Life Unexpected (2010) s01e10 Episode Script

Previously on Life Unexpected.
You and someone had a kid, you gave up that kid.
I'm that kid.
Cate Cassidy, that's your mom.
I'm Cate Cassidy.
Ryan and I've been up since 5.
And as usual, arguing since six.
- What are you doing? - Will you marry me? You've met the qualifications as foster parents and will be granted temporary joint custody of Lux.
Sleeping with Baze again, it was the biggest mistake of my life.
When did you sleep with Baze again? This relationship- it's over.
No, Ryan.
Ryan! That family wants me.
They're three hours away.
I need you to take Tasha.
To live with us.
Lux, I can't.
This is the only thing I'll ever ask you.
I'm sorry.
Me, too.
Hey, you in here? Seriously? Lux, I can explain.
For once we're not talking about sex.
We are talking about sleeping together.
"Sleeping" being the operative word.
Sometimes it can be incredibly romantic to share a bed with someone you love.
"Can" being the other operative word.
Actual quality of sleep can be totally downgraded.
That's true; that's very true, but what about the guilt? What guilt? Well, you know, every time you move, your partner views it as a personal assault on her REM state.
It's true.
But sometimes you just wish they'd disappear so you can have your bed back and rest in peace.
Okay, so we have Nancy from Richmond on the line.
Nancy, why are you losing sleep? My new boyfriend is a kicker.
Is that awful? No, it worked fo Ozzie and Harriet.
Yeah, you remember that episode where Ozzie and Harriet have spontaneous morning sex? No.
Exactly.
Look, Cate, besides, if we sleep in separate beds you're not going to be able to rub your ice cube feet all over my legs.
I started wearing socks.
And maybe I don't have cold feet Maybe you have hot legs.
Anyway, opped putting my feet on you a few weeks ago, in case you hadn't noticed.
Yeah, I noticed.
You know, the funny thing is, sometimes I wake up having dreamt that your feet are still on me when they're not.
You dream about my feet? Like once.
Mm, last night was pretty mind-blowing.
You're telling me.
I don't think I've ever had a foot cramp that seized my lower back before.
Hey, you want some breakfast? I'm gonna make some for Lux.
No.
I think she's already up and gone.
I didn't see her when I went to get water.
Oh, just for five more minutes.
Nice try.
It took me an hour to escape your vise grip.
What can I say? I missed you.
The next time you leave town- I am implanting a GPS chip in you.
I bet Baze would love to get a tracking system on you.
Well, there are benefits to my bedroom walls being shower curtains.
He's too weirded out to open them.
He's also too busy sleeping with Cate's sister to notice anything.
So, what are you up to today? I don't know.
Being back means I've got to find a way to pay rent.
Which means I got to get a job.
Like a legit job? I actually got a gig tonight.
Really? Yeah, it's 50 bucks to pass out fliers at some cheesy nightclub.
It's lame, I know, but I want to do this for you.
No, it's not lame.
It's so not lame.
I'll come with you.
Well, ifou're doing this for me, the least I can do is be there for you.
Hey, you.
I zapped up some tempeh-tofu dogs for you, but are they supposed to smell like a hippie's armpit? 'Cause they do.
So does Abby's patchouli perfume.
Ah, is that what this cold shoulder's all about? You are sneaking around behind Cate's back with her sister, being a giant sex hypocrite.
You bribed a guyo date me, and waved a condom in his face that wasn't even his.
It's more than a cold shoulder.
It's a cold whole body.
Okay, I know I made some mistakes.
I shouldn't have butted into your dating life for one.
I don't have a dating life.
I'm with Bug.
Okay, about that- I- I don't think that guy's good for you.
He's a delinquent and a parasite.
Remember when you weren't going to butt into my dating life? Fine, fine, consider my butt out of it.
I just Just tell me what can I do to fix things between us? Stop seeing Abby.
Fine.
How about no Abby, no Bug? Deal? Whatever.
I'm, uh, I'm glad we had this talk.
Hello.
Yes, this is she.
Yes, she's my daughter.
Oh, my God! Yeah, I'll be right there.
