[Tamil remix song playing]
[McEnroe] It's the last day of school, folks.
And Devi was feeling good.
She'd moved on from Des,
and was one step closer to the pinnacle of human existence, senior year.
Devi Vishwakumar, we need to chat.
Oh no. Is this because I made Mr. Shapiro cry?
All I did was ask him how the dating apps are treating him.
Relax. Relax. You're not in trouble for once.
[sighs] Have you heard of the Shrubland School?
Uh, yeah? Maybe? Isn't it like that fancy boarding school in Colorado?
Yes, ma'am.
It is an intensive one-year program for academically gifted seniors.
Every year, we nominate our top junior, and you got in.
- I did? - Mm-hmm.
[laughs] Whoa. Wait. Can I put that I got in on my college apps?
You know what would be even better? Going there.
- Yeah. - Oh.
Wait. So, like, moving to Colorado?
Yes. All the Shrubland kids go to the top colleges.
This could be your golden ticket into Princeton, young lady.
Uh-huh. Uh-huh.
But just to clarify,
that means I wouldn't be here in Sherman Oaks for my senior year?
No, Devi. Do we need a geography lesson?
You would have to say goodbye.
Here you go. Congratulations.
You! Give me that gun!
[Tamil remix song continues]
Hmm.
[song continues]
What is that? Holy shit. Did you get into Shrubland?
[chuckles] Sure did.
Wow, I guess they'll let anyone in.
Hmm. Someone a little butt hurt that they weren't even nominated?
No, I don't need to go to some bullshit hippie school
and commune with crystals or whatever.
I'm happy to get into an Ivy the old-fashioned way.
Oh! Using your dad's connections? Good for you.
Hmm, any chance you'll leave today?
I actually haven't decided if I'm going.
What? What do you mean you haven't decided?
Shrubland is the Exeter of the Rockies.
You just called it a bullshit hippie school.
Yeah, out of pettiness. You have to go.
But do I really want to spend my last year in a shack in the woods?
What about prom, or a senior prank, or hazing freshmen?
Okay, Animal House. You can't haze freshmen anymore.
Trying to get rid of me so you have no competition for valedictorian next year?
No, although the thought of being able to dominate the school in peace
without you buzzing behind me like a bloodthirsty mosquito does sound nice.
- Hmm. - But for real, David, it's dumb not to go.
[school bell ringing]
[McEnroe] While Ben insisted Devi ditch her John Hughes dreams of senior year,
her friends had a very different stance.
No! You can't leave! Trent is already abandoning me by graduating.
I know! Like, how can I miss out on senior year with you guys?
I still feel like we have so much to accomplish together before college.
I mean, Fabiola and I are still virgins.
Oh, right. Um...
Fab, what's that face?
[sighs] Okay. So, last week, Addison and I were watching The Mandalorian,
and it set a mood,
and one thing led to another, and we did it.
- [gasps, shrieks] Fab! - Oh my God!
You did? That's frigging amazing!
Congratulations on your loverhood. [laughs]
Man, I can't believe you kept that from us.
[sighs] I'm sorry. It's just I'm not as announce-y as you guys are.
So, how was it with Addison?
Amazing. I think they awoke something in me.
I'm a sensual person now.
I sext.
[Eleanor chuckles, gasps]
Oh my God. Do you guys know what this means?
I'm the only virg left.
I thought I'd be the first to do it because I'm competitive and thirsty.
- Don't worry. It will happen for you. - Yeah.
Not if I go to this place. You think these dorks are porkin'?
Forget it. I don't want to miss out on any milestones with you guys,
and I can't be one of those dusty old nuns who doesn't lose it until college.
- I'm staying put. - [gasps] Really? Thank God.
Yes!
- Yo, yo, yo! - [Paxton] What up?
- Oh, hey! - Happy last day of high school ever.
- How you feeling? - Honestly, it's kind of bittersweet.
I just can't believe that after today we won't go here anymore.
I need a drink of water.
Is he okay?
No, he's not.
You guys, he's in such denial about graduating.
He won't talk about it. He won't clean out his locker.
He's just completely shutting down.
Yeah, he's been pretty weird for the last week.
Like, even weird by Trent standards.
I think he's really scared he has to go out and find a job.
But I also think he's sad to be leaving me.
Aw, El!
Yeah. I don't know what I'm gonna do without him.
Oh, he's coming back. Someone change the subject.
Uh, Paxton, I heard you got class speaker. That's dope.
Oh, yeah. I was really honored that people voted for me.
