02x02 - Pasts and Presents

[bunniefuu]

You seem tired.

Yeah, I didn't get much sleep.

I spent all day yesterday

installing the new sound system,

and most of the night
writing with Leigh,

trying to finish the album.

Well, I hope you got a lot done.

Yeah, I did.

We did.

You know, I just got
behind with Nashville,

missed a few things,
I'm kind of playing catch up.

You okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Abby?

I just don't love
hearing about you and Leigh.

We talked about this.

I know, and I trust you,
it's just that...

Hey!

Okay.

You know, if I didn't know any better,

I'd think that you went to
Ireland just to shop, Mom.

Well, you don't know any better.

Why did you go?

For awhile the smell
and taste of sweet breads

and shepherd's pie is so delicious,

but dining at Sally's feels like home.

It also feels like you're
avoiding my question.

And you're avoiding

discussing your brother, Thomas.

Well I learned from the best, didn't I?

Son, you can't spend your whole life

fighting with your own brother.

Mom, Dad passed that land
down to the O'Brien family

to be developed responsibly.

Not to go chasing after some politician,

to try and get them to give it away.

You don't know what Thomas intends.

Then maybe you should talk to him...

And I have, and I really need
for you to talk to him.

I've got this under control.

I think I know my family just as well...

Is this scoop or sweetheart neckline?

Mermaid cut or A-Line?

Are A-Lines just Mermaids that gave up?

Empire, drop waist, bouffant, peplum,

chapel, cathedral... Oh, royal!

Definitely royal.

This is the only dress
we have that fits you.

Isn't it bad luck to see the bride

in her dress before the wedding?

Since neither one of
us are getting married,

I'm not worried.

This tuxedo is perfect
too, we'll take it.

Little Nell is going to have
the greatest wedding ever.

Clipboard me.

Okay: lighting, check.

Tables, chairs, check.

Silverware, plates, sign in book, check.

Oh, umm, thank you.

All we need is the cake,

the flowers, and you cooking dinner...

I have got a menu for
your approval, check.

And I still need you to find a band.

I think it's great that

you're doing all this for your cousin.

Little Nell is my
second cousin, I think...

Hi!

No, no...

Okay, relax, it's for little Nell.

Is she my second cousin?

Second cousin once removed.

Your great uncle, Pat
O'Brien married Irene,

Eileen was Laura's sister
and little Nell...

Little Nell is my second cousin!

Not that this is freaking me out,

but why is everyone staring at me?

Because, you're beautiful...

Betsy! I think this
tie a little tight...

Genetic drift is the
process responsible for what?

I object!

To what?

To your question.

Your honor, I move for
immediate dismissal.

I'm gone to Ireland for only three weeks

and my grandson loses his mind.

I prefer non compos mentis.

Connor is interviewing for
the DA job today, Gran.

And I'm going to nail it!

People love me.

More like tolerate.

Hey...

Genetic drift is responsible for losing

an existing allele
due to random sampling.

Boom!

One for one.

Nice!

You might want to try Bennett,
Beecham & Findlay.

I hear they're a great firm.

I don't need a backup plan or Plan B,

I'm a Plan A kinda guy, Dad.

Only a fool goes in
without a back up plan.

Well, thank you.

Thank you very much for that.

Hello?

Hey.

Hey, I'm glad I caught...

almost everyone.

I'm throwing a dinner party
Friday night at my new place...

Gran, will you talk to Pastor Wade

about officiating Little Nell's wedding?

Darling, it would be my pleasure...

Thank you.

Megan, that's a grand
thing that you're doing.

And I'd love to be there,
but I promised the Pastor

Friday night I have to
help him with his dinner.

But I'm sure that everyone
else will be there.

Dad, if I am going to analyze
your relationship with Matt Fox,

I'm going to need those files.

I'm sorry honey, I've been
working on the Trust.

I'll have it to you by this afternoon.

You know, I still don't get
why Matt Fox wants me.

Doesn't he think I'm going to
be biased being your daughter?

He's surrounded by biased,

everybody who's ever worked for him.

You're the only person
who's ever said no to him,

so I think he trusts that you'll
have the guts to say no again.

And what if I do?

