Thumbsucker (2005)

1. You're good at stuff like this.

2. I have to find something... distinctive about myself.

3. You're beautiful, Audrey.

4. Seriously.

5. He's a cheeseball.

6. I don't think so.

7. Besides, that's just the-the role he plays.

8. Maybe we could work on this together?

9. Later?

10. Hey.

11. The ocean contains 97 percent of the Earth's water

12. and generates over 70 percent of the Earth's oxygen,

13. and replenishes our fresh water through the clouds.

14. If our oceans are failing, then so will we.

15. Well done.

16. Justin, rebuttal.

17. Justin?

18. Actually, I, uh, I agree with Rebecca.

19. I saw this show on Animal Planet

20. about how they were giving depressed male baboons Prozac.

21. Justin.

22. This isn't Agree Club.

23. It's Debate... Club.

24. If you had done your research...

25. you'd have the confidence to have an opinion.

26. And if you have an opinion that's based on facts

27. gathered from your research...

28. then you are confident to speak.

29. And speaking confidently does what, class?

30. Speaking confidently...

31. That's right, wins minds.

32. Justin...

33. if you wanna admire Rebecca...

34. you can do that during recess.

35. If you wanna compete here,

36. you're gonna have to apply yourself.

37. You can have a seat, Rebecca.

38. Sasha, Lewis. Well done, have a seat.

39. I like the Animal Planet, though, Justin.

40. Great channel.

41. Perry is ready for you, Justin.

42. Come on back.

43. Open.

44. Close.

45. Justin, do they teach you about the subconscious at school?

46. A little.

47. Ever heard of... subconscious pressure?

48. Involuntary behaviors?

49. Like a serial killer.

50. Perhaps.

51. Justin...

52. all of us carry a certain weight,

53. a weight we don't recognize.

54. Some of us have... heavy loads.

55. In our minds.

56. Yeah. A force from inside.

57. We don't know its name, but it...

58. makes us do things.

59. Things we don't...

60. like to admit.

61. Your dad still in the 6K?

62. Yeah.

63. He's very attached to the idea of winning.

64. He was gonna be a pro football player.

65. He didn't get picked up?

66. He injured his knee.

67. I don't think he likes me always beating him.

68. Ah, it's just for fun.

69. The Oregon State application came in.

70. So?

71. So...

72. there's nothing wrong with staying close to home.

73. What about New York?

74. You don't have those grades.

75. You just haven't applied yourself

76. in a way that... admissions people recognize.

77. You apply to some fancy, far-off school,

78. you might be disappointed.

79. Whatever.

80. Plate, honey. Okay.

81. the Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Natalie?

82. Charles, this bombing comes one day after the Palestinians

83. paved the way for a new U.S.-backed peace plan

84. by appointing that new cabinet.

85. How much of a setback could this be?

86. What is that? You're doin' it.

87. Mike!

88. What?

89. What?

90. What?

91. It's pathetic.

92. Come on. Go easy on this, Audrey.

93. Hey, hey, hey. Listen.

94. Give yourself a break.

95. Oh, come on. Stop with the feel-good shit.

96. Hold on a second now.

97. What about T.J.?

98. Well... you know I love him.

99. It's just... his drugs. He can't beat 'em.

100. But he needs you, especially now.

101. After all these years, you gotta know

102. under all those problems, he's good people.

103. What about you?

104. I don't need love.

105. I'm looking for something else.

106. Why didn't we bring Joel?

107. Isn't this nice, just the two of us?

108. Hey, Justin, come here.

109. What do you think?

110. When are you gonna wear that?

111. I have to take my picture for the Health Valley contest.

112. It's the Matt Schramm thing.

113. God, Audrey.

114. Ha, ha, ha, ha.

115. You're very good at thinking things are stupid.

116. I just wanna see if I can win.

117. Do I look stupid in this?

118. You're my mother. You're married to my father.

119. Who I love. It's just a bit of fun.

120. Not for me.

121. Well, tragically, darling,

122. you lost your sense of humor at the age of 17.

123. How... did you, um... fall in love?

124. God, I don't know, Justin.

125. When he hurt his knee, though, right?

126. Well...

127. he was sort of an asshole before he did.

128. But I was a brat, too.

129. I-I let everybody believe I was so upset

130. 'cause he wasn't gonna play anymore.

131. But I kinda think that's when I fell for him.

132. It's nice to be needed.

133. I don't know. It's complicated.

134. Can you help me?

135. There's a little button on this one.

136. Okay.

137. What about that?

138. You think someone like Matt would like something like that?

139. Matt Schramm is not gonna look at the pictures.

140. Justin, it's just a little fun.

141. It's just a little silly, ridiculous fun.

142. You never even had a girlfriend.

143. So what?

144. You don't even hang out with girls.

145. You just, like, hang out with your nerdy friends.

146. No, I— I do hang out with girls.

147. Really? Yes.

148. How come you never bring any over here?

149. Or I never, like, see you walking with any or anything?

150. I see you walking by yourself.

151. Why do you care, Joel?

152. I don't know. 'Cause I'm bored.

153. Creeps. Can't take anything seriously.

154. Yeah, I know.

155. All the guys in your grade have probably fucked girls.

156. You haven't even kissed one.

157. Leave.

158. No.

159. You like that book?

160. Oh, yeah. It's got, um...

161. it's got great stuff on Greenpeace.

