Unstable (2023) s02e03 Episode Script

1
[whimsical music playing]
[Ruby and Luna laughing]
[Ruby, Luna] Oh.
Looks like we've got
some fresh meat here today.
[chuckles] That's funny.
Hey, new guy,
that's my station.
Oh, sorry, miss.
Still getting my bearings around here.
Oh, uh, I don't think so, rookie.
Now you're in my microscope zone.
Oh. [chuckles]
- This all right?
- For now. Just keep it down.
Jackson, what are you doing in the corner?
Just a little first-day hazing.
I can handle it.
Oh, that's so great. Very good fun.
Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?
- What's up?
- What's that all about?
- They're just having fun.
- At your expense.
Yeah, but I get it.
I talked a big game about quitting
and then came back almost instantly,
so I can't be surprised
if I have to take a little heat.
Yeah, uh, here's the thing about heat.
When you asked for more responsibility
here at the company,
that put you on the boss path.
- Mmm.
- Thing about bosses.
They don't take heat. They dish it out.
Right. It's not that big a deal.
They're my friends.
- And your future employees.
- That's ridiculous.
BioTexpo is just around the corner.
It's time for you to start
separating yourself from everybody else.
I'm not gonna treat friends differently
just 'cause I'm speaking at an event.
An event? It's more than an event.
It is your coming-out party.
If you want to be taken seriously,
you need to accept that.
Hey there, noob.
Shouldn't you be getting us coffees?
Coming right up, my lord.
I remain in your service,
for I am but a humble noob.
[scoffs] Oh no,
I hope you don't kiss my feet.
[Jackson chuckling, kissing]
[Malcolm] You're funny.
[theme music playing]
I brought you something.
A breakfast treat. Yummy.
How thoughtful of you. Thank you.
Aren't you gonna take a bite?
You first.
- You think I'm trying to poison you.
- Wouldn't be the first time.
God, I was just a kid,
and it was just laxatives.
A family trip to remember. We had to buy
that poor man's dune buggy.
Okay, fine. I'll taste it first.
[inhales]
- See? Not tainted.
- Hey, what's poppin'?
Georgia was just leaving.
Later, gators.
[groans] That girl
will be the death of me.
Hmm? Who dat?
Georgia? The intern?
Former stepdaughter. No?
Bane of my existence.
Oh yeah. Working with family's the best.
How is that your takeaway?
So, uh, we need to talk about Jackson.
I don't think he's ready for BioTexpo.
So, you don't want him to present?
No, no, I want him to be ready to present.
So, stay with me.
- [inhales, exhales]
- We throw a corporate retreat,
and there we reintroduce him
as a better, improved version of himself.
One that's worthy of respect.
Well, a retreat could be good
for the merging of the two companies.
And Jackson could stand
to have a stiffer backbone.
I will make that boy so stiff,
he won't be able to roll over in bed.
[uptempo rhythmic music playing]
All right, I want
100% concentration, 100% focus.
I don't understand
how it's helpful for me to know
random facts about Dragon employees.
Well, they're not random facts to them.
They're the facts of their lives.
And when leaders like us acknowledge
those facts, it gives meaning to them.
I believe that you believe that.
- Because it works.
- For you. You're a celebrity.
If Ellis Dragon remembers
something about someone, it's exciting.
If Ellis Dragon's son does, it's weird.
Well, you'll see when we implement it.
So the last thing people are gonna feel
before they get on the bus to the retreat
is a touch of that Dragon magic.
You ready, Malcolm? Let's go.
Okay. Here we go.
[exhales] What's up, Jackson?
Tyler, my dude,
you need to send me your address
so I can get you symphony tickets.
Yes, I love symphony tickets
because I love the symphony.
- [Ellis exhales]
- [Malcolm] Great. Um
Oh yeah. [exhales]
Stanley [exhales]with a "Y."
I know it. Hold on.
- Stanley, I got you a tuna melt.
- That's my favorite sandwich.
- Yes! Keep it going.
- [Jackson] Let's go.
[Malcolm] Okay. Um
Morgan
- Uh. [hesitates]
- Come on, you know this.
Here, engage that core.
Get some oxygen in that brain.
- [sighs]
- [tense instrumental music playing]
Morgan, Dragon's HR superstar.
