9-1-1: Lone Star (2020) s02e14 Episode Script
Dust to Dust
Well, this is it, Julian.
Moment of truth.
First solo flight.
How you feeling? I feel alive, Eddie.
I feel exhilarated.
I feel terrified.
Maybe we should do one more together.
Julian.
Do you recall what you told me the first day you hired me? Why you wanted to be certified as a pilot in the first place? Because I was sick of feeling like the world was trying to suffocate me.
Because I wanted to feel free.
So go break free.
Winds 120 at 8.
Visibility 10.
Sky clear below 1-2 thousand.
Cessna 9418 Mike ready for taxi to runway one-six.
9418 Mike, intentions for departure? First solo in the pattern.
9418 Mike, you are cleared for one-six.
Good luck up there.
Here goes nothing.
18 Mike, tower.
I need you to turn 1-1-0 and return to runway one-six immediately.
You want me to land already? I haven't completed the pattern.
Forget the pattern.
But I need it to get certified, don't I? 18 Mike, we're detecting a sudden, extreme weather system moving in fast from the north by northeast.
What are you talking about? What is that?! Turn 1-1-0 and increase your speed to 190 knots now.
Turning 1-1-0 Oh.
Oh, God! All right, so you got your honda knot.
Got your stopper.
Yeah? Oh, good.
Then you go under.
Over.
Throw a lasso.
He's so good with them.
Yeah, that's what godfathers are for.
He loves those girls, T.
I'm so grateful.
There's still a good man in their lives looking out for them.
- It's okay.
- The funeral was two weeks ago.
You'd think I'd be able to go two minutes without - a tissue break.
- No, let it out.
Y'all just keep practicing.
I'll be right back.
Let it out.
You okay? I I know that's a stupid question.
No.
No, it's not.
Every time I think I have a toehold on my sanity, then just it just hits me all over again.
Uh Charles's, uh his life insurance came in.
And it's-it's more than I expected.
You know, he was always looking out for the girls.
- Yeah, he was.
- So I'm thinking it's my turn.
- What do you mean? - That the only reason I put that uniform back on was to support my family.
So he's taken care of that now.
So, hold up, you love that job.
It's a part of who you are, too, now.
It is.
But what am I supposed to do? Well, have you told TK or Nancy what you're thinking? They're coming over tomorrow.
And I'll-I'll break it to them then.
Well, I feel for you, T.
Good luck.
You know what, you save some of that luck for yourself.
Because tomorrow is a big day for both of you.
Back at the call center? You must be counting down the hours.
I'm a little excited.
Just a little bit.
How about you, Juddy? Have they given you any idea which firehouse - you're gonna report to? - Nope.
Nope, the, uh, the last I heard from the brass of the department is we're supposed to get a call in the morning giving us our temporary assignments.
And Owen hasn't been able to give you a heads-up? - No, he's just as in the dark as we are.
- Hmm.
Yeah, how is Owen? Pushing paper around for the deputy chief? You know Owen, you know, he likes to jump in with both feet.
Limes.
I've been thinking a lot about limes.
Because limes, ladies and gentlemen, are how we are going to find efficiencies.
Last year, an airline saved $500,000 by slicing the limes into 16 pieces - instead of ten.
- So a half million in limes? In limes.
So I have scoured our department's budget and found many "sliced lime" expenses.
Now, these are things that we could scale back or cut, and nobody's ever gonna know the difference.
So, if every fire station adjusted its thermostat one degree, we'd save $127,000 a year.
We spend $60,000 on plant watering services.
That's something we should be doing ourselves.
Particularly when we know that caring for plants is good for our mental wellness.
It's a true fact.
And - it goes on.
- For 196 pages.
Now, it says here that you project 2.
7 million in savings.
Yes, and the appendix in the back breaks down those numbers.
And we're gonna need every penny 'cause, accounting for the rise in fuel and energy, next year this time, we're gonna be hurting.
Well, I must say, Captain Strand, I am, uh, I'm very impressed, though I'm hardly surprised by your embrace of your administrative duties.
Well, it gives me something to do while I'm waiting for the 126 to come back online.
Look, I need your help with the city planners.
They are just dragging their feet approving the crews to finish the work - on the firehouse.
- Well, you just have to have a little patience with these things.
- With all due respect, I've been patient.
- For two weeks.
Which is 13 days longer than it should take.
Captain, can I, uh, can I speak to you for a moment - outside? - Sure.
Do you know I considered bringing you down to Texas one of the greatest accomplishments of my career? Well, that's very nice of you to say.
No, I mean it.
Why, it is incredible how fast you remolded the 126 into the strongest station in our city.
And I just have to wonder if you could do that with one house, what you could do with a whole department.
Well, I'm happy to help in any way.
I'm not asking for your help, Captain.
I'm asking you to be Austin's next deputy fire chief.
Well, isn't that your job? Well, I'm retiring, Owen.
That's why I wanted you assigned to my staff.
Because there is nobody that I'd rather pass the reins on to than you.
Wow.
Um that's very, uh - Wow.
- Think you'll find your time here a little less eventful than what you're used to, Firefighter Strickland.
We don't get the crazy, high-octane calls that the 126 is known for.
Ah, no worries.
Not many stations do, Captain Andrews.
That said, we do make the most of our downtime here at the 122.
We slow roast most of our meals over our BBQ smoker.
And we grow our own vegetables out back.
- Over there? - Yeah, full garden.
And we maintain the third-largest lending library in the city.
You have a lending library? Well, yeah, didn't the 126? Uh, no, and I am a reader.
Well, you'll have plenty of opportunities for that here.
That is, of course, when you're not on the pickleball courts.
I don't even know what that is.
Trust me, you are gonna love it.
First, a couple folks I thought you may want to say hello to.
Judd, Marj? - Hey, my man! - What's up, family! I didn't know you guys were gonna be here.
Neither did we, until about two hours ago when the department called.
I'm so pumped.
I thought we were all gonna be split up - until the 126 opened its doors again.
- Yeah, we all did.
Not to mention this place is like a damn country club.
Oh, yeah, we drew the long straws.
- Yeah, we did.
- This is outstanding.
I-I can't believe we all ended up here together.
W W-Where's Probie? Uh Put your back into it, grunt, or that stain's never coming out.
And you still owe me all the latrines.
You know, Captain, if it's all the same, I kind of just prefer Probie or Chavez.
Even just Mateo's cool, too.
Grunts speak only when spoken to at the 129.
You-you were speaking to me.
- What is this, anyway? - Hank there spilled his dip cup the other day.
My bad.
Oh, gross.
You know, if this is tobacco, I'm gonna need a heavier-duty cleaner.
Do you guys have any sodium thisulfate laying around here? You can pick some up when you grab lunch.
Who feels like patty melts? - Yeah.
- That sounds great, Cap.
The boys want patty melts.
You got it.
All right, 129, let's roll.
Where you think you're going, grunt? You're on lunch duty.
- Hey, guys.
Come on in.
- Hey.
- Hi.
- Good to see you.
