Council of Dads (2020) s01e01 Episode Script
Pilot
1
- Whoo-hoo!
- Go, JJ!
- JJ, now!
- Go, JJ!
Jump. It's easy.
JJ, you got this.
He's got this, right?
I don't know.
Charlotte, what are you reading?
Anne Frank. For school.
Pretend the Nazis are chasing you!
- Who?
- Bad guys.
If they get you, you have to go
- to a concentration camp.
- A what?
What did they teach you in kindergarten?
We mostly just colored.
Just jump, dude.
Hey, be nice, Theo. He's scared.
But you promised to take me driving.
I'll take you driving
as soon as JJ jumps.
If JJ ever jumps.
- I'm gonna go wait in the car.
- No, you're not. JJ needs us.
All of us. Luly!
They said they'd call by 10.
If you scream, we won't be able to hear.
If "The New Yorker" calls,
we'll all shut up.
Come on down here, please.
Don't let him keep you down ♪
How do you tell the story of a family?
I guess you start at the beginning.
At first, it was just me and my dad
until I was eight.
Then he met my step-mom, Robin.
And they had Theo.
And we adopted Charlotte.
And then there's my little brother,
JJ.
All right, JJ, I'm here.
- You can do this.
- Mom?
- Yeah, buddy?
- Do you think I can do it?
I know you can do it.
But I also think you don't have to.
If you want, you can come on down,
- and we can try it again tomorrow.
- School starts tomorrow.
Then, I'm gonna be busy.
Then, after that, I'm gonna be eight.
And then after that, I'm gonna be old.
And after that, I'm gonna be dead!
It has to be today.
Can't argue with that logic.
Oh I can't promise ♪
- He's coming up.
- Here I come, buddy.
You can do it!
You got this. You've been
working on this all summer.
Whoo-hoo!
Here's what we're gonna do.
I'm gonna hold on to you.
You're gonna hold on to me.
And we're gonna do this together.
Do you want to?
There's nothing I'd rather be doing.
- Ready?
- Ready!
Up.
Here we go.
One, two, three!
[ALL CHEERING]
[ALL YELLING]
[LEON BRIDGES'S "COMING HOME" PLAYS]
We did it!
ALL: JJ, JJ, JJ, JJ!
I bet you feel good.
- Oh!
- I did it!
That was amazing. That was amazing!
So, this is my family.
And this is the moment
when everything changed.
- Oh, my God. It's them.
- [PHONE RINGING]
It's not them.
- Dad, it's your phone.
- Oh.
This is Scott.
On the phone is
my step-mom's best friend
from medical school, Oliver.
He's also my dad's doctor.
And right now,
he's telling him the tests
he ran last week came back.
And my dad has an osteosarcoma,
a rare and aggressive cancer in his leg.
How do you tell the story of a family?
Through everyday moments
and life-changing ones.
And the people who love you
when things falls apart.
This is the story of my family.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
Hey.
So the surgery went great.
Oliver removed the tumor.
Right now, you should
just feel really good.
I feel good. Oliver feels good.
- Right, Ollie?
- I feel good.
I rebuilt your leg.
Wanna see the tumor I
removed from your femur?
- You took a picture?
- You're an OB.
You take pictures of cute babies.
I take pictures of dead tumors.
Check it out. Pretty cool, huh?
So, the kids say hi.
They're doing great.
They were a little bit
worried about the surgery,
so I got them a dog.
Yay!
[EXHALES]
I think you killed him.
[DOG BARKING]
[DOORBELL RINGS]
[DOG STILL BARKING]
Cowboy, sit.
- Sit. I said sit!
- Don't repeat yourself.
You keep saying it,
all the dog hears is noise.
Say it once. Say it like you mean it.
Sit!
[DOG WHIMPERS]
Reheat it at 350 for 20 minutes.
Wait. Who are you?
Larry. Friend of your dad's.
[BEN RECTOR'S "FEAR" PLAYS]
You chased me down
outside of Georgia ♪
I was sure that I was done ♪
Here we go. Alright.
Watch your step.
Hello.
- You good?
- Hey, I'm home!
- Dad!
- Hey, oh, hey.
[OVERLAPPING GREETINGS]
- I missed you.
- I missed you.
- Is this Cowboy?
- Yeah.
- Hey, good boy.
- Mom, he's home! He's home!
- He's he's home!
- Yeah.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Wait, Mom, you said
he wasn't coming till later.
Well, yeah, that's that's
- I sprung him early.
- Change of plans.
-
- All right, be careful.
Theo, remember when I asked you
to clean up the living room?
Oh, I learned a new piano piece.
- Can I hear it?
- I was playing video games.
- You're okay?
- Yeah.
- [PLAYING PIANO]
- Leaving these right here.
- Wow!
- Look.
We made you a cake. Can we eat it now?
Okay, hold on, hold on.
Let's let's settle in.
- It was gonna say dad, I swear to God.
- Okay, sweetie, let's go.
Let's go, let's give
these guys some family time.
- Papa's waiting for us.
- But, Dad, I want cake.
Hold up, Ollie. Stay, really.
Call Peter, ask him
to come over for cake.
- It's fine.
- Guess we're staying for cake.
Let's have cake! Let's eat cake!
[ALL CHANTING] Cake, cake, cake, cake,
cake, cake, cake!
- Whoo!
- Oh, my God.
- Cowboy!
- Oh.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]
My cake! Cowboy, bad dog.
Cowboy, bad dog.
This is why we are not getting a dog.
So, this is not how I wanted
your homecoming to go, okay?
I was gonna have the laundry done,
and the dishes done, and the sign is up,
and the cake wasn't gonna say,
"Welcome Home D,"
- I'm sorry.
- I think you nailed it. Seriously.
- No, you're not!
- The only thing missing is Luly.
Where is she?
- Hey.
- Hey.
I I remember you from high school.
I was in AP History with you.
Oh, yeah. I think I vaguely remember.
Yeah, I'm one of those people
that other people vaguely remember.
No, I didn't mean it that
you were unmemorable.
I meant it that you were
just out of context.
Nice to see you.
Uh, you weren't expecting to see
your secret crush from high school
at a cancer support group?
[LAUGHS] Exactly.
Uh, Evan Norris.
Oh, uh, cool.
I don't know why I went
in for the handshake, but
Now my hand's out there,
and, um, I'm committed.
I like a guy committed to an action.
Luly Perry.
Nice to see you here, Luly Perry.
Anyway, I should go.
My my mom, she gets
chemo while I do group.
And then we go to Denny's while
she still has an appetite.
I know. My life's pretty amazing.
See you.
Okay. See you.
[UPBEAT ACOUSTIC MUSIC]
♪♪
- Hi, Mom.
- Hey, baby.
Did you deliver any babies today?
I sure did. Twins.
- Were they cute?
- Oh, they were the cutest.
Dad has a surprise for you.
I'm not supposed to tell you,
so don't ask.
Also, Charlotte's hiding
out in her closet with Tess.
Okay. Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
Can you believe this?
