1 00:00:09,563 --> 00:00:11,523 But if you're a habitual reader of the genre 2 00:00:11,523 --> 00:00:14,043 and perhaps some of you have become such, 3 00:00:14,043 --> 00:00:17,483 you'll begin to notice the frequency of these thematic allusions. 4 00:00:17,483 --> 00:00:19,683 And that's not to say that they become tropes, 5 00:00:19,683 --> 00:00:22,243 but more that we see what the women of the age 6 00:00:22,243 --> 00:00:23,563 were contending with. 7 00:00:23,563 --> 00:00:24,563 You know, when one-- 8 00:00:26,283 --> 00:00:28,243 Hey. - Hi. 9 00:00:28,243 --> 00:00:29,243 - You okay? 10 00:00:29,243 --> 00:00:30,563 I haven't seen you properly in ages. 11 00:00:30,563 --> 00:00:32,163 - Yeah, I'm fine. Just busy. 12 00:00:32,163 --> 00:00:34,643 - Hmm. You wanna grab a coffee? 13 00:00:34,643 --> 00:00:36,723 - Um, I can't right now. Sorry. 14 00:00:37,363 --> 00:00:39,363 Okay. Uh, soon? 15 00:00:39,363 --> 00:00:41,483 - Yeah, sure. Sure. 16 00:02:22,203 --> 00:02:23,483 MELISSA Hello? 17 00:02:25,003 --> 00:02:27,483 - Hi. Do you have a second? Yeah. 18 00:02:29,923 --> 00:02:31,723 - Why did you show Bobbi my story? 19 00:02:33,403 --> 00:02:34,763 Don't know, Frances. 20 00:02:35,563 --> 00:02:37,123 Why did you fuck my husband? 21 00:02:38,483 --> 00:02:40,283 FRANCES Extremely hilarious. 22 00:02:41,363 --> 00:02:43,163 Why did you show Bobbi my story? 23 00:02:43,163 --> 00:02:44,323 Are you-- 24 00:02:44,323 --> 00:02:45,883 Are you serious? 25 00:02:48,443 --> 00:02:50,603 Why didn't you show it to Bobbi? 26 00:02:50,603 --> 00:02:52,563 I assumed you had. 27 00:02:52,563 --> 00:02:55,603 If I had written something so close to home, I think-- 28 00:02:55,603 --> 00:02:57,483 - Okay, says the real writer. 29 00:02:58,923 --> 00:03:00,283 Okay, Frances. 30 00:03:02,163 --> 00:03:05,523 - I think you showed Bobbi the story because you wanted to hurt me. 31 00:03:08,603 --> 00:03:12,323 - I'm trying to remember if this level of narcissism 32 00:03:12,323 --> 00:03:13,923 is normal for someone your age. 33 00:03:13,923 --> 00:03:15,163 No. 34 00:03:15,163 --> 00:03:16,443 I'm very special. 35 00:03:19,043 --> 00:03:22,123 - I asked her how she felt about it. 36 00:03:22,123 --> 00:03:25,163 I was genuinely surprised that you hadn't told her. 37 00:03:25,163 --> 00:03:26,883 And then she asked to see it. 38 00:03:27,563 --> 00:03:29,803 Maybe I liked that she didn't know. 39 00:03:30,403 --> 00:03:33,243 It's good to know that you treat everyone with contempt, not just me. 40 00:03:34,243 --> 00:03:36,283 - I didn't feel contempt towards you. 41 00:03:37,123 --> 00:03:39,003 - Right. But you took every opportunity 42 00:03:39,003 --> 00:03:41,523 to make me feel pathetic and conventional. 43 00:03:42,363 --> 00:03:43,963 Writing for money, 44 00:03:43,963 --> 00:03:45,683 having a husband 45 00:03:45,683 --> 00:03:46,963 instead of fucking someone else's husband-- 46 00:03:46,963 --> 00:03:49,723 - Everything was about Nick. It wasn't about you. 47 00:03:49,723 --> 00:03:51,243 - He's my husband! 