Room Next Door, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

[soft orchestral music playing]

[lively chatter]

-[Ingrid] Hi. How are you?

-[Bobbi] I'm good. Thanks.

[Ingrid] Who do I

make this out to?

[Bobbi] Uh, Bobbi with an "I".

In the prologue,

you say you wrote this book

in order to better understand

and accept death.

Um...

Yeah. It feels unnatural to me.

I can't accept that something

alive has to die.

Thank you.

-Ingrid...

-Mm.

We've fulfilled the hour.

I mean, in fact,

we've gone over.

Well, there's still

a lot of people waiting.

Yes. We'll do what you want.

Could you sign mine?

Stella! I didn't see you.

Why didn't you

come straight up?

I was embarrassed.

You draw a crowd!

-A lot of young people.

-Thank you.

-Not just women.

-[laughs]

Stella, this is Anne.

Anne, my friend Stella.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

I'm gonna stay until

I've signed for everybody.

Yes. I'll just make sure

no one else joins the line.

Okay. [chuckles]

Oh, I haven't seen you

in forever.

I'm living in Boston now.

I came to see my son,

and to visit Martha

in the hospital.

You know she has cancer, right?

It's a bad one.

Martha?

Martha Hunt?

Yes.

She's at Manhattan Memorial

Cancer Center.

I thought you would've heard.

No. To be honest,

I haven't seen her in years.

Martha is sick?

I can't imagine it.

If you go see her,

it'll make her very happy.

Yeah. Of course.

Of course I will.

Um, thank you

so much for coming.

I really appreciate it.

Congratulations.

-Thank you.

-Mm!

-I'll see you soon.

-Thanks.

-Bye.

-Bye.

Hi.

-Who do I make this out to?

-Frances.

-Is that you?

-No, it's my girlfriend.

She really admires you.

-So do I.

-Thank you.

Could you write

"It won't happen again"?

Of course I can.

Yes. Thank you.

It won't happen again.

I hope not.

Hi. I'm here

to see Martha Hunt.

I think she's

on the 16th floor.

Okay. One sec.

[keyboard clacks]

Yes. Room 1614.

The elevator is at the end

of the hall, on the left.

-Thanks.

-No problem.

[people speaking indistinctly]

[knock at door]

[door opens]

Martha?

[Martha] Ingrid!

What a surprise!

-How did you hear?

-I ran into Stella.

-She told me. [kisses]

-Oh.

I'm so sorry, I didn't

even know you were sick.

Oh, well, you with your work

and me with mine.

I mean, time's gotten away

from us.

Yes, and I was living in Paris.

Yeah, I heard.

I've been reading about you.

I know you have published

another book

and it's doing very well.

Thank you. [sighs]

So...

How are you?

I'm sure you're sick

of telling everybody.

Well, it's cervical cancer.

Stage three.

It isn't operable,

but they're treating me, so...

looks like I'm not gonna die

quite yet.

Um, I've become a guinea pig

for an experimental treatment

and the results are better

than the doctors expected.

-Great!

-Yeah.

That's great! Well, you seem

like you're in good spirits.

Well, I swing between

euphoria and depression.

-Oh, I'm so sorry.

-[laughs]

No, it's normal,

and the doctors warned me,

you know.

-Highs and lows.

-Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

It'll sound absurd,

but after all the accepting

and preparing to face the end,

survival feels

almost disappointing.

Oh, don't say that.

No, I was prepared to leave.

In fact, when they gave me

the initial diagnosis,

I didn't want any treatment.

Well, I'm glad

you changed your mind.

'Cause, you know,

just the thought...

And that I wouldn't know...

Anyway, I realized

that I really...

I'm not ready to abandon

the party just yet.

But I had truly gotten

used to the idea.

Well, I suppose that it's good

to get used to the idea,

but without giving up, right?

You've been through

a lot of wars, remember?

I live with them every day.

Oh, Ingrid,

I'm so happy to see you.

I almost called you

a thousand times.

-I'm sorry.

-Me, too!

It's ridiculous that

we haven't seen each other.

I promise I'm gonna visit

until you get sick of me.

Will you?

You promise?

I'm gonna hold you to that.

Your daughter knows, I guess.

Yes.

When I first made up my mind

to forgo any treatment,

I told her...

and she just said...

"It's your choice."

Period.

As if it was something trivial,

something that had

nothing to do with her.

How are you two getting along?

Um, same as ever.

We're barely in touch.

What does she do?

She's doing well.

She's, uh, an agent

for classical musicians.

It might sound horrible,

but I don't feel like

she's my daughter.

I fantasize frequently about

her being swapped at birth.

What?

What are you talking about?

She looks just like you.

She has your face.

I never interested her

as a mother.

Why not?

I was a teenager

when I had her.

I didn't know what to do

with a baby.

And when we started working at

Paper Magazine, you remember?

We practically lived at night.

You remember New York

in the '80s?

Yeah.

Anything important

happened at night.

And then I went to work

as a w*r correspondent,

traveling constantly.

And that didn't help.

My work just completely

took over.

I was never what a mother

is supposed to be.

But Michelle started to hate me

long before I was away so much.

I remember feeling

her resentment

even when she was

a little girl.

She made herself very clear.

She couldn't bear...

not having a father.

She saw other girls

with their fathers

and she wanted to know

about hers.

At first, I told her I didn't

know who he was, but...

[sighs]

...it kind of

made things worse.

I was lying to her.

-[laughs]

-[lively chatter]

[Martha] Of course I knew

who her father was.

His name was Fred.

[shouts]

[Martha] We dated

for a few months

before he was drafted.

And then went away to fight,

towards the end of Vietnam.

When he came back,

a year later, he was...

somebody different.

Fred! What happened?

He was a broken toy.

Hey. Hey, it's okay.

I'm here.

It's all over now, Fred.

You're back home.

But it's not over for me.

I still got the w*r

inside my head.

I can't get free of it.

I hallucinate every single day.

And I was high

practically all the time.

I don't know what I'm doing

with my life,

but I'm not staying here.

It's all right.

Feel free to do what you like.

Think about

what's best for you.

Okay.

Thanks.

Can I kiss you?

-Does Michelle know this?

-Oh.

She started asking

about her father

as soon as she could talk.

But it's not something you can

explain to a child, right?

By puberty, she carved out

quite an abyss between us.

It came to define

her adolescence.

But, by then,

I was no longer there.

I was in New York, with you,

living my life.

I arranged to meet Fred

one evening

to tell him about

the situation.

So, I took a first aid course

and, because I'm a w*r veteran,

they've hired me at a hospital,

down in San Diego.

It's good news, right?

I have some news for you too.

I'm pregnant.

-You're pregnant?

-Yes.