A curfew violation? What is this, wartime Germany? The law is intended to ensure that parents know where their children are at all times.
And I'm guessing you didn't know Lux was distributing flyers outside a nightclub at 1:00 A.
M.
Of course I didn't.
I thought Ferris Bueller here was at home in bed.
I was trying to help Bug with his job, which he lost because of me.
Okay, what happened to no Bug? I never agreed to anything.
Would you agree that this is the second time that I've been to this police station because of that kid? Okay, Lux is living with you.
It is your responsibility to keep track of her.
Being as you share custody, it's just as much your responsibility.
Unless you're saying you two are no longer sharing custody.
Well, I'm just staying at Baze's for a bit.
Mm-hmm, she's mad at me because of this little thing with her friend.
Tasha's not some "little thing.
" If you would have taken her in, she wouldn't be three hours away living with a family that she hates.
So, you two had a fight, Lux moved outand you ft the change in custody arrangements? And you're failing to set boundaries or keep tabs on Lux's whereabouts.
As you know, your family evaluation is scheduled for next month.
Yes, and this will all be straightened out by then, I promise.
Cate, from where I'm standing- which is in a police station in the middle of the night- this situation seems a little past straightening out.
I'm moving up your evaluation.
Be in my office Monday, What exactly will you be evaluating? She needs guardians she respects who can keep her under control.
What do you mean she needs guardians? We're her parents.
This arrangement was temporary.
So, if you two can't control Lux, we need to find people who can.
Okay, we can get through this.
Yes, we have problems, but, I mean, it's nothing that we can't work out.
I've been to these evaluations plenty of times.
Once it gets to this, the chances of staying together aren't that great.
This isn't going to be like other times, Lux.
Unless Do you want it to be? Well, I don't want to go back to foster care, if that's what you mean.
Good.
So then things need to change.
Exactly.
But how do we fix things before Monday? Well, forgiving me for Tasha, that would be a good start.
And maybe living by my rules? You don't even live by your rules.
You guys say that I have to change for this evaluation.
Well, what about the two of you? Cashier needs a high school diploma.
Busboy: Experience required.
Window-washer: Must bring his own tools.
What, like a squeegee? I'm never gonna get a job and my rent's due in a week.
No, you'll find something.
I know it.
How? I don't have experience or education.
I don't even have a squeegee.
Yove a me.
Don't tell Baze that.
Dude hates me.
Don't worry about Baze.
Aren't you? You worried about this evaluation thing or what? Kind of.
A lot.
I don't want to be taken away.
But I can't help feeling the way that I feel either.
Hi, I'm sorry to just show up here.
What are you doing here? Well, I know how upset you've been with me about Tasha.
And I know that I couldn't help her, but I thought maybe I could help you.
I know that you need a job and I've got one for you.
Are you serious? It's at the station.
And it's yours iu want it.
You know, it's logging tapes, answering phones.
You can interview later today.
Are you sure? I'm the star of the show.
I've got pull.
So, let me get this straight.
You don't have a resume? Uh, no, ma'am.
And you didn't graduate high school? No, ma'am, but I plan on getting my GED.
As soon as I get a job.
Kind of a catch-22 there.
So this is the extent of your experience.
Uh, no.
I've had other jobs.
You know, here and there.
But I learn quick.
Oh.
Okay, Bobby.
Thank you for coming in.
Thanks.
Okay.
Take care.
Okay, so he's no perfect.
He's polite.
I hate being called "ma'am.
" I will have him call you "mister.
" Come on, Alice.
Look, even if I wanted to hire him, which I don't, the company doesn't let us hire people without a high school diploma.
Come on.
The show is called Morning Madness with Cate and Ryan.
I'm Cate.
Doesn't that mean anything? Lately, no.
All right, come on.
Look, Alice, please? I have already tanked things with Ryan.
I just need The Ryan problem would be easier to deal with.
The man admitted that he still dreams about your feet.
Barely Whatever.
It means he still feels something.
It doesn't mean he wants me back.
I mean, what am I supposed to do? I practically begged him at that stupid contest not to do this.
I made it completely obvious at the dumb Expo that want to be with him.
