"Daddy!" "Yes." "I haven't called you daddy in awhile." "I like it." "Yeah, kind of puts me in my place." "There are very few people who I let call me daddy." "Daddy, daddy, daddy." "Yep." "Shut up." "I'll do the talking." "Okay, what's up?" "Guess what the kid found out?" "What?" "Well, indeed there was a last straw, and that straw was, uh..." "Wait, remind me what was the next to the last straw." "They closed Senecal Pharmacy." "Okay, and the last straw is what?" ""Berman's."" "Oh, no." "They closed "Berman's."" "Bastards." "Yeah, they locked the doors of "Berman's."" "You know what, Ben, this is just part of what we call progress." "But "Berman's" was like..." "That was the benchmark store..." "Right, but..." "In Pullman Square." "I mean, that was the big..." "What was the verb in that sentence Ben?" "Benchmark." "Ha ha, no, you're close." "Um, um..." "It was the benchmark." "You know, that store's... dad, don't get on this again." "It's old, it's smelly, it's overpriced..." "But you... you..." "It's under-stocked, overstaffed, and Dee-licious!" "No, I don't know what else to say about "Berman's."" "The weird thing is I don't feel that strongly about "Berman's" but I..." "Well, you used to." "I mean, that's the thing." "You've gotten soft in your old age." "Or I've come to my senses." "Dad, first the pharmacy..." "Then "Berman's..."" "Right." "And then pretty much everything else..." "And then, what happens to the culture of the square, you know?" "I see what you're concerned about but I do have to say this, Ben." "Mm-hmm?" ""Shadd up!"" "Hi, Laura." "What do you want?" "Nothing, I'm just stretching the ol' legs, you know." "Well..." "Let me ask you something, Laura..." "Do you think we make a difference in people's lives, what we do here?" "Like, on earth, like, we, in general?" "I'm talking about my practice..." "The people that come here seeking my help." "You mean you, then?" "Well, I'm including you in the practice." "Well, I think I do, but I don't know about you." "See, I sometimes I'm not positive that I am affecting people's lives in a good way, you know?" "Well, as long as they don't realize it." "But don't you think that what I do caters to the "haves" and not to the "have nots"?" "Do you know what I mean?" "The "have nots" have bigger problems to worry about than whether or not they can afford therapy." "'Cause they have not." "Yeah, they already know why they're depressed." "Yeah." "When I was a kid," "I used to think they were the "half knots."" "Don't you have work to do?" "Yeah." "The other day I was in the dry cleaners..." "Mm-hmm." "And I just have a lot of anger and I don't know what I'm doing with it, and I just snapped." "They said, "Yes, sir, can we help you?"" "I said, "Why is everybody controlling me?"" "What was it like in your home growing up?" "There was always a lot of death around the house, when I was a kid." "And I always knew that someone had died because of the sudden appearance of a 30-cup percolator on the kitchen stove." "You remember the "big boy"?" "That told me that the funeral brunch was about to happen in the house, with that great perking sound, you remember this sound?" "Ssssssshhh..." "Sssssssshhhh, with the light that came on every 5 seconds that said to me," ""Death in the family"." ""Death in the family wake up and smell the pain, trouble is a-brewin'."" "Right." "We were at my aunt's funeral, you know?" "And all my mom could say to me is," ""I just hope I have enough food back at the house." "Who knew your aunt was so popular, everyone came, everyone."" "I guess, the only happy memories, that I have, is of the summers." "Mm-hmm." "Because we had a summer cottage at a place called Nantasket Beach." "And my uncle, my uncle Red..." "Right." "He owned a ride there, and it was a ride called "The Rotor"." "I don't know if you've ever been on a ride like this, but it was a ride that went around around around around, floor drops out." "And that's when you'd stick to the wall." "And that's when you'd throw up." "And that's when my uncle would take your picture..." "For his throw-up gallery." "Well, why do you care?" "Well, because I like the old Pullman Square." "I spent a lot of time there." "You did?" "Well, I spent my childhood there." "Huh?" "It's sort of safe