying.
I can't do underground.
Is it because of
the mole people?
They have every right
to be here as we do.
Please stop talking.
[]
[wheels screeching]
Why are we stopped?
[conductor] Track work directly
ahead of us.
Train'll be moving shortly.
They always plan this
stuff on the weekend.
It's nothing. We're good.
Are we under attack?
Are we-- no. No.
Is this a terrorist attack?
No.
Oh, I need to get
off this train.
I need to get off this train.
No, you don't. No, you don't.
Listen, listen.
I need to get off--
You just gotta
take a deep breath.
-You gotta take a deep breath.
-No I--
-Yeah.
-[deep breaths]
-Put your jacket back on.
-What?
Put your jacket back on.
It works.
It's like a tiny
sweater for dogs.
It doesn't matter.
Just, scared of thunder.
But it's-- it's a breath.
[shuddering breaths]
With me.
[inhales deeply]
[shuddering breaths]
[exhales]
You got it.
Yeah.
Nice.
[inhales]
[whispers] Nice.
You two will make
beautiful children.
-Thank you for your input.
-[laughs]
Appreciate it.
-[clears throat]
-[both chuckling]
[exhales]
[]
I'm gonna go look out the back.
Can I come?
-Yeah, sure.
-Yeah?
Cool.
[soft tender music]
Just go. I can-- yeah.
You're good?
Yeah.
Sorry.
I'm Julisa, by the way.
Ryan.
Nice to meet ya.
Ryan.
You think I'm insane, don't you?
-Just a little.
-[Julisa chuckles]
I'm sorry.
It's just this, like,
irrational fear.
No, no. I get it.
It's like when I learned those
trains crashed a number of years
ago, I stayed clear of
the first and last cars.
It was like-- that's
not what I meant.
That's-- [chuckles] we're good.
I mean, you can see.
They don't crash that often.
[door creaks open]
[background chatter]
[door clicks shut]
I'm so fucked.
Maybe she'll message back.
Yeah, maybe.
What if I help?
How?
I don't know.
What if I escort you around DC?
At the very least
you won't be alone.
I feel like it should be
acknowledged that we don't
know each other very well.
No, we don't.
But think about it this way.
If I turn out to
be a total creep,
you can sic Jamaan Mills on me.
And as long as you have
access to my phone,
there's an outside chance you
can contact Sierra Baderra.
[conductor] We apologize for the
delay.
Train's about to move.
Come on. What do you say?
[chuckles]
What the hell.
Let's explore this
whole new world.
That's what I'm talkin' about.
Yeah.
Let's explore this world.
[uplifting, promising music]
This is Chinatown?
Oh, yeah.
The one and only.
Wait, stand on this side.
-Why?
-It's just a thing.
[escalator whirring]
[bucket drumming]
We should search the bars.
After we drop our luggage.
Where?
The Monaco.
Is that a hotel?
Yeah.
You just skyrocketed from
zero to Weinstein real quick.
It's not what you think.
Come on.
[elevator dings]
[hotel lounge music]
[dog panting]
Hi, sir.
[chuckles]
Your dog is so cute.
May I?
Name is Portis.
Hi, Portis.
[cooing]
Love to have his ears
scratched, back rubbed.
Yeah.
Very spoiled.
Cute dog.
Anyhow, our check-in is
not until the morning.
We're actually running late
for a charity fundraiser.
We have these.
-Not a problem.
-Yeah?
If you're okay with it, we
can check the bags for you
-for up to 24 hours.
-Thank you.
And how long will you
all be staying with us?
Oh, we're not staying.
We actually just met.
I'm sorry?
Yeah, he's just helping
me find my friend.
But it's just going to be so
much easier without the bags.
Take that one back.
-Okay.
-Thank you. Appreciate it.
-What?
-Come on.
I thought you said
we could do that.
[luggage bags rolling]
So Ryan, tell me about yourself.
Well, Julisa, what
would you like to know?
Where'd you fly in from?
[Boston accent] Boston.
And what's in [Boston accent]
Boston?
Funeral.
Well, there was a funeral.
-Oh, I'm so sorry.
-No, no.
It's-- it's fine.
She was one of those
relatives you know
you see, like, once a year.
Yeah.
Just weird.
She was so young.
-How did she die?
-Cancer.
[Julisa] That sucks.
[Ryan] Yeah.
Anyway, what about you?
Huh?
What's in DC?
[Julisa] The Women's
Leadership Conference
for Economic Empowerment.
-[Ryan] Are allies allowed?
-[Julisa laughs]
[Julisa] Not that I know of.
The sponsorship program only
accepted female applicants,
but I can ask them at
the dinner tomorrow.
[Ryan] So how do you know your
friend?
[Julisa] We both went to
Santa Monica College
and then transferred to
UCLA at the same time.
How about you?
[Ryan] I went to Fordham,
which is up in New York.
It's a good school.
Lots of white people.
Lots of privilege.
And I really wish they'd
stop asking me for donations.
It drives me crazy.
What do they want me to say?
Like, I would love to give
you my non-existent funds.
Let me just like
take out another loan
and throw it on the
student loan elephant
that's loitering in the corner.
I prefer cheetahs.
Goes faster that way.
That was terrible.
Okay.
Good news is we're not that
far from the next hotel.
[luggage bags rolling]
Now remember, we're
paying guests, so--
just follow my lead
when we get there.
[Julisa] Okay.
[hotel lounge music]
Hey.
And how may I be of
service this evening?
Is everything all right, sir?
[thuds]
[snobby voice] Hello, kind
fellow.
We are Mr. and Mrs. Voldershnout
of the Voldershnouts.
We're on holiday from 30
minutes south of River Thames.
I'd like to enquire about
your luggage storage policies,
as we are terribly late for the
downfall of American democracy.
Can you please list all of
your available storage options,
in relevance to
congressional sex scandals,
with priority given to those
involving interns and/or dick
pics?
I'm going to ask you to leave.
-Do you have any freebies?
-[laughs]
Like, chocolate chip
cookies, or pads of paper?
Now.
Okay.
[Ryan in snobby voice] Goodbye,
sir.
[laughing]
That was beyond absurd.
In a good way?
In a way that ensures we're
not gonna get anywhere
before the morning.
Hey, remind me why we're at
a second hotel again, please.
Whoa.
Easy now.
[phone ringing]
Look who it is.
No, you're good.
You don't need to apologize.
You're good.
Okay. One sec.
You wanna go to a
party in Dupont?
It's 10 minutes away.
-I really have to find my
friend.
-[Ryan] Come on.
She'll be there,
for all we know.
What about our bags?
We could lock them
in this girl's room.
I promise.
Okay.
If anyone steals so
much as a bobby pin,
it's gonna be your distant
relatives flying to a funeral.
Okay.
Well, hey listen.
Is there a place we
can lock our bags?
Somewhere that's a little
less outside, maybe?
-[mouthing]
-Closet's good.
Yeah.
All right. Sweet.
All right. We'll see you soon.
Bye.
At least I have luggage locks.
You've never been to DC, right?
Right.
I wanna show you something.
Come on.
Follow me.
[luggage bags rolling]
-[Julisa inhales]
-[elevator doors close]
-[elevator dinging]
-[Julisa exhales]
[flowing synth music]
-This is fantastic.
-[Ryan chuckles]
It gets better.
[Ryan] Now, if you look
over there, that's--
Is that the White House?
Complete with an outdoor
swimming pool, somewhere.
You never see it from
the side like this.
It looks so much smaller.
I know. Yeah.
I wonder how many snipers
are aimed at us right now.
Not as many as when I whip
out this drone right now.
[laughter]
Thank you for making me
feel less like a cosmic dot.
How so?
I don't know, I mean,
it's the White House.
It's right there.
The more you travel
and the more you see,
the less scary and more
tangible the world becomes
and I probably wouldn't
have seen this without you.
Well trust me, I don't
think anyone's looked at you
and thought, look
at that gorgeous,
sometimes maybe probably
funny, smart, perfect girl.
Eh, insignificant.
No one's ever assumed
I'm smart and funny?
Yeah.
Cause that's what I said.
[app dings]
That's probably our ride.
Oh, god.
What?
Not only did I release
an invisible drone,
but our driver--
His name is Mohammed.
[yells] Just make it quick,
you racist bastards!
[jovial piano music]
What?
[indistinct chatter]
-[Julisa] Thank you.
-[car doors shutting]
[engine revving]
What music would you like?
I have Taylor Swift, Billie
Eilish, The Weeknd, Post Malone.
Can we start with nothing
and work our way up?
Absolutely.
Mohammed, where are you from?
I am from Morocco, but I
have lived here for 10 years.
That's a long time.
Are you here because
of family, or--
Brendan Fraser.
As in, George of the Jungle?
Yes.
That is him.
When I was 11, he was in
Marrakesh shooting The Mummy
with Rachel Weisz.
Me and my friends used
to sneak onto the set
and ask him questions until
security would chase us off.
That's awesome.
How does that relate
to moving here?
On the last day, I was by myself
when Brendan called me over.
He told me about Los Angeles
and the film industry,
and I decided to
become an actor.
How did you know it
was the right decision?
My mother worked at the riad and
my father worked at the tannery.
My options were limited.
But even after living
here for so long,
I have yet to
discover anything that
excites me as much as acting.
Are you acting now?
I'm a stagehand at the
Shakespeare Theatre Company.
Our current production
is Man of La Mancha.
My aunt took me to see that.
You know "The Impossible Dream?"
You kidding?
I fought a windmill last week.
I have no choice.
[Ryan] Okay.
But what if it doesn't work out?
What if it does?
You could be a
wonderful performer,
but people who succeed usually
are either born into it,
or they just buy their success.
What do you want in life?
I'm just in grad school.
You're not going to quit your
program just because it's hard,
right?
Life is about taking
that first step,
even when you don't know
what the second one will be.
If Cervantes has
taught me anything,
it is that the destination
always takes a back seat
to the journey.
Mohammed, I don't
say this very often
but I think you should
really give a TED Talk, man.
Does that mean I'm
getting five stars?
You deserve it.
Well, good luck with everything.
I sincerely hope you make it.
Just remember that we're young.
We have time to make mistakes.
Oh, wait.
This part is incredible.
["The Impossible Dream
[The Quest]" playing]
[singing] This is my quest to
Follow that star, no matter
How
Hopeless, no matter how far
[muffled indie rock music]
Thank you, thank you.
[indistinct party chatter]
[Julisa] How do you know this
girl?
Uh, we ran track together.
[laughter]
[]
Ryan!
-Ryan! [laughs]
-Hi.
Where you been?
I thought you got
swept up in a vortex,
or, like, jumped
by the Bunny Man.
Oh, the Bunny Man, no.
I'm here.
Kesang, this is Julisa.
Nice to meet you.
Thank you for the closet
space and everything.
Yeah. It's nice to meet you,
too.
Yeah.
Thank you for the
closet by the way.
-Can we put these in there?
-Yeah.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Lead the way.
[muffled indie rock music]
Thank you.
Do you have a
bathroom I can use?
Yeah. It's just around the
corner.
Thank you.
[mouthing]
[door clicks shut]
[bag rustling]
[muffled party chatter]
If you need anything, I
don't give a fuck, dude.
Blow?
-Strippers?
-[laughs]
Point Break on DVD?
Oh, that's good stuff.
I got you.
Ryan, I got you.
Thank you.
-Come here.
-[Julisa laughs]
Oh, this is like the best guy.
He's the kind of guy who would,
like, put a kitten in a tree
-just so he could save it.
-[chuckles]
Wow.
That's really nice.
You take care of him, okay?
Okay. I will.
[chuckles]
You know, you two have fun.
I'm just going to check
on the kiddie pool.
Okay.
Wanna grab a drink?
Mm-hmm.
[muffled indie rock music]
We're not gonna be able to
keep talking unless you just,
let it out.
[sighs]
Uh, my girlfriend and
I broke up last week.
Been together for four years.
Are you okay?
You know, it's funny.
I cried for three days straight.
And, I went to Boston.
I went to that funeral.
And, after the
funeral, I don't know
what happened but I was like--
I felt amazing.
Amazing, like, I was an old
man given a second chance
at youth or something.
Why do you feel like an old man?
Because when you date
someone for so long it's--
You just can't help but think
about your life with them.
Like, you think about buying
a house and having kids.
And, it's crazy.
And then before you know it,
you're a 24-year-old listening
-to retirement podcasts.
-[chuckles]
Her parents loved
you, didn't they?
-What's not to love?
-[chuckles]
I mean I know it just happened,
but don't you miss her?
Yeah. I feel this odd
combination
of trying to remember and forget
her at the same time.
It's weird.
Like, I-- you know I wanna
remember all the inside jokes
we had.
But I don't want her birthday
popping up on my calendar.
The same thing with photos.
I wanna keep those photos,
but I don't wanna--
I don't wanna see
them right now.
It's, like, hard.
I guess I'm just
having trouble relating
cause my longest relationship
was with a jar of Nutella.
Yeah.
Oh, hello.
How goes it?
[chuckling]
Good party.
[Kesang] Right?
Every fucking Saturday.
[refrigerator clattering]
About to get crazy.
[background chatter]
Was that a leftover
wedding cake?
-I don't know.
-[laughs]
I was not invited
to that wedding.
[laughter]
So who broke up with who?
Going right for the jugular.
Oh, sorry.
I got carried away.
What's your favorite color?
Green.
[Ryan] You?
Indigo.
You would say indigo.
So who broke up with who?
Well she may have
initiated the conversation.
It was a mutual breakup.
Mm.
You've been living around
politicians for too long.
I'm actually dead serious.
I want to say I wish someone
would have cheated on the other,
because then we'd have
something to blame.
But, yeah.
Nothing happened.
Just simply devolved from
this, like, amazing--
because it was amazing,
for the most part--
amazing thing into nothing
without me realizing it.
It's better that no one cheated.
My trusted Nutella spread
his sweetened hazelnuts
all over every crepe and
pancake that walked in the door.
[laughter]
You're making me
uncomfortably hungry.
[laughter]
So, what now that you're single?
I actually made a list yesterday
of what I needed to worry about.
Getting condoms, getting
a tan, cool haircuts.
-Stuff like that.
-Cool haircuts?