What if I tell him not to do the deal?

Are you going to be okay with that?

Of course.

There's no one I trust
more than you, honey.

And if you decide it's no,

then I'll trust in the fact
that that's the right decision.

Have a great day.

Okay, bye.

No no, this is the wrong time period.

This one feels stuffy,
like a Victorian bride.

We want it to feel more modern,

more sleek, more form fitting...

Uh, Martin?

Yes Bree, hang on a moment please.

Over here, this needs to
be far more tight, snug.

We need to feel like he
doesn't want to get married.

You know what? About that.

I was hoping that we could
go back to my old version,

where the wedding
isn't an actual wedding,

but more an expression
of Ellie's broken dreams?

One moment please. Bree, walk with me.

It just doesn't really
make sense that Ellie

would suddenly return to Charlie
and marry him, you know?

I got your pages last night,
I took a look at them.

And?

And I don't think we need
to change anything, so...

Well, look at this!

Charlie is pretty horrible
and manipulative,

and Ellie's become weak and confused.

I think she's one dimensional now.

Well Bree, I gotta be honest.

You don't write women like women.

They don't sound authentic.

Okay, well Ellie sounds like me.

Ellie is me.

Maybe that's the problem right there:

this play isn't about you.

The Last Dress is about men

on their quest to find
working relationships.

Interesting, but right
now it reads as though

men don't need women, or at
least not independent women.

Listen, when WomenWrite contacted me

to produce your play, it was unfinished.

I finished it.

Yeah, by making women sound horrible.

No, by giving men a fair sh*t.

I don't know if this was
because of your past,

or your issues with your father or what,

but the main issue is that not
everyone is out to hurt you.

Wait!

So you're telling me that the
chairs I paid for

are going to a party in Georgetown?

No, I don't care if they're for
a congressman's birthday party,

and I don't care who he's related to...

He took my tables too?

Great!

Great.

And what am I going to do
with three feet of dance floor?

Well, let him know that he just
gave the bride something blue.

Y'know, like in sadness?

No? Forget it.

Uncheck, uncheck, uncheck.

Oh, Harvard Law.

Wow.

Yale, that's impressive.

You clerked for a federal judge...

All right, let me guess:

You gave up stamps and started
collecting lead bars.

Books. Years of books.

Maybe now I'll actually have
time to read something.

I'm glad you're home, Mom.

Not everyone is.

Give her some time to get there,

she'll adjust.

Maybe it was a mistake.

I had a whole life in New York.

You had one here first.

Yeah, but it wasn't really mine.

I was too young and too, I don't know.

But I am happy to be back,

and to see how're you doing.

As well as anyone studying for the MCAT.

I'm bored to death
but getting through it.

How's Georgia?

We still talk.

Just seems we have
less to talk about these days.

What are you going to do?

Right now?

I'm going to help you move your
boxes around your apartment.

Funny!

I mean about Georgia
and about med school...

You know...

I could drop out of both,

but disappointing Dad is not an option.

Kevin?

Are you alright?

It was just a box.

I'm fine.

Honey, what's going on with you?

I'm fine.

16, 42.

Hey Mick, I got your message. What's up?

You know, I heard someone pulled

all these stakes out of the ground.

What's that all about?

It's just a temporary setback,

they're trying to convince
my partner to back out.

By vandalizing the property?

By whatever means necessary.

I think it's going to get worse.

Well, if it gets bad,

you'll have a place to kick back.

I can start putting in the audio.

The club's gonna sound amazing.

That's what I wanted to
talk to you about, Trace.

This is just bad timing for both of us.

I'm selling the club.

What?

You gotta be kidding.

No I'm not.

Right now, I've gotta
focus all my attention

on the O'Brien Family Trust,

and you know, you're busy, too.

You missed a couple of
deliveries 'cause of Nashville,

and with all the stuff going on,
I just can't make things right...

Mick, you can't do this.

We're almost ready to open.

I didn't expect the Trust
to get in the way of this.

I got an offer yesterday from

the Beer Garden Restaurant Group.

The good news is we'll both
get some money out of it.

What if this isn't about
the money for me, Mick?

I need this.

I know, I know...

If you know then don't sell the club.

