Oh, my God! Hi!
Fuck, it's fucking cold!
Ahhh!
- You made it! - I made it!
- I missed you! - Oh, my God, I missed you,
- I missed you! - Yay!
Help me, it's fucking cold!
I cannot believe you still live here.
Yeah, well, you say that every time.
I can't feel my fucking hands, ah!
- Shit me. - Let me take that.
- It's really heavy.
Yeah, fuck, it is heavy.
Did you bring me presents?
Oh, no, just like eighteen pairs of socks.
I have socks.
Yeah, but your feet are huge, babe.
Ow! It's really heavy.
Oh, my God.
- This is what I think. - Yeah.
When you are having sex with a guy...
Yeah.
- Sometimes... - Mhmm.
They are saying stuff like,
"You like that."
Mhmm.
You like that.
Mhmm. What is that, even?
Right.
Oh, that's deep.
I think... I think they mean
you like...
- That. - That.
- Yeah. "You like my dick." - Or that.
But it's like, they like, it's like,
also their dick is their whole self.
So they're like, "Do you like the dick?
Do you like me?"
- "Do you love me?" - "Do you love me!"
"And I am fucking you...
- with my dick." - Right.
And sometimes it's like...
Don't.
No, sometimes it's like...
Oh, God.
Sometimes it's like...
Kinda.
- No. It is. - It's like...
Sometimes it's like you leave your mind
and you're like, seeing it from, like,
- perspective behind. - Inside their brain.
Your butt looks weird.
Sometimes it's like... right!
So, are you gonna let me read it?
Yeah. But it's not done.
It's not even a proper draft.
But it's a draft.
It's definitely a draft.
Is it still about gay New York stuff?
Yeah, but now it's, like,
dark and like psychological, but also funny.
I will need to read that.
Ahoy!
Is that guy talking to us?
Ugh, I think he just said, "Ahoy."
Ahoy there, neighbor!
Ahoy!
Ugh, he's in our spot.
Fuckin' hell.
I wish you still lived here.
Yeah.
Or closer, at least.
Yeah, I wish you lived closer to me too.
I like it here, though.
Are you sure?
Why?
It's a lot, right?
Still being here.
Well, it's a lot to be wherever.
Yeah. That's true.
School was like...
Ugh, Grad school was... Ugh.
Exactly.
Do you miss me even though you're married?
Yes, I miss you even though I'm married.
Married.
- Ugh. - So grown up.
It's so grown up.
Hey! Hey, you over there!
I'm married!
I'm in a union that the state knows about!
My dad is divorced.
- Oh, that's sad. - Um...
That's okay.
Well, what do we do now?
You're alone.
I don't care whether I'm alone or not.
It's my right.
It's your right.
What do you want? I say he's guilty.
I wanna hear your arguments.
I gave you my...
Ew.
Yes...
Oh.
- Hi. - Hi.
- Can I help you? - Uh, no. I'm sorry.
Do I have the wrong house?
No. This is the right house.
- Are you... - Wait.
No. No.
Oh, no. No, no, no, no.
This is the house, yeah.
- Are you looking for Agnes? - Yes, yeah.
Gavin!
- Agnes. - Lydie.
Oh, you're Lydie. Oh, my God!
Okay, I am so sorry, this is the weekend.
Yeah.
- Ah. - My mistake.
No problem. Gavin is my neighbor.
Gavin, you actually live over there.
Oh, yes. I live there.
- Oops. - That's okay.
Sweet dreams, Gavin.
God bless your lost soul, and have a good night.
- It's nice to meet you, Lydie. - You too.
He's cute.
- Who? - You're fucking him.
No, I'm not.
- You're fucking your neighbor. - No, I'm not.
You're fucking your neighbor named Gavin.
You are.
I'm not. I'm not.
- No. I'm not. - You are fucking him.
- I'm not. - You're fucking Gavin!
- Agnes. - Mhmm.
I need to talk to you about something.
Okay.
Okay. So it's about my body.
Oh, your body is perfect.
Oh, thank you.
But, um, I didn't mean it like that.
Okay...
So I have a baby in me.
- You do? - Yeah.
What? Right now?
Right now.
- Yeah. - What?
Oh, my God.
Your body is a miracle.
Oh, my God.
Are you scared?
Yeah, yeah.
Oh, but are you glad?
Yeah, yes. It's good.
Like, I wanted it, obviously.
Like, we tried a million times.
Yeah. You did want it.
- Yeah. - Lydie...
Are you gonna name it Agnes?
Oh.
Yeah. I don't know. I don't know.
Try and think about it.
Wow.
So it must have been good sperm.
Yeah. Thank God for that
random, tall white guy's good sperm.
Maybe I should have his babies too
and then they can be brothers.
Well, he's pretty hard to track down, so.
Well, we have his picture,
so we could look him up.
Can I touch it?
Yeah.
I don't really feel anything.
That's because it's not like a baby yet.
How old is it?
Ten weeks?
So probably really small.
Yeah.
What, like a mouse maybe?
How big is a mouse?
