Original subtitles

(upbeat music) (chattering)

- This is dumb, right?

We think this is dumb.

- I was your makeup artist for this.

So, that feels like a personal attack.

But honestly, you look great up there.

- If you squint, it sorta looks

like I'm patting Wayne's butt.

- Huh, that it does.

Okay, RSVPs are rolling in for the groundbreaking.

I'm also ordering fancy hors d'oeuvres from Costco.

It's mostly beef patties,

but I'm sticking toothpicks in them.

Reagan, I didn't cut "Homeroom"

to stand here and be ignored.

- Ugh, sorry, it's just Josh's IG stories

are bordering on purposefully hurtful.

- He's reheating pizza in a toaster oven.

- I know, it's just, it was kind of our thing.

- This is sad and I won't be a part of it.

- I have had a rough go, Josh was so great.

- Yeah, until he threatened to ruin Nathan's life.

That reminds me, we have some new business

that's also old business. - Bobbie.

- Where is Nathan? - I don't know,

but if he wants to disappear for weeks on end,

that's his choice. - You guys looking

for Nathan too? - Where did you come from?

- I am, she doesn't care.

- I've called, I've texted, I DM'ed, I've PM'ed.

- I've been scanning his Venmo transfers looking for clues.

Sometimes they wanna get caught.

- Okay, sure, point is he wants to be alone.

And he also was pretty stinky

to all of us before he peaced outta here.

- I still miss him

and his dumb winter sweaters he wears year-round.

- And the way he gets so excited

about something that you just

have to match his googly eyed energy, but he's a grown man

and he needs to take care of his crap on his own.

Nathan needs tough love.

- He also needs love, love. - And where is he?

(upbeat music) (birds chirping)

(saw rattling) (chattering)

(vehicle honking) (children laughing)

(whistle blowing) (bell ringing)

(helicopter droning)

(upbeat music) * I was born *

- When I left, everything I knew was behind me.

In front of me, an endless void.

Yep, it was a real "Dark Night of the Soul" situation.

I was hurt, confused and pissed.

And that's when I realized I needed road snacks.

It's amazing what a blood sugar spike

can do for your outlook. (vehicle droning)

That's when I decided to baptize myself in America

and all of its rich culture.

World's largest pistachio?

Uh, yes, please.

Take in the sights, the sounds,

and the smells, make a fresh start, reinvent myself.

(vehicle honking)

And most importantly, figure out where I came from.

Now, the idea of actually seeking out my parents,

it's too much, I'm bot ready for that,

but I think my Great Uncle Calbert might be able to help me.

He moved away before I was born,

but he was always a great confidant of my mother's.

Maybe he can shed some light on why she did what she did.

Maybe he can tell me who I am.

Maybe here in Phoenix, I can rise like a phoenix.

(birds chirping) - I just need your name.

- Right, sorry, Nathan Rutherford,

here to see Calbert Randolph.

He was always kind of an outcast in the family,

but maybe now that I'm an outcast too.

- Unit 17714. - Great, thank you.

(vehicle droning) (upbeat music)

(door rattling) (dumpster rattling)

- Wayne, Sally, put down that trash,

and get ready to pick up a sack of opportunity.

- Are you selling Mary Kay,

'cause I buy all my makeup at the swap meet?

- As you know, I'm on the precipice

of an exciting new venture,

and I need folks like you to help me pull this off.

- Reagan, please, I know you're going through a bad breakup,

but I'm married. - What, no?

I want you both to work at the new

and improved Cultural Center.

Picture it, a home base for our people,

a cross roads for all kinds of Minishonka life,

whether you've got your PhD (vehicle droning)

or you're still working toward that GED,

help me create Minishonka Wakanda.

- No. - No, man.

- Why the hell not? - We can't be associated

with you. Yeah, people are saying

you're all braggy with that billboard.

- But you're on that billboard.

- But no one seems to take issue with it.

In fact, people have been saying I'm inspirational.

- You're like a role model now.

- Wait, so you'd rather haul wet garbage than work for me?

- Absolutely. - No question.

(upbeat music) (bags rustling)

(chattering)

(Nathan knocking) (door rattling)

- Great Uncle Calbert, it's Nathan.

- Nathan? - Yeah, we've never met.

Nathan Rutherford, my mom, Elizabeth, was your niece.

- Huh, I was pretty handsome back then.

- Yeah, I'd say you were.

How you doing these days?

- Ugh, everything kinda hurts.

- Well, sure, I'm hurting too, in my soul.

Uncle Calbert, how would you like to possibly save my soul?

