Original subtitles

.

- Previously on "Council of Dads"...

- Right before we came here, out of the blue,

she said she wants to try again.

- Peter and I are thinking about adopting another kid.

- What?

- [laughs] Keep jogging.

- Evan has a whole plan to fix up more houses

in the neighborhood.

- Oh, where are you gonna find the time with school?

- Uh, I'm not-- I'm not going back to school.

- When I ask for the truth,

it comes out in dribs and drabs,

and in my head, I'm thinking,

"What else are you not telling me?"

[upbeat music]

[exhales deeply] Hi, Sun.

I missed you.

Hi, husband.

- Hi. - I missed you, too.

- When did you get home? - Late.

The Crab Shack was packed last night.

I almost made enough money to get my car fixed.

- Yeah, you've been working too hard.

Me too. I can't wait for Sunday.

- What's Sunday?

- Uh, my mom's thing? At church.

- Right, right.

- Ahh, you forgot. - Ooh, a little bit.

- My mom thinks you don't like her.

- She doesn't like me. - She loves you.

- Ha! See?

She loves me, but she doesn't like me.

- Yeah, well, she'll like you a whole lot

if you come on Sunday.

[both laugh] - I'll be there.

- Hey, I want all the Dads there,

uh, just so my mom feels the love,

but Anthony doesn't have to come if--

- Oh, he's in Vegas.

- He gets back today.

♪

- Your mom's getting a big award.

The more, the merrier.

- You sure? I know things are weird between you two.

- Well, your mom doesn't like me,

things are weird between me and Anthony.

God, I must be a jerk.

- My mom likes you, and you are not a jerk.

♪

- Any interest in unloading this house?

I'm a developer.

I got my eye on this entire block.

- We're not selling.

Go ruin someone else's neighborhood.

- Porch up to code? - It's grandfathered in.

- Which is none of your business.

- We'll let the inspector sort that out.

♪

- It's up to code, isn't it?

- I didn't put in a ledger board.

- Why not?

- Because this way is just as safe,

and I couldn't afford the extra lumber.

[sighs]

- I made bank last night, and what's mine is yours.

♪

- Lu?

This house, I feel like...

maybe it's too much-- maybe we sell.

[dramatic music]

- Scott had a way of seeing the best in everything.

He'd overlook the flaws, and see nothing but potential.

- No way.

We're not selling.

♪

- He did the same thing with us, his council.

He saw the best version of all of us,

and made us believe in it.

What are you doing here?

- Look, I know how to juggle.

- Oh. - Whoa.

- Guess what-- so Jules talked me

into auditioning for "Hamlet," and I got cast as Hamlet.

- Cool. Good job, man.

- I just watched "The Notebook" last night

by Nicholas Sparks-- have you seen it?

- Well, yeah, a long time ago.

- It's a stupid movie. - It's not stupid.

- We don't say "stupid."

- I get to do the sword fight at the end with leotards.

- Laertes.

- You want to watch it with me, Anthony?

- Sure. - Watch! You're not watching.

- I'm trying to watch. It's just--

it's been a week, and so much has happened.

- Never leave again.

- But what if Scott was wrong?

What if we never were those guys to begin with?

- And if the baby's not here by next week,

then we'll talk about inducing.

- Well, I really want to try for an unmedicated delivery.

- I know. I have my copy of your birth plan.

- All 20 pages?

Did you see the section on my wardrobe?

- I just don't want you in a ratty old T-shirt

in our first pictures with Anabelle.

- I'm just playing.

Oh, hey, um, did you want to ask her the poop thing?

- Oh, right, the poop thing.

- Hmm. What's the poop thing?

- I heard that sometimes you...

[whispering] Poop when you're pushing,

and I'm worried about-- I-I mean, what if--

- She's afraid if I see that, we'll never have sex again,

and I keep telling her there's no amount of poop

that can keep me away.

- You say the sweetest things, Curtis.

- Camilla, your baby is the main event.

That is all anybody's gonna be looking at.

- Okay, all right. - Okay?

All right. I'll see you in a few days.

- Thank you. - Robin.

Anthony's back, baby.

