9-1-1 Nashville (2025) s01e11 Episode Script
Don Begins
1
- [SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
- [DISTANT DOG BARKING]
[BABY CRYING]
Mom, Dad!
Megan's crying.
[CRYING CONTINUES]
I think she's hungry.
Mom?
Fine.
[EXHALES] I'll just feed her.
- [FLAMES WHOOSHING]
- [GASPS]
- Mom! Dad! The house on fire!
- [CRYING CONTINUES]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Megan, I'm coming!
[CRYING CONTINUES]
I got you, Megan.
I'm gonna wrap you up, okay?
[BOTH COUGHING]
Mom! Dad! We're in here!
[COUGHING]
[INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[COUGHING CONTINUES]
[FLAMES WHOOSHING]
[FIREFIGHTER] We got one back here!
We got you, kid.
[MONITOR BEEPING]
[MEEMAW] I can sit with him.
I'm the neighbor.
- [HOSPITAL PHONES RINGING]
- [INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT]
You don't recognize me, do you?
I just moved in next door
to y'all with my granddaughter.
She's the one who called 9-1-1.
How you holding up?
The doctors told me they all died.
Even my baby sister.
I'm so sorry.
Where do I go now?
I got nobody.
Well, social workers are on their way.
Oh, we'll, we'll, we'll stay
with you till they get here.
Here.
It's hot chocolate.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
[CHUCKLES] Ain't you gonna
introduce yourself?
I'm Dixie.
I'm Don.
[LIGHTER CLICKING]
Hey.
Did you sleep at all?
He sent another letter.
[DON GRUNTS]
You finally gonna read this one?
No.
Parole hearing's next week.
[BLYTHE HART] I know, honey.
I'm sure he's just begging for leniency.
Hoping to breathe a little free air
before he croaks.
How does that make you feel?
Angry.
Ashamed.
Ashamed? Why?
'Cause if I hadn't choked
at his original sentencing hearing, I
he would never have been up
for parole in the first place.
[BLYTHE] You didn't choke.
You had a panic attack.
That's not your fault.
[SCOFFS]
I let my family down, and no one
ever got to hear their story.
No one ever got to hear
how much they meant to me.
So, is that what you're
planning on doing now?
Yeah. If I can keep myself
from passing out.
I had another one at the firehouse.
A panic attack? When?
[DON HART] It was last night.
It was fine, Rox was there for me,
and thank God no one else saw it.
Oh, Donnie, I-I wish that
you would not think of it
like it's this dark secret.
It is.
I ask these people every day
to follow me into fire.
What are they supposed to think
if they hear that I couldn't even
They would think that you were human.
I mean, it might even be good
for them to see it.
For you to be seen.
No one needs to see this.
It just bothers me this whole
thing is coming up again.
You know, I
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
The pain and the rage. I
I just wanna make sure that this time
the world hears the story.
I understand.
But I don't think
that the rage and pain is coming back.
I-I think it's just
coming back to the surface.
So, what are you saying?
I'm saying that I think
it's always been there.
And maybe this could be
a good opportunity to,
to free yourself.
By freeing him?
He started a fire under my parents'
bedroom over an unpaid debt.
He He killed my family
over two grand.
You wouldn't be doing it for him.
It would be for you.
[DON SIGHS]
Whatever you decide to do,
you know that you have my full support.
I know.
Thank you.
[BLYTHE] That said,
do you know what Pastor Rick
says about grudges?
It's like drinking poison
and hoping to kill someone else.
Yeah, well, if it means
he dies behind bars,
I'm actually okay with that.
Get your hands off me, pig!
- Watch your mouth, punk.
- You know what?
Why don't y'all spend your time
catching real criminals?
That's 'cause drunk
knuckleheads are easier to catch.
Oh, so he's a funny pig, too.
Call me that again
and see what happens to you.
[PRISONER] Don't.
- [DON] What?
- Call him a pig again.
Or you'll be fishing your teeth
out of that commode over there.
What you in for, handsome?
Bar fight.
Eh, some idiot put "Who Let
the Dogs Out" on the jukebox.
[CHUCKLES] Sounds like
you did the public a service.
So, I take it you're
a frequent flyer around here?
I don't mean to brag, but, uh
[SUCKS TEETH]
they wanna give me a punch card.
- I'm Don.
- Dixie.
[DON] Dixie?
Hey, you didn't used to
live out on Oak Road, did you?
Next to a house that burned down?
I sure did.
Oh, my God.
You're Don Hart.
And you're Dixie Bennings.
- How about that?
- Wow.
What are you doing tomorrow, Dixie?
- Depends.
- [DON] On what?
What time they let us out.
There's no mystery ♪
Is there a sadder place
than a honky-tonk at 8:00 a.m.?
I like it.
Don't end up here unless
you got a story to go with it.
I mean, look at her.
I bet she's got a good one, right?
There's no mystery ♪
What are you scribbling?
Inspiration for later.
What are you, a writer or something?
Songwriter.
So, you sing too?
Yeah. Just never in public.
I get anxiety.
Well, you know, stage fright
never killed nobody.
Oh, I could think of something that has.
You a smoker, Don?
No.
Then why would you monogram
your initials on a lighter?
They're my dad's.
Donald Hart, Senior.
This was the only thing
that survived the fire.
Kind of ironic, ain't it?
They ever catch
the sumbitch who done it?
[DON] Nope.
- You wanna know the worst part?
- [DIXIE BENNINGS] Hmm?
They got a box full of evidence
gathering dust in some warehouse.
That's usually what happens
when you come from where we do.
Yeah.
[BARSTOOL THUDS]
Hey!
Watch where you're going.
- [SCOFFS]
- You bumped into the lady here.
- You got a problem?
- Yeah, I guess that depends
- if you apologize.
- [DIXIE CLEARS THROAT]
The lady can speak for herself.
So, mosey on along, tough guy.
♪♪
Got a temper on you, huh, Don?
You ever think about taking a swing
at what you're really mad at?
And what's that?
Fire.
Be a fireman.
Put all that rage into something
that won't get you locked up
or your brains bashed in.
You know, I've actually
thought about that
ever since that night.
But what's the point when we both know
it always falls apart in the end?
True.
But I'd bet it'd be one hell of a ride.
Besides, I bet you would look
damn sexy in that uniform.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
♪♪
Okay, Dix.
- [DIXIE] Hmm?
- I'll do it.
[DIXIE] Mm!
- [DON] On one condition.
- What's that?
You take a ride with me.
If I make it through
the academy, you start singing.
Stage fright be damned.
Deal?
Done, Don.
Us against the world.
[SCOFFS] What did you just call me?
I said "Done, Don," why?
I thought you said DonDon.
And my mom used to call me DonDon.
[DIXIE] Then it's meant to be.
Well, DonDon
you just made yourself
a deal with the devil.
[BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
To the ride.
- [BOTTLES CLINK]
- [LAUGHS]
- [MELLOW GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING]
- [DISTANT SIRENS WAILING]
[TOWEL SQUEAKING]
[INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT]
Probie. Come here.
What's up, LT? Is there a problem?
Yeah, I want you to look at this
and I want you to tell me
what you don't see.
Tell you what I don't see?
[RYAN HART] Mm-hmm.
I got nothing.
Taylor.
- [TAYLOR THOMPSON] Hmm?
- What do you think?
♪♪
- No, I don't see it.
- [RYAN] Hmm.
You two are evil.
- Y'all are messing with me.
- No.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
Take a nice, close look.
I promise you won't see it.
Can I have a hint?
Hmm what color don't you see?
- That's good.
- White green blue?
Oh!
- Blue.
- [RYAN] Blue.
- Oh, Blue!
- [RYAN] Blue!
[BLUE BENNINGS] I don't see
myself in the reflection.
No, you do not.
[RYAN] Wash it again.
[DON] Uh, Ry, Taylor, since y'all
are so generous with your feedback,
you can help him finish.
[WHIMSICAL MUSIC PLAYING]
- Okay.
- Yes, Cap.
Rox, can I, uh, have a word with you?
Sure, Cap.
Step into my office.
So, it's about that
[SIGHS] thing the other night.
[ROXIE ALBA] Cap!
Yeah. You feeling okay?
Yeah. So far, so good.
I just, I don't want it to happen again.
The department has
some great therapists on staff.
I-I don't have time for that.
I have to make a victim impact statement
at a parole board hearing.
I'm sorry, but there's no magic pill.
Panic attacks are a trauma response.