162. Yeah, it's a good introduction.

163. Those Greenpeace guys are really brave.

164. I wish I could do something like that.

165. What? Be brave?

166. Yeah.

167. Maybe you already are.

168. Are you gonna fuck me now?

169. When are you gonna clean all your old stuff

170. from the garage like you said?

171. Oh.

172. I— Sorry.

173. What's wrong?

174. Nothing.

175. Justin...

176. This is stupid.

177. Why MFC?

178. Michael... Forrest... Cobb.

179. Why your name?

180. I don't think you're in a position

181. to be asking questions right now.

182. You should stop.

183. I want to.

184. I'm trying.

185. Well, I'm—

186. Don't you think I want to?

187. Things are gonna be different.

188. Why can't you trust me?

189. Um, the Sierra Club made them turn this back into a refuge

190. 'cause it was going to be used for a development.

191. How do you know so much about the environment?

192. My parents were activists.

193. See, humans think that we're the center of the universe,

194. but we're not.

195. I guess we're trained to think that way.

196. Yeah. It causes a lot of problems.

197. Yeah.

198. It's hot today.

199. Yeah.

200. I think I'm gonna take my shirt off.

201. Yeah?

202. Go ahead.

203. You should, too.

204. What are you trying, Justin?

205. No, really. I mean, We're so uptight in our clothes.

206. It's just like wearing a bathing suit

207. at the beach.

208. No.

209. My stomach will get sunburned, and my mom will get mad.

210. Your mom looks at you naked?

211. Well, yeah. I mean, don't your parents?

212. Audrey? Mike? No.

213. Why do you call your parents by their first name?

214. Mike says when I call him "Dad," he feels old.

215. And I sound like a child or something.

216. And when I call Audrey "Mom," she seems old to him.

217. Oh.

218. So are you gonna take your shirt off?

219. You?

220. Yeah.

221. What's MFC?

222. Justin?

223. Justin.

224. Nothing.

225. It's nothing?

226. Well, then why don't you just tell me?

227. Justin—

228. Motherfucking cocksucker.

229. Why are you acting like this?

230. What's the point of us spending time together

231. if it can't lead to openness?

232. I'm sorry.

233. Maybe you should go.

234. I'm sorry.

235. Um...

236. should I call you?

237. When you're ready to be open.

238. You don't think it's okay for me to be worried about this?

239. We spent a fortune on the braces

240. to try and fix what he did.

241. He's 17.

242. Yeah, but he's sucking his thumb.

243. Let's see you fix it.

244. No, I just—

245. You seem to have all the answers.

246. I think that we need to get this thing under control.

247. Yeah, that's all.

248. It's time we were honest with each other.

249. Yeah?

250. I don't wanna fix your teeth all over again.

251. It's time to confront the underlying issue.

252. What do you mean?

253. I know what your problem is.

254. It's an understandable habit.

255. In fact, what's strange is that people ever quit.

256. It's nature's substitute for your mother's breast.

257. How were you fed as a baby?

258. From a bottle?

259. I can't remember.

260. Any... tension at home?

261. Anxiety?

262. Any bad memories?

263. Justin!

264. No conscious ones.

265. We never remember the big things, anyway.

266. Some dumb babysitter holds your mouth shut

267. so she can watch her soap operas in peace.

268. At 40, you wonder why you can't stay married.

269. There's only so much I can do with traditional orthodontics.

270. Justin.

271. Justin.

272. Are you ready...

273. to let go of your thumb?

274. Why are you talking like that?

275. Answer my question.

276. What are you gonna do?

277. I wanna try hypnosis.

278. No way.

279. Yeah. Really, I've seen it do wonders.

280. Just try and relax.

281. The more relaxed you are, the deeper we can go.

282. Focus on the moon in the painting.

283. Sense of peace...

284. like a white light...

285. fills your body.

286. Imagine the white light

287. filling your feet...

288. and your legs.

289. Then your torso.

290. Then your head.

291. Imagine you're on a path.

292. You're deep in the forest.

293. A shaft of light illuminates a wild animal.

294. This is your power animal.

295. See it.

296. Study it.

297. When you feel like sucking your thumb...

298. I want you to call on your power animal.

299. Call it now.

300. Come here.

301. Do it in your mind.

302. Whenever you feel...

303. afraid... alone,

304. call on your power animal.

305. You're not alone.

306. You're not afraid.

307. You don't need your thumb, and your thumb doesn't need you.

308. Justin... from now on,

309. your thumb will taste like echinacea.

310. What's your power animal?

311. That's personal.

312. The mark of a secure nation

313. is not that conflicts are resolved quickly,

314. but that conflicts do not arise.

