[film reel clicking]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[water lapping]
[dramatic tone]
[bird calling]
[light music]
♪ ♪
- Chapter one.
All right.
OK, chapter two.
And got it.
Chapter three.
Chapter four. Compare, contrast.
And--
[sighs] Done.
[breathes deeply]
Feels like enough work for today.
[sighs]
- The unexpected success of the book series
has captivated millions worldwide.
But as fans eagerly await
the final installment
of the "Moonlight Magic" trilogy,
the question still remains:
Just who is Georgina Cartwell?
- Who, indeed?
- While the YA fantasy author
has won numerous awards
for her first two novels,
she has never made a public appearance,
prompting speculation that Georgina Cartwell
may in fact be a pen name.
[tense music]
Hold on.
This just in.
Breaking news, Georgina Cartwell
has announced on social media that she is two weeks
away from completing her third novel.
- No.
Mm-mm, mm-mm, no! No, no, mm-mm.
- That's right, the third and final book
of the "Moonlight Magic" trilogy will be delivered
to its publisher in two weeks.
You heard it here first, folks.
In other entertainment news, Hollywood...
- [sighs] Susana!
OK, OK, OK, OK, mm, all right.
First of all, it's my social media account.
And who said anything about two weeks?
No, I didn't read the contract.
OK, Susana, I think--
yes.
I--yeah, I know how you get when I use your first name.
Of course, I'm almost done. I'm like this close.
I'm just saying, can you maybe buy me an extra month or two?
I mean, isn't that what agents are for?
OK, OK, OK, forget it, forget it.
Forget I asked. Stupid Mel.
Actually, I just had a great idea,
and I think I'm gonna go write.
OK, love you, bye.
[sighs]
Where are all the blue ones?
[light music]
- Hey!
Sorry, my flight got delayed.
Ugh, there was this baby screaming
the whole way, like right--
Melissa!
- I'm on the patio!
♪ ♪
- I'm home.
- Hi, hi, hey.
OK, did you know there's like 45% less
blue ones in this bag?
We're being scammed by big candy.
Can you believe that?
- I thought you said you were gonna be doing
some writing this weekend.
- Oh, yes, I did say that.
And I wasn't lying.
But you know I need some unstructured free time
to let my creativity run wild.
I mean, how else am I supposed to figure out what happened
on Arella's journey or the night of the Dark Tide
if I'm just sitting behind a desk?
- So you figured it out then?
- No, that was just-- that was an example.
Do not make that face.
- I'm not making a face. - You are.
You are making that face.
You're making that face you make
when you're gonna say something serious.
- I think I need some space from us.
- U--
is this a breakup?
Why?
- It's just, we're supposed to be this power couple,
you know, and lately, I've been feeling like
I'm in this relationship all by myself.
- Oh, Jonathan. That's just not true.
- Babe, most days, you don't even get out of bed.
You don't work.
I mean, you definitely don't write.
I mean, I get home from a business trip,
and you can't even ask me how it went or say hi.
- Hey, you know, you're right, you're right, and I'm sorry.
I was just distracted, but I want
to know what's going on at the bank.
- [laughs]
- You don't work at a bank?
- No. - No.
[laughs] You don't work at a bank.
I know you don't work at a bank.
At the hedge fund, tell me what's
going on at the hedge fund.
- It's commercial real estate investment.
I've told you a hundred times.
- Jonathan, that's like almost exactly the same thing.
OK, fine. Just don't do this.
Don't throw away what we have.
We're like peanut butter and bacon.
- Nobody likes peanut butter and bacon!
- [scoffs] - I love you.
Really, I do.
I just--I can't do us anymore.
I'm sorry.
You're gonna be OK.
- Why wouldn't I be?
I am a grown woman.
No! That is not real!
Jack would be like, "Move over.
"There's plenty of room for us both on the door.
We're supposed to be a power couple."
[doorbell rings]
- Get up, Jack.
Get up.
♪ ♪
- Hello. - [clears throat]
- My lovely.
How are you?
- Susana.
- It's after 5:00, dear. I'm off the clock.
- Oh, great, sorry.
Mom, hi. What are you doing here?
- A mother's job is never done, and neither is an agent's.
- Not following.
- Well, honey, I saw
that what's-his-name broke up with you.
- Who said anything--who said--
- Shh. No one said anything.
I saw that you posted song lyrics online.
- I just feel like Beyoncé gets me.
- I know. I read your post.
But regardless, he's gone.
You're heartbroken. Look at me.
We have a deadline to meet.
- [scoffs] OK, OK.
I just--I kind of feel like my grief
outweighs the whole career thing right now.
- I think you're wrong because, darling,
you signed a contract, a contract that will allow
a publisher to seek damages if deadlines are not met.
- OK, so we pay a little fine.
- Sure, you can pay your little fine of $1 million.
- What? - That's what I thought.
So if you would like to keep your house
from being repossessed, I suggest you go upstairs
and start packing because I booked us
on a ten-day writing retreat.
Think of it as the mother-daughter trip
we've never taken.
- OK.
So you and me, together on vacation.
- You know how I feel about rhetorical questions.
Don't like them.
So go upstairs, start packing,
and put on some deodorant, please.
- Mom, I'm--
♪ ♪
[sniffs] Fine.
- [sighs]
♪ ♪
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- Really? An olive farm?
I mean, why not, like, a private library or something?
- Darling, your final book is set in a magical forest.
So this is your inspiration.
- Mm, OK, now, where is my cell phone service?
- Darling, don't dawdle under the sun.
It'd be a nightmare if your forehead wrinkles.
- My forehead what?
♪ ♪
- Welcome to the Babbling Brook Farm.
Checking in, I'm guessing.
- Yes, the name is D-E-E.
- Let's see, Dee.
So you've got one deluxe suite and one basic room.
- Perfect.
- We'll just need a card on record.
- Thank you. - Is this made of stone?
- Slate, actually.
Tell the bellhop to bring the bags up to the room.
Thank you.
- Your room is upstairs on the left.
- Darling, we have a tasting tonight, 7:00.
And do not be late.
Oh, and wear that cute top Mommy packed for you.
Oh.
- Yeah, we don't have a bellhop.
- Yeah, sorry. She is a lot.
♪ ♪
Oh, is that the, um--
- It's the first "Moonlight Magic" book.
I'm rereading it.
I know it's YA, but Georgina Cartwell
is just on another level.
You just get completely sucked into her world, you know?
- Yeah, yeah, no, I wish I could
get sucked into a fantasy world right now.
- I could probably upgrade your room.
I mean, it's not like we have many guests
staying here right now.
- Really? - Yeah.
- Oh, thank you. - I'm Colleen, by the way.
- Hi.
♪ ♪
- Correct.
Yeah, 458 pages.
OK, thanks so much. Buh-bye.
Ugh, sorry I am late.
I was on the phone with a publisher.
- Ooh, were you working on extending the deadline?
- Darling, it's dinnertime. Mommy's off the clock, OK?
- Fine, let's get this wine tasting started, huh?
I could use a couple hours to turn my brain off.
- Uh, garcon.
- Ah, yes.
Hello, and welcome to the Babbling Brook Farm.
My name is Ben Pulley.
I am the owner, but I'm also going
to be your guide on your journey
through the wonderful world of olive oil.
- Oh, uh, what happened to the wine tasting?
- This is an olive oil tasting.
We're at an olive farm. - [chuckles]
Right, yeah, no, I know it's an olive farm.
Thank you. - I'm so sorry.
You have to forgive my daughter.
A recent breakup has seemed to have scrambled her brain.
- Mom. - Darling.
Please, continue.
- Right, well, this is olive oil number one.
- Olive oil number one. That's some creative branding.
- It is a cold press, extra virgin olive oil
that is derived from Mission olives,
which are in fact the most popular
of the Californian varieties.
