Dear Luke, Love Me (2025)

[bunniefuu]

So?

Look, I don't even

remember actually--

-Neither do I.

-Yeah.

We, uh--

we definitely did, though.

-Yeah.

-Oh, yeah. Yeah.

No question.

-Okay.

-We're good, though, right?

Oh.

Yeah, of course.

- Like it never even happened?

- It didn't.

According

to my short-term memory.

So yay us.

Great.

-Awesome.

-Still friends?

- Yeah, duh.

- Making sure.

Whose house are we even at?

You want to get some Taco Bell?

Oh, abso--

My life was a sun once.

Molecules of light and fire

all huddled into one star.

But then we suffered

this great expl*si*n

and became fragmented

in so many different

directions.

Friends are getting farther

and farther away.

Brilliant light separated

by shadows.

Miss, next.

Um, I'm Penny,

and I'm here because...

I wanted to stop being such

a lazy f*cking slob, I guess.

Thank you. Next.

It's hard

making new friends here.

People already seem

to have their own tribe.

It's not like undergrad

where everyone

wants to know everyone.

-You good down there?

-The-- the lock's just tricky.

I feel like I'm...

disconnected with everyone

in the world.

It's weird being away from you.

Have you heard the song

"Rivers and Roads"

by The Head and Heart?

It reminds me of you.

Most music reminds me of you.

You know, my dad saw

Bob Dylan live once.

- When?

- Uh, I don't know, late '70s?

You know, he said, uh,

when he played

"Like a Rolling Stone,"

no one even recognized the song

because he played it so many

millions of times, you know?

He just-- he just wanted to

keep it interesting for himself

and change it up.

I wonder if that's

what being married is like.

Playing the same song

over and over

and getting bored of it?

Probably.

Well, you can't divorce

your spouse,

you can't divorce genius.

Yeah, I don't think

I'm going to get married.

Can I play this?

Uh, do you know how?

Never had one, listen.

Oh, you have Double Fantasy!

You know,

I actually really like Yoko.

My mom always said that Yoko

broke up with The Beatles,

but I think that's a cop out.

Oh, my God, exactly. I know!

I mean, there were clearly

other problems going on.

-I mean, the egos.

-Exactly.

John and Yoko's love

was, like, past lives,

lightning to the brain,

thunder to the heart.

-Once in a lifetime.

-Once in forever.

-Shouting from the rooftop.

-A best friend.

-Soulmate.

-Telepathic.

John and Yoko finding love.

-Oh, my God.

-God.

Yeah, they were lucky

because that kind of thing

does not happen very often.

I mean, of course

Yoko hasn't remarried.

No, because it's sacred.

That kind of love,

that's more than just sex.

Sex has nothing to do with it.

Oh, I bet they had banging sex.

Or maybe not.

Maybe not?

"Why Don't We Do It

in the Road?"

Yeah, they had banging sex,

but their connection

makes sex seem superficial

is what I'm saying.

Oh, I totally agree with you.

Is this...

I don't know.

Otherworldly.

John and Yoko, man.

Whoa, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, stop.

Oh, my God, do you feel that?

Yeah.

The-- the vibe.

-Heartbeat.

-Heartbeat.

-Vibe. Same thing.

-Right. Same thing.

It's like the air is pulsing.

Yeah, or, like...

breathing.

Oh.

Oh.

You know this makes us

actual tree huggers now.

I'm okay with that.

They're-- they're soft.

You know, when loggers

first found this place,

they thought they found

this gold mine of lumber.

Huh.

And when they cut down

the first sequoia,

it was so big, they said

it fell in slow motion.

Yes, the bigger it is,

the slower it falls.

Trees are so delicate.

And when they hit the ground,

they shatter

into a million splinters.

Couldn't use them for anything

except toothpicks.

Hm.

Largest trees in the world...

...reduced to toothpicks.

-You still believe in God?

-Um, I believe in something.

I believe in the vibe.

No, I mean,

I was raised Catholic, so.

Hm.

Okay, there was

this one time when--

Oh, my God, I can't believe

I'm going to tell you this.

Okay,

so I was eight years old.

And I was--

I was taking

the biggest sh*t of my life.

And I was--

All I could think of was,

"Jesus suffered worse than this.

Jesus suffered worse than this.

If he can get crucified,

then I can get through this."

Well, uh, a big poop

to an eight-year-old,

that's a pretty tough moment.

- Oh, my God, it's huge.

- Okay.

I'm guessing you stopped

believing in all that bullshit

a while ago, too.

Yeah, yeah.

-Yep.

-What happened?

Um, well, my youth group

was going on this rafting trip,

and I was so excited,

because I had always

wanted to go rafting.

And all of my friends

were going,

and we had spent

the whole summer,

door-to-door, fundraising.

And that week,

week of the rafting trip,

was when everyone found out

that my dad was having

an affair with another man.

-No!

-And the youth leader said

I couldn't go

on the rafting trip anymore.

What?

And we weren't allowed back

in the church anymore.

And I really never saw

any of those friends ever again.

So, that's pretty much

when I stopped believing.

Oh, my God!

That's, like,

severely f*cked up.

That's traumatic.

Yeah.

-Just because your dad's g*y?

-No, no.

Uh, they had no problem

with him being g*y.

It was the whole cheating

on your wife thing.

Oh, my God!

How old were you?

-Seventh grade.

-sh*t!

-That's great timing.

-Yep.

Was there ever

a-- a moment for you?

Um, no.

Not like

one momentous moment, no.

Okay.

Just, you know,

one day you-- you do,

one day you don't.

Like the trees.

No, no, no.

If you ever listen

to Brian May solo live,

he's hands down the best

guitarist on the planet.

I mean...

...he's like a spider

spinning a web

in-- in fast motion.

But Jimi Hendrix!

Living. I said living.

-You so did not.

-Okay, fine.

Move.

Oh, uh, you do not have to sleep

on the couch

if you don't want to.

You can sleep in my bed

if you want.

Really?

Dude, you've been sharing

my bed every night

for, like, the last month.

Come on, I mean, it's you.

Okay, I'm just making sure.

Oh, um, you're going to have to,

uh, burrito me though!

Okay!

Let me just

wiggle back and forth.

-All right.

-You good?

Yep, yep, thank you.

Thank you.

-Hey, Luke?

-Yeah?

I have to say something.

Okay.

You're my best friend.

You're my best friend

too, Penny.

I just...

People kind of notice

that we're kind of...

- Insep--

- Inseparable.

Um...

so, I think...

I like you.

I knew

you were going to say that.

I see your point, Penn.

But I just--

I don't feel the same way.

I mean, I've never had

a friend like you.

And what we have is so perfect.

If we did anything to change

that, then we might break up.

And I don't think I could handle

you not being in my life.

I mean,

you're my best friend, Penn.

Always.

Yeah, um, I mean, same.

