01x10 - Thursday

[bunniefuu]

[beeping]

[upbeat music playing]

[beeping stops]

Yes, ma'am.

[egg sizzles]

Time's a-wasting, Dad.

[engine starts]

- [Ella] Today's the day.
- [yelps]

If you mean today's the day
you finally stop startling me,

that would be great.

- Apologies.
- Acceptances.

So, I've been thinking about it,
and I really want to help you.

Great, because I don't wanna
have to do this without you.

I mean, even with you,
it's gonna be rough.

Things will get messy.

It might. Look, I know that it's scary,
but I also know it's gonna be good for you

to tell your family you quit the violin.

What? No.
I'm talking about our birdhouse project.

It's gonna be messy
with the painting, the sanding

and the varnishing, if we really get wild.

- Seriously?
- Very seriously.

I finally got permission
from the shop teacher.

I did have to agree
we would separate the framing nails

from the finishing nails.
I don't know the difference.

I just know I don't want anything
going through my fingernails.

Kai, you're avoiding the bigger issue.

Being impaled is a pretty big issue
in my book.

No. I mean all the stuff
we talked about the other night.

The pressure you've been feeling
from your family,

you secretly quitting the violin.

[shushes] Stop talking about that.

No one's listening.

The Jamaican-parent Mafia
is always listening.

The gossip never stops.

You're always hearing about
whose kid got into Yale

or whose kid dropped out of Yale.

And now the family sits at home
with their shades drawn,

ashamed to answer the door.

No, thank you.

Can I just say one small thing?

On the same topic?

- Maybe?
- Then, no.

Kai, I just wanna help you.

And I appreciate that,
but my family is a lot.

You've met my family.
They're not a little.

If you wanna help,
help with the birdhouses. Please?

[sighs] All right.

Let's make a birdhouse one of our
flying friends can turn into a bird-home.

Thank you. Oh, and I didn't forget.
I'll be there Thursday.

Thursday's still happening, right?

Oh. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'll see you in the shop classroom.

[school bell rings]

Oh, hey, Grady, I need to talk to you.

Oh. Grady. I know you heard me!
I saw your shoulder twitch!

Grady?

- [Ximena panting] Could you slow down?
- No time to waste.

Okay, but full disclosure,
this is reminding me of my dad.

He never walked at the same speed
as my mom, and now they're divorced.

Thought they divorced
because they weren't a good match.

Yeah, and dissimilar walking speeds
were a huge red flag.

- Sorry, I just have somewhere to be soon.
- Okay, real quick then.

Priya cannot stop talking
about her sleepover

and totally wants to hang again.

Three words: Secret sample sale
in the Fashion District.

- That's seven words. [Chuckles]
- [scoffs] Forget the math.

Priya's got advance intel.

There's gonna be amazing clothes
at k*ller discounts.

- This is the can't-miss event of the year.
- Then there's no way I'm gonna miss it.

Great. We're going
before school on Thursday.

- Ella?
- Oh, um, Thursday? I-I can't.

I have a, um... a thing. [Chuckles]

Oh, I forgot. Thursday.

[chuckles]
Grady, you can't keep running away.

- I'm not running.
- You're sweating.

This is a thick hoodie.

Coach Nattiel said you were pretending
to be some kind of BMX dude?

Whatever. I gotta get some water.
I'm dying in this hoodie.

Well, she also said
you were using a different name.

What's with you pretending to be
someone you're not?

Why are you gossiping about me
in the teachers' lounge?

I wasn't gossiping.
Coach Nattiel was gossiping.

I was simply eavesdrop... [stammers]

The thing is, I'm responsible for you,
so please talk to me.

I'm your sensei.

You're not my sensei.

I'm kinda your sensei.

Not even a little.
And I'm done talking to you.

Mkay. [Sighs] Yeah.

Oh, Carl. I can't believe
you did all those key chains.

It's not so bad once your fingers go numb.

Uh, no.
I mean, corporate changed the logo.

They're sending new key chains tomorrow.

Sorry. Mm-mmm-mmm.

So, when it comes to
the building of the birdhouses,

- you'll be good at the sawing part?
- Yeah.

- And the hammering?
- Sure.

I'm gonna need you to handle
the drilling too.

But don't worry,
the design work is all me.

So, now that it's just the two of us,

can we please talk about
what's going on with you and your family?

I'm kinda busy designing here.

Kai, you freaked out
about quitting the violin.

I was worried about you.
I am worried about you.

I just... I don't think it's fair
that you have to go through life

with your family telling you what you
need to do and who you need to be.

Part of me agrees with you, but...

But? Kai, there's no buts.

You have to tell your family to back off.
They're being too hard on you.

Ella, you don't understand.

When my grandfather was a kid in Jamaica,
they lost everything in a hurricane.

Everything.

Their tiny little house,
their four chickens, even their pictures.

They lost their memories.

I can't imagine.

