01x02 - Mongkok

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Expats". Aired: January 26, 2024 – present.*
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Set in Hong Kong, the plot orbits the abrupt disappearance of Margaret's youngest son during a nightime market escapade.
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01x02 - Mongkok

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[BIRD SCREECHING]

[AMBIENT MUSIC PLAYING]

[WIND WHISTLING]

[BIRD SCREECHES]

[GUS LAUGHS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- [MARGARET] Gus.

- [GUS] Excuse me. Excuse me.

[MARGARET] Come here, honey.

- [GUS] Excuse me.

- [MARGARET] Gus, come back!

[TWILIGHT TRIO:

"LADY (HEAR ME TONIGHT)"]

- [GUS] Excuse me.

- [MARGARET] Gus, stop.

[GUS] Excuse me.

- [MARGARET] Oh, honey, come on.

- [GUS] Excuse me.

- Gus. [MUMBLES]

- [GUS LAUGHS]

- Gus.

- Excuse me. Excuse me.

- [MARGARET] Gus, stop.

- Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me.

[GUS LAUGHS]

[MERCY] Ooh.

[GRUNTS] Got you.

Hey, you fall off the back of the boat,

you're gonna get chopped.

- Do you want that?

- No, you're gonna get chopped.

I'm not getting chopped.

You're getting chopped.

- No, you.

- No, you.

- [MARGARET] Gus!

- No, you.

- No, you. You.

- [MARGARET] Thank you so much.

Thank you. I'm so sorry.

- No problem.

- [MARGARET] You can't do that.

You can't run off like that,

not on this boat.

All right? You stay with me, Daddy.

We're on a boat, and there is

water everywhere,

and it is very dangerous.

No. No more running.

[ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[SIGHS]

Ugh.

[SIGHS]

[INDISTINCT, DISTANT CHATTER]

[SIGHS]

[INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING]

Is there a cut-off date

for when you might start

finding the child a new home?

Well, most mothers won't sign the form.

They think they will come back,

so the child ends up being

here for a very long time.

This way, please.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

The next part of the tour

is only possible

because of your continued

donations to the orphanage.

[EXPAT WOMAN ONE] It's something we

like to do, visit different charities.

[EXPAT WOMAN TWO] It's

so important to give back.

[MERCY] Look at all this cheese,

and no one's eating any of it.

Does everyone have so much

European cheese in their home

that this buffet is just

invisible to them?

[CHUCKLES]

Have you tried this burrata?

- It's so good.

- Yeah. Right?

I have to go to Italy

before the end of the year.

- I just have to.

- What do you mean? You can't.

Why not?

'Cause it's irresponsible.

You went to Italy this year twice.

Plus Thailand, India, Australia

I know, but that's different.

[MERCY] Because you're

a trust fund baby?

- [PHILENA] Don't be crass.

- [MERCY LAUGHS]

You need a career, or at least a job.

Come on. Let's go meet my friends.

I don't think we read

the invitation right.

Water, wine, children:

terrible combination.

It's like being surrounded

by a giant swimming pool.

[GUS] I'll go with Essie.

- [MARGARET] No, you're okay here, honey.

- Oh.

I asked for a Coke Zero.

That's a Diet Coke.

- It's not the same.

- [SERVER] I'm sorry, ma'am.

You can't talk to them like that.

I've lived here long enough

to know it's the only way.

- [GUS] Oh, Essie!

- [ESSIE] I'll take him, Miss Margaret.

[MARGARET] Thanks so much, Essie.

[GUS] I'll go with you, Essie.

You're lucky he gets

along with your helper.

Essie's been with us since Gus was born.

I mean, she's family.

[SARAH CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

I literally had to buy Mercy

her ticket to Hong Kong.

She was living in the same

apartment with her mom.

Hong Kong seemed far enough

away for her not to follow.

Hmm. Excuse me. Duty calls.

Hi. How are you?

[EDWIN] So you went to Columbia?

- Scholarship.

- Oh, lucky for you.

No. Just had the grades.

[SHELLAC LAUGHS SOFTLY]

What I mean is, I'm anything but lucky.

It's funny, actually.

I'm a little bit cursed.

[RUBY] Cursed?

Mostly my face. It's like a

receptacle for misfortune.

And it's not just my face.

My mom had my cards read

when I was a teenager, and

they all said the exact same thing.

That I'll never marry,

never have a family,

I'll die alone, that kind of thing.

