WEBVTT 00:00:05.610 --> 00:00:08.910 Hello, this is Mack, co -creator of Write Is Wrong, 00:00:09.070 --> 00:00:12.109 a story I wrote with my great friend Bob. After 00:00:12.109 --> 00:00:15.310 a trip to LA in 2013, Bob and I were inspired 00:00:15.310 --> 00:00:17.429 to write a story about four friends navigating 00:00:17.429 --> 00:00:20.510 the challenges of Generation X middle age and 00:00:20.510 --> 00:00:23.190 the gap between youthful ambitions and adult 00:00:23.190 --> 00:00:26.649 realities. In the end, Write Is Wrong is about 00:00:26.649 --> 00:00:28.989 the courage required to admit that the life you're 00:00:28.989 --> 00:00:31.469 living isn't the life you want, and the even 00:00:31.469 --> 00:00:33.609 greater courage required to do something about 00:00:33.609 --> 00:00:37.229 it. In Hollywood, where dreams go to die as often 00:00:37.229 --> 00:00:39.829 as they come to life, these four friends rediscover 00:00:39.829 --> 00:00:41.850 something that they thought they'd lost. The 00:00:41.850 --> 00:00:44.509 possibility that their story isn't over yet. 00:00:45.090 --> 00:00:53.009 So let's get started. Chapter 1. Sunday Morning 00:00:53.009 --> 00:00:57.189 Revelations. The Los Angeles sun pierced through 00:00:57.189 --> 00:00:59.890 the blinds like an unwelcome intruder, dragging 00:00:59.890 --> 00:01:02.070 Bob from his sleep with all the subtlety of a 00:01:02.070 --> 00:01:05.700 jackhammer. At 45, with long black hair that 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:08.140 had seen better decades and a graying goatee 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:10.760 that made him look perpetually tired, Bob had 00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:13.379 developed a particular hatred for mornings, especially 00:01:13.379 --> 00:01:16.939 bright ones. He sat up in bed, stretched his 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:20.260 arms overhead with a theatrical yawn, and glared 00:01:20.260 --> 00:01:22.359 at the offending sunlight as if it had personally 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:25.359 wronged him. Another beautiful day in paradise, 00:01:25.700 --> 00:01:28.060 he muttered to himself, swinging his legs over 00:01:28.060 --> 00:01:31.969 the side of the bed. Outside, San Vicente Boulevard 00:01:31.969 --> 00:01:34.390 stretched before him like a concrete river leading 00:01:34.390 --> 00:01:37.810 to his past. Bob slipped on his sunglasses and 00:01:37.810 --> 00:01:40.390 began the familiar walk up the hill towards Sunset 00:01:40.390 --> 00:01:43.329 Boulevard, passing the iconic Whiskey -A -Go 00:01:43.329 --> 00:01:45.469 -Go that had witnessed countless nights of his 00:01:45.469 --> 00:01:47.930 youth. The building stood there like an old friend, 00:01:48.129 --> 00:01:51.569 weathered, but still standing, much like Bob 00:01:51.569 --> 00:01:54.569 himself. Meanwhile, across town, Jake was experiencing 00:01:54.569 --> 00:01:57.310 his own morning reckoning. The 45 -year -old 00:01:57.310 --> 00:01:59.549 copywriter lay sprawled on his living room couch. 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:02.680 still wearing the previous night's shoes. Never 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:06.319 a good sign. His wife Lisa, 39 and visibly pregnant, 00:02:06.540 --> 00:02:08.919 stood over him holding a coffee mug and wearing 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:10.740 the expression of someone who had reached the 00:02:10.740 --> 00:02:14.340 end of her patience. Hey, babe, she said, her 00:02:14.340 --> 00:02:16.740 voice carrying that particular tone wives reserve 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:18.879 for husbands who've disappointed them yet again. 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:22.400 Jake opened his eyes, squinting against the light 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:25.300 like a vampire caught on daybreak. His tall, 00:02:25.319 --> 00:02:27.659 skinny frame unfolded awkwardly as he tried to 00:02:27.659 --> 00:02:30.960 orient himself in his own living room. Morning 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:34.379 already? he groaned, his voice rough with hangover 00:02:34.379 --> 00:02:37.539 and regret. Have a good time last night? Lisa 00:02:37.539 --> 00:02:39.580 asked, though her tone suggested she already 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:43.240 knew the answer. Yeah, I think so, Jake replied, 00:02:43.500 --> 00:02:46.599 the uncertainty in his voice betraying him. The 00:02:46.599 --> 00:02:48.599 sight of his shoes still laced tight on his feet 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:50.460 answered several questions he wasn't ready to 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:55.099 ask. Did I... how did I get home? Seriously? 