The Starling is a 2021 American drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Matt Harris. It stars Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd, Timothy Olyphant, Daveed Diggs, Skyler Gisondo, Ravi Kapoor, Laura Harrier, Rosalind Chao, Loretta Devine, and Kevin Kline.
It premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2021, and had a limited release on September 17, 2021, prior to streaming on Netflix on September 24, 2021. It received unfavorable reviews from critics.
Plot
A married couple, the Maynards, suffer after the death of their baby daughter from SIDS. The husband, Jack (Chris O’Dowd), is in a residential mental hospital while his wife Lilly (Melissa McCarthy) remains at home, dealing with her own feelings alone.
Lilly is trying to hold it together for Jack's return from the facility. Employed at a grocery store, she works to maintain her family's property. As if Lilly's troubles weren't bad enough, a starling whose nest is in a tree in her backyard begins to harass and attack her and she becomes obsessed with stopping it. She's also driving two hours every week to see Jack, wondering if he really wants to come home, and what life would be like if he did.
Prioritizing Jack's grief without managing her own, a counselor at Jack's hospital suggests Lilly see someone for her own mental health before he returns home. This leads her to the office of Larry Fine (Kevin Kline), a quirky psychiatrist-turned-veterinarian. They form a unique and unlikely bond as they help each other acknowledge and confront their problems. He helps her with the starling whilst embedding ways to help her grief into the conversations. Lilly starts to become attached to the bird and when she accidentally hits it with a stone and nearly kills it she turns to Larry to help her revive the bird. She and the bird start to tolerate each other instead of abusing one another.
Jack and Lilly end up in their home again, facing the world together.
ScriptLily’s Jack : if you’ve painted with me before, you probably know that I love to make big trees
Lily :
oh. How big are we talking?
Jack :
humongous. Absolutely humongous trees with leaves and beautiful limbs
Luly :
i’ve always found Bob Ross very sexy. You know, that hair, the mom jeans. I’m
all in. I am.
Jack :
oh my god. I totally forgot to tell you this. I was watching katie sleep
earlier on. I did that thing where I fast forward into the future. And I can
see who she’s become and whatnot. And I did it, and it was incredible. She’s a
podiatrist.
Lily :
our child’s a podiatrist?
Jack :
in Cleveland. Doing really well. Third biggest in her firm. She drives a lexus.
Like, four years old, but it’s pretty good.
Lily :
I.. I always thought she’d be like a.. A butcher.
Jack :
a butcher?
Lily :
mm-hmm. A butcher. A vegan butcher. You know, so she’s take carrots and carve
little rib eyes, or her pork chops that’d really be made from cauliflower
Jack :
do you think that we should put a bird
up there?
Lily :
uh, birds are tricky.
Jack :
ah, you just need to be gentle with them. Hello.
Lily :
aw! Look who’s awake.
Jack :
did you have a lovely little nap, Katie? Did you?
Lily :
would you like to inspect your wall? Ta-da!
Jack :
pretty good.
Lily :
she can tell I’m not a painter. She’s so smart. Mama’s little butcher.
Jack :
who’s daddy’s little podiatrist?
Lily :
or mama’s little butcher.
Jack :
yeah, that’s you. Yeah it is. You’re quite something
Nurse :
can you believe this guy used to be a Regina? He can’t even talk to animals.
And now he has to talk to animals and owners. It’s so frustrating.
Speaker man :
lily to
produce. Lily, produce[sn1] .
Lily : move, move
to the left. Stop. You know what? More left.[sn2]
The man :
to my left?
Lily :
yeah, to
your left. Okay. Now, slide it, slide it all. This way, a little more. Too
much. Okay, there.[sn3]
The man :
hey, shouldn’t we be doing inventory right now?
Lili :
you know what? Give
me two[sn4] .
The man :
coming up.
Mrs. Oberhoffer :
I can drive to the superstore and get two of these for four bucks. Lily? Lily?
Lily :
oh, Mrs. Oberhoffer.
Mrs. Oberhoffer :
those will rot your teeth.
Lily :
only if you eat ‘em by the dozen. You go inventory something.
The man :
okay
Mrs. Oberhoffer :
how’s everything dear?
Lily :
everything’s good.
Mrs. Oberhoffer :
how are things with jack?
Lily :
he’s just great. Yeah I.. Thanks for asking. I’ll be sure to tell him that you
said hello.
Mrs. Oberhoffer :
I was talking to the pastor. And we would like to come over for a visit. And
talk with you. I cannot imagine what you’ve been through.
Speaker man :
lily to the freezer aisle. Lily, freezer aisle.
Lily :
give the pastor my best.
Travis :
i’ll shoot straight with you, lily. People have been noticing you’re acting
sort of funny.
Lily :
what do you mean, ‘funny’?
Travis :
you know, with that thing. All that’s going on. You’re distracted.
Lily :
I’m not distracted.
Travis :
sweet tiny jesus. What the hell is that? Gum selfie? Everyone is distracted.
Nobody works.
Lily :
okay, Travis. You know that I have to go to that meeting in Rosewood tonight.
So maybe we can just pick...
Travis :
again?
Lili :
well, it’s every Tuesday. It’s gonna be at least once a week. So..
Travis :
you see? That’s what I’m talking about. You’re my right-hand man, Lily. But
your mind’s not in the game. What good’s a pro ball QB without a left tackle?
Who’s gonna pick up the blitz?
Lily :
I don’t really follow football, so...
Travis :
Well, get with it. Okay. Sherry no more selfies, bubblegum or otherwise. Okay? We’ve
talked about this.[sn5]
Nurse :
Golly wally. You’re Lily.
Lily :
Uh oh! Yeah, that’s my name. Um, he’s getting these, right?
Nurse :
yep. Every week i’ll buzz you in.
Regina :
hello. Hi everyone. It’s so great to see you tonight.
Jack :
hey
Lily :
how are you?
Jack :
hey baby. Doing great
Lily :
yeah? You look good
Regina :
okay,
everyone. Let’s take our seats. [sn6] I
believe we left off last time talking about emotional triggers. Does anyone have
any thoughts or questions about that? No? Okay. Well, as always.
