Dre: Everyone loves summer.
It's when the whole family gets to travel, see concerts,
and take in the wonders of the world.
And 2020 was the greatest summer of the Johnsons' lives.
I'm playing.
You know we haven't done a damn thing since corona hit.
The virus literally said,
"Y'all better stay your Black ass inside
before I whoop y'all ass."
And we did.
Coming into the year, I didn't think
some virus half a world away was gonna be a big deal.
But then March hit.
[ Bell dings ]Reporter: And it's official. The NBA will be the first
major sport to shut down.
Damn you, Rudy Gobert!
This is all your fault, you nasty-ass French bastard!
[ Straining ]Dre: It was a dark time,
but I had to admit -- I was lucky to have my job.
And best of all, I formed a tighter bond with my family.
Ruby: Earl,is my negligee dry yet?
Pops: Why don't you drag that wagon in here
and see for yourself?[ Laughing ] Nothing brings you closer
than experiencing a shared trauma.
Like watching my mom and Pops
treat quarantine like a honeymoon.
Come on, girl, let's get to folding.
So we were getting through it.
Dr. Rainbow Johnson was working on the front lines,
but she didn't let that slow her down.
I finally got off of work,
and I got everybody dinner!
Okay, that's, uh -- that's nice, babe,
but I think we're gonna,uh --
I think we're gonnaeat cereal for dinner.
Ohh...come on, babe.
I've got six bags of sushi!
Your heart is in the right place,
but, uh, nobodywants to eat your --
your nasty corona food.
And remember,before you come in...
hose off. Uh-huh, of course.
You know what, it's fine! Means there's more for me!
I've always wanted to drink a gallon of miso soup!
[ Sighs deeply ]
[ Bell ringing ]
--Captions by VITAC--
♪
Good morning, everyone.
[ Singsong voice ] Good morning.Ah, there she is...
our American hero.
It doesn't have to be 7:00for me to applaud you.Thank you.
God, I love that. Mm.
A-Are you still doing this, son?
Still clapping for my mother
who is fighting a deadly virus?
I will never grow tired ofhonoring your sacrifices, Mom,
unlike this one. Right?Hmm. Talk to me.
I honor your mama every night
she allows me to.Junior, it's okay.
Alright. I know how you support me.
You don't need to clap out loud.
You can clap in your heart.
You don't mean that.
No, I don't. Let me hear it!
Go, go! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Hey! I'm essential! I'm essential! Hey!
Don't do that.C'mon, man...
I am sorry, Dad.
I am just proud to be the son
of an essential worker.Yep.
Two...essential workers.
Two? Mm-hmm.
Where? Where?
Me.
[ Gasps ] You? Oh.
Yes. Yes, me.
Oh. Oh!
[ Junior and Bow laugh ]
[ Cellphone rings ]I gotta get this.
It is Olivia.
We have been doingpandemic video dates...
Hi, Olivia!Hey, girl. What's up?
Are you trying to get herto break up with you?
-Leave him alone. -Oh, oh, hey! Hey!
Olivia! Olivia.
Would you consider
a senior advertising executive
an essential worker?
No. Not at all.
Why would you even ask me that?
Hmm.
-Sorry, sweetheart. -What does she know?
She dates Junior.
Look, I make inspirational commercials
that give people hope. Mm-hmm.
You mean to tell methat's not essential?
Essential to maintaining
the basicneeds of society?
Let me think on that.
No.
Of all the haters out there,
I would have never thoughtthat you would become one.Ah.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I've got to get to my essential job
where I place a blanket
on the shoulders of America.
Um, Dre.
Essential workers
do not wear basketball shorts on the job.
♪
Usually I have time to stop by Starbucks
and get my caramel Frapp to take my mind off home drama,
but my five-second COVID commute changed that.
[ Computer chimes ]
[ Scoffs ]
You guys are never gonna believe this.
My family thinks that what we doisn't essential.
Wait, why does your officelook different, Stevens?
Oh, I decided to move to my Palm Beach house.
It's, uh -- quality of life is so much better here.
I have a full staff of cooks,maids, seamstresses, and farmers
who tend to the land,
and they work with the animals --
Wait, wait, wait, wait. Is that safe?
All those people in and out?
We don't let them leave.
So, where do they live?
We keep them in, uh, smaller, poorer-quality homes
here on the plan-- the property.
Stevens,are those people sl--
Look, Dre, let's go back
to talking about your family, okay.
They are way off base, by the way.
We are 110% essential.
Yep.
In a world where you don't know who to trust,
we're the ones telling you that it's safe
to order takeout from Astro Burger.