00:02:55.960 --> 00:02:58.699 Lisa's eyebrows shot up. You don't remember? 00:02:59.620 --> 00:03:02.560 Man, I feel like shit, Jake admitted, running 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:05.120 his hands through his short hair. I figured you'd 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:08.039 say that, Lisa said, handing him the coffee mug. 00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:11.680 Here's your Baileys and coffee. Sit up. As Jake 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:14.159 accepted the hair of the dog remedy, Lisa sat 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:16.719 beside him, her hand unconsciously resting on 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:19.219 her belly. The weight of unspoken conversations 00:03:19.219 --> 00:03:22.460 hung between them like morning fog. When are 00:03:22.460 --> 00:03:24.259 you going to stop doing this to yourself, she 00:03:24.259 --> 00:03:27.120 asked, her voice softer now, tinged with genuine 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:30.879 concern rather than anger. Soon, hopefully, Jake 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:32.919 replied, though they both knew it was the kind 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:34.719 of promise that had been made and broken before. 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:38.120 In case you forgot, we have a baby on the way. 00:03:38.979 --> 00:03:41.560 I didn't forget. You seem to remind me every 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:44.259 day. The words hung in the air between them, 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:47.360 sharper than either had intended. Lisa's face 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:49.620 tightened, and Jake immediately regretted his 00:03:49.620 --> 00:03:52.620 tone. Is that a problem for you? Lisa asked, 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:55.360 her voice cooling. Is that why you're still getting 00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:57.879 drunk all the time? You're nervous about this? 00:03:58.460 --> 00:04:01.360 I don't know, Jake admitted, which was perhaps 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:03.120 the most honest thing he'd said all morning. 00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:07.900 Maybe. I mean, what if I'm terrible at? At what? 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:11.780 Being a dad. Being responsible for another human 00:04:11.780 --> 00:04:15.039 being. What if I screw it up? Lisa's expression 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:17.860 softened slightly. That's not really the answer 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:19.860 I was looking for, but at least it's honest. 00:04:20.540 --> 00:04:23.480 After checking the time, 11 o 'clock, later than 00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:25.860 he'd hoped, Jake remembered his commitment to 00:04:25.860 --> 00:04:29.899 meet the gang for coffee. Shit. I gotta go. Are 00:04:29.899 --> 00:04:32.660 you kidding me? Lisa's voice rose again. You 00:04:32.660 --> 00:04:34.800 were out all night and now you're leaving again? 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:38.279 I'm sorry, honey. Vanessa's heading back to New 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:40.160 York today. It could be a while before we see 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:42.920 her again. Lisa studied his face for a moment, 00:04:43.019 --> 00:04:46.839 then sighed. Fine. But we need to talk when you 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:50.060 get back. You can't keep this up. I know, Jake 00:04:50.060 --> 00:04:52.339 said, leaning over to kiss her cheek. Thanks 00:04:52.339 --> 00:04:55.480 for the coffee. And for, you know, putting up 00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:58.810 with me. Just go. Lisa said, but there was a 00:04:58.810 --> 00:05:01.110 hint of a smile on her face before I changed 00:05:01.110 --> 00:05:08.870 my mind. Okay, thanks for checking out this special 00:05:08.870 --> 00:05:11.769 Write is Wrong preview episode. Be sure to check 00:05:11.769 --> 00:05:14.129 back soon for more episodes. Thanks for listening.