Jack :
you know me. I’m a sucker to peer pressure.
Lily :
yeah, but you hate those things
Jack :
they’ve got all these flavors now.
Regina :
okay. So, tonight I’d like to talk about trust. Lily, let’s start with you and Jack. [sn7]
Lily :
okay, sure
Regina :
some families have a hard time adjusting after they’ve been apart for an
extended time. Seeing how things are going to be different.
Lily :
I don’t think that’s gonna be a problem for us. I can see that would be for
some people, but..
Regina :
changes are scary, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Lily :
scary? We’re not scared. Right? I mean, that’s
People :
they scared. They scared
Jack :
she’s fine.
Lily :
of course, I’m fine. You’re fine too.
Regina :
is that true jack?
Jack :
let’s just move on, shall we? Lot of people to get to.
Lily :
it’s just that we haven’t actually talked about it, but I mean, I, we haven’t.
I mean
Jack :
I mean look, if you wanna talk about it, let’s talk about it. By all means
Lily :
great. We should do that. Talk about it. Let’s talk about something other than
vaping. What’s next week? Meth?
Regina :
not appropriate. Not appropriate, lily.
Lily :
it’s just, it’s a joke. I don’t mean that.
Velma :
never mind that. She has turned my only son against me. What about that?
Regina :
mother, you know I haven’t
Velma :
I am not your mother!
A man :
can we talk about something else?
Velma :
You know, I saw her on TV with that Dr. Phil.
Regina :
Velma .
Velma :
scheming to have him tie my tubes.
A man :
mama, calm down.
People :
mother.
Velma :
I am not your mother!
Regina :
velma. Velma, sit down.
Velma :
don’t you talk to me! Why do you keep telling me to be calm? I am calm!
Regina :
lily! You got a sec?
Lily :
yeah
Regina :
that didn’t go so well.
Lily :
I don’t know. I think Velma made some real progress tonight.
Regina :
I deserve that one. Not what you call a ringing endorsement for psychiatric
care.
Lily :
how’s he doing? Really?
Regina :
it’s gonna take some time, lily. He’s been through a lot.
Lily :
yeah well, that’s the way it looks.
Regina :
and what about you? Are you going back to a normal routine? Have you done
anything with Katie’s things?
Lily :
what does that have to do with anything?
Regina :
emotional triggers like that are tough.
Lily :
are you saying I should get rid of her things?
Regina :
no. I don’t know. How would that make you feel?
Lily :
I think it’s getting late, and I should get a move on.
Regina :
lily, when you come here, do you get anything out of it for yourself?
Lily :
yes, yes, but let’s keep the focus on Jack.
Regina :
we’re doing that. But are you seeing anyone?
Lily :
I see people all the time. I see you right now.
Regina :
okay, lily. You have to do the work too.
Lily :
okay, well, great.
Regina :
you know, there’s a guy I used to work with that down your way. A Regina. Maybr
you could give him a call.
Lily :
larry Fine? Like three stooges?
Regina :
he’s a good guy, lily. Someone you could talk to.
Lily :
sure thing, Regina
Regina :
you know, it’d be nice to see someone, Lily. Before you have to see someone.
Lily :
yeah. Well, i’ll see you next week.
Nurse :
oh hello Jack. Wait.
Jack :
thank you.
Nurse :
from Lily.
Jack :
she’s consistent.
Nurse :
is that a bad thing?
Jack :
thank you.
Nurse :
welcome.
Lily :
hey little guy. Watch where you’re going. Son of a bitch!
Man :
how are you sleeping?
Jack :
terrific, thank you.
Man :
are you eating okay?
Jack :
oh yes. Yes, I mean, the food up here is exquisite. I don’t know if they give
Michelin stars to mental health facilities. But if they did,
Man :
and the medication? How is it working?
Jack :
I really don’t know. What do you think?
Man :
it’s not about what I think. Has your wife come in to see you?
Jack :
my wife?
Man :
has she coming to see you?
Jack :
you know, i’ve actually been meaning to ask, um, does that have to happen so
much? The visits. I mean, It’s just I feel bad about her having to come the
whole way up here every week.
Man :
have you been having dreams about your daughter?
Jack :
my daughter? Um, no.
Man :
excuse me, ma’am. How much for the crib?
Lily :
you got any plans for that recliner?
Man :
um, not really.
Woman :
hi. Thank you.
Receptionist :
no, I think once they’re done, they’re you know. Sorry for your loss. Can I
help you?
Lily :
uh, no. I just think i’ve made a mistake.
Receptionist :
are you here to see Dr. Larry?
Lily :
well, is it Larry Fine?
Receptionist :
we just go by Dr. Larry. Lily Maynard?
Lily :
yes.
Receptionist :
Helen, Please.
Helen :
all right. I can’t help it. What do you think I’m here for?
Receptionist :
sorry. Uh, what’s your pet’s name?
Lily :
well, uh that’s just it. I don’t have a pet.
Receptionist :
no pet? Uh, Dr. Larry, Lily has an appointment but no pet.
Dr. Larry :
that’s a first.
Lily :
oh my, hey! Buddy, I’m married.
Helen :
I get this 24 hours a day. I want his marbles knocked off.
Dr. Larry :
Helen, it’s called neutering. Nobody’s here to get their marbles knocked off, I
presume.
Lily :
uh, I’m as advertised.
Dr. Larry :
did you have a question about an animal or what?
Lily :
well, uh o, I don’t. I had gotten a referral for you from a gal.
Dr. Larry :
a gal?
Lily :
Regina Miller?
Dr. Larry :
is she still with the state?
Lily :
uh, she’s at New Horizons. Well, I have taken up enough of your time, so thank
you.
Dr. Larry :
No no no. Why don’t you come on back? Come on back. Him too. Not you. Sit. Sit
down. Stay. Come
Lily :
yeah. Am I supposed to be in here?
Dr. Larry :
he doesn’t mind. Don’t understand why Regina did that. I’ve been out of the
mental health field. I left it ten years ago.
