Unstable (2023) s02e08 Episode Script

1
[whimsical music playing]
Okay, so you're telling me
that I'm no longer the CEO?
Peter is stepping in for the time being,
but the whole thing is only temporary.
[Ellis] Oh.
Uh-huh.
Look, Ellis, I can only imagine how severe
and sudden this must seem to you,
but please know this is all about
protecting you and your company.
[Ellis] Uh-huh.
Okay, I'm good.
Things have been delicate.
We want to put our best foot forward.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm good. I'm good.
I'm good in the hood.
As long as you're good.
Yeah, yeah. This this hood is good.
Then it's settled.
[dramatic music playing]
Shit.
- Hey. How'd it go?
- Huh?
The apology?
That's why we're here, right?
You were going to apologize to Anna.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, it went great. Fantastic!
[yawning] It's been a long day.
I'm very, very tired.
I'm gonna go take a nap or go on a run.
- Those are really different things.
- Don't I know it.
[dramatic music playing]
Hey, there he is.
I was worried.
Do you still believe in me?
That's an interesting question.
You feel like people
are losing faith in you?
Did Anna and Peter say something to you?
- How do you know?
- It's my job to know.
- Oh, of course.
- Yeah.
Did you talk to them about it?
They didn't say
I talked to them, did they?
- Why would they?
- Right, why would they?
Yeah, which is why they didn't.
Unless you're saying that they did.
- They didn't.
- Well, that's exactly what I'm saying.
[exhales, chuckles]
Yeah, no, they're all in charge now.
You know, I'm out. Peter's in.
And it was all Anna's idea.
- Whoa, so it's done then.
- [sighs]
Dragon is in a post-Ellis era.
[winces]
It's hurtful when you say it like that.
But, um, you know, it was a good run.
But this ol' horse is not even worth
the price of his hooves.
No! Don't say that.
You're not an old horse.
No. You're a young horse
galloping around. We just
Just need to make a pivot.
What kind of pivot?
Both of us pivot this way.
Then down, up.
[chuckles] We got 'em.
[whimsical music playing]
[music ends]
What? You didn't tell me that
you stabilized the hydrogel cylinders.
- Uh-huh.
- Go off!
Yeah, I'd go off
if I was presenting something
that was actually, uh, operational.
People present beta-phase designs
all the time.
When Steve Jobs presented the iPhone,
it was just cardboard.
Is that true?
Maybe. I'm just saying,
you need to chill, Mr. CEO.
Interim CEO.
- Still pretty cool.
- [inhales deeply]
Yeah, it'd be a lot cooler
if it didn't come at the expense
of ousting my childhood hero.
Well, at least you didn't have to alienate
your best friend.
- Touché.
- Mm-hmm.
Touch
That psychopath won't stop bothering me.
Ellis?
Um, no. Um
[smacks lips] Say, can you, uh
Can you keep a secret?
[whimsical music playing]
- Georgia, do you have a second?
- Oh God. Just say it.
Rip the Band-Aid off.
What Band-Aid?
Whenever someone says, "We need to talk,"
it's bad news.
Oh, I didn't
I didn't say we need to talk.
- You didn't?
- No!
I want to see if you're free tomorrow.
There's a dumpling place I wanna try.
Oh, I thought we were donezo.
But, yeah, that Tomorrow works.
Wait, why would we be donezo?
Dude, you've got a rep.
At least according to Luna.
Shit. What did she say?
Just that you start office flings,
and the second
your dad goes into crisis mode, you dip.
I don't
- Is my dad in crisis mode?
- You didn't hear?
Anna canned his ass.
What?
This is insane.
You got rid of the person
who built the company from the ground up?
Your father missed
a crucial board meeting.
He is too much of a wild card
to be trusted right now.
That's not true.
[splutters] And I know
that change doesn't happen overnight,
but yesterday my dad had a revelation,
and he's come out the other side.
Why should I believe that?
