Original subtitles

-Previously on This Is Us... -Dad!

-I'm going downstairs for Kevin. -No, no, no, Jack.

Kevin's not here. He was with Sophie last night.

-Kate... -Louie, come out, boy!

I think I can get to him.

He went back in for the dog.

-You took in a tremendous amount of smoke.

Must really love that dog.

Really love the girl that loves the dog.

Your husband went into cardiac arrest.

Mrs. Pearson, your husband has died.

So I'm at Dad's tree. Came down to talk with him.

You know, Mom, you were really strong for us when it happened.

I can't even imagine what that must've been like for you.

Hey, guys?

-Slow down. Watch out. The... -I want a pink car!

-Sorry. -Sorry about that. -No, we have to get a Porsche!

-No, we have to get a four-wheel drive. -Hey, guys...

-It's got to be the same car as... -Shh. -Hey, guys.

-Guys. -Hey. Shh. Come here.

Can I remind you that we are guests in this dealership?

Yes. So we're gonna use our indoor voices.

Okay, look, go sit down over there and enjoy the free A.C.

-Mom and Dad need to negotiate.

-I should've gotten a sitter. No. No, not today.

Look, they are walking embodiments

of why we're so strapped for cash, Bec.

Do you mean to tell me you're gonna use our children

to guilt them into giving us a good deal?

Yeah. That's exactly what I'm gonna do.

-Mm-hmm.

You are so bad.

You're so bad.

I love it!

You two are just the sort of bright and shiny couple

I would love to put into this bright and shiny Jeep Wagoneer.

-Hi. Mel Buchanan. -Hey.

-Jack Pearson. This is my wife Rebecca. -Hi. -Hi.

No, I think the, uh, Wagoneer's a little too steep for us.

Mm-hmm.

Well, luckily for you, I'm in a good mood.

In fact, I'm in a downright stupid mood.

-I'm gonna practically... -Mel. I'm gonna stop you

right there. Do you see those kids over there?

-They're ours. -All of them.

-All of them.

We don't really need anything bright and shiny.

We just want something reliable and affordable.

-Yeah. -And safe.

Well, uh, we've got some used cars, right this way.

-There we go. -All right.

I mean, it's not flashy, but, uh, it's got low mileage.

Big trunk. Um...

It's gonna have a few good years left in her.

Everything is automatic on the inside...

-Oh, my gosh! -I mean, I think it...

it warrants a closer look.

What do you think, babe?

I think, Mel, you and I should go into your office

and have a talk, see if we can't figure something out.

But, Jack, we should at least look at the car, though, first,

before you go in there and talk to him.

We haven't even looked at the car yet.

How's your leg feeling?

Good as new.

Guys.

Could you hurry up, please? Come on.

-But the service doesn't start until 2:00. -Yeah.

But I want to get there now, so let's go.

How'd it go?

-Pretty good.

Yeah.

I got the Wagoneer.

What?

Jack. No, no, no.

-We can't afford that car. -We can.

He gave us a pretty good deal.

It's just a little bit more than what we wanted to spend,

but we're okay.

Well, what did you say to him?

Ah...

Tell the kids. I'm-I'm gonna go finish up with him.

-Okay. -All right.

Uh, you guys?

Your dad bought the Wagoneer.

Hey. Who's excited about going to see

their first concert?

-Me!

Could we get Weird Al's autograph after?

Yeah, maybe. I mean, crazier things have happened.

Bec, coming up on that bridge.

-The bridge Mom always closes her eyes for?

-Yep. -Mm. I hate this crumbling old thing.

All right, look here, come here. Give me your hand.

We'll just do our thing, all right?

Just squeeze my hand, keep your eyes closed.

-We'll be over it real soon, okay? -Okay.

Okay. Here we go.

Uh-oh.

"Uh What does "uh

Why are we stopping?

There's some construction up ahead.

They've got it narrowed down

-to just one lane right now.

-Babe. -No, no, no, no, no.

Please don't tell me that I'm gonna die on my way

to a "Weird Al" Yankovic concert.

-I thought you said you like him. -She does, Kev.

You know, Bec, this is probably gonna take a minute.

-You may want to just open your eyes this time. -No.

Babe, I can't. You know I can't.

I know it's totally irrational, but...

-I can't open my eyes. -Okay. All right.

Is Mom okay?

-Yeah. Yeah, Mom is fine, Kate.

You know what, how about we all give Mom just a little bit

of quiet right now, just a little bit of quiet.

Okay?