Lily :
isn’t that kind of weird?
Dr. Larry :
it’s an easy explanation really. But uh, let’s leave it at weird. What were you
doing at New Horizons?
Lily :
well, I wasn’t. I mean, I was. But my husband is. You know, there.
Dr. Larry :
is he getting better?
Lily :
I guess. He says he’s fine.
Dr. Larry :
well, that’s good. What about you?
Lily :
me? Oh, I’m fine too.
Dr. Larry :
Regina sent you to see me because you’re fine.
Lily :
well, it wasn’t my idea.
Dr. Larry :
but you’re here.
Lily :
yeah, I uh, you know. She said it might help him a little if I did some work.
So, I also kind of traded in some of my furniture, most of my furniture, for a
pleather La-Z-Boy. I mean, not all of it, but, my daughter, our baby, died.
Just over a year ago now. So SIDS, that’s what they told us.
Dr. Larry :
oh, that’s awful.
Lily :
my husband, Jack, didn’t handle it so good.
Dr. Larry :
and you did?
Lily :
no I um, it’s a good question.
Dr. Larry :
ok well, I just don’t do this sort of thing anymore.
Lily :
well, no offense. But you can kind of tell.
Dr. Larry :
maybe Regina can set you up with someone else. If you have an animal problem,
you know where to find me.
Lily :
thank you. Trigger, hang in there, pal. It doesn’t get better.
Nurse :
sarah, that’s very good. Okay, okay, don’t um, relax. Treat it gently. You
don’t have to beat it to death, darling. Oh, Velma. That’s, what is that?
Velma :
it’s an emoji. The poop one.
Nurse :
looks very accurate.
Velma :
when do I get to put it in the oven?
Nurse :
soon, dear. Very soon. Jack, that’s beautiful. I have some finer utensils back
behind the shelf over there. Good work. It’s more even this time. Keep going,
keep going. You found the utensils.
Jack :
yeah. Um, what’s that from?
Nurse :
it’s just some old junk from back when this was a school.
Jack :
what happen to it?
Nurse :
the school? Not enough kids. Come on, let’s go finish your vase.
Jack :
it’s done.
Lily :
go on! Get the hell out of here! Go! This is my garden! And don’t come back!
Chuck :
hi Lily. Who are you talking to?
Lily :
you, chuck. I’m sorry. Chuck, I was just mess.
Dr. Larry :
well, it doesn’t need stitches. You got a tetanus shot recently?
Lily :
do I need one?
Dr. Larry :
just to be safe. The bird obviously thought you were a threat.
Lily :
well, I am now.
Dr. Larry :
it’s uh, breading season. You know? Eggs, hatchlings, that sort of thing. You
might wanna stay out of your yard for a while
Lily :
it’s my fucking yard.
Dr. Larry :
you always this angry?
Lily :
what am I supposed to do, call the cops? I mean, you said call if I had an
animal problem.
Dr. Larry :
are you familiar with stage three of the grieving process?
Lily :
I’m assuming that follows stage two?
Dr. Larry :
not necessarily. But generally. It’s ‘bargaining and anger.’ Nobody ever talked
to you about this?
Lily :
nope. What comes after that?
Dr. Larry :
depression.
Lily :
great. I can’t wait.
Dr. Larry :
you might not have to wait too long. So you’re done.
Lily :
thanks. Look, sorry about the hassle.
Dr. Larry :
no hassle.
Lily :
I guess I’m gonna try to find one of those people doctors.
Dr. Larry :
okay. Um, excuse me. what did the bird look like?
Lily :
um, I don’t know. Dark, wings.
Dr. Larry :
that narrows it down.
Lily :
why?
Dr. Larry :
you know, if you would like to talk about it.
Lily :
maybe talk about the bird?
Dr. Larry :
yeah, the bird.
Lily :
alright. See you later.
Dr. Larry :
yeah, in the meantime, stay away from that neighbor of yours.
Lily :
yeah, new neighbor. That’s a good one.
Farmer :
you don’t want that one. Fungus.
Lily :
no I don’t want fungus peppers.
Farmer :
who does?
Lily :
do you have anything that might scar birds away?
Farmer :
bird deterrent?
Lily :
yeah. Bird-go-away-ent.
Farmer :
that’s funny. I like a good joke. How do you feel about spikes?
Lily :
no. I don’t kinda need kebab ‘em.
Farmer :
got it.
Lily :
um kinda Asian beach ball.
Farmer :
yeah. I got one by my pool. No birds come. No people either. You know? Got it.
Lily :
am I supposed to be following you?
Farmer :
scare the shit out of birds too.
Lily :
I’ll take it. How’s that you little shit?
Man on the TV :
when my wife passed away, I didn’t think I could continue I didn’t know how to.
And if I’m being honest. I still don’t know how to but, I do. Every morning I
ask for strength and the courage to move forward. And be there for others.
Woman on TV :
amen. You know, pastor, you made that difference for me.
Lily :
hallo. Never gonna believe what I’m watching. It’s one of those religious
shows, the higher power. Sounds like a utility of company. Or pot store. Do the
kids still call it pot? Feels like they’s have a cooler way of saying that now.
Or an emoji, or, well, I’m sure they have an emoji, right? They have it for
everything. Hey guess what? I got the garden going again. I found a watering
can you painted with Katie. It was buried in the brush. Almost hit it with a
lawn mower.
Woman on TV :
in God’s name we should pray. Exodus says, and they make their lives bitter
with hard bondage in mortar of service in the field. wherein they made them
serve with vigor.
Nurse :
water?
Jack :
I’m good. Thanks.
Nurse :
good. Bye.
Jack :
see you later.
Lily :
that’s the one, officer.
Dr. Larry :
the great-tailed grackle. Well, he’s a little far afield from the Okeechobee
Swamps of Florida.
Lily :
maybe he’s lost. guess you don’t talk with your patients that often.
Dr. Larry :
oh you mean ‘cause they’re animals? Oh no, we talk all the time. Tends to be a
one-sided conversation but fine with me. how’s Jack doing?
Lily :
good. I guess. Well, I have to see him tomorrow.