Ryan doesn't want to get back together with me unless I change, but look at me.
Look at my life.
Here I am, trying to get my daughter's boyfriend named Bug a job.
How much more can I change? Yeah, about that.
Should I tell you now or later that the job thing is not going to happen? Listen to me, Alice.
I will do anything.
I cannot let her down again.
Cate, I'm sorry.
What happened to "It's yours if you want it"? I know and I feel terrible.
It's okay.
You tried.
I'm sorry if I got your hopes up.
If you got his hopes up? You said to trust you, that the job was his.
Lux, I am sorry.
I'm the one who's sorry.
For being stupid enough to believe you'd actually come through.
Hey.
You wanted to talk to me? Hey, Abby, yeah.
Yeah, thanks for coming down.
I, uh, I got deliveries.
Jamie's gone.
I couldn't leave.
But I want to talk to you um, about Lux.
Oh, yeah.
I just heard.
Cate told me.
What? Wait, you didn't talk to Cate about us, did you? Are you crazy? She'd inflict worse damage than a shark attack.
No, she left me a message about the whole custody evaluation.
Speaking of which, uh I want to talk about that.
You wanna? Ooh, um, yeah.
A vodka martini, extra dirty, extra olives.
That'd be great.
Um, I meant "sit.
" Take it from me.
This evaluation isn't going to be easy.
Social workers are a tougnch.
They're bitter parakeet-owning feministas.
And if you and Lux are having trouble, she'll know.
I picked her up from a police station.
I think that "troubles" is putting it mildly.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, Cate's not having any luckther.
She just tried to hire Bug to make Lux happy, and it just blew up in her face.
You want to hire Bug? Sure.
The bar's getting busy.
I've been short-handed.
It'd be a favor to me.
I mean, it's late hours and it's hard work, but if you're up for it Hell, yeah, I'll take the job.
When do I start? How about now? Uh, grab some limesout of the s.
It's downstairs.
You'll find it.
Why are you doing this? He's a good kid.
Really? 'Cause yesterday, you called him a delinquent parasite.
Okay, look You and I didn't get off on the right foot with this whole parenting thing.
But if Bug is important to you, then he's important to me.
What's the catch? No catch.
But in order for this to work with me and Bug, it's got to work between you and me.
You got to play by the rules.
So no sleeping at Bug's, no sneaking out.
So that when we meet with Fern, she won't be able to ding us on anything.
We'll be cool, right? Yeah.
We're cool.
Hey, Bug.
When you're done here, can you refill the soda canisters? I did it already.
That's great.
You can start tidying up the bar supplies.
Already done.
Wow.
You overachieve much? I just want to do a good job, you know? I just really appreciate this chance, Baze.
So, thanks.
Yeah.
Oh, crap.
Abby.
Hey.
I forgot that you were here.
That's okay.
I was just waiting to talk.
Although, you know, it would be fun to go someplace and not talk.
Ah.
Believe me, I would love to, multiple times, but I can't.
I can't do this.
This fling, or whatever it is.
Because I'm not being a good example for Lux.
So I can't see you anymore, Abby.
Whoa.
Are you okay? No! No.
You are such a great guy that you're making my ovaries hurt.
Hello? I need your help as a therapist.
Narcissistic borderline personality disorder.
That's what you have.
I meant with Lux.
She won't listen to a word I say because of this Tasha thing.
I thought it was a Bug thing.
Yeah, whatever.
I'm on a roll.
I mean, do you think you can help me? Because I got to fix things by Monday.
Whatever you need.
Oh, great.
Uh, meet me at Baze's above Open Bar.
That's where she is.
Do you need the address? You know, I think I can find it.
You can relax with the death stare.
Nobody's forcing you to be here.
Good.
'Cause Bug's in the bar.
What's Bug doing in the bar? Baze hired him.
That's what.
Are you serious? Lux? Lux.
You seem to have a lot of anger and hostility towards Cate.
And frankly, who can blame you? But you need to understand where Cate was coming from with this whole Tasha thing.
This Fern chick barely thinks that she's capable of keeping you.
You think that she would have let Cate have Tasha? That's not the point.
