The Affair (2014) s04e03 Episode Script
Season 4, Episode 3
1 Previously on The Affair [VIK.]
You figured out who her mother is yet? [HELEN.]
Think she looks a little like Michelle Pfeiffer, you think? Hi.
Sierra, right? Yeah, that's right.
- How's it going? - Great, actually.
If you ever wanted a workout buddy or a drinking buddy, - I do both a lot, so - [VIK.]
Hey, look.
I think I've lost like eight pounds.
[HELEN.]
You really didn't have to do this.
It's like enough food for a week.
Vikram is very skinny.
- I know.
- A husband should be fat.
- It shows he's happy.
- Vik's happy.
You know, I'm actually starting to understand why people like L.
A.
What do you think about that? [ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH BUZZING.]
Vik? [NOAH.]
Why do none of the other animals stand up to the tyrant Napoleon? - Here, just read the passage.
- I said no.
Principal Wilson.
Don't mind me.
[NOAH.]
So, should I be worried about Janelle? To be honest, I think she's overcompensating.
- Joel, what does "RD" mean? - Anton? He was supposed to graduate last spring.
Plagiarized in the second semester, so Janelle made your predecessor fail him.
[NOAH.]
I want to talk about your essay.
- What about it? - It's really, really good.
So, what I want to know is Who wrote this brilliant essay? 'Cause I don't think it was you.
Fuck you.
I was screaming into the canyon At the moment of my death The echo I created Outlasted my last breath My voice it made an avalanche And buried a man I never knew And when he died, his widowed bride Met your daddy and they made you I have only one thing to do And that's be the wave that I am, and then Sink back into the ocean I have only one thing to do And that's be the wave that I am, and then Sink back into the ocean I have only one thing to do And that's be the wave that I am, and then Sink back into the ocean, sink back into the ocean Sink back into the o Sink back into the ocean Sink back into the o Sink back into the ocean Sink back into the ocean [ANTON.]
All right, so let me get this straight.
She was married to you, and then she cheated with you.
And then she left you for you.
And then she cheated on you with you.
And then she had your baby, but then said it was your baby.
Did I get that right? Pretty much.
Damn.
White people crazy, man.
That is some real - Maury Povich shit right there.
- [CELL PHONE RINGING.]
- Athena? - [ATHENA.]
Hey, Cole.
Hey.
What's the latest? The police just came by.
They said no sign of forced entry.
Her things are all still there.
It looks like she just walked out of the house and didn't come back.
Were they able to unlock her phone? No, but the cops obtained her phone records.
Who's the last person she called? The last person she called was Ben.
When? Three days ago.
Have they talked to him? Yeah, but they won't tell me exactly what he said.
But apparently, he doesn't know where she is, either.
All right, I'll talk to him myself.
Where are you? Somewhere in Pennsylvania.
I'm trying to get back as quick as I can.
I'll call you as soon as we make New York.
Okay.
Who's Ben? The guy she's been seeing.
Isn't he married? [ANTON EXHALES.]
Girl's got a type.
[WOMAN.]
So he messed up.
But don't we believe in second chances? And if any of our kids deserves a second chance, it's Alexis.
Did you know that both of his parents are addicts? So you disapprove of how I handled things with Alexis? No.
I mean yes.
I just Alexis is a product of his environment, and his actions reflect that.
So we're basically suspending him because of where he comes from.
[JANELLE.]
Alexis wasn't suspended because of where he comes from, Megan.
He was suspended because he set fire to a trash can in your algebra class.
Anyone else have a student they'd like to discuss? We need to move on.
- We're not ready to move on.
- Oh? It's only October, and we're at what already, eight suspensions? Look, Janelle, when we heard that you were coming over from Marshall, we were so excited to have you here.
I mean, that is a tough school, but since you've been here, the culture of our little school has really changed.
I mean, all of these rules and these suspensions.
Because right after I got here, Megan, we took in students from a failing school.
Students no one else wanted because of the discipline problems they brought.
[JOEL.]
I think what Megan is trying to say is that you came in last year pushing an agenda.
You're a first-time principal wanting to cause a splash.
We gave your whole nonnegotiable discipline policy a fair shake.
It didn't work, and now it's time to try something else.
When I was at Stanford, I took a whole class on restorative justice, and we were thinking that I could lead a workshop in talking circles.
Restorative justice has been a spectacular failure - in the LAUSD system.
- [JOEL.]
Well, Janelle, perhaps that's because the LAUSD teachers aren't as committed as we are to [WOMAN.]
Why is that, Joel? Because they're not as white as you are? For God sakes, Kristina, enough.
Listen.
If y'all want to talk about alternative discipline, we can have that conversation.
But let me ask you a question.
What would have happened at your high schools if a kid had set fire to a trash can? Right.
So why are we gonna ghettoize our students by tolerating behavior that would never fly at a suburban white school? Are our expectations for them really so low? Now, are there any other students of concern we need to discuss? Uh, actually, yeah.
I have, uh, a student in my AP English class I'm worried about: Anton Gatewood.
I think he may be brilliant.
He's a really gifted writer, but he's angry, he's beaten down.
And I'm not sure what what's going on in his home life, but, uh I just feel he's under a lot of pressure.
So I thought maybe we should all just keep an eye on him.
I get the sense this kid could really do something with his life.
Like you did, Mr.
Solloway? [SCHOOL BELL RINGING.]
Dude, that was spectacular.
- What? - Uh, this is why you're such a good writer, man.
The way you think is so twisted.
What? I-I'm not following.
Bring up her own son in morning meeting.
That takes balls.
I respect you.
I wish I was you.
Whose son? Janelle's.
Wait.
You-you telling me Anton is Janelle's Janelle's son.
Yeah.
You didn't know that? How would I know that? How would you not know that? What, you go home and live under a rock or something? - Fuck.
- Shit, man.
I gotta take you out for a drink, give you the lay of the political landscape around here.
Plus, I want to know what you think of my book.
Uh, uh, yeah, no, I-I'm not quite done with it yet, but Relax.
I'm kidding.
Sort of.
Hey, don't sweat the Anton stuff.
You're 100% right, okay, man? He's brilliant.
Kid would be at Princeton right now if it wasn't for his mother.
What do you mean? I thought he plagiarized.
Yeah, but that's not a fail-able offense.
At least not at this school.
We usually just give the kid a stern talking-to, make him redo the paper.
That is, until Madea over there showed up and decided to make an example out of her own son.
Jesus.
Oh, she hates me now.
Don't worry.
She hates us all.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGING.]
[KNOCKS.]
I wanted to apologize.
Obviously, I had no idea that Anton was your son.
You know I almost laughed when my board told me I had to hire some ex-con? I mean, can you imagine if you were black? But whatever.
I get that it's good PR to have some celebrity novelist slumming it with all these poor kids.
But do me a favor While you're here, please don't pretend to be a real teacher.
I am a novelist A pretty well-respected one But before I sold a single book, I was a teacher for a decade.
A good one.
I fought my ass off and went through months of community service and counseling to be allowed to teach again.
I want to be here.
And I'd also really like to help Anton.
You really want to help Anton? Leave him out of your next book.
- [STUDENTS CHATTERING.]
- Okay.
Let's get started, everyone.
Quiet, please.
[CHATTERING CONTINUES.]
Sharee, will you sit down, please? Sharee! - Sharee, sit down, please, now.
- It-it's bullshit.
- He didn't do nothing.
- [MARTINA.]
I know! Man.
Fuck's your problem? [CHATTERING CONTINUES.]
Okay.
Quiet.
Let's start.
Let's get going! [CHATTERING STOPS.]
Jesus, mister, you crazy? Just ready to get going.
Anybody seen Jaime? That's what I've been saying.
He got suspended.
Don't you think it's bullshit, mister? Uh, depends on what he was doing.
He cussed out Mr.
Nance.
But Mr.
Nance was being a dick, Mr.
Solloway.
Why they gotta suspend him just for that? People who run this school is crazy.
All right, take it easy, Carlos.
Hate to see you get suspended, too.
Right, today we're going to start a new unit: The Waste Land.
So, everybody, look down on your desks.
Tell me what you see.
Looks like a book to me.
Great.
A book.
Yep.
What else? Come on.
Anybody.
Blanca, what do you see? I don't know, mister.
- Creepy old white dude? - [LAUGHTER.]
Are you talking about Mr.
Solloway - or the guy on the cover? - [LAUGHTER.]
[NOAH.]
