05x04 - Welcome to the New Deal

[bunniefuu]

And here you go, ma'am.

That's one Four for $40, got

your tires rotated, oil change,

car wash, and here is your handshake.

Ooh, you know what? I owe you a receipt.

Look, I'll be right back.

I'll be right back.

Really?

Calvin, man.

Look at all these customers.

You're getting big money.

I'm getting no money, Trey.

I put out these Four for $40 coupons

to get business in the door,

but that's it.

Everybody's coming in

for the deal and nothing else.

No brake jobs or tune-ups.

I just wish we can go back

to the good old days

when cars were raggedy.

What are you doing?

Writing a receipt.

On paper towel?

Yes, on paper towel, Trey.

Look, when Tina worked here,

she ordered the receipt books.

But now I'm all out, so my

receipts are the quicker picker upper.

Here you go.

Have a nice day.

How can I help you, sir?

I want the Four for $40.

Well, actually,

you need a coupon for that,

which you have right there.

Man, everybody got one of

these damn things.

Well, uh, while you're here,

maybe we can check your brakes.

You know, stopping is very important.

- I'm good.

- Of course you are.

Actually, there is one more thing.

Yes.

Can I use your bathroom?

Sure.

Right up there.

Ain't no paper towels, though.

I am so sick of these coupons,

I don't know what to do, man.

What you want, Trey?

This is gonna be awkward.

'Cause I need

five Four for $40s.

You don't have five cars.

No, but when I saw your coupons,

it was such a great deal,

it inspired me to become

an oil change concierge.

What the hell is an

oil change concierge?

I bring in the car for my clients,

I charge them $80.

You get your $40, I get my $40.

Everybody eats.

Oh, e-everybody eats?

This is my shop, Trey.

Only I eat. This ain't no damn buffet.

Hey, Calvin. How's it going?

Great.

Ah, perfect.

I knew you'd be in a bad mood.

Okay, let's see.

Lethargic, shoulders slumped.

Facial expression flat.

I'd say you're suffering

from an acute case

of situational maladaptive stress.

And a case of TMD.

TM TMD?

Too much Dave.

You see, that I recognize.

Classic misplaced anger.

Bet you're wondering

why I'm so on it today, huh?

I wasn't, but I'm sure

you're gonna tell me.

Yes, I am. Now, see, I'm trying

to get my therapist license,

so I can counsel vets down at the VA.

And I need to log 500 hours

of hands-on experience,

so I'm asking you, Calvin,

why not let me

help talk you through

whatever's bothering you?

Well, right now, you're bothering me.

Okay, okay, great. See, that's good.

Let's dig a little deeper.

Dave, it's like I told you before.

Black people, we don't do therapy.

All right? We're just not

a soft kind of people.

If I wanted to sit on my couch and cry,

I'd watch the Clippers.

Dave, I said no.

Yeah, but you didn't say "hell no."

You notice how Dad never

follows Dave into a room?

- Brilliant observation.

- Yeah.

Guys, can I ask you something?

Is it true that Black people

don't do therapy?

- What?

- What? No, man. That's ridiculous.

Yeah, man. Lots of

Black people do therapy.

I'm surprised at you, David.

I didn't say it. It was your dad.

- Mm. Yeah.

- Oh, no, yeah, that makes more sense.

Yes, it does.

Because when I have problems,

I suffer on the inside,

like a real man.

Calvin, that is ridiculous.

Will you just let me help you?

Yeah, just give up, Pop.

He already in the house.

You know what? Fine. Come on.

All right, um, make

yourself comfortable.

Not you two! Get out.

Bye.

Okay, um

All right, tell me

what's been bothering you.

Well, business has been

a little slow lately,

so I came up with this promotion

to bring in more customers.

But now I'm losing money on every one.

Okay, well, why don't you just

end the promotion?

Well, it's not that easy.

See, I put the coupon

in the Pasadena PennySaver,

and they're everywhere, so

Let's focus on the why.

- Here, put your head up.

- Yeah.

Well

Well, when Tina was at the Pit Stop,

all I had to do was

focus on fixing cars.

I mean, she handled the books

and set the pricing,

ordered the supplies.

She would've known

this promotion was a bad idea.

See, now we're getting

to the good stuff.

You are realizing

that you need Tina back at the shop.

Maybe so,

but I can't ask her to come back.

I mean, she's got her own business,

and it's blowing up.

The woman loves making cupcakes.

Even if that's true, Calvin,

you need to tell Tina that

you need her back at the shop.

There's strength in vulnerability.

Ah.

There's also strength in strength.

Thank you

for letting me use your kitchen.

I mean, I can't keep up

with these stupid cupcakes.

Do you know how many of

these damn things I've made

in just this week alone?

- Guess.

- I don't know.

Guess.

A thousand.

A thousand?

I'm only one woman.

- Five hundred?

- Okay.

You do know that

"Black girl magic" doesn't mean

that I can do actual magic, right?

Well, stop making me guess.

I'm sorry. It's just that,

you know, I've been baking all day,

I've got four more orders

to fill before I go to bed,

and guess how much money I'm gonna make

after all of that.

