[♪ bright pop music playing]
Robe. Okay?
- Okay, so you want me to unfold this? - No, no, no, no, no.
Best part of goin' to LA: we don't pack coats.
Do you think my dad'll like me?
[chuckles] There's no way in the world he won't like you, Finn.
[exhales] I don't know, man. I'm a, I'm a little anxious.
- Yeah. - The last time I saw him was, like...
- forever ago, so. - Try to keep an open mind, Finn.
Your daddy invited you... so let's just see what he's about.
Yeah. Okay.
[Paige Alexander] Here's what I wanna get into today.
How do we raise kids with not-so-great co-parents?
[chuckles] Right? Like, how do we talk about the other person's "bad parts"?
'Cause we know we're not supposed to say anything negative
because that person is half of who our kid is,
and we don't want our kid to feel bad about 50% of who they are.
But the alternative is, I don't know, to not say anything?
Is that okay, to just not talk about the bad behavior?
Is that gaslighting? I-I don't know.
I don't have answers to any of these questions,
but I am putting them out there
because I think that I'm about to find out.
- [doorbell rings] - [clicks tongue]
- Hey. - Hey, I brought your dad's travel letter.
Oh, we were gonna pick it up on the way to the airport.
Well, you know, I was thinking,
and you and your dad probably have different ideas
about what constitutes being on time for a flight.
That is true, but he hasn't been to MSP
since it's been on all the "Top 10 Airport Travel Lists," so.
What other airport has a whole store dedicated
to the artist previously known as The Artist, formerly known as Prince?
- Exactly! Thank you. - [laughter]
I'll take the letter.
- Yeah, yeah, of course. - Thanks. Thank you.
- [Mal Kennedy] Oh. - [Paige] Oh!
- [Mal] Oh, shit. Sorry. - Oh. Oh, wow. Okay.
So, um... yeah, I'm-- I am feeling fine at the moment,
but I'm-- just am anticipating some gastrointestinal stuff,
so [stammers] you know, I just wanted to be prepared.
- You know how I am. - Paige, Paige.
- Uh-huh? - It's gonna be okay.
You got this.
- Okay? Yeah? - Yeah, I, I got this.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- [Paige] Okay. - [both chuckle]
Um, okay, I appreciate you.
- Bye. - Safe travels.
Maybe this isn't a good idea.
Finneas...
it's normal to be nervous.
We're Alexanders, and we don't run from our problems.
- Mm-hm. - You understand?
Plus, I'll be with you every single step of the way, son.
[♪ light piano music playing]
I just don't want Finn to get hurt.
Yeah, if my baby daddy was a one-hit wonder
who went on tour and basically never came back,
I'd strangle him with his guitar strap.
And yet, you gave him the record.
Esti, I can't-- I c-- I just have this Johnny-sized vault
where I keep all these feelings locked up inside.
When are you planning to tell Finn the legend of the roller blades?
[stammers] Never.
My son does not need to know his origin story.
No way! I mean, what kid doesn't wanna know he was conceived--
All of them! All of them don't wanna know, Esti.
Oh, sister girl, I am diggin' that new granny fit.
Thank you! It's my, uh, K-beauty starter kit.
- [Edwin Alexander] Oh. - Finn, I-I know this is a big deal,
- so I just wanna manage expectations-- - Mom, can you not?
Honey, I just want you to know that if it doesn't go exactly the way--
- Mom! - Yes?
- [softly] Boundaries. - Boundaries?
That is funny. When Finn uses therapy against you.
Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I feel it's funny when Finn uses therapy against you.
- [chuckling] - Is that better?
[laughs] Come on, let's go.
That was really funny. California!
- You know... - California!
"I-I feel" statements are proven to work.
- [Edwin] Oh, girl, come on. - [Paige] It's, it's really--
[♪ "Heavy, California" by Jungle playing]
- [Finn Alexander] Oh, is this it? - [Paige] This is the address.
It's a very, uh, swanky crib, though.
- [Paige] Yeah, I knew that Johnny... - Jesus Christ.
...had some success, but that was, like, 15 years ago.
[Esti Nelson] Paige, you need to be asking
- for a lot more child support. - Retroactively.