"Creepy old white dude.
" Okay, let's go deeper.
This is what is called "previewing.
" It's making intelligent predictions about what a book is about based on first impressions.
So flip through your books, and based on the language and the images you see, tell me what you think it's gonna be about.
A poem about something boring.
"Something boring.
" - What else? - [ANGEL.]
Wait.
Look, y'all.
It says right here "ejaculations.
" - [LIGHT LAUGHTER.]
- Something about "impious ejaculations.
" [LAUGHTER.]
I officially predict this is gonna be a porno.
[STUDENTS WHOOPING, WHISTLING.]
Okay.
[LAUGHTER.]
Okay, so we think The Waste Land may be a porno.
What else? Come on, anybody.
Anton, what do you think? Pretty sure it's another book by another dead white guy that ain't got shit to do with us.
Okay, so we've already established that The Waste Land was written by a creepy old white dude.
Why are you so sure that this is completely irrelevant to your lives? How's it trying to hide it? It says right there in the dude's bio one of his major themes is nostalgia.
All about him wanting to go back to the past, when life was better.
Make America great again, bitches.
- [LAUGHTER.]
- [ANTON.]
Right.
Exactly.
When life was better for who? What I want to know, Mr.
Solloway, is why the hell we're reading this shit anyways.
Okay.
Well, so so who should we be reading? I don't know.
James Baldwin.
Borges.
Octavia Butler.
Junot Diaz.
Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Cornel West.
I'll keep going.
Cornel West.
Guess where he teaches.
Princeton.
So, the first time I read The Waste Land, I was in college.
And I could tell it was brilliant, but I couldn't understand what it was actually about.
It was like reading a foreign language.
Completely kicked my ass.
But everyone else in my freshman lit seminar had read it already.
They could speak this language.
And so the whole time we were discussing this book, I was silent.
I was too scared to speak up.
So, one of the reasons why you should read The Waste Land is so that when you go to college, you'll be better prepared than I was.
[ANTON.]
Yeah, man, but why I gotta worry about meeting them on their field? How about they worry about being welcome on mine? Because they won't, Anton.
That's just not the way the world works.
That's bullshit.
I agree with you.
So come on, what can you do about it? I guess nothing.
Why not? I don't know.
What can I do about it? You tell me.
Well, if you want to be heard, you gotta speak.
You can't just sit at the back of the class, scowling, with your head in a hoodie, and think things will change.
Dawg, if we speak, Anton's mommy will suspend us.
- [LIGHT LAUGHTER.]
- Nah, Eduardo, she'll just suspend your ass for being ugly.
- [LAUGHTER.]
- Fucking ugly ass.
Well, she can't suspend all of you.
What are you saying? I'm just saying collectively you're not as powerless as you think you are.
Yo, Anton.
Where you going? It's a walkout, y'all.
Come on.
[STUDENTS MURMURING.]
[MURMURING CONTINUES.]
[KNOCKING AT DISTANT DOORS.]
[MALE STUDENT.]
Hey, we got rights, too, man! [INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
[STUDENTS.]
Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! - Hold it! - ["WALKOUT" CHANT CONTINUES.]
Everyone get back to their classrooms right now! Anyone who does not go back to their classrooms risks suspension! I knew it.
I knew this would happen.
This is bad.
This is really fucking bad.
They're heading into the street.
Get back to your rooms! Get back to your room! Can we lock these doors somehow? No, no, we're not locking anything.
This behavior is unacceptable! Get back to your classrooms! [VICTOR.]
Janelle, we can't just let them all leave.
Fuck.
Okay, lock it down.
- [VICTOR.]
Lockdown! - Okay, it's locked.
[VICTOR.]
All teachers, please begin lockdown procedures.
You can't get out.
You can't get out.
- [VICTOR.]
Lock it down! - [SIRENS APPROACHING.]
Lock it down! Get those doors! [Rap music.]
Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! - Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! - [SIRENS WAILING.]
Okay, okay, come on.
Come on, you made your point.
It's time to get back.
Get back inside, everyone.
[NOAH.]
You made your point.
Everyone needs to get back inside, okay? The cops are here.
You made your point.
Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! I don't live in my fears, I just swallow my tears It ain't all in my head, life is just a nightmare I don't care if you care, I just know it ain't fair Stay back.
You're hurting him.
Let the kid up! Back inside.
Get back.
No, get back! Anton! You stay back.
You stay back! - Stay there! - These are children, Officer! - A misunderstanding.
- Ma'am you need to step back.
Please! He is a child! Ma'am, I said step back.
Come on.
These are children, man.
This is just a misunderstanding.
What are we doing here? Come on, look.
What are we doing here? [CHANTING "FUCK THE POLICE!".]
- Get your hands off him! - Get back.
Come on, how could this possibly end well for any of us? Look.
They got cameras.
[COUGHING.]
[STUDENTS.]
Fuck the police! Fuck the police! Fuck the police! Let him up.
Fuck the police! Fuck the police! - [NOAH.]
Get up.
- Quiet! Fuck the police! Fuck the police! Angel.
Get over here.
Get over here.
Get back there.
[STUDENTS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY.]
Thank you.
[REPORTER.]
But your students are clearly angry.
- They're protesting.
- Come on.
Let's go.
[JANELLE.]
Look, of course we'll have conversations about what led to today's events, but these are teenagers.
They're acting out.
You're a new principal, right? Is this protest a referendum on how you're running things? We spoke to another teacher who said there's been some conflict over your disciplinary practices.
[JANELLE.]
As I said, we are just grateful that things were handled quickly.
Uh, no one was hurt.
Um You're grateful for the police.
- Is that what you're saying? - [NOAH.]
I'm sorry.
Sorry, yeah, I'm a teacher here, and, uh, things have gotten out of control here today, but we're really proud of our students.
They staged a walkout to express their opinions about the content of the curriculum.
Now, come on.
How-how often do you hear high school students caring that much about what they're reading in class that they stage a protest? So, this was school-sanctioned, Mister? Uh, Solloway.
Um yeah.
Yeah, that's what Compton Academy's all about.
You know, we try to raise and create engaged students and-and-and responsible citizens to lead the next generation.
So, Mr.
Solloway, what can you tell us about the specifics of the students' demands? Well, they, uh they weren't too specific, but essentially, they want a-a a more inclusive curriculum.
There was fucking riot police, Helen.
What was I supposed to do? Yes, I'm still coming over.
It's saying 1h20.
Fine, they just eat late.
Who cares? Okay, fine.
I don't teach till ten tomorrow.
I'll come over, and I'll take them to school.
Well, if that's the only fucking way I'm gonna see my own kids, Helen, then I don't mind driving.
Thanks.
Yeah, thanks a lot.
That's really generous.
Bunch of us are heading to this bar over in Inglewood Yes.
Awesome, dude.
It's kind of a divey place.
Hey, when you say "us," do you mean just the teachers - or the administrators, too? - Not to worry.
She never comes slumming with us plebes.
[MEGAN.]
With something like this, the police presence and everything, there is zero chance she doesn't get fired.
We'll see.
There's still a lot of people on that board - who really love her.
- [MEGAN.]
Oh, not after today.
They're finally gonna realize they should have promoted you in the first place.
I thought she did pretty fucking well.
[MAN.]
Shh! Hey, look, it's on TV.
The variety that we see in the student body being reflected in the curriculum, that's what they really Well done, dude.
Did I say I was principal? [JANELLE.]
Congratulations on your promotion.
Janelle.
What's everybody drinking? Y'all were great today.
Let me buy the next round.
Uh, you know, Janelle, I think we're okay.
Joel just got us another round, and tomorrow's a school day, so Very responsible.
Okay, well, if you change your minds let me know.
I thought you said she never came.
I guess she needed a drink.
Excuse me.
Is anybody buying you a drink? I took care of myself.
Thank you.
Hey.
I wanted to apologize again.
For what? Usurping my title? What can I get you? Uh, whatever she's having.
Whiskey, Jameson.
Two? No, just, uh another one for her and a seltzer.
Thanks.
I was just trying to help.
I wasn't asking for your help.
I had it under control.
You did? [BARTENDER.]
Same card you've been using? Uh no, baby.
Uh, this next round's on my friend.
And pour yourself something nice.
On him, too.
Keep the change.
You know, you don't have to sit here and babysit me.
You can go back to your friends.
I'm not sure I can, actually.
Maybe not.
And they're not my friends.
Mine, either.
