(MultiCom Jingle)
- [Radio Reporter] Well, this commission also is empowered--
(static crackling) (garbled music)
- [Man On Radio] And to regrow new hair
in the balding areas or your money back.
(machine humming)
- [Woman On Radio] If you're thinking about
breast augmentation, it's time to stop thinking and act.
(food sizzling)
(bell dinging)
(indistinct chattering)
(plate clanking)
- [Woman On Radio] You want him to act like Hercules--
(garbled music) (static crackling)
- [Reporter On Radio] The Grand Rapids grandmother
is sentenced to life for the contract killing
of her daughter-in-law.
- [Waitress] I'll be right there, hon.
I only got two hands.
- [Woman] The first home facelift, it really works.
It's gonna take 10 years off any--
(static crackling) (garbled music)
(indistinct chattering)
(plate clanking)
(spoon thudding)
- Suffering from depression-- - Killed themselves.
I was elated.
(energetic music)
- [Waitress] How's my two toasts coming?
- [Cook] Be right up.
- Ah.
Here it is.
- [Beth] That's great, Dad.
- At 10 months, John Moss Jr. is the youngest child
to finish basic swimming at the Encino YMCA
earning a level one certificate.
- Incredible. - Yeah.
- Can you excuse me for a minute?
- Yeah, yeah, sure.
Hey, you know what, I'm glad we're doin' this,
gettin' together.
- Yeah. - It's important.
- Me too.
(door bangs shut)
♪ Get it, get it girl, get, get it girl ♪
♪ Oh, I like that thing ♪
♪ Come on, get it, get it, get it girl ♪
♪ Oh, I like that girl ♪
♪ Yeah, get, get it girl ♪
♪ Oh, I like that thing ♪
♪ Get it, get it, get, get it girl ♪
♪ Oh, I like that girl ♪
♪ Get it girl, get, get it girl ♪
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Hey, baby.
- Hey.
- How was your day? - Good.
- Hello, Edward.
- Hi.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
- It's okay.
Ow!
Bruised.
Ballet, toe shoes.
- [Nina] You're on toe.
Did Beth tell you she's on toe, Edward?
- It's called point, Mom.
- Personally, I'm on heel.
- You mean you are a heel. - Beth.
- (laughs) Edward knows I love him.
- [Nina] You guys want anything?
- We're done, actually.
- [Nina] Hey, what happened to all the leftover Chinese?
There was a ton.
- Oh, I know, I threw that out.
I didn't like the smell.
♪ Oh, I like that thing ♪
♪ Get it girl, get it girl ♪
♪ Oh, I like that girl ♪
♪ Get it girl, get, get it girl ♪
- Give me.
- Ah, ah, ah!
(Beth gasps)
Oh my god!
How did you know?
I saw these, and I loved them!
- Good. - See you tomorrow.
- Okay, bye.
(muffled rap music)
- Oh, you know, you look younger lately.
I mean, you always look young,
it's just that you look younger than you do,
than you did, when...
- (laughing) Thank you, Edward.
- All right, then. - All right.
Bye, Edward. - Bye.
- Edward likes this misogynist trash.
Sorry.
- Misogynist? - Oh yeah.
- Isn't that your album?
- Last year's.
- Oh.
(gentle guitar music)
- Thanks for the barrettes.
You're staring at me.
- Am I?
You're getting tall, you know.
- Yeah. - Tall and skinny.
- Yeah, I noticed.
I like it, don't you?
- You're beautiful.
- Hey, we got any big plans this weekend?
- I don't think so.
- 'Cause Dad asked this morning at breakfast
if I could spend the weekend,
and I just, you know, I wanted to check with you first.
- That's fine.
- 'Kay.
Gotta share the wealth, you know. (laughs)
- Yum, it smells good in here.
What's this?
- For you.
- Thank you.
You're gonna make me fat.
(Beth laughs)
What about you?
- Oh, I woke up ravenous.
I already ate everything I could get my hands on.
And I'm meeting Melanie early
so she can copy my math homework.
- Are you responsible for everyone's math homework?
How do they pass tests?
Nevermind, I don't wanna know.
- Sit down, 'kay?
- Okay.
This is great. (both laughing)
(doorbell buzzing)
- Oh, gotta go.
Love ya. - Okay.
Have a good day. - Okay.
- Thanks!
Be careful, I love you.
- Jessica's gross.
She wears way too much makeup, doesn't she?
- I know, what is she thinking?
- She looks like a slut.
I like glitter, though.
- Yeah, I like glitter.
Is she coming to your party? - Of course.
Everyone is.
Well, everyone except dorks.
- Like Mark?
- Like Mark, like Edward, like any seventh grader.
- Yeah, seventh graders are the worst smelling people
in the whole world.
Did we smell that bad last year?
- [Phil] Tell them I'll fix it when I get back.
- Hey.
- I'll call you from the car.
- Why don't you guys come on in?
- Dr. Moss? - You got it.
- Let's go, Rachel.
Come on.
(chair creaking)
- Do you know why you're here, Rachel?
- [Phil] Rachel.
- You're gonna help me.
- What would you like me to help you with?
Do you wanna tell me how you see things?
- Yeah.
I'm really trying, you know?
But she lies, she steals,
she's bossy with her little stepsister, who is a doll.
And she's not listening.
Look at her.
See, this is just the kind of the thing that she does.
- What makes you think Rachel's not listening?
- Well look at her.
I mean, she's tuned out.
- [Nina] You think she tunes you out?
- [Phil] Yes.
- Do you think there's any problem
with Rachel's hearing?
- No.
- Well, she's not talking,
and she's not being distracted right now.
I think it's safe to assume she heard us.
- Yeah.
Okay.
- Rachel, you wanna tell me how you see things?
No?
Hey, you know what, I have some coloring books.
Would you like to color in one of them?
You can take your pick.
Get that outta the way.
- You know, I'm really worried about her.
I mean, she's not doing well in school.
She has no friends.
I mean, she tells me that nobody likes her.
- Is that what it feels like when you're at school?
Who else lives in your home?
- My wife, Gail, and her daughter, Emily,
who just turned five.
