Ben and Ara _ Full Movie _ Drama Love Story _ Joseph Baird _ Constance Ejuma
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:30You realize this draft isn't anywhere near being ready to defend.
00:00:52I thought it was pretty good progress considering...
00:00:56Bullshit.
00:00:57Excuse me?
00:00:58Ben, you and I both know that's bullshit.
00:01:00I have the ideas there.
00:01:02Look, I get it.
00:01:04It's a lot more fun to spin theories out loud than it is to sit at your computer and make
00:01:08things make sense.
00:01:10With a little more time.
00:01:11You don't have any more time.
00:01:12This is your seventh year.
00:01:15Your clock has run out, man.
00:01:17If you don't defend on schedule, all your coursework becomes invalid.
00:01:23Now, your argument and dialectic isn't bad.
00:01:29An overview of the philosophical spread of Calvinism across Western Europe.
00:01:35I'm focusing on how the idea of predestination shaped society.
00:01:38How it affected politics, culture...
00:01:40Yeah, yeah, I get it.
00:01:41Not bad.
00:01:42But you've got to stop procrastinating.
00:01:44That may have gotten you through your masters, but it's not going to work here.
00:01:48Now focus and get to work.
00:01:53You started it.
00:02:00No, you started it.
00:02:01No, you started it.
00:02:02No, you started it.
00:02:03No, you started it.
00:02:04No, you started it.
00:02:05No, you started it.
00:02:06No, you started it.
00:02:07Stop it.
00:02:09Mohammed, be nice to your sister.
00:02:12She's a girl.
00:02:13But she started it.
00:02:14Mohamed, drink your orange juice.
00:02:16I want apple juice.
00:02:17Enough.
00:02:18We ran out.
00:02:19Ara, is that food almost ready?
00:02:20Almost.
00:02:21I didn't give him doughnuts.
00:02:23Miriam, you know what Allah says about lying.
00:02:27I spoke to your grandmother today.
00:02:29Every time I call her, she's asking about you.
00:02:31When are you going to call that woman?
00:02:33It's always the same conversation about great-grandkids.
00:02:36I'll give her a call later.
00:02:38Oh, and Najeeb's mother called.
00:02:40She's insisting that you join them for dinner this week.
00:02:42It's not a good week for that.
00:02:44When is it going to be a good week?
00:02:46A good man like Najeeb isn't going to join you for dinner.
00:02:49A good man like Najeeb isn't going to chase you forever.
00:02:53Ara, you have to start taking your place in the community.
00:03:14I take it you're finished for the night.
00:03:19I just started proofing.
00:03:23I'd like to get a little more finished
00:03:25before I have to get up tomorrow and do it all over again.
00:03:28Maybe it's time to give the dissertation a break for the night.
00:03:31Give yourself some rest.
00:03:33Mom.
00:03:35For your own sake.
00:03:37Remember, scripture says,
00:03:39to the righteous soul it will be said,
00:03:42O thou soul in complete rest and satisfaction.
00:03:47What would a righteous woman do tonight?
00:03:49Didn't you say something about your friend's art exhibit?
00:03:52Why don't you take the evening off and go support her?
00:03:56Sasha wouldn't miss me.
00:03:58Would you stop it?
00:04:00Go see it, if just for curiosity's sake.
00:04:02I guess I'm obsessing over this
00:04:04because it's my last paper as a student.
00:04:06If you give it too much power, it will control you.
00:04:09Sweetheart, go to the gallery.
00:04:16Okay.
00:04:33Hey.
00:04:35Hey. How's work coming?
00:04:37Slow.
00:04:39Okay, well, are you going to be there all night?
00:04:42I don't know.
00:04:44I'll come back to it.
00:04:46All right, well, you are still coming
00:04:48to the family dinner on Sunday, right?
00:04:50No. No, I need to skip this week.
00:04:53Please stop being a martyr
00:04:56because you could come if you wanted to.
00:04:59And do you understand that you are wasting your time
00:05:03on a Ph.D. that is essentially worthless?
00:05:06I don't need this from you right now.
00:05:08You are afraid of the real world.
00:05:10What is the real world?
00:05:12No, tell me.
00:05:14Accounting firms are the real world, and academia isn't.
00:05:17Is that right?
00:05:19You're going to cure cancer with your MBA?
00:05:21You know what I think?
00:05:23I think that I'm going to go out with Manny tonight.
00:05:25Is that cool with you?
00:05:27What are you asking me now?
00:05:29People change.
00:05:31And, you know, frankly,
00:05:33I really don't need any more drama in my life.
00:05:36So, yes, I'm asking.
00:05:38That's the deal, right?
00:05:40We can go see whoever we want.
00:06:11Name, please?
00:06:13Vivian.
00:06:15Okay, we're good.
00:06:17Name, please?
00:06:19Ara Jalali.
00:06:21Sasha's friend, right?
00:06:23Yeah.
00:06:25Go ahead.
00:06:27Name, please?
00:06:29Alice.
00:06:31Excuse me.
00:06:33I didn't think you'd make it.
00:06:35Wow, it all looks so beautiful.
00:06:39I didn't know you were here.
00:06:41Me, too.
00:06:43You know, he's going to be coming here later.
00:06:45Okay, which one is it this time?
00:06:47Jamar, of course.
00:06:49My Frenchman.
00:06:51What about you?
00:06:53What about me?
00:06:55Don't play dumb.
00:06:57There's no time.
00:06:59Why don't you make time?
00:07:01You keep staring at my champagne.
00:07:03Do you want some?
00:07:05No, I just like the smell.
00:07:07Excuse me, you have a buyer?
00:07:09Excuse me.
00:07:37What were you thinking?
00:07:41Beg your pardon?
00:07:43When they took the photograph of you, what were you thinking?
00:07:45I don't know.
00:07:47My friend took it.
00:07:49It was more of a favor to her.
00:07:51You didn't answer the question.
00:07:55The answer is nothing.
00:08:01It was a windy day.
00:08:03Kind of chilly.
00:08:05I was just looking up at the clouds.
00:08:07That's impossible.
00:08:09No one really thinks about nothing.
00:08:11Excuse me?
00:08:13Maybe you were thinking about how cold it was outside
00:08:15or about how you want this to turn out well for your friend.
00:08:19It's just a turn of phrase.
00:08:21Why not say my mind was wandering
00:08:23or nothing in particular?
00:08:25Say just nothing that's inaccurate.
00:08:27You take things pretty literally.
00:08:29I go to school with you.
00:08:31We're in the same department.
00:08:33Ben Johnson.
00:08:35Oh.
00:08:37It's an amazing photograph.
00:08:39Everyone's really raving about your work.
00:08:41You're about to defend.
00:08:43Fourth year in.
00:08:45Is it ever really ready?
00:08:49What about you?
00:08:51I am woefully behind, actually.
00:08:53That was helpful.
00:08:55What?
00:08:57What we did earlier.
00:08:59Back and forth about nothingness.
00:09:01That was helpful.
00:09:07Do you have five minutes, actually?
00:09:09Just to bounce some ideas off of you.
00:09:13If that's cool.
00:09:15Okay.
00:09:17Yeah?
00:09:19Sure.
00:09:21Okay.