But I was planning on moving

to San Diego next week.

Then what are we gonna do?

Whatever I do, my parents

will support me, so...

I'm not alone.

Mm.

I don't think

working in a hospital

was the best thing

for such a damaged person.

It's the closest thing to w*r.

He needed therapy and rehab.

Yeah, that would have been

more sensible,

but he wanted to be useful,

to ease his conscience.

He believed that helping people

between life and death...

was his best chance

of getting back any peace.

I could only free him

of any responsibility.

He left before

Michelle was born.

He never knew her.

[breathing heavily]

He didn't call once

to ask about her.

When did you tell her?

She was about 12.

She wanted to know

where he was living...

and I didn't know anymore.

She was so insistent...

that I tracked down

an old friend of his

from high school,

who told me that Fred

had gotten married

and had recently died.

I asked him

for his wife's number...

and then I called her.

I wanted to know

what had happened.

She told me they were

coming home after a trip.

Is that smoke?

[wife] Yes.

Something's on fire.

There's a house on fire.

We should call

the fire department.

-[tinnitus ringing]

-[g*nf*re echoing]

[screaming

and expl*si*n echoing]

-Stop the car.

-Fred...

[tires screech]

[wife] What are you doing?

-I'm gonna take a look.

-No!

That's crazy! Fred!

-There might be someone inside.

-Fred, stop! Stop!

Don't go in. It's dangerous!

Look at me, I'm here.

Let's find a gas station

and call

the fire department, please.

Don't you hear the screams?

No, I don't hear anything.

[panting]

Fred, please! Fred! Fred!

Fred, don't go in there!

[groans]

Don't you hear the screams?

There's someone inside

crying for help!

Fred!

[panting]

[firetruck horn blaring]

Sir! Sir!

Please, help me!

-Sir! Sir, please!

-Let's go!

-Please, my husband's inside!

-Ladder up!

Sir! My husband's inside!

My husband's inside!

He thought he heard

voices crying for help.

Put two lines

on the back side, guys!

He went into the house

trying to save

whoever was trapped

by the fire.

Okay, get back in your car.

Do not go over there.

I will stay here. Okay.

Please, ma'am.

Is there someone else?

-No, I don't know!

-Ladder up, guys! Ladder!

There's a civilian inside!

Get back in your car,

ma'am, please.

[busy chatter]

[chief] All right,

get in there!

Get in that top window.

There you go.

It's gonna blow out.

Good boys.

[indistinct police

radio chatter]

I'm sorry, there was nothing

we could do.

[panting]

He didn't get

to the second floor.

He must have passed out

from the smoke and the flames.

And the other bodies?

There was nobody else.

This house has been abandoned

for a long time.

There was only your husband.

But he...

he told me he heard

screams for help...

Impossible, ma'am.

There was no one else.

It's true.

I didn't hear

the screams either.

I tried to stop him

from going in, but...

[sobbing]

I didn't.

He was very brave.

Did you tell

Michelle all of this?

I had to give her every detail.

I even gave her her father's

wife's phone number.

You know what?

Let's get you back to bed.

You're tired.

Yeah, but I have

to tell you this.

We can...

We can talk more later.

So, one day...

-I got a call from Fred's wife.

-Okay.

And she told me

-that she wanted an address.

-Mm-hmm.

She wanted to

send me something.

[Ingrid] Mm-hm.

And, shortly after,

I received a note

in the mail and a letter...

that the wife received

from Michelle,

introducing herself

and saying that it was her,

Fred's daughter,

who had been

in the burning house.

"It was me he tried to save."

"It was me for whom he died..."

that's what Michelle

said to the wife.

That's insane!

Yes.

[cell phone ringtone playing]

Hi!

[Martha over phone]

It's Martha, the nuisance.

[chuckles] You're not

a nuisance.

How're you feeling?

Fine. I'm at home.

The hospital's given me

a few days off

between treatments,

so I'm at home.

I'd love for you to come over.

Ooh, you've caught me

in the middle of moving.

Oh, then you're

really busy, right?

Um, well, you know

what moving's like.

But, um, if you're feeling

lonely, I could stop by,

we could take a walk

in the park.

I might not be quite up

for a walk.

Um, okay, you know what?

Let me, um...

Let me finish what I'm doing

and I'll be right over.

Thanks, sweetheart,

but don't feel obliged.

[doorbell dings]

-These are for you.

-You are a darling.

And I've brought you

a couple of books.

Oh! Thank you.

You want something to drink?

Oh. I'd love some tea.

-Herbal tea if you have it.

-Sure.

-I'll put these in a vase.

-Okay.

And all of this is for you.

You have to finish all of it.

Wow! Well, I will do my best.

I love fruit.

[Martha and Ingrid laugh]

Are you working

on something new?

Um, yeah, actually I am.

I'm doing research

on the painter Dora Carrington

and her, um... Mm...

...intense relationship with

the writer Lytton Strachey.

-Mm-hm.

-Here he is.

Uh, Strachey was g*y,

so she married the straight man

that he was infatuated with.

It's gonna be

the story of the trio.

It isn't groundbreaking,

but I want to see

where it takes me.

Here, um, look.

Um, unfortunately for her,

there was another

more famous painter...

-Leonora Carrington. Yeah.

-Yes,

the surrealist

Leonora Carrington,

whose name was obviously

very similar to hers.

[Ingrid] Um...

Dora...

was better known for this

bizarre love story

with Strachey.

She devoted 17 years

of her life to him.

-Wow.

-Mm.

It'll be a fictionalized

biography, so...

I'll make some stuff up, too.

I've never been able

to allow myself that.

Mm. Well, I hope not.

You're a w*r reporter.

Yeah, you have to...

You know,

you can't show your emotions.

You have to block them out

so you can do your job

and stay in the present

in the middle of whatever hell.

Maybe I should write about you

and not Carrington.

I don't think you'd enjoy

writing about

illnesses and treatments.

-Mm. You're wrong.

-I'm just a journalist,

addicted to wars

and adrenaline.

You think that's nothing?

It wasn't all tragedy.

You know, life went on.

There was one report

when I added a bit of fiction.

Really?

Actually, I never published it.

It was during the w*r in Iraq.

On the last day,

before we left Baghdad.

Are you sure

this is the right way?

Yeah, just make a left here

in this alley.

Let's make this brief.

Here. Stop here.

[brakes screech]

[speaking Spanish]

Martin, what are you doing

here in Baghdad?

You look great. You really do.

Thank you.

Yeah, I'm sorry. Paco, Martin.

He's a Carmelite, like me.

Pleasure. Let me introduce you

to Martha.

She is a brilliant journalist

from The New York Times.

[speaking Spanish]

They are the Carmelites

I was telling you about.

