"Alison, you're making me a little nervous here." "Sorry." "Isn't this what you want?" "I know you're what I want." "I've never been with a man I was more comfortable with, who made me feel as comfortable with myself." "So, what's the problem?" "It just all feels so complicated." "And messy." "It's not." "It won't have anything to do with you." " I'm sorry." " Well, what's wrong?" "I just never thought this would happen to me." "I never thought I'd really fall in love." "Or that somebody would really love me back." "Someone does." "I feel so stupid." "I can't believe I'm crying." " What are you doing up so early?" " Beats me." "I waited till after one for you last night." "Thought you might need a shoulder to cry on." "Well, it didn't exactly go the way I expected." " Oh?" "How exactly did it go?" " He's leaving his wife." "For me." "I mean he's brilliant, committed, the best in bed, and we are totally in love with each other." "I know you're thinking, "famous last words."" "Actually, I was still working on "the best in bed."" "I can't expect you to understand, Billy." "Life doesn't always come neatly packaged." "And neither does love." "Listen to yourself." "You sound like a dysfunctional Hallmark card." "I'm in love." "And somebody I'm in love with is in love with me." "I'm sorry if you're too jaded or cynical to understand that simple truth." " Hi." " Hi." " Are you Rhonda?" " Yeah." " I'm Carrie." "Carrie Fellows." " Oh, hi." " Come in, come in, please." " Thank you." " What a great place." " Oh, thanks." "It seems like a palace since Sandy moved out." "My old roommate." "She's an actress." "She flew off to New York to star in Forever and Tomorrow." " The soap." " Oh, I'm sorry." "I don't follow those." "Oh, that's OK." "So let's get down to business, shall we?" " I just have a few questions." " Of course." "My God, you have great taste." "Are you an interior designer?" " No." "An aerobics instructor." " Explains the fabulous bod." "What a dream, getting paid to exercise and help people realize their potential." " Wow, you've really got it together." " Thanks." "Would this be my room?" "Yeah." "I just shipped the last of Sandy's things out." "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" "Here's my resume and references." "I don't smoke, I don't drink." "I don't have pets or a boyfriend." "I love to cook, and I have a steady job." " Oh, what do you do?" " I'm an O.P." " You mean someone who delivers babies?" " No, that's an O.B., silly." "I'm an O.P. An organizational professional." "I help arrange people's lives for them." "How cool." "I also own my own car." "My parents live out of town so there won't be any unannounced visits." "And I believe toothpaste belongs on a brush and not in the sink." "Is there anything else you need to know?" "Just one thing:" "How soon can you move in?" "Really?" "Just like that?" "If you only knew the losers I've been interviewing." "I trust my instincts." "I got a good feeling about you, Carrie." "And I have a good feeling about you, too, Rhonda." "Have a seat, Matt." "Well, I manage, or used to manage, a halfway house in Hollywood." " I was fired because I'm gay." " You're sure that's the reason?" "I didn't hear any complaints when they thought I was straight." "And there were no extenuating circumstances," " no budget cuts, anything like that?" " No, nothing." "One day they love me, the next day I'm untouchable." "It's discrimination, pure and simple." "And I just want to make them admit that." "Exactly how far are you willing to go to win that admission?" "You don't know "invasion of privacy"" "until you've had your personal life on display in a courtroom." "I can practically guarantee it will get ugly." "I can handle it." "So you'll take my case?" "I wanna know all the details." "But, yes, I think we can work together." "There's one thing you need to know." "I didn't have a lot of money before, and now..." "Look, Matt, I'd be willing to work on contingency." " Which means?" " I put my fees on hold." "Well, then we're in business." "Yeah, I just need $5,000 for costs up front, though." "Five thousand bucks?" "Well, the partners are gonna insist, and it's just standard procedure." " Caulking gun." " What, Alison broke up their marriage?" "Yeah, you think you know somebody..." "Hammer." " Wow, how could she be so selfish?" " She's in love." "But that is flat-out wrong." "Does she realize what she's doing?" " Tiles, please." " I got them." "The point