We tend to plant Arbequina and Frantoio varieties
around all of the Mission trees to give them
that extra punch come springtime.
- OK, can we just try the olive oil now?
- Darling, let the man talk.
- The difficult part is getting the pH levels of the soil
just right because you're dealing
with slightly basic, slightly alkaline levels.
I do actually have a saying to help remember.
If you're eight and above, easy up, bruv.
If you're 7.5 or down, turn that ship around.
- Wow, OK, I'm sorry, but I am way too hungry for this.
- Melissa.
- Uh, ma'am, that's-- that's balsamic
vinegar on your bread.
♪ ♪
Would you like any olive oil on your next bite?
- I'm good. Thank you.
Mom. - Yes?
- Dinner has been great. - Wait--
- As always.
Ben.
- Darling, Mommy needs pages in the morning, OK?
- Mm-hmm.
- Charming.
- OK.
You can do this, Mel. All you have to do is write.
The beginning started
at the beginning
with a prerequisite.
♪ ♪
[sighs]
♪ ♪
- Excuse me.
Is this seat taken?
- Uh, yes, my husband is sitting there, actually.
- He must be bringing your wedding ring.
♪ ♪
- Well spotted.
You just earned yourself a seat.
- Very well.
- All right, I will humor you,
since you are sitting there staring at me.
What is it that you do?
- Sergio. - Sergio.
- Is that the measure of a man,
the title on his business card?
- Is that a deflection?
- I have done many things, seen the world,
owned businesses.
Now I'm just enjoying the twilight of my youth.
- I hate to break it to you,
but I think your youth is far behind you.
- Or sitting right in front of me.
[cell phone chimes]
- That is the start of my work day.
Pleasure to meet you, Sergio.
- I did not manage to catch your name.
- I didn't throw it.
♪ ♪
- How is it?
- Well, the good news is it's not olive knot.
- Good news is no absence of bad news, my friend.
- Yeah, and there's bad news.
Olive flies have gotten into the crop.
♪ ♪
- [sighs] Kayzol.
I knew they would return.
- Yeah, I think we're gonna have to harvest
the olives early this year.
Any idea how to hold them off until then?
- As I told your parents, a fight against the flies
is a fight against time.
But I know how to make traps.
All I need is some milk, some anchovies, some urine.
- Right.
I can help you with the first two.
- But how about the capitalist banker, Mr. Ben?
I mean, earlier harvest means less oil, means less money.
- He is coming next week, and we just have to convince
him to refinance the loan, or otherwise--
- The flies, they will win.
- Yeah.
♪ ♪
- Hi. - [gasps]
- Sorry. - Oh, my God.
- I was just going to see if you'd seen my mom anywhere.
Were you writing something?
- No.
Yes, I mean, OK, so my college doesn't
have a creative writing major,
which is what I really want to do.
So I'm trying to write some short stories in my free time.
But like, it's super frustrating
because I feel like there's this giant gap
in quality between what I like to read
and what I actually write.
- Ha. - Does that make sense?
- Yeah, no, totally makes sense.
I mean, you either feel like an idiot or a complete fraud.
And then you start going down the rabbit hole of,
will actually even read this?
- [scoffs] I know, right?
Wait, so you're a writer too?
- Uh, yes, but I'm really more of a reader.
If you want someone to give you notes,
I'm happy to give it a read-- if you're interested.
- Definitely interested.
♪ ♪
I knew it wasn't very good. - What?
No, no, no, no, no. Don't get me wrong.
It's a good sentence. It just gets kind of lost.
Every paragraph should have one core sentence
that drives the whole thing.
- You're really good at this,
like professional level good at this.
- Yes, she is.
If only she would just apply herself.
- Oh, hi, Mom. How are you?
- Oh, I am 12 minutes behind schedule, thanks to you.
- Right, got it, got it, got it, got it.
Hey, look, I really, really like your style.
So as soon as you have a short that you're proud of,
just me know.
I'll definitely give it a read. - Can I give you one now?
- Yeah, of course. - Melissa.
- OK, I have a mother-daughter work thing.
But can I leave it here, and I'll grab it later?
And I'll read it as soon as I can.
- Yeah, thank you. - OK, of course.
- Let's go. - I'm coming.
♪ ♪
- Oh, Melissa!
- OK, you said you wanted pages.
- I'm sorry. It's my fault.
I should have specified. I wanted quality pages.
- OK, they're not that bad.
I feel like they're not that bad.
Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, don't put on your agent glass--
- [clears throat]
"Arella wondered what she would have for breakfast."
Who cares?
"The Elven pastries looked delicious,
"their dough perfectly crisp,
"flaking at even the slightest touch,
"but she would be a fool to ignore the warm welcome
of the lomberry porridge."
You go on like this for six, seven pages.
- OK, I just felt like maybe if I riffed a little bit,
an actual story would start flowing.
- Let me be frank.
As your agent, you have nine days and zero viable words,
and both of our careers riding on the outcome of this.
So if I were you, I would start writing,
and I would start writing fast.
- OK, Mom, it's just, it's not that easy, all right?
I'm really trying to be the person you want me to be,
but I'm just not one of those people who can wake up
and sit down and start working.
And with the breakup and the pressure
of this deadline, I just--
I really don't think I ever will be.
- [sighs]
♪ ♪
Well, then we will just find somebody who is.
Meet me at the patio in one hour.
- What are you doing?
- What I do best, deal-making.
Mr. Pulley!
- Don't want to know. - Oh, Mr. Pulley!
Mr. Pulley.
- Ms. Dee, how can I help?
- I have a business proposition for you.
Do you remember my daughter? - Vinegar Girl.
- Yeah, Vinegar Girl.
She needs help finishing a manuscript
about a magical forest.
The problem is, she's a bit lazy,
wholly unorganized, and--
- And all-around unpleasant.
Yes, I remember her.
- Well, just so you know, between us,
she's a best-selling author.
Like best. - She is?
- Mm-hmm.
- Well, what makes you think that I could help her?
- Well, I can see that you are meticulous,
and you are process-driven.
In essence, you are everything that she's not.
And you happen to know something about trees.
- You do know this is an olive grove, not a magical forest.
- I know that. Mel doesn't.
She hasn't been at a place like this ever.
Besides, I think you two have some real chemistry.
Regardless, my offer still stands.
You help her finish her manuscript,
and in exchange, we will use her influencer status
to help give this place some much-needed PR.
Maybe you can pull it out
of whatever downward spiral it's currently in.
- The farm is doing just fine, thank you.
- Please, I'm an agent.
I can practically smell the financial desperation.
- Desperation doesn't smell.
- Really? Huh, oh.
I think it might smell like--
[sniffs] Yeah.
It smells like moldy olives.
♪ ♪
Deal?
♪ ♪
- Nope. Nope, nope, no, no, no, no, no.
No, Mom, no, no, no, no.
I'm sorry. No offense to you, but no.
Reject. Mm-mm.
- Are you done?
Good because I want you to think very carefully
about what you're going to say next because Ben here
agreed graciously to help you.
He is detailed. He is ordered.
And he happens to know something about trees.
So all you have to do is post something nice about his farm.
Agreed? Good.
I'll leave it to you two to make a schedule.
Great.
♪ ♪
- OK, so we don't really need to do this.
- It's actually not that bad of an idea.
- It's literally the worst idea.
I mean, how are you supposed to help me write?
You're a farmer. You're not a writer.
And in case you haven't noticed,
my entire life is riding on this book.
- Yeah, and so is my entire farm.
I'm going to level with you.
Do I want to be doing this?
No, but right now, I'm desperate.
And everything I've done up until this point
has clearly not been working.
And it seems like the same is true for you.
Look, I am not gonna teach you how to write.
You already know how to do that.
