A Rising Tide (2015)

[bunniefuu]

(soft dramatic orchestral music)

(seagulls cawing)

(dog barks)

(thunder crashes)

- [Male News Anchor] Experts
warn that Sandy could be wider

and stronger than Irene was last
year, which caused more

than fifteen billion dollars in damage...

- [Female News Anchor]Residents have been

cautioned to prepare for days
without electricity.

- [Male News Anchor] A set
of storms is now expected

from Grand Falls to here
in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

♪ Oh, no, no, no ♪

♪ Sometimes you don't need a reason ♪

♪ A reason will drive you insane ♪

♪ Now that you're gone all I can do is ♪

♪ Listen to the beat of the streets of LA ♪

(laughs)

♪ Sometimes you can't make it happen ♪

♪ Keep wishing you'd call out my name ♪

♪ Missing you more than ever-All right. ♪

♪ Listening to the beat ♪
♪ of the streets of LA ♪

♪ Oh, every night, everyday ♪
♪ I call you on the phone ♪

♪ Every night, everyday, I can't let you go ♪

(cellphone buzzes)

(cellphone rings)

- [Sam] Hey Dad.

- Did you see the news?

- Yeah, I'm looking at it now.

- They ordered the evacuation.

(sighs)

Shut everything down.

Put out the second layer of sandbags,

board up the rest of the windows.

Your mom's packing a few things,

we'll stay with Uncle Marvin.

Meet you here in half an hour?

- I'm prepping the fish Josh

caught off Cape May this weekend.

- Well... It's gonna be a special.

- We're not going to be back
for at least a couple of days,

so (sighs) toss it.

- I'm gonna stay.

- What?

- Josh spent a half an hour
reelin' these things in.

I've been here all morning preppin'.

I'll stay, watch over the place,

to make sure nothing happens, you know?

It'll be fun.

- Look, kid, they're
closing the bridges down,

if you don't come now... He's not coming?

- They always say it's going
to be the worst one ever.

Irene was supposed to Bethe
hundred year storm.

That was last year, nothing
happened here at all.

- Your mother looks concerned.

- His mother is concerned.

- Please, don't worry, either of you.

I'll make sure nothing happens.

Trust me.

- Alright.

You call me if anything happens, okay?

- Shame you're gonna
miss out on this sucker.

- Be safe.

(soft suspenseful music)

- Come on, let's get in the car.

(soft suspenseful music)(water rushing)

♪ Ooh, I toss and turn all night baby ♪

- Dude.

- Ah, ha, ha.

- Holy shit.

- My recipe, not my dad's.

His menu's been the same
since I was a kid.

His cooking is driving me crazy.

I want to make food that surprises

people like I did in New York.

I don't care about the money.

- And now, you're back
here with the rest of us.

♪ I'm on the edge and about to fall ♪

- Hurricane party !

- Whoo! (cheering)

- Hey, you're in college.

You like doing sh*ts?

- No.

- [Sam] Come on.

- [Female News Anchor]Water
rising in the streets

having breached many seawalls
and beach areas.

Governor Christie in his press
conference saying...

- We're right next to the bay.

Maybe we should putout more sandbags.

- Nothing's gonna happen.

- Oh, so now you're a climate scientist.

(woman laughs)

- Hell yes, damn right I am.

I'm good at hurricane sports.

- [Josh] (laughs) As
well as a food expert.

- Dude, I am whatever
the hell I wanna be.

I got talent.

Atlantic City High!- Whoo!

- [Josh] At least you're
getting paid to cook.

- I do not get paid to cook food.

I cook comfort food.-
Dude, quit bitching.

- You quit bitching.

(thunder booms)

(gasps)

(wind whistling)(soft banging)

- Ah.

- Oh, my God.- Wow.

It's everywhere.

(soft dramatic music)

(laughs)

- Dude, grab some more beers.

Come on, ever dance
in a hurricane before?

- Let go!

Go back inside.

Terry, back inside!

- Ah, f*ck that, it's dark in there.

Come on, this is amazing!

And if it does flood, I don't have

to work in this shit hole anymore.

To not working in a shit hole.

- To not working in a shit hole!

- You guys are crazy!

What if the water gets in the restaurant?

- I don't care if this place floods.

I don't care if this restaurant floods.

- [Woman] Sam, oh, my god, stop.

- You know what?

I don't care if this whole
piece of shit town floods!

- [Woman] Sam!

- Oh shit.

Ummm, dude, Sam.

- Sam, the water is getting in.

- Oh, no.- Oh, God.

- [Woman] What are we gonna do?

- [Sam] Shit, the sandbags.

Come on, man, come on.

Move the bags, we can stop it.

- [Josh] Okay.

Okay, I'm on it.

- Come on, come on, come on,

Come on, pull it up.

Come on, come on, pull it up.

Pull the...- I'm trying!

- Come on!

Agh!- Sam!

- [Man] Guys, it's at my shoe,
what do I do?

- [Woman] It's on the stairs,
it's getting in.

- [Man] Shit!

- [Woman] It's too late.

(dramatic music)

(melancholy music)

- Where have you been, we're
getting backed up in there.

- I just needed a minute.

- Another debt notice.

A month past due.

(restaurant chatter)(mellow jazz music)

- Sam, how are ya?- Alright.

- Good to see ya open.

- Thanks.

Been a few months, actually,
tell your friends.

- [Terry] I sure will.

How high did the water get?

- Down in front it was over the chairs.

Water line up to here.

- [Terry] Yeah, our place was flooded.

We lost all kinds of stuff,
old photographs, clothes.

We gotta re-do the whole basement.

- [Sam] Man.

- [Terry] My cousin's place
in Ocean City's just gone.

He's given up.

Movin' in trying to...

- [Woman] Well, he's been there
for twenty years.

- [Terry] Yeah, at least, since college.

- [Sam] Enjoy your meal, Terry.

- Thank you.

(rock music)

♪ You've been busy ♪

♪ I've been healing time ♪

- A little more vinegar.

- [Waiter] You got it.

- Hey!

What is this?

- It's the salmon and white wine.

- No, I mean the fancy stuff.

I told you.

Simplify the presentation.

- I did.

- You are using an extra ingredient that

they're never gonna eat,
it's gonna take forever.

- Can't rush perfection.

- You gotta stop it, I mean it.

