Unstable (2023) s02e02 Episode Script

1
[whimsical music playing]
- [Ellis] You bring this to the boat?
- [man] I take it straight on.
- So, Jeff will send the helicopter?
- Yeah.
- It just picks me up and
- Uh, what's going on here? Are you okay?
Oh! More than okay.
I started my telomerase protocols.
It's a reverse-aging process.
All the billionaires are on it.
- Oh yeah.
- Right. Is that safe?
100% safe, right, Doc?
We don't use absolutes in medicine,
but Rupert Murdoch is 92, and I've got him
throwing a medicine ball over a barn.
Right.
I mean I'll send you a link.
That won't be necessary.
I've, uh I've just been going over
the numbers for the Magma acquisition.
And I just need to go on record
and say that this deal makes no sense.
Okay, that's an interesting point of view.
I like being challenged.
Keeps me on my toes.
All right, mama, come at me.
Uh, it's not that complicated.
It's just that buying a company
to sabotage your son's independence
is bad business,
bad optics,
and dare I say, bad parenting.
- This challenge is too challenging.
- [doctor] I'll have to ask you to leave.
This kind of energy is not helpful
to the reverse-aging process.
Anna, are you trying
to reverse reverse-age me?
'Cause that is not
what I need from you right now.
Very well. I'll just keep looking for ways
to financially justify
your toxic-parenting power play,
and you can resume
your battle with Father Time.
That bastard's not gonna know
what hit him.
[opening theme playing]
Hey, Jackson.
Are you ready for some tennis?
Honestly, no. I'm still half asleep.
Well, some of us have work afterwards.
Must be nice. I lost my job.
Uh, you quit. You can go back
any time you want.
If I go back, my dad wins.
Who wins
with you sitting on my couch all day?
- Hey, Sam.
- Hey, guys.
I got you on Court 17 for two hours.
Oh, that's funny. Your dad's
actually getting a lesson on Court 16.
- Unreal.
- Um, are there any other courts available?
We're all booked.
- What do you wanna do?
- [sighs] It's okay. We'll ignore him.
I've every right to use this club too.
It's not like he owns the place.
- Actually, as our largest donor
- Not now.
[uptempo rhythmic music playing]
[liquid pouring]
[music ends]
So, um, how did you and Peter meet?
Uh, he was college roommates
with my brother.
Oh, so you guys are, like, super tight.
- [liquid pouring]
- I guess.
Do you think he'd consider me
as team lead on the bio-battery?
- Are you networking right now?
- You could feel that, huh?
Mm-hmm. Big time.
Yeah, sorry.
[chuckles] But, like, you'll do it, right?
- [hesitates] Well, I can feel it out.
- Okay.
- Peter and I aren't It's not like we're
- Mm-mm. Smells like gossip in here.
Who's Peter? Why do we hate him?
We're not gossiping.
We're just doing protoplast fusion.
You made that up, right?
Nope. That's a real thing.
So, this Peter guy.
What? He totally sucks shit
at porky-pus fusion
whatever you guys just said?
Peter's just an old family friend,
and everybody who works here
is super qualified.
What about you, short stuff?
You'll tell me the scoop.
- You seem like the bottom here.
- I'm not the bottom.
Uh-oh. You hear that, stretch?
Short stuff thinks you're the bottom.
Maybe if we just ignore her,
she'll go away.
[whimsical music playing]
[exhales]
- Toss is too low.
- [sighs]
[music ends]
[exhales]
- [Jackson grunts]
- Told you your toss is too low.
Maybe you didn't hear me
'cause of the earring.
Dad, please stop.
- Just trying to help.
- I think you've helped enough.
So focus on your court,
and I'll focus on mine.
Okay, fine.
- Great.
- [ball kicks]
- [sighs]
- There's that low toss again.
What did I just say?
I'm sorry, I tried,
but it's just a distractingly low toss.
Enough.
- Told you it was too low.
- It wasn't too low!
I missed 'cause you're bothering me.
Why are you giving me pointers?
I'm better than you.
Is that why you've never beaten me?
- Last time we played, I was a kid.
- And now you're a big man?
Ha-ha-ha. I know what you're trying to do.
It won't work.
Tell you what's not gonna work.
That low toss of yours.
All right, you know what?
Let's do it. Let's do this.
[rock music playing]
[both grunting]
- That was good. You won't get that again.
- [exhales]
- Out.
- Was it close?
Yeah. Still out.
Nice. I like this.
- Keeping score?
- A lot to a little.
- That was out.
- Terrible.
[grunts] Handcuffed me.
[both grunt]
- [groans]
- [music ends]
- Really?
- Sorry.
