[instrumental music]
[instrumental music]
[upbeat song]
I know the timing's right
I just wanna believe
you're worth the fight
But I gotta take my time
Before I walk in blind
'Cause everybody said
I gotta watch out
I should give it up
but baby I don't know how
You're taking your time
So tell me now
if you want it out
Say something
Don't you leave me
in the dark now
Say something
Well can't you see
I'm gonna break now?
Oh we got caught
in the wind
And now I'm second-guessing
everything
Well just come in
and shake up my life
But baby I'm the one
who's rolling the dice
Yeah everybody said
I gotta watch out
[cell phone ringing]
Hello.
Okay, calm down.
I'll be right up.
Come on tell me
Iris, I'm coming up right now.
You just gotta
say something
But don't you leave me
in the dark now
Say something
Good morning, James.
I know, I know.
I was here six hours ago,
but you know what they say.
I'll sleep when I'm dead.
-Okay, she just got here.
-Is that my itinerary?
Great, New York to LA,
to close the Hansen deal,
and then off to Bora Bora.
Perfect.
Oh, okay, so there is
one teeny little snag.
-Nothing I can't fix. What's up?
-Zeke has been calling.
Yeah, he probably has cold feet,
and I'm on do not disturb.
Yeah, but when you're on do not
disturb, he starts calling me.
-I know, it's a lot, right?
-He says the wedding is off.
Ah, he's so dramatic.
You're dramatic.
He says
he's leaving the island tonight.
Give me that.
Okay, you are delusional.
-You love Emma. What are you...
-Yeah, okay, well, um...
You know, if things change,
just give me a call back.
-[Mallory] You'll be fine.
-Okay.
[indistinct chatter]
Hey, I'm gonna call you back.
You're doing that thing.
What's the problem?
Meramec. Meramec's the problem.
[Samantha]
They won the essay contest
the National
Tourism Board sponsored.
-Best small town in America.
-Oh. In Alabama?
Right, they're paying for all
the ads for the next six months.
-Exactly. But I can't go.
-Well, you have to go.
We won't have a magazine
if you don't go.
[grunts]
Oh, wow!
Did you break the whole thing?
Yeah, right up
to the thigh bone.
[Mallory] Okay,
that's not a word.
-[Iris] Oh.
-We can't lose those ads.
You know that Travel & Leisure
have been
trying to poach them from us.
[Iris] I can't fly, no swelling
if I ever wanna
walk straight again.
Okay, walking straight
is overrated.
-Is it?
-That's what they're saying.
[snaps fingers] But let
me think. Um, Lauren.
Covering that ski cottage
in Vail.
-Nathan.
-[Iris] In the South of France.
You know, I've been wanting
to do my first piece, so...
-I'll do it.
-What about Zeke's wedding?
[Mallory] Well,
it's only Tuesday.
The wedding is Saturday.
Samantha, cancel
the LA meetings.
I will fly to Meramec tonight,
get the interviews, get photos,
and then I'll fly to Bora Bora
tomorrow night
and have time to
get this wedding back on track.
Yeah, you have to stay
until Friday
for the end of Summer Festival.
I-it's a whole thing.
[sighs] Okay, fine,
I'll fly to Meramec tonight
and then get a red-eye
to Bora Bora on Friday
and still have time
to fix everything.
[sighs]
You sure?
Yeah, I can handle it.
I mean, I was a journalist
before I was a partner.
Plus, how hard can it be?
[horn honking]
[instrumental music]
[Mallory] Are you kidding me?
Am I allowed to pass
one of these things?
-[horn honking]
-[Mallory] Ugh, move, hello!
Ugh, come on, dude!
Okay, screw this.
-[horn honking]
-Oh, sh*t.
[horn honking]
[horn honking]
Finally. No rush,
take your time.
[instrumental music]
You gotta be kidding me.
[sighs]
[music continues]
-[footfall]
-Hello?
Hello?
No service. Great.
Hello?
Yup, yup, I'm coming.
Just a minute.
Oh, look who it is. Tractor guy.
You know, I spent 30 minutes
trying to get around you.
-How'd you get here so fast?
-I took a shortcut.
I assume this is your place?
What gave it away?
The decor.
You must be the, uh, magazine
reporter from New York, huh?
What gave it away?
You're staying
in the, uh, cardinal room.
Um, each room has its own key.
Um, there it is.
Breakfast is served
from 7:00 to 9:00,
and the quiet hours
are after 10 p.m.,
and, uh, the Wi-Fi password
is "flybirdiefly."
Of course it is.
And if the, uh, rooster alarm
bothers you in the morning,
there's a couple
of earplugs on the nightstand.
You can just... Pop.
You're good to go.
If there's anything else,
I'm Wren.
You'll see me around,
just grab me
if you need anything.
Wren? Right.
So, like, what's the deal?
Are you really into birds?
No, it's my mom's thing.
What's her name, Robin?
Yup.
Like, seriously?
Okay. Um, it's really...
That's sweet, actually. Ahem.
You're, uh, down here
on the left. Here you go.
[instrumental music]
[keys jingling]
-Cute.
-Yup.
-Down the hall to the...
-[Mallory] Yeah, got it.
Oh, you know what?
There is one more thing.
The woman who wrote
the winning essay, Mary Mack,
she's not responding
to my e-mails, and I don't have
a phone number. Do you know
where I could find her?
Um, Mary Mack, well, she's,
she's pretty well-known,
so maybe, uh...
[blows a raspberry] You work
your way down at the Mermaid.
-Just ask anyone there.
-[Mallory] The Mermaid?
Is that, like, a restaurant
where I could
maybe get, like, salad
or something?
You can. Word of advice.
Um, don't do the salad.
Yeah. Okay. Noted.
And I assume
I don't need reservations.
[scoffs]
You barely need shoes.
-I was kidding.
-I wasn't.
[chuckles]
[e-mail alert]
You've got mail.
Was that AOL?
Huh?
Never mind.
-[door opens]
-Hm.
[Patti Page singing
"Mockin' Bird Hill"]
Tra-la-la tweedlee dee dee
it gives me a thrill
To wake up in the morning
to the mockin' bird's trill
Tra-la-la tweedlee dee dee
there's peace and goodwill
You're welcome as the
Definitely in the cardinal room.
Mockin' Bird Hill
[sighs]
[mumbles]
Wren, did that reporter
check in?
Yeah, she's all checked in.
She's here to write about
the town, hopefully she'll write
something nice about the B&B.
Maybe you could show her around.
-Grease the wheels.
-Grease the wheels?
Yeah. She's media.
That's how these things work.
Maybe I'll just make her
an offer she can't refuse, ma.
If it works. Is she cute?
[inhales] I don't know.
I didn't notice.
So she's cute, then.
Like I said, ma,
I didn't notice.
If she wasn't cute, you'd say,
"Not my type."
If she was cute, you'd say,
"I didn't notice."
Okay, how about this? Uh...
She's city cute.
-City cute?
-Yeah, but she's not my type.
You think your father
was my type?
Beard, living in the country,
on a farm.
My mother was so freaked out,
she cried for days
when we got married.
[chuckles] Well, lucky
she's not my type, ma,
'cause I wouldn't want you
crying for days, now, would I?
You know what, Wren?
You gotta give life
a chance to surprise you.
How about that, huh?
Look at that!
Double yolk! Surprise!
That's good luck.
Hey, clean that up.
We got a reporter
on the premises.
[upbeat music]
Hey, I'm sorry I didn't get
a chance to call you back.
Had to go to Meramec, Alabama.
Here you go, ladies. Thank you.
You should see this place.
It's a real trip.
Anyways, I'm gonna
see you on Friday.
I can't wait. I love you. Bye.
[Bart] I've told you ten times,
that is not where Martians
come from. Not from Marsha.
It's... No, she has nothing...
-Hey.
-Hi.
Can I get you a beer?
Um, can I have a vodka soda,
please?
Sure. Uh, what kind of soda?
'Cause I have Coke,
Sprite, Ginger Ale,
RC Cola, Cherry Coke...
Uh, second thought,
I'll just have a beer.
Great. You got it.
-Here you go.
-[sighs]
Is that some kind of homework
or something?
Oh, no, I'm a writer
for a magazine.
