This Is Us (2016–…): Season 5, Episode 1 - Forty: Part One - full transcript

Previously on
"This Is Us"...

Your life has really been

defined by your mothers.

The mother you lost at birth,

who was barely a footnote
in your story,

and the mother
who lied to you for 36 years.

I've been having
some memory issues lately.

They did diagnose me

with something called
mild cognitive impairment.

Don't you
think our amazing little man

deserves a sibling?



And the Pearsons have

a pretty good track record
with adoption.

I'm not gonna do that trial,
Randall.

Well, Mom, whatever you want
to do, that's what we'll do.

Mom,

you have to do
this clinical trial.

What did you say to Mom to
convince her to go to St. Louis?

I did whatever I needed to do

to give our mother
the best possible chance.

You'll never know
what it's like

to devote yourself to anyone
other than yourself,

and you'll pretend,
but it'll just be a performance,

a tired, stale performance,

like all of your performances.



You know, I used to think

the worst thing that happened
to me was the day that Dad died.

It's the day
they brought you home.

Hand to God, Randall, the worst
thing that ever happened to me

was the day
they brought you home.

This is really not a good time,
Madison.

I'm pregnant, Kevin.

It's twins.

Twins?

Wow.

What now?

I have no idea.

Feels like this is all happening
just as the world

is falling apart, you know?

The-the virus thing.

It's...

Madison, trust me.
I'm a movie star, okay?

I think if there was really
something to worry about,

my agent would've...

Huh.

My friend Daphne

says if you touch your face,

- you automatically get it.
- You might.

- Deja, come on.
- Hey, this thing is serious.

People need to wake
the hell up.

Okay, yeah. Understood.

But, Mom,
if you guys change your mind

and want to come stay here,
you..

Okay. I know.

Holy crap.

Hey, Mom, I'll call you later.

I love you.

Well, the clinical trial
is officially postponed.

After all that.

Thank God Mom and Miguel went
to the cabin before St. Louis.

She says she's comfortable.
She'll ride it out there.

Tom Hanks got it.

- Hanks got the corona?
- Hanks got the corona.

Oh, I got to call Kate.

- Randall...
- No, it's Tom Hanks, Beth.

She got to hear this from me.

People gonna wake up now.

Okay, back up.

I need you all the way out
on the lawn, Kev.

- All right, all right.
- Please.

Standing,
like, in the middle

- of the yard, Kate.
- Thank you.

And hi.

- Hey!
- Hey.

- What's up? Where's my handsome
nephew? - Stop.

He's getting his beauty rest.
Keep it down.

Oh. Right. Sorry.

Uh, well, hey, so,
I have some really big news.

Um... didn't seem
Zoom-appropriate.

Oh, it's a big one.

Yes! Just say it.
You're the new Batman.

No.

- No.
- What else

could it be?
What, did you start a tequila company?

Huh?
Did you get somebody knocked up?

Well...

Damn, Toby.

Uh...

Come on out.

Why is Madison
getting out of the car?

What is Madison doing here?

Why is M...

Madison, are you pregnant?

Kevin. Kevin. Kevin.

Kevin,
did you get Madison pregnant?

There's more.

So, it's twins.

What are these words

that you're saying right now?

What is happening?!

What is happening?
What's happening?

Kate, what's going on?
What are you feeling?

Um...

Well, I am feeling...

...like we need
a massive air hug right now.

- Madison.
- Let's hug it out.

Oh, my goodn... Congratulations!

Huh? It's good, right?

- Yeah.
- It's cool, right? - Yeah.

Ah.

She's pregnant.
It's twins. They're mine.

Congratulations.

Hey, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa. Uh-uh.

Rough day?

It's a nightmare out there.

We were handing out PPE
to all the residents

north of Girard and Ludlow,

but, uh,
there's just not enough.

Hmm.

Um, your sister called.

Everything's okay,
but she just found out

that her friend Madison...

You know, the blonde one?
Talks a lot.

