My husband told me I have an overactive imagination.
That I drink too much.
That I can't let go of the past.
That I make plans and cancel them.
That I never wear a jacket but then complain that I'm cold.
That sometimes I speak with a British accent
even though I'm not British.
He's right, about all of it.
That's why he left me.
Shit.
Elizabeth?
Honey, we're gonna be late for school!
We tell children so many lies.
Not to worry,
not to be afraid,
not to believe in monsters.
But why don't we tell them the truth?
There are monsters.
They're just not under the bed.
Anna.
Hi, Carol.
How are you?
Good.
Yeah?
Morning got away from me.
Mark said you never called him back to confirm.
For the date tonight.
Yeah. I don't… I don't know if tonight is gonna work.
Oh, Anna. You can't cancel the day of.
He's a big client of Scott's.
Plus, it's been three years.
At some point, you gotta move on. Right?
I know I have to. I just… I don't know how.
You put on a dress, you do your makeup.
You're too cute to be sad forever.
Okay. So you're good to go?
-Yeah, Carol. Good to go. -Great. I'll tell Scott to let him know.
Tell Mark Anna's in. Period.
Also, your shirts are in my car.
Should I take them to the cleaners or what? Question mark.
How's the mailbox coming, Buell?
It's coming, Miss Anna. She's a tricky one,
but we're getting there. Don't worry.
Same four photos.
Well, at least I'm not the only one that hasn't moved on.
We were so happy once.
Guys, do you have a, um… a box with "Emma"?
Yeah. Great.
Okay.
Here we go.
Okay.
No wife?
Hi. You've reached the Whitaker residence.
Anna Banana, it's Sloane.
I don't know if you even listen to this anymore, but your mailbox is full.
I haven't heard from you in a few days.
I'm a little worried. I know you told me not to worry,
and so I'm not gonna worry.
But call me back, or I will definitely worry.
Now for the annoying part of the message.
I know you told me a million times that you stopped painting…
…and you can totally say no.
But I have a show coming up, and I need one of your pieces.
Not need but want.
But also need. But also no pressure.
But also, please?
Okay, I hate myself. I love you.
Call me back.
I was so talented once.
How do I look?
You think Carol would approve?
I know.
I wish I was in my pajamas staying home with you tonight too.
I love you.
Can you at least give me a kiss before I go?
I can't.
Why not?
Because I'm dead.
How do I keep forgetting that?
When your past is so present,
how can there be a future?
There can't.
You're just stuck in the present with your past.
Oh my God. I cannot believe you just stood Mark up.
This is really bad for Scott, Anna. You don't even--
You gotta be kidding me.
Hello?
I need a fucking drink.
Ugh.
Not tagged.
Oh shit.
Hi.
These are for you.
Oh my God.
They're gorgeous. Thank you.
So… sorry. They're not, um… They're not from me.
They were delivered a while ago. They were just sitting out in the sun, so…
Right. No. I know.
I… That's why I was saying thank you for letting me know they're out here.
That's why I said, "Thank you."
I'm Neil. Um, we just moved in across the street.
Did you?
Huh.
Um, I'm Anna.
Uh… uh…
Well, uh, enjoy your flowers.
Okay.
Very pretty.
What else can I tell you?
Hmm. Oh, we have new neighbors.
A dad and a little girl.
She's about your age.
Or the age you were when…
All right. I gotta go.
I'll see you tomorrow. I love you.
Hi.
You must be my new neighbor.
I'm Anna.
My name's Emma.
What you got there?
I'm selling chocolate bars for my new school.
I'm trying to sell as many as I can so that the other kids will like me.
How about five boxes?
Wow. That's $50.
Fifty dollars. Okay.
Stay right here. I'm gonna go upstairs and get my checkbook.
You know, you must have read my mind, 'cause I was just craving chocolate.
Okay…
So how are you liking your new house?
My dad says the kitchen's too small.
Is that so?
Is, um, your dad a… a good cook?
Not as good as my mom was.
She died.
I'm sorry.
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I am going to bring you
a yummy chicken casserole for dinner tonight.
Really?
Mm-hmm.
-Do I make the check out to your school? -Yeah.
Madison Elementary.
That was Elizabeth's school.