-I'm here doing an article.
-Fancy.
What kind of article
would bring you all the way
down to Meramec, Alabama?
Well, there was an essay
contest, and you guys won
Best Small Town in America.
Whoa, so that would make this
the best small-town bar
in America.
Um, yeah, I guess it would.
Oh. Ah, well, cheers to that.
Cheers.
Yup, I get it.
This place is something special.
People love this damn town
so much.
Myself included.
What's not to like?
I don't know. You tell me.
Is this on the record?
Because I'm gonna tell you,
people around these parts,
we don't trust the media
so much.
Oh. Well, do you want it to be
on the record?
Absolutely.
Then tell me more.
It's filled with
the most amazing people
you will ever meet.
What I love about Meramec?
People, community.
Like, uh, like Robin. She, um...
She gave me my first job
when I got here. Yeah.
No, I didn't know anybody,
and she was welcomin',
sweet, funny. [laughs]
Which you probably already know.
Livin' in a small town,
everybody sees your armpits,
you know?
Warts and all. It's just how
it is. Get over it.
There's a real sense
of community here.
Tough to find anywhere else.
You watch babies
being born, and...
[sighs] everyone's sad
when somebody leaves us,
but we're all in this together.
My family's been here
for several generations,
and good Lord willing
and the creek don't rise,
we'll be here for several more.
You know, I'm, I'm Team Meramec.
I love this place. I don't
ever wanna go anywhere else.
You're gonna have to take me
out of here in a pine box.
Way to bring the party down.
No, I'm gonna be here
for a long time.
I think it's Jim
over there with...
You haven't
experienced hospitality
and warmth till you
come here. Mm-hmm.
The best people.
The biggest hearts.
People like to come see
old Catfish Charlie
throw that gizzard shad
on a hook
and rip out a big 25-pounder.
Our marching band
got an exemplary rating
two years in a row, y'all,
not one.
That was two years in a row.
But if you come out here
at night,
we can go after those flatheads.
You pull those out
and take 'em home,
and then you filet
those bad boys right up
and put some salt, pepper,
and butter.
Robin has this, uh,
she has this
cherry chipotle sausage.
Oh, my God. Oh.
I'm telling you.
Have you, have you tried it?
You gotta be careful, though,
'cause you eat too much of it,
that's gonna make you
sit down air stank.
-If you know what I mean.
-Last year we were robbed.
And I know for a fact that
Toothpick Tommy's sister Karen
she had something to do with it,
she's always wanted to be
the president of the PTA board.
But you know what?
That's my role. That's my role.
That is my role, Karen!
Whoo! But God bless her,
and God bless America.
Hm. Molly Joe!
I was out here on Route W,
and I swear to ya,
sure as I'm sitting here,
I saw an alien spaceship
come from the sky,
land in the field
behind the Myer--
Whoa, Tommy, I don't think
we should tell her about that.
If-if she puts that in
her article, you're gonna have
all kinds of kooks
and looky-loos showing up
[chuckles] around here.
I mean, we don't want that.
I bet you're right.
It didn't happen.
[whispers] But it did.
When my sister Shelby died,
the town really showed up
for us.
I'm so sorry.
So Shelby Lloyd was your sister?
Yeah.
She's mentioned in the essay.
Mm, doesn't surprise me.
Everybody loved Shelby.
Look.
[Mallory] Well, she's beautiful.
[Bethany] Mm.
Try following
in those footsteps.
She was class president
and homecoming queen
and drum major.
Meanwhile, I play the flute,
not even first chair.
Marching band
is a pretty big deal here. Hm.
So I've heard.
Anyway, after she was k*lled
in Afghanistan,
we started a scholarship
in her name,
and because
of the town's support,
it's been going strong
for years now.
That's amazing. Well,
I'm really sorry for your loss.
I'm just sorry more people
didn't get to meet her.
[instrumental music]
Hey, do you know
a woman named Mary Mack?
No, I don't think so. Why?
-She wrote the winning essay.
-Oh.
-Uh, say it real slow.
-What?
-The name.
-Mary Mack?
-Oh. [chuckles]
-Wait, what?
I think someone's taking you
for a spin.
Mary Mack. Sounds like Meramec.
Oh, sh*t.
[Bart] Or someone's just trying
to stay incognito.
You know who else
you should talk to
is Wren Kirkpatrick at the B&B.
Wren at the Little Birdie B&B?
[Bethany] Yeah, yeah. You'll
love it there. It's great.
Like, just amazing.
It's my only option.
It was sad for him, too,
given he was Shelby's boyfriend.
-Shelby's boyfriend?
-Yeah, Wren.
He took it the hardest.
[Bethany] After she died,
he moved back home...
Hm.
[Robin] Hey, so this is where
Chief lives.
Chief is our oldest
and smartest horse.
Hey.
-That's a stirrup.
-[Robin] Wren.
-I know that.
-[cell phone ringing]
I'm so sorry, I have to take
this. Just give me a second.
-Oh, sure, take your time.
-[Mallory] Hello. Hi.
Yeah, no, I'm still on Meramec.
She's a reporter.
Is she reporting?
[Robin] Is this what
reporting looks like?
[Mallory] Yeah, listen,
Iris broke her hip bone,
so I have to do
this summer festival,
and then I will
be in time for your wedding.
Wren, you should show her
how to ride.
No, no, no, I'm good. I don't,
I don't... No, I'm good.
I just need some interviews
and some photographs,
and I'm on my way.
[Robin] Whoa, whoa, some
pictures and some interviews?
Meramec is more than some
pictures and some interviews.
You need to get mud on your
boots to really understand
what's special about this place.
That is a great line
for the article, thank you.
Um, but I'm, I'm really good.
Wren, saddle up a horse for her.
-Mom.
-No, no, really, really.
I don't, I don't
need to go horseback riding.
Really, it's being...
[Wren] Besides,
Midnight got out.
I wanna get him before sundown.
No time for this.
[Wren] She's a busy city girl.
You know what?
I'll call you back.
I don't need a lesson.
[instrumental music]
[horse snorts]
I'mma go feed the chickens.
Right, Bubba?
Okay, all yours.
No problem.
Now, it's been a minute
since I was shipped off
to sleepaway camp
in Upstate New York.
But I think
I remember how to do it.
You actually look a lot
like my horse Hank.
That goes here.
Bubba, we're gonna be
best friends.
Something like this?
Hm, something like that.
You gonna be all right
in those shoes?
-They're boots.
-Bubba, she's all right.
[Wren] She's all right.
-Hm.
-[Wren] Okay.
[instrumental music]
Is it always this quiet?
As opposed to what,
cars honking and people yelling?
-Don't be a city hater.
-I'm not a city hater.
I drove through Shot Town once.
And that wasn't too noisy
for you?
-sh*t, I had my windows up.
-[chuckles]
[horse snorts]
There was a time I thought
I'd move into the city.
Why didn't you?
sh*t happens.
-I met Bethany today.
-Oh, you did?
She told me what happened.
I'm sorry about Shelby.
It was a long time ago.
And she also told me
about Mary Mack.
Bless your heart.
Someone had to break it to you.
Just love to watch
people squirm, huh?
Yup.
[music continues]
[sighs] So how do you know
where to find him?
Ah, he's a creature of habit.
Does he run away often?
Sometimes. There he is.
[Mallory] So you're gonna
lasso him?
[Wren] Easy, cowgirl. Mm.
Hey, you stay here.
Mm.
[Mallory] "You stay here."
Hi, baby. Hi.
[Wren] Easy, boy.
[Mallory] Uh, hey,
John Wayne? Um...
-[chuckles]
-[Wren laughs] Okay, he's off.
[instrumental music]
[Wren] You know what?
Let's take a little shortcut.
I wanna get home before
sundown, okay? Follow me.
-Okay.
-Come here.
-I'm gonna go this way. Come on.
-Lead the way.
Hey, we might lay down
on the horse.
-Wait, what?
-[Wren] We might have to
-lay down on the horse.
-Why?
You wanna lay on your horse.
Unless you wanna get
clotheslined by a branch.
[Mallory] Oh, oh, sh*t! Oh.
A little help here?
-Hurry, hurry. Oh.
-[Wren] Oh, sh**t.