- Come on. Get 'em in. First serve.
- Match point, old man.
- Let's see how you like this toss.
- [music resumes]
- Time, time, time!
- What do you mean, "time"?
- I have to tinkle.
- Are you serious?
Go after. It's match point.
I would, but I'm gonna win this point,
then the set, then the next set.
As impressive as my bladder is,
I can't hold it that long.
- I'll be right back. Just a second.
- Hurry.
You have my word.
Sam. Car keys.
Thank you.
[whimsical music playing]
[cell phone chiming]
[cell phone chiming]
[whimsical music fades]
"Forfeit?" What?
[scoffs]
[uptempo instrumental music playing]
Hey, Jackson, do you know what time it is?
It's winning time.
Can I ask your advice about something?
[Anna] Uh.
You, um
[smacks lips]
you actually want my advice?
I need it bad.
Okay. Um, um That's a first.
Think I'm up to the task.
Um, how may I be of help?
[inhales]
I'm being bullied.
Really?
Um.
By whom?
The science lab girls.
- Ruby and Luna?
- Sure.
Wow, that's rather unexpected.
Um, bullied you how?
I tried to get them to talk shit
about literally anyone with me,
and all they did was work.
Can we fire them?
That seems a little extreme,
considering they did nothing wrong.
What about this Peter guy?
Can we fire him?
We've just bought Peter's company.
We're not firing him. Or anyone.
Can you just go back to your desk
and let me know when Ellis gets in?
Oh, the zaddy in the tennis fit?
I think he's back in his office.
Oh.
[uptempo instrumental music playing]
[smacks lips]
Ellis?
Ellis, are you in there?
Ellis?
I'm coming in. You'd better not be naked.
Oh my God! Oh my God. Ellis!
Ellis, can you hear me?
[Ellis groans]
Uh
- Katie?
- Not Katie.
Katie is was your wife.
- You do know who I am, though, right?
- [exhales]
[exhales]
You're kidding?
[hesitates] You really don't know
who I am?
You don't remember me?
Uh [hesitates]
Let's, uh let's get you
to a medical professional, shall we?
[uptempo instrumental music playing]
The doctor person just left,
but he did say
that your father should be okay.
Should be? We were just playing tennis.
Yes, and then apparently he
At some point, he came back here
and injected himself with a hero's dose
of his anti-aging medicine.
Of course. Just 'cause I was gonna
beat him. Unbelievable.
- Oh. Sorry.
- Crumbs.
"Oh, sorry." Watch where you're going.
[Anna] Oh.
Um, Peter, uh, lovely to see you.
Settling in all right?
Yes, absolutely. Um,
everyone here has been super helpful.
[Anna] Hmm.
Listen, I'm glad I bumped into you.
I do think we should talk.
- I got nothing to say to you.
- You know, I just don't want us to
[hesitates] Let's, uh, pick this up later.
- Sorry. Um, before you go in there
- Hmm.
you should know that your father
is not in his normal state of mind.
- You said he was okay.
- He will be.
But the doctor said he is experiencing
transient global amnesia.
He lost his memory?
- Um, temporarily. We we hope.
- This is all because he OD'd on that crap?
Well, it could be a number of factors.
Stress, anxiety, grief.
If we keep him in familiar surroundings,
it should help speed up recovery.
The important thing is that we remain
positive and supportive.
[suspenseful music playing]
Okay.
I'm gonna go talk to him.
Hey. Hey, Dad.
[gasps] My boy!
My boy has come to visit me.
He seems okay.
He doesn't remember who people are
or where he is.
[inhales] I'm sure it'll clear up
in a minute. Nothing to panic about.
No. No, no. I remember all the big things.
[Anna] Hmm.
What grade are you in again?
- Are we sure this is even for real?
- Quite sure.
- He just confused me with your mother.
- Oh, that's not good.
The doctor seems to think familiar
surroundings should expedite his recovery,
so I think you should just get him home.
Well, I could drive myself home
if you'd give me the car keys.
That's not happening.
Why does she keep bossing me around?
I thought I was her boss.
You are, but this is kind of your dynamic.
So I like it? Huh.
Fascinating. I bet our banter's dynamite.
I've always thought so.
But something's changed recently.
You don't believe in me anymore.
That's not true.
No. There's a There's a
an event, and you don't want me
to speak at it
because you think
I'm gonna come off foolishly.
[hesitates] I I never said that.
But you feel it,
in here.
All I said was that it it might be nice
to have a fresh face representing Dragon.
Oh.
Okay. Well, what about this jelly bean?
He's got the freshest face I know.
Why don't we have him do it?
Because this jelly bean is very tired
of being in your jelly bean shadow.