The point is, is that I asked you and you wouldn't even try.
Okay, well, then what are the rules, Lux? Because I tried with Bug.
I tried to hire him before Baze did.
Yet, somehow he's the hero and I suck.
Can we be done now? I can't believe I'm going to say this.
But for once, you're not the problem here.
This is not about Tasha or Bug.
HonEstly.
This is about Lux.
Cate? Abby.
Hey.
Uh, long time no see.
Yeah.
It's been, what, since dinner at your parents', I think.
Definitely.
I- I definitely have not seen you since then.
Didn't she helyou with the sex talk? Lux? Oh.
Yeah.
That's right.
That's, um, it was awkward.
Blocked that out.
So, um What's up? You hired Bug.
That's what's up.
That was my way of fixing things and So what? So what? Now you're rubbing it in my face? I'm not rubbing anything.
You tried, I tried.
That's the point, right? I mean, who cares who helps Bug? Who even cares about Bug? Guys.
Just came to see if you needed help Who even cares? Hey.
Bug, wait.
Wait.
Bug? What is the matter with you? Cate screws him over and you stomp on whatever self-worth he had left? Listen, Cate and I, we just want to make things right.
We cannot fail this evaluation.
Don't you get it? Neither of you cAn make it right.
The most consistent thinu two do is make things worse.
Okay, here's the deal.
We just have to go in there and present a united front.
We want Lux, and she wants us.
What if that doesn't work? Okay.
Well, then we only have one choice.
Lie.
Lie.
Lie.
So, last I saw you, things were a bit out of control.
How have the past few days been? Good, good.
Uh, yeah, we're just smoothing out the kinks.
What kind of kinks? Have you met Bug? Last night, Baze helped me with my homework.
Who knew he was so adept at fractions? Last night, I took Lux to see a stage play.
Of Billy Elliott.
I thought it had an uplifting theme.
Lots of dancing.
Last night, we partied on Rock Band for hours.
I mean, up until her bed time which is a strictly-enforced hard 10:00.
No snacking after 9:00.
Do you do you Rock Band? So, you think things are working great as they are? Without question.
Hells to the yeah.
Mm-hmm.
In all of my years of social work, I have never seen such a pathetic charade.
You would rather lie about your problems than confront or solve them.
And if that's the case, I have no other choice but to find Lux another placement.
It was my fault.
Lux.
It wasn't.
It was ours.
Cate and I.
We were afraid to tell you the truth because we didn't think you'd let us keep her.
And what is the truth? In short we suck.
But not for lack of trying.
I don't know if this is about Tasha or not anymore.
But I tried to make it up to you with Bug.
I did.
Tasha and Bug aren't like other kids.
They don't have parents to support them.
When they need help, they turn to me.
And you made me feel likE I could turn to you, but you weren't there for me.
For you? You mean for your friends.
Yeah, my friends.
But you said "me.
" You said Cate wasn't there for you.
Yeah, she wasn't.
I asked her the favor.
So yeah, she wasn't there for me.
That's what this i really about, right? Cate not being there.
I say yes and what? You send me away to live with someone else? I don't want to live with someone else.
I want to work it out with Cate and Baze.
I just Look, I'm the one who's going to decide if you stay together.
But ultimately, it's not up to me.
It's up to you.
If you can't be straight with me, you're never gonna be straight with Cate and Baze and then you'll be right back on my couch six months from now.
So when you say that Cate wasn't there for you, tell her what you mean.
Where were you? What? I was out there my whole life.
Where were you all that time? You never even checked.
You never wondered what had happened? If I waskay? I didn't really think that I had to worry.
You know, because they told me that you were gonna be adopted.
That you were gonna have a better life.
I really, I really thought that I was doing what was right for you.
It wasn't for me.
If it was for me, you would have checked.
No, you did it for you.
You did the right thing for you.
Lux, it's not all on Cate.
I wasn't there exactly, either.
Yeah, but you didn't know.
And no one who knew you would have expected you to be there.
I was 16 years old.
I didn't have anyone to turn to.
You know, my mother, she was drinking her way through another divorce.