Biggest crop I ever had.
You should ignore
your garden more often.
- [LAUGHING] No.
- So
I'm worried about Charlotte.
She's holed up in
that closet all the time.
This is some "my dad has
cancer and I can't handle it,
"so I'm gonna hide out in my closet
and pretend I'm Anne Frank" thing?
That's not funny.
I know, but, it kind of is.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
Yeah, okay, all right.
It is kind of funny.
So, JJ says you have a surprise for me.
Yes. You ready?
It's gonna blow your mind.
[LAUGHS] Okay.
Oh, my gosh. Your new leg.
It works.
- [LAUGHS]
- I'm walking.
I'm talking.
I'm dancing with my beautiful wife.
I was happy ♪
But it's been pain
now for so very long ♪
Where the hell is your chicken stock?
Anthony!
What are you doing here?
I'm here to make you soup.
To fatten you up.
- You came from Atlanta?
- Yep.
I gotta get back to
the restaurant tonight.
Where is your chicken stock?
- Uh, I got it.
- Uh, uh.
Canned chicken broth.
JJ, the fact that they're
serving you this is criminal.
My dad doesn't really cook anymore
since he bought the Crab Shack.
You bought the Crab Shack.
I bought the Crab Shack.
JJ we're going to the Crab Shack.
Crab Shack?
No, not for you. It's a school night.
Crab Shack, baby!
I was born ♪
[BOTH GIGGLING]
You guys met here, right?
Your dad and I were oyster shuckers.
I shucked oysters.
He flirted with the customers.
And that's the summer
my mom got pregnant.
Yeah. I remember the night
you were born.
Your dad came in here. We toasted you.
Then he said it was the last
drink he was ever gonna take.
It was my last drink
until the next night.
I had a few hundred last
drinks before it finally took.
[CHUCKLES]
Oh. Hold on. I got customers.
She turned down a fancy
internship in New York
just to get me through this.
- Speaking of this?
- Hm.
How are you?
I don't know. I mean, I'm, uh
doing chemo to kill whatever
cancer is still lurking.
And after a year of clean scans,
I can, um
feel reasonably optimistic.
How do I feel?
I don't know. Ask me in a year.
How are you? How's Pelago?
We were named Best New
Restaurant in Atlanta.
You must feel great!
It's gonna be more work, more headaches,
less of a life, um
Do you know what?
I don't know how I feel yet.
- You ask me in a year.
- It's a date.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
I think mom has chemo.
Hey.
JJ said you were throwing up.
Are you sick?
Um.
Well.
Remember all that
life-affirming sex we had
when you were first diagnosed?
Yeah.
It affirmed life.
I'm pregnant.
Things were just so crazy
after you got diagnosed.
I think I probably forgot a few pills.
Sorry, love.
[SNIFFS]
I'm sorry that I didn't
catch your cancer.
I'm a doctor.
And you might have been limping,
and I just missed it.
I hate that some stupid blood test
that you took for insurance
caught it and I didn't.
- I'm just sorry.
- Hey.
Me getting cancer isn't your fault.
Okay? It isn't your fault at all.
And you being pregnant isn't good news.
It's the best news.
Yeah?
[LAUGHS]
We're gonna have a baby.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
We're gonna have five kids.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[JOHN LEGEND'S
"WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME" PLAYS]
Candles burning low ♪
You really gave that
stone crab some character.
Thanks. Yeah, it's inspired by
Sebastian from "The Little Mermaid."
Sebastian is a lobster, not a crab.
Oh, you are 100% wrong.
How'd you not know that?
Your job is literally "She sells
seashells by the seashore."
[SCOFFS]
Can you say it five times really fast?
No, but I can keep up with Missy.
[MISSY ELLIOTT'S
"WTF [WHERE THEY FROM]" plays]
The dance that you're doing is dumb ♪
How they do it where you from? ♪
Stick out your tongue ♪
Girl, but you know you're too young ♪
A bunch of girls do it
and the stuff looks fun ♪
That's how they do it where we from ♪
You know it don't start till one ♪
That's how they do
it where they from ♪
I'm so faded, no exaggeration ♪
Backs breaking like a perculation ♪
Boys to the yard for
some hip spanking ♪
Where you make it drop
down like you in the matrix ♪
BOTH: Can't take it
them chicks been faking ♪
Ya'll still sleep
better stay awakened ♪
Hot new dance for
the hood to make it ♪
Make the dope move fast ♪
Make them think you're drinking ♪
Head to the floor don't
collect that though ♪
You better huddle up
'cause the beat's so cold ♪
Hey, guys.
Dad! Hi.
Hey, Mr. Perry.
Who are you?
Ah, my name's Evan.
What's this?
Uh, that is a crab.
Yeah. [LAUGHS]
Can I talk to you for a minute?
Of course.
You know that I'm grateful
that you stepped in
and helped out here,
but it's just temporary.
I know.
All right, well, you know.
You always had such big dreams, eh?
To move to New York, to be a writer.
I would just hate to be responsible
for you sidetracking your life.
I kissed a guy. I'm not engaged.
[LAUGHS]
Okay, I know. Good.
I'm just being a dad.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Is that how you see it, though?
That I sidetracked your life?
Because you were gonna go
to cooking school in Paris
like Anthony, but then
you got stuck here with me.
That is not what happened.
I chose you.
Your mom she didn't feel
like she was ready to be a mom.
And that was her choice,
but you were mine.
And I don't regret it for a second.
I just want to make sure that
you're choosing your future.
If your car starts to hydroplane,
you should?
Say a prayer.
Take your foot off the accelerator.
No, say a prayer that he passed.
Here he comes.
[BRENDA LEE'S "ROCKIN' AROUND
THE CHRISTMAS TREE" PLAYS]
Rocking around the Christmas tree ♪
Have a Christmas party hop ♪
Mistletoe hung where you can see ♪
Every couple tries to stop ♪
Rocking around the Christmas tree ♪
Have a happy holiday ♪
Everyone dances ♪
Fraser fir.
Needs lots of water.
Thanks, Larry.
♪♪
Why is he always
doing stuff for you guys?
The cancer thing.
It either makes people
really weird or really nice.
Hey Char Char, Tess.
Wow!
Larry?
Hey, how do you know Larry again?
I just know him. You know.
People know people.
You know Tess.
I know Larry, it's like
Oh, right, AA.
You're too smart for your own good.
I take that back.
You are just the right amount of smart.
Never let anyone make you feel
bad for being a smart woman.
I'm 13.
And in the blink of an eye,
you're gonna be 14.
And then someone's gonna say,
"Hey, Charlotte,
you wanna vape? It's cool."
And when that happens,
I want you to think
of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Did she vape? No.
- Is she cool?
- BOTH: Yes.
RBG! RBG!
BOTH: RBG!
RBG, whoo! Yeah, aw man.
- Yeah, yeah.
- She's so cool.
RBG.
So you failed your driving test.
Lots of people don't
pass the first time, Theo.
So, there was this guy,
Christopher Reeve,
who played Superman in the
movies when I was your age.