Do you know what fear of bridges is called, Mom?

Hey, know what, that's-that's the opposite of quiet, bud.

No, it's okay. It's okay.

What's it called, babe? Go ahead, distract me.

Gephyrophobia.

-Gephyrophobia. -I've memorized all the phobias.

-Huh. You have?

That is very impressive.

-Thank you. -Um...

Okay, guys, who's next? Tell me something else.

Um, you want to hear my favorite "Weird Al" song?

-Yes, I do. Go for it. There we go.

* La-la-la-la-lasagna *

* You want some lasagna *

KIDS: * Magnifico *

* Or maybe spaghetti *

: You're gonna sing too? -* Your supper is ready *

* Now where you go? *

-* Mama mia bambino * -Hey! Hey, we're moving.

We're moving!

Keep singing! Keep singing!

* Mama mia bambino *

* La-lasagna *

-* La-lasagna * -Almost there.

-JACK: We're off the bridge. It worked!

Did we really have to rush out the door like that?

-You know, I'm not even done getting dressed. -REBECCA: Yes.

We have to be to the cemetery before the urn gets there.

Why do we have to get there before the urn gets there?

Because we just do.

I forgot to put Louie in his crate before we left.

He's gonna pee on the carpet.

Okay, then he pees all over the carpet, Kate.

I don't want him anymore, anyway.

I'm gonna ask around and see if anyone wants to take a dog.

Okay.

That's fine. Go ahead and ask around.

Damn it.

You have to make the fat part longer.

I can help you with it if you want me to.

No, screw it. I'm not wearing a tie.

You're not gonna wear a tie to Dad's funeral?

He wouldn't care.

JACK: It started snowing.

Watch your step, babe, it's, uh, it's gonna be slippery.

Thank you.

-Yeah.

Hey. Bec.

The doctors, they're-they're just being cautious.

In a few hours, they'll call us with the results

of the MRI, and they're gonna tell us that you are fine.

Babe, I've just been so dizzy all week.

-I've never felt like this before. -I know. I know.

And it's probably just an inner ear thing.

All right?

They just... they just got to be sure

that it's not something more serious.

-That's all. -Yeah.

-Like a brain tumor. -Right.

All right, let's just...

let's go back to the house and wait for them to call.

Nah, we're gonna go crazy if we're waiting at the house.

Let's, um...

You know what, they've got my pager number.

I want to take you someplace special.

So, here it is.

My favorite tree.

I had no idea you had a favorite tree.

I'm full of surprises.

How are you right now

No, I'm okay.

Sort of comes and goes.

Okay.

Bec?

-Sorry. I'm being such a baby about all of this. -Hey, whoa.

Hey, listen to me.

Rebecca, you are gonna live forever.

Okay, Jack.

No. Hey, Bec, listen.

You are.

Look, I know in my bones today is not the day

the world gives us bad news.

Okay?

Today...

this beautiful, perfect day...

is the day that my beautiful, perfect wife

finds out she's okay.

How are you always so sure about these things?

How is the snow still gonna fall if you're not around to see it?

Just wouldn't seem right.

Why is this your favorite tree?

Because this is where you find out you're okay.

There's a phone. Let's go.

Okay.

Hi, this is Rebecca Pearson.

Um, somebody just paged my husband.

I think the results of my MRI are in.

That's great news.

So it is just the ear thing?

You're sure?

Wow. Thank you so much.

Yeah. Okay, thank you.

All right, bye-bye.

How did you choose that tree?

It was closest one to a pay phone.

Come on.

Hey, Bec.

I meant what I said before.

You're gonna live forever.

Okay, Jack.

That means I'm gonna go first.

-Jack... -No, look, we don't have to talk about it.

-We don't. -Just...

don't put me in the ground.

Okay?

Let me be outside.

Okay.

Now can we just stop all that talk now?

Hi. We're here.

Sir.

Hi.

Sorry. Um...

I'm -I'm Rebecca Pearson.

-I'm Jack's wife. -Oh.

-I'm sorry for your loss. -Thank you.

Uh, the service doesn't start for another hour.

No, I know, I know. I just wanted to...

I wanted to be here when he arrived.

Um, we'll go sit.

PASTOR: Jack Pearson was a good man.

He was beloved by his community;

by his children, Kate, Kevin, Randall;

and his wife of 21 years, Rebecca.

When I had to speak at my mom's funeral,

I was really worried that I, uh, might get choked up.

And Jack told me that if I were to get emotional,

that I should just stop and...

take a sip of water.