Oh, it's smaller than that.
Wow, smaller than a mouse.
Don't tell anyone tonight about...
Oh, don't worry.
I never tell secrets
unless I feel it is a secret I really wanna tell.
That is not reassuring, babe.
I don't wanna go.
No!
No, we have to. Natasha will kill me.
I feel like... I feel like she's, like, rude,
like, tonally.
Oh, she definitely has a very rude tone.
Right?
She's got a really rude tone.
Are you afraid?
- Yeah. - For the pain?
Yeah.
But also because it's like, a person.
I wanna make a really good person.
You're gonna make a good person.
It's gonna hurt so bad.
Oh, my God, it seems like it hurts so bad!
No! Don't say that.
I'm allowed to say that,
you're not allowed to say that.
Blah, blah, blah. Doesn't matter.
Short story is, we got the house,
but we had to pay, like,
significantly more than we wanted to.
Do you like this house? My house?
I, I do. Yeah. Oh, my God.
The wood... it's gorgeous.
It's rich. Like dark.
- Yeah. - What are you gonna put in it?
- In our house? - Yeah.
Uh... our couch,
our bed,
Benny's parents' dresser.
- All your stuff. - Yes. Exactly.
That makes sense.
You're like a fully fledged adult now.
Guys, how long has it been since, like, we've hung out?
I'm just sort of like...
Hi.
Is it three years since we graduated?
- Four, I think. - Oh, my God, is it four years?
Yeah.
Time really does fly.
But not for me or Agnes probably,
since we're still here, still at the school.
You're still at your same house.
That little house.
But time probably flies for the three of you who left.
- New York. - Yeah, yeah. New York.
Wow.
Good for you.
Um, but it's a trip being back.
I drove past the campus on my way to Agnes',
and I just got, like, full body chills
when I saw the library.
The library. Lydie, no.
- Please. - You know what I mean?
I have, like, deeply ingrained stress from that place.
Yeah, Grad school was wild. I honestly feel like
I worked on that thesis for like, a decade.
Yeah. This one time, um...
on the third floor in a private room,
I almost paper cut my face open with my copy
of Little Dorrit just so I could go to the hospital
and have a good night's sleep.
I didn't do it, but I thought about it.
Yeah, sometimes I have nightmares
where my thesis is like
all blank pages, and then I eat the pages.
Oh, my God, that's so sad.
Yeah. It is really sad, huh.
So, Agnes, it was really that easy for you?
No story? Nothing to share?
Well, it's not Agnes' fault that Decker liked her best.
No, it wasn't her fault,
but, um, it pissed me off.
Um...
This fish is amazing. What's... what's in it?
Fish.
Uh... well, how is it, you two?
You're the teachers now.
I am still part time,
but I think I'm gonna teach a class next semester...
which they haven't said
is what's gonna happen, but it could.
- Yeah, it could. - No. It will.
Yeah. Yes. It, it will.
Well, we have news in the English department.
Agnes? Agnes has big news.
Bathroom. Sorry.
Agnes is now a full-time teacher.
She took Wilkinson's spot.
Filled the spot.
Agnes is like super young to be full-time faculty.
Yeah, she's like the youngest in fifty years, that bitch.
I'm kidding.
There's a bone.
What?
In the fish.
There's, like, a bone in the fish that you served me.
Sorry.
No, it's... it's fine.
It's just like maybe you should, like,
debone it a little bit better before you serve it to people.
Hello, my baby.
Oh, you're a baby.
I love you. I love you.
Oh, you wanna get down?
Okay. I'll put you down.
You leave the house, right?
Yeah. I leave the house.
I go to work. I have a job, Lydie.
But...
you're still in the same office.
Yes.
Agnes, you said that you were gonna switch.
Well, I... I didn't wanna have to explain
why it's weird for me to be in that office.
Maybe you should say there's mold or something.
Maybe.
Do you want me to call them and say
there's a dead animal in the wall?
You are an angel from heaven, but no.
It's like, I just got the job.
I don't even know if I should have the job.
Agnes.
I don't wanna complain about my office,
which is technically huge,
and there's a lot of light,
and I can see why he liked it.
Anyways, yes, I leave the house.
Agnes...
don't...
die.
I'm not gonna die.
If I was gonna kill myself,
I would have done it like last year...
or the year before.
Ugh. Or, like, definitely the year before.
Agnes.
No. I'm not gonna die.
Let me return the sentiment.
You please don't die.
Lydie...
You're having a little baby.
I know.
You're gonna take such good care of your little baby.
- I won't die. - Please don't die.
No, you please don't die.
Do you wanna say hello?
Hi.
I'm Agnes.
I'm your mommy.
Lydie and Fran may tell you otherwise, but heed my words.
- I'm your mother. - Agnes!
- Do it properly. - Yeah. All right.
Hi. I'm Agnes.
I'm not your mommy.
I am your mommy.
Oh, for goodness sake.
I felt it kick.
No, you didn't.
Are you gonna... Thank you.
Don't go.
Hey.
I'll see you soon.
When?
Come to New York.