He was in a terrible accident.
He got thrown off his horse.
He broke his neck. He was paralyzed.
And he couldn't walk anymore,
but you know what?
He didn't quit and he didn't get bitter.
He always kept a positive attitude.
And you're saying that
Theo should be happy
because even though he can't drive,
he can still walk?
What I'm saying is that
you gotta accept defeat,
and pick yourself back up.
Well, what's Christopher Reeve
doing now?
Uh, he died.
Never mind. That's a bad example.
Hi, Mom.
Oh, hi, honey. I didn't see you there.
Lately, everything is
either a teachable moment
or a life lesson with you.
I know, I just want
them to know my values.
You have a lifetime to teach them
your values.
You're here.
And you're gonna be
here for a long time.
Your new daughter is gonna need you.
[DRAMATIC PIANO MUSIC]
It's a girl?
Yep.
♪♪
Hey, I know you're right.
I can't shove my lessons down
the kids' throats.
But what if I got other guys
to shove my lessons
down the kids' throats?
If the cancer comes back, if I die,
there'd be this group of guys
to help the kids if they need guidance.
If they're wondering what
I would do in a certain situation,
they could just ask one
of the guys on the council.
- The Council?
- Yeah.
Council of Dads.
Oh, you gave it a name?
Do you have jerseys
and a secret handshake?
No.
I don't even have the dads yet.
I'd like your input.
No.
The scans are moving
in the right direction.
They're barely showing
any cancer activity.
- I know, but
- Do you, though?
Honestly, it feels like
you're still in the moment
when Oliver called and
told you that you had cancer.
And I know that was scary, babe, but
we're not there anymore.
I feel like I can finally breathe.
And hold out a little hope.
I know.
I wanna stop worrying.
I wanna stop lecturing the kids.
And I think assembling
this council will help.
It'll it'll ease my mind
knowing that there's a plan in place.
And I think Chris Scollard
would be great.
You are out of your mind.
Chris Scollard?
- Yeah.
- Captain Fitness?
No. No, he would drive me crazy.
He would be great.
He would show the kids nature,
and tell them how
much I love the outdoors.
Why don't you show them how
much you love the outdoors
right now?
Go play with them.
- Really, no Chris?
- Really no Chris.
Your Council of Dads gets to be guys
that I would wanna deal with.
'Cause you know who's
the head of the Council?
Me.
[JÚNÍUS MEYVANT'S
"AIN'T GONNA LET YOU DROWN" PLAYS]
You just tricked me into
assembling a Council of Dads.
Think I did.
Hey, throw me the ball.
- Wait, wait, wait.
- Dad, dad!
- Now throw me the ball.
- Dad.
I ain't gonna let you down ♪
I ain't gonna let you drown ♪
[JAZZ PIANO MUSIC]
Your dad's quiet.
[LAUGHS]
He's just nervous for his scan today.
Ah, right. Of course.
Was I talking too much?
You're great.
I think you're sexy when
you talk about architecture.
Yeah, well he probably hates
that I don't have a degree.
You left to take care of your mom.
I'm gonna finish.
I've been talking to my advisor
about picking up some classes
in the fall, and
she really had like a
You're perfect.
My family loves you.
[CHUCKLES]
- Lu?
- Oh, my God.
What do I need to say to convince you?
I'm falling in love with you.
Uh, I'm sorry, uh
Was that too much?
I mean, you said that you liked a guy
who committed to an action,
- and I thought, you know
- Yeah.
No. I do.
- Oh, I flipped you out.
- Wow.
- No, no.
- [GROANS]
I mean, yes.
[SIGHS]
But, no.
Can we just not talk for a while?
Uh, yeah, yeah.
Let's not talk.
[LIGHT GUITAR MUSIC]
♪♪
[TIRES SCREECHING]
All right, hands at ten and two,
not eleven and three.
And stop at the cone.
I said stop, not slow.
That was a stop sign
No, it's not. This isn't even a street.
I don't need to practice here.
I already practiced here for
five minutes when I first started.
And I've been driving
for almost six months.
This is all a stupid waste of time!
Stop the truck.
Stop the truck!
Fine!
[TIRES SCREECH]
Get out.
Get out of the truck.
Run around the parking lot.
[SCOFFS] No.
Theo, I'm telling you
Who are you, even?
You're just some weirdo
who stalks my family.
I don't need to listen to you!
Go ahead. You yell at me.
I can handle it.
You're mad at the world?
You're mad that your dad has cancer?
Go ahead. Be mad.
But you don't get to be mad
behind the wheel of a truck.
So, you're gonna run around
until you feel that
anger leave your body.
I'll wait.
[SIGHS]
[LIGHT MUSIC]
[SCREAMS]
♪♪
All right. You know the drill.
Any cancer cells that are hanging out
will light up in the scan.
Hopefully,
we don't see any bright spots.
You ready?
What about him?
Baby, you're loopy from the Ativan.
Seriously, he's so on the council.
He's your friend. He's my friend, too.
And I love him.
I love you, man.
- I love you.
- I love you.
- Mm.
- Mm-hmm.
I don't know you.
But I love you.
Your husband's in love with me.
[GIGGLES]
Well, it's not just you.
He's been making lists of men,
in case he dies.
But, he knows I'm gay,
and married,
and so not attracted to you.
That was not what you said
back in medical school
when you were still straight
and tried to kiss me.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
No, it's not for me. It's for the kids.
He wants to ask a group of men
to help raise them in case he dies.
A Council of Dads.
That's
- I think that's smart.
- It's not.
It's terrible idea,
and you're my friend,
and you need to be
on my side about this.
Which is?
I'm having a baby.
I mean, yeah, I know,
and I'm right here.
No, no, no. My water just broke.
I'm having a baby right now.
- Like, right now, right now?
- Yeah.
- Okay. Good thing we're in a hospital.
- [MOANING]
All right.
[MOANING]
We're having a baby!
[H.E.R.'S "HARD PLACE" PLAYS]
[VOCALIZING]
♪♪
I suck at everything.
I can't even get my stupid license.
You know what I do for a living?
I buy failing businesses
and turn them around.
I'm good at seeing what's
not working and fixing it.
I can help you not suck at driving.
Why are you doing this?
Because I drank a bottle of vodka
every night for a lot of years.
And when I came into AA
your dad agreed to sponsor me.
I owe him.
Wait. You were a
A drunk?
I sure was.
What do you say we get
out of this parking lot?
♪♪
But I, if I have to choose ♪
My heart or you ♪
I'm gonna lose, yeah ♪
You're doing it.
I'm doing it! Whoo!
[YELLING]
I'm here! I'm here, baby.
Okay.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
- [INDISTINCT]
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- Here we go.
[GRUNTS]
[GROANS]
Hey, Lu.
Seriously, I
I'm sorry. I freaked you out.
You can't love me.
That's not what this is.
We're just supposed to help
each other through stuff,
and make it less awful.
And you have made it
so much less awful, but it's
temporary.
I don't wanna hurt you,
but I'm moving to New York.