She's an adorable child, very loving,
you know, fun to be with.
But she doesn't understand why Rachel
is always so mean to her.
I mean, there's a scene every day.
It's like none of us can ever just relax.
- It must be very hard for you, Rachel.
Wow, an orange sky.
That's very creative.
(school bell buzzing)
- [Child] Sit by me!
- You know, it's like what Howard Stern would say.
I mean, in the old days there were dogs
and then there were babes,
but they were two separate enemies.
And now we live in the greatest time in history
because you can turn a dog into a babe.
You know, plastic surgery, boob job, whatever.
I think that if you can do something about her looks,
you damn well better.
- You know those bracelets everybody wears anymore?
Mr. Cutler is so stupid.
He goes up to this seventh grader
and he says, what are those bracelets?
And the kid is so stupid.
He goes, well, they're supposed to look like tattoos.
(girls laughing)
- Well, they're so not supposed to!
- [Beth] So Cutler banned them from the school.
- Lame. - Totally lame!
So what are we doing this weekend?
- Oh, I got my dad.
Sorry.
- What are we doing this weekend?
- Hey, you! - Look at this.
- Oh, oh yeah. - That's the way.
(John cooing) (toy squeaking)
Hey Beth, you wanna go shopping tomorrow?
Would that be fun?
- Yeah, that's fine. - Yeah, you.
- What are you gonna do tomorrow, Dad?
- I'll be around.
I just wanted to give you two
a chance to do that girl thing.
- Ready for dessert? - Oh yeah, yeah.
- Okay.
You're up.
- You wanna do that?
Oh, big guy, there's more, there's more.
Yeah.
Oh, give me that spoon back.
Give me the spoon back!
(clock ticking)
(footsteps clacking)
Oh!
Did you tell Irene it was delicious?
- It was.
- Did you tell her?
- It was.
- What you reading?
- Turnoffs to Guys,
you'll be surprised at what you don't know.
- Oh.
- I've got eight out of 12.
- No way.
- That's alarming, huh?
(both laugh)
- You are so gorgeous.
I wish I had frozen you at 10.
You're growin' up so fast.
- I'm not grown up.
- I'm afraid you are.
You know, Irene and I have lived in this house what,
two, two and a half years?
You haven't brought any of your stuff over.
We want you to make that room your own.
- Okay.
- What, Dad?
- Nothing.
Life is good.
You're happy, right?
- Yeah, Dad, I'm fine.
- I didn't ask if you were fine.
I asked if you were happy.
- Yes, Dad, I'm really happy.
- [Irene] Darlin', can you help me with the baby, please?
- Coming!
She loves you, you know.
(gentle piano music)
(water splashing)
(phone beeping)
- Mom?
Hi.
No.
No, no, nothing.
I just, I wanted to see if you were okay.
How was work?
Just getting ready to go to bed, you?
Everyone's asleep, actually.
I know, I know.
Can't sleep, what's new?
Irene wants to take me shopping tomorrow,
but you know how she dresses.
She wears those chopsticks in her hair.
It's like she's ready for a stir fry emergency.
(laughing) No!
I'm sure, Mom, I would never say that to her.
You must think I'm socially inept.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, it was good.
Very gourmet.
Yeah, okay.
Love you, too.
Night.
Hey, I'm home.
- Hi!
Oh, hi.
- Hey, how you doin'? - Great.
- Good.
Oh, look at her.
She's a knockout, huh?
Some kid we got there.
- I know.
- So, you busy?
- Yeah.
- Well, good.
Listen, when your schedule and our schedule
fall into some kinda line,
maybe se can all have dinner or something?
- Sure. - Good.
Irene asked me to ask.
- [Nina] That's really nice.
- And you can invite, um, what's his name, Harold.
- Well, what's his name isn't in the picture anymore.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
I liked him.
- I'll tell him.
- (laughs) Well.
It's nice you remain friends.
- Yeah, thanks.
So I'll check my book and then I'll call you?
- Or Irene.
- Right.
Give her my best, Irene, okay?
- Okay.
Good then.
- Bye, Daddy. - Bye.
Love you, baby.
Bye.
- See ya.
You wanna give me your clothes?
I'm doing a load.
(lighthearted classical music)
(Stasha speaks in foreign language)
- Pointy toes, very light.
Beautiful.
Hands, beautiful.
Fingers.
And one and two and sweep.
Straighten your knees, your hands.
Wonderful.
And one, speak with your bodies.
Wonderful.
And one and two.
Chin up.
Wonderful.
Straighten your knees.
Chin up.
Beautiful.
Reach out, reach out.
And attitude, and hold it.
What's wrong?
- I'm fine.
It's just low blood sugar.
- Are you sure?
- Don't tell my mom, okay? - Okay.
- Are you okay? - Sh, sh!
- And one and two, and one and two.
Watch it, watch your fingers.
- [Girl] Hang on, I gotta get my bag.
- You were really good out there.
- Thanks.
Stasha offered to pick me up from school,
drive me to class, then drop me off after.
- Really?
That's quite a commitment.
- Well, it's on her way.
Not all right with you?
- No, it's fine.
- Hi. - Hi.
- I'll grab my coat and then I'll be with you.
- Okay.
- This one dances in her soul.
- (laughs) She said if I started younger,
I'd be on my way to the Bolshoi by now. (laughs)
Were you gonna take me to Melanie's party?
- Yeah, I thought so.
- Oh my god, I totally forgot!
I'm sorry.
And my backpack's in Stasha's car.
- Well, did you ask her to drive you?
Thanks for your offer to chauffer.
- It's on my way.
And we have time to talk.
Besides, this one likes to talk.
(both laugh)
- Mom, so is it okay if I go with Stasha?
- Whatever you want.
- We fight over you, yeah?
(Beth laughs)
Sorry for my English.
- Your English is amazing.
- I feel like my English is collapsing.
- You should call and let me know you got there all right.
- [Beth] Thanks, Stasha.
♪ I'll spend a lifetime just cruisin' the world ♪
- Wow.
You're really good, Mel.
This wall is so cool.