- [JULES LARSON: "I WANT IT ALL"]

- I feel you breathe in my soul ♪

Didn't your brother just get

into Columbia, Shellac?

- Are you gonna go visit him?

- [SHELLAC] Oh, yeah.

I'll probably go with my parents

when he moves there in the fall.

[EDWIN] Oh, remind me to introduce

you to my friend Antonio.

He owns a bunch of the best

clubs in Manhattan.

- [SHELLAC] Which ones?

- [EDWIN] He owns Tech Service, The DL

[RUBY] Don't you remember

we went that summer?

[EDWIN] Oh, my God, yeah, we

[RUBY] What?

- [MERCY] Whoo!

- [EDWIN] Oh, my God.

- [RUBY] She didn't just do that.

- [SHELLAC] Philena.

[LAUGHTER]

[RUBY] I told you she's crazy.

Dare me to swim under the boat?

Yes, do it! Do it!

- Do it! Do it!

- [EDWIN] Do it!

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

[SPEAKING KOREAN] Things

will never go your way.

She is riding a blind horse

towards a cliff.

[OVERLAPPING CHATTER OF

WOMEN SPEAKING KOREAN]

You must be careful

You're cursed.

You'll never marry, never have a family.

You'll die alone.

[KOREAN CHATTER CONTINUES]

[MUFFLED GROANING]

[KOREAN CHATTER CONTINUES]

[COUGHING]

[GASPING]

- [LEE RICHARDSON: "MAKE IT COME TO LIFE"]

- Come to life, come to life ♪

Come to life ♪

- Come to life ♪

- [SEAGULL SQUAWKING]

Come to life ♪

Don't forget it, get it ♪

[COUGHING]

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

- [BABY FUSSES IN DISTANCE]

- She's ready for you.

Here.

Oh. Okay, okay, okay.

Hey, you.

How'd you end up in here?

[OLIVIA] Gosh, she's so tiny,

small as a bird.

Unlike Chloé, who was born so fat

the nurses brought in other

nurses to take a look at her.

[CHUCKLES]

Yeah, well, no one can resist

a fat baby, right?

Those little click-on wrists.

Oh, and when we got home,

my mom locked us inside

for a month of confinement, right?

She wouldn't let me wash my hair.

She fed me bitter tea and

soup that was utterly foul.

Ow.

[BABIES CRYING SOFTLY]

Poor thing.

Nobody's making soup for you.

[LIVELY ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

[INDISTINCT, OVERLAPPING CROWD CHATTER]

[MARGARET LAUGHS] No.

- [MAN] No?

- [MARGARET LAUGHS]

What happened? Are you okay?

Here. Let me get you a towel.

Here.

What happened?

Um long story.

Where are your clothes? Huh?

I'll go get 'em for you if you want.

I'm Margaret, by the way.

[GENTLE, TRANQUIL MUSIC PLAYING]

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

- [CLARKE] White wine for the lady.

- [MARGARET] Oh. Well, thank you.

- I don't think I need any more wine.

- And strawberry something or another

- for madame.

- [GUS AND DAISY LAUGH]

Anything else you guys need?

Do you need anything?

- Oh, no. Thank you.

- Yeah?

- Yeah. [LAUGHS]

- [GUS LAUGHS]

I'll see you later. Bye.

Very, very well trained.

Not bad. Yeah.

Not you.

[MERCY AND MARGARET LAUGH]

You know, Hong Kong was supposed

to be a fresh start for me.

[MARGARET] A fresh start? Really?

At 24? You got to be kidding me.

- Fair. [LAUGHS]

- [GUS] Fair.

- [MERCY LAUGHS]

- [MARGARET] You're hilarious.

Do you guys like Hong Kong?

[MARGARET] Yeah. I miss home

sometimes, but, you know,

we live at the Peak. Spectacular views.

Yup.

Highest concentration of bald white men

driving convertibles I have ever seen.

I know what the "F" word is.

Hey, you promised you wouldn't say that.

[WHISPERING] Gus, I told you

not to say that in front of Mom.

- I think I'll say it. I'm gonna say it.

- Oh.

Hey, hey, hey, hey. Don't ever say that,

especially in front of your mother.

She works so hard to take care of you,

so you just don't ever say it, okay?

- Okay.

- All right, okay.

There.

- What's up?

- [DAISY LAUGHS]

Well, hold on. Hold on.