00:09:25I'm writing about the concept of fate
00:09:27and John Calvin's teachings on predestination.
00:09:29How it affected Western philosophy.
00:09:31So where's your trouble?
00:09:33I compiled this great reading list.
00:09:35I did all this research.
00:09:37And then my first draft just sucked.
00:09:39You didn't send any segments
00:09:41to your advisor?
00:09:43Something like that.
00:09:45I don't know.
00:09:47I think philosophy is more about
00:09:49the talking.
00:09:51Flushing out truths.
00:09:53Sounds like maybe you procrastinate.
00:09:55How do you know it's procrastination?
00:09:57You're in your last stage
00:09:59of a PhD program.
00:10:01You must have written papers in your masters
00:10:03that were good enough to get you here, right?
00:10:05Right.
00:10:07So you've probably had this habit for a while.
00:10:11How about yours?
00:10:13My dissertation?
00:10:15Yeah.
00:10:17It's about Cameroonian philosophy
00:10:19pre-colonization.
00:10:21How their ideas might have been
00:10:23different without European intrusion.
00:10:25It's like trying
00:10:27to ungraft a vine from a tree.
00:10:29How would it have looked, you think?
00:10:31Better?
00:10:33That's subjective.
00:10:35I believe thought develops best out of captivity.
00:10:37So...
00:10:39In that respect, yeah, better.
00:10:41What about you
00:10:43and Calvin?
00:10:45Would have been better had he not come along.
00:10:47Or if his teachings never took off.
00:10:49I don't know.
00:10:51I never really weighed in on that
00:10:53specific topic.
00:10:55You don't have an opinion on how a major
00:10:57movement like that affected your religion?
00:10:59I'm agnostic. I don't have a religion.
00:11:03That can't be a surprise.
00:11:05Most of the department's that way.
00:11:07Not everyone.
00:11:09Sorry.
00:11:11I'm not religious,
00:11:13but I think the Reformation
00:11:15was more about
00:11:17freedom from Rome than the Pope.
00:11:19I mean, King Henry, come on.
00:11:21That had nothing to do with God.
00:11:23He just wanted a divorce.
00:11:27But, I mean, maybe separation
00:11:29from the papacy was a good thing.
00:11:31Who wants to be Catholic, right?
00:11:33I'd better get going.
00:11:35It's nice running into you.
00:11:37Yeah, you too.
00:11:39Do you want to maybe meet up again?
00:11:41Like...
00:11:43Can I get your number?
00:11:47Sure. Okay.
00:11:49Here.
00:11:51Let me have yours.
00:11:53I'll text it to you.
00:11:55Nice try.
00:11:57Just put it in here.
00:11:59Here you go.
00:12:01Thanks.
00:12:03It was good running into you.
00:12:05You too.
00:12:15Ara,
00:12:17don't forget to schedule dinner
00:12:19with Najeeb's parents this week.
00:12:21I know you hear me.
00:12:23I know you hear me.
00:12:53My faith in Allah
00:12:55has been a source of strength
00:12:57and peace for me.
00:12:59It feels like a lifeline, really.
00:13:01Something that saves me
00:13:03from drowning
00:13:05when I'm at my lowest.
00:13:07It's a blessing.
00:13:09It's a blessing.
00:13:11It's a blessing.
00:13:13It's a blessing.
00:13:15It's a blessing.
00:13:17It's a blessing.
00:13:19It's a blessing.
00:13:21It's a blessing.
00:13:23It's a blessing.
00:13:25It's a blessing.
00:13:27It's a blessing.
00:13:29It's a blessing.
00:13:31It's a blessing.
00:13:33It's a blessing.
00:13:35It's a blessing.
00:13:37It's a blessing.
00:13:39It's a blessing.
00:13:41It's a blessing.
00:13:43It's a blessing.
00:13:45It's a blessing.
00:13:47It's a blessing.
00:13:49I feel like I'm having a good disposition
00:13:51so that her husband is pleased to see her.
00:13:53And when the husband is not home,
00:13:55she protects her chastity.
00:14:01But at the same time,
00:14:03I feel like God wants us to explore
00:14:05the world that He gave us.
00:14:07I think that's a big part
00:14:09of our relationship with Him, too.
00:14:20Hello?
00:14:22Dr. Jalali, I presume?
00:14:25Not yet, Mom.
00:14:27Can you stop by the mosque
00:14:29and get the tablecloths
00:14:31that I loaned to Najib's mom?
00:14:33Okay.
00:14:35Why don't you have dinner with them this week?
00:14:37Mom.
00:14:43Uh...
00:14:45Mom, I'll think about it.
00:14:47I have to go.
00:14:49Love you. Bye.
00:15:09Here you go.
00:15:11Thanks.
00:15:13Hey, welcome.
00:15:18So?
00:15:20Did you make any progress today?
00:15:22Yeah, I finally started my second draft last night.
00:15:24Wait.
00:15:26You're just now writing your second draft?
00:15:28No, no, I'm making it.
00:15:30You're crazy.
00:15:32You'd be proud.
00:15:34I spent all morning writing. I got up to 10 pages.
00:15:36Out of what, 150?
00:15:40You should be chained to your desk.
00:15:42I work better under pressure.
00:15:44Why not set an appointment
00:15:46to write every day?
00:15:48Set an alarm if you have to.
00:15:50What, um, what gave you the inspiration
00:15:52for your topic?
00:15:54My experiences in Cameroon.
00:15:56I would always hear my grandmother talk
00:15:58about the cycle of the human soul.
00:16:00It wasn't until I was an undergrad that I realized
00:16:02that that's how my people
00:16:04preserved their philosophies.
00:16:06A lot of our ideas survived.
00:16:08I mean, even though
00:16:10the country's been Christianized,
00:16:12people still practice some form of ancestor worship.
00:16:14What do they say
00:16:16about the cycle of the soul?
00:16:18Well, my tribe believes that
00:16:20it's synced with the world around us,
00:16:22particularly the ocean,
00:16:24and that the spirit of our ancestors
00:16:26live in the sea.
00:16:28The good ones act as an intermediary
00:16:30between us and God.
00:16:32Is that what you believe?
00:16:34Well, I believe that when you die,
00:16:36your soul enters an in-between stage.
00:16:38The souls of good people are in a state of paradise
00:16:40awaiting the last day.
00:16:42What about the bad people?
00:16:44For them,
00:16:46it's not so nice.
00:16:48Hmm.
00:16:50Are there
00:16:52any other Muslims in Cameroon?
00:16:54Some.
00:16:56I actually grew up Christian,
00:16:58and then my mom got married
00:17:00to my stepdad, who's Muslim,
00:17:02and then we converted.
00:17:04He was an American
00:17:06visiting Africa.
00:17:08He was a missionary?
00:17:10No, he was a lawyer.
00:17:12He converted you guys, though?
00:17:14Well, he wasn't an official missionary.
00:17:18Did you ever know your biological dad?
00:17:20No.
00:17:22He died when I was a baby.
00:17:24My stepdad
00:17:26died a few years ago.
00:17:28I'm sorry.
00:17:34Time to get back to work.
00:17:36Come on, that was like two minutes.
00:17:38That's how it should be. Go right.
00:17:40I don't want you failing to be on my conscience.
