04x17 - Best of Men

Episode transcripts for the TV show "9-1-1: Lone Star". Aired: January 19, 2020 to present.*
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A NYC firefighter relocates to Austin, Texas with his son, where he tries to start a new life while he works to save people's lives.
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04x17 - Best of Men

Post by bunniefuu »

JUDD RYDER: There you go.

- Come on. You got this, Wyatt.
- Come on, baby.

Mom, please don't call me a baby

when I'm trying to lift
an actual baby fork.

(chuckles) Okay. My bad. My bad.

JUDD: There it is.

Alright, that's it. That's it.

MARLENE HARRIS: Mm-hmm. Ooh.

- Hey, alright.
- Good work.

I mean, that was the,
that was the best one yet.

Yeah. Good job, sweetie.

I tell you what,
it's gonna be no time at all

till you lift a fire hose.

Oh, at least nobody's
getting ahead of themselves.

Here you go.

Take a little rest. You earned it.

This has to be a good sign, right?

Oh, it's definitely a good sign.

Hopefully after
the nerve and muscle test today,

we'll have some good news.

- JUDD: Mm-hmm.
- Yeah, I know we will.

- Hmm.
- Yeah, me, too. Me, too.

How's your pain?

It's better than yesterday.

And a lot better
than the day before that.

That's another good sign.

Yeah, I mean, in his case,
the pain is the good sign, right?

Hi. I know y'all are waiting
for the tech to come by

to administer the electromyogram

and-and nerve conduction velocity tests.

Yeah, but only for about
the last six hours or so.

I'm so sorry, but she got
called to another unit.

She'll have to come by tomorrow.

Oh, for crying out loud.

Uh, tomorrow is fine, right?
It's not like I'm going anywhere.

I'm so sorry.
We'll bring by dinner soon.

Alright, thank you.

Y'all pardon me for a second.
I gotta call Owen and tell him

I'm not going to be at
the firehouse tomorrow either.

Wait, why?

Well, you just heard the nurse, right?

I-I wanna be here for the test.

Dad, it's not like they do the test
and then give you the results.

They have to interpret them.

Please, please don't miss another shift.

MARLENE: You know, I'll be here.

I'll call you as soon
as we know anything.

(groaning sigh)

Y'all sure?

WYATT HARRIS: Seriously, Dad,
I'm just gonna sleep

and try not to go insane
that I have an itchy ankle.

So you have an itch?

Definitely. Yeah.
Both of them. Since this morning.

LEIGH ANN: Wait, really? You feel them?

Mm-hmm. Yeah. They're driving me crazy.

Oh, baby, that is amazing.

I think that's about as good a sign
as we could hope for.

Truly. That's...

My boy's got itchy feet.

- (group chuckles)
- WYATT: Hmm.

Where? (laughter)

(knock on door)

- Dad.
- Is this a bad time?

No, we were just expecting some friends.

Oh, I can come back another time.

No. Dad, come on.

- GABRIEL REYES: Yeah?
- Yes.

- Hi.
- Hey.

- How are you?
- How you doing, TK?

Can I get you something to drink?

Uh, just water, please.

I'm meeting Andrea
at Ditallio's in minutes.

TK STRAND: Ooh, okay.

Which is why I was in the neighborhood.

What's going on? Come on, sit down.

So, uh... (sighs)

The name Reyes came up in
the Ranger daily briefing today.

But not my name. Yours.

Everyone I work with is talking about

how my son took down
an organ trafficking ring.

Not single-handedly.

I hope you made that clear.

Why would I wanna do that? (chuckles)

I can crow about my son
if I want, right?

Yeah, you can.

GABRIEL: It's not the first time
you've given me reason to be proud.

In fact, Assistant Chief Bridges

is wondering why you're
still working patrol.

He thinks APD
is squandering your talents.

Oh, it's not the APD's fault.

I mean, Sarina Washington

has been on him
to take the detective exam.

I already told Detective Washington

and my eager fiancé here

that I don't think
it's the right move for me.

You know what? I agree.

- You do?
- I do.

I mean, APD is a fine organization.

But why would you wanna
take the detective's exam

when you could become a Texas Ranger?

Wow.

Babe?

Uh...

Uh, that would be an incredible honor.