[MERCY LAUGHS]

You have siblings?

- Only child.

- Really?

My aunt runs a restaurant in Queens.

She needed my mom's help,

so I was always in charge

of the cousins.

Love kids, which is lucky 'cause

she had like seven billion of them.

- [MARGARET LAUGHS]

- [DAISY] Oh, stop shaking it.

Look, if you, uh if you

ever need any help,

extra pair of hands, I'm around.

People always say that,

and they never mean it.

- I completely mean it.

- [PHILIP] Stop shaking it, Gus.

Sometimes I feel like I'm more at home

- when I'm around kids than adults.

- [MARGARET LAUGHS]

- [CUP CLATTERS]

- Oh, f*ck!

- [LAUGHTER]

- Don't worry.

Takes more than that to scare me. Hmm.

[TRANQUIL MUSIC PLAYING]

[GUS] Essie! Essie!

I want Essie!

- [DAISY] Uh-oh.

- I got you.

[GUS] I want Essie!

No, she's busy. Mama's got you.

I want Essie!

- [SPEAKING TAGALOG] Carry me!

- He wants you.

[ESSIE] Yes, ma'am.

Come on, now. Hey.

Oh, hold on. Mm.

[SPEAKING TAGALOG]

- Huh?

- [GUS SPEAKING TAGALOG]

[CLARKE] Don't worry about 'em.

I can grab 'em.

- I got it.

- [GUS] That's what I wanted.

- [CLARKE] Just give 'em to Mac.

- No, no.

- Can I help you?

- It's fine. I got it.

- Oh, okay.

- I got it.

[ELEVATOR BELL CHIMING]

[GUS] Hi, Pinot. Hi, Pinot.

Hi. Hey there.

- Gentle, Gus. Be gentle.

- Happy?

- [CLICKS TONGUE] Come on.

- Come on, come on. Stop. Come.

[ELEVATOR BELL CHIMING]

[DOOR SQUEAKS SHUT]

[CAR HORN BLARES]

- Hey, Sam.

- [SAM] Sir.

Oh. Thanks, mate.

[SIGHS]

[TURN SIGNAL CLICKING]

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

Oh, new school photos?

The kids, they look older now.

They're growing up, huh?

- Yes, sir.

- [CHUCKLES]

How old are they now?

Nine and seven, sir.

Nine and seven. Wow.

Geez, time flies.

Feels like just yesterday they

were six and eight. [LAUGHS]

No, you're lucky. They

look like good kids.

Thank you, sir.

We're actually trying for a baby.

Yeah.

I mean, I used to think I couldn't

be a father, I wasn't cut out for it,

but now, no.

Now I see having a child

as a way to turn the clock back.

I have a complicated relationship

with my family.

I don't see them much anymore.

Maybe I should've gone to my

brother's wedding last year, but

There's too much history.

And, of course, Hilary's family's

a w*r zone. [CHUCKLES]

I guess we're just hoping

to do things differently.

Yes, sir.

- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

- [QUIET CHATTER]

- Uh, Hilary Starr.

- Hmm.

- Follow me, please.

- Okay, thank you.

[SOFT INSTRUMENTAL JAZZ PLAYING]

Hi.

Sorry I'm late.

Hi. I walked.

- They have clams.

- Ah. You love clams.

Mm-hmm. So, how was it?

You know, heartbreaking and

full of disinfectant, all at once.

- What?

- Lots of talks and thank-yous

and checks written, and then they

start handing out babies to hold.

[CHUCKLES] And did you hold one?

I mean, I held this little girl,

and she was hardly a month old

- and already in the system.

- Oh.

And, you know, it's just,

it's almost like we were both

just saying to each other

- Oh.

- "f*ck", you know?

Just like, "How did I get here?"

Like that kind of a "f*ck".

- And I felt so bad for her.

- Yeah.

Not in a "I want to take

you home" kind of way.

More in, like, a "Meet me in 20 years,

and I'll buy you a drink" sort of way.

- [LAUGHS]

- And, of course, all these other women,

you know, their eyes are all full,

and they're saying all the right things.

- What?

- And I'm just I'm just

- What?

- I don't know.

I'm just me, you know. I'm just me.

- Oh.

- It's terrible. Ah, we didn't order those.

[WAITER] Oh, it said your booking

was a special anniversary.

- Oh, uh, it's-it's all right.

- Oh, Hils, have one.

No, no, no, I don't need it.