But what I can teach you how to do
is sit down and focus because that is the one thing
in my life that I am actually good at.
- So you think you can help me write
100,000 words in nine days?
- That's 11,000 words a day.
If we have you writing from 9:00 to 5:00,
that's just a little over 1,300 words an hour.
And yes, I do think I can help you reach that.
- Or we both crash and burn in the process.
- [laughs]
- [sighs]
Fine.
It's a deal. - Let's get started.
- OK, this doesn't really even make any sense.
- It makes all the sense.
- I don't understand why we actually
have to go to my room.
What does that have-- - This is happening.
- OK, can you just slow down first?
OK, wait--just--
we don't really need to do this, right?
- To figure out a solution,
I first have to diagnose the problem.
And that means seeing your work environment.
- No!
[laughs] Maybe we do it a different day.
- Another day?
Like one of the nine that you have left?
- OK, fine, fine, fine, fine.
It's just, I haven't really had a chance to unpack.
It's not the best time right now, and--
- No, no. Excuse me.
- No, no, no. - No, no, no.
- I haven't had any time to--
- [laughs]
How did you...
♪ ♪
Why?
- Uh, part of the creative process.
OK, so I had a bit of a meltdown last night.
I tried to write something half decent.
And by the end, I wanted to curl up and die.
- In a blanket fort?
- Well, no, it's actually more like a blanket mausoleum.
- OK, either way, this has to go.
- It has cathedral ceilings.
- [scoffs] - Serious?
- Yeah.
- Wow.
OK, but I will do it.
- OK, after you.
♪ ♪
- Seriously? - Yes.
- Goodbye, old friend.
♪ ♪
You're a monster.
[sighs] OK, what now?
- Let's begin.
So it's called automatic writing.
In the olden days, spiritual mediums
would utilize this technique to try to speak to the dead.
They thought anything they wrote down
while wearing the blindfold
was coming from a nearby spirit.
- [laughs]
So you want me to talk to ghosts now, right?
- Blindfold back on, please.
The blindfold lets you block out external stimuli
and access your subconscious.
If you're having writer's block,
this will let you bypass any conscious objections.
You're just going to write whatever
comes down to your fingertips.
Got it?
- Got it, got it, got it, got it, OK, so--
- OK, OK. I got you.
- A little help. - Uh-huh.
- A little help. - Right down.
- Is it over here?
- No, it's right in front of you.
- So I just write anything.
- Anything at all.
- [sighs]
[tense music]
So when you say-- - [grunts]
- Oh!
I'm so sorry. - I'm OK.
OK. It's all good.
- You OK? - Yeah.
[light music]
♪ ♪
- Darling, how's it going?
- [laughs] Well, I've written zero words.
And I nearly killed a man. So what do you think?
- I think you're finally learning what it's like
to be a woman in the workforce.
- [groans]
- Now sit down and do try to enjoy a meal with Mommy.
So how's it going?
- Mm.
It is going horribly.
He is an annoying know-it-all
who is all about productivity this and efficiency that.
And it's not helping.
- I was actually talking about your breakup.
- Oh.
I just--we don't normally talk about that kind of thing.
- Darling, Mommy's off the clock.
We can talk mother-daughter things.
So tell me, are you finally over what's-his-name?
- OK, what is your deal with Jonathan?
He was a nice guy.
- Please, Melissa.
He wanted a status symbol.
And when he found he got a DIY project, he left.
- Wow, OK, so are you saying
that I need to be fixed?
- I am saying that-- oh, here he comes.
♪ ♪
Look away, look away.
- Is that the guy you told me about?
Um, sir! Hi.
Would you like to join us?
- Who could turn down such beautiful company?
- [gasps]
♪ ♪
- What are you doing?
- Oh, two can play this game.
♪ ♪
- I thought I'd find you here.
- Is there cheese in this?
- Aww, that's a nice way to say "thank you."
- I just--thank you.
- So how's the yield this year? - Not great.
Olive flies got into the crop, which means--
- Moldy olives, yeah.
Hey, dude, technically, half this farm is mine.
I do know how things work.
So what are we going to do?
- Well, we're either going to harvest early
or wait and see if the flies spread to all the trees.
Either way--
we're not going to be producing a lot
of oil this year.
♪ ♪
- Hey, remember that time Dad forgot he left
half the harvest in the loft,
and all the olives started decomposing?
- Yeah, and all the moldy oil
started dripping from the flood boards.
- Dude, it actually got in my hair.
So gross.
Point is, no matter how bad things get around here,
you'll never run this place worse than him.
- Famous last words, Colleen. - Come on.
I believe in you.
You can do this.
- So there I was, staring into the belly of the beast.
The lion's jaws opened wide, its teeth sharp and white.
It slowly sticks its tongue out.
I felt death approaching.
And then-- - [gasps]
- It licked me. - Oh, it licked you!
- With a tongue like sandpaper.
If raised by humans, lions are actually quite friendly.
But that is the joy in life, no?
- To be almost mauled to death by an exotic animal?
- No, finding love and compassion
in the most unexpected of places.
♪ ♪
Another bottle for the table, please.
- Actually, you know, I think that I am good.
♪ ♪
OK, all right, Mom, I'm gonna go.
I'm gonna go write, and I will see you in the morning.
And, Sergio, very nice to meet you.
- Shall we move on to the Pinot Noir?
- I was actually thinking, we should move on to dessert.
♪ ♪
- This isn't working.
[sighs]
♪ ♪
One more try.
♪ ♪
[sighs]
Arella's journey into the forest
was a journey into the unknown.
♪ ♪
And by all accounts, she should have been terrified.
And she was, but she knew she wasn't
making the journey alone.
♪ ♪
[air horn blares]
Iceberg, ship is sinking.
[air horn blares] What is that?
- Good morning!
Rise and shine.
- Give me that.
- It wasn't that bad.
All right, maybe I went a little bit overboard.
But you do know that waking up early
is part of being productive.
It's about keeping a schedule.
Come on.
We can get breakfast.
It's free.
♪ ♪
- Really?
- Like actual words.
- Yes, like actual, bona fide, a lot of words.
- Wow.
- I thought that the blindfold thing
was literally the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
- OK, a little harsh.
- OK, but it worked.
It did. It really worked.
- Well, that's great.
We just need to keep the words flowing,
make sure your mind is in the optimal creative state.
- Optimal what now?
- Have you heard of the gut-mind connection?
It's the belief that not only can your brain influence
your stomach, but actually your stomach
can influence your brain.
- OK, so you want to make me more productive
by controlling what I eat?
- Exactly.
- Do women like you?
♪ ♪
- Ah. - Hi.
- And for you.
- [laughs] Mm.
♪ ♪
Um, Ben, question.
Do I look like a Victorian street waif to you?
- No. - No, no.
So why are you feeding me gruel?
- OK, first off, this is not gruel.
This is called Bio-Fuel,
and it is nutritionally completeness.
- No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, do not lie to me.
That? That is slop.
- OK. - And I'm not gonna eat it.
But I am gonna order the waffles.
- Don't, don't. - Yeah.
- Hi. - Don't order the waffles.
- Oh-- - Please, no.
- [shushing] I'm so sorry.
Do you mind if I send this back and get the waffles instead?
Oh, thank you.
Oh, and can I have ice cream on top of it?
♪ ♪
Mm, I feel sick.
- If only there was a readily available
explanation for that.
- I could be lactose intolerant.
- [scoffs]
- I could be!
- Let's just get started.
Presenting the Idea Matrix,
a trademarked workflow solution that breaks down
the writing process into 42 KPIs.
Let's say you want to map the progress of one
of your side characters.
The first thing you're going to do
is select one of the 25 structural functions
and then cross-reference that with one of the seven
main character archetypes.