I understand how you feel but Trace,

it's just business.

I'm sorry.

Hey Mick, take a look at this!

Yeah.

I'm sorry.

Well, the boxes came.

More boxes?

Different boxes.

It turns out that your grandfather

was a fanatical record keeper...

Del, I know that this account
is important for the office,

but I'm back to working the
same hours I was in New York.

I can bring in more people.

Thank you.

But it's not just that.

I'm getting the feeling
that this property means

something more to my
dad and to my uncle...

Well, if anyone can
figure this out, it's you.

I didn't move home for this.

Maybe you did, you just didn't know it.

You're not in on my dad's
plan too, are you?

No, but I am concerned about you.

I'm fine, thank you.

Good luck.

Can you believe he's doing this?

He's making you money.

By selling the club out from under me?

Yeah, I know...

But Trace, it's not a
bad business decision.

So you're defending him?

You know, not everything
is about spreadsheets, Abby.

I know, this was never
about spreadsheets for you.

Exactly.

I'm just trying to be logical.

You know that I would do
anything for you, right?

Yeah, I know.

Hey! Maybe you could talk to him?

Get him to change his mind.

I can try, but it's not likely.

It was so close, I can taste it.

Yeah.

So what are you going to do?

I don't know, but I've put too much work

into this to let it go without a fight.

It's not just business for Trace.

He's been talking about opening a place

like this since high school.

And he's been breaking his neck
for the last two months

trying to put it together.

And I'm kicking him
back some of the money,

money he didn't have.

This has been a good deal for him, too.

I don't think that's
what he had in mind.

Well, I gotta run a new set of numbers.

Matt Fox brought in
an outside consultant.

I heard she's tough.

Just, one thing...

Who's that in the picture
with you and Mom?

That's Thomas when he was young.

Looks like something was funny.

A lot of things were funny back then.

So, what happened?

You change, you grow up.

You put away childish things.

Where'd you get that?

It was in the files from the Trust.

Grandpa must've put
them into the paperwork.

I remember that photo...
and I wasn't laughing.

The Last Dress by Bree O'Brien!

Brought to us generously by
the great people at WomenWrite.

Okay, very good.

Okay...

A white circle of light
on an empty stage.

Ellie Alkin, in a simple wedding dress,

walks underneath the spot.

She takes a furtive breath,
almost unable to speak...

It was all my fault and
I'm not talking about the dress,

the flowers, or even the cake.

It was Charlie.

Charlie's faults were all mine.

I had let him into my life.

Marvin Alkin enters,
carrying a withered rose.

My daughter couldn't let go of anything.

Words never spoken, kisses never felt.

Okay, whoa guys... let's
just stop here for a second.

Bree, what is this?

I rewrote the script.

You what?

Well, actually, I replaced the
new script with the original.

Listen, we've spoken about this.

I'm trying to help you here.

And I'm trying to write something

that I can be proud of...

Frankly, I prefer this version.

This family is rich with
character, with life.

It's beautiful.

And Ellie's dress becomes a symbol

of both her pain and longing.

Bree, this is my company...

And Martin, this is my script.

Bree, this is your last chance.

If it wasn't for me, you'd be stuck

way back in Chesapeake Shores.

You brought me flowers?

They're for Mom. Hey Axel!

I didn't think you
were a tulip kind of guy.

No, not really.

So, how are you doing?

I've been better.

Yeah, I heard.

Word travels fast.

And we're the ones doing
the loan for the Beer Garden.

I figured if you wanted
to talk about it,

you'd come to me.

Well, what do you think?

I think it's a good deal,
and the financials make sense.

But that's not what you
want to hear, is it?

I want to know how to stop it.

You'd have to come up
with a better offer

than the Beer Garden.

I thought we were partners.

How can he just sell the
place out from under me?

Because he put up the money,

and since the club isn't open
yet, it doesn't have value.

It does to me.

I'd asked you this before,
and I'll ask it again.

If you want, your mother
and I can co-sign a loan...

And I appreciate that...

You think there'd be strings attached!

I just don't want to complicate things.

And I'm just trying to help!

I know... I know.

I got myself into this.

You told me not to do it, and I did.

I'll figure something out.