I I didn't realize I was just your
grief buddy.
- No, that's not what I'm saying.
- And so, whatever.
Thanks for letting me know.
[SOLEMN ORCHESTRAL MUSIC]
♪♪
The kids are on their way.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
I know this sounds cheesy,
but she looks like a Hope to me.
That is a little cheesy.
[BOTH LAUGH]
- But we're cheesy.
- Mm.
And she does she is.
She's our little Hope.
I'm just gonna take her
for a second and weigh her.
Dad, you wanna bring her?
Sure.
Okay.
- Got her?
- Yeah.
Okay.
- Aww.
- Aww.
She looks so good on you.
Oh, my.
She is beautiful. Congrats, you guys.
Hi, sweetie.
I'm your handsome Uncle Oliver.
I gotta take her to get weighed.
Then you can flirt with her some more.
She's gorgeous, Rob. [SIGHS]
What's wrong? What's the matter?
What do you mean?
What is what?
The way you just looked at him.
You got the scan results
back, didn't you?
[SAD PIANO MUSIC]
The cancer's back.
No.
Just tell me he'll live.
Six pounds, twelve ounces.
I know she's only
been around for an hour,
- but I'm pretty sure she smiled at me.
- [LAUGHS]
Isn't that right, Hope?
You love your daddy, yeah?
[BABY COOS]
You love your daddy.
Oh, yeah.
[LAUGHS]
Hey, baby. Don't go to sleep.
♪♪
[LAUGHS]
- Hey.
- Hey.
[SIGHS]
Thanks for coming.
Yeah. Sounded important.
You weren't just my grief buddy.
You make me laugh.
You make me feel like me.
I miss you.
[EXHALES]
This is not what I was expecting.
[DRAMATIC PIANO MUSIC]
♪♪
Hi, stranger.
Let's go swimming.
Luly.
What's going on?
♪♪
My dad died.
This morning at 3:00 a.m.
We were all with him.
Oh, Lu.
[SOBBING]
[SOLEMN ORCHESTRAL MUSIC]
♪♪
[SOBBING]
[UPLIFTING MUSIC]
Dear Anthony,
I wanna thank you for your friendship.
Especially the last few months.
You fed us when we needed to be fed.
Oliver,
you poured your heart and
soul into fighting my disease.
Even when the odds
were stacked against me.
And Larry,
when it was clear that
cancer was going to win,
you showed up.
Now, I ask you to keep showing up.
Oliver, you said, with my diagnosis,
that we'd know in a year
if I was gonna make it.
That a year is the magic number.
So, I'm asking you,
each of you, for a year.
Hey. Thank God you guys are here.
The baby needs to be fed,
my mother's driving me crazy,
and Charlotte's saying she doesn't
want to go to the funeral.
Come on in.
Thank you. Okay.
[ANGELO DE AUGUSTINE'S "TOMB" PLAYING]
Charlotte?
Hey, it's Oliver.
You mind if I come in for a sec?
Sure.
I walked into your life
at the wrong time ♪
I reread this with Tess this year.
Even though I know she dies, I
I kept turning the pages,
hoping for a different ending.
But the ending
doesn't take away from
how amazing her life was.
And how she keeps on teaching us stuff,
even after she's gone.
I see what you're doing.
You're talking about my dad.
It was not of this
world or of a dream ♪
Give my family a year.
And not just on holidays or birthdays.
Lots of people will be around then.
They're gonna need you on a Tuesday.
Or a Thursday. A regular day.
It's okay to cry.
[CRYING]
[VOCALIZING]
Robin's used to taking care of people.
- She's not so good at accepting help.
- Anthony.
And she's gonna need it.
They all are.
Ollie? Can you take Charlotte?
- Sure.
- Anthony, you can take me,
- Hope, and JJ.
- Yeah, sure.
Okay, where is he? Where's JJ?
I'm right here.
What is that?
Grandma said I had to wear it.
I just thought it'll make
everything easier today.
You mean it would
make today easier for you.
Well, honey, I think she looks darl
He. Mom.
How many times have I
told you that JJ's a boy?
And he likes to be called he.
Come on, baby. We'll go change.
I'm not mad, Grandma.
It can take people from your generation
a while to understand.
Come on, you.
You have to understand. I'm her grandma.
And I love her, and she's so young.
How can a first grader
decide she's a boy?
I don't think he decided to be a boy.
I think he just is a boy.
That's how Scott explained it to me.
And I think we should be thinking about
what Scott would want today.
We all should, you know,
let JJ be JJ.
Lu.
- Hey.
- Um
I wanted to bring you something,
and I was gonna get flowers,
but I thought of what your dad said.
"People don't need stuff.
They just need you."
You told it in the group.
I don't know if you remember it, but
Stop talking. She remembers.
[BRANDI CARLILE'S "THE JOKE" PLAYS]
I love you, Evan.
So, my Council of Dads,
I'm not asking you to love
my family the way I do.
But, my guess is you will.
Don't ever let them steal your joy ♪
And your gentle ways
-
- To keep 'em from running wild ♪
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER, LAUGHTER]
♪♪
You nervous?
A little.
You having any second thoughts?
We can call this thing off.
Your dad would want me to tell you
that this is your life, Luly Bell.
You live it for you.
I am.
I love Evan.
I'm not giving up on my dreams.
I just realized he's a part of them.
I'm choosing joy.
Well, you are your daddy's girl, then,
'cause he sure knew how to do joy.
Yeah.
Let's do this.
I saw your eyes behind your hair ♪
And you're looking tired ♪
But you don't look scared ♪
Let 'em laugh while they can ♪
Let 'em spin ♪
Let 'em scatter in the wind ♪
I have been to the movies ♪
And I've seen how it ends ♪
And the joke's on them ♪
Let 'em laugh while they can ♪
Let 'em spin ♪
Let 'em scatter in the wind ♪
I have been to the movies ♪
I've seen how it ends ♪
And the joke's on ♪
You may kiss the bride.
[ALL CHEERING]
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
I miss him, Ollie.
The kids are all looking at me
wondering where
all the fun went. [CHUCKLES]
- I'm not fun.
- Yes, you are.
No, I'm not.
I'm serious, and studious,
and responsible.
And, so, he got to be
spontaneous and fun, and
And after tonight, we are all supposed
to go back to real life.
I don't know if I can do it.
I'm right here.
And Larry and Anthony.
We're gonna get through this together.
Now, dance with me.
No.
You don't have to have fun.
In fact, I insist you have a bad time.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
- Come on.
There's this picture of me and my dad
taken right after I was born.
He had no idea how
to take care of a baby.
But he put his fear aside and smiled.
A declaration.
I've got this.
I can do this.
We're a family.
All right, Council of Dads,
are we ready?
Everybody's ready.
It's beautiful!
That's what we do.
We grab the people we love.
And we hold on for dear life.
We decide who our family is.
And we love them like
our life depends on it.
[ALL CHEERING]
Since I left you ain't
got nothin' to lose ♪
We've got this.