Dr. Larry :
you have to?
Lily :
well, it’s Tuesday. Tuesday nights are, uh, family night. So that’s what I
mean. I have to go see him cause family night.
Dr. Larry :
don’t you want to?
Lily :
well, yeah. He’s my husband. I leave work every week early just so I can be
there on time. But I think I’d go nuts. If I was shut up in that place 24/7,
but, he doesn’t seem to mind.
Dr. Larry :
so was it Jack’s idea to be admitted to the hospital?
Lily :
sort of. Is this how it works?
Dr. Larry :
how what works? No, if we were doing that, I’d just say ‘sorry our time is up.
Take this pill.’ Anyway, we’re just talking. You know, sometimes we push people
away just to see if they’ll come back.
Lily :
yeah?
Dr. Larry :
maybe it’ll be better this time.
Lily :
you think?
Dr. Larry :
maybe. You sure it wasn’t a blue jay? I stitched up a cat once who’d gone a few
rounds with a blue jay. Very aggressive avian, that.
Lily :
don’t think it was a blue jay. Oh, what’s that?
Dr. Larry :
that’s a hawk.
Lily :
no. it wasn’t a hawk. I know what a hawk is. You know, they used to be
dinosaurs. Birds did. You probably knew that because you’re a vet.
Dr. Larry :
I knew that even before I was a vet.
Jack :
what happened to your head?
Lily :
oh just there’s a bird that thinks I’m a threat.
Jack :
are you threatening it?
Lily :
no. I’m just minding my own business in the garden.
Velma :
I don’t care what she is. You can tell she don’t cook. She’s so skinny.
Lily :
we got a new recliner.
Jack :
what was wrong with the old one?
Lily :
nothing. Just thought we needed a change.
You gotta be kidding me. go on. Get off my
owl!
Dr. Larry :
that is a starling. You see the little white flecks that look like stars? Very
territorial. You won’t be able to scare him away easily. He’s too smart for
that.
Lily :
smart?
Dr. Larry :
oh, they’re brilliant. They’re extraordinary mimics. Mozart had one as a pet.
And they found in his notebooks a melody from one of his concertos that he
wrote out, and next to it, the melody as the bird sang it. Identical. Except
for one or two sharps or flats. Yeah. He was inconsolable when the bird died.
Even gave it a funeral.
Lily :
there is an idea.
Dr. Larry :
two weeks prior to that, Mozart did not attend his own father’s funeral.
Apparently, his father was an asshole.
Shopkeeper :
you the lady with the bird problem?
Lily :
yeah, that’s me.
Shopkeeper :
yeah, well, here are the traps. This is really more for a coyote. I can’t sell
you this one. It’s illegal. You have a license?
Lily :
no.
Shopkeeper :
I could rent it to you. If you got it back to me first thing.
Lily :
oh no. This is just for a little bird.
Shopkeeper :
oh. Well, you could trap it with this. But you better release it in Mexico. Or
it’s just gonna find its way back.
Lily :
I do not want it to come back.
Shopkeeper :
there’s only one way to do that. Remediate. Exterminate.
Lily :
like, like kill it?
Shopkeeper :
we don’t like to use that word. It’s inhumane.
Lily :
yeah. Okay, that’s, I get that. I mean, it is what you mean though, right?
Shopkeeper :
there are 400 billion birds on this planet, lady.
Lily :
that seems awfully high.
Shopkeeper :
it’s not.
Lily :
it seems very high.
Shopkeeper :
it’s not. It’s my business. I will tell you this. Lady came in last month.
Glass eye. Bird attacked her. I think it
was a sparrow.
Lily :
oh my god. You serious?
Shopkeeper :
extremely aggressive. Never feel a thing.
Lily :
it’s really 400 billion?
Shopkeeper :
it’s a plague.
Dickey :
what if raccoon get at it? Or a cute little bear cub? Or like a baby koala.
Lily :
it’s a bird feeder. It’s tiny. Nothing’s going to get inside of it. And you
know there’s no koalas in North America, right?
Dickey :
oh yeah. That’s true. I saw a possum shimmy up a hummingbird water feeding
thing one time. A super skinny one. I mean, it was bent like a palm tree in a
tropical storm.
Lily :
okay. Well, that’s not gonna happen here.
Dickey :
probably not, yeah. It could, though. You know? Animals will do anything for a
snack. And sugar water. Have you tried sugar water?
Lily :
no, Dickey. I have not tried hummingbird sugar water.
Dickey :
it’s really sweet. Any animal would go to great lengths to taste it.
Lily :
yeah, it’s not sugar water. It’s seed.
Dickey :
right. Just seed. Mixed with poison seed.
Lily :
crap. Now I’ve gotta go home and take it down.
Dickey :
I’ll clock you at 5.00.
Lily :
I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve this.
Psychiatrist :
how are you sleeping?
Jack :
fine.
Psychiatrist :
are you eating okay?
Jack :
fine. Yeah.
Psychiatrist :
are you feeling depressed?
Jack :
okay. We don’t have to go through this. We don’t
Psychiatrist :
so you’re ready to leave?
Jack :
believe me. if I thought I could, I would. Even if it meant pretending. But I
tried that. I already tried to do that. And I ended up here. So what am I supposed
to.. I’m just supposed to go back to work? Do you know what I do for a living?
You know what my job is?
Psychiatrist :
yes. You are a teacher.
Jack :
I’m a grade school art teacher. So, so you go and look at those kids every day.
You try doing that.
Psychiatrist :
and what about your wife? I’m sure she’d like to have you home.
Jack :
you know, a few years back, I joined this Frisbee league. I don’t know. And
Lily, my wife, she felt left out. So she insisted that she become our sole
cheerleader. Just to be clear, Frisbee leagues do not have cheerleaders. Or
indeed, spectators. But there she’s be with her pm-poms. I’d make out like I
was this jock. She got me this letterman jacket. And we, it’s so dumb. I don’t
know how to get back there. I can’t be who I was for her.
Psychiatrist :
so what is your plan?