- Hey, Cap.
- Hey.
Oh, I'm sorry we couldn't meet someplace more fun.
I'm just, um, you know, anchored to the house right now.
Oh, no worries.
Where are the kids? Oh, they're in their room, finishing up some homework, waiting for the pizza to arrive.
Oh, um, you guys want some coffee? - Yeah.
- If some is made, yeah, please.
Thank you.
So, Cap, any update on when we'll get back out on the street? Still waiting for a house with an ambulance bay to open up.
Copy that.
Just feels a little weird collecting a paycheck while the rig is just collecting dust in some city garage.
I'm at peace with it.
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
Yeah.
Coffee's sick, by the way.
Mm-hmm.
What roast is this? Oh, it's, um it's not the roast.
It's the chicory.
Charles, uh discovered it on a trip to New Orleans.
It's what he served in the restaurant.
And what we just restocked for the re-opening.
Well it's really nice.
Yeah.
Okay, listen, um I want you two to know that working with you has been the greatest blessing of my professional career.
You're not coming back, are you? I can't.
The girls they-they need me for this next chapter now.
More than ever, and I'm I'm so sorry.
No.
Don't feel bad.
You're not the first captain I've had leave to take care of family.
Right.
Michelle.
And I have nothing but love and respect for Michelle, and this is no different.
Except that it is different.
You're, um my mentor of how I want to be as a paramedic, as a captain and, hopefully, one day, a long, long time from now, a mom.
I'm sorry.
- This is super awkward.
- No.
No, um As if I needed another reason to cry.
I've got a kale antioxidant salad and a bacon blue burger with extra rings.
Thank you.
Like staring into the face of God.
Yeah, you eat that whole thing, you'll see God soon enough.
Well, at least it'll be this putting me in the ground, not the cancer.
What do you mean, not the cancer? My last follow-up.
Doc said radiation took out two of my tumors.
Last one's on the run.
Billy, that's great news.
Yeah, yeah, well, before you go getting all rah-rah, I ain't out of the woods yet, but he did say I could go back to desk duty.
Which sounds about as tedious as radiation.
Well, not necessarily.
In fact, I did just have a conversation with the deputy chief that was, uh pretty stunning.
He's retiring.
And he wants me to take the job.
Well.
Your own perch on Mount Olympus, huh? How's that make you feel? Conflicted.
Yeah, imagine it would.
Why do you say that? Come on, New York.
Guys like you and me? We're meant to be down on the field, not up in the front office.
Look, I don't have any interest in being the last guy in the game.
Worked out pretty good for Tom Brady last year.
Yeah, well, for every Tom Brady, there's a bunch of Brett Favres, you know? Hobbling around, way past their prime.
Look, I would just rather walk off the field than be carried off.
Why does it seem like you walked off the field already? 'Cause I sort of have.
Hey, 126 will rise again.
When? I've seen the red tape.
But, so, maybe, I take this job, cut through the red tape, open the firehouse and bring my people back.
Without you there.
Could be the perfect time to leave, because I wouldn't be leaving.
You just wouldn't be going back.
Painless.
Uh-huh.
Oh, my gosh.
Oh, stop, stop, stop.
Thank you, guys.
I appreciate it.
Y'all, uh You didn't have to do all this.
If you thought we wouldn't celebrate your first day back, you don't know us very well.
Aw, Bree.
Well, y'all gonna have to help me eat all of it, then.
Oh, I call the white chocolate pineapple.
- Joel.
- White chocolate pineapple.
Okay.
This will be great in the break room.
Thank you.
Sir.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
And, seriously, uh, yeah, we missed you, Grace.
You know, the place wasn't the same without you.
He's right.
It's been a long six weeks.
Yeah, it's, uh, it's been longer for me.
Call me crazy, but there is nowhere else on Earth I feel more relaxed than this place.
Thank you.
Okay, we got a dozen patty melts, three with no mayo, one with extra mayo, two pastramis on rye, one on wheat and a wedge salad.
Pickle! That's you! That's - Me? - Oh! - That's you.
- Game, set, match! - I thought you were going to - You're supposed to That's a Looks like you're a natural.
Hey, hey, you were right, Cap.
I love me some pickleball.
Hey, your fries.
Oh.
Thank you.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, just slide them on my finger.
- Come on, let's try it again.
- I thought you were gonna Okay.
Still got it.
All right.
Almost there.
No, no Ugh.
Move! What is that, a tornado? That ain't like any tornado I ever seen.
Dust storm! Everybody get inside! Inside, come on! Let's go, let's go, let's go! Everybody haul ass inside, now! Little sand never hurt nobody.
Get in! If you have any hatches, now is the time to batten them down! Kinnear! Hit the bay doors! Come on! Inside, get inside! April! Where are you? Go, go, go, go.
Ma'am, you got to get inside.
No, my daughter.
She was playing right there.
And I w I looked down for one second.
I'll go look for her.
Come on.
Come with me.
Come on, follow me, follow me.
Make sure she's all right.
I'll be back.
- Where the hell are you going? - There's more people over there.
Breaking news as a massive dust storm 35 miles wide and nearly two miles tall barrels across Austin, with winds clocking in at 65 miles per hour, wreaking havoc on a massive scale.
So much for "no crazy calls around here".
Yeah, we got the 126 in the house now.
- We bring the crazy.
- Unfortunately, first responders won't really know what they're up against until the dust starts to clear.
All right, everybody gear up.
The second the storm passes, we're out.
Man, that's like something out of The Mummy.
How the hell does one of these things even start anyway? They happen in Lebanon.
All it takes is a downburst of low-pressure air into a big, dry patch of soil and boom, - you've got yourself a haboob.
- Say what? Haboob.
Massive dust storm.
That's what they're called.
- That's just not right.
- I know.
Mother Nature ain't no joke.
No, I mean that she just said the word "haboob" and Probie wasn't here to enjoy it.
Hey, get away from the bus! Hey! Get away! Get away, come on! Hey, come on, come on.
Come on.
- Hey, wait.
- Yeah? Go find a landline, call 911.
Tell them there's been a midair collision over Wellsworth Square.
- Go! Go! Go! - Okay, I'm going.
Ma'am? Aah! I see you! I see you! I'm coming! - Where-where does it hurt? - My legs I think they're broken.
Hey, you two, I need your help! What's your name, sir? Julian.
Uh, where am I? Wellsworth Square.
You've been in an accident.
No.
W-Was I-was I certified? Don't worry about that right now.
Guys, this is Julian.
I think he may have a concussion.
I need you to stay with him and keep him talking - till help gets here, okay? - Thank you.
No worries.
I see.
All right, well, if you hear anything you, uh, let me know.
What's going on? Seems like the 129 lost an engine.
- Along with its crew.
- What do you mean, lost? They were out on a call when the storm hit.
No one can reach them.
Hey, where are you going? Got to find them.
Whoa, whoa, wait a minute.
Hey.
We already have people out there looking for them, Owen.
Mateo Chavez he's my probie.
He's with the 129 today.