I'm feeling good today. Please?

Oh, okay. Then I will. Thank you.

[WAITER] And anything for you, sir?

Uh, no, I'm good with

just water, thanks.

You know, I think I'll have clams, too.

- Yeah?

- Mm-hmm.

- Well, then, to clams.

- [LAUGHS] To clams.

- May they always be on the menu. [LAUGHS]

- Yeah.

Anyway, this whole afternoon got me

thinking about us and

about having a baby

and how how people talk about

how they feel this instant

wave of love, you know?

Or if they adopt, how they're

they meet their child-to-be,

and they just know.

In that moment, they know, you know?

But how do they know? I mean, know what?

- Yeah. [CHUCKLES]

- What if I don't feel anything?

I think you will when it's your own.

Would I?

Yeah. Uh, look.

Come here.

When we have a baby,

we'll forget how f*cking hard

it was to make one.

Okay?

Next month's our month.

We just have to keep trying.

Okay?

- Yeah.

- Okay.

Mm.

No, I don't like red food!

I want something else!

You do like red food.

Berries are red, ketchup's red.

No. I want chow faan.

[SPEAKING TAGALOG] I don't like it.

[ESSIE] Do you want me

to cook some chow faan?

[MARGARET] No! We're not

running a restaurant.

They can't just order food

like we work for them.

But Essie does work for us.

Hey, Essie is here to help us,

not to pamper you.

[SPEAKING TAGALOG] Your mother

made some yummy lasagna

- Now you must eat it.

- [GUS] It's disgusting.

[PHILIP] I'd eat chow faan, Auntie Essie.

Oh, my God, Philip.

I'm just saying, I wouldn't not

eat it if it was in front of me.

Just eat your dinner.

I don't want to.

All right, this is ridiculous, Gus.

It really is. Come on, honey.

I'm gonna count to three.

One, two

- [GRUNTS] No!

- Holy f*ck.

You're in trouble!

Come on. You made a big mess,

and now I have to clean it up.

So you're gonna stay here, right here,

and you don't move You

hear me? until I come back.

- Ah!

- Oh.

- [ELEVATOR BELL CHIMES]

- [HILARY LAUGHS]

- A little bit more, hmm?

- Mm.

- [DAVID CLEARS THROAT, LAUGHS]

- [HILARY CLEARS THROAT]

- Hi, Christopher.

- Hi.

How's Pinot doing on the new food?

Well, she got firmer poos,

so that's a good start.

- [PINOT WHINES]

- Yeah, definitely.

Sure you don't mind keeping an eye

on her over the weekend?

No. No, no, of course not.

Enjoy birdwatching.

- Thanks. All right.

- [ELEVATOR BELL CHIMING]

[HILARY] Gus! What are you doing here?

[GUS GIGGLES]

Gus? Okay, buddy. Gus?

Oh, Gus.

Oh, no. Where did Gus go?

[DAVID] Oh.

- There he is!

- Ooh. [LAUGHS]

All right, I'm gonna take him up.

- Hurry, my dear.

- I will. Mm.

- [CHRISTOPHER] Hey, who's that?

- Come on.

- [CHUCKLES] Hi.

- [PINOT WHINES]

- Hi, Pinot.

- [CHRISTOPHER CHUCKLES]

[CHRISTOPHER] Come on.

- [ELEVATOR BELL CHIMING]

- [MARGARET] Daisy, is Gus inside?

- [DAISY] I don't think so.

- [HILARY] Come on.

[MARGARET] Gus! I told you

not to go anywhere.

- Hil, thanks.

- [HILARY] I found him on my floor.

[MARGARET] My gosh, it's been a day.

You want a drink?

[DAVID SIGHS]

Your iced tea, sir.

[MARGARET] Essie was wonderful

with them when they were little.

Now she just babies them.

She gives them whatever

they want, no discipline,

and I have to step in

and be the bad guy.

Maybe you've all just

outgrown her a little bit.

Maybe, but, I mean, we could

never let her go. Essie's family.

You know you always say that, right?

"Essie's family, Essie's family".

She's not. You know that.

She's been living with us

since Gus was born.

I know, but everyone

here has live-in help.

You're her employer, not her friend.

You need to relay those boundaries.

Otherwise, she doesn't know

what the roles are.

Living here doesn't help.

We're in Hong Kong,

and it feels like sometimes

that we've moved to a

small town in Connecticut.

- [LAUGHS]

- It does.