But I-I could get transferred
to Amarillo or Brownsville.

- Our lives are here.
- No, you wouldn't be.

You'd be working right here,
right next to your old man.

I don't know.

This feels like nepotism.

It's not nepotism. It's legacy.

Just like TK followed Owen
into the fire services.

But if it makes you feel any better,
this offer isn't coming from me.

It's coming directly
from Assistant Chief Bridges.

I'm just here to extend it.

I'm sorry, but I can't.

Look, uh... I know
it's a lot of pressure,

but you've got the chops for it.

Don't be afraid of success, son.

It's not success that bothers me.

I... just don't think
that the Rangers are for me.

Can-can we just leave it at that?

What do you mean not for
you? Something bothering you?

Well, their motto for one.

"One Riot, One Ranger."

Well, that's just
hyperbole, son. It's bluster.

The Porvenir m*ssacre.

Was that bluster?

Well, what's the Porvenir m*ssacre?

The Rangers gunned down
unarmed Tejano men and boys

as part of their mission
to secure Texas territories,

specifically from groups of
Mexican and indigenous descent.

That was .

Yeah, but that still remains
their mission to this day.

And there are plenty more examples

of them victimizing,
terrorizing innocent people

that look exactly like us.

It sounds like you're
calling me a Tío Tomás.

No, I didn't say that, Dad.

I do understand the desire
to be accepted by people

who have historically rejected you.

I see.

And can I ask how long
you've felt this way?

The legacy of the Texas Ranger
isn't exactly a secret, Dad.

No.

I mean, how long have
you been ashamed of me?

- MARJAN MARWANI: Hey, hey, hey!
- (Paul laughing)

Party, party!

- MARJAN: Hey.
- NANCY GILLIAN: Hey.

I hope you two pretty boys are ready

to go down tonight because I'm feeling
particularly ruthless today.

PAUL STRICKLAND:
Yeah, she is not kidding.

Should have seen the way she slipped
into my parking spot earlier.

Hey, what's up, Major Reyes?

You here for game night?

No, I was just leaving.
You folks have fun tonight.

(somber music playing)

MARJAN: Hey, bud. How you doing?

I'm alright. Hey...

sorry we had to cancel
the group hang like that.

- Aw man, no worries.
- Looks like we walked in on

some pretty serious family drama.

Well, the rift between Carlos
and his dad isn't new.

It just sucks that it opened up
right before the wedding, you know?

So, what's your plan?

- The plan for what?
- To heal the rift!

Who's riftin'?

Carlos and his dad.

Well, they could always
settle it the Ryder way.

Oh yeah? And what's the Ryder method?

Well, anytime me and
my brothers were fightin',

my dad would just kind of
shove us all into the closet

and if we didn't come out
friends, we didn't come out.

Well that sounds like a case
for Child Protective Services!

Yeah, and I think forcing Carlos
into a closet

is what started
all this in the first place.

- (all laughing)
- So, forget the closet.

Why don't you just get them
to sit down with each other?

I don't think a sit-down
is gonna fix this, Nance.

Why not? They settled
two World Wars that way.

Yeah, well, that and an atomic b*mb.

- (all laughing)
- NANCY: Okay.

You know what I think they need?

- TK: Hm?
- A good go-between.

I'm not tryin' to get in between that.

But maybe I'm not the one that has to.

Mateo, you're a genius, thank you!

HOLLY: Peek-a-boo!

A-peek-a-boo.

(Holly laughs) I see you.

Peek-a-boo!

A-peek-a-boo.

I see you. Yes, I do.

- (lever clicks)
- Oh. All done.

Uh, sorry, ma'am.
I-I didn't mean to scare you.

It's just that I ran outta gas,

and I just, and I realized
I forgot my wallet.

- Oh, I'm sorry.
- VINCE: Yeah.

And my son's home alone, so anything

you can spare, it would really help.

Sure. I-I think I've got a .

Oh, well, cool. Well, God bless you.

- I'll take the keys as well.
- Wait, wait.

Come on, give me the keys!

(Holly grunts)

(Piper crying)

Wait! Wait! Wait!

My daughter's in there!

Piper! Piper!

Wait! Help!

- (tires screech)
- (horn blares)

Piper!