- She comes over to family...
- I know who Madison is, Beth.

She's literally the only friend
in our entire family.

Well, Kevin knocked her up.

She's having a baby.

Babies.

Twins.

Officials in the
Seattle area are recommending... - So...

So, here's the talk...

what if I were to rent
a giant house,

and we quarantine together?

You would have your own wing.

Eh, nah.

Yeah, it's... that's... sorry.

That's crazy, you're right.

No. No, it's not. I mean,

God knows I could use the help,

but everything is upside-down,

and I feel like crap.

I mean, I'm comfortable here.

This is my home.

Yeah. Okay.

Yeah.

I mean...

I have a guest room.

- It's not big, but...
- I'll take it.

- Really?
- Yeah.

It's small,
but it's-it's pretty nice.

- Yeah?
- Yeah, I decorated it with, um,

stuff I got in Japan
when I did my junior year there.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Okay. Yeah, uh...

Perfect.

Eight minutes, Beth.

Eight minutes.

They kneeled on that man
for eight minutes.

How do you...

I can't even watch it.

It's too much.

It's too much.

Our food banks are overrun.

We're furloughing hundreds
of city employees a week.

Plus Beth's studio
is hemorrhaging cash.

It's...

We're managing.

So, how are you...

doing with everything else
going on in the world?

Randall, I...

I want you to feel comfortable

talking to me about anything.

Anything at all.

More protests
underway in cities large

and small,
bracing for movement...

street clashes last night,

turning violent
over an act of violence.

The death of a Black man
under the knee

of a white police officer.

Tonight, over a dozen states

are relying on
the National Guard to help...

It's my sister. Again.

Oh, Lord. Here we go.

It's pics from a march.

It's Jack's first protest.

Oh, and she wants to know
what Black cause

to donate to next, so...

Can we change the channel?

Please. Just for a minute.

Annie, you've got the conn.

- Muzzle.
- Muzzle.

You know, we all used
to watch this together.

- Hey.
- Hmm?

I was thinking.

Um, I know you're worried
about your mom

at the cabin, and your 40th
isn't too far off.

My grandparents used
to rent these campers,

drive cross-country
and change shifts.

We wouldn't have to fly
or stop in hotels.

We could take Kate
and Jack and Toby

if we all tested
and quarantined first.

Kevin, give me your hand.

- That's the babies.
- Yeah.

Oh, my God.

Oh, that's wonderful.

*THIS IS US*
Season 05 Episode 01

Episode Title: "Forty: Part One"

Another all-nighter, babe?

- It's your birthday.
- Yeah.

It's endless.

Got to Zoom-call some local
business owners in an hour

just so I can tell them their
loans are still being held up.

- Mm.
- Then I got to prep

for that rally
at the police station on Monday.

Hmm.

Check it out.

100% tremor free.

I'm doing two virtual sessions

with Dr. Leigh a week
just to be safe.

- Okay.
- Okay.

Well, then, uh, you know
what I was thinking?

Hmm.

It has been a while,
you know, since, uh...

...since we've had sex.

With all the stress of...
I don't know... the protests

and the masks
and the 'rona, the Karens,

my failing dance studio,

and our crumbling finances...

I hate that you're saying all
these things with a sexy voice.

- Mm-hmm.
- Um...

can I take a rain check?

I look like the damn car wash?

Please.

So what do you want
to do, then, today

for the birthday?

I'm not gonna ask you again if
you want to go up to the cabins

since the whole family
drove out.

Thank you, because I don't.

So what?

You haven't asked me
any questions,

you haven't dropped any hints.

Birthday's your thing, babe.

- Thanksgiving's my thing.
- Well,

you're a man of many things.

Oh, and a strictly-quarantined
Malik is coming over later.

It is him and Deja's
one-year anniversary.

I know. Just, don't ask.

All right, old man.

I'll meet you downstairs

for some birthday breakfast
at least?

Don't forget your dentures.