I was on a yacht today, and

there was this bunch of expats,

complaining about the loss of Target

and pouring ketchup on their ramen

and yelling at their helpers.

[LAUGHING] Oh, God. Just the worst.

[MARGARET] Mm-hmm.

- [CLARKE] What are we eating, guys?

- [ESSIE] Chow faan, sir.

Chow faan again? Yes!

- [MARGARET LAUGHS]

- Is it good?

- That's your problem right there. [LAUGHS]

- [MARGARET] No solidarity.

- None.

- None.

- [CLARKE] Hi, Mommy.

- [MARGARET LAUGHS]

[CLARKE] Hi.

I'm back on the pill.

Does David know?

I know, I know, I know, I know.

I hate lying to him, but

I don't know how to tell him.

I mean, I'm not trying

to change your mind,

but I am gonna tell you,

when I got pregnant with Gus,

[WHISPERS] I didn't want another baby.

I didn't know that.

I mean, I feel guilty

saying this, but I

I had this voice stuck on repeat

in my head chanting,

"I don't want another baby,

I don't want another baby",

almost like I was wishing him away.

But then, of course, he was

born and I saw his face,

and the first words were, "I'm sorry".

And I just, I don't want you

to miss out on having kids, Hil,

because you think you can't

handle the chaos of it.

You can. I know you can.

What if I can't?

Or not "can't". What if I don't want to?

We always end up sacrificing more.

You said it. We do more of the work.

You have to be the bad guy, and

I don't want to take on that role.

- You don't think David will support you?

- No.

Not It's not that. It's just

- Is he drinking again?

- No.

No. He's great.

He's

Trying really hard, he's been

sober for almost a year.

- I mean, a year is

- He'd be a great dad.

That's not it.

In fact, he'd be great, and that's why

I feel like I'm being unfair to him.

But we both agreed together,

we were on the same page

when we got married,

we didn't want kids.

And now he's just sort of

changed his mind,

and I just feel like I'm being

pressured into something

that I'm not sure I ever wanted, and

[DAISY] Mom, can you buy

that game on my phone now?

- No, no, no. Not now. Honey, what?

- Come on, you said you would buy it

after dinner. Dinner's finished.

Daisy, your mother just said, honey.

- Could you just give us

- Come on, Mom, please.

I finished all of my math work.

[PHILIP] No, she didn't. She's lying.

- [DAISY] How would you know?

- [MARGARET] All right, don't yell.

- No, no. Don't yell. Give me this.

- [DAISY] You haven't been with me

every second of the day.

- [PHILIP] Feels like it!

- [MARGARET SHUSHES]

[DAISY] You just need to put in

the password right there.

- [MARGARET] Oh.

- [DAISY] Thanks, Mom.

- [DOOR OPENS]

- [HILARY] I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

I got to Margaret's,

and she really needed

to vent, and then we

just got to talking,

and I just lost track of time.

Hi, Puri. How are you?

- [PURI] Good.

- [HILARY] Uh, before I forget,

I need you to pick up a

package at TST for me.

- [SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]

- [CONVERSATION CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

[HILARY] I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

[SPEAKING TAGALOG]

[SIGHS] She's in his bed again.

I should be paying her extra

for giving me my wife back.

It used to be you lying in there.

I know. It's just

[SIGHS] I don't know.

Hey.

Kids they have stages.

- Yeah, but

- Look, it'll pass, and we'll forget.

Essie, you don't need

to do that tonight.

It's been a big day. We can handle it.

Thank you, sir. Good night.

- Good night.

- Night.

[DOOR OPENS]

- [DOOR CLOSES]

- [SIGHS]

We have to set better boundaries. It

It has to be defined for her.

Then what's the boundaries?

[SIGHS]

What?

- I'm a ridiculous person.

- Shh, shh, shh.

When I see him with her,

cuddling up together, I don't

know what comes over me.

[CLARKE] Um

[BLOWS]

I never wanted to be that kind of mother

who had to be in every part

of their kids' lives.

I was too busy, too busy for that.

- You're busy now.

- [SIGHS] No.

- Yeah.

- I had a job.

Doesn't matter. We're

We're going home.

[SOFT CHUCKLE]

- Uh

- What?

They offered me another contract.

I know we agreed I wouldn't extend

again, but this is really good.

No.

You can't do this.

I can't do another year.

- Margaret.

- It's unfair to ask me.

