This is Us (2016) s04e01 Episode Script
Strangers
1 Previously on This Is Us Do you want to go on a drive? Where do you want to go? Los Angeles.
My mom says I'm nuts for doing this with a guy I barely know.
We've known each other a whole week.
- So, keep in touch.
- Definitely keep us posted on what you're up to.
He said that I was "Pittsburgh good", which I've decided to take as a compliment.
Let's go home.
Hey.
Hey.
Mm? We're home.
Oh, wow.
How long have I been out? Just a little while.
So great third date.
I thought so.
Isn't it crazy? - Hmm? - How, just a couple weeks ago, I was a girl singing at a bar and I locked eyes with a cute guy No.
No, no, not you.
There was another guy there, and then he left.
- Ah.
- And I saw you and I was like, "He'll do".
Okay, yeah.
No, I got it.
It's so strange, isn't it? How, just like that, a complete stranger can become such a big part of your story.
It's actually kind of terrifying, you know? How a single cross with one person you've never met can change everything.
Yo.
- What's up? - Malik.
What's up, man? - What's up, man? - You good? - Come on in here.
Come on.
- I see you, I see you.
Let's go.
All right, I'm stalling.
'Cause I don't want to get out of this car.
Which is odd for me, 'cause it's usually the bad-boy musicians I like when it comes to life-changing strangers.
Okay.
Uh, just so you know, I am gonna play it cool here, so don't expect to get a phone call - from me right away.
- Oh, yeah.
Same here.
Yeah, I-I got a pretty full plate, to be honest.
I got to find a job, - couch to crash on, so I - Yeah.
I wouldn't expect you to hear from me - anytime soon.
- Mm.
Or maybe ever again.
- It's quite possible.
- Yeah.
I'm not calling you first.
I'm not calling you first.
Hello? I called you first.
Couldn't play it cool, huh? No, that's never really been my thing.
Hey, can I see you tomorrow? Yes.
That's that's never really been my thing either.
Oh, shoot.
Tomorrow.
I'm supposed to have dinner with my parents and their friends tomorrow.
They want proof of life.
But you could come.
I mean, it's at their country club, - so I don't know if you'd want to - Yeah.
No, I'll I'll be there.
- Really? - Yeah.
Great.
Uh, you do have to wear a sport coat, but they have a few there if you want to just borrow one.
Mm, no.
Nah, I'm I'm set.
Um, hold on one second.
I'm gonna go find the address for you.
Okay.
Cass.
- Hey.
Hey, guys.
- Cassidy? Hey.
Hey, Matty? It-It's just me.
Matty couldn't stay up any longer.
He's got school in the morning.
But I pinky swore I'd ask if you got his Lightning McQueen.
Yeah, I did.
I did.
You can tell him I did.
Sorry I haven't called.
Ah Ryan, I miss you guys like crazy.
First thing I want to do when this is over is make breakfast with you and Matty.
We can have breakfast for dinner.
Remember when we used to do that all the time? I think about that all the time lately.
You know that, right? You know that even when we're not talking, I think about you both all the time.
Every minute.
Every day.
I know.
Sharp.
Hey, babe, I got to go, okay? Okay.
Okay.
Big kiss.
All right.
Bye.
All right, fine.
It's your waistline.
Oh, Sammy.
Crap.
No.
Sammy, get back, get back.
Just stay.
Can I help you? Sir? Can I help you? - Oh, my God! - Oh! - I'm so sorry.
- Oh, my God, why did you do that? - Oh, I'm so - Why would you touch me? I'm so sorry.
I-I was just trying to get your attention.
I-I O-Oh, my God.
- That scared me.
- I'm totally kidding.
Yeah.
But I'm starving.
So if you could, like, show me to a table, that would be really, really cool.
- Of course.
- Yeah.
- Right this way.
- Can you just - Yeah.
- Can you just Yeah.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Bro, 20 minutes is too long for homeroom.
That's all I'm saying.
It's got no purpose.
- They take roll in homeroom.
- Roll? Roll? Hey, Malik, you here? - Here.
- That took one second.
And we're going into junior year still losing 20 minutes to homeroom? That's all I'm saying.
Oh, that's all you're saying? Promise? 'Cause you say one more word, you're giving me a dollar.
That's cool.
- Here, fool.
- Give me that money.
You got it.
Come on, man.
Put the phone down.
You're obsessed with her.
If she was your girl, you'd be obsessed, too.
All right, guys, look, last kickback before school at my place tomorrow.
Malik, you coming? My mom said we can invite girls, and I got you on grill duty.
Maybe.
Maybe.
I'll see, I'll see, I'll see.
No promises on the kickback.
But I got to get home.
- All right.
- Told Moms that I'd bring home some food, so - Okay.
- Catch y'all later.
Hey, Ma.
- Got you a burger.
- Mmm.
No, no.
Go away.
Mmm.
Not as good as yours, baby, - but mmm! - Oh, yeah.
I know.
- I'm going to go head upstairs - Mm-mm.
Don't wake that baby.
Can't hear you.
Too much food in your mouth.
What you doing up? Hey, Janelle.
Hey.
Hey.
I was watching you on my phone today.
Hey, look.
Look.
That's you.
Aw.
Aw, Janelle.
Come here.
Oh, you're getting heavy.
Long way from that NICU, huh? You know, Grandma said not to wake you up, but, uh Daddy trumps Grandma, doesn't he? Doesn't he? Doesn't he? Can I help you? Yeah.
Um I'm looking for a suit.
Can I get you anything else? Coffee ? - No.
I'm good, thanks.
- Okay.
Wait.
Come.
Sit.
- Join me.
- Oh, I, um Your shift is over, Lucy.
I heard you say that to the other lady.
Mm.
Also heard her call you Lucy, just so you know I'm not a stalker.
Come sit.
Mmm.
This is amazing bacon here.
This is great for a hangover.
Why are you hungover? I'm hungover, 'cause, last night, I was writing a song and I realized I completely suck and I'm gonna be playing cocktail lounges and country clubs for the rest of my life.