315. Very nice, Ashley. Thank you.

316. Uh... next is Justin, with an introductory statement.

317. North American Free Trade Agreement.

318. All right, look over your notes. I'll be right back.

319. Mr. Cobb.

320. I have to go.

321. No. You have a speech to give.

322. I can't stay! What's going on?

323. Don't touch me!

324. The Sierra Club website said clear-cutting was up 15 percent.

325. Justin...

326. I think we should, um, write a letter together.

327. What happened in Mr. Geary's class?

328. I was just, um...

329. I had to go.

330. Do you wanna write the letter?

331. Why don't you just write one?

332. Why, all of a sudden, are you so interested in this, anyways?

333. Because it's important.

334. Because... people should know this stuff.

335. Right? Yeah.

336. So you're into getting the truth out.

337. Being honest and open.

338. Yeah.

339. So why can't you tell me what MFC means?

340. Why can't you tell me what happened in class?

341. 'Cause that's nothing.

342. Nothing, right.

343. Goodbye, Justin.

344. Perry.

345. It worked.

346. That's wonderful.

347. No, I-I didn't think it would be like this.

348. Can you put it back or something?

349. Your subconscious has taken its course.

350. Please, I really feel crazy.

351. Stick with it, Justin.

352. Call on your power animal for help.

353. Sorry.

354. What's going on, Justin?

355. I don't know.

356. It's okay. You're okay.

357. I'll get this.

358. This is gonna be stupid. I thought you liked that guy.

359. He just pretended to be my friend, Joel.

360. If you're scared, you can go home.

361. All right.

362. Joel!

363. I'm sorry, okay? Perry fucked me up.

364. How?

365. He said he'd help me.

366. And then he just... fucked me up, okay?

367. Joel... just ... this once!

368. Please.

369. Goddamn it.

370. Mr. and Mrs. Cobb,

371. Justin has always shown a lot of promise.

372. But I feel that something comes between him and his potential.

373. And with college just ahead,

374. Justin needs to maximize right now.

375. Yeah.

376. Well?

377. Well, um, I feel that... in light of recent behavior,

378. that Justin needs an adjustment.

379. Justin...

380. have you ever suspected that you were different

381. from other teenagers?

382. Not as, uh, patient.

383. Um, can't finish what you started.

384. Terrified of being left alone, but angry when you feel crowded.

385. A little.

386. It's classic hyperactive teen.

387. Um, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD.

388. We'd like you to think about a stimulant drug treatment

389. for Justin.

390. You mean like Ritalin?

391. That's one of the many drugs that a doctor could prescribe.

392. There's Adderall, Clonidine, Tenex.

393. If this is all just coming down to medication—

394. Look, I think that my son can handle this

395. if he puts his mind to it.

396. Mr. Geary, don't you feel that Justin coulddo much better?

397. Justin has exhibited... some of the behavior that...

398. fits this particular profile.

399. Excuse me, these symptoms they have here—

400. they're pretty vague. Um...

401. "Ignores information.

402. "Makes mistakes.

403. "Seems restless.

404. "Avoids, dislikes or is reluctant to engage in work

405. that requires sustained mental effort."

406. What do you think, Justin?

407. So my problems are just because I'm hyper?

408. It says I'll have more confidence and self-control.

409. I'll have better relationships.

410. Is that how you feel?

411. Out of control?

412. It just all sounds too easy to me. Take a pill, change.

413. What if Mrs. Wood is right?

414. What if the trouble is, all along I just—

415. I can't concentrate? I can't focus on anything?

416. It just still seems too easy.

417. Haven't you ever wanted to change?

418. Yes, I have, but it's not that simple.

419. Maybe it is.

420. Amazing.

421. Joel.

422. What happened?

423. I changed.

424. What do you mean, you've changed?

425. I mean, it works.

426. It really works.

427. Your pills?

428. Yeah.

429. I never thought that I would feel so clear.

430. Who'd like to talk on whiteness?

431. Whiteness stands for eternity.

432. Of...

433. the blankness of uninterrupted time.

434. It represents both innocence and extinction.

435. The beginning and the end.

436. How are you doing with the, uh, medication?

437. I read Moby Dick straight through.

438. That's great. But how do you feel?

439. I feel... like me.

440. I never really did before.

441. Have you had any other breakthroughs beside the book?

442. It used to be kind of a hassle

443. to put on underwear in the morning,

444. but now it's kinda easy.

445. Yeah.

446. I actually listened to the words

447. to the Pledge of Allegiance today,

448. and it— that gave me chills.

449. I've always felt that you have

450. a real sensitivity when it comes to language.

451. And I know that you're smart.

452. I think that you see a lot more

453. than you take responsibility for.

454. That kind of perception that you have,

455. that can't be taught by anyone.

456. Rebecca left the debate team.

457. Did she say anything to you about why or...

458. No.

459. Well, I need somebody to step up and take her place.

460. I'd like for you to compete with us.

461. You think I could do it?

462. Yes, I do.

463. What happened to Mike?

464. He tried his best. He couldn't make it.

465. The door's right up there.

466. I'm just gonna go to the bathroom. Okay.

467. Nervous?

468. Something. It's completely understandable.

469. This isn't a classroom situation.

470. And that's a whole other new thing for you to process.

471. I wish I was bald.

472. Bitch.

473. Your hair seems fine.

474. Okay, now you're making it worse.

475. I'm sorry. Did you see the girls out there?

476. Yeah, I saw Rene in the hall.

477. Okay, go round 'em up. Bring 'em in here.

478. It's a men's room.

479. That's okay. I'm a teacher, I'm a teacher.

480. There's nothing you can do.

481. It's understandable to have some butterflies.

482. So, what I wanna do is go back to the basics.

483. Let's remember our posturing.

484. Breathing.

485. Rene, I really want you to use your eye contact today.

486. Let me emphasize your eyes. I got some mascara.

487. Lose the windows.

488. Let's do some impromptus— maintenance.

489. It is important in any system to ensure that all pieces,

490. particularly the most important pieces,

491. are working properly and properly maintained.