You're not in New York anymore.

- We're out of clams again, man.

- Alright, I got it.

Dude.

Hey.

We're paying you to shuck cherry stones.

I catch you on the phone again
you're gone, you hear me?

Sorry about that.

- Do you have a light?

- Yeah.

- Thanks.

- Oh, thank you, no I don't smoke.

In case the stove doesn't light.

- You a cook?

- Mmm-hmm.

- Well, the food is really
good, compliments to the chef.

- Thank you.

- Who is the chef, is he well-known?

- Not really.

It's me.

- Oh.

- There you are.

You did, didn't you?

- Oh, no, that's,

that's mine.

- This is the head chef.

I was talking to him
about catering the party.

- Okay, right.

- So like I was saying,

we're throwing a party on Saturday.

It's kind of last minute, not much money.

Like, , ?

- , ?

- I know.

It's short notice.

- I know some guys.

- Perfect.

- You're a lifesaver.

(coughs)

- Ugh. (coughs)- You okay?

- Yeah.

- Can I get a whiskey please, rocks?

- Sure.

Any you'd prefer?

- Yeah, that one right there.

- That one's not for sale.

It was a gift to my dad from his dad

when he took over the place.

- Alright, I'll have, uh, one of those.

Yeah.

Is he coming over here?

- Yep.

- Shit.

- Mister Blake.

Hi.

Roger Bell, Leopold Bank.

How are you sir?

- Good to see you, Roger.

- Good to see you, too,
and I wanted to thank

you for reaching
out with the redevelopment deal.

You asked for me personally, huh?

- I heard good things.

- Okay, well I guess those,
uh, bribes are payin' off.

(laughs)

But we could uh, we could talk business

on Saturday at the party, you're coming?

- Charlie put it in all my gadgets.

- Roger?- Yeah?

- They're pulling the car around.

- Oh, Mister Blake, have
you met my wife, Sarah?

- No, I haven't.

- It's a pleasure.

The food here is amazing.

- Yes, it is.

- I hope you enjoy it.

- I've been here before.

It's great, thank you.

- Okay, we'll see you
at the party, have a nice night.

- Hit me again.

- Hey!

You okay?

- Hello there.

- [Sam] I think you
could use a ride home.

- No.

No, no.

I'm an excellent drunk driver.

Hey.- Come on.

Let's go.

Switch with me.

- Alright.

- [Radio News Man] I mean,
on the news, the governors

in Washington saying
they got all this money,

I put in my claim five months
ago, I still got nothing.

I mean I'm staying
in Glasboro with my sister.

The house is a wreck, the first
floor has mud on the floor,

and it has to be gutted.

The whole thing is just,
it just gets to a point

where you just wonder,
is it time to give it up?

Go find work somewhere else.

God, I lived there my whole life.

(knock on door)

- Um, hi, ma'am.

Uh, your husband...

- He's not my husband.

- (laughs) I'm not, she's not my,

I'm not her husband.- Oh.

- I run his company.

- Honey, I'm home. (laughs)

- Is he drunk?

- Of all the things I own, this spot,

the best thing lever spent money on.

- It's a hell of a view.

- Yeah, it took a beating
during the storm, but we rebuilt.

- Here you go.

- Oh, um, thanks.

- Coffee? Come on.

- Thank you for driving him.

- [Sam] Yeah.

- Ah.

You should really try that.

It's Belvenie, thirty years old.

It's a limited edition.

- Oh.

- Oh?

- Yeah. (laughs)

This is amazing, right?- It's good.

- I am so hungry.

- Yeah?

- Are you hungry?

- So, one of my mentors
in culinary school

told me cuisine is the mark
of a healthy society.

Barbarians, Vikings, aren't
known for their food.

If you're focused on survival,
you only have time for,

for what's good enough.

But cuisine isn't
about what's good enough.

It's about how good can it be.

- You went to culinary school?

- New York.

- Oh, mmm, thank you.

Oh, my god.

I have had eggs like a million times.

They've never been so soft.

(laughs)

- You outta open your own place.

- I did.

- You did, what happened?

- I'm workin' in my Dad's kitchen,

what do you think happened?

- Well, you've got talent.

- In my experience, talent
and hard work rarely pay off.

Connections, capital and willingness

to appeal to the lowest
common denominator?

Cha-ching.

Uh, thank you for the drink,

but I should probably go, I got
some friends waiting on me.

- Now, where you headed?

- The Clove.

- Can I come?

(heavy rap music)

(crowd cheers) - Hey!

- This is my friend, Mister Blake.

- Hi, Tom.

Tom.

Nice to meet you.

How's it goin'?

Next round is on me.

♪ You know you got me ♪
♪ goin' out of my mind ♪

♪ And I would take a b*llet ♪
♪ for these fancy lies ♪

♪ You know you got me ♪
♪ goin' out of my mind ♪

- Six sh*ts.

- Yeah.

- I need money.

- How much?

- Uh, like, like, ?

- No, no, no, hey, hey, hey!

Hey, hey, hey!

I got it!

(all cheer)

- Alright.

(techno club music)

What, what, hey!

What the hell are you doin'?

- Just zippin' up.

- Just get in the car.

Get in, get in, get in, get in!

- [Man] Hey, come back here.

- Bye.

(laughs)

This is a crazy f*cking city!

Yeah! Whoo!

- I haven't done that in a long time.

- Make out with a girl half your age?

- No, just go out and have
fun just for the hell of it.

People I like.

- I thought maybe
that girl at your house,

maybe you two had a...

- Charlie? No.

- Huh?

- It's all business with her.

She just stays at the shore house during

the summer 'cause
our office is in Philly.

Most of the people I spend
time with are just business,

they're not my friends, they're
not my kind of people.

- Me and my "f*ck-wad" friends are?

- More than you know.

(seagulls cawing)

- [Alek] You went
out clubbing last night?

- Yeah, I did.

- It's time to leave
for work in a few minutes.

- Relax, Dad.

I'll be ready in a few minutes.

Just blowin' off a little steam.

It's not like I'm not working hard, Dad.

Just trust me.

- Heard that before.

Now, my Dad was at that restaurant

seven days a week building up; me, too.

I thought you said after the storm,

after what happened,

we were all gonna work together.

- [Sarah's Mom On Phone] Sarah, it's Mom.

Are you coming by today?