00:17:42Meet me again tomorrow?
00:17:44Um,
00:17:46sure, if I have time.
00:17:48Okay.
00:17:50Bye.
00:17:58Oh, you look tired.
00:18:00Sit down, have some tea.
00:18:02Najeeb
00:18:04and his father came by today.
00:18:08Mr. Said
00:18:10just made partner.
00:18:12And Najeeb is going to be an associate at the same firm
00:18:14when he's past the bar.
00:18:16Nice.
00:18:18You know
00:18:20what they came by to talk about, right?
00:18:22I thought
00:18:24if I played dumb, I could avoid
00:18:26the subject? Najeeb is
00:18:28a hot commodity, and he's
00:18:30not going to be on the market for long. Mom?
00:18:32You don't even
00:18:34act interested in men.
00:18:36That's because it's rare to find one who's interesting.
00:18:38You mean all those years in college
00:18:40you haven't been interested in anyone?
00:18:42So?
00:18:44You do like men,
00:18:46don't you? Yes.
00:18:48All I'm saying is that you could
00:18:50give him a chance.
00:18:52It's time.
00:18:54When I'm done with my dissertation, I'll deal
00:18:56with it. You know, Ara,
00:18:58maybe that's your problem.
00:19:00You look at love as something to be dealt with.
00:19:28Tomorrow,
00:19:50I want us to stay at
00:19:52my place. Why?
00:19:54Because it's fucking clean!
00:19:56I mean, your parents,
00:19:58they hooked you up with this place. The least that you could do
00:20:00is actually keep it clean.
00:20:02I'll clean my moorhead with this.
00:20:06Yeah, well,
00:20:08I think
00:20:10that you
00:20:12have done enough work
00:20:14for today.
00:20:16I need to finish this, okay?
00:20:18Seriously?
00:20:20I mean, God forbid
00:20:22that we actually take our
00:20:24clothes off and
00:20:26touch each other.
00:20:32I'm going to Maddy's.
00:20:44French roast with half and half.
00:20:46Thanks. Welcome.
00:20:48Do you have a table inside?
00:20:50Actually, I've been sitting all day long.
00:20:52Maybe take a walk?
00:20:54Sure.
00:20:58So,
00:21:00you never told me about your family.
00:21:02What would you like to know?
00:21:04Where are you from?
00:21:06I was born in Texas,
00:21:08but we moved to Seattle when my mom
00:21:10got out of the Air Force.
00:21:12So it's just you and your mom?
00:21:14My stepmom, too.
00:21:18Oh.
00:21:20She is a lesbian.
00:21:22Yeah, I got that.
00:21:26So you never knew your dad?
00:21:28Yeah. He was a bad guy.
00:21:30Roughed us up a bunch.
00:21:34One night he beat us up both pretty bad.
00:21:36She grabbed me and left.
00:21:38I'm so sorry.
00:21:40You don't have to be. Shit happens, you know.
00:21:42I don't think stuff like that just happens.
00:21:44I could talk about it now.
00:21:46It seems like a bad dream I used to have
00:21:48Is that when you lost your faith?
00:21:50In what?
00:21:52God?
00:21:54I don't recall ever having any.
00:21:56Your parents weren't Christians?
00:21:58No. Both atheists. Grandparents, too.
00:22:00I guess you could say like a third-generation skeptic.
00:22:02So you've always doubted.
00:22:04I've always maintained that anything
00:22:06people say that they know
00:22:08about God is uncertain.
00:22:10So you're first-generation
00:22:12agnostic because your parents were atheists?
00:22:14No, they felt the same way.
00:22:16Right, but you just said that they were atheists.
00:22:18Atheists aren't unsure.
00:22:20They're certain that there is no God.
00:22:22They're levels of atheism.
00:22:24Which one are you?
00:22:26Atheist light.
00:22:30Was it weird when your mom came out?
00:22:32It was odd at first,
00:22:34but she was so much more happy I didn't care.
00:22:36And I love my stepmom, too.
00:22:40I wonder if you would have felt the same way in Texas.
00:22:42Why would that have mattered?
00:22:44Places can affect people's attitudes.
00:22:46I think if you're strong enough,
00:22:48you can keep stuff out.
00:22:50Like water-resistant wood.
00:22:54When you go back to Cameroon,
00:22:56does it affect your attitude?
00:22:58Of course.
00:23:00My grandma's crazy.
00:23:02She's not religious, but somehow
00:23:04our converting to Islam traumatized her.
00:23:06You ever feel oppressed by religion?
00:23:08Like having to wear the headscarf?
00:23:10It's called a hijab,
00:23:12and I wear it because I want to.
00:23:16My grandma bugs me about it, too.
00:23:18Does it make you feel angry?
00:23:20No.
00:23:22Just...
00:23:24alienated.
00:23:26I don't fit in back home,
00:23:28and I don't quite fit in here, either.
00:23:30Makes me wish there was an in-between place.
00:23:32Like somewhere you could just be
00:23:34without offending anyone.
00:23:38Yeah.
00:23:40Well,
00:23:42it's time to get back to work.
00:23:48Arjilali?
00:23:50Yeah.
00:23:52Glad she's
00:23:54Sasha's friend.
00:23:56So, um,
00:23:58how did you two meet?
00:24:00We've known her for a while, actually.
00:24:02We're in the same department.
00:24:04Met her in an art gallery, and we started talking.
00:24:06You?
00:24:08Uh,
00:24:10she is Sasha's good friend.
00:24:14So, um,
00:24:18are you guys gonna start seeing each other
00:24:20more often?
00:24:22No.
00:24:26Well,
00:24:30I'm gonna go spend the night
00:24:32at Manny's house tomorrow night.
00:24:38Have fun.
00:24:44Yeah.
00:24:46Come on, Ari.
00:24:48You should've got that.
00:24:50I'm out of practice.
00:24:52Used to be really good, right?
00:24:54Good enough not to be embarrassing.
00:24:56You ever miss it?
00:24:58I miss all my free time.
00:25:00I, uh, play in the league.
00:25:02Helps me blow off steam.
00:25:04Wanna come watch me sometime?
00:25:06I...
00:25:24Woo!
00:25:26Hi, Manny.
00:25:28Hey, baby.
00:25:36Hey.
00:25:50So I was up late riding
00:25:52last night, and it all of a sudden came to me.
00:25:54I'm gonna throw in a section of
00:25:56Spinoza's theory.
00:25:58You added a section
00:26:00about rationalistic pantheism?
00:26:02Mm-hmm.
00:26:04That has nothing to do with your topic.
00:26:06It has everything to do with it.
00:26:08I'm gonna show that Calvin paved the way for other thinkers
00:26:10like Spinoza. So in a way, Calvinism
00:26:12helped move along the Renaissance.
00:26:14You have to show evidence.
00:26:16Are you sure you're not just a rationalistic pantheist
00:26:18and this isn't your way of infusing
00:26:20your personal beliefs into your argument?
00:26:22I'm agnostic. I don't think it's possible to know if any deity
00:26:24exists. Not even Spinoza's.
00:26:26Maybe some people can.
00:26:28There's no certainty in that. The certainty is
00:26:30it's gravity, cell division, death.