Folks, if you can walk and talk without too much pain, have a seat in the green zone.
Broken bones, non-life-threatening burns and cuts: yellow zone.
Anything more serious than that, red zone, so the first responders know who to treat first.
- Sir, are you on any medication? - Uh thyroid meds, and-and heparin for my heart.
Heparin's a blood thinner.
This could make the hemorrhage worse.
I'm gonna need to tourniquet your leg, okay? - Hey, can I borrow your belt? - Yeah, sure.
Here you go.
Hey, uh, where the heck are they - the first responders? - Sir, they're on their way.
It's gonna be tough with the storm.
Little squeeze.
Aah! Take him to the red zone.
See if you can get him some water - from one of the restaurants.
- All right.
Sir, don't forget: I need you to tell the paramedics that you're on medication.
It's very important.
I-I won't.
God bless you, son.
Hey! Are any firefighters here yet? Some people need help.
I'm a firefighter.
Where are they? I heard screaming on the sixth floor on my way out.
I think they're trapped in an elevator.
Of course they are.
Folks, we are getting our first images of the damage done by the dust storm.
Authorities are begging people to shelter in place, as scores of pileups have been reported from Round Rock to West Lake Hills.
With emergency calls coming from all parts of the city, first responders are spread to their limit.
You think we can get the rig out of the garage? Yeah.
I know where they keep the keys.
- It came out of nowhere! - Mommy, you need to go.
No.
Babies, Mommy doesn't work today.
But you heard him.
Those people need help.
They need you.
Fire station 129, this is Firefighter Trout.
Yeah, this is Captain Owen Strand, 126.
I'm calling to see if you've heard from your missing engine.
Uh, no, our-our ladder's out looking for 'em now.
Do you have any idea if Mateo Chavez was on it? Oh, yeah, the probie kid.
Yeah, uh, he, uh, he didn't go with them.
He-he went out to pick up a lunch order for the house.
And you haven't heard from him either? Not that I know of, no.
Where'd you order lunch from? Well, alive is good.
Do you know where you are? Uh, my backyard.
Can you give me your address? 3412 Crockett Creek.
Did something collapse on you, ma'am? No, I'm in a storage box.
Did you say a storage box? I was gardening.
I took cover when the storm hit.
And-and now I can't get it open.
We are getting reports of, uh, dust drifts up to eight feet high.
Is this Margaret Gilbert? - Yes.
- Try to stay calm.
Now, I see you live with your husband.
Is he at home? He was taking a nap when I came outside.
- He's not answering.
- Okay.
I'm gonna try him anyway.
Is he the 0470 number? - Yes.
- Okay.
This is Hammond, and, shoot you just missed me.
- Right to voice mail.
- Oh, God.
I can't breathe.
I-I I'm having trouble breathing.
- I can't breathe! - Margaret, listen, if you can talk, then you can breathe, okay? Now, I know it's difficult, but I need you to take slow, deep breaths to conserve your oxygen.
- Okay.
- Margaret, we're not gonna wait for first responders.
Now, we are gonna get you out of there.
I need you to keep your head for me, though, - okay? You said you were - Okay.
in a storage box what do you keep in there? - Gardening supplies.
- Okay, now, does that mean you have tools in there? Yes.
Yes, I do.
Okay, good.
Can you reach any of them? I don't know.
- I've got a hand trowel.
- Okay, good.
What's the box made out of? W-Wood.
Pi-Pine, I think.
Okay, pine box.
Same as an old-school coffin.
That's perfect.
Perfect? How is that perfect? I'm following protocols for someone buried alive in a coffin.
Which I didn't even know we had.
Okay, listen, Margaret, I need you to take the trowel and place it in the center of the lid.
That's where it should be its weakest.
I need you to hit the center as hard as you can.
Okay.
No, Grace, it's not - it's not-it's not working.
- It's gonna work, Margaret.
We just have to get it to crack, okay? Don't stop.
Aah! It's cracking! It's cracking! - Keep going.
- Oh, my God.
I can get my hands through! It's just dirt! More dirt! - It's coming in! - That's what we want.
Now, the weight of the dirt and gravity should help get you out of that box.
Margaret, listen, before you do, we need you to protect your airways on your way out.
Now, are you able to remove your shirt? Can a sweater work? Yes.
Yes, use that.
Okay.
Okay.
It's on.
Okay, good.
Now, try to wriggle your body so that your arms come out first.
Keep climbing until you reach the surface.
Do not stop, Margaret.
You can do it.
Okay.
Aah! I'm out! Yeah, you are.
Good job, Margaret.
Margaret? What are you doing? Everything ready with the rig? Gassed, stocked and ready to rock.
All right.
Girls, you mind your babysitter, you promise? - We promise! - We promise! - Adorable.
- Right? Don't you worry about us.
Go save the world.
Go! Get out of here! Hello! Anybody there? Yes! We're in here! Help us! Please help us! We're stuck in here! Austin Fire, I'm gonna get you out.
The fire department's here.
We're gonna be okay.
Aah! Please hurry! It feels like it's going to fall! I just have to get these doors open.
- How many people are in there? - Five.
There-There's five of us.
What happened? It felt like a bomb went off.
Airplane hit the building.
Oh, my God, terrorists? Mother Nature.
Is anybody injured? I-I don't think so.
We're just soaked.
- A pipe burst or something? - I don't think it's water.
It-it smells like chemicals.
It's giving me a headache.
I thought you said the fire department was here.
I am the fire department.
Oh, God.
We're gonna die.
Hey.
You're not gonna die.
- Cap? - Nobody move.
Nobody use their phones.
Nobody vape.
Cap, how'd you find me? - I followed your trail.
- Of patty melts? - Of rescues.
- Oh, cool.
I was using that to pry the doors open.
No.
No, listen, they're standing in jet fuel.
That's what that smell is.
If we use anything metal to open those doors - that throws a spark - The whole thing goes up.
- Strickland, Marwani.
- Yep? Start triaging until medical lands.
Cap? I think somebody already took care of triage.
Who? We're the first company on scene.
Excuse me, guys, uh, who separated you into these groups? Uh, that, uh, handsome firefighter.
Hey, I'll be damned.
Hey, you mean him, don't you? No.
Him.
- Hey, Cap.
- Hey, guys.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Hey rubber mallets, wooden blocks.
What is happening? All right, everybody, we're back.
Brought some friends along to help.
All right, now, listen, when we get these doors open, you've got to be ready to help everybody out, okay? - Okay, got it.
- All right.
Uh, Cap? I'm aware.
Be ready, people.
- All right, that's it.
- All right, everybody, - Hurry up, let's go.
- Everybody, let's go.
Move, move, move, quick! Okay, folks, come on out.
Bridget, you first.
Graham, help me get her up.
- Watch your head.
- Come on.
Yep.
- You too, come on, come on.
- Yeah.
There you go.
Straight out, straight out.
Good.
Good, good, good.
Uh-oh, what's that? Aah! Help me! - Help me! - Graham, don't move.
- Graham! - Help! - Hold still.
