06x01 - The Challenger

[bunniefuu]

Previously on This Is Us...

It appears that you
have what we Doctors call

Mild Cognitive Impairment.

There is a chance that, over time,

you'll experience
more difficulty with memory.

They are gonna want me in
San Francisco three days a week.

KATE: We can do this.

I don't want any trouble.

None of the jewelry from here
or my nightstand is missing.

My cufflinks were in here.

He was in our room.

I can't marry someone
who's not in love with me.

- Please don't do this.
- Kevin,

you know it.

("CAN'T FIGHT THIS FEELING"
BY REO SPEEDWAGON PLAYING)

(TABLEWARE CLINKING)

(SIGHS) Is it just me
or will this go down

as one of the all-time great songs?

- All-time great bands.
- Mm.

REO Speedwagon are the new Beatles.

- Remember I said that.
- (LAUGHS)

- ♪ What started out as friendship ♪
- Oh.

- ♪ Has grown stronger ♪
- (LAUGHS)

♪ I only wish I had the strength
to let it show ♪

Oh, you're letting it show.

- I am?
- Mm-hmm.

- Mmm.
- Mmm.

KATE: Okay!

Break it up, people.

Big day.

- Big day.
- I know. Hey, guys.

See what I have for you
in honor of today?

Tang!

- BIG THREE: Tang!
- Slow. No, hold on, hold on.

- Hold on.
- Whoa! Slow down.

Slow down. Okay, look, Dad's off.

- Mm-hmm.
- So goodbye kiss.

Kiss. Kiss.

I want all the details later.

Um... briefcase?

In the living room.

What would I do without you?

You'd lose your briefcase a lot.

I would lose my mind. Every detail...

- I want to hear all about it later.
- Bye, Dad.

- BIG THREE: Bye!
- Okay, breakfast. Breakfast.

- ♪ Started out as friendship ♪
- TOM MINTIER: The ice is cleared away

- and Challenger should be going away very soon.
- ♪ Has grown stronger ♪

- ♪ I only wish I had ♪
- Let's go down to the Kennedy Space Center

- and take a look at Challenger sitting on the pad...[/i]
- ♪ The strength to let it show ♪

...as they continue the countdown.

They started the auxiliary power units

about a minute ago, and...

("DEATH WITH DIGNITY"
BY SUFJAN STEVENS PLAYING)

♪ Spirit of my silence,
I can hear you ♪

♪ But I'm afraid to be near you ♪

- Suit's on?
- Yes, ma'am.

♪ And I don't know ♪

♪ Where to begin ♪

(HUMMING)

- ♪ And I don't know ♪
- (GRUNTS)

♪ Where to begin ♪

♪ Somewhere in the desert ♪

♪ There's a forest ♪

♪ And an acre before us ♪

♪ But I don't know ♪

♪ Where to begin ♪

♪ But I don't know where to begin ♪

♪ Again, I lost my strength
completely ♪

♪ Oh, be near me ♪

♪ Tired old mare ♪

♪ With the wind in your hair ♪

♪ Amethyst and flowers on the table ♪

- ♪ On the table ♪
- ♪ Is it real ♪

- (DOOR OPENS)
- WOMAN: Got a sec, boss?

Yeah. What's up?

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

(QUIETLY): Yeah...

- (CHUCKLES)
- ♪ How ♪

♪ This will end ♪

♪ Chimney swift that finds me ♪

- ♪ Be my keeper ♪
- ♪ Be my keeper ♪

- ♪ Silhouette of the cedar ♪
- ♪ Silhouette of the cedar ♪

♪ What is that song ♪

♪ You sing for the dead? ♪

(DOOR OPENS)

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

- ♪ I see the signal searchlight strike me ♪
- ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

- ♪ Happy birthday... ♪
- ♪ In the window ♪

♪ Of my room ♪

♪ Well, I got nothing to prove ♪

You know, when I think it
all went wrong for me was .

They were sending the Challenger
up into space.