We can do this.
We're a family.
- Whoo-hoo!
- Go, JJ!
- JJ, now!
- Go, JJ!
Jump. It's easy.
JJ, you got this.
He's got this, right?
I don't know.
Charlotte, what are you reading?
Anne Frank. For school.
Pretend the Nazis are chasing you!
- Who?
- Bad guys.
If they get you, you have to go
- to a concentration camp.
- A what?
What did they teach you in kindergarten?
We mostly just colored.
Just jump, dude.
Hey, be nice, Theo. He's scared.
But you promised to take me driving.
I'll take you driving
as soon as JJ jumps.
If JJ ever jumps.
- I'm gonna go wait in the car.
- No, you're not. JJ needs us.
All of us. Luly!
They said they'd call by 10.
If you scream, we won't be able to hear.
If "The New Yorker" calls,
we'll all shut up.
Come on down here, please.
Don't let him keep you down ♪
How do you tell the story of a family?
I guess you start at the beginning.
At first, it was just me and my dad
until I was eight.
Then he met my step-mom, Robin.
And they had Theo.
And we adopted Charlotte.
And then there's my little brother,
JJ.
All right, JJ, I'm here.
- You can do this.
- Mom?
- Yeah, buddy?
- Do you think I can do it?
I know you can do it.
But I also think you don't have to.
If you want, you can come on down,
- and we can try it again tomorrow.
- School starts tomorrow.
Then, I'm gonna be busy.
Then, after that, I'm gonna be eight.
And then after that, I'm gonna be old.
And after that, I'm gonna be dead!
It has to be today.
Can't argue with that logic.
Oh I can't promise ♪
- He's coming up.
- Here I come, buddy.
You can do it!
You got this. You've been
working on this all summer.
Whoo-hoo!
Here's what we're gonna do.
I'm gonna hold on to you.
You're gonna hold on to me.
And we're gonna do this together.
Do you want to?
There's nothing I'd rather be doing.
- Ready?
- Ready!
Up.
Here we go.
One, two, three!
[ALL CHEERING]
[ALL YELLING]
[LEON BRIDGES'S "COMING HOME" PLAYS]
We did it!
ALL: JJ, JJ, JJ, JJ!
I bet you feel good.
- Oh!
- I did it!
That was amazing. That was amazing!
So, this is my family.
And this is the moment
when everything changed.
- Oh, my God. It's them.
- [PHONE RINGING]
It's not them.
- Dad, it's your phone.
- Oh.
This is Scott.
On the phone is
my step-mom's best friend
from medical school, Oliver.
He's also my dad's doctor.
And right now,
he's telling him the tests
he ran last week came back.
And my dad has an osteosarcoma,
a rare and aggressive cancer in his leg.
How do you tell the story of a family?
Through everyday moments
and life-changing ones.
And the people who love you
when things falls apart.
This is the story of my family.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
Hey.
So the surgery went great.
Oliver removed the tumor.
Right now, you should
just feel really good.
I feel good. Oliver feels good.
- Right, Ollie?
- I feel good.
I rebuilt your leg.
Wanna see the tumor I
removed from your femur?
- You took a picture?
- You're an OB.
You take pictures of cute babies.
I take pictures of dead tumors.
Check it out. Pretty cool, huh?
So, the kids say hi.
They're doing great.
They were a little bit
worried about the surgery,
so I got them a dog.
Yay!
[EXHALES]
I think you killed him.
[DOG BARKING]
[DOORBELL RINGS]
[DOG STILL BARKING]
Cowboy, sit.
- Sit. I said sit!
- Don't repeat yourself.
You keep saying it,
all the dog hears is noise.
Say it once. Say it like you mean it.
Sit!
[DOG WHIMPERS]
Reheat it at 350 for 20 minutes.
Wait. Who are you?
Larry. Friend of your dad's.
[BEN RECTOR'S "FEAR" PLAYS]
You chased me down
outside of Georgia ♪
I was sure that I was done ♪
Here we go. Alright.
Watch your step.
Hello.
- You good?
- Hey, I'm home!
- Dad!
- Hey, oh, hey.
[OVERLAPPING GREETINGS]
- I missed you.
- I missed you.
- Is this Cowboy?
- Yeah.
- Hey, good boy.
- Mom, he's home! He's home!
- He's he's home!
- Yeah.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Wait, Mom, you said
he wasn't coming till later.
Well, yeah, that's that's
- I sprung him early.
- Change of plans.
-
- All right, be careful.
Theo, remember when I asked you
to clean up the living room?
Oh, I learned a new piano piece.
- Can I hear it?
- I was playing video games.
- You're okay?
- Yeah.
- [PLAYING PIANO]
- Leaving these right here.
- Wow!
- Look.
We made you a cake. Can we eat it now?
Okay, hold on, hold on.
Let's let's settle in.
- It was gonna say dad, I swear to God.
- Okay, sweetie, let's go.
Let's go, let's give
these guys some family time.
- Papa's waiting for us.
- But, Dad, I want cake.
Hold up, Ollie. Stay, really.
Call Peter, ask him
to come over for cake.
- It's fine.
- Guess we're staying for cake.
Let's have cake! Let's eat cake!
[ALL CHANTING] Cake, cake, cake, cake,
cake, cake, cake!
- Whoo!
- Oh, my God.
- Cowboy!
- Oh.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]
My cake! Cowboy, bad dog.
Cowboy, bad dog.
This is why we are not getting a dog.
So, this is not how I wanted
your homecoming to go, okay?
I was gonna have the laundry done,
and the dishes done, and the sign is up,
and the cake wasn't gonna say,
"Welcome Home D,"
- I'm sorry.
- I think you nailed it. Seriously.
- No, you're not!
- The only thing missing is Luly.
Where is she?
- Hey.
- Hey.
I I remember you from high school.
I was in AP History with you.
Oh, yeah. I think I vaguely remember.
Yeah, I'm one of those people
that other people vaguely remember.
No, I didn't mean it that
you were unmemorable.
I meant it that you were
just out of context.
Nice to see you.
Uh, you weren't expecting to see
your secret crush from high school
at a cancer support group?
[LAUGHS] Exactly.
Uh, Evan Norris.
Oh, uh, cool.
I don't know why I went
in for the handshake, but
Now my hand's out there,
and, um, I'm committed.
I like a guy committed to an action.
Luly Perry.
Nice to see you here, Luly Perry.
Anyway, I should go.
My my mom, she gets
chemo while I do group.
And then we go to Denny's while
she still has an appetite.
I know. My life's pretty amazing.
See you.
Okay. See you.
[UPBEAT ACOUSTIC MUSIC]
♪♪
- Hi, Mom.
- Hey, baby.
Did you deliver any babies today?
I sure did. Twins.
- Were they cute?
- Oh, they were the cutest.
Dad has a surprise for you.
I'm not supposed to tell you,
so don't ask.
Also, Charlotte's hiding
out in her closet with Tess.
Okay. Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
Can you believe this?
Biggest crop I ever had.