is that Alison's changed." "It's like she's trying to cut loose, and Keith was the one who set her free." "The wife was the one set free." "I doubt anyone asked her opinion." "You just don't get involved with a married man." "Love can change people." "Look at me." "I used to be a promising surgeon, now I operate on roofs." "It's funny, but I just don't picture Alison as a homewrecker, no matter how in love she is." "A homewrecker, honey?" "Please don't overdramatize." "I just call 'em as I see 'em." " Another tile." " Another tile." "Don't forget:" "Hang your grill orders, call in your shakes." "OK, I think I can handle it." "What can I expect on a good day?" "When we're not expecting rain." "Fifty, 75." "Depends how fast you turn your tables." "And it doesn't hurt to be cute, of course, so I think you'll do fine." "Here you go." "Why don't you start on table four over there?" "It's nice." "It's nice outside." "You can walk to work." "Give you great clothes." "It's a living." "I don't know how I'll score five grand pushing burgers." "Lot of grease on the griddle." "I'm not gonna be able to afford my attorney until the year 2012." " Thinking of hitting up my parents." " What's the problem?" "They don't know the meaning of "no strings attached."" "Oh, right, those kinds of parents." "Did you tell them what happened?" " Do they know you're gay?" " They know all right." "Although I'm sure they'd prefer not to." "It's seldom discussed." "Maybe now's a good time to bring it up." "Hey, cutie, you got a nice tip on table five." "I think you've got an admirer here." "Can I take your order, please?" " God, what a night, huh?" " Yeah, we certainly needed the rain." "Yeah, but all at once?" "I wouldn't think anything could dampen your spirits." " You heard the latest?" " Yeah, Billy told me the good news." " Congratulations, I guess." " You don't sound very sincere." "I'm sorry." "What do you want me to say?" "I'd just like my friends to be happy for me." " If you're happy, I'm happy." " But?" "Come on, it's freezing out here." "No, come on, Jane." "Tell me what you really think." "I can't help thinking other people are involved." " You don't think I've considered that?" " No, not enough." "God, Jane." "You've taken this so personally from the very beginning." "You'd think you were losing a husband." "It's the way you talk about this other woman like she's just an obstacle." "Well, thank you for being such a nice and supportive friend." "I was just being honest." "That's what you wanted." "Look, Keith loves me." "I'm sorry if the fact he's leaving his wife makes you insecure." "If you understood marriage, you'd understand that if Keith can leave his wife, he'll leave you too." "The storm should continue through evening, with heavy rainfall expected in the area." "As we move toward the morning hours, the storm should move northeast..." "Did I mention that it was supposed to rain today?" "Since you're a little damp already, how about getting some takeout?" "There's zip in the fridge, and I'm starved." "Not tonight, Billy." "I have plans." "You're going out in the weather, huh?" "Must be love." "I got it." " Hello?" " Hi." "Perfect timing, I just got back from work." "Listen, I'll be over in 20 minutes." "We can sit in front of a fire, listen to the rain and the surf." "I'd love to." "It's just that..." "I don't think I can make it tonight." "Something's come up." "Like what?" "Work stuff?" "How about if I try to call you later?" "Tomorrow?" "I gotta go." "Sure, fine." "Whatever." "No concrete reason, just "something came up?"" "Yes." "I don't like the smell of this." "But then again, I never did." "You've already given indicated how supportive you are of this relationship." "If you don't have something nice to say, then shut your mouth." "Don't take it out on me." "I'm not the guy who stood you up." "He probably just had to work late." "I'm sure I'll see him tomorrow." "Or sooner." "Oh, my God, look at you!" " Look at me." " You look great." " Come out of the rain." " Thanks." " What happened?" " My wife showed up." "I was getting ready to leave to pick you up when she knocked on the door." " What'd she want?" " I'm not entirely sure." "To see for herself, I guess." "I told her that my mind was made up, that what we had was over." "There was nothing she could do to change that." " She didn't believe you?" " No, she didn't listen." "She kept repeating that it couldn't end, she deserved another chance." "And