You remember the Challenger, right?

- Yeah. With Sandra Bullock?
- No.

- (BABBLES)
- What'd you say? You said "happy birthday"?

Well, thank you, Franny.

I'm sorry, what is that, Nicky?
You said...

Oh, you said I don't look
old enough to be a daddy?

Well, you know exactly what to say.

- (FUSSING)
- Yes, you do. Oh, what does that mean?

We ready for the mommy drop-off?

- Here we go.
- (WHIRRING)

All right. I'm gonna get
a change of clothes

and we're out of here.

- (SCRUBBING)
- Knock-knock. Coming in hot.

- Nicky is ripe.
- Oh.

- Give me that stinky boy.
- Yeah.

- That's really something special.
- Oh, come here.

(SNIFFS) Oh!

- That is a good one!
- (CHUCKLES)

That's a good one.

Is it weird that I love that smell?

Rhetorical. Aware that it's weird.

Not gonna apologize for it.

- (CHUCKLES)
- Thank you

for letting me sleep in, by the way.

- I needed that.
- 'Course.

Yeah, no, that's what I'm here for.

That's what I'm here for. Right?

Oh, by the way, Nicky, uh...
Nicky's nap

got cut a little short, so you
might want to put him down early

- for the next one.
- Got it.

Franny's diaper rash?

Still looks like her butthole
got sunburned,

but we're on the upswing, I think.

Right? On the ups... Oh, and, um,

I brought you back your...

your air popper.

Cleaned it for you and everything.

- MADISON: Uh-huh.
- What?

Voilà.

Ah. (CHUCKLES)

It's even got the, you know...

- the same little, uh, lid for melting butter.
- Look at that.

It is pretty much the
Porsche of air poppers.

Yeah, a man could pop some
serious corn with this thing.

- (CHUCKLES)
- This is...

Thank you.

You're welcome. No.

- No, I...
- Happy birthday.

Oh, uh...

Thank you.

- 'Kay.
- Thanks.

- What?
- You see?

People thought it was a horrible
idea, after you jilted me

at the altar,
me moving in here to be close

- to the kids.
- I did not jilt you at the altar.

You jilted me, for sure.
But look at us now.

We are-we are one finely tuned
co-parenting instrument.

We are pretty much the Porsche

- of slightly awkward co-parents.
- That we are.

Okay, so don't forget
to lube up Franny, all right?

And I'm gonna go, um,
to this stupid meeting,

and then I'm gonna
come back here, grab the kids.

I'll take 'em to Kate's
for the party, so...

And you're sure you don't want to go?

It's a family birthday party,
Kevin, and...

I'm good. I'm good.

I'm, uh, hosting book club here
today anyways.

Ah. Yes, book club. Love those nerds.

Okay, just because we enjoy reading

and discussing
fantasy literature does not mean

- we are nerds.
- Huh.

- You know, get out of my house.
- Okay.

- Get. Go.
- All right, kids. All right, all right.

- Bye, guys. Bye.
- Say bye-bye. Say "bye, Daddy."

Say bye-bye. Bye.

Okay.

Some strawberries.

Yum.

Here's some water for you.

Okay?

(FACETIME RINGING)

Well, think of the devil.

Okay, first, let me say that I hate

that I'm doing this
over FaceTime and not in person

and that there happens to be
a -second sh*t clock

on the whole thing,
since a prematurely balding man

is about to walk into my office
and blow up my entire day.

(INHALES) So I just wanted
to call you really quick

and say happy birthday, Kate.

I love you very much, and I miss you.

Aw. I miss you, too.

You sound stressed.

No wasting time on me. Now, listen,

I know you have the day off,
so I have arranged for your mom

and Miguel to take the kids
to Train Park.

With Nicky, of course, since
they're all attached at the hip

since he started staying with them.

Wait, they're taking the kids?

For the entire afternoon.

And you, my beautiful wife,

get a peaceful, childless house
for the whole day.

I have a massage therapist
showing up in one hour.