They say tomorrow may be another scan.

I hope to see you.

I love you.

(soft melancholy music)

- [Roger] The Prescott's.

- [Sarah] David and Barbara.

They have their own firm.

- [Roger] Okay, good.

The Coleman's.

- Greta and David.

Real estate.

- Good, Pop.

- Teddy.

Widowed.

Former "Goldman-Sachs" from New York.

- Very good, honey.

Uh, Tom Blake.

- The guy that we met the other night?

- [Roger] Uh-huh.

- I don't know.

Zip me up?

- Yeah, okay.

Tom Blake, venture capitalist.

Deep pockets.

- What should I know?

- Uh, nobody knows how he got his money.

I think his wife died in an accident.

Heard it's a tragic story,
don't bring up his past.

I want to keep him
talking about business.

I don't want it to get all serious.

Okay, who's next?

The Rubens.

Babe, come on.

We're getting our game face on here.

I need your charm.

These guys love talkin' to you.

What is it?

Yeah.

I know.

I thought we were gonna
try moving on from this.

I know.

I miss her, too.

You know what I think?

I think you need to occupy yourself.

What about that store you're
gonna open for all this?

What would you need to get started?

- Money.

- Let's see, four months rent,

plus security deposit, that's K.

What do you spend
on materials here a month?

- It depends.

- On average, what do you spend?

- Uh, , ?

- Okay, , times four,
plus you gotta pay yourself.

Early employee advertising.

Let's make it a nice round K.

Sound good?

So, I'm gonna transfer an extra K
into our joint account

right now.

You're all ready to get started.

The money's all yours.

So try it,

because I need you to get over this.

Sarah, honey, it's been months.

(sighs)

(light jazz music)

- We good?

(crowd chatter)

- [Waitress] Sam.

- Great, thanks.

Hors d'oeuvres?

- It's a win-win.

You put the shopping center
in the tourism district.

You make money.

The state doesn't have
to front any capital,

and they're very committed
to some deep tax cuts.

So, it's low risk.

It's good for you, it's good for them,

it's a public/private partnership.

- Charlie has my full confidence
to handle all the details.

- Great.

And you know what?

It's good for the economy,
it creates jobs.

- Yeah, but could you imagine working

for minimum wage atone of those chains?

- Well, a job is better than no job.

- Yeah, but I mean, if someone's own
business went under

after the storm, and they're
making half of what they

used to at a fast food
place, is that recovery?

I mean, I'm glad you're doing the deal.

- Right.

- I'm happy for you.

I'm just saying, what is it
really gonna take to recover?

- That's a very interesting point.

I've been reading about this.

- I'm sorry, I have
to interrupt you there, because

the thing is those jobs just
aren't out there anymore.

I mean my hand to God I wish
they were, but they're not.

So.

But you know what you should do?

You should open a dress shop,

and you should pay people
whatever you want.

- You're opening a dress shop?

- Um, maybe.

- You design dresses, did you make that?

- I did,

um, I went to school for clothing design.

I have a little workshop.

- It's very well made, and

I kinda know what I'm talking about.

- You make dresses?

- No. (laughs)

No, I used to work in a textile factory.

- Really?

- Yeah.

- When?

- You know, honey, I'm sure Mister Blake

doesn't want to talk
about ancient history.

- Anyone care for some beef tartare?

- Sam, right?

- Yeah.

- You're just the guy I want to talk to.

Sam, you own a local business,
you own a restaurant.

- Oh, well, my dad owns it.

- Oh, you're dad owns a restaurant, okay.

But you make more there than you

would at the big chain restaurants.

- Roger.

- But did you know the big
chain restaurants,

they offer health coverage.

I mean, do you guys offer
that to your staff?

- No.

- No.

- Roger.

- Are you guys hiring right now?

- No, we aren't.

- That's a shame, I guess
I'm gonna have to uh,

table the ol' application.

Sounds to me like the good jobs

out there are kinda hard to find.

- Yeah, they are.

Better get back to work.

- Sam!

Sam!

I'm so sorry.

- It's fine, don't worry about it.

- That wasn't about you at all.

That was totally our baggage.

He was a total d*ck.

- I wouldn't say that.

- You don't have to bullshit me.

Please, if I hear anymore
bullshit I could scream.

Are you taking a break?

- Yeah, I got
a little while before dessert.

I just needed some fresh air.

- f*ck fresh air.

How 'bout a drink?

You brought the tuna,
I brought the bourbon.

- (chuckles) Is that right?

- [Sarah] You're a chef.

Every good meal deserves
a good drink, right?

- That's a good point.

- I take a walk out here every night.

It's so quiet.

I mean, just look out there.

I don't know.

I love it here.

- I don't know, it's kind
of dark and cold.

Wouldn't you rather be inside?

- No.

When Roger and I were first together,

he could be very charming.

Cute, even.

Things weren't always like this.

We actually had a couple
of really good years.

But now, at the end
of the day I think, tonight.

Tonight he's gonna come
home and we won't fight.

But we do.

Alright, your turn.

- Thanks, but uh,

I should probably head
back to the kitchen.

- Uh-huh, no, no.

I just told you my life story.

Now it's your turn.

- I have pastries to warm.

- I'm the one who hired you.

The pastries can wait.

Come on.

How was your year?

Don't be a p*ssy.- Ow.

- Come on, we said no bullshit.

- Uh, you said no bullshit.

My year, I...

My year was crappy.

- Hmph.

- That was funny?

- Um,

why was it crappy?

- I spent the last six years
working my way up in New York.

It was crappy hours.

I lost touch with most of my friends, so,

was workin' on opening my own place.

(melancholy music)

It was a mess,

and probably the best time of my life.

Spent every dime I had.

I was behind on rent.

I owed everyone money.

I was just hustling.

Running around town,
catering, making a buck

any way I could just to keep it going.

But every day I cooked whatever I wanted.

It was good.

I just knew.

I knew it was the best
stuff I could make.

I loved it.

I took the time.

I did it right.

I made each dish perfect.

I had a soft opening,

a few good reviews.

I was in over my head.

It turns out people don't let you

stay when you don't pay 'em.

Rent was grand a month.

So, now I'm working for my dad again,

like when I was a teenager.

Then the storm came.

I watched half the place get destroyed.

- That's not your fault.

I mean that happened to everybody.