- Yeah, my mom's pretty cool to let me do it.
It was her idea, practically.
I mean, she, like, worked on it with me and stuff.
- Bonding, great.
- Whoever buys this house
inherits all my memories, right?
And then, like, in 50 years,
somebody will come in and find it under 12 coats of paint.
It'll be like an artifact.
God, I am so fat.
- Well, Jessica's mom said if she, like,
loses 10 pounds, she's gonna buy her
an entirely new wardrobe.
My mom never does cool stuff like that.
Oh, Beth, did you tell your mom about the paper?
- I'm not going to.
- What is it?
Why don't I know?
- Butlin Irwin, the last paper,
well, Beth turned it in and it's, like,
a final for what it counts,
and he didn't believe she wrote it.
He's not even gonna give her a grade.
- What do you mean, he doesn't believe she wrote it?
- Well, it's too good so he won't grade the paper.
- Well, did you?
- Have you read Beth's papers?
- So now what?
- [Sophia] She has to prove she wrote it.
- That doesn't even sound legal.
My mom would have Butlin's ass.
- Yeah, mine would go ballistic.
So what are you gonna do?
I mean, he's gonna give you an incomplete.
- Bleh!
(girls laughing)
- Ew!
- It's that novelty candy.
- Gruesome!
- Want some?
- That stuff has calories, you know.
- Oh my god!
It's gonna get on my dress.
- Is that what you're wearing?
Oh, Greg's coming.
He had Brad call to see if you were coming.
- Yeah?
- I am insanely jealous.
He's, like, one of the hottest guys in school.
If you two go out, you'll be considered
one of the hottest girls.
- Not close.
- Get out!
- You guys are on crack.
(girls laughing)
- I'm a cow.
- You know, I heard you can get lipo in Brazil
for, like, $1,000 bucks.
I read that Julia Roberts is all lipo.
- Well, I'm saving my money.
(Melanie laughs)
I am!
You just don't eat, that's how you do it.
- Oh, I, I eat.
- I never see you.
You ever see her eat, Mel?
- I eat tons.
I mean, if you put it in,
it just stands to reason you can take it out.
- You don't. - What?
- Well, only when I feel like it.
- I don't believe you.
Show me?
- No. - Yes.
- You are sworn to secrecy.
Promise?
- I so promise.
- You, too, Sophia.
Say it.
- Okay.
I only do it when I overeat sometimes, you know.
Like that.
Farther back.
But I haven't eaten so I can't do it right now.
Did you?
- I had a whole bunch of marshmallows
just before you came over.
- Okay, that's perfect.
(Melanie coughing)
Here, use a toothbrush.
It tickles more.
Oh, I forgot.
Always turn on the water so it covers up the choking.
(water splashing)
The aftereffect is amazing.
You'll love it.
(Melanie coughing)
- I can't do it.
This sucks.
How come you can do it and I can't?
- Sorry.
- Mel, you got some cool food here.
- Yeah, I know.
(upbeat music) (kids chattering)
(laughing)
(object clattering)
- [Girl] Guys!
- [Boy] I didn't.
(kids chattering) (laughing)
- [Greg] Hey.
- Hi.
- How's it going? - Good.
Good.
Did you see Mel's room yet?
- Yeah.
- Pretty dope, huh?
I mean, all the writing on the wall and stuff.
- (laughing) Yeah, I think so too.
- I mean, I gotta load up.
I guess I'm on the list.
- (laughing) guess you must be.
- That's a really pretty dress.
- My mom bought it.
- Yeah, I really like purple.
Purple and magenta are really nice.
I mean, I really like magenta, too.
Did you eat yet?
- Yeah, thanks.
- [Greg] What's wrong?
- (laughs) Nothing.
I just, I don't know,
I just get a little choked up sometimes.
I'm a little off kilter or something.
- Right.
(muffled upbeat music)
(somber instrumental music)
- What?
- Nothing.
Oh Beth, thanks for putting the seat down.
(chair creaking
- Is this your house or your office?
- This is my office.
- It looks like your house.
You've got a lotta toys.
I don't think this is an office.
Do you punish children who break your toys?
- No.
Toys generally have a way of breaking
if you play with them enough.
- Rachel gets punished.
She breaks my toys, she pinches me sometimes,
and she lies about it.
- Really?
What happens then?
- Mommy tells Phil, and she gets it.
- That little girl can really get to you.
- How does she do that?
How does she get to you?
- She just knows how to push your buttons.
- How do the two of you express anger with each other?
- Oh, we don't.
- We don't get angry with each other.
- We really don't.
- [Nina] Hm.
- [Woman On Radio] The radio affords me
some kind of anonymity, so I can say it.
If I had it to do over again, Dave,
I would never have had children!
I mean, the couples I know who did, lie.
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
they all know the depths of love and all that crap.
But you know, they had (mumbles) lives.
- How many kids have you got? - Four.
All grown and outta the house, thank god.
- [Man On Radio] Well, do they know how you feel?
- Oh god, yes! - Oh.
- [Woman On Radio] I've told them many times,
the depths of my soul-- - Okay.
- [Woman On Radio] Have been ripped asunder
by trying to raise children.
I tell them not to.
I mean, get married and all that
but skip the soul-destroying experience of children.
Think about it, Dave (Dave laughing)
- Is that it, then? - Oh.
Can you just give me the subtotal,
'cause I've only got $20 bucks.
- Sure.
- Beth?
Did you take a $20 from the kitchen drawer?
Beth?
- Yes.
- Yes?
Yes hello, or yes you took it?
- Yes. - Yes?
- Mm-hm.
- When?
- Tuesday or Wednesday.
I was gonna tell you.
- Were you?
- Well, what do you think?
- I think maybe this isn't like you.
- I needed some school stuff.
- Stuff?
- School stuff, group project.
We're building a model and it was my share.
- That's a hefty share.
- Not really.
- I see.
Well, first off, that's Gloria's money.
She's coming today and now I'm $20 short.
- I'm sorry.
I meant to tell you.
I meant to give it back outta my allowance.
Can you leave her a check for the rest?
- You look a little pale.
Do you feel all right?