You're a musician? I'm trying.
It's bright in here.
How do you I can see some light.
Just a little.
And, um and really, really blurry shapes but nothing clearly.
- Mm.
- I've been here a few times, but never for breakfast.
Can you describe it for me? The restaurant? Yeah.
Yeah, it's, uh it's one of those diners that will never change.
It's not what I would open.
I'm a chef.
Or I want to be a chef, I should say.
But it's warm here, you know? It's The food is warm, the people are warm, the room is literally always warm, even when it's super cold out.
Yeah.
May I? Sure.
Damn.
I think I'll have another cup of coffee.
Okay.
She sleep through the night? - Not really.
- 'Cause you woke her.
Told you not to, and you woke her.
- Would you leave him alone, woman? - "Woman"? I'm sorry, you plan on kissing me with that mouth today? That is definitely the plan, yeah.
Grandma and Grandpa are cheesy as hell.
We've earned our cheese, thank you kindly.
- Mm-hmm.
- I'm working the night shift at the hotel tonight, Malik.
Be home by 5:00.
- 5:00? - Mm-hmm.
Yes, I know all about Andre's barbecue.
You're watching the baby.
Welcome to responsibility.
Don't start.
Now, go to work.
Both of you.
Hey.
Promise to shine that beautiful light of yours onto the world today? What about you, husband? For you? I'll give it everything I got.
Yeah, cheesy as hell.
Hmm You don't need a suit for a country club.
Navy sports coat is a much better play.
It'll get you anywhere.
Yeah.
Mark my words, you will be sleeping in this.
Looks good.
Fits you perfect.
You know, I I just got back from 'Nam, and haven't quite landed a job yet, so Oh, uh, yeah, I get it.
Yeah.
Somehow my number didn't get called.
- Really? - Yeah.
Puerto Rican kid whose number doesn't get called.
You ever hear of something so crazy? Look, we're not, uh we're not tailoring this thing, right? So why don't you take it, tuck the tag up in the sleeve when you wear it, and bring it back next week.
Really? This girl, she's worth it? Oh, man, she's like no one you've ever seen.
- Lasher.
- Roger that.
- Waters.
You're with me.
- I got it.
All right, guys, listen up.
Go ahead and set up a cordon around the building.
As-salaam alaikum.
Wa-alaikum-salaam.
Dalta rasha.
Lasher.
What's up? - Put a guy at the door.
- Ortiz! Post up here.
We're losing daylight.
I'm not gonna have my guys in a row in the middle of the night in IED country.
You got five minutes.
Asmaan, you promised me a photo of Mohammad Nadir.
I haven't received anything.
I haven't even heard from you.
She says she's nervous.
People are watching her.
- She's scared.
- I know.
You need to think about your child.
Tell her to look at me, not you, when she speaks.
Nadir, the bomb maker, I need his photo.
The longer we are here, the more danger we are all in.
If this dog keeps barking, I'm gonna shoot it.
You're not gonna do anything till I tell you to, Marine.
We had a deal.
An immigrant visa and an expedited process.
If I leave here without that photo, you get nothing.
- Sergeant.
- I see 'em.
One Bravo, Echo Main.
Echo Main, this is One Bravo.
Be advised ISR spotted 12 military-age males moving towards your location, possibly enemy QRF.
How copy? Asmaan.
She's asking for water for the village.
That's more than fair.
I can get water for the village.
All right, Asmaan, I need you to calm down that baby.
Hey, Sharp! Wrap it up! Asmaan, there's no more time.
I'm a mother, too.
I have a son I would do anything to protect him.
Anything.
Just like you.
Your patients here, they are mothers and they are children.
Nadir is a murderer.
He is hiding amongst you.
You give me that photo, or the entire village pays, including you and your child.
Look at me.
Stay with me.
Hey, look at me! Do you think I'm playing? Do you hear me? You have five seconds.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
Okay, give it to me.
We'll be in touch about the visa.
- Water? - And the water.
Let's go.
All right! Let's mount up! Thank you.
- Oh! He's here.
- Oh! He's here.
Hi.
Hey.
Um, I want to, But there are eyes everywhere.
- Okay, got it.
- Okay, so, it's my parents and their best friends.
My mom is tough, I'm not gonna lie, but my dad saves all, and he's gonna absolutely love you.
Okay.
I like your jacket, by the way.
Oh, this old thing? Oh, and I did tell them, under no circumstances are they to bring up anything about Vietnam, so - Thanks.
- Okay.
Everyone this is the famous Jack.
Famous or infamous? Taking my daughter across the country just a week after meeting her seems to land squarely in the infamous territory.
Well, now, honey, he took her for two weeks, but he brought her back in one piece, so he can't be all bad.
Very nice to meet you, Jack.
Sit, sit, please.
- Make yourself at home.
- Thank you.
So I heard you just returned from Vietnam.
It was just a little fender bender.
I can't I don't know - how I'm going to pay.
- Let me see what I can do.
You pay what you can when you can.
Thank you.
- Hey.
- Yo.
Haven't you seen by the spot in a minute.
Yeah, I been busy.
Man, you're a Boy Scout now.
It's all good.
The kid has your car in the back.
Custom work's his department.
- All right.
Good seeing you.
- You, too.
Yeah? Sharp? Nadir came back to the village a few hours ago.
- Predator drone took him out.
- What? I-I thought the point was ID him, take him quietly.
He's just gonna be replaced in a week.
Yeah.
Well, headquarters seems to like to play Whac-A-Mole.
How many civilian deaths? Eight dead, 12 or more so wounded.
Strike caught the back side of a building.
We think bags of fertilizer were inside, because the blast radius wasn't supposed to be so big.
Your asset survived.
We're working on a visa for her and her kid.
Gunny.
I promised her water for the village.
There's no more village, Sharp.
Hey, buddy.