Okay, come on, let's go.
[quietly] Hey, Grandpa. Uh, can you go in first?
- I know you're nervous. - No, no, no.
'Cause, 'cause, 'cause you can talk to him, right?
And if it's goin' good, I'll jump in.
- Okay. Ho-Ho-Ho-H-Hold up. - Boom, boom, boom, boom.
You want me to talk to him?
It's your dad, Finn.
And I'm standin' here and I'm feelin' like...
I'm feelin' like I shouldn't go in at all.
But you said that you'd be there every step of the way.
But right now, I feel like I'll be in the way.
This whole trip, Finn, is for you to connect with your dad.
I can't do that for you. You need to do that on your own.
And by "on his own," I'm assuming you mean "with his mother,"
because he's not going in there by himself.
Uh, can I come? I-I-I really need to see that kitchen.
Babygirl, of course.
Finn, I know you got this. You can do this.
It's a big moment for you.
That's right. Shoulders back and head up.
You know who you are? An Alexander.
Um, Dad, what are you gonna do?
Edwin, come with me to my Korean meetup.
- I'm not Korean. - Well, neither am I. Well, sort of.
Yeah, that's-that's sort of the point. Come on, let's go.
- I'ma go with Esti. - Okay.
Also, try to keep an open mind.
That's my man.
Okay, babygirl.
You ready?
- Ready. - Okay. [exhales]
[♪ upbeat music playing]
Mom, this is crazy... Is it too late to leave?
No. Honey, take a deep breath. Okay? It's, it--
This is-- It's not gonna be bad, maybe.
- Why are you saying "maybe"? - Well, because maybe. It's fine.
- Would you stop saying "maybe"? - Honey, it's gonna be--
- It's actually not helping. - Hey.
What? Oh! [chuckles]
Oh. Your mom has shockingly excellent reflexes.
- [Finn chuckles] - [Paige] Johnny.
Is it really bad to say that hot girls drink Celsius, huh?
- Never mind. It is. - [Paige] Wow. [chuckles]
- Sorry. Look, I'm canceled. - Okay.
[exhales] Finn, good to see ya, dude.
Look, I know wh-- I know what you're thinking with all this,
but this is actually my wife, Lucy.
She's a, um, she's a potato chip heiress.
Yeah, eat one.
Oh, wow. Yeah, it's hard to stop once you start eating those.
[laughs]
[Johnny] Hey, Finn, if you come back,
we should go see one of their factories.
It's like, um, it's like Willy Wonka, but salty.
- Sounds cool. - Let's see how today goes.
Yeah. [chuckles]
Shit, I think I'm nervous. Are you nervous?
- Kinda. - [Johnny] Okay, good.
I mean, not good, but-- Let me think.
Uhh, how you been?
Since the last time I saw you?
- Since, like, third grade? - [laughs]
Um, I beat Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon.
- That's cool. That's-- No, I-- - [Finn] Um--
Hey, good job. Yeah, I like that.
- I mean-- - And then, um,
s-- uh, sorry, let me think.
- In the, uh, in fourth grade-- - Okay. So, when my dad was in prison,
um, we used to play cards on visiting day.
So, I brought cards, just to keep things from getting awkward.
Paige, I-I-I love how you're still totally Paige.
- [chuckles] - Uh, but this isn't prison
and also, things are already awkward.
Dude, you like video games?
Johnny, we didn't come all the way to California--
- I love video games. - [Johnny] Mm-hm.
- Okay. Yeah, yeah. Great. - He loves video games.
♪
What is this again?
Uhh, it's a meeting with my Facebook group of trans-racially adopted Koreans.
- Trans-racially adopted Koreans-- - Uh, basically, we were all adopted
by white families in mostly white towns
and we're not sure how we feel about it.
But... now that I'm here, I'm not sure if this is, uh, like,
betraying my parents or something.
[laughs] Betrayal? This ain't Hamlet, girl.
Sound to me like you're just tryna learn more about who you are.
Hamlet would probably be less drama.
You ain't got to go in there by yourself.
This'll be good practice for me.
You know, your sister, and it's understandable,
she doesn't always let me be her dad.
Ooh, you're like my temp daddy.