492. Stop on a dime.

493. Rebuttal. The Bill of Rights

494. was intentionally made by our forefathers

495. and to be useful for themselves and for posterity,

496. as it says in the Declaration of—

497. You're a killer. You're a stone-faced killer.

498. What's not debatable?

499. Our debating. Line 'em up.

500. And knock 'em down!

501. You guys are gonna do great.

502. Okay, today's topic for spar is the media,

503. with an emphasis on TV violence.

504. Elise Burns.

505. It's just sick.

506. TV violence kills morality, particularly among teens.

507. The studies prove it.

508. Day after day, kids watch shows with gunfights.

509. And the next thing you know, someone's dead.

510. Television is a Trojan horse in our homes.

511. It claims to give us education and entertainment,

512. but it really just takes the imaginations

513. of today's youth hostage in the process.

514. Yeah, I agree. Media conglomerates...

515. say they want to change, but it's all double talk.

516. I mean, accountability needs to be enforced.

517. I concur, but let's go further.

518. TV contributes to the decay of the American family.

519. And once the family goes...

520. down goes our institutions and up goes our drug abuse.

521. Ditto gambling and pornography.

522. You have no evidence to support that claim.

523. Images aren't reality.

524. Violence in art goes back to... Egypt.

525. What's important is teaching people to be skeptical.

526. To draw a line.

527. To distinguish between images and life.

528. Lisa, what's your opinion?

529. Well, you're right. TV's not real.

530. Hold on. Reality is not the point here.

531. Social decline is.

532. Kate, reaction?

533. Oh, no, go ahead.

534. Mark, I understand the spirit of your refutation.

535. But society and its conception of reality are inextricable.

536. Well? Did we live or die?

537. You were right. I was good.

538. That's great, Justin. That's good to hear.

539. You were...

540. Yeah, you look...

541. I've never seen you look that way before.

542. Yep.

543. You grew up.

544. Passive acceptance of the impact of genetic engineering

545. is itself an act of aggression.

546. But that's the problem.

547. Passive acceptance of the impact

548. of genetic engineering is itself an act of aggression.

549. You know, you should see him.

550. He wears this tie.

551. It's important to be supportive.

552. And seen.

553. Can't believe it was almost... easier

554. when he was always fucking up.

555. Yeah.

556. It's like he thinks he's smarter than me.

557. Well...

558. maybe that's the way it goes.

559. My worthy opponent...

560. My worthy opponent...

561. isn't isolationism a bankrupt policy?

562. isn't isolationism a bankrupt policy?

563. Nations no longer exist independently of one another.

564. And the name of this cell part. Mitochondria.

565. The very existence of weapons of mass destruction

566. is in contradiction to our idea of diplomacy.

567. Thank you for seeing me.

568. Well, I have a background in med surg,

569. but, uh, I've floated in orthopedics.

570. I've always had a great interest in psych and rehab nursing.

571. I think my RN skills would be useful here.

572. And I've taken continuing ed in psych and rehab.

573. It's a thing that's always interested me.

574. Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.

575. You're angry, and that's human, but it's not a solution.

576. We have to overcome the idea that everyone is the same.

577. Andy Smalley said

578. your old girlfriend's a stoner now.

579. Rebecca?

580. She hates stoners.

581. whatever you wanna do.

582. Hi.

583. Hello. The last name is Geary.

584. Okay. G as in Gerald, E-A-R-Y.

585. Ah, here it is. Two rooms. Great.

586. One for the boys and one for the girls.

587. Don't you think we should do this by age?

588. Oh, it's against school policy, Justin.

589. You can't have males with females.

590. Thank you. I'll say I sneaked in.

591. I'll take the blame. What's this about?

592. I just want to be with people my own age, that's all.

593. We can prepare better.

594. My God.

595. Ooh, I call my own bed.

596. Who's sleeping on the couch?

597. You. You.

598. Boys get the couch. Amen, sister.

599. Now our shocking Access Hollywood exclusive:

600. TV star Matt Schramm checked into drug rehab today.

601. Access Hollywood has learned Schramm was suffering from

602. a $1,000-a-day cocaine habit.

603. On Friday, producers of Schramm's hit show The Line

604. staged an intervention

605. with some of Matt's closest family and friends

606. Schramm was reportedly receptive to their pleas...

607. Anybody want any peach schnapps?

608. I only drink beer.

609. Yeah, me too.

610. Come on.

611. Maybe we can order room service.

612. We're minors.

613. Justin, why don't you ask Geary to get it?

614. Yeah, Justin. He'll get it if you ask.

615. Are you trying

616. to put me in a position to buy alcohol for minors?

617. People do it all the time.

618. Yes, I can...

619. understand that you guys wanna unwind a little.