Mm, mm, mm Mm, mm, mm, mm Mm, mm, mm, mm Mm, mm, mm Could a stranger Ever end up Being you Oh In the quiet way You caught my eye Oh Caught enough to get you Memorized Can one wrong turn Give me new direction? Mm, mm, mm, mm Mm, mm, mm Could a stranger Ever end up being you? Oh In the quiet way You caught my eye Oh Caught enough to get you memorized I found my way, I found my way To you I told the story Before I knew the ending I got an answer Before I heard the question How could a stranger Ever end up being you? And oh In the quiet way Sam wants to ask you something.
Oh, wait.
Sorry.
No.
I want to ask you something.
Enough to get you memorized I found my way, I found my way To you Found my way I found my way To you.
Well, I will bet you anything that South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia will all fall to the communists just like Ike said they would.
I don't recall hearing any congressional declaration.
Wasn't even a real war.
- Honey? Stop.
- Well Enough.
Enough war.
- Uh - Yuck.
Happier topics.
So, Jack, it must be nice for you to just take off cross-country at a moment's notice.
You must come from a wealthy family to fund all that wanderlust.
What do your parents do? Um I'm sorry.
Was that inappropriate? Jack, looks like you took a little fire there.
Um, I should probably go clean this up.
Mm.
The restroom is to the left.
- Do you need me to come show ? - No, no, no, no.
I'm-I'm okay.
Excuse me.
Dad? What the hell? It's good work, kid.
Damn good.
Thank you.
Um, M-Mr.
Castillo, look, I-I know you, um I know you have a business of your own, right, and, uh, look, if you ever need anything Whoa.
You're Darnell's kid.
And Darnell's kid and my business are not a fit.
Hey, look.
Yeah, yeah, I'm I'm Darnell's kid, but, uh man, um I'm-I'm also raising a kid of my own, and, um she's special.
I-I've been looking up the best schools.
And it's like ten K, ten K for pre-K.
I mean, my-my parents do fine, but, come on.
Even you know they don't do that fine.
I need to earn real money for her.
I got your number.
I'll call you when you can grow a mustache.
Breathe.
Breathe, Jack.
- Oh, so many - Didn't you work here once? I did.
Sorry.
Sorry about that.
- Okay? - Yeah.
To be honest, I've never had lobster.
- Oh.
- Kind of got the best of me.
My parents don't do much, ma'am, in answer to your question.
I mean, my dad he-he's in door-to-door sales, but mostly what my folks do is fight.
He hits, she cries.
That's that's what they do.
I had, uh a little brother.
Um Basically raised him myself.
When he was l-little, he had this two-year phase where he was convinced there was a monster living in his closet.
I couldn't convince him that there was no monster, so instead, I would sit in front of his closet door, and I'd tell the monster stories.
I'd tell it bedtime stories until Nicky was convinced that the monster had gone to sleep, and it wasn't gonna bother him anymore.
Yeah.
Of course, the monster wasn't real, but my brother's fear that was real.
The sweat on his forehead was real.
My brother's experience was real.
I lost my brother in Vietnam.
People died.
People that I loved.
So, due respect, it may not seem like a real war back here, but I promise you, that war was very real for those of us who were there.
I know a stranger taking your daughter cross-country might not have been your favorite thing.
And I'm sorry that was your first impression of me, but don't worry.
You'll get to know me.
I'm not going anywhere.
Oh, I got to say, I think I might be a lobster guy, Bec.
Hey.
Hey.
Been drinking? I needed a few after another day of looking for jobs.
Needed more than a few, actually.
Well, hey, at least you're finally out, huh? Yay for me.
Did you drive home drunk? I don't need a lecture.
Well, hey, don't have one prepared.
Somehow I missed the last credit card statement.
We're gonna have to pay a late fee.
Well, that's because you keep piling the mail on the counter even though I keep telling you not to.
I'm doing the best I can here, Cass.
I'm-I'm I'm taking care of everything, I'm practically raising Matty alone.
Must be nice to have it so easy.
- Do you have any idea ? - No, no.
I don't.
I don't because you won't talk to me.
Mom? Mom, come here! I made a car out of Legos! Matty, give me a second.
Mommy just got home.
Oh, and the, uh the hot water heater broke again.
- Again? - Mom, come on! - Come on, Mom! - Matty, please, come on.
I asked about getting it replaced, but it's expensive.
It's 12 hundred bucks.
Can you believe that? $1,200 for a water heater? Mom? Mom?! Mommy? Mommy? Mom! Mom.
- Mom? - Stop! Sor Matty.
- Matty, I'm so sorry.
I - Um no, no.
Get out.
- I didn't I didn't - Just get out of this house.
I'm gonna go to the restroom, I'll be right back.
- I'll get the coats.
- Okay.
Young man, you know, you walked in here tonight a bit of an underdog, to put it mildly.
But you had yourself quite an evening.
You made a bunch of fans.
Thank you, sir.
Just need the one.
Ah.
You know, first year of her life, she only stopped crying if I held her.
Not her mother, not her sister.
Just me.
And everyone would say "Oh, she's a Daddy's girl.
" And I said, "No.
She is her daddy's world.
" Oh, and she still is.
You're a good man, Jack.
I can see that.
I can also see a man who is carrying things with him.
And I can see a man who is far more haunted than he wants to let on.
I don't follow.
I want more for her than you can offer, Jack.
I will do everything I can to stop this.
And make no mistake about this, son.
I'm a lot harder to beat than an imaginary monster in a closet.
Oh, goodness, I barely ate, I was so nervous.
- Daddy, thank you.
- Oh, you're welcome.
- Yeah.
- Oh, thank you for dinner.
I love you to death, but Jack, can you take me to go get a burger, please? - Absolutely.
- Okay.
Good night, Dad.
Good night.
You were waiting outside For me, in the sun Laying down to soak it all in Before we had to run Thanks for coming tonight.
I-I know how boring this is for you, but No, of course.
Sorry.
I'm just tired.
Well, yeah.
I mean we knew getting the restaurant off the ground would be the hardest part, but now that it's up and running I'm pregnant.
Oh, the glory of I'm-I'm sorry.
My brain just short-circuited.