[Mallory] Ow. Well, help. Help.
[Wren] Oh. Told you to hang on.
So, um, that never happened
at camp.
No, I'm sure it didn't.
Oh, you were telling me
about Shelby?
Oh, yeah, well...
You know, me and the guys
usually go drinking
at this local bar we go to,
and, uh, I started noticing
people gathering around the TV.
I look up, and it's Shelby.
At first, I thought it was
because she did something good,
because that's just what
Shelby did.
Then I started noticing
people crying.
Things just faded,
I don't really remember
the rest of the night.
It's a really terrible way
to find out.
[Wren] Yeah, well, I'm not next
of kin, so it's nobody's fault.
Some people considered me
a widower.
Some called me
the, uh, the boyfriend.
-I guess they still do.
-Still?
Well, Shelby became something
of a small-town legend.
Did you guys ever talk
about getting married?
Oh, yeah,
after her last deployment,
I was gonna pop the question.
What about you? Ever been
married, or on your to-do list?
No.
You know,
nowadays it's perfectly normal
for a girl to have a career
before a family.
-Okay.
-We're k*lling it.
[laughs] Well...
Either way it must have been
really hard to move on.
Well, it was ten years ago.
But I did date a girl
a couple of towns over,
but we met online,
and it didn't work out
for a number of reasons.
Well, online dating
is a disaster everywhere, so...
Well, bet in New York
you're not, uh,
paired up with people
you went to school with,
or better yet, your former
teachers or your friend's mom.
You know,
at that point I had to quit.
[laughs] Yeah,
my biggest concern is, uh,
avoiding guys from Jersey.
Eeh. Okay.
So why didn't you ever move away
and start fresh?
Because this is home,
always will be.
Plus, some fancy magazine
calls it
the, uh, best small town
in America.
Who would do that?
[instrumental music]
-Right?
-Yeah.
Oh, Bubba, sorry.
Hey.
Let's see.
-Hey, baby.
-Ahem.
Come on, Bubba. Ah, pardon me.
Well, let's see
who's texting us.
[Wren exhales sharply]
Good boy.
-[cell phone chimes]
-[horse snorts]
Oh, boy.
-Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow.
-[Wren] Oh, sh**t.
Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow.
Bubba, move your a*s. Come here.
-Oh, sh*t! Oh!
-Come here. Come here.
[Mallory] I thought
we were friends, Bubba.
-[Wren] Let me see.
-Ah.
-[sighs] Let's see.
-Oh, my God.
Well, this never happened
at camp.
What kind of lame-a*s camp
was this, huh?
When I went to camp
at eight years old,
a counselor
decapitated a copperhead
one foot away from me, turned
that sucker into a bracelet.
-Still got it.
-Hm.
We had a really intense game
of Capture the Flag,
which almost turned
into an international incident
because two of the dads
were foreign diplomats.
Oh, wow. That was fancy.
It was...
Ow. What are you doing?
-Do you know what you're doing?
-I do. I do.
I saw it on TV.
[chuckles]
-Am I gonna live?
-You're gonna make it.
-Okay.
-[mumbles]
Hey, do you have an extra room
this weekend?
Yeah, we always
pretty much do, yeah.
Okay, 'cause my friend
Zeke Jamison is impulsive
and booked a flight to Meramec.
Boyfriend?
-No.
-Hm.
That's why he needs
his own room.
Uh-huh. Well,
I'll make a reservation.
Do you not know
who Zeke Jamison is?
Hm. Zeke Jamison... Should I?
I mean, big movie star,
won a Golden Globe,
his face is
on billboards everywhere.
-Everywhere?
-Oh, good point.
I guess everywhere
there are billboards.
I don't really follow
movies, TV,
Golden Globes... Not my thing.
Well, he's gonna love that
because he wears a hat
and goes by Mike.
-Well, that's dumb.
-[both chuckle]
Excuse me. There you go. Ah.
Yup, I got it. Take that.
-Yeah. Mm-hmm.
-Well, thank you.
I'm gonna, I'm gonna go home.
-I'm...
-Okay.
Cardinal. Yeah,
have a good night.
Yeah, great.
-[instrumental music]
-[horse snorts]
[sighs]
[scoffs]
[music continues]
[horns blaring]
[upbeat music]
[rooster crowing]
So we don't have
the petting zoo this year,
but we do have
our world-famous barbecue.
Wow. Well, hopefully it's not
animals from the petting zoo.
Oh, of course not.
You'll do your presentation
from the barn here.
It even has a disco ball. Oh.
Would you like us to turn on the
disco ball during your speech?
It's in the shape
of a cowboy boot.
I, I think that's not necessary,
but thank you so much.
Okay. Well, let me know
if you change your mind.
Will do. It really feels like
you guys thought of everything.
Well, we are the best small town
in America.
So I've heard.
Oh, I'm just so excited
that you're here.
You know, we don't get a lot of
visitors, but I'm really hoping
that your article may increase
the out-of-state foot traffic,
make this a real getaway town.
[Zeke] Mal!
Oh, thank God. Oh.
Will you excuse me
for one second?
Oh, of course.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
We're just...
That goes over there.
What the hell?
Well, hello to you, too.
I cannot believe
you're here of all places.
Ah, it does have a certain
je ne sais quoi.
-Hi, beautiful.
-Hi.
-Ah.
-Ah. What's wrong?
Um, I went horseback riding
yesterday.
Wow. Already riding
the local studs.
You're an idiot. No, I actually
went horseback riding.
-Oh. Are you Zeke Jamison?
-What?
[laughs] No, no. No, but wow.
Thank you.
I'm-I'm really flattered.
My name's Mike.
-What's your name?
-S-Savannah. And that's Lucy.
Hi, nice to meet you.
You're really not Zeke Jamison?
You guys, you really think
Zeke Jamison
would be just hanging out
in Alabama?
-[girl] Probably not.
-But y'all made my day, really.
Like, seriously.
-Oh. Okay.
-Hm.
-[woman] Girls, no running!
-Why did you do that?
-You love the attention.
-I'm hiding from the press.
Well, then you picked
the wrong friend.
-You're not gonna sell me out.
-Yeah. How do you know?
Because then you'd have no one
to talk to.
-Hm, that's true.
-Come on, I'm starving.
Somewhere you can eat here?
Healthy. Maybe salad?
Yeah, I think I know a place.
Come on.
[grunts]
-And no climbing on the fence.
-Alabama!
Oh, sorry.
[Zeke] I mean, it is a salad,
but that is
a sh*t ton of cheese.
Oh, yes, it is.
Okay, so tell me.
Tell me about this town.
Why is this
America's best small town?
Oh, no. You first. Why the hell
aren't you getting married?
I don't know what time zone
I'm in right now, Mal.
I'm exhausted.
I don't wanna talk about it.
Oh, avoidance. Solid plan.
That's right. You got it.
You're gonna tell me
what happened.
Listen, I don't need
a journalist right now.
I just need my friend, okay?
You know, very vulnerable,
kind of creative creature.
-Are you kidding me?
-She was a lot.
I just need to process and heal.
Okay, I don't need an actor
right now.
I need my friend
to tell me the truth.
I'm not ready, all right?
Can we please focus on you?
Tell me something.
Tell me anything.
I need a distraction.
[Mallory] Fine.
I'm in Meramec, the best
small town in America,
and not in Bora Bora, the best
vacation spot on the planet.
Okay, fine.
I will drop it for now.
Thank you.
Here, have my tomato.
-Mm, all right.
-I missed you.
And I missed you, too.
Bora Bora's not the same
without you.
Everything's better
with me there. Hm.
-This is it. Ah.
-Cute.
What'd you say
the theme was again?
Really? It's not obvious?
-Birds.
-Yeah.
Ah, is this the, uh,
is this the horse you rode
the other day?
Stop. This is Wren.
-Mike.
-He runs this place
-with his mom.
-How you doing?
-Good to meet you. Pleasure.
-Yeah, same.
Are you having a party?
Uh, no. The fridge went out.
-Bummer.
-Yeah.
Do you need help?
No, no. Come on now.
You're a guest.
No, no. We'll, uh,
we'll carry a few.
-Yeah, I'll take the little one.
-All right. Knock yourself out.
