"Previously on Hidden Palms..." " You gonna check out your new town?" " I was thinking about going to meeting" "I'm Johnny, and I'm an alcoholic." "Something's haunting you." "My dad killed himself." "You gonna blame me forever?" "Well, I suggested you not marry Bob." "I suggested we don't move to Palm Springs." "I'm trying, Johnny." "I used to be friends with Eddie." "He lived in your room before you." " How did he die?" " Eddie killed himself." "That would be Greta." "Who's your partner in crime?" "Someone keeps sending me instant messages, claiming to be Eddie." "I can't figure out why anybody's screwing with me." "My money's on neighbor boy." "Stop with the games!" "You think he's gonna wanna touch you once he knows who you really are?" " What the hell, Nikki?" " Relax!" "Have a drink." "Hey, Liza." "Hi!" "I was wondering what you did here." "Always seeing that Hazmat getup." "Yeah, I work with some pretty highly toxic properties." "I'm guessing they're flammable too." "So." "You want to be a scientist?" "A biopharmaceutical combinatorial chemist." "Me too." "So..." "Why science?" "I think it'd be kinda cool to discover something one day." "Maybe they'll put "Lizanium" right up there next to..." "Einstein-anium." "That's..." "Einsteinium." "No, I like science 'cause it does what it's supposed to." "True is true and false is false." " I get it." " Yeah?" "Yeah, unlike people, science can't disappoint you." "The elements have to follow their rules of behavior." "Without straying or lying." "Or fighting." "Yeah, I was ringside." "I'm normally not a violent person." "It's just that Cliff's been screwing with me ever since I got here, and I just kind of lost it, you know?" "Cliff has that effect on people." "I'm sorry." "I know he's your friend." "I'm not sure who my friends are." "What about Greta?" "No, we weren't really friends." "Anyway, whatever it was, it's not anymore, so..." "I'm sorry." "No, it's probably a good thing." "There's this weird thing going on between Cliff and Greta, something... about that Eddie guy." "What?" "No, just looked like you were about to say something." "No." "No." "Go on." "But you didn't know Eddie, right?" "No." "I mean, I saw him around." "You ever heard of 08 Nova?" "No, what's that?" "Someone's screen name." "I keep getting these IMs." "Screw it." "It's not important." "So, what are you doing later?" "Later." "Maybe," "Wanna hang out?" "If you're busy, I get it, it's just..." "Be a relief to kinda hang out with a normal person for a change." "Yeah." "Okay, sure." "All right, cool." "Bye." "Sync:" "BlueDoc" "Touchdown!" "Oh, baby!" "Good morning, sugar bear." "You're up early." "It's hard to sleep with the Super Bowl going on in the next room." "Seriously, that was over the top, even for you." "I'm sorry, baby, we'll..." "Morning" "Try to keep it down next time." "Oh, Travis." "No need to dress for breakfast." "Sweetie, maybe you better put something on." "And I thought you liked me in less." "But I do have an impressionable boy to raise." "I don't think Travis is impressionable." "When is he leaving?" "Come on, honey, things are just going so peachy, there really is no reason for him to leave just yet." "Mom, the guy's a joke." "When are you gonna wake up?" "Don't you want your ma to be happy?" "What I want is for my mother to see through the transparency of her midlife dilemma and realize she is better than her choice in men." "You play nice, Cliff." "Because your mama is enjoying herself." "How's it going?" "Sorry about the other night." "For what?" "The fight I started?" "Water under the bridge." "Since we're making amends," "I should say if I caused any friction or interference in the epic love story... that is Johnny and Greta, I'm sorry." "It doesn't matter anymore." "Greta and me, it's not gonna happen." "Was it those emails that I didn't send you?" "No." "Not entirely, anyway." "The thing with Eddie has turned into this, like, sick joke that I'm not in on, and everything's built up." "It can't be easy living in that house." "Yeah, I'm sure that's why his paren moved." "Wouldn't you?" "Where did they go, anyway?" "His parents, split up right after it happened." "His dad went to..." "Colorado or something, and his mom is still around here." " In Palm Springs?" " Yeah." "I haven't seen her in, like, forever." "She took it pretty hard." "I heard she never leaves her house anymore." "Sad ?" "All right." "See ya, man." "See ya." "I haven't seen or heard from her." "I mean, for