No offense, but I don't get why we vote on who speaks at graduation.
Why don't we just let the valedictorian talk like at other schools?
Well, I volley your no offense back to you to say that nerds are boring,
and popular kids are fun and hilarious.
Word.
[McEnroe] Trent wasn't wrong.
The popular kids had given some memorable speeches.
Shit. I am so drunk.
I love you guys!
And I just want to say to all you stupid bitches who doubted me,
you're dead to me.
[mascot] Later losers!
Well, I'm sure you're gonna crush it.
Yeah, I hope so.
Are you talking about your speech? You should do like a sexy dance.
Uh, I don't think so, Shira.
You have to do something hot. 'Cause that's like what you're known for.
I'm known for more than that.
I mean, that is what your senior superlative is.
"Paxton Hall-Yoshida. Most likely to succeed at hotness"?
[chuckles]
Yeah.
So, Devi, how was your last day at school?
Did anything interesting happen?
Mmm, some seniors used some shaving cream to draw genitalia on the school buses.
[laughing] Yeah. Terrible.
You're sure shaving cream genitalia
was the most interesting thing that happened today?
- Mmm. - Honestly, Devi?
I want to know about this fancy school you got into.
Principal Grubbs called me.
You think she goes around telling children about life-changing opportunities
and is like, "Eh, parents don't need to know"? Get me the brochure.
- It's not that big of a deal. - It actually is a big deal.
Nobody can get into that school. I applied to teach there. Rejected.
I'm sorry, sweetheart.
It's for the best. You are too delicate, Manish, to live at high altitude.
Burn. I thought you liked me now.
I love you, which is why I worry about how weak you are.
[Kamala] Okay, back to Devi.
I think what we're all trying to say is we're so impressed you got into Shrubland.
Half of the Scientific American's 20 under 20 went there.
So, uh, you would leave a year early to go here?
If I were going, yeah. But I already made up my mind to turn them down.
Are you sure? This school seems like it could really set you up for success.
Mom, if I needed this school to get into Princeton, I would go. But I don't.
I have sick grades. I'm in a billion extracurriculars,
and I have all of my teachers wrapped around my finger. Right, Mr. K?
- What? - It's your choice, Devi.
You don't want to go. I'm not gonna push you.
Really? Um, you're not even going to go visit?
Honestly, I'm not quite ready to send her off yet, either.
So, Mami, what customer service representative
did you scream at today?
Hi, I think we're gonna head out.
Oh, okay. Uh, please thank Manish for introducing us to TikTok pasta chips.
They were very unique.
I will.
So, listen, I don't wanna interfere,
but I do think that you should reconsider Shrubland.
I was terrified to leave my home and my family,
but I'm so thankful that I did
because CalTech has been this unbelievable opportunity for me.
I never would've grown so much if my family hadn't pushed me to come.
I'm sorry if I'm overstepping. I just had to say it.
Okay. Good night.
Good night, Kamala.
I appreciate it.
[Kamala] Of course.
[sentimental music playing]
[Nalini] I want to go back to India. I hate it here.
You hate all of America because some moms at Devi's preschool were rude to you?
They weren't just rude to me, they were cruel.
You should have seen their faces when I put my korma down at the potluck.
They treat me like I'm nothing.
They always act like they can't understand my accent.
They talk to me like I'm a child.
[scoffs]
Am I supposed to endure this until Devi gets to college?
No, and it will get better.
But the reason we sacrificed so much to come here
was so that our child
would have every opportunity to get the best education.
We can't let our needs stand in the way of that.
In the meantime, why don't we get on the computer
and subscribe those ladies to a lot of spam?
[both laugh]
[indistinct chatter on TV]
If they kill off the Indian character, I'm writing to Netflix.
Uh, Pati,
I think the whole point of Squid Game is that a lot of people have to die.
- [Nalini] Devi! - Oh my God!
We're gonna go visit that school in Colorado.
I've already booked the tickets. There'll be no discussion.
[Devi] Hmm?
[sighs]
Yeah, so she's like demanding I go to this Colorado school
that's basically where The Shining happened.
I don't need to see no creepy twins.
All right, well, it sounds like your mom just wants you to visit the school, Devi.
It's not like she's gonna throw you off the train in the Rocky Mountains.
But it's still a waste of time. I'm never gonna go there.
So why do I have to visit?
Because you should give it a chance.
You never know. It could be an amazing opportunity.
Dr. Ryan, I've been planning my senior year since I hit puberty.
