“Pulling out the papers
From the drawers that slide smooth
Tugging at the darkness
Word upon word…”
~ Peter Gabriel.
September & October 1992.
Gary reaches out to Michael and invites him out for beers. When Michael arrives at Gary’s new rental in Medford, he’s shocked to see him living with Sue. Gary intentionally keeps Michael waiting, leading to an awkward meeting between Sue and Michael since their breakup the previous May. Sue grills him about his reasons for dumping her, and is reassured to discover that he didn’t date anyone for nearly a year afterwards.
Moni delivers an ultimatum to Ronit that it’s either her and their children, or Samina. Without hesitation he suggests that she should move out and he’ll take care of everything. Without another word, she beings packing. Across town at the Sea Rock Hotel, Rajani passes out in the lobby and is rushed to the hospital.
Gary and Michael bar hop in Cambridge just a few blocks from Harvard University, and Gary shares some poetry he’s been writing. He asks Michael to go with him to the next “Stone Soup” poetry meeting, but Michael hesitates and mentions that his girlfriend, Cassie, has already made plans for that night.
Samina arrives at the hospital with Ronit and checks on her mother. Though doctors insist on taking more tests, Rajani chalks up her “fainting spell” to nothing more than stress. Ronit insists that Rajani should move in with him, and too tired to object she goes along with his plan. When they get there, Moni has already left with their two children. While Rajani rests on a sofa, Ronit talks about Samina’s latest film with Adil and based on advance reviews and suggests it will be a flop.
Meanwhile, at a swank Brookline restaurant Cassie breaks up with Michael while Gary reads poetry across town in a Cambridge bookstore. When Cassie gets up to go to the bathroom, Michael summons the waiter and pays the bill, then takes the “T” to Cambridge in time to watch the final thirty minutes of poetry readings. Gary spots him in the crowd and introduces him to Jack Powers, the leader of the poetry group along with his new girlfriend, Sarah.