You know, for all I know,
today isn't even my birthday.

I mean,
we're supposed to believe

that a newborn baby made it
to a fire station,

to a hospital, and into a new
family's arms all in one day?

I'll never really know
what happened that day.

Laurel?

Quiet down now, son.

Let your mama get some rest,
hmm?

Laurel?

Hmm. Hmm.

Time to wake up, beautiful.

Baby?

Baby?

Carter's a good enough man,

- but he not riding for us.
- Thank you.

We need to do like

- Charlene Mitchell did.
- What? Lose an election?

At least she tried.

Get your lady, man.

She's on that communism talk
again.

Yeah, Laurel doesn't need
getting, trust me.

Mm, that's right, baby.

You know I'm talking sense, Erv.

We're dying out here.

Look what the Feds did
with heroin.

They brought it into our
neighborhoods to keep us down.

God knows they're good at that.

- Mm-hmm.
- Hell,

I've battled with that stuff.

I'm battling it now.

- Hmm.
- Uh-uh. Uh-uh. Uh-uh-uh.

- Since when?
- Since now.

- Hmm.
- I'm pregnant.

Wow.

Someone unpause this man,
please.

Oh.

Oh!

- Mmm.
- ♪ Think about tomorrow ♪

♪ Not today... ♪

Help! Somebody help me, please!

Hey, you need help?

No, I'm okay.

Oh. Oh. Give me that.

I got it. Oh!

- Oh.
- Okay.

Water's broke,
and let's go have some babies.

I got everything that we need

right here in this bag
from this list.

You have
their going-home outfits?

Oh, yeah. Three onesies,
locked and loaded.

- Butt cream?
- I put some on this morning.

Do not be funny right now.

I have the butt cream
the doctor recommended.

It's in the bag, okay?

Okay,
do you also have the, um...?

Babe, babe, look,
I-I got a list.

And look
at all those check marks.

I got everything
that you need, okay?

I've got... I've got a-a blanket

just in case you get cold.
Here, come on. Let's go.

I got a T-shirt just in case...

in case you're hot.

Oh, babe, I brought...
I brought a razor

just in case you decide

that you hate my beard
and you want me to shave.

- I love your beard.
- I know.

I would never ask you
to shave your beard.

That's great news. Come on.

- If I ever did, though...
- Uh-huh.

...promise me
you won't leave a mustache

- or one of the, uh, the half beard...
- A goatee?

- Ugh.
- I give you my word.

I will never, ever have
a mustache or a goatee.

Okay. Let's go have some babies.

Let's go have some babies.

- Good morning.
- Morning. -

You know, no matter what I do,

I can't get that apple tree
to come back to life.

Mm. Yeah. I think I might have
to George Washington that bitch.

You know, if we plant a sapling,
we could have fresh apples

- in, what, two years?
- Absolutely.

- Yeah.
- Mm.

Oh, the kids slept in.

- Yeah, just like old times.
- Yup.

Except now they're 40.

I cannot believe they're all 40.

I know. Wow.

I can't believe
that Randall's not here.

All right,
Jack is down for the count.

Good God.
40 looks good on you.

- Thanks, babe.
- All right.

I hate this.

Without Randall.

So I've decided
I'm gonna call him,

and I'm gonna call him with Kev.

I don't care
what's going on with them.

Hey, we need
our classic Big Three call,

and we need our classic
Big Three birthday chant.

Yeah. "And Dad said, 'Whee!'"

I do not like when you do that.

- Hey, good morning, guys.
- Good morning.

Good morning.

There she is... birthday girl.

Yeah.

Any word on the adoption yet?

Mom, it's not Amazon.

Plus, we just uploaded
our online video.

Well, I-I don't know.

It was so easy with Randall.

You know, we took you three home
the same day.

That was 40 years ago.

I'm pretty sure
that would be kidnapping now.

All right, so I'm planning on

making all of
your favorite dishes,

including
the seven-layer lasagne

that you used to love...
From memory, I might add.