I've got an extra bed.
Tell Fran that I hate them.
- No. - No, I don't hate them.
I know, babe.
- Love you. - Love you.
Um, no.
Come soon.
Not because of, like,
not because I'm gonna kill myself, but just...
Just...
don't wait so long to come back.
Okay.
Fuck!
What is happening?
- What's happening? - Oh, my God!
I hate school!
School fucking sucks!
My brain feels like it's on fire.
Like I'm gonna fucking die!
I just realized, babe,
no one gives a fuck about Ted Hughes.
No, everyone cares about Ted Hughes.
No, no, no. I can't believe this.
I spent two years writing about a guy.
I don't even fuck guys with my eyes open anymore.
I just close my eyes and imagine women.
Do you wanna talk about that?
About what?
Nothing.
Okay, I'm here. Sorry, I'm here.
Did we do it?
Barely.
- Devin? - Yes, I did.
I am so sorry. I don't really procrastinate,
so this wasn't like a whole thing for me.
That's okay.
Keep showing off, it'll get you places.
Lydie.
I'm Lydie.
Did you finish?
Uh, yeah, um...
Yeah, but the thing is,
like, don't be mad. I did finish it.
The last page is, like, a copy and paste extract of...
"Slouching Towards Bethlehem" that I didn't write.
- Yates or Didion? - Didion.
Always Didion.
Uh... Hey, you know what?
I'm supposed to be your mentor, helper, whatever.
I'm just here to make sure it happens.
I did mine.
Okay. Good. That's... that's great, Natasha.
Lydie, you think you can finish by Wednesday?
Get me your draft minus the Joan by then?
Yeah, again...
Sorry about that.
Are you gonna read mine?
Of course. That's my job.
Are you gonna ask Agnes if she did hers?
Yeah.
Agnes...
How'd yours go?
Fine. I did it.
Can't wait to read.
But you're gonna read mine too though, right?
Yes.
Why am I still working on this?
Because you didn't finish it.
No offense.
Stop bragging.
I'm not bragging.
Your legs are on the wall.
So?
Well, if I'd finished it,
my legs would be on the wall too,
but I haven't.
So, my legs aren't on the wall.
Okay. I will take them down.
What?
You should fuck him.
I don't wanna fuck him.
- Really? - Yes.
Well, if you don't wanna fuck him,
definitely don't fuck him.
I won't.
I think he wants to fuck you.
- Really? - Yeah.
- Well, that sucks. - Why?
Do you think that's why he's telling me I'm smart?
No, I think he's telling you you're smart
because you're really smart.
Okay.
What would you say though...
if he asked you to fuck him?
I would say no.
I would be upset if he asked.
I get that.
I would say no...
but thank you.
Come on in.
Hi.
Agnes, hi.
Thanks for meeting with me.
Are you working on something?
I mean...
No. Not, not...
not really.
Well, now you have to tell me.
Why?
Because now I know too much.
Uh, yeah, okay. Um...
I'm writing a book.
- A book? - A book.
A long book?
- Medium. - Good.
Why?
Well, long is like... okay, we get it.
Right. And short is like...
Why did you even write a book?
Yeah, well, even though this is medium...
- The perfect length. - Yeah.
I have to say it is horrible,
and every time I look at it, I wanna kill myself.
Mm.
Well, there actually have to be books like that
so that we can distinguish
which books are really the good books.
Yes.
I'm doing a public service by writing a shit book.
Well,
if it helps at all,
I liked your first novel.
I liked how fucked up it was and...
how it made me feel like there's a reason,
even if I can't see it, that I'm alive.
And it didn't feel like fiction,
which I think is a compliment in this case.
And...
I think about it all the time when I'm doing other stuff,
like eating ice cream
or looking out the window.
Thank you.
Okay, uh...
Um...
Enough about me.
I read your thesis.
You read it really fast.
Yeah, well, I, uh...
to be honest, I couldn't put it down.
Someone glue your hands to it?
What?
- Oh... - I'm sorry.
Makes basically no sense.
No, it does.
Um...
Yeah.
- Anyway, so, uh... - Yeah.
This whole section
from page three through seven,
I find to be absolutely just...
extraordinary.
Really.
Sorry.
Sorry, my ex is a prosecutor, which...
Oh, wow, the law.
Yeah. My ex-wife...
loves the law.
She's in court, my kid's sick. I have to...
I've gotta run.
- Fuck, sorry. - Oh, that's okay.
You should have my full attention,
and frankly, this paper deserves that.
- We can reschedule for later. - Yeah, that's fine.
All right, I gotta... I'll text you.
- Okay. - I'll, uh...
Sorry I have to run like this.
- Oh, that's okay. - Oh, actually,
you should look at this.
I just got it.
First edition To The Lighthouse.
Wow, wow. Thank you.
Yeah.
Can I touch it?
- Yeah. - Okay.
All right.
We are asked to reckon with the idea
that taking his life,
taking flight from the corporeal existence,
is perhaps for Milkman
a transcendence and not a tragedy.