This is all gonna blow over, you know that? You think? I was on the phone all afternoon with the board, fighting to keep my job.
Then I come here to mend fences, and most of my staff won't even let me buy them a drink.
And then I when I think about what could have happened today, how badly it could have gone So, tell me, how is this all gonna blow over? Here's the thing with your staff.
They're young.
They're children.
Right.
And like children, they want to be listened to.
They want to feel heard.
And sometimes, in your staff meetings, you seem like you don't really value their opinions.
I don't.
Well, they know that.
That's why they hate you.
Wow.
You really don't need this job, do you? You know, at my old school, Marshall, I was beloved.
Like, seriously.
Students fighting to have lunch in my office, girls coming in to cry over whatever fool was breaking their hearts.
I'd do this Beyoncé thing every year at homecoming that slayed.
I'm sure.
But when this job opened up, I fought my ass off for it.
At a public school like Marshall, real progress is impossible.
But at a charter, you have autonomy.
You set the agenda.
I thought to myself, here's my chance to actually make a difference with the kids nobody else wanted.
You know what happens at a school like Marshall? They take in these kids, they keep them till the fall census, they collect money from the state, and then they dump their sorry asses.
They don't suspend.
They expel.
Those are the kids we picked up at Compton Academy this year.
And you know what? They need some fucking discipline.
And you know what else? If I were a white guy if I were you, Noah Solloway, with your with your looks and your credentials, nobody would give a shit about my disciplinary practices.
They would congratulate me for having balls.
But because I'm me, I'm expected to be collaborative.
And if I'm not if I dare to say I have 20 fucking years of experience in this business I was teaching when most of you were in driver's ed, so maybe just maybe I actually know what the fuck I'm doing.
How's Anton? Is he okay after today? I hope so.
He's with his dad.
Yeah, mine are with their mom.
You have kids? Mmm.
Two boys, two girls.
Damn, you're busy.
Well, the older ones are away at school now, and the the younger two, they live with my ex.
That's why I'm in L.
A.
She came out with her boyfriend.
I followed.
I don't have much of a relationship with them right now, but I'm trying.
Divorce is tough.
Yeah.
Can I ask you something? Is it true you failed your own kid? No.
He plagiarized.
He failed himself.
What was I supposed to do? Let it go? It killed me to do it.
I bet it did.
The walkout today, did it start in your classroom? How'd you 'Cause it's my school, Noah, and I'm good at my job.
But tell me, was it Anton? Did he instigate it? Why would you think that? [SIGHS.]
That boy is turning into his father, and there's not a damn thing I can do about it.
[JANELLE TAKES A DEEP BREATH.]
His dad used to be an activist.
But nowadays he uses his extensive knowledge of Marx and Malcolm X as foreplay to get much younger white women into bed.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
[CHUCKLES.]
[Atmospheric music.]
[SIGHING.]
[KEYLESS LOCK BEEPS.]
What? No, no.
No, no, no, no, no.
I'm I'm your boss.
I'm your boss.
I'm your boss.
Okay.
Okay, so it's not gallstones.
So now we know.
I think we should go back to New York.
And you must know somebody at Sloan Kettering.
And we can get an appointment right away.
I-I-I think we should still get a second opinion.
How are you feeling? I don't know how to do this, man.
I don't have a fucking clue.
I'm sorry.
[HELEN GROANS.]
I will get my shit together.
You I'm here, Vik.
Okay, and we can fight this thing.
You and me.
Together.
Helen Can you just drive? [Atmospheric music.]
Mom.
Hi.
- What's up, hon? - Where were you guys? Um we were at an early-morning yoga class.
What happened? I just Mom, did you ever read Anne Frank before? Yeah, I-I think I read it in junior high.
We're reading it in English, and I-I just can't I can't stop thinking about it.
I mean, six million Jews.
- Oh, Stacey.
- And they didn't just kill the Jews.
They killed the gay people, disabled people, Russian people.
They killed them all.
- Stace.
- And then they had these ovens where they put them Even kids.
Stacey! What, Mom? This is important.
So is school.
Five minutes.
Go get your stuff.
Trevor, you too.
You heard me.
- Trev.
- One sec.
I'm just finishing human bio.
And I'm done.
I think I must have gotten the science gene from Vik.
Well, I'm not sure you did, if you think that's how genetics works.
Hey, nature versus nurture, Mom.
Hey, Vik, do you want some eggs or something? No.
I'm gonna be late for work.
Have a good day, you guys.
[KNOCK AT DOOR.]
What's wrong? What? You have that look.
Uh what are you doing here? I said I'd come to get the kids 'cause I missed dinner with them last night and I have two free periods this morning.
Remember? We talked about this 12 hours ago.
Right.
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I guess, uh Hey, kids, your dad's here.
[TREVOR.]
Be right there.
- They gone? - Yeah.
So maybe we can talk for a few minutes? Vik.
Uh Don't you want to? Wait.
Okay.
[GRUNTING.]
[ZIPS PANTS.]
Wait.
Don't go.
[SIGHS.]
Do you think it's such a great idea to go into work this morning? I have surgery at noon.
I probably won't finish everything until about seven-ish, so you should just take an Uber and meet me at the hotel.
What? The gala.
Oh.
Do you think that maybe we could skip that? Do you really want to sit through something like that tonight? I can't skip it, Helen.
I'm being honored.
Oh, can you call my parents, make sure they know where to go? They always get lost downtown.
Tell them to valet, not to be stubborn.
They'll never find a spot.
Don't tell them anything about this morning.
This event means a lot to them.
You have to promise me.
I uh, I, uh I don't know.
If you're not gonna keep your mouth shut, then please don't come.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[PLATE CLATTERS ON FLOOR.]
Vik, wait.
Vik.
Oh, come on.
Come on! Vik, this is ridiculous.
Vik, you have to talk to me.
- Motherfucker.
- [VIK.]
Helen.
Helen? You okay? [SIERRA.]
Oh, my God, Helen.
- Are you okay? - Yeah, I'm fine.
I am I am so, so sorry.
It's just, this garbage truck schedule is literally impossible to keep straight.
But that is no excuse for almost maiming you.
Are you sure you're okay? Don't worry about it.
She's fine.
- Right, Helen? - Mm-hmm.
Okay, well, then maybe this is actually kismet, because I was gonna come by anyway and invite you to something really special.
Uh, next month, I am going to Joshua Tree with some friends, and we go out there a couple times a year to do a moon circle.
Because, you know, the-the autumn harvest moon is a time to really open yourself up to integrative healing.
And everyone is invited to bring her own crystal to cleanse because, you guys, the best way to cleanse a crystal is to leave it out under a full moon.
So it's BYOC.
Yes.
Yes, totally.
It's totally BYOC.
So, do you want to come? I totally, totally don't.
- Oh, okay.
- Okay? Cool.
Cool.
Um, well, it's not for a few weeks, so maybe you can just think about it.
[MUTTERS.]
That was bitchy.
Well, it needed to be done.
Clearly, I am having a hard time finding the right way to talk to you about this right now, but can we please just - go sit down and talk? - I'm going to work.
We need to make a treatment plan.
Look, I know this is hard, but come on.
I'm not getting treatment.
That's absurd.
You can't not get treatment.
Yes, I can not.
No, you can't.
That just doesn't make any sense.
I'm not gonna sit around and watch you die.
Believe it or not, Helen, you don't get to make that choice.
Look maybe you're in some kind of state of shock or something, but I just please, can we please make a plan? Okay.
Thank you.
Let's have a baby.
How's that for a plan? Is he lashing out? Do you think he's trying to punish me? Do you? Maybe he's asking me to do this because he wants me to disappoint him.
Why would Vik want you to disappoint him? Because it's easier to be mad at me than at his prognosis.
That makes sense.
Well, the prognosis is pretty fucking shitty, so, uh Actually, he needs to get angry in order to fight this, so how do I do that? How do I shake him out of this? Out of what, exactly? This denial.
Seriously.
I mean, it's, like pathological.
Don't you think? I mean, I've always thought maybe he's on the spectrum, so maybe that has something I'm not here to diagnose Vik.
I'd like to redirect us to talking about you, Helen.
You and Vik both received scary news this morning.
I'd like to talk about what you're feeling right now in this moment.
I'm feeling like Vik isn't listening to me.
I'm feeling like I want him to get treatment.
Okay.
Let's try focusing inward.
Can you close your eyes? Let's take a deep breath, establish a baseline.
- Helen.
- I really don't want to close my eyes right now.
