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Mark Twain outlived three of his four children.
Whats a newborn to a new mom?
A baby, of course.
But whats a 24-year-old daughter to a 60-year-old man, as Twain was?
Whats a cocky teenage boy to an English teacher in middle life and his rueful wife?
A son who needs to be sung to sleep.
Episode three isDisclaimers strongest so far.
So lets get Robert and Catherine out of the way first.
Its not that these characters are unlikeable; I like unlikeable characters.
Its that theyre implausible.
Catherines major personality traits are selfishness and a mild yet persistent case of trichophagia.
At some point he must have pulled over because he wakes up hungover in the backseat.
She rests in the back garden on a sunny day reading the Culture section.
She wants to see the Rembrandt exhibition thats going up at the National Gallery.
Is any of this actually spoken?
Its gestural and captivating.
Alas, the doorbell rings and Stephens voice-over intrudes, bulldozing the intimacy.
The cops are here and they invite themselves in never a good sign.
Stephen mutes the TV rather than turning it off.
In this timeline, Jonathan died in an accident in Forte dei Marmi only yesterday.
This gives Nancy a moments hope, but no, the identification process is a legal formality.
Theyll need to collect him themselves; the consulate will help.
Once the cops go a hasty exit that also feels rehearsed the Brigstockes hold each other.
Nancys sobs grow into wails.
Stephen cocoons her while their steaks burn on the barbecue.
Im juxtaposing unlike things!
and not much else.
This closeness is temporary, we know.
Soon, Nancy and Stephen will grow very far apart.
The first stop is the morgue.
Stephen takes his boys cold hand.
Nancy cups his beautiful face and lays her cheek on his chest.
When was the last time she hugged Jonathan this close?
Do teenage boys slow down enough to be hugged by their mothers?
(When did we last hold our own mothers?)
The sadness of the moment builds slowly.
Stephen covers his wifes body with his own, their faces stacked on the screen like a totem pole.
Stephens is breaking; Nancys is wild; Jonathans still.
(Speaking of the masters, this is Cuarons Pieta.)
Stephen fingers the pocket knife hell find 20 years from now in Jonathans desk drawer inepisode one.
Nancy and Jonathan were always close, or so Stephen claims in voice-over.
Maybe this is why she hides the film from him.
Even in death, Nancy wants bits of their son that only belong to her.
If you believe him.
But for now, shes here, on this beach.
The last place her own young son ever saw.
Nancy runs into the sea in her skirt suit and blouse.
Up to her knees.
They sway with it.
The sea is its own lullaby.
(Hey, look!
Im juxtaposing unlike things!)
They are in the same city, worlds apart.
When we first see Jonathan, little Nicholas is asleep in his arms.
Young Catherine is grateful for all his help, including the escort back to their hotel.
Jonathan still sounds so nervous he can barely speak.
He transfers Nicholas to the safety of his mother, his arms limp around her.
(When did Nicholas last hug Catherine?)
This is the moment Jonathans fate is decided his sliding doors moment.
Say good-bye to this woman and live forever.
Stay for a drink and never go home again.
Have you always been faithful to your girlfriend?
Even in your mind?
What about Kate Moss?
Who do you fancy?
From here, Catherines arch-questioning gets even more specific.
What would he do to Kylie?
Where would he kiss her?
Where would he touch?
One needs to press Kylies nipples.
Catherine bites her lip and asks Jonathan if the fantasy that shes just revised for him makes him hard.
(Does the character have a stammer?
Is this bad acting or bad directing?)
Once Catherine has toyed with him enough, she invites Jonathan up to her room.
Jonathan asks, suddenly a complete dolt.
Yes, Jonathan, the room where Nicholas is sleeping.
Who are you her husband?
Just accept the damn key.
From this point forward, things get veryMay December.
(Except for the tea lights.
Mrs. Ravenscroft is the teacher.
Show me how you would touch Kylies breasts.
Its a sex scene; its a tutorial.
If she cant ask these things of Robert, can she ask anything of him at all?
When she phones, Stephen will be eating ten-year-old preserves which Nancy made before she died puke.
In a voicemail, Catherine praisesThe Perfect Strangerfor being such a powerful work of fiction.
A remarkable work of fiction.
Say fiction again, lady; I bet you almost have him convinced.
For Stephen, theres been no warm summer sun or warm Southern wind.