48 00:03:53,283 --> 00:03:54,923 I am part of it! 49 00:03:59,843 --> 00:04:02,243 - Look, if anything, I was 50 00:04:05,443 --> 00:04:06,803 envious of you. 51 00:04:06,803 --> 00:04:08,523 Uh, of your career. 52 00:04:09,603 --> 00:04:10,603 Your life. 53 00:04:11,283 --> 00:04:14,883 - So I'm meant to see your affair with Nick as a compliment? 54 00:04:14,883 --> 00:04:16,323 - No, that's not what I said. 55 00:04:16,883 --> 00:04:19,563 - Your actions have impact. 56 00:04:19,563 --> 00:04:22,123 Your writing has impact. 57 00:04:22,723 --> 00:04:25,843 The way you have behaved has had real consequences. 58 00:04:25,843 --> 00:04:27,363 - Okay. 59 00:04:27,363 --> 00:04:29,523 You made my depressed husband happy 60 00:04:29,523 --> 00:04:30,843 for a while. 61 00:04:30,843 --> 00:04:33,363 And then you gave up when things got complicated 62 00:04:35,643 --> 00:04:38,043 and you weren't at the center of the fucking everything. 63 00:04:39,923 --> 00:04:42,003 And now he's struggling again. 64 00:04:43,963 --> 00:04:47,363 And you call me as though you're the fucking victim! 65 00:04:49,403 --> 00:04:52,003 Please, please leave us alone. 66 00:04:58,243 --> 00:04:59,963 - Uh, I'm sorry, Melissa. 67 00:04:59,963 --> 00:05:03,883 I'm sorry for this, like, aggressive phone call. 68 00:05:03,883 --> 00:05:05,203 It was stupid, I, um-- 69 00:05:08,043 --> 00:05:11,323 Uh, I don't really know what I'm doing at the moment. 70 00:05:11,323 --> 00:05:12,523 Um-- 71 00:05:14,043 --> 00:05:16,083 I'm having a hard time maybe, uh-- 72 00:05:20,683 --> 00:05:22,683 I'm so sorry you're having a hard time. 73 00:05:29,483 --> 00:05:30,923 Are you okay, Frances? 74 00:05:32,283 --> 00:05:34,483 I'm fine. I'm fine. 75 00:05:37,243 --> 00:05:39,123 You don't sound fine. 76 00:05:39,123 --> 00:05:40,363 - I just, um-- 77 00:05:40,363 --> 00:05:43,163 I just haven't been the person that I should have been. 78 00:05:43,163 --> 00:05:44,323 Uh, um-- 79 00:05:45,323 --> 00:05:47,763 Sorry, I don't-- I don't know what I'm saying now, um-- 80 00:05:51,083 --> 00:05:54,163 I wish I had been more thoughtful. 81 00:05:56,283 --> 00:05:58,523 I guess I want to apologize for that. 82 00:06:00,323 --> 00:06:02,403 Uh, I'm gonna hang up now. 83 00:06:47,843 --> 00:06:48,963 BOBBI Hi, this is Bobbi. 84 00:06:48,963 --> 00:06:51,483 Please leave a message. 85 00:06:54,683 --> 00:06:56,283 I tried you earlier. 86 00:06:58,603 --> 00:07:00,243 I wanted to say sorry. 87 00:07:00,243 --> 00:07:03,123 And for that to mean something different this time. 88 00:07:06,563 --> 00:07:10,163 I called Melissa yesterday about her showing you the story. 89 00:07:11,203 --> 00:07:13,123 You can imagine how she reacted. 90 00:07:14,003 --> 00:07:15,283 I deserved it. 91 00:07:16,763 --> 00:07:18,603 I think you'd have found it pretty funny. 92 00:07:21,403 --> 00:07:24,683 I keep thinking what my story must have looked like to you. 93 00:07:25,643 --> 00:07:27,243 "She only cared for herself 94 00:07:27,243 --> 00:07:30,363 and the rest of us were just debris left in her wake." 95 00:07:31,843 --> 00:07:34,323 That was about me trying to reach for something. 96 00:07:35,403 --> 00:07:36,403 A feeling. 