Cool haircuts. Yeah.
I feel like everyone and
their mother suddenly
got a cool haircut.
I've been going to
the same Greek guy
since I was, like, 12 years old.
You know I just, get the regular
haircut because on the board
there's an option for regular.
You are strange.
You know that?
I've been accused
of that before.
[app dings]
Instagram message.
Mm.
Hold on, let me unlock it.
Here.
Okay. She's at the 1831 Bar and
Lounge
followed by salsa girl emojis.
-Mm-hmm. Great.
-[bottle clanking]
Glad she's alive.
Yeah. Me too.
Well, thank you
for all your help.
I wouldn't have found
her without you.
Of course.
Yeah.
It's been a nice change of pace.
Mm-hmm.
[Ryan] Hope your conference goes
well.
Yes.
It should be good.
[muffled indie rock music]
You know, I've never been
to that particular bar.
-No?
-No.
No, I haven't.
But I'm just kind
of spitballing here,
in the spirit of this
adventuresome evening.
[Julisa] Mm.
I, uh-- I would love
to accompany you
to that particular bar.
Of course, you could say no.
I realize I'm still some random
dude you met on the metro, but--
I would love it if
you would accompany me
to the 1831 Bar and Lounge.
-Yeah?
-Yeah.
I mean how am I gonna find it?
Well to that, cheers.
[bottle and cup clacking]
-We'll work on that one.
-[both chuckle]
Let's go say bye.
[shouting in distance]
[muffled go-go music]
-Sierra!
-[squealing]
We're doing shots!
What are they?
Okay.
Half Jameson, half
butterscotch schnapps.
Yeah.
Tastes like pancakes.
Probably not the best idea.
Julisa just got cuckolded
by a pancake, actually.
[speaking spanish]
He's the guy who made
this all possible.
I just met him earlier tonight.
Wait, wait. Hold up.
You just met him?
Girl, he could be anybody.
-He could watch Fox News.
-Whoa.
-[laughter]
-Okay.
-[camera clicks]
-Oh, okay.
Rapist, question mark?
Okay. Sierra, he's fine.
Why did you order five shots?
Oh, I was macking on this
dank-ass filly from New York.
She's over there. Look.
Oh my god. Isn't she cute?
Anyway, she claims she could
drink me under the table.
Little does she know I
live under that table, so.
[laughs]
[Sierra] Hey, baby! Come here!
Yass!
Yass! What am I, a dog?
Yes.
Sure are.
Hi, how are you?
Julie, I am so glad you're out.
Okay?
All this girl does is work.
She's losing her friends.
She's losing her family.
She's miserable.
I am not miserable.
Okay, to Julie, and
her future realization
that it's better to
stop and smell them
roses than it is to
trample on them roses.
Okay? Salud.
-[all] Salud.
-Salud to that.
[glasses clacking]
Mmm.
You're not done, baby.
Drink up. It's gluten-free.
Mm.
Are you okay?
Mm-hmm.
[muffled go-go music]
So what are you
studying in grad school?
Communications.
Nice.
So far, it's mostly just like
requirements, like cognition,
theories, research
methods, stuff like that.
Are you gonna have to
take one of those classes
where you invent
your own language?
Yeah.
I propose a hybrid between
Spanglish and Elvish.
Is that why you're
studying communications?
[laughter]
What are you passionate about?
I swear this isn't a line.
I just wanna help people.
I haven't translated
that into a career yet,
but, you know something that's
gonna make the world a better
place than it is today.
[laughs] You're the worst.
Why?
Because I don't know what
I'm passionate about,
and now you said
"helping others"
and I feel like an asshole for
not having an equally altruistic
answer.
Communicators help people.
Yeah, but--
I think I'm gonna
drop out of grad school.
Why?
Because I don't care.
Like, the thought of not having
a goal in life,
terrifies me,
so I just applied to grad school
to, like, feel more in control.
That's the first time I've
ever said that out loud.
Maybe you have a passion and you
just haven't realized it yet.
Like what?
Like, I don't know.
When I was in kindergarten,
they asked all of us
what we wanted to
be when we grow up.
Some wanted to be astronauts.
Some wanted to take
care of sick animals,
-and then we got to Herbert.
-[laughs]
That is a fake name.
I'm making up names to
protect the innocent.
Uh-huh.
Anyway, our teacher
asks, Herbert--
[laughter]
Herbert, what do you want
to be when you grow up?
He answers, I want to take
pictures of naked women.
There is no way this is true.
I swear to god.
So, I mean I'm sure there were
parent-teacher conferences,
and a secretly proud father.
Ugh.
But, Herbert knew
exactly what he wanted.
So when he got older, he got a
camera, he studied photography.
And guess what Herbert does now?
What?
Well, he manages an Olive
Garden in College Park.
[chuckles] No, I'm kidding.
He's a photographer for Playboy.
Travels all around the world
taking pictures of naked women.
It's amazing.
You know if you want your photo
taken all you have to do is ask.
We'll see where this night goes.
But, my point is, your dream--
It doesn't have to be profound.
It just has to be something
you truly care about,
regardless of what
other people think.
[]
That was surprisingly
insightful.
What do you think Sierra and
her filly are passionate about?
Let's do shots, baby!
I think this is it.
[laughter]
So what's your plan tonight?
You get her address?
Yeah.
She lives in
Georgetown, actually.
[girl] Excuse me.
Can you take our picture?
Um, yeah.
Sure.
Thank you.
-Hello.
-Hello.
Here we go.
[Ryan] All right.
[laughter]
[girl] Thank you.
[Ryan] Looking good.
Looking good.
YGG.
[laughter]
[girl] Okay.
I think that might be good.
Yeah. Thank you so much.
You're the best.
Oh my god.
I think that's the
best one I've ever--
No, there's definitely--
Anyway, Sierra
lives in Georgetown.
Do you wanna get some food?
I haven't had dinner yet.
Yeah. Definitely.
-Yeah?
-Definitely.
There's this place in Georgetown
called Martin's Tavern.
Uh-huh.
It's one of these
quintessential DC restaurants.
-You wanna go?
-Lead the way.
Let's go.
[newscaster on radio] This comes
after a shortage in the US of
Mexican avocados
earlier this year, which is
in part why production in Peru
has been ramping up.
Peruvian avocado shipments to
the US have risen by about 20%
year-over-year.
But Ramon Bernal, a professor
of food marketing at Princeton,
says this isn't really
an issue of surplus.
[Ramon Bernal] We are not
overproducing avocados.
It is just a question
of the timing.
An avocado from Peru takes, for
example, three to four weeks
to--
[background chatter]
[soft jazz piano music]
Hello.
How may I help you?
Is the proposal booth available?
Right this way.
Should I be concerned?
[laughter]
[waiter] Here you are.
-Thank you so much.
-Thank you.
[utensils and plates clanking]
[waiter] May I start you out
with something to drink?
Do you have hot chocolate?
[waiter] Of course.
And for you, sir?
Water's fine.
Thank you.
[laughs]
What are you looking at?
A plaque that commemorates
this booth as the place where
a famous couple got engaged.
Three guesses.
Go.
-Romeo and Juliet.
-No.
Sonny and Cher.
No.
Bacon and eggs.
No.
JFK and Jackie O. This booth.
That is so cool.
What side was Jackie on?
I have no idea.
Okay.
Well, before we leave, I
have to sit on your side also
so I can make sure I
get the full experience.
I promise that whichever
side you're on,
I'll have the better view.
You are disgustingly charming.
I, like, wanna swoon and
throw up at the same time.
Okay.
Before you do either
of those things,
let's decide what
we're ordering.
Mm-hmm.
Thank you.
[waiter] Would you like some
more time?
No. I'm way too hungry.
Do you want to get
the fried oysters?
They're a natural aphrodisiac.
[sputters]
I'm just also gonna get the
tavern burger with jalapenos
and American cheese, please.
[clears throat]
Make that two, please.
[waiter] Sure.
Thank you.
You doing okay over there?
Uh-huh.
I'm just wondering how the
JFK-Jackie conversation started.
I wanna know how it ended.
Did he like, get
down on one knee
or just like, reach
across the table?
Maybe Jackie proposed to him.
Hey, don't assume girls
can't put a ring on it.
Wow.
Hashtag feminism.
[laughs] Okay.
Would you wanna be on the
receiving end of a proposal?
I believe I would.
Yeah.
What would be your
ideal engagement?
[exhales]
Mariachi band.
-Can't get engaged without one.
-[Julisa] Mm-hmm.
After I say yes, I'd
want my best friends
to start spraying champagne
like we just won the Super Bowl.
And, then I'd stuff my face
at an all-you-can-eat sushi
restaurant.
[sighs]
Be still, my heart.
How would your
ideal proposal go?
I would wanna be on the
receiving end, obviously.
And I would want it to be,
like small and private,
but in like a place that was
significant to the relationship.
Like, the place where we
first met or something.
And then as far as
the ring's concerned--
I don't know.
I would just want it to be
something simple and elegant,
and it would remind me
of his love every day
for the rest of my life.
And then I would want to stuff
my face at an all-you-can-eat
sushi restaurant.
That also serves sashimi.
[laughs]
Do you believe in soulmates?
-You know, I do.
-[Julisa] Mm-hmm.
I actually asked and
answered this question
in my philosophical ethics
class my sophomore year.
Unexpected, but now
I'm very curious.
Well, when people claim
to have found the one--
[Julisa] Mm-hmm.
I don't know.
Tempted to call bullshit,
because, you know,
they could have been born
in different circumstances
and I don't doubt that they
would have found someone else.
Yeah.
However, this reality
is our only option.
Can't decide to exist in
another space or time.
Oh my god.
I think our future selves
just walked through the door.
One, that would be terrifying.
[laughter]
Two, I don't--
I doubt it would
negate what I'm saying.
Determinism is action
being a reaction.
We're at this restaurant
because you missed dinner,
you missed dinner because we
were searching for your friend,
and we were searching
for your friend
because your phone
wasn't working.
Because I dropped it
in a glass of water.
Exactly.
But if every action
is a reaction,
and two people claim to
have found the one, then
that couple is destined
to fall in love, I think--
which I think is the literal
definition of soulmates.
You know most people just
reference Disney movies.
That probably would
have been easier.
[laughs]
Okay, wait.
So, if you believe that people
are destined to fall in love,
does that mean you don't
believe in free will?
I believe the
presumption of free will
is necessary, whether
it be real or not.
But-- but if everything
is predetermined
then it's like
love means nothing.
Why?
[laughs]
Because if you don't
choose to love someone,
you're not choosing
to care for them,
and protect them, and spend the
rest of your life with them.
You're pretending
love is ever a choice.
You can't choose who
you fall in love with.
It just happens.
Just like you can't choose
who you're attracted to.
[background chatter]
Thank you.
[Ryan] Thank you.
Um, can I ask you a
personal question?
Mm.
Depends how personal.
[laughs] Are you married?
17 years and counting.
[Julisa] Okay.
So do you think that you were
destined to fall in love?
No.
In fact, I almost
married someone else.
So what if somebody argued
that your choice to get married
was merely the logical
conclusion of events that
were outside of your control?
I'd say just because my
choice was inevitable,
doesn't mean I
didn't make a choice.
I'll go check on your entrees.
[soft jazz piano music]
-[makes exploding sound]
-[laughs]
[romantic acoustic music]
Stars up high, shining bright
You and I, feeling all right
Let's dance until the dawn
To the rhythm of a song
And we'll never let it go--
Our love, so pure and bold
[cat meows]
[]
I love wandering
around at night.
It's the only way
you can explore
a major city by yourself.
Don't forget
apocalyptic scenarios.
Oh, yeah. You're right.
We should also acknowledge
The Twilight Zone.
So when's your conference?
Not till Monday.
You got any plans for tomorrow?
I was gonna explore the
Washington Monument,
become best friends with AOC,
and steal the Declaration
of Independence.
I never do touristy
stuff like that.
Yeah. People often don't
in their hometown.
Wait, where do you live?
[crickets chirping]
10 miles that way.
Do you have roommates?
[Ryan chuckles]
My mom and stepdad.
Welp, this has clearly
been a waste of my time.
Agreed.
You should just-- good luck
with all your future endeavors.
Why are you so embarrassed?
Almost everybody lives at home.
I know, it's just--
I just had this vision for
my 20s that didn't involve
arguments about
washing dishes and--
Okay. If that's all you
argue about, you
should consider
yourself blessed.
I still live at home with
all five of my sisters.
Four of us share one room,
one sleeps on the couch,
and the youngest one
sleeps with my parents.
It's impossible for us to not
be at each other's throats
all the time.
I would like to formally recant
my previous statement concerning
-dishes.
-Yeah. I bet you would.
If I had to be honest,
I mean, moving home
it just, like, it helped
me learn to adult.
[laughs] What adulting have you
learned?
Well I now have a credit card.
I'm financing my
first car for 0% APR.
[slapping hands]
Thank you very much.
I schedule my own
doctor's appointments.
You didn't do that before?
[laughter]
Okay.
How's the view from that
high horse of yours?
Endearing.
So what's it like
having five sisters?
Messy and loud.
There's always someone watching
TV, or listening to music,
or talking on the phone, but
at least we're never lonely.
[chuckles]
That's a legitimate plus.
Yeah and there's other benefits.
It's just easy to forget when
someone's stealing your clothes.
That I cannot relate to.
All I have is one
sister and I'm pretty
sure we're different sizes.
Let me guess. Size two?
-Just about, I think.
-[laughs]
I don't know.
One thing I do love about
getting older is my sister
and I are getting closer
and closer together.
She's six years younger than me.
As a kid, that's like, an
entire eon of human existence,
but it doesn't really
feel like that anymore.
Well, trust me.
Most of my sisters were born
one right after the other
and we always wish
for eons between us.
Toss a coin in the fountain.
I'll wait for when
there's water in it.
I do want the younger ones to
see me as a role model, though.
It's like another reason
why I'm still in school.
I always wonder how
my parents' divorce
affected my little sister.
I didn't realize how
much it affected me
until relatively recently.
How'd it affect you?
Academically.
I had straight A's in
third and fourth grade,
and then I had straight
C's in fifth and sixth,
and then back to straight A's.