Okay, Rebecca, I see you.

I don't know
what it is, you guys.

Maybe it's the... the fresh air
and being here at the cabin

or the medicine
that Dr. Whitaker put me on,

but I just... I feel like magic.

I could do without
this poison ivy, though.

No one... touch my vegetables.

- Okay?
- Okay.

What?

Ooh.

Are Kev and Madison
still asleep?

Okay, nope. Still feels weird
to say that out loud.

Maybe we should try "Kadison."

- Nope.
- Mm-mm.

That feels weird, too.

I got to tell you, I am
all about this rustic lifestyle

and all but, there is something
to be said for water pressure.

You know what I mean?

You all right?

I was getting out of bed,
and, um,

I didn't see the suitcase.

I fell, Kevin, on my stomach.

I haven't felt them move
in, like, 20 minutes,

and they... they normally
don't stop moving.

Kevin, I'm sorry.

No. Hey. No, no, no,
that's not your fault.

And everything's gonna be okay.

No, something's not right.

I want to go get checked out.

Is that okay? Is-is there
a place that we can go?

Yeah, yeah. Of course.
I'll, uh...

- Want me to get Kate or...
- No, don't.

I am... I'm freaked out.

Just... just us, okay?

One, two, three, four, five.

One, two, three, four, five.

One, two, three, four, five.

- One, two, three...
- ♪ And why ♪

♪ Should the shadows... ♪

Mahalia Jackson.

"His Eye Is on the Sparrow."

It was important to me.

After my brother died, I...

♪ Feel lonely ♪

I don't like to talk about
that part of my life.

That part of my life
before here, before you.

I know.

Thanks for never pushing.

Doesn't mean I'm not interested.

I know.

So, I've been thinking,

and I got some exciting things
to tell you.

- You ready?
- Mm, I am.

So, I've been thinking

about what we gonna do
before he comes.

I'm gonna go up

for the assistant manager job
at the store.

Erv is gonna put in a good word,
and I'm gonna get it.

And we're gonna save up
our money

and get out of this apartment,

with the AC that somehow
never works but always drips.

You want to know
where we gonna go?

- I do...
- Two floors up!

The empty two-bedroom

with the giant window
that catches the light.

He needs to have a window.

So... what do you think?

I think...

I love you.

♪ He cares ♪

Sir.

- Sir.
- One, two, three, four, five.

Do you remember
when she took the narcotic?

- Even just a ballpark.
- One, two, three, four, five.

- Sir, are you high right now?
- One, two, three,

- four, five.
- Yesterday.

Last night. Um...

She was clean... with the baby.
I, uh...

- We didn't go to the hospital.
- One, two, three, four, five.

He just came so fast,
and she was in so much pain.

Is sh-she gone?

I-Is she gone?

- One, two, three, four, five.
- Joel.

Joel, leave her.

Mark the time and call it in.

Need to call the cops and Child
Services, too. This is a mess.

Sir, we're gonna need you
to wait here.

Where'd he go?

Let the cops figure out
what to do about that.

Gonna be okay, son.

Daddy has everything
under control.

It's going to be okay.

And flour.

- Baking soda.
- Right, right.

Mix. We got salt.
We have butter.

All right.
How's it going, ladies?

How's his birthday cake coming?

Uh, we just starting.

So, this is for real?

The entire family
is an hour and a half away,

but we aren't going
to the cabin?

Just leave it alone, okay, Tess?

- Please.
- He's my uncle

and I'm close with him,

and I have a right
to know what's going on.

Or maybe you could just leave it

and, you know, be here
for your dad on his birthday.

Oh, please.
You just want to spend

your anniversary here
with Malik.

- Hey. - You know what?
- Hey, girls.

Enough.

40 ingredients
for your 40th birthday.

Try it.

Okay.

Hmm.

Is that, uh...

Tarragon, yeah.

40 ingredients is no joke.

