Unstable (2023) s01e07 Episode Script

1
[electronic dance music playing]
[woman laughs]
[gasps] Don't scare the monkeys!
Oh, you're awake. I couldn't sleep either.
Leslie's having another party
in the basement.
[sighs] That is not cool.
[sighs]
If we don't do something about this,
we won't get any sleep.
Do you have a bathroom in here?
The one down the hall's ocupado.
- What the hell? Who are you?
- Ronnie.
Are you Ellis Dragon?
Oh my God! I gotta get a picture.
And you're the "music's too loud" guy!
Hey, do you have a camera?
My dude, like I told you an hour ago,
you need to find your pants and go home.
Well, like I told you an hour ago,
they're in the dryer 'cause they're wet.
Idiot.
I don't think a pants-less stranger
should be able to walk uninvited
into a person's bedroom.
That may be one of the rare things
you and I can agree on.
It is.
Dad, you and Leslie have had a lot of fun,
but maybe it's time
for this playdate to be over.
You may be right.
[upbeat rhythmic music playing]
Morning. Beautiful day.
How can you be this cheery
after what happened last night?
I helped myself to an African chew stick.
It's from the Salvadora persica tree
and gives me energy and keeps me upbeat.
Are you sure that's not a dog toy?
There was a dog here last night.
I'm pretty sure this is mine.
Although it would explain why it was wet
and on the hallway floor.
- You're gonna tell Leslie he has to go?
- Goddamn it, I'm eating a dog toy.
[Leslie] Morning.
Ooh!
Thank God. Boy, last night was a movie.
But it was a killer housewarming.
It was a housewarming party?
I mean, it's kind of weird.
It's not your house.
It's all good. Got a lot of stuff.
- What kind of stuff?
- It's my stuff. Don't worry about it.
Look, Leslie, I was thinking,
is it possible
that you're using staying here
to avoid the fact that your wife left you
and that you miss her?
I'm not avoiding anything.
I wanna be here.
I thought you wanted me here too.
You certainly did when you kidnapped me
and locked me up in your basement.
Of course I want you here.
Good. Well, I hope you're nice to Ronnie
when he wakes up.
He's also been going through a lot.
His latex pants melted
in your dryer last night.
[sighs] We're going to have to settle
for just getting rid of Ronnie.
No, no, no. We'll get rid of Leslie too.
He just needs to be handled
with some diplomacy, because, you know
- You kidnapped him.
- He has a tender heart.
- And you kidnapped it.
- Only after he blackmailed me.
- Let's talk about us.
- Us?
I'm worried about us.
Are we an us?
I never thought of us as an us.
Exactly. Since you've been here,
you've made friends. That's great.
We haven't spent much time together.
Mm-hmm. At work, you're my boss,
and at home, you're my dad.
- Everybody else is just a normal friend.
- Yes.
So let's go somewhere
where we're not father-son
or boss-employee.
- Just friends.
- Oh my God.
You gonna make me jump out of an airplane
strapped face-to-face with you again?
I loved it,
and I'm the one got vomited on.
Look, you say
that you can't live in my shadow.
I don't want that for either of us.
So let's spend some time together
as equals.
- I can tell you're not gonna drop this.
- No.
I'm like a man with a dog toy.
[whimsical music playing]
Okay, outdoors, physical labor,
not plummeting to the Earth,
this could work.
Welcome, gentlemen.
Oh, thank you for letting my son and I
come in today, Juan.
We want to spend time together as equals.
It's beautiful. And Ernesto's having
that huge thing taken off his neck today,
so I can use some help
installing sprinklers.
I have some experience with sprinklers.
I worked on a grounds crew.
You did?
This is working already.
Look at us learning about each other.
[in Spanish] Okay, boys.
The gringo and his son
are going to work with us today,
so that they can connect
and repair their strained relationship.
I'm glad they're putting in the work.
Father-son relationships
can be complicated.
[in English] All right.
Everybody [grunts]
let's get sprinkling.
Uh, hey, Bob the Builder, unless you're
attaching a toilet to those sprinklers,
you're not gonna need that wrench.
- [snorts]
- [laughing]
[chuckles] That's a good one.
You guys are gonna need hard hats
if he gets the urge to climb another tree.
[crew laughing]
It's fun. So fun.
But that's the last one of those, right?
[in Spanish]
My dad has the thin skin of a peach.
[laughing]
Is that about somebody else or still me?
No, it's about you.
- You wanted to see me?
- Malcolm, take a look at this.
For security reasons,
all executive offices have video cameras.
- Oh God, no.
- Don't worry. It's not about you.
That is unacceptable. Thank you
for bringing it to my attention.
Wait.
- What was she looking for?
- Her retainer?