But I'm not sure if there's enough water in this world

to get me through today.

RANDALL: I hope that, uh, one day,

I can find a love like my father had for my mother

and like she had for him.

Mom.

-Mom.

Everybody's leaving for the reception.

-Yeah.

Excuse me. Sir.

Uh, what happens now?

Oh, I was just gonna transport it for you to the reception.

No, no, no, no. We'll take it.

We usually... -Yes, I'm sure.

-Thank you. -Okay.

Guys, let's go.

Okay, Randall, a good driver is flexible.

-Got to be spontaneous. -Okay.

-Okay, foot on the brake. -Mm-hmm.

There you go. And turn the car on. Don't overcrank it though.

-Go, go, go. There you go. Okay.

Now, gear into drive.

There you go. Foot off the brake.

Put a little pressure on the gas.

Off the brake. There you go.

Give it a little bit more. There you go. Eyes on the road.

Dude, come on.

It's my first time on the road. Please.

-I mean, I'll probably be 40 by the time

-we get around the block. -And still living in

-Mom and Dad's basement. -Hey, cool it, both of you.

You know what, it's better than 40

-and never being touched by a woman. -Go to hell, Kev.

-Hey, hey, watch! Look! Watch, watch!

Brake, brake, brake!

Put it in park. Put it in park.

-Yeah, I'm fine. -Yeah.

-I'm s-sorry, I didn't...

I didn't see it.

Get out.

You're walking home.

-It's, like, five miles. -Get out.

I'm sorry.

Look, we're sorry, okay?

It won't happen again.

I don't understand you two.

My brother and me--

inseparable when we were your age.

-Nothing.

You just never talk about him or anything when you were a kid.

Yeah, well, what's there to talk about? You know the big stuff.

Our dad was a drunk. Mom was depressed.

Nicky... Nicky was my best friend.

We went to war, and he died.

Not exactly fun to reminisce.

My brother and I, we had to look out for each other.

No one, no one was gonna do it for us.

Okay?

But you two, you're lucky.

Nothing's forced you to have each other's backs.

So, you're either gonna

decide to fix the stuff that's broken between you

or you're not.

That's up to you.

And I hope you do, because, your mom and I,

we're not gonna be around forever.

And when we're gone, the two of you and your sister

are the only people on this planet

who are gonna be able to look back

and remember all the stuff that's happened to you.

I know that may not seem like a big deal now,

but trust me when I say it, it is.

RANDALL: Thank you so much. My dad loved working with you.

Appreciate it. Thank you.

-Hey, hey.

What the hell, man?

-Mom brought it back

-from the hospital. So you just decided

-I asked her.

-She said it was fine. -Of course she did.

Kevin.

SHELLY: Why don't you just come over tonight?

Mom, did you say Randall could have Dad's watch?

-Kevin... -You did.

-Wow.

You know what, man, I'm tired of the act.

I'm tired of watching you pretend to be

-the new man of the house. -I'm not trying to be the new...

A real man would've stopped Dad from going back in there.

I would've never let Dad go back in.

But you weren't there, Kev. You're never there for anyone.

KATE: Stop it.

Seriously, what are you doing? Look where we are.

I'm going to the car.

-I'm gonna go get some air. -I'm sorry, Mom. I...

MAN : We can expect much more of the same

over the next couple of days. Might want to do something with

those outdoor activities that you've been saving up for.

Well, it looks like another wet one, folks.

Get your umbrellas out if you're going out.

Possible thundershowers over the next hours.

Cloudy tomorrow with a 50% chance...

It's gonna be a cold one, folks...

Excuse me, miss?

Hey, Dad, I know this looks bad.

It's 10:00 a.m. on a Thursday. Doesn't look good.

I know, but before I tell you why I'm here,

I think you should know that I had no exams today, and that...

Where you going, Kate?

Alanis Morissette is signing copies

of Jagged Little Pill at Jerry's Records.

Okay, Dad, come on.

No one good ever comes to Pittsburgh.

And now, by some gift of God, Alanis Morissette,

my favorite artist in the history

of the world, is coming...

-Get in the car. -Dad.

Get in the car, Kate.

Are you taking me back to school?

No. I'm taking you to Jerry's Records.

All right, so who's this Atlantis character

whose music trumps a good education?

Dear God. Dad, "Alanis," not "Atlantis."

: Oh, like that's a more normal name.

-Mm. -All right, let's hear it.

Okay.

-* And it would knock me *

* To the floor if I wasn't there already *

-* If only I could hunt the hunter *

* And all I really want... *

I don't get it.