I'm sorry,

I-- I don't want this to--

to change anything between us.

Believe me, my feelings

are not going to have

anything changed.

Don't worry.

-Are you okay?

-Yeah, I'm fine.

I-- I just had to say something.

Okay.

Good night, Penn.

Good night, Luke.

Okay.

Would you rather never

get pleasure from sex again

or never be able

to taste food again?

I-- um, I'd give up sex.

Are you kidding me?

Do you have any idea

how good a chili cheese dog is?

I am so glad you said that.

I know.

I mean, do you know

how many millions of tastes

there are out there?

-Uh, crme brle.

-Uh, Panda Express.

- Steak.

- Jesus, steak?

I mean, I would never

give up Jesus steak.

I mean,

like, an orgasm is fun,

but, like, whatever, right?

I mean, it's like Six Flags.

Yeah, like,

I could live my whole life...

Without going

on a rollercoaster.

- Yeah.

- Yes.

Yeah, I mean, it would suck.

But we have to eat every day.

Yeah. No way.

Sex is overrated anyways.

You know what I feel like here?

Hm?

Like I'm a baby in a crib...

and the trees are like

these giants looking down at me.

Like...

they're family.

Like I belong to them.

Like they're protecting you.

Yeah.

You can almost see faces

in the leaves.

Sentinels.

Is that how we get

different colors of clay,

is we blend the clay together?

It's just like paint.

Okay, one word at a time. Go.

Fine, let's make it cohesive.

No Larry the Fig Newton

monster this time.

Okay.

-Once.

-Long.

-Ago.

-When.

-Earth.

-Was.

-Rounder.

-Than.

-It.

-Is.

-Today.

-And.

-Spun.

-Like.

-A...

-Oh, a marble.

-On.

-The.

-Kitchen floor.

-Of time.

It's poetic.

-There lived.

-Two small.

Creatures.

Of existence.

-Ooh. One.

-Was named.

Being.

-Hm.

-And the other was...

Not.

And one fine spring morning.

When the sun was shining.

And the breeze was cool.

And everything

was just about as real

as it had ever been.

Being and Not.

Sat down together

as friends.

And began to talk.

And they talked,

as friends often do.

About this and that

and nothing in particular.

This is turning out to be

a riveting story, Penn.

But as the dew melted.

And their conversation

came to an end.

They decided to divide up

all the am's

and is's of the world.

And go along

their separate ways.

Oh, no. Sad.

Um, they took turns choosing.

And each one picked

the things they wanted most.

Being got the trees.

The clouds.

The birds.

Oh, the wind.

Oh, he got music.

Oh, no fair.

He got rivers

and mountains

and light from the moon.

And he was happy.

But no happier than Not

who also got the things

she'd ever wanted.

For, she got unicorns.

Mm-hmm. And dragons.

And all the elves

and trolls and pixies.

She got wishes

and dreams and ghosts.

And magic.

And before long,

everything that ever was

belonged to.

- Being.

- Or to Not.

- Except for one last thing.

- It was a small thing.

But it was something

they both wanted.

Oh, no.

What are they going to do?

So, they decided

to flip a coin.

Oh, easy.

Heads, it went to Being.

Tails, it went to Not.

It came up heads.

And here we are.

And here we are.

Oh, it's so cold. It's so cold.

-Oh, I'm freezing.

-Okay.

-Get in. Get in.

-Oh, sh*t.

Need to get back.

Get under the covers.

sh*t, it's cold. Oh.

-Okay.

-Okay.

- God.

- Give me your hands.

Give me your hands!

It's California,

it shouldn't be this cold.

Did you not pay the heat

or something?

I didn't think I'd have to.

Okay, okay, okay,

what's your worst shiver sound?

Um,

boo, boo, boo, boo, boo,

boo, boo, boo, boo, boo, boo,

boo, boo, boo, boo, boo,

boo, boo, boo, boo, boo, boo.

Okay, okay, okay, okay.

Okay, here's mine, here's mine.

A-da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da.

You sound like a chinchilla.

More like chinchilly.

Oh, no, you should be

ashamed of that one.

My puns are adorable,

I don't know

what you're talking about.

Um...

-Penn, I was thinking.

-Yeah?

You want a beer?

Now?

Yeah!

Oh.

It's like breakfast in bed.

I-Hops.

Shut up.

Okay. Whoo.

So...

Whoo.

Oh, my God.

Whoo.

I have something to say.

Okay.

-About what you said last month.

-What did I say last month?

I feel the same way.

Oh.

I'm sorry

I didn't say anything earlier.

I just didn't want anything

to change between us.

Yeah, I didn't sleep

at all that night.

Yeah, I know.

I knew that.

I didn't sleep either.

Okay, so...

So, I've changed my mind.

Okay.

Yeah.

So, what do we do now?

Now...

we get to fall asleep...

holding each other's hands.

Okay.

Okay.

Jesus.

Charlie, hi!

-What's up?

-Get dressed.

-Why?

-One, it's two in the afternoon.

And two, we're going to Seacock.

You have to come with us.

-Wait, like River Seacock?

-Yeah, like Seacock River.

Uh, yes, yes.

Um, just give me,

like, ten seconds.

-Yeah.

-Wait, what?

-Yes, I'll be out here.

-Okay, okay.

Um...

Um, it might be more,

like, six minutes.

Okay.

Dear Luke,

I went to the river today.

It's nothing like

the California coast.

You would love it.

I'm getting to know

my classmates more.

Some are actually all right.

Others think they're God's

gift to writing, though.

You know, you'd think

at a place

as prestigious as Brown

that there would be

less ego, right?

All artists want a masterpiece.

I painted a banana once.

I think that was

my masterpiece.

I'm a dog.

I'm a dog.

I'm a puppy dog. Oh, boy.

I'm going to get you.

I'm going to get you.

Oh, hello. Hello.

Okay, how about, um...

Murdoch?

Like, old man Murdoch.

He's not a banker.

I still like Ramos.

No, because then everybody's

going to call him an*s.

Ramos the an*s.

He's going to get bullied.

That's stupid.

Okay. Come here, an*s.

Come here, an*s.

Come here, an*s.

We can't go another month

without having a name.

Well, it's a forever decision.

Oh, hey. Hey, excuse me.

-Hi, what's your name?

-Jared.

Jared, hey! I'm Luke.

Keep up the good work.

Okay, okay. Um, um, um, um.

Hey! Yeah, you! Yeah!

What's your name?

- Angel.

- No!

-No, the man!

-It's Thomas!

- We're naming our dog!

- Good for you!

- Moment of truth.

- Okay.

Jared or Thomas? Heads or tails?

Uh, Jared's tails,

because he had a nice a*s.

Okay. Heads, Thomas.

Tails, it's Jared.

Ooh.

Mm.

Hello, Thomas.

Hi, Thomas.