00:26:32But wouldn't you say that some people innately
00:26:34have a better understanding of physics than others?
00:26:36I mean, maybe the same is true for
00:26:38supernatural things. Maybe there are physical
00:26:40ways to study metaphysics that we
00:26:42just don't know about. Based on what people know right here
00:26:44and now, there's no certainty.
00:26:46Well, Spinoza
00:26:48would argue that the universe is deterministic.
00:26:50Everything that has happened
00:26:52or will happen
00:26:54could not have unfolded in any other
00:26:56way. And you're welcome.
00:26:58Why?
00:27:00Well, Spinoza's deterministic
00:27:02theory is a tie-in to Calvin's
00:27:04predestination.
00:27:08Would you mind coming and taking a look at some
00:27:10of my writing? Sure, I'm curious
00:27:12at this point.
00:27:24Not bad. Your prose
00:27:26and ideas are great. Thanks.
00:27:28Ever heard of spellcheck?
00:27:30I hate spellcheck.
00:27:32That being the hardest part about writing a paper.
00:27:38I got a call from my friend
00:27:40Sasha the other day. She said you were
00:27:42seeing one of her friends.
00:27:44Gabrielle? Yeah, got
00:27:46to meet her once or twice.
00:27:48Is it weird for her that we're hanging out?
00:27:50No. Why would that be weird?
00:27:52Seems like
00:27:54she'd be jealous. Nah, we
00:27:56have an open relationship.
00:27:58What?
00:28:00We both see other people.
00:28:02She has another guy named Manny.
00:28:04I'm cool with it.
00:28:06And how many women are you seeing?
00:28:08So far, just her.
00:28:10I'm pickier than she is.
00:28:12You're all crazy.
00:28:14Why?
00:28:16Don't you find that the least bit
00:28:18abnormal? No, we don't.
00:28:20You don't want to get married?
00:28:22No, not right now.
00:28:24She feels the same way. I mean, if it changes, it changes.
00:28:26Only in grad school.
00:28:28You're telling me that you've never had
00:28:30a boyfriend
00:28:32who you didn't want to spend the rest of your life with.
00:28:34I haven't really
00:28:36dated any.
00:28:38That's a little abnormal.
00:28:40Jerk.
00:28:42When everyone started
00:28:44dating in high school,
00:28:46none of the boys seemed interested in me, so
00:28:48by the time we got into college,
00:28:50I was too busy.
00:28:52Did you make yourself too busy?
00:28:54My parents wouldn't allow it,
00:28:56and I wasn't
00:28:58ready for marriage yet, so
00:29:00I put all that on the shelf.
00:29:02You couldn't date until you were ready to get married?
00:29:04No.
00:29:06Plus, I was coughing out.
00:29:08How so?
00:29:10Well,
00:29:12I guess I used my beliefs
00:29:14as a way of avoiding all the awkwardness.
00:29:16It was easier to hide
00:29:18behind them.
00:29:20Well, I've been hiding a bit myself lately.
00:29:22You?
00:29:24From what?
00:29:26I don't know. Life?
00:29:28It's my seventh year in. I could've defended my fifth year
00:29:30if I'd wanted.
00:29:32Why didn't you?
00:29:36I've been
00:29:38a student all my life.
00:29:42I don't know what I'd do with myself.
00:29:46Are you nosing through my
00:29:48CP3 list? Maybe.
00:29:50I don't think we're in a music-sharing stage
00:29:52in our relationship yet.
00:29:58Is there anything you like?
00:30:00Um, yeah.
00:30:12I used to catch my mom
00:30:14listening to music like this when she thought
00:30:16no one was watching.
00:30:46You don't have to
00:30:48worry.
00:30:50You don't have to
00:30:52hide.
00:30:54No need to protect your heart
00:30:56from me. Girl,
00:30:58I'll be fine.
00:31:00So, call me if
00:31:02you're with this. Your voice is on my
00:31:04wish list. I know that it's not
00:31:06Christmas, but I'm looking for
00:31:08your presence in my
00:31:10everyday.
00:31:12Shit.
00:31:14Shit. I'm sorry.
00:31:22It goes off each day
00:31:24to remind me to write.
00:31:28You listen.
00:31:34Has it helped? Yeah.
00:31:36I feel like I'm caught up.
00:31:40Maybe I can use my superpowers
00:31:42to help you with other problems in your life.
00:31:44Oh, you have superpowers, huh?
00:31:46Yes.
00:31:50What were you gonna write about?
00:31:54Spinoza and the ripples in the universe.
00:31:58About how everything that is or will be
00:32:00are all like ripples in a pond.
00:32:02All outside our control and nothing can change them.
00:32:06What about Calvin?
00:32:08I was gonna use the time that you gave me.
00:32:10About how Calvin's
00:32:12predestination is a version of
00:32:14the Christian version of Spinoza's
00:32:16theory.
00:32:18Do you believe
00:32:20that?
00:32:22Did Spinoza copy Calvin?
00:32:24No.
00:32:26In their theories.
00:32:28I believe that
00:32:30what we do causes things to happen.
00:32:32And the consequences,
00:32:34they're unavoidable
00:32:36sometimes, but
00:32:38it's all because of the choices.
00:32:42So,
00:32:44cause and consequence.
00:32:46Yeah.
00:32:48You don't believe in destiny, then?
00:32:50No.
00:32:52Okay, well,
00:32:54if reality is all action
00:32:56and reaction, then
00:32:58could the thing that started it all be destiny?
00:33:00So you're saying that whatever caused the ripples
00:33:02in the universe,
00:33:04that's destiny?
00:33:06In Islam, we call it
00:33:08Qadar.
00:33:10Qadar.
00:33:12Yeah, it's the Arabic
00:33:14word for destiny.
00:33:16We believe that
00:33:18everything that has happened
00:33:20or will happen is known by Allah.
00:33:22So everything's determined
00:33:24by God, then?
00:33:26No, it's still cause and consequence.
00:33:28It's just that Allah sees everything.
00:33:30What?
00:33:32Nothing.
00:33:34It's just you.
00:33:36Just you.
00:34:00Just you.
00:34:30Where's your silverware?
00:34:32Sure, the left.
00:34:36Mind if we eat standing up?
00:34:38Okay.
00:34:40At home,
00:34:42we have to sit until everyone's done.
00:34:44You ever get tired of the lifestyle?
00:34:46Yes and no.
00:34:48Which parts? Like how to save yourself from marriage?
00:34:50No, but
00:34:52when everyone else is doing it,
00:34:54it's like you're missing out on something.
00:34:56You think
00:34:58what we did the other day is a sin?
00:35:02Yeah.
00:35:04Can you let it be on me?
00:35:06Doesn't work that way.
00:35:08I have to take care of it.
00:35:12Got a confession?
00:35:14You've got
00:35:16your religions mixed up.
00:35:18Our repentance is called
00:35:20Taba, and you do it only
00:35:22to Allah. All that because we made
00:35:24out? Is that so hard to believe?
00:35:26Yeah. A little bit, yeah.
00:35:28You've never repented over
00:35:30anything you did?
00:35:32Not anything like that, no. It sounds horrible to me.
00:35:34Having to tell someone you're sorry all the time.