And it has to happen at my normal high school
doing normal senior stuff with my mostly normal friends.
Not in the woods with a bunch of randos with visible pit hair.
Look, I'm not saying that you have to attend.
I'm just saying it's important to be open to new experiences.
- Ugh. - [Dr. Ryan] Devi, look.
When you lock yourself into a dream of what your life should be,
you limit yourself.
And I know for a fact, you, Devi, are locked into a very particular dream.
You want to date the hottest guy in school.
You want to be Miss Popularity, and you just got to go to Princeton.
I will not budge on Princeton.
All I'm saying is maybe you've outgrown that dream.
I mean, are you still the same Devi you were freshman year?
I'm not.
You definitely don't say "word up" as much.
[laughs] Come on, Doc.
Just try to be open.
Baby, the world is big.
Sometimes it's good to surprise yourself.
Ah. Look, Trent.
Paxton picked up his cap and gown. How about you? Did you go get yours?
Don't worry about it.
I am worried about it.
- You know graduation's in two days, right? - Totally.
Babe, I know leaving school is scary,
but I just saw that Buca di Beppo is looking for a new pasta associate.
That could be a really exciting new adventure for you.
- Uh-huh. - Paxton, can you please help?
If you don't show up to graduation, I'll tell Marcus he's my best friend.
I'll be there, bro.
Great. Now, if you could both take this conversation outside of my garage,
I gotta finish my speech.
[gasps] How's that coming?
Do you need me to text Devi for help? She loves giving speeches,
although mostly in the form of apologies.
No. For the first time,
I think I actually know exactly what I want to say.
Hmm.
♪ You threw it away so easy ♪
♪ You don't take it personally... ♪
[car doors closing]
Wow, Devi, look at this place.
Everyone looks so happy and active.
Mmm, it's too outdoorsy. What if a bear attacks me on my way to class?
You know I smell delicious because of all the sugar I eat.
We actually do have a bear family that visit sometimes,
but the only thing they ever attack is our dumpster.
- [chuckles] - Hi, are you the Vishwakumars?
Yes, hi. This is Devi. I'm her mom, Nalini.
You must be Mr. Ferris?
Oh no, call me Leo.
At Shrublands, students refer to teachers by their first names.
See, Devi? You love disrespectful nonsense like this.
We think it's important to empower young adults
to see themselves as intellectual equals with teachers.
Sure, until you have to tuck 'em in for lights out at, like, what, 8:00 p.m.?
Oh no, we have flexible curfews.
A lot of the study groups for the college-level courses
meet in the library pretty late.
College-level courses? Whoa.
Let me give you a tour,
and then, Devi, I'd love for you to sit in on my next class,
Comparative Literature and Cultural Theory.
Oh. What an impressive long name.
[chuckles]
["Omens" by Joni playing]
♪ Why's it always raining ♪
♪ In the bedside falling asleep... ♪
- Hey. - Hey.
Did you accidentally leave your art stuff behind too?
No, I didn't forget.
I just couldn't fit it in the basket of my bicycle,
so my dad drove me here to pick everything up.
Wait, wait, wait. Hold up.
You ride to school on a bicycle with a little basket on it?
Yeah, what about it?
You just seem like you'd get dropped off on a Harley by some tatted-up boyfriend.
Nope. No Harley, no boyfriend.
Hmm. So, you're not like punk rock at all?
[laughs]
Uh, you want to know what my summer job is?
- Mmm. - I'm working at Build-A-Bear in the mall.
What?
We're open seven days a week.
I wear a tiny apron and tell kids that a synthetic lump of stuffing loves them.
- You should come by. - Yeah. I want to see that. I'm there.
It's a date. I mean, it doesn't have to be, like, a "date" date. Sorry...
- Uh... - I'd go on a date.
Oh.
Okay. Cool.
Then we'll go on a date.
Cool.
Oh, well, as fun as it is silently staring at each other,
I've, uh, got to get back to the car. My dad overheats easily.
Great. Okay.
Well, I'll call you.
♪ Shake with a fever, I'm a believer ♪
♪ Right in the middle of an omen... ♪
You guys, we have a visitor with us today.
Everyone, say hey to Devi. She might be joining us next year.
Hi, everyone. Your school is so beautiful and smells amazing.
Way better than our Glade plugins.
Thank you, Devi.
All right, everyone, I hope you all had a chance to finish Ficciones last night.
- Yep. - Oh, yeah.
Okay, so let's do what we do.