You're from Oakland, right? Go, Dubs.
- Yes! What? I love the Warriors.
- Me too.
Oh my God, is there anybody
Draymond hasn't attacked at this point?
- I think it's just me.
- [Jackson laughs]
You're right. Here you go.
I'll see you at the retreat.
Good. I like the smile. Very little teeth.
- Ruby. Luna.
- [Luna] Hey.
- What are you doing?
- Oh, these two won't be so easy.
I'm just making sure
everybody gets on the buses okay.
Aw, he's like a camp counselor.
[chuckles] Stay hydrated out there,
gang. It's gonna be a scorcher.
[Luna laughing]
Well, I'm just looking forward to spending
time with co-workers such as yourselves.
And I'll make sure someone hands you
a cold Arnold Palmer as soon as we arrive.
Oh, my favorite drink. Neat.
I've got tick spray for you. I know
you're super anxious about Lyme disease.
It's only my biggest fear.
Now that's all I'll be thinking about.
Wonderful. I'll see you guys there.
- Okay.
- Oh.
That was weird.
It looks like his smile
is hurting his face.
Right this way to the buses.
Okay, Malcolm, give me the numbers.
Well, the numbers are looking good.
People responded to Jackson's greetings.
I overheard words
like "confident" and "pro."
- Oh, that's excellent news.
- And we haven't even left yet.
Peter. So happy to see you.
Jackson, my man,
I was just thinking about you.
- Ooh.
- Here we go.
You know, I, uh,
I read the humor piece you wrote.
The one for your school paper about
the differences between LA and New York.
Oh, he is good.
He's giving Jackson a run for his money.
Clearly an experienced leader
in his own right.
Oh my God. How did you find that?
Ah, you can find everything online
these days.
- You know, so funny.
- Yeah.
People really do walk more over there.
- Don't they? There's, like, no cars.
- Yeah. [chuckles]
You would know.
You were in an off-Broadway production
of Dear Evan Hansen in 2016.
Oh yeah.
- Yeah, I had a lot of fun with that.
- How great is that show?
But honestly, you know,
I feel like a heel,
knowing that I was goofing around on stage
while you were building homes
with Habitat for Humanity that year.
- I shook Jimmy Carter's hand.
- That's real, bro.
Jimmy Carter,
America's favorite president.
[Jackson] Wasn't enough
- Is that true?
- No.
Not like when you caught a purse snatcher.
- [chuckling] Oh my God.
- Incredible!
That's not me, man. That's God.
- Know what I mean?
- True that.
Right place, right time.
Pure coincidence. [chuckles]
Well, it's kinda like
when my dad bought your company
after I started working there.
It's like coincidences
follow this guy around, huh?
[both chuckle lightly]
I'm messing with you.
- Oh!
- Oh my God.
[laughing] Oh my God.
- I was like, "Oh no, is he really mad?"
- Yeah.
- That's what I was thinking, and then
- Right.
- I was like, "Is he mad?"
- Uh-huh.
Is he mad or [chuckles]
What? I'm messing with you again.
I'm not mad.
- You're good. [chuckles]
- It's water under the bridge, truly.
Your bio-battery is amazing.
- And it's going to be amazing for Dragon.
- Thank you.
[Jackson] Yeah, buddy.
- [Anna] Mmm.
- [Ellis] Yeah, there he is.
- My boy's killing the game.
- Well done, Jackson.
Thanks, guys. Should we head out?
Get on the bus?
- You're riding with me.
- Is that smart?
Uh, I'm a genius,
and I came up with the idea.
Not going on the bus with everyone.
Won't that be a bad look?
- People think that I think I'm special.
- Nobody ever went broke being special.
[whimsical music playing]
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
- Hey.
- Hey, you two.
Jackson, you enter this retreat a boy,
and you come out a man.
I'm already a man.
Yeah.
[Anna] Mmm.
I can't believe I was able
to put all this together so quickly.
Yes, it's amazing how you did that.
Well, well, well, look who we have here.
Us.
Chaz, TJ, I, uh
What a wonderful surprise
to see my two favorite board members.
Oh good, the twins are here.
I was worried you guys wouldn't make it.
We never say "no" to a party.
- Unless it's for charity.