Hey, that's a great place
you got here.
You know, you can totally market
this as a celebrity hideaway.
People love this.
Super charming.
-Okay, keep walking.
-[Zeke] Yeah.
-You got it? Come on.
-Yeah, I got it.
[chuckles]
[Wren] Follow me.
-Mom, make a hole?
-Ooh, sorry.
-Thank you.
-Mom, I want you to meet Mike.
Mike, that's my mother Robin.
Oh, my God! Mike!
[laughs] Hi, Mike.
Why are we calling
Zeke Jamison Mike?
Oh, that's 'cause
he pretends to hate attention.
Oh, that's just a, uh, silly
game I play with an old friend.
[Zeke] Nice to meet you.
[Robin] Nice meeting you.
I'm a big fan. I'm Robin.
You can call me
anything you want.
-[laughs]
-Okay.
Are you here
to fix my busted fridge?
-Mom, mom...
-Yes, ma'am.
-Come on.
-Okay.
[Robin] This is just like
that dream I had.
Tom Hanks
comes into my kitchen naked.
But you are like Tom Hanks,
only younger, hotter, blonder.
-Oh.
-Wow, you just made his day.
We're gonna be
good friends, Robin.
No, mom, mom.
Let's keep it professional.
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
Okay, so...
So the freezer food
goes in these coolers
and the fridge food
goes in these coolers,
and hopefully,
we'll salvage something.
We're having thawed steaks for
dinner, so come hungry, Mike.
[laughs] You can call me Zeke.
[Robin] I can't believe
I'm gonna have
dinner with Zeke Jamison.
-This is unbelievable.
-Oh, boy.
[Robin] Prepare
to wine and dine.
[Zeke] Now we're talking.
[Wren] Oh, my God.
-Those are $400.
-Oh, I'm sorry.
[Zeke] So can we pet 'em
and stuff?
Chicken? I mean, if you want.
-Go ahead.
-But, ooh, nah.
Isn't it weird?
We just eat baby chickens.
I mean, these eggs
aren't fertilized.
Wait a minute. What?
What do you mean?
The rooster
hasn't blessed the chicken.
[Mallory] You know,
I just realized I have no idea
how a baby chicken is made.
-Do they... Do they...
-Well, uh...
When the mommy chicken
loves a daddy chicken,
they have a special little hug.
In about three weeks, huh,
out comes a little baby chicken.
So in the sorority house
you got here...
[Wren] That right there...
-Just omelets. Mm-hmm.
-Okay.
You know, I don't feel as bad
eating eggs anymore.
You guys wanna gather
the rest of the eggs?
-Yeah.
-Go ahead. Knock yourself out.
-Yeah. Cool.
-Let's do it.
[instrumental music]
Are they supposed to be
warm like that?
I mean, what temperature
do you think it is
inside of a chicken?
I'm just gonna
stop asking questions.
[Sawyer Brown singing
"The Dirt Road"]
So, um, the sign...
-[Wren] The apostrophe.
-Yeah.
[laughs] What about it?
Oh, so you're all aware
that's grammatically offensive,
and no one ever bothered
to fix it?
Well, it's been like that
since they put it up.
It's just the way it is.
[Wren] No need to change it.
[Zeke] Yeah, it's charming.
[laughs]
See? Zeke gets it.
So we don't mess
with apostrophe.
-Nope.
-Good to know.
Might lead you astray
Well I'll take
the dirt road
It's all I know
I've been walking it
for years
It's gone
where I need to go
Oh it ain't easy
it ain't supposed to be
So I'll take my time
and life won't pass me by
'Cause it's right there
to find
On the dirt road
What do you think?
-I like it.
-Thank you, Wren.
-Oh, yeah.
-[whistles]
Life in the fast lane
You gotta watch your back
you're headed the right way
Well I'll take
the dirt road
It's all I know
I've been walking it for
Oh, sh*t. Guys.
-Where did you get all those?
-Isn't that crazy?
They sell these
year-round at Meramec.
That's because
there's not much to do
on a Friday night at Meramec.
Um, problem solved.
I'll take the dirt road
It's all I know
I've been walking it
for years
It's gone where I need to go
and it ain't easy
-Yoo-hoo!
-It ain't supposed to be. Uh-uh.
So I'll take my time
And life won't pass me by
'Cause it's right there
to find
[Zeke] Come on, Mal.
Come on, Mal!
On the dirt road
[Zeke] Whoo!
I'll take the dirt road
Thanks for the tour, mate.
Oh, we're not done.
Not just yet.
It's time to get to work.
It's as easy as it looks. Here.
Grab a handful
and just chuck it right in.
-Go ahead.
-I love that smell.
-What? Horse sh*t?
-Ah. No, hay.
Well, well, look who's
warming up to the country.
Oh, stop, Zeke. So this is
the horse I rode yesterday.
That's Bubba.
m1ngo, Wren's horse.
And this is Midnight,
the escape artist.
Midnight. Oh, my goodness.
Oh, my goodness!
Aren't you aggressively cute?
Ooh! It's not as easy
as it looks.
It's easy.
[clears throat] Hey, Wren.
Whose horse is this?
That's Shelby's horse.
Chief. He's retired.
No one rides him anymore.
[horse snorts]
He seems like a sweet boy.
Always has been.
[Zeke] All right,
so which one do I get?
I'm thinking the fastest one.
Do you even know
how to ride a horse?
Come on. How hard can it be?
That's Midnight. You can
walk her by the pastures.
And if that goes well, Zeke,
we can talk about riding.
Walk it? What, like, like a dog?
That works.
Right. Yeah. Oh-h*-h*!
You know what we're gonna do
later on?
Oh, I wanna sh**t you down,
but that is a great idea.
I'm not following.
[Zeke] When does it get dark
around here?
-About 45 minutes.
-Wren.
-[Wren] Yes?
-Let's blow some sh*t up.
-[upbeat song]
-[lighter clicks]
[giggling]
I can hear
I can see the eye
I think it's a dud.
Zeke, just be careful.
Is this my life?
Whoa! Whoo! Yeah! Ha-ha!
Whoo! Yoo-hoo!
-Whoo-hoo!
-Yeah!
[indistinct song]
[firecrackers bursting]
[instrumental music]
[no audio]
[Zeke inhales sharply]
You guys been friends long?
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
She dated my roommate
in college.
Yeah, she, she knew me before
all the fame and stuff.
She's the only person that never
really cared about any of that.
Well, it's important to have
someone to keep you honest.
Yeah.
Yeah, she sees me for me.
Is she still
with that roommate of yours?
No, God, no, no.
That lasted a semester, I think.
-Hm.
-He transferred or something.
But Mal and I,
we-we stayed close.
She's always been there for me
when I screw things up.
She's the best.
What about you?
Any lucky ladies?
[chuckles] Me?
Nah. I don't know.
I mean, I've had someone
very special,
but she's gone now.
I just had a hard time
finding someone that compares.
You know?
You know, sometimes
people keep their umbrella up,
rain or shine.
Mm-hmm.
But it's okay to put it away
on a sunny day.
Mm-hmm.
What kind of bullshit is that?
It's a line from a movie I did.
Doesn't mean it's not true.
-Mm-hmm.
-Hey. Who's hungry?
-Huh?
-Oh, yeah.
[mumbles]
[music continues]
[indistinct chatter]
[laughing]
Robin.
-[indistinct chatter]
-Come on. This year.
-I can.
-[indistinct chatter]
[laughing]
Shh!
[indistinct chatter]
-[Zeke] Alright, alright.
-Got one more?
So a blonde, a blonde
walks in the bar and says...
-Uh-huh?
-Ow!
-What?
-That's good.
That, that sounds like
personal experience.
-[indistinct chatter]
-Yeah.
I wonder, are you the blonde?
No, that's not, no. That's not.
You're so lucky
you're good looking.
-Wren likes it. Wren likes it.
-I like it.
-Really? You like it?
-I like it.
-I'm waving the white flag.
-You must be the blonde.
Mr. Hollywood here wants to turn
the Little Birdie
into Chateau Marmont.
Oh, yeah, mom's a regular
at the Chateau Marmont.
Hey. I read Hive, Travel
And Culture magazine.
Oh, thank you, Robin.