- Okay.
- Okay.
But I want us to try to continue.
Can you find something in the room - to focus on instead? - [HELEN CLEARS THROAT.]
[HELEN.]
You went to Stanford? I did.
And now can we focus on your breath? Do you know anyone there in oncology? Helen.
I mean, maybe you could make a call and just find out if anything's happening there that might help Vik.
Maybe you could get him into a trial or Helen, I'm delighted to help in whatever way I can.
I will make a call if that's the decision you and Vik come to, but right now in this moment, can we return to our work? Can we focus on your breath? No, I can't do that.
Right now.
Okay.
Okay.
You want to talk about Vik.
Let's do that.
So I have a question for you.
You're very concerned for him.
Of course.
Given that, why do you think it feels so hard to give him what he's asking for? Because I don't want to have another fucking baby.
I'm talking about giving him the space to make his own choices about his care.
If he wants advice, guidance, he has doctors for that.
What he needs you for, the one thing you can give him that no one else in the world can, is your love.
You love him.
How do you know? How do I know what? That I love him.
Say more about that question.
Never mind.
I don't know why I said that.
Of course I love him.
I'm just wondering if perhaps loving Vik feels frightening to you right now.
Why? Is it possible that all this The obsession with Vik's treatment, what you see as his denial Is actually a projection of your own terror? The prospect of losing this man with whom you've built a life? Who couldn't you live without, Ezra? My sons.
Children don't count.
Hmm.
Okay, then.
My wife.
My brother.
What about you? My children, of course.
Anyone else? You know what, I have to go.
I have to get Vik into treatment, and we are going back to New York, and I am gonna get him there.
I don't know how, but I will, because you know what people in New York do who are dying, Ezra? They don't sit around and take deep breaths.
They fucking fight.
Go and get her, what typecast you need? Ride with the realest House more niggas than Camilus Fellas gettin' loose Grey Goose got me gettin' crunk We can take it outside or straight to the trunk Don't get mad at me 'cause my salary Got me pushin' tight SUVs, test who please Burn like hot grits, knockin' down hot hits Just deucin' 22s on the drop top [HORN HONKING.]
So much ice, ho side to the rock Do it real big, better find yourself a kid Can't fuck with the kid, you dig, nigga What the fuck they rappin' about, they don't know Helen.
Came to the club - Helen! - [KNOCKING ON WINDOW.]
Cristal poppin', hendo and more - Helen.
- [KNOCKING ON WINDOW.]
In the middle of the floor Can you turn the music down a little? You a hustler sittin' on big stacks I'm a hustler, now ladies keep it real [TURNS MUSIC VOLUME DOWN.]
Ridin' on big wheels Yo, been in the game for a minute You okay? You want to talk? No, no, I'm fine.
Can you just get the fucking kids? I have to go to this benefit for Vik tonight.
Sure.
Two fucking kids coming straight up.
Hey, and you know this whole nice-guy routine you got going on? Can you just knock it off? Aka the baker, 'bout to make a round like the Lakers 1,200 degrees, you know my steez Ice so nice, make the hot boys please Overseas, chompin' paper with the Vietnamese [VIK.]
I know I have to wrap this up, so in closing, I'd just like to say I'm thrilled that my new role as your chief of pediatric surgery has brought me home, back to L.
A.
This award, and the recognition of the work I've done, it means so much to me.
But what means even more is the work to come.
The work that we'll do together.
I hope tonight is the start of a long journey.
Thank you.
It seems your colleagues enjoyed the speech.
Thanks, Dad.
Well done, son.
Well done.
Let's take a photograph with your father.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
[PRIYA.]
There we go.
Very nice.
And one more.
Lovely.
Okay, why don't we take one with the award? - Where is it? - Helen, can you Thanks.
Congratulations.
Oh, thanks, guys.
Thank you.
Um, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna run to the ladies' Beautiful.
room.
[CLEARS THROAT QUIETLY.]
[WOMAN.]
No, I didn't.
I took the 101 to the 405.
[WOMAN 2.]
And you got off on Sunset? - No, Wilshire.
- Wilshire.
Brilliant.
I came over Laurel Canyon, which was a disaster, and then I went down to Beverly, which was a nightmare.
[WOMAN 1.]
Oh, no, you can't take Beverly.
All the schools get out at the same time.
[WOMAN 2.]
Oh, now you tell me.
By the way, your tits look great.
[WOMAN 1.]
Thanks.
They're new.
[WOMEN LAUGHING.]
[WOMAN 2.]
You have to give me the name of your surgeon.
[WOMAN 1.]
Oh, I will, but he's booked for two years.
[WOMAN 2.]
He must be so good.
[WOMAN 1.]
He really is the best.
[HELEN.]
Hi.
That was a great speech, wasn't it? Mm-hmm.
Vik did very well.
He's worked so hard his whole life.
From when he was a little boy, he just pushed himself and pushed himself.
Abdul and I were so worried that he would never slow down, never enjoy his success.
But now, finally, he can.
And I am so happy for him.
Priya, I need your help.
Vik is very sick.
And he won't listen to me.
He's refusing treatment.
But he has to do something.
If he waits And I know how much you and Abdul mean to him and how much he wants to make you proud, so I just I just thought that maybe if it if it came from you Thank you for telling me.
[Quiet, atmospheric music.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[QUIET CHATTER.]
[QUIET, INDISTINCT CONVERSATION.]
- Hi.
- My mom's not feeling well.
Oh.
She's got a bad headache.
So we're leaving early.
No.
Oh, don't leave.
I-I have Advil, I think.
No, a little rest is what I need.
I'm gonna walk them out.
I'm gonna come with you.
Oh, sorry.
[VIK.]
You're sure you know how to get home from here? I can write down directions.
If we get lost again, we'll stop at a petrol station.
Dad, it'll take two seconds.
Just let The car is here, Priya.
We'll see you soon, Vikram.
Okay.
Good night, Mom.
Priya.
Priya.
Did you not hear what I said? Vik has cancer.
He has late-stage cancer, and he needs to get treatment.
Please, I don't know I don't know what else to do.
Please.
You're going to figure this out, Vikram.
You always do.
Thanks, Ma.
Hand me the water.
Can we please talk about this like adults? [SCOFFS.]
I asked you to do one thing.
One thing.
I asked you not to tell my parents.
- And what did you do? - I had to.
She's your mother.
Honestly, I don't I don't understand your family.
It's like you're all in denial.
Is it just a way of life for you? Oh, my God.
You really don't understand anything, do you? You might as well have grown up in a fucking castle.
You are such a privileged, entitled little You want to criticize my parents? What the fuck have you ever had to sacrifice for your kids? My dad was a doctor.
A cardiologist.
Like, a really respected young doctor back in Beirut.
And now he's a fucking dry cleaner because he wanted to raise me here.
They never took vacations or-or went home for weddings or births or funerals, because every last scrap of money was for Vikram.
For Vikram's education.
So they could send me to college and medical school.
They denied themselves everything to make me into something they could be proud of.
So yeah, yeah, denial is a way of life for them, and all I wanted, all I asked of you, was to spare them the pain of knowing that all that was for nothing.
I mean, couldn't they get one night, just one night, to enjoy what all of their sacrifice had achieved? Don't say it was all for nothing.
We don't know that.
There are treatments.
There are trials.
You're not a fucking doctor, Helen.
I am.
- I know.
- No, you don't.
I have pancreatic cancer.
And those trials aren't promising.
They're desperate.
Because there is no real treatment for this.
There is no cure.
No hope.
I am going to die.
I've spent my entire career giving false hope to my patients, and I am not gonna fucking do it for you.
I'm sorry.
Vik, I'm really sorry.
I, uh I fucked up.
What do you want me to do? I told you.
I want to have a baby.
If you really want to do something for me, you can do that.
[Atmospheric music.]
[QUIET CHATTER, PHONE RINGING.]
We're so lucky to be here.
I heard this guy's success rate is insane.
Can I ask you a question? Sure.
Who was president the year you were born? Bush? Do-wah, sha-la-la-la Do-wah, sha-la-la-la Do-wah, yeah, yeah Do-wah, yeah, yeah Do-wah, sha-la-la-la Do-wah, sha-la-la-la Do, sha-la-la-la, do, sha-la-la-la Everything's old in the world Except for the baby Do-wah, yeah, yeah Do-wah, yeah, yeah Little baby Do-wah, sha-la-la-la, do-wah, sha-la-la-la Ah, little baby And nothing's sun isn't seen
You figured out who her mother is yet? [HELEN.]