Charlotte posted a pic. He look different to you?

He was gone a week. - Huh. Seems like longer.

- Aw, you missed your bestie.

- You're my bestie. - Mm-hmm.

- No, I just want to know how my bet turned out.

Gave him 100 bucks to put on red.

I'm excited.

- To see your bestie at the Council meeting?

- No, to collect my winnings. - Mm-hmm.

[indistinct chatter]

- Oh, sorry I've ignored you guys all night.

- We're slammed. - Where's Anthony?

- Oh, I told him it's time.

- Time for what?

- Uh, it's time for the Council meeting,

and there he is.

- Bro! [laughs]

How was Vegas?

- Good. - Did you win?

- I wasn't gambling. - What, dude?

I gave you 100 bucks to put on red.

And I played that, and you lost.

- Well, if you weren't gambling,

what were you doing?

- Just taking some time.

- Were you visiting friends? - Yeah.

- Do these friends have names? - Yes.

- You're being so mysterious,

you're making your bestie jealous.

- People need to be allowed to leave, right?

That's just reality.

You know, this is all temporary.

Things are gonna change, and we have to adapt--

- Anthony, Anthony, we just missed you.

That's all. Right?

And, all right, uh, now that we're all here,

we can celebrate Larry, who's five years sober today.

- Oh, wow.

Oh!

I wasn't expecting this.

Oh, five years.

I, uh...

Why are you talking about leaving?

- Tonight isn't about me, you know.

What were you saying? - Is that what Vegas was about?

You leaving?

- Are you?

- [sighs]

I was offered a big opportunity.

2,500 square feet at Caesars.

That's prime real estate.

A big opportunity.

- Yeah, you said that already.

[dramatic music]

- We're here to celebrate Larry.

I mean, five years.

Seriously, blow out your candles.

[dramatic music]

♪

.

- Hey.

Are you really leaving?

- Yeah, I am.

- Is it about me?

- Why would you say that?

- Things were fine before we went to the Calhouns.

But then I freaked out, and now you're leaving.

- This was never a forever thing.

You're not riding home on that.

- My car is still in the shop. - Let me give you a ride.

- No, thanks.

[easygoing rock music]

♪

- I'm seeing a Brave.

- A what?

- An Atlanta Brave.

- Really? - Don't act surprised.

- Which one?

- Well, no, I'm not gonna tell you that.

I don't want you to kill him in a fit of jealousy.

- [laughs] - Georgia needs a World Series.

Seriously, I'm over you.

You don't have to leave on account of me.

- I'm not leaving because of you.

- Okay, then who is it?

Is she a showgirl?

Is it a blackjack dealer or a bottle girl?

I'm gonna keep going with the clichés until you stop me.

- This is not about a woman, Margot.

It's about a job.

- Well, you have a job...

and a few months left on your contract.

- The Vegas job won't wait.

- Well, then you are in a real pickle.

♪

- I'm trying to get this adoption application in,

and I'm already stuck on the first question--

why do we want to adopt a baby?

- Because we do.

- Tess is almost grown.

I just want to make sure we really want this.

- I don't want to wake up in ten years

and regret not having another.

- The adoption agency is gonna need something

more definitive than potential regret.

- [chuckles]

- I'm gonna need something more definitive

than potential regret.

- Babe, if you're having second thoughts...

- Tess is such a great kid.

I'm just scared of ruining perfection.

- Well, maybe it would just make us better.

You know, we have so much love to give,

and I love raising kids with you.

- I love raising kids with you, too.

- Okay, why don't we just put in the initial application,

get the process started?

You know it takes forever.

We'll have plenty of time to figure it out.

[upbeat music]

♪

- This is jacked up.

- Theo. - Theo.

- It is. He's gonna miss "Hamlet."

- I know. And I'm sorry.

- It's still jacked up.

- JJ. - JJ.

- What? Theo said it.

- Then set a good example for your brother

- The reason it hurts so much to separate

is because our souls are connected.

- Char, that's beautiful.

- It's Nicholas Sparks.

"The Notebook," which you said you'd watch with me.

- Guys... [Anthony clears throat]

- Anthony has given us so much of his time.