I've been looking at office space.

I've been setting up meetings

with clients over the holidays.

All of my friends back home

are-are-are-are CEOs, artists.

- And here, the women are just wives.

- Okay.

I'm becoming one of them.

Hey, they're being very generous

about reopening our relocation package.

If we wanted to, we could afford

This is only happening because

you happen to earn more money than me.

I feel like I have to give up

everything, everything that's mine,

and I feel like I have to become

To become what?

[SCOFFS]

[MARGARET GROANS]

- The family accountant.

- [SIGHS]

- Your accountant.

- Mm, mm.

- No way.

- Yeah.

[SIGHS]

Don't you ever miss it?

Home?

- I don't know.

- [SIGHS]

I like our life here.

The food, the help, the drivers.

It makes everything easier.

This isn't real life, Clarke.

There's nothing wrong

with spoiling ourselves a bit.

Right? We deserve it.

Remember when we first arrived

Mm.

And we'd take the kids

to so many places,

going on trips to Macau,

high tea at the Peninsula,

the night market?

You hate the night market.

Yes, I do hate the night market,

but our kids love it, so I love it.

[CHUCKLES] Mm.

No. [LAUGHING] Clarke!

Just think about it.

- Just think about it, please. Please.

- [GROANS]

Please, please, please. [MOANS]

[MARGARET WHIMPERS]

[KISSES]

I'll think about it.

[CHUCKLES]

[BOTH MOANING]

[LAUGHS]

Did you come?

Uh I'm good, baby. You come.

- You sure?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

[MOANING]

You close?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

- Sorry.

- No, no, it's okay. It's okay.

[GRUNTS]

Do you want me to do that thing?

- No, no.

- Okay.

- You sure?

- Uh-huh.

- Maybe. Okay.

- Okay.

- Okay. Okay.

- Yeah. Yeah.

- [LOUD ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

- [MARGARET] Let's go, guys.

Daisy. Come on. You're

gonna miss the bus.

Mom, I can't wear this.

I'm meant to be extinct.

- That's today?

- [PHILIP] Yeah.

- Say goodbye to your mother.

- Bye, Mama.

Bye, baby. Mwah.

Love you.

- Does he have a candy?

- [CLARKE] What?

- He had a candy.

- Hey.

- She can't give him sugar

- Mwah.

Hey, we're doing night

market tonight, right?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, 6:30, but we

forgot Philip's science costume.

I thought that was next week.

Yeah, so did I.

[CELL PHONE RINGING]

Uh toilet roll rhino,

- or you could be a bird. Be a bird.

- Bye.

[CLARKE] Daisy's got that old bird

costume from Halloween last year.

[MARGARET] Come on, we'll work it out.

[SOFT, TRANQUIL MUSIC PLAYING]

[DAVID] I'm running late.

- I'll see you later.

- [HILARY] Okay.

- Love you.

- Love you.

- [LOUD THUD]

- [SCREAMS]

[LIVELY CHATTER]

[MARGARET] Hi, baby.

How was your day, huh?

Hmm?

Winnie got in trouble today.

Yeah? She did?

What for?

Hold on, hold on. Let me help you.

So why did Winnie get in trouble?

[GUS] She kissed Willem on the mouth.

[MARGARET] On the mouth?

[GUS] Yeah, she's always chasing him.

[MARGARET] She shouldn't be doing that.

[GUS] It was silly.

[TYPING ON KEYBOARD]

[TEXT ALERT CHIMES]

[SIGHS]

- [PHILIP] How is that my fault?

- [DAISY] You ripped a hole in my wing.

- [PHILIP] Mom made me wear it.

- Guys. Guys!

- Shh. Gus is sleeping.

- [CLAMORING]

- [PHILIP] You don't even like it.

- [DAISY] I don't care.

[MARGARET] Daisy, Daisy.

[SAM] Would you like me to wait, sir?

Oh, no, that's okay, Sam. Um

Think I'll just get a taxi from here.

[SAM] Okay. Thank you, sir.

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

[LIVELY CHATTER]

[QUIET CHATTER]

[LINE RINGING]

[DAVID, RECORDED] Hi.

You've reached David Starr.

Please leave a message,

and I'll call you back.

Sorry, Hilary.

Legal says we have to

switch out the earrings

because of trademark issues.

- What trademark?

- He said it looks like Mickey Mouse.

They're just hoops.

We're flying in the alts

if you want to have a look.