But she was like five years
old at the time, though.
So, that effect would be
less noticeable, maybe?
Maybe it wasn't.
Hopefully I'll have a
little more insight one day
when I have kids.
I wanna have kids one day, but
I started feeling like guilty
about it.
Why?
Because I read this
article that was just
arguing that the only
way to save the planet
is to have fewer children
because it makes a bigger
difference than living car-free,
recycling, and going vegan
all at once.
What do scientists know?
[laughs]
I believe it was Sir Isaac
Newton that once said science
-ain't shit but hoes and tricks.
-[laughs]
That sounds like
something he would say.
Yeah.
Why not?
You should talk to your
sister about the divorce.
I bet it affected more
than just her grades.
Yeah.
But then I mean like, we'd have
to get my people to contact
her people, and I would have
to pick out a lunch place,
and then it's just a
power move of who's
closer to the lunch place.
Yeah. Right.
I forgot you're a
high-powered executive.
Yeah. [laughs]
What time is it?
2:45.
Should probably head over
to Sierra's apartment soon.
Yeah.
It's pretty cold out here now.
What was that?
It's just, um--
I haven't been in this
position in a long time.
What position?
You know, we just--
It's--
[]
You have something
you want to ask me?
What do you want to ask?
Can I kiss you right now?
Would that be--
[intimate piano synth music]
[]
[door clicks open]
[Ryan whispers] How could she
afford this place?
[clothes rustling]
[]
[Julisa] I didn't expect this
to happen tonight.
Me neither.
Considering you've been single
for all of five minutes,
I'd guess not.
Yeah.
Something tells me my ex
isn't rebounding as quickly.
[chuckles]
What's it like being in love?
Said one 24-year-old
to the other.
[chuckling]
It's fun.
It's like being able to
have an entire conversation
without saying anything at all.
You've heard that cliche before.
I remember the first time I
told her that I loved her.
We were on our first date
after months of hooking up
and I'd left nothing to chance.
I picked the restaurant.
I picked the table.
As I slid into the
booth, my jeans
ripped straight
through the crotch.
Oh, no. [laughs]
Yeah.
I was so embarrassed.
Hm.
But we were laying in
my room that night,
and all I could think
was, I had never
shared these words with anyone.
My family doesn't
say them that much.
And this girl, out of
every girl I'd ever met--
she would be the first
one I said them to.
Did she say "I love you" back?
Yes.
[chuckles]
Someone said those
words to me, once.
Outside of family, I mean.
Did you reciprocate?
No. [laughs]
I didn't love him back.
Oh.
-Poor guy.
-Okay. No.
Don't feel too bad.
He was like, the captain
of the soccer team
because of course he was.
And, we had been like
hooking up for a while
and, he broke it off,
and then he came back.
Sounds like a real
Prince Charming.
Well it should be noted we
were each other's first.
Ah.
That'll do it.
Yeah, but...
we were just in his
room, and we had just had sex
and he just kind of
said it out of nowhere.
What'd you say?
I pretended I didn't hear him.
[laughter]
I was like--
I was like, what was that?
And he just immediately goes,
nothing, it was nothing.
But I heard him crystal clear.
I just-- I just
didn't feel the same.
Isn't it interesting that
a hundred years from now,
we could have flying
cars and peace on Earth,
every futuristic trope
you can think of,
and we'll still be having
these same conversations.
Mm-hmm.
I think that just means they're
the conversations worth having.
[whispers] That makes sense.
Julisa.
Yeah.
I think I'm falling asleep.
Okay. In that case scoot over
because I wanna be the little
spoon.
[sighs]
[peaceful melodic music]
[whispers] Sweet dreams, Julisa.
[whispers] Sweet dreams, Ryan.
[passing traffic]
[]
[kisses]
[]
[footsteps]
[lock clicking]
[distant dog barking]
[door slams shut]
It's too early.
You're too early.
What?
I don't know.
It's too early.
I have to use the bathroom.
[kisses]
[door clicks shut]
[girl on voicemail] Hey, hun.
I hope you and Steve had
a good time last night.
FYI, I finally told
grandpa about Caitlyn.
He said that although he
hates to see handsome girls
in distress, he hopes
she finds herself
badly positioned on a windy
day, which is about as
damning as it gets from him.
Anyway, I took tomorrow off.
So if you want help returning
the ring, I'll be free all day.
I love you, John loves you, and
we'll see you later tonight.
Alright. Bye.
[exhales]
[urinating]
[footsteps]
Is it working?
It's working.
[sighs]
Thank, Jeebus.
Now I can get rid of you.
[chuckles]
[kisses]
[]
-Condom?
-Yeah.
Yeah.
-[glass shatters]
-[laughs]
-Please take the blame for that.
-[laughter]
-[slurping]
-[footsteps approaching]
What up, lovebirds?
[Julisa] Good morning, Sierra.
Hi.
Did you have fun with
your filly last night?
Mm, was that before or
after your shady bounced?
We texted you.
I refuse to believe that.
Okay, I-- Oh my god.
I also refuse to believe
that measuring cup will ever
walk again.
Okay.
Yeah.
We are gonna buy you a new one.
Okay. Not good enough.
That measuring cup and I
had a spiritual connection.
Maybe you should
try a Ouija board.
Finally, a voice of reason.
Okay.
On behalf of traveling
sisterhood types,
I apologize for destroying
your kitchenware.
Thank you.
Apology accepted.
I assume that includes him.
Yeah.
Yeah.
He's an honorary member.
Mm.
Honorary.
Mm, okay.
What's your plan for today?
Oh, baby girl.
I got so much planned.
Okay.
First things first,
we got to re-up
with my dealer for
some cherry blossom.
It's this indica strain
that's perfect for strolling
around the Tidal Basin.
Okay?
Then, we're gonna head to Ben's
Chili Bowl for some half-smokes.
And then after that, we're
gonna browse the gift
shop at the
International Spy Museum.
Okay?
They have these secret cameras
that look like shirt buttons.
Okay? And if we really
wanted to, I really
-think we could infiltrate
some high secur--
-Sierra.
-Sierra.
-Yeah.
Yeah. What's up?
Is it okay if we, like, postpone
this until later in the week?
[whispers] I knew I couldn't
trust you.
I'm just eatin' oats.
Okay. It's not about trust.
I just want to have a real tour
from a native Washingtonian.
I bet you never even
used a Ouija board.
I will smell so many
roses along the way.
[microwave beeping]
[speaking Spanish]
Maybe.
[sighs]
Would you be willing
to order Amazon's most
expensive, best-reviewed
measuring cup before you exit?
Yes.
And you're not a Republican?
I am not.
No.
Okay.
Well I hope you enjoy
your hormone-induced romp
through the increasingly
vanilla Chocolate City.
[speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[kisses]
Hey, homewrecker.
You want in on this?
Thought you'd never ask.
Literally.
[uplifting acoustic music]
[birds chirping]
[door clicks open]
[whispers] Ah, yes.
Where to?
[Ryan] Don't know.
What do people in their 20s
usually do after one-night
stands? [laughs]
Was this a one-night stand?
I guess it depends on if
we see each other again.
-You moving to DC?
-[jacket zipping]
No.
Are you moving to California?
No.
Okay.
Well then I guess that
settles that then.
Come on.
I just remembered everyone
gathers by the waterfront
-to swap war stories.
-[gate opening]
Wait, did you text Kesang yet?
Cause I'm gonna need my
luggage by like an hour
before the dinner.
What dinner?
The one with my sponsors.
What sponsors?
The ones who paid for the trip.
I didn't know people
paid for this trip.
I mentioned it last night.
-No you didn't.
-Yeah I did.
Okay.
What time does it start?
6:00.
It's 12:00 now.
So what we have five hours till
we, never see each other again?
Seriously?
I mean I have some free time,
but I promised it to Sierra.
Well this sucks.
You're the one who just said
it was a one-night stand.
I know. I just--
I just thought we'd
have more time together.
Well we'll just have
to make the most of it.
[kisses]
[upbeat piano music]
Alright.
Shall we?
[]
[Julisa] How many people
have you slept with?
[Ryan] Four.
[Julisa] That's it?
I'm 25% of your
sexual experience?
[Ryan] I was always a
relationship guy.
Just-- besides this last
relationship covered some prime
gettin'-it-on
temporal real estate.
[laughs] Okay.
You got some catching up to do.
How many people
have you slept with?
Twelve, thirteen?
I don't know.
I'd have to consult my list.
Where do I rank on that
lascivious piece of paper?
[Julisa] Oh, easily top ten.
[Ryan] Oh, good.
That's what I was hoping for.
[laughs] I'm just kidding.
I'm just kidding.
You're actually-- You're
like vying for the top spot.
I mean you asked
what people usually
do after a one-night stand.
Trust me, it doesn't
involve holding hands.
[chuckles]
Do you want kids one day?
I forget what you
said last night.
I don't know.
If you asked me last week I
would have said yes, absolutely.
But now that the world's my
proverbial oyster, I don't know.
I might just say fuck
it and join a monastery.
[laughter]
[Julisa] Do you really think
we'll never see each other
again?
I mean, I'm not sure
what our options are.
I guess we could FaceTime.
I don't wanna FaceTime,
or Zoom, or text.
What do you want?
I just want to have fun
and, enjoy myself and--
I don't know, share those
experiences with someone else.
[water lapping]
I'm not that someone
else, though.
Why not?
Think about it.
I dated a girl for
four years and, this
is how I am after a week
after breaking up with her.
I'm either in shock, denial,
or I'm a complete psychopath.
I'm not saying I
want to get married.
Or even, like, start
a relationship.
I just think it would
be a shame to lose
whatever it is that we have.
[]
So who's it gonna be?
Are you moving East Coast,
or am I moving West Coast?
We could meet in the middle.
I hear Nebraska's lovely
this time of year.
Ah, yes. Nebraska.
The only state I
know nothing about.
I, uh-- anyway, I love how
absence makes the heart grow
fonder, but those
stories are only
enjoyable from an
outside perspective.
Just--
Julisa?
[indistinct chatter]
What's goin' on?
You were obviously just
staring at that girl.
The protester?
No, the one 50 yards that way.
She had a Fordham hat on.
I was just seeing
if I recognized her.
Okay.
Did you think she was cute?
Did I think--
I don't see how that's relevant.
[duck quacking]
Ugliest girl I've ever seen.
Seriously.
Was it really a Fordham hat?
It really was. Yeah.
Okay.
Sorry.
It's all right.
-You good?
-Yeah.
Yeah?
Was she really that ugly?
Without a question.
I'm surprised her loved ones
let her out of the house
today, actually.
Stop.
I know she wasn't.
Are you kidding?
She looked like something
a cat coughed up.
[laughs]
[feel-good acoustic music]
[]
[Julisa] What was it like living
so close to the heart of
everything?
[Ryan] It's a mixed bag.
I'm sure I'm more
socially conscious.
Could have done with fewer
disputes at the dinner table,
though.
Do you enjoy living here?
Yeah, definitely.
There's a lot of
cool stuff to do,
even if I spend most
of my time in Maryland.
Would you ever consider moving?
I mean, I live with my
mom and stepdad, so--
yes at some point I
would consider moving.
Yeah.
The only issue I have
with DC is it's so small.
That being said, the only
other place I've lived
is not small, so--
New York?
The big kahuna, yeah.
Would you ever go back there?
No.
And you would never give
the West Coast a chance?
I never said that.
-West Coast, best coast?
-[laughs]
Might actually be my vibe.
I don't know.
I'm just not ready yet.
Not ready yet for that.
But the cool thing about my
current job is that if I do
become ready--
I don't know, I can transfer and
have employment wherever I go,
-so--
-Where do you work?
Trader Joe's.
You work at Trader Joe's?
Yeah. I didn't tell you that?
I love Trader Joe's.
Yeah?
I am obsessed with the
cauliflower gnocchi.
Huh.
That's usually a basic
Brooklyn hipster thing.
Okay.
It should be an everyone thing.
Were you there
during the pandemic?
Oh yeah.
I aged ten years and
got paid for two.
That's what I keep
telling people.
Ugh, I can't imagine.
I felt like I was like fighting
COVID on all sides every time
I went in there.
Oh, that's accurate.
I was building walls of
paper bags at the registers
just to block air molecules
from customers in line.
That is the practical advice
that they don't give you.
-It's better than nothing.
-[chuckles]
How was remote learning?
I was lucky enough to miss that.
-Ugh.
-Ah.
Honestly, it could
have been worse.
But I was, like,
so looking forward
to having a real, in-person
college experience.
But at least part of my final
year got to be in person.
What'd you study?
History.
History.
Why history?
I just really enjoyed it.
But it all started
from one teacher I had.
She just knew every
detail about every period,
and she just really
inspired me cause history's
such a male-dominated field.
And you say you're not
passionate about anything.
Hm.
[chuckles]
Maybe I'm just like you.
I just haven't figured out how
to make it into a career yet.
[indistinct chatter]
Let's ask him.
[laughter]
[gravel crunching]
God bless you all today.
What's up, bud?
Y'all mind helping me
get something to eat?
Sorry.
Sorry, dude.
I think I have some ones.
It's fine.
Plenty of shelters he can go to.
Shelters are not really
the safest place to go.
That's not necessarily true.
There's some good
ones out there.
He just reminds me of
this kid I saw once.
The homeless guy?
Yeah.
I like went to this Peruvian
restaurant one time,
and there was like a
10-year-old kid, like,
knocking on the door and asking
for change and I told him I
didn't have any.
And it took me like,
five full minutes
to realize I just turned my
back on a homeless child.
So then I bought him
lunch, but then I
just like left
immediately after.
It was like-- I was
like so embarrassed
that I had ignored him the
first time that I just like,
ignored him again.
And like any
homeless adult could
have started out as that
homeless kid so I don't know.
It just makes it harder
to turn a blind eye.
Go.
I'll be right back.
-[Julisa] Have a great day.
-[homeless man] Oh, god bless
you.
[Julisa] Have a good one.
[running footsteps approaching]
Feel better?
From helping a
poverty-stricken man?
Yes.
I'm sorry.
There are just so many
homeless people in DC.
It's, like-- I got
used to ignoring them.
I know, but they need
$2 way more than we do.
Now I feel like an awful person.