00:35:36Like you're constantly going to the spiritual principal's office
00:35:38or something.
00:35:40You're thinking about it the wrong way.
00:35:42It's reconciliation to God.
00:35:44You repent
00:35:46to get closer to God.
00:35:48What else do you ask God for?
00:35:50All kinds of things.
00:35:52Yeah, like what?
00:35:54I ask him to help people.
00:35:56I also pray
00:35:58for my stepdad.
00:36:00You said he passed away, right?
00:36:02Yeah, it's a dua prayer.
00:36:04You say it for the dead.
00:36:06What do you ask God to do for the dead?
00:36:08I ask him to
00:36:10make them among the guided ones
00:36:12and fill their graves with light.
00:36:16You ever pray before?
00:36:18Yeah.
00:36:20Once when I was a little boy,
00:36:22I was praying in a restaurant
00:36:24and I prayed and asked God for a million bucks.
00:36:26He didn't give it to me.
00:36:28It didn't work.
00:36:32I'm going to say a prayer for you.
00:36:34Come on, get out.
00:36:36I'm going to.
00:36:38No, you don't have to.
00:36:40What would you pray for?
00:36:42My mom's sick.
00:36:44What's her name?
00:36:46Andrea.
00:36:48Allah.
00:36:50You are ever merciful and kind.
00:36:52Great healer.
00:36:54Please have mercy on Andrea
00:36:56and cure her from her illness.
00:37:00Hey, Ben.
00:37:02What are you making?
00:37:08Oh.
00:37:10Hi, Ara.
00:37:12How are you?
00:37:14I'm good.
00:37:16Making pasta.
00:37:20Good thinking, Ben.
00:37:24Hmm.
00:37:26No wine?
00:37:28Come on, you're being a bad host, Ben.
00:37:30Yeah, she doesn't drink, Kat.
00:37:32Really?
00:37:34Well, you're missing out.
00:37:36I'm going to have some, though.
00:37:42So, um, tell me.
00:37:44What else can't you all have?
00:37:46A few things.
00:37:50Actually, I have to go.
00:37:52Lots of meetings tomorrow.
00:37:54Hey, I'll walk you out.
00:37:56No, it's fine.
00:38:04Well, that was weird.
00:38:14Bye.
00:38:18Be careful with her.
00:38:30Oh my god, you're kidding.
00:38:32I swear I'm not.
00:38:34What, little girl? So grown up.
00:38:36Hardly.
00:38:38You kept everything intact, right?
00:38:40Wow.
00:38:42You're all looked up down there.
00:38:44Seriously, though. How do you feel?
00:38:46I can't shake the feeling that I'm screwing everything up.
00:38:48Screwing what up?
00:38:50My life?
00:38:52Family? God?
00:38:54Sometimes you have to do what's right for you.
00:38:58Come in.
00:39:02Oh.
00:39:04Hi, guys.
00:39:06It's been a while.
00:39:08Hi, Aura.
00:39:10Hi.
00:39:12I actually wanted to talk with you a moment.
00:39:16Okay.
00:39:18Well,
00:39:20unless you guys are in the middle of something.
00:39:22No, it's fine.
00:39:24I'll leave you girls to talk.
00:39:26Good luck.
00:39:36Look,
00:39:38I know the
00:39:40whole thing with you and Ben.
00:39:42And well, I just wanted to let you know
00:39:44that I'm cool with it.
00:39:46So you both have other people?
00:39:50Well, I don't believe that you ever
00:39:52truly have somebody.
00:39:54I think we're more like jellyfish.
00:39:56They don't
00:39:58really ever hold on to their mates.
00:40:00They just kind of
00:40:02float around, touching each other.
00:40:04Is that what you believe?
00:40:06It's what I think is true.
00:40:08And I like you.
00:40:10And just because
00:40:12you're connecting with Ben
00:40:14doesn't mean that there should
00:40:16be any awkwardness between us.
00:40:24Okay.
00:40:46Mind if I have a beer?
00:40:48Sure, go ahead.
00:40:54Okay.
00:41:14What does it taste like?
00:41:18It has a bite like a soda
00:41:20but no sweetness to it.
00:41:22It's bitter and sharp.
00:41:24That doesn't sound very good.
00:41:28Do you want a sip?
00:41:32Okay.
00:41:42That's gross.
00:41:52Hi.
00:42:06Eileen, tell your daughter
00:42:08I said thank you for watching the kids.
00:42:10Oh, she was glad to do it.
00:42:12How long
00:42:14before Ara finishes
00:42:16her degree?
00:42:18This semester.
00:42:20Thank Allah.
00:42:22Is that Ara?
00:42:24You need
00:42:26your eyes checked.
00:42:28Ara's a good two inches shorter than her.
00:42:50You okay?
00:42:52It's just that
00:42:54all my life
00:42:56I've been taught never to do this
00:42:58before marriage.
00:43:00Is that what you want?
00:43:02Hey.
00:43:04Hey.
00:43:06Hey.
00:43:08Hey.
00:43:10Hey.
00:43:12Hey.
00:43:14Hey.
00:43:16Hey.
00:43:18Hey.
00:43:20We don't have to do anything
00:43:22that you don't want to do, okay?
00:43:26I think people should be able to freely explore
00:43:28this kind of stuff when they're ready.
00:43:30And if you're not, that's okay.
00:43:32That's okay.
00:43:48♪
00:44:10I can't stay here.
00:44:12I just need my things.
00:44:14So what, you're not going to give us a chance?
00:44:16There is no us.
00:44:28Hi, Mom.
00:44:30Hi.
00:44:32You okay?
00:44:34I'm just a little tired.
00:44:38Did you have a good time last night?
00:44:42It was all right.
00:44:44It was all right.
00:44:52Oh, Lord, forgive me.
00:44:56Oh, Lord, forgive me.
00:45:00Oh, Lord, forgive me.
00:45:06Hey.
00:45:10Can we talk for a minute?
00:45:12Yeah, come.
00:45:18I owe you an apology
00:45:20for the other night.
00:45:22I just want to know what I did
00:45:24to make you run out of there like that.
00:45:26No, it has nothing to do with you, I swear.
00:45:30I know you don't get it,
00:45:32but I can't live like this.
00:45:36You're a great guy,
00:45:38and it wasn't fair for me
00:45:40to act like I could.
00:45:42I'm sorry.
00:45:46Well, apology accepted, I guess.
00:45:50You sure?
00:45:52Yeah, I'm fine.
00:45:54I was worried about you.
00:45:58I'll be okay.
00:46:00Tell her.
00:46:02Tell her.
00:46:04Okay.
00:46:06Well, I have to go.
00:46:08Okay.
00:46:10Okay. Bye.
00:46:38Did you have a bad weekend or something?
00:46:40No, I, um...
00:46:42I was just thinking about us,
00:46:44and I reconsidered.
00:46:46Okay.
00:46:48I was torn between
00:46:50what I wanted and God.
00:46:52I didn't think I could have both.
00:46:54But you're not torn anymore.
00:46:56I think...
00:47:00I have hope
00:47:02that God won't cast me out
00:47:04for being with someone.
00:47:06What if there wasn't a God,
00:47:08and you spent your entire life
00:47:10doing things that you didn't have to do
00:47:12to impress an imaginary friend?