This isn't gonna make perfect sense,
but we both became fake realtors.
The freedom of those new identities
allowed us to unlock
the truest versions of ourselves.
You need more.
Ellis Dragon became Ron Tabasco.
Ron Tabasco was gonna sleep with Adele
to get on the Windy Terrace team.
But he couldn't. He was thinking of Norma.
Then he told me, Jason Dargon, that,
and through that conversation
and aborted sexual encounter
we got back Ellis Dragon.
Right, perfect.
I'll, uh I'll call the board
and tell them that, shall I?
- I should be there when you do it.
- I was kidding.
Anna, Ellis is the only one
who can get that battery working.
The board knows that, and you know that.
The only thing that I know
is your father hasn't been someone
we've been able to rely on lately.
He is the most centered I've seen him
since my mom died.
Okay, if what you're saying is true,
would he be willing to come back here,
get to work in the lab,
and put aside his pride?
- I can get him to work in the lab.
- And put aside his pride?
I'll get him in the lab, and
I'll work on the pride.
- Well, that all sounds great.
- You'll be hearing from us real soon.
- Thank you so much!
- Sure.
Would you like to show your school spirit
by purchasing some swag on your way out?
We're having a special.
- I'm good.
- All right.
[door opens]
- [Jackson hesitates] Who was that?
- Oh, Jackson! You here to interview?
For what? What What's going on here?
You are looking at the inaugural class
from the newest powerhouse
in higher education.
Ellis U.
- LSU?
- That's right, Ellis U.
[chuckles] Sorry.
I'm trying to hear it correctly.
Are you saying L
Ellis U.
What's so complicated about Ellis U?
Oh, I don't know.
Maybe that there already is one.
Louisiana State University.
Jackson, if you want to enroll at Ellis U,
you've got to apply like everyone else.
Leslie's the Dean of Admissions
at Ellis U.
And the minority owner.
[whispers] We are a for-profit university.
Shh.
Mmm I see what's going on here.
This is a Leslie scam.
He's capitalizing off your name.
Well, if that were true,
would I be sharing the financial risk?
All this merch, this is on my card.
[sighs]
Dad, you shouldn't be wasting your time
with a fake school.
And what is this?
- Our mascot.
- Oh!
A robot kangaroo?
It's a Robo-Roo.
We are the Ellis U Robo-Roos.
- Go Roos!
- Oh boy.
The signature blend of science and whimsy
that Ellis U has come to be known for.
We already have
a ton of impressive applicants
who are excited to study under me.
And we're hoping
for some less impressive applicants soon.
When parents start to get desperate,
that's when the money train
really begins to chug.
So if you'll excuse us, uh, we've got
some more young minds to stuff. Thank you.
- Dad, this is ridiculous.
- [door opens]
Come back to Dragon
where you can make a real difference.
Ellis U will make a real difference.
Let Anna and Peter have
their stupid company. We're doing great.
I know what Anna did stings,
but we can get you through that
so that we can get you back into the lab.
- Leslie?
- We've been there and done that.
We're on to bigger and better things.
Exactly. If you'll excuse me.
- So, Josh.
- [Josh] Yes.
Tell me about your summers
in the rainforest.
Oh, it's court-ordered.
[whimsical music playing]
[door opens]
Jackson! Hey!
Good to see you back in the lab.
Is it?
[chuckles]
I think so.
[Jackson] Hmm.
Luna, if you have a problem with me,
you should just come to me directly.
Okay.
Um, is this about Georgia? 'Cause I
It's fine. Really, it's fine.
Just come talk to me next time.
Great, now you hate me too.
- What? I didn't say hate. No.
- Yeah.
What up, peeps?
Hey, so this is what's up. Jackson here
just joined your "I Hate Luna" Club.
- Huh?
- Yay!
So congrats. You can just invite him
to your next meeting if you want.
Also, invite me.
I agree with you guys. I just I suck.
Am I missing something?
