[♪ "Work To Do" by The Isley Brothers playing]
Oh, yeah. Chicken is done.
Alright, what's goin' on with the waffle count?
Mm, uh, nearly 40.
- Oh, nice, nice. - We're movin'.
Oh, that looks so good, Edwin.
- Nadine... - Hm?
- ...does it look professional? - Yes.
I really need this to work, mama.
Mm, mm!
- Yeah? - Dad! What smells so amazing?
- Oh! Oh, hey, Paige. - Hi.
[Nadine Gregory] Your dad made these shrimp and grits balls.
They're divine.
I know you prefer bland Swedish food,
- but come try. - [Edwin Alexander] Okay, okay.
Good morning. Good morning, baby girl.
You got the "morning" part right. What's the occasion?
Why are you in my favorite apron
and you guys using every single bowl in my house?
I'm catering your sister's open house. Did you forget that?
- No, no, no. I remember. - Few more gigs like that,
I'll have a down payment on the food truck.
Yeah, and then you're just gonna need a license to drive it
and a business permit, an employer ID number,
- and a food-- - And a food service license. I know.
- [Nadine sighs] - The shit ain't set up for me to succeed.
I understand, but I got my birth certificate.
- One step at a time, okay? - Yeah, you are correct.
- You hungry? - Yes. [laughs]
Hey, Nadine put together these little waffle bites
in case she's feelin' more sweet than savory.
I'd say Paige feels more salty.
I'll just have a coffee.
Okay.
- [mouths] Stop. - [mouths] What?
- Dad? - Yeah, baby.
I thought we said no overnights.
She just got here, and she saved the day, Paige.
How? [chuckles]
Did you know you're missing lemon pepper and garlic salt?
Oh, well, yeah, that makes her a hero.
Can you maybe warn me when you're gonna have company
so that I don't come down in my private clothes?
You wore those pants to Target last week, girl.
[Nadine] I raised you better than that.
Oh, let's please not unpack how you "raised" me.
- A-Also, these are Ivy Park. - Paired with Birkenstocks.
I'm gonna go fold some laundry 'cause there's something about
being around the two of you that makes me wanna put some
sharp creases in my jeans.
[♪ upbeat, rhythmic music playing]
[Edwin] Hey! Comin' to it right now. Comin' to it!
- What is this? - It's not what you think.
Okay, it's an album recorded by my kid's father,
and it's in my dad's room, so what should I think?
Paige, rock-and-roll went south
after Chuck Berry and Little Richard and them,
so there must be another reason
- why it's in my room-- - What the fu--
- Grandpa. - Finn.
- You said you wouldn't tell. - Y-Your mama came--
Wouldn't tell what?
- [sighs] It doesn't matter. - Jesus Christ.
- It doesn't matter. - Aw, Dad, Dad, Dad.
We talked about this.
You and I are supposed to tell each other the whole truth.
The boy is allowed to be curious about his own father, Paige.
No. No, no, no. This is a terrible idea.
You are opening up a whole can of worms.
Can been open, Paige.
- [Paige sighs] - Been open since the day the boy was born.
Paige, I gotta get ready. I got food in the car.
It would really mean a lot to me if you would just stop by
the open house later to support me.
Y-Yeah. That-- Yes, that's fine. Sure. I already told Esti that I would be there.
- Oh, okay. Yeah, Esti. Okay. - I just-- I need you to promise me
that you are not going to quit your day job
over whatever this food thing may or may not pan out to be, okay?
I will be keeping that bird very firmly in my hand, Paige.
- Okay. - Anyway, I'm glad you're comin'.
I know how much you like to snoop around other folks' floor plans.
What does that mean, Dad?
It means you're a sn-- [laughs]
- You're a snoop, girl. - I'm not a snoop. It was right there.
Okay, yeah. Whose room is this?
- [Paige Alexander] Who pays the mortgage? - Oh!
- [video recorder beeps] - I wanna talk about triggers.
So, maybe there's no such thing as a trigger warning
because, apparently, a trigger can show up
in your kitchen uninvited and unannounced,
and that is not the right attitude.