I'm just saying, make sure
your actions match your words.
We don't need any more
lip service in the world.
Natural History Museum.
It's such a shame these
museums are so expensive.
Like, hopefully that guy
will get to see them one day.
Museums are free.
What?
Yeah.
I mean, most of them.
You still have to pay for the
Spy Museum, National Building
Museum--
I'm not sure about
the Holocaust Museum.
Why are we still outside?
Come on.
Let's go. Let's go.
Let's go. Let's go.
-Let's go.
-Okay.
Okay.
This way.
I know.
Art museum's pretty cool.
-What time is it?
-2:15.
[footsteps]
So, were you ever
any good at art?
I took advanced
art in high school,
but it was, like, mostly
just to make colleges
think I was committed
to something.
You?
Yeah.
I was actually
pretty good at it.
I kind of regret not
keeping up with it.
What kind of art?
Drawing, mostly.
I tried just about
everything, though.
Sculpting, photography,
[clears throat] voice lessons.
Wow.
Yeah.
My mom made me
take piano lessons.
She would convince
me to practice
by telling me how much
my guinea pig liked it.
[laughs]
Your mom sounds great.
Manipulative is more like it.
You know I wish someone
would've told me
you can make art
as a profession.
Like, I bet you would've
enjoyed piano more if you were
playin' songs on the radio.
You don't know what
songs I was playing.
Let me guess.
Watered-down Beethoven,
"Deck the Halls."
[laughs] It was "Jingle Bell
Rock."
Thank you very much.
Okay.
You see my point, though?
Like, what kid is gonna
become inspired to become
a professional pianist
through Christmas music?
I don't see that.
I feel like you just offended
a very small yet extremely
passionate group of people.
Well, I'm willing
to take that risk.
You think the artists would be
surprised to be in here right
now?
Probably a couple.
I always think it's funny how--
and kind of
depressing-- how like,
these paintings could represent
an entire life's work,
and yet we just like look
at them for half a second.
We're like, meh, and
just continue walking.
Yeah I just feel bad for the
ones who died in obscurity only
to have their work sold
at Sotheby's for millions
of dollars, you know?
I know what you mean.
My greatest fear is that I won't
live long enough to see my stick
figures critically acclaimed.
The Louvre won't
know what hit it.
[chuckles]
[inhales]
I think he was probably
just from Girls PACso, just want to see if
he recognized me or--
I did not do that.
-Pretty close.
-Hey.
Hold on.
Come here.
This is above Barb's couch.
Who's Barb?
My dad's cousin, I think.
"Yachting the Mediterranean."
I've seen it a thousand times.
Never given it a second thought.
I mean it's not that great.
[chuckles]
It's great.
[footsteps receding]
You gonna remember this weekend?
Are you kiddin'?
How could I forget "Yachting
the Mediterranean?"
[laughs] I'm serious.
Yeah.
I'll remember all of it.
[]
Before we say goodbye, I want
to take a picture together.
We can do that.
Just don't send
them to me, okay?
[Julisa] Why not?
I have this thing with photos.
Without them, I can remember
a trip, an event, or a girl--
recall everything that
makes them special.
But once I have
those photos, those
are the only images
I can remember.
It's annoying.
I feel like I'd be
so afraid I'd forget.
Yeah.
I keep a journal, just in case.
[reflective ambient music]
These lights are so beautiful.
Not as beautiful as--
Don't say it.
-"Yachting the Mediterranean."
-[laughs]
You know how when
you look at stars
they might not even
be there anymore?
Because they're so
far away and light
takes thousands if not
millions of years to reach us,
so by that point they
could already be long gone.
Sounds vaguely familiar.
I just love how they live
on, even after they die.
Everything we'll
ever experience,
everything we've
already experienced,
is captured by light.
So then it reflects off of us.
Like, scatters into
almost infinite directions
throughout the universe, meaning
this moment could last forever.
[]
Oh, wait.
Let me check out this vendor.
Please tell me you're
not gonna buy something.
Why not?
Because buying a
Washington, DC sweatshirt
is the most touristy
thing you can possibly do.
So what? I am a tourist.
How can I resist these
commemorative plates?
If you even have
to ask, I be like--
Did your family ever wear those
Old Navy 4th of July T-shirts?
Do you remember those?
Yes.
We used to get a new one,
like, every single year.
So did we.
I feel like they're in the
same category as baseball
-cards and drive-in theaters.
-Mm-hmm.
It's like Americana
at its finest.
Kind of reminds me of Morelia.
What's that?
It's a city in Michoacan
that my mom's from.
And yes, I recognize the irony.
You spend a lot of time there?
[laughs]
Yeah.
Three months when I was 13,
but mostly at my aunt's cafe.
Just making coffee,
sincronizadas, banana bread,
-carrot cake.
-[wind chimes ringing]
Sounds tough.
Mm.
Sometimes, but it was
mostly just a reminder
of a really happy childhood.
I'm glad you thought of that.
That's nice.
Yeah. Me too. [laughs]
Ryan?
Yeah?
I'm really gonna miss you.
I thought we were pretending we
had all the time in the world.
What happened to that?
Easier said than done.
Naw, that's not true.
You've just got to flex those
creative muscles, you know?
What do you want
to do next week?
-What's your--
-Here?
Yeah. Are you free?
All the time in the world.
The world is your oyster.
-What do you want to do?
-Hmm.
I've never been to Mexico City.
Perfect.
What can we do there?
We can visit Teotihuacan.
It's an ancient
Mesoamerican city.
I've always wanted to visit,
learn more about my ancestors.
That's an excellent
answer, by the way.
-Anything else?
-[snow globe shaking]
Mm, we could go see the snow.
What snow?
I don't know.
I've just never seen any before.
You've never seen any?
There's probably some
lurkin' around the corner.
Okay. What do you wanna do?
Build snowmen in Mexico.
[Julisa] That's not fair.
Why?
That's-- No one's stopping us.
We could do that.
We could go there.
[Julisa] Oh yeah, it's that
easy?
Only if you want it to be, yeah.
Hey, Ryan.
What's up?
What do you think?
No.
Absolutely not. No.
How long did it take you
to get your certification?
It's classified.
Think I have what it takes?
-No.
-[laughs]
[Ryan] Darn.
[melodic piano music]
[water flowing]
I think this is my favorite
place in DC, honestly.
I actually first
discovered it when
I was running cross
country in high school,
and I would hide
here and rest up
if I didn't wanna
run any longer.
Nobody noticed?
No, we had a big team.
[app dings]
What is it?
Uh, my ex.
Oh.
-Forgot she existed for a
second.
-[chuckles]
What does she want?
[water flowing]
[laughs]
So stupid.
Sorry.
No look, it's okay. You're fine.
We just became officially
Facebook unofficial.
It's okay.
You can laugh at that.
That's stupid.
[laughter]
Ugh, no. We just wanted to
do it-- we didn't
want to do it all at once.
So this is just--
Mm.
Right because, slowly
peeling off the Band-Aid
is always easier
than ripping it off.
Hey, at least you didn't have
it posted on the News Feed.
That's a thing?
Yeah.
-Fuckin' Facebook, man.
-I know.
I don't think either of us are
ready to tell our friends yet.
This is kind of unexpected, so--
What?
-I mean--
-What?
Nobody's gonna care.
Of course they will.
No, they're not.
I mean, listen.
Like, your best
friends are gonna care.
Like, Kesang last night she
cared, but everybody else,
like--
You're just a blip
on their radar.
I mean, I don't know if that
makes it better or worse.
-Kind of worse.
-[laughs]
No.
I'm sorry.
You know at least, no one can
say that we didn't give it
our best, you know?
No one.
It just-- just kills me that
all that work we put into that
relationship is gonna be
benefited by future boyfriends
and future frickin' girlfriends.
Ryan, that's not a bad thing.
Like, it's positive if you
learn from your experiences.
Like, take this
weekend, for example.
What about this weekend?
[laughter]
Like, before last night--
[sighs]
I just never had a night
or a day like we just had.
And, um-- like the truth is
there is no ticking clock.
You know?
Like we're not at the end of
some magical study abroad.
Like, there's no asteroid
hurtling towards the Earth.
I don't even have to be
on a plane until Thursday.
-Like, I'm just saying it's--
-[laughs]
you know.
People have so much more agency
than they give themselves credit
for.
Like, I have family back home,
but there's nothing else.
I've all but dropped
out of grad school.
I subsequently won't have a job.
My best friend lives in DC.
Are you saying what I
think you're saying?
I mean I'm just saying, like--
I feel like, for
the first time in,
in a really long time I'm like--
I feel ready to make
a risk, you know?
And, like, figure out what
I want to do with my life.
[sniffs]
And um,
part of me really wants
to take that risk with you,
and, part of me
knows that I'm not
ready to make that choice yet.
[]
So you're, uh-- you're
not crossing the country
to continue hooking up with me?
[laughter]
That's what you're
saying, right?
Just--
No.
I'm not doing that.
-Okay.
-[laughs]
Got it.
Maybe when the bullshit of youth
is over we can meet back up
and make something truly
special, but until then,
I need to know what else this
nondescript dot has to offer.
Look. As much as I hate that
answer--
I know you're right.
You're right.
For us, for you, for me.
Hell, I should enjoy
being single for a while.
I mean, if this is what my
first weekend looks like out
of a relationship,
I'm gonna clean up.
I'm kidding. I'm kidding.
[laughter]
Just promise me you
won't become a fuckboy.
Okay?
-There is no chance of that.
-[laughs]
Should we hug it out?
[laughs]
Yeah.
[]
[whispers] Wow.
Thank you for a great 24 hours.
[Julisa laughs]
Thank you for being a
world-class tour guide.
[phone ringing]
Is that me or you?
I think it's you.
Yeah.
Just please don't answer it.
Hang on.
Let me see who it is.
It's Kesang.
Hey.
Yeah.
We're on our way.
[]
Yeah.
We can do that.
Heck yeah.
Okay.
Great.
Alright. We'll see you there.
We'll see you there.
Alright.
Bye.
Change of plans?
Just one more stop.
-Just one more stop to go.
-[laughs]
[kisses]
[Julisa] I liked the paintings.
I mean I don't feel like,
visual art is like, a medium
that, I feel like, I can
respond to as loose as
with like music or something.
I kind of have the same
thing where I'm like,
am I supposed to get
something from this?
[background chatter]
[soothing synth music]
[laughs]
Say "sashimi."
"Sashimi."
-Wow.
-[camera clicking]
You think Kesang will
even remember my name?
She wasn't that drunk.
[]
I think these were
originally a gift from Japan
to commemorate the
growing friendship
between the countries.
They're so beautiful.
Is it dumb if I thought
cherry blossoms were gonna
have actual cherries on them?
-No.
-[laughs]
I don't think it's not funny.
[laughter]
[]
How are you gonna tell your
parents you're dropping out
of school?
Mmm.
Skywriting, probably.
Or possibly through song.
Two very creative
options, right there.
I like it.
No, I don't know.
I mean, I think it'll
be hard for them, but--
I don't know I think, ultimately
they'll be happy for me.
[]
You know, if there's some--
anything you ever need from me--
anything at all, you
can just let me know.
You can call me, pick up.
[]
[laughter]
I think I'm probably
gonna keep your existence
a secret for a while,
because I think
they'll be a little less
understanding if they think
a boy influenced my decision.
That's probably smart.
It's our secret.
[]
I just don't wanna
think about the time.
I'm not thinking about the time.
-[gentle guitar music]
-[kisses]
[Ryan] You can't catch me! You
can't catch me!
-[laughter]
-Never catch me!
[]
[singing in Spanish]
[]
[]
[]
[music ends]
[]
[soft dinging]
[curtain rustling]
[button clicking]
Is everything all right?
I was hoping to see a food menu.
There it is.
You must be awful sick of that.
Mm-hmm.
[sighs]
[pages flapping]
"I first appreciated the mix of
traditional and modern elements
in my father's whaling cottage
when I was five years old.
Ever since, I knew I was
destined to design mid-century
modern homes with a
flair for Scandinavian--"
[inhales]
[soft dinging]
[button clicking]
Would you like to
purchase something?
Have you ever tried the
Mediterranean sampler?
I have not, but I have
heard very good things.
[chuckles]
Huh.
Kinda wish you tried it.
Can I have an extra pillow?
Uh-huh.
[chuckles]
[seatbelt clicking]
Excuse me.
I'm just gonna go
to the restroom.
Oh this guy's sleeping.
They don't go back very far.
I wonder if there's a--
like a, trick to it?
[uplifting piano music]
[phone keys clicking]
[laughs]
[]
-[toilet flushing]
-[phone splashing]
[gasps]
Please don't die.
Please don't die.
-[phone clattering]
-[groaning]
[water running]
[whispers] Oh, shit.
[paper towel rustling]
-[upbeat bluegrass music]
-[sighs]
I got my boots
Strapped and cleaned up good
My best jeans on and
I brushed my teeth
Shirt's hangin'
Up nice and fresh
I got three days off
I plan to take it all
I'm goin' one, two, three,
Four
The doctor just
Left my front door--
-[water running]
-[phone ringing]
[man on phone] Hello?
Hey, man.
How you doing?
[man] Hey, man. I'm good.
How are you?
God, it's been, like--
what, three, four years?
Just about.
You ready to make up
for some lost time?
[man] Yeah. Uh...
Well I thought I was.
But your flight got
in kind of late.
Yeah.
There was some-- ugh,
some security something.
It held us up for a few hours.
[man] Yeah.
Look, I hate to
do this man, but I
think I gotta stay in with
my girlfriend tonight.
Hello?
Ry, you there?
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm here.
[man] I'm really sorry, man.
It's just-- I got this
thing in the morning--
No, no.
No apologies. You're good.
[man] Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, I understand.
[man] Cool, man.
But I'd love to hang
out soon and catch up,
hear what you've been up to.
Yeah.
Yeah, [laughs] absolutely.
All right, man.
You, uh-- good luck with
your thing in the morning.
Tell your girlfriend
some random dude said hi.
[man] Yeah. Yeah, man.
Thanks. You have fun tonight.
-All right?
-Thanks.
Talk to you later.
[man] Cool. See ya.