That preposterous answer tells me
you know exactly what she was looking for.
Okay, I do know,
but I don't want to tell you.
- Good, we're making progress. Now tell me.
- Do you promise not to get mad?
- No.
- Fair enough.
I told Ruby and Luna
that you write office fan fiction.
Ruby's desperate to find it.
You told them about
my very private and personal fan fiction?
We were at that bar, dancing and drinking,
and everyone was telling funny stories.
And oh God, I'm so sorry.
Actually, I know what it's like
to want to fit in with the cool kids.
In primary school, my sister warned me
not to get "The Rachel" haircut.
But I didn't listen to her. I learned that
not every teenage face should be framed.
So I forgive you.
I don't believe you.
Just punish me already.
No. I have a better idea.
Ruby is not gonna stop looking
for that fan fiction till she finds it.
So I'm going to write
some new fan fiction just for her
and make sure she finds that instead.
That is so diabolical. I love it.
- And then later
- Yes?
I'm going to punish you
for telling them about it.
Oh.
Oh, there she is.
How'd it go with Brian last night?
He kept saying,
"You can't break up with me."
But I said, "Brian, this is happening.
So get your stuff and get out."
Good for you.
I'm kidding.
It was a four-hour conversation.
Then I held him
and helped move his PlayStation.
[door opens]
Guys, you're not gonna believe it.
I found Anna's fan fiction.
- Oh my God!
- [gasps] Gimme, gimme, gimme!
When I said, "Let's break
into Anna's office, find her fan fiction,"
you were all, "It's too scary. I'm getting
the vapors. Where's my fainting couch?"
Yeah, that's exactly how I talk.
Behold. Anna's innermost thoughts.
Yeah.
[Luna gasps]
Look, she made each of us an animal.
I'm an eagle.
[inhales] Eagles are cool.
Like the wolves of the sky.
Yeah, they soar above everyone
then swoop down and get shit done.
- [gasps] Malcolm, you're a leopard.
- I love leopards.
They're my favorite animal print.
Hey, I wonder what Anna made you, Ruby.
- Hmm.
- Maybe a tiger or a swan.
- I'm a cow.
- What?
She made me a cow.
Seriously, why would she see me as a cow?
Yeah. It's so different
from an eagle or a leopard.
Good morning.
- Good morning, Anna.
- Morning, Anna.
Ellis and Jackson are taking a few
hours off to work on their relationship
because apparently
that's how businesses are run.
We're still up against
a pretty tight deadline,
so Ellis wants you to keep working
on Luna's progress from yesterday.
Great. I can't wait to get going.
Let's spread our wings and work.
That's the spirit. The goal
is to produce a sample of concrete
from strontium chloride.
So stay focused and get moo-ving.
You heard that, right?
She said, "Moo-ving."
She said "moving." We've got a lot to do.
So let's forget the fan fiction
and get to work.
Definitely. I just need to read
every page of it first.
[whimsical music playing]
How great is this? Neither one of us
in a position of authority.
Just two friends working together.
So, buddy,
what did you get up to this weekend?
Uh, not much. Tried to get some reading in
by the pool,
but Leslie kept asking me,
"Now, what's going on?"
And it was a science journal, so
He requires a lot of attention.
He's like a rescue dog,
except if he falls asleep on you,
he's harder to move.
Okay, everybody good?
Ready for water test? Yes. Yes.
All right, muchachos,
let's light this baby up.
[crew laughing]
Oh my God,
it looks like my Dad's foot sprung a leak.
He needs his wrench.
[all laughing]
Uh, well,
you learn more from your mistakes.
Oh, well, you'll be a genius
by the end of the day then.
[crew laughing]
[chuckles] God, this is great.
Juan! It's not working out with Jackson.
I need to be reassigned.
[whimsical music playing]
Does Anna think I'm clumsy?
Is that why she made me a cow?
I bumped into her once in the elevator
but only because that weird guy
from Yellow Lab got on.
What are you staring at?
Is it my chewing? Do I chew like a cow?
You certainly avoid work like a cow.
So you do think I have bovine qualities?
What I think is we're under a deadline,
and I really need you to work
instead of standing around like
Like a what, Luna?
Say it. I wanna hear you say it.
Like a dirty heifer?
- Oh God.
- I'm sorry, your awesome eagle-ness.
Why'd Anna make you an eagle anyway?
No offense, but you're more like a mouse.
Hey. How's it going?
I'm working. To get you moving, you have
to stick an electric thingy up your butt.
They're called cattle prods,
and that's not even how they work.
- Oh, I guess you would know.
- Shut up. Stupid bird.
Go milk yourself.
[upbeat rhythmic music playing]
- Your plan worked. Too well.
