The Slap

Previously on The Slap...

We're having a barbecue later today.

Would you care to come see what the desperate contortions

of a 40th birthday look like?

More than you can imagine.

Can I have a beer?

You're underage.

Hey, Richie, I'll give you a penny a pic

if you go around and get some shots of all this.

Okay. I'll do it.

What's the matter with you, you animal?

Don't you hit my child!

Mr. Apostolou, Rosie and Gary Weshler

filed a charge against you.

I tried to make peace. That didn't work.

They want to fight. They got a fight.

This is all preparation for a very nasty lawsuit.

These people are asking for it.

We cannot be gentle.

Yes, the judge said we could move forward,

but what are we getting in terms of statements?

You could hear the slap.

Yeah, well, it's difficult to pursue a single incident.

I don't think I can work here anymore.

You would tell me if there was anything else, would you?

Yeah.

Connie handed in her notice yesterday.

Since the party, it's like she's avoiding me all the time.

I wouldn't read too much into it.

And at its current rate,

the majority population of this country

will no longer be white by 2043,

when you guys are about 45 years old or so,

in charge of the new America.

Now, this would be the first postindustrial country

in the world

where minorities will be the majority.

Cause for hope.

Or fear, depending on your color.

Think about power,

how its numbers change.

Already, in what state are you seeing this in play?

Where are Latinos more prevalent than whites?

Connie.

Hm?

I'm sorry.

California.

Yes.

Be sure to read the Dave Hickey essays

I gave you for discussion...

Pirates , all right.

Yo, so there's this party, okay?

And I really want to see you there,

so I'ma text you about it tonight.

- Okay. - All right?

- Yeah, that'd be cool. - See you.

Sweet.

A miracle just happened. I was invited to a party.

Oh.

You mustn't go. You have a reputation to uphold.

Come with me, please.

I am venturing into alien territory

with other high school students.

Join the club.

Miss Saltire, does the State realize the burden here?

You have to prove some damage.

I mean, was this a tap?

Was it a full-on walloping?

How hard did the boy get hit?

We believe that there are enough witnesses,

one of them being a doctor.

There is no... Once again, Your Honor,

we are asking the court to throw this out.

I'm just trying to figure out how this got on the docket.

Have you all been conferring along the way?

Well, Your Honor, the State believes

that if we let this go,

we're saying that a grown man can slap a kid.

And the bat was already on the ground.

My God, it wasn't on the ground.

He was swinging it around. He was dangerous.

- That is not true. - He could've hurt any one of those kids.

Okay, okay.

Is there any documentation as to the injuries sustained

by young Hugo Weshler?

Your Honor, it's too soon.

He's still feeling the effects.

Okay.

Miss Saltire, would the prosecution consider

accepting some sort of compromise,

pleading this down to violation?

It would go on his record.

My client would not, not under any circumstances.

We wish for a full exoneration.

Okay, enough. And you guys?

It is not even a consideration.

This man is a child beater.

You're quite certain we can't avoid a trial?

None of the State, nor the Defendant

wish to come to some sort of an arrangement?

There's nothing on the table?

Is anyone here doing their job?

In that case, we'll go to trial.

We need more evidence, better witnesses,

more proof.

- We really wish... - Yeah.

I feel like I made a mistake by being aloof

from the age of, like, ten on.

I just always trusted adults more.

Too late to change now.

People are either farmers,

hard-working, diligent members of society

who play by the rules,

or they're pirates who want to pillage and plunder

and cause chaos and make art.

What are we?

We watch and make snide comments.

Speaking of which,

check out Miley Cyrus over there.

Twerking her way through the football team.

No wonder we're 0 and 8.

What?

Nothing.

That's not nothing.

It's a photo of a duck on a hard hat at a construction site.

No, it isn't.

Who sends an 18-year-old a picture

of a duck on a hard hat at a construction site?

Let me think.

Oh, gee, I wonder who that friend could be.

What?

Connie, one of the perks of being a hopeless outsider dweeb

is that you notice everything.

Come on.

I saw you and Hector at the barbecue.

He paid me to take pictures.

You have pictures of me?

Yeah, of you and of the tragedy of the tickets to Greece

and of Hector's father's giant roast lamb

and even of the dreaded slap.

Richie, you're my dearest friend.

So do us both a favor and delete the photos.

And don't judge me.

I get enough of that at home.

Hey, Frank.

Hey, how's it going?

So what are you trying to do? You still trying to protect her?

- Yes, I'm... - At 18 years old?

It's really none of your business...

Wait, how is it none of my business?

I live in this house.

But it's between me and her.

Come on, please. She's not a baby.

That's not...

These questions that she's asking...

Tony, please, she's my daughter.

So you think that hiding things from her is the answer?

- No, Tony, that... - She's not a baby.

I don't want her to know right now.

- Then... - I appreciate if you would...

Hi, guys.

Hi.

When's dinner?

Soon.

I don't take it personally,

but I am the property manager, Connie.

I'm running three buildings here.

You understand?

Right, Vivian? Back me up here.

It puts us in an embarrassing position.

I apologize. It was a mistake.

Vivian, Tony, does anyone have a sense of humor?

Let's leave it, Tony, all right?

She apologized, okay? It was a mistake.

Yeah, well, maybe.

"Yeah, well, maybe"?

What?

I'm just saying that she's a very smart girl,

and I just don't see how someone leaves her bicycle

practically blocking the elevator by mistake.

Can someone explain to me why this is such a big deal?

It's a big deal because I am the property manager.

The real estate company watches me,

and I could lose my job.

Because I left my bike? Jeez, Tony.

Maybe you should get another job if it's that precarious.

Yeah, well, just you wait.

What did I say?

What did he say?

He said that you do these things to test us,

to test him.

Okay, does anyone think that this is getting

a little bit out of hand?

I left my bike. I was late. I'm sorry.

The other tenants see you getting away

with something like this,

and they figure, "Oh, hey, what the hell?

The manager's daughter can leave a bike..."

Stepdaughter.

I get it.