[crickets]
[ice cream truck music]
[children playing in the distance]
[turns off ignition]
[sighs]
[glove compartment opens]
[pill bottle rattles]
[glove compartment slaps shut]
[muzak]
[florescent light buzzing]
CLERK: Stay out of the back. There's no carpet in there.
[rattles keys]
[muzak shut off]
CLERK: Turn off the lights before you go.
[carpet cleaning machine hums loudly]
[gasps painfully]
[pills clattering]
[ringback tone of phone call . . .]
OPERATOR: Hello.
CALLER: Is this the, uh . . .
. . . the suicide hotline?
OPERATOR: Yes, it is. You've called the right place, friend.
OPERATOR: It often feels like we live in an ugly world, doesn't it?
OPERATOR: But that's why God gave us, some of us, friends and family.
OPERATOR: Anyone you like to spend time with?
I'm divorced.
. . . and I don't really get along with my . . .
[swallows]
The answer is, "No, not really."
You know, on average, married people live happier, healthier lives.
CALLER: Mm-hmm.
What about guys you can grab a beer with, talk to about this stuff?
CALLER: I don't . . .
I don't drink.
OPERATOR: Oh, that's smart.
How about co-workers?
CALLER: I clean carpets.
Oh, no shame in that. People need their carpets cleaned.
Good, decent people who can't afford hardwood floors.
Business must be down this past decade, huh?
No, I'm not exactly a . . .
. . . titan of industry.
[laughs]
I bet people tell you you're funny, huh?
OPERATOR: You must get that a lot.
Yeah, sure, I guess.
I mean . . .
. . . no.
Not, not really.
OPERATOR: Well, I think you're funny.
[plastic sheet being handled]
CALLER: Thanks, I guess.
OPERATOR: No, no, no, thank you. Thank you for talking to me.
CALLER: Mm-hmm.
OPERATOR: Can I ask you something, um . . .
OPERATOR: Look, it would help if I had a name for you.
OPERATOR: Can I . . . Can I call you "Frank"?
CALLER: Yeah, sure. [snorts] Why not?
OPERATOR: Can I ask you something, "Frank"?
[indistinct rubbing]
CALLER: Sure.
OPERATOR: Are you a little heavy?
OPERATOR: Frank, did I lose you?
CALLER: What's it your fucking business?
OPERATOR: I'm sorry, I, I could just . . .
OPERATOR: . . . hear it in your voice, that you were, you know, um . . . fat.
[quiet stroking]
CALLER: Are you supposed to be saying this?
OPERATOR: No, I, um, I'm not trying to be mean.
CALLER: Look, I'm not sure if this . . .
OPERATOR: I'm here to help.
OPERATOR: Have you tried losing the weight?
[stroking quickens]
CALLER: I can't keep it off very long.
OPERATOR: Hm. . . . Mm.
OPERATOR: Are you late-50s, early-60s?
CALLER: 33.
OPERATOR: Huh.
OPERATOR: You sound older. I'm good with voices.
OPERATOR: Let me ask you. Do you know what a "set point" is?
CALLER: Yeah, sure.
CALLER: It's the thing where you're stuck . . . being fat because you've been fat for so long then . . .
[heavy breathing]
[liquid drops hitting plastic]
CALLER: . . . your body's gotten used to it.
[gulps]
OPERATOR: I'm sorry, I'm, I'm, uh, I'm here.
OPERATOR: You know, from what I've read, you're, um. . .
OPERATOR: You know, at your age, you're, um, you know, you're where you're going to be.
OPERATOR: So, um, you know, if it hasn't by now, the weight's not coming off.
CALLER: So what was this? Some sort of scam? Are you trying to . . .
CALLER: . . . sell me weight loss pills or something?
Please, let's try again.
[muffled television upstairs]
What about . . .
What about kids? Do you have any?
Yeah.
OPERATOR: Great. I love kids. How many?
[crying]
Did your wife take the kids?
She did, didn't she?
It was because of the drinking, wasn't it?
OPERATOR: Like I said, I have a thing for voices. It's a blessing and a curse, Frank.
Stop . . .
stop calling me "Frank."
[TV shuts off]
[footsteps upstairs]
[door opening and closing]
Can I put you on hold a second?
Maybe I won't be here when you get back.
OPERATOR: Well, I guess I'm just going to have to take that risk.
[dusts off hands]
Hello? You still there?
So . . .
What's left?
[crickets]
No one ever says, "I want to be a carpet cleaner when I grow up."
What did you want to be?
CALLER: [crying] A pediatrician.
What happened there? . . . You fail out of medical school?
[crying]
You didn't even apply, did you, Frank?
Stop calling me "Frank"!
You know we all miss opportunities, Frank.
Some more than others.
And then, you know, if you don't have your shit together by a certain age, all that's left is settling.
You know, one day wake up and all that's left are the little things.
Food and coffee.
OPERATOR: Hot baths.
OPERATOR: New ironed shirts, sometimes.
OPERATOR: New car smell, which, if you haven't experienced it, Frank, is really something.
OPERATOR: A baby's smile.
OPERATOR: Your baby.
OPERATOR: And ticking clocks.
OPERATOR: And sleeping and waking up.
OPERATOR: But we both know there's a reason they call those "the little things," don't we?
OPERATOR: I mean, people only really talk all that stuff when that's all they have.
OPERATOR: They're like life's participation trophies.
OPERATOR: Winners and losers, Frank.
OPERATOR: He made you one or the other.
OPERATOR: But thank God for the little things, right?
OPERATOR: At least he left you those.
OPERATOR: It just didn't work out, you know?
OPERATOR: Maybe next time.
I'm sorry I couldn't be of more assistance tonight.
But I think we're done here.
Frank?
Are you there, Frank?
[exhales]
[phone lands in garbage]
We're having leftovers again for dinner.
You want the light on or off?
BOY: Off.
[music box plays backwards]
[trash can rolling down driveway]