Did? I'm six weeks pregnant.
Was lost on me Till I saw how hard Oh, my God.
It'd be to reach you Lucy.
Lucy, oh, my God.
Light-years away I wanted to get my career sorted before How the hell is this gonna work? Light-years away Look at me.
Are you looking at me? I'm blind.
I'm looking at you.
In the shadows alone You could've been right there next to me And I'd have never known Oh, the glory Of it all Was lost on me Till I saw how hard it'd be to reach you And I would always be light-years Light-years away from you Light-years Light-years away from you.
What, you feeling your age, old man? Watch it.
I see you roll your eyes every time your moms gets on you about responsibility.
I get it.
Responsibility.
For me, it was always a pain in the ass word.
When I was young, it meant doing chores.
As I got older, it meant not getting to do the stuff I really wanted to do.
I was going down a wrong path in my 20s.
Then your mom got pregnant.
And being responsible, setting the right example for you, it saved me.
That's when I realized "responsibility" didn't have to be a pain in the ass word.
Son.
Hey.
Don't even think about it.
A'ight? Yeah.
A'ight.
I'll watch the baby.
I'll talk to your mother.
But you're going to Andre's barbecue.
No, no, no, I-I Son, your life is not over.
You're still a young man, you still have friends that have barbecues, and, on occasion, your wonderful father I'm down to babysit.
Get some QT with my granddaughter.
W-Wait, are you sure? You're making breakfast tomorrow.
And you better not half-ass it, either.
I want the full deal.
Western omelets and hash browns.
- Yeah? All right.
- Yeah, okay.
Okay.
Yeah.
I used to sing here all the time, and they basically paid me in burgers.
Send me Never-ending words of love - Rebecca? - Hi, Gerry.
- Oh, we've missed you, kid.
- Aw.
You know, it's open Mic tonight.
Place is pretty dead, so You want to dust off an old one for us? No, no, no, I'm okay.
- We're actually just gonna - Yes.
It's-it's been a day.
I could use a song from my favorite singer.
So the drinking's become a thing.
It started a few years ago.
It's only gotten worse since I've been out of the Corps.
My husband and I are separated, I guess.
My life's at a standstill.
Actually, that's a lie.
It's moving in reverse.
I went from working in classified settings to driving around college students on a Saturday night for Uber.
No offense to Uber drivers.
I I can't feel anything.
I can't feel sadness.
I certainly can't feel joy.
And I hate throwing around the term PTSD, and I know you guys will probably tell me that that's what this is, but But when I hit him When I hit my son, I can't blame PTSD or alcohol or Uber.
It was the cost of a water heater.
Just brought me right back.
On behalf of the U.
S.
government, we'd like to present to you these condolence payments for every civilian that was killed yesterday.
$1,200 U.
S.
per person.
You guys know we do that, right? Dead civilian.
Dead kids.
$1,200 per person.
That's the price of a life over there.
That's a price of a water heater.
So when I think about that Don't know where Toby and Kate put their dishes.
- They've barely even unpacked.
- I will find them.
Guess whose birthday - it is, huh? - Hi.
- Birthday cake.
- No, no, no, no.
Don't touch the cake.
- We're waiting for your sister and Toby.
- Yeah? - Happy birthday.
- Thank you, Mom.
You know, I came out first.
I feel like I should be able to eat the cake first.
No one's eating any cake yet.
We're waiting for your sister.
Hello? Yeah.
Uh, no.
Yeah.
Okay.
Uh, no.
No, of course.
Yeah.
Um I H-Hold on one second.
It's Uncle Nicky.
He got in trouble in Pennsylvania, he's being arrested and he gave them my number for the bail money.
What's up, what's up, what's up? Hey, man.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey, yo, Malik.
Hey, Malik.
Hey, Sky.
What's up? Yo, I heard you got into honors bio.
That's what's up.
Hey, I want to introduce you to someone.
This is my friend Deja.
She just moved here.
She's starting school tomorrow.
Uh Hi, hi, hi, Deja.
Um, Malik.
Nice to meet you.
Um, Sky says you make a good burger.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Uh, I-I make a I make a decent, decent burger.
But-but for you, I'll give it everything I got.
Sorry I'm late.
Hey, Dej.
Hmm? What's happening with your face? What? Um, nothing.
All right, here's the plan.
I'll take a break and stay home with him.
- Or her.
- Okay.
Tobe, no matter what he says, he's gonna have an amazing, incredible life.
Yes, he will, because he has an amazing, incredible mother who's going to give him all of her amazing, incredible traits.
His dad's not so bad.
- Is he? Huh? - Yeah.
Well, maybe his dad will give him his sense of humor.
But please, God, please, please, please, God, not his hairline.
Grow some hair, please.
You crush it at the restaurant, and if you can make it home every once in a while to see him - Or her.
- Okay.
Well, that's great, but it's not required.
Okay, guys.
So Nothing's really changed since the last procedure.
Jack is still not following cues or responding to tests.
I know it's been a long three months, but now it's time to move forward.
Jack's retinopathy will not be reversed.
His eyesight will not return.
Okay, we're here.
The good news is it's not total stage V.
He will be able to see some light, maybe some shapes.
Am I lined up? You're perfect.
Ladies and gentlemen, Jack Damon.
Hi.
Good evening.
Hello.
Sorry to interrupt.
Um I would like to dedicate this song to a man who was a total stranger just a few weeks ago.
I may be only Pittsburgh good, but, my God, he makes me feel like one day, I will stand on the biggest stage in the world.
Can one wrong turn Give me new direction? Can one false move Bring me one true friend? Could a stranger Ever end up being you? We took it back In all directions Reaching out Towards the door Is there a message A pathway to something more Oh In the quiet way you caught my eye Oh I got enough to get you Memorized I found my way I found my way to you I found my way I found my way to you I found my way I found my way to you I found my way I found my way to you I told a story Before I knew The ending I got an answer Before I heard the question How did a stranger Ever end up being you? Oh In the quiet way you caught my eye Oh Got enough to get you Memorized I found my way I found my way to you I found my way I found my way to you I found my way I found my way to you I found my way
My mom says I'm nuts for doing this with a guy I barely know.