Actually, you know what,
you know what?
It's everything
the Marmont's not.
-In a, in a good way.
-Oh, in a good way.
Yeah, you know,
it's like, come on,
Chateau's not gonna
let you feed chickens.
You can't sh**t fireworks
in the backyard.
[Wren] That's probably
a good thing.
Tell you what, I think people
would come for the food alone.
Robin, this is delicious.
-You're a hell of a cook.
-Thank you. Really?
-No, I mean it.
-No, this was amazing.
Cheers to you both.
Thank you for having us.
-Cheers.
-Cheers.
[Robin] I have to ask.
Did Emma hurt you?
-Do we need to hate her?
-Mom, mom, mom, mom, mom.
No, no, actually,
that's an amazing question
'cause he won't even tell me.
-Cut her off.
-No, no.
You don't have to hate her,
in fact,
you don't have to think
about her at all
'cause that's what I'm doing.
Why can't I hate her?
I'm trying to hate you
for not telling me.
-Ah.
-On that note...
Here, lemme,
lemme help you here.
-[Robin] No, no, no, no, no, no.
-Oh.
I got sent this indie script
where I'm maybe gonna
play a busboy.
So this'll be good practice.
Well, you could practice
on my plate.
I am a complete control freak.
-So look out.
-Oh.
-I take direction well.
-Mom...
[Zeke chuckles] Hey.
[indistinct chatter]
[Robin] Oh, and what restaurant?
-I'm so sorry about my mother.
-No, she's great.
Ah, good,
'cause she's not my mother.
[laughs]
Oh, yeah, and I think he's fine.
[clears throat] Although,
boys and their emotions
are a bit of a mystery to me.
Okay. [chuckles]
I do think he likes
the distraction of being here.
Also, um, ahem...
I think you wrote the essay.
-[scoffs] Oh, you do?
-Mm-hmm.
Well, I can barely
read or write, so...
[instrumental music]
You know, I could hire,
like, a forensic team
to come and do, um,
an IP trace on the submission.
-Oh, you could?
-Proof. Yeah, I could.
And it would prove that
you're lying.
Well, that'd be
your first mistake.
-What's that?
-Accusing me of lyin'.
I know you city folk have
a bit of a broken moral compass
and all, but when it comes
to me, I don't lie.
Well, that first part
was a little rude. Ahem.
But someone in this town
wrote it,
and it's kind of
driving me crazy.
Hm. I can live with that.
-[door opens]
-[Robin] Hey!
-Got an idea!
-[Zeke] Yeah.
Who wants to catch fireflies?
-Nobody.
-I do.
Afraid I'm gonna catch
more flies than you?
What, what did you call 'em?
-What did you call 'em?
-[all laughing]
-[Robin] Fired flies?
-Just, just flies.
Fired flies, you guys!
You can catch flies if you want.
Usually I just fall asleep
with my mouth open for that.
[laughing]
And the fireflies
are gonna love you.
Yeah, what's the...
What's the difference between
a firefly and a lightning bug?
Well, that's a... We got
all night to discuss that.
Is Zeke always this excitable?
I haven't seen him
like this in years.
You know,
fame puts you in a bubble.
Everyone vying
for your attention
and expecting perfection.
He rarely ever gets
to let his guard down
and let loose
and enjoy life like this.
You ever get a chance
to let loose and enjoy life?
I mean, sometimes.
But with the magazine
growing so fast,
lately it's been a lot
of late nights at the office.
Makes me miss the simple things.
-Like catching fireflies?
-Exactly.
[Zeke] What about you?
You got a favorite bird?
Let me guess. Robin.
-I'm not that self-centered.
-Yeah? No? No faves?
My favorite bird is Wren.
-Yeah.
-He's an odd bird.
But he's my bird.
He's a... Yeah,
he's a tough one to read.
Did you always wanna be
a big-shot magazine writer?
Um, I mean...
-I wanted to write novels.
-Mm-hmm.
But a friend gave me a job at
a magazine, and I kind of stuck.
Did you write a novel after?
I started a few.
-Why didn't you finish?
-Why are you single?
[both chuckling]
Why are you still single?
Hm, because I'm complicated.
-Gotcha. I did.
-No, you didn't.
You know, this is giving me
an idea to write an article
about small-town dates
versus city dates.
Wait, is this a date?
No, but it's a nice setting
for one.
-I see.
-Definitely not a date, though.
Yeah, definitely not a date.
[indistinct chatter]
[instrumental music]
-I got one! I got one!
-[Robin laughs]
[Robin] Hey!
[Zeke] Yeah! Ha-ha! Whoo!
[Robin] I did it!
O to the M, good-looking.
[Zeke] Whoo! Whoo!
[Robin] Ha!
You guys! You guys,
get over here!
There's a ton of 'em
right over here.
Time for another drink.
-Whoo!
-[indistinct singing]
[crickets chirping]
[footsteps approaching]
[pensive music]
[clangs]
-[clanging]
-Ow!
[music continues]
[instrumental music]
[Zeke] Hey, if anyone asks,
these are fake leather.
-Okay?
-[Mallory sighs, clears throat]
[gasps] Well, aren't you
the belle of the barn!
Shut up. And you know what?
I like it. Look, it sways.
-I didn't say anything.
-Uh-huh. Sure.
Just don't do the thing.
I won't. Well, what thing
are we referring to?
The whiplash thing,
where you fall in love
with the idea of a guy,
and then you get scared
and you blow it up before he has
the chance to disappoint you.
Oh, look who's talking.
That's a little blow, okay?
I'm still healing.
[Robin] Hey! Oh, my God!
-You look perfect!
-[Mallory] Thank you.
Is that what you're wearing
to the festival?
-Okay, I feel underdressed now.
-[Robin] No, no, no.
That's not what I meant,
you just
need one thing. Hold on. Wren!
Uh, you are underdressed,
unlike me, who is...
Okay, You Little House
On The Prairie,
I knew I should've worn
the suspenders.
I look adorable.
You should really put
some effort into how you look.
-Here you go!
-Oh, h*-h*-h*!
-Oh, oh, yeah.
-[Robin] Yeah!
-Now we are talking, Robin.
-[Wren] Mm-hmm.
-Giddy-up.
-[chuckles] Perfect.
-[Mallory] Perfect? Really?
-Oh, yeah.
[Robin] Tom Hanks on a horse.
I see it.
-Handsome.
-Yes, indeed.
-I mean, it's not terrible.
-Yeah. [chuckles]
Hey, by the way, who's this?
[Robin] Um, just photos
of family. Friends, um...
That's Shelby, Mike. Um, my ex.
[Zeke] Did you break her heart?
No. She, uh, she died.
Oh, sh*t! Uh...
-Man, I'm so sorry, I--
-[Wren] Uh, it's...
-It's been a long time.
-I'm so sorry. I...
I feel like such an as*h*le.
Oh, no, no, no, no. You're good.
I'm not even sure what
that's still doing up there.
It's a cute picture.
And she was a big part
of all of our lives.
Right. Right.
I'm gonna head out.
I'm gonna change,
head down to the festival.
You wanna saddle up, or,
uh, you going lone ranger?
I'll see you later. I'm gonna
take care of the horses.
Dan's coming over
to fix the condenser.
-Oh, is he?
-Um, who's Dan?
[whistles] Well, Dan,
he's a recent divorcee himself
who comes over in a heartbeat
when somethin' needs fixing.
Won't even take a penny from ma.
Loves her cooking so much,
she just pays him
in pork chops, huh?
[kisses]
-Wow, Robin.
-Robin.
You're holding out
the juicy details
of this refrigerator story.
-He's just a friend. Stop.
-Mm.
He's just my friend.
I don't think I'm buying
this friend business.
All right, Hollywood.
[instrumental music]
I think Robin and Dan are,
you know...
-Come here. Come here.
-Oh, my God.
Come here.
Get you ready for this.
-Okay.
-[indistinct chatter]
-Why am I... Oh, my...
-[grunts]
[upbeat music]
How y'all doin'?
These are, uh, toasted tomatoes.
Why are they called toasted
if they're clearly fried?
Well, if you find yourself
at a fair in the South,
there's a good chance
even the water's been fried.
[Zeke] Oh, my God.