- Excellent.
- Oh.
- They're at each other's throats.
- Excellent. Oh.
- They're not getting any work done.
Part of me thinks
that we should come clean and end it.
That part of you is wrong.
My fan fiction is like my diary,
and Ruby wants to steal it.
If she knows the one she has is fake,
she'll go back to looking for the real one
and no part of you is okay with that.
It is not.
We'll get Ruby and Luna back to work,
but we'll use more fan fiction to do it.
Perhaps I'll scare them
with a story about vegetables
who aren't working hard enough,
so they get chopped into a salad.
Or better, barbecued.
Watching you is like
taking a masterclass taught by Jafar.
Jeff R.? That lanky guy in Blue Lab
with the goatee who's always scheming?
No, but I'm realizing
Jeff R. is a lot like Jafar from Aladdin.
You're welcome.
I love sprinklers. I just think
that my talents are best used elsewhere.
We all know I'm the prince of pruning.
I think the real reason you want to prune
is because hedges don't use biting sarcasm
to embarrass you in front of the men.
God, you're good.
Okay, this is about Jackson teasing me.
I brought him here because I want us
to be friends. He's not doing it right.
- Friends don't make fun of each other.
- Actually, they do.
Look at Arturo and Jorge.
They've been messing with each other
for years.
Ever since Arturo discovered
Jorge waxes his chest.
[laughing]
Okay, maybe you,
Jorge, and Arturo are right.
If I wanna be friends with my son,
I need to take some ribbing.
And dish it out too. Right?
'Cause that's part of the fun.
I must caution you.
Insulting a man can be a delicate dance
on a slippery floor.
I'm good at a lot of things.
I think I got this.
Hey, Sleeping Beauty, break time's over.
At least I'm taller than you.
What does that have to do with anything?
Yeah, that wasn't a good one.
But I just need a little practice.
I learned French in a weekend. I got this.
[upbeat rhythmic music playing]
What is your problem?
I'm sorry. Does the sound
of me working disturb you?
Since you were busy not doing anything,
I mixed a test batch of concrete myself.
Good. Now you can go steal some food
from smaller birds.
You're not even reading the fan fiction.
Just looking up bad stuff about eagles.
Hey, ladies, found some more
of Anna's fanfic. Exciting stuff.
I can't read anymore.
I think I'm just gonna take a sick day.
You can't go home. There's too much to do.
[timer dings]
The concrete's ready.
- [both gag]
- Oh my God, that smell.
Yeah, it, uh,
might need some modifications.
It's goo. It smells like rotten eggs
poached in sewage.
[phone ringing]
It's Ellis.
Hey, boss. [scoffs]
It's all good over here.
Hey, I want to roast Jackson
and have everybody laugh at him,
then do that thing where they say
the last two words of my joke.
Are you sure? Messing with people
can have unintended consequences
that can disrupt the workplace.
I recently discovered.
He's been slamming me all day.
I need to have some fun with him.
Can I run some ideas by you?
What do you think about "turd bucket"?
Uh, it's a little generic.
Yeah, you're right. I wish he looked
a little more like a bucket.
What about something with "nozzle"?
"Shit nozzle"?
"Hey, your nose looks like a shit nozzle."
I don't know what that means, sir.
Yeah, I know, it's unclear.
Maybe you shouldn't make fun of him.
The guy just moved across the country.
It's not working out with Ruby.
His mom just died.
My wife just died.
Didn't seem to stop him.
Listen, thanks.
This is This is some good ideas.
[phone beeps]
Hey, Dad, we're going to the backyard
to lay some gravel.
You wanna grab your gloves?
I didn't need gloves
when I was banging your mom.
[in Spanish] That was really harsh.
Why would a father say that?
- [in English] What's wrong with you?
- Oh, I see.
You can dish it out,
but you can't take it.
Hey, come on, we're ribbing each other!
They're not all gonna be home runs.
We're finding it.
Equals.
[whimsical music playing]
Don't tell Anna,
but I'll tell you the truth
because this thing is going off the rails,
and rails are good.
- They're how the trains know where to go.
- I'm sorry, the truth?
Anna knew you were snooping in her office,
so she wrote that whole thing
about you being a cow as payback.
- And to get you to focus on work.
- Oh my God. That's so diabolical.
I know. That's what sucked me in.
So you're saying I'm not the cow.
Am I the eagle?
No, no, no. Nobody's any kind of animal.
It's all fake.
I'm gonna tell you about
her real fan fiction,
and hopefully put an end to this.
Her real fan fiction?
Anna doesn't feel appreciated at work.
- Aw.
- Aw.
So in her real fan fiction,
she's adored.
[triumphant music playing]
- Your feet are magnificent.