It's delicious.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

Happy birthday, Dad.

Happy birthday, old man.

Thanks, guys.

Glad to be spending it
with my favorite people.

I will be outside

returning some e-mails,
if you need me.

- Just need some air.
- Mm-hmm.

It's not just me, right?

Oh, no.
No, he's jacked-up, for sure.

Hey, guys.

Oh, wow.

This looks so good.

Um, I'm just gonna...
pop into town,

do a quick errand.

Oh, cool.
Do you want some company?

No, no. I'm good.

It's a short walk.
I do it all the time.

Mom.

Kate.

Can I please go buy my kids
a surprise birthday cake in peace?

- Are you sure?
- Yeah, I'm sure.

Your cell phone charged?

Yes. Cell phone's charged.

- Good.
- Mm.

- Have fun.
- Thank you.

Bye.

See ya later.

What? Doctors all say

that it's important for her
to remain independent.

And we have a system, so...

Now it's tree chopping time.

Hmm?

See you guys.

Okay.

This is taking too long.

There's something wrong.

Yeah. Well, um,
you know, we're at an...

an urgent care facility
in the middle of nowhere, right?

It's not exactly Seattle Grace.

Grey's Anatomy.

- Hi, guys.
- Hi.

I'm Dr. Gibson.
I'm the OB on call.

I'm up to speed.

We're still running your blood.

I'm just gonna take
a quick look, if that's okay.

Okay.

- Twins, huh?
- Mm-hmm.

Do you know the sexes yet?

Um, we're waiting.

Always more fun.

Okay.

So, I'm only getting
one heartbeat.

Oh, God.

Let's not panic.

I want to do
a vaginal ultrasound

so I can really see
what's going on.

I'll be right back.

Do not jump to conclusions.

William?

Excuse me.

William, it's Re...

I was generous with peppers.

They both gone.

Just like that.

How you get arrested
for handing out flyers?

I know.

But Erv is strong.

And Grace is, too.

We're gonna sort out their bail.

How?

I didn't get the manager job.

They gave it to somebody else.

Ashley.

Who doesn't need the money
and who couldn't give a crap.

- I wanted that apartment.
- I know.

He's not gonna have
the window with the light.

He's gonna have us.

It's gonna hurt, you know.

I don't do well with pain.

I'm gonna be holding your hand
the whole way.

I'll save this for later.

Hey, you.

Mr. Pearson.

Hey, Malik.

You in trouble?

Uh, y-you're sitting outside.
That's usually

my dad's move when
he's in trouble with my mom.

- No, man. I'm not in trouble.
- No? Okay.

What you got there?

Oh, uh, just burgers.

I wanted to recreate the meal

that I had with Deja
first time we met.

- Very smooth.
- I try.

Happy birthday, by the way.

Thank you.

Y-You okay? We've been talking
for, like, a minute

and you haven't cracked
a single wack dad joke.

Ha-ha-ha-ha.

Just got a lot on my mind, man.

Well, uh...

they say check on
your strong friends.

- Checking.
- We're not friends, Malik.

You're my daughter's...

Your daughter's...?
Come on. You can say it.

You're my daughter's boyfriend.

Mm.

I see, uh, you and your family

have been out there
demonstrating.

Deja showed me some pictures.

Yeah. Um...

Actually...

this was Wednesday.

Daycare was closed, so, uh,

we just decided
to take Janelle with us.

Good for you.

Did you watch
when it came out?

The video?

Of George?

Yeah.

Yeah, I watched it
with my dad, actually.

We took a walk, right after.

That's kind of our thing now.
That's what we do.

Started after Trayvon Martin,
and...

just been taking walks since.

You ever heard of Jonny Gammage?

I don't think so. Who's that?

He was the cousin of Ray Seals.

Ray was a former defensive end
for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Anyway,

Jonny was 31.

He was driving home one night
in a fancy car.

Cops tried to pull him over
for an expired registration.

He ended up getting pinned down

by five of them
for "resisting arrest."