Yes, we do that,
but we havea bigger influence, too.
We craft powerful images
that deliver messages to people that feed the soul!
Exactly, Dre.
People need to know that there's a brighter tomorrow.
And in that brighter tomorrow, they are gonna need stuff.
No, what they need is a sense
that thingsare going to get better.
We are comforting peoplein a time of crisis.
Yes. Comforting them with the message --
"Don't forget what's important.
Stuff."
-Mm. -Yeah.
"Go get it."
I don't think you guysare hearing me.
We give people hope.
Exactly, Dre.
We sell cars and mayonnaise to people
that "hope" their jobs are coming back...
[ Laughs ]
[ Clears throat ]
But they're not, though.
[ Scoffs ]
[ Horns honking ]
Hey, Junior,what is all that honking?
Did your grandmother forgetto close her robe again?
No, Janine is havingone of those drive-by birthdays,
but it's more like a drive-by stop-and-talk.
Look at all those maskless savages.
Junior, don't be so hardon them.
Come on. No, no, no, no, no.
The government is falling downon its job, okay.
People are getting totallymixed messages,
and they don't know what to believe
about what's safe and what's not.
So, you know. Alright.
But I m-- Wait.Oh, my God, are they hugging?
Oh, my God, they're hugging!
Hey! You can't hug!
How do they knowthe fibers from their coat
aren't passing the virus?
We don't know how long the virus lives on coats.
[ Honking continues ]They just don't think it's real.
They don't.
But I know it's real because I see it every day.
And when I clock in in a few hours,
I'm gonna see it again.
And that's why there are not enough pots in this house
for me to bang on.
Mm-mm-mm.This is upsetting.
Thanks, Junior. Oh.
[ Honking continues ]
I should go wash my hands.
Hey.
That's my boy.
Hey!
While Junior was draining
our supply of hand sanitizer...
Hey! Put a mask on!
...I decided to test my influence
on a real audience...
Woman: In these unprecedented times,
it's easy to feel like your entire life has slipped away.
But even in these darkest of days,
there's one thing we'll always have...
home.
Homestead Mayo.
We will rise again.
So, how did the ad make you feel?
We were --
We were supposed to feel something?Yes.
What about you, Jack?
Um... It made me feel, um...
Can you come back to me?
Both of you felt nothing?
But what about the message?
"We will rise again."
Oh, yeah, I heard that.Hmm.
Sounds like somethinga dictator says
as he's walking up the stepsof the gallows.[ Chuckles ]
But, hey,that's not my criticism.Yeah.
Oh, so you guys didn't feel anything?
Sad.
For you.
You know what?
We should give Dad some space.
Privacy is very important in these trying times.Yeah.
♪
Hey.
Mm.What did I miss, guys?
Nothing.
It's been real quietin there.
What is wrong with you?
You don't say "It's real quiet" in a hospital
during a pandemic.
Go away, Larry! Go away! You're banned!
Go!
And not more pizza. My God.
They call us heroes,
but I bet you when Batman saved Gotham,
he got more than Hot 'n' Ready.
Yeah. This hero needs a vegetable.
-Yeah. -Yeah, forget that.
Pay off my med school loans.
[ Cellphone dings ]Right. Uh-oh, uh-oh.
A stranger at my door.
That's just what you want
right in the middle ofa highly infectious virus.
That's nice.
Oh.
Wait, is that...
[ Gasps ]
No...
Olivia?
Who's Olivia?
Larry!
Go.
That can't be her.Dr. Smith: Who?
Junior's girlfriend.
There's no way he's gonna sneak in a girl
in your house during quarantine.
Right? I'm kidding.
It's definitely her. They're smashing.
Can you not talk about my sonthat way, please?
We're just jealous.
He's got no job, lives with his parents,
and, clearly, his mom doesn't hold him to any standards.
You know what? You sound dumb.
Both of you sound dumb, and yousound like dentists, okay.
Junior knows that he cannotbreak our family bubble, okay.
And I'm gonna prove itto you.
Yes, I am.
Hey, Siri,call my emergency contact.
[ Ringing]My husband's an idiot.
Hey, Mom.
Hey, sweetheart.
I was just looking atthe doorbell cam,
and I thought I saw Olivia.
She wasn't at the house,was she?
Olivia? Yeah.
Here? No, no, no, no, no.
That's what I thought,okay.
I'll see you at home later,alright?
Bye, honey.
See?
Yep, you showed us.Dr. Paul: Mm-hmm.
Showed us that your son has no problem
lying to your face.
What?Pop!
That's your bubble.