I even wrote a letter to my father, but when I realized that dn't know where to send it, you know, that's when it hit me.
I had no idea what a good parent was.
There was just no way that I could be one, not at 16.
Then what about a few years after that? When I was three and stuck in a hospital where no one visited? Or two years after that when my foster mom shoved me into a wall and told the social worker that I fell off a swing.
Where were you? We used to make up these stories about why we were given up.
Because we didn't want to believe that our parents, our mothers could hold us, their babies, and just give us up.
But you did.
You gave me away to nothing, like I didn't matter to you because I didn't.
No, no, Lux, you do.
You matter now.
No, Lux, you matter, you do, you matter now, Lux.
No, now it doesn't count.
I- I'm sorry.
I don't forgive you, Cate.
I don't.
I know it doesn't feel like it, but what you had today was a breakthrough.
Trust me, I've seen other kids have moments of honesty like this, and that's usually when things take turn for the better.
I know that you tried to shoulder the blame, but it doesn't belong with you.
I'm not going to remove Lux from your care.
If anything, this shows me that you're a real family, with all the bumps and bruises that a teenager brings, like anyone.
And as far as I'm concerned, you twould start the process of having your parental rights reinstated.
Really? Is there really a chance of that In my opinion, yes.
and that all three of you are committed to making this work, maybe Lux most of all.
That was a hard thing she did, saying that.
She risked losing you all over again.
She never has to worry about that.
Ever.
You don't have to convince me.
Convince Lux.
Lux, you there? Can we talk? I'm gonna put an envelope under the door.
Just take a look, okay? # And I feel lost # # Lost like I've never been before # # # #and my dreams are gone and buried # # My eyes are shredding tears and I've been # Hey.
What's wrong? I need your help.
You know, Lux says that she can't forgive me for giving her up.
And I can't really get through.
Neither can Baze.
And so I was thinking, you know, as another person that can't forgive me that maybe, um, you could talk to her.
You can't keep coming to me like this.
Yeah, I know.
Um I'm sorry.
I know it's not fair.
Well, can I at least just tell you something? I never told anyone this before.
I never held Lux after she was born.
You know, the nurses, they wanted me to.
They kept bringing her in to me, but I knew that if I held hEr, I'd want her.
And I couldn't let myself.
So I pushed her away.
And I have done that my entire life with everyone.
Until recently.
I mean, Ryan, I know that you say that I have to change, but what you don't realize is that I have changed.
I mean, I started to change the momEnt that Lux came back into my life, because for the first time in my life, I saw a possibility.
You know, for the rst time in my life I saw I saw a dream that I wasn't afraid to want.
And I'm not saying that I changed overnight, it has been slow, and I have made a lot of mistakes.
I know that I lied to yo.
I know that that was wrong.
It was beyonong.
But at the time, I thought I had to or I would lose you.
And it wasn't just about losing you.
It was about losing the person that I was Becoming with you.
And Lux.
I wanted to be a family.
You know, but so much has happened.
I don't expect you to understand or forgive me.
But will you at least just help me? Lux isn't here.
She went for a walk.
On a scale of one to ten, how pissed is Lux at me? Can you blame her? In case you can't tell, I'm often in a race with myself for jackass of the year.
Well, you won.
Congratulations.
Listen I'm sorry.
What you heard, I just Okay, you're probably not gonna believe a word I say, but I see a lot of potential in you.
You're a lot like me, minus the whole neck situation.
So, I might have hired you for the wrong reasons, but I'd like to keep you on for the right ones.
So Job's still yours.
If you want it.
Just think about it.
I thoughtI'd find you here.
This your thinking spot? Guess I've had a lot of thinking to do lately.
Yeah, I know the feeling.
Whatcha got there? Court papers.
Cate and Baze signed them.
To legally adopt me when I'm ready.
But you're not? Why not? 'Cause I think it's more than just not forgiving Cate.
You and Cate are so much alike.
It's crazy.
You're both scared to really want tngs.
Scared if you do, it'll hurt too much if you don't get them, or they disappear.
Cate's not going anywhere.
And these court papers prove it.