[phone key taps]
[muffled announcement]
-Oh! Oh, oh!
-[items clattering]
[groans]
[sighs]
-[gentle synth music]
-[phone ringing]
[]
[voicemail] Hi.
You've reached the
voicemail of Clyde--
[]
[voicemail] What up? Leave a
message.
[phone ringing]
[luggage bag rolling]
[phone ringing]
[voicemail] Hi.
This is Kesang's cell phone.
I'm unavailable
right now, but if you
leave your name and number--
[muffled announcement]
[yearning piano music]
[muffled voices]
[conveyer belt whirring]
[luggage bag rolling]
[train brakes screeching]
[train doors sliding]
[muffled announcement]
[luggage bag clattering]
[exhales]
[whispers] Still open.
[distant horn blaring]
[panting]
[whispers] Yep.
[luggage bag rolling]
[luggage handle sliding]
[sighs]
[background chatter]
[sighs]
[clears throat]
[background chatter]
You want some help?
Not unless you're a medium that
specializes in cell phones.
Where are you trying to go?
Um, my friend's apartment.
The location of which is on
this malfunctioning gizmo, so.
You wanna borrow mine?
I don't know her number.
You can message
her on Instagram--
I have two-step verification.
[chuckles]
What's her name?
You can use mine.
I don't care.
It's Sierra Baderra.
Sierra, underscore--
here, can I?
Yeah. Go for it.
-Thank you.
-[chuckles]
Do you have any sense of
what neighborhood or area
she lives in?
Um, I think she's downtown.
I don't know.
I'm not 100% sure.
[distant sirens blaring]
Hey, we have a mutual friend.
-Really?
-[girl] Yeah. Jamaan Mills.
That's awesome.
How do you know Jamaan?
Boys and Girls Club. [chuckles]
You?
Temp assignment.
We had to do these PowerPoints
for some healthcare company.
Small world.
Yeah. Really small.
[phone keys tapping]
-[girl] Thank you.
-Of course.
Where are you from?
Los Angeles.
LA. Nice.
Are you actually
from there, or is
it like when people from
Virginia say they're from DC?
Yeah, no.
I-- that's where
I'm actually from.
I'm halfway between
downtown and the beach.
What about you?
Maryland, but I was born in DC.
-Oh, congratulations.
-Thank you.
[chuckles]
[tender piano music]
[tone rings]
Step back.
Doors closing.
-[doors sliding]
-Please step to the side
to allow customers to exit.
If there's one
thing about DC, it's
that the metro is about as
reliable as the weather.
[]
[jacket unzipping]
[jacket rustling]
[exhales]
How long are we underground for?
Depends where you're going.
How did you survive a
six-hour plane ride?
I can do flying.
I can't do underground.
Is it because of
the mole people?
They have every right
to be here as we do.
Please stop talking.
[]
[wheels screeching]
Why are we stopped?
[conductor] Track work directly
ahead of us.
Train'll be moving shortly.
They always plan this
stuff on the weekend.
It's nothing. We're good.
Are we under attack?
Are we-- no. No.
Is this a terrorist attack?
No.
Oh, I need to get
off this train.
I need to get off this train.
No, you don't. No, you don't.
Listen, listen.
I need to get off--
You just gotta
take a deep breath.
-You gotta take a deep breath.
-No I--
-Yeah.
-[deep breaths]
-Put your jacket back on.
-What?
Put your jacket back on.
It works.
It's like a tiny
sweater for dogs.
It doesn't matter.
Just, scared of thunder.
But it's-- it's a breath.
[shuddering breaths]
With me.
[inhales deeply]
[shuddering breaths]
[exhales]
You got it.
Yeah.
Nice.
[inhales]
[whispers] Nice.
You two will make
beautiful children.
-Thank you for your input.
-[laughs]
Appreciate it.
-[clears throat]
-[both chuckling]
[exhales]
[]
I'm gonna go look out the back.
Can I come?
-Yeah, sure.
-Yeah?
Cool.
[soft tender music]
Just go. I can-- yeah.
You're good?
Yeah.
Sorry.
I'm Julisa, by the way.
Ryan.
Nice to meet ya.
Ryan.
You think I'm insane, don't you?
-Just a little.
-[Julisa chuckles]
I'm sorry.
It's just this, like,
irrational fear.
No, no. I get it.
It's like when I learned those
trains crashed a number of years
ago, I stayed clear of
the first and last cars.
It was like-- that's
not what I meant.
That's-- [chuckles] we're good.
I mean, you can see.
They don't crash that often.
[door creaks open]
[background chatter]
[door clicks shut]
I'm so fucked.
Maybe she'll message back.
Yeah, maybe.
What if I help?
How?
I don't know.
What if I escort you around DC?
At the very least
you won't be alone.
I feel like it should be
acknowledged that we don't
know each other very well.
No, we don't.
But think about it this way.
If I turn out to
be a total creep,
you can sic Jamaan Mills on me.
And as long as you have
access to my phone,
there's an outside chance you
can contact Sierra Baderra.
[conductor] We apologize for the
delay.
Train's about to move.
Come on. What do you say?
[chuckles]
What the hell.
Let's explore this
whole new world.
That's what I'm talkin' about.
Yeah.
Let's explore this world.
[uplifting, promising music]
This is Chinatown?
Oh, yeah.
The one and only.
Wait, stand on this side.
-Why?
-It's just a thing.
[escalator whirring]
[bucket drumming]
We should search the bars.
After we drop our luggage.
Where?
The Monaco.
Is that a hotel?
Yeah.
You just skyrocketed from
zero to Weinstein real quick.
It's not what you think.
Come on.
[elevator dings]
[hotel lounge music]
[dog panting]
Hi, sir.
[chuckles]
Your dog is so cute.
May I?
Name is Portis.
Hi, Portis.
[cooing]
Love to have his ears
scratched, back rubbed.
Yeah.
Very spoiled.
Cute dog.
Anyhow, our check-in is
not until the morning.
We're actually running late
for a charity fundraiser.
We have these.
-Not a problem.
-Yeah?
If you're okay with it, we
can check the bags for you
-for up to 24 hours.
-Thank you.
And how long will you
all be staying with us?
Oh, we're not staying.
We actually just met.
I'm sorry?
Yeah, he's just helping
me find my friend.
But it's just going to be so
much easier without the bags.
Take that one back.
-Okay.
-Thank you. Appreciate it.
-What?
-Come on.
I thought you said
we could do that.
[luggage bags rolling]
So Ryan, tell me about yourself.
Well, Julisa, what
would you like to know?
Where'd you fly in from?
[Boston accent] Boston.
And what's in [Boston accent]
Boston?
Funeral.
Well, there was a funeral.
-Oh, I'm so sorry.
-No, no.
It's-- it's fine.
She was one of those
relatives you know
you see, like, once a year.
Yeah.
Just weird.
She was so young.
-How did she die?
-Cancer.
[Julisa] That sucks.
[Ryan] Yeah.
Anyway, what about you?
Huh?
What's in DC?
[Julisa] The Women's
Leadership Conference
for Economic Empowerment.
-[Ryan] Are allies allowed?
-[Julisa laughs]
[Julisa] Not that I know of.
The sponsorship program only
accepted female applicants,
but I can ask them at
the dinner tomorrow.
[Ryan] So how do you know your
friend?
[Julisa] We both went to
Santa Monica College
and then transferred to
UCLA at the same time.
How about you?
[Ryan] I went to Fordham,
which is up in New York.
It's a good school.
Lots of white people.
Lots of privilege.
And I really wish they'd
stop asking me for donations.
It drives me crazy.
What do they want me to say?
Like, I would love to give
you my non-existent funds.
Let me just like
take out another loan
and throw it on the
student loan elephant
that's loitering in the corner.
I prefer cheetahs.
Goes faster that way.
That was terrible.
Okay.
Good news is we're not that
far from the next hotel.
[luggage bags rolling]
Now remember, we're
paying guests, so--
just follow my lead
when we get there.
[Julisa] Okay.
[hotel lounge music]
Hey.
And how may I be of
service this evening?
Is everything all right, sir?
[thuds]
[snobby voice] Hello, kind
fellow.
We are Mr. and Mrs. Voldershnout
of the Voldershnouts.
We're on holiday from 30
minutes south of River Thames.
I'd like to enquire about
your luggage storage policies,
as we are terribly late for the
downfall of American democracy.
Can you please list all of
your available storage options,
in relevance to
congressional sex scandals,
with priority given to those
involving interns and/or dick
pics?
I'm going to ask you to leave.
-Do you have any freebies?
-[laughs]
Like, chocolate chip
cookies, or pads of paper?
Now.
Okay.
[Ryan in snobby voice] Goodbye,
sir.
[laughing]
That was beyond absurd.
In a good way?
In a way that ensures we're
not gonna get anywhere
before the morning.
Hey, remind me why we're at
a second hotel again, please.
Whoa.
Easy now.
[phone ringing]
Look who it is.
No, you're good.
You don't need to apologize.
You're good.
Okay. One sec.
You wanna go to a
party in Dupont?
It's 10 minutes away.
-I really have to find my
friend.
-[Ryan] Come on.
She'll be there,
for all we know.
What about our bags?
We could lock them
in this girl's room.
I promise.
Okay.
If anyone steals so
much as a bobby pin,
it's gonna be your distant
relatives flying to a funeral.
Okay.
Well, hey listen.
Is there a place we
can lock our bags?
Somewhere that's a little
less outside, maybe?
-[mouthing]
-Closet's good.
Yeah.
All right. Sweet.
All right. We'll see you soon.
Bye.
At least I have luggage locks.
You've never been to DC, right?
Right.
I wanna show you something.
Come on.
Follow me.
[luggage bags rolling]
-[Julisa inhales]
-[elevator doors close]
-[elevator dinging]
-[Julisa exhales]
[flowing synth music]
-This is fantastic.
-[Ryan chuckles]
It gets better.
[Ryan] Now, if you look
over there, that's--
Is that the White House?
Complete with an outdoor
swimming pool, somewhere.
You never see it from
the side like this.
It looks so much smaller.
I know. Yeah.
I wonder how many snipers
are aimed at us right now.
Not as many as when I whip
out this drone right now.
[laughter]
Thank you for making me
feel less like a cosmic dot.
How so?
I don't know, I mean,
it's the White House.
It's right there.
The more you travel
and the more you see,
the less scary and more
tangible the world becomes
and I probably wouldn't
have seen this without you.
Well trust me, I don't
think anyone's looked at you
and thought, look
at that gorgeous,
sometimes maybe probably
funny, smart, perfect girl.
Eh, insignificant.
No one's ever assumed
I'm smart and funny?
Yeah.
Cause that's what I said.
[app dings]
That's probably our ride.
Oh, god.
What?
Not only did I release
an invisible drone,
but our driver--
His name is Mohammed.
[yells] Just make it quick,
you racist bastards!
[jovial piano music]
What?
[indistinct chatter]
-[Julisa] Thank you.
-[car doors shutting]
[engine revving]
What music would you like?
I have Taylor Swift, Billie
Eilish, The Weeknd, Post Malone.
Can we start with nothing
and work our way up?
Absolutely.
Mohammed, where are you from?
I am from Morocco, but I
have lived here for 10 years.
That's a long time.
Are you here because
of family, or--
Brendan Fraser.
As in, George of the Jungle?
Yes.
That is him.
When I was 11, he was in
Marrakesh shooting The Mummy
with Rachel Weisz.
Me and my friends used
to sneak onto the set
and ask him questions until
security would chase us off.
That's awesome.
How does that relate
to moving here?
On the last day, I was by myself
when Brendan called me over.
He told me about Los Angeles
and the film industry,
and I decided to
become an actor.
How did you know it
was the right decision?
My mother worked at the riad and
my father worked at the tannery.
My options were limited.
But even after living
here for so long,
I have yet to
discover anything that
excites me as much as acting.
Are you acting now?
I'm a stagehand at the
Shakespeare Theatre Company.
Our current production
is Man of La Mancha.
My aunt took me to see that.
You know "The Impossible Dream?"
You kidding?
I fought a windmill last week.
I have no choice.
[Ryan] Okay.
But what if it doesn't work out?
What if it does?
You could be a
wonderful performer,
but people who succeed usually
are either born into it,
or they just buy their success.
What do you want in life?
I'm just in grad school.
You're not going to quit your
program just because it's hard,
right?
Life is about taking
that first step,
even when you don't know
what the second one will be.
If Cervantes has
taught me anything,
it is that the destination
always takes a back seat
to the journey.
Mohammed, I don't
say this very often
but I think you should
really give a TED Talk, man.
Does that mean I'm
getting five stars?
You deserve it.
Well, good luck with everything.
I sincerely hope you make it.
Just remember that we're young.
We have time to make mistakes.
Oh, wait.
This part is incredible.
["The Impossible Dream
[The Quest]" playing]
[singing] This is my quest to
Follow that star, no matter
How
Hopeless, no matter how far
[muffled indie rock music]
Thank you, thank you.
[indistinct party chatter]
[Julisa] How do you know this
girl?
Uh, we ran track together.
[laughter]
[]
Ryan!
-Ryan! [laughs]
-Hi.
Where you been?
I thought you got
swept up in a vortex,
or, like, jumped
by the Bunny Man.
Oh, the Bunny Man, no.
I'm here.
Kesang, this is Julisa.
Nice to meet you.
Thank you for the closet
space and everything.
Yeah. It's nice to meet you,
too.
Yeah.
Thank you for the
closet by the way.
-Can we put these in there?
-Yeah.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Lead the way.
[muffled indie rock music]
Thank you.
Do you have a
bathroom I can use?
Yeah. It's just around the
corner.
Thank you.
[mouthing]
[door clicks shut]
[bag rustling]
[muffled party chatter]
If you need anything, I
don't give a fuck, dude.
Blow?
-Strippers?
-[laughs]
Point Break on DVD?
Oh, that's good stuff.
I got you.
Ryan, I got you.
Thank you.
-Come here.
-[Julisa laughs]
Oh, this is like the best guy.
He's the kind of guy who would,
like, put a kitten in a tree
-just so he could save it.
-[chuckles]
Wow.
That's really nice.
You take care of him, okay?
Okay. I will.
[chuckles]
You know, you two have fun.