Oh, my God, it's so good.
I'm not even sad
about the wedding anymore.
Your nutritionist
is gonna k*ll you.
-Right? Right?
-Oh, my God, that's good.
Next, we have
fried pickles on a stick.
-Ooh, is that ranch?
-Mm-hmm. Sure is.
Just dip it in
and knock yourself out.
Can people who are not
pregnant eat this?
Yeah, that's okay.
Thank you. Have some of this.
Oh, it's a fishbowl game.
I'm so leaving here
with a goldfish. [laughs]
-He will never grow up.
-[Zeke] I got dibs!
-Mm... You got a beer?
-Yeah?
-Beer?
-Yeah.
[music continues]
[no audio]
[Robin] Oh, you know him, he's
the one that was in that movie
where they were trying to save
the rainforest, I think.
You'd know his face.
And he's datin' the girl
Wren likes?
No. Apparently,
they're just friends.
She works for the magazine.
Tell you the truth, when
I first met her, I was afraid
she was gonna be uppity,
but she surprised me.
And I know Wren.
We're not supposed to know
that he likes her.
I think it's about time
he finds himself a nice girl.
Yeah, someone he trusts,
so he can actually move on.
Even if it meant leaving this
town and moving to New York.
[chuckles]
And you'd be all right here?
Well, I'd miss him,
but I'd get by all right.
Well, I'd keep you company.
Hey! We did it!
Ah, you got anything to do?
[laughing]
Uh, you need a ride to the fair?
You go on ahead.
I gotta go feed the horses.
-I don't mind waiting.
-Don't, you don't...
-I gotta feed the horses.
-Okay.
-You can feed me, too.
-You're not a horse.
Uh, I can be. Feed me.
-[laughs]
-Whoa, boy.
[instrumental music]
How'd I've just become
to be close to you
And never let myself
have too much fun?
I've never been
on a Ferris Wheel before.
You know what? Me either.
I'm more of a bumper cars
kinda guy.
'Cause you never knew
I'm trying to
It's kind of amazing.
Mm. Does it make the cut?
The cut?
The small-town dates.
I see those lonely smiles
Yeah, 100%.
It's the perfect setting
for a third date.
Third date?
What would the first two be?
-Hm?
-Um, let's see.
-Rescue a horse would be one.
-Uh-huh.
And then fireflies, fireworks.
Right, right, right.
I'm too proud to say I'm
It's not just
one never-ending adventure?
-No.
-Right.
Sleep is a reset.
You have to count them.
Definitely a third.
This moment I think
Pretty good third date.
Well, don't get your hopes up.
It's just for the article.
You asked me to
I'll dance with you
I'll stay through the night
going till daylight
With me in your arms
I'll stay a while
[country music on speaker]
[Zeke] There they are.
I totally won a goldfish, but
I gave it to a sweet old lady
on the motorized cart.
Anyway, hey, by the way...
Where's Robin? I thought she was
gonna be right behind us.
Oh, she wants to make sure
all the animals are
squared away.
Dan's gonna drop her off.
This looks like fun.
Wanna dance?
-You know how to two-step?
-I guess we'll find out.
[laughing] Well,
that is a ringing endorsement.
[claps] Ooh!
Used to say
you love me but...
Would you like to dance?
So you walked out the door
walked out on my love
Callin' to tell you sorry
late at night
Come around
when I'm doin' fine
Mess me up
and getting back on my mind
Oh don't you know babe?
I've been doing just fine
as of lately
[song continues]
Oh don't you know babe?
I've been doing just fine
as of lately
But the way it got
my thoughts are racing
Screaming like
the Native Station
Oh the thrust was high
touching the sky
When you're touching
my hand
I don't even care
if you love me
There's somethin' about you
Howdy.
I know who you are.
-I'm Mike.
-[laughs] Cut the malarkey.
You're Zeke Jamison.
My 12-year-old niece
is a huge fan.
If we promise
not to make a scene,
can you please
take a selfie with her?
Just don't tell anybody.
I will not. [chuckles]
All right.
[Mallory] This feels nice.
It sure does.
Do you think you'll ever love
anyone like you loved her?
Hm, well...
there's Bubba.
You saw how that one chicken
didn't wanna leave my side.
Huggin' when we're together
tilt your world spinnin'
I don't know.
Skipping beats
I've been alone a long time.
Maybe it's time
to do something about it.
I thought I was.
Oh looks like
it's happenin' to me
It's happening to me
[song continues]
[all applauding, cheering]
Wasn't that terrific?
Lookin' a little cozy over here.
[woman] ...for Sophie
and the New Relics.
Next I'd like to bring
Ms. Mallory Logan to the stage.
She's come all the way
from New York City to Meramec,
to present us with an award.
As y'all know,
Hive, Travel And Culture
has named Meramec
the best small town in America!
[all cheering, applauding]
-That's right! Whoo-hoo!
-Whoo!
That's right! Whoo-hoo!
Um, here's Ms. Logan to tell
y'all a little more about that.
-[crowd cheering]
-You're up.
-Come on.
-[whistles]
[all cheering]
Dude, I know
you wrote the essay.
[Mallory] Thank you so much.
How are we doing, Meramec?
[crowd cheering]
-I promise, I didn't.
-It's okay.
-[Mallory] Meeting the peopl...
-Your secret's safe with me.
When I got here,
someone wise told me that
Meramec is more than just a few
interviews and some photos.
It's about
getting mud on your boots.
[clicks tongue]
Well, she was right.
This town is incredible,
and I'm so proud to say
that I did get my boots dirty.
[crowd laughing]
I wanna say thank you
to all of you
for making me feel so welcomed.
But the reason
we are here today
is to honor Meramec
because of an incredible essay
that was written
by one of your own.
And I quickly learned you guys
have a sense of humor
because I was running
around town
trying to figure out
who Mary Mack was
this whole time.
Thanks for letting me know.
Since I never did find her,
I would like to ask
Wren Kirkpatrick to come up
here and read it for us.
Everyone, please welcome Wren.
-[man] Yeah!
-[crowd cheering]
-Good luck, cowboy.
-You're gonna pay for this.
[chuckles]
Good evening,
friends and family.
Um, I think this is all part
of Mallory's plan
just to get me up here
to see if I can actually read.
-[all laughing]
-[Wren] Um...
Oh, you just love
watching him squirm.
Just a little.
[Wren] But I'd be more
than honored to read this essay
about the greatest small town
in America.
[instrumental music]
"You've probably never heard
of Meramec, Alabama.
It's not the childhood home
of anyone famous.
Nothing was invented here.
It hasn't been featured
in a song or a book or a movie.
In that way,
it's quite like most places.
But that's also
what I love about it."
Me, too. Heh.
"It's not that
small towns like Meramec
are the real America
and big cities aren't.
You can't have one
without the other.
Small towns are just
concentrated little ecosystems
where everything
affects everything.
Ten years ago..."
[mumbles]
Pardon me.
[sighs] "We all lost
Captain Shelby Lloyd
in Afghanistan.
She took with her
a piece of each of us.
But her enduring gift is that
she brought us together
in our grief."
Wow.
"We all noticed it.
For days, weeks, even months,
people seemed kinder...
more compassionate.
We looked each other
in the eye.
We meant it when we asked each
other, 'How are you doing?'
In Meramec we can do anything
just by coming together
and getting it done.
Little League team
needs a sponsor?
[laughs] Joe's hardware store
steps up.
Elementary school lets out
early while some parents
are still at work.
We all pitch in.
Someone's basement floods,
Girl Scouts are there
with a sandbag and a Shop-Vac
before you can even say
Thin Mint.
The solution is never far away.
We are small but mighty.
And because we are small,
we are mighty.
Meramec is not so much as
the best small town in America
as it is what's best about
small towns in America."
-Ain't that the truth?
-[Zeke] Yeah!
[crowd cheering]
Oh, wow.
And lastly,
let's hear it for Mallory
and Hive, Travel and Culture
magazine one more time.
[all cheering, applauding]
And her friend, Ze...
I mean, Mike.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd whistling]
Oh, my God! It's Zeke Jamison!
And Mallory, oh, my God. Are you
two getting back together?
I love you two together.
Back together?
[laughing] They were married.
It's not what you think.