- My dad would disagree.

I mean we put out some sandbags,

but I could have prepped better.

I was inside drinking with my friends,

sure nothing would happen.

Anyway.

It's been a crappy year, yes.

Most of this year I wish I could forget.

- Alright, well,

then let's make your night
something to remember.

- What are you doin'?

- I have recently been reminded
that life is very short,

so, I'm living it.

You?

Are you coming with me, or what?

- I'm thinking it over!

- Come on, it's no big deal!

The water's warm, I do this all the time!

- You're crazy!

(laughs)

And kinda hot.

- What?

- I said you're crazy!

- You're crazy!

You've lived here your whole life

and you've never done this?

- No!

Because it's freakin' dangerous at night.

- Ugh.

(waves roar)

- Sarah?

Sarah!

Sarah?

Shit.

(waves roar)

(Sarah coughs)

- Hey.

You okay?

- I told you it wasn't so bad.

- I think we might have missed dessert.

- You are soaked.

- Yeah, look who's talkin'.

- Listen, you handle
the negotiations on this deal,

and uh, you can have
direct commission, %.

- [Roger] Hey, I asked you a question!

What are you doing out here with my wife?

- [Sarah] Roger, stop.

- [Sam] Hey, hey.

Hold on for a second, hold on, hold on.

- [Roger] I get to ask you that question.

- [Sam] I don't know what you saw.

- [Sarah] Roger, calm down.

Roger please, just calm down.-
You think it was nothing?!

Roger, take a minute.- You
think it was nothing?!

You want me to calm down?!

- Ah!- Hey!

(group gasps)

- [Sarah] Roger!

- Ugh.- Roger!

Roger, stop!

Roger, stop!

- Hey, what the hell are you doing?

- She knows!

He knows, she knows!

(Sam coughs)- You alright man?

- You okay?

- I'm fine.

Oh. (sighs)

- Wait, I'm coming with you.

- Sarah, Sarah.

You going with him?

- I'm going with them.

- [Roger] Not after what happened.

- Nothing happened.

- That is not what it looked like.

- Just calm down, I'll be
back in a few hours.

- Sarah!

You stay here.

You stay home.

- [Tom] Charlie.

Stay here make sure everything's cool.

- Drive.

Please.

(faint sirens wailing)

- Gonna be a few more hours.

(sighs)

- Ugh, God-dammit.

Sorry.

I was here a lot last year.

My mom was sick.

- Let me.

What was she here for?

- Lung cancer.

She left me a message the day she died.

I didn't even call her back.

- Let's take a walk.

- [Sarah's Mom On Phone] Sarah, it's Mom.

Are you coming by today?

They say tomorrow might be another scan.

I couldn't eat breakfast really,
I just feel, it's worse.

Well, I hope to see you.

I love you.

- Huh, sorry, but it's just,
it's hard to hear.

- She was beautiful when I was a kid.

Every detail was perfect.

The way she wore her clothes,

the smell of her perfume.

I wanted to open a store for years, but,

even if I did, it's not
like she'd be there to see it.

- What about your dad?

- He died a few years ago.

I heard you were married once?

But she died too?

- Yeah.

- I'm sorry.

- She's not good.

But, you know, it's hard to know

'cause she's such a hypochondriac.

Oh, my God.

- I'm fine, Mom, don't worry.

- [Eva] Don't worry, you look terrible.

- What happened to you?

- Got in a fight.

- A fight?

- So what's this?- Have
you seen a doctor?

- [Alek] Jesus Christ, are you alright?

- Yeah Mom, that's where
I got the stitches.

- This is you working hard?

- I was working hard, I had a gig...

- Partying all hours of the night,

and then a fight?- Would you stop it!

- Dad!- What?

- What is this?

- What's what?

- It's a collection notice.

- It's not my fault if you're
out there buying...

- For you.

- What was I supposed to do?

Close up for six months while

I wait for the insurance money?

We would have been finished.

- The insurance came after a month.

- It came after six.

After the recession hit
we started losing money.

I thought things would turnaround
in a year or so, but

they didn't.

And then that damn storm hit.

I had to take out a loan.

Put the business up for collateral.

I knew you wouldn't let me,

so I told you the money came
from the insurance company.

When the insurance check came,

it covered only half the cost.

I didn't want either of you
to know how bad it was.

(sighs)

It's gonna be okay.

You're gonna have to layoff
some of the part-timers,

the rest get a % cut,
and no more overtime.

- %?

- If we can re-finance,
make some sacrifices,

we can get through this.

(clears throat)

- I'm sorry, but the request

for a loan modification has been denied.

- What?

- We can make the payments.

- The loan is more than days past due.

We have the right to collect immediately.

- What does that mean,
"collect immediately"?

- The business was put up as collateral,

so we will assume ownership
and liquidate it.

- That's outrageous.

- It was in the contract you signed.

- You will make less money than

if you just let us make the payments!

- I'm sorry, that is the bank's decision.

- Well then I want to talk to a manager.

- He'll tell you the same
thing, the decision is final.

- You better believe
the Better Business Bureau

is gonna hear about this,
and our congressman.

This is unheard of behavior.

And you should be ashamed of yourself.

It's no wonder the small businesses

in this town are packing up and leaving.

I have shown you the numbers,
we are a viable business!

This is the kind of place
this community needs.

(melancholy music)

- Dad said he'd mortgage the house,

Roger doesn't want the money.

I mean this is gonna k*ll
my dad, maybe literally.

We tried to get into Roger's office,
he wouldn't talk to us.

Will you talk to him?

- And say what exactly?

- I don't know, but he'll take your call,

'cause he does business with you.

- Sam, I want to help, but I don't
know what I could say.

- Maybe if you told him
that unless he modifies our loan,

you won't go through with the deal.

(chuckles) - Sam.

We signed a contract.

To be honest this hasn't
been a very good year,

I kind of need to make this deal.

- What happens if you don't do it?

You lose business, you lose your house?

You said you, youre
built after the storm,

and you, you wrote a check.

My family lost everything we had.

- Yeah, I wrote a check.

And you know howl could afford to?

By not writing the wrong ones.

I'm not running a charity,
and I got a lot of money tied

up in this deal, and you're
asking me to dump it for what?

To help a restaurant
that's already gone under?

To help a guy who took a catering job,

and wound up in a fist-fight
with his client?

