Lifeline

I'm still here.

I'm still here.

And so are you.

- So you're not going to tell me her name?

- Don't make it a big thing, mom.

- Well, she invited you to hang out.

I know that.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

- Guess who just might have a girlfriend.

I heard he's got two of them.

- I didn't say that. - Oh.

Oh my gosh.

You guys are annoying.

Good nap?

Yeah.

Weird dreams I still have this headache that won't go away.

You think you should call out?

No.

They're probably short staffed as it is.

Speaking of which, have you seen my ID anywhere?

Yeah.

This is what happens now that you're only

volunteering twice a year.

- Why don't you give me a hard time a little bit more,

will you.

Guilt trip me.

Yeah.

What's he doing tonight?

- He said he's hanging out at a friend's house down the street.

What about you?

You still going to do that work thing?

- I decided to ditch it and go to my sister's.

She's having her annual shindig.

It's quite a hike, isn't it?

I know.

I just feel like I owe her a visit.

Check out the invitation she sent.

- Julia's New Year's Eve bonanza.

Well, you-- you can't miss that.

This came from your brother.

I was thinking of putting him on the fridge.

Where are their sweaters?

I think the sweaters are cute.

- Dad, did you get the Lakers tickets yet?

Oh, shit.

No, not yet.

I'm still working on it.

- If you give me your card, I can order them

because they're going to sell out.

- No, no. I'm going to do it.

Oh, I almost forgot.

I had coffee with Matt Chauvins yesterday.

He asked to read your book.

- It's-- it's really not that type of thing, you know?

- Well, he was thrilled to give you notes, so, sent it to him.

Is that a problem?

No.

I mean, look.

It's-- he's just a big-time fiction writer, you know?

And you asked him to read my dumb little memoir.

Wow.

OK, no more goodwill gestures from me.

Appreciate it.

You've reached Andrew.

Please leave a message and I'll get back to you.

Hey, big brother.

It's me.

Just calling to say happy new year.

I got those photos you sent.

Thanks for those.

Anyway, give me a call back.

Let's catch up.

Because I'm at work right now.

You cannot just drop this on me last minute, Ty.

It's New Year's Eve.

Fine.

No.

I just can't argue about it right now.

You know what?

I'll figure it out.

Steven, hi.

How are you? - Good.

So good to see you.

How are you?

You know, same old, same old.

I'm not interrupting, am I?

No.

That was just my ex-husband dropping the ball again.

I actually have to go and get my kids.

He got his dates all messed up, and now it's

impossible to find a sitter.

Actually, I think it's just going

to be here most of the night.

Cindy's off at 11:00 - Oh.

Uh, OK.

I'm so sorry, Steven.

I know it's a lot for one person, but I just--

- No. No, no, no.

It's fine. It's fine.

Go be with your kids. It's OK.

- You're a lifesaver. - Come on.

You're the hero.

I'm the one who sold out and went into private practice.

Well, at least use my desk.

I do have the nice chair.

Thank you.

All right.

Hello.

Lifeline.

Hello?

- I don't want to talk about myself.

OK.

I understand.

Hello?

Lifeline.

Hello?

It's-- it's OK if you're not ready to talk,

but can I get your name at least?

Mary.

Mary?

Hi, Mary.

I'm Steve.

- I don't really know how this works.

- Well, it's really whatever you feel like you need.

What made you call in this evening?

And there's no right answer to that.

- I don't want to feel like this.

I want it to be over.

But please, don't tell the police

where I am because they'll just--

- No, no, no. No.

No, no I won't. I promise.

This call is anonymous, so you don't

have to worry about that, OK?

OK?

I'd just like to talk a little bit about how you're feeling.

Did, uh-- did something happen at home tonight?

Maybe a fight with family, or--

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah?

Can you tell me a little bit about that?

Um, it's just my head.

It's been all over the place.

And no one I know gets it, so I got these pills.

- You have the pills with you now?

Mm-hmm.

They're for sleep and depression.

But I figured if I take enough--

- Well, I'm really hoping you don't do that, Mary.

There's no other way.

I don't have a choice.

Wait.

Why do you say that?

What?

- When you say that don't feel like you have a choice,

what do you mean by that?

Mary, can you--

can you tell me where you are right now?

Are you at home?

No, I'm in Palm Springs.

My husband rented a house here for the holidays.

- But he knows that you've been having a hard time?

What?

- But he knows that you've been hurting?

Mary?

I don't trust him.

He's the reason I'm--

- The the-- the reason that you--

you feel like hurting yourself?

Yeah.

He drove us out here because I was having problems.

There was a medication change I went through recently.

And I told him I was in therapy and he got really mad.

How come?

- I don't think I can talk much longer.

Why not?

Mary, is it because you're worried

about your husband finding out?

Yeah.

- Has your husband ever hurt you?

No.

But I'm afraid of him.

It's hard to explain.

No, no.

I think I understand.

But I got to say, things, they sound really tense over there

tonight.

So I'd like to come up with a safe word,

or-- or phrase in case your husband comes home

and we're still talking.

- What do you mean? What is--

- It's just a way for you to let me

know that you're feeling unsafe so it

doesn't trigger your husband.

Can we do that?

OK, fine.

Yeah.