You should ignore
your garden more often.
- [LAUGHING] No.
- So
I'm worried about Charlotte.
She's holed up in
that closet all the time.
This is some "my dad has
cancer and I can't handle it,
"so I'm gonna hide out in my closet
and pretend I'm Anne Frank" thing?
That's not funny.
I know, but, it kind of is.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
Yeah, okay, all right.
It is kind of funny.
So, JJ says you have a surprise for me.
Yes. You ready?
It's gonna blow your mind.
[LAUGHS] Okay.
Oh, my gosh. Your new leg.
It works.
- [LAUGHS]
- I'm walking.
I'm talking.
I'm dancing with my beautiful wife.
I was happy ♪
But it's been pain
now for so very long ♪
Where the hell is your chicken stock?
Anthony!
What are you doing here?
I'm here to make you soup.
To fatten you up.
- You came from Atlanta?
- Yep.
I gotta get back to
the restaurant tonight.
Where is your chicken stock?
- Uh, I got it.
- Uh, uh.
Canned chicken broth.
JJ, the fact that they're
serving you this is criminal.
My dad doesn't really cook anymore
since he bought the Crab Shack.
You bought the Crab Shack.
I bought the Crab Shack.
JJ we're going to the Crab Shack.
Crab Shack?
No, not for you. It's a school night.
Crab Shack, baby!
I was born ♪
[BOTH GIGGLING]
You guys met here, right?
Your dad and I were oyster shuckers.
I shucked oysters.
He flirted with the customers.
And that's the summer
my mom got pregnant.
Yeah. I remember the night
you were born.
Your dad came in here. We toasted you.
Then he said it was the last
drink he was ever gonna take.
It was my last drink
until the next night.
I had a few hundred last
drinks before it finally took.
[CHUCKLES]
Oh. Hold on. I got customers.
She turned down a fancy
internship in New York
just to get me through this.
- Speaking of this?
- Hm.
How are you?
I don't know. I mean, I'm, uh
doing chemo to kill whatever
cancer is still lurking.
And after a year of clean scans,
I can, um
feel reasonably optimistic.
How do I feel?
I don't know. Ask me in a year.
How are you? How's Pelago?
We were named Best New
Restaurant in Atlanta.
You must feel great!
It's gonna be more work, more headaches,
less of a life, um
Do you know what?
I don't know how I feel yet.
- You ask me in a year.
- It's a date.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
I think mom has chemo.
Hey.
JJ said you were throwing up.
Are you sick?
Um.
Well.
Remember all that
life-affirming sex we had
when you were first diagnosed?
Yeah.
It affirmed life.
I'm pregnant.
Things were just so crazy
after you got diagnosed.
I think I probably forgot a few pills.
Sorry, love.
[SNIFFS]
I'm sorry that I didn't
catch your cancer.
I'm a doctor.
And you might have been limping,
and I just missed it.
I hate that some stupid blood test
that you took for insurance
caught it and I didn't.
- I'm just sorry.
- Hey.
Me getting cancer isn't your fault.
Okay? It isn't your fault at all.
And you being pregnant isn't good news.
It's the best news.
Yeah?
[LAUGHS]
We're gonna have a baby.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
We're gonna have five kids.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[JOHN LEGEND'S
"WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME" PLAYS]
Candles burning low ♪
You really gave that
stone crab some character.
Thanks. Yeah, it's inspired by
Sebastian from "The Little Mermaid."
Sebastian is a lobster, not a crab.
Oh, you are 100% wrong.
How'd you not know that?
Your job is literally "She sells
seashells by the seashore."
[SCOFFS]
Can you say it five times really fast?
No, but I can keep up with Missy.
[MISSY ELLIOTT'S
"WTF [WHERE THEY FROM]" plays]
The dance that you're doing is dumb ♪
How they do it where you from? ♪
Stick out your tongue ♪
Girl, but you know you're too young ♪
A bunch of girls do it
and the stuff looks fun ♪
That's how they do it where we from ♪
You know it don't start till one ♪
That's how they do
it where they from ♪
I'm so faded, no exaggeration ♪
Backs breaking like a perculation ♪
Boys to the yard for
some hip spanking ♪
Where you make it drop
down like you in the matrix ♪
BOTH: Can't take it
them chicks been faking ♪
Ya'll still sleep
better stay awakened ♪
Hot new dance for
the hood to make it ♪
Make the dope move fast ♪
Make them think you're drinking ♪
Head to the floor don't
collect that though ♪
You better huddle up
'cause the beat's so cold ♪
Hey, guys.
Dad! Hi.
Hey, Mr. Perry.
Who are you?
Ah, my name's Evan.
What's this?
Uh, that is a crab.
Yeah. [LAUGHS]
Can I talk to you for a minute?
Of course.
You know that I'm grateful
that you stepped in
and helped out here,
but it's just temporary.
I know.
All right, well, you know.
You always had such big dreams, eh?
To move to New York, to be a writer.
I would just hate to be responsible
for you sidetracking your life.
I kissed a guy. I'm not engaged.
[LAUGHS]
Okay, I know. Good.
I'm just being a dad.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Is that how you see it, though?
That I sidetracked your life?
Because you were gonna go
to cooking school in Paris
like Anthony, but then
you got stuck here with me.
That is not what happened.
I chose you.
Your mom she didn't feel
like she was ready to be a mom.
And that was her choice,
but you were mine.
And I don't regret it for a second.
I just want to make sure that
you're choosing your future.
If your car starts to hydroplane,
you should?
Say a prayer.
Take your foot off the accelerator.
No, say a prayer that he passed.
Here he comes.
[BRENDA LEE'S "ROCKIN' AROUND
THE CHRISTMAS TREE" PLAYS]
Rocking around the Christmas tree ♪
Have a Christmas party hop ♪
Mistletoe hung where you can see ♪
Every couple tries to stop ♪
Rocking around the Christmas tree ♪
Have a happy holiday ♪
Everyone dances ♪
Fraser fir.
Needs lots of water.
Thanks, Larry.
♪♪
Why is he always
doing stuff for you guys?
The cancer thing.
It either makes people
really weird or really nice.
Hey Char Char, Tess.
Wow!
Larry?
Hey, how do you know Larry again?
I just know him. You know.
People know people.
You know Tess.
I know Larry, it's like
Oh, right, AA.
You're too smart for your own good.
I take that back.
You are just the right amount of smart.
Never let anyone make you feel
bad for being a smart woman.
I'm 13.
And in the blink of an eye,
you're gonna be 14.
And then someone's gonna say,
"Hey, Charlotte,
you wanna vape? It's cool."
And when that happens,
I want you to think
of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Did she vape? No.
- Is she cool?
- BOTH: Yes.
RBG! RBG!
BOTH: RBG!
RBG, whoo! Yeah, aw man.
- Yeah, yeah.
- She's so cool.
RBG.
So you failed your driving test.
Lots of people don't
pass the first time, Theo.
So, there was this guy,
Christopher Reeve,
who played Superman in the
movies when I was your age.