Think she looks a little like Michelle Pfeiffer, you think? Hi.
Sierra, right? Yeah, that's right.
- How's it going? - Great, actually.
If you ever wanted a workout buddy or a drinking buddy, - I do both a lot, so - [VIK.]
Hey, look.
I think I've lost like eight pounds.
[HELEN.]
You really didn't have to do this.
It's like enough food for a week.
Vikram is very skinny.
- I know.
- A husband should be fat.
- It shows he's happy.
- Vik's happy.
You know, I'm actually starting to understand why people like L.
A.
What do you think about that? [ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH BUZZING.]
Vik? [NOAH.]
Why do none of the other animals stand up to the tyrant Napoleon? - Here, just read the passage.
- I said no.
Principal Wilson.
Don't mind me.
[NOAH.]
So, should I be worried about Janelle? To be honest, I think she's overcompensating.
- Joel, what does "RD" mean? - Anton? He was supposed to graduate last spring.
Plagiarized in the second semester, so Janelle made your predecessor fail him.
[NOAH.]
I want to talk about your essay.
- What about it? - It's really, really good.
So, what I want to know is Who wrote this brilliant essay? 'Cause I don't think it was you.
Fuck you.
I was screaming into the canyon At the moment of my death The echo I created Outlasted my last breath My voice it made an avalanche And buried a man I never knew And when he died, his widowed bride Met your daddy and they made you I have only one thing to do And that's be the wave that I am, and then Sink back into the ocean I have only one thing to do And that's be the wave that I am, and then Sink back into the ocean I have only one thing to do And that's be the wave that I am, and then Sink back into the ocean, sink back into the ocean Sink back into the o Sink back into the ocean Sink back into the o Sink back into the ocean Sink back into the ocean [ANTON.]
All right, so let me get this straight.
She was married to you, and then she cheated with you.
And then she left you for you.
And then she cheated on you with you.
And then she had your baby, but then said it was your baby.
Did I get that right? Pretty much.
Damn.
White people crazy, man.
That is some real - Maury Povich shit right there.
- [CELL PHONE RINGING.]
- Athena? - [ATHENA.]
Hey, Cole.
Hey.
What's the latest? The police just came by.
They said no sign of forced entry.
Her things are all still there.
It looks like she just walked out of the house and didn't come back.
Were they able to unlock her phone? No, but the cops obtained her phone records.
Who's the last person she called? The last person she called was Ben.
When? Three days ago.
Have they talked to him? Yeah, but they won't tell me exactly what he said.
But apparently, he doesn't know where she is, either.
All right, I'll talk to him myself.
Where are you? Somewhere in Pennsylvania.
I'm trying to get back as quick as I can.
I'll call you as soon as we make New York.
Okay.
Who's Ben? The guy she's been seeing.
Isn't he married? [ANTON EXHALES.]
Girl's got a type.
[WOMAN.]
So he messed up.
But don't we believe in second chances? And if any of our kids deserves a second chance, it's Alexis.
Did you know that both of his parents are addicts? So you disapprove of how I handled things with Alexis? No.
I mean yes.
I just Alexis is a product of his environment, and his actions reflect that.
So we're basically suspending him because of where he comes from.
[JANELLE.]
Alexis wasn't suspended because of where he comes from, Megan.
He was suspended because he set fire to a trash can in your algebra class.
Anyone else have a student they'd like to discuss? We need to move on.
- We're not ready to move on.
- Oh? It's only October, and we're at what already, eight suspensions? Look, Janelle, when we heard that you were coming over from Marshall, we were so excited to have you here.
I mean, that is a tough school, but since you've been here, the culture of our little school has really changed.
I mean, all of these rules and these suspensions.
Because right after I got here, Megan, we took in students from a failing school.
Students no one else wanted because of the discipline problems they brought.
[JOEL.]
I think what Megan is trying to say is that you came in last year pushing an agenda.
You're a first-time principal wanting to cause a splash.
We gave your whole nonnegotiable discipline policy a fair shake.
It didn't work, and now it's time to try something else.
When I was at Stanford, I took a whole class on restorative justice, and we were thinking that I could lead a workshop in talking circles.
Restorative justice has been a spectacular failure - in the LAUSD system.
- [JOEL.]
Well, Janelle, perhaps that's because the LAUSD teachers aren't as committed as we are to [WOMAN.]
Why is that, Joel? Because they're not as white as you are? For God sakes, Kristina, enough.
Listen.
If y'all want to talk about alternative discipline, we can have that conversation.
But let me ask you a question.
What would have happened at your high schools if a kid had set fire to a trash can? Right.
So why are we gonna ghettoize our students by tolerating behavior that would never fly at a suburban white school? Are our expectations for them really so low? Now, are there any other students of concern we need to discuss? Uh, actually, yeah.
I have, uh, a student in my AP English class I'm worried about: Anton Gatewood.
I think he may be brilliant.
He's a really gifted writer, but he's angry, he's beaten down.
And I'm not sure what what's going on in his home life, but, uh I just feel he's under a lot of pressure.
So I thought maybe we should all just keep an eye on him.
I get the sense this kid could really do something with his life.
Like you did, Mr.
Solloway? [SCHOOL BELL RINGING.]
Dude, that was spectacular.
- What? - Uh, this is why you're such a good writer, man.
The way you think is so twisted.
What? I-I'm not following.
Bring up her own son in morning meeting.
That takes balls.
I respect you.
I wish I was you.
Whose son? Janelle's.
Wait.
You-you telling me Anton is Janelle's Janelle's son.
Yeah.
You didn't know that? How would I know that? How would you not know that? What, you go home and live under a rock or something? - Fuck.
- Shit, man.
I gotta take you out for a drink, give you the lay of the political landscape around here.
Plus, I want to know what you think of my book.
Uh, uh, yeah, no, I-I'm not quite done with it yet, but Relax.
I'm kidding.
Sort of.
Hey, don't sweat the Anton stuff.
You're 100% right, okay, man? He's brilliant.
Kid would be at Princeton right now if it wasn't for his mother.
What do you mean? I thought he plagiarized.
Yeah, but that's not a fail-able offense.
At least not at this school.
We usually just give the kid a stern talking-to, make him redo the paper.
That is, until Madea over there showed up and decided to make an example out of her own son.
Jesus.
Oh, she hates me now.
Don't worry.
She hates us all.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGING.]
[KNOCKS.]
I wanted to apologize.
Obviously, I had no idea that Anton was your son.
You know I almost laughed when my board told me I had to hire some ex-con? I mean, can you imagine if you were black? But whatever.
I get that it's good PR to have some celebrity novelist slumming it with all these poor kids.
But do me a favor While you're here, please don't pretend to be a real teacher.
I am a novelist A pretty well-respected one But before I sold a single book, I was a teacher for a decade.
A good one.
I fought my ass off and went through months of community service and counseling to be allowed to teach again.
I want to be here.
And I'd also really like to help Anton.
You really want to help Anton? Leave him out of your next book.
- [STUDENTS CHATTERING.]
- Okay.
Let's get started, everyone.
Quiet, please.
[CHATTERING CONTINUES.]
Sharee, will you sit down, please? Sharee! - Sharee, sit down, please, now.
- It-it's bullshit.
- He didn't do nothing.
- [MARTINA.]
I know! Man.
Fuck's your problem? [CHATTERING CONTINUES.]
Okay.
Quiet.
Let's start.
Let's get going! [CHATTERING STOPS.]
Jesus, mister, you crazy? Just ready to get going.
Anybody seen Jaime? That's what I've been saying.
He got suspended.
Don't you think it's bullshit, mister? Uh, depends on what he was doing.
He cussed out Mr.
Nance.
But Mr.
Nance was being a dick, Mr.
Solloway.
Why they gotta suspend him just for that? People who run this school is crazy.
All right, take it easy, Carlos.
Hate to see you get suspended, too.
Right, today we're going to start a new unit: The Waste Land.
So, everybody, look down on your desks.
Tell me what you see.
Looks like a book to me.
Great.
A book.
Yep.
What else? Come on.
Anybody.
Blanca, what do you see? I don't know, mister.
- Creepy old white dude? - [LAUGHTER.]
Are you talking about Mr.
Solloway - or the guy on the cover? - [LAUGHTER.]
[NOAH.]
"Creepy old white dude.
" Okay, let's go deeper.