to say" "I was sort of raised by Pullman Square." "So I did what any normal person would do when he's upset." "I've founded an organization, called, "Free Pullman Square"." "Well, what are you freeing them from?" "You know, Laura, don't denigrate my movement." "Okay." "I mean, if we can stop what they're doing to Pullman Square, then we can stop..." "Progress?" "No, not progress." "Well, how are you gonna do this?" "Well, I'm starting a petition." "A petition?" "Uh-huh, and I made a sign that says "Free Pullman Square"." "Huh." "And I'll tell you something, Laura..." "Yeah?" "You can evict our neighborhood but not our spirits, alright?" " Wow!" "Why don't you get involved with a cause... that matters?" "You don't think the Pullman Square thing matters?" "Like, land mines, you know..." "The depletion of the ozone or I don't know, uh..." "What do you mean, land mines?" "Well, 'cause they kill people." "Yeah, but there's no land mines in America." "Well, then, I guess, your work is done." "Are there land mines?" "I mean, have we all just been really lucky?" "I'm not exaggerating." "The house is 2 houses away from the Atlantic ocean." "Right." "And even though it was 2 houses away, it took us half the day to get to the beach..." "And half the day to get back." "Why is that?" "We took everything in the house." "We took tables, we took chairs, we took lamps, we took a davenport couch and a hassock, big bottle of tab..." "We were like Jews on our way to Ellis Island." "Right down to the ocean, Dr. Katz, a sea of brightly colored blankets, and all the old beach smells." "Remember this?" "A beautiful bouquet of Solarcaine, Sea n' Ski, and Prell, filled the air." "I was the happiest kid in the world, for 3 seconds." "And then all of a sudden, my mom would come to the water's edge," ""Come on in." "You're out way too far." "You're making me nervous and if I'm nervous, everybody's nervous." "Come on!"" "And I'd just be out there waving," ""Can't hear you, cannot hear you."" "God, how I loved the ocean!" "Well, why don't you go chain yourself to Pullman Square somehow, like, to a bike rack?" "That was kind of like the original plan but I figured if I do that then, the cops would come and probably arrest me." "Well, that's the point." "I ain't goin' to jail for this." "Laura?" "Yeah?" "Are you with me or are you against me?" "Well, I'm against you, but..." "Ok, let me check my list here..." "Are you part of the solution or the problem?" "Problem." "Paper or plastic?" "Plastic." "Dumb choice." "Ok, so what is your plan of attack here, Ben?" "What, how are you gonna, uh?" "Well, it's a tri-phase attack..." "Perfect." "Which means 3, dad." "What is phase 1?" "Well, uh, phase 1 is uh, I want to get everybody together..." "Mm-hmm, like a pep rally of some sort." "Like a pep rally." "But with dancing and maybe bands." "Mm-hmm." "And, um, I'm gonna have that right in the square, you know and they can't stop me." "Well, I think you need a permit to do that." "No, you don't." "To have a kickoff party you need a permit." "Dad, if you're rebelling, you don't need anything." "Ok, phase 1 sounds doable, now what about phase 2?" "Right." "Then that's when I kind of need you mostly... in phase 1." "Because..." "You want me to get the old band together?" "No no no, but we need money." "So I was thinkin' maybe you would be the first to donate to the cause." "Yeah." "What's phase 3?" "No, phase 2." "I'm sorry, sorry." " Phase 2 is boycott." " Boycott what?" "Boycott the new stores." "Isn't it a little late once the new stores are in?" "Haven't you pretty much lost the battle?" "You mean after they've already built them." "Yeah, and opened them up to the public." "Ok, skip phase 2..." "And we'll move to phase 3... which is?" "Phase 3 is to buy back all the property from the greedy bastards who are developing it." "And how do you plan on doing that?" "Um, I can't get bogged down in details, right now, dad." "How much would it take to buy back all the property in Pullman Square?" "I would say about 8 and 1/2 million dollars." "And how much money do you have?" "I have 30 dollars." "We are sc-rewed!" "Now, your parents are not alive, right?" "No, I have one alive and one in heaven." "Well, whatever your concept of..." "Well, what is your