00:47:14You really believe God is imaginary?
00:47:16Most intellectuals in society think so.
00:47:18There are other intellectuals in the world
00:47:20besides the ones in the U.S. and the U.K.
00:47:22I mean, if you interviewed professors in India,
00:47:24they'd give you very different answers.
00:47:26That doesn't mean they're right.
00:47:28Look at the cognitive difference
00:47:30between us and insects.
00:47:32You have creatures whose memory
00:47:34lasts a few seconds,
00:47:36and then there's humanity
00:47:38that can decipher how stars function.
00:47:40So?
00:47:42So if we're that much greater than creatures we can observe,
00:47:44doesn't it stand to reason
00:47:46that there are creatures higher than us?
00:47:48Sure. Worthy of our worship, not so much.
00:47:50So arrogant.
00:47:52Why? Because I don't want to pay senseless homage
00:47:54to something that could be as made-up as Santa Claus?
00:47:56No, because you think there's a possibility
00:47:58that a God exists, but you don't think it's worth our time.
00:48:00I was reading the other day
00:48:02that God is out of light.
00:48:04Why isn't that praiseworthy?
00:48:06Why can't humanity focus on our own accomplishments?
00:48:08The atheist is most happy
00:48:10when he gets to play God.
00:48:12All cultures
00:48:14invent these tall tales or exaggerate things
00:48:16to give themselves significance.
00:48:18Like what you were telling me about your tribes
00:48:20immersing themselves in the ocean
00:48:22so they could talk to ghosts.
00:48:24You actually believe that?
00:48:26What if I did?
00:48:28The West declared a city of Troy
00:48:30until someone found it,
00:48:32and then they had to eat their words.
00:48:34The Earth was flat until the West decided it was round.
00:48:36Before, they were forcing us to be Christians.
00:48:38Now they want us to be agnostic.
00:48:40God only exists
00:48:42when you say he does, right?
00:48:46Those ideas and stories you're mocking
00:48:48are the dignity
00:48:50of a lot of people.
00:48:52I think it's the kind of thing you make up
00:48:54when you have none.
00:48:56This was a mistake.
00:48:58Thanks for clearing it up for me.
00:49:28So are you going to tell me what's wrong?
00:49:30Ara,
00:49:32please.
00:49:34Sweetheart, tell me.
00:49:36I'm here for you.
00:49:54I know
00:49:56I know what you're going through.
00:50:11I thought I was in love with a man I met at university too.
00:50:16Before you met my father?
00:50:18Yes.
00:50:20It's hard when you meet folks in a certain way at a certain time.
00:50:27It's like they were tailored just for you.
00:50:31What was he like?
00:50:34You know, nice and fun.
00:50:40For the first time, I felt free, like I had my own life
00:50:44and I could do whatever I wanted.
00:50:49Mine did not last.
00:50:52I realised he wasn't really serious about life.
00:50:56He was more interested in going to one party after another
00:51:00than settling down and having a family.
00:51:03His lifestyle was unstable, just too crazy for me.
00:51:09When I came to my senses, I broke off with him.
00:51:13And soon after that, I met your father.
00:51:17And he was the right man for me.
00:51:23Did you ever hear about these couples and open relationships?
00:51:26Of course. It happens back home all the time.
00:51:29Some of the women, they just put up with it.
00:51:33Ara, are you?
00:51:37Oh, why would you be in that kind of relationship?
00:51:43He has this woman he's been seeing since before we met.
00:51:47Ara, you know that isn't right.
00:51:50I can see how unhappy you are about it.
00:51:52Ara, this is going to make you an outcast in our community.
00:51:56You know that, right?
00:51:58The men in this country, they will not understand something like that.
00:52:02They'll judge you.
00:52:04I just don't know how I got wrapped up in it.
00:52:06You can unwrap yourself.
00:52:10Sweetheart, you deserve better.
00:52:15When all this fire and passion dies away, and it will,
00:52:21you'll only find true freedom and peace in Allah.
00:52:34Come in.
00:52:41You're Ben Johnson?
00:52:42Yeah. You must be Ara's mom.
00:52:46No, sir. I do not wish to shake your hand.
00:52:49Beg your pardon?
00:52:50You have been defiling my daughter, and you should make this right.
00:52:54I don't know what you're talking about.
00:52:55You have been with her.
00:52:57She's never been with a man before.
00:53:00You understand? You're ruining her for her husband.
00:53:07My daughter is a good woman,
00:53:10and she deserves to be with someone who's going to treat her with respect.
00:53:13I don't think there's anything wrong with what we did.
00:53:15If you want what's best for her, leave her alone,
00:53:18or you'll have to marry her.
00:53:21And women in Islam cannot marry outside it.
00:53:24So are you going to convert and then break up with that other friend of yours?
00:53:29Do you see yourself married to Ara?
00:53:32You heard what I asked you.
00:53:35You understand?
00:53:36You're making her an outcast in the community if this continues.
00:53:41She'll have trouble finding a good husband, and for what?
00:53:44So you can feel like a big man?
00:53:48If you don't have honorable intentions for her,
00:53:51then leave her alone and let someone who deserves her step up.
00:54:05Hey.
00:54:24I hate to just drop in on you like this.
00:54:26It's okay.
00:54:28Look, I know you're busy, but have you seen Gabrielle today?
00:54:32No, it's been a couple of days.
00:54:34Not worried?
00:54:36No, she does this all the time. She's probably with her folks.
00:54:39She hadn't been returning my calls. I just got worried.
00:54:42Anyways, I just want to make sure she's all right.
00:54:45You sure she's okay?
00:54:51Is there something else on your mind, man?
00:55:01Do you love her?
00:55:04I don't know.
00:55:06Right. That's a no.
00:55:08What is love?
00:55:09Jesus. Look, I'm talking to a damn philosopher.
00:55:11No, I'm not being facetious.
00:55:12How do you know you're in love with someone?
00:55:14I can't stop thinking about her.
00:55:17I go crazy when she's gone.
00:55:19I go crazy when she's over here.
00:55:21I have never felt like this with another woman.
00:55:24Yeah?
00:55:26It just feels...
00:55:29It feels dangerous.
00:55:31Right.
00:55:33You feel the same way?
00:55:37No.
00:55:39With Gabrielle, it's comfortable and easy, but...
00:55:42No.
00:55:44The plants don't align.
00:55:46What about with the other woman you've seen?
00:55:51In a weird way, yeah.
00:55:53There's your answer, man.
00:55:55Do the right thing.
00:55:57Make us all happy.
00:56:01I think she should move in with me.
00:56:25I think she should move in with me.
00:56:55I think she should move in with me.
00:57:26Hey, I am so sorry I was such an ass.
00:57:30Can you forgive me, please?
00:57:32I'm sorry.
00:57:35Sorry.
00:57:56You're better than this.
00:57:58You know that.
00:58:00Mom, I just need some time alone with him
00:58:02to figure some things out.
00:58:04Have you thought about the example you're setting
00:58:06for Mohammed and Miriam?
00:58:08Did you tell them?
00:58:10No.
00:58:13Are you going to marry this man?
00:58:15Have children with him?
00:58:20Mom, I love you, but I have to go.