- Ben--
- That's gonna be denoted right here by the red string.
But don't confuse that... - Ben.
With the blue string because the blue string is how you--
- Ben! [exhales sharply]
- Do you want me to explain the structural functions again?
- No, this is insane!
It's like the Zodiac Killer tried
his hand at arts and crafts.
- Oh, maybe you just don't understand it
because this is a logical step--
- No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Ben, it's not gonna help me write.
- Because you've been so good at that before my methods.
♪ ♪
- Can I see that for a second?
- Sure.
♪ ♪
Great.
It's not like I spent all night making this for you.
- Ben, can--
♪ ♪
[sighs]
- Oh, dear.
- If you're gonna comment on my appearance,
please don't even bother, OK?
I look how I feel, and I feel like a human dumpster fire.
- Oh, I believe this is what the kids
refer to as "a hot mess."
♪ ♪
- That's actually pretty good. - I know.
You didn't get your witty genes from your father.
So where are Mommy's pages?
- Desk. - Desk.
[grunts]
Let's see.
OK.
♪ ♪
OK.
Well, honey, the quality is good, but the quantity?
- I know. I didn't write today.
- Melissa.
- Don't give me that face, Mom, OK?
I felt like I had it yesterday,
like the words were just flowing out of me.
And then today, with this whole stupid bulletin board thing,
I just-- I feel like a fake.
- Honey, you are not a fake.
You are Georgina Cartwell.
- Exactly.
She speaks fluent French and vacations in Marseille.
And I can't even roll my R's.
I am just Mel, the girl who apparently can't write anymore
and just lashes out on anyone who tries to help her.
- I understand now.
This, this is all about Ben.
Let me tell you a secret, honey.
Conflict isn't always bad.
Pressure isn't always bad.
That's how diamonds are formed and steel is forged.
And it's exactly how I got you an extra percentage
on your residuals.
- I thought you threatened to sue.
- My point exactly, conflict.
Now, look, I know that you don't think your arrangement
with Ben is working, but these pages right here
are proof of just the opposite.
So I need you to get up and go make up with Ben
because the clock is ticking.
Go.
♪ ♪
Out!
♪ ♪
- [sighs]
♪ ♪
- Please don't tell me you're making another org chart.
- What? No, this--
actually, can I have your advice?
- It's like some psychotic AI tried to create
a "Moonlight Magic" fan fiction.
What is this?
- This is for Mel,
the woman with a terrifying mother.
[sighs]
She's Georgina Cartwell.
- What? Do not mess with me!
Are you serious?
That's Georgina Cart-- - Shh!
Her mom is terrifying.
And she is definitely gonna sue me for telling you.
- Are you helping you-know-who finish her last book?
Answer the question! - Yes, yes, OK?
I am going to help her finish the book,
and she's gonna promote the farm,
and we hopefully won't go bankrupt.
But every time I try to actually help,
I just mess it up.
- OK.
Real talk, dude.
This isn't how creative people work.
There's no formula for inspiration.
OK, if you want to inspire an artist,
you need to get them out into the world.
Have them explore, live a little.
- By "live a little," you mean--
- Oh, you're so useless! OK, here.
These are her first two books.
The final one will be set in a magical forest.
We have 396 olive trees outside.
If you want to inspire her to write, start there.
Think you can manage? - Yeah.
Yeah, I can manage that. - And read the books, dude.
Come on, this isn't amateur hour.
This is Georgina freaking Cartwell!
- OK.
Thanks.
- [laughs]
[birds chirping]
- Huh.
Not bad.
♪ ♪
- Oh, no. [clears throat]
- I don't know what I was expecting.
- Oh, wait, Ben! Hang on.
I just had my retainer in.
Hey, I'm really sorry, OK?
I know you were just trying to help,
and I trashed your bulletin board because, I don't know,
I think it made me feel anxious.
I'm supposed to be this brilliant writer, right?
And I was just standing there, thinking,
oh, is this how you're supposed to do it?
Have I been doing it wrong this whole time?
And I don't know. I think I just kind of snapped.
It wasn't cool.
- Honestly, I totally deserved it.
I don't know why I tried to break down
the writing process into 42 KPIs.
- Yeah, I still don't know what that means.
- Oh, it's a key perf--
you know what, forget about it.
They don't matter.
- They don't?
- You know what,
instead of forcing you to write today,
let's go outside, see if inspiration
strikes you that way.
- OK.
[clears throat]
So we're hanging milk cartons on the trees because--
why?
- There's no actual milk in them.
They're flytraps. - Oh.
[sniffs] Oh!
I'm sorry, what is that? It smells like a public toilet.
- Best to not get into that.
OK, how about you take those trees over there,
and I'll get the ones here.
- OK. I can hang it anywhere, right?
- Yeah.
Anywhere you find, just like that.
See? Whoo.
- Why don't you just use pesticides?
I mean isn't that what most farmers do?
- Yeah, my parents used pesticides,
but it's pretty hard on the trees
and even harder on the wallets.
- Really? - Yeah.
Every time it rains, you have to reapply all the pesticide,
and it adds up pretty quick.
All right.
Done with your tree over there? - Done.
Super easy. - Good.
Because we've got 386 more traps.
- What?
♪ ♪
OK, I'm done.
Done. And I need shade.
♪ ♪
Why is the shade so bad?
- You have to trim the branches in the center of the tree.
That way, more light can hit the branches beneath it.
The more light that hits the tree overall,
the more olives it produces.
- You know you're kind of a know-it-all?
Has anyone ever told you that before?
- Pretty much my entire life.
Water?
- Yes, thank you.
You know what's actually crazy is,
I'm kind of having fun sweating my butt off.
- Really? [laughs]
♪ ♪
- Of course, now I get service.
- What's wrong?
- Just an email from Susana.
Apparently, the "Times" is doing an article
on the cultural impact of "The Moonlight Magic" series.
It's great.
- Isn't that a good thing? - Yeah.
Yeah, I guess.
It's just, I spend all my time trying to write this book.
You know, I would love to go one full day
without having to think about Miss Georgina Cartwell.
- All right. I've got an idea.
How about today we completely forget about the book
and go somewhere fun?
- [laughs]
I think Susana would have an aneurysm.
- I won't tell if you won't.
- OK, yeah.
- OK.
Let me get a few things together,
and then meet me back at the barn in like 20 minutes?
- OK, yeah. - OK, great.
- Wait, there's a barn?
♪ ♪
Wow.
OK, so we are going full horse and plow with this.
Ooh, OK, OK, so what are we going to do first?
Are we going to churn some butter?
Or milk a cow? - This is an olive farm.
Remember, we grow olives.
- Then why have the barn?
[horse whinnies] What?
You have horses?
- It's literally on the front page of the welcome packet.
- Nobody reads those.
Hi.
- First time in a stable?
- How can you tell?
- Well, let me introduce you to your first horse then.
This is Spencer, basically the golden retriever of ponies.
And he is going to be your horse for the day.
- My what? - Yeah.
You're going to be riding him.
- Oh, no, no, I'm not gonna--
I don't need to-- I don't need to actually ride.
- Don't you want to know what it's like
to ride a real horse?
What--didn't Arella say that there
is nothing more freeing than riding a horse
with the wind at your back?
- You've read my books?
- Yeah, I stayed up all night reading them.
But seriously, what happened on the night of Dark Tide?
- I don't know. Everyone keeps asking me that.
Like, I know the answer. I don't know.
- You'll figure it out.
So want to see if Arella was right?
♪ ♪
- Here we go. - That's good.
All right, you can ease up on the reins a bit.
- Yeah, but how do I drive-- or I mean steer.
Steer.
- You ride a horse.
And just feel it in your leg. Just feel it in your thighs.
Just give a squeeze the direction you want to go,
and Spencer's a good horse.