Interesting.
Raise the sails. Turn to starboard.
We'll be in Catalina by sunset.
He goes in and out
of thinking we're on a boat.
Ahoy!
[uptempo rhythmic music playing]
Which one of you is Ruby?
The one you referred to as "stretch."
Well, Stretch, you are my new hero.
All that shit you did to get the boss man
to buy your friend's company.
Damn, you got game.
- Okay, that's not true. Is it?
- [Georgia chuckles]
No. All I did was set up a meeting.
Uh-huh.
There it is. Bet you got
a sweet little kickback in the merger.
What? I want a kickback.
[gasps] Making me team leader
could be my kickback.
There are no kickbacks.
Got it. Totally. No kickbacks.
You, my friend, are a straight-up playa.
- I am not a playa.
- That's not the word on the street.
Wait, are people saying
I'm a straight-up playa?
I hadn't heard that.
But I don't know what to believe anymore.
[upbeat rhythmic music playing]
What is this place? It's so beautiful.
Sterile. It's like a Swiss airport.
Well, this place is your company,
and it's sterile 'cause it's a lab.
Wow. You know what?
You are very smart for someone your age.
But level with me.
Are you scared about the SATs?
Oh boy. I'm 27. I'm just smaller than you.
- Well, that doesn't seem fair.
- [sighs] I've learned to love my body.
We should get ice cream together
like we used to when you would skip school
to come visit me at work.
- Mint chocolate chip, right?
- That's my favorite.
I know. I'm your father.
This is great.
You're starting to remember things.
We should steal some out of the freezer.
Stick it to the man.
Well, you're the man. But sure.
You used to be so excited to come here.
I remember you'd say
you wanted to take over one day
and have a giant slide from your office
directly to the parking lot.
I stand by that idea.
And I can tell
you still want to be the boss one day.
- All in due time.
- I don't even work here anymore.
Oh, they fire your ass
over that stupid earring?
No. [sighs]
You don't remember this,
but people love the earring, man.
- It's a huge hit.
- Huh.
I got an opportunity
at a different company.
Oh, carving your own way. Love that.
You didn't at the time.
You bought that company
so I had to keep working under you.
Wait a minute.
I bought the whole other company
just to keep you working for me?
[laughs] I like my style.
[sighs] Well,
it's why I quit that company too.
Oh. And then when you bailed,
I pulled the plug on the deal?
No. You're still going through with it.
[scoffs] Really?
I'm a wild man.
Or maybe you're just too proud
to admit you made a mistake.
Hey. How's he doing?
Better. He's remembering some things,
like my favorite ice cream.
- Does he remember mine?
- That didn't come up.
- Hi. I think we should talk.
- Now's not a good time.
- It's important.
- Okay. Can you watch him for a second?
I actually can't not watch him. You'd have
to strap a damn blindfold on me.
Okay, that's enough.
[Malcolm] Wait, you feel me, dawg?
Hey, um, do I actually work here?
- I come in here every day?
- Yeah.
Well, when you're not landscaping.
Landscaping? I sound
like a Renaissance man.
You do a little more than sound like one.
[whimsical music playing]
We're cool, right?
- Yeah, sure.
- Okay.
Good. Just, you know,
making sure you don't, like,
think I was somehow behind a plot
to get Ellis to buy Magma. [chuckles]
I don't know what to think, honestly.
- So you do think it?
- [hesitates]
Hey, um, have you seen my car keys?
- Anna told me that she took 'em.
- Why?
- She doesn't think you should be driving.
- Why not?
You're not feeling well.
Right.
[inhales sharply]
So, um,
what do you push around town these days?
Wheels-wise, I'm talking.
Anna also told me you'd try to trick me
into giving you my car.
She certainly thought of everything.
[inhales sharply]
Now looks like we're just two guys
talking cars with no end game.
[hesitates] I guess that's true.
Tell me more about your ride.
Give me the specs.
Um, it's a 2002 Suzuki Esteem.
It's mostly yellow.
[whistles] Hachi-machi!
What kind of interior in that bad bird?
- Grayish, kinda.
- Oh!
I gotta see this.
[whimsical music playing]
Okay.
It's cool. All's forgiven.
I'm forgiven? For what?
- For making an introduction?
- Whatever you wanna call it.
You're the one twisting things
to give yourself cover.
- Cover for what?
- To bail. It's what you do.
That's harsh.
- I'm the one being harsh?
- What's harsh?
- Jackson's twisting reality again.
- I don't do that.
- Like when he pretended we never kissed?
- I did do that.
- Yeah.
- [sighs] I'm sorry.