I'm just going to check
on the kiddie pool.
Okay.
Wanna grab a drink?
Mm-hmm.
[muffled indie rock music]
We're not gonna be able to
keep talking unless you just,
let it out.
[sighs]
Uh, my girlfriend and
I broke up last week.
Been together for four years.
Are you okay?
You know, it's funny.
I cried for three days straight.
And, I went to Boston.
I went to that funeral.
And, after the
funeral, I don't know
what happened but I was like--
I felt amazing.
Amazing, like, I was an old
man given a second chance
at youth or something.
Why do you feel like an old man?
Because when you date
someone for so long it's--
You just can't help but think
about your life with them.
Like, you think about buying
a house and having kids.
And, it's crazy.
And then before you know it,
you're a 24-year-old listening
-to retirement podcasts.
-[chuckles]
Her parents loved
you, didn't they?
-What's not to love?
-[chuckles]
I mean I know it just happened,
but don't you miss her?
Yeah. I feel this odd
combination
of trying to remember and forget
her at the same time.
It's weird.
Like, I-- you know I wanna
remember all the inside jokes
we had.
But I don't want her birthday
popping up on my calendar.
The same thing with photos.
I wanna keep those photos,
but I don't wanna--
I don't wanna see
them right now.
It's, like, hard.
I guess I'm just
having trouble relating
cause my longest relationship
was with a jar of Nutella.
Yeah.
Oh, hello.
How goes it?
[chuckling]
Good party.
[Kesang] Right?
Every fucking Saturday.
[refrigerator clattering]
About to get crazy.
[background chatter]
Was that a leftover
wedding cake?
-I don't know.
-[laughs]
I was not invited
to that wedding.
[laughter]
So who broke up with who?
Going right for the jugular.
Oh, sorry.
I got carried away.
What's your favorite color?
Green.
[Ryan] You?
Indigo.
You would say indigo.
So who broke up with who?
Well she may have
initiated the conversation.
It was a mutual breakup.
Mm.
You've been living around
politicians for too long.
I'm actually dead serious.
I want to say I wish someone
would have cheated on the other,
because then we'd have
something to blame.
But, yeah.
Nothing happened.
Just simply devolved from
this, like, amazing--
because it was amazing,
for the most part--
amazing thing into nothing
without me realizing it.
It's better that no one cheated.
My trusted Nutella spread
his sweetened hazelnuts
all over every crepe and
pancake that walked in the door.
[laughter]
You're making me
uncomfortably hungry.
[laughter]
So, what now that you're single?
I actually made a list yesterday
of what I needed to worry about.
Getting condoms, getting
a tan, cool haircuts.
-Stuff like that.
-Cool haircuts?
Cool haircuts. Yeah.
I feel like everyone and
their mother suddenly
got a cool haircut.
I've been going to
the same Greek guy
since I was, like, 12 years old.
You know I just, get the regular
haircut because on the board
there's an option for regular.
You are strange.
You know that?
I've been accused
of that before.
[app dings]
Instagram message.
Mm.
Hold on, let me unlock it.
Here.
Okay. She's at the 1831 Bar and
Lounge
followed by salsa girl emojis.
-Mm-hmm. Great.
-[bottle clanking]
Glad she's alive.
Yeah. Me too.
Well, thank you
for all your help.
I wouldn't have found
her without you.
Of course.
Yeah.
It's been a nice change of pace.
Mm-hmm.
[Ryan] Hope your conference goes
well.
Yes.
It should be good.
[muffled indie rock music]
You know, I've never been
to that particular bar.
-No?
-No.
No, I haven't.
But I'm just kind
of spitballing here,
in the spirit of this
adventuresome evening.
[Julisa] Mm.
I, uh-- I would love
to accompany you
to that particular bar.
Of course, you could say no.
I realize I'm still some random
dude you met on the metro, but--
I would love it if
you would accompany me
to the 1831 Bar and Lounge.
-Yeah?
-Yeah.
I mean how am I gonna find it?
Well to that, cheers.
[bottle and cup clacking]
-We'll work on that one.
-[both chuckle]
Let's go say bye.
[shouting in distance]
[muffled go-go music]
-Sierra!
-[squealing]
We're doing shots!
What are they?
Okay.
Half Jameson, half
butterscotch schnapps.
Yeah.
Tastes like pancakes.
Probably not the best idea.
Julisa just got cuckolded
by a pancake, actually.
[speaking spanish]
He's the guy who made
this all possible.
I just met him earlier tonight.
Wait, wait. Hold up.
You just met him?
Girl, he could be anybody.
-He could watch Fox News.
-Whoa.
-[laughter]
-Okay.
-[camera clicks]
-Oh, okay.
Rapist, question mark?
Okay. Sierra, he's fine.
Why did you order five shots?
Oh, I was macking on this
dank-ass filly from New York.
She's over there. Look.
Oh my god. Isn't she cute?
Anyway, she claims she could
drink me under the table.
Little does she know I
live under that table, so.
[laughs]
[Sierra] Hey, baby! Come here!
Yass!
Yass! What am I, a dog?
Yes.
Sure are.
Hi, how are you?
Julie, I am so glad you're out.
Okay?
All this girl does is work.
She's losing her friends.
She's losing her family.
She's miserable.
I am not miserable.
Okay, to Julie, and
her future realization
that it's better to
stop and smell them
roses than it is to
trample on them roses.
Okay? Salud.
-[all] Salud.
-Salud to that.
[glasses clacking]
Mmm.
You're not done, baby.
Drink up. It's gluten-free.
Mm.
Are you okay?
Mm-hmm.
[muffled go-go music]
So what are you
studying in grad school?
Communications.
Nice.
So far, it's mostly just like
requirements, like cognition,
theories, research
methods, stuff like that.
Are you gonna have to
take one of those classes
where you invent
your own language?
Yeah.
I propose a hybrid between
Spanglish and Elvish.
Is that why you're
studying communications?
[laughter]
What are you passionate about?
I swear this isn't a line.
I just wanna help people.
I haven't translated
that into a career yet,
but, you know something that's
gonna make the world a better
place than it is today.
[laughs] You're the worst.
Why?
Because I don't know what
I'm passionate about,
and now you said
"helping others"
and I feel like an asshole for
not having an equally altruistic
answer.
Communicators help people.
Yeah, but--
I think I'm gonna
drop out of grad school.
Why?
Because I don't care.
Like, the thought of not having
a goal in life,
terrifies me,
so I just applied to grad school
to, like, feel more in control.
That's the first time I've
ever said that out loud.
Maybe you have a passion and you
just haven't realized it yet.
Like what?
Like, I don't know.
When I was in kindergarten,
they asked all of us
what we wanted to
be when we grow up.
Some wanted to be astronauts.
Some wanted to take
care of sick animals,
-and then we got to Herbert.
-[laughs]
That is a fake name.
I'm making up names to
protect the innocent.
Uh-huh.
Anyway, our teacher
asks, Herbert--
[laughter]
Herbert, what do you want
to be when you grow up?
He answers, I want to take
pictures of naked women.
There is no way this is true.
I swear to god.
So, I mean I'm sure there were
parent-teacher conferences,
and a secretly proud father.
Ugh.
But, Herbert knew
exactly what he wanted.
So when he got older, he got a
camera, he studied photography.
And guess what Herbert does now?
What?
Well, he manages an Olive
Garden in College Park.
[chuckles] No, I'm kidding.
He's a photographer for Playboy.
Travels all around the world
taking pictures of naked women.
It's amazing.
You know if you want your photo
taken all you have to do is ask.
We'll see where this night goes.
But, my point is, your dream--
It doesn't have to be profound.
It just has to be something
you truly care about,
regardless of what
other people think.
[]
That was surprisingly
insightful.
What do you think Sierra and
her filly are passionate about?
Let's do shots, baby!
I think this is it.
[laughter]
So what's your plan tonight?
You get her address?
Yeah.
She lives in
Georgetown, actually.
[girl] Excuse me.
Can you take our picture?
Um, yeah.
Sure.
Thank you.
-Hello.
-Hello.
Here we go.
[Ryan] All right.
[laughter]
[girl] Thank you.
[Ryan] Looking good.
Looking good.
YGG.
[laughter]
[girl] Okay.
I think that might be good.
Yeah. Thank you so much.
You're the best.
Oh my god.
I think that's the
best one I've ever--
No, there's definitely--
Anyway, Sierra
lives in Georgetown.
Do you wanna get some food?
I haven't had dinner yet.
Yeah. Definitely.
-Yeah?
-Definitely.
There's this place in Georgetown
called Martin's Tavern.
Uh-huh.
It's one of these
quintessential DC restaurants.
-You wanna go?
-Lead the way.
Let's go.
[newscaster on radio] This comes
after a shortage in the US of
Mexican avocados
earlier this year, which is
in part why production in Peru
has been ramping up.
Peruvian avocado shipments to
the US have risen by about 20%
year-over-year.
But Ramon Bernal, a professor
of food marketing at Princeton,
says this isn't really
an issue of surplus.
[Ramon Bernal] We are not
overproducing avocados.
It is just a question
of the timing.
An avocado from Peru takes, for
example, three to four weeks
to--
[background chatter]
[soft jazz piano music]
Hello.
How may I help you?
Is the proposal booth available?
Right this way.
Should I be concerned?
[laughter]
[waiter] Here you are.
-Thank you so much.
-Thank you.
[utensils and plates clanking]
[waiter] May I start you out
with something to drink?
Do you have hot chocolate?
[waiter] Of course.
And for you, sir?
Water's fine.
Thank you.
[laughs]
What are you looking at?
A plaque that commemorates
this booth as the place where
a famous couple got engaged.
Three guesses.
Go.
-Romeo and Juliet.
-No.
Sonny and Cher.
No.
Bacon and eggs.
No.
JFK and Jackie O. This booth.
That is so cool.
What side was Jackie on?
I have no idea.
Okay.
Well, before we leave, I
have to sit on your side also
so I can make sure I
get the full experience.
I promise that whichever
side you're on,
I'll have the better view.
You are disgustingly charming.
I, like, wanna swoon and
throw up at the same time.
Okay.
Before you do either
of those things,
let's decide what
we're ordering.
Mm-hmm.
Thank you.
[waiter] Would you like some
more time?
No. I'm way too hungry.
Do you want to get
the fried oysters?
They're a natural aphrodisiac.
[sputters]
I'm just also gonna get the
tavern burger with jalapenos
and American cheese, please.
[clears throat]
Make that two, please.
[waiter] Sure.
Thank you.
You doing okay over there?
Uh-huh.
I'm just wondering how the
JFK-Jackie conversation started.
I wanna know how it ended.
Did he like, get
down on one knee
or just like, reach
across the table?
Maybe Jackie proposed to him.
Hey, don't assume girls
can't put a ring on it.
Wow.
Hashtag feminism.
[laughs] Okay.
Would you wanna be on the
receiving end of a proposal?
I believe I would.
Yeah.
What would be your
ideal engagement?
[exhales]
Mariachi band.
-Can't get engaged without one.
-[Julisa] Mm-hmm.
After I say yes, I'd
want my best friends
to start spraying champagne
like we just won the Super Bowl.
And, then I'd stuff my face
at an all-you-can-eat sushi
restaurant.
[sighs]
Be still, my heart.
How would your
ideal proposal go?
I would wanna be on the
receiving end, obviously.
And I would want it to be,
like small and private,
but in like a place that was
significant to the relationship.
Like, the place where we
first met or something.
And then as far as
the ring's concerned--
I don't know.
I would just want it to be
something simple and elegant,
and it would remind me
of his love every day
for the rest of my life.
And then I would want to stuff
my face at an all-you-can-eat
sushi restaurant.
That also serves sashimi.
[laughs]
Do you believe in soulmates?
-You know, I do.
-[Julisa] Mm-hmm.
I actually asked and
answered this question
in my philosophical ethics
class my sophomore year.
Unexpected, but now
I'm very curious.
Well, when people claim
to have found the one--
[Julisa] Mm-hmm.
I don't know.
Tempted to call bullshit,
because, you know,
they could have been born
in different circumstances
and I don't doubt that they
would have found someone else.
Yeah.
However, this reality
is our only option.
Can't decide to exist in
another space or time.
Oh my god.
I think our future selves
just walked through the door.
One, that would be terrifying.
[laughter]
Two, I don't--
I doubt it would
negate what I'm saying.
Determinism is action
being a reaction.
We're at this restaurant
because you missed dinner,
you missed dinner because we
were searching for your friend,
and we were searching
for your friend
because your phone
wasn't working.
Because I dropped it
in a glass of water.
Exactly.
But if every action
is a reaction,
and two people claim to
have found the one, then
that couple is destined
to fall in love, I think--
which I think is the literal
definition of soulmates.
You know most people just
reference Disney movies.
That probably would
have been easier.
[laughs]
Okay, wait.
So, if you believe that people
are destined to fall in love,
does that mean you don't
believe in free will?
I believe the
presumption of free will
is necessary, whether
it be real or not.
But-- but if everything
is predetermined
then it's like
love means nothing.
Why?
[laughs]
Because if you don't
choose to love someone,
you're not choosing
to care for them,
and protect them, and spend the
rest of your life with them.
You're pretending
love is ever a choice.
You can't choose who
you fall in love with.
It just happens.
Just like you can't choose
who you're attracted to.
[background chatter]
Thank you.
[Ryan] Thank you.
Um, can I ask you a
personal question?
Mm.
Depends how personal.
[laughs] Are you married?
17 years and counting.
[Julisa] Okay.
So do you think that you were
destined to fall in love?
No.
In fact, I almost
married someone else.
So what if somebody argued
that your choice to get married
was merely the logical
conclusion of events that
were outside of your control?
I'd say just because my
choice was inevitable,
doesn't mean I
didn't make a choice.
I'll go check on your entrees.
[soft jazz piano music]
-[makes exploding sound]
-[laughs]
[romantic acoustic music]
Stars up high, shining bright
You and I, feeling all right
Let's dance until the dawn
To the rhythm of a song
And we'll never let it go--
Our love, so pure and bold
[cat meows]
[]
I love wandering
around at night.
It's the only way
you can explore
a major city by yourself.
Don't forget
apocalyptic scenarios.
Oh, yeah. You're right.