This is what is called "previewing.
" It's making intelligent predictions about what a book is about based on first impressions.
So flip through your books, and based on the language and the images you see, tell me what you think it's gonna be about.
A poem about something boring.
"Something boring.
" - What else? - [ANGEL.]
Wait.
Look, y'all.
It says right here "ejaculations.
" - [LIGHT LAUGHTER.]
- Something about "impious ejaculations.
" [LAUGHTER.]
I officially predict this is gonna be a porno.
[STUDENTS WHOOPING, WHISTLING.]
Okay.
[LAUGHTER.]
Okay, so we think The Waste Land may be a porno.
What else? Come on, anybody.
Anton, what do you think? Pretty sure it's another book by another dead white guy that ain't got shit to do with us.
Okay, so we've already established that The Waste Land was written by a creepy old white dude.
Why are you so sure that this is completely irrelevant to your lives? How's it trying to hide it? It says right there in the dude's bio one of his major themes is nostalgia.
All about him wanting to go back to the past, when life was better.
Make America great again, bitches.
- [LAUGHTER.]
- [ANTON.]
Right.
Exactly.
When life was better for who? What I want to know, Mr.
Solloway, is why the hell we're reading this shit anyways.
Okay.
Well, so so who should we be reading? I don't know.
James Baldwin.
Borges.
Octavia Butler.
Junot Diaz.
Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Cornel West.
I'll keep going.
Cornel West.
Guess where he teaches.
Princeton.
So, the first time I read The Waste Land, I was in college.
And I could tell it was brilliant, but I couldn't understand what it was actually about.
It was like reading a foreign language.
Completely kicked my ass.
But everyone else in my freshman lit seminar had read it already.
They could speak this language.
And so the whole time we were discussing this book, I was silent.
I was too scared to speak up.
So, one of the reasons why you should read The Waste Land is so that when you go to college, you'll be better prepared than I was.
[ANTON.]
Yeah, man, but why I gotta worry about meeting them on their field? How about they worry about being welcome on mine? Because they won't, Anton.
That's just not the way the world works.
That's bullshit.
I agree with you.
So come on, what can you do about it? I guess nothing.
Why not? I don't know.
What can I do about it? You tell me.
Well, if you want to be heard, you gotta speak.
You can't just sit at the back of the class, scowling, with your head in a hoodie, and think things will change.
Dawg, if we speak, Anton's mommy will suspend us.
- [LIGHT LAUGHTER.]
- Nah, Eduardo, she'll just suspend your ass for being ugly.
- [LAUGHTER.]
- Fucking ugly ass.
Well, she can't suspend all of you.
What are you saying? I'm just saying collectively you're not as powerless as you think you are.
Yo, Anton.
Where you going? It's a walkout, y'all.
Come on.
[STUDENTS MURMURING.]
[MURMURING CONTINUES.]
[KNOCKING AT DISTANT DOORS.]
[MALE STUDENT.]
Hey, we got rights, too, man! [INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
[STUDENTS.]
Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! - Hold it! - ["WALKOUT" CHANT CONTINUES.]
Everyone get back to their classrooms right now! Anyone who does not go back to their classrooms risks suspension! I knew it.
I knew this would happen.
This is bad.
This is really fucking bad.
They're heading into the street.
Get back to your rooms! Get back to your room! Can we lock these doors somehow? No, no, we're not locking anything.
This behavior is unacceptable! Get back to your classrooms! [VICTOR.]
Janelle, we can't just let them all leave.
Fuck.
Okay, lock it down.
- [VICTOR.]
Lockdown! - Okay, it's locked.
[VICTOR.]
All teachers, please begin lockdown procedures.
You can't get out.
You can't get out.
- [VICTOR.]
Lock it down! - [SIRENS APPROACHING.]
Lock it down! Get those doors! [Rap music.]
Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! - Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! - [SIRENS WAILING.]
Okay, okay, come on.
Come on, you made your point.
It's time to get back.
Get back inside, everyone.
[NOAH.]
You made your point.
Everyone needs to get back inside, okay? The cops are here.
You made your point.
Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! Walkout! I don't live in my fears, I just swallow my tears It ain't all in my head, life is just a nightmare I don't care if you care, I just know it ain't fair Stay back.
You're hurting him.
Let the kid up! Back inside.
Get back.
No, get back! Anton! You stay back.
You stay back! - Stay there! - These are children, Officer! - A misunderstanding.
- Ma'am you need to step back.
Please! He is a child! Ma'am, I said step back.
Come on.
These are children, man.
This is just a misunderstanding.
What are we doing here? Come on, look.
What are we doing here? [CHANTING "FUCK THE POLICE!".]
- Get your hands off him! - Get back.
Come on, how could this possibly end well for any of us? Look.
They got cameras.
[COUGHING.]
[STUDENTS.]
Fuck the police! Fuck the police! Fuck the police! Let him up.
Fuck the police! Fuck the police! - [NOAH.]
Get up.
- Quiet! Fuck the police! Fuck the police! Angel.
Get over here.
Get over here.
Get back there.
[STUDENTS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY.]
Thank you.
[REPORTER.]
But your students are clearly angry.
- They're protesting.
- Come on.
Let's go.
[JANELLE.]
Look, of course we'll have conversations about what led to today's events, but these are teenagers.
They're acting out.
You're a new principal, right? Is this protest a referendum on how you're running things? We spoke to another teacher who said there's been some conflict over your disciplinary practices.
[JANELLE.]
As I said, we are just grateful that things were handled quickly.
Uh, no one was hurt.
Um You're grateful for the police.
- Is that what you're saying? - [NOAH.]
I'm sorry.
Sorry, yeah, I'm a teacher here, and, uh, things have gotten out of control here today, but we're really proud of our students.
They staged a walkout to express their opinions about the content of the curriculum.
Now, come on.
How-how often do you hear high school students caring that much about what they're reading in class that they stage a protest? So, this was school-sanctioned, Mister? Uh, Solloway.
Um yeah.
Yeah, that's what Compton Academy's all about.
You know, we try to raise and create engaged students and-and-and responsible citizens to lead the next generation.
So, Mr.
Solloway, what can you tell us about the specifics of the students' demands? Well, they, uh they weren't too specific, but essentially, they want a-a a more inclusive curriculum.
There was fucking riot police, Helen.
What was I supposed to do? Yes, I'm still coming over.
It's saying 1h20.
Fine, they just eat late.
Who cares? Okay, fine.
I don't teach till ten tomorrow.
I'll come over, and I'll take them to school.
Well, if that's the only fucking way I'm gonna see my own kids, Helen, then I don't mind driving.
Thanks.
Yeah, thanks a lot.
That's really generous.
Bunch of us are heading to this bar over in Inglewood Yes.
Awesome, dude.
It's kind of a divey place.
Hey, when you say "us," do you mean just the teachers - or the administrators, too? - Not to worry.
She never comes slumming with us plebes.
[MEGAN.]
With something like this, the police presence and everything, there is zero chance she doesn't get fired.
We'll see.
There's still a lot of people on that board - who really love her.
- [MEGAN.]
Oh, not after today.
They're finally gonna realize they should have promoted you in the first place.
I thought she did pretty fucking well.
[MAN.]
Shh! Hey, look, it's on TV.
The variety that we see in the student body being reflected in the curriculum, that's what they really Well done, dude.
Did I say I was principal? [JANELLE.]
Congratulations on your promotion.
Janelle.
What's everybody drinking? Y'all were great today.
Let me buy the next round.
Uh, you know, Janelle, I think we're okay.
Joel just got us another round, and tomorrow's a school day, so Very responsible.
Okay, well, if you change your minds let me know.
I thought you said she never came.
I guess she needed a drink.
Excuse me.
Is anybody buying you a drink? I took care of myself.
Thank you.
Hey.
I wanted to apologize again.
For what? Usurping my title? What can I get you? Uh, whatever she's having.
Whiskey, Jameson.
Two? No, just, uh another one for her and a seltzer.
Thanks.
I was just trying to help.
I wasn't asking for your help.
I had it under control.
You did? [BARTENDER.]
Same card you've been using? Uh no, baby.
Uh, this next round's on my friend.
And pour yourself something nice.
On him, too.
Keep the change.
You know, you don't have to sit here and babysit me.
You can go back to your friends.
I'm not sure I can, actually.
Maybe not.
And they're not my friends.
Mine, either.
This is all gonna blow over, you know that? You think? I was on the phone all afternoon with the board, fighting to keep my job.
Then I come here to mend fences, and most of my staff won't even let me buy them a drink.
And then I when I think about what could have happened today, how badly it could have gone So, tell me, how is this all gonna blow over? Here's the thing with your staff.
They're young.
They're children.
Right.
And like children, they want to be listened to.
They want to feel heard.
And sometimes, in your staff meetings, you seem like you don't really value their opinions.
I don't.
Well, they know that.
That's why they hate you.
Wow.
You really don't need this job, do you? You know, at my old school, Marshall, I was beloved.
Like, seriously.
Students fighting to have lunch in my office, girls coming in to cry over whatever fool was breaking their hearts.
I'd do this Beyoncé thing every year at homecoming that slayed.
I'm sure.
But when this job opened up, I fought my ass off for it.
At a public school like Marshall, real progress is impossible.
But at a charter, you have autonomy.
You set the agenda.
I thought to myself, here's my chance to actually make a difference with the kids nobody else wanted.
You know what happens at a school like Marshall? They take in these kids, they keep them till the fall census, they collect money from the state, and then they dump their sorry asses.
They don't suspend.
They expel.
Those are the kids we picked up at Compton Academy this year.
And you know what? They need some fucking discipline.
And you know what else? If I were a white guy if I were you, Noah Solloway, with your with your looks and your credentials, nobody would give a shit about my disciplinary practices.
They would congratulate me for having balls.
But because I'm me, I'm expected to be collaborative.
And if I'm not if I dare to say I have 20 fucking years of experience in this business I was teaching when most of you were in driver's ed, so maybe just maybe I actually know what the fuck I'm doing.
How's Anton? Is he okay after today? I hope so.
He's with his dad.
Yeah, mine are with their mom.
You have kids? Mmm.
Two boys, two girls.
Damn, you're busy.
Well, the older ones are away at school now, and the the younger two, they live with my ex.
That's why I'm in L.
A.
She came out with her boyfriend.
I followed.
I don't have much of a relationship with them right now, but I'm trying.
Divorce is tough.
Yeah.
Can I ask you something? Is it true you failed your own kid? No.
He plagiarized.
He failed himself.
What was I supposed to do? Let it go? It killed me to do it.
I bet it did.
The walkout today, did it start in your classroom? How'd you 'Cause it's my school, Noah, and I'm good at my job.
But tell me, was it Anton? Did he instigate it? Why would you think that? [SIGHS.]
That boy is turning into his father, and there's not a damn thing I can do about it.
[JANELLE TAKES A DEEP BREATH.]
His dad used to be an activist.
But nowadays he uses his extensive knowledge of Marx and Malcolm X as foreplay to get much younger white women into bed.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
[CHUCKLES.]
[Atmospheric music.]
[SIGHING.]
[KEYLESS LOCK BEEPS.]
What? No, no.
No, no, no, no, no.
I'm I'm your boss.
I'm your boss.
I'm your boss.
Okay.
Okay, so it's not gallstones.
So now we know.
I think we should go back to New York.
And you must know somebody at Sloan Kettering.
And we can get an appointment right away.
I-I-I think we should still get a second opinion.
How are you feeling? I don't know how to do this, man.
I don't have a fucking clue.
I'm sorry.
[HELEN GROANS.]
I will get my shit together.
You I'm here, Vik.
Okay, and we can fight this thing.
You and me.
Together.
Helen Can you just drive? [Atmospheric music.]
Mom.
Hi.
- What's up, hon? - Where were you guys? Um we were at an early-morning yoga class.
What happened? I just Mom, did you ever read Anne Frank before? Yeah, I-I think I read it in junior high.
We're reading it in English, and I-I just can't I can't stop thinking about it.
I mean, six million Jews.
- Oh, Stacey.
- And they didn't just kill the Jews.
They killed the gay people, disabled people, Russian people.
They killed them all.
- Stace.
- And then they had these ovens where they put them Even kids.
Stacey! What, Mom? This is important.
So is school.
Five minutes.
Go get your stuff.
Trevor, you too.
You heard me.
- Trev.
- One sec.
I'm just finishing human bio.
And I'm done.
I think I must have gotten the science gene from Vik.
Well, I'm not sure you did, if you think that's how genetics works.
Hey, nature versus nurture, Mom.
Hey, Vik, do you want some eggs or something? No.
I'm gonna be late for work.
Have a good day, you guys.
[KNOCK AT DOOR.]
What's wrong? What? You have that look.
Uh what are you doing here? I said I'd come to get the kids 'cause I missed dinner with them last night and I have two free periods this morning.
Remember? We talked about this 12 hours ago.
Right.
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I guess, uh Hey, kids, your dad's here.
[TREVOR.]
Be right there.
- They gone? - Yeah.
So maybe we can talk for a few minutes? Vik.
Uh Don't you want to? Wait.
Okay.
[GRUNTING.]
[ZIPS PANTS.]
Wait.
Don't go.
[SIGHS.]
Do you think it's such a great idea to go into work this morning? I have surgery at noon.
I probably won't finish everything until about seven-ish, so you should just take an Uber and meet me at the hotel.
What? The gala.
Oh.
Do you think that maybe we could skip that? Do you really want to sit through something like that tonight? I can't skip it, Helen.
I'm being honored.
Oh, can you call my parents, make sure they know where to go? They always get lost downtown.
Tell them to valet, not to be stubborn.
They'll never find a spot.
Don't tell them anything about this morning.
This event means a lot to them.
You have to promise me.
I uh, I, uh I don't know.
If you're not gonna keep your mouth shut, then please don't come.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[PLATE CLATTERS ON FLOOR.]
Vik, wait.
Vik.
Oh, come on.
Come on! Vik, this is ridiculous.
Vik, you have to talk to me.
- Motherfucker.
- [VIK.]
Helen.
Helen? You okay? [SIERRA.]
Oh, my God, Helen.
- Are you okay? - Yeah, I'm fine.
I am I am so, so sorry.
It's just, this garbage truck schedule is literally impossible to keep straight.
But that is no excuse for almost maiming you.
Are you sure you're okay? Don't worry about it.
She's fine.
- Right, Helen? - Mm-hmm.
Okay, well, then maybe this is actually kismet, because I was gonna come by anyway and invite you to something really special.
Uh, next month, I am going to Joshua Tree with some friends, and we go out there a couple times a year to do a moon circle.
Because, you know, the-the autumn harvest moon is a time to really open yourself up to integrative healing.
And everyone is invited to bring her own crystal to cleanse because, you guys, the best way to cleanse a crystal is to leave it out under a full moon.
So it's BYOC.
Yes.
Yes, totally.
It's totally BYOC.
So, do you want to come? I totally, totally don't.
- Oh, okay.
- Okay? Cool.
Cool.
Um, well, it's not for a few weeks, so maybe you can just think about it.
[MUTTERS.]
That was bitchy.
Well, it needed to be done.
Clearly, I am having a hard time finding the right way to talk to you about this right now, but can we please just - go sit down and talk? - I'm going to work.
We need to make a treatment plan.
Look, I know this is hard, but come on.
I'm not getting treatment.
That's absurd.
You can't not get treatment.
Yes, I can not.
No, you can't.
That just doesn't make any sense.
I'm not gonna sit around and watch you die.
Believe it or not, Helen, you don't get to make that choice.
Look maybe you're in some kind of state of shock or something, but I just please, can we please make a plan? Okay.
Thank you.
Let's have a baby.
How's that for a plan? Is he lashing out? Do you think he's trying to punish me? Do you? Maybe he's asking me to do this because he wants me to disappoint him.
Why would Vik want you to disappoint him? Because it's easier to be mad at me than at his prognosis.
That makes sense.
Well, the prognosis is pretty fucking shitty, so, uh Actually, he needs to get angry in order to fight this, so how do I do that? How do I shake him out of this? Out of what, exactly? This denial.
Seriously.
I mean, it's, like pathological.
Don't you think? I mean, I've always thought maybe he's on the spectrum, so maybe that has something I'm not here to diagnose Vik.
I'd like to redirect us to talking about you, Helen.
You and Vik both received scary news this morning.
I'd like to talk about what you're feeling right now in this moment.
I'm feeling like Vik isn't listening to me.
I'm feeling like I want him to get treatment.
Okay.
Let's try focusing inward.
Can you close your eyes? Let's take a deep breath, establish a baseline.
- Helen.
- I really don't want to close my eyes right now.
- Okay.
- Okay.
But I want us to try to continue.
Can you find something in the room - to focus on instead? - [HELEN CLEARS THROAT.]
[HELEN.]
You went to Stanford? I did.
And now can we focus on your breath? Do you know anyone there in oncology? Helen.
I mean, maybe you could make a call and just find out if anything's happening there that might help Vik.
Maybe you could get him into a trial or Helen, I'm delighted to help in whatever way I can.
I will make a call if that's the decision you and Vik come to, but right now in this moment, can we return to our work? Can we focus on your breath? No, I can't do that.
Right now.
Okay.
Okay.
You want to talk about Vik.
Let's do that.
So I have a question for you.
You're very concerned for him.
Of course.
Given that, why do you think it feels so hard to give him what he's asking for? Because I don't want to have another fucking baby.
I'm talking about giving him the space to make his own choices about his care.
If he wants advice, guidance, he has doctors for that.
What he needs you for, the one thing you can give him that no one else in the world can, is your love.
You love him.
How do you know? How do I know what? That I love him.
Say more about that question.
Never mind.
I don't know why I said that.
Of course I love him.
I'm just wondering if perhaps loving Vik feels frightening to you right now.
Why? Is it possible that all this The obsession with Vik's treatment, what you see as his denial Is actually a projection of your own terror? The prospect of losing this man with whom you've built a life? Who couldn't you live without, Ezra? My sons.
Children don't count.
Hmm.
Okay, then.
My wife.
My brother.
What about you? My children, of course.
Anyone else? You know what, I have to go.
I have to get Vik into treatment, and we are going back to New York, and I am gonna get him there.
I don't know how, but I will, because you know what people in New York do who are dying, Ezra? They don't sit around and take deep breaths.
They fucking fight.
Go and get her, what typecast you need? Ride with the realest House more niggas than Camilus Fellas gettin' loose Grey Goose got me gettin' crunk We can take it outside or straight to the trunk Don't get mad at me 'cause my salary Got me pushin' tight SUVs, test who please Burn like hot grits, knockin' down hot hits Just deucin' 22s on the drop top [HORN HONKING.]
So much ice, ho side to the rock Do it real big, better find yourself a kid Can't fuck with the kid, you dig, nigga What the fuck they rappin' about, they don't know Helen.
Came to the club - Helen! - [KNOCKING ON WINDOW.]
Cristal poppin', hendo and more - Helen.
- [KNOCKING ON WINDOW.]
In the middle of the floor Can you turn the music down a little? You a hustler sittin' on big stacks I'm a hustler, now ladies keep it real [TURNS MUSIC VOLUME DOWN.]
Ridin' on big wheels Yo, been in the game for a minute You okay? You want to talk? No, no, I'm fine.
Can you just get the fucking kids? I have to go to this benefit for Vik tonight.
Sure.
Two fucking kids coming straight up.
Hey, and you know this whole nice-guy routine you got going on? Can you just knock it off? Aka the baker, 'bout to make a round like the Lakers 1,200 degrees, you know my steez Ice so nice, make the hot boys please Overseas, chompin' paper with the Vietnamese [VIK.]
I know I have to wrap this up, so in closing, I'd just like to say I'm thrilled that my new role as your chief of pediatric surgery has brought me home, back to L.
A.
This award, and the recognition of the work I've done, it means so much to me.
But what means even more is the work to come.
The work that we'll do together.
I hope tonight is the start of a long journey.
Thank you.
It seems your colleagues enjoyed the speech.
Thanks, Dad.
Well done, son.
Well done.
Let's take a photograph with your father.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
[PRIYA.]
There we go.
Very nice.
And one more.
Lovely.
Okay, why don't we take one with the award? - Where is it? - Helen, can you Thanks.
Congratulations.
Oh, thanks, guys.
Thank you.
Um, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna run to the ladies' Beautiful.
room.
[CLEARS THROAT QUIETLY.]
[WOMAN.]
No, I didn't.
I took the 101 to the 405.
[WOMAN 2.]
And you got off on Sunset? - No, Wilshire.
- Wilshire.
Brilliant.
I came over Laurel Canyon, which was a disaster, and then I went down to Beverly, which was a nightmare.
[WOMAN 1.]
Oh, no, you can't take Beverly.
All the schools get out at the same time.
[WOMAN 2.]
Oh, now you tell me.
By the way, your tits look great.
[WOMAN 1.]
Thanks.
They're new.
[WOMEN LAUGHING.]
[WOMAN 2.]
You have to give me the name of your surgeon.
[WOMAN 1.]
Oh, I will, but he's booked for two years.
[WOMAN 2.]
He must be so good.
[WOMAN 1.]
He really is the best.
[HELEN.]
Hi.
That was a great speech, wasn't it? Mm-hmm.
Vik did very well.
He's worked so hard his whole life.
From when he was a little boy, he just pushed himself and pushed himself.
Abdul and I were so worried that he would never slow down, never enjoy his success.
But now, finally, he can.
And I am so happy for him.
Priya, I need your help.
Vik is very sick.
And he won't listen to me.
He's refusing treatment.
But he has to do something.
If he waits And I know how much you and Abdul mean to him and how much he wants to make you proud, so I just I just thought that maybe if it if it came from you Thank you for telling me.
[Quiet, atmospheric music.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[QUIET CHATTER.]
[QUIET, INDISTINCT CONVERSATION.]
- Hi.
- My mom's not feeling well.
Oh.
She's got a bad headache.
So we're leaving early.
No.
Oh, don't leave.
I-I have Advil, I think.
No, a little rest is what I need.
I'm gonna walk them out.
I'm gonna come with you.
Oh, sorry.
[VIK.]
You're sure you know how to get home from here? I can write down directions.
If we get lost again, we'll stop at a petrol station.
Dad, it'll take two seconds.
Just let The car is here, Priya.
We'll see you soon, Vikram.
Okay.
Good night, Mom.
Priya.
Priya.
Did you not hear what I said? Vik has cancer.
He has late-stage cancer, and he needs to get treatment.
Please, I don't know I don't know what else to do.
Please.
You're going to figure this out, Vikram.
You always do.
Thanks, Ma.
Hand me the water.
Can we please talk about this like adults? [SCOFFS.]
I asked you to do one thing.
One thing.
I asked you not to tell my parents.
- And what did you do? - I had to.
She's your mother.
Honestly, I don't I don't understand your family.
It's like you're all in denial.
Is it just a way of life for you? Oh, my God.
You really don't understand anything, do you? You might as well have grown up in a fucking castle.
You are such a privileged, entitled little You want to criticize my parents? What the fuck have you ever had to sacrifice for your kids? My dad was a doctor.
A cardiologist.
Like, a really respected young doctor back in Beirut.
And now he's a fucking dry cleaner because he wanted to raise me here.
They never took vacations or-or went home for weddings or births or funerals, because every last scrap of money was for Vikram.
For Vikram's education.
So they could send me to college and medical school.
They denied themselves everything to make me into something they could be proud of.
So yeah, yeah, denial is a way of life for them, and all I wanted, all I asked of you, was to spare them the pain of knowing that all that was for nothing.
I mean, couldn't they get one night, just one night, to enjoy what all of their sacrifice had achieved? Don't say it was all for nothing.
We don't know that.
There are treatments.
There are trials.
You're not a fucking doctor, Helen.
I am.
- I know.
- No, you don't.
I have pancreatic cancer.
And those trials aren't promising.
They're desperate.
Because there is no real treatment for this.
There is no cure.
No hope.
I am going to die.
I've spent my entire career giving false hope to my patients, and I am not gonna fucking do it for you.
I'm sorry.
Vik, I'm really sorry.
I, uh I fucked up.
What do you want me to do? I told you.
I want to have a baby.
If you really want to do something for me, you can do that.
[Atmospheric music.]
[QUIET CHATTER, PHONE RINGING.]
We're so lucky to be here.
I heard this guy's success rate is insane.
Can I ask you a question? Sure.
Who was president the year you were born? Bush? Do-wah, sha-la-la-la Do-wah, sha-la-la-la Do-wah, yeah, yeah Do-wah, yeah, yeah Do-wah, sha-la-la-la Do-wah, sha-la-la-la Do, sha-la-la-la, do, sha-la-la-la Everything's old in the world Except for the baby Do-wah, yeah, yeah Do-wah, yeah, yeah Little baby Do-wah, sha-la-la-la, do-wah, sha-la-la-la Ah, little baby And nothing's sun isn't seen