It's a pleasure

to meet you both.

Are you intending

to stay in Baghdad?

Yes, here we are.

But you're alone.

All the NGOs and the Red Cross

have left already.

I know.

The situation is

out of control.

It's very dangerous.

You're here as well.

Yeah, but we're

just passing through.

We're leaving as soon as

we finish talking to you.

We can't let them down now,

this is when the people

need us most.

That's true, but it's still

extremely dangerous.

But then you know that.

We can't

let them down now, seora.

Do you mind

if we take a photo of you

and how the mission

has been left?

[speaking Spanish]

Okay.

You can photograph

the mission and me,

but he doesn't want to risk

his family in Spain seeing him.

-They'd worry.

-Yeah, of course.

Totally understand,

but if we could get one of you,

that would be great.

-[Bernardo] Okay.

-Sure.

[mechanical whirring

in distance]

-[Bernardo] Here?

-[Martin] Yeah.

Just perhaps

a little tiny step closer...

Yeah, that's fine,

so that I can see the impacts.

[camera shutter clicking]

[laughs]

I think you have it.

How long has it been...

since we last saw each other?

Five years.

Wow.

Do you remember Liberia?

How could I forget?

Look, I have some photos of you

that we didn't publish.

If you give me an address,

I can send them to you.

Maybe to the Embassy.

No, you keep them.

That way I'll keep you company.

Okay.

It was really great seeing you.

Take care.

-Goodbye.

-Be safe.

How do you know the Carmelite?

We met in Sierra Leone.

We became lovers there.

-Oh, really?

-Yeah.

After that, we met more times.

Always in places

that were at w*r.

And you had sex?

Well, of course, yeah.

Bernardo never renounced

physical pleasure.

He was always in

the most conflictive places.

And I think that sex

was his best shield.

I'm pretty sure

the Carmelite is his partner.

You think so?

Definitely.

That is the only way

you can stay in Baghdad

and not be afraid of the w*r.

-What a wonderful story.

-Yup.

Don't you dare write it.

No, no, no, of course not.

But how about sin for him?

I mean, don't they feel guilty?

After all, they are Catholic.

Yeah, I don't know.

He never talked about that.

With all the horrors

you see in w*r,

feeling guilty about having sex

doesn't really

carry much weight,

you simply get used to it.

I know that.

I wrote their story,

their love story,

as I imagined it,

but it stayed in my computer.

So, you're gonna write about

Dora Carrington's insane love.

[Ingrid] Mm-hm.

And her connection

to Virginia Woolf,

who Strachey

also pursued romantically.

[Martha] What a group!

I so admire their freedom.

[Ingrid] Strachey died

of stomach cancer

18 years after meeting Dora

and Dora survived him

by barely two months

before she shot herself

in the stomach.

She was only 38.

I'm struck by the symmetry

of that kind of gesture,

his stomach cancer

and her sh**ting herself

in the stomach.

I know, it struck me, too.

I wonder what Virginia Woolf

thought of Carrington's death?

Maybe Virginia saw...

a kind of warning,

a mirror that reflected her?

As if they were fated?

Do you think I'm fated, too?

No! Of course not.

I've never known anyone

more alive than you.

This week I'm starting

a new experimental

-immunotherapy treatment.

-Uh-huh.

They've already tried it

and it seems to work well

with cases of cervical cancer.

-Well, that's great news!

-Yeah.

Let me know

when I can come and visit you,

-okay?

-I will.

-Talking of symmetry...

-Mm-hmm?

Do you remember...

Damian Cunningham?

How could I forget?

I inherited him

from you. [laughs]

The shared lover.

-Well, I...

-I have to say

I felt terrible

when you got together

after I'd been with him.

Okay, we didn't

share him exactly

because you'd already broken up

and you were

out of the country.

I would never go back with him

and, to tell the truth,

I was never faithful.

But he was a passionate

and enthusiastic lover

and I hope he was for you, too.

I had no complaints.

[both laughing]

[people speaking indistinctly]

Hi.

What is it?

It hasn't worked.

I've got metastases in my liver

-and in my bones.

-Oh, Martha.

I should have followed

my first instinct.

Should never have put myself

through this t*rture.

This diarrhea,

vomiting, fatigue...

to end up like this.

I should never have given in

to false hope.

Okay. Okay.

All right,

what does the doctor say?

Tell me.

Oh, that I could

live for months,

maybe a year.

He wants me to continue

with the treatment,

even though it looks hopeless.

Maybe it will work this time.

I don't wanna wallow

in self-pity.

But I'm not a stoic. I'm sorry.

I don't wanna go through

excruciating pain.

You can't be self-possessed

if you're in agony.

You can't think straight.

You can only think

of one thing...

the f*cking cancer.

[sighs]

I've always taken care

of my health,

now I regret it.

The doctor says

I have a strong heart.

What does that mean?

My body is just

gonna go on fighting...

while I suffer and suffer

until my last breath?

[sobs]

I don't know.

I don't know how to help you.

I'm so sorry.

I think I deserve a good death.

At least one without

convulsions in my last moments.

Going out with

a little bit of dignity,

clean and dry.

But I know

I'm asking too much...

[door opens]

[nurse] What are you

doing up, Martha?

I'm f*cking over this.

-Can you help her, please?

-Of course.

Let's get you back in bed.

[Ingrid] Come on.

Let me help you.

Bring it on.

Here we go.

I'll end up

turning into a junkie.

[sighs]

I am one already, I guess.

It's okay. Really.

[nurse] Here, this will help.

Are you still here?

Yes.

Should I ask them

to bring your dinner?

Are you hungry?

No.

Ingrid...

Do you think

I need to say goodbye

to my closest friends?

I think you should do

whatever you wanna do.

I just want peace and quiet.

Have you thought about

how you wanna spend your time?

And where?

Is there some place

you'd like to go?

Look.

Pink snowflakes.

There had to be something good

about climate change.

Well...

I've lived to see that.

You remember the end

of Joyce's The Dead?

[sniffles, voice breaks]

Vaguely.

"The snow was falling,

falling on

the lonely churchyard,

falling faintly

through the universe.

And faintly falling,

like the descent

of their last end,

on all

the living and the dead."

[gulps]

It's getting late and, uh...

I should be going.

[Ingrid sniffles]

Thank you.

I'll see you tomorrow.

[kisses]

There's still a half an hour

before the movie starts.

Should we go in and get

our seats before the rush?

No. I wanna talk to you

about something.

Okay.

I will not go out

in mortifying anguish.

I've gotten hold

of a euthanasia pill.

Don't ask me how,

on the dark web

you can find almost anything.

I also have

an abundance of opioids

for the moments of pain.

