- Austin researches and works on his latest script—a period piece about love—at his mother's house outside of LA. This is a time before computers were widely used, so Austin still deals with books and a good old-fashioned typewriter.
- The house is a typical suburban home: clean, filled with knickknacks and potted plants. One gets the sense that nothing ever too exciting or too dangerous happens in this neighborhood.
- Lee has arrived at the house, too, and Austin struggles to connect with his brother in any way.
- It's been five years since the brothers have seen each other.
- While the successful writer Austin seems to fit in in this suburban setting, there is something different about Lee. He drinks early in the day, he talks about never sleeping, and takes verbal shots at his brother without much provocation.