Don't move.
Help! Cap, what are you doing? Cap, get out of there! Okay.
Come on, grab my hand.
Let's go.
I gotcha.
All right.
You guys got him? Get out! Cap! Help me pull him in.
Grab his arm.
All right, we got you, we got you.
No major injuries, but they're covered in jet fuel.
You're gonna want to hose them down before you travel them.
We can help with that.
This way, folks.
This way.
Garcia, hook up a booster line.
Grunt.
Grunt, is that you? Captain Tatum.
What in Sam Hill are you doing over here? I was in the neighborhood picking up lunch when the storm hit.
I think you need to reread your academy manual, son.
Hank, what's the protocol for being separated - from one's house in the field? - A firefighter is to radio dispatch and his commanding officer of their current situation immediately.
That'd be a fail, grunt.
KP duty for a month.
Not that you did any better today.
Isn't that right, Cap? Excuse me? - And you are? - Owen Strand.
Special assistant to the deputy chief.
And this man's actual captain.
And the only reason that I'm out here today is your rig didn't check in for hours.
That's different.
We broke down in the dust storm, killed all our comms.
Y'all thought it was smart to drive around through the dust storm? Talk about breaking protocols.
It snuck up on us.
Oh.
Hey, you.
You think it's funny, grunt? Start wiping down this rig.
I want it dust-free by the time we're done with this call.
That really necessary, Captain? It's cool.
I-I got it.
Captain Tatum, I'll wipe down your cab, I'll pick up your fatty foods, I'll scrub your disgusting floors.
'Cause that's who I am.
At least he's a happy grunt.
No, I'm a firefighter! And I've already reread the FD manual, like, five times! Listened to it, actually, because my friends recorded it for me.
So I've learned how to respond to toxic spills and dumpster fires, all of which was great training for working with you guys at the 129.
Yeah.
Hope you enjoyed yourself, insubordinate little Captain, hey Medics! Hey, we need a medic! - Make a hole.
- Captain.
Didn't expect to see you out here today.
Likewise.
What happened here? I don't know.
He started ripping me a new one and then he started foaming at the mouth.
TK, check his O2 levels, Nancy, get the Ambu bag.
Judging by the sputum, he's aspirated a lot of dust.
Can anybody tell me if he was in the storm when it started? We were stuck on the side of the road trying to fix our engine.
But why would it start now? His trachea's probably been swelling this whole time.
The yelling put him over the top.
- Cap, no chest rise.
- O2 sats falling.
His airway's closed up.
He's drowning in dust.
Nancy, prep to intubate.
Hang in there, Captain.
Cap, I can't get it in.
His vocal cords are way too swollen.
- Should we trach him? - No.
Not in this dust.
We're gonna have to go through the eye of the needle.
TK, hand me the bougie.
Slide over.
Cap, he's cyanotic.
We're losing him.
Come on.
Got it.
Come on, Captain.
Hey.
His O2 levels are rising and his heart's stabilizing.
He's pinking up.
There you are.
Welcome back, Captain.
Nancy, can you take it from here? Good hands, Captain.
Rescue 126.
Hey! Oh! Yeah! - Buttercup.
Come on.
- Yo, Carlos, you should've seen our boy putting that asshat captain on blast in front of everyone.
Yo, hey, man, what did you say? It was all a white-hot blur.
Mm-mmm.
You called them a toxic dumpster fire.
I have never been prouder of anyone in my life.
For real? Yeah, babe, seriously, it was, like, the mother of all mic drops.
He slayed him.
I mean, literally.
Dude dropped to the ground choking on dirt and his own bile.
Don't worry, he lived.
Wow.
That all sounds pretty - Epic? - It was wicked.
I was gonna say "insane".
Mateo, aren't you worried about what that captain might do to you? Nah.
'Cause at the end of the day, he's not my captain.
Not really.
And I'm definitely not his probie.
Right, but he could still put you through hell.
Eh.
More like purgatory.
I just got to survive him and the rest of those 129 D-bags a little while longer.
Then it's back to the promised land of the 126, baby.
Come on, y'all, can I get a amen? Amen.
Pardon our dust.
Sometimes I feel like the dust has been chasing me for 20 years.
Well, it ain't caught you yet, so Oh Thank you, Cap.
So how did, uh, Deputy Chief Radford take you spurning him? I didn't spurn him.
Well, all right, you dismissed his heartfelt offer out of hand.
- What would you call that? - Maybe I did spurn him.
But you know what? He-he took it with a ton of grace, and I think he understands that it's for a great cause.
It's for the best cause.
The 126.
Mmm.
They give you any sense at headquarters when they think they'll get the station back up on its feet? I mean, come on, these bureaucrats need 17 different signatures to change a light bulb.
Damn.
That red tape is no joke, man.
May as well be trying to cut through steel.
That's it.
What's i what's it? We're firefighters.
We cut through steel all the time.
All right, everything charred goes.
I don't care if it's on the walls, on the floor or if it's my espresso maker.
It goes.
Get your chisels, your scrapers and your demo bars.
And Mateo, here you go.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
No fair.
Why does he get the sledgehammer? Because I called it on the ride over.
And today's my shoulder day.
Yeah, right, Probie.
It has nothing to do with Thor? Also, Thor.
Also, not probie.
Not anymore.
When we open this firehouse, you are looking at Firefighter Mateo Chavez.
Seriously? - Ah, my boy.
- Come on, come on! Cap.
You brought the whole squad.
The squad insisted.
How are my favorite goddaughters doing, huh? We're doing good.
Carlos! Well, okay, then.
Miss Tommy, this mean you change your mind? The girls wouldn't have it any other way.
I have no idea how we're gonna make this work, but these are my people.
This is home.
Yeah, it is.
Well, Cap, looks like the boys pulled through.
They sure did.
Hey, what do you say, Billy? I thought you had, uh, that meeting or whatever.
Yeah, we finished early.
Good.
Well, welcome to the party.
You're a little overdressed, there, Cap.
Well, as it turns out, I'm not gonna be a captain for much longer.
Oh, no, no, no.
Don't tell me they shut down your firehouse.
Not exactly.
Uh Hey, everyone, can you hold the work for a second? Come on over.
I-I got something I need to say.
I, uh wanted y'all to be the first to hear this, direct from me.
As soon as Deputy Chief Radford's retirement is official, I'm gonna be Austin's new deputy chief.
Hey, that's amazing.
- Congratulations, Billy.
- Yeah.
Thank you.
I think everybody here knows that I consider this firehouse to be sacred ground.
I want y'all to know each and every one of you you have lived up to the great legacy of these fine men.
That's about the highest compliment I could ever pay you.
Which makes this next part so hard.
There's no reason to continue what you're doing here today.
We're shutting down the 126.
Permanently.
This department is headed for a financial crisis.
I just read a very persuasive report that says there's gonna be dire consequences if we don't start making the hard choices.
I wrote that report.
Yes, you did.
Wait, so we're never getting back together? I understand it is a painful sacrifice.
But it is for the greater good.