They were the best band available.

This is going to be
the worst wedding ever.

You mean the worst wedding
ever planned in a week.

No no no, the worst wedding ever.

Besides speaking multiple languages,

you don't by any chance
play a musical instrument?

I took harp lessons when I
was a kid, but I gave it up.

My dad was pretty disappointed.

Come to think of it,
he was pretty disappointed

by everything I did.

Sounds familiar.

So... the band?

It's a no,

but give them the congressman's
phone number in Georgetown.

Maybe he needs a band, too.

So are you training,
or just hurting yourself?

A little bit of both, I guess.

I called the house
and Nell said you went

for a run on the beach... Two hours ago.

I couldn't focus...

You want to talk about it?

Not really, no.

- Kev, I...
- Mom, stop okay? Please.

- Okay.
- I'm fine, it's just...

Sometimes...

When I'm back, it doesn't feel like me.

Like I'm watching a
movie and I'm in it...

But none of it feels real.

And running helps?

Hurting helps.

I know where I am when I'm hurting.

Do you think it'd
help to talk to someone?

I don't know, maybe.

Then how about some lunch?

Sally's.

I gotta go.

So...

when does the interview start?

It already has.

Right.

Okay.

I just graduated from NYU law.

I had two articles published
by the NYU Law Review.

The first was about issuing
preclusion in mass tort.

I felt that...

We here at Bennett, Beecham & Findlay

know what you've done, Mr. O'Brien;

your strengths are
the reason for this interview.

Of course.

What have you learned in this room?

That I belong at
Bennett, Beecham & Findlay.

Problems with the wedding?

Disaster with the wedding.

Why don't you ask your mother for help?

She's very good at all this.

And I'm better at not asking.

Ah Jess!

You know, when your Grandfather
and I first got married,

we had to live with his mother, Doris.

He was the oldest brother,

so he was the first
one that got married.

And she did not want another
woman in that house!

I promise you.

I bet you didn't back down.

Didn't have to, didn't fight.

I found out that her favorite
thing was her garden,

and I admitted humbly I didn't
know anything about flowers.

So she took me to her
garden and I learned.

And she learned about me.

People can learn a lot
from flowers, don't you think?

Common ground, working together.

Not going there, but I love you.

Oh, sure now.

Darling, you're just too
smart for your own good.

If you need any help with
the chairs, just let me know.

But remember this:
sometimes it really helps

to have somebody to
talk to about things.

♪ I've been sleeping all alone ♪

♪ I've been waiting by the phone ♪

♪ Love ain't easy when it's wrong ♪

♪ But we've both waited so long ♪

You know what?

I can't concentrate.

Maybe we should do this another night.

Still thinking about the club?

I just don't know what to do.

I can't buy it.

I don't have the money or the credit.

Look, I know you probably
don't want to hear this,

but maybe this is for the best.

You're right, that's
not what I want to hear.

I'm serious.

Maybe this is a good thing.

Maybe you're not
supposed to have a club.

Maybe you're not supposed to be here.

I know where this is going.

Hear me out. Maybe this is a sign.

Maybe you and me are
supposed to be in Nashville.

Leigh... no.

We're writing music again,
and recording an album.

That's good thing.

Maybe it's time you get back
to the life you left behind.

So, not only was he cheating on you,

he was also cheating on your play?

My play feels so disrespected,

so used, so cheap.

So what are you going to do?

I don't know.

Wait, are you referring
to me or my play?

Either?

Well, we both would like to yell at him,

and one of us would
like to wrap itself up

into a tiny roll and b*at
him over the head with it.

Speaking of, how are things with Dad?

Good, I'm just reviewing his proposals

to develop the land with Matt Fox

and I hate to admit it,
but it's a smart decision.

He was always better with
business than family.

Always.

So what are you going
to do about Martin?

I don't know.

I mean, WomenWrite gave us the grant

to do the script based on my play

and it's not my play anymore.

Can't you just rewrite it?

No, Martin won't let me.

I miss my typewriter.

There's nothing more
satisfying than yanking

a sheet out of the roller
and crumbling it up and...

Bree?

I have an idea.

Dad, what are you doing here?

Are you allowed to leave the house?

