Original subtitles

- [Brian] Who do you think was the bigger influence on you,

your mother or your father?

- [Jason] I don't know.

They both were in different ways.

- [Brian] But if you had to choose.

- [Jason] Oh, that's a ridiculous choice.

- [Brian] Maybe it's because mine are both dead

that I can think about them more objectively.

- [Jason] Well, I objectively believe mine

equally influenced who I am.

- [Brian] To the world,

it looked like my father was in charge but in truth,

my mother was working her ass off behind the scenes

to orchestrate everything

and keep my father in the spotlight.

- [Jason] Kinda like a press agent.

(both chuckling)

(lighthearted music)

(spoon clanking)

- [Peter] Whoa, Riley, slow down!

- But Brian's gonna be here soon!

- That doesn't matter, slow down.

- [Peter] And don't talk with your mouth full.

(doorbell rings)

- It's Brian! - Ah, ah!

Sit down and finish your breakfast.

- Brian, I'm in here!

- What did Appa just tell you

about talking with your mouth full?

- You and Appa are impossible!

- Watch it.

- Well, you are!

- Do you wanna go kite flying with Brian

or do you wanna spend the day in your room?

- That's so TV Land!

- Hey!

- We're looking forward

to dinner with you and David tonight.

- [Brian] So are we.

- Ready!

- Dishes in the sink.

- Why can't you do it?

- Now!

- Mm!

- Let's go!

- Where's your kite?

- Whoops!

(both laughing)

- He's been looking forward to this all week.

- And so have we.

Don't get me wrong, I love our son, but some days.

- A break is nice.

- If I don't get some quiet time

to start prepping my lesson plans,

I'm gonna start the school year facing 8th graders unarmed.

- And I've got four closings next week to prepare for.

- Not to worry.

I love my Riley time.

- Let's go! - Let's go!

Come on!

- Have fun!

- Bye!

- [Brian] Ready?

- Ready!

- Let it go!

(lighthearted music)

Okay, go ahead!

(both laughing)

- [Riley] Whoa!

- Okay, hold tight.

- I know.

Jason taught me.

- We both taught you.

That's it.

- Your mom died, right?

- Yeah.

A long time ago, before you were born.

My dad, too.

- My mom's alive somewhere but I've never met her.

It's weird.

- Whoa, whoa!

Oh.

Well, maybe you should talk to your dads about that.

- Do you think we can fly the kite as high as the clouds?

- Oh, it's possible.

- What about all the way to heaven?

- That might take a lot more string. (laughs)

- If we could, I'd write a note to Jason on the kite

and send it up to him.

Wouldn't that be cool?

- Yeah.

- Jason was my friend.

I know he was as old as my dads, but when we were together,

it almost seemed like he was kind of my age.

He took the training wheels off my bike

and taught me to fly kites,

and I really, really miss him. (cries)

- Jason wasn't only Riley's friend.

- Sorry. (men chuckling)

- Ooh!

- So you guys live here?

(everyone chuckling)

- Yeah.

Are you guys new?

- We just bought 8C.

- Oh, we're in 5C.

- Oh!

- You're the nice, young men

who bought Mr. And Mrs. Kellogg's apartment.

- Yup, that's us.

- They're so sweet.

- Yeah.

We helped them with groceries

and errands from time to time.

- Nice.

- They're in their 90s!

- Yeah, and living on their own just wasn't working anymore.

- They told us they moved in here over 65 years ago

when they first got married.

- And in all those decades,

they never replaced anything other than a light bulb.

(everyone chuckles)

- We're doing a gut renovation.

- Oh! - Our architect's coming over

to discuss some of the final details.

- Oh.

- I'm Brian Stone.

This is my husband. - Jason Addams.

- Mark Perkins. - Oh.

- Peter Kwon.

- Oh! - Also married.

- Ah! - Oh, nice.

- When you're done with the architect,

why don't you stop by for coffee?

- We can give you the dirt on the building.

- Well, okay. - Oh, definitely.

- Thank you! (everyone chuckles)

- (sighs) Jason, we love you.

Brian, we're always here for you,

all three of us.

- Once Riley's a little older,

maybe we can talk to you about redoing the place.

- Oh, whenever you're ready.

- After we've finished saving for college.

- So glad I'm not a parent.

(Peter chuckles)

- Good night, everybody!

- Good night. - Good night!

- [Peter] Teeth brushed?

- Yup.

- Then I'll go tuck you in.

- See you in the morning. - Good night.

(mellow jazz music)

- Ah, was a fun day.

Good night.

- Remember, we're gonna need a lot more string

next time we fly a kite.

- You got it.

- A lot more string?

- He wants to write a message to Jason on the kite

and fly it to heaven.

- You did tell him that wasn't really possible.

- No, he's a kid.

He's supposed to believe in those things.

- Well, he's a kid, but he's not a baby.

- He does still kinda believe in Santa Claus.

- Kinda like believing in me.

- I figure it's Riley's parents' job

to destroy his fantasies, not his Uncle Brian's. (laughs)

Oh, you should know, he was also a bit preoccupied

with who and where his mom is.

- We had round one of this when he started pre-school.

I guess it's time for round two.

- That can't be easy.

- We've known all along the mother thing

would be an ongoing conversation.

- Sons and mothers.

- Brian, please, don't spend the rest

of your life like this.

- Like what?

- Keeping everything that's important a secret.

(Brian sighs)

- I don't know what you mean, Mom.

- What did your father and I do

to make you so afraid to talk to us?

- We talk.

We're talking.

- Never about anything important.

- That's not true.

- You build walls, Brian, ever since you were a boy.

And, right or wrong, your father and I

decided not to press you.

We believed, we chose to believe that eventually,

you'd open the door a crack but you haven't.

- You're exaggerating.

- If we hadn't pressed the point,

would you ever have told us you were gay?

We hear about your work.

We hear about the weather in New York

but have you ever told us about a boyfriend?

I assume, I hope there have been boyfriends.

- Yes.

- You've never introduced us to one.

- Well, it's not like you're around the corner.

I'm in New York and you're in Ohio.

- It's not the moon, Brian.

Do you have a boyfriend?

- Not at the moment.

- Do you want one?

- Yes.

But they never seem to work out.

Why are we even discussing this?

- Because your father's gone and I'm on borrowed time.

- Mom, don't.

- And you're not 20-something anymore,

and the walls keep getting thicker,

and that's not what I want for you.

Do you at least open up to your sister or your friends?

- It's hard for me to.

I don't want to disappoint the people I love.

- You disappoint the people you love

when you aren't honest with them.

Hmm?

- [Peter] Mothers?

- Riley brought it up this afternoon.

- Round two has begun.

(Peter sighs)

(everyone laughs)

- So I patiently explained to his parents

that, yes, their little genius had written

a very interesting paper about how he found Waldo,

but the book the class was reading was Walden.

- No way.

- Wait, it gets better.

- So his parents said, if I just gave him a chance,

they were sure he could find Walden just as easily.

- The future of America.

- One day, he could be in the White House.

- Oh, God.

- So, has there been any fallout

with Patti Lupone leaving you?

- Nope.

So far, so good.

- And no others have followed suit?

- Nope.

- Wait a minute.

Patti Lupone is the client you lost?

(smooth jazz music)

- When you're in a relationship,

when you care about someone,

you talk about the important things.

- You're taking this way too personally.

- Why shouldn't I take it personally?

You told all your friends your biggest client left you.

- I didn't tell all my friends.

- But you didn't feel the need to tell me!

- I was afraid it would make me look weak.

- Because you lost a client?

- I was afraid that Patti leaving

could lead to others deserting,

which would lead to the company folding.

And then what would I be in your eyes?

A big, fucking failure!

- How shallow do you think I am?

- No, that's-- - What?

Do you think I'm here

because I'm impressed you have celebrity clients?

- That's not what I meant.

- It's what it sounded like.

And what does it suggest about why you're with me?

- I was scared!

I'm still scared.

I'm terrified!

Why can't you understand?

- Why can't you understand?

You know what?

It's late, and we're both tired.

I don't want this to escalate

to someplace neither of us wants it to go.

- Neither do I.

- So why don't we go to bed

and agree to talk about it tomorrow.

- Sure.

(Brian sighs)

It was always so easy with you.

From day one.

- Was it?

Or is that the mythology you've built?

(lighthearted music)

♪ You'll always be my forever ♪

♪ Down deep inside of me ♪

♪ You'll always be my forever ♪

♪ You're all I'll ever need ♪

(lighthearted music)