Jack :
I just need a minute to figure out what happens next. So if you could just
write down whatever you need to write down. We can, can we do that? We just
it’s okay then? It’s okay for me to stay?
Psychiatrist :
I believe that’s what’s best for now.
Lily :
where are you? Where’d you go? Didn’t expect that, did ya? Look, can we just
kind of clear the air, you know, for the record that I know what you’re
thinking. That I killed her. Remediated that bird, but I mean, I put that.
Forget it. It doesn’t matter why. I put it out. You know why I put it out. It
was really wrong. It was bad. And I shouldn’t have done it. I’m dealing with
some pretty heavy shit right now if you couldn’t tell. Cause everybody’s
rolling along, living their lives like nothing happened. You know? And I’m
saying, ‘stop’, cause I wanna get off for a little bit. I mean, it’s just, it’s
pretty weird me talking to you. Huh? And you’re actually listening. Oh, there
you go. Right. Well, good session. It’s my co-pay. Whistle that, bitch!
Dr. Larry :
here you go. The Naugahyde stains.
Lily :
yeah. Thanks.
Dr. Larry :
how did you find me?
Lily :
only one ‘L Fine. DVM’ in the directory. It’s a dope rapper name if you ever
Dr. Larry :
I don’t rap.
Lily :
I just thought a walk would do me good.
Dr. Larry :
in the rain? How did your visit go last week?
Lily :
great. Swimmingly.
Dr. Larry :
well, that’s good. Thanks for coming by. It’s late. I’m gonna go to bed.
Lily :
I don’t know what you want me to say.
Dr. Larry :
this whole thing, it’s not about Katie. You’ll talk about her, you know? It’s
about jack and you. Jack and you. How do you restart? How do you have a
marriage, now? Why was Jack admitted to the hospital?
Lily :
he um, he was, he hadn’t been sleeping well. Yeah, he just wanted to go to
sleep and not wake up like Katie.
Dr. Larry :
you must’ve been pretty angry.
Lily :
I wasn’t angry. No, he was depressed. He had every reason to be.
Dr. Larry :
so did you, and you didn’t try to end your life and leave your husband behind.
Alone. You blame yourself.
Lily :
who’s to say anybody’s to blame?
Dr. Larry :
I do.
Lily :
oh, that’s shitty, Larry.
Dr. Larry :
not cause it’s right or wrong, or good or bad, but because that’s what we do.
We can’t stand the idea of something so tragic happening for no reason at all.
So, you know, and emotions have to find a way out. And they always do. So we
kick the cat, or we kick the dog, or poison a bird. And worst of all, we turn
on ourself. Does Jack know how you feel? Bathroom’s down the hall to the left.
Talk to him, Lily. Come on.
Lily :
do you like it, being here?
Jack :
do I like it?
Lily :
you know, is it helping?
Jack :
uh, yeah, I guess.
Lily :
I thought maybe we could go up to the lake again, when you get home. You know,
for the fourth.
Jack :
sure. Yeah.
Lily :
that’s fun, right?
Jack :
yeah, it’ll be just like it was, like nothing ever happened.
Lily :
I didn’t say that.
Jack :
no, I know. No, but that is why I’m here, isn’t it? I’m supposed to just go
back to being my good old self. And we can all get on with our lives.
Lily :
it’s just gonna take time, that’s all.
Jack :
don’t, don’t, don’t, please. I mean, you really think that time is gonna make
all of this okay? It’s gonna make us okay?
Lily :
I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that we can’t stay here like this. This is
not good.
Jack :
I know. But I don’t know how I fit anymore. I don’t know how we fit, how any of
it works. I’m jut not like you, Lily.
Lily :
you’re not like me? I carried her inside me for nine months. So why are you
here?
Jack :
why did I sleep in that morning?
Lily :
don’t do that!
Jack :
I could’ve just gone over and woken her up. I could’ve done something. But I
overslept. Every morning, when I wake up, the first thing I hear is our baby
crying. And in that brief moment, I get to imagine that I just wake up. Like I
always did. That precious moment of agony is the highlight of my day. So
please, don’t talk to me about time, because I’ve got loads of it, Lily. And I
hate it. It never ends. I wish I knew how to stop. I wish. I don’t.
Lily :
I got rid of all her things. I didn’t know what to do. I just kept staring at
her closed door. I got rid of all of her things. I just couldn’t. I just wanted
Jack :
you should go, I think.
Lily :
I’m sorry, I
Jack :
no, I think
Lily :
I don’t know why I did it. I should’ve asked you. Jack? Jack!
You made me a lunch? What do we have here?
What?
Jack :
my mother used to put those in my lunch. Hostess. Cause I love you the mostess.
Lily :
that’s good. Maybe toward me.
Sherri :
she’s doing it again.
Man :
poor thing. She’s not doing well.
Lily :
I don’t know. Maybe it’s in the wrong aisle.
Regina :
Lily
Lily :
they wouldn’t buzz me in. I was starting to think something was wrong. Is he
okay?
Regina :
why don’t we sit down?
Lily :
is he okay?
Regina :
yeah. He’s good. Fine. It’s just that, um, why don’t we sit down?
Lily :
I don’t want to. I wanna talk to Jack.
Regina :
actually, h’s requested to not see any visitors for a while.
Lily :
I’m not a visitor. I’m his wife.
Regina :
it’s not unusual for a patient to want some space.
Lily :
space? Uh, I drive an hour both ways to get here. That’s all the space he gets.
Regina :
legally, he has the right.
Lily :
legally, I don’t give a shit.
Regina :
Lily, please, sit down. That’s it.
Lily :
fine! God! There! It’s all better now that we’re seated.
Regina :
did you look up that old colleague of mine?
Lily :
yes. And maybe you could’ve mentioned that he also treats poodles.
Regina :
he’s never told you this, but Larry was on the track to run the whole show at
Johns Hopkins.
Lily :
yeah, but he didn’t, did he? So, he’s a quitter like everybody else. When do
you think I will be able to see Jack?
Regina :
I don’t know. That’s up to Jack.
Lily :
you know what? Here, give him that. I drove an hour. That’s what I do. For us.