all I know, Nikki's lying in a ditch somewhere." "And Greta, well..." "Let's just say that I've learned quickly that this place is a breeding ground for the dysfunctional and the psychologically damaged." "Palm Springs is no different from anyplace else." "Okay, so you're saying that I'd be that I'd be getting IMs from a dead guy no matter where I lived?" "You know, it is within your power to not get sucked into all this nonsense." "Doesn't feel that way." "How do you manage to go one day at a time without a drink?" "I don't have a choice." "I just say no." "Think of all this crap as a great, big, shiny, neon drink." "And say "no."" "No, no, no." "Playtime's over." "Some people have to work for a living." " How are you?" " Fine." " Are we?" " Sure." "Not very convincing..." "What do you want me to say?" "How about something more than a monosyllabic response?" "I am fine." "We're fine." "Right." "Then why do I feel contempt emanating from your every pore?" "It's not." "Just..." "I don't know how to be around you." "It's not complicated." "Just act like a friend." "Friends talk to each other." "Tell the truth." "And I get that there's something that you think you can't tell me, but it's like you're walking around with this dark cloud over your head, and it's never gonna go away, no matter what we are." "So that's it?" "It's not like we're enemies." "Well... from what you said, it's not like we're anything." "Sorry, Greta." "Can I help you?" "Are you..." "Mrs. Nolan?" "Yes." "And you are?" "I'm Johnny Miller." "I live in your old house." "Thank you." "Are you kidding?" "You rode your bike all that way in this heat just to bring me my mail." "It's the least I can do." "So how do you like the neighborhood?" "It's okay, I guess." "I'm sorry about your son." "I know what happened." "I'm sure people still talk." "Yeah, I did hear you haven't really been around." "Well, I thought it would be too hard to go back." "The truth is, it's no easier staying away." "Can I get you anything else?" "No thanks." "Can I ask you a crazy question?" "Do you rember your son's screen name... you know, for instant messages?" "What does that have to do with anything?" "Was it 08 Nova?" "I don't know why you're really here, but I am not interested in talking to you about my son." "I... didn't mean to upset you." "It's just that..." "Thank you for bringing me my mail." "You should go." " Hey, Jesse Jo." " Well, ok what the cat drug in." "I'm just looking for Johnny." "Is he around?" "He was here earlier." "Why don't you call him?" "I'm avoiding calling his house." "I'm sure you've heard, being his sponsor and all." "Being his sponsor, I'm sure you know that what's said between sponsor and spons-ee is private." "Right." "So I guess asking if he's still pissed at me is a waste of time." "Bingo." "Whatever." "Well, if you see him, feel free to tell him that I was or was not looking for him." "Hold it." "Hold it with yo' sassy self." "Are you okay?" "You hungry?" "You want something to eat?" "It's on me." "Oh, no." "I know what you're doing." "I know the game well." "Save the 12-step talk for Johnny." "Been there." "Doesn't work for me." "Well, what does work for you?" "You sober people don't know when to quit." ""You sober people don't know when to quit?"" "Yeah, I'll..." "I'll stew on that one." "How do you know he was murdered?" "I don't." "I mean, that's what the IMs say." "Or what Eddie says." "Apparent 08 Nova is his... was his screen name." "Do you think it's possible that it wasn't a suicide?" "How would I know?" "Come on." "Okay..." " Halo 2 or Fight Night?" " Halo 2." "So how do you know that it was Eddie's screen name?" "I went to go see his mom, Mrs. Nolan." " She kinda confirmed it." " You went to see her?" "Yeah, not one of my smartest moves." "Think I really upset her." "This whole thing's just making me nutty." "I'm sorry, Johnny." "It sounds like that's really bothering you." "And I thought it was Cliff, but it turns out not even he's that juvenile." "Maybe someone is trying to tell you something." " Why me?" " Tell the cops." "It's enough already, you know?" "It's already caused me to come to blows with Cliff." "Ruined any chance I had with Greta." "The whole thing sucks." " But anyways, enough of dead Eddie." " Let's play." "All right." "Watch out." "I'm good." "Well, we'll see about that." "Yes!" "One more, one more." "Trav." "Double bourbon, neat." "That is your drink, right?" "You can drop the act, Cliff." "I'm not buying it." "What