Um, after Ruby got the title bump,
my girl has gone a little bananas.
A little bananas?
Uh, is everything okay?
It will be after we all get drinks tonight
and work through this.
Jackson's buying.
- [chuckles] Why not?
- [door opens]
Oh, hey. You're here.
Yeah, I, um
I need your help.
Okay, sure.
[whimsical music playing]
I know you're on scholarship,
but if you would like to buy
any more of the merch,
the table's open.
- Who are all these people?
- Ask your dad. He brought 'em.
- Oh God.
- Jackson!
Did you come to meet the student body?
Or are you matriculating yourself?
Oh, enrollment is closed.
No, no, no. We can fudge the dates,
but you'd still have to write an essay.
Dad, why'd you bring these people here?
There's only so much you can learn
in a classroom.
And when we get one, we will learn it.
Until then, here we are.
And it's all thanks to you.
I mean, Jackson really inspired me
to get back in the lab
and start working on the bio-battery
so my students can get
some hands-on experience.
- You're killing me.
- No, I didn't say anything about students.
Listen, Ellis, with all due respect,
you know, we're up against a pretty big
deadline here, and this ain't helping.
What's going on?
Little help?
- [metal clanking]
- Damn, girl, you got a cannon on you.
This may be Ellis U's new quarterback.
I would still very much like to know
what's happening.
It's very simple.
I'm back for the final push to BioTexpo.
My students are observing.
Are you sincerely here
to help finish the battery?
What part of this looks sincere to you?
Oh, come on.
We're all on the same team here,
so let's all get back into the lab
and boogie.
- No.
- Boogie-oogie-oogie.
- [clears throat] Anna, despite
- You just can't take it no more.
Okay. Just be quiet for two seconds.
I'm trying to help you.
Anna, whatever is happening
right now, ignore that.
He's still our best chance
of getting the battery done. I promise.
Okay, Ellis,
but you are on a very short leash.
You will not regret it! Go Roos!
[students] Go Roos!
[Leslie laughing]
What is this?
Hey, you know I can get you
out of this little field trip early
if you spend 10K in our campus store.
Excuse me?
I think I over ordered.
It's not just the sunk cost of the merch.
It's the warehouse rental
that's got me upside down.
[Anna exhales]
I'm in a real jam here.
Please! Oh, the wolves are at the door.
[whimsical music playing]
You know, it's not totally ideal
to have this many visitors today.
Not my choice.
[Ellis] Oh, I'll take that.
Thank you.
Everyone, behold the bio-battery.
Take a good look.
Soon it will be powering the world.
How great is this?
Everybody cramming for the big exam.
Well, it's not an exam as much as it is
people just trying to do their jobs.
Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was using
a college metaphor for the kids.
Um, some of these kids are older than you.
One of them is my Aunt Meredith.
I didn't want to embarrass you,
sweetie. Hi.
Hey.
Can we make a rule? Nobody adjusts my
microscope while I'm looking through it?
But Professor Ellis said
that we were allowed to touch things.
No, I said you are required
to touch everything.
[Meredith] Oh.
[glass clinking]
- Okay. That's fine. Yeah.
- Hey, you dropped Put that right back.
[glass shatters]
[Ruby] The prototype!
[Luna] Oh no.
That's it. Everybody out!
Everybody. Come on.
Come on. Let's go.
- No, you stay.
- Okay.
We don't know that it's actually broken.
[dramatic music playing]
I just think
it would be better for everyone
if you took this circus somewhere else.
It was an accident.
The kids need to be allowed to screw up.
- Enough about the kids.
- No one's mad at them.
Who are we mad at? Peter? Luna?
No, that seems unfair.
Unfortunately, Ellis, it seems as though
your only motive for being here
is to derail the entire project.
Well, that's not true.
I mean, we're also here
to share the promo code.
Type in "real college" at checkout
and get a 5% discount,
plus free shipping on orders over $500.
We're not here to derail anyone. Trust me.
I wish I could.