- Yeah.
- [Nina] Do you want me to make you something before I go?
- No, no, I'm fine.
- Do I need to worry about you?
- Never.
Please don't do the shrink stuff, Mom.
- What's going on with you?
- Nothing.
- Well, what's this about an incomplete?
- Wow.
- I got a letter.
- [Beth] Wow.
- Well?
- I was gonna talk to you about that.
- Gee, things are slippin' your mind right and left.
- Yeah, I guess.
- [Nina] Well?
- What, now?
- I have a few minutes.
- Damn. - What?
- Sorry.
I just...
I turned in a paper he said I couldn't have written.
He said I plagiarized it.
- Why?
- He said it was beyond me.
- Well, you wrote it, so it's obviously not.
You want me to talk to him?
- God, no, you'll just make it worse.
- I will not.
- Anything you would say is gonna make it worse,
trust me.
His favorite topic is parents who throw their weight around.
- Well, I don't want you to have an incomplete
you don't deserve.
- Well, I'll just write another paper, dumber.
- I don't think so.
Geez, Beth!
I know you believe in defending your work.
You're allowed to protest.
- Okay, Mom, I just, you know,
I don't want him to hate me, okay?
- A teacher can't hate you for being too smart.
You wrote the paper, end of story.
- Okay, I'll talk to him.
- Okay, I know.
- Oh.
- I feel like I'm annoying her.
I used to be the first person she told anything
and everything to, I was her confidant.
Now I'm someone who'll make things worse.
- I think it's hard for a 14-year-old girl
to stand up to an adult, to a teacher yet.
- I was talking about myself.
- Deja vu.
When Nina was 15, she turned in
such a great paper on Emily Dickinson,
they wouldn't believe she wrote it.
- Mom, you wrote it. - Oh, I did not.
- When I went to sleep, I was crying, it was a mess.
When I woke up, it was typed, it was finished.
- You understood it.
- Her real point.
- And I was so proud of you,
the way you stood up for yourself
when those accusations were flying.
I had to sign a paper saying that she wrote it herself.
- Are you sure that's somethin' you wanna brag about, Mom?
- (laughs) Well, I just think that you and Beth are fine.
Fine.
- [Beth] Okay, if I go first you have to promise
you won't chicken out, okay?
- I won't.
- My biggest fear is...
It's hard to explain.
- Who's chickening out? - Okay.
My biggest fear is,
becoming different in some weird way.
Nevermind.
- No, no, go on.
- I mean, my mom talks to me about some of her patients,
how they hate their kids or they don't want them
and they get married bunches of times,
and I think I'm not like that, you know,
that that won't happen to me.
- Yeah, okay.
- I wonder, you know, how,
how adults can be so stupid.
And then I think, well, they were kids once
and they probably thought grown ups were stupid, too.
It's like getting older makes you forget
all the stuff you knew when you were a kid.
We both know that we won't be like that.
So did they.
That terrifies me.
- My biggest fear is that I'll never have a boyfriend.
I mean, I'm gonna be in the ninth grade
and not have gone out with anybody.
(both laughing)
Okay, I feel like this deep.
- No, don't.
I completely understand, I do.
- It seemed really serious when I was thinking about it.
(both laughing)
- What am I gonna do with you?
You're a bad girl.
You're a bad girl!
I want you to stop it, stop it!
Send her away, send her away!
I don't want her here anymore.
(clock ticking)
I hate her.
- Do you wanna come in and join us?
- Did Rachel tell you what happened this week?
I mean, she really asked for it.
She stole Emily's hair clips.
She literally, she took the clips off Emily's head.
I get a call at the office from Gail.
Look, I'm a very busy person
and I have to run home.
And do you know what she did?
She denied it.
- Wait, Gail called you at the office
to tell you that Rachel had taken hair clips?
- Well, she was very upset.
Look, she is the one that needs to take
some responsibility here.
- That's true, but it sounds like Gail was overwhelmed.
- Well, that's not the point.
- I'd like to see Rachel able to tell you
when she's hurting.
I think it would help, Phil.
- You know what?
I don't like this.
- What?
- I don't like any of this.
- What don't you like, Phil? - It's time to go, Rachel.
Come on.
- Wait, don't-- - Bye.
- Phil, please!
Let's...
(door slamming)
(gentle guitar music)
- You know, I think I can practice forever
and still not ever be a really good dancer.
- What?
Stasha knows you can.
She's an expert.
- The little girl, your patient,
is everything gonna be okay?
- I don't know.
The mother's unfit, so she's out of the picture.
The father has a new family,
and they just want the little girl gone.
They blame her for everything.
- Don't you sometimes feel like strangling people?
- Just crossed my mind.
I have to think about the child.
I'm her advocate.
- So, what are you gonna do?
- Well, I'd like to explore where it all came from,
but I can't if he doesn't bring her back.
- (sighing) But I mean,
what can you do for a kid that nobody wants?
- I wanna give her a voice.
She's angry and I wanna help her find a way
to get that out.
It means a lotta work.
And she's all alone.
- (sighing) I hope he brings her back, Mom.
- Me too, baby.
Thank you.
Now you try and get some rest, okay?
Stop the--
- Okay.
Goodnight. - Goodnight, brain.
Goodnight. - Goodnight.
(door clicking shut)
(somber piano music)
(wrapper rustling)
- Hey, thought I'd call, see how you're doin'.
- [Beth] Hey, Mom.
I'm okay.
- Did you take your temperature recently?
- I don't have one.
I mean, I have one, it just,
it hasn't changed since you took it this morning.
Edward's over.
He's catching me up on the class stuff I've been missing.
- [Nina] Good.
- Can I call you back later?
Or, you know, we'll talk when you get home.
- What?
- This patient, can you help me with her?
- Hello?
- Okay.
Yeah, okay.
I love you.
- Love you, too.
Bye. - Bye bye.
(phone beeps)
- You know what?
Even if I had the flu
my mom wouldn't let me stay home for three days,
and you don't even look sick.
- Well, I am.
And why should she care as long as I get my work done?
- Well, I hope you know that we're all
gonna flunk math now.