And you don’t wanna see me. you think I like driving an hour here and an hour
back? Yeah? I get it. I mean, you want your space. You want space? I’ll give
you space. I’ll give you an-hour-both-ways space. You never ever thought about
what I did. Did you? Not once! Not even once! I feel shit too, Jack. You don’t
wanna see me? you know what? I don’t wanna see you! I don’t wanna see you
either! Did you ever once think about that, that I don’t wanna see you? Get
another visitor!
Nurse :
Jack.
Man :
oh my god. What do you
Dr. Larry :
shh shh. I can’t hear the cat.
Man :
what it’s murmuring? Can you hear a murmur?
Dr. Larry :
all I hear is a grown man wailing. Shhh. Okay, here’s the deal. Give him his
medicine, twice a day, with food. And no more truck-stop food. Dry food only.
Okay?
Man :
okay, I got it. Okay, I will thell him. Hey, you hear that? No more nachos. No
more corn bread. Huh? No more corn dogs. And no more Cheetos. Don’t look at me
like that. Why are you looking at me?
Dr. Larry :
your mom really isn’t here?
A kid :
she’s coming back to get me later.
Dr. Larry :
yeah, well, let’s wait for her, okay?
A kid :
I know what you’re gonna say. She gets tired all the time. My brother says
she’s getting skinny too.
Dr. larry :
she a lot of pain and the quality of her life is going to. I’m talking about
the quality of her life to a ten-year-old. Did Howie’s mom not say anything
about
Nurse :
I told you. She signed off on it. She’s coming back later. Okay?
A kid :
it’s not her fault. She’s not good with these things. Are you sure there’s
nothing?
Dr. Larry :
I’m sure.
A kid :
it’s okay.
Dr. Larry :
you’ve got to stop with the just-showing-up business.
Lily :
I need a favor, Larry. He won’t see me, and they won’t even let me talk to him.
Dr. Larry :
well, that’s within his rights.
Lily :
so I hear. But I was thinking that you could call Regina or someone.
Dr. Larry :
doesn’t work that way.
Lily :
but you know how it does work, and you must have some kind of credentials
still, right?
Dr. Larry :
this isn’t the best time, Lily
Lily :
well, no shit, Larry. I’ve been scratched off the guest list in a mental
hospital by my own husband.
Dr. Larry :
here’s what you do. Go and talk to Fawn and make an appointment.
Lily :
make an appointment? Aren’t you supposed to be helping me? isn’t that what this
is? Non-therapy therapy. Pretend therapy, whatever? Isn’t that what we’ve been
doing? What am I on this island all alone?
Dr. Larry :
I’m not a therapist anymore. And I am certainly not your therapist.
Lily :
you got that right. Because you’re a shit one. Maybe that’s why you quit. I
mean, what is it that makes this so much better, huh? Cause what is it cause
cats don’t talk back?
Dr. Larry :
no. they don’t. they do, however, make appointments. What do you want from me?
you want some kind of answer? You want me to say everything’s gonna be okay?
Lily :
yeah. Answers are good. People want answers.
Dr. Larry :
I don’t have answers. I never did. I just talked. And the moment I figures that
out, I quit and stopped pretending. You think you can fix Jack? You think
that’s the solution?
Lily :
what am I supposed to do? I supposed to quit? Like him? Or like you?
Dr. Larry :
at least quitting is an active choice. Why don’t we quit? I’m so sorry. I never
should’ve started this. It’s my fault. Let’s just agree to not do this aymore,
okay?
Lily :
sure thing, Larry.
You son of a bitch! Okay, you little shit.
Here comes the pain.
Jack :
oh, Lily.
Lily :
hi, Jack.
Pastor on TV :
being there for other is exactly the answer I was searching for. You reach out
to someone today.
Woman on TV :
pastor, I can tell you that you made a difference in my life when you reached
out to me. when I found the good word, I was lost. I was broken. Addicted.
Sleeping around. I’m not proud of it. Reminds me of Ephesians 6:7. ‘with good
will doing service as to the Lord and not to men.’
Pastor :
not to men. Amen, not to men. That’s the journey.
Woman on TV :
that was the takeaway for me. Because there were so many men. So many men. A
lot of men.
Girl :
pretend you’re a tiger. Chase your tail.
Boy :
whoa, I’m dizzy!
Girl :
now, sit up. Good tiger. Good tiger. Now let’s roar.
Boy :
roar!
Girl :
down, tiger. Good boy.
Boy :
this is fun.
Girl :
keep going. Sit up. Spin around. Now roar!
Boy :
roar!
Girl :
louder. Again, again! Good tiger. Good boy.
Jack :
hey, I wanna play. Can I play?
Girl :
okay. I’m the lion tamer.
Jack :
oh, and a good one. How about I’m just another lion?
Boy :
I’m a tiger.
Jack :
oh, you’re a tiger! Do you have a roar?
Boy :
roar!
Jack :
you frightened the life out of me. that was really good. Well, if we’re a
circus, we’re gonna need some more animals, I think. Uh, I spy a giraffe. Hey,
Mel. You’re a giraffe. Come on. You’re a giraffe.
Mel :
I’m giraffe? Alright, I’m a giraffe.
Jack :
okay, we’ve got our giraffe. Oh! Who’s that playing in the mud? I found our
elephant! We need an elephant, don’t we? Bob, you’re gonna be an elephant. Can
you do it?
Bob :
yeah.
Jack :
alright, everybody. Come on, giraffe. We’ve got our lion tamer to tell us what
to do, okay? Can we do the sounds? What’s the sound? What is the sound like,
Bob? That’s it! How about the tiger? Young lion tamer, what is thy command?
Roar! Roar!
Girl :
I don’t wanna play.
Jack :
sweetheart. It’s okay. I was only playing. Hey, listen. Why don’t we do a
parade instead
Girl :
I wanna go now
Regina :
okay Jack. That was fun.
Jack :
here come the clowns. You wanna be in the parade band?
Nurse :
come on, everyone.
Jack :
hold on. Where my giraffe go?
Regina :
what do you say you go inside?
