Heightened

- What? - That's a nice way to answer the phone.

Hello, Mother. What do you want?

You haven't RSVPed to the Peterson wedding.

- What? - Alice just called me.

Said she couldn't find your response anywhere.

It's this weekend, Eleanor.

- Well, obviously, I can't go. - Why not?

You've known Jill since you were two.

And I haven't spoken to her since I was ten.

Well, ignoring her invitation is rude,

and reflects rather poorly on your father

and me, don't you think?

Sorry I made you look bad, but can you think

of any reason other than Jillian Peterson being a huge bitch,

- that I can't go? - Eleanor.

Christ, Mom. I have the Bar Exam.

I hate it when you talk like that.

We're so happy you're home, dear.

We were so worried about you,

weren't we?

So worried.

Can I get anyone a drink?

-Eleanor shouldn't be drinking. -Oh, right.

But I'll have a G&T.

So the wedding was lovely.

The Peterson wedding.

Jillian looked beautiful.

Though, her hair is short now, and she wore it down,

which I found a little gauche,

and my chicken was a little tough,

but you can't have it all.

Thank you, dear.

What do you think?

About what?

Is it just my generation

that thinks you should have your hair done

for your own wedding?

Are you serious?

Uh, your mother is just trying to have a conversation, Nora.

Yes, but forget about me.

What would you like to talk about, Eleanor?

She'll be okay.

How am I getting there?

Good morning to you, too.

I don't have a car.

So I suppose I'll have to drive you.

Hello everyone, my name is Jim.

Let's go around the circle, and introduce ourselves.

We'll start with you.

My name's Bill, I'm an alcoholic.

Ah, Bill,

this is "Learning to Connect."

AA is two doors down on the left.

Anyone else?

Okay. We'll get there eventually.

You're all here

because you have something in common.

You have trouble connecting with others.

This is a safe space.

In here we open up, connect,

and learn to take that to the outside world.

I don't really need to be here.

My parents made me.

Your parents?

And a judge.

Well, why do you think

your "parents" feel it's necessary?

They were concerned about my behavior.

And you're not?

Concerned?

My behavior is fine.

You don't think pulling that alarm indicated otherwise?

I needed to leave.

So you're just going to pull an alarm

every time you feel uncomfortable.

Why not?

Maybe then I'll go to jail,

and I won't have to see my mother anymore.

You were very lucky to have escaped

more serious consequences, Eleanor.

It's Nora.

I don't like being called Eleanor.

-Noted. -And no, I'm not lucky.

I have rich parents.

The judge was an old law school buddy of my dad's.

It's a lot of things,

but it's certainly not luck.

Well, Nora, lucky or not,

I suggest you take your time here seriously.

So, Eleanor,

are you going to be seeing any of your old friends

while you're home?

What friends?

You know, your old high school girlfriends.

Can you name a single one of my high school girlfriends?

We've found that volunteer work

is the best way to re-integrate yourselves

as functional members of society.

So if you have any preferences, speak right up.

- I'll do animals. - Animals.

- Pediatric ward. - Okay.

- Old people. - Old People.

- Homeless outreach. - Soup Kitchen.

And that leaves Eleanor.

-Do you have a preference? -It's Nora.

Nora, do you have a preference?

Oh.

I don't really do...

nature.

Can I help you?

Hi. I'm, um...

Sorry, it's just-- it's embarrassing.

Why I'm here, I mean.

You haven't gotten to that part yet.

Right, um, so, I'm in this program.

-Yeah? -And, um...

I'm just enjoying watching you squirm.

-You must be Eleanor. -It's Nora.

Jim called ahead about you.

We've had great success with some people from the program.

You all make fantastic little workers.

You'll be shadowing Dustin, a member of our team.

He'll be responsible for your day-to-day.

We just ask that you sign in and out on the forms over there,

so that we can send the hours off to the cuckoo's nest,

let 'em know you're behaving yourself.

Okay. Where do I find this Dustin?

Take a left out that front door,

follow the path straight down to the beach.

He spends his morning prowling on the rocks down there.

Okay.

Oh, Eleanor.

I'll be watching you.

Hi.

-Hi. -Hi.

I'm Nora, I'm looking for Dustin.

He's supposed to be my project manager, supervisor--

Call me Dusty.

-You're Dustin? -Dusty.

Dusty's not a name.

It is. It's my name.

Yeah, um, I think it's more like an adjective.

-An adjective? -A descriptor.

Yeah, I know-- I know what an adjective is.

Of course you do.

Right, well, Nora,

you'll be working with me for the next few weeks.

Mostly trail maintenance and the like.

Do you have a change of clothes?

We'll see what we can do.

You're getting sunburned.

Let's take a break.

Want some?

No. Thank you.

You don't like 'em?

Not really.

What? Why? They're so cheesy and perfect and delicious.

Well, I've never actually had them.

You have to try some right now.

-I can't. -Why? You on a diet?

Not that you need to be. Your body is fine.

Not like, "fine." Just fine.

It's better than fine. It's good.

It's--it's good. It's great. That was weird.

Yeah, I don't eat orange foods.

Huh? Why?

It's not natural.

The color is named after a fruit.

I think the fruit was named after the color, but...

I don't eat fruit either.

It's dirty.

Is that why you're in that program?

Kind of.

What else is wrong with you?

To land you there?

It's so dirty there.

Did that give you anxiety, Nora?

When anxious, it can be helpful to name things

that you're experiencing with your five senses.

For example, could you smell the salt of the sea?

Yes, and it smelled like asshole.

Feel the sun on your face?

I forgot to put sunscreen on the other day,

and I think this freckle on my nose is new.

How did the waves sound?

I've only had it for a day

and it's already changing shape.

That's melanoma 101.

Your program gave me cancer.

If we're gonna let you use the clippers,

then we need to go over some safety protocol.

If you want to use the clippers,

then you need to reach out your hands like so,

and say in a loud, clear voice, "Clippers, please."

Nora? Are you watching?

Ah.

Let's, uh--let's take a break.

You don't wanna be a cop, do you?

What?

No.