97 00:07:37,403 --> 00:07:39,843 Not an accurate description of you. 98 00:07:42,763 --> 00:07:45,043 When you broke up with me in school, 99 00:07:45,043 --> 00:07:47,163 I didn't understand why it was over. 100 00:07:48,763 --> 00:07:50,483 We deconstruct everything, 101 00:07:51,163 --> 00:07:54,483 but we have never talked about why we couldn't be together. 102 00:07:54,483 --> 00:07:58,043 And I think I've been reacting against that. 103 00:08:04,803 --> 00:08:07,043 Our relationship isn't a game. 104 00:08:07,963 --> 00:08:10,043 I should never have treated it like one. 105 00:08:18,203 --> 00:08:20,803 I think about you constantly. 106 00:08:21,483 --> 00:08:24,363 And I want to sleep with you again. 107 00:08:25,603 --> 00:08:28,163 If you'd ever want to do that. 108 00:08:34,003 --> 00:08:38,403 I've always thought that maybe I wasn't capable of love, 109 00:08:38,403 --> 00:08:40,243 that I was too selfish, 110 00:08:40,243 --> 00:08:42,763 or that there was something wrong with me somehow. 111 00:08:44,563 --> 00:08:45,843 That isn't true. 112 00:08:48,643 --> 00:08:51,363 I know that I've hurt you, Bobbi, but-- 113 00:08:53,363 --> 00:08:54,563 I love you. 114 00:08:55,443 --> 00:08:56,723 And I always have. 115 00:09:33,483 --> 00:09:34,603 Hi. 116 00:09:35,683 --> 00:09:37,443 BOBBI That was a pretty solid email. 117 00:09:40,483 --> 00:09:42,283 I was going for honest. 118 00:09:42,883 --> 00:09:43,883 It was good. 119 00:09:44,843 --> 00:09:45,843 Thank you. 120 00:09:46,923 --> 00:09:48,203 I'm sorry too. 121 00:09:50,443 --> 00:09:51,603 Where are you? 122 00:09:52,523 --> 00:09:55,203 - Um, I'm on the way to see my dad. 123 00:09:56,083 --> 00:09:57,683 In Mayo? 124 00:09:57,683 --> 00:09:59,363 - No, he's come up to Dublin. 125 00:10:04,563 --> 00:10:06,083 Would you, um-- 126 00:10:08,963 --> 00:10:10,203 Are you around later? 127 00:10:13,803 --> 00:10:15,123 Do you wanna come over? 128 00:10:18,203 --> 00:10:19,203 Yeah. 129 00:10:22,363 --> 00:10:23,683 - Okay. Um-- 130 00:10:25,243 --> 00:10:29,523 Well, I'll be back after, like,00, so-- 131 00:10:30,883 --> 00:10:32,363 Okay. 132 00:10:32,363 --> 00:10:33,363 - Okay. 133 00:10:36,003 --> 00:10:37,083 Bye. 134 00:10:37,803 --> 00:10:38,803 - Bye. 135 00:11:13,963 --> 00:11:15,443 How was the journey? 136 00:11:15,443 --> 00:11:16,803 - Oh, good. 137 00:11:17,403 --> 00:11:18,523 Train wasn't too busy. 138 00:11:21,163 --> 00:11:22,563 Is everything alright? 139 00:11:23,803 --> 00:11:25,883 - Just some paperwork, signatures. 140 00:11:28,403 --> 00:11:29,763 - How are you? 141 00:11:35,323 --> 00:11:36,323 - Not so bad. 142 00:11:37,243 --> 00:11:40,323 I'm on these new things, pills, and I'm sleeping better. 143 00:11:42,523 --> 00:11:43,523 - That's good. 144 00:11:47,803 --> 00:11:48,843 Are you eating? 145 00:11:49,203 --> 00:11:50,483 Sometimes. 146 00:11:51,043 --> 00:11:52,763 Yeah. You? 147 00:11:54,763 --> 00:11:56,283 - Sometimes. 148 00:11:56,283 --> 00:11:57,603 The right answer then. 149 00:12:07,363 --> 00:12:11,323 - Um... I-I worry I was, uh-- 150 00:12:11,963 --> 00:12:14,283 I wanted to-- - I haven't been here in a long time. 151 00:12:19,963 --> 00:12:21,203 - Thanks for coming. 