Is that your name, Thomas?

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

-Leave it on.

-Why?

Because I like it.

Luke, you gotta have parties

here more often, man.

-This place is awesome.

-Yeah, I know.

-We got pretty lucky.

-"We?"

What, is Penny

finally moving in?

No, she's just here a lot.

I just can't believe it took you

two years to get together.

You guys are,

like, the same person.

Yeah, you can just,

like, really get in there.

And dig into it.

Yeah.

Oh, I wish my boyfriend would

give me back rubs like this.

Luke, I'm kidding.

Luke!

Luke, what?

Luke!

-Luke, I'm sorry!

-What are you doing?

It was nothing,

I was just making a joke.

Yeah, but saying that,

do you understand how that

makes me look to other people?

It was a joke.

Well, now everyone thinks

I'm a sh*t boyfriend.

What? No one thinks that.

You can't go around

saying stuff like that.

It's not like I was getting

a back massage from another guy.

-Yeah, but it's Jess.

-So?

So, there's

a different connotation.

Because she's a l*sbian?

You know

I'm not a l*sbian, right?

Yeah, I know.

That's not the point.

Luke, why would it matter

if she was giving me

a back massage?

She was giving everybody

back massages.

I know, but it's not that.

You made me

look like a fool out there.

Do you even still love me?

What?

Of course I do.

No, no, no. You said, "What?"

I said "what"

because it was a crazy question.

No, it wasn't. You said "what."

I said "what"

because the question

literally came out of nowhere.

Oh, my God,

you're just not going to say it.

Oh, my God, I love you.

I love you.

Of course, Luke.

Jesus Christ, I love you.

Are you kidding me?

Are you going to leave me?

No.

Luke, no.

I'm just so scared, honey.

That you'll leave me.

That I'm not doing enough.

Like, you know,

one day down the road,

I won't buy you flowers

when you secretly wanted them.

Or I'll forget to say

I love you for a day.

Or I don't give you

a stupid f*cking back massage

and you'll find someone better.

And I know

I don't do all the things

that boyfriends

are supposed to do.

And maybe that's because

we started out as friends.

Or maybe it's because

I don't feel like I need to do

or be anything other than myself

when I'm with you.

I've never been more myself

with anyone else

in the world, Penn.

Hey, I'm not going anywhere.

I'm sorry I get like this.

Just...

my brain just has these crevices

and it's just

really hard to get out.

I know. It's okay.

I'm still here.

That's not going to change.

I'm your constant, remember?

- Oh, wow.

- You want to have sex?

Wow. I'm in the middle

of a game right now, hon.

But if you would like

to put on some clothes,

you can, uh,

come cuddle with me.

Oh, man.

Giddy up.

Watch the spares

on the floor, please.

What's up?

Hm. Uh, well.

Ooh, uh...

Wow.

-No, no, no, no.

-Don't go to the outside.

-Don't go to the outside.

-No, no, no.

-I'm--

-Stop.

-f*ck, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck. No, no.

-No, no, no.

-Why'd you knock us both off?

-No, that was your fault.

-You knocked us both off!

-It was so your fault.

Well...

I think saltines

are severely underrated.

Are you...

coming to bed?

I don't know, I mean,

I have so many things to do.

Like, sing some songs,

think about seashells.

I might even...

ring all the little bells

in my little bell collection.

That's a lot

of important things.

I know, I could even work

on my Wookiee impression.

-Oh, my God.

-Oh. Oh, my goodness.

Okay.

How does that get you hard

and my naked-a*s boobies don't?

Well...

I mean, dude's got a crossbow.

How-- how are you not g*y?

That would be a much

easier answer, wouldn't it?

Well, yeah, I mean,

have you ever just wanted

a big fat c*ck in your mouth?

That is shockingly

unappealing to me.

Hm.

What?

I just...

I feel like

I initiate everything.

I just initiated that, didn't I?

Yeah, I know, but like

I told you, I liked you first.

I told you I was falling

in love with you first.

I just--

I feel like when I don't...

I feel like when...

I don't initiate sex,

then we just usually kind of...

forget about it.

Is that a major problem?

I don't know. Um, I mean, I...

I-- I feel like it should be.

Well...

I don't know

how to initiate usually.

I mean, that,

I-- I don't know what that was.

I-- I just don't...

I can't describe it.

I can't explain it. I just...

I don't know.

I feel like if we stop

having sex, somehow...

doesn't that just

make us best friends again?

Honey...

we were never just best friends.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Hey.

I think you're sexy.

Your choices.

Your words.

You.

Besides,

it's more than just sex.

Otherworldly.

See you, grouper.

I always thought

a grouper looks like that.

Oh, I like this guy.

He's like a wiggle.

Oh, come on,

we have to go right now

if we're going to make it

to the hawk show.

Did you know

that clawless otters--

Oh, I'm so sorry. I--

Sorry about that. Jesus.

No, that's okay.

Oh, I like your shirt.

Those were everywhere.

Oh, my God.

Um, I-- I got--

Yeah, you can keep those.

Um, Luke, what's wrong?

Talk to me.

You don't have to be so pouty.

No, don't-- don't do that.

Don't patronize me.

-I'm not patronizing you.

-Yes, you are.

Don't guilt trip me.

I can't stand it.

-I'm not.

-You are.

You are, just like my mom.

Well, I'm not doing it

on purpose.

Well, you're doing it.

-Well, I'm sorry.

-No, don't do that.

Don't make me

the bad guy here, okay?

-This wasn't supposed to happen.

-You're not the bad guy.

We just missed

the hawk demonstration.

So what? We can't go back.

Well, if you had been

paying attention,

we would not have missed it.

Oh, my God, Luke, stop.

Okay, it's all right

if plans change.

You expect these things to go

100% exactly how

you imagine them in your brain,

and then when it deviates

from those scenes

you've pre-written in your head,

you don't know how to handle it,

but you've got to know

it's okay.

It's not the end of the world,

and it's no one's fault.

People aren't going to say or do

everything you expect them to.

Things are going to get

off track and off schedule.

But it's okay.

Fine, take a map at the zoo,

but don't expect

to have one for life.

Hey, stop.

Stop, stop.

Hey.

I'm still here, okay?

Plans might change,

but I'm for always, all right?

I just want to be normal.

Where are you going?

Uh, out to drinks

with a friend.

What friend?

Just someone from work.

- Who from work?

- It's just some people.

Is it just some people,

or is it just one friend?

I don't know,

it could end up being more.

Who's the friend?

Just some guy.

Some guy?

Just a guy?

Does this guy have a name?

Uh, Scott, but does it matter?

So you and this guy Scott

are just going out

to have drinks together?

Well, he's g*y,

so does it matter?

He's g*y.

Yeah, so...

You don't have to worry.

I'm sorry,

I just think it's fair to ask

when my girlfriend says

that she's going out

to have drinks with another guy.