He'll know what to do. - OK.
All right, I'm doing it! - Yeah, that's it, all right.
You ready for something a little more advanced?
- Advanced meaning?
- Meaning a canter. - Canter, like faster?
- Yeah, just a little bit. - No, no, no.
I would literally die.
- OK, this is where we stop.
Good job.
♪ ♪
Good girl.
- Ooh.
What are they eating? - Vetch.
It's a type of wild bean.
Topsoil erosion is a big problem for farmers out here.
Overworking the land disrupts the soil structure.
One big rain and half your topsoil is rushing down river.
To avoid that, we've been trying
to let the farm grow wild.
Plus, vetch
adds nitrogen back into the soil,
and its flowers are pretty to look at too.
- [laughs]
You are just a giant nerd, aren't you?
- Massive, huge nerd. - [chuckles]
[gasps]
OK, I have the best idea.
Here, you got this, right? OK, thanks.
Yeah, just hold that. - Yeah, sure, OK.
- Thank you. - All right, come on, guys.
♪ ♪
[laughs] Whoa.
Mel, where are you going? - Come on, hurry up.
- [laughs]
Mel, Mel. - Come on.
- Where are you going? Mel.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- It's warm enough. - Wait, are you crazy?
- You just have to jump.
Ah!
♪ ♪
Get in!
- I didn't bring a swimsuit.
- You don't need one! Just get in!
We're being spontaneous.
- OK, on the count of three.
1. - 2!
- 2 1/2. - 3!
- OK, OK. - Go!
- Ah!
♪ ♪
That was great. - You did it!
- We did it! - Oh, my gosh!
[laughs]
♪ ♪
- You do know I had actual activities planned
for today that didn't involve jumping into the arctic water.
- OK, it was, first of all, balmy, lukewarm.
Yeah, and second of all, you had fun.
Don't even pretend like you didn't.
OK, so what is this all for?
- These are from Colleen.
I thought it would be a good idea
to do one of those painting sessions
where you paint what inspires you.
- Hmm.
- You know, help you see the enchanted forest
for the trees.
- Mm, I see what you did there.
OK, let's paint. - Here you go.
♪ ♪
- Oh! - Ah!
[laughter]
♪ ♪
We are terrible painters.
- No, they're not that bad.
♪ ♪
OK, fine, they are not great. - Yeah, they're bad.
- But art is not about being good or bad.
It is about expressing yourself and wrangling
with the universe to distill one essential truth,
even if it's only true for you.
I mean, here, look.
Look at this olive that you were making,
and I mean really look at it.
Now tell me that you weren't trying
to capture one specific emotion when you made it.
- I was trying to paint a Manzanilla olive,
but it kind of looks like a hairy lemon.
- What?
I hate you so much right now.
- Really? - Yeah.
- Because I was about to see if you wanted anything to eat.
- I take it all back.
- Here, try this. It will blow your mind.
♪ ♪
- Mmm.
No way. - Right?
- What is in that?
- Olive preserves with lemon and ginger.
It's an old family recipe.
Super easy, but super delicious.
- So good.
So how long has your family had this farm?
- Three generations, but my mom and dad
did their best to try to make it two.
They weren't exactly in tune with the land.
Or the business, for that matter.
- Is that why you started the resort?
- Yeah.
Olive trees take five years to get healthy again,
and so I thought I could stave off
the impending financial doom by opening up the resort.
Little did I know that nature would have other ideas.
Honestly, I have no idea what I'm going to do.
The flies are eating into the crops and the profits.
And if I can't convince the lenders
to refinance the loan next week,
I could lose all this.
- Jeez.
I had no idea.
That's so serious.
- No, I'm sorry. - No, no, no, no.
Look, this farm is beautiful.
These olives are insane.
All you really need to do is show people
how incredible this place is.
You know, use a little creativity.
Give them the old razzle dazzle.
- You're right. I am doomed.
- No, no, no.
OK, close your eyes.
- OK.
- Now I want you to take a bite.
But before you do, I want you to think about everything
you love about this place,
everything you saw in it as a kid.
And then I want you to take that emotion
and try and distill it into the description
of the olive oil.
- OK, yeah, I can do that. - Ready?
- Yeah. - One, two, three.
Whoo. - Mm.
♪ ♪
It tastes like early season Kalamata.
- OK, yes, but now more of the flavor
and the feeling behind it.
- Yeah.
- [laughs]
♪ ♪
- OK.
It's kind of earthy. - Mm-hmm.
- Like a warm summer rain? - Yes.
- Oh, but also rich like brown butter.
- Yes! Yes, exactly!
You're doing it!
See, I told you, you just need a little creativity.
You can do this.
I know you can.
♪ ♪
Aww, I feel bad leaving them.
Are you sure they're OK in here by themselves?
They don't get lonely? - Oh, yeah.
I've got something for them. - Hi.
[gentle piano music]
Music? Aww.
- Even horses need something to help them sleep.
- That's fair.
♪ ♪
- Hey, can I ask you something?
- Sure.
♪ ♪
- It's not just the breakup, is it,
why you're not writing the book?
I mean, your ex broke up with you last week,
and you spent, what, the last two years writing the book?
- Mm, a little more.
♪ ♪
- So what's going on?
- I don't know.
It's like I created Georgina Cartwell
to be this impossibly perfect version of myself.
Right, like, she's sophisticated,
and she travels the world
and makes it look easy.
♪ ♪
And every time I sit down to write this book,
I just feel like people are gonna
finally see through it all, you know?
They're gonna see me for who I really am.
Just Mel.
- What's so great about Georgina Cartwell anyway?
No, really? What's so great about her?
I mean, to me, she's stuck up and pretentious,
but you, Mel, you're amazing.
You're spontaneous and funny, and you're brilliant.
You, not Georgina Cartwell.
♪ ♪
- What are you doing?
- I'm asking you something I would
never ask Georgina Cartwell.
Melissa Dee, would you like to dance?
- [laughs]
♪ ♪
OK.
♪ ♪
I didn't think you were a dancer.
- I still don't think that I am, so you know?
[laughter]
♪ ♪
- You might be the last person in the world
I would have thought could dance.
- That would make two of us.
- You know what you should do? You should throw a party.
No, like a festival.
- Do I look like a party kind of guy?
- I'm serious. OK, just hear me out.
You can make a whole event out of it.
You could invite the bankers to come and impress them
and, you know, show them
how truly magical this place can be.
- That's actually not a bad idea.
If we pick the olives early before the flies got to them,
we could use this year's harvest
and put it on the tables, call it a harvest festival,
and sell tickets.
- And if we said Georgina Cartwell
was going to be there, people would definitely come.
Yeah, we could say that she's making a big announcement
about her final book.
- That would mean telling the world
that you're Georgina Cartwell.
- [sighs]
Maybe I'm sick of her getting all the credit.
What's so great about Georgina Cartwell anyway, right?
♪ ♪
Um, I should go.
I should go write right now.
I'm going to write right now,
but you understood, so I will see you tomorrow.
- Yeah, I'll...
see you tomorrow.
♪ ♪
- OK, let's write.
♪ ♪
- So this will be the main area for the festival.
And I was thinking that we could do
maybe a half dozen high top tables here
where people could set their drinks down.
And then in the back, we'll bring some chairs,
so we can-- are you gonna write this down?
- When you say "festival,"
do you mean, like, a giant party, or...
- Your skepticism is duly noted.
- Sorry, but you weren't exactly
Mr. Life of the Party in high school.
- OK, then help me out here, Colleen, with the festival.
Come on, it is a good idea.
We're gonna pick the olives early and then wow the bankers
with some good food and wine.
[sighs] It was Mel's idea.
- It's such a good idea. I love it.
- Now write this down. - OK.
- We're gonna have tables there.
Buffet is gonna be back here.
