Dirty John

I believe in dreams.

Help!

Dreams you can live in.

If you design the space where the story will happen...

you can control them both.

You can create rooms of beautiful things

where only good things occur.

Peaceful mornings.

Elegant parties.

Romantic dinners.

Love.

If you design the most beautiful life...

nothing ugly can get in.

-Can you switch gears for just one second? -Mm-hmm.

Okay, 'cause I have a kilim, vintage... vintage kilim.

Um...

-Oh, that's gorgeous. -Right?

Oh, yeah, I love that, but for what? For the Halperns?

-Yeah. -That won't work for them.

They want that restoration work,

-and that's not-- -That's exactly what this is.

You know what they want. That's not what they want.

Some people need to be pushed outside of their comfort zones.

I'm not gonna push the Halperns outside their comfort zone, especially him.

Hey, we are loaded and locked. I'm headed over. You coming with?

Yeah. Well, I'm just gonna-- I'm gonna drive myself

- because I've got a thing tonight. - Oh, that's right! Good luck.

- Thanks. - What's tonight? I feel left out.

Oh, she has a date with a guy... Oh, the one with potential, right?

The one with no pictures of him and fish, and he can spell.

We hope!

Is this that online dating stuff? I can't believe people do that.

Well, that's 'cause you've been married for 25 years.

You know, I have three friends who met their husbands online?

You're telling me a beautiful woman like you can't meet a guy anywhere she goes?

Oh, Palmer, you're so sweet.

- Debra. - Andy.

-Hi. -You look beautiful.

- Why, thank you! - Even more so in person.

-Thank you. -And sorry I'm late.

I can't remember my last less-than-80-hour work week.

- Corporate law? - Yeah, M and A specifically.

Right, companies buying other companies.

Well, sort of, yeah, if you want to dumb it down.

Waiter!

Wow!

That's a lot of bank they want for basically just a chicken salad.

I mean, right? What am I missing? Is it...

Is it the almonds?

It's a real blessing we can do what you love.

It is.

That's what I'm thinking because... Hold up, sorry.

- Can I get another one of these? - Of course.

I always like to get the next one on deck when a place is this busy.

I've been playing golf since I was, like, 14 years old.

My father wanted me to play football, but I'd rather play golf.

I fell in love with golf. Buddy of mine talked me into playing golf,

and I spent a lot of time with his family,

and my dad didn't really like me a whole lot, so...

Sorry, it just surprised me when you just, um...

did a...

...kind of wrinkled your nose when you laughed, and it...

She totally does that exact same thing.

She...

She does... did.

Did that same thing. I'm not supposed to be talking about this.

-Oh-- -I'm so sorry. This is really...

awkward. It's just... it's so...

-It's really still close. It's really... -Hmm.

I thought meeting them anywhere that wasn't a public place was bad?

We've been talking offline quite a bit.

Yeah, but not offline in person!

Well, honey, we're going to a place where I'm a regular,

and we're not driving.

We're gonna walk, so I won't be getting in a car with him.

And if he wants to stalk me or whatever, he knows the name of my business.

-It's good. -Oh, Veronica!

So he could always find me, so I'm not worried about that.

And he asked me so very politely if I wanted for him to pick me up,

and I thought to myself, "That's something we don't see online or anywhere anymore."

And that's called chivalry.

But you're walking?

-Mm-hmm. -So you're not taking the Maserati?

Oh, God, you're so kind, Mom.

Thank you. That would be really helpful.

-Keys in your purse? -I'm not ready, Veronica.

I'll get the door.

- Hello. - Hey.

I'm here for Debra.

Are... are you delivering a package?

No! I'm John.

Oh.

This is a really nice place.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, it's like that on purpose.

Debra said she lives with her daughter, Veronica. Is that you?

My mom said the guy she's going out with tonight is a doctor.

Is that you?

It is me.

Oh.

You can look at that just fine with your eyes.

You don't need to touch it. It's breakable.

-Hi. -Hi.

I'm Debra.

John.

-Oh, nice to meet you. -You look gorgeous.

-Thank you. -I'm underdressed.

Oh, no. You know, we're in California.

If you've got a shirt and shoes, you're ahead of the game.

Right.

Okay, I'm leaving.

-Oh, all right. Bye, hon. -Bye.

Nice to meet you.

Well...

I'm not sure what I did there, but I did something.

No, don't worry about it.

You must be hungry.

-Should we get going? -Sure.

Okay.

Mostly, I worked at the hospital MSF set up in Qayyarah.

My first month, I was the only anesthesiologist.

-Oh! -We did 90 surgeries.

Wow!

And what is MSF?

That's the abbreviation for the French name

which you're supposed to use,

but most people just say Doctors Without Borders.

Oh! Oh, I've heard of them.

-Right. -Yes.

-Oh, wow. -And there was always so much to do.

The hospital took a lot of physical damage from the Battle of Mosul.

-I bet. -The conditions were crazy.

I mean, I remember falling asleep while standing eating.

Insane.

-You know, mostly I'm happy I went. -Oh, yes.

Oh, it's wonderful and... and heroic.

You're doing it again.

-What? -We're supposed to be talking about you.

-Not our kids. Not my job. -Oh, you're so much more interesting.

Not to me.

You're an artist, a designer.

Come on, tell me. Who's your hero? Who's someone you admire?

William Morris.

He was the inspiration behind the Arts and Crafts movement.

I just love the way he thinks.

How does he think?

He says,

"Don't ever let your houses have anything

that you don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."

And I want the spaces that I give my clients to feel that way.

I call it "approachable dreams."

Who wouldn't want one of those?

They told my sister to babysit,

but she wanted to go and see The Tubes at the Winterland,

so she took me.

-And how old were you? -I was nine.

Yeah, it was fine.

There weren't that many naked women and chainsaws on the stage.

Oh, wow.

What about you?

I was older,

but... my first concert

was the Serious Moonlight Tour in Anaheim.

Your first concert ever was Bowie?

Oh, wow!

-Yeah. -Wow.

Then this last little bit is yours by right.

Mmm.

-Did you just snort? -No!

A little snort?

-No. -Like a sweet, little baby rhino.

Is that what you did?

I have to get my key.

Oh, okay! Hold on!

Hold on! Hold on! Hold on!

I should...

-I need to take a breath. -Okay.

Okay, I'll just... You wait right here.

-Come back. -I'll be right back, okay?

Okay.

This feels incredible.

This mattress is amazing. Not that you don't know that, but it is.

I thought maybe we'd stay just in the other room...

tonight.

You know, I'd prefer if we stayed in the living room.

Hey, uh, I wasn't trying to scare you.

Oh, no, no. I know. It's fine. I... It's fine.

I just would prefer it, I think.

I thought you were trying to tell me something.

No, I was not... I was not trying to tell you that.

Let's go in the living room, okay?

John?

I think maybe we should just call it a night.

Will you come in here now?

Please?

Well...

- I'm so sorry. - Well, it was just really strange.