(birds chirping) - All right.

(upbeat music) - Great.

- Would you be open

to the Cultural Center offering video poker?

- No. - Not even in the bathrooms?

- Sorry to bother, but Gary Dupar just emailed

to say he won't be taking the position.

- [Reagan] What? - Oh, okay.

- Okay, Wayne and Sally were one thing,

but now it seems like no no one

will accept a job offer from me.

- Really? - People have said

she's too taboo and is all braggy with the billboard.

- That sounds like crabs in a bucket.

- What, no? - Wait,

I don't know that term.

Is this a Minishonka thing or an old person thing?

- Both, it's a metaphor. (placid music)

When you gather crabs, you never have to cover your bucket

because if one crap starts to climb up,

another will always pull them back down.

- And that's what we do to each other.

No one can ever get too successful

because then there's always someone there to yank us back.

- So, there's a name for what I've been doing.

(laughs) I'm a vicious little crab.

So, who's yanking Reagan?

- It's gotta be Rayann. - You think?

- She would hate seeing me on a billboard.

Ugh, why do we still do this?

We should be supporting each other,

not tearing each other down.

- There's an old saying, we're all someones crab.

- Um no, not me.

- You literally call me a chilfer bland capitalism,

and you think my life's work is evil.

- In the beginning, but I've also helped you out a ton.

- My point is, this is systemic.

I'm a crab to Randy Watson.

- The security guard? (placid music)

He's so nice, he always hands out candy.

- Well, he dated Renee in middle school,

and for that reason he will never be promoted.

- I've gotta confront Rayann.

Will you talk to her for me? - No, not my crab,

not my bucket. - I don't think it's Rayann.

At least, it's not just her.

- "Boo, Reagan Wells, say no

"to the new Minishonka Cultural Center."

- There's a Facebook group?

- It's up to 2,259 people.

(laughs) Wow, they really hate you.

(upbeat music)

(upbeat music)

- So, I don't know how well you

actually knew Ronnie D'Angelo,

but he's the guy that my mom was...

It turns out he's my actual father.

Anyway, I'm just hoping maybe you can fill in some blanks

on the family tree here.

- Very good penmanship. (birds chirping)

- Thank you, did my mom ever give you a window

into why she did what she did and why she didn't tell us?

- (laughs) Why, the $64,000 question.

Why does the sun shine, why do the birds poop?

Why are we here? - Wow, yeah.

Gosh, I guess people really

are one of the great mysteries, huh?

- I've got my jacuzzi time soon.

Would you like to come and keep talking?

- Yeah, simmer in the broth of ancient wisdom?

Count me in.

(placid music) (chattering)

- How can this many people hate me?

All I'm trying to do is protect our history and culture.

- But who chose you for this role?

There are people who know their language,

who go to ceremonies, and never get this opportunity.

To be clear, I'm just reading the comments.

- Well, tell me who these people are

and I'll try to hire them.

- So they can work under you, like you're a queen?

- I'm also referring to the comments.

- (sighs) This will all just blow over, right?

Like if we just ignore it, it'll go away.

- Hmm, the new museum was supposed

to help convince the community

the casino expansion would benefit the tribe.

This kinda bad publicity is serious.

I mean, they're selling merch.

- Oh my, you bought those?

- No, got it for free

because of my position in the community.

- Cool, you're not gonna shut down

the new Cultural Center, are you?

(placid music) - No, no, we're in too deep,

but I may have to consider my options

in regards to who will run the Cultural Center.

(feet thumping) (upbeat music)

- What are my options, do I get options?

I deserve a chance to defend myself

and the good work we're doing here.

Set up a meeting, invite the leaders of this group

and give me a chance to prove to them

that I'm still the right person for this job.

- Okay, prepare a speech and I'll call the meeting.

But I can't promise you anything.

(feet thumping) (water bubbling)

- I know this hot tub is not exactly state of the art,

but it sure beats a sink shower in an RV's bathroom.

This is the most relaxed I'd felt since I left home.

- In Rutherford Falls? - Yeah, you know,

when I knew my past, or I thought I knew my past,

I was at peace, I knew myself.

Without that, I don't even know who I am.

- Past as a young man's game.

When you get old, you realize it doesn't matter much,

mostly because you forgot it all.

- (laughs) But the past is important.

I mean, history dictates the future.

- Nonsense, someone did a thing with someone else.

(placid music) What difference

does it make now?

One day you'll be like me, 94,

cataracts, kidney stones and a patchy groin.

- Yep, kinda wish you hadn't told me that.