♪ ♪
- And through the fog and the mist,
she saw the blood red moon rise over the blackened sea.
And whether this was a dream or a memory,
she knew one thing for certain--
this was the night of the Dark Tide.
♪ ♪
- It's true.
Where I'm from, you can see the ocean
from your doorstep.
So blue, it's like liquid sapphire.
You could come visit if you like.
- Are you inviting me on another vacation?
- A vacation maybe.
Yes, or maybe something a little more--
- Hey, guys.
- Hi.
Impeccable timing, dear.
- Oh.
Sorry, I just--I thought you were on the clock
because, you know, it's 1:30.
- No, it is not 1:30-- it is 1:30.
- Mm-hmm, yeah.
- I guess time escaped me.
- A beautiful thing.
- We could just finish this later.
- Arrivederci.
♪ ♪
- Arrivederci.
♪ ♪
Pages.
- OK. - OK.
Let's see, what do we have here?
- I like him.
I think he's a good influence on you.
♪ ♪
- Darling, please, I am trying to focus on the prose.
Wait.
Did you figure out what happens
the night of the Dark Tide?
- I did. - You did?
- Mm-hmm. It just came to me last night.
OK, every 100 years, the blood red moon rises,
creating this massive ecological disaster,
and millions and millions of little bugs
rise from the ocean floor.
And they start consuming anything that produces magic,
including the enchant--
the enchanted forest.
- Spoiler alert, darling. I haven't gotten that far yet.
- I'm sorry. I'm just excited.
- On a different note, though, why don't you
join us for dinner tonight?
- I thought you two have been enjoying your date nights.
- We have, but I miss you at the dinner table.
Hey, invite Ben.
Make a double date. - Ben?
- Yes. - No, no.
Would he even want to do that?
- Regardless, I will see you two at dinner.
♪ ♪
[machine whirring]
- Hello?
- Oh, hey. - What is this place?
- Welcome to the frantoio.
It means olive press in Italian.
- Ah. How does it work?
- This bad boy? - Oh, please don't say that.
- Oh, well, this is a milling machine.
Back in the olden days, they would use
these giant mill stones, but they couldn't
regulate the temperature.
If the olives get about 26 degrees Celsius,
then it ruins the flavor.
Ooh, ah, speaking of flavor,
I have something I want to show you.
- Olive oil number one, Spring Garden,
a light delicate olive oil with floral notes
that reminds you of the sun dappling over the trees.
♪ ♪
- I wanted to try a little rebranding
before the festival.
I'll give the bankers a little razzle dazzle.
- The branding is perfect.
♪ ♪
Hey, random question,
and totally no pressure to say yes,
but would you want to join me,
and Susana, and her new beau for dinner tonight?
- Like a sort of double date thing?
- No, no, no, no, it's not a double date.
It's more like a mother-daughter, Italian--
you can just say no.
- Yes.
- Really?
- Yeah, it sounds fun.
- OK. Um, OK.
So I'll meet you in the lobby at 7:00?
- Perfect.
♪ ♪
- [imitating arrows whooshing]
Do you hear that sound, Mr. Ben?
It's the sound of Cupid's arrow,
and you have been hit.
- No, nobody has been hit.
And shouldn't you be out harvesting the olives?
- So I take lunch, big whoop.
But tell me, my friend.
What would you wear for your big date?
- It's not a date.
- I think you need help picking outfit.
And Alexei is just the man.
What do you think about chambray?
♪ ♪
- Melissa?
- Jonathan.
- Wow, you look incredible!
So what are you doing here?
- What am I doing here? What are you doing here?
I'm on a writing retreat.
- I mean, what are you doing at my client's farm?
- Your client?
- Remember, commercial real estate?
♪ ♪
The firm is interested in lending
to this distressed olive farm,
and the business model really isn't great.
They've got low margins and a lot of tax problems.
So I've got to go there on Thursday.
- Really? - But hey.
I can get you some olive oil from the Babbling Brooks Farm
if you want.
- Ooh, could you get me one
of those little novelty chocolates
from the airport, though?
- Yeah, it's pretty weird, us meeting here, huh?
- Yeah, Jonathan.
You broke up with me after three years together.
It feels a lot worse than weird.
- Yeah, that's fair.
Hey, when I came home that day, I panicked,
and I hurt you.
And Mel, I'm really sorry about that
because I never wanted to do that.
- You know what,
in all fairness, I was spiraling pretty hard.
Really, I don't blame you.
- It looks like you seem to have
pulled yourself out of that.
I'm proud of you.
Really.
Are you all dressed to go to dinner?
Oh--Susana?
You know, why don't I tag along?
You could take it as me extending
the proverbial olive branch.
♪ ♪
- It's definitely a date. - It's not a date.
- Then why are you wearing that?
- Because Alexei wanted to play "America's Next Top Model."
- Hi, hey, I'm so, so, so sorry I'm late.
Something came up, and I just--
- No worries. I'm just glad you're here.
- Ben! Buddy!
How you doing?
- Jonathan came up.
He is my ex.
- Your ex?
Your ex is my banker?
- Small world, right?
Hey, are you coming to dinner with us?
♪ ♪
I'm starving.
Hi!
Mrs. Dee, it's been too long.
Bring it in.
- Jonathan, hi. I forgot you were a hugger.
Great. OK.
- Jonathan. Pleasure to meet you.
- Hello, my name is Sergio.
- Sergio, is that a Romanesco accent that I'm hearing?
- Yes, very impressive.
- Did you take him back? - No.
- I've spent a lot of time in Italy.
- [sighs] All right, sit, everyone.
Sit, please. - Ah, right.
- Oh, oh, oh, Ben, please, you take the seat.
- You're the guest. - Thanks, man.
- No, you take it.
I'll just grab a chair.
♪ ♪
Great.
♪ ♪
- So they wanted 100 million.
I said, we won't do more than 80.
Closed the deal, made partner.
♪ ♪
Excuse me, could we get another bottle
of the Cabernet Sauvignon for the table, please?
Thank you.
- And could I get a tonic--
water?
- Jonathan, it's such a shock to see you here.
- Oh, believe me, Mrs. Dee, I'm just as shocked as you are.
But Ben and I have been doing business for quite a while.
- I wouldn't say while.
- Oh, come on. Don't be modest, Ben.
It's been three years!
Our company lent Ben the money to, uh...
[clears throat] Turn the farm around.
But that harvest festival that I'm hearing about,
I like that. That's a good idea.
But really, what I'm most impressed with is Mel.
She told me she's on track to finish her book.
Of course, I always knew she was brilliant.
To the triumphant return of Georgina Cartwell.
- She's not Georgina Cartwell.
♪ ♪
I mean, obviously, she is.
I, uh...
I'm so sorry.
Everyone, excuse me.
♪ ♪
- Um, he's probably just under a lot of stress
with the harvest festival.
I'm just gonna go check on him quickly.
♪ ♪
Hey.
- Hey.
- So what was that about?
- Just, when were you going to tell me?
- Tell you what exactly?
- I don't know, that your ex-boyfriend is my banker?
- Technically, he works in commercial real estate.
♪ ♪
OK, I still don't know the difference.
Why does it matter?
- Why does it matter that you're cavorting
with the enemy?
- OK, cheap shot.
Why do you care who I date?
♪ ♪
Ben, what is going on? Just talk to me.
- Nothing.
Honestly.
I'm fine, just stressed.
I'm stressed about you finishing the book.
I'm stressed about the festival.
I'm stressed about getting
the Georgina Cartwell seal of approval.
- So you're worried about Georgina Cartwell?
- No. - No?
- Yes.
I don't know.
The festival is coming up,
and you're so close to finishing,
but I don't want to lose my farm
just because you can't live up to being Georgina Cartwell.