I think the technical term is "wing daddy." [laughs]
- [laughter] - Let's go!
- Okay. What do I do? - Just shoot.
- Okay. - Here we go. Go.
- Like that? - Yeah.
Look at you! Yes! Get this boy some camo.
[Finn] I mean, I-I don't really play shooters, but this is sick.
- Oh, yeah! You saw that? - Dude, you're good!
Hey, you know what we should do?
We should hit up the barcade. They've got all the good games.
- How long you here? - Oh, we leave tomorrow morning.
- Oh, damn. - [Paige] Yeah.
Yo, what are you doing for spring break?
Maybe you can come back, stay with us.
- What? - Yeah.
- That would be awesome! - Yes! Okay, good. We're doin' it.
- [Finn] Okay. Alright. - [Johnny] Alright. Alright, we're back in.
- Right there. Higher, higher, higher. - Okay.
- [guns shooting in video game] - [clears throat] Johnny, um...
- [Johnny] Reload, reload. - ...where's your bathroom?
Oh, uh, [stammers] through the kitchen and then go left.
- It's not working. How do I reload? - [Johnny] Right here. This button.
- [Finn] How do I reload? Oh, shit. - [Johnny] That button.
- [Finn mimics gunfire] - Oh, o-okay!
- Right there, right there, right there... - Mom, get out of the way. Bop!
- Bop, bop, bop! - Okay. You're good,
but you still have a lot to learn.
Hit this-- That's how you reload...
- [♪ quiet upbeat music playing] - [indistinct chatter]
[Hope] So, you're a newborn.
Uh, actually, I'm a full-grown adult,
but that new retinoid in my skincare routine's obviously working.
"Newborn" is what we call it when you're just starting the shitshow.
You don't have to do the Korean identity crisis alone.
I am questioning everything I thought was me.
Like, do I like kimchi or am I from Minnesota?
- Yes. [laughs] - Oh, that's good.
- Are you thinking of a name change? - Should I be?
[Seong-Ho] Yes, I used my middle name.
I didn't go to medical school just to spend my whole career being called
"Mister Doctor White People Name."
Uh, you know, if, if I changed my name, my parents would die.
Totally. I mean, my parents were not prepared to raise this face.
But your parents did alright.
I mean, you're a doctor.
That pocketbook, that seems pretty fancy.
- Thank you, uh-- - [Edwin] What I'm sayin' is
y'all turned out great, so maybe your parents did alright.
The Nelsons, they did alright by you.
Yes, my parents were great. Like, seriously awesome people,
so... why do I still feel... bad?
But it's about showin' gratitude for what we do have... right?
You are lucky they don't know how to speak Korean
or they'd be talking shit about you right now.
- Oh, shit. Okay, okay, okay. - [laughter]
Edwin just stepped in it, right?
- [♪ mellow music playing] - [Johnny] Looks good on you, man.
Alright, hold on. You wanna know the easiest chord?
E minor. Two fingers right here.
Boom, now hit it.
[strums chord]
- Nice. - Oh, that's so dope.
So, how's your mom?
She's good. Yeah.
Yeah, I really loved her, you know?
Okay.
So, Finn, is there anythin' you wanna ask me
or... or know about or... say?
I mean, even if it's, like, rage.
- No. No, not really. - No? Okay.
Okay, well, uh, maybe, maybe one thing.
- Yeah, go. - Um, do people ever, like, stress you out?
You mean, like, where, somehow, everyone else has the handbook for life
that you can't seem to download?
Yeah, because, like, my WiFi isn't fast enough.
[laughs] Bro, yeah. I mean, why do you think I'm on stage every night?
I get to be loved without having to interact with anyone.
- Damn. Cool hack. - But really, I'm on Lexapro now,
so it makes it possible for me to...
You know, actually, I'm still not really into people.
[Finn] Hm.
[Young Paige] How's your Johnny-sized vault holdin' up?
Can you believe this fool?
[mimics Johnny] "When's your spring break?"
I know. I just don't feel like I can say anything.
I am not gonna listen to this man build up all these expectations.
You need to stop him.
No, Finn needs to figure out for himself who his dad really is.