she finally just broke into pieces and kicked me out of my own house." "She's going back to San Diego tomorrow." "She'll probably burn everything I own." "Oh, God, I'm so sorry." "Under the circumstances, I couldn't insist on staying." "Oh, no, stay here." " Hey, Billy." " Hey." " You sure it's all right?" " Of course it's OK." "You're soaking wet." "Let's get you out of those wet clothes, into a hot shower, and Billy will loan you something dry." "My tux is at the laundry." "You can have what's clean." "I appreciate it, Billy." "What the hell are you doing?" "He can't stay here." "Why not?" "Because we're not gonna harbor some fugitive from a marriage." "What if his wife comes over and kills us?" "I've heard about those things." "It's not safe." "You're crazy." "You don't know the first thing about relationships." "You do?" "You're in a mess." "His wife kicks him out and you give him carte blanche to stay here." "Did you think maybe there's a third party involved in this?" "It's only temporary." "Don't let it get you down, son." "Hell, maybe it's for the best." "You're a smart kid." "It's nice to help people, but you're never gonna make money like that." "Yeah, I know, Dad." "You've mentioned that before." "I hate to bring this up, but I have to borrow some money." "Well, sure, how much do you need to tide you over?" " $5,000." " $5,000?" "Matt, isn't that a bit steep?" "I haven't told you what I'm gonna use it for." " Living expenses, I imagine." " It's for me to hire a lawyer." "So I can file a lawsuit against the halfway house." " They fired me because I'm gay." " Oh, Matt, I'm sorry." " Can't say it surprises me." " Thanks a lot, Dad." "I've told you before, son." "You've chosen a lifestyle that most..." "Being gay is not a choice." "Whatever, whatever." "I knew it was bound to lead to difficulties." "Yeah, well, I guess it's my problem, right?" "It's not your problem." "We want to help." " But a lawsuit?" "For what?" " Discrimination." "Discrimi?" "Have you thought this through, son?" "Have you considered what you'll put yourself through?" "That kind of attention, publicity." " The media runs wild with those things." " It's worth it." "That is easy to say, here, now, in your own home, surrounded by people who love you." "But out there..." "The world doesn't give a damn about you." "Take a stand, they'll shoot you down." " I will take that chance." " Well, I can't." "Well, thanks for all your loving support." " Matt, don't leave." "No." " Come on, Matt, sit down." "Matt!" " Thanks for dinner." " Would you just wait here a second?" " Matthew..." " Matt, we're only thinking of you!" " What?" " Lily Gray." "I'm sure Keith's told you all about me." "Yeah, sort of." " How did you?" " Relax." "It's a dream, babe." "He told me our marriage was over." "News to me." "I've been in Washington trying to get Congress to bail out the farmers." "We got the aid, but I lost my husband." " So, what do you do, anyway?" " Advertising." "Nice creative field." "You probably have one of those vivacious personalities." "And a great sense of humor." "I never really could get Keith to laugh." "I hear you do that and a whole lot more." "You're being much too hard on yourself, Lily." "According to Keith, the marriage was dead." "These things happen." "Relationships go through cycles, Alison." "Peaks and valleys." "Things may not have been going well, but I never had a fighting chance." "But people change, Lily." "You both got married so young." "You and Keith just grew apart." "I know my husband, Alison." "And I know myself." "My marriage died because you came along and destroyed it." "You're responsible, Alison." "You and you alone." " Carrie?" " Morning." "Anything missing?" "Hope I didn't wake you." "I got up early to do the drapes." "No, I had to be up anyway." "I have a class." "Only I can't seem to find my vitamins." "They're here." "I filed them under "V" for vitamins, see?" "Between the veggie salt and the V-8 juice." "You alphabetized our kitchen?" "Yesterday, while you were teaching." "And I also threw in this kitchen caddy." "Sort of as a housewarming gift." "Well, thanks." "This is last year's model, but nobody will ever know." "The new version has wider shelves for thicker bottles." "Good morning." "Somebody didn't get enough sleep last night." " Billy..." " You know what we need?" " Thicker walls?" " Oh, hi, Billy." " I was talking to Alison." " What do we need?" "We need to get away from all this." "I