Oh, did you hear about Sophia?
Greg said she should get a nose job
and she took off running from the room.
- Greg?
In front of everybody?
- Yeah, he was real mean about it.
And then Ms. Jamolee gave her detention
for leaving class without permission,
said she was oversensitive.
- Poor Sophia.
Is she okay?
- I don't know, I guess.
I mean, it was kinda sad though, you know?
I've never seen her cry before.
Did you do that biography?
- I'm gonna finish it after you leave.
You know, I was gonna do Sarah Michelle Gellar
but instead I'm gonna do my ballet teacher.
She's Russian.
She's had an amazing life.
- Oh, that's cool.
Who's Sarah Michelle again?
- Buffy.
- Oh yeah, right.
♪ But I can't stop tryin' ♪
♪ Can't stop bleedin' ♪
♪ Can't stop, can't stop bein' alive ♪
♪ I have got to help ♪
(soft instrumental music)
- Beth?
Beth?
(thwacking)
- [Teacher] Multiply both sides by the common denominator
two cube and they will disappear,
so what you will have left is minus three and a half X
plus seven Y-- - Are you okay?
I mean, everything, you know.
- Did you rewrite the Butlin paper?
- I made it sound like a third grader wrote it.
(both laughing)
- Beth, why don't you take us to the conclusion.
- This is a hard one.
Sorry.
- Okay, sit.
What you do is combine like terms
on both sides of the equation.
Here you have minus three and a half X
plus four X, so what you're left with here
is half X plus seven Y.
(students chattering)
(can thudding)
(school bell ringing)
(door banging)
(toilet flushing) (Beth gagging)
(toilet flushing)
(somber guitar music)
(footsteps clacking)
- Still haven't heard from that bastard,
Phil Paige, since he stormed out of my office.
- You call?
- Left messages twice.
I can't get over how little he feels for his own kid.
- How's your kid doing, better?
- Back in school.
- Good, good. - My kid's a giant.
I wish I was as pulled together as my kid.
(pager beeping)
- [Man On TV] This man stands to inherit
$500,000 dollars in the next six months.
(phone ringing)
And these 30 beautiful women will compete--
- Dr. Moss?
I mean, Nina.
- Rachel?
Hi. - Hi.
I'm not gonna be able to come today.
My dad got tied up.
- Is your dad there?
- [Rachel] You wanna talk to him?
- If I could, Rachel.
- [Woman On TV] Guaranteed you'll lose weight fast.
Side effects may include stomach cramps,
constipation, seizures-- - She wants you.
- [Woman On TV] Some subjects may experience
prolonged episodes of diarrhea.
Urges may be frequent and uncontrollable.
- Hi, hello there.
Yeah, I got tied up.
Rachel, turn that off, will you?
- It's important that Rachel doesn't miss
any of her sessions.
- Look, I've given Rachel a lotta time this week.
Now, giving up my own time.
In fact, she had a half day today
and I came home to get her lunch.
Now I'm gonna drop her off with a friend.
Go get ready. - Okay.
- [Phil] She's not neglected.
- Are you considering changing her therapist?
- No, no.
Rachel will be there next week.
Okay?
- That's good.
Okay, I'll see her then.
(school bell buzzing)
- Hey, Beth.
I'm Mrs. Moss.
- Oh.
(birds chirping)
(doorbell ringing)
- Hi, Nina.
Come on in.
- I'm gonna take you to get you a manicure.
- Sorry, Mom.
- What on Earth are you sorry about?
Why didn't you call me?
- They couldn't get through.
- I made an appointment with Mattee.
- Good.
- You don't pick up when you're with your patients.
- She called me.
- Why didn't you call your grandmother?
- She called me, all right?
That's who she's supposed to call after you.
The kid is passing out in school.
You're not paying attention.
At 10:00 o'clock tomorrow.
I think you should be there.
- Of course.
What's goin' on?
- What's going on.
I take it your professional diagnosis is malingering?
Not this kid.
- What's malingering?
- Pretending.
- John, I need a word with my daughter alone.
Do you mind?
- Look, I just want Dr. Mattee to run some tests
and rule out the worst, that's all.
(baby cooing)
- Do you feel well enough for me to take you home?
- Can I stay?
- Of course you can stay.
- I'm sorry.
- Don't be silly.
There's nothing to be sorry about.
(baby fussing)
See you tomorrow.
- If you're anemic, we'll take care of it.
Rest and liquids, just the usual routine.
So anything else?
Beth?
- No.
- How's school? - Good.
- Beth's doing great in school.
- Good.
Sleeping okay?
- Uh-huh. - She stays up late.
- But I sleep fine.
- Well, if you have to go into school,
I think it's okay.
That sound good? - Uh-huh.
- Yeah, skip the dancing for a while
and I'll write you a note for PE.
She eating okay?
- Beth?
- What?
I had the flu, I wasn't hungry.
But when I do eat, I eat tons.
- Kids, they get away with murder.
Remember having a metabolism like that?
- I don't wanna think about it.
- (laughs) In the mean time, don't worry.
I think Beth's just got a little midlife crisis going there.
(birds chirping)
- You wanna go home and change
before I drop you off at school?
- Okay.
You think I'm making it up.
- Nope.
I think you need to see someone.
- No way.
- [Nina] If you're not gonna talk to me,
then you need to talk to someone.
- I talk to you.
Fine, I'll just tell them what they wanna hear.
I know how to do that.
- Why?
Why would you do that?
Why?
What do you have to hide?
- This is psycho!
(turn signal ticking)
- Why are you so angry?
- Don't start, please.
I'm sorry, okay?
I'm sorry I'm being so awful, okay?
I just, I'd really like to go to school
'cause I missed so much and I'm worried
about my grades and stuff.
Okay, I'm just, I'm sorry I'm such a bitch
all of a sudden.
Can we go?
- [Nina] What's this?
- It's, um, it's Mel's cat.
Hi.
- Hi, Beth.
- Here's my doctor's note.
- Feeling better? - Yeah, thanks.
- So what'd your doctor say?
- They don't know.
Maybe anemia.
Probably.
They did some tests.