concept of heaven?" "For me, it's like high school." "Heaven is like high school." "After you die you go to high school." "'Cause that's where a lot of your opinions are formed, in high school." "So you're sort of freeze-dried there and after you die, you go back to your high school and just sort of fly around, and visit the different cliques that you couldn't get into, and that's what I think happens after you die." "What was it about high school that you find so appealing?" "Oh, it's not that it was appealing." "I think it's kind of my own version of my own private, little hell." "You're so self-conscious when you're in high school." "I mean, isn't everybody?" "And there's all this pressure..." "What are you gonna do with your life after this is over with..." "And this is your last chance to go dating and have fun..." "Are you gonna let that guy touch your bra?" "And every possible element of your life is aroused when you're in high school." "So you might as well go back there after you die and deal with it, finally, instead of just shoving it under the carpet." "And is that what you did, Teri?" "Did you shove it under the carpet?" "Well, um, somewhat." "Yes, I had to." "Didn't we all?" "Well..." "So that's what I think happens when we die." "Yeah." "But um, I remember being very innocent and all that... almost Mormon." "And then I had all these girlfriends that were very much racy." "That's who I hung out with." "They smoked in the bathroom and everything." "Not Mormon." "They were not Mormon, no." "They were catholic girls." "I sense that this whole conversation we're having now is really about sex." "Which is okay, you know?" "I'm so glad we're sophisticated adults and we can talk about these things without being embarrassed or humiliated." "Well, that's one of the advantages of being dead..." "That's right." "And in high school." "We can say the word penis and it would be okay." "That's right." "Penis, penis, penis." "Yeah." "I just want to know if I'm getting better." "You are getting so much better, it's embarrassing." "Ha ha, really?" "What's gonna happen to all the Senecal employees?" "Well, they'll have to find other work or at least pretend to, while they collect unemployment." "You know dad, I'm kind of disappointed in you." "Why is that?" "Because you're not embracing my cause, you know?" "What happened to the old '60s spirit, hmm?" "Well, I guess, I woke up." "I would think you would agree with me, that Pullman Square should stay the same." "I may not be embracing your cause, Ben, mm-hmm." "But my cause... mm-hmm." "Is embracing my son." "Come here, you." "Ha ha, oh dad, don't." "Let's try this little chant..." "What do we want?" "Change!" "When do we want it?" "Now!" "How badly?" "Badly!" "Very badly!" "I think I've lost my touch." "Is he spearheading this "Save Pullman Square"?" "Yeah, he started a grassroots movement." "Really?" "Are there a lot of people now involved in it?" "He's had a meeting, and he had a fairly good turnout." "Oh." "What's fairly good?" "Little bit better than mediocre." "Oh, ha ha ha." "Well, I'd like to know when the next one is, I would come." "Good for you!" "Count me in too." "I'll save Pullman Square." "Is there gonna be hors d'oeuvres and stuff?" "You better believe that, my friend." "Nice." "He sort of inspired me to maybe start giving a little something back, myself, to the community." "Have you ever done that?" "Well, I used to do some work with the animal-rights people in the area of sexual harassment." "I know that sounds strange, but we worked with the horses." "And our feeling is that when horses neigh, that that's exactly what he means." "Ha ha ha." "You really have got me thinking, Laura, about this whole giving back to the community, this doing the socially responsible thing." "I really was affected by our conversation and I decided to make a tidy, little donation to the community mental-health center." "Oh, what happen to the "pro bono" idea?" "That is a great idea." "Unfortunately... just looking through my schedule," "I really don't have time to do that." "Oh, you know, they really need volunteers a lot more than donations, I'm sure." "Yes, I think you're probably right." "I just don't have the time to do it." "If I did..." "What about Wednesday