Okay.

Don't be home late.

So this is it?

I don't know.

It is it.

-I don't know.

-No.

I don't know means this is it.

I hate this, Luke.

I can't match my life

without you in it.

We were so young

when we got together.

We were practically teenagers.

I know.

And if I'm starting to have

a crush on someone else--

Then stop.

We're not

in high school anymore, okay?

We worked through these things.

Yeah, but that

has to say something

about our relationship,

doesn't it?

I could walk down the street

and it was like

no one in the world

but you existed.

And I didn't even

look at other guys.

Believe me, I know.

Then you know

it's not just that.

You know.

Sure.

My mom did say never marry

the first person you sleep with.

Oh, yeah, because she did

and it didn't work out for her.

Well, maybe she was right.

Yeah, well,

maybe she was just projecting

her own regrets onto you.

Did you ever think of that?

Well, then it worked, Luke,

because I am scared.

Okay, we're in our 20s.

That's supposed to be

the fun decade.

So let's take the next few years

and do life like

20-somethings should do life.

I mean, I want to--

I want to travel

and I want to kiss a stranger

under the Eiffel Tower

and have that one terrible

relationship I learned from

and I doubt that I'm going to

find something better

than-- than this.

And when we don't,

that's when we can...

I mean,

I'll still be here, you know?

And I never--

I never can leave you, not...

Not really.

I mean,

we have Thomas.

I still...

I mean, I can still--

Yes.

And, what, do you think

I'm going to take

my dog away from you?

Our dog.

-Well, that's debatable.

-Stop.

Just stop.

So this is it.

I don't know.

"Play the Game"

is mediocre at best.

It is not.

I am telling you,

"Play the Game" is musically

better than "Somebody to Love."

Oh, that's a bold statement.

-And wrong.

-Okay, well, listen.

Songs, when you listen to them,

like, really listen to them,

it's like getting to know

a best friend.

-I mean, you can't...

-Okay.

...just listen to a song once

just the same way you can't have

one conversation with a person

and expect to know them.

Sure, sure, sure, sure, sure.

Okay, okay.

So every time you listen, you,

like, peel back another layer.

Because when-- when you listen

to a song for the first time,

you're really just hearing

the beat and the music, right?

And then you actually

listen to the lyrics.

Oh, and then

you read the lyrics, ooh.

And then you find out

which band member wrote it.

Oh, yeah,

because no one who wrote it

changes the entire

connotation of the song

because it reflects

their own experience.

Yeah, right.

And-- and you can listen

to that song

over and over again

and-- and just hear

something completely new.

Yes!

Until...

Until you don't.

Yeah.

And then you get to do it all

over again for the next song.

Hmm.

Yeah, because who has

one favorite song anyway?

You should start dating again.

-Again? When have I ever?

-That's my point.

I mean,

you could do, like, Bumble.

Or-- or--

Like, Kayla and I met on Bumble.

I know, but I just...

I--

It's different for me, okay?

How? Why?

Because I just--

I don't do dating.

I mean, one, uh,

I don't know how to flirt.

Two, there's

way too many expectations.

It's-- it's just weird to me.

Plus, I don't find

anyone attractive.

-Like, literally.

-Wait, you found me attractive.

Yeah, well,

that's because you're weird.

You're an anomaly.

Whoa, okay, hang on.

That's a lie.

What about Jason?

Okay, I told you

he was cute once.

-Yeah.

-Once!

And that-- that doesn't count

because I've known him

for, like, forever.

We should make friend dating

a thing.

Yeah, well,

you gotta play the game.

Hey, Penn, uh,

I have to talk to you

about something.

-Uh, okay.

-Uh, it's about my birthday.

Oh, sh*t, did we not get

the Excalibur deal?

-Well, I was talking with Kayla.

-Okay.

And she thinks it would be

better if you didn't come.

Oh.

It's not you, okay?

I want you to be there.

Believe me,

I want you to be there.

But Kayla said something,

and she thinks

it's better if you didn't come.

Look, I know it's shitty, okay?

And-- and you practically

planned this whole thing,

and you got all the tickets

and everything,

but Kayla's my girlfriend,

and I just don't want

there to be any complications.

Okay.

Penn?

Penny?

I'm really sorry.

I know.

You should be with those

hotel rooms I got us.

So,

I broke up with Kayla.

-What? Why?

-Because she's f*cking crazy.

Whoa, wow.

After our last craps game,

she full-on had tears, tantrum,

and she threw a shoe at me.

-No! In the casino?

-Yeah.

No, we were out on the street,

just screaming

that I didn't win enough money.

Was she doing a bit?

Oh, now I'm really upset

I missed it!

Oh, my God, Penny.

You would have loved it.

She was also too into horses,

you know what I mean?

Oh, she was one of those.

Hey, Penn, listen, I'm never

going to do that again.

You don't want to make

poor dating choices?

I'm never going to let

a girlfriend come between us.

The next person

who wants you out, they're out.

I'm gonna regret not having you

there for the rest of my life.

Well, 26 is a big year.

They'll be bigger.

Hey, come here.

Come here.

You should have been there.

I know.

-Hey, listen, I was thinking.

-Hmm?

I don't want to reach a time

when memories aren't made

anymore, you know what I mean?

Yeah, I do.

We won't.

I have IPAs in the fridge.

Yes, you do!

So, Laura's pregnant.

-Wow, that's great.

-Great?

Wait, Laura, like your childhood

best friend Laura?

Yeah.

I mean, she's not even married.

-So, it was a surprise?

-Oh, no, oh, no, not to them.

They've been planning

for, like, a year.

Apparently,

they don't believe in weddings.

God, they're such hippies.

This seems

perfect for them, then.

No, she's only 27. We're 27!

We were supposed to be pregnant

at the same time,

so our kids could grow up across

the street from each other

like she and I did.

I was expecting

to be a maid of honor.

I was expecting

us not to lose touch.

I was expecting everything

to be so much different.

-All right.

-Thank you.

Well,

looks like

she's the one expecting now.

No, no, don't pun with me now.

She told me by sending

a text of the ultrasound.

Oh, I knew exactly what it was

the second I saw it.

Yeah, that'd be pretty clear.

Yeah, and my heart sank.

It sank.

God, that sounds awful,

but it did.

How selfish am I?

I used happiness

as a-- as a disguise

for my uncontrollable sobbing.

Just happy tears, happy tears.

It was such-- such exciting

and joyous news.

Why are you so upset?

Upset? I'm devastated.

Then I'm thinking--

I'm thinking, why?

Why-- why is this

making me feel this way?

Is it-- is it-- is it

because I want a kid myself?

-No.

-No.

Was it because I'm single

and she had already found

the love of her life?

- Maybe.

- Possibly.

But what it really was,

was I didn't see this baby

as a new life.

What I really saw it as...

was death.