couldn't agree more." "Why don't we go camping?" "I know the perfect spot." "No water-skiing, fast-food stands, or volleyball." "So, what do you do for fun?" "We'll think of something." " So, what do you say?" " I'd love to go." " Great." "I'll make the arrangements." " Great." "What do I bring?" "A bathing suit and a sleeping bag." "I'll take care of the rest." " See you, Billy." " Happy trails." "Camping?" "Your idea of roughing it is, like, grilling burgers out by the pool." "It's a small price to pay." " Look, I'm happy for you, OK?" " Thank you, Billy." "You know, I had the weirdest dream last night." "You actually slept?" "Keith's wife was in bed with us." "Alison, I didn't know you had such a kinky imagination." " Go on." " It was nothing like that." " She was talking." " Just talking?" " Yeah, she made me feel so guilty." " Take it easy, it was just a dream." "I know." "But I feel like I've gotta..." "I don't know, like I have to see her." "In person." "And do what?" "Share what you have in common?" "I don't know." "I guess I'll figure it out when I get there." "Wait a second." "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" "No." "Not really." " Morning." " Hi." "God, I haven't dragged out this old sleeping bag in years." "I got it when I was in the Girl Scouts." "I never was big on camping." "I thought I'd get attacked by something wild." " And now you're looking forward to it?" " Yeah, I guess I am." "Well, have a good time." "And if I were you, I'd leave your merit badges at home." "Jane, what is your problem?" "Sorry." "I can't pretend I like what you're doing." "Well, who asked you?" "And who are you to sit in judgement on my life?" "You're right, Alison." "You're right." "It's just that I care about you." "And I see you walking off this cliff." "Do you think for one second that I would've chosen this mess for myself?" "You should've bailed when you found out Keith was married." " Like I engineered this whole thing." " It doesn't make any difference." "Or that Keith may have left his wife anyway." "It doesn't matter." "Do you know something I don't?" "Besides how to behave around married men." "Long-term relationships are complicated." "The biggest temptation is anything new." "I learned that myself." "The toughest thing in a marriage is keeping the commitment." "And I guess I believe, maybe simplistically, that if you can outlast, together, all the outer temptations and life changes that swirl around you, eventually your marriage will achieve a kind of transcendence that will far outweigh the brief excitement of a fling." "Keith is not a fling, Jane." "I'm not saying he is." "But it doesn't sound like he's able to honor a commitment either." "So in your perfect world there is no divorce." "And people should stay in unhappy marriages until they wither up and die, or find the meaning of love." "No, but I don't think anyone can go from one relationship to another without repercussions somewhere." "Alison, I'm just worried about you." "I'm worried that you're gonna get hurt." "Well, you have a really interesting way of showing it." "I'm sorry." "I guess my feelings about this whole thing have got in the way of what's really important." "What's that?" "Our friendship." "Hey, you seem to know what you're doing." " Good morning to you, too." "What's this?" " It's collateral." "The pink slip to your car." "Don't you think you'll need this?" "Yeah, soon, I hope, but you hold onto it, as a gesture of good faith." "I'm selling the car." "I can get $2,000." "I know you said five..." " Slow down." " No, I can't." "This is important to me." "I'm not in this to make some huge settlement out of this." "I want to do this so that the next gay person that comes along, that they don't lose their job." "It stops here, Sarah." "With or without your help, it stops here." "I think you better hang onto your car for now." "You're going to need it when we start building your case." "I don't have a large staff, so I'll count on you to do the legwork." " What about the $5,000?" " Well, I'll get them to go pro bono." "I know a worthy cause when I see one, and a worthy guy." " Not to mention my own selfish motives." " Which are?" "This case is media brushfire." "Especially with states like Oregon and Colorado trying to pass measures curtailing the civil rights of gay men and women." "If we win this thing, you're gonna get your job back, plus damages." "And I might even make a name for myself." "I'm not