- They can't compare to your hands.
Or your mind.
Or your boobs.
What's that glorious smell?
[knives clinking]
Shrimp, milady?
Don't mind if I do.
[applause]
Wow.
Go Anna. Build your fantasy.
Hmm. Although it's kind of heartbreaking
when you think about it.
Anna keeps this whole place going
and doesn't get any recognition.
[all] Aw.
Hey, guys.
Anything good happen in here today?
Because it turns out landscaping
is not the panacea you think it is.
Where's Jackson?
Don't worry,
I did not call him a turd bucket,
and somehow he still found a way
to be mad at me.
He stayed at landscaping.
Well, our day wasn't a winner either.
Opposite of a drumroll, please.
Perfect. Thank you.
Ew. [sniffs]
- Sweet Satan's diaper. What is that smell?
- It's the odor of us failing you.
We got a little distracted today
being jerks to each other.
I'm sorry about earlier.
Me too.
Well, you made progress.
And it was Sir Isaac Newton who said,
"Sometimes progress
can be smelly and gooey."
Surprised the stink didn't drive you
out of the lab.
Hmm.
[whimsical music playing]
I think I found a way to get Leslie
to leave without being mad at us.
Great. Then I just have to get rid
of one more person.
Are you still mad about the joke I made?
The one about banging my mom
without gloves? Vaguely.
I'm sorry I said it,
but your mom would've laughed.
Look, I just don't have a lot of
experience trading shots with co-workers.
People don't do that with me.
I always thought
there was nothing to make fun of.
I thought of nine things
while you were saying that sentence.
But what's your plan for Leslie?
[upbeat instrumental music playing]
There's no way anybody
could live down here with this smell.
- What if he asks where it's coming from?
- Tell him we don't know.
Could be from one of those smelly demons
that get trapped in a wall.
[chuckles, imitates ghost]
Hey,
I'm sorry about today. [exhales]
I'm so used to seeing you
put on a pedestal
and respected, admired, revered even.
It was just nice to be your peer,
and I got carried away.
Ah, well,
maybe we're not meant to be friends.
I don't think we need to be.
I like having you as my dad.
And if this is about you thinking
we're growing apart,
we can just find stuff
we like doing together.
Yeah. Hey, it's summer.
We could break out the Slip 'N Slide.
This might be the fumes talking,
but I'm having fun right now.
[chuckles]
Hey, where's Leslie been this whole time?
I gave him my credit card
and told him he could buy a new tuxedo
for our next James Bond movie night.
- He went for that?
- It's a free tuxedo.
- Who doesn't want a free tuxedo?
- [Leslie] Here they are.
Hey, guys.
How do I look?
The name's Clevenger. Leslie Clevenger.
You're back early.
- And that tuxedo needs altering.
- Uh-huh.
I knew it. The guy at the store
said it was fine. I
What are you doing? [sniffing]
Are you rubbing stinky goo
all over my walls?
No! [chuckles]
- This guy.
- So paranoid. No, we smelled that odor
and so we got a sealant
to keep the stinky smell inside the wall.
- Yeah.
- He's right.
[Leslie] Mm-hm.
[sniffs]
This isn't odor sealant. This is odor.
You're trying to make my room smelly,
so I have to move.
That's why you dangled this sweet tux
in front of me.
You knew that no one could say no
to a free tuxedo.
Is the tux thing
a societal norm I'm unaware of?
I'm disappointed in you, Ellis.
I would expect this from Jackson.
He's an agent of chaos, but not you.
I don't like chaos.
I feel like you don't know me at all, man.
Put your foul goo away.
This room is already filled
with the stench of betrayal. I'm leaving.
Don't go away angry, Leslie.
It's too late. I'm going away.
And I'm angry.
And I get custody of the fort.
[instrumental music playing]
Oh, not the fort.
If I can get the revised cost analysis for
Green Lab by tomorrow, that'd be great.
Look at her wrapped in her armor,
not feeling appreciated.
Ruby, Luna, everything okay?
Yes, and we appreciate you for asking.
[Luna] We see how much
you care about everything here
and hope that you know that we know that
none of this'd be possible without you.
And so, in the spirit of your homeland,
we got you a tin of biscuits.
Thank you. That's very sweet.
Please tell Malcolm I'm going to kill him.
[ominous music playing]
This is Leslie Clevenger.
I've changed my mind. I'll talk to you
about being kidnapped by Ellis Dragon.
Excellent.
And I know there are
some other board members
who would also be interested
in hearing your story.
Good. People should know about this guy.
I think you're just the ammunition
I've been looking for.
And perhaps you have just the guest room
I've been looking for.
[dueling music playing]
[closing theme playing]
[closing theme ends]