Well, that's not morbid.

I know, that makes me sound

like a horrible person.

You can redeem yourself.

Because that one moment...

when her world changed

so drastically on its head,

I knew that Laura

would never be Laura again.

Like the little-- little girl

who giggled with me

about that boy we both had

a crush on that one summer,

who-- who rode bikes with me

until the sun

didn't let us anymore.

She was my best friend, Luke.

You know, we were kids together.

Well, hey, now we get

to be kids together.

I guess it just scared me.

I'm so scared of growing up

and I'm scared of losing that.

Penny, it's the past.

It's impossible

to lose the past.

You'll have it forever.

Hey, Luke, promise me something.

Mm-hmm.

Anything.

Promise me...

that you'll never stop playing.

Ooh, Penny.

Wait, why are you walking away?

This is a moment of need for me.

-Do you see this?

-Yes.

You gave this to me

freshman year with a note,

which I keep in his butt

that says,

"Never stop having fun

in the simple things."

Okay, look at these.

Okay, our--

our one-word stories,

our-- our drawings

with the smelly, uh, markers,

our colored pencils,

our crayon tower.

Okay, look at this junk box.

Frisbees.

A baseball.

Uh, a ribbon dancer.

I don't even know what this is,

but it looks like fun.

Don't think for one second

that I'm going to stop playing.

You've frozen me in time, Penny,

and I'm so thankful that

you've given me...

all of this.

So Laura's pregnant.

Good for her.

You should be happy.

I know I'm an as*h*le.

You are, but it's okay.

If I go as Peter Pan

for Halloween...

will you...

be my Wendy?

Absolutely.

Perfect.

"Dear Luke, I met a guy.

He's nothing special, just some

Jersey Shore surfer dude

who is dressed

as Tarzan for Halloween.

More brawn than brain.

But he likes me.

He showed me around the city

and folded me a rose

out of a napkin

on our first date.

My eyes couldn't have rolled

farther back into my head.

I wish you could have seen it.

It's funny.

You know,

I can fall madly in love

with anyone on this planet,

but still

think of you every day.

I'm dying to hear from you.

Please, please write soon.

Or call if you can.

I-- I miss hearing your voice.

I've tried calling, but I guess

that maybe causes issues.

Anyway, I love you.

I miss you."

Can I try?

Sure.

It's a straight razor.

Yeah, all right. Ready?

-Up, right?

-Mm-hmm.

So if we zip

these two bags together,

it's going to be

like a pita pocket.

Pita pocket?

-Pita pocket.

-Pita pocket.

-Pocket.

-Pita pocket.

How many words can we think of

that start with the letter P?

Um, all of them.

Okay. "People."

Uh, "pregnant."

-"Perennial."

-"Pr-- praline."

-"Preamble."

-"Pegasa-- pegasaurus."

-Pegasus.

-"P-- p-- pow."

- Peyote.

- Poop.

Peyote poop.

I think I'm asexual.

Yeah?

Okay. Like...

I guess it makes sense.

Wait, but haven't you had sex

with, like,

all of your girlfriends?

Every one of them.

So then...

why do you think you're asexual?

Because I hated doing it.

Oh.

Oh. Oh, wow.

Did you hate doing it with me?

No.

-Well, what's the difference?

-Well, all right.

Sometimes I hated

doing it with you.

-Oh.

-Okay, all right.

I'm sorry.

Hate-- hate is the wrong word.

-Okay.

-I just...

sometimes I was just...

indifferent about it, I guess.

Okay.

You know this would have been

a really good conversation

to have

while we were dating, right?

-Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

-Okay, just so you know.

Oh, my God.

I just hate naked bodies.

You do? Really?

Yeah.

Oh, man.

Okay.

I guess

since now we're being honest...

Mm-hmm.

God, how have I not told you

this before?

Okay.

I think this is

the only thing I've...

Oh, my God, yeah,

this is literally

the only thing I've never...

not told you.

And it's...

...I've never finished with you.

What?

Sorry. I mean, I-- I can--

I can orgasm.

I just-- I just--

I do it by myself.

So in the two years

that we were dating,

you never once came.

No. I don't.

Not once.

Not once.

With Jason?

No, I fake it

with everybody.

Wow.

I just wish

you would've told me that.

It never really

bothered me or anything.

Like, it was never a big deal.

I guess...

I still like sex.

Okay.

I don't know.

It's like...

maybe I'm self-conscious

of how long it takes.

But sex doesn't gross you out?

No.

Hmm.

-Hey.

-Yeah.

Are you still attracted to me?

Um...

like...

...do I want to kiss you or jump

your bones when I'm with you?

No. I don't.

Like...

not ever.

Not anymore.

Wait, you don't want to

do that with me, do you?

- No, I don't.

- Okay.

Thank God.

We would have a big issue

on our hands if we did.

For the record,

I still think that

you are

a pretty good-looking dude.

For the record? Same.

- Really?

- Yeah, you're--

You think

I'm a good-looking dude?

You're a good-looking dude.

Absolutely.

Oh, the good-looking dude club.

The good-looking dude club.

I'm just so sick

of being single, you know?

Like, f*ck, dude,

it's been a year since Jason.

I haven't had a girlfriend,

like a real,

real girlfriend, since you.

Do you think I've wasted time?

No.

-Question mark?

-In what sense?

In general? I...

I mean, what am I doing?

I have a useless

creative writing degree.

I'm grooming your neighbor's dog

and working at a call center.

What about grad school?

No. No way.

Grad school is for people

who are running away

from a failing career.

Your career's not failing.

You're right. It's not failing.

Because it hasn't even

begun yet.

Well, I mean,

do you just want to be a writer

because people tell you that

that's what you're good at?

What do you actually want to be?

I don't know. Respected?

Important?

Ah, that seems selfish.

-No, it doesn't.

-Yes, it does.

No, I think

everybody wants to be important.

Important to somebody

or important to the world.

There's a difference.

And I wish I could see it

because I would be

a lot happier if I did.

I think...

I think the whole

"to be or not to be" thing

was just Shakespeare

wanting to be important.

Okay, is it rant time?

Uh, yes, because

this is a big realization here.

Okay, he chose

to be by doing sh*t.

I, on the other hand,

choose not to be.

I choose not to be

every time I scroll Instagram,

every time I sleep in,

every Pokmon I catch.

I choose not to be every day,

and that is why we disappear.

So stop!

Stop not being

or-- or being not.

If you want to tell stories,

find a way to do it.

Stories are like music,

you know?

They help people

make sense of things.

You know, you're going to

write something great someday.

You know that?

Pen?

Penny?

Hey.

Look at me.

I believe in you.

Always.

Hmm.

Hey, Pen?

Yeah?

You know how you said

you've never orgasmed

with anyone before?

Yeah?

Do you want to try it now?

With me?

-Are you f*cking serious?

-Yes.