But you're not deputy chief yet, are you? No, not yet.
Good.
Moment of truth.
First solo flight.
How you feeling? I feel alive, Eddie.
I feel exhilarated.
I feel terrified.
Maybe we should do one more together.
Julian.
Do you recall what you told me the first day you hired me? Why you wanted to be certified as a pilot in the first place? Because I was sick of feeling like the world was trying to suffocate me.
Because I wanted to feel free.
So go break free.
Winds 120 at 8.
Visibility 10.
Sky clear below 1-2 thousand.
Cessna 9418 Mike ready for taxi to runway one-six.
9418 Mike, intentions for departure? First solo in the pattern.
9418 Mike, you are cleared for one-six.
Good luck up there.
Here goes nothing.
18 Mike, tower.
I need you to turn 1-1-0 and return to runway one-six immediately.
You want me to land already? I haven't completed the pattern.
Forget the pattern.
But I need it to get certified, don't I? 18 Mike, we're detecting a sudden, extreme weather system moving in fast from the north by northeast.
What are you talking about? What is that?! Turn 1-1-0 and increase your speed to 190 knots now.
Turning 1-1-0 Oh.
Oh, God! All right, so you got your honda knot.
Got your stopper.
Yeah? Oh, good.
Then you go under.
Over.
Throw a lasso.
He's so good with them.
Yeah, that's what godfathers are for.
He loves those girls, T.
I'm so grateful.
There's still a good man in their lives looking out for them.
- It's okay.
- The funeral was two weeks ago.
You'd think I'd be able to go two minutes without - a tissue break.
- No, let it out.
Y'all just keep practicing.
I'll be right back.
Let it out.
You okay? I I know that's a stupid question.
No.
No, it's not.
Every time I think I have a toehold on my sanity, then just it just hits me all over again.
Uh Charles's, uh his life insurance came in.
And it's-it's more than I expected.
You know, he was always looking out for the girls.
- Yeah, he was.
- So I'm thinking it's my turn.
- What do you mean? - That the only reason I put that uniform back on was to support my family.
So he's taken care of that now.
So, hold up, you love that job.
It's a part of who you are, too, now.
It is.
But what am I supposed to do? Well, have you told TK or Nancy what you're thinking? They're coming over tomorrow.
And I'll-I'll break it to them then.
Well, I feel for you, T.
Good luck.
You know what, you save some of that luck for yourself.
Because tomorrow is a big day for both of you.
Back at the call center? You must be counting down the hours.
I'm a little excited.
Just a little bit.
How about you, Juddy? Have they given you any idea which firehouse - you're gonna report to? - Nope.
Nope, the, uh, the last I heard from the brass of the department is we're supposed to get a call in the morning giving us our temporary assignments.
And Owen hasn't been able to give you a heads-up? - No, he's just as in the dark as we are.
- Hmm.
Yeah, how is Owen? Pushing paper around for the deputy chief? You know Owen, you know, he likes to jump in with both feet.
Limes.
I've been thinking a lot about limes.
Because limes, ladies and gentlemen, are how we are going to find efficiencies.
Last year, an airline saved $500,000 by slicing the limes into 16 pieces - instead of ten.
- So a half million in limes? In limes.
So I have scoured our department's budget and found many "sliced lime" expenses.
Now, these are things that we could scale back or cut, and nobody's ever gonna know the difference.
So, if every fire station adjusted its thermostat one degree, we'd save $127,000 a year.
We spend $60,000 on plant watering services.
That's something we should be doing ourselves.
Particularly when we know that caring for plants is good for our mental wellness.
It's a true fact.
And - it goes on.
- For 196 pages.
Now, it says here that you project 2.
7 million in savings.
Yes, and the appendix in the back breaks down those numbers.
And we're gonna need every penny 'cause, accounting for the rise in fuel and energy, next year this time, we're gonna be hurting.
Well, I must say, Captain Strand, I am, uh, I'm very impressed, though I'm hardly surprised by your embrace of your administrative duties.
Well, it gives me something to do while I'm waiting for the 126 to come back online.
Look, I need your help with the city planners.
They are just dragging their feet approving the crews to finish the work - on the firehouse.
- Well, you just have to have a little patience with these things.
- With all due respect, I've been patient.
- For two weeks.
Which is 13 days longer than it should take.
Captain, can I, uh, can I speak to you for a moment - outside? - Sure.
Do you know I considered bringing you down to Texas one of the greatest accomplishments of my career? Well, that's very nice of you to say.
No, I mean it.
Why, it is incredible how fast you remolded the 126 into the strongest station in our city.
And I just have to wonder if you could do that with one house, what you could do with a whole department.
Well, I'm happy to help in any way.
I'm not asking for your help, Captain.
I'm asking you to be Austin's next deputy fire chief.
Well, isn't that your job? Well, I'm retiring, Owen.
That's why I wanted you assigned to my staff.
Because there is nobody that I'd rather pass the reins on to than you.
Wow.
Um that's very, uh - Wow.
- Think you'll find your time here a little less eventful than what you're used to, Firefighter Strickland.
We don't get the crazy, high-octane calls that the 126 is known for.
Ah, no worries.
Not many stations do, Captain Andrews.
That said, we do make the most of our downtime here at the 122.
We slow roast most of our meals over our BBQ smoker.
And we grow our own vegetables out back.
- Over there? - Yeah, full garden.
And we maintain the third-largest lending library in the city.
You have a lending library? Well, yeah, didn't the 126? Uh, no, and I am a reader.
Well, you'll have plenty of opportunities for that here.
That is, of course, when you're not on the pickleball courts.
I don't even know what that is.
Trust me, you are gonna love it.
First, a couple folks I thought you may want to say hello to.
Judd, Marj? - Hey, my man! - What's up, family! I didn't know you guys were gonna be here.
Neither did we, until about two hours ago when the department called.
I'm so pumped.
I thought we were all gonna be split up - until the 126 opened its doors again.
- Yeah, we all did.
Not to mention this place is like a damn country club.
Oh, yeah, we drew the long straws.
- Yeah, we did.
- This is outstanding.
I-I can't believe we all ended up here together.
W W-Where's Probie? Uh Put your back into it, grunt, or that stain's never coming out.
And you still owe me all the latrines.
You know, Captain, if it's all the same, I kind of just prefer Probie or Chavez.
Even just Mateo's cool, too.
Grunts speak only when spoken to at the 129.
You-you were speaking to me.
- What is this, anyway? - Hank there spilled his dip cup the other day.
My bad.
Oh, gross.
You know, if this is tobacco, I'm gonna need a heavier-duty cleaner.
Do you guys have any sodium thisulfate laying around here? You can pick some up when you grab lunch.
Who feels like patty melts? - Yeah.
- That sounds great, Cap.
The boys want patty melts.
You got it.
All right, 129, let's roll.
Where you think you're going, grunt? You're on lunch duty.
- Hey, guys.
Come on in.
- Hey.
- Hi.
- Good to see you.
- Hey, Cap.
- Hey.