afternoons, they're wide open?" "Yeah, well, then maybe that's the day I can make my donations." "Uh-huh." "But, for me, the most elegant solution to this problem is just to write out a check." "Alright, Dr. Katz." "Well, if that's gonna make your conscience feel better," "I guess, that's what it's all about." "No, it's not about my conscience, at all." "It's about my social consciousness..." "My social conscience." "Yeah, whatever." "Laura, I am responsible for the mental health of more than 30 people." "You're not responsible for it, you just tamper with it." "I don't tamper, I uh, I tinker." "I want to try something new with you, Ed." "Mm-hmm." "I want you to take in the silence..." "And then when I say "now", give it a color." "Okay?" "Just tell me what color it feels like... now." "Blue." "So close." "Do you mind if I..." "Can I ask you one question?" "You can ask." "Can we try a little word association?" "Absolutely." "Okay." "Um, music." "Hello." "Grief." "Dance?" "Bag." "Shopping." "Leg." "Hello." "Friendly." "Octopus." "Sponge." "Pigeon." "Filter." "Hello!" "Hey, Todd." "How ya doin'?" "Not well." "What's wrong?" "I got problems in my life." "Oh, no." "When you have problems..." "Well, I don't have problems, but I almost said that." "I appreciate your support." "What's wrong?" "You see what's goin' on with Pullman Square, I mean..." "Oh, yeah yeah, I like it." "Why would you like that?" "There's a lot of reasons..." "All those new stores, you know?" "Well, it's the same stores in the mall." "I know, but they're right there." "But the whole point is you can go to the mall and go to those stores, not..." "I don't like malls, though, I don't." "But it's gonna be like a mall!" "I like the stores in a mall but I don't like malls." "Well, it's gonna be like a mall." "I know!" "It's great man." "You know what?" "It would be like comin' in here and seein' you but you were different." "Uh-huh." "Like it was Todd..." "But I became a gap or somethin'?" "No, not a store..." "Like you looked different." "Like, let's say..." "Let's say, you styled your hair, like you slick-ified." "Slick-ified?" "Yeah." "Wow!" "Like, put gel in it." "I do put gel in it." "You do?" "Yeah." "So, it was kind of a bust, huh?" "Well, not a lot of people showed up that's why I'm doin' this now..." "This flyer thing." "Flyers always help bring people in." "I'm posting flyers up everywhere." "Can I post one up here?" "Ok, actually, it's against store policy, Ben." "What about all those flyers up in the window?" "The flyers?" "Yeah." "Oh, those are bands that are playing in town soon." "Oh, so bands can do it, but if I'm on a "Save Pullman Square" kick..." "Well, that's an apolitical sort of agenda." "The bands have an agenda." "Nah, they just want to rock out." "You know Todd, you may have a laissez faire attitude uh-huh..." "About this now..." "You like that?" "But you should really start getting into the esprit de corps." "Do you know what I'm saying?" "I know, I know." "I have a joie de vivre about it." "Well, you may have a joie de vivre but that joie de vivre may be taken away..." "Tout suite if you don't do something because what I'm planning here is coup d'etat." "Oh, wow!" "And that coup d'etat is gonna change la monde." "This is a big moment in my life..." "Um when I was a little kid, it was the first time I ever saw my father cry." "Well, it was 1978..." "Mm-hmm." "And it was the playoff game between the Yankees and the Red Sox." "And my father and I were watching a little black-and-white TV set sitting on the edge of the bed, it was amazing." "And Carl Yazstremski, his hero, got up to the plate..." "And he hit a home run into the right-field stands." "And I look over at my father and my father is crying..." "Tears are rolling down his cheeks." "And I said, "Dad, are you okay?" "Why are you crying?"" "And he said, "Ed, I'm trapped in a marriage I don't understand."" "So, how did it go?" "What?" "The rally." "It wasn't a rally it was a meeting." "How did the meeting go?" "It was a decent turnout." "There was um, 11 of us." "Mm-hmm." "That's a pretty impressive number of people at the beginning of a movement." "Yeah?" "Yeah." "We're in trouble." "Yeah, did you guys get done what you needed to get done?" "No." "So it really