I thought it was so interesting how a lot of his narrators had his own name.
Yeah, I noticed that too. It's like, they're not him, but they are him.
[student] Yeah, that's exactly right. Like...
[McEnroe] Devi had never been in a class like this before,
and not because everyone was sitting on the ground
and talking without raising their hand.
It was that everyone had actually done their homework
and cared about learning something.
Also, did you notice the labyrinth motif kept coming up?
That really felt like a commentary on free will.
What do labyrinths make you think of, Devi?
Oh, um, I actually haven't read the book. Sorry.
Oh, don't be sorry. I know you haven't read it.
I'm just trying to pick your brain.
Mazes, labyrinths. What do they signify to you?
Oh. Uh...
That there's no one straight path in life?
That we have choices and some can lead us to dead ends,
but others can take us to places we never thought we'd go.
Wow. I love it. Thank you, Devi.
Okay.
And, like, you can talk and express yourself,
and it's cool to be smart.
As it should be.
And there's no UN or Hot Pocket.
Everyone's kind of a nerd.
I think I actually might fit in.
Do either of you want to switch seats with me
since you're talking to each other so much?
- No, no. We don't like the middle seat. - Mm-mm.
Okay, and then?
Mom, I think I want to go.
- You do? - Mm-hmm.
[mumbling excitedly]
[Devi chuckling]
- Do you want the popcorn? - Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ooh.
- I got, uh, smoked almonds. Do ya... - Yeah.
But I thought you said you didn't want to go!
I know, but once I got there, I liked it.
The competitive part of me really kicked in.
But what about the horny part of you?
Remember, there are no sexual prospects there
because they're all crunchy uggos.
Well, then I guess I'll have to be cool being the sad sack
who goes to college as a virgin.
But, hey, maybe I'll lose it to a sexy professor
that'll educate me in more ways than one.
All right, it's hard to argue with that fantasy.
Guys, I know this screws up our plans for senior year, but I'll be back.
I mean, you both already have so many cool things going on anyway.
Eleanor, you have your fancy Hollywood agent and Trent.
And, Fabiola, you're with Addison now.
You guys won't notice that I'm gone.
Not true. But regardless, you don't leave until the fall.
We still have the summer.
We don't need to be sad about it right now.
- Oh. We should sit down. - Yep.
["Pomp and Circumstance March No.1" by Sir Edward Elgar playing]
Trent, what are you doing? Get up there with your class.
They're not my class.
Yes, they are. Go!
No, they're not.
Eleanor, I failed.
I failed senior year, and now I have to repeat it.
You failed?
I'm so embarrassed.
I didn't want to tell you
'cause I couldn't bear to see the disappointment in your face.
I'm not disappointed. I'm thrilled.
We get to be together for another year. Thank God you're so terrible at school.
[joyful music playing]
[Eleanor laughs]
[all applauding]
Thank you, Mr. Wadsworth,
for that riveting discussion on men's rights. [laughs]
Shawna, next year I'm gonna need to see
the alumni speech ahead of time, okay? All right.
Alrighty, class of 2022.
Ah. I think you're gonna be very excited about our next speaker
because you voted for him. [chuckles]
So please welcome Mr. Paxton Hall-Yoshida.
[all cheering]
That's my best friend!
[whooping, cheering]
- Hi. - [girl] I'm in love with you!
- [students laughing] - Thank you.
So, listen, I know you're all expecting me to, like,
take a shot on stage or do a sexy dance or whatever.
[whooping and cheering]
But I'm not gonna do that.
Instead, I'm gonna talk about hard work.
- [Trent] Boo! - Trent. Come on, man.
Sorry. Reflex. I love you, bro.
[chuckles]
[clears throat]
For the longest time, I never really had to work that hard.
And honestly, things came really easily for me
because I was dope at swimming, and according to the yearbook,
I'm kind of pretty.
[students cheering, laughing]
But then someone showed me how to push myself.
[McEnroe] Whoa. He's talking about you, Devi.
That's kind of romantic, right?
And that person made me try things that I was bad at.
- Like studying. And it sucked so bad. - [chuckles]
But I am so grateful.
Because now I know that I'm more than just the hot guy
or the popular guy.
I'm actually a really nice guy and a sort of smart guy.
My advice to you is to push yourself out there,
defy other people's expectations of you,
and don't ever let a label define you.
And with that, I would like to hand the mic over to someone who
actually really earned the right to speak, our valedictorian Brenda Kang.