_

_

Somebody kidnaped your child?

Yes, he carjacked me at Kn*fe-point.

My daughter was still in
the backseat when he drove off.

Okay, take a deep breath for me.
My name is Grace.

Can you tell me where you were
when your car was stolen?

HOLLY: At the Gas N' Sip
off Fifth and Pine.


And the make and model of your vehicle?

HOLLY: A red Corolla, .

Can you describe your daughter for me?

She's months old.
She has dirty blonde hair.

(sniffles) And her name is Piper.

All units, be advised.
- in progress.

A red Toyota Corolla

southbound on the block
of Brodie Avenue.

Please be advised the suspect
is armed with a Kn*fe

and has a toddler in the backseat.

(horn blaring)

(Piper crying)

TY O'BRIEN: Dispatch, - - -M- .

I have the suspect moving up
on Brodie and Crockett.

GRACE RYDER (over radio):
Copy you. - - -M- .

I'm sending more units your way now.

- (Piper crying)
- (sirens wailing)

- Shut up! Shut up!
- (crying continues)

He's weaving all over the place.
Driver seems to be impaired.

You're not thinking about laying
down spike strips, are you?

Not with a baby on board, I'm not.

He could lose control of the vehicle.

Which also rules out a pit maneuver.

O'BRIEN: We're just gonna
let it run its course.

If we stop him,
we could make things worse.

Well, we won't be able to stop him,

but maybe we can slow him down?

- (sirens wailing)
- (horn blaring)

in position.

Okay, copy you, . APD, you ready?

Locked and loaded. Here we go.

, it's your time to shine.

- (crying)
- (siren wailing)

(honks horn)

Get outta the way!

- (tires screeching)
- (crying continues)

Box him in! Box him in!

(siren wailing)

Alright, Ryan, slow it down.
Nice and easy.

- Come on, come on.
- (sirens wailing)

Come on, come on!

Easy.



(Piper crying)

Oh, son of a bitch.

O'BRIEN (over radio):
Ladder , keep it tight.

I'm gonna lead him to the side street.

- GRACE RYDER: Copy.
- We're gonna make a turn.

Let's follow him in this turn.

(tires screeching)

Go, go, go, go, go, go.

Alright, slow it down.

(tires screeching)

Grab your gear, let's go.

(car splashing)

O'BRIEN: Vehicle's submerged in a pool.

Send medical attention immediately.

Whoa.

(dramatic music)

I'll get the kid.

(grunts)

Hey!

♪♪

Don't even think about it.

(grunting)

Come on.

Nancy, park it right there.

- Copy.
- TK, prep the O .

(grunting)



- Get her to medical.
- Yeah.

(Owen coughing)

Alright, just put her on the gurney.

TK, take her ABCs.

TK: I don't have a breath.

I don't have a pulse either, Cap.

Alright, starting compressions.

- Nancy, rescue breaths.
- NANCY: Copy.

- TOMMY VEGA: Oh.
- TK: Come on, now.

Come on.

Dispatch, do we have
a name for this baby?

GRACE (over radio):
Piper. Her name is Piper.

Piper?

Hey, Piper. Come on.

O'BRIEN: Come on.

TOMMY: Come on, baby.
Let's see those pretty eyes.

Okay, Piper.

Sweetheart, listen to me. Come on.

Your mama wants to see you.

(screams, cries)

TOMMY: That's it. That's it!

- (crying)
- Dispatch...

Piper's fine.

Let her mama know.
Piper's gonna be just fine.

There you go.

I don't have to, Captain,
'cause you just did.

(gasps) Thank you.

Thank all of you. (sniffles)

(crying)

Hey, babe, I'm at the park,

but I don't see you,
so just call me back.

Mom?

What are you doing here?

Same as you.

Fresh air and some tacos.

TK put you up to this, didn't he?

A mother needs to be put up
to having lunch with her only son?

(chuckles) Por favor. Siéntate.

I got you an Al pastor y Una arrachera.

Mm. My favorites.

Okay, so let's hear it.

I understand that you and your father

had a little disagreement
over the Texas Rangers.

No, there's no disagreement.

It was just a matter of factual record.

They have a history of
utilizing v*olence against us,

Latine and indigenous peoples.