Oh, I'm sorry we couldn't meet someplace more fun.
I'm just, um, you know, anchored to the house right now.
Oh, no worries.
Where are the kids? Oh, they're in their room, finishing up some homework, waiting for the pizza to arrive.
Oh, um, you guys want some coffee? - Yeah.
- If some is made, yeah, please.
Thank you.
So, Cap, any update on when we'll get back out on the street? Still waiting for a house with an ambulance bay to open up.
Copy that.
Just feels a little weird collecting a paycheck while the rig is just collecting dust in some city garage.
I'm at peace with it.
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
Yeah.
Coffee's sick, by the way.
Mm-hmm.
What roast is this? Oh, it's, um it's not the roast.
It's the chicory.
Charles, uh discovered it on a trip to New Orleans.
It's what he served in the restaurant.
And what we just restocked for the re-opening.
Well it's really nice.
Yeah.
Okay, listen, um I want you two to know that working with you has been the greatest blessing of my professional career.
You're not coming back, are you? I can't.
The girls they-they need me for this next chapter now.
More than ever, and I'm I'm so sorry.
No.
Don't feel bad.
You're not the first captain I've had leave to take care of family.
Right.
Michelle.
And I have nothing but love and respect for Michelle, and this is no different.
Except that it is different.
You're, um my mentor of how I want to be as a paramedic, as a captain and, hopefully, one day, a long, long time from now, a mom.
I'm sorry.
- This is super awkward.
- No.
No, um As if I needed another reason to cry.
I've got a kale antioxidant salad and a bacon blue burger with extra rings.
Thank you.
Like staring into the face of God.
Yeah, you eat that whole thing, you'll see God soon enough.
Well, at least it'll be this putting me in the ground, not the cancer.
What do you mean, not the cancer? My last follow-up.
Doc said radiation took out two of my tumors.
Last one's on the run.
Billy, that's great news.
Yeah, yeah, well, before you go getting all rah-rah, I ain't out of the woods yet, but he did say I could go back to desk duty.
Which sounds about as tedious as radiation.
Well, not necessarily.
In fact, I did just have a conversation with the deputy chief that was, uh pretty stunning.
He's retiring.
And he wants me to take the job.
Well.
Your own perch on Mount Olympus, huh? How's that make you feel? Conflicted.
Yeah, imagine it would.
Why do you say that? Come on, New York.
Guys like you and me? We're meant to be down on the field, not up in the front office.
Look, I don't have any interest in being the last guy in the game.
Worked out pretty good for Tom Brady last year.
Yeah, well, for every Tom Brady, there's a bunch of Brett Favres, you know? Hobbling around, way past their prime.
Look, I would just rather walk off the field than be carried off.
Why does it seem like you walked off the field already? 'Cause I sort of have.
Hey, 126 will rise again.
When? I've seen the red tape.
But, so, maybe, I take this job, cut through the red tape, open the firehouse and bring my people back.
Without you there.
Could be the perfect time to leave, because I wouldn't be leaving.
You just wouldn't be going back.
Painless.
Uh-huh.
Oh, my gosh.
Oh, stop, stop, stop.
Thank you, guys.
I appreciate it.
Y'all, uh You didn't have to do all this.
If you thought we wouldn't celebrate your first day back, you don't know us very well.
Aw, Bree.
Well, y'all gonna have to help me eat all of it, then.
Oh, I call the white chocolate pineapple.
- Joel.
- White chocolate pineapple.
Okay.
This will be great in the break room.
Thank you.
Sir.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
And, seriously, uh, yeah, we missed you, Grace.
You know, the place wasn't the same without you.
He's right.
It's been a long six weeks.
Yeah, it's, uh, it's been longer for me.
Call me crazy, but there is nowhere else on Earth I feel more relaxed than this place.
Thank you.
Okay, we got a dozen patty melts, three with no mayo, one with extra mayo, two pastramis on rye, one on wheat and a wedge salad.
Pickle! That's you! That's - Me? - Oh! - That's you.
- Game, set, match! - I thought you were going to - You're supposed to That's a Looks like you're a natural.
Hey, hey, you were right, Cap.
I love me some pickleball.
Hey, your fries.
Oh.
Thank you.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, just slide them on my finger.
- Come on, let's try it again.
- I thought you were gonna Okay.
Still got it.
All right.
Almost there.
No, no Ugh.
Move! What is that, a tornado? That ain't like any tornado I ever seen.
Dust storm! Everybody get inside! Inside, come on! Let's go, let's go, let's go! Everybody haul ass inside, now! Little sand never hurt nobody.
Get in! If you have any hatches, now is the time to batten them down! Kinnear! Hit the bay doors! Come on! Inside, get inside! April! Where are you? Go, go, go, go.
Ma'am, you got to get inside.
No, my daughter.
She was playing right there.
And I w I looked down for one second.
I'll go look for her.
Come on.
Come with me.
Come on, follow me, follow me.
Make sure she's all right.
I'll be back.
- Where the hell are you going? - There's more people over there.
Breaking news as a massive dust storm 35 miles wide and nearly two miles tall barrels across Austin, with winds clocking in at 65 miles per hour, wreaking havoc on a massive scale.
So much for "no crazy calls around here".
Yeah, we got the 126 in the house now.
- We bring the crazy.
- Unfortunately, first responders won't really know what they're up against until the dust starts to clear.
All right, everybody gear up.
The second the storm passes, we're out.
Man, that's like something out of The Mummy.
How the hell does one of these things even start anyway? They happen in Lebanon.
All it takes is a downburst of low-pressure air into a big, dry patch of soil and boom, - you've got yourself a haboob.
- Say what? Haboob.
Massive dust storm.
That's what they're called.
- That's just not right.
- I know.
Mother Nature ain't no joke.
No, I mean that she just said the word "haboob" and Probie wasn't here to enjoy it.
Hey, get away from the bus! Hey! Get away! Get away, come on! Hey, come on, come on.
Come on.
- Hey, wait.
- Yeah? Go find a landline, call 911.
Tell them there's been a midair collision over Wellsworth Square.
- Go! Go! Go! - Okay, I'm going.
Ma'am? Aah! I see you! I see you! I'm coming! - Where-where does it hurt? - My legs I think they're broken.
Hey, you two, I need your help! What's your name, sir? Julian.
Uh, where am I? Wellsworth Square.
You've been in an accident.
No.
W-Was I-was I certified? Don't worry about that right now.
Guys, this is Julian.
I think he may have a concussion.
I need you to stay with him and keep him talking - till help gets here, okay? - Thank you.
No worries.
I see.
All right, well, if you hear anything you, uh, let me know.
What's going on? Seems like the 129 lost an engine.
- Along with its crew.
- What do you mean, lost? They were out on a call when the storm hit.
No one can reach them.
Hey, where are you going? Got to find them.
Whoa, whoa, wait a minute.
Hey.
We already have people out there looking for them, Owen.
Mateo Chavez he's my probie.
He's with the 129 today.
Folks, if you can walk and talk without too much pain, have a seat in the green zone.