Who's Elizabeth?
Uh…
Someone very special.
Just like you.
What kind do you want?
Do you have anything with almonds?
Oh, the lady next door to us bought all the almond ones.
Is she not nice?
Oh, no. She's n… nice.
She didn't really seem nice.
I like you.
How do I keep forgetting that?
Hey. Hey, you okay?
Oh.
You all right?
Yeah. I'm okay. Oh God. I'm so sorry.
-Do you want me to call someone? -No. No. I'm fine.
Uh, I'm just embarrassed.
What?
It's my stupid ombrophobia.
Fear of the rain.
Oh.
I was trying to bring you a casserole.
You didn't need to do that.
Although actually, I bet Emma would've loved it.
Don't think she likes my cooking anywhere near as much as her mom's.
Yeah.
She told me
that your wife passed.
Did she?
Yeah.
Yeah, um…
It was a tragic accident.
We were, um, up at our lake house,
and she drowned.
Emma saw the whole thing.
That's awful.
Yeah.
My daughter died…
…three years ago.
Jesus.
Those are beautiful.
Oh, thank you.
Sorry-- Wait, you painted those?
Mm-hmm.
Wow.
My wife was really into art.
She took pottery classes forever,
but I mean, she wasn't like a professional, like you.
Haven't painted in a long time.
Yeah. Well,
grief can really derail things.
Yeah.
-Do you want a cup of coffee? -Yeah, no.
-I should probably get back to Emma. -Right.
But I'd love to take you up on the offer some other time.
Great.
Uh, I can't thank you enough.
-Are you sure you're gonna be okay? -Yes.
-Great. -Yeah.
And I am gonna bring you another casserole.
Only if you insist.
And listen, we're literally right across the street,
so if there's anything you need…
Thanks.
This is totally unsolicited advice.
I think you should paint again.
You're too good.
Okay.
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.
Oh my God.
There's so many layers to casseroles,
just like there are so many layers to a person.
But to connect with someone,
you have to be willing to peel back those layers
and show them what's really inside.
Hi.
Casserole.
I told you I'd make it.
-You look pretty. -I do?
-Hi, Anna. Hi.
Oh. Gee. You really… you brought us another casserole?
No. I saw that this one had been delivered,
and it was just sitting out in the sun. So…
Oh.
Yeah, I'm kidding. I made it.
Um, I hope you guys enjoy it.
Do you, um…
Do you wanna stay and join us?
Oh, uh…
I mean, I've opened a bottle of wine. Don't know if you like wine.
I like wine.
Great. Great. Come in.
Oh, Dad? My class is going on a field trip.
Can you be the chaperone?
Hmm.
What do you think?
Oh. Emma, I forgot to tell you.
Anna is an artist.
-Can I show you a drawing I did? -Yes, please.
-Can you grab that permission slip? -Yep. I'll get it.
Her mom used to chaperone all the field trips,
so now I try and make sure I do it.
Hmm.
You're obviously doing a really great job with her.
I'm trying.
Okay. One permission slip
and my duck.
Wow.
Emma, this is fabulous.
Thanks. Ducks are my favorite animal.
-I wanted this to be more light green. -Hmm.
But my marker set doesn't have light green.
Hmm.
Now, I think it is somebody's bedtime.
No.
Yes.
It's all right. I should probably be going as well.
-Can you read to me? -Sure.
Let me do the dishes. I'll meet you upstairs.
That'll take forever.
Emma…
I can read to you.
I… I mean, if that's okay.
Please.
You sure you don't mind?
I'd love to.
-You've got a good one up there. -Yeah.
Yeah. I'm pretty lucky.
I, um,
cleaned your casserole dish.
Oh, you didn't have to do that.
Well, I didn't do that good a job, to be honest. Look.
Couldn't get rid of that part.
You know, I think that was already there.
Well…
…it's a gorgeous dish.
-Oh my God. I'm so sorry. -It's okay.
It's okay. I have more.
It's fine. It's totally ok…
I should probably get going.
Well, thank you.
Yeah.
For everything.
I've gotten so used to nightmares I almost forgot what it's like to dream.
To dream of a future where I'm no longer alone.
A future where I can trust someone again.
A future where monsters
don't exist.