He died right there.

Damn.

Damn is right.

You know,
growing up the way I did...

...I always felt like

when stuff like that
happened in the world,

it always stayed
outside the house.

There were no walks.

Maybe it was too much for them;
I don't know.

But when Jonny was killed,
I was older

so I watched it on my own.

For a kid to be
all alone with that,

it was a lot.

I've never said that out loud
to anyone before.

Why not?

Well...

it turns out you are
my best friend, Malik.

But you're also
my daughter's boyfriend.

- Mm-hmm.
- And you can't be both.

You're gonna have to choose.

And not to tip the scales,
but I can drive.

And Deja cannot.

There's the dad joke I was
waiting on. - Ah...

Get out of here.

Go, go, go.

- Good to see you.
- See you, too, man.

What can I get you, some water?
Want some water?

It's just a cramp.

- I'm okay.
- Okay.

Okay.

Hey, you know, the doctor said
it might be good to move around,

- you know, like walk a little?
- Yeah.

Hey, babe, could you
get the radio?

I'd love to hear some music.

- Okay? Thanks.
- Yeah.

- What?
- I forgot the radio.

- Oh, it's fine, babe.
- Oh, God.

No, you said you needed music.

H-How could I not
put that on the list?

I-I had a list. It's just...

I'm gonna find you one.

- Jack...
- Don't go anywhere.

He's been like this all day.

Yeah, all month actually.

Anxious is a very strange color
on my husband.

I bet you must see
a lot of that in here, huh?

Anxious fathers
in a maternity ward?

No, never.

Hmm.

Their whole lives,
they're told to be men.

To be...

in control, to act like a man,
take it like a man.

And then...

all of this happens, and

it must make them feel so...

Useless?

Yeah.

Madison, do you trust me?

Despite all my broken parts,
you...

...you believe in me?

I do.

I think it
takes a lot of strength

for them to show us this side
of themselves.

To let us see the...
scared little boy who existed

before the world told him
he had to be a man.

The little boy who once
only needed his mommy.

Our babies are gonna be fine.

They're gonna be fine.

And I know that sounds crazy,
but I can see it.

We're gonna have two beautiful,

healthy babies,
and they're gonna be amazing.

And we're gonna be
amazing parents.

Together.

And the hell with it,
I say we just get married.

Let's shock the world
and get married.

We'll live happily ever after,
all that, just...

I can't tell
what you're thinking.

I wonder if we'll have sons.

I hope they're
like their father.

Doctor, Hey.

This will only take a second.

There we are.

As expected, two heartbeats,
very strong.

Well, that was
unnecessarily exciting.

I just want to say that
I don't see them.

Your broken parts
that you asked me about before.

I mean...

I get what you mean
when you reference them...

The vanity, the... narcissism,

- the weird obsession with Chris Evans.
- It's not...

- Just stay on point, though.
- Oh, okay, um...

No, I...

I just feel like
those aren't broken parts.

I just feel like they're...

parts of you.

And I think you are
pretty fantastic, Kevin.

So, yeah.

I free you from your...

kind of sweet...

kind of bizarre...

"Jerry Maguire at the U-Haul,"
what-if marriage proposal

that you made after we thought

I killed one of our babies
by falling over a suitcase.

And...

scene.

Yeah, I don't think
I'm gonna take it back.

Kevin.

Unless you want me
to take it back.

I mean, I'm not gonna
make you take it back.

Unless you want to take it back.

Well...

...there you have it.

What?

I-I have no idea.

I have no idea.

Sounds like us.

- William?
- Mm-hmm?

If I can't become
the mother that he deserves...

Oh, stop that.

You can and you will.

But if I can't...

...promise me
you'll make him a family.

Promise me.

Yeah.

Can you point me towards
the nearest hospital?

I can't...
His number's in my phone,

and I need my phone to call him.

I need to call my son.

Hi.

Can I borrow this?

Sync corrections by srjanapala