But-- - You've got to do

what's right for you,

even if it hurts some people you love.

- Well said, Char.

- Nicholas Sparks said it.

- Okay. Everybody out. I'm gonna talk to Anthony.

Thank you.

I can't wait for the Nicholas Sparks phase to be over.

- I feel so bad.

- They love you.

And they've gotten used to having you around.

So have I.

I think I had some fantasy

that this crazy, weird family experiment

would just go on forever.

- The big, happy family with the three dads

who hang around the edges.

- I would hardly call what you have done

hanging around the edges.

You've gotten right there up in the middle of it.

- These investors are willing to spend a lot of money.

- There are investors everywhere.

Restaurant scene in Savannah's grown.

- Robin--

- I mean, you just don't seem excited.

- I am.

But also, I know I promised you guys a year.

- Oh, Anthony...

you have given us so much already.

I absolve you from any sense of obligation

that you may have towards us.

Just promise me... [sighs]

That you're doing this for the right reasons.

- I am.

- Okay, then.

- I need a favor.

- Knock, knock. - [mutters to self]

He did not send you to come plead his case.

- Yeah.

- [sighs]

You know, I made some phone calls.

The investor in Vegas is perfectly fine

with him filling out his contract here,

so what's the rush?

I think it's a Vegas mystery woman.

- I think maybe it's like hair.

You know? One day you love your hair.

The next day, you wake up, and you can't stand

the shaggy mop another minute.

- So we are a shaggy mop?

- Yeah, we're the shaggy mop.

- Great.

So you would like for me to let Anthony out of his contract

so he can, what, get a haircut in Vegas?

- It's a tortured analogy, but, yes.

- Don't you need him?

Oh, wait, I guess you're seeing that guy.

So do you even need the Council anymore?

- What guy? - I don't know.

Anthony said you're seeing, like, a--

like, a firefighter or something.

- Oh, Sam. He's a cop.

Uh, and he's back with his wife.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

[soft music]

No.

It's you.

- What's me? - You.

You're the mystery woman.

He got you that necklace for Christmas,

and he got me the ski coat--

- No, no, no, no. - No, listen.

I told myself not to worry about it

because you had a boyfriend, but you don't have

a boyfriend anymore, and...

[sighs] But you're Scott's widow.

So he can't, he can't. You're off-limits.

And he's so tortured about it.

I mean, it's painful for him to be around you.

He's sacrificing himself.

He's gonna go off to Vegas and die alone.

- You sound like Charlotte explaining the plot

of a Nicholas Sparks novel.

- [laughs]

- [chuckles]

- Now that I hear it out loud...

- [laughs] - Yes.

Um, perhaps I have romance on the brain.

Did you hear I am dating a Brave?

- Bravo. - Thank you.

- He's not in love with me.

- Okay.

No, he's not. He's not in love with you.

♪

.

[upbeat music]

- Mom, this is for you.

- Oh, my goodness. [chuckles]

How beautiful.

- I'll put it on for you.

- So nice to see you here, honey.

I hope Evan told you

you're invited to church every week.

- Uh, I have been working so much

that Sundays are the only day I have to write, so...

- How's that going for you?

Are you selling your stories yet?

- Not yet. Takes a while.

- How long you gonna give it?

- As long as it takes.

- How about you? Is that how you feel now, too?

Get to do whatever you want. Nobody needs a real job?

- What--Mom, um... [both laugh]

When you see the house--

- When do I get to see the house?

- When it's finished.

It's, uh, coming along.

- You know what?

I'm gonna get my prayer warriors on you two.

You know, they cured my cancer.

Maybe they can turn things around for you.

[cell phone ringing]

- Hold on. My patient's calling me.

Hey, Curtis.

Oh, okay.

Um, well, when they're five minutes apart,

would you please-- thank you--

would you go to the hospital?

And they will call me as soon as you check in.

Oh, yeah, you're having a baby today.

Okay. [baby fusses]

Oh, my goodness. Oh!

Did you hear that?

Camilla's gonna have one of you today.

Hey, nice job with the ties, you guys.