[SIGHS DEEPLY]
Every time I picture myself
going in that room, my jaw clenches.
I feel the rage boiling, and I just
I try and fight it, but
Your body shuts down.
[SIGHS]
Behavioral therapy can work wonders,
even in a short amount of time.
Helped me a lot after everything
I went through when I was younger.
One thing I learned,
the first and most important step
to controlling trauma is naming it.
- What?
- Good news is,
you don't have to say anything
to anybody.
You can write it down.
You're talking about journaling?
Yeah. I thought
it sounded silly too, but
it was a lifesaver.
Where would I even start?
At the beginning.
Okay, there's no AC,
the elevator's busted,
and whatever you do,
do not flush the toilet
and run the shower at the same time.
Any questions?
Uh, you said it's $300 a month?
Cash only.
I'll leave you lovebirds to discuss.
I hate it.
Come on, it's right off Broadway.
The Honky-Tonk Highway.
It's a dump, Don.
Hey, this is better than any place
I've laid my head in the last ten years.
That ain't a high bar.
Hey, this is all
part of the ride, right?
Wherever we can be together,
that's where we're gonna be happy.
Uh, what about all the times
we ain't together?
Well, you're gonna be working
24-hour shifts at the firehouse,
I'm gonna be singing nights.
Then let's make a promise
to each other right now
to always show up for each other.
I'll be there for your shows
in the evenings
and you see me off in the mornings.
No matter how busy or tired we get.
That's the deal.
You and me against the world.
You and me against the world.
We'll take it!
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
Alright, everyone, I want you
to welcome our new probie.
Donald Hart.
Now, there's one unbreakable rule here.
Until you can fold the hose
into a hotel pack,
load it on my truck in under a minute,
you cannot use the hose.
Understood, sir.
So are you ready?
Oh, I'm not ready.
I feel like I'm gonna die.
You get nervous, just look at me.
I'm right here.
Here goes nothing.
Go!
[UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES]
[GRUNTS]
- [TIMER BEEPS]
- Not bad, Probie.
- Thank you, sir.
- Not good either.
Two minutes, fourteen seconds.
- [ALARM RINGING]
- That's us, 113! Let's move!
- Damn!
- [BAKER] Come on, Probie.
- [RINGING CONTINUES]
- Showtime.
[GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING]
Underneath cathedral stars ♪
We were saints and thieves
with untainted hearts ♪
And every breath we breathed
was a silent prayer to stay ♪
[PATRON] [LAUGHING] Okay. Yeah.
We made a love ♪
- That set the world on fire ♪
- [PATRONS CHATTERING]
- Turned all our critics ♪
- Hey!
- [POUNDS FIST]
- Come on, the lady's singing.
We burned up the night
and never looked away ♪
[SIRENS WAILING]
That kind of crazy ♪
Baker, Briggs, I need you to get out
that inch-and-three-quarter line,
start hosing this thing down.
Oh, wild things run ♪
Oh, wild things run ♪
If the angels start to weep,
then we'll know ♪
Hey, Cap, where do you want me?
Crowd control.
Oh, oh, oh, wild things run ♪
Welcome to the big leagues.
Oh, wild things run ♪
They'll stumble in the dark ♪
Just to chase a morning sun ♪
[DIXIE VOCALIZING]
- [TIMER BEEPS]
- Minute, seven seconds.
Best one yet, Probie.
I'm Margo.
- [CORK POPS]
- [BOTH] Whoo!
- I got a manager!
- I told you.
You are gonna be famous.
and the silence started to betray ♪
Every road that lay ahead ♪
- [ALARM BEEPING]
- Was crumbling dust ♪
- [DON GROANS]
- [DIXIE] Rise and shine.
[DON] Dix, what is this?
[DIXIE] Steak and eggs.
Need to fuel up, fireman.
Now we hum the tune
but we forgot the song ♪
Every diamond that we made
had turned to rust ♪
- Come on!
- [TIMER BEEPS]
- 2:52.
- [SIGHS]
Going in the wrong direction, Probie.
If there's a God up there to trust ♪
[SIREN WAILING, HORN BLARING]
Ricardo, run attack lines,
knock down these flames.
Cap! What about me?
Crowd control.
I hope he is as wild as us ♪
Alright, folks, back up, alright?
Give us a little bit of room, okay?
It's a public street.
I'm just taking some pictures
for my blog.
We're fighting a fire here.
They're fighting a fire.
You're just being a goon.
- I said back up!
- [CAPTAIN FOSTER] Hart! Hart!
You've been showing up tired, hungover.
Temper on a hair-trigger.
Listen, I know you've had
a hard shake in life.
Now you wanna keep
being angry at the world
and making things worse,
or do something about it
and make it better?
Better, sir.
Hey, Dix.
If it's alright with you,
I might skip tonight.
Of course.
Get some rest, DonDon.
[INSTRUMENTAL POP MUSIC PLAYING]
Oh, wild things run ♪
To kingdom come ♪
They'll stumble in the dark ♪
- Just to chase a morning sun ♪
- Go!
Oh, wild things run ♪
Oh, wild things run ♪
[VOCALIZING]
- [TIMER BEEPS]
- Forty-eight seconds.
Yeah!
- Yes!
- [ALL CLAPPING]
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
Hey, Dix
it finally happened.
What happened?
Captain Foster let me use the hose.
[DIXIE CHUCKLES]
It was just a little brush fire, but
Why is your suitcase out?
'Cause I'm packing it.
Packing for what?
Rome. Paris.
I forget after that, but, um
I'm going on tour.
You're kidding! Dix, that's amazing!
[DIXIE CHUCKLES]
But how? You haven't even
cut your first record yet.
Oh, the label has me backing Faith Hill.
You're gonna be a backup singer?
Don't say it like it's some dirty word.
Is this what you really want?
To travel the world,
getting paid to do what I love?
Hell, yeah.
Okay.
How long are you gonna be gone?
Nine months.
Could be a year.
I'm sorry, when were you gonna tell me?
Telling you now.
Okay, so what does that mean for us?
[SOFT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
We always knew this ride
wasn't gonna last forever.
So, that's it?
What happened to "us against the world"?
We made a We made a promise
to each other, Dixie.
We've been breaking promises
for a while now.
"To always be there for each other,
no matter how busy or tired we got."
You made that promise, right?
Yeah, you're right.
It was fun
while it lasted.
Yeah.
And
who knows?
Maybe one day the universe
is gonna bring us back together.
Whatever you say, Dix.
[SOFT POP SONG
PLAYING FAINTLY OVER SPEAKERS]
[DIXIE] DonDon.
Dix. Wha What are you doing here?
My, uh, vocal surgeon's
across the street.
Just had my last preop.
Well, of all the cafés
I mean, you know, the universe
always brings us back together.
So, what are you grinding so hard on?
Oh, it's, uh, it's stupid.
I mean, don't tell me
you're song-writing now.
No, it is a, uh a trauma journal.
Oh. Alright.
I'm definitely sitting down
for this one. [CHUCKLES]
[DIXIE CLEARS THROAT]
Andrew Clarke
has his first parole hearing
- coming up this week.
- [DIXIE] You're kidding.
I can't believe
that murdering son of a bitch
could actually go walking free.
I'm trying to make sure
that doesn't happen,
but in order to do that,
I have to make
a victim's impact statement.
Without keeling over again.
A friend of mine told me the best way to
deal with trauma is
just to write it down
so it doesn't overwhelm you
in the moment, so
- How's that going for ya?
- Uh, it's not.
[CHUCKLE SCOFFS]
No, every time I start to
put down a memory, I [EXHALES]
I feel the rage come back and
and it all just goes
It's just all, it's all fuzzy.
I don't know.
And you always did have
a temper on you, DonDon.
But I think the problem now is that
[TENSE MUSIC BUILDING]
that it's just too painful.
Maybe.
You need to face this
before you get into that courtroom
and it comes out
and knocks you flat on your ass.
Well, how am I supposed to face
something I can't even remember?
You want this piece of crap
to pay for what he's done to you.
I mean, you want him to suffer
like you've suffered
to his dying breath?
More than anything.
Then let me remember for you.
[SIGHS]
I remember waking up
to get a glass of water
when I heard a scream.
[YOUNG DON]
Mom! Dad! The house is on fire!
God, like no other scream
I've heard before.
Uh, Dix. Please
It's the only way, DonDon.
I remember hearing the baby's cry.
[MEGAN CRYING, ECHOING]
Okay, could you please stop?