Well, see ya.
- Can you hang on just a second, Beth?
Have a seat.
(door clicking shut)
You know, some of your friends
are really concerned about you.
- Oh?
- Are you surprised?
I understand you've been purging.
- Excuse me?
- Vomiting, Beth.
- I was sick.
- Not just since you've been sick.
You're an honor student, right?
Is there a lotta stress surrounding that?
Surrounding having to be perfect?
Are you making yourself throw up, Beth?
- Um...
I was just showing off.
I don't do it anymore.
- Beth.
You know, someone's gonna have to tell your mom.
- I don't do it anymore.
- Hey, if you like, we could do it together.
I could be there with you.
Or you could tell her.
(soft instrumental music)
- Okay.
- But I need your word.
- Okay.
- [School Counselor] I can take that to the bank, right?
- Right.
Yeah.
I promise.
(kids chattering)
- Beth!
Beth, wait up.
Talk to me for a second.
- I have nothing to say to you.
Or her.
- Sorry.
We didn't know what else to do.
- Who asked you?
- You're my friend.
I miss you.
- Hi.
You look like a dying swan.
Very dramatic.
What?
- I'm in big trouble.
- Be brave, okay?
♪ So the Bible said, and it still is new ♪
(door banging)
- Hi.
- Hey.
Weren't you not supposed to go to class?
- Oh.
Well, I didn't, as it turned out.
I was too tired, I just watched.
Maybe it is anemia.
Did Dr. Mattee call?
- Everything seems to be negative.
- [Beth] Is that good?
- Yeah, that's good.
We'll know more tomorrow.
- Bad day?
- What?
- [Beth] 'Cause you're sitting in the dark.
- You have homework?
- Yeah, a ton.
- [Nina] You want me to make you somethin'?
There's-- - No.
- Chicken pasta, eggs? - It's okay, I'll do it.
- Well, I want you in bed before 10:00, okay?
- Okay.
I need to talk to you, okay?
To tell you something.
And I don't want you getting upset
because I don't do it anymore.
- All right.
- Um...
(sighing)
I throw up sometimes.
(crying)
You know, just to lose weight and stuff.
- You don't do it anymore?
- I'm not going to.
- How long have you been doing it?
What does that mean?
You don't know?
- It's just unit of time.
It's not a big deal.
- Yes, it is, it's a big deal.
- I'm sorry you're so disappointed in me.
- Me too.
How come you're telling me now?
- Everyone says I have to.
- Everyone?
- Well, you know, my counselor, Stasha.
- Oh.
- Why are you so mad?
- First, because you're doing this thing.
And second, because, well,
I don't know how I could be so blind.
It's not so much the throwing up or whatever
because I understand that's a symptom.
And I want you to be in therapy.
- No. - No?
You have no say in this.
- Oh, we'll see.
- You have no vote, you understand?
This decision is not yours.
- You think.
- I don't know you.
- I won't do it anymore.
- You betrayed me, you betrayed my trust!
- This is not about you!
- I think it is.
I think it's very much about me and you.
I think it's about what goes on between us.
(sobbing)
- This is not about you.
It's not about you.
It's not about you!
It's not about you, it's not about you.
It's about me, okay?
Can't anything be about me?
It's always about you, it's about Daddy, it's,
it's too much!
I can't take it.
- What?
- You don't even see it.
You don't even know.
And I can't do it anymore!
I can't do it anymore! (sobbing)
Don't.
I hate everything, do you understand?
Okay, I hate school, I hate my friends,
I hate pretending.
No!
Don't hold me.
You don't even know me, okay?
You don't know me.
Nobody knows me.
You weren't here.
I'm here.
I'm always here.
- Oh, what have I done? (crying)
- Oh Mama, Mom, Mom, Mom.
This is not about you. (sobbing)
Let me go to my room, okay, please?
(Nina sobbing)
(gentle piano music)
♪ Take a good look at me ♪
(Beth sobbing)
♪ Am I everything you hope I'd be ♪
(Beth screaming)
♪ I'm not some sanitized, canonized woman ♪
♪ I am flesh and fear and blood and tears and anger ♪
♪ Said and done are things I'm not proud of ♪
♪ Done are dreams I let slide ♪
♪ I have taken, forsaken, and run away ♪
♪ I am innocent and I am guilty ♪
♪ Bound by conscience, bound by need ♪
(birds chirping)
(pedestrians chattering)
- I'm glad you're here, Beth.
(bell chiming)
I'm gonna tell you straight off
I'm not gonna try to twist your arm or control you.
- Okay.
- Just to let you know, I was anorexic.
So I know what it's like.
- You were lucky.
- Why do you think I was lucky?
- 'Cause you didn't have to think about food.
You just didn't eat.
- (laughing) Well, that's not true.
I always thought about food.
I thought about it, I dreamt about it.
I was always starving.
And I was out of control, like you are.
- You weren't outta control.
You stuck to your diet.
And I can't.
- Yeah, I stuck to my diet.
Now I break my bones all the time, and I'm sterile.
I'm not tryin' to scare you.
- My mom's a shrink, you know.
- [Kerri] Yeah, I do, in fact.
So does that mean that you know all my tricks?
Or that you can't trust me?
- No.
- Do you think I'm in some kind of cahoots with her?
- Cahoots?
- She got my name from a colleague of a colleague,
so I'm kind of at a three remove.
- It's not a big deal.
- I'm not here to take this away, Beth.
Only you can make the decision to do that.
I'm here to help you understand why you do it.
If it wasn't serving you in some way,
you wouldn't be doing it.
What upset you about what I just said?
- 'Cause I don't do it anymore.
I know it's sick and disgusting,
and I don't do it anymore.
It was just when I ate too much.
- And when you feel full?
We don't have to talk about food if you don't want.
What does your dad do?
- Import, export.
He has a trophy wife and a baby boy.
- You're not too keen on her.
- She's fine.
He likes her fine.
- And your mom?
- We are not going to dis my mom, okay?
- Of course not.
I would like to sit and talk to her,
if that's okay with you.
Answer her some questions, you know, fill her in.
Is that okay with you?