- Half Windsor. Larry.

- Clip-on. Charlotte. [car door closes]

- I'm gonna pray for Anthony to stay.

- Me too. - Me three.

- Okay, well, you guys, let's not forget

that today's not about Anthony or us.

Right? It's about Evan's mom.

- When I heard I was going to receive this award

for 25 years of service to the church...

[crowd murmurs] I was overwhelmed.

Feeling your prayers

and love for the past three years

since my cancer was diagnosed has been...

Well, it saved my life. [crowd murmurs]

There are two reasons I am standing here today.

Montgomery Street Friendship is my family.

[crowd shouts] And God is my oncologist.

[applause]

[upbeat gospel music]

♪

- You must be very proud of your mom.

- Oh, I am. Way proud. - Yeah.

- Trying to make it go both ways, you know?

- Oh, I can tell by looking at her

she's just as proud of you.

- Only 'cause I don't tell her anything.

♪

The house...

it's, uh...

it's falling apart one code violation at a time.

It's just...

Uh, I'll be back, Larry.

♪

[container clattering]

♪

- Just say it.

You want to scold me for leaving.

I can take it. - Well, that church service

took some of the fire and brimstone out of me.

- My lucky day.

- You know, I used to think you were one of those

"all charm and no substance" guys,

but you do have some good qualities, Anthony.

I mean, you got to hang in there,

'cause they're not obvious, at all.

But I'm gonna miss them.

I'm gonna miss you.

♪

- [scoffs]

I'm gonna miss you, too.

♪

- Oh, wow. Anthony's hugging Larry.

That hug's going on forever.

You guys, why do you think Anthony's really leaving?

- You know, last night Oliver had Anthony

diagnosed with MS.

This morning, it was--what was it?

- A frontal lobe brain tumor.

- Oliver thinks he's hiding something.

- Margot thinks that he has feelings for me.

- What? No. I don't see it.

- But a frontal lobe brain tumor makes sense to you?

- Well, I think he would've said something to me.

- Oh, right. 'Cause you're bros.

[laughter, cell phone buzzing]

Hey, did Camilla check in yet?

[dramatic music]

Oh, no.

♪

Okay, I'll be right there.

- What is it?

- One of my patients was in a car accident, and it's bad.

Her husband, Curtis, he's...

Can you-- - Go, go, we got the kids.

- Okay, thanks. [chair clatters]

[indistinct chatter]

- Hey.

- Hey.

- I've been thinking--

I would like to pay for your car repairs.

- No, thank you.

- Come on, how much you need?

- I recognize you from the Crab Shack.

I love the food there, and I love your daughter here.

- Oh, no, he's not my dad.

- Thought your dad owned the Crab Shack.

- Well, he did, and then he died,

and then his best friend, Anthony, took over for him.

This is Anthony. - Anthony.

[dramatic music]

- I feel so terrible.

Of course her dad died. I knew that, but I forgot.

And seeing you two together, you look so alike.

- [chuckles]

♪

Uh, I take that as a compliment, but, no.

No relation. [chuckles]

How about you try some of our amazing Crab Shack gumbo?

You'll love it.

♪

- Where is my mac and cheese?

- Uh, take this. I need to go to the hospital.

- Babe, you look upset. Did Anthony say something?

- No, he didn't. Um, hopefully it's nothing.

- Oliver.

- I have never seen Annie this happy.

That's a pretty girl her boy married.

- Luly. Did you see her little brother JJ?

He is actually a girl.

- What? - Mm-hmm.

- What do they call that, a transvestite?

Girl, they everywhere these days.

[both laugh, toilet flushes]

[tense music]

♪

- It's transgender.

And he's not really a girl, just so you know.

He's really a boy.

♪

[door opens]

[upbeat gospel music]

- ♪ I know Jesus

- ♪ His mighty savior

- ♪ I know Jesus

- Evan. - Hey.

- We need to go. - What? Why?

- Now. - Babe, but why, why?

- Some church ladies in the bathroom

just said some transphobic crap about my brother.

- People stupid stuff. Don't take it personally, Luly.

- This isn't just stupid stuff.