Jack :
Mel, what’s going on? Don’t touch me.
Nurse :
you’re scaring people.
Regina :
what do you say you go inside?
Jack :
I don’t wanna go inside. Sorry.
Nurse :
I’m allright.
Jack :
get off! Okay. I don’t wanna go in. Regina, I don’t want to go inside. I wanna
play outside. We were just playing. I don’t wanna go back. Oh my god, this is
crazy.
Sherri :
uh, can I get a price check on register two?
Man :
uh, need a price check on register four.
Sherri :
hey, we need another checker on four and three, and two.
Man :
Travis, to the front, please.
Travis :
Lily, what the hell are you doing?
Lily :
doing the price changes that you asked me to do.
Travis :
since when do we charge a nickel for a package of feminine hygiene products? Or
a bag of crispy fish fry? Or just about every other damn item in the store?
Lily :
well, I don’t know. I mean, that can’t be right.
Travis :
what is the sky in your world, Kemosabe?
Woman :
we need a price check in the bakery.
Lily :
maybe I should just start changing these back before people start to get the
wrong idea.
Customer :
it’s all five cents over here!
Lily :
or maybe I should take a break.
Travis :
just take the rest of the day off, sister. You’re gonna have to earn this back.
Thin ice, Lilly. Thin ice. Sir, sir. Nothing in the store is five cents.
Nothing.
Lily :
Lilly Maynard. I’m Lilly Maynard.
Dr. Larry :
the problem in dealing with a territorial creature, such as a starling, is that
people begin to take it personally. I don’t think the laws of nature are
instrinsically right or wrong, until you’re faced with something that’s just so
inexplicable, so randomly cruel. And you try to find a reason for it. And when
you can’t find any, I guess that’s when it starts to get pretty personal.
Jack :
and she came to see you about the bird?
Dr. Larry :
well, yes, technically.
Jack :
and now you’re here to talk to me about the bird?
Dr. Larry :
not per se. um, I’m here to ask you, in fact, to just talk to Lily. I don’t
think it’s your intention to punish her.
Jack :
no. it is only my intention to punish myself. Did she tell you why I’m here?
Dr. Larry :
yes.
Jack :
so she came to you for help because you’re her shrink, but in a vet form.
Dr. Larry :
okay. She came to talk. And I’m afraid I just didn’t do a very good job of
that.
Jack :
then why are you here?
Dr. Larry :
I told you. So that you would. I’m asking you
Jack :
oh, you’re here for yourself. Yes. Okay. You came here to make you feel better.
Well, you did it. We talked. So, feel better.
Lily :
you want a beer? I know I could use one.
Dickey :
thanks, man. This place is really nice.
Lily :
yeah, it was my grandpa’s. it’s a bitch to mow.
Dickey :
is that the one?
Lily :
yep, that’s him.
Dickey :
he looks pretty harmless.
Lily :
oh, don’t let it fool you.
Dickey :
you can’t do anything about it?
Lily :
some things are just out of our control. And the sooner you figure out what
they are, the faster you can let them go. Look at that. You got a philosophy.
Dickey :
little guy’s coming this way. Oh shit, shit! Holy shit! That bird’s crazy! It’s
coming back. He’s circling around. Yeah, yeah. Throw it, throw it! Oh shit!
Nice shot, Mrs. M!
Lily :
shit! What did you do, Lily?
Dickey :
oh, you nailed it, man. That was awesome.
Lily :
no, no, no, no. go get me something.
Dickey : okay. Wait, what am I getting?
Lily : like a towel or
something.
Dickey : okay. Where do you keep
Lily : Dickey, just get a towel!
Dickey : just get it? Got it.
Dr. Larry : it’s in shock. It’s suffocating.
Nurse : this is the best I could do
on short notice. Avian anatomy’s not our speciality.
Lily : that’s look a humming
bird.
Nurse : they’re all the same.
Dr. Larry :
yeah, it’s the anterior air sac. But I don’t know how I can get in there. Uh, I
don’t know. Uh, where’s my bird box?
Nurse :
you don’t have a bird box.
Dr. Larry :
yes, we do. It’s got all the right instruments.
Lily :
great. It’s a vet without a bird box.
Dr. Larry :
will you wait outside?
Nurse :
what about a coffee stir straw?
Dr. Larry :
good idea.
Lily :
have you not done this before?
Dr. Larry :
no, I haven’t. have you? You wanna wait for a specialist?
Lily :
is that an option? I’d love to, cause you’re talking coffee stir straws.
Nurse :
could you wait outside, Lilly?
Lily :
no! I won’t wait outside!
Dr. Larry :
out, out out!
Nurse :
go, please. What do you need?
Dr. Larry :
well, uh, surgical soap, sterile drape, and, uh, vodka.
Nurse :
vodka? Oh, for you. We have a bottle of gin.
Dr. Larry :
that’ll do.
Nurse :
Jack.
Regina :
tonight, I’d like to talk about the importance of being honest. With ourselves.
Velma, would you like to start?
Velma :
I’m sick of all the damn talking.
Regina :
okay. That was honest.
Jack :
I’ll go. If that’s okay.
Regina :
yes, of course.
Jack :
I’m depressed. That’s why I’m here. Um, my little girl passed away. And then I
tried to pass myself away. That’s not funny. But that is what I tried to do.
And I thought it was because of Katie. Uh, that was my daughter’s name. Katie.
But if I’m being honest with myself, I have been in and out of this state since
I was in my 20s. and I don’t know how to get out of it. I um, I’ve been to
therapist. I’ve taken the medication. And sometimes, it works. It does feel a
bit better. And after a while, I quit. Because I don’t need that shit. Because
I can deal with my own life. Quit on myself so fast. An then I quit on the
people who love me. I mean, my wife. My wife wouldn’t know how to quit.
Wouldn’t know where to start. She just keeps at it. Just keep hoping and
believing. And moving around in the world. And I hate her for it. And I love
her so much for it at the same time. So much that I wanna not quit with her.
Not for her. I wanna not quit with her. Yeah, so that’s my day. A happy day.