They fought efforts
to desegregate schools in the ' s...

And they also have a history
of kicking the crap out of the KKK,

shutting down Jim Crow,
and stopping human traffickers.

Not to mention,
they got Bonnie and Clyde.

Hmm. Another case of overkill.

Do they have blood on
their hands, mijo? Yes.

But what organization
that's years old doesn't?

That's not an excuse, Mom.

Let me tell you a little something
about this man you think you know.

When your father started off
with the Rangers,

there were sworn officers.

Do you know how many of them
were people of color?

Two. And that's including your father.

Yeah. I think you're
making my point for me.

You know, mijo,

did you know that when your father
got promoted to Captain,

he began spearheading a
campaign to recruit and train

talented people of all
backgrounds and genders?

- No.
- Well, he did.

And you know what percent of the Rangers

are of color or women today?

Five?

Almost .

More than a tenfold increase
under his watch.

- Hmm?
- Wow. I didn't know that.

When was the last time
you heard your father

boasting about anything
other than the Astros bullpen?

Right.

He doesn't brag about it because...

he thinks that there's
still plenty of work

that needs to be done.

But your father
is a good and honest man.

And he deserves your respect.

I do respect him.

But are you proud of him?

Of course I am. He knows I am.

Does he? Because I'm not so sure.

Well, I spent my whole life not knowing
if he was proud of me.

So I guess that's only fair.

You know what I think, mijo?

I think this tension between you

is about more than
just the Texas Rangers.

You're entitled to feel
whatever you're feeling,

but whatever it is,

you need to let it out.

Because the one thing our
family has learned the hard way...

silence only makes things worse.

JUDD: Well, I mean,
look, Marlene, I-I...

I appreciate you telling me
as soon as you found out,

and, uh, tell Wyatt that I'll-I'll be
there as soon as my shift's over.

Okay. Buh-bye.

- Hey, Juddy.
- Hey, T.

Any news on Wyatt?

Actually, the doctor's report
just came in and, uh...

(sighs) ...they just finished his, uh...

the nerve conduction study.
And the electro... the...

Electromyography.

- Yeah. Yeah.
- Yeah, yeah. And?

It... (sighs)

- (sighs)
- Talk to me.

(sighs deeply)

They say his arms,
his hands are good, you know?

But his legs have a...

a decreased conduction velocity
or something.

I see.

And the doctors just,
just said that they, you know,

they think that that means
that there's a % chance

that he won't ever walk again.

(sighs)

Hey.

Ninety-nine ain't a hundred.

Okay? And you never
know. Nerves can regenerate.

- That's what they said, too.
- TOMMY: Mm-hmm.

Right. And-and the, uh,
the conduction in his hands

is better, though, right?

Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

No, he can make a fist and, uh...

He can almost pick up his own fork.

There you go. Alright, that's good.

(exhales sharply)

- TOMMY: That's good.
- Tommy, honey...

(sighs)

I don't know how we got to a world where

my boy being able to pick up a fork
is a good thing, you know?

It means that he can
take care of himself.

And he can hold his baby.

(voice breaking) Yeah, I know.

But he's supposed to be
doing other things.

He's supposed to be swinging an a*.

He's supposed to be running a line

and putting out a fire
and saving people.

He wanted to do that.

I know.

I know, Judd.

How's Wyatt taking it?

He don't know.

He doesn't know?

The doctor came in there
and he was asleep.

And, uh, Marlene has
medical power of attorney.

So the doctor went over
all the results with her.

She called me and, uh...

We agreed we're gonna
tell him together, you know?

So I got that to look forward to.

TOMMY: Honey. I know. Okay.

Is there anything, anything I can do?

You're already doin' it. I just...

I don't know what I'm gonna do.

I don't know how I'm gonna
break that... news to him.

And, uh...

I don't know about after that either.

Uh, yeah. Yeah.
Y'all got a long road ahead.

Yeah, that's for sure.

Just remember, miracles happen.

I guess.

We've both seen 'em.

Seen the other way a lot
more often, though, ain't we?

You know?

(Judd clears throat)

(inhales and exhales)

- Hey.
- Hey, Judd.

- Hey, Dad.
- Leigh Ann here?

WYATT: Uh, no, no.