Does he, though?
I mean, isn't that the whole purpose of moms?
To tell people what the fuck is what?
[sighs]
[mimics gunshot]
[Johnny] Dude, you-you gotta come to one of my shows.
Backstage, kid. It'll be awesome.
Yeah. Yeah. Alright. That sounds cool, I guess.
Maybe you can even just, uh, come on tour with us.
- [Finn] Really? - [Johnny] Yeah.
- Wow. - I mean, I'm sure your mom
- won't let that happen. - [all laughing]
No, actually, I would never stop your dad from seeing you.
So, does that mean I can go?
- Mm, well, you have school, so-- - Oh, that's just like you, Paige.
The kid is 17 years old now, right?
I mean, he can miss a couple days of school.
Some things never change, I guess.
[Paige] What does that mean, Johnny?
That I'm still the only responsible parent?
And a humble one, too.
You know, I have never ever said
a single bad word about you to him, ever.
But... fuck it.
- Mom-- - [Paige] No.
Johnny... you are so fucking selfish.
You're irresponsible, you're immature.
You are promising the whole world to this kid.
- And Finn is not-- - I'm fine.
No, you're not fine, Finn! I'm sorry, but you are not.
You're anxious, and you just totaled the car,
and you have no idea what you're doing for college.
But some of that is on him because you weren't here, Johnny!
Paige, hey. We broke up, right?
- [Paige] Yeah. - Yeah. You came to my house
and fucked me one more time with your roller blades on.
- Oh, God. - [Johnny] Mm-hm, yeah...
- What? - ...you literally skated away with a baby.
- And I'm the irresponsible one? - Johnny! You are-- [stammers]
What? We got back together. We could've made it work.
No, Paige, you... could've made it work, maybe.
But you had to know that I couldn't.
Just admit that.
[sighs]
Well, I think we should go. Yeah.
Sure. Whatever.
- Thank you. - [Johnny] Yeah.
- Did it with roller blades on? - I'm not taking questions.
Girl, you didn't talk the whole way here.
[inhales] I'm, I'm not ungrateful.
- Okay. - I-I have gratitude,
but I think I figured out how I feel about being adopted by my parents.
- How is that? - Mad.
But it's not their fault, so I also feel guilty,
but I'm still pissed.
You have a right to be pissed, girl.
I mean, you probably have a whole bunch of questions
you'll never get answers to.
Yeah. Like, who are my birth parents?
Oh, what if I need a kidney someday?
Yeah, I feel you, I feel you.
[sighs] That meetup felt like going to a funeral of my white parts.
Like, RIP hiking, RIP Wes Anderson movies.
- Mm. - Thank you for coming with me.
You are welcome.
Ya know, it's still too risky for Paige to let me be there for her
the way you just let me be there for you.
It meant a lot to me, girl.
And we will find you a kidney if, God forbid, it ever gets to that.
'Cause I know a dude who knows a dude.
- [both laughing] - Oh, you're not kidding.
- [front door opens] - Uh-oh.
[Johnny] Hey, Finn.
It was, uh, it was, it was good seeing you.
- Yeah, you too. - Yeah.
Come here.
- Oh, okay. - Oh.
Okay. Thank you. [groans]
Hey, uh, Johnny... can I talk to you for a sec?
Edwin. Lookin' good, man.
You do not age. I mean, what?
I'ma blow past the niceties, Johnny,
'cause I got somethin' really important I gotta tell you.
Now, you know that I know what it's like
- to be a father who isn't fathering. - Wow. Really?
- Okay, no, no judgment. - Really?
I'm just saying, you got a really beautiful son right there
who needs you.
You know, there is just some things you can only get from your daddy.
So, you don't step up...
there'll be a part of Finn that's always missing, man.
Yeah. No, I-I get it, alright?
But you-you got outta prison, what, like, five minutes ago?
Are you really the one who should be tellin' me this?
Yeah, I am.
'Cause I just spent some time with a whole lotta people
who didn't know their parents, and they're all fucked up about that.
And I fucked up my own daughter bein' away so long.
Don't fuck up Finn, bruh.
[♪ "Solid Ground" by Michael Kiwanuka playing]
Okay... I'll-I'll come to Minneapolis at Christmas.