He was in a terrible accident.
He got thrown off his horse.
He broke his neck. He was paralyzed.
And he couldn't walk anymore,
but you know what?
He didn't quit and he didn't get bitter.
He always kept a positive attitude.
And you're saying that
Theo should be happy
because even though he can't drive,
he can still walk?
What I'm saying is that
you gotta accept defeat,
and pick yourself back up.
Well, what's Christopher Reeve
doing now?
Uh, he died.
Never mind. That's a bad example.
Hi, Mom.
Oh, hi, honey. I didn't see you there.
Lately, everything is
either a teachable moment
or a life lesson with you.
I know, I just want
them to know my values.
You have a lifetime to teach them
your values.
You're here.
And you're gonna be
here for a long time.
Your new daughter is gonna need you.
[DRAMATIC PIANO MUSIC]
It's a girl?
Yep.
♪♪
Hey, I know you're right.
I can't shove my lessons down
the kids' throats.
But what if I got other guys
to shove my lessons
down the kids' throats?
If the cancer comes back, if I die,
there'd be this group of guys
to help the kids if they need guidance.
If they're wondering what
I would do in a certain situation,
they could just ask one
of the guys on the council.
- The Council?
- Yeah.
Council of Dads.
Oh, you gave it a name?
Do you have jerseys
and a secret handshake?
No.
I don't even have the dads yet.
I'd like your input.
No.
The scans are moving
in the right direction.
They're barely showing
any cancer activity.
- I know, but
- Do you, though?
Honestly, it feels like
you're still in the moment
when Oliver called and
told you that you had cancer.
And I know that was scary, babe, but
we're not there anymore.
I feel like I can finally breathe.
And hold out a little hope.
I know.
I wanna stop worrying.
I wanna stop lecturing the kids.
And I think assembling
this council will help.
It'll it'll ease my mind
knowing that there's a plan in place.
And I think Chris Scollard
would be great.
You are out of your mind.
Chris Scollard?
- Yeah.
- Captain Fitness?
No. No, he would drive me crazy.
He would be great.
He would show the kids nature,
and tell them how
much I love the outdoors.
Why don't you show them how
much you love the outdoors
right now?
Go play with them.
- Really, no Chris?
- Really no Chris.
Your Council of Dads gets to be guys
that I would wanna deal with.
'Cause you know who's
the head of the Council?
Me.
[JÚNÍUS MEYVANT'S
"AIN'T GONNA LET YOU DROWN" PLAYS]
You just tricked me into
assembling a Council of Dads.
Think I did.
Hey, throw me the ball.
- Wait, wait, wait.
- Dad, dad!
- Now throw me the ball.
- Dad.
I ain't gonna let you down ♪
I ain't gonna let you drown ♪
[JAZZ PIANO MUSIC]
Your dad's quiet.
[LAUGHS]
He's just nervous for his scan today.
Ah, right. Of course.
Was I talking too much?
You're great.
I think you're sexy when
you talk about architecture.
Yeah, well he probably hates
that I don't have a degree.
You left to take care of your mom.
I'm gonna finish.
I've been talking to my advisor
about picking up some classes
in the fall, and
she really had like a
You're perfect.
My family loves you.
[CHUCKLES]
- Lu?
- Oh, my God.
What do I need to say to convince you?
I'm falling in love with you.
Uh, I'm sorry, uh
Was that too much?
I mean, you said that you liked a guy
who committed to an action,
- and I thought, you know
- Yeah.
No. I do.
- Oh, I flipped you out.
- Wow.
- No, no.
- [GROANS]
I mean, yes.
[SIGHS]
But, no.
Can we just not talk for a while?
Uh, yeah, yeah.
Let's not talk.
[LIGHT GUITAR MUSIC]
♪♪
[TIRES SCREECHING]
All right, hands at ten and two,
not eleven and three.
And stop at the cone.
I said stop, not slow.
That was a stop sign
No, it's not. This isn't even a street.
I don't need to practice here.
I already practiced here for
five minutes when I first started.
And I've been driving
for almost six months.
This is all a stupid waste of time!
Stop the truck.
Stop the truck!
Fine!
[TIRES SCREECH]
Get out.
Get out of the truck.
Run around the parking lot.
[SCOFFS] No.
Theo, I'm telling you
Who are you, even?
You're just some weirdo
who stalks my family.
I don't need to listen to you!
Go ahead. You yell at me.
I can handle it.
You're mad at the world?
You're mad that your dad has cancer?
Go ahead. Be mad.
But you don't get to be mad
behind the wheel of a truck.
So, you're gonna run around
until you feel that
anger leave your body.
I'll wait.
[SIGHS]
[LIGHT MUSIC]
[SCREAMS]
♪♪
All right. You know the drill.
Any cancer cells that are hanging out
will light up in the scan.
Hopefully,
we don't see any bright spots.
You ready?
What about him?
Baby, you're loopy from the Ativan.
Seriously, he's so on the council.
He's your friend. He's my friend, too.
And I love him.
I love you, man.
- I love you.
- I love you.
- Mm.
- Mm-hmm.
I don't know you.
But I love you.
Your husband's in love with me.
[GIGGLES]
Well, it's not just you.
He's been making lists of men,
in case he dies.
But, he knows I'm gay,
and married,
and so not attracted to you.
That was not what you said
back in medical school
when you were still straight
and tried to kiss me.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
No, it's not for me. It's for the kids.
He wants to ask a group of men
to help raise them in case he dies.
A Council of Dads.
That's
- I think that's smart.
- It's not.
It's terrible idea,
and you're my friend,
and you need to be
on my side about this.
Which is?
I'm having a baby.
I mean, yeah, I know,
and I'm right here.
No, no, no. My water just broke.
I'm having a baby right now.
- Like, right now, right now?
- Yeah.
- Okay. Good thing we're in a hospital.
- [MOANING]
All right.
[MOANING]
We're having a baby!
[H.E.R.'S "HARD PLACE" PLAYS]
[VOCALIZING]
♪♪
I suck at everything.
I can't even get my stupid license.
You know what I do for a living?
I buy failing businesses
and turn them around.
I'm good at seeing what's
not working and fixing it.
I can help you not suck at driving.
Why are you doing this?
Because I drank a bottle of vodka
every night for a lot of years.
And when I came into AA
your dad agreed to sponsor me.
I owe him.
Wait. You were a
A drunk?
I sure was.
What do you say we get
out of this parking lot?
♪♪
But I, if I have to choose ♪
My heart or you ♪
I'm gonna lose, yeah ♪
You're doing it.
I'm doing it! Whoo!
[YELLING]
I'm here! I'm here, baby.
Okay.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
- [INDISTINCT]
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- Here we go.
[GRUNTS]
[GROANS]
Hey, Lu.
Seriously, I
I'm sorry. I freaked you out.
You can't love me.
That's not what this is.
We're just supposed to help
each other through stuff,
and make it less awful.
And you have made it
so much less awful, but it's
temporary.
I don't wanna hurt you,
but I'm moving to New York.