We've known each other a whole week.
- So, keep in touch.
- Definitely keep us posted on what you're up to.
He said that I was "Pittsburgh good", which I've decided to take as a compliment.
Let's go home.
Hey.
Hey.
Mm? We're home.
Oh, wow.
How long have I been out? Just a little while.
So great third date.
I thought so.
Isn't it crazy? - Hmm? - How, just a couple weeks ago, I was a girl singing at a bar and I locked eyes with a cute guy No.
No, no, not you.
There was another guy there, and then he left.
- Ah.
- And I saw you and I was like, "He'll do".
Okay, yeah.
No, I got it.
It's so strange, isn't it? How, just like that, a complete stranger can become such a big part of your story.
It's actually kind of terrifying, you know? How a single cross with one person you've never met can change everything.
Yo.
- What's up? - Malik.
What's up, man? - What's up, man? - You good? - Come on in here.
Come on.
- I see you, I see you.
Let's go.
All right, I'm stalling.
'Cause I don't want to get out of this car.
Which is odd for me, 'cause it's usually the bad-boy musicians I like when it comes to life-changing strangers.
Okay.
Uh, just so you know, I am gonna play it cool here, so don't expect to get a phone call - from me right away.
- Oh, yeah.
Same here.
Yeah, I-I got a pretty full plate, to be honest.
I got to find a job, - couch to crash on, so I - Yeah.
I wouldn't expect you to hear from me - anytime soon.
- Mm.
Or maybe ever again.
- It's quite possible.
- Yeah.
I'm not calling you first.
I'm not calling you first.
Hello? I called you first.
Couldn't play it cool, huh? No, that's never really been my thing.
Hey, can I see you tomorrow? Yes.
That's that's never really been my thing either.
Oh, shoot.
Tomorrow.
I'm supposed to have dinner with my parents and their friends tomorrow.
They want proof of life.
But you could come.
I mean, it's at their country club, - so I don't know if you'd want to - Yeah.
No, I'll I'll be there.
- Really? - Yeah.
Great.
Uh, you do have to wear a sport coat, but they have a few there if you want to just borrow one.
Mm, no.
Nah, I'm I'm set.
Um, hold on one second.
I'm gonna go find the address for you.
Okay.
Cass.
- Hey.
Hey, guys.
- Cassidy? Hey.
Hey, Matty? It-It's just me.
Matty couldn't stay up any longer.
He's got school in the morning.
But I pinky swore I'd ask if you got his Lightning McQueen.
Yeah, I did.
I did.
You can tell him I did.
Sorry I haven't called.
Ah Ryan, I miss you guys like crazy.
First thing I want to do when this is over is make breakfast with you and Matty.
We can have breakfast for dinner.
Remember when we used to do that all the time? I think about that all the time lately.
You know that, right? You know that even when we're not talking, I think about you both all the time.
Every minute.
Every day.
I know.
Sharp.
Hey, babe, I got to go, okay? Okay.
Okay.
Big kiss.
All right.
Bye.
All right, fine.
It's your waistline.
Oh, Sammy.
Crap.
No.
Sammy, get back, get back.
Just stay.
Can I help you? Sir? Can I help you? - Oh, my God! - Oh! - I'm so sorry.
- Oh, my God, why did you do that? - Oh, I'm so - Why would you touch me? I'm so sorry.
I-I was just trying to get your attention.
I-I O-Oh, my God.
- That scared me.
- I'm totally kidding.
Yeah.
But I'm starving.
So if you could, like, show me to a table, that would be really, really cool.
- Of course.
- Yeah.
- Right this way.
- Can you just - Yeah.
- Can you just Yeah.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Bro, 20 minutes is too long for homeroom.
That's all I'm saying.
It's got no purpose.
- They take roll in homeroom.
- Roll? Roll? Hey, Malik, you here? - Here.
- That took one second.
And we're going into junior year still losing 20 minutes to homeroom? That's all I'm saying.
Oh, that's all you're saying? Promise? 'Cause you say one more word, you're giving me a dollar.
That's cool.
- Here, fool.
- Give me that money.
You got it.
Come on, man.
Put the phone down.
You're obsessed with her.
If she was your girl, you'd be obsessed, too.
All right, guys, look, last kickback before school at my place tomorrow.
Malik, you coming? My mom said we can invite girls, and I got you on grill duty.
Maybe.
Maybe.
I'll see, I'll see, I'll see.
No promises on the kickback.
But I got to get home.
- All right.
- Told Moms that I'd bring home some food, so - Okay.
- Catch y'all later.
Hey, Ma.
- Got you a burger.
- Mmm.
No, no.
Go away.
Mmm.
Not as good as yours, baby, - but mmm! - Oh, yeah.
I know.
- I'm going to go head upstairs - Mm-mm.
Don't wake that baby.
Can't hear you.
Too much food in your mouth.
What you doing up? Hey, Janelle.
Hey.
Hey.
I was watching you on my phone today.
Hey, look.
Look.
That's you.
Aw.
Aw, Janelle.
Come here.
Oh, you're getting heavy.
Long way from that NICU, huh? You know, Grandma said not to wake you up, but, uh Daddy trumps Grandma, doesn't he? Doesn't he? Doesn't he? Can I help you? Yeah.
Um I'm looking for a suit.
Can I get you anything else? Coffee ? - No.
I'm good, thanks.
- Okay.
Wait.
Come.
Sit.
- Join me.
- Oh, I, um Your shift is over, Lucy.
I heard you say that to the other lady.
Mm.
Also heard her call you Lucy, just so you know I'm not a stalker.
Come sit.
Mmm.
This is amazing bacon here.
This is great for a hangover.
Why are you hungover? I'm hungover, 'cause, last night, I was writing a song and I realized I completely suck and I'm gonna be playing cocktail lounges and country clubs for the rest of my life.
You're a musician? I'm trying.
It's bright in here.