152 00:12:25,003 --> 00:12:26,883 I'm glad you're feeling better, Dad. 153 00:12:27,443 --> 00:12:28,443 Um-- 154 00:12:31,443 --> 00:12:32,763 I've been a bit worried. 155 00:12:34,883 --> 00:12:36,203 - I know, Frances. 156 00:12:46,323 --> 00:12:47,563 You're a good girl. 157 00:12:52,123 --> 00:12:53,403 - Safe travels. 158 00:12:54,363 --> 00:12:56,083 Thanks for breakfast. - Alright, love. Okay. 159 00:12:56,083 --> 00:12:58,283 - Dad. - It's alright. Okay. Okay. 160 00:12:58,283 --> 00:12:59,283 - Bye. - Bye now. 161 00:13:28,523 --> 00:13:29,523 Hi. 162 00:13:30,403 --> 00:13:31,403 - Hello. 163 00:13:32,483 --> 00:13:34,363 - Do you wanna come in? 164 00:13:48,123 --> 00:13:50,403 Let's be more straightforward with one another. 165 00:13:51,963 --> 00:13:53,363 I agree. 166 00:13:57,643 --> 00:13:58,763 - I missed you. 167 00:14:00,683 --> 00:14:01,843 - Me too. 168 00:14:05,683 --> 00:14:07,363 - I want to kiss you. 169 00:14:09,523 --> 00:14:10,723 I'd like that. 170 00:16:37,043 --> 00:16:38,603 What happened? 171 00:16:43,243 --> 00:16:44,843 - I did it after you left. 172 00:16:47,483 --> 00:16:50,883 It bled a lot. I freaked myself out. 173 00:16:54,963 --> 00:16:56,403 I'm not gonna do it again. 174 00:17:30,123 --> 00:17:31,803 Hi. - Morning. 175 00:17:32,363 --> 00:17:34,003 There's coffee left there for you. 176 00:17:34,003 --> 00:17:35,203 Hmm. Thank you. 177 00:17:50,123 --> 00:17:51,683 So what happens now? 178 00:17:54,763 --> 00:17:55,883 - I'm gonna go home. 179 00:17:57,123 --> 00:17:58,123 - Then what? 180 00:18:02,043 --> 00:18:03,123 - Library. 181 00:18:04,003 --> 00:18:05,083 - Come on. 182 00:18:09,763 --> 00:18:11,203 - I don't wanna move back in. 183 00:18:15,763 --> 00:18:16,963 - I don't want that either. 184 00:18:18,363 --> 00:18:19,363 - Okay. 185 00:18:20,563 --> 00:18:21,843 What do you want? 186 00:18:24,203 --> 00:18:26,443 - I-I don't want it to be the way it was. 187 00:18:27,363 --> 00:18:30,163 I mean, we were behaving like a married couple. 188 00:18:31,043 --> 00:18:32,443 Like we owned each other. 189 00:18:34,283 --> 00:18:36,123 I don't really know how that happened. 190 00:18:36,763 --> 00:18:38,603 - People think in couples. 191 00:18:39,803 --> 00:18:41,763 We have to work really hard to resist it. 192 00:18:44,683 --> 00:18:47,683 - I do want us to be committed to each other 193 00:18:48,683 --> 00:18:50,163 in our own way. 194 00:18:51,243 --> 00:18:52,683 Whatever that turns out to be. 195 00:18:54,563 --> 00:18:55,603 What do you think? 196 00:19:01,003 --> 00:19:02,043 - Sounds good. 197 00:19:05,483 --> 00:19:06,483 - Cool. 198 00:19:06,963 --> 00:19:08,283 - Cool. 199 00:19:30,523 --> 00:19:31,603 - ...she wants to go in person. 200 00:19:40,723 --> 00:19:42,963 So you saw your dad in Dublin? 201 00:19:42,963 --> 00:19:45,563 - Hmm. - That's good. 202 00:19:45,563 --> 00:19:46,963 - Yeah. 203 00:19:46,963 --> 00:19:50,323 - You know, he was very funny, your dad. 204 00:19:51,283 --> 00:19:53,163 I-I don't mean to talk about him In the past tense, 205 00:19:53,163 --> 00:19:54,283 he still has his moments. 