Michael Chernow

So anyway, I remember the sun coming through, Frank calling me up.

I went down to the restaurant.

He told me he loved me, but he told me he had to fire me.

He's like, you're dying, dude.

Everybody knows it.

You need help.

You need to get sober.

And so many people have said that to me over the years.

I mean, I was in outpatient rehab when I was 16.

For whatever reason, when Frank said that to me that day, I just heard that word sober like an echo chamber.

It was like...

And I begged him for my job because it was the only thing kind of like tethering me to like any semblance of life, right?

Everything outside of that place was just debauchery and ugly.

And he said, look, you know, if you get sober, I won't let you work behind the bar.

I will not let you work in this restaurant at night.

But if you get sober...

You can come here and clean the restaurant with the porters at 8 a.m.

And you call me when you get here.

If you're a minute late, you're fired.

If I find out you have a sip of alcohol, you're done.