- [video recorder beeps] - [sputters]
- Ah! - [video recorder beeps]
[whispers] Triggers.
[normal] Triggers are almost never about what's happening right now.
They are connected to something old,
something that is carried in the mind
but really held in the body,
and that is why they can be so overwhelming,
like a riptide is sucking you under and-- [yells]
[sighs]
- [video recorder beeps] - Triggers are like metal detectors,
and when they go off, it means that you have found a spot
where something deeply personal is buried way down.
And so, the question you need to ask yourself is:
am I willing to start digging?
- [video recorder beeps] - No, I am not.
[groans] I'm so triggered.
- [Finn Alexander] Mom? - Hey.
Um... about my dad... I've been thinking--
And you have questions, right?
Of course, you do, because these are critical years
of individuating,
and so it's totally natural for you to wanna know more about your dad.
It's primal, really.
So, I mean, whatever you wanna ask me, you should ask me,
- like on Reddit but in real life. - Mom. Can we talk a little slower?
[chuckles] Uh, yes, we can.
I'm sorry, sweetie.
What's he really like?
I mean, I kinda don't know what he's like, but I also do.
Wow.
Uh, well, your dad,
he is charming and charismatic
and also, like, fun and carefree. [laughs]
- So you're saying I took after you? - Tragically, yes. [laughs]
But, honey, there's still hope for you
because you might get some of your granddad's swag passed onto you
'cause it's somewhere in my genetics. [laughs]
Is there a reason he doesn't come see me?
You know, his band tours, like, 300 days a year.
Yeah, and he doesn't visit the other 65.
- I mean. - Yeah, I c-- I can't explain that, Finn.
- 'Kay, maybe I'll just ask him. - Oh, wow. Okay, that's interesting.
Um, so, it is one approach, and we can talk about it,
but let's just talk about it maybe when I'm not on my way out the door, okay?
- Okay. - Okay! Okay, okay!
- [door closes] - [♪ soft, rhythmic music playing]
♪
Welcome. There is a sign-in sheet on the table right there.
- [softly] Thank you. - Oh, and I have a neo-soul small bite
for your enjoyment, take that.
- Thank you. - There you go.
It's like the Erykah Badu of light bites.
So, what are we thinking? Is the bedroom suite not dreamy?
It's the heated floors in the bathroom for me.
There's nothin' like stepping down onto warm tile in the middle of winter.
I was just talking about that.
Now if I'm you all, I'm moving very quickly.
This place is goin' in multiples, you best believe.
- I'm calling our agent. - Okay.
Oh, please, uh, take a sammie before you go.
- Thank you. - And for all your catering needs,
please take a card.
It has my, uh, QR code, which my grandson made for me.
- Oh, sweet. Thank you. - Thank you.
- You guys enjoy. - Thank you so much.
- Bye. - Bye-bye now.
That was good.
- Dude, promise me I'll never have to do... - Huh? What?
...another open house without you and your awesome waffle sammies.
Okay, gimme somethin'. Come on.
Uhh!
You said you're gonna take better care of me.
- Mm-hm. - So, you know Nadine's a walking,
talking trigger machine, but what are you gonna do?
- I don't need trouble. - I don't know. Ignore her?
[gasps] Wait, does that work?
- No. Fight her. - Uh, try again.
Listen to everything you say that we need the most?
- Bingo! - Oh!
Oh, God. Incoming.
Paige, hi!
- Hi! Wow! - [Ava] Hi!
Oh, you're checking out my dad's new business venture.
Yeah. You know, I like to show up for my clients.
Right. Or check up on them?
Just a little. I love how he's literally cooking up bigger plans.
Ah, I see what you did there.
Your dad's showin' out. The man's food slaps.
- Mm-hm. - Yep. Except now, thanks to him,
I gotta talk Ava outta this house.
Mm, it's literally perfect. Ooh, I'm moist. [laughs]
Slow down, babe.
I think you've had one too many bourbon-glazed shrimp.
- Okay? Let's get you home. - Bye, Paige.
- [Mal Kennedy] See you, Paige. - See you, Ava. Bye, Mal.
- Bye, guys. [groans] - [metal detector beeping]
Beep, beep, beep, beep.