Three dollars?

Gemma, I can find three dollars

in the couch.

You told me to guess.

I'm sorry, it's just that, you know,

making this little bit of money

is just not worth it.

Especially since I started teaching

at your after-school music program.

I love those little tone-deaf monsters.

Aw, that's so sweet.

Don't call them monsters

in front of the parents.

You know, making cupcakes

isn't fun anymore.

It feels like work.

So, why don't you quit?

I can't. Calvin is so proud of me.

Plus we've invested so much

in my business.

- Guess how much.

- Nope. Not doing that.

Wait. These are for Noah Miller?

Oh, yeah, it's his birthday.

Interesting.

Not that I care,

but Noah Miller didn't invite Grover

to his birthday party.

Who's Noah Miller?

You know, the kid Grover

invited to his party,

who ate five pieces of pizza.

And Noah's gift,

they named a star after Grover.

How do we know that's even true?

I'm sensing an underlying issue

here, Gemma.

Why is this invitation

bothering you so much?

It's not.

I was just telling you,

in case it bothered you.

It's not bothering me at all.

Cool. Me neither.

I don't care at all. Not a bit.

Seems like you care.

- I care so much.

- Yeah.

When did this porch get all these steps?

Dad. Dad, you okay?

Oh.

Why are you all wet?

I washed a few cars at the shop today.

14, to be exact.

Uh, why would you do that?

Well, I had a bunch of

those Four for $40s.

My guys couldn't get them

all done before closing,

and I can't afford

to pay 'em overtime, so

I'm just gonna take

a little break right here.

Okay, I hate to see you like this.

You shouldn't be working

yourself this hard, Dad.

You know what? You're right.

You should.

Yes.

I expect to see you two

at the Pit Stop at 7:00 a.m.

BYOB, bring your own bucket.

You have never known when to shut up.

Hey, babe!

Hey! Hey, babe.

How was your day?

- Oh, busy. Busy, busy, busy.

- Oh.

Yeah, you know, this Four for $40 thing

has got people lined up out the door.

I mean, I am b*at, but

it's all good.

Oh. Good, good, good. Me, too.

You know, I can't make

these cupcakes fast enough.

Yeah.

You know what, babe?

I was thinking, if, uh

if it becomes too much for you,

you-you should take a break.

- You know what? In fact, you could

- What?

Don't be silly, baby. I love what I do.

And I owe it to all of your support.

I am living the dream!

Well, good.

Good. That's

what I was hoping you'd say.

Yep. I am so happy.

It's k*lling me, but I love it.

I know how you feel.

I know exactly how you feel.

Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.

We are so lucky.

Blessed and highly favored.

Yes, we are.

We washed nine cars, Pop.

Now we have to get back

to our real jobs.

Well, what do you have to do

that's so important?

Well, we're launching a probe

from Vandenberg Air Force Base

to find life outside our solar system.

And I have to help a freshman

with his bunt.

Which is just as important.

Hold up, uh, guys, hold up.

You know, there is

one more thing, and I

I hate to do this to you, but

business is down a little bit,

and, um

Well, I'm raising your rent, by 15%.

What? Come on, Pop. That's not fair.

Look, you're doing well for yourselves,

and it's time that you pay market price.

Look, you're both grown-ass men.

Yeah, but, Daddy, we don't want to be.

Oh

Yo, yo, yo, yo.

I got as many as I could find.

I got more in the car.

That's good work, Trey.

Wait, wait, wait, so your solution

to this coupon mess is

to steal the PennySavers?

Well, it's not stealing if they're free.

Besides, have you seen

the price of motor oil?

You know what?

I know a guy who knows a guy

who can get motor oil cheap.

Nope. Oh

All right, okay.

Wha-What's the catch, Trey?

I'm the catch.

I'm the guy who knows a guy.

I bet you get your oil

from a distributor.

Bad move. Never pay wholesale.

Wh-What's before wholesale?

I can't explain the economy to you.

You want the oil or not?

Yeah, I want the oil.

Wait, Dad, are you really

that desperate?

Well, it's either this

or I raise your rent again.

- Trey, call your boy.

- Yeah, call him.

Call him. Put him on the phone.

I don't like this, Calvin.

Would you be cool, man.

We're just a couple of guys,

buying suspiciously cheap motor oil

in a warehouse.

Yeah, a dark, empty warehouse, in

in an unincorporated area.

Will you relax?

Okay, fine. But, you know,

we wouldn't be in this situation

if you were just willing

to confront your issue

and open up to Tina.

Okay, uh, which one of

these guys is your guy?

I don't know these guys.

What do you mean

you don't know these guys?

This guy I know knows these other guys

who know these guys, I assume.

Okay. Oh, come on.

Which one of you is buying the oil?

Uh Oh, Calvin is.

You never say a guy's real name

in a warehouse.

You got the money, Calvin?

Oh, great, he's using my name.

You got the goods?

Yes, I have the goods.

What do you think is in these boxes?

The heads of my enemies?

That was weirdly specific.