And these people are your mom's church,

your church that you keep telling me

played such an important role in how you grew up.

And you wonder why

I don't come every Sunday with you guys.

It's because these people are not my people,

and I can't just look the other way!

- What happened? Did something happen?

- Uh, no, no, it's okay. We got it, Mom.

[dramatic music]

- Can I ask you something?

Every time you tell me that prayer cured your cancer,

do you ever think about how that makes me feel?

Guess my family didn't pray hard enough.

- Luly.

- Evan, I want to go!

♪

Evan!

♪

- [sighs]

♪

.

- ♪ A bunch of little mini-mes and so my brain ♪

♪ Is telling me, my melody propelling ♪

♪ And [...] up the game and [...] the fame ♪

♪ Assuming the position

♪ Kama Sutra loses tension

♪ Missionary ordinary, it may vary-- ♪

- Luly.

- ♪ Poof to you perm [...]

♪ I'm trying to earn figures

♪ I'm dollar burnin' in your pocket ♪

♪ When you learn it's a [...] ♪

♪ Grabbing on the creep--

- You embarrassed the hell out of my mom.

- Her? How about me? Your wife?

Those church ladies talking about JJ,

and God is my oncologist, like--

- What is so wrong with her believing that?

You make everything about you.

Today was her special day. Couldn't you just--

- Kiss the ring of your almighty mother?

Who throws shade at me with her little digs?

And you just stand there and let her!

- I do not. - Yes, you do.

You know she doesn't like me, Evan,

'cause I stole away her mama's boy.

- Wow. Mama's bo-- What about you?

Your daddy issues? - Do not talk about my dad.

- No, your dads.

You got dads everywhere.

This stupid-ass Council trying to fill the hole in you

that just can't be filled.

And then Anthony's leaving,

so now you got to punish everyone around you.

- This isn't about Anthony.

- Blow up on me, blow up on my mom.

How about you blow up on Anthony?

- I'm leaving. - So go.

Go be a victim somewhere else.

[dramatic music]

- I didn't want to interrupt.

- You're not.

♪

- What are you doing here?

- Well, you got a porch you need to rip out.

I got a saw.

- [sighs]

- Could you show me her ultrasound?

- Her husband took the brunt of the crash.

Shattered spleen, grade-five massive blood loss.

He's in surgery, but the prognosis isn't great.

- Okay. Camilla looks good at least, right?

There's no free fluid,

and there's no evidence of trauma.

Do we know if she lost consciousness after the crash?

- Oh, no, she didn't.

- Sam. - [sighs]

Yeah, I was on the scene within a minute or two.

She was conscious and stable the whole time.

- Okay. Thank you.

Uh, I have a baby to deliver.

Come with me.

- Dr. Perry. We were T-boned.

- I know, I know.

But you are doing so good, and the baby, too.

- What about Curtis? Did you see him?

- Curtis is in surgery right now.

The best thing that you can do for Curtis right now

is focus on delivering this baby.

- I can't. - Okay?

- I can't do it alone. - You can, you can.

- [grunts] - All right, all right.

Oh, guess what. You already are.

I can see Anabelle's head.

- No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This wasn't the plan.

- Well, listen to me. Listen to me.

The plan is changing, and that's okay, all right?

Today's Anabelle's birthday. You ready to meet her?

One, two, three, push.

Push, push, push, push, push-- - [screams]

[saw whirring]

- Hey, check the joist on that ledger

and see if we're still level. - Oh.

[grunts] - [exhales sharply]

- It's level. - Good.

That should ward off the inspector

if he comes breathing down your throat.

- Hey, thank you.

Listen, if you overheard us fighting,

uh, what I said about-- - Stupid-ass Council of Dads?

It's kind of hard to stay cool and calm

when somebody's attacking your mom.

- Oh, well, it goes both ways. Luly's right.

Like, my mom, she blames Luly for me dropping out of school,

buying this house...

- Taking away her mama's boy?

- [chuckles]

Hey, I'm all she's got, you know?

My...my dad left when I was a baby.

Luly and I talk about that, you know?

How we were both raised by single parents.

The difference is then she got this big family,

and my mom...