She's changed, Lux, and you're the one who changed her.
You don't really believe that.
Yeah, I do.
Then I don't get it.
You come here and find me to tell me that, that Cate's changed, that I should give her another chance.
But if you really believe that that's true, then why can't you? Can I talk to you? Of course.
Wrap up.
It's cold.
Ooh.
So, I've been doing some thinking.
You, me, this.
Yeah? Before I moved in, we had churro contests and YouTube marathons.
Mmm.
The ketchup-eating competition.
Ah, that wasn't really a contest.
Math is a human siphon.
But lately it's been less ketchup-eating and more fighting, and I don't like it.
I don't want to fight with you.
Yeah, and I don't either.
I want to go back.
All this trying-to-be-a-dad stuff has gotten in the way.
I want to go back to being just friends.
It, um it doesn't work like that.
I can't just flip a switch and go back.
You could be my friend, it's fine, but I am never going to stop trying to be your dad.
# I just want to go away with you.
# Hey.
Hi.
I'm, I'm sorry to bother you so late.
I just I don't know.
I need someone to talk to.
What's wrong? My own kid just broke up with me.
Hey this is just the beginning.
You think it happens overnight? ople spend their entire lives learning to be parents and they still screw their kids up.
I mean, look at me.
I'm a therapist who still lives with my mom.
Ouch.
Do you want to come inside? She and her box of wine are already in bed.
I probably shouldn't.
I mean, you and me, it's probably not a good idea, gaven everything.
Baze, this doesn't have to be just a fling.
Crazy idea, but maybe if you show Lux that it's more, she'll see it differently.
You should be a therapist or something.
You give really good advice.
Well, that'll be a hundred bucks.
How about, um we go out tomorrow? Dinner, maybe.
I mean, you do, you like dinner, right? What's not to like? It's gonna work out with Lux.
You'll see.
Come in! Hey.
I was just thinking about you.
Yeah? Yeah, well, I mean, I was thinking about your hot legs and my cold feet.
Why is it so hard to keep a pair of socks together? The missing one usually turns up.
Sometimes it just takes someone else to find it.
Hi.
Here's the thing: I can't promise that this is gonna work or that I won't get upset and I won't take it out on you.
I know I seem like I'm okay, but I'm more messed up inside than you realize.
And the truth is, I don't forgive you.
I don't know when I'll ever be able to forgive you.
Lux, you don't have to.
You don't ever have to forgive me.
I'm never gonna be able to forgive me.
I just want a chance to make it right with you.
Please tell me whaI have to do to make it right.
Let me come home.
(both sob softly # Late in the night, I'm gonna head right over to you # # I'm gonna head right over to you # # And try and love you # I, uh, restocked the liquor and polished off the last of the peanuts.
I was starving.
I wasn't sure how to order more.
I could I could show you if you want.
Hey, um, Lux said something about your dad.
He in the picture? Unless the picture's prison, no.
Make you a deal.
Since you don't have a dad and I need to learn how to be one, uh, maybe you can give me some practice.
# I'll say it slowly # # I'm gonna head right over to you # Well? Um, well, she's unpacking.
I can't believe it.
I never thought I'd be so happy to see a bong lamp.
How'd you do it? What'd you say? The truth.
And I know that earlier, you, uh, you did, too.
Look, I-I don't like being lied to and I don't like being played.
I know, Ryan, I know.
I mean it would be hard for anyone to put themselves in your shoes that day, the day Lux came back.
That day was it was life-changing.
And where you and I were or weren't, it's not an excuse for what you did.
I'm just saying I wasn't in your shoes.
And you were right you were changing.
You didn't lie because you hadn't changed.
You lied because you had.
I just want to do the right thing, you know? Take my own advice.
I want to be able to forgive you, Cate.
And I want to be there for Lux.
I know, but you can't.
Ryan, I only wante to be a person that's worthy of you.
I still do, whether or not we're together.
I can'ank you enough for everythivg.
Kicking me out now or what? No, of course not.
'Cause I could stay.
I- I could help you find that missing sock 'cause I really don't want to deal with your cold feet tonight.
Really? Come here.
Your mom, too.