And don't look at me like that,

I'm not asking you

to convince me otherwise.

I don't know what to say.

I'm hoping you'll say yes.

Yes to what?

To my asking you to help me.

Help you what?

I've faced death several times,

but I've always

been accompanied.

We reporters formed

a kind of mobile family.

This is another w*r,

I'm not afraid of it.

But...

like the other times

I faced death...

I don't wanna be alone, Ingrid.

I'm asking you...

to be in the next room.

I think we should

go get our seats.

Yeah, sure, but I prefer

to go on talking to you,

if you don't mind.

Okay. Um...

Do you know when

you wanna do this?

Not exactly.

Within a month?

Before I start to deteriorate

and you don't recognize me.

These next weeks

I should be reasonably well,

but I wanna do it soon.

My doctors think that

I'm gonna return

to complete the treatment.

It's best they don't

suspect anything.

Where do you wanna do it?

I don't wanna be at home.

And I don't wanna go back

to anywhere I've been happy.

It's always a mistake

to return to some place

you've been truly happy.

You just ruin the good memories

of the first time.

No, I understand that.

I think it will be easier

for me to let myself go

if I'm not surrounded

by familiar things,

intimate things.

I think that would

hold me back.

I prefer some unknown place,

comfortable and safe,

and not too far away.

Do you need my help

finding a place

or getting you settled in?

No, no, no.

No, I can

take care of that part.

What I need is somebody

to be there with me,

in the room next door.

Wouldn't you prefer

someone you're closer to?

We're very close.

No, yes, of course,

of course we are.

[stammers] Oh, my God,

we're very close. I just...

There were years where

we didn't see each other.

[sharp inhale]

What about Stella?

[stammering] Or Maggie?

Or Vanessa?

You've all been friends

since you were kids.

I admit I thought

of them first.

I asked all three of them.

They all were horrified

and they all said no.

They understood it,

but they said

they could never be a part

of helping me take my own life.

Absolutely not.

-What about your daughter?

-It wouldn't be fair to her.

I've been an absent mother.

I don't wanna impose

my dying on her.

You could at least consult her

and let her be a part of it.

We're two strangers, Ingrid.

She made that clear

when I told her

about my doubts

about the treatment.

"It's your choice" she said.

And she's right.

Right.

-[horns blaring]

-[wind whooshing]

[breathing heavily]

No matter what,

people want you

to keep fighting.

This is the way we've

been taught to see cancer.

As a fight...

between patient and disease,

which is to say

between good and evil.

If you survive, you're a hero.

If you lose, well,

perhaps you didn't

fight hard enough.

People don't like

using words like

"terminal" or "incurable."

They call that defeatist talk.

Some of the worst stuff

comes from

the cancer support community.

Some of them think

of your cancer as a gift,

an opportunity

for spiritual growth.

Bullshit!

People should see

this is my way of fighting.

Cancer can't get me

if I get me first.

And what's the point

in waiting...

when I'm so ready to go?

Are you completely sure

you're ready?

Totally.

Since the first diagnosis.

You know I have

a terrible fear of death.

I know.

I've read your book.

That's why

I didn't ask you first.

But you understand me,

don't you?

I do, I do. I envy you.

You're in control of your life.

I only need you to accompany me

the days leading to it,

as if we were on vacation.

I just wanna know that,

when it happens,

there'll be someone

in the next room.

It terrifies me, Martha.

I understand.

I think that you have

every right to do this

and I admire you for it,

but I don't know that I can be

the one to find you dead.

I'm not that strong.

You're much stronger

than you think you are.

Anyway, I had to try.

[Ingrid sighs]

I can't answer you now, Martha,

but I promise you

I'll think about it.

Right now I'm too confused

and too terrified.

I understand.

I understand it's sudden...

and it's disconcerting.

I'll think of someone.

-I wasn't too much?

-No, no.

[line ringing]

-Martha?

-[Martha] Hello, Ingrid.

I've made up my mind.

Come on in.

The owner is

a jewelry designer.

She's a friend of mine,

so I don't pay much rent.

[Damian] Mmm.

You get the impression

it's been furnished

with stuff from the garbage.

Not everything.

And it takes talent

to pick stuff

out of the garbage.

You haven't finished moving in.

-Do you want a hand?

-Uh...

No. [sighs]

I'll do it after.

And even so,

you're going with Martha.

[sighs] She is totally

alone, Damian.

None of her friends

are helping her with this.

She even told me

I wasn't her first choice.

It's like her daughter

doesn't even exist.

In the years I was with her,

she never told me

she had a daughter.

I know, it's a...

It's a sad story.

It's a terrible,

terrible misunderstanding.

Have you told her

that we're in touch?

Uh... No.

Um, we talked about you

in a... in a general way.

-She has nice memories of you.

-Oh. Really?

Our relationship

was mostly physical.

She was always about

to go off somewhere else,

that's why our lovemaking

had that sense of urgency.

It was like having sex

with a t*rror1st...

it always felt

like the last time.

Well, she rates you

pretty highly as a lover.

I'd like to know

what rating you give me.

Oh, I can't believe

you're still flirting with me.

-I'm serious.

-No, no, you're not serious.

What's serious

is Martha's situation.

And your being terrified

of death?

You just published

a book about that.

Have you overcome that,

thanks to the book?

-No.

-[cell phone ringing]

Hi. How are you?

Better.

Much better since you said yes.

Where are you? Are you at home?

Yeah.

I'm watering the plants.

Oh, I thought you had someone

who did that for you.

I do.

But today I felt like doing it

and I am enjoying it.

[chuckles] Okay. Good.

Um, have you... Have you

decided where we're going?

That's why I called.

It's, uh, near Woodstock,

it's about two hours

from the city.

It looks fantastic.

Uh, it's a bit expensive,

but, hey,

the occasion

calls for it. [laughs]

So, do you know how long...

I've rented it for a month.

That should give me

more than enough time.

A month?

Yeah. My blood count's low

and I have to take a break

before I start

the new treatment,

and you're the only one

who knows

I'm not going back

to the hospital.

It's not like

I've picked a date.

I mean, you'll never

know it anyway.

But... I'm ready to go.

I would even say I'm impatient.

I'm gonna be giving a lecture

near Woodstock at Bard

in two weeks,

so we can see each other.

Mmm, I don't think

that's a good idea,

I'll be with Martha

all the time.

I'll call you if I can.

You're going to need a lawyer.

Yes, I should look for one.

Let me help you with that,

but I'll have to fill them in.

No, no, in that case, no.

This is an absolute secret.

Martha doesn't even know

I've told you.

Okay. But if you need anything,

you should let me know.

I worry about you.

Thank you.

[birds chirping]

According to this map,

we go up these stairs

to enter the house.