620. You've worked hard,

621. and you'd like to enjoy yourselves, but, uh,

622. I am a teacher.

623. We think of you more as a peer.

624. A friend.

625. That's the line you're gonna use?

626. I hope your head's better tomorrow.

627. Don't keep me on the phone.

628. You're gonna talk yourself out of a six-pack.

629. I thought about it. I don't think it's a good idea.

630. You guys should be doing your impromptus

631. and getting ready for the meet.

632. What?

633. Here's your six-pack.

634. That's really messed up.

635. One of these will go a long way

636. with the pills you're on, so go slow.

637. I understand. Have fun and stay here.

638. All right. Thank you.

639. Line 'em up and knock 'em down!

640. Make room. Okay.

641. It's all wet now. Take it off.

642. Where did this go?

643. Ow!

644. Ping. Ow.

645. Oh, my.

646. Wait, I think that's—

647. Ah!

648. Oh, guys! Don't— Guys!

649. Are you okay?

650. Oh, shit!

651. Waah. Shit.

652. Why am I getting a call from the front desk?

653. We were just having a normal time.

654. Do you think I'm stupid?

655. You're not stupid.

656. You just feel left out, and I can understand that.

657. You see us having fun, and you feel all alone,

658. but that doesn't mean that we were doing anything wrong.

659. Look, Kevin, your pro-disarmament views

660. do not reflect the current international climate.

661. They just reflect your need for everything to be nice,

662. to be friendly.

663. But humans are inherently hostile.

664. But you're missing my point.

665. I don't think you know what your point really is.

666. Now, if we're to take disarmament seriously,

667. I propose that we look at the real weapons—

668. our minds.

669. How do you feel?

670. Tired.

671. But good.

672. Why do you feel good?

673. 'Cause I'm winning.

674. What about learning?

675. I'm learning how to win.

676. You're so hungry, Justin.

677. I never really took that into account.

678. Here he goes, Mr. Lightning Dealer.

679. Hey. Hey.

680. Yeah.

681. Another Cobb success story on our hands.

682. Let me see that thing. Wow.

683. First. Something, huh?

684. That is something. Wow.

685. How would you know? You don't even show up.

686. I-I work.

687. Actually, I have some news.

688. I'm being transferred to the Maple Glen facility.

689. The celebrity rehab place. Yeah.

690. I went today for the introduction session.

691. This was in the works?

692. Yeah.

693. It's actually a pretty big promotion.

694. So did you see any celebrities?

695. It's not just for celebrities. Right.

696. Well, you seem happy.

697. Yeah.

698. Yeah? That's great.

699. So who'd you see? Matthew Perry?

700. Whitney Houston? Robert Downey, Jr.?

701. You know, I signed an agreement. I'm not supposed to leak names.

702. But you can tell us, right? We're your family.

703. Well, I can't. I'm sorry.

704. Come on.

705. They are my patients, they're people with problems.

706. I'm there to help 'em.

707. So now these celebrities are more important than your family.

708. Justin.

709. I think working at Maple Glen is a bad idea.

710. Well, I don't think I asked you.

711. I just won the regionals. I come home to celebrate...

712. and you can't even tell me what celebrities you work with?

713. Hey. Easy.

714. I'm done.

715. I'm off, too. Where are you going?

716. I'm just afraid places like that

717. pamper to those big-star egos.

718. I mean, statistics show

719. most addicts don't recover, anyway.

720. What statistics?

721. I read it.

722. Well, we're not having a debate.

723. This is my life.

724. You found something to make you happy.

725. Let me be happy.

726. Whatever happened to that Health Valley contest?

727. God, Justin. Nothing.

728. Why...

729. You must've heard by now.

730. You know, it's none of your business—

731. It was just a distraction, it was something to do.

732. My grades...

733. are below your standards.

734. But I see this as...

735. as a strength,

736. not a weakness.

737. I've had to overcome—

738. Overcome—

739. Overcome unusual obstacles.

740. Both my parents...

741. Both my parents...

742. suffer from... mental illness.

743. It's made my life difficult.

744. Mental illness.

745. This has made my life difficult.

746. But also given me a valuable perspective.

747. I would like to apply this sensitivity

748. to a career in TV journalism.

749. I want to show the world what's really happening,

750. the way I've had to with my family.