I came here to help you people out.
Save the day.
Jackson, tell her.
[Jackson inhales, exhales]
All right.
Class dismissed.
[Jackson] Dad, wait.
Just to clarify,
by free shipping, it's within the US.
So it's domestic, not international.
I'm in a real jam.
["Yeah Whatever Young Forever"
by Jim and Sam playing]
[patrons chatting indistinctly]
Hey, sorry I'm late.
Um, actually, it was nice
to have some alone time.
Yeah, I got to vent to Luna
about this nightmare employee
I've been dealing with.
Oh yeah. And Ruby helped me deal
with this boss from hell situation.
Oh, man, you guys made up without me.
Well, I'm glad you talked it out.
Hey, where's Jackson?
Oh, Ellis duty.
Ooh, I bet. Today was such a shit show.
[Malcolm] I mean, cut the man some slack.
Imagine how he must feel having to take
a backseat at the company he built.
Hella stressful.
Sure, but Ellis isn't the only one
who's stressed.
Oh, I know. This whole
Sydney Grossman thing, it's so scary.
What Sydney Grossman thing?
Uh, nothing.
Wait, isn't that the guy
they linked Peter's threats to?
What about him?
[Ruby clears throat]
He maybe is still harassing Peter,
and maybe it's gotten a little bit worse.
Do we know why?
It's personal.
Yeah, they, uh, used to work together
or something.
Wait, I thought Peter said
he didn't know the guy.
Well, that wasn't exactly true.
Why would Peter lie?
- First I'm demoted.
- Mm-hmm.
Do I complain? No.
And then, I'm asked to come back
and work in the lab.
Do I say no? Of course not.
And now I'm banned. What kind
of a topsy-turvy world are we living in?
- You're leaving a few things out.
- What? My
[spluttering] My students?
I was coming back
to a hostile work environment.
I wasn't gonna get any support,
so I brought my own cheering section.
- You needed an audience.
- I need what I need to do what I do!
[clears throat]
[sighs] Oh God.
[sighs]
Um, Dad.
I have always resented
how much pressure you've put on me.
[exhales]
But in this moment, I am realizing
that it's nothing compared to the amount
of pressure you put on yourself.
Thank you.
I'm expected to make miracles.
But you've proven yourself
time and time again.
You don't need to impress anyone anymore.
The only time I feel
like I exist
is when I'm doing something extraordinary.
The rest of the time, it's just [inhales]
filler.
The time we spend together?
Who's ready for some hot Peter goss?
Lay it on me.
Well, get a paper towel
'cause it's about to get juicy.
[tense music playing]
So we think
that Peter stole the battery tech
from this Sydney Grossman?
We're here to find out.
I knew he wasn't that good on Quick Money.
I mean, he was good,
but not death threat good.
I'll do the talking.
- Please don't.
- Mm-mm.
Okay.
[dog barking]
- Maybe we should go around back.
- It's a two-story house. Give him a break.
Have some fucking patience,
Malcolm. Jesus.
I'm sorry.
- Let's go.
- Okay.
[tense music playing]
[phone chimes]
- Damn it.
- Everything okay?
- [Malcolm knocking on door]
- No. I had plans with Georgia,
and of course
I'm here with you instead, so
- [Malcolm] Hello?
- I blew it.
- That's a shame.
- [Malcolm knocking]
Well, there are other fish in the sea.
Save it. I know you don't like her.
[doorknob rattling]
- [Malcolm] Sydney!
- [dog barking]
I never said I didn't like her.
I'm just not sure
what she brings to the table.
How about that I like her?
Is that enough for you?
Jesus Christ, Malcolm! We don't need
to break into this guy's house!
You didn't. You just found an open door,
and I was never here.
[whispers] Ghost protocol. Shh.
[Malcolm giggles]
[tense music playing]
[Ellis] What are we looking for exactly?
I thought we were gonna talk to the guy,
not get involved
with breaking and entering.