Okay.

[beeps]

[whirring]

Look at this.

[Martha] Wow,

it's so beautiful.

It's so much more beautiful

than in the photographs.

Is that a real Hopper?

I don't think they would

have left it here.

It's a very good copy.

It looks real.

[birds chirping]

[birds continue chirping]

-Do you hear them?

-Mm-hmm.

Isn't that wonderful?

And we can lie in the sun,

like in the Hopper,

and catch the evening breeze.

[breathing heavily]

Are you okay?

Very happy.

Do you mind if I take this one?

Of course not. It's your house.

Mmm. This one

is a little small,

I'm gonna look downstairs.

[Martha] All right.

I'm gonna take this one, okay?

Very good!

You don't mind that

I'm not in the room next door?

I can hear you breathe!

And yell!

[chuckles] Okay!

Here we go.

Let's get you unpacked.

Thank you.

I'll unpack it later.

You're not

my caretaker, Ingrid.

You're my guest.

Okay.

Um... I'll go unpack my things.

-[objects clattering]

-[Martha shouts]

-Martha?

-[Martha shouts]

[shouts]

What is it, honey?

-You won't believe it.

-What?

I forgot it!

[stammers] You forgot what?

The pill, the euthanasia pill!

I brought all the others!

We have to go back.

Oh, it's okay, we'll go back

first thing in the morning.

-No, not tomorrow!

-Don't worry about it.

We have to go now!

I just need to be sure

that I didn't lose it

or misplace it,

that I didn't just dream it up.

Okay.

Buying another pill would be

extremely complicated.

[sighs softly]

I have a friend

who knows a mathematician

who found it on the dark web.

It's all very sordid,

not to mention totally ill*gal.

It's scary...

knowing that all that exists

just behind

our computer screens.

I feel like a criminal.

I never thought

I'd be back here again.

With that wonderful skyline.

Life always surprises you.

All right, let's get to work.

-Okay.

-I'll start in the kitchen.

Don't worry, we'll find it.

Just, um... Just try to think

of all the places

you usually hide things.

This is the first thing

I have ever hidden.

Really?

The only thing I can remember

is I put it in an envelope.

Okay. Uh...

Why don't I start

in your office?

-Is that okay? Okay.

-Yeah, yeah.

Where did I put it?

Where did I put it?

Oh, my God. [sighs]

We're never gonna find it.

I found an envelope.

That's it!

Where did you find it?

In your desk.

There was key in a drawer

and I opened it.

How could I have forgotten?

I even left the key in it?

Well, you meant to take it,

at the last minute, you forgot.

It's not so weird.

Thank you.

Such a strange sensation.

It's like being here

after I'm dead.

Oh, God, don't say that.

It's too soon for you to

refer to yourself as a ghost.

Let me straighten up

before we leave.

Thank you.

[door closes]

Forgive me for all this hassle.

I'm sorry, really.

[sighs] It's okay.

What a great place

to return to.

Stupid fridge.

You need some help?

I got it.

You know, maybe...

leaving the pill behind

was a kind of a sign?

Maybe you're not as ready

as you think.

I told you never to say

that to me.

I don't remember

you telling me that.

I think I've said

so many things to you.

That's the problem

with chemo brain.

My memory keeps failing me

and I get distracted so easily.

It can continue even

after the treatment stops

and it can go on for years.

I'll be spared that, at least.

When I write...

When I wrote...

I had to proofread

a thousand times.

I can't trust my judgement

about anything anymore.

Well...

Then why do you trust

this decision?

How do you know

it's not chemo brain, too?

I've left the pill

in the top drawer

of the bedside table.

If I forget,

which I don't think I will,

you will remind me.

And I prefer not to talk

about this anymore.

Well, it's my business, too,

don't you think?

Sure. Of course.

I'll leave a signed letter

for the police

telling them everything,

including the name of the pill

and where I got it.

Your name will not

appear anywhere.

All you have to do is to say

that you know nothing.

Don't budge from that.

I don't wanna give you

any more information.

The less you know, the better.

And this is important.

I'll sleep with my door open,

and the day

that you find it closed...

is the day

it's already happened.

That's the sign, door closed.

I know it's difficult.

But just think

we're on vacation.

You can write,

we can come and go...

I don't think I'll

be able to concentrate.

And if I write,

you might show up

in it somewhere

and I don't wanna do that.

Yeah. That could

complicate your life

if the police investigate.

Well, I'm not gonna do it.

Wait till I'm dead.

Oh, God!

Can you not say,

"Wait until I'm dead," please?

I promise.

I'd like to find a gym

somewhere around here

that I can go to

a couple of days a week.

I'm the only one who eats

and I don't want

to gain ten pounds

while you waste away.

Oh, give me a chance.

I'll catch up with you.

Look, I'm eating.

[Ingrid] I have practically

held death in my hands.

I never imagined it would be

something so light.

Martha?

[water running]

[Martha] Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm making breakfast.

You want some toast?

No, just some coffee.

Help yourself.

It's already made.

There's juice, fruit...

whatever you want.

My behavior yesterday

was unacceptable.

I completely understand

that it drove you crazy.

But in my current state,

I can't make any promises.

So, just in case...

I put a medium-range sedative

in this drawer.

And if you find me unbearable,

you just have one

and you can relax.

I could have

used that last night.

[laughs] You...

You're one of a kind, Martha.

You really... You really are.

[birds chirping]

I've made a list

of stuff to buy.

We need a few things.

Is there anything

you want me to get?

Don't think so.

Do you wanna come

to the store with me?

Maybe another day.

It's so nice here.

I'd like to stay

if you don't mind.

No, of course not.

I found a gym nearby, too.

That's great.

I think that's

a very good idea.

Okay, well...

I have my phone with me

if you need anything.

Thanks, love.

[sighs]

Hi.

I was hoping I could use

the gym today.

Are you a member?

Uh, no. I'm just in town

for a little bit.

If you use one of our

personal trainers,

you don't need to be a member.

Um, okay. I'll use

one of your trainers then.

You'll like Jonah, you'll see.

Thanks.

So, would you like to start

a warm up doing steps?

-Okay.

-Is okay?

Do you think you can do this

for 30 seconds?

-Um, sure. All right.

-Okay, go for it. Have a try.

And we are on. Okay, nice.

-Keep focus on your leg.

-Mmm-hmm.

And, if you can,

move your arm...

-Okay.

-Okay, with each step.

And we are done.

Nice. You're pretty strong,

you young lady.

[panting] What I am is winded.

Well, if you want, there are

other variations we can do.

[pants]

I mean, you can go try

like this.

You can go back and forth.

Or you can jump on it

and go left

and right or back

and on the box.

-Okay. Okay.

-Have a try one more.

