The Humans

Brigid Blake, 26, and her boyfriend, Richard Saad, 38, are hosting Brigid’s family at their new duplex apartment in Chinatown, New York City, for Thanksgiving. Upstairs are their front door, a large room with a window and staircase, and the only bathroom in the apartment. Downstairs are two windowless rooms and a small kitchen alley. A folding table has six places, each with a paper plate, set for the guests.

Erik Blake, 60, stands upstairs with a wheelchair, waiting for his wife, Deirdre Blake, 61, to finish helping his 79-year-old mother, Momo Blake, in the bathroom. Momo is in the advanced stages of dementia and needs constant support. Erik hears an ominous thud from the apartment upstairs, and when Brigid enters the apartment with her older sister, Aimee Blake, 34, he asks if there is construction happening. Brigid tells him that it is merely their elderly Chinese neighbor and that she and Richard don’t want to disturb her.

Deirdre and Momo exit the bathroom, and Richard calls up the stairs from the kitchen. Brigid tells him to stay and watch the oven while she stays and greets Momo.