We should also acknowledge
The Twilight Zone.
So when's your conference?
Not till Monday.
You got any plans for tomorrow?
I was gonna explore the
Washington Monument,
become best friends with AOC,
and steal the Declaration
of Independence.
I never do touristy
stuff like that.
Yeah. People often don't
in their hometown.
Wait, where do you live?
[crickets chirping]
10 miles that way.
Do you have roommates?
[Ryan chuckles]
My mom and stepdad.
Welp, this has clearly
been a waste of my time.
Agreed.
You should just-- good luck
with all your future endeavors.
Why are you so embarrassed?
Almost everybody lives at home.
I know, it's just--
I just had this vision for
my 20s that didn't involve
arguments about
washing dishes and--
Okay. If that's all you
argue about, you
should consider
yourself blessed.
I still live at home with
all five of my sisters.
Four of us share one room,
one sleeps on the couch,
and the youngest one
sleeps with my parents.
It's impossible for us to not
be at each other's throats
all the time.
I would like to formally recant
my previous statement concerning
-dishes.
-Yeah. I bet you would.
If I had to be honest,
I mean, moving home
it just, like, it helped
me learn to adult.
[laughs] What adulting have you
learned?
Well I now have a credit card.
I'm financing my
first car for 0% APR.
[slapping hands]
Thank you very much.
I schedule my own
doctor's appointments.
You didn't do that before?
[laughter]
Okay.
How's the view from that
high horse of yours?
Endearing.
So what's it like
having five sisters?
Messy and loud.
There's always someone watching
TV, or listening to music,
or talking on the phone, but
at least we're never lonely.
[chuckles]
That's a legitimate plus.
Yeah and there's other benefits.
It's just easy to forget when
someone's stealing your clothes.
That I cannot relate to.
All I have is one
sister and I'm pretty
sure we're different sizes.
Let me guess. Size two?
-Just about, I think.
-[laughs]
I don't know.
One thing I do love about
getting older is my sister
and I are getting closer
and closer together.
She's six years younger than me.
As a kid, that's like, an
entire eon of human existence,
but it doesn't really
feel like that anymore.
Well, trust me.
Most of my sisters were born
one right after the other
and we always wish
for eons between us.
Toss a coin in the fountain.
I'll wait for when
there's water in it.
I do want the younger ones to
see me as a role model, though.
It's like another reason
why I'm still in school.
I always wonder how
my parents' divorce
affected my little sister.
I didn't realize how
much it affected me
until relatively recently.
How'd it affect you?
Academically.
I had straight A's in
third and fourth grade,
and then I had straight
C's in fifth and sixth,
and then back to straight A's.
But she was like five years
old at the time, though.
So, that effect would be
less noticeable, maybe?
Maybe it wasn't.
Hopefully I'll have a
little more insight one day
when I have kids.
I wanna have kids one day, but
I started feeling like guilty
about it.
Why?
Because I read this
article that was just
arguing that the only
way to save the planet
is to have fewer children
because it makes a bigger
difference than living car-free,
recycling, and going vegan
all at once.
What do scientists know?
[laughs]
I believe it was Sir Isaac
Newton that once said science
-ain't shit but hoes and tricks.
-[laughs]
That sounds like
something he would say.
Yeah.
Why not?
You should talk to your
sister about the divorce.
I bet it affected more
than just her grades.
Yeah.
But then I mean like, we'd have
to get my people to contact
her people, and I would have
to pick out a lunch place,
and then it's just a
power move of who's
closer to the lunch place.
Yeah. Right.
I forgot you're a
high-powered executive.
Yeah. [laughs]
What time is it?
2:45.
Should probably head over
to Sierra's apartment soon.
Yeah.
It's pretty cold out here now.
What was that?
It's just, um--
I haven't been in this
position in a long time.
What position?
You know, we just--
It's--
[]
You have something
you want to ask me?
What do you want to ask?
Can I kiss you right now?
Would that be--
[intimate piano synth music]
[]
[door clicks open]
[Ryan whispers] How could she
afford this place?
[clothes rustling]
[]
[Julisa] I didn't expect this
to happen tonight.
Me neither.
Considering you've been single
for all of five minutes,
I'd guess not.
Yeah.
Something tells me my ex
isn't rebounding as quickly.
[chuckles]
What's it like being in love?
Said one 24-year-old
to the other.
[chuckling]
It's fun.
It's like being able to
have an entire conversation
without saying anything at all.
You've heard that cliche before.
I remember the first time I
told her that I loved her.
We were on our first date
after months of hooking up
and I'd left nothing to chance.
I picked the restaurant.
I picked the table.
As I slid into the
booth, my jeans
ripped straight
through the crotch.
Oh, no. [laughs]
Yeah.
I was so embarrassed.
Hm.
But we were laying in
my room that night,
and all I could think
was, I had never
shared these words with anyone.
My family doesn't
say them that much.
And this girl, out of
every girl I'd ever met--
she would be the first
one I said them to.
Did she say "I love you" back?
Yes.
[chuckles]
Someone said those
words to me, once.
Outside of family, I mean.
Did you reciprocate?
No. [laughs]
I didn't love him back.
Oh.
-Poor guy.
-Okay. No.
Don't feel too bad.
He was like, the captain
of the soccer team
because of course he was.
And, we had been like
hooking up for a while
and, he broke it off,
and then he came back.
Sounds like a real
Prince Charming.
Well it should be noted we
were each other's first.
Ah.
That'll do it.
Yeah, but...
we were just in his
room, and we had just had sex
and he just kind of
said it out of nowhere.
What'd you say?
I pretended I didn't hear him.
[laughter]
I was like--
I was like, what was that?
And he just immediately goes,
nothing, it was nothing.
But I heard him crystal clear.
I just-- I just
didn't feel the same.
Isn't it interesting that
a hundred years from now,
we could have flying
cars and peace on Earth,
every futuristic trope
you can think of,
and we'll still be having
these same conversations.
Mm-hmm.
I think that just means they're
the conversations worth having.
[whispers] That makes sense.
Julisa.
Yeah.
I think I'm falling asleep.
Okay. In that case scoot over
because I wanna be the little
spoon.
[sighs]
[peaceful melodic music]
[whispers] Sweet dreams, Julisa.
[whispers] Sweet dreams, Ryan.
[passing traffic]
[]
[kisses]
[]
[footsteps]
[lock clicking]
[distant dog barking]
[door slams shut]
It's too early.
You're too early.
What?
I don't know.
It's too early.
I have to use the bathroom.
[kisses]
[door clicks shut]
[girl on voicemail] Hey, hun.
I hope you and Steve had
a good time last night.
FYI, I finally told
grandpa about Caitlyn.
He said that although he
hates to see handsome girls
in distress, he hopes
she finds herself
badly positioned on a windy
day, which is about as
damning as it gets from him.
Anyway, I took tomorrow off.
So if you want help returning
the ring, I'll be free all day.
I love you, John loves you, and
we'll see you later tonight.
Alright. Bye.
[exhales]
[urinating]
[footsteps]
Is it working?
It's working.
[sighs]
Thank, Jeebus.
Now I can get rid of you.
[chuckles]
[kisses]
[]
-Condom?
-Yeah.
Yeah.
-[glass shatters]
-[laughs]
-Please take the blame for that.
-[laughter]
-[slurping]
-[footsteps approaching]
What up, lovebirds?
[Julisa] Good morning, Sierra.
Hi.
Did you have fun with
your filly last night?
Mm, was that before or
after your shady bounced?
We texted you.
I refuse to believe that.
Okay, I-- Oh my god.
I also refuse to believe
that measuring cup will ever
walk again.
Okay.
Yeah.
We are gonna buy you a new one.
Okay. Not good enough.
That measuring cup and I
had a spiritual connection.
Maybe you should
try a Ouija board.
Finally, a voice of reason.
Okay.
On behalf of traveling
sisterhood types,
I apologize for destroying
your kitchenware.
Thank you.
Apology accepted.
I assume that includes him.
Yeah.
Yeah.
He's an honorary member.
Mm.
Honorary.
Mm, okay.
What's your plan for today?
Oh, baby girl.
I got so much planned.
Okay.
First things first,
we got to re-up
with my dealer for
some cherry blossom.
It's this indica strain
that's perfect for strolling
around the Tidal Basin.
Okay?
Then, we're gonna head to Ben's
Chili Bowl for some half-smokes.
And then after that, we're
gonna browse the gift
shop at the
International Spy Museum.
Okay?
They have these secret cameras
that look like shirt buttons.
Okay? And if we really
wanted to, I really
-think we could infiltrate
some high secur--
-Sierra.
-Sierra.
-Yeah.
Yeah. What's up?
Is it okay if we, like, postpone
this until later in the week?
[whispers] I knew I couldn't
trust you.
I'm just eatin' oats.
Okay. It's not about trust.
I just want to have a real tour
from a native Washingtonian.
I bet you never even
used a Ouija board.
I will smell so many
roses along the way.
[microwave beeping]
[speaking Spanish]
Maybe.
[sighs]
Would you be willing
to order Amazon's most
expensive, best-reviewed
measuring cup before you exit?
Yes.
And you're not a Republican?
I am not.
No.
Okay.
Well I hope you enjoy
your hormone-induced romp
through the increasingly
vanilla Chocolate City.
[speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[kisses]
Hey, homewrecker.
You want in on this?
Thought you'd never ask.
Literally.
[uplifting acoustic music]
[birds chirping]
[door clicks open]
[whispers] Ah, yes.
Where to?
[Ryan] Don't know.
What do people in their 20s
usually do after one-night
stands? [laughs]
Was this a one-night stand?
I guess it depends on if
we see each other again.
-You moving to DC?
-[jacket zipping]
No.
Are you moving to California?
No.
Okay.
Well then I guess that
settles that then.
Come on.
I just remembered everyone
gathers by the waterfront
-to swap war stories.
-[gate opening]
Wait, did you text Kesang yet?
Cause I'm gonna need my
luggage by like an hour
before the dinner.
What dinner?
The one with my sponsors.
What sponsors?
The ones who paid for the trip.
I didn't know people
paid for this trip.
I mentioned it last night.
-No you didn't.
-Yeah I did.
Okay.
What time does it start?
6:00.
It's 12:00 now.
So what we have five hours till
we, never see each other again?
Seriously?
I mean I have some free time,
but I promised it to Sierra.
Well this sucks.
You're the one who just said
it was a one-night stand.
I know. I just--
I just thought we'd
have more time together.
Well we'll just have
to make the most of it.
[kisses]
[upbeat piano music]
Alright.
Shall we?
[]
[Julisa] How many people
have you slept with?
[Ryan] Four.
[Julisa] That's it?
I'm 25% of your
sexual experience?
[Ryan] I was always a
relationship guy.
Just-- besides this last
relationship covered some prime
gettin'-it-on
temporal real estate.
[laughs] Okay.
You got some catching up to do.
How many people
have you slept with?
Twelve, thirteen?
I don't know.
I'd have to consult my list.
Where do I rank on that
lascivious piece of paper?
[Julisa] Oh, easily top ten.
[Ryan] Oh, good.
That's what I was hoping for.
[laughs] I'm just kidding.
I'm just kidding.
You're actually-- You're
like vying for the top spot.
I mean you asked
what people usually
do after a one-night stand.
Trust me, it doesn't
involve holding hands.
[chuckles]
Do you want kids one day?
I forget what you
said last night.
I don't know.
If you asked me last week I
would have said yes, absolutely.
But now that the world's my
proverbial oyster, I don't know.
I might just say fuck
it and join a monastery.
[laughter]
[Julisa] Do you really think
we'll never see each other
again?
I mean, I'm not sure
what our options are.
I guess we could FaceTime.
I don't wanna FaceTime,
or Zoom, or text.
What do you want?
I just want to have fun
and, enjoy myself and--
I don't know, share those
experiences with someone else.
[water lapping]
I'm not that someone
else, though.
Why not?
Think about it.
I dated a girl for
four years and, this
is how I am after a week
after breaking up with her.
I'm either in shock, denial,
or I'm a complete psychopath.
I'm not saying I
want to get married.
Or even, like, start
a relationship.
I just think it would
be a shame to lose
whatever it is that we have.
[]
So who's it gonna be?
Are you moving East Coast,
or am I moving West Coast?
We could meet in the middle.
I hear Nebraska's lovely
this time of year.
Ah, yes. Nebraska.
The only state I
know nothing about.
I, uh-- anyway, I love how
absence makes the heart grow
fonder, but those
stories are only
enjoyable from an
outside perspective.
Just--
Julisa?
[indistinct chatter]
What's goin' on?
You were obviously just
staring at that girl.
The protester?
No, the one 50 yards that way.
She had a Fordham hat on.
I was just seeing
if I recognized her.
Okay.
Did you think she was cute?
Did I think--
I don't see how that's relevant.
[duck quacking]
Ugliest girl I've ever seen.
Seriously.
Was it really a Fordham hat?
It really was. Yeah.
Okay.
Sorry.
It's all right.
-You good?
-Yeah.
Yeah?
Was she really that ugly?
Without a question.
I'm surprised her loved ones
let her out of the house
today, actually.
Stop.
I know she wasn't.
Are you kidding?
She looked like something
a cat coughed up.
[laughs]
[feel-good acoustic music]
[]
[Julisa] What was it like living
so close to the heart of
everything?
[Ryan] It's a mixed bag.
I'm sure I'm more
socially conscious.
Could have done with fewer
disputes at the dinner table,
though.
Do you enjoy living here?
Yeah, definitely.
There's a lot of
cool stuff to do,
even if I spend most
of my time in Maryland.
Would you ever consider moving?
I mean, I live with my
mom and stepdad, so--
yes at some point I
would consider moving.
Yeah.
The only issue I have
with DC is it's so small.
That being said, the only
other place I've lived
is not small, so--
New York?
The big kahuna, yeah.
Would you ever go back there?
No.
And you would never give
the West Coast a chance?
I never said that.
-West Coast, best coast?
-[laughs]
Might actually be my vibe.
I don't know.
I'm just not ready yet.
Not ready yet for that.
But the cool thing about my
current job is that if I do
become ready--
I don't know, I can transfer and
have employment wherever I go,
-so--
-Where do you work?