-[panting]

-Nice.

-Focus on your core here.

-Uh-huh.

And breathe. [breathing deeply]

Inhale and exhale.

-[panting]

-[Jonah breathing deeply]

Perfect. One more.

[panting]

Is everything okay?

[panting]

When the body's in great shape,

it takes longer to die.

When death comes,

the mind wants to go,

but the body keeps fighting.

Heart beating "no"

with every beat.

Well...

all the more reason

to look after yourself.

I live with a friend

who's dying.

I'm sorry.

Come. Let's have a seat.

Come here.

[sighs, sniffles]

Is there anything

that I can do?

[sighs]

I wish I could give you a hug,

but we're not allowed

to touch clients anymore

because of the lawsuits

and whatever.

And it's a problem,

because it can be hard

to correct people's posture

with just words,

and touching is so important.

This world

is absurd and inhumane.

I don't see it improving

any time soon.

But thank you, I feel hugged.

[chuckles]

Oh, I've been meaning

to read this book.

Isn't it a wonderful title?

Erotic Vagrancy.

Do you wanna buy it?

I won't have time to finish it.

I like the way

it's laid out here.

[Ingrid] Mmm.

Oh, look.

Martha Gellhorn.

The View from the Ground.

She wrote that you only ever

truly love one w*r,

after that you're just

doing your duty.

Which one was yours?

Bosnia, without a doubt.

The fight to survive

by the Bosnian people

against a perfectly

equipped army...

stole the hearts of all of us

who witnessed

the extermination.

There are very few women

w*r correspondents.

w*r is a man's thing.

You have to sort of become

one of the guys

and it was never

a problem for me,

I've always lived like a man.

Actually, I think

what Michelle really missed...

was having a maternal figure

in her life.

And in this, I must admit

she... she was right.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

Hey, look who's coming to town!

The life of the party!

"How bad can it get?

Navigating urban life

with integrity."

You feel like going?

No, you know what?

I've heard it already

and it's not an evening

I'd like to repeat.

We all have our own

personal apocalypses.

Are you having

an awful time with me?

No, no, I meant him,

his lecture.

Global crisis, climate change.

Yeah.

Hi.

I love your hair.

Nice.

When the nightmares

come rushing in,

I think about

all the men I've loved.

[chuckles] Sounds like a song.

[chuckles] A good one.

[both chuckle]

Even if it was

just for one night.

[sighs] Sometimes I think

about Damian.

I still think

sex is the best way

to fend off looming thoughts

of death.

Like those Spanish Carmelites.

Wars turned me into

a promiscuous woman, Ingrid.

Good. [laughs]

Are you still

in touch with him?

-With who?

-Damian.

Um...

You know...

Um, from time to time.

"How bad can it get?" [scoffs]

Well... [sighs]

much worse than you imagine,

Damian, honey.

Hey.

You all right?

I was trying to write.

I can't.

In this w*r, I'm incapable

of writing anything.

What about reading?

You love to read.

I've tried.

I've tried with some

of my favorite writers.

The spell just isn't

there anymore.

I'm talking about Faulkner,

Hemingway...

I can't concentrate.

My mind just flies off

into the void.

If you're too tired,

I could read to you.

Not just reading,

all pleasure's been reduced.

It's hard to know

what to pay attention

to anymore.

I have very little time

and I don't want to waste it.

Okay. Um...

What about music?

I can only listen

to the birds singing.

Well, luckily, they give us

a serenade every day.

Music decenters me.

It comes between me

and whatever it is I'm doing,

even if it's just thinking.

Maybe the chemo

is affecting my hearing.

Oh, honey.

I've been reduced

to very little of myself.

I long for some peace

of body and mind.

And to just talk whenever

I'm invaded by memory.

Am I talking too much?

No, no, no, no.

Talk all you want,

I love listening to you.

[crickets chirping]

[birds chirping]

[sniffling]

[breathing heavily]

[sniffles]

[birds chirping]

[birds chirping]

[sobbing]

[continues sobbing]

[continues sobbing]

What's going on?

-What's wrong?

-[gasps]

Your door was closed,

so I thought you...

Oh, I'm so sorry.

I opened a window

and the breeze

must have closed it.

Oh, my God!

[sniffling]

Do you think it's fair

to be mad at me

because I'm still alive?

Think of it as a rehearsal.

Now you know how it's gonna be.

You know how you're gonna feel.

You're gonna have

to make some calls

and act out all the things

we talked about.

And you never knew anything...

and we were on vacation...

Please, just stop!

Okay.

[bugle call playing on TV]

[whimsical music playing on TV]

[laughs]

[tense music playing on TV]

[laughs]

[whirs]

Should we call it a night?

Oh!

Or does the young lady

wanna keep watching movies?

Did you tell me

that they have The Dead?

Or did I dream that?

Yeah, they have it.

Um, you wanna watch it?

Yes, please.

[Ingrid] Here we go.

Here we go.

[somber music playing on TV]

[Gabriel on TV]

Yes, the newspapers are right.

Snow is general

all over Ireland.

Falling on every part

of the dark central plain,

on the treeless hills.

Softly upon the Bog of Allen

and farther westward,

softly falling

into the dark mutinous

Shannon waves.

One by one,

we're all becoming shades.

-[softly repeating]

-Snow is falling,

falling in

that lonely churchyard

where Michael Furey

lies buried.

Falling faintly

through the universe

and faintly falling,

like the descent

of their last end,

upon all the living

and the dead.

[birds chirping]

Do you hear them?

Mmm-hmm.

[beeps]

[whirring]

It's daytime.

And you're alive.

[birds chirping]

Oh, this is too much.

-Yeah?

-This is harder

-than I thought it'd be.

-Okay.

I think I need to sit.

All right. Yeah, let's go

sit over here.

Here, let me help you.

Hey, I've got you. Here we go.

Here you go.

Okay.

[Martha] Oh!

-Oh, that's much better.

-Oh, good.

Before coming here,

I made a new will.

Aw, let's not talk

about this now, please.

I'm leaving the apartment

and everything in it

to Michelle and you.

I found your w*r journals

in your desk.

What do you want us

to do with them?

Is it okay if I read them?

Of course you can read them.

Can I tell your story?

You can do what you want.

I won't be here.

Can I say that?

No.

Okay.

[birds chirping]

[crickets chirping]

[sighs]

Let's not talk

about this now, okay?

All right,

I'll see you there. Bye.

[Martha] Dear Ingrid,

Today is such a beautiful day

that it seemed to me it...

Hey.

Hi.

-Everything okay?

-Yeah.

This breeze is delicious.

Be careful,

it's a little chilly.

Um...

If you don't need me,

I'm gonna go to the gym.