How do you I can see some light.
Just a little.
And, um and really, really blurry shapes but nothing clearly.
- Mm.
- I've been here a few times, but never for breakfast.
Can you describe it for me? The restaurant? Yeah.
Yeah, it's, uh it's one of those diners that will never change.
It's not what I would open.
I'm a chef.
Or I want to be a chef, I should say.
But it's warm here, you know? It's The food is warm, the people are warm, the room is literally always warm, even when it's super cold out.
Yeah.
May I? Sure.
Damn.
I think I'll have another cup of coffee.
Okay.
She sleep through the night? - Not really.
- 'Cause you woke her.
Told you not to, and you woke her.
- Would you leave him alone, woman? - "Woman"? I'm sorry, you plan on kissing me with that mouth today? That is definitely the plan, yeah.
Grandma and Grandpa are cheesy as hell.
We've earned our cheese, thank you kindly.
- Mm-hmm.
- I'm working the night shift at the hotel tonight, Malik.
Be home by 5:00.
- 5:00? - Mm-hmm.
Yes, I know all about Andre's barbecue.
You're watching the baby.
Welcome to responsibility.
Don't start.
Now, go to work.
Both of you.
Hey.
Promise to shine that beautiful light of yours onto the world today? What about you, husband? For you? I'll give it everything I got.
Yeah, cheesy as hell.
Hmm You don't need a suit for a country club.
Navy sports coat is a much better play.
It'll get you anywhere.
Yeah.
Mark my words, you will be sleeping in this.
Looks good.
Fits you perfect.
You know, I I just got back from 'Nam, and haven't quite landed a job yet, so Oh, uh, yeah, I get it.
Yeah.
Somehow my number didn't get called.
- Really? - Yeah.
Puerto Rican kid whose number doesn't get called.
You ever hear of something so crazy? Look, we're not, uh we're not tailoring this thing, right? So why don't you take it, tuck the tag up in the sleeve when you wear it, and bring it back next week.
Really? This girl, she's worth it? Oh, man, she's like no one you've ever seen.
- Lasher.
- Roger that.
- Waters.
You're with me.
- I got it.
All right, guys, listen up.
Go ahead and set up a cordon around the building.
As-salaam alaikum.
Wa-alaikum-salaam.
Dalta rasha.
Lasher.
What's up? - Put a guy at the door.
- Ortiz! Post up here.
We're losing daylight.
I'm not gonna have my guys in a row in the middle of the night in IED country.
You got five minutes.
Asmaan, you promised me a photo of Mohammad Nadir.
I haven't received anything.
I haven't even heard from you.
She says she's nervous.
People are watching her.
- She's scared.
- I know.
You need to think about your child.
Tell her to look at me, not you, when she speaks.
Nadir, the bomb maker, I need his photo.
The longer we are here, the more danger we are all in.
If this dog keeps barking, I'm gonna shoot it.
You're not gonna do anything till I tell you to, Marine.
We had a deal.
An immigrant visa and an expedited process.
If I leave here without that photo, you get nothing.
- Sergeant.
- I see 'em.
One Bravo, Echo Main.
Echo Main, this is One Bravo.
Be advised ISR spotted 12 military-age males moving towards your location, possibly enemy QRF.
How copy? Asmaan.
She's asking for water for the village.
That's more than fair.
I can get water for the village.
All right, Asmaan, I need you to calm down that baby.
Hey, Sharp! Wrap it up! Asmaan, there's no more time.
I'm a mother, too.
I have a son I would do anything to protect him.
Anything.
Just like you.
Your patients here, they are mothers and they are children.
Nadir is a murderer.
He is hiding amongst you.
You give me that photo, or the entire village pays, including you and your child.
Look at me.
Stay with me.
Hey, look at me! Do you think I'm playing? Do you hear me? You have five seconds.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
Okay, give it to me.
We'll be in touch about the visa.
- Water? - And the water.
Let's go.
All right! Let's mount up! Thank you.
- Oh! He's here.
- Oh! He's here.
Hi.
Hey.
Um, I want to, But there are eyes everywhere.
- Okay, got it.
- Okay, so, it's my parents and their best friends.
My mom is tough, I'm not gonna lie, but my dad saves all, and he's gonna absolutely love you.
Okay.
I like your jacket, by the way.
Oh, this old thing? Oh, and I did tell them, under no circumstances are they to bring up anything about Vietnam, so - Thanks.
- Okay.
Everyone this is the famous Jack.
Famous or infamous? Taking my daughter across the country just a week after meeting her seems to land squarely in the infamous territory.
Well, now, honey, he took her for two weeks, but he brought her back in one piece, so he can't be all bad.
Very nice to meet you, Jack.
Sit, sit, please.
- Make yourself at home.
- Thank you.
So I heard you just returned from Vietnam.
It was just a little fender bender.
I can't I don't know - how I'm going to pay.
- Let me see what I can do.
You pay what you can when you can.
Thank you.
- Hey.
- Yo.
Haven't you seen by the spot in a minute.
Yeah, I been busy.
Man, you're a Boy Scout now.
It's all good.
The kid has your car in the back.
Custom work's his department.
- All right.
Good seeing you.
- You, too.
Yeah? Sharp? Nadir came back to the village a few hours ago.
- Predator drone took him out.
- What? I-I thought the point was ID him, take him quietly.
He's just gonna be replaced in a week.
Yeah.
Well, headquarters seems to like to play Whac-A-Mole.
How many civilian deaths? Eight dead, 12 or more so wounded.
Strike caught the back side of a building.
We think bags of fertilizer were inside, because the blast radius wasn't supposed to be so big.
Your asset survived.
We're working on a visa for her and her kid.
Gunny.
I promised her water for the village.
There's no more village, Sharp.
Hey, buddy.