- [gasps] Beeeeep! - [metal detector beeping]
♪
I don't understand why Paige keeps doubting this part of who I am.
Yeah, Paige is just an "I'll believe it when I see it" type.
Oh yeah. Give her time. It's only been three or four decades.
Let her cook.
Ooh, that looks good. And I will take one of--
- No, you will not. - Hey, hey, hey! Leave some for the guests!
- Come on! - [Edwin] You know what?
You guys ate all the food.
- [Esti Nelson] Uh-uh. - [Edwin] Forget it! Forget it!
- I'll be standing by. - [Edwin] Forget it. Nuh-uh.
Paige! Oh, my God! So glad you made it!
- Baby girl. - Uh, your dad's grits balls
have sold this house five times already.
- Grits balls? - Oh, they're very persuasive.
- Well, you like the balls. - [Esti] Seriously though,
your dad is the best hype man of all time.
Okay, okay. Come on now, come on now.
Okay, well, Lil Jon is the best hype man of actual all time,
but I don't know Lil Jon.
I couldn't afford him even if I did.
You might not be able to afford me after a while.
- Ah! - [all laughing]
[fake laughing] Esti, can I talk to you for a minute?
Okay, and then, I come around the corner,
and there she is in my favorite vintage apron.
- The one you got at Ragstock? - Yes!
And now she's trying to be all buddy-buddy with my sister?
- Me? - Yes, you.
I can't even get my feet underneath me 'cause everywhere I turn,
there's Nadine and her stupid fucking long legs.
She does have outstanding legs.
- Stop liking her! - Ow! O-Okay, okay!
- [whispers] What do you want me to do? - I don't know.
Be mean to her, at least when I'm around.
I'm kidding. You know I'm totally kidding, right?
Who are you kidding? You are totally not kidding.
[groans] I also saw Mal and his gorgeous girlfriend.
I should sue her for breaking my face, right?
- Isn't she a lawyer? - Oh, yeah. So that plan's a bust.
Oh, also, Finn, all of a sudden, has all these questions about his dad.
I'm triggered as fuck. Somehow, he got his hands on the album.
Oh, that, that was me.
- How could you? - No, oh, yeah, yeah, I probably should've
- told you. I-- - Yes! How could you?
You know how I feel about Johnny.
I guess. It-- But it-it-- Vaguely, okay? It's not like we ever talk about it.
Yes, because there's nothing to talk about.
- He's totally not present. - Which is why I got the record, okay?
If I had a dad I never see who dedicated something to me,
I'd be all over that, like a little piece of me.
But this isn't you! This is Finn, my kid, who is anxious!
Okay, this is, uh, too much Selling Sunset drama for me,
and unlike those girls, I actually have to sell this house.
[Paige] Okay.
- [metal detector beeping] - [Little Paige] Beep, beep, beep--
No, no, no, no. Okay, okay, can you-- Y-- J-- Turn that off.
Trick, you need to phone a friend, a friend named Murphy.
- [Paige] No. - Mm.
Oh, really?
Go on.
[kids shouting]
- Nadine... - Hm?
...I would like to invite you to family therapy with us.
[coughs] I'm-I'm sorry, what?
Yeah, I'm sure my dad has told you
that we're seeing someone and we're learning a lot.
- Whether we want to or not. - This week, our therapist
recommended that we include you,
so for whatever reason, I'm going along with it.
But it's family therapy, so.
- I-I-- - Okay. She's inviting you, take the win.
'Cause I am ready to start digging, even if it's my own grave.
- Oh! - [nastily] Excuse me.
Wh--
No... No.
[phone chimes]
- So, Mom? - Mm-hm.
- I've been texting my dad... - What?
...and, um... he's not going on the road until January.
- I wanna go see him. - [sighs]
He said I can visit him, like, next week--
Visit? Bu-- No. Uh, Finn, your dad should not be making promises
about trips without talking to me.
But you don't have to do anything.
I'm old enough to go by myself.
Honey, you haven't even gotten behind the wheel of a car since the accident.
Now you wanna get on a plane by yourself?
Mom, this is different.
Finn, I... I'm sorry, it's a no.