When he came here, he worked two jobs

to send money back
and to bring over my father.

And now my dad works two jobs to give me
the chance to not have to work two jobs.

The chance to have everything they didn't.

Yes, they're being hard on me,

but it's because they want
the best for me.

Kai, clearly your family loves you,
but this is your life.

Isn't what's best for you what you want?

I do hate having a secret.

So, you'll tell them?

No chance.

Hey. [Sighs]

Even you can't ruin this for me.

You said you didn't wanna talk to me,
and I heard you loud and clear.

Thank you.

So that's why I arranged for you
to talk to the school counselor instead.

You did ruin this for me.

I made a promise to the principal
to look out for you,

so this is me looking out.

Your first appointment is Thursday.

I'm not talking to anybody,
especially on Thursday.

Carl, why did you buy more peanut butter?

- We already have two open jars.
- That can't be right.

Well, I guess I'm making
peanut butter cookies tonight

and possibly tomorrow night.

- [no audible dialogue]
- Yeah.

So, Ella, your dad and I talked,

and we're thinking
it'll be you and me tomorrow.

Yeah, it'll be great for both of you.

I'm gonna get the rest of the groceries.

I really hope there's not
any more peanut butters.

[Ella chuckles]

Don't you have to work, Mom?

No, I told my boss
I'm taking the day off to be with you.

And she was okay with that?

Things have been great since I started
being honest about everything.

She wasn't mad at you
when you finally told the truth?

No, just the opposite.

Let me tell you, when you keep secrets
from people you're close to,

you're actually denying them
the chance to step up and support you.

What are you doing here?

I have to talk to you,
and it can't wait until tomorrow.

You've got to come clean.

Not this again.

Kai, this secret is keeping you
from being your true self.

Do you really wanna waste this time?

It was stupid of me to quit violin.

I was feeling a lot of pressure,
and I panicked.

Who knows? Maybe I'll go back to playing.

You mean go back to being miserable?

If I'm going to get into
an Ivy League college,

I have to look well-rounded
on my applications.

So all I have to do is continue to play
at an elite level through middle school

and then four years of high school.

High school too?
Kai, that's five whole years.

Four and a half
if I get in early decision to Yale.

Then I can quit for good.

Are you even listening to yourself?

You're putting your entire life on hold
just out of fear.

I am fearful. You know this.

Yeah, but you're so afraid
that your family's gonna be upset

that you're not even trying
to be honest with them.

Hey, maybe they'll surprise you.

I want to believe you. I just don't.

Well, you should.

You're cheating your family
out of the chance to love the real you.

And what's not to love?

You just... You have to tell your family.

[sighs]

Tell us what?

Hi. Yeah, that appointment I made
for Grady McCaffrey,

go ahead and cancel it.

No, don't reschedule. I'm gonna have to
figure something else out.

No, I haven't seen
your kangaroo coffee mug.

[chuckles] Okay, bye.

[breathes deeply]

[gasps] Oops.

I'm waiting.

Uh, Ella just wanted to talk to me
about a school project.

Okay, you're Ella.
Well, I'm happy to see you're doing well.

Thanks. [Chuckles]

Okay, so, really, what you out here
whispering and plotting about?

I doubt very much it's about schoolwork.

- Okay, the truth?
- It better be.

It's nothing bad or anything.
It's just, I…

I quit violin.

You quit? Did you ask your father?

- Uh, well, not exactly.
- Not exactly or not at all?

Because I know
you certainly didn't ask me.

Do you know how hard your father works
to pay for those lessons?

I do. I just don't know
if I want to keep playing.

But this is the plan.
This is to help you go to college.

This is for your future.
What are you gonna do instead?

I don't want everything
to be about the future.

I wanna focus on right now.

What kind of nonsense is this?

Sir, going through cancer
made me realize that today is all we have.

[sighs]

I'm very sorry to hear
that you're not well,

but this is a family matter.

I know. I just... I really wanna help.

It's time for you to go.

[sighs]

That girl is a bad influence.

Grandpa, I promise,
she's a great influence.

- Kai, you're not to see her anymore.
- She's my friend. I can't do that.

Oh, you will do that.
Now come along inside.

Please. I have to see her tomorrow.
It's Thursday.

Was I not heard?

Ella bell a.

You seem a little droopy.

Yeah. Droopy is a word for it.

You know, I could authorize
a special late-night snack.

- Sink cookies?
- All the cookies, none of the mess.

Did you burn yourself?

Nah, it's a key chain injury.
Hazard of the job.

Dig into that cookie.
It's made with almond flour and agave.

Don't ruin the moment.

What is it, El? Is it about tomorrow?

I was at Kai's today, and…
[breathes shakily] …I think I messed up.

Well, after all you two
have been through together,

I'm sure it couldn't be that bad.

I think I pushed him to be
a little too much like me.

See, there's no way
that's bad because you're the best.

Even when you're droopy.

