Being Erica

You know that friend you have?

The girl who seems to have it all figured out?

She's got the great job, the great guy, the great life...?

Well... I'm not that girl.

My name is Erica Strange.

I'm 32. Still working a dead end job.

Still sleeping with my cat.

I know people wonder why the cute girl with the great education

and the great friends can't get it together.

There's a simple answer:

Bad decisions.

I could teach a course on messing up your life.

Really, I am that good at getting everything wrong.

The worst part is, it wasn't always like this.

I used to be a rising star, but these days...

I just feel like a flame out.

WTP insurance, this is Erica speaking, how can I help you?

Yes sir, were you planning on purchasing a policy with us?

Uh-huh, and how many people would you like to insure?

Uh, let me put you through to another agent.

Okay, okay.

So, I know it's my fault my life is where it's at,

but I figure I gotta catch a break some time, right?

- He fired you? - He said I was too bright

for the job.

Well, that's wrongful dismissal.

I mean, clearly you can't fire someone for being too smart.

It's just embarrassing. I mean, I have a master's degree

and I can't keep a customer service job.

I'm sorry, I...

I want to talk about this but I've got a meeting.

Will you call me tonight after your date?

- Yeah. - Lava life, right?

- What's his name? - Trevor.

Oh, yeah, the dentist.

- Third date? - Yeah.

Wow, you're excited.

Well, we had some trouble setting this one set up.

I mean, he keeps telling me how busy he is and you know what that means.

That he's fixing teeth.

Come on, Erica, I mean, he's cute, he's smart,

he's got a great job and he's into you. I mean...

Three dates?

Three dates means you're basically together.

If we're basically together I guess I shouldn't be looking up

- Noah LaFleur on Facebook, right? - Wait, Noah from High School?

Come on, the past is the past.

Go out with the dentist, you know?

Flash your beautiful smile of yours and just...

just have a good time.

All right, bye.

- Love ya. - Love ya.

- Hi, Trevor. - Have you, um...

- have you left yet? - Uh-huh, yeah, I'm just on my way.

Why? Is there something wrong?

I'm sorry about this. I'm gonna have to cancel.

- Why? Are you okay? - Not really.

I haven't gone to the gym in two weeks and I just, uh,

I'm out of shape, I don't feel like myself.

All right, well, I gotta jet. The weight room gets really packed in the evenings.

- So, I'll talk to you later. - Okay, bye.

Excuse me!

Taxi!

Can I offer you a mocha mint latte sample?

Thanks. Thanks.

Excuse me...

Excuse me...

Was there any almonds or walnuts in that latte?

Any nuts in the latte?

Yeah, it's actuallythe hazelnut mocha mint latte.

Can you please call an ambulance?

Erica Strange?

That's me.

- How are you feeling? - I'm feeling a little better.

What happened?

I'm allergic to nuts and I had this mocha mint lappa-frip.

- Frappa... - I mean, before that.

Anything else happen today? Anything particularly...

- upsetting? - Yes, I was...

fired from my job and dumped. Sort of.

So, all in all, a pretty bad day.

I'm sorry, you're a doctor, right?

In a manner of speaking.

I'm a therapist.

I don't need a therapist.

I had an allergic reaction.

Well, tell me if I'm getting warm, okay?

It's not just that today was bad,

it's every day.

It's the feeling that...

nothing seems to work out for you.

Still single. All those nights alone with the cat.

All your successful married friends feeling bad for you.

Am I getting warm?

Who are you?

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."

Albert Einstein.

Well...

you think about it.

And if you're interested, you can give me a call.

Careful, sweetheart, it still might be hot.

Thanks. Look, I gotta get home. Where are my clothes?

Oh, you're not leaving. You're staying here 'til you get some rest.

- Please, mom, don't be paranoid. I'm fine. - I'm not paranoid.

Judith's called four times, your sister's beside herself, and your dad...

- Mom,I hope you were nice. - I'm always nice.

Oh! Come on.

Surprise! Your sister's here! Hi, sweetheart.

- Oh my god, are you okay? How are you feeling? - Hello, Sam. Good, I'm fine.

- Good. Good, good,we're good. - How's my girl?

Hey, aunt Roberta. Wow.

Uncle Joe. Mom, what's going on?

I made a nice brunch so you can visit with everyone.

Great. What an awesome idea.

Come, come, everyone sit. Eat.

Nice pajamas.

- It's perfect brunch attire. - Don't.

It's in Forest Hill, and I wouldn't exactly call it little.

It's brand new.

I hope you'll take some time off to enjoy it.

Sam, take time off? No, she's a typical surgeon, she loves to work.

Unlike you, of course. You're the only slacker investment banker I know.

So, erica, how's the job? It's the call center,right?

- Uh, I'm not working there anymore. - Oh.

Anyone hiring?

What kind of position are you looking for, dear?

Oh, you know,a food stylist, a calligrapher, cat psychic.

Something that suits my unique abilities.

So, what? You just quit without finding another job first?

- What?! - Erica, tell us about

that guy you've been dating. The one from Lava Life.

- He's a doctor you know. - Dentist, actually.

And I'm not dating him anymore.

- Yeah. - Oh, no.

No, it didn't work out.

He spits a lot when he talks, so...

and he has herpes.

In both places, so I just...

I, uh, I felt at risk and...

great dentist though. Trevor Markowitz. Tell your friends.

Did anyone else catch the debate last night?

Well, seriously now, erica, when are you gonna get a real job?

- An MBA would, would be... - A foot in the door at least.

I agree, Joe. I mean, you're beautiful, smart.

Maybe I have the answer. I know a really great therapist.

- Excuse me. - Oh, Erica.

She's always been my sensitive daughter.

You know what? Don't, okay? I know what you all think.

That there's something wrong with me.

That Erica, she's so pretty and...

and so bright, and such a friggin' disappointment. I get it. And um...

I'm suffocating under the weight of your collective disapproval.

Erica! Erica, unlock this door right now!

Erica, come on, we want to apologize.

I made your favourite dinner, for what?

Come on out.

Sorry, I don't have any change.

Oh, man.

- Can I help you? - Uh, yes, um, I just wanted some information.

Oh, Dr. Tom is between patients at the moment. You can go right up.

Please...

have a seat.

"Curiosity...

does no less than devotion, pilgrims make."

Abraham Cowley.

You must be wondering how this whole thing works.

- Well... kinda. Yeah. - Full disclosure:

My brand of therapy is not traditional.

I don't claim to have a lot of letters after my name,

but I what I will say is this...

whatever it is that you are unhappy about, I can fix it.

And all I ask from you is that you make a commitment.

Now I'm not really interested in working with fence-sitters.

you're gonna have to agree to see things through to the very end.

And I, for my part, will promise you that you'll emerge

from therapy with your problems solved.

Isn't that a lot of pressure for you?

"Pressure makes diamonds."

General George S. Patton.

It's not really about me, is it? It's about you.

So...

what seems to be the problem?

Sorry. Why're you here?

Uh, why am I here? Um...

I don't know. I just...

you know, I just...

I just keep thinking that, you know, things weren't supposed to be this way.

You know, I always thought I'd grow up and I'd get a great career, and I'd

meet a fabulous guy, and I'd have an amazing life and...

- What happened to that? - I blew it.

I mean, I had everything going for me and I screwed it up.

- How? - Bad choices.

You know, most people, they have a few regrets.

I got tons.

There are so many things that I would've done differently. Uh...

Like what?

Like what? What are they, these bad choices, these regrets of yours?

Well, like I said there's a whole bunch.

Would you like me to pick one?

You know what?