Broken bones, non-life-threatening burns and cuts: yellow zone.
Anything more serious than that, red zone, so the first responders know who to treat first.
- Sir, are you on any medication? - Uh thyroid meds, and-and heparin for my heart.
Heparin's a blood thinner.
This could make the hemorrhage worse.
I'm gonna need to tourniquet your leg, okay? - Hey, can I borrow your belt? - Yeah, sure.
Here you go.
Hey, uh, where the heck are they - the first responders? - Sir, they're on their way.
It's gonna be tough with the storm.
Little squeeze.
Aah! Take him to the red zone.
See if you can get him some water - from one of the restaurants.
- All right.
Sir, don't forget: I need you to tell the paramedics that you're on medication.
It's very important.
I-I won't.
God bless you, son.
Hey! Are any firefighters here yet? Some people need help.
I'm a firefighter.
Where are they? I heard screaming on the sixth floor on my way out.
I think they're trapped in an elevator.
Of course they are.
Folks, we are getting our first images of the damage done by the dust storm.
Authorities are begging people to shelter in place, as scores of pileups have been reported from Round Rock to West Lake Hills.
With emergency calls coming from all parts of the city, first responders are spread to their limit.
You think we can get the rig out of the garage? Yeah.
I know where they keep the keys.
- It came out of nowhere! - Mommy, you need to go.
No.
Babies, Mommy doesn't work today.
But you heard him.
Those people need help.
They need you.
Fire station 129, this is Firefighter Trout.
Yeah, this is Captain Owen Strand, 126.
I'm calling to see if you've heard from your missing engine.
Uh, no, our-our ladder's out looking for 'em now.
Do you have any idea if Mateo Chavez was on it? Oh, yeah, the probie kid.
Yeah, uh, he, uh, he didn't go with them.
He-he went out to pick up a lunch order for the house.
And you haven't heard from him either? Not that I know of, no.
Where'd you order lunch from? Well, alive is good.
Do you know where you are? Uh, my backyard.
Can you give me your address? 3412 Crockett Creek.
Did something collapse on you, ma'am? No, I'm in a storage box.
Did you say a storage box? I was gardening.
I took cover when the storm hit.
And-and now I can't get it open.
We are getting reports of, uh, dust drifts up to eight feet high.
Is this Margaret Gilbert? - Yes.
- Try to stay calm.
Now, I see you live with your husband.
Is he at home? He was taking a nap when I came outside.
- He's not answering.
- Okay.
I'm gonna try him anyway.
Is he the 0470 number? - Yes.
- Okay.
This is Hammond, and, shoot you just missed me.
- Right to voice mail.
- Oh, God.
I can't breathe.
I-I I'm having trouble breathing.
- I can't breathe! - Margaret, listen, if you can talk, then you can breathe, okay? Now, I know it's difficult, but I need you to take slow, deep breaths to conserve your oxygen.
- Okay.
- Margaret, we're not gonna wait for first responders.
Now, we are gonna get you out of there.
I need you to keep your head for me, though, - okay? You said you were - Okay.
in a storage box what do you keep in there? - Gardening supplies.
- Okay, now, does that mean you have tools in there? Yes.
Yes, I do.
Okay, good.
Can you reach any of them? I don't know.
- I've got a hand trowel.
- Okay, good.
What's the box made out of? W-Wood.
Pi-Pine, I think.
Okay, pine box.
Same as an old-school coffin.
That's perfect.
Perfect? How is that perfect? I'm following protocols for someone buried alive in a coffin.
Which I didn't even know we had.
Okay, listen, Margaret, I need you to take the trowel and place it in the center of the lid.
That's where it should be its weakest.
I need you to hit the center as hard as you can.
Okay.
No, Grace, it's not - it's not-it's not working.
- It's gonna work, Margaret.
We just have to get it to crack, okay? Don't stop.
Aah! It's cracking! It's cracking! - Keep going.
- Oh, my God.
I can get my hands through! It's just dirt! More dirt! - It's coming in! - That's what we want.
Now, the weight of the dirt and gravity should help get you out of that box.
Margaret, listen, before you do, we need you to protect your airways on your way out.
Now, are you able to remove your shirt? Can a sweater work? Yes.
Yes, use that.
Okay.
Okay.
It's on.
Okay, good.
Now, try to wriggle your body so that your arms come out first.
Keep climbing until you reach the surface.
Do not stop, Margaret.
You can do it.
Okay.
Aah! I'm out! Yeah, you are.
Good job, Margaret.
Margaret? What are you doing? Everything ready with the rig? Gassed, stocked and ready to rock.
All right.
Girls, you mind your babysitter, you promise? - We promise! - We promise! - Adorable.
- Right? Don't you worry about us.
Go save the world.
Go! Get out of here! Hello! Anybody there? Yes! We're in here! Help us! Please help us! We're stuck in here! Austin Fire, I'm gonna get you out.
The fire department's here.
We're gonna be okay.
Aah! Please hurry! It feels like it's going to fall! I just have to get these doors open.
- How many people are in there? - Five.
There-There's five of us.
What happened? It felt like a bomb went off.
Airplane hit the building.
Oh, my God, terrorists? Mother Nature.
Is anybody injured? I-I don't think so.
We're just soaked.
- A pipe burst or something? - I don't think it's water.
It-it smells like chemicals.
It's giving me a headache.
I thought you said the fire department was here.
I am the fire department.
Oh, God.
We're gonna die.
Hey.
You're not gonna die.
- Cap? - Nobody move.
Nobody use their phones.
Nobody vape.
Cap, how'd you find me? - I followed your trail.
- Of patty melts? - Of rescues.
- Oh, cool.
I was using that to pry the doors open.
No.
No, listen, they're standing in jet fuel.
That's what that smell is.
If we use anything metal to open those doors - that throws a spark - The whole thing goes up.
- Strickland, Marwani.
- Yep? Start triaging until medical lands.
Cap? I think somebody already took care of triage.
Who? We're the first company on scene.
Excuse me, guys, uh, who separated you into these groups? Uh, that, uh, handsome firefighter.
Hey, I'll be damned.
Hey, you mean him, don't you? No.
Him.
- Hey, Cap.
- Hey, guys.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Hey rubber mallets, wooden blocks.
What is happening? All right, everybody, we're back.
Brought some friends along to help.
All right, now, listen, when we get these doors open, you've got to be ready to help everybody out, okay? - Okay, got it.
- All right.
Uh, Cap? I'm aware.
Be ready, people.
- All right, that's it.
- All right, everybody, - Hurry up, let's go.
- Everybody, let's go.
Move, move, move, quick! Okay, folks, come on out.
Bridget, you first.
Graham, help me get her up.
- Watch your head.
- Come on.
Yep.
- You too, come on, come on.
- Yeah.
There you go.
Straight out, straight out.
Good.
Good, good, good.
Uh-oh, what's that? Aah! Help me! - Help me! - Graham, don't move.
- Graham! - Help! - Hold still.
Don't move.
Help! Cap, what are you doing? Cap, get out of there! Okay.
Come on, grab my hand.
Let's go.
I gotcha.
All right.
You guys got him? Get out! Cap! Help me pull him in.
Grab his arm.
All right, we got you, we got you.
No major injuries, but they're covered in jet fuel.
You're gonna want to hose them down before you travel them.
We can help with that.
This way, folks.
This way.
Garcia, hook up a booster line.
Grunt.
Grunt, is that you? Captain Tatum.
What in Sam Hill are you doing over here? I was in the neighborhood picking up lunch when the storm hit.
I think you need to reread your academy manual, son.
Hank, what's the protocol for being separated - from one's house in the field? - A firefighter is to radio dispatch and his commanding officer of their current situation immediately.
That'd be a fail, grunt.
KP duty for a month.
Not that you did any better today.
Isn't that right, Cap? Excuse me? - And you are? - Owen Strand.
Special assistant to the deputy chief.
And this man's actual captain.
And the only reason that I'm out here today is your rig didn't check in for hours.
That's different.
We broke down in the dust storm, killed all our comms.
Y'all thought it was smart to drive around through the dust storm? Talk about breaking protocols.
It snuck up on us.
Oh.
Hey, you.
You think it's funny, grunt? Start wiping down this rig.
I want it dust-free by the time we're done with this call.
That really necessary, Captain? It's cool.
I-I got it.
Captain Tatum, I'll wipe down your cab, I'll pick up your fatty foods, I'll scrub your disgusting floors.
'Cause that's who I am.
At least he's a happy grunt.
No, I'm a firefighter! And I've already reread the FD manual, like, five times! Listened to it, actually, because my friends recorded it for me.
So I've learned how to respond to toxic spills and dumpster fires, all of which was great training for working with you guys at the 129.
Yeah.
Hope you enjoyed yourself, insubordinate little Captain, hey Medics! Hey, we need a medic! - Make a hole.
- Captain.
Didn't expect to see you out here today.
Likewise.
What happened here? I don't know.
He started ripping me a new one and then he started foaming at the mouth.
TK, check his O2 levels, Nancy, get the Ambu bag.
Judging by the sputum, he's aspirated a lot of dust.
Can anybody tell me if he was in the storm when it started? We were stuck on the side of the road trying to fix our engine.
But why would it start now? His trachea's probably been swelling this whole time.
The yelling put him over the top.
- Cap, no chest rise.
- O2 sats falling.
His airway's closed up.
He's drowning in dust.
Nancy, prep to intubate.
Hang in there, Captain.
Cap, I can't get it in.
His vocal cords are way too swollen.
- Should we trach him? - No.
Not in this dust.
We're gonna have to go through the eye of the needle.
TK, hand me the bougie.
Slide over.
Cap, he's cyanotic.
We're losing him.
Come on.
Got it.
Come on, Captain.
Hey.
His O2 levels are rising and his heart's stabilizing.
He's pinking up.
There you are.
Welcome back, Captain.
Nancy, can you take it from here? Good hands, Captain.
Rescue 126.
Hey! Oh! Yeah! - Buttercup.
Come on.
- Yo, Carlos, you should've seen our boy putting that asshat captain on blast in front of everyone.
Yo, hey, man, what did you say? It was all a white-hot blur.
Mm-mmm.
You called them a toxic dumpster fire.
I have never been prouder of anyone in my life.
For real? Yeah, babe, seriously, it was, like, the mother of all mic drops.
He slayed him.
I mean, literally.
Dude dropped to the ground choking on dirt and his own bile.
Don't worry, he lived.
Wow.
That all sounds pretty - Epic? - It was wicked.
I was gonna say "insane".
Mateo, aren't you worried about what that captain might do to you? Nah.
'Cause at the end of the day, he's not my captain.
Not really.
And I'm definitely not his probie.
Right, but he could still put you through hell.
Eh.
More like purgatory.
I just got to survive him and the rest of those 129 D-bags a little while longer.
Then it's back to the promised land of the 126, baby.
Come on, y'all, can I get a amen? Amen.
Pardon our dust.
Sometimes I feel like the dust has been chasing me for 20 years.
Well, it ain't caught you yet, so Oh Thank you, Cap.
So how did, uh, Deputy Chief Radford take you spurning him? I didn't spurn him.
Well, all right, you dismissed his heartfelt offer out of hand.
- What would you call that? - Maybe I did spurn him.
But you know what? He-he took it with a ton of grace, and I think he understands that it's for a great cause.
It's for the best cause.
The 126.
Mmm.
They give you any sense at headquarters when they think they'll get the station back up on its feet? I mean, come on, these bureaucrats need 17 different signatures to change a light bulb.
Damn.
That red tape is no joke, man.
May as well be trying to cut through steel.
That's it.
What's i what's it? We're firefighters.
We cut through steel all the time.
All right, everything charred goes.
I don't care if it's on the walls, on the floor or if it's my espresso maker.
It goes.
Get your chisels, your scrapers and your demo bars.
And Mateo, here you go.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
No fair.
Why does he get the sledgehammer? Because I called it on the ride over.
And today's my shoulder day.
Yeah, right, Probie.
It has nothing to do with Thor? Also, Thor.
Also, not probie.
Not anymore.
When we open this firehouse, you are looking at Firefighter Mateo Chavez.
Seriously? - Ah, my boy.
- Come on, come on! Cap.
You brought the whole squad.
The squad insisted.
How are my favorite goddaughters doing, huh? We're doing good.
Carlos! Well, okay, then.
Miss Tommy, this mean you change your mind? The girls wouldn't have it any other way.
I have no idea how we're gonna make this work, but these are my people.
This is home.
Yeah, it is.
Well, Cap, looks like the boys pulled through.
They sure did.
Hey, what do you say, Billy? I thought you had, uh, that meeting or whatever.
Yeah, we finished early.
Good.
Well, welcome to the party.
You're a little overdressed, there, Cap.
Well, as it turns out, I'm not gonna be a captain for much longer.
Oh, no, no, no.
Don't tell me they shut down your firehouse.
Not exactly.
Uh Hey, everyone, can you hold the work for a second? Come on over.
I-I got something I need to say.
I, uh wanted y'all to be the first to hear this, direct from me.
As soon as Deputy Chief Radford's retirement is official, I'm gonna be Austin's new deputy chief.
Hey, that's amazing.
- Congratulations, Billy.
- Yeah.
Thank you.
I think everybody here knows that I consider this firehouse to be sacred ground.
I want y'all to know each and every one of you you have lived up to the great legacy of these fine men.
That's about the highest compliment I could ever pay you.
Which makes this next part so hard.
There's no reason to continue what you're doing here today.
We're shutting down the 126.
Permanently.
This department is headed for a financial crisis.
I just read a very persuasive report that says there's gonna be dire consequences if we don't start making the hard choices.
I wrote that report.
Yes, you did.
Wait, so we're never getting back together? I understand it is a painful sacrifice.
But it is for the greater good.
But you're not deputy chief yet, are you? No, not yet.
Good.