The Addiction of Hope

Hello, I'm Doctor Gaines.

So tell me what's going on.

Hello, I'm doctor Gaines.

So tell me what's going on.

Do you mind stepping outside so I can talk to your wife alone?

Would you mind stepping outside

so I can talk to your wife alone?

No, no, of course I understand.

So tell me what's going on.

And the tremors.

When did the tremors start?

So tell me, when did the tremors start?

When did the tremors start?

And when did the tremor start?

She'll be perfect.

Yeah. And

she's still young enough to be sexy.

Yeah. Okay, I'll call her agent.

Ready?

Uh, yeah.

Okay.

Hello, I'm doctor Gaines.

Nice to meet you.

Would you mind stepping outside?

I'd like to speak to your wife.

Uh, no.

I want my husband to stay.

Oh, no.

No. Of course.

So tell me what's going on.

That's great.

Thank you.

Huh?

Very good.

What about the tremors?

The tremors?

What about.

When did the tremor start?

You know the rest of the scene.

We're good.

Thanks for zooming in.

May I help you?

Wow.

Seriously? I'm Joanne Stock.

I'm a client.

I'm so sorry.

Will you tell Roger I'm here?

Let me see if he's in.

I can hear him.

Joanne Stock to see you.

Mhm.

Okay. He's not in.

Gotcha. Ha ha.

That's called a reversal of expectations.

Learned that in my writing class.

You can go in.

It's okay.

There she is.

Where did you find him?

It's Hollywood, Joe models, actors, writers, whatever.

It's like Tumbleweed in Texas.

Maybe that explains why it

feels like a ghost town in here.

Nobody's going to work since the pandemic.

How'd it go?

They cast the role before I even open up my mouth.

I know it's frustrating.

There's just not a lot of stuff for women of a certain age.

What age is that?

Fossil six.

Fossil seven.

The right part comes along.

Shit happens.

Look at Fyvush Finkel, first series regular at 70.

He won an Emmy at 72.

That's not very helpful.

It's just dead right now.

Everything is younger.

Oh, come on.

Older people can murder younger people.

Trust me.

I've thought about it.

Joe.

Older people can teach younger people.

They can operate on them.

Prosecute, defend.

Younger people still have moms, don't they?

I mean, they're not spawned out

of some type of petri dish, right?

I mean, I could have a kid, Roger.

I could be a mother.

Do you want to have a second heart attack?

Relax. I'm just sucking out the nicotine.

Do you think it's over?

I mean, do you think I'm done?

Don't go there.

It's too late.

Hey,

Lenny.

I'm here.

Thought I lost you.

What's up?

Not much.

The boy's fighting again.

No, no.

Well, yeah.

I don't know.

They're brothers.

Will's been really down, and

Jake has no patience for anything.

Especially his brother.

They'll be fine, honey.

Yeah, said the woman with no kids.

I had a plan.

Hey. Come visit.

We really miss you.

We'd love to see you.

Uh. I vaguely remember my last visit.

I was told you're not my

mother, so stay out of this, okay?

That was so long ago.

Well, you can't hide from us forever.

I'm not hiding.

You're the one who moved all

the way to the ass end of nowhere.

Well, so.

So what?

You're never going to visit again?

I didn't say that.

It's just,

you know, I've got a lot going on, and I just, I.

There's a lot on my plate.

Lenny.

What?

Nothing, nothing.

I'm just.

I'm just tired.

You know?

Listen, um, why don't I talk it over with my agent and move

some stuff around?

But I'm not making any promises.

No, of course not.

No,

but we'd love to see you.

Okay.

Bye bye.

God.

Yes.

Morning. Silver Lake Termite.

Yeah sorry, I'm ten minutes early.

Hold on.

I'll be right there.

Not a problem.

Whatever.

You hear that?

Kind of like a hollow sound.

You might have some damage.

You said you saw droppings.

Uh, yeah.

Over here.

Yep. You got termites?

Perfect. How much is that going to cost?

Well, I'm going to need to look around and see how bad it is.

It should take me about an hour.

Yay!

So how bad is it?

Well, I've seen worse.

Oh. That's good.

I've also seen better.

The good news is that you're catching it early.

We can put you on the schedule ASAP.

All the information's right here on the flyer.

You can't be here for three days.

But honestly, I'd make it four just to be safe.

What? Where am I supposed to go for four days?

Oh, I don't know.

Hotel. Uh, stay with your kids, maybe.

I have no kids.

Oh, really?

Oh, yes, really.

Can I ask you a question?

Aren't you that actress from the coach's daughter.

Mhm. I knew it.

Yeah I used to watch that show.

Can I get a selfie.

Mhm. So whatever happened to you.

Apparently I died.

Listen I don't want to be rude but I got to get going.

Oh. What about the termite.

I'll call the office.

At least you made a living at it.

Made.

I can't afford this.

That's why I started taking my pension early.

What gets you up in the morning?

Is this a trick question?

Uh, reruns of Soul Train and a box of wine.

Look, I've known you for, what, like, 30 years?

I don't think I've ever seen you be happy.

Oh, come on, Cherise.