(upbeat music)
(audience laughing)
- The great thing about picking up puking
was, like, I always know where I'll be
15 minutes after dinner.
(audience laughing)
- Yeah, I mean, barfing gives me such a sense of security.
- [Woman In Pink] Totally.
(audience laughing)
- [Woman On Radio] 'Cause I keep having it
and I don't know what it means.
- [Host] And what do you remember about the dream?
- [Woman On Radio] Okay, I'm a feather
and I'm falling down from the sky
and when I hit the ground I become a tiger,
a white one like those magicians in Vegas have.
And sometimes I prowl around
and sometimes I start freaking people...
(indistinct chattering)
- You gonna take it?
- I would, if I thought it was worth
the potential hassle.
I mean, skipping's bad enough.
If I get caught stealing, my mom goes berzerk.
- Oh, don't look!
(both girls squealing and laughing)
- [Beth] How do we know they won't come in here?
(both laughing)
- Hey, you're skinny, you know.
You don't have to. (gagging)
(laughing)
- That's not why I do it.
- Yeah, right.
- I do it because I'm screwed up, okay,
so just shut your trap.
- Excuse me?
God, Beth, go to hell!
I was just trying to make you feel better.
- You make me feel real great, Melanie.
Ms. Stuck Up.
- I'm outta here.
I am so sick of your drama.
(door clicks shut)
(somber guitar music)
- [Nina] The nicks on her hand?
- From her teeth.
So she's doing it a lot,
and she's telling you, me, everyone,
that it's not happening.
She hates it, but she can't stop.
- She kept staying home from school
saying she felt sick.
- Well, they can.
Bulimics tend to wall off, stay home alone
and do their thing, well, all day.
- I feel so stupid.
- Hey, come on.
If you're not actively looking,
the signs are practically invisible.
Why would you know the simple things
like water running in the bathroom
or her saying that she had already eaten as signals?
Besides, she kept you at a distance
so you wouldn't see her too clearly.
I mean, think about it, Nina.
No offense to your ex, but she had him
pick her up from school
because he hasn't got a clue.
She had to protect her secret.
- I've been in such denial.
- [Kerri] It's not your fault.
- She couldn't talk to me.
- Nina.
- How did we get here?
- There's so much that affects kids,
so many influences, pressures, media, school, peers.
- They can't control the world outside
so they control the world inside.
- Exactly.
That happens to the brightest and the beautiful.
I keep seeing it younger and younger,
three-year-olds thinking they're fat, not eating.
Our understanding of the disorder is evolving.
What we know is that it's not about getting skinny.
That's what it looks like,
but it's about emotions, it's about pain.
A person stuffs bad feelings down with food,
then releases it by purging.
Immediately after that, the endorphins kick in
and they feel great.
It's a feeling that they have to have
over and over again.
- Every day that she's doing this,
she's destroying her body a little bit more.
She's not even fully grown
and she might be doing permanent damage to herself.
- We don't know that she's done that yet.
We'll find out.
Taking her to the doctor was the right first step.
Bringing her to me, also the right move.
You're doing the right things.
But this will be hard, Nina,
to be at home, know what's happening,
hearing the water running,
and not stopping her.
Parents always wanna do the control thing.
It doesn't work.
Understand that.
It's gonna take a systematic approach.
I need to gain her trust.
- While I what?
- Just love her.
You already know how to do that.
(pager beeping)
Listen, thanks for meeting me here.
- Thank you.
- I gotta get going now too.
I've got rounds to make.
- [Phil] I know this might sound like
it's coming outta left field,
but my mother's offered to take Rachel for a while.
- And what are your feelings about that?
- [Phil] Well, mixed, but I know it's not productive
to feel guilty.
- I'd like to talk to Rachel, if that's all right.
(gentle guitar music)
(birds chirping) (water trickling)
You skipped school.
- I-- - Where were you?
- Stasha's. - Don't lie.
I called everyone.
I've talked to everyone.
Your dad's out lookin' for you, he called the police.
- I'm a horrible person, okay?
Okay, okay, I promise to stop, I promise, I promise.
- What else am I gonna find?
- I need to use the bathroom.
- Why are you doing this to yourself? (sobbing)
- Mom, I really need to go in there.
- Beth, I love you.
I don't want you to hurt yourself like this!
- I need to go to the bathroom.
- Go ahead.
- I need to puke, okay?
- Go ahead.
- This is my bathroom.
Get outta my bathroom!
- Stop it!
- I don't want you in here.
I'm disgusting, okay?
- Don't you dare.
- Is that how you talk to your patients?
(water splashing)
- [Nina] Don't you dare.
(Beth gagging)
(soft instrumental music)
(toilet flushing)
- Goodnight.
Pretty special, you got that right.
- Please stop it, Beth.
Honey?
(crying)
- Three years.
- [Nina] What?
- I've been doing it for three years.
I need to go away somewhere.
- Do you wanna go to your dad's?
- God, no.
Dad's not up for this.
(both crying)
Oh my gosh, my heart's really pounding.
Wow.
I can hear it in my ears.
You know what?
My hair's falling out, big handfuls of it.
Pretty scary, huh?
Maybe you can find me someplace safe
where they can take care of me.
For a while.
- You think our not sitting down to a decent meal
contributed to this?
I hope you're not blaming yourself, Nina.
Darling, you are the most wonderful mother.
Look, this situation proves
that even a professional whose job it is
to see these things--
- Mom, you have to stop doing that.
- Doing what?
- Determining what I'm thinking
and then what I should do about it.
- I'm not telling you what to do.
I don't know what to do.
That's what I'm trying to explore.
- I'm not thinking about this in terms of blame, okay?
- Of course not, dear, you can't.
That's what I'm saying.
It's too much.
Nina,
you're a mother.
Your child gets hurt, and you will do
everything you can to protect her.
In that way, we are the same.
It is a mother's purpose.
- It's the opposite of what I wanna do
with Beth right now, okay?
- Okay.
I was just saying that you wanna protect her.
- Like you're trying to protect me.
- And is there anything wrong with that?
- I'm interested in Beth right now, Mom.