And don't worry...
I know what you like.

I asked for a woman with the hands

of an offensive lineman.

(CHUCKLES)

Toby...

And the sh*t clock is going off.

Okay, I love you very much.

Happy birthday.
Kiss the munchkins for me, okay?

Oh, my God, here they come.
All right. Okay, bye.

- Love you.
- I love you...

- (BEEPING)
- ...too.

Look at this.

Oh, my God.

He's so romantic.

I know.

No, I-I miss him so much it hurts.

Malik sending you love letters
from Boston?

Huh? Aw, that's adorbs.

That boy is adorbs.

You know, your dad
used to send me love letters

on our summer break.

Like, full-on, cursive, handwritten...

Y'all not listening. Okay.

That's fair. Hey!

There's my romantic birthday boy.

You decide on your wish yet?

Can we go in the next room, please?

Okay.

- It's all kind of one room, but okay.
- Mm.

Um... (CLEARS THROAT)

Got an email.

The cops got the guy who robbed us.

- (GASPS)
- Caught him breaking into a parked car.

Wow.

- Are they sure it's our guy?
- Mm-hmm.

He pawned all of our jewelry,
but, um...

you remember how we couldn't find

one of our wedding photos last year,

- thought we were losing our minds?
- Mm-hmm.

He had it on him.

Just the picture, not the frame.

(GROANS)

Yeah.

He's, um...

he's getting arraigned today.

I think I might go down there.

Randall,

- it's your birthday.
- I want to look him

in the eye, Beth,
tell him what he did to us.

- To our family.
- Okay. Baby,

- let's play a game, okay?
- Hmm.

- There's two doors you can choose from today.
- (INHALES DEEPLY)

- (SIGHS)
- Behind door number one

is your beautiful, "top of
her game right now" wife...

- Yeah.
- ...who is fulfilled in her new job

and-and has a new skincare line

- that has her positively glowing.
- That's true.

- She is clicking on all her sexy cylinders.
- Mmm.

And is ready to grant you
any birthday wish you want.

- Mmm.
- Like a less-problematic Aladdin genie.

- I like that.
- Yeah.

- Yeah.
- Behind door number two,

you have confronting the creeper
who broke into our home

and upturned a year of our lives.

You're gonna pick
door number two, aren't you?

- I need to look him in the eye, Beth.
- Oh, my gosh.

- You are a very unusual man.
- I know.

But you really are at the top

- of your game right...
- No, no, no.

You only get one door, baby.
You made your choice.

All right? Hey, ladies?

Mom-mobile's leaving in three.
All right?

Damn.

I would've chose door number Beth.

Mmm. Mmm, mmm, mmm.

Mmm, mmm, mmm.

(DEPARTING FOOTSTEPS)

(KIDS CHATTERING)

Kevin!

Class. Class!

Kevin, please.

(SOFT CHUCKLING)

- CNN ANCHOR: ...now underway...
- Okay.

- in minus seconds.
- Here we go.

- (KEVIN CACKLES)
- Kevin, please settle.

MAN: T-minus ten, nine, eight,

seven, six.

We have main engines start.

Four, three, two, one...

- and liftoff, liftoff
- (KIDS CHEERING)

of the th space shuttle mission,

and it has cleared the tower.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON TV)

TOM MINTER: So, the th space
shuttle mission is now on the way

after more delays
than NASA cares to count.

This morning they looked as though

they were not going to be
able to get off.

(DISTORTED CHATTER ON TV)

MINTER:
Looks like a couple of the, uh,

solid rocket boosters, uh, blew away

from the side of the shuttle
in an expl*si*n.

MAN: My controller's here,
looking very carefully at the situation.

- Obviously a major malfunction.
- It seems that...

I think they're having
a little problem there.

MIGUEL: Hey, guess what, guys.

Did you know that this train
goes all the way around the park

- two whole times?
- (GASPS) Two whole times?

You hear that?

How is this my life?

(CHUCKLES): Would you stop bitching?