Velma :
oh, Jack. You asshole. Tissue.
Jack :
I know.
Regina :
thanks for sharing, Jack.
Dr. Larry :
might as well take him home. There’s no point in staying here all night.
Lily :
what do I do?
Dr. Larry :
uh, just try to get a couple drops of this. Into his throat every couple of
hours if you can.
Lily :
while he wake up?
Dr. Larry :
it’s hard to say.
Lily :
what’s on his wings?
Dr. Larry :
they’re bound so he can’t fly away. You know, even if he does wake up, I might
still have to. If the wound doesn’t heal, he won’t be able to protect himself.
It wouldn’t be fair to send him out there like this on his own. Funny how that
works.
Lily :
how what works?
Dr. Larry :
oh, just the idea of this little guy trying to survive. Out there in the cruel
world all by himself. Starling are different than other birds. When they mate,
they build a nest together. And protect the nest. Together. They even feed the
hatchlings together. They’re just not meant to exist in the world alone. On
their own.
Lily :
real subtle stuff, Larry.
Dr. Larry :
I thought so.
Lily :
okay. Maybe just a little. You know you like this.
Dickey :
I read that if you talk to somebody in a coma, it can help them heal faster.
Lily :
come on. Come on. Hello? I’m a little busy here, Jack. So I don’t really have
time to listen to you breathe. You know that you’re not the only one in pain,
right? I mean, ever since Katie left us, it’s been and then you did what you
did. Which is not okay, Jack. I’ve been holding down the fort for a year and I
haven’t had five minutes to think about my own feelings. We never seem to get
around to that, right? Which is pretty fucking selfish, isn’t it, Jack? So when
you get back, shit’s gonna change. Things are gonna be said, tears are gonna be
shed. And then we’re gonna move on and move up. And we’re gonna find a
different but even better life than the one we had because I am not interested
in some kind of lateral move. And you’re gonna say sorry to me for trying to
take you from me. you’re gonna say it every day. You’re gonna say it every day
for the rest of our lives. That’s gonna be a very long, long time. Cause we’re
gonna live a long life, Jack. And we’re gonna do it together. So I’m gonna hang
up on you now, because that’s make us even-steven cause you hung up on me. so,
besides, I’ve gotta go feed a bird that I tried to kill.
Can you understand? I mean, I’m assuming
you’re married. At least, are monogamous? At least, are birds monogamous? I
don’t know how that works. Here’s your tube. Come on. Come on.
Nurse :
excellent, Sarah. Watch your fingers. Oh! Looks like the picture. Very nice.
Velma, what do we have here?
Velma :
see? You got the switch. It goes right in there. You turn it on, and it stays
up.
Nurse :
ooh, it’s creative. I think, um, you forgot something? The hole? For the
Jack :
oh, yeah. Can I just leave it?
Nurse :
how would it work?
Jack :
does it have to work?
Nurse :
no, I guess not. It’s lovely.
Jack :
thank you.
Velma :
good looking tree.
Psychiatrist :
how are you sleeping?
Jack :
fine.
:
and how are you feeling?
Jack :
you are a creature of habit.
:
so, you’re feeling good.
Jack :
yes, I am. But what if I stop feeling good? What If it doesn’t last?
:
that’s a possibility.
Jack :
can I just say I found our time together fairly unhelpful overall?
:
but you’ve made progress.
Jack :
I have. I just don’t know if it was because of you.
:
there will be good days and there will be bad days, Jack.
Jack :
gonna miss this gems.
:
living is predictable in that way. Embrace routine. It’s good for you.
Jack :
ah yeah, the routine of living. Make dinner, go to bed, wake up, make your bed,
kiss your wife.
:
but eventually, you’ll go back to work. You’ll be around children again. Maybe
you can start planting in your garden. And one day, you will say your
daughter’s name without thinking about it. It will just slip out. In
remembrance and not in anguish. And that’ll be that.
Jack :
that was actually pretty good
:
thank you.
Jack :
maybe there’s hope for you yet.
Lily :
wow, hello. Don’t, don’t, don’t do that. I’m gonna pick you up. It’s okay.
There we go. I’m not afraid of you. You’re very small. My helmet is very close
too. I’m gonna take you outside. I think he was wrong about you. Maybe I was
too. Come on, fly. Please, go. Go, go, go, go! Fly, fly, come on, fly! Fly!
There you go! There you go, you son of a bitch! Did I mention that we have a
new recliner?
Jack :
maybe.
Lily :
it’s kind of leather-esque. It smells like. A little like beef jerky.
Jack :
well, that’s a smell I generally like. You know, I was thinking, uh, a
sectional sofa would work in that room.
Lily :
where?
Jack :
in the window nook, facing in. where Katie used to play.
Lily :
that’ll work.
Jack :
oh, shit. I, uh, I made you something.
Lily :
oh, it’s lovely.
Jack :
You don’t know what it is.
Lily :
does it have a purpose?
Jack :
yes. It’s a light switch cover.
Lily :
oh, well, there’s no hole for the switch.
Jack :
doesn’t it need a hole to work?
Lily :
well, yeah. I mean, you gotta have a hole for the switch, or you can’t turn the
light on or off. And then what?
Jack :
I’m sorry.
Lily :
well, we’ll figure it out.
Jack :
no, no. I’m so sorry about it all. You deserve better.
Lily :
it’s okay. It’s okay.
Jack :
I presume that this makes up for everything.
Lily :
we’ll cut a hole in it.
Jack :
that’s smart. Just cut a hole in it.
Lily :
otherwise, you’re really, you’re forcing a choice of being in constant darkness
or constant light. And that’s just nuts. I mean, no offence.
Jack :
no, that’s fair.
Dr. Larry :
he’s gonna be fine. How are you doing?
Woman :
not so good.
Dr. Larry :
sit down. Tell me about it.
Jack :
yeah, I gotta admit I’m a little bit scared.
Lily :
me too. Put this on. okay. Carrots, tomato, and a head of lettuce. If you can
get to the cucumbers, grab two.
Jack :
got it. On three? One, two, three. What the...
Lily :
son of a bitch!
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