[DIXIE] Most of all
I remember that look
on that little boy's face
in the hospital when he just realized
he had no family to go home to.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
♪♪
Now, write.
[SNIFFLES, SIGHS]
- [DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
- [SIRENS WAILING]
Hey, Baker, I want two-inch-
and-three-quarter lines
up five minutes ago.
Alright, let's go!
Let's knock these flames down.
With me, Probie.
You got it.
[NEIGHING WILDLY]
Come on, come on, come on.
Y'all gotta get out of here. Come on!
[HORSE NEIGHS]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES]
[VICTIM COUGHING]
Come on, come on.
I got all the horses out of the barn,
but the fire just got so big.
Okay, we'll take care of it.
Anybody else on the grounds?
No, Daddy's away on business
and I think everybody else
left for the night.
♪♪
Any idea how it started?
Oh, it's probably a faulty wire.
We were supposed to get
- the whole place rewired next week.
- Okay, okay. Hey, hey.
Stand back here.
We'll handle it from here, okay?
- Okay, yeah.
- Alright?
Cap, we got ember cast!
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[HORSES NEIGHING]
[VICTIM] It's going right to the horses!
We have to move them back.
They're in danger!
My horses!
Hey, stand here!
- They will burn to death!
- It's too dangerous.
- Should we move the lines?
- We can't.
It's too far.
[DON] So, we move the truck!
[HORSE NEIGHS]
Ma'am, do you have
the keys to the truck?
[VICTIM] Yeah, they're under the visor.
No, no, no, no, no, don't. He's got it.
[HORSES NEIGHING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES]
[ENGINE STARTS]
♪♪
[CRASHING, WATER SPLASHING]
- [RADIO CHIRPS]
- [CAPTAIN FOSTER] Don, come in.
Do you copy?
- [RADIO CHIRPS]
- Respond if you can hear me.
[DON] [ON RADIO] I'm good.
I'm coming around the barn now, Cap.
- [GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
- [BREATHING HEAVILY]
Sorry about your truck, ma'am.
[VICTIM] I don't care about the truck.
[SIGHS]
Hey, what's your name, hero?
I'm Don.
Don. I'm Blythe.
- [BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
- [SPONGE SQUEAKING]
Hey, Probie. You got a visitor.
- Me? Who?
- You'll see.
- [CAPTAIN FOSTER LAUGHING]
- [QUIET CHATTERING]
[CAPTAIN FOSTER] That is lovely.
Don! You remember Blythe.
[BLYTHE] Well, hi again.
Her family's been very good
to the department.
Hi.
I'll give you two a minute.
Well, um, this is for you.
Oh.
Wow.
Nobody's ever, uh, made me a pie before.
Well, it's the least I can do for you
helping to save the horses.
I-I-I just moved a truck. You saved 'em.
Well, I'll never forget it.
Hey, would you like to go out sometime?
I don't know.
I've seen your house, Blythe.
Folks like you ain't meant
to mix with folks like me.
Says who?
The whole damned world.
Hey, I'm not asking
for your hand in marriage, okay?
I'm just asking if you're
up for a little bit of fun.
Come on, Don, when is
the last time you had some fun?
Alright, now to get up you're
gonna put your foot in the stirrup
and then swing your other leg
over the saddle.
Alright.
Go easy on me, boy.
I've never done this before.
Come on. Quit moving, damn it.
Yeah, how about we use a mounting block?
No, thanks.
[DON MUTTERING]
[HORSE SNORTING]
["ALRIGHT" BY DARIUS RUCKER PLAYING]
And it's alright ♪
Alright ♪
Alright, I got ♪
- Shoes under my feet ♪
- [GROANS]
Alright, look at you.
On your way to the rodeo, cowboy.
Oh, yeah. That'll be the day.
Now, you're just gonna
give him a little kick, okay?
Ooh. Oh!
- [BLYTHE] Ooh!
- Ow!
And this is supposed to be fun?
Yeah. Most fun there is.
I know something better.
Let the line down a little,
and then reach back
to your two o'clock and then let it go.
- Okay.
- [DON] Easy as that.
Whoa, boy. Easy, easy.
[FISHING LINE WHOOSHES]
- [BLYTHE] Ooh! Ugh.
- [DON CHUCKLES]
Turns out I suck at this.
- [HORSE NEIGHS]
- Whoa! [GROANS]
Are you okay?
[DON] Turns out I suck at this.
You're giving
riding lessons now, Blythe?
Uh, Don, this is my brother
Mark's friend, Patrick.
Are we not friends anymore?
Not anymore.
Mm Okay, then.
Well, you two have fun.
Oh, we will.
Don't you worry.
- That's your ex, huh?
- Yeah.
You know, you can take a deep breath
and unclench your fists now.
♪♪
Feel better?
A little actually.
[BLYTHE] Yeah. Hey, I could use a drink.
How about you?
Yeah, I could always use a drink.
Alright, I got shoes under my feet ♪
Forever in her eyes
staring back at me ♪
And it's alright, alright ♪
Okay. Well, it's official.
You are never seeing my apartment.
- [DON CHUCKLES]
- [BLYTHE] Mm!
Oh. Oh! I got one!
- I got one.
- There you go. There you go. Okay.
Oh, my God. Oh!
Best feeling in the world, right?
I know a better one.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
My mom, my dad, and my little sister.
And the worst part is
They never even tried
looking for guy who did it.
The cops didn't even run DNA tests
on any of the evidence.
Well, that's outrageous.
People like me
are used to not mattering.
Hey.
Hey, that is not true.
You've got a beautiful spirit,
Donald Hart.
♪♪
So do you.
[DON CHUCKLES]
What? What are you laughing about?
I thought this was just about fun.
Yeah, I'm starting to think
that it's more than that.
Well, then why do you look tense?
'Cause that means that it's time
for you to meet my father.
♪♪
[PATRICK] You clean up nice.
Patrick.
What are you doing here?
[PATRICK] Uh, just hanging with Mark.
Had to get out of their hair
before family lunch.
Yeah.
- That's why I'm here.
- [PATRICK] Oh, I know.
Meeting the king of the castle.
Smooth move.
Flowers for her, whiskey for him.
You did make one critical error, though.
Is that right?
The old man's gonna
expect a full Windsor.
Yeah, well, I don't know how to tie one.
Relax, alright? I got you.
Look, I can tell that you're nervous,
but you couldn't possibly blow it.
He already hates you.
What are you talking about?
[PATRICK] He was just telling
Mark and me all about it.
Another one of
Blythe's charity projects.
You're out of line, dude.
Just save yourself
the humiliation, alright?
Get back in that piece of crap car
and drive away.
You don't belong here.
You know what?
I'll let Blythe decide that.
You can play dress-up all you want.
You give a stray a bath,
he's still a stray.
- [PUNCH THUDS]
- [PATRICK GRUNTS]
[DON GRUNTS]
[BOTH GRUNTING]
[BLYTHE] Donnie,
what are you doing? Stop it!
What are you doing?
[PATRICK PANTING]
You should have heard what he said!
I don't care what he said.
This is not how we deal with things.
You bring home trash, you get dirty.
Hey, watch your mouth.
[SCOFFS]
Hey, you need to go. You're a mess.
You cannot meet my father like this.
Yeah, well, from what I hear,
it's probably best
that I just don't meet him at all.
[INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
What are we looking at?
Car plowed through a stop sign,
hit a cyclist at full speed.
The driver admitted he was
filming a TikTok challenge.
- Didn't even see her.
- Unbelievable.
[CRYING] I'm so sorry.
I, I can't believe this is real.
- Does he have any injuries?
- Not a scratch.
Of course. What about the cyclist?
It's bad.
[DON] Alright, Rox, Taylor,
let's start giving treatment.
Ry, let's see if we can figure
out a way to free her out of here.
Hi, ma'am, I'm Roxie. This is Taylor.
- We're gonna help you.
- I'm Stacy.
I don't know how he didn't see me.
I thought, I thought he saw me.
[ROXIE] Tay, you got the LIFEPAK?
Let's get her started on fluids
run 'em wide open.
How's your pain, Stacy?
I can't I can't feel my legs.
Just keep your eyes open for me, okay?
Uh, Doc? We need to get, uh,
eyes down here.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[BLOOD DRIPPING]
[LIFEPAK BEEPING]
[STACY BREATHING DEEPLY]
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
It looks like it's severing
her abdominal aorta.
If we move this truck
[ROXIE] Let's push
ten milligrams of morphine.