I'm not in jail!

It was a minor heart att*ck.

It's gonna take more than
that to keep a Riley down.

Hey Axel.

So, I see you touched up the siding.

You saw the listing on my house.

Yeah, and it surprised me because

You put a lot of work into this place.

Yeah, if I can sell
it and sell it quickly,

maybe I can buy the club.

What if the club goes under?

That's a risk I'm willing to take.

Why?

Because Rileys don't give up.

That's probably the
reason we fight so much.

Probably.

Well, I've gotta get back home

before the warden sees I've gone.

Dad?

Did you stop by for a reason?

I've known Mick O'Brien
since we were kids.

Other than his family,

Mick truly loves only one thing:

Chesapeake Shores.

Hey, Trace!

Hi, Mr. Riley! I'm glad
you're feeling better.

Hi Jess, good to see you.

That is, if you're feeling better...

Yeah.

I know the answer is no,
and I totally understand.

But before you actually say it,

I want you to think about yes.

Yes to love, yes to weddings,
yes to a new life.

Because I've already had
to say no to weird bands

and harps, because who
really plays the harp, right?

And this is a day you're
supposed to remember...

Jess... what do you want?

I know you don't do weddings,

but will you please play
one song for Little Nell?

Bon appetit!

I'm the only one here, funny that.

Abby and Kevin are walking over now.

And Jess?

She's on an errand.

Ah.

I'm sure it was something important.

Yeah, she's been a busy bee.

Well, more for you, Connor.

Thank you.

And thank you for coming.

Well, this may be a shocker
but I'm glad to be here.

Well here's to Connor's new job.

It wasn't his first choice,

so maybe a back up plan is a good idea.

And here's to my dad who always,

through thick and thin, has to be right.

You know what I don't understand though?

Dad has two brothers he doesn't talk to,

an ex-wife he stopped talking to,

and yet somehow we're supposed

to have healthy, normal relationships?

I don't think Connor is ever gonna have

anything even close to normal.

What about you?

Me?

Maybe... maybe not.

Our family, the kings and
queens of missed opportunities.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Stay back!

Call 911!

Yeah, okay.

Hello, I need an ambulance to
Mill and Chesapeake Road.

There's been a car accident.

Okay, thank you.

Abby, come over to
this side of me, please.

Kevin, I can't.

What are you doing?

Abby, I want you to
come on this side, please.

Checking pulse!

Kevin...

One, two, three, four, five, six,

seven, eight, nine, ten.

Abby, put one hand on top of
the other, right now please.

What?

One hand on top of the other.

Then put them right here... that's it.

Push down hard, every second. Go, do it!

One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight...

Pulse was thready,

you need to watch for
tension pneumothorax.

Got it.

One, two, three...

Hey, you a doctor?

Army Corpsman.

Navy.

So, this hurts to say,
but army, you did good.

This one's yours.

Sir, please step back.

What? Oh, right.

Thank you, but we got this.

This one's yours?

It means that we saved his life.

No, this one is yours.

So the problem is with me.

I'm incapable of love.

I'm incapable of seeing
what you do for me.

Kayla, that was magnificent.

And Martin: such good directing.

You haven't come to bring us more pages,

have you Bree?

No, though I do have one little scene

that I wouldn't mind running.

It's actually a three-hander, so Kayla,

you want to give her a whirl?

Sure.

Our actual names are on this.

Oh yeah, imagine that.

Oh and look, I start.

Are you ready?

Yup!

A wise man once told me:

the secret to life isn't
writing, it's re-writing.

But sometimes even the best
writers have to realize

that words alone can't
save the ones you love.

That's so true!

Bree, I'm doing this
for you, not for me.

Now now, that is not true at all.

You've always been about yourself,

and the only reason I put up with it

was because I grew up
always trying to prove myself

to a man I thought didn't care about me.

But he did, he just never showed it.

That's actually kind of sad.

Bree, I don't really know where

you're going with this charade, but...

Whoa, just stick to the words.

Bree, you might not like this play,

you might not like me, but I know you.

You're too ambitious not to do this.

Am I?

I called WomenWrite,
told them what was going on.

And naturally they
wanted to read the play.