- It's not like I wasn't into you
- I know you were into me.
That's why you ran away. It's what you do.
I don't do that. I don't run.
- Your dad stole my car.
- What? How?
I got hachi-machi'd.
[uptempo rhythmic music playing]
[Jackson] Dad?
- Dad?
- [music ends]
Ellis?
Ellis?
- Juan, have any of you guys seen my dad?
- Jackson. It's good to see you.
Hey, Juan. You haven't seen Ellis?
I have. And he has seen me.
Our connection is cosmic.
Okay, normally, I love
the metaphysical mumbo jumbo,
but right now, this is serious.
I don't know where my dad is.
He's not doing well. I need to find him.
- Why don't you grab a rake? We can talk.
- I don't wanna rake!
I wanna find my dad.
[phone vibrating]
Sorry.
Hello?
Oh my God! Yeah. Okay. Is he still there?
Great. He's He's okay.
But are you okay?
[uptempo rhythmic music playing]
Is he still here?
Uh, I don't know what's happening.
He just showed up
and told me the deal was off.
Okay, and where is he now?
Going through my closets, I think.
He said something
about liking the way my shirts fit.
Okay, what's going on, man?
- Is he okay?
- Yes.
I think so, yeah. He will be, yeah.
Dad? Ellis?
You know, without Dragon's funding,
Magma's dead.
Whatever, man. It's not my problem.
Listen. I get it.
You're upset.
I should have been more upfront with you.
- About hustling me?
- I did not hustle you.
Ellis Dragon quote,
"Being wrong means you're not right. Yet."
That's a stupid quote, and you hung it up.
So you're an Ellis head.
You wouldn't understand.
See, where I grew up,
I didn't know any scientists.
I couldn't just pick up the phone
and call my scientist daddy. [chuckles]
So, yeah, your father
was like a real role model for me.
And when I found out
you and Ruby were friends,
okay, I'll admit it,
part of me hoped
maybe someday he would notice me.
But I never expected all this.
Look, my focus right now
is just my dad's health.
What exactly is wrong with him?
A screw came loose
'cause I almost beat him at tennis.
[chuckling] Yeah! All right.
- Fathers and sons, am I right? Yeah.
- Yeah. Oh.
You know, I remember the first time
I beat my father at tennis. [exhales]
[exhales] God,
it was an incredible feeling.
And two weeks later, dead.
He just died.
What? You've never told me that.
I mean, it really screwed me up
'cause I thought
the old man was invincible.
Anyway, he'd be proud
if he could see me now.
- [chuckles softly]
- Captain of my own boat.
Mayor of Catalina.
That's my vest.
- Mm, I don't think so.
- Okay.
Did you think that losing to me in tennis
meant you were gonna die soon?
'Cause that's not gonna happen.
No matter how bad I beat your ass.
I guess my dad did smoke two packs a day
and sure enjoyed his butter sandwiches.
Just butter?
And bread.
[groans] Man, he used to ride me.
But I'll tell you what.
I wish I'd spent more time with him.
- [clicks teeth] Let's get you home.
- Oh, I wanna make one stop.
[Jackson] All right.
["Chance" by Juno Rossa playing]
I had a vision ♪
- [patrons laughing]
- [cell phone chiming]
We were laughing ♪
Safe ♪
- I thought I'd find you here.
- Did you follow me?
Maybe.
[Georgia chuckles]
Look at us.
Two working stiffs decompressing.
- That's not what's happening.
- Isn't it?
Don't fight it. We're peers now.
Let's talk shop.
Bio was so tech today.
Today was actually quite stressful for me.
- Oh, love it. Give me deets.
- Um
I would, but I, um
I have a lot of emails to catch up on.
- Can I get a double bourbon? She'll pay.
- [bartender] You got it.
Get ready for the greatest comeback
in tennis history.
Before I start, I just wanna make sure
you're feeling better.
One hundred percent ready to dominate.
[both grunt]
- [exhales]
- Boom!
[exhales] Congratulations.
- You finally beat me.
- Thanks, Dad.
Years from now, no one will even care
that you beat me on a day
that I suffered a major medical emergency
'cause a win's a win.
- [sighs] I won fair and square.
- While I was incapacitated.
How about a rematch tomorrow?
I can't. I got work. Magma's bio-battery
isn't gonna perfect itself.
You're coming back?
Rumor has it
you're looking for a fresh face.
BioTexpo? The next generation of Dragon
center stage. I could get behind this.
Me too. I think.
I just wanna do it my way.
Sure. Of course.
No one expects you to be as good as I am.
- That's not what I said.
- But it's what you meant.
[groans]
[closing theme plays]
[closing theme ends]