But I can stay if you want.

No. Please, go.

I don't want to be a downer.

You're not a downer.

You've been

pretty well-behaved.

Have you talked

to your trainer about me?

Um...

Well... I mean, it came up.

I was talking about

being in good shape

and the heart beating

to survive.

You know, everything that you

talked about in the hospital

and he looked at me

like I was a lunatic,

so I told him I had

a friend that was sick.

That's all.

Just remember,

you know nothing

about anything.

[Ingrid] Mm.

Come here, give me a kiss.

-You okay?

-Yes.

[lively chatter]

-Hi.

-Hi.

I lied to her, I don't like it.

Well, you'll have to practice.

Lying?

Yes. Officially,

you aren't aware

of Martha's intentions.

Yeah.

And I found a lawyer,

in case you need one.

Thank you. Let's not

talk about this now.

-Mm.

-How'd your lecture go?

Well, they weren't too happy

about my not taking questions.

In the end,

people started muttering

and someone called me a coward.

It doesn't bother me.

I spent way too much time

caring about my reputation,

and for what?

So, what are you doing

with all that time

you've gotten back?

Are you doing more

of what you love?

I have to admit

that my interest in things

has been shrinking

as I get older.

Martha said the same thing

a couple days ago.

There are so few things left

that she can really enjoy.

-I understand.

-Mm.

But you're not sick.

No, but I feel the same way,

especially after the pandemic.

I don't go to the cinema

or listen to music.

I... I read a lot,

but only subjects

to do with my lectures.

Mm. You still go to galleries?

You used to love that.

When we were together,

we'd go all the time

and talk about

how powerful the art is.

You still like that?

Even if every poet in the world

sat down to write a poem

about the climate crisis,

it wouldn't save one tree.

At least you're still

interested in trees.

I'm interested in sex, too.

Well, then you're not that bad.

When I was young,

if a day went by without sex,

I thought it was incomplete.

I remember that.

I'm not nostalgic,

but I miss the nights

when we'd drink...

and take drugs, have sex,

all that didn't distract us

from what we really

wanted to do.

You drank and you took drugs.

I mean, more than I did anyway.

I don't know

how much you drank,

but you always acted

as you were as blitzed

as the rest of us.

But you were an essential part

of the party.

That is, until you got bored

and went off

to discover Europe.

You want to talk about that?

Tell me about your lecture.

[sighs]

I admit that I've become

something of a monomaniac.

My own son is no longer

speaking to me

because I didn't hide

how appalled I was

that his wife

is expecting another child.

He doesn't want me

anywhere near her

for fear

she'll have a miscarriage.

What? How could you tell him

that he can't have

another child?

-It's their third!

-[stammering] What...

So, what's the next

logical alternative?

For people

to start k*lling themselves?

People should be aware,

once and for all,

of the state of the f*cking

planet they're living on.

Well, perhaps this isn't

the best subject for you.

You're living with

a dying woman in a world

also in its death throes.

Do you really think

the situation

is that desperate?

Yes. Read the science

and see what the world

is doing with it.

They're releasing more CO2

into the air than ever before.

Sooner or later,

and I fear it will be sooner,

all this will be shot to hell.

Nothing is going to hasten

the end of the planet

more than the survival

of neo-liberalism

and the rise of the far right.

And we have both of them here,

marching side by side.

Sorry, I didn't want

to bring you down, but...

I get riled up with this.

You cannot go around

telling people that

there's no hope.

It's tragic.

And maybe it's really

unpleasant of me to say so,

but I've completely lost faith

in people doing

the right thing.

I'm living every day

expecting to find

Martha's body in her bed,

but that doesn't stop me

from enjoying every minute

with her,

just the opposite.

I'm learning from her

and you should, too,

because there are lots of ways

to live inside a tragedy.

Of course it's painful,

but I can take it.

And I'm trying to live

with the same joy that she has,

and with the same

appreciation, so...

the last thing I need

is a speech like yours.

I've always admired you

for that.

What?

You're one of the only people

who knows how to suffer

without making others

feel guilty about it.

[sighs]

Do you think

it will be much longer?

No, it'll be soon. Any day now.

You have to be prepared.

I know the police.

They'll ask you

all sorts of questions,

they'll dig into

your relationship

like scavengers.

You need

a kind of mental script.

No, I thought about it,

I do have it.

Good. Stay strong

and stick to your story.

And when it happens,

you should call the police

before you call me.

No, I need to call

her daughter.

I should call her

before I call you.

Okay, but be careful

what you say to her.

I had to tell the lawyer

about the situation.

Why do we have to

go through all this,

like we're criminals?

Shouldn't dying people

have the right

to end their lives

with dignity?

They will, once

our teetering health system

completely collapses.

[birds chirping]

Martha?

[Martha] Dear Ingrid,

today is such a beautiful day

that it seemed to me

it was the moment to leave.

It consoled me that you weren't

in the room downstairs,

even though that was the idea.

But you know I always improvise

and I'm almost happy that,

while I fade away

on the lounger,

you're out in the world,

experiencing something

different to my death.

No one will be able

to accuse you of complicity.

You have accompanied me

as much as any human being

can accompany another.

Call my daughter

and tell her I'm sorry.

And thank you, love.

Martha.

I'll do whatever you want.

[sniffling]

[birds cawing]

We had dinner

and then we watched

a Buster Keaton movie.

I told you this already.

And you didn't notice

anything strange,

anything that made

you suspect...

Try to remember.

I remember it perfectly,

it was a fun night.

There were no gestures?

Nothing she said?

We said goodnight

and then I went upstairs

and I stayed up late

reading a book

that Martha had recommended

called Erotic Vagrancy.

It's about Elizabeth Taylor

and Richard Burton.

-Do you know it?

-No.

Martha and I both thought

that it was really fun.

Try to answer

only the questions I ask you.

What'd you do

the following morning?

I had lunch with a friend.

And when I came back,

I called out for her

and when she didn't answer,

I went to her bedroom.

But she wasn't there.

So I went into the backyard

and that's when I saw her.

And, at first, I thought

that she was asleep

on the lounge chair

and I got really nervous

and I called the ambulance.

And they got there very quickly

and then the EMTs saw her

and then they said

there was nothing

that they could do.

Nobody buys this pill

by accident

if they're

not thinking of suicide

or k*lling someone,

so, you didn't know

anything about this?

About what?

About her being in possession

of this ill*gal compound.

No. She was taking medication

for the pain,

you know, patches and pills,

but she...

she never shared

the specifics with me.

It is strange that,

if you two

were such good friends,

that she didn't say

anything to you.

You can't just

walk into a drugstore

and buy this pill.

It's very difficult to come by.

I think when she rented

the house,

she already knew what she was

gonna do, right?