You know, the one I didn't write.

They took back the grant.

The play's over.

What?

You can't do this.

See, that was my line?

You can't do that.

You'd be throwing away your career.

No, I'm going back to my typewriter...

I'm writing what's important
to me without you.

Kayla?

Bree walks off the stage, triumphant.

As the lights fade on Chicago,

Bree begins a new chapter in her life,

home with the family that she loves.

And she ends the scene with a bow.

Trace, what's this all about?

Here, have a seat.

You finished the sound system...

Trace, we discussed this.

I want 30 days.

Why?

I wanna buy you out.

I saw your house up for sale.

Why?

Because this club is
more than just a business.

Not just because of
what it will mean to me,

but because of what
it'll mean to Chesapeake.

Music can heal,
it can transform people's lives.

And I want to give something back.

Something back to the place
that's given so much to me.

Look, I understand that, I just...

I have to take this, I'm sorry.

Yeah?

Tell him no, not gonna happen.

Because it's just too much...

What's happening
with your wedding plans?

Well, I made an arrangement with Sally's

for all their tables and chairs.

I found the perfect music,
the perfect flowers.

The cake is just okay,
but everything worked out.

David just has to cook at Sally's

on Sunday nights for a month.

It doesn't sound particularly
fair to David now, does it?

And I'm waitressing.

Oh, like you were in high school!

Then it all worked out.

Almost.

Apparently, when I...

Held up three fingers,
they thought I meant...

Three inches.

And when I held up one finger,

she thought I only wanted the bride.

That doesn't make any sense, I know.

Gran, I need help.

I need to bake a cake tonight.

Well I love to bake, but I can't do it.

You see, you know the
thing called jet lag?

I think I'm having some of it.

And I'm not getting any younger,

so I think I'm going to go to bed.

Gran, I need you now.

I need to go to bed,

but I bet you there's somebody here

that could help you with the cake.

Good night, sweet dreams.

- Good night Gran.
- Good night darling.

Good night Mom.

Don't look at me.

I eat it, I don't bake it.

I would love to.

Okay.

♪ Young love was a game we played ♪

♪ Our hearts were promised
and plans were made ♪

♪ And as we dance, young and free ♪

♪ Those three little words came to me ♪

♪ Oh, when it's real ♪

♪ You can't conceal what you feel ♪

♪ They say to take it slow ♪

♪ You're too young to
know what time reveals ♪

♪ Oh, when it's real ♪

♪ Let go of your fear
because love can heal ♪

♪ They say to take it slow ♪

♪ You're too young to
know what time reveals ♪

♪ Oh, when it's real ♪

♪ Let go of your fear
because love can heal ♪

♪ Don't listen to your head ♪

♪ Follow your heart instead
and come home again ♪

♪ Come home again ♪

Hey, Mick.

You know that was really great.

Thanks, I appreciate that.

And thanks for showing me the club.

Yeah, of course.

Y'know, I work with a lot of people,

a lot of businesses...

and very few of them are willing to

bet everything on their future.

Does that mean you're
gonna give me the 30 days?

No, I'm not going to sell you the club.

I'm your partner.

And I think Chesapeake Shores
could use a good music club.

I know, I know.

Yeah, so do I.

Good.

Hey Mick.

Yeah?

What changed?

Well like you said,

sometimes business isn't just business.

I'm so proud of you.

I know.

I wanted a square cake,

not round, but whatever.

Still, you really stuck with it.

Yeah, I guess so.

What's more important,
is the one who helped you.

And who stuck with it and with you.

Yeah well...

She didn't do it when it counted, right?

Honey, I love you so much,

but maybe it's time to give it a rest.

You don't forget it, you don't bury it,

but sometimes when the timing's right,

you enjoy it while it lasts.

Okay.

Okay.

No, Kevin!

You're a hero.

Mom, come on.

I just did what I was trained to do.

I did what anyone would've done.

No honey, most people
run away from danger.

You ran towards it.

Hey... are you okay?

Yeah, why?

Because you look happy...

I am.

Mick doesn't wanna sell the club.

How? What?

Oh, congratulations!

Okay, that's great.

Thomas.

Mick.

Been awhile.

Yes.