Well...

I don't know, Luke.

Given the track record,

probably not.

I can try.

You can try?

What, like I'm a wind-up toy?

I mean,

didn't you just say you, like,

hated sex, like,

four months ago?

Yeah, but...

-But?

-But now I want-- I don't know.

It fluctuates.

It's not like

I haven't done it before.

-Well, you haven't.

-Come on.

-You know what I meant.

-I know.

I don't know.

I mean, would that be weird?

I'm not going to make it weird.

Are you going to make it weird?

I don't know.

It depends on if

it was weird or not.

It won't be weird.

If I say yes...

this will be

strictly scientific, you know?

I love science.

I know.

Wait, but aren't you dating

this new girl?

We've been on,

like, three dates.

Well, do you like her?

Yeah, obviously I like her.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone

on the second date.

But I don't know.

I've just been thinking

a lot about what you said,

and if it could work.

You just want to, like,

practice on me,

so you can

be good with her, right?

No.

I-- I want this for you.

Fine.

Fine?

Fine.

Pinky swear you won't fake it?

Pinky swear.

And this doesn't change

anything between us?

I can't imagine it would.

-Hey.

-What?

I want this.

I want to do this for you.

I can't believe

how comfortable you are.

-Fine.

-Just relax.

"Dear Luke, I can't wait

till you come visit.

There are so many dog parks.

Thomas would love it here.

But I still am just so lonely.

I used to find it so easy

to be happy all the time.

But now sometimes

I feel I'm sinking

in an ocean and I'm stuck

below all these sunken ships.

You'd think the scariest thing

about this would be

the drowning.

Not being able to breathe,

but it's not.

The scarier thing is when

I realize I can breathe.

I'm just trapped beneath

the planks on rotten

floorboards

and buried alive under leagues

of life swimming around me.

Do you ever feel that way?

Maybe you could come

for Christmas?

All my classmates

are going home for the holidays

and I'll be stuck here, alone.

So, send an owl?

I could really use a friend.

I could really

use my best friend."

Thomas, come here!

Thomas, come here!

Hello!

-Hi.

-Hi.

-Oh, hi.

-Are you Penny?

Uh, yeah, you know my name.

Yeah, well,

Luke told me about you.

-Right.

-And I always sing that song.

Yeah, what the hell even

is that song?

And how do we know it?

Anyway, I'm just here

for Thomas' walk, so...

Oh, you don't have to do that.

No, no, no, I literally do this

every day, so it's no big deal.

I know, but I would love to.

It's just that

he's so cute and I just want him

to get to know me

a little bit better.

Um...

Yeah, okay. Uh, sure.

Well, here's the leash.

And the bags

are right here by the door.

Okay.

Yeah,

I guess, thank you?

Oh, hey, um...

maybe we should grab

drinks sometime.

-Yeah, that'd be great.

-Cool.

Um, just make sure not to take

Thomas off-leash.

I know Luke does that sometimes,

but it's just not safe.

-Of course.

-Okay. See ya.

Cool, bye.

Why didn't you call me

before coming over?

-I'm supposed to call now?

-I don't know, maybe.

-It wasn't even a big deal.

-Yes, it was.

This is not how

I wanted the two of you to meet,

and Madison

got really freaked out.

-She didn't seem freaked out.

-Well, she was.

It seemed like

a totally cordial interaction.

She seems cool.

-Really?

-Yeah.

So you'll go

have drinks with her?

-Sure.

-Please do it for me.

I said yes.

Hey, thank you.

Oh, my God, I need this.

-Cheers.

-Cheers, cheers, cheers.

I think it's really cool

that you guys

are still such good friends.

But you're not like, I mean,

you're not still

in love with him or anything?

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

It's been, I mean,

it's been so long,

I-- I don't even remember

what it was like to...

Oh, my God, no. No, no, no, no.

But you guys dated for a while,

though, right?

-Like three years.

-Oh.

But we've been

just friends for, like...

God, almost a decade,

so you really have

nothing to worry about.

I mean, like, I don't even

think of him like that.

Okay? Like,

think of us like dumb Star Wars.

I'm Luke Skywalker.

And Luke's Harrison Ford.

Han? No, no, no, no.

He's not cool enough.

I mean, Luke

is clearly Princess Leia.

Oh. I mean, that checks out.

-Oh, that would make you Han.

-Ooh.

Anyway, what

I'm saying is I'm Luke,

Luke's Leia, we're like twins.

Okay, wait,

there's too many Lukes.

There absolutely are.

Okay, I'll be Chewie. Okay.

Oh, that builds well for us.

That's the dream team

right there.

So, um,

are you dating anyone now?

No. Um, yeah, no, it's just...

It's hard for me to meet people.

I mean,

you could do Hinge or Bumble.

Okay, let me rephrase.

Uh, it's hard for me

to like people.

-Why?

-Uh...

Okay, well, I did date

this one guy, Jason,

but it was...

...it was more like

a friends with benefits

kind of thing,

and it was unstable, and it was

like this rollercoaster.

I've been in so many

rollercoaster relationships.

Dude, I am so done with that.

Like, why do we do that?

-I don't know.

-Yeah.

I think real love, like, real,

real love

shouldn't have

these major highs and lows.

I mean, it should be steady

and constant and kind, you know?

My God, my last boyfriend,

I can't even tell you

how many times he made me cry.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Why do we pick

these kind of guys?

I don't know.

I will say, though,

I think there's, like,

a goodness to sorrow,

do you know what I mean?

I think so.

Like, there's

a beauty to weeping

and a value to sadness,

because it's all part of

the human condition

and all that stuff.

-Yeah.

-Right.

It's like the balance

of the light and the dark,

-like the Force.

-Hmm. Yeah.

Maybe we can, like,

Jedi mind trick

some sweet potato fries.

Yes, please! Okay.

-That's not working.

-Yeah.

Sweet potato fries!

"Dear Luke..."

-Hey, Charlie, come on in.

-Hey, is this a bad time?

No, um, I was just, uh,

writing home.

Well, a bunch of us

are meeting downtown

at the Flying Duck later.

Uh, okay.

You could have just texted.

Well, I want to see

if you wanted to get

a drink before that, with me.

-Oh, like, just you and me?

-Yeah.

Um...

Penny, I don't know

where you've been this year,

but I just want to be

your friend.

Well, we are friends, Charlie.

Well, I want to be

better friends.

I want to spend

some time with you.

Get to know you better.

Let's just hang out.

Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Cool.

-Okay. Yeah.

-All right.

-Uh, give me, like...

-uh, 30 minutes-ish.

-Okay.

-All right.

-All right.

"Dear Luke...

my manuscript reading

is coming up.

I'm really nervous about it.

You know me and public

speaking.

Sometimes I worry

you won't come,

but I know you promised.

And with us,

a promise isn't a promise.

It's a guarantee.