It's possible,

but she didn't

tell me anything.

She was exhausted

from the last treatment

and she wanted to take a break

before going back

for the next round of chemo.

She wasn't the type

to throw in the towel.

She didn't complain?

She didn't say anything

that made you sense...

the end?

It was a great responsibility

for you.

She complained sometimes.

What did she complain about?

What did she say?

She'd lost the capacity

for attention.

She couldn't read or write,

for example.

Her life was reduced

to surviving.

You know, I find it

very hard to believe

that she didn't say anything

that made you suspect the end.

It was more than evident

that she was very sick,

but she wanted to

take a vacation

before going back

to the hospital.

I told you this already.

So, we also spoke to some

of Martha's close friends.

In general, they all coincide

with your testimony.

But one of them, Stella Byrne,

told us that, after Martha

finished her chemotherapy,

that she proposed

that she accompany her

to a house in the country

where she intended

to commit suicide.

Asked her to, and I quote...

"Be in the room next door."

And her friend refused.

I wasn't in the room next door,

I was in the room downstairs.

When I spoke to Mrs. Byrne

and informed her

of the suicide,

she told me

she wasn't surprised.

There's another word

for what Martha did,

it's called euthanasia.

Well, call it what you want,

but, for me, what your friend

did is a crime

and, as a policeman,

as a human being,

as a man of faith,

I'm radically opposed

to anyone committing a crime.

And, of course, anyone aiding

and abetting in one.

[cell phone clicking]

[line ringing]

Damian, can you come down

to the police station, please?

This is endless.

How do you explain

that your friend Martha

was so explicit with Mrs. Byrne

and yet she didn't tell you

anything about her intentions?

I'm not gonna say another word.

If I'm under arrest,

then tell me the charges.

Otherwise, I'll wait

in the hall for my lawyer.

Very foresighted of you.

What made you think

you'd need a lawyer?

Why don't you ask your friend,

he witnessed the interrogation.

[sighs] I think you're lying.

And that you're

the kind of person

who wouldn't say no

if a friend asked you

for help committing suicide.

Let her go.

[buzzes]

Hey.

-Hi.

-Hi.

-How are you?

-I'm okay.

This is my lawyer, Sarah.

-Hi. Pleasure.

-Thank you for coming.

Of course.

Damian's filled me in.

Is there anything I should know

about the interrogation?

Well, he treated me

like I was the k*ller.

-But you were with me.

-He doesn't care.

He insists that I'm implicated.

Okay, but...

He spoke to a friend

of Martha, Stella Byrne,

who said that Martha

had approached her first

and she refused to help her.

Okay, well, I'm sure

everything was recorded.

-Mm-hmm.

-[door opens]

Um, and this police officer

witnessed everything.

You can come in now.

I'll go in alone.

I'm her attorney.

Don't worry,

this is all very clear.

Thank you for coming.

-My pleasure.

-[door buzzes]

Jesus! What an as*h*le!

I've never been treated

like that before.

You were unlucky enough

to come up against

a religious fanatic,

but he's not gonna

bother you again.

I'm gonna file a complaint.

Thank you so much

for everything.

You still need to be available

for the next 48 hours

until forensic formalities

are done.

Um, I told them to call me

if necessary.

I'll be at the house.

Do you have

all the information you need?

Yes, Damian gave it to me.

Just give me a call

if anything comes up, okay?

I'm gonna head back

to the office.

I'm really sorry for your loss.

-Thank you.

-Thanks, Sarah.

Bye.

I can't believe

Stella told him that.

Well, he probably cornered her,

and they have Martha's computer

and her cell phone.

[Ingrid] Mm.

Do you know if they talked?

No, I don't know,

she didn't tell me anything.

What do you wanna do?

I need to go back to the house

and pack up Martha's things.

[cell phone ringing]

Sorry.

Hello?

Uh, speaking.

[whispers] It's Michelle.

Martha's daughter?

Yes, of course.

No, no, of course

you can come over.

I'm headed there right now.

I'll text you the address.

Okay, I'll see you soon. Bye.

Wow. Wow.

I'm headed back to the city,

so tell me when you're back

and I'll help you

with your move.

Thank you for everything.

And you can tell me

how it went with Michelle.

I will.

-Thanks. I'll call you, okay?

-Okay. Take care.

[birds chirping]

Hello, I'm Michelle.

I'm Ingrid.

Hi.

-Let's go inside, okay?

-Yeah.

Come on in.

Do you wanna see

your mother's room?

Yes, please.

It's right down there.

Right down the hall.

I made some coffee.

Would you like some?

Uh, I also have tea.

No, coffee's great. Thank you.

Here you go.

Did she tell you about me?

Of course she did.

And she told me

you were very upset

that you never met your father.

So she told you

about my father?

She did.

[coffee pouring]

Don't you think

she could have helped him

when he came back from the w*r?

She helped him

as best she could.

Your father came back

very badly damaged

and he wanted to

move to another city

and start a new life.

His plans never included you

or Martha.

And your mother

accepted the end

of the relationship and...

And she saw him

in such a bad way

that she gave him a kiss

to give him some peace

and that kiss turned

into something more.

And you are the fruit

of that moment.

My mother never told me

anything about that.

It's a difficult thing

to explain to a child.

She could have told me later.

By then you were so estranged

that she didn't feel

it was possible anymore.

She was a teenager,

she had a life to live,

and your father

moved to San Diego

and he made no effort

to know you.

So, Ingrid,

do you think

I was totally mistaken

about Martha?

You were unfair,

but no one can blame you

for wanting to know

who your father was.

It's a sad story,

it was very painful

for both of you.

Don't be so hard on yourself,

Martha wasn't

the perfect mother.

No, she wasn't.

Can I stay here tonight?

Yes, of course.

This is your mother's house!

[crickets chirping]

[Ingrid] Dear Martha,

I thought you'd like to know

I've come back to the house

in the woods

to gather up your things.

Your daughter came to see me.

I'm still shaking.

She looks so like you.

She asked me if she could stay

and sleep in your bed...

and, of course, I said yes.

I think your death

has brought her closer to you.

I never thought

I'd inherit her,

even if it's just for a day.

The house is filled with you.

When I came in,

after talking to the police,

the first thing I saw

was the door of your room,

and it was open.

And I said to myself,

"She's alive."

[birds chirping]

I came out here

to listen to the birds.

Your mother

would get up like this,

at dawn,

and lie right there.

Look, it's snowing.

[sighs]

[wind blowing]

The snow is falling.

It's falling on the lonely pool

we never used.

It's falling on the woods,

where we walked and you lay,

exhausted, on the ground.

Falling on your daughter

and on me.

Falling upon the living

and the dead.