751. I just can't deal with him right now.

752. You two are arguing.

753. Oh, he can be such a little shit sometimes.

754. Easy.

755. He doesn't need anybody to go.

756. No, isn't it the state finals or something?

757. He'll be fine.

758. Oh, I'll go.

759. No, you don't have to do that.

760. No, I want to see him.

761. Really?

762. God. Yeah, I'll go.

763. That's $3.20, please.

764. Good luck.

765. Perry.

766. Uh, you look different.

767. Nice tie.

768. Debate team.

769. I've been meaning to call you. I owe you an apology.

770. I've been meaning to call you, too.

771. I wanted to thank you.

772. Really.

773. I was lost in a cloud of hippie psychobabble.

774. You helped bring me back down to Earth.

775. I've rewritten my whole philosophy of life.

776. Found new answers to my questions.

777. Yeah, me too.

778. There's no try there's only do.

779. That's something that I've learned.

780. What do you think?

781. How's your dad?

782. Oh— Fine. Same.

783. Your mom?

784. She's, uh, got a new job working with drug addicts.

785. Oh. And what about your thumb?

786. Have you been sucking it?

787. Actually, I was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.

788. It's a real problem. Now I'm on medication.

789. I was just concerned.

790. Well, I'm better.

791. I'm-I'm leading the team at the state debates tomorrow.

792. Medication, huh?

793. Yeah, I feel great.

794. Euphoric even?

795. Aren't you just my orthodontist?

796. I like to think of myself as... more than that.

797. Take care, Justin.

798. What are you doing? No wonder.

799. You know this stuff's just speed, right?

800. It calms me down. That's what they say.

801. But it only speeds you up so much, you focus.

802. Three molecules different than cocaine.

803. A doctor gave it me. I saw the special on PBS.

804. Teachers are overmedicating today's kids. Just makes it—

805. TV is a great source for information, isn't it?

806. Huh. Whatever, speed freak.

807. I think you're confusing tone and content.

808. I mean, tone has tone, but-but content is silent.

809. Silent?

810. It's not quite silent,

811. it's just that the tone is muted.

812. A tone that you shouldn't hear in the content.

813. You're missing the point. Look, if silence is neutral...

814. then the tone... will be quieter.

815. And the content would be neutral but heard.

816. What are you saying?

817. Hey. Finally got to see you.

818. Don't patronize me.

819. Come on, I'm just trying to say something, you know?

820. I think I'm gonna quit the debate team.

821. But you were doing so well. Too much pressure.

822. But that's no reason to quit. Mike.

823. What?

824. You're not helping.

825. Well, you should...

826. What am I supposed to say?

827. I don't know. Oh.

828. Right, come on. Let's go home. Come on.

829. Come on.

830. Justin, it's...

831. in my professional opinion that you've become a monster.

832. What?

833. You used to love me.

834. Don't get grandiose with this.

835. Well, what was that all about my gift?

836. And you told me—

837. You-You built it up.

838. You told me I had a talent.

839. Yeah, you do. You have a real intensity.

840. You have a great understanding of group dynamics.

841. But there's also a lot of things you need to work on, Justin.

842. Like glibness.

843. Arrogance.

844. Self-control.

845. Shall I go on?

846. At least I still have a dream.

847. That's great.

848. Is that how you see me?

849. That's what we've come to, Justin.

850. I already decided I'm quitting the debate team.

851. That's my fault.

852. Thank you very much.

853. Good luck to you.

854. You look terrible.

855. You okay?

856. I'm not sick.

857. Let me see.

858. I stopped taking my pills.

859. They're just speed.

860. They're just three molecules different than cocaine.

861. You know, it's not good for you to quit cold turkey.

862. But I can.

863. What?

864. I need to talk to you.

865. Come in.

866. What's up?

867. How did you feel when you had to quit football?

868. Uh... horrible.

869. How did you deal with it? You have to tough it out.

870. You know, tough it out.

871. Mike. What?

872. I just thought maybe you could help me for once.

873. Hey, I help.

874. Then how did you do it?

875. Why can't you ever

876. tell me anything about how you deal with things?

877. Hey, Justin.

878. Hey. How's it going?

879. So I hear you're the big debate star now.

880. Not anymore.

881. You look the same.

882. You don't.

883. Not really.

884. I need to talk to you.

885. Look, Justin, I'm sorry...

886. I just don't want to— No, not that.

887. Did you ever feel like...

888. like you really wanted to...

889. I don't know, change?

890. Maybe.

891. Why are you telling this to me?

892. Do you have any pot? I heard you were doing it.

893. Gossip.

894. It's true, though, right?

895. What, you want me to get you high?

896. Yeah. Maybe.

897. Really?

898. Hey. Hi.

899. I finally found this.

900. I didn't know which house it was.

901. Are you stoned right now?

902. You don't make a big deal out of it.

903. You still want some, right?

904. Yeah.

905. You're not still all weird, are you?

906. I wasn't weird.

907. Really?

908. S-s-s-suck.

909. Suck.

910. It gets easier.

911. Did you just give that to him for free?

912. I would've made him pay.

913. Do you want some?

914. Yeah.

915. Tell me the boys who have ass-ne.

916. Have what?

917. Ass-ne.

918. Ass...

919. acne.

920. I'm sure that you've seen them in your P.E. class.

921. Billy Rydell.

922. Um...

923. Mike Green.

924. Ryan Stevenson.

925. Brent Bregman.

926. Ah, Brent.

927. "I will not compare my insides to other's outsides."

928. What's that?

929. Nothing.

930. No, it's something. What is it?

931. It's nothing. Don't hassle me.

932. You better get moving. Audrey's working nights now.

933. She's sleeping. She doesn't even care.

934. I never know what the two of you are thinking.

935. What's your problem?

936. Nothing.

937. Right.

938. I think my mom is having an affair.

939. Are you sure?

940. Pretty sure.

941. Come on.

942. You could see it coming.

943. Anybody could see it coming.

944. Don't be so serious.

945. Here.

946. What?

947. We're gonna play a game.

948. What kind of a game?

949. You'll see.

950. Well, actually, you won't.

951. Are you ready?

952. No, no, no, no. Just touch, don't look, okay?

953. Why?

954. Because those are the rules, all right?

955. How was work?

956. How was work?

957. It was really good, actually.

958. It was really good.

959. Doesn't it get depressing,

960. seeing all those people who have everything

961. just throw it all away?