Yeah.
[DON] Ma'am, I see you got
a wedding ring there.
Is there someone you'd like me to call?
So, it's that bad?
Yeah.
[CRYING] I have a husband
and two little girls.
I left them at home
watching Bluey. [SNIFFLES]
I should have stayed home with them.
Why don't you, uh,
why don't you give me
your husband's number, alright?
Oh, no.
No, no, I can't have this
be their last memory of me. No.
But there is someone
I'd like to speak to.
Who Who's that?
Him.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
[STACY BREATHING WEAKLY]
♪♪
Officer, bring him over.
She wants to speak with him.
No, I Me? I can't do that.
I can't do that.
I'm not sure
that's a good idea, Captain
I don't care, this is my scene.
She gets to speak her piece.
Come on, let's go.
♪♪
[STACY] Oh.
What's your name?
You look at her. You owe her that much.
[SNIFFLES]
Freddie.
- [CRYING] I'm so sorry
- [STACY] No, no, no, no.
[WEAKLY] We don't have
time for your apologies.
Because of you
both our lives are over.
I'll never tuck in
my little girls again.
But I want you to know
I I forgive you.
What? What? Why?
Because I can see you're suffering,
and your road will be long enough.
[BREATHING DEEPLY] Because
I want you to tell my family
that their mom died in peace,
just not full of anger,
just thinking
about how much she loved them.
[SOFT SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
Okay.
[SIGHS HEAVILY] I will.
[LIFEPAK SLOWLY BEEPING]
[STACY SNIFFLES, GROANS]
And, Freddie?
Yeah?
[FLATLINE DRONES]
[SOFTLY GASPS]
[SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES]
[FLATLINE CONTINUES]
- Hey.
- Come on.
Hey. Wait.
Wha
[SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES]
[FAINT INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
[DISTANT DOGS BARKING]
Blythe. What's going on?
I had something to tell you,
but you haven't returned
my calls all week.
Why did you go AWOL on me?
Look, I'm sorry, but we always knew
that this was never gonna work out.
Hey, I never thought that.
Wait, do you love me, Don?
[SCOFFS] That doesn't matter.
Well, how can you say that?
Because good things always
fall apart for people like me.
What do you mean, people like you?
[GENTLE SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
Foster kids. Screw-ups. Rejects.
Hey, hey. Come here.
Come here.
Don those things
may be a part of your story,
but they do not define you.
Don, you deserve to be happy.
Yeah, that's not what
your father's gonna say.
Okay, well, I don't give a damn
what he has to say.
Not if you love me.
♪♪
Well, the question is, do you?
Yeah, more than anything.
Good.
'Cause I love you, too.
[DOOR UNLOCKING, OPENING]
[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING]
Dixie, what the hell are you doing here?
I live here, don't I?
I thought you were on tour
for another six months.
Turns out Faith can't handle
having a backup singer
more talented than she is.
[SOFTLY CHUCKLES]
Who's this slut?
- Excuse me?
- Blythe, this is my ex, Dixie.
[SCOFFS] Blythe?
You're cheating on me
with a bitch named "Blythe"?
Watch it. And I did
not cheat on you, Dix.
You left me, remember?
[DIXIE] How could you do this to me?
You wouldn't be a fireman
if it weren't for me.
Tell me, what's she ever done for you?
She told me I was worth a damn.
Baby, she is just telling you
what you wanna hear.
Uh, no, actually,
I did not get to tell him
what he wanted to hear, thank you.
Now, I didn't say anything,
but we made some calls
to lean on Nashville PD
to test all that evidence, and
[SIGHS]
Well, they got a hit.
♪♪
Wait, they know who killed them?
Yeah.
Yeah, they just issued a warrant.
I wanted to take you down
to the station.
The chief can tell you all about it.
- Oh, my God.
- [BLYTHE] Yeah.
- Thank you.
- [BLYTHE] [CHUCKLES] Yeah.
Okay. What are we waiting for? Let's go.
- Yeah, I'll drive you. Okay.
- Okay.
♪♪
Bye, Dix.
Goodbye, DonDon.
I'm glad for you.
♪♪
[DON] Okay, come on.
[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]
[PAROLE OFFICER]
Before we conclude the hearing,
we will open the floor
to any impacted parties
who wish to share their testimony
as to whether or not inmate
Andrew Clarke
should be granted parole.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
Anyone?
[HEARTBEAT THUMPING]
[YOUNG DON] Mom! Dad!
[ROXIE] Cap!
[PAROLE OFFICER] Anyone?
[SOFT, TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
Donnie, you got this.
[HEARTBEAT THUMPING]
[PAROLE OFFICER] Please
state your name for the record.
My name is, uh, Donald Hart.
[HEARTBEAT THUMPING CONTINUES]
Just breathe.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
Andrew Clarke
murdered my family.
Twenty years ago,
I failed to tell this court
how much pain and sorrow you caused me.
If I had, I'm certain
we wouldn't be here today
'cause you wouldn't be up for parole.
All these years,
I've been ashamed of myself.
And, uh the rage that I felt
losing my family only doubled
when I couldn't face you.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
I've spent my life stuffing it down.
Keeping it inside
like it's some dirty secret.
Well, that that day is over.
I'm done hiding.
Keeping it in the shadows.
It's important that I
I say this in front of those I love
because what you did
affects so many of them, too.
[BLYTHE SIGHS DEEPLY]
But I've realized that it wasn't you
that I was afraid to face.
It was the family that I lost.
[GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES]
I have not been able to say my
my baby sister's name
since the night she died.
Megan.
Her name was Megan.
[QUIETLY WEEPING]
♪♪
The idea that you could
walk out of here free,
and that your suffering
would be over, that is just,
that is unacceptable to me.
Period.
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
Thank you, Mr. Hart.
I'm I'm I'm not,
I'm not finished.
[SNIFFLES]
We had a call recently, uh
A cyclist was hit and killed
by a man who was driving his car
and using his phone.
And you wouldn't believe it, but
he was suffering more than she was.
[VOICE BREAKING] Mr. Clarke
has sent me letters for 20 years.
I never opened one
until I got home from work last night.
In his letters he says that, uh
he was just trying to scare my dad.
Get him to pay back some money he owed
and that he
he didn't know anyone was in the house
when he set the fire.
He said it was the worst decision
he ever made.
And he's still tortured by it.
And reading his words, I-I
I think that he is remorseful.
[SNIFFLES]
Mr. Clarke, you
you and I share a horrible bond.
We're gonna take that to our graves.
A wise woman told me recently
that holding a grudge
is like, uh it's like drinking poison
and hoping that it kills someone else.
Well, uh
Well, I'm putting
that poison down today.
I forgive you, Mr. Clarke.
[ANDREW CLARKE] Thank you. [CRYING]
Thank you.
[ANDREW CONTINUES SOBBING]
Thank you all for coming.
There is nowhere else we'd rather be
than supporting our Cap.
Yeah, you did great out there.
Steady as a rock.
Uh, I could not have
done that without you.
- Hey, I'm proud of you.
- [DON] Thanks, bud.
You think he'll get out?
I don't know.
Parole Board still has to deliberate,
but I didn't do it for him.
[BLUE] Well, I, for one,
would like to get to know
my grandparents a little better.
- [TAYLOR] Mm.
- And my Aunt Megan.
Yeah, me too.
Well, if you two buy me a cold beer,
I'll tell you everything I remember.
- Well, there we go.
- I can do that.
- [CAMMIE CHUCKLES]
- Okay.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
[BLYTHE] Hey.
- [DIXIE] Hmm?
- I heard that you ran into Don
at that café.
Don told me what you did, so
Thank you.
I didn't do it for you.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
Well, all the same.
If it weren't for you
I don't think that he could
have gotten up in there.
Well, it wouldn't be
the first time I build him up
and you take him home, would it?
♪♪
Take care, Dixie.
[DIXIE CHUCKLES]
[EXHALES] Enjoy him while you can.
Universe always brings us back together.
[BLUES MUSIC PLAYING]
[DON EXHALES]
Hey.
Another one of these, please.
Buddy, you already had half the bottle.
Well, then you're only halfway there.
My wife and I separated.
I hoped we'd get back together, but
Big Daddy made sure that didn't happen.
I'm sorry, pal.
["NASTY OLD FEELING"
BY MARK COOK PLAYING]
[DOOR OPENS]
♪♪
[DIXIE] Well, well, well.
Looky here.
Back at home ♪
Dixie.