Uh, it-it was nothing,
Wren. Uh...
Look, I didn't because
we've been divorced for years.
-Let me explain.
-You lied to me.
[woman] Okay. Uh, off the stage.
Off the stage, please.
-Um, I'm sorry, I...
-Let's not make a scene here.
There you go.
Nothin' to see here.
Okay, then, uh, let's hear it
for Wren and Mallory and Zeke.
Okay, uh, next up we have
the 50-yard pig race.
[all cheering]
-Wait, please hear me out.
-There's nothin' to talk about.
You were married,
now you're divorced.
-What else is there to know?
-There's nothing going on.
Okay, please stop, I know
you're trying to make it better,
but you're making it worse.
-[cell phone ringing]
-Just leave.
-Hey, it was forever ago.
-Hi, mom. Yeah.
Yeah. Call the vet.
Okay. I'll be right there.
-Is everything okay?
-It's Chief. I gotta go.
Okay, we have to talk
about this.
No, there's nothing
to talk about.
-Well, you're clearly upset.
-I'm not upset.
I'm fine.
I have to go home.
-I'll come with you.
-[Wren] No.
You'll just get in the way.
Please let me explain.
What is there to explain?
You were married,
now you're besties.
Totally normal for
a city girl with no values.
What's that supposed to mean?
You don't even know me.
You obviously don't know me,
and you don't know this town.
You don't know what
you just did to me in there.
-That's not fair, Wren.
-Bottom line is you lied.
-I don't lie.
-Yeah, maybe you're right.
I don't know you and you don't
know me, but this...
We both know this is something.
No. This is nothing.
Just go home, Mallory.
You know what?
Your mom doesn't need you.
The B&B doesn't need you.
And who could ever live up
to the legend Shelby Lloyd?
You're just too chicken sh*t
to move on.
So who's a f*cking liar
now, huh?
[somber music]
Maybe you're right.
Leaves start falling
when the cold wind blows
And soon get covered
by the winter snow
Birds start singing
when the spring rolls 'round
Flowers blooming
through the thawing ground
[crickets chirping]
[vocalist whistling]
Should we say goodbye?
No.
I don't wanna get in his way.
Let's go.
[vocalist whistling]
When you love somebody
and the love grows cold
Chief was Shelby's horse, right?
Yeah.
Right. Mm.
You're sure you're not doing
the whiplash thing?
Birds start singing
when the spring rolls 'round
All right.
Through the thawing ground
[whistling]
[woman] I gave him some medicine
to ease the pain.
He'll be comfortable
through the night.
But at this point there's really
not much more we can do.
So if there's anything else
I can help you with,
you just let me know.
There's a certain kind of
hurting only time can heal
That's a pretty good picture
of the way I feel
I'm a little bit hurt
But a lot more free
I ain't saying that
you never took a toll on me
For what it's worth
I can finally see
That I'm a little bit hurt
but a lot more free
Zeke called again, he wants
to know if you're done sulking
and still going as his plus one
to the benefit this Friday.
No, um, tell him I have
a meeting or something,
and that I'll call him back.
Meeting. Will call him back.
Okay, get this to the printers.
Um, all edits are finalized,
including the Meramec piece.
And make sure the
Tourism Board gets a few copies.
Send copies to Tourism Board.
Hey, do you want me to send any
copies to anyone from Meramec?
[Mallory] No.
Thank you, Samantha.
Just email a list if you do.
Carrying the lifeblood
through my veins
Is it crazy that I'm grateful
for all the pain?
'Cause I'm
a little bit hurt
But a lot more free
I ain't saying that
you never took a toll on me
And for what it's worth
I can finally see
I'm sorry, Bubba.
I'm ridin' solo again.
[Robin humming]
[vocalist whistling]
[email alert] You've got mail!
You've got mail.
You've got mail.
You've got mail. You've got...
You've-you've got mail. You've
got mail. You've got mail.
-That's weird.
-You've-you've got mail.
-You've got, you've got mail.
-Wren!
[Wren sighs] Yeah?
Will you help me
with the computer?
-You try it on and off?
-Yeah...
Oh, I-I-I don't think
that's the problem.
It's the reservations.
They, they won't shut up.
We got a 100 new reservations
in the last 20 minutes.
-How is this even possible?
-This.
[sighs]
[Wren] "Having a blast
here in Meramec, Alabama.
Just named
best small town in America."
[laughs] "When you visit,
be sure to check out
Little Birdie Bed & Breakfast.
Link in bio."
Isn't that the sweetest?
Yeah, it is.
-I'm gonna have it framed.
-[scoffs]
[indistinct song on speaker]
-Thank you, brother.
-For what?
Your girl mentioned us
in the article.
We have practically
sold out of fried pickles,
fried catfish, fried mushrooms.
I have no idea what I'm gonna
feed any of these people.
This has never happened.
Thank you.
Hey, get him a beer, Alfred!
[can pops]
[Mallory] Okay, so let's put
this article at the last page
and put a photo of
the ski resort across from it.
Okay, photo opposite article.
Mallory, the Tourism Board
just read the latest issue,
and they loved
the Meramec piece.
Okay, they said, and I quote,
"This is an exemplary
written piece that really shows
the heart and soul of this town.
We love the new voice
your column has taken.
We should discuss doing a bigger
ad campaign next time."
A bigger ad campaign next time?
-Yes, please.
-That's great.
You know, I love this whole new
writing-from-the-heart style
that you've adopted,
I mean, if this leads to bigger
ad campaigns,
then maybe we should
have all the journalists do it.
I mean, it's not really a style.
I just meant what I wrote.
[snapping fingers] Exactly. They
have to mean what they write.
-Write like you mean it.
-Mm.
Oh, speaking of,
I've started a new feature
on Ben & Jerry's celebrity
flavors. What do you think?
Don't tell me
there's a Zeke one.
Chocolate Zeke Mystique.
[chuckling] Oh, my...
-Hey, I hear it's good.
-Hm.
Hey, Samantha,
what about we make this
your first writing assignment?
Really? You want me to write it?
Yeah, Iris and I wanna see
what you've got.
Oh, my God, thank you,
thank you, thank you!
I promise
I won't let you guys down.
-We know.
-You got this.
[chuckles]
-[instrumental music]
-[vehicles honking]
[sirens wailing]
[cell phone ringing]
You are a persistent
son of a b*tch.
Yeah, I'll see you in five.
[Zeke] Okay,
I did this as a joke,
but this is actually
really good.
-Really?
-No good?
[laughing] What, you don't miss
the Dancing Mermaid
and the exorbitant amount of
cheese they put on everything?
-You're an a*s.
-Mm...
Okay, so what,
this is the late-night meeting
that you had to take
so you couldn't support
the African Grey Parrot
Foundation?
They're endangered, you know?
Not tonight, Zeke.
How's the whole
whiplash thing going?
Um, as expected.
Back to work? Just pretend
like it didn't happen?
It's worked in the past.
It'll work now.
Got it. We're just choosing
to run away from our feelings.
Oh, and you're the one to talk,
'cause shouldn't
you be on your honeymoon
right now?
No, it's different. You know...
I never should've gotten married
to her, and you know it.
You know she didn't know
my nephew's name? I have one.
-And his name's Zeke.
-Yeah, that's hard to overlook.
[laughs] It was so clearly
a showmance, start to finish.
But isn't that what works
for us, short and sweet?
Yeah, it works for me.
But is that what you want?
I mean, my job is here
and my life is here.
-I like this.
-Do you?
Or are you just
telling yourself that?
You've always been honest
with me, right?
-Yeah.
-Okay, so be honest right now.
When was the last time
you were really happy here?
What is that supposed to mean?
In Meramec, you were different.
You were.
Lighter.
Smiling like you meant it.
I know that smile, Mal,
and it's been a long time
since I've seen
that side of you.
Maybe it's time
to stop convincing yourself
that this is enough, when
you could have so much more.
Just don't let fear
hold you back.
Is that a line
from one of your movies?
I don't know, maybe.
Doesn't mean it's not true.
[instrumental music]
[birds chirping]
[chuckles]
[sighs]
"'Cause it's a cute picture
and we were a small part
of all of your lives. Mallory."
Mallory sent that.
[Robin] Isn't that nice?