Look, I'm sorry if this sounds harsh,

but I'm a business man
and this is business.

- I know, I'm asking a lot,
and I'm sorry, but I have to.

'Cause this is everything for my family.

Please.

(sighs)

I'm sorry, son.

You're asking for something I can't do.

- Okay.

(melancholy music)

- Here.

- This what you were saving it for?

- I was saving it for my retirement,
so (laughs) maybe.

I haven't lived a day without that

building being in our family.

When I was growing up your granddad fixed

it my head that this
was the land of opportunity.

This city is full of people
who think they're

gonna hit it big one day,
how many of them do?

Those things get bigger and bigger.

The rest of us?

Here's to the house!

(cellphone buzzes)

- Hello?

How could you do that?

- It was a business decision.

- That was not a business
decision, and you know it.

You're ruining these
people's lives over a look.

- You haven't looked at me
like that in such a long time.

- Roger, nothing happened.

I didn't do anything.

I don't want to hurt you.

- I'm sorry, I'm confused.

You didn't do anything
'cause you don't want to,

or you didn't do anything
'cause you're not allowed to?

Which is it, Sarah?

- Roger.

- Come on you wanted
it to, just admit it.

- Roger, I want us!

I want us to feel right.

But we don't.

Are you happy, with me, right now?

- Yeah, yeah, of course I am.

- [Sarah] Truly?

- Yeah.

- Huh.

Because I'm not.

I'm not happy.

And I don't think that you
are either, because

you couldn't be, and do
what you did to that family.

- I made my own decision,
I don't regret it.

And if you can't do that, then

you need to figure your shit out.

- I think we need
to spend some time apart.

- Sarah?

- I think we should separate.

Officially.

- Just sit.

Hold on, hang on, you
don't want to do this.

- I do.

I'm sorry but I really do.

(melancholy music)(cellphone buzzes)

- [Sam] What are you doing here?

- Tom told me what happened.

I'm so sorry.

- [Sam] That is not your fault at all.

Want a drink?

- Understatement.

(sad bluesy music)

- I always had a plan.

Everyday I woke thinking
of my restaurant.

Thinking of the next step to get there.

And now,

nothin'.

I saw that in my dad, too.

Everyday of his life
he had that restaurant.

And today, part of him was just gone.

And I used to think more than anything

that I was different than him.

We're the same.

Exactly the same.

(sad bluesy music)

Shit, what'd I miss?

- I was thinking,

about you, your dad.

Maybe your old place is gone,

but what if you opened up a new one?

- It takes a lot.

It takes...

- Money?

- Yeah.

- Can this get you started?

- I can't take that.

- You can.

You can use it to start over.

- Sarah, that's really
generous, but I can't take it.

- You had more than that taken
away from you.

Please take it.

I kind of need you to take it.

- What about Roger?

- It's my money.

But it's from our joint account,

so you might want to cash it soon.

Like, today.

I feel like a teenager, sneaking
out of your parents' house.

- Sorry.

- Don't be, it's kind of awesome.

- Hey.- Hmm?

- Thank you.

Ah!

- Who was that?

- Why is there always someone there?

- You brought a girl here.

- No, it's not like that.

- Oh, you're lucky
your mom's not here to see that.

- [Sam] Where'd she go so early?

- [Alek] Work.

- What?

- She took a job as a bookkeeper.

- [Sam] That was fast.

- Came as a surprise,
but she has friends there.

So,

what's it like with this girl?

- I want to talk to you about that.

Thanks.

- [Josh] Take all the time you need.

- It's not by the water.

- No, no it's not by the water.

Which means less storm damage.

It's also the reason Josh is willing

to rent it to us for so little.

- If he couldn't make it here,
what makes you think you can?

- I think he was going for Asian Fusion

in a neighborhood
that's about seafood, comfort food.

They gave it a year, it didn't work out.

Happens to the best of us.

- I like the bar.

Would this be your place or mine?

- It could be ours.

- [Roger] Yeah, hotel's good?

- [Sarah] It's alright.

I set up a few things.

- [Roger] It's weird not
having you in the house.

- I know, I'm sorry,

but this is what we need to do right now.

- How long?

- I don't know, maybe for a while.

We're not working, Roger.

- How do you know, you're not even here.

- Listen, please, I just
need some time and space.

Okay, for now, we're separated.

- Yeah, but Sarah, if we just talk

about it it's gonna be fine.

So I need you to stop this
stupid shit, just come back.

- I don't know if I want to.

- Look, I know you're scared,
but this place is smaller.

Business is picking
back up all over town.

Everything is being
repaired from the storm.

- And what about the next storm?

We don't have enough to retire.

Not with what we've lost.

What if we lose this house?

If you would take a regular
job, just for a few years,

we could save money, we could
plan our retirement.

Why risk everything?

- Because running
a restaurant is what I do.

It's what I've always done.

Without that, what am I?

- You're my husband.

You had that restaurant
years, and it was beautiful.

But it's over.

(gentle music)

- Not many people call me
before eight a.m. and live.

Everything you needed.

- Can I get in today?

- You're an eager m*therf*cker.

- Hey.

You need a job?

Yes.

(upbeat rock music)

Yes!(group laughs)

♪ I was born in the middle ♪

♪ Maybe too late ♪

♪ Everything good had been made ♪

♪ So I'd just get loaded ♪

♪ And never leave my house ♪

♪ Just takin' way too ♪
♪ long to figure this out ♪

♪ Know my name, know I mean it ♪

♪ It's not as bad as it seems ♪

♪ And we try in our own way ♪
♪ to get better ♪

♪ Even if we're alone ♪

(rock music)

♪ I hate talking about money ♪

♪ I don't want to talk about love ♪

♪ I hate thinking I'm ♪
♪ not the same as I was ♪

♪ I lose my faith in people ♪

♪ Why even take the time ♪

♪ You've got your problems, ♪
♪ I've got mine ♪

- Thank you.

- Come on in.

- Wow.

- We're pretty much there.

- Sam, it's amazing.

- Thank you.

Have you ever met Josh?

- [Sarah] No.

- He's my best friend.

- Hi, how are you, Sarah.

♪ Just try in our own way to get better ♪

♪ Even if we're alone, hey ♪

(laughing)

(rock music)

- I got it, I got it.

(Sarah laughs)

- Again, for the record that was amazing.