Yeah, I'm sorry. It's just
this damn Facebook. I-I..

You know what, every morning
since I got here,

I Facebook stalk the girl
who got away.

I told you about her, right?

- Sally?
- Sally, yes.

- Yeah.
- Yes, you tell us about her every day.

Every single day.

Well, every single day,
I lose my nerve,

even though she's just
a few hours from here.

(SIGHS) Here I am on a baby train.

Oh, Nicky, shush.

And who doesn't like trains?

- Everybody likes trains.
- JACK: Yeah.

Hey, Jack.

Did I ever tell you how my dad
used to take me on trains

when I was a little girl?

- Yeah.
- Mm-hmm.

Any Sunday my dad
had to go into the office,

he would, uh, take me on the
train into the city with him.

Mmm. I loved those Sundays.

My dad would, uh, sit there reading...

He was a big reader, my dad,
novels mainly...

and, uh, I'd sit across from him
just watching

the world go by
as the train rumbled beneath us.

(CHUCKLES)

And then, when we would get
close to the city,

he would walk me to
the very front of the train,

and we'd walk back

through each and every car.

All the way.

All the way to the back, to the...

The, um...

Oh, the-the last car.

No, no, no, no. D-Don't te...
Don't tell me.

(TRAIN ENGINE SPUTTERS)

(ENGINE REVS)

(QUIETLY): The last...

Oh, that was amazing.

- I'm a new woman.
- I'm glad.

Your husband's very thoughtful.

I wish mine would order me
a me on my birthday.

Yeah. It's very Toby.

Actually, it isn't.

He's usually more of, like,
a giant in-person

grand gesture kind of guy.

This outsourcing is a little new.

Not to say it's not wonderful
and much needed and...

- You know, honestly, it's simpler.
- (PHONE VIBRATES)

(GROANS SOFTLY)

(KNOCKS)

Kevin Pearson.

(SIGHS) Send him in.

Thank you.

Casey.

What, it's been, um...

Five years.

Five years to the day
since your national meltdown

- on my set.
- You counted.

You count, Kevin,

when somebody torpedoes
your life and career,

- you count.
- Huh.

I supposed you would, but hey,

looks like you landed
on your feet, though, right?

I mean, this is a hell of a show.

The writing is phenomenal.

I never worked on it.

I'm a fan.

Oh.

Look, man, I...

We both know we were forced

to take this meeting
by our agents, right?

I mean, y-you don't want me
to do whatever movie this is.

I don't want to do
whatever movie this is.

They want to reboot The Manny, Kevin.

- So...
- There is no film.

They knew you'd never show up if...

Let me get this straight.

- They want me to play the Manny again?
- What?

No, you're far too old.

No, you play the dad.

A dad to twins, ironically.

Huh.

Kevin, I-I saw the last film.

I actually purchased a ticket.

And after minutes, when I realized

it was only halfway over,
I started to lick

the movie theater seats in an
attempt to give myself COVID.

Okay.

I know what's out there for you
right now.

This is good.

You get to raise your family
in Los Angeles,

work one day a week
and become a zillionaire.

Or say no.

And spend the rest of your years

travelling to Vancouver every weekend

to sh**t Treat Williams indies

where you got to do your own hair.

Over my dead body.

(SIGHS) Thank God.

Mr. Watkins, you are
being charged with burglary

while in possession
of an offensive w*apon

and criminal trespass.

- Do you understand the charges?
- WATKINS: Yes.

MAGISTRATE: Preliminary hearing
will be set for four weeks from today,

and bail has been set as noted.

- (DEPARTING FOOTSTEPS)
- (DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

Excuse me, Officer, um...

- Randall Pearson, councilman for District...
- District .

Yes, sir. My wife and I voted for you.

We plan on doing it again.

Well, that makes this a lot easier.

Um...

Do you think I could speak
with him for a couple minutes?

Sure thing, Councilman.

I'll be right here if you need me.

Do you know who I am?

You're the guy from my picture.