She has finals coming up,
so I sent her home to study.

Well, that was considerate of you.

Aah!

- He's making progress.
- (Wyatt chuckles)

He's doin' real good.

Uh, oh, I got you this...

Oh, thank you so much.

Uh, what is it?

It's just, um, it's just
a little scratcher.

That way if it feels like there's
ants going across your foot,

you can give it a scratch.

WYATT: Yeah, I appreciate it. Thank you.

Oh, Dad, before you ask,

no, they still haven't brought
by my test results, which, um...

- Yeah.
- WYATT: Super annoying, but...

What?

Um, actually, sweetheart,

they did bring your test results
while you were sleeping.

Why-why didn't you tell me?

'Cause your mom and I wanted
to tell you together.

Why?

Oh.

So it's bad?

MARLENE: Um...

How bad is it?

- MARLENE: Uh...
- They...

Wh-what they, what they're saying

is that the nerve conduction in
your legs ain't what it should be.

Meaning...

They don't expect you to gain
function of 'em anytime soon.

Or at all?

But-but, no, my, uh, my feet.

Remember, they were,
they were itching earlier?

How could I feel them if
they were itching, you know?

Well, the doctor said
that they can still be itchy.

You know, it's like, um,
phantom limb pain.

Or it could be that the
neural pathways are still...

still f*ring.

But they don't think
I'll ever walk again.

I don't give a damn what they think.

Okay, so... what am I looking at?

What do you mean?

I mean, like,
what-what, what happens next?

They're gonna transfer you
to another facility

where you're gonna start working on

physical and occupational
therapy every day.

What is that? Occupational therapy?

Well, it's where they...

it's where they teach you
how to get control

of your arms and your,
and your hands again.

And...

You know, how to, how to... (sniffles)

how to brush your teeth, how to,
how to comb your hair.

You know, how to, how to live your life.

Well, I'm never,
I'm never even gonna see

outside of a hospital again, am I?

Yeah, you are, too.

- It's gonna be two Mon...
- Yes.

They said three months at the most.

- Three months?
- Either way, you're gonna be done

by the time Leigh Ann has the baby.

No, I don't think I can do it, Mom.

- Yes, you can.
- Okay, okay.

- I can't do it, no.
- Hey.

WYATT: I wanna go home, please.
Please, I just wanna go home, okay?

Please. Can we go home?

MARLENE: Wyatt, look at me.

- You got this, baby.
- WYATT: Mom, I can't do it.

I can't.

GRACE: Hey, babe.

Hey.

(sighs) Charlie, go down okay?

Uh, she did.
It took a few encore readings

of This is Not My Hat.

But she did eventually go down, yes.

What you doing?

I'm just, I'm going over these...

places that they wanna send Wyatt to

after he gets discharged.

Uh-huh.

It's called a SNIF.

A Skilled Nursing Facility.

That don't exactly have
a pleasant ring to it, do it?

Um, it's not the most inviting, no.

Well, it-it actually,
it looks worse than it sounds.

I looked it up. It's just
a big concrete block off .

Right? He'd have a roommate.

He'd have to share a TV with somebody.

He'd have one window and
he'd be looking out at a parking lot.

We knew this wasn't gonna be easy.

Grace, I think that place
would break him.

I'm not sure there's much
we can do about it, honestly.

I mean, there is.

Like, he could come here.

In the house?

- Look, Grace. Grace, Grace. Hang on.
- Wait...

There ain't no reason
that we can't set up his bed

in the living room, right?

And then we do all his therapy here.

Sweetheart.

Okay, but where would the nurses stay?

Because Wyatt would need
around-the-clock care.

Exactly. For his occupational,
uh, therapy and his PT.

- I mean...
- It's not just that, sweetheart.

Wyatt needs professionals

to come in and change
his catheters, to bathe him.

Turn him over so that he doesn't
get bedsores. All of that stuff.

Are those things
that you would be ready for?

Maybe not.

But I will be.

And in the meantime, the nurses,
they can come and go as they please.

They can give him
any care that he needs.

Who will be here
to let them in the house?

Me. I'll do it.

Judd, you're gonna quit your job?

Babe...

for years,
I wasn't there for that boy.

And I have a chance to make that right.

And I ain't gonna miss it.