-Yeah. See, I told you. -I don't. I mean,

this-this is, this is like complaining with a guitar, Kate.

This isn't music.

Well, Dad, this won five Grammys.

-Yes. Yes.

-She's only, like, six years older than me. -Wow.

-So crazy.

-That's taken years off of my life, so, want to... -All right.

You want to hear... you want to hear something?

This... really... gets underneath your skin.

-* Well, I sought gold *

-Ah, Bruce. -Yeah. -And diamond rings...

You know, you are so predictable.

-Yeah.

-More like appreciating an American hero.

Oh, all right. Calm down.

You know, actually,

your guy Bruce and Alanis are not that different.

Oh, yeah. How is that?

I mean, musically, they're nothing alike, but...

but they do both use songs to tell their stories,

so, like, this intimacy comes through.

They make you feel like they're your best friend,

but also you at the very same time.

From a house on a hill...

I'm sorry. Did my daughter get abducted

by a veteran Rolling Stone critic?

-Dad.

* I walk through these rooms, but none of them are mine... *

I've been writing my own stuff.

-Down empty hallways...

Yeah. But honestly, it's just for fun.

I mean, come on. I'm no Alanis.

Searching for my beautiful reward...

JACK: Okay, Jerry's Records, here we are.

-That'll be $18.50.

-Yeah. -Hey, Kate.

Yeah.

I think you ought to give music some serious thought,

you know, as a path.

Dad, I read that 0.2 percent of people

who start music careers actually make it,

so that's basically nobody.

Okay, well, I read that 100% of people that get caught up

in "how many people make it" statistics

-never actually make it.

-Yeah.

-Sure did. -Yeah.

Hey, look.

You may not be this Alanis...

-Morissette. -...Morissette character,

but you're Kate Pearson, okay?

Whatever Kate Pearson has her heart set on,

she gets.

Okay? Don't ever forget it.

-Go. Go.

-Have fun.

-Thanks for the ride, Dad. -Yeah, you got it.

Hey, Bruce album, by the way-- pretty good, actually.

Yeah? Hey, maybe I'll get us tickets sometime!

Hey, my Bug.

How are you?

I don't understand how he died.

He went into cardiac arrest

because he inhaled too much smoke.

Because he went back inside, right?

-I don't know. -You know.

-No, I don't know, Kate. -You know...

that the rest of us didn't inhale too much smoke,

because we got out in time.

But Dad-- he... he would have got out in time, too,

but he went back inside, right?

I don't know.

You do know.

Hello, Rebecca.

Hi.

We have to stop meeting

under such dramatic circumstances.

-Yes. Yes, we do.

Uh, this is Anne. This is my wife.

-Oh, hi. -Hi. -We just wanted to come pay our respects.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Nathan's told me all about your husband.

How he used to come by the hospital for advice

every so often those first few years

-when your kids were young.

I kept trying to tell him, "I don't know how to raise 'em,

I just know how to deliver 'em," but he wouldn't stop coming.

He'd gotten it into his head I was wise.

I think it's your voice.

-Oh. Oh. -It's very soothing.

-And your... lemon metaphors.

-The mustache helps, too.

Adds a certain gravitas.

Mm, it does.

Well,

-I'm gonna give you two a moment. -Thank you, darlin'.

It was so good to meet you, Rebecca.

Nice to meet you.

I hate this thing.

She's the one makes me use it.

Says it's 'cause she loves me.

-Hmm.

I like her.

Yeah, yeah. Me, too.

Me, too.

Yup.

So, what are you doing out here?

I wasn't there when he died.

I wasn't there.

I... have been following his urn around all day

because I wasn't there,

and I want to make up for it.

Rebecca...

I can't do this without him.

I just, I can't.

He knew how to do all of this.

He was... fearless.

I'm not fearless. I'm not.

Uh, yeah.

Rebecca, um...

I would never presume

to know more about your husband than you.

But, um...

the man I knew-- the one

that used to drop by my office

unannounced from time to time--

now, he had, uh, he had a whole lot of fears.

He did?

Oh.

A new father is the most fearful creature alive,

and he was no exception.

No.

Fears about his wife and about his children.

About being able to keep them happy

and healthy, safe.

But he did a pretty good job taking care of his family,

-Yeah.

Yeah.

-And so will you. -Oh.

I can't, not without him.

-Now, hold on. Hold on, now.

You are the same woman

who lost a child

and rolled out of my hospital with three babies just the same.