- Yeah, get your own dad's money.
So you invited them?
Well, obvi. I overheard you saying
how much you love them
and how important it was
for them to be here.
Remember?
Of course, yes.
That's exactly what I said.
This one, always so on it.
[inhales]
Why don't you take Chaz and TJ
over to the buffet?
- Okay, boss.
- [Anna] Mmm.
- There better be jumbo shrimp.
- We only do jumbo.
Georgia has really
crossed the line this time.
May be time
to take her behind the woodshed.
Yeah, like you said, family's great.
Never said that, but thanks for listening.
Yeah, I agree. She's the best.
[Anna exhales sharply]
[rhythmic instrumental music playing]
- [music ends]
- [microphone feedback]
Test, test, test. Test, test.
Oh, oh, he's gonna say a few words.
You should be up there doing that.
I already greeted everybody.
That's overkill.
All right.
I want to say thank you
to all of you for being here today.
It truly means a lot.
Uh, big thank you
to the Dragon family for hosting us
and making the Magma team
feel oh so, so welcome.
I am hopeful
we will all make like hydrogen and carbon
and bond.
[audience groans, chuckles]
[Chaz] Boo!
- Science comedy sucks.
- Do something cool. Do a magic trick.
Yeah. Blow our minds.
I see we've got
some members of the board here today.
[hesitates] Uh, but it seems like
they may be, uh, a little bit
bored. [chuckles]
'Cause they're members of the board and
Okay, he's bombing.
You you have to get up there.
I I don't want this low energy
to kill the momentum on your big day.
Yeah, I guess
I shouldn't just let him bomb.
That's the hero move.
Now go up there, shut down those twins,
and right this boat. Come on. Come on.
'Cause it's B-O-R-E-D,
is what I was saying.
There's two ways to spell it, so you just
All right, you know, I don't wanna take up
any more of your precious time
- [TJ] Too late!
- Uh
- Yeah. Give me our time back.
- Or a magic trick.
I had it.
Um, maybe for our next trick,
we can make the twins disappear, huh?
[audience laughing]
Can't be your next trick
if you haven't done a first trick, chode.
[laughs] Yeah.
This magician's assistant sucks.
- Okay, that's enough. Shh. Please.
- Did he just shush us?
- He can't do that.
- He just did.
- How about Peter? This guy, huh?
- [audience cheers]
You know,
I think I speak for everyone at Dragon
when I say we are so excited
to really dig in with the Magma team, huh?
How about it, Dragon?
So please enjoy the food, the drinks,
get to know each other,
and let's have a great time today.
Whoo!
[both] Whoo!
Yeah!
[whimsical music playing]
Great save. Some hero shit.
Really. I told you.
- Nicely done, Jackson. [sighs]
- Thank you.
Coming up ASAP.
Okay, sifting through the latest,
and it's not all bad news.
Bad news? He just saved Peter.
That's not the popular opinion.
People felt like
he sort of steamrolled Peter.
The twins were the ones making fun of him.
Actually, people liked the interplay
between Peter and the twins
and did not like
the way that Jackson inserted himself.
One person said, "Nobody likes a shusher."
Someone else said, "Should that Dragon kid
really be antagonizing board members?"
The board's support
is crucial to your success.
They tried to destroy my father.
I'm not saying you should trust them, but,
uh, you can't be alienating them either.
At least the morning went well.
Mm There was some bad buzz
around that too.
- You said everyone liked it.
- They did.
But on the bus, people compared notes,
and when they realized
you did the same thing to all of them,
it came across
as a little phony in retrospect.
Damn it. I knew
I should've ridden with them.
Then they couldn't have talked about me.
They definitely didn't love
you taking another car.
- Okay, you said it wasn't all bad news?
- [Malcolm] It's not.
Jackson may be losing ground
amongst lab staff and admin,
but he's polling really well
amongst upper management.
[Anna] Mmm.
- Do you mean my dad?
- And Anna.
- Okay, great. Everyone hates me.
- Let me get some fresh data.
You you get
what I was trying to say earlier, right?
About "bored" and "board"?
There's a lot of words like that. I think
This is just a little backlash.
Which is a good thing, trust me.
Backlash is an acknowledgment of success.
There's no backlash for failure.
I don't know.
It feels like I'm losing the retreat.
Then take it back. Go and grab it.
That's what I would do.
I think me trying to do what you would do
is what got me here.
- I agree.
- Thank you.
So stop trying to be like me
and just be like me.
- Got it.
- Double down.
That's it? I feel like if I do that,
people will just hate me more.
Commit.
Now, we've just gotta find a way
to get you an easy win in the bag.
[exhales] Okay, how do we do that?
[whimsical music playing]
[Jackson] Capture the flag.
Rules are simple.
Capture the other team's flag,
you win. Got it, Peter?
- [chuckles] I think so.
- You're captaining the blue team.
Scooch. All right, red team, huddle up.
We're gonna break up,
have two people guarding the flag,
two defenders floating in the field,
the rest are pushing their flag, yeah?
Malcolm, when you're 100 yards out,
I want you to flank from the right.
- I want you to get noticed.
- A decoy.
That's right.
All right. We've gotta figure out
who are our flag runners
and who are our defenders.
When I say go,
we break towards the tree line. Yeah?
- [Luna] I can't even
- [Jackson] Ruby? Luna?
Hey, fall in.
- Fall in?
- What?
Fall in.
[Jackson clicks tongue]
All right. We ready?
Let's go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Yay, teamwork!
[uptempo instrumental music playing]
You're playing this perfectly.
Totally in control, back in your element.
I don't feel like I'm in my element.
I just told Ruby and Luna to fall in.
And how did they react?
- They fell in.
- Would they have done that before today?
- Probably not.
- Well, today, Ruby and Luna.
Tomorrow, the world.
[Jackson] Should we go for it?
I don't see a blue team member.
That's your call, boss.
I'm gonna do this.
Red team, charge!
[tense instrumental music playing]
Ah!
[music builds, ends]
- [horn blaring]
- [Ellis yells]
Ha! We did it! Red team wins!
Come on out.
Where is everyone?
["Santeria" by Sublime playing on guitar]
I do practice Science-teria ♪
I sure stack those beakers tall ♪
[Jackson] Red team?
And I modify the proteins
That comprise the plants and walls ♪
Uh, did you just forget
about capture the flag?
You guys disappeared
for a really long time.
Everybody really got bored.
And Peter picked up that guitar
and brought the vibe back.
I guess it's more fun to be serenaded
than it is to be yelled at. Who knew?
If I could find that tiny microbe
And new enzyme compound ♪
Well, I'd look at all the readings ♪
And I'd write them down ♪
Is he coming up with it
off the top of his head?
I know, right. Impressive.
The pipes on that guy. Unreal. [sighs]
[Jackson] Okay, calm down.
[Jackson clicks tongue]
- Word on the street.
- Huh?
- People are really into this.
- Uh-huh. Uh-huh. No shit, Malcolm.
- Yeah, you're fucked. We should bail.
- Oh. No. What? No, come on!
Let's live to fight another day.
Cut our losses and such.
It's only a loss 'cause I listened to you.
In fact, this is what I said.
This is what people want.
A gorgeous reimagining
of a classic by Sublime?
No. A chilled, relaxing retreat.
I spent all day today in boss mode,
telling people what to do,
when I could have been winning hearts
and minds just hanging and making music.
Dude, I could have my flute here
in, like, 20 minutes.
- Oh God, no. Uh, traffic.
- No, maybe another day.
There's no traffic.
What? No, not not another day.
♪I got results for your punk ass ♪
All I really wanna do ♪
A real leader knows
when to stop listening to his dad
and start listening to what's in here.
- What is in there?
- Not you.
- Not me? How could I fit?
- Shh!
I'm making my move.
[clears throat] Hey.
Hey, guys. Hey, Peter. Hi.
It's me, Jackson. J-man. No one
calls me that. Peter, you're so good, man.
Really, that was truly insane.
- Thanks for saying so. That means a lot.
- [Jackson] I meant it too.
Um, I had an idea.
Let's go to the bar. Drinks on me, huh?
- [all cheering]
- [whimsical music playing]
[music ends]
Arnold Palmers with bourbon.
Gross.
[Jackson groans]
I'm kidding. They're beers.
- Oh. [chuckles]
- [laughs]
Are you gonna make us drop and give you 20
if we accept these?