What?
You know what I think.
[chuckles]
You know what I think.
Well, while you're wasting time
thinking,
I'm gonna go feed the birds.
-Wanna help me?
-Yeah.
[door opens]
[door shuts]
[music continues]
[Wren] Mom.
You're Mary Mack?
[scoffs]
Yes, I am.
-What?
-I wanted to be Julia Child.
But I didn't think it was gonna
work out, I-I just put it
under a pen name
in case things didn't go well.
-When was this?
-You were little.
And things with your father
were challenging.
I, I just had an idea.
Huh, so you wrote a cookbook.
It's been on the shelf forever.
So why have we been eating
hot dogs twice a day, mom?
[chuckles]
-Well, did you publish it?
-I tried.
Got a lot of rejections,
so I just let it go.
You wrote the essay.
Now you're catchin' up.
-You're smarter than you look.
-Oh, my goodness!
Well, why didn't you, uh...
-Why didn't you tell anyone?
-Nobody asked me.
Well, how is anyone gonna
ask you if you wrote it
under a fake name, mom?
It's more fun that way.
Mm, everybody loves a mystery.
-I feel awful, mom.
-Don't.
-I didn't even think to ask you.
-Don't.
No, you did a great job reading
it. Whole town got to celebrate.
We have to tell Mallory
to fix the article.
No, no. No, no, no.
I-I don't need the attention.
Everybody in this town
knows how great I am.
We needed a miracle
to save this place,
and I just planted a seed.
It was never about glory.
-This was your plan, huh?
-It was one of my plans.
The only plan that worked.
-Wow.
-You never know, Wren.
Sometimes you gotta give life
the opportunity to surprise you.
[upbeat music]
-Double yolk. Hwah!
-Oh, sh*t.
-Double yolk.
-Jeez, mom.
-"Double yolk."
-I'm gonna make some hot dogs.
-You hungry?
-Uh-huh.
I don't got no expectations
Sure don't have
an explanation
But the way it got
my thoughts are racing
Mm, let's see.
Maybe if we did this one here.
Screaming like
the Native Station
[Iris] Just, maybe then we can
move that to the beginning...
Touching the sky
when you're touchin' my hand
I don't even care
if you love me
There's somethin' 'bout you
Feels like
I'm falling in to
Something like forever
ooh-ooh-ooh
Oh the thrust was high
touching the sky
When you're touchin'
my hand
This wasn't part
of my plans
There's somethin' 'bout you
Feels like
I'm falling in to
Something like forever
ooh-ooh
Huggin' when we're together
tilt your world spinnin'
My heart skipping beats
Whatever love looks like
Looks like
it's happening to me
Looks like
it's happening to me
Oh looks like
it's happening to me mm-mm
It's happening to me mm-mm
Happening to me
[music continues]
[door opens]
-When did this get here?
-Just arrived today.
Mallory sent us a copy.
Wasn't that nice of her?
Yeah, it really was.
Really came out nice, didn't it?
-Sure did.
-Yeah.
I'm actually
gonna get it framed.
You know, hang it up on the wall
like the fancy restaurants
do with their reviews.
You tell me when,
and I'll do it, ma.
Thank you. Hey, um...
Don't you think
it's time to take Bubba out?
Yeah, I was gonna do it
in a half hour.
Yeah, maybe you should do it now
before it's too late.
Since when are you
keeping tabs on Bubba?
Since when don't you listen
to your mother?
Yes, mom.
[Robin] Get moving, Wren.
Ah, Zekey! Ah, Zekey!
Ooh, he's so tall.
Is this really where he stayed?
-Yup.
-This is so exciting.
Could you take a picture
of us, please?
Sure. Yup.
Did you get to meet him?
Is he nice in person?
[woman 1] Oh, God.
He stayed here?
-Almost unbelievably so.
-[woman 2] Ah, Zekey!
[instrumental music]
Hi.
Hey.
Pretty sure we're all booked up.
You can ask Robin,
she can double-check.
And I just never got a chance
to say goodbye and--
Look, Mallory,
I'm not sure what you think
coming back here's
gonna do, but...
Probably nothing,
but you deserve an apology.
You don't owe me anything.
You're just a customer at a B&B.
How you live your life
and what you wanna tell people
about your past
is entirely up to you.
[Mallory] Look, I know I wasn't
a 100% honest about Zeke.
And I'm sorry I hurt you.
Truth is, I was just embarrassed
to tell you 'cause it was
so long ago, and clearly
a mistake for both of us,
'cause it only lasted
for a few months.
But our friendship is very real.
And that is as far as it goes.
I really am sorry, Wren.
And not just for lying,
but for everything
I said to you.
You didn't deserve that.
[hay rustling]
Trust is earned in drops.
But it's also lost in buckets.
[pensive music]
Thank you
for being a great host.
Mallory.
Wait.
Listen.
Your past is your past.
We all have one.
Sometimes it haunts you...
and sometimes it becomes
your best friend.
It's not my place to judge.
And I shouldn't have reacted
the way I did.
Look, it's... It...
It's been a long time
since I've felt comfortable
with someone new.
[instrumental music]
I'm sorry I ruined that.
You didn't ruin anything.
Maybe we could pick up
where we left off
and go on date number four?
Should we now?
If you're open,
see where it goes?
I don't know. Zeke was right.
What about?
I always keep my umbrella up...
rain or shine.
You know that's a line
from his movie, right?
Oh, I know.
I actually saw that one.
I think it's time I put it away.
Okay.
But I have to warn you.
I'm terrible at this.
I might be worse.
Perfect.
[instrumental music]
[Mallory] Where we live
is a huge part of our identity.
For most adults, it's one of
the few things we can choose.
No matter how different we may
be or how often we disagree,
if we've chosen
to live in the same place,
we must have something
in common.
[Zeke on video]
Yo, what up, y'all?
So I started the Feathered
Friends Forever Foundation
to help save endangered birds.
And to show you guys
how much it means to me,
I'm getting my first tattoo.
[Mallory] It's funny how quickly
we judge people
based on
where they've chosen to live.
Too close to the airport,
too far from the ocean,
nowhere near a Whole Foods,
or smack in the middle
of nowhere,
surrounded by nature.
But what are those choices,
really,
except reflections
of what makes us feel home?
This is my wish for you,
dear Hive readers,
that you will travel
with an open heart,
abundant curiosity,
and the appropriate footwear
to places
you couldn't imagine living.
[music continues]
[cell phone ringing]
-Oh, it's Zeke.
-Let me see. Hello?
[Zeke] Wren, what's up?
I gotta show you something.
-Check this out. It's there.
-Oh, yeah?
-Look.
-You tell me all about it.
-[instrumental music]
-[laughs]
I'm traveling up, baby! Yeah!
[indistinct chatter]
Awesome, all right. I'm headin'
to Hawaii to do the movie...
Doing this movie where I play
a fighter pilot.
-Hey, what's up, cap?
-[indistinct chatter]
How hard can it be?
[indistinct chatter]
[Mallory]
And while you are there,
live as they live,
eat as they eat.
You'll learn
as much about yourself
as you will about them.
All right, you guys,
where are you? Hey!
Hey, guys. Mal, Wren.
You guys?
[music continues]
[Sawyer Brown singing
"The Dirt Road"]
Daddy worked hard
for his dollar
He said some folks don't
but that's okay
But they won't know
which road to follow
Because an easy street
might lead you astray
I'll take the dirt road
It's all I know
I've been walking it
for years
It's gone
where I need to go
Oh it ain't easy
it ain't supposed to be
[Devin Hoffman singing
"Heaven On My Mind"]
I wanna hold you
Under the red moon
Only a blanket of stars
To keep us warm
We'll show the whole world
Shout out the good news
That the greatest love
there ever was
Is colliding
like two thunderstorms
And I'm starting to think
That we have
never been this high
We could fall
like this forever
We could live and never die
And I should have known
that it was special
It was an angel
that I fell for
I alone get to kiss
the divine
Leaving heaven on my mind
Mal, Wren.
You guys? Hello, hello.
Oh, my God, it must be the...
It's my Wi-Fi.
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How Hard Can It Be? (2026)
Moderators: Maskath3, GabrielAlejo2341, sidolanters
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