00:58:23Mom, I love you, but I have to go.
00:58:42How are you feeling after your day?
00:58:45Good.
00:58:48That's good.
00:58:52Are you still talking to Gabrielle?
00:58:55No.
00:58:59Did you love her?
00:59:02There were times when I thought I did.
00:59:05Being with her was comforting, easy.
00:59:09But we, uh, we didn't fit in a lot of ways
00:59:14and I felt guilty for not making it fit.
00:59:17I was afraid of being alone, I guess.
00:59:19Why?
00:59:23Ever since I moved out of my mom's house,
00:59:25I always had to have a woman around me.
00:59:28It was ironic.
00:59:30I was afraid of committing myself.
00:59:32It felt like the beginning of death.
00:59:37I thought love would step in and solve everything, but...
00:59:42What is love?
00:59:50♪♪♪
00:59:55♪♪♪
01:00:00♪♪♪
01:00:05♪♪♪
01:00:10You believe God hears all your prayers?
01:00:13Of course.
01:00:15You think it's crazy, I know.
01:00:17Actually, I'm a little jealous.
01:00:19Why would that make you jealous?
01:00:22Because it's something I can't experience.
01:00:25I need evidence for everything.
01:00:27The fact that you're so sure without it,
01:00:30makes me a little jealous.
01:00:32You've never thought there was a God?
01:00:35I thought there could be one once.
01:00:37When?
01:00:39This one time when I was thinking about
01:00:41the origins of everything, like the universe.
01:00:45What do you think about the soul?
01:00:47I don't know.
01:00:48Define it, and I will tell you what I think about it.
01:00:52It's your immaterial essence.
01:00:55The you-ness of you.
01:00:57Like a part of you that's separate from your body?
01:01:00Yeah.
01:01:02Hmm.
01:01:03Sounds like a nice idea.
01:01:05Makes me wish I had one.
01:01:07You have a soul, silly.
01:01:09Mm-mm.
01:01:12Ha ha ha!
01:01:20I'm gonna have some friends over tomorrow.
01:01:23Is that okay?
01:01:25Okay.
01:01:26You sure?
01:01:28Yeah, I'm fine.
01:01:30They want to meet you.
01:01:32Go, shot!
01:01:36All right, all right, all right.
01:01:39Okay, um, five horses.
01:01:42Five.
01:01:43Twelve.
01:01:44Ha ha ha!
01:01:46Checkmate.
01:01:48That's on you.
01:01:50Fuck you, asshole.
01:01:52Dude.
01:01:53Twelve.
01:01:55Mm-mm.
01:01:57Ha ha ha!
01:01:58Hey!
01:01:59How are you?
01:02:00Go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
01:02:02No, that's bullshit.
01:02:03No, it's not.
01:02:04No, it's...
01:02:05Are we even listening?
01:02:06No, listen to me.
01:02:08What I'm telling you, it's complete and utter bullshit.
01:02:12No, it's not.
01:02:13You're telling me with a straight face
01:02:15that the sexual revolution didn't liberate women.
01:02:18What I'm saying is that women as a group
01:02:21stopped paying attention to who they gave it up to.
01:02:24That's caused us to be objectified more, that's all.
01:02:27It's true.
01:02:29We don't usually say no if it's Auburn.
01:02:32But why shouldn't a woman fuck whoever she wants to fuck?
01:02:35Because we're the ones who get stuck with the kids
01:02:37when the asshole runs.
01:02:39Like you.
01:02:41You wouldn't want to have a baby with some random dude, would you?
01:03:05Good morning.
01:03:27Sorry to interrupt.
01:03:29That's okay.
01:03:31You all done?
01:03:32Yeah.
01:03:33Every morning, right?
01:03:35Yeah.
01:03:40Did you have fun last night?
01:03:42Yeah, it wasn't bad.
01:03:46It was kind of awkward for you.
01:03:48Sorry.
01:03:50A little bit.
01:03:51Yeah.
01:03:52My friends drink a lot.
01:03:53Sorry.
01:03:54Yeah.
01:03:55Yeah.
01:03:56The girls were pretty funny.
01:03:59They were talking about what kind of man
01:04:01you wouldn't want to have kids with.
01:04:02God.
01:04:06You ever want kids?
01:04:08One day, yeah.
01:04:10It'd be a nightmare now, though.
01:04:11Geez.
01:04:13Why would it be a nightmare?
01:04:16Take over your life.
01:04:18Tie you down to some screaming spawn.
01:04:20Well, you were a screaming spawn once, too, you know.
01:04:23Yeah.
01:04:25Drove my dad nuts.
01:04:29That's partly why he was such a psycho.
01:04:32One half PTSD, the other half unwanted children.
01:04:36He won all these medals in the Air Force for leadership,
01:04:40so it couldn't have been the stress.
01:04:45He used to throw glasses at my head.
01:04:49Crazy shit.
01:04:52I honestly think that if he would have had
01:04:55just the room to be himself,
01:04:58he would have been a better man.
01:05:10You busy today?
01:05:11I'm having a meeting with my advisor.
01:05:13You?
01:05:16I was going to work on my dissertation.
01:05:18Okay.
01:05:19I'm going to be late.
01:05:21Okay.
01:05:22Don't clean, okay?
01:05:23Okay.
01:05:54Arah, can we talk to you?
01:06:00This isn't the answer.
01:06:04I love you.
01:06:06Allah loves you.
01:06:07Mom, is this what you want?
01:06:12Are you really happy like this?
01:06:14Mom, you know I love you.
01:06:16I love you, too.
01:06:18Is this what you want?
01:06:20Are you really happy like this?
01:06:22Mom, you know I love you.
01:06:25This is just something I need to figure out on my own.
01:06:31I will wait on you forever.
01:06:39Do the right thing, Arah.
01:06:46I don't know how you did it, but this looks ready to defend.
01:06:50Not bad, huh?
01:06:51It's good.
01:06:53It's thoughtful, well-written.
01:06:57What happened?
01:06:59I'm serious.
01:07:00This is a world away from your last draft.
01:07:04Yeah, I guess it is.
01:07:06Ergo my question.
01:07:07What happened?
01:07:37Do the right thing, Arah.
01:07:51Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:21Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:22Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:23Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:24Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:25Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:26Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:27Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:28Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:29Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:30Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:31Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:32Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:33Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:34Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:35Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:36Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:37Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:38Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:39Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:40Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:41Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:42Do the right thing, Arah.
01:08:44Ah!
01:08:51Hi.
01:08:52Hey.
01:08:54So, uh, how did your meeting go?
01:08:57Great.
01:08:58All I have to do is, uh, defend now.
01:09:00Hmm.
01:09:01Well, um, I have some good news.
01:09:04I was accepted into Georgetown Law.
01:09:07Wow!
01:09:08Congrats!
01:09:09Heh, heh.
01:09:11It was the first school that I applied to.
01:09:14So you're moving there after the summer?
01:09:16Right after graduation, actually.
01:09:18You didn't tell me you were applying.
01:09:20Yeah, well, I'm probably going to be heading there in May
01:09:24because I want to get a lay of the land
01:09:26before the fall semester starts.
01:09:28And, um, well,
01:09:31I wanted to see if you would come with me.
01:09:35I, uh, I'm pregnant.
01:09:42Are you sure?