Trader Joe's.
You work at Trader Joe's?
Yeah. I didn't tell you that?
I love Trader Joe's.
Yeah?
I am obsessed with the
cauliflower gnocchi.
Huh.
That's usually a basic
Brooklyn hipster thing.
Okay.
It should be an everyone thing.
Were you there
during the pandemic?
Oh yeah.
I aged ten years and
got paid for two.
That's what I keep
telling people.
Ugh, I can't imagine.
I felt like I was like fighting
COVID on all sides every time
I went in there.
Oh, that's accurate.
I was building walls of
paper bags at the registers
just to block air molecules
from customers in line.
That is the practical advice
that they don't give you.
-It's better than nothing.
-[chuckles]
How was remote learning?
I was lucky enough to miss that.
-Ugh.
-Ah.
Honestly, it could
have been worse.
But I was, like,
so looking forward
to having a real, in-person
college experience.
But at least part of my final
year got to be in person.
What'd you study?
History.
History.
Why history?
I just really enjoyed it.
But it all started
from one teacher I had.
She just knew every
detail about every period,
and she just really
inspired me cause history's
such a male-dominated field.
And you say you're not
passionate about anything.
Hm.
[chuckles]
Maybe I'm just like you.
I just haven't figured out how
to make it into a career yet.
[indistinct chatter]
Let's ask him.
[laughter]
[gravel crunching]
God bless you all today.
What's up, bud?
Y'all mind helping me
get something to eat?
Sorry.
Sorry, dude.
I think I have some ones.
It's fine.
Plenty of shelters he can go to.
Shelters are not really
the safest place to go.
That's not necessarily true.
There's some good
ones out there.
He just reminds me of
this kid I saw once.
The homeless guy?
Yeah.
I like went to this Peruvian
restaurant one time,
and there was like a
10-year-old kid, like,
knocking on the door and asking
for change and I told him I
didn't have any.
And it took me like,
five full minutes
to realize I just turned my
back on a homeless child.
So then I bought him
lunch, but then I
just like left
immediately after.
It was like-- I was
like so embarrassed
that I had ignored him the
first time that I just like,
ignored him again.
And like any
homeless adult could
have started out as that
homeless kid so I don't know.
It just makes it harder
to turn a blind eye.
Go.
I'll be right back.
-[Julisa] Have a great day.
-[homeless man] Oh, god bless
you.
[Julisa] Have a good one.
[running footsteps approaching]
Feel better?
From helping a
poverty-stricken man?
Yes.
I'm sorry.
There are just so many
homeless people in DC.
It's, like-- I got
used to ignoring them.
I know, but they need
$2 way more than we do.
Now I feel like an awful person.
I'm just saying, make sure
your actions match your words.
We don't need any more
lip service in the world.
Natural History Museum.
It's such a shame these
museums are so expensive.
Like, hopefully that guy
will get to see them one day.
Museums are free.
What?
Yeah.
I mean, most of them.
You still have to pay for the
Spy Museum, National Building
Museum--
I'm not sure about
the Holocaust Museum.
Why are we still outside?
Come on.
Let's go. Let's go.
Let's go. Let's go.
-Let's go.
-Okay.
Okay.
This way.
I know.
Art museum's pretty cool.
-What time is it?
-2:15.
[footsteps]
So, were you ever
any good at art?
I took advanced
art in high school,
but it was, like, mostly
just to make colleges
think I was committed
to something.
You?
Yeah.
I was actually
pretty good at it.
I kind of regret not
keeping up with it.
What kind of art?
Drawing, mostly.
I tried just about
everything, though.
Sculpting, photography,
[clears throat] voice lessons.
Wow.
Yeah.
My mom made me
take piano lessons.
She would convince
me to practice
by telling me how much
my guinea pig liked it.
[laughs]
Your mom sounds great.
Manipulative is more like it.
You know I wish someone
would've told me
you can make art
as a profession.
Like, I bet you would've
enjoyed piano more if you were
playin' songs on the radio.
You don't know what
songs I was playing.
Let me guess.
Watered-down Beethoven,
"Deck the Halls."
[laughs] It was "Jingle Bell
Rock."
Thank you very much.
Okay.
You see my point, though?
Like, what kid is gonna
become inspired to become
a professional pianist
through Christmas music?
I don't see that.
I feel like you just offended
a very small yet extremely
passionate group of people.
Well, I'm willing
to take that risk.
You think the artists would be
surprised to be in here right
now?
Probably a couple.
I always think it's funny how--
and kind of
depressing-- how like,
these paintings could represent
an entire life's work,
and yet we just like look
at them for half a second.
We're like, meh, and
just continue walking.
Yeah I just feel bad for the
ones who died in obscurity only
to have their work sold
at Sotheby's for millions
of dollars, you know?
I know what you mean.
My greatest fear is that I won't
live long enough to see my stick
figures critically acclaimed.
The Louvre won't
know what hit it.
[chuckles]
[inhales]
I think he was probably
just from Girls PACso, just want to see if
he recognized me or--
I did not do that.
-Pretty close.
-Hey.
Hold on.
Come here.
This is above Barb's couch.
Who's Barb?
My dad's cousin, I think.
"Yachting the Mediterranean."
I've seen it a thousand times.
Never given it a second thought.
I mean it's not that great.
[chuckles]
It's great.
[footsteps receding]
You gonna remember this weekend?
Are you kiddin'?
How could I forget "Yachting
the Mediterranean?"
[laughs] I'm serious.
Yeah.
I'll remember all of it.
[]
Before we say goodbye, I want
to take a picture together.
We can do that.
Just don't send
them to me, okay?
[Julisa] Why not?
I have this thing with photos.
Without them, I can remember
a trip, an event, or a girl--
recall everything that
makes them special.
But once I have
those photos, those
are the only images
I can remember.
It's annoying.
I feel like I'd be
so afraid I'd forget.
Yeah.
I keep a journal, just in case.
[reflective ambient music]
These lights are so beautiful.
Not as beautiful as--
Don't say it.
-"Yachting the Mediterranean."
-[laughs]
You know how when
you look at stars
they might not even
be there anymore?
Because they're so
far away and light
takes thousands if not
millions of years to reach us,
so by that point they
could already be long gone.
Sounds vaguely familiar.
I just love how they live
on, even after they die.
Everything we'll
ever experience,
everything we've
already experienced,
is captured by light.
So then it reflects off of us.
Like, scatters into
almost infinite directions
throughout the universe, meaning
this moment could last forever.
[]
Oh, wait.
Let me check out this vendor.
Please tell me you're
not gonna buy something.
Why not?
Because buying a
Washington, DC sweatshirt
is the most touristy
thing you can possibly do.
So what? I am a tourist.
How can I resist these
commemorative plates?
If you even have
to ask, I be like--
Did your family ever wear those
Old Navy 4th of July T-shirts?
Do you remember those?
Yes.
We used to get a new one,
like, every single year.
So did we.
I feel like they're in the
same category as baseball
-cards and drive-in theaters.
-Mm-hmm.
It's like Americana
at its finest.
Kind of reminds me of Morelia.
What's that?
It's a city in Michoacan
that my mom's from.
And yes, I recognize the irony.
You spend a lot of time there?
[laughs]
Yeah.
Three months when I was 13,
but mostly at my aunt's cafe.
Just making coffee,
sincronizadas, banana bread,
-carrot cake.
-[wind chimes ringing]
Sounds tough.
Mm.
Sometimes, but it was
mostly just a reminder
of a really happy childhood.
I'm glad you thought of that.
That's nice.
Yeah. Me too. [laughs]
Ryan?
Yeah?
I'm really gonna miss you.
I thought we were pretending we
had all the time in the world.
What happened to that?
Easier said than done.
Naw, that's not true.
You've just got to flex those
creative muscles, you know?
What do you want
to do next week?
-What's your--
-Here?
Yeah. Are you free?
All the time in the world.
The world is your oyster.
-What do you want to do?
-Hmm.
I've never been to Mexico City.
Perfect.
What can we do there?
We can visit Teotihuacan.
It's an ancient
Mesoamerican city.
I've always wanted to visit,
learn more about my ancestors.
That's an excellent
answer, by the way.
-Anything else?
-[snow globe shaking]
Mm, we could go see the snow.
What snow?
I don't know.
I've just never seen any before.
You've never seen any?
There's probably some
lurkin' around the corner.
Okay. What do you wanna do?
Build snowmen in Mexico.
[Julisa] That's not fair.
Why?
That's-- No one's stopping us.
We could do that.
We could go there.
[Julisa] Oh yeah, it's that
easy?
Only if you want it to be, yeah.
Hey, Ryan.
What's up?
What do you think?
No.
Absolutely not. No.
How long did it take you
to get your certification?
It's classified.
Think I have what it takes?
-No.
-[laughs]
[Ryan] Darn.
[melodic piano music]
[water flowing]
I think this is my favorite
place in DC, honestly.
I actually first
discovered it when
I was running cross
country in high school,
and I would hide
here and rest up
if I didn't wanna
run any longer.
Nobody noticed?
No, we had a big team.
[app dings]
What is it?
Uh, my ex.
Oh.
-Forgot she existed for a
second.
-[chuckles]
What does she want?
[water flowing]
[laughs]
So stupid.
Sorry.
No look, it's okay. You're fine.
We just became officially
Facebook unofficial.
It's okay.
You can laugh at that.
That's stupid.
[laughter]
Ugh, no. We just wanted to
do it-- we didn't
want to do it all at once.
So this is just--
Mm.
Right because, slowly
peeling off the Band-Aid
is always easier
than ripping it off.
Hey, at least you didn't have
it posted on the News Feed.
That's a thing?
Yeah.
-Fuckin' Facebook, man.
-I know.
I don't think either of us are
ready to tell our friends yet.
This is kind of unexpected, so--
What?
-I mean--
-What?
Nobody's gonna care.
Of course they will.
No, they're not.
I mean, listen.
Like, your best
friends are gonna care.
Like, Kesang last night she
cared, but everybody else,
like--
You're just a blip
on their radar.
I mean, I don't know if that
makes it better or worse.
-Kind of worse.
-[laughs]
No.
I'm sorry.
You know at least, no one can
say that we didn't give it
our best, you know?
No one.
It just-- just kills me that
all that work we put into that
relationship is gonna be
benefited by future boyfriends
and future frickin' girlfriends.
Ryan, that's not a bad thing.
Like, it's positive if you
learn from your experiences.
Like, take this
weekend, for example.
What about this weekend?
[laughter]
Like, before last night--
[sighs]
I just never had a night
or a day like we just had.
And, um-- like the truth is
there is no ticking clock.
You know?
Like we're not at the end of
some magical study abroad.
Like, there's no asteroid
hurtling towards the Earth.
I don't even have to be
on a plane until Thursday.
-Like, I'm just saying it's--
-[laughs]
you know.
People have so much more agency
than they give themselves credit
for.
Like, I have family back home,
but there's nothing else.
I've all but dropped
out of grad school.
I subsequently won't have a job.
My best friend lives in DC.
Are you saying what I
think you're saying?
I mean I'm just saying, like--
I feel like, for
the first time in,
in a really long time I'm like--
I feel ready to make
a risk, you know?
And, like, figure out what
I want to do with my life.
[sniffs]
And um,
part of me really wants
to take that risk with you,
and, part of me
knows that I'm not
ready to make that choice yet.
[]
So you're, uh-- you're
not crossing the country
to continue hooking up with me?
[laughter]
That's what you're
saying, right?
Just--
No.
I'm not doing that.
-Okay.
-[laughs]
Got it.
Maybe when the bullshit of youth
is over we can meet back up
and make something truly
special, but until then,
I need to know what else this
nondescript dot has to offer.
Look. As much as I hate that
answer--
I know you're right.
You're right.
For us, for you, for me.
Hell, I should enjoy
being single for a while.
I mean, if this is what my
first weekend looks like out
of a relationship,
I'm gonna clean up.
I'm kidding. I'm kidding.
[laughter]
Just promise me you
won't become a fuckboy.
Okay?
-There is no chance of that.
-[laughs]
Should we hug it out?
[laughs]
Yeah.
[]
[whispers] Wow.
Thank you for a great 24 hours.
[Julisa laughs]
Thank you for being a
world-class tour guide.
[phone ringing]
Is that me or you?
I think it's you.
Yeah.
Just please don't answer it.
Hang on.
Let me see who it is.
It's Kesang.
Hey.
Yeah.
We're on our way.
[]
Yeah.
We can do that.
Heck yeah.
Okay.
Great.
Alright. We'll see you there.
We'll see you there.
Alright.
Bye.
Change of plans?
Just one more stop.
-Just one more stop to go.
-[laughs]
[kisses]
[Julisa] I liked the paintings.
I mean I don't feel like,
visual art is like, a medium
that, I feel like, I can
respond to as loose as
with like music or something.
I kind of have the same
thing where I'm like,
am I supposed to get
something from this?
[background chatter]
[soothing synth music]
[laughs]
Say "sashimi."
"Sashimi."
-Wow.
-[camera clicking]
You think Kesang will
even remember my name?
She wasn't that drunk.
[]
I think these were
originally a gift from Japan
to commemorate the
growing friendship
between the countries.
They're so beautiful.
Is it dumb if I thought
cherry blossoms were gonna
have actual cherries on them?
-No.
-[laughs]
I don't think it's not funny.
[laughter]
[]
How are you gonna tell your
parents you're dropping out
of school?
Mmm.
Skywriting, probably.
Or possibly through song.
Two very creative
options, right there.
I like it.
No, I don't know.
I mean, I think it'll
be hard for them, but--
I don't know I think, ultimately
they'll be happy for me.
[]
You know, if there's some--
anything you ever need from me--
anything at all, you
can just let me know.
You can call me, pick up.
[]
[laughter]
I think I'm probably
gonna keep your existence
a secret for a while,
because I think
they'll be a little less
understanding if they think
a boy influenced my decision.
That's probably smart.
It's our secret.
[]
I just don't wanna
think about the time.
I'm not thinking about the time.
-[gentle guitar music]
-[kisses]
[Ryan] You can't catch me! You
can't catch me!
-[laughter]
-Never catch me!
[]
[singing in Spanish]
[]
[]
[]
[music ends]