I'm kidding. It was a joke.

It was a joke

about heads being in boxes.

He's funny. He's funny.

That's why it's funny, you know.

Uh

I would like to see the goods

before I give you the money.

Show him the oil.

This smells like piña colada.

It's from Fiji. They blend it

with coconut oil.

I'm not putting coconut oil

in my customer's vehicles.

I don't care what you do

with it, it's yours.

Now pay me, before

I put your heads in boxes.

Again.

He did it again. Yeah.

I love it, with the heads in the boxes.

He always goes to it.

Okay, so it's not a joke. Here you go.

Pleasure doing business

with you, Calvin.

That's Mr. Butler to you.

Okay, Dave, what are you gonna do?

Give the guy my mother's

maiden name, too?

Gemma? They said you needed to see me.

Did Noah do something?

No, no, no! Holly! I just

wanted to catch up. Come.

Sit, sit, sit.

I don't think I ever thanked you

for your help with the school carnival.

Two years ago?

There's no statute of

limitations on gratitude, hmm?

That's what I always say.

Hey, Noah is getting so big.

Is he 13 yet?

Almost.

Well, his birthday must be

right around the corner, eh?

That's great!

Do you need me

to volunteer for something?

No! No, no, no.

Nope. You're probably too busy

with that birthday coming up.

Did you say the party was this weekend?

I didn't.

Cut the crap, Holly,

I know about the cupcakes!

No. It wasn't in Whittier,

and it wasn't in La Mirada.

Like Cerritos?

I wish it was in Cerritos.

So it was in an unincorporated area.

Yeah, that's why it was so scary.

A lawless hellscape.

Well, my afternoon was no picnic.

I kind of went off on Noah's mom.

Oh, my gosh. Why?

I really wanted to get Grover

an invite to that stupid party.

Okay, Gemma.

Let me help you.

Why is this invitation

so important to you?

I mean, there must be

some sort of underlying issue.

There's no issue.

I would tell you. I don't keep secrets.

I mean, you've seen

my seventh grade haircut.

The bangs.

Okay. Gemma.

Relax, okay?

Lean back, take a deep breath.

Think back to a time

when you were a kid,

or maybe a teenager. Was

Was there ever a time

that you felt left out?

Or, I don't know, maybe

maybe like you didn't fit in?

You're good.

Well, thank you.

Now, where's Gemma?

Where did Gemma go?

It was my first year of middle school.

There was this program called "HAM."

High Achieving Math.

You stayed after school four

days a week and did algebra.

And that's something

your parents made you do?

I wish.

I didn't get in. All my friends did.

And those "Hamsters"

taunted me about it forever.

So, you didn't get to

stay late at school

and do difficult math

with a bunch of little jerks?

It was horrible!

I was in such a dark place,

I gave myself that haircut. Yeah.

- It was me! I was the one who did it!

- I know. I know.

I know, it's okay.

I just don't want Grover

to ever feel the way I did.

Finished my homework.

Can I play video games?

Oh! Mom's crying.

No.

Grover.

Mom is having a breakthrough.

Is that why there's so much snot?

Hey, pumpkin.

I need to tell you something,

because you're probably

gonna hear about it at school.

Noah is having a birthday party,

but you weren't invited.

Okay.

Wait. You're not upset?

No.

In class, he raises his hand

for every question,

and then he asks the teacher if

she forgot to give us homework.

If the teacher forgets

to assign us homework,

we don't have homework. That's the rule.

No, that's not true.

I don't make the rules,

Mom. The eighth graders do.

Oh, there you are.

Where you been?

You didn't answer your phone.

I didn't have any service.

I was out by Bellflower.

Near Hacienda Heights?

I wish I was near Hacienda Heights.

It was closer to Cerritos.

What were you doing

in an unincorporated area?

I was just buying oil, and, uh

I might be changing my name.

Don't ask.

Uh-oh, this doesn't seem like nothing.

It's-it's just been a rough couple

of weeks down at the shop.

Weeks?

Well, why didn't you tell me about this?

We tell each other everything.

We do, don't we?

Yeah.

Aw, hell.

Dave said that there's

strength in vulnerability.

What?

Here it is. Look, Tina, ever

since you left the Pit Stop,

it just hasn't been the same.

And I wish I could have you back, but

I could never ask you

to give up your cupcakes.

Done.

What?

Uh, th-they're gone.

You need me down at the Pit Stop,

so screw the cupcakes.

- Really?

- Really.

As your wife, I am willing

to make that sacrifice.

And as your husband, I'm not buying it.

That was too fast.

Okay, you got me.

I am sick of these damn cupcakes!

Are you serious?

Why didn't you say anything?

Because you were so proud of me,

and we put so much money

into the business.

I didn't want to let you down.

Tina, you could never let me down.

You're the most incredible

woman I've ever known.

Aw

I'm so glad we're honest

with each other.

Are you sure you want to

give up your business?

Positive.

Then welcome back to the Pit Stop.

I missed you.

I missed you, too, baby.

Mm-mm. Mm.

Oh, cupcakes.

Let 'em burn.