Well, if Malcolm hadn't broken
and we hadn't entered,
we wouldn't have found that.
Oh my God.
Sydney is an Ellis U student?
Not just any Ellis U student.
Dudley.
[suspenseful music playing]
- Go Roos!
- [students] Go Roos!
Sydney is Dudley. Who's Dudley?
I'm starting to get freaked out.
How do you think I feel?
I have two intruders in my house.
- Sydney.
- Dudley.
That's right. I should have known
you two would put the pieces together.
So then you know how Peter screwed me?
The battery was your idea?
I mean, I came up
with some of the underlying tech.
I didn't realize it could be used
for a battery, but so what?
That's tech. He who implements
gets the parade.
My dad's right.
I mean, mouses, windows, icons
were Xerox ideas that Apple implemented.
Peter's no Steve Jobs.
Maybe not,
but he had the vision you didn't.
But destroying the battery
doesn't help anyone. I don't get it.
- Unless he didn't destroy it.
- Oh my God.
Where is it, Dudley?
Yeah, Sydney.
Where's what?
[rock music playing]
So, your mind's made up? You're definitely
quitting your internship?
It's not for me.
Biotech?
Work.
I see.
And it's got nothing to do with Jackson?
I may have heard some office gossip
about him leaving you high and dry
in a dumpling establishment.
Maybe. [chuckles]
[suspenseful music playing]
He pulled off an old-fashioned heist
straight out of Ocean's 8.
- Our favorite Ocean's.
- Mm-hmm.
When I saw that ad for Ellis U, it seemed
like the perfect way to get inside.
[gasps]
Did you think you could steal our property
and just sell it to somebody else?
No, don't you see, Jackson?
This has nothing to do with money.
Well, it kind of does.
No, no, no. You couldn't let someone else
take all the credit for the battery,
so you had to be the one to solve it.
- I don't think that's
- That's exactly what he's saying.
Okay.
He needed to feel extraordinary.
No, I need money.
Dad, he's not you.
I think if we just cut him a check
and don't call the police,
then maybe we walk out of here
with the battery
and never talk about this again.
- How big a check we talking?
- You disappoint me, Dudley.
Sydney. Make the check out to Sydney.
All right. Well, let's give him whatever
he wants and let's get back to the lab.
Agreed. To be clear, he wants money.
- I get it.
- Okay.
You know,
Ellis and Jackson are
are different in many ways.
In one respect, they're quite similar.
They're both so wrapped up in each other
that the best anyone can really aspire to
in their lives is second position.
Why is being emotionally unavailable
so damn hot?
I don't know.
It just is.
[phone chiming]
Oh God. Sorry.
I'm being summoned back to the office.
[phone beeps]
Hey. Wait. Uh
Can I ask you something?
Yeah. Yeah, anything.
Could you keep the tab open?
Sure.
Thanks, Anna.
Any time, Georgia.
[soft rock music playing]
What's going on?
May I present
Robo-Roo!
Seriously, you brought me back here
for that metal mascot?
Pretty sick, right?
It's not about the 'roo.
Look what's powering it!
The battery.
How is this even possible?
I thought it was beyond repair.
- Go Roos!
- Whoo-hoo!
Go Roos, indeed.
Oh, is he okay?
She is fine.
Sorry.
[uptempo instrumental music playing]
So, um, let me get this straight.
Ellis and Jackson got the battery working
but still want me
to give the presentation.
Ellis doesn't want to make
any last-minute changes, so it's all you.
That's great.
Do I still have to work with Kanga-Bot?
- Robo-Roo.
- Robo-Roo.
And, no. Ellis thinks you should present
however you wish.
Well, that is very generous of him.
Every so often,
he can be quite reasonable.
- Mmm.
- And unlike me, he doesn't hold grudges.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry I lied about Sydney.
I truly am. I panicked.
And honestly, I don't know. I
I don't know.
I didn't want you to think less of me.
It was an amateur move.