(DOOR OPENS)

(JACK SIGHS)

- Hey.
- Hey.

How are they?

Oh, they barely said a word
on the ride home.

And I started their day out
with Tang, Jack.

- With Tang.
- Yeah. We'll talk to 'em, Bec.

Just like we did
when the goldfish d*ed.

Uh, a spaceship filled with heroes

exploded on national television.

I don't think
the Splishy and Splashy model

- is gonna work here.
- Bec.

We can do this.

Okay? Okay.

(APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS)

Hey, Big Three.

REBECCA: Hey, guys?

Uh, Daddy and I just...
we wanted to see

if there is anything
that you wanted to talk about.

About today?

'Cause I know, for me...

I had a lot of sad feelings.

- Did any of you maybe feel like that?
- JACK: Yeah.

You know, like maybe
when Splishy and Splashy...

(WHISPERS):
Don't do Splishy and Splashy.

I'm telling you, it's a good way in.

All the teachers were crying.

Yeah.

I bet they were, Bug.

It's a good thing
they were that high up.

That means they were closer to heaven.

Yeah.

I think that's
a really nice thought, Bug.

Maybe Splishy and Splashy will
take care of them.

Boys, how about you?

You-you guys feeling
a little sad, too?

Can I have more mac and cheese?

Yeah.

- REBECCA: I can get it.
- No, no.

I got it, I got it. I got it.

- ELIJAH: So good.
- Look who's back.

- (MADISON CHUCKLES)
- How was book... club?

Oh, hey. You remember Elijah,
right? From book club?

- (BABY FUSING OVER MONITOR)
- No, I mean, yeah. (STAMMERS)

I didn't realize, uh...

I didn't realize
everyone was still here.

Oh, I'm just helping Maddy clean up.

She always hosts
and gets stuck with it.

Well, that's nice.

I'm just gonna grab the kids
and take them to the party.

Oh, perfect timing.

They are just starting to stir
from their naps.

(SOFTLY): Good.

How was book club?

- Oh, my God. (CHUCKLES)
- So good.

We read The Queen of the Tearling.

- (IMITATES expl*si*n)
- Everybody's mind was blown.

Yeah, n... Eli called me
a Kelsea today,

- so he is basically my best friend for life.
- (ELIJAH LAUGHS)

- Well, I only speak the truth.
- Aw.

Oh, you haven't read it?

Not a page.

You know,
the last thing I read was, um...

was Parasite.

Subtitled movie.

- Kev, considers it reading.
- Well, it's Korean,

so you have to read it
to understand it,

unless you speak Korean, so...

Hey, I don't want to geek out
or anything...

- Oh, Eli, maybe not now.
- I'm just gonna say it once. You said I could.

- Okay.
- Hill is a freaking masterpiece.

- Yeah?
- You are so good, man.

Thank you.

Thank y... That's very kind.
I appreciate it.

Um, so I'm-I'm gonna
grab the kids, right?

And then Elijah and I will-will
get out of your hair.

Unless you want help with the dishes.

Oh.

Wow, that's so nice.
No, that would be huge.

Who knew fantasy nerds
could be such slobs?

Um, everyone who's ever
met a fantasy nerd.

(LAUGHS): Right.

Walked into that one. Should we...

- Hmm? Mm-hmm. Great.
- ELIJAH: Another bottle? Yeah, absolutely...

So, I'll just grab the kids, then.

- (MADISON CHUCKLES)
- ELIJAH: I, uh... when I was, uh...

(QUIET CHATTER)

My name is Randall Pearson.

Two years ago, you broke into my home.

You broke through a window
and stole some jewelry.

I caught you on the way out
with a Kn*fe.

I don't remember.

I have, uh, holes in my memory.

Do you have any water?

I don't.

I can try to get you some.

Thank you.

It was a terrifying moment
for my family.

My wife, my daughters.

I'm sorry...

You know what they did with my dog?

I don't. I can
try to find out for you.

