What Maisie Knew

You want to sleep with Mommy tonight?

Mm-hm. In my bed?

Mm-hm.

You promise not to kick me?

I promise. Yeah, okay.

Shall I sing to you? Yeah.

Yeah? Mm-hm.

What song?

One of your songs.

Oh, well, sugar, those aren't really meant to put people to sleep.

What did you sing me when I was little?

Um, like, you know, Rock-a-bye Baby.

That's for babies.

So?

Are you sleepy? A little.

Why don't you just close your eyes and try, okay?

Okay. Okay.

Close your eyes. Close your eyes.

I'll help you fall asleep.

Pizza man.

Hi.

Hi. Can you sign this, please?

Sure. Wait for me.

Pizza man's here.

You haven't had a creative thought in your life.

What have you done in the last five years?

How jealous you are. I'm jealous?

There's your tip. Thanks.

You're welcome. Goodnight.

I've-I've done my mid-life crisis.

You should get on with yours. What?

Don't talk to me that way.

You want to play Tic-tac-toe?

Sure.

Why don't we eat outside?

Okay?

Walk a way like you always do.

Hey, can I have some pizza?

Sure. Mm-hm.

Mm. Nice.

Tic-tac-toe. Look, I won.

Come on, Maisie, you didn't let me play.

Look at me.

You're cheating.

Maisie,

do you ever wonder what Margo thinks of us

behind that hauntingly calm exterior.

Okay. Enjoy-

Do you want to be "Xes" or "Os"?

Um, I want to be "Os".

The ants go marching one by one.

Hurrah, hurrah.

The ants go marching one by one.

The little one stops to suck his thumb.

You're a liar and a thief.

This is a colossal waste of time. Fine, go.

Hey. Hi.

Susanna.

Is that Daddy?

Shh, go back to sleep.

Open the door.

Open the damn door. Damn.

Stop making that fucking noise.

They hate me in this building.

Oh, there you are.

At last.

Open the door.

Susanna. Go away.

Open the door.

No.

Open the fucking door.

Not this time. I told you it would happen if you left.

What? Are you serious?

Yes, I'm serious. It's my apartment.

Open the goddamn door. No.

You're a fucking headcase. Fuck you!

Now, remember your soil should be damp,

not soaked.

You father's here.

Maybe your dog died.

I don't have a dog.

You're never going to lose money

on art unless you overpay.

This is a good price.

I need to know if you want the paintings,

I need to know ASAP. Let me just get rid of this call.

One second.

Here is this month's schedule.

We would prefer if you'd wait the few extra minutes

until the end of the school day

so that we don't have to interrupt class.

Okay. Okay, I'll make sure

that absolutely doesn't happen again.

Listen, why don't you and me go and get ourselves a nice double espresso?

With Mommy?

No, no, just you and me this time. Eh? Fun, huh?

Hey, so they're exemplary pieces...

Are you kidding me? What were you going to do? Take her to Argentina?

I'll call you back. People, just do I need to get some help?

No. This is not a game, Beale. Come on, baby.

Daddy's not going to pick you up anymore.

I'm just going to pick you up, okay? Are you okay?

It's okay. I'm only her father.

Wow, Pooh, you have your own TV?

Yeah, we can watch it later.

Hey, cool. A little monkey.

What a lovely room. Thanks.

Need anything before I go?

No, I'm all set, thanks. Bye.

Zoey, I want you to listen to Maisie's mother, otherwise I'm going to come back

and there's not going to be a sleepover, all right?

Okay. Look.

Okay, on the crown.

Icing. Icing really hot. You got it?

You got the icing?

Candy. Oh, candy.

Woo!

Look at that slide. Slow move.

Now put the...

fourth one on me.

Oops, sorry.

Look. It's red, white, and green.

Wow.

Let's go back inside.

Hey, listen to this. You guys hear that?

I really love how he weighs back on the beat.

Yeah, just want to get down.

That's you.

Yeah, yeah, it's good. Yeah.

I'm going to find a whiskey.

Zoey.

Don't cry, Zoey.

Oh.

This is the heart line.

And you're going to meet a very interesting man.

Extraordinary.

Oh, hey. You're back.

Hon, you're supposed to be in bed.

Zoey's crying.

Oh. I'm really sorry.

Hey, at this age...

Yeah, you know, at this age they don't...

Um, all right.

Thanks for coming.

Goodnight. Go.

Bye, Zoey. Bye.

Bye, Zoey.

Go back to bed, baby, okay?

So much for them testifying for me.

Fuck it.

The mom's a total Nazi anyway.

Okay, Maisie, come on, which one?

That one.

You dressed yet?

We don't have time for that. We're late.

Here. Put these on.

Okay.

You can definitely mention the time he threw you.

He did? Oh, my God, yeah.

He threw you across the room

onto the couch yelling in your face.

Jesus. Don't you remember?

It was like your most earth-shattering moment.

Maisie?

Do you and your mom sing together sometimes?

Sometimes.

Is it fun?

I hope you get what a farce this is.

It's ridiculous. We're not even married.

And listen, you know, whatever he says...

Do you want the chicken? Uh-huh.

Okay. Might be a little bit spicy.

How does that happen?

Here you go.

Hello?

If you think it's all right.

Your dad's coming up.

Hey.

Oh, my sixth favorite girl.

Who's your other girls?

Oh, I can't tell you about those.

Why not? It's a secret.

Do you want some Mandarin chicken?

Mm, that sounds good. Hi.

I think she's coming back soon. I know.

I'm going to grab a few things and then we'll, uh,

we'll keep this our little secret.

Don't want to get Margo decapitated, no?

Uh-uh.

Okay.

Okay, I got to dash.

But don't worry. I'm fixing things, okay?

And, uh, thank you.

You're one in a million.

Hey.

Okay, thanks. You're a prince.

That's Byron downstairs. She's on her way up.

Hey, up, up, up. Come on.

The doors don't open until ten after eight.

I've got to be at court in 15 minutes.