206 00:19:54,283 --> 00:19:56,163 But... when we met, 207 00:19:56,923 --> 00:19:59,003 and when we got married and when you came along, 208 00:19:59,003 --> 00:20:02,803 he was just terribly funny and kind. 209 00:20:03,483 --> 00:20:07,803 And I didn't want you to think that-- 210 00:20:10,003 --> 00:20:13,323 Well, that that was never there 211 00:20:13,323 --> 00:20:15,363 or that I-- 212 00:20:19,123 --> 00:20:20,683 I don't want you to hate him. 213 00:20:21,643 --> 00:20:22,843 - I don't hate him. 214 00:20:24,443 --> 00:20:27,123 - I love him. I love both of you, you know. 215 00:20:31,563 --> 00:20:34,483 I just wish it had turned out better. 216 00:20:35,843 --> 00:20:37,003 - And so do I. 217 00:20:38,083 --> 00:20:39,083 You know. 218 00:20:40,363 --> 00:20:43,603 I mean, no one knows how things are gonna turn out. 219 00:20:46,203 --> 00:20:47,563 You can't be in charge of that. 220 00:20:48,243 --> 00:20:50,603 You know, you just make decisions and you hope. 221 00:20:52,363 --> 00:20:53,603 You hope. 222 00:21:52,283 --> 00:21:53,563 - Home. 223 00:22:05,163 --> 00:22:06,163 BOBBI Yay. 224 00:22:22,683 --> 00:22:23,963 - Yeah, I know. 225 00:22:41,203 --> 00:22:43,643 Why are we expected to clean up the mess 226 00:22:43,643 --> 00:22:46,603 from the ones who promised help and then left us to neglect. 227 00:22:49,043 --> 00:22:52,563 Every forehead I look at reads lines of sorrow. 228 00:23:31,043 --> 00:23:32,643 - I need to get going. 229 00:24:32,803 --> 00:24:34,003 - Hi. 230 00:24:34,003 --> 00:24:35,403 NICK Hey, do we need wine? 231 00:24:37,403 --> 00:24:38,603 - Oh, um-- 232 00:24:40,003 --> 00:24:41,003 I-- 233 00:24:41,003 --> 00:24:42,963 I don't think you meant to call me. 234 00:24:45,243 --> 00:24:46,483 Frances? 235 00:24:46,963 --> 00:24:49,203 - Yep. Did I just call you? 236 00:24:50,603 --> 00:24:52,963 - Afraid so. Shit, I'm so sorry. 237 00:24:54,363 --> 00:24:55,843 I don't know how that happened. 238 00:24:56,923 --> 00:24:59,123 How are you? - Fine. 239 00:25:00,243 --> 00:25:01,723 You're very quiet. 240 00:25:02,323 --> 00:25:03,883 Um, I'm in a bookshop. 241 00:25:04,443 --> 00:25:06,683 I'm shopping for Bobbi's Christmas present. 242 00:25:06,683 --> 00:25:08,883 Uh-huh. Tricky customer. 243 00:25:09,803 --> 00:25:11,243 - The trickiest. 244 00:25:11,243 --> 00:25:13,003 I won't even try and advise you. 245 00:25:13,923 --> 00:25:15,483 Any help is welcome. 246 00:25:18,763 --> 00:25:20,283 Good to hear your voice. 247 00:25:21,723 --> 00:25:23,123 Well, I've been very strict with myself 248 00:25:23,123 --> 00:25:24,483 about not calling you. 249 00:25:24,483 --> 00:25:25,683 Really? 250 00:25:26,963 --> 00:25:27,963 Why didn't you? 251 00:25:30,203 --> 00:25:32,083 You told me you didn't wanna see me anymore. 252 00:25:33,563 --> 00:25:34,723 - I did. 253 00:25:37,083 --> 00:25:38,083 Um-- 254 00:25:38,723 --> 00:25:41,163 Can you just, um, just give me a second? 255 00:25:41,163 --> 00:25:43,723 It's kinda noisy here. Just give me ten seconds, alright? 