- Here's what's important, where are you now, who's nearby?

You're a nice boy, Nathan, a little confused maybe,

but it's a nice life, enjoy the right now.

- Man, Great Uncle Calbert, you get it.

- What, what do I get?

- It, like everything, life, I find

that people either get it or they don't,

and I'm kind of a tuning fork for who falls

into which category.

You, my friend, get it. - There you are.

We've been looking for you.

Is this guy bothering you?

- Oh no, I'm Nathan Rutherford.

This is my Great Uncle Calbert.

- This man's name is Steven Condrake.

Steven, do you know this guy?

- You see him too?

Thank God, I thought I was going coo-coo.

- But you said all those wise things.

God damn it. (placid music)

- Mary at the front gate gave you the wrong unit number.

She's very bad at her job. - Yeah.

- Your Great Uncle Calbert is enjoying some recreation.

- When's the last time that he spoke?

- Well, he had a stroke in 2015.

So, 2015. - Mm.

* We'll live a life of ease *

* Seems kinda tough now *

* To say goodbye this way * Hey, Uncle Calbert.

* But papa's gotta be rough now *

* So that he can be sweet to you another day *

(phone beeping) Hey Duz, quick update.

Everything's going great.

And I'm super close to figuring out

who I am and where I belong. (Nathan screaming)

I think I'm ready to embrace my D'Angelo side.

Did you know Ronnie D'Angelo opened

a restaurant 20 years ago?

Yeah, I called and he no longer owns it,

but maybe someone there can help me tap

into my D'Angeloness, so that's where I'm headed.

(upbeat music) (birds chirping)

(baton tapping) - Sir?

- Yeah. - You cannot sleep here.

- Yeah. (baton tapping)

- You're doing it again, sir.

- Yeah, I know, I know, I know.

(baton tapping) - Sir.

- Ugh, okay. - [Cop] Let's go.

- Yeah, sorry, I'm good.

You got me. (door slamming)

(vehicle droning)

- This is gonna be good.

People love to talk shit behind a computer screen,

but once you have to look a person in the eye,

it's a whole other story.

- Totally, you got this.

- Hello and welcome.

Where is everyone? - Since this was

so last minute, the originators

of the Facebook group requested a live digital meeting.

So far, we've got about 900 people.

(upbeat music) (screen buzzing)

- You still got this.

I mean, not as much as before, but you got this.

- Ooh, 960.

- [Waitress] What can I get you?

- I'm not sure yet.

- Breakfast, lunch? - Actually, sorry.

I have a question, I'm on kind of a quest

to learn about my family.

The people on the wall, are they all D'Angelos or?

- Top row is, below that as this thing we do,

the boot challenge.

They say that when the first D'Angelo came over

from the old country, he was so hungry,

he ate three dinners in one night.

So, we make large pizza, three pounds

of spaghetti and meatballs, three pounds of chicken parm,

you eat it in an hour, you're an honorary D'Angelo for life

and your meal's free. - And your picture goes

on the wall. - Yeah, but if you don't,

it's a hundred bucks.

Between you and me, it's kind of a messed up way

to trick people into doing like--

- I'm gonna do it. - Oh.

(upbeat music) - [Terry] And we're live.

- The history of indigenous people

is the greatest story never told.

Now, I know that a lot of you are probably thinking,

well, who is she to run our museum and exhibit that history?

Well, I'm a proud Minishonka woman

with two master's degrees, one in museum studies,

the other in Russian lit, total waste of time.

Anyway, this isn't about me.

This is about fostering and protecting our culture.

And now, I would love to take any of your questions.

- SabersFan49 would like you to count to 50 in Minishonka.

- Okay, I admit I can't do that.

But what I can do is create a place

where our youth can learn to count to 1,000

from fluent language speakers like him.

- Ooh, that's a thumbs down.

Once again, Rick LeClaire is asking permission

to practice speed skating in the new museum parking lot.

- Sure. - Okay, now a lotta people

have a problem with that. - Oh my God.

- MinishonkaDivaRayann wants you to address the rumors

that you're snagging a snoopy white nerd.

- Ugh, we broke up, Rayann,

but who the hell are you to judge

when your daughter-in-law buys sage from Urban Outfitters?

Okay, and SabersFan, everyone knows that you stole money

from your auntie to buy that four wheeler.

- Let's take a break.

- No, I'm seeing hearts and smileys.

She stopping the bleeding. (placid music)

Keep going, drag them to the bottom of the bucket,

you beautiful, bitchy crab.

- Jackie George, you bought your traditional outfit.