do you mean?" "How dumb do you think I am?" "Me and you, friends?" "Travis, I'm being sincere." "Okay, I know you don't recognize it, having never seen it from me before, but this is genuine." "Truly." "Okay." "Great." "So." "I'll just... stay for the rest of my life, maxing out Mommy's credit cards." "Doing her in the next room." "Maybe..." "Maybe we'll have a couple kids." "Kinda seal the deal, lock me in." "Take this ride to the last stop." "I know you doubt my intentions." "But see, here's what you don't get." "You make my mother happy." "The only thing I want in this world is for her to be happy." "So welcome, Travis." "We're glad to have you." "I thought you were going back to L.A." "Still with the Hardys?" "After that party, I'm sure there's a restraing order in effect." "So where are we living this week?" " Kaylie's couch." " How's that working out for you?" "The good part, I've been able to keep sober." "The bad, it's a drunken orgy seven nights a week." "Nikki, how does one get in touch with you?" "If, say, for the sake of flirtation, one wanted to?" "Call at your own risk." "I see." "Of course." "Once again, I am..." "I am so sorry." "What's going on?" "You tell me." "I just got a very interesting phone call from a Mrs. Nolan." " I can explain." " You're gonna have to." "I was..." "I was just trying to figure out what happened to the kid in my room." "So you interrogate his grieving mother?" " It wasn't like that." " Really?" "How would you feel if a stranger showed up at our door and started asking questions about your father?" "He died in my room, Mom." "I know that." "But that doesn't explain why you went there." "I need to know why he died in my room." "Why would you need to know that?" "I..." " I don't understand..." " Mom!" "Mom, he died in my room." "But..." "Forget it!" "Okay, I screwed up." "That's the point, okay?" "lam screwed up." "Do you understand that?" "Baby." "How did you know?" "Takes a lot of energy to watch Travis wash his car." "You wanna help?" "Wanna let me drive it?" "You want to drive my car?" "No, no, no." "Not a chance." "This is..." "It's my baby." "And this is my baby, making an effort." "Come on." "Quick spin around the block." "He's trying, Travis." "Now you've got to give a little." "Yeah, Travis, you gotta give a little." "Okay." "Just around the block." "I'll treat it like it was my own." "Now, see?" "That wasn't so bad, now, was it?" "He went to Maria Nolan's house?" "She was so upset." "I could hear it in her voice when she called." "I'm scared, Bob." "I mean, he was doing so well." "Has he?" "I mean, he's obviously still grieving." "Well, what should I do?" "Talk to him." "I did." "About John?" "Do you two ever talk about John?" "I think it's time, Karen." "The boy is knocking on strangers' doors, looking for answers." "Why did his father take his own life?" "The boy used to live in his room." "I mean, come on." "You see it, don't you?" "If he can't answer one, maybe he can answer the other." "Talk to him." "I think it'd help." "Both of you." "Heard you were looking for me." "Yeah." "I was afraid to try your house." "Smart move." "I don't think you'd be very welcome." " Johnny, I'm so sorry." " Did you even call your dad, Nikki?" "I tried." "But I couldn't." "Johnny, I really am sorry about what happened." "I hope your mom and Bob aren't too upset with me." "I'm the one who's upset, Nikki." "It got out of hand." "It wasn't supposed to go down like that." "Never is." "And how many times do you think you can apologize and have it still mean something?" "I'm sober." "Today?" " Do you want a medal?" " Johnny, please." "I'm trying." "Not hard enough." "I get what you're doing, okay?" "I need to hear it." "The tough love talk." "No." "No, this is anger." "I mean, what's it gonna take, Nikki?" "You're stuck in this revolving door, and you keep going around and around." "Don't you get it?" "Nothing changes if nothing changes." "I'm sorry, Johnny." "That makes two of us." "I'm willing to help you." "I'll be your friend." "Whatever you need." "But not until you help yourself." "Until then, we're just both wasting our time." "Looks like you're having a bad day." "Every day is a bad day, okay?" "One right after the other." "They just keep coming in endless supply." "Well, if you ever get tired of having bad days..." "I know where to find you." "I got it." "Maria..." "Honey." "I am so glad that you called." "You just dropped off the face of the earth." "You look fabulous." "Thank you." "I am just so thrilled to see you." "How long has it been?" "I shouldn't have said that." "Tessie." "We've known each other for years." "Our boys are... were best friends." "You don't have to censor yourself around me." "I won't break." "You always were tough as a bull." "Not so much these days." "Took all I had to leave the house." "Oh, baby, I'm so sorry." "Don't be." "It was time." "So..." "How are the new neighbors?" "Oh, Karen Hardy." "She's lovely." "And her husband, Bob..." " well he's actually her second husband." " I met the boy." " He brought me my mail." " Oh, Johnny, yeah." "He's a sweet kid." "At first, I was upset by his visit, but then it got me thinking." "How much I miss the old neighbhood." "How much I miss you." "I figured, what the hell." "Can't hide out forever." "Well, I for one, am thrilled that you are back in circulation." "Where have you been hiding?" "So I heard the bad news about you and Johnny." "Sorry it didn't work out." "I can tell you're weeping inside." "As it happens, I was rooting for you two." "I was on the edge of my seat." "Will they, won't they?" "Oh, the suspense!" "You know what, Cliff?" "Why don't you find someone else to torture?" "Looks good, right?" "Hold up." "It's him." "This is Travis." "You've got to meet him." " Travis." " I let him move in." "Can you believe..." "Hey, baby." "We used to be..." "We used to have something together." "Tessie, will you excuse me for just a minute?" "To go find something as to do." "Would it make you feel better if you hit me again?" "You don't want to know what would make me feel better." "Maybe a clean break is best." "It was starting to get messy." "Greta?" "Cliff?" "Thought that was you two." "Hi, Mrs. Nolan." "It's been a long time." "Yeah." "I'm..." "I'm sorry I haven't..." " called." " Greta." "Honey, you have nothing to be sorry about." "I understand." "How are you holding up, Mrs. Nolan?" "Well as can be expected." "You two?" "Okay... okay, I guess." "It's nice." "Seeing you again." "I know Eddie pulled away near the end, but he pulled away from us all." "I hope you don't blame yourselves." "And don't be strangers." "I'm tired of the lies, Cliff." "I can't do this anymore." "I won't." "Yes!" "Yes!" "What a rush." " That was awesome." " You like that?" "Yeah." "Yeah, I'm not used to having non-alcohol-related thrills." "What about sex?" "Never had it." "Sober." "It's just as fun, trust me." " If you want to try it out sometime..." " Is that why you called me?" "For the record, I'm a drunk, not a slut." "Except when you're drunk." " Damn!" " What happened?" " Nothing." " So what's the problem?" "I was sure I'd bust a rim on that spin." "What are you doing?" " What the hell?" " So generous of Travis to lend me his baby." "It's just a shame that that unfortunate man in his pickup truck was changing lanes and sideswiped us." "I should've known you were up to something." "Luckily, nobody was hurt." "I don't suppose I could talk you out of this?" "No, you know, it's oddly soothing." "You wanna try?" "Not my party." "Bad girl is trying to be good." "We're not all good and bad, Nikki." "Life is not an either-or proposition." "It's that key word, "and. "" "You scare me." "Isn't that the appeal?" "What am I doing here?" "Why did you call me?" "What can I say?" "I'm attracted to the hopelessly reckless." "Why did you say yes?" "Because I'm attracted to the pathologically insane." "Mom." " I was just..." " No, no, it's okay." "I remember when I took this." "The summer we went camping in Yosemite." "Took a lot of photographs that trip." "You wouldn't let us take any of you." "I was eaten alive by insects." "I looked horrid." "Remember?" "I don't do camping." "None of us could." "Took us all day to pitch the tent." " God, the tent." " It collapsed that night." "That was your dad's doing." "I remember it was you who caused the crash." "You know that." "Because your father scared me to death with that escaped convict story." "You know how I get." "I know what you're doing." "I didn't go see Mrs. Nolan because of Dad." "Then why?" "Well, maybe... maybe a part of me did." "It was so good for so long." "I know we don't talk about him." "We can, you know?" "Wh... whenever you want." "Do you miss him?" "I miss... the man I married." "Yeah, I know." "He checked out on you long before he did, Mom." "He checked out on both of us, Johnny." "Do you miss him?" "Yeah, every day." "We should go." "We're moving indoors?" "No, champ, I think it's time to press "pause" for the day." "What's wrong?" "I think I'm... a little too clear-headed for this." "I thought you were handling yourself quite well." "Let's call it a day, okay?" "Whatever you say." "So." "You think this heap will make it back?" "Barely." "Are you sure you're okay?" "Yeah." "I'm good." "Okay." "The night before Eddie died, I slept with Cliff." "It was just that one time, but it was the biggest mistake of my life, and when Eddie found out, he killed himself." "It's my fault," "Johnny." "It's my fault Eddie's dead." "That's it." "The big secret." "It's the truth." "So why tell me now?" "What happened?" "I saw Eddie's mom at the club today." "She was so nice." "She thinks I was this lal girlfriend to Eddie." "All the lies." "I just..." "I couldn't do it anymore." "You can't make someone commit suicide, Greta." "Trust me." "I was scared." "Scared to tell you, scared you wouldn't..." "You wouldn't want me." "Anyway..." "I just wanted you to know." "I wouldn't want you to judge me on everything I've done in the past." "So... you're okay with this?" "The past is exactly that." "Doesn't change the way I feel about you." "Travis, honey, hurry up." "We're gonna be late." "Where's that kid of yours?" "He's been gone all day." "Relax." "Let me..." "You know you cannot go without a belt." "I only have a brown one, and you said" "I couldn't wear it with the black shoes." "All right, I'll go look in Cliff's closet." "Well, hey, baby." "Look who's here." "Thought you were going around the block." "I guess I lost track of time." "Car like that, it's easy to do, right?" "But..." "I was really careful." "Found one." "I'm gonna killim!" "What is wrong?" "Travis!" "I'll call you back." "It wasn't my fault, I swear." "Travis!" "Stop it." "Stop it right now!" "Travis!" "You get off him!" "You're gonna pay!" "Where the hell did you get a gun?" "I'm from Texas, you moron." "We get a gun before we can walk." " He ruined my car." " You shut it." "Now, I will put up with a loser, with a liar, with a cheat, no job, no brain." "But I will not tolerate abuse." " He ruined my car!" " Nobody puts a hand on my baby." "Now, you get your crap and you get the hell out of my house before I show you what a good shot I really am." "Now, you move it!" "Well, Miss Thang." "I didn't think I'd see you again." "Can I sit down?" "Sure." "So how'd the rest of your day go?" "It get any better?" "That's why I'm here." "It seems that my... bad day took a turn, and it got really good." "Great, actually." "You know, no drinking involved, just... a really great... sober day." "So why do you look like you're about to cry?" "Because I had the best day that I have had in a really long time," "and still... all I can think about is how much I want a drink." "Honey." "I'm sorry, I just..." "I didn't know where else to go." "I don't want to go back to where I'm staying." "I'm afraid that I'll give in." "I'm really good at giving in." "Do you know what a couch commitment is?" "It involves a... couch?" "My couch." "But the commitment is all you." "Are you for real?" "And I have rules." "You wanna hear 'em?" "Here's how it's gonna be." "I want you to commit, first of all, to 90 meetings in 90 days." "Mom." "I'm sorry." "You hush, baby." "I'm the one who's sorry." "And a sorry sight to boot." "You must think your ma's a complete fool." "No, Mom." "But you deserve so much better." "Do I?" "You get what you settle for." "And I have settled for one too many Travises." "But I think they stopped working." "I want you to be with someone who sees in you what I do." "Baby." "You are the only man in my life." "Don't you know that?" "Liza." "Saw the light." "Come on in." "I'm pretty much always up." "Insomnia." "So?" "How's it going?" "Actually... everything is good." "I know, I'm shocked." "But I'm starting to think Palm Springs might not be so bad after all." "That's great, Johnny." "What?" "Johnny, what's wrong?" "You're 08 Nova?" "You." "It's not what you think." "So you're telling me you didn't send me IMs from a dead guy?" "No, I..." "I used Eddie's screen name." "But you have to understand," "Eddie was my friend... this was his." "So what?" "You just lied to my face?" " There was a reason." " What was it?" "I..." "I can't." "Liza, I'm not leaving here until you tell me." "I'm scared." "That's why you couldn't know that it was me..." "Eddie was murdered, Johnny." "And I know they did it." "I saw them." "Who did you see?" "Who did you see, Liza?" "Cliff and Greta."