256 00:25:44,363 --> 00:25:45,963 - Yeah. Sure. I'll call you right back. 257 00:25:57,163 --> 00:25:58,403 How's Bobbi? 258 00:25:59,723 --> 00:26:01,803 Yeah, she's good. Um-- 259 00:26:03,803 --> 00:26:05,803 We're sort of back together. 260 00:26:07,763 --> 00:26:08,763 Oh, yeah? 261 00:26:09,363 --> 00:26:11,643 I mean, we sleep together. 262 00:26:11,643 --> 00:26:14,283 And we love each other, so-- 263 00:26:14,283 --> 00:26:15,563 That's good. 264 00:26:18,003 --> 00:26:19,283 Can I tell you something 265 00:26:19,283 --> 00:26:21,363 about when we broke up? 266 00:26:22,283 --> 00:26:23,563 Of course. 267 00:26:26,403 --> 00:26:30,083 - Remember when I had that consultation after my scan? 268 00:26:30,083 --> 00:26:31,563 Yeah. 269 00:26:32,763 --> 00:26:35,763 FRANCES I said it went fine but it didn't. 270 00:26:36,763 --> 00:26:40,163 So I have endometriosis. 271 00:26:40,763 --> 00:26:43,323 Um, it's really painful, 272 00:26:43,323 --> 00:26:47,203 and I might not be able to have kids. 273 00:26:47,883 --> 00:26:50,083 Or that it might not be easy. 274 00:26:51,563 --> 00:26:55,803 And then you told me you were sleeping with Melissa again, 275 00:26:55,803 --> 00:26:58,003 and I just felt like 276 00:26:58,003 --> 00:27:02,083 my body wasn't gonna feel good to you anymore. 277 00:27:05,803 --> 00:27:07,403 I don't know. 278 00:27:10,083 --> 00:27:11,683 - Why didn't you tell me? 279 00:27:16,083 --> 00:27:18,363 - I think I was worried that 280 00:27:18,963 --> 00:27:21,363 you would treat me like a sick person 281 00:27:21,363 --> 00:27:23,843 and I-I didn't want that. 282 00:27:26,043 --> 00:27:28,963 You know, I didn't really know what it all meant, but-- 283 00:27:36,563 --> 00:27:37,923 - I wish I'd learned about it. 284 00:27:41,363 --> 00:27:44,123 I felt like I was not what you wanted. 285 00:27:45,243 --> 00:27:46,643 That I was getting it all wrong. 286 00:27:48,283 --> 00:27:49,283 You weren't. 287 00:27:49,283 --> 00:27:51,843 It was just really complicated. 288 00:27:52,803 --> 00:27:54,723 - You weren't happy that I loved someone else. 289 00:27:55,443 --> 00:27:57,843 Um, all the time I loved someone else. 290 00:27:59,843 --> 00:28:01,083 What a hypocrite. 291 00:28:06,363 --> 00:28:07,603 - Where are you now? 292 00:28:09,163 --> 00:28:10,523 Stephen's Green. 293 00:28:19,403 --> 00:28:21,363 I'm sorry I fucked everything up. 294 00:28:26,523 --> 00:28:27,883 Do you remember 295 00:28:28,803 --> 00:28:32,003 at Melissa's birthday after we kissed? 296 00:28:32,723 --> 00:28:33,723 Yeah. 297 00:28:35,123 --> 00:28:38,203 - I stayed in my room 298 00:28:38,843 --> 00:28:41,123 and I waited for you for hours. 299 00:28:45,363 --> 00:28:48,243 I felt paralyzed by the idea that you were close by 300 00:28:48,243 --> 00:28:49,683 and that you might come back. 301 00:28:55,083 --> 00:28:57,843 I have this impulse to be available to you. 302 00:29:00,523 --> 00:29:01,923 All the time. 303 00:29:08,963 --> 00:29:10,203 Nick-- 304 00:29:11,643 --> 00:29:12,803 - Yeah? 305 00:29:25,083 --> 00:29:26,483 - Come and get me.