Hiya, DonDon.
♪♪
- [SLOW OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
- [DISTANT DOG BARKING]
[BABY CRYING]
Mom, Dad!
Megan's crying.
[CRYING CONTINUES]
I think she's hungry.
Mom?
Fine.
[EXHALES] I'll just feed her.
- [FLAMES WHOOSHING]
- [GASPS]
- Mom! Dad! The house on fire!
- [CRYING CONTINUES]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Megan, I'm coming!
[CRYING CONTINUES]
I got you, Megan.
I'm gonna wrap you up, okay?
[BOTH COUGHING]
Mom! Dad! We're in here!
[COUGHING]
[INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[COUGHING CONTINUES]
[FLAMES WHOOSHING]
[FIREFIGHTER] We got one back here!
We got you, kid.
[MONITOR BEEPING]
[MEEMAW] I can sit with him.
I'm the neighbor.
- [HOSPITAL PHONES RINGING]
- [INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT]
You don't recognize me, do you?
I just moved in next door
to y'all with my granddaughter.
She's the one who called 9-1-1.
How you holding up?
The doctors told me they all died.
Even my baby sister.
I'm so sorry.
Where do I go now?
I got nobody.
Well, social workers are on their way.
Oh, we'll, we'll, we'll stay
with you till they get here.
Here.
It's hot chocolate.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
[CHUCKLES] Ain't you gonna
introduce yourself?
I'm Dixie.
I'm Don.
[LIGHTER CLICKING]
Hey.
Did you sleep at all?
He sent another letter.
[DON GRUNTS]
You finally gonna read this one?
No.
Parole hearing's next week.
[BLYTHE HART] I know, honey.
I'm sure he's just begging for leniency.
Hoping to breathe a little free air
before he croaks.
How does that make you feel?
Angry.
Ashamed.
Ashamed? Why?
'Cause if I hadn't choked
at his original sentencing hearing, I
he would never have been up
for parole in the first place.
[BLYTHE] You didn't choke.
You had a panic attack.
That's not your fault.
[SCOFFS]
I let my family down, and no one
ever got to hear their story.
No one ever got to hear
how much they meant to me.
So, is that what you're
planning on doing now?
Yeah. If I can keep myself
from passing out.
I had another one at the firehouse.
A panic attack? When?
[DON HART] It was last night.
It was fine, Rox was there for me,
and thank God no one else saw it.
Oh, Donnie, I-I wish that
you would not think of it
like it's this dark secret.
It is.
I ask these people every day
to follow me into fire.
What are they supposed to think
if they hear that I couldn't even
They would think that you were human.
I mean, it might even be good
for them to see it.
For you to be seen.
No one needs to see this.
It just bothers me this whole
thing is coming up again.
You know, I
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
The pain and the rage. I
I just wanna make sure that this time
the world hears the story.
I understand.
But I don't think
that the rage and pain is coming back.
I-I think it's just
coming back to the surface.
So, what are you saying?
I'm saying that I think
it's always been there.
And maybe this could be
a good opportunity to,
to free yourself.
By freeing him?
He started a fire under my parents'
bedroom over an unpaid debt.
He He killed my family
over two grand.
You wouldn't be doing it for him.
It would be for you.
[DON SIGHS]
Whatever you decide to do,
you know that you have my full support.
I know.
Thank you.
[BLYTHE] That said,
do you know what Pastor Rick
says about grudges?
It's like drinking poison
and hoping to kill someone else.
Yeah, well, if it means
he dies behind bars,
I'm actually okay with that.
Get your hands off me, pig!
- Watch your mouth, punk.
- You know what?
Why don't y'all spend your time
catching real criminals?
That's 'cause drunk
knuckleheads are easier to catch.
Oh, so he's a funny pig, too.
Call me that again
and see what happens to you.
[PRISONER] Don't.
- [DON] What?
- Call him a pig again.
Or you'll be fishing your teeth
out of that commode over there.
What you in for, handsome?
Bar fight.
Eh, some idiot put "Who Let
the Dogs Out" on the jukebox.
[CHUCKLES] Sounds like
you did the public a service.
So, I take it you're
a frequent flyer around here?
I don't mean to brag, but, uh
[SUCKS TEETH]
they wanna give me a punch card.
- I'm Don.
- Dixie.
[DON] Dixie?
Hey, you didn't used to
live out on Oak Road, did you?
Next to a house that burned down?
I sure did.
Oh, my God.
You're Don Hart.
And you're Dixie Bennings.
- How about that?
- Wow.
What are you doing tomorrow, Dixie?
- Depends.
- [DON] On what?
What time they let us out.
There's no mystery ♪
Is there a sadder place
than a honky-tonk at 8:00 a.m.?
I like it.
Don't end up here unless
you got a story to go with it.
I mean, look at her.
I bet she's got a good one, right?
There's no mystery ♪
What are you scribbling?
Inspiration for later.
What are you, a writer or something?
Songwriter.
So, you sing too?
Yeah. Just never in public.
I get anxiety.
Well, you know, stage fright
never killed nobody.
Oh, I could think of something that has.
You a smoker, Don?
No.
Then why would you monogram
your initials on a lighter?
They're my dad's.
Donald Hart, Senior.
This was the only thing
that survived the fire.
Kind of ironic, ain't it?
They ever catch
the sumbitch who done it?
[DON] Nope.
- You wanna know the worst part?
- [DIXIE BENNINGS] Hmm?
They got a box full of evidence
gathering dust in some warehouse.
That's usually what happens
when you come from where we do.
Yeah.
[BARSTOOL THUDS]
Hey!
Watch where you're going.
- [SCOFFS]
- You bumped into the lady here.
- You got a problem?
- Yeah, I guess that depends
- if you apologize.
- [DIXIE CLEARS THROAT]
The lady can speak for herself.
So, mosey on along, tough guy.
♪♪
Got a temper on you, huh, Don?
You ever think about taking a swing
at what you're really mad at?
And what's that?
Fire.
Be a fireman.
Put all that rage into something
that won't get you locked up
or your brains bashed in.
You know, I've actually
thought about that
ever since that night.
But what's the point when we both know
it always falls apart in the end?
True.
But I'd bet it'd be one hell of a ride.
Besides, I bet you would look
damn sexy in that uniform.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
♪♪
Okay, Dix.
- [DIXIE] Hmm?
- I'll do it.
[DIXIE] Mm!
- [DON] On one condition.
- What's that?
You take a ride with me.
If I make it through
the academy, you start singing.
Stage fright be damned.
Deal?
Done, Don.
Us against the world.
[SCOFFS] What did you just call me?
I said "Done, Don," why?
I thought you said DonDon.
And my mom used to call me DonDon.
[DIXIE] Then it's meant to be.
Well, DonDon
you just made yourself
a deal with the devil.
[BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
To the ride.
- [BOTTLES CLINK]
- [LAUGHS]
- [MELLOW GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING]
- [DISTANT SIRENS WAILING]
[TOWEL SQUEAKING]
[INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT]
Probie. Come here.
What's up, LT? Is there a problem?
Yeah, I want you to look at this
and I want you to tell me
what you don't see.
Tell you what I don't see?
[RYAN HART] Mm-hmm.
I got nothing.
Taylor.
- [TAYLOR THOMPSON] Hmm?
- What do you think?
♪♪
- No, I don't see it.
- [RYAN] Hmm.
You two are evil.
- Y'all are messing with me.
- No.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
Take a nice, close look.
I promise you won't see it.
Can I have a hint?
Hmm what color don't you see?
- That's good.
- White green blue?
Oh!
- Blue.
- [RYAN] Blue.
- Oh, Blue!
- [RYAN] Blue!
[BLUE BENNINGS] I don't see
myself in the reflection.
No, you do not.
[RYAN] Wash it again.
[DON] Uh, Ry, Taylor, since y'all
are so generous with your feedback,
you can help him finish.
[WHIMSICAL MUSIC PLAYING]
- Okay.
- Yes, Cap.
Rox, can I, uh, have a word with you?
Sure, Cap.
Step into my office.
So, it's about that
[SIGHS] thing the other night.
[ROXIE ALBA] Cap!
Yeah. You feeling okay?
Yeah. So far, so good.
I just, I don't want it to happen again.
The department has
some great therapists on staff.
I-I don't have time for that.
I have to make a victim impact statement
at a parole board hearing.
I'm sorry, but there's no magic pill.
Panic attacks are a trauma response.
[SIGHS DEEPLY]
Every time I picture myself
going in that room, my jaw clenches.