- How's that? - Yeah, that'd be a good start.
Great. Fine. Hey, done.
You know what? Don't tell me.
Tell Finn.
♪ I don't understand ♪
♪ Is it over? ♪
♪ Am I losing solid ground? ♪
♪ Solid ground ♪
[♪ smooth R&B music playing]
Hey.
Kimchi margaritas!
Oh! Because cocktails are the best way to start reclaiming your roots?
No, because since we've left Johnny's,
you've had an "I need tequila" look stuck on your face.
[groans] Oh, because my Johnny vault cracked wide open.
I said horrible things in front of Finn.
Maybe Finn needs to hear what you really think.
I don't know. I do know that what I saw
confirms that Johnny will never, ever, ever be the kind of dad
that Finn really needs.
Finn is fine now, but one day in his 40s,
he will cry his eyes out during Finding Nemo
- and have no idea why. - [both laugh]
I'm glad we went... I think.
Maybe? I don't know. Am I glad?
I'm glad a real-life doctor thinks I'm cute and wants to date me.
And he's long distance, so it's perfect for me.
That is perfect.
How does one say, "Get it, girl," in Korean?
- I don't know. - [both laugh]
- Well, that's your homework. - Okay.
You haven't said much about how your visit with your daddy went.
It was good. Mom got really mad, which was kinda funny.
[laughs] Yeah, I thought I saw steam comin' out her ears.
I don't think I've ever seen her like that.
[Edwin laughs]
Hey, Finn?
Your mama...
she really, really loves you, man.
Think your dad does too.
- I did what you said. - What's that?
- I kept an open mind. - Mm.
And, um, you were right.
I guess I do miss having a dad around.
I hope that dude finally steps up for you, man.
- Better late than never, huh? - Yeah.
[softly] There's just one thing that I don't get.
Why'd my mom wanna have a baby with a guy
that she knew wouldn't be around?
Why don't you go ask her?
[♪ "Learn to Love" by anaiis & Azekel playing]
- [knock on door] - [Finn] Hey, Mom.
Uh, can I ask you a question?
Sure, is it about your dad?
No, it's about you.
O-kay.
Why'd you wanna have a baby with him?
I mean, you guys are so different.
That's a really good question.
That's what you said when I asked where babies come from.
- It is? - Yep, which, I guess,
is kind of what I'm asking right now.
Oh, man.
I will never forget the day that I sat in Esti's apartment
in her pink-tiled bathroom and peed on that stick--
- Whoa. What? Mom. Whoa. - Y-- Oh, no, no, no. No, no, listen.
From the moment that plus sign appeared,
and I mean the very moment,
I knew that I wanted that kid more than anything.
I knew that I wanted you, Finn, more than anything.
And after you were born,
your dad and I, we did try to make it work...
but, I guess, I kinda always knew that it wasn't gonna last.
I mean, the guy carries a wallet chain.
Right? Is he scared of pickpockets or somethin'?
- I mean, he's scared of a lot. [laughs] - What a weird guy.
♪
I'm sorry that I kinda lost it.
No, it was awesome.
- Awesome? - You're the GOAT,
but, um, maybe things could be different.
Maybe.
I love you, Mom.
- I love you, too. - And I'm going to bed.
Okay. Good night. Good chat.
- Good chat. Good night. - Goodbye. [laughs]
- Don't say it. - I didn't say anything.
Okay, fine, say it.
You picked a man who did what you think all men do.
- What? Leave? - Oof.
- Fail? - Yep.
- Disappoint spectacularly? - Bingo.
[sighs]
I choose wrong every time.
Not every time.
Scroll down to the M's.
[chuckles] You'll thank me later.
[♪ "My Old Flame" by Billie Holiday playing]
♪ My old flame ♪
♪ I can't even think of his name ♪
♪ But it's funny now and then ♪
♪ How my thoughts go flashing back again ♪
♪ To my old flame ♪
♪ But I'll never be the same ♪
♪ Until I discover what became ♪
♪ Of my old ♪
♪ Flame ♪
[song fades out]
[spray paint can hisses]
[speaker] Woo-hoo!