Milkman feels he is returning to his ancestral home.
- Agnes. - Hi.
Great. Okay. Uh...
Thanks for coming last minute.
Sorry, it's my house.
- Hope that's okay. - Yeah, yeah, no problem.
Don't worry, my...
my kid's with my ex.
It's all good.
- Uh, come on in. - Okay.
Oh, do you mind taking your boots off?
Oh, yeah.
- Duh. - No.
- Sorry. - Don't be sorry.
Do you have my thesis?
Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Your shoes are untied.
Ooh.
Hey, I've been literally waiting with bated breath.
How did it go?
Agnes, are you okay?
What happened?
I don't know.
My pants are broken.
And then we started kissing.
And I thought, we're kissing.
I was thinking we were kissing the whole time,
like in a bad way
where you aren't having a good time,
and it's just like someone's mouth.
And then I said,
"I don't really think I'm ready to be kissing.
I just got out of a thing."
Which is something I made up.
It's okay to lie about that.
And then he said, "That's okay."
"We can just sit on the couch and watch a movie."
So he started playing something.
It was animated, which I thought was weird.
But then I remembered he has a kid,
so that made it less weird.
Then he started putting his hand on my pants,
and I was kinda moving it away.
But he kept moving it back to my pants,
and then he started putting his hand down my pants, like,
in between the pants and my underwear.
And I was kinda squirming my body like...
he was...
his fingers were really strong and hard,
like, in the bad way.
Like, it was too hard.
Maybe it would've felt good
if I wanted his fingers to be doing that.
But you didn't want that.
No, I didn't.
And then, I pulled his hand out because...
it didn't feel good,
and it actually hurt, kinda.
And then I started kissing him
because I thought,
"Well, if we have to be doing something,"
"I'd rather it be kissing than his fingers down there."
And then I don't remember.
And then at some point,
his hand was back in my underwear.
But under the underwear now.
And I was trying to move it away again.
Sounds like you were trying to move it away a lot.
Yeah. That's what I kept thinking.
Like, one more time and he won't move it back
because it's so obvious I'm moving it away.
But he kept moving it back.
And then...
he was pulling down my pants...
Well, he was trying to pull them down,
but they have a button.
So he was pulling, pulling.
And I was pulling them back up.
And then they were halfway down.
And I felt something go in, like, in me,
and my spine got cold.
And I reached down to feel it and...
It was...
It was him... you know?
And then I jumped up and...
I sat on the side of the couch.
I don't know how long.
And I looked at his face once,
and it was, like, scared.
- His face was scared? - Yes.
And then I just got up kinda slowly,
and I grabbed my boots,
and I drove home,
and now I'm here.
That sounds like...
that.
That is...
that's the thing.
I'm really, really sorry.
I never know if I'm supposed to get fully naked.
- Like in the gown? - Yeah.
- Are you naked right now? - Yes.
Dude, I don't think you're supposed to be naked.
Hi. You're Agnes?
- Yeah, hi. - I'm doctor Evans.
You were sexually assaulted?
Uh, yeah.
Do you feel safe now?
Sorry, before... uh, we do that,
I just want you to know that I'm fully naked.
- What? - Under the robe. Is that okay?
Yeah. That's fine.
- Do you mind? - Yeah, sure.
So, when did this happen?
The thing?
- The assault. - Last night.
Last evening.
Yesterday evening.
- And have you showered? - I took a bath.
So it's usually best to go to the emergency room
right after something like this happens.
Oh, okay.
I will definitely keep that in mind for the next time.
Well, that's when we would use
a sexual assault forensic evidence kit.
Oh, okay. I feel like you just need to...
tonally shift away from the tone
you're taking right now.
Like, we just need a tonal shift.
Just wanna make sure he didn't give me anything,
like, vaginally or yeah.
Did your attacker ejaculate in you?
Um, well, I wouldn't call him my attacker.
It wasn't like, bah!
But you were raped.
- Whoa. - Yeah.
And well put.
I know this is hard to talk about.
It doesn't feel that you know that.
These questions are protocol.
Yeah, you're asking them in a really freaky way.
Calm down, ma'am.
- Oh, she's calm. - I'm calm.
You can finish your questions.
Did he ejaculate in you?
Horrible word.
No, the actual him being inside me part
wasn't that long, it was like...
- that long. - Okay.
So, we'll do a blood test to check you for pregnancy
and sexually transmitted infections,
and then we'll do a cervix culture.
- Yum. - Excuse me?
She said yum.
I'll be right back, and we can get started.
- Agnes? - Mhmm.
He's leaving.
Who?
Decker's transferring.
He got a job in New York. Upstate.
He's leaving.
Fuck.
What the fuck?
Is this good?
No.
Maybe. I don't know.
Did he say anything about this?
No.
And yesterday his desk was, like, really cluttered.
Like he wasn't packed or anything.
So he's running.
Fuck.
- Hi, I'm... - Agnes.
Hi, I'm Elizabeth. This is Claire.
- Hi, Agnes. I'm Claire. - Hi.
Do you mind coming back with us?