- The church is her family.

[soft music]

- I love my mom.

And I love Luly.

I don't know how to fix this.

- Well, I may have a tool or two in the old shed

I can loan you. - [chuckles]

♪

- Hey. What happened?

- I just had a huge fight with my husband...

who pointed out that I have daddy issues,

and he's right,

'cause I've been pretty much out of my mind

since you've announced that you are leaving soon,

which is looking a whole lot like now.

- Luly. - When are you leaving?

And don't say soon. Don't you dare say soon.

- Now.

As soon as I pack.

- Thank you.

Okay, now...

when my dad was sick

and they said that he had a week left...

I wasn't ready.

And I wanted to ask him to stay longer.

- I did, too, but this is for the best.

- Please let me finish.

Please.

I couldn't ask him to stay...

to not leave me...

because he was dying.

But I can ask you.

- Luly, this is different.

♪

- You're right. It is...

[sniffles]

'Cause it's a choice.

Your choice...

to leave me and my brothers and my sisters.

I mean, what the hell? Were you even gonna say bye?

Like a proper good-bye to them? - Yes.

- I don't want to be mad at you.

I want us to be good, but if you leave now,

then I'll always feel bad,

like I ruined this or something or whatever.

[crying] And I'm asking you to stay!

Not forever, just--but...

a little while longer...

and help me get over you leaving.

♪

- Luly, this is me. It's what I do.

I'm not the man you have built me up to be in your head.

♪

I'm Uncle Anthony.

[sniffles]

But I'm no dad.

♪

- You're right.

You're not...

'cause if you were, you would stay.

♪

- Luly.

♪

Luly.

Luly, watch out! [tires screech, horn blaring]

♪

.

- [exhales deeply]

[mellow music]

- I thought you called me over here

because your wife wanted to apologize.

- No, that's something that I need to do.

I'm sorry I haven't made some things clear.

Me leaving school, that was my decision.

Buying this house, I pushed for it.

Luly is not responsible for my choices,

but you blame her for them.

It's not fair,

not to her or to me or to you.

- I think I've been yelled at enough for one day.

- Wait, Ma. - Anne, please.

Hear your son out.

Y'all need to have this conversation.

- It's one-sided. Him, Luly, these kids today--

they're more than happy with you

as long as you say yes to everything they want,

but the world doesn't work that way.

- What am I asking you for, Mom?

To be nice to Luly?

You know, she...

She lost her dad.

I still have you, Mom.

I don't know where I would be

or what kind of feelings I would be throwing at people

if I lost you.

I wouldn't be standing.

But she is.

She is standing, and sometimes she's falling,

but she's getting back up.

- I prayed that you'd find a strong woman.

- Well, I found her.

And I need you to treat her better...

with respect and compassion,

like you treat everyone else.

Why can't you treat the most important person

in my life like that?

- "Most important." Hmm.

- Ma, listen-- [sighs]

- Hmm. - You're a close second, Mom.

- Oh! - But, yes, she is.

- Oh!

We had a plan-- college.

And I know you have dreams

about fixing up this neighborhood,

but you can't even afford this house,

let alone buy more.

- Well, if I can get this one done, I can get a bank loan--

- No one's going to give a black man

without a college degree a loan.

- I might.

♪

I think you're partially responsible for this, Anne.

You built your church from nothing,

and he watched you do it.

Y'all are both doing the same thing,

giving back, building community.

It's inspiring,

which is why I'd like to come in as an investor.

♪

- Wow.

[scoffs]

- All right, Anabelle. [gasps]

This is your mommy.

[baby crying] - Oh.

Do you know anything about Curtis,

and you're just not telling me?

- I haven't heard anything.

♪

- I'm so scared.

He wasn't breathing.

When they put him in the ambulance, he wasn't breathing.

- Camilla, his surgeon is fantastic.

♪

- Will you go check on him?

- Of course.

[baby fusses]

♪

[woman vocalizing]

[upbeat music]

[door opens]

- Uh, what are you doing here?

- [sighs] I had nowhere else to go.

My room got turned into Hope's nursery.

- Isn't that because you have, like, a whole house with Evan?