You're as tough as they come, Rebecca Pearson.

-Not without him. -Bullcrap.

Not without him!

Bullcrap.

-Rebecca. -I know.

I know. I know.

Take the sourest lemons

and make something resembling lemonade, right?

You didn't just make something resembling lemonade, dear.

You made one of the sweetest damn pitchers of lemonade

-I ever saw.

So don't you try and sell me

-on what you can't do,

because I'm too old, I'm too smart,

and I'm not buying it.

Now, I would like to punctuate my inspiring speech

by standing up, winking at you, and then walking away.

But I'm old, and all that would take at least six minutes.

Can I just sit here with you for a little bit?

DR. K: Sitting is what I'm best at these days.

Do you think we bought enough food?

Hey, it's the Super Bowl, Kev. You know we don't

-skimp on that.

Hey, dude, your cast is really digging in my leg.

At least your leg's fully functional.

KATE: Kev, quit whining. Your cast comes off in two days.

Oh, hey, nobody make any plans for next Saturday.

-Because I have a surprise for us.

-All of you.

-Don't worry about it. -Okay.

Hmm.

Okay, everyone get a bag.

I'll get your crutches.

-Thanks. -Kev, you are off duty

because of your injury.

Need a hand

Give me those.

There you go. You got the bag?

Hey.

Okay. -Yeah.

Hey, Randall, we're leaving.

-Yeah.

-Now.

Hey, where is your sister?

-I think she's outside. -Okay.

Then let's go.

All right. Let's go.

Do you guys remember the story

about the first time your father brought me out here?

Yeah. When you had your cancer scare.

He said it was his favorite tree.

Even though he'd never been.

Okay.

Guess we had told you that one before, huh?

Did you know that when your father and I first got married,

I wasn't sure that I ever wanted to have kids?

I mean...

I figured I would eventually, but...

He was the worst at movies.

Wasn't he?

He was just the worst.

I mean, as soon as the movie started,

he would just...

figure out who would end up with who or who murdered who.

Somehow he was always, always right.

It's like he could see things before they happened.

You know?

I mean, he could see you three before you happened.

Thank God he did.

Hey.

You know neither of you

has to be the man of the house now, right?

You're two 17

Your only job from now on,

your only job is to...

go on dates

and hang out with your friends and your sister, and...

I wouldn't protest if you wanted to do a load of laundry

every now and then.

But that's it. Okay?

Mm-hmm.

And, Kate, sweetheart,

I know no matter what I say,

no matter what anybody else says,

you're gonna blame yourself

for your father going back in the house to get Louie.

-Mom, please don't. -No, no, no, no.

Listen to me.

Because it was not your fault.

Do you hear me?

He was a grown man, Kate, who made a choice.

And if I have to spend the rest of my life

making sure that you know that, I will.

Okay?

Okay.

Are you ready?

Yeah? Yeah.

Come on.

It's okay.

Mom, is it possible that we don't do all of it?

Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-Sure, that's fine. -Okay.

You guys...

he got us tickets to go see Bruce Springsteen tonight

at the Benedum Center.

I think we should go.

What do you think? Should we go?

Yeah.

Yeah, we should go.

-We should go. -I think so, too.

All right, can you give me just one moment here,

-and I'll meet you guys back at the car? -Yeah.

Okay. Thanks.

We're gonna be okay, baby.

I promise you, we're gonna be okay.

JACK: Here's the thing, Mel.

I don't want to buy one of those used cars out there.

-That Wagoneer--

that's my family's car.

I, you know... I can see it so clearly.

It's...

sturdy, tough.

Pearsons, we need tough.

Because I can tell you right now,

there's gonna be scrapes.

I did something bad parking.

And dings.

-Oops.

Stains.

-It's okay.

-Oh, my God. -Randall!

So many stains.

But that's okay.

Because every battle scar is gonna be another memory.

-For the best new player! -But eventually, that car out there,

that car is gonna tell my family's story

just by looking at it.

But here's the thing, Mel.

I can't afford that car.

I can't.

Which is why I need you to help me.

I mean, as parents...

we talk a lot about what we want for our kids, right?

I mean, I know I think about it a lot.

What I want for mine.

And I can come up with a fancy word

that's gonna make me sound

a whole lot smarter than I actually am, but...

the one word I keep coming back to is...

"okay."

I want my kids to be okay, Mel.

I want my family to be okay.

So, will you help me?

Will you help me take care of my family?

Because I see it, Mel. I see it so clearly.

I see my family okay in that car.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH