Lotus Eaters

Alice.

You're looking thin.

In a bad way.

In a bad way?

I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired. That's all.

The reason we're all a little off is because as a society,

we don't live in villages and communities anymore.

That's what Rufus, my guru, says. A modern pandemic.

I spent some time in Mystique and Cottonwoods recently,

You know, rolfing is kind of amazing. But others can't afford to go to--

Uh, apparently TM is gonna come back.

TM?

Uh, transcendental meditation. No?

It's like, um... mantra-based... thing, you know?

You can practice it anywhere, once you get the hang of it.

But Rufus told me that one of he students

was doing it on the tube.

There he was, meditating.

When he became enlightened on the Circle line.

So he just went around and around and around and around

Yeah, I remember that. God, it was awful.

I think it's maybe just this whole Charlie thing, yeah.

Maybe I should just go back to Heidelberg for a while.

Ooh, why? What's happening there?

Nothing. It's just where I'm from.

Oh! Oh!

I just can't rate Rufus.

He carries his runes in a plastic bag.

Heidelberg?

That's crazy.

One for you...

One for me.

This stuff is gonna keep us young.

It'll be just you and me left.

Wouldn't that be nice?

In theory.

This stiff is gonna keep us firm,

'cause that's very important.

This says it can turn back time.

Wouldn't that be nice?

We are gonna cover each other in this stuff tonight,

and fall asleep in each others arms, and when we wake up,

it will be the beginning again,

and we can do everything differently.

I could, anyway.

I've already started. I went to a meeting this morning.

That's wonderful.

I get it, this time. The whole rehab thing didn't work,

because you go away and it's fine being clean,

in some hospital, in Switzerland,

but then you get home,

and you don't know what to do with yourself.

So I think, for me,

it's just better to do the 12 step stuff here.

You look good.

Look at my eyes.

They look normal.

See?

What did you have for breakfast?

Ice cream.

Some habits are harder to break than others.

But you didn't eat anything.

Show me your teeth.

If you stay tonight, and make me breakfast,

I'll eat it.

How kind of you.

Anything for you.

You see anyone?

No.

I miss you.

Good.

Lunch, Alice.

Nice party.

There's less people here today than there was yesterday.

Listen, have you seen Alice? She left early.

You didn't.

She wouldn't.

You surprised? Disappointed.

To be honest, I don't know what you see in her anyway,

apart from the obvious.

The obvious is quite enough, thank you very much.

Do you know who was here?

Who? Orna.

Orna? Yeah!

Not looking bad, either.

What happened?

Nothing, why?

Hi, Suzi.

You said you were gonna cool.

I thought Orna had a husband now.

No mention of husbands. I expect it's past tense.

Past tense.

What?

Who are we talking about? Orna.

Orna's back.

Where are you going?

No one in my room, Betty. No one!

Hello.

So, I was thinking. I have a few auditions this week,

but maybe we could go with the weekend, if your house is free.

Well, my mother's on a rampage.

She's redoing any parts of the house

that my father ever set foot in, which is most of it.

We could stay in a hotel, maybe.

Um, you know...

go for walks, swimming.

I could drive.

Yeah, we could take your car, if it's fixed.

Charlie.

Why did you even bother saying all that stuff to me?

I'm just tired.

Fuck's sake.

We spent the whole morning, talking about a sponsor,

and meetings, and it was all fucking bullshit.

Yeah. Yeah.

Okay.

He's a junkie. Move on.

Everyone does drugs. It's just a question of perspective.

It just can't be a be-all and end-all.

And what's your be-all and end-all, Bells? I'm curious.

Well, I have my dreams, and I don't just mean when I'm asleep.

Stop! Stop it! What are you doing?

It's for you. It'd look cute on you.

What is your problem? Everyone knows you're a total klepto.

No I'm not!

Whatever. It's just a bit of fun.

as long as you do something nice for somebody else,

just to balance it out.

I mean, it's just a big shop we're stealing from.

And what are you gonna do to balance that out?

I was thinking maybe after this I could go and feed some ducks.

Or I could put the bottles out for recycling.

Oh, my god. I saw this on Orna's site.

It was, like, twice the price.

Rip-off.

You're paying for all that lilac tissue it comes wrapped in.

You're paying for her Restylane habit.

Or her ex-husband's Restylane habit.

Saw a picture of him on the internet.

He looks ridiculous.

Somebody told me he's dead.

It's possible.

There's about ten of us here.

Okay. See you soon. Bye.

You're so jealous.

Look at them. They're more like wolves than women.

That was Bella. She wants us over there as soon as possible.

Suzi...

Amazing.

Come on!

Just don't get it. She's so annoying.

What's to get? She's beautiful.

She's young.

Young is the new beautiful.

Do you really think so?

No.

Then why did you say that?

Well, he said it.

Why would you say that?

I don't know. I just kind of felt like it.

But he had three Asian wives. Complete Asiaphile.

One from Thailand, one from Japan, one from China,

and there I was, thinking it was like romantic love or some--

Hi.

Hi!

I didn't know you were back.

You know Lulu.

I heard you were back.

Well, it's so good to be back.

There you are! I've been looking all over for you!

Orna, this is Suzi.

Hi! Orna! Oh, my god! It's nice to meet you.

You left before I think we got together, actually. How are you?

Felix, I'm gonna get a drink. Do you want anything?

No, I'm good. I'm good. I'll see you in a bit.

What was all that about?

All what?

Her.

What are you talking about?

She was like my headmistress,

just standing there, checking me out.

You know, you're really whacko.

I think we should go.

Where?

Aren't we going to your sister's?

I just don't want to go if Orna's going.

It's like having dinner with the fucking grim reaper.

You weren't saying that

when you were kissing her ass two minutes ago.

Hi, Alice.