Yeah, I didn't know
where I got the picture from,

but you looked happy in it.

I thought maybe it came
from a good part of my life.

But I guess it came from a bad part.

Do you know what they did with my dog?

I don't.

JESS: I hear you, you're
just not saying anything.

Why? You haven't told me why.

There is no why, Jess.

I'm just not in a place...

Don't you dare use your traumatic past

to try and get out of
this relationship, okay?

That is not fair.

I don't care if it's upsetting.

I just need to know
so that I can move on.

You bore me, Jessica.

I mean, you are a stunning,

intelligent, magnificent woman,

and yet, every time we have
a meal together,

I can't help but feel
like I'm watching paint dry.

And I-I'll spare you the whole
"It's-it's not you, it's me"

nonsense and remind you
to focus on the fact

that you are a stunning, intelligent,

magnificent woman,
who's just wasting her time

on a pasty English chap
who just equated

eating sushi with you
to watching paint dry.

Is-is that helpful?

For moving on?

You are a condescending prick.

This would seem to be the common
refrain in my life, yes.

What the hell was that?

Oh, good. You're here, um...

Oh, that was not the emergency.

Oh, but speaking of which,

I assure you, I had nothing to do

with what's about to happen here.

Come on.

It's your birthday gift.

They insisted.

I think the whole thing's
completely overwrought,

but who can say no to a bunch
of well-meaning blind kids

with a soft spot for their teacher?

All right, go ahead, superstars.

("TIME AFTER TIME" INSTRUMENTAL PLAYS)

♪ Lying in my bed, I hear ♪

♪ The clock tick and think of you ♪

♪ Caught up in circles ♪

♪ Confusion is nothing new ♪

♪ Flashback, warm nights ♪

♪ Almost left behind ♪

♪ Suitcase of memories ♪

♪ Time after ♪

♪ Sometimes you picture me ♪

♪ I'm walking too far ahead... ♪

♪ ♪

♪

DAVE: It's a good one.

Don't see what
all the controversy's about.

You want to walk the train?

- REBECCA: Yes, please.
- DAVE: Okay.

We'll start at the front

and walk all the way back to the...

♪

"First came the big black
engine, puffing and chuffing,

"then came the boxcars,

"then the oil cars,
then the coal cars,

"then the flat cars.

"Sometimes, they were switched
around in different ways,

but the little red..."

Little red...

♪

- (KNOCKING)
- REBECCA: Knock, knock.

You putting away your shuttle?

(REBECCA SIGHS)

You've been so quiet.

I just wanted to check in on you.

You want to come and sit here
with me for a little bit?

Okay.

Well, I'll be downstairs
if you want to talk.

RANDALL: She has kids.

The astronaut teacher.

I know.

Do you think someone's
making them dinner?

Um...

Yeah, I bet their...

I bet their dad's
making them dinner, hon.

Maybe you can send them
macaroni and cheese,

just in case.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

And so, you bailed him out?

So he could meet me
at the shelter later.

I'm arranging a bed for him
and meeting him there tonight

It felt like a romantic
full circle kind of thing,

I don't, I don't know.

Oh, my God, Randall.

- I don't even know what to say.
- I know.

I saw his file, Beth.

For the last two years,
this man has woken me

from my dreams in a cold sweat.

This man with the Kn*fe.

But today I saw his file,

and he had a name.

It's David.

The name with the Kn*fe,
his name is David.

And he had a family.

And he's someone's son.

Could've been William.

So...

you look at this man,

and you see sweet, gentle William,

- who would nev...
- It's not just William, Beth.

I see Kev. I see my father.

I see Laurel.

I see a young Shauna.

I see thousands of addicts
in my district

I was elected to help, who I'm
not doing nearly enough for.

I don't know.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

Okay.

I'm-a give you one more sh*t.

At what?

This birthday genie wish thing.

Door number one.
The whole shebang thing.

Why?

Because you...

are the real thing, Randall.

You know how many vices
men can have these days?

Hmm? Gambling. Booze. p*rn.