[SIGHS] We've already

sh*t more than half

the commercial with these earrings.

It won't match if we swap them out now.

Hey. Hey, hey.

- Are you leaving?

- Yep. Got to go.

You'll figure it out.

Essie, can you wash these?

He's been wearing them

for three days straight.

[ESSIE] Yes, ma'am.

- [MARGARET] Is that dinner?

- [ESSIE] Yes, ma'am.

Didn't I tell you? I'm taking

the kids out tonight.

- No need to cook.

- [ESSIE] Okay. I'll get myself ready.

I was thinking you might like

to take the night off tonight.

[MARGARET] All right, guys,

let's go. Mac's waiting.

- Come on.

- Is Essie coming?

No. Essie needs some time to herself.

Don't forget this.

- Oh, great. Thanks, Essie.

- [PHILIP] I want Essie to come.

- [DAISY AND PHILIP] Bye, Essie.

- Bye-bye.

- [GUS] Bye, Essie.

- Bye.

[DOOR SHUTS]

[HYPNOTIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[MERCY] I used to hate seafood

like this when I was a kid.

Mostly 'cause I didn't want

to eat anything with a face.

All animals have faces.

[MERCY] Mm, chicken nuggets

do not have faces.

- [LAUGHS]

- Adults don't eat chicken nuggets.

- [MERCY] Well, I am not an adult.

- [CHUCKLING]

I'm so glad that you came.

I almost didn't call you.

[MERCY] Oh, I'm glad you did.

I didn't have any plans, so

- Where do you live?

- [MERCY] Uh, Kowloon.

- [PHILIP] Hey, that's mine. I put it in.

- Alone?

[MERCY] Just me.

Hey, hey.

- [MERCY] After, uh, college

- Stop.

[MERCY] it took about

three days to realize

I needed to leave New York.

My mom and I can't live together.

Turns out we need my dad to communicate.

They're separated.

[MARGARET] You must miss them very much.

- No.

- [MARGARET LAUGHS]

- Maybe a little.

- [MARGARET] Right.

My parents did that thing

where they d*ed

within two months of each other.

I was your age.

- Whoa.

- [MARGARET] Yeah.

They never got to meet

their grandparents,

but, I don't know

They had my sister and me when

they were well into their 40s,

so we expected to lose them

sooner than most people,

but it doesn't make you stop

wanting them, though.

Sometimes, when the

phone rings, I'm like,

"Oh, that's my mom calling".

Feels good to think

that they're still alive.

Even if it's for a millisecond.

It's nice to think that they're

watching you somehow.

There's magic all around,

if you're open to it.

- [DAISY] Mom?

- [MARGARET] Yeah?

- I think I'm gonna stop eating meat.

- Oh.

Well, I'll believe it when I see it.

- What about hamburgers?

- [DAISY] I could give up hamburgers

whenever I wanted to.

- [PHILIP] Hot dogs?

- [DAISY] Yep, I could do it.

[MARGARET] Mm-hmm. Um, what about

pepperoni pizza?

[DAISY] Maybe I'll eat some

meat but only on Fridays.

Ah! Perfect.

No, no, no, I got this.

Are you sure?

[MARGARET] Yes, of course.

I invited you.

I wasn't sure if this was

You are doing me a favor, truly.

Come on. Where we gonna go?

[DAISY] Can we go to Animal Street?

[GUS] I want to see rabbits.

I want to see puppies.

[MARGARET] Okay, okay, we can do both.

- [INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING]

- [DOGS BARKING]

[MERCY] You want to see the

puppy? You want to go in?

- [GUS] Uh, yes.

- [MERCY] Let's go. Oh, look.

- [DOG YELPING]

- Can we please get her, Mom?

- I need a dog. I-I want a puppy.

- Ooh.

[MARGARET] You want a puppy?

- Daddy would never allow it. Never.

- Ooh.

I want to buy a lot of rabbits.

A million rabbits.

[CHUCKLES]

[GUS] But could we buy

a rabbit right now?

What-what rabbit do you want?

- A red one.

- You're gonna get a red one?

- Yeah.

- Do bunnies come in red?

Yeah, bunnies come in red.

And the goldfish.

[DAISY] I thought blue

was your favorite color.

[GUS] I want the blue one.

[PHILIP] Gus, you love orange, remember?

[GUS] I want the orange fish.

I-I want to buy this one, please.

- Isn't it cool, Mercy?