I'm interested in what she's thinking,
what she's deciding, what she's changing about herself.
- From where I stand-- - Well, move.
We need to move, Mom.
She's trying to see things as they are,
very painful things.
I can't protect her from the hurt
because it's real, so the least we can do
is get outta the way.
- Hey.
Okay.
- Thank you.
(birds chirping)
- [Doctor] Got a chance to look at the bloodwork?
- [Doctor] No, I didn't, tell me what happened.
- [Doctor] Well, that really explained why her...
(indistinct chattering)
- Order a full panel.
(woman chattering on PA system)
(Beth laughs)
- I thought it was funny.
- Yeah, it's funny. (laughing)
- It's for when you come home.
- Mom.
- Has it been a good day?
- Yeah, I'm down to two hours observation after meals.
Progress.
- Good.
- I need a favor.
- Anything.
- Well, you know,
I was thinking, maybe if Daddy didn't visit for a while.
- Okay.
- He calls me gorgeous, and it's just,
it's really hard.
He cries and says how he failed me
and how much I mean to him,
and, you know, I can't talk to him.
- You want me to talk to him? - Would be good.
- Am I getting a message?
- Well, if I ask him not to come--
- Sure.
- Just for a little while. - Sure.
- Will you kiss me goodnight?
- Are you going to bed?
- No.
But for later?
- Oh.
- I'm really scared sometimes.
- I'm sorry.
I would want you never to be scared.
- What's gonna happen to us?
- You're gonna get well.
- Mom.
- Okay, things are gonna change.
It's gonna take time.
Eventually they'll get better.
- There are terrible things in the world.
Terrible things going on.
- Do you think it's your job to fix them?
- Don't you?
- Oh baby.
(insects chirping)
Hello, Edward.
- Hey, Nina.
I've kinda been waiting.
- [Nina] Oh?
- How is she?
- Well, we're taking things moment to moment.
- Could you tell her something for me?
It's a little embarrassing.
I just, I think she'll like it.
Sophia and I are going out.
- Well, congratulations.
I'll let her know.
- It's my first relationship.
I might need professional help.
- (laughing) Sophia's a lucky girl.
- Is she lonely?
Beth.
- She wants to be alone.
- From you, I doubt it.
- I think so.
- I'm sorry, that's private.
I know her pretty well, though.
She likes it when you're listening, you know?
As opposed to anyone else.
- Thank you, Edward.
(doorbell ringing)
Hi.
- Nina.
- I was wondering if I could speak with John.
It's terrible that I didn't call first.
- Why didn't you?
- I think I was scared.
- Well, John took the baby to the park,
but come on in.
- First off, let me apologize
for never taking you up on your offer.
- What's that?
- That we get together.
- I'm not sure I know what you're talking about.
- I thought you wanted us to go to dinner or something.
- Well, um, no.
Actually, I'm always telling John
I don't understand the purpose of pretending.
I never understood what good it was doing Beth
to pretend.
- Really?
- Well, yeah.
I'd never expect you to hang out with us.
A person needs time to grieve.
- Beth didn't get much of that.
- It never was okay for her to cry about you and John.
Hey, I don't wanna analyze when that's not my job.
- Neither do I.
- It must be very hard for you.
Like asking me not to buy a new pair of shoes.
(Nina laughs)
If you're here to ask John not to visit Beth,
I'm ahead of you.
He really loves her, and now that he knows
what Beth has gone through,
all this pain is coming up.
This is not a good time for him to be around her.
- Wow.
- This is hard.
But I see it as a gift.
And when I see Beth next, I'm gonna thank her.
That little girl pulled down the dirty curtains,
didn't she?
- That's a good way to put it.
Rachel.
- My dad's waiting in the car.
I needed to say goodbye to you.
I'm leaving tomorrow.
- Where to?
- My grandma's.
- [Nina] Where's that?
- Florida. - Oh.
- She likes me.
- Well, you're a good daughter.
I'm really glad we could say goodbye.
- Do you have a daughter? - I do.
- Does she live at your house?
- Well, actually she's in the hospital right now.
- Oh, is she sick?
- Yeah.
- Well, better not keep my dad waiting.
(gentle guitar music)
I'll love you forever.
- Me too, Rachel.
You want me to walk you out?
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- [Man On TV] Just wanna take the knife,
nice, large pacific oysters here,
and you wanna embed it in the crevice there.
Make sure it's in firm so that it's not gonna slip
and cut your hand.
Make sure you always use a towel.
(phone ringing)
Pop the oyster, and then you wanna take it
and cut along the edge, just like this.
- Hello.
Hey, honey.
- (laughs) You sound so happy.
(crying) I just, I was wondering
if you could pick me up a few things.
Maybe you could bring them to me?
I miss you.
(gentle guitar music)
- Hi.
- [Beth] Hi.
(Beth laughing)
- Dr. Broda said you come here a lot.
- With Karen.
She likes to read and I like to draw, so.
- How old is she?
- She's 16.
She has anorexia.
She's been here the longest, so.
- So she's a friend?
- We relate.
In group, when we're talking,
it's sort of like she knows what I mean.
- That's comforting.
- I kinda feel sorry for her, though.
- How come?
- I think the hospital changes you.
You sit around in group talking about
really deep stuff, you know,
that the average 20-year-old doesn't even talk about.
And it's just, you just gotta leave here
and everything's gonna be all,
oh, he's so cute, you know,
and, did you see that TV show, and whatever.
It's just gonna feel like it's so superficial.
- It's a weird world.
- Yeah.
She'll be able to handle it, though.
- I like hearing that.
Can I see?
If it's private, I understand.
- No, it's not that.
It's just, it's better if I show you something first.
Cover your eyes.
- Wait.
(both laughing)
- Okay, we're almost there.
- Are we there? - Yeah.
You can open. - Okay.
(Nina gasps)
Oh my goodness.
Wow.
- See?
- [Nina] Oh.
- [Beth] I tried to get it from all the angles.
(gentle instrumental music)
- [Nina] Wow. (laughs)
(Beth laughing)
(somber guitar music)
(MultiCom Jingle)