962. No.

963. It's humbling.

964. Last night, this guy said to me,

965. "I was born addicted to fantasy."

966. Doing great, ma'am. I need you to push.

967. We gotta ditch this wetback and get to higher ground.

968. Hey, there are no wetbacks out here. Just people.

969. At least fire back.

970. You know I don't use my gun.

971. No. You can do it!

972. Let me tell you something!

973. Do you think Justin's had sex?

974. That's just the image I want in my head right now.

975. Well, 'cause we weren't much older when we got married.

976. How old do you feel?

977. Oh...

978. You have to tell me. What's her pussy feel like?

979. That's gross, Joel.

980. You're such a prude.

981. I care about her.

982. I heard it's the softest thing ever.

983. Whoa!

984. I French-kissed a girl once.

985. Oh, yeah? What'd you do?

986. That's not French-kissing a girl.

987. Yeah, then what is it?

988. A guy and a girl take their tongues,

989. and they put them inside each other's mouths,

990. and they move 'em around just like this.

991. Oh.

992. This thing bugs me.

993. Justin.

994. No, seriously. Why can't I see you?

995. 'Cause I told you those are the rules.

996. But why do you get to make up all the rules?

997. Why don't you tell other people

998. that we're in a relationship?

999. We're not in a relationship, Justin.

1000. Why not?

1001. Rebecca...

1002. I love you.

1003. God, you always have to make everything so serious.

1004. This was just a teenage experiment. That's all.

1005. Experiment?

1006. I needed to educate myself...

1007. Justin.

1008. So, um...

1009. I decided... to pick someone like you.

1010. Like me?

1011. Someone I'd never get hurt by.

1012. That's just so... fucked up.

1013. Yeah, I'm sorry.

1014. I'm really, really sorry.

1015. Maybe you should just go.

1016. Go, Justin.

1017. Hey.

1018. There you are.

1019. You're supposed to help me clean the garage. Come on.

1020. Come here. You missed dinner.

1021. Why you acting so strange?

1022. She just pretends to like us.

1023. What are you talking about?

1024. She just wants to have fun. You want to be so serious.

1025. Oh, I make everything so serious?

1026. She's not happy.

1027. You know, fuck...

1028. I know.

1029. Then why don't you do something?

1030. What can I do?

1031. The whole fucking world expected me to go pro.

1032. She doesn't care about that.

1033. Well, she'd never admit it, but how could she...

1034. not have been disappointed? Everybody was.

1035. You hurt your knee.

1036. Yeah, right.

1037. But what if it wasn't that bad, huh?

1038. What if I could have kept on playing?

1039. What if your mother was more important?

1040. Huh?

1041. Pizza in the kitchen. Go have your dinner.

1042. You know why she got that job, right?

1043. What are you doing?

1044. I found a picture.

1045. Picture of that guy. Did you know about this?

1046. I'm sorry.

1047. You-You'd think she'd have better taste

1048. than this Matt Schraam guy. Jesus.

1049. Dresses well.

1050. Well, you know...

1051. it's all out there in... in...

1052. pictureland.

1053. You know, I can't reach that.

1054. I can't.

1055. The only way somebody like me could ever get her attention...

1056. is by being her kid.

1057. Psst!

1058. Stay away from the window, man.

1059. You'll get us busted for curfew.

1060. Psst.

1061. Can't even smoke a piece around here, huh?

1062. Hey, a guy can only kick one thing at a time, right?

1063. Come on.

1064. So what, are you in juvie?

1065. Yeah.

1066. What's your poison?

1067. Uh, dope.

1068. What flavor?

1069. I don't know. Everything, I guess.

1070. Mm. Welcome to the fucking club.

1071. Never met a drug I didn't like.

1072. Yeah, she's a tough one.

1073. In fact, I consider her my guardian angel.

1074. Are you friends?

1075. Mm.

1076. It's deeper than that.

1077. Month or so ago, I fly in here.

1078. I work in TV. My... studio commits me.

1079. Have you ever seen my show The Line?

1080. You know, "Sometimes you gotta cross it."

1081. I don't know.

1082. Anyway.

1083. So naturally, I smuggle in a stash, right?

1084. Tucked up my ass.

1085. But it's too high up.

1086. I can't get to it, so... I take a spoon.

1087. Something goes wrong.

1088. There's all this blood. Jesus Christ!

1089. And there's Cobb there.

1090. She runs into my room.

1091. Okay.

1092. Sticks her hand in there. No Vaseline, just my blood.

1093. There it is. There it is.

1094. That's heavy, right?

1095. That's sick.

1096. Yeah.

1097. She saved my life, though.

1098. And that was the moment

1099. I finally got real about myself.

1100. I'm Matt...

1101. and I'm an addict.