I I didn't realize I was just your
grief buddy.
- No, that's not what I'm saying.
- And so, whatever.
Thanks for letting me know.
[SOLEMN ORCHESTRAL MUSIC]
♪♪
The kids are on their way.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
I know this sounds cheesy,
but she looks like a Hope to me.
That is a little cheesy.
[BOTH LAUGH]
- But we're cheesy.
- Mm.
And she does she is.
She's our little Hope.
I'm just gonna take her
for a second and weigh her.
Dad, you wanna bring her?
Sure.
Okay.
- Got her?
- Yeah.
Okay.
- Aww.
- Aww.
She looks so good on you.
Oh, my.
She is beautiful. Congrats, you guys.
Hi, sweetie.
I'm your handsome Uncle Oliver.
I gotta take her to get weighed.
Then you can flirt with her some more.
She's gorgeous, Rob. [SIGHS]
What's wrong? What's the matter?
What do you mean?
What is what?
The way you just looked at him.
You got the scan results
back, didn't you?
[SAD PIANO MUSIC]
The cancer's back.
No.
Just tell me he'll live.
Six pounds, twelve ounces.
I know she's only
been around for an hour,
- but I'm pretty sure she smiled at me.
- [LAUGHS]
Isn't that right, Hope?
You love your daddy, yeah?
[BABY COOS]
You love your daddy.
Oh, yeah.
[LAUGHS]
Hey, baby. Don't go to sleep.
♪♪
[LAUGHS]
- Hey.
- Hey.
[SIGHS]
Thanks for coming.
Yeah. Sounded important.
You weren't just my grief buddy.
You make me laugh.
You make me feel like me.
I miss you.
[EXHALES]
This is not what I was expecting.
[DRAMATIC PIANO MUSIC]
♪♪
Hi, stranger.
Let's go swimming.
Luly.
What's going on?
♪♪
My dad died.
This morning at 3:00 a.m.
We were all with him.
Oh, Lu.
[SOBBING]
[SOLEMN ORCHESTRAL MUSIC]
♪♪
[SOBBING]
[UPLIFTING MUSIC]
Dear Anthony,
I wanna thank you for your friendship.
Especially the last few months.
You fed us when we needed to be fed.
Oliver,
you poured your heart and
soul into fighting my disease.
Even when the odds
were stacked against me.
And Larry,
when it was clear that
cancer was going to win,
you showed up.
Now, I ask you to keep showing up.
Oliver, you said, with my diagnosis,
that we'd know in a year
if I was gonna make it.
That a year is the magic number.
So, I'm asking you,
each of you, for a year.
Hey. Thank God you guys are here.
The baby needs to be fed,
my mother's driving me crazy,
and Charlotte's saying she doesn't
want to go to the funeral.
Come on in.
Thank you. Okay.
[ANGELO DE AUGUSTINE'S "TOMB" PLAYING]
Charlotte?
Hey, it's Oliver.
You mind if I come in for a sec?
Sure.
I walked into your life
at the wrong time ♪
I reread this with Tess this year.
Even though I know she dies, I
I kept turning the pages,
hoping for a different ending.
But the ending
doesn't take away from
how amazing her life was.
And how she keeps on teaching us stuff,
even after she's gone.
I see what you're doing.
You're talking about my dad.
It was not of this
world or of a dream ♪
Give my family a year.
And not just on holidays or birthdays.
Lots of people will be around then.
They're gonna need you on a Tuesday.
Or a Thursday. A regular day.
It's okay to cry.
[CRYING]
[VOCALIZING]
Robin's used to taking care of people.
- She's not so good at accepting help.
- Anthony.
And she's gonna need it.
They all are.
Ollie? Can you take Charlotte?
- Sure.
- Anthony, you can take me,
- Hope, and JJ.
- Yeah, sure.
Okay, where is he? Where's JJ?
I'm right here.
What is that?
Grandma said I had to wear it.
I just thought it'll make
everything easier today.
You mean it would
make today easier for you.
Well, honey, I think she looks darl
He. Mom.
How many times have I
told you that JJ's a boy?
And he likes to be called he.
Come on, baby. We'll go change.
I'm not mad, Grandma.
It can take people from your generation
a while to understand.
Come on, you.
You have to understand. I'm her grandma.
And I love her, and she's so young.
How can a first grader
decide she's a boy?
I don't think he decided to be a boy.
I think he just is a boy.
That's how Scott explained it to me.
And I think we should be thinking about
what Scott would want today.
We all should, you know,
let JJ be JJ.
Lu.
- Hey.
- Um
I wanted to bring you something,
and I was gonna get flowers,
but I thought of what your dad said.
"People don't need stuff.
They just need you."
You told it in the group.
I don't know if you remember it, but
Stop talking. She remembers.
[BRANDI CARLILE'S "THE JOKE" PLAYS]
I love you, Evan.
So, my Council of Dads,
I'm not asking you to love
my family the way I do.
But, my guess is you will.
Don't ever let them steal your joy ♪
And your gentle ways
-
- To keep 'em from running wild ♪
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER, LAUGHTER]
♪♪
You nervous?
A little.
You having any second thoughts?
We can call this thing off.
Your dad would want me to tell you
that this is your life, Luly Bell.
You live it for you.
I am.
I love Evan.
I'm not giving up on my dreams.
I just realized he's a part of them.
I'm choosing joy.
Well, you are your daddy's girl, then,
'cause he sure knew how to do joy.
Yeah.
Let's do this.
I saw your eyes behind your hair ♪
And you're looking tired ♪
But you don't look scared ♪
Let 'em laugh while they can ♪
Let 'em spin ♪
Let 'em scatter in the wind ♪
I have been to the movies ♪
And I've seen how it ends ♪
And the joke's on them ♪
Let 'em laugh while they can ♪
Let 'em spin ♪
Let 'em scatter in the wind ♪
I have been to the movies ♪
I've seen how it ends ♪
And the joke's on ♪
You may kiss the bride.
[ALL CHEERING]
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
I miss him, Ollie.
The kids are all looking at me
wondering where
all the fun went. [CHUCKLES]
- I'm not fun.
- Yes, you are.
No, I'm not.
I'm serious, and studious,
and responsible.
And, so, he got to be
spontaneous and fun, and
And after tonight, we are all supposed
to go back to real life.
I don't know if I can do it.
I'm right here.
And Larry and Anthony.
We're gonna get through this together.
Now, dance with me.
No.
You don't have to have fun.
In fact, I insist you have a bad time.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
- Come on.
There's this picture of me and my dad
taken right after I was born.
He had no idea how
to take care of a baby.
But he put his fear aside and smiled.
A declaration.
I've got this.
I can do this.
We're a family.
All right, Council of Dads,
are we ready?
Everybody's ready.
It's beautiful!
That's what we do.
We grab the people we love.
And we hold on for dear life.
We decide who our family is.
And we love them like
our life depends on it.
[ALL CHEERING]
Since I left you ain't
got nothin' to lose ♪
We've got this.
We can do this.
We're a family.