- Yeah, it is cool.

[GUS] Mommy, I want this one.

[MARGARET] No, no.

Your father said no pets.

[DAISY] Dad said no puppies.

[MARGARET] Doesn't matter.

When Daddy comes back

- [PHILIP] What about a snake?

- [MARGARET] Oh, sure.

"Hi, Dad, we bought a snake".

Come on. Come on, come on,

everyone, let's go.

[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]

[MARGARET] You want some ice cream?

[PHILIP] I want to get boba.

[DAISY] I really want the banana flavor.

[PHILIP] Who gets banana?

It's all weird and yellow.

- [MARGARET] Well, she likes banana.

- [DAISY] I like banana.

Just leave her.

Can we look over here?

I promise I won't buy anything.

I just want to look.

But I want to look

at the action figures.

- All right, um

- I can take him.

Okay. Thanks.

Yeah, we'll find you.

- That's pretty.

- Yeah.

Don't buy any animals.

[PHILIP] Ooh, check out those kites.

[MERCY] Wow, those are so pretty.

- [GUS] There's some toys.

- [MERCY] Which one do you like?

- I like the train one.

- [PHILIP] Can we go over there?

- The train?

- Yeah.

Oh, hey, Philip, wait up.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Slow down, slow down.

- [GUS] Truck, truck.

- Oh, don't grab it.

- You don't know whose that is.

- I want the truck.

I want the truck.

[MERCY] Philip, where are

those action figures?

[GUS] Mercy, it's so cool.

[PHILIP] Um, maybe they're

a little bit further?

[MERCY] Look at this.

[BARKING]

[MERCY] Hey, check out

the good-luck cat.

It's pretty cool, huh?

[GUS] Lucky cat.

- Want to see some windmills?

- Yes, please.

I want a bunny. I want a robot.

You want Do you want

a bunny or a robot?

- A robot.

- Robot?

I can't hear you. What'd you say?

- I want a robot. I want a bunny.

- [LAUGHS]

You want a bunny? I don't

think your mom's gonna

let us have a bunny.

Ooh, maybe there's a robot.

- You want to go see?

- [GUS] Yes, please.

Check those out.

- [GUS] Ooh, I like that. It's cool.

- [MERCY] Those are nice.

Oh, it lights up?

I want a ball.

Oh. Help me. Quickly, boys, pick 'em up.

[GUS] Got it.

[PHONE CHIMES]

Mercy, there's one over here.

Mercy, I found one.

Over here.

[GUS] Balloons! Mercy, balloons.

- Balloons, balloons.

- Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

- Yeah, I see it. Balloons.

- [GUS] Balloons!

Yeah.

Hey, where's your brother?

He was here. He was right here.

Gus?

Gus?

[TENSE, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

- Gus?

- Gus?

Gus!

- Gus?

- Gus!

There they are.

Is everything okay?

Where's Gus?

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[MERCY] Every detail of the night

was dissected again and again.

Where they had been,

where they were going,

who else was around.

This is the babysitter who lost him.

The babysitter who told

the mother and police

that she was holding the boy's hand.

Except she couldn't have

been holding his hand.

Because if she had been

holding his hand,

the boy would still be here.

The perfect family, now

broken because of her.

The detective said, in cases like this,

it's usually someone you know.

Family, neighbors, coworkers.

He told police he was on

his way home from work

even though that was a lie.

Is anyone taking care of her?

No?

[OFFICERS CHATTING QUIETLY]

Hey. I'm David.

I heard what happened.

Look, you're shivering up.

Here, have my jacket.

- There.

- [TREMBLING BREATHS]

Is there someone I can call for you?

What did you say your name was?

David.

I live in the same building as Margaret.

I was on my way home

from I saw the lights.

[SOMBER, ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC PLAYING]

Maybe you shouldn't

Hey, uh, I don't think you

[MUFFLED CRYING]

Why don't we get you home. Come on.

[OFFICER] You should

try to get some rest.

We will keep patrolling and continue

the searching in the morning.

It's time to go.

It's okay. It's okay.

Come on.

It's okay. Come on.

Let's go.

[TRUCK ENGINE RUMBLING]

- [BIRDS CHIRPING]

- [HAMMERING]

[FAINT CHATTER]

[LIVELY CHATTER]

- [STREET MUSIC PLAYING]

- [LAUGHTER, LIVELY CHATTER]

[SIREN PASSING]
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