1102. The other night, she said to me,

1103. "We're all addicted to—

1104. Something.

1105. Maybe an idea of ourselves, our lives.

1106. Maybe some idea of success or failure or...

1107. You're scared, too?

1108. Being the mother of a 17-year-old is a trip.

1109. Oh, yeah. Yeah?

1110. You're supposed to have all the answers,

1111. and you don't have one.

1112. Wow.

1113. Even the idea that once you have a family,

1114. you'll never be lonely again.

1115. Heavy, huh?

1116. We don't like to admit it, but, uh...

1117. we're all just... scared little animals.

1118. Hey, it was good to share.

1119. You okay?

1120. Yeah.

1121. Oh, uh... that's patchouli.

1122. Oh.

1123. Cool.

1124. So I'll-I'll leave you here.

1125. You okay? Yeah.

1126. Uh-huh.

1127. You sure? You okay?

1128. Yeah.

1129. What?

1130. Nothing.

1131. Ass.

1132. Be quiet.

1133. Joel.

1134. Yeah?

1135. I always kinda thought... Audrey was gonna leave Mike.

1136. They couldn't be apart.

1137. But is that love?

1138. I don't know.

1139. Well, don't you ever think about this stuff?

1140. Doesn't it ever freak you out?

1141. Everything freaks you out.

1142. You don't even care.

1143. You have it so easy, Joel.

1144. I hate it when you say shit like that.

1145. Like what?

1146. Like you're the only one with problems.

1147. You ever think maybe you're so busy being weird

1148. that I have to step up and be normal.

1149. Everyone's worried about you.

1150. All the bullshit you get yourself into.

1151. Why didn't you ever just say anything?

1152. I'm sorry.

1153. Justin? Yeah?

1154. Can you come here a minute?

1155. Oh, no way.

1156. What?

1157. I got in.

1158. You applied?

1159. Wow.

1160. Yeah.

1161. Why you didn't tell us about this, huh?

1162. I-I thought you'd talk me out of it.

1163. Oh, honey, I wouldn't have talked you out of it.

1164. I just... I thought your grades—

1165. Wow.

1166. I'm happy.

1167. Are you?

1168. Am I happy?

1169. You kidding?

1170. Well, you know, what does it mean?

1171. It means I wanna go.

1172. Just like that?

1173. They want me to go to their summer-school thing.

1174. They... want me to make up some math

1175. and language credits this summer.

1176. I was just... getting used to you.

1177. I gotta go deal with this shipment.

1178. You know I'm happy for you.

1179. I am.

1180. It's just...

1181. I don't know.

1182. If it was... Belgium...

1183. or... Chile or...

1184. Mars...

1185. somewhere... I couldn't picture you,

1186. you'd just vanish.

1187. But New York.

1188. I can see you.

1189. Justin in Central Park by the fountain.

1190. Justin in a taxi on Fifth Avenue.

1191. Justin at Times Square.

1192. And... Justin eating a fucking hot dog from a street vendor.

1193. You can always come to visit me.

1194. Yeah.

1195. Yeah.

1196. You're already gone.

1197. No, I'm not.

1198. Yes, you are.

1199. I know you, Justin.

1200. I've been watching you your whole life.

1201. You have?

1202. Justin.

1203. Perry.

1204. You found me.

1205. Yeah, in the phone book.

1206. To what do I deserve this honor?

1207. I'm leaving.

1208. New York.

1209. Big city.

1210. What happened?

1211. What do you mean?

1212. This place. It looks a little depressing.

1213. I don't know, I...

1214. I guess I stopped trying to be anything.

1215. I accepted myself and all my human disorder.

1216. You might wanna do the same.

1217. Do you remember when you were...

1218. like, 13 or something, you were...

1219. you were always doing an impression of a newsman.

1220. I did?

1221. You were quite good.

1222. Sorry.

1223. If that's what you want to do,

1224. New York is the perfect place for you.

1225. Make the contacts, knock on doors.

1226. Get the right haircut, take voice lessons.

1227. Might work.

1228. Then again...

1229. you'll have to deal with a lot of fear.

1230. I just came here for a check-up.

1231. Really?

1232. Justin, I'm sorry if I contributed

1233. to any feelings of shame you may have had about your thumb.

1234. I've been reading up on it.

1235. Medically... psychologically...

1236. there's nothing really wrong with thumbsucking.

1237. I don't think I can agree with that.

1238. No, really. Look...

1239. Justin... there was nothing wrong with you.

1240. It felt like everything was wrong with me.

1241. That's 'cause we all wanna be problem-less,

1242. to fix ourselves.

1243. We look for some magic solution to make us all better,

1244. but none of us really know what we're doing.

1245. And why is that so bad?

1246. That's all we humans can do.

1247. Guess.

1248. Try.

1249. Hope.

1250. But, Justin, just pray you don't fool yourself

1251. into thinking you got the answer.

1252. 'Cause that's bullshit.

1253. The trick...

1254. is living without an answer.

1255. I think.

1256. I think.

1257. There is new evidence indicating that

1258. the North Koreans...

1259. namely plutonium.

1260. the North Koreans have developed a semi-secret...

1261. to develop weapons-grade materials,

1262. namely plutonium.

1263. Hi.

1264. Hi.

1265. I'm Justin.

1266. Hi.