I feel the rage boiling, and I just
I try and fight it, but
Your body shuts down.
[SIGHS]
Behavioral therapy can work wonders,
even in a short amount of time.
Helped me a lot after everything
I went through when I was younger.
One thing I learned,
the first and most important step
to controlling trauma is naming it.
- What?
- Good news is,
you don't have to say anything
to anybody.
You can write it down.
You're talking about journaling?
Yeah. I thought
it sounded silly too, but
it was a lifesaver.
Where would I even start?
At the beginning.
Okay, there's no AC,
the elevator's busted,
and whatever you do,
do not flush the toilet
and run the shower at the same time.
Any questions?
Uh, you said it's $300 a month?
Cash only.
I'll leave you lovebirds to discuss.
I hate it.
Come on, it's right off Broadway.
The Honky-Tonk Highway.
It's a dump, Don.
Hey, this is better than any place
I've laid my head in the last ten years.
That ain't a high bar.
Hey, this is all
part of the ride, right?
Wherever we can be together,
that's where we're gonna be happy.
Uh, what about all the times
we ain't together?
Well, you're gonna be working
24-hour shifts at the firehouse,
I'm gonna be singing nights.
Then let's make a promise
to each other right now
to always show up for each other.
I'll be there for your shows
in the evenings
and you see me off in the mornings.
No matter how busy or tired we get.
That's the deal.
You and me against the world.
You and me against the world.
We'll take it!
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
Alright, everyone, I want you
to welcome our new probie.
Donald Hart.
Now, there's one unbreakable rule here.
Until you can fold the hose
into a hotel pack,
load it on my truck in under a minute,
you cannot use the hose.
Understood, sir.
So are you ready?
Oh, I'm not ready.
I feel like I'm gonna die.
You get nervous, just look at me.
I'm right here.
Here goes nothing.
Go!
[UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES]
[GRUNTS]
- [TIMER BEEPS]
- Not bad, Probie.
- Thank you, sir.
- Not good either.
Two minutes, fourteen seconds.
- [ALARM RINGING]
- That's us, 113! Let's move!
- Damn!
- [BAKER] Come on, Probie.
- [RINGING CONTINUES]
- Showtime.
[GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING]
Underneath cathedral stars ♪
We were saints and thieves
with untainted hearts ♪
And every breath we breathed
was a silent prayer to stay ♪
[PATRON] [LAUGHING] Okay. Yeah.
We made a love ♪
- That set the world on fire ♪
- [PATRONS CHATTERING]
- Turned all our critics ♪
- Hey!
- [POUNDS FIST]
- Come on, the lady's singing.
We burned up the night
and never looked away ♪
[SIRENS WAILING]
That kind of crazy ♪
Baker, Briggs, I need you to get out
that inch-and-three-quarter line,
start hosing this thing down.
Oh, wild things run ♪
Oh, wild things run ♪
If the angels start to weep,
then we'll know ♪
Hey, Cap, where do you want me?
Crowd control.
Oh, oh, oh, wild things run ♪
Welcome to the big leagues.
Oh, wild things run ♪
They'll stumble in the dark ♪
Just to chase a morning sun ♪
[DIXIE VOCALIZING]
- [TIMER BEEPS]
- Minute, seven seconds.
Best one yet, Probie.
I'm Margo.
- [CORK POPS]
- [BOTH] Whoo!
- I got a manager!
- I told you.
You are gonna be famous.
and the silence started to betray ♪
Every road that lay ahead ♪
- [ALARM BEEPING]
- Was crumbling dust ♪
- [DON GROANS]
- [DIXIE] Rise and shine.
[DON] Dix, what is this?
[DIXIE] Steak and eggs.
Need to fuel up, fireman.
Now we hum the tune
but we forgot the song ♪
Every diamond that we made
had turned to rust ♪
- Come on!
- [TIMER BEEPS]
- 2:52.
- [SIGHS]
Going in the wrong direction, Probie.
If there's a God up there to trust ♪
[SIREN WAILING, HORN BLARING]
Ricardo, run attack lines,
knock down these flames.
Cap! What about me?
Crowd control.
I hope he is as wild as us ♪
Alright, folks, back up, alright?
Give us a little bit of room, okay?
It's a public street.
I'm just taking some pictures
for my blog.
We're fighting a fire here.
They're fighting a fire.
You're just being a goon.
- I said back up!
- [CAPTAIN FOSTER] Hart! Hart!
You've been showing up tired, hungover.
Temper on a hair-trigger.
Listen, I know you've had
a hard shake in life.
Now you wanna keep
being angry at the world
and making things worse,
or do something about it
and make it better?
Better, sir.
Hey, Dix.
If it's alright with you,
I might skip tonight.
Of course.
Get some rest, DonDon.
[INSTRUMENTAL POP MUSIC PLAYING]
Oh, wild things run ♪
To kingdom come ♪
They'll stumble in the dark ♪
- Just to chase a morning sun ♪
- Go!
Oh, wild things run ♪
Oh, wild things run ♪
[VOCALIZING]
- [TIMER BEEPS]
- Forty-eight seconds.
Yeah!
- Yes!
- [ALL CLAPPING]
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
Hey, Dix
it finally happened.
What happened?
Captain Foster let me use the hose.
[DIXIE CHUCKLES]
It was just a little brush fire, but
Why is your suitcase out?
'Cause I'm packing it.
Packing for what?
Rome. Paris.
I forget after that, but, um
I'm going on tour.
You're kidding! Dix, that's amazing!
[DIXIE CHUCKLES]
But how? You haven't even
cut your first record yet.
Oh, the label has me backing Faith Hill.
You're gonna be a backup singer?
Don't say it like it's some dirty word.
Is this what you really want?
To travel the world,
getting paid to do what I love?
Hell, yeah.
Okay.
How long are you gonna be gone?
Nine months.
Could be a year.
I'm sorry, when were you gonna tell me?
Telling you now.
Okay, so what does that mean for us?
[SOFT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
We always knew this ride
wasn't gonna last forever.
So, that's it?
What happened to "us against the world"?
We made a We made a promise
to each other, Dixie.
We've been breaking promises
for a while now.
"To always be there for each other,
no matter how busy or tired we got."
You made that promise, right?
Yeah, you're right.
It was fun
while it lasted.
Yeah.
And
who knows?
Maybe one day the universe
is gonna bring us back together.
Whatever you say, Dix.
[SOFT POP SONG
PLAYING FAINTLY OVER SPEAKERS]
[DIXIE] DonDon.
Dix. Wha What are you doing here?
My, uh, vocal surgeon's
across the street.
Just had my last preop.
Well, of all the cafés
I mean, you know, the universe
always brings us back together.
So, what are you grinding so hard on?
Oh, it's, uh, it's stupid.
I mean, don't tell me
you're song-writing now.
No, it is a, uh a trauma journal.
Oh. Alright.
I'm definitely sitting down
for this one. [CHUCKLES]
[DIXIE CLEARS THROAT]
Andrew Clarke
has his first parole hearing
- coming up this week.
- [DIXIE] You're kidding.
I can't believe
that murdering son of a bitch
could actually go walking free.
I'm trying to make sure
that doesn't happen,
but in order to do that,
I have to make
a victim's impact statement.
Without keeling over again.
A friend of mine told me the best way to
deal with trauma is
just to write it down
so it doesn't overwhelm you
in the moment, so
- How's that going for ya?
- Uh, it's not.
[CHUCKLE SCOFFS]
No, every time I start to
put down a memory, I [EXHALES]
I feel the rage come back and
and it all just goes
It's just all, it's all fuzzy.
I don't know.
And you always did have
a temper on you, DonDon.
But I think the problem now is that
[TENSE MUSIC BUILDING]
that it's just too painful.
Maybe.
You need to face this
before you get into that courtroom
and it comes out
and knocks you flat on your ass.
Well, how am I supposed to face
something I can't even remember?
You want this piece of crap
to pay for what he's done to you.
I mean, you want him to suffer
like you've suffered
to his dying breath?
More than anything.
Then let me remember for you.
[SIGHS]
I remember waking up
to get a glass of water
when I heard a scream.
[YOUNG DON]
Mom! Dad! The house is on fire!
God, like no other scream
I've heard before.
Uh, Dix. Please
It's the only way, DonDon.
I remember hearing the baby's cry.
[MEGAN CRYING, ECHOING]
Okay, could you please stop?