- Wow, I--
you know, I expected this from Susana, not from you.
Yeah, I actually thought that you saw me for me,
but apparently, you just see Georgina Cartwell too.
Well, guess what, Ben?
I don't need anyone else in my life trying to manage her.
- Mel!
Wait.
[sighs]
♪ ♪
- Um, yeah, sorry, something came up with the festival,
so Ben had to leave.
- Well, not to be a stick in the mud,
but Sergio and I can't stay for dessert either.
- Why?
- We're going for a walk.
- Just go.
- Good night, darling.
Jonathan. - Good night.
♪ ♪
- Hey.
Are you OK?
- Yeah. Yeah, why?
- That face.
- I'm not making the face.
- Look, I don't want to be too forward,
but can I walk you back to your room, make sure you're OK?
♪ ♪
- Yeah.
Yeah, that's--I'd like that.
♪ ♪
So this is me.
Why are you making the face?
- The face?
- Yeah, the face you make when you're about to tell me
to take out the recycling.
- Oh, don't worry.
I'm not gonna ask you to take out the recycling.
But I am wondering if you would be willing
to give us another shot.
Look, I know I hurt you before.
But, Mel, you were really spiraling.
I mean, we were supposed to be like this power couple.
And instead, you were being crushed
by the weight of this book.
And it felt like it took all my energy to keep you together.
- OK, it wasn't that bad.
- You once walked around the house
with a mint stuck to your sweatpants for two days.
- That was a lollipop.
- [laughs]
OK, a lollipop then.
Look, I'm not proud of what I did.
I was drowning, and I was desperate for air.
And instead of talking to you about it,
I took the coward's way out, and I broke up with you.
I'm sorry for that.
And if you'd be willing to forgive me,
and if you'd be willing to take me back,
I promise I'll never abandon you again.
♪ ♪
- You know, why don't we just start with you coming in
and watching a bad rom-com?
♪ ♪
But you can't stay.
- OK.
♪ ♪
- Oh, it's disgusting!
- Where I'm from, they put bankers in jail.
Effective system, really.
- Jail would be a kindness.
- Yeah. [laughs]
- Oh, I can't take this anymore!
- Where are you going?
- I'm going to slap some sense into my brother.
- Hmm.
♪ ♪
- [grunting]
♪ ♪
- Seriously, dude? - What?
- Do you have something you want to say?
- Yes, I have something I want to say.
I am this close, this close, to becoming sisters
with a famous author, and you're here
building a cheap table.
- I'm setting up for the festival,
the festival that's going to determine whether or not
we keep this farm.
So yes, I'm building a table.
- Ooh, you're like the worst parts of Mom and Dad
glued together.
Mel is back together with that off-brand Ken doll.
Is that what you want?
And don't give me the whole, "Oh, I'm Ben.
I have no emotions," shtick because that's ridiculous!
- You know what's ridiculous? All of this.
I hate to break it to you, Colleen,
but life isn't like one of your stories.
There are no heroes. There are no magic potions.
And while we're being perfectly honest,
there is no such thing as true love.
I was stupid to think that there ever
could have been anything between Mel and I.
But that's the real world.
It's about time you start living in it.
- Fine. Build your stupid table.
See what I care.
♪ ♪
- So are they good?
- Well, I don't have a problem with them.
No.
- OK, why do I feel like there's a "but" coming?
- But there could be a potential problem with your,
shall we say, recreational activities.
- You're talking about Jonathan?
- This is purely, purely professional,
but Jonathan has not been a good influence...
- Here we go again. - On you in the past.
He's going to be a terrible influence on you
again in the future.
- That's great, Mom. Thank you.
Thank you so much for joining the long list
of people who think they know what's best for me.
- Melissa, I am your agent.
It is my job to tell you what is best--
- Yeah, you are also my mom.
And maybe for once, you can talk to me like
I'm your daughter, like you actually care about me
and not Georgina Cartwell, but me.
- OK, you're being a little dramatic.
- When have you actually ever been there for me?
I'm serious, Mom.
It is no wonder I've spent my entire childhood
racing off into fantasy worlds.
[cell phone ringing]
- Melissa, I-- - Seriously?
You're seriously gonna take that?
No, go ahead. Take your next meeting.
♪ ♪
- I was going to send it to voicemail, Melissa!
♪ ♪
- Babe, what's wrong? - What?
Nothing.
OK, can everyone just give me, like, a little bit of space?
- OK, backing up, backing up. - I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry.
I just had a fight with Susana, like worse than usual.
- Well, you want me to put a movie on?
Maybe see if I could get us a tub
of ice cream from somewhere?
- No.
No, I still have like a fifth of the book
to write and two days to do it, so I really need to focus.
No distractions. - Including me?
- I'm not trying to be mean, but I have a word count to hit.
- No, no, no, I get it.
You're a strong, independent woman.
♪ ♪
I didn't mean that sarcastically.
I like the new Mel, really.
- I'm still the same me.
Hey, look, I promise we can watch a movie before bed.
♪ ♪
- A little help?
[sighs]
- Hey, man. Need a hand?
- No, actually, it's--
- Hey, do you know how many times I helped Melissa move?
Don't worry. I got this.
All right, where are we going with these?
- Just follow me.
♪ ♪
- All right, so what's the plan, man?
Are we going to like set them up around the table, or...
all right, can we get real for a second?
- What do you mean?
- I mean, can we talk about why you've
been acting so weird lately?
This harvest festival, it's a cute idea,
really, but it is stressing you out, man.
And what for?
Is it really gonna make a difference
to your bottom line?
Is it going to improve sales?
Is it going to impress me so much I go back to my boss
and tell him to reapprove the loan?
- That was the plan.
- Look, it's not a bad plan. Don't get me wrong.
But an easier plan, a better plan--
sell the land.
Take the check, man.
Your margins are awful.
And the work, it's backbreaking.
Not to mention your product is at the whim
of a million little beetles.
- Flies.
- Sure.
Why worry about all of that?
Sell the farm, man. Take the money.
The land will still be here.
It's just going to have a bunch
of little houses and condos on it.
I'm going to go grab some more chairs.
You think about it, OK?
♪ ♪
- "What We Build" by Colleen Pulley.
I like that.
"She hid from her work,
"but not because the work was difficult.
"She was a sculptor, and she loved nothing more
"than putting her chisel to stone,
"transforming rock into living effigy.
"That was the easy part.
"The hard part was what would happen when she finished,
"when she would stare at the stony face of her creation
and see herself reflected in its alabaster eyes."
♪ ♪
[chuckles]
♪ ♪
Couldn't sleep either?
- Couldn't sleep. Couldn't work.
- Mom, I-- - Listen, I am not mad.
I'm not mad at all.
Join me.
You know what's sad?
I can't remember the last time I properly sat down
to look at the stars,
all this running around, distracting myself with work,
when all this beauty is right in front of me,
and all I had to do was look up.
♪ ♪
- We're not really talking about the sky, are we?
- You know you got your writing genes from me, right?
♪ ♪
Melissa, I am so sorry.
I have been a terrible mother,
and I have not been there for you.
I mean, this whole on the clock,
off the clock rule, it was just, it's ridiculous.
It's not like I can turn off being a mother
like the notifications on my phone.
I am so sorry.
- Mom, look, you really don't need to apologize.
I shouldn't have freaked out on you.
And you have been a good mom.
- [scoffs] - Yes, you have.
Mostly. - [laughs]
- It's just sometimes I wish maybe
you were a little less harsh.
- That is fair.
That is fair.
When I was young, I spent so much time feeling lost,
and I did not want that for you.
So I pushed you.
And I pushed you too hard. - No.
- I did, and I am sorry for that as well.
- I mean, honestly, sometimes, I need some direction.
♪ ♪
- OK, let me--
is that referencing Ben or Jonathan by chance?