A fact of nature.

There's an honor in that.

We don't see that

that often anymore.

Real honor.

When somebody's word

was actually worth a damn.

Anyway, I bought you a ticket."

Hi.

"Front row."

Can I get two tickets,

one for each night, please.

"For both nights, just in case.

Everyone's families

are coming out,

so it's filling up fast.

So call me."

Thanks.

"Let me know

when you find flights.

Maybe we can even split

the airfare.

Please call.

I'm getting so worried."

No. No, no, no, no.

I highly, highly,

highly, highly...

-Highly.

-... highly doubt

that Madison is gonna be

the person that I end up with.

-I know.

-No, I've told her.

I'm not throwing away

12 years for someone

that I just met

a year and a half ago.

-Yeah.

-I'm sorry,

I just won't do that.

No, no, no, no, no.

You're my constant.

We're gonna end up

with amazing people.

Yeah? Yeah.

If only you would wear

some pants that fit you

and not the jeans that

just kind of sag off your a*s.

My legs need to feel free.

I like my jeans.

I will say it's the new pair

of jeans that you got last week.

-Skinny jeans?

-Skinny jeans, yes.

That's a good pair of jeans.

Okay, what top

do you like better?

The purple one

or the one with the elephants?

Ooh, does Penny have a date?

Eh, well, it's Bumble, so,

you know.

Not the one with the elephants.

God, no.

What's wrong with the one

with the elephants?

It's mustard.

You never wear

mustard on a date.

You never wear mustard, period.

Um, I think

I look dazzling in yellow.

Yeah, in yellow.

Just not mustard,

for the love of God.

Burn the mustard.

Wait, wait, wait.

If I literally burn the shirt,

what do I get out of it?

I will buy you

Taco Bell for a week

if you light that shirt on fire.

-Really?

-Really, really.

Can I get cinnamon twisties

every time?

You can get cinnamon twists.

Ew. Ew, ew, ew, ew.

Well...

What?

Don't think too

much on these dates.

Why?

Because you're really everything

anyone could ever want.

You think you need a permit

to get married in the Sequoias?

I think you need a permit

to spread ashes there, so.

So, yeah, same thing. Right.

She was upset

because you didn't say hello

to her when we walked in.

Are you serious?

I said hello to all of you,

like the royal "you."

-I had to take the pies.

-She didn't interpret that.

Oh, my God.

Please, just text her

and apologize.

What, apologize for not rolling

out a red carpet on her arrival?

There was a lot going on,

and I said hello to both of you.

g*dd*mn it, Penelope.

Just do it, okay?

Fine.

Just don't make

any decisions with Madison.

I never said

I was making any decisions.

Look, I'm not saying

she's perfect,

but there are a lot of things

about her that I really love.

She's smart.

She's outspoken.

She challenges me.

Yeah, she's a lawyer.

That's her job.

Her job's really interesting.

She handles tax law.

Pen, just trust me, okay?

This isn't gonna be forever.

Just don't make any decisions

because it's something

we should be doing.

Pen, I'm not.

Nothing is permanent.

We are permanent.

But we're not normal.

Yeah, of course

we're not normal.

The real things,

the once-in-a-lifetime things,

that's never normal.

People say it's not normal.

So?

No one knows us like we do.

No one gets this.

Yeah, I know.

Why haven't we gotten

back together?

Because you need

something normal, Pen.

Maybe I don't.

Don't be stupid.

It's not stupid.

All right, fine, fine.

Then I-- I need

something normal.

Okay?

And I owe it to Madison...

to give this a fair shot.

You don't owe

anything to anybody.

Yes, I do.

Why?

That night.

What night?

-The night when we...

-Yeah?

Madison and I had just agreed

to be exclusive,

and I shouldn't have done it.

The exclusive part or me?

Well, that's a great base

for a relationship.

So what,

you're just doubling down

with Madison

because you feel guilty?

No.

Then why do you owe it to her?

Pen...

This obsession you have

with being a good person

is gonna get in the way

of you actually being happy,

because you're not doing it

for you.

You're doing it for how

other people perceive you.

You care more about

making the world see

how good you're doing or--

or how much money you're making,

that you're coloring

inside the lines

and following the f*cking rules,

more than you care about

how you actually live

your own damn life.

I lied to her, Pen.

Oh, come on, you knew her

for two f*cking weeks.

That's not the point.

And it was you who said

that night didn't mean anything.

No, no, you said that

that night didn't mean anything.

Well, I guess

we're same page as always.

Hey...

look, I know

what you're scared of,

and I'm telling you

that you're wrong.

The night you broke up with me,

I told you I couldn't fathom

my life without you in it,

and-- and I still mean that.

Just trust me here.

Okay.

Can we please just watch, like,

a Mel Brooks movie or something?

Because I'm just so damn tired

of everything being so heavy.

Okay.

And next up,

we have Penelope Rusk.

-Let me see.

-Well, here's these.

I want to keep the blue one.

Okay, do you want to

keep the crayon tower?

-Mmm...

-Wait a second.

No, we're missing a rung.

-No, Luke.

-We're missing a rung here.

This is our constellations.

Oh, my God, is that

from the first time we hung out?

Yeah, that was from the freshman

travel course from...

What was it? What was it?

Prescott? Presscitt?

-Pressit. Pressit.

-Pressit.

That was a fun trip.

Do you want to--

do you want to take them?

Put them up at your new place?

Yeah, sure.

Oh, my God.

Pen, remember this?

-Being and not.

-Oh, my God.

Huh.

Everything I own is you, Luke.

Yeah.

Yeah, me too.

I don't know

if I'm doing the right thing.

What? Penny...

it's Brown.

You'd be an idiot not to go.

I know, I know. It's just...

everybody's so excited

for me and I'm not excited.

I just-- I feel like...

Oh, I feel like we're in this,

like, parallel universe, and...

like, um, the--

the particle accelerator

in Switzerland?

Oh, yeah, the Hadron Collider.

Yes. Like...

what if it--

what if it malfunctioned

and they really imploded

our actual universe,

and we just jumped the tracks,

and now we're in this one

that's slightly off

and now we have Berenstain Bears

and Trump is president

and you're living with Madison

and I'm moving to Rhode Island.

Does this seem right to you?

I don't know.

I mean, no.

But we have to give it a shot

to see if it does.

And Thomas...

I guess...

...I guess

it doesn't matter who loves him.

It...

it just matters

that he's loved by someone.

Even if that's not me.

You're breaking my heart, Penny.

I mean, don't-- don't say that.

It'll be okay.

I mean, look,

we were each other's

significant other for 13 years.

It's always been you, Pen.

But you have to admit...

-that's not normal.

-I know.

Friends aren't supposed to say,

"I love you,"

to each other, right?

I know.

You have to agree

that we were better as friends.

I mean, we fought

all the time when we dated.

Not all the time.