- He thinks I have daddy issues.

- Well, duh.

Join the club.

- [laughs]

Yeah.

We've got, like, ten dads

and no dads at the same time.

♪

- Are you and Evan okay?

- We will be.

I think.

I mean, I hope.

[sighs]

I'm just gonna...

I'm just gonna deal with it tomorrow.

I'm gonna stay here tonight.

- But remember what Dad used to always say?

- Do not quote "Little Women"! - Do not let the sun go down

on your anger.

And I'm actually quoting Dad quoting "Little Women."

There's a big difference. - [sighs]

God, you're annoying! - Because I'm right.

I'm--I'm always right, actually.

- You're not always right. - Always.

- But I'll give you this one.

- Gabby. How'd it go?

- I'm on my way to speak to his spouse.

- Well, she just had a baby, so just--

how bad is it?

Just tell me, and I'll tell her.

- Curtis did great. He's gonna be fine.

- What?

- I mean, he's down a spleen,

but his GCS and his labs

have already normalized post-surgery,

so I expect a full recovery.

- [sighs]

Uh, sorry. I wasn't expecting that.

[bright music]

♪

[exhales sharply]

♪

- We're all dead.

- Oh, hey, Anthony.

- What's all this?

- I think it's the death scene from "Hamlet."

JJ's Laertes, and he's trying to kill Hamlet

with his poison-tipped pool noodle,

and Charlotte is dead Ophelia.

Oh, wait, wait. She's resurrected.

- Hey, Anthony!

- I came to watch "The Notebook."

- Oh. Right now?

- Uh, yeah, but, um--

- Can we do it tomorrow?

- Yeah.

Sure, tomorrow.

- Hey, you stay away!

[overlapping chatter]

- Hey, man, are you okay?

♪

- No.

♪

[car alarm chirps, door closes]

- I need to talk to you. - Just let me go, please.

- Luly's blood type isn't compatible

with a paternal relationship to Scott.

When Scott was sick, we considered

an experimental treatment.

We took blood from all the kids to look for a platelet donor,

but Scott took a turn for the worse,

and I never followed up...

until now.

- I have to go.

- To Vegas, alone?

Look, Anthony, this is too much to carry by yourself.

This will kill you.

- I can't tell her.

And neither can you.

- Okay, stay. We'll figure it out together.

You helped save my marriage. Let me help you.

- No.

- Hey, Anthony, you're my friend.

I can't let you go like this.

- We're not friends.

We're just two guys who knew a guy who died.

Don't be making this your business.

This is my problem, and I'm dealing with it.

Now let go of my arm.

[dramatic music]

♪

[engine turning over]

♪

.

- What do you think happened?

- He had an affair with Michelle.

- Can you imagine holding on to that

as long as Anthony has?

- Oh, my God, Robin's gonna sense something's off.

I got to tell her, right?

- Can we just go back to a couple of hours ago

when Scott was Luly's bio-dad?

I really want to go back to that world.

- So innocent.

- The kids were fantastic today...

just having each other's backs.

That's why I want a baby.

- A baby?

Do we really want a baby?

- Oh, so now you're having second thoughts?

- Well, you were right before.

Our lives are so good right now.

Seeing what this family's been through for the last year,

what they're about to go through

with this Anthony stuff...

[cell phone chimes] Makes me want to just stop.

You know? Quit while we're ahead.

Why tempt fate?

- [laughs]

We just got an email from the social worker.

We've been chosen by a birth mother

who's due in seven weeks.

We have 24 hours to decide if we want the baby.

[warm music]

♪

[laughs] - [sighs]

♪

[knocking at door]

- Hey, I just wanted to check on the family.

- Oh, uh, yeah, they're fine.

Right now they're busy falling in love with their new baby.

- Really? Wow.

That is so great. - I know.

- Hey, so, uh, I don't know how to say this.

Um, my divorce is final.

We tried to work it out,

but it's kind of a funny story in a tragic kind of way.

We were...

we were at the park, kids were playing soccer.

We made this picnic, and we were eating this food.

It was beautiful night. Kid were getting along.

And she says, uh, "I'm in love with Jerry."

Yeah, Jerry is one of her co-workers,

and, yeah, I guess they'd gotten together

during one of our breakups.

And when she and I got together, um...

it made her miss Jerry.

So we cried and ate the pasta salad and broke up...

[chuckles] For good.

And I went to Alaska on a fishing trip,

and it was just so quiet there, you know?

And in the--in the quiet, I could think.

And I just thought about you. [sighs]

And all this is to say, would you like to try again?

- Wow.

Uh, sorry. I wasn't expecting this.

Um... [laughs]

[cell phone buzzes]

[sighs] Uh...

That's Anthony, and he says it's urgent.

- Oh. Okay, yeah.

I mean, go ahead.

- Sorry.

[dramatic music]

♪

Wait. Yes.

The answer's yes. I would like to try again.

Uh, so call me. Or I will call you.

Someone will call someone.

- ♪ It's a new day coming

♪ I can see it now

♪ I can see it now

♪

♪ There's a future of promise ♪

♪ I believe it now

- Nice porch.

- Thanks.

- I need to make things right with your mom.

- No need.

I handled it.

- I need to make things right with you.

I do have daddy issues.

I'm a daddy's girl.

But what I want more than anything

is to be Evan Norris's wife.

[man vocalizing]

♪

- ♪ There's a shadow of something ♪

♪ I can't quite make it out

♪ I can't make it out

- Scott saw the best in us,

the men on his Council. [applause]

And it made us want to step up.

- A little over five years ago,

I walked into this room for the first time.

I listened to you folks talk about sobriety

and steps...

and I thought, "Uh-uh, that ain't for me."

[laughter]

I tried to slip out the back.

But this guy stopped me...

Scott P.

He said, "Larry, I want you to make a list

"of the things you'd like to accomplish in a year,

two years, five years."

Truth of the matter was I couldn't see five months.

But Scott wouldn't let up.

He said, "Write down one thing--

a goal, a wish, a prayer."

So I did.

And in some ways...

That little prayer became my higher power.

Oh, even though I stopped drinking,

I never thought I'd achieve that goal.

But today, today I got a little bit closer.

[uplifting music]

♪

I've carried this little note

with me every day for five years.

It's the first time I've ever read it out loud.

♪

"Be someone that others can depend on."

♪

- But sometimes you fall short.

Sometimes greatness just isn't in you.

Thanks for meeting me. - Yeah. You buying a new car?

- It's the latest model. Great pickup.

Plus, it can go off road.

It's a totally safe car.

Come on. Get in.

- It's nice.

- Front and rear parking assist.

Eight airbags. Automated braking.

- What's going on, Anthony? - I bought it for Luly.

And I want you to give it to her,

'cause I'm afraid if I try, she's not gonna take it,

and she needs a safe car.

- Okay.

This feels really impulsive.

- When she was a baby,

Scott was... [sighs]

Absolutely terrified to put her in the car he drove,

so he--you know, he threw himself

into figuring out the safest cars.

And he started cutting up her food real small

so she wouldn't choke... - Mm-hmm.

- And followed her around the playground

so she wouldn't hurt herself, but...

He had parental instincts.

I didn't. - But that's okay.

You were helping out.

No one expected you to be a dad.

- No, but now I get it.

She's riding that bike in the dark.

It's--it's dangerous. She's gonna get hit.

- She's gonna be fine.

We are walking around expecting the worst

because the worst thing happened to us.

But you know what?

Life doesn't always end in tragedy.

Sometimes people live, and bad things get better.

- Robin, just promise me--

- Anthony, what is it? You have to tell me.

- I can't.

- Are you sick?

Because Oliver thinks that you have some--

- No. - Because if you are,

we can get through it. - I'm not.

- Is it me?

I mean, do you have feelings for me?

Because that's totally normal.

We've been through something really intense together.

And maybe if you just say it out loud,

it'll lose its power.

- It's not you.

- What is it, then?

Anthony...

just--just look at me.

Hey, look at me and tell me.

Just say it.

[dramatic music]

- Luly...

is my kid, Robin.

She's my daughter.

♪