- Honestly, I don't know.
Maybe both?
- Here's what I do know.
I have spent the last 30 years trying to manage your life,
and I think it's high time I let you
make your own decisions.
Besides, you're the writer.
You know how to end your own love story.
♪ ♪
- I like the star thing better.
- [laughs]
♪ ♪
- So this is where Mr. Ben is hiding.
♪ ♪
I'm worried about you, my friend.
You don't seem well.
- Yeah, what tipped it off?
- You're eating cake.
You don't eat cake.
Come, the festival is starting soon, and we have work to do.
We need you.
- What's the point?
I feel like the olives in there,
crushed and ground up, squeezed and bled dry.
- Man, olives.
Who cares about such things?
In the end, everything needs love.
- Alexei, I messed up.
I don't deserve your help,
and I definitely don't deserve Mel.
- Mm.
Well, luckily for you, I wasn't talking about the love
between a man and a woman.
Come, follow me.
♪ ♪
- What are we doing here, Alexei?
- Look up, my friend.
You'll see.
♪ ♪
- How did you--
- By driving all night to the closest 24-hour print shop.
♪ ♪
- Colleen, I am so sorry about the other day.
I was angry, and I lashed out, and I didn't mean any of it.
- OK, whatever.
- I didn't realize how much Mel meant to me
and how much losing her was going to hurt.
But in the process, I almost lost
something even more special, my sister.
And I don't ever want that to happen again.
- OK, Ben, shut up.
We don't have time for this, dude.
I know you're twisted up about Mel.
Literally, everyone knows!
But right now, we're three hours away
from the start of the festival,
and we have to get this place ready.
It doesn't matter if we get the recommendation
from Georgina Cartwell or not.
We can do this without her.
But first, we have to finish setting up.
We need you!
♪ ♪
- OK.
OK, we're gonna need flower arrangements
for all the tables.
Alexei, I need you to get roses from the garden
and olive branches from the grove.
Colleen, go get cows parsley anywhere you can find it.
Got it? OK, all right.
We got this, people. Let's go!
- I was thinking we could jet home
after this little shindig.
You sure you don't want to come?
- Mm-hmm.
- Babe.
What's wrong?
- I'm almost done.
- And?
- I just need to figure out how it ends.
- All right, well, that shouldn't be too hard.
You're Georgina Cartwell.
♪ ♪
- But I'm not. You get that, right?
I am like the sculptor in Colleen's story.
I am too scared to make anything out of fear
that people will actually see me for who I really am,
not Georgina Cartwell.
Jonathan, we were together three years.
I was crushed under the weight of Georgina for three years.
How could you not see that?
- Mel, I-- - OK.
Do you even want me for me?
- [scoffs]
♪ ♪
- I can't do this. - Where are you going?
- I am the author of my life,
and I'm choosing how my love story ends.
♪ ♪
OK, sorry.
Well, first, I do have to finish that chapter
and then put on a dress,
and then I'm choosing how my love story ends.
♪ ♪
- I think you're going to need to make a speech about Mel.
- A speech? Why?
- Because I know what happens when you disappoint a fandom.
Trust me.
You want to handle this carefully.
- It can't be that bad, can it?
♪ ♪
- Just let them down gently.
Try starting with a joke.
- A joke?
Right.
♪ ♪
- Fancy seeing you here.
So I've been thinking, I am going to wind down
my work with my daughter.
And I'm not gonna be her agent anymore,
and I'm just going to be her mom,
maybe take on smaller clients.
But I thought maybe in between that big change,
I would--I don't know-- go somewhere,
you know, without my phone or pages.
I should go somewhere that I can just pick flowers
and, you know, enjoy the moments as they come.
♪ ♪
- It just so happens I know of an achingly beautiful
little village in Tuscany.
- You do?
♪ ♪
- Excuse me. Excuse me.
♪ ♪
Excuse me, everyone.
Hi, I am Ben Pulley,
the owner of Babbling Brook Farm.
I don't know if you guys have been following
the news recently, but it turns out that dairy cows,
they're about to go on strike, refusing to make any more milk.
Yeah, I don't know about you guys,
but I think it's "udder" nonsense.
- [laughing loudly]
What? It's funny.
♪ ♪
- [clearing throat]
♪ ♪
- Stupid shoes!
♪ ♪
- Uh, OK, so before we kick off this harvest festival,
I have a quick announcement to make
about our guest of honor, Georgina Cartwell.
[applause] Uh, right.
Actually, Miss Cartwell is not going to make it today.
Look, I'm sorry. I know, I know, I know.
It's OK. - No, stop.
- It's fine.
- No, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.
Wait. Stop, stop, stop.
- Mel. What are you doing here?
- I'm so sorry. I know that this is--ooh.
Definitely not the right time.
But I just-- I needed to let you know
that Jonathan and I broke up.
Oh, and that your sister is a stupidly good writer,
like annoyingly good, and that I think
I really, really like you.
[sighs]
Whew, OK. That felt good.
♪ ♪
OK. [clears throat]
Wish me luck. - Good luck.
- Everyone, hi. Sorry.
Um, I have an announcement to make.
Georgina Cartwell is dead.
[all gasping]
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. Not like that.
Oh, you don't need to film this, really.
What I meant is,
Georgina Cartwell never existed.
She was the messed up projection
of a slightly lazy, slightly insecure writer,
me, Melissa Dee.
But Ben made me realize that I don't need
to be afraid to show the world who I really am.
♪ ♪
Which brings me to my second-- second?
- Yep, second. - Second.
Second announcement,
which is that the third and final book
of "The Moonlight Magic" trilogy was completed
during my stay here at the Babbling Brook Farm.
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
And I will be publishing it under my real name.
Thank you for your time.
Oh, oh, oh, and the name was Melissa Dee.
D-E-E.
- That's my daughter! - Whoo!
Thanks, Mom!
[applause]
♪ ♪
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
OK, seriously, Colleen, you are an insanely talented writer.
- Ooh, I'm still processing the fact that Georgina Cart--
no, that Melissa Dee likes my work.
- Are you kidding? I love it.
I mean, seriously, I think maybe one more draft,
and then you're definitely gonna get it published.
Although you are gonna need a really good agent.
- I am so proud of you! - Thank you.
OK, Mom, I want you to meet Colleen.
This is Ben's sister.
- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.
- Colleen also happens to have a killer short story
that I think you'd love.
- Well, that's quite a recommendation.
Actually, I am considering taking on smaller clients
these days.
Mm-hmm, I would love to read what you have.
- Yeah, that'd be wonderful. - Great.
- I can email them to you.
I have at least like five short stories ready to go.
- I was a lot like you when I was younger.
- I can't believe that.
- No, really.
When I was a young man, my father died
and left my family with nothing but a fishing boat.
I was told we would not make it, but I persisted.
Because when you love something,
it is worth fighting for.
So...
♪ ♪
I you're looking for funding, look no further.
I will not tear down your trees.
I will not put up houses.
I will invest in your future,
knowing full well that good results are the product
of time and discipline.
♪ ♪
- I don't know what to say. - Then say nothing.
♪ ♪
And enjoy the moment.
♪ ♪
- Hey.
- I liked your speech.
- Yeah?
I was pretty high on adrenaline and scared
that if I stopped talking that people might start laughing.
♪ ♪
- Mel, I-- - Ben, um--
You go first.
- I'm so sorry.
I am sorry about everything that I said.
I don't care about Georgina Cartwell at all.
I care about you.
♪ ♪
- Well, I don't know if you've heard,
but Georgina Cartwell is dead.
Yeah, apparently, I killed her.
♪ ♪
- Would you like to dance?
- With you? Always.
♪ ♪
[water lapping]
[dramatic tone]
[bird calling]
[film reel clicking]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