Freaking fantasy football.

And my guy...

just wants to help people.

It's compulsive and over the top.

And if that son of a bitch
doesn't show up tonight,

I'm gonna lose it.

But you...

are an incredibly decent man,

Randall Pearson.

And it's your birthday.

So... make a wish.

I got my wish when I met you.

Don't be cheesy now, just get it done.

♪

REBECCA: You walked with
Dad from the front to the back.

It's not the boxcar.
It's not the engine.

It was the name of the book.

You read it every night.

Think, Rebecca. It's the red one.

The car at the end.

The red car.

The car at the end.

The red one, damn it!

Mom, are you okay?

I-I didn't want to tell you guys

until after your birthday, but...

I... (SIGHS)

I got the results
of the PET scan back,

and...

the scan is positive for

plaques building in my brain.

It's still very early, guys.

And the doctors are
extremely optimistic

- about the medications coming to market.
- REBECCA: Yeah, um,

I think I have the next
PET scan in two...

♪ ♪

MAN (ON TV): %.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER TV)

That means we could breathe the air...

(CHATTER CONTINUES)

- Hey, Bud.
- Hey.

(GROANS)

You know, when I was a boy,

I really didn't like to talk much.

You know, if-if something happened,

and it made me feel happy
or made me feel sad,

you know, we-we wouldn't
really analyze it.

Do you want to talk, Kev?

About today?

It was just a story on TV.

It wasn't real.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON TV)

Okay.

(KNOCKING)

- Oh, yes.
- (CHUCKLES)

It has been a day.

I could use a veg-out session

on the world's most comfortable...

...comfortable couch. I di...

I'm s... I didn't realize, uh...

No, no, no.

It's fine.

- Twins are out cold, huh?
- Yeah.

- How'd they do?
- They were good.

- Aw.
- Yeah, they had a good time.

You know, they're cracked out
on cake right now, but, um...

You skipped ahead to the next episode?

Yeah.

- We got sucked in.
- Huh.

- Sorry.
- It's my fault.

Maddy started me at the beginning,

but I got hooked,
and I made her keep going.

Ah, it's, you know what,
it's fine, obviously.

Not a big deal.

God, it's super late.

- Mm.
- I should go.

Again, I really love that film.

- It was so good.
- Thanks, man.

Maddy.

This was a lot of fun.

It was. I had a great time.

Okay. Well, um...

- Yeah. Night.
- Good night.

Sorry, again. I didn't realize,
you know, that you were...

No, no. We were just...

Yeah, not to harp on this,
but I feel like,

should we establish
which shows are gonna be ones

that we watch together
and which ones are sort of

go at your own pace?

- Because I...
- Kevin.

(SIGHS)

Was a rough day.

I got bad news about my mom.

There's this scan and...

plaque and...

It's bad.

God, I am, I am so sorry.

Thank you. It's-it's...

I don't like that he calls you Maddy.

You know, people said I was crazy...

me living in your garage
just to stay close to the twins.

Yeah.

It's possible they had a point.

(SIGHS)

(REBECCA SIGHS)

Did we do that even remotely right?

I don't know.

(CHUCKLES): My first time.

Mine, too.

(CLICKS TONGUE)

I knew I should've married
someone who already had kids.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(TAKES DEEP BREATH)

- Jack.
- Hmm?

I'm worried about Kevin.

Will you please tell me something

to make me feel better?

Well, he... he gets it.

His brain's just...

protecting itself.

Yeah, that kid, he's gonna grow
up faster than we can handle.

One day...

he's gonna have it all figured out.

I mean, hell, it's not like
he's gonna wind up

some -year-old man

who can't stop talking about
the Challenger expl*si*n.

- Right?
- Right.

(SIGHS): Okay.

♪

- Randall.
- (CHUCKLES)

Randall is too good.

Too good how?

I don't know, for the world.

Did you ever read Catcher in the Rye?

Yeah, of course.

No.