Okay.

Alright, you won't.

I love you.

Okay.

Okay.

- GABRIEL: Hey, Carlitos.
- Hey.

You-you have a minute?

Sure. Come on in.

(soft music playing on radio)

Were you doing puzzles?

Yeah.

Why, is that strange?

I didn't know you did puzzles.

Your mom and I got into them
during the pandemic and...

Well, it helps me take my mind off work.

Um...

You want something to drink?
Beer, green tea?

- Green tea?
- GABRIEL: What?

Since when do you drink green tea?

A couple years now.

They say it's good for blood pressure
and general wellness.

General wellness?

Who the hell are you right now?

(chuckles)

- Hey, Dad.
- Huh?

I didn't like how
we left things the other day.

Yeah.

Neither do I.

I just want you to know that I'm sorry.

You don't have to say you're sorry.

If the Rangers is not for you,
then it's not for you.

I'm not sorry about what I said

but the way I said it.

You never have to apologize
to me for telling the truth.

And the truth is...

I didn't exactly give you
a laundry list of things

to be proud of when you were growing up.

And that's something I'm
gonna regret to my dying day.

No. That wasn't the truth.

I'm proud of you, Dad.

And I'm proud to be your son.

Carlitos, you don't have
to say all that.

I'm not just saying all that.

You're the best man I know.

And that's why I would
like you to be my best man.

Best man?

Your... For your wedding?

- Me?
- If you'd be willing.

If I'd be willing?

You couldn't...

It would be the greatest honor
of my life.

Ah.

Thank you. Thank you.

I love you, Dad.

I love you, too.

You know what? Screw the green tea.

We're drinking tequila.
Come on, let's celebrate.

JUDD: Hello, hello.

Oh, in here.

This was on your tailgate.

My milk. Thank you.

You do a little shopping?

Yeah. Robert and his family
are flying in for the wedding

and I figured I'd stock up,

but I wanted to do it while
Mateo's out of the house.

He's staying with Nancy
while the family's here.

That'll be good for you.

Oh no, I love Mateo.

No, no, no. I mean...

you'll get to spend some
time with, uh, your new family.

My new old family.

Yeah.

New old family.

I think that's what
I'm here about, too, Cap.

My new old family.

Uh...

Cap, I have to quit.

You have to quit what?

My job.

What are you talkin' about?

We're bringing Wyatt home
to live with us.

And, uh...

I made the decision I'm gonna,
I'm gonna be his caretaker full-time.

I think you mean caregiver.

Yeah. Oh, yeah, 'cause he ain't a ranch.

I know. Gracie keeps
fixing me on that, too, but...

Okay, but given Wyatt's condition,

isn't he gonna need
a very specific type of caregiving?

Well, yeah, he-he's going to.
He's going to have all that.

He's gonna have all the nurses
and the therapists that he needs.

But then I'll be his
day-to-day, you know?

And he won't be with
a bunch of strangers, right?

He-he'll have his dad.

I don't know what to say.

I don't either.

Actually, I do. Don't quit. Don't do it.

Call it a temporary leave of absence.

Uh, if you file for early retirement,

you're only gonna get %
of what you have coming to you.

I understand that.

But if I put in right now, they'll
give me a big chunk of it up front

from all that sick time and vacation

I racked up over the years.
You know, over years.

And, uh...

we got some expenses now.

It's...

It's-it's-it's not cheap
to turn your front parlor

into a rehabilitation center.

Well, you've really thought about this.

Man, I-I don't know
if I thought about it long,

but I do reckon I've made my decision.

Damn it, Judd.

- I wanna thank you...
- ROBERT STRAND: Owen.

In here.

(Judd clears throat)

- Hey.
- Hey.

Oh. Hey, Sydney.

- It's good to see you again.
- Hey, Owen.

- Thanks for having us.
- OWEN STRAND: Thank you.

Judd, this is my brother Robert
and, uh, his wife Sydney.

And his girls, Yvonne and Hannah.

And, everybody,
this is Judd Ryder, he's...

my best friend.

So y'all girls came all the way
out here for your cousin's wedding?

Yeah, for the wedding of our cousin
who we've only met over FaceTime.

Well, he's gonna appreciate
you comin' all that way, I bet you.