[DIXIE] Most of all
I remember that look
on that little boy's face
in the hospital when he just realized
he had no family to go home to.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
♪♪
Now, write.
[SNIFFLES, SIGHS]
- [DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
- [SIRENS WAILING]
Hey, Baker, I want two-inch-
and-three-quarter lines
up five minutes ago.
Alright, let's go!
Let's knock these flames down.
With me, Probie.
You got it.
[NEIGHING WILDLY]
Come on, come on, come on.
Y'all gotta get out of here. Come on!
[HORSE NEIGHS]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES]
[VICTIM COUGHING]
Come on, come on.
I got all the horses out of the barn,
but the fire just got so big.
Okay, we'll take care of it.
Anybody else on the grounds?
No, Daddy's away on business
and I think everybody else
left for the night.
♪♪
Any idea how it started?
Oh, it's probably a faulty wire.
We were supposed to get
- the whole place rewired next week.
- Okay, okay. Hey, hey.
Stand back here.
We'll handle it from here, okay?
- Okay, yeah.
- Alright?
Cap, we got ember cast!
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[HORSES NEIGHING]
[VICTIM] It's going right to the horses!
We have to move them back.
They're in danger!
My horses!
Hey, stand here!
- They will burn to death!
- It's too dangerous.
- Should we move the lines?
- We can't.
It's too far.
[DON] So, we move the truck!
[HORSE NEIGHS]
Ma'am, do you have
the keys to the truck?
[VICTIM] Yeah, they're under the visor.
No, no, no, no, no, don't. He's got it.
[HORSES NEIGHING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES]
[ENGINE STARTS]
♪♪
[CRASHING, WATER SPLASHING]
- [RADIO CHIRPS]
- [CAPTAIN FOSTER] Don, come in.
Do you copy?
- [RADIO CHIRPS]
- Respond if you can hear me.
[DON] [ON RADIO] I'm good.
I'm coming around the barn now, Cap.
- [GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
- [BREATHING HEAVILY]
Sorry about your truck, ma'am.
[VICTIM] I don't care about the truck.
[SIGHS]
Hey, what's your name, hero?
I'm Don.
Don. I'm Blythe.
- [BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
- [SPONGE SQUEAKING]
Hey, Probie. You got a visitor.
- Me? Who?
- You'll see.
- [CAPTAIN FOSTER LAUGHING]
- [QUIET CHATTERING]
[CAPTAIN FOSTER] That is lovely.
Don! You remember Blythe.
[BLYTHE] Well, hi again.
Her family's been very good
to the department.
Hi.
I'll give you two a minute.
Well, um, this is for you.
Oh.
Wow.
Nobody's ever, uh, made me a pie before.
Well, it's the least I can do for you
helping to save the horses.
I-I-I just moved a truck. You saved 'em.
Well, I'll never forget it.
Hey, would you like to go out sometime?
I don't know.
I've seen your house, Blythe.
Folks like you ain't meant
to mix with folks like me.
Says who?
The whole damned world.
Hey, I'm not asking
for your hand in marriage, okay?
I'm just asking if you're
up for a little bit of fun.
Come on, Don, when is
the last time you had some fun?
Alright, now to get up you're
gonna put your foot in the stirrup
and then swing your other leg
over the saddle.
Alright.
Go easy on me, boy.
I've never done this before.
Come on. Quit moving, damn it.
Yeah, how about we use a mounting block?
No, thanks.
[DON MUTTERING]
[HORSE SNORTING]
["ALRIGHT" BY DARIUS RUCKER PLAYING]
And it's alright ♪
Alright ♪
Alright, I got ♪
- Shoes under my feet ♪
- [GROANS]
Alright, look at you.
On your way to the rodeo, cowboy.
Oh, yeah. That'll be the day.
Now, you're just gonna
give him a little kick, okay?
Ooh. Oh!
- [BLYTHE] Ooh!
- Ow!
And this is supposed to be fun?
Yeah. Most fun there is.
I know something better.
Let the line down a little,
and then reach back
to your two o'clock and then let it go.
- Okay.
- [DON] Easy as that.
Whoa, boy. Easy, easy.
[FISHING LINE WHOOSHES]
- [BLYTHE] Ooh! Ugh.
- [DON CHUCKLES]
Turns out I suck at this.
- [HORSE NEIGHS]
- Whoa! [GROANS]
Are you okay?
[DON] Turns out I suck at this.
You're giving
riding lessons now, Blythe?
Uh, Don, this is my brother
Mark's friend, Patrick.
Are we not friends anymore?
Not anymore.
Mm Okay, then.
Well, you two have fun.
Oh, we will.
Don't you worry.
- That's your ex, huh?
- Yeah.
You know, you can take a deep breath
and unclench your fists now.
♪♪
Feel better?
A little actually.
[BLYTHE] Yeah. Hey, I could use a drink.
How about you?
Yeah, I could always use a drink.
Alright, I got shoes under my feet ♪
Forever in her eyes
staring back at me ♪
And it's alright, alright ♪
Okay. Well, it's official.
You are never seeing my apartment.
- [DON CHUCKLES]
- [BLYTHE] Mm!
Oh. Oh! I got one!
- I got one.
- There you go. There you go. Okay.
Oh, my God. Oh!
Best feeling in the world, right?
I know a better one.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
My mom, my dad, and my little sister.
And the worst part is
They never even tried
looking for guy who did it.
The cops didn't even run DNA tests
on any of the evidence.
Well, that's outrageous.
People like me
are used to not mattering.
Hey.
Hey, that is not true.
You've got a beautiful spirit,
Donald Hart.
♪♪
So do you.
[DON CHUCKLES]
What? What are you laughing about?
I thought this was just about fun.
Yeah, I'm starting to think
that it's more than that.
Well, then why do you look tense?
'Cause that means that it's time
for you to meet my father.
♪♪
[PATRICK] You clean up nice.
Patrick.
What are you doing here?
[PATRICK] Uh, just hanging with Mark.
Had to get out of their hair
before family lunch.
Yeah.
- That's why I'm here.
- [PATRICK] Oh, I know.
Meeting the king of the castle.
Smooth move.
Flowers for her, whiskey for him.
You did make one critical error, though.
Is that right?
The old man's gonna
expect a full Windsor.
Yeah, well, I don't know how to tie one.
Relax, alright? I got you.
Look, I can tell that you're nervous,
but you couldn't possibly blow it.
He already hates you.
What are you talking about?
[PATRICK] He was just telling
Mark and me all about it.
Another one of
Blythe's charity projects.
You're out of line, dude.
Just save yourself
the humiliation, alright?
Get back in that piece of crap car
and drive away.
You don't belong here.
You know what?
I'll let Blythe decide that.
You can play dress-up all you want.
You give a stray a bath,
he's still a stray.
- [PUNCH THUDS]
- [PATRICK GRUNTS]
[DON GRUNTS]
[BOTH GRUNTING]
[BLYTHE] Donnie,
what are you doing? Stop it!
What are you doing?
[PATRICK PANTING]
You should have heard what he said!
I don't care what he said.
This is not how we deal with things.
You bring home trash, you get dirty.
Hey, watch your mouth.
[SCOFFS]
Hey, you need to go. You're a mess.
You cannot meet my father like this.
Yeah, well, from what I hear,
it's probably best
that I just don't meet him at all.
[INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
What are we looking at?
Car plowed through a stop sign,
hit a cyclist at full speed.
The driver admitted he was
filming a TikTok challenge.
- Didn't even see her.
- Unbelievable.
[CRYING] I'm so sorry.
I, I can't believe this is real.
- Does he have any injuries?
- Not a scratch.
Of course. What about the cyclist?
It's bad.
[DON] Alright, Rox, Taylor,
let's start giving treatment.
Ry, let's see if we can figure
out a way to free her out of here.
Hi, ma'am, I'm Roxie. This is Taylor.
- We're gonna help you.
- I'm Stacy.
I don't know how he didn't see me.
I thought, I thought he saw me.
[ROXIE] Tay, you got the LIFEPAK?
Let's get her started on fluids
run 'em wide open.
How's your pain, Stacy?
I can't I can't feel my legs.
Just keep your eyes open for me, okay?
Uh, Doc? We need to get, uh,
eyes down here.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[BLOOD DRIPPING]
[LIFEPAK BEEPING]
[STACY BREATHING DEEPLY]
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
It looks like it's severing
her abdominal aorta.
If we move this truck
[ROXIE] Let's push
ten milligrams of morphine.
Yeah.