Mm, mm, mm Mm, mm, mm, mm Mm, mm, mm, mm Mm, mm, mm Could a stranger Ever end up Being you Oh In the quiet way You caught my eye Oh Caught enough to get you Memorized Can one wrong turn Give me new direction? Mm, mm, mm, mm Mm, mm, mm Could a stranger Ever end up being you? Oh In the quiet way You caught my eye Oh Caught enough to get you memorized I found my way, I found my way To you I told the story Before I knew the ending I got an answer Before I heard the question How could a stranger Ever end up being you? And oh In the quiet way Sam wants to ask you something.
Oh, wait.
Sorry.
No.
I want to ask you something.
Enough to get you memorized I found my way, I found my way To you Found my way I found my way To you.
Well, I will bet you anything that South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia will all fall to the communists just like Ike said they would.
I don't recall hearing any congressional declaration.
Wasn't even a real war.
- Honey? Stop.
- Well Enough.
Enough war.
- Uh - Yuck.
Happier topics.
So, Jack, it must be nice for you to just take off cross-country at a moment's notice.
You must come from a wealthy family to fund all that wanderlust.
What do your parents do? Um I'm sorry.
Was that inappropriate? Jack, looks like you took a little fire there.
Um, I should probably go clean this up.
Mm.
The restroom is to the left.
- Do you need me to come show ? - No, no, no, no.
I'm-I'm okay.
Excuse me.
Dad? What the hell? It's good work, kid.
Damn good.
Thank you.
Um, M-Mr.
Castillo, look, I-I know you, um I know you have a business of your own, right, and, uh, look, if you ever need anything Whoa.
You're Darnell's kid.
And Darnell's kid and my business are not a fit.
Hey, look.
Yeah, yeah, I'm I'm Darnell's kid, but, uh man, um I'm-I'm also raising a kid of my own, and, um she's special.
I-I've been looking up the best schools.
And it's like ten K, ten K for pre-K.
I mean, my-my parents do fine, but, come on.
Even you know they don't do that fine.
I need to earn real money for her.
I got your number.
I'll call you when you can grow a mustache.
Breathe.
Breathe, Jack.
- Oh, so many - Didn't you work here once? I did.
Sorry.
Sorry about that.
- Okay? - Yeah.
To be honest, I've never had lobster.
- Oh.
- Kind of got the best of me.
My parents don't do much, ma'am, in answer to your question.
I mean, my dad he-he's in door-to-door sales, but mostly what my folks do is fight.
He hits, she cries.
That's that's what they do.
I had, uh a little brother.
Um Basically raised him myself.
When he was l-little, he had this two-year phase where he was convinced there was a monster living in his closet.
I couldn't convince him that there was no monster, so instead, I would sit in front of his closet door, and I'd tell the monster stories.
I'd tell it bedtime stories until Nicky was convinced that the monster had gone to sleep, and it wasn't gonna bother him anymore.
Yeah.
Of course, the monster wasn't real, but my brother's fear that was real.
The sweat on his forehead was real.
My brother's experience was real.
I lost my brother in Vietnam.
People died.
People that I loved.
So, due respect, it may not seem like a real war back here, but I promise you, that war was very real for those of us who were there.
I know a stranger taking your daughter cross-country might not have been your favorite thing.
And I'm sorry that was your first impression of me, but don't worry.
You'll get to know me.
I'm not going anywhere.
Oh, I got to say, I think I might be a lobster guy, Bec.
Hey.
Hey.
Been drinking? I needed a few after another day of looking for jobs.
Needed more than a few, actually.
Well, hey, at least you're finally out, huh? Yay for me.
Did you drive home drunk? I don't need a lecture.
Well, hey, don't have one prepared.
Somehow I missed the last credit card statement.
We're gonna have to pay a late fee.
Well, that's because you keep piling the mail on the counter even though I keep telling you not to.
I'm doing the best I can here, Cass.
I'm-I'm I'm taking care of everything, I'm practically raising Matty alone.
Must be nice to have it so easy.
- Do you have any idea ? - No, no.
I don't.
I don't because you won't talk to me.
Mom? Mom, come here! I made a car out of Legos! Matty, give me a second.
Mommy just got home.
Oh, and the, uh the hot water heater broke again.
- Again? - Mom, come on! - Come on, Mom! - Matty, please, come on.
I asked about getting it replaced, but it's expensive.
It's 12 hundred bucks.
Can you believe that? $1,200 for a water heater? Mom? Mom?! Mommy? Mommy? Mom! Mom.
- Mom? - Stop! Sor Matty.
- Matty, I'm so sorry.
I - Um no, no.
Get out.
- I didn't I didn't - Just get out of this house.
I'm gonna go to the restroom, I'll be right back.
- I'll get the coats.
- Okay.
Young man, you know, you walked in here tonight a bit of an underdog, to put it mildly.
But you had yourself quite an evening.
You made a bunch of fans.
Thank you, sir.
Just need the one.
Ah.
You know, first year of her life, she only stopped crying if I held her.
Not her mother, not her sister.
Just me.
And everyone would say "Oh, she's a Daddy's girl.
" And I said, "No.
She is her daddy's world.
" Oh, and she still is.
You're a good man, Jack.
I can see that.
I can also see a man who is carrying things with him.
And I can see a man who is far more haunted than he wants to let on.
I don't follow.
I want more for her than you can offer, Jack.
I will do everything I can to stop this.
And make no mistake about this, son.
I'm a lot harder to beat than an imaginary monster in a closet.
Oh, goodness, I barely ate, I was so nervous.
- Daddy, thank you.
- Oh, you're welcome.
- Yeah.
- Oh, thank you for dinner.
I love you to death, but Jack, can you take me to go get a burger, please? - Absolutely.
- Okay.
Good night, Dad.
Good night.
You were waiting outside For me, in the sun Laying down to soak it all in Before we had to run Thanks for coming tonight.
I-I know how boring this is for you, but No, of course.
Sorry.
I'm just tired.
Well, yeah.
I mean we knew getting the restaurant off the ground would be the hardest part, but now that it's up and running I'm pregnant.
Oh, the glory of I'm-I'm sorry.
My brain just short-circuited.
Did? I'm six weeks pregnant.
Was lost on me Till I saw how hard Oh, my God.
