Olivia MossbacherWhere'd you go to school?
Uh, and then I... I moved to the city to change the world and make a name for myself and pay off my loans. All of which I have yet to do, so...
Olivia Mossbacher
Won't he pay off your loans?
[taken aback] Shane? I...
Well, uh, yes. Yeah. Yeah, he could.
Yeah, of course, 'cause he's super rich.
Well, his family is wealthy compared to my family—I mean, compared to most families. Yeah.
I just think it's funny that I'm a role model to strangers. But...
Olivia Mossbacher
But what?
Most people admire people who achieve things, but you somehow look at it as if it's a personality disorder.
Olivia Mossbacher
Making shit happen all the time is a compulsion. It staves off feelings of emptiness. Or whatever. Ok, the real question is, what exactly are you getting done? Putin is an overachiever. He's impressive, also evil.
Liv, your mother is not Putin.
Olivia Mossbacher
Dad, what's wrong with you?
Your father got some very upsetting news last night.
Olivia Mossbacher
He does have cancer?
No. He doesn't have cancer. He found out something about his father that he never knew before.
Olivia Mossbacher
I'm listening.
Your grandfather died of AIDS.
Apparently, Paula, he was having sex with other men.
Olivia Mossbacher
Because he liked it. Why else? He was probably closeted.
Olivia Mossbacher
Dad, why are you so upset, though? You're like catatonic.
Well, it was a secret that was kept from him his entire life, Liv. So now, whatever image he had of his father, of his childhood, has been pulverized.
Olivia Mossbacher
You know, he was probably a bottom. That's how you mostly get it. Receiving. Dad, do you feel like your father was less of a man or something?
He might have not been gay. A lot of straight guys like ass-play.
Olivia Mossbacher
Yeah! Maybe he was just too embarrassed to ask Grandma to use a dildo on him.
Can we not, please? Uh...
Olivia Mossbacher
Even if he wasn't a top, it doesn't mean he was femme. He could've still been butch, Dad.
Maybe he was a bossy bottom.
Olivia Mossbacher
Yeah, maybe Grandpa was a power bottom. [to her dad] Does that make you feel better?
No. That makes me wanna throw up.
Olivia Mossbacher
Dad, you don't wanna say that.
Well, he can say whatever he wants. You know, if he's having a negative visceral reaction to his father having gay sex, it's valid. It's fine.
Olivia Mossbacher
Well, it comes off as homophobic.
Olivia Mossbacher
Well, that's how it comes across.
Well, luckily, he's in a safe space and he's here with our family so he can come off however he wants.
Olivia Mossbacher
Up to a point.
Or what? You'll cancel him? Dox him? Sic the K-Pop fans on him?
Olivia Mossbacher
Mom, good news. I'm looking around the hotel, and it seems like all of the white, straight men are doing just fine. They're still thriving.
Point taken. I just think it's funny that now it's okay to reduce everybody to their race and gender, but isn't that the kind of thinking that we've been fighting against all these years?
I agree. I mean, for years, I was the good guy, you know? I was the one in the room, saying, like, "Hey, that's not cool," to all the chauvinists and bigots. But now I'm the bad guy, or at least, I shouldn't say anything on account of my inherited traits. I mean, why do I need to prove my anti-racist bona fides? It seems wrong.
It's someone else's turn to eat.
Olivia Mossbacher
Yeah. It's not all about you, Dad. It's time to recenter the narrative.
That's fine by me. I don't wanna be the center of the narrative. Believe me. Let's center the narrative around, uh, Paula.
Olivia Mossbacher
Okay. Yeah. What do you know about her?
Olivia Mossbacher
Do you know anything about Paula?
I know that she goes to college with you. And that she's a very intelligent and appealing young woman.
Olivia Mossbacher
But you've never really asked her one thing about herself.
Well, we're not on a job interview. We're on vacation. So... I mean, besides, what do- What does Paula know about me?
Girls! All right, girls, let's get breakfast. The buffet is expensive, and we've already paid for it.
Olivia Mossbacher
Mom, Paula can't keep eating this much fruit.
I have fructose malabsorption.
Olivia Mossbacher
She keeps getting diarrhea.
Eat some meat, Paula. Eat a sausage. I don't know. Did Quinn sleep on the beach again last night? This is not okay. You've got to be more protective of your younger brother, Olivia. You can't just make him sleep on the beach where he can be washed away with the tides.
Yeah, Olivia, he could've been kidnapped by butt pirates.
Olivia Mossbacher
Or end up in a bukkake with a pod of dolphins.
Hey, can I ask you girls a favor? Can you try to include Quinn a little bit more in your voodoo ceremonies and whatever else you do?
Olivia Mossbacher
Mom, he's scuba diving in the kiddie pool.
No, I know, just in general. You know, I just... I don't think you appreciate how tough things are for kids like Quinn right now.
Olivia Mossbacher
Why? Because of the Asperger's?
He doesn't have Asperger's, Olivia. But he is a straight, white, young man. And nobody has any sympathy for them right now. And I just feel like we should. Yeah, in a way, they're the underdogs now.
Well, for instance, young guys like Quinn, who are just getting out of college, I don't care how incredibly impressive they are, it is almost impossible for us to hire them.
Well, isn't that because up until now, they're the only people that you've ever hired?
Olivia Mossbacher
Yeah, don't you have enough of them on staff?
Trust me, I get it. I'm just saying, I understand how guys like Quinn can feel a little alienated from the culture right now.
Olivia Mossbacher
Mom, cringe.
And I don't think it's fair to him.
Olivia Mossbacher
Mom, cringe.
Olivia, he's my son, okay?
I think he's gonna be okay, Nicole.
Paula, are you feeling better? Your migraine?
Yeah. Much better. Thanks.
Is that why you couldn't stay for dinner last night?
Olivia Mossbacher
Paula was disturbed by the entertainment.
Oh, you're, you're allergic to fire?
Olivia Mossbacher
It bothers her to watch Hawaiians have to dance for a bunch of white people.
Oh. I think it's just a way for them to honor their culture. And they seemed to be having a really good time.
Look, obviously, imperialism was bad. Shouldn't kill people, steal their land, and then make them dance. Everybody knows that. But it's humanity. Welcome to history. Welcome to America. I mean, what are we gonna do, huh? Really. Nobody cedes their privilege. That's absurd. And it goes against human nature. We're all just trying to win the game of life. How are we, how are we gonna make it right? Hmm? Should we give away all our money? Would you like that, Liv? Hmm? Yeah, that's what I thought. Mm-hmm. Maybe we should just feel shitty about ourselves all the time for the crimes of the past? Wear a hair shirt and not go on vacation?
I just- You won't understand.
Olivia Mossbacher
Yes, I will. I'm not my parents, Paula.
But you are. Actually, you are. And you think you're like this rebel, but in the end... this is your tribe. Your family, the people here.
Olivia Mossbacher
That's really manipulative, Paula. You're the one who stole, yet I'm the bad guy?
Don't give me that. You've stolen, too.
Olivia Mossbacher
[exasperated] What did I steal?
Well, I guess it's not stealing when you think everything's already yours. Just stop pretending to be my friend. I'm just some prop you use for some weird cred.
Olivia Mossbacher
Whatever you did, Paula, it was really fucked up. My mom could've gotten really hurt. Something bad could've happened.
Something bad did happen.
The White Lotus · 68 quotes