So... I'll tell you what.

I'm gonna get outta y'all's hair.

- Very nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.

Yeah. Well, you, too.

And, uh...

We'll see ya. Ladies.

Everybody, if you'll indulge me,

I just wanna say a few things.

TK: Uh-oh. Dad, how drunk are you?

- (laughter)
- I am not drunk.

I am just naturally ruddy-cheeked.

(laughter)

So as I look around this table,

it is impossible for me
to state my gratitude.

It was almost four years ago
that I dragged my son,

if not kicking, then certainly
a little bit screaming,

from New York to Texas.

I had just accepted a job
rebuilding a fire station

that had suffered...

unbelievable loss and grief.

It was a good cause and a noble one,

but not at all why we came.

I was desperate to save my son's life...

and maybe my own.

I-I believe in AA. It's what
you call doing a, a geographic,

moving away from the danger,

which is not usually
a Strand's first instinct.

(laughter)

TK...

I couldn't save you in New York.

And the truth is, I couldn't
save you here either.

You had to do it.

And you have.

I could not be more proud of you, Son.

Carlos...

when I see you and TK together,

I realize that coming to Austin isn't...

the roll of the dice that I thought.

It was meant to be.

And, uh, if TK's mother were here,

I'm sure that she would
be able to say this all

in a much better way than-than I have.

She's here, Owen.

And you said it pretty well.

To TK and Carlos.

And the Strand-Reyes clan.

- Reyes-Strand.
- (Andrea laughs)

(glasses clinking, group cheering)

Only one each, kids.

Solamente uno.

You heard your daughter. One.

They have tres leches and galletas,
how can I just pick one?

Ma, it's a celebration.
Cut him some slack.

Yeah, well, you tell him that
when he tries to squeeze

into his tux later.

He already has too much slack.

- Do we really have to do that tonight?
- ANDREA REYES: Yes.

And then you're gonna
get started on your speech.

Ay, por favor, the wedding
isn't until this weekend.

You are gonna give a best
man speech after Owen Strand.

Did you not hear that man's toast?

- Por favor.
- I mean, he was alright.

Hey, brother,
that glass looks a little low.

Oh, well, then help a brother out.

Here you go.

How great is this, huh?

Family, all together like this.

Oh, it's-it's magic is what it is.

Stop staring, Owen.

Have you told 'em?

(sighs)

Yeah, we told 'em last week.

I mean, it's not like
I was gonna be able

to keep this a secret
much longer anyway.

How did they take it?

At first, they were just devastated.

And it turned out that they were

stronger than I could
have ever imagined.

How so?

Syd maybe turned into
a little bit of a Nurse Ratched.

You know, she's always making sure

I take my pills and...

And Hannah offered
to quit her Summer Stock

so she could be around more.

Yvonne is waking up early every morning

to make me breakfast.

That's so great.

No, the gesture sure is,
but, uh, the food, not so much.

I mean, it's-it's mostly
this-this porridge and cream of wheat.

It's just stuff that's easy to swallow.

Is, is it becoming hard
for you to swallow?

Every damn thing about this
is becoming hard to swallow.

But... yes.

This disease is a hungry beast.

But that is not what tonight is about.

- Tonight is about...
- This.

(monitor beeping)

Hello.

- Back again?
- Yeah.

I just didn't want him to have
to spend the night alone, so...

That's very sweet.

You want me to see
if I can find you a cot?

No. No, that's alright.

I... (clears throat)

Are you sure?

You're gonna k*ll your back
in that chair.

No, I'm a f...

My back's strong enough.

Well, if you change
your mind, let me know.

Good night.

(beeping)



GABRIEL: Are you ready?

Ay! I've been ready.

GABRIEL: Now, keep in
mind, I'm gonna have on

different cufflinks on the day.

Ay, will you just come out already?

(chuckles)

Well?

- Mi amor!
- (Gabriel laughs)

ANDREA: Estás guapísimo!

(Andrea laughs)

- Not bad, right?
- ANDREA: No.

Do I need any alterations
before the wedding?

No, no, no, no, no. Estás perfecto.

- Yeah?
- ANDREA: Yes. (laughs)

'Cause I don't wanna outshine
the boys on their special day.

