Miss You, Love You

- - Send text to Tyler.

What would you like to say?

Hi, exclamation point.

I just arrived, exclamation point.

- - Your message to Tyler says,

"Hi! I just arrived!"

- Send. - Okay.

- - Message sent.

- -

Tyler says, "Glad you arrived safely."

- Would you like to reply? -

Tyler says, "Thank you again for being there."

Tyler says, "I'm so grateful for you."

- Would you like to reply? - No.

- - Okay.

- -

- - Oh! Hey, hello.

- Hi, Mrs. Patterson, I'm... - This plant shouldn't be dying.

I just bought it two weeks ago. It's unbelievable.

All the leaves keep falling off.

Should I come in?

Well, I didn't slam the door on you.

It's a succulent, for God's sake.

Shouldn't be dying.

I've done nothing wrong, that's for sure.

We take our shoes off in this house.

- Sorry. - Everything out there is dirt.

Yeah, a-and cold.

Where is that "dry heat" you hear so much about?

- What was your name again? - Jamie.

Here, we say our first and last name.

Sorry. Jamie Simms.

Well, I'll probably have to ask you your name again.

Just know that. I can't apologize for it.

I've got a lot going on. And now, with you here.

I completely understan... d.

I'm sorry, I wasn't sure if you wanted me to follow you.

- I don't know what's happening. - I know.

- It's a very unusual situation. - It's all starting to rot.

It's possible it's being overwatered.

- It could also be under-watered, so that's... - I'll tell you one thing

I did do wrong. I trusted Doris Kato.

Friend from New York. She raved about this nursery,

which, of course, she did. Her cousin opened it.

A cousin, by the way, no one's ever even heard of until now.

A Sue or a Veronica or Patty. I don't fucking know.

I wasn't listening. She went on and on and on.

"I'm so proud of my cousin. She's starting over.

We should really support her."

Well, I'm sorry, but clearly, Sue-Veronica-Patty

needs to start over again.

Well, I can take it back if you'd like.

Why?

- If you're not happy. - Are you already on the clock?

- Is that how this works? - No, I just...

I'm gonna save it. It's dying, not dead.

It can be saved.

I'm gonna make a cocktail. I need one.

Can I pour you something?

- Um... - Yeah, it's early.

Oh, no, that's not what I meant. I just... I'm...

I'm just not much of a drinker, actually.

But thank you. I had a...

had an incident in college.

- -

- Yeah, I broke my jaw. -

Just completely tanked

on Long Island iced teas.

I blacked out right onto the sidewalk.

I had to have my jaw wired shut for over a month.

- - So, any of the smells of the numerous alcohols

in a Long Island are a bit of a trigger for me.

Are you triggered by the smell of water?

Because that's all I have.

Or Pedialyte.

Well, I've never been one to turn down a Pedialyte.

Blueberry or unflavored?

Water's awesome.

So, how long will you be here?

It depends. Uh, a few days, maybe a week.

That's "a few days, maybe a week"?

Well, for a gay man, yes.

I wasn't expecting to... to come here.

None of this was expected.

Oh, no. I'm sorry, I didn't...

Um, I was packed for a different trip,

for... for a longer trip when your son called.

So then, this trip got tacked on to... to that trip.

And you're driving for that trip and this trip?

Yeah, I prefer it.

You know, time alone, time to think.

I like a road trip.

Oh, God.

- I have more socks. - You think they made the cut?

- - Yeah, I, uh,

I love a road trip.

It's a great way to, uh, to see New Mexico.

It's my first time, actually. It's so beautiful.

But it is funny, you know? You see the desert landscape,

and you just assume, well, that's gonna be hot...

So, how does this work? You, here?

Um, however you'd like it.

No, I didn't ask for any of this.

So, it's not "however." You tell me.

Uh, I'm... I'm just here to help.

Me grieve?

No. No, I couldn't possibly.

No, you couldn't. I'm more than capable.

I just meant I could help, um,

with arrangements, um, running errands.

- I think Tyler was thinking... - Yes, what was my son thinking,

sending you in his place?

I think Tyler's worried about you.

I thought you'd be better at that.

Lying.

Isn't that what assistants do best?

- He is worried. - Fine. He's worried.

And you know he would be here in a heartbeat

if he wasn't stuck overseas doing...

Overseas doing research for the new book.

Yes, that much I learned in his texts to me,

along with his condolences for my husband,

and regrets that he might not be able to make it back for the funeral.

And then, two days ago, I learned that his assistant

would be here in his absence, in a text from you.

Y-Yes, that is on me.

I told Tyler I would reach out, and I...

and I should have let him do that first.

And why might he not make it back?

There's a prisoner of war that he's hoping to interview,

uh, in Khartoum.

He has a contact, an insider

in the Sudanese Armed Forces that...

It's timing, basically. It's... it's about timing.

It... He just has to be ready for when it will be safe.

And will it be safe before Saturday to be here?

That's the hope, yes. That's what he's hoping.

- Mm, that's in seven days. - Yes.

So, we're hoping it's...

Safe before Saturday.

And if it doesn't become safe,

will you be sitting beside me at the funeral?

- Well, no. I... I mean, I couldn't... - Why?

You're doing everything else for Tyler.

Why can't you be my son on the day?

Well, because I'm no replacement for him...

You'd be surprised how low that bar is.

Did you want me to get the water?

- - I-It's okay, no worries.

- So, you don't want the water? - No.

No... I mean, yes, I do want the water.

I just meant no worries in that...

- Oh, my God. - ...it's okay that you forgot.

Sorry, I meant to put my phone on vibrate.

- Is that Tyler? - Um, most likely, yes.

- - Your son texts from his computer,

so he's just constantly hitting return

and sending one sentence at a time.

Yes, it is him.

Uh, he's just making sure I arrived safely.

That's a lot of sentences for such a simple message.

Uh...

Uh, let's see what he says.

- Um... - Forget it.

It doesn't all have to be my business.

But to the part that is...

you can say that you arrived safely and that...

I'm doing well.

In case that's his follow-up.

Oh, and I'll take room temp. There's no need for ice

if the desert's not gonna be hot.

Yes, it's winter. For God's sake,

please stop being blown away by that.

He sent a heart emoji.

Is that for you arriving safely or me doing well?

- Imagine both. - How economical of him.

- - I prefer you leave the chime on.

That way I'll know when we hear from him.

Of course.

- What? - Nothing.

- Am I a lot? - No.

That's a shame, 'cause I'm trying to be.

You'll forgive me, Jamie, but I'm having a hard time

processing your presence.

I know, I'm just... I'm just doing my job.

You understand my position, yes? Why I'd be so agitated

to learn that I'm your job?

No, no, I'm sorry. Being here is my job for Tyler.

I didn't mean to imply that you're my responsibility.

Well, Tyler seems to think differently.

He seems to think he can pass off his responsibility

to be here to say goodbye to his stepfather.

Not that he ever called Henry anything but Henry,

let alone made an effort

to have any kind of relationship with him.