Okay, so it's about this kid,

this-this teenager named Holden.

And he's depressed.

- Well, his name is Holden.
- Stop.

(EXHALES)

And he...

wants to protect
all of the innocent people,

all of the children, and...

he has to accept the fact
that he can't.

♪ ♪

And I think that Randall might
be the Catcher in the Rye, Jack.

I think he might...
he might spend his whole life

trying to save everyone,
and he won't be able to.

I just worry that his life
will be this beautiful but...

perpetually disappointing ride.

(SCOFFS)

What a thing.

Being a parent.

What a thing being a kid.

(SOFTLY): Yeah.

- Hey.
- KEVIN: Hey.

- I know you like extra.
- Thanks.

You know, when we were growing up,

if we needed something, Mom and Dad...

they were just...
they were a bedroom away.

Yeah, and, uh...

My kids aren't gonna have that.

They'll have something different.

Okay? And it will be normal to them,

and it will be wonderful.

I'm taking the Manny reboot.

Stay here in L.A.,
give the kids some stability.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Yeah, I mean, it's... it's TV, right?

I mean, none of that stuff
is real. It's...

Mom's really sick, Kate.

This is really happening.

Yeah.

- Yeah.
- Just feels like the...

...like the world should
just stop for Mom, you know?

Just...

Yeah, the world should stop for Mom.

And, uh...

I find it so infuriating
that this is happening to us

while the rest of the world,
they just-they just continue

to go round and round like it's...

Kev, do you remember
where we were five years ago?

Five years ago to the day,

we were sitting on my bathroom floor

because I'd just face-planted
off a scale.

(TAKES DEEP BREATH)

And you were about to implode
your life and career

on national television

(SCOFFS)

And it was such a low moment.

You know, it just felt like
every door was shutting on us

and shutting out all of the light,

just like after dad.

But...

look at us now.

We-we each have two healthy,
beautiful kids.

Careers we never imagined.

If the world stopped
for the bad stuff,

then-then everything would be dark.

But the world keeps going, so
we can find that cr*ck of light

on the other side of the door.

You know?

We have found the light before,

big brother.

And we'll find it again.

(GREY REVEREND'S "WATCH ME" PLAYING)

♪ ♪

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

(NICKY GROANS)

Well, looks like another
sad night for old Nicky.

Just staring at Facebook,

looking for someone
who doesn't even know I exist.

- Just...
- Stop, Nicky!

Life is too short.

It is far shorter
than it has any right to be,

and you are giving me
a frigging headache.

You want to go see Sally?
Let's go see Sally.

Pack a bag.
We'll leave in the morning.

- Bec...
- Honey, life is too short,

and the man is giving me
a frigging headache.

♪ ♪

(DOOR CLOSES)

♪ Watch me when you look my way ♪

He didn't show up.

- ♪ Feel me smiling ♪
- I'm sorry.

Mm-hmm.

♪ Be my night and day... ♪

It's official, Beth.

I'm old.

I have three parents gone.

One's sick.

It's not even unusual at my age.

I am not a young man anymore.

You have a young wife.

Now, that, I do.

What?

You didn't have to.

I know.

I need to do more for the people
who are hurting in this city.

♪ I love you ♪

- ♪ Make you a rhyme ♪
- I know.

♪ I love you ♪

♪ Say it ♪

♪ In mine ♪

(PHONE CHIMES) _

_

_

TOBY: Happy birthday.

♪ Watch me when I'm on my own ♪

(CHUCKLES): What?!

♪ See me falling ♪

Uh, are you aware that Kevin
is in our guest room?

- Yeah.
- Okay.

Yeah. It's-it's been a day.

♪ The things you are... ♪

Happy birthday.

It is now.

Mom and Dad are gonna die one day.

Yeah.

♪

And last but not least...

the very last car.

My personal favorite car,
if I'm being honest.

♪

What?

REBECCA: "Sometimes,

"they were switched around
in different ways,

but the little red..."

♪

Caboose.

Caboose.