- I had a great time.

- Maybe you should come up?

I can show you the clothing designs.

- Yeah, sure.

(laughs)

- Oh, you have,

I think you have got some spinach
stuck in your teeth.

- Oh, my gosh.

I get it?- No.

- No?

Now?

- Not at all.

- Oh, my god. (laughs)

- Here.

- Whoa, what, what are you doing?

- It's okay, I'm a professional.

I've dealt with this before.

Let me just show you where it is.

- Oh, god.

- Right there.

- Here?

- To the right.

One more.

- Did I get it?

- Good to go.

- Great. (laughs)

- So, should I come up?

(sighs) - I don't know.

- Why not?

- Because if you come
up, I might kiss you.

- Well, maybe you should
just kiss me here.

Then you don't have to worry.

- You want to kiss me?

After all that?

Really?

- Look I know you got a lot goin'
on in your life right now,

so I understand you need to...

(soft music)

- Okay, now I really want you to come up.

- I'd love to come up.

- Ugh. (laughs)

Ah.

- See how you feel next time.

(gentle uplifting music)

(cellphone rings)

- [Roger] So now you call me back.

- I just bounced a check,
a very important one.

- Well money can go very quickly.

You have written any other large
checks recently, have you?

- That money wasn't for me.

- Yeah, I know who it was for.

- It was for his family.

You didn't just hurt him,
you hurt all of them.

You took away their livelihood.

- [Roger] What are they gonna do with it?

- [Sarah] I gave them
the chance to start over.

(sighs) - Okay, I didn't do
anything about the check

for you, but you decided how you
wanted to spend that money.

I took everything
out except for three grand.

- That's not enough for me
to open the shop.

I thought you wanted me to open the shop.

I thought you'd be okay with it.

- Oh, I did before.

You want time?

I can give you , a month
to live on, that's fair.

That's fair.

But you and I both know I'm
the one that earns that money.

You don't want to live with me,

you don't get to spend my money...

- We were married when you
earned that money, Roger.

I planned every party, shook every hand.

You didn't want me to have a job.

You can't tell me I didn't do my part.

- You know how hard
I work for that money.

The checks come in my name, so
that's the way it's gonna be.

Unless.

- Unless?

- Unless you want to stop
this and come back home.

- You know what?

Keep the money.

- Sarah.

- I'll do it on my own.

- How, you hardly have
anything in your account.

- I'll get a job.

- Sarah, come on, you're
gonna work a regular job?

- [Sam] Take it,
it's everything I have left.

- No.

- Come on, you can't open
the shop without it.

- You can't open
the restaurant without it.

I'm not gonna watch
that place fall apart.

- Sarah,

it's your money.

- It's not anymore.

I don't want to do this with his money.

I should do it on my own.

But I was close.

(sighs) I don't know how long it will

take me to get here again on my own.

- You're not on your own.

You have people who care about you.

You may not know how you'll get
there, but you will.

- How can you have so
much confidence in me?

You hardly know me.

- I know enough.

(gentle slow music)

I'm covered in plaster, I should shower.

I'm gross.

- Let me see.

Nope, not gross.

I don't want you to go tonight.

(gentle rock music)

♪ Oh, faith first, healing ♪

♪ We never have to go out, ♪
♪ oh woah, woah, woah ♪

♪ Time spent breaking it in, oh woah, woah ♪

(gentle rock music)

(gentle uplifting music)

Okay, um, yeah.

- [Sam] This way?

- [Sarah] And a little to the right.

- Ah.

- Oh my god.

- Hey?

- Oh, my god!

I got the job at that store!

- [Tom] So, a job, huh?

- It's been a while.

I was wondering if you would take a look

at my business plan
for that clothing shop?

- Of course, I'd be happy to.

I'm really happy you called me.

- Me, too.

(gentle uplifting music)

Looks amazing.

- There you go.

We'll see.

- Okay. (laughs)

- Taste it.

(laughs)

- Okay, do you want me to be honest?

- You have to be honest.

- Okay.

- I gotta sell this.

Yeah?

- It's really good.

- Alright.

- That's so good.

- Alright.

- [Neighbor] Hey, everybody,
welcome to Light Up New Jersey.

One year ago today, the lights went out,

but we're still here.

Now shine your lights in the air,

and show them we survived
Hurricane Sandy.

Three, two, one!

(crowd cheers)

(gentle uplifting music)

(crowd cheers, applauds)

- Thanks everyone for coming out here.

I know we're anxious to close the deal,

but I think we're done for the day.

- Excuse me?

- I want to look over this
in a little more

detail before we purchase
the real estate.

- You signed a contract.

- Roger, we both that the contract
isn't fully

ex*cuted until the money's transferred.

- You already have the money.

- Hey.

Can I get a beer?

Thank you.

- It's five bucks.

- Keep the change.

I had a bad day today.

I had to fire Charlie.

- Shit.

- I'm starting to regret
having made this deal.

I'm not sure what I'm getting
out of this investment.

Anyway,

I came to say I'm sorry.

You came to me as a friend,
I let you down.

I'm not really used to having friends.

And I was wrong, this place
is comin' along great.

I don't know how you're doing it.

What, are you catering again, or?

- Not this time.

I think part of what went
wrong in New York

is I always wanted more.

I wanted everything to be perfect.

I didn't pick my moment,
and it never happened.

But we have an investor, he gave
us enough to get it open.

This is our moment.

We open in days.

- I wanna help.

- What'd you have in mind?

You know what I do need help with?

I need to paint this place.

If you want to invest
in this, you could try that.

Yeah, that's clean.

You're jerkin' on my brown.

I mean, now I want to get it perfect.

Oh, yeah.

Sarah's texting me,
she's texting me, come on.

(gentle uplifting music)

- [Woman] Hi.

Yeah, it's a seafood
restaurant, come check it out.

- New seafood restaurant
from the Rama family.

Opening this Saturday.

- [Alex] Hi, there, new
restaurant, please stop by.

Hey, sir, new restaurant.

- If I told you right now
you'd never have to work

another day in your life,
you'd jump at the chance, right?

- Yeah, of course.

- God damn, right, 'cause
that's the American dream,

and I gave it to her.

My wife?

She doesn't have to worry
about the bills, you know why?

'Cause of me.

Now my wife thinks"You do what you love,

"you do what you dream".