interested in the publicity." "It goes with the territory." "Carrie!" "Is something wrong?" " Would you come in here for just a sec?" " Sure." "What's up?" "When I left for work this morning," "I could've sworn I had a closet full of clothes." "And now..." " And what is this smell?" " Forest Spice." "I beg your pardon?" "Well, you had a choice between that or sandalwood or patchouli." " Deodorizer for your shoes." " My shoes?" "My shoes now smell like pine trees." "Like you took a brisk walk in the woods." "I'm afraid to ask about my clothes." "Those I sent to the best dry cleaner in town, a place in Beverly Hills." " They don't do smells, too?" " I don't know, but I could ask." "No, no, I like my aroma just fine, thanks." "Listen, Carrie, you might want to think about kicking back just a bit." "You really don't have to be quite so tidy, do you?" "Especially with my stuff." "I mean, too much of a good thing can be too much." "I see what you mean." " Then you'll ease up?" " Absolutely." " I was only trying to be helpful." " That you are." "And if there's one thing I understand, that's when to stop." "Good." "It's exciting and intimidating too." "We can go anywhere, do anything, be whatever we like." "This isn't so bad for starters." "What about tomorrow and the next day and the day after that?" "We have a future to fill up, Miss Parker." "Right now the only thing I know for sure is that I wanna spend it together." "Sounds like a plan." "First thing we have to do is move you out of that apartment complex." " What's wrong with where I live?" " Nothing a new roommate wouldn't fix." "Now, don't get me wrong." "Billy's a good kid, but that's all he is." "A kid." " What are you suggesting?" " That we move in together." "Once all this business with my wife is settled." "Sometimes it feels like she'll be around forever." "I know how you feel." "I'm trying to keep you from all that." "It really has nothing to do with you." "How did you two meet?" "We started going out in high school and never stopped." "Sounds too good to be true." "Maybe it was." "I felt like I was living my life in a vacuum, just wanting to get out for some air." "All that stability can be deadening." "So when I met you, I felt like I found what I really needed to be happy." "What exactly is it that you've found?" "Confusion?" " Excitement?" " Depravity." "I still haven't told my folks yet." "They're gonna be upset." "They have one of those perfect marriages." "They've been together for 40 years, and they're as passionate as ever." "Nice to have those kind of role models." "What are your parents like?" "Nothing to tell." "You know, the usual." " Still together?" " For what it's worth." "What does that mean?" "It means my problems have never stemmed from too much stability." "Look, I had an ordinary childhood with ordinary parents." "I don't wanna bore you with the details." "Someday I'd like to hear them." "Someday I'll tell you." "I got a great idea." "Let's go for a midnight hike." "Scary, romantic." "Maybe in a minute." "Alison, is everything OK?" "It's fine." "Fine." " Ever have fresh trout for breakfast?" " Where'd you get that?" "Down by the lake." "I didn't have the heart to wake you." "Oh, thanks." "Oh, God, you smell good in the Sunday morning wilderness." "Keith, I'm really not feeling well." " You're not?" "What's wrong?" " I don't know." "I didn't want to say anything last night, but I think I better go home." " You think you have a fever?" " Yeah, sort of." "You're not warm." "Could you just take me home?" " Sure." " Thanks." "It smells delicious." "Well, I hope you're hungry." "I'm making scrambled eggs and toast and fruit and fresh-brewed coffee, too." " Fantastic." "What can I do?" " Nothing, go away." "You've done more than enough already." "Just sit yourself down with the paper and a glass of orange juice and relax." "And don't touch the dirty dishes either." "I'm gonna handle the cleanup as well." "Oh, well, I see you're using one of my copper pots." " You don't mind, do you?" " No, I don't." "That cookware's guaranteed to last, if you take care of it properly." "If I soak that right now, it'll be a lot easier to clean." "Carrie..." " OK, well, I was just trying to be..." " Helpful." "I know, I know." " You know what?" " For just this once," " let me do something for you, OK?" " OK." "Rhonda, I just..." "Don't you dare touch that pan, Carrie." "Rhonda, I just want to say thank you for everything." "You know, I know I