The Patient

Oh, God.

What the fuck?

: Help! Help!

Help! Help!

Help! Help!

Help!

Okay.

Okay.

Hello, Dr. Strauss.

Uh, my name is Gene Bollinger.

I was hoping to get started in a course

of psychotherapy.

I thought you might be able to help me

with some of my problems.

So, uh, yeah.

I guess I'll call you back, uh, if that's okay.

I'm a little hard to reach.

Yeah, okay, thanks.

Hi, it's Shoshana. Leave a message.

Hey, honey. It's Dad.

Just checking in.

I'm in sessions until 8:00.

Bye-bye.

What can I help you with, Gene?

My dad beat the shit out of me.

A lot, uh, when I was a kid.

And I think it fucked me up.

That's a tough thing to go through.

You said it fucked you up.

In what ways?

All ways.

Like I'm not content.

I don't have a good social life.

I get angry.

That's the sort of thing you help people with, right?

Yes.

So, I read your book.

Oh.

-What'd you think? -It was good.

I thought, you know, this guy is a real expert.

Mm-hmm.

Well, I've been doing it a long time.

I'm sorry for your loss.

That's what normal people say, right?

How does it feel for you to say it?

It just, um...

...just seems like what I hear people say.

But I mean it.

Well, that is the important part.

Gene, I wanted to ask you

about your sunglasses.

I think it might be a good idea for you

to take them off, so we can see each other better.

I have eye problems.

Oh, what's wrong?

Light hurts them.

They're oversensitive.

You've seen a doctor about it?

Two doctors.

Well, we're out of time.

Isn't that my line?

I'm trying to take care of your needs again, aren't I?

I think so.

He hit me.

All the time.

When you say "all the time,"

could you be any more specific about it?

Pretty much all the time.

-Thank you. -Thank you very much.

-Alan, welcome. Chaim, how are you?

Baruch Hashem.

-You? -I'm well, thanks.

-I'll be in the back. Oh.

Okay.

-Hi, Ezra. -Hi, Dad.

It's Mom's guitar?

Mm-hmm.

I figured you should have it.

You're the only one in the family who plays, so...

I don't play anymore.

That's it, 'cause you'd expect anybody to save their own ass,

but he'd rather die than use her as his excuse,

-like, uh, disgrace her. I think

I have actually heard that one before.

Right, it's a classic.

You know, Gene, I've been thinking.

It's been a while

since we started talking together.

And I've noticed that...

...you're not really opening yourself up to me.

Whenever I ask for stories or details,

you have a tendency to get kind of vague

or you start telling me

about country music songs that you like.

And I've noticed that I myself am feeling

a little frustrated by this process.

And I'm wondering if you're feeling that as well.

Usually when one person feels that way, it's kind of mutual.

I don't know.

I guess it's not working the way it did in your book.

Gene, in order for this process to work,

you have to be able to tell me things

that are not easy to tell.

To be open and truthful.

Maybe I'm not cut out for this.

'Cause I'm... I'm trying.

I really-- I'm trying.

In my experience...

...anyone who has come this far,

who has made the choice to come to therapy

and keep hammering away at the hard things...

...they can be helped.

I'm so sorry. I know this sucks.

I'll be right back.

Gene, what the hell's going on?

I mean, what the fuck?!

Let me out, let me out, let me out of here.

Let me out of here right now, Gene!

-Gene! -You take it easy.

Last night you were screaming.

We're in the woods out here. Nobody's around.

I know how upset you are.