People gotta make money.

- [Bartender] What's the matter
with that being your dream?

- [Friend] Time to go home, man.

- I could use another drink.

(glass shattering) Ugh.

(sighs)

(crash)

- What's up?

- Sorry my boss wouldn't let me leave.

- I'm so sorry, Dad.

I'm sorry I didn't do
more during the storm.

I let your place get destroyed.

- It wasn't your fault, Sam.

And, I made you feel like it was.

More sand bags?

Wouldn't have stopped all that water.

This isn't your fault, either.

Somebody did this to you.

Do you have idea who?

(sighs)

(knock at door)

- You wrecked my son's restaurant.

- Good morning.

Sorry, I have no idea who you are.

- You know my son, Sam.

His restaurant was vandalized last night.

- Yeah, I'm sorry, I have
no idea how that happened.

- I think you do.

He's dating your wife, who left you,

you're pissed, so you did this.

- You guys are dating?

- Don't change the subject.

- You know what sir,
like I said, I have no idea what

you're talking about so I think
you should leave my house.

- Oh, we're not goin' anywhere
until you make this right.

- Excuse me?

- You heard what I said.

My son busted his ass putting
that place together.

You have no right to come in there
and destroy our property.

So you're gonna apologize,

and you're gonna pay for the damages.

Until then, we are not leaving.

- It's your property, huh?

It's your property, did you pay for it?

- Sam, close the door.

- If you don't get out of my house

right now, I'm gonna call the police.

- Call 'em.

Tell them what you did.

The cops in this town come
from my neighborhood,

not yours, son.

I've been there almost years.

Don't think that I don't
know them and their fathers.

Sam, the door.

Now you think you can get away with this.

We're here to tell you, you cannot.

- Get out of my house.

- No.

- I said get out of my house.

- That's not gonna happen!

- Dad!

Don't you touch my dad again.

What's it gonna be, you
gonna work with us,

you gonna make some sort of arrangement?

Or are we gonna call the cops?

- Call whoever you want,
it won't change shit.

You think she's gonna move in with you,

she can move in with your parents?

You think that's gonna make her happy?

You're living in a dream world, buddy.

She is so out of your league.

'Cause in the real world,
in the real world she chooses me.

You just hope I leave a big enough tip

so you can pay your rent.

- Ah!

- [Alek] Sam!

- [Roger] Ugh!

- [Alek] Sam, Sam.

- Sarah.

- Oh, my god, Sam, what was that?

- He trashed my place, he destroyed it.

- I know!

I came here to...

but what the f*ck Sam?

- I know, I'm sorry, I lost it.

I just, I just, I just lost it,
he said you would never...

- That is my fault what just
happened in there.

I am hurting both of you.

- This isn't good for anybody.

I need you to go.

I need to not talk
to either of you for a while.

- How long?

- I don't know.

- Hey.

- Sam, please, please.

- Disaster happens, you can't stop it.

The damage is done.

So we've got two choices.

So, you tear it down,

or you build it back up.

(cellphone buzzes)

Now I don't know about the next time.

Maybe there will be
a time that we give up,

but I don't think it's today.

I think you all want to open tomorrow.

- Of course we do.

We spent weeks getting this place ready.

We have 'til tomorrow night.

- Then we postpone.

Give it two weeks.

- We just handed out thousands

of fliers announcing tomorrow night.

It's been re-tweeted
like, hundreds of times.

- We do all that again.

- I can't afford to do it again.

I'm out of money at the end of the week.

I definitely don't have
the money to fix all this.

- Then we do it now.

If you're not gonna get more time

then you're gonna need more people.

It's not all about money.

Each of you know people in this business.

Each of you have favors you can call in.

So you just tell them what happened.

You ask for their help.

Put yourselves out there.

And just see what comes back.

(cellphone buzzes)Yeah.

I told you I can't come back in today.

Yeah, I understand.

You do what you've gotta do.

- Who was that?

- My boss.

Well, former boss. I just got fired.

So, I'm in.

You hiring?

(upbeat music)

♪ We are the kids that would never shut up ♪

♪ Live in a house but we sleep in a truck ♪

♪ Living up, livin' in a whoa, oh, oh. ♪

♪ We are the kids that will never get old ♪

- Okay, he really trashed
the kitchen, man.

We're gonna need a plumber,

and I think maybe an electrician.

- A lot to do in hours.

- Alright guys, whatever
you need order it.

If you need more guys
down here let me know.

Let's just get this done,
we've got until tomorrow.

Let's go.

- Who are those people?

- They're my guys.

I pulled them off another job.

I hope that's okay.

Come on, let's get to it.

(cellphone buzzes)

- Man, I was right there.

I came this close to having it perfect.

Because even if we do get this done,

she's not gonna be here.

I don't know why that matters
so much, but, it does.

I think I'm in love with her.

- Let's take a break.

When I was about your age, I was

working in a factory outside Philly.

I'd been married seven years.

Then I met someone.

Her name was Catherine.

And, it was effortless.

Even though she was married, too.

I'd never loved like that before,

or since.

Then out of the blue she broke
it off, and destroyed me.

A few months later there
was an awful storm,

and my wife didn't come home that night.

The next morning they found her

tire tracks were going
off curve in the road,

front of the car
was wrapped around a tree.

Then a few years later I got
a letter from a lawyer.

My wife's aunt had died,
and she was the next of kin,

her or her spouse.

I worked in that factory for years,

then suddenly I didn't have
to work for another .

A couple of days later,
I just found myself

at Catherine's house, I got
in the car and I just,

but when I pulled up, I saw
this little girl playing

in the front yard, and it just
changed it, I just couldn't.

So I focused on the money,
in five years I doubled it.

In three years, I'd double it again.

It's a dangerous thing
when someone gets money

who knows what money is worth.

So, that is howl mask my wealth.

Due mostly to my,

my good fortune.

- I don't know if I'd call it that.

- All I know is when I got
the check, I didn't know if

it was right or wrong, I just
knew sure as shit I wanted it.

And then a few months
ago, I got another letter

from another lawyer,
settling Catherine's estate.

She had told them to send
it after her death.

And her letter,

she said that she always loved me,

and that she thought once
about leaving her husband for me,

but when she found out she was pregnant,
she couldn't do it.

It's been so long being
so hungry to make money.

