The Gathering

Ow. That hurt. You said it wasn't gonna hurt.

I said it would only hurt for a second. Yeah? Well, it hurt a lot.

Well, you're lucky I didn't have Emily do it.

You'd be here all day while she was looking for a vein.

Heh, heh. Thanks, Dr. Foster. You're welcome.

Hey, sweetie. Guess who got a new car.

Who? The Carriers.

You remember Tom and Myra? Their daughter Sarah is in Zee's class.

You already in line to pick her up?

Yeah, the private school parade of social injustice.

A Bentley, they got a Bentley. Can you believe that?

Listen, you're the one who insisted that she go to your school.

I was happy with a public education.

Yeah, but look how you turned out.

How are you doing for time, by the way?

I'm not gonna be late. That's not why I'm calling.

Yes, it is, but I don't mind you checking up on me.

I like it. Hey, Mom.

All right, I love you. I love you.

Bye-bye.

Hi, honey. Hey.

Hop in.

New Yorkers were jittery this afternoon

as an explosion and fire rocked rush-hour traffic.

Though officials are not ruling out terrorism,

organised crime seems the most likely culprit.

You don't know me, Dr. Foster.

Try me.

You think you do, but you don't.

You don't even remember the first time you saw me.

I do. You were a freshman, I was a first-year medical student.

I was assisting at the Human Sexuality seminar that you were attending.

And during the male reproductive lecture,

you were shamelessly checking me out.

I felt like a piece of meat.

No, it was at a party at your frat house.

You were so drunk, you don't remember.

You offered me a free medical examination.

So you say.

And I was not checking you out at that seminar. I was looking at you with disdain.

Disdain? Yes.

Because every time the professor said the word "penis," you laughed.

How did we get such a beautiful daughter?

I don't know. With such beautiful wires in her ears.

Come on. Join us for two seconds.

I'm here, aren't I?

Honey, want some dessert?

Not really. Can we just go?

He doesn't remember, does he?

You know, tonight's a special night.

Are you doing your homework tonight without complaining?

Dad.

I can't believe you don't remember. What?

What, what, what? Just tell me.

No. Torturing you is more fun.

Oh, it's the hospital.

Oh, honey.

The attending physician has a family emergency.

What about your family? I'm sorry.

I'm a doctor. What can I do?

Well, I made plans for a celebration.

So let's have it tomorrow.

We can't have it tomorrow, I have yoga.

Oh, saving lives, yoga. You're right.

That's more important.

Taxi.

What time you gonna be home?

Two. Feel like waiting up?

I'll see you later.

Bye, Dad.

You guys have fun, all right?

Bye. I'm sorry.

It's okay.

Come on, this is a hospital. Get out of here.

Come on. You don't belong in here, go.

Get out of here. Get out of here.

Go.

Do you remember now?

Of course I remember.

It was our first night living together. Only you were wearing even less.

And you were chanting that Latin mumbo jumbo.

I thought you were saying the Mass.

Yeah.

As a former altar boy, that was a real mind-blower.

And don't forget.

Oh, you're bad.

Well, I wanted it to be exactly the way it was.

I'm so glad.

Oh, it's smooth.

Do you remember that you wrote a poem that night?

Oh, don't remind me.

Smoked a bowl What a roll

I'm the universal soul

You were like Ginsberg.

I was, like, stoned.

Welcome home.

It's good to be home.

You know what? What?

I think you're more beautiful now than you were 15 years ago.

Thank you.

Don't look.

Ann?

Annie?

Michael.

Daddy.

Michael, it wasn't your fault.

Don't look.

Annie.

Annie?

Hi, this is Ann. Leave a message at the beep.

Honey, it's me.

Call me, will you?

Yoga studio.

Could you tell me if my wife had an appointment this morning?

Oh, what's the name? Ann Foster.

Nothing on the books.

Anything else I can help you with? Uh...

No, thank you. You know what?

If she comes in, could you ask her to call home?

Sure.

Thank you.

Hey. Where's Mom?

I think she must've had an appointment or something this morning.

You don't know where she is.

So, what did you guys fight about last night?

No, we weren't fighting.

Why?

What did you hear?

Just that rave in your bedroom.

Hey, did you lock the door last night? Didn't you?

Or were you too wasted to remember?

You know anything about this yoga class that Mom takes?

With Mr. Holter?

Well, I know it's not at 7 in the morning.

Oh.

Oh, where have you been?

Oh, hi, Paula.

Am I late, doctor?

Uh, no. No, I thought you were Ann.

What do you mean?

Did she say anything to you about going out this morning?

No. Where is she?

She's out, I think. Can you take Zee to school?

I don't need a babysitter.

Your mother drives you every day.

That's because she's a parent volunteer.

Well, Paula is taking you this morning, I'll pick you up later, all right?

Aren't you late for the hospital?

Oh, I'm not going in today.

Oh, man.

Bye, Zee. Bye, Paula.

Zee. Hey, Zee.

Hi, Sarah.

Where's your mom?

My parents had a fight last night. She's probably cruising 5th Avenue.

Shopping therapy.

That is not what I heard.

Where are you, Annie?

Hey, Mr. Holter didn't show up today.

It's a substitute.

So?

So everybody's talking about him and your mom.

What about them?

How they were buds, how they went to yoga together.

Maybe they ran off together.

I always thought he was gay.

Maybe he's bi.

Sarah, just leave me alone.

Zee, I know how you feel.

My dad has affairs, my mom too. It's no big deal.

Hey, today in P.E., tell coach you're having your period.

You can sit with us and watch the fat girls run around.

I-- I haven't started.

Coach isn't gonna check your panties.

Even if she wants to.

If your wife's not back by tomorrow,

come to the precinct and make a statement.

Tomorrow? Why tomorrow?

There's a 24-hour waiting period to file a Missing Persons.

My God, why the hell is that?

Most times, the spouse returns.

Well, what if she doesn't return?

Then you come down to the precinct and make a statement.

Officer, a lot can happen in 24 hours. I can't wait that long.

It's department policy, sir.

"E.H."

Hello? Hello, um.

Who am I speaking to? Please, leave me alone.

Uh, Ma'am, I'm so sorry.

Listen, I'm calling somebody at this number with the initials E.H.

Evan. Evan?

Evan Holter, my son.

Oh, he's a teacher at the academy, right?

Please, leave me alone.

Please.