wasn't..." "It really wasn't that organized." "This movement doesn't have, I think a lot of uh..." "What's the word, the uh..." "Momentum?" "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm." "Damnit." "This movement doesn't have a lot of glamour." "I remember the first anti-war protest I went to." "It was crazy, we laugh we cried." "Uh-hmmm, really?" "What happen?" "Well, first we sang songs and then we got tear-gassed." "Did you really get tear-gassed?" "Yeah." "Wow, what was it like?" "It's not as bad as it sounds." "Ha ha ha." "You know?" "Tears of joy?" "Any kind of drugs in those days was acceptable." "Ha ha ha." "You just breathed it in." "Yeah, you get a little buzz." "My generation doesn't have Vietnam or Korea or the South." "We don't have any big like uh..." "You know what, Ben?" " Big reason to uh..." " Guess what?" " Protest." " Guess what?" " What?" " I'm proud of ya." "You serious?" "Yes, I am." "What's important is not the issue." "It's the spirit of protest that lives in you." "Yeah." "And the spirit of caring." "I do care, you know, I do." "We need a more outspoken and um, better leader." "Ben, I thank you for the offer, but I'm not available or interested in the position." "Dad, I wasn't asking you." "I don't think you're a particularly charismatic man, you know?" "What about like this?" "Alright, you're in." "That was my stomach." "Oh, was it?" "Uh-hmm, ha ha." "Um, no, you seem to be doing so much better." "Do I?" "Yeah." "Good, I feel better." "Do you miss living in New York City?" "Well, no, I don't." "I hate to say this, but as you grow older, it gets much less romantic and attractive..." "To be racing around on subways, and seeing old ladies eating out of garbage cans and stuff." "It's not so funny as it used to be." "Right." "So, I don't think I like that... or spend the entire day going across town in six different cabs just to get a lampshade." "Yeah, isn't it..." "What's the expression?" ""Nice place to visit but I wouldn't live there."" "That's the expression!" "Yeah, I'm not trying to reduce some real insight you have to a really short cliché..." "But you just have." "Well Teri, you know Rome wasn't built in a day..." "Uh-huh." "And things like that." "Was that my stomach or your stomach?" "I keep telling you it was my stomach." "Is that a nervous response?" "It isn't a nervous response." "It's either, well... sometimes I think my unconscious is trying to say something." "If you listen very closely to my stomach, it's actually saying words." "Mm-hmm." "So that I can, you know, realize what I'm feeling." "Mm-hmm." "Sometimes I deny the word, it will go," ""joy", it'll go, "joy"" "and that means I'm really happy when I think I'm not, and that helps me." "Sometimes it will say, "Grieve, you need to grieve"." "When I knew that I wasn't grieving, I'd go," ""Oh, I know the dog died, I don't care"." "But actually, I need to grieve about the dog, so it will remind me..." ""Grieve"..." "That has happened to me." "Well, you can't really expect your stomach to be tapped in, constantly." "Sometimes I don't think it's tapped in at all 'cause it says something very mundane, like you know," ""We need cleanser"" "you know something stupid like that, and I go, this is not even important to my life." "You seem like you've mellowed out a little bit, Ed." "No, I think, I'm not as rageful as I was when I came in 'cause I was sitting on it, right?" "Now, I feel like I'm just getting out with it." "You know what, Dr. Katz?" "Could I just go through a litany of all the things that I'm angry about?" "Absolutely." "Well, I'm angry..." "I'm angry that the Red Sox haven't won a world series." "I'm angry about it!" "Mm-hmm." "Dr. Katz." "That's the whole list?" "That's it." "No, I think you're missing the point, Dr. Katz." "The point is that you feel emotionally raw." "Yes, I'm raw." "I'm very emotional right now." "That's a good thing." "Is it good?" "Yeah." "What about this voice?" "Isn't it too high?" "Little bit, but you can adjust that." "Oh, so if I go a little lower, that's good." "Mm-hmm." "Still emotional!" "Well, I think you arrive with rage." "Yes." "And you leave with something less than rage." "Yes." "Whoops, you know what the music means." "We're gonna have to stop now." "Our time is up."