[DON] Ma'am, I see you got
a wedding ring there.
Is there someone you'd like me to call?
So, it's that bad?
Yeah.
[CRYING] I have a husband
and two little girls.
I left them at home
watching Bluey. [SNIFFLES]
I should have stayed home with them.
Why don't you, uh,
why don't you give me
your husband's number, alright?
Oh, no.
No, no, I can't have this
be their last memory of me. No.
But there is someone
I'd like to speak to.
Who Who's that?
Him.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
[STACY BREATHING WEAKLY]
♪♪
Officer, bring him over.
She wants to speak with him.
No, I Me? I can't do that.
I can't do that.
I'm not sure
that's a good idea, Captain
I don't care, this is my scene.
She gets to speak her piece.
Come on, let's go.
♪♪
[STACY] Oh.
What's your name?
You look at her. You owe her that much.
[SNIFFLES]
Freddie.
- [CRYING] I'm so sorry
- [STACY] No, no, no, no.
[WEAKLY] We don't have
time for your apologies.
Because of you
both our lives are over.
I'll never tuck in
my little girls again.
But I want you to know
I I forgive you.
What? What? Why?
Because I can see you're suffering,
and your road will be long enough.
[BREATHING DEEPLY] Because
I want you to tell my family
that their mom died in peace,
just not full of anger,
just thinking
about how much she loved them.
[SOFT SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
Okay.
[SIGHS HEAVILY] I will.
[LIFEPAK SLOWLY BEEPING]
[STACY SNIFFLES, GROANS]
And, Freddie?
Yeah?
[FLATLINE DRONES]
[SOFTLY GASPS]
[SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES]
[FLATLINE CONTINUES]
- Hey.
- Come on.
Hey. Wait.
Wha
[SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES]
[FAINT INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
[DISTANT DOGS BARKING]
Blythe. What's going on?
I had something to tell you,
but you haven't returned
my calls all week.
Why did you go AWOL on me?
Look, I'm sorry, but we always knew
that this was never gonna work out.
Hey, I never thought that.
Wait, do you love me, Don?
[SCOFFS] That doesn't matter.
Well, how can you say that?
Because good things always
fall apart for people like me.
What do you mean, people like you?
[GENTLE SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
Foster kids. Screw-ups. Rejects.
Hey, hey. Come here.
Come here.
Don those things
may be a part of your story,
but they do not define you.
Don, you deserve to be happy.
Yeah, that's not what
your father's gonna say.
Okay, well, I don't give a damn
what he has to say.
Not if you love me.
♪♪
Well, the question is, do you?
Yeah, more than anything.
Good.
'Cause I love you, too.
[DOOR UNLOCKING, OPENING]
[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING]
Dixie, what the hell are you doing here?
I live here, don't I?
I thought you were on tour
for another six months.
Turns out Faith can't handle
having a backup singer
more talented than she is.
[SOFTLY CHUCKLES]
Who's this slut?
- Excuse me?
- Blythe, this is my ex, Dixie.
[SCOFFS] Blythe?
You're cheating on me
with a bitch named "Blythe"?
Watch it. And I did
not cheat on you, Dix.
You left me, remember?
[DIXIE] How could you do this to me?
You wouldn't be a fireman
if it weren't for me.
Tell me, what's she ever done for you?
She told me I was worth a damn.
Baby, she is just telling you
what you wanna hear.
Uh, no, actually,
I did not get to tell him
what he wanted to hear, thank you.
Now, I didn't say anything,
but we made some calls
to lean on Nashville PD
to test all that evidence, and
[SIGHS]
Well, they got a hit.
♪♪
Wait, they know who killed them?
Yeah.
Yeah, they just issued a warrant.
I wanted to take you down
to the station.
The chief can tell you all about it.
- Oh, my God.
- [BLYTHE] Yeah.
- Thank you.
- [BLYTHE] [CHUCKLES] Yeah.
Okay. What are we waiting for? Let's go.
- Yeah, I'll drive you. Okay.
- Okay.
♪♪
Bye, Dix.
Goodbye, DonDon.
I'm glad for you.
♪♪
[DON] Okay, come on.
[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]
[PAROLE OFFICER]
Before we conclude the hearing,
we will open the floor
to any impacted parties
who wish to share their testimony
as to whether or not inmate
Andrew Clarke
should be granted parole.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
Anyone?
[HEARTBEAT THUMPING]
[YOUNG DON] Mom! Dad!
[ROXIE] Cap!
[PAROLE OFFICER] Anyone?
[SOFT, TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
Donnie, you got this.
[HEARTBEAT THUMPING]
[PAROLE OFFICER] Please
state your name for the record.
My name is, uh, Donald Hart.
[HEARTBEAT THUMPING CONTINUES]
Just breathe.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
Andrew Clarke
murdered my family.
Twenty years ago,
I failed to tell this court
how much pain and sorrow you caused me.
If I had, I'm certain
we wouldn't be here today
'cause you wouldn't be up for parole.
All these years,
I've been ashamed of myself.
And, uh the rage that I felt
losing my family only doubled
when I couldn't face you.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
I've spent my life stuffing it down.
Keeping it inside
like it's some dirty secret.
Well, that that day is over.
I'm done hiding.
Keeping it in the shadows.
It's important that I
I say this in front of those I love
because what you did
affects so many of them, too.
[BLYTHE SIGHS DEEPLY]
But I've realized that it wasn't you
that I was afraid to face.
It was the family that I lost.
[GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES]
I have not been able to say my
my baby sister's name
since the night she died.
Megan.
Her name was Megan.
[QUIETLY WEEPING]
♪♪
The idea that you could
walk out of here free,
and that your suffering
would be over, that is just,
that is unacceptable to me.
Period.
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
Thank you, Mr. Hart.
I'm I'm I'm not,
I'm not finished.
[SNIFFLES]
We had a call recently, uh
A cyclist was hit and killed
by a man who was driving his car
and using his phone.
And you wouldn't believe it, but
he was suffering more than she was.
[VOICE BREAKING] Mr. Clarke
has sent me letters for 20 years.
I never opened one
until I got home from work last night.
In his letters he says that, uh
he was just trying to scare my dad.
Get him to pay back some money he owed
and that he
he didn't know anyone was in the house
when he set the fire.
He said it was the worst decision
he ever made.
And he's still tortured by it.
And reading his words, I-I
I think that he is remorseful.
[SNIFFLES]
Mr. Clarke, you
you and I share a horrible bond.
We're gonna take that to our graves.
A wise woman told me recently
that holding a grudge
is like, uh it's like drinking poison
and hoping that it kills someone else.
Well, uh
Well, I'm putting
that poison down today.
I forgive you, Mr. Clarke.
[ANDREW CLARKE] Thank you. [CRYING]
Thank you.
[ANDREW CONTINUES SOBBING]
Thank you all for coming.
There is nowhere else we'd rather be
than supporting our Cap.
Yeah, you did great out there.
Steady as a rock.
Uh, I could not have
done that without you.
- Hey, I'm proud of you.
- [DON] Thanks, bud.
You think he'll get out?
I don't know.
Parole Board still has to deliberate,
but I didn't do it for him.
[BLUE] Well, I, for one,
would like to get to know
my grandparents a little better.
- [TAYLOR] Mm.
- And my Aunt Megan.
Yeah, me too.
Well, if you two buy me a cold beer,
I'll tell you everything I remember.
- Well, there we go.
- I can do that.
- [CAMMIE CHUCKLES]
- Okay.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
[BLYTHE] Hey.
- [DIXIE] Hmm?
- I heard that you ran into Don
at that café.
Don told me what you did, so
Thank you.
I didn't do it for you.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
Well, all the same.
If it weren't for you
I don't think that he could
have gotten up in there.
Well, it wouldn't be
the first time I build him up
and you take him home, would it?
♪♪
Take care, Dixie.
[DIXIE CHUCKLES]
[EXHALES] Enjoy him while you can.
Universe always brings us back together.
[BLUES MUSIC PLAYING]
[DON EXHALES]
Hey.
Another one of these, please.
Buddy, you already had half the bottle.
Well, then you're only halfway there.
My wife and I separated.
I hoped we'd get back together, but
Big Daddy made sure that didn't happen.
I'm sorry, pal.
["NASTY OLD FEELING"
BY MARK COOK PLAYING]
[DOOR OPENS]
♪♪
[DIXIE] Well, well, well.
Looky here.
Back at home ♪
Dixie.
Hiya, DonDon.
♪♪