I smell tension. Anyone else smell tension?
[sniffs] Tension.
Hello!
Enchanté.
You must be Nadine, the, uh, non-legal stepmother
who triggers the fuck outta Paige, huh?
Hm, is that what she told you?
- Eh. - Interesting.
[Murphy Collins] Right this way, please.
You ready for this?
- Question is, are you? - [chuckles]
[sighs]
[Murphy] Paige, you okay?
Um, my heart is beating really fast,
and, um, I just-- I-I-I d-- I don't feel safe.
Okay, well, at the risk of sounding shrinky...
Nadine, why, why do you think Paige feels unsafe?
I don't know. [laughs]
You'd think she owns stock in childhood trauma.
Oh, well, thanks to you, I do own some shares.
Do Finn and I really need to be here for this?
'Cause I can take him down the street for a burger,
- you know? - We can bring you back some food.
- No eating in my office. - Paige, I want to help you
work through your shit.
- Oh, thank you. - Okay?
But it takes a special kind of love to raise a child who's not your own.
- A special [laughs] kind of love? - Good, Paige. Don't hold back now.
Your body's telling you something. What are you feeling right now?
Take a deep breath, identify the feeling...
and then unleash, alright?
We're gonna really have to wrestle through some emotions today.
[Little Paige] Let's do it, Murph!
[♪ "Apache" by Incredible Bongo Band playing]
- [bell dings] - [audience cheers, applauds]
[announcer voice] Live from my office in St. Louis Park,
it's the Alexander Family Therapy Smackdown!
Let's get ready to validaaate
[normal] our feelings.
[announcer voice] Round one! Ladies, take your corners.
Nadine, the Bi-polar Babe versus Ragey Paigey.
Okay, so first, start with the flying dropkick.
- What? - And then go for her knees.
- Okay. - 'Cause she's got great legs,
- but bad knees. - I know.
- Bad knees! Woo! - Woo! Let's go!
- Okay! Yeah! Woo! - Yeah!
[both grunting]
A special kind of love?!
You left me at a truck stop in Arizona!
I thought you were sleeping in the back seat,
and I came right back!
- [Paige grunting] - Ooh!
Two hours is not "right back"!
In your face, Nadine!
Because of you, I had to work shitty office jobs for 10 years!
I'm sorry! You could've been turning tricks instead!
[grunts]
- You know what? - I'm so sorry, Nadine...
- You gonna jump in or what? - Trust the process. This is good.
- Tell me something that you did for me... - [Nadine] What?
...other than put a roof over my head.
Oh, how 'bout put you through college?
Oh, no, no. I had work-study.
Oh, work-study. That didn't pay for shit.
- [yells] - [body thuds]
♪
[yells]
I took you to get your ears pierced.
Yes, after you made me watch you get your belly button pierced!
- [bell dings] - [grunting]
I should've spanked you then!
[grunting]
You only ever do anything for me when there is something in it for you!
What kinda kid wants a mom who just always puts herself first?
That's a great question.
- Bingo. - Oh.
[audience cheers, applauds]
♪
[bell dings]
- That's exactly what you do to me. - Come on.
- I said I wanna see my dad. - Well, it's better this way!
- Better for who? - For you!
- Did you stop him from visiting? - No! No, of course not,
but I, I couldn't force him to step up.
So you let my dad drift away?
[silence]
Because what?
Ya didn't wanna deal with him?
Hit him with the chair!
Are you crazy?
Is that what you need to hear from me? That I, I fought for you to have a dad?
Mom, I was too little to fight for myself.
Finn, it is so hard to have a dad
who, one minute, he's there and it is great,
but then, he's gone, and it is terrible!
[announcer voice] And now, the moment we've all been waiting for,
the main event, Daddy Destruction versus Ragey Paigey!
[bell dings]
I tell you that woman triggers me. Everywhere you go, there she is!
- Nadine has been there for me. - [Paige cackles]
When you will not or you cannot support me!
Dad, you live in my house!
I literally support you!
[both screaming]
Only after you remind me about all the times I failed you.
You think that helps me?
I don't do that... all the time.
[grunting]
- Often enough, baby. - [both yelling]
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah.