It'd be to reach you Lucy.
Lucy, oh, my God.
Light-years away I wanted to get my career sorted before How the hell is this gonna work? Light-years away Look at me.
Are you looking at me? I'm blind.
I'm looking at you.
In the shadows alone You could've been right there next to me And I'd have never known Oh, the glory Of it all Was lost on me Till I saw how hard it'd be to reach you And I would always be light-years Light-years away from you Light-years Light-years away from you.
What, you feeling your age, old man? Watch it.
I see you roll your eyes every time your moms gets on you about responsibility.
I get it.
Responsibility.
For me, it was always a pain in the ass word.
When I was young, it meant doing chores.
As I got older, it meant not getting to do the stuff I really wanted to do.
I was going down a wrong path in my 20s.
Then your mom got pregnant.
And being responsible, setting the right example for you, it saved me.
That's when I realized "responsibility" didn't have to be a pain in the ass word.
Son.
Hey.
Don't even think about it.
A'ight? Yeah.
A'ight.
I'll watch the baby.
I'll talk to your mother.
But you're going to Andre's barbecue.
No, no, no, I-I Son, your life is not over.
You're still a young man, you still have friends that have barbecues, and, on occasion, your wonderful father I'm down to babysit.
Get some QT with my granddaughter.
W-Wait, are you sure? You're making breakfast tomorrow.
And you better not half-ass it, either.
I want the full deal.
Western omelets and hash browns.
- Yeah? All right.
- Yeah, okay.
Okay.
Yeah.
I used to sing here all the time, and they basically paid me in burgers.
Send me Never-ending words of love - Rebecca? - Hi, Gerry.
- Oh, we've missed you, kid.
- Aw.
You know, it's open Mic tonight.
Place is pretty dead, so You want to dust off an old one for us? No, no, no, I'm okay.
- We're actually just gonna - Yes.
It's-it's been a day.
I could use a song from my favorite singer.
So the drinking's become a thing.
It started a few years ago.
It's only gotten worse since I've been out of the Corps.
My husband and I are separated, I guess.
My life's at a standstill.
Actually, that's a lie.
It's moving in reverse.
I went from working in classified settings to driving around college students on a Saturday night for Uber.
No offense to Uber drivers.
I I can't feel anything.
I can't feel sadness.
I certainly can't feel joy.
And I hate throwing around the term PTSD, and I know you guys will probably tell me that that's what this is, but But when I hit him When I hit my son, I can't blame PTSD or alcohol or Uber.
It was the cost of a water heater.
Just brought me right back.
On behalf of the U.
S.
government, we'd like to present to you these condolence payments for every civilian that was killed yesterday.
$1,200 U.
S.
per person.
You guys know we do that, right? Dead civilian.
Dead kids.
$1,200 per person.
That's the price of a life over there.
That's a price of a water heater.
So when I think about that Don't know where Toby and Kate put their dishes.
- They've barely even unpacked.
- I will find them.
Guess whose birthday - it is, huh? - Hi.
- Birthday cake.
- No, no, no, no.
Don't touch the cake.
- We're waiting for your sister and Toby.
- Yeah? - Happy birthday.
- Thank you, Mom.
You know, I came out first.
I feel like I should be able to eat the cake first.
No one's eating any cake yet.
We're waiting for your sister.
Hello? Yeah.
Uh, no.
Yeah.
Okay.
Uh, no.
No, of course.
Yeah.
Um I H-Hold on one second.
It's Uncle Nicky.
He got in trouble in Pennsylvania, he's being arrested and he gave them my number for the bail money.
What's up, what's up, what's up? Hey, man.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey, yo, Malik.
Hey, Malik.
Hey, Sky.
What's up? Yo, I heard you got into honors bio.
That's what's up.
Hey, I want to introduce you to someone.
This is my friend Deja.
She just moved here.
She's starting school tomorrow.
Uh Hi, hi, hi, Deja.
Um, Malik.
Nice to meet you.
Um, Sky says you make a good burger.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Uh, I-I make a I make a decent, decent burger.
But-but for you, I'll give it everything I got.
Sorry I'm late.
Hey, Dej.
Hmm? What's happening with your face? What? Um, nothing.
All right, here's the plan.
I'll take a break and stay home with him.
- Or her.
- Okay.
Tobe, no matter what he says, he's gonna have an amazing, incredible life.
Yes, he will, because he has an amazing, incredible mother who's going to give him all of her amazing, incredible traits.
His dad's not so bad.
- Is he? Huh? - Yeah.
Well, maybe his dad will give him his sense of humor.
But please, God, please, please, please, God, not his hairline.
Grow some hair, please.
You crush it at the restaurant, and if you can make it home every once in a while to see him - Or her.
- Okay.
Well, that's great, but it's not required.
Okay, guys.
So Nothing's really changed since the last procedure.
Jack is still not following cues or responding to tests.
I know it's been a long three months, but now it's time to move forward.
Jack's retinopathy will not be reversed.
His eyesight will not return.
Okay, we're here.
The good news is it's not total stage V.
He will be able to see some light, maybe some shapes.
Am I lined up? You're perfect.
Ladies and gentlemen, Jack Damon.
Hi.
Good evening.
Hello.
Sorry to interrupt.
Um I would like to dedicate this song to a man who was a total stranger just a few weeks ago.
I may be only Pittsburgh good, but, my God, he makes me feel like one day, I will stand on the biggest stage in the world.
Can one wrong turn Give me new direction? Can one false move Bring me one true friend? Could a stranger Ever end up being you? We took it back In all directions Reaching out Towards the door Is there a message A pathway to something more Oh In the quiet way you caught my eye Oh I got enough to get you Memorized I found my way I found my way to you I found my way I found my way to you I found my way I found my way to you I found my way I found my way to you I told a story Before I knew The ending I got an answer Before I heard the question How did a stranger Ever end up being you? Oh In the quiet way you caught my eye Oh Got enough to get you Memorized I found my way I found my way to you I found my way I found my way to you I found my way I found my way to you I found my way