[all applauding]
[cheering]
[McEnroe] Hold up. Devi, why isn't your stomach in knots?
Paxton H-Y basically gave a speech about you to the entire school.
Do you feel okay?
Are you drunk?
Oh my God. I am so happy Trent has to stay back.
I don't think I could handle losing the both of you
now that you're going to Colorado, Devi.
[Ben] You're going?
Hey, uh, yeah. I just decided.
[Fabiola] Okay.
We'll call you later.
O-Okay.
Then I guess I should congratulate you.
Mmm. And I, you.
Now the school's all yours. Enjoy your reign of terror.
Yeah, right.
It's just that, uh, I don't want you to go, David.
Sure. Sure, sure, sure.
'Cause you need my annoying personality to fuel your competitive drive.
I don't think your personality is annoying.
Hey, I... I like your personality.
- You call me annoying twice a day. - Yeah, as a joke.
[chuckles] Okay, then why don't you want me to go?
Because...
I'll miss you.
A lot.
[McEnroe] Wait, there's the stomach knots.
[Paxton] Lil' D!
- Medium B! [laughs] - [Devi laughs]
Wow, you did so good up there.
And you made Trent cry. So mission accomplished.
- [chuckles] - Yeah, excellent work, bro.
Thanks, guys.
There were a few girls in the front row who seemed genuinely pissed
I didn't do a sexy dance,
but otherwise, I felt good.
Nice. [chuckles]
Okay, uh, I got to run, but, uh, congrats, Paxton.
[Paxton] Thanks, man.
So, did you hear my shoutout to you?
I did. Thank you for that. [chuckles]
Yeah.
Well, I owe you a lot, Devi.
I know we've had some ups and downs,
but I probably wouldn't be going to college if it weren't for you.
[chuckles]
Well, I actually have a lot to thank you for too.
This is a weird thing to say, and I don't want to creep you out,
but...
[sighs]
...you kind of got me through the death of my dad.
I did? How?
[chuckles, inhales deeply]
By being a dream.
[chuckles]
Well, hey, you should come visit me in Arizona some time.
I'll let you do some of my college-level homework.
- Yeah. Ow! Okay. - Ah. Seriously? [laughs]
[Kevin] Paxton!
Dad!
- I'll see ya. - Oh!
- [groans] - [June laughing] Oh.
Your dad's been crying since the moment you got on the stage.
[Kevin] I'm just so proud of you.
You were amazing.
- Thanks, Dad. - [June] Okay, my turn.
["Runaway (Instrumental)" by AURORA playing]
[McEnroe] As Devi walked home,
she realized that she had spent so much of her young life
obsessed with the future.
A future where she would finally fit in.
But if today taught her anything, it was that she already fit in.
And as her father proved, there are no guarantees in this life.
Suddenly, she felt like the present was a very precious thing,
and she did not want to waste it.
- ["Runaway" continues] - [inaudible]
Mom.
Devi? Are you okay?
I don't want to go.
Uh, you don't want to go where?
[sighs] To the Shrubland School.
[sighs] Of course you're going. We decided.
No, I don't want to leave you yet.
Devi, you have to.
It's for your future. It's what your father would have wanted.
But I have memories of Dad too,
and he would want us to be together.
I just... I need one more year with you.
We don't know what's gonna happen.
Okay? Look at Dad.
I just... I need more time with you.
[sobs]
Is that okay?
Yeah. It's okay, kanna. [sniffles]
But only one more year.
You can't be like Carol's son from down the street
who's still living with his mother at 50.
[chuckles]
[McEnroe] Devi had listened to Dr. Ryan's advice.
She'd been open,
and even though she was staying in Sherman Oaks for senior year,
her dream had evolved.
[phone vibrating]
[Fabiola] OMG! That sext was meant for Addison. I'm so sorry!
Hmm.
[exhales sharply]
Hmm?
[McEnroe] But there was maybe one part of the old dream
that still interested her,
and per Dr. Ryan, she was about to surprise herself.
["Take Off" by Prinze George playing]
[knocking]
Hi. Patty let me in.
Okay. What can I help you with?
♪ I was eager, young and abandoning ♪
♪ I would force you to love me ♪
♪ I would force you to stay ♪
♪ I would force you to love me ♪
♪ I would stand in your way ♪
♪ And you can't take off without me now ♪
♪ Traveled to the older spaces ♪
♪ To find you there in the golden places ♪
♪ We made out in Chicago, baby ♪
♪ You grabbed my face ♪
♪ And you can't take off without me now ♪