Come on, I mean,

it's not just that.

You know.

How am I even gonna

keep up with you

if she doesn't even want you

picking up my calls?

Write me letters.

Once a week, so I miss nothing.

What, like actual letters?

Yeah, actual letters,

like the real kind.

I mean, I do like

the idea of that.

And I can, like, crumple

them up and burn the edges a bit

so they all seem like

they're coming

from a Jane Austen novel.

And use wax to seal them. Yeah?

Yeah.

You can send them to my office,

so Madison doesn't have to know.

And I'll come visit you.

I promise.

This isn't the end, dummy.

Okay.

Well, there is a reading

at the end of the year.

And I'm supposed

to read all my work

in front of, uh,

a lot of important people.

So...

Like, people

who can get you jobs?

I think so.

God, it's a year away,

and I'm already having

a panic attack about it, so...

Well, then that's my ticket.

Yeah.

Pinky swear you'll come.

Pinky swear.

Pen...

I promise.

Three thousand miles away

and you're still

my constant, Luke.

And you're mine.

Forever.

"I sat in his eyes...

and he sat in mine.

Time became music

as sunlight filled the silence

with golden notes

and major keys."

Come here.

"We breathed in

the past around us

and exhaled what was yet to come

as his heart stuttered into

a slow syncopation with mine.

But for now, our time,

a symphony."

You. Oh, my God.

Come here. Come here.

It should be ill*gal

for you to be that good.

-They should lock you up--

-I'll call you later.

-b*tch, you better.

-Nice work, Penny.

You have come such a long way.

Thank you.

Well, you pulled it off, kid.

How do you feel?

Uh, physically better

than where I started.

You did...

really, really great, Charlie.

Hey, a couple of us are heading

to the dock after this.

You gotta join us.

Uh, I don't know.

I-- I think I need

some decompression time

after that very traumatic

experience back there.

"Dear Luke...

tonight was my reading.

I was on page 11,

and I was so nervous,

I could barely look up

from the pages.

I was stumbling and...

God, it was awful.

But on page 11, I looked up...

because I thought if I look up

and see you in that chair...

all of my fears would

disappear.

And I looked up,

and you weren't there.

Every seat was filled...

but that one chair

in the front row...

that chair was empty.

And I wish, I wish

I could have just frozen time

right there...

just to give you more of it.

I'd wait forever, Luke.

I've never been

more upset at you."

"Dear Luke...

God, what am I still doing

writing these letters?

You know when

we said we'd haunt each other?

This isn't

quite what I had in mind.

You'd think it would get easier

with time,

but it doesn't.

The moments

of insurmountable pain

are always there,

but they just come further

and further apart, I guess.

Shadows separated

by bursts of light.

It's still hard

to find a new best friend,

and I'm trying, Luke,

I really am.

But everyone falls

just a bit short,

about a million miles.

You live in me, Luke,

like that Brian May song.

Your ways are always with me.

It's like I can't forget you

even if I tried.

You're in my stomach

and my bones,

and you're in all the music

I've ever heard.

You asked me once

what I wanted to be,

and I said

I wanted to be important.

But ever since

you disappeared...

I realized being important

to you,

just you...

was enough."

f*ck it.

Penny! Penny!

Penny! Penny! Penny!

-Hey.

-Hey.

Are you okay?

-Yeah, I'm okay.

-Great.

And that is the last time

I'll ever date a Hulk Hogan fan.

Was I proud of it? No.

Did I learn a lesson?

Also no.

I mean, at least

you gave maximum effort.

That's all that counts.

Uh...

That empty seat was for him,

wasn't it?

Um...

You haven't heard

anything from him?

At all? All year?

Pen, I'm so sorry.

The thing that's so hard

about all this is...

he's showing me a world

that I don't want to believe in.

And I hate-- I hate it

because I-- I don't want it

to be a cynical world.

I don't want it to be a world

full of...

heartbreak and betrayal.

You know, I want to

believe in love everlasting

and-- and happily ever afters

and something so important

it lasts a whole lifetime,

and if any of that's possible,

then that was it, man.

That was the shot.

God, I'm so confused because...

because hearing myself now,

it sounds like

I was in love with him, but...

Weren't you?

We weren't attracted

to each other like that.

I don't think real love has to

have those kinds of rules.

If it does,

that's quite a small box

to fit such a big word.

He was my best friend, Charlie.

He was my heart and my heaven

and my...

...and my constant.

And...

he erased me.

Penny, people change.

And that's okay.

Things happen.

People make choices

we don't expect

or even understand.

But that's okay.

You can't expect to have

some kind of map for life.

Nothing is constant, Pen.

Not you, not me, not the trees,

not the moon.

Even the stars

burn out eventually.

But that change,

that's the breath

that keeps us growing

and expanding.

I mean, maybe constant's

not a good thing.

Maybe it's just a safe thing.

Nothing ever happens

in the familiar.

Not really.

Not the important things.

I'm just...

I'm so sick of missing him.

I'm missing everything.

I don't want to...

look back and see my life

as just one giant thing I miss.

I've been missing this,

haven't I?

You want to get out of here?

Go watch E.T.?

Yes, let's do it.

Okay, now this one.

Let's freeze the flowers.

That's perfect.

Wrap around the base, please.

I need shoes!

Okay. Oh, sh--

Oh, no. Um...

Uh...

Okay.

Hey.

You okay?

Yeah, just...

give me a minute.

I'll, um--

I'll work on the Dr. Pepper.

I thought

you weren't the marrying type.

They told me you were down here.

I know you probably

don't want to see me right now,

but just hear me out.

I...

thought I was doing

the right thing.

I thought

I was doing right by Madison.

I know they say

that doing the right thing

isn't always the easiest,

but man, did I f*ck this up.

Man, oh, man.

I read all of your letters.

Luke, shut up for a second.

You feel that?

The vibe?

Yeah.

It's funny, I imagined this day

so many hundreds

of times in my head.

I imagine what I'd say,

what you'd say...

how loudly I'd scream at you...

if I'd hug you,

if I'd punch you...

or if my heart would stop

altogether and that'd be it.

But I always wanted it to come.

Better late than never, right?

You buried me alive, Luke.

Put me through hell for years,

and the thing

I never could believe...

was that it was you...

who put me there.

So I'm done,

I'm done imagining

how today or...

the other days will go.

Because I...

because I don't need it anymore.

Penny...

Luke, I deserved better.

I know.

I'll never stop

loving you, Penny.

And I'll never stop loving

the person you used to be.

But...

you're in my past now, Luke.

It's impossible

to forget the past.

Yeah.

And I won't.

But I can let you go.

So being and not decided

to go their separate ways.

I hope you got

the things you wanted most.

Pen.

Penny.

We're about to start.

You ready?

Yeah.

I am.

"We were always a sequoia

falling in slow motion.

Love...

me."