If I could give up that money,

and have Catherine be
in my life, to have a family,

and live the kind of life
that other guy lived,

I would do it in a heartbeat.

All we ever really have
is what we have in any given moment.

So we decide what we do with it,
and who we share it with.

I want to hold onto what I have now,

who I have, while they're here.

You don't have to know
how you go on without her,

if you go on without her, you just,

you just will.

This is not a bad view.

- [Sam] It's not as nice as yours.

- Sometimes it's nice to see another one.

- Sun's up.

You should go home and get some rest.

- I'll go when I'm done.

This bar looked great before.

I want to get it perfect for you.

- It's not gonna be perfect.

But it will be good
enough to serve people food,

and that will be enough.

Go home, rest.

- You rest.

You gotta cook tonight.

- I do,

'cause I'm a chef, it's what I'm good at.

I'm not good at inspiring people,

making a staff feel like a family,

not like you're good at it.

That's why you have to go home,

come back fresh, ready
to lead a staff all day.

That's why I had this drawn up.

Sign it, and half this place is yours.

It's the way it was always
supposed to be.

- Alek, I couldn't sleep,
I was worried, where were you?

- At Sam's, working.

- You were working all night?

Don't you have Togo to work today?

- Not anymore.

They fired me.

- Where you going?

- Work.

Someone has to.

- I still have these.

- I never asked for them back.

- How are you feeling?

- Awful.

How's your boyfriend?

- He's not my boyfriend.

We're not together.

- It seems like you two are together.

- Not after this.

- You really don't want to be with him?

- I don't want to be with anyone.

I just want to go away, be alone.

Figure things out.

I'm sorry things turned out this way.

I meant it then, when I told you I would

be with you for the rest of my life.

- What about now?

- Now I'm gonna go.

- Sarah?

I'm sorry.

- Good morning.

- What are you grinning for?

- Let's just hope nobody
leans on the walls.

It looks good.

- They were short on the skate wing.

I got what they had, but it's not
enough for the main.

(sigh) - f*ck it, squid ink
risotto, Jersey Shore style.

You can do that, right?

(uplifting rock music)

Just add a little more garlic.

Keep it simmering, just
a few minutes, don't over do it.

- minutes.

- What if no one comes?

- We're gonna have a lot of leftovers.

- I need a drink.

- You need a drink?

- Hey, you guys got any rope?

- Rope?

- Well, poster tape or something.

- What's the hell's he talking about?

- Something to control the line.

(laughs)

(upbeat music)

- Hey, who are all of those
people in the nice clothes?

- Oh, I may have told
everyone in my Rolodex

that this was the place to be tonight.

- Thank you.

So much, for everything.

- Yeah, mwuah!

(laughs)

It is a beautiful thing, seeing
all of you here tonight,

at the opening of my son's restaurant.

(cheers, applause)

When my last place went
under, and I said I was

gonna open another, at this
time in this town,

I was told "You're crazy".

At first I listened to those voices.

I wasn't crazy enough to take the risk,

and it is risky, doing this.

But if you know my son,
this business is who he is.

And a man who pretends to be anything

other than what he is becomes his shadow.

So many of you helped put
this place together.

Tonight only happened
because you let yourselves

believe in the crazy
that was somebody else's.

And when you find those people,

that person, who sees
our crazy and still shows up,

then you agree to be who you are.

And that's the only way to be.

(cheers, applause)

(jazz music, laughter)

(cellphone buzzing)

- [Sarah Voice Recorder] Please leave

a message and I'll call you back.

- Hey. It's me.

I know you said not
to call, but I had to.

Hear that?

Like the sound of hundred people inside.

I tried to do this once
before in New York, and I couldn't.

I think maybe

it only worked out this
time because I had you.

It feels like you should
be here, you know?

I should feel happy but I can't
be 'cause you're not here.

Feels wrong if you're not here.

Anyway, I know that you need
some time to think, but

if you wanted to come
by, just for tonight to

see this, I'd love that.

And if not, know I'm here,

whenever you're done
thinking, I'll be here.

No bullshit.

(gentle music)

- [Male News Anchor]This
could well become

another super storm, Hurricane Ingrid.

- [Female News Anchor] Head
north toward the East Coast,

head west to New Mexico,
dissipate at sea.

What we do know is right now...

- [Male News Anchor]Hurricane,
if it's path

runs up the eastern seaboard,
it could make land

fall at the Jersey Shore
in four to five days.

- Hey.

- Hey, Mister Blake.

- Alek, great to see you.

Uh, saw the sandbags,
you getting nervous?

- We're gonna be as ready as we can be.

You goin' up tonight?

- Yeah.

Is Sam here?

- He's in the back.

- You didn't tell him
to take the night off?

- I tried, he's a partner now,

I can't tell him shit anymore.

- So, you decide?

- Not yet, apparently.

- You'd be proud of her.

She's worked really hard
to open up this shop.

- Yeah, she sent me this.

- Place is great.

Shop only opens once.

Come see it.

- I don't know if she wants me to.

We haven't talked much;
a few emails and texts, so.

Look, the place is slammed,

I've got a possible storm
coming in four days.

She said she'd let me know
when she wanted to talk.

Just tryin' to do what she asked.

- You still think you're
in love with her?

- I know I am.

- You once told me that making
good things happen

was about knowing
your moment, and taking it.

That was good advice.

I'm gonna go grab a bite at the bar

and hit the road in about minutes.

- Yeah.

(muffled chatter)(light music)

- Excuse me.

You made it.

- Of course.

Oh, I had to come check on my investment.

- Everything's going so well.

It's a good crowd, I think
it's gonna be a good opening.

- I'm so proud of you.

I'm gonna go get a drink.

- I didn't know if you were gonna come.

- I didn't know if you wanted me to come.

- Well, I know you have the place to run

and the storm is coming.

- None of that matters.

'Cause,

I love you.

There's always gonna be a storm,

there's always gonna be
things to deal with.

And that you've got this
place now, it's amazing.

I'm not asking you to give any of it up.

I'm two hours away we can figure it out.

But I'd like to figure
it out with you, 'cause

I wanna be with you.

There is nowhere else I would rather
be tonight than here.

- I'm done.

I'm done thinking.

(romantic dramatic music)

("A Day Without A Storm"
by Andrew Deadman)

♪♪

♪♪