Oh, well, I think you'll be just fine.

- (both laughing)
- (doorbell chimes)

- My delivery.
- GABRIEL: Oh.

(cell phone ringing)

- Hola, Carlitos.
- -CARLOS REYES (over phone): Hey, Mom.

What's going on?

CARLOS: Tell Dad I spoke to TK

and he can wear the
cowboy hat with the tux if he...


(g*nsh*t)

- (Andrea gasps)
- (body thuds)

ANDREA: Gabriel! Gabriel!

Gabriel!

(screaming) Gabriel!

- Ay, mi amor.
- (coughing)

CARLOS: Mom? Mom? Mom!

RANGER BRIDGES:
O God, whose end is justice,

whose strength is all our stay,

be near and bless my mission...

as I go forth today.

Let wisdom guide my actions...

let courage fill my heart.

And help me, O Lord, in every hour...

to do a Ranger's part.

Protect when danger threatens...

sustain when trails get tough.

Help me hold my standard high

and smile at each rebuff.

And when night comes down upon me,

I pray the Lord be nigh.

Whenever on a lonely scout...

or camped under the Texas sky.

Keep me, O God, in line...

and when my day shall end...

forgive my sins and take me in.

For your sake. Amen.

("Taps" playing)

- GUARD OFFICER: Ready.
- (r*fles cock)

Aim. Fire.

Ready.

Aim.

Fire.

("Taps" continues)

On behalf of the state of Texas,

the governor,

and all the Texas Rangers,

I present this flag to you
in honor of your husband.

(sobbing)

("Taps" continues)

(indistinct chatter)

Man, this is not the type of gathering

I was expecting to meet
Carlos' family at.

No.

ANDREA: Owen.

It was a beautiful service, no?

It certainly was.

Yeah.

I wanna introduce you to Tommy Vega.

This is TK's captain. Miss Andrea Reyes.

Captain Vega.
I've heard so much about you.

The boys adore you.

Bueno.

Te ofrezco mi profundo pésame.

Es evidente Que su esposo
era un hombre muy querido.


Sí. Gracias.

- TOMMY: Mm-hmm.
- Es verdad.

And thank you for coming.

Of course.

And, Owen, thank you for hosting.

I'm happy to do it.

Our house...

I just couldn't get it ready.

I kept trying to scrub
the blood off the entryway.

It had soaked into the wood floors.

(voice breaking)
They'll need to be replaced.

Me permites?

(sobs)

(Andrea sniffles)

He's gonna be watching over you
and your family.

God bless you. And thank you.

Remember, he'd pull us out of school

and tell the office
it was an urgent family matter?

WOMAN: Yes. Sometimes
he'd even flash his badge

and then take us out
for ice cream or to the movies.

Or the puppet shows when we were sick.

Puppet shows?

WOMAN: Not a puppet show exactly.

He'd use our stuffed animals.

You never told me that.

Because I have no memory of it.

You were so little, Carlitos,
but he was always so sweet with you.

BRIDGES: Oh. (clears throat)

Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt you all,

but, uh, Carlos,
can I get a word with you?

Of course.

I just wanted to tell you
how sorry I am about your daddy

and... tell you how grateful I am

to have been able to work
beside him all these years.

Thank you, sir.

And thank you for your powerful words
at the funeral today.

Hey, I, uh...

I want to give you something

I believe belongs to you.

His Ranger star.

I appreciate you letting me have this.

I do hope you know
how proud he was of you.

- I think so.
- BRIDGES: Don't ever doubt it.

Not even for one minute.

CARLOS: I need to ask you.

Have the Rangers...

made any progress
in figuring out who did this?

Carlos, you know I can't
discuss an ongoing investigation.

I don't need any names, just...

Is there one?

Carlos, your daddy spent a lifetime

tangling with some of the worst bad guys

the state of Texas has to offer.

He was fearless.

Along the way, he made some enemies.

But I can promise you this.

I will not enjoy
a night's rest till we find

that son of a bitch
that did this to your daddy

and to our brother.

So what you're really telling me
is you have no idea

who m*rder*d my father?

Carlos, look, I wish I had
better news for you.

I-I really do.

But right now,
you need to look after yourself,

and you need to look after your mama.

And again, my condolences.

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