Dre: While Bow was fighting with nerds,
I was fighting to light up the soul of a nation.
Hey, son.
Yeah? Tell me this.
What was the most inspirational commercial
that you've ever seen?
Hmm...
Oh, that one where the dog
has to figure outwhere to invest his bone.
Oh... that was a good one.
Yeah.
You know, but I got to go bigger than that.
I've got to create a campaign
that's just as powerful as the "Be Like Mike" ad.
Wow.It -- It had me thinking that anything was possible
as long as I was willing to put in the work.
To inspire people to that degree
so I can know I'm making a difference
while I'm sticking it to your mama --
that's what I need to do.
Hey, son, what is the world in need of right now?
A vaccine.Okay, what's after that?
Universal healthcare.
Rent forgiveness.Universal basic income.
Say something that's possible.
That's the thing. Everythingthat I want is impossible.
I want to take my ladyby the hand and whisk her
to the Wizarding Worldof Harry Potter.
I want to get a gentle adjustment
from my yoga teacher.
I want to dap up my friends.
That's it.
What?
That's it, son!
People want to be touched.
Th-The power...of hands!
Yes! The human touch!
I got -- Hey!
Hey. Where you going?
It's -- It's probablyfor the best.
I -- I didn't want to takeanother shower anyway.
Well, now I have to go shower my hand.
Excuse me. Excuse me.Alright, okay.
Excuse me. Six feet.
Alright, the blades again?
Six feet. Yes, again.
You don't understand Junior,alright.
There is no one that is morecommitted to our safety
than my Junior.
Well, everyone is, right, to a certain point.
Until it comes to that haircut or that birthday party.
Plus no one believes how sick you can get
until you've seen what we've seen.
Well, Junior does.
Does he? Yeah.
Okay, alright, look.
It's probably just a delivery person.
The camera's really vague.
You can't really see,but he said it's not her.
Mm-hmm.That's all the proof I need.Just look.
Olivia: Hey, babe. It's Olivia.
I'll meet you out back.
Ooh, where do you think she's dropping the package?
♪
Thank you all for coming.
Oh, look how handsomeour son is, Earl.
You look like RuPaulout of drag.
-Mm. -Hey. Yeah.
Thank you, Mama. [ Chuckling ] Alright.
I-I know you're probably all wondering
where I've been for a little while.
I haven't.
I firmly believe it's every father's right
to disappear for as long as he sees fit.
I've been working on my masterpiece,
and I'm finally finished.
You know, it's a delicate marriage
between art and commerce
that birthed a baby named hope.
-Mm-hmm. -I call it: "Touch."
♪
Man: Hands.
We all have them.
And we ask them to do a lot.
But really, hands are meant to touch.
Today touching is a weapon.
Touching is dangerous.
But one day soon, we'll return to normal.
And your hands will touch again...
And we'll be ready
with Soft Hands Lotion.
[ Exhales sharply ]
Powerful, right?
Take a moment to -- to gather your emotions.
[ Clears throat ]
Okay, uh, nobody has anything to say?
I'm sorry, a-are you selling people hands?
Look, I'm just gonnasay it, baby.
Hey, that wasn't it.What?
But, Mama, that was my best. I gave you all that I had.
M-Maybe it just needs a -- a new tag line.
You know, something that reminds you
even in this unprecedented time,
now more than ever, that even when we're apart,
we're together.
Oh, no.
Dre: And there it was. I wasn't making art.
I was just lazily throwing together tag lines.
Whatever "essential" was, I was the opposite.
Looks like he's thinking over
those terrible life choices he's made.
What do you say you and me get out of here?
Mmm. Tasty.
♪
Listen, baby, if it makes you feel any better,
your ad has inspired me
to put my hands on your Daddy right now.
[ Chuckling ] Hey.
Thank you, son.
Yeah. [ Chuckles ]
Come on, Earl. I'm gonna wear you out.
We don't knowthat she went inside.
They're probably justout in the backyard.
They're socially distanced.
Bow, come on. What?
You're the smartest person I know.
Hey!
It's -- it's fair.
Why are you having such trouble
accepting what's happening under your roof?
I know it's happening,okay!
But I can't do my jobif I have to think about that.
I don't know about you,
but I did not sign upto fight a deadly virus
with one armtied behind my back.
And if I can't believethat every member of my family
is doing their best to keep us safe,
especially my most reliablefamily member,
then I'm sorry, but we're screwed.
And I don't knowif I can get through this.
So I'm not focusing on that, okay.
♪
Man: Dr. Alvarez to emergent care.
Code Black, let's go.
Okay. Let's do this.