can come off a little compulsive and maybe anal sometimes." "I've made a whole career out of it." "But if I ever get in the way, you just let me know." "Because roommates like you are pretty rare." "And I wouldn't wanna jeopardize our relationship." "OK, thank you." "So how's it going?" "Relax, it's coming right up." "You know, I haven't had a breakfast like this in ages." " You're kind of back early." " Yeah, you know me and camping." "That bad, huh?" "Even the two of you alone and naked in the woods?" "Billy, what is wrong with me?" "Suddenly everything's so confusing." "First I couldn't bear to be away from Keith." "And now when I'm with him I just feel..." "It's just wrong." "Isn't it a little late to feel guilty?" "The guy is leaving his wife for you." "Not just for me." "Now that the illicit thrill is gone, you're not interested anymore?" "This sounds like a case of falling in love with somebody unattainable." "Then you get them and realize you were just falling in love with the idea." "Thank you for the analysis, doctor." "You're completely off base." "Well, so then tell me." "What's the problem?" "When Keith and I were camping last night, we were sitting by the fire, and we started talking about our pasts and our families." "And Keith's was pretty idyllic, no surprise." "But when I started telling him about mine," " I couldn't." " Why not?" "When I was growing up, for as long as I can remember, there was this kind of distance in my parents' marriage." "And it wasn't till I was older, like 11 or 12, that I realized that my father had girlfriends." "And my mother pretended to ignore it." "But I knew." "And I could totally see how it humiliated her." "My father would disappear, and they would have these terrible fights when he got back." "And I would have to pretend that everything was normal." "So why didn't you tell this to Keith?" "Because I remembered how obsessed I was with my father's girlfriends." "These women I imagined to be so beautiful, and so lucky, because they got all of my father's affection," "and all of his attention." "And I hated them." "And I envied them." "And sometimes I wanted to be one of them." "When I saw the movie Grease, I thought they were all Olivia Newton-John." "But now when I picture the other woman's face, I can see it so perfectly." "Because it's mine." "Because I'm the other woman." "Hey, sweetheart." " Feeling any better?" " Yeah." " Keith, we need to talk." " Sure, come on inside." "No." "Out here." "What is it, Alison?" "What's wrong?" "I can't see you anymore." "It's not that I've stopped caring about you." " You know I love you." " And I love you." "I'm leaving my wife." "What more do you want?" "I want..." "I need to feel right with me." "Who I am, what I'm doing." "How can I be with you if I can't live with myself?" "I never should have told you I'm leaving Lily." "Oh, great." "Then I would've been your mistress instead of a homewrecker." "And I wouldn't be such a threat." "Now it's serious, Alison, isn't it?" "I'm no longer safe, and that scares you." "No." "Being without you scares the hell out of me." "But being with you scares me more." "You think you're doing this for Lily?" "She's gone to San Diego." "If you and I break up, I'm not going back to her." "That's your business." "Doing this is mine." "Now." "While I still can." "Goodbye, Keith." "What is this, some kind of game to you?" "This is my life." "Right." "Your life." "My life, what I feel, doesn't matter, does it?" "You are so incredibly selfish!" "Let me tell you, if you can't make it work with me, you're not going to be able to make it work with anybody!" "Maybe so." "At least I'll be able to live with myself." "Rhonda?" "Rhonda?" "Oh, Carrie, I must've drifted off." "What time..." " More eggs?" " You missed a spot." " Excuse me?" " Right here on my pan." "When you cleaned up." "See, burned egg in the rivets." " I said soak it." "I told you to soak it!" " That's it?" "You just don't care." "You just have no respect." " Respect?" "Carrie, you are a nut." " And you're a slob." "Look, Carrie, I don't think this is gonna work out." "I think you ought to find yourself another place to live." "Yeah, right after I clean my pan." " So how'd it go?" " Fire up the hot chocolate." "I'm sorry." "I really am." "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do." "But I did it." "I know I've said it before, and you probably just don't believe me, but..." "It's over, Billy." "It's really over."