01:09:44Yep. I missed my period and I went to the doctor
01:09:48and I got the call today.
01:09:51I'm keeping the baby.
01:09:58I'm not saying this to be an ass, but are you sure it's mine?
01:10:02Yes, I'm sure it's yours.
01:10:04You are the only one that I have had unprotected sex with.
01:10:09You know, I just assumed that you would
01:10:13want to be involved in the life of your child.
01:10:16No, I mean, you're right.
01:10:19I'm just processing this.
01:10:22I'm sorry.
01:10:42Oh, it's Ben.
01:10:44Hi, Ben.
01:10:48What's going on, stranger? I've missed talking to you.
01:10:50Tell Ben I love him.
01:10:52Lana says hi and that she loves you.
01:10:55I missed you all.
01:10:57Sorry, I've been busy getting my dissertation together.
01:11:01How's it coming?
01:11:03It's ready to go.
01:11:05Are you all right, Benny? Your voice sounds strange.
01:11:08Yeah, I haven't been too careful here lately.
01:11:12Gabrielle's pregnant.
01:11:15Oh, wow.
01:11:17Crazy, huh?
01:11:19How do you feel about this?
01:11:21I am shaken up.
01:11:25She's going to Georgetown in the fall.
01:11:29She wants me to come with her.
01:11:31And you don't want to?
01:11:34No.
01:11:36There's someone else.
01:11:38Someone else? Benny, this is soap opera stuff, huh?
01:11:41We have an open relationship.
01:11:43I'm an idiot for getting myself into this.
01:11:46Gabrielle, she and I, we were just good for the time being, you know?
01:11:50I finally met this other girl who I have a real connection with,
01:11:54and I...
01:11:56I just think I ruined it, just like Dad.
01:12:00Ben. Ben. Benjamin.
01:12:02You couldn't be like that man if you tried.
01:12:06Do you want to live the rest of your life with Gabrielle?
01:12:11No. No.
01:12:14Well?
01:12:16Could you be a good father if you weren't living with her?
01:12:21Yeah.
01:12:23Well, it sounds to me like you've answered your own question.
01:12:31Hey.
01:12:33Hey. How'd your day go?
01:12:36Not bad. I didn't mean for you to clean all of this.
01:12:39It's okay.
01:12:41I said I'd clean.
01:12:44So...
01:12:47You're too good to me. You shouldn't have to take care of my mess.
01:12:50I work better when things are clean.
01:12:52You hungry?
01:12:54Yeah. Food sounds good.
01:13:02Hey, there's something I've got to tell you.
01:13:04Something wrong?
01:13:06Yeah.
01:13:09I had a weird day today. I got some news.
01:13:13What is it?
01:13:16I don't know how to tell you this.
01:13:20What?
01:13:22Gabrielle's pregnant.
01:13:29I just found out today.
01:13:31Listen, I'm going to tell her that even with the baby,
01:13:35I'm still going to be with you.
01:13:39All right.
01:13:41Can you listen?
01:13:43Fuck. I didn't do this on purpose.
01:13:46Can you give me the dignity of listening to me for a second?
01:13:57I need you to listen to me.
01:14:02I...
01:14:04I...
01:14:35It's very early in your first trimester,
01:14:37so you have lots of options.
01:14:40I have an opening as early as next Wednesday.
01:14:44Will it hurt?
01:14:46Some women have pain like cramps during the procedure,
01:14:49but it's very safe.
01:14:54Let me know if you need anything.
01:14:56No, I'm good.
01:14:58I'm going to go.
01:15:00It's safe.
01:15:04But you don't have to make a decision today.
01:15:26Hi.
01:15:28I talked to your mom.
01:15:30She's worried about you.
01:15:33I figured as much.
01:15:35I've been worried about you, too.
01:15:38Is there anything I can do?
01:15:43I don't think anyone can help me now.
01:15:46Laura, my father and I have been pushy.
01:15:49I'm sorry for that.
01:15:51Look, I don't care what's happened.
01:15:55I'll help you if you'll let me.
01:16:00Professors, thank you for your time here today.
01:16:04My dissertation focuses on the tenets of Calvinism
01:16:07and how that philosophy spread across Western Europe
01:16:10and affected the politics and culture.
01:16:12Contrary to statistics,
01:16:14Cameroonian philosophies still thrive within Christianity,
01:16:18much like the cult of Isis survives within Roman Catholicism
01:16:22as the veneration of Mary.
01:16:24That was brilliant, Ara.
01:16:27Congratulations on a remarkable defense
01:16:30and on your engagement.
01:16:32So will you be Dr. Jalali?
01:16:35No, I'm choosing to take my husband's name.
01:16:41You can just have a seat over there.
01:16:55How'd it go in there?
01:16:57I did okay.
01:17:00You?
01:17:02I'm pretty sure I passed.
01:17:05You think so?
01:17:08If I would have done this a month ago,
01:17:11I would have said no.
01:17:13You?
01:17:15I passed, I think.
01:17:19I heard you got engaged.
01:17:22Yeah.
01:17:26Congrats.
01:17:29Thanks.
01:17:33What are you going to do after this?
01:17:36Move to the DC to be near Gabrielle.
01:17:39I got a teaching fellowship.
01:17:41What's that?
01:17:43I don't know.
01:17:45Near Gabrielle.
01:17:47I got a teaching fellowship there.
01:17:54Well, I hope you two are happy.
01:17:59Ben.
01:18:00Ara.
01:18:04Hey, listen.
01:18:06I just want to say...
01:18:08No, miss.
01:18:10Not here.
01:18:12They're ready for you, Ben.
01:18:35What were you going to write about?
01:18:38Spinoza and the ripples in the universe.
01:18:44About how everything that is or will be
01:18:46are all like ripples in a pond.
01:18:48All outside our control and nothing can change them.
01:18:52Do you believe that?
01:19:09I see wind
01:19:13In the trees
01:19:17I see the leaves
01:19:20Shiver in the breeze
01:19:24And the stone
01:19:27So carelessly thrown
01:19:31Will change the surface
01:19:34Of the water as we've known
01:19:39I see stars
01:19:42Standing my ground
01:19:46They've shifted light
01:19:49They've moved around
01:19:53My dimming sight
01:19:56Oh, sweet time
01:20:00When I was yours
01:20:02And you were mine
01:20:07Fate's a cold face
01:20:11She stares unmoved
01:20:15As we make our plans
01:20:17And do the things we do
01:20:21But how we tempted her
01:20:25Until the end
01:20:29And though we loved and lost
01:20:32I'd do it all again
01:20:36Since the start
01:20:40Since the fall
01:20:43There's someone trying
01:20:46To make sense out of it all
01:20:50It seems a waste
01:20:53To give the tools
01:20:55To till the land
01:20:58Then turn around
01:21:00And take the harvest
01:21:02From our hands
01:21:05Fate's a cold face
01:21:09She stares unmoved
01:21:12As we make our plans
01:21:15And do the things we do
01:21:19And how we tempted her
01:21:23Until the end
01:21:27And though we loved and lost
01:21:30I'd do it all again
01:21:46acoustic guitar plays softly
01:21:57acoustic guitar plays softly
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01:22:57acoustic guitar plays softly
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