-You guys ready to be "heroes." -Let's do it.
Okay.
♪
Hey, Mom. Oh!
[ Stuttering ]You need a hand?
Step back.Is everything alright?
I said step back, Junior!Sorry.
God.
Listen, when I tell you something,
you need to listen to me, okay.
I'm saying it for your own good.
Okay...
I know that Olivia came over here today,
and I know that you lied to me.
Okay, I -- I understandthat this is bad,
but it's been extremely hardto be apart.
[ Exhales sharply ]And she lives alone,
and she's beenbeing really careful,
and I've been being really careful --
That's what everybody thinks, Junior!
But they're not seeing what I am seeing at the hospital.
Today, I went from COVID patientto COVID patient
to COVID patient.
I intubated a woman that was my age, Junior,
and she was awake.
She was just looking in my eyes, terrified.
She got COVID working at the supermarket.
She had to go to work. She had no choice.
The same way I don't have a choice as a doctor!
And having Olivia over here is --
is disrespecting everything that I'm fighting for.
You know that I thinkyou are a hero --
Stop with the hero stuff, Junior.
I'm afraid!
Afraid!
I'm doing everything in my power
to protect myself and my patients and my family,
and you are --
you're endangering all of it --
all of it,
just so you could see your girlfriend.
I'm sorry, Mom.
I'm really trying believe that we can get through this.
But it is hard
when people won't do this simple thing
for the greater good,
and it is even harder when my own son...
[ Exhales deeply ]
...won't do his part.
♪
I'm so, so sorry.
♪
It's gonna be okay, right?
[ Sighs ]
We're gonna look backat all this and say,
"I can't believeI was there," right.
I'm not gonna want to look back, Junior.
Mom.
♪
I thinkI'm just gonna go home.
Yeah, I think that's best.
♪
Rainbow: Hey.
How's my favorite essential worker?
Too tired to rehash that debate.
Uh, no rehash, babe.
I just...
You know, I'm struggling.
[ Sighs ] I know.
There's so much paingoing on right now,
and I can't do anythingto ease it.
And you are over hereon another level.
Ugh! Dre, you do not want to be on my level.
What I see every day is so hard...
It's hard to stay hopeful.
Well, let me seeif I can help you out.
Now, more than ever,
the world needs its sexy doctors.
Oh.
And I am proud to say
that I am the husbandof an essential...
[ Hushed ] Yes.
...first-ish responder.
Ish?
Come on, babe.
It's not like you'rein the "ambalance" with them.
It's am-bu-lance.
Not if you want themto come fast.
Nope, you just can't help yourself.
It's okay.
[ Cellphone beeps ]Oh.
Let me see who this is.
Oh. Wow.
What?
Chrissy Teigenjust tweeted this photo
with my billboard in the background.
Oh!
She said it's gonna be
"the definitive imageof the pandemic in L.A."
That's cool. Yes!
What -- What d-- What exactly does that mean?
My billboard, it's sayingthat despite the desolation,
we will rise again!
Yes!I am inspiring the city!
I am essential!
You are the real hero, Dre!
Yes.
Dre: At this point it may be cliché,
but these are unprecedented times.
So we're all just trying to get through it
the best that we can...
with courage, with hope, and with our humanity.
Thank you from the bottomof my heart.
You saved my life.
You're heroes.
I intubated him last month.
And now he's going home.
[ Cellphone dings ]Good work.
In the absence of leadership,
it takes everyday people to step up.
Ready to go back to work?Yep.
I wish I could've said things got easier.
But even through the darkness,
Bow somehow managed to find some light.
That's what makes her a hero.
[ Chuckles ] Hey.
How's day three ofthe quarantine going?
Hey, do you haveenough liquids in there?
Yep, my super-strict quarantine is going great.
My closet is extra organized,
Jack and Diane are bringing me Lunchables
three times a day,
and, you know, by the time I am out of here,
my sourdough starter is gonna be ready.
I'm not gonna break your trust or this quarantine.
Thank you.
And, hey, will you thank Olivia for me, please?
She sent an Edible Arrangement to the hospital.
Turns out, it wasan arrangement of edibles.
We found Dr. Paul putting makeupon corpses in the morgue.
Very awkward.
[ Chuckles ] Again, we are both so sorry.
But hey, I've talked your ear off.
It's probably time for you to go to work.
Junior,I'm about to go to bed.
♪
Oh, my God.
I've lost all concept of time.
What day is it?
Can someone give me another Lunchable?!
[ Screams][ Cellphone beeping ]
Someone help me!
[ Shouts ]
Jack!