Sure.
We are so sorry to hear this happened to you.
We are taking this
really seriously.
Are you gonna do anything?
We would begin an investigation.
But as you may have heard,
he sent in his letter of resignation yesterday at...
4:18 p.m.
And you reported this today at 8:42 am.
Okay.
Unfortunately, he's no longer under our employ.
So we can't take the measures that we would normally take
such as suspending him or letting him go or...
things of that nature.
These things are really hard,
and the University is unfortunately unable
to take any kind of responsibility.
But he was my advisor.
Former advisor.
You have the option
of going to the police station and reporting this
and issuing an arrest warrant.
We know what you're going through.
We are women.
What?
We are women.
Hi.
You're my neighbor, right?
Yeah, I live here.
What's your name?
Oh, uh, Gavin.
Gavin, nice to meet you.
- You too. - I'm Agnes.
Lamb of God.
- What? - That's nothing.
It's all good, I'm just, uh...
Um...
What are you up to this fine evening?
Oh, I was wondering, do you have,
like, stuff that makes a fire?
Oh, um...
- Matches? - No, like a liquid.
- Is that a thing? - Oh, yes.
- Lighter fluid. - Yes. Do you have that?
Yes.
Why do you need it?
Um, my friends and I,
we're gonna make, like, hot dogs.
Oh, hot dog sounds good.
Oh, I'm sorry, we only bought two hot dogs.
Oh, no, that's no problem, I'm...
I have dinner plans with my mom.
That's not true.
I'm sorry, I just wanted to close myself off
from the possibility of being rejected.
That's no problem.
- I'll get the lighter fluid. - Okay.
Do you wanna come inside while I look?
Uh, no, sorry. Can I wait outside?
Yeah. Don't worry about it.
Um, I'll be back soon.
This should do the trick.
Great, thanks.
And so do I just pour this on the thing
I want to be on fire?
On the barbecue?
- Yes. - Uh, yeah,
don't put too much of it on there.
Okay.
Do you... do you want my help?
No.
Thank you...
- Gavin. - Gavin.
Yes. Thank you, definitely, Gavin.
Uh, don't you live over there?
Ha! Yup, I... yup, definitely. Oops.
Why do you have that?
I got it from the neighbor.
Why?
It's definitely not, like,
a good or normal train of thought.
Okay.
I think I was gonna light Decker's office on fire.
Okay...
Do you still wanna do it?
I don't know.
I will do it.
That's really nice.
- But no. - No, seriously.
If you need someone to burn his office down,
but you don't wanna do it yourself,
I will do it.
No, I don't even want him to die.
I do.
I don't want him to die.
Well, if you change your mind...
Thanks.
Maybe we could burn something smaller,
like his hair or his pens or something.
I'll think about that.
Okay.
I have to make hot dogs.
Oh, why?
I told the neighbor, it's like this whole big lie.
I'm stuck in a lie.
Okay. I will do it.
- I'm sorry. - No, it's fine.
I was gonna, like, kill a man, so this is much easier.
Do we have hot dogs?
I don't know.
Hi.
Okay. I'm going to get coffee.
Do you want me to pick you up?
Well, fuck.
This is really nice.
I guess um...
Yup. I love you.
You wanna come get coffee?
Salmon.
All right, you're picky, an excellent quality.
Tuna.
Maybe you're just smelling the can.
There's tuna inside.
All right, one of each.
Hey.
Is this all for you today?
Yes, thank you.
Did you bring a cat into the grocery store?
No.
Yes, you did.
What did you say?
You're lying.
No, I'm not.
Here's your cat food.
We ran out of coffee.
I got some.
I got a cat.
Whatever you need.
Thank you for being here and completing your summons.
For those of you who haven't done this
and don't know what to expect,
please come up
and get a questionnaire.
Fill it out
and return it to us completed.
We have little pencils
if you need a little pencil.
The following jurors are dismissed.
Juror one, three, five,
seven, eight,
30, 32,
39, 25,
42, 43,
49, 59.
You are dismissed.
Thank you.
You can go.
And do you think, Mrs. Fuller,
based on that definition,
you understand the meaning of beyond a reasonable doubt?
Yes.
That to be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt,
you must have been there
and seen the crime with your own eyes?
Yes. I understand.
And do the rest of you feel
you can apply that idea, beyond a reasonable doubt,
- to this case? - Mhmm.
How many of you have children?
Uh, Mr. Woguard.
You have a child?
Uh, yes. Soph just turned four.
Say you and your daughter were at the park
and she's playing on the monkey bars.
And you turned your back for a few minutes,
and then she runs over to you with a broken arm.
What would you think happened?
She fell off the monkey bars
and broke her arm.
Yes, so that's an example
of circumstantial evidence.
That's what you can reasonably infer
based on the facts that you have.
Does this make sense, Mr. Woguard?
Yes.
And if instead another child ran over to you
and told you he saw her fall off the monkey bars,
that's direct testimony
because someone witnessed it.
Does everybody understand that difference,
between circumstantial evidence
and direct testimony?
Mhmm.
Without direct testimony,
we cannot be positively certain
a crime has been committed.
As the prosecution,
I must prove the defendant's guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt.
Meaning, that there is no other reasonable explanation
that can come from evidence presented.
If any of you have been victims of a crime,
please raise your hand.
Uh, Mr. Faber, what was the crime?
Uh, I was robbed. At gunpoint.
Do you have any reason to believe
that experience would make you unable to serve
as an impartial juror on this trial?
No.
Miss Ward.
What?
When I asked who has been a victim of a crime,
did you raise your hand?
No, I realized I shouldn't share it.
So...
You're unable to share the crime?
Um...
It is frankly my worst nightmare
to have to tell this whole room of strangers
about the thing that happened to me.
So...
that is the reasoning as to why I did not decide
to continue having my hand raised.
Thank you.
Do you think the crime would make you unable to serve
as an impartial juror on this case?
That is a good question,
and one I've been thinking about.
Have you come to any conclusions?
You know, I think I would be better
not being on the jury
and instead would do better
fulfilling a different civic role.
And what kind of civic role do you have in mind?
So, thank you for asking.
I am actually a professor,
part-time, hopefully soon full-time,
which, teaching is important work.
I think teaching is important.
Some would say that a teacher makes an ideal juror.
Absolutely not, no.
On your questionnaire, you wrote...
Oh, no, no.
I did not know that we would be reading those aloud, so.
"How would your friends describe you?"
"Smart."
Crossed out, then the word "tall."
If the crime you were a victim of makes you biased,
we will dismiss you.
Can I get in trouble for telling you?
Why would you get in trouble if you were the victim?
I don't know.
The law makes no sense in my opinion.
I...
I haven't said it out loud actually before.
Well, that's okay.
Did you go to the police?
No.
All I had was a button,
and I don't want him to go to jail.
Why is that?
He has a kid.
I want him to stop being someone who does that.
And if he went to jail,
he'd just be someone who does that, who's now in jail.
Your honor, may I approach the bench?
Agnes Ward, you are excused.
I'm sorry.
Clerk, you may call the next juror.
Okay. We'll now call up...
Rex Haberman.
Rex?
Oh, my God.
Did you have a good time?
What?
Did you like the sex we just had?
Mhmm.
Okay.
Good.
Thank you.
Agnes, we've gotten incredibly positive feedback
from the students in your discussion section
about your part-time contribution
to this university.
From current faculty, former faculty,
it's just all glowing.
- Former faculty? - Yes.
You've been called, let's see,
helpful,
supportive,
extraordinary.
We know there's been talk about the open spot here
since Preston left, we haven't...
well, we wanted to find the right fit for the program.
And we are thrilled to finally offer you
a full-time teaching position here at Fairport.
Really?
Yes, yes.
The department voted unanimously.
Wow. I accept.
Terrific.
You'll teach our introductory course,
"The Twentieth Century Novel,"
which you've led a few times,
and you'll also create your own elective.
We would love for you to consider
teaching a class on the art of the short story
since we all read your thesis
and frankly found that fascinating.
Okay.
Or if there's another course you'd rather teach, though.
No, no, it's just I...
I haven't looked at my thesis
since I published it, but I will.
I can... I can look through it,
and I will create a syllabus for you to look at.
Wonderful.
We're thrilled to have you.
Thank you.
Agnes, I have to tell you something.
I am in love.
- What? - Yeah!
And like, super, super gay.
Like, gayer than we thought.
Oh, wow.
Oh, my God. With that person?
- Yeah. Fran. - Okay.
- Yeah. - Wow.
Wow. Okay, are you so happy
- being gay and in love? - Oh, I'm like really,
really happy being gay and in love.
Oh, my God, you have to meet them!
Yeah, I totally do. I do.
You... Oh, Lydie,
you deserve to be in love
all the time forever.
Thank you, babe.
Well, well... so I got the job.
What?
I got the full-time position.
Oh, my God!
What? Agnes!
Yeah, well, it's, it's...
not as good as being in love.
Yes it is. This is amazing.
This is great.
Agnes.
Yeah, no, it's good.
You really, really earned this, Agnes.
And here is your office.
Let me know if you need anything,
if a light bulb goes out, anything like that.
- Thanks, Sophie. - Mm.
"And it struck me",
as my automaton knees went up and down
that I simply did not know a thing
about my darling's mind
and that quite possibly
behind the awful, juvenile cliches...
there was in her
a garden and a twilight
and a palace gate,
dim and adorable regions which happened to be
"lucidly and absolutely forbidden..."
- Professor Ward. - Yes.
I'm sorry, but I personally found this book
really disgusting.
Well, Jeremy,
there's a world in which that's a relief to hear.
How did you find the writing itself?
Well, that's the thing is I...
I felt pissed off because I...
really hated the stuff happening
but I really liked the sort of stuff he was saying.
- So I was pissed. - Mmm, okay.
Was anyone else feeling that way
caught between the form,
the presentation itself,
and the content of that presentation?
Uh, professor... that lady is back
looking through the little window thing.
She is persistent.
Much like Humbert's desire
to freeze Lolita in time.
- Nice. - Okay. Let's read.
"For I often noticed that living as we did,
she and I, in a world of total evil..."
- So... - Hi.
Lydie got engaged.
Yeah.
When's the wedding?
It's in the summer.
- Do you like Fran? - Oh, yeah. Fran is nice.
Reserved, kind of. Really tall.
What's happening?
So you got the job.
Yes.
I wanted the job.
Okay.
- Do you feel bad at all? - Yes.
But, for other reasons, not because of this.
Okay, well, um...
just because things come easy to you
doesn't mean that you get to take things from people
who things don't come easy to.
Things don't come easy to me.
Yes they do. Everyone likes you.
- You're smart, you're hot. - Thank you.
Ew, not like that.
Logan likes you, Devin likes you.
Lydie likes you.
Decker likes you.
Well, you don't like me.
That's true.
You know, when I think about it,
I think Decker actually hated me.
You were his chosen one.
That's a completely insane thing to say.
No.
Because when you like someone or, like,
when you respect someone,
there are some ways people treat you
that are one way.
Respectful, and like,
you're a person who lives and breathes
and thinks for them self.
And then some ways people treat you are not that way,
and they're bad.
All right. Well, um, I fucked him...
and, uh, he didn't even take the time
to give me in-person notes on my thesis. So...
You fucked him?
Yeah.
Did you want that?
Want what?
Was it on purpose?
Yes, it was on purpose.
We had, like, five minute sex.
It was just okay. I've had better.
We're closed. You can't park here.
Oh, shit. Oh, shit.
Look, I'm sorry I yelled at you.
My kid, Hank, gets these breathing attacks too,
real bad sometimes.
I know you're scared,
but you're off the road, you're in your car,
and you're okay.
I'm gonna breathe and you breathe with me.
Okay? You just follow.
All right? You ready? In...
Out... two, three, four, five.
In...
Out... two, three, four, five.
In...
Out... two, three, four, five.
In... two, three.
Out...
Two, three, four, five.
I gotta be honest,
I don't really breathe like that,
but it feels good.
You doing okay?
Good for you.
You want a sandwich?
I wanted to put tables out here
so, people, you know, wouldn't sit on the ground.
It's a good sandwich.
You shouldn't eat a good sandwich
while you're sitting on the ground
where the pigeons shit.
Whatever.
But they said, you share a...
a parking lot with the guys at the dump.
So you gotta ask the guys at the dump.
No fucking way I'm asking the guys at the dump!
Fucking assholes.
This is good.
Yeah, of course it's good.
You don't have a sandwich shop,
you don't make a good sandwich.
Spicy.
Calabrian chili, very expensive.
Agnes.
Huh?
- Agnes? - Yeah.
- Ugh. - Whoa,
you sound like the mean guys from the dump.
Hey! I res... I resent that.
Those guys are assholes. I'm honest, not an asshole.
You have a son?
He's an asshole.
Hank.
- Hank is... - Ugh...
You don't have to tell me.
Sounds too much like the word honk.
- You have kids? - No.
Want some?
Uh... Well, I can't really imagine myself old.
You think I imagined myself like this?
No, believe it or not,
I did not think I would end up
looking like a yam with a mouth on it.
But here we are.
It'll happen to you.
You won't know what hit you.
Something pretty bad happened to me,
so that's probably why I'm acting weird.
How bad?
Um...
I guess really bad.
You don't know it's bad?
No, I know it's bad.
But mainly because whenever I tell anyone about it,
they look really scared for me.
Except for my friend, but she moved away.
And then sometimes I feel bad when I think about it,
because...
I remember moments of it,
and I can feel in my body
that it was really bad.
But then sometimes I don't think about it,
which is weird.
And I feel guilty when I don't think about it.
Did it just happen?
Is that why you were huffing and puffing?
No, it was three...
a little over three years ago.
Well, that's not that much time.
I mean, it's a lot of time,
but it's not that much time, too.
Yeah.
Are you...
okay in your house?
I have a cat.
Okay.
Olga, what the fuck?
Olga, go to bed.
Ugh, Olga, did you shit in my bed?
Oh! Olga, what the fuck?
Oh, my God.
Oh, if you wanted to kill it,
you should have just killed it!
Okay. I'm coming back. I'm coming back.
It'll be over soon. Okay. Okay.
Okay. What do I need? What am I looking for?
Oh! A bag, a bag! I got a bag!
I'm coming back!
I'm back, I'm back, I'm so sorry.
Are you okay?
No, no you're not, you're dying.
Get in the bag.
Just go in the bag.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Oh, God.
Gavin!
Agnes, are you okay?
Agnes? What...
Are you okay?
Will you come fuck me?
Yes.
Wait, wait. I need shoes.
I um... I do need shoes.
One second.
Oh, hey.
Can I pee?
Oh, yeah. Definitely.
Can I get in?
Oh, in the bath?
Yeah.
Uh, sure.
I'm just gonna turn around here.
Don't mind me.
You don't have to hide it.
It's small right now.
Men are so weird.
Thank you.
Oh, that's nice.
It's a good temperature.
Thank you.
I'm embarrassed that I was hiding my dick.
That's okay.
I put my hair over my boobs.
So true.
I'm sorry the bathtub is so small.
This bathtub?
No, it's good.
What if I sat behind you?
- Why? - So, uh...
it could be like a hug.
Okay.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
Oh, wait. Can I look at it?
At my dick?
Yeah.
Hmm...
I've never seen one that soft.
Okay, I think that just gave me nightmares
for the next decade.
No, I mean, you just never get to see them like that.
They're better like this.
Hmm...
Okay, I'm done.
Mm.
Do you think you want the stuff that everyone has?
What do you mean?
Like, uh,
family or whatever. I don't know.
Do you want that stuff?
With you?
No.
No, I mean, it was your question.
Yeah. I want that stuff.
Nice.
Do you?
Well...
You know, probably just to keep Lydie closer...
but I don't see it.
See it where?
Like, in my head.
I don't see myself getting older or having kids.
I don't see myself.
I think you'd be a great mom.
Why?
You're very nice.
I'm not that nice.
People always say they don't want a kid,
but then things change.
What we want and stuff...
I think it changes.
It's too cold.
I think it's nice.
Hi! Yay!
Hey, hey, hey.
- I missed you. - I missed you.
I missed you so much. Oh, my God.
Is the baby here?
The baby's here. The baby's here.
- Hi, Agnes. - Hi, Fran.
Fran.
- Yes? - Remember?
Oh, Oh!
Yeah.
Big day!
Definitely.
All right, sweetie...
So, you're glad you came?
I'm so, so, so, so glad.
And now I know what an exploding vagina
looks like.
Mhmm.
- So be honest. - Mhmm.
Do you like her?
- My baby? - Yeah.
Yeah.
- I really like my baby. - Well, that's really good.
And you still like me, right?
Yes, Agnes.
- I love you both. - Cool.
- Lydie? - Yeah?
- Babe, will you grab the baby? - Yeah, of course. One second.
- Hey. - Hi.
- You need help with the stuff? - No, no, no.
- Okay. - Hi.
Muah.
- Hi. - Hi.
Look at this.
Oh, let me grab one.
No, I love holding them.
So, are you... oh, yes.
Hi. Wow.
She has much more of a face.
Mhmm.
Little freaky baby Janie.
Oh, not Janie. Just doing Jane.
Hi, nice to see you again.
Oh, oh.
Oh, it's okay.
- Oh, I didn't... - It's okay.
It happens all the time.
Oh, really, does that happen?
Is it my face?
Hello, is it my face?
Lighthouse day!
Lighthouse day.
Fran. Fran.
Lighthouse day!
Lighthouse day.
Janie, Janie. Lighthouse day!
She actually didn't sleep
- super well, so. - Oh.
Yeah, we're really, really fucking tired.
Yeah, I don't think she's gonna be in for,
like, a big thing today.
The baby?
Well, she's just a baby, she could do whatever.
I mean, not really.
But you two go. I will stay here.
Oh, really? Okay.
I really wanted you to see it.
Babe, I will see it at some point. It's okay.
Okay.
No.
No, you two go.
No, no, someone has to stay with Jane.
I'll do it.
Really?
Oh, Jane is actually really particular.
I will do it.
Oh, my God. Agnes, thank you so much.
Fran, we're free! We're free.
The lighthouse is very romantic.
You two should be there alone together.
Make another baby or whatever.
Like, twenty minutes, that's it.
One question. What if she kills me?
She's not gonna kill you.
Hey...
Don't drop her.
No. I won't drop her.
Okay...
Okay.
Thank you.
Here you go.
Thank you.
- Here you go, babe. - Thank you.
Lydie?
Yeah?
What do I say to her?
Babe, you don't have to say anything.
Twenty minutes.
Hi.
I'm Agnes.
Pretty weird you're gonna be a person someday.
No offense, but you look insane right now.
Skin and just a small amount of hair.
Don't worry.
It won't be like that in a little.
Is this okay or...
All right.
I'll put you down.
Oh. I'll pick you back up.
Okay, okay, okay.
You're so sweet looking.
When you grow up, you can tell me whatever.
Like, if you have a thought
and you're like, that's a bad thought,
I probably had that same thought but, like,
ten times worse.
So you can just tell me.
I'll never be scared by that.
If someone does something bad to you...
If someone says something scary...
If you wanna kill yourself
with like a pencil or a knife or whatever,
you can just tell me.
I'll never tell you you're scaring me.
I'll just say, yeah.
I know.
It's just like that sometimes.
Yeah.
I'm sorry
that bad things are gonna happen to you.
I hope they don't.
If I can ever stop something from being bad,
let me know.
But sometimes bad stuff just happens.
That's why I feel bad for you,
in a way.
That you're alive and you don't know that yet.
But I can still listen
and not be scared.
So that's good.
Or that's something, at least.