Can we stop with the droopy? [Chuckles]

Look, sometimes we need a friend
to give us a push.

And sometimes,
it's only a friend who can do that.

No, but I think I went too far.

I just... I hate seeing someone that I love
stuck being unhappy.

It's such a waste of time.

Does that make any sense?

It does. Makes a lot of sense.

Hey, my loves.

Ella needs to get some sleep.
Tomorrow's the big day.

[sighs] Right.

[sighs] Thursday.

["I Can't Breathe" playing]

[both sigh]

[beeping]

[beeping stops]

[song continues]

[Carl] Here you go.

You ready?

To see if my cancer is back?

[sighs]

Does it matter if I'm ready?

[Joanne] You got this.

Hey, Emily, I need to talk to you.

Oh, sure. But first, could you please
put another bottle on here?

Emily, I need to quit.

Because I asked you
to change the water bottle?

No.

Oh, no. Is this about Ella?
Is she sick again?

Well, she's... she is having another
routine scan, but we-we don't know.

Um, but what I do know
is that no matter what happens,

I can't do this job anymore.

Don't worry about the key chains.
I'll have Ted do them.

It's not about the key chains.
It's a little about the key chains,

but it-it's mostly about me.

I just... I can't waste
another day of my life being unhappy.

So... [chuckling] So, yeah.
Thanks for everything.

[laughs]

[elevator dings]

Is this floor radiology?

Yep. [Sighs] Follow me.

I'm checking in my daughter,
Ella McCaffrey.

Ella? Look at you. It's been a minute.

[gasps] I love your hair.

- [Ella chuckles]
- Where's your dad?

Oh. Believe it or not,
he went back to work.

Hung up the old sweatpants.

Well, you tell your dad
I made his zucchini lasagne.

It's not bad.

Just don't tell him I made it
with real mozzarella, not cashew.

I don't mess with nut cheeses.

[all chuckle]

I'm Ella's mother.

Oh! Nice to finally meet you.

Okay. I just need you guys
to fill these out for me, please.

Any new piercings,
or is it just the belly button?

- Belly button?
- [chuckles]

- Natalie makes the same joke every scan.
- [chuckling]

Inside joke.

[both chuckle]

Oh, uh, I may need you
to answer some of these, Ella, okay?

Sure.

So, I'm just confirming that patient
has no new metal implants?

- None.
- Any nausea in the last 48 hours?

Nope.

Allergies
to the gadolinium contrast agent?

- Uh…
- No allergies, and here's the paperwork.

All right, El. Go take a seat,
and we'll call you when we're ready.

This was a mistake. Daddy should be here.

Why?

Well, he's always so on top
of all the medical things.

Mom, please.

Yes, Dad knows all the medical jargon.

He's even got the whole staff
drinking mushroom coffee.

But, can I tell you something?

Sometimes, especially when things
are scary, you just need your mom.

[Joanne grunts]

[Grady sobbing]

I know you don't want to talk, but here.

Ella has her scans today…

To see if her cancer came back.

Thursday.

It could all be starting again.

The treatments, the hospital time.
The whole nightmare.

That must be scary.

That's not even the worst part.

It's that I'm not even thinking
about how horrible it could be for Ella.

I'm just thinking about
how horrible it could be for me.

I'm a bad kid.

Hey, hey, Grady. No, you're not.

I'm just worried about myself.

[sighs]

I know Ella is the one who got sick,
but you've been through a lot too.

You can be worried for Ella
and sad for yourself at the same time.

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

That doesn't make you bad.
It just makes you human.

- Really?
- Absolutely.

Don't be so quick to label yourself.

There aren't good and bad people,
just good and bad choices.

And every day, you get to choose.

[sniffles]

Uh, I'm out of gauze,
but here's a disinfecting wipe.

Uh, keep it away from your eyes.

You know, on second thought,
just... just go with your sleeve.

Thanks for talking to me.

You talked to me.

[sighs] Almost time.

First you might want to say hello
to someone.

Ximena! What are you doing here?

Where else would I be?

Your can't-miss sample sale.

Please. This is my can't-miss event.

I thought you didn't do hospitals.

I didn't.

You know, Kai wishes he could be here.

I know, but I'm glad you are.

[clicks tongue]
You know the drill, Ella. Up on the table.

You doing all right?

I guess.

[sighs] I've been acting a little weird.

You know, I thought that I was worried
about my friend.

But honestly,

I think I was just scared for myself,
about today.

About this.

Classic scanxiety.

Don't beat yourself up. It's easy
to get caught up in the what-ifs.

You're right.

You know, I guess I've been so worried
about the future,

I... I forgot to live in the now.

[sighs]

You gonna be okay?

Isn't that what this big machine's
supposed to tell me?

[violin music playing]

[no audible dialogue]

[violin music continues]

[breathes deeply]

[sighs] I'm gonna be okay. No matter what.

[sighs]