Paige, you can't keep livin' in the past.
All the time I done lost, I've got to live in the right now!
- [Paige] Okay. - We all do!
Okay!
But does the "right now" have to include so much Nadine?
[yells]
Can I just cut in here for a second? Wow.
I am proud of you, Edwin. You're really doin' the work.
- [Edwin] Thank you, doc. - You're welcome.
- Now, Paige? - Yes.
Look, Nadine may be wildly dysfunctional. She may be mis-attuned.
She may have had a bi-polar episode or two.
- Or five. - Or five,
but she's not causing the big reaction.
Yes, there's big feelings around her, but, him, your dad,
what makes you really mad about your dad, specifically?
[Paige] Dad.
Gimme what you got, baby girl.
[silence]
I was so happy... when you got out that first time.
Do you remember?
You finally came home, and you took me out of foster care
because I was gonna come live with you again...
and we were gonna go shopping and... get a dog.
But then... there was this woman,
and it was all Nadine this and Nadine that,
and then you just left me with her.
You left me with her.
So, when I see you two together,
I am right back in that moment where everything was great,
and then, suddenly, it all fell apart.
I am in that place where I know that my daddy loves me...
but he just keeps leaving me anyway.
So I stay mad at Nadine because I can't get mad at you
because I am so afraid that if I let you see how angry I am
that you will just leave me again.
There it is... There it is.
- [audience shouting] - [Little Paige screaming]
[Edwin yells]
Yes! Woo-hoo!
- [bell dings] - I won! I won!
Did you though, really?
[silence]
That was awesome. [sighs] I'm so fucking good at this, aren't I?
[gong rings]
[Nadine] Are sessions always like that?
Sometimes Murphy reads from his book, you know?
But... yeah, yeah.
I don't know how you do this every week.
- Nadine... - Hm?
...I feel like we need to take a step back, girl.
At least while I'm livin' with Paige.
I don't think your grown daughter should dictate what goes on in your life.
In a lotta ways, she ain't grown, Nadine.
Paige is stuck at age eight when I left her with you.
- Oh-- - Now you know her mama walked out
before she could lace up her shoes.
- I know. - Okay.
We don't know that kinda pain, Nadine,
and if ever I'm gonna, like, heal this family...
I gotta be a father first.
Father first?
- Yeah. - It's kinda hot.
- I'm trying to do the right thing, Nadine. - [softly] I know.
And right now, this feels--
It's for the best.
I gotta show up the way my family need for me to show up.
Your dad loves card games, like you...
and when you were four, he taught you to play Go Fish,
and with your little, tiny hands,
you could barely hold onto all the cards. [laughs]
And then he would go off on the road,
and you would come and say,
"Mommy, please, I wanna go fishing. Let's go fishing, let's go fish."
And you just always seemed so sad.
I just-- I don't want that to keep happening.
You know what Murphy would say?
Oh, what would Murphy say?
[imitating Murphy] Paige, darling Paige...
I wonder, is sad how Finn has always felt...
or is that how you have always felt?
- Oh! - Asking for a friend.
- Oh, [laughs] the shade! - [Finn laughs]
Murphy, where are your weird, dangling suspenders?
[laughs] I actually like the suspenders.
- No. - Yeah, they're kinda cool.
Finn...
I cannot keep you from your dad.
So, if you really...
wanna see him, then I will take you.
[♪ "Now That We Found Love" by The O'Jays playing]
Really?
Yes.
♪ Now that we found love ♪
♪ What are we gonna do with it ♪
- ♪ Sweet love... ♪ - ♪ Now that we found love ♪
♪ What are we gonna do with it ♪
♪ Let's give it a chance ♪
♪ Let it control our destiny ♪
♪ We owe it to ourselves to live happy eternally ♪
♪ Oh, love is what we've been lookin' for ♪
♪ And love is what we've been searchin' for ♪
♪ Now that I've got it right here in my hands ♪
♪ Seems like I'm gonna spread it all over the land ♪
♪ Now that we found love ♪
♪ What are we gonna do with it... ♪
[speaker] Woo-hoo!
[spray paint can hissing]