You didn't make it. (upbeat music)

And Mark Francis,

you told everyone you were going to Standing Rock,

but we all know you went to Disney World.

And Cameron Jones, you're a vegan.

And all of that is okay.

Except for this sage thing, that's messed up.

But what I mean is none of us feel like we're enough, right?

And I know there are better people for this job,

but I'm the one who got picked.

I really wanted to make Minishonka Wakanda,

but no matter what, I'm guaranteed to piss off someone,

because we're not a monolith, and that's a good thing.

I just want all of us crabs to get out of the bucket

because the bucket is the problem.

But until then, respectfully,

I'm gonna say (beep) it, and make what I make,

and hope that more of you like it than don't,

because honestly, y'all can keep on hating on me

and making claims that I'm secretly Puerto Rican,

but I'm not going anywhere.

Also, I know that my mom is watching this.

So, I apologize for the swearing.

Thank you so much for your time.

(laptop thumping)

- We're 50, 50 thumbs down and smileys.

Most people bailed to go to the Slipknot concert.

I think we did it. (upbeat music)

- Ooh.

- (laughs) All right, got ourselves a boot boy.

- You sure about this, sweetie?

I'm legally required to ask you that.

- At this point, Tiffany, it's the only thing

in the world I am sure about. - Yeah, buddy.

(plate clattering) He's got two minutes

to take that last bite, I think he's gonna do it.

Uh-oh, he's looking pretty sweaty.

(crowd cheering) (crowd applauding)

Yes, you did it. (camera snapping)

Oh, you did it, you're going on the wall, oh my God.

What's his name? - I don't know.

- My name is Nathan Collins Rutherford (belches) (vomits).

(vomit splattering) (crowd gasping)

(chattering)

(Nathan gasping)

(placid music)

(chattering)

(vehicle droning)

(phone buzzing) (laptop thumping)

- Nathan, where are you?

- Hey, (clears throat) I'm somewhere in Nevada.

It's kind of a long story.

- Cool, I hope I get to hear it sometime.

- Yeah, well, a restaurant is gonna hang a photo

of me barfing my face off. - (laughs) Ooph.

You sure you want that on display (laughs)?

- I don't know, it's what really happened.

- I'm glad you called.

People are getting really worried.

People is me, I am people, I'm worried.

- Hey, Reagan, there's something

that I really need to tell you.

(vehicle droning) I don't get it.

- You don't get what?

- It, you know, all of it and any of it, anything.

I don't get it, I thought I got it for so long in my life.

I thought I was one of the people who get it,

and I don't get it.

And you tried to help me, and I see that now.

And I'm really so sorry, Reagan.

I just wanted to tell you that.

So, you still there or? - Yeah.

It's so great to hear that, and I love you for saying it.

But Nathan, this world is way too big

and messy and complicated for us to ever think

that we could divide people into one group

that's fully enlightened and another

that is stupid (laughs).

- See, that's you getting it, you get it.

- No, I don't think we get it, I think we just are.

Hey, when are you coming home?

- Home, I mean, I don't have a job or a house.

I'm not even sure I have a family.

- Nathan, you have a family and the best friend

who really needs you.

Change is hard, even when it's really good.

And frankly, this town sucks without you in it.

- Thanks, Reags, it just might need to be that way for now.

I should go, I'm driving.

It's just so good to hear your voice.

- Same, I'll be here.

Good luck out there. (Nathan sighing)

(vehicle droning)

(upbeat music)

* I woke up this morning *

* Didn't recognize the man in the mirror *

* Then I laughed and I said, oh silly me *

(radio screeching) (placid music)

- [Narrator] What is the story of America?

Who gets to write history, and once written,

why do we cling to it at our own peril?

These were the questions I carried with me

as I stepped off that train in Rutherford Falls.

Over the next seven episodes,

we'll explore how one small town

and a nearby native American reservation

experienced a reckoning 500 years in the making

as members of the Minishonka tribe struggled

to attain success, a hapless Roo--

- What? - [Narrator] Representing a

once-revered Mayflower family fails

to prevent his own demise.

Welcome to an American powder keg,

the story of Nathan Rutherford.

- Oh, shit. (upbeat music)

* Then I proceeded to brush some stranger's teeth *

* But they were my teeth, and I was weightless *

* Just quivering like some leaf *

* Come in the window of a restroom *

* I couldn't tell you what the hell it was supposed to mean *

* But it was a Monday, no, a Tuesday *

* No, a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday *

* Then Saturday came around and I said *

* Who's this stupid clown blocking the bathroom sink? *