I really expected better.
So, what do I do to win back your trust?
I don't know if you can.
But if you check your inbox,
you'll see that I've sent you
an itemized list of ways that you can try.
Oh oh!
Cool. Yeah, I'm gonna, um
I'm gonna get right on that.
I'd like that.
And there you have it,
the next generation of Dragon Industries
giving us a glimpse
of how the company will evolve
past the cult of personality
of its colorful founder.
All right, I would like to toast Peter,
who completely nailed that presentation,
as I knew he would,
which is why I allowed him to present it.
Please, say something.
[laughs] Yes, um, I just want to say thank
you to all of you for your hard work,
and thank you to you, Ellis,
for allowing me to present. [chuckles]
We couldn't have done it without you,
so next step,
let's bring this bad boy to market.
[all cheering]
[glasses clinking]
Totally! But, um, maybe tonight
we just enjoy the party?
- Ooh, sounds like a boss move to me.
- I couldn't agree more.
- Who wants to see me do the worm?
- It's a little early for the worm.
- Yeah, wait for the sun to set.
- Copy that. Worm only comes out at night.
- Jackson, can I see you for a second?
- Yep.
I have a very eager Ellis U student
who wants to pick your brain,
and I offered them dinner with you.
- Right now?
- Right now.
- Seriously?
- Mm-hmm.
["Congratulations" by MGMT playing]
[Jackson exhales]
You're right.
I shouldn't try to control you.
Much less who you date.
Thank you.
I do however insist
on final breeding approval.
- You're kidding, right?
- I don't kid about bloodlines.
Okay.
Hi. Oh my God.
I'm so sorry I missed dumplings. I just
Let me guess. Something about your dad.
[chuckles] Yes, good guess.
You're leaving Dragon?
Sorry. I'm out.
Okay. What's next?
[clicks tongue] Well, there's this guy
I've been thinking about stalking.
Oh.
Relax. It's you.
[laughs]
Okay.
It's not a blaze of glory ♪
Um
You look down from your temple ♪
As people endeavor to make it a story ♪
And chisel a marble word ♪
BioTexpo was a real Bio-Success-po.
And you're sure you're okay
with being out of the spotlight?
The spotlight is on the science,
which is where it should be.
- I love this new version of you.
- Me too.
And this new version wouldn't exist
without the tough love
of a very special person.
Stop. We don't need to
- Here he is right now.
- Hey!
- Hey!
- That's right.
[Ellis chuckles]
Leslie, of course.
This is the man who helped me
finally realize what I should be doing.
Helping others fulfill their potential.
Oh God. Are you doing Ellis U
full time now?
- No.
- Good.
Good. Well then, nice work, Leslie.
I hope Ellis does the right thing
and reimburses you
for all that merch you're on the hook for.
[both laughing]
What?
I don't think we're gonna have
any problem moving that merch.
No.
[Ellis, Leslie laughing]
Why? What have you
What have you done with that merch?
- Just don't worry about it.
- Merch.
[Ellis, Leslie laughing]
Hi, I'm Ellis Dragon.
You know me
as the founder of Dragon Industries,
but what you probably don't know
is how my family
had to struggle when I was a kid.
I remember one time our dishwasher broke,
and my mother didn't have
enough money to fix it.
Well, I crawled right under there
with my toolbox, and I fixed it myself.
In one afternoon,
I got it running on less energy,
using half the amount of water,
and getting our dishes
three-and-a-half times cleaner.
America, your dishwasher is on the fritz.
And if ten-year-old me
was able to do that for my mom,
can you imagine
what slightly older me can do for you?
[inspirational music playing]
Ellis is for me.
Ellis is for me.
Ellis is for me.
Ellis is for you.
Our government is full of people
doing things for themselves.
Vote for someone
who's doing everything for you.
- And visit our online store.
- See you at the ballot box.
And online at our online store.
[Leslie] On our online store.
[instrumental music playing]
[instrumental music ends]