- No. I'm done telling people what to do.
- [gasps] He's back!
Wow. We missed you.
I missed you guys too.
- Cheers.
- [Ruby laughs]
[gentle music playing]
Anna, what do you see here?
I see a group of happy employees
bonding and having fun.
I'll tell you what I see.
A minefield.
One step in the wrong direction,
this all blows up in Jackson's face.
Um, are you sure
you're not just feeling frustrated
because Jackson did things his own way,
and it seems to have worked out?
No! No, no.
When my son does well, I'm happy.
People are loving the move to the bar.
Jackson's numbers are soaring.
There you go, Ellis. Getting drunk
on the company dime never gets old.
You can relax.
Well, not yet.
He should quit while he's ahead.
Too many angles at play.
- He's putting himself at unnecessary risk.
- He may not be the only one.
[cans crackling]
Talking about Malcolm's deep V?
Yeah, I was worried about it too,
but he's rocking it.
[sighs] No risk it, no biscuit.
Yeah, see? You don't have anything
to worry about, Anna.
Yes, what I'm experiencing right now
is relief regarding Malcolm's deep V.
- [Malcolm] Mmm.
- Excuse me.
I like it. Ba-joing!
[Georgia] Mommy!
- [Anna groans]
- Take a shot with us, Mommy.
Yeah, Mommy. Do it.
Uh, I'd like to remind you
that this is a work event.
And I'd like to remind you
that two board members
want to take a shot with you.
Leaving us hanging is bad business.
Major faux "pass."
Very well then.
[groans]
Ugh.
Yummy.
- [inhales] I'll save the rest for later.
- So lame.
- Oh my God. More shots.
- Ooh.
- [TJ] Thank you. We have a party.
- Okay, let's go, ladies.
That was rough.
[laughs] This all must be
complicated for you.
Oh, well, professional social gatherings
are always tricky.
Oh no, I was talking about Georgia.
Look, I know you guys have your history,
and I just wanna say that I am impressed
with how you're handling it.
- Excuse me?
- Hmm?
No, I I'm saying I can see
you have your hands full, and I just
- Sorry, I don't mean to overstep.
- No, no, it's fine.
I, um [smacks lips]
just not used to
anyone noticing really, so
- Yes.
- Mmm. Mmm.
- Thanks.
- You are very welcome.
[country music playing]
[Chaz] There he is.
- George W. Shush.
- Look, fellas, I didn't mean to
Shh!
- Doesn't feel so good, does it?
- No, it doesn't.
And if that's how I made you feel,
I apologize.
Too little, too late.
And you should've done it sooner,
and it's not enough.
Uh, you're right.
- But I'm gonna make it up to you guys.
- How?
At every future Dragon event
that you attend,
I promise there will be magic.
That sounds good.
But it's just words.
How do we know we can trust you?
I'm so glad you asked, friend.
Because if I was untrustworthy,
wouldn't I steal this
[slurps]quarter
that was behind your ear?
- How did he do that?
- I don't know!
Magic.
- [Chaz] Thank you.
- [smack lips] That's my boy.
Slick as an otter.
But I'm still not sure
we can get past this.
Not until we share a toast, twin style.
Fun. Okay. Yeah.
What are we talking about exactly?
Body shots, big boy.
It's how we squash all our beefs.
A beef's not squashed
till the body's been shot.
Oh no.
On the move. Yikes!
Barkeep, your finest mescal, please?
My brother's body's a temple.
It's not too late.
You can still walk away from this.
I don't think so.
But take a good look because
this is the new era of Dragon leadership.
- Hope you're ready for the Navel Academy.
- Fill the hole.
[all gasp]
- All right.
- [exhales]
Here we go.
Fire in the hole!
[exhales sharply]
[suspenseful music playing]
[slurping]
[all groan, scream]
[Chaz] Oh my God!
- Oh! Oh, it's on me!
- [man] It's on my shirt!
Ah! My belly!
You turned a belly shot
into something gross.
- Are you gonna be okay, brother?
- I don't know.
My tablet.
- Here's a dirty napkin I found.
